KBC Channel 1

Author: Eric Biegon

  • Affordable housing budgetary allocation almost double last year’s share

    Affordable housing budgetary allocation almost double last year’s share

    President William Ruto administration’s first budget since taking charge of the country’s affairs has underscored his commitment to the realization of the affordable housing agenda.

    In the 2023/2024 budget statement, the overall allocation toward housing programmes buttressed the sector as one of his priority areas amid efforts to enable Kenyans to be homeowners.

    In the Budget, the Treasury announced that the Government had allocated the sector Ksh 35.2 billion up from the Kshs. 27.7 billion that was set aside for the Housing Programme last year.

    The allocation, according to Treasury CS Njuguna Ndugu is aimed at facilitating the delivery of 250,000 houses per annum and enabling affordable housing mortgages.

    Out of the Ksh35.2 Billion, Ksh 3.2 billion is meant for the Construction of Affordable Housing Units. This is an increase of Ksh.1.5 billion from last year’s allocation to the sub-sector which had received Ksh.1.7 billion.

    And that’s not all as the Construction of Social Housing Units received a boost of Ksh 3.3 billion budgetary allocation up from the Ksh.1.2 billion allocated last year by then Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yattani.

    “The cost of housing is a heavy burden to the majority of Kenyans and is the main factor driving the 66 proliferations of slums in the country. The Government’s commitment is to turn the housing challenge into an economic opportunity to create quality jobs for over 100,000 young people graduating from TVETs every year directly in the construction sector and indirectly through the production of building products,” Ndungu said when he read the budget in parliament

    Other allocations in the sector include Ksh 7.3 billion under the Kenya Urban Programme (KenUP); Ksh 5.0 billion to Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company for enhancement of the company’s capital as well as for lending to primary mortgage lenders; Ksh 3.2 billion for the Construction of Affordable Housing Units as well as Ksh 3.3 billion for Construction of Social Housing Units.

    Ksh 5.5 billion will go toward the Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Project-Phase II; Ksh 5.2 billion for the construction of markets; Ksh 932 million for the maintenance of Government Pool Houses.

    At the same time, President Ruto’s government announced Ksh 1.1 billion for the construction of Housing Units for the National Police and Kenya Prison.

    Another Ksh 637 million will be channelled towards the Kenya Municipal Programme; Ksh 150 million for the construction of footbridges and Ksh 300 million for the Development of Appropriate Building Technology.

  • CS Wahome meets Chinese counterpart, discuss partnership in water sector

    CS Wahome meets Chinese counterpart, discuss partnership in water sector

    Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Alice Wahome held talks with China’s Minister of Water Resources Mr Li Guoying as the two countries consider increased cooperation in the water sector.

    During the meeting in Beijing, Wahome disclosed that they deliberated at length on how Kenya and China can continue to engage and strengthen partnerships and cooperation on best principles, standards, and practices in the development and management of water resources, sanitation, and irrigation.

    “I paid a courtesy call to my counterpart Mr Li Guoying, Minister in The Ministry of Water Resources of the People’s Republic of China a department within China’s Central People’s Government responsible for managing water resources in China,” she said after the meeting

    Wahome’s meeting with Li Guoying comes amid ongoing efforts by President William Ruto’s administration to seek cooperation especially with foreign investors to develop 100 dams under the Public Private Partnership model.

    “The Kenya Kwanza BETA plan (Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda) can be achieved with sheer hard work, commitment, fruitful partnerships from Government of Kenya, investors and private sector,” posted Wahome in her Twitter page

    The Water Cabinet Secretary was in China to attend the 14th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum.

    The annual event, every year, attracts more than 2000 delegates from over 70 countries and regions including around 50 ministerial officials, serving as an important platform for industry elites from government authorities, financial institutions, engineering companies, survey & design firms, consultancy, and equipment manufacturers, to exchange strategic thinking and insights on cutting-edge topics, explore opportunities and seek cooperation.

    She disclosed that her tour of China has been an eye-opener especially as far as development and management of water resources is concerned, citing best practices employed by Beijing in advancing the sector.

    “My learnings during this visit to China have been very insightful. The 3 Gorges Hydropower Dam is a marvel. Consisting of the dam, hydropower station, and navigation buildings. The river dam is a concrete gravity dam, with a flood-discharging section, with a dam crest elevation of 185 meters. The maximum dam height is 181 meters,” she said

    Before her tour of China, the Water CS, alongside the Principal Secretary for Water and Sanitation Dr. Paul Ronoh had met Investors, including those from China, to discuss the 100 PPP Dams Initiative.

    “CS Alice Wahome recognizes the power of water PPPs building on these achievements to improve utility performance and leverage finance and technology. They are important means to achieve the government’s goal of 1M acre irrigation and improved water supplies to 6M households,” the Ministry of Water said in a statement

    “Commercialization of water services since 2002 has delivered financial sustainability of utilities and access to water for millions of Kenyans. CS Hon Wahome recognizes the power of water PPPs building on these achievements to improve utility performance, finance, and tech,” the Ministry added

  • NTSA Board chair, three others shown the door in fresh state appointments

    NTSA Board chair, three others shown the door in fresh state appointments

    President William Ruto has revoked the appointment of Aden Noor Ali as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).

    Noor was shown the door just four months after the head of state appointed him to the helm of the agency.

    In a special gazette notice released Friday morning, the President announced he had settled on Dr. Manoj Shah to take up his position.

    “IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by section 6 (1) (a) of the National Transport and Safety Authority Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint— MANOJ SHAH (DR.) to be the chairperson of the Board of Directors of the National Transport and Safety Authority, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 9th June 2023,” the Gazette Notice read

    The immediate former NTSA Board chair vied unsuccessfully for the Mandera gubernatorial position in the August 2022 elections.

    Ali previously served as a member of the Transport Licensing Appeals Board.

    And that was not the only change at the apex of the transport agency. In the notice, Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport Kipchumba Murkomen announced further changes revoking the appointments of Nimo Omar Haji, Charles Nyabuti, and Simon Kalekem to the Board.

    In their place, the Transport CS has appointed Johnson Losilian, Paul Posho, and Lilian Nyabonyi Mogendi to be members of the Board of Directors of the National Transport and Safety Authority, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 9th June 2023.

    The changes come amid concerns over the Board’s capacity to manage the transport sector. In fact, there have been calls for the board to be disbanded over issues such as the recent rise in the number of road accidents among others.

    More to Follow……

  • Give us an alternative way to raise revenue, Mudavadi tells Kenya Kwanza critics

    Give us an alternative way to raise revenue, Mudavadi tells Kenya Kwanza critics

    Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has told off opponents of Finance Bill 2023, saying they are yet to offer a better suggestion on how the country will get itself out of the current economic situation.

    Mudavadi who dismissed claims that the government was exerting punitive taxes on Kenyans, instead says, if adopted, the legislation will give President William Ruto’s administration a chance to raise revenue to boost the economy and government operations.

    “Do not just criticize and oppose what the government is proposing yet you are not giving us an alternative on how we will get solutions to fill the existing gaps. For those opposing we are asking them what is the alternative proposition,” Mudavadi said

    The Prime CS says the situation in which the country finds itself at the moment calls for tough decisions, some of which will be painful in the short-term, but beneficial in the long term.

    “We have to look at this conversation holistically since we are on the journey to revamp our economy and as government, we have an obligation to grow our people,” said PCS

    He made the remarks at the Bomas of Kenya when he addressed members of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI).

    “It is clear why we are where we are as a country in terms of the hurdles we are facing to try and fix our economy. But the truth of the matter remains that we have been elected and we cannot continue crying, we need to now start finding solutions. The solutions must be local and we need to work towards the improvement of our society, we have no choice but to work together,” he affirmed.

    He urged members of the chamber to support the government in changing the current debate on the Finance Bill 2023, as government means well for the citizens.

    “We have to change this debate about the Finance Bill 2023. There is no country globally that can sustain itself without taxes. No government has any resources other than those it gets through taxation.” said Mudavadi.

    “The truth of the matter is that the pain we are feeling as a nation is because fewer people have been paying taxes and the tax-man has been repeatedly coming back to the same people again. So, we need to find a way of broadening that space and we have to make some sacrifices, painful at the beginning but once we change the debate, Kenyans will realize the government means good for its people,” added Mudavadi.

    He also defended the new house levy saying the idea has been misconceived and politicized to make Kenyans feel like the Government is imposing a burden on them.

    He accused leaders rallying Kenyans to reject the proposal of mischief and selfishness.

    “Let me put this question to Kenyans; if I Mudavadi has finished educating my children – can I begin by saying that since my children have finished all the stages then I have no obligation to contribute to an education fund. Is that morally, right? Is that how you build a nation, by assuming that since you have finished a certain league then you have no obligation for anybody else to get involved?” posed Mudavadi.

    He said the debate must change from mere talk to how effective the fund will be managed and then shift the conversation to how to provide shelter to Kenyans as a constitutional requirement just as government is obligated to provide food, clean water, universal health care, and other services.

