Kenya

No mask, No voting, IEBC says ahead of 5 by-elections

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 14:30:01 +0000

No mask, No voting, IEBC says ahead of 5 by-elections admin Mon, 12/14/2020 - 14:30

Monday, December 14, 2020

Original Publisher

Original Article

No mask, No voting, IEBC says ahead of 5 by-elections

NAIROBI, Kenya Dec 14 – The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has warned voters in five by-elections set for Tuesday that they will not be allowed at polling stations without facemasks.

Commissioner Boya Molu said the protocols that entail the use of face masks, social distancing, disinfecting surfaces among others must be adhered to in all polling stations to curb the spread of COVID-19.

He said the COVID-19 protocols were developed in consultation with the Ministry of Health and had been circulated to all election officials for strict compliance.

“We shall have an officer who shall have a thermo-gun to check the temperature, we have water and sanitizers at every polling station, and gloves and masks for all our officials. So we are asking the public to strictly comply with these requirements,” he said.

This comes a month after President Uhuru Kenyatta announced a “No mask, No service” public sensitization campaign to encourage adherence to COVID-19 containment measures.

The by-elections will be held in Msambweni constituency, new MCAs in Kahawa-Wendani in Kiambu County, Kisumu North in Kisumu and Lake view in Nakuru County, Dabaso in Kilifi County and Wundanyi/Mbale wards in Taita Taveta County.

Msambweni Returning Officer Yusuf Abubakar Mohamed said there were no major incidents reported during the two-month for campaigns and expressed optimism of an incident-free election.

“Voters are expected to come to the polling stations masked. We are trying our bit as a Commission to contain the spread of Coronavirus,” Abubakar said.

He said 60 polling centres with a total of 129 stations across the constituency had been fumigated as part of the COVID-19 containment measures.

MSAMBWENI

The Msambweni seat fell vacant following the death of ODM legislator Suleiman Dori in March 2020.

Key candidates in the by-election are Wiper Democratic Movement’s Sheikh Abdurahman Mahmoud, Omar Boga of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and Deputy President William Ruto’s ally Feisal Bader.

The other candidates are Marere Wamwachai of The National Vision Party, Hassan Mwakulonda of Party of Economic Democracy and independent candidates Charles Bilali and Mansour Kumaka.

The candidates are scrambling for the 68,621 registered voters in Gombato/Bongwe, Ukunda, Kinondo and Ramisi Wards.

KISUMU NORTH WARD

Meanwhile Returning Officers who will be overseeing the mini-polls confirmed that preparations were complete as the Commission finalised the dispatch of voting materials to the various polling stations.

Kisumu North Ward Returning Officer Dennis Omare announced adequate security within the polling stations and outside to ensure peace prevails during the exercise.

“We have organised with the security teams so that they can be going around conducting patrols. They will be checking on any kind of mischief,” Omare told a news briefing Monday ahead of the polls.

The Kisumu North Ward seat fell vacant when the MCA Elisha Oraro was elected Kisumu Count Assembly Speaker.

The Commission cleared nine candidates to contest the ward representative’s seat, with three candidates vying on independent tickets while the rest are sponsored by various parties.

DABOS

Kenya

Africa

276 COVID-19 cases reported from 2,126 screened samples, positivity rate averages 13pc

admin — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 19:50:02 +0000

276 COVID-19 cases reported from 2,126 screened samples, positivity rate averages 13pc admin Mon, 10/26/2020 - 19:50

Monday, October 26, 2020

Original Publisher

Kenya – Capital News

Original Article

276 COVID-19 cases reported from 2,126 screened samples, positivity rate averag…

NAIROBI, Kenya October 26 – The health ministry announced 276 more coronavirus cases on Monday picked from 2,162 samples analyzed over a period of 24 hours.

This represents a 12.98 per cent positivity rate with the five-day mean standing at 13.1 per cent, a figure that is almost triple the five per cent threshold stipulated by the World Health Organisation.

