KBC Channel 1

Author: Prudence Wanza

  • Governor Sakaja commences issuance of 2000 title deeds

    Governor Sakaja commences issuance of 2000 title deeds

    Nairobi County has on Thursday issued 2,000 title deeds to allottees and public institutions including Health Centres, Social Halls, Markets, Nairobi Water facilities, Play Grounds, and public schools among other Private developers.

    Speaking during the hand over ceremony, Nairobi Governor Johnson Saka said the County is looking to issue a total of 7,000 title deeds.

    “We have more than 7500 data captured under our titling program and the Ministry of Land has helped us. We will today start issuing the first 2000 and the rest will be issued with time.  Up to 88 percent of land in Nairobi is not titled. This means we have land which was allocated 40-50 years ago and should be used to generate income and jobs but is not,” said Sakaja

    “Unlocking pending leases, and issuing titles, will give more Nairobians security in their property. And if you’re secure in your property, you’re more likely to invest and produce the jobs we need for our young people,” he added

    Of the 2,000 deeds issued this week about 100 belong to public institutions including 39 public schools and Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers.

    These schools include Ngei Primary, Wango Primary, Juja Road Primary School, Mukuru Kwa Njenga Primary, Joseph Apudo Primary, Mukuru Kayaba Primary School Baba dogo primary school, Bahati Primary School, Garden Estate Primary School, High Ridge Primary, Kahawa West Primary school, Karen c Primary, Kibera Primary, Kibora primary, Kirigu Pri, Mathare 4A Primary School and Zawadi primary, among others.

    “ I am very delighted this day that the school has a title deed…we are also excited that our nursery schools are now secure, nobody can come in; we have a document to raise a case against any person who might come to the school. It is a good gesture by the Governor to secure the schools,” said Ms. Ann Kairu, the Centre Manager of Kileleshwa Day Nursery School, in Dagoretti North.

    The nursery school has been without a title deed since the school was built before independence.

    Other public facilities to receive documentation included Ndakaini Dam and Ruiru Dam both of which are owned by Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company (NWSC).

    Pumwani Hospital and Kasarani Health Centre are among the Public health Facilities that also received deeds. Part of the land on which the level four hospital sits on had been had been facing challenges with private developers looking to hive off part of it.

    The Governor assured the residents of Nairobi that with the current system, land grabbing will be a thing of the past as everything has been digitalized.

  • Lawyer sues Nairobi County over alleged planned Ksh2B payment to 15 Law firms

    Lawyer sues Nairobi County over alleged planned Ksh2B payment to 15 Law firms

    The Nairobi County Government has been sued over alleged plan to pay Ksh2 billion to 15 law firms as pending bills.

    In a suit filed by Lawyer Clinton Mwale, there are concerns about the selection criteria used to determine the payment to the 15 law firms involved.

    Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja is the first respondent in the suit and the Law Society of Kenya has been listed as an interested party.

    on Tuesday, High Court Judge Lawrence Mugambi directed all the defendants to be served within seven days.

    “I have read the application dated 20th June 2023, together with the certificate of urgency and do hereby direct that: I decline all the ex-parte orders sought, the application be served within seven days,” the orders read in part.

    In the suit, Mwale argues that the county government selected a few law firms for payment while discriminating the rest of the firms to have provided legal services to the county.

    “It is not clear which modality the 1st Respondent used to settle on paying the said 15 Law Firms in clear discrimination of the Application Firm and other Firms that have equally provided legal services to the 1st Respondent,” the documents filed in court read.

    The petitioner further states that the National Treasury in the process of disbursing money to offset pending bills to Nairobi County with just a few days to the end of this financial year.

    “The applicant has since learnt that the National Treasury is in the process of disbursing some funds to the 1st Respondent for purposes of sorting pending bills and the Applicant has further learnt that the 1st Respondent has approved to pay around Kenya Shillings Two Billion to less than 15 Law firms.”

    According to Mwale, the County government was supposed to rely on the report of The Committee on the Review, Scrutiny and Verification of Pending Legal Bills before selecting the 15 law firms.

    “The Applicant is further apprehensive that the 1st responded might have ignored the report of the committee on the review, scrutiny and verification of pending legal bills even after using public resources to set up the Committee and support its logistics,” the court documents read

    The court documents also indicate that Nairobi County owes various law firms more than Ksh21 billion as pending bills as of January 2023.

    The law firms selected for the alleged payment include Ojienda and Co Advocates, Swanya and Company Advocates, Okatch and Partners, Ummi Bashir and Compoany Advocates, Arati and Company, Momanyi and Associates Advocates, Osoro Onyiego and Manyara Advocates and Moronge Advocates.

    The matter will be mentioned on July 17 for further directions.

