Over 5,000 people displaced as Lake Naivasha water levels rise

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June 5, 2024

Over 5,000 people have been displaced by the rising levels of Lake Naivasha with fears that the numbers could rise in the coming days.

The most affected is Kihoto which borders the lake with tens of boreholes and latrines flooded raising fears of a disease outbreak in the estate that is home to tens of flower farm workers.

Tens of wild animals including buffaloes and hippos have also been adversely affected after pasture-land around the riparian was flooded pushing them to nearby farms in search of pastures.

Already, one person has drowned in the estate after falling into one of the flooded boreholes as residents called on the government to come to their rescue.

According to Lakeview MCA Alex Mbugua, the situation was getting worse by the day as the number of those affected continued to rise with no support from the national government.

He said that the county government was overwhelmed by the current situation adding that there were fears of a disease outbreak due to the flooded latrines.

“Over 5,000 people have been displaced so far and things could get worse as water levels continue to rise by the day flooding homes, boreholes and latrines,” he said.

While calling for assistance from the national government, Mbugua noted that several schools had been closed down, one person had died and there was no supply of clean water.

This was echoed by his Viwandani counterpart Mwangi Muraya who said that tens of wildlife displaced by the floods had turned into nearby estates.

He said that the county had provided water treatment drugs adding that more funds and support was needed for the affected families.

“There is a major disaster looming in this estate if no action is taken and we are asking the national government to assist in relocating the affected families,” he said.

A resident, Michael Wainaina said that this was the second time that the estate had flooded affecting tens of land owners who had invested on the land.

“Residents are being forced to go home early due to the high number of hippos and buffaloes that are roaming around posing a danger to residents,” he said.

Another victim, Samson Otieno said that they had been forced to live in the flooded houses as they could not afford rent elsewhere due to the harsh economic times.

“We do not have cash to relocate to other estates, we fear our houses could collapse and we are asking the government to come to our rescue,” said Fanice Auma.

ADAK suspends 33 Kenyan athletes for doping

By

John Mutiso

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June 5, 2024

The Anti-doping Agency of Kenya has banned 33 Kenyan athletes for violating the various doping rules as per the Athletics Integrity Unit.

The list includes 26 runners with the remaining coming from basketball, rugby and handball. In road running, one of the most shocking athletes to have made the list of shame is Joshua Belet, the 2023 TCS Amsterdam Marathon champion.

According to reports, this marks the highest number of suspended athletes since January last year, when Kenya was on the verge of being banned by World Athletics. However, it is a move that was anticipated since there has been increased testing.

Belet, a 26-year-old long distance runner, has been suspended for the presence of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids, Testosterone, Adiol, Pregnanediol, Androsterone and Etiocholanolone. Belet was a promising talent who even made his national team debut at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary but did not finish the race.

Dorcas Kimeli has also been suspended and she was also a promising athlete who had represented Kenya in a couple of events including the 2020 World Half Marathon championships where she finished 11th. As reported by Nation Sport, Jepchumba has been suspended for tampering with any part of the doping control.

Meanwhile, upcoming sprinters Duke Osoro and Joan Jeruto have also been added to the list of shame with the 2012 World Under-20 5000m champion David Bett also making the list.

Brian Wahinya, a former Kenya Sevens player has also found himself in hot soup alongside fellow players Charlton Mokua and Zeden Lutomia. The trio has been suspended for the presence of Cannabinoids, linked to cannabis sativa.

The basketball players who have gotten themselves in the list of shame include Alex Ramazani, Albert Onyango and James Mwangi Maina.

Banknotes featuring King Charles enter circulation

By

John Mutiso

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June 5, 2024

New banknotes featuring the portrait of King Charles III have now entered circulation, but it may be some time before they are commonly seen in wallets and purses.

The new Bank of England notes will gradually replace those which are damaged or will be issued when demand increases.

The King is only the second monarch to appear on these notes, with Queen Elizabeth II first featuring in 1960.

Shoppers can still use current circulating £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes carrying the portrait of the late Queen.

