KBC Channel 1

Author: Prudence Wanza

  • TSC announces 20,000 paid internship posts for teachers

    TSC announces 20,000 paid internship posts for teachers

    The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced 18,000 job vacancies for intern teachers in junior Secondary Schools and a further 2,000 in Public Primary Schools to support the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum.

    In a circular, the commission says the Teacher Internship Programme is a one-year programme meant to equip and sustain the competencies of persons entering the teaching service.

    The commission further says teacher interns attached to primary schools will be eligible for a monthly stipend of Sh15,000, while those attached to JSS will be eligible for a monthly stipend of Sh20,000. 

    In addition, on successful completion of the internship programme, teacher interns will be awarded a certificate. To qualify as a JSS intern teacher, a candidate must be a Kenyan citizen and a registered teacher with TSC.

    Persons with disabilities (PWDs) and teachers from TVET institutions have also been encouraged to apply.

    The commission in addition says applicants should be unemployed and not previously employed by the Commission as an intern or on permanent and pensionable terms.

    The deadline for application is on July 10, 2023.

  • Kilifi County community health volunteers to start receiving monthly stipends

    Kilifi County community health volunteers to start receiving monthly stipends

    Kilifi County government has embarked on an exercise of paying its community health volunteers monthly stipends in a bid to enhance universal health coverage.

    Speaking at Soyosoyo in Watamu Ward, Kilifi Conty Executive Committee Member (CECM) Peter Mwarogo said that the CHVs will now be promoted from volunteers to health promoters owing to the crucial role they play at the grassroots level.

    “In about two weeks’ time, we will invite you for a meeting to come collect all your NHIF cards so that you can access health services whenever you and your families are unwell”, Mwarogo said.

    He said this during Open Defecation Free (ODF) celebration at Soyosoyo, an achievement that was drawn through combined efforts of the area’s community health volunteers together with USAID, UNICEF, Malindi Water and Sewerage LTD, Kilifi County and the National Government.

    Sumira Faraji, a resident of Dabaso who has been a community health volunteer for more than 20 years, was delighted by the county’s move saying that it will be a motivation to keep helping members of the community.

    She said that they have been at the frontline in aid of people while grappling with harsh economy and unbearable working environment.

    Faraji said that lacking NHIF has been a setback to their families’ health needs because they have not been able to afford healthcare services.

    “We have done this job for quite a long time without any leader in the caring about our wellbeing. Even though we still don’t know how much we are going to be provided, it is good news to us”, Faraji said.

    Tommick Yeri, also a community health volunteer in the area, lauded the government saying that earning a stipend for the first time since he started the voluntary journey has been his greatest dream.

    He said that provision of NHIF by the county government is great stride towards improving the health of the volunteers and their families.

    “This is a dream come true. I am full of joy and I feel this is the best reward I could ever get. I am so happy that we community health volunteers will now be in the NHIF scheme meaning our health is being cared for”, Yeri said.

    According to Yeri, achieving Open Defecation Free in Watamu ward is worth celebrating being a joint effort of the volunteers who worked tirelessly to create awareness to residents.

    Watamu and Dabaso Wards are among the areas in Kilifi North constituencies that have achieved 100 percent construction and use of toilets.

  • PS Kipsang: Gov’t to invest in education to empower, protect plight of children

    PS Kipsang: Gov’t to invest in education to empower, protect plight of children

    The government has reiterated its commitment to investing in education to empower young people and build a labour force that will guarantee country’s development.

    Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang assured that the government will focus on enhancing education systems in the country for quality learning.

    Speaking while opening a three-day children’s devolution conference at Mpesa Foundation Academy in Thika, Kiambu County, Kipsang noted that the government has shown tremendous interest to empower young people through education for posterity.

    He singled out that the government had in the 2023/2024 budget allocated Sh 628 billion towards expenditures in the education sector.

    These, among other initiatives, Kipsang reiterated were meant to better the environment of learners for the future.

    He lauded the collaborations that the national government has been having with local governments in various sectors such as early childhood education insisting on the need for the two levels of government to work together to ensure that learners access quality education.

    The PS upheld that the government is working towards addressing the challenges in the education sector including tooling teachers and employing enough of them, infrastructural issues, social-cultural gaps that learners have been facing among them, and teenage pregnancies among others.

    Kiambu governor Kimani Wamatangi who was joined by his Wajir and Mombasa counterparts Ahmed Abdullahi and Abdullswamad Sheriff Nassir respectively revealed that his government had embarked on an ambitious ECDE school feeding program to keep learners in class.