The new figure brings to 49,997 the total reported cases out of the 662,046 cumulative tests conducted since March.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, through a statement sent to newsrooms also announced that eighteen patients had succumbed to coronavirus raising the national death tally to 920.

Kagwe said that there are ninety-two patients who are on emergency care including twenty patients under Intensive Care Unit (ICU), fifty-two on supplementary oxygen and twenty on High Dependency Unit.

The Ministry of Health noted that 220 more patients were cleared including 150 who were under Home-Based Care Program and seventy who were discharged from various hospitals.

The the total number of patients who have been cleared after recovering from the virus since April 1 rose to 34, 429.

Another 1,191 patients were said to be hospital-based care while 1, 406 were being monitored under the home-based care protocol.

The new cases reported include a two-year old baby and are distributed among 179 males and 97 females.

Mombasa, Machakos and Nairobi accounted for the highest cases with 71, 58 and 50 cases respectively while Kilifi and Busia followed with 21 cases each.

Other cases were distributed in Kwale (19), Kajiado(13), Garissa (6), Nakuru (5), Narok(4), Makueni(3), Kiambu(3), Taita Taveta(1) and Tharaka Nithi (1).

Kenya

Africa

News

Raila says uncontested BBI referendum ideal as Kalonzo urges consensus

admin — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 19:50:02 +0000

Raila says uncontested BBI referendum ideal as Kalonzo urges consensus admin Mon, 10/26/2020 - 19:50

Monday, October 26, 2020

Original Publisher

Kenya – Capital News

Original Article

Raila says uncontested BBI referendum ideal as Kalonzo urges consensus

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 26 – Orange Democratic Movement Party leader Raila Odinga and his Wiper counterpart Kalonzo Musyoka on Monday underscored the need for a national consensus to achieve an uncontested referendum on constitution review proposals captured in Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report.

Odinga said the 2010 constitution was a ceasefire document and the time has come for the country as a whole to look at outstanding issues that may not have been addressed when the constitution was originally framed.

While quoting the Bible and the Quran, Raila said the proposed constitutional amendment should be a unifying factor.

He quoted Isaiah 1:18: “Come now let’s reason together.”

“The Quran says those who listen to all statements and then follow the best of it these are the ones whom Allah has guided and these are the ones possessed of minds, so that’s why we are saying let us come and reason as a people of Kenya and let’s talk together and not talk at each other,” Odinga further outlined.

He also dismissed claims that he was pushing for BBI for him to become President, saying he was yet to declared his interest on the seat.

Kalonzo who spoke ahead of Odinga at the event had urged for consensus building to ensure a non-contested constitution review process under the BBI/PSCU

Odinga said the Jubilee government should be given time to complete deliver on its Big 4 agenda before the next General Election.

Kalonzo who spoke ahead of Odinga at the event had urged for consensus building to ensure a non-contested constitution review process under the BBI.

Kalonzo noted that unity is paramount even as the country gears to a possible referendum to make crucial amendments.

“For once I think we have a God given opportunity to have a non-contested Referendum, let’s listen to everyone and the church so that we build the consensus,” he said.

L – R: Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto during the launch of the BBI report at Bomas of Kenya on October 26,2020/PSCU

Kenya

Africa

President Kenyatta says BBI constitutional review seeks to resolve negative ethnicity

admin — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 19:50:02 +0000

President Kenyatta says BBI constitutional review seeks to resolve negative ethnicity admin Mon, 10/26/2020 - 19:50

Monday, October 26, 2020

Original Publisher

Kenya – Capital News

Original Article

President Kenyatta says BBI constitutional review seeks to resolve negative eth…

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 26 – President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday defended the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) constitutional review report he launched at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi saying it seeks to address negative ethnicity.

The Head of State said the law review process under BBI will culminate in an inclusive governance structure that will enhance unity and cooperation among Kenyans.