The reverse side of current polymer Bank of England banknotes, which in ascending order feature Sir Winston Churchill, Jane Austen, JMW Turner and Alan Turing, are unchanged. Notes issued in Scotland and Northern Ireland feature other images, and not the monarch.

The first new banknotes were printed last year, with the long lead-in time allowing automated machines that accept cash to be updated to recognise the new designs. The King’s portrait is based on a picture taken in 2013.

In April last year, the BBC was given exclusive access to the highly-secure site where the notes are being produced.

A year on, the King was presented with a full set with the lowest serial numbers, following the tradition of the monarch receiving the first issues of new banknotes.

Collectors seek banknotes which come as close to the 00001 serial number as possible.

While the King is appearing on banknotes, cash may be disappearing from our lives.

“This is a historic moment, as it’s the first time we’ve changed the sovereign on our notes,” said Bank of England governor, Andrew Bailey.

“We know that cash is important for many people, and we are committed to providing banknotes for as long as the public demand them.”

But a survey for Link, the UK’s cash access and ATM network, found that nearly half (48%) of those asked said they expected a cashless society during their lifetime.

However, the same proportion said this would be problematic, and 71% of those surveyed said they still had some level of everyday reliance on cash.

Yet figures from consumer association Which? found that 6,000 bank branches had closed in the last nine years, leaving many places with none at all and limited access to cash.

Fifty of them now have banking hubs – shared premises, often run by the Post Office – where customers of any bank can withdraw and deposit cash, and where community workers from different banks visit once a week.

One of the more unusual is in the harbour town of Looe in Cornwall, a county with rich connections to King Charles.

The hub is found behind a cafe and heritage centre and underneath a top restaurant, where the entrance to a climbing wall used to be.

“People can come to take money out, put money in, they can deposit cheques, we give change for local businesses,” said Debbie Young, manager at the hub.

“People come to pay their bills and top up their gas and electric.”

With the last bank having closed 18 months ago, the hub is a lifeline, according to Ange Harrison, who manages the coffee shop in front of the hub.

“Obviously you can bank your cash right away, you don’t have to worry about having cash on the premises,” said Mrs Harrison, a former fishmonger who has lived in Looe all her life.

“For all the businesses in the town, they need to use it. You know that old saying – if you don’t use it, you are going to lose it.”

That was true too of cash, and she said people were curious to see the new banknotes featuring the King.

It will be a slow change for our change – but there are still a longer-term questions over the future of notes and coins.

Where the King’s image now features

Coins December 2022: Millions of 50p coins with the King’s image entered circulation. Other new coin designs, such as a bee on the pound coin, were introduced towards the end of 2023.
Stamps March 2023: The first King Charles stamps were issued by Royal Mail as part of a special set. The following month, the new regular first and second-class stamps were issued, showing the King without his crown.
Passports July 2023: British passports in the name of “His Majesty” rather than “Her Majesty” were issued.
Official portrait January 2024: Public buildings, such as town halls and courts, were offered an official photo of the monarch, taken at Windsor Castle.
Tudor crown February 2024: King Charles’s preferred design of crown was introduced in places such as the gov.uk website and official buildings.
Banknotes June 2024: The Bank of England issues £5, £10, £20 and £50 banknotes with the King’s portrait, based on a picture taken in 2013
Postboxes: Postboxes are only changed when they are damaged or scheduled for extensive repair, meaning there are still examples from Queen Victoria’s reign. This looks likely to be one of public symbols slower to change.

Tottenham’s Yves Bissouma tear gassed and robbed of £255,000 watch

By

John Mutiso

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June 5, 2024

Yves Bissouma, the Tottenham midfielder, was robbed of his £255,000 watch in Cannes after being tear-gassed by a gang posing as fans wanting a selfie.

The 27-year-old and his girlfriend were set upon by masked men at the five-star Majestic Barriere hotel in the early hours of Sunday morning.

