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Author: Margaret Kalekye

  • Kenya closes diplomatic mission in Khartoum as fighting rages

    Kenya closes diplomatic mission in Khartoum as fighting rages

    Kenya has closed its mission in Khartoum, Sudan, amid intensified fighting in several areas of the capital after a ceasefire deal expired.

    Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei, said in a Twitter post that the mission had remained open to facilitate the evacuation of any Kenyan from the war-torn country.

    The decision coming in the wake of reports that armed groups were now targeting diplomatic officials.

    “We continue to receive disturbing news of the targeting of diplomatic officials by armed groups in Khartoum, Sudan. Kenya Mission in Khartoum which had remained open to facilitate evacuation of any Kenyans still in the country is now closed” he tweeted.

    Kenya had rescued at least 900 people since the beginning of May.

    For nearly seven weeks, fighting between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has gripped Khartoum and the western region of Darfur, despite repeated efforts to broker a humanitarian ceasefire.

    The United States and Saudi Arabia have made a renewed push for truce talks. A five-day extension of a US- and Saudi-brokered truce formally expired on Saturday with no signs of the conflict abating.

    Meanwhile, The deputy head of Sudan’s ruling council, Malik Agar, has welcomed negotiations for a further ceasefire but said no truce can hold until all forces are withdrawn from the capital.

    There’s been an alarming escalation of violence in Khartoum and in the western Darfur region since the negotiations in Saudi Arabia broke down last week. Both the army and the rival paramilitary force, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), accused each other of violating the truce, but negotiators have remained in Jeddah.

    Agar said the talks there represented the best hope of ending the fighting. Sudanese military leader Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan recently appointed Agar, a former rebel leader, to replace his former deputy Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, who heads the RSF.

    Most of the troops in Khartoum are RSF fighters, and the army appears to have resumed its attempts to blast them out of the positions they’re holding.

    Additional reporting by agencies

  • Eastern Kenya tops in reforestation efforts

    Eastern Kenya tops in reforestation efforts

    Eastern Kenya leads in reforestation efforts as Kenya continues to make strides to combat climate change through planting trees.

    According to the statistics released Ministry of Interior and National Administration to coincide with World Environment Day Monday, the region has sprung ahead of the rest, planting 4,377,362 trees in the last five months.

    The vast Rift Valley is second with 621,805 seedlings planted so far.

    The Coast region and Central Kenya have just crossed the half-a-million mark, with the former recording 523,699 while the latter is already at 514,550 seedlings.

    Western and Nyanza regions have done slightly a quarter of a million seedlings each, precisely 278,023 and 274,669 saplings respectively.

    Only North Eastern (52,478) and Nairobi (77,168) are far below the one hundred thousand mark.

    The Ministry has consequently hailed the strides made on the National Tree-Planting Restoration Programme launched five months ago.

    “Kenya’s commitment to reforestation has roared into life, with each of the eight regions making encouraging strides in these early stages of the national tree-planting campaign” said the Interior Ministry.

    Rooted in an ambition of planting at least 15 billion trees by 2030, the National Tree Planting Restoration was launched back in December by President William Ruto as one of the responses to the devastating impact of desertification and climate change.

    The campaign is coordinated by National Government Officers (NGAOs); field officers from the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry; County Governments; Public and Private partners; and Community Leaders.

     

     

     

  • Aiding suicide: DJ Brownskin to be arraigned in court

    Aiding suicide: DJ Brownskin to be arraigned in court

    Detectives have finally arrested a local DJ who has been on the run after he defied summons by police to record a statement in relation to his wife’s death.

    Michael Macharia Njiiri aka DJ Brown Skin, was arrested on Thursday night by sleuths based at Kasarani police station, after dodging them for the past few weeks.

    The DJ had been summoned by detectives to shed more light on the death of his wife Sharon Njeri, 33, who ingested poison as he recorded on a device on the night of July 29 and 30, last year.

    In a heart-wrenching video tape released by a popular blogger on April 1, 9 months after Njeri’s remains had been buried, her last moments were filmed by the DJ as she emptied a poisonous substance into a cup and ingested it.