The report launched a week after it was jointly presented to him and his BBI co-partner Raila Odinga proposes the expansion of the national executive by adding the position of Prime Minister and two deputies, all appointed by the President from among the parliamentary membership of the majority party.

President Kenyatta defended the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) constitutional review report he launched at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi saying it seeks to address negative ethnicity/PSCU

The Head of State said there is need to manage the youth carefully, not by inciting them but by including them in decision making processes.

He urged Kenyans to support the BBI because it will end the tribal divisions that have characterized the successive elections in the country.

President Kenyatta also thanked his handshake partner Raila Odinga for agreeing to the 2018 Handshake which he termed as a watershed moment that has redrawn the country’s political architecture.

Kenya

Africa

How tech can make small tea farms more lucrative

admin — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 18:30:02 +0000

How tech can make small tea farms more lucrative admin Mon, 10/26/2020 - 18:30

Monday, October 26, 2020

Original Publisher

Business

Original Article

How tech can make small tea farms more lucrative

What you need to know:

One of the reasons the tea sector is ailing is the high cost of production at the farm and factory levels.
With machine picking, a farmer first does hard pluck by hand, then lightly skiffs (prunes) the field to ensure that a good table is formed from where to carry out continuous normal plucking.
Technology can lead to redundancies but it creates other value jobs in the long run.
With the machine, one is guaranteed timely plucking during flush times when labour is a constraint and this in turn will increase productivity.

Ben Lang is the chief executive of Mobile Edge, a technology company that has come up with a tea-picking gadget for smallholder farmers dubbed Mchai.

He spoke to Brian Okinda on how to boost production and fortunes of the troubled sector

Q1. The country’s tea sector is among the most profitable earners for the economy, yet it is facing numerous challenges. Is technology the panacea for the sector’s challenges?

Yes. One of the reasons the tea sector is ailing is the high cost of production at the farm and factory levels.

Technology can help reduce costs by more than 70 per cent. For instance, hand-picking yields an average of 40kg per plucker per day at Sh10-Sh13 depending on the region.

If a farmer picks 1,000 kilos per month, it costs him between Sh10,000 and Sh13,000 in labour alone. Machine plucking, on the other hand, can yield an average of 40kg per hour or 240-320kg per day at a cost of Sh3-Sh5 per kilo. The saving is enormous.

Q2. When should a farmer start picking tea leaves and how effectively and often should the picking be done?

Manual picking is done two to three times a week. For machines, it is a nine-day cycle, which is the same as three times a week.

With machine picking, a farmer first does hard pluck by hand, then lightly skiffs (prunes) the field to ensure that a good table is formed from where to carry out continuous normal plucking.

Pruning is done to remove excess foliage, which leads to poor shoot generation. It takes between three and four weeks before plucking.

Q3. What issues stifle the adoption of technology in the tea sector and how can these be addressed?

First, there are quality fears. Kenya upholds two leaves and a bud quality standard, which is a very high bar to beat.

Previous machine technologies could not attain this. The huge number of smallholder farmers (700,000) was also a factor.

Without proper monitoring, the quality tea could suffer. Nonetheless, we must consider the fact that Kenya is the only country that uses 70 per cent manual plucking in the world, with high quality tea yet still they get lower prices in the export market. The solution is in adoption of technology.

Second is unfair trade practices. Large tea estates use very big machines that yield low quality green leaf.

To mitigate this failure, they refuse to support their smallholder out-growers to adopt machine harvesting so that they can use their green leaf to blend with their low-quality leaf before processing.

Third, there is the issue of affordability and return on investment. Most plucking machines are out of reach for small-scale farmers.

But there are newer technologies that are affordable, efficient and cheaper to maintain.

Q4. Tea workers have claimed that plucking technologies could eventually cost them their jobs. What is your take on this assertion?

Technology can lead to redundancies but it creates other value jobs in the long run. Many tea pickers contracted by farmers have created a parasitic relationship that takes away 90 per cent of the producers’ earnings.

The same tea pickers can adopt the machine and use it for contract tea picking all year round. This way, there are no acute job losses.

Q5. You have a new tea-picking technology. Tell us something about this technology and how farmers can benefit from it.

The machine is named Mchai. It is a one user machine that uses a rechargeable lithium battery that will enable one to pick tea for eight hours a day but yields more.

The machine is faster, thus one plucks a bigger area. With the machine, one is guaranteed timely plucking during flush times when labour is a constraint and this in turn will increase productivity.

Lastly, not much crop is lost due to machine plucking as one can pluck an average of two times in a month.

satnation@ke.nationmedia.com

Kenya

Africa

Business

Fight violence, not media freedom, State told

admin — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 10:20:05 +0000

Fight violence, not media freedom, State told admin Tue, 10/13/2020 - 10:20

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Original Publisher

Politics

Original Article

Fight violence, not media freedom, State told

What you need to know:

The Kenya Media Sector Working Group has taken issue with the new directives on political gatherings that were issued by the National Security Advisory Committee (NSAC) on October 7 and adopted by the Cabinet on October 8.
Media Council CEO David Omwoyo urged the committee to review clauses in the new requirements that pose threats to media freedom.

The media fraternity has asked the government to train its guns on perpetrators of violence instead of issuing directives that interfere with its freedom.

The Kenya Media Sector Working Group has taken issue with the new directives on political gatherings that were issued by the National Security Advisory Committee (NSAC) on October 7 and adopted by the Cabinet on October 8.

The group, which includes the Media Council of Kenya, the Kenya Editors Guild and the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ), is concerned by constraints on media reporting of political events, which it says are retrogressive and cause unnecessary interference with the work of the media and Kenyans’ access to information.

KUJ Secretary-General Erick Oduor asked the national government to stop interfering with the media and instead arrest and prosecute perpetrators of the violence that has pushed the government into action by way of the new rules.

Speaking to the press in Kisumu County on Monday, Mr Oduor said it is unfair to ask the media to be responsible or liable for any content it airs that will be deemed as inciting the public.

“We are conscious of the threat posed by reckless political activities and utterances and have enough internal mechanisms to deal with this. The government should go for the hate mongers, not the media whose work is to disseminate information,” he said.

He noted that the group is simply giving the government its view on the directives and is yet to take any action against it.

KUJ urges State to punish perpetrators of violence instead of interfering with the media

On Monday, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) moved to court to challenge NSAC’s stringent measures aimed at containing early 2022 election campaigns.

The society wants the court to declare the directives unconstitutional and illegal, due to violation of freedoms, and prevent Inspector-General of Police Hillary Mutyambai or any other police officer from enforcing them.

Calls for review

Media Council CEO David Omwoyo urged the committee to review clauses in the new requirements that pose threats to media freedom.

Mr Omwoyo said it is shocking that the NSAC and the Cabinet are proposing curbs on media reporting of political activities without reference to the independent media regulator recognised and established by Article 34 of the Constitution, Media Council Act, 2013 and the Kenya Information Communications Act.

“This indicates a dangerous trend where security agencies may assume powers that amount to curbs on media freedom," he said.

“The directives will greatly erode gains made in strengthening a free and responsible media industry. That is why we want them reviewed."

MCK says committee should review clauses that threaten media freedom

Rosalia Omungo, CEO of the Kenya Editors Guild, noted that journalists learnt lessons from the 2007-08 post-election conflict, that went a long way in guiding reporting on violence and political tensions.

Ms Omungo noted that these lessons are captured in the Code of Conduct for the Practice of Journalism in Kenya under the Media Council Act.

“Any breaches of the ethical guidelines in reporting under the current political environment are best addressed under the established mechanisms, including the Media Complaints Commission, rather than by giving security agencies unchecked powers to control the media,” she said.