    Under the program, Wamatangi noted that children will be getting eggs and porridge daily to retain them in school.

    Following an upsurge in the number of street families in the county, the governor noted that his administration will begin putting up safe homes for the neglected children

    During the conference, Robert Simiyu, the UNICEF representative, called on the government to increase budgetary allocations for education systems, insisting that all children remain in school and continue studying uninterrupted.

  • Kenya’s economic growth slows to 5.3pc in first quarter

    Kenya’s economic growth slows to 5.3pc in first quarter

    Kenya’s economic performance expanded by 5.3 per cent in the first quarter of this year.

    According to data released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistic (KNBS), the growth in January, February and March 2023 is a decline compared to 6.2 per cent growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) realized in a similar period last year.

    The growth is mainly attributed to a rebound in agricultural activities, which grew by 5.8 per cent owing to sufficient rainfall experienced during the period analyzed.

    “Most macroeconomic indicators showed upward trajectory during the quarter under review,” KNBS said.

    However, inflation rose from an average 9.13 per cent from 5.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2022 due to significant spikes in food and energy prices

    Source: KNBS.

    Performance of key economic sectors

    Most sectors recorded a decline in growth except for agriculture, forestry and fishing which expanded by 5.8 per cent in the first quarter of 2023 compared to a contraction of 1.7 per cent in the first quarter of the previous year.

    “The significantly improved performance of the sector was attributable to favourable weather conditions that led to enhanced production, especially that of food crops during the period under review. The performance was evident in the significant increase in export of vegetables and fruits recorded during the quarter in review,” KNBS stated

    On the other hand, manufacturing recorded a slower growth of 2 per cent in 2023 compared to 3.8 per cent growth in first quarter of 2022.

    “In the manufacture of food products, growth was mainly supported by manufacture of bakery products and processing and preservation of fish which expanded by 15.2 and 7.2 per cent, respectively, during the period under review.”

    Electricity and Water Supply Performance of Electricity and Water Supply sector was relatively slower in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the corresponding quarter of 2022.

    Accommodation and Food Service sector is estimated to have expanded by 21.5 per cent compared to 40.1 per cent growth recorded in the first quarter of 2022.

    “The accommodation and food services activities sector has been growing steadily owing to dissipation of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic that consequently led to improved economic environment in most tourist destinations,” KNBS noted.

    Information and Communication Information and Communication sector grew by 8.7 per cent in the first quarter of 2023 compared to 9.0 per cent growth in the corresponding quarter of 2022. Domestic voice traffic rose by 12.3 per cent to 21.5 billion minutes in the first quarter of 2023.

    Financial and Insurance Activities Financial and Insurance sector grew by 5.8 per cent in the first quarter of 2023 compared to 17.0 per cent growth in the quarter of 2022.

  • Detectives arrest three suspects in motorcycle theft syndicate

    Detectives arrest three suspects in motorcycle theft syndicate

    Detectives have dismantled a motorcycle theft ring that has been operating between Kenya and a neighbouring country.

    According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI), a well organized criminal gang has been responsible for the disappearance of motorcycles, before ferrying them to Loitoktok town from where they are sneaked into a neighboring country.

    A woman identified as Agnes Wambui is believed to be the bait used to attract the boda boda riders.

    “Posing as a pillion passenger, Wambui stupefies her victims along the way before disappearing with the motorbikes,” DCI stated

    The suspect who was arrested after comprehensive investigations led detectives to her other accomplices including one Daniel Mwaniki and William Nkadanyo alias Saningo.

    Nkadanyo was arrested in Loitoktok town where he is believed to have a ready market for the stolen motorcycles. Stolen mobile phones were also recovered from the suspects.

    Over 30 tablets believed to be stupefying drugs were also recovered from the suspects, who were discovered to have pending criminal cases in Ongata Rongai, Kajiado County and in Diani, Kwale County.

  • 54pc of Kenyans believe that those who will pay Housing levy will not get houses – Survey

    54pc of Kenyans believe that those who will pay Housing levy will not get houses – Survey

    54 per cent of Kenyans believe that those who will pay Housing levy will not get the promised houses, a new survey shows.

    The survey released Tuesday by research firm Trends and Insights for Africa (TIFA) also revealed that 11 per cent of Kenyans believe that those who pay the housing levy will own a house.