As well as his high-value Richard Mille watch, the gang is said to have ripped three diamond rings off his unidentified partner’s fingers during the 4am attack.

A Tottenham spokesperson said in a statement: “We are aware of the incident that took place and we will continue to check on the welfare of Yves and his family.”

Police described how Bissouma initially attempted to escape inside the hotel but its doors were locked. “They were clearly part of a very well organised gang,” a local judicial police source told The Sun newspaper. “Both were waiting outside the hotel, and struck when the couple were dropped off by a chauffeur-driven limousine at about 4am. At first the men acted as if they wanted to pose for photographs with the star, but then it became clear they were wearing masks. The couple tried to get into the hotel, but were confronted with a locked door, and then gas was sprayed in their faces.”

The men escaped in a Renault Megane while Bissouma and his girlfriend were so shocked and dismayed by the attack that they returned to London within a few hours.

Such attacks are becoming increasingly common in upmarket resorts such as Cannes, with two watches worth around £200,000 each stolen during the film festival last month.

Bissouma’s lawyer Bastien Caire confirmed two hooded men attacked him with tear gas and took his watch before fleeing. Caire declined to comment further while an investigation is ongoing.

Bissouma joined Spurs from Brighton for £25 million plus add-ons in the summer of 2022 and made 28 appearances for the club last season.

Mentally Challenged Man Lynched in Siaya for Hitting People With Stones

By

John Mutiso

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June 5, 2024

A 40-year-old man was on Tuesday lynched by irate members of the public for allegedly attacking and pelting people with stones in Siaya town.

Brian Ochieng Ogutu met his demise at the hands of the enraged mob due to his random attacks on area residents.

Siaya County Police Commander Cleti Kimaiyo informed Citizen Digital that concerned citizens alerted the police about a mentally unstable man facing mob justice in Siaya.

Officers from the Siaya Police Station rushed to the scene near the Siaya Governor’s office.

Citizen reported that the authorities confirmed that the deceased had thrown stones at passersby before being subjected to vigilante justice.

Kimaiyo added that the man succumbed to multiple deep cuts sustained during the incident.

The deceased’s body was transferred to Siaya County Hospital Mortuary pending a postmortem examination.

MP Kaluma ordered to pay lobby group Sh500,000 for challenging LGBTQ ruling

By

John Mutiso

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June 5, 2024

Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma is mandated to pay a lobby group Kes500,000 for challenging the Supreme Court’s ruling allowing gays and lesbians to form an association.

In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court refused to overturn its earlier decision and ordered Kaluma to pay Eric Gitari, the former Executive Director of the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC).

The court found that Kaluma filed his review application too late, challenging the registration of the association recognizing the LGBTQ+ community in Kenya.

Five Supreme Court Judges, led by Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, rejected Kaluma’s plea to challenge the Deputy Registrar’s decision to assess the costs of the appeal he lost on September 12, 2023, which allowed the registration of the LGBTQ+ association.

The court ordered Kaluma to pay Gitari Kes.500,000 for the time wasted and expenses incurred during the hearing of his review suit. Additionally, Kaluma must pay Kes.200,000 for the cost of the appeal.

While dismissing Kaluma’s appeal, the judges criticized him for filing his application outside the stipulated timelines.

“Kaluma has not provided a good reason for not challenging the deputy Registrar’s ruling within the statutory timelines. He has also not met any of the conditions to convince this court to exercise its discretion in his favor,” the Supreme Court Judges ruled.

MP Kaluma approached the apex court on January 10, 2024, arguing that he was not served with a ruling notice by the Deputy Registrar and only learned of the decision when Gitari’s lawyer texted him demanding Kes.500,000, after the statutory seven-day timeline for filing a reference to challenge the ruling had already lapsed on November 14, 2023.

Kaluma urged the apex court to grant him more time to challenge the deputy Registrar’s ruling, but his request was rejected.

Justices Mwilu, Njoki Ndung’u, Smokin Wanjala, William Ouko, and Mohamed Ibrahim found that Kaluma was not truthful, as court records revealed that he was served with the disputed ruling through his official email address on November 6, 2023, at 17:19 hours.