Kenya

Africa

Politics

Ruto links Weston Hotel demolition push to 2022 poll

admin — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 17:41:23 +0000

Ruto links Weston Hotel demolition push to 2022 poll admin Mon, 10/05/2020 - 17:41

Monday, October 5, 2020

Original Publisher

Politics

Original Article

Ruto links Weston Hotel demolition push to 2022 poll

What you need to know:

The hotel has filed fresh court papers arguing that the suit is a conspiracy between KCAA and certain political actors.
The authority has challenged National Land Commission (NLC) ruling the Weston Hotel should retain the land and compensate KCAA at the current market value.

Deputy President William Ruto has linked the court bid to demolish Weston Hotel to the 2022 Presidential Elections where he is fighting to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The hotel has filed fresh court papers arguing that the suit is a conspiracy between the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and certain political actors to politicise the controversial land deal for cheap political drama.

KCAA is pushing for revocation of the title issued in the 1990s, which ultimately will lead to the demolition of the Weston hotel.

The authority has challenged National Land Commission (NLC) ruling the Weston Hotel should retain the land and compensate KCAA at the current market value, drawing opposition from the hotel.

"It is a cheap attempt on the part of the conspirators to malign and scandalise the Deputy President because it is believed he has certain interest and association with the property," reads submission filed by Weston lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi.

“The suit is being prosecuted to damage him politically. It is precisely because of that political scheme that the petitioner (KCAA) had been forced to file this petition instead of filling an appeal from the decision of the 1st respondent (NLC).”

Weston Hotel through its lawyer reckon that KCAA was under instructions to undertake a political hatchet job on Dr Ruto and the case is "wanton act of political skullduggery".

Weston Hotel wants the dismissal of a suit where KCAA wants to repossess the land where the facility sits. The hotel said KCAA erred in filing a fresh suit in court instead of challenging a 2019 decision of the NLC.

Mr Abdullahi reckons the law provides a procedure for an appeal before the Environment and Land Court, adding that KCAA should have appealed against NLC instead of filing a fresh suit.

KCAA wants the decision by NLC directing the management of the hotel to compensate the agency for the land, quashed.

Weston has maintained that it was an innocent purchaser and the case was filed with ulterior motives, especially after NLC made a finding that the title was acquired legally.

KRA raises tax on 31 goods despite firms’ freeze plea

admin — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 11:30:01 +0000

KRA raises tax on 31 goods despite firms’ freeze plea admin Mon, 10/05/2020 - 11:30

Sunday, October 4, 2020

Original Publisher

Business

Original Article

KRA raises tax on 31 goods despite firms’ freeze plea

What you need to know:

Consumers will pay Sh6 more for a litre of beer and products with alcohol content not exceeding six percent while prices for spirits will rise highest at Sh12.50.
The taxman will now collect Sh265.50 per litre of spirit, Sh198.34 per litre of wine and Sh116.08 per litre of beer.
A stick of cigarette will cost Sh0.16 more as the excise duty rose to Sh3.31 per stick from Sh3.15.

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has increased tax on at least 31 goods including beer, fuel, bottled water and juice rejecting firms’ petition to freeze the higher duty.

KRA raised excise duty on the products by 4.94 percent in line with the average inflation rate for the year to June, just days after reopening of bars following a lengthy Covid-19 lockdown.

The taxman published the new excise taxes in the Kenya Gazette last Friday, paving the way for manufacturers to adjust prices of the various goods starting October 1.

Legal notice

Under the current law, KRA commissioner-general only needs to issue a legal notice stating the adjustment for new tax to become effective.

Sector lobby, Kenya Association of Manufacturers, had urged the taxman to suspend implementation of the annual inflation adjustment tax that affects excisable goods, citing economic hardships as a result of Covid-19 crisis.

Consumers will pay Sh6 more for a litre of beer and products with alcohol content not exceeding six percent while prices for spirits will rise highest at Sh12.50.

