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Author: Margaret Kalekye

  • Waiguru releases Ksh53M as she launches County development plan

    Waiguru releases Ksh53M as she launches County development plan

    Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has released Ksh. 53.2 million to fund 146 farmers groups to undertake various value chains projects as she launched county’s five-year development plan.

    The funds will be shared by farmers groups undertaking tomato, dairy, avocado, poultry, bee keeping, fish, pig and dairy goat farming among others.

    Waiguru says the projects under the “Wezesha Kirinyaga Empowerment Programme” aims to empowering the beneficiaries to make at least Ksh. 1,000 per day from the various value chains.

    Speaking at the County Headquarters in Kutus, where she released the funds to the farmers, Waiguru said that through Wezesha, her administration has cumulatively disbursed Ksh. 344.3 million with Ksh. 225.3 million supporting 619 groups in tomato, dairy, avocado, poultry, bee keeping, fish, pig and dairy goat farming. Ksh. 119 million went to support producer organizations in dairy, avocado, tomato and poultry.

    “The money that we are releasing today will go a long way in helping the farmers put money into their pockets. We are implementing the bottom-up economic model by empowering farmers to engaging in small scale agri-business and in return earn money to feed their families,” she said.

    The Wezesha Kirinyaga Empowerment Programme which is supported through the National Agricultural Rural Inclusive Growth (NARIG) is in its third phase of funding.

    “This money has uplifted the living standards of the beneficiaries. The beneficiaries are now empowered to make at least Ksh. 1,000 per day from various value chains,” she added.

    At the same time, the governor has launched County’s third Integrated Development Plan (CIDP 2023-2027) that offers a cohesive framework of
    development for the county.

    The governor said the plan seeks to improves the quality of life for everyone that lives and works in Kirinyaga.

    While unveiling the plan, the Council of Governors chair said her administration will work together with the national government, development partners, Public Private Partners to mobilize resources for the implementation of key projects.

    “Despite the scarcity of resources, we shall endeavour to equitably allocate the available resources to ensure equitable development across the county. We shall also enhance effective and efficient monitoring and evaluation systems that will see to it that the projects are implemented within the given timelines,” Waiguru added.

    “The CIDP takes into account the inclusion of special groups such as the youth and women as key factors of production in our county’s economic growth. As such the projects identified herein will ensure that they will translate to their economic empowerment,” said the governor.

    She said the plan’s main strategic goals includes; job creation through the establishment of new industries and product diversification and better health through accessible and affordable health care.

    The plan also seeks to increase income from improved and efficient agricultural productivity, market access, product marketing, and competitive market prices.

    “In our five-year plan, we also seek to have improved urban planning and infrastructure to create state-of-the-art towns and cities and at the same time have enhanced knowledge and skills development to establish demand driven, adaptive, diligent, talented and unique workforce,” the COG chair said.

    She further said that her government will enhance effective and efficient monitoring and evaluation systems that will see that the projects are implemented within the given timelines.

    Waiguru said her government will prioritize actualization of the establishment of the Sagana Climate Smart Agro-Industrial City which will host an array of development, including an Export Processing Zone (EPZ), the County Aggregation
    Industrial Parks (CAIPS), affordable housing units and a sports complex.

    In health, the governor said she will equipping and operationalisation of Kerugoya County Level 5 Referral Hospital, completion, equipping, and operationalisation of Kimbimbi and Kianyaga Level Four Hospitals will take center stage.

    “This will be supported by the completion and operationalisation of more than 20 dispensaries across the county, to support primary healthcare. The facilities will be managed through Hospital Information Management System for accurate management of hospital commodities and supplies,” the governor added.

    In agriculture, Waiguru said she plans to expand the Wezesha Kirinyaga program to incorporate an additional 100,000 households into the program.

    Reporting by Christine Muchira

  • Police raid Al-Shabaab camp in Garissa, seize weapons

    Police raid Al-Shabaab camp in Garissa, seize weapons

    Kenyan security forces are pursuing suspected Al-Shabaab militants who escaped following a raid on their makeshift camp in Garissa county.

    According to the National Police Service, officers from the Special Operation Group who were on patrol Monday at 11 am engaged about 10 militants in a shootout but they fled.

    The special unit followed a trail of footprints for almost three kilometers when they stumbled on the assailant’s hideout.

    In the process, they recovered several warfare equipment including; 2 RPGs with 7 warheads, 6 AK47 rifles with 20 Magazines, 1 PKM Machine gun with a belt of 200 rounds, 2 hand grenades, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) materials, food cache, a cell phone and memory card.

    “On 22 May 2023, at around 1100hrs while along Diiso, Biamthow SOG Officers on patrol found fresh footprints at Billow Dam and after tracking the footprints for about 2.7 kms, where they came across a makeshift camp with about 10 suspected Alshabaab militants engaged in a shootout, and the militants escaped,” NPS said in a statement.

    Efforts are underway to arrest the suspects.