    “Expectations that those who pay the new housing levy will ever get a house are quite most, with nearly five times as many of all Kenyans certain that they will not as compared to those who certain that they will (54% vs. 11%),” TIFA said

    TIFA noted that the expectations were shaped by political alignment with five times more Government supporters certain they will get a house as compared to Opposition supporters.

    “By contrast, and unsurprisingly, nearly all Opposition supporters oppose it (84%), suggesting that to a large extent, such opinions are more a reflection of political alignment than of the details of the program itself (which are to become better known in due course, with whatever impact on the public’s opinion about it),” TIFA stated

    The survey which was conducted between June 23 and 30 also found that 69 per cent of Kenyans do not support the Housing Levy whereas seven out of every 10 Kenyans oppose the project.

    “Among Kenyans as a whole, only one-quarter express support the housing fund-program (24%), more than two-thirds, of a contrary opinion (69%). Even among Government supporters a majority hold this negative view (54%), at least for now,” TIFA added.

  • Senator Omtatah seeks to cross examine Speaker Kingi on Finance Bill Affidavit

    Senator Omtatah seeks to cross examine Speaker Kingi on Finance Bill Affidavit

    Busia County Senator Okiya Omtatah has filed an application seeking to cross examine Senate Speaker Amason Kingi over his affidavit on Finance Act 2023.

    The Senator argues that Kingi’s affidavit contains allegations that are based on imagination.

    “The petitioners intend to cross-examine Rt. Hon. Amason Jeffah Kingi, EGH, the Speaker of the Senate, to expose the errors, falsehoods, contradictions and improbabilities in his affidavit sworn on 1st July 2023,” reads court documents

    According to Omtatah, it is crucial to cross examine the evidence by Kingi in order to make an informed decision on the petition.

    The Senator argues that the letter by the speaker does not negate the constitutional requirement for concurrence by the two Houses of Parliament on Bills, including whether they affect counties and their governments.

    Omtatah further claims that the letter by Kingi raises questions as to whether it is secretive and solely at the discretion of the two Speakers and at what point it is considered that the two Houses have concurred.

    “Among the evidence the petitioners presented was a legally very sound letter from the Rt. Hon. Amason Jeffah Kingi, EGH, the Speaker of the Senate, expressing the Senate’s and his concern that the Bill had not undergone the mandatory concurrence of the two Speakers of Parliament as required by Article 110(3) of the Constitution,” reads court document.

    In his affidavit, Kingi claims that the letter cited by Omtatah was sent in error adding that the conservatory orders issued by the court suspending the Finance Act 2023 is against public interest.

    According to the speaker the government stands or suffer grave prejudice for the revenue lost in uncollected taxes owing to the suspension of the implementation of the Finance ACT 2023.

    Last week, the court temporarily suspended the operationalization of the Finance Act 2023 pending a case filed in court by Omtatah.

    The case is set to be mentioned on Wednesday for further directions.

     

  • Ruto: Gov’t keen to strike balance between recurrent and development expenditure

    Ruto: Gov’t keen to strike balance between recurrent and development expenditure

    The Government is keen on striking the right balance between the development and recurrent expenditure.

    President William Ruto observed that the Government is spending more resources on recurrent than the required numbers.

    He said about 46 per cent of the country’s spending is on salaries and wages.

    “This is way above our target of 35 per cent. We must work towards bringing down the figure.”

    He noted that the move will ensure that the country’s development plan is not starved of funds.

    He made the remarks on Tuesday at State House, Nairobi, during the swearing-in of Principal Secretaries Salome Muhia-Beacco (Correctional Services) and Anne Wang’ombe (Performance & Delivery Services).

    The President asked the two to work with their Cabinet Secretaries to deliver on the Government’s agenda.

    “Kenyans expect us to deliver on our promises and make their lives better. You have the requisite knowledge to deliver on this agenda.”

    He asked the State Department for Performance and Delivery Services to ensure that public servants are held to account, made more productive and remunerated accordingly.

    “We must also embrace correctional best practices to empower prisoners besides preparing them for productive engagement in the country,” he said.

    Principal Secretary for Performance Management and Delivery Services Anne Njoki Wang’ombe taking oath of office at State House, Nairobi.

    Principal Secretary for Correctional Services Salome Wairimu Muhia- Beacco taking oath of office at State House, Nairobi.

    President Ruto urged them to ensure prudent use of public resources.

    Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, Solicitor General Shadrack Mose among other leaders, were present.