  • Malala continues UDA grassroots recruitment drive ahead of August party polls

    Malala continues UDA grassroots recruitment drive ahead of August party polls

    Officials from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) have sustained the outfit’s nationwide charm offensive as the ruling party seeks to establish political dominance across the country.

    The charge is being led by Secretary General Cleophas Malala who believes UDA will garner the support of a majority of Kenyans to become the most popular party in Kenya and even exceed the fortunes enjoyed by political organizations as big as the former ruling party KANU.

    During a tour of Kajiado County on Thursday where Malala held a meeting with a section of elected and grassroots coordinators, the Secretary-General said the party is keen to have more members on board ahead of party polls slated for August this year.

    According to Malala, the ongoing recruitment drive will ensure the party extends its political tentacles to every part of the country. With a strong UDA, he is confident the opposition will be dealt a huge blow.

    “I received new members into the ruling Party led by Former Kajiado Governor, Hon. David Ole Nkedienye. Our pursuit remains painting Kenya Yellow, and the Azimio Leadership should stop giving President William Ruto ultimatums,” said Malala

    He assured members the party polls will be free and fair to ensure all officials at grassroots and county levels will be locals known by party supporters.

    “It is very important that we have party officials at counties, sub-counties, and wards because we are the ones who formed this government.,”

    “When we have projects that are meant to benefit our people at the grassroots, we will use our party structures to ensure those projects reach our people. We want our members to be the first ones to benefit before we think of other people,” said Malala

    At the same time, Malala said the UDA party will stand in solidarity with MCAs who have adjourned Assembly sittings pushing for better pay claiming that the ward representatives were short-changed by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission after the 2013 polls.

    On the ongoing debate on the Finance Bill 2023, the UDA officials expressed optimism it will be backed by a majority of lawmakers paving the way for the ruling party to fulfill its pledges to the electorate.

    “We are confident that Parliament shall pass the Finance Bill so that the UDA govt implements the Housing project among other progressive programs to uplift the lives of many Kenyans,” Malala said

  • China builds world’s largest earthquake early warning system

    China builds world’s largest earthquake early warning system

    CGTN

    The main construction task of China’s earthquake early warning system has been completed, and final completion and acceptance is expected to be completed by the end of this year, according to Min Yiren, head of the China Earthquake Administration (CEA).

    The country has carried out the construction of an earthquake early warning system since the 1990s and started building its earthquake early warning and instant seismic intensity reporting system in several high-stakes regions in 2018, aiming to inform the public of upcoming earthquakes with a countdown in seconds and report the seismic intensity of an earthquake within a minute of its occurrence.

    Min said at a press conference on Thursday that the system is the world’s largest earthquake early warning system, making a leap in shortening the delivery of earthquake information from a minute to a few seconds after an earthquake starts.

    According to research published by the Northwestern Seismological Journal in 2002, being aware of an earthquake three seconds ahead can save 14 percent of casualties, 10 seconds can save 39 percent of casualties and 20 seconds can save 63 percent of casualties.

    Expected to boost quake mitigation, the system can send alerts through various devices, including TVs, mobile phones, broadcasts and other warning terminals.

    The system now covers over 15,000 monitoring stations, three national centers, 31 provincial centers and 173 prefectural and municipal information release centers. A trial operation for public early warning services has been available in some of its quake-prone areas, including southwest China’s Sichuan and Yunan provinces, north China’s Beijing and Tianjin municipalities and Hebei Province, and east China’s Fujian Province, according to Min.

    He added that the system has overcome several technical problems, such as multi-network integration and information release to massive users within one second.

  • Xi Jinping urges cultural confidence with an ‘open and inclusive’ mind

    Xi Jinping urges cultural confidence with an ‘open and inclusive’ mind

    CGTN

    Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed strengthening China’s cultural confidence with an “open and inclusive” mind that will unleash the innovation and creativity of all ethnic groups, in a congratulatory letter sent to a forum.

    We’ve prioritized the construction of culture-related work since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said in the letter, highlighting the Party’s dedication to the construction of socialist cultural prosperity.

    In the letter, Xi called for enhanced efforts to shoulder a new cultural mission and provide strong cultural and intellectual strength to build a stronger nation and achieve national rejuvenation.

    The Forum on Building up China’s Cultural Strength was held on Wednesday afternoon in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, to promote exchanges between various cultures and civilizations.

    Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, read out Xi’s letter and delivered a keynote speech at the forum.

    Li urged efforts to study and implement Xi’s important instructions. He also called for advancing cultural prosperity and development and promoting exchanges and mutual learning.

    Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, also attended the forum.

  • President Ruto roots for a stronger, more integrated Africa Union

    President Ruto roots for a stronger, more integrated Africa Union

    President William Ruto reiterated Thursday that the African Union requires urgent reforms to make it stronger and responsive to the prevailing situation globally.