    She then slumped on a couch and called her two children to inform them of her impending death. The mother of two collapsed and died shortly thereafter. She was buried at her parents home in Koimbe Weithaga village, Murang’a County, on August 6 last year.

    Detectives have since established that after recording the ordeal, the suspect sent the video to his other girlfriend living abroad before the girlfriend went public with the information through the blogger.

    Efforts to summon the suspect to shed more light into the incident proved futile, as he remained elusive prompting detectives to launch a manhunt leading to his arrest on Madaraka Day, moments past midnight.

    The suspect is currently being held at Kasarani police as detectives gather more information from witnesses, to build a strong case against the suspect.

    He will be charged with the offense of aiding suicide and failing to prevent the same contrary to Section 225 (C) of the Penal Code.

     

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  • Second UN-Habitat Assembly kicks off in Nairobi

    Second UN-Habitat Assembly kicks off in Nairobi

    The second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly kicks off this morning in Nairobi, Kenya.

    Universal access to affordable housing is one of the key agendas of the global high-level meeting that is held every four years.

    President William Ruto whose administration has prioritised affordable housing will officially open the five-day conference at the United Nations Complex, Gigiri.

    The Kenyan government targets to construct at least 250, 000 houses each year, for the next five years, a project that could see over six million Kenyans living in informal settlements get decent and affordable houses.

    It is for this reason that President Ryto has been pushing for a 3pc housing levy that has been roundly criticized by Kenyans.

    Other thematic debates and discussions during the Assembly will focus on the following topics:

    Urban climate action: to achieve the global commitment to stay within 1.5˚C limit on rising temperatures by 2030, Member States are encouraged to explore realistic urban pathways for climate action.

    Urban crises recovery: current crises are increasingly more urban, with cities very often serving as the main places of arrival for displaced people. Member States are encouraged to empower cities to respond to urban crises and support national recovery efforts.

    Localization of the SDGs: the Assembly will look at local actions needed to advance the implementation of SDGs to meet the 2030 Development Agenda targets. Member States will also be invited to explore financial mechanisms to ensure resources are directed toward urban development and reach local levels.

    Prosperity and local finance: to accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, respond to urban crises, advance urban climate action, and ensure adequate and affordable housing for all, cities need policies and fiscal resources. Member States are invited to explore policies and market mechanisms to ensure financial flows directed towards urban development and reach local levels.

    The conference brings together 193 UN Member States. Other participants include non-Member States, UN bodies and specialized agencies, as well as intergovernmental organizations, civil society, private sector, academia and research institutions, women, youth and children, and grassroots organizations.

    The theme of the session is “A sustainable urban future through inclusive and effective multilateralism: achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in times of global crises.”

  • Ruto highlights three strong points for housing levy

    Ruto highlights three strong points for housing levy

    President William Ruto Thursday made a strong case for his administration’s affordable housing plan.

    Ruto who led Kenyans in marking the 60th Madaraka Day celebrations said the housing programme was not only aimed at offering the underprivileged affordable housing but also creating employment for the youth.

    He said the Kenya Kwanza vision for the Affordable Housing Programme is premised firstly on the economic objective of creating a million direct and indirect employment opportunities throughout every value chain in the housing development ecosystem.

    “A single housing unit is capable of employing 3-5 workers directly, and an additional 8 workers indirectly, in the manufacturing of construction products, transport and logistics”

    The second objective of the Affordable Housing Programme he said is to increase the number of homeowners and transition more Kenyans from rent-paying to homeownership.

    “The Affordable Housing Programme aims to enable mama mboga access and afford a mortgage and embark on a feasible journey towards home ownership. Beyond the cost of houses, the programme therefore entails an entitlement aspect, which gives priority to the communities resident where the projects are situated” he said.

    He said the programme will raise the bar in terms of quality at the bottom.

    The third objective of the Affordable Housing Programme he explained is human dignity, and entails the liberation of millions of people who live in unhygienic environments without proper sanitation.

    “We did not fight for independence to relegate our innocent compatriots to a life of suffering, exclusion and indignity in slums” he concluded.

    Kenyan workers including the employer will contribute three per cent in order to support the government’s low-cost housing programme.