“We note that there have been numerous correspondences from the court to Kaluma via his email address. Notably, there was correspondence on September 12, 2023, and November 6, 2023,” stated the Judges.

The bench noted that since March 9, 2023, there was no indication that Kaluma’s email address had changed.

“There is no doubt in our minds that the email address in question belongs to the applicant. We conclude that Kaluma was indeed aware and was served with the impugned ruling,” the Supreme Court Judges said.

In September last year, the Supreme Court rejected Kaluma’s review application seeking to overturn its earlier decision that the NGLHRC must be allowed to register as a non-governmental organization (NGO), ruling that the application lacked merit and imposing costs.

Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Assaulting a Police Officer

By

Cyrus Kimanga

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June 5, 2024

A 24-year-old man will serve a seven-year jail term after he was found guilty of assaulting a police officer.

In a statement on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) noted that Kakamega Principal Magistrate J. J. Masiga read out the sentence which established that the convict willfully assaulted the police officer.

The convicted person identified as Tyson Kayesi committed the offence in May 2024 when he attacked a law enforcement officer and inflicted bodily harm.

“The accused person, Tyson Kayesi, is reported to have assaulted a police officer in the month of May 2024 while on official duty causing him harm as per the P3 form produced in court,” a statement shared by ODPP read in part.

Before he was sentenced, Kayesi had refused to take a plea on two occasions. However, on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, he took a plea and pleaded guilty to all the four counts that were levelled against him.

During the trial, the prosecution counsel Moraa Atandi submitted that the court should uphold the minimum sentence as prescribed by the law.

However, the Kakamega Magistrate slapped Kayesi with a seven-year-imprisonment term arguing that the issue of assaulting police officers was becoming rampant in the country.

“In delivering the judgement, the Magistrate noted that the offence of assaulting police officers is becoming rampant nationwide and therefore a custodial sentence is the most suitable for purposes of deterrence to the community and for any person intending to commit that offence,” ODPP’s statement added.

Ministry of Health Addresses Vaccine Stock Shortages Across Kenya

By

John Mutiso

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June 5, 2024

The Ministry of Health has stepped up efforts to address the recent vaccine shortage across medical facilities countrywide.

In a statement on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, the ministry announced that it had allocated Ksh1.25 billion to urgently procure routine childhood vaccines, including BCG, Oral Polio, Tetanus-Diphtheria, and Measles-Rubella, which had reached critically low levels in the country.

The Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha-led docket further revealed receipt of 1,209,500 doses of Measles-Rubella vaccines, 3,032,000 doses of Oral Polio vaccines (bOPV), 1,000,000 doses of Tetanus-Diptheria vaccines, and 3,129,000 doses of BCG vaccines.

“The received vaccines are currently being processed for urgent distribution to the nine regional vaccine stores across the country.

“To expedite this process, the Ministry of Health has engaged additional refrigerated trucks to ensure these lifesaving vaccines reach our health facilities and communities by the second week of June 2024,” the statement read in part.

The ministry called on healthcare workers to collaborate with community health teams to ensure all children who missed vaccinations return to the facilities and catch up on their immunization schedule.

“We also urge all caregivers to bring their children back to the facilities for immunization as vaccine supply has now normalized in the country”.

The Ministry further announced that it is exploring innovative options for sustainable financing of vaccine procurement and program operations to prevent future stockouts.

“We will continue engaging the National Treasury to ensure increased and dedicated resources are allocated to the immunization program, ensuring stable vaccine supplies.

“Ring-fencing domestic resources will guarantee sustainable financing for immunization and universal access to vaccines, aligning with our efforts in Primary Health Care,” the statement reads.

The countrywide vaccine shortage has caused insurmountable suffering to caregivers and parents nationwide. The matter has since caused a public outcry, with media outlets showcasing challenges in Kenya’s health sector.

MoH noted that it acknowledges the role of immunization partners, the media, and civil society in amplifying and raising awareness of the vaccine stockout issues.