  • Court suspends Talanta Hela initiative

    Court suspends Talanta Hela initiative

    The High Court has suspended the implementation of the Talanta Hela program, an initiative of President William Ruto that was created to nurture grassroots talent.

    Talanta Hela Council which has two technical committees, one for sports and one for creatives was established by the President on February 10, 2023, vide a Kenya Gazette Notice No.1649 (Vol.CXXV No.32).

    High Court Judge Lawrence Mugambi who issued the orders Monday, granted the Sports Ministry 14 days to put their house in order and respond to the petition and application, which shall be its last chance.

    “Pending the hearing and determination of this application interparties, an interim orders be and is hereby issued suspending the special issue of the Kenya Gazette Notice 1649(Vol.CXXV No.32) dated February 10,2023 publishing the establishment of the Talanta Hela Council and its Technical Committees and consequent appointments for a period of 3 years,” ruled Mugambi.

    The order has been issued after a petition was filed by an advocate of the high Court who is also the petitioner Charles Mugane challenging the Sports Cabinet Sectary’s appointment of the Creative Technical Committee.

    According to Mugane, the appointments were politically engineered to reward cronies while ignoring qualified Kenyans

    “This was a betrayal of the public trust bestowed upon you by the Kenyan citizenry,” Mugane told Namwamba in the petition.

    The petitioner further states that the appointments were made in breach of Article 10 of the Constitution.

    The Article sets out the national values and principles of governance, including public participation, good governance, transparency and accountability.

    Mugane wanted the judge to suspend the implementation of the council and its relevant committees in all 47 counties.

    The judge also allowed Sports Kenya, Kenya Academy and Kenya Copyright Board to be enjoined in the case and also allowed Mugane to respond to issues raised by the new parties.

    “That the payer to join Sports Kenya, Kenya Academy of Sports and Kenya Copyright Board is granted.” Ordered Justice Mugambi.

    Adding that: “That the petitioner is granted leave to file a rejoinder once responses to the petition are filed and served.”

    The case will be mentioned on June 12, 2023 for further directions.

    Reporting by Christine Muchira

     

  • Judge recuses himself from Ksh 80M graft case against Amadi

    Judge recuses himself from Ksh 80M graft case against Amadi

    Justice David Majanja has recused himself from hearing a graft case against Chief Registrar of Judiciary Ann Amadi.

    Last week, the Milimani Commercial Judge David Majanja froze personal bank accounts belonging to Amadi and her son, Brian Ochieng who are implicated in a Ksh 89M fake gold syndicate.

    Majanja made the orders following a suit filed by Bruton Gold Trading Company based in Dubai.

    Justice Majanja said he could not continue hearing the case since he sits in the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) where Amadi is the secretary to the commission.

    “l am a member of JSC where Amadi sits as the secretary and CRJ and I granted the order on that basis it was the law firm- Amadi & Associates Advocates registered in her name. I note that there are issues pertaining to my partiality and the impression created to the members of the public. I, therefore, disqualify myself from hearing the matter and refer it to the High Court Commercial Division Presiding Judge Alfred Mabeya for hearing on Wednesday morning,” Justice Majanja said.

    Amadi who has dismissed the allegations levelled against her together with her son Brian Ochieng has petitioned the court to vacate the freezing orders pending the hearing and determination of the case before Justice Alfred Mabeya tomorrow May 24th.

    Justice Mabeya will decide whether to hear the suit or assign another judge.

    The top court official has been sued by a British National who claims he paid the registrar’s firm (Amadi and Associates) $742,206 (Ksh102,090,435), for the supply of 1,500kg consignment of gold bars which were never delivered.

    Amadi has termed the accusations that cast aspersions on her integrity as untrue, malicious. She has vowed to defend herself in court including suing for defamation.

     

    Additional reporting by Ruth Wamboi

     

     

     

     

  • Over 7 million children in Horn of Africa malnourished-UNICEF

    Over 7 million children in Horn of Africa malnourished-UNICEF

    The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has disclosed that more than seven million children under the age of five remain malnourished and in need of urgent nutrition aid.

    According to the grim statistics by UNICEF, over 1.9 million boys and girls are at risk of dying from severe malnutrition.

    It further points out that children in the Horn of Africa are living through an unprecedented large-scale crisis of hunger, displacement, water scarcity, and insecurity.

    As the region comes out of one of the worst droughts in 40 years, vulnerable communities have lost cattle, crops, and entire livelihoods over the past three years of failed rains.

    “The crisis in the Horn has been devastating for children,” said Mohamed Fall, UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa.

    Adding that: “Over the past three years, communities have been forced to take extreme measures to survive, with millions of children and families leaving their homes out of pure desperation in search of food and water. This crisis has deprived children of the essentials of childhood: having enough to eat, a home, safe water, and going to school.”

    Floods

    While the rains postponed the worst, they have also led to floods, as the extremely thirsty ground is unable to absorb large quantities of water, leading to further displacement, increased risk of disease, livestock loss and crop damage.

