Viral Tea Ke - : Deep Dives

From Farming To Survival: Harsh Reality Facing Kenya’s Ageing Population

FaithAnne Mwaura — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:10:52 +0300

A 72-year-old woman checks her phone with mixed emotions each time a notification comes in. The money may have arrived—but so has the risk of losing it through fraud or error.

Her experience reflects a wider concern raised during the 10th Monthly Discussion Forum on Ageing held at Kariokor Social Hall in Nairobi, where stakeholders warned that Kenya’s ageing population is increasingly vulnerable within a system struggling to keep pace.

Participants cited structural weaknesses in Kenya’s pension framework, particularly for those in the informal sector.

While workers in formal employment can access retirement benefits, millions of farmers, small-scale traders, and casual labourers grow old without financial security.

Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) and the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) shows that the country has over 3.2 million people aged 60 and above—about six per cent of the population—many of whom face financial uncertainty in old age.

Guests attend the 10th Monthly Discussion Forum on Ageing held at Kariokor Social Hall in Nairobi. /PHOTO

Income decline after retirement

The forum highlighted a sharp drop in income after retirement as a key concern. Even among pensioners, delays in disbursement often undermine financial stability, while those outside formal schemes have limited or no fallback options.

Government support programmes such as the Inua Jamii Cash Transfer Programme offer a monthly stipend of about Ksh2,000, which participants argued is insufficient to meet basic needs amid the rising cost of living.

Digital payments expose new risks

As social protection programmes shift to mobile platforms, concerns are growing over digital exclusion among older persons.

The transition of Inua Jamii payments to mobile money systems, while aimed at improving efficiency, has left many elderly beneficiaries exposed due to limited digital literacy.

Participants reported cases of fraud, financial exploitation by caregivers, and loss of funds linked to unfamiliarity with mobile technology.

The forum called for targeted interventions, including digital literacy training, increased awareness on safeguarding personal identification numbers (PINs), and the development of user-friendly technologies such as voice-assisted systems.

Climate change affecting livelihoods

The discussions also addressed the impact of climate change on elderly Kenyans who depend on agriculture.

Entrepreneur Esther Bett noted that soil degradation and unpredictable weather patterns have reduced farm productivity, affecting incomes among older farmers. Her organisation is promoting bioproduct solutions aimed at restoring soil fertility and supporting sustainable agriculture.

Mary Ng’ang’a of CPF Financial Services underscored the importance of financial literacy, noting that training programmes are equipping older persons with investment knowledge and exposure to money market opportunities.

Edward Nyabera from Kakamega County shared examples of small-scale income-generating activities that enable older persons to supplement their earnings.

Policy delays raise concerns

Despite ongoing efforts, stakeholders pointed to gaps in policy implementation. The Older Persons Bill, which seeks to protect seniors from abuse, neglect, and discrimination, has yet to be tabled in Parliament despite the completion of public participation in mid-2024.

Similarly, the Social Protection Act 2025 provides a framework for cash transfers but does not fully address issues such as healthcare access, geriatric care, and institutional standards.

Call for inclusive solutions

Participants emphasised the need for inclusive approaches, including intergenerational collaboration.

Through initiatives such as Older Persons Associations, stakeholders argued that bringing together younger and older generations could foster knowledge exchange and create new economic opportunities.

The forum concluded that without urgent reforms, many older Kenyans will continue to face financial insecurity, digital vulnerability, and limited social protection.

Guests pose for a photo during the 10th Monthly Discussion Forum on Ageing held at Kariokor Social Hall in Nairobi. /PHOTO

Kenya Railways Reveals Hidden Rule Behind SGR Online Seat Allocation

Marvin Chege — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:03:25 +0300

Kenya Railways has stepped in to clarify how seat allocation works on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Madaraka Express after complaints from passengers over unexpected seating placements despite booking online.

The explanation followed frustration from a traveller who questioned why online bookings often land passengers in the last two coaches, even when hundreds of seats across the train remain unoccupied.

“SGR, why is it that if you book online, even with over 800 seats left, you are guaranteed the last 2 coaches?” the traveller posed.

He added, “Why is it that I always get coach 13 or 14 even when I do an early booking with over 700 available seats? Are those coming at the counter special?”

A collage of First Class and Economy coaches inside the SGR train. /KENYA RAILWAYS

In response, Kenya Railways clarified that passengers can only choose specific seats when purchasing First Class or Economy tickets physically at Madaraka Express stations.

“Good evening, apologies for the inconvenience. However, seat selection is only available for First Class and Economy bookings when tickets are purchased over the counter at any Madaraka Express station,” the corporation explained.

For online bookings, the system allows passengers to reserve tickets through the official portal, pay via M-Pesa, and receive an e-ticket.

Travellers must provide identification details, which are verified at the station before a boarding pass is issued.

While the platform lets users pick between First Class and Economy, seat allocation is automated and based on availability at the time of booking. Each coach carries 118 passengers in Economy and 72 in First Class.

Kenya Railways further indicated that the system typically assigns seats from the rear coaches moving forward or distributes passengers sequentially as bookings increase.

This setup often results in online users being placed in the last coaches, even when many seats remain empty in other sections.

As a result, passengers seeking more control over their seating — or aiming to avoid rear coaches — may need to book their tickets in person, despite the convenience of online reservations.

Meanwhile, recent upgrades to SGR coaches have introduced a new seating layout. Economy class no longer features face-to-face seating or central tables. Instead, three-seat rows now face one direction, while two-seat rows are aligned in the opposite direction.

Exterior of the new economy class SGR train coaches unveiled on July 22, 2024. /KENYA RAILWAYS

DCI Reveals How Street Value Of Drugs Decides Your Jail Term

Marvin Chege — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 14:21:21 +0300

Have you ever wondered how the value of narcotic drugs seized during arrests of suspects made by police and detectives is determined? This is a crucial factor in terms of establishing what kind of legal proceedings to press against the suspects.

A structured valuation framework employed by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is increasingly influencing how narcotics cases are handled in Kenya, with investigators adopting a systematic, evidence-driven method to assign monetary value to seized drugs.

The model, largely executed through the Anti-Narcotics Unit, estimates the street value of narcotics by factoring in the quantity, type of drug, and prevailing prices within the illicit market.

Officers stand guard at the entrance of DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road. /NATIONAL POLICE SERVICE

This valuation plays a central role in drafting charges, shaping prosecutions, and determining possible legal penalties.

“The process typically begins with the physical weighing of the recovered substances to establish their quantity (e.g., in grams or kilograms),” the DCI stated, highlighting the procedural basis of the system.

According to the agency, the weighing is carried out under strict protocols, often in the presence of relevant stakeholders, and is officially recorded through a weighing certificate to guarantee its admissibility in court.

Investigators then incorporate intelligence on current street prices, sourced from surveillance activities, informant networks, and analysis of recent drug seizures. These estimates capture real-time dynamics of Kenya’s illicit drug trade and serve as a benchmark for evaluating the financial scale of each haul.

This is followed by forensic confirmation, where samples are forwarded to the Government Chemist or accredited analysts for scientific examination. The tests verify the identity, composition, and purity of the substances, ensuring they meet evidentiary standards under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act.

The final valuation is frequently referenced in DCI statements, court documents, and media briefings, providing a consistent metric for gauging the scale of drug trafficking cases.

Officials indicate that the framework enhances uniformity across investigations while promoting transparency and prosecutorial credibility.

DCI maintains that by integrating market intelligence with scientific validation, the framework boosts the strength of narcotics cases and supports more effective crackdowns on drug trafficking networks.

On Friday, April 3, the DCI issued a clarification following mounting public pressure to shed light on how such valuations are determined.

The scrutiny emerged after detectives unveiled an intensified nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking networks, during which substantial quantities of narcotics with high estimated street values were seized.

Suspected cannabis sativa seized by NACADA on May 14, 2025. /PHOTO

EXPLAINER: How To Switch Your Polling Station Ahead Of 2027 Elections

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 16:46:43 +0300

The viral ‘Niko Kadi’ and ‘Tuko Kadi’ slogans that took over social media have sparked a surge in voter registration among young Kenyans ahead of the 2027 General Election. At the same time, the trend has revived a key question: how can registered voters switch their polling stations if they plan to vote in a different location from where they cast their ballots in 2022?

In Kenya, changing a voting station is a formal administrative process handled by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). The process, officially known as a transfer of voter registration, allows voters to update their polling stations to reflect where they currently live, work, or study.

The service is free and is particularly useful for individuals who have relocated or those who prefer to vote in their home constituencies despite living elsewhere. However, the process is governed by clear rules and timelines that must be followed.

IEBC officials during a past voter registration exercise. /REUTERS

When You Can Apply for a Transfer

Voter transfers are not conducted continuously. The IEBC only allows them during specific voter registration or voter register revision periods, which are publicly announced, often ahead of elections or by-elections.

Since September 2025, the commission has been running a Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise aimed at enrolling more than six million voters. The drive mainly targets young people, alongside eligible citizens who have yet to register or need to update their details.

However, those seeking to transfer their polling stations must do so within these official windows. Applications are not accepted once the registration period closes, making timing a critical factor, especially for recently relocated voters.

Where and How the Process Happens

The transfer process takes place at IEBC constituency offices and authorised registration centres located across the country. These centres also function as polling stations during elections.

To initiate a transfer, a voter must appear in person at a registration centre in the area they wish to vote. Despite ongoing digitisation efforts, the IEBC has not introduced an online transfer option, and the process cannot be completed through a third party.

Step-by-Step Transfer Process

Before applying, voters are encouraged to confirm their current registration details, including their polling station, ward, constituency, and county. This helps avoid errors during the transfer.

At the registration centre, applicants must present their original national ID card or a valid Kenyan passport—the same identification used during their initial registration.

IEBC officials then issue a transfer application form, which requires the voter to fill in personal details, current polling station information, and the preferred new location. Applicants may also indicate reasons for the transfer, such as relocation for work, education, or other personal circumstances.

Once the form is submitted, IEBC officials verify the details against the national voter register to confirm eligibility and accuracy. In some instances, there may be minimum requirements, such as having been registered at the current station for a certain period.

After successful verification, the voter’s details are updated, and the new polling station becomes their official voting location for future elections.

Key Rules You Must Know

The IEBC outlines several conditions that govern voter transfers. Only individuals who are already registered voters can apply for a transfer, and the process is free of charge.

Each voter is limited to one polling station at any given time. Attempting to register or transfer in multiple locations is an electoral offence that may attract penalties, including fines or imprisonment. These safeguards are meant to protect the integrity of the voter register and prevent duplication or fraud.

Why Many Kenyans Are Switching Stations

Relocation remains the main reason voters change their polling stations, whether moving across counties, constituencies, or from rural to urban areas. Other reasons include job transfers, education, and changes in residence.

Some voters also choose to switch stations to ensure they participate directly in elections within their home constituencies, even if they currently live in cities.

With high internal migration, particularly among young people, the ability to update voting locations plays a key role in ensuring wider participation in elections.

Challenges and Limitations

Despite being accessible, the process comes with limitations. The lack of an online option means voters must physically visit registration centres, which can be inconvenient for some.

In addition, restricting transfers to specific registration periods often results in high demand, long queues, and last-minute rushes when the exercise is open.

Switching a voting station in Kenya is a clear but time-sensitive process regulated by the IEBC. Voters must wait for the registration window to open, apply in person, and undergo verification before their details are updated.

Once approved, the new polling station becomes the official voting location for subsequent elections. While the process may appear rigid, the IEBC maintains that these controls are essential to ensure an accurate, transparent, and credible voter register—considered the backbone of Kenya’s electoral system.

IEBC banner at Malava Primary School in Kakamega County. /IEBC

Tuju Saga: Inside Law Allowing Auctioneers To Seize & Sell Billion-Shilling Properties

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 16:46:49 +0300

A dramatic standoff at Dari Business Park in Karen, Nairobi, involving former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju, has reignited debate about the role and authority of auctioneers in Kenya’s debt recovery system.

The confrontation on Wednesday night, March 11, unfolded as auctioneers attempted to enforce court-sanctioned orders tied to Tuju’s Karen properties, which are linked to a loan dispute with the East African Development Bank.

The properties, valued at about Ksh1.9 billion, are at the centre of a long-running debt battle, with the outstanding loan reportedly growing to more than Ksh4.5 billion due to accrued interest.

The dispute has played out in several courts, including proceedings in London and multiple hearings in Kenya’s judiciary. On March 9, 2026, Justice Josephine Mongare dismissed Tuju’s latest attempt to block the sale of the properties, describing the application as an abuse of court process. The ruling effectively cleared the way for auctioneers acting on behalf of the lender to proceed with the sale.

Raphael Tuju addresses the media in 2019. /FILE

The matter took another twist the same day after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) arrested former High Court Judge Joseph Mutava, city lawyer Kimani Wachira, and two other suspects over allegations that they sought an $80,000 (about Ksh10 million) bribe to influence the outcome of the case.

The suspects were later released on bail pending investigations. Tuju alleged that the individuals had approached him seeking money to influence a sitting judge, claims authorities indicate remain under investigation.

Even as the corruption probe unfolds, legal experts maintain that the auctioneers involved are operating within a clearly defined statutory framework that authorises them to recover debts and repossess property under court orders.

Under the Auctioneers Act, Chapter 526 of the Laws of Kenya, auctioneers are recognised as key players in enforcing court decisions related to debt recovery. The law broadly defines an auctioneer to include anyone authorised to attach property in execution of a court order, sell property through public auction, repossess goods under contractual agreements, or enforce distress for rent.

Because of the sensitive nature of these duties, the law requires anyone performing them to hold a valid licence issued by the Auctioneers Licensing Board. The board is a statutory body established under the Act and chaired by a person qualified for appointment as a High Court or Court of Appeal judge.

Operating as an auctioneer without a valid licence is a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to Ksh100,000 or imprisonment for up to two years.

The law also addresses how auctioneers earn income from their work. Section 22 of the Act allows licensed auctioneers conducting a sale to recover professional fees related to the process unless a separate agreement exists with the seller.

The same provision requires auctioneers to remit the net proceeds from the sale to the client within 15 days, a requirement that assumes the deduction of legitimate charges before the funds are transferred.

Legal provisions also emphasise the professional standing of auctioneers. The Act requires licensed auctioneers to conduct themselves in a manner befitting officers of the court, placing them in a category similar to advocates when executing legal processes.

Their legal exposure is also significant. Under the law, auctioneers bear unlimited personal liability in relation to their auctioneering business, meaning they can be held personally responsible for actions taken in the course of their work.

Detailed fee structures are outlined in the Auctioneers Rules of 1997, which specify charges for services such as receiving court warrants, attaching or repossessing property, and conducting sales of movable or immovable assets.

In high-value disputes such as the Tuju case, where assets worth billions of shillings are involved, these legally prescribed fees can be substantial.

The ongoing EACC investigations focus on alleged attempts by individuals to influence the judicial process. If proven, such actions would amount to serious corruption offences. However, the activities of licensed auctioneers carrying out court-approved debt recovery are legally distinct from those allegations.

Professional rules governing the industry also require auctioneers to obtain the best possible value for property sold at auction while adhering to prescribed fee scales.

As the Tuju dispute continues to draw public attention, legal analysts maintain that the broader principle remains clear: auctioneers serve as court-sanctioned enforcers of debt recovery and are legally entitled to charge fees for carrying out that work.

Screen grabs of a confrontation between ex CS Raphael Tuju and alleged auctioneers at his Karen property on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. /WHISPERS WIRE

Nairobi’s Richest Pastor? Preacher in Pursuit of Over Ksh6 Billion From Clients

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 18:08:42 +0300

Most pastors spend Mondays reviewing Sunday sermons, preparing for midweek prayers, or visiting congregants.

Pastor Sammy Maina Kamau doesn’t follow that routine. His weekdays are spent shuttling between police stations, arbitration hearings, courtrooms, breweries, lawyer briefing rooms, and construction sites.

Kamau is the sole director of JILK Construction Limited (Jesus Is Lord Kamau), based in Tatu City. The company promotes itself as a reliable partner for large infrastructure projects across East Africa. But court records tell a more complicated story.

JILK has been entangled in multiple disputes with clients, often even before contracts are executed. A recurring pattern emerges: contract awarded → execution dispute → multibillion-shilling claim. Altogether, these cases across Kenya and the region exceed Ksh6 billion.

A photo of Pastor Sammy Maina Kamau during a past sermon. /FILE

The Kisumu Brewery Dispute

One of the most high-profile cases involves Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) and its parent, Diageo PLC. In 2017, JILK was contracted to work on a low-cost alcohol plant in Kisumu, dubbed Project Nafasi.

The company walked off the site over execution disputes. A year later, two JILK employees filed sexual harassment complaints at Muthaiga Police Station.

JILK then filed a Ksh 3 billion arbitration claim, targeting Diageo rather than KBL, citing an email from a project supervisor ending in @diageo.com.

Arbitration proceedings concluded, but before a final award, KBL challenged the arbitrator’s impartiality in the High Court, pointing to an alleged undisclosed relationship between Kamau and the arbitrator. Kamau denies the claims, calling them false. The case remains before the High Court.

Case Against KPA

Kamau also pursued a Ksh1.2 billion tender for asbestos roof removal at Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), routed through Wilfak Engineering Limited.

After KPA postponed the project citing funding issues, Kamau sued for contract enforcement and Ksh900 million in damages. The court dismissed the case, ruling that a Notification of Award does not create a binding contract.

The Afrikon Insolvency Case

Kamau’s name appears in Insolvency Cause No. 18 of 2020 involving Afrikon Limited. Court filings allege that during Afrikon’s liquidation, a lucrative tender was transferred to JILK without notifying the court or creditors.

Creditors claim the move shifted Afrikon’s primary asset before debts could be recovered and are seeking arrest warrants against Kamau and other directors.

KRA VAT Dispute

The Afrikon-linked project also triggered a tax dispute. JILK sought recognition of Ksh322 million in input VAT claims for work on the Bura Irrigation and Settlement Scheme. The Tax Appeals Tribunal dismissed the case.

Disputes Beyond Kenya

JILK has faced legal challenges outside Kenya, including procurement disputes in Uganda’s Public Procurement Appeals Tribunal with Kira Municipal Council.

The company also claimed over Ksh1.1 billion over works on the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) terminal expansion. That arbitration was dismissed.

A Pattern Emerges

Contract disputes are common in infrastructure projects, but the sheer volume and scale of Kamau’s legal battles have raised eyebrows. Some commercial lawyers note that large claims can be used as leverage during disputes, though success ultimately hinges on the evidence presented in court or arbitration.

A photo of Pastor Sammy Maina Kamau during a past sermon. /FILE

List Of Items You're Not Supposed To Bring Aboard SGR Train

Marvin Chege — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 16:48:37 +0300

If you have any plans of travelling via the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), it might be worth noting that Kenya Railways has outlined the tools and related equipment that passengers have been cautioned against bringing on board the train.

In response to a customer’s query on social media, the corporation on Wednesday, March 4, explained that tools fall under restricted items as outlined in its Madaraka Express Passenger Service Conditions for Carriage.

The clarification came after a member of the public sought guidance on whether tools and other equipment, particularly used in hardware operations, are allowed on the SGR.

Interior of the new economy class SGR trains unveiled on July 22, 2024. /KENYA RAILWAYS

“Hello, Tools are among the items restricted on the train, as outlined in the Kenya Railways Corporation Madaraka Express Passenger Service Conditions for Carriage,” the corporation stated.

Kenya Railways further indicated that tools are part of a broader category of items barred from its premises and trains, adding that the restrictions are aimed at tightening passenger safety and security, rules that many travellers may not be fully aware of.

Prohibited and Restricted Items

Workshop tools, including hammers, pliers, and screwdrivers, are not allowed inside passenger coaches. Such items must be handed over to Kenya Railways security personnel at stations for handling in line with established safety procedures.

The corporation also confirmed that bicycles are currently not permitted on passenger trains due to operational limitations. Travellers carrying bicycles have been advised to consult station management before making travel arrangements.

Alcoholic beverages are banned within train stations and on board trains. Smoking is equally prohibited across all Kenya Railways premises, including stations and coaches.

Also deemed illegal are aerosol products such as hair sprays, body sprays, pepper sprays, insecticides, shaving cream, and sunscreen. Yes, sunscreen!

Firearms, ammunition, explosives, fireworks, and flares remain strictly prohibited. However, licensed firearm holders are required to notify the Kenya Railways Security team in advance for direction and support.

The restricted list extends to flammable materials and liquids, including turpentine, kerosene, petrol, paints, adhesives, and various types of lighters—whether butane, absorbed fuel, electric, or novelty battery-powered—as well as matchboxes.

Compressed gases, whether flammable, non-flammable, or toxic, such as butane, propane, gasoline, aqualung cylinders, and lighter refills, are also banned.

Security-type cases containing lithium batteries, pyrotechnics, or dynamite are not permitted. Further, the transport of animal trophies, including wild animal skins or hides, horns, and cowrie shells, is outlawed, and if the items are illegal in Kenya, this can attract greater criminal consequences.

Narcotic or controlled substances such as cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and Mandrax are strictly forbidden.

Other prohibited items include live animals and pets, oxidising substances, disabling devices, tear gas, and poisonous materials.

Kenya Railways has retained the authority to block any additional items not expressly listed if they are deemed hazardous to its premises or trains, or if they qualify as security threats under the law.

The corporation maintains that the restrictions are intended to safeguard passengers and staff, urging travellers to familiarise themselves with the rules before using the SGR, plying mostly between Nairobi and Mombasa, to avoid unnecessary inconvenience.

Collage photo of Transport PS Mohamed Daghar inside the new premium Standard Gauge Railway coaches in Port Reitz Mombasa County. /KENYA RAILWAYS

Ksh10M Mercedes Benz GLE Stolen From Westlands Showroom Tracked On Its Way To Tanzania

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 11:00:20 +0300

Authorities have recovered a high-end Mercedes-Benz GLE350d Coupe just days after it was stolen from a car dealership in Westlands, Nairobi, following a dramatic pursuit that involved a high-speed chase.

The vehicle was taken on the night of Saturday, January 31, from a dealership yard along Tausi Road. The dealers quickly flagged the theft online, warning that the SUV had only recently been imported and was yet to be registered — a factor that significantly increased the risk of fast resale or illegal export.

Investigators initially believed the suspects had mounted fake number plates on the car to stay under the radar.

Given the pristine condition of the unit, the dealership feared it could be easily disposed of once driven out of the country.

A Mercedes GLE which was stolen on January 31, 2025. /MASCARDI CARS

Public attention around the case prompted the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to step in, launching a targeted operation to track the vehicle. Acting on intelligence from several leads, detectives trailed the Mercedes as it moved south from Nairobi.

In the early hours of Wednesday, officers traced the car to Imbirikani in Kajiado County, an area near the Kenya–Tanzania border that is notorious for cross-border smuggling routes used to ferry stolen vehicles out of the country.

Police engaged the suspects in a high-speed chase as they attempted to cross the border — a move that would have complicated any arrest. The pursuit ended with officers intercepting the vehicle, with the dealership later confirming its recovery.

By the time it was found, the Mercedes had already been fitted with number plates, making it easier for the suspects to pass it off as legitimately registered.

Authorities are now probing whether the theft was opportunistic or part of a larger, organised criminal network.

In Kenya’s used-import market, the Mercedes-Benz GLE350d Coupe is a high-value unit, typically retailing between KSh 7.5 million and KSh 10 million, depending on the model year, mileage, and condition.

Newer or low-mileage Coupe variants often command even higher prices, making the SUV an attractive target for organised car theft syndicates, especially when the vehicle is unregistered and easy to move across borders.

Car theft continues to rank among Kenya’s most stubborn crimes, with thousands of vehicles reported stolen every month. While many motorists view theft as pure misfortune, experts highlight that some vehicles are simply more attractive to criminals.

Data from the Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI) shows Toyota tops the list, accounting for 54.9 per cent of reported thefts, followed by Isuzu (12.88 per cent), Mazda (7.06 per cent), Nissan (5.83 per cent) and Mitsubishi (3.99 per cent).

Traffic along Thika Road in Nairobi. /MARVIN CHEGE.VIRAL TEA KE

Why Kenyan Motorists Are Switching Their Cars From Petrol to LPG

Marvin Chege — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 16:52:06 +0300

Imagine a car running on...not fuel...but gas. You read it right...gas! The very same thing used in a lot of homes for cooking and heating is an alternative source of fuel for vehicles, as the cost of petroleum fuel keeps rising.

A quiet revolution is unfolding at some of Nairobi’s busiest petrol stations, powered by Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as motorists, who include taxi drivers, come up with ways to keep the cost of transport down. The catch is, LPG right now is relatively cheaper than even Kerosene.

In a first-of-its-kind initiative, Proto Energy’s OTO Gas on Wednesday, January 14, partnered with OLA Energy to roll out special LPG pumps at selected stations, starting with the Buruburu outlet. The collaboration aims to make LPG, or Autogas, when used in vehicles, more accessible to everyday drivers and commercial fleet operators alike.

1. Cost Savings That Hit the Wallet

For many motorists, the primary attraction of LPG is financial. Vehicles converted to run on LPG alongside petrol—known as dual-fuel vehicles—can switch seamlessly between the two. This flexibility allows drivers to take advantage of lower LPG prices, cutting fuel costs significantly.

According to industry sources, some users report savings of up to 30 percent compared to petrol, a benefit that is particularly appealing to ride-hailing drivers, delivery fleets, and logistics companies.

Mohamed Elhoderi (L), Managing Director, OLA Energy, and Joel Kamau, Chief Executive Officer, Proto Energy, fuel a vehicle with LPG at the OLA Energy Buru Buru station during the official launch of OTO Gas LPG pumps at OLA filling stations on January 14, 2026. /VIRAL TEA KE

Joel Kamau, Managing Director of Proto Energy, noted that the switch is not just environmentally responsible but also economically smart for motorists.

2. Cleaner Air, Healthier Cities

Environmental considerations are also driving the shift. Transport accounts for an estimated 40 to 45 percent of urban air pollution in cities such as Nairobi.

Petrol and diesel engines emit particulate matter and carbon dioxide that contribute to smog and respiratory health issues. LPG, however, burns cleaner, producing up to 20 percent less CO₂ than petrol while significantly reducing particulate emissions compared to diesel.

Mohamed Elhoderi, Managing Director of OLA Energy, emphasized that co-locating LPG pumps at existing stations makes it easier for drivers to adopt a fuel that benefits both the environment and public health.

3. Convenience Meets Innovation

Accessibility has historically been a barrier to alternative fuels. Drivers seeking LPG had to locate specialized refueling stations, often far from their usual routes. The partnership between Proto Energy and OLA Energy thus addresses this challenge by integrating LPG pumps into existing petrol stations, allowing motorists to refill alongside petrol or diesel.

Kamau described the move as a practical step toward mainstreaming Autogas in Kenya, making it a realistic option for daily use rather than a niche solution.

4. Government Backing and Growing Trust

The adoption of Autogas is further supported by government policy. Kenya’s National LPG Growth Strategy aims to increase LPG penetration to 70 percent by 2028, covering both household and transport use. This policy framework gives motorists confidence that LPG is a secure and regulated fuel choice.

The widespread use of LPG for cooking, already present in roughly one-third of Kenyan households, also builds trust in its safety and reliability as a transport fuel.

5. Ideal for All Kinds of Vehicles

Autogas can serve a wide range of vehicles, from private cars to taxis, delivery vans, and commercial fleets. Dual-fuel systems allow motorists to switch between petrol and LPG depending on price or availability.

For fleet operators, LPG offers not only cost savings but also an opportunity to project a green and sustainable image—a growing consideration for businesses and ride-hailing platforms.

6. The Future Looks Green…and Practical

The Buruburu launch is the first in a planned multi-site rollout, with additional stations expected across Nairobi and other urban centres.

Industry analysts view LPG as a transitional fuel that bridges conventional petrol and diesel with cleaner alternatives, including electric mobility. Unlike other green technologies, LPG is immediately available, affordable, and compatible with existing vehicles, making it a practical choice for both private motorists and businesses.

Why Drivers Are Taking the Leap

The growing adoption of LPG among Kenyan motorists can be attributed to three main factors: cost savings, environmental benefits, and convenience. Lower fuel costs, reduced emissions, and easy access through established petrol stations have made Autogas an increasingly attractive option.

According to Kamau, “Our goal has always been to make cleaner, more affordable energy solutions practical and accessible, and this launch demonstrates that LPG is no longer a niche option but a viable, scalable fuel for Kenya’s mobility needs.”

For Nairobi drivers and fleet operators, switching to Autogas is emerging not just as a choice, but as a practical, economically sound, and environmentally responsible way to fuel vehicles in 2026 and beyond.

A photo of gas cylinders in Kenya. /STANDARD DIGITAL

Tesla Cybertruck Spotted In Kenya For The First Time

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 14:31:09 +0300

Kenya is now growing to be a hotspot for some of the world's most exotic vehicles, making maiden appearances in the country and within the African continent. However, the appearance of a Tesla Cybertruck has taken rare car spotting to a whole new level.

Excitement began in Mombasa County, where residents and Kenyans across social media were stunned after the stainless steel vehicle, representing the future of electric pickup vehicles, was spotted rolling through sections of the coastal city, pulling crowds, phone cameras, and a flood of online speculation.

The high-end electric pickup sparked buzz over the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, January 11, after clips and images spread online showing the sharp-edged grey machine, owned by Cyberlocos — a globe-trotting travel project by adventurers Berni and Alex — maneuvering through Mombasa streets.

In one widely shared video, the Cybertruck paused to recharge at City Mall, Nyali, as curious onlookers swarmed around it, snapping photos. Online, users quickly began asking who owned the rare vehicle and how it made its way into Kenya.

The Cyberlocos team with the Cybertruck which made a stop in Nairobi CBD on January 13, 2026. /CYBERLOCOS

The pickup, widely believed to be the first Tesla Cybertruck ever seen in Kenya, belongs to Berni and Alex, the explorers behind Cyberlocos. The pair is documenting an ambitious long-distance journey using a Tesla Cybertruck to tackle some of the world’s toughest terrain on electric power.

They are also chasing a Guinness World Record for visiting the highest number of countries in an electric vehicle. “A new year, a new continent, a new part of this insane adventure… Africa, baby,” the travelers wrote in a Facebook post shared from Mombasa.

On Saturday, the Cyberlocos team posted footage capturing the moment their Cybertruck was unloaded from a shipping container at the Port of Mombasa, marking the end of a wait that stretched beyond a month.

Images circulating online showed the vehicle at the port with towering shipping containers behind it, alongside shots of the duo posing with port workers during the offloading. Additional videos showed the Cybertruck hitting Kenyan roads for the first time.

The vehicle was then spotted on Tuesday, January 13, in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, throughout various locations that included the Central Business District (CBD), as hundreds of residents swarmed around the vehicle and the Cyberlocos team.

Cyberlocos outlines its goal as visiting more than 80 countries by 2026 using a single electric vehicle — a milestone they hope will secure a Guinness World Record. So far, their journey has taken them through Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Asia, including Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, the UAE, and several Central Asian countries, before the Cybertruck was shipped to Africa.

Cybertruck

The vehicle, manufactured by Elon Musk-owned Tesla, is an all-electric pickup designed to break every convention in the truck market, both in looks and performance.

Unveiled in 2019 and built with a radically angular design, the Cybertruck uses an ultra-hard stainless-steel exoskeleton originally developed for aerospace applications. This body construction prioritises durability, corrosion resistance, and structural strength, eliminating the need for traditional paint.

Under the hood—figuratively—the Cybertruck comes in multiple configurations, depending on the motor setup.

Tesla offers rear-wheel drive, dual-motor all-wheel drive, and tri-motor all-wheel drive variants. Performance scales aggressively across these trims. The top-tier tri-motor version delivers supercar-level acceleration, hitting 0–100 km/h in about 2.7 seconds, which is wild for a full-size pickup.

Top speed varies by configuration, with the highest-spec Cybertruck reaching approximately 210 km/h. That puts it well above most conventional pickups and firmly into performance-vehicle territory.

Range is another core selling point. Depending on the version, the Cybertruck offers an estimated range of between 400 km and over 800 km on a single charge. Tesla also offers an optional range extender battery pack for users pushing long-distance or off-road travel.

In terms of utility, the Cybertruck is no gimmick. It has a payload capacity of roughly 1,100 kg and can tow up to about 6,350 kg, making it competitive with heavy-duty fossil-fuel trucks. The adaptive air suspension allows adjustable ride height, improving off-road capability and load handling.

Inside, the cabin follows Tesla’s minimalist philosophy, dominated by a large central touchscreen that controls nearly all vehicle functions. Advanced driver-assistance features come standard, with Full Self-Driving capability offered as an upgrade, subject to regulatory approval.

Simply put, the Cybertruck is Tesla’s attempt to redefine what a pickup can be—electric, brutally fast, tech-heavy, and unapologetically different.

Price

In Kenya, the Tesla Cybertruck is estimated to cost between Ksh 7.8 million and Ksh 15 million, depending on the variant and final import costs. Lower-end or standard all-wheel-drive versions are projected to land at around Ksh 7.8 million to Ksh 10.3 million, while high-performance trims such as the Cyberbeast can push the price to Ksh 12.9 million–Ksh 14.8 million or higher.

There is no official Tesla dealership in Kenya, so pricing is shaped by import duties, taxes, shipping, insurance, and dealer markups, all of which can significantly inflate the final figure. Once fully landed and registered, a Cybertruck on Kenyan roads is firmly a multi-million-shilling luxury import rather than a mass-market pickup.

A Tesla Cybertruck spotted in Mombasa on January 10, 2026. /TIRASBOOV

First Time Moving Out? 13 Affordable Places To Live Within Nairobi In 2026

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 16:31:18 +0300

Right now, are you seated, wondering where you want to move out to in Nairobi for the very first time, considering that you had put this as your major goal in 2026? Keep reading this article.

As the cost of living in Nairobi continues to rise, a growing number of young adults are rethinking where to live as they move out for the first time. January to March is considered high house-hunting season in Kenya, with residents either upgrading or downscaling from their current residences, depending on how their incomes have changed in 2025.

However, the cost of rent in traditionally middle-class neighbourhoods such as Kilimani, Kileleshwa, Lavington, and Westlands has shot up, pushing first-time renters to look beyond the city’s core into more affordable estates within the wider Nairobi Metropolitan region, which includes satellite towns such as Ruiru, Thika, Kitengela, Athi River, Ngong, among others.

In 2026, affordability, transport access, and basic amenities such as running water now rank higher than prestige when choosing a place to live. The result has been sustained demand for satellite towns and lower-cost estates that still offer connectivity to the Central Business District (CBD) and major employment hubs.

Part of the expanded Eastern Bypass. /CONSTRUCTION KENYA SHOWCASE

In this explainer, Viral Tea breaks down the most affordable and practical estates for first-time movers in Nairobi Metropolitan, based on current rental trends, infrastructure, and commuting realities.

Ruiru

Located in Kiambu County along Thika Road, Ruiru remains one of the most sought-after areas for budget-conscious renters. Its appeal lies in a mix of relatively low rents, reliable public transport, and proximity to Nairobi’s northern business corridor.

In 2026, bedsitters in Ruiru typically range between Ksh 7,000 and Ksh 10,000, while one-bedroom units go for KSh 10,000 to KSh 17,000, though some areas have bedsitters that go for as low as Ksh 5,000. Two-bedroom apartments average between Ksh 18,000 and Ksh 25,000, depending on proximity to the 42-kilometre highway and estate infrastructure.

The area benefits from heavy matatu traffic, commuter trains, and easy access to the Thika Superhighway. However, congestion during peak hours remains a challenge, particularly in sections near Ruiru town and Gwa Kairu.

Ongata Rongai

Just outside Nairobi County in Kajiado, Ongata Rongai continues to attract students, young professionals, and small families due to its massive rental supply. The estate has developed into a self-contained town with supermarkets, hospitals, entertainment spots, and informal business hubs.

Bedsitters in Rongai average between Ksh 6,000 and Ksh 9,000, while one-bedroom houses cost around Ksh 10,000 to Ksh 16,000. Two-bedroom units range from Ksh 17,000 to Ksh 23,000.

Despite these advantages, Rongai residents continue to deal with traffic bottlenecks along Magadi Road, especially during morning and evening rush hours. Even so, frequent public transport options keep the estate viable for daily commuters.

Roysambu

Before the criticism comes in, let's explain. Roysambu remains a strategic choice for first-time renters who want proximity to Nairobi’s northern commercial zones. Located along Thika Road, the estate offers strong transport connectivity and access to malls such as Garden City and Thika Road Mall (TRM).

In 2026, bedsitters in Roysambu range from Ksh 8,000 to Ksh 12,000, while one-bedroom apartments cost between Ksh 13,000 and Ksh 20,000. Rent prices vary significantly depending on distance from the highway and the quality of housing blocks.

The area’s biggest drawback remains congestion and noise, particularly in densely built sections. Noise in particular, as the area has a significant presence of bars, nightclubs, and liquor joints, making it an alternative party hotspot for Nairobi residents. Still, its location continues to outweigh these challenges for many young renters.

Utawala

Situated along the Eastern Bypass, Utawala has grown rapidly over the past decade. It appeals to renters looking for more spacious housing at relatively modest prices, and the one perk of living in some sections of Utawala is that residents are turned into plane spotters without consent; it is right next to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.

Bedsitters in Utawala typically cost between Ksh 6,000 and Ksh 10,000, while one-bedroom units range from Ksh 10,000 to Ksh 20,000. However, rates may vary depending on proximity to the main highway, with some units relatively cheaper but deep into the localities.

Transport options have improved, though residents still rely heavily on matatus and motorbikes for internal movement. While water shortages and uneven road quality persist in some sections, Utawala’s affordability continues to drive demand among first-time movers.

Imara Daima

Imara Daima sits closer to Nairobi’s industrial and airport zones, making it attractive to workers in manufacturing, logistics, and service sectors. The estate offers a balance between affordability and access to urban amenities.

In 2026, bedsitters cost between Ksh 7,000 and Ksh 12,000, one-bedroom units range from Ksh 10,000 to Ksh 18,000, and two-bedroom apartments can reach Ksh 30,000 in newer developments.

The estate benefits from good road access and proximity to the CBD, though congestion remains common during peak hours.

Kitengela

Kitengela, located further south in Kajiado County, has become a popular option for renters willing to trade commute time for lower rent. The town has expanded rapidly, with numerous gated apartments and commercial centres.

Kitengela has also become famous amongst party-going Nairobians due to the presence of prominent bars, restaurants,and clubs (lounges).

Bedsitters average between Ksh 6,500 and Ksh 9,000, while one-bedroom houses cost around Ksh 10,000 to Ksh 17,000. The Nairobi Expressway and improved road networks have slightly eased commuting times, though travel to the CBD can still take up to an hour.

Photo of a woman walking within Kitengela town. /NATION MEDIA GROUP

Kangemi and Uthiru

For those prioritising low rent and easier access to the CBD, Kangemi and parts of Uthiru remain among the cheapest options within Nairobi County. Bedsitters average between Ksh 6,000 and Ksh 10,000, with single rooms going for even less.

These estates offer direct access to Waiyaki Way, making transport into town relatively straightforward. However, infrastructure, drainage, and housing quality vary widely, and renters must assess individual buildings carefully.

Ruai, Gachie, and Other Fringe Estates

On Nairobi’s outer edges, estates such as Ruai, Gachie, Kinoo, Wangige, and Lower Kabete continue to attract renters with extremely low housing costs. Bedsitters in some of these areas start as low as Ksh 5,500, while single rooms can cost under Ksh 4,000.

These locations suit renters with flexible work arrangements or those not required to commute daily into the CBD. Transport costs and longer travel times along the likes of Kangundo Road remain the main trade-offs.

Affordable living in Nairobi in 2026 increasingly means living further from the city centre. Rising land prices, higher construction costs, and a growing urban population have reshaped the rental market, pushing first-time renters into satellite towns and peri-urban estates.

For young Nairobians moving out for the first time, affordability now depends less on county boundaries and more on transport corridors. Estates connected by major highways and bypasses continue to outperform others, even when infrastructure remains imperfect.

As Nairobi expands outward, these affordable estates are no longer fringe options but central to how the city’s workforce lives, commutes, and survives.

What We Think Will Happen In 2026 Including Cabinet Reshuffles, Talanta Stadium

Marvin Chege — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 16:21:54 +0300

The year 2025 was a rollercoaster in Kenya, with developments aplenty across economic, political, technological, and current affairs segments, some of which made Kenyans laugh, be angry, cry, name it.

However, the year 2026 will present some major headline moments, moreso around the 2027 general elections as the campaigns are expected to kick into high gear.

Viral Tea takes a look at what we think will dominate headlines and generate public discourse as the new year kicked off on January 1, 2026:

Economy — slow growth, heavy debt, plenty of stress

Kenya’s economy in 2026 is expected to show modest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, hovering around the five percent mark. On paper, that looks decent, especially compared to some regional peers. In reality, the gains are uneven.

High public debt continues to choke fiscal space, with debt servicing eating deeply into government revenue and limiting spending on health, education, and social protection.

President William Ruto addressing Kisumu residents on August 31, 2024. /ANYANG' NYONG'O

Inflationary pressures and interest rates may ease slightly, but for most households, the cost of living remains high, and disposable income stays under pressure. The headline numbers improve faster than in everyday life.

Finance Bill 2026

In 2026, mounting economic pressures—such as higher living costs, slow revenue growth, and rising public demand for essential services—could prompt the government to explore additional funding options.

To cover urgent fiscal shortfalls, a supplementary budget is likely, supplying extra resources to meet immediate spending requirements. Alongside this, the government may propose new measures in the Finance Bill designed to raise additional revenue or modify existing tax frameworks.

However, because this will be right before an election year, the Kenya Kwanza government may consider relaxing some key tax measures to win over the public in its bid for a second stint in power.

Politics — gearing up for 2027

Politically, 2026 functions as a soft launch for the 2027 General Election. Power blocs begin to realign, alliances quietly form and fracture, and messaging sharpens across the political divide.

Expect heightened activity within parties, increased regional bargaining, and visible attempts to consolidate voter bases early. In 2026, political activity is expected to intensify, with increased coalition formation, strategic moves by candidates, and active grassroots mobilization.

Public frustration around jobs, taxes, and service delivery becomes central to political narratives, raising the risk of protests or louder opposition pressure. Simply put, the 2026 campaigns will make those that took place in 2025 look like child's play.

Political Musical Chairs

On the political front, Kenyan politics remains notoriously fluid. The adage, "There are no permanent enemies in politics," proved accurate in 2025 amid several high-profile defections and rebellions.

Looking ahead to 2026, further political realignments are anticipated. Some members aligned with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) might shift to the United Opposition or go independent if marginalized, while certain opposition figures could gravitate closer to the government as elections approach.

This is the year where the two factions are expected to solidify their picks for chasing the key elective positions in 2027, and this includes the Presidential seat, as history beckons, though not in the right way for William Ruto; no Kenyan president has ever served for a single term.

Talanta Stadium: Infrastructure & mega projects — hype vs reality

Infrastructure remains a core pillar of government messaging in 2026. Large-scale projects in roads, housing, energy, and public facilities dominate official communication, with the administration framing the year as transformative.

Some projects make visible progress, particularly those already underway. However, financing constraints, procurement delays, and debt limitations slow delivery. The result is a gap between announcements and completion, with political credit often claimed long before tangible benefits reach the public.

One of the key infrastructure projects expected to generate the biggest conversation in Kenya is the upcoming 60,000-seater Talanta Stadium, the first time in close to 40 years that Kenya is getting a new sporting facility destined to meet international standards.

It is expected to be fully ready by March 2026 and will serve as one of the venues for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Kenya will host alongside Uganda and Tanzania.

Tech, data, and AI — slow but real adoption

Technology adoption continues at a measured pace rather than a breakout sprint. Kenya strengthens its image as a regional digital and data hub, with increased attention on AI, fintech, agritech, and logistics platforms.

Adoption is uneven, concentrated in urban centers and private-sector leaders rather than across the wider economy. While tech does not absorb unemployment at scale, it quietly reshapes certain industries, improves efficiency, and creates niche opportunities for skilled workers and startups.

However, in 2026, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will start gaining serious ground in Kenya, going from just an afterthought to something that is literally reshaping our lives, not just how we work on a weekday basis. AI is set to have an even greater impact, with more industries incorporating automated systems and machine-learning technologies.

Sectors such as telecommunications, agriculture, and logistics are rapidly embracing AI and are likely to experience the most significant changes.

Electric Vehicles Increase On Kenyan Roads

Moreover, the discourse around electric cars and motorbikes will kick up a notch this year as more manufacturers come up with different kinds of electric vehicles, even for the public transport sector.

In 2025, Kenya’s electric vehicle sector saw a resurgence, driven by government incentives promoting adoption and investment in sustainable transport.

Despite initial challenges, the number of charging stations surpassed 200 in 2025, with further growth anticipated in the year ahead. As a result, more electric vehicles are expected to appear on Kenyan roads in 2026 and beyond.

Ruto's Cabinet Reshuffle

Every year, President William Ruto, since taking office in 2022, has embarked on a habit of changing members of his Cabinet, with arguably the biggest shakeup that rattled Kenya's history coming in 2024 at the height of the anti-Finance Bill protests when he dissolved his whole Cabinet.

Since then, he has created a broad-based Cabinet, picking from allies of the late Raila Odinga and former President Uhuru Kenyatta, following high-profile one-on-one meetings with both.

Public sentiment against him that continues to frustrate his administration may prompt Ruto to look towards Kenya's youth (the late Millennials and Gen Z) in an unsurprising Cabinet shakeup in 2026, and even try to court some members of the United Opposition, prominently featuring his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua.

President William Ruto chairing a Cabinet meeting at State House, Nairobi on December 15, 2025. /PCS

This is as he seeks to reward loyalty and address public concerns, with the administration set to position itself for the next electoral cycle

What life feels like on the ground

For many Kenyans, 2026 feels tougher than official optimism suggests. Job creation struggles to keep up with population growth, and household budgets remain stretched.

Public sentiment skews cautious to pessimistic, driven by high living costs, limited wage growth, and ongoing climate-related shocks such as droughts or floods.

Even where macro indicators improve, the lived experience for a large share of the population remains defined by uncertainty rather than stability.

Wildcards that could flip 2026

Several factors could significantly alter the trajectory of the year. A spike in global fuel or food prices would quickly amplify domestic inflation and public anger. Debt-related shocks or fiscal tightening could force unpopular austerity measures.

On the upside, a surge in foreign investment, especially in technology, green energy, or manufacturing, could create faster-than-expected job growth. These variables make 2026 a year with limited upside but meaningful downside risk.

Read President Ruto's New Year Speech 2025 In Full

Marvin Chege — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 19:42:45 +0300

President William Ruto on Wednesday, December 31, delivered his New Year's address from Eldoret State Lodge in Uasin Gishu County. Read the full speech below:

1. I have never looked forward to a new year the way I look forward to 2026.

2. I do not say this lightly. I say it from a place of conviction, born of what we have achieved together, the foundations we have laid, and the certainty that those foundations now allow us, finally, to reach for our highest ideals as a nation.

3. This has been a year that tested our resolve and our collective purpose, a year that demanded sacrifice and called for unity. As your President, I am proud to say that together, we rose to the occasion.

4. When I addressed the nation at this time last year, I outlined the decisive measures we had taken in 2023 and 2024 not only to stabilise our economy, but also to begin turning it around. I said then that 2025 would be the year when we would start earning the dividends of the hard work we had undertaken together since 2023. And indeed, looking back, this has been the year in which our deliberate choices, sometimes difficult and often demanding, began to pay off.

5. For the first time in a long while, Kenya is not guessing. We are not drifting. We are not gambling. We have set our targets. We have begun the journey. And we now have a clear roadmap to make 2026 a defining year in Kenya’s history.

6. Tonight, fellow Citizens, this is not just a customary New Year's address. It is a moment that calls on all of us to seize the opportunity before us, to walk together, as one people, and to complete a journey that has been delayed for far too long.

President William Ruto delivering his New Year's address from Eldoret State Lodge in Uasin Gishu County on December 31, 2025. /PCS

7. 2026 will be a watershed year in the story of our Republic. A turning point in our march from promise to prosperity. A year that future generations will look back on and say; that is when Kenya changed course.

8. We can speak of this moment with confidence because we are not starting from nothing. We are building on a solid foundation already laid.

9. Step by step, we confronted difficulties, carved out opportunities, and laid a strong and formidable base for the future of our country.

10. But the story of 2025 is not merely about numbers or statistics. It is about people, the hustlers; the mama mbogas, the boda boda riders, the farmers, the traders, the entrepreneurs, and the workers, whose toil, patience, and sacrifice have begun to yield tangible results. It is the story of ordinary citizens whose lives have quietly changed in very extraordinary ways.

11. Kenyans like Mama Jerusha Muthoni, whose dream of owning a decent home finally came true. For years, her family lived in a single crowded room, exposed to rain and cold, indignity and fear, never knowing what tomorrow might bring. In 2025, that chapter ended. She moved into a modern, affordable home with clean water, electricity, a proper toilet, and cooking gas. For the first time, her children have space to study. Dignity replaced survival.

12. The foundations we have laid have also enabled millions to access quality health services under our universal healthcare programme. Today, more than 29 million Kenyans are registered under the Social Health Authority. Across the country, stories of care, relief, dignity, and support are being told, quietly and powerfully, by ordinary citizens whose lives have been transformed.

13. Stories like that of Naomi Mutendwa Kilunda, a single mother of six, who watched her 17-year-old daughter, Lydia, struggle daily with a severe and abnormal breast overgrowth that caused pain, limited mobility, and emotional distress. After learning about the SHA through her local assistant chief, Naomi enrolled and registered her children as dependents. Lydia was treated at Kenyatta National Hospital, where SHA fully covered the cost of her specialised corrective surgery, amounting to KSh 168,000, as well as all post- operative follow-up care. No out-of-pocket payment was required. Lydia has since recovered well, regained her confidence and dignity, and is preparing to resume her education in this new year as she joins Form Four.

14. In Kisumu, Christine Awino Onyango, a 41-year-old widow, mother of five, and a mama mboga, faced a life-threatening diagnosis of Stage II oesophageal cancer. As a registered SHA member contributing KSh 7,000 annually, Christine received comprehensive treatment at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital. SHA covered medical costs exceeding KSh 250,000, including diagnostic tests, specialised surgery, five days of intensive care, and inpatient and post-operative management. Her chemotherapy, scheduled to begin on January 15, will also be fully covered.

15. These are not isolated stories. They reflect the experiences millions of other Kenyans who have benefited from outcomes of deliberate policy choices.

16. Ladies and gentlemen, for too long, farming was a gamble rather than an investment. Farmers planted and prayed, never certain whether the harvest would even cover costs. That story has changed. With affordable fertiliser and certified seeds reaching millions, yields have improved significantly.

17. Food production rose significantly. Maize harvests are on course to reach historic highs. Tea earnings surged. Coffee prices nearly doubled. Sugar production grew as imports fell. Livestock, dairy, leather, and meat exports expanded steadily.

18. We expanded educational opportunity through reformed, merit- based systems. And we helped nearly a million Kenyans access jobs through housing, labour mobility, and the digital economy, with many more opportunities coming in 2026 and beyond.

19. But even as we acknowledge this progress, 2025 was not defined by success alone. It was also a challenging year, one that tested our unity and reminded us of the responsibility that comes with freedom and democracy. The events of June and July, and the regrettable loss of lives and destruction of property, left a stain on our national conscience.

20. Our Constitution guarantees every Kenyan the right to express themselves, to assemble, and to participate freely in our democracy. But it also imposes duties on citizens and leaders alike to uphold the rule of law, protect life and property, and safeguard peace and stability. Rights and responsibilities are inseparable.

21. In a thriving democracy, debate and dissent are legitimate and necessary. But our Constitution does not license violence, destruction, or criminality. Differences must never degenerate into disorder that threatens the peace we cherish.

22. Those entrusted with leadership carry a heightened duty to unite rather than divide, to build rather than burn. Kenya is bigger than any individual, any office, or any ambition. This Republic belongs to all of us, and because it belongs to all of us, we share a duty to protect it.

23. Ladies and Gentlemen, as I announced during the State of the Nation Address, 2026 marks the moment when our journey to transform Kenya into a first-world economy begins in earnest. What matters now is execution.

24. But to speak honestly about the future, we must begin with the truth about the present. Today, nearly four in every ten Kenyans live below the poverty line. That is more than twenty million of our people, families working hard, yet struggling to meet basic needs.

25. While we have undertaken deliberate policy interventions to create employment under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, too many of our young people, especially those entering the job market, still wake up every morning without work to go to. This is the reality we are determined to change.

26. When a nation chooses to organise its economy around work, production, and exports, when it invests deliberately in infrastructure, energy, and skills, and when it finances growth intelligently, not recklessly, something profound happens.

27. Poverty recedes, jobs expand, and dignity rises.

Invited guests at Eldoret State Lodge in Uasin Gishu County on December 31, 2025. /PCS

28. This is not a theory. History shows us that countries like South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia made national transformation a deliberate choice. Each organised its economy around work, industry, exports, and skills, investing deliberately in infrastructure and people. Poverty fell. Jobs grew. Strong middle classes emerged.

29. These countries were not spared hardship; they prevailed despite it. Their success was built on elevated ambition, relentless determination, and sustained action over time. That is the path we have chosen for Kenya, and that is the future we are determined to build.

30. So let us be clear about our goals. We are committing ourselves to a measurable national mission:

To cut the number of Kenyans living below the poverty line by half, lifting millions into dignity and opportunity.
To cut unemployment by half, ensuring that millions of our citizens are productive, earning, and contributing.

31. And we will do this without crushing taxpayers and without saddling our children with unsustainable debt.

32. That is why, in January 2026, we will fully establish and operationalise the National Infrastructure Fund and the Sovereign Wealth Fund; key instruments designed to underpin Kenya’s transformation.

33. The National Infrastructure Fund will serve as the central engine for aligning our financial resources with Kenya’s development priorities.

34. Through innovative mobilisation of domestic resources, strategic monetisation of mature public assets, democratisation of ownership through capital markets, and the disciplined growing and deployment of national savings, we will unlock large-scale private sector capital while reducing reliance on borrowing and taxation.

35. All proceeds from privatisation will be ring-fenced and invested strictly in public infrastructure projects that generate and preserve long-term value. Every shilling invested through this Fund will crowd in multiple additional shillings from long-term investors in the private sector.

36. Alongside this, the Sovereign Wealth Fund will, for the first time, secure intergenerational equity, saving for the future, protecting the nation from external shocks, and investing strategically to grow national wealth, giving full effect to Article 201 of our Constitution.

37. Together, these two Funds will enhance by multiples the financing of Kenya’s development agenda and accelerate our bottom- up transformation as we charge forward, full steam, to economic freedom and a first-world economy.

38. Through this framework, 2026 becomes the year of execution at scale. In this new year, we will complete the Talanta Sports Complex, ready to host major international sporting events, including the 2027 AFCON. We will also complete the state-of-the-art Bomas International Convention Centre, restoring it as a premier venue for national and international conferences, and positioning Kenya as the region’s hub for international events.

39. We will accelerate the tarmacking of the 6,000 KMs of roads already contracted and underway across the country, including the Rironi- Mau Summit Road, which will be completed and open to traffic by mid 2027. At the same time, we will start the construction of several new highways countrywide.

40. Ladies and gentlemen, in this new year, we will also commence the construction of the Naivasha-Narok-Bomet-Nyamira-Kisumu-Malaba Standard Gauge Railway, creating a modern transport and logistics corridor linking Kenya to the east and central Africa region.

41. Equally, we will launch the Galana-Kulalu Dam, whose contract was signed yesterday, and several others as part of the expansion of our irrigation infrastructure across the country, with the ultimate objective of bringing 2.5 million acres of land under irrigation.

42. We will also begin the construction of a modern, world-class airport at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, to anchor our nation as the aviation capital of our region and to boost our trade and tourism sectors.

43. Ladies and Gentlemen, changing and transforming a country does not require a miracle. It requires a clear and bold vision, and a leadership equal to that vision. The nations that have succeeded were not exceptional by accident; they were deliberate by choice.

44. Fellow citizens, allow me to address a silent but deadly crisis confronting our nation today. Alcohol and drug abuse have become a clear and present danger to Kenya’s health, security, and economic future.

45. One in every six Kenyans aged between 15 and 65, that is over 4.7 million people, is currently using at least one drug or substance of abuse. This is no longer a marginal issue; it is a national emergency.

46. The burden falls heaviest on men and young people. One in every three Kenyan men in this age group uses drugs or alcohol. Among young adults aged 25 to 35, our most productive population, one in five is affected. Over 1.5 million young Kenyans are being pulled away from opportunity into dependency.

47. Alcohol remains the most widely used substance, with more than 3.2 million current users. Initiation often occurs between 16 and 20 years, and in some cases as early as seven, exposing children to lifelong harm before adulthood begins.

48. Kenya cannot grow, compete, or remain secure when millions are trapped in addiction. This crisis demands decisive national action.

49. Accordingly, going into the new year, the Government will confront alcohol and drug abuse as a national development and security emergency, backed by political will, expanded enforcement capacity, and coordinated action across the Government.

50. We will establish a strengthened Anti-Narcotics Unit within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, with operational capacity comparable to the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit. Fully resourced with modern surveillance, intelligence, forensic, and financial- investigation capabilities, the unit will operate as a permanent, multi- agency formation working closely with the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), the National Intelligence Service, Dorder Management Agencies, County Governments and International Partners.

51. To support this expansion, the unit’s strength will be boosted from the current 200 to 700 officers through new recruitment and redeployment, all trained and equipped for nationwide operations against high-level traffickers, financiers, and organised criminal networks.

52. Asset tracing, seizure, and forfeiture will become central to every narcotic and illicit alcohol investigation. The Assets Recovery Agency will be engaged from the point of seizure, and all assets used in or acquired through these activities, including cash, vehicles, land, buildings, and businesses, will be treated as proceeds of crime, promptly frozen, prosecuted, forfeited to the State, and redirected to rehabilitation, prevention, and treatment programmes.

53. Recognising these crimes as organised criminal enterprises, I urge the Judiciary to consider establishing specialised courts to fast-track cases, and I will consult with the Chief Justice on how the Executive can support this effort, including resourcing, while fully respecting judicial independence.

54. Border security will be strengthened through enhanced capacity for the Border Patrol Unit and the National Police Service, including modern surveillance technologies to monitor movement across our borders.

55. Finally, to safeguard integrity within the security services, any government official, including security officers, found culpable of facilitating, protecting, or colluding with drug traffickers or illicit alcohol networks will be prosecuted and dismissed forthwith from service.

56. Fellow citizens, this struggle is deeply personal to me, as your President, and as a parent. No law can replace parental guidance, community values, or early intervention in the lives of our children.

57. We must choose to be present in the lives of our children; to guide them, protect them, and intervene early, before addiction takes hold. If we fail to act, we fail our children; if we rise to this duty, we secure not only their future, but the moral strength and destiny of our nation.

58. And just as we demand responsibility in our homes, we must demand the same, at an even higher standard, from those entrusted with leadership in our public life.

59. I reiterate that 2026 and the years beyond will usher in a period of accountability. Leadership will be judged not by promises made, but by performance delivered; not by the exuberance of youth or the longevity of service, but by results and a proven track record.

60. Those entrusted with the privilege of leadership will be held to account for the service they render and the outcomes they deliver to the people; not for excuses crafted to mask a poverty of ideas or lack of ambition. The measure of leadership is impact, and that standard will apply to all.

Invited guests at Eldoret State Lodge in Uasin Gishu County on December 31, 2025. /PCS

Kenya Receives First Liquefied Natural Gas-Powered Ship From Singapore [PHOTOS]

Marvin Chege — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 13:32:12 +0300

The Port of Mombasa has officially entered a new era of cleaner shipping after the LNG-powered vessel Höegh Australis docked late Friday, becoming the first Liquefied Natural Gas–fuelled ship to call at Kenya’s main seaport.

The 16-deck roll-on roll-off (Ro-Ro) carrier arrived after spending Christmas at sea, pushing full throttle from Asia to beat Mombasa Port’s tight berthing window — a dramatic debut that underscored both the vessel’s performance and the port’s growing global relevance.

The ship was piloted into the harbour by Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Chief Pilot Captain Suleiman Bakari, who represented KPA Managing Director Captain William Ruto during the historic call.

In keeping with maritime tradition, KPA presented the vessel’s master, Captain Edgar Paul P. Buhia, with a plaque and a certificate of first call to mark the milestone.

A photo of inside the LNG-powered vessel Höegh Australis from Singapore, that docked at the Port of Mombasa on Friday, December 26, 2025. /KENYA PORTS AUTHORITY

Captain Bakari said Höegh Australis operates on 98 percent Liquefied Natural Gas, with just 2 percent traditional bunker fuel used during engine start-up and specific operational requirements.

“This is a significant step toward cleaner shipping,” Bakari said, noting that LNG propulsion sharply reduces emissions compared with conventional marine fuels.

With a cargo capacity of approximately 9,000 vehicles, the vessel represents a new generation of pure car and truck carriers designed to move large volumes efficiently while complying with increasingly strict environmental standards.

Captain Buhia described the ship’s experience at Mombasa as smooth, saying access to the port was good, and operations were seamless. He revealed that the vessel sailed from Singapore and completed the journey in just 11 days.

Globally, LNG-powered ships are gaining traction as the maritime industry races to comply with tougher environmental rules set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Compared with heavy fuel oil, LNG significantly cuts sulfur oxide and particulate emissions, lowers nitrogen oxides, and reduces overall carbon dioxide output.

Many LNG vessels, including Höegh Australis, are also built to be ammonia-ready — allowing future conversion to zero-carbon fuels once technology, infrastructure, and safety standards catch up.

While ammonia-powered ships are beginning to enter service, limited infrastructure and safety concerns remain major hurdles.

For now, LNG is widely viewed as a transition fuel as shipping works toward full decarbonization, despite challenges such as fuel availability, infrastructure gaps, and methane emissions.

The arrival of Höegh Australis sends a clear signal: Mombasa Port is ready for next-generation, lower-emission vessels, positioning Kenya as a serious player in the global shift toward sustainable maritime transport.

A photo of the LNG-powered vessel Höegh Australis from Singapore, that docked at the Port of Mombasa on Friday, December 26, 2025. /KENYA PORTS AUTHORITY

Not Going Upcountry? How To Enjoy Christmas & New Year’s In Nairobi

Marvin Chege — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 18:19:29 +0300

The festive season in Kenya is usually characterised by a mad rush, especially among Nairobi residents, many of them travelling to different parts of the country, be it Nyanza, Western, Rift Valley, Coast, among others, to spend time with their families.

However, for residents remaining in Nairobi during the Christmas and New Year period, the festive season is shaping up as an opportunity to experience a calmer, more accessible city while still enjoying a wide range of leisure, cultural, and social activities.

Unlike other times of the year, December brings a noticeable slowdown in the Kenyan capital as many families travel upcountry.

This seasonal shift reduces traffic congestion and crowds, creating room for residents to explore parts of the city often avoided during peak months.

Photo of a Christmas tree inside Nairobi's Thika Road Mall (TRM). /YOUTUBE.MY AFRICANA KE

A quieter city experience

With fewer vehicles on the roads, movements within Nairobi become significantly easier.

Public spaces such as Karura Forest, the Nairobi Arboretum, Ngong Road Forest, and Ngong Hills are less crowded, offering residents a chance to enjoy walking trails, picnics, and outdoor relaxation in a more serene environment.

Early mornings and weekdays are particularly calm, making December an ideal period for nature enthusiasts.

Christmas Day alternatives

For those not travelling, Christmas Day in the city no longer means limited options. Restaurants and hotels across Nairobi typically offer Christmas-themed brunches and set menus catering to individuals and families staying behind.

Others opt for small, private gatherings at home, hosting friends and relatives who are also in the city. These intimate celebrations have increasingly become popular as residents seek relaxed, cost-effective ways to mark the holiday.

Cultural and creative activities

The festive season coincides with a packed cultural calendar in Nairobi. Art exhibitions, live music performances, comedy shows, and open-mic events are hosted across various creative spaces in the city.

Cultural centres such as Alliance Française, GoDown Arts Centre, and independent galleries frequently schedule end-of-year showcases, attracting both seasoned art enthusiasts and first-time visitors.

These events provide residents with alternatives to nightlife-focused entertainment while supporting local artists and creatives.

Nightlife with moderation

While December is traditionally a busy month for nightlife in Nairobi, residents are increasingly opting for more controlled and intentional outings.

Rooftop lounges, live band performances, and comedy shows offer a balanced social experience compared to high-energy club scenes.

For those preferring quieter evenings, movie screenings, board game cafés, and live theatre performances have become viable options.

Exploring Nairobi as a tourist

December also presents an opportunity for residents to visit attractions typically associated with tourists.

Nairobi National Park, located just minutes from the city centre, offers wildlife viewing with a distinctive urban skyline backdrop.

Museums such as the Nairobi National Museum and the Railway Museum provide educational and recreational activities suitable for individuals and families seeking slower-paced experiences during the holidays.

Wellness and personal reflection

With many offices closed or operating on reduced schedules, the festive season allows residents time for rest and personal reflection.

Wellness activities such as yoga sessions, gym classes, nature walks, and journaling have gained popularity as individuals prepare mentally and physically for the new year.

Cafés and co-working spaces also tend to be quieter, providing conducive environments for reflection and planning.

Community engagement and volunteering

For some residents, the festive season is an opportunity to give back. Several community-based organisations and charitable initiatives run food drives, donations, and outreach programmes during Christmas.

Volunteering or contributing to such causes has become a meaningful way for residents to connect with local communities and mark the season beyond entertainment.

New Year’s Eve planning

New Year’s Eve remains one of the most anticipated nights in Nairobi’s social calendar.

However, residents are increasingly encouraged to plan early to avoid last-minute congestion and overcrowding. Options range from private house gatherings and themed dinners to organised events at hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

Early planning allows individuals to choose experiences that align with their preferences, whether quiet or social.

A shift in perspective

Ultimately, staying in Nairobi during the festive season is increasingly viewed as a deliberate choice rather than a limitation. The reduced pace, improved mobility, and wide range of activities available provide residents with an opportunity to enjoy the city differently.

As many travel out of town, those who remain gain access to a softer, more manageable version of Nairobi — one that allows for exploration, rest, and reconnection.

For residents willing to embrace it, the capital offers a festive season defined by balance, accessibility, and renewed appreciation for the city.

Kenyans who thronged Nairobi's Uhuru Park on Christmas Day of December 25, 2018. /NAIROBI NEWS

Cyrus Jirongo: Understanding The Life & Legacy Of The Man Behind the 'Jirongo Note'

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 13:02:53 +0300

Former Lugari Member of Parliament (MP) and former Cabinet minister, Cyrus Jirongo, who died on December 13, 2025, following a road accident along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway, was a prominent and often controversial figure in Kenyan politics.

Known for his role in youth mobilisation, political campaigning, and for his flamboyant style, Jirongo left an indelible mark on the country’s political culture, particularly in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Born on March 21, 1961 in present-day Kakamega County, Jirongo was raised in western Kenya and attended St. Mary’s School, Yala. Unlike many political figures of his generation, he did not come from an established political family. Instead, he carved a path into national prominence through political strategy, mobilisation skills, and an acute sense of timing.

Jirongo first rose to national attention in the early 1990s during Kenya’s transition from a one-party state to a multiparty system. At this time, the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU), led by the late former President Daniel arap Moi, faced strong opposition.

Wreckage of the late Cyrus Jirongo's vehicle following a road accident on December 13, 2025. /VIRAL TEA KE

Young, energetic, and ambitious, Jirongo founded Youth for KANU ’92 (YK’92), a political lobby group designed to mobilise support for Moi in the country’s first multiparty elections. Officially, YK’92 presented itself as a youth movement advocating peace, unity, and development. In practice, it became a powerful campaign machine.

The Ksh500 Note

Under Jirongo’s leadership, YK’92 organised rallies, distributed branded merchandise, and strategically used cash handouts to encourage voter participation. It was during this period that Jirongo became closely associated with the Ksh500 note, popularly dubbed the “Jirongo note.”

The nickname emerged because YK’92 operatives were reported to distribute Ksh500 notes at rallies and political events as inducements for attendance, slogans, or support for KANU candidates.

The Ksh500 note, a high denomination at the time, became symbolic of cash-driven political mobilisation. The phrase “Jirongo note” entered the political lexicon, often used to refer to money-based campaign tactics. Jirongo himself later acknowledged in interviews that large sums were deployed to influence voter behaviour, framing it as a reality of the political climate at the time.

A photo of the famous Jirongo note. /FACEBOOK.BARMOIBEN KIPKEMOI

YK '92

YK’92 is widely credited with helping Moi secure re-election in 1992. However, the group also attracted controversy.

Critics accused it of exacerbating ethnic tensions, promoting corruption, and normalising vote-buying as a political strategy. By 1993, Moi dissolved YK’92, citing concerns over its influence, and Jirongo was politically sidelined. Despite this, the “Jirongo note” remained a lasting symbol of money politics in Kenya.

Following his initial political prominence, Jirongo shifted focus to business. He engaged in real estate, transport, energy, and other ventures. While some projects were successful, his business dealings often attracted scrutiny and public debate, reinforcing his reputation as a polarising figure.

The 64-year-old had held the position of Minister for Rural Development under Kenya’s second President, Daniel arap Moi, serving from March to December 2002. He also represented Lugari Constituency in Parliament from 1997 to 2002 and later from 2007 to 2013.

In 2013, Jirongo made his most ambitious bid for the presidency, launching the United Democratic Movement (UDM) party. His campaign emphasised youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, and political reform. However, the campaign struggled to gain traction nationally, and he eventually withdrew to support Uhuru Kenyatta, ending his presidential ambitions.

In 2022, he ran for the Kakamega governorship on a United Democratic Party (UDP) ticket but was defeated by Fernandes Barasa of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

Throughout his career, Jirongo was known for his blunt public statements and flamboyant lifestyle. He openly discussed power, money, and influence, earning both admiration and criticism. His reflections on YK’92 later in life were candid, acknowledging the group’s role in shaping Kenya’s political landscape while also reflecting on the controversies it generated.

Cyrus Jirongo died on December 13, 2025, in a road accident at the age of 64. His death marked the end of a political life that, although not defined by long-term legislative achievements, had a profound influence on Kenyan campaigning strategies and youth mobilization.

Tributes to him described a bold and fearless operator, while critics remembered him as a symbol of the excesses of money politics.

A photo of the late former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo. /VIRAL TEA KE

FULL: President Ruto's Speech During Jamhuri Day 2025 Celebrations

Marvin Chege — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 14:38:27 +0300

SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY HON. WILLIAM SAMOEI RUTO, PhD, C.G.H., PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE FORCES, DURING THE JAMHURI DAY CELEBRATIONS, DECEMBER 12, 2025, NAIROBI

I have always observed this day with two emotions held in tension: deep gratitude to our forefathers and a restless question for ourselves: have we been faithful stewards of the freedom they won, and have we truly advanced the nation they left in our hands?

I shall return to these questions later.

But first, today, we gather not just to mark a date on the calendar, but to honour a legacy written in sacrifice, courage, and unbreakable resolve; a legacy forged by men and women who stared imperial power in the face and declared, with unshakable conviction, that Kenya would be free.

Their struggle planted our Republic on the firm foundations of liberty, unity, and democracy. They gave us more than a flag. They gave us a future.

Sixty-two years ago, the brave architects of our nation placed into our hands the priceless gift of political independence. On this very day, sixty-two years ago, our forefathers lowered the Union Jack and raised the flag of our nation. But that victory was not given easily. It was bought at immense cost.

President William Ruto inspecting a guard of honour during Jamhuri Day celebrations at Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi on December 12, 2025. /PCS

The road to our nationhood was carved by the unbreakable spirit of our freedom fighters; men and women who refused to bow to the humiliations of colonial rule. From villages to towns, from farms and factories, to classrooms and marketplaces, Kenyans from every walk of life rose as one, declaring that their humanity would not be diminished, delayed or denied.

And when brute force was unleashed against them, their determination outlasted it.

Thousands paid the ultimate price. Many more were detained. Whole communities were uprooted. Punishment, pain, exile, and prison became tools of repression.

But what no empire could crush was their determination, resolve and unity of purpose. Across ethnicities, across regions, across class and creed, they became a force history itself could neither silence nor stop.

Their sacrifice opened the path to self-rule. Their courage delivered the independence we celebrate today. And it is upon their shoulders that our Republic stands strong today.

The architects of our nation overcame the trials of their time. While our challenges are different, their lesson is eternal; they rose to the dictates of their moment. It was not easy. But it was necessary. And because they did it, we are here.

So today, fellow citizens, history turns its gaze upon us and asks; faced with the challenges of our time, have we stepped up as they did?

When he took the oath of office, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta warned us that independence would mean nothing if it did not improve the daily lives of ordinary citizens. Tom Mboya reminded the nation that the greater struggle, and indeed the harder struggle, was not political independence alone, but development itself: the economic empowerment of our people and the unlocking of their full potential.

They understood that freedom was only the beginning. That the deeper battle would be against poverty that chains potential, against disease that steals opportunity, and against ignorance that dims human possibility.

And so today, as we gather to mark Jamhuri Day, we do more than remember victory. We honour the architects of our nation for giving us the first great watershed period in our nation-building: political independence.

Just as the first generation rejected colonial domination, and also set out to confront the next generations, were called to confront new enemies poverty, disease, and ignorance in all their forms. And they discovered, painfully, that independence did not amount to freedom in its fullest sense.

Along independent Kenya’s history, power became centralised. Dissent was silenced. Competition was crushed. Fear replaced hope. Once again, however, Kenyans rose, and from their struggle emerged the agitation for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

In the darkest days of the 1980s and 1990s, when it was dangerous to speak, brave Kenyans spoke. When it was illegal to organise, courageous citizens organised. Students, clergy, lawyers, journalists, workers, and politicians stood firm against detention, torture, exile, and even death, so that Kenya could breathe again.

Their reseolve and courage gave us the 2010 Constitution, a charter that restored the sovereignty of the people, restrained imperial power, entrenched rights, and devolved government and authority to the grassroots.

But it promised something even greater. It guaranteed economic and social justice. It declared that healthcare, housing, food, water, education, and social security were not favours; they are fundamental rights.

It was a bold promise. It was a moral imperative. It was the unfinished dream of both the independence generations. Yet today, with honesty and humility, we must admit, that this promise remains incomplete.

Yes, progress has been made. But the deeper promise, a Kenya where every citizen lives with dignity and shared prosperity, remains unfulfilled.

For too long, stagnation has returned in cycles. Negativity has been normalised. And too many have been asked to make peace with mediocrity.

That is why, before the last election, we had already realised that although we had achieved political independence and our new constitution expanded our democracy, human rights and the rule law; we still had not fully consolidated our nation. These two milestones, great as they were, had over time been undermined by the marginalisation of the majority.

We saw clearly a system in which a few rose to the top of the pyramid while millions at the base struggled to survive, with education outcomes compromised, healthcare beyond reach, access to affordable credit denied, housing unattainable, farmers abandoned, and our youth locked out.

That is the reason we came up with the Bottom-Up approach; to bring the marginalised majority back into the heart of our nation, to ensure that no one is left behind, and to begin the work of social re- engineering necessary to pursue the broader dream of economic freedom.

We had to begin where marginalisation and exclusion had been greatest, at the bottom. And so, over the last three years, we made bold choices, and they delivered results that are unprecedented, unmistakable and consequential.

President William Ruto pauses for the national anthem during Jamhuri Day celebrations at Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi on December 12, 2025. /PCS

For years, we spoke casually of agriculture as the bedrock of our economy and of farmers as our pillars. But the truth is, we did not truly know them, and neither did we truly prioritise them.

Today, we do. For the first time in our history, over 7.2 million farmers have been brought into a single national digital database. We now know who they are, where they are, what they grow, and what they need. And with that knowledge came power, not for brokers, and not for cartels, but for the farmer.

This digital platform became and is the backbone of targeted support including subsidised inputs, affordable credit, and modern extension services reaching real farmers directly.

We lowered the cost of production. We brought the price of fertiliser down, and in doing so, we restored profitability to the smallholder farmer who produces over 70 percent of our food.

Fellow citizens, the results are undeniable. Maize production is up, unga prices are down, the tea sector is rising, coffee is rebounding, dairy is expanding and the sugar industry has been revamped.

By strengthening value chains, cooperatives, irrigation, and processing, we have built systems that work for our agricultural sector. And now, with millions of farmers no longer forgotten, we are ready to walk with them to the next chapter: Economic freedom.

Three years ago, education was in distress. Classrooms were overcrowded, universities were technically insolvent and teachers were overwhelmed.

Today, we have hired 76,000 teachers, and by next month we will have hired 100,000; the largest recruitment of teachers in kenya’s history. We have built 23,000 new classrooms, and 1,600 laboratories are under construction across the nation.

Importantly, through the Student-Centred Funding Model, we placed the learner at the heart of our reforms. For the first time in our history, scholarships and loans now follow need and merit, ensuring that every deserving student has a just and equal opportunity to pursue their dreams.

Nearly 500,000 young Kenyans have already benefited from this transformation; students who, under previous systems, would have been excluded by policies that failed to recognise them. This reform has lifted the financial burden from families and enabled students to choose courses that align with their talents, their aspirations, and the needs of our nation.

Having brought them back into the equation of opportunity, we are ready to walk with them into the next chapter; the economic freedom of Kenya.

On healthcare, we made another irrevocable decision, that no Kenyan should be too poor to live. For decades, universal healthcare was spoken of. But in our time, it is being actualised.

We engaged 110,000 Community Health Promoters who are now reaching millions who were once excluded, forgotten, and denied access to healthcare. They have already visited over 9 million households, screening millions of Kenyans for various ailments, including diabetes and hypertension.

At the same time, we built a unified health information system that now gives us full visibility of our health facilities, patients, and their progress, enabling us to track healthcare delivery in real time.

Today, over 28 million Kenyans are registered under the Social Health Authority, up from 8 million under the old system. That means

19 million Kenyans who were once forgotten are now in the healthcare equation. Among them are 2.3 million vulnerable Kenyans, orphans, widows, and the elderly, whose healthcare is now fully paid for by the government.

For them, healthcare is no longer a privilege. It is a right, fully secured. And with the fulfillment of this right, we are ready to walk with them into the next chapter of economic freedom.

For the millions of Kenyans without employment, we moved beyond diagnosing the jobs crisis to deliberately creating opportunities through the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

For decades, housing, while being a constitutional right, was promised, but never delivered. Housing is not just shelter. It is collateral. It is creditworthiness. It is stability. It is the first true step out of poverty.

In just three years, through our Housing Programme, over 240,000 affordable homes, hostels for 180,000 students, 30,000 institutional housing for our military, police and prison officers, and over 400 new markets for our traders are under construction across all 47 counties. This is the largest public infrastructure transformation ever undertaken not just in Kenya, but also in our region, so far standing at an investment of Khs 650 billion.

Through the Affordable Housing Programme alone, more than 480,000 Kenyans have secured jobs and enterprise opportunities across over 300 active sites - from artisans and technicians to engineers and suppliers, shaping a new national skyline.

We have ring-fenced billions of shillings for the Jua Kali sector, fully integrating this long-neglected engine of craftsmanship into the national construction value chain. Today, Jua Kali artisans supply doors, windows, fittings, tiles, furniture, and fabricated materials to projects across the country.

In the digital and creative economy, we have trained two million young Kenyans in digital skills, and nearly 300,000 are already earning income. Through the Kazi Majuu Programme, nearly 500,000 Kenyans have secured well-paying job opportunities abroad.

We also launched the Ksh 20 billion NYOTA Programme to support 820,000 young people with training, mentorship, certification, and business capital. The first phase is complete, and KSh 300 million has already been disbursed in Western Kenya, with national rollout now underway.

Together, these actions reflect one clear national purpose: to open doors of opportunity for our youth, equip them to succeed, and empower Kenya’s greatest strength - the youth - to lead us toward prosperity and economic sovereignty. And now, with our young people, we are ready to walk into the next chapter — the economic freedom of Kenya.

As more students live in decent accommodation, as more traders conduct their business in dignified settings and as more public servants have access to housing, we are fulfilling a our constitutional mandate. With that foundation secured, we are ready to walk with our people into the next chapter of economic freedom.

Ladies and Gentlemen, through the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation plan, we have consolidated the gains of political independence and the democratic freedoms won. Through deliberate social re-engineering, we have built systems that ensure no Kenyan is left behind.

And having ensured that we are carrying everyone along, we now have both the opportunity and the firm foundation to charge forward into the next chapter of our national journey - Kenya’s economic freedom. With the measures we have put in place to restore dignity, inclusion, and opportunity, we must now press on, relieving Kenyans of the burden of debt and excessive taxation. It is time to step up, from the bottom up, charging forward full-steam to economic freedom.

And as we accelerate this ambitious agenda, we have taken the difficult but responsible steps to stabilise our economy and restore fiscal discipline.

Inflation has fallen from 9.6% in 2022 to 4.6% last month. The shilling has stabilised at about KSh 129 to the dollar for nearly two years. Our foreign exchange reserves now exceed $12 billion, the highest in independent Kenya. Our successful Eurobond redemption reaffirmed to the world that Kenya honours its obligations. Our economy has grown and is now the 6th largest in Africa.

At the same time, we made bold national decisions to save more of our income. Through the new NSSF contributions, the Fund that had mobilised khs 312 billion from independence to 2023, has now grown to KSh 670 billion in just two years.

We established the Financial Inclusion Fund as a strategic intervention to correct a deep market failure, one that had denied

millions of Kenyans access to affordable credit. Blacklisted by the CRB, disregarded by banks, they had been left trapped in frustration and despair.

Today, Hustler Fund has become one of the most transformative instruments of empowerment in our nation’s history, disbursing over KSh 80 billion, and expanding the margins of financial inclusion at an unprecedented scale.

Over nine million Kenyans are now repeat customers, and more than seven million who were previously CRB blacklisted have successfully repaired their credit histories. It has restored dignity to millions. It has brought them back into the equation. They are no longer left behind.

And now, together, we are ready to walk with them into the next chapter; the economic freedom of Kenya.

Ladies and gentlemen, these reforms have stabilised our economy, restored investor confidence, and enhanced Kenya’s creditworthiness.

As we set out on this path of economic independence, let us remember that we are not the first to stand at such a crossroads. Nations like South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia once stood where we stand today, with limited resources, modest means; but with enormous courage, determination and ambition.

Prosperity was not handed to them. They reached for it. They rejected the ordinary. They refused to be prisoners of their circumstances. They believed in themselves and invested in their people. They were patriotic to their nation’s cause and demanded excellence of themselves. Today, they stand as first-world economies, not by accident, but by deliberate design, by intentional choice and purposeful conviction. Kenya can, and must, do the same; and more.

Three weeks ago, during the State of the Nation Address, I laid before Kenyans this administration’s bold and ambitious Ksh 5 trillion

roadmap to transform our nation into a first-world economy and to secure our full economic freedom.

That roadmap is anchored on three unshakable national priorities:

First, history teaches us that no nation ever prospered on poor roads, inefficient ports, or congested airports. Modern transport and logistics drive productivity, reduce the cost of doing business, and creates trade, business and innovation hubs.

Our 10 year roadmap on road, rail, ports, airports and oil pipeline infrastructure includes the expansion of strategic highways connecting our major cities, industrial zones, markets, border points, and agricultural belts, to move people, goods and services, faster, safer, and more affordably.

We have indentified 2,500 kilometres of highways for dualing, and 28,000 kilometres of roads across the Republic for tarmacking. With this we are stitching our nation together, linking towns to cities, farms to factories, and Kenya to the wider region.

Last week, fellow citizens, we moved from promise to action when we officially launched the construction of the Nairobi–Nakuru–Mau Summit Road and the Nairobi–Maai Mahiu–Naivasha Road — an investment of over KSh 180 billion in a modern 233km multi-lane dual carriageway, delivered through a Public–Private Partnership model.

In February 2026, we will begin extending the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha to Malaba, and later in the year extend the oil pipeline from Eldoret to Uganda, opening a new transport corridor with our neighbours and the continent.

At the same time, we will modernise Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and several other airports to enhance connectivity and ease the movement of people, goods, and services. The ports of Mombasa and Lamu are also on course for modernisation and commercialisation,

undertaken through innovative Public–Private Partnerships that include long-term concessioning.

Charging forward our infrastructure expansion, will provide the foundational support for a strong and resilient economy that will drive transformative development for all.

Second, fellow citizens, we must decisively shift our economy from dependence on imports to becoming a net exporter of agricultural products, manufactured goods and value-added commodities. Kenya spends nearly KSh 500 billion every year importing agricultural products. While we have reduced imports of maize, sugar, edible oil, and rice, our progress is still constrained by the limitations of rain-fed agriculture.

We can no longer leave the country’s food security to the uncertainty of rainfall, especially in the context of climate change. To feed our people and produce surplus for export, large-scale modern irrigation is the only viable path.

We have mapped out 50 mega dams, 200 mini dams and over 1000 micro dams across our 47 counties, and especially in our arid and semi arid areas, which have expansive, fertile and arable land currently not under production. With this plan an additional 2.5 million acres of land will be brought into agricultural productivity, through extensive water harvesting, water storage and advanced irrigation technologies.

This is not only about food and water security. It is a nation- shaping investment. It will drive our transition into a net-exporting economy. It will uplift rural communities and end the indignity of food insecurity. And it will anchor sustainable development for generations.

Charging forward, investing in modern irrigation will also supply the quantity, quality, and reliable raw materials required to power agro-industrialisation. Through SEZs, EPZs, and County Aggregation and Industrial Parks, and strategic market infrastructure, these raw

agricultural materials will be transformed into high-value products for domestic, regional, and global markets.

Third, fellow citizens, energy is the lifeblood of any modern economy. Although Kenya’s installed capacity stands at 3,300 MW, the intermittency of solar and wind leaves us with a firm capacity of only 2,300 MW, which is far below the demands of the Kenya we are building.

To power our domestic consumption, agro-processing and value addition industries, e-mobility, digital expansion, and a future driven by data centers, AI, and modern technologies, we must scale up energy generation exponentially. Kenya possesses extensive and largely untapped renewable resources, including geothermal, solar, hydro, wind, and nuclear, ready for development and generation.

Charging forward, to modernise our economy, accelerate our development, and compete globally, we must and will generate at least 10,000 MW of new energy over the next seven years.

Fellow citizens, to finance this Ksh 5 trillion national economic freedom project, relying solely on the national budget would leave us waiting forever. Borrowing would only deepen our debt and burden future generations. Raising taxes would place unbearable strain on households. And choosing inaction would condemn our nation to stagnation.

That is why we must act with courage, innovation and foresight to design alternative financing mechanisms, leverage mature national assets and tap into robust Public–Private Partnerships to undertake this national development imperative.

Fellow Kenyans, three weeks ago I signed the Government-Owned Enterprises bill into law. The new law revolutionises the management and governance of state-owned enterprises, professionalising boards through merit-based independent appointments, tying leadership to measurable results. This is a very consequential reform. It is the most far-reaching reform of government corporations since independence,

aimed at turning legacy parastatals into commercially disciplined companies that will serve public interest.

The passage of this law ends the era of cronyism and patronage in state-owned enterprises. This law explicitly disqualifies any person who has served in a public or political office within the last 5 years from appointment.

On Monday, under this new legal framework, the Cabinet will meet to consider and approve the architecture of the National Infrastructure Fund, as the engine that will align our financial resources with our development goals.

Through innovative mobilisation of domestic resources, strategic monetisation of mature national assets, democratisation of ownership through capital-markets, and innovative deployment of national savings, we will unlock large-scale private sector capital to fund our national priorities while reducing reliance on borrowing and taxation.

For decades, Kenya privatised major assets including Kenya Airways, KenGen, Kenya Re, and Safaricom, yet the proceeds were absorbed into the Budget, paying salaries and debts, leaving no enduring national assets behind.

Through the National Infrastructure Fund, all privatisation proceeds will be ring-fenced and invested strictly into public infrastructure development that generate and preserve more value.

This principle is already being actualised. Proceeds arising from the current privatisation processes will be channeled directly into the Fund, setting a new national standard where national assets create lasting public value.

Our goal is simple; for every shilling in the National Infrastructure Fund, we will attract ten more shillings from long-term investors, including pension funds, sovereign partners, private equity funds, and development finance institutions; allowing us to develop without the constraints that come with debt and taxation.

The National Infrastructure Fund will not be just a financing instrument, it will be a generational strategy to mobilise capital, accelerate delivery, preserve value and secure Kenya’s long-term competitiveness.

To protect future generations, on Monday the The Cabinet will consider and approve the Sovereign Wealth Fund policy, anchored on three pillars including savings for the future generations, stabilisation against global shocks, and strategic national investments. Natural resource royalties, dividends from public investments and a percentage of privatisation proceeds will capitalise this fund.

This fund will impose on us the obligation of inter-generational equity, bringing to life article 201 (c) of the constitution which demands that the burdens and benefits of the use of resources and of public borrowing shall be shared equitably between the present and the future, without shortchanging future generations.

But fellow citizens, even the strongest financing systems, boldest infrastructure plans, and most ambitious economic strategies will fail if we do not secure the foundation of our national character.

The fulfillment of our economic freedom project will rest on three critical enablers: strategic human capital development, robust peace, stability and security architecture, and unwavering integrity, and fidelity to the national interests.

To bolster human capital development, we have made bold investments in education, skills development, science, and innovation. We have raised the education budget from KSh 490 billion in 2021 to over KSh 700 billion this financial year, and expanded Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics education. But to power our first world strategic human capital requirements, we must and will raise the national research fund from the current 0.8% to the requisite 2% of GDP. This is not social spending; it is nation-building.

The second enabler underpinning this national project is peace, stability and security, for no nation can prosper in an atmosphere of

disruption, violence that leads to economic sabotage, destruction of property and loss of lives.

Stability is not an option; it is an enabler of everything we seek to build. Serious investors will only commit their investments in a country that is peaceful, stable and secure.

For Kenya to attract sustained investment, for businesses to grow, for jobs to expand, and for families to live without fear, we must secure our nation, firmly, fairly, and without hesitation.

Finally, the collective interest of all citizens, which form the national interest of Kenya, must be at the center of every action and engagement. Patriotism is putting the interest of the nation before tribe, clan or self. Integrity, in its highest form, is patriotism in action. It is believing in our country. It is refusing to betray Kenya.

And yet, let us speak honestly: our nation faces a serious integrity deficit crisis. It begins early in our homes, in our schools, where seemingly harmless dishonesty later matures into grand corruption. Corruption is not merely theft of money; it is the theft of hope, opportunity, and destiny. This is compounded by negativity, division, erosion of shared values and negative ethnic political mobilisation.

Hate and division, corruption, and tribalism tear at the very social fabric of our Republic.

Ladies and Gentlemen, our economic freedom project demands more than infrastructure and capital. It demands a renewal of our national conscience.

We must rebuild a strong value system. We must defend our national unity. We must raise our children in honesty, responsibility, and love for country.

These three enablers, strategic human capital development, peace, stability and security, and national interest and integrity, are not optional ideals. They are the living foundations upon which our economic independence must stand. Without them, our ambitions

would remain promises. With them, our national priorities become achievable, our investments become productive, and our vision of a prosperous, sovereign Kenya becomes not only possible, but inevitable.

Fellow citizens, our founding fathers defeated colonial domination.

The generation after broke the chains of dictatorship.

The onus is on our generation, and particularly this administration, to achieve economic freedom. A freedom where effort is rewarded, where opportunity is shared, where dignity is guaranteed, where every citizen matters and where no Kenyan will be left behind.

Let it be said of our generation that when Kenya stood at the edge of possibility, we chose courage over comfort, action over excuse, and unity over division; and excellence over mediocrity.

With resolute belief, today and every Jamhuri Day hereafter, should find us truer stewards of the freedom entrusted to us; that we shall honour our forefathers not only by remembering their sacrifice, but by fulfilling our duty and the assignment of this generation; to secure for Kenya the full promise of economic freedom.

It is time to step up, from the bottom up, charging forward full-steam to economic freedom.

I thank you.

God bless you. God Bless Kenya.

Kenyans during Jamhuri Day celebrations at Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi on December 12, 2025. /PCS

How KJSEA 2025 Grading System Works & Placement In Senior School

Marvin Chege — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 17:23:38 +0300

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has outlined the full framework of the first Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), detailing how grading will work and how learners will be placed in senior school.

During the release of the KJSEA results at Mtihani House in Nairobi on Thursday, December 11, Ogamba moved to clear up concerns from parents, teachers, and candidates preparing to move into senior school next year.

He explained that the Competency-Based-Curriculum (CBC) leans on performance levels rather than the traditional marks-driven model. Learners are placed into four categories: 'exceeding expectation', 'meeting expectation', 'approaching expectation', and 'below expectation'.

Education CS Julius Ogamba during a past presentation of KCSE results. /FILE

KJSEA 2025 Grading System

Although the KJSEA uses the four performance bands under the CBC, each band is further broken down into an eight-point scale.

Point 8 marks the highest tier of exceeding expectations, while Point 1 represents the lowest level below expectations.

Ogamba said this expanded structure helps examiners differentiate truly outstanding performance from generally strong work.

"The reporting of performance of KJSEA has thus been done from point 1 to point 8, where point 8 is the best at 'exceeding expectation' and point 1 is the least at 'below expectation,'" he remarked.

He added, "The creation of these bands serves to distinguish exemplary performance from good performance."

He also highlighted subjects where learners performed best. Of the 12 subjects tested, seven had a majority of candidates scoring at 'meeting' or 'exceeding expectations'.

These were Hindu Religious Education (84%), Integrated Science (61%), Social Studies (58.7%), Creative Arts & Sports (58.04%), Kiswahili (57.9%), Christian Religious Education (53.9%), and Agriculture (52%).

Placement in Senior School

Ogamba announced that the final Grade 9 assessment combines three elements: 20% from the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), 20% from school-based assessments in Grades 7 and 8, and 60% from the KJSEA summative exam.

"This summative evaluation is the KJSEA," he noted, stressing that the final exam was designed to offer a holistic evaluation of learners transitioning to Grade 10.

The CS further clarified that "An approaching expectation grade is sufficient for learners to progress to senior school pathways that require basic competencies in the subject areas."

KPSEA and KJSEA exam papers seen at the Kibera DCC exam centre. /CITIZEN DIGITAL

What It Means: IEBC Plots Introduction of Early & Online Voting During 2027 General Elections

Marvin Chege — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 18:23:45 +0300

Kenya might be gearing up for its first-ever early elections, following recent comments from an Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioner.

Ann Nderitu, an IEBC commissioner, disclosed that the commission is considering the introduction of early voting and online voting ahead of the 2027 elections, a move that could bring about the first digitally-driven general elections in Kenya's history.

On what excites her most, Nderitu said, “To me, it is early voting, which we are looking into. So that those participating in elections do so a day before the elections.

Adding "We usually have over 600,000 employees on election day, and the majority of those people, due to the placement, are not able to vote. If they did, we would have early voting, and they would vote one day before the election. That would be a game-changer for me, and it's exciting to see that happen in our tenure."

IEBC commissioner Anne Nderitu speaking in a past event. /PEOPLE DAILY

She explained that early voting is part of efforts to make elections more inclusive, accessible, and efficient, particularly for Kenyans who face difficulties reaching polling stations due to work obligations or location challenges.

What Is Early Voting?

Early voting is a process that allows eligible voters to cast their ballots before the official election day. The main purpose is to increase accessibility and convenience for voters who may face obstacles on the designated day, such as work commitments, travel, health issues, or long distances to polling stations. By opening voting days or even weeks ahead of the official election, governments can reduce congestion at polling centers and help ensure a smoother election experience.

Early voting can take various forms. In some countries, it is conducted at designated polling stations over several days. In others, it may involve postal voting, mobile voting units, or even online systems, especially for citizens living abroad.

The process is typically secured with the same safeguards as regular voting, including voter verification, ballot secrecy, and strict counting procedures to maintain the integrity of the election.

Advocates argue that early voting encourages greater participation, particularly among young voters, workers, and citizens with mobility challenges. It also helps manage logistical pressures on election officials and can serve as a buffer against unforeseen disruptions, such as extreme weather or public emergencies.

While it does require additional planning and resources, early voting is increasingly seen as a tool to make elections more inclusive, efficient, and representative of the electorate.

Online Voting

Commissioner Nderitu also pointed to the potential of online voting, particularly for Kenyans living abroad, noting that the commission could initially pilot the system with overseas voters before gradually expanding it.

Online voting, also known as e-voting, is a system that allows eligible voters to cast their ballots using the internet, rather than physically visiting a polling station. It is designed to make the voting process more accessible, especially for citizens who face geographic, mobility, or time constraints, such as those living abroad or with demanding work schedules.

The system typically requires secure authentication to verify voter identity and ensure that each person votes only once. Votes are transmitted electronically to a central system, where they are encrypted, stored, and later counted, with measures in place to maintain ballot secrecy and prevent tampering.

Online voting can be implemented fully or as part of a pilot program, often starting with limited groups, such as diaspora communities. Advocates argue that it increases participation, especially among young, tech-savvy voters, while reducing logistical challenges and costs associated with traditional polling.

Properly implemented, it offers a convenient, efficient, and inclusive alternative to conventional voting methods. In this case, online voting would enable Kenyans in the diaspora to take part in elections without having to visit embassies or consulates, which has historically limited their participation.

“We can start piloting with people in the diaspora in terms of people voting online, bit by bit, then we do it progressively,” Nderitu said, stressing that making voting easier would likely boost turnout among young voters, who form a large portion of the electorate.

IEBC officials during a past election exercise. /CAPITAL GROUP

Sonko, Gachagua: Can Impeached Leaders Register Political Parties?

Marvin Chege — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 14:38:43 +0300

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko on Tuesday, December 9, scored a fresh political win after his new outfit, the National Economic Development Party (NEDP), secured official registration, joining the likes of Rigathi Gachagua with his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).

Sonko had picked up the party’s certificate on Tuesday morning at the Registrar of Political Parties' offices in Westlands, Nairobi — a moment widely seen as a major step in his attempt to rebuild his political footing.

He is expected to deploy the new party as the vehicle for his comeback strategy ahead of the 2027 polls.

Flanked by top party officials and a crowd of supporters, he arrived at the ORPP offices at Lion Place, where the Registrar formally issued the certificate.

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko at the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) in Westlands, Nairobi on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. /FOURTH EYE NEWS

The approval confirms that NEDP met all requirements set under the Political Parties Act, clearing it to operate and take part in national politics.

Although he is viewed as the de facto leader, indications are that a formal installation of Sonko as party leader will take place in early 2026.

Sonko has largely stayed out of the political spotlight since his 2020 impeachment, which locked him out of contesting for public office. He was ousted by the Senate over accusations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and corruption — a decision later affirmed by the Supreme Court.

Can Impeached Leaders Register New Political Parties?

Sonko and Gachagua might be leading their new political factions, but there's one thing in common with them: they were impeached from leadership positions; Sonko as Nairobi Governor and Gachagua as Deputy President.

In Kenya, the legal framework surrounding impeached leaders—particularly those removed from office through impeachment—is largely governed by the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, and relevant electoral laws, especially the Elections Act, 2011.

The implications for political participation after impeachment depend on the nature of the disqualification imposed by the Senate or relevant tribunal.

1. Registration of Political Parties

The Constitution of Kenya does not explicitly bar impeached leaders from registering political parties. According to Article 91 of the Constitution, political parties must comply with the Political Parties Act, which outlines the procedures for registration with the Registrar of Political Parties.

Unless there is a specific disqualification imposed—such as being barred from public office due to misconduct—an impeached leader can, in principle, register a new political party.

However, practical challenges may arise, including reputational damage or restrictions tied to court rulings during the impeachment process.

2. Leading Political Parties

Similarly, the Political Parties Act does not directly prohibit an impeached leader from assuming leadership roles within a political party.

Leadership in a party, such as party chairperson or party leader, is generally a matter internal to the party’s constitution, provided the individual is legally eligible to hold office in accordance with the law. Therefore, if the impeachment process did not include a ban from holding leadership positions in political organizations, the impeached leader could technically lead a political party.

The key limitation would relate to any specific court or parliamentary ruling prohibiting political activity.

3. Contesting Public Office

This is where the law becomes more restrictive. Article 75 of the Constitution and Sections 18–19 of the Elections Act stipulate that any person removed from office through impeachment may be disqualified from holding any public office for a period determined by the Senate.

For example, former governors or cabinet secretaries removed for gross violation of the Constitution may face a ban from contesting elections for five years.

If the Senate or the tribunal imposes such a ban, the impeached leader cannot contest elective seats—even through a party they lead—until the disqualification period expires. After the ban lapses, they regain the right to run for office.

Collage of Rigathi Gachagua's new party, Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP). /VIRAL TEA KE

Read President Ruto's State Of The Nation Address [FULL SPEECH]

Marvin Chege — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 16:42:07 +0300

President William Ruto delivered a State of the Nation address on Thursday, November 20 in Parliament as required by the Constitution. It is his third such address since becoming President on September 13, 2022.

In the 6,882-word, 37-page speech that lasted 1 hour and 14 minutes, the Head of State highlighted what he framed as a strong economic rebound, wide-ranging reforms across key sectors, and a bold plan to elevate Kenya to developed-nation status within a generation.

Addressing a joint sitting of the National Assembly and Senate, Ruto said his administration had steadied an economy he found in “severe distress” and put in place the foundations for long-term national renewal.

Here is the full speech:

1. Two years ago, when I delivered my first State of the Nation Address, I had a vision to sell. Today, I have a story to tell.

2. A story written not in the quiet of offices or the comfort of boardrooms, but out in the blazing sun of our farms; in the dust of construction sites where our affordable homes now rise; and in the grit of our community health workers, doctors, and medical professionals who refuse to surrender in the quest for Universal Health Coverage.

3. It is written in the steady hum of our factories; in the determination of millions daring to dream and finance their vision through the Hustler Fund; in the courage of our young people working on housing sites, in the Climate Worx programme, and in the digital ecosystem; and in the bravery of those who, looking beyond our borders, have sought livelihoods abroad to sustain families back home.

4. A story of sacrifice. A story of sweat. A story of progress that has not come easy.

5. It is a story you can see in the numbers, feel in the homes, and trace in the lives transformed across our Republic; a story whose facts are available for all to examine, except perhaps for the cynical, who have no facts.

6. Today, the evidence is clear, evidence of promises made and promises kept. In just three years, we have built not monuments of words, but foundations of progress.

7. And yet, even with these achievements, I am convinced that this is only the beginning.

8. As I prepared this address, I reflected deeply on the long road we have travelled as a nation; sixty-two years shaped by struggle, sacrifice, hardship, triumph, and milestones that have affirmed our spirit. From that reflection came one undeniable truth: we have made commendable progress, but Kenya still punches way below its true weight.

9. This nation has the talent, the resources, and the spirit not just to improve, but to leap and to make the transition from a developing country to a developed one within our lifetime.

10. That is why I speak today with full conviction that history has summoned this generation, our generation, at such a time as this, to a higher purpose. Some eras are shaped by events; others are defined by the decisions a nation makes. And today, Kenya is called to make such a decision, to finish the journey our forebears began and finally turn our long-held potential into lived reality.

11. To do this, we must cast off the prevailing mindset of being content with the average; we must step beyond the comfort of the familiar and the ordinary, and reach, with courage, clarity, and conviction, for nothing less than excellence and greatness.

12. Therefore, as we examine the achievements of the past three years, results that have laid a firm foundation for equality of opportunity and a nation where no one is left behind, today I will also place before you not just a vision, but a national project that is realistic, grounded, and entirely within our reach.

13. A vision not just to grow, but to transform. A roadmap not merely to move forward, but to rise. To rise from developing to developed. To rise from potential to reality. To rise from promise to prosperity. To rise from the Third to the First World. To rise, finally, into the Kenya we have long imagined; the Kenya we deserve.

14. For too long, our ambition was held hostage by small thinking and ordinary expectations. But that era must now be consigned to the past. Today, we stand on the threshold of something far greater, a moment in which we can say that what our parents dreamt of and what our children yearn for, we will accomplish in our lifetime.

15. And we know this is achievable because others have done it before.

16. I have often spoken of the Asian Tigers, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia (by the way, the Prime Minister of Malaysia will be here this weekend), countries that, at independence, were our peers in nearly every measurable way. They had no extraordinary resources. They were not superhuman. They simply had the courage to make bold, disciplined, deliberate choices. They invested in their people, demanded excellence, and refused to be trapped by the limitations of their circumstances. They refused to make peace with mediocrity.

17. Today, they stand as first-world economies. If they could rise, so can Kenya. IT. CAN. BE. DONE.

18. Later in this address, I will set out the strategic choices, the reforms we will deepen, the sectors we will unlock, and the investments we will prioritise to move Kenya to the next level.

19. I say all this not as a personal badge of honour, but as a recognition of what we have achieved together, the Kenyan people, the leadership in all arms of government, and across political formations.

20. Honourable Members, the last three years have not been easy. We have agreed and sometimes disagreed, and at times those disagreements have carried a great cost. We have compromised, we have confronted hard truths, and we have endured storms none of us invited.

21. But we all take comfort that it has not been for nothing, for this is how far we have come.

22. At a time like this in 2022, Kenya was in distress. Inflation had soared to almost double digits. A fuel shortage threatened to paralyse our economy as oil marketers struggled to access dollars.

23. The shilling was in free fall. Foreign reserves had hit historic lows. Debt service consumed more than half of all our revenues. Confidence, both local and foreign, had waned. International analysts warned that it was no longer a question of if, but when Kenya would default.

24. Within that context, we acted. We restored fiscal discipline. We eliminated wasteful subsidies. We rationalised public expenditure. We strengthened revenue collection and placed our economy on a path of recovery and sustainability.

25. Inflation, which stood at 9.6% in 2022, has steadily declined to 4.6% as of last month, bringing much-needed relief to households.

26. The shilling, once in a perilous downward spiral, has stabilised at KSh 129 to the dollar for nearly two years, a direct consequence of prudent monetary policy and disciplined fiscal management.

27. Our successful Eurobond redemption signalled to the world that Kenya honours its obligations.

28. Three years ago, Kenya ranked as the 8th-largest economy in Africa, with a GDP of $115 billion. Today, our GDP has increased to $136 billion, moving us up to become the 6th largest economy on the continent, according to the IMF.

29. This steep rise is no accident. It is the product of deliberate choices, disciplined execution, and strategic reforms that have strengthened our economy and unlocked its potential.

30. Our foreign reserves have surpassed $12 billion, the highest in independent Kenya. This has restored certainty, cushioned our economy from external shocks, and restored investor confidence.

31. International markets have taken note. Just this week, 14 of the world’s leading financial institutions, including Citigroup, J.P. Morgan, Standard Chartered, and Goldman Sachs, projected that Kenya’s economy will expand by between 5% and 5.8% in 2026.

32. This confidence is anchored in solid fundamentals: lower credit costs, rising exports, improved household spending driven by low inflation, and a broadly stable macroeconomic environment.

33. Standard & Poor’s has upgraded Kenya’s sovereign credit rating from “B-” to a firm “B; our first upward revision in years, signalling renewed international confidence. This upgrade lowers our risk profile, attracts more investment, and reduces borrowing costs for both the government and the private sector. Fellow citizens;

34. Our foreign direct investment (FDI) has more than tripled from $463 million (Ksh 60 billion) in 2021 to $1.5 billion (Ksh 195 billion) in 2024. In the last 36 months, over 300,000 new businesses- including 500 foreign companies - have registered and set up shop in Kenya, reflecting renewed confidence and improved ease of doing business.

35. The Nairobi Securities Exchange has recorded a powerful resurgence, now recognised as one of the best-performing emerging markets globally. Since January, investor wealth has grown by over 1 trillion, driven by a broad share-price rally that has re-established the NSE as a premier asset class.

36. The NSE is on track for its strongest performance in over a decade, building on last year’s remarkable gains. This renewed vibrancy is a clear vote of confidence in Kenya’s direction and in the reforms we have undertaken.

37. In short, Mr Speaker, the world’s most respected economic assessors, and market sentiment, are affirming what we already know: that our economy is strengthening, our prospects are brightening, and confidence in Kenya is rising.

38. Our critics, the high priests of eternal pessimism, who criticise without responsibility and tear down without offering alternatives, will want you to believe that our economy is going in the wrong direction.

39. But while anyone may speak their mind, and that is the beauty of our democracy, no one is entitled to manufacture self-serving falsehoods and traffic them as facts.

40. And facts are exactly what I present today; clear, verifiable, and indisputable.

41. Mr Speaker, one of the greatest contributors to the high cost of living is the cost of food. Kenyans in 2022 marched with empty sufurias, a stark symbol of frustration and the unbearable costs of basic commodities.

42. From the very outset, we made an intentional and strategic decision to subsidise production, and not consumption.

43. We understood that lasting relief would not come from temporary subsidies and price controls, but from strengthening the foundations of agricultural production.

44. We also recognised that agriculture is not merely another sector of our economy. It is the lifeline of our nation. If we were to secure households, stabilise prices, create jobs, expand industry and spur exports, agriculture had to be the fulcrum of our transformation agenda.

45. To organise the sector and improve service delivery, we launched an integrated digital platform to register farmers. In 2022, fewer than 300,000 farmers were on record. Today, over 7.1 million farmers are registered on the Kenya Integrated Agricultural Management Information System, giving us visibility to design scientific, targeted interventions and eliminate extortionists, brokers, cartels and middlemen.

46. This has enabled us to implement the fertiliser subsidy Programme at scale. To date, over 21 million bags of affordable fertilizer have been distributed, reducing the price by nearly two-thirds and saving farmers KSh 105 billion so far. This year alone, we delivered 7 million bags of fertilizer and 35 million kilos of certified seed, and in 2026, we will distribute 12.5 million bags across all 1,450 wards, ensuring every farmer has access to affordable inputs.

47. The impact has been phenomenal. Productivity in all our agricultural sectors has gone up. National maize harvests have risen from 44 million bags in 2022 to 67 million in 2024, setting the stage for a historic harvest of 70 million bags this year.

48. The results are visible in markets and homes. The price of a 2kg packet of flour has fallen from KSh 250 in 2022 to as low as KSh 130 today. For millions of households, this is meaningful, daily relief.

49. The transformation across other value chains is equally compelling. Tea production has grown, with earnings rising from KSh 138 billion in 2022 to KSh 215 billion in 2024; a 56% increase.

50. The coffee sector, once on the brink of collapse, is roaring back. Nearly 50,000 seedlings have been distributed; earnings have risen from an average of KSh 70 per kilo to between KSh 120– 150 per kilo; and we are on track to increase exports from 48,000 to 60,000 metric tonnes this year, and are projected to reach 150 million tonnes in 3 years.

51. In edible oils, acreage under production expanded by 90% between 2022 and April 2025, cutting the edible oil import bill by KSh 17 billion in one year. By 2027, we aim to halve this bill, saving Kenya nearly KSh 60 billion in foreign exchange.

52. Cotton production has nearly tripled. Cashew nut yields have grown following the distribution of 900,000 seedlings, and so has the Coconut output after the provision of one million seedlings.

53. The sugar sector, long troubled, is stabilising. Area under cane is up by 200,000 acres, production has surged 76% to over 815,000 metric tonnes, and imports are down 70%. To secure this progress, we have leased Nzoia, Muhoroni, Sony and Chemelil factories to competent private sector operators.

54. Our livestock value chain is rising. Leather exports are up 56% to KSh 2.5 billion; local shoe production now exceeds 11 million pairs annually, and meat exports have grown 45% to KSh 12.9 billion.

55. In dairy, milk production has surged to 5.3 billion litres, while exports have nearly doubled to KSh 9.4 billion.

56. Dairy farmer support has been enhanced with the installation of 230 new milk coolers. Nearly 8 million animals have been vaccinated, and KEVEVAPI has produced a record 94 million vaccine doses, which are used locally and also exported to our neighbours in the region. We have reduced the cost of sexed semen from KSh 8,000 per dose to KSh 1,000 for our dairy farmers.

57. The outcome of these reforms is unmistakable: We have enhanced food security, raised farmer incomes, driven agroindustrialisation, and expanded Kenya’s export footprint.

58. This is the transformation we promised, now unfolding across our nation, fulfilling the national values and principles of governance, particularly sustainable development, as required under Article 10 of our Constitution. It is in accordance with this constitutional duty that I report to this House today. Mr Speaker, Honourable Members,

59. Let me now turn to healthcare, the foundation of human dignity, and the heartbeat of every nation that chooses compassion over neglect.

60. Over the last three years, we have undertaken the most ambitious transformation of our health system since independence; reforms rooted in equity, powered by innovation, and guided by a simple conviction that every Kenyan, wherever they live and whatever their means, deserves quality care.

61. 27 million Kenyans are now registered in SHA, more than triple the number ever reached by the former NHIF. This is a demonstration that leaving no one behind was and is not a slogan; it is a promise on course to fulfilment. Additionally, more than 10,000 health facilities across the country have signed in to serve under this new system.

62. But, Honourable Members, real healthcare begins long before a patient reaches a hospital. That is why, in September 2023, we deployed 107,000 Community Health Promoters, the largest primary healthcare workforce in our history; trained, equipped, and present in every ward of all our 47 counties.

63. Their impact has been extraordinary. Consider three statistics: 8.9 million households have so far been visited; 9.9 million diabetes screenings have been done, with 134,000 cases diagnosed; 6.5 million hypertension screenings have been conducted, with 305,000 cases confirmed. Millions of lives have been touched, and thousands saved. This is what equity looks like. This is the meaning of universal healthcare. This is leaving no Kenyan behind.

64. Behind these numbers stand the Community Health Promoters, quiet, devoted, tireless heroes of this new era. Today, we honour them. We thank them. And to them we say, Kenya is healthier because of you.

65. When I promised that those unable to pay would be supported by the government under UHC, the cynics scoffed. Today, we are paying premiums for 2.3 million vulnerable Kenyans, including orphans, widows, the elderly, and those without income, because for them, healthcare is not a privilege. It is a right fully secured.

66. We are also modernising hospital equipment through the National Equipment Service Project, replacing the old MES model that burdened counties with heavy upfront costs. Under the new Fee-for-Service system, private partners install, maintain, and run state-of-the-art equipment, and public facilities pay only when they use them.

67. We have overhauled KEMSA to end the chronic crisis of drug shortages, raising medicine availability from 48% today to a projected 90% by the end of this year, and to 100% by March 2026.

68. This is more than healthcare reform. It is a long-deferred promise finally taking shape, a Kenya where every citizen can face tomorrow with confidence, knowing their nation will stand with them in their hour of need. It fulfills our national values of dignity and equity as stated under Article 10 of the Constitution

69. In this same spirit, the government is strengthening financial protection for Kenyans undergoing cancer treatment. SHA will enhance the Cancer Benefits Package from the current Ksh 550,000 to Ksh 800,000, effective December 1, 2025. This enhancement responds to the rising cost of sustained cancer care and ensures that patients can access quality, uninterrupted treatment without facing financial hardship.

70. When I assumed office, our education sector was in distress with a strained CBC transition, a chronic teacher deficit, universities on the edge of insolvency, and overstretched infrastructure.

71. We moved quickly to restore education as the great equaliser. Through the Student-Centred Funding Model, scholarships and loans now follow need and merit, placing the learner at the centre. Nearly 500,000 students have already benefited.

72. We then tackled the teacher crisis head-on; we have hired 76,000 teachers, with 24,000 more being brought in by January 2026. That will translate to 100,000 teachers in three years, an achievement unmatched in our history.

73. Together with the NG-CDF, we have delivered 23,000 new classrooms, and 1,600 laboratories are under construction, easing congestion and giving CBC the dignified facilities it requires.

74. TVET has become the engine of practical skills. Enrolment has leapt from 341,000 in 2022 to 718,000 as young Kenyans embrace engineering, ICT, modern agriculture, hospitality, design, and the trades that power a modern economy.

75. In strengthening education at every level, we are giving life to the national values in Article 10, especially equity, human dignity, and sustainable development, ensuring every Kenyan child has a fair chance to rise.

76. Three years ago, when we said we would deliver affordable housing, the cynics dismissed it as a fantasy. When they realised we were serious, they called it impossible. And when we broke ground across the country, they suggested that the projects would stall.

77. Today, those doubts have given way to a very different question from Kenyans everywhere: How do I get one of those units?

78. Across the country, we are delivering the most extensive housing rollout in our history: 230,000 affordable homes.

79. And meet student needs, 178,000 beds have been packaged for universities, TVETs, and KMTCs, with 74,000 already under construction, transforming a sector where fewer than 10% once had decent accommodation.

80. Additionally, 276 modern markets are taking shape nationwide, providing vital spaces for women and MSMEs, with another 175 underway, expanding the backbone of local commerce.

81. And through the Nairobi River Regeneration Programme, 44,000 youth are restoring the river corridor and preparing sites for 10,000 homes along a renewed riverfront. The programme has created over 428,000 jobs, including architects, engineers, fundis, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, masons, steelworkers, transporters, and thousands of MSMEs in fittings, fabrication, and interior works. At peak next year, it will employ up to 1 million Kenyans.

82. Honourable Members, this programme is far more than housing. It is a national empowerment engine creating jobs, formalising the informal sector, revitalising MSMEs, restoring our environment, and building resilient communities. It advances equity, dignity, and sustainable development, the very values anchored in Article 10 of our Constitution.

83. Allow me to turn to a sector that carries the hopes of nearly every Kenyan family, our Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. MSMEs are the backbone of our economy, the engine room of innovation, and the daily hustle of more than 15 million Kenyans.

84. For decades, access to affordable credit trapped millions in frustration. Without collateral, there were no loans. For the millions blacklisted, every door of opportunity was shut. And when banks refused to take a chance, their dreams simply stalled. As promised, we broke that cycle.

85. The Financial Inclusion Fund, the Hustler Fund, now stands as the largest financial inclusion programme since independence, extending over KSh 80 billion to millions of Kenyans. Seven million once-blacklisted Kenyans have since repaired their credit. Three million small business owners previously locked out of formal finance are now banked. And two million Kenyans are now frequent borrowers.

86. Today, through the Hustler Fund bridge Facility, 800,000 entrepreneurs are accessing up to KSh 150,000 each, without collateral, to expand and grow their businesses.

87. But, Honourable Members, credit alone is not enough. Many young people do not lack ideas; they lack opportunity.

88. That is why we launched NYOTA, the National Youth Opportunities and Transformation Agenda, one of the most ambitious youth empowerment programmes in our history.

89. Over five years, NYOTA will uplift 820,000 unemployed young people through apprenticeships, Recognition of Prior Learning, entrepreneurship grants, digital skills training, and supported savings. When the program is fully implemented, it will have placed 90,000 youth into work or enterprise, certified 20,000 into different skill areas, capitalised 110,000 businesses, matched savings of 190,000 savers, and built the capacity of 600,000 more to undertake government procurement under AGPO.

90. Ladies and gentlemen, over the past three years, our digital transformation agenda has become one of the most powerful engines of renewal, a quiet revolution changing how Kenyans live, work, learn, and do business.

91. We have expanded fibre by 24,000 km, and moved from zero public Wi-Fi hotspots in 2022 to nearly 1,500 today, connecting communities once left behind. We have set up 300 digital innovation hubs, with 400 in the pipeline; gateways where ideas grow and enterprises begin.

92. At the heart of this shift is digital government. From less than 400 services on eCitizen to 22,500, we have delivered one of the fastest digital migrations in the world. Access is easier, efficiency is higher, leakages sealed, and corruption pushed out.

93. And our young people are driving it. Nearly 2 million have been trained in digital skills, and 300,000 now earn a living online through Ajira, Jitume, and our expanding BPO sector.

94. Having set out the work of the last three years, it would be easy, almost comfortable, to pause, congratulate ourselves, and settle into the warmth of modest progress.

95. But comfort is how nations stall. It is how Kenya once slowed while the Asian Tigers raced ahead.

96. We cannot allow that. We will not allow that. We must not allow it.

97. Because this moment demands more of us, more courage, more ambition, and a refusal to settle for the ordinary.

98. As I said earlier, we often speak of the Asian Tigers with a reverence that makes their rise seem like a miracle from a distant world. We marvel at how they journeyed from poverty to industrial powerhouses, from aid recipients to exporters of world-class goods, and we ask: What secret advantage did they have?

99. History answers us plainly; none. Their rise was not magic; it was intentional, and crafted through leadership, discipline, strategic investment, and an uncompromising rejection of mediocrity.

100. Their stories begin in ruins; the example of post-war Japan, with barely 2,000 kilometres of paved roads, and South Korea, whose GDP per capita was nearly identical to Kenya’s at independence. Today, Japan commands over 1.1 million kilometres of paved roads, while Kenya has just 22,000, 62 years after independence.

101. South Korea’s GDP per capita now exceeds $36,000, compared to Kenya’s $2,200. These comparisons are not meant to indict us, but to demonstrate what becomes possible when a nation chooses ambition over resignation.

102. From their journeys, clear lessons emerge. These nations set aside small dreams and integrated boldly with global markets. They built first-world infrastructure in what were third-world environments. They invested obsessively in their people: the engineers, scientists, innovators, and technicians who powered their ascent. They generated electricity from all sources available to power their enterprise, an innovation that led to manufacturing, industrialisation and progress.

103. They simplified investment through institutional reforms that allowed capital, technology, and talent to progress without friction. They prioritised production by planning their industries long before those industries emerged.

104. Critically, they nurtured ecosystems of relentless innovation, giving rise to global giants like Samsung, Hyundai, Toyota, and Sony, companies that began modestly and grew to define modern industry.

105. The task before us, therefore, is unmistakably clear. If Kenya is to grow at scale, we must raise our ambition.

106. It is for this reason, Mr Speaker and Honourable Members, that under my leadership, we are raising the bar of national ambition.

107. And that is why I am today submitting our roadmap to take Kenya to the next level. We are committing to undertake, at a minimum, four major national priorities, whose rationale I shall now explain.

108. First, we must invest relentlessly in our people; in their education, skills development, scientific training, and innovation capacity. We have already set the foundation through major reforms in the education sector. We have increased the education budget from KSh 490B in 2021 to over KSh 700B this year, which has facilitated better infrastructure in our education system, more teachers and trainers, and enhanced funding for our colleges and universities.

109. I have reorganised government departments to establish a dedicated State Department for Science, Research, and Innovation to support the urgent need to scale up STEM courses in our education system, strengthen innovation, promote research, and create a pool of high-level professionals in engineering and science. This structure will also help actualise the 2% research fund needed to make this ambition a reality. We must fund start-ups and deliberately scale up and commercialise innovation to create new companies.

110. We must actualise the national research fund, moving from the current 0.8% of GDP to 2%. This leaves us with a shortfall of about KSh 180B. Progressively, we should grow the fund to KSh 1 trillion over the next 10 years. We will mobilise domestic public resources, private investment, venture capital, and other private-sector financing to drive this effort, because no nation rises above the abilities of its citizens.

111. And we must promote a culture of enterprise so that Kenyan companies can cross borders. The example of Safaricom and MPesa, growing from a local solution into a global financial platform serving more than 70 million customers in 170 countries, demonstrates the possibilities we can unlock.

112. Second, we must turn around our economy from a net importer to a net exporter of products, goods and services, the most urgent being imports of agricultural food products that cost us Ksh 500 billion every year. As I mentioned earlier, we have already made interventions to reduce imports of maize, sugar, edible oil, rice, and wheat, but our efforts are undermined by the natural limits of rain-fed agriculture.

113. We can no longer allow the clouds to determine whether our people eat or not. If we are to produce enough for domestic consumption and exports, expanded modern irrigation is now necessary and the only path forward.

114. We are endowed with fertile arable land, yet only 15% of Kenya can support rain-fed agriculture — and this limited area is what we have relied on to feed the entire nation. While 85% of Kenya does not receive sufficient rainfall, if we harvest and store rainwater, we can bring vast arable lands in these arid and semiarid regions into productive use.

115. With dams, we can transform our arid and semi-arid areas into hubs of agricultural production, even in the absence of rainfall. We must never give up on the potential of these regions simply because they receive little rain, and we must never confuse the lack of rain with the lack of water.

116. This is why we must build at least 50 mega dams nationwide, alongside 200 additional medium and small dams and thousands of micro dams, to collect and store water, not only to secure our supply, but to bring at least 2.5 million acres under irrigation within the next five to seven years.

117. Therefore, the commitment to harvest and store water is not simply about food and water security. It is a strategic, nationshaping investment, one that underpins our aspiration to be a net exporter of agricultural products; it underpins economic independence, rural prosperity, and sustainable development.

118. The Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, alongside all relevant agencies, has already mapped the precise locations of these dams. These projects span the breadth of our Republic; from High Grand Falls, a mega dam on river Daua in Mandera, Isiolo-Barsalinga dam, Yatta in Machakos, Sigly canal in Garissa, Soin Koru in Kisumu, Rumuruti in Laikipia, Thuci in Embu and Tharaka-Nithi, Lowaat in Turkana; Muhoya dam straddling Nyeri and Kirinyaga, Narosura in Narok and Arror in Elgeyo-Marakwet. Others include Ndarugu in Kiambu, Kokwanyo in Homa Bay, Rare in Kilifi, Tongaren in Bungoma, and many more strategic sites nationwide.

119. Mr Speaker, expanded irrigation will also supply the volumes, consistency, and quality of raw materials required for our next economic frontier, which is agro-industrialisation. Irrigation will produce the raw materials, and our SEZs, EPZs, and County Aggregation and Industrial Parks will convert them into high value products for national, regional and global markets.

120. Honourable Members, energy is the lifeblood of any modern economy. No nation has developed without abundant, reliable, affordable power. This is our third national priority.

121. Although we have an installed capacity of 3,300 MW, the intermittence of solar and wind means our firm capacity is only 2,300 MW — far below what the Kenya of tomorrow will require.

122. To drive domestic electrification, industrial manufacturing, e–mobility, green industrialisation, digital expansion, and a technology-enabled future, we must dramatically expand power generation.

123. Kenya is blessed with diverse, largely underexploited renewable resources, including geothermal, solar, hydro, wind and nuclear. To undertake large-scale value addition, agroprocessing, manufacturing and industrialisation, sufficient, affordable, and reliable energy is a top imperative.

124. Modern technologies such as data centres and artificial intelligence require a large-scale energy supply. To modernise our economy, leverage technology to create new opportunities to turn our agriculture and natural resources into products, manufacturing and industrialisation consume many megawatts of energy. As a result, we have to generate an additional 10,000 MW in the next 7 years, so as to move our country to the next level and undertake the transition necessary for our growth.

125. Our fourth national priority is transport and logistics. As the region’s economic and diplomatic hub, home to the UN’s largest office in the Global South, and the sixth-largest economy in Africa, Kenya must maintain world-class seaports, airports, highways, and digital corridors.

126. Efficient transport and logistics are the backbone of our competitiveness. They accelerate national development, connect products to markets, move goods and services, lower the cost of doing business, and reinforce Kenya as the aviation and commercial capital of East and Central Africa.

127. History teaches us that nations rise on the strength of transport and logistics. Japan’s post-war revival, enabled by strategic road expansion, is a clear example: From only 2,000 roads, they constructed over a million kilometres of paved roads in seven decades, while Kenya has constructed just 22,000 km, over a relatively similar period.

128. To scale up our transport and logistics programme, the Ministry of Roads and Transport have already mapped out a comprehensive network of 2,500 highways for dualling and 28,000km of roads to be tarmaced in the next 10 years.

129. We will also onboard private-public partnership in the modernisation of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Mombasa and Lamu ports, and sort out the challenges facing Kenya Airways by next year.

130. This work is already progressing. Next week, I will launch the dualling of the 170-kilometre Rironi–Naivasha–Nakuru–Mau Summit road. On the same day, we will break ground on the dualling of the 58-kilometre Rironi–Maai Mahiu–Naivasha road. The gridlock that paralyses these roads every day—especially on weekends and holidays—will soon be history.

131. Additional roads earmarked for dualing include Muthaiga– Kiambu–Ndumberi; Machakos Junction–Mariakani, Mau Summit–Kericho–Kisumu; Kisumu–Busia; Mau Summit–Eldoret– Malaba; Athi River–Namanga; Karatina–Nanyuki–Isiolo; Makutano–Embu–Meru—Maua; Mtwapa–Malindi; MombasaLunga Lunga, Kericho—Kisii—Migori—Isebania, Nakuru— Nyahururu—Karatina, Kisii—Oyugis—Ahero, the Northern Bypass; James Gichuru Road, Bomas—Karen—Ngong, Bomas— Ongata Rongai—Kiserian, Ngong—Isinya; and Naivasha–Kikuyu, among many other key corridors nationwide.

132. This infrastructure drive will also include extending the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha to Kisumu and eventually to Malaba beginning in January 2026.

133. Honourable Members, estimates indicate that achieving these four priorities will require at least KSh 5 trillion. This is undeniably a large sum. Some may see it as unrealistic, even audacious, for a country like ours.

134. But allow me to recall President John F. Kennedy’s words in 1962 as he rallied America to reach the moon: “We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard… because that challenge is one we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone.”

135. These four projects are our national imperatives; commitments we must embrace without hesitation. Not because they are easy. Not because they are cheap. But because they are absolutely necessary. Because they are worthy. This is the assignment of our generation; this is the purpose of this administration and this parliament, the 13th Parliament, and this is the moment we must rise up to.

136. Which brings us to the next question: given our fiscal constraints, how shall we finance these transformative projects, and do so sustainably?

137. The answer lies in two key financing vehicles: the National Infrastructure Fund and the Sovereign Wealth Fund.

138. As noted earlier, our development ambitions require sustained, large-scale investment in education, including roads, energy, water systems, logistics, and digital networks. Yet our fiscal space is narrow.

139. We cannot continue funding essential infrastructure through unsustainable borrowing or burdening taxpayers with additional taxes. But neither can we afford to postpone these imperatives without risking our future.

140. There is a need to be innovative in the use of national revenues at our disposal, in the deployment of national assets available to us, and in creating public-private partnerships that will crowd in the enormous pool of private sector resources available regionally and globally.

141. This is why we will establish the National Infrastructure Fund, whose architecture will be underpinned by the reforms in the Government-Owned Enterprises Bill, passed by this August House, that I will be signing into law tomorrow.

142. This fund is the strategic solution that will provide a framework to innovatively scale up our resources to match our ambition. It will fulfil our manifesto commitment to rebuild Kenya’s infrastructure while reducing reliance on debt. We will do this by using budgeted resources prudently and introducing a financing architecture that leverages capital markets, diversifies ownership through the unlocking of national assets through privatisation, and uses PPP frameworks to channel private capital into public priorities.

143. For decades, Kenya has privatised major public assets—from Kenya Airways and KenGen, to Kenya Re and Safaricom. Yet we cannot point to enduring national assets built from privatisation proceeds, because the funds were absorbed into budgets and spent.

144. The National Infrastructure Fund will break this cycle. All proceeds from privatisation will be ring-fenced, preserved, and reinvested into new infrastructure and wealth-creating assets. When ownership shifts to the private sector for efficiency, the benefits to the public will not diminish; they will multiply.

145. For every shilling invested from privatisation proceeds, we aim to attract ten shillings from long-term investors, drawn from pension funds, sovereign partners, private equity, and development finance institutions. This multiplier will allow us to build critical infrastructure without adding to the tax or debt burden.

146. This model is proven. Australia’s Future Fund, Singapore’s Temasek, and the UAE’s Mubadala demonstrate that commercially run public investment funds can grow national wealth and deliver transformative infrastructure.

147. The National Infrastructure Fund is therefore more than a financing tool. It is a generational strategy, preserving value, mobilising capital, accelerating delivery, and ensuring Kenya becomes stronger, wealthier, and more competitive.

148. Our Constitution, under Article 201(c), stipulates that “the burdens and benefits of the use of resources and of public borrowing shall be shared equitably between present and future generations.” In essence, when we use natural resources or borrow, we must ensure future generations are not left poorer.

149. That is why, alongside the national infrastructure funds, we will be establishing the Sovereign Wealth Fund to give full effect to the constitutional principle of intergenerational equity.

150. A portion of all royalties from natural resources and a portion of the proceeds of the privatisation of national assets will be invested in the fund. This Fund will rest on three pillars: a. Savings: To be invested for the future, as countries like Norway, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia have done with trillion dollar funds. b. Stabilisation: A buffer against global shocks, including commodity volatility, pandemics, and geopolitical disruptions, to ensure fiscal stability. c. Infrastructure: A carefully managed share will be invested in commercial terms to attract private capital to national projects while growing public wealth.

151. History has already warned us. Along our Coast region, titanium deposits have been depleted, and because we lacked a sovereign wealth framework, future generations will inherit nothing from that resource. We cannot repeat this mistake.

152. Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, that is the scale of our national ambition, and this is the blueprint for financing it prudently and responsibly.

153. To shape this vision, I have engaged sincerely with leaders across the political spectrum, Members of Parliament, governors, community leaders, and with Kenyans from all walks of life.

154. I discussed this vision with the late Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga, who reminded me that no nation has industrialised without roads, energy, and food security. I have also engaged former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who emphasised the necessity of scaling up infrastructure investments.

155. Honourable Members, allow me to express profound gratitude to the 13th Parliament for you’re your outstanding contribution, your foresight, consistency, focus and commitment to what is good for Kenya. The progress made in the last three years would not have been possible without your legislative agility, principled oversight, and commitment to the national interest.

156. When the history of this generation is written, this House, the 13th parliament, will occupy a full and proud chapter. Your decisions are recorded not only in debates or statutes, but in the lived progress of every Kenyan. For this, I extend my deepest gratitude and appreciation.

157. I also extend heartfelt thanks to hard-working Kenyans who have diligently fulfilled their civic duty to the nation, giving life to the constitutional values of equity, social justice, and sustainable development.

158. You have shouldered the weight of nation-building. Future generations will feel the impact of your sacrifice, and they will honour you as the generation that helped change the trajectory of our Republic.

159. As I conclude, I reiterate that those of us in leadership must bear in mind one critical lesson: Leaders are not- ultimately- judged by the visions they carry, or the statements they make, or the mantras they repeat. They are judged by the actions they take, the value they generate, the difference they make and the impact they make in the lives of the people.

160. Let history record that this generation refused to be timid. That we chose ambition over fear, action over excuses, and progress over the false comfort of low expectations. Let it be said that when Kenya stood at a crossroads, we reached for the higher path.

161. The work ahead is formidable, but so is the Kenyan spirit. This is our moment to lift Kenya to her next frontier. This is our moment to shape a nation worthy of its promise. This is our moment to rise.

162. It is now my pleasure to submit to Parliament the following three reports as required by the Constitution: I. Report on All Measures Taken and Progress Achieved in the Realisation of National Values; II. Report on Progress made in fulfilling the International Obligations of the Republic; and III. Report on The State of Security.

163. Now therefore, I hand over the Reports to the Speaker of the Senate and to the Speaker of the National Assembly. I thank you. God bless you. God bless Kenya.

Forget Surgery: Kenyan Doctors Now Healing Patients With Body’s Own Cells

admin — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 17:26:48 +0300

Kenya’s healthcare landscape is slowly shifting as regenerative medicine — a field that uses the body’s own cells and biological materials to repair damage — begins to find its footing.

The emerging practice is being described by specialists as a potential game-changer in how diseases are treated, moving the focus from symptom management to genuine healing.

Regenerative medicine aims to restore or replace damaged tissues and organs using tools like stem cells, peptides, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Globally, the technology has already been applied in cardiac, neurological, and orthopedic cases, helping rebuild heart tissue, restore nerve function, and accelerate recovery from injuries.

“Regenerative medicine means healing diseases from the core,” said Dr. Ashne Malde, a regenerative medicine specialist at Regenera Pharma & Tia Clinics Muthaiga.

“For years, medicine has focused on managing illnesses, but now, we can use the body’s own biology to regenerate tissue, restore organ function, and revive damaged systems. That’s real healing.”

Plastic Surgeon Dr Ashne Malde at work. /VIRAL TEA KE

Dr. Malde said the therapies work by amplifying the body’s natural ability to self-repair — a process that can be strengthened through proper nutrition, mindset, and a balanced lifestyle.

“The body is an incredible machine,” she said. “It has the potential to heal itself completely when given the right support — through regenerative therapy, nutrition, mindset, and balanced lifestyle.”

In Kenya, regenerative medicine is gradually taking shape in private clinics, particularly in Nairobi, where early adopters are offering treatments for pain management, orthopedic recovery, and aesthetic care.

The procedures rely on biological factors extracted from the patient’s own body — a less invasive approach compared to surgery or long-term drug regimens.

Local practitioners report growing interest from patients seeking alternatives to conventional care. Plasma and peptide-based therapies are being used to address chronic pain, joint injuries, and soft tissue damage, while others are exploring regenerative applications in skin repair, hair restoration, and post-surgical recovery.

“This is not about Botox or fillers,” Dr. Malde said. “It’s about making your body work efficiently — improving your immunity, mental clarity, and energy levels. You don’t just look younger; you feel younger.”

While such treatments remain expensive and largely limited to private facilities, experts believe regenerative medicine could significantly ease the burden of chronic diseases that continue to strain Kenya’s health system.

Non-communicable conditions like diabetes, arthritis, and cardiovascular diseases are on the rise, and the country still spends billions annually on referrals abroad for specialized care.

“In Africa, we often spend billions sending patients abroad for specialized treatments,” Dr. Malde said. “If we invest in regenerative medicine locally, we’ll not only save that money — we’ll save lives. We have the patients and the talent; what we need now is the infrastructure.”

She urged the government, research institutions, and private investors to collaborate in setting up proper regulatory frameworks, training programs, and research hubs to ensure the field grows responsibly.

“Kenya can lead East Africa in regenerative research,” she said. “But we need policies that encourage innovation, regulate practice, and make treatments accessible to everyone.”

Health experts caution, however, that without oversight, the rapid commercialization of regenerative treatments could lead to misinformation and exploitation.

Many countries are still grappling with how to regulate stem cell therapy and related practices, as some clinics globally have been accused of making unproven claims.

Despite the uncertainties, the momentum around regenerative medicine continues to build. For practitioners like Dr. Malde, the ultimate goal is to make the science accessible, affordable, and integrated into mainstream care — merging traditional medicine with preventive and holistic wellness.

“Every patient who heals naturally reminds us that the body is intelligent,” she said. “Regenerative medicine gives that intelligence a voice. It’s time Africa embraced this new kind of healing — one that restores hope, dignity, and life itself.”

As Kenya positions itself as a regional healthcare hub, regenerative medicine could mark a turning point — if innovation is balanced with evidence, regulation, and equitable access.

Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) headquarters in Nairobi. /KEMRI

How New Bomas Of Kenya Will Look Like After Ksh31.6B Extreme Makeover [PHOTO]

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 14:32:16 +0300

The iconic Bomas of Kenya is poised for a transformative makeover under a Ksh31.6 billion redevelopment project that will see the cultural landmark converted into the Bomas International Convention Complex (BICC).

The ambitious project, spearheaded by the government, aims to position Nairobi as a leading destination for international conferences, exhibitions, and cultural events, combining modern infrastructure with the country’s rich cultural heritage.

The redevelopment plan, according to official designs and government statements, will see the complex span over 323,500 square metres, making it one of the largest cultural and hospitality investments in Kenya in recent years.

Features

At the heart of the project is a 5,000-seater main auditorium, featuring multi-tiered balconies, VIP sections, and state-of-the-art acoustics, capable of hosting high-profile conferences, summits, and entertainment events.

Large foyers and breakout areas have been incorporated to facilitate smooth movement and crowd management. At the same time, advanced lighting and sound systems will make the venue suitable for both formal and entertainment events.

Artistic impression of what the Bomas International Convention Complex (BICC) will look like when complete. /MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

Complementing the main auditorium will be a secondary hall that can accommodate about 350 guests. This space is expected to host smaller meetings, workshops, and training sessions, ensuring that the complex can cater to a variety of functions simultaneously.

Additionally, a banquet hall with a 3,000-seat capacity will feature full catering and kitchen facilities to support large-scale dinners, receptions, and ceremonial events.

A special feature of the project is the Presidential Hall, spanning approximately 5,200 square metres, which will house VIP and VVIP lounges, executive offices, and a 150-seat private restaurant reserved for dignitaries. This hall is expected to serve as the main reception area for heads of state and other high-level international guests during major events.

The redevelopment also includes a substantial hospitality component. Plans call for three hotels, ranging from five-star to three-star, targeting a mix of diplomats, executives, tourists, and local visitors.

The complex will also incorporate residential apartments, a shopping mall, a cultural heritage centre, and a modernized “traditional village” area, designed to preserve and showcase Kenya’s ethnic diversity through architecture, crafts, and live performances.

Officials insist that the project will maintain Bomas’ cultural identity while expanding its function into a multi-use international venue.

Sustainability has been a key focus of the design, with features such as solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems, passive cooling technology, and low-emissivity glass intended to reduce the complex’s environmental footprint and operational costs.

A heliport, 550,000 square metres of parking space, and underground technical rooms for power, IT, and logistics operations are also included in the master plan.

Collectively, these enhancements are expected to position the complex among the top convention centres in Africa, capable of hosting multiple international events at once.

Government officials have highlighted the potential economic and social benefits of the project. They note that Nairobi already hosts numerous regional headquarters for multinationals and United Nations agencies, and the Bomas International Convention Complex will provide a modern alternative to the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), which is over five decades old and faces infrastructural limitations.

If completed as planned, the project could attract global conferences, stimulate tourism, create thousands of jobs, and generate billions of shillings in revenue for local businesses across the hospitality, entertainment, and transport sectors.

Its location along Lang’ata and Magadi roads will ensure accessibility for visitors traveling from the city centre or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) while enhancing real estate value in the surrounding areas.

However, the redevelopment has not been without controversy. Critics have raised concerns about the potential impact on cultural and environmental heritage, noting that parts of the current site host indigenous trees, green spaces, and rare bird species.

Conservationists warn that large-scale construction could disrupt these natural habitats, while cultural advocates caution that modernization may dilute the authenticity of the traditional village and other heritage features.

Questions have also been raised over procurement transparency and cost management. Civil society groups and watchdog organizations have alleged irregularities in the tendering process, arguing that some contracts were awarded without sufficient competitive bidding or public oversight.

Analysts further warn that the Ksh31.6 billion budget could be exceeded due to inflation, logistical challenges, or political delays. Given Kenya’s current fiscal constraints, some experts advise caution, emphasizing the need for strict oversight and accountability.

Despite these concerns, government officials remain confident that the project will elevate Kenya’s global standing. They describe the redevelopment as a national rebranding effort, designed to showcase Kenya’s cultural richness while providing world-class facilities for business, diplomacy, and entertainment.

Cultural activities at the current Bomas site have been temporarily suspended to allow construction and upgrades to proceed, signaling that work is already underway.

The Bomas International Convention Complex is expected to offer a fully integrated experience, blending cultural heritage with modern luxury. Visitors will be able to attend international conferences, experience traditional performances, shop in high-end retail spaces, and stay in five-star accommodations, all within the same compound.

Officials have emphasized that the facility will provide both a functional meeting space and a cultural showcase, making it a unique offering on the continent.

Photo of Bomas of Kenya as of 2022. /BOMAS OF KENYA

Profile Of Morocco Princess Who Is Visiting Kenya [PHOTOS]

Marvin Chege — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 16:10:06 +0300

Princess Lalla Asmaa of Morocco has arrived in Kenya for an official visit aimed at enhancing diplomatic and development ties between the two countries.

In a statement released on Tuesday, November 4, First Lady Mama Rachel Ruto said the royal visit symbolizes the strong friendship between Kenya and Morocco and highlights their mutual dedication to uplifting communities through initiatives in health, education, and child empowerment.

"Karibu Kenya, Your Royal Highness Princess Lalla Asmaa of the Kingdom of Morocco," the First Lady stated on her social media accounts.

"This visit is a reflection of the warm friendship between our two nations, and our shared commitment to community uplift initiatives, particularly in the areas of health, education, and child empowerment."

Princess Lalla Asmaa of Morocco received by Kenya's First Lady Rachel Ruto at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on November 4, 2025. /RACHEL RUTO

Mama Rachel Ruto, who received Princess Asmaa at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, further expressed her appreciation for hosting the Moroccan royal and voiced optimism about the outcomes of the visit.

"It is an honour to host you, Your Royal Highness, and I look forward to productive engagements during your stay in Kenya," she said. Viral Tea takes a look at the profile of the latest visiting royal figure:

Princess Lalla Asmaa Profile

Princess Lalla Asmaa of Morocco was born on September 29, 1965, in Rabat. She’s a prominent member of the Alaouite royal dynasty, the daughter of the late King Hassan II and Princess Lalla Latifa, and the sister of the current King Mohammed VI.

Raised within Morocco’s royal household, she studied at the Royal College before earning a bachelor’s degree in political science from Mohammed V University in Rabat.

In November 1986, Princess Lalla Asmaa married Khalid Bouchentouf in a private ceremony, followed by an official celebration in 1987. The couple has two children — a son, Moulay Yazid, and a daughter, Lalla Nuhaila.

Beyond her royal title, Princess Lalla Asmaa has built a strong reputation for humanitarian work. She serves as the President of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation for Deaf Children and Youth, an organization dedicated to supporting children and young people with hearing and speech impairments.

Under her leadership, the foundation has expanded access to specialized education, modern hearing technologies such as cochlear implants, and vocational training programs that empower the deaf community to achieve social and economic independence.

Her advocacy doesn’t stop there. She also holds the honorary presidency of the Society for the Protection of Animals and Nature in Morocco, reflecting her broader interest in social welfare and environmental stewardship.

In addition to her charitable roles, Princess Lalla Asmaa has been linked to various investment initiatives, including agricultural projects and Yano Participation, a business venture highlighting her diverse portfolio of interests.

Through her work, Princess Lalla Asmaa represents a modern approach to royalty — combining tradition with active, hands-on social involvement.

Her initiatives not only raise awareness about disability inclusion within Morocco but also extend internationally, such as her foundation’s partnership with Gallaudet University in the U.S. to advance education for the deaf.

Overall, she stands out as a compassionate royal figure using her influence to champion education, accessibility, and social change.

A photo of Princess Lalla Asmaa of Morocco. /MOROCCO JEWISH TIMES

Explained: Difference Between Mudslides and Landslides

Marvin Chege — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 19:34:29 +0300

In early November 2025, tragedy struck Elgeyo Marakwet County when heavy rains triggered two deadly mudslides across the escarpment and Kerio Valley.

The first incident happened in the early hours of Saturday, November 1, at Moror Village and Chesongoch Centre after a night of heavy rainfall. Two days later, another landslide struck Kipkenda Village in Kibendo, Emsoo Ward, Keiyo North, also within Elgeyo Marakwet County.

Whole villages were buried under torrents of mud and debris, killing more than 20 people and displacing hundreds of families. At the time of publishing this article, the death toll has hit 32, among the fatalities are 15 learners.

Homes were swept away, roads cut off, and rescue teams battled through thick sludge to reach trapped residents.

An image of a house destroyed by a mudslide in Elgeyo Marakwet on November 1, 2025. /EMC DAILY

While numerous media reports have described the event as both a “landslide” and a “mudslide,” the two terms aren’t identical. Understanding their difference is crucial for how Kenya prepares for such disasters.

The Elgeyo Marakwet catastrophe offers a painful but clear example of what separates a mudslide from a landslide — and why that distinction matters.

Understanding the Basics

A landslide is the general term for any downward movement of rock, soil, or debris along a slope under the force of gravity. It can happen slowly or suddenly, depending on how stable the slope is and what triggers it. Landslides usually involve large masses of dry or semi-dry earth slipping downwards, leaving a visible scar on the terrain.

A mudslide (also called a mudflow) is a more specific, more fluid type of landslide. It consists of fine-grained soil — mostly clay and silt — mixed with a lot of water.

When heavy rains or flooding saturate the ground, the soil loses its grip and flows downhill like liquid. Mudslides can move at terrifying speeds and travel for long distances, especially through river valleys or drainage paths.

In short, all mudslides are landslides, but not all landslides are mudslides. The difference lies in composition (rock vs mud) and movement (sliding vs flowing) — and that difference can decide how many people live or die when disaster strikes.

Causes and Triggers in Kenya

Across Kenya, both mudslides and landslides share a common trigger — intense rainfall — but they strike under slightly different conditions.

Landslides tend to occur on steep slopes with loose or fractured rock, often in areas where human activity has weakened the terrain. The most prone regions include the central highlands (Murang’a, Nyeri, Embu, Kirinyaga), the Rift Valley escarpments (Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Baringo), and parts of Western Kenya like Bungoma and Kakamega.

Deforestation, road construction, and unplanned farming on slopes remove vegetation that stabilizes soil. When heavy rain hits, water seeps into the ground, increases pressure within the soil layers, and eventually causes the slope to give way — triggering a landslide.

Mudslides, however, are more likely in areas with deep clay soils and poor drainage, where water saturates the ground faster than it can drain away. After days or weeks of heavy rain, these soils become so waterlogged that they literally start to flow.

This is exactly what happened in Elgeyo Marakwet — continuous downpours turned the slopes into rivers of mud that swept away homes, farms, and roads within minutes.

Climate change is worsening both phenomena. Kenya’s rainy seasons have become more erratic, with longer dry spells followed by intense rainfall that overwhelms the land’s capacity to absorb water. Combined with population pressure and deforestation, the conditions for slope disasters have never been more dangerous.

What Happened in Elgeyo Marakwet

The recent Elgeyo Marakwet disaster is a textbook case of a mudslide, not just a landslide. Days of unrelenting rain saturated the steep escarpment terrain around Chesongoch and the Kerio Valley.

When the ground finally gave way, it didn’t simply slide — it flowed. Eyewitnesses described “rivers of mud” cascading through homes, carrying debris, boulders, and even vehicles.

Other than the aforementioned fatalities, dozens went missing, and more than 1,000 homes were destroyed. Roads linking villages were cut off, and rescue efforts were slowed by deep mud that made access nearly impossible. Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) was forced to close several roads due to the risk of secondary slides.

This tragedy highlights the core difference: landslides break apart, while mudslides engulf. The Elgeyo Marakwet flow behaved like liquid — fast, far-reaching, and devastating. It buried villages downstream, not just those on the slope, proving how far-ranging mudslides can be once water mixes with loose soil.

Why the Difference Matters

Understanding whether a region faces a risk of landslides or mudslides shapes everything from early warnings to rescue plans. In the case of landslides, the main risk zone is the slope itself; for mudslides, the danger extends to valleys and river channels below. That means even communities several kilometers away from the source can be hit, as seen in Elgeyo Marakwet.

Mitigation strategies also differ. Landslide-prone slopes can be stabilized through terracing, tree planting, and retaining walls. But mudslide management focuses more on drainage: controlling runoff, building diversion channels, and preventing waterlogging. Without drainage, even stable slopes can liquefy under prolonged rainfall.

The Elgeyo Marakwet case also exposes Kenya’s gaps in early-warning systems and settlement planning. Many of the affected homes were built on steep escarpments or at the base of gullies that double as natural drainage paths. Residents said they had noticed minor soil cracks and water seepage before the disaster — classic warning signs — but few knew their significance.

Government agencies like the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Kenya Meteorological Department have improved forecasting and community alerts in recent years. Yet enforcement of land-use rules remains weak, and economic pressures push people to live in risky zones despite the danger.

Broader Implications for Kenya

The Elgeyo Marakwet mudslide is not an isolated case. Similar tragedies have struck West Pokot, Murang’a, and parts of Nyeri in the past five years. Each disaster exposes how fragile Kenya’s highlands have become under the combined weight of climate change, deforestation, and unregulated settlement.

To reduce future losses, Kenya must strengthen its disaster preparedness — not just through post-disaster rescue but through prevention. That means investing in slope monitoring, restoring forest cover, improving drainage infrastructure, and educating communities on early signs of slope failure.

Relocation programs for high-risk escarpment settlements should also be prioritized, despite the political and economic challenges involved.

CS Kipchumba Murkomen assessing the aftermath of the landslide in Marakwet East on November 2, 2025. /KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN

Why Raila Odinga Jr Had His Head Shaved During Installation Ceremony

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 11:49:02 +0300

Raila Odinga’s only surviving son, Raila Odinga Junior, was on Thursday, October 23, formally installed as the new head of the Odinga family in a private but culturally significant ceremony—just three days after the burial of the former Prime Minister.

The rite, held at the late Odinga’s Opoda Farm in Bondo, marked a symbolic handover of family leadership to the next male heir.

Preparations began early that morning, culminating in a traditional shaving ritual known in Luo culture as liedo—a ceremony that signifies the end of mourning and the beginning of a new era of leadership within the homestead.

Raila Odinga Junior gets his head shaved as he is installed as the head of the Raila Odinga family on October 23, 2025. /VIRAL TEA KE

The event was steeped in tradition, with Luo dancers filling the compound with rhythmic chants and movements, celebrating both heritage and continuity.

According to Luo customs, the liedo ceremony typically takes place about four days after a patriarch’s burial to ensure the smooth transition of authority.

The ritual involves shaving the heir’s head, symbolizing renewal and the transfer of responsibility from the deceased to the living. The act is usually performed by the deceased’s eldest sister, who makes three symbolic cuts before the full shave, witnessed by close family members.

In this case, Raila Junior took centre stage as his late brother, Fidel Odinga—who would have traditionally assumed the role—passed away in 2015.

Once shaved, Junior was handed a spear and shield before performing a brief traditional dance, officially marking his ascension as the new family head.

Traditionally, the liedo would take place near a river or water source to symbolize purification and the washing away of death’s shadow. Today, many families, including the Odingas, conduct the ceremony at home while preserving its spiritual essence.

Raila Junior’s wife and children were also expected to take part in the ritual. However, family elder Oburu Odinga hinted that his sister-in-law might have been hesitant about that part of the custom.

Even after the installation, the Odinga family—like many Luo households—will continue honouring their patriarch through grave upkeep and remembrance ceremonies. These are typically held on anniversaries or major gatherings, featuring songs, offerings, and communal feasts to celebrate the departed’s legacy.

For the Luo community, death is not the end of existence but a transition into the ancestral realm. Such rituals are seen as vital acts of connection—welcoming the departed among the ancestors who are believed to watch over and guide the living.

Raila Odinga Junior, son of the late Prime Minister Raila Odinga, speaking during his father's burial on Sunday, October 19, in Bondo, Siaya County. /PCS

Why Raila Odinga Was Given 17-Gun Salute At His State Funeral

Marvin Chege — Sun, 19 Oct 2025 19:04:07 +0300

The late Raila Odinga was honoured with a 17-gun salute on Sunday, October 19, during his state funeral — a rare tribute reserved for Kenya’s most eminent leaders.

In a deeply emotional ceremony held at his rural home in Kang’o Ka Jaramogi, Bondo, Siaya County, the former Prime Minister was laid to rest beside his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first Vice President.

The 17-gun salute, one of the military’s highest and most symbolic honours, was accorded to Raila in recognition of his towering political stature and national legacy.

What Is A Gun Salute?

A gun salute in Kenya is a ceremonial military honor performed to pay tribute to distinguished individuals or to mark significant national events. It involves the firing of blank artillery rounds or rifles in a specific sequence, usually by members of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

Raila Odinga's body on display at the funeral service at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University grounds in Siaya County on October 19, 2025. /PCS

The tradition originates from ancient naval customs, where ships would discharge their weapons to demonstrate peaceful intent, and has since evolved into a global symbol of respect and state recognition.

In Kenya, gun salutes are typically reserved for the highest-ranking state dignitaries, such as the President, visiting heads of state, or national heroes.

The number of shots fired corresponds to the level of the honoree — for instance, a 21-gun salute is the highest military honor, usually reserved for the President or during a state funeral. Lower numbers, such as 19 or 17 guns, may be fired for governors, cabinet secretaries, or senior military officers, depending on protocol.

During funerals, especially for former presidents, senior government officials, or decorated soldiers, the salute is fired as a symbol of final respect and gratitude for their service to the nation. It’s often synchronized with other military honors such as the lowering of flags, the playing of the national anthem, and the presentation of the national flag to the next of kin.

The gun salute serves as both a mark of reverence and a display of national unity. It reminds citizens of the country's military traditions and the value placed on service, leadership, and patriotism.

In Kenya, each round fired echoes a deep cultural and historical message — that the nation recognizes and salutes those who have served it with distinction.

Raila Odinga, who served as Kenya’s Prime Minister between 2008 and 2013 under the Grand Coalition Government, once held one of the nation’s most powerful constitutional positions.

Beyond his official role, the late ODM leader dedicated decades to public service — pushing for multiparty democracy, constitutional reforms, and electoral justice — efforts that cemented his place as a defining figure in Kenya’s political history.

As part of his state burial, Raila’s casket was draped in the Kenyan flag, symbolising honour, respect, and appreciation for his lifelong service to the nation.

The ceremony featured full military honours, including an escort, ceremonial drills, and tributes from high-profile dignitaries such as former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Raila now joins the elite list of Kenyan leaders granted state funerals — among them Jomo Kenyatta (1978), Michael Kijana Wamalwa (2003), Wangari Maathai (2011), Lucy Kibaki (2016), Daniel arap Moi (2020), and Mwai Kibaki (2022).

However, what is unique about the list is that Raila will go down in history as the first opposition leader in Kenya to have been accorded a state funeral.

Items buried with Raila Odinga (inset) in his grave on October 19, 2025. /BRIAN GEORGE

Little Known Story Of How Raila Odinga's Children Got Their Names

Marvin Chege — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 17:39:29 +0300

The late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was a family man and was never afraid of showing it. But have you ever wondered how his children; Fidel Odinga, Rosemary Odinga, Raila Odinga Junior and Winnie Odinga, got their names?

Ida Odinga, widow of the late Raila, delivered a heartfelt tribute to her husband during his State Funeral at Nyayo National Stadium on Friday, October 17, where she drew the nation's attention to the story of how she and Raila decided on the names of their four children, each having unique meanings.

Ida, who had been married to Raila for 52 years since 1973, urged parents to be intentional when naming their children, saying names can have a lasting impact on their lives.

Raila Odinga's immediate family during the state funeral on October 17, 2025. /PCS

Fidel Castro Odhiambo Odinga

Fidel, the couple’s firstborn, was born in 1973 and died unexpectedly in 2015 at the age of 41.

Ida revealed that he was named after Fidel Castro, the Cuban revolutionary leader admired by Raila for his boldness and transformative leadership.

"When Fidel was born, I was a bit hesitant about the way he gave the names. I was very hesitant to call him Fidel, then he said he was a great admirer of Fidel Castro and therefore he named his first son Fidel Castro Odinga," she recalled.

Fidel passed away on January 4, 2015, after a night out with friends, and the cause of his sudden death has never been made public. He left behind his wife, Lwam Getachew Bekele, and their son, Allay Odinga.

Rosemary Odinga

Their second-born, Rosemary, was born in 1977. Ida shared that her name was created by merging their mothers’ names — Rose (Ida’s mother) and Mary (Raila’s mother).

"Rose is the name of my mother, and Mary is the name of his (Raila's) mother, and we combined the two names together and we called the child Rosemary. It also has a meaning to us," Ida said.

Raila Odinga's daughter, Rosemary Odinga, flanked by her two daughters paying him tribute at his State Funeral at Nyayo Stadium on October 17, 2025. /PCS

Rosemary, known both for her work in snail farming and her brief foray into politics, had once expressed interest in running for the Kibera parliamentary seat in 2017. However, a brain tumour and aneurysm that caused temporary blindness forced her to step back.

She later underwent Ayurvedic treatment in Kerala, India — the same facility where her father received care before his passing — and her sight began to recover in 2022. She is a mother of two daughters.

Raila Oginga Odinga (Raila Junior)

Ida clarified a long-standing misconception about her third child’s name, explaining that Junior wasn’t named after his father, but after Raila’s best friend and cousin, Raila Kimbo.

"Then it came to the third one, and he named him after his best friend and his cousin called Raila Kimbo, with whom they shared a name, so we ended up with Raila Oginga Odinga," she explained.

Born in 1979, Raila Junior has been married to Yvonne Wambui Kibukosya since 2011. The couple has one son and has spoken openly about their fertility struggles.

Raila Odinga's son, Raila Junior, paying tribute to his father at his State Funeral at Nyayo Stadium on October 17, 2025. /PCS

Unlike his siblings, Junior has largely stayed out of politics and focused on business ventures.

Winnie Irmgard Odinga

The youngest of the Odinga family, Winnie, was born on March 6, 1990 — eleven years after her brother Junior.

Ida revealed that she named her daughter after South African anti-apartheid icon Winnie Mandela, inspired by a historic moment she witnessed while in labour.

"The fourth child, when I went to the hospital in the labour ward, I was watching the television and that's the time when Nelson Mandela had come out of prison after being there for 27 years," she said.

"Raila also had been in prison, but that is not why we named her Winnie. As I was watching the television, I could see Nelson Mandela and Winnie Mandela holding hands as Nelson Mandela walked out of the gates of the prison."

Ida said she decided that if her baby was a girl, she would be named Winnie Mandela — or Wilson Mandela if it were a boy.

Today, Winnie serves as a member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), representing Kenya.

Raila Odinga's daughter Winnie Odinga paying tribute to her father at Nyayo Stadium on October 17, 2025. /PCS

Raila Amolo Odinga: The Enduring Legacy of Kenya’s 'Baba'

Marvin Chege — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 14:11:50 +0300

80-year-old Raila Amollo Odinga will arguably go down in history as the 'father' of Kenyan politics. If the kids of today haven't told you his real story yet, we will.

For over 40 years, Raila Odinga’s unwavering resolve has left a profound mark on Kenya’s political landscape.

From his beginnings as a fierce campaigner for multiparty democracy during the one-party era to his rise as a national statesman, his path has been defined by endurance and steadfast commitment. So gather your stools, sit around the fire, and pay attention.

Early Life, Education and Rise to Activism

Raila Amolo Odinga, born on January 7, 1945, in Maseno, Kisumu County, was one of Kenya’s most influential and polarising political figures.

The son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first vice president, and Mary Juma Odinga, Raila was destined for public life. His father’s deep involvement in politics during Kenya’s independence era profoundly shaped his worldview, embedding in him a conviction that democracy and justice were worth fighting for—no matter the cost.

Raila attended Maranda High School, one of the top-performing institutions in the Nyanza region, before leaving for East Germany in the 1960s under a scholarship programme.

President William Ruto and the late Raila Odinga at State House. /PCS

He then studied at the Herder Institute in Leipzig, Germany for a year to learn German, then proceeded to the Technical University of Magdeburg, where he graduated in 1970 with a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. While abroad, he was exposed to global revolutionary ideas and social justice movements that would later influence his brand of politics back home.

On returning to Kenya, Raila took up a teaching position at the University of Nairobi’s Department of Engineering and later joined the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), where he rose to become Deputy Director.

In the private sector, he also co-founded an engineering company, East African Spectre Ltd, which remains a family business today. But Raila’s ambitions went far beyond engineering—his heart was firmly set on political reform. His entry into politics, however, would come at a steep personal price.

Political Struggles, Detentions, and the Fight for Multiparty Democracy

Raila Odinga’s political journey was forged in the crucible of resistance. The 1980s were a turbulent decade in Kenya, defined by Daniel arap Moi’s one-party rule, intolerance of dissent, and widespread human rights violations.

Raila became one of the few bold voices demanding constitutional freedoms and political pluralism. In 1982, following an attempted coup by a section of the Kenya Air Force, Raila was accused of involvement in the plot. Although he denied any role, he was detained without trial for six years, marking the beginning of a long cycle of imprisonment, torture, and exile.

He was released in 1988 but rearrested in 1989 and again in 1990 for his continued pro-democracy activism. After intense domestic and international pressure, Raila was released for good in 1991 and fled to Norway to escape possible re-arrest.

That same year, Kenya repealed Section 2A of the Constitution, officially restoring multiparty democracy—a victory that Raila and other activists like Kenneth Matiba and Charles Rubia had fought tirelessly to achieve.

When he returned to Kenya later that year, Raila helped form the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD), a coalition that quickly gained momentum as the main opposition to Moi’s regime. However, internal divisions split the party into factions, and in the 1992 elections—Kenya’s first multiparty poll—Raila was elected Member of Parliament for Lang’ata Constituency under the FORD-Kenya banner, led by his father. Following Jaramogi’s death in 1994, Raila took over the party leadership but later defected to the National Development Party (NDP) in 1997 after internal wrangles.

The 1997 general election marked Raila’s first presidential bid, where he finished third but gained nationwide visibility, even though this would mark the beginning of five consecutive presidential bids that failed.

His growing influence led him to a controversial alliance with Moi’s ruling KANU party in 2001, earning him an appointment as Minister for Energy. He used the position to initiate reforms in Kenya’s power sector, but his partnership with Moi soon soured.

When Moi endorsed Uhuru Kenyatta as his successor, Raila led a massive KANU split and joined the Rainbow Alliance, which later formed the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC)—the team that swept Mwai Kibaki into power in the historic 2002 election.

Power, Contention and the Road to Prime Minister

When Kibaki took office in 2003, Raila was appointed Minister for Roads, Public Works, and Housing, and his supporters expected him to be named Prime Minister as part of a pre-election Memorandum of Understanding. That promise never materialised, triggering one of the most dramatic political fallouts in Kenya’s history.

Raila led a faction known as the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which opposed Kibaki’s government in the 2005 constitutional referendum. His side won, dealing a major political blow to Kibaki and cementing Raila’s reputation as a master tactician and defender of constitutional reform.

In the 2007 presidential election, Raila ran under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) against incumbent Kibaki. The results were fiercely contested, with widespread allegations of vote rigging. The disputed outcome triggered post-election violence that left over 1,000 people dead and displaced hundreds of thousands.

International mediation, led by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, produced a power-sharing agreement, creating the position of Prime Minister, which Raila occupied from 2008 to 2013 in Kenya’s first grand coalition government.

Also Read: 5 Times Raila Has Struck Handshake Deals With Kenya's Presidents

As Prime Minister, Raila oversaw key reforms, including the passage of the 2010 Constitution, which introduced devolution, reduced presidential powers, and expanded civil liberties. This remains one of his most enduring legacies.

Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga during the 'handshake' in 2018. /CAPITAL GROUP

He also championed infrastructure expansion and anti-corruption initiatives, though critics accused his administration of failing to curb graft and inefficiency. Nonetheless, he emerged from his tenure as one of Africa’s most respected reformist politicians.

Raila would make three more unsuccessful presidential bids—in 2013, 2017, and 2022. In 2017, he rejected the results after the Supreme Court nullified the election, accusing the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of manipulation.

Also Read: How Raila's Fifth Election Loss Was Boosted By Opinion Polls

His symbolic “swearing-in” as the “People’s President” in January 2018 further deepened political tensions. Yet, in a surprising twist two months later, he reconciled with President Uhuru Kenyatta through the now-famous “Handshake”—a truce that reshaped Kenya’s political dynamics and birthed the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).

While the BBI’s constitutional proposals were ultimately struck down by the courts, it underscored Raila’s long-standing desire for national unity and institutional reform.

Death, Legacy and the End of an Era

Raila Odinga’s final years were marked by his continued push for political inclusivity and electoral justice. Despite losing the 2022 election to William Ruto, he remained a dominant voice in national discourse, leading mass protests in 2023 over the cost of living and alleged corruption within government. His commitment to holding power accountable never waned, even as age and health challenges began to slow him down.

On October 15, 2025, while on a private visit to Kochi, India, Odinga collapsed and was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at a local hospital. Reports indicated that the 80-year-old veteran politician suffered a cardiac arrest.

News of his death sent shockwaves across Kenya and the continent, with leaders from Africa and beyond paying tribute to his lifelong service to democracy and social justice. President Ruto described him as “a patriot who gave everything for Kenya,” while international outlets like Reuters, AP, and The Guardian hailed him as one of Africa’s most consequential opposition figures.

Raila’s political journey was defined by resilience, sacrifice, and an almost prophetic persistence. He endured imprisonment, torture, exile, betrayal, and five unsuccessful presidential campaigns—but never abandoned his quest for a more equitable Kenya.

To his supporters, he was “Baba”, the father of Kenya’s democratic transition. To critics, he was a polarising figure whose confrontational politics sometimes deepened divisions. Yet, even his fiercest opponents acknowledged his unmatched influence in shaping Kenya’s modern political identity.

His contribution to Kenya’s multiparty democracy, the 2010 Constitution, and the fight for electoral justice will remain central to the country’s political history. Few leaders in Africa have managed to maintain relevance across five decades of political transformation as Raila did—from the Moi dictatorship to the digital age.

His death marks the end of an era—the departure of a revolutionary who refused to conform, who challenged systems of oppression, and who, despite never occupying the State House, arguably left a larger imprint than many presidents.

As Kenya mourns him, Raila Odinga’s story serves as a reminder that leadership isn’t always measured by the offices one holds but by the impact one leaves behind. His was a life of defiance, endurance, and unwavering hope in Kenya’s potential.

Even in death, Raila’s legacy endures—in the constitution he helped birth, the freedoms he fought for, and the millions he inspired to believe that change, however delayed, is always worth fighting for.

Editor's note: May Raila Odinga rest in peace. Viral Tea sends our condolences to the family and friends of Raila Odinga, as well as comfort during this difficult time.

The late Raila Odinga during a past address. /RAILA ODINGA

Customer Service Week: How 1980s Idea Became World’s Biggest Workplace Celebration

Marvin Chege — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 19:24:31 +0300

Every October, companies across the world pause to celebrate the unsung heroes who keep their customers satisfied — the service representatives, call agents, retail staff, and support teams who handle everything from complaints to compliments.

This global celebration, known as Customer Service Week, has evolved into one of the most recognized corporate observances in the world. But while many see it as a feel-good tradition, its roots run deep in business culture, and its relevance today is arguably stronger than ever.

Customer Service Week, marked annually during the first full week of October, is more than just an internal morale event. It is a global reminder that customer experience — not just products or prices — determines a company’s success.

In an age where digital transactions dominate and customer expectations are sky-high, this week invites organizations to pause, reflect, and honor the people who make exceptional service possible.

An attendant serves customers at a telecom shop in Kenya. /BUSINESS TODAY

The Origins of Customer Service Week

The story of Customer Service Week begins in the early 1980s, when the International Customer Service Association (ICSA) in the United States introduced the idea of dedicating a week to recognize the importance of customer service professionals.

At the time, the concept of customer experience as a strategic advantage was still emerging. Yet, forward-looking businesses understood that loyal customers were built through relationships, not just sales. The ICSA’s initiative sought to celebrate the frontline employees who made those relationships work.

The celebration gained momentum throughout the decade, and in 1992, it reached a turning point. Then, former U.S. President George H. W. Bush officially proclaimed the first full week of October as National Customer Service Week. In his proclamation, he emphasized that quality service depends on listening to employees, empowering them, and valuing their contributions.

The recognition elevated what had been a grassroots observance into a nationally acknowledged event, giving companies a formal framework to celebrate their service teams. Soon after, the observance crossed borders, with organizations in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America adopting it as part of their internal culture.

The Customer Service Group, which took over coordination of the event, helped establish annual themes, toolkits, and global communication campaigns that standardized participation across industries. By the early 2000s, Customer Service Week had firmly established itself as a global movement — one that transcended language, geography, and industry boundaries.

From Balloons to Business Strategy

In its early days, Customer Service Week was simple and celebratory. Companies decorated offices with banners, hosted team lunches, and handed out small tokens of appreciation to employees. Managers would recognize “service heroes,” share success stories, and organize lighthearted contests to boost morale. The tone was festive — a well-deserved break for those handling demanding, emotionally draining roles.

Over the years, however, the week has evolved in both tone and purpose. In 2025, Customer Service Week is no longer just about parties or giveaways — it’s about strategy, culture, and innovation.

The rise of remote and hybrid work has transformed celebrations into digital-first experiences, where teams across continents connect virtually to share recognition and learning. Video messages from leadership, social media shoutouts, internal hashtags, and live online events have replaced physical gatherings for many global firms.

Each year now comes with an official theme — for instance, Mission: Possible in 2025 — encouraging teams to push boundaries and deliver exceptional experiences even in challenging conditions.

The week also doubles as a skill-building opportunity, where companies use the occasion to introduce new tools, run micro-trainings on empathy or digital engagement, and review key performance data around customer satisfaction.

Kenya Revenue Authority employees celebrate Customer Service Week. /PUBLIC SECTOR MAG

Further, it has grown into a hybrid event that blends recognition with development — a rare mix that reinforces both morale and measurable results.

The evolution also reflects a deeper cultural shift: recognizing that customer service is everyone’s job. Modern organizations use the week to involve departments beyond the call center — from marketing to logistics — emphasizing that every team contributes to the customer journey.

This inclusivity has turned Customer Service Week into a unifying moment across industries, creating alignment between internal culture and external brand promise.

Why Customer Service Week Still Matters

The world of customer experience has changed dramatically in the past decade. Chatbots, AI-driven help desks, and self-service portals now handle millions of inquiries daily. Yet, despite these advances, the human element of service remains irreplaceable.

When a customer faces frustration, disappointment, or confusion, technology alone can’t fix it — empathy and understanding can. Customer Service Week continues to highlight this truth, reminding companies that technology should support humans, not replace them.

Beyond recognition, the week has a significant impact on employee engagement and retention. Customer service jobs often involve high pressure, emotional labor, and strict performance targets. Publicly celebrating these employees validates their hard work and builds a sense of belonging.

Research consistently shows that recognition is one of the strongest predictors of job satisfaction, which in turn affects productivity and customer loyalty. By investing in this one week, companies often see ripple effects in morale and performance throughout the year.

Customer Service Week also serves as a strategic checkpoint for reviewing customer experience quality. Businesses use it to analyze customer feedback, identify service gaps, and set new goals for the coming year. It’s a time for leadership to reaffirm commitments to customer-centric culture — a crucial differentiator in today’s hypercompetitive markets, where one bad experience can cost a brand its reputation.

Importantly, the week also encourages innovation. Many organizations now include idea sessions or “CX hackathons,” inviting employees to propose improvements to processes or systems. These initiatives turn recognition into action, helping companies evolve based on insights from those closest to the customer. It’s not just about celebrating the past year’s success — it’s about shaping the next one.

The Future of Customer Service Week

Like most traditions, Customer Service Week faces its share of challenges. Some critics argue that it risks becoming performative — a week of social media posts with little substance behind them.

The real test lies in how companies sustain the spirit of recognition beyond those seven days. When done right, the week is a launchpad for continuous engagement, not a substitute for it. The organizations that benefit most are those that integrate appreciation, training, and feedback into everyday culture.

As we look toward the future, the relevance of Customer Service Week continues to expand. The modern business landscape demands empathy at scale — a paradox only humans can deliver. While artificial intelligence can analyze emotions or automate responses, a true connection still depends on human authenticity. That’s why global brands continue to invest in people, not just platforms.

Customer Service Week began as a small recognition effort four decades ago, but today, it stands as a global celebration of humanity in business. It reminds us that behind every transaction is a person — a customer seeking trust and a professional delivering it. In a digital-first, experience-driven economy, those moments of connection define whether brands thrive or fade.

Ultimately, Customer Service Week isn’t just about appreciation; it’s about alignment. It aligns people with purpose, brands with values, and customers with experiences that matter.

Whether it’s a handwritten thank-you note or a global livestream with thousands of employees, the message remains timeless: great service doesn’t happen by chance — it happens because people care.

Happy Customer Service Week!

An AI-generated image of Customer Service Week. /CHATGPT.VIRAL TEA KE

2 Teen Somali Fans Arrested In Kenya: What The Law Says About Arresting Minors

Marvin Chege — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 14:05:51 +0300

Two Somali nationals, aged 14 and 17, were arraigned in a Nairobi court on Friday, September 26, after a video emerged showing them desecrating the Kenyan flag during a football match at Nyayo Stadium.

The teenagers, identified as Ibrahim Haidar Yusuf and Muhidin Ahmed Abukar, face charges of being in Kenya unlawfully, desecrating a national symbol, and creating a public disturbance. When they appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Rose Gitau, they did not take a plea.

The court directed that they be placed under the care of the Gigiri Children’s Protection Unit while a social inquiry report is prepared. Only after this report is filed will the charges be formally addressed.

Relatives of the minors had asked the court to release them into their custody, but the magistrate declined, noting that they were not the children’s biological parents. The case will be mentioned again on Wednesday, October 1.

Photo of a suspect in handcuffs. /LINKEDIN

The arrest and arraignment have reignited debate about how Kenya’s justice system treats children in conflict with the law, particularly in situations that generate strong public emotions.

What The Law Says About Arresting & Detaining Minors In Kenya

Kenyan law defines anyone under the age of 18 as a child, with specific protections guaranteed under the Constitution and the Children Act. Children under 12 years old cannot be held criminally responsible.

Those aged between 12 and 17 may face charges, but only within a juvenile justice framework designed to safeguard their welfare and rights. Both suspects in this case fall into this category, which means they cannot be treated as adults in the criminal process.

Police officers are legally empowered to arrest minors suspected of committing offences. However, the law sets strict standards for how this should be done. Officers must treat child suspects with dignity, notify parents or guardians immediately, and involve a probation officer at the earliest opportunity.

Detention is only permitted as a last resort and, where unavoidable, must take place in child-friendly facilities rather than adult police cells.

The Constitution further requires that children be brought before a court without delay, ideally within 24 hours of arrest. These safeguards reflect the principle that rehabilitation, not punishment, should guide the handling of minors in conflict with the law.

Once a case involving children proceeds to court, the justice system offers alternatives to imprisonment. The options available include counselling, probation, community service, restorative justice initiatives, or placement in a children’s institution.

Kenyan law explicitly prohibits placing minors in adult prisons. The priority is always on rehabilitating children and reintegrating them into society rather than imposing harsh penalties.

In practice, however, these protections are not always observed. Rights organisations have documented instances where children have been detained alongside adults, held longer than legally permitted, or subjected to excessive force during arrest.

Such lapses tend to be more frequent in cases that attract significant public attention and anger, as is the case with the Nyayo Stadium incident. The intense emotions surrounding the desecration of the Kenyan flag risk creating pressure for harsher treatment, even though the law requires otherwise.

Diplomatic Issues

The fact that the suspects are Somali nationals also adds a diplomatic dimension to the matter. Desecrating the Kenyan flag, a national symbol of sovereignty, has sparked strong reactions from the public. However, Kenya’s legal obligations remain unchanged.

The Constitution, the Children Act, and international treaties such as the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child oblige the state to uphold the rights of all minors, regardless of nationality.

Any deviation from these obligations could expose the authorities to legal challenges in Kenyan courts, which have a strong record of enforcing the rights of minors.

Mishandling the case could also trigger diplomatic tensions between Kenya and Somalia or exacerbate hostility between communities. For this reason, the way the case is managed will not only determine the fate of the two teenagers but also signal Kenya’s broader commitment to respecting the rule of law.

Ultimately, the Nyayo Stadium arrests highlight the tension between public outrage and constitutional principles. On the one hand, there is widespread anger over what many see as an insult to Kenya’s sovereignty and national pride. On the other hand, the justice system is bound to uphold the protections afforded to children, even in the face of public pressure.

The manner in which the courts and law enforcement handle this case will serve as a litmus test for Kenya’s juvenile justice system. Upholding the rights of the minors in accordance with the Constitution and the Children Act will demonstrate Kenya’s commitment to the rule of law. Ignoring those protections may appease calls for immediate punishment but risks undermining constitutional guarantees, damaging institutional credibility, and causing long-term harm to the children involved.

The Nyayo Stadium incident, therefore, is about much more than misconduct at a football match. It is a test of whether Kenya’s juvenile justice framework is robust enough to withstand the glare of public outrage.

The law is explicit: minors must be treated differently from adults, with rehabilitation taking precedence over punishment. Whether those principles are respected in this case will determine whether it is remembered as a moment of justice or as a failure to protect the rights of children under pressure.

Photo of a legal scale and a gavel in Kenya. /LAWBHOOMI

Why Kenya’s Boda Boda Riders Are Dumping Petrol for Electric Bikes

Marvin Chege — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 18:27:09 +0300

The boda boda industry is central to Kenya’s economy and daily life. It employs millions of young people and ensures quick, affordable transport in both cities and rural towns.

In recent years, however, a quieter revolution has begun on Kenyan roads: the rise of electric boda bodas, or e-bodas. Once seen as experimental, these motorcycles are now moving into the mainstream, powered by cost savings, government support, and growing investment in technology.

The transition may reshape not only the livelihoods of riders but also the environmental footprint of transport in the country.

Cutting Daily Costs for Riders

For most boda boda riders, the daily hustle comes down to balancing earnings against expenses. Rising fuel prices in Kenya have been one of the biggest threats to profitability, with many riders forced to spend a large portion of their income at the pump. This is where electric boda bodas are proving their worth.

A photo of a fleet of boda bodas. /KENYA NEWS AGENCY

Riders who have switched report spending just a fraction of what they used to on fuel. For instance, some say they now spend around Ksh 180 per day on electricity or battery swaps to cover distances of up to 100 kilometres, compared to nearly Ksh 600 they would have spent on petrol for the same journey.

Others have seen their fuel-related costs fall by up to two-thirds. With fewer moving parts in the engine, maintenance costs are also substantially lower, since electric motors do not require frequent oil changes or repairs.

For a sector where many riders live hand-to-mouth, such savings can be life-changing. More money remains in their pockets to support families, pay school fees, and reinvest in their businesses. In an industry often defined by slim profit margins, electric motorcycles are helping turn transport into a more sustainable livelihood.

Government Policy and National Goals

Kenya’s government has also played a decisive role in making e-bodas attractive. A draft national e-mobility strategy has been developed to guide the electrification of transport across the country.

Further, several tax incentives have already been introduced, including the removal of value-added tax on electric motorcycles and spare parts. This has reduced the cost of importing and assembling electric bikes and lowered the financial barrier for riders considering the switch.

President William Ruto had gone even further, setting an ambitious target of having at least 200,000 electric boda bodas on Kenyan roads by the end of 2024.

The government argues that electrifying two-wheel transport is not just about climate goals but also about economic empowerment. By reducing the reliance on imported fuel, the country can save foreign exchange while creating new local industries in battery manufacturing, assembly, and servicing. These steps signal that electric mobility is no longer a fringe idea but a national priority.

Technology and Infrastructure Catching Up

Technology has further advanced rapidly to meet the needs of Kenyan riders. Early models of electric motorcycles struggled with limited range and unreliable performance, but today’s versions are designed specifically for African road conditions.

Local innovators such as Roam, Spiro, Ecobodaa, among others, have introduced models with stronger frames, durable batteries, and ranges that meet the demands of commercial riders.

Battery swapping has become a game-changer. Instead of waiting several hours for a battery to recharge, riders can simply exchange a depleted unit for a fully charged one at a swap station and get back on the road in minutes. Networks of these stations are expanding quickly in Nairobi and other major cities, reducing the downtime that once made e-bodas impractical for full-day use.

Affordability, which long remained a stumbling block, is also being addressed. Companies are offering pay-as-you-go models and hire-purchase schemes that allow riders to pay gradually from their daily earnings. This approach spreads the cost of ownership and ensures that riders are not locked out of adoption because of steep upfront prices.

Additionally, partnerships between manufacturers and financing institutions are proving especially effective in making e-bodas accessible to everyday riders.

Electric motorbikes at the launch of the Mogo electric motorbike shop on May 3, 2024. /MARVIN CHEGE.VIRAL TEA KE

The Environmental and Social Payoff

Beyond the economic argument, e-bodas are making a visible difference in urban life. By producing no tailpipe emissions, they are helping to reduce air pollution in crowded cities such as Nairobi, Kisumu, and Mombasa. Riders and passengers alike note the absence of exhaust fumes during trips, making journeys cleaner and more pleasant.

Electric motorcycles are also much quieter than their petrol counterparts. For residents living in congested areas where the constant drone of motorcycles has long been part of daily life, this reduction in noise pollution is a welcome change. Public health experts argue that cleaner air and reduced noise can lower the risk of respiratory diseases and stress-related conditions, providing long-term benefits that go beyond the transport sector.

The environmental case also aligns with Kenya’s global climate commitments. As the country seeks to cut its greenhouse gas emissions, transport remains one of the biggest contributors. Electrifying boda bodas offers a relatively simple and scalable solution to reduce emissions while simultaneously improving livelihoods.

Challenges That Still Need Solving

Despite the momentum, challenges remain before e-bodas can dominate the market. Upfront costs, even with financing, are still higher than those of the cheapest petrol bikes, and this can discourage riders who are hesitant to take on debt. While Nairobi and Mombasa now boast growing networks of battery swap stations, many smaller towns and rural areas remain underserved, limiting adoption outside urban centres.

Durability is another concern. Kenya’s rough roads and unpredictable weather can test the limits of any motorcycle, and riders remain cautious about whether batteries can deliver reliable performance over years of use. Recycling and safe disposal of used batteries is also a looming issue that needs to be addressed through clear regulation and investment.

Financing, while a solution, can also become a risk if the terms are not transparent. Riders worry about high interest rates, hidden costs, and the threat of repossession if repayments fall behind. For the electric revolution to be truly inclusive, fair financing practices and government oversight will be essential.

Looking Ahead: A New Transport Era

Kenya appears to be at the cusp of a major transformation in its boda boda industry. The economic case for electric motorcycles is clear, the technology is improving, and government support is strengthening.

If infrastructure continues to expand beyond cities, if financing remains fair and accessible, and if manufacturing scales locally, the industry could soon reach a tipping point where e-bodas become the default option.

For riders, this means more money in their pockets and a more stable livelihood. For passengers, it means cleaner and quieter rides, often at cheaper fares. For cities, it means reduced congestion, better air quality, and progress towards climate goals. And for Kenya as a whole, it positions the country as a leader in Africa’s electric mobility revolution.

The road ahead may not be without obstacles, but the direction is clear. Electric boda bodas are no longer just a promising experiment. They are becoming a defining feature of Kenya’s transport future.

Boda boda operators protest in Nairobi. /NATION MEDIA GROUP

This Kenyan Board Game Is Teaching 150,000 Girls What School Does Not

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 18:37:07 +0300

A new board game is changing how adolescent girls in Kenya learn to navigate real-world pressures. HOW TO FIND YOUR SKY, developed by SKY Girls Kenya, has already reached over 150,000 girls in Nairobi and Kisumu across more than 100 schools.

By weaving critical topics such as HPV vaccination, tobacco use, and teen pregnancy into gameplay, the initiative is making difficult conversations easier and more accessible.

The game places players in relatable scenarios—ranging from friendships and academics to peer pressure and relationships—where they must make choices with clear consequences.

Using dice and “choice cards,” the girls face dilemmas that mirror their daily lives. Positive decisions earn rewards, while poor choices highlight risks, helping players practice problem-solving in a safe and supportive setting.

A previous PAA series launch. /PHOTO

The approach is particularly valuable for girls in boarding and remote schools, who often lack access to online content or social platforms that address such issues. Instead of being lectured, participants actively engage in role-play and discussions that encourage them to think critically and build confidence.

“What I really love about the game is that the scenarios are just like the things we go through as girls every day. It feels real—and it shows me step by step how I can handle those situations better,” said a Form 3 student at Moi Girls.

Evidence suggests the game is already having a measurable impact. Surveys show that 86 per cent of participants reported greater confidence in handling peer and sexual pressure.

40 per cent learned more about HPV, while another 40 per cent found new strategies to resist pressure to smoke. This is significant given that only a third of eligible girls in Kenya are fully vaccinated against HPV.

Teachers also report positive outcomes. “It has impacted them positively; they prefer having the game most of the time, including weekends, hence cases of indiscipline or aimless movement are reduced,” said Teacher Wekesa of Beth Mugo Girls.

Madam Hilda of Nembu Girls added that the game has improved creativity, decision-making, and negotiation skills among her students.

To date, more than 2,000 copies have been distributed to schools free of charge, with endorsement from the Ministry of Education. Expansion plans include rolling the program out nationwide and developing a mobile version within the next 12 to 18 months.

“We strongly believe that when girls are equipped to handle pressure, they can make choices that keep them true to their values. That’s why we developed HOW TO FIND YOUR SKY - an interactive board game that gives girls the tools to practice real-life scenarios in a safe, engaging way.

"Here, girls role-play everyday scenarios, discuss their choices and learn from each other for proven, lasting positive results,” Edna Njeri, Project Lead, Sky Girls Kenya, weighed in.

Beyond the board game, SKY Girls is preparing to launch the fourth season of its popular teen drama series PAA in November. The new season will feature an all-female cast and promises to deliver fresh storylines that resonate with Kenya’s youth.

Sky girls reading Sky Magazine. /PHOTO

Not Houses: What Govt Is Building In Middle Of Nairobi's Kenyatta Avenue

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 17:38:00 +0300

Have you used Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) of late and noticed concrete columns erected along the road? Concerns have been raised regarding the erection of such walls in the middle of what is usually a very busy road.

Some Nairobi residents had joked on social media that they looked like “roadside apartments", with claims that a rogue real estate project was underway...something that looks out of this world, given that it is right in the middle of the major road.

The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) has told Kenyans to hold their horses. “Mnauliza nani anajenga nyumba Kenyatta Avenue? Aje sasa watu wangu? Tunajenga viaduct (you are asking who is building a residence along Kenyatta Avenue. How now, fellow citizens? We are building a viaduct),” the agency said.

KURA engineer Benjamin Asin clarified on Friday, August 1, that the ongoing works involve the installation of temporary hoardings—protective barriers designed to safeguard motorists and pedestrians as heavy machinery is mobilised for the construction of a new viaduct between Valley Road and Kenyatta Avenue.

An image showing temporary hoarding walls erected along Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi CBD by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA). /KURA

These hoardings signal the start of a significant infrastructure project aimed at easing traffic flow in one of Nairobi’s most congested corridors.

The elevated road is expected to streamline through-traffic by allowing vehicles to bypass major junctions, thereby reducing delays caused by traffic jams.

"I have seen many questions, people are asking who is building a house in the middle of a road. I just want to clarify that these are not houses. These are temporary holding structures. We are trying to protect the working environment, our working area and also the motorists. As you'll realise, we want to build what I say is a viaduct, which requires heavy machinery," he addressed.

"We are simply creating a safe working space. This is a very active and busy area. The viaduct needs heavy machinery, and we need very reliable protection while we build."

The project is a component of a wider traffic management strategy, which also features the construction of an interchange at the Valley Road–Kenyatta Avenue/Ngong Road/Nyerere Road junction and an overpass linking Upper Hill to Haile Selassie Avenue.

Viaduct

A viaduct is a type of long bridge or elevated structure typically made up of a series of arches, spans, or supports, designed to carry a road or railway over obstacles like valleys, rivers, other roads, or urban areas.

The main function of a viaduct is to provide uninterrupted transport routes in areas where ground-level construction would be difficult, unsafe, or disruptive. While they resemble bridges, viaducts are often longer and made up of multiple small spans rather than one or two large ones.

In urban settings, they help ease congestion by separating traffic levels or bypassing ground-level intersections.

In Kenya, viaducts are becoming more common as infrastructure develops, especially in cities like Nairobi. One notable example is the Nairobi Expressway, which includes viaduct sections that run above Mombasa Road, Uhuru Highway, and Waiyaki Way. These elevated portions allow vehicles to bypass the heavy traffic below, dramatically cutting travel times across the city.

Another example is the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), which includes viaducts in areas where the train crosses roads, rivers, or wildlife migration corridors, particularly in sections passing through Nairobi National Park and Athi River.

These viaducts represent a shift toward modern, layered infrastructure in Kenya, aimed at dealing with rapid urban growth and transportation demand without bulldozing through everything at ground level.

Kenyatta Avenue Viaduct Project

In Nairobi, the Kenyatta Avenue viaduct project is designed to connect Valley Road directly to Kenyatta Avenue, allowing vehicles to bypass frequent traffic jams and busy intersections. The aim is to ease congestion in the area and improve overall traffic movement across the city.

Although the project was initially meant to wrap up in 2023, it hit a snag due to funding issues. The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) now targets October 2025 for completion.

Once finished, the viaduct will include a 7-kilometre dual carriageway, integrated with feeder roads and two overpasses. KURA has also confirmed the addition of dedicated cycle lanes and pedestrian walkways.

It remains to be seen how the viaduct will be designed, given that part of the viaduct that consists of the Nairobi Expressway runs over the Kenyatta Avenue roundabout.

An artistic impression of the Kenyatta Avenue overpass once complete. /KURA

Why Passengers Fall Asleep In Cars, Matatus During Traffic Jams

Marvin Chege — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 18:52:23 +0300

Whether it is after a long, gruelling day at work or during a lengthy trip, as passengers, we have experienced falling asleep in a car or, in a Kenyan case, a matatu...more than once, especially during heavy traffic.

Ever wondered why passengers fall asleep in cars during traffic? Whether it is a long commute or a short drive through rush hour, many people find themselves unexpectedly dozing off as passengers.

While drivers have to stay alert, passengers often fight—or surrender to—sleep. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the scientific, psychological, and environmental reasons behind sleepiness during car rides, especially in traffic.

1. Monotonous Driving Environment Causes Mental Fatigue

One of the biggest contributors to passenger drowsiness in traffic is the monotonous environment.

In slow-moving traffic, surroundings don’t change much, and passengers aren’t engaged in any active tasks. This repetitive, unstimulating setting leads to mental fatigue, lowering alertness and encouraging the brain to shift toward a relaxed, semi-sleep state.

A photo of vehicles and matatus in Nairobi. /EARTH.ORG

Unlike drivers who need to stay focused, passengers are passive observers. This mental inactivity is a direct pathway to sleep, especially during prolonged traffic jams.

2. Gentle Car Movements Act Like a Rocking Cradle

The gentle, rhythmic movements of a vehicle in traffic play a surprising role in why people sleep in cars during traffic jams. As the car starts, stops, and sways slightly, it triggers what’s called vestibular stimulation—the same calming sensation as being rocked to sleep.

Scientific studies show that slow, repetitive motion helps humans (just like babies) fall asleep faster. The stop-and-go motion of heavy traffic provides ideal conditions for this type of subconscious relaxation.

3. Engine Noise Creates Sleep-Inducing White Noise

Many people don’t realise that the constant hum of the engine, combined with distant city sounds, acts as natural white noise. This consistent background sound helps drown out sudden noises that might otherwise keep passengers awake.

For passengers, this engine hum becomes a soothing audio environment that promotes relaxation, which explains why car rides make passengers sleepy, even amidst urban chaos.

4. Warm Car Interiors Promote Physical Drowsiness

Temperature and air quality inside the vehicle significantly affect passenger alertness. Cars stuck in traffic often become warm and stuffy.

Poor ventilation, combined with trapped heat, leads to reduced oxygen circulation, both known triggers for sleepiness during car rides.

Warmth encourages the body’s parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for rest and digestion, to activate. This naturally slows down heart rate and breathing, creating the perfect physiological environment for sleep.

5. Psychological Link Between Car Rides and Sleep

For many people, sleeping in cars is a conditioned behaviour. Think about childhood car rides where you often fell asleep in the back seat. Over time, your brain links being a passenger with napping—a form of classical conditioning.

Now, even as an adult, being a car passenger cues your body to relax and sleep. This psychological association helps explain why even short trips can make people feel sleepy.

6. Sleep Debt Makes Passengers More Likely to Nap

In today’s busy world, many people operate on less sleep than needed. When passengers enter a car—especially during a long, slow ride through traffic—their bodies see it as a chance to recover from sleep debt.

Sleep-deprived passengers often experience microsleeps—brief, involuntary episodes of sleep. In the slow pace of traffic, these microsleeps can easily extend into full naps, as nothing is demanding their attention.

7. Lack of Mental Engagement While Riding

Unlike drivers, who stay mentally engaged with road conditions and other vehicles, passengers often find themselves mentally idle. With no tasks to focus on, their brains switch to energy-saving mode, which naturally leads toward sleep.

This explains why passengers fall asleep easily during traffic: they aren’t mentally stimulated enough to stay awake.

8. Feeling Safe Encourages Rest

Finally, emotional safety plays a big role in why people fall asleep as passengers. Being in a car, especially when driven by someone trusted, creates a subconscious sense of security. This signals the brain that it’s safe to relax and sleep.

Since sleep typically occurs in environments perceived as safe, the car cabin itself becomes a sleep-friendly space, even amidst honking horns and urban noise.

How to Stay Awake as a Passenger in Traffic

If you’re someone who often dozes off during traffic but needs to stay awake, here are practical tips:

Open a window for fresh air to counter poor ventilation.
Listen to energetic or stimulating music.
Engage in conversation with the driver or other passengers.
Stay hydrated to avoid sluggishness.
Use your phone or read to stay mentally active.

Conclusion: Sleep in Traffic Is Completely Normal

Falling asleep as a passenger in cars during traffic is not strange—it’s a natural response based on physical, psychological, and environmental factors.

From the gentle rocking motion and soothing engine hum to warm temperatures and mental disengagement, every element of a traffic jam works together to lull passengers to sleep.

Next time you catch yourself—or a fellow passenger—napping during a traffic jam, remember: it’s your body and brain responding exactly as they were designed to.

Two people sleeping in a car with sleeping bags. /TRAVEL DUDES

MOOD: George Ruto's New Ksh14M Matatu Featuring DJ Deck, Solar Power [PHOTOS]

Marvin Chege — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 17:21:02 +0300

George Kimutai Ruto, the son of President William Ruto, has a liking for heavily pimped matatus known commonly as 'nganyas', which is well known in the public domain by now.

Flexing his muscles in the matatu industry, he is known for spending heavily on pimping his Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) to win over the main target audience, Nairobi's youth.

In a sector where competition for who's got the best creative skills is cutthroat, George's latest project has features never seen before in Kenyan nganya culture.

Meet 'Mood', whose photos of its customisation surfaced on social media earlier this week, generating a significant buzz ahead of its launch this evening (Friday, July 18) at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), the route that it will ply is still unknown at the time of publishing this story, though reports indicate that it could ply either the Embakasi or Rongai routes.

A pastor prays for the 'Mood' matatu ahead of its launch on July 18, 2025. /VIRAL TEA KE

Exterior

According to photos seen by Viral Tea, the nganya boasts one-of-a-kind features, a distinct vibe and unique features, one of which is its own number plate. Yes, a custom number plate claimed to be approved by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).

From the outside, the matatu is completely covered in bold, detailed graffiti, extending even over its windows and windscreen. It features sleek black luxury rims, giving it a sharp, urban vibe.

Black rims that will be fitted on the 'Mood' matatu. /STANDARD DIGITAL

Interior

But the real transformation is inside. The matatu is fitted with 26 custom-made bucket seats, each equipped with a cup holder and charging port for passenger convenience. A quick look online reveals that a single seat costs a minimum of, get this, Ksh60,000, and the seats are imported from China.

It is set to become Kenya’s first matatu to feature bucket seats in a 25-seater setup, a reduction from the typical 32-seater format to prioritise comfort and spaciousness. The seats will follow a 2-by-1 layout, with a built-in DJ booth to elevate the passenger experience, whether during daily commutes or private events.

Unlike the typical cramped, stuffy matatu rides, ‘Mood’ offers full air conditioning—a rare luxury in Nairobi’s public transport scene.

The vehicle also boasts a modern push-to-start ignition system, adding both ease and a modern touch to the driving experience.

‘Mood’ runs on a backup solar power system, ensuring constant lighting and uninterrupted entertainment, even during electrical disruptions. However, one of its standout features is a fully installed DJ deck right in the cockpit.

A DJ deck that will be fitted at the front cabin of the 'Mood' matatu. /STANDARD DIGITAL

Collins Mokaya, an industry insider, revealed in an earlier interview that "It is more than just for carrying passengers, as DJs can perform in the vehicle. Partying inside a matatu is the new trend." This is where the extra space comes in, so that passengers, revellers, among others, can dance freely.

Cost

Industry insiders estimate the total project cost at between Ksh13 million and Ksh14 million. The chassis and body reportedly accounted for about Ksh6.8 million. The advanced lighting system alone is said to have cost around Ksh2.5 million

As for the sound system, "If you put the total cost together, it amounts to around KSh 2 million. For instance, the speakers are the Deaf Bonce Apocalypse DB-4518R-4500W, which cost at least $1,400 (KSh 180,000) each," adds Mokaya.

George Ruto’s growing presence in the matatu business is becoming more visible. In addition to ‘Mood,’ he is linked to other high-profile matatus like ‘Manifest’ (popularly called ‘Moneyfest’), known for their luxury upgrades and heavy financial investment.

However, his fleet hasn’t escaped controversy. Viral clips of ‘Manifest’ performing risky stunts and flouting traffic regulations have attracted attention from the NTSA, leading to the matatu’s previous impoundment over such violations. The matatu has reportedly been rerouted to Embakasi from its previous Rongai route.

Reports also indicate that the matatu might be pulled from regular PSV routes and instead repurposed for private or corporate hire, signalling a significant move away from the conventional public transport model.

Inside the 'Mood' matatu by George Ruto. /X.JA SIAYA

How To Recall An MP In Kenya

Marvin Chege — Sun, 13 Jul 2025 18:20:12 +0300

Shortly after the newly appointed Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) was sworn in, online users renewed calls to recall Members of Parliament viewed as failing their constituents.

This push reignited conversations that first gained momentum during the June 2024 protests, when public attention turned to MPs accused of underperformance. Many Kenyans argued that the IEBC’s reconstitution offered a timely opportunity to initiate recall efforts against such lawmakers.

Beyond accusations of incompetence, the public also targeted MPs backing legislation considered harmful to ordinary citizens, suppressing civil liberties, or allegedly acting under instructions from high-ranking government officials.

Among those mentioned as possible recall candidates during the height of the debate were Kikuyu MP and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris, South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro, Molo MP Kuria Kimani, Belgut MP Nelson Koech, and Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi.

Chief Justice Martha Koome flanked by new Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Erastus Ethekon (left) and Attorney General Dorcas Oduor after the swearing in of the newly reconstituted IEBC team. /MARTHA KOOME

Constitutional Right to Recall

Kenyans have the constitutional right to recall their elected Members of Parliament (MPs) if they feel betrayed, misrepresented, or underserved. This right is enshrined under Article 104 of the 2010 Constitution, which states that voters can remove an MP before the end of their term. It was introduced as part of efforts to improve political accountability and deter impunity among elected leaders.

However, while the Constitution provides the foundation, the specific procedure for recalling an MP is outlined in the Elections Act (2011). Unfortunately, the law has been widely criticised for being deliberately complicated, making it extremely difficult for ordinary citizens to carry out a recall. Despite efforts by civil society and judicial intervention to streamline the process, no MP has ever been successfully recalled since the law came into effect.

Legal Grounds for a Recall

The law does not allow voters to recall an MP simply because they feel the leader is underperforming or absent from public view. Instead, it lists specific legal grounds under which a recall can be initiated. These include:

Gross violation of the Constitution or any other law,
Mismanagement or misuse of public resources,
Conviction for an offence under the Elections Act, such as voter bribery or election malpractice,
Gross misconduct that demeans the office of a Member of Parliament.

Importantly, for a recall to proceed, a High Court ruling must confirm that the MP has committed one or more of these violations. Without this court ruling, the process cannot move forward.

Time Limits and Restrictions

Even if the grounds for a recall exist, there are strict time constraints to keep in mind. A recall petition can only be filed after the first two years of an MP’s five-year term. It also cannot be filed within the final 12 months leading up to the next general election.

Additionally, only one recall petition can be filed per MP per term. If the process is attempted and fails for any reason — even on a technicality — no further attempts can be made during that electoral cycle. This legal limitation makes it crucial for petitioners to get the process right the first time.

Step-by-Step Process of Recalling an MP

The first step in the recall process is obtaining a High Court ruling that confirms the MP has committed a legally recognised offence. This requires a registered voter or concerned party to file a case in court, present evidence, and await judgment. This alone can take months and comes with legal fees and logistical demands.

Once a court ruling is obtained, a registered voter from the MP’s constituency must file a formal petition with the IEBC. This petition must include the following:

A copy of the court judgment,
A statutory declaration outlining the reasons for the recall,
A filing fee of approximately Ksh 30,000.

The next step is collecting signatures from voters. The law requires that the petitioner gather support from at least 30 per cent of registered voters in the constituency.

Furthermore, at least 15 per cent of voters in at least half of the constituency’s wards must be represented in the signatures. Each signature must be accompanied by the voter’s full name, national ID or passport number, voter registration details, and address.

The petitioner is given 30 days to complete this signature collection. Once submitted, the IEBC is required to verify the signatures within another 30 days.

The IEBC national tallying centre at Bomas of Kenya. /BOMAS OF KENYA

If the verification is successful and all legal requirements are met, the IEBC notifies the Speaker of the National Assembly and the MP in question. The MP is allowed a response period, during which they can contest the petition or offer a defence.

Recall Referendum

If the process proceeds without a successful legal or procedural challenge, the IEBC must organise a recall election within 90 days. This is not a by-election in the traditional sense, but rather a yes-or-no vote in which registered voters in the affected constituency are asked whether the MP should be recalled.

A simple majority of valid votes cast is enough to remove the MP from office. There is no minimum voter turnout required, though this aspect of the law has been contested in the past. Once the vote is conducted and the majority supports the recall, the seat is declared vacant.

By-Election After a Successful Recall

If a recall referendum results in the removal of an MP, the IEBC is mandated to conduct a by-election to fill the vacant seat. Interestingly, the recalled MP is allowed to contest in the by-election unless the reason for their removal was a conviction under the Elections Act or a violation of Chapter Six of the Constitution, which deals with leadership and integrity.

This clause has drawn criticism from transparency advocates, who argue that allowing a recalled MP to return undermines the spirit of accountability.

Challenges Facing the Recall Process

Despite its constitutional basis, the process of recalling a Member of Parliament in Kenya is riddled with challenges. The requirement of a High Court ruling sets the bar incredibly high. For most citizens, pursuing legal action is both expensive and time-consuming.

The signature threshold — 30 per cent of all registered voters in a constituency — is also considered unrealistic, especially in larger electoral areas where registration exceeds 100,000 voters. Mobilising such numbers within 30 days requires substantial financial and organisational resources.

There is also limited public awareness of how the process works, coupled with fears of political retaliation. Furthermore, concerns have been raised about the neutrality and capacity of the IEBC, which plays a critical role in verifying signatures and organising recall elections.

Recent Recall Campaigns

In 2024, the public mood shifted sharply after the passage of the controversial Finance Bill, which sparked nationwide protests. Several MPs were accused of ignoring their constituents' interests by supporting the bill. This led to a wave of youth-led recall campaigns, particularly online.

One notable case was in Kabete Constituency, where a citizen initiative sought to recall the area MP. The organisers claimed to have collected thousands of signatures within days, signalling rising public engagement and frustration. Political parties such as Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) also hinted at using the recall law to punish rebel MPs who defied party positions.

While none of these efforts had reached the final stage by mid-2025, they reflected a growing public interest in using constitutional tools to demand accountability.

The Path Ahead

Although no MP has ever been recalled in Kenya, the recent surge in political activism suggests that the law may soon be tested more seriously. There have been calls to amend the Elections Act to make the process more realistic and accessible, including proposals to lower the signature threshold and eliminate the requirement for a High Court ruling before initiating a recall.

Until such reforms are enacted, recalling an MP in Kenya will remain a difficult task — but not an impossible one. It is a legal right available to every registered voter, and with the right strategy, funding, and grassroots mobilisation, it could become a powerful tool for strengthening democracy and holding leaders accountable between elections.

IEBC officials during a past voter registration exercise. /KENYA NEWS AGENCY

Saba Saba: How It Began & Why It Is Still Relevant Today

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Sun, 06 Jul 2025 22:28:20 +0300

Let’s rewind to 1990. 35 years ago today. Kenya was stuck under the suffocating grip of a one-party system, thanks to the iron-fisted rule of the late former President Daniel arap Moi. Dissent was illegal, elections were a sham, and anyone trying to speak up was silenced or jailed.

That year, a new breed of activists, politicians, and everyday citizens decided enough was enough. Heavyweights like Charles Rubia, Kenneth Matiba, Raila Odinga, Martin Shikuku, and others organized a rally at Nairobi’s iconic Kamukunji Grounds on July 7, 1990 — a date that would burn itself into Kenya’s political DNA as Saba Saba, translated to “Seven Seven” from Kiswahili.

The protest was unlike any other, it was a full-on challenge to Moi’s political monopoly. The government, threatened by this public defiance, banned the gathering outright. However, the people showed up anyway, determined to claim their democratic space.

Police hit back with tear gas, batons, bullets, and mass arrests. By the time the smoke cleared, at least 39 people were dead, dozens more injured, over 5,000 were arrested, and more than 1,000 were formally charged. Still, that moment was unstoppable.

Kenyans attending a Saba Saba concert on July 7, 2024. /FIRSTPOST

The rage and bravery of Saba Saba pierced the armor of dictatorship, forcing Moi’s regime to repeal Section 2A of the constitution in 1991. That made way for multiparty democracy, which became the second liberation of Kenya. It was messy, it was brutal, but it sparked a new chapter for citizen power that couldn’t be silenced.

Saba Saba as Annual Symbol: 1990–2023

In the years that followed, July 7 became more than just a date; it was a rallying cry. Every year, Kenyans gathered to remind the country — and its leaders — that democracy is a living, breathing fight.

It wasn’t about Moi anymore. It was about corruption, police violence, bad governance, and the everyday struggles of ordinary people. Churches, civil society groups, political parties, and activists turned Saba Saba into a national checkpoint for measuring the government’s performance.

But as the 2000s rolled by, the protests sometimes lost their bite. There was less unity among groups — civil society felt sidelined, politicians tried to hijack the day for their own ends, and the government grew more sophisticated in controlling public outrage.

By 2023, analysts pointed out that while Saba Saba still mattered symbolically, it wasn’t delivering the same punches it did in the 90s. The moment had changed, and a new generation was itching for a fresh cause.

Resurgence: July 7, 2023 – The “Third Liberation”?

Then came 2023, a year that felt like the clock had been turned back. The cost of living had skyrocketed thanks to a controversial Finance Bill, and the people were simply done.

Youth-led movements and opposition leaders, mainly from the Azimio coalition, called for a Saba Saba protest that would revive the defiance of the 90s.

Kamukunji Grounds once again became the epicenter. Tear gas and police violence followed, true to the script of Kenyan protest history. But this time, the outcry was global.

At least 73 protesters were arrested in Nairobi alone but later released when the prosecution refused to press charges, basically acknowledging that the arrests had no solid legal ground. Civil society groups — from Amnesty Kenya to the Kenya Human Rights Commission — put the government on blast for using excessive force, and the conversation shifted to a deeper question: had Kenya really changed since the Moi era?

Businesses reported losing nearly Ksh 9 billion in a single day, proving how big an impact Saba Saba still had. For many, the 2023 protests kicked off talk of a “Third Liberation,” one focused on transparency, electoral reforms, and economic justice for a new generation.

Saba Saba 2024–2025: Echoes of Economy, Equality & Police Brutality

By 2024, the momentum hadn’t fully died down. Although the protests were tamer than in 2023, they were still loud. In fact, July 7, 2024, was marked by concerts, memorial vigils, and public teach-ins instead of running battles with police.

People gathered in Uhuru Park and other cities to remember victims of police brutality and remind leaders about the cost of ignoring the public’s cry for fairness. The Finance Bill 2024, which had sparked so much anger, was withdrawn by President William Ruto, but many suspected it was only a matter of time before fresh taxes showed up again.

In 2025, everything boiled over once more. The death of blogger Albert Ojwang while in police custody in June set the nation ablaze. Young people — mostly Gen Z and Millennials — took to the streets from June 25 onward, demanding justice for Ojwang, accountability for corrupt officials, and relief from the crushing cost of living.

A man runs during a demonstration over the death of Kenyan blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody, in Nairobi, Kenya on June 17, 2025. /THOMAS MUKOYA.REUTERS

Police responded in their usual style, firing tear gas and live rounds, leading to at least 20 reported deaths, hundreds of injuries, and dozens of arrests. As the protests simmered down by July 1, all eyes now turn to the upcoming Saba Saba.

This year, in 2025, anticipation is off the charts. Civic groups are urging the police to act with restraint, while the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) has demanded that police respect the constitution.

Meanwhile, some residents in Machakos, many of them supporters of the ruling party, are pushing back, claiming the protests are politically motivated and do nothing but ruin livelihoods. On the eve of Saba Saba 2025, Kenya is a nation holding its breath — unsure whether tomorrow will be peaceful or another tragic page in its protest history.

Why Saba Saba Still Matters

Three decades since the original protest, Saba Saba still cuts deep in Kenya’s collective memory. First, it stands as undeniable proof that when Kenyans say “enough,” governments listen — even if it takes blood and tears to make them hear.

The 1990 protest is the reason Kenyans today can even talk about multiparty politics without fear. Second, Saba Saba reminds us that democracy is not a one-off win; it’s a constant hustle. Every year, new grievances rise: election fraud, police killings, skyrocketing food prices, youth unemployment. Saba Saba becomes a mirror, reflecting just how far the nation still has to go.

In the last couple of years, you can see a generational handover happening. The original Saba Saba was organized by people born in the 40s and 50s, but today’s protests are run by Gen Z, who grew up with smartphones, social media, and global human-rights language. They know how to organize decentralized movements, they know how to dodge police surveillance, and they understand that the power of hashtags can sometimes move more mountains than a megaphone on a street. That shift has made Saba Saba more fluid, less centralized, but also harder for the government to co-opt.

Yet despite all these gains, Kenya’s democracy is still struggling with its demons. Tear gas, arbitrary arrests, and trigger-happy cops are still standard fare whenever protests erupt. Successive governments have promised to fix police brutality, to lower taxes, to create jobs, but most of those pledges dissolve once elections are over. Saba Saba, therefore, keeps coming back, refusing to be forgotten. It is the day Kenya checks itself, a yearly gut check about whether the struggle for freedom was even worth it.

Outlook

As July 7, 2025, arrives, nobody can predict exactly what will go down. The tensions around Ojwang’s death, the high cost of living, and a restless youth movement all point to a nation on edge. Churches, civil society, and even some politicians are warning that unless the police step back and respect people’s right to protest, there could be a repeat of past tragedies. Meanwhile, the government is walking a tightrope, trying to balance economic reforms with the very real anger on the streets.

For Gen Z and the younger Millennials especially, Saba Saba is no longer about their parents’ fights against Moi. It’s about their own future — a future where they can get jobs, live without fear of police harassment, and maybe afford food without selling their souls. The July 7 protests, if they happen, will carry that weight, demanding that Kenya become the democracy it always claims to be.

No matter what goes down on July 7, one thing is guaranteed: Saba Saba will still matter. It will still be the day Kenyans look in the mirror and decide whether to keep fighting or give in.

From 1990 to 2025, it has remained the country’s most powerful symbol of protest, resilience, and hope. Because even if the faces on the placards change, the fight for a fair, accountable, just Kenya is far from over — and that, is the story that defines Saba Saba.

Protesters during Nairobi CBD demonstrations on June 25, 2024. /BBC

How To Stay Safe Before And During Protests In Kenya

Marvin Chege — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 00:01:39 +0300

By the time you're reading this, it will be one year since the anti-government demonstrations on June 25, 2024 which erupted over the contentious Finance Bill 2024 and which led to, among others, the storming and burning down of Parliament.

Despite the government firmly rejecting the possibility of allowing any street protests, there has been growing online mobilization by young Kenyans planning peaceful marches to honor Gen Z protesters who died during last year’s anti-government demonstrations, hence the march planned for Wednesday, June 25.

As civic unrest continues to grow across the country, protesting has become an increasingly common way for Kenyans—especially younger generations—to express dissatisfaction and demand accountability from the government. From opposition to controversial tax bills to calls for action against police brutality and economic injustices, the streets are now a powerful platform for public expression.

However, while protests are a constitutionally protected right in Kenya, they are not always safe. Demonstrations often attract heavy police presence, carry the risk of arrests, and can sometimes spiral into violence, as has been the case with previous protests. With that in mind, knowing how to stay safe before, during, and after a protest is essential.

Kenyans during a past protest in Nairobi. /FILE

Understanding Your Rights

Every Kenyan has the right to peacefully assemble and demonstrate under Article 37 of the Constitution. "Every person has the right, peaceably and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket, and to present petitions to public authorities," the section reads.

But in practice, exercising this right often comes with challenges. Police have frequently responded to protests with brute force, even when demonstrations are nonviolent. Cases of unlawful arrests, assaults, and tear gas deployments are not uncommon.

That’s why it is vital to not only know your rights but also understand how to assert them safely. Being informed gives you the confidence to participate and the clarity to act within legal boundaries, even when the situation around you is tense.

Before the Protest: Plan, Prepare, and Stay Informed

Preparation is critical. Start by gathering all available information about the protest. Know when and where it is taking place, what the expected route is, and whether the organizers have communicated with the authorities. Identifying exit points, nearby hospitals, public parks, or open spaces can help you stay oriented in case of chaos.

Equally important is how you dress. Wear comfortable, neutral-colored clothing that doesn’t draw unnecessary attention or associate you with political groups. Avoid flashy items or open footwear. A cap, hoodie, or face mask can offer some anonymity, which can be useful both for protection against surveillance and tear gas.

Packing smart can also improve your safety. Bring water, as you will need to stay hydrated and may need to rinse your eyes if tear gas is used. Carry light snacks to keep your energy up and make sure your phone is fully charged or supported by a power bank.

A woman using her phone during protests in Nairobi CBD. /OKAY AFRICA

A small first aid kit can be helpful in emergencies, and writing emergency contact numbers on paper is useful if your phone dies or is taken.

Always carry a photocopy of your ID, not the original, and avoid bringing anything that could be mistaken for a weapon. Anything you carry should be easy to explain if you’re stopped by authorities.

Digital Safety: Don’t Get Tracked

In today’s age, digital security is just as important as physical safety. Kenyan authorities have ramped up surveillance during major demonstrations, from facial recognition cameras in cities to monitoring WhatsApp and Telegram groups, with protesters increasingly being tracked before, during, and after protests.

Before heading out, secure your phone by removing any sensitive content and disabling fingerprint or facial ID. Use a strong PIN code instead. Turn off location services and delete any messages or media that could be misinterpreted. If you can, leave your personal phone at home and use a second, low-cost phone (mulika) with only essential contacts and apps.

Avoid posting protest plans online or sharing images that reveal faces and identities. Encrypted messaging apps are better alternatives to mainstream platforms.

Once you’re at the protest, keep your phone use minimal and discreet. Remember that anything shared or posted publicly may be used as evidence by law enforcement. Digital safety is not just about protecting yourself, but also about protecting others who may appear in your media or be linked to your communications.

During the Protest: Move Smart, Stay Calm

When the protest begins, the key is to stay alert, move strategically, and remain calm even under pressure.

Always stick with a group or friends as being alone increases your risk in high-tension situations. Designate a meet-up location in case you’re separated. Avoid splinter groups or sections of the crowd that seem aggressive or confrontational as these groups are often the first to attract police attention.

Stay alert to your surroundings. Monitor police behavior and crowd energy. If officers start forming lines, wearing gas masks, or preparing tear gas canisters, it’s usually a sign that the situation could escalate. Begin moving away early instead of waiting until panic breaks out.

If tear gas is fired, try not to panic. Do not rub your eyes. Move in the opposite direction of the wind, use clean water to rinse your eyes, and breathe through a cloth if possible. It’s crucial to stay in open spaces and avoid being trapped in alleys or enclosed areas where stampedes or arrests are more likely.

What Happens If You Are Arrested

Despite staying peaceful, some protesters still face arrest. If this happens, do not resist physically or verbally, as it could escalate the situation.

Ask what charges are being brought against you, and calmly assert your right to contact a lawyer. Do not sign any documents or give any statements without legal counsel present.

If you’ve memorized an emergency number or written one down, now is the time to use it. Organizations like the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and Amnesty International Kenya often provide rapid legal support during protests. You can also reach out to trusted lawyers in your network.

If you’re a witness to someone being arrested, try to document the event safely. Details like the officer’s badge number, the arresting vehicle’s license plate, or even a timestamp could be crucial later on.

After the Protest: Reflect and Regroup

Once the protest ends, your responsibilities haven’t. First, confirm that everyone in your group made it home safely.

Reconnect and debrief—talk through what happened and how you all felt. Protests can be emotionally taxing, so don't ignore the mental toll. If you feel shaken, talk to someone. Activist fatigue and trauma are real and should be treated seriously. There are growing mental health support options in Kenya tailored for young people and activists.

If you plan to post photos or videos online, be careful. Blur out faces and avoid posting identifying features like clothing, tattoos, or street signs. Even well-intentioned content can be used to target others.

Continue supporting the cause by attending follow-up meetings, signing petitions, or joining civil society forums.

If you experienced or witnessed any form of abuse, consider filing a complaint with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) or the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR). Your documentation and testimony may help prevent future abuses.

WRAPPING UP: Protest Smart, Not Just Loud

Protests in Kenya have become a symbol of growing civic awareness, especially among the youth. Gen Z and Millennial-led movements are challenging the status quo in ways not seen before in Kenya's history.

But in pushing for change, staying safe must be a top priority. Knowing your rights, preparing properly, staying vigilant, and looking after each other are not just smart moves—they are essential survival tactics.

In the long fight for a more just and transparent Kenya, protest remains one of the most powerful tools citizens have. But to keep showing up, you need to stay alive, stay informed, and stay ready. Protesting smart is how movements last—and how real change is achieved.

Demonstrators hurl stones at Kenyan security forces during a protest in downtown Nairobi, on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. /AFP.GETTY IMAGES

DIG Eliud Lagat: Difference Between 'Step Aside' & 'Resign'

Marvin Chege — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 17:13:07 +0300

Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat on Monday, June 16, announced that he 'stepped aside' from his role to allow for investigations into the murder of a teacher and X influencer, Albert Ojwang.

Lagat voluntarily stepped aside while investigations continue into the death of Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody at Nairobi’s Central Police Station. In a statement, the embattled police chief said his decision was both personal and moral, intended to uphold the credibility of the investigation.

"In the good and conscious thought of my role and responsibilities as the Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service, and given the ongoing investigations on the unfortunate incident of the death of Albert Ojwang, I have today opted to step aside from the office of the Deputy Inspector General—Kenya Police Service pending completion of investigations. The functions of the office will henceforth be performed by my deputy until completion of the investigations,'' Lagat stated.

Collage of Central Police Station where Albert Ojwang was murdered. /VIRAL TEA KE

Lagat, who assumed the role in 2024 after taking over from Douglas Kanja — now the Inspector General — pledged his full cooperation with the ongoing probe to ensure justice is delivered.

"I undertake to provide any support that may be required of me during the investigations of the unfortunate incident. I offer immense condolences to the family of Albert Ojwang for their great loss," he added. His deputy will temporarily assume his duties while the investigations — which have triggered public outrage — are underway.

However, confusion surfaced over Lagat's decision, given that there have been numerous calls from human rights groups, civil society, and a section of lawmakers for the DIG to resign and face prosecution.

The internet was particularly divided between the terms 'step aside' and 'resign', with some users claiming that they mean the same thing. However, Viral Tea explains the difference between the two terms:

Stepping Aside Vs Resigning

The terms "stepping aside" and "resigning" may sound similar, but they carry very different meanings, especially in politics, public service, or high-stakes positions. The biggest difference lies in intent, duration, and implications.

Stepping aside is a temporary move. It means someone is leaving their role for a while, often to allow investigations or internal processes to proceed without interference. Think of it like taking a forced sabbatical, not necessarily because you’ve admitted guilt or wrongdoing, but because staying in office could be seen as a conflict of interest or might influence the outcome of the inquiry.

In many cases, this one included, the person stepping aside still receives their salary or benefits, and there is usually a chance they could return to the job if they’re cleared of any accusations.

Resigning, on the other hand, is a permanent decision, meaning an official exit from the position, often interpreted as taking responsibility, whether out of guilt, pressure, or inability to continue effectively.

Resigning means the person is done with the role for good and has no expectation of coming back. It is seen as more final and sometimes more honourable, especially in situations where remaining in power would cause further reputational damage or public outrage.

So, stepping aside says, “Let me get out of the way while this gets sorted,” while resigning says, “I’m done. I take the fall or accept the consequences.” One leaves a door open. The other shuts it.

Can A DIG 'Step Aside' Legally?

In Kenya, there is no explicit legal provision that allows or mandates a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police to “step aside.” The National Police Service Act and the Constitution of Kenya outline clear processes for appointment and removal, but the term “stepping aside” is not defined or used in any official legal capacity. This means it is not a formal disciplinary or administrative action recognised in law.

That said, stepping aside is often used in practice as a political or administrative gesture. A DIG may voluntarily step aside to allow investigations or internal reviews to proceed without interference or to reduce public pressure.

This move is typically symbolic and does not remove the individual from their official post unless it is followed by a formal process such as suspension or dismissal. In such cases, the DIG might continue to hold the title and even retain their salary and benefits while investigations continue.

The legal route for temporarily removing a DIG from office would be suspension, which requires action by a competent authority such as the National Police Service Commission (NPSC).

The NPSC has the mandate to handle disciplinary issues, including suspension or removal for gross misconduct, incompetence, or violations of the Constitution. If serious allegations are involved, the proper legal procedure must be followed, which might include a tribunal or recommendation to the President.

In summary, a DIG in Kenya can step aside, but only voluntarily. It’s more of a public accountability measure than a legal one. There is no legal mechanism to force a DIG to step aside unless formal suspension or removal processes are triggered through the appropriate legal and institutional frameworks.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat during a past forum. /NATIONAL POLICE SERVICE

Bottom Up: Nguvu Collective Quietly Building a Revolution, And It’s Working

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 18:13:22 +0300

In recent years, Nguvu Collective in Kenya has built a strong cohort of change leaders dedicated to shaping powerful narratives and driving advocacy across the country.

Their efforts have led to the emergence of impactful social impact leaders who are actively engaging with policymakers through unique campaigns spanning gender rights, health, education, environment, and deeply rooted social issues like widowhood stigma and disability rights.

Participation of both women and men at the forefront who have been instrumental in national conversations and social movements, amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities.

Viral Tea sat down with Durga Nandini, the Co-Founder of Nguvu Collective, where she shared her views on why building grassroots advocates of change is essential in Kenya’s current context and how initiatives like these are inspiring a generation of changemakers, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive and hopeful future for the country.

1. How was Nguvu Collective founded, and what inspired the vision behind it?

“Nguvu” Collective, which means “Power” Collective in Swahili, is a tribute to women’s power. Our vision is to create a world where more women are in positions of social power and leadership, driving systemic change for their communities and countries through the strength of their collectives. We believe marginalised women who have lived experience of gender injustice are the best drivers of long-term positive change.

With our Launchpad program, we provide not only training in advocacy, media, and campaign strategy but also the spaces to be seen and heard. We cultivate strength in numbers because we know isolation can be crushing.

Durga Nandini - Co-Founder, Nguvu Collective. /WOMAN KENYA

Our work has proven that equipping women change leaders with storytelling, advocacy, and leadership skills will spark impactful, scalable movements.

Nguvu Collective was conceived for these women. We recognise their courage, their dedication, and their strength, not as potential, but as already existing, waiting to be bolstered and linked.

2. How do you define the role of grassroots leadership in transforming national narratives and policies in Kenya?

Grassroots leadership is the lifeblood of transformative change in Kenya. At Nguvu Collective, we’ve seen that when women closest to the issues lead the work, whether it’s gender-based violence, access to health services, or economic justice, the solutions become more sustainable and the narratives more authentic.

These leaders often come from the communities most affected by systemic inequities. By amplifying their voices and equipping them with tools to run strategic, visible campaigns, they are able to reframe public narratives and push for policy change from the ground up. This bottom-up approach shifts the power dynamic, making policy spaces more inclusive, accountable, and people-centred.

3. Nguvu Collective has worked with an inspiring cohort of change leaders. What do you look for in them, and how are they supported?

We identify women from the grassroots who are working on or exploring campaigns and have shown clear leadership, commitment, or personal connection to the issue they’re trying to address. We look for those who are ready to strengthen their strategy, story, or visibility, whether they are already leading movements or just starting out with a powerful idea. Once selected, we support them through a two-phased campaign training model.

In Phase 1, we focus on strengthening campaign strategy, storytelling, media advocacy, and decision-maker engagement.

In Phase 2, we work with standout participants to accelerate and amplify their campaigns through advanced mentorship, media engagement, and policymaker connections. Throughout, our approach is grounded in feminist values, and we customise our support to the realities of each leader’s context and community.

4. What are some of the biggest challenges grassroots leaders face in today’s Kenya, and how is Nguvu helping to overcome them?

Many grassroots leaders in Kenya face isolation, limited access to platforms, and a lack of resources or mentorship to translate their passion into impact. They are often doing the work without recognition, funding, or strategic support. The political and social environment can also be hostile, especially for women confronting entrenched power structures.

Nguvu addresses this by creating a supportive ecosystem that includes training, visibility, and practical campaign tools. We help them sharpen their strategies, build public narratives, and engage decision-makers smartly. Most importantly, we create spaces of solidarity, connecting these leaders to one another and to a wider collective of others doing similar or complementary work, so they never have to fight alone.

5. Why is it important to engage both men and women in grassroots movements focused on gender, health, and social equity?

Achieving gender, health, and social equity requires shifting cultural and systemic norms that affect all members of society. That’s why it cannot be a conversation held by or for women alone. Engaging men as allies and co-creators of change helps dismantle patriarchal structures more effectively and fosters community ownership of the solutions.

At Nguvu, we centre women’s leadership, but we also encourage inclusive organising that invites men into the work. We also have a significant number of male Change Leaders across Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa who have been at the forefront of fighting for change on women’s and disability rights issues, systemic injustices, and human rights violations. Whether it’s through campaign storytelling, advocacy, or decision-maker engagement, we believe that collective power is strongest when everyone in the community is invested in building a just and equitable future.

6. What is next for Nguvu Collective in 2025 and beyond?

The future of Nguvu Collective is firmly grounded in hope and a vision for women's power at the grassroots. Our dream is getting bigger–moving beyond numbers, toward depth. We envision supporting 1,000 grassroots women leaders across Africa - each one with the strength of her community, her story, and her fight for justice.

We will continue to create spaces for women to come together to grow and to advocate on critical issues that affect them, through impactful campaigns. These are not just training programs; they are a place of belonging, where transformative leadership coexists with joy, laughter, healing, and strategy.

We will also place valuable tools in the hands of women leaders so they can lead research projects, amplify their stories, and advocate for their communities in ways that are truly informed by the needs of their communities. Issues like gender-based violence, menstrual equity, disability justice, and economic dignity are issues that affect families and communities as a whole. And our change leaders will be at the forefront of finding community-driven solutions.

Finally, we are building a women’s collective of bold, joyful, collaborative feminist leadership, where women do not walk alone. We will walk together, firmly, boldly and ambitiously.

7. What do you hope readers take away from learning about the movement you’re building?

We hope readers see that powerful change doesn’t only come from high offices or national headlines, it often starts with a woman in her community choosing to stand up and say, “This must change.” The movement we’re building is grounded in everyday courage, strategy, and the belief that local leadership can, and does, reshape national futures!

We invite readers to follow our work not just to witness this movement, but to support it: by resourcing it, sharing its stories, and recognising that the future of justice in Kenya depends on amplifying the voices of those most affected and most committed to the work of change.

(L-R) MP Kisii County Doris Donya, Chair of Anti-FGM board Ipato Surum, CEO of Anti-FGM Board Bernadette Loloju, Nguvu Change Leader Selina Nkoile, Nguvu Change Leader Naomi Kolian, Women Representative for Samburu County Pauline Lenguris, MP Samburu West Naisula Lesuuda. /HANDOUT

Details Of 'Strip Mall' In Mukuru Affordable Homes Launched By Ruto

Marvin Chege — Tue, 20 May 2025 12:25:12 +0300

President William Ruto on Tuesday, May 20, handed over the first set of affordable houses constructed in the Mukuru affordable housing project, in an elaborate launch event that saw over 1,080 keys handed to new homeowners.

Ruto described the handover ceremony as one of the most significant moments in his political journey. He noted that the project's completion marked a major win, especially after making the tough and initially unpopular choice to implement the Housing Levy to fund it.

"This is one of the most consequential days of my political career. Today, I can hand over keys to citizens of our nation, people who would otherwise have never had a chance in life. But today they have the keys not just to open doors but to open a home into dignity, and we are making a difference in the lives of Kenyans," he said.

"This is the first batch. In August or September, we will come to hand over another 5,000 units. We will come back again in the new year and hand over another 5,000, and that will be the trend until we give 13,000 houses to Kenyans."

President William Ruto addressing residents during the handover ceremony of 1,080 completed housing units at the Mukuru Meteorological Site in Nairobi County on May 20, 2025. /PCS

The Mukuru Housing project is among several developments happening nationwide, with a total of 13,248 housing units planned upon completion.

To support the large number of future residents, the project includes a 5-million-litre underground water tank to guarantee consistent water access. Additionally, it features elevated storage tanks with a capacity of 210,000 litres.

The development also comes equipped with key amenities such as a fire station, a daycare centre, a health clinic, a strip mall, and designated waste disposal areas. For this article, we focus on the strip mall.

What Is A Strip Mall?

A strip mall—also called a shopping strip or plaza—is a type of retail development that features a row of stores or commercial units lined up side by side, typically sharing a parking lot in front.

These malls are usually low-rise, single-story buildings with multiple tenants like grocery stores, salons, fast food joints, pharmacies, banks, and mobile service providers.

They are designed for convenience, often serving neighbourhoods or suburbs where people want quick, easy access to everyday essentials without the hassle of a large shopping mall.

In Kenya, strip malls have grown in popularity over the past decade, especially in urban and peri-urban areas like Nairobi, Kiambu, Mombasa, and Nakuru. Their rise is driven by a booming middle class, increasing urban sprawl, and a shift in consumer habits toward convenience shopping.

Concept art of a strip mall in Lavington, Nairobi, Kenya. /BEHANCE

Unlike the mega malls that attract weekend crowds, strip malls serve a more local, daily need, targeting residents within a 5-10 minute radius. You will find them along busy roads, near gated communities, or even on the edge of highways, making them a go-to for quick errands, takeaways, or services like laundromats and ATMs.

Their significance goes beyond just shopping. Strip malls in Kenya represent a shift in real estate development towards mixed-use, decentralised retail ecosystems. They are also creating jobs and offering more accessible business spaces for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which dominate Kenya’s economy.

For developers and investors, they are low-risk, high-demand assets—less expensive to build and easier to fill with tenants compared to full-scale malls.

"The Mukuru Meteorological project is the largest single-site housing intervention in Kenya’s history. Its scale, its integrated design, and its focus on transforming informal settlements make it a landmark in public housing delivery. Residents will not only access housing, but a full ecosystem of social infrastructure," Ruto expressed.

"So far, it has injected Ksh11 billion directly into construction and neighbourhood development. For every shilling invested, an additional Ksh2.50 is generated through supporting businesses, meaning nearly Ksh28 billion has already been infused into the economy through this single initiative."

The President, for his part, urged Kenyans to sign up on the Boma Yangu platform to take advantage of the thousands of housing units currently being built nationwide.

"The Boma Yangu platform is our gateway to equitable homeownership. It is transparent, inclusive, and easy to use. Over 4,000 homes are already up for purchase. Whether you earn less than Ksh20,000 or over Ksh150,000, there’s a pathway for you," he added.

"I urge every Kenyan to register today at www.bomayangu.go.ke or dial *832#. Let us democratise homeownership and make this dream a reality for all."

President William Ruto during the commissioning of the Mukuru Phase I Affordable Housing. /PCS

Why Kenyans Are Being Denied Schengen Visas & Losing Ksh 258 Million

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Mon, 19 May 2025 16:10:06 +0300

Kenyans have recently found it hard to obtain visas to travel to countries such as the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) due to tightening visa restrictions. However, it is now emerging that obtaining a European visa is tougher.

A report that was shared by CNN journalist Larry Madowo on Sunday, May 19, revealed the African countries with the highest rejection rates for European Visas, data derived from the European Union Commission.

According to the report, 29.1 per cent of Kenyans who apply for Schengen visas, which grant short-term travel access to 27 European countries, are denied. This places Kenya behind several of its neighbouring countries when it comes to visa approval rates.

Tanzania (20.1 percent), Botswana (16.3 percent), Zimbabwe (16.2 percent), Zambia (10.8 per cent), South Africa (5.7 percent), Mauritius (5.6 percent), and Namibia (5.2 percent) all have lower rejection rates, meaning they’ve had better success securing these visas.

The Kenya Airways plane carrying President William Ruto and his entourage touched down at the Berlin International Airport Military Wing at 10.49 am (11:49 am Kenya time) on September 13, 2024. /PCS

At the very bottom of the list, Liberia and São Tomé have the lowest denial rates—just 0.8 per cent and 0.9 per cent, respectively, making them the most successful applicants in Africa.

While Kenya’s rejection rate of 29.1 per cent isn’t disastrous, it is still a cause for concern, especially for a country that sees itself as a diplomatic hub in East and Central Africa. That number stands out and raises red flags.

On the other end of the spectrum, the countries with the highest rejection rates are Guinea-Bissau (45.9 per cent), Senegal (46.8 per cent), and Comoros, which tops the list with a massive 62 per cent rejection rate.

"Why is it so hard for some Africans to get a European visa? 111,201 Nigerians applied for Schengen visas last year at €90 (Ksh13,114) each. 46 per cent of them were denied, losing over $5 million (Ksh646.1 million) in non-refundable visa fees. 66,329 Kenyans applied, but 29 per cent were rejected, resulting in a loss of nearly $2 million (Ksh258.4 million)," wrote journalist Larry Madowo on his social media.

The Schengen Visa System: A Quick Breakdown

The Schengen visa allows people to travel freely across 29 European countries without internal border controls. It is one of the most sought-after travel documents in the world, especially by applicants from Africa looking to travel for tourism, business, study, or to visit family. However, getting this visa as a Kenyan — or frankly, as an African — has become notoriously difficult.

Visa rejections for Africans hover at double or even triple the global average. In 2023, for example, Kenyan applicants faced rejection rates as high as 40-50 per cent, depending on the embassy. Countries like Nigeria, Algeria, and Senegal are regularly in the top five for rejection rates. So, what’s going on?

1. Perception of “Overstay Risk” and Irregular Migration Fears

Let us face the facts: European embassies see many African applicants as high overstay or asylum risks. If you come from a country facing political instability, economic hardship, or a history of irregular migration to Europe, you're already under extra scrutiny. Even if you have no intention of overstaying your visa, your passport alone puts you at a disadvantage.

This perception is often rooted in stereotypes rather than individual circumstances. Many Schengen embassies use profiling algorithms or subjective human judgment to guess your likelihood of returning to your home country. If they think you're not “strongly tied” to your country — i.e., you don’t have solid proof of income, family, property, or job — your visa is likely to be denied.

2. Lack of Transparency in the Decision-Making Process

One of the most frustrating parts is that visa rejections come with vague reasons like “insufficient justification of the purpose and conditions of the intended stay” or “your intention to leave the territory could not be established.” In many cases, applicants provide bank statements, letters of invitation, proof of return tickets — the full shebang — yet still get rejected without a clear explanation.

This lack of accountability and transparency creates a cycle of confusion and inequality. It makes it hard for applicants to understand what they did “wrong” or how to improve their chances next time. Worse yet, you don’t get your visa fee back either — that's around €80 (Ksh11,657) per failed application. Painful, especially when your application was solid.

3. Systemic Discrimination and Post-Colonial Power Dynamics

There is an unspoken racial and geopolitical bias baked into the system. Applicants from the Global South, especially Africa, face disproportionately high rejection rates compared to applicants from wealthier regions, even when documentation is identical. If a German applies to visit Kenya, they’re often approved within days, but reverse the roles, and it is an uphill battle.

The European Union headquarters. /iSTOCK

This imbalance isn't just bureaucratic; it is deeply rooted in colonial-era power dynamics and racial hierarchies that still inform global mobility. Europe remains relatively open to travellers from the West but builds metaphorical (and literal) walls for Africans, often treating them as economic migrants first and legitimate travellers second.

4. Embassy-Level Inefficiencies and Corruption

There is also a logistical and operational bottleneck issue. Many Schengen embassies in Africa are understaffed, underfunded, and overwhelmed. In Kenya, for instance, people have to book appointments months in advance, and delays are the norm.

Add to that reports of corruption and favouritism, particularly at outsourced visa application centres, where middlemen promise faster approvals — for a price. The rise of private visa processing companies has made the system even more complex and inaccessible to everyday applicants. It is a setup that favours those who can afford to “pay to play” while pushing out lower-income, honest applicants.

5. Economic Disparities and “Proof of Funds” Hurdles

Even for well-qualified Kenyan professionals or students, meeting the financial requirements can be brutal. Embassies often expect you to have thousands of euros in your bank account, plus proof of employment, accommodation, insurance, and a detailed itinerary.

For many, this is simply unrealistic — not because they can’t afford the trip, but because financial documentation systems in Africa don’t always align with European expectations. For example, someone might have access to family wealth or business capital that isn’t reflected in their personal bank account, or they might work in the informal sector, and that’s usually a red flag for consular officers.

6. Political Tensions Between the EU and African Nations

Visa policies are also a tool of geopolitical leverage. Some African countries — Kenya included — have been reluctant to sign European Union (EU) readmission agreements, which would require them to take back nationals who are deported from the EU. As a result, Europe retaliates subtly by restricting visa approvals.

For example, Germany, France, and the Netherlands have previously admitted that high rejection rates for certain African nations were politically motivated. It is a form of soft diplomacy (or coercion, depending on how you see it), where visas become a bargaining chip in broader negotiations around trade, migration, and security.

7. Unequal Access to Appeal or Legal Recourse

Once your visa is denied, you can technically appeal the decision, but this process is expensive, complex, and time-consuming. Most African applicants don’t have the resources or legal guidance to challenge a rejection effectively.

Even if you’re lucky enough to win the appeal (which can take months or even years), the damage is done. Your credibility as a traveller is flagged, and future applications will come under heavier scrutiny.

8. Blanket Policies Instead of Individual Assessments

Another key issue is the one-size-fits-all approach most Schengen embassies take. Rather than considering individual contexts, many operate on assumptions based on nationality. This is especially damaging for young, first-time travellers from Kenya or Africa in general.

You might have everything in order, but because your demographic is considered “high-risk,” you’re lumped in with applicants who genuinely might overstay.

This mentality also hurts cultural exchange, education, business, and tourism. Talented African youth miss out on conferences, scholarships, internships, and networking opportunities simply because of their passport.

9. Schengen Visa Privilege Is Increasingly Pay-to-Win

More and more, the Schengen system is becoming pay-to-win. If you are rich or have dual citizenship from a Western country, your chances shoot up.

There are fast-track services, VIP visa lanes, and even “golden visa” schemes for wealthy individuals who invest in Europe. But for the average Kenyan, even affording the visa process is a stretch.

This further entrenches class inequality. Travel becomes a privilege for the elite — both in Africa and Europe — while the rest are locked out of international opportunities and global mobility.

10. Mental and Emotional Toll on Applicants

Beyond the logistical issues, the process takes a huge emotional toll. Constant rejections make people feel like second-class citizens on the global stage. There’s frustration, humiliation, and a sense of being trapped — not by geography, but by bureaucracy.

Many young Africans grow up watching others travel, study, or work abroad, yet feel systemically shut out, no matter how hard they try to follow the rules. It creates resentment and deepens the divide between “them” and “us.” It is demoralising, and in some cases, pushes people toward irregular migration — ironically reinforcing the very stereotype that caused their rejection in the first place.

Wrapping Up

The high rate of Schengen visa rejections for Kenyan and African applicants isn’t just about paperwork — it is about global inequality, racialised gatekeeping, and a broken system that favours wealth, whiteness, and Western passports. European countries talk big about diversity, inclusion, and global partnerships — but when it comes to actual movement across borders, their policies tell a different story.

Until Schengen countries commit to fairer, more transparent, and individually assessed visa processes, the system will continue to be seen as discriminatory and colonial in its design. For many Africans, the message is loud and clear: “We want your resources, not your presence.”

It is time that changed. The world is interconnected, and travel should not be a privilege reserved for a few. Africans deserve the same freedom of movement, dignity, and opportunity as anyone else. Period.

Image of an aircraft taking off. /FILE

EXPOSED: School Children Being Drugged After Eating Ice Cream In Nairobi

Marvin Chege — Sat, 17 May 2025 14:51:59 +0300

A shocking finding has emerged of school-going children consuming ice cream purchased from street vendors in Nairobi's Kilimani and later showing unusual behaviour that includes appearing drunk.

This was revealed on Friday, May 16, by Nairobi County's Chief Officer for Environment, Geoffrey Mosiria, who revealed that he received complaints over the suspected sale of laced ice cream to students.

Mosiria exposed an ice cream 'mwitu' vendor next to a school in Kilimani along Riara Road, who has been accused of selling ice cream to school-going children, which is suspected to be laced with addictive substances.

"As a result, some children have reportedly exhibited unusual behaviour such as appearing drunk, overly hyperactive, or excessively sleepy when they return home," revealed Mosiria.

Aerial view of Kilimani Estate. /MEDIUM

The CEC moved into action and headed to the scene, only to find out that the vendor was nowhere to be seen, and all that was discovered was a used bottle and packaging of Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection. This is a fast-acting anaesthetic used mainly for starting and maintaining anaesthesia during medical procedures. It is known for producing a trance-like state that includes pain relief, sedation, and memory loss.

Unlike many anaesthetics, ketamine doesn’t suppress breathing or heart function as much, which makes it useful in emergency settings, especially for trauma or in situations where full anaesthesia equipment is not available. It is often used in hospitals, field medicine, or veterinary care.

Ketamine also affects certain brain chemicals like glutamate, which is why it's being explored for mental health treatment, particularly in low doses for severe depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However, in the clinical setting, when given as an injection, it is primarily for short-term surgical anaesthesia or pain control.

However, because of its dissociative and hallucinogenic effects, ketamine has a history of abuse as a party drug (often called "Special K"). That is why its use is tightly controlled and monitored in medical settings.

"This is highly concerning, as we suspect ketamine may be one of the substances being mixed into the ice cream sold to children and other unsuspecting consumers," added Mosiria.

The CEC went on to urge parents to advise their children against buying ice cream from potentially unlicensed vendors while the investigation continues. "This is a grave matter. We will continue to pursue this individual and ensure that appropriate legal action is taken to safeguard the health and well-being of our children," he added.

On May 27, 2025, the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) announced a nationwide crackdown on bars and alcohol dispensing locations near educational facilities, including schools, explaining that it was aimed at enforcing regulations regarding the placement of bars and other alcohol dispensing outlets in proximity to educational institutions or areas catering to individuals below the age of 18.

Popularity Of Ice Cream In Kenya

Ice cream has grown in popularity in Kenya over the years, especially in urban areas and among the younger population. While traditionally considered a luxury or special-occasion treat, it is becoming more common due to rising disposable incomes, increased urbanisation, and the influence of Western food culture.

Shopping malls, fast-food outlets, and cafes in major cities like Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu frequently offer a variety of ice cream options, and local brands have stepped up to meet growing demand.

Kenya's warm climate also makes ice cream an attractive refreshment, particularly during the hot seasons. This demand has led to a rise in both locally made and imported ice cream products, with more vendors setting up kiosks or mobile carts in public places like parks, schools, and markets.

That said, affordability remains a barrier in rural areas, where access to ice cream is more limited, and refrigeration infrastructure can be lacking. Still, the overall market is expanding, especially as local entrepreneurs and startups explore affordable, locally flavoured options that appeal to Kenyan tastes.

A photo of flavours of ice cream. /KEMZYKEMZY

How UK's Tougher Rules Affect You Planning To Work, Live & Study

Marvin Chege — Mon, 12 May 2025 16:54:05 +0300

The United Kingdom (UK) is undergoing a significant shift in its immigration policies, aiming to tighten controls and reduce net migration. Simply put, the rules target foreign employees, international students, migrants settling long-term, and individuals applying for asylum in the UK.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's administration has introduced a series of reforms affecting foreign workers, international students, and asylum seekers. These changes reflect a broader strategy to prioritise domestic labour and address public concerns over immigration levels.

Starmer on Monday, May 12, stated that his immigration overhaul is "a strategy absolutely essential to my plan for change, that will finally take back control of our borders, and close the book on a squalid chapter for our politics, our economy, and our country".

Picking up the Brexit-era "take back control" slogan, the PM stated that "everyone knows what it meant on immigration" - but criticised the previous government for doing "the complete opposite" of what it meant.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaking during a past address. /FINANCIAL TIMES

"Between 2019 and 2023, even as they were going round our country telling people with a straight face that they would get immigration down, net migration quadrupled," Starmer mentioned.

Foreign Workers: Stricter Entry and Employment Conditions

The UK government, for starters, has implemented measures to reduce reliance on foreign labour. The Shortage Occupation List has been replaced by the Immigration Salary List (ISL), which sets higher salary thresholds for visa eligibility.

For instance, the minimum salary for Skilled Worker visas increased from £26,200 (Ksh4,450,599) to £38,700 (Ksh6,573,976) per annum in April 2024.

Additionally, the Immigration Skills Charge paid by employers hiring overseas workers has risen by 32 per cent. These financial barriers are designed to encourage employers to invest in local talent.

In the healthcare sector, new regulations prohibit care workers from bringing dependents to the UK. Care homes must now be regulated by the Care Quality Commission to sponsor foreign workers.

International Students: Tighter Restrictions and Financial Requirements

International students face new challenges under the revised immigration rules. From January 2024, most students are no longer permitted to bring dependents unless enrolled in a PhD or research-based programs.

Financial requirements have also increased. Starting January 2025, students must demonstrate higher maintenance funds: £1,483 (Ksh251,917) per month for those studying in London and £1,136 (Ksh192,972) for those outside London.

The post-study work period under the Graduate Route has been reduced from two years to 18 months. A six per cent levy on international student income is also being considered.

Citizenship and Residency: Extended Timelines and Contribution-Based Assessments

The path to UK citizenship has become more stringent. The residency requirement has doubled from five to 10 years. However, individuals who contribute significantly to society or the economy may be eligible for earlier applications.

The government emphasises a contributions-based model, favouring applicants who consistently pay taxes, work in public services or high-skilled jobs, and engage in community volunteering.

Asylum Seekers: Streamlined Processes and Legal Limitations

The UK has introduced measures to expedite the deportation of foreign criminals and limit the use of human rights laws to avoid deportation. Legislation is being prepared to restrict asylum seekers' use of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Illegal Migration Act 2023 further strengthens the government's stance by preventing individuals who arrive illegally from claiming asylum or benefiting from modern slavery protections.

Financial Implications: Increased Costs for Migrants

The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) has seen a significant increase. As of February 2024, the IHS rose from £624 (Ksh105,999) to £1,035 (Ksh175,815) per year for most applicants. Students and children, however, benefit from a reduced rate of £776 (Ksh131,819) annually.

These increased costs, along with higher visa fees and maintenance requirements, place additional financial burdens on migrants.

The UK's recent immigration reforms signify a decisive move towards stricter controls and reduced net migration. By raising financial thresholds, limiting dependents, and tightening legal avenues for asylum, the government aims to prioritise domestic labour and address public concerns.

These changes reflect a broader strategy to reshape the UK's immigration landscape, emphasising economic contribution and societal integration.

A view of the skyline in London, United Kingdom. /WIKIPEDIA

What To Expect During Pope Leo XIV’s Inauguration Mass

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Sat, 10 May 2025 14:12:25 +0300

Earlier this week, American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected as the new Pope of the Catholic Church. Prevost chose the name Pope Leo XIV, becoming the 267th head of the Catholic Church and succeeding the late Pope Francis.

Following this, the Vatican announced that the newly elected Pope would be inaugurated officially into the papacy on Sunday, May 18.

“The Holy See Press Office announced the upcoming schedule for the newly elected Pope Leo XIV. His inaugural Mass will be held in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, May 18, at 10 am Rome time,” Vatican News stated.

When Pope Leo XIV officially begins his pontificate on May 18, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square, the world will witness one of the Catholic Church’s most symbolic and historic rituals: the Papal Inauguration Mass.

Pope Leo XIV gesturing to the crowd from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica after he was elected the new Pope on Thursday, May 8, 2025. /VATICAN NEWS

The ceremony will combine centuries-old tradition with modern-day relevance, signalling the start of a new era for over 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide. Viral Tea takes a look at what will happen during the mass:

A Sacred Start: Honouring the First Pope

The day will begin in solemnity. Before emerging to the crowds gathered in the square, Pope Leo XIV will descend to the tomb of St. Peter—the Church’s first pope—beneath St. Peter’s Basilica. This private moment of prayer symbolises the unbroken line of apostolic succession, connecting the new pope directly to Peter.

From St. Peter’s tomb, two essential items will be retrieved: the pallium and the Fisherman’s Ring. The pallium, a white woollen band worn over the shoulders, represents the pope’s role as the shepherd of Christ’s flock. The ring, inscribed with the image of St. Peter casting a net, symbolises the spiritual authority bestowed on each new pontiff.

Procession Into the Square

Following this sacred moment, Pope Leo XIV will be joined by Eastern Catholic patriarchs and representatives of Christian churches in a grand liturgical procession through the basilica and into the open square.

Accompanied by a 14-piece brass ensemble and the chanting of Laudes Regiae—“Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat” (“Christ conquers, Christ reigns, Christ commands”)—the scene will echo centuries of papal history and liturgical grandeur.

This is more than pageantry—it is a ritual of continuity, one that announces to the faithful and to the world: the pope has arrived, and his mission begins now.

Receiving the Symbols of the Papacy

At the altar, Pope Leo XIV will receive two traditional symbols of his office. The senior cardinal deacon will place the pallium over the pope’s shoulders, and the senior cardinal bishop will present him with the Fisherman’s Ring. These acts replace the medieval coronation ceremony and reflect the Church’s emphasis on pastoral leadership rather than temporal power.

This shift, first seen in the inauguration of Pope John Paul I in 1978 and solidified under John Paul II and Francis, sends a message: the papacy is a ministry of service, not monarchy.

Oath of Obedience

Immediately following the investiture, six cardinals—two bishops, two priests, and two deacons—will approach Pope Leo XIV to pledge their obedience. This ritual, though abbreviated from earlier centuries, represents the entire College of Cardinals’ unity with and support for the new pope.

The Inauguration Mass: Worship at a Global Scale

The Papal Inauguration Mass will begin shortly after the investiture. Taking place in the vast expanse of St. Peter’s Square, the open-air liturgy will be attended by an estimated 200,000 people, with millions more tuning in worldwide via television and online livestreams.

Fittingly, the Mass will be celebrated on the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, emphasising humility, integrity, and fatherly care, all qualities the pope is expected to embody.

Liturgical and Cultural Highlights

One unique aspect of the Mass will be the proclamation of the Gospel in Greek. This tradition, reflecting the universality of the Church, honours the Eastern Christian Churches and underscores the Vatican’s ecumenical outreach. The use of both Latin and Greek in the Mass is a nod to the undivided Church of the first millennium.

Pope Leo XIV will deliver his homily in Italian. This moment is expected to draw global attention, as it will likely set the tone for his entire pontificate.

Known for his missionary work in Peru and as the first American pope, Leo XIV may address themes such as poverty, migration, climate justice, and reconciliation. Vatican insiders say the new pope is eager to emphasise inclusion and global solidarity, particularly with youth and the marginalised.

Sacred Music: A Choir of Centuries

Music for the Mass will be drawn from the Church’s rich liturgical heritage. The Vatican Choir will perform Tu es pastor ovium by Palestrina during the Offertory, a Renaissance motet fitting for the occasion—it translates to “You are the shepherd of the sheep.”

The conclusion of the Mass will feature the majestic Te Deum, a hymn of thanksgiving sung in alternating Gregorian chant and a choral setting by Spanish composer Tomás Luis de Victoria.

Communion for Thousands

Approximately 500 priests will assist in distributing Holy Communion throughout St. Peter’s Square, supported by hundreds of volunteers. Logistically, this is a massive operation, but one that the Vatican has perfected over decades. The moment when tens of thousands receive Communion in unison is always one of the most emotionally powerful in any papal liturgy.

Post-Mass Diplomacy: Meeting World Leaders

After the final blessing and recessional, Pope Leo XIV will return to St. Peter’s Basilica to remove his vestments. He will then meet with global dignitaries, including representatives from over 100 nations.

Prince Edward will represent King Charles III of the United Kingdom, while delegations from the United States, Latin America, Africa, and Asia will also be present.

These post-Mass greetings highlight the unique role of the pope—not just as a religious leader, but as a moral voice on the global stage.

Pope Leo XIV speaking to the crowd from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica after he was elected the new Pope on Thursday, May 8, 2025. /VATICAN NEWS

A Papacy of Hope and Challenge

For many, the inauguration marks more than just a new leader—it signals a new direction. Pope Leo XIV’s background suggests a commitment to justice, dialogue, and ecological stewardship. His emphasis on missionary outreach and his work with Indigenous communities in South America suggest a desire to lead the Church not from behind gilded walls, but from the margins.

By choosing the name Leo—evocative of past reformers and defenders of the faith—he invokes a legacy of courage and bold leadership.

Looking Forward

As Pope Leo XIV steps onto the world stage, he inherits a Church facing both immense challenges and powerful opportunities.

From clergy abuse scandals to plummeting vocations in the West, to explosive growth in the Global South, the Catholic Church stands at a crossroads. How Leo XIV responds—beginning with his message at the inauguration—will shape the Church’s voice for years to come.

But for now, all eyes turn to St. Peter’s Square. In a rite steeped in tradition and charged with meaning, the papacy of Pope Leo XIV begins—not with a coronation, but with a Mass. A message. A mission.

LIST: Kenyan Politicians Who Have Been Assassinated

Marvin Chege — Thu, 01 May 2025 11:27:15 +0300

Kenya's political history is marked by a series of high-profile assassinations that have left indelible scars on the nation's collective memory.

These targeted killings, often shrouded in mystery and controversy, have not only silenced influential voices but have also exposed the deep-seated issues of political rivalry, ethnic tensions, and systemic impunity.

This comprehensive account delves into the lives and tragic ends of notable Kenyan politicians who were assassinated, shedding light on the circumstances surrounding their deaths and the lasting impact on the country's political landscape.

Senior Chief Waruhiu (1890–1952)

Senior Chief Waruhiu was a colonial chief known for his loyalty to the British administration during the Mau Mau uprising.

On October 7, 1952, Waruhiu was assassinated near Gachie, outside Nairobi, by gunmen believed to be associated with the Mau Mau movement.

On 7 October 1952, Senior Chief Waruhiu wa Kungu, a pillar of the Kikuyu establishment in Kiambu District, was assassinated. /STANDARD DIGITAL

His death prompted the British colonial government to declare a state of emergency, leading to intensified crackdowns on the Mau Mau and their sympathisers.

Pio Gama Pinto (1927–1965)

Pio Gama Pinto was a Kenyan journalist, politician, and freedom fighter of Goan descent. A staunch socialist, Pinto played a pivotal role in Kenya's struggle for independence, using his journalistic prowess to advocate for anti-colonial sentiments. He was instrumental in founding the Kenya African National Union (KANU) and was a close ally of Jomo Kenyatta.

On February 24, 1965, Pinto was assassinated in Nairobi's Westlands neighbourhood. As he waited in his driveway for the gate to open, assailants shot him at close range.

His death marked the first political assassination in independent Kenya. While Kisilu Mutua was convicted of the murder, he maintained his innocence, and the true masterminds behind the assassination remain unidentified.

Speculations suggest that Pinto's socialist ideologies and opposition to neocolonial influences may have made him a target.

Photo of the late Pio Gama Pinto. /PAUKWA

Tom Mboya (1930–1969)

Tom Mboya was a charismatic trade unionist, educator, and Pan-Africanist who emerged as a prominent figure in Kenya's post-independence government.

Serving as the Minister for Economic Planning and Development, Mboya was instrumental in shaping Kenya's economic policies and was seen as a potential successor to President Kenyatta.

On July 5, 1969, Mboya was gunned down on Moi Avenue in Nairobi after visiting a pharmacy. The assassin, Nahashon Isaac Njenga Njoroge, was apprehended and later executed.

An old photo of the late Tom Mboya. /FILE

However, during his arrest, Njoroge's cryptic statement, "Why don't you go after the big man?" fueled speculations of a larger conspiracy.

Mboya's assassination triggered widespread riots and deepened ethnic divisions, particularly between the Luo and Kikuyu communities.

J.M. Kariuki (1929–1975)

Josiah Mwangi Kariuki, popularly known as J.M. Kariuki, was a vocal critic of the Kenyatta regime and an advocate for the poor.

As a Member of Parliament for Nyandarua North, Kariuki's socialist leanings and calls for equitable wealth distribution earned him both admiration and enmity.

In March 1975, Kariuki disappeared under mysterious circumstances. His mutilated body was later discovered in a thicket, bearing signs of torture.

Photo of JM Kariuki. /STANDARD DIGITAL

The government's initial denial and subsequent mishandling of the investigation led to public outrage and protests. Despite the establishment of a parliamentary committee to probe the murder, no one was held accountable, and the case remains unresolved.

Robert Ouko (1931–1990)

Dr. Robert Ouko served as Kenya's Minister for Foreign Affairs and was a respected diplomat known for his integrity.

In February 1990, Ouko's charred body was found near his rural home in Koru, Nyanza Province. The gruesome nature of his death, coupled with his recent trip to Washington, D.C., where he reportedly met with U.S. officials, sparked numerous theories about the motive behind his assassination.

Photo of Robert Ouko. /STANDARD DIGITAL

Investigations implicated high-ranking government officials, including Nicholas Biwott, a close ally of President Moi. However, despite multiple inquiries, including one by Scotland Yard, the case remains unsolved, symbolising the challenges of addressing high-level political crimes in Kenya.

George Muchai (1954–2015)

George Muchai, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) and Member of Parliament for Kabete, was known for his anti-corruption stance.

On February 7, 2015, Muchai, along with his two bodyguards and driver, was ambushed and shot dead at the Kenyatta Avenue-Uhuru Highway roundabout in Nairobi. The attackers, who escaped with a briefcase and firearms, were believed to be part of a criminal gang.

Photo of George Muchai. /KENYA STOCKHOLM BLOG

Seven suspects were arrested, but the case has seen numerous delays, with the defence hearing scheduled for February 2025.

Muchai's assassination highlighted the risks faced by politicians challenging entrenched interests.

Mellitus Mugabe Were (1968–2008)

Mellitus Mugabe Were was elected as the Member of Parliament for Embakasi in the December 2007 general elections on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket. On January 29, 2008, amid post-election violence, Were was shot outside his home in Nairobi's Woodley Estate.

Melitus Mugabe Were. /FACEBOOK

According to reports, as Were waited for his gate to be opened, assailants approached and shot him at close range. Three suspects were arrested, convicted, and sentenced to death for the murder.

Were's death further inflamed the already volatile political climate in the country.

Charles Were (1975–2025)

The now former Kasipul Member of Parliament was shot dead by unidentified attackers on the evening of Wednesday, April 30, 2025, near the City Mortuary roundabout along Ngong Road in Nairobi.

As detailed in a police report, the incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. when a white Toyota Crown stopped at a red light on Ngong Road. Shortly after, a motorcycle carrying two individuals—one riding and one as a passenger—pulled up beside the vehicle.

The passenger got off the bike, approached the car, and opened fire on the MP before quickly hopping back on the motorcycle and fleeing the scene.

Efforts to save Were’s life by rushing him to Nairobi Hospital were unsuccessful, as he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Police later described the attack as targeted and premeditated. Were was a member of the opposition ODM party, and his death has raised concerns about the resurgence of political assassinations in Kenya.

Portrait photo of the late Kasipul MP Charles Ong'ondo Were. /CALEB AMISI

Items That Will Be Buried With Pope Francis

Marvin Chege — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 17:01:57 +0300

Pope Francis, who died on Monday morning at the age of 88, is set to be buried on Saturday, April 26, in Rome, Italy. The funeral service will be led by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, an American archbishop originally from Ireland.

Although the ceremony will be held in St. Peter’s Square, the late pope will be laid to rest in a special tomb inside the Vatican, honouring the burial request he made before his passing.

By 8 pm on Friday, April 25, the coffin will be sealed during a special ritual, which will mark the end of the three days of public viewing of his body at St. Peter’s Basilica.

Pope Francis will be buried in two coffins, marking a departure from the long-standing tradition of using three, typically made from cypress, lead (or zinc), and oak.

Cardinals walk through St. Peter’s Square ahead of the coffin of Pope Francis, who lay in state at St. Peter’s Basilica for three days, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. /AP

Historically, the first coffin is crafted from cypress, symbolising humility and simplicity. The second, usually zinc, serves to preserve the body due to its airtight nature. The final outer coffin, made of oak, represents the strength and dignity of the papal office.

However, in 2024, Pope Francis introduced reforms to the official Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis (Rite of Burial for Roman Pontiffs), opting for a simpler approach. Honouring his request, he will be buried in a modest wooden casket lined with zinc, rather than the traditional triple-coffin setup.

During the burial rites, Cardinal Kevin Farrell will place a white silk veil over the Pope’s face — a gesture rich in symbolism, representing both divine protection and the belief in resurrection, reminiscent of Christ’s burial cloth. He will then bless the body with holy water.

As part of the burial tradition, a pouch containing coins and commemorative medals minted during Pope Francis' time as pope will be placed in the coffin. These coins — made from gold, silver, and copper — represent each year of his papacy. With 12 years served, a total of 12 coins will be included.

Alongside the coins, a sealed document known as the rogito will be placed in the coffin. This document, which will also be read aloud during the funeral, outlines a brief biography of Pope Francis and highlights key moments of his pontificate.

Before sealing the zinc coffin, Cardinal Farrell will place a cross and the late Pope’s coat of arms on it, along with a plaque inscribed with his birth name, age, and duration of service as pontiff. The zinc coffin will then be officially sealed and stamped with the seals of the Cardinal Camerlengo, the Prefecture of the Papal Household, the Office for Liturgical Celebrations, and the Chapter of St. Peter's Basilica.

Finally, the zinc coffin will be encased in the wooden outer casket, which will be closed and marked once again with the papal cross and coat of arms on its lid.

Security around the Vatican has been significantly increased in anticipation of the funeral, which is expected to draw numerous world leaders and dignitaries, including U.S. President Donald Trump.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula will represent Kenya at the funeral. While delivering condolences at the Apostolic Nunciature in Nairobi alongside fellow MPs, Wetang’ula announced that President William Ruto had nominated him to attend the event on behalf of the nation.

A photo of the late Pope Francis. /REUTERS

UN Urges Kenyan Men To Reject Toxic Masculinity; Explains Why

Marvin Chege — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 18:22:21 +0300

The United Nations (UN) Women Kenya is urging Kenyan men to adopt positive masculinity and reject toxic behaviours to help tackle gender-based violence (GBV).

While they acknowledged progress in laws aimed at fighting GBV, women leaders emphasised that it is not enough. They’re calling on men to actively challenge outdated patriarchal norms—like the idea that men should always be in control and women should stay submissive—which fuel abuse and inequality.

“Positive masculinity is a powerful tool for gender justice—it asks men to reject harmful norms, embrace empathy, respect, and partnership. It encourages men to be allies and build healthier relationships," stated Antonia N’gabala Sodonon, the Representative for UN Women in Kenya, on Tuesday, April 22.

UN Women added that despite legislative efforts, deeply rooted patriarchal norms and unequal power structures continue to perpetuate violence, discrimination, and systemic gender inequalities.

Attendees at a Positive Masculinity Regional Workshop on April 22, 2025. /UN WOMEN

The organisation further noted that GBV continues to manifest in many forms, including domestic violence, sexual harassment, and economic disempowerment, limiting the full participation of women and girls in society.

The women leaders pointed out that some of the harmful patriarchal beliefs still entrenched in society include the expectation that men should be dominant while women remain submissive—an idea that fuels dangerous power imbalances and violence.

They also highlighted other toxic norms like women’s financial dependence on men, cultural practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriages, and even disturbing cases where some communities still justify beating women as a form of “discipline.”

According to UN Women, these beliefs and practices—often upheld by men—are key drivers behind the rising cases of gender-based violence in Kenya.

Now, UN Women is urging men and boys to break away from the toxic mindset that links masculinity with dominance, aggression, and control. Instead, they’re pushing for a version of masculinity that centres on empathy, respect, accountability, and equality—what they’re calling positive masculinity.

What Is Positive Masculinity?

Positive masculinity is all about embracing the good stuff that comes with being a man—strength, leadership, protection, resilience—but using it in ways that uplift, not dominate. It is about emotional intelligence, respect, vulnerability, and accountability.

Positive masculinity pushes men to be role models, to take care of others, to speak up for what's right, and to support people regardless of gender. It’s strength without aggression, confidence without arrogance, and leadership without control. It's the kind of masculinity that makes you feel safe, supported, and inspired.

How Does It Compare to Toxic Masculinity?

Toxic masculinity is the warped version of manhood that tells men and boys that they have to be dominant, emotionless, aggressive, and always in control. It teaches boys that crying is weakness, that empathy is "unmanly," and that power comes from intimidation or violence.

Toxic masculinity thrives on insecurity—it is fragile, constantly trying to prove something, and it often hurts not only women and marginalised groups, but also the men trapped in it. It leads to cycles of emotional repression, mental health issues, and broken relationships.

In short, positive masculinity builds up, and toxic masculinity breaks down. One is rooted in growth and connection; the other is driven by fear and control. It’s not about rejecting masculinity—it’s about redefining it in a way that’s healthy and human.

From Toxic to Positive Masculinity

Transitioning from toxic masculinity to positive masculinity starts with unlearning—and that takes real self-awareness. It means taking a step back and asking, “Why do I act this way?” or “Where did I learn that showing emotions is weak?”

A lot of toxic traits are picked up from culture, media, or family, so the first move is recognising those patterns. Once you're aware, you can start breaking the cycle. That might look like calling out your defensiveness, owning up to mistakes, or just letting yourself feel something other than anger or pride.

Next, it’s about replacing those old habits with new, healthier ones. Instead of suppressing emotions, practice expressing them in a real way. Talk to your people. Journal. Go to therapy if you can. Learn to apologise without excuses. Start seeing vulnerability not as a flaw, but as courage.

Positive masculinity is grounded in emotional maturity—it’s about leading with empathy, not ego. And you don’t have to be perfect at it. It’s a lifelong process, not a checklist.

Also, look at your relationships. Are you listening to others, especially women or non-binary folks? Are you uplifting or dominating? Surround yourself with people who hold you accountable and model the kind of masculinity you want to embody.

Follow creators, thinkers, or leaders who promote healthy masculinity. Let their actions rewire what you associate with being a man. The shift is internal, but the impact? That spreads out into everything—friendships, romantic relationships, work, even how the next generation sees manhood.

Working alongside the Kenyan government, youth advocates, and gender experts, UN Women has agreed that the Regional Forum on Positive Masculinity and the Fight Against GBV will play a key role in guiding the ratification and rollout of the African Union's Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG), with a focus on promoting positive masculinity.

To push this new mindset forward, UN Women, the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action, and other partners in the Gender and Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) space have developed the first draft of Kenya’s National Male Engagement and Inclusion Strategy.

Thousands of women in Nairobi CBD hold peaceful demonstrations against femicide on January 27, 2024. /ANI NEWS

No Phones, No Internet: How The Next Pope Is Elected

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 12:39:35 +0300

As the Catholic church mourns the death of Pope Francis, attention now shifts to the Vatican as the process of selecting a new Pope begins.

Vatican News confirmed on Monday, April 21, that Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88, following a month-long battle with double pneumonia. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, stated that the Pope died at 7:35 a.m. on Easter Monday.

According to the Vatican News on X, "Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta."

When the Pope dies or steps down — like Pope Benedict XVI famously did in 2013 — the Catholic Church gears up for one of its most mysterious and highly-ritualized events: the election of a new Pope.

The late Pope Francis, right, shakes hands with the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in the Vatican in August 2022. /THE GUARDIAN

This is not your average political vote. There is no campaigning, no televised debates, and certainly no Instagram ads. Instead, the process is steeped in centuries-old traditions, layers of secrecy, and intense spiritual symbolism.

So how exactly does it all go down? Let’s break it all the way down — from the moment the seat of St. Peter becomes vacant to the dramatic white smoke that signals the world: Habemus Papam — we have a Pope.

The Vacancy: “Sede Vacante”

The process starts when the Papacy is officially vacant — Latin term: sede vacante, which literally means “the seat being empty.” This happens either because the Pope has died or, in rarer cases, resigns.

If it is the former, tradition dictates that the Pope’s death is confirmed by the Camerlengo — essentially the Vatican’s top administrator during the transition — who verifies the death and takes charge of Church operations until a new Pope is elected.

Once the Papal office is vacant, the Camerlengo destroys the Pope’s Fisherman’s Ring — a symbolic gesture to show the end of his authority. The Vatican’s government is paused, and most top officials have lost their power during this interim phase. Only essential functions continue, and the focus shifts completely to organising the election.

Who Votes: The College of Cardinals

The job of electing a new Pope falls on a group called the College of Cardinals. These are the Church’s senior officials — most of whom are bishops — appointed by past Popes. But not all cardinals get to vote.

Only those under the age of 80 on the day the sede vacante begins are eligible. This rule limits the pool to around 120 electors (though that number can fluctuate slightly).

Most of these cardinals already hold major responsibilities across the globe. They are the Vatican’s inner circle: theologians, diplomats, administrators, and spiritual leaders with deep knowledge of the Church’s mission and current crises, and they’re the ones who, behind closed doors, decide who gets to wear the white robes next.

Conclave: Locked In, Phones Off

The actual voting happens in an event called a conclave — from the Latin cum clave, meaning “with a key.” It is a literal lockdown.

The cardinals are sequestered inside the Sistine Chapel, cut off from the outside world. No phones. No internet. No contact with anyone outside the voting body. The idea is to shield the electors from any kind of outside influence, media pressure, or political lobbying.

Before the conclave begins, the cardinals take an oath of secrecy. Violating it is considered a massive breach of Church law and can result in excommunication.

The Sistine Chapel itself is swept for electronic bugs, and even signal-jamming devices are used to prevent communication. It is not just old-school — it is secret-service level secure.

The Voting Process: Super Sacred and Ultra Secret

The election follows a strict and ancient protocol. The cardinals vote using handwritten ballots that they fold and place into a special urn. They vote up to four times a day — two rounds in the morning, two in the afternoon.

To win, a candidate must receive a two-thirds majority. That means if 120 cardinals are voting, the new Pope needs at least 80 votes. It is not about popularity — it is about consensus. The Church wants a leader who represents a strong and unified choice, not a split or controversial one.

After each round, the ballots are burned in a special stove inside the Sistine Chapel. If no Pope has been elected, a chemical is added to the smoke to make it black, signalling to the world that the voting continues. If a Pope has been elected, the smoke is white, and the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica begin to ring. That is when the world knows: a new era has begun.

Who Can Be Elected: Technically, Anyone. Realistically? A Cardinal.

Here’s the twist: technically, any baptised Catholic male can be elected Pope. In practice, though? It is always a cardinal. The last non-cardinal Pope was Urban VI — elected in 1378 — and the chances of that happening again are next to zero.

The cardinals usually elect one of their own — someone they know, respect, and trust. Often, he is already held major responsibilities in the Vatican or led a massive diocese somewhere in the world.

He may not even want the job (in fact, many don’t), but the election is considered the work of the Holy Spirit guiding the cardinals' collective discernment.

The Moment of Acceptance

Once a candidate secures the necessary votes, the Dean of the College of Cardinals — or the most senior among them — asks the chosen one the ultimate question: “Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?” If he accepts, he is immediately Pope.

Then comes another question: “By what name shall you be called?” The new Pope chooses a name, like Francis, Benedict, or John Paul, often inspired by past Popes or saints he admires. And just like that, a new chapter in Church history begins.

The Big Reveal: “Habemus Papam”

Soon after, the world sees the famous white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney.

Crowds gather in St. Peter’s Square. News agencies scramble. And then, the cardinal proto-deacon steps out onto the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and announces in Latin: “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam!” (Translation: “I announce to you with great joy: We have a Pope!”)

Aerial view of Vatican City. /UNESCO

The new Pope then steps out, often looking overwhelmed and humbled, to deliver his first blessing as the Bishop of Rome. The crowd goes wild. Cameras flash. The Church — and the world — begins to speculate what this new leader will stand for.

What Influences the Vote?

While the process is sacred, it is not free from politics. The cardinals bring their concerns and priorities into the Sistine Chapel.

Is the Church in need of a reformer? A strong administrator? A charismatic pastor? A global diplomat? Different factions exist — those who lean more traditional, others more progressive — and debates happen.

Recent Popes have each represented different directions: Pope John Paul II was a global figure and moral philosopher. Pope Benedict XVI was a conservative theologian. Pope Francis, the first Jesuit and the first Latin American Pope, prioritized the poor, the environment, and reforming the Vatican’s bureaucracy.

The next Pope could lean in any of these directions, depending on what the Church needs in that moment.

In Three Coffins: How A Pope Is Buried

Marvin Chege — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 11:30:53 +0300

On Monday, April 21, the world was left stunned by the death of Pope Francis, the 266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Vatican News confirmed that Pope Francis died at the age of 88, after battling double pneumonia for over one month. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, confirmed that the Pope died at 7:35 a.m. on Easter Monday.

Following Pope Francis' death, attention now turns to the process that takes place in laying to rest a world leader with a stature akin to his. When a Pope dies, the world doesn't just lose a religious figure—it witnesses the end of an era.

The death of the Bishop of Rome, the spiritual leader of over a billion Catholics, sets off a chain of ritual, tradition, and ceremony that stretches back centuries. But how exactly does the Vatican bury a Pope? Here's a full breakdown of the ancient process that blends solemnity, symbolism, and spectacle.

1. First Comes the Confirmation of Death

The death of a Pope is never taken lightly, and it is not officially recognised until it is confirmed by the Camerlengo, or Chamberlain, of the Holy Roman Church, as was the case here. This person acts as the temporary administrator of the Vatican between popes, and their first job when a pope dies is to verify the death.

The late Pope Francis during a past address. /MIDLAND REPORTER-TELEGRAM

Traditionally, the Camerlengo would tap the Pope's forehead three times with a small silver hammer while calling his baptismal name. Today, that part is mostly symbolic and not physically done, but the role still involves officially declaring the Pope deceased and taking control of the Apostolic Palace.

The Pope’s Fisherman’s Ring—a signet used to seal official documents—is then destroyed in front of a group of cardinals to prevent forgery. This moment is one of the clearest symbols that the Pope’s rule has come to a full stop.

2. The Body Lies in State

After the death is confirmed, preparations begin for a public farewell. The Pope's body is usually transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica, where it lies in state for several days. This is when thousands—sometimes millions—of pilgrims, citizens, and tourists pour into Vatican City to pay their respects.

The Pope’s body is dressed in traditional papal vestments: a white cassock, red mozzetta (cape), red papal shoes, and a white mitre (bishop’s hat). He is displayed inside the basilica on a raised platform, with candles surrounding him and the Swiss Guard standing vigil.

There’s no casket at this stage—just the body, the vestments, and the immense reverence of the crowd. This phase usually lasts for about 3 to 5 days, giving the public a chance to grieve and reflect.

3. The Funeral Mass: A Global Spectacle

The Pope's funeral typically takes place between 4 and 6 days after death, allowing enough time for dignitaries and global leaders to travel to Rome. It is held in St. Peter’s Square and is led by the Dean of the College of Cardinals.

The event is huge, often drawing hundreds of thousands of mourners. Heads of state, royalty, religious leaders, and countless pilgrims converge for a high Mass, broadcast around the world.

One key part of the funeral is the homily, which reflects on the Pope’s life, legacy, and faith. While it’s deeply spiritual, the funeral also serves as a global goodbye. It is a mix of prayers, incense, chant, and choreography that would rival any state-level sendoff.

4. The Triple Coffin Tradition

Once the Mass concludes, the burial preparations begin. This is where centuries of tradition show up in full force. The Pope isn’t just buried in one coffin—he gets three.

First: The Cypress Wood Coffin

The innermost coffin is made of cypress wood. It is simple, unvarnished, and symbolises humility and the Pope’s humanity. Before it is sealed, a few key items are placed inside:

A copy of the Rogito — a document summarising the Pope’s life and accomplishments.
Medals and coins minted during his papacy.
A white silk veil over the face.
A rosary in his hands.

The cypress coffin is closed and wrapped with red silk cords, then sealed with wax.

Second: The Lead Coffin

This coffin is more heavy-duty. It's made of lead to preserve the remains and protect them from the elements. It is soldered shut and stamped with the Pope’s name, his papal coat of arms, and the dates of his papacy.

The cypress coffin is placed inside it, and it is sealed like a time capsule.

Third: The Elm or Oak Outer Coffin

The third and final layer is usually made of elm or oak, a noble wood that symbolises the dignity of the papal office. This is the outer coffin that the public sees during the burial. Once closed, it is secured with golden nails.

This three-tiered approach—wood, lead, and wood again—is unique to popes and other extremely high-ranking Catholic figures.

5. The Burial Site: St. Peter’s Basilica

Most popes are buried in the Vatican Grottoes beneath St. Peter’s Basilica. These underground chambers hold tombs of dozens of previous popes and martyrs, including St. Peter himself.

The coffin is carried into the grotto in a solemn procession. It’s accompanied by chants, candles, and cardinals. Sometimes the burial is public, sometimes private—depending on the Pope’s wishes and the Vatican’s call.

If the Pope specifically asked for a different resting place, like Pope John Paul II did (who was originally buried in the grotto but later moved upstairs to a chapel), those wishes are honoured.

Once the coffin is lowered into the tomb, it’s sealed with a marble slab bearing the Pope’s name and dates of his life. And just like that, the earthly journey of the Pope comes to a close.

6. Mourning Period and Papal Vacancy

After the funeral, the Church enters a formal mourning period. It’s called the novemdiales—a nine-day cycle of mourning and prayer. Each day, a special Mass is held for the deceased Pope, focusing on different aspects of his service.

During this time, Vatican operations continue but without major decisions. The Church is officially in a state of sede vacante—“the seat is vacant.” The Camerlengo continues managing day-to-day affairs, but major theological or administrative moves are paused.

7. Preparing for the Next Pope

The Pope's burial isn't just about honouring the past—it also sets the stage for the future. Once the novemdiales end, the focus shifts to the conclave—the secretive process where cardinals from around the world gather to elect a new Pope.

No one campaigns. No press briefings. The cardinals are locked inside the Sistine Chapel until they reach a decision, marked by the iconic white smoke from a chimney. But none of that begins until the burial is complete and the mourning period has ended.

Why It Still Matters in the 21st Century

For some, this whole thing might seem like an anachronism—why so much ritual for one man? But for Catholics, the death and burial of a Pope isn’t just about a leader dying. It’s about preserving a continuous, sacred line that stretches back 2,000 years to Saint Peter himself.

The whole process is designed to do three things:

Honour the life and service of the Pope.
Give the global Church a space to grieve.
Signal the transition to a new spiritual era.

Even in a hyper-modern world of digital funerals and livestreamed goodbyes, the Vatican’s ancient rituals still captivate global audiences and offer a rare moment of unified reflection.

Wrapping Up

The burial of a Pope isn’t just about laying a body to rest. It’s about legacy, continuity, and ceremony on a level no other world leader commands. It reminds the world that—even in 2025—there are still some traditions that carry weight, command reverence, and bridge the gap between history and the present day.

An image of Pope Francis. /CNN

Why It Is Called 'Good Friday'

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 14:49:45 +0300

Every year, Christians around the world observe a holiday that commemorates the day Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross, called 'Good Friday'.

Also referred to as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Great and Holy Friday, or the Friday of the Passion of the Lord, this is a solemn Christian day of remembrance marking the crucifixion of Jesus and His death at Calvary (Golgotha). It is observed as part of Holy Week.

Let’s be real, calling the day Jesus was beaten, mocked, and nailed to a cross “Good Friday” feels...weird. Morbid even. So, how did one of the darkest days in Christianity end up with a name that makes it sound like a discount sale?

The Day That Changed Everything

First off, Good Friday is the day Christians believe Jesus Christ was crucified. It's part of Holy Week, leading up to Easter Sunday, when Jesus is believed to have risen from the dead. According to Christian theology, Jesus' death was the ultimate sacrifice — a necessary act to save humanity from sin.

A silhouette photo of Jesus Christ on the cross. /iSTOCK

So while the events of the day were brutal and heartbreaking, they’re seen by believers as good in a cosmic sense. The short-term horror led to long-term hope.

The Etymology Angle: Was It Always Called ‘Good’?

Here’s where it gets interesting. The term “Good Friday” wasn’t originally used everywhere, and still isn’t. In many languages, the name reflects the sorrow of the day:

In German, it's called Karfreitag, which translates to “Sorrowful Friday.”
In Spanish, it’s Viernes Santo — “Holy Friday.”
In French, Vendredi Saint — again, “Holy Friday.”

So why does English go with good? One theory is that “Good” used to mean “holy” or “pious.” This is slightly akin to how we still say “The Good Book” when we mean the Bible.

Some linguists believe the name might come from an older phrase like God’s Friday (similar to “goodbye” being short for “God be with ye”), which got smoothed out over time into “Good Friday.”

Another theory is that the name reflects the outcome rather than the event. Jesus’ suffering was seen as “good” because it led to redemption — a win for humanity, even if the day itself was a loss for him.

Events Leading To Jesus' Crucifixion & Death

On Good Friday, Christians observe the day with fasting, prayer, and church gatherings, often taking part in a symbolic procession to remember the crucifixion of Jesus.

According to the Bible, the events began when Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ disciples, betrayed Him by revealing His location to Jewish soldiers, who then arrested Him in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Jesus was first brought before the High Priest, Caiaphas, who led the Sanhedrin—the Jewish council, which can be likened to a modern-day Supreme Court. The council had already decided to put Jesus on trial and was searching for a reason to justify a death sentence.

During the trial, Jesus was accused of blasphemy for claiming to be the Christ. He was then beaten and handed over to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, since under Roman law, the Jewish council didn’t have the authority to carry out executions.

Before Pilate, Jesus was charged with treason for allegedly opposing the Roman government. Though Pilate found no fault in Him, public pressure and demands for punishment grew. Eventually, Pilate gave in to the crowd’s demands and sentenced Jesus to be crucified, though, in an act of symbolic disapproval, he washed his hands of the decision.

A Painful Story With a Purpose

Whether or not you’re religious, the story of Good Friday is undeniably heavy. It’s about betrayal, injustice, sacrifice — all packed into one day. But for Christians, it's also about love, grace, and second chances. That's the "good" part.

Good Friday, thus, is not about brushing over the pain. It is about recognising that sometimes good things are born out of suffering. That's the core message: out of death came life. Out of despair came hope.

So “Good Friday” might sound like a misnomer at first glance, but when you look at it through the lens of Christian theology and old-school English, the name makes sense. It’s a reminder that what looks like defeat can actually be the start of redemption — a plot twist that defines the entire Easter story.

How The Date Of Easter (Good Friday Included) Is Calculated

Good Friday is observed on the Friday before Easter, but the exact date varies between Eastern and Western Christianity due to different methods of calculation. Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon, which is the first full moon on or after March 21, recognised as the date of the spring equinox.

Western churches use the Gregorian calendar to determine this, while Eastern churches follow the Julian calendar, where March 21 currently aligns with April 3 on the Gregorian calendar. The method for determining the date of the full moon also differs between the two traditions.

As a result, in Eastern Christianity, Easter can fall between March 22 and April 25 on the Julian calendar, which corresponds to April 4 to May 8 on the Gregorian calendar (for the years 1900 to 2099). Consequently, Good Friday in the Eastern tradition can occur between March 20 and April 23 (Julian), or April 2 and May 6 (Gregorian).

A graphic poster of Good Friday. /VIRAL TEA KE

Kenyans Invited To Tour East Africa's First-Ever Church Temple In Nairobi [PHOTOS]

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 17:07:43 +0300

Members of the public have been invited to tour the newly completed Nairobi, Kenya Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, marking a historic milestone as the first Latter-day Saint temple in East Africa.

According to a press release obtained by Viral Tea, an official open house will be held from Thursday, April 17, to Saturday, May 3, 2025, excluding Sundays. Tours will run daily, from 10 am to 6 pm, offering visitors a rare inside look at one of the Church’s most sacred spaces before it is formally dedicated.

Located in Mountain View, along Hinga Road off Waiyaki Way, the temple opens its doors to the public with guided tours beginning at the adjacent Latter-day Saint meetinghouse.

Each tour includes a short welcome and a 40-minute walking tour through the temple’s interior. Following the open house, the dedication ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, May 18, 2025.

In the baptistry inside the Nairobi, Kenya Temple, faithful Latter-day Saints can be baptized on behalf of their deceased ancestors, who can choose whether to accept this baptism. /CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

The Nairobi, Kenya Temple is the 204th temple worldwide and will serve more than 80,000 members across seven countries in the region. The vision for the temple was first announced in April 2017 by then-Church President Thomas S. Monson, and groundbreaking as well as construction works took place in September 2021.

As the Nairobi, Kenya Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opens its doors to the public ahead of its dedication, visitors will not only experience spiritual reverence but also admire an extraordinary blend of architecture, artistry, and cultural symbolism. Viral Tea takes a look at some of the features of the temple:

Specifications & Features

The temple sits on 3,435 acres of land, with a building size of 1,846.08 square metres and a height of 32.69 metres.

Exterior features include a cast-in-place concrete structural frame, complemented by concrete block partition walls and a striking stone veneer exterior made from Portuguese Moleanos limestone.

The Kenya Nairobi Temple as captured at night. /CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

A concrete block fence with a painted plaster finish surrounds the temple, enhancing both privacy and aesthetic harmony with the landscape.

The temple’s design motifs pay homage to Kenya’s global floral identity, particularly Nairobi’s status as one of Africa’s top flower exporters. The Agapanthus, also known as the African lily, takes center stage in the art glass designs and decorative paintings throughout the temple. Its vibrant blue-violet hue is echoed in key interior elements.

Interior Details

Furniture & Textiles: Drawing from British colonial design traditions, the temple's furniture is classic yet refined. Local and traditional African patterns inspire the textile choices, creating a rich cultural texture throughout the sacred space.

Flooring: The temple’s floors are finished with a combination of Mike carpet, nylon rugs, and porcelain Cerim Marfi stone, accentuated with Quartzite Blue and Verde Imperiale tones. Stone skirting around the baseboards is made from the same Portuguese Moleanos limestone seen on the exterior.

Walls: Interior walls are painted in warm, neutral tones, reflecting the colors of the Kenyan savanna. No wallpaper or coverings were used, allowing the natural textures and tones to shine.

Art Glass: Custom floral-themed art glass in blues and greens reinforces the Agapanthus motif, adding an ethereal glow to many rooms.

Entering the celestial room in the Nairobi, Kenya Temple symbolizes coming into the presence of God and Jesus Christ. /CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

Lighting: Decorative lighting includes elegant brass and crystal fixtures, carefully selected to match the temple's serene yet majestic atmosphere.

Doors & Hardware: Doors throughout the temple are crafted from solid sapele mahogany, a sustainably sourced indigenous timber known for its rich grain and durability. Door hardware in bronze and brass finishes mirrors the temple's floral themes, while the Celestial Room features unique fittings in an opulent French gold finish.

The Nairobi, Kenya Temple represents more than just a place of worship — it’s a celebration of local identity, craftsmanship, and sacred symbolism. Each detail, from the carved mahogany to the art glass windows, tells a story of faith rooted deeply in African soil.

Unlike the Church’s regular chapels used for weekly worship, Latter-day Saint temples are considered sacred “houses of the Lord.” They host special ordinances such as eternal marriages and baptisms for deceased ancestors—ceremonies that members believe connect families beyond this life.

“We stand amazed to see the construction of the house of the Lord here in Nairobi, Kenya," said Elder Thierry Mutombo in preparation for the open house events.

“We are humbled to witness God’s love and tender mercies to bless the Saints and their families on both sides of the veil. The house of the Lord is built for worship and makes sacred covenants of eternal significance. I love to see the house of the Lord in this beautiful land of Kenya and the Eastern Africa region.”

Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will dedicate the temple in one session on Sunday, May 18, 2025. The dedicatory session will be broadcast live to all units in the temple district. Once the temple is dedicated, only worthy members of the Church of Jesus Christ can enter to worship, serve and perform ordinances.

For more information, visit: NairobiKenyaTemple.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Glass in the Nairobi, Kenya Temple is a stylized floral pattern, primarily of blues and greens, consistent with the African lily (Agapanthus) flower. /CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

How KDF Brought Down 11-Storey Sinking Mombasa Building

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 16:40:58 +0300

On Wednesday, April 9, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) managed to successfully bring down a condemned storey building in Mombasa County, an 11-storey facility that was teetering on the brink of collapse after developing cracks in its foundation.

During the demolition, Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers were stationed inside the building's perimeter, while National Police Service (NPS) personnel were tasked with securing the surrounding area and preventing public access.

In the hours leading up to the demolition, residents were advised to modify their travel routes, with evacuations ordered for nearby locals. Schools and hospitals in the vicinity were also temporarily shut down for safety.

The Nyali Bridge — connecting Mombasa Island to the mainland — was also shut down from both sides starting around 7 a.m. on Wednesday. Shortly after, a powerful single explosion echoed from a distance, marking the final phase of the demolition.

With precision, KDF finally demolishes a sinking 11-storey building in Mombasa#ViralVideos pic.twitter.com/NEPqsmHDJF
— Viral Tea Ke (@ViralTeaKe) April 9, 2025

Mesmerised residents took videos of the demolition process and circulated them across social media platforms, from the moment the blast ripped through the peaceful atmosphere to when the building came crumbling down. Their wonder was valid as the KDF used controlled demolition to bring down the building — a method that has been common in developed countries but not in Kenya.

When old or unsafe buildings need to come down, cities don’t just rely on bulldozers and wrecking balls. Sometimes, they turn to an advanced method called a controlled demolition — a highly technical process where explosives are used to take down structures quickly, efficiently, and in a pre-planned direction.

But even with all the planning, controlled demolitions remain high-risk operations, which is why full public evacuations are mandatory before the blast. Viral Tea breaks down how this works — and why safety precautions are taken so seriously.

What Is a Controlled Demolition?

A controlled demolition is the intentional destruction of a building or structure using precisely placed and timed explosives. It’s often used for aging or structurally unsound buildings, structures damaged beyond repair (after earthquakes, fires, etc.) and clearing space for new developments in dense urban areas

The goal is to collapse the building inward onto its own footprint, minimizing damage to surrounding areas. This, however, requires detailed structural analysis by engineers, strategic placement of explosive charges at load-bearing points and split-second timing using digital detonators.

Think of it like architectural reverse engineering — turning a building’s strongest points into its weakest.

Why Must Everyone Evacuate?

Even though it’s called “controlled,” a demolition is still an explosive event, and a lot can go wrong fast. For that reason, demolition zones are cleared and surrounding areas evacuated before detonation. Here's why:

1. Debris Hazard

Exploding concrete, steel beams, glass shards — all of it can become airborne. Even with protective barriers in place, debris can travel hundreds of feet and pose a serious risk to life.

2. Air Quality and Dust Clouds

Controlled demolitions release massive clouds of dust and particulate matter, which can include asbestos, lead, silica dust and other harmful toxins

Breathing that in is not safe, hence why residents and businesses are told to leave the area and keep windows closed.

3. Shockwaves and Structural Vibrations

Like any other explosion, the force from a blast can cause windows to shatter, cracks in nearby buildings and ground tremors that affect underground utilities. Keeping people away reduces the chance of injury from these secondary effects.

4. Unpredictable Failures

Even with flawless planning, things can go sideways. Structures may tilt unexpectedly, debris may fall beyond the safety zone, or wind may carry dust clouds in unplanned directions.

That’s why demolition companies and local authorities always build in large safety buffers and enforce strict evacuation protocols.

How Are Evacuation Zones Determined?

Evacuation zones are mapped based on building height and mass, surrounding population density, projected debris radius, weather conditions (especially wind) and the type of explosives being used

In some cases, entire neighborhoods may be cleared, and traffic rerouted. It’s all about ensuring zero casualties, because there are no “redo” buttons with explosives.

Controlled demolitions are engineering marvels, but they carry real dangers. That’s why public safety comes first, and mandatory evacuations are non-negotiable.

Even if it looks like a smooth, cinematic takedown from the outside, what’s happening is a highly explosive chain reaction designed to bring down tons of material in seconds. When it’s time to clear the zone, you are advised to listen to officials, grab your essentials, and get to a safe distance.

It’s not panic — it’s protocol.

A photo of the Mombasa building demolished on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. /KENYA DEFENCE FORCES

PROFILE: Ruto Finally Nominates Gender CS

Marvin Chege — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 14:41:48 +0300

After what seemed like ages, President William Ruto has nominated a Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Gender, Arts and Culture after Stella Soi Lang'at’s nomination was rejected by Parliament on August 7, 2024.

Ruto, on Wednesday, March 26, nominated Hannah Teriki Wendot Cheptumo, widow of the late Baringo Senator William Cheptumo, to spearhead the gender docket. She will undergo parliamentary vetting. If approved, her name will be forwarded to the President for formal appointment.

Since Lang'at's nomination was trashed by the National Assembly Committee on Appointments, it has been a struggle for the Head of State to name her replacement, something which made women MPs, lobby groups, among others, put pressure on Ruto to name someone in his broad-based Cabinet.

Hannah Wendot Profile

Wendot Cheptumo is a Kenyan lawyer by profession. She is widely known for her legal expertise, resilience, and dedication to family and community service.

Her journey into law was largely inspired and supported by her late husband, Senator William Cheptumo, who envisioned her playing a key role in managing their family’s legal practice. She later joined the law firm established by her husband, where she played a significant role in its operations.

Gender Cabinet Secretary nominee Hannah Wendot. /FILE

Before marrying the late Senator, Hannah worked at a government office in Nyayo House, which hosts over 58 National and County Government departments providing essential services, including immigration.

With a background in public service, she has been a strong advocate for women’s rights, legal empowerment, and social justice.

Hanna Wendot Cheptumo’s Marriage

Hannah was married to the late Senator William Cheptumo, with whom she shared a deep and enduring bond. Their love story was one of devotion and persistence, with Cheptumo often expressing admiration for her smile and teeth, a lighthearted memory she shared during his requiem mass at AIC Milimani, Nairobi.

The couple had three children—Antony Kipchirchir, Andrew Rotich, and Jean Jeptoo—who all followed in their parents’ footsteps by pursuing careers in law.

Speaking on Saturday, March 1, during Cheptumo’s burial in Bartabwa, Baringo County, President William Ruto pledged to offer Hannah Wendot Cheptumo a job. However, at the time, he did not specify the position she would be appointed to.

President Ruto praised the late senator as a resourceful and progressive leader with a strong track record in development. He highlighted Cheptumo’s powerful advocacy for the voiceless and his contributions to peace and stability in Baringo and the Kerio Valley.

He also noted that his administration had worked closely with the senator and had fulfilled his requests, including enhancing security in Baringo County.

Why Was Stella Lang'at's Nomination Turned Down?

At the time, Lang'at was deemed to have failed to demonstrate adequate knowledge of topical, administrative and technical issues touching on the portfolio to which she had been nominated.

The National Assembly Committee on Appointments went ahead to approve 19 Cabinet Secretary nominees picked by President Ruto to occupy positions in his Cabinet, and they were subsequently sworn into office days later. All except the Gender CS nominee, who was not picked to replace Lang'at.

The Gender CS post drew significant attention, and one individual who openly declared her interest was former NTV presenter Doreen Majala. “To whom it may concern, I hereby express my interest in the position of CS, Gender, Culture, The Arts & Heritage,” Majala wrote in part on X on August 7, 2024.

Stella Soi Lang'at appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Appointments, August 4, 2024. /PARLIAMENT KENYA

No Girl Should Suffer Again: Survivor Leads Fight to End FGM in Kenya

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 16:28:45 +0300

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that more than 230 million girls and women across 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM). The practice, widely recognized as a grave human rights violation, is often performed on girls between infancy and the age of 15.

In Kenya, significant progress has been made in curbing FGM. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), citing the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022, the national FGM prevalence rate fell to 15% in 2022 from 32% in 2003.

However, the practice remains deeply entrenched in certain regions, particularly among women with no formal education, where prevalence stands at 56.3%, compared to just 5.9% among women with higher education. Activists warn that without urgent and sustained interventions, these numbers could rise.

Recent reports highlight a disturbing trend where FGM is being carried out in health facilities under the guise of medical procedures. In Suswa ward, Narok East constituency, the procedure is reportedly being referred to as ‘Swahili’ to disguise its true nature. Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) remain the primary perpetrators, with one in seven Kenyan women and girls aged 15 to 49 having undergone some form of FGM.

Naomy Kelai Kolian, a survivor from the Maasai community. /HANDOUT

Among those leading the fight against FGM are Naomy Kelai Kolian, a survivor from the Maasai community and a Nguvu Change leader. She played a key role in launching the #BreakTheBlade campaign in November 2024, an initiative that symbolically breaks a blade as a pledge to end FGM in Kenya.

Kolian recounts how the practice not only inflicted physical and emotional trauma but also shattered her aspirations.

“Growing up, I was a promising athlete, but after the cut, I could no longer participate in athletics or soccer, which I loved. My academic performance declined, and I was stigmatized. Teachers misunderstood my struggles, assuming I was avoiding extracurricular activities,” she recalls.

As the world marks the International Day for the Right to the Truth on March 24—a day that acknowledges gross human rights violations and upholds the dignity of victims—Kolian emphasizes the need for intensified global efforts to eradicate FGM.

“No girl or woman should ever have to endure the pain of FGM again. It is a grave violation of human rights, and it must stop. No talent should be lost to FGM. Every girl deserves a future full of possibilities and dreams,” she asserts.

To further protect vulnerable girls, Kolian has launched an online campaign urging the Narok County Government to establish operational rescue centres in the Narok East constituency. These centres, she argues, would provide immediate shelter and protection to at-risk girls and facilitate their reintegration into safe environments.

She also calls for strict legal action against perpetrators to serve as a deterrent. “Rescue centres are essential in offering immediate safety and intervention for girls under threat. Additionally, legal action must be taken against those violating the law to ensure justice and deterrence,” she concludes.

With activists like Kolian leading the charge, the fight against FGM continues, but much work remains to ensure that no girl in Kenya or beyond has to suffer this harmful practice again.

Profile Of Gen Z Ruto Nominated As PS

Marvin Chege — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 12:24:53 +0300

President William Ruto on Thursday, March 20 reshuffled his government, promoting and reassigning existing Principal Secretaries (PS) while nominating new ones for appointment to the posts. However, one name stands out.

Fikirini Jacobs was nominated by President William Ruto for the position of Principal Secretary (PS) for the State Department for Youth Affairs and Sports. Should he be approved after vetting, he could become one of Kenya's youngest PSs at the age of 28, meaning a Gen Z could finally join the Kenya Kwanza government.

President Ruto has consistently emphasized his dedication to youth empowerment and inclusive leadership, and his nomination of Jacobs has been warmly received by young people nationwide.

Sharing his enthusiasm about the appointment, Jacobs expressed his gratitude to the President, thanking him for the opportunity and his confidence in the youth.

Newly Nominated Youth and Sports Principal Secretary Fikirini Jacobs. /FIKIRINI JACOBS

"It is with great humility and profound appreciation that I accept my nomination by President Ruto, for the position of Principal Secretary for Youth Affairs and for his confidence in my ability to contribute to the government's transformative agenda," Fikirini wrote.

"Our youth are the driving force of our country’s future, and I am eager to work alongside all stakeholders to create an environment that nurtures their talents, supports their ambitions, and opens doors to endless possibilities."

Jacobs is no stranger to the political scene, having been in the spotlight since his days as a student leader at Maasai Mara University and Pwani University.

Born and raised in Bamba, Kilifi County, Fikirini Jacobs attended Mnagoni Primary School before proceeding to Mwakitawa Secondary School, where he completed his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in 2014.

In September 2015, he enrolled at Maasai Mara University to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Education. During his time there, he was elected Deputy President of the Students Organisation of Maasai Mara University (SOMMU).

However, in 2017, he was expelled from the university for allegedly leading student protests. Following his expulsion, Jacobs joined Pwani University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in philosophy.

In 2019, he was expelled once again after publishing an opinion article titled "Why the VC Must Go by All Means," which called for the removal of the university’s Vice-Chancellor. The piece led to tensions between him and the administration, resulting in his expulsion on allegations of inciting students to protest.

Despite this setback, Jacobs later resumed his studies at Pwani University and successfully graduated in 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy.

Before he was nominated Principal Secretary, he served as the Director of the Governor’s Service Delivery Unit in Kilifi County under Governor Gideon Mung’aro.

Politically, Jacobs has been a strong supporter of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga. Several leaders affiliated with Raila, including Governor Mung’aro and ODM's Communication Director Philip Etale, have congratulated him on his nomination.

"Congratulations, Fikirini Jacobs, on your well-deserved appointment as Principal Secretary (PS) in the State Department for Youth Affairs & Sports. Your dedication to serving the youth is truly commendable, and this new role reflects your hard work, commitment, and resilience," Mung'aro wrote.

Jacobs joins new nominees such as Jane Kare Imbunya (State Department for Public Services and Human Capital Development), Regina Akoth Ombam (State Department for Trade), Cyrell Wagunda Odede (Public Investment and Asset Management), Caroline Wanjiru Karugu (allied to Raila, East African Community Affairs), Oluga Fredrick Ouma (Medical Service), and Ahmed Abdisalan Ibrahim(National Government Co-ordination).

Others include Judith Naiyai Pareno (Justice Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs), Bonface Makokha (Economic Planning), Prof Abdulrazak Shaukat (Science, Research and Innovation), Stephen Isaboke (Broadcast and Telecommunication), Micheal Lenasalon (Devolution), Carren Ageng'o Achieng (Children Welfare Services) and Aden Abdi Millah (Shipping and Maritime Affairs).

President William Ruto during a Cabinet meeting on March 11, 2025. /PCS

How Snorkels Fitted On WRC Cars For Safari Rally Work

Marvin Chege — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 12:47:32 +0300

The highly-anticipated fifth edition of the World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally is here with us, running from March 20 to March 23, 2025, between the regions of Nairobi, Naivasha and Nakuru Counties. As much as it offers a thrilling experience for fans, this is the one rally in the WRC calendar that really tests the limits of competing drivers.

It is called the "World's Toughest Rally" for a reason. It takes drivers through hundreds of kilometres of some of Africa's most treacherous landscapes in courses that challenge competitors' skill and grit with its mix of mud, rocks, sand, and daunting water crossings.

The unpredictable weather adds to the challenge, with heavy rains often reducing visibility and creating slippery surfaces. As a result, this rally punishes the unwary and exposes the unprepared, forcing drivers into a mental battle of pace against preservation.

To prepare their cars to handle the difficult terrains, teams make modifications to the competing cars, unlike any other rally in the WRC calendar. One modification that has caught the eye of many is the snorkel.

A Hyundai i20N WRC rally car being serviced in Naivasha. /WRC

In past editions of the Safari Rally—before its return to the WRC in 2021—snorkels were widely used by teams to help cars tackle challenging terrain by preventing water and dust from entering the engine.

Although the device made a comeback when the Safari Rally rejoined the WRC, Rally1 cars were initially banned from using them. However, in 2024, the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the world's premier motorsport governing body, revised the regulations, allowing the top-tier category to incorporate snorkels.

This rule change aligned with the Safari Rally’s return to its traditional Easter schedule, which falls during Kenya’s rainy season, unlike the June slot of the past three years.

Toyota, Hyundai, and M-Sport Ford had in 2024 fitted their cars with snorkels during the event, and is set to be the case this year given that the snorkels will help engines breathe during deep water crossings, a necessity in a rally spanning 384 competitive kilometres — making it the longest of the year.

With wetter conditions this time round, M-Sport’s Adrien Fourmaux noted that the snorkel would be "much more relevant". “We are right in the middle of the rainy season now so we can expect the places where we had the fesh-fesh [sand] in the past could be full of mud, so I don’t know what to expect to be fair, I think it will be new,” Fourmaux told Motorsport.com in a past interview.

“We can expect to pass a lot of water splashes and they will be muddy, and it will be like the old-school videos where we see the cars covered in mud and even the drivers getting stuck in some places."

The snorkels are not the only modifications made to the cars for the Safari Rally. The cars stand taller than usual, fitted with tougher suspension to handle relentless undulations (moving smoothly up and down), sharp ruts (long, deep tracks made by the repeated passage of the wheels of vehicles), and large rocks that could end a driver's rally in an instant.

The Safari Rally isn’t just a test of endurance—it’s also a speed race. Remember, to win a rally, you must complete and get the fastest cumulative time over multiple stages across various terrains as quickly as possible while adhering to regulations.

High-speed compression plays a crucial role in this event. While the terrain is unforgiving, certain sections of the course are incredibly fast. The ability to absorb impacts while maintaining stability can mean the difference between victory and failure.

The Safari Rally Kenya is held in the Naivasha region, which sits at a high altitude. Due to the thinner air, engines generate less power, prompting teams to adjust engine maps to compensate. With every bit of power crucial, drivers push their cars to the limit as they race across the stunning African plains.

Nonetheless, what makes the Safari Rally truly unique is its distinct Kenyan identity. Drivers not only face the country’s unforgiving terrain but also experience breathtaking wildlife encounters, with elephants, giraffes, and zebras often spotted along the route. The rally also boasts a rich motorsport history, making it a highly revered event among fans.

Rally Categories & Competition Format

The Safari Rally will feature several racing categories, including:

WRC2 – A feeder series for private teams and manufacturer-backed drivers aspiring for WRC.
WRC3 – Designed for semi-professional rally drivers.
Junior WRC – Open to drivers under 29 years old.
WRC Masters Cup – Reserved for experienced drivers aged 50 and above.

The winner of the rally is determined by the fastest cumulative time across all timed stages. Drivers must navigate Kenya’s rugged landscapes while minimizing time penalties, which can be imposed for infractions such as jumping the start, missing checkpoints, or receiving unauthorized mechanical assistance.

The rally also includes the Wolf Power Stage, where the five fastest drivers earn bonus points contributing to the overall WRC championship standings.

Event Kickoff & Stages

The ceremonial flag-off is set for Thursday, March 20, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi. This will be followed by:

Super Special Stage in Kasarani (4.76 km)
Mzabibu Stage (8.27 km) – Newly introduced for 2025
A 5 km shakedown stage on Wednesday, March 19, before the official start.

The rally will see a mix of local and international drivers competing for glory. Defending champion Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota Gazoo Racing) will face off against Elfyn Evans (current WRC series leader) and Thierry Neuville (2024 WRC champion). Kenyan drivers Carl Tundo, Karan Patel, Jeremiah Wahome, and Hamza Anwar will also be looking to make their mark. The last Kenyan to win the Safari Rally was Ian Duncan in 1994.

WRC drivers line up with the competition cars ahead of the 2025 season. /HANKOOK

Stage Breakdown

Day 2 – Naivasha’s Tough Terrain

Drivers will tackle:

Camp Moran Stage (31 km) – A defining challenge in the Safari Rally.
Loldia, Geothermal, and Kedong Stages – Featuring rough conditions and demanding surfaces.
Each stage will be run twice, totalling a gruelling 93.89 km.

Day 3 – The Longest & Most Challenging Day

Sleeping Warrior Stage – Kicking off the day, with morning mist and low sun creating visibility issues.
Elementaita Stage – Runs along Lake Elementaita, cutting through Soysambu Conservancy’s open grasslands. This year, it will be run in reverse, making grip levels unpredictable.
Soysambu Stage – A mix of twisty sections and high-speed straights, now featuring a major spectator zone near the start.

Final Day – High Stakes & Historic Routes

Mzabibu Stage (Morendat Farm) – A brand-new addition, just 10 km from Naivasha town, designed for optimal spectator viewing.
Oserengoni Stage – A scenic challenge within Oserengoni Conservancy, known for frequent wildlife encounters.
Hell’s Gate – The Grand Finale
- Serving as the Wolf Power Stage, this rugged stretch has produced some of the most legendary moments in the Safari Rally.
- A new change for 2025 will see cars turn right near Fischer’s Tower instead of left, adding an extra challenge to the final stretch.

With demanding terrain, unpredictable weather, and fierce competition, the 2025 Safari Rally Kenya promises to be an electrifying showdown for both drivers and motorsport fans.

Inside Rescue.co: The Game-Changing Emergency Response Network Saving Lives Across East Africa

FaithAnne Mwaura — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 14:09:02 +0300

In a region where emergency healthcare is often inaccessible, Rescue.co is rewriting the narrative.

Founded in 2016 by Caitlin Dolkart and Maria Rabinovich, the organization is revolutionizing emergency response in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda—leveraging cutting-edge technology and a vast network of responders to bridge critical gaps in the healthcare system.

The Alarming Reality: Why Rescue.co’s Mission Matters

Each year in Kenya, more than 5,000 maternal deaths and 33,000 newborn fatalities occur, with over 200,000 mothers and infants in need of emergency care. Shockingly, only 3% of health facilities provide advanced maternity services, while 15% of annual births require urgent intervention.

With one-third of newborn deaths happening within the first 24 hours of life, often due to inadequate care for preterm babies or treatable infections, Rescue.co’s lifesaving emergency response system could prevent up to 75% of these deaths.

How Rescue.co is Disrupting Emergency Healthcare

At the heart of Rescue.co's innovation is Flare, a real-time emergency response platform that connects first responders—including ambulance drivers, security personnel, and pilots—through an intelligent dispatch system.

Rescue.co team posing next to a helicopter. /HANDOUT

Rather than owning its own fleet, Rescue.co collaborates with over 1,000 first responders, including:

800+ ambulances (Medical Taxi, Basic Life Support, and Advanced Life Support)
70 aircraft for emergency evacuations across Africa
Tow trucks and security teams for roadside emergencies

Operating 24/7, the organization’s dispatch centre is staffed with doctors, nurses, and paramedics, ensuring the right response is deployed in under 30 minutes in cities and within an hour in rural areas.

Beyond Medical Aid: Roadside & Air Rescue

Rescue.co extends its services beyond medical emergencies, offering:

Roadside Assistance & Security – Nationwide network of 130+ providers offering towing, fuel delivery, and tyre changes, plus security help for people in distress.
Air Evacuations – Rapid response for emergencies in remote locations like Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Kenya, Maasai Mara, and Northern Kenya.

Whether it's a hypertensive patient on safari or a hiker suffering from altitude sickness, Rescue.co ensures swift medical evacuation to the nearest advanced facility.

Affordable Emergency Coverage for All

Rescue.co provides three affordable plans to ensure everyone can access life-saving help:

Annual Coverage – Individuals, families, and businesses from Ksh4,000 per year
Safe Travels Plan – 30-day coverage for tourists at Ksh3,900
Roadside Assistance – Annual vehicle coverage for Ksh7,500 per year

Scaling Impact: From Mamalink to Job Creation

Rescue.co’s Mamalink hotline—designed for pregnant women in Nairobi—has helped over 15,000 mothers and newborns by dispatching emergency transport at critical moments.

Their work has also fueled job creation, employing over 1,000 Kenyans and expanding revenue for local first responders, while forging partnerships with governments, donors, and private entities to scale their reach.

Need Help? Here’s How to Get Emergency Assistance with Rescue.co

Call 0711 911 911 or press the SOS button on their website.
Provide your name, location, and details of the emergency.
Follow expert instructions while waiting for responders.

Rescue.co is changing the future of emergency response in East Africa—one life at a time.

Why Ruto-Raila Deal Is Not A Coalition

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 11:50:23 +0300

President William Ruto and Raila Odinga on Friday, March 7 signed what is now called a political cooperation agreement, which is not to mean a coalition agreement as has been the case in similar agreements spanning more than 30 years.

It may sound like a small difference, and it might be interpreted as another handshake, but there is a huge difference between the two in terms of their operation and implementation.

A political cooperation deal is an agreement between political entities—such as parties, coalitions, or individual leaders—to work together on specific issues or shared objectives.

Comparatively, and in multi-party states, a coalition agreement is an agreement negotiated between the parties that form a coalition government. It codifies the most important shared goals and objectives of the cabinet. It is often written by the leaders of the parliamentary groups.

President William Ruto (right) and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga arrive at the KICC for the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Friday, March 7, 2025. /PCS

That is how coalition agreements work in Kenya; a partnership between two or more political parties united to achieve a common goal, often to improve their electoral prospects or increase their legislative influence.

In Kenya, coalitions can be formed either before or after elections. While working together on shared objectives, each party within the coalition maintains its legal identity and operates independently.

Unlike formal coalitions or mergers, cooperation agreements are typically more flexible, without legally binding or long-term commitments. They are often designed to tackle particular challenges or advance common interests without requiring a fully unified political alliance.

This is the nature of the agreement signed between the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). To clarify, the deal was specifically between UDA and ODM, not the Kenya Kwanza coalition.

The two parties signed a 10-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening national unity and addressing governance issues. Key commitments include the full implementation of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report, ensuring inclusivity in budget allocations and public appointments, and protecting the principles of devolution.

The MoU also emphasizes economic investments benefiting the youth, promoting leadership integrity, and discouraging extravagant lifestyles among public officials.

Additionally, the agreement calls for safeguarding citizens' rights to peaceful assembly, compensating victims of rights violations, and conducting a comprehensive audit of national debt usage.

Other provisions focus on tackling corruption, eliminating wasteful spending of public resources, and upholding the sovereignty of the people by preventing abductions. It further underscores a commitment to constitutionalism, the rule of law, and press freedom.

“The MoU we have signed today does not define the formation of a political coalition between ODM and UDA,” Raila made it absolutely clear, adding, “However, its successful implementation could form the basis for steps towards establishing a broadly constructive formation for a stable country in the future.”

However, this political cooperation deal has one similarity...we'd have to go back to 2018 when Raila signed something similar to President Ruto's former boss, Uhuru Kenyatta, in the infamous handshake of March 9, 2018, a watershed event which was so surprising that it caught Kenyans unawares in the morning hours.

At the time, the infamous 'handshake' brought an end to the acrimony between leading political parties and tribes and promised to usher in a new era of peace, with the two leaders pledging to work together to address ethnic division, corruption, and historical injustice.

This agreement, therefore, serves as a "working political framework," a term not officially recognized in Kenyan political terminology. It broadly refers to informal or formal arrangements between political parties or leaders to cooperate on specific issues or offer mutual support in legislative matters without establishing a formal coalition or merging into one party.

Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga during the 'handshake' in 2018. /BBC

Features Of MRAP Military Vehicles Deployed By Murkomen To Fight Bandits [PHOTOS]

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 16:25:40 +0300

The Ministry of Interior has introduced a new fleet of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Standard Duty Vehicles as part of ongoing efforts to equip security forces with modernized tools, especially for border protection.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen unveiled the advanced vehicles at the GSU Headquarters in Ruaraka on Thursday, March 6, emphasizing that they align with the government's agenda to enhance security through modernization.

"In line with our Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) to undertake robust modernisation program within the security sector, today, I commissioned the second batch of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Standard Duty Vehicles at General Service Unit (GSU) headquarters, Ruaraka," he stated.

Murkomen termed this a great milestone in institutional reforms to build the capacity of Kenyan officers with the latest technology to tackle emerging crimes and complex situations and secure the borders.

Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen commissioning the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Standard Duty Vehicles at General Service Unit (GSU) headquarters, Ruaraka, on March 6, 2025. /KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN

He added that the vehicles would assist in fighting cattle rusting and banditry in northern parts of the country and other far-flung areas. However, what is so special about the MRAP vehicles?

Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles are heavily armored military-grade vehicles designed to withstand roadside bombs, ambushes, and other asymmetric threats. They are primarily used in combat zones, peacekeeping missions, and border security operations.

Features

1. Armor and Protection

V-Shaped Hull: One of the defining features of MRAPs is their V-shaped hull, which deflects the blast force from landmines and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) away from the crew compartment, reducing casualties.
Ballistic Protection: MRAPs are constructed using high-strength steel and composite materials that can withstand small arms fire, shrapnel, and explosive fragments.
Blast-Resistant Seating: The vehicle's seats are designed to absorb impact energy from explosions, reducing the risk of spinal injuries to occupants.
Reinforced Doors and Windows: The doors and windows are made of ballistic glass and reinforced steel, offering protection against bullets and blast debris.
Underbody Protection: Enhanced armor plating is used under the vehicle to prevent penetration from mines and IED blasts.

2. Mobility and Performance

All-Terrain Capabilities: MRAPs are designed for rough and uneven terrain, featuring high ground clearance, off-road tires, and an advanced suspension system for superior handling in desert, jungle, and mountainous environments.
Powerful Engine: Equipped with turbocharged diesel engines, MRAPs provide high torque and horsepower to navigate difficult terrains and maintain speed even with heavy armor.
Run-Flat Tires: Special run-flat tires allow the vehicle to keep moving even after being punctured, ensuring mobility in hostile environments.
Four-Wheel Drive (4x4) or Six-Wheel Drive (6x6): Depending on the model, MRAPs come with 4x4 or 6x6 drive systems for enhanced traction and stability.

3. Weapons and Combat Capabilities

Turret or Remote Weapon System (RWS): Many MRAPs are equipped with a roof-mounted turret or a Remote Weapon System (RWS) that allows soldiers to engage threats from within the vehicle.
Machine Gun Mounts: These vehicles can carry 7.62mm or 12.7mm heavy machine guns, grenade launchers, or even anti-tank weaponry.
Smoke Grenade Dispensers: Some MRAPs come with smoke grenade launchers for battlefield concealment.

Military officers guarding the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Standard Duty Vehicles at General Service Unit (GSU) headquarters, Ruaraka, on March 6, 2025. /KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN

4. Interior and Crew Comfort

Spacious Cabin: The MRAP has a large interior that can accommodate troops, medical equipment, or logistics supplies.
Climate Control System: Air conditioning and heating systems ensure comfort in extreme weather conditions.
Ergonomic Seating: Designed to reduce fatigue and injury risk, particularly during long missions.
Advanced Communication Systems: Includes radio, GPS, and satellite communication for real-time coordination.

5. Advanced Technology and Electronics

Night Vision and Thermal Imaging: Many MRAPs are equipped with infrared cameras and night vision systems for enhanced situational awareness in low-visibility conditions.
Blast Sensors: Some models have blast sensors that detect IEDs or mines before detonation.
Electronic Countermeasures (ECM): Advanced MRAPs may include electronic jammers to disrupt enemy communication and prevent the remote detonation of IEDs.

6. Mission Versatility

Border Security and Counter-Terrorism: MRAPs are used in high-risk areas to protect personnel from ambushes and explosive threats.
Troop Transport and Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC): Some variants serve as armored personnel carriers or ambulances, safely transporting soldiers and injured personnel.
Reconnaissance and Patrol: Equipped with surveillance tools for intelligence gathering and peacekeeping.

MRAP Standard Duty Vehicles are a critical asset for military and security forces, offering exceptional protection, mobility, and firepower. Their V-shaped hull, heavy armor, advanced weaponry, and communication systems make them highly effective in combat zones, border protection, and counter-terrorism operations.

As mentioned before, this is the second batch of vehicles after the first was unveiled on March 20, 2024, by then-Interior CS Kithure Kindiki.

A pastor blesses the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Standard Duty Vehicles at General Service Unit (GSU) headquarters, Ruaraka, on March 6, 2025. /KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN

Kenyans Now Dumping Agents As House Hunting Sees Big Change

Marvin Chege — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 15:45:46 +0300

Amidst the tough economic times with high costs of living reducing the spending power of Kenyans, the era of paying real estate agents to get a house might be coming to an end.

As they say, house hunting in Nairobi tests two things among you; either your physique...because you have to walk for several kilometres amidst tough natural elements to find your preferred house, or you have to pay an agent, which ends up costing you thousands of shillings that you did not budget for.

On February 2, an X user named Ricky wrote "It's so crazy that you want to charge 2k for house viewing, I don't understand how that business model works because there's no way I'll pay that amount just to view a house." Other users shared similar sentiments about the exploitation the agents subject them to during their house hunt.

Aerial view of Thika Superhighway at Ruiru. /YOUTUBE

Since that post, everything changed. "Since this tweet, there's been a shift in house hunting, people have created groups helping each other get houses for free, I love it."

"Those agents are reducing their prices and some are even hiding comments because people are giving out the exact location," he wrote on February 23, a post which went viral.

Kenyans took it upon themselves to make the daunting house hunt easier for their peers. What has been popular on Facebook for years has now spread to social media apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram in the Kenyan spirit of unity to make the house-hunting journey easier.

A review of one of the numerous WhatsApp groups by Viral Tea has revealed that the process has been simplified such that one joins the group where a user posts a house or posts that they are looking for a house, coupled with photos and the necessary details, including running water.

All you have to do is peruse through the listings, pick a house you like and pay a visit to that house. The catch? You don't have to pay viewing fees, a matter which has rendered the work of real estate agents meaningless.

With the middle class downgrading residences as their budgets continue to crumble under the strain of inflation and hefty taxes, this is proving pivotal as even Kenyans about to move out from their residences share with any other tenants seeking to occupy their places, as well as other affordable houses in the area, all without the use of middlemen.

Additionally, when someone visits a promising house but finds it unsuitable, they share pictures of it with others in the group for consideration. The groups also include landlords who post vacant rental houses directly.

This approach has eliminated middlemen who traditionally helped people find houses for a fee. In most areas, Kenyans typically pay agents between Ksh2,000 and Ksh3,000 to be referred to a house in a specific location.

The 'broker' tactic has been a go-to for agents who reap big by also charging landlords to connect them with potential tenants. However, many agents are now struggling to find work.

The group is part of a network of 54 other communities covering various estates across the capital, including South B, South C, Karen, Rongai, Fedha, Syokimau, Kitengela, Kasarani, Umoja, Kahawa Sukari, Kahawa West, and Wendani.

While these groups are making house hunting easier and more accessible, they are not without risks. Like many technology-driven initiatives, there is a potential for scams.

Despite this, the collective effort has turned house hunting into a crowdsourcing-like process, where members actively help those in need find housing that best caters to their needs.

Other than the social media groups, Kenyans are even turning to their social circles, including family members as the road to their next rental becomes less of an adventure, almost without spending an extra penny.

A photo of rental apartments in Nairobi. /LINKEDIN

BREAKDOWN: How Raila Lost AUC Elections Despite Taking Early Lead

Marvin Chege — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 20:47:29 +0300

In what will sound like a familiar script, Kenya's former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, suffered defeat in the African Union Commission's (AUC) chairperson elections, losing to Djibouti's Mahamoud Youssouf after six rounds.

Raila was eliminated in narrow circumstances at the sixth round, leaving Mahamoud with an open road to victory in the AUC elections, and making him the seventh African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson since its establishment in 2002. The other candidate, Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar, finished last.

Youssouf secured victory in the seventh round after Raila was eliminated, earning 33 votes to claim the seat for the next four years, meeting the required two-thirds majority. He is set to succeed Chad’s Moussa Faki, who held the position for eight years.

Road To Defeat

Raila initially led the race, winning the first two rounds but subsequently losing the next three to Mahamoud. In the first round, Raila received 20 votes, Mahamoud got 18, and Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato secured 10, with one abstention.

Former Madagascar Foreign Affairs Minister Richard J Randriamandrato with former Kenya Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Mahmoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti ahead of the Mjadala Afrika Debate. /PHOTO

The former Kenyan premier improved in the second round, earning 22 votes, while Mahamoud secured 19, and Randriamandrato received seven, with one country abstaining again.

It was from the third round however that the odds went against Raila. He fell behind, receiving 20 votes, as Mahamoud took the lead with 23 votes, and Randriamandrato dropped to five. One nation abstained, leading to Randriamandrato’s elimination and leaving Raila and Mahamoud in a direct contest.

Mahamoud then extended his lead in the fourth round with 25 votes against Raila’s 21, while one vote was spoiled and another nation abstained.

In the fifth round, Mahamoud secured 26 votes, Raila still garnered 21 votes, and one country abstained. The sixth round saw Mahamoud maintaining his 26 votes, with Raila gaining one more to reach 22, while one nation abstained.

Raila was then eliminated, leaving Mahamoud as the sole candidate in the seventh round, where he successfully obtained the two-thirds majority needed to win.

Speaking after the results were announced, Raila congratulated his opponent for clinching the seat and wished him the best during his term. “I had offered myself as a candidate, over the last few months I have run around the continent talking to different leaders of the continent canvassing for their vote and today they have expressed themselves. As it stands now, we did not succeed,” he said.

“We say that we must strengthen democracy in the African continent and I’m therefore conceding defeat, and I want us to use this as an example of strengthening democracy in our continent.”

Odinga added: “I want to wish my competitor Ali Youssouf all the best and success in his undertaking and also want to thank all those who voted for me and those who didn’t because of exercising their democracy.”

Reactions

The response to Raila's defeat reverberated across Kenya like wildfire. With a majority of Kenyans earlier anticipating that Raila would lose the AUC elections, Kenyans flooded social media with all manner of hilarious reactions while some voiced their disappointment.

Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament Peter Kaluma seemingly expressed his disappointment with the results indicating he would start a petition to remove the East African Community from the African Union. "I will petition the withdrawal of the East African Community from the African Union," Kaluma averred.

Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot also voiced his reaction in the aftermath of the results in a cryptic post on his X platform. This post seemingly gave the reasons behind Raila's loss. "Religion, France, Region," Cheruiyot stated.

However, no group was more stung by Raila's defeat than residents of Kondele in Kisumu County, Raila's backyard, with chants of "Ruto Must Go" renting the air. Footage seen by Viral Tea showed the residents, who were watching from a big screen, visibly distraught after learning of their popular leader's loss.

'Ruto must go’ chants erupt in Kondele, Kisumu, after Raila Odinga loses AUC chairmanship to Djibouti’s Youssouf pic.twitter.com/yN0sUzxMPu
— Nation Africa (@NationAfrica) February 15, 2025

Meanwhile, residents of Nyeri in the Mt. Kenya region reacted to the news with loud celebrations, stating that Raila’s defeat would allow him to concentrate on pressing national issues.

They argued that his loss would enable him to rally members of his Azimio coalition to hold the government accountable, especially following a recent court ruling that recognized Azimio as the majority coalition in the National Assembly.

“We are so happy. We want him to come back and resume politics in the country. He should now go back to being in the Opposition and spill all the government secrets,” one of the residents at Nyeri stated. Kileleshwa Member of County Assembly Robert Alai, an ally of Raila however dismissed the sentiments of the residents of Nyeri. "Baba Raila Odinga is not coming back to be used to fight Ruto," he noted.

Conversely, Mombasa residents reacted to the news with disappointment, attributing Raila’s loss to the South African Development Community’s (SADC) decision to back Madagascar’s candidate, Richard Randriamandrato. This move seemingly shifted the race away from Raila, with reports suggesting that most SADC member states opted to support Youssouf after Richard’s elimination.

Despite the setback, Mombasa residents stressed the importance of maintaining peace and unity.

It remains unclear what steps Raila will take following his defeat. The loss is expected to bring significant disappointment within his camp, given the extensive resources invested in the campaign. Attention now turns to Raila and Ruto, as many anticipate how their relationship dynamics will evolve in light of recent events.

President William Ruto and Raila Odinga during the launch of Raila's campaign for the AUC seat on August 27, 2024. /PCS

Is Trump's Newly Created Faith Office Similar To Rachel Ruto's?

Marvin Chege — Sat, 08 Feb 2025 12:30:36 +0300

United States (US) President Donald Trump on Friday, February 7 announced the creation of a White House Faith Office which, according to him, will help support Christianity in one of the world's greatest superpower countries.

He signed an Executive Order which created that office and to that effect, he appointed Pastor Paula White-Cain to serve as a Special Government Employee and Senior Advisor of the newly created office.

"In the last 40 years, White-Cain has expanded her influence globally in almost 200 countries, ministering, fighting for religious freedom and humanitarian rights, and advocating for the voiceless. She is the founder and president of Paula White Ministries and the National Faith Advisory Board.

"She is president of City Destiny and the overseer and a teaching pastor at StoryLife Church in Florida. Paula previously served as an advisor to President Trump in the White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative. She also served as chairwoman of the Evangelical Advisory Board (2016)," a statement by the White House read in part.

Donald Trump has created a White House faith office that will be in charge of tackling anti-Christian bias in America. /TIM CLINTON

Jennifer S. Korn was appointed a Deputy Assistant to the President and Faith Director of the newly created Faith Office after serving as Senior Advisor of the National Faith Advisory Board, America’s largest faith coalition.

It has been reported that the new office will empower faith-based entities, community organisations, and houses of worship to better serve families and communities. During his first term, Trump established a similar office at the White House and regularly consulted with a tight group of evangelical advisers.

Trump also signed an order to create a task force to identify "anti-Christian bias". It would also end the war on Christians and would comprise members of the president’s Cabinet and key government agencies.

PBS News had quoted the US president noting that attempts to assassinate him changed his relationship with religion which is why he wants Americans to "Bring God back."

The creation of this office should ring a bell among Kenyans since First Lady Rachel Ruto has a Faith Diplomacy Department domiciled in her office, one which has faced sharp criticism and condemnation by Kenyans who alleged that the office was a misuse of public funds. But how does it compare to that of Trump?

Faith Diplomacy Office

According to Rachel Ruto on February 18, 2023, Faith Diplomacy aims to foster peace and national cohesion. To achieve that, the department advocates a return to family values.

“Women and children bear the brunt of war and unstable conditions,” she explained the need to harmonise families. She was speaking during the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Rachel Ruto further divulged that peace and national cohesion are achieved by partnering with faith-based organizations to incorporate value-based teachings. “The faith-based organizations help in ending Gender Based Violence (GBV) and other social ills that contribute to unstable families," she continued.

The First Lady further revealed mercy works under the department which involves keeping children in schools through the Mama Feeding Program.“Despite the government’s free primary education program, some children in urban settlements are not in school due to family responsibilities which lead to children headed households,” she regretted.

Lastly, the Faith Diplomacy Department uses faith to promote cohesion, peace and development. The Office of the First Lady was instrumental in organising National Prayers on February 14, at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi where the country prayed for rains and economic stability.

Rachel Ruto praying during a church service on December 4, 2022. /PCS

Kenyan Sets Eyes On Mexico After Winning Ksh100,000 In Poetry Competition

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 16:03:56 +0300

By Amanda Nechesa

The day was Sunday, January 26, 2025. The time was around 7 PM, and the venue was The Kenya National Theatre. Heavy rain had poured earlier that evening. Nairobi was wrapped in jackets and shivers, but inside the KNT auditorium, where hundreds of poets, poetry enthusiasts, writers, and creatives sat, no one could feel the cold. Only the tension in the room.

On stage stood four people—the MCs of the Grand Poetry Slam Africa, Njeri Wa Migwi and Wilson Uba, alongside the two finalists: Dominion and NIT.A.P. This was not just the D-day but the D-second. The judges had made their decision. The crowd held its breath. Of the two poets, one would be crowned the 66th Grand Slam Champion, while the other would be the runner-up. The answer lay in the piece of paper that Njeri Wa Migwi clutched in her hand, teasing the crowd’s anxiety.

When she finally announced NIT.A.P as the first runner-up and Dominion as the winner of the Grand Poetry Slam competition, the excitement was electric. Cheers erupted, people stood and clapped, while others—supporters of NIT.A.P—resigned to their seats. On stage, NIT.A.P and Dominion shared a warm, long hug, a testament that even in competition, the brotherhood of poetry remained unshaken.

Shortly after, the 65th Slam King, Slim Shaka, danced his way onto the stage to crown Dominion with the championship trophy. Every applause resonated through the auditorium as the kingship was passed on. Dominion, the 66th Grand Slam Poetry Champion—how did it feel to have all the admiration and applause directed at him?

Dominion receives his dummy cheque after being crowned the 66th Grand Slam Champion. /AMANDA NECHESA

“It was unreal. Man, that moment felt like time folded in on itself,” he said. “Honestly, it’s still sinking in. Being a Grand Slam Champion has always been a dream of mine, and seeing it come true is a true blessing. It was surreal, like stepping into a prophecy I didn’t even know was written for me.

I feel like the world shared with me in witnessing the result of years of dedication to the craft. Winning the Grand Slam isn’t just a personal victory; it’s a torch passed by the poets before me, a responsibility to amplify voices beyond my own. I am truly humbled and exhilarated for the World Slam Championship. I’m honoured, I’m ready, and I’m bringing the fire.”

For Dominion, who hails from Eldoret, poetry wasn’t a grand revelation but a slow burn. He fell in love with words at fourteen but grasped the concept of poetry at sixteen when he watched the writer and performer Mufasa on KTN’s gospel show. Dominion marvelled at how someone could craft words so beautifully. Inspired, he wrote his first original piece in high school. From that moment, writing became his way of making sense of the world. When he stepped onto the stage, the mic felt like home.

Years later, in 2025, he emerged as the winner of the Grand Slam 2024-25, which was the culmination of three preliminary editions, each pitting ten poets against each other for the 66th Slam Africa crown. As the champion, Dominion first received the honour of being crowned king, followed by a grand prize of KSH 100,000. Additionally, he will represent Kenya on the global Slam Stage in Mexico.

“This is all truly humbling,” he said. “The 17-year-old me would never have imagined himself in a position like this. This is a chance to show the world that there’s more in the melanin of our skin than they might have thought. It feels like carrying a whole continent in my chest.

Kenyan poetry is raw, rhythmic, and rebellious. We tell stories with the weight of history and the urgency of now. Representing Kenya isn’t just about my voice; it’s about reminding the globe that African poetry has always been here, that spoken word is just another name for the oral traditions we’ve perfected for centuries. And trust me, I plan to make them listen.”

Where does Dominion draw his expressiveness from? According to him, Kenya’s spoken-word community is composed of incredibly gifted individuals who push boundaries and inspire him. Mufasa, Gufy, Mbunge, Dorphanage, Winnie Madoro, and Black Chakra are just a few poets whose work drives them to go beyond limits. This inspiration applies not only to writing but also to performing, producing shows, releasing content, and tackling controversial issues.

“Kenya’s spoken-word community is beautiful because it’s hungry. The talent here is insane, but the industry is still growing. That hunger pushes me. It makes me want to elevate the game—to build a scene where poets aren’t just heard but valued,” he said.

When it comes to writing, Dominion writes about the world and for the world. He pours his soul into his words, but they are not just for him alone. He believes poetry is a bridge, a way to connect his world to others. For him, balancing authenticity and relatability means speaking his truth in a way that helps others see it. He does not dilute his identity to be understood; instead, he invites people into his world through rhythm, storytelling, and emotion. His mantra: a powerful poem doesn’t need translation—it just hits.

As the 66th Grand Slam champion, Dominion must also consider the legacy he wants to leave behind. His vision is to create spaces where poetry isn’t just an underground hustle but a recognized art form. He is currently working on a book, a mix of poetry and personal reflections. Additionally, he aims to mentor young poets, hold workshops, and start a poetry collective to bring spoken word to schools and communities that need it most. Above all, he wants his poetry to outlive him.

“I hope my poetry brings healing to broken people,” he concluded. “I hope it tells them that we are in this together. I understand. Eventually, I hope these lines spark a transformation. Not just in a political way, but a revolution of the body, mind, and soul. I hope they see God in these lines.”

To that, we have nothing more to say but: ALL HAIL THE 66TH GRAND POETRY SLAM KING! May his reign be bountiful and beautiful.

Poets on stage during the 66th Grand Slam Poetry competition. /AMANDA NECHESA

EPRA, KEBS Address Concerns On Fuel Quality After Viral Tanuki Video

Marvin Chege — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:58:36 +0300

After automotive content creator William Kimm, known online as Tanuki, blew open a can of worms regarding the quality of fuel in some petrol stations, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) have responded.

Tanuki went viral when his video showed him conducting independent tests on the quality of fuel across several petrol stations in Nairobi, Kenya...which was then shared on his YouTube channel and social media platforms and sparked widespread discussion among Kenyan motorists.

He measured the Research Octane Number (RON) of fuels from various stations, with surprising results. The tests found that a petrol station in Limuru Road recorded the highest rating, RON at 92, followed closely by another at Rosslyn at 91.

Other petrol stations at Spring Valley and UN Avenue both registered 90 RON. However, one petrol station at Limuru Road revealed a surprising contrast; its premium product dubbed V-Power, commonly developed for motorsports, scored 87 RON against the standard version which was rated 91 RON.

Image of a petrol station. /FREEPIK

A similar trend appeared at a petrol station in Lavington, where V-Power scored 87 RON, while regular fuel at the same station recorded 90 RON.

The findings suggested that consumers paying a premium for V-Power at some locations were not getting the expected fuel quality advantage, with V-Power found to have performed worse than its standard fuel, an unexpected outcome given its premium branding and higher prices.

Some motorists have gone as far as alleging that fuel from the petrol station is “fake,” amplifying fears of widespread fuel adulteration in the country. This is despite its parent company continuously dismissing the claims, clarifying that fuel imports undergo rigorous testing both at the source and upon arrival in Kenya, ensuring compliance with industry regulations.

In response to recent concerns about the quality of petroleum fuels available in the country, KEBS and EPRA released a joint statement on Thursday, February 6 to assure consumers and the general public of their commitment to transparency.

The two bodies highlighted the importance of all petroleum fuels imported into the country undergoing testing and certification before being released into the market as part of their quality assurance measures.

"In light of the recent reports and videos circulating on social media, we have conducted extensive confirmatory tests on fuel samples from various petroleum retail stations, including those specifically mentioned in the reports.

"We are pleased to report that the results of these tests confirm that the fuel at all sampled stations meet the recommended Research Octane Number (RON) ratings as stipulated by Kenyan Standards," the statement read in part.

KEBS and EPRA added that in instances where Super Petrol is marketed as a premium fuel with higher RON ratings, their tests consistently affirmed compliance with these higher standards.

"Consequently, we urge consumers to continue to have confidence in the quality of petroleum fuels available, as there is no cause for alarm," added the statement.

Research Octane Number (RON) ratings, also known as octane ratings, are the standard measure of a fuel’s ability to withstand compression in an internal engine combustion. Using a fuel with low RON could cause engine knocking.

A car being fuelled at a petrol station. /FILE

Donald Trump's Executive Orders That Will Hurt Kenyans The Most

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 11:36:53 +0300

United States (US) President Donald Trump on Monday, January 20 embarked on a lightning start to his second regime, signing a series of Executive Orders the minute he took his oath.

However, some of the orders could reshape US foreign policy and even affect its long-standing relationship with Kenya. Several directives have ramifications for Kenya ranging from climate action to trade, foreign aid, and gender policies.

Let's take a look at the directives that could hit Kenya where it really hurts:

Foreign Aid

In a surprise move, Trump ordered a 90-day pause in foreign development assistance pending assessments of efficiencies and consistency with his foreign policy. Kenya is among countries that depend on aid from the US.

The order said "the foreign aid industry and bureaucracy are not aligned with American interests and in many cases antithetical to American values” and “serve to destabilise world peace by promoting ideas in foreign countries that are directly inverse to harmonious and stable relations internal to and among countries.”

"All department and agency heads responsible for United States foreign development assistance programs shall immediately pause new obligations and disbursements of development assistance funds," read the executive order signed by Trump.

US President Donald Trump signs Executive Orders on January 20, 2025. /AP

As outlined in the new policy, some foreign aid programmes may be stopped if deemed to be violating the Trump administration policies. "Reviews of each foreign assistance program shall be ordered by the responsible department and agency heads under guidelines provided by the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)." read the order in part.

"The responsible department and agency heads, in consultation with the Director of OMB, will make determinations within 90 days of this order on whether to continue, modify, or cease each foreign assistance program based upon the review recommendations, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State."

In May 2024, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced that it would be investing close to Ksh4.1 billion in Kenya's dedication system. This order means that if Kenya is deemed not to align with U.S. foreign policy objectives, critical funding for public health initiatives, including HIV/AIDS treatment programs, could be reduced. This could significantly impact thousands of Kenyans who rely on subsidised healthcare services.

Reduction in foreign aid could also affect many Kenyans who work with U.S. development partners or those whose businesses depend heavily on U.S. foreign aid.

End Of Birthright Citizenship

President Trump’s "Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship" executive order introduces stricter regulations on birthright citizenship, which will affect Kenyans living, studying or working in the US.

"The Fourteenth Amendment has always excluded from birthright citizenship persons who were born in the United States but not “subject to the jurisdiction thereof.” Consistent with this understanding, the Congress has further specified through legislation that “a person born in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof” is a national and citizen of the United States at birth, 8 U.S.C. 1401, generally mirroring the Fourteenth Amendment’s text," the White House stated.

Simply put, anyone born in the United States and not subject to the jurisdiction thereof does not automatically qualify to be a US citizen. For example, children born to Kenyans living in the U.S. but are not U.S. citizens, will no longer automatically receive American citizenship.

Kenyan parents on temporary visas who give birth in the U.S. may now face complications in securing citizenship for their children. If the child is not eligible for U.S. citizenship and struggles to obtain Kenyan nationality due to documentation issues, they could become stateless.

However, in New Hampshire, immigration advocates have already filed a lawsuit opposing Trump’s decision to end birthright citizenship.

US Pulling Out Of Global Climate Agreements

One of President Trump's first executive orders mandates the immediate withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement and other climate-related international commitments. Trump has on several occasions downplayed the impact of climate change, saying that it should not be a priority for the U.S. government.

Kenya, which has been a beneficiary of climate finance from the U.S., particularly in projects related to renewable energy, afforestation, and climate resilience, could see reduced funding.

The revocation of the U.S. International Climate Finance Plan means that Kenya will have to seek alternative funding sources for its climate adaptation strategies.

Moreover, Kenya’s commitment to green energy through initiatives like the Lake Turkana Wind Power Project could suffer setbacks, especially if international climate funds shrink due to the U.S.'s disengagement.

US Exit From WHO

In another surprising move, Trump signed an executive order to begin the process of withdrawing the US from the World Health Organization (WHO). This marks the second time Trump has ordered the US to be pulled out of the WHO. Trump has previously stated that he would cut funding to the WHO and the United Nations – agencies that collaborate with UNAids by leveraging support for the Global Fund.

Trump was critical of how the international body handled COVID-19 and began the process of pulling out from the Geneva-based institution during the pandemic. President Joe Biden later reversed that decision.

Carrying out this executive action on day one makes it more likely the US will formally leave the global agency. "They wanted us back so badly so we'll see what happens," Trump said in the Oval Office, referring to the WHO, perhaps hinting the US might return eventually.

The order said the US was withdrawing "due to the organization's mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, and other global health crises, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states".

WHO has since not taken the directive lying down, with Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus urging the United States to reconsider the withdrawal order. “The World Health Organisation regrets the announcement that the United States of America intends to withdraw from the Organisation,” Ghebreyesus said.

“WHO plays a crucial role in protecting the health and security of the world’s people, including Americans, by addressing the root causes of disease, building stronger health systems, and detecting, preventing and responding to health emergencies, including disease outbreaks, often in dangerous places where others cannot go."

The Global Fund is among the highest funders of Kenya’s health system. Kenya’s total commodity allocation for HIV services is Ksh28.7 billion, of which Ksh5.3 billion comes from the Global Fund and Ksh3.3 billion from the Kenyan Government. Trump's directive could pose serious trouble to the state of Kenya's health system due to a lack of funding.

Deportation

During his inaugural speech, Trump announced plans to fulfil his campaign promise of conducting mass deportations upon assuming office. Outlining a series of actions aimed at reshaping his new administration’s policies, Trump specifically targeted individuals living in the US without proper documentation. He stated, “We will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came."

According to Trump, his push for the deportation of undocumented immigrants is intended to bolster national security and ensure that US resources primarily benefit its citizens. An enactment of this order puts at least 30,000 Kenyans, believed to be living in the US without proper documentation, at risk.

US President, Donald Trump. /ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kenyans residing in metropolitan areas across the US are particularly under threat, as there are indications that immigration raids could commence almost immediately, with Trump appearing resolute in fulfilling his campaign promises.

According to the International Migrant Stock 2020 dataset by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the US hosts the highest number of Kenyan migrants (157,000), followed by the United Kingdom (139,000).

America First Trade Policy

The "America First" trade policy seeks to address trade imbalances and prioritise U.S. industries through potential tariff adjustments, stricter trade agreements, and reviews of existing partnerships.

Given that Kenya has a growing trade relationship with the U.S., these changes could introduce new dynamics between the two countries. One key area of interest is the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which allows Kenya to export goods to the U.S. duty-free.

While the specific impact of Trump’s America First Trade policy remains unclear for now, businesses and policymakers will be closely watching how these policies unfold and what they mean for Kenya’s access to the U.S. market.

Gender Policy Changes

Trump’s order on gender ideology reinstates traditional definitions of gender in federal policy, barring government recognition of gender identity beyond biological sex. On the other hand, Kenya has made strides in promoting gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights, albeit cautiously.

"It is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female. These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality. Under my direction, the Executive Branch will enforce all sex-protective laws to promote this reality," Trump directed.

U.S.-funded initiatives in gender inclusion and human rights advocacy could see reductions, affecting NGOs and civil society organisations pushing for gender-related reforms in Kenya.

Furthermore, this shift in U.S. policy may embolden conservative groups in Kenya to advocate for restrictive policies on gender identity and LGBTQ+ rights, potentially fueling social debates and policy shifts within the country.

Trump’s executive orders have faced criticism from the international community, including lobby groups that have expressed their intention to challenge the directives in court.

Kenya Now Sending All-Female SWAT Team To Haiti

Marvin Chege — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 11:44:54 +0300

On Saturday, January 18, the government of Kenya deployed an additional contingent of 217 officers from the Rapid Deployment Unit, along with a specialized team comprising medical personnel, mechanics, communications officers, and other support staff, to Haiti. However, attention was drawn to an all-female group of officers.

The government confirmed that Kenya aims to deploy an all-female-led security team to the Caribbean nation in future deployments to provide support to the upcoming missions, which would be a historic undertaking.

According to the Ministry of Interior, the government will also deploy officers from the General Service Unit (GSU) and the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) alongside the female officers.

''As part of our unwavering commitment to the people of Haiti, Kenya will continue to deploy additional officers from various specialized units, including the General Service Unit (GSU), the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU), and the all-female Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT), to reinforce security efforts and ensure sustained progress in restoring order,'' the Ministry of Interior shared in a statement.

A contingent of female officers from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT). /BIZNA KENYA

The all-female SWAT team was commissioned in 2019 by former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i. SWAT is a generic term for a law enforcement unit equipped with specialized/military equipment and tactics. This was the first of its kind to grace the sub-Saharan region of Africa.

At first, there were a total of 48 commando officers who were drawn from the Administration Police Service. These female officers underwent five months of intense combat training in Ngong, the first phase of their 15-month program, and they then graduated in a ceremony officiated by Matiang’i.

“Today gives us confidence as the government that we can protect our people and secure our country. Now we can rest assured that we have more officers who can undertake intricate security operations that require specialized approaches,” he said at the time.

Their training included Israeli Krav Maga, a military self-defence system that combines strikes, grappling, and weapons to handle multiple types of attacks.

The training regimen also included advanced techniques in handling various weapons and managing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The female officers were trained to scale multi-storey buildings, rescue hostages, engage in unarmed combat, and conduct jungle operations.

Locally the SWAT team was first deployed on the streets of Nairobi in 2012, where it elicited mixed reactions from Kenyans as it was the first of its kind. The decision was made in response to escalating security threats, including terrorism and organized crime, according to information from the NPS.

Their deployment to Haiti is expected to mark a significant milestone in Kenya's international peacekeeping efforts, as the country aims to strengthen its reputation as a trusted and reliable global peacekeeping partner. However, it was not immediately clear what operations the ASTU unit, which mainly deals with livestock theft, would be doing in the foreign nation.

The total number of police officers from Kenya deployed to Haiti stands at 617, with an initial 400 officers sent in June last year.

The Kenyan troops operating under the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission and Haitian National Police have in recent months intensified joint efforts to reduce crime and violence in Haiti. The troops marked a milestone on October 2, 2024, when the Caribean nation could reopen schools and colleges.

In September 2024, the United Nations (UN) Security Council unanimously voted to extend the authorisation of the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to assist Haiti for one year.

The authorisation extends to member states who have already deployed troops to the MSS mission to Haiti to help re-establish security in the country and build conditions conducive to holding free and fair elections.

A contingent of Kenya Police Officers disembark from a Kenya Airways plane at the Port-au-Prince airport in Haiti on January 19, 2025. /KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN

KCSE 2024: How Number Of E Grades Climbed To Over 48,000 In 5 Years

Marvin Chege — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 16:28:10 +0300

The national examinations, including the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), have always been a talking point across the country and have been used to judge a student's academic life as well as predict their careers.

The grades one gets make a big difference between success and failure in life, or so they say. Therefore, whereas scoring Grade A is seen as the ultimate milestone in the national exams, one wouldn't dream of scoring Grade E.

Society often frowns on those who score grade E and many students wouldn't even dare mention it out of fear of criticism and ridicule. Sometimes, they even avoid mentioning their educational backgrounds in public.

The thought of explaining to their parents how they attained such a grade after spending four years in school is overwhelming; with the majority treated as pariahs. Simply put, "So what have you been doing all this time you have gone to school?"

However, scoring a grade E happens and in recent years, this number has been on the rise. In the past five years alone, the figure rose by a 72 per cent margin, depicting the steady rise in the number of E graders.

In 2019, 29,318 candidates were at the lower end of the ranking scale despite the number of students who qualified for university having risen that year to 125,746. The figure dropped to 28,046 in 2020 but rose to 46,151 the following year.

In 2022, the number of E graders dropped marginally to 30,822, comprising 18,062 men and 12,760 women. This, however, increased in the 2023 exams to 48,174.

The 2024 KCSE exams saw the figure rise to 48,333; comprising 20,112 women and 28,221 men. This is worrying considering the number of A grades, the highest grade, was 1,693, out of a total of 962,512 who sat for the national examinations that concluded on November 22, 2024.

Education stakeholders have in the past attributed this to poverty in some parts of the country, with a section of learners missing school due to lack of fees.

Despite being criticised for sending learners home, a section of school heads have defended their actions by blaming the government for delaying the disbursement of funds, hence leading to scarce resources needed for running operations.

Last year, former Education CS Ezekiel Machogu directed a team to investigate the number of grade Es in the 2023 KCSE exams to establish the high rate of dismal performance.

A key change to the grading of the exams was the new grading system that reduced compulsory subjects required to compute a candidate's mean grade. Previously, the grading system considered five mandatory subjects across three cluster groups; Maths, English, Kiswahili, science and a humanity subject.

In the new system, only two mandatory subjects, Mathematics and one language (English, Kiswahili or Kenyan Sign Language) will be used to compute the mean grade.

For the new system, examiners must pick a candidate's top five performing subjects, doing away with the previous system which was perceived to disadvantage learners whose best subjects could not be considered if not within the clusters.

Critics have, however, accused the new grading system of placing an overemphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects and leaving a large number of students in a pool of D and E grades.

Subject-wise, this is how the KCSE 2024 played out: 17 subjects recorded a significantly improved performance. These include Mathematics alternative A and B, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History and Government, Geography and IRE.

Others are Agriculture, Woodwork, Metal Work, Drawing and Design, Aviation Technology, Computer Studies, Kenyan Sign Language and Business Studies.

On the other hand, the CS noted that English, Kiswahili, Biology for the Blind, CRE, Home Science, Building Construction, Electricity, French, German and Music recorded a drop in performance.

Female candidates outperformed males in seven subjects. They included English, Kiswahili, Kenyan Sign Language, French, Home Science, CRE and Art & Design.

Male candidates, however, excelled in 23 subjects, recording a better mean score performance than their female counterparts. The subjects include Mathematics Alternative A & B, Biology & Biology for the Blind, Physics, Chemistry, General Science, History & Government and Geography.

Others are IRE, Woodwork, Metal Work, Building & Construction, Power Mechanics, Electricity, Drawing & Design, Aviation Technology, Agriculture, Computer Studies, German, Arabic, Music and Business Studies.

A photo of students undertaking KCSE exams. /KENYA NEWS AGENCY

How That Fake News Posted On Social Media Can Have You Jailed For 10 Years

Marvin Chege — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 18:13:15 +0300

Fond of publishing false information on social media platforms deliberately, these days with a big following to gain traction and engagement? You could be slapped with a tough penalty...don't close this page yet. Keep scrolling, with patience, and let us explain.

Recently, public debate has been rife amongst Kenyans and political leaders regarding the use of social media to spread information in real-time for consumers to enable them to make informed decisions. This has happened in two key events over the past year; the Gen Z-led anti-government protests and the recent abductions.

Whereas Kenyans have condemned the abductions, the spread of false information online has been a hot topic, even attracting the attention of President William Ruto who has spoken on the spread of fake news on multiple occasions.

Ruto's allies have recently lamented over the spread of satire painting the President in a bad light, even though the Head of State in just two years has attracted intense criticism over government policies. They have gone ahead to call for the enforcement of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act 2018.

President William Ruto chairing a Cabinet meeting at State House on November 14, 2024. /PCS

Overview: Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act 2018

Let us take a look at the Act in a nutshell: on May 16, 2018, former President Uhuru Kenyatta assented to the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act (‘the Act’) which provides for offences relating to computer systems, enabling among other things, prompt detection and prosecution of computer and cybercrime.

The Act among other things, currently criminalises fake news as well as the publication of false information. Shortly after its enactment, the Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE), challenged its constitutionality before the High Court of Kenya, resulting in the suspension of 26 sections pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

The grounds of the petition were the limitation of various fundamental freedoms by provisions of the Act. However, on February 20, 2020, the High Court gave the final judgment that upheld, in its entirety, the constitutionality of the Act.

Sections 22 & 23

Our focus for this article is Sections 22 and 23 of the Act, covering the publication of false information to incite members of the public either on social media or through media platforms, both mainstream and digital.

According to Section 22, a person who intentionally publishes false, misleading or fictitious data or misinforms with the intent that the data shall be considered or acted upon as authentic, with or without any financial gain, commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding Ksh5 million or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to both.

Notably, the Act holds that freedom of expression can be limited when misinformation can lead to war/violence, constitutes hate speech, or constitutes ethnic incitement.

Section 23 has an even tougher jail sentence for being part of a calculated plan to cause violence and panic or ruin the reputation of someone.

"A person who knowingly publishes information that is false in print, broadcast, data or over a computer system, that is calculated or results in panic, chaos, or violence among citizens of the Republic, or which is likely to discredit the reputation of a person commits an offence and shall on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding five million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, or to both." reads the Act in part.

However, amidst the ongoing debate on the law, some leaders have raised concerns over the constitutionality of the Act which has been challenged in court. Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna opined that Kenyans were simply opposed to the policies of the Kenya Kwanza government and that social media was not the main issue behind the abductions.

"I have been shocked beyond words by some of the speeches here in Bungoma County. If those who spoke are the people he listens to, Ruto is in more trouble than he knows. Freedom of speech cannot be limited beyond the limitations in Article 33," Sifuna expressed on Friday, January 3 on X

"Social media is not the problem. The problem is the policies of this regime that continue to hurt Kenyans. We have started the year on a very bad note."

Computer Misuse and Cybercrime (Amendment) Bill, 2024

Amidst the debate, an amendment to the Act, the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was proposed on August 9, 2024, by the National Assembly, which would give the government power to block websites and applications, “where it is proved that a website or application promotes illegal activities, child pornography, terrorism, extreme religious and cultic practices, issue a directive to render the website or application inaccessible.” Social media is considered an application too.

A person using his smartphone. /FILE

However, the Kenya Information Communication Technology Action Network (KICTANet) comprising over 50 organisations in the private sector, called for the withdrawal of the contentious proposal.

"Given Kenya’s recent history of shutting down the Internet in June 2024 and blocking messaging applications like Telegram in November 2023, the proposal does not come as a surprise. It appears to be yet another attempt to formalise and expand government censorship," said KICTANet in a statement on October 4, 2024.

"A similar proposal was made in the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which was later withdrawn following pushback by civil society. This new clause in the bill is equally problematic and should be withdrawn."

KICTANet feared that implementing this clause could give the government unnecessary powers to control Kenyans' freedom of speech in whichever format and reduction of the freedoms of online platforms which offer an alternative method of free speech, including news websites.

"The implementation of the provision could lead to censorship of legitimate speech, including political dissent or religious expression. It may also pave the way for arbitrary blocking of websites and applications or invasive surveillance practices, particularly during politically sensitive times like protests and elections, if the events following the #RejectFinanceBill2024 are anything to go by. Most recently, the prosecution of David Morara Kebaso for the offence of cyber harassment signals the likelihood of more repressive action by the state against critical speech," added the statement.

Political, Sports & Events Kenyans Should Look Out For In 2025

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 19:37:38 +0300

2025 is here with us and even though it may not be as action-packed as 2024, some key events are just around the corner this year.

In Kenya, 2025 presents a major test for the Kenya Kwanza administration, one that could determine the course of President William Ruto's first term with the 2027 general elections just two years away. All eyes will be on how he navigates the political atmosphere with intensifying opposition by the Gen Z and political opponents led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Furthermore, Raila Odinga's bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson seat enters a crucial stage with the elections. For sporting fans, 2025 has major developments on the horizon.

Viral Tea takes a look at events to look forward to in 2025:

Rigathi Gachagua Big Announcement

On November 24, 2024, Gachagua announced that he would make a significant political announcement in January 2025 after holding consultations with like-minded residents of the Mt. Kenya region. Well, January 2025 is here.

Speaking during a church service at AIPCA Kangari in Murang'a County, Gachagua revealed that his fallout with President Ruto had allowed him to take a back seat and chart his next political move ahead of the 2027 general elections. The former second in command attributed this to realising Ruto's true colours when he purportedly allowed Members of Parliament and the Senate to push forward with his impeachment which was completed at breakneck speed in October.

"We as the Mt. Kenya people hate two things; lies and betrayal. This coming January after the talks we will announce the next direction. Never again shall we find ourselves in the hole we are in," said Gachagua.

Rigathi Gachagua and Kalonzo Musyoka at a past function. /FILE

"President Ruto, my friend, did a good thing to bring this fight against me and the people of the mountain because now we know him. Now we understand you (Ruto) and we will address you as we know you and who you are. Now we will have talks with respect."

He affirmed that the political movement that will come out of Mt Kenya region in the new year "will make the 2002 movement look like a joke."

Insiders believe that the impeached DP will be joining forces with some opposition leaders such as former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and DAP-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa among others. Gachagua on December 18, 2024, did reveal that he would team up with Kalonzo, stating that he owed the former Vice President a favour for standing with him since the regime of the late Mwai Kibaki.

Donald Trump Inauguration As US President

On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump will be sworn into office as the 47th president of the United States on the West Front of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.

The event will be Trump's second inauguration as president and the 60th U.S. presidential inauguration. JD Vance will be sworn in as the 50th vice president of the United States. It will also be held on the same day as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which marks the third time an inauguration has occurred on the same date as the holiday

The event will include a swearing-in ceremony, a signing ceremony, an inaugural luncheon, a pass-in-review, a procession, and a parade. Inaugural balls are held at various venues before and after the inaugural ceremonies. Several Democratic members of Congress have decided to boycott Trump's inauguration.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has been invited to the ceremony, however, no foreign heads of state have been recorded attending a US presidential inauguration; diplomats generally represent their countries at inaugurations.

Russia confirmed that President Vladimir Putin did not receive an invitation. Trump stated that he had not invited President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to his inauguration but expressed willingness to welcome him if he decided to attend.

AUC Elections

Member States of the African Union are set to vote in February 2025 to pick the next AUC chairperson. Raila Odinga, whose candidature had been sponsored by Kenya, is seeking to replace Moussa Faki whose term has come to an end.

The former Prime Minister is battling it out with his main challenger Mahamoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti. Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar is also contending for the position.

“The Chairperson of the African Union Commission is the Chief Executive Officer, Legal Representative of the Union and the Accounting Officer of the Union,” the AU explained.

“The Chairperson of the Commission is a transformative leadership role responsible for driving the performance of the AU Commission in delivering the continental vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa.”

Raila will need support either by consensus or at least a two-thirds majority vote by member states represented by their heads if he is to bag the AU prestigious post. In the event Raila succeeds in replacing Faki, he will be barred from engaging in local politics until the end of his term, which would mean being locked out of contention for the presidential seat in 2027.

Lewis Hamilton To Ferrari

Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton will start the 2025 season under new colours, having sealed his move to Team Ferrari from Team Mercedes in 2024 in what fans around the world termed a global-shaking development in world sports.

Hamilton signed for Mercedes in 2013 to partner Nico Rosberg, ending his 15-year association with McLaren. During his spell at Mercedes, he led the team to a dominant force in the motorsport, winning seven consecutive double Drivers' and Constructors' World Championships from 2014 to 2020 and securing a record-breaking eighth consecutive Constructors' Championship success in 2021.

Lewis Hamilton checking on a Ferrari car during a Formula One race event. /MALTA TODAY

Hamilton won the last of his world titles in 2020 but controversially lost the 2021 championship to Max Verstappen, 13 years his junior, in a season which would have seen him break the great Michael Schumacher's record of seven World Drivers' Championships. The Dutch Red Bull driver has dominated ever since, while Hamilton finished sixth in the drivers' standings in 2022, third in 2023 and seventh in 2024.

The 39-year-old, who turns 40 in five days time, will move to Scuderia Ferrari which holds the record for the most constructor championships in F1 at 16, despite their last win coming in 2008.

The team also holds the record for the most Drivers' Championships with 15, won by nine different drivers: Alberto Ascari, Juan Manuel Fangio, Mike Hawthorn, Phil Hill, John Surtees, Niki Lauda, Jody Scheckter, Schumacher and Kimi Räikkönen, most of whom Kenyans who have watched the motorsport over the years have known them for.

With hope of a record-breaking 8th championship, the move triggered a mass exodus as fans who were made to support Mercedes because of Hamilton started switching allegiances to Ferrari ahead of the new season.

The superstar, who has a significant following among Kenyans, visited Kenya on August 7, 2022, and toured Samburu County where he expressed his love for animals by posing for photos with baby giraffes and elephants.

Finance Bill 2025 & Budget Reading

The Finance Bill 2025 is expected to gain traction among Kenyans following the events that were witnessed in the country during the debate and financing of the 2024 bill. This means that Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS) John Mbadi will have to tread very carefully with tax proposals by the government to avoid a repeat of the 2024 version which triggered mass protests.

Most importantly, Kenyans will be keen on the proposals to fund the 2025/2026 budget. As revealed by Mbadi, the bill will be ready by April and will be presented to the Cabinet before April 18, 2025.

Mbadi will then submit the bill to the National Assembly by April 29, 2025, in readiness for debate and public participation.

The CS will also catch national attention during the reading of the 2025/26 Budget, set to be his first since being appointed to man the National Treasury by President William Ruto.

2025 World Athletics Championships

The World Athletics Championships will be held in Tokyo from September 13-21, 2025. More than 2000 athletes from some 200 countries will come to Tokyo to take part in one of the world's biggest sporting events.

This is the third time that the championships will be held in Japan, following the 2007 event in Osaka, and the 1991 event in Tokyo at the former National Stadium, which was rebuilt ahead of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The National Stadium in Tokyo will be the first major spectator event for athletics after the 2020 Olympics were held behind closed doors in response to the then-still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Tokyo defeated Nairobi, Kenya in its bid to host the global event after the latter confirmed its bid for the championships in October 2021.

In October 2019, World Athletics president Sebastian Coe stated consideration of a direct choice for Kenya to host this championship. However, Tokyo wound up victorious after it scored the highest in the bid evaluation.

With Kenya falling short of the bid, this will provide extra motivation for Kenyan athletic stars such as Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet, Emmanuel Wanyonyi, and Ferdinand Omanyala among others, seeking to repeat or better the heroics of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

World championships are usually held every year (or rarely, every two years), but the Olympics are only held every four years, meaning the former, alongside the Olympics, represents the highest level of senior international outdoor athletics competition for track and field athletics globally including marathon running and race walking.

2025 Safari Rally

The 2025 WRC Safari Rally will take place in Nakuru and Nairobi from March 20-23, 2025. The government of Kenya is fully supporting the event, which is expected to be a significant economic boost for the country through sports tourism.

Organisers of the WRC Safari Rally Kenya on November 29, 2024, introduced two new stages and went the extra mile to enhance the spectator experience for the 2025 edition of the fabled event. The two new stages will be centred on Camp Moran and Morendat Farm in Naivasha with organisers also announcing a new location for shakedown in Sleeping Warrior relocating from the traditional Loldia stage.

Event Director Norris Ongalo revealed that the organisation of the event identified 12 designated spectator viewing points where fans will enjoy event proceedings throughout the weekend as well as the inclusion of the corporate village where spectators will follow rally action on location as well as live on the stages.

Ongalo added that the inclusion of the rally village is the game changer in the event. The star venue of the event has also been moved from KICC to City Hall Way where the event was started in the golden years.

“At the end of the prize-giving the spectators will be close to the prize-giving areas. What we want to see when the drivers are being awarded the backdrop is Kenya and the people. Unlike previous years when spectators were restricted from accessing KICC instead of having the flag off at the KICC we have it on the road outside City Hall way,” Ongalo stated, however noting that KICC will retain the percferme so that the event does not lose its iconic feature of safari.

As it stands, the rally will be held until 2026, as Kenya signed a deal with the International Automobile Federation (FIA) in 2021 to keep the event on the World Rally Championship calendar. However, the government is currently negotiating with the FIA and WRC Promoter to extend the contract by another three years, until 2029.

WRC Rally cars battle it out during the Super Special Stage of the 2024 Safari Rally at Kasarani, Nairobi on March 28, 2024. /WRC

Murima & Phrases That Defined Kenyans' 2024

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 15:05:22 +0300

It is an annual tradition for Kenyans to come up with words that wind up dominating headlines and defining social media trends as well as offline conversations. 2024 was no exception.

Politicians, presidents, Kenyan men and women...anyone who coined these popular phrases was a celebrity in his or her own right, providing the public with much-needed conversational relief and banter amidst challenges facing the country.

In 2024, even a song that forms part and parcel of Kenyan music and entertainment culture became a national anthem in its own right. President William Ruto earned a new nickname. Let's look at those words that went viral in 2024:

Kasongo

Kasongo or Kasongo ye ye referred to President Ruto, the latest nickname given to him following the likes of Zakayo in 2023. In 2024, "Kasongo" made its entry quickly, gathering steam with Kenyans using the new name in various discourses.

The term Kasongo was derived from a song of the same name by the Orch Super Mazembe band. Initially a love song, the song took an unlikely turn, becoming a reference to President Ruto. Significantly, the term only popped up towards the end of the year but quickly managed to gain traction.

Just hours ago, the Head of State danced to the very song Kenyans nicknamed him for...during the New Year celebration at the Kisii State Lodge in Kisii County. Here is the video:

President Ruto dances to 'Kasongo' song at Kisii State Lodge during #NewYear2025 celebrations#ViralVideos pic.twitter.com/2oluhtlLhQ
— Viral Tea Ke (@ViralTeaKe) December 31, 2024

Following his New Year's speech, the president, accompanied by First Lady Rachel Ruto, government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga sang the chorus of the popular song that has found a life of its own on the social media space with Kenyans coining the song to emulate the head of state.

Murima

Despite being impeached as Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, who took the internet by storm thanks to his nickname 'Riggy G', gave Kenyans a catchphrase that will not go away quickly in 2025.

Gachagua while warning politicians against interfering with Mt Kenya politics, gave us the phrase bora usiguse murima which Kenyans took and applied to different contexts in typical Kenyan fashion.

Of the most popular is the term murima babe, referring to women who come from the Central and Mt Kenya regions of the country.

Gen Z

Generation Z/Gen Z/Zoomers is the generation of people born between 1997 and 2012. Gen Z dominated Kenyan headlines in June thanks to the protests led by the youth against President Ruto's punitive proposals in the Finance Bill 2024 and the governance in his administration.

Used anyhow by political figures trying to maintain their image, Gen Z became the unofficial opposition, developing a heightened interest in civic education and knowledge of governance systems. To some, this was the unofficial symbol of resistance, with anyone and everyone pinning any form of opposition against the status quo to being a Gen Z.

This was after President Ruto, in his bid for a broad-based government, incorporated allies of Raila Odinga into his Cabinet and plucked some who were closely associated with former President Uhuru Kenyatta for a 'super broad-based government'.

Salimiwa (Leta number tumsalimie)

In regards to catchphrases that gained popularity in the year that has been, the June-August protests were the gift that kept on giving.

Adding to the list was leta number tumsalimie/ ndiyo hii number msalimieni kidogo where phone numbers of Kenyan politicians were shared across social media and citizens took it upon themselves to hold them into account over their leadership. The leaders bore the brunt with citizens “greeting” them in their droves.

It was not just leaders as time went by...journalists, celebrities, and even sports people both locally and internationally were not spared, with Kenyans sharing their contacts on social media...especially after they were responsible for disappointing them.

Anguka Nayo

The hit song by Wadagliz, a rap duo consisting of Kantel Mdagliz and MannaZ, was released on July 3, 2024, and became the official anthem of the anti-government protests in the country.

The song was initially composed for party lovers but was widely played and shared by Kenyans when President Ruto rejected the controversial Finance Bill 2024 and dismissed the cabinet.

On the X platform, users made the phrase go viral by creating hilarious memes and ridicule videos. Other netizens used the phrase to demand changes in the Kenya Kwanza administration.

They Will Not Believe

This phrase was coined by policy analyst and social commentator Gabriel Oguda as he criticized the Kenya Kwanza government. Netizens picked up the phrase to call out people and the government, especially on controversial issues.

However, one has to go back as far as 2022 when Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) boss Francis Atwoli predicted that Kenyan Kwanza supporters wouldn't believe their eyes should Raila Odinga be declared the president. A video showed the COTU boss stating that people won't believe the results of IEBC as they had anticipated Ruto to lose the elections.

Atwoli was one of the staunch supporters of Raila, who severally dismissed the possibility of the former premier losing the election. " Wengine watavunja television, they will not believe, they will not believe," he insisted.

Inject

This catchphrase became widely popular in 2024, especially among drama-loving social media users who used it to escalate or add humour to situations. The slang was also coined by Oguda in his sarcastic critiques of the Kenya Kwanza government, further cementing its place in online discussions.

At the height of the anti-government protests, Kenayns used the slang to pile pressure on the President Ruto-led administration to drop the infamous Finance Bill 2024.

Kunifish Kumalo

The slang was also coined by MC Zediambo and is taken from the Swahili word 'Kumaliza,' which means to finish. It went viral on social media after being used by Ngwethe TV.

The phrase is also used in the abarntone song Finish Kumalo by Tipsy Gee, Spoiler, and Soundkraft.

Nimekumark/Kama umenimark like hii post

Shifting gears from the protests, the dating scene also got its catchphrase in the latter stages of 2024.

The term was mostly used amongst the younger generations in face-to-face conversations and social media. Building upon "manifesting," the term nimekumark means that manifesting is taking longer than expected and it is time to take matters into my own hands.

Kudonjo

The catchphrase is derived from the Luo word 'donjo' which means to enter. The slang also means to enter or to arrive and in some cases, it can be used to mean something interesting.

The phrase went viral in 2024 after it was used by Ngwethe TV. The slang was also used in songs such as 'Dance ya Kudonjo' and 'Kudonjo Kudunda'.

Afande please

The phrase gained popularity at the height of the anti-government protests when there were countless arrests, abductions, and kidnappings of protesters by the police. The arrests raised concerns among Kenyans, who questioned how the police were able to arrest almost everyone on their radar.

Kenyans realized that some of the security officers were hiding in plain sight and interacting with civilians without being detected.

The phrase 'Afande please' was therefore coined to discourage any surreptitious movements by the police, who would say the phrase to suspicious people who asked about their whereabouts. The phrase even found its way onto T-shirts.

Anti-riot police officers at Nairobi CBD during past anti-government protests. /FILE

President William Ruto's New Year Speech [IN FULL]

Marvin Chege — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 19:29:34 +0300

President William Ruto on Tuesday, December 31 gave his New Year speech to Kenyans from Kisii State Lodge in Kisii County. Read it in full below:

1. It is a great privilege to have this opportunity to address the people of Kenya in these final moments of 2024 and to wish everyone a happy and prosperous new year 2025. Without hesitation, we all agree that this year has been remarkable; a year to remember for its many challenges, obstacles, and risks that tested our resolve and threatened our prosperity, security, and happiness. Equally, it has been a year of numerous opportunities, successes, and progress that enabled us to overcome these undeniable difficulties and forge ahead with heroic determination.

2. The year began with strong faith and optimism despite a climate of hardship, uncertainty, and widespread anxiety. Security, economic instability, climatic challenges, and political uncertainty loomed large. Global economic shocks drove up the cost of living, while conflicts disrupted supply chains, creating scarcity and rising inflation. At the same time, we were striving to recover from the pandemic’s disruptions. Our currency, the shilling, faced significant pressure from major currencies. Many families struggled to provide daily meals as agriculture grappled with the aftermath of the region’s longest and harshest drought, followed by devastating floods that destroyed crops, livestock, infrastructure, and development.

3. At the year’s onset, parents were anxious about the transition of young learners into junior secondary school while the youth grappled with increasing difficulties in finding employment. In various parts of the country, perennial security challenges persisted. Additionally, demands for adequate, high-quality, and sustainable food, healthcare, and education not only persisted but grew even more pressing.

4. Looking at the days ahead, it became clear that overcoming these challenges would require unwavering faith, unity of purpose, immense sacrifice, and relentless hard work. We needed a coherent plan to address these obstacles, deliver the transformation our nation needs, and provide every Kenyan with the opportunities they deserve. The magnitude of the challenge demanded bold, decisive, and unfaltering efforts from all of us.

President William Ruto and Rachel Ruto at Kisii State Lodge on December 31, 2024. /PCS

5. We had to find ways of mobilising sufficient revenue to finance all our obligations, provide services inclusively and consistently, and invest in development. This called for tough decisions, not just to reduce waste and increase efficiency in the mobilisation and utilisation of public finances but also to promote broader compliance with our civic obligations to pay taxes whenever they fall due.

6. Under the difficult conditions we all faced, implementing these necessary and overdue measures caused much discomfort and contention. At the heart of the ensuing dissent lay a demand for a robust conversation about the stewardship of public resources and, by extension, the proper exercise of public authority. You, the people, made it clear to us as leaders that compliance with revenue measures must be accompanied by a stronger commitment on our part to deliver greater transparency and efficiency in the administration of all public resources. You demanded a more thorough national conversation to address the perennial inclusiveness question in order to reflect equity and social justice as primary considerations in government plans and actions.

7. Despite these challenges, we have worked tirelessly to fulfil the pledges and commitments of our governing mandate. We are making steady progress in feeding the nation, with productivity rising across key crop and livestock value chains, progressively enhancing our food security objectives. Similarly, we have deployed technology to digitise and automate the provision of services to the public, significantly increasing dividends in terms of service delivery and enhanced revenue collection.

8. The universal healthcare coverage is finally here with us, and we are working round the clock to address various hiccups in its roll-out that is to be expected in a programme of the magnitude and ambition of Taifa Care. Together with the counties, we have employed community health promoters to ensure health services are accessible and convenient for all Kenyans at the grassroots.

9. With the rollout of the construction of 200 markets, our marketplaces are developing into safe and dignified working environments for hustlers, complemented by ICT hubs in constituencies and wards, which are becoming essential nodes in our digital economy. The Hustler Fund has launched an enhanced facility aimed at transitioning borrowers in good standing into more robust financing to promote the growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

10. We have constructed thousands of classrooms and other facilities across the country to expand school infrastructure. Additionally, we have employed and trained more teachers to support the transition to the competence-based curriculum and ensure the seamless progression of learners into junior secondary school. We are addressing the chronic higher education financing challenges that had paralysed learning, research, and development at the peak of our education and training ecosystem. Our goal is to make higher education, particularly university education, more inclusive, ensuring that no one is left behind.

11. Our country’s network of transport and communications infrastructure continues to evolve rapidly to serve the needs of a demanding, dynamic, and rapidly modernising economy, ensuring it remains efficient and competitive. Institutional improvements and incentives are attracting investors to our land, driving industrialisation, expanding manufacturing, and enhancing our export capacity.

12. Ladies and gentlemen, the houses are finally here. Our affordable housing programme now includes 873,000 houses in its pipeline at various stages of development across different parts of the country. Among these, the inaugural 8,000 units are nearing readiness for handover and occupation. This programme alone has contributed 200,000 jobs to the 1,000,000 new jobs created through intentional, consistent, and strategic efforts. To ensure young people have opportunities to actualise their talents, apply their skills, and drive economic growth, we have pursued every promising intervention. From the National Urban Climate Resilience Programme, also known as ClimateWorx, to over 10 labour mobility agreements that provide qualified citizens with access to employment opportunities abroad, we have utilised every available mechanism to support their aspirations.

13. We have also made undeniable progress in securing the nation. Consistent investment in expanding the capabilities of our security service, equipping them with efficient, modern tools, and empowering them through technology has significantly enhanced our capacity to combat crime and ensure public safety. The strides we have made against terrorism, banditry, cattle rustling, cybercrime, and other offences will not only be sustained but will continue to be enhanced in the future.

14. It is important to acknowledge that, in the process of securing the nation, our security services often interact with citizens exercising their democratic freedoms and fundamental rights. They must continuously strike a delicate balance between delivering robust security responses and enabling the enjoyment of these rights and freedoms. In situations involving serious threats to public order, human life, and safety, this balance can be particularly challenging and knowing this, criminal elements often seek to exploit protests and demonstrations to further their schemes.

15. It cannot be denied that there have been instances of excessive and extrajudicial actions by members of the security services. At the same time, it must also be acknowledged that due process is underway in appropriate institutions to ensure accountability. That said, it is crucial to remember that every freedom has its limits and that public safety and order must always supersede the desire for unchecked liberty. We must ensure that our pursuit of rights and freedoms does not compromise our collective or individual safety, nor should we allow criminals to exploit constitutional rights to harm and destroy others.

16. In the spirit of fostering a candid national conversation, I urge every critical stakeholder to reflect deeply on the failures that have led people to adopt radical, individualistic, and self-centred interpretations of rights and freedoms, interpretations that often seem fundamentally opposed to the rights of others and the collective good. This tendency to promote a definition of rights and freedoms that undermines democracy and the public interest reflects a broader collapse of our value system and a serious strain on our moral fabric. I also believe that this disregard for moral values, including compassion, responsibility, and decency, contributes to violent crimes, such as femicide, perpetrated by men against women.

17. These are clear signals that our moral fabric is at risk of decay, exacerbated by various factors, including the manipulation of digital technology, particularly social media, to amplify anti-social behaviour and erode moral values.

18. The maintenance of our social fabric and the promotion of a strong value system is a collective responsibility we cannot run away from. This task has always required and will continue to require the involvement of a wide spectrum of society, agencies and institutions, with the family unit being the most critical. The broader community, faith-based organisations, the education system, and law-and-order institutions exist to support and complement the family’s fundamental role in nurturing compassionate, responsible citizens who are empowered to propel our nation forward.

19. As a society, we have a legitimate expectation that the next generations, benefiting from the accumulation of socio-economic, scientific, and technological advancements, will bring greater energy, better ideas, clearer vision, and a stronger commitment to our shared values. We should be humane, responsible, and well-grounded citizens whose actions promote unity, patriotism, democracy, the rule of law, and our rights and freedoms, rather than sabotaging them.

20. I have previously extended an invitation to all stakeholders, in their diversity, to join the national conversation and explore the best ways to implement an all-of-society strategy and approach to counter moral decay and reset our nation’s moral compass. As parents, we must never walk away from our children nor abandon them to the vagaries of our times. This is essential, as all the transformations we undertake today will mean little if our young people are left without sound guidance, moral mentorship and ethical support.

President William Ruto speaking at Kisii State Lodge on December 31, 2024. /PCS

21. The broad-based, bipartisan national conversation we are having with leaders from various political formations seeks to extend the principle of inclusiveness to its widest possible reach without compromising the fundamental values of competitive democracy and diversity of viewpoints. Our goal is to enhance, not diminish, our identity as a free, open, and democratic society founded on constitutionalism and the rule of law. We are making meaningful progress, which, if sustained, will establish us as a mature democracy firmly anchored in a sustainable political culture.

22. In 2024, our nation faced serious challenges and great difficulties. Yet, we did more than endure; we stood together in unity, worked with determination, and overcame these obstacles. Because we are Kenyans, indomitable, courageous, and enterprising people unafraid of hard work, because we are resilient champions who strive to win and face every challenge with dedication and stamina, we achieved progress despite significant difficulties.

23. Today, we have succeeded in laying a solid foundation for even faster progress in the coming year. The Kenyan shilling, which began the year on a subdued note, has appreciated significantly, strengthening from KSh165 to the dollar in February 2024 to KSh129 today, making it one of the world’s best-performing currencies. Inflation, a key indicator of economic health, has fallen from 9.6% in September 2022 to 2.7% in October 2024, the lowest level in nearly two decades. Meanwhile, foreign exchange reserves have surged by $2.4 billion to reach $9.5 billion, providing five months of import cover and insulating our economy from external shocks. Our economy continues to outpace global trends, growing at 5.6% in 2023, positioning us among the world’s fastest-growing economies.

24. In light of the outcomes of our collective determination and efforts, we have every reason to approach the new year with optimism and a renewed commitment, not only to work harder and achieve greater progress but also to transform ourselves and turn every challenge into an opportunity to do more and to do better.

25. In 2025, the seeds we have patiently and carefully planted will continue to germinate and grow. The progress we have made has set us firmly on a path of rapid and sustainable growth. As a result, we can anticipate stronger economic performance, more jobs for our youth, and higher incomes for farmers and entrepreneurs. Additionally, we expect that in 2025, more investments will mature, leading to a considerable expansion of our manufacturing sector and an increase in exports. The reforms we have implemented in both basic and higher education will also come to fruition, providing new momentum and focus for the entire education sector. In 2025, Taifa Care will approach optimal performance, offering significant relief to households by reducing the burden of healthcare costs and delivering enhanced benefits through an efficient, inclusive, and high-quality public healthcare system.

26. As we speak, subsidised fertiliser is already in stores waiting for farmers. Next year, we plan to achieve higher yields from every crop, ensuring even greater rewards for our hardworking farmers and food security for all Kenyans. Additionally, we aim to free our livestock from deadly infectious diseases, alleviating the fears of pastoralists and stockkeepers from devastating outbreaks. This is why the nationwide livestock vaccination campaign will be a game-changer. Unlike segmented vaccination efforts that left some areas unprotected and vulnerable to outbreaks, thereby risking re-infection in vaccinated regions, this voluntary comprehensive approach will eradicate these threats comprehensively once and for all.

27. In 2025, we will be busier at school and at work, better nourished, safer, more secure, and with more money in our pockets. We will hold productive national conversations to empower our youth as responsible custodians of our shared aspirations and to solidify our State as a robust and secure democracy. We will continue to work hard and deliver greater progress, becoming better equipped to tackle our challenges.

28. In 2025, I will have the honour of handing over the first keys to completed affordable housing units to hardworking men and women from all walks of life. At last, the transformation you entrusted us to lead will take tangible shape, and the fruits of our collective labour will be undeniable. We will continue to work for you and deliver for you. Let us, therefore, submit our hopes and aspirations to the Almighty God of all creation so that together, in unity and with a shared determination, we may embrace the New Year and work towards achieving the Kenya We Want, which is now well within sight.

Femicide Murders That Made Headlines In 2024 & Led To Protests

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:55:04 +0300

2024 was the year that saw the term 'femicide' take the national limelight. Every 10 minutes, partners and family members killed a woman intentionally in 2023, according to UN Women.

Gender-related killings (femicide/feminicide) are the most brutal and extreme manifestation of violence against women and girls. The murders this year in Kenya led to two protests against the vice, both at different corners of the year, in January and December.

Viral Tea takes a look at some of the femicide cases that made headlines, two of which occurred in the space of one week:

Starlet Wahu

Police on Friday, January 5 attached to Industrial Area Police Station arrested a middle-aged man suspected to have killed a 24-year-old woman identified as Starlet Wahu Mwangi, the younger sister of Prophet Victor Kanyari, in an Airbnb apartment in South B, Nairobi.

CCTV footage showed the man in the company of the Instagram influencer who was wearing a short red dress, walking alongside the man from the apartment's lift and checking into the apartment.

Collage image of slain socialite Starlet Wahu. /VIRAL TEA KE

Police officers then responded to a distress call coming from the building's manager informing them that a murder had taken place inside the apartment. Upon arrival, police found that the house was locked from outside, prompting the officers to force their way in by breaking the locks.

The arrest of the man, John Matara, prompted a series of women to come out and confess how Matara sexually assaulted and robbed his victims of their money from their mobile and bank accounts.

As several women came out to record statements accusing him of committing the crimes, media reports revealed how Matara crafted a small team of men and women who terrorised men seeking sexual favours in suburbs such as Roysambu and beyond.

Rita Waeni

Rita Waeni, a 20-year-old student at the Jomo Kenyatta Univerity of Science and Technology (JKUAT) was murdered and dismembered in a short-stay apartment in Roysambu, Nairobi, on January 14, one of the most brutal murders imaginable, and occurring a week from reports of Starlet Wahu's murder.

In the killing that shocked the country, the dismembered body was found by the apartment’s caretaker stuffed inside polyethene bags.

Two men were later apprehended by the police following a series of investigations by homicide detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

During the investigations, police seized several items including a knife that was suspected to have been used by the suspect to commit the murder.

Waeni's killer who was last captured on CCTV around the residential area remains at large.

3 Eastleigh Family Members

In yet another femicide case, three women including two daughters and their mother of Somali origin were in October brutally murdered after abduction by an assailant suspected to be an Ethiopian.

The trio reportedly disappeared on Monday, October 21 before their bodies were found lying along roads in Parklands, Bahati, and Machakos bearing similar injuries.

A probe conducted by homicide detectives from the DCI into the victims’ phones revealed that on the night of the abduction, the victims’ phones were pinged in Eastleigh for a short time before they proceeded to General Waruingi which is located within Nairobi.

Detectives believed that the same assailants who dumped the body of one of the victims in Pangani proceeded to Bahati and Parklands estates where the same perpetrators also dumped the bodies of the other family members.

Lang'ata Cemetery Murder

Detectives in Nairobi launched an investigation following the discovery of a severely mutilated body near Lang’ata Cemetery in November. The remains, which consisted primarily of bones, were found dumped at the site, shocking the local community.

Preliminary examinations revealed that the bones appeared to have been boiled, with flesh meticulously removed. “The bones appeared as if they had been cooked because they were very dry, suggesting another human being might have eaten them,” said Lang’ata OCPD Ben Barasa at the time.

However, in a shocking twist, Hashim Dagane Muhumed, the primary suspect in the murders of three women from Eastleigh who was arrested in connection to the crimes, was treated as a person of interest and a suspect in the Lang’ata case as well.

DCI revealed that preliminary evidence from CCTV footage at various locations in Nairobi, including a major supermarket, captured Dagane with a woman believed to have disappeared right after.

"While following up on crucial exhibits recovered at the scene, the detectives proceeded to a Quickmart supermarket within the city where it was established that the victim of the murder most foul was a lady who was captured by CCTV cameras while shopping on 29/10/2024," stated DCI.

Further, it was established that once done with her shopping, the lady proceeded to an apartment in Lavington, where she was yet again captured by the CCTV cameras while entering the said premises.

Armed with crucial leads, the detectives established that the lady was in the company of Dagane, who was residing in the said apartment where the duo spent time. This is before Dagane was on October 31 captured leaving the apartment carrying two bags suspected to have contained the remains of the victim that were later in the day discovered at Lang'ata cemetery.

Thousands protest against increasing violence against women in Kenya on January 27, 2024. /AP

Gen Z, Femicide, Adani: 4 Protests & Strikes That Defined 2024

Marvin Chege — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:45:43 +0300

Article 37 of the Constitution of Kenya is self-explanatory. For those still in the dark, it reads like this: "Every person has the right, peaceably and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket, and to present petitions to public authorities."

The 2023 protests ranged from anti-government protests to those supporting government policies such as the Housing Levy, and even student demonstrations. However, 2024 brought a new wave of protests, none that have been witnessed in Kenya's history.

For the first time, it was not the usual political heavyweights mobilising Kenyans to protest. 2024 saw the emergence of Gen Z in the national limelight, taking to the streets in a manner that might not be exceeded going forward...armed with nothing but the Kenyan flag, a bottle of water and cell phones with internet connectivity to stream events on social media...in real time!

Finance Bill 2024, femicide, medical, aviation...2024 was one for Kenyan history books. Viral Tea reviews the protests and strikes that made headlines in 2024:

Anti-Femicide Protests (Twice)

The year 2024 began with shocking reports of the murders of Starlet Wahu and 20-year-old Rita Waeni in the space of a week. On January 27, thousands of Kenyans gathered to protest in cities and towns in Kenya against the femicide menace, the largest event ever held in the country against sexual and gender-based violence.

In the capital, Nairobi, protesters wore T-shirts printed with the names of women who became homicide victims this month. The crowd, composed mostly of women, brought traffic to a standstill. “Stop killing us!” the demonstrators shouted as they waved signs with messages such as “There is no justification to kill women.”

Thousands protest against increasing violence against women in Kenya on January 27, 2024. /AP

The crowd in Nairobi was hostile to attempts by the Woman Representative Esther Passaris, to address them. Accusing Passaris of remaining silent during the latest wave of killings, protesters shouted her down in the middle of Jeevanjee Gardens with charged chants of “Where were you?” and “Go home!”

The protests would make a comeback on December 10 in response to resurging femicide cases between the months of August and October, with data from the National Police Service (NPS) showing that at least 97 women were brutally murdered in a period of just 90 days.

However, this brought protesters and police at loggerheads after the latter used teargas to disperse the former in the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD). A number of Kenyans and prominent activists were arrested, with human rights organizations condemning the conduct of the police on December 10.

Finance Bill Protests (June-August)

The biggest of them all this year and the result of a long-standing time bomb; proposals in the deleted Finance Bill 2024 sought to raise taxes to an all-time high, affecting every Kenyan. This was on the backdrop of President William Ruto’s promises that he would permanently transform the nation into an economic hub. This included, among many things, raising tax rates and providing a friendly environment to conduct business.

When the proposals were revealed to the public, uproar ensued and the tabling of the Bill in Parliament left Kenyans with no choice but to declare all-out war against the Bill, arguing that the taxes were intolerable to Kenyans in an already harsh economy. Warnings from insurers, aviators, farmers and even telecommunication companies indicated that the proposed tax increments would be bad for the already frail economy.

The Bill had sought to amend a number of legislations among them the Affordable Housing Act, the Industrial Training Act, the Data Protection Act, the Public Finance Management Act, and the Kenya Revenue Authority Act and threatened to impose deductions on basic commodities like bread, milk, vegetable oils and similarly affect the motor vehicle and telecommunications sectors.

The uproar turned social media into the most important tool to disseminate civic education on the detriments the Bill harboured, with activists and social media users spreading broken down details on most of the critical clauses which posed a threat to the economy. Some even created a tool based on the popular artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot ChatGPT to help Kenyans understand the unsavoury Finance Bill 2024, dubbed 'Finance Bill GPT'.

Through social media’s erudite innovations, users started sharing phone numbers belonging to President Ruto and Members of Parliament (MPs) in a bid to persuade them to shoot down the Bill during voting in Parliament.

The efforts turned futile because the Bill was still tabled before the House after a contentious public participation exercise, forcing a number of youths to take the streets to protest the unwanted proposed taxes. The protests dubbed “Occupy Parliament” kicked off on June 18 in Nairobi as the government attempted to drop a raft of controversial proposals contained in the Bill.

This however did little to calm the tempers of the protesters as they still took to the streets, arguing that the select dropped proposals merely addressed the public outcry. Despite efforts to reach Parliament being thwarted by anti-terror officers, public uproar ballooned overnight as more Kenyans ridiculed the government. Calls for the Bill’s total rejection spread across the nation as other counties took to the streets on June 20.

Meanwhile, legislators and political figures turned a blind eye to the sheer force the protests garnered as Ruto’s economic adviser David Ndii fired back at Gen Zs who staged demonstrations against the Bill 2024, calling them clueless and unable to force a revolution. “The irony of these cool kids protesting the Finance Bill they are clueless about is many are children of the plunderers who’ve bankrupted the State, the tenderpreneurs, the #KenyattaCronyCapitalismStateCapture and corruption cartels I’ve been battling since before they were born,” he said on X.

The Bill passed its second reading in Parliament despite calls from Kenyans to reject it, prompting a call to occupy Parliament on June 25, when the final voting would take place. Tensions flared towards the boiling point as protesters across the nation took to the streets and some were shot dead. President Ruto remained defiant in heeding the public’s call and maintained that the Bill would become law.

On June 25, the day Parliament was invaded, legislators made haste to pass the Bill while protesters marched on towards the House amid running battles with police officers. At around 2:30 pm, several young protesters were shot dead outside Parliament buildings as officers did not shy away from using live bullets as opposed to using teargas.

After 24 hours of public distraught, and President Ruto affirming that the protests were infiltrated by “criminals” and there was a need to deploy the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) on the streets, he caved in and refused to sign the Bill. He vowed to engage the public in further consultations to amend the unwanted Bill. The Bill was later, on July 25, totally rejected in Parliament as MPs deleted all proposed clauses.

President Ruto later distanced himself from the deaths of the many young people killed during the protests, maintaining that “there is no blood on my hands”. Kenyan human rights commissions reported that more than 50 protesters were killed by police officers during the protests and 413 injured.

Doctors, Teachers, Lecturers Strike (March-September)

The education and health sectors have been severely affected in 2024 as delayed salaries and benefits have crippled activities in most institutions.

In August, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) issued a warning to 11 counties over a possible strike due to delays in July and August salaries without any explanation. KMPDU Secretary General Dr Davji Atellah decried the outcome of the return-to-work formula they signed with both the county and the national government.

KMPDU Secretary General, Davji Atellah during a past press address. /PHOTO

Concurrently, a nationwide teachers' strike commenced after last-minute negotiations between the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) failed to yield a resolution. The teachers had lamented the delayed pay and unresolved grievances that had remained pending for months.

The move severely affected learners as some schools remained closed for over two weeks before the TSC revised the terms and teachers agreed to return to classes.

The crisis was however not over as university lecturers from public universities downed their tools on September 18, citing delays in finalizing the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the government.

An inter-ministerial committee was subsequently formed to address the stalemate. 18 days later, the strike was called off inking a return-to-work formula with the government, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.

Moi University students and lecturers however remained in limbo as the institution’s Vice Chancellor Isaac Kosgey announced the immediate closure of the university on October 3. The cash-strapped university had been facing a series of financial challenges that led to a staff industrial action.

The University Council, however, said that it was holding consultations with key stakeholders to ensure the long-term stability of the institution. Some of the university dons have been probed by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for allegedly embezzling billions of funds from the institution.

Airport Workers' Strike (September)

Indian conglomerate Adani Group had committed to a Ksh238 billion investment to upgrade and expand the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in a deal that would see the Indian company take over the international airport for three decades. Aviation workers were NOT happy with that idea.

Despite the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and President Ruto denying claims that JKIA would be sold to Adani, some of the contentious proposals posed a threat to the working tenures of staffers at JKIA by favouring foreign workers over local employees.

The High Court handed the workers a big win by blocking the deal from going through as strikes were held outside JKIA after meetings by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU). A day later, however, the workers lived up to their threats and paralysed airport operations, leaving hundreds of travellers stranded and several flights delayed.

The government would then step in with a return-to-work deal with the aviation workers to end the strike which led to normal resumption of operations at JKIA as well as at the airports in Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret where passengers were stranded most of Wednesday, September 11.

During the negotiations, facilitated by the Ministry of Transport and union leaders, an agreement was reached for the workers to resume duties. However, the workers were granted veto powers, allowing them to stop the controversial deal at any stage if their concerns were not addressed.

The Adani proposal was still live and with the workers threatening to resume their strikes, the Adani Group was caught up in a sensational $265m bribery claim. Adani stood accused of orchestrating a Ksh32.3 billion ($250m USD) bribery scheme and concealing it to raise money in the US.

After mounting public pressure, President Ruto severed ties with Adani on Thursday, November 21, a move that was so well-received that it sent JKIA workers into song.

Expanding JKIA is still seen as an overdue move by the government, but leasing it to Adani for a period of up to 30 years drew massive uproar, especially over the contents of the deal, some of which caused anxiety among JKIA workers who feared that the conglomerate could implement a restructuring of its workforce.

JKIA workers celebrate following cancellation of Adani deals by President William Ruto on November 21, 2024. /VIRAL TEA KE

REVEALED: New Technology KeNHA Is Using To Build Mombasa Road

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 11:54:03 +0300

The Kenya National Highway Authority (KENHA) on Sunday, December 15 opened up on a new technology being used to construct Mombasa Road in Nairobi, to lengthen the road's lifespan.

According to KeNHA, it has adopted Hand-Packed Stone (HPS) technology. "KeNHA has adopted Hand Packed Stone (HPS) technology in the construction of Mombasa Road to create a durable sub-base and extend the pavement's lifespan."

"This labour-intensive method enhances the road’s structural integrity, ensuring taxpayers get value for money," the highways authority explained.

Hand-packed stone (HPS) is a technique often used in road construction or drainage systems, particularly in areas requiring robust and cost-effective substructure or foundation stability solutions.

A photo collage of the Hand Packed Stone (HPS) used by Kenya National Highways Authority on the construction of Mombasa Road in Nairobi. /KENHA

It involves manually laying stones compactly and interlocked to create a stable base layer. This method is valued for its durability, load-bearing capacity, and resistance to erosion.

Key Characteristics of Hand-Packed Stone (HPS):

Material Used:

Typically consists of hard, angular stones of various sizes.
The stones are usually unshaped but fit tightly together when manually arranged.

Manual Process:

Stones are carefully hand-packed to minimize voids between them.
Smaller stones or gravel may be used to fill gaps and increase compaction.

Applications:

Road bases in rural or hilly areas where machinery access is limited.
Drainage structures, such as channels or culverts, to provide stability and reduce water erosion.
Foundations for retaining walls, embankments, or other low-cost structural supports.

Advantages:

Cost-effective compared to using concrete or asphalt in remote areas.
Environmentally sustainable, as it often uses locally sourced materials.
High load-bearing capacity and resistance to settling when properly executed.

Disadvantages:

Labor-intensive and time-consuming due to the manual nature of the work.
Requires skilled workers to ensure stones are packed effectively and interlocked.

Relevance in Modern Construction:

HPS is often used in regions where resources are limited or as part of traditional construction practices.
It may serve as a base layer for more modern road-building methods or as a standalone solution in rural infrastructure.

The hand-packed stone technique remains a practical approach in areas with challenging terrains, economic constraints, or a need for durable, low-maintenance solutions.

This technique is often used in infrastructure projects, especially in rural and low-traffic areas, due to its cost-effectiveness and simplicity. It will extend the road's lifespan as it will address challenges like drainage by the introduction of a rockfill base to stabilise the wet ground.

Mombasa Road is characterised by poorly drained black cotton soil, meaning that other technologies of road construction that do not address stagnant water are likely to be a waste of taxpayers' money.

"To address drainage challenges caused by high water percolation, the contractor has also introduced a rockfill base to stabilise the wet ground. The road’s surface will feature a layer of Dense Bitumen Macadam and Asphalt Concrete for added strength and durability," added KeNHA.

The HPS technology is majorly used in the construction of roads within areas that have loose soils and as base layers for paved roads and pathways.

Mombasa Road has been targeted as one of the major highways that the government is currently struggling with to address the traffic jam issues within the Nairobi metropolitan, coupled with budget constraints to address damages.

Massive traffic jam along Mombasa Road as of September 22, 2021. /FACEBOOK.TV47

6,000KM From Kenya To South Africa On A Rickshaw: Story Of Gump Suzuki

Ooro George — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 14:58:24 +0300

Gump Suzuki, the internationally acclaimed Japanese adventurer, was recently in Kenya as part of his ongoing, global rickshaw adventure.

The multi-talented Suzuki, who is not only a rickshaw traveller but also an actor and filmmaker, toured the country while engaging with Kenyan media and fans. Pulled by a person who walks or runs, a rickshaw is a human-powered vehicle, typically a two-wheeled cart with a seat for passengers.

On July 1, 2024, Suzuki (real name: Yuji Suzuki) began his epic journey of crossing Africa. Starting in Kenya, his route spans through Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa, covering a distance of approximately 6,000 kilometres. This project, Run for Fun, aims to inspire others through the joy of running while promoting mental and physical wellness.

Fueled by his motto of "Just For Fun," the Japanese's visit that was halted by the nationwide anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests was a short but exciting blend of exploration and personal challenge.

Gump Suzuki during his journey from Kenya to South Africa using a rickshaw. /GUMP SUZUKI

"The spirit of 'Just For Fun' inspires me to seek adventure and enjoyment wherever I go," said Suzuki. "My journey to Kenya is about exploring its wonders while pushing my own limits, driven by curiosity and a love for adventure."

The tour marked Suzuki's long-awaited foray into Africa. Having already traversed Asia, Australia, Europe, and America in his rickshaw, the continent held a particular allure for the seasoned traveller.

"Africa has always been a looming destination on my map," Suzuki expressed. "The diverse landscapes, wildlife, vibrant cultures, and the iconic Maasai tribe all hold immense intrigue for me, and I can't wait to experience it all firsthand."

Why a Rickshaw?

Born in Kyoto in 1990, Gump Suzuki was a spirited child who loved running and playing soccer, a passion that continued through college. During a study abroad program in Brazil, he discovered that meeting people and exploring unknown worlds brought him greater joy than soccer. This experience shaped his dream of becoming a traveller.

Back in Japan, Gump started working as a rickshaw driver in Asakusa to save money for his travels. It was here that he fell in love with the rickshaw, and the idea of combining it with his global adventures was born. “I wanted to try something no one else dared to do,” Gump recalls, explaining why he chose to travel the world with a rickshaw.

Milestones from His Rickshaw Journeys

Gump Suzuki has run over 20,000 kilometres across the globe with his rickshaw. Some of his notable achievements include:

2016: Cross-Asia journey from Shanghai, China to India, covering 3,500 km.
2018: Vertical journey across Europe from Spain to France, covering 2,500 km.
2018: Cross-Australia journey from Sydney to Melbourne, covering 1,000 km.
2019: Cross-America journey from Los Angeles to Adrian, covering 2,000 km.
2020: Vertical journey across Northeast Japan from Aomori to Tokyo, covering 1,000 km.
2021: Vertical journey across the Sea of Japan from Hokkaido to Okinawa, covering 3,000 km.
2022: Cross-America journey from New York to Los Angeles, covering 5,100 km.
2023: Pilgrimage journey in Shikoku, visiting 88 sacred sites, covering 1,400 km.

His adventures have been documented in the film Just For Fun, which has been screened in Japan and internationally, touching thousands of hearts. His Kenyan adventure that began on June 20 all through to July 6, immersed him in the country's rich tapestry of nature, wildlife, diverse communities, and the cultural heritage of the Maasai people.

Since 2016, Suzuki has been on a unique mission: to become the first person to travel all five continents on a rickshaw, documenting his experiences on social media. "My dream is to travel the world with my trusty rickshaw," he shared.

Beginning his journey in traditional tabi socks, pulling a rickshaw weighing over 265 pounds, Suzuki has already conquered 11 countries and regions, covering a staggering 18,641 miles. Despite facing hardships and dangers along the way, Suzuki credits the kindness of strangers and the support of his followers for his impressive progress. This remarkable journey has even earned him the nickname "The Real Forrest Gump" among his fans.

This journey is more than just running—it’s about connecting people worldwide through shared experiences. With his Run For Snack initiative, Gump invites people to run with him virtually. Participants contribute small donations, which are used to buy snacks for children along his route, creating moments of joy and connection.

For Gump, the rickshaw is more than a mode of transport—it’s a tool for sparking conversations and building connections. His journey is a testament to the power of human interaction, proving that the simplest joys, like running, can bring people together.

Gump’s story continues to unfold as he approaches new horizons. Accompanied by a team of five, including three cameramen and a local Kenyan coordinator, the goal is to reach Cape Town, South Africa, by January 2025.

Gump Suzuki during his journey from Kenya to South Africa using a rickshaw. /GUMP SUZUKI

IN FULL: President William Ruto's Jamhuri Day Speech

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 11:01:21 +0300

President William Ruto addressed Kenyans at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi on December 12, 2024, as well as millions more watching at home, as the country marked 61 years since gaining independence on this day in 1963, from British colonial rule.

He led the 61st celebrations in Nairobi County. Below is his speech in its entirety:

1. It is with immense pride that I join you in celebrating the 61st anniversary of our nation’s birth. At this pivotal moment, we reflect on the value of our sovereignty and celebrate the enduring legacy of those whose patriotic efforts took down the bastions of imperialism. Their sacrifice set our Republic on the path of liberty, unity, peace, enterprise, and democracy.

2. Today, we affirm - by reflecting on what we have accomplished since raising the flag of our nation - that by staying true to our national identity, we have remained consistent through seasons of abundance and scarcity. We assert our essential collective character, defined by the values and principles that inspired our forefathers to struggle and sacrifice, persist and persevere, endeavour and endure until oppression gave way to freedom, exclusion gave way to unity, and marginalization gave way to equality.

3. We remember that our nation was born from the painful sacrifice and the tireless, often lonely, and gruelling efforts of men and women driven by the conviction that their sweat, tears and blood were a worthy price to pay for ushering millions of their brothers and sisters from the dark, cold night of imperial brutality into the warm daylight of freedom.

4. Before 1963, our people were compelled to work hard to enrich colonial settlers. After 1963, our people laboured by choice to provide for their families and build our nation. Before 1963, education, health and personal security were privileges reserved for the colonial elite. After 1963, they became the right of all citizens. Before 1963, African people existed to be seen and not to be heard. After 1963, we reclaimed our inalienable sovereignty to its fullest extent.

5. The year 1963, therefore, marked Kenya’s profound moment of historical change, yet it also represents an equally fundamental moment of essential and defining continuity. Our circumstances changed forever, and our horizon was illuminated by the forces of possibility - the dawn of opportunity shining brightly. Yet our values, hard work, unity, and determination remained constant. We applied these same principles to building our nation after liberation.

President William Ruto inspecting a guard of honour during the 61st Jamhuri Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi on December 12, 2024. /PCS

6. There is an important point worth emphasising: In our time, our generation must never focus so much on the present that we forget where we were only six decades ago. We must not ignore the fact that our freedom, democracy, and development were achieved through the contributions of millions of determined patriots, nor should we underestimate the time and patience it took for these small, progressive efforts to accumulate into an unstoppable momentum towards freedom and nation-building.

7. It may have been easy to despise individual freedom fighters as they ventured into a forest of uncertainty and to underestimate their ambition to free Kenya from colonialism. Yet that is precisely how we gained our independence. Courage and hard work, determination and patience, and the confidence that we are not alone are always what it takes to make meaningful strides as a nation.

8. Today, I want to encourage my fellow citizens to keep this perspective in mind. As we aspire for more and better, we must not give way to despair, pessimism, or scepticism when faced with challenges but instead forge our path forward with courage, hope, determination, and ambition.

9. I declare my unwavering faith in the ability of our people to interrogate policies and hold the government accountable. This is the essence of democratic freedom - a civic duty for citizens, a responsibility for leaders, and a necessary imperative for our success and progress.

10. We have experienced a particularly challenging time as a people, largely owing to dynamics beyond our control, resulting in a high cost of living, greater difficulty in finding employment, and fewer opportunities for entrepreneurs. Consequently, there was widespread anxiety about the economic stability of our nation, demanding urgent and appropriate interventions and effective solutions.

11. The Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda was inspired by our determination to confront these fundamental challenges directly and with ambition. Our aim was, first, to lay the foundation for robust economic activity to generate millions of opportunities at the bottom of the economic ladder each year and drive substantive, inclusive and sustainable growth. Our key priorities were to reduce the cost of living, stimulate enterprise, boost productivity, create jobs, foster a conducive environment for institutional and infrastructural development, and promote investments in manufacturing, industrialisation, and export competitiveness.

12. As a starting point, it was critical for us to tighten our belts and make significant sacrifices to reset our public finances on a sustainable path, enabling intensified investments in the strategic pillars of our plan and the cross-cutting enablers of rapid transformation. I acknowledge the work we have done and the milestones achieved in creating the necessary conditions for progress in every value chain that supports the pillars of our plan.

13. There is a time to resist and a time to accept; a time to deny and a time to admit; a time to doubt and a time to believe. In the face of undeniable evidence, scepticism must give way to confidence, and we must reject the deceptive embrace of disinformation and fake news. The results and positive impact of our collective pursuit of fundamental economic change can no longer be wished away.

14. Ladies and gentlemen, financial inclusion is now a reality for millions of Kenyans. The Hustler Fund is marking its second anniversary on a highly successful note, having empowered Kenyans by lending a total of KSh60 billion so far, liberating millions from predatory lenders and precarious financial situations, enabling them to meet their needs, fund their hustles, and build their credit scores.

15. Our ongoing conversation with borrowers focuses on concerns related to the short borrowing duration, modest loan amounts, and the time required to increase borrowing limits. In response to this feedback, the Fund has designed a new product, the Bridge Loan, to help Kenyans with good credit scores transition from personal loans to enhanced facilities offering larger loan amounts with longer repayment periods. This will enable Kenyans to pursue bigger opportunities and better investments.

16. Ladies and gentlemen, not only have we registered successive historic gains against the shame of hunger for 3 seasons, but we are also firmly on the path towards surplus production. This impressive rise in productivity has multiplied the incomes of farmers in the maize, tea, sugar, coffee and dairy value chains.

17. There is no doubt that this agricultural transformation is the direct result of our strategic decision to shift public resources from consumption subsidies to supporting productivity. Food is now more accessible to households than before and, as I stated in the State of the Nation Address, our country now boasts substantial national food stocks: 95 million 50kg bags of maize, 9 million bags of beans, 10 million bags of wheat, and 2 million bags of rice. Step by step, we are building a food-secure Kenya where every family can afford and access a meal.

18. Farmers have brought more land under cultivation and produced much more per acre than before, thanks to the timely availability of subsidised inputs and extension services. Agro-industries have more raw materials, and value addition is on the rise. The agro-industrial sector is also creating more jobs each year as we gear up to compete in various export markets driven by expanding intra-African trade, opportunities in the European Union and United Kingdom markets, and our growing competitiveness in global markets.

19. Ladies and gentlemen, the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda prioritises digital transformation as a cornerstone of inclusive economic growth. This is why we are undertaking an ambitious expansion of our national digital infrastructure by deploying a fibre optic network to connect over 74,000 public institutions and establish 25,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots because digital transformation is a critical enabler in creating opportunities across all sectors. We intend to use this infrastructure to extend Internet connectivity to 8.5 million homes and businesses and eliminate the digital divide which undermines technological inclusivity in homes, schools, villages and counties.

20. I take this opportunity to affirm the significant progress already made, which is accelerating due to the digitisation of government services. Through the e-Citizen portal, we have digitised 20,855 government services, streamlining public service delivery, enhancing transparency and efficiency, eliminating opportunities for corruption, and increasing the visibility and mobilisation of public revenues. The transformative power of this single initiative to improve citizen experience with public services and enhance the government’s ability to manage public resources effectively highlights the immense value of digital transformation.

21. Additionally, our digital transformation strategy is making significant contributions to skills development and job creation. For example, Ajira Digital and Jitume Digital are advancing our vision to equip 20 million citizens with ICT skills, fostering entrepreneurship and enhancing inclusive digital literacy. In other words, an additional 20 million Kenyans are being prepared for high productivity in the digital economy. We have also adopted the integration of creative industry courses into technical and vocational colleges as a reliable mechanism to build a skilled workforce.

22. These robust measures form the foundation of our strategy to promote the emergence of a fully-fledged digital economy, leveraging Kenya’s position as a regional hub for software development and digital exports. These initiatives are supported by key interventions, such as the establishment of institutional and incentive frameworks to promote investments, foster collaborations, and encourage the transfer of digital technologies, with a particular focus on AI and blockchain. Through these efforts, we are empowering local digital innovators and tech entrepreneurs to drive economic diversification and resilience.

23. Ladies and gentlemen, the discourse around universal healthcare remains lively, with concerns being raised about eligibility for coverage, the capability of the facilities to deliver services, and the alignment of contributions with benefits.

24. Under Taifa Care, our inclusive, universal, efficient, and transparent healthcare service model, we are implementing a transition on an unprecedented scale. We have successfully transitioned 5.6 million citizens from the National Health Insurance Fund and registered 11 million Kenyans under the Social Health Insurance Fund. This means that, in just two months, 11 million Kenyans who previously lacked access to healthcare services are now registered, with the registration process going on full steam in every part of Kenya.

Scouts from different countries during the 61st Jamhuri Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi on December 12, 2024. /PCS

25. I commend Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Bomet, Embu, and Lamu, the five leading counties so far in Taifa care registration. At the same time, I encourage the people of Marsabit, Garissa, Mandera, West Pokot, and Turkana counties to mobilise, register, and take advantage of the benefits of this transformative programme.

26. Taifa Care ensures healthcare access for all registered citizens without discrimination of any kind. The program has accurately determined the cost of each healthcare service and product, ring-fenced resources for equipment and facility improvements, and leveraged digital technology to radically enhance the management, coordination, and delivery of healthcare, promoting efficiency, transparency, inclusivity, and sustainability. No public service delivery project of this scale and ambition has ever been undertaken in the history of our country. We are confident that we will quickly surpass the 16.5 million citizens so far registered and provide all Kenyans with high-quality healthcare that is efficient, effective, affordable and sustainable.

27. Having said this, I wish to ask you this important question: Have you registered? Those who have registered often find that many of the issues, concerns, fears and questions are fully addressed to their satisfaction. I therefore encourage every Kenyan to register and enjoy the fundamental constitutional right to healthcare.

28. Ladies and gentlemen, after two and a quarter years, the decent, durable, dignified, and affordable houses we promised Kenyans are finally here. Since September this year, 1,200 affordable housing units have been completed. Additionally, the State Department of Housing has advertised 4,888 units available for sale to the public through the Boma Yangu platform. Our goal to increase the number of mortgages from 30,000 to one million has now shifted gears. Our delivery pipeline for affordable housing now has a total of 124,000 units at various stages of development across Kenya, while a total of 840,000 planned projects over the next four years are projected to create 1 million jobs.

29. Ladies and gentlemen, despite the multiple challenges and crises we have had to grapple with, we have succeeded in keeping our commitments, taking steady steps towards our aspirations and moving our nation closer to its destiny. Work is underway across the country, and opportunities are opening up for many citizens, especially the youth. Over the past 2 years, the number of employment opportunities has increased with new jobs for teachers, agriculture sector workers, healthcare professionals, building and construction, seafarers and outside Kenya under our labour mobility programme.

30. The affordable housing strategic pillar of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda has so far created 200,000 jobs and thousands of indirect opportunities across the building and construction value chain. The universal healthcare coverage pillar has engaged 107,000 community health promoters, alongside other healthcare professionals employed to support our vision of a functional national healthcare system. In addition, jobs will be created in healthcare innovation, service delivery, and ICT support for the digital health system, unlocking opportunities nationwide. Furthermore, we have recruited 56,000 teachers to address the chronic teacher shortage and moved the national teacher-to-student ratio closer to the United Nations recommendation of 1 teacher for every 40 learners. This December, we are hiring an additional 20,000 teachers, while our rejuvenated micro, small, and medium enterprises have created 840,000 jobs this year.

31. To address the urgent need to create opportunities for the hundreds of thousands of young men and women entering the labour market annually, we have expanded the employment opportunity spectrum and implemented strategies to secure jobs abroad to facilitate mobility and placement of suitably qualified Kenyans. Since September 2022, more than 243,000 Kenyans have secured international job opportunities in the healthcare, agriculture, and construction sectors, among others, and in the last two months alone, 12,000 have secured jobs abroad. So far, we have completed bilateral labour frameworks with seven countries, while agreements with two more countries are awaiting signature. Additionally, agreements with 13 other countries are at various stages of negotiations, and we project to connect up to 2 million Kenyans with jobs abroad once completed.

32. Our Digital Superhighway and Creative Economy programme, which involves laying 100,000 km of last-mile fibre-optic infrastructure and establishing digital hubs nationwide, is designed to create digital jobs at the grassroots. To date, 690,000 citizens have been trained in digital skills through the Ajira and Jitume programmes in various learning institutions, TVETs, and Constituency Innovation Hubs, out of which 180,000 youth have already been linked to online job opportunities, well on track to creating one million jobs through this programme.

33. Our Special Economic Zones and Export Processing Zones are boosting investment, manufacturing, and exports, creating jobs and increasing national wealth. In the past two years, we have licensed over 80 companies within these zones, creating 14,000 jobs. The six Export Processing Zones flagship projects in Busia, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Eldoret, Kwale, and Nakuru, now being developed, are set to generate 30,000 more jobs. Additionally, the ongoing operationalisation of Dongo Kundu and Naivasha special economic zones will create 26,000 jobs, facilitating private special economic zone investments and supporting county and public special economic zone operations.

34. At the same time, our youth are actively contributing to climate action, urban neighbourhood improvement, and landscape restoration through the Kenya Urban Resilience or ClimateWorX program. Recognising the urgency, scale, and importance of these efforts, ClimateWorX is designed to be ambitious. So far, 21,560 Kenyans have been engaged in Nairobi, with nearly half- 48% - being women, reflecting a strong commitment to gender parity. The programme will soon be expanded nationwide to engage 200,000 young men and women in critical infrastructure and environmental projects within our towns and communities. This initiative not only offers opportunities but also empowers youth to strengthen the foundations of urban living and tackle climate change.

35. We are also investing in local content creation to enhance the quality and competitiveness of Kenyan creative products for export while facilitating the development of digital platforms to distribute Kenyan creativity to global audiences. I am confident that we are firmly on course to transform opportunities for our creative industry.

36. I salute the actors in our creative spaces whose work brings life to our cities, streets and screens, yet their achievements are overshadowed by injustice. Musicians, who are the heartbeat and soul of our culture, have long been denied their rightful earnings. It is unacceptable that an artist earns as little as Ksh10,000 a year while those tasked with collecting their royalties pocket millions monthly. This injustice must end. The Kenya Copyright Board, in conjunction with industry players and eCitizen, must establish a transparent, real-time system for royalty collection and distribution to rightful owners and beneficiaries.

37. As we champion this cause, Kenya is also preparing for global leadership by bidding to host the 2026 World Creative Economy Conference, signalling our commitment to celebrate our talent and showcase our vibrant culture to the world. Hosting this conference will be a bold declaration of Kenya’s leadership in the creative economy.

38. Our committed interventions are creating jobs and opportunities, and this is only the beginning. We are building on the foundation we have laid to create more jobs going forward. The essence of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda is to enhance our capacity for incremental achievement and thus accelerate our progress in delivering our commitments for the benefit of all Kenyans.

39. What I wish to emphasise on this Jamhuri Day is that regardless of how difficult circumstances get, and despite obstacles, resistance and anxiety, it remains the mandate of leadership to keep true to their word and the duty of government to deliver. We have every intention of fulfilling our commitments and are at the point where the first projects are successfully entering maturity.

40. The deliberate and intentional effort to develop effective strategies for creating employment opportunities within our broader economic transformation agenda is bearing fruit. From the current numbers, it is clear that employment opportunities, whether domestic, international, or online, will increase significantly in the coming days. We are determined to build a labour market capable of absorbing as many job seekers as possible, cognisant of the output of our education and training institutions, which produce talented, skilled, and motivated young people. By doing the hard work and heavy lifting now, we are laying the foundation for citizens to seize opportunities in the future.

41. As we do this, let us reflect on the lessons of history and rise above our political differences to deliver for Kenya. Those who came before us overcame far more turbulent divisions to score a historic victory whose everlasting legacy benefits us today and will endure for posterity. As they fought hard to reclaim our sovereignty, the enemies of our freedom deployed state-of-the-art technologies of the time, the radio and the aeroplane, to disseminate disinformation and propaganda. This was meant to discourage, trick and deceive people that freedom fighters had been defeated and that their leaders had been captured and neutralised. Our heroes and heroines were not deterred and, inspired by the righteousness of their cause and the transformational moment they were in, soldiered on courageously. On 12th December, therefore, every Kenyan witnessed their vindication as our majestic flag rose and, collectively, we reclaimed our proud Jamhuri. Jamhuri Day is also a moment for Kenyans to expose the fake news aimed at discrediting our ambition, sabotaging our hope and seeking to dampen our resolve.

42. I have no doubt that the national economic transformation agenda will succeed and deliver for the people of Kenya. I have no problem with discourse, criticism and alternative proposals. In fact, I welcome them and listen to feedback in order to learn, improve and become better. At the same time, I see clearly that a lot of what passes for facts are falsehoods and that most opposition is based on inaccurate representations and outright disinformation. We are at the stage in social development when digital technologies have immense capacity to amplify disinformation, magnify fake news and distort facts beyond all recognition. If we give in to these emerging negative trends, we shall pay with our freedom, democracy and development.

43. I therefore urge all Kenyans to participate fully in our democratic discourse, even as we work hard in nation-building. At all times, let us endeavour to engage on the basis of truth. Failure to do so will take us down the path of negativity, tear us away from the values we cherish and turn us into a people estranged from unity who sabotage development, undermine democracy and destroy our Republic in the pursuit of political expediency.

44. When we say that the cost of basic food commodities has come down, it is a fact. When we say that inflation has gone down, it is a fact. When we say that our farmers are producing more and better, it is a fact, and when we say that Kenyans who have registered for Taifa Care are receiving better services than before, it is a fact. We encourage everyone, including our critics, to engage on the basis of facts and the truth. If some of us persist in the culture of reckless negativity, for how long will cynics mobilise Kenyans to deny facts that they can touch, feel and see? What will they say in a few weeks’ time when we begin to give keys to the new owners of affordable housing units? What will they say of the thousands of plumbers, electricians, teachers, health workers, building and construction workers, digital workers and many more who are already at work, including the 300 young men and women who were flagged off by my deputy yesterday to work abroad?

45. I am confident in the future of our nation and the capacity of our national transformation agenda to deliver because I appreciate the strategies we have put in place, the work underway and the people's motivation to make their contribution. I count myself as one of many millions of Kenyans who want the best for our nation and all its people and are committed to putting in the effort required to make our dreams come true. We are driven by strong hope and unwavering optimism, as well as an unfailing desire to reach for a better tomorrow. It is confidence based on understanding, hope built on truth and optimism that stands on facts.

46. We must do all we can to maintain the essential character of our Republic as an open and free democratic society. This implies that we must also do all we can to ensure that our political competition and rivalry never degenerate into a contest to assault democracy, oppose development and demoralise the people. We must remember that whatever else sets us apart, we are united by a desire to achieve the best for Kenya and its people. With this in mind, we must promote inclusion and broaden our platform for collective engagement to allow the articulation of diverse viewpoints and the expression of fresh, new and bold approaches. To be transformational, we must be ready to transform ourselves and our strategies on a continuous basis.

47. I will continue to reach out to Kenyans of all walks of life, regardless of their ideological persuasion, to maximise the cross-pollination of the flower of our Republic and guarantee robust seeds for future seasons. You must never underestimate your power as citizens and your ability to create positive change individually and all of us collectively. Over time, we have made gradual and steady changes to many of the economic development strategies in order to take on board feedback from the people. In fact, the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda has in-built mechanisms to improve on the basis of this feedback because we recognise that, as leaders, every day of work is a day of learning from the people and that every good idea must always give way to a better one. Listening, therefore, is a primary component of effective leadership, and national transformation is a collective enterprise of all citizens.

48. I am grateful to distinguished patriots who have demonstrated outstanding leadership across the political aisle for the spirit of goodwill in which we have engaged to address critical national issues, including resolving the inclusivity challenge by formulating a broad-based government. I also appreciate the good wishes, encouragement and support from leaders with whom I continue to discuss matters of importance to our nation. I am persuaded that together, we can achieve much more and much sooner for Kenya and that the future of our dreams is now within sight.

49. I readily concede that we are yet to reach the destination of our aspirations because we have not yet delivered fully on all our commitments. Having said that, it is also a fact that we are no longer where we were a year ago, let alone 2 years ago. We have moved beyond pledges and commitments and are now making progress with our implementation strategies. There is now sufficient evidence of an undeniable character that together, the people of Kenya are hard at work to achieve their shared vision of a nation transformed.

50. Our ability to feed the people and keep them healthy, to empower them and connect them with opportunities, to keep them safe and protect their freedom, is improving by leaps and bounds. When we all unite, inspired by a shared aspiration, to undertake nation-building, we shall make our nation great, and our collective legacy will inspire present and future generations.

President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki during the 61st Jamhuri Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi on December 12, 2024. /PCS

Stop Looking At Us As If We Are Beggars: Meet Josephine Mwende Born With Cerebral Palsy

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 17:36:51 +0300

In November, a 2023-24 report by the National Council of Administration of Justice was mentioned in media reports to hail Kenya's progress in supporting persons with disabilities (PWDs), improving their access to justice and reducing their marginalisation in society.

The report also sheds light on the work done by the criminal justice system, government agencies, and advocacy groups to minimise societal stigma suffered by PWDs. As the founder and CEO of AbleRise Africa Society, Josephine Mwende, a Nguvu Change Leader born with Cerebral Palsy and mother of a 7-year-old has consistently advocated for inclusivity and equality for PWDs.

On December 3, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), she wants to once again remind Kenyan lawmakers that a lot more work needs to be done before all citizens can access their fundamental rights with equal ease.

She says, "The problem is that on this day we tend to amplify disability matters and then, everything goes back to normal. We still have counties without disability representation and persons with disability still struggle to access education, health and employment."

Josephine Mwende, a Nguvu Change Leader born with Cerebral Palsy. /HANDOUT

Elaborating on this year's IDPD theme, "Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future," she has put forth a charter of five key demands which include:

Systemic sustainable inclusion of PWDs that becomes an integral part of policies, programs, and societal norms.
Immediate implementation of updated disability laws, such as the Persons with Disabilities (Amendment) Bill, 2023, to ensure that the rights of persons with disabilities are protected effectively and consistently.
Comprehensive representation of PWDs in governance, particularly at the county level, to ensure their voices are part of decision-making processes.
Awareness campaigns to break attitudinal barriers and address societal stigmas and stereotypes, promoting the view of persons with disabilities as capable, equal contributors to society.
Equitable access to employment opportunities and inclusive workplaces, to ensure economic independence and empowerment for PWDs.

As she says, "Sustainable inclusion entails long-term, systemic, and holistic change to ensure that PWDs are included in all aspects of life. Inclusion should be embedded into the design of all programs to ensure their longevity and self-sufficiency."

Josephine has rooted her activism in her lived experience as an expectant mother who was turned away from one hospital after another during the time of delivery just because she had cerebral palsy.

"This experience made me realise the trauma women with disabilities, particularly cerebral palsy go through. This is largely due to misconceptions that such women cannot or should not bear children due to the perceived risks," she recalls.

To protect other women from the humiliation and pain that she went through, she also initiated a petition to call on the Ministry of Health, the Office of The Ombudsman and the Office of The Governor of Nairobi County to direct the public hospitals in Nairobi County to operationalise a toll-free hotline where people can report discrimination. The petition also sought special consultation rooms for women with disabilities, including cerebral palsy and awareness programs to sensitise cadres of staff to the needs of cerebral palsy patients.

Josephine is also a staunch critic of dehumanising, deficit-based language which is widely used to describe PWDs and says, "Focus should be on empowering individuals and shift the narrative from pity or charity to rights, agency, and equality. Stop looking at us as if we are beggars. Accessibility, equity, and respect for diversity must be woven into the fabric of all policies, programs, and practices in Kenya."

Discussing Kenya's Vision 2030 on Disability Awareness Creation, she adds, "The vision is very futuristic but the reality is different especially in terms of funding gaps when it comes to disability inclusion implementation. We have had a new disability act on the shelf for years which is yet to be fully implemented."

Renewing her call to #DISABLETHESTIGMA, she concludes, "I hope to be the first woman with cerebral palsy to represent PWDs in the Government and do everything in my capacity to ensure that their voices are heard and the dignity and respect they deserve are accorded to them unstintingly.".

Josephine Mwende alongside NARC leader Martha Karua. /PHOTO

Deborah Monari On How Accessible Sexual and Reproductive Health Can Save Millions from HIV

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 13:34:29 +0300

World AIDS Day, designated on December 1 every year since 1988, is an international day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection and mourning those who have died of the disease.

This year’s theme, Take the Rights Path: My Health, My Right! is a rallying cry for accessible, rights-based healthcare that empowers those affected by HIV/AIDS to live vibrant and fulfilling lives.

Meet Deborah Monari who is a nurse from Nairobi County in the healthcare sector and is deeply passionate about ensuring that everyone receives compassionate and quality care without discrimination.

Her journey began with a desire to take care of people and serve her community. However, her trust in the medical system was shattered when she experienced medical negligence firsthand.

Deborah's own experience of misdiagnosis and negligence led her to advocate for change within the healthcare system. She initiated a petition, signed by over 1,000 people, calling for the establishment of Patient Rights Committees in Kenya.

Deborah Monari, an advocate for medical and social justice at Nguvu Collective. /HANDOUT

Her campaign highlights the power of individuals to drive transformational change and aims to prevent future suffering, save lives, and ensure access to safe and reliable healthcare for all citizens.

Her Petition: Stop bill that makes contraceptives unaffordable for women of reproductive age. Click here to access it

The nurse, an advocate for medical and social justice at Nguvu Collective, tells it all in an exclusive interview with Viral Tea, touching on her push to make reproductive health, in the current economy in Kenya, more affordable:

1. You've been a strong advocate for affordable healthcare, especially in reproductive health. How do you think increasing the accessibility of sexual and reproductive health products can help in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Kenya?

Making sexual and reproductive health services and products accessible, such as contraceptives, HIV testing kits, and comprehensive maternal care plays a crucial role in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Kenya. When access is affordable and widespread, it reduces the risk of unintended pregnancies and promotes safer sexual practices, directly contributing to lower HIV transmission rates.

2. What role do you think the government should play in ensuring that essential health products like condoms, contraceptives, and HIV testing kits are easily available and affordable for everyone, especially young people and vulnerable populations?

The government still has a critical role in ensuring that essential health products are both accessible and affordable. It should allocate sufficient budgetary resources to reproductive health and HIV prevention programs and resist regressive financial proposals and healthcare budgetary cuts that threaten equitable healthcare access. Additionally, the government must adopt an equity-focused approach, tailoring policies to address the specific needs of vulnerable populations, such as adolescents, individuals with disabilities, and rural communities.

It should partner with local healthcare providers and community-based organizations to distribute these products effectively and raise awareness about their use. Government hospitals usually have limited options to choose from in terms of subsidised contraceptive methods that may not work for everyone. It is important to consider other existing methods and make them accessible to all.

In addition to this infrastructure, the government should fund awareness campaigns to ensure that efforts are embraced by the citizens.

3. In the context of reducing unwanted pregnancies, how do you see affordable contraceptive access playing a role in the prevention of HIV transmission, especially among teenagers?

When adolescents have access to contraception, they are more likely to engage in safer sexual practices, reducing the risk of unintended pregnancies that often lead to school dropouts and economic hardship. Additionally, access to dual protection methods, such as condoms, provides simultaneous protection against both pregnancy and HIV, addressing two critical reproductive health challenges at once.

Traditional cultural beliefs and religious beliefs in Kenya often discourage adolescents from contraceptive use and teach abstinence as the only way. These teachings are often insufficient and leave major gaps in understanding. We should empower teenagers to take control of their sexual health instead and reduce their vulnerability to HIV infection.

4. Considering the alarming number of teenage pregnancies you mentioned in your petition, what more can be done to provide sexual and reproductive health education that includes HIV prevention and contraception?

To address the high rates of teenage pregnancies, a comprehensive and context-specific sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education curriculum must be implemented in schools. This curriculum should go beyond biological concepts to include practical information on contraception, HIV prevention, and safe sexual practices.

It should also address social and cultural issues that influence adolescent behaviour, such as harmful gender norms and peer pressure. Engaging local healthcare professionals to deliver age-appropriate and relatable SRH education can make the information more relevant and impactful.

Furthermore, incorporating digital platforms and peer-led programs can enhance outreach and engagement, ensuring that young people have access to accurate and timely information.

5. What would you recommend as key interventions in making HIV testing and related health services more accessible and less stigmatizing, especially for women and marginalized communities?

To make HIV testing and related health services more accessible and less stigmatizing, several key interventions are necessary. First, community-based testing initiatives should be expanded, bringing services closer to where people live and work, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

Second, public awareness campaigns should focus on destigmatizing HIV by addressing myths and misconceptions and promoting HIV testing as a routine part of self-care.

Lastly, engaging community leaders and peer educators to advocate for HIV testing can build trust and encourage uptake, especially among women and marginalized groups who may face additional barriers to accessing these services. Programs to reach out to high-risk groups such as sex workers should also be strengthened, and ensure that everyone is included in the fight against HIV transmission.

This World AIDS Day, @DeborahMonari Advocate for Medical & Social Justice at @nguvucollective shares her views on breaking barriers to accessible sexual and Reproductive Health and how it can save millions from HIV in Kenya#NguvuChangeLeader #WorldAIDSDay
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— Viral Tea Ke (@ViralTeaKe) December 1, 2024

NACADA CEO Awarded During Summit In Nigeria

Marvin Chege — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 17:15:44 +0300

Dr. Anthony Omerikwa, the Chief Executive Officer of Kenya’s National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), has been recognized with the Outstanding Global Personality in Drug and Substance Abuse Prevention award.

The accolade was presented on Thursday, November 28 during the ongoing African Youths Initiative on Crime Prevention (AYICRIP) summit in Abuja, Nigeria.

In a statement, NACADA revealed that the award celebrates Dr Omerikwa’s exceptional contribution and unwavering commitment to the global fight against substance abuse among youth.

New NACADA CEO, Anthony Omerikwa at his offices on November 1, 2023. /NACADA KENYA

His leadership in promoting youth development, empowerment, and innovation has made a significant impact across Africa, inspiring young people to lead healthier, drug-free lives.

Speaking at the event, Dr Omerikwa dedicated the award to the youth of Africa, emphasizing the critical role they play in shaping a drug-free future.

“This recognition is a testament to the collective efforts of NACADA and our partners in empowering young people to resist the lure of drugs and embrace their potential. Together, we can turn the tide on substance abuse,” he stated.

The AYICRIP summit has brought together stakeholders from across Africa to address crime prevention, substance abuse, and youth empowerment.

Dr Omerikwa’s leadership in innovative programs, such as NACADA’s targeted youth campaigns and rehabilitation initiatives, was lauded as a model for other nations.

In his remarks, AYICRIP organizers praised Dr Omerikwa for his visionary approach and for setting a high standard in tackling substance abuse through preventive strategies, capacity building, and community-driven solutions.

As the summit continues, Dr. Omerikwa’s recognition reinforces the importance of collaboration and innovation in addressing substance abuse, ensuring a brighter, drug-free future for Africa's youth.

The former National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Chief Executive Officer was appointed NACADA CEO on November 1, 2023, taking over from Prof. John Muteti who was the Authority’s acting CEO.

Omwrikwa's tenure at the helm of NSSF came to an end on November 21, 2022, leaving behind the trust with a net asset of Ksh295 billion after serving it for over seven years as its CEO and Managing Trustee.

Muteti was named NACADA's Acting CEO, with Mairori indicating that Muteti would be instrumental in steering the Authority’s mandate.

Former NACADA Acting CEO, John Muteti with new CEO, Anthony Omerikwa on November 1, 2023. /NACADA KENYA

President Ruto's 2nd State Of The Nation Address [FULL SPEECH]

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 17:26:43 +0300

President William Ruto made a State of the Nation address on Thursday, November 21 in Parliament as required by the Constitution. This is his second address since becoming President on September 13, 2022.

Here is the full speech;

1. I am honoured to address you today in fulfilment of the mandate vested in me under Article 132(1)(c) of the Constitution, to report to you and to the people of Kenya on the measures we have taken and the progress we have made in realising our national values and principles of governance, and to submit to you, honourable members, the progress made in fulfilling our international obligations.

2. Since my last address, Kenya has undergone rapid change occasioned by the collective awakening of the people in the understanding that the state of the nation depends on the work we do, individually and collectively. This realisation extends not only to what we choose to undertake, but also to how we go about securing careers, and livelihoods, and contributing to the grand enterprise of nation-building.

3. There has never been doubt, and now there is none whatsoever, that Kenya is a land of bold ambition, with our citizens always desiring and insisting on the best possible standards not only for themselves but also for their families and the nation. Consequently, our democracy has empowered citizens to ask questions and demand changes in the way their affairs are managed, driving the wheels of the nation’s social, political, and economic transformation faster in the direction of excellence and prosperity. Rare are the times when leadership is ahead of the people; we are always striving to steer the machinery of State and government to keep pace with the aspirations of citizens.

4. We have learnt, through the hard as well as more customary ways, that listening is a full-time occupation of leadership, and that all questions asked by the people must be answered thoroughly and in full. We have learnt never to take anything for granted and make every effort to carry all our people along with us in our pursuit of our transformation.

5. The context in which I make this national address is not only significantly different from previous occasions, but it is also a singular moment with unique historical implications for us all. It is an opportunity to affirm the principles and values on which our nation stands, review the steps we have taken, and the path we have chosen in our journey of national development and reinforce the commitments we have made to one another and to our beloved nation for the sake of present and future generations. I do not take this for granted and, with utmost respect and humility before this august assembly of the people's elected representatives, I desire to respond to the most pressing concerns that have been raised by Kenyans of all walks of life in recent months.

6. To my understanding, the concerns and issues voiced by millions of Kenyans about the state of our nation deserve meaningful engagement, thorough understanding and thoughtful response.

7. There are discussions about whether leaders understand the pain, hardship and struggles endured by countless citizens every day as they strive to make ends meet, and whether the government is doing anything about it. Similarly, many struggling Kenyans impatiently wonder when real money will get into their pockets, and when the promised jobs they deserve will become a reality.

8. Additionally, there have been conversations about our education system, particularly the transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), and whether policies in this sector are working for or against Kenyans.

9. Important questions have also been raised concerning the direction of developments in relation to democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as the rule of law, transparency and accountability.

10. Another more direct question that emerges every now and then, is whether public policy under this administration is in furtherance of service delivery to citizens or just in aid of political strategy.

11. It is undeniable that, for many Kenyans, times are hard and the struggle to meet their daily basic needs remains daunting. It is also true that these conditions have persisted for a number of years now, leading to much frustration and anxiety. Although we have gone some way to mitigate some of these difficulties, much remains to be done, though we have laid a firm foundation for decisive intervention. I believe that it is critical for us to bear in mind that this administration was inaugurated at an extremely difficult time characterised by domestic economic challenges, compounded by regional and global security, geo-political, financial, as well as climatic dynamics.

12. As a result, in 2022, the country's total debt burden was not only immense but it was also stacked up in a most burdensome manner, leaving little to no room for investment in public services or the development of critical infrastructure. The prices of basic food commodities soared as a result of a combination of prolonged drought, declining local productivity due to inadequate support, and disruptions in global supply chains caused by the war in Europe.

13. Kenya faced a crossroads of extremely difficult choices, where defaulting on our obligations would have significantly worsened an already perilous situation and more borrowing was out of the question. It was therefore essential for us to drastically reduce expenditure, mobilise as much resources domestically as possible, and curtail waste.

14. As I informed the nation then, matters were going to get more difficult before they got better, and we all had to tighten our belts and work hard under very unforgiving conditions. We had staked the fate of our ambitious Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda on easing the stress that the economy was in, and the strain citizens underwent while creating room for the implementation of our transformative interventions.

15. I give this background to underscore two important facts. First, we have not been watching helplessly and doing nothing as adversity took a toll on the economy and undermined the livelihoods and well-being of the people. On the contrary, we have been working tirelessly to steer the country away from the brink of unprecedented economic collapse and onto a more promising trajectory. The second point is that while we may not be where we would like to be, we are certainly not where we were two and a quarter years ago. At the time, the cost of living was substantially high, with prices of basic food commodities beyond the reach of many households.

16. Today, I am proud to report that all macroeconomic indicators point to a positive turnaround and an upward trajectory. Allow me to highlight a few milestones that underscore this progress: The shilling has stabilised significantly, appreciating from KSh162 to the dollar in February 2024, to KSh129 today, a remarkable gain of 20%. This recovery has restored confidence in our financial markets and significantly reduced the cost of servicing external debt, creating vital fiscal space for our development imperatives.

17. Inflation has declined dramatically from 9.6% in September 2022 to 2.7% in October 2024, the lowest rate in 17 years. This achievement has been the consequence of favourable weather, and our deliberate efforts to support farmers with affordable inputs including subsidised fertiliser, leading not only to increased production but also productivity, and lowering the prices of many cereals, including maize, and pulses such as beans and peas.

18. Our foreign exchange reserves have surged by $2.4 billion to hit a record $9.5 billion, providing 4.8 months of import cover, the highest in 10 years. This resilience shields us from external shocks in the global economy and restores investor confidence. Interest rates are also trending downward, reducing borrowing costs and freeing up fiscal space for growth-enhancing initiatives by businesses. Tax revenues have grown by 11.5% in the year to June 2024, reflecting the success of our tax base expansion measures. The economy continues to grow steadily, recording a 5.6% growth rate in 2023, among the highest globally. We project 5% growth this year and 5.6% in 2025.

Honourable Members,

19. Our efforts to secure food security and stability are already bearing fruit. Since February, we have distributed subsidised fertiliser to 6.45 million registered farmers in 45 counties, enabling them to increase their yields. This year we have procured and through e-vouchers distributed 7 million bags of both planting and top-dressing fertilizer to boost food production across the country. This intervention will see a projected increase in maize production to a record of 74 million 90 kg bags. We have also concluded long-term agreements with eleven suppliers of assorted fertiliser so as to make this commodity available all year round. Fertiliser for the long rain season will be stocked in outlets nationwide, ensuring our farmers are ready to plant, grow and produce.

This forward momentum will not only increase our agricultural output but also reduce our reliance on costly food imports, securing a more self-reliant and prosperous Kenya.

20. This approach, rooted in my administration’s policy to support production rather than subsidise consumption, has already made food more accessible and affordable to households. Today, Kenya boasts substantial national stocks: 47 million 90kg bags of maize, 8.8 million bags of beans, 10.4 million bags of wheat and 2.1 million bags of rice. Slowly but surely, we are building a food-secure Kenya where families need to worry less about their next meal.

21. In the sugar sector, we have achieved a historic milestone. All 17 sugar factories across the country are now operational, producing at impressive levels, while four new sugar factories are under construction. In July alone, domestic sugar production reached 84,000 metric tonnes, surpassing the national monthly consumption average of 40,000 metric tonnes. For the first time in recent history, Kenya is producing enough sugar to meet local demand. This success is attributed to subsidised fertiliser for sugarcane farmers, an additional 500,000 acres of land brought under production, and improved management of the sector, which have revitalised production and brought the industry back to life. I just signed the new sugar law to provide further policy guidance, as we seek to be a sugar-exporting country.

22. In the coffee sector, we are on track to increase exports from 51,000 metric tonnes to 150,000 metric tonnes by 2027. The government has also raised disbursements through the Cherry Advance Fund from KSh 2.7 billion to KSh 6 billion, complemented by an additional disbursement of KSh 1.5 billion by the Commodities Fund. Average prices at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange have risen by 25%, and in the last financial year, the country produced and exported 48,000 metric tonnes, earning farmers KSh 25 billion.

Additionally, 320,000 bags of fertilizer have been allocated specifically for the coffee sector. These interventions are expected to boost smallholder farmer earnings from KSh 300,000 to KSh 500,000 per acre annually by the end of 2027.

23. The dairy sector remains a vital value chain with a quick turnaround impact on households and the economy. The government has released KSh 3 billion to modernise the New KCC, ensure farmers are paid on time, and maintain a high price of KSh 50 per litre. As a result, milk intake to KCC has increased from 100,000 litres to 220,000 litres a day. Other strategic interventions include the extension of duty-free imports for feed manufacturing raw materials, subsidised artificial insemination services, and the reduction of sexed semen costs from KSh 7,000 to KSh 2,900 through the Kenya Animal Genetic Resource Center.

24. These measures have led to a 14% increase in milk production, from 4.6 billion litres in 2022 to 5.2 billion litres in 2023, with projections exceeding 6 billion litres this year. The value of exported dairy products has nearly doubled, rising from KSh 4.8 billion in 2022 to KSh 7.2 billion in 2023. These gains demonstrate how targeted policies can deliver tangible benefits to dairy farmers and drive growth in the economy.

25. By 2022, the education sector was in crisis, with a lack of clarity in the transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), a shortage of 110,000 teachers, and 23 out of 40 public universities were technically bankrupt and at risk of closure. Among those facing severe challenges were large institutions such as the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Moi University, Egerton University, Maseno University and Masinde Muliro University.

26. To address the issues in our education sector, we have already hired 56,000 teachers and are in the process of recruiting another 20,000 by January 2025. We have also ensured the seamless transition of learners from Primary to Junior Secondary School, and domiciled Grades 7, 8 and 9 in primary schools, optimising the use of existing infrastructure, ensuring the safety of young learners and protecting parents from the high costs associated with boarding schools.

27. Recognising the financial challenges faced by universities and TVETs, we introduced a new student-centred Higher Education Funding Model. This model gives priority to the most vulnerable students, offering them up to 95% government support, while also pulling our universities back from the brink of collapse. The remaining challenges for a few universities like Moi University are related to internal administrative and governance issues, which are being addressed.

28. To further enhance access to higher education, we launched the Open University of Kenya, paving the way for more students to achieve their academic goals. The institution’s first cohort of students is scheduled to graduate next week on 29th November 2024.

Honourable Members,

29. Universal Health Coverage is a cornerstone of our transformation agenda and a matter that touches every Kenyan family. Despite health being a devolved function, we acknowledge the immense financial burden that comes with it. Counties have struggled with shortages of medicine, equipment and staff, hindering service delivery and leaving countless Kenyans with sub-optimal access to healthcare. It would have been easy for me to step back and leave this responsibility to counties alone, but that would have been a disservice to Kenyans and a betrayal of our Constitution.

30. Instead of engaging in debates about healthcare being devolved, I have chosen the harder but necessary path of addressing these challenges head-on. Health delivery is not just about fulfilling a constitutional mandate, it is about ensuring that healthcare is not a privilege for the few who can afford it and pipe dream for many who cannot. For years, NHIF was saddled with debts and inefficiencies, and healthcare was being severely and negatively impacted.

31. For far too long, too many households have lived on the edge, just one illness away from financial catastrophe. Our healthcare system has historically neglected the poor and vulnerable, leaving them without any options, while private-sector medical coverage remained out of reach for the majority. This is precisely what we will correct through the provision of universal healthcare. This agenda is not just a promise; it is a bold commitment to deliver health through transformative financing reforms, making healthcare accessible and affordable, digitising healthcare services to enhance efficiency, eliminate fraud and stop corruption, and empower a skilled and motivated health workforce.

32. To honour our commitment to Universal Health Coverage, I signed into law four groundbreaking legislation on 19th October 2023 passed by this August House: The Social Health Insurance Act replaced the outdated National Health Insurance Fund and established the Social Health Authority (SHA), which oversees three essential funds. This modern framework ensures that every Kenyan, especially the most vulnerable, can access quality healthcare services when they need them most.

33. The shift from the National Health Insurance Fund model to Taifa Care is fundamental and radical in both scale and character. NHIF served a few salaried Kenyans and those who could pay, but Taifa Care covers every Kenyan regardless of their employment status. Secondly, despite serving a limited class of citizens, NHIF nevertheless accumulated billions of shillings of debt because of misalignment between contributions and the actual cost of healthcare. Taifa Care has undertaken an accurate costing of all healthcare-related goods and services, in order to provide timely, effective and efficient service to everyone. Additionally, the NHIF had a waiting period, lasting between registration and eligibility for services. Under Taifa Care, citizens are eligible for all services upon registration. I urge every Kenyan to take the most important step in securing dependable healthcare for themselves and their families: register now or at the earliest opportunity.

34. For the first time in our nation’s history, free primary healthcare is increasingly becoming available at dispensaries, health centres and hospitals. Ambulance and emergency services are also slowly but surely being made available at no fee. Under Taifa Care, we have introduced a comprehensive benefits package that brings specialised care, such as cardiothoracic surgery, within reach for many Kenyans, without the burden of financial strain. Through the Digital Health Act, we are revolutionising healthcare delivery. Every step of the process from registration, and eligibility checks, to claims is now digitised. By eliminating unnecessary human interaction, we are tackling corruption, reducing inefficiencies and ensuring that resources are used where they are needed most. As a result, SHA will pay all October claims in full, by next week.

35. To date, over 15 million Kenyans have enrolled in Taifa Care and more than 60% of employers have successfully transitioned into its framework. The newly established Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) empowers citizens to contribute towards accessing a broad range of healthcare benefits. This represents a seismic shift from the old, reactive healthcare model to a forward-looking system that prioritises prevention and preparedness. Once the transition from NHIF is complete and SHIF becomes fully operational, Kenya will have a healthcare system that guarantees dignity, peace of mind and equitable access for every citizen for the very first time in our 60 years of independence.

Honourable Members,

36. We have launched an ambitious healthcare programme, one that Kenya has always needed and deserved. Like any major transition, there are challenges, but we are fully committed to making the system work. As we roll out this programme, we are listening to citizen voices and collaborating with counties to deliver better healthcare services. Through the Facility Improvement Fund (FIF), we will ensure that hospitals are equipped with the tools they need: Medicine, equipment and other resources necessary to provide quality care while involving citizens in decision-making at every facility.

37. We are now doing the heavy lifting: Clearing decade-old debts, ensuring access to medicine and equipment, and stabilising a system that had failed too many, for too long. We are building a healthcare system that serves every citizen with equity and dignity.

38. Over the past month, we have disbursed KSh5 billion to settle historical debts owed to public, private and faith-based medical facilities, some of which have been pending for over a decade, and another KSh 3.7 billion will be disbursed tomorrow.

Honourable Members,

39. There is a compelling body of data projecting that not only is the future of all humanity urban but also that Africa has the fastest rate of urbanisation. Kenya is no exception and, in fact, many of our counties are urbanising rapidly. Dear friends, we have a date with an urban future, and the only choice we have is what this urban future will look like: Will it be characterised by decent, dignified, safe and livable neighbourhoods and communities, or will it be haphazard, unsanitary and unsafe slum dwellings? This is the fundamental question that our affordable housing plan seeks to answer.

40. Kenya has a serious housing deficit, and the cost of housing is beyond the reach of the majority, while the social and economic effects of this shortage are far-reaching. Rent as a component of the cost of living is unsustainable. People are forced to choose between enduring long, punishing commutes to far-away homes, or taking up less desirable spaces within reach.

41. Supplying the number of units required to fill the affordable housing gap requires us to undertake construction throughout the country at a rate of 200,000 new units every year, for 10 years. Many people have asked why they should be interested in an affordable housing project in rural areas. If you look around, you will witness the signs of our urban future; land sizes are becoming smaller, as the population grows in rural agricultural areas.

To protect agriculture and food security from the effects of uncontrolled land fragmentation, urbanisation must be planned and controlled, and the affordable housing programme is therefore a vital component of the integrated land use planning and development programme that we are implementing throughout the country, in every county.

42. Each unit drives demand for different types of labour, professional services and materials, bringing labourers, masons and bricklayers, artisans, electricians and carpenters, as well as architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, lawyers and real estate economists. Affordable housing is also a major opportunity for manufacturers, developers and other industries. In other words, the economic boost from the housing pillar of our Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda is significant and undeniably much needed. As we speak, affordable housing now directly accounts for 164,000 new jobs created over the past year.

43. Honorable members, today marks a significant milestone in our journey towards providing decent and affordable housing for all. After two years of hard work under the affordable housing program, I am proud to announce the launch of the sale of 4,888 housing units now in completion, across 21 social housing projects. These units, comprising studios, one-bedroom, two bedroom, and three-bedroom homes, are tailored to meet the needs of our people, offering 1041 social housing units, 2133 affordable housing units, and 1714 affordable middle-class housing units in 24 counties. I invite every Kenyan citizen above the age of 18 to join this historic journey towards homeownership. Guided by our principle of fairness - one ID, one house - every eligible Kenyan is encouraged to express interest, visit these developments, view the show houses, and engage with our on-site staff, who are ready to assist.

The allocation process will be transparent and equitable, ensuring that every qualified applicant has an equal opportunity to own a home.

Honourable Members,

44. As part of the government’s endeavour to build a nation grounded in inter-generational equity, opportunity and empowerment for all Kenyans, we have made significant strides in implementing another key pillar of our manifesto: Labour migration. This initiative seeks to harness Kenya’s abundant human capital by creating meaningful job opportunities abroad, empowering our citizens and positioning Kenyan talent on the global stage.

45. Since July 2023, we have successfully facilitated employment for 105,367 Kenyans across multiple countries in a wide range of jobs. These opportunities span professional, skilled and unskilled sectors, including positions for nurses, teachers, and chefs. The National Employment Authority (NEA), the lead agency driving our ambitious initiative to create job opportunities for qualified Kenyans locally and internationally, currently has a roll of over 560,000 job openings worldwide.

46. Our focus extends beyond destinations such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Bahrain, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar. We are expanding our reach by actively negotiating bilateral labour agreements with new potential markets, including Russia, Poland and Jordan. These efforts are driven by our commitment to open up new pathways for employment, ensuring that Kenyans are well-represented in the global workforce.

47. In the digital economy, we are expanding last-mile fibre-optic connectivity using the extensive Kenya Power transmission lines network to the most remote and underserved areas of our country and making significant strides to establish digital and ICT hubs. This has created a foundation for digital transformation, enabling IT economy workers, young digital creators and entrepreneurs to access a wealth of opportunities locally and globally. By bridging the digital divide, we are empowering our youth to compete on an equal footing in the global marketplace and showcasing Kenya’s ingenuity and innovation. I congratulate members of the two houses for being part of this grand digital jobs plan.

48. We have also prioritised the empowerment of individuals within the informal economy by unlocking their potential through targeted investments. These include accessible loans, capacity-building programmes and regulatory reforms designed to ease growth. A notable achievement is the partnership with the banking industry, which has extended an additional KSh150 billion in loans to micro, small, and medium enterprises, complementing the government’s efforts to nurture this vital sector.

49. On financial inclusion, we have made remarkable progress through the Hustler Fund. To date, this innovative initiative has disbursed KSh 60 billion benefiting 24.6 million Kenyans and mobilised over Ksh 3.3 billion in savings. The fund maintains a repeat customer base of 8.5 million beneficiaries with a repayment rate of 79%.

50. To mark the Fund’s second anniversary, we have taken a bold step by launching a third product specifically tailored to the Small and Medium Enterprises sector. This new initiative will initially target 2 million beneficiaries who have demonstrated a strong credit history with the Fund. By doing so, we aim to create a pathway for these entrepreneurs to transition into the formal banking system, thereby deepening financial inclusion and strengthening the SME sector. This milestone underscores our commitment to building a financially inclusive and economically resilient nation.

51. The progress we have made has been possible only because the people of Kenya have been courageous, strong, determined and patriotic. It has also been enabled by a number of early interventions under the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda and, at the same time, created space for us to implement the agenda in full.

52. As we proceed with implementation, we expect to quickly capitalise on the gains we have secured and invest resources in the economy, with emphasis on the strategic pillars of our plan. As more projects get off the ground, more people get hired, liquidity levels improve and more money ends up in people's pockets.

Honourable Members,

53. We are a democracy. Democracy is a founding principle and defining value of our nation. Democracy is a hard-won, nonnegotiable right, and guarantees freedom that we are proud of, and must always defend. Our national democratic culture expresses itself energetically through robust discourse, boldly speaking truth to power and holding leadership to account. It is a tradition of fearless expression and vigorous public participation. This is who we are, and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

54. We understand, therefore, that protests are always legitimate and permitted by the Constitution - protests conducted by citizens who are peaceful and unarmed. Assemblies, demonstrations and picketing to advance constitutionalism, increase accountability and defend the rule of law are constitutional imperatives. Conversely, mobilisation in pursuit of criminal agendas, chaos and anarchic schemes is explicitly forbidden because we all have a duty to defend our republic, our Constitution and the rights of all people. The government, in particular, must remain vigilant at all times against modern threats to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our nation as well as public order, peace and security.

55. In the digital era characterised by transformative innovations, including artificial intelligence, it has never been easier to inform, educate and entertain citizens. At the same time, it has never been easier to misinform, mislead, disinform, incite and alarm the public. Criminals and subversive elements who infiltrate and hijack peaceful protests are a threat both to legitimate protesters and to the public. Incidences of violent criminality in the name of protest threaten the safety of innocent people, public assets, private property and the social order.

56. The tension here is stark: We have a democracy which we are proud of, must defend and should deepen by all means. At the same time, we have citizens whose lives and rights we must protect and a nation whose security, stability and prosperity we must safeguard. The task at hand is complicated if citizens and State agencies dilute the distinction between the lawful and the criminal, the just and unjust, thereby making it difficult to tell protesters and security officers from bandits, gangsters and criminals.

57. It is only by following the law that we are able to achieve our aims and apportion accountability properly. It should not be possible for robbers and looters to escape accountability by claiming that they were taking part in protests. Likewise, it should not be possible for security officers to wound, maim or even kill innocent people and claim that they were engaging violent criminals. We all have a duty to make the necessary distinctions and do so clearly to protect democratic expression and guarantee public safety and security.

58. I must now confront an issue of widespread concern regarding the relationship between citizens and the security services in the context of immense threats and intense political dynamism. Numerous allegations have been made concerning disappearances of people during protests. A number of these cases have been resolved, while others have been uncovered as fake news, undermining efforts to find genuine cases of missing persons. A good number of alleged disappearances have also turned out to be arrests made by police officers, and in such cases, the suspects have been duly arraigned in court.

59. I must, however, make it very clear that there is no attempt to justify or excuse illegal arrests: such would be serious threats to the life and liberty of citizens. I condemn any excessive or extrajudicial action which puts the life and liberty of any person at risk, including disappearances and threats to life.

60. I urge all Kenyans with information about such cases to forward the information to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and to IPOA, where they suspect members of the police service to be implicated. I am aware that many of the cases that have been raised are being handled by the Independent Police Oversight Authority, an important step in accountability and justice.

61. Many citizens, as well as various organisations representing and championing women’s rights and welfare, have expressed concern about gender-based violence and the increasing cases of killings of female victims by male criminals motivated by primitive expressions of gender-based brutality and impunity. Left unaddressed, these incidents will cause the women of our nation to feel increasingly unsafe, even in their own homes. This is both tragic and unacceptable. It also complicates, in disturbing ways, the struggle by Kenyan women for inclusion, equality, dignity, social justice, human rights, equity and protection as a historically marginalised segment of our society.

62. I am aware that most of the cases of murder of women by men have been investigated and prosecuted, and it is my hope that, in due course, those found culpable will face the full force of the law.

63. It is time for each of us - political leaders, public officers, religious leaders, traditional institutions and family members - to do our part in raising boys into morally upright men who will never need to affirm their masculinity at the expense of women but instead contribute to making our society just, safe, equal and inclusive. I appreciate women leaders who have taken the time to engage me and propose solutions to address this issue. I have held discussions with other leaders in government and tasked the Deputy President to reach out and facilitate collaborative, broad-based and multi-sectoral deliberations and recommend effective and radically affirmative actions within 6 months.

64. This Parliament will recall that early in my tenure, I engaged the leadership of both Houses with recommendations on a working formula to actualise meaningful inclusion of women in national leadership. We must seriously question the drivers and motives of resistance and reluctance to take the next step in actualising the two-third gender rule.

We must call out those who continue to sabotage this right of women to contribute to the governance of our nation. Women are not second-class citizens; they deserve equal representation at all levels.

Honourable Members,

65. Without a doubt, every shilling of national revenues matters and must be used to deliver maximum value to Kenyans. Wastage, corruption and abuse of office are grave risks to national transformation and a direct threat to the well-being of the people. I have given my commitment to serve as a responsible steward of public resources. To begin with, I have championed the automation and digitisation of government services and revenue collection to promote transparency, seal loopholes that lead to revenue losses, enhance accountability, and eliminate opportunities for corruption, therefore improving efficiency, transparency and integrity.

66. I am delighted to report on the dramatic improvements we have recorded by automating and digitising our revenue collection and service delivery through e-Citizen. We have so far digitised 20,855 government services, up from 350 in 2022, representing an increase of almost 6000% while significantly improving revenue collection. Take the case of the Kenya Wildlife Service, whose total revenue for the year ending June 30th 2023, was KSh 5.3B; but after implementing a digital revenue collection system, the revenue grew to Ksh 7.6B in the year ending June 30 2024, representing a 43% increase. This initiative alone has firmly put KWS back on the path to self-sufficiency, freeing the corporation from reliance on exchequer support. I commend the team at KWS, as well as all other government institutions that have leveraged technology to improve revenue collection.

Under the Digital Health Act, we are determined to enhance the efficiency and transparency provided by technology in the provision of healthcare services to eliminate fraud and fake claims. Tax revenue mobilisation by the Kenya Revenue Authority, starting with its customs revenue system, is equally being worked on to ensure that revenue leaks are eliminated.

67. Because corruption is a serious risk to social justice, sustainable development, national security, and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, I am harnessing our working relationship with other arms of government to encourage the Judiciary and Parliament to enhance integrity and efficiency by adopting digitisation and automation. As I do so, I must caution that all these measures will only achieve intended results if, and only if, the institutions charged with combating corruption and promoting efficiency and integrity stop hiding behind the transparent screen of independence and rise up to meet the people's expectations on matters integrity.

68. It cannot be the case that the director of public prosecutions keeps dropping cases because, somehow, they are unable to produce witnesses. It also cannot be the case that corruption suspects rush to court to obtain anticipatory bail, which shields them from due process and enables them to compromise investigations. There is also no reason for corruption cases to drag on in our courts for years when the same courts are able to determine election petitions and related disputes within six months.

69. It is also unacceptable for the Houses of Parliament to deny the nation a much-needed instrument in the war on corruption by continuing to sabotage the passage of the Conflict of Interest Bill. I implore you, Honourable members, to stop dragging your feet on this bill unless, my friends, there is a conflict of interest in the passing of the conflict of interest legislation. Similarly, the National Treasury has been dragging its feet in the implementation of an e-procurement system for nearly 10 years. Today, I direct the National Treasury to roll out the procurement system by the end of the first quarter of 2025 and ensure that, going forward, only procurement undertaken through this system is sanctioned. Of the many difficult assignments I have undertaken, this fight against corruption is one I now take on with resolve going forward. Let this serve as notice to all. Independent institutions charged with this responsibility must up their game, pull up their socks and match up to the expectations of the people of Kenya.

Honourable Members,

70. I have stated in the past, and I reiterate today, that in the face of undisputed evidence or credible information on corruption, I will not hesitate to take decisive action. Accordingly, I now direct - in furtherance of the principles enshrined in Article 10 of the Constitution on transparency and accountability, and based on new information provided by our investigative agencies and partner nations - that the procuring agencies within the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum immediately cancel the ongoing procurement process for the JKIA Expansion Public Private Partnership transaction, as well as the recently concluded KETRACO transmission line Public Private Partnership contract, and immediately commence the process of onboarding alternative partners.

Honourable Members,

71. The work of taking our nation forward is our collective responsibility as citizens. For this reason, we value the contributions of all, whether they come in the form of support or encouragement, suggestion or proposal, criticism or protest. I believe that the most powerful component of leadership is listening and learning. Therefore, I engage with and listen to all citizens, their elected leaders, public officers and administrators, teachers and other professionals, learners and the youth, farmers, fisherfolk, pastoralists, traders, craftsmen, artisans, nurses, doctors, community health promoters and workers of all types in every sector. I listen, too, to religious leaders, civil society, industrialists, entrepreneurs and professionals: Their contributions and everyone else’s has my full attention and commitment to respond through positive and affirmative actions that take the national transformation endeavour forward.

72. I commit to continue listening and acting, to engage, debate and deliberate with you, and to take your input into consideration in serving you. By design, the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda is defined by its capacity to elicit feedback in the course of implementation and incorporate the same in making improvements and further progress. With every input from stakeholders, our ability to drive progress increases. By listening to you, I am able to serve you better.

73. As we take part in this necessary discourse, I want to make one thing clear: I am fully invested in the success of the strategies, policies, programmes and projects under the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda. For this reason, I am committed to doing all it takes and working with every willing Kenyan until we succeed because failure is not an option.

74. Given the challenges our nation has faced, it has become clear that overcoming these obstacles requires the collective energy, wisdom, ideas and goodwill of Kenyans of all political and cultural persuasions, religious beliefs, and walks of life. The wisdom of entrenching national unity and inclusivity as a national value in our constitution is clearly evident: Our diversity is the source of our power, and this moment in the history of our nation calls for radical collaboration to transcend our challenges. We do not have the luxury of magnifying our differences; it is time for all of us to pull together and usher the nation into the future of our dreams. With this in mind, I initiated extensive consultations with leaders from across all divides, public and private. Through these engagements, we resolved to re-imagine unity and inclusivity and harness the full potential of our nation through bipartisanship, which culminated in the formation of the broad-based Cabinet.

76. The imperative to accommodate the contributions of leadership across the aisle inspired us to constitute the broad-based government, a partnership based on shared purpose and premised on a commitment to bring our national values into action to turbocharge the implementation of our transformation agenda.

77. Being a farmer myself, transformation is like farming. A lot of resources are invested into ploughing the land and planting the seed, after which there is nothing to see for all the work except stretches of bare earth. Impatience might lead to anxiety and lamentation of the wasted effort in seed buried in the earth. However, after a brief wait, seedlings sprout, requiring close attention, weeding, and patient tending until the crop is ready for harvest. So is economic transformation. It requires hard work, investment of resources, patience and faith. We have planted the seed, and all over the field, it is beginning to sprout.

78. While admittedly, there remains much to fulfil, our collective hope to deliver the national economic transformation that this nation deserves is on course. I am proud to declare that we have also made undeniable progress in building on the strong foundation laid in previous years and getting the national development project off the ground.

Honourable Members,

79. From the reports that I have the honour to table for your consideration and debate, there is reason to be optimistic that our forward march is unstoppable and that our capacity and commitment to live and work by our national values and principles of governance are stronger than ever before.

80. Our nation is a proud member of the international community, making its contributions to global progress boldly and with great determination. We stand collectively facing the dawn with confidence that our expectation of bright daylight is not in vain.

In summary, Honourable Speakers and fellow citizens, the state of our nation is resilient.

81. And now, Honorable Speakers, it is my pleasure to submit to Parliament the following three reports as required by the

Constitution:

I.Report on All Measures Taken and Progress Achieved in the Realization of National Values;

II.Report on Progress made in fulfilling the International Obligations of the Republic and

III.Report on The State of Security.

Now, therefore, I hand over the Reports to the Speaker of the Senate and to the Speaker of the National Assembly.

Wavinya Maria: Story Of Ex-Miss World Kenya Who Rose From Losing Mother At Age 12

Marvin Chege — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 16:48:32 +0300

Wavinya Maria is a Kenyan model and beauty pageant titleholder who was thrust to the national limelight this year thanks to her legal marriage to Nairobi motor vehicle entrepreneur Joseph Kairo Wambui, alias Khalif Kairo. But that's not the only instance that she has been famous.

Look Back: During a tell-all interview on Eve Mungai's YouTube channel uploaded on October 15, 2024, Kairo opened up about his marriage and explained why he married Wavinya, a woman he had known for less than four months, uncovering interesting take-home tips for his followers.

“I’ve been in toxic relationships before, but once you mature and develop a certain mindset, you realize it’s time to settle down and start a family. We’ve already made the decision to settle down, and we are very happy, just living life one step at a time,” Kairo said.

“When you meet a woman who shares the same mindset and principles, someone who wants to raise your children, you don’t waste time, but you just go for it.”

Couple Wavinya Maria and Khalif Kairo. /KHALIF KAIRO

Kairo went on to describe Maria as someone who brings a lot of brightness into his life and expressed certainty that she is the woman he wants to spend his life with. While responding to Mungai’s question about whether he rushed into marriage and is currently in the honeymoon stage, Kairo stated that when he sees a good opportunity, he goes for it.

“Sorry to say this but I approach relationships like business. I’m one of those people if I see a good opportunity somewhere I’ll go for it, the same thing that happened when I saw Maria and thought it was fine,” Kairo said.

“I realized that while I have met other relationships that did not work out, I cannot give up on her. She’s good. She’s perfect, and I’m not saying she’s 100% perfect. We both have our own imperfections.”

Details of the relationship first surfaced in August this year when Kairo took to X sharing photos of him on a date with Wavinya, two months after his relationship with social media influencer Cera Imani ended as the latter dumped the former. Wavinya on her part splashed photos from the date on her Instagram account accompanied by love emojis, dressed in a sexy short black dress, a matter which drew public interest.

Kairo's 'wife' has an illustrious modelling career under her belt at the age of 23. Viral Tea takes a look:

Wavinya Maria Profile

The first and most important thing Kenyans should know is that Wavinya represented Kenya at the Miss World 2019 pageant, having been crowned Miss World Kenya at the age of just 19 on October 5, 2019.

She was among the two African beauties who made it to the top 12 in a ceremony that saw Miss Jamaica win the title. Miss World France was the first runner up, followed by Miss World India.

“We are happy with the results and we thank all the supporters, especially Kenyans who have walked with us through this journey. This is a great achievement. Maria has done us proud,” Terry Mungai, the Miss World Kenya pageant holder was quoted by The Standard.

A lady of indomitable faith, these are honours she currently brags about on her social media profiles, having failed to clinch the Miss Nyandarua Tourism Contest in May 2019, emerging number five. After her defeat in the Nyandarua contest, she applied for Miss World Kenya contest, joined the boot camp before the national contest.

During her reign, Wavinya focused on social impact through her “Beauty with a Purpose” project, addressing issues like period poverty by partnering with organizations to distribute sanitary products to marginalized women.

Early Life

Wavinya hails from Nyandarua County and was raised by a single mom in Mombasa, who died when she was just 12 years old, forcing her to relocate to live with her grandparents in the upcountry.

She went to Sasumwa Primary School in Kinangop Constituency and Mary Mother of God Primary School in Kilifi Constituency before moving to Manunga Secondary School in Kipipiri Constituency. She completed her high school at St. Teresa High School.

Wavinya has a background in journalism and mass communication from Mount Kenya University. She is currently pursuing a diploma in International Relations and Diplomacy and hopes to be an ambassador of her country in time to come.

Marriage To Kairo

During the interview, Wavinya expressed that she had made up her mind long ago about not wasting time in relationships, hence the swift marriage. She revealed that she had decided two years ago that she would not linger in a relationship if things weren’t moving forward.

“It’s a decision I made two years ago. Being young doesn’t mean I’m not exposed. If we’re delaying things for too long, then it’s a waste of time. Why would we date for two years? I decided I wanted to get married. I’ve studied, I’ve travelled, and now I’m ready,” she remarked.

Maria also shared that while her relationship with Kairo may not be perfect, she was happy with her decision. She has had her fair share of unpleasant experiences in the past and is currently focused on building a future with Kairo.

“I’m happy. It’s not perfect, but I’ve had bad experiences in the past. I remember someone sliding into my DMs, asking if I had a life before Kairo. If it’s about money, then I’ve seen money,” she said.

Khalif Kairo & Wavinya's simple, intimate wedding plan

While fans might have expected a grand wedding, Khalif Kairo revealed that he and Maria opted for a more modest approach. Despite being legally married, they have yet to hold a large wedding ceremony, and they have no plans for one.

“We are legally married, but we haven’t had a big wedding, and people shouldn’t expect one. We’re modest and simple. We’re thinking of doing something small, maybe on the beach. We’ve already made our decision, and we’re very happy with it. Maria brings so much brightness into my life. We talked about all the important things and asked ourselves, why not?” Kairo noted.

Social Media Profile

Wavinya's high profile achievements mean that it should come as no surprise that she showcases her experiences of the finer things a woman should enjoy, on her social media profile.

Currently, she is most active on Instagram, which fans can follow here: wavinya_maria

A photo of Kenyan model Maria Wavinya. /WAVINYA MARIA

Who Is Marc Dillard? Profile Of Meg Whitman's Temporary Replacement

Marvin Chege — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 16:02:15 +0300

After United States Ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman announced her resignation from the role, Chargé d'Affaires Marc Dillard will fill her position pending a substantive replacement by the US government.

Whitman's move to resign on Wednesday, October 13 followed massive pressure on social media for her to resign following Donald Trump's showing during the 2024 US presidential elections, though some saw this as a tall order given her past Republican ties as Trump was elected US president on a Republican ticket on November 6.

Following Trump’s win in the US elections, and becoming the United States’ 47th president, Kenyans took to social media and turned on Whitman by pushing hashtags such as 'Recall Meg Whitman' and 'Resign Meg Whitman' on X, demanding that Trump remove her as a Kenyan envoy.

Their criticism stemmed from her tenure as the US envoy to Kenya, during which, the former tech CEO and billionaire drew criticism from Kenyans who accuse her of “meddling” in Kenya’s politics and of maintaining unusually close ties with President William Ruto.

Meg Whitman with President William Ruto on September 27, 2022. /PCS

This connection was evident during Ruto’s recent U.S. state visit, where Whitman played a highly visible role in facilitating his agenda, a display that highlighted her access and influence, rare even among U.S. ambassadors.

"Our Embassy benefits from highly skilled Kenyan and American employees who will continue their efforts under the leadership of Chargé d'Affaires Marc Dillard to advance the shared goals on which our bilateral relationship has long been grounded.

"I have no doubt that our 60 years of partnership will continue to strengthen and serve Americans and Kenyans as we aim to build more prosperous, healthy, secure, and democratic nations. Our relations are stronger than ever, and I am confident this trajectory will continue," she revealed in a statement that announced her resignation.

Trump is expected to name Whitman's replacement. Given that she opted to resign, the pressure from Kenyans for Trump to recall her is eliminated, but this means that he must name a replacement as he commences his second term as US President following his inauguration on January 20, 2025.

Let's take a look at the profile of Whitman's replacement, for now:

Marc Dillard Profile

A member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, Dillard has served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi since August 2022.

He has had a variety of postings in Washington and overseas since joining the State Department in 1998. Most recently, he was Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Budapest, Hungary from 2019-2022.

Previous postings include stints as Director of the Office of Economic Policy Analysis and Public Diplomacy in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs and as Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs in Sofia, Bulgaria.

He has also worked in Malawi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Japan, and Korea, and as a Watch Officer/Senior Watch Officer in the State Department’s Operations Center.

Dillard received a bachelor’s degree in history from Duke University and a doctorate in political economy and public policy from the University of Southern California. "He was a consultant in the private sector, taught economics at the university level, and is the recipient of multiple State Department Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards," the US Embassy in Nairobi details him on its official website.

His wife, Julia Dillard, is also a Foreign Service Officer. They have two children.

What is a Chargé d'Affaires

This is a diplomat who serves as an embassy's chief of mission in the absence of the ambassador. The term is French for "person charged with business", meaning they are responsible for the duties of an ambassador.

Chargé is masculine in gender; the feminine form is chargée d'affaires (pronounced the same way). A chargé enjoys the same privileges and immunities as an ambassador under international law, and normally these extend to their aides as well.

However, chargés d'affaires are outranked by ambassadors and have lower precedence at formal diplomatic events. In most cases, a diplomat serves as a chargé d'affaires on a temporary basis in the absence of the ambassador.

In unusual situations, in cases where disputes between the two countries make it impossible or undesirable to send agents of a higher diplomatic rank, a chargé d'affaires may be appointed for an indefinite period.

Donald Trump speaking during a past campaign rally. /NPR

Features: Was A Ksh91M Lamborghini Revuelto Spotted In Kenya? [PHOTOS & VIDEO]

Marvin Chege — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 11:19:29 +0300

It is no secret that wealthy Kenyans have been importing exotic sports cars and supercars into the country, with a willingness to pay exorbitant taxes so that they can own their toys in the 254. Think of Cadillac, Jaguar, Nissan GTR, Ferrari, Porsche...the list by now, is endless.

Lamborghini, an Italian supercar manufacturer, has for years wowed Kenyans with its supercars and Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV), including the Urus which has been spotted here on numerous occasions. But given the current state of our Kenyan roads, some of which have been improved, one would not think Lamborghini supercars would find their way here...until...

On Wednesday, November 6, a video clip surfaced on social media platforms showing a Lamborghini Revuelto being offloaded at the cargo section of an unknown airport. The clip seen by Viral Tea captured the latest flagship supercar in cream-white colour strapped.

However, what resulted in the clip going viral in Kenya was that it was spotted right next to a Kenya Airways (KQ) plane and the caption "A very special car for a very special client" which had a Kenyan flag. The clip was posted by Zuri Auto Kenya on its Instagram stories.

Here is the video:

Watu watafute pesa????2024 Revuelto KES 90M ($700,000 ) kabla Zakayo aitishe zake???? pic.twitter.com/FY2cfTzr9q
— Exotic Cars of Kenya ???????? (@SpotterGang254) November 6, 2024

Speaking to Viral Tea, an official at the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) however revealed that the Revuelto was not at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), though hinted that the presence of the KQ plane meant it could have likely been prepared to be shipped to Kenya.

The airport was revealed to be the cargo section of Sharjah Airport, to which KQ operates a cargo service from Nairobi. When we sought clarification from KQ's Head of Communications, Henry Okatch, he revealed that he was unsure if the vehicle was bound for Kenya.

Zuri Auto Kenya by the time of publishing this story was yet to respond to our queries on the same. Still, let's take a look at the features of the supercar:

Lamborghini Revuelto Profile

The Revuelto is a mid-engine plug-in hybrid sports car produced by the Italian automobile manufacturer Lamborghini. It was officially unveiled on March 29, 2023, as a successor to the Aventador. The Revuelto’s namesake is a Spanish fighting bull that fought in the arena of Barcelona, Spain in the 1880s.

As of July 2023, the Revuelto has gone into full production, with the first units having been delivered in the last quarter of 2023. The car is the first of the Lamborghini brand to adopt a plug-in hybrid propulsion system.

While models like the Sián FKP 37 and Countach LPI 800-4 had adopted a mild form of a hybrid propulsion system, mainly to improve low-speed drivability, the Revuelto is the first Lamborghini to adopt a true form of a hybrid drivetrain.

Performance

The Revuelto, according to Car and Driver, blends the big-nosed Murcielago with the hips of a Diablo. The scissor doors and wedge shape come from the Countach.

Perhaps it is the performance on the road that insinuates that the Revuelto should be taken seriously. The mid-mounted 814-hp 6.5-litre V-12 is naturally aspirated and revs up to a 9500-rpm redline.

Photo of a Lamborghini Revuelto. /LAMBORGHINI

Of the three electric motors integrated into the powertrain, two drive the front wheels, while the third is integrated into the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and assists the V-12 gas engine on the rear axle. The total output of this powertrain is 1001 horsepower, the most of any Lamborghini ever, and which is also the most horsepower from any plug-in hybrid.

The Revuelto can hit a speed of 96km/h in 2.3 seconds and has a top speed of 350km/h. From behind the wheel, the Revuelto's acceleration feels intense, with the electric motors giving an instant surge of power off the line and the V-12 in full voice as one explores the depths of its power band.

Handling is sharper and more agile than in the outgoing Aventador. The Revuelto benefits from a rear-wheel steering system and a torque-vectoring system which gives it more stability in corners and makes it easier to nip apexes.

Hybrid

The Revuelto is a plug-in hybrid, but not in the traditional sense of the term. Its 3.8-kWh battery pack, nestled in the space between the two bucket seats, provides just enough to power the Revuelto for about eight kilometres (5 miles) on electric power alone.

That's enough to slip away unnoticed from your neighbourhood should you need to leave early on a Saturday morning without disturbing the neighbours, but not enough to avoid using gasoline entirely. The Revuelto is a performance hybrid instead, using the electricity in its battery, and the three electric motors it powers, to add a bolt of lightning to the powertrain's output.

Interior

The vehicle also has a more spacious interior, that is more headroom and legroom than the Aventador, despite having only two seats to accommodate the 12 cylinders at the back. There's space behind the seats to fit a single golf bag as well as frunk space that can easily accommodate two carry-on luggage bags.

Its cockpit is more space race than an automobile. There are four rotors on the steering wheel that control drive modes, and additional buttons activate the turn signals as well as initiate the launch control.

The Revuelto is unlike other Lambos in that much of its interface is digital. An 8.4-inch infotainment touchscreen handles much of the vehicle's controls, including climate functions, but there's also a 9.1-inch screen on the passenger-side dash that shows everything including speed, drive gear, and torque distribution. A third 12.3-inch display handles gauge-cluster duties as Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.

Compared to other modern cars, the Revuelto doesn't offer many driver-assistance features, though it's the first Lamborghini sports car to offer any at all. Key features include automated emergency braking and lane departure warning.

Price

The Revuelto has a base price of $608,358, which is Ksh78.9 million in current exchange rates. This is about $110,000 (Ksh14.3 million) more than the outgoing Aventador, though it is reported to hit up to $700,000 (Ksh90.8 million)

Interior of a Lamborghini Revuelto. /LAMBORGHINI

Inside Trump Policy That Will Make US Less Attractive For Kenyans

Marvin Chege — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 19:33:38 +0300

With Donald Trump set to be elected as the 47th President of the United States (POTUS), defeating incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris, Kenyan communities will likely look at Trump's second tenure with a sense of anxiety, especially those seeking to live, work and study in the US.

Trump is expected to mobilize agencies across the U.S. government to help him deport record numbers of immigrants, building on efforts in his first term to tap all available resources and pressure so-called "sanctuary" jurisdictions to cooperate, according to six former Trump officials and allies.

Even though Kenyans online supported Trump in their numbers over Harris, there are now concerns that Trump's immigration policy could lock out Kenyans seeking opportunities in America at a time when most superpower countries are imposing restrictions to cut down on the number of immigrants.

Why It Matters

If elected president, Donald Trump’s immigration plans could mean international students choose other countries, and many aspiring immigrants will find themselves out of luck. With analysis of Trump’s first term and his expected advisers’ plans in a possible second term indicates that new policies will have a profound effect on employers, students and high-skilled professionals.

US President-elect, Donald Trump. /ASSOCIATED PRESS

During his first term, Trump's administration was dominated by a string of hardline immigration policies. These included withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord, imposing a travel ban on citizens from several Muslim-majority nations, and raising import tariffs.

He made some headway on campaign promises like building a wall along the US-Mexico border and having Mexico foot the bill, but these ultimately fell short. While some of these policies were challenged in court or met with resistance from government officials, Trump’s proposed plans for his second term paint a more extreme picture, leaving many worried about the future of US immigration.

Key Concern

For starters, Trump's policies may include restricting Optional Practical Training (OPT) for international students and measures that cause individuals to wait years for employment-based green cards to leave the United States.

Using the federal government to limit or reduce the labour supply was the operating principle behind many of the Trump administration’s first-term immigration restrictions. Based on the “lump of labour fallacy,” which assumes (economists say incorrectly) that new workers must compete for a fixed number of available jobs, the Trump administration blocked the entry of immigrants and visa holders during the Covid-19 pandemic, put new immigration obstacles in the path of foreign-born scientists and engineers and enacted other policies.

The Trump administration placed on the regulatory agenda a rule to restrict Optional Practical Training, which allows international students to gain experience by working in their field for 12 months. The Barack Obama administration however issued a rule that permitted students in science, technology, engineering and math fields to extend OPT for an additional 24 months.

The rule was needed due to legal challenges after the George W. Bush administration introduced Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Optional Practical Training (STEM OPT). Bush officials hoped STEM OPT would help the United States attract international students and give employers and students additional opportunities to gain H-1B status in the annual lottery.

Under the second Trump administration, this restriction could be revived after it failed to take off during the first Trump administration, a significant worry for Kenyan students seeking to leverage OPT to gain a foothold in the US job market.

Deportation

Another drastic plan by Trump is his proposal to initiate the "largest domestic deportation operation in American history" which should send shivers down the spines of Kenyan immigrants.

Trump backers - including some who could enter his second administration - anticipate the Republican president-elect will call on everyone from the U.S. military to diplomats overseas to turn his campaign promise of mass deportations into a reality. The effort would include cooperation with Republican-led states and use federal funding as leverage against resistant jurisdictions.

Trump recaptured the White House vowing a vast immigration crackdown. The centrepiece of his reelection bid was a promise to deport record numbers of immigrants, an operation Trump’s running mate JD Vance estimated could remove 1 million people per year.

Immigrant advocates warn that Trump’s deportation effort would be costly, divisive and inhumane, leading to family separations and devastating communities. Such an aggressive measure, which also could see the authorization of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids on workplaces, could create a toxic environment for all immigrants, regardless of their legal status, making the US a less attractive destination for Kenyans seeking opportunities abroad.

Making matters even worse is Trump's goal to end birthright citizenship for children born to undocumented parents, a policy which would require at least one parent to be a US citizen or lawful permanent resident for their child to gain automatic citizenship, which could significantly impact Kenyan families hoping to secure a future for their children in the US.

Currently, children born in the US to Kenyan parents on visas like the H-1B, which allows trained foreign workers to temporarily reside in the US, are automatically granted citizenship. With this potential change, the future for children of Kenyans working in the US becomes uncertain.

Kenyans already face an extremely difficult challenge in terms of securing US visas, especially the coveted Green Cards that grant permanent residency. The current system, with its annual cap of 140,000 employment-based green cards and a per-country limit of 7 per cent, has resulted in a massive backlog, especially for Kenyan applicants.

If Trump's aim to restrict both legal and irregular immigration materialises, these backlogs are likely to worsen, pushing the American dream further out of reach for many Kenyans and killing the dreams of Kenyans eyeing the US for a better life for themselves.

President William Ruto and his outgoing US counterpart, Joe Biden inside the White House on May 23, 2024. /PCS

Harder To Get In

Another possible hurdle for Kenyans is the burdening of OPT with requirements that make it untenable for students and employers. That was the model with H-1B visas.

The Trump administration enacted measures that raised denial rates, costs and uncertainty until judges ruled the policies unlawful, forcing a legal settlement. Trump officials also published an H-1B rule that would have made the category unusable for many employers.

A court blocked the rule on procedural grounds, but the possibility of their return or the introduction of new restrictions in the second Trump regime could significantly impact Kenyan students' chances of securing long-term employment in the US.

Additionally, Trump's proposed policies could also have unintended consequences for Kenyan professionals already working in the US on H-1B visas and waiting in the green card backlog. One proposed policy involves raising the minimum wage requirements for H-1B visa holders and employment-based immigrants, potentially pricing them out of the job market.

Another potential issue is the possible curtailment of work authorization for spouses of H-1B visa holders. This policy, if implemented, would make it much harder for families to remain in the US while waiting for their green card applications to be processed.

So, What Next?

While the incoming Trump administration could benefit from the experience gained during his first term, it could again encounter resistance from ideologically opposed government employees, including officers who screen migrants for asylum. For instance, the American Civil Liberties Union and immigrant advocacy groups have been preparing for court battles if Trump again tests the bounds of his legal authority.

Lee Gelernt, an ACLU attorney who led the fight against Trump’s contentious family separation policy, said more than 15 lawyers focused on immigration with the organization’s national office spent the year preparing for the possibility of a Trump return. “We need to be coordinated and have more resources, because I think they will come in much more prepared,” Gelernt was quoted by Reuters. The State Department in particular could be one place where Trump acts more aggressively than during his first term, according to several Trump backers.

Another key factor will be whether other countries will accept their citizens, an issue Trump faced with limited success during his first term. The Trump administration also struggled at times to convince other nations in the region - including Mexico - to take steps to stop migrants from moving toward the U.S.-Mexico border.

The second Trump administration should be prepared to face resistance from other countries, including Kenya, which might tighten immigration policies on US citizens in retaliation to Trump's aggressive policies, a matter which could put the 60-year-old relations between Kenya and the US at risk.

Immigration attorneys also worry about new restrictions that affect international students should Trump become president, not the implementation of expansive policies. “My biggest concerns are about discouraging international students and scholars from coming to the United States,” said Dan Berger of Green & Spiegel. “During the last Trump administration, the visa process got harder, with processing times going up, longer security checks and many more questions.” He pointed to the “Muslim ban,” policies during Covid-19 and other measures that created uncertainty and had “a chilling effect on attracting international talent.”

“A new Trump administration might try to crack down on H-1B work visas in a variety of ways, including higher denial rates, longer processing times and making the eligibility requirements more restrictive,” according to Cornell Law School professor Stephen Yale-Loehr, an advisor to the National Foundation for American Policy. “Since H-1Bs are a common way international students seek to stay and work in the United States after they graduate, any H-1B restrictions would heighten their worries, such that they might be less likely to come to the United States in the first place.”

However, while Trump's immigration policies have drawn criticism from various quarters, including human rights groups and legal experts, they resonate with a segment of the American population concerned about job security and national security. The former president’s promise to crack down on immigration has appealed to those who believe that immigrants are taking jobs from Americans and contributing to social problems.

Trump's victory still presents a challenging landscape for Kenyans aspiring to study or work in the US. The proposed immigration policies, coupled with the existing backlogs in the green card system, suggest a future where obtaining US visas and navigating the immigration process will be more difficult than ever, meaning that Kenyans could rapidly shun the US for work, immigration and study opportunities and lean towards underrated countries with better immigration policies, a massive blow to American companies which began turning towards other countries for fresh talent.

US Embassy in Kenya. /FILE

National Intelligence & Research University: What Ruto Wants You To Know About It

Marvin Chege — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 13:25:20 +0300

President William Ruto on Tuesday, November 5 awarded a charter to the National Intelligence and Research University (NIRU) at State House, Nairobi.

This is a newly-established institution of higher learning and by awarding the charter, it now becomes the first Kenyan university owned and run by the National Intelligence Service (NIS).

During the awarding, Ruto stated that the university would perform two main functions in the country, but most importantly, it would train intelligence officers to equip and enhance their security skills.

Additionally, it would lead in terms of research in security matters, with President Ruto remarking that the university would give Kenya a competitive advantage in the region when it comes to security.

File image of the main office block of the National Intelligence and Research University. /NIRUC

"I expect the National Intelligence Research University to support Kenya’s digital economy ambitions by aligning its academic and research programs with Vision 2030, the Fourth Medium-Term Plan, and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda - all of which emphasize the role of technology and research in national development," he remarked.

"By focusing on security as a global public good, the university will contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 16, which promotes peace, justice, and strong institutions."

Consequently, Ruto urged the institution to not only focus on Kenya but also open its doors to other students from developing countries.

"The importance of high standards in training our security sector professionals cannot be overstated," the President added.

"We expect the National Intelligence Research University to play a crucial role in equipping our intelligence officers to safeguard the nation and to intensify its focus on cutting-edge research and innovation in national security. I view this charter as both a commitment to academic excellence and a significant investment in our nation’s security and stability."

The institution will open its doors to those in pursuit of higher learning opportunities in its accredited courses in Nairobi. Additionally, it will be managed by a Board of Management, a Council, and a Vice-Chancellor (VC). Academician Doctor Christopher Chumba will see the running of the learning institution as its VC.

NIRU will oversee the running of other constituent colleges after being split from the National Defence University (NDU), which is directly linked to the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF). The NDU is mandated to conduct a preeminent course in national security and strategy.

Key constituent colleges that will be under NIRU include the Kenya Military Academy based in Lanet, Nakuru, the Joint Command and Staff College, the International Peace and Support Training Center in Embakasi, and the Defence Forces Technical College.

Additionally, the institution will be chaired by the Director-General of NIS Noordin Haji, and will also oversee the management of the Centre for Security Studies as an additional constituent college.

Kenya has been on a path to revolutionize its security and intelligence operations through the establishment of key vital security installations and training for its security staff. Key among the steps include the setting up of a modern forensics laboratory at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations(DCI) headquarters along Kiambu Road, Nairobi.

President William Ruto (centre) and NIS Director General Noordin Haji (next to him) during a meeting with UK Foreign Intelligence agency M16 Chief of Service Richard Moore on October 22, 2024. /PCS

Dr Joyce Gatiria Njagi Kindiki: Meet Kenya's New Second Lady

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 13:17:55 +0300

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki is not one to reveal details of his private life, not surprising given his quiet personality and preference for action, not talk. However, his swearing-in on Friday, November 1 gave Kenyans a glimpse of the Deputy President's family, which has for the most been off the limelight.

The transition of Kithure Kindiki into his new role will see the introduction of a Second Lady who will replace Pastor Dorcas Rigathi. She will be the third under the 2010 Constitution of Kenya.

Say hello to Dr. Joyce Gatiria Njagi Kindiki, who is the spouse to Kindiki and will become Kenya’s Second Lady, taking over from Pastor Dorcas Rigathi whose spouse ceased being DP officially on October 31, 2024.

Dr Gatiria was in attendance at the ceremony at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) and walked hand in hand with the DP down the red carpet leading to the swearing-in ceremony.

Collage of Joyce Njagi Kithure (left) and her husband, Kithure Kindiki with President William Ruto at State House (right). /PCS.VIRAL TEA KE

Dr.Joyce Gatiria Njagi Kindiki Profile

The new second lady is the firstborn child in her family. As the firstborn, she mentored and guided her younger siblings through the challenges of life.

After keeping their marriage away from the glare of the public for years, Joyce will be thrust into the limelight while supporting her husband who will become Kenya’s third Deputy President after court proceedings challenging Gachagua’s impeachment ended in their favour.

Joyce's Appearance in The Media

The few occasions when she has appeared in the media include when she accompanied her husband to State House for his swearing-in for the second time after President Ruto reconstituted the Cabinet.

She was also in the media during her father’s burial eight months ago when she gave a moving tribute while overcome by emotions. Joyce broke down and was comforted by her siblings, with the Interior CS also joining in to support his wife.

Joyce Njagi Academic Achievements and Education

Joyce is an esteemed senior lecturer at the University of Nairobi in the Department of Chemistry. She has been serving at the university for over 10 years, after landing the role in July 2014.

Moreover, she has dedicated nearly three decades to advancing the field of Environmental Chemistry Holding a Bachelor of Science, a Master’s in Science, and a PhD in Environmental Chemistry.

She got her doctorate of Philosophy in Environmental Chemistry from the University of Nairobi in 2013 and is widely respected for her contributions to chemistry, as well as her commitment to maintaining a balanced and impactful career in academia.

Kithure Kindiki Wedding and Children

In 2001, Dr. Njagi married Prof. Kithure Kindiki in a memorable celebration witnessed by family and close friends. While the marriage marked the beginning of a partnership, Joyce continued her scholarly pursuits while supporting Kindiki as he transitioned into public service.

Kindiki took on roles that shaped Kenya’s political landscape including becoming Tharaka Nithi’s Senator and Cabinet Secretary for Interior Affairs under the leadership of President William Ruto.

Although her husband’s political career often placed him in the public eye, Njagi chose a more private path, dedicated to her students, her family, and her work. Together, they have raised three children who they have also kept out of the spotlight.

Second Ladies and Projects

Holders of the office of the Second Lady have historically had projects close to their hearts that they have implemented for the benefit of Kenyans.

For Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, the empowerment of the boychild, and rehabilitation of drug addicts was a course close to her heart. Through her initiative, several people got a second chance to excel in life after undergoing a comprehensive rehabilitation and training program that culminated in graduation.

While serving as the Second Lady, Mama Rachel Ruto implemented several initiatives, including women empowerment through the Joyful Women Organization (JOYWO).

With Kindiki taking office, Kenyans will be paying keen attention to Joyce in terms of what pet project she might have in mind.

President William Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki pose for a photo together with their wives and Chief Justice Martha Koome at KICC during Kindiki's swearing-in ceremony on November 1, 2024. /PCS

Citizen TV's Lilian Muli, Macharia Gaitho & 3 Kenyans Recognized At IGAD Media Awards

Marvin Chege — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 18:48:33 +0300

Five Kenyans were on Thursday, October 24 recognized among the top awardees at the 2nd Edition of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Media Awards. They include Citizen TV anchor Lilian Muli and veteran journalist Macharia Gaitho.

IGAD, in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), hosted the 2024 edition of the IGAD Media Awards at the Argyle Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. The Awards celebrated 18 exceptional media professionals for their outstanding contributions to journalism across the IGAD region.

With the theme “Narratives of Hope: Inspiring Peaceful, Secure, and Inclusive Futures,” the ceremony acknowledged the media’s crucial role in promoting peace, security, and regional integration.

Aden Duale, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change & Forestry, represented President William Ruto as the Chief Guest. In his address, Duale reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to press freedom and highlighted the pivotal role of journalists in building peace and fostering dialogue in the region.

Winners of the IGAD Media Awards on October 24, 2024. /IGAD SECRETARIAT

IGAD Executive Secretary, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, praised the invaluable contribution of journalists in shaping narratives of hope within communities grappling with conflict, displacement, and socio-economic challenges.

He stated, “The media is a vital conduit for information and understanding in our region. It provides the platform to unite our voices and overcome the issues we face. These awards are a tribute to the courage, creativity, and dedication of journalists who choose to tell stories that inspire change and progress.”

Winners and Benefits

This year, 18 winners were chosen from over 500 submissions spanning print, radio, television, and digital media.

The winners will receive certificates, token prizes, and an exclusive invitation to participate in a one-day workshop focused on IGAD’s work within the region. Additionally, they will be accredited to attend major IGAD events, granting them access to regional assemblies and expert briefings.

Viral Tea takes a look at the profile of the five Kenyan winners:

Lillian Muli

Lilian Muli won an award in the TV category at the IGAD Media Awards alongside Henry Okurut, a senior reporter at the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC).

She is a communications expert with expertise in audio-visual communication, broadcasting, reporting, moderation, media training, public relations, digital advertising and marketing. Additionally, she serves as a senior anchor and news host at Royal Media Services' (RMS) Citizen TV, a position she has held since January 2011.

Muli also worked as a news anchor and features editor at The Standard Group from January 2005 to December 2010.

Denish Ochieng

Ochieng is an investigative photojournalist at the Standard Group Limited. He emerged as the winner of the IGAD Media Awards in the Photography category.

Ochieng is an award-winning investigative photojournalist known for his fearless entry into volatile situations involving human rights abuses. With 12 years of experience, he has been severally recognized for his groundbreaking work on eye-catching photography and investigative pieces for broadcast media on KTN and Standard Newspaper.

Macharia Gaitho

Gaitho is an independent journalist, columnist, and political analyst primarily writing for Nation Media Group (NMG). He received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the IGAD Media Awards alongside veteran journalist Mohamed Shil from Somalia.

Macharia is an untrained journalist who graduated from the University of Nairobi Faculty of Architecture, Design and Development with a BA (Design) in 1983. He worked in the area of study till 1986 then leapt into journalism as a ‘side hustle’.

Anita Soina

Perhaps the only non-journalist who made it to the winners' list, Anita Soina, a climate change advocate and digital sustainability influencer, won the IGAD Media Award in the Influencer category, a move which heralds the entry of content creation and influencing into the media space.

Soina is a global climate change & climate justice advocate and an SDG Champion. She is the Global Youth Champion for UN Hosted Partnerships Sanitation and Water for All.

Her organization, SpiceWarriors, is building a movement of African youth and children who are passionate about climate justice. She is also the founder of the Soina Foundation which helps to bridge the inequality gaps in access to quality education.

Soina is currently curating climate content to amplify climate stories through vlogs and TikTok content.

Sharon Barang’a

Barang’a also won an award at the IGAD gala. The former TV47 Education Editor is an assistant Producer at the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC).

She won the Gender Responsive Award at the IGAD Media Awards 2024, recognizing her contributions to promoting gender equality in journalism.

The journalist is a committed and award-winning broadcast journalist with a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling. With a career spanning over eight years, Barang’a has covered a wide range of topics, from development, peace, politics and social issues to culture and technology.

Sharon previously worked at NMG for eight years as a senior Education Reporter for NTV. She was unfortunately among the group that was laid off during the Covid-19 period in 2020.

Her show ‘Learning Curve’ aired on NTV on Tuesdays at 9:00 PM. Apart from working at NTV and TV47, Barang’a worked as an editor at Ukweli Video Productions and as a scriptwriter at the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT).

She received the Mandela Washington Fellowship, funded by the U.S. Department of State in 2017. In 2016, she was among the winners of the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) Early Childhood Development Reporting Contest.

Sharon Barang'a with her award at the IGAD Media Awards on October 24, 2024. /SHARON BARANG'A

WATCH: Impact Of SGR On Lives Of Kenyan Truck Drivers More Than 10 Years Later

Marvin Chege — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 13:13:13 +0300

Journalist Edwin Okoth has unveiled a groundbreaking documentary exploring the effects of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) on the livelihoods of truck drivers in Kenya.

The documentary investigates key clauses in the agreement between Kenya and the People's Republic of China (PRC) and examines the SGR’s role as a crucial transportation mode from Nairobi to Mombasa.

While the SGR has been heralded as a significant advancement in infrastructure, concerns have emerged regarding its unintended consequences for the trucking industry.

Since the completion of the railway’s first phase in 2017, which links the Port of Mombasa to the country's interior, there have been critical developments.

Screengrab of interviewees in the newly-released SGR documentary. /EDWIN OKOTH

In 2018, the Kenyan government mandated that all containerized cargo entering Mombasa port be transported via the SGR. This policy shift has led to the closure of over 10,000 trucking businesses, resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs for truck drivers and loaders, as well as the shutdown of numerous related businesses.

“The negative impact felt by the business community and the truck drivers underlines the importance of proper public participation before such mega projects are rolled out. Kenya should take the lessons from the SGR seriously and avoid a similar mistake in such projects in the future," Okoth explained.

Through extensive research and firsthand accounts, Okoth captures the struggles and challenges faced by those affected by this transition. The documentary presents a compelling narrative that underscores the human impact of infrastructural progress and invites viewers to reflect on the broader implications for livelihoods in Kenya.

Okoth has previously written groundbreaking stories about the SGR contract in the Kenyan media and focussed his thesis on China-Africa relations in his MA thesis at Columbia University in 2018.

Watch the documentary below:

Look Back

During his tenure at the Ministry of Transport, CS Kipchumba Murkomen announced that Kenya began to receive 50 wagons meant for the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to bolster the operations of the Madaraka Express Freight Service. He termed this a key milestone for the country and the region as it seeks to improve rail services and efficiency.

"For Kenya to remain competitive we must continue to improve our transport infrastructure. The Ministry will, therefore, ensure we have the necessary human capital, operational assets and information systems for achieving these goals," stated the CS in part on February 5, 2024.

The new wagons, some of which were revealed to be used to transport perishable products, were part of Kenya's strategic response to market dynamics, and the need to meet the ever-changing customer demands and gain a competitive edge.

This was the first time new wagons were added since the launch of SGR in May 2017 by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

20 of the wagons procured were to also have power plugins to enable the movement of refrigerated containers, a hitherto untapped business potential for SGR, a move that was likely to pose competition to private trucking companies.

Ruto Hails Female KDF Officer Who Made History In Mashujaa Day Celebrations

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 10:44:17 +0300

President William Ruto on Sunday, October 20 hailed Lieutenant Colonel Faith Mwagandi for being the first woman in the Republic of Kenya to lead the Guard of Honour.

"This morning, we had a historic moment. For the first time in our country, a female soldier led the celebrations. Lieutenant Colonel Faith Mwagandi. Let us clap for her," Ruto rallied attendees during the Mashujaa Day celebrations at Kwale Stadium.

"It affirms that women can do it all. That is why we, the people of Kenya, are proud to be defenders of our freedom and aspire to remain and become free and sovereign."

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) earlier confirmed that the presence of the Guard of Honor (GoH) commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Faith Mwagandi heralded a historic moment.

A photo of officers performing the Guard of Honour at a past celebration. /KENYA DEFENCE FORCES

Mwagandi's selection to lead the GoH, even if special, is understandable since she possesses a wealth of experience and troops for the GoH are typically drawn from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), namely the Kenya Army, Kenya Air Force, and Kenya Navy.

After succeeding in High School at Moi Girls Eldoret with straight A's, Lt. Col. Mwagandi was keen on pursuing a career in medicine. She, however, took up a general degree course, an academic endeavour that would last only weeks before she decided to take a chance as a cadet in the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

Her journey in the force began in 2007 when she joined the Kenya Military Academy in Lanet. Over time, she attained a diploma in Military Science and would later after attaining another degree from Egerton University.

As a Lieutenant, Mwagandi did not stop there. She pursued extensive practical application of naval training, leadership, command, and management abroad before returning to Kenya in 2010 and taking up the role of an instructor at the Kenya Navy Training School.

Notably, the coastal native became the first woman to command a warship in Kenya, She currently serves as Staff Officer 1 (SO1) in charge of Personnel and Administration at the Kenya Navy.

Meanwhile, the fete marked on October 20 every year, saw at least 142 heroes feted across 14 different categories including sports, statesmanship, philanthropy, and indigenous cultures.

Earlier, Culture and Heritage Principal Secretary Ummi Bashir, nominees are selected based on their extraordinary acts which have changed lives in one way or another in the society they are part of. “A final list of names of persons confirmed as qualified to be declared as heroes is forwarded to the President for declaration in the Kenya Gazette as one being a national hero,” Bashir said.

“On receipt of the nomination, the Council evaluates the nomination in accordance to a criteria provided for in the First Schedule of the Kenya Heroes Act, No. 5 of 2014. The names of all proposed persons are then published in at least two newspapers of national circulation for members of the public to provide their representations."

The nominees are people who have made various contributions and undertaken exemplary acts to change lives for the benefit of the society where they live. In most instances have risked their lives for the benefit of communities and their actions may have been recognized globally.

The Heroes Fund was established in 2014 and is currently awaiting the development of regulations necessary to operationalize it. Once activated, the Fund will provide financial assistance to the heroes in need and their dependents. Last year, 157 heroes were awarded financial assistance.

“Apart from the normal certificates and recognition, we owe it to our heroes and we are looking at activating the National Heroes Fund which should be able to support them and their families,” Bashir said.

Culture and Heritage Principal Secretary disclosed they will be activating the National Heroes Fund to ensure that the identified men and women get preferential treatment in the country.

As it stands, heroes apart from being awarded commendation certificates and medals may have symbolic tombs, monuments and statues built in their honour where necessary.

One of the main strategies by the government will for the first time push for allocation of resources to support the heroes in their day-to-day lives. Plans are also being mooted to have books published that depict their respective roles in the country’s history.

A photo of Lieutenant Colonel Faith Mwagandi. /KENYA DEFENCE FORCES

Kithure Kindiki Profile: Picked As CS Twice & Fighting For Ruto At ICC

Marvin Chege — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 10:42:26 +0300

Abraham Kithure Kindiki has been one of President William Ruto's favourite pointmen and coupled with his stellar work, career profile and academic achievements, it is no surprise that the Head of State chose him as Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya.

On Friday, October 18, Kindiki replaced Rigathi Gachagua who was impeached by the Senate hours prior, a moment that will be etched in Kenya's history given that he is the first sitting Deputy President to be impeached by both Houses of Parliament, including the National Assembly.

He arguably ranks amongst some of the respected lawyers in the country and is a high-ranking politician, having served as Deputy Speaker of the Senate. So who is he?

Kithure Kindiki Profile

Before serving as Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Kindiki had spent just over 10 years in active politics, serving as Tharaka-Nithi senator for two consecutive terms from 2013 to 2022. He was born 52 years ago in Irunduni village, Tharaka Nithi County.

During the period at the Senate, he also served as the Senate Majority Leader during the first term, and Deputy Speaker in the second term, between August 2017 to 2020.

Portrait of Kithure Kindiki. /THE STAR

Before then, the soft-spoken advocate of the High Court and the International Criminal Court (ICC) ran his private practice and consulted for local and international organisations including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) among others.

He is a member of the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS), the International Association on the Study of Forced Migration (IASFM), the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the International Commission of Jurists, Kenya Chapter (ICJ-K).

In his early career, Prof Kindiki was a lecturer at Moi University. He also served as a senior lecturer and the head of the Department of Public Law at the University of Nairobi where he rose to become an Associate Dean at the School of Law.

Prof Kindiki holds a master's degree in International Human Rights Law & Democracy and a PhD in International Law, both from the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He also obtained a Bachelor's degree in Law (LLB) from Moi University and a Diploma in Legal Studies from the Kenya School of Law. Before that, Kindiki attended Irunduni Primary School, then Lenana School.

Kindiki entered public service in 2008 when he was appointed Secretary for the National Cohesion and Reconciliation outfit by the late President Mwai Kibaki. He resigned after three months, citing a lack of political will to resettle victims of the 2007 post-election violence.

However, he gained national prominence when Ruto appointed him to his legal team during the ICC trial for crimes against humanity. Leveraging this visibility, Kindiki transitioned to politics, successfully contesting the Senate seat for Tharaka Nithi in 2013 under the TNA party.

He was elected on his first attempt and served two terms, rising to the position of Deputy Speaker during his second term. However, as tensions grew between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President Ruto, Kindiki faced challenges in the Senate and was eventually impeached.

Early Sniff At DP, Interior Job & Opinion Polls

In the run-up to the 2022 general elections, Kindiki was highly considered to be President Ruto's running mate and was said to have won in both the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Electoral College and opinion polls conducted to pick Ruto's running mate. The chance was however handed to Gachagua.

It is also worth noting that the father of three led a team of lawyers at the Supreme Court of Kenya when a petition was filed challenging the 2022 presidential election results, following Ruto's election as president against former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga.

In the two years, and two times he has been Interior and National Administration CS, including in the broad-based Cabinet, Kindiki has led and overseen the achievement of various milestones and reforms in the ministry, including the Police Equipment Modernization, finalization of a strategic framework to commence implementation of Police Reforms, and abolishment of the previous vetting processes for issuance of National Identity cards.

Kindiki has also overseen the recognition of minority groups and stateless communities by ensuring they receive Kenyan citizenship, operationalization the Public Benefit Organizations Act, enhancing the fight against banditry and general insecurity around the country, as well as developing a legislative proposal to amend the National Government Coordination Act of 2013 to officially recognize village elders in each unit.

He has also spearheaded the enrolment of 13,120 inmates into formal education programs, among others. His success as CS has seen him dominate opinion polls of Cabinet Secretaries and recent opinion polls placed him as a frontrunner for the Deputy President post.

Expected replacements of DP Rigathi Gachagua as per the latest TIFA poll on October 7, 2024. /VIRAL TEA KE

On Friday morning President Ruto picked Prof Kindiki as his nominee for the position, setting the stage for the National Assembly to make a vote. The law states that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) shall then declare the candidate nominated by the person who is elected as the President to be elected as the deputy president.

The name shall then be tabled in Parliament and once approved by a majority of the members, the DP shall be sworn in before the Chief Justice and in public.

Fancy Cars, Ksh900K Per Month Salary & Perks Gachagua Will Lose If Impeached

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 18:04:38 +0300

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is walking on a tightrope politically after 281 Members of Parliament (MP) voted to impeach him at the National Assembly on Tuesday, October 8. His fate lies at the hands of Senators who could decide whether or not he will lose not just his position but the plum lifestyle that comes with it.

Gachagua has been in office for 25 months, and by Thursday, October 17, when the impeachment proceedings are expected to be complete will be 25 months and five days. The proceedings could deprive him of a lavish list of benefits that extend beyond his Ksh1.2 million monthly salary.

Should the Senate vote in favour of the MPs and throw him out of the DP post, Gachagua will first of all lose a generous pension scheme. According to the Retirement Benefits Act of 2015, a retired Deputy President is entitled to a monthly pension equivalent to 80 per cent of their last monthly salary while in office.

This equates to Ksh951,240 per month for Gachagua, a substantial sum that would cease to flow towards him if the impeachment is successful. In addition, he would lose a lump sum payment equivalent to one year's salary for each term served.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at State House, Nairobi, on July 19, 2024. /PCS

That's not all. Gachagua also risks losing a range of perks designed to facilitate a luxurious lifestyle, and these include two saloon cars with engine capacities not exceeding 2000cc, a four-wheel drive vehicle with an engine capacity not exceeding 3000cc, and a fuel allowance equivalent to 15 per cent of his salary are all at stake.

These vehicles, replaced every four years and maintained at taxpayer expense, represent a considerable financial advantage enjoyed by the Deputy President.

The potential impact of impeachment extends far beyond Gachagua's finances. A team of 16 staff members, including drivers, personal assistants, housekeepers, cooks, gardeners, cleaners, and armed security guards, would no longer be at his disposal.

This entourage, funded by the Kenyan taxpayer, highlights the privileged lifestyle afforded to the Deputy President, a privilege that could be revoked if he is found guilty of the charges against him.

Further underlining the high stakes of the impeachment proceedings is the potential loss of diplomatic passports for Gachagua and his spouse. These passports grant access to expedited travel and other diplomatic privileges, perks that would vanish if he is removed from office.

In addition, the provision of an office, office equipment, and access to VIP airport lounges would cease, showcasing the comprehensive nature of the potential losses.

The fear of losing such healthy benefits explains why Gachagua is putting everything in his might to avoid losing a seat so easily following the months and years he has fought to get and keep it...get it through President William Ruto.

He also risks losing his bodyguards should he be impeached as DP, and recent sightings of him interacting freely with Kenyans at a shopping mall in Karen, Nairobi without the presence of heavy security offered some Kenyans a sign of what was to come. Gachagua appeared to be free in all the photos and videos except for one where three men (two with black caps and one with a yellow cap) seemed to be controlling the crowd.

A notable instance of Gachagua going about his duties like a normal man was when he drew public attention in June when he boarded a Kenya Airways flight to Mombasa. The DP was seen carrying his own bag while walking into the plane without any security officers.

However, National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah responded by saying Gachagua was well protected in the flight, adding that the DP travelled with at least 14 bodyguards drawn from the elite RECCE Company.

He stated that Gachagua’s decision to carry his own luggage was down to him since he had staff who could do that. “The DP was also very well secured, and I can confirm that to the country. He had with him not less than 19 bodyguards. 14 of whom he was to travel with on that aircraft,” Ichung'wah said.

“Therefore, he had no problems with people carrying his bags; let nobody think that DP had problems with people carrying his bags. He had not less than three photographers to take the photographs.”

The National Assembly voted overwhelmingly to impeach Gachagua, with 282 MPs adopting the 11 charges against him. These charges range from corruption, gross misconduct, and gross violation of the Constitution to abuse of office, promoting ethnically divisive politics, and undermining the government. He faces accusations of acquiring properties through corrupt means, amassing assets worth Ksh5.2 billion in two years in unexplained wealth.

In anticipation of the Senate going against him, his legal team appealed directly to Chief Justice Martha Koome to expedite a hearing on his case and filed a fresh petition in the High Court to block the Senate from considering the impeachment motion. He argued that the impeachment process was flawed, lacked genuine public participation, and was politically motivated.

CJ Koome on Monday, October 14 granted their wishes and formed a three-judge bench to determine the impeachment case. Meanwhile, the High Court is set to rule on Tuesday, October 15 whether the Senate will be allowed to proceed with considering the motion or not.

Collage of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and the Senate in Parliament. /DPPS.PARLIAMENT KENYA

One Vote To Get Him Out: What Will Happen At Senate After MPs Impeach Rigathi Gachagua

Marvin Chege — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 20:36:38 +0300

With 281 members of the National Assembly voting to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, the majority of the entire August House, the second in command will hope that the Senate has mercy on him.

Only 44 voted to save the embattled DP on Tuesday, October 8. The road to kicking out Gachagua, potentially the first time in the history of the Republic of Kenya, began following the introduction of a Special Motion by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse.

It outlined 11 charges against the Deputy President, including gross violation of the Constitution, undermining the President and the Cabinet, undermining Devolution, and compromising judicial independence by publicly attacking a judge.

With the number of MPs sailing well above the required threshold of 233, Gachagua was powerless to save himself from a motion which he has claimed multiple times was politically turned into a weapon against him by his enemies in government and that the charges were too wild to warrant an impeachment.

DP Rigathi Gachagua addressing residents on September 28, 2024. /DPPS

Gachagua's impeachment process is not yet complete as more than two-thirds of the National Assembly will be looking at the Senate with a bombastic side-eye.

The approval has now paved the way for the motion to transition to the Senate - which now holds the key to the DP's fate.

Immediately after the impeachment, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula directed the clerk to prepare the necessary documentation and present it to Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, who already hinted at the Senate's readiness to handle the matter earlier today noting, “The Senate, being the trial chamber, will be sitting as a quasi-judicial body to hear and determine the Deputy President's matter."

When the motion has been passed by two-thirds (233) of all members of the National Assembly, the Speaker shall inform the Speaker of the Senate of that resolution within two days. Once the National Assembly speaker forwards the House resolutions to his Senate counterpart, senators will seek to substantiate the charges or reject them as per Standing Order 79.

“Upon receipt of a resolution of the National Assembly on the removal of the Deputy President in terms of Article 150 (1) (b) of the Constitution, Standing Order 78 (Procedure for removal of President by impeachment) shall, with necessary modifications, apply,” said the Standing Order.

The Senate Speaker shall convene a meeting of the Senate within seven days to hear the charges against the DP, and the Senate, by resolution, may appoint a Special Committee comprising 11 of its members to investigate the matter.

“The Special Committee appointed under Article 145(3)(b) of the Constitution shall—(a) investigate the matter; and (b) report to the Senate within 10 days whether it finds the particulars of the allegations against the President to have been substantiated,” reads Standing Order 78.

“Members of the Special Committee shall take an Oath or Affirmation, as may be prescribed by the Speaker, submitting that they will perform their duties honestly and with due diligence. The President (in this case DP) shall have the right to appear and be represented before the Special Committee during its investigations.”

The Special Committee may hear representations from the member who moved the motion in the National Assembly and other members of the National Assembly. “If the Special Committee reports that the particulars of any allegation against the President (DP)—have not been substantiated, further proceedings shall not be taken…in respect of that allegation; or have been substantiated, the Senate shall, after according the DP an opportunity to be heard, vote on the impeachment charges.”

Also, “The Senate shall vote on each impeachment charge of the Motion. (8) If at least two-thirds of all the Senators vote to uphold any impeachment charge, the Deputy President shall cease to hold office. The Senate or a Special Committee of the Senate shall conduct the investigation into the matter in accordance with the rules of procedure prescribed under the Second Schedule to these Standing Orders.”

If at least two-thirds of all the members of the Senate vote to uphold any impeachment charge, the DP shall cease to hold office.

Yes, if Senators vote to uphold ANY of the 11 impeachment charges against Gachagua, he WILL cease to hold office, something he cannot afford to entertain as this would mean the end of his political career.

As per the Constitution, an impeached public officer is ineligible to hold public office in the future, and the individual will also lose his retirement perks.

Inside the Kenyan Senate Chambers. /SENATE KENYA

Senator Crystal Asige Named In TIME 100 Next 2024 List

Marvin Chege — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 15:38:31 +0300

Nominated Senator Crystal Asige is now an international icon having been named in the 2024 TIME100 Next as one of the top 100 emerging leaders in the world.

Asige defied limits to earn a place in the exclusive list of 100 names who have stood out globally for their crafts.

On Wednesday, October 2, the legislator, who doubles up as a singer, expressed her shock and delight at being included in a list which features some of the biggest names on the planet.

"I have no clue how my work travelled around the world and landed in front of TIME, but naming me in their 2024TIME100NEXT list of influential leaders shaping the future of their fields and defining the next generation of leadership is wild, and you are all right at the centre of this acknowledgement," she shared on X.

Inside the Kenyan Senate Chambers. /SENATE KENYA

The TIME100 Next recognises and honours individuals who have contributed immensely in their various fields like business, politics, activism and entertainment.

Asige has been nominated to the list by Eddie Ndopu, a humanitarian and a United Nations (U.N.) Sustainable Development Goal Advocate who described Asige as a brilliant badass African leader who embraces the unexpected.

"Senator Asige’s life is a master class in embracing the unexpected. Diagnosed with glaucoma as a teenager, Asige rose to prominence as a formidable politician in Kenya—after first gracing the airwaves as an award-winning singer," Ndopu wrote.

"With every twist and turn, she has charted a course that defies categorization. Since taking office, she has helped pass bills to uplift people with disabilities, including a tax break for parents and caregivers of kids with disabilities, and new support for Kenyan sign language. Senator Asige is a true Renaissance woman, proving what I have always known—being disabled is compatible with an extraordinary life."

The 2024 TIME100 Next issue has three worldwide covers, each highlighting a member of the list. Among those highlighted include Sabrina Carpenter in the singer-songwriter category, NBA player Jaylen Brown and Springboard and Opportunities CEO Aisha Nyandoro.

Also included are the likes of On My Mama hitmaker Victoria Monét, Marvel's Secret Invasion series actor Kingsley Ben-Adir and Pacific Rim Uprising actress Adria Arjona.

TIME Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs noted that the list aims to recognize rising leaders and by doing so, not just show the stories that are capturing headlines in 2024, but also introduce the world to people who will play an important role in leading the future.

“The TIME100 Next list was created to recognize that many of today’s most influential leaders are individuals who are not waiting long in life to make an impact.

“Nor are they eager to respect the status quo by following the traditional power structures and pathways that have determined what influence looked like in the past," Jacobs notes.

Asige was also named in the top 100 list alongside Thomas Njeru who is the co-founder and CEO of Pula, a Nairobi-based microinsurance business.

The Extravaganza hitmaker is now set to attend the fourth-annual TIME100 Next event to celebrate the 100 individuals who were nominated in an event slated for October 9 in New York.

Nominated Senator Crystal Asige. /PATIENCE NYANGE.KENYA WOMEN SERIES

Judie Kaberia: Former Capital FM Journalist, Media Boss Who Was Present For Ruto MoU Signing

Marvin Chege — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 14:32:02 +0300

Three years ago, she was featured in the weekly #KenyaWomenSeries, Viral Tea's very first landmark project which saw us partner with Patience Nyange and Esther Kiragu to publish and amplify the stories of visionary women in Kenya. Now, Judie Kaberia is reaching new heights.

On Friday, September 13, she was among those present when President William Ruto secured and witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation which will see Germany through its companies tap into the digital space and recruit more Kenyans to take up digital jobs.

"The Government of Kenya signed several MoUs in Berlin. I will speak about ours," she revealed in her latest Facebook post on Sunday, September 15.

According to her, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation Kenya led in the signing of an agreement for skilled Kenyan youth to work remotely for companies in the City of Hamburg.

Judie Kaberia speaking at an MoU signing ceremony in Berlin, Germany on September 13, 2024. /JUDIE KABERIA

The agreement means that German industries will request certain skills such as engineers and app developers among others, with Kenya therefore doing a talent search.

"The German companies will train and then absorb them based on their competence. This will be a continuous process based on the needs of the German companies and the skills/ talent Kenya can provide," she explained.

Viral Tea takes a look at the profile of Judie Kaberia:

With 11 awards to her name as a multimedia journalist, Kaberia is an accomplished media trainer and mentor, with over 15 years of experience in journalism. Currently, she is serving as a Senior Project Manager at the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, having joined in September 2022.

Her career in the media began at Radio Waumini as a reporter, producer and later as an editor. “I was a rookie when I joined Radio Waumini, which provided me with the platform to make all the mistakes and learn from them. With my heavy Kimeru accent, I could hardly pronounce Bs and Ds without inserting M or N before words. To me books were mbooks," she revealed in the #KenyaWomenSeries feature in 2021

"Still, I wanted to be a broadcast journalist. I got advice to concentrate on print but I hang on to my dream to speak on radio or TV. A friend encouraged me to work on my accent by writing many words with Bs and Ds, and short sentences, practising reading them aloud for hours, recording and listening. I spent lots of time working on this and improving it."

In 2004, she left Radio Waumini for Germany and interned at Hellweg Radio in Soest in North-Rhine Westphalia. By this time she had sharpened speaking in German and could comfortably communicate.

Two years later, she returned to Kenya and joined Capital FM; yet another opportunity for her to hone her skills in journalism.

She praised the late Chris Kirubi a man with a vision and alert to technological advancements. He had talked about convergence in 2006 as the future of media and had encouraged her to try a hand at print and television, which she did and she became an excellent multimedia journalist.

"Then I got into feature writing and investigative reporting and maximized impact and solution-oriented journalism. I discovered the power I have as a journalist; through stories, I could influence policies, spur public debates on important issues and bring impact such as the establishment of health centres for women to deliver their babies in hospitals, availability of family planning methods and many others.

"Yet another defining moment in my career was the Kenyan cases at the International Criminal Court (ICC). I learnt about specialized journalism which introduced me to international criminal law. This expanded my knowledge and skills in reporting on international crimes, and international and regional judicial systems," she added.

In 2020, she was among the 10 fellows who won the Resilience Fellowship of the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), Austria. Until June 2021, she had been reporting and researching human trafficking and harvesting of human body organs in East Africa.

It was through this reporting that in December 2020, she won the Labour Migration Awards for the Migration and Health category due to her role in exploring the safety of victims of human trafficking during the COVID-19 pandemic. The awards were organized by the African Women in Media in partnership with the African Union, the International Labour Organisation and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

During the same year, she also joined Journalists for Human Rights (JHR), Canada World: Voice for Women and Girls’ Rights Kenya as a Gender Media Trainer.

After her tenure at Capital FM, she joined the Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) as the Executive Director in 2021 and through her, the membership of the association increased three-fold, while partnerships with other organizations increased and were strengthened. She left after one year.

Kaberia holds a Master of Arts degree in New Media, Democracy and Governance from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom (UK), the same university where she was issued the Best Distance Learning Dissertation Award in 2015.

It was based on the Hierarchy-of-influences theory investigated factors that affect political reporting in Kenya.

Judie Kaberia speaking during a past event. /FACEBOOK

Crackdown On Churches & Nightclubs From The Eyes Of Sakaja's Cabinet Member [VIDEOS]

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 14:34:14 +0300

Have you ever wondered how the Nairobi County government goes on to enforce measures to curb noise pollution in residential areas, with the primary culprits being churches and nightclubs? It is not always what Kenyans term as hot-air announcements by county officials, right up to Governor Johnson Sakaja himself.

Meet Geoffrey Mosiria, who is the Nairobi County Chief Officer of Environment, who has recently gained significant attention thanks to his hands-on approach to public health and hygiene in the city, as well as the environment that includes ensuring peace of mind of residents at their homes in the night.

Recently, he has been taking to his TikTok account to demonstrate his enforcement of the order in the city and regulation of noise levels, paying visits to churches and nightclubs which have been the most notorious for disturbing the zen and peace of Nairobi residents.

On Friday, September 13, he paid a visit to a church in Mwiki, Kasarani after receiving complaints regarding noise pollution from the worship centre.

With his gadget to measure noise levels, he stormed the church only to find it empty with the worship team seemingly practising for the weekend worship services given how out of tune the lead singers were.

Here is the video:

@geoffreymosiriaofficial
♬ original sound - Geoffrey Mosiria

In one move, he took the microphones and reasoned with the team before letting them off, with a warning.

"Today, we are just giving you a verbal warning. I am also saved, and I would like to see the 'sheep' coming to church, but they are complaining about the noise. It is better to sing without the microphone," he told the church's pastor.

It is worth noting that he had previously exposed the same church following complaints about disturbing noise coming from it, which he shared on TikTok as a warning to the place of worship, which was blatantly ignored, forcing him into action.

After the church, he and his team move to the next target, an entertainment joint. This time, their entry pace steps up, one of the members measuring the noise levels as the How We Roll hit track by Chris Brown and Ciara plays in the background.

@geoffreymosiriaofficial
NOISE POLLUTION
♬ original sound - Geoffrey Mosiria

The music stops as Mosiria and his team enter the nightclub. However, as soon as they entered, they made their way out, alongside a person who appeared to be the club's manager.

Mosiria tells him what he had told the pastor of the Kasarani church beforehand; that he had received complaints regarding the noise levels at the club, which is in the vicinity of a popular private university.

In another clip, he is seen roaming near another entertainment joint, but this one is more packed than the previous one. You see, this is a popular spot located in Kileleshwa, and the premises happen to be very close to residential apartments.

His colleague, armed with the same device to measure noise pollution levels and a phone to take pictures, does his job and in they go, observing the crowded atmosphere such that no motorist can even get a parking spot for a quick late errand.

@geoffreymosiriaofficial
♬ original sound - Geoffrey Mosiria

"You can see they closed the road to the point that the neighbours cannot access...and this is the complaint that I got that they even blocked the roads where neighbours cannot access," Mosiria narrated, adding "So we have taken action as per the law because we came here and warned them...we talked to them and cautioned them...now the time has come to take action."

Mosiria's acts have received significant praise on social media, with residents urging him to keep up the good work of restoring order in the city.

These latest acts follow his adventures in the public health sector and thanks to his tireless efforts, particularly in exposing the poor sanitary conditions of street food vendors and eateries within Nairobi's central business district, several kiosks have been closed down and vendors not meeting the required hygiene standards suspended.

Mosiria has steered Nairobi County to substantial improvements in its health sector. As the Chief Officer of health facilities, Mosiria was been instrumental in these developments, earning Governor Sakaja's praise.

A solid academic background supports Geoffrey Mosiria's impressive track record. He graduated from the University of Nairobi in 2014 with a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and later completed his MBA at the same institution in 2018.

His professional journey in the health sector began in 2013 when he served as a Hospital Administrator at Pumwani Maternity Hospital, Mbagathi Hospital, Mutuini, and Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital until 2022.

In 2022, Mosiria was appointed Assistant Director of Youth Affairs before transitioning into his current role as the Environment Chief Officer. Through his leadership, he has proven to be an invaluable asset to Nairobi County, driving significant advancements in the health sector and beyond.

Nairobi County's Environment Chief Officer, Geoffrey Mosiria. /GEOFFREY MOSIRIA

Food 4 Education: Wawira Njiru's Mission To End Hunger In Kenya's Schools

Danflow Lindwe — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 23:29:30 +0300

Food 4 Education Founder and CEO Wawira Njiru did not anticipate that her small passion project would have such a big impact on society and gain global recognition when she started it in 2012. At the time, she was only 21 years old and pursuing her undergraduate in Nutrition from Australia.

She grew up in Ruiru, Kiambu County with a burning desire to give back to society. “I also wanted to make an impact in education because my parents had been sponsored through school. They grew up poor,” Wawira reveals in an interview with Viral Tea, adding “Because of that, I thought why not do something that can help other kids get education opportunities.”

Still in Australia, she sent her parents to schools in Ruiru to inquire in what ways they needed support, with the schools revealing that their biggest challenge was that learners were so hungry in class. Furthermore, they did not have the right food for learners who kept dropping out of school out of immense hunger.

“That was when I decided to start a school feeding program. It was just a small passion project. I started with a mabati kitchen feeding about 25 children. I raised money in Australia through cooking for friends and fundraisers,” Wawira said.

Wawira raised Ksh161,250 (US$1,250) which was used to build the first Food 4 Education mabati kitchen in Ruiru in 2012. Despite not growing up rich, she understood that affording at least three meals a day meant she was well off compared to others despite the myriad of challenges her family faced.

“I grew up with a sense that if you don’t have food you can mess up your life,” she underlined to Viral Tea, describing hunger as an indignity, that it is indignifying to have a learner fidget in their seat and struggle to concentrate on the lesson, to have some slouch while clutching their stomach as if in discomfort all because of hunger.

Cooked green grams being decanted from the non-jacketed cooking vessels at Nairobi's Green Giga kitchen in the Industrial Area. /VIRAL TEA KE.DANFLOW LINDWE

Having hungry learners with anxious expressions struggling to engage in classroom activities and finally dropping out of school is one thing, but nothing is as bad as when these learners still had nowhere to seek food.

Beneficiaries Of Food 4 Education

By 2020 Food 4 Education was feeding up to 10,000 learners per day in Kenya. Currently, up to 350,000 learners across different counties are benefitting from the program, and Wawira hopes that in five years the number of learners benefitting from the program shall have tripled to 1 million per day.

She plans to expand the program to rural areas as well by 2027 as she gears towards 1 million meals per day. “We will be growing in some urban but also rural areas. Right now we are implementing the program in the rural areas of Uasin Gishu, Nyeri and Murang’a Counties. Then the other counties it is more urban like Kiambu, Kisumu and Mombasa,” she says ambitiously.

After her first mabati kitchen in Ruiru, Wawira built a central stone kitchen in 2016. “The second central kitchen came in 2020. Today there are 21 central kitchens both in rural and urban areas,” she reveals.

The large centralized kitchens produce up to 60,000 meals per day while the smaller ones have a range of between 20,000 and 10,000 meals.

She had one employee, Mama Mercy, who cooked for the first 25 beneficiaries of the program. Today, Food 4 Education employs up to 3,200 people, 70 per cent of them being female.

Roping In Technology

In 2021 Wawira brought in steam gas technology from India to help in mass food production. The central kitchen in Ruiru was the first to get steam gas technology which made work easier for the cooks.

Until 2020, they used briquettes from recycled waste to cook after graduating from firewood. “We had seen the steam gas technology in India being used to prepare school meals. So we got the equipment from India and we had a lot to learn because this was new technology to us. Mistakes were made,” Wawira divulged.

There are now three steam gas kitchens (Green Giga kitchens), one in Ruiru, the second in Mombasa and the third was built in Nairobi’s Industrial Area in 2023. Nairobi’s Green Giga kitchen launched in August 2023 has an industrial design to meet the huge requirement of feeding school-growing children in the most hygienic way possible.

The kitchen adopts a cooking medium of steam generation through the use of briquettes that serve as fuel for two steam generators that have inbuilt economizers, as well as built-in safety systems. Additionally, the steam is not only used for cooking but also for sterilisation of kitchen equipment.

The cooking area has stainless steel vessels that are steam-heated for the cooking of rice in less than 45 minutes and also has 10 jacketed steam-heated vessels mounted on a mezzanine deck for the cooking of green grams and beans within an hour.

The preparation area is fully mechanized from the washing of leaf and root vegetables to chopping and dicing. The machines make it easy and hygienic to process the vegetables. On completion of cooking, decanting the stew is through the bottom of the vessels onto 50-litre containers that are mounted on a scissor lift before they are weighed and loaded on food trucks.

Working With County Governments

Wawira notes to Viral Tea that working with the government has propelled the school feeding program further. As a non-profit organisation, she however pointed out that F4E is limited in what it can do and where it can gain access to.

“You can't meet the whole country, but if you walk with government and partners and if they're receptive to the model, it means that you're going to accelerate in part fast,” she said.

President William Ruto (then deputy) serving lunch at the Mūkarara Primary School NG-CDF Central Kitchen alongside Johnson Sakaja and John KJ Kiarie in a programme by Food 4 Education. /JOHN KIARIE

Though the school feeding program was traditionally under the national government, Wawira revealed that counties are opening up to the idea and are starting to embrace it like in Mombasa, Nairobi and Murang’a.

Wawira said in working with the government, they can design a plan where everyone contributes to ensure children get a nutritious meal a day. “So our role as we target 1 million learners over the next five years is to bring these functions of government to be able to design something that works for children,” she explains.

Her most popular government partnership is with the Nairobi City County under Governor Johnson Sakaja. In August 2023, they co-launched the Dishi Na County school feeding program aiming to address the inequities and indignities of poverty by ensuring that every child in Nairobi’s public schools receives a hot, nutritious meal each day.

Dishi Na County launched 10 kitchens among them the Green Giga kitchen in Industrial Area which prepares up to 60,000 meals per day. Nairobi’s program now feeds over 184,000 learners daily.

The Dishi Na County diet constitutes flavoured rice, green grams, beans, vegetables and fruits which ensure a balanced diet. To ensure the learners are full, Wawira revealed that the food is measured using a 550 - 650grams lunch box which is enough that some even take leftovers home to share with their siblings.

Operations Cost & Sustainability Of The Program

Wawira disclosed that all overhead costs are covered by donors. Overhead refers to the cost of technology, some cost of logistics, the internet and the things needed to run within the kitchen “But the direct costs, which are the cost of the food, the cost of paying cooks is either covered by parents or government. Or it is covered by parents where some places the government hasn't come in,” she notes.

She also revealed that parents have to contribute to keep the program sustainable as donors sometimes get tired. “Donors can’t do it alone, they will get tired. If parents do it alone then the cost will be too high. And if the government does it alone then someday they will say there is no budget allocation for it. I think it is a strength to bring in different partners,” she said.

The learners pay to get a meal per day. The first 25 learners in 2012 never had to pay for meals till there was a need for them a few years later, but Wawira notes that the amount each learner pays is dependent on whether the school is in a rural or urban setting.

She said learners in rural schools are charged slightly higher because of the difficulties in distributing food in such areas. According to her, “Learners pay around Ksh5 to Ksh20. So in rural, they pay Ksh20, but if it is urban they pay around Ksh15 and then in Nairobi, they pay Ksh5 because of the Dishi Na County program."

However, not all learners can afford the meal despite the subsidy by F4E. For such learners, they seek partners to help support them, which Wawira reveals is usually about 10 per cent of the population who cannot pay for the subsidized meal.

“So here in Nairobi today, we're feeding about 25,000 children every single day who are not contributing their Ksh5. They are supported through a grant from the French government,” she said, adding that they are guided by statistics to ensure resource allocations are fair. Teachers give a daily report of how many students will be available for lunch to ensure no waste of food.

Challenges Of Starting A Project At 21

Wawira was reminiscent that her ideas would get dismissed based on her age when she started Food 4 Education, underlining that it is one challenge that young people need to overcome and keep insisting on their ideas.

“It's very hard to try and bring out something new, to share your idea. I think overcoming that is having people who can support you. I was very lucky that I found really good mentors, people who supported me,” Wawira praised.

Her early days of rejection were evident as she would walk into some organizations but would get dismissed. Some would give her a target to attain before they could afford her a listening ear. “I said I am feeding 50 children. They told me to come back once I am feeding 1,000 children,” she recounted.

Wawira took it as a challenge and went back when she was feeding 1,000 children, a matter which left the organization shell-shocked. A notable lesson to ponder on, she believes that young people are very smart and that they ought not be dismissed based on their age, but rather get support.

Future Plans

Wawira hopes to expand her school feeding program to other countries in Africa in the next five years. “We have already started speaking to different countries that are interested in our model and they have their local ambitions,” she said.

She acknowledges that each country has its unique challenges and that Kenya’s model might not apply similarly to other African countries, but Wawira is a never-give-up individual. “We will offer them support to find school feeding programs fit for their country’s needs,” she hopes.

Busy workers inside Nairobi's Green Giga kitchen in the Industrial Area where mass food production for learners takes place. /VIRAL TEA KE.DANFLOW LINDWE

Mohamed Abduba Dida: How Ex-Presidential Candidate Wound Up Serving Jail Term In US

Marvin Chege — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 12:43:35 +0300

Mohamed Abduba Dida, a former teacher who previously vied for Kenya's political office, the Presidency on two occasions, is serving a seven-year sentence in a prison in the United States (US).

Dida is currently incarcerated at the Big Muddy River Correctional Center in Illinois, where he is serving multiple sentences for serious offences, including stalking and violating a restraining order. Identified as inmate number Y51285, he was sentenced for two separate charges.

The first, classified as stalking and transmitting threats, earned him a 2-year prison sentence. The second was for aggravated stalking and violating a restraining order, which resulted in a 5-year sentence.

Sentenced on November 18, 2022, Dida is expected to leave the facility on April 3, 2029. The identity of Dida’s victim remains unknown at the time of publishing this article.

Aerial view of Big Muddy River Correctional Center in Illinois, USA. /GOOGLE MAPS

The witty character's woes began following his arrest in Illinois, USA, for committing the offence. After he was convicted, Dida filed petitions in court, complaining of not receiving medical attention and inability to access educational or vocational programmes.

In a ruling on May 29, 2024, United States Magistrate Judge Gilbert Sison ordered a probe to be carried out to establish whether Dida's claims were valid. The court, however, dismissed his allegations, citing that his claims were not supported by the law.

This prison sentence marked a remarkable fall from grace for Dida, who burst into the limelight in the run-up to the 2013 general elections thanks to his straight-talking nature, and following his surprise entry to the presidential race, he won over Kenyans with his antics.

Early Life & Political Career

Born in Wajir Town in 1975, Dida is renowned for his teaching career, where he taught English literature and Religion at Dadaab Secondary School in the North Eastern region, and later Lenana School, Nairobi.

In 2009, he resigned from teaching to venture into business. Four years later, he joined the presidential race in the final lap, announcing his candidature a month before the election on an (Alliance for Real Change) ARC party ticket.

He pegged his campaign on the promise of ridding the country of corruption and good governance, and many saw him as a man who could disrupt the two-horse race pitting Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga at the time.

It was the presidential debate broadcast by major media houses that made Dida an overnight celebrity as his responses to governance issues like corruption in a witty manner perhaps predicting the robust nature of technology and Gen Z to come in the future, which impressed several viewers.

To Dida, the election was akin to the Battle of the Valley of Elah, and he was a reincarnation of the Israelite shepherd David. In an interview with Citizen TV, Dida said that much like David, he would stroll into the battle at the tail end, hurl one stone and floor Goliath, which in this case was all other presidential candidates, including Kenyatta and Odinga.

“Kenya is too small for me, gentlemen. I can man the five continents, and I have the potential and sincerity… I came late, nimekuja mwisho na nitarusha tu moja na itaisha. The programme is 15 days for my campaign. I am just relaxing for five more days…,” Dida said in the February 2013 Citizen TV interview before hitting the road for campaigns.

The election did not really mirror the Battle of the Valley of Elah though he managed to outwit political heavyweights in the race, finishing above NARC-Kenya's Martha Karua and Paul Muite. Dida got 54,840 votes against Karua's 43,881 votes and Muite's 12,580 votes.

Dida attempted to vie for a second time in the 2017 elections, this time around campaigning for change across all sectors of the country. He emerged fourth, amassing 38,093 votes which translated to 0.25 per cent of the total votes cast.

After his failed quests for the presidency, he kept a low profile with his X account occasionally issuing updates. It is still unclear whether Dida had relocated to the US, or was just visiting when he committed the offences.

Candidate participating in the 2013 presidential debate. /FILE

Petition

On April 15, 2024, Dida filed a petition against Kimberly Hvarre, the Big Muddy Correctional Center warden, for alleged violation of his right to practise Islam. Judge Gilbert C. Sison said in his ruling that it was unclear whether Dida’s petition was filed under the US Constitution’s First Amendment or the Religious Land Use and Institutionalised Persons Act (RLUIPA).

However, the judge appreciated that Dida has raised triable issues as religion is recognised in both the First Amendment and RLUIPA.

The only distinction is who can be sued, depending on which limb of law Dida intends to rely on. The judge said that the court will determine the correct parties to come in as defendants, and then ensure that they are served with the petition.

The judge is expected to set a hearing date after the appropriate respondents have entered appearance in the case and filed their preliminary responses.

Dida claimed in the petition that between April and October 2022, he was incarcerated at the East Moline Correctional Center where he was only allowed to pray once every Friday in the facility’s church.

At the South Western Correctional Center where Dida was held between December 2022 and January 2023, he was only allowed some prayers. After reaching a local arrangement with the South Western chaplain, Dida was granted a little extra room.

Dida alleged that one day during prayer time, he was handcuffed by officers before being forced to strip and eventually transferred to Big Muddy. At Big Muddy, he spent a month in segregation, and it was here that his prison sentence was increased.

Currently, Dida is a volunteer Imam at Big Muddy and is allowed to pray once every Friday.

Don't Run, Climb A Tree- 8 Tips To Follow When Under Attack By A Hyena

Danflow Lindwe — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 12:59:49 +0300

With the resurgence of hyena attacks in Juja, Kiambu County, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has issued eight safety precautions and tips for Kenyans residing in the areas as well as across the country.

Hyenas are useful scavengers that clean the ecosystem by getting rid of discarded bones and debris thus preventing the spread of zoonotic diseases.

In an infographic, KWS deemed the hyena as "lazy and prefers scavenging easy meals e.g. carcasses rather than chasing prey", but that does not mean that human beings should let their guard down.

"In recent times hyena attacks have increased and in case of an encounter with one, it is advisable to consider the following safety tips," advised KWS.

KWS officers conducting an exercise at a park in 2024 and a group of hyenas (inset). /KWS

First, it is important to note that hyenas mostly scavenge or hunt by night. Kenyans should therefore be on high alert for hyenas during their travels there at night, during late evenings and early mornings.

To avoid attracting hyenas from scavenging near human settlements, KWS urged that residents cover waste disposal areas or burn garbage.

“When walking in hyena areas, arm yourself with a stick and or stone,” the wildlife service advised.

With recent hyena attacks targeting children, parents have been reminded to urge their young ones not to move around late at night or early in the morning, and that they should always be escorted.

When confronted by a hyena, Kenyans are warned not to give it their back, neither should they even think of running from it. “Remember, running away encourages the hyena to chase and attack you,” KWS advised.

Those walking in a group are advised to stay together and not to scatter. Should anyone come face to face with a hyena, he or she must use any weapon at their disposal to attack the hyena that is attacking them.

Kenyans are also warned against sleeping out in the open as they can be an easy target for hyenas.

One thing the scavengers fail at is climbing trees, thus a tree is your best bet in terms of getting away from a hyena. "Hyenas do not climb trees. If there is a tree/wall nearby climb it and stay there until help comes," KWS adds.

The tips come as KWS on Sunday launched an intensive operation to capture and relocate the rogue animals, mobilising additional specialised officers from Laikipia, Nakuru and Nairobi to support the operation, which will be conducted around the clock.

“We have deployed tens of our officers drawn from different parts of the country. They have the relevant machinery to hunt down and capture the hyenas.

"They will have several camps in Juja and they will leave once the mission is complete,” noted Joseph Dadacha, Senior Assistant Director for the Central Rift Conservation Area.

The operation includes the use of advanced equipment such as night vision tools, traps, and luring devices to capture the hyenas.

Once captured, the hyenas will be relocated to areas far from human settlements to prevent further incidents.

A photo of four hyenas taken at Lemek Conservancy in Maasai Mara. /JEN GUYTON.NATGEO

Beatrice Askul Moe: Another Raila Ally Who Ruto Nominated As CS

Marvin Chege — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 18:19:46 +0300

On Tuesday, July 30, President William Ruto nominated Beatrice Askul Moe as the Cabinet Secretary for the East African Community (EAC).

She is set to undergo vetting before the National Assembly. Should she be successful and be appointed, she will be tasked with running affairs at the Ministry of the EAC which formulates policy on the East African Community and coordinates Government and private sector participation in the EAC Affairs.

Other duties include coordinating the implementation of the EAC regional programmes, coordinating the implementation of the EAC Treaty and promoting and fast tracks EAC integration process.

Askul notably has connections with former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, and the nomination is another one of the allies of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader included in Ruto's broad-based Cabinet.

EAC Cabinet Secretary nominee Beatrice Askul. /NATION MEDIA GROUP

The inclusion of ODM members as part and parcel of the top policy-making organ in the Executive has raised eyebrows and criticism aplenty, though the move is seen as as a strategic attempt to foster a government of national unity against the backdrop of youth protests.

Furthermore, Ruto's decision to include members from Odinga's camp is perceived as an effort to quell tensions and stabilise his administration by broadening political representation within the government.

Some political pundits also claim the move has diluted Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's influence in the country's apex decision-making organ.

Askul was part of the panel which was tasked with picking Raila's running mate in the 2022 presidential poll.

In 2023, she defended the former prime minister when chaos erupted during the Turkana Cultural Festival. She is also a member of the party's National Elections Coordinating Committee.

Askul was also on the proposed list of ODM nominees for the East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) but did not make the final cut.

Nonetheless, she is a Social Scientist and a Consultant, having previously served as the County Executive Committee Member in charge of Water, Irrigation, Agriculture and Land Reclamation in Turkana County Government.

She has previously served as a Director of the Rift Valley Water Services Board, Chairperson Technical Committee of the Rift Valley Water Services Board, Chairperson Audit Committee of the Rift Valley Water Services Board, Project Officer of AMREF Kenya Turkana Project and Relief Officer for the Oxfam Turkana Relief Program.

The CS nominee has specialized skills in the development and management of community affairs, towards behavioural and social change in communities.

She has also undertaken various certifications and pieces of training including a County Induction Course at Kenya School Government (Turkana County Government); Corporate Governance Course (CGC) while serving as a member of Rift Valley Water Services Board; Training on Audit Committees by KCA University (Institute for Capacity Development; Training of Trainers (TOT) Course for Community-based development by AMREF Kenya; and Training in Methodologies for Conducting Baseline Assessment Survey for Food Security and Nutrition Improvement Project Turkana.

Askul holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences (Social Work) from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) and is pursuing a Masters Degree in Governance and Ethics.

Should Parliament approve her nomination, Moe will be replacing Peninah Malonza who was dismissed from the now-dissolved former Cabinet.

President William Ruto and his Cabinet posing for a photo after a meeting on July 4, 2024. /PCS

Throwback: Wycliffe Oparanya Nominated To Cabinet Post He Wanted 2 Years Ago

Danflow Lindwe — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 17:16:42 +0300

Former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya is an example of how tides turn unexpectedly, after being nominated to President William Ruto's Cabinet. If confirmed, he will be tasked with running the Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

However, it is worth noting that he had never planned to end his political career after finishing his two terms as a county boss, revealing on February 6, 2023, that he held ambitions to become a Cabinet Secretary in the government formed by Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga, if the coalition defeated President Ruto's Kenya Kwanza in the August 9, 2022 general elections.

Oparanya has been in politics since 2002 when he was elected the MP for Butere Constituency. He was then elected for a second term in the same position in the 2007 general elections under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket.

He was appointed Minister of State for Planning, National Development and Vision 2030, under the grand coalition government of the late Mwai Kibaki in 2008.

In 2013, Oparanya vied for Governor of Kakamega with ODM and won. He successfully defended the seat again in 2017 with the same party and retired in 2022.

From Left: Esther Nyonje during an interview with former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya on Monday, February 6, 2023. /YOUTUBE.ESTHER NYONJE

“I became the governor from 2013 up to the last general election. I served my mandatory two terms as a governor, and obviously, I could not stand to defend my seat as required by the Constitution as we have a two-term limit,” Oparanya told Esther Nyonje, a political risk analyst, during an interview on her show on her YouTube channel in 2023.

“However, my ambition was not to end there. As you know very well I supported Azimio. I was part of the Azimio team in the last election but unfortunately, you know what happened. In that Azimio government, I was supposed to be the Minister in charge of the Treasury. That is now under the bridge.”

Two years later, he would get his wish however through his political rivals and under a different docket, in charge of the Cooperatives docket. In his opinion, one does not retire from politics, adding that he remained rooted in the Azimio coalition, a matter that might now change should he be confirmed by the National Assembly.

Oparanya is now 68 years old, and he acknowledged that had he been a civil servant, he ought to have retired by now. He bragged about his perfect record in polls, that is no defeat in any election in 23 years as a politician.

“Since I was not vying for any seat (in the 2022 general elections), I knew that if I didn’t get any appointment in the Azimio government then obviously I was going to prepare for retirement. But as you know, in politics you can’t retire. We are still there and you know that I am still part of the Azimio team,” Oparanya said.

Oparanya said since his tenure as a governor came to an end, he had the realization that there were several personal issues he had failed to deal with while in politics, a matter he expressed that he would have fixed in the next four to five years.

“For the next four or five years to come, I will actually be doing my own things to make sure that as I retire my own things are in order,” Oparanya added.

Winding the tape forward, Oparanya was nominated on July 24, 2024, by President Ruto, among four Raila allies picked in the Head of State's bid to create a government of national unity following the dissolution of his entire cabinet.

Oparanya is yet to comment on the President’s nomination while some of Raila’s allies have welcomed the nominations. Other Raila allies nominated are former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho (Mining, Blue Economy), Nominated MP John Mbadi (National Treasury) and Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum).

The former Kakamega boss is set to oversee the Hustler Fund in his docket, a flagship loan kitty which he has in the past sharply criticised, not once, but more than twice!

Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary nominee Wycliffe Oparanya. /FILE

EXCLUSIVE: Resident's Account Of Tuesday Events At Zimmerman Featuring Gunshots, Looting

Marvin Chege — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 18:13:30 +0300

Following failed attempts by protesters to occupy the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Tuesday, July 24, reports emerged on social media of police officers descending on residents of Kamiti Road which serves popular estates such as Zimmerman and Githurai 44.

Several netizens in the night raised alarm about the repeat of the alleged Githurai massacre finding its way to the two residences, claims they backed with numerous videos depicting gunshots ringing in the air and young men being stopped in their tracks by police who ordered them to surrender before bundling them into waiting lorries.

The reports, particularly on X, caught Viral Tea's attention, and in a real-time fashion, prompted a fact-finding mission through the digital space.

We attempted to reach out to residents who might have had an idea of the true account of events that transpired, though the ones we reached out to were unresponsive, some recommending to wait until morning to get the real picture, but this was also not forthcoming by the time of publishing this article.

Finally, we got a lady resident who resides in Githurai 44, not far from Zimmerman, who gave us an extensive account of the events culminating in the chaos witnessed around the residential area:

A police officer stepping out of a vehicle. /FILE

How It Began

Per her account, protesters had emerged from Githurai 45 to the 44 section through a connecting route and began to light up bonfires at various Kamiti Road junctions - at the Kahawa West roundabout, under the Northern Bypass flyover, around Small Villa in Githurai 44 and at Base and Mirema in Zimmerman Estate.

From around 2 pm, the bonfires left police with a tough task on their hands in putting them out, but more kept coming, leading to a back and forth coupled with teargas and gunshots, with hundreds of youth staging demos to the point of crippling movement of traffic along Kamiti Road.

The back and forth continued until 7 pm, and between then, the majority of the attention was focused on events at JKIA and along Outering Road where security forces were doing everything to prevent protesters from 'occupying' the country's biggest airport.

Motorists along the Northern Bypass, from Marurui towards Kahawa West and beyond, were diverted to bushy routes in order to connect around Jacaranda estate and back onto Kamiti Road, towards Kahawa West.

At Githurai 44, the areas around Small Villa and Uncle Sam were impassable with residents closing down their businesses as hundreds gathered for a day of running battles with the police.

The duel, the resident adds, was so bad that residents were unable to leave their homes owing to incessant smoke coming from teargas being lobbed by police to quell the protests. There were gunshots heard but from her view, they weren't being directed at people despite a section of videos showing otherwise.

"Tear gas definitely and shots but they were shooting upwards, didn't see police directing shots at people, but there is a different video showing otherwise," she tells Viral Tea.

The Goons

She added that she was unsure if they were peaceful protestors because they lit many fires, blocked roads and robbed a shop in the afternoon when she saw the events unfold, but rumours had it that they were goons coming from Githurai 45.

The resident further told us that the goons roamed Kamiti Road and ransacked a shop as she saw with her own eyes, a confirmation that the goons had infiltrated the protests. It is not clear how they came to do so, or rather if they were under instructions from someone.

A fleet of Subaru vehicles along Kamiti Road on July 23, 2024. /TIKTOK

As the madness continued, the police numbers grew, now moving from a handful of vans to several Subarus, all with no number plates. A video seen by Viral Tea showed a fleet of Subarus along the busy road, with other clips depicting plainclothes police officers patrolling the area around Small Villa, just outside the Untitled Lounge, guns pointed, as protesters scampered for safety up and down the road.

The Subarus would later drive north, towards Zimmerman, as they halted around the Tunners area for more than an hour of showdown and running battles.

At around 6 pm, the brute force that characterized events of the day intensified as the protesters set more tyres alight and blocked roads with stones, police continuing to clear the roads and put out the fires. Githurai 44 would soon be turned into a scene of madness, with police reportedly going around and beating up protesters as well as arresting them.

Businesses quickly closed down all across Githurai 44 as police lobbed teargas into homes and kiosks in a bid to flush out protesters who they quickly apprehended and violently beat up in full view of hiding onlookers.

The Night

The games continued into the night, with eyewitnesses, who were recording the proceedings from their balconies, reporting that the police were shooting indiscriminately and stopping young men in their tracks, ordering them to kneel down and then hauling them into their waiting lorries.

As the night kicked in proper, the drama had appeared to have shifted from Githurai 44 to Zimmerman, where police raided the area in their sheer numbers, firing live rounds and even shooting tear gas directly into apartments.

Zimmerman, a crowded settlement area with lofty apartments and squeezed streets, would now be the new epicentre as the violence took an unprecedented turn, with residents being flushed out of their homes and balconies chocking with tear gas fumes.

Videos recorded by the Githurai 44 residents also showed school buses being caught up in the melee as tear gas formed thick clouds which tore through the narrow streets and even into the houses.

We showed the lady resident a disturbing video posted on X showing a number of police officers running down a dark alley, heading for an unarmed resident. The man, who was stranded at the entrance to his home, can be heard begging for anyone to open the gates for him, his frantic voice betraying his fear of the impending clash, desperately crying "Nifungulie, nifungulie mlango nisiuliwe (open the door for me so that they don't kill me)..." amid loud wails from onlookers.

The cops drew closer to him, barking orders before discharging the firearm. The man's voice went silent. One X person wrote "Those were his last words. These words will forever echo in my brain and serve as a constant reminder of the police brutality in Kenya. I can't sleep," alleging that the police may have shot dead the man.

Kuna mtu ameshout Zimmerman afunguliwe mlango ya nyumba ndio asiuliwe and sadly he has been shot dead ???????????? pic.twitter.com/Co000PpfP5
— Allano™???? (@papaallano_) July 23, 2024

The resident responded to us by hinting that the police officer might have fired his weapon aimlessly in a bid to scare residents out of the house to get back home. A close examination of the video showed the gunshot being discharged slightly upwards, compared to directly at the individual which would have required precise focus at close range.

Towards midnight, the reports of the terror and anguish at Zimmerman had become full-blown with more videos continuing to show the extent of savagery meted out on the residents.

The scenes, too, were diverse - tear gas smoke billowed from the fourth-floor balcony, more tear gas engulfed the entire floor of a low-budget rental and police was seen dousing the pink-dyed water from their water cannons towards residents and a vehicle which was presumed to be earlier torched by the protesters in the middle of the road.

Another clip shared by CNN journalist Larry Madowo showed police surrounding a car wash at Githurai 44 and assaulting its owner and the staffers who took off, leaving the owner at the mercy of the officers. “They were not protesting, had no stones and had not looted anything. They were just sitting, waiting for customers," Madowo quoted a source aware of the incident.

The owner of this car wash on Kamiti Road, Githurai 44 in Nairobi says police came in and beat up her staff last night.

“They were not protesting, had no stones and had not looted anything. They were just sitting, waiting for customers” pic.twitter.com/tAPmXvTzZF
— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) July 24, 2024

Fact-Check

The woman resident then pointed us to an Instagram post claiming that police were also robbing people of their phones for fear of being recorded, clarifying that those were goons. "Protestors almost threw stones at me and cousins for standing with phones at the balcony...but media says police are the ones stealing...wrong info going around," she adds.

"If they were peaceful protestors they would have no issue if we create awareness, so those were goons."

She adds that the protests along Kamiti Road or even occupying the road were unplanned and that the officers were merely shooting upward to scare residents while clearing the road for resumption of traffic.

Additionally, posters reading "Our hearts bleed with you Zimmerman" started flooding Instagram timelines, shared by a section of prominent social media personalities. However, they were quickly fact-checked by residents of the area in the comment section denying any alleged massacre and affirming the woman's account of goons breaking into shops.

Police Stance

Much later, the lady's sentiments would be vindicated as Acting Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja revealed on Wednesday that goons were hired to cause chaos during protests in various parts of Nairobi on July 23, 2024. Kanja indicated that they were hired from other parts of the country to cause chaos in the affected areas.

“However, a few skirmishes were witnessed in Nairobi CBD around Kimathi Street, Archives, North Airport Road, Pipeline area, Roysambu, and Kakamega Town. Our preliminary investigations indicate that some goons disguising as protestors were hired from elsewhere to cause chaos in some of the affected areas where looting and destruction of property were witnessed,” read a statement in part.

The acting IG assured the public that the investigations on the goons would be speedy and the perpetrators would be brought to book. However, the police boss has yet to comment exactly on the events that transpired in Zimmerman and Githurai 44.

Githurai 45, as you would recall, was also in the headlines on June 25, with reports of residents enduring terror as police descended on the residential area and discharged gunshots for hours on end.

Screengrab of police officers in Githurai on June 25, 2024. /BBC

A police report seen by Viral Tea from the Githurai-Mwiki Police Station had however indicated that a protest that began peacefully turned riotous when an alleged group of about 6,000 became violent and lit a bonfire on a road in the area.

"Police officers led by the sub-county commander tried to negotiate with them to peaceably disperse but they refused and started pelting the officers with stones. A proclamation was read by the sub-county commander but they did not disperse instead turned very violent," stated the report filed under OB Number 46/25/06/2024 at 9.15 pm.

The police added that teargas was fired at the protesters but they overpowered the officers forcing them to withdraw. What followed, according to the police, was more violence that saw their Land Cruiser vandalised and torched, as the protesters followed them to the police station and surrounded two other stations.

In the process, 20 officers suffered injuries to their limbs, were rushed to various hospitals, and released in fair condition. "During the demonstration, 740 blanks and rounds of spent cartridges and more than 700 pieces of teargas canisters were used to disperse the violent rioters," the statement added.

Further, an independent investigation done by BBC found no evidence of mass killings in Githurai, raising questions about how readily misinformation can spread amid a crisis. A human rights advocate who lives and works in Githurai told investigations platform Africa Uncensored that the reports of a massacre were untrue.

Even though BBC's fact-finding mission was referenced by President William Ruto during a televised interview at State House on June 30, the government has never publicly commented on the Githurai horrors and it has never been made quite clear what actually transpired that night - and who was responsible.

The events at Zimmerman and Githurai 44 might also go unmentioned, with no repercussions of officers involved, nor any casualties or fatalities confirmed as of yet, though digital evidence suggests that the night of July 23 is one that residents of Nairobi's 'Zimma' will never forget.

Who Are They? Profile Of New Faces Nominated To Ruto's Cabinet

Marvin Chege — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 16:11:33 +0300

President William Ruto on Friday, July 19 began nominating 11 members that will form part of his broad-based Cabinet.

The announcement, made during his address to the nation at State House, followed extensive consultations with political allies and opposition figures, reflecting a strategic balance aimed at stabilising the administration while adding fresh energy into critical sectors.

"I have started the process of forming a new broad-based cabinet to assist in driving the urgently needed and irreversible transformation of our country. I nominate the following first batch of 11 individuals for consideration and approval by the National Assembly," stated Ruto.

The picks include fresh faces, five of them to be exact, who bring a wealth of experience to their respective ministries as well as vast knowledge. Let's take a look at them:

President William Ruto and his Cabinet posing for a photo after a meeting on July 4, 2024. /PCS

Dr. Debra Mlongo Barasa - Ministry of Health

A seasoned medical professional, Dr. Debra Mlongo Barasa will be tasked with navigating the murky aters of the Health Ministry, picking up from where Susan Nakhumicha left off.

With over 15 years of experience in internal medicine and infectious diseases, Dr. Barasa’s career spans roles in national and referral hospitals, private institutions, and community-based organisations.

Her leadership during outbreaks of diseases like COVID-19 and Ebola underscores her capability to handle the nation's health crises.

Dr. Barasa's academic credentials consist of a Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine, an ongoing MSc in Infectious Diseases from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from the University of Nairobi.

Her professional journey includes roles as an Internal Medicine Consultant and Infectious Diseases Specialist at prestigious institutions like the Mater Hospital and the World Health Organization.

Dr. Margaret Nyambura Ndung'u - Ministry of ICT

Dr. Nyambura Ndung'u brings a cutting-edge perspective to the Ministry of Information, Communication, and the Digital Economy, a sector that includes the country's technology, internet space and the media.

An expert in internet governance, cybersecurity, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), Dr Ndung'u has been pivotal in shaping the African Union's Digital Transformation Strategy, and will go into the ICT ministry which is undergoing a revolutionary transformation.

Her contributions extend to the development of the AU Data Policy Framework and educational initiatives across the continent.

Dr. Ndung'u's academic path includes a PhD in Information Systems, an MBA in Management Science, and a B.Sc. in Information Science from Moi University.

Her professional roles have seen her serve as a Senior Research Manager at the Global Digital Inclusion Partnership and a Senior Regulatory and Internet Governance Expert at the African Union Commission.

Dr Andrew Mwihia Karanja - Ministry of Agriculture

With over 36 years of experience in agriculture and rural development, Dr Andrew Mwihia Karanja is a formidable addition to the Cabinet.

His career began as an extension officer and evolved through various roles, including a Planning Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture and a Senior Agricultural Economist at the Coffee Research Foundation.

Dr. Karanja's tenure at the World Bank as an Agricultural Economist further solidifies his expertise in agricultural policy and development.

Dr Karanja holds a PhD in Development Economics and Policy from Wageningen University, an MSc in Agricultural Economics, and a BSc in Agriculture from the University of Nairobi. His extensive experience includes leading economic assessments and project management for agricultural development initiatives.

Should he be confirmed by the National Assembly, one of his key tasks would be to clean up the mess made by his predecessor, Mithika Linturi, who was on the hot seat over the fake fertilizer scandal.

Eric Muriithi Mugaa - Ministry of Water

Eric Muriithi Mugaa, a civil engineer with a passion for water resources, steps into the Ministry of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation, with a practical experience that spans the management of engineering projects, hydraulic modelling, and the design of water treatment plants.

Mugaa's academic achievements include an MSc in Civil Engineering with a focus on Water Resources and a BSc in Civil and Construction Engineering from the University of Nairobi.

At just 32 years old, Mugaa has already made significant contributions as an Assistant Project Engineer for projects like the Water and Sanitation Development Project and the Kenya Towns Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Program.

Julius Migosi Ogamba - Ministry of Education

A legal professional with over 25 years of experience, Julius Migosi Ogamba is set to lead the Ministry of Education.

His extensive legal career includes roles as a Senior Partner at Migosi-Ogamba & Waudo Advocates and Chairman of the Kenya Electricity Generating Company.

Ogamba’s expertise in legal research, client counselling, and regulatory compliance positions him as a capable leader in the education sector.

Ogamba holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Nairobi and a Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law. His vision for education is expected to bring a blend of legal acumen and strategic oversight to the ministry.

It is worth noting that he was a running mate to his predecessor, Ezekiel Machogu, who was defeated in the 2022 general elections while vying for the Kisii gubernatorial seat.

President William Ruto chairing a Cabinet meeting at State House, Nairobi on March 7, 2024. /PCS

Rebecca Miano Makes History As Kenya's First Female Attorney General

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 15:22:10 +0300

President William Ruto has begun to unveil his new-look Cabinet, nominating Rebecca Miano, former Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry, as the new Attorney General.

This move comes as part of Ruto’s effort to form a new, broad-based cabinet aimed at driving transformative changes in Kenya.

Miano's nomination will be subjected to vetting by the National Assembly. Should she be approved, she will replace Justin Muturi, the former National Assembly Speaker and Attorney General, and make history as the country's first female Attorney General.

Before Muturi, past Attorney Generals since Kenya gained independence in 1963 were all men and they included Charles Mugane Njonjo (1963–1979), James B. Karugu (1980–1981), Joseph Kamere (1981–1983), Matthew Guy Muli (1983–1991), Amos Wako (1991–2011), Githu Muigai (2011–2018) and Paul Kihara Kariuki (2018–2022).

Miano, despite numerous reports by research firms ranking her among the worst-performing Cabinet Secretaries, has been a favourite of both the public and President Ruto since she took over the Trade docket.

From left: Sunil Gupta, CEO of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa; former Trade CS Rebecca Miano; and President William Ruto during the signing of the Coca-Cola Deal on May 21, 2024. /PCS

However, she was one of the CSs dismissed by the Head of State on July 11.with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi being the only one retained. Mudavadi will continue to serve as the head of all ministries until the new cabinet is fully constituted.

Miano does have a tough task waiting for her of cleaning up the reputation of the AG's office after Muturi at the tail end of his tenure as AG, faced criticism for allegedly misadvising the government on various issues, although he has consistently denied these claims.

His tenure as AG saw reports suggesting his advice was often overlooked, a situation that came to light when a local daily claimed his office was not consulted on key government decisions, such as the deployment of the military during protests against the Finance Bill 2024.

Furthermore, the nomination and potential appointment might face headwinds owing to a petition filed in court by Nakuru Doctor and law student, Dr Magare Gikenyi challenging Muturi's ouster.

Rebecca Miano Background

The 58-year-old had notably replaced Moses Kuria in the Trade docket in October 2023 in a Cabinet reshuffle by President Ruto, with Kuria's reshuffle making most of the headlines given his brash demeanour, especially on social media.

Miano has amassed over 30 years of experience in the energy sector, earning recognition in the continent as a business leader.

The award-winning corporate guru is an expert in different areas including the renewable energy sector, structuring global business projects, and making regulatory frameworks for sustainable development.

Other areas Miano is credited with include business law, corporate governance and policy development.

Before being appointed a CS, Miano served as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen), a position she has held since October 2017.

"She is focused on growing KenGen’s footprint in geothermal development across Africa, and under her leadership, the company has successfully implemented several large geothermal projects in the continent," KenGen describes her achievement.

Miano also founded the Pink Energy forum in KenGen to address female and gender parity to close the gap within the company.

Previously, from 2008 to 2017, she was the Company Secretary and Legal Affairs Director. She is a respectable lawyer with a career in law and corporate governance and has been responsible for driving the corporate governance agenda in the company, providing guidance and support to the Board and has been the Secretary to the Board and all its Committees.

Awards and Achievements

Miano has been recognised by different global institutions, celebrating her contribution to the energy sector. In November 2019, she was appointed to the Board of Global Compact Network.

Seven months later, in July 2020, she joined the World Bank Group’s Advisory Council on Gender and Development.

She has also served on the Finance Committee of the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) and is a member of several boards alongside chairing the giant Stima Sacco Board.

In 2010, the KenGen CEO won the Company Secretary of the Year award in the Champions of Governance Awards series.

Attorney-General nominee, Rebecca Miano. /STATE DEPARTMENT FOR INVESTMENT PROMOTION

Her exemplary leadership saw former President Uhuru Kenyatta confer her the Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (MBS) in recognition of her outstanding service to the nation in 2019.

Miano was also feted among the Top 100 Women CEOs by Reset Global People in partnership with Pulse and Avance Media, and named one of the top 25 movers and shakers in Africa in 2021 by the African Energy Chamber.

Education

She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree with Honours, a diploma in Law and Post-graduate studies in Comparative Law. In 2010, she completed the Advanced Management Programme at Strathmore University. This probably might explain why she has been nominated as AG.

She is a registered Certified Public Secretary of Kenya and is a member of the Institute of Certified Public Secretaries of Kenya (ICPSK) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).

Ford Foundation: US Company Ruto Accused Of Funding Anti-Govt Protests

Marvin Chege — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 17:13:02 +0300

The Ford Foundation was on Monday, July 15 thrust into the national limelight after President William Ruto boldly accused the American non-governmental organisation of ‘sponsoring’ violence during the recent anti-government protests.

While addressing residents at Keringet Market in Nakuru County, Ruto wondered what the United States (US)-based organization was benefiting from sponsoring the demonstrations, claiming it was channelling funds to unidentified groups in Kenya to stage protests and destabilise the country.

The Head of State went on to sensationally claim that the organisation held sinister motives and was operating against the best interests and the democracy of the country.

"I want to ask the people at the Ford Foundation what benefit do they gain from giving out money to cause violence?" Ruto questioned.

“We are going to call them out and we are going to tell them if they are not interested in democracy in Kenya. if they are going to sponsor violence and anarchy, we are going to tell them they either style up or they leave."

A protester navigates teargas in Nairobi CBD. /AL JAZEERA

Ford Foundation is an American private foundation with the stated goal of advancing human welfare. Viral Tea takes a look at the profile of the company:

Ford Foundation Profile

The foundation was created in 1936 by Edsel Ford and his father Henry Ford and was originally funded by a US$25,000 (Ksh3.2 million) gift from Edsel Ford.

By 1947, after the death of the two founders, the foundation owned 90 percent of the non-voting shares of the Ford Motor Company, however, the Ford family retained the voting shares. Between 1955 and 1974, the foundation sold its Ford Motor Company holdings and now plays no role in the automobile company.

In 1949, Henry Ford II created the Ford Philanthropy, a separate corporate foundation that to this day serves as the philanthropic arm of the Ford Motor Company and is not associated with the foundation.

The Ford Foundation makes grants through its headquarters and 10 international field offices. It has had operations in Kenya and the larger East Africa region for decades, with its Nairobi office opened in 1963.

As of now, it has grown to become one of the world’s top philanthropic organisations with operations in 11 regions across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and North America.

For many years, the foundation's financial endowment was the largest private endowment in the world and it remains among the wealthiest. For fiscal year 2014, it reported assets of US$12.4 billion (Ksh1.6 trillion) and approved US$507.9 million (Ksh65.6 million) in grants.

According to the OECD, the Ford Foundation provided US$194 million (Ksh25 billion) for development in 2019, all of which related to its grant-making activities.

With its headquarters in New York City, Ford Foundation is currently ranked the 11th wealthiest foundation globally with a $13.7 billion (Ksh.1.87 trillion) endowment, behind other notable names in philanthropy such as the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Welcome Trust and the Mastercard Foundation.

On its website, the organisation says in East Africa, it supports “open civic space, civil society and public dialogue with the government” to ensure Kenyans, Ugandans and Tanzanians can contribute to shaping society.

“Through our civic engagement and government work, we invest in the threads that hold democracies together: basic freedoms, both in the digital domain and our daily lives; an autonomous civil society that can both hold government accountable and bring forth new ideas; and protections for social justice leaders speaking truth to power. We believe that we can end inequality by advancing these democratic values,” the foundation says.

Ford Foundation adds that it supports efforts to advance principles of open government and civil society organizations calling for greater transparency and accountability to prevent systemic corruption.

Prominently known for its grants, the Ford Foundation credits itself with having helped establish the University of Nairobi in 1963 and giving significant grants to universities in Eastern Africa “to invest in the region’s future.”

It has also been at the forefront of advocating for civic justice to protect social justice activists, artists, and marginalised groups.

In April this year, for instance, the foundation announced a ‘Creativity and Civic Space’ grant initiative with a $1.25 million (Ksh.162.5 million) commitment to address “the importance of protecting and expanding civic space across the globe.”

Among the grantees was the Kenyan production company and theatre collective Story Zetu and Too Early For Birds, which has produced several critically acclaimed stage plays and shows in Kenya.

Foundation Hands Ksh3.3 Million To Two Kenyans

In March this year, the Ford Foundation announced two Kenyans among its international 26-member 2024 Ford Global Fellowship cohort, that is, Ashura Michael and Willie Oeba.

The fellowship is a program which aims to connect and support the next generation of leaders from around the world who are advancing innovative solutions to end inequality.

"The Ford Global Fellowship focuses on shared learning across issue areas, building and strengthening connections across borders, and developing a supportive, interconnected cohort from across a wide variety of sectors and regions. It aims to build a powerful network of 240 fellows over the course of the program and serve as a catalyst for the fellows to accelerate the impact of their work, individually and collectively," a press release that had announced the duo read in part.

Free a Girl’s World Network CEO Ashura Michael (left) and ISM Academy CEO Willie Oeba (right). /VIRAL TEA KE

Michael was picked owing to her role as the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Free a Girl’s World Network while Oeba was selected in his capacity as the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ISM Academy.

According to the foundation, each new fellow received a no-strings-attached Ksh3.31 million ($25,000) stipend, alongside individualized coaching, to help grow leadership skills and reach new audiences.

Other locally based entities the foundation has supported over the years are the Nairobi Arts Trust, United Nations Development Program Kenya, Albinism Society of Kenya, Law Society of Kenya, Beyond Zero and Amnesty International, among others.

Who Is Douglas Kanja Kirocho? IG Koome's Replacement In Acting Capacity

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 15:37:04 +0300

In another headline-making event, President William Ruto on Friday, July 12 accepted the resignation of Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome and appointed Douglas Kiricho Kanja as his replacement in an acting capacity.

State House Spokesperson, Hussein Mohamed revealed that Kanja was designated by the Head of State as the acting IG of Police pending the nomination, parliamentary approval and appointment of Koome's official replacement.

"The Head of State has, in accordance with Section 16 of the National Police Service Act, designated Douglas Kanja, CBS the Deputy-Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service as the acting Inspector-General of the National Police Service," the statement read in part.

Kanja was on April 12, 2023, appointed as the Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service by President Ruto, with immediate effect.

Douglas Kanja, named acting Inspector General of Police. /NATIONAL POLICE SERVICE

He was on a shortlist of 12 candidates for the position of Deputy IG, which included Former Police Spokesperson Bruno Shioso.

Kanja has had a distinguished career in the National Police Service (NPS), marked by several key positions and notable achievements. His extensive experience and leadership in various capacities had suited him well for his new role as the acting Inspector General.

Before his newfound role, Kanja's role as the Deputy IG of Police saw him wield a powerful office which controls almost 70,000 personnel of the more than 100,000 officers under NPS. The other personnel are in the Administration Police Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

The DIG KPS is in charge of all eight regional police commanders, 47 county commanders, formation commanders, Sub County Commanders, Officer Commanding Station (OCS) and all uniformed officers. He also controls the General Service Unit (GSU), Traffic Department and Kenya Police College in Kiganjo.

Kanja at the time of his appointment replaced Edward Mbugua who retired after attaining the mandatory retirement age.

He had served as commandant of the General Service Unit since 2018 and under his leadership, the GSU played a critical role in maintaining public order, responding to emergencies, and executing high-risk operations.

As per his profile described by the National Police Service Commission (NPSC), Kanja also served in various capacities, including as the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), where he was instrumental in significant improvements in crime detection and prevention.

His strategic initiatives and hands-on approach contributed to enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the DCI.

Kanja was also the Commandant of the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU), where he led Kenya's fight against terrorism. His leadership in this unit was pivotal in countering terrorist activities and ensuring national security.

He also worked as the Director of Operations at the National Police Service (NPS). Here, he coordinated nationwide police operations, streamlined procedures, and improved response times to incidents. His strategic planning and operational oversight were crucial in maintaining law and order.

He has also served in various parts of the country, including Nairobi, Coast, Eastern, and Rift Valley regions, meaning he brings with him a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the diverse challenges faced by the police force in different areas

In Nairobi, he dealt with complex urban crime and security issues and in Coast, he addressed issues related to coastal security and the unique challenges posed by maritime crime;

In Eastern, Kanja's service focused on rural policing and community engagement; and in Rift Valley, his experience included managing security during periods of political tension and unrest.

Douglas Kanja's exemplary service has earned him numerous accolades, including the Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS), one of Kenya's highest honours.

Douglas Kanja Kirocho being sworn in as the new Deputy Inspector-General of the Kenya Police Service on April 13, 2023. /KBC

The Purge: How Ruto's Cabinet Dissolution Compares To That Of Kibaki

Marvin Chege — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 20:39:09 +0300

This is not a dream...it actually happened. For the first time since the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution of Kenya, President of the Republic of Kenya, William Ruto, on Thursday, July 11 dissolved his entire Cabinet.

Also, for the first time in Kenya's history, the Head of State listened to demands fronted by the young people of Kenya regarding a total dissolution of his Cabinet over incompetence, with the exception of Prime Cabinet Secretary (CS) Musalia Mudavadi, also the Foreign Affairs CS...all this in a speech that lasted just 12 minutes!

"I will immediately engage in extensive consultations across different sectors and political formations, with the aim of setting up a broad-based government that will assist me in accelerating and expediting the necessary, urgent and irreversible, implementation of radical programmes to deal with the burden of debt, raising domestic resources, expanding job opportunities, eliminate wastage and unnecessary duplication of a multiplicity of government agencies and slay the dragon of corruption consequently making the government lean, inexpensive, effective and efficient," stated President Ruto during his address at State House, without providing any timelines.

As much as this is a rare occurrence and as much as this is a move that might tone down the rage of the country's Gen Zs who had threatened more dire action, this is not the first time in Kenya's history that a sitting President has disbanded his entire Cabinet.

You'd have to go back to 2005 when the late former President Mwai Kibaki sacked his entire Cabinet, though this came days after a national referendum.

Wait, A National Referendum?

In the 2005 referendum, over 3.5 million Kenyans rejected the draft constitution that Kibaki had strongly supported. On November 23, he took action, and just like Ruto, Kibaki spared Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka.

The “Yes” and “No” referendum had split Kibaki’s administration into two, with seven members of his Cabinet, led by Roads, Public Works and Housing Minister Raila Odinga, spearheading the “No” campaigns.

At some point, the referendum campaigns, which had assumed the symbols Banana (Yes) and Orange (No), were so vicious that nine people died over the period. However, when the results came on D-Day (November 21), the Orange team prevailed, garnering 58.12% (3,579,241) of the total votes cast. President Kibaki’s Banana had garnered 41.88% (2,578,831).

"Following the results of the referendum, it has become necessary for me, as the President of the Republic, to re-organize my Government to make it more cohesive and better able to serve the people of Kenya," Kibaki said then.

"Accordingly, in accordance with the powers conferred upon me under the Constitution of Kenya, I have directed that the offices of all Ministers and all Assistant Ministers become vacant. Consequently, the occupants of the said offices cease to hold their respective offices with immediate effect."

The strong opposition against the draft constitution began in 2003- two years before- when Kibaki's administration came into power and pledged to provide a more democratic governance within his first 100 days.

This resulted in a proposed Constitution drafted by the governing National Rainbow Coalition (NARC). However, at the time, internal wrangles came into play leading to disagreements on several contentious issues within the document.

Prior to the 2002 elections, politicians who formed a coalition with the ruling party made verbal and written agreements on matters of governance and were aggrieved when some of their issues were not honoured. This resulted in deep rifts between individuals and parties.

Opposition

A section of the CSs who opposed the law argued that it provided the presidency with utmost powers, something that they sought to get rid of especially following the Daniel Moi regime.

On the other hand, supporters of the draft document dismissed the claims of supremacy in the presidency and noted that powers such as appointments would be subject to vetting and approval by parliament.

Despite a wide campaign for the draft Constitution, Kibaki failed to convince Kenyans to vote for the draft Constitution, with critics saying that the former president sought to ease the tension that succeeded the 2002 elections.

At the time, President Ruto, who was in the opposition, said that Kibaki had his work cut out for him to appeal to Kenyans.

"I don't think the president has an option, but to begin to respect the institutions of governance that are there. The major split, confusion and quarrels over the last three years have basically been the president ignoring the institutions that are there. He needs to respect the agreements he has with his coalition partners," Ruto told VOA in 2005.

What happens next?

During Kibaki's era, former head of Presidential Press Service Isiah Kabira said that former Vice President Moody Awori and Permanent Secretaries would run the government alongside Kibaki for two weeks before he named a new Cabinet.

On July 11, 2024, Ruto announced that operations of the government would continue uninterrupted under the guidance of Principal Secretaries and other relevant officials.

Read also: List Of Cabinet Secretaries Fired By Ruto & Principal Secretaries Taking Over For Now

Ruto CSs Appreciation Messages

Former CSs have since sent their appreciation messages, hours after the bold move by the President. Viral Tea sampled them here:

Kipchumba Murkomen

It has been my greatest privilege and honour to serve my country as a Cabinet Secretary in charge of Roads & Transport. Thank you Mr. President for giving me the opportunity.

Alfred Mutua

I sincerely thank His Excellency President William Samoei Ruto for the confidence he demonstrated by entrusting me with the role of Cabinet Secretary in his government.

During my tenure, I have witnessed firsthand President Ruto's genuine commitment to the rapid transformation of our country. His vision and dedication to progress are clear and unwavering.

As a leader with considerable experience, I understand the necessity behind the President's decision to dismiss all members of his cabinet. Such decisions, though difficult, are often imperative for the greater good.

Thank you once again, Mr. President, for the opportunity to serve you and the people of Kenya. May the Almighty continue to guide you in the challenging task of revitalizing our nation. With your leadership, the future of Kenya looks promising. Mbele iko Sawa.

Ababu Namwamba

It is a special honour, privilege and blessing to serve one's nation, more so in Cabinet, the country's highest policy-making organ. I thank His Excellency President William Ruto for the trust and confidence that informed my appointment to serve in the Cabinet for the second time in my public service life. God bless Kenya and grant the President grace and wisdom to navigate our country into a safe harbour.

Mithika Linturi

I’m profoundly thankful to H.E. President William Ruto for the trust and confidence he placed in me by appointing me as the CS for Agriculture & Livestock Development. Your decision to entrust me with this significant responsibility is both a privilege & a humbling experience.

Peninah Malonza

“I thank His Excellency the President William Samoei Ruto for the trust he bestowed upon me to serve as the Cabinet Secretary for Wildlife, Tourism and National Heritage and later the Cabinet Secretary for East African Community, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development.

It was a great honour to me, and I shall forever remain beholden to him and Kenyans at large for bestowing upon me the onerous duty of serving our great Nation in a most honourable responsibility.

By such an opportunity, you honoured women, Kitui County and more so Kitui South Constituency which had never produced a Cabinet Secretary since independence. You have the best of Kenya at heart. May the Lord guide and use you to fulfil His agenda for Kenya.”

President William Ruto and his former Cabinet posing for a photo after a meeting on July 4, 2024. /PCS

Eliud Owalo

“I thank H.E. President Dr. William Samoei Ruto for granting me the opportunity to serve my Country as Cabinet Secretary. I owe him a great debt of gratitude for the same,” he stated.

Salim Mvurya

“It’s been a great experience serving the country as the Cabinet Secretary Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs. I sincerely thank President William Ruto for the opportunity, I believe with the MiBEMA team we made transformative changes. President Ruto endelea kufanyia kazi wakenya (continue working for Kenyans).

Florence Bore

“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve Kenyans. My gratitude and profound thanks to His Excellency the President Dr William Ruto for his mentorship and trust to serve our country as Cabinet Secretary of Labour and Social Protection. It has been a great honour to serve for God and for Country.”

Simon Chelugui

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank His Excellency President Dr William Ruto for showing great trust and faith in me and entrusting me with the job and responsibility to serve at the highest decision-making body of the Republic of Kenya as the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Cooperatives and MSME Development,” stated Chelugui.

He added, “Your Excellency, please receive my sincere gratitude and appreciation from the bottom of my heart. I also seize this moment to thank Kenyans and all stakeholders in the Co-operative (saccos, societies, housing, transport and investment) and MSME(Hustlers) sectors for the great support they gave me since I was appointed on October 27, 2022.

I assure you of my prayers and highest regards. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11.”

Aisha Jumwa

“It was such an honour to serve as a Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage under the leadership of President William Ruto. I am glad that I got the chance to serve the people of our great nation. Thank you Mr. President and I wish you well.”

Soipan Tuya

“Anything that paves the way for the best interest of our Nation, at this point in time, is preeminent. I most sincerely thank H.E President William Ruto for the privilege, honour and opportunity to serve my country at the helm of the Environment, Climate Change and Forestry docket, for the last 21 months. My heart is full of gratitude”

Aden Duale

"I extend my heartfelt gratitude to His Excellency President William Ruto for entrusting me with the role of Cabinet Secretary for Defence in the first Kenya Kwanza Administration.

I am deeply honoured and will forever be indebted to him and the people of Kenya for this opportunity to serve our great nation. As the Quran says, “But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners” (Quran 8:30).”

List Of Cabinet Secretaries Fired By Ruto & Principal Secretaries Taking Over For Now

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 15:46:03 +0300

President William Ruto's decision to dissolve his entire Cabinet on Thursday, July 11 means that 21 Cabinet Secretaries (CS) who served across various ministries in the Kenyan government are now jobless.

However, there is only one CS who was allowed to keep his job; Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi, who doubles up as the Foreign Affairs CS.

Surprisingly, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, the country's second-in-command, has also been retained, given that he also sits in the Cabinet.

The Head of State cited a holistic appraisal of his Cabinet as the reason for this radical decision.

President William Ruto and his Cabinet posing for a photo after a meeting on July 4, 2024. /PCS

"Upon reflection, listening keenly to what the people of Kenya have said and after a holistic appraisal of the performance of my Cabinet and its achievements and challenges, I have, in line with the powers given to me by Article 152(1) and 152(5)(b) of the Constitution and Section 12 of the Office of the Attorney-General Act, decided to dismiss with immediate effect all the Cabinet Secretaries and the Attorney-General from the Cabinet of the Republic of Kenya except the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs," he announced.

The decision, a first-ever in the 2010 Constitution of Kenya, sees big names, some of which have attracted controversy in one way or another, shown the door less than two years after being appointed.

Here are the Cabinet Secretaries dismissed by the President:

Rebecca Miano - Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry.
Kithure Kindiki - Interior and National Administration
Alice Wahome - Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Developments
Susan Nakhumicha - Ministry of Health
Peninah Malonza - Ministry of East African Community, The ASALs and Regional Developments.
Alfred Mutua - Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife
Moses Kuria - Ministry of Public Service Performance, and Delivery Management.
Aisha Jumwa - Ministry of Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage
Njuguna Ndung’u - National Treasury and Planning
Aden Duale - Defence
Rebecca Miano - Investments, Trade & Industry
Onesmus Kipchumba Murkomen - Roads and Transport
Rosalinda Soipan Tuya - Environment and Forestry
Zachariah Mwangi Njeru - Water, Sanitation & Irrigation
Mithika Linturi - Agriculture and Livestock Development
Ezekiel Machogu - Education
Salim Mvurya - Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs
Eliud Owalo - Information, Communications and the Digital Economy
Simon Chelugui - Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development
Ababu Namwamba - Youth Affairs and Sports
Florence Bore: Labour and Social Protection.

Furthermore, Ruto announced that operations of the government will continue uninterrupted under the guidance of Principal Secretaries and other relevant officials.

It is worth noting that there are 51 Principal Secretaries, more than twice the number of their (now former) Cabinet counterparts.

Here is the list of Principal Secretaries who are now in charge:

Julius Korir - State Department for Cabinet Affairs
Teresia Mbaika Malokwe - State Department for Devolution
Esther Ngero - State Department for Performance and Delivery Management
Aurelia Rono - State Department for Parliamentary Affairs
Raymond Omollo - State Department for Interior and National Administration
Caroline Nyawira Murage - State Department for Correctional Services
Amb. Julius Bitok - State Department for Citizen Services
Dr Chris Kiptoo - The National Treasury
James Muhati - State Department for Economic Planning
Patrick Mariro - Defence
Korir Sing’oei - State Department for Foreign Affairs
Roseline Njogu - State Department for Diaspora Affairs
Amos Gathecha - State Department for Public Service
Veronica Mueni Nduva - State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action
Joseph Mungai Mbugua - State Department for Roads
Mohamed Dhagar - State Department for Transport
Nixon Korir - State Department for Lands and Physical Planning
Charles Hinga - State Department for Housing and Urban Development
Joel Arumonyang - State Department for Public Works
Prof. Edward Kisiangani - State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications
Eng. John Kipchumba Tanui - ICT and Digital Economy
Eng. Peter Tum - State Department for Medical Services
Dr. Joseph Mburu - State Department for Health Standards and Professional Management
Dr. Belio Kipsang - State Department for Basic Education
Esther Thaara Muhoria - State Department for TVET
Beatrice Inyangala - State Departments for Higher Education and Research
Phillip Kello Harsama - State Department for Crop Development
Harry Kimutai - State Department for Livestock Development
Alfred K’Ombundo - State Department for Trade
Abubakar Hassan - State Department for Investment Promotion
Juma Mukhwana - State Department for Industry
Patrick Kiburi Kilemi - State Department for Cooperatives
Susan Mangeni - State Department for MSMEs Development
Ismail Madey - State Department for Youth Affairs
Jonathan Mueke - State Department for Sports and The Arts
Festus Ngeno - State Department for Environment
Ephantus Kimotho - State Department for Forestry
John Ololtuaa - State Department for Tourism
Sylvia Naseya Muhoro - State Department for Wildlife
Ummy Mohammed Bashir - State Department for Culture and Heritage
Dr. Paul Ronoh - State Department for Water and Sanitation
Gitonga Mugambi - State Department for Irrigation
Alex Wachira - State Department for Energy
Mohamed Liban - State Department for Petroleum
Geoffrey Kaituko - State Department for Labour and Skills Development
Joseph Mugosi Mutavi - State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs
Abdi Dubart - State Department for East African Community Development
Idris Dogota - State Department for The ASALs and Regional Development
Elijah Mwangi - State Department for Mining
Betsy Muthoni Njagi - State Department for Blue Economy and Fisheries
Shadrack Mwadime - State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs

From left: PSs Nixon Korir, Teresia Mbaika, Raymond Omollo, and Julius Bitok. /DAILY NATION

Dumping Housing Levy: Profile & Popular Cases Justice David Majanja Presided Over

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 20:52:42 +0300

It was the late High Court judge David Majanja who was part of a three-judge bench that declared that the Housing Levy introduced in the Finance Act 2023 was unconstitutional.

Kenyans on Wednesday night, July 10 were left stunned by the news of his death. He passed on at a Nairobi Hospital, with initial reports revealing that he had checked in at the hospital for surgery, which reportedly turned out successful but things turned worse later resulting in his death.

Chief Justice Martha Koome penned her message of condolence, stating on X that "On behalf of the Judiciary and the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), it is with profound sadness that I announce the sudden passing of Hon. Justice David Amilcar Shikomera Majanja, Judge of the High Court of Kenya and Commissioner of the Judicial Service Commission.

"We are all heartbroken. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, colleagues, and the entire Judiciary and JSC fraternity during this time of deep sorrow and sadness."

The late High Court judge, David Majanja. /FILE

According to CJ Koome, Justice Majanja will be remembered as a towering figure in the development of the country's transformative post-2010 jurisprudence and a crucial pillar in the institution-building of the JSC and the Judiciary.

Viral Tea takes a look at the profile of the late Justice David Majanja.

David Majanja Profile

Career

Majanja was sworn in as a member of the Judicial Service Commission on May 28, 2024. This was after he was re-elected to represent the Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association (KMJA) on JSC.

Justice Majanja was first appointed as Judge of the High Court in 2011 and was until his death stationed at the Milimani Civil Division court.

He was first elected to the JSC on May 14, 2019, for a five-year term. This came following the end of Judge Aggrey Muchelule's five-year tenure as JSC male representative on April 4, 2019.

Before his re-election, he served as the chairperson of the Human Resource Management Committee and a member of the Audit. He was also the chairperson of the Governance and Risk Management Committee and the Learning and Development Committee.

Education

The late Justice Majanja attended the Hill School, in Eldoret and the Alliance High School. Additionally, he held a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from the University of Pretoria and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Nairobi.

He earned his Post Graduate Diploma in Law at the Kenya School of Law and was admitted to the Bar in 1998.

He worked for Mohammed and Muigai Advocates and Onyango and Ohaga Advocates before founding Majanja Luseno and Company Advocates in 2007.

Other Roles

Justice Majanja practiced law specialising in Civil and Commercial Law and he was also involved in public interest litigation.

He was also an assisting Counsel for the Commission of Inquiry into the Post Election Violence popularly known as the Waki Commission.

He was also previously the presiding Judge at Homa Bay and Migori High Courts and was until his death the vice chairperson of the Judiciary Committee on Elections.

High-Profile Cases

Housing Levy

As aforementioned, Justice Majanja led a 3-judge bench consisting of Christine Meoli and Lawrence Mugambi delivered the ruling on November 28, 2023, which declared the Housing Levy introduced in the Finance Act as unconstitutional.

It ruled that the Finance Act 2023 amendment to Section 84 of the Finance Act amending the Employment Act introducing the Housing Levy is unconstitutional, adding that the levy had lacked a comprehensive legal framework and is irrational.

"The levy against persons in formal employment to the exclusion of other non-formal income earners without justification is discriminatory, irrational, arbitrary and against the constitution," Justice David Majanja ruled.

Justice David Majanja during a past High Court session. /STANDARD DIGITAL

The levy was accused of violating the principles of taxation and as contained in the Finance Act 2023 is discriminatory and unfair for making a distinction between the formal and informal sectors thus creating unequal and inequitable principles.

Anne Amadi

In May 2023, Justice Majanja also presided over a case against former Judiciary Registrar Anne Amadi. However, on May 23, 2023, he disqualified himself from hearing the Ksh130 million gold scandal facing Amadi

Majanja stated at the time that there might have been issues of his partiality in the case since he was a member of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) where Amadi served as the secretary.

"Of course, there may be issues about my partiality or impartiality or impression created. I am very much aware of the public perception of my position. I, therefore, disqualify myself from the matter," he said.

He at the same time declined to set aside orders freezing Amadi's bank accounts and four others. She and her son Brian Ochieng's personal bank accounts were frozen following a suit filed against her by a Dubai-based Company, Bruton Gold Trading LLC, a gold trading company interested in buying gold from Kenya.

How Your MPs Actually Voted For Finance Bill 2024 [NUMBERS & NAMES]

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 21:16:28 +0300

After it sailed through a majority vote in the National Assembly on Thursday, June 20, the Finance Bill 2024 will now be taken to the Committee Stage.

It was initially announced that 204 MPs voted in favour of progressing the Bill and 115 voted against it, with zero abstentions. This followed the Second Reading session that involved legislators making their remarks about the Bill.

Mzalendo Watch made public the identities of the lawmakers and their stance on the Finance Bill. Viral Tea would later collate this data and found out that there were a few absentees when voting took place on Thursday afternoon...the protests in the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) and across the country led by Gen Zs notwithstanding.

From our findings using the Mzalendo Watch data, 203 MPs voted in favour of the Finance Bill while 115 voted against it, an increase from last year's voting on the Finance Bill 2023 which saw 162 MPs voting in favour of the Bill and 74 against it.

21 MPs were absent from the voting this year, a drop from 24 last year. One MP was unwell, Tubi Mohamed, though it was indicated that he communicated with Speaker Moses Wetangula.

Hover to see the number of MPs who voted for and against the Finance Bill:

And in true, digital and Gen Z fashion, Viral Tea has created an interactive table where you can easily search for the name of your MP who was present for the voting. Notably, 332 MPs were present for the voting exercise.

Here is the interactive table showing the names of MPs and how they voted on the Finance Bill:

The Committee Stage: What Happens Next?

During the committee stage, the normal House sitting will be turned into a committee-like session. However, compared to the normal sessions mostly chaired by Speaker Wetangula, the session on Tuesday, June 25 will be led by Deputy Speaker Gladys Shollei or a member of the Speaker's Panel.

During this stage, MPs will go through the entire Bill, clause by clause as they take a vote on the amendments that were recommended by the Finance Committee. Here, the lawmakers will be also able to propose their amendments, given that the lawmakers were required to submit their amendments to the clerk by Thursday, June 20 in the afternoon.

Each amendment will be proposed and a vote taken on it. For instance, an MP may propose to have the Eco Levy removed from the Bill completely.

"If the amendment is passed, it becomes part of the Bill. After consideration of the Bill at the Committee of the Whole House stage, the Sponsor of the Bill moves a motion seeking that the Chairperson report the consideration of the Bill to the House.

"In the event that the Committee is unable to conclude consideration of the Bill, the Sponsor moves a Motion that the Committee reports to House the progress made thus far on the Bill," Parliament detailed.

What Next After Committee Stage

Reading Stage

After the Committee of the whole House concludes the exercise, the chairperson, who was leading the Committee Stage, will report on the exercise undertaken.

Thereafter, a Motion for Agreement with the Report of the committee of the whole House will be moved, seconded and a question put to the MPs before the Bill moves to the Third Reading.

A Motion for Agreement seeks approval of the House with the form in which the Committee of the whole House has considered the Bill.

Third Reading

This is the last step and mainly involves passing the Bill, which paves the way for submission to President William Ruto, who can decide whether to assent to it or not.

Once the President assents to it, the Bill will become the Finance Act 2024 with the tax proposals coming into effect on July 1, 2024. Therefore, should the Act contain tax elements that touch on fuel, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) will be releasing new pump prices on June 30.

President William Ruto signs into law the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, 2024 on April 24, 2024. /PCS

What If Ruto Refuses To Sign?

In rare cases, should the President refuse to assent to it, he gives his reservations which are to be debated by lawmakers.

According to the Constitution's Article 115, Clause 2-6 on Presidential assent and referral, the following are the procedures taken by Parliament when a bill is rejected:

Amend the Bill in light of the President’s reservations
Pass the Bill a second time without amendment.

If Parliament amends the Bill fully accommodating the President’s reservations, the appropriate Speaker shall re-submit it to the President for assent.

The Parliament, after considering the President’s reservations, may pass the Bill a second time, without amendment, or with amendments that do not fully accommodate the President’s reservations, by a vote supported:

By two-thirds of the members of the National Assembly
Two-thirds of the delegations in the Senate, if it is a Bill that requires the approval of the Senate.

If Parliament has passed a Bill under clause (4) of the Constitution:

The appropriate Speaker shall within seven days re-submit it to the President
The President shall within seven days assent to the Bill.

If the President does not assent to a Bill or refer it back within the period prescribed in clause (1) of the constitution, or assent to it under clause (5) section (b), the Bill shall be taken to have been assented to on the expiry of that period.

Ksh150M Escape Tunnel Protecting MPs Going To & From Parliament

Marvin Chege — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 17:57:23 +0300

Members of Parliament and the Senate are known to move around quite often, if not making appearances at the National Assembly and Senate chambers to conduct House business. But did you know that it is impossible these days to catch them going in and out of Parliament buildings on foot?

Amidst the voting on the Finance Bill 2024, all eyes will be on the legislators as they vote on clauses of the bill that have sparked uproar amongst Kenyans owing to their punitive nature and how much serious damage they could do to the country's economy.

Planned protests by socio-political activist, Boniface Mwangi on Tuesday, June 18 at 12.00 pm dubbed #OccupyParliament opposing the numerous taxes by President William Ruto's administration could put the safety of the MPs at risk on their way to the Parliament buildings, thus this vital feature will come in handy.

Beneath the section of Nairobi’s Harambee Avenue that stretches from Parliament Road and Uhuru Highway lies an 'escape' tunnel valued at Ksh150 million that connects the main Parliament buildings with the new ultramodern Ksh9.6 billion Bunge Towers, a new office complex that currently accommodates the increased bicameral Parliament of 349 Members of the National Assembly and 67 Members of the Senate.

Photo of a tunnel linking two parallel platforms in Australia. /WONGM'S RAIL GALLERY

The construction of the five-metre-wide, 120-metre-long tunnel was specifically to “protect” the lawmakers from the prying eyes of their constituents and otherwise “bothersome” members of the public.

Members of the public have been known to loiter around the Parliament gates to beg for handouts from the MPs whenever the lawmakers are accessing or leaving the main Parliament buildings.

The launch of the tunnel that coincided with the official opening of Bunge Towers means that it is now hard for members of the public to catch the sight of their MPs when entering and leaving Parliament.

The tunnel is separated into two; vehicular and pedestrian, and links the main Parliament building to the office block at Basement 2 and other neighbouring parliament buildings.

Conception

As previously reported by Nation, MPs had on many occasions complained to parliamentary leadership of being “waylaid” by their supporters and strangers at the parliament gate who were seeking financial help and other kinds of assistance, necessitating the construction of the tunnels.

During the design of the office block, a traffic study was undertaken on the roads around Parliament and it was established that there needed a separate entry and exit for vehicles to the basement parking due to the size of the building and the amount of traffic that would be generated.

The study recommended that vehicles enter the main Parliament through the main entrance opposite County Hall on Harambee Avenue and then enter the tunnel near the staff canteen and to Basement 2.

It said the vehicles should then exit the basement parking on the southern end of the new building, which is the side that overlooks Haile Selassie Avenue.

Tunnel Features

The two sets of tunnels are properly ventilated, have a 24-hour lighting system, have Wi-Fi internet coverage, are cleaned round the clock, have a well-thought-out drainage system, are properly aerated and are manned by security officers on a 24-hour basis.

The tunnels are also fitted with ducts to facilitate power, data and voice transmission to the adjacent buildings.

Bunge Towers was initiated by the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) in 2010 to provide sufficient office space for MPs. Despite having committee rooms among other facilities, it was never going to be complete without the tunnels.

“The vehicular tunnel helps address traffic challenges that would have inconvenienced the lawmakers and members of the public. So, I will say that the idea of the tunnel for both vehicles and pedestrians was well-thought-out,” National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula said in 2023.

President William Ruto officially opened the Bunge Towers on April 25, 2024. It was initially set to cost taxpayers Ksh5.89 billion, only for the amount to be raised to Ksh9.6 billion, a matter that led to critics claiming alleged misuse of public resources and questioning whether Kenyans got value for their money.

Collage of President William Ruto officially opening the Bunge Tower in Nairobi on April 25, 2024. /SENATE KENYA

Of the numerous state-of-the-art features, the Towers come with an audio-visual system which will help Kenyans keep Members of Parliament accountable, particularly those who refuse to respond to phone calls and other distress calls.

Speaking during the opening of the Bunge Tower, Kericho MP Aaron Cheruiyot announced that Bunge Tower is fitted with internet-enabled audio-visual streaming technology which will help Kenyans see members present in various committees and their contributions.

Who Was Ambassador Daniel Koikai? Prolific Career Of The Late Jahmby's Father

Marvin Chege — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 18:02:43 +0300

The late media personality and Reggae MC Mary Njambi Koikai's father, Ambassador Daniel Koikai, reportedly died on Friday, June 14, on the day his daughter was laid to rest.

While the family is still yet to issue a statement confirming his demise by the time of publication, Ghetto Radio, a former employer of Jahmby, was the first to announce that Ambassador Koikai died under unclear circumstances.

Ambassador Koikai's death came a day after he publicly asked his late daughter for forgiveness for his shortcomings as a father.

“A time has come for me to atone for my acts of omission and commission. It has been one of the most difficult episodes in my life, especially for your close family, your mum, sisters, aunts, uncles, colleagues in the media, and friends in and out of the country,” he expressed.

A screenshot image of father to late Jahmby Koikai speaking to local media at Saint Church on June 8. /PHOTO

It was only when Jahmby was in high school that they had the opportunity to reconnect. Ambassador Koikai recounted, “It is only when you got to Form One and I was back in the country that we were able to meet when you came to the office to look for me.”

Despite the distance, he ensured he provided for her education and supported her in various ways.

Viral Tea takes a look at Ambassador Koikai's life and work as a diplomat and the countries where he has served.

Career

Ambassador Koikai joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1983. Early evidence of his career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs suggests that he served as the Second Secretary of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland.

During this time he represented Kenya in many engagements, including the 1991 Conference on Disarmament, which was deemed significant because it continued the efforts of the international community to control and reduce nuclear weapons.

The CD's work on various agenda items aimed at preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and promoting disarmament and arms control.

Its efforts in 1991 built upon the progress made in previous years and laid the groundwork for future disarmament negotiations.

He also represented Kenya at the Ad Hoc Group of Governmental Experts to Identify and Examine Potential Verification Measures from a Scientific and Technical Standpoint, commonly referred to as VEREX, which was established in 1991 by the Third Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC).

VEREX's mandate was to "identify and examine potential verification measures from a scientific and technical standpoint" to determine whether a state party is developing, producing, stockpiling, acquiring or retaining biological agents or toxins for non-peaceful purposes.

Countries Ambassador Koikai has served in:

Other than Switzerland, Ambassador Koikai has represented Kenya as an envoy in several other countries.

He has served as an ambassador to Nigeria. He was appointed as a counsellor after serving at the High Commission in London, U.K.

He has served as an ambassador to Liberia. In 2008 he presented his credentials to then-President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

He has also served as a director in the Kenya Southern Sudan Liaison Office.

He is a holder of the Elder of the Burning Spear Award, given by former President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2018.

Collage of the late Jahmby Koikai's father speaking at her memorial on June 13, 2024. /CLASSIC FM

Full Speech By Kanze Dena On Uhuru's Main Issues With Ruto

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 16:04:54 +0300

On Monday, June 10, Kanze Dena, the Director of Communications in former President Uhuru Kenyatta's office addressed the nation regarding claims of the Kenya Kwanza administration leaving the former government in the cold in terms of financially sustaining operations at Uhuru's office.

According to Dena, Uhuru's office has not been furnished by the state neither were new cars purchased to serve the former President, contrary to sentiments made by government officials that include Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura and State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed.

Read Kanze Dena's full speech below:

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen of the press and thank you for honoring our invite.

We invited you here today to give a formal response on an issue that was addressed by the Government Spokesperson Mr. Isaac Mwaura on the 31st of May 20224. That is the Benefits of the 3rd Retired President H. E Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta. I will respond to the matters he alluded to and then I will state the position of the Office of the 3rd Retired President.

I believe you all have received a press pack. It contains documents that will serve as evidence of the matters I will address today, as well as an excerpt of the Government Spokesperson’s statement addressing the issue at hand. At the end of my statement, I will welcome questions.

Kanze Dena addressing the media on June 10, 2024. /OFFICE OF THE 4TH PRESIDENT

Paragraph 12 of Mr. Mwaura’s statement talks about the Lump sum payment of Ksh48 million paid to the former President as gratuity, personal monthly allowances, and medical cover. I can confirm that H. E did receive his gratuity in full and is receiving his monthly allowances. These monies are paid by the Pension Fund that is domiciled in the Treasury. I would like to emphasize that every civil servant on contract once they complete service they are given a gratuity.

The former Deputy President now the 5th President of the Republic of Kenya, for his service as a deputy President during the last regime. Let me also clarify the exemption from tax is provided for by the law. I make this special to indicate that it is not a favour as insinuated by the highlight on the statement ‘exempted from tax’.

On the issue of the retired President enjoying a fully furnished and maintained office space of his choice, we all know the number of times State House has made it clear that the only office available and are willing to maintain is the one in Nyari that was used by the late President Mwai Kibaki.

State House spokesperson made it very clear during a question and answer session at a press briefing on President Ruto’s visit to the United States of America, held 2 weeks ago. It did catch us by surprise when Mr. Mwaura confidently stated that an office fully furnished by the government of the former president’s choice had been provided.

On the issue of vehicles given. I can confirm that the former President was given 2 Toyota Land Cruisers, 1 Mercedes Benz, 1 Subaru Forester and 1 Range Rover, not 2 as alluded to by the Government spokesperson. On the number of fuel cards given it is true that each of the vehicles has a fuel card. However, these cards have not been operational as they were blocked by State House in March 2023 to date.

The 3 fuel cards given to Mama Ngina and the 3 Range Rovers in her custody were allocated to her by the late President Daniel Arap Moi and the late Mwai Kibaki. No facilitation has been accorded towards repairs and maintenance of all vehicles under the office of the former President.

We are aware that an incomplete requisition form has been circulated by State House as evidence of facilitation towards repairs and maintenance. The forms are in your press packs and you will see that no action was taken.

One of them has the wording approved and a signature. That signature ladies and gentlemen belongs to the A.I.E holder in the office of the 4th President, Mr. Kinuthia Mbugua. Despite clarifying that the document was not accurate the journalists still went ahead and used the document as evidence of services rendered.

As I finalize on the issues raised in the statement, on the issue of staff, the Spokesperson correctly stated that the number of staff the retired President is entitled to is 34. The list provided however only accounts for 32 staff members.

What they did not capture is the data of 2 staff who are still waiting for the renewal of their contracts. That is the Administrator Mr. George Kariuki and Mrs Kanze Dena Mararo who is the Senior Director of Communication. We have provided that list as well in the press pack.

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me at this juncture elaborate on the situation in the Office of the 3rd Retired President of the Republic of Kenya.

1. On the issue of the office. A formal letter was written to State House requesting a valuation of the office that was identified by President Kenyatta as suitable for him to carry out his duties. However, the office did not receive a response on the issue for State House. However, the communication that came through was via text message by the then-in-charge of the Retired President's Office Mr. John Makumi. The communication indicated the rent estimates for the property in question. That is the office selected by the former President. That communication is in the pack for your perusal.

International Trips

To date, the office still awaits engagement on the issue of the office. Occasioned by the fact that H.E President Kenyatta was appointed by the East African Community Heads of State as the Facilitator during the 22nd Ordinary Meeting of East Africa Heads of State Summit held on 22nd July 2022, in Arusha, Tanzania. It was paramount that an office needed to be established, to enable him to carry out his mandate. With no response from statehouse and a lack of commitment to finalize on the issue of space. H.E. facilitated the office space and fully furnished and equipped it from his pocket. To date, the office runs on his goodwill.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta and President William Ruto during a past occasion. /FILE

Cars

2. The Vehicles quoted by the spokesperson and confirmed by me, were allocated to the retired President to ease transition as he waited for the enactment of the Retired Benefits Act. He mentioned 12 cars among these are the 3 Range Rovers that belong to Mama Ngina Kenyatta. So in essence what is available at the former President’s disposal is 9 vehicles which constitute those for his personal use, and security. A conversation had begun in the early months after the transition led by Mr. Makumi and in your pack you will find a letter indicating how the vehicles President Kenyatta is entitled to would be purchased down to the selection of the color. Then the conversation hit a deep and froze. To date, no discussions have taken place concerning the issue.

3. The Act stipulates that the former President is entitled to 4 international trips. Since retirement to date only 2 such trips have been honored. From the Press, we did get to know that the issue is the size of the delegation a matter that was communicated verbally. If the issue was truly the size of the delegation, why not then cater for the 10 pax as advised by Foreign Affairs? Then there was the issue of seeking approval on which trips to undertake. This was communicated by Mr. Makumi that the former President could only submit requests for international trips and wait to be cleared on which trips He could embark on. It begs the question was the decision not to facilitate the former President because of his entourage or that State House did not deem it fit for him to undertake those trips?

Budget Allocation

4. On to the main issue. Budget allocation. In the year 2022/2023 parliament budget allocation to this office was Ksh655 million. To date, the office can only confirm the absorption of Ksh28 million spread across the payment of an allowance for local travel and domestic travel as well as the facilitation of the 2 trips that have been honoured so far. This is approximately 4.4% of the total budget. This is minus payment of salaries and medical insurance.

5. The year 2023/2024 which ends in a few weeks the budget allocation to this office was Ksh503 million shillings. The year is ending without the office having any access to this allocation. What we can confirm is that salaries have been paid as well as medical insurance.

6. The quagmire that the office is in is that the office cannot substantiate what has been used and where the monies have been used since several requests and attempts to get budget returns from the accounting officer have fallen on deaf ears. This has forced the Retired President to run the office from his pocket, paying for all the bills the office incurs.

7. The other issue is that State House chooses a verbal form of communication on official issues or chooses not to respond to correspondence generated by this office. This includes the pending renewal of contracts of 2 members of staff. In your pack, you will come across documents that clearly present the situation that the office finds. We register a lack of commitment from the Kenya Kwanza government in its execution of the Presidential Benefits Act.

8. In conclusion, while the picture painted by the Government Spokesperson is the ideal situation as stipulated in the Presidential Benefits Act, it saddens me to inform Kenyans that unfortunately, the Picture Painted by the spokesperson does not exist. We worry that the precedence that has been set by the Kenya Kwanza government opens up a Pandora’s box that will leave a retired Head of State at the mercy of the government of the day.

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS

Scams Targeting Car Owners in Kenya In 2024

Money254 — Sun, 09 Jun 2024 16:03:55 +0300

More and more people are owning cars in Kenya. The booming car market has unfortunately also attracted fraudsters. As a car owner or an aspiring car buyer, you must be aware of the scams that these fraudsters employ to defraud you of your car or money.

In this article, we shall help both car owners and those prospecting to buy one to understand the modus operandi of scammers, recognize red flags, and adopt preventive measures to secure their property.

The scams range from identity scams, stolen vehicles, fake car auctions, fake car ads on social media, attractive discounts, and people posing as sellers while others pose as buyers, among others.

Read Also: Tricks Scammers Use to Rob Kenyans: Pyramid Schemes

Identity Scams

Identity scams are often done through information phishing, where deceptive individuals try to extract personal information such as bank account information, KRA credentials, or even copies of IDs to facilitate identity theft.

A woman on her phone. /FILE

Armed with your stolen identity, the fraudsters can create counterfeit ownership papers, forge signatures, and proceed to do fraudulent activities. These fraudulent activities include:

Selling stolen vehicles using your identifying details
Obtaining loans with your vehicle as the collateral

Being Sold Stolen Vehicles

With the current tough economic times, vehicle buyers are opting to buy used vehicles. New cars are very expensive. This opens up buyers to potential scams. They might be stolen cars or cloned cars.

Car cloning is when a thief takes license plates, vehicle identification numbers, and registration stickers from a legal vehicle and places them in another vehicle of a similar model and makes, mostly a stolen vehicle or a re-assembled vehicle using stolen parts.

Fake Car Auction/sales Sites

The Kenyan market is flooded with fake car auctions and websites. These websites purport to sell cars and lure potential customers with low prices, a seemingly wide selection of cars, and attractive financing options.

These fraudulent platforms masquerade as legitimate auction houses, sales sites, or reputable dealerships, where they leverage websites and persuasive marketing tactics to inveigle unsuspecting customers into their web of deceit.

Fake Car Ads on Social Media

Fake car ads on social media are a bummer. The ads target unsuspecting customers and prey on people looking for good deals. Here’s how to spot a fake car ad on social media:

Phoney prices: This is a tactic that tricks buyers into thinking they are getting a good car deal at average market prices. An example is the car ad displaying a raised price for a short duration and then marking it to the original price and labelling it as limited or on sale with a hefty discount.
The pressure-prey tactic is where the purported seller rushes you to make a deposit payment so that they can reserve the car for you in case another interested party arises.
Ads missing important information about the vehicle
A shoddy website that is characterized by unprofessional design, grammatical errors, stolen images, and hideous testimonials.

Posing As Car Buyers

Scammers have sharpened their craft by posing as buyers and luring unsuspecting car sellers to steal their cars or their personal information.

Here is how they do it:

They use pressure tactics. They claim to be busy so they want to buy the car as fast as possible. They do not even want to do a test drive. However, they do not pay at that point; they claim that they have put the money in an escrow account.

Once they have been with the car for a while and are satisfied, you will start the transfer of the title. Once the title is transferred, your money will be released from the escrow. Once you do, the escrow service and the car disappear.

Others still use the age-old tactic of paying with fake counterfeit cheques, or cheques that will bounce.

Posing As Car Sellers

A notable method used to scam car buyers is curbstoning. Curbstoning refers to the sale of a used car by an unlicensed dealer who pretends to be a private entity to evade the law.

Graphic of a car scam. /SICCURA

Often, the car may be advertised online or out on the street with the sign ‘for sale’ on it. As you dig deeper into this option, you realize that the party posing as the seller is not the actual owner, and often ends up selling you a damaged or stolen car.

Read Also: Too Good to be True? Signs It’s a Get-Rich-Quick Scheme, Scam

How To Avoid These Scams

How do you shield yourself from these car scams?

Do an NTSA or KEBS Search

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) in Kenya has a user-friendly system that allows an individual to search for and retrieve vehicle information. This will come in handy if you're looking to confirm the authenticity and detail verification of a vehicle you intend to purchase.

The following are some steps one can use:

Access the NTSA Transport Integrated Management Systems (TIMS) Portal
Login or Create an Account
Navigate to the “Vehicle Search” Section
Enter Vehicle Registration Details
Complete the CAPTCHA Verification
Initiate the car search
Verify the Information
Print the Search Report

The Kenya Bureau Of Standards (KEBS)

KEBS unveiled an SMS code to verify car details and mileage that covers both used and new cars, where buyers send the chassis number to the short messaging code, 20023.

The government agency took this initiative following complaints raised by buyers over purchasing vehicles whose mileage and identification details have been altered.

Alternatively, one can key in the chassis number on their website.

Other Options Include

Using authorized and trusted car dealerships
Make payments on a traceable trail
Use a trusted mechanic to confirm that vin cloning, title washing, and odometer fraud have not been committed, among other inspection protocols.
Stay informed and be vigilant on unrealistic car deals
Avoid dealers who are using pressure tactics to rush you to close the deal.

Wrapping Up

As a car buyer or seller, it's paramount that you take measures and arm yourself. Vehicle-related scams vary from sophisticated online schemes to traditional tricks.

Car scammers use these methods to exploit trusting motorists. Pay attention so that you are not one of them.

This article originally appeared on Money254. Money254 helps consumers and business owners to search, compare, and apply for financial products in Kenya.

Lowering Cost Of Sexed Semen & Highlights Of Ruto's Madaraka Day Speech [FULL]

Viral Tea Ke Writer — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 15:56:16 +0300

President William Ruto on Saturday, June 1 led Kenyans in marking the 61st Madaraka Day, whose celebrations were held at Masinde Muliro Stadium in Kanduyi, Bungoma County.

Read his full speech below:

1. It is a great honour for me to join you here at this stadium named to honour the memory of one of Kenya's finest sons, illustrious freedom fighters and exemplary leader, Masinde Muliro, and to lead Kenya in celebrating the 61st Madaraka Day. On this anniversary, we mark the emphatic success of our freedom struggle, the triumph of the many gallant men and women who made immense sacrifices for the cause of freedom and justice, and the vindication of the principles and values which inspired the people of Kenya to stand as one, resist oppression, and unite to claim their sovereignty, and to win the freedom to build a nation in accordance with their aspirations.

2. The reason for marking this day is, principally, that the aspirations which motivated our heroes over six decades ago are not only alive today, but they are also the bright flame that sets our souls and minds alight with ambition and urgency and illuminates the path for each one of us to pursue the progress and prosperity of our households, families, and nation.

3. Madaraka, our self-governing mandate, is not an accident in our history. Rather, it is the affirmation of the timeless values embraced and articulated by our ancestors in their resistance to colonial invasion and the culmination of the vision and passion of the succeeding generation which bravely took on a mighty empire and won.

4. Today, we are no longer at the starting blocks of the race to progress; we have come a long way. In the course of our journey, we have made Kenya a strong State anchored by a people united by fierce patriotism, love for one another, a shared vision of progress, and a public service with a high capacity to coordinate development and security.

Additionally, our country is a thriving, competitive and diversified economy well into its transformational take-off, and a democracy which protects freedom, drives democracy, and places the people of Kenya at the front and centre, as the authors and beneficiaries of this nation's affairs.

5. Therefore, every person in this country has the freedom and opportunity to make their contribution by giving their best in what they do. This is the source of our glory. Madaraka recognises that Kenya's freedom was won by resolute farmers and determined workers on their shambas, and their brave sons and daughters in the forests, cities, factories, and plantations.

President William Ruto greets Kenyans at the Masinde Muliro Stadium during the 61st Madaraka Day celebrations on June 1, 2024. /PCS

6. Madaraka reminds us not to look down upon the labours of others, regardless of their occupations, because work makes a great people and a strong nation. Rather, Madaraka encourages us to do whatever we must to honour and support everyone who works because that is the best way of achieving prosperity and security. Madaraka Day celebrates the birth of a nation out of the totality of the labours of millions of its people.

7. Today is the day to remember that all work is important, every hustle matters and that nation-building is a bottom-up affair. Let no one look down upon the life or livelihood of another and let no one be made to feel despised because of their work. Our economy depends on every form of service and labour.

8. From the milling of sugarcane, millet and sorghum to the ginning of cotton and the roasting of coffee beans in this county, our agriculture sector continues to fire the powerful engine of economic transformation to propel this great nation into a food-secure, internationally competitive trading giant that can hold its own in the East African Community and leverage other trading frameworks such as COMESA, African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and African Continental Free Trade Area (AcFTA) with ease. Agriculture remains sufficiently attractive enough to sustain investment in every node of the food system.

9. Agriculture’s direct contribution to our GDP is 25%, while its indirect support to other economic pillars such as manufacturing boosts the GDP by a further 27%. Agriculture also employs, directly or otherwise, an estimated 40% of our population.

10. To build a robust and thriving economy, enhance social inclusion and improve environmental conservation in this critical sector, the government has deployed an agriculture-led, whole-of-society approach in the form of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, of which agriculture is a critical strategic pillar.

11. Under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, we will reduce hunger, fight poverty, and improve the health outcomes of Kenyans. I am particularly delighted that agriculture and food security are the chosen theme of this year’s celebrations.

12. We appreciate the determination of small-scale farmers, who are the backbone of Kenya’s agricultural sector, in their efforts to produce sufficient and varied food to meet their nutritional, health and other daily needs. Against many odds, our farmers have defied systemic and structural constraints and limitations to make a contribution to household and national food security requirements, and to propel the economy. We understand, cherish, and value them.

13. Consequently, we have partnered effectively with farmers and other food system value chain actors such as input suppliers, producers, processors, and support service providers to transform their productivity beyond subsistence and enhance the country’s food security.

This has been made possible through interventions in key value chains like maize, livestock, tea, coffee, edible oils, cashew nuts, pyrethrum, flowers, avocado, and macadamia nuts. We now have the potential to become competitive regionally and globally by utilizing the unique capacity of cooperatives to mobilize production on scale through the provision of government-supported agricultural extension services.

14. The sugar industry is a highly strategic sub-sector, whose value chains have been the mainstay of the local economies of our sugar belt, and a generator of much-needed jobs. For this reason, we are firmly committed to ensuring that the sugar industry returns maximum value to all actors in its value chains, beginning with the initial and foundational entrepreneur: The cane grower. To accomplish this, we have implemented a number of radical measures:

We have written off Ksh 110 billion worth of sugar factories’ debts accumulated over 40 years. A new leasing model that will guarantee prompt payment for cane deliveries by farmers, timely wages for factory workers and bonuses to sugar cane farmers every end of the year, like other crops. I call upon relevant agencies to accelerate the review process and to incorporate proceeds from by-products.

As part of my commitment to invest KSh2 billion into sugarcane development through State-owned mills, after leasing is completed, I am proud to announce that the government has approved the first tranche of KSh600 million for seed cane development, and the National Treasury shall shortly release these funds.

15. Recently, smallholder tea farmers exported KETEPA’s value-added teas to West Africa and China. The government has also increased farm-to-table food safety through frameworks such as the Food Safety Policy, and a Food Safety Coordination Bill.

16. To enhance our capacity to coordinate agricultural production and deliver services to the sector more efficiently, we are developing and integrating a farmers’ and agripreneurs database into the Kenya Integrated Agriculture Information System. As we speak, the database already has 6.4 million registered farmers, and our aim is to serve them better by improving access, sharing and utilization of information in the agricultural sector.

Aerial view of the words 'Lishe Bora' at the Masinde Muliro Stadium during the 61st Madaraka Day celebrations on June 1, 2024. /PCS

17. The power of this database is beyond doubt. In recent months, farmers have been able to access subsidized fertilizer from the Fertilizer Subsidy Programme, as well as animal feed and certified seeds more easily and affordably. Since we began to distribute subsidized fertilizer last year, 15 million 50kg bags of crop- and soil-specific fertilizers have been distributed.

18. Our strategic interventions have led to a marked increase in value addition initiatives. Measures are underway to boost coffee productivity from 2kg to 10kg per tree and from 50,000 metric tons to 102,000 metric tons a year by 2027. Under the coffee sector reforms that we initiated, a KSh4 billion coffee cherry fund was established, Ksh 2 billion of which has been paid, with the balance allocated for payment in the 2024/2025 financial year. This will ensure farmers get good returns for their investments. We are also writing off Khs 6.9 billion debt owed by coffee cooperatives.

19. In the edible oils value chain, the government's plan involves boosting the production of sunflower, palm oil and canola by working with counties. In 2023, 70 tonnes of sunflower seeds were purchased, with 40 tonnes distributed to farmers.

Another 40 tonnes of seed have been allocated to the Agricultural Development Corporation for seed multiplication. Additionally, the government, through the Agriculture and Food Authority, has procured and distributed 500 metric tonnes of seeds, worth KSh241 million, to farmers in 24 counties. In the 2024/2025 financial year, KSh414 million has been budgeted for this programme under the National Edibles Oils Promotion Project.

20. We are on course with our plan to increase cotton production from 2,500 bales in 2022 to 107,000 bales by 2025 and modernise ginneries. The aim is to expand cotton farming from 9,300 acres in 2022 to 41,000 acres in 2023, distributing 15,700kg of seeds to farmers in Busia and another 20,000kg to farmers in Meru, Makueni, Kitui and Machakos. Subsidised fertiliser will be provided through the tried and tested e-voucher system.

21. Additionally, 5,000 acres have been harvested in Lamu. The government has also worked with stakeholders to negotiate a price increase for farmers from KSh54 a kilo to KSh72. In the 2024/25 financial year, KSh150 million has been allocated for the Cotton Industry Revitalisation.

22. We have all witnessed the negative effects of climate change, most notably through extreme climatic phenomena. Last year, a long, bitter drought ended, giving way to a spell of vicious storms and devastating floods. It is now clear to us all that climate change presents serious challenges to food security and economic recovery.

23. The flooding, mudslides, and landslides that the country has experienced in the past six months may have slowed us a little. However, the effects of global warming have not killed our resolve to become food secure and grow economically.

Instead, climate-related risks and hazards have strengthened our determination to increase investment in climate action to build resilience against the disruptive forces of nature.

24. The government will continue to champion afforestation and the restoration of degraded landscapes and mobilize Kenyans to plant trees throughout the Republic to restore the environment and biodiversity. We encourage increased use of climate-smart technologies such as mobile grain driers, mobile soil assessment laboratories and irrigation.

25. We have made progress towards fulfilling our commitment to build 100 dams and 1,000 small dams in different parts of the country, to facilitate sustainable water use and increase irrigated land by 500,000 acres by 2026. The government is in discussions with the African Development Bank and other multilateral institutions to implement this program.

26. To control livestock diseases and pests, the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI) produced 35 million doses of assorted livestock vaccines in 2023.

27. To bring young people into farming, we have revitalized the 4K and Young Farmers clubs to interest and introduce children to agriculture. This administration has invested more than KSh2.2 billion in the promotion and financing of agribusiness entrepreneurship and supported initiatives such as incubation and project management.

28. On this 61st Madaraka Day, we join the people of Bungoma, Kenyans of goodwill, and friends of Kenya to acknowledge the contributions that food chain value actors have made towards the country’s food, nutritional and economic needs.

29. The food value chain actors who exhibited their goods and services in the run-up to this celebration include outstanding individuals, input suppliers and service providers, farmer producer organisations and co-operative societies other service providers in digitally-enabled agriculture, financial institutions supporting agri-business, research institutions, food processing entities, ambassadors of our development partners and insurance companies which have helped us strengthen the bottom over the past 12 months.

30. Kenya’s farmers have made remarkable progress in their efforts to make safe, nutritious, and sufficient food available to every citizen all year round. Since December 2023, through collective efforts and determination to increase household food stocks and improve food production, we have stabilised the country’s food security situation.

31. Arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) cover about 80% of Kenya and hold about 60% of our livestock population. Approximately 14.6 million Kenyans, who live in the ASALs, derive their livelihoods primarily from the livestock sector, which contributes 12% to the country’s GDP and employs 50% of the agricultural labour force. ASALs and the livestock sector are therefore critical to the nation's food security.

32. To actualise the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda in relation to the livestock sector, the government is focusing on commercialising and reforming the sector and improving livestock performance.

33. Our commercialisation agenda has given priority to leather, dairy and red meat value chains under projects like the Livestock Commercialisation Project, which supports 110,000 vulnerable youth- and women-led livestock-dependent households in 10 counties.

The project has developed solar-powered boreholes and water pans, rehabilitated several livestock markets and slaughterhouses, bred thousands of animals, provided agricultural equipment, pasture and fodder seeds, and trained the youth in animal health.

34. We are invested in developing our leather sub-sector to support competitive export industries supporting many thriving enterprises and households. In this connection, we have committed to implement strategies aimed at increasing incomes from KSh15 billion to KSh120 billion a year, multiplying job opportunities from 17,000 to 100,000 and raising annual footwear production from the current 8 million to 36 million pairs worth KSh72 billion by 2027.

35. It is essential to our strategy that we transform the leather value chain from one driven by exports of raw material and semi-processed products to a sophisticated industry manufacturing internationally competitive finished leather and leather products, thus mopping up to 3 million hides and 18 million skins produced each year. We are developing local capacity to handle hides and skins to provide quality raw material, tanning as well as the local manufacturing of finished leather goods such as shoes, bags, and belts.

36. Financially, our commitments are as follows: KSh400 million has been allocated to upgrade the Ewaso Ng’iro South Development Authority’s leather factory. KSh200 million of the funds will be used to acquire modern equipment, KSh100 million to build a footwear factory and KSh100 million to mop up hides and skins. Machinery for increasing processing capacity at the factory has already been procured and installed. To supply quality hides and skins, 703 flayers have been trained and subsidised flaying equipment provided to 680 slaughter points.

We will not be importing shoes from anywhere, we will be wearing our own shoes- President Ruto#ViralVideos #MadarakaDay pic.twitter.com/GWGnTW1JqX
— Viral Tea Ke (@ViralTeaKe) June 1, 2024

37. At the same time, the construction of the Kenya Leather Industrial Park at Kenanie, Machakos County, is 85% complete. This park will have a common effluent treatment plant, 2 tanneries, 2 leather manufacturing plants and 100 acres for investors to set up leather factories by the end of the year.

38. In the dairy industry, we are committed to enhancing annual milk production from 5.1 billion litres to 10 billion litres by 2027, raising the market share of processed and formally marketed milk from 30% to 50%. This will lead to an increase in processed milk exports of 1 billion litres a year by 2027. The value of processed milk increased by 7.4% from 755 million litres in 2022 to 811 million litres in 2023. KSh600 million was released last week to New KCC to pay farmers promptly as part of the buildup of the milk revolving fund, which is estimated to be KSh3 billion.

39. The government's 6-point plan for the dairy industry covers, among other actions, installing milk coolers in dairy cooperatives, providing tax incentives, reducing trade barriers, and establishing a dairy stabilisation revolving fund to manage milk surpluses and deficits, and promoting higher nationwide milk consumption to improve health, especially the growth and development of young Kenyans.

40. The government's interventions in the red meat value chain are similarly robust and have led to an 8.6% increase in meat exports from 15,000 metric tonnes, valued at KSh 9 billion in 2022, to 16,000 metric tonnes valued at KSh10 billion. There has also been a 42% growth in the export of live animals from 33,000 animals in 2022 to 47,000 animals in 2023. The government will build 450 fenced feedlots in 31 counties to increase annual red meat production by an additional 108,500 metric tonnes valued at KSh54 billion.

41. To sustain high livestock performance, several interventions have been undertaken with the aim of improving genetics and eliminating feed-water supply constraints, diseases, and barriers to market access. Key actions include the implementation of a countrywide breed improvement programme in collaboration with the counties and to upgrading of dairy and beef breeds. In 2023, the Kenya Animal Genetic Resource Centre provided farmers with 900,000 doses of bull semen with the aim of increasing production and productivity. I have directed that the cost of sexed semen be brought down from KSh8,000 to under KSh3,000 which will enable dairy farmers to increase the production and productivity of milk.

42. Likewise, a goat artificial insemination (AI) station at the Animal Health and Industry Training Institute Ndomba, Kirinyaga County, has produced 48,000 doses of goat semen and trained 80 goat inseminators.

43. Veterinary services are essential to safeguard animal and human health, improve animal welfare and productivity and ensure the production of safe, high-quality animals and thus promote food security and domestic, as well as international trade.

44. I want our livestock farmers to work with confidence and rest assured of consistent, reliable, and effective provision of vaccines. In 2023, the modernised Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute produced 35 million doses of assorted livestock vaccines.

45. To enhance livestock disease and pest management, the government is launching a national vaccination programme to eradicate the PPR disease and control the Foot and Mouth Disease. Under this programme, more than 22 million cattle will be vaccinated against foot and mouth disease, while 50 million goats will be vaccinated through a collaborative nationwide exercise.

46. The government will provide vaccines and facilitate vaccination, while county governments will provide logistical support and human resources. 1,500 veterinary surgeons and 6000 animal health assistants will provide health and husbandry services to our farmers.

47. To facilitate the holistic development of the livestock sector and anchor all its value chains in a sustainable strategic platform, the government is implementing several policies and legislative reforms and improvements to transform the livestock sector, guide training institutions and provide a predictable environment to attract investments. These frameworks include the Veterinary Policy, Livestock Policy, Livestock Bill, Livestock Masterplan, Food Safety Policy, and Food Safety Coordination Bill. All these are at various stages of consideration by the Cabinet and Parliament.

48. To guarantee the sustainable availability of a well-trained, highly skilled, and knowledgeable workforce needed by the sector, 1,700 students were enrolled in various livestock training institutions in 2023 to study animal health and husbandry, leather technology, dairy technology, and meat inspection.

49. Similarly, our support for productivity in the livestock sector extends to fisheries, aquaculture, and the blue economy. We have established 11 new landing sites in the coastal region and financed the operation of beach management units in Shimoni and Liwatoni, which have been equipped with commercial fishing boats.

50. We have done the same in the Lake Victoria region, where 11 fish landing sites have been established at various points on the shores of Lake Victoria, and beach management units set up and equipped with fishing boats. In addition, we are setting up two hatcheries, one in Kabonyo to restock Lake Victoria, and another in Shimoni to serve the Indian Ocean.

51. Agriculture is the engine of our economy. It strongly complements manufacturing, export trade, and micro-, small, and medium enterprises and indirectly supports our health agenda. The bottom-up economic transformation of Kenya requires us to mobilise with urgency and pursue intentional undertakings to catalyse and sustain a revolution in our shambas that will reverberate in our urban areas, towns, and cities.

52. To accomplish this, we have committed to implement strong interventions on three different points, all aimed at promoting a robust bottom-up economic resurgence. As already discussed, we made a defining choice with our pledge to discontinue wasteful consumption subsidies and instead invest in supporting production.

53. The second fundamental intervention was to enhance national revenue mobilisation, engaging more eligible taxpayers and ensuring that due revenues are collected. It is critical to emphasise that the resolve to invigorate tax revenue mobilisation was accompanied by an implicit and explicit undertaking: That the government would not compromise on its responsibility to steward public resources with utmost prudence, transparency, and accountability. This commitment is irrevocable: We must live within our means by raising our own revenue and spending it carefully and wisely. Every officer in the public service, starting with me, shall be held to full account for all resources under their authority.

54. The third critical strategic decision was to invest intensively in agriculture and food security, together with other pillars of BETA, in order to stimulate growth in the productivity of our farmlands and rural economies. But having done so, it is necessary for us to enhance market access for our produce and products, locally, regionally, and beyond.

55. To enhance access to credit by farmers, in the next financial year, we are allocating KSh1 billion to the Agricultural Finance Corporation to provide affordable credit to farmers. Additionally, we are collaborating with Afriexim Bank to provide KSh 15 billion to AFC to support increased lending to farmers. The Indian Exim Bank will also support AFC to enhance our agricultural mechanization agenda, providing farm inputs to farmers at low rates.

56. I want the people of Kenya to understand that our advocacy of integration is part of our traditional commitment to regional cohesion and solidarity, the Pan-African imperative, and the expansion of market access and linkages with trade and investment counterparts for our producers, beyond our borders.

57. I stand here, therefore, to urge our farmers and other agriculture sector entrepreneurs to work with renewed confidence, with the assurance that the fruit of their labour will meet demand in Kenya, East Africa, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, and the African Continental Free Trade Area.

58. Further abroad, we have secured quota-free and duty-free access to the 27-country European market for produce exports from Kenyan farmers under an Economic Partnership Agreement between Kenya and the EU.

59. I also wish to report that during my recent visit to the US, we negotiated the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, an instrument which has enhanced access to the US market for African exports, and catalysed the rapid growth of Kenyan exports, especially in the textile and apparel industry.

60. My call similarly applies to Kenyans from all walks of life. Let us keep working hard, embrace broader visions and dream more ambitious dreams so that the tide of bottom-up economic transformation can sweep us all into our collective destiny of shared prosperity.

Kenya Air Force planes fly over the Masinde Muliro Stadium during the 61st Madaraka Day celebrations on June 1, 2024. /PCS

Climbing Mt Everest: Ksh13M Costs, Risks & Why Bodies Cannot Be Recovered

Marvin Chege — Thu, 23 May 2024 14:15:57 +0300

The death of Kenyan banker Cheruiyot Kirui during his pursuit to summit Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen brought to light the dangers associated with attempting a treacherous expedition.

Kirui wanted to reach the world’s highest mountain summit (8,848.86 meters above sea level) without supplementary oxygen, defying the increased risks that come with it compared to climbing it with supplementary oxygen.

He went missing on Wednesday with his guide, a Nepali climber identified as Nawang Sherpa, on Wednesday, at Bishop Rock, located at an altitude of 8,000 metres. However, his body was found a few metres below the Everest summit point, as announced on Thursday morning by the Nepali mountaineering news website Everest Today.

Climbing Mt Everest is considered by many as the ultimate human test as you not only have to encounter brutal challenges such as altitude sickness, weather and snow avalanches from the Khumbu Icefall but also time, altitude adjustment, the right gear, wait for the right weather and of course money.

Kenyan banker Cheruiyot Kirui posing in front of his gear before climbing Mt Everest. /CHERUIYOT KIRUI

Summiting it requires a lot of experience in mountaineering elsewhere, a certificate of good health, equipment and a trained Nepalese guide. This is because the snow and ice on the mountain create deadly hazards, such as avalanches, and there is only a limited climbing season due to bad weather conditions.

At 8,849 metres, Everest’s summit has approximately one-third the air pressure that exists at sea level, and this is the altitude that puts a person metres below the cruising altitude of passenger aircraft.

This significantly reduces a climber's ability to breathe in enough oxygen. Because of this, scientists have determined that the human body is not capable of remaining indefinitely above 6,000 metres.

The chances of success are much less than when climbing without supplemental oxygen, and with a less than 40 per cent success rate, one needs to be extremely fit, compared to a success rate of almost 80 per cent with supplemental oxygen.

The Death Zone

Climbers who ascend higher than 8,000 metres on Mount Everest enter the "death zone". In this area, oxygen is so limited that the body's cells start to die, and judgment becomes impaired.

“There, your body is not structured to survive with that oxygen concentration, which is around a third of what is at sea level. The idea is that when you are there, you get to the summit as fast as possible and then down before your body starts shutting down or dying, so to speak,” the late Kirui stated in a past interview.

“That is the area where people use supplemental oxygen. If you have it, then you're compensating for the low oxygen in the environment by using the bottled oxygen.”

According to news media agencies, 310 people died in November 2022 while attempting to climb the mountain. It further says more than 200 bodies are still on the mountain and have not been removed due to the dangerous conditions.

Experts say if you try to climb Everest, you have about a one in a hundred chance of dying along the way. This is attributed to technology and infrastructure that have brought down the number of deaths.

A description of the death zone on Mt Everest. /PHOTO

The majority of deaths are caused by snowfall avalanches. But as climbers move higher up the mountain and their oxygen intake is reduced, their bodies are increasingly at risk for a number of ailments, including pulmonary oedema, cerebral oedema, and blood embolisms, National Geographic explains.

The chances of frostbite are also dramatically increased at such altitude as the heart works harder to pump blood around the body delivering oxygen.

“Furthermore, breathing “gas” only increases the relative oxygen to about the same level as the air at basecamp, and if it runs out on summit day, the body might not be able to adapt to the sudden lack of oxygen. Lastly, oxygen units are notoriously unreliable,” it says.

Why Bodies Can't Be Recovered From Everest

Recovering a body from Mt Everest's peak is a massive logistical challenge, requiring a well-coordinated team of climbers and specialised equipment, a process can take days or even weeks, depending on the body's location and the mountain's conditions. Each additional person and piece of equipment increases the mission's risk and complexity.

The extremely cold temperatures on Everest help preserve bodies, preventing decomposition. Subzero conditions, often reaching as low as -60 degrees Celsius (-76 degrees Fahrenheit), ensure preservation for many years, with bodies remaining almost perfectly intact decades after climbers' deaths.

Despite the danger of recovering the bodies of those who die on Mt Everest, some are still recovered although at an expensive cost which can vary widely depending on factors such as the location of the body, the availability of skilled personnel, and the equipment required for the mission. The range as of 2016 was estimated to cost between Ksh3.975 million ($30,000) and Ksh9.3 million ($70,000).

Helicopters

While helicopters are commonly used in search and rescue operations in mountainous regions, they are not a feasible option for recovering bodies from the death zone of Mt. Everest. This is because of:

Altitude: Helicopters struggle to operate effectively at the extreme altitudes found on Everest. The thin air makes it difficult for helicopters to generate lift, reducing their carrying capacity and range.
Temperature: The bitterly cold temperatures on Everest can cause helicopter engines to malfunction or freeze, posing a significant risk to both the aircraft and the crew.
Wind: High winds are common on Everest, especially in the death zone, making helicopter operations even more hazardous. Strong gusts can buffet helicopters, making it challenging to maintain control and stability.
Limited Landing Sites: The rugged terrain and lack of suitable landing sites in the death zone further complicate helicopter operations. Pilots must contend with narrow ridges, steep slopes, and crevasses, making it nearly impossible to land safely.

Alternative recovery methods

Given the limitations of helicopters, alternative methods are often employed to recover bodies from Mt. Everest. These may include:

Sherpa teams: Experienced Sherpa climbers are often enlisted to retrieve bodies from high-altitude locations. Their expertise in navigating the mountain's terrain and their resilience to the harsh conditions make them invaluable assets in recovery efforts.
Manual carrying: In some cases, bodies may be manually carried down from the death zone by teams of climbers. This arduous process involves securing the body in a stretcher or harness and carefully descending the mountain while avoiding hazards such as crevasses and avalanches.
Airlifts from lower altitudes: Helicopters may be used to airlift bodies from lower altitudes, where the air is denser and conditions are less extreme. However, this approach is limited by the altitude at which helicopters can safely operate and may not be feasible for bodies located in the death zone.

Relocation of bodies on Mt. Everest

Glacial movement and avalanches can relocate bodies from their original locations, carrying them to lower altitudes or different areas of the mountain.

Bodies may reappear years after being lost due to glacial movement. Despite preservation by cold, bodies are still subject to natural elements.

Climbers on Mt Everest. /FILE

High winds, ice, and snow can gradually erode and damage bodies over time, along with clothing and equipment.

The Climb

There are two base camps on Mount Everest, on opposite sides of the mountains: South Base Camp is in Nepal at an altitude of 5,364 metres (17,598 ft) (28°0′26″N 86°51′34″E), while North Base Camp is in China at 5,150 metres (16,900 ft) ( 28°8′29″N 86°51′5″E).

The camps are used by mountaineers to climb during their ascent and descent. Supplies are also shipped by porters and with the help of animals. Mountaineers acclimatise in these camps to reduce the risk of altitude sickness.

For perspective, Kenya’s highest mountain, Mount Kenya stands at 5,199 metres above sea level, while the summit of Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain is at 5,895 metres high.

Everest's two base camps; the South Base Camp in Nepal at an altitude of 5,364 metres and the North Base Camp in Tibet at 5,150 metres. Its lowest camp is just 49 metres short of the height of Kenya’s highest point.

The Cost

Climbing Mt Everest can cost you an arm and a leg. Climbers pay anything from $35,000 (Ksh4.9 million) to more than $100,000 (Ksh13 million).

The cost includes $11,000 (Ksh1.4 million) for the climbing permit from the government of Nepal or Tibet, bottled oxygen and high-altitude gear that includes tents, sleeping bags and boots. It also covers medical care, food and support from Sherpa guides and bottled oxygen for them, which is mandatory for every foreign climber.

Most climbing of Everest and the Himalayas is done in April and May when weather conditions are most favourable. It is a tedious process which requires months, sometimes years, of training and conditioning as Everest climbers have to go through an acclimatisation process to adjust their lungs to the thinning oxygen levels once they arrive on the mountain.

According to CNN Travel, this involves travelling upward to one of the four designated camps on the mountain and spending one to four days there before travelling back down. Climbers repeat this routine at least two times for their bodies to adapt to declining oxygen levels and increase their chances of survival and summiting.

There have been 11,996 total Everest summits from 1922 to 2023, according to the Himalayan Database, which compiles records of all expeditions in the Himalayas. Today, many ethnic groups guide tourists to the mountain and carry loads of supplies up the mountain. The Sherpas tribe from Tibet used to be the only tribe but today multiple ethnic groups earn a living by leading climbers.

The Summit

When you finally reach the summit, you will find a small dome of snow about the size of a dining room table. That is because the summit has enough space for half a dozen or so climbers to stand and enjoy the view.

Cheruiyot Kirui: Missing Kenyan Banker Who Embarked On Daring Mt Everest Challenge

Marvin Chege — Thu, 23 May 2024 01:44:33 +0300

Before he was reported missing on Wednesday, May 22, Kenyan banker Cheruiyot Kirui, in his 30s, was on a quest to ascent to the summit of Mt Everest, the world's highest mountain, without the use of supplemental oxygen, something very few human beings would dare to attempt.

It was during a work boot camp at Outward Bound Training Centre in Kajiado County that he developed the passion to ascend to some of the highest peaks on Earth. The Outward Bound is at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro, and standing at 5,895 metres, it is a major tourist attraction in Tanzania.

The desire to climb mountains pushed Kirui to try the ultimate challenge; summit the earth’s highest mountain above sea level: Mt Everest, which lies at a latitude of about 28 degrees and straddles the borders of Nepal and China.

“Climbing Everest has been done before. I think the only difference is what I'm trying to do, climbing without supplemental oxygen. That has not been done by any African. It's the tough way to climb Mt Everest,” he told reporters back in March this year.

Cheruiyot Kirui stands above 8,000 metres in the 'death zone' near the summit of Mt Manaslu, Nepal, last year. /CHERUIYOT KIRUI

“It is riskier than climbing with supplemental oxygen. So you need to be extremely fit. The success rate of climbing without supplemental oxygen is less than 40 per cent.”

The banker further noted that climbing with supplemental oxygen would be quite easy, and that is not what he wanted.

“The challenge for me would be without supplemental oxygen; otherwise, I wouldn't feel like I've achieved much. So I want to see how my body can cope in such altitude,” he added.

Kirui has been a believer in human extremes and has plenty of experience in doing so. Prior to the Everest challenge, he summited Mt. Manaslu in Nepal, the eighth-highest mountain in the world at 8,163 metres above sea level, without supplemental oxygen in September 2023, becoming the first African to achieve this feat on a peak above 8,000 meters.

He has done multiple speed climbs of Mt. Kilimanjaro (5,895m), including completing the ascent and descent in just 15 hours and completing over 20 ascents of Mt. Kenya, setting course records on the three main routes, including a remarkable time of 2 hours and 56 minutes on the Sirimon route from Old Moses to Lenana Summit.

In 2014, he climbed Mt Kenya during the Easter holidays and Kilimanjaro, stating "I've lost count. The last two weekends, I climbed Mt Kenya. The next two weekends, I'll be there still. I climb up and down in less than seven hours. It has become relatively easier over the years."

Kirui has also done an expedition-style climb of Rwenzonri (Mt. Stanley 5,109m) over six days and traversed the Aberdare ranges, completing several routes including a self-supported South-North traverse.

Other than his mountaineering exploits, he also has plenty of experience in ultra marathons. In August 2022, he clinched second in the Ultra Trail Chiang Mai in Thailand (160km, 6,100m elevation).

He also participated in the Cappadocia Ultra Trail, Turkey (121km, 3,600m elevation) in October 2021 and completed the Tor Des Geants (Tour of the Giants) in the Italian Alps (356km, 27,000m elevation) in September 2019, chronicled in his book Ultramarathon: The Story Of Tor Des Géants.

Kirui also completed the No Business 100 in the USA (166km, 3,900m elevation) in 2018 and participated in the Beskidy Ultra Trail, Poland (96km, 4,900m elevation) in September 2017.

The mountaineer, who works at a local bank in Kenya, was reported missing alongside his Sherpa guide who both went out of contact from above 8,000m in the morning hours.

According to Mingma Sherpa, Chairman of Seven Summit Treks (SST), Kirui who attempted to scale Everest without using supplemental oxygen remained out of contact from the Bishop Rock, a few metres below the summit point.

Kirui, who wanted to climb Everest without supplemental oxygen, showed abnormal behaviour with his guide, Sherpa quoted Nawang as saying. "Then, the duo went out of contact," he added, as reported by The Himalayan Times.

SST mobilized two Sherpa rescuers to search for them and were reported to have reached above the balcony area. It is worth noting that a Romanian climber died at the same mountain, with expedition organisers led by Mohan Lamsal, Managing Director at Makalu Adventure revealing that Gabriel Tabara of Romania was found dead inside his tent at Camp III on Tuesday, May 21.

Before Kirui, 62-year-old retired Kenyan teacher James Kagambi made history by being the first Kenyan native to summit Mount Everest.

Influencing, Viral Video, Pretty Privilege, Khalif Kairo: Cera Imani Tells All

Marvin Chege — Sat, 18 May 2024 14:59:00 +0300

Content creator now turned influencer Faith Waithera Imani, alias Cera Imani has of late gained nationwide popularity, moreso on social media platforms due to her much-publicised romantic relationship with Khalif Kairo, born Joseph Kairo Wambui, who is the founder of Kai & Karo Motors and currently leads as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

However, a few weeks after making their relationship public, Kairo announced that Cera Imani had left him, igniting speculation on whether their relationship was genuine or a means of seeking attention.

The split kept netizens on social media coming up with all manner of conspiracy theories pointing to possible causes of their split. On Thursday, May 16, Waithera in an interview with The Standard confirmed the split.

Cera Imani posing for a selfie with Khalif Kairo. /KHALIF KAIRO

"He's a smart businessman. I was surprised when he announced our breakup on X, but I accepted it and moved on. I hold no grudges and am focused on improving myself further.

"I prayed for a partner and Kairo came my way. We dated, and that was us. I always say you never know what life has in store for you, so just pray and take it as it is," she shared.

Her calm acceptance of the situation reflects her philosophy of life, embracing whatever comes her way, whether opportunities or setbacks.

Despite the breakup, she assured that she remained good friends with Kairo, adding that she valued the positive experiences from their time together and is now taking time to focus on herself.

"Everything is okay. Each time I am with someone, I take the good out of it. For now, I am relaxing. I need to grow. Life has no manual, no rules. I'll do my things, and if something comes along the way, then I'll see what it has for me," she said confidently.

Career & Influencing

Waithera studied Procurement and Logistics at Kabarak University and has six years of experience in the corporate world. During that period, she worked at Iconic Agricultural Company and Fuzu Recruitment Company, handling tenders, and with other phone companies.

Her venture into influencing took an almost similar direction to TikTok sensation Azziad Nasenya as, just like her, Waithera dove into influencing through the Utawezana dance challenge.

"I love dancing; it's therapeutic for me. Initially, I stopped influencing due to negative publicity, but I eventually learned to cope. I taught myself to edit videos and photos, and soon brands noticed me. That's how my journey as an influencer began," she stated.

Other than her professional pursuits, what also makes Waithera stand out is her passion for travel and fashion and through her social media presence, she showcases a diverse array of outfits, ranging from elegant dresses to chic jumpsuits, paired with stylish accessories, and has landed marketing deals with different brands as a result.

Her flair for fashion exemplifies her status as a trendsetter and fashionista within the digital sphere, something she would like people to remember her for as the epitome of classic fashion.

Social Media Fame & Spirituality

However, despite the fame that comes with being an online celebrity, Waithera does have a strong Christian background, terming prayer crucial for her.

"I’m very spiritual and believe that being solely religious can be misleading. I have a personal relationship with God, read the Bible, and listen to sermons. Being in God's presence gives me peace that surpasses human understanding. My faith has helped me through mental struggles because God truly understands who I am and my challenges," she explained, setting the record straight on individuals dressing stylishly yet being spiritual.

Waithera Imani posing for a photo on May 1, 2024. /INSTAGRAM.CERA IMANI

"Some expect born-again Christians to dress a certain way or avoid makeup, but that's a misconception. You can be stylish and still love and acknowledge God. Stereotypes often lead to misjudgments about a person's faith and character. It's important not to judge based on appearances."

Controversial Video

One such stereotype that saw her harshly judged for her character, amidst her relationship with Kairo, was a past video that surfaced showing her twerking in a club, which had attracted negative attention, as well as led netizens to question Kairo regarding her choice of an ideal woman based on past posts about women posing unfriendly characteristics and living lavish lifestyles.

According to Waithera, the video was posted by an individual who recorded her without her consent, adding "Despite asking him to stop and promising to delete it, he posted it a year later while I was in a relationship."

She questioned the timing of the video's release, suggesting it was aimed to create drama following her relationship's gaining of public attention.

Online Bullies

Regarding handling the fame and negative publicity on social media inclusive of online bullies, Waithera is unbothered as, despite the negativity, she still gets approached by brands seeking to bank on the attention she gets.

"My advice is to mind your own business and do what makes you happy, regardless of what others say. This motivates me in the online world—I won’t let anyone stop me.

"My family isn’t bothered by online bullies because they know me. Brands understand this dynamic; they work with me regardless of the publicity I receive. Haters, in a way, enhance my influence—they are a blessing in disguise," she added.

Pretty Privilege

Regarding assumptions on "pretty privilege", Waithera deemed this exaggerated for a woman of her stature to receive special treatment, saying "Yes, I sometimes receive better service, but beauty alone isn't enough. Many beautiful girls don't achieve much beyond their looks."

According to her, success requires effort and seizing opportunities, adding that though people may think she has it the easy way, they don't understand her journey as everyone's beauty is unique and what matters is one showcasing their intellectual capabilities and working hard as well as diligently.

Waithera Imani posing for a photo on March 4, 2024. /INSTAGRAM.CERA IMANI

Ruto Issues Warning On Cyclone Hidaya Bound For Kenya: What We Know

Marvin Chege — Fri, 03 May 2024 16:53:24 +0300

President William Ruto has publicly confirmed that Kenya is on the verge of being hit by a cyclone for the very first time, one that has since been christened Hidaya.

Speaking on Friday, May 3 during his Nation Address at State House, President Ruto revealed that the storm could hit the country at any time from now, revealing the effects of the cyclone making landfall.

“The Kenya Meteorological Department and the IGAD Climate Prediction Applications Centre, have issued a stark warning, Kenya may face its first-ever cyclone.

“This Cyclone, named Hidaya, that could hit anytime now is predicted to cause torrential rain, strong winds and powerful and dangerous waves, which could potentially disrupt marine activities in the Indian Ocean and settlements along the Kenyan coast,” he announced.

Live tracking of Cyclone Hidaya as of May 3, 2024. /ZOOM EARTH

A Cabinet despatch sent to newsrooms on Thursday, May 2 indicated that Cyclone Hidaya may bring with it heavy rainfall, large waves and strong winds that could affect marine activities in the Indian Ocean.

What Is A Cyclone?

A cyclone is a large air mass that rotates around a strong centre of low atmospheric pressure. Their winds spiral inward and rotate counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere [of Cyclone rotation in Northern and Southern Hemisphere].

They are characterized by inward-spiralling winds that rotate about a zone of low pressure.

Cyclones can be categorized into two main types:

Tropical cyclones are intense circular storms that form over warm tropical oceans. They are also called hurricanes (in the Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific Oceans) or typhoons (in the Western North Pacific and South Pacific Oceans). Tropical cyclones are fueled by the warm water of the ocean and can cause devastating winds, heavy rain, and storm surges.
Extratropical cyclones are large-scale weather systems that form over the oceans in middle and high latitudes. They are less intense than tropical cyclones, but they can still produce strong winds, heavy rain, and snow.

About Cyclone Hidaya

Tropical Cyclone Hidaya is said to have developed over the South Indian Ocean, east of Tanzania and north-northeast of Comoros, on Wednesday.

It was designated the name ‘Hidaya’ by the Meteo France La Reunion, with forecast models tracking it west-northwestward between May 2-4, 2024.

This is as the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) predicted that Cyclone Hidaya would be also approaching the country’s Coast between Thursday and Monday.

According to Crisis24, the tropical storm will become moderate while passing north of Tanzania’s Mafia Island, before taking a “turn to track north-northwestward as it approaches the eastern Tanzania coast late May 4 and will likely dissipate into a zone of disturbed weather as it passes between Unguja Island and the mainland May 5.”

The TMA has since issued an advisory to residents of Coastal areas likely to be affected by the cyclone, noting that there will be heavy rains and strong winds.

"The presence of ‘Hidaya' near our country's coast is expected to dominate and affect the weather systems of the country, including causing periods of heavy rain and strong winds in some regions of the Mtwara, Lindi, and Pwani (including the Mafia Islands),” the TMA said in a statement.

“Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Morogoro, Ugunja, and Pemba regions and neighbouring areas, especially on May 3, 2024, for the southern coastal areas (Lindi and Mtwara) and spreading to other coastal areas from May 4 to 6, 2024.”

Satellite tracking provided by Zoom Earth indicates that Cyclone Hidaya is anticipated to reach land between Saturday and Sunday, with wind speeds forecast to reach up to 167 km/h upon impact. Additionally, a storm surge of 7.9 meters (2.3 feet) is predicted, posing a significant risk to coastal communities.

Will Cyclone Hidaya Actually Hit Kenya?

Despite the cyclone's trajectory suggesting that Tanzania could bear the brunt of its force, there are concerns that the tropical storm could hit some parts of Kenya, particularly the southeast region.

An analysis of the cyclone's trajectory indicates that regions closest to the Kenya-Tanzania border, particularly the counties of Kwale, Taita Taveta, and Kajiado, are most vulnerable.

Among the towns expected to be affected are Wundanyi, Msambweni, and Shimoni, along with Lunga Lunga, Ukunda, Mwatate, and Duruma. Additionally, Taveta, Mariakani, Livundani, Marongo, Vanga, Maungu, and Rusanga are some of the locations likely to experience the cyclone's effects.

The threat extends beyond human settlements to encompass vital wildlife habitats, including Tsavo West National Park, Diani Beach, Shimba Hills National Park, Lamu Wildlife Sanctuary, and Chyulu Hills National Park. These conservation areas face the risk of significant disruption and damage, posing challenges to the preservation of biodiversity in the region.

A cyclone building up over an ocean. /STORM SCIENCE AUSTRALIA

While some areas, such as Mombasa and Voi, lie just outside the predicted path of Cyclone Hidaya, they are not exempt from its impact.

Residents in these regions can anticipate heavy rains and strong winds as the cyclone's influence extends beyond its immediate trajectory, and the storm could add a layer of pain to Kenyans already having to deal with the ongoing heavy rainfall and flooding across the country.

Cera Imani: Khalif Kairo's Girlfriend Who Is A Manager With Elegant Taste In Fashion

Marvin Chege — Sun, 28 Apr 2024 20:01:26 +0300

Waithera Imani, popularly known as Cera Imani, is a content creator with interests in the beauty, fashion and lifestyle sectors with an academic background in procurement and logistics management.

Recently, she gained nationwide fame on social media platforms, particularly X, owing to her romantic relationship with Khalif Kairo, born Joseph Kairo Wambui, who is the founder of Kai & Karo Motors and currently leads as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

The buzz began when Kairo introduced Waithera as his girlfriend, prompting netizens to dig hard into her past and constantly expose her past party life as documented on her social media platforms before dating Kairo.

On Saturday, April 27, Kairo revealed in an X post that during the first phase of their courtship, Waithera had refused to meet him for four months.

Waithera Imani with popular car entrepreneur Khalif Kairo during a past occasion. /KHALIF KAIRO

"Simply because based on the stuff she had seen about me on Twitter, she knew I was a playboy. She hated those.

"I also had my own reservations about her given the reputation of most Kenyan 10s. But when we went on a first date, talked for 6 hours straight, saw how kind she was, pure heart, gorgeous and “normal” (not some perfect goddess). I knew this woman would be the mother of my children," he stated.

Viral Tea takes a look beyond the public profile of Waithera Imani, including her pursuits and personal background:

Waithera (Cera) Imani Profile

Early Life, Career & Big Break

She grew up in Nakuru City and had a fun childhood. Given that she was the firstborn, she was a little spoilt, with her mother taking her to the best schools and ensuring she had everything ranging from toys to snacks.

Even though she is prominent and passionate about content creation, especially on Instagram and TikTok, she leads a dual life as a corporate professional and works currently as a marketing manager at Gates Insurance.

In a previous interview with Nation in January this year, Waithera opened up on her milestone in 2023 where she got her big break in content creation.

"My highlight of 2023 was the breakthrough I got in my content creation journey, especially landing a partnership with Naivas and featuring in their advertisements. I count that, and collaborating with influencers that I’ve admired for the longest time in the industry as my biggest wins last year," she revealed.

She is banking on 2024 being her year of more success and given that she is also a prayerful woman, "I believe once you cast your prayers to God, you need not worry."

Content Creation & Personality

Waithera also offered an insight into content creators leading dual lives by maintaining a positive image on social media as they have to keep the tough details and events they encounter under wraps.

She also demystified the rumour that women with huge social media followings possess unfriendly characteristics as well as leading lives different from the likeable woman.

"What you see on social media is not real. Some people make life look easier and rosier but it is false. I believe in taking a stand and having a sense of direction. It helps you stop feeling like others are doing better than you.

"Do I get judged based on my social media feeds? Well, some people end up thinking I’m mean or unfriendly, or that I am an only child who can’t cook or clean, yet I am very friendly, and hands-on at home," she added.

Travel & Fashion

Waithera Imani posing for a photo on March 4, 2024. /INSTAGRAM.CERA IMANI

Her flair for fashion exemplifies her status as a trendsetter and fashionista within the digital sphere, something she would like people to remember her for as the epitome of classic fashion.

She also finds joy in discovering new getaway locations and exploring the world—a self-professed 'vacation girlie.' Recently, she was in India.

Relationship Life & Ideal Partner

In January, she did state that she was not in a relationship, stressing that he was single and dismissing the perception that beautiful women such as her are taken. However, she did go through a breakup and picked a key lesson from her last one.

"I learnt that everyone’s love language is different, so try loving your partner in their love language, not yours, and be kinder and listen more," she added.

In terms of her ideal man, Waithera disclosed that the first thing she looks at any time a man courts her is his smile, specifying, "I love me a good smile – a nice dental formula and cute lips. He also needs to dress well as that speaks a lot about him as a person."

Miscellaneous

Waithera is also popularly known for rocking a huge tattoo on her left thigh, which she explained that it is merely art and has no meaning.

She has also been to a kibandaski, the informal version of a low-budget eatery, her last visit coming in November 2022 where she enjoyed a plate of pilau, kachumbari and beef stew.

"My most painful moment was when I lost my grandpa. He raised me," she also revealed.

Social Media

Viral Tea has established that Waithera has a presence on Instagram, X and TikTok. Follow them below:

Instagram: cera_imani

X: Waithera_Imani

TikTok: imani_waithera

Ksh9.6B Bunge Tower: 330 Offices, Gym & Tech Allowing Kenyans To Follow MPs [VIDEO]

Marvin Chege — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 13:34:30 +0300

President William Ruto on Thursday, April 25 officially opened the 28-storey Bunge Tower in Nairobi.

Conceived in 2009, Bunge Tower is the culmination of the Parliamentary Service Commission's (PSC) vision to modernize Parliament by addressing office space limitations and accommodate the increased bicameral Parliament of 349 Members of the National Assembly and 67 Members of the Senate.

The tower was initially set to cost taxpayers Ksh5.89 billion, only for the amount to be raised to Ksh9.6 billion, a matter that led to critics claiming alleged misuse of public resources and questioning whether Kenyans got value for their money.

President William Ruto (right) chatting with Senate Speaker Amason Kingi at Bunge Towers in the company of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and National Assembly Speaker, Moses Wetangula. /SENATE KENYA

During the launch, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula hailed the completion of the tower's construction bragging that it was better than the House of Commons in the United Kingdom.

Viral Tea takes a look at the features of the multi-billion tower:

Design

The 28-storey building features an architectural design inspired by the shield emblem featured in the Kenyan flag and engraved in Parliament Buildings.

The shield, with its intricate design, has been a symbol of protection and unity for centuries in Kenyan culture.

Features

Bunge Tower consists of 331 dedicated offices for senators and legislators to facilitate their operations. The building has 26 Committee rooms located on the first, second, third and fifth floors which are fitted with advanced audio-visual and conference management systems.

Additionally, four committee rooms are fitted with video conference facilities to enable remote presentations.

The first floor consists of; a Parliament Library equipped with a collection of 50,000 documents, reports, Standing Orders, Hansard, books, Sets of Laws of Kenya, Bills, Auditor General Reports and policy papers.

The office block building consists of four basements, 27 floors, six escalators, six lifts, two vehicular and pedestrian tunnels and 350 parking slots. The 6th to 22nd floors of the building will host 330 offices for Members.

The building will also have two restaurant spaces, a fully equipped kitchen and a gym as well as other social amenities to help MPs execute their mandate.

In line with the government's efforts to embrace green energy, the tower has a rainwater harvesting system and solar water heating panels on the 27th floor.

For persons with disabilities, the building has wheelchair ramps at several access points to facilitate ease of movement.

Audio-Visual System

One of the unique features of Bunge Tower that would entice Kenyans is the audio-visual system which will help Kenyans keep Members of Parliament accountable, particularly those who refuse to respond to phone calls and other distress calls.

Speaking during the opening of the Bunge Tower, Kericho MP Aaron Cheruiyot announced that Bunge Tower has been fitted with internet-enabled audio-visual streaming technology which will help Kenyans see members present in various committees and their contributions.

Cheruiyot indicated that MPs have been refusing to pick up calls and respond to concerns from their constituents because committee sittings were conducted offline.

The new technology will have to compel them to respond to their constituents regarding activities in their constituency.

Watch Senator Cheruiyot explain the feature below:

Last Moments Before CDF Ogolla Death & Names Of 9 Officers [FULL STATEMENT]

Marvin Chege — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 22:32:00 +0300

President William Ruto announced the death of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Francis Ogolla on Thursday, April 18 at 8.13 pm.

In his speech, Ruto declared three days of national mourning starting Friday, April 19 in honour of the late KDF boss.

Here is his full statement:

Today at 2:20 pm, our nation suffered a tragic air accident at Sindar area, Kaben location, Tot division, in Elgeyo Marakwet County. I am deeply saddened to announce the passing of General Francis Omondi Ogolla, the Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces.

Together with him in the crash were eleven other gallant military personnel, 9 who also passed on and two survivors.

Photo of President William Ruto and Chief of Defence Forces, Francis Ogolla. /PCS

The gallant military personnel who passed on are:

Brigadier Swale Saidi
Colonel Duncan Keittany
Lieutenant Colonel David Sawe
Major George Benson Magondu
Captain Sora Mohamed
Captain Hillary Litali
Senior Sergeant John Kinyua Mureithi
Sergeant Cliphonce Omondi
Sergeant Rose Nyawira

The CDF, onboard the Kenya Air Force Huey Helicopter, had left Nairobi this morning, to visit troops deployed in the North Rift under Operation Maliza Uhalifu, and to inspect the ongoing school renovations works in the following schools:

Chesitet Primary School
Cheptulel Boys High School
Chepoton Primary School
Ksaa Primary School
Sablimoi Primary School

As part of his working tour, the CDF had been briefed on the security situation by a multi-agency team stationed at Chesitet in Baringo County, after which he proceeded to the Kainuk Forward Operating Base in Turkana County, where he addressed troops, commending them for their resilience and operational successes.

Last Moments

The CDF and his entourage departed from Kainuk to Chesegon, West Pokot County, where he launched the rehabilitation of Cheptulel Boys High School. He then departed Chesegon for the Recruits Training School in Uasin Gishu County, where he was scheduled to inspect construction facilities at the institution. Unfortunately, the aircraft crashed shortly after take-off.

This is a moment of great sadness for myself, as the Commander in Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, the Kenya Defence Forces fraternity and the nation at large. Our motherland has lost one of her most valiant generals, gallant officers, service men and women. The demise of General Ogolla is a painful loss to me, and certainly, the sorrow we all feel about his passing is shared by all the people of Kenya, and especially the KDF fraternity. A distinguished four-star general has fallen in the course of duty, and service to country.

I convey my deepest condolences to all families who are grieving this untimely loss and our mourning nation. May the Almighty Lord rest their souls in peace and grant their families fortitude at this time of deep sorrow. I also wish a quick recovery to the two injured soldiers in this accident.

Next Course of Action & National Mourning

The Kenya Air Force has constituted and dispatched an air investigations team, to establish the cause of the air crash.

In honour of the life and the distinguished military career of the fallen general, who lost his life not just while in office, but in active military duty, the nation will observe a period of three days of mourning commencing tomorrow 19th April 2024.

During this time of national mourning, the Kenyan flag, the Kenya Defence Forces Flag, and the Eastern Africa community flag shall fly at half-mast in the Republic of Kenya and Kenya missions abroad.

Poleni sana.

President William Ruto greets CDF Francis Ogolla at State House. /KENYA DEFENCE FORCES

June Chebet: Moi's Adopted Daughter Who Died At Age 60

Marvin Chege — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 12:57:19 +0300

Former President Daniel Arap Moi's daughter, June Chebet Moi is dead. She passed away on Thursday morning, April 11 at the age of 60 years, as announced by her family.

However, the family did not disclose the cause of her demise, nonetheless, they requested members of the public to give them privacy during this time to mourn their loved one.

"We are deeply saddened to announce the passing on of our beloved, June Chebet Moi this morning.

"At this time of grief, we request your prayers and privacy as we the family come to terms with the tragic loss of our sister. May her soul rest in eternal peace," stated the family.

Former Baringo senator Gideon Moi with her sister June Chebet Moi at a past event. /THE STAR

President William Ruto was among the leaders who joined in offering their condolences to the family of the late Chebet.

"My heartfelt condolences to the family of the late President Daniel Arap Moi over the loss of June Chebet Moi. May God give you strength at this difficult time. Rest In Peace June," he said.

June Chebet Profile

June was the youngest of the Moi siblings. She was adopted by the former president and taken in as one of the family members. Chebet was also a niece to his estranged wife the late Lena Moi.

In his biography, 'The Making of an African Statesman', written by British author Andrew Morton, Moi said that only two of his children were there to provide moral support when he was head of state; June & Gideon Moi.

She attended Nairobi Primary, Kenya High School and then moved on to university in Canada.

She was active in her father’s 1992 and 1997 political campaigns before retreating to her land, property agency and development businesses.

She was also a beneficiary of the estate of the late former President Daniel Moi, who bequeathed Ksh100 million to each of his daughters Jenifer Chemutai Moi, Doris Chekorir Moi and June Chebet Moi.

Moi's Children

The late former head of state also handed down a 931-hectare tract of land to the Trustees of Kabarak University for the benefit of his five sons.

Jonathan Kipkemboi Moi, Raymond Moi, John Mark Moi, Philip Moi and Gideon Moi were given an equal share to use during their lifetime as well as their children.

His will is being executed by his lawyer Zehrabanu Janmohamed who also serves as a non-executive director of Standard Group Plc.

Zehrabanu is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and a Barrister at Lincolns Inn (UK) with over twenty (20) years of legal professional experience, according to Reuters.

She works as an advocate with Archer & Wilcock Advocates and a member of the Company's Finance and Audit Committees, as well as its Human Resources and Remuneration Committees.

The late president’s daughters have over the years managed to stay out of the public eye, despite their father being the most powerful man in Kenya from 1978 to 2002.

The late former President Daniel Arap Moi. /NMG

Two Kenyans Among 26 To Receive Ksh3.3M Each In Global Fellowship Project

admin — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 12:36:52 +0300

Two Kenyans, Ashura Michael and Willie Oeba are among 26 individuals selected across the globe by the Ford Foundation which announced its 2024 cohort of the Ford Global Fellowship.

The fellowship is a program which aims to connect and support the next generation of leaders from around the world who are advancing innovative solutions to end inequality.

The 26 leaders announced in a press release dated March 28 join an existing network of 72 fellows working across Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the Middle East.

The foundation was launched in 2020 with an investment of Ksh6.6 billion ($50 million) over 10 years, and its flagship fellowship program provides emerging leaders with the tools, networks, and solidarity they need to effectively advance social justice.

Free a Girl’s World Network CEO Ashura Michael. /ASHURA MICHAEL

Ashura is a deaf human rights, gender, inclusion, and public policy advocate dedicated to empowering girls and creating a more equal society for people with disabilities.

She has also championed gender equality as a force for positive social change and spearheaded initiatives to ensure accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities.

Ashura has also worked on youth empowerment and mentorship projects and also served as speaker of the East African Youth Legislative Assembly, and co-chaired the Youth Council of UNICEF’s Global Partnership on Children with Disabilities.

She is currently a member of the advisory board for Kenya’s National Youth Council and has chaired the Kenya chapter of the African Charter on Democracy, Election, and Governance.

On his part, Oeba is known for his stunts as a spoken word activist and has risen to become one of Kenya’s top poets, with popular hit songs like ‘Wajinga Nyingi’ that featured King Kaka.

The 29-year-old founded ISM Academy, which empowers young people to fight inequality and foster social justice through the spoken word.

In 2021, he clinched the Upcoming Human Rights Defender award from the Defenders Coalition, a national human rights organization in Kenya and also won the East Africa Spoken Word Battle in 2018.

According to the foundation, each new fellow receives a no-strings-attached Ksh3.31 million ($25,000) stipend, alongside individualized coaching, to help grow leadership skills and reach new audiences.

“We are thrilled to welcome these 26 inspiring individuals into the Ford Global Fellowship community,” said Hilary Pennington, executive vice president of programs for the Ford Foundation.

“The Ford Global Fellowship is a hallmark of our commitment to invest in the ideas, individuals, and institutions creating lasting, systemic change. The newest Fellows are courageous leaders in their own right who are both imagining and actively building a more just future. Their lived experiences and insights will be a powerful addition to our global community.”

The network of Ford Global Fellows represents a broad range of backgrounds, fields, and approaches to addressing inequality, with areas of focus that include promoting equal rights and opportunities for women and girls, securing rights for Indigenous and traditional communities, increasing political and economic power of people with disabilities, and more.

The Ford Foundation Center in New York City. /FORD CENTER

Revealed: Tricks Thieves Use To Rob Mourners In Rich Families Attending Funerals

admin — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 20:27:08 +0300

A new wave of crime has emerged whereby criminals target mourners attending funerals, particularly from well-off families and rob them of their valuables before slipping away and often going undetected.

Such criminals form part of a gang on the prowl that monitors death announcements involving seemingly well-to-do families who attend church in upmarket Nairobi neighbourhoods, relying on obituaries and social media posts to identify the location of the houses of the bereaved.

On the day of the memorial service, which they keep track of, they attend church just like other mourners. However, they slip away as the service is ongoing.

Mourners attending the funeral of the late marathon record holder, Kelvin Kiptum. /AL JAZEERA

The criminals then head to the targeted homes and either break in or deceive whoever they find taking care of the house, if they find one, most likely the househelp.

As the thieves have much information regarding the bereaved family, the househelp or caretaker would not suspect anything out of the usual.

Moreover, media reports indicate that the suspects avoid online transactions either when booking a taxi or paying via mobile money to meticulously cover up crimes by leaving no trail.

They do their investigations about the home and since they look presentable but don't look like young people, they easily convince house employees by pretending to be relatives before robbing the household of items when they are let into the house.

Speaking to Viral Tea, a Nairobi resident recounted one such incident whereby an unidentified woman was caught on CCTV conversing with a security guard right after she robbed a house when a family was attending a requiem mass.

The woman blended with mourners during prayers and had acquainted herself with guards before waiting for the family to attend the mass.

Posing as an aunt, she went to the house with the intent of using the washroom, where she looted the house of money and other valuables.

The resident further told Viral Tea that the woman had deceived the guard into using the washroom as an emergency as she was on her period.

"She lied to the guard that she was an aunt and had stained her clothes because she was on her period. She wanted a place with a bathroom to change, that’s why she was granted access.

"No man wants to deal with that kind of situation. As she leaves, she asks the guard whether the stains are still visible," explained the resident.

The resident is appealing to the authorities and Kenyans at large to help locate the female suspect.

Screengrab of a woman alleged to have robbed a household during a funeral requiem mass conversing with a security guard. /VIRAL TEA KE

Frida Boyani: Profile Of Newly-Appointed Chief Registrar Of Judiciary

Marvin Chege — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 12:07:07 +0300

Frida Boyani Mokaya is the new Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, having been appointed by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on Tuesday, March 19.

According to a notice issued by Chief Justice Martha Koome, who also happens to be the President of the Supreme Court, Mokaya was appointed after she passed all levels of interviews conducted on Monday, March 18.

"The Commission shortlisted seven (7) candidates who were interviewed on Monday 18th March 2024. Following deliberation and careful consideration of the candidates based on merit, performance and suitability for the position, the JSC has appointed Hon. Mokaya Frida Boyani as the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary for a five-year term," the appointment notice read in part.

Mokaya will serve for five years and is set to replace Anne Amadi whose term ended early in the year.

Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Anne Atieno Amadi, during the swearing-in ceremony of President William Ruto on September 13, 2022. /TWITTER.JUDICIARY

She has over 27 years of experience in the legal profession and wields glittering experience in the legal field that includes the following:

Frida Mokaya Work Profile

Before her appointment, she had been serving as the Registrar of the Judicial Service Commission since 2012.

She joined the Judiciary in 1997 and served as a District Magistrate (1997-1999), Resident Magistrate (1999-2003), Senior Resident Magistrate (2003-2008) and Principal Magistrate (2008-2011).

Furthermore, between 2011-2012, she served as a Senior Principal Magistrate.

She is a member of the Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association (KMJA), the International Association of Women Judges-Kenya, the Institute of Certified Public Secretaries (ICPSK) and the East African Magistrates and Judges Association (EAMJA).

Academic Profile

Mokaya holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi (UoN), having graduated in 1993. She also is a candidate for a Master's Degree in Law from the same institution.

She also has a Post Graduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law. She is also a Certified Public Secretary (CPS-K).

Her Duties As Chief Registrar

As the Chief Registrar, Hon. Mokaya will serve as the Chief Administrator and Accounting Officer of the Judiciary.

She will also be the Secretary to the Judicial Service Commission as well as Secretary to the National Council on Administration of Justice.

"The functions include preparing estimates of expenditure in each financial year, for the following year and submitting them to the National Assembly.

Newly-appointed Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Frida Boyani Mokaya. /JSC

"The registrar is also the authorized officer for the Judiciary who is responsible for the efficient management of the day-to-day operations and administration of human resources in the judicial service; and in charge of support services in the Judiciary and in particular planning, development and organization of staff," reads the roles in the Judicial Service Act 2011.

Amadi served for 10 years since January 2014 before her retirement. The position was held by Judiciary’s Deputy Chief Registrar Paul Ndemo (one of the shortlisted candidates) as the Acting Chief Registrar.

EXPLAINED: Jowie Irungu & The Story Of Death Penalty In Kenya

admin — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 17:40:51 +0300

After Lady Justice Grace Nzioka's ruling which handed Joseph Irungu, alias Jowie a death sentence on Wednesday, March 13, many Kenyans have run rampant online on a determination some thought was an extreme penalty for a first-time offender.

Before today, the only other recent instance where a Kenyan was slapped with the death sentence- in recent memory that is- is when former police sergeant Fredrick Ole Leliman was sentenced to death over the murder of lawyer Willie Kimani in 2016. This was a ruling made in February 2023.

Jowie's death sentence reignited the conversation regarding the death penalty in Kenya, with some people thinking that he could be executed in prison in case he doesn't appeal his death sentence in higher courts and get a favourable ruling.

Jowie Irungu in court on February 9, 2024. /DAILY NATION

History Of Death Penalty In Kenya

While thousands in Kenya have been handed death sentences for various offences, no one has actually been publicly executed since July 1987 when Hezekiah Ochuka, Pancras Oteyo Okumu and two other masterminds of the 1982 coup d'état attempt were convicted of treason, sentenced to death and subsequently hanged.

A group of disgruntled soldiers in August 1982 tried to overthrow the government of late President Daniel Arap Moi. Ochuka, a former army officer who wielded the rank of Senior Private Grade-I, the second lowest rank in the Kenyan military, ruled Kenya for about six hours before the other faction of the military that was loyal to Moi ‘overthrew’ the insurrectionists.

The late junta leader was hanged at the Kamiti Maximum prison in July 1987 after the court sentenced him to death.

The death penalty in Kenya is therefore given as punishment to a person convicted of a capital offence. Capital offences include; murder, robbery with violence, attempted robbery with violence or treason - all of which attract the death sentence.

Why Kenya Does Not Execute Criminals Anymore

However, Kenya no longer hangs those who are convicted of murder, robbery with violence and treason. Instead, their sentences are usually commuted to life imprisonment.

This is because a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court in December 2017 declared the mandatory death penalty unconstitutional, reopening the debate as to what purpose the death penalty serves in the criminal justice system and whether its continued existence in statutes adds value.

At a special sitting of the court, its members questioned several court decisions delivered in the wake of the watershed case of Francis Muruatetu and said that the confusion that had arisen needed to be resolved.

The special sitting also made clear that the National Assembly, along with the Senate, the Attorney General and the Kenya Law Reform Commission, had not met the court’s deadline to propose a new framework for such cases.

Muruatetu was alongside another death row convict, Wilson Thirimbu Mwangi, in a case that made global headlines. The apex court ruled that the mandatory death penalty was unconstitutional after the duo argued that it infringed on their right to life.

In July 2023, the Court of Appeal also declared the life imprisonment sentence unconstitutional after Judges Pauline Nyamweya, Jessie Lessit and George Odunga unanimously ruled that it is unfair to outlaw mandatory death sentences, only to order a person to remain behind bars until they die.

Why The Death Sentences Then?

Despite a declaration by the Supreme Court in 2017 that the mandatory death penalty is unconstitutional, the courts still hand down death sentences, a matter Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has been pushing for.

In 2007 and 2015 the Kenyan Parliament voted against the abolition of the death penalty when bills were initiated by individual lawmakers. Kenya is among a handful of African countries which are considered de facto abolitionist states, meaning that they have not executed in 10 years.

Illustration of a death penalty. /THE STAR

KNCHR last year lauded President William Ruto when he reduced the death sentence imposed on capital offenders to life sentences.

In a gazette notice dated July 19, 2023, the conviction rule was softened following a recommendation from the Advisory Committee on the Power of Mercy chaired by Attorney General Justin Muturi.

"This is a move in the right direction as it aligns Kenya with the global trends on the application of the death penalty. It is also in line with the various regional and international treaties and conventions that Kenya has ratified including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the UN Convention Against Torture (CAT) as well as the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR).

"As a Commission, we continue to hold the position that the Death Penalty is the ultimate violation of human rights, disproportionately affects the poor, and as such has no place in our society," KNCHR said in a statement following Ruto's move.

The Argument That Sealed Jowie's Fate

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the family of the late Monica Kimani had invited the court to hand a death sentence to Jowie, who was found guilty of murder.

During the sentencing at the Milimani Law Court, Justice Grace Nzioka noted that the prosecution, in its submissions, implored the court to sentence Jowie to death for the harm caused to the victim’s family.

“The court has been invited to consider that the crime had serious physiological and physical harm to the victim and family. Based on this factor, the prosecution argues that the court should meet out the sentence as provided under the law,” noted Justice Nzioka.

Justice Grace noted that Monica’s family also implored the court to hand Jowie a death sentence.

“The victims’ family in their submission dated March 7, drew the court’s attention to the sentence provided for the offence of murder. Which is stipulated under section 204, which says a person convicted for the offence of murder shall suffer death,” she read.

“They led the court through objectives of sentence and invited the court to consider the fact that the accused person did not play a peripheral role in the commission of the offence, but was the main perpetrator.”

The family wanted Jowie handed the death sentence, describing Monica’s murder as “cold-blooded and barbaric.” They argued that Jowie attempted to conceal the offence by stealing an ID card and destroying clothes thereafter.

“No monetary compensation can bring the deceased back. Death of diseased occasioned them economic loss as the business she was manning in South Sudan collapsed and it was only means of the family,” she read.

In her verdict, Judge Nzioka argued that Jowie was not eligible for rehabilitation, even though he never asked for a non-custodial sentence.

Lady Justice Grace Nzioka reads a judgment at Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi on March 13, 2024. /NATION AFRICA

"The manner in which the offence was committed did not at any one point intend to give the deceased even a single minute to live. It is a tragic loss of life on extreme circumstances bordering on madness,” she argued.

"This murder was intentional. It was not a defensive act. It was not out of provocation. It was planned, intended and executed.”

What Happens Now?

Legal experts may argue that the death sentence passed on Jowie, that is an indeterminate time in prison, is unconstitutional and a degrading inhumane treatment given that the likes of Naftali Kinuthia were sentenced to 40 years in prison over the murder of Moi University medical student, Ivy Wangechi in April 2019.

Jowie's lawyer, Hassan Nandwa, had previously indicated that the murder convict would appeal the guilty verdict at the Court of Appeal after his sentencing.

Strategies for Supporting Women and Girls with Disabilities- Sightsavers To Govt

Marvin Chege — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 16:58:01 +0300

In Kenya and worldwide, women and girls face inequalities that increase their risk of disease, disability, gender-based violence, and mortality.

Around 257 million women around the world still don’t have access to contraception – this contributes to an estimated 67 million unintended pregnancies and 76,000 maternal deaths each year. And for many women, getting their health issues addressed is at the bottom of a long list of challenges and priorities.

This International Women’s Day, Wednesday, March 8, international development organisation Sightsavers is calling for all health services to be inclusive and accessible for women and girls, including those with disabilities. We are also celebrating the women breaking down barriers to make this a reality.

Women like Lucy Mulombii, Chair of a women-led organisation of people with disabilities and Chair of Kakamega County Disability Caucus in rural Kenya.

Moses Chege, Country Director, Sightsavers Kenya speaking during an event on February 29, 2024. /PHOTO

“Women are marginalised, and people with disabilities are also marginalised. So women like me can be hit with two sets of discrimination at once," she stated.

"We are less likely to be educated; have less access to health services; face more violence and sexual abuse; and we are often not given access to the decision-making tables. This must change.”

Mulombii took part in training as part of a Sightsavers-led coalition called Inclusive Futures.

“The program aims to support microentrepreneurs with disabilities to develop and grow our businesses. Through this training we gained confidence as business owners and as women. We learnt about self-advocacy.

"Now we speak out about the issues that affect us not just economically but even about the challenges we face, and we support each other to advocate for the rights of women and girls with disability especially health matters,” explains Mulombii.

According to her, the Kenyan Constitution has articles that protect the rights of women and girls with disabilities and are very clear on issues of affordable healthcare and accessibility.

Unfortunately, the implementation of these policies has been very slow. “Part of our work involves pushing the government to apply these policies”.

Mulombii continues: “The organisation I chair tries to raise awareness about the barriers to sexual and reproductive health and rights for women and girls with disabilities and issues around gender-based violence. Sexual and reproductive health is a human right. But sometimes women and girls with disabilities face discrimination because people think they are not like other women."

"They forget that they have the right to access information about how they can plan their families and take care of their menstrual health. When you don’t have money in your pocket, when you don’t have confidence, you don’t speak out.”

For women with disabilities, these challenges are compounded by lower life expectancy, higher rates of diseases like diabetes, and difficulty accessing health care.

Moses Chege Sightsavers Kenya Country Director says, “Some diseases affect more women than men. They are also more likely to be blind or have a visual impairment, but much less likely to have access to the eye care they need. What is more, women with disabilities are three times more likely not to access the healthcare they need, compared to men without disabilities.

“Without action, women will continue to be left behind in health care, having their health, and chances of education and employment curtailed.”

Sightsavers works with partners to improve access to health services for all, including women and people with disabilities.

Since Sightsavers began in the 70’s, the organisation has helped 70,000 women to access treatment for trachoma; helped protect 560 million women from devastating diseases including schistosomiasis and fought for access to sexual and reproductive health services women and girls with disabilities in eight countries.

Government spokesperson, Isaac Mwaura speaking during a past Sightsavers event on May 11, 2023. /ISAAC MWAURA

Story Of Third-Best KCSE Candidate Taking Part In Doctors' Protests

Marvin Chege — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 12:42:12 +0300

Shirley Ogallo was on Thursday, February 29 among notable participants of the peaceful protests staged by doctors in response to the delayed deployment of medical interns.

In 2016, she sat for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and emerged as the third-best candidate in Kenya, scoring an A grade of 83 points.

With this high level of academic success, she decided to pursue dental surgery and enrolled in university in 2017.

She completed her tertiary studies in July 2023 and officially graduated in December of the same year.

Shirley Ogallo protesting in Nairobi on February 29, 2024. /SHIRLEY OGALLO

However, to date, she is still yet to be assigned an internship by the Ministry of Health, delaying the commencement of her desired career path.

In frustration with the prolonged delay, she took to the streets in protest alongside other medical professionals to advocate for the rights of their peers as well as herself.

Ogallo on Monday, March 4 shared details of the aftermath of completing her academic studies as well as the frustration she encountered trying to secure a career path for herself in the country.

“Ideally we should have been posted within three months of completion of studies, but it didn't happen. So most of the time, I'd be home helping mom out or I'd be in Nairobi just doing nothing. You sleep, you wake up you eat and that is just the cycle of life.

“The frustration got worse after graduating and we thought we would be posted in February (2024) so we were all excitedly waiting for February and then things just took a dive again. So that's when we started going out for demonstrations. And yeah as it is, we're still demonstrating to be posted,” she said in an interview with NTV.

Internship is a mandatory requirement for doctors and dental practitioners, as stipulated by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Council (KMPDC).

Graduates must undergo a supervised internship lasting approximately 13 months before they are deemed eligible to practice independently. This hands-on training is essential for acquiring practical skills that cannot be fully obtained within the confines of a lecture hall.

The Ministry of Health through Cabinet Secretary (CS) Susan Nakhumicha meanwhile intervened regarding the deployment of interns after the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) announced a planned strike by health workers set to commence in less than seven days.

“My call to the unions is to allow a discussion and conversation to take place. There are many things that we need to discuss and a strike will not resolve. A solution will only be found when we sit at the table and discuss it as stakeholders.

"The county governments, the Ministry of Labour, the National Treasury, the Public Service Commission, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, and the Ministry of Education are all stakeholders in the matter,” she stated while addressing the media on Tuesday, March 5 at Afya House in Nairobi.

Nonetheless, she acknowledged the delay and assured that efforts are underway to address the concerns raised by doctors.

Additionally, she highlighted the ministry's consideration of factors such as funding and the availability of trainers for intern supervision.

Mary Muthoni, the Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards stated that a meeting was convened with representatives from Health Workers Unions to address pressing healthcare issues and foster collaboration.

KMPDU on Monday, March 4 issued a seven-day notice for a nationwide strike, a move which, should it still go through, is likely to paralyse the health sector.

KMPDU SG Davji Atellah during protests in Nairobi on Thursday, February 29, 2024. /KMPDU

8 Safety Tips While Boarding & Alighting Trains- Kenya Railways

Marvin Chege — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 15:24:33 +0300

Using a train for daily travel in Kenya has become a mainstream means of transport for those needing to beat traffic jams to get to their workplaces as well as going from county to county. However, there are measures the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) has stipulated to ensure passengers' safety.

The guidelines announced on Monday, February 19 deal with personal safety when boarding and disembarking from trains, aiming to enhance the efficiency and safety of its systems.

They are not just applied to passengers. KRC's guidelines also apply to employees, partners and the general public on and around the trains.

Viral Tea takes a look at the eight guidelines:

Stand behind the yellow line until the train comes to a complete stop.

The purpose of the yellow line is to prevent passengers from crossing the line and getting too close to the edge of the platform. This helps to reduce the risk of accidents such as passengers falling onto the tracks, being hit by a train, or being caught in the gap between the platform and the train.

Train stations can be dangerous and with any heavy vehicle movement, there’s a risk if the appropriate behaviours are ignored or not followed. The yellow line exists as a visual reminder that by crossing that line, you are putting yourself and potentially others at risk.

Kenya Railways station at Dandora, Nairobi. /FILE

Do not force the doors open or attempt to board when the train is leaving the platform.

Most trains have automatic doors that cannot be reopened no matter what happens, which means you have to wait for your next train.

Similarly, attempting to board when the train is leaving the platform is considered dangerous and despite what movies might trick you into believing, being on top of a train is the same as riding on top of a car.

You are already moving at the same speed as the train, so you should not be phased by the movement as long as the train does not brake or accelerate extremely abruptly.

Allow other passengers to step off the train before you board.

This ensures a smooth transition between those boarding and those alighting, reducing time wastage during round trips.

It also prevents cases of collision and falling among passengers, which can pose serious consequences.

Station attendants and train crew will assist passengers with special needs to board the train.

Station attendants, these days undergo training on how to handle people with disabilities, who in turn are given priority status anytime they board a train.

If you are travelling with a pram or shopping trolley, board at the front carriage so that you're clearly visible to the driver.

Passengers with heavy luggage are subject to specific guidelines set by train operators, including pointers on getting off and on the train, and ensuring utilization of spaces allocated for heavy luggage.

When boarding the train enter the pram first and lift the back in if the train isn't level with the platform.

When exiting the train, step off first and then pull the pram towards you.

These processes ensure there is stability, even distribution of weight on the pram prevents trips and falls, and further prevent the pram from rolling away when exiting the train

Use the grab rails to steady yourself when boarding or alighting.

Grab rails are strategically placed to help passengers comfortably board and alight trains, by giving them stability, especially in cases of frail platforms placed on train doorways.

At any given notice the train can start moving, which can catch boarding and alighting passengers by surprise.

Prepare to alight before reaching your destination station, but make sure you have something to hold onto.

This proactive approach helps minimise time wastage at various drop-off points. However, passengers should ensure they have something to hold onto to maintain balance when the train comes to a halt.

According to the Kenya Railways Corporation Act, individuals travelling in any part of a train, vessel, or vehicle other than areas typically designated for passenger use while travelling, whether with or without permission, are not eligible for compensation in the event of an injury or accident involving the train.

"The Corporation shall not be liable for the loss of life of, or for personal injury to, any passenger except where the loss of life or personal injury is caused by the want of ordinary care, diligence or skill on the part of the Corporation or of any employee," the Act reads in part.

With minor accidents involving trains reported, this makes train transport one of the safest means of transport.

To maintain this record, Kenya Railways encouraged members of the public to employ the outlined guidelines and to further reduce cases of accidents and delays while using the train system in the country.

Passengers at the Mombasa SGR Terminus. /KENYA NEWS MEDIA

Precast: Special Technique Used To Build Kelvin Kiptum's House In One Week

Marvin Chege — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 13:41:07 +0300

On Thursday, February 15, President William Ruto deployed experts to the home of the late world marathon record holder, Kelvin Kiptum with specific instructions to build a three-bedroomed house in one week.

The construction had commenced the following day and according to photos shared online, it is on the verge of final touchups before completion, and handing over to Kiptum's widow and children before the deceased is laid to rest on Saturday, February 24.

The contractor, Vastu Company Limited, expressed confidence that the challenge would be realised as the house's construction is projected for completion on Thursday this week.

To ensure service delivery, the contractor turned to a little-known technique used in developed countries while constructing houses, known as precast.

Ongoing construction works on the late Kelvin Kiptum's three-bedroom house. /X

According to Ultra Tech Cement, precast concrete is made by pouring concrete into a mould in a factory or plant, instead of directly pouring it at the construction site. The cured concrete product is then transported to the construction site and installed as a finished material.

There are several different types one could choose from but here are five common types:

1. Precast concrete walls

These are large concrete panels that can be used to create exterior or interior walls. They are typically manufactured in large, rectangular panels that can be connected and installed quickly at the construction site.

2. Precast concrete beams and columns

They are designed to provide structural support to buildings or bridges and are manufactured in different shapes and sizes depending on specific load requirements.

3. Precast concrete slabs and planks

These are flat panels that can be used as floors or roofs in buildings. They are typically manufactured in long, thin sections that can be easily transported and installed at the construction site.

4. Precast concrete stairs

These are pre-manufactured elements that can be utilised to construct staircases in buildings. They come with pre-installed treads and risers and can be customised to meet specific building design requirements.

5. Precast concrete retaining walls

These are elements that are used to retain soil or other materials. They are typically manufactured with interlocking edges that can be connected to create a continuous wall and can be designed to meet specific load requirements.

It is important to note that the strength of concrete is affected by several factors, including the quality of the concrete mix, the curing conditions, and the age of the concrete. Therefore, multiple samples often undergo a compressive test of concrete to ensure quality.

Decorative application of precast concrete

Pre-finished surfaces

It can be cast with a variety of finishes, including smooth, textured, and polished surfaces, which can be further enhanced with a range of colour options.

Ornamental features

It can be used to create a variety of decorative features, including cornices, mouldings, and medallions, that can be customised to suit specific design requirements.

Sculptures and statues

It can be used to create large-scale sculptures and statues that can be placed in public spaces or used as decorative elements in buildings.

Landscaping features

It can be used to create landscaping features such as benches, planters, and retaining walls, which can be designed to complement the surrounding environment.

Signage and wayfinding

It can be used to create signage and wayfinding elements such as monuments, directional markers, and identification signs, which can be customised to match the surrounding architecture.

Advantages of precast concrete

The usage of precast concrete has several advantages in construction projects. Here are some of the key benefits :

It ensures consistent quality and uniformity, as it is manufactured in a controlled environment. This reduces defects and improves the finished product's overall quality.
Since it is manufactured off-site it allows for faster on-site construction, reducing overall construction time and increasing project efficiency.
It is a durable material that can withstand harsh weather and heavy loads, while also being resistant to fire, rot, and insects, making it a long-lasting choice.
With the ability to be manufactured in various shapes, sizes, and finishes, it offers greater design flexibility and customization to suit specific requirements.
It is a sustainable construction material that can be made from recycled materials and is fully recyclable at the end of its life cycle.

Overall, precast concrete can provide significant advantages in terms of speed, quality, cost, and sustainability compared to traditional construction methods.

Cost Of Precast Concrete

According to Floor and Decor, a construction company, the shell of a 3-bedroom house with two bathrooms house can take 12 days to construct at the price of Ksh950,000.

Another company estimates that it costs approximately Ksh1,111 per Square Metre including transport costs for a precast house compared to Ksh1,550 when using natural quarry stones.

That is, a simple one-bedroom house can consume up to Ksh700,000 upon completion, while a 2-bedroom house is estimated at Ksh1.1 million. A completed 3-bedroom can take up to Ksh3.2 million.

The construction costs are, however, determined by the size of the house, the complexity of the design and the location of the construction site.

For Kelvin Kiptum's house, the contractor indicated that the skeleton and roofing had already been completed by Sunday, a process taking a record-breaking three days.

What followed was plumbing, as well as boarding of the exterior and interior, including the use of cement boards and gypsum lighting.

"We have all the materials expected to be used inside the house including the tiles and by Thursday afternoon we shall be able to hand over the project," the contractor told the press.

Ongoing construction works on the late Kelvin Kiptum's three-bedroom house. /X

How Kenyan Teacher Rose Wekesa Broke World Record For Longest Science Lesson

Marvin Chege — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 11:48:06 +0300

Kenyan teacher Rose Tata Wekesa has broken the world record for the longest science lesson taught by an individual, setting an astonishing 62 hours, 33 minutes, and 34 seconds.

Wekesa, a teacher at St. Austin's Academy Lavington, surpassed the current Guinness World Record held by Indian teacher Kathiravan Pethi, who taught a science lesson for 50 hours in 2008.

The world record will be subject to ratification by Guinness World Records which could take up to 12 weeks as they review the documentation process.

Kenyan teacher Rose Wekesa (centre) teaches a science lesson at Multimedia University of Kenya on February 15, 2024. /YOUTUBE.ROSE WEKESA

Wekesa attempted the daring feat on Monday, February 12 at a Science laboratory inside the Multimedia University of Kenya where she filmed the entire proceedings through a YouTube livestream.

The feat saw her battle sleep deprivation and fatigue to achieve this monumental milestone and with the help of a support team, she meticulously planned her lessons and trained her body to stay awake for extended periods.

During the period, she took a five-minute break every hour, but in most instances chose to accumulate the hours to have a longer break, meaning that she would teach for four hours before taking a break lasting 20 minutes.

During this short break, the teacher would take a shower, eat, change clothes, get medical tests done by a nearby emergency team and also get a massage, before resuming her lesson.

To make up for time lost during the breaks, Wekesa decided to cross past the 60-hour mark. Some of the lessons covered included the periodic table, chemical reactions, physics and also biology.

"I have been working on building my endurance, I have a team behind me that has helped with the lesson plan. The past three days, I stayed awake for 44 hours to train my body to stay awake," she informed the media before embarking on the lesson.

She noted that she was motivated by the passion to instill knowledge in the younger generation for a brighter future. However, Wekesa emphasized that the teaching profession requires patience when handling students.

"I aim to inspire young minds in school who aspire to become educators by demonstrating that teachers can accomplish remarkable feats beyond the confines of the classroom," Wekesa stated.

Should Wekesa's achievement be ratified by GWR, it will add to a list of remarkable feats in science education.

In 2014, Steve McDonald set the record for the largest science lesson, with 1,339 students participating at St. Louis University High School in Missouri.

In 2020, British teacher Neil Monteiro broke records with a virtual science lesson that attracted 16,066 participants, setting a new Guinness World Record for the most people attending a science lesson.

Ratifying a GWR record is no mean feat as it sees the organisation adhering to strict policies to authenticate record titles. That is, every record undergoes rigorous assessment against the core values of integrity, respect, inclusiveness, and passion.

Guinness World Records documents extraordinary achievements worldwide, ensuring that all records meet established criteria and adhere to internal policies.

St Austin's Academy Lavington's teacher Rose Wekesa. /ROSE WEKESA

CEO Powers & Millions Raila Will Earn Should He Be Elected AU Chairperson

admin — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 14:57:36 +0300

Former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga is poised to wield insurmountable power in the African continent should his bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson succeed.

Often confused with the African Union chairperson (an annual, ceremonial rotational post between heads of state and governments), the Chairperson of the African Union Commission is the Chief Executive Officer, legal representative of the AU and the Commission’s Chief Accounting Officer.

The Chairperson of the Commission is elected by the Assembly for a four-year term, renewable once. Under the old Organisation of African Unity (OAU), this position used to be called secretary-general, even though it had weaker powers then.

Since 2002 when the African Union inherited, and appended the roles of the OAU, there have been more instances of the Commission chairperson speaking, condemning, criticising or praising.

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo (right) endorsing Azimio Leader Raila Odinga for AU Chairmanship on February 15, 2023. /ODM

He or she who holds that position has the following functions:

Overall responsibility for the Commission’s administration and finances
Promoting and popularising the AU’s objectives and enhancing its performance
Consulting and coordinating with key stakeholders like Member States, Development Partners, RECs, etc
Appointing and managing Commission staff
Acting as a depository for all AU and OAU treaties and legal instruments.

The other duties are preparing the annual report on the AU and its organs’ activities, and submitting reports requested by the Assembly, Executive Council, Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), committees and any other organs.

As this is a full-time diplomatic role, it comes with a plush basic monthly salary of $15,576.75, which is Ksh2.3 million at current exchange rates.

The chairperson is also entitled to a Ksh36,375 ($250) monthly allowance per eligible child as well as a 100 per cent school fee payment for every eligible child of the official in Africa.

He or she is also entitled to Ksh2.2 million ($15,000) per year if the station is in Europe or North America and Ksh873,000 ($6,000) in the rental budget which includes rent and payment for utilities such as electricity.

In Raila's case, should he get elected, his wife, Ida, will also get a monthly facilitation.

"Retention of the Spouse Allowance of 5 per cent of Basic Salary, on the condition that eligible spouse is not receiving remuneration exceeding USD500 (Ksh77,750) per month," read the remuneration guidelines in part.

A chairperson's speeches, though, must be tailored and actions measured in every step he or she takes.

Since 2002, there have been five Commission chairpersons. Moussa Faki Mahamat is the first to hold the position for two consecutive terms since 2017, and his current term ends this year.

Previous chairpersons are; South Africa’s Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma (2012–17), Jean Ping of Gabon (2008–12) and Alpha Oumar Konaré of Mali (2003–08). Amara Essy of Côte d’Ivoire led the transition team between AOU and AU 2002–03. All these were younger than 70 when they took office.

Commission chairpersons are elected by secret ballot as opposed to the Assembly chairperson often chosen by consensus.

The Commission chairperson must garner a two-thirds majority of the present voting members. Currently, Sudan, Mali, Niger, Guinea and Burkina Faso are suspended for committing coups.

Since 2021, the AU expanded its Commission to include eight members; the chairperson, deputy chairperson and six commissioners.

Candidates for the office of the chairperson and his/her deputy are often circulated to Member States at least three months before the election.

African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson Moussa Faki. /THE GUARDIAN NIGERIA

Profile Of Lady Justice Grace Nzioka Who Was Almost Fired

admin — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 16:43:51 +0300

Did you know that Lady Justice Grace Nzioka was almost fired from her job? We'll get to that in a few.

On Friday, February 9, the country's attention was turned to her at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi as she delivered the highly-anticipated ruling in the murder case of businesswoman Monica Kimani involving former Citizen TV news anchor Jacque Maribe and Joseph Irungu alias Jowie, after six seemingly dreadful years.

Maribe and Jowie were accused of participating in the murder of Kimani, who was killed at her apartment on September 19, 2018. While Maribe walked scot-free...for now...Jowie was found guilty of the murder.

Other than the ruling, observers who were mostly following the proceedings on TV and posting live updates about it on social media remarked on Justice Nzioka's fearless conveyance of context, explanations and narrations, showcasing a judicial officer who did her homework in the legal field.

Former Citizen TV Anchor Jacque Maribe and Jowie Irungu in court on Friday, February 9, 2024. /ALINUR MOHAMED

"I assure you that I have analysed all submissions and evidence. I can read this judgment for six hours without a paper in my hand," Justice Nzioka stated with gusto.

Nzioka's delivery of the judgment mesmerised Kenyans, who lauded her for not just her poise and eloquence but also her non-biasness in delivering the judgment, with many claiming that she reached grandmaster levels in a field known for the heaviest English and Latin words and phrases ever!

"I like the eloquent, composed, and articulate nature of Justice Grace Nzioka. She's reading the judgment from her head. I am sure even Joseph Irungu Jowie, former Citizen TV news anchor Jacque Maribe, and the family of late businesswoman Monica Kimani like how she is doing it," Alinur Mohamed stated.

"I love the poise, eloquence, and clarity that Justice Grace Nzioka is delivering her judgment as if the words flow directly from her mind. It's captivating —Joseph Irungu Jowie, former Citizen TV news anchor Jacque Maribe, and even the family of the late businesswoman Monica Kimani," Mumbi added.

Viral Tea takes a look at the Lady Justice's profile:

Lady Justice Nzioka Profile & Cases Handled

Justice Nzioka has been involved in several high-profile cases including the Ksh1.5 billion case involving former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju.

Here, she recused herself, citing that she could not continue with the case and directed that the matter be mentioned before the presiding judge of the Commercial Division.

In another case, three lawyers, including a former commissioner of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), were ordered to appear in court over the spending of Ksh1.8 billion received on behalf of 2,000 retrenched employees of Telkom Kenya Ltd.

Justice Nzioka however declined to strike out the case and froze the bank accounts of the involved parties pending further investigation.

In another significant case, Beatrice Mwende's defence that she was possessed by demons when she killed her four children was dismissed by the High Court. Justice Nzioka sentenced her to life in prison, citing mental tests that indicated she was of sound mind during the offences.

In another case, Justice Nzioka ordered prominent lawyer Ambrose Rachier to pay Ksh80 million to an investor for failure to honour a professional undertaking. Despite Rachier's denial, the judge ruled in favour of the investor, emphasizing Rachier's obligation to indemnify the loss incurred due to his client's default.

Old photo of Lady Justice Grace Nzioka. /STANDARD DIGITAL

In September 2022, she was moved from Nairobi to the High Court in Naivasha by Chief Justice Martha Koome, following changes made after six Court of Appeal Judges were elevated.

Aside from handling judicial matters, Justice Nzioka has in the past, advocated for the rights of the disadvantaged in society. In November 2023, she advocated for a child protection unit at various stations to deal with the backlog of minor cases.

She noted that over 150 criminal cases were handled at Naivasha Police Station, adding that the Judiciary was keen on reducing the backlog.

Justice Nzioka's Job Under Threat

In 2013, the Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board declared Justice Nzioka and two magistrates unfit to continue holding office, following complaints, including graft and delayed rulings.

Nzioka was accused of disrespecting advocates appearing before her, with the Board finding fault in her style and conduct which it claimed threatened the dispensation of justice to the public.

“The Judge failed to appreciate that her conduct had a demeaning and negative impact on both dispensation of justice and litigants and their advocates,” board chairman Rao said.

“There was a lack of introspection and appreciation of the effect of her inappropriate style and conduct,” he added.

She & Her Husband Robbed

In 2013, Justice Nzioka fell victim to robbery as she was carjacked and kidnapped in her Karen home in Nairobi while driving into her compound. Five armed men surrounded her and took her hostage.

Reports indicated that she was forced into her house as the armed men ransacked several items including documents, a laptop, a television set and other electronics.

It is reported that the armed men then took Justice Nzioka and her husband hostage and threw them out of their compound into the Dagoretti area where they withdrew over Ksh40,000 from their ATM accounts before abandoning the couple in Kangemi.

Police officers investigating the case raised questions as to the judge's bodyguards being unarmed at the time of the incident, and they also sought to investigate whether the incident was linked to her career.

At the time, she chaired a commission investigating the Tana River clashes that had claimed more than 160 lives and displaced thousands of people.

Kenya Receives World's Largest Floating University Charging Ksh6M Per Semester [PHOTOS]

admin — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 10:55:09 +0300

Cruise vessel World Odyssey, which is the world's largest floating university, arrived at the port of Mombasa in Kenya on Friday morning, February 9, her third visit to the Coastal City.

Popularly known as “Semester at Sea” the vessel, which operates academic voyages for students will be in Mombasa for six days until Valentine's Day on February 14.

Aboard the ship is 763 passengers, of which 585 are students who will visit institutions of higher learning for educational tours, conduct excursions around the city and visit various wildlife parks during their stay. MV World Odyssey charges Ksh6 million per semester.

"Semester at Sea carries students around the world learning the histories of the countries they visit. The students are of mixed nationalities with one Kenyan student aboard. She sailed from India and will be visiting Mauritius as the next port of call," stated the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) which announced the arrival of the ship.

World's largest floating University, World Odyssey docks at the port of Mombasa on February 9, 2024. /KENYA PORTS AUTHORITY

MV World Odyssey Features

The passenger cruise ship was built in 1998 (26 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of the Bahamas. The ship offers a unique living and learning environment.

"Between adjusting to classes, meeting new friends, and tackling global issues, you will discover the joys of shipboard life. You will claim a favourite dining hall, enjoy eating meals with your professors, and set your alarm for sunsets and stargazing nights.

"Our ship environment is similar to a small liberal arts campus — the ideal place where students and professors live, work, and socialize together. Semester at Sea’s living-learning community provides a platform for education, discussion, and deep connections all while travelling to new locations," states the vessel on its official website.

MV World Odyssey accommodates up to 550 undergraduate, gap year, and recent college graduate students representing majors from 270+ colleges and universities.

Every voyage sails under the leadership of an Executive Dean, Academic Dean, and Dean of Student Life. Semester at Sea attracts nationally renowned, award-winning faculty who are passionate about international education. The staff includes the Field Program, communications, and medical teams.

The Dean of Students and a team of resident directors bring the community together and organize extracurricular programming. This team focuses on developing a dynamic and synergistic relationship between academic instruction and co-curricular learning.

The Semester at Sea Lifelong Learning Program provides adult learners, who are 30 years of age or older, with an opportunity to join the SAS academic community.

Lifelong learners add a valuable generational element to the shipboard community. They are retirees, professionals on leave, or simply adventurous travellers who desire to study with bright, enthusiastic undergraduate students from around the world.

The ship also features interport lecturers who are international scholars or professors living abroad who are selected for their deep knowledge of culture, practice, or field of study. They join a segment of a voyage and participate in intercultural briefings.

Interport students are undergraduates from universities around the world who contribute to classes and give presentations about their culture.

The captain and his officers manage ship operations and voyage execution to ensure the safe passage and health of all participants. Many have been a part of Semester at Sea voyages for years.

Just like other institutions of higher learning, the ship has reception and administrative offices, where there is a welcoming reception desk area with around-the-clock crew presence as well as the Semester at Sea field programme and administrative staff.

World's largest floating University, World Odyssey docks at the port of Mombasa on February 9, 2024. /KENYA PORTS AUTHORITY

It has nine classrooms, each with state-of-the-art technology to support learning plus a fitness space including an indoor gym. Outside features include a spacious sun deck for recreational activities, including a basketball and a volleyball court. It also has a pool where passengers can enjoy swimming.

The floating campus had an extensive visit to the country calling the port last year and in 2022. Port of Mombasa has recorded an increase in cruise vessel calls pointing to improved connectivity of the port and a hub for cruise tourism in Africa.

Last week, Mombasa port hosted; MSC Poesia one of the biggest cruise vessels to have called the port.

Supreme Court Photographer's Rise From Selling Street Food, Joho's Waiter

Marvin Chege — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 15:15:17 +0300

Supreme Court photographer, Zakheem Rajan, on Friday, February 2 officially received his Head of State Commendation (HSc) medal from President William Ruto, culminating his rise from being a street food vendor to serving three Chief Justices.

He expressed humility for his unwavering services in his words of gratitude shared through his X handle.

"Honoured to officially receive my Head of State Commendation medal from Chief Justice Martha Koome, awarded to me earlier by H. E. the President.

"I am deeply humbled by the recommendation from Her Ladyship the CJ. I say asante for the recognition and I reaffirm my unwavering commitment to the Judiciary and service to the people of Kenya," he wrote.

Supreme Court photographer Zakheem Rajan with Chief Justice Martha Koome (right) and her deputy, Philomena Mwilu (left). /ZAKHEEM RAJAN

Rajan is one of the little-known individuals who stands out in the current Judiciary, and not for the heavy lifting as the judges do every day but behind the lens, being in charge of the visibility in the media and digital space for the third arm of government.

As the Judiciary is a centre of public attention, its communication department must always be on top of matters, which means regular updates and quality photos daily.

Rajan would know this very well; he became famous owing to his media coverage of the 2022 presidential election petition at the Supreme Court. He has had the privilege of working with not just Chief Justice Martha Karambu Koome but two of her predecessors.

In his role, he has served two emeritus Chief Justices, Willy Mutunga and David Maraga. His exemplary workmanship has further earned him an opportunity to serve Kenya's first female Chief Justice, Martha Koome.

Rajan is a communications practitioner at the Judiciary of Kenya who is tasked with covering the public, media, and stakeholder engagements within the Judiciary. He is also mandated with implementing strategies that enhance judicial visibility.

However, he rose from working as a street food vendor in his humble days in Mombasa after his high school education, his first working stint before moving to a hotel in the Coastal city to work as a waiter.

It was here that he met powerful political leaders from the region including the outgoing Mombasa Governor, Hassan Ali Joho, who at the time was campaigning for a parliamentary seat.

"People wanted to know about my journey, 14 years ago, I worked in a restaurant in Mombasa. Governor Hassan Ali Joho would frequently come as he was vying for MP. I would serve him tea and mandazi," Rajan wrote on his social media page in 2022.

Although he did not reveal more details, his big break came when he was hired by the Judiciary and for being the man behind the Judiciary's, specifically the Supreme Court, pictures and videos, Rajan became a nationwide celebrity throughout the 2022 petition period in August-September.

His photographs are more than mere snapshots; they're windows into the inner workings of the Judiciary, conveying the gravitas of legal proceedings and the humanity behind the robes.

Other than photography, Rajan makes use of his social media pages to influence other young Kenyans with his grass-to-grace stories.

His keen eye and dedication to his craft have also made him a trusted advisor, offering judicial insights and garnering a significant following on his X page inching close to 50,000 followers at the time of publishing this article.

Rajan's journey into photojournalism is also steeped in familial legacy, following in the footsteps of his father, a legendary journalist who covered the Coastal Region through his lens.

Other than Rajan, Rose Wachuka Macharia is also an integral part of Koome's success as the Chief Justice in the public eye. The 35-year-old is the Chief of Staff in the Office of the CJ.

“From when I was a child growing up in Ol Kalou in Nyandarua County, I knew I wanted to serve. That is the currency of my satisfaction, not even money. It is about making an impact in the life of another person," she stated in a past interview.

Another key individual in Koome's wing is Michael Mumo, who serves as the Communications Advisor in the Office of the CJ. He was popularly known for his stint at Capital FM where he was an Editorial Director.

Supreme Court photographer, Zakheem Rajan with his two cameras. /ZAKHEEM RAJAN

Elizabeth Wathuti: Kenyan Activist Appointed To Global Commission Led By Singapore President

Marvin Chege — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 15:53:34 +0300

Kenyan climate activist Elizabeth Wathuti has been appointed to the Global Commission on the Economics of Water (GCEW) as a commissioner.

The announcement was made by the prestigious international body on Thursday, February 1. Her appointment to the GCEW is a testament to her significant contributions to environmental causes.

Also appointed alongside Wathuti was another environmental advocate, Ma Jun, founder of China’s Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs (IPE) and a prominent figure in environmental conservation.

He is renowned for this pioneering book “China’s Water Crisis” and was named one of TIME Magazine’s World’s 100 Most Influential People.

Graphic announcing the appointment of Elizabeth Wathuti as a commissioner of the Global Commission on the Economics of Water (GCEW). /GLOBAL COMMISSION ON THE ECONOMICS OF WATER

The 5th in-person GCEW Retreat in Zurich, Switzerland, witnessed the official welcome of Wathuti alongside other distinguished Commissioners and Co-chairs.

Wathuti, reflecting on her appointment, said, “As I join the Global Commission on the Economics of Water, I’m reminded that water is the essence of life, linking our environment, climate, nature, communities, and people. This appointment is a profound opportunity for me to bring these connections, on-ground locally-led solutions, and innovations to the forefront of global discourse.”

“I aim to infuse our discussions with a sense of urgency, and human lived experiences, ensuring that our actions today safeguard water for everyone, now and in the future. This is our moment to create a wave of positive change,” she added.

Wathuti emphasized the urgency of science-driven advocacy and action for sustainable water management and universal access to safe drinking water.

Her commitment to bridging the gap between local initiatives and global policies promises a fresh perspective within the Commission.

Ma Jun on his part emphasized the importance of a global water data infrastructure, stating, “Building a global water data infrastructure is essential to safeguard water as a global common good. It will empower multi-stakeholder governance, enable informed decision-making by governments, create corporate accountability and market incentives, and enable innovative solutions.”

The appointment of Wathuti aligns with Kenya's ongoing efforts to address environmental challenges and underscores the significance of youth-led initiatives in shaping international policies.

The commission is led by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam of the Republic of Singapore, Professor Mariana Mazzucato from University College London, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, and Professor Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.

The founder of the Green Generation Initiative and Head of Campaigns at the Wangari Maathai Foundation was on September 12, 2023 unveiled among a list of high net worth and impactful world leaders in Time Magazines' annual TIME100 Impact Awards.

Wathuti was praised by the global magazine for her efforts in environmental conservation for the new generation through planting more than 30,000 trees in her home country since she founded the Green Generation organization in 2016.

Profile & First Taste of Popularity

Wathuti really burst into the limelight when she addressed more than 100 heads of state at COP26 in 2021, detailing how the climate crisis is already exacting a devastating toll on low-income countries and imploring leaders of the developed world to act urgently.

In her address at the United Nations (UN) climate change conference in Glasgow in November 2021, Wathuti's impassioned speech convinced United States (US) President Joe Biden to break security protocol.

Wathuti had served as the lead coordinator of the first-ever African Youth Climate Assembly, which sought to unite and amplify the perspective of young Africans in international climate discussions.

She helped craft a three-year strategy for the Wangari Maathai Youth Hub—a nonprofit organization, dedicated to the legacy of the late Kenyan environmental and social activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai, that seeks to encourage leadership and self-development among children and young adults.

Nairobi Institute of Business Studies Founder Lizzie Wanyoike Dies

admin — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 19:40:13 +0300

Elizabeth Muthoni Wanyoike, known to many as Lizzie Wanyoike, who was the founder of the iconic Nairobi Institute of Business Studies (NIBS), is dead.

Wanyoike, credited with significant contributions to Kenya's education sector first-hand, died on Sunday, January 14, according to a family member who revealed to the press.

"In loving memory of a remarkable educator. Her passion ignited minds, her kindness touched hearts. A beacon of wisdom, she left an indelible mark on countless lives, shaping futures with grace," read her eulogy.

The late Lizzie Wanyoike who founded NIBS College. /FILE

A source close to the family member revealed to the press that Wanyoike had battled an illness since 2023.

Plans for her funeral and burial are currently underway. Wanyoike was also the founder of the Emory Hotel and Lizzie Preparatory Schools.

Former Inooro TV News anchor Winrose Wangui was among Kenyans who condoled with Wanyoike's family noting that her death was 'very devastating.'

The businesswoman, educator, entrepreneur and philanthropist has been through a lot of challenges throughout her life but she persevered and overcame them to become a leader in the industry.

She rose from being a humble teacher earning Ksh961 per month, to an epitome of success and a role model to all young girls, women and society alike. Viral Tea takes a look at her biography:

Lizzie Wanyoike Early Life

Wanyoike was born in 1951 in Murang’a County to a Village chief (father and a peasant farmer (mother). The sixth born in a family of 10 attended Gathuki-ini Primary School, in Wathenge and then joined Kahuhia Girls High School, in Karuri, both in Muranga County.

After High School, she joined Kenyatta University College (present-day Kenyatta University) and graduated with a Diploma in Education.

Career

The Wanyoike's humble beginnings in her career began in 1970 when she worked as a tutor and principal at a city college.

She was poached by the government and posted to State House Girls Nairobi as a teacher in 1972, earning a monthly salary of Ksh961. Later on, she realised that she was bound to be something better than being employed.

Together with her husband and other partners, they founded Temple College of Secretarial Studies where she taught secretarial courses.

Wanyoike later felt a desire for expansion by introducing newer courses into the school's curriculum. She approached management with new ideas regarding new courses and curriculums they were to implement but the proposals were rejected.

“I was pushing for the introduction of more courses other than secretarial units, to meet the growing demand for education, but the management would not listen. And even though the institution was making a profit, I was concerned about the growing demand for training in other areas.

“By 1999 I was sure that the realities of a moving global economy required more challenging ventures to tap into the immense benefits of a globalised economy. I quit that partnership,” she stated in a past interview.

NIBS

With a loan of Ksh6 million and a loan of Ksh4 million from a local bank, Wanyoike founded NIBS in 1999 by renting a building where she kicked off the institution with just 25 students and two teachers.

The institution got to a rocky start but gathered momentum in later years. By 2010, she had raised Ksh134 million with which she built the college’s main campus on a 10-acre piece of land in Ruiru-Kimbo, Kiambu County.

By 2018, the College had grown to a population of over 6,000 students, and 250 tutors spread across four campuses which included Ongata Rongai, Thika Town, Nairobi Central Business District and Ruiru-Kimbo.

An image of NIBS College along Moi Avenue in Nairobi. /FILE

Other investments

Other than education, the late Wanyoike constructed a Ksh400 million hotel in Kileleshwa in 2018 and christened it the NIBS Hotel. This was with a view of establishing a five-star hotel that would attract revenue for the school while also providing an attachment and internship environment for NIBS' hospitality students.

She has also diversified her investment portfolio to include sectors such as real estate and the financial markets.

Marriage

Before her demise, Wanyoike was married to her husband for 25 years before they parted ways. He was 16 years older than her.

Differences in marriage starting from preferences in interests and interactions due to their age differences, resulted in quarrels.

He was into politics, and she had her interests, so on some occasions, they differed on what should be done and how.

Talk To It- 7 Things To Do During A Hyena Attack

admin — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 15:35:32 +0300

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has issued seven guidelines one should follow in the event they come face to face with a hyena.

This is in response to the worryingly increasing rate of hyena attacks which have sparked fear amongst residents of Juja, Kiambu County.

KWS in a statement on Tuesday, January 9 explained that though hyenas are useful scavengers that clean the ecosystem by getting rid of discarded bones and debris thus preventing the spread of zoonotic diseases, they are not as hardworking predators as lions or cheetahs.

An infographic showing ways to survive a hyena attack. /KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE

Hyenas therefore use unique ways to track down their prey, which includes relying on scavenging birds such as vultures who monitor for easy meals such as dead meat from the sky.

"It is lazy and prefers scavenging easy meals e.g. dead meat rather than chasing prey. During the day, they can be spotted staring at the sky, taking cues from circling vultures as their own unique GPS system to locate a kill," stated KWS in part.

At times, hyenas can attack people and in case of an encounter with one, it is advisable to counter the attack through the use of the following safety tips:

First, stop and don't run as a predator, a hyena will instinctively chase animals which run away.

Furthermore, you are advised not to lie down or pretend to be dead as this will increase the animal's curiosity.

Kenyans are also advised not to show their fears, which can be done by keeping themselves calm by talking to the hyenas.

Minimize movements at night as hyenas are nocturnal, so be cautious when moving during nighttime.

"Don't move away until the hyena does and when you do, continue to face its direction. If it growls or giggles, Stand your ground and never run away. but don't move any closer," added KWS.

"Make a loud noise, look aggressive and frightening, as if you are going to attack."

In December 2023, KWS managed to capture two hyenas in an operation dubbed Ondoa Fisi, which was achieved through the use of a predator trap set in the area within the populous sub-county.

Operation Ondoa Fisi was launched following complaints from people in the area regarding the wild animals terrorising the residents, some of which have been responsible for nightmare attacks on people near human settlements.

Earlier in December, angry residents of Nyacaba village in Juja sub-county blocked a section of Thika Road and stopped police officers from collecting the body of a middle-aged woman who was mauled to death by suspected hyenas.

It was believed that the woman was walking from Nyacaba village to Ndarugu coffee plantation when she was attacked by the animals.

KWS later urged the Kiambu County government to install residential lighting as well as construct livestock-proof pens to prevent hyena attacks on both cattle and other livestock as well as the residents themselves, most of whom are returning home late from their duties.

The wildlife body also asked the county government to restore the abandoned quarries, fence operational quarries, and the Makongeni dumpsite which may act as popular hiding spots for the hyenas.

Hyena captured at Kimincha Farm in Juja, Kiambu County. /KWS

Lewis Hamilton, Jeff Koinange & Famous People Who Share Birthday With Raila

admin — Sun, 07 Jan 2024 15:05:33 +0300

Of all the special milestones that we as human beings celebrate while we are alive, nothing defeats turning a year older.

Former Prime Minister and Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila Odinga, marks his birthday every January 7 and for his 79th birthday, he had something special in mind for his supporters.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party on Sunday, January 7 shared a series of birthday cakes while announcing its countrywide cake-cutting ceremony spread out across different regions, including in Malindi where Raila will be cutting them from 3 pm at the residence of former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho.

The cakes bear significance in Raila's push for maandamano (protests) through messages aimed at pressuring President William Ruto's government to lower the cost of living.

Cakes for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's Birthday celebrations. /ODM KENYA

"There will be cake-cutting ceremonies across the county at 3:00 pm today at designated places to celebrate PL Raila Odinga’s birthday. The cutting of the cake will be symbolic… ‘cut the cost of living and make life bearable for Kenyans’," the statement read.

Among other places where the cake-cutting would take place include Kisii CBD roundabout, Siaya Governor's Park, the Tom Mboya Statue in Nairobi CBD and Maili Tatu in Maua, Meru county

Other areas include Taxi Park in Busia, Mikindani Primary School in Mombasa, Hotel Conrad in Kitengela, Kajiado, Mabriver in Kwale, Narok and Kisumu CBD.

Amidst a flurry of messages of goodwill to Raila on his special day, Kenyans should know that January 7 is an even more special day for him as he shares his birthday with a series of Kenyan and world-famous personalities.

Citizen TV prime-time news anchor and renowned media personality Jeff Koinange turns 58 today, having earned accolades for his contribution and achievements in the media industry.

His former colleague, Julie Gichuru, also turned a year older on January 7.

"I am brimming with joy and gratitude. Thankful for family, friends, life and love. Each new day brings opportunity and challenge, and I continue to be thankful for both. Thankful for the gift of life. Thankful for the gift of love. Thankful for the lessons and growth. May God bless you all, always," she stated on Instagram marking her 50th birthday.

Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga and Thirdway Alliance Secretary General Fred Okang'o also have their birthdays on that date.

Raila is also joined by international celebrities marking their birthdays on January 7 such as motorsport legend Lewis Hamilton, actor Nicholas Cage as well as former Chelsea and Real Madrid forward Eden Hazard.

Also included are Electronic Dance Music (EDM) DJ Hardwell, Avengers actor Jeremy Renner, middle-distance runner Caster Semenya, junior United States (US) senator Rand Paul and Blue Ivy Carter, the first-born daughter of musicians Beyoncé and Jay-Z.

Others include Irrfan Khan, an Indian film producer & actor known for films such as Slumdog Millionaire and Life of Pi and Ruth Negga, an Irish-Ethiopian actress who starred in films such as World War Z and 12 Years a Slave and series such as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Deceased persons who were born on January 7 included Hudson Fysh, who was an Australian aviator, businessman and co-founder of Australian air carrier Qantas, Millard Fillmore who was the 13th President of the United States (US) and Italian Pope Gregory XIII who introduced the Gregorian (New Style) calendar in 1582.

Others include Soviet-Russian cosmonaut Valery Kubasov who performed the 1st welding experiments in space and Charles Addams, an American artist and cartoonist for New Yorker and The Addams Family known for darkly humorous and macabre characters.

A list of famous people who share a birthday with Raila Odinga. /VIRAL TEA KE ARCHIVES

Inside Luxury Lifestyle Of Socialite Starlet Wahu Murdered In Airbnb [PHOTOS]

Marvin Chege — Sat, 06 Jan 2024 15:18:48 +0300

Before reports emerged regarding her brutal murder inside a South B, Nairobi Airbnb apartment in an alleged case of a date gone wrong, the name Starlet Wahu Mwangi was only commonly associated with controversial Nairobi pastor, Prophet Victor Kanyari, who is her brother.

Wahu was killed inside the apartment with K24 revealing CCTV footage showing her entering the Airbnb apartment in the company of a man, John Matara, who is currently in custody as a prime suspect in the murder.

The 26-year-old socialite's lifeless body was found by police who broke into the room which was locked from outside, soaked in blood and having multiple bruises as well as stab wounds all around the thighs, a visible sign of a scuffle in the apartment.

CCTV footage showing Starlet Wahu with a man at an Airbnb apartment in Nairobi's South B. /K24

According to the police, Wahu bled to death from the wounds, while Matara fled the scene with a stab wound of his own and was tracked down by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives to Mbagathi Hospital where he was found undergoing treatment.

Wahu Starlet Profile

Other than being related to Pastor Kanyari, Wahu was also known by the nickname Icey Wife and was a prominent figure in the beauty world, known for selling designer clothes and shoes.

Viral Tea has exclusively managed to gain access to her private Instagram account where her posts showcase her vibrant personality, with a particular emphasis on her fashion sense and zest for life.

Her very last post on the platform was on November 20, 2023, showing her taking a mirror selfie and showcasing her wholly black outfit coupled with black boots. She captioned it "Satisfy your soul, not society".

Three days ago, she posted on her Instagram stories holding a bouquet of roses and another of her clutching her handbag while seated in the driver's seat of a luxurious Mercedes-Benz vehicle.

Going by her posts, Wahu was very attractive and had inviting looks that would resemble a woman who is way out of the leagues of many Kenyan men.

The late Starlet Wahu posing for a photo. /INSTAGRAM.WAHU STARLET

Despite her coming from a Christian family, she was not the conservative type after she was known for posting raunchy photos of her waspy figure, going out and piercings on her nipples, a matter which made her gain social media fame as far back as 2015.

Pastor Kanyari Speaks On Wahu Starlet Murder

Pastor Kanyari has since broken his silence regarding his sister's murder, stating that they last spent time together on New Year's Eve (December 31, 2023) and indicating that the man linked to her murder was not known to him.

“I am heartbroken; she was doing so well in life. We last met on Christmas, and on December 31, we spent time together at home. We had not seen the man before.

"We learned about him after her death. This is so tragic for us, the family, and even her friends. May her soul rest in peace,” Pastor Kanyari mourned in a statement reported by Nairobi News.

The relationship between Wahu and her suspected killer is being probed. According to postmortem results, Wahu died as a result of haemorrhage, which is the loss of blood from a damaged blood vessel, and her body also showed signs of strangulation.

Among the items recovered included a Samsung phone, condoms, the victim's clothes, bhang, a bottle of alcohol and a bloody kitchen knife in the room, as well as the HIV test kit which indicated that both Wahu and Matara had undergone testing for their HIV status beforehand.

According to reports, she is set to be laid to rest today, January 6, at her parents’ home in Kamulu.

More photos of Starlet Wahu:

The late Starlet Wahu posing for a photo. /INSTAGRAM.WAHU STARLET

CS Ababu Namwamba Enjoys Ride In Ksh48 Million Lamborghini [VIDEO]

Marvin Chege — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 13:52:50 +0300

Sports Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ababu Namwamba in October 2023 got a rare opportunity to ride in the back seat of a Lamborghini Urus, one of the fastest Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) in the world.

During the first edition of OneLife Safari Rally Kenya that took place between Nairobi and Malindi from Saturday, October 28, 2023, to Saturday, November 4, 2023, the CS climbed aboard the Urus' backseat where he experienced the vehicle's raw power.

In adherence to Lamborghini's love for speed, the Urus sprinted down Parliament Road much to Ababu's excitement, exclaiming "That take-off is insane, absolutely insane!"

Here is the video:

CS Ababu Namwamba enjoying a ride in the backseat of a Lamborghini Urus.

It costs around Ksh36 million for the basic trim, while the top-range model goes for around Ksh48 million before taxes.

????: One Life Rally (Instagram) pic.twitter.com/k01Ehn46D3
— Marvin Chege (@marvin_chege10) January 5, 2024

Mixed reactions ensued on social media with some netizens claiming that the CS would move mountains to acquire the SUV for himself.

Ababu was also photographed interacting with fans who had flocked to the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in their thousands for the OneLife Rally event.

On Sunday, October 22, OneLife Rally shared a video of a Lamborghini Urus Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) being loaded onto a cargo plane bound for Kenya, hours after the car was included among its lineup of cars to feature in the motorsports feat.

Features Of Lamborghini Urus

One of the world's most expensive SUVs is no stranger to Kenyan roads as a yellow version of the car was first spotted in Kenya a few years back and said to be owned by a local businessman.

The SUV is among many cars said to be owned by Kenyans but registered in neighbouring Uganda. Many people who import vehicles through Tanzania, Uganda and occasionally South Sudan dodge paying huge Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) taxes, which can be as high as the car's price.

An orange Urus was spotted in Mombasa on January 16, 2023. The Urus is one of the fastest vehicles of its class in the world and costs around Ksh36 million for the basic trim, while the top-range model goes for around Ksh48 million before taxes.

The performance-oriented vehicle, the first super SUV by the Italian carmaker, is powered by a Lamborghini twin-turbo V8 engine producing 675 horsepower. This engine is mated to an 8-gear automatic transmission.

Speed is in the vehicle’s DNA, and it can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds and from 0 to 160 in 8.4 seconds. The Urus has a top speed of 305 km/h.

“The Urus enables you to discover any terrain, from track to sand, ice, gravel or rocks. It is the absolute all-around super sports car and more,” Lamborghini describes the vehicle.

The OneLife Rally car enthusiasts brought Nairobi to a standstill at KICC where thousands of Kenyans thronged the venue to meet them.

They also got an opportunity to glance at the sports vehicles that included the Urus, a Ferrari 458 Italia, a Porsche 911 GT3, a Porsche Macan GTS, a Ford Ranger 4x4, a Ford Raptor F150 and a Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid.

After the event, they embarked on a 258-kilometre drive to the Maasai Mara to relish the beautiful flora and fauna in a seven-day cruise that also saw them cover Amboseli and Tsavo West National Park while also travelling to the Coast region in Malindi.

Throughout the journey, the group filmed the cars in action while also honouring the local communities by donating to multiple charities.

The group, hailing from Slovenia, began by shipping luxury cars either by plane or sea.

"Thank you Kenya, for everything, the breathtaking moments, the experiences, stunning nature and incredible moments, Each moment was special, something beyond what we have ever experienced before," one of the foreigners described the Kenya tour.

Poster showing the OneLife Rally event held in Kenya between October and November 2023. /ONELIFE RALLY

Ruto's Possible Similarities To Uhuru Following Attacks On Judiciary

admin — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 14:15:53 +0300

President William Ruto's no-holds-barred attack on the Judiciary even though he expressed respect for the institution, sparked memories among some circles of the days when his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta was fond of picking verbal battles with judicial officers and expressing disdain for court orders.

On Tuesday, January 2, while speaking during the burial of Michael Waweru, father of Nyandarua Senator John Methu in Nyandarua, the President spent close to 12 minutes accusing unnamed judicial officers of blocking his transformative agenda for Kenya.

He claimed that a select few were misusing the powers of the courts to preserve the status quo and impede inclusive growth, condemning what he termed was "judicial impunity by corrupt judicial officers."

"Our Judiciary, we respect you but judicial impunity by corrupt judicial officers must stop in Kenya. We will stop it, whatever it takes. The Judiciary must submit itself to the constitution and to the people of Kenya," the President committed.

An image of a courtroom in Kenya. /FILE

“We will protect the independence of the Judiciary. But we will not allow selfish individuals to take it captive."

When Ruto was sworn in as the fifth President of the Republic of Kenya, he swore to protect the 2010 Constitution and uphold judicial independence, with his first-ever order being to appoint the six Court of Appeal judges Uhuru had refused to appoint on grounds that there were adverse reports against them from the intelligence service.

During the swearing-in of the Judges at State House in Nairobi, President Ruto said he would do anything within his powers to make sure that the country is governed by the rule of law and not the rule of man.

“Kenya can only be better if we become a country of the rule of law. Anything else leads to anarchy and confusion. We are all equal before the law,” he said then.

“Even as President I have limitations and I should respect them, just like all other arms of government have limitations. We must all live within our mandates… It is the rule of law, not the rule of man.”

But 16 months into his Presidency, Ruto's stance appears to have changed and has now declared war on the judges and judicial officials he terms as “corrupt” and are being used to derail his government agenda through a series of petitions that have prompted the High Court to suspend implementation of his policies.

“Those who are trying to stop me have benefited by working with corrupt judicial officials to ensure that my projects are derailed but I will not be intimidated,” President Ruto said on Tuesday.

“Judicial impunity must stop in Kenya...we will stop it..ati sasa hii barabara mahakama imesema tusijenge...tungoje Judiciary mpaka ituambie tujenge.... bwana PS weka pesa kwa hii barabara tuanze kazi (now they said that the courts ordered that we don't build this road...we wait for the Judiciary to tell us to build it...PS, put money on this road so that we can start working)."

On several occasions, the Judiciary proved unpopular to Uhuru’s administration which resorted to defying court decisions, a move that prompted former Chief Justice David Maraga to call him out.

“They are trying to control the Judiciary...They want to make us puppets...Some CSs are saying I will go before the year ends, kumbe hii Kenya ina wenyewe (Kenya has owners).

"I don’t serve under the mercy of anybody,” Maraga wailed at the footsteps of the Supreme Court in an address that drew lots of mixed reactions.

When the High Court declared his Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) pet project set to change the Constitution of Kenya 2010 unconstitutional, null and void, Uhuru termed it an irresponsible ruling meant to undermine the will of Kenya’s people.

“From nullification of a presidential election in 2017 to an attempt to stop the will of the people as expressed through BBI, the Judiciary has tested our constitutional limits,” Uhuru said then.

“Their decisions must consider the letter of the law, but fundamentally the spirit of the law must also guide them. And I say so because the spirit of the law is the light that will illuminate the burden of the choices they make.”

The courts have not been kind to Ruto, with the 1.5 per cent Housing Levy and the appointment of 50 Chief Administrative Secretaries (CAS) thrown out and the new citizen charges as well as the Social Health Insurance Act halted.

However, on the Housing Levy, the High Court stayed the ruling to allow for the government to appeal the decision. This is set to expire on January 10, 2024.

President William Ruto signs Finance Bill 2023 into Law at State House, Nairobi on Monday, June 26, 2023. /PCS

How To Apply For New Travel Requirements After Kenya Abolished Visas

Marvin Chege — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 13:18:12 +0300

The government has launched the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to facilitate visits to Kenya following President William Ruto's announcement that visitors from around the world will enter Kenya without having to apply for a visa, a historic directive in the country's 60-year history.

Starting January 2024, all travellers will not require a visa to travel to Kenya, with the Head of State remarking that Kenya is considered the cradle of humankind. However, the eTA will instead be used to facilitate entry into the country for foreign travellers.

"To implement this new policy, we have developed a digital platform to ensure that all travellers to Kenya are identified in advance on an electronic platform. All travellers will obtain electronic travel authorisation," he stated during his Jamhuri Day speech on December 12, 2023.

An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is an automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to a specific country without requiring a traditional visa. It is an electronic form of permission that travellers must obtain before boarding a flight or entering the destination country.

A person holding a Kenyan passport. /FILE

ETAs are often used to streamline the entry process, enhance security, and facilitate easier monitoring of travellers.

Key features of Electronic Travel Authorization include:

Online Application: Travelers typically apply for an ETA online through an official website designated by the destination country's immigration authorities.
Quick Processing: ETAs are designed for swift processing, often providing approval or denial within a short period.
Automated System: The authorization process is usually automated and relies on information provided by the traveller, which is cross-checked against databases for security and eligibility.
Validity Period: An ETA is generally valid for a specific duration, allowing the traveller to enter the country within that timeframe. The length of validity varies depending on the country and the purpose of the visit.
Multiple Use or Single Use: Some ETAs are valid for multiple entries over a specified period, while others may be single-entry only.
Compatibility with Visa Waiver Programs: ETAs are often associated with countries that have visa waiver programs, allowing travellers from certain nations to enter for short stays without a visa.

Normally, one is required to have a valid passport for verification, and will also be needed to pay a fee. In some cases, additional identification documents may be required before the authorization is validated.

The ETA is then electronically linked to one’s passport or travel document.

Under the visa-free policy, Kenya will begin using the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to identify visitors entering its soil. Therefore, the eTA becomes mandatory for all foreign visitors, except for citizens from the East African Community (EAC) Member States.

The eight EAC Member States include Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Somalia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania.

How to Apply for eTA

Apply Online via the official website www.etakenya.go.ke or the upcoming "Kenya Travel Authorization" mobile app (available from January).
Click "Apply Now" on the website.
Follow the instructions carefully.
Ensure accurate data entry.
Submit the application.

Confirmation Emails

You will receive an email confirming receipt of your application.
If applicable, you will receive an email confirming payment receipt.
Upon the immigration officer's decision, you will receive an email confirming approval/refusal.

For children & minors

All foreign visitors, including children and infants under 18 years of age must apply for an eTA. The legal guardian, parent, or accompanying adult is responsible for completing the application.

Required Information for Application

Valid passport
A recent passport picture or a selfie picture taken during the application process
Contact details (home address, telephone, email)
Travel information and flight itinerary
Proof of booking for accommodation
Yellow fever vaccination certificate if coming from endemic countries
Credit/debit card information for payment, if applicable

Duration & When To Apply

The standard processing time is three working days, but visitors can opt for premium services for faster turnaround.

It is advisable to apply at least three days before travel, with applications accepted up to three months in advance.

Checking Application Status

You can check your application status anytime at www.etakenya.go.ke. An email confirming receipt will be sent promptly after submission, containing a reference number for status checks.

Mobile App

For frequent travellers, the "Kenya Travel Authorization" mobile app, launching in January, allows secure storage of travel documents and profiles for future use.

Points To Note

An eTA does not guarantee permission to travel but is a prerequisite for boarding.
The eTA is valid for a single entry and must be redone for each journey.
It is obligatory to present a valid eTA during check-in and boarding.
Ensure you have other necessary documents like your passport and boarding pass.
Be prepared for possible questioning at departure or arrival points.

Screengrab of the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) Kenya page. /ETA KENYA

ETA Kenya Charges

While the visa-free entry is expected to be scrapped once the directive takes effect in January 2024, this does not mean that global citizens can enter Kenya...without paying anything.

In a gazette notice in November 2023, the government through the Ministry of Interior announced that ETA charges would be $30 (approximately Ksh4,500).

The same notice revealed that fees for single journey visas were raised from Ksh7,572 to Ksh15,145 while the fee for a multiple journey visa went up from Ksh15,145 to Ksh75,725.

Extending a visa, which was initially free was to set one back Ksh30,290 while the application for visas for Kenyan children which was also free would cost the same price.

The charges were meant to take effect on January 1, 2024, following public participation, as the Ministry of Interior had initially revoked the charges from taking immediate effect in November 2023.

Old Mutual Building On Fire & 2 Events That Defined New Year's Eve 2023

admin — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 18:03:57 +0300

If you're just waking up now and reading this article, then you know by now that New Year's Eve 2023 was a movie in Kenya.

In just one night, the country turned its attention to President William Ruto's New Year message, Christina Shusho's concert and the rare matter of the Old Mutual Towers in Nairobi fire incident that happened just moments after the exhilarating fireworks show.

Viral Tea takes a look at three events that sparked conversation on New Year's Eve:

Old Mutual Tower on fire

Old Mutual Towers in Nairobi's Upperhill area has always been a hotspot for Nairobi residents in an era where watching fireworks shows for free in the city has become a norm these days.

As this writer observed when he visited the viewing area, high activity was witnessed with the road leading up to the towers closed and a mini concert held as Kenyans waited to be treated with all manner of fireworks displays. Then, a headline maker happened.

A photo of Old Mutual Towers Building engulfed in flames during the New Year Celebrations on January 1, 2024. /PHOTO

The building on Sunday, December 31, 2023, caught fire during the New Year's celebrations, hours after the government issued a warning regarding Kenyans intending to hold fireworks displays without permits.

The otherwise exciting fireworks display show was followed by smoke engulfing the air before huge flames were spotted at the top of the building.

"We acknowledge there was a minor incident after the New Year Fireworks celebration at the Old Mutual Tower. This was on the balcony of a top floor and it has since been contained," the statement read in part.

"We thank all our celebrants for the notifications and we wish you all a Happy 2024."

The occurrence went viral on social media and despite there being no reported injuries, experts investigated the fire for future lessons as there were fears that it would spread to other upper floors and cause more damage.

The State Department for Mining on Saturday, December 30 cautioned Kenyans on handling fireworks as any careless handling has the potential to turn into a serious accident, trigger fire outbreaks, cause loss of property and even deaths.

Christina Shusho's Figure-Hugging Black Dress At Highly Anticipated Concert

Tanzanian gospel artiste Christina Shusho became the centre of attention during her New Year concert owing to her satin black dress which excited fans online and offline as it accentuated her curves.

After Kenyans demanded that she hold a Crossover concert, she performed on December 31 at Garden City Mall in Nairobi which coincided with the comedy show hosted by the iconic comedian Daniel 'Churchill' Ndambuki. The concert was a success, with Shusho's fans flocking to the event to see her epic performance.

Shusho did not disappoint her fans, as she showed up on stage stylishly when she shut down the event. She had a change of three pieces of outfit as well as well-done makeup and covered herself with the Kenyan flag.

However, netizens questioned the figure-hugging black dress and wondered if it satisfied the standards of a gospel musician of her calibre.

Screengrabs of Christina Shusho's body-hugging dress at her concert on December 31, 2023. /TUKO.CO.KE

"Hii dress nka alibuy Kenya coz (She probably bought this dress in Kenya because) she has never failed us when it comes to dressings."

"Hiyo dress inachoma gospel artist aifai ukweli isemwe acheni (The dress is ruining the reputation of gospel artists, the truth must be said)," the comments read.

The event not only featured the soul-stirring performances of Christina Shusho but also showcased the incredible talents of artists such as Solomon Mkubwa, Mercy Masika, and the Zablon singers.

Adding a touch of humour to the mix, comedians Tom Daktari, Nicki Bigfish, Terrence Creative, and his wife Milly Chebby brought laughter and joy to the audience, making it a night filled with diverse entertainment.

Ruto Stings Raila In New Year's Message

President Ruto used the New Year's message at the State Lodge in Nakuru County to rip into the opposition for jeopardising the government agenda by derailing and sabotaging the delivery of public programs.

He also accused the opposition of spreading division, conflict and anarchy in the country, blaming individuals with selfish interests for the numerous petitions filed in court against his policies

"You will agree with me that there is something fundamentally wrong with the opposition without any viable alternative whose only purpose is division, conflict and anarchy. There is something wrong with litigations sponsored by hostage-taking vested interests with the sole aim of delaying, derailing and sabotaging the delivery of public programs and defeating public interest.

"Time and time again, Kenyans have clearly and manifestly demonstrated their devotion to pursuing opportunities for progress by voting for progressive policies, as they did in the last election," Ruto hit out at the opposition led by Raila Odinga.

The head of state observed that most in the country are focused on what would spur the country to greatness, something he believed was hindered by various leaders for years who wanted to maintain the status quo by excluding many and benefitting a handful

"Kenyans are ready to propel their nation to greatness. What has held them back is a leadership invested in the status quo which excludes the majority to only benefit a few.

"A politics comfortable with keeping millions in want and indignity to preserve the illegitimate privileges of a few and a resultant institutional system in which the disenfranchisement of ordinary people is the yardstick of public policy," the president added.

This was seen as a response to Raila's threats to instigate fresh anti-government protests in 2024 if Ruto's government did not revoke punitive taxes as well as the Finance Act, which have been blamed for the rising cost of living in the country.

"We told them not to increase taxes but they went ahead and raised the taxes, worsening the situation. These taxes must be revoked, the Finance Act must be removed. If they don't we will return to the streets in 2024," said Raila while speaking in Nyanza on December 30, 2023.

President William Ruto speaking at State Lodge, Nakuru County on December 31, 2023. /PCS

6 Ways Heavy Trucks Destroy Roads

admin — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 15:08:06 +0300

When Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir's administration announced a ban on heavy trucks using major roads within the city's Central Business District (CBD) until February 18, 2024, a section of Kenyans were left confused about what this meant.

Currently, the Mombasa Department of Transport and Infrastructure indicated that such vehicles would not be allowed to access the Northern Mainland Roads from 6.00 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. and from 3.30 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.

The roads include the Nyali Bridge, Fidel Odinga Road, Links Road, New Malindi Road and Old Malindi Road.

While the explanation given was to reduce traffic congestion in the city, there may be a hidden meaning as to why trucks were slapped with this directive, and why all trucks are banned from accessing specific roads across the country.

A truck plying a rural road in Kenya. /ONORPIK

Kenya has in recent years bolstered its road network by tarmacking major roads and some mostly used by vehicles, however, they keep being destroyed by overloaded vehicles, including heavy trucks, costing the government millions of shillings.

Lorries, also known as trucks or heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), can contribute to road damage through a variety of mechanisms. The extent of damage depends on factors such as the weight of the lorry, the type of road surface, and the frequency of heavy traffic.

Here are some ways in which lorries can damage roads:

Weight and Axle Load

The weight of lorries, especially when fully loaded, can exert significant pressure on the road surface. This pressure is distributed through the vehicle's axles.

The axle load, which is the weight supported by each set of wheels, is a critical factor. High axle loads can lead to the deformation and weakening of the road structure.

Repeated Loading

Frequent and repeated passage of lorries on the same road can lead to fatigue in the road materials.

The constant stress and strain from heavy vehicles can result in the development of cracks, potholes, and other forms of deterioration.

Vibration

The vibrations generated by lorries can contribute to the deterioration of road surfaces. Vibrations can weaken the bond between the layers of the road and accelerate the development of cracks.

Surface Wear

The friction between the tires of lorries and the road surface causes wear and tear.

Over time, this can lead to the loss of road surface material, especially in areas where braking, accelerating, or turning occurs frequently.

Road Design and Maintenance

Inadequate road design or poor maintenance can exacerbate the impact of lorries on roads.

For example, roads not designed to handle heavy traffic or roads with inadequate drainage systems may deteriorate more quickly when subjected to lorry traffic.

Environmental Conditions

Environmental factors such as temperature variations, precipitation, and freeze-thaw cycles can interact with the stress imposed by lorries, accelerating the deterioration of roads.

To mitigate the impact of lorries on roads, engineers and planners consider factors such as road design, load-bearing capacity, and maintenance practices.

Reinforcing roads, implementing weight restrictions, and regular maintenance can help extend the lifespan of road infrastructure and reduce the need for costly repairs.

In Kenya, hundreds of trucks are on the road each day transporting goods to and from the port of Mombasa. Importers and local manufacturers rely on trucks to get cargo to neighbouring landlocked countries such as Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.

Authorities impose a 48-tonne allowance for vehicles and use axle weight to determine the maximum load a truck can carry. However, cases of corruption at weighbridges are rampant, where some transporters collude with officials to evade weighing.

For instance, in 2015, 28 officers working at a weighbridge in the Coastal region were interdicted pending investigations, and some were charged in court for receiving bribes. One officer was alleged to have received an average of Ksh600,000 per month in bribes.

“The weighbridges are also sparsely located. A truck can go through the weighbridge in Mlolongo (about 20km southeast of Nairobi) and is found to be compliant, but by the time it gets to Westlands in Nairobi, it’s another story. There is a need for several virtual stations to do counterchecks,” Nicholus Kithinji, Managing Director - AEA Ltd (Formerly Avery East Africa Ltd), explained in a past interview.

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) recently embarked on installing virtual weighbridges across the country, notably along the Southern Bypass in Nairobi, which led to the closure of one of its sections on December 27, 2023, for close to one month.

KeNHA relies on the Traffic Act and the East Africa Vehicle Load Control Act to ensure compliance with axle weight limits among transporters.

The East Africa Vehicle Load Control Act stipulates that all vehicles weighing more than 3,500kgs must be weighed at weighbridges. Transporters who bypass or evade weighing stations are liable to prosecution.

A weighing station along the Southern Bypass. /FILE

Khalif Kairo, Gloria Ntazola & Other Kenyans Who Went Viral In 2023

Marvin Chege — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 17:27:46 +0300

As we bid goodbye to 2023, several ordinary Kenyans have had their lives turned upside down thanks to actions that have swiftly grabbed attention across the country's internet space.

Maybe they drove a county enforcement officer to a satellite town far from the city or got jilted by their lovers after travelling more than 500 kilometres. Maybe they shaped work culture at workplaces or changed the common perception of barbershops, these individuals have shaped conversations offline and online.

Social media doesn’t take holidays in Kenya as anything and everything can become a major topic of discussion across Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, WhatsApp and YouTube among others.

Here are the ordinary Kenyans who went viral in 2023:

Kevin Mboya

Kenyans took to Twitter on Friday, January 27 to express concern over social media influencer Kevin Mboya who has not posted on the platform for nearly two days. Mboya on Thursday, January 26 shared a post on Twitter (now X) revealing that he embarked on an 8-hour 35-minute journey from Nairobi to Kwale to surprise his girlfriend, who was celebrating her birthday then.

A collage of Kevin Mboya and flowers meant for his girlfriend. /TWITTER.KEVIN MBOYA

He added that he had not contacted her for the previous 24 hours, with the belief that she had forgotten that he knew when her birthday was.

Nonetheless, this didn’t stop him from embarking on the 502-kilometre journey to the coastal county, carrying a bouquet of flowers and waiting for her outside her office upon his arrival. He did not post the aftermath of the meeting as worries regarding his social media absence for close to two days grew.

Taking to his YouTube channel later on, Mboya called out his girlfriend for ghosting him.

“I told myself maybe she didn’t want to see me or maybe she had left the building with another door. I left and went back to my friend’s place in Mombasa. The next day it dawned on me that maybe this lady doesn’t want anything to do with me. I decided to come back to Nairobi," he stated.

“Up to today, she has never texted me back and even now I don’t see her status on WhatsApp, I don’t know what happened so that’s how things turned out. And that’s why I had to come back with the flowers because I never found the person I was supposed to give the flowers to so I had to come back with them. I’m yet to hear from her. Maybe one day she will come out and tell me this is what happened, as of now I know nothing."

Mboya would later ask doubters to let him heal in peace, while refuting claims that he was merely clout chasing. In an interview with NTV, he declined to have his girlfriend called on air to corroborate his story.

Gloria Ntazola

TikToker Gloria Ntazola went viral for confronting a Nairobi County enforcement officer, popularly known as Kanjo after entering her vehicle without her permission.

Ntazola in the video she posted on her Instagram profile was heard angrily and verbally compelling the officer to explain why he illegally entered her car in response to an alleged parking offence.

In a subsequent interview with NTV, she stood by her actions, revealing that she drove the officer all the way to Kitengela to a point where it was difficult to get a matatu back to the city, abandoning him there as a means of teaching him a lesson.

"I could not allow him to bully me. I locked him in my car and decided that we should waste time together. I wanted to take him on a long ride, but it was a bit late. I used the Expressway to Kitengela," she divulged.

Collage image of Ntazola Gloria confronting a Kanjo officer who entered her car without her permission. /TIKTOK

"I took him to Kitengela a place where he could not get a matatu. I left him there and told him to spend his money to get back to the CBD."

The incident sparked heated discussions online regarding the treatment of citizens by city council officers daily.

Ndagire Renova

Though from Burundi, the 14-year-old hawker who went viral after his groundnuts were spilt by County askaris, popularly known as kanjos along Luthuli Avenue.

The unfortunate incident which was heavily criticised on social media caught the attention of Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja who hosted Renova in his office in response to persistent calls by Nairobi residents to the governor to get to the bottom of the matter.

This followed a video showing him crying uncontrollably in front of members of the public during the incident.

However, the Governor divulged that Renova did not comply with the rules hawkers are expected to adhere to, following his fresh directives targeting their operations in the Central Business District (CBD).

Sakaja was also stunned to learn how the incident uncovered an ongoing child trafficking syndicate in the Kenyan capital, which prompted him to meet the Burundian Ambassador to Kenya Ntahonkuriye Emmernece asking her to rescue her fellow national.

Nairobi Governor Sakaja meets the hawker whose groundnuts were spilt by Nairobi 'Kanjos' on November 22, 2023. /JOHNSON SAKAJA

"This is a boy who should be in school in his home country. We will protect him and ensure his safety and well-being. In the end, all things work together for the good," he went on.

Mwende Frey

Fridah Mwende, alias Mwende Frey, the owner of the hugely-popular Man's Chamber Barbershop and Spa at Kamaki's along the Eastern Bypass in Ruiru, Kiambu County (near the Thika Road roundabout, opposite Delta petrol station), has been an internet sensation for close to a year for changing the scope of male-run barbershops worldwide.

The 28-year-old, one of the most prominent female barbers in Nairobi whose barbershop exclusively employs young, skilled women equipped with sultry overtures that have won her plaudits and critics at once, has had feature interviews with Citizen Digital and German state-owned international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle (DW) as well as features by several local digital media houses, Viral Tea included.

However, she went viral in October when she made an emotional appeal regarding online trolls who had been allegedly attacking her business.

Mwende revealed that despite her having developed a personal resistance to the trolls, she lamented waking up every day to derogatory comments on the social media platform, some have gone to the extent of demeaning her viral barbershop business.

"I have been there for you guys and you're trolling my business. You can troll me all you want but why are you trolling my business, like what's wrong with you KOX?" she lamented in tears.

"You guys need to change. People do a lot to keep their businesses pushing. For me, this is not about profits and it's not about clout. I can stop working and I won't struggle a day."

Comedian Njugush however poked holes into her sentiments, highlight a purported case of double standards on her part. He shared a screenshot of an X post on July 11, 2023, whereby Mwende had accused him of allegedly summoning his fan base and friends in the Kenyan showbiz and entertainment scene to defend him from a flood of online trolls.

Khalif Kairo

Kairo, born Joseph Kairo Wambui, is the founder of Kai & Karo Motors and currently leads as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He is a multifaceted individual known for his diverse talents and achievements.

His passion for automobiles goes beyond the ordinary; he is a genuine car enthusiast, a passion that not only drove up his interests but has also been the cornerstone of his business ventures.

He got his first job as a car salesman at age 18 after failing to join a university but quit the job to start his car import business. He was forced out by his partners but bounced back resoundingly to start his current company, growing it to one of the most popular car dealing companies in the country.

At the age of 21, Kairo became a father to a son who was born approximately two months after quitting his freelance job to pursue his brand. On X, he has gained popularity for both good and controversial reasons over his opinions, which can be seen by critical thinkers as a means of capitalizing on monetization on X.

Kairo's one-on-one meeting with Mwende at his offices on Wednesday, September 27 sparked widespread rumours of a collaboration in the works.

Mwende Frey meets Khalif Kairo at his office on September 27, 2023. /KHALIF KAIRO.X

Eve Maina

Just like Kairo, Maina has gained popularity over controversial opinions, though her hard-hitting sentiments regarding life and masculinity have won her plaudits among Kenyan men in the era of Amerix.

She, who is also an avid gym-goer, is a young Kenyan entrepreneur who is the founder of Shoe Space Africa, a business that imports and distributes shoes both wholesale and retail to bring high-end shoe production to Kenya and provide employment for Kenyans.

On Monday, June 26, she stirred the pot following her advice to her fellow countrypeople to seek better opportunities abroad.

She believed that her peers under the age of 30 have the best chance of leaving Kenya for a period of time to grow themselves in terms of career and individually in other countries with better-developed systems, noting that it would be harder to build themselves on home soil owing to the current and torrid state of the economy.

"I said this and I will say it again, if you are below 30, trying to build yourself up, leave this country.

"Go work hard, invest back here and come back. Kama haukujijenga era ya Uhuru, sai itakua 100x harder (if you did not build yourself during the Uhuru era, it will be 100 times harder)," she tweeted.

Two months before, on Wednesday, April 26, Maina had urged Kenyans without families tying them down to leave the country for better opportunities, acknowledging that despite the difficulties, they would be in a better place than their peers back home.

Christine Keni

The content creator on Wednesday, April 5 went viral thanks to her one-minute, 12-second video offering a glimpse of her day working as a Brand Ambassador for Light Art Club, which has offices at Westlands in the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD).

From sweets depending on someone's daily mood to coffee in the sun, from listening to her favourite songs at work to listing trends for the day include Maandamano (she wrote it as Maandamanzz) in response to the Azimio la Umoja demonstrations, which were called off temporarily to allow for bipartisan talks with the government, presented during her meeting.

Furthermore, Keni, on expressing that she felt sleepy, had got onto some cushions to take a nap for hours before waking up to play video games through a PlayStation console provided by the office.

She then enjoyed some lunch; chicken wings with a side of chips (French Fries) while browsing through her phone before getting back to work and shooting video content for the company. After a cup of water, she then headed out of the office on her way home.

Her day at the office sparked conversation regarding the work culture in offices, with companies forced to embark on radical shifts to satisfy the Generation Z population in the country.

Collage image of Christine Keni's day at work at Light Art Club offices in Nairobi. /TWITTER.CHRISTINE KENI

David Mugonyi: Ruto's 10-Year Ally Replacing Ezra Chiloba At Communications Authority of Kenya

admin — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 16:44:07 +0300

David Mugonyi, who served as the Head of the Presidential Communication Service (PCS), was on Wednesday, December 20 appointed by Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo as the new Director-General of the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), replacing Ezra Chiloba.

Chiloba resigned on Thursday, October 19 from the post after he was suspended from the authority following a board meeting, which saw Christopher Wambua appointed the Director-General in an acting capacity.

Mugonyi's appointment at CA was confirmed by CS Owalo as well as the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei.

ICT CS Eliud Owalo speaking during a consultative meeting with the leadership and senior managers of the Kenya News Agency (KNA) on July 3, 2023. /FACEBOOK.ELIUD OWALO

"We further note that the Board has sought concurrence for the appointment of David Mugonyi as the Authority's Director General.

"In view of the foregoing, and in furtherance of circulars nos. OP/CAB.9/1A dated November 25, 2022, and April 3, 2023, respectively, concurrence is hereby given for the appointment of David Mugonyi as Director General of the Communications Authority of Kenya," read Koskei's letter in part.

Unknown to many, Mugonyi has served as President William Ruto's ally since 2013 when the latter was elected Deputy President in the Jubilee regime.

At the time, he was appointed as the spokesperson and the communication secretary in the Office of the Deputy President (ODP).

A distinguished alumnus of the University of Nairobi (UoN), Mugonyi holds a Diploma in Mass Communication and a Degree in Education. His formative years at UoN laid the foundation for his career in media and communication, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of the principles that govern the industry.

Mugonyi's pursuit of academic excellence saw him proceed on to further his studies abroad, obtaining a Master's in International Journalism from City University in the United Kingdom (UK).

Unlike other allies of President Ruto including Digital Strategist Dennis Itumbi, Mugonyi shied away from the public limelight but would occasionally tweet and respond to media queries, among them the withdrawal of Ruto's security guards months before the August 9 polls in 2022.

However, despite maintaining a low profile, it is said that he is more vocal behind the scenes and holds influence in Ruto's inner circles, hence his previous appointment to run PCS did not come as a surprise to those close to the Head of State.

His close friends describe him as a competent communication expert who gets the job done, a quality that has enabled him to maintain his friendship with Ruto for nearly 10 years.

His new appointment will thus see him bring forth a wealth of experience in communication and public relations to his new role. He will be expected to take on the responsibilities of steering the Communications Authority (CA) towards achieving its mandate in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

The Communications Authority plays a pivotal role in overseeing and regulating the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors in Kenya.

The DG position fell vacant following Chiloba's exit, and as Viral Tea exclusively reported, Chiloba was suspended owing to gross misconduct related to a Ksh25 million mortgage loan to facilitate the purchase of a property between himself and Jacob Simiyu Wakhungu without subjecting the transaction details to interrogation and approval by a higher authority.

Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) headquarters in Nairobi. /FILE

Ruto Crowned Best African Leader In Annual Awards

Marvin Chege — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 17:03:20 +0300

President William Ruto has been named the winner of the African Leadership Person of the Year in the African Leadership Magazine's 2023 Person of the Year awards.

The awards courtesy of the United Kingdom's African Leadership Magazine (ALM), not only celebrate individual excellence but also highlight the collective impact of African leaders on the continent.

Dr Ken Giami, the chairperson of the African Leadership Organisation, revealed that winners of the 2023 edition of the ALM African Person of the Year Awards made significant strides and remarkable contributions to the African renaissance in the year under review, especially in driving sustainable development and fostering economic growth and promoting peace and political stability.

"Their sacrifices, policies and actions have bolstered regional peace and cooperation, improved healthcare and education, and laid the groundwork for substantial progress, economic growth and human capital development across Africa," Giami said.

Photo graphic of President William Ruto announced as the African Leadership Persons of the Year 2023. /AFRICAN LEADERSHIP MAGAZINE

The determination of the winner involved a two-step selection process that included a call for nominations as well as voting done through an online poll on December 14.

According to ALM, the presentation for the award has been set for February 23, 2024, with the ceremony set to take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

"African Leadership Magazine announces the winners of the African Persons of the Year Awards 2023. Congratulations, William Ruto, President of Kenya, on your emergence as African of the Year. Presentation billed for February 23, 2024, in Addis Ababa," ALM said in a statement.

President Ruto shared the esteemed accolade with Prof. Benedict Okey Oramah, the President, and Chairman of the African Export-Import Bank (AFRIEXIMbank).

Simultaneously, Chief Justice Koome was celebrated as the "African Female Leader of the Year," sharing the honour with Naseem Lahri, the Managing Director of Lucara Botswana.

Other winners have been highlighted comprehensively as follows:

African Educationist of the Year

Prof. George L. Openjuru, Vice-Chancellor, Gulu University, Uganda – Winner
Prof. Kwamena Kwansah-Aidoo, Vice-Chancellor, University of Media, Arts and Communication, Ghana – Joint-winner

African Political Leader of the Year

George Manneh Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia – Winner
Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania – Joint-winner

African Peace & Security Leader of the Year

Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania – Winner
Adama Barrow, President of the Republic of The Gambia – Joint-winner

African Industrialist of the Year

Dr. Patrick Bitature, Founder & Chairman, Simba Group, Uganda – Winner
Said Salim Awadh Bakhresa, Founder, The Bakhresa Group, Tanzania – Joint-winner

African Philanthropist of the Year

Tein T. S. Jack-Rich, President & Founder, Belemaoil Producing Limited, Nigeria – Winner
Ibrahim Mahama, Founder, Engineers and Planners, Ghana – Joint-winner

Young African Leader of the Year

Akol E. Ayii, Founder & Chairman, Trinity Group, South Sudan – Winner
Dr. Jesca Mhoja Nkwabi, CEO, KOM Group, Tanzania – Joint-winner

African Public Sector Leader of the Year

Ernest N.T. Rubondo, Executive Director, Petroleum Authority of Uganda – Winner
Saptieu Elizabeth Saccoh, Administrator & Registrar-General of Sierra Leone – Joint-winner

African Public Health Leader of the Year

Dr. Kailesh Jagutpal, Minister of Health and Wellness, Mauritius – Winner
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, Regional Director for Africa, World Health Organization (WHO) – Joint-winner

"The winners and runners-up with be formally presented with instruments of honour during the flagship annual ALM Persons of the Year Awards ceremony billed to be held 22-23 February 2024 at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the African Union headquarters," ALM noted.

According to ALM, the key highlights of the ceremony, which will be co-hosted by the Ethiopia Custom Commission, will include the unveiling of the POTY Edition of the African Leadership Magazine and Africa's leading Customs and Ports Administrators' Yearbook 2024.

President William Ruto with Chief Justice Martha Koome. /PCS

Visa-Free: What It Means & If You Still Need To Pay To Enter Kenya

Marvin Chege — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 15:49:32 +0300

President William Ruto on Tuesday, December 12 announced that visitors from around the world will enter Kenya without having to apply for a visa, a historic directive in the country's 60-year history.

Starting January 2024, all travellers will not require a visa to travel to Kenya, with the Head of State remarking that Kenya is considered the cradle of humankind.

"It is with great pleasure, as President of this extraordinary country, to make a historic announcement of the decision of the Government of Kenya. Beginning in January 2024, Kenya will be a visa-free country. It shall no longer be necessary for any person from any corner of the globe to carry the burden of applying for a visa to come to Kenya.

"To echo the call of the Turkana people to the world: “Tobong’u Lorre!” Kenya has a simple message to humanity: Welcome Home! This is why, the Government has abolished the requirement of visas for all our visitors," Ruto announced while addressing the nation during the 60th Jamhuri Day celebrations.

President William Ruto speaking during the 60th Jamhuri Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens on December 12, 2023. /PCS

President Ruto has on several occasions pushed for the scrapping of visas to Kenya as well as African countries to realise the Pan-African dream that will promote the free flow of people and trade in the continent.

But what does it mean for Kenya to be visa-free? Viral Tea explains below:

Visa-Free Country

Being a visa-free country means that citizens of that country can travel to another specific country or group of countries without the need to obtain a visa beforehand. In other words, individuals can enter and stay in the destination country for a certain period, typically for tourism or business purposes, without the requirement of obtaining a visa in advance.

Visa-free travel is often facilitated through bilateral agreements or international treaties between countries which outline the terms and conditions under which citizens of one country can visit another without the need for a visa. The duration of stay, the purpose of the visit, and other relevant details are usually specified in these agreements.

It's important to note that visa-free travel doesn't mean that travellers can enter a country without any restrictions. There may still be requirements, such as a limit on the length of stay, proof of sufficient funds, and a return ticket, depending on the specific agreement between the countries involved.

Countries may grant visa-free access to promote tourism, foster economic ties, or strengthen diplomatic relations with other nations.

However, the specific details of visa-free arrangements can vary widely between different countries and regions. Travellers should always check the current visa requirements and entry conditions for their destination country before planning their trip.

Kenya's Previous Visa Requirements

Before the presidential declaration, Kenya had waived visa requirements for several countries.

According to Immigration information on eCitizen, nationals of 42 countries ranked as Category 1 had been exempted from obtaining a Visa. Nationals from 144 other countries ranked as category 2, may be issued with e-Visas upon application on the eCitizen platform.

While 25 groups have been exempted from the visa requirement, nationals from 16 other countries are not allowed to make e-visa applications on eCitizen.

A screenshot of the e-Citizen platform. /FILE

Electronic Travel Authorization

However, President Ruto announced that instead, all travellers will henceforth obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter Kenya.

On its part, an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is an automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to a specific country without requiring a traditional visa. It is an electronic form of permission that travellers must obtain before boarding a flight or entering the destination country.

ETAs are often used to streamline the entry process, enhance security, and facilitate easier monitoring of travellers.

Key features of Electronic Travel Authorization include:

Online Application: Travelers typically apply for an ETA online through an official website designated by the destination country's immigration authorities.
Quick Processing: ETAs are designed for swift processing, often providing approval or denial within a short period.
Automated System: The authorization process is usually automated and relies on information provided by the traveller, which is cross-checked against databases for security and eligibility.
Validity Period: An ETA is generally valid for a specific duration, allowing the traveller to enter the country within that timeframe. The length of validity varies depending on the country and the purpose of the visit.
Multiple Use or Single Use: Some ETAs are valid for multiple entries over a specified period, while others may be single-entry only.
Compatibility with Visa Waiver Programs: ETAs are often associated with countries that have visa waiver programs, allowing travellers from certain nations to enter for short stays without a visa.

The ETA is then electronically linked to one’s passport or travel document.

Under the visa-free policy, Kenya will begin using the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to identify visitors entering its soil.

ETA in other countries.

To digitize its borders by 2025, the UK government had in 2023 launched an ETA to allow travellers from eligible nations to visit Britain without acquiring a visa. The visa-free provision will apply to citizens of selected nations, who visit the UK for tourism, study, business or to visit friends and family.

ETA Kenya Charges

While the visa-free entry is expected to be scrapped once the directive takes effect in January 2024, this does not mean that global citizens can enter Kenya...without paying anything.

In a gazette notice in November 2023, the government through the Ministry of Interior announced that ETA charges would be $30 (approximately Ksh4,500).

The same notice revealed that fees for single journey visas were raised from Ksh7,572 to Ksh15,145 while the fee for a multiple journey visa went up from Ksh15,145 to Ksh75,725.

Extending a visa, which was initially free was to set one back Ksh30,290 while the application for visas for Kenyan children which was also free would cost the same price.

The charges were meant to take effect on January 1, 2024, following public participation, as the Ministry of Interior had initially revoked the charges from taking immediate effect in November.

An image of a Kenyan passport. /BIOMETRIC UPDATE.COM

ETA Around the World

Globally, nations have made various visa pacts to ease movement and trade within one another. Others also have visa-free policies, and ETA systems in place.

Such visa agreements include the Schengen Agreement; which covers 27 European countries, and the US Visa Waiver Program which allows citizens from 40 countries to enter America without a visa.

Citizens from 15 member states in the ECOWAS can enter without a visa and stay for 90 days and the East African Community agreement enables visa-free travel for Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda citizens.

Recently, Rwanda also allowed visa-free entry for Africans.

There is also a Commonwealth Agreement that allows citizens of certain commonwealth countries to enter visa-free in member states and a bilateral agreement that allows US and Canada citizens to travel across the two countries without a visa by using either; their passport, a border crossing card, or an enhanced driver’s license.

Visa-Free, Grammys, Meta: President Ruto’s Jamhuri Day Speech [FULL]

Marvin Chege — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 14:07:46 +0300

President William Ruto on Tuesday, December 12 addressed the nation in only his second-ever Jamhuri Day speech since taking office on September 13, 2022.

The Head of State made a series of headline announcements, among them being that Kenya would scrap visa requirements for all global citizens from January 2024.

Read the whole speech below:

1. I am delighted to have the privilege of leading the people of our nation in celebrating the important milestone in our journey to national independence. Sixty years ago, on a day like this, Kenya took its final step of the freedom struggle to become a sovereign Republic.

2. According to the vision of our forefathers who fought for this country’s freedom, independence was intended to bestow on us the gifts of political as well as economic self-determination. This anniversary gives us the opportunity to gather as a family and reflect together on how we have fared over the course of six decades.

3. It is clear that we have made undeniable progress on many fronts and, as a result, our nation may be said to have come a long way in the right direction. Before that first Jamhuri Day, Kenya’s sovereignty was exercised by an unelected, foreign and colonial power for the benefit of an occupying minority.

4. We have since matured from a single-party State to a competitive, multiparty democracy and devolved system of governance with robust checks and balances under the Constitution. ratified by the people of Kenya in 2010.

President William Ruto inspecting a guard of honour during the 60th Jamhuri Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens on December 12, 2023. /PCS

5. Along with the maturity of our democracy, Kenya’s institutions of governance have evolved significantly. Parliament is now more than ever an independent, assertive organ of government with its own calendar and budget. As a result of this autonomy, party positions on important national issues are much more clearly defined and, whenever circumstances and the national interest demand, bipartisan engagement across the political divide is pursued in a structured way

6. Proposals currently before Parliament on the enhancement of the autonomy of county assemblies prove that our assemblies are also making encouraging progress in their maturation into independent watchdogs, policymakers and representatives of the people in our counties.

7. Devolution is growing its roots deeper to connect with the soul and spirit of our nation. We have consistently allocated more resources and made them available on time, while supporting measures to further empower the county assemblies to become good stewards.

8. Our political culture has also evolved considerably. We are now committed to making sure that at every election, our democratic competition is less about personalities and tribes, and more about issues and the national interest. As a result, the last General Election, which serves as a very solid beacon of this new direction, reflected the true will and confidence of the people of Kenya in democracy.

9. Without the rule of law, our democracy falls short of serving us as a people. The Judiciary, which is our nation’s foremost anchor of the rule of law, continues to grow in its capacity to authoritatively discharge its constitutional mandate and make justice a right of every citizen. To provide effective and efficient services to the people, we have enhanced resources available to the Judiciary, promoted respect for its independence and submitted to its authority in order to deepen our credentials as a nation guided by the rule of law.

10. To complete this framework of institutions designed to safeguard and promote constitutionalism and the rule of law, our constitutional commissions and independent offices have evolved to discharge their mandate in accordance with the Constitution in a most constructive manner in support of good governance. The IEBC, CRA and SRC, among others, have lived up to their constitutional expectations.

11. Today, there is much to celebrate about the strides we have made for six decades. The democratic credentials of our political culture are solid, and our institutional maturity is beyond doubt.

12. 60 years ago, we certainly were far from where we are today. The progress we have made is undeniable. Our peers at that time, nations like South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia, have similarly made immense progress in democratic and institutional maturity. They have, however, made much more economic progress than us and, as a consequence, they are much more advanced today than we are.

13. The point at which we stand today is the culmination of the collective endeavour of our nation’s founding generation and those that came after them. The vision which inspired their struggle and sacrifice was one of a united, free, democratic and economically prosperous nation. They fought for true sovereignty, which envisioned political democracy and economic prosperity. Our forefathers made huge sacrifices to win for Kenya the freedom we celebrate today, and the generations that followed them have made their contributions progressively to bring our State, society and economy to its present. We gather today to express our gratitude, celebrate their legacy and contemplate our contribution to accelerating future progress.

14. In our democratic and political journey, we have made tremendous sacrifices and progress, from single party to multiparty, personality and ethnic parochialism to issue-based and national politics, from violent and intolerant discourse to orderly and peaceful elections. However, we have not made as much progress with our economy. Our savings as a percentage of GDP is dismal, the gap between the rich and poor has not reduced, many, especially young people, don't have jobs and our revenues as a percentage of GDP remains low. Our generation must therefore take up the unfinished of actualising economic prosperity as our contribution to perfecting Kenya’s national sovereignity. We owe this to those who made huge sacrifices to bestow on us a nation of promise, and we owe it to one another: To the youth, women, children of Kenya and each one of us.

15. The responsibility of our generation, beginning with this administration, is to make smart choices and necessary sacrifices, just as our forefathers and those who came after them did, so as to match our economic progress with our democratic and political achievements. This is the assignment we took up on Day 1, the 13th of September, 2022, and which we have been painstakingly undertaking for the past year.

16. Our focus has been firmly about the ways and means of transforming our economy, and making the right decisions, necessary sacrifices and smart choices to set Kenya on the path of economic renaissance. This transformation began with all of us, as the people of Kenya, making immense sacrifices and huge contributions together to pull back our country from the brink of debt distress.

17. The greatness and patriotic devotion of the people of Kenya have been on display during the past year. Together, we have made the right choices, sometimes taken very difficult and painful decisions, to steer Kenya back from the edge of the catastrophic cliff of debt distress, and move our nation in a new direction.

18. There is every reason to believe that without serious sacrifices and hard work over the past year, the crises, threats and challenges in the global economic and geopolitical environment confronting us would have overwhelmed us, as indeed, it has many countries. We have had to make our contribution to the struggle for the nation’s economic sovereignty. We have had to cut back significantly on expenditure and to defer the implementation of critical development programmes to stabilise our economy. The policy measures required to mobilise necessary revenues have been difficult, but they were our only way and means of escape.

19. Though painful, the sacrifices we have made, which would not only make our freedom fighters proud but were also absolutely necessary at such a time as we found ourselves in to guarantee our nation’s economic stability. Proudly, these sacrifices have paid off: I can now confirm that Kenya is safely out of the danger of debt distress and that our economy is on a stable footing.

20. The economic indicators point to good news. Inflation is now at 6.8%, down from a high of 9.2% last year. In the last 6 months, our GDP has grown at 5.4%, making Kenya the 29th fastestgrowing economy in the world, according to the World Bank.

21. There is no question about it: What we have done together, the price we have paid together and the sacrifices we have made together have rescued our country from an economic catastrophe.

22. After navigating our way out of a difficult and complicated debt situation, our second action is to accelerate economic progress, which is the cardinal assignment of our generation.

23. Our human capital, our innovative, smart-working, professional labour force is probably the single most potent arsenal we have to drive our to drive our economic progress. Globally, Kenyans have excelled in semi-skilled, skilled and professional occupations. Our expenditure on training, learning and education in general is a most appropriate investment in the development of the human capital necessary in our economic progress.

24. Recognising this, we have increased the total allocation to our education sector by an additional KSh127 billion. Out of this, KSh46 billion will support the new university funding model, an additional KSh9 billion to cover our TVET funding model and the hiring of an extra 2,000 tutors, an additional KSh47 billion to enable TSC hire 56,000 teachers, and other interventions, and KSh24 billion for basic education to cover the Junior Secondary School, and to support the construction of additional classroom infrastructure. To cover the chronic classroom deficit in Nairobi County, we have undertaken to build 3,500 additional classrooms with the first KSh1 billion allocated in this year's budget.

A painter at work during the 60th Jamhuri Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens on December 12, 2023. /PCS

25. Agriculture plays a central and pivotal role in our economy, contributing to food security, supplying raw materials for agroprocessing and value addition, manufacturing for domestic and export markets, creating jobs and creating wealth. Only specific, targeted and deliberate interventions will enhance our agricultural productivity and overall production. This begins with the registration of farmers, provision of crop-specific fertiliser, reforms in the tea, coffee, sugarcane and edible oils sectors, provision of mobile driers and other interventions underway across the nation so as to reduce the cost of food, which consumes 54% of household incomes, to reduce by half our food import bill, which stands at KSh500 billion, and also increase our exports.

26. Further, 400 fresh produce markets, 47 county aggregation and industrial parks, as well as 6 special economic zones, are at various stages of implementation to enhance value addition, agro-processing and manufacturing to stimulate economic growth.

27. Economic productivity and general well-being are significantly hampered by a population that is prone to ill-health. Individual and family medical expenditures drain household incomes, and erode family savings, in many cases, leading to financial ruin and estitution.

28. Our universal health coverage plan seeks a paradigm shift in the provision of healthcare, from curative to a largely preventive and promotive approach. Our radical transformative plan has seen the enactment of four Acts of Parliament, for which I thank our legislature, as well as the roll-out of 100,000 community health promoters, for which I thank county governments. I commend counties who have already paid community health promoters and commit that the national government’s portion will be paid at the end of this month.

29. The laws we have enacted now provide a framework in the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund that will liberate the people of Kenya from the burden of catastrophic hospital bills on the treatment of conditions like cancer, diabetes, hypertension and other critical and chronic conditions.

30. Additionally, the new funding framework that is fair, equitable and progressive will see the government of Kenya for the first time pay for all vulnerable Kenyans who have no ability to pay. Those currently paying KSh500 will have their contributions reduced with the least paying KSh300.

31. To enhance efficiency and eliminate pilferage in the healthcare system, the new digital law will underpin the digitisation of the entire service delivery framework.

32. While empirical evidence shows that economic growth has the potential to create jobs and the interventions enumerated above will create opportunities for employment, these interventions, on their own, will not create the kind and level of employment needed to deal with unemployment on Kenya today.

33. For employment and job creation to be at the scale necessary to make a significant dent on our unemployment status and deal effectively with prevailing challenges, our interventions must be ambitious and systematic, consistent and intentional, as well as deliberate and progressive.

34. Our housing programme is fundamentally a massive, deliberate and systematic job creation mechanism. Apart from the thousands of direct employment opportunities in construction and associated services, the housing scheme indirectly supports the formal and informal manufacturing of materials, fixtures, fittings and accessories required in the construction. From architects and engineers to pumpers, quantity surveyors and engineers to site workers, artisans, fabricators, electricians and plumbers, and the construction workers.

35. The housing program is a bottom-up job creator. There are 33 active housing development sites already employing 120,000 people in various parts of the country. Another 31 sites are undergoing evaluation to begin construction next month. Other sites are in various stages of design and by mid-next year the entire country will be bustling construction sites with housing projects proceeding in every country.

36. Our strategic focus is to construct thousands of housing units while creating millions of jobs. South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia undertook these major housing works some 40 years ago, and that’s why their economies are ahead of ours.

37. Yesterday, I signed into law amendments to the National Government Constituency Development Fund Act, which set out a framework to anchor the development of ICT hubs in each of the 1,450 wards in the country. I salute Members of Parliament for the partnership to leverage our digital superhighway infrastructure to provide training opportunities and create thousands of digital job opportunities for young people across Kenya.

38. We are also rolling out training and digital job opportunities in all our TVETS countrywide and already 23,000 computers have been distributed with many students now monetising their skills online. We are in discussion with county governments to jointly expand vocational training centres to accommodate ICT hub infrastructure so as to enhance the digital jobs’ footprints. The digital jobs ecosystem we are building is an intentional, dynamic and innovative mechanism to create jobs in the technology and digital space.

39. We have dedicated specific attention to infrastructure development to promote connectivity through a dense nationwide network of transport and communication infrastructure, actualise the constitutional right to clean and safe water in adequate quantities as enshrined in Article 43 of the Constitution and connect all Kenyans to electric energy.

40. On Jamhuri Day 2022, I announced a grand plan to transform Kenyan sports and creatives into a significant industry to expand livelihood opportunities for our youth, through the Government flagship Talanta Hela Initiative, which we officially unveiled in June this year. Our sportsmen and women continue to make our country proud with their conquests far and wide. Our women’s volleyball and the men’s rugby have qualified for the Paris Olympics in 2024. Our athletes continue to excel at various global events as well exemplified by the shining performances in the long and middle-distance races.

Faith Kipyegon named the World Athlete of the Year in Track events. /WORLD ATHLETICS

41. This administration has also taken deliberate steps to build and invest in the creative economy. First, the famous Grammy Awards have a partnership with us and starting January, the innovation studios of Hollywood have agreed to begin shooting multiple movies right here in Kenya. Google, in collaboration with the ministries of Education and ICT and Digital Economy, has begun implementing a Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development- approved coding programme in primary and secondary schools. To reach 4 million learners, the partnership will train 42,000 teachers.

42. I have good news for our creatives and those who imagine and produce content through Facebook and Instagram. Just yesterday, Meta committed to helping creators in Kenya earn money for crafting original content. Following a pilot programme with eligible creators in the country, Meta will be expanding monetisation opportunities and allowing more creators to earn a living doing what they love.

43. Kenya possesses impressive credentials as a source of highly professional human capital with highly educated, trained, skilled and dynamic young people.

44. We have systematically and intentionally negotiated different bilateral agreements with countries in the Middle East, Europe and Americas to connect our skilled workforce with opportunities globally. This will provide exposure to thousands of Kenyans to work in international organisations, engage in global assignments and monetise their skills and talents as they enhance their incomes and personal development. Millions of Kenyans already working abroad have been great ambassadors for our country and have made huge contributions through their remittances to the development of Kenya.

45. Today, I have conferred upon our world-beating athlete Faith Kipyegon the rank and status of the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya (EGH), the highest honour our country awards its citizens who illuminate the path of excellence. She has earned her place at the very top, from running barefoot to breaking two world records within a year is the ultimate heroism. Faith’s journey is an inspiration to all our young and aspiring athletes.

46. Kenya remains committed to driving climate action and I am proud that we can play a significant role in shaping the climate agenda on the continent. We have demonstrated leadership, which has been recognised both on the continent and beyond, and we must continue to play our part both domestically and on a global stage. Recently, I launched the Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative in partnership with the UAE and several other African Heads of State at COP-28 in Dubai. The goal of the Initiative is to enable businesses to be built rapidly in Kenya using our renewable energy resources and all across Africa.

47. In keeping with our commitment to correct the market failure in provision of affordable credit, especially to those who have no access to any collateral, and to free five million Kenyans trapped in the credit rating mess, the Hustler Fund has grown to become the largest financial inclusion programme in Kenya, disbursing KSh42 billion to more than 21 million borrowers.

48. A week ago, we celebrated the Hustler Fund’s first anniversary. Borrowers on the fund have saved KSh2 billion with a repayment rate of 75% nationally. As promised, we have already enhanced credit limits for over 1.2 million borrowers and spent KSh500 million to match long-term savings on a ratio of KSh1 for every KSh2 saved. At the end of this month, every saver will be paid an attractive interest rate of 12% on their savings. Over 7.7 million are regular borrowers on the Hustler Fund platform. The fund will be enhanced from next month with specific financial products to provide additional enterprise and business facilities for existing mama mboga and boda boda saccos.

49. We undertook to build a culture of savings in Kenya as an effort to create long-term investment resources to fund our growth and development and provide better retirement for Kenyans. The new NSSF contribution model has enhanced monthly contributions by four and a half times. The fund will therefore raise an additional KSh400 billion in the next five years, tripling the value from KSh320 billion to over KSh1 trillion by 2027.

50. Furthermore, our countrymen and women no longer have to wait for over three months to receive their retirement benefits. Owing to digitisation and automation, NSSF benefit processing turnaround time has improved significantly, from an average of 82 days to 10 days with further reduction in the processing period to within a day in the next one year.

51. We are undertaking the expansion of retirement benefits coverage to the 15 million Kenyans currently active in the informal sector through product innovation and bottom-up enrolment strategies at the grassroots level.

52. We made a commitment to our dear citizens, who are elderly, orphaned and those who live with severe disability, that they shall receive their social protection stipends before public servants, including the President, receive their salaries. We have kept our word and delivered on this commitment. Consequently, all 1,233,149 eligible beneficiaries now receive their stipend on time. We have allocated an additional KSh2 billion for newly enrolled beneficiaries who are undergoing verification and will begin to receive their stipends beginning March next year.

53. This programme has had challenges with the beneficiaries travelling long distances and spending considerable portions of their stipend on logistics. Working with Safaricom, we have structured a new delivery mechanism for beneficiaries to receive their stipends from MPESA agents in their localities. Orphans and persons with severe disability will begin using this new mechanism beginning this month. The elderly will start in January. We commend Safaricom for providing this service free of charge.

54. Kenyans are doing their part to support the effort to stabilise and grow the economy. Their sacrifices and contributions are essential and must be honoured. We are therefore taking strong measures to ensure that all revenue is administered transparently, efficiently and in a secure manner. One of our best interventions is the use of digital technology and the migration of government revenue collection to a single paybill. Since this measure was implemented, we have witnessed a significant rise in total revenues collected. Besides enhancing revenue collection, digitisation has eliminated revenue leakages through corruption and theft. It is important that we sustain this progress in promoting integrity, transparency and efficiency in revenue management. And for this reason, I direct that all agencies observe the December 31 deadline to finalise the migration to the e-Citizen platform.

55. It is only right that I match this admirable commitment by the people of Kenya to do their part in getting the economy going, and give an assurance that all taxes collected by the government shall be put to their intended use and that no single shilling – not one shilling - shall be lost through embezzlement, theft or corruption.

56. I urge our justice, law and order institutions, led by the Judiciary and the anti-corruption agencies, to discharge their mandate without fear, favour, ill-will or prejudice. I also give my personal undertaking to support the prosecution of all those involved in corruption, without regard to their social, economic or political status or connections, ethnicity or any other consideration whatsoever. This is the minimum that is expected of us in fulfilment of our constitutional mandate, and Kenyans deserve no less.

57. The story of our nation's sovereignty cannot be fully told without mentioning the fundamental guarantor of our territorial integrity, economic prosperity, political democracy, the rule of law and the integrity of our social fabric.

58. Our national security apparatus has remained a strong shield against terrorism, crime and insecurity. As we continue to invest citizen's resources into the security sector, we continue to expect continuous improvement in its overall capacity to keep our nation's boundaries inviolable, our people's lives and property safe and secure.

59. I cannot forget the public service. Every member of our civil service has been entrusted with a rare opportunity to make their unique contribution to national transformation. As such, they are at a most advantageous position to demonstrate our national values and principles of governance for the benefit of Kenyans. Today, I appreciate you for being loyal servants, dependable professionals and true patriots, and urge you to do more as our people's partners in transformation.

60. Much has been given you by the people of Kenya and, therefore, much more is expected of you. On behalf of the people, I shall therefore hold you to the highest standards of efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability in serving our nation.

61. Infrastructure development is a critical enabler for transformation of agriculture, delivery of health, job creation and overall economic growth. As a result, our investment in road and rail network, electricity generation and connection, and water harvesting, storage and reticulation continue to be a critical component of our development strategy. A comprehensive multi-year plan is progressively being implemented to support the overall socio-economic development of the country.

62. Our world, and the good in it, belongs to those who are not shy to embrace globalisation. Kenyans have shown, time and again, that we are not afraid of the world beyond our borders. We venture abroad fearlessly and warmly welcome our visitors from near and far. This is not by accident. The scientific historic account of early humanity is told by various archaeological sites in our country. In short, we are the first home of all humanity, and we joyfully embrace our ancestral task of welcoming humanity home.

63. Kenya is the home of humanity, a scientific fact that fills us with pride and underscores our rich heritage. It is with great pleasure, as President of this extraordinary country, to make a historic announcement of the decision of the Government of Kenya. Beginning January 2024, Kenya will be a visa-free country. It shall no longer be necessary for any person from any corner of the globe to carry the burden of applying for a visa to come to Kenya. To echo the call of the Turkana people to the world: “Tobong’u Lorre!” Kenya has a simple message to humanity: Welcome Home! This is why, the Government has abolished the requirement of visas for all our visitors. To implement this new policy, we have developed a digital platform to ensure that all travellers to Kenya are identified in advance on an electronic platform. All travellers will obtain electronic travel authorisation.

64. I have set out an account clearly showing that although much remains to be done to bring economic progress up to the level of political maturity, and to transform our economy to the rank of our historical peers globally, we nevertheless have real cause to celebrate the contributions made by each one of us to the collective national endeavour to perfect our sovereignty in keeping with the aspirations of the brave and indomitable patriots who set us on this path to national glory.

65. We must now go forth with greater resolve, inspired by the heroic achievements of those who came before us, affirmed by the confidence that our work matters for increasing our heritage and glory, encouraged by the progress we are making, and determined to accomplish our generations solemn obligation to make this nation a true jamhuri of the people: Free, prosperous, secure and democratic.

I take this early opportunity to wish every citizen of Kenya, and all our friends near and far, a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2024.

President William Ruto watching military planes fly over the Uhuru Gardens during the 60th Jamhuri Day celebrations. /PCS

Can An Overload Cause A Nationwide Blackout, According to CS Chirchir?

Marvin Chege — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 17:01:11 +0300

Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary (CS) Davis Chirchir stated on Monday, December 11 that a transmission overload along the Kisumu-Muhoroni line in the western part of Kenya contributed to Sunday's nationwide blackout that plunged millions of homes into darkness.

Speaking to the media, the CS termed it a shame the latest power blackout which occurred twice in one night, bringing to four the total number of power blackouts Kenya has witnessed this year alone.

Specifically, the transmission line which is designed to carry 80 megawatts was under pressure from 149 megawatts which resulted in an overload causing the blackout.

“As a country, we are ashamed of the power blackout problem that happened yesterday. It was caused by an overload that was witnessed along the Kisumu -Muhuroni line which only carries 80 megawatts. Yesterday the line was carrying 149 Megawatts,” he said.

Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir during a past address. /FILE

But does an overload lead to a power blackout and moreso, a nationwide blackout? Viral Tea explains below:

Overload Overview

An overload in an electrical system can potentially cause a power blackout. It occurs when the demand for electrical current in a circuit exceeds its capacity.

This can happen if too many devices are connected to a single circuit or if there is a malfunction in the electrical system.

When an overload occurs, the electrical components, such as wires and transformers, may overheat. In extreme cases, this can lead to damage or failure of the equipment and, in turn, may cause a power outage.

To prevent such overloads and potential blackouts, electrical systems are designed with safety features such as circuit breakers or fuses.

These devices are meant to interrupt the flow of electricity when an overload is detected, protecting the system from damage and reducing the risk of a blackout.

Overload vs Nationwide Blackout

While overloads in specific localized areas can lead to power outages, nationwide blackouts are typically caused by more complex and widespread issues, meaning CS Chirchir's sentiments on what caused the recent nationwide blackout may be inaccurate.

Overloads in individual circuits or regions can be isolated and managed by local protective devices, such as circuit breakers, to prevent damage and limit the impact on the broader electrical grid.

Blackout at JKIA on December 10, 2023. /X

However, nationwide blackouts are often the result of larger and more systemic problems, such as:

Major Equipment Failures: Failures in critical components of the power grid, such as large transformers or transmission lines, can have cascading effects and lead to widespread outages.
Natural Disasters: Severe weather events, earthquakes, hurricanes, or other natural disasters can damage infrastructure, causing extensive and simultaneous failures across the grid.
Cyberattacks: Sophisticated cyberattacks targeting the control systems of power grids can disrupt operations and lead to large-scale outages.
Fuel Supply Disruptions: In some cases, power generation relies on specific fuel sources (like natural gas, coal, or nuclear fuel). Disruptions in the supply chain for these fuels can impact power generation and lead to widespread outages.

While individual overloads may contribute to localized outages, a nationwide blackout typically involves a combination of factors that affect the overall stability and functionality of the power grid on a much larger scale.

Grid operators and utilities employ various measures and redundancies to minimize the risk of widespread blackouts and to quickly restore power in the event of an outage.

Load Shedding

CS Chirchir also indicated that the Ministry is considering introducing load-shedding on major power lines as a temporary mitigation measure to avoid overloads.

Load shedding is a deliberate and temporary reduction in electric power to prevent the failure of the entire power system when the electricity demand exceeds the available supply. It is a controlled and systematic way to balance the electricity demand with the available capacity in the power grid.

During periods of high demand or when there is a shortage of electricity generation capacity, grid operators may implement load shedding to avoid overloading the system. The process involves strategically cutting off the power supply to certain areas or consumers for short periods.

By doing so, the overall demand on the power grid is reduced to match the available supply, helping to maintain the stability and reliability of the electrical system.

Load shedding is a measure of last resort and is typically used when other methods of balancing the supply and demand for electricity are insufficient. It is often implemented during peak demand hours or emergencies such as equipment failures, extreme weather conditions, or fuel shortages.

While load shedding helps prevent widespread blackouts and protects the integrity of the power grid, it can be inconvenient for affected consumers as they experience temporary power outages. Many utility companies and grid operators communicate load-shedding schedules in advance to minimize disruptions and allow consumers to plan accordingly.

In this case, Chirchir explained that the load shedding will make it possible for the construction of the Narok-Bomet alternative line as well as the completion of the Sondu-Ndhiwa line to avoid overloads on the major Kisumu-Muhuroni power line.

“Construction of the Narok-Bomet 132kV and completion of Sondu -Ndhiwa power lines will de-load Kisumu -Muhuroni Chemosit power line to provide stability in South Nyanza and Central Rift regions,” he said.

Chirchir who spearheads the Energy Ministry has been criticised for failing to come up with measures to reduce the frequent power blackouts which cripple businesses in the immediate term, with Kenyans calling upon him to take responsibility for the situation.

Image of a power blackout in Nairobi. /STANDARD DIGITAL

President Ruto's Speech At COP 28 [FULL]

Marvin Chege — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 16:01:29 +0300

President William Ruto on Friday, December 1 addressed delegates at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), more commonly referred to as COP 28. in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Read his full address below:

1. As we convene here in Dubai, we must appreciate that the presence of almost 200 nations speaks volumes about the magnitude of this global event and what it stands for. This gathering is a testament to the universal recognition that among the multitude of global challenges confronting us today, climate change stands out as, by far, the defining issue of our era. COP28 underscores our shared commitment to confront, with unwavering resolve, a challenge that transcends borders, impacts every facet of human existence and well-being, and demands a concerted global response as a matter of grave urgency.

2. The reality before us is irrefutable: according to the latest UN data, unless there is a significant and radical shift in our economic and industrial patterns, we are hurtling at a perilous velocity on a trajectory towards the dire scenario of a world that is warmer by 3 degrees Celsius. The evidence is alarming – in just the first ten months of this year, we experienced 86 days where temperatures soared over 1.5°C above preindustrial levels. Adding to this worrying scenario is the fact that global greenhouse gas emissions have not decreased, but rather increased, by a deeply worrying 1.2% between 2021 and 2022, culminating in a staggering 57.4 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent – a record high that underscores the magnitude of the climate crisis we face. We must add that all the increases were experienced in the G20 countries.

President William Ruto with Anna Bjerde, the Managing Director of Operations at the World Bank, at the sidelines of COP 28 in Dubai on December 1, 2023. /PCS

3. This crisis must never be seen as a distant threat. It is here, now, indiscriminately devastating nations regardless of their size or wealth, thereby reshaping our world in profound, unprecedented and highly complicated ways. A stark illustration of this disastrous turn of events is currently unfolding in Eastern Africa, where catastrophic flooding has swiftly followed the most severe drought the region has seen in over forty years. Scientific evidence clearly and strongly links these extreme weather events to human-induced climate change. Studies indicate that droughts are now at least 100 times more likely in parts of Africa than they were in the pre-industrial era. This translates into a dramatic reduction in long-term rainfall, while short-term rainfall patterns remain erratic and unpredictable.

4. All of us are already living in this dire reality. Kenya has been besieged by relentless torrents that have claimed lives and displaced countless communities. The ensuing injury, loss and damage extends beyond immense human toll, to the destruction of vital infrastructure and the disruption of critical supply chains across many vital sectors. Beyond mere logistical challenges, the devastation further complicates the daily struggle for survival for many households and communities.

5. The situation in our Horn of Africa region, like in many other developing countries, lays bare the harsh reality of climate change. It is a poignant reminder of its disproportionate impact and a call to action for all of us to mobilize rapidly to address this imbalance with urgency, solidarity, and inclusivity.

6. We are also here because we are convinced of our collective ability to effect change. Our mission for this COP is clear: to foster radical cooperation that steers the world firmly back onto a 1.5-degree Celsius ceiling. Equally critically, we are here to affirm our commitment to provide robust support to those of us who have contributed least to climate change, yet bear its most catastrophic impacts.

7. As Africa, we are ready to play our part in full. The Nairobi Declaration which we adopted at the conclusion of the first Africa Climate Summit sets out the vision and a pathway for Africa to be a vital part of the global solution to the existential climate challenge we face. The Declaration captures the consensus of the African government leaders for Climate Positive Growth that harnesses our ample human and natural resources. It commits us to triple renewable energy capacity, establish green manufacturing, halt and reverse deforestation, promote sustainable agriculture, promote nature-based solutions, support the global call to phase down coal plants and eliminate inefficient fossil fuel production subsidies and further amplify calls for a new global financial architecture and global carbon tax.

8. In Kenya, we have transformed this vision into tangible goals. Our plan is ambitious: to expand our current energy capacity of approximately 3 Gigawatts to 100 Gigawatts of entirely renewable power by 2050, as a cornerstone of our green industrial strategy.

9. This level of ambition must be matched by the global commitment to achieve concrete, action-oriented outcomes. The first Global Stocktake (GST) at this COP is not just a checkpoint; it is a crucial step forward in our collective response to climate change. It must therefore encompass strategies for mitigation, adaptation, addressing loss and damage, and fundamentally, the means of its implementation. Such a comprehensive approach will pave the way for a more inclusive and robust set of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in the next cycle.

10. At the heart of our discussions at this COP28 must be a package of ambitious energy transition and investment goals and incentives, aligned with our commitment to maintaining global temperatures within a 1.5ºC limit. This entails a pledge to triple renewable energy capacity, and double energy efficiency by 2030, alongside a significant reduction in fossil fuel dependency. I commend the COP Presidency for their efforts to converge the world around this global goal. The strong participation of traditional hydrocarbon energy leaders in this global endeavour has transformed the conversation and brought us closer to consensus based on democratic inclusion and the best spirit of collective action, as well as multilateralism.

11. Notably, the vision demands deliberate support for developing countries. In the past two decades, only 2 per cent of the three trillion dollars invested globally in renewable energy has reached Africa, despite the continent's vast resource endowment and a great need for investment. The consequences of this investment gap are starkly evident: more than 600 million Africans are deprived of basic energy services, which are fundamental to dignified living and access to essential services such as healthcare and education. The challenge is compounded by the fact that nearly 1 billion people in Africa do not have access to clean cooking amenities.

Prime CS, Musalia Mudavadi at COP 28 in Dubai on December 1, 2023. /PCS

12. A tendency to ignore Africa's developmental and industrialization needs, and the failure to invest in our burgeoning younger generation, is no longer a tenable proposition. We cannot afford to neglect the immense potential or ignore the pressing needs of a continent on the cusp of transformative growth. Turning Africa into a green powerhouse is not just essential for the continent, it is also vital for global industrial decarbonization.

13. Going forward, clear, actionable roadmaps for implementation are required. In turn, this calls for a unified global effort to mobilise the necessary capital for both development and climate action. To echo the consensus projected at the Paris Summit, we must establish a New Global Financing Pact, which ensures that no country is ever forced to choose between its development aspirations and necessary climate action. Fundamentally, this is a call for an integrated approach where economic growth and environmental sustainability are not mutually exclusive but are pursued in tandem for the greater global good.

14. The urgency and magnitude of our task calls for far greater transformation than the incremental progress we have seen over the past 30 years. We need to execute quantum leaps in terms of both our strategic actions and technological innovations. What lies at stake is more than just a climate issue; it is a matter of guaranteeing dignified living and livelihoods for billions who lack basic necessities. Our response must match the scale of this global challenge with boldness and innovation.

15. Given this context, the longstanding adversarial dynamic between the global North and South proves particularly counterproductive. This division has hindered our ability to unite and leverage our collective strengths and robbed us of tremendous opportunities. Yet, in the face of a threat that endangers the health of our planet and our very existence, we must find in collective action a force that neutralises and transcends these divisions. Climate change does not respect artificial distinctions, traditional boundaries and old antagonisms. Instead, it should unite us against a shared, borderless challenge.

16. Consequently, our approach must be collaborative, inclusive, and anchored in justice. This means making decisions that prioritize the well-being of every person while acknowledging that climate action is inextricably linked to social justice and equity.

17. In this room, we have the power, the means and, most of all, the responsibility to act. The world is watching and what we deliver at COP28 will be a testament to whether we are capable guardians of this planet and competent stewards of its sustainability. COP28 and the Global Stock-Take are elements of a strong and clear call to conscience on behalf of the global community. Let us not be satisfied with another minimal increment, but rather, let us make this COP a turning point towards a just, equal world of opportunity, safe from the looming threat of a climate disaster.

President Ruto's State Of The Nation Address [FULL SPEECH]

Marvin Chege — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 17:55:44 +0300

I rise before this distinguished assembly of the democratically elected representatives of the people of Kenya to discharge my constitutional functions under Article 132(1)(c).

The occasion requires me to give an account, to the people of Kenya, of the measures taken by their government, under my leadership, and to give full expression and effect to the soul of our constitutional dispensation by implementing the National Values and Principles of governance set out in Article 10.

I have a substantial report to give on the progress made in fulfilling this solemn covenant, and that the journey of transforming Kenya for the benefit of present and future generations is fully underway. Its positive effects have also begun to bear fruit across many sectors of national endeavour from the grassroots to the capital.

On 13th September 2022, when I took office, I undertook to ensure the urgent transformation of our economy and to stop and reverse the negative trends of runaway unemployment, yawning inequality and widespread poverty which were denying Kenyans their dignity and extinguishing their dreams.

The mass appeal of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda was due, in large part, to the fact that its development and articulation, as well as its content and implementation strategy, represented our national values in action. It was inclusive, democratic, and committed to social justice and the protection of the marginalised.

President William Ruto inspecting a guard of honour outside Parliament buildings on November 9, 2023. /MUSALIA MUDAVADI

Our commitment to bringing the national values and principles of governance to life to significantly enhance the well-being of every individual and promote the unity, stability, security and development of our country began long before the last election and will endure well beyond our term.

It has been my manifest intention to live up to all the commitments set out in the Plan and, despite enormous challenges and tremendous difficulties, we have made encouraging progress in a positive direction.

This has not only vindicated our philosophy of inclusive transformation in the pursuit of shared prosperity, but it has also increased our confidence that we are on the right path and shall, in due course, deliver the transformation of our nation in full.

It is important for us to point out that we began the implementation of our mandate to transform Kenya's economy from the bottom up under extremely difficult circumstances, not to excuse failure or justify inability or omission to do the necessary work.

Rather, we do it to emphasise the significance of our progress, underscore the possibility of transformation under daunting conditions and express well-founded confidence that when sufficient progress is made, we shall do much more and go much farther in delivering the Kenya We Want for our generation and for posterity.

In our Plan, we identified three primary challenges—external shocks, fiscal distress, and structural imbalances—that heavily strained our economy, causing nationwide difficulty.

The COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with global supply chain disruptions and geopolitical conflicts, significantly raised inflation and interest rates, adversely affecting our economy, while low agricultural investment and a prolonged drought led to food shortages and made Kenya a net food importer in a volatile international market.

It was under conditions of such extreme difficulty that the people of Kenya entrusted us with the responsibility of simultaneously generating effective solutions to immediate problems, providing a credible pathway to stability in the medium term, and undertaking a long-term structural transformation of our but in a manner which paid attention to the needs and aspirations of Kenyans at the bottom of the pyramid.

The transformation of our economy is not only desirable and important; it is also necessary and urgent, and the people of Kenya have made this clear at every opportunity. Our duty as leaders is to listen keenly and comply with the people's wishes. Kenyans want to proceed in a new direction and demand a new conversation that puts Mama Mboga’s security, well-being, interests and aspirations at the front and centre of all policy and governance discourse.

Citizen freedoms and fundamental rights lie at the heart of enterprise and democracy. Accordingly, our governance system must be fit for purpose: Able to protect people and their belongings, safeguard freedom, facilitate democracy and promote market efficiency. To do this, law enforcement must be robust, judicial integrity, efficiency and independence absolute and the right to the protection of the law nonnegotiable and impartial.

Our police service and all other actors in the justice, law and order chain, including the judiciary, must therefore be professional, independent, impartial, effective and inspired by national values and principles of governance.

In keeping with our promise to the people of Kenya, I signed important instruments on my first day in office.

Among them the delayed appointment of six judges to the Court of Appeal as recommended by the Judicial Service Commission, enhanced allocation to the Judiciary by KSh3 billion, designated the Inspector-General as the accounting officer of the National Police Service to enhance independence and subsequently appointed a taskforce, led by former Chief Justice David Maraga, to review the terms and conditions of service of members of the National Police Service.

Together with the people of Kenya, we have changed everything. We have transformed the national political conversation from personalities to issues, from regional or ethnic largesse to opportunities for our youth and hustlers, from division to inclusion, and from the status quo to bottom-up economic transformation for shared prosperity.

To date, Kenyans remain fully seized of the agenda, engaging rigorously and with an unrelenting focus on expanding agricultural productivity to deal with the cost of living, affordable housing to create jobs and dignified dwellings, universal health coverage for a healthy productive population, digital transformation to create jobs and efficient and effective access to government services, the Hustler Fund and the prudent management of national resources.

By virtue of the internal coherence of our constitutional dispensation, national values and principles of governance set out core directive precepts whose observance imbues every decision and action with implicit constitutionality.

To the extent that our plan is aligned with Article 43, the implementation of the bottom-up economic transformation agenda is a programme to intensify the actualisation of national values, with a special focus on citizens at the bottom of the economic pyramid.

From the first day in office, we have worked hard every day to move our agenda forward, amid many challenges, to forge a path in the direction of progress.

That is the essence of our commitment: To make progress despite challenges and move forward by overcoming great obstacles. We must never be defined by our problems, and Kenya’s destiny cannot be derailed by our challenges.

The cost of living is not an abstract phenomenon. It is a reality experienced by all households, which can be addressed through practical action and effective measures. One of the most salient interventions in addressing the high cost of living is the strategy to support agricultural production throughout the sector's range of food and cash crops as well as livestock value chains.

I am committed to putting the shame of hunger behind us once and for all. We rolled out a countrywide farmer registration and fertiliser subsidy programme that has made available 5.5 million bags to farmers across Kenya. We have progressively reduced the cost of fertiliser from KSh6,500 to KSh2,500, increased maize acreage under production by an extra 200,000 acres and enhanced maize production by an additional 18 million bags.

As a result of these interventions, today a 2kg packet of maize flour is selling at a low of KSh145 and a high of KSh175 depending on the brand down from KSh250. A Gorogoro of maize is selling at between KSh60 and KSh75.

We have also established 22 new fish landing sites in 9 counties in the Nyanza and Coast regions, funded and organised beach management units into cooperatives, set up two hatcheries in Kabonyo and Shimoni and we are in the process of completing the Liwatoni fish processing plant by next month and Shimoni fish port by the end of next year.

To achieve efficiency, transparency and accuracy in fertiliser distribution, we enrolled farmers on a digital register, with accurate details of the location and acreage of their agricultural landholding. This database enabled us to implement an e-voucher system through which farmers received their fertiliser consignments for planting and top-dressing of maize, tea, coffee, rice, potatoes, cotton and edible oil crops.

Our farmers are the best people to speak about the success of the fertiliser programme. Yesterday, I spoke to several farmers in different parts of the country. Ms Alice Nato of Bungoma, a single mother, told me that the KSh2,500 fertiliser had doubled the yield on her farm from 52 bags of maize last year to 120 bags this year.

Another farmer, Mr Albert Munyi, appreciated the impact the fertiliser subsidy had on his farm and asked me to work out a way that the fertiliser can be delivered closer to farmers rather than NCPB depots. I assured him that I will work with governors to actualise his proposal.

But it was Mr Samuel Chacha of Kuria, who graphically painted the picture of transformation the fertiliser subsidy has done in farms countrywide with a phrase that stuck in my mind. He simply told me: “Mr President, shamba yangu inametameta.”

Further, we have made adequate arrangements, including investment in necessary infrastructure, to facilitate post-harvest management and prevent losses. 17 certified warehouses, jointly managed by the National Cereals and Produce Board and private sector owners, with a combined capacity of 365,000 MT, or 4 million 90kg bags, have been prepared in the maize-growing areas.

The NCPB shall provide a subsidised maize drying service to farmers at a fixed cost of KSh70 per bag, which is a significant improvement from the previous rate of KSh350 per bag. Yesterday, the first consignment of the 100 mobile driers for use by our farmers docked in the country.

Additionally, we are enhancing dairy productivity for better farmer returns. The government, working closely with milk processors, is mapping the country to ensure that coolers are supplied where needed. Soon, farmers will be paid based on milk quality, boosting income and enjoying global market access.

Our reforms in the coffee sector are bearing fruit, with our farmers set to earn four times advance pay for their crop, from a low of KSh20 to KSh80, following the allocation of KSh4 billion from the Coffee Cherry Fund. Coffee reform regulations will give farmers the necessary representation and weight at the Nairobi Coffee Auction. These measures are expected to aid ongoing efforts, including expanding production to new counties and doubling coffee output in the next 4 years.

The government is currently restructuring public sugar mills, expediting the leasing of five companies for rehabilitation and expansion to boost industry competitiveness before the COMESA sugar safeguards expire.

The objective includes creating a competitive sector, raising farmer incomes and enhancing productivity. We've also waived KSh117 billion non-performing debt for government-owned sugar factories.

As earlier indicated, our public borrowing had long crowded out the productive sector from the financial markets, raising the cost of credit and slowing down trade and commerce.

As I told Kenyans on my first day in office, times were difficult and many people were struggling and necessary and effective sustainable solutions were urgently needed. We must admit that as a country, we had been living large and way beyond our means.

The time has come, therefore, to retire the false comforts and illusory benefits of wasteful expenditure, and counterproductive subsidies on consumption by which we dug ourselves deeper into the hole of avoidable debt. The new direction may not be easy, but it is ethical, responsible, prudent and, most importantly, necessary. We have had to make hard decisions and make painful choices because we owe it to Kenyans to do the right thing and confront facts as they are without flinching or equivocating.

We have worked hard, at home and further abroad, to mobilise a broad coalition of bilateral development partners, multilateral development banks and other agencies, which have rallied to pull our country back from the brink of debt distress and set us firmly on the path towards sustainable economic growth.

Our efforts to stabilise the situation have yielded such progress that next month, in December, we will be able to settle the first $300 million instalment of the $2 billion Eurobond debt that falls due next year. I can now state with confidence that we will and shall pay the debt that has become a source of much concern to citizens, markets and partners.

Having said this, I further announce to the nation that our intentional, consistent and sustained efforts, here and abroad, have enabled us to normalise our relationships with the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, the Africa Development Bank and various development partners to such an extent that they are now working with us to implement the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation plan.

As earlier indicated, our public borrowing had long crowded out the productive sector from the financial markets, raising the cost of credit and slowing down trade and commerce, especially the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, including Mboga. Consequently, many entrepreneurs were referred for blacklisting by the credit reference bureau, CRB, where 7 million borrowers were listed.

We pledged to provide affordable, and accessible credit and restore small business owners to good standing with credit rating agencies.

A deliberate, targeted strategic financial inclusion fund, the Hustler Fund, providing affordable credit and mobilising savings for individuals and small businesses was launched on 30th November, 2022.

The public response to the Hustler Fund has exceeded most initial projections and surprised even the most hardened sceptics. By the end of last month, the Fund had disbursed KSh 36.6 billion, with KSh2.3 billion in savings and 7.5 million repeat borrowers whose overall repayment rate is at an impressive 73 per cent. The top borrower of the fund has so far accessed a total of KSh4.5 million in 816 transactions, while the top voluntary saver is at KSh631,491.

In the intervening period, the Hustler Fund has also launched a group product, which has attracted 50,000 active groups to the platform, of which 20,000 have received KSh151 million.

The Hustler Fund has proved to us not only the huge pent-up demand for affordable credit but also the readiness of Kenyans to embrace credit and savings and to pay their loans on time with minimum prompting.

The notion that Kenyans are not credit-worthy or high-risk borrowers is nothing more than unjust financial profiling which has, in many instances, become a needless self-fulfilling prophecy.

When I called Harrison Karisa Kengai yesterday, a Tuk Tuk operator in Mombasa, who has accessed 714,000 from the Hustler Fund, he suggested that we find a way to have the Fund provide asset financing so that he could use his Tuk Tuk for such credit. I assured him that during my address today, I would ask the ministry responsible to respond to him.

President William Ruto being taken through how to borrow from the Hustler Fund during its launch on November 30, 2022. /PCS

Consequently, I hereby direct the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs to expeditiously engage Mr Kengai.

The impact of the Hustler Fund is summarised by the story of Mr Sospheter Ondiek from Kisii. The Kenyan film industry should look for him to tell his true life story. Mr Ondiek has a plumbing and tiling business in Kisii and has accessed a total of 1.7m from the Hustler fund in the many transactions he has undertaken.

Savings

To enhance our savings which have consistently been among the lowest globally, and to correct the delayed transformation of our social security architecture, fundamental reforms are underway in our savings and social security space.

As promised, we committed to take deliberate measures to foster a strong culture of saving among Kenyans and enable them to mobilise resources for investment and development of intergenerational capital, to eliminate old age poverty and ensure comfort in retirement. Until recently, the rate of Kenya’s public pension savings stood at KSh1.4 billion a month, which is the lowest in our region at 12.5 per cent of GDP.

As a result of our initial interventions, the savings situation in Kenya is changing for the better. Contributions to the National Social Security Fund have grown to KSh6.5 billion monthly.

The implication of this growth in our national savings is that it will significantly consolidate our nation’s ability to invest in development using domestic pension industry financing.

Affordable Housing

The majority of Kenyans live in their own rural homes even though many experience land and settlement challenges, including landlessness, insecure land tenure and perennial squatter problems.

Acute housing challenges are principally an urban phenomenon, and they present a serious threat to health and safety as well as the dignity of people, particularly low-income earners.

The proliferation of slums in our urban areas indicates the extent of this serious problem and the urgency with which it must be addressed to enable Kenyans to have greater choice in leading dignified, safe and healthy lives affordably.

The low supply of affordable units in Kenya is acute, making rent a huge component of the cost of living for many households. The increase in affordable housing units is a strategic intervention to not only supply comfortable dwellings for Kenyans but also a means to reduce the cost of living.

Three categories of houses will be supplied by this programme: Social, affordable and market rate. Interest on financing for buying the various units will be at single digits. For social housing, the interest will be at 3 per cent, for affordable housing at 6 per cent and 9 per cent for the market rate category.

The affordable housing programme has received tremendous support from county governments across Kenya and I thank governors for their partnership.

The construction of 46,792 units in various parts of the country is already underway, while another 40,000 are ready to commence construction. 50,000 Kenyans, who were previously unemployed, are now engaged directly and indirectly in this enterprise, and the numbers will significantly increase as the projects move into the next phases. A total of 746,795 housing units are in the pipeline, undergoing various stages of delivery.

More jobs are being created with the formalisation of the Jua Kali clusters, providing products like doors, hinges and windows. Architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, masons, electricians, plumbers, transporters, steel and cement factory workers, and hardware merchants will be partakers of this transformative plan.

We are also constructing 400 markets across Kenya to provide Mama Mboga with a dignified working environment, complete with water, electricity, and other amenities.

Transforming Education

Our education system must develop a formidable reservoir of skill, talent, and highly competitive and innovative human capital to support our vision of economically transforming Kenya.

Within weeks of taking office, I appointed the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform, led by Prof Raphael Munavu, to provide clarity on the transition to the new competence-based curriculum and make further recommendations on necessary reforms in our education system, from early childhood all the way to the tertiary level.

The working party concluded its work and submitted a report, whose recommendations are already being implemented. the urgent and vexing question of the transition to Junior School has been settled, and the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment will be used for the exclusive purpose of monitoring learner progress and not for placement in the next grade.

In keeping with our commitment, 56,750 new teachers have been employed, while 8,200 primary school teachers were retrained to equip them with the capacity to effectively deliver learning and teaching at the Junior School level.

With changes to the entry requirements for teacher training colleges, admission has increased by 300 per cent to 20,456 trainees.

At the tertiary level, the working party recommended an overhaul of the existing education funding framework to a variable scholarship and loan model in order to address the financing gaps which denied many young Kenyans the opportunity to pursue tertiary education in our universities and TVET colleges, hampered the financial capacity of institutions of higher learning and affected the ability of the institutions to train.

The new model for financial support is student-centred and deploys a rigorous, impartial means testing instrument to establish their level of need, which then becomes the primary consideration in allocating scholarships and loans.

To fully democratise our education system and make higher education accessible and affordable to all, we have chartered the Open University of Kenya following requisite Cabinet and parliamentary approvals.

Universal Healthcare

In the course of consulting Kenyans from all walks of life during the formulation of the BottomUp Economic Transformation Agenda, the fundamental contribution of healthcare to citizen well-being and the role of costs in driving up poverty were identified as chronic. The implications are very clear, and we cannot afford to delay the delivery of universal healthcare anymore.

Consequently, we have instituted radical reforms in the provision of healthcare services in Kenya, including the enactment of four new laws that will anchor the implementation of this bottom-up approach to healthcare.

I am tremendously grateful to this honourable Parliament for enacting the Primary Healthcare Act, the new Social Health Insurance Act, the Digital Health Act and the Facility Improvement Financing Act.

These laws will usher in and guarantee a new era in the provision of healthcare, covering all essential services from preventive, promotive, curative, palliative and rehabilitative services, guaranteeing every Kenyan access to comprehensive and quality care.

Under Afya Nyumbani, we have scaled up our investment in the healthcare workforce, employing 20,000 new healthcare workers, deploying 8,429 workers whose contracts had lapsed and enrolling 3,394 interns across the country to increase the availability of human capital in our public health sector.

Working with county governments, we have taken measures to resolve the perennial challenge of human resources management in the health sector by establishing the Kenya Health Human Resources Advisory Council, which will be a trusted mediator between government and health sector workers.

Further, under the Afya Nyumbani model, we identified preventive care as an essential pillar of healthcare service delivery because it enables Kenyans to manage their conditions early enough before they cause serious harm to well-being and productivity. Community health promotion is our bottom-up intervention to deliver preventive and promotive health solutions at the grassroots, by deploying community health promoters to visit Kenyans at their homes, provide basic diagnosis for common conditions and refer cases to appropriate medical facilities.

Together with all the 47 counties, we have deployed 100,000 community health promoters fully equipped with the necessary kit and an electronic community health information system. In the last one month, CHPs have attended to 1.2 million households.

I spoke on the phone to Mr Masud Diriye, a community health promoter in Garissa, who told me he has been a Community Health Volunteer since 2011.

Unlike before, now he has a full medical kit and has used it to confirm that 7 people in his area of operation had high blood pressure. In a twist of fate, he tested himself and discovered that he too had high blood pressure. Mr Obembi Ogutu of Homabay told me that the programme is a paperless approach to primary healthcare, saying it had started to reduce queues in hospitals.

Through the Facility Improvement Financing Act, of 2023, we have established a framework that confers financial autonomy to health facilities, enabling them to retain funds generated with a mandate to improve facility capacity to provide healthcare services.

In addition, the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA), as part of many radical reforms, will now deploy ICT to manage the supply chains of essential health products and commodities. As a result of these reforms, KEMSA has improved its stocking rate from 40 per cent to about 60 per cent in the last 5 months and targeting 80 per cent by March next year.

Digitisation of Government

As is becoming clear, we cannot hope anymore to deliver services to Kenyans in their millions across the country with any measure of efficiency, integrity, transparency and accountability without ICT. From education and agriculture to health and financial inclusion, digital technologies reign supreme in transforming service delivery, governance improvements and catalysing efficiency throughout the economy.

We have commenced the rollout of 100,000km of last-mile fibreoptic connectivity to make reