President Ruto Gives Scholarships To Comoros Students

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July 6, 2023

President William Ruto has announced that the Kenyan government will provide scholarships to 100 Union of the Comoros students interested in studying in Kenya.

Simultaneously, Ruto has stated that Comorian students in Kenya will pay the same school fees as Kenyan students.

“Kwa heshima ya ndugu yangu rais wenu, serikali ya Kenya itawapatia scholarships 100 kwa watoto wa kutoka hapa Comoros. Na vile vile kwa sababu ya undugu na urafiki, na watu wa Comoros, vijana wenu wanafunzi wote wanaosomea Kenya watalipishwa kama vile wao ni Wakenya na sio wageni tena,” said Ruto.

This comes after President Ruto and his Comoros counterpart, President Azali Assoumani, signed a General Cooperation Agreement on Thursday.

On July 6, 2023, President Ruto spoke as the Chief Guest at the Union of Comoros’ 48th Anniversary of Independence.
President Ruto has committed to eliminating the need for visas for all persons entering Kenya with valid travel documents issued by the Union of Comoros by the end of this year.

7th KCB Golf Tour Headed To Thika

By

Dan Ojumah

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July 6, 2023

The 7^th leg of the KCB East Africa Golf Tour will be held at the par 72 Thika Sports Club this coming weekend.

Action is set to tee off at 6:30 am as over 100 golfers from around Kiambu County and its environs take on the lush fairways at the Thika-based facility.

Before taking a two-week break following the 2023 WRC Safari Rally, the golf series had graced Nyanza Golf Club where Riaroh and her team of David Sate, Joyce Osike and Tabitha Ojwang’ emerged overall team winners to book a slot in the grand finale.

KCB Group CEO Paul Russo said: “We are delighted to host the 7^th leg of the KCB East Africa Golf Tour at the Thika Sports Club this weekend. I know the majority of golfers could not wait for the two-week break to come to an end for them to participate in the competitive tournament. We are expecting golfers to compete at the highest level, and it will be interesting to see who will emerge the top winners and seal a spot in the grand finale.”

Just like the previous legs of the tour, two top teams will be battling for the top two spots to book their qualifications for the grand finale slated for November at the Karen Country Club.

The main tournament will take place on Saturday while the juniors’ and ladies’ clinics will take place on Sunday, July 9^th at the same venue.

So far, the series has reached over 600 participants and over 300 juniors in the juniors’ clinics that are scheduled for Sundays alongside the ladies’ clinics.

“Our aim is to improve the sport not only in Kenya but also the greater East African region. We also want to give kids and women who are enthusiastic about golf an opportunity to learn and upscale through our golf clinics,” noted Mr. Russo.

After the Thika edition, action will head to Nyeri Golf Club on July 22^nd, 2023, for its 8^th leg.

Defender Azpilicueta Leaves Chelsea After 11 Years

By

John Mutiso

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July 6, 2023

Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta has left the Premier League club after 11 seasons, the West London outfit announced on Thursday.

Azpilicueta had been a mainstay at Chelsea since he arrived from Ligue 1 side Olympique de Marseille in 2012, making more than 500 appearances in all competitions, scoring 17 goals, providing 56 assists and winning every major title with the club.

“Cesar leaves an everlasting mark at Chelsea, as a warrior, as a champion, and as loyal Chelsea legend,” Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly and co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali said in a joint statement.

“He has set the standards at the club for more than a decade and demonstrated to everyone what is required day in, day out to achieve success.”

The 33-year-old Spanish defender is expected to join LaLiga side Atletico Madrid as a free agent after Chelsea agreed to let him go despite there being 12 months left on his contract.

The Champions League, Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup and League Cup winner was linked with a move to Serie A side Inter Milan before deciding on Atletico as his next destination.

He joins the growing list of players to leave Stamford Bridge this close season after the exits of Kalidou Koulibaly, N’Golo Kante and Edouard Mendy, who all joined Saudi Pro League clubs.

Kai Havertz, Mateo Kovacic and academy product Mason Mount have signed for rivals Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United, respectively.

Chelsea have taken on new players, with forwards Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson joining the club, as they seek to revive their fortunes under former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino after finishing 12th — their worst finish to a season since 1994.p

CS Kuria: Indonesia To Support Kenya In Producing Edible Oil

By

Cyrus Kimanga

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July 6, 2023

Indonesia, the world’s largest producer of palm oil, has pledged to help Kenya achieve self-sufficiency in edible oils through large-scale palm, sunflower, and soya bean growing.

This was revealed through social media by the cabinet secretary for trade, investment, and industry Hon. Moses Kuria.

Pursuant to the note, a delegation of the Indonesian government and private companies is expected in Nairobi next week to discuss an agreement for the end-to-end development of the edible oil industry with Kenyan President William Ruto, cabinet secretary Hon. Moses Kuria, and his agriculture counterpart Hon. Mithika Linturi.

Farmers in Lamu, Kwale, Tana River, Taita Taveta, Homa Bay, Migori, and Kisumu are expected to benefit the most from this initiative due to their expertise in large-scale plantation farming.

Kenya primarily imports palm oil through five companies: Bidco, Kapa Oil, Pwani Oil, Menegai, and Golden Africa.

The move is projected to lower the price of oil from the present Ksh 220 per litre.

In addition, Indonesia promised to import 700,000 cows from Kenya.

DP Gachagua: Gov’t Determined To Ensure Small Scale Tea Farmers Benefit From Their Sweat

By

John Mutiso

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July 6, 2023

The government is determined to improve tea sector productivity and earnings for local smallholder farmers who have remained at the bottom of the pyramid despite tea being one of the largest foreign exchange earners in the country.

Speaking Thursday morning during the official opening of the Tea Reforms Conference in Kericho, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was concerned that small-scale tea farmers had no power to determine the price yet tea was a much-sought commodity across the globe even when sold in raw form.

The DP further observed that the small-scale farmers struggled economically yet they are the ones who invest much of their resources, efforts and time into the production of the precious commodity.

“In spite of Kenya producing distinct flavours of tea, the market does not have the best interest of the farmer, and in this conference, we need to explore lasting legal policy administrative and operational strategy that will return the tea money to where it belongs, to the farmer,” stressed Gachagua.

He promised the stakeholders at the tea conference that the government will adopt the reforms agreed on at the forum.

The Deputy President also mentioned that tea has been posting positive results despite uncertainties in major markets like Russia and Pakistan adding that the price of 100 kilograms of tea increased to Sh29,000 in 2022 from Sh23,000 the previous year, an increase of Sh294 per kilo.

The DP pointed out that the international market size for tea remained healthy and was projected to grow by up to 6.7 percent by 2031, exceeding USD 93.2 billion, as consumption of black tea alone which Kenya produces most is expected to grow by over 2% in the next decade.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi who also graced the first day of the tea reforms conference assured that the Government would put interventions to ensure farmers get better prices for tea and an increase in production.

The two-day conference being held at the Kericho Golf Club seeks to consolidate views from stakeholders on tea reforms around production, processing, marketing, sales and governance in order to address the bottlenecks that hindered small holder farmers from prospering despite their commodity competing favourable at the global market.

Other leaders present at the forum include Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Kericho County Dr Eric Mutai, Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, among other dignitaries from Kericho and guests from other counties.

Senator Cherargei Asks Gov’t To Compensate Victims Of Recent Terror Attacks

By

Cyrus Kimanga

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July 6, 2023

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has asked the government to compensate victims of terrorism attacks.

Cherargei while reacting to Interior CS Kithure Kindiki’s suspension of the reopening of the Kenya-Somalia border owing to an increase in terrorism said the move came at the most appropriate time.

The senator applauded the action, saying it will assist combat terrorism in the Northern region.

“Congratulations, CS Interior Kindiki, on closing the Somalia border due to increased terror attacks in Northern Kenya and Lamu, resulting in loss of life and property,” he stated.

“The government should compensate for lives and property lost as a result of terrorist acts,” Cherargei stated.

He asked Kindiki to deal with those who finance, plan, sympathize with, and coordinate terror activities in the country.

Kindiki stated that the state prioritized national security above all else and that it was critical to arrest escalating cross-border criminality.

Al Shabaab has expanded terror assaults in the northeastern region and along the coast, carrying out violent raids, torching properties, and even beheading individuals.

State Provides Finance Mechanism Programme To Mitigate Effects Of Climate Change

By

John Mutiso

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July 6, 2023

The Government has released funds to help redefine the climate change phenomenon through the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action Programme (FLLOCA) in order to strengthen local resilience and achieve significant and sustainable progress in the war against climate change.

Kenya is the first African country to enact a Climate Change Act back in 2006 and one of the first to enact laws at the sub-national level (County Governments) that will make significant strides in the effort to combat climate change

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said the government has taken the whole of its approach in the spirit of leaving no one behind and building synergies to address climate change on a scale, including mainstreaming climate change in government programs and projects.

“To respond adequately to climate-related risks to peace and security, Kenya has already taken steps to strengthen coordination across different sectors, and the institutional infrastructure to better understand and channel climate finance to build resilience for peace,” Mudavadi remarked.

He also added that in the Horn of Africa, climate change risks have adversely affected the pastoralist communities who compete over declining natural resources that often result in intercommunal conflicts, forced migration, displacements, and deaths.

“Here in Africa, climate change is a threat multiplier that has become a major deterrent of peaceful co-existence among communities within and across borders,” he observed, adding that the National Drought Management Authority gives early warning systems, and response to climate-related disasters and risks in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs).

Further, Mudavadi pointed out that low-emission continents with massive untapped natural resources including renewable energy potential, and the world’s youngest and fastest growing workforce, makes Africa a very cost-competitive location for deploying green manufacturing and industrial capacity and removing carbon at scale.

The Prime CS made these remarks during the opening of the Berlin Climate and Security Conference (BCSC) on climate change summit in Nairobi where he stated that the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council has underlined the importance of adopting a climate-sensitive planning dimension to peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction missions, and in development efforts to prevent any relapse to armed conflicts in fragile communities.

Also speaking at the event, the Special Representative for International Climate Policy of the Federal Republic of Germany, State Secretary Ms Jennifer Morgan, said that the climate crisis remains the biggest challenge of security threats since it affects humanity and biodiversity.

She added that in the year 2019, Kenya started the Berlin Forum on climate, and last year, Kenya launched a climate action plan which aimed to strengthen the country’s path towards sustainable, climate-resilient development while achieving low carbon climate resilient development.

“Climate is one of the biggest threats in the country since it affects food production, resources, and immigration of people from different countries, therefore, the government has decided to make climate a natural pillar,” stressed Morgan.

She at the same time said the developed countries are shifting investment to climate change mitigation.

Further, Morgan disclosed her country is working with other countries to establish global renewable energy so as to realize the benefits and impact it has on African countries.

“Kenya has a more interpreted concept of security to address the refugees that are extremely affected by conflicts that climate change issues have perilously contributed to,” she lauded.

The Summit aims to break new ground by redefining the narrative on climate change and innovative ways of mobilizing climate financing with scale and urgency to achieve significant and sustainable progress in the war against climate change.

Babu Owino Asks To Be Acquitted Of Criminal Charges

By

Cyrus Kimanga

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July 6, 2023

Babu Owino, MP for Embakasi East, has sought the court to clear him of the criminal charges he is facing.

The case was coming up today for highlighting of submissions after both the prosecution and defense closed their case on May 2023.