  • Ruto hails ongoing debate on housing levy, taxation

    Ruto hails ongoing debate on housing levy, taxation

    President William Ruto has welcomed debate on the proposed housing level and finance bill that continues to elicit heated reactions.

    The President who Thursday presided over his first Madaraka Day fete at Embu’s Moi Stadium seized the opportunity to drum up support for the proposals that have been met with widespread opposition.

    On the contrary, Ruto said Kenya has come of age for sustaining issue-oriented national debate devoid of any hint of divisive ethnic rhetoric as has been in the past.

    He observed that Kenya has been trailblazing as many countries have been unable to generate public debate on issue affecting the people such as taxation and other policy issues.

    “We are truly a trailblazing nation. Many countries struggle in vain to generate a national debate on public financing, taxation, or other policy issues. In Kenya, we have easily sustained intense discourse on the Finance Bill and the Affordable Housing Policy for several weeks now” he said.

    He acknowledged that the cost of living remains a thorny issue.

    “The cost of living is keeping all leaders, including myself, awake, and this is precisely as it should be”.

    He said the divergent reactions to his proposals meant to turn around the economy was an eye opener and also proof that Kenya is a stakeholder republic.

    “More encouragingly, the discourse on public finances and the Housing Fund has opened our eyes to our emergence as a Stakeholder Republic. Kenyans today, more than ever, are fully involved citizens in shaping public policies and making institutions accountable for the manner in which they run national affairs. This is the vision of Madaraka expressed in the first article of our Constitution: All sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya” he said.

    “Superficially, the intense national debate on housing is not about whether it is a tax or a contribution. The attention sharply focused on housing contributions is an implicit expression of ownership. People desire better information and stronger assurances regarding custody, security, investment and return on their money” he added.

    He however stuck to his guns maintaining the housing levy was the antidote to youth unemployment.

    “Housing sector will ensure our entire manufacturing value chain (construction industry) will create employment, a million plus jobs both directly and indirectly”.

    This he said will empower the five million unemployed youths to enter the taxable income category through intentional efforts to create jobs.

    “ It is my duty to increase the number of homeowners in slums. We must transition those who live in 1411 slums into homeowners. These people deserve to live in dignity. We owe them a duty of citizenship” he said.

     

  • Govt role in affordable housing is indispensable, Lands CS tells WB

    Govt role in affordable housing is indispensable, Lands CS tells WB

    Lands Cabinet Secretary Zachariah Njeru has said that Governments and policymakers have an indispensable role in making affordable housing a reality.

    The CS said Governments have the crucial role of formulating policies to guiding affordable housing programmes by creating an enabling environment for investors and creating a sustainable funding mechanism.

    Mr Njeru was speaking Wednesday morning during the 9th Global Affordable Housing Conference in Washington DC, which was organized by the World Bank. He was one of the keynote speakers at the event

    The Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development CS said sound policies are necessary to bring down the cost of building. He said policy makers can make housing programmes successful by crafting policies that promote use of emerging technologies, build capacities and enhancing public awareness about the benefits of new innovations.

    “If we embrace Industrial Building Technologies correctly, we will certainly be effective in cutting costs for large scale construction projects, potentially enabling more affordable housing projects to be initiated,” said the CS.

    The Cabinet Secretary said the majority of citizens of countries including Kenya have traditionally been locked out of home ownership.

    He said some of the challenges that have stifled access to housing include lengthy mortgage processes, difficulties with property registration, lack of standardized mortgage underwriting processes and lack of affordable end-user financing among others.

    The CS reiterated that Governments have the duty to find innovative solutions around practical housing finance and use of technologies. He said one of the ways governments including Kenya are making housing affordable is by availing the land for constructing the houses.

    The CS said that affordable housing is an initiative where Governments, international organizations, private developers and financiers have united to make a difference to bridge the gap and fulfill Goal 11 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    He called on other stakeholders to support the noble initiative of creating an avenue for the majority to access ways to own homes.

    Earlier in the week, CS Njeru, who is accompanied by Housing Secretary Mr Said Athman, visited New Jersey where he was the chief guest in an Expo targeting Kenyans in the diaspora to invest in the affordable housing programmes in Kenya.

    He encouraged Kenyans living in the United States to use the Boma Yangu platform to invest in the massive construction opportunities in Kenya as the Government builds 200,000 Affordable Housing Units annually for next five years.

    On Monday, the CS took part in a roundtable discussion where he explained how Kenyans living outside the country can use the Ardhisasa platform to manage their properties at home.

     

  • President Ruto lauds peace process in eastern DRC

    President Ruto lauds peace process in eastern DRC

    President William Ruto has commended the ceasefire and cessation of hostilities in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

    He said remarkable progress had been witnessed in the past two months, facilitating the return to normalcy in the country.

    He noted that a civilian officer will be appointed to help shield the East African Regional Force from political and public affairs matters.

    “This will enhance peace and security in the region,” he said.

    He spoke on Wednesday during the 21st Extra-Ordinary Summit of the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State in Bujumbura, Burundi.

    President Ruto thanked the Heads of State for stepping in to resolve the conflict in Eastern DRC, which “has borne fruit”.

    In particular, he lauded DRC President Félix Tshisekedi for facilitating the deployment which has led to a stop in the killing of women and children.

    The President congratulated Annette Mutaawe and Andrea Malueth on their appointments as the EAC Deputy Secretary Generals.

    Present were Burundi President Évariste Ndayishimiye, Tanzania Vice-President Dr Isidori Mpango, Prime Minister of Rwanda Dr Édouard Ngirente, First Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda
    Rebecca Kadaga, EAC Secretary General Peter Mathuki, among others.

  • Shakahola exhumations to resume next week

    Shakahola exhumations to resume next week

    Pathologists and detectives have completed the second phase of postmortems for the bodies of followers of the controversial Preacher Paul Mackenzie who died after starving to death so as to meet God.

    This paves the way for the third round of exhumations set to resume Tuesday next week.

    Government Chief Pathologist Johansen Oduor said they had so far done 243 autopsies.

    Addressing journalists during the end of the second phase at the Malindi Sub County Hospital mortuary, Oduor said out of the 16 bodies that were remaining six were male while nine were female but they could not ascertain the gender of one body due to the level of decomposition.

    “Adults were 11, Children were 4, one of them also we were unable to determine the age because of the state of the body,” he said.

    Oduor said one of the bodies was very fresh since the victim died in hospital after being rescued but they established he had died of kidney failure.

    He said the victim died after staying in hospital for a week adding that he had been admitted with severe dehydration and malnutrition.

    “While in hospital he refused to eat totally until he passed on and we found out the cause of death was kidney failure which has been caused by dehydration,” he said.

    He said 13 bodies were severely decomposed while two were moderately decomposed.

    The pathologist said 10 of the victims died as a result of starvation but they were unable to know the cause of death of five others because of the level of decomposition.

    “So far we have done a total of 243 bodies from the time we started the autopsies which on the 1st of this month up to date,” he said.

    Oduor said most of the bodies they did autopsies on were male adults.

    He said they intend to start the third phase of exhumation next week on Tuesday.

    Francis Auma Rapid Response officer MUHURI who is in Malindi said they have been monitoring the operation and so far, they are happy with the progress.

    In a telephone interview, he said at least the Human rights group have been allowed access to the process and hopes justice will prevail for the affected families.

    “What we want is speedy investigations so that the Shakahola tragedy is concluded as it was too much to the families affected,” he said.

    Auma said they want restoration of the Shakahola forest so as to ensure the country remembers the massacre even for the future generation.

  • ODPP adopts technology as witnesses testify online

    ODPP adopts technology as witnesses testify online

    The criminal justice sector continues to adopt technology in its operations, among them allowing witnesses to testify online.

    A Mombasa court heard three prosecution witnesses online in a murder case.

    Justice Anne Ong’injo heard that Livingston Mwilu allegedly murdered Dzombo Kirunga by hacking him in 2022, after accusing him of bewitching his wife.

    Court heard that the deceased had offered to give the accused a piece of land but he insisted on being paid Ksh150,000 for the treatment of his allegedly bewitched wife.

    Joseph Mwema Mulwa, a village elder testified that he forwarded the dispute between the deceased and the accused to Kasemeni sub-location assistant Chief.

    Hearing continues.