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Kisumu City slated to hold this year’s madaraka day, as residents reap big from the golden handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga . Raila will be acclaimed from the recent rapid development in the region. The doyen of opposition politics will begrudgingly bestrode Kisumu on Madaraka Day with grace and stride as he hosts Uhuru to lead the nation in celebrating the national event, characterized with Kenya’s past attainment of internal self-rule. Projects initiated in Kisumu by President Uhuru Kenyatta The government of Jubilee funded the construction of a Kshs.79million ultra-modern market at Otonglo in Kisumu West Sub-county to accord traders some decent space to execute their business activities. Jubilee government is credited for the rehabilitation of Kisumu Port which cost the taxpayer Kshs.3billion. The project intended to make Kisumu the economic hub for Western Kenya.  The extended Luo Nyanza, which was initially marginalized by succes

Kenya will receive Kshs. 80.6B ($750million) from World Bank loan and Kshs. 44.1billion ($410million) from IMF by end of June as it focuses on debt repayment extension from its external lenders. CBK Governor Patrick Njoroge stated that the funds are meant to bridge budget deficit. He was speaking at a post-Monetary Policy Committee meeting on Thursday, where he disclosed that part of the money will fund post-covid19 recovery programs and the national budget. “Yes, Kenya is keen on any debt repayment extension, such arrangement will free up resources to be channeled to other purposes in the direction of helping the economy recover,” Mr. Njoroge stated. Most poor countries are subscribed to Debt service Suspension Initiative (DSSCI) to help them safeguard their livelihoods as well as concentrating their resources in fighting the global pandemic. The initiative was commissioned on May 1, 2020 and has offered over kshs.544.7billion ($5 billion) as relief to more than 40 qualifi

There is an emerging vicious battle between the Judiciary and the Executive. In the recent past, we have witnessed an array of court verdicts suppressing efforts advanced by the other arm of government. The genesis of the split between the two arms of the government was triggered when former Chief Justice David Maraga nullified 2017 presidential election results. Uhuru’s first rebuttal was implemented with budget cut for the Judiciary. President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government notoriety in disregarding court orders has put him in a tight corner. The Attorney General has been on the receiving end with numerous calls for his resignation on allegations of failing to offer judicious legal advice to the president. The deportation of Miguna Miguna was reversed by the court, but the government insisted that he should not be allowed back in Kenya. Miguna prove to be a Kenyan but his plea was quashed by the hawk-eyed government through the Interior Ministry under the no-nonsense CS Dr.

Busia Senator Amos Wako has narrated the first time he was driven in an ambulance after contracting Covid-19. He was speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast event held in Parliament on Thursday. Wako disclosed the chilling moments in the ambulance when he thought he was about to die. “For the first time I was transported in an ambulance. There were about six people in that ambulance and one of them was holding a gas cylinder. I had been put on oxygen support,” Wako told the congregation. The former attorney general caused laughter when he claimed that he failed to recognize his Party Leader Raila Odinga during the funeral of the late Wajir Senator Yusuf Haji. This was because he was unwell. “Some of you may recall during the funeral of Senator Yusuf Haji. My party leader Raila Odinga came to where I was seated, and I asked him who he was,” he stated. Wako was diagnosed of Covid-19 on February 17, 2021. He contracted the virus despite observing the Ministry of health protocols, as he

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has filed an appeal that singles out 16 key issues ignored by the High Court during the BBI verdict.  ODM leader Raila Odinga faulted the court for usurping the will of over three million Kenyans who appended their signatures seeking to amend the Constitution of Kenya.  Raila alleged that High Court deliberately ignored the evidence that was presented to it about the ratification of the initiative by the aforementioned number of people. ODM alleged that Justices George Odunga, Joel Ngugi, Chacha Mwita, Jairus Ngaah and Teresia Matheka erred by declaring themselves as the decision makers of amendable parts of the constitution. In their ruling at Milimani Law Court on May 13, the judges highlighted 17 issues, which influenced the outcome. Odinga argued that the five-court bench blundered when they stopped a non-existent BBI steering committee for the implementation of the BBI Taskforce Report whose tenure had expired in 2020.   ODM further acc

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is gaining traction and proving to be a problem solver to many human related tasks. As population across the globe surge, the number of vehicle owners is drastically on the rise. Giant tech Google is striving to deploy Maps in guiding road users to avoid using “confusing lane changes or freeway exits”. In a Google blog dubbed “A smoother ride and a more detailed map thanks to AI”, Google explains how maps will be used to identify and predict when people are striking the brakes. The AI product is tailored to use the available information and AI to detect hard-breaking events. The Giant tech believes that their product will help to eradicate “more than 100 million hard-braking events in routes that are driven with Google Maps every year” and enable drivers to be cautious at certain places. Understanding Google Maps Google Maps are essential to the extent that they assist individuals to explore, navigate and make things done in an easier and mana

President Uhuru Kenyatta is staring at another court battle, a week after landmark BBI court ruling . Even as Uhuru plans to oversee the official takeover of Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) by the military, there is an existing restraint order from the court. A prevailing court order quashed the transfer of KMC from the Ministry of Agriculture to the Ministry of Defense. The Court described the president’s move as unconstitutional and directed him to return KMC back to the agriculture ministry. President Uhuru transferred KMC from agriculture ministry to that one of defense in an Executive Order number 3 of 2020.  A High Court decree on February 2021 revealed the absence of public participation as articulated in Article 10 of the Constitution of Kenya. The court considered the already effected budget allocated from the Agriculture Ministry to the Defense Ministry and gave the government 90 days to reverse the changes. Law Society of Kenya (LSK) had moved to court to challenge t