According to Owino, the prosecution has failed to establish its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

“Throughout the case, none of the witnesses testified to the fact that the accused person was disorderly because none of the witnesses saw the accused person behaving in the alleged disorderly manner,” he stated.

Mr. Owino claims that the prosecution failed to prove that he was disorderly while carrying a pistol since none of the witnesses could agree that the accused was disorderly.

“We most humbly submit that the prosecution has failed to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused person is guilty.”

To put it another way, the prosecution case is “scandalous, frivolous, vexatious, and an abuse of the court process,” submitted Owino.

According to Owino, none of the prosecution witnesses, including the victim DJ Evolve, have been able to demonstrate that he had his pistol at the time of the incident.

He claims that the accusations that he was intoxicated on the material day are unsupported by any toxicological report and are only allegations on which the prosecution must establish that he was inebriated, leading him to behave in a disorderly manner.

Ichung’wah Finally Responds To Danstan Omari Lawsuit

By

Cyrus Kimanga

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July 6, 2023

Kimani Ichung’wah, Majority Leader of the National Assembly, has responded to a defamation suit filed by Lawyer Danstan Omari against him.

In his replying affidavit, Ichung’wah argued that Omari’s complaint against him was without merit since he did not participate in any defamatory tweets against the lawyer.

If anything, Ichung’wah maintained that the tweets on which Omari’s lawsuit was based were just fair remarks and were not addressed at him as an individual.

“I am a stranger to any purported allegations of defamation, and I have gone through the purported publication, if any, and I do not find any defamatory words at all,” reads Kimani’s affidavit.

As a result, he concluded that Omari had failed to demonstrate that the tweets were damaging and had harmed his reputation, as claimed in his application.

The Kikuyu MP also sought to reverse Omari’s prayers. Lawyer Omari had urged the judge in the defamation complaint to prevent the National Assembly Majority Leader and his agents from disseminating any derogatory information about him until the suit was heard determined.

In response, Ichung’wah requested the judge not to grant Omari’s conservatory order, alleging that there was no basis for the lawyer to make such requests.

“This freedom of expression should not be taken away on account of personal rights. Further, the application can have recourse in the way of damages if there are indeed proven defamatory utterances by myself in the future.

“The applicant has failed to demonstrate to this honorable court that there is a threat of any defamatory publication to warrant the granting of injunctive relief as prayed for by the applicant,” stated Ichung’wah in his affidavit.

France Set To Allow Police To Spy Through Phones

By

John Mutiso

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July 6, 2023

French police should be able to spy on suspects by remotely activating the camera, microphone and GPS of their phones and other devices, lawmakers agreed late Wednesday.

Part of a wider justice reform bill, the spying provision has been attacked by the left and rights defenders as an authoritarian snoopers’ charter, though Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti insists it would affect only “dozens of cases a year”.

Covering laptops, cars and other connected objects as well as phones, the measure would allow geolocation of suspects in crimes punishable by at least five years’ jail.

Devices could also be remotely activated to record sound and images of people suspected of terror offenses, as well as delinquency and organised crime.

The provisions “raise serious concerns over infringements of fundamental liberties,” digital rights group La Quadrature du Net wrote in a May statement.

It cited the “right to security, right to a private life and to private correspondence” and “the right to come and go freely”, calling the proposal part of a “slide into heavy-handed security”.

During debate on Wednesday, MPs in President Emmanuel Macron’s camp inserted an amendment limiting the use of remote spying to “when justified by the nature and seriousness of the crime” and “for a strictly proportional duration”.

Any use of the provision must be approved by a judge, while the total duration of the surveillance cannot exceed six months.

And sensitive professions including doctors, journalists, lawyers, judges and MPs would not be legitimate targets.

“We’re far away from the totalitarianism of ‘1984’,” George Orwell’s novel about a society under total surveillance, Dupond-Moretti said.

“People’s lives will be saved” by the law, he added.

The contested measure, part of an article containing several other provisions, was voted through by National Assembly members as a wider justice overhaul bill making its way through parliament.

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