Review of the prices came three days after the State allowed bars and entertainment joints to reopen after a six-month shutdown in what is expected to spur beer and cigarette sales and shore up KRA’s collections from excise duty.

Rate of inflation

The adjustment is in line with the law that demands excise duty be revised upwards in tandem with the cost of living measure or the average rate of inflation in the previous financial year.

“The commissioner-general adjusts for inflation the specific rates of duty set out in the schedule hereto in accordance with the formula specified in Part 1 of the First Schedule to the Act with effect from the 1stOctober, 2020,” KRA said.

The taxman will now collect Sh265.50 per litre of spirit, Sh198.34 per litre of wine and Sh116.08 per litre of beer. A stick of cigarette will cost Sh0.16 more as the excise duty rose to Sh3.31 per stick from Sh3.15.

Super petrol rose by Sh1.03 as the inflation adjusted excise duty to Sh21.95 from Sh20.92. Kerosene and diesel prices increased by Sh0.54.

[email protected]

Kenya

Africa

Business

LSK asks Treasury to suspend MPs’ salaries over dissolution advise

admin — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 12:50:01 +0000

LSK asks Treasury to suspend MPs’ salaries over dissolution advise admin Thu, 09/24/2020 - 12:50

Thursday, September 24, 2020

Original Publisher

Kenya – Capital News

Original Article

LSK asks Treasury to suspend MPs’ salaries over dissolution advise

NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 24 –The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) wants the National Treasury to suspend payment of national lawmakers’ salaries effective October 12.

LSK President Nelson Havi announced the decision on Thursday saying the measure was intended to safe-guard public resources in the event that President Uhuru Kenyatta does not dissolve Parliament within 21days.

“Mindful of the impunity that have been perpetuated by Parliament and the Speakers of the National Assembly and the Senate, we have written to the Cabinet Secretary in charge of the National Treasury, to cease the remittance of salaries and allowances to members of the National Assembly and Senators of the Twelfth Parliament with effect from October 12. Man shall not eat what he has not laboured for,” he told a news conference held at LSK Offices.

Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) whose chair is National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi already gave an assurance that the 419 legislators will continue receiving the remuneration until their term of office expires after the 2022 general election.

LSK latest demand is premised on Chief Justice David Maraga’s decision advising President Uhuru Kenyatta to dissolve Parliament for failure to enact a law to operationalize the two-third gender constitutional principle.

Under the two-thirds gender rule, the dominant gender should only occupy 66.66 per cent of public offices. Currently, men dominate the National Assembly as only 59 out of 349 MPs are female.

Havi said the LSK also petitioned the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission stating that Parliament shall be not conduct lawful business beyond the said timeline.

The lawyers’ lobby group also asked Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai to withdraw security detail attached to the Members of Parliament.

“We have written to the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government as well as Inspector General of Police to withdraw all police officers designated to guard these, who will be former parliamentarians.”

“We have also asked the Parliamentary Service Commission to ensure that the two Houses are closed because these individuals will no longer have the authority of the people of Kenya,” The LSK President stated.

The PSC, which ensures smooth running of both the Senate and the National Assembly, has already announced its intent challenge the CJ’s advice in court.

The Commission on Tuesday claimed that the Chief Justice jumped the gun by issuing the advisory despite two impending petitions before the High Court.

While issuing the advisory on Monday, Justice Maraga cited Article 261 (1) and the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, which provides that the enactment of the two-thirds gender principle was among the things Parliament was to do within five years after the promulgation of the Constitution in 2010. This has not happened 10 years later.

Kenya

Africa

Kenya lifts amnesty on free stay for foreigners

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 16:40:01 +0000

Kenya lifts amnesty on free stay for foreigners admin Tue, 09/15/2020 - 16:40

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Original Publisher

Politics

Original Article

Kenya lifts amnesty on free stay for foreigners

Those whose visas or residence permits expired during the pandemic lockdown will no longer cite restrictions in order to be allowed to stay.

Kenya

Africa

Politics