“This indicates a strong health-seeking behaviour in our communities and the excellent demand for vaccines in Kenya”.

The statement concludes, “We appreciate the quick intervention of the State Department of Medical Services, the National Vaccines and Immunization Program, and UNICEF’s supplies division for their swift distribution of the vaccines.”

NCBA Bank, Inchcape Kenya partner to offer up to 90% car financing

By

John Mutiso

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June 5, 2024

NCBA Bank on Tuesday, June 4 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Inchcape Kenya for an asset financing campaign that offers Kenyans up to 90 percent financing for new vehicles.

The campaign which will run until March 31, 2025, aims to provide exclusive financing options for Changan, BMW, Jaguar, and Land Rover vehicles.

NCBA will also offer asset financing for used vehicles of up to 80 percent of their value in the deal.

“We are thrilled to enter into this partnership with Inchcape Kenya today. This partnership underscores our commitment to provide innovative solutions in asset finance to benefit our customers.

“This partnership opens up new opportunities for customers to own premium vehicles from renowned brands like Jaguar, Land Rover, BMW, and Changan,” NCBA Bank Group Managing Director John Gachora said during the announcement of the agreement.

Inchape Kenya Managing Director Julia Vershinskaya on her part said the partnership with NCBA will make owning premium vehicles more attainable to customers.

“Customers can also purchase from the BMW and the JLR model lineup with ease because of this partnership. For peace of mind, the vehicles come with a warranty, dedicated aftersales support, and free tank of fuel in addition to financing,” said Julia.

Under the agreement, customers will have up to five years to manage their finances and repay the loans.

NCBA Group Director, Asset Finance and Business Solutions Lennoc Mugambi announced that the banks offer a 60-day repayment moratorium after the vehicle’s release.

“To further support our customers, we are pleased to offer a 60-day repayment moratorium after the vehicle’s release. This period allows customers to settle into their new vehicle without the immediate pressure of repayments,” he stated.

The processing fee for the car loan is 1.5 percent of the loan amount while the interest rate is 20.6 percent per annum.

Vehicles financed under this scheme will be insured through NCBA Bancassurance Intermediary Limited, offering our customers peace of mind and comprehensive protection.

Government, partners to form taskforce on donor funds

By

John Mutiso

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June 5, 2024

The government and development partners have reached an agreement to form a taskforce that will be charged with looking into hastening absorption of donor funds allocated to various programs across the country.

Upon its formation, the taskforce will work on enhancing the country’s resilience against negative effects of climate change and other challenges, hampering national social-economic growth.

The taskforce, comprising government and development partner representatives, will be mandated to work on and address challenges such as absorption funds and grants.

Speaking on Tuesday when he hosted the second development partnership forum at his official residence in Karen, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said the formation of the taskforce is part of steps being taken by the Kenya Kwanza administration, to enhance government’s collaboration with development partners.

“We encourage continuous engagement with our development partners. President Ruto administration modus operandi is continuous engagement with our partners and so far it has worked very well for us. We have removed the bottlenecks that frustrated our engagement. The President has spelt out the need to lessen bureaucracy and red tapes so that we can make progress in our partnership,” he said.

“We recognise that improving absorption rates of funds require addressing challenges on both sides in project implementation, and ensuring timely disbursement and utilisation of funds,” he added.

The meeting was attended by among others, the co-chairs of Development Partnership Forum Sebastian Groth (German Ambassador to Kenya) and Dr Stephen Jackson (UN Resident Coordinator).

After the meeting, a statement read by the Principal Secretary (PS) State Department for National Treasury, Dr Chris Kiptoo indicated that both government and the development partners agreed that absorption of committed funds and loans has not been at its optimal level.

He said both parties have common desire to address the challenges and obstacles, hindering the absorption of funds.

Both parties also agreed to give more visibility and importance to development partners’ support, including support that does not flow in the form of direct budget, and strive to align projects with the government’s Bottom-Up economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).