  • Zimbabwean Presidential Candidate in Kenya for benchmarking before polls

    Zimbabwean Presidential Candidate in Kenya for benchmarking before polls

    Zimbabwean Presidential candidate Saviour Kasukuwere has arrived in the country to benchmark Kenya Kwanza’s administration ahead of the scheduled election on August 23.

    The politician, who spoke with journalists in Nairobi, confirmed that he is visiting Kenya to benchmark with the Kenyan government before returning to Zimbabwe to spearhead his campaigns.

    “I am here in Kenya to compare my 5 pillars with that of Kenya’s government. President William Ruto’s bottom-up agenda is particularly interesting and worthy of attention,” he opined.

    Kasukuwere, who announced his presidential ambitions at a press conference a week ago, has promised to revive the country’s economy.

    “If I emerge the winner in the polls, my top priority for the people is to give title deeds to Zimbabweans who have been suffering for decades,” he said

    Additionally, Kasukuwere has pledged to restore trust in the public service, where he claims corruption has become prevalent.

    “I come with a clear agenda, and a deep appreciation of what Zimbabweans need,” he noted.

    Kasukuwere also underscored the need to forge a peaceful campaign and to allow all contenders to sell their manifesto to the people without intimidation and harassment by the state.

    ‘’It is an agenda-based campaign and the state should be tolerant, we want free and fair elections in August,” Kasukuwere claimed.

    The 53-year-old Zimbabwean politician has previously held various government and political party positions. He is best known for his roles as Mugabe’s last National Political Commissar, a member of the Politburo, and a member of Zanu PF’s Central Committee.

    His career in public service began as the Deputy Minister of Youth Development and Employment Creation, where he implemented policies to stimulate the economy and promote youth employment.

    In 2009, he was appointed Minister of Youth Development and Employment Creation, further advancing initiatives for youth empowerment and local business development.

    In 2013 he was appointed as the Minister of Environment, Water, and Climate, where he played a leading role in addressing the effects of climate change in Zimbabwe and developing the country’s first official National Climate Change Response Strategy. He also served as the Minister of Local Government, Public Works, and National Housing.

    The upcoming election is expected to feature the incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa, representing the ZANU-PF party, and ten other candidates including Nelson Chamisa, a pastor and lawyer leading the Citizens Coalition for Change.

    Other candidates include Douglas Mwonzora, Trust Chikohora, Lovemore Madhuku, Blessing Kasiyamhuru, Joseph Busha, Wilson Harry, Gwinyai Muzorewa.

    Kasukuwere is an independent candidate and is anticipated to gain support, particularly in ZANU-PF strongholds.

    Emmerson Mnangagwa is vying for a second term in the midst of Zimbabwe’s ongoing economic challenges.

    Over the course of this month, the Zimbabwean dollar has experienced a significant decline of more than 50% against the U.S. dollar.

     

  • Court declares 50 CAS positions unconstitutional

    Court declares 50 CAS positions unconstitutional

    The High Court has ruled that the 50 Chief Administrative Secretaries (CAS) are unconstitutional.

    In the ruling delivered Monday, a three-judge bench found that public participation was only conducted for 23 CASs while the additional 27 CASs did not adhere to the requirement.

    “Based on the record before us it is evident that the Public Service Commission failed in its mandate. The undeniable conclusion is that the prices of establishing the extra 27 posts was unconstitutional,” the bench ruled

    Justices Kanyi Kimondo and Aleem Visram argued that the entire complement of 50 CASs position was unconstitutional and presents illegal, irregular and unconstitutional duplicity of roles as those of Principal Secretaries.

    “We do not think that it was the intention of the framers of the constitution to have 50 CASs deputising 22 Cabinet Secretaries. Furthermore, public participation on the office of CAS was founded on a complement of 23 CASs,” Justice Kimondo stated.

    However, Lady Justice Hedwig Ong’undi gave a dissenting opinion stating that the additional 27 CAS positions were created unconstitutionally but the 23 approved by the PSC during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure were created constitutionally.

    “I find that the manner of establishment of the additional 27 CAS posts was unconstitutional. On the flip side I find the establishment of the CAS office in the public service with 23 posts to be constitutional,” she stated.

    President William Ruto on 16th March, 2023 appointed 50 CASs against 23 vacancies announced by the Public Service Commission (PSC).

    The 50 CASs were later sworn in on March 23 after the National Assembly declined to vet them saying it had no constitutional authority to do so.

    On March 24, the High Court stopped the 50 CASs from assuming office pending the hearing and determination of a suit filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Katiba Institute.