Deputy President William Ruto is facing another hurdle as he makes serious political forays in Central region. It is emerging that a section of Mt Kenya politician are jostling for the running mate position, something that is threatening to divide Ruto’s support base. It is no longer a secret that the Deputy President is one of the frontline presidential contenders seeking to succeed Uhuru Kenyatta. Uhuru and Ruto are no longer reading from the same script, and the president is irked by recent losses in by-elections, where Jubilee candidates were floored by UDA, PEP and ODM. It’s believed that UDA is the party that Ruto will use to contest for 2022 presidential elections. Regions where Ruto’s support is gaining traction as attracted a pattern of leaders trying to outshine each other to attract the DP’s attention.  Moses Kuria’s little known People’s Empowerment Party (PEP) humiliated Jubilee when its candidate George Koimburi clinched the Juja Parliamentary Seat. Moses Kuri

Attorney General Paul Kihara is under fire for misleading President Uhuru Kenya over the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) issue. This is after the High Court nullified its operation on legal grounds.  The Attorney General (AG) is the President’s Chief Legal advisor, and failed to offer advisory services on the State driven Constitutional of Kenya Amendment Bill, 2020. There were calls from a section of leaders demanding the dismissal of the attorney general for misleading the president. President Uhuru has been numerously blamed for disregarding court orders. The weakest link in the chain of justice is the State Law Office, which has failed in offering legal advice to the president. The AG has already filed a petition to appeal BBI judgment . Kihara disagree with the decision made by the five-bench judge. On his part, Uhuru has maintained a studious silence over the matter that has sent shockwaves across the Kenyan political divide. Kihara accuses Justices Chacha Mwita, Ge

Photo Source : Ntv The much publicized coronation of National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi as a GEMA leader might set a different trajectory in the Mt Kenya politics. Gikuyu Embu Meru Association (GEMA) was formed in the late 70s’. The three tribes coalesced under GEMA, a group considered to be closely interrelated culturally and linguistically but have no common past or folklores. GEMA was legally registered by former Attorney General Charles Njonjo under the instructions of first president of Kenya Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. However, Njonjo later on turned against the group and in 1976 charged some of its members such as Njenga Karume, Kihika Kimani, Njoroge Mungai and Jackson Angaine. GEMA attempted to block Daniel Arap Moi from succeeding Kenyatta. History is set to repeat itself, as GEMA revives its political clout with the coronation of Speaker Muturi. High profile source confide that Muturi is best suited to block Ruto from the region.  The Mountain is not keen to let off

There are heightened behind-the-curtain machinations to revive BBI driven Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill, 2020. This is after Attorney General Paul Kihara dropped an earlier application for appeal at the Appellate Court. The government, in liaison with top legal minds, is exploring ways of beating the set timelines to overcome the High Court legal hurdle placed on their way. Classified information reveals an ongoing high-profile plan to file an appeal application with the Supreme Court. However, a number of State bureaucrats are opposed to this move and propose the natural course of Justice to petition the ruling at the Court of Appeal. Those proposing the Supreme Court way are worried that the case might take a longer time at the appellate court. Legal pundits argue that it might be a herculean task for BBI proponents to mount a robust legal battle to challenge High Court verdict. The violations begin from the president being the initiator of the Bill to signature ve

I srael Palestine conflict came to a tumultuous halt after Egypt brokered a truce on Thursday. The end of war came in the wake of increased international call for ceasefire. Egyptian brokered ceasefire came into effect on Friday. News of ceasefire was met with celebration from Palestinians. Hundreds gathered to celebrate end of conflict at Al Aqsa Mosque after Morning Prayer. Israel stated that Egypt pleaded for the end in conflict and the agreement “will be mutual and unconditional”. Some leaders have criticized Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over destroying infrastructures in Gaza.  Israel security Cabinet approved the truce to ending offensive on Gaza after heeding to Egypt’s demand. Egypt plans to send delegation to Israel and Palestine to monitor upholding of ceasefire. According to Al Jazeera News Network, 233 Palestinians have succumbed to Israel attacks, including 65 children. Rockets fired from Gaza have killed 12 people in Israel within the 11 horrible d

Photo: LAPSSET LAPSSET roared back to life as President Uhuru Kenyatta commissioned one of the largest port facilities South of Sub Saharan Africa. Uhuru commissioned the functioning of Lamu Port on Thursday. The Port is set to spur rapid economic development in Lamu County. First three berths are ready for use, which include a container berth, a general berth and a bulk berth. Reports indicate that the Berth cost the government of Kenya about kshs.40 billion. According to State House , the president presided over the operation of the first berth of the 32-berth seaport.2  During the launch, the president was accompanied by CS National Treasury and Planning Ukur Yatan, Lamu Governor Fahim Yasin Twaha and LAPSSET chairman Titus Ibui among others. Lamu Port was the brainchild of Mwai Kibaki led government. Uhuru’s government has been so considerate in the transformation of the blue economy. Lamu Port becomes the second international seaport in Kenya after Mombasa, which was e

Photo Source : Citizen TV The much hyped coronation of National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi as Mt Kenya spokesperson, after the retirement of President Uhuru Kenyatta , has attracted sharp criticism from his Aembu backyard.  Aembu residents complain that they have not felt the positive impact of Muturi in the region. They allege that there is no single development that he has ever brought to that region. Embu dwellers complained that the Speaker was being anointed by elders from the agikuyu and meru community, without incorporating the aembu elders. Muturi is from the Aembu ethnic group. A segment of Murang’a leaders vowed to block Speaker Muturi’s planned coronation, as GEMA elder, at the Agikuyu shrine - Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga.  Speaker Muturi’s rite of passage was overtly highlighted when Tiati MP William Kamket implored the acting Speaker to explain to Parliament about the whereabouts of Speaker Muturi.  Muturi was put in ten days cleansing before the official coron