    The Kenyan President disclosed during his engagements with lawmakers of the Pan African Parliament, that he specifically made a case for the need to reform the continental body to conform to the current realities.

    “To ensure that the African Union performs at the level of its aspirations, it will be necessary to make sure that it empowers itself with sufficient capacity,” he said

    The head of state expressed concern that if the much-needed reforms are not undertaken, initiatives such as African Solutions, Agenda 2063, the Africa Continental Free Trade Area and the Young, as well as the Clean Green Continent of the Future, will never become a reality.

    “The AU Reform Agenda must be a priority and we must interrogate and conduct the process to ensure that structurally, the roles of the Bureau, Summits, Committees, Regional Caucuses, Secretariat and Commission are duly rationalised to give Africa a fit-for-purpose continental governance body with the capacity to engage globally,” he said

    To buttress its position and standing, President Ruto said member states ought to consider donating power to the African Union on matters such as trade, regional and global security as well as other areas, he believes, Africa can benefit from engaging together rather than individually.

    “We should merge the position of chair of the AU Summit and that of the AU Commission into one so as to give it sufficient leverage to engage on behalf of Africa,” he said

    “Although there is a long way to go, I am satisfied that we are playing our parts in full, which is why we have come this far. I sense a renewed commitment to stronger economic performance at home and regionally, and a clearer sense of urgency arising from the unique imperative of this moment,” he added

    Ruto who is in Zambia expressed confidence that through economic integration anchored on issues such as green investment, value addition and tourism, the African continent will usher in an era of unprecedented transformation and prosperity for its people.

  • Govt to provide free lunch in Nairobi public primary schools

    Govt to provide free lunch in Nairobi public primary schools

    Children from poor backgrounds in Nairobi County are set to benefit from free lunch, courtesy of the national and county governments.

    As soon as plans to roll out the programme are complete, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu disclosed Thursday that meals will be provided to young learners in public primary schools under the school feeding programme.

    Machogu who was speaking after a consultative meeting with Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie noted that the move with enable disadvantaged children to pursue their education uninterrupted.

    “The program will improve learner’s motivation particularly those from slums and informal settlements within Nairobi,” said the CS

    Those present in the meeting were Principal Secretary Basic Education Dr. Belio Kipsang and her counterpart from Higher Education and Research Dr. Beatrice Inyangala.

  • Ombudsman probe unearths hitches in passport application processes

    Ombudsman probe unearths hitches in passport application processes

    A new report by the Commission on Administrative Justice, otherwise known popularly as “the Ombudsman”, has exposed numerous cases of maladministration at the Department of Immigration in the application of passports.

    In the report released Tuesday Morning, the ombudsman disclosed that after investigations prompted by complaints raised by Kenyans, the Department was found to have, for instance, overcharged a number of citizens to process their travel documents.

    “All nine complaints alleging overcharge of passport fees were found to be true while the allegation by the Department of Immigration that the complainants edited their application to a lower series was found to be false,” said the report

    According to the probe, some of the applicants paid for a “B” series passport of 50 pages but were instead issued with ‘A’ series passports of 34 pages.

    “It was confirmed that indeed the seven complainants applied for “B” series passports which was the only available option then and paid KSh 6,050 but were issued with “A” series passports,” noted the commission.

    The commission attributes the delays in the processing of passports and the unavailability of a particular passport series on the e-citizen platform to; “delays in the approval of the procurement of blank passport booklets, and, the continuous breakdown of printing machines at the Department of Immigration,”

    It also emerged that due to constrained resources, the department lacked a series of customer redress mechanisms made worse by bureaucratic procurement procedures.

    The e-citizen system was found to have eased and improved the efficiency of the passport application and payment processes but needs an upgrade to deal with emerging trends.

    The commission’s chairperson Florence Kajuju now wants the Ministry of Interior to increase budgetary allocation to the Department of Immigration for the purchase of new high-capacity passport printing machines, service of the old passport printing machines, and provision of sufficient working tools.

    Kajuju says her commission’s investigations further revealed that the Department of Immigration lacks an internal policy or a procedure guiding and regulating issues that may arise out of passport processing such as editing and cancellation of applications and also lacks a mechanism to automatically refund excess payments.

    The CAJ chairperson has called on Kenyans to volunteer information regarding alleged corrupt practices at the Department of Immigration if it is to take concrete steps in aiding the Ministry of Interior to eliminate complaints related to passport issuances.

    Kajuju says the lack of testimonials by complainants was to blame for inaction on corruption allegations at the passport issuance desk.