Police in Nairobi are holding two suspects in connection with the recovery of a firearm loaded with twelve rounds of ammunition.
Acting on intelligence received from members of the public, undercover officers from the Pangani police station are said to have pounced on a suspect along Desai road in the city’s Ngara estate.
According to police, 30-year old George Gitau is usually seen with a firearm and is suspected of being behind a series of robberies within the city.
A search conducted on the suspect by the police however failed to yield any firearm, but a lengthy interrogation would provide the answer. The suspect is said to have informed the officers that he had left the firearm in his house at Mowlem area but his wife could bring the same to the police station.
A call to his wife, 27-year old Terryann Nyambura, would see the gun delivered to the detectives based at the Pangani police station. The wife would later be arrested by police.
The Walther pistol loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition and two mobile phones are now with the police as exhibits with the two set to be arraigned in court facing robbery with violence related charges.
The government is set to re-open the Eastern Regional immigration offices in Garissa in an effort to facilitate expeditious processing of critical documents.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, who was on a tour of various security installations in the region, said the move was part of Kenya Kwanza administration’s efforts to enhance equal access to quality services.
“The Government will, from 1st July 2023, reopen the Immigration office in Garissa County to facilitate seamlessly and expeditious processing and issuance of passports and other critical documents to the residents of North Eastern region.” Said Kindiki.
In an effort to boost the capacity of the country’s specialized security and intelligence teams to combat terrorism and other related crimes, kindiki said the government will invest 20 billion shillings in the modernization of equipment and other facilities for various security agencies.
The modernization which will see the acquisition of modern aircrafts and firearms as well as integration of latest technologies is meant to help the country effectively deal with modern day security threats such as terrorism, cross border crime, banditry and livestock rustling, trade in illicit alcohol, drugs and psychotropic substances.
He was accompanied by Deputy Inspector General of Police Noor Gabow, religious leaders, regional peace Committees members, Garissa Governor Nadhif Jama as well as other political leaders from the region.
The government has announced plans to transform the boda boda sector with the introduction of more efficient and affordable clean energy motorcycles by September this year.
Speaking during celebrations to mark this year’s Madaraka day, President William Ruto said the motorcycles will be financed through a mechanism that takes care of the interests of the buyer.
He said the government’s decision to initiate the new transport system was advised by the increasing cost of petroleum products.
“As international petroleum prices continue to rise beyond reach, the cost of fuel locally rises steeply. Transport, as a component of household budgets, is affecting the cost of living. We have to liberate Kenyans from reliance on transport that depends on petroleum.” Observed the president.
He said the move will ensure that the industry witnesses a more inclusive transformation through the introduction of more efficient, affordable and clean vehicles.
‘Owning and operating a boda boda will become affordable, secure and profitable. I am eager that this information reaches the seconder of my presidential nomination, Mr. Calvin Ochieng, who operates in Kilimani, so that he can escalate his hustle to the next level,” said the president.
The boda boda sector has proved a critical segment of the economy providing job opportunities for thousands of unemployed young Kenyans. With the absence of a reliable, efficient transport across the country both in both urban and rural areas, the sector has acted to fill the gap.
President William Ruto says the country has succeeded in transforming the political narrative from that of personal interests to that based on issues.
Speaking at Moi stadium Embu during celebrations to mark this year’s Madaraka day, the president said his decision to structure his campaigns along issues affecting the ordinary Kenyan during the last general elections proved critical in the obtaining situation.
“Not only did Kenyans reject the old divisive politics of tribe and tribal chiefs, but they also demanded and interrogated well-considered party
manifestos with detailed plans for economic transformation. As a result, although the election was closely contested, it was the most peaceful in the multi-party era.” Noted President Ruto.
The president observed that instead of the traditional campaigns of confrontation, incitement and division, the last campaign became a sustained national debate on the most pertinent economic issues facing millions of unemployed youth, access to affordable credit and inclusive financing.
He said it was imperative that the political class realize that the sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya.
“Kenyans today, more than ever, are fully involved citizens in shaping public policies and making institutions accountable in the manner in which they run national affairs. This is the vision of Madaraka
expressed in the first article of our Constitution” said the president.
Recalling the challenges of the liberation struggle, the president said the freedom fighters had primarily waged a political struggle to liberate a people violated, humiliated and impoverished under a predatory system whose institutions were vicious and extractive.
The government is in the process of reducing the time taken to acquire a Kenyan passport as it moves to unlock the backlog within the immigration department.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki says he has already directed that the 42,000 pending passport applications be processed within 21 days with the eventual reduction to seven days.
“Thereafter, all applications must be processed within 7 days. In emergency situations for applicants seeking medical and educational services, such applications must be considered and processed within 24 hours.” Said Kindiki
This even as he appealed for patience from those seeking services at the Immigration department saying the faulty printing equipment will be fixed within seven days.
60,000 booklets were delivered last Friday and will be used to deal with the backlog of 42,000 passport applications.
Today, Kenya is marking the 60th Madaraka Day, one of the three national holidays created by article 8 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010.
The day is meant to celebrate the definitive episode in 1963 that Kenya attained internal self-rule with Mzee Jommo Kenyatta taking the helm guided by a firm agenda of eliminating ignorance, poverty and disease.
The ceremonial swearing in of Prime Minister Jommo Kenyatta was met with optimism for opportunities represented by a new dawn without the burden of colonizers, with Kenya gaining full independence later in the year on 12th December.
KDF rehearsal parade at the Moi Stadium, Embu County. Photo/KDF
As thousands gather at the Moi stadium Embu to celebrate the historic day, millions of Kenyans are following proceedings amid high expectations that solutions to their concerns will be articulated during the celebrations.