    In Somalia, the rains have caused floods that have damaged homes, farmland, and roads, as well as washed away livestock and led to closures of schools and health facilities.

    Initial estimates indicate that the flash and riverine floods across the country have affected at least 460,470 people, of whom nearly 219,000 have been displaced from their homes mainly in flood-prone areas, and 22 killed.

    Floods have also caused widespread destruction and displacement in several regions of Ethiopia.

    The flooding has deepened the vulnerability of populations already highly affected by the drought as the areas hit hardest by flooding and drought overlap.

    The floods have also worsened health risks, including cholera, with the current outbreak among the longest ever recorded in Ethiopia.

    “The rains have brought some relief and hope, but also new threats, and recovery doesn’t happen overnight,” said Fall. “It takes time for crops and herds to grow again, for families to recover from years of hardship. That’s why continued support is still critical.”

    Domino effect

    Across the region, 23 million people are facing high levels of acute food insecurity in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. The number of severely malnourished children seeking treatment in the first quarter of this year remains much higher than last year and will likely remain high for quite a while.

    On top of nutrition needs, extreme weather, insecurity, and scarcity have also had devastating consequences for women and children, worsening the risk of gender-based violence (GBV), sexual exploitation and abuse.

    Major outbreaks including cholera, measles, malaria, and other diseases are ongoing across the region, worsened by extreme weather conditions and fragile health systems. Food prices remain high in local markets, burdening children, and families. The climate crisis is compounding the severity of the situation, worsening mass displacement, malnutrition, and disease.

    Fall underlined the need for greater funding. Thanks to donor support, UNICEF was able to provide services for the prevention of malnutrition to over 30 million children and mothers in 2022.

    “This year, further flexible funding will not just help children recover from a crisis of this magnitude, but also go towards developing more resilient, sustainable systems for children in the region that can withstand future climate impacts and other shocks,” he said.

    “With the extreme weather cycles that we see today in the Horn of Africa, the next crisis may hit before children and families have had a chance to recover,” he added.

    This year, UNICEF is appealing for US$759 million to provide life-saving support to 16.6 million people including 12.2 million children in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia, a 39pc increase compared to 2022.

    An additional US$690 million is required to provide climate-sensitive resilience.

    Reporting by Christine Muchira

  • Haji to be vetted Tuesday amid integrity queries

    Haji to be vetted Tuesday amid integrity queries

    Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji, who is set to become the next Director General of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) will be vetted by Parliament on Tuesday next week.

    Kenyans have until Monday next week to submit their representations contesting the suitability of Haji for appointment as the NIS boss.

    The National Assembly’s departmental committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations is receiving memoranda by way of written statements on oath (affidavit) on the suitability of the nominee.

    The approval hearings will be in line with Article 118(1)(b) of the Constitution which requires Parliament to facilitate public participation in the legislative and other business of Parliament and its Committees as well as Section 6(9) of the Parliamentary Appointments  (Parliamentary Approval) Act, 2011 which provides that any person may prior to the approval hearing and by written statement on oath, provide the Clerk with evidence contesting the suitability of a candidate to hold the office to which the candidate has been nominated.

    “The memoranda may be forwarded to the Clerk of the National Assembly on or before Monday, 29 May, 2023 by 5.00pm” a notice by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Samuel Njoroge states.

    His nomination by President William Ruto last week has been met with opposition from Civil society groups who have no faith in him.

    They claim Haji who is returning to the National Intelligence Service after 6 years of serving as the DPP violated the constitution by withdrawing graft cases involving senior government officials.

    The National Integrity Alliance said the decisions by the DPP who has defended his track record amount to incompetence and gross misconduct.

    Haji maintains the withdrawal of cases was lawfully done.

  • Shakahola probe suffers hitch as court suspends Commission of Inquiry

    Shakahola probe suffers hitch as court suspends Commission of Inquiry

    The government has suffered a blow after the High Court temporarily suspended the Commission of Inquiry into Shakahola deaths.

    The Justice Jessi Lessit-led commission will know its fate on Monday when Justice Lawrence Mugambi will deliver a substantive ruling on the case filed by Azimio la Umoja coalition.

    Raila, who is challenging the formation of the commission, through his lawyer, Paul Mwangi sued the state saying the appointment of the members of the commission by President William Ruto is illegal and unconstitutional.

    The opposition leader accused the Head of State of undermining the authority of the National Intelligence Service under Article 242 of the Constitution of Kenya.

    “The formation of the Commission of Inquiry Into the Shakahola Tragedy is a usurpation of the powers and undermining of the authority of the Senate which has already commissioned an ad-hoc Committee to investigate the Shakahola Massacre whose mandates have been duplicated,” the petition stated.

    On May 5, President Ruto appointed a commission of inquiry into the Shakohola deaths and religious organisations through a gazette notice.

    Lady Justice Jessie Lessit will chair the commission, together with sevens others namely Lady Justice Mary Kasango, Eric Gumbo, Bishop Catherine Mutua, and Jonathan Lodompui.

    Additional reporting by Ruth Wamboi