  • President Ruto to attend Global Pact Finance Summit in France

    President Ruto to attend Global Pact Finance Summit in France

    President William Ruto is set to leave the country Wednesday evening to attend the Global Pact Finance Summit in Paris, France.

    In a statement, Statehouse Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed said the Summit aims to reimagine the global finance system and foster the creation of a more inclusive financial architecture.

    “The President considers the Summit as a critical platform to make bold proposals towards the establishment of a new Multilateral Climate Finance Institutional Architecture,” said Hussein

    The Statehouse Spokesperson noted the adverse effects climate change has had on Kenya and Africa at large saying the President was keen on advocating for a new financial architecture that is equitable, inclusive and adequate.

    “President Ruto will underscore the urgent need to move beyond incremental measures that fall short of effectively combating the climate crisis and fail generate investment benefits for Africa,” he said

    The Global Pact Finance Summit in France comes ahead of the Africa Climate Summit scheduled to take place from 4th to 6th September in Nairobi.

  • Ruto: WRC Safari Rally will promote tourism, create economic opportunities

    Ruto: WRC Safari Rally will promote tourism, create economic opportunities

    The Government is capitalising on the WRC Safari Rally to broaden economic opportunities in the country.

    President William Ruto said the event attracts more than 100,000 visitors, creating job opportunities worth Sh24.7 billion.

    Besides employment creation, the event will boost the tourism and hospitality industry.

    The President said the rally has given the country media publicity worth Sh8 billion and a total economic value of Sh63.3 billion.

    “This will position Kenya as an iconic sporting nation, rallying powerhouse and tourism destination.”

    He spoke Wednesday during the flagging off of the WRC Safari Rally in Naivasha, Nakuru County.

    The event attracted 34 crews from 20 countries.

    The President lauded the WRC Safari Rally organisers for the 19 million tree-planting Greening Legacy programme.

    He challenged the organisers to develop the sport and ensure sustainability by encouraging talent development.

    “We want to see a production line with talent like yesterday’s stars led by Joginder Singh, Peter Hughes, Nick Norwicki, Shekhar Mehta, Vic Preston Senior and Junior,” he explained.

  • Gov’t will not interfere with constitutional offices, DP Gachagua says

    Gov’t will not interfere with constitutional offices, DP Gachagua says

    Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said the government will respect the independence of the constitutional commissions and offices, challenging them to execute their mandate without fear or favour.

    Speaking when he met members of the institutions at the DP’s official residence in Karen, Gachagua said their interest was to enhance the relations between the bodies for them to serve people better.

    “We have no intention to encroach in their constitutional mandates and operations. We will never interfere with their independence because a country is as strong as its institutions. We will respect their decisions,” said the DP

    The DP, who has been handed the mandate of being the liaison between the Government and the offices by President William Ruto, said they will continue engaging with them to ensure challenges frustrating their work are dealt with.

    “My office will be open and ready to work with them in case of disputes,” he said

    Gachagua said the President had shown his readiness to respect the independent offices by appointing judges of the High Court and Court of Appeal who had been rejected immediately he was sworn in.

    The DP also said the Government had raised the allocation for the Judiciary  from Sh18 billion to Sh22 billion to undertake its functions without being curtailed or its independence being interfered with.

    The DP further asked the institutions to seek better ways to solve disputes to save the taxpayers’ money from costly legal fees.

     

  • President Ruto: Clean energy key solution to climate change

    President Ruto: Clean energy key solution to climate change

    President William Ruto has urged public institutions to shift to cleaner and sustainable energy options.

    The president noted that the transition will accelerate the preservation of the environment.

    He noted that access to clean cooking is a policy priority and a cog of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

    He said a bio-energy strategy has been formulated to guide the process towards universal access to modern cooking energy.

    The President was speaking on Tuesday at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi, during the opening of the Africa Energy Forum.

    He observed that sustainable energy development lies at the heart of government’s agenda.

    “Investing in renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal power is not only a responsible choice but also a pathway to a more prosperous and equitable Africa,” said Ruto

    “By transitioning away from fossil fuels, we shall contribute to global efforts to mitigate climate change, protect our environment, and secure a sustainable future for generations to come,” he added

    He regretted that despite Africa being the smallest contributor to climate change, it bears the disproportionate burden of the adverse impacts.

    On account of this, the Head of State noted that it is appropriate that Africa amplifies its voice in climate action efforts.

    Ruto emphasized that sustainable energy development requires sufficient scale to ensure universal energy access and affordability to bridge the energy access gap.

    “This calls for inclusive energy policies, innovative financing mechanisms and targeted policy interventions to reach those who need it most,” he explained

    The President said isolation is becoming costly in the era of Pan-African integration.

    “Regional energy cooperation is paramount; we must work together to maximise our collective potential,” he said

    He pointed out that cross-border energy infrastructure projects will not only facilitate energy trade but also foster regional integration.

  • Three dead as three-storey building collapses in Murang’a

    Three dead as three-storey building collapses in Murang’a

    Bodies of three people were recovered from the debris of a three-storey building that collapsed in Murang’a town on Monday evening.

    Four other people were rescued from the ill-fated building that collapsed while under construction and are recuperating at Murang’a Level Five hospital

    Speaking at the site of the incident, Murang’a East Deputy County Commissioner said that the rescue efforts are expected to continue as it is feared that about 20 people were in the building when it collapsed.

    Personnel and Machinery have been mobilised from the National Disaster Management Unit, KDF, Red Cross and the county government among other departments to help in the ongoing rescue mission.

    The three-storey building is said to have been built on riparian land; county officers are expected to issue an official statement on the cause of the tragedy.

  • Let humanitarian agencies work freely, Ruto urges Sudan warring parties

    Let humanitarian agencies work freely, Ruto urges Sudan warring parties

    President William Ruto has asked warring parties in Sudan to allow humanitarian agencies to operate freely.

    The President said the agencies are helping to alleviate the suffering caused by the conflict and their work should proceed unimpeded.

    He was speaking when he met the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi who briefed him on the humanitarian and refugee crisis in the Sudan.

    Mr Grandi told President Ruto, who is also the chair of the Quartet Group of Countries on the IGAD roadmap to peace in Sudan, that the situation has escalated and the number of refugees fleeing the war is expected to hit the two million mark.

    “The huge numbers of refugees at the borders of Egypt and Chad have led to a lot of suffering. The saddest part is that the humanitarian staff are not respected and the UNHCR office in Khartoum has been destroyed.”

    As chair of the IGAD Quartet Group of Countries, President Ruto said they were working to end to the crisis.

    The quartet brings together Kenya, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Djibouti.

    President Ruto said the Council of Ministers of the group met on Monday under the chairmanship of Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Alfred Mutua.

    Mr Grandi informed the President that the UN agency had received a huge boost for its humanitarian efforts after a call for donations raised $1.5 billion on Monday.

    He explained that the organisation is seeking $3 billion.

    President Ruto commended the fundraising effort and thanked Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for his tremendous leadership.

  • KMA condemns medical fraud in the wake of NHIF expose

    KMA condemns medical fraud in the wake of NHIF expose

    The Kenya Medical Association has condemned incidents of medical fraud involving certain medical facilities in the country following an expose on NHIF claims fraud.

    In a statement Tuesday, KMA Secretary General Diana Marion said the association will collaborate with relevant authorities to eradicate such activities from the healthcare system.

    “We believe in upholding the highest standards of medical ethics and professionalism as evidenced by our Code of Conduct, which our members are bound by. KMA will be looking into cases involving any of their members and will take necessary action. It is imperative that those found guilty of fraudulent activities are held accountable and face appropriate legal consequences,” she said

    The Association commended the Ministry of Health for suspending eight NHIF managers implicated in the fraudulent activities and called for the allocation of adequate resources to regulatory bodies to aid in detection and prevention of fraud.

    KM further called upon the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), and NHIF to take immediate action and investigate the cases of medical fraud.

    “We note that medical ethics and standards are threatened when there is no proper and standardized coordination between the regulator and professional associations. There is urgent need for the establishment of well-defined structures to support self-regulation of the medical profession. KMA is ready to work collaboratively with KMPDC to make self-regulation a reality in Kenya,” said Marion

    The association urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases of medical fraud to the appropriate authorities.

    On Monday, Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha suspended eight NHIF branch Managers for colluding medical facilities to commit the alleged fraud.

    The CS also ordered the NHIF board to commence investigations into the fraud incidences and present a preliminary report to her desk within 48 hours.

  • Mudavadi: Embrace research, technology for a sustainable future

    Mudavadi: Embrace research, technology for a sustainable future

    Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has called on Kenyans to embrace education research and technology to enable a sustainable future for the country.

    Speaking during the opening ceremony of AISC conference at The University of Nairobi, Mudavadi said that through research and sharing of knowledge, the country can build the capacity to address challenges bedevilling the nation and the world at large.

    He further urged the public to embrace technology and utilize the immense digital opportunities and build into ‘The Commons We Want’

    The conference seeks to provide the much needed link to future oriented research and emphasizes on the need to observe better environmental conservation to mitigate severe effects of climatic change.

    “The concept of commons which represents shared resources, spaces, and systems being managed collectively remains to be a cornerstone of human interactive civilisations,” said Mudavadi

    “This calls for a conversation not only guided by principles of fairness, equity, and sustainability but also a guide to development planning,” he added

    The 19th Biennial Conference by the International Association for the Study of the Commons (IASC) is being marked under the theme “The Commons We Want: Between Historical Legacies and Future Collective Actions”.