But amid the pride of an independent people and expectations of a better future, concerns over a myriad of issues key among them the cost of living abound.
The celebrations come in the wake of the Azimio coalition’s decision to suspend bipartisan talks with the government aimed at addressing contentious issues. Representatives of the coalition in the talks are accusing the government of not being sincere in addressing substantive issues including lowering the cost of living, audit of electoral commission servers, interference with its affiliate parties and the reconstitution of IEBC. The talks had seen the opposition halt weekly protests it had called to protest against the Kenya Kwanza government.
This as sections of the Finance Bill 2023 continues to draw public outrage. Dubbed as among the most radical in the country’s history, the bill, which was tabled before the national assembly on May 4th for the first reading, has ignited varied reactions with civil servants’ unions threatening to stage a strike if the government fails to shelve a proposal to deduct a three percent levy on their salaries as a mandatory contribution to a housing fund as contained in the Finance Bill 2023. The Bill has a timeline of approval of 30th June to coincide with the enactment of the Appropriation Law, 2023.
KDF rehearsal parade at the Moi Stadium, Embu County. Photo/KDF
The most important part of today’s celebrations is the Madaraka day speech by the President which is expected to address the country’s struggle for freedom. Among areas of focus will be the struggles and the sacrifice of freedom fighters to have the country free as well as other issues affecting the country.
The Azimio coalition is calling for the withdrawal of the Finance bill 2023 saying it has failed the inclusivity test.
A parliamentary group meeting of the Azimio la Umoja party, chaired by their leader Raila Odinga, resolved that the bill as currently drafted must be withdrawn in totality.
According to the coalition, the finance Bill 2023 should instead be re-introduced in a manner that resonates with the plight of Kenyans.
Dubbed as among the most radical in the country’s history, the bill, which was tabled before the national assembly on May 4th for the first reading, has ignited varied reactions with civil servants’ unions threatening to stage a strike if the government fails to shelve a proposal to deduct a three percent levy on their salaries as a mandatory contribution to a housing fund as contained in the Finance Bill 2023.
Following the end of public participation, spearheaded by the departmental committee on finance and national planning, on the bill last Sunday, it is expected that issues of concern by the different stakeholders who participated in the exercise will be considered in amending the bill as part of public participation. It will then be tabled before Parliament for debate before it is signed into law by end of June with the proposals expected to take effect on 1 July 2023 after assent by the President.
The Bill has a timeline of approval of 30th June to coincide with the enactment of the Appropriation Law, 2023. It contains (84) clauses seeks to amend various tax laws and other related statutes to better the operations of financial sector as well as enhanced measures for raising national revenue.
The parliamentary meeting also upheld the suspension of the bipartisan talks between the government and the opposition aimed at addressing contentious issues. Representatives of the coalition in the talks had accused the government of not being sincere in addressing substantive issues including lowering the cost of living, audit of electoral commission servers, interference with its affiliate parties and the reconstitution of IEBC.
The meeting also resolved to have Embakasi West MP Hon. Mark Mwenje replace nominated MP Sabina Chege as the minority deputy whip Hon following the latter’s decision to shift her allegiance to the ruling Kenya kwanza coalition.
Timely intervention by authorities saw tenants at a condemned building in Mombasa evacuated shortly before it collapsed.
All the tenants at the building located in Marikiti area, most of whom were traders, were forcefully evacuated by fire and rescue official’s hours before the building crumbled.
The county government of Mombasa had issued a notice for the tenants to vacate the premise on May 12, 2023.
“All the tenants were evacuated safely. The tenants were adamant to vacate. They were issued with a warning notice before this incident,” said Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir when he visited the scene.
He extolled county officials, CECM Land, Urban Planning and Housing, and Old town MCA for leading the rescue mission.
“You did the right thing, we would be counting dead bodies,” said Governor Nassir.
The Governor said another building under construction is set to be demolished after the County Government got the court nod.
The State Department for Water and Sanitation has signed a memorandum of understanding with the County Government of Uasin Gishu in collaboration with water agencies in the region that seeks to enhance efficiency in the management of water.
The agreement, between the two levels of government in conjunction with North Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency (NRVWWDA), Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency, Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company (ELDOWAS) and Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) will help curb water losses through illegal connection and provide sustainable water supply to residents through construction of dams.
Speaking after the MoU signing ceremony, which was held at the governor’s office, Water and Sanitation Principal Secretary Dr. Paul Rono said the government remains commitment to prioritizing water issues in the country.
“As the ministry mandated to construct, manage and supervise the 100 dams, we have started the journey by doing an assessment across the country on the water needs and the locations of the dams, and also other medium dams close to 1000 and 3000 small dams like water pans and boreholes,” he said.
This even as he issued a stern warning to contractors who fail to complete projects within stipulated time saying they risk having their contracts terminated.
Rono called on area residents to report case of vandalism immediately to the water police.
“Anybody found to have connected water illegally will face the full wrath of the law and that is why we have a water police unit here. If you are caught stealing water, or water gadgets like metres pipes and others, it will not be business as usual,” said. Dr. Rono.
Retired military officers are calling on the Government to create a budgetary provision to help retired soldiers effectively discharge their peace-keeping mandate as prescribed in the Act establishing their umbrella body, the Kenya Veterans for Peace.
This, according to the Executive Director of the Kenya Veterans for Peace Dr Nelson Sechere, would help easier re-integration of decommissioned officers into the society after years of working in seclusion in military barracks
Dr Sechere spoke at a dinner organized by veteran soldiers drawn from the Kenya Army, the Navy and Kenya Air Force.
Chief Representative Officer for Kenya Army in the Kenya Veterans for Peace, Major Retired Stanley Kiama , thanked the government for taking good care of retired military officers through prompt payment of their pension.
