The Ministry of lands will now be in charge of Land valuation in a bid to curb corruption and ensure transparency in compensation for government projects.
President William Ruto announced the new changes on Sunday during a prayer service held in Isiolo.
Ruto expressed concern over the prevailing corruption within the National Lands Commission (NLC) which has led to unfair compensation of land acquired for government projects.
“Valuation of government projects for compensation will no longer be done by the National Lands Commission. It will be done by the Ministry of Lands to eliminate corruption. It is not proper for the NLC to value and compensate at the same time,” said Ruto
The head of state criticized the NLC saying the commission had become a breeding ground for corruption and vowed to put an end to the malpractices.
“National Lands Commission has become a market for corruption and over-valuation and this must stop. Corruption won’t have room in the compensation for government projects,” he said
A section of Jubilee Party members under the Kanini Kega led faction have dismissed the planned National Delegates Conference organised by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The NDC which is planned to take place on Monday comes amidst contention over the party’s leadership.
Speaking on Sunday during a prayer meeting held in Isiolo, Kega warned that the NDC remains illegal until the wrangles with the party are resolved.
“As the Jubilee Party Secretary Jubilee I want to announce that there will be no NDC meeting on Monday. We will call for a meeting at the right time,” said Kega
Nominated Senator Sabina Chege expressed similar views, emphasizing that the former President should refrain from engaging in political matters and instead concentrate on his retirement.
“The NDC slated for Monday is nothing but a normal political meeting. We will call for the official NDC,” she stated
The Jubilee party has been embroiled in leadership wrangles after the Kega led faction made leadership changes which saw Uhuru ousted as party leader.
Sabina Chege was nominated as the party leader in an acting capacity while Kega replaced Jeremiah Kioni as Secretary General.
Morocco football has been on an upward trajectory for the past 5 years, evidenced by the performance of their teams in various international tournaments.
According to the Royal Moroccan football federation (MRMF,) the success being witnessed is as a result of huge investment by King Mohammed VI which started over 15 years ago, through establishment of modern state of the art stadiums, hiring of technocrats in managing the game and well remuneration of players across all cadres.
Atlas Lions at the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Morocco playing as host won the 2018 Africa Nations Championships (CHAN), tournament meant for local based footballers host before defending it in 2020.
It’s after this success that the Atlas lions also qualified for FIFA world in 2018, 10 years since its last qualification.
Though it exited the tournament in group stage, the Atlas Lions qualified for 2022 edition re- writing history as the 1st African country to play in semi finals of the football bonanza.
Also Morocco women’s team will play in this year’s FIFA World Cup in Australia and Newzealand for the maiden time.
At Club level Wydad Athletic Club bagged the CAF Champions league in the 2021/2022 season for a record 3rd time and has also qualified for this year’s final where they are set meet Al Ahly.
Raja Athletic Club on the other hand won the title 1999 for a 3rd time and won also the 2021 CAF Confed Cup.
on the flip side Raja won the CAF Confed Cup twice in 2018 and 2020-2021 seasons, while their counterparts RS Berkane won it 2019/2020 and 2021/2022 seasons.
ASFAR women Club won the CAF Champions League playing at home in 2022.
Establishment of high level of infrastructure, planning ,interest in academies and training centers are some of the key areas in focus.
The Atlas Cubs, who achieved a historic feat at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations U17 that culminated last Friday in Algeria, where it bagged silver medal, were trained at the Mohammed VI football academy with a total of 9 footballers in tournament originating from the Rabat based Academy.
Atlas Cubs in 2023 AFCON U 17
In the U 17 AFCON team were 5 players from AS FAR academy, 4 from FUS while , MAS, Hassania of Agadir, Ittihad of Tangier and Raja academies produced a player each .
Achieving these results is a demonstration of the role played by the development of Moroccan soccer.
The Mohammed VI Football Academy, was founded in 2009 in Salé, on the instigation of King Mohammed VI, in his letter to the National Sports Conference held in Skhirat on October 24, 2008.
In this Royal letter, His Majesty the King called for the development of a modern and efficient system to organ
Morocco under 23 in training
ize the sports sector based on the “restructuring of the national sports landscape and the upgrading of sports organizations with a view to their professionalization, as well as the democratization of the bodies responsible for their management”.
King Mohammed VI during the official opening of the Mohammed VI Sports Complex in Rabat
The Mohammed VI Football Academy, the jewel that produces Moroccan stars, was built according to criteria that correspond to the best international standards in terms of training centers in order to put in place the conditions for the training of Moroccan talents, enabling them to play in the biggest soccer clubs, whether in Morocco or in Europe.
The achievement of the Atlas Lions which reached the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar , gives confidence and assurance to all national teams in different age groups, including women’s teams.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (RMFF) continues its serious work in implementing the role of training centers in all clubs, by providing them with adequate funding to invest in training and by arming them with logistical, material and moral means to better plan the management of national teams.
More so, Morocco is in the race to host the 2025 AFCON as well as the 2030 FIFA World Cup together with its Mediterranean neighbours Spain and Portugal.
Transport along the Isebania- Sirare road was brought to a stand still for the better part of Sunday as locals protesting over insecurity engaged officers in running battles.
The irate locals claim the spate of insecurity in the region has left scores dead with the latest being 3 businessmen who were gunned down by unknown assailants Sunday morning.
The demonstrators barricaded the highway and lit bonfires paralysing movement along the busy corridor.
Police officers at Isebania had hectic time containing the situation as locals seemed not to relent on the matter.
A special security meeting has been convened with the business community to restore tranquility with the town center.
Gunshots and teargas however continue to rent the airwaves with the security officers optimistic in repelling the rioters away from the town center.
National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) has made passionate appeal to Kenyans at large to support country representatives at next year’s Paris Olympics scheduled for Friday July 26-Sunday Aug 11, 2024.
According to NOCK SG Francis Mutuku,there is a big need for Kenyan sporting stakeholders and overall fans at large to support Team Kenya before and during the French global sporting extravaganza which will see a new vision of Olympism in action, delivered in a unique spirit of international celebration.
“We would like as many Kenyans as can afford to travel to do so and cheer Team Kenya next year.Paris 2024 organisers have opened up the ticket sales process to the world. In the past, tickets to the Olympic Games were predominantly sold through agents with specific allocations to regions” he wrote
“The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) will provide requisite support to fans, through continuous information using all the social media outlets and scheduled physical consultations with the lead team. NOC-K will further facilitate meetings for specific hospitality arrangements with the On Location team,” Mutuku added
Preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games are being stepped up with less than 500 days to go before the main sporting action begins.
The Organising Committee is launching its testing programme this summer at several of its venues due to host next year’s Olympic and Paralympic competitions.
While not intended to be an exact replica of the Games competitions, the tests are designed to ensure that Paris 2024 and all stakeholders involved in organising the Games are ready by summer 2024, when the eyes of the world will be fixed on France.
“And we will partner with the entire Olympic family to demonstrate that, more than ever after an extremely challenging period, sport has a unique power to help create a better world.
Our plan features 95 percent existing or temporary venues, and every single one has a clear, defined legacy aligned with the city’s long-term development plans.” a brief statement by the event organisers read
Kenya Judo Federation President and African Judo Union chair Shadrack Maluki is expected to be the nation’s Chef de Mission for the Games.
Former tennis player and Tennis Kenya secretary-general Wanjiru Mbugua-Karani is the chief executive of the team for Paris 2024, while James Ondiege was appointed chief medical officer and Dimmy Kisalu as team manager.
NOC-K President Paul Tergat stated the team will be in charge of all operations and logistics for Paris 2024.
“When there is a lapse in the management of the game, it always hits back at us,” said Tergat.
“So we want to ensure that those we select to manage the team are up to the task.”
Kenya’s best Olympic Games were at Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016, winning six gold medals in each.
Of the nation’s 113 Olympic medals, 106 have come in athletics, with the other seven being in boxing.
The journey to strengthen the political authority in the East Africa Community (EAC) is on course.
This was revealed by Justice Dr. Benjamin Odoki, retired Chief Justice for Uganda and chairman to a committee of experts appointed at the EAC summit to draft the constitution for the proposed political confederation of EAC.
While in Garissa for a public participation exercise, Justice Odoki said a reasonable ground has been covered in the process of drafting the EAC constitution.
“We are tasked with drafting a confederation constitution and we have been going round all the seven counties collecting the people’s views that we shall use to draft the constitution,” he said.
Justice Odoki revealed that his team of experts will not be drafting a federal one but a confederal constitution that provides a transition to a federation.
Ms Fatuma Yusuf from Wajir urged the committee to ensure there is inclusivity in the regional governance system.
“I want sign language to be included among the recognized four in the EAC so that people living with disabilities can feel being part of the EAC population,” she said.
Mr Hassan Noor, a resident of Garissa, asked the committee for a borderless region.
“I want a free region so that I can be able to move freely in the region. Resource sharing should be equal so that cases of conflicts are minimized in the region,” he said.
Religious leaders have called on the government to include the Pentecostal voice on the proposed rules and regulations that will govern the operations of all churches.
Speaking during the consecration and ordination of Prophet Fred Akama Tent Of Testimonies Ministries International (TOT), Archbishop Arthur Kitonga of the Redeemed Gospel Church said the church should lead by example to the entire society as per the Bible teachings.
Bishop Akama was of the view that no religious group should be left behind in the process and urged the committee to be cautious on how they will come up with laws that will regulate the churches.
“We fully support the government plan of regulating the religious group in Kenya. However all we want is an all inclusive voices of the Pentecostal churches so that no religious group will feel that they were left out in the review process. Remember we are dealing with matter of faith and we need to be careful on how we come up some of the laws that will regulate the religious leaders,” he said.
“Our church is growing and as per the law, we must have a bishop who will be incharge of all the branches both in Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria. Today as the new bishop I will be responsible for the running of the ministry,” said after his consecration and ordination.
This comes after a 17-member taskforce committee was formed by the Head of State to review legal and frameworks governing religious institutions in the country.
The committee will be chaired by former National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) Secretary-General Mutava Musyimi.
The team is expected to propose legal and governance changes to prevent religious extremism.
Other members include Bishop Mark Kariuki, Bishop (Dr.) Eli Rop, Archbishop Maurice Muhatia, Judy Thongori, Rev (Dr.) Alphonse Kanga, Bishop Philip Kitoto and Dr. Faridun Abdalla will sit on the committee as members.
They will also be joined by Prof. Musili Wambua, Joseph Khalende Wabwire, Mary Awuor Kitegi, Charles Kanjama, Leah Kasera, Nancy Murega and Wilson Wanyanga.
Martin Ndiwa Talian and Maria Goretti Nyariki will serve as the task force’s joint secretaries.
The task force’s main responsibilities will include identifying gaps that have allowed extremist religious organizations to set up shop in Kenya, as well as formulate a legal framework preventing radical religious entities from operating locally.
It will also formulate proposals on amendments to various laws so as to enable the State to effectively tackle religious cults.
The National Integrity Alliance has opposed the nomination of Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji as the next Director General of the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
Addressing the media on Sunday, the Alliance pointed out compromised track record and failure to fulfil constitutional obligations during Haji’s tenure as DPP.
The integrity watchdog raised concern over the recent withdrawal of cases linked to politicians and government officials saying such decisions by the DPP amount to incompetence and gross misconduct.
“Haji has in the past demonstrated gross misconduct, incompetence and non-compliance with the Constitution of Kenya 2010, specifically Chapter 6 on Leadership and Integrity, the Public Officer Ethics Act 2003, the Leadership and Integrity Act 2012, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Act 2013, and the Decision to Charge Guidelines 2019.”
“Haji has by his own admission indicated that he was ·politically influenced and demonstrated a lack of objectivity in decision-making. He failed to ensure that decisions are not influenced by favouritism, other improper motives, or corrupt practices because withdrawal of charges against specific individuals who have clear political connections,”
The Alliance will on Monday petition the Public Service Commission to have Haji removed from office after which they will present a memoranda to the National Assembly Committee on defense, Intelligence and Foreign relations.
President William Ruto nominated Haji to succeed Major General Philip Kameru who is serving his final term.
Bomet Governor Prof Hillary Barchok has urged Kenyans to embrace President William Ruto’s call to plant 15 billion as part of the government’s efforts to combat the effects of climate change.
Speaking during Kenya Red Cross Bomet Humanity power walk at St Mary’s Mixed Day Primary and Boarding, Barchok noted the move will not only increase the country’s forest cover but also the alleviating human sufferings such as drought.
“We should not leave the tree planting process entirely to the government alone but we need to supplement the government by planting trees in our farms,” said Barchok.
“In order to achieve the forest cover, there is need to exercise tree planting exercise all the time so as to avoid experiencing issues that comes with not planting trees like drought and it would change the lives of the people,” he added
He revealed that his administration will soon start planting trees in public schools and forests in a bid to conserve the environment.
“We will start trees nurseries and supply seedlings to schools and engage students on conservation matters,” said Barchok, who is also the Kenya Red Cross Bomet patron.
The Governor pledged to support Kenya Red Cross to build regional offices for South Rift region.
“The offices will enable them to respond rapidly to challenges that might occur in these regions and we need to accord them support to achieve their dreams, ” he said.
He called on the teachers and parents to encourage students to join clubs activities and societies so that build them resilient on individual in terms of having compassionate hearts towards other people.
“Teachers should ensure that the students are impacted with the necessary skills on how tackle climatic change and taught them on the repercussions that will befall them if they are not taking the practices seriously when they have grown up and completed their studies, ” said Barchok
The M-PESA Foundation Academy has overseen the graduation of 40 learners who formed its first cohort of learners undertaking the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).
The Programme, which was introduced in 2020, addresses students’ intellectual, social, emotional, and physical well-being in preparation for tertiary education and beyond.
Following their graduation, the 40 learners will transition to the institution’s Uongozi Centre from June to December this year to undertake programs that will equip them with skills and knowledge in readiness for tertiary education.
The Centre will also offer them career guidance, help them with applications to technical institutions and universities and support them until they complete their next phase of learning.
“This is a special day for M-PESA Foundation Academy, as we witness the first cohort graduating from the IBDP. As a leadership academy, our goal is to provide our students with the best chances at being game changers in society with the right leadership skills, and that is why we took up this curriculum,” said the Acting Executive Head of School, Mary Nyale.
M-PESA Foundation Academy was established in 2016, and 946 students from across the country have been admitted to the institution since then, with 96 students joining in February this year.
From 2019, the Academy has sponsored 133 students to study in universities in the United States, United Kingdom, and Switzerland, while over 116 students have found placement in local universities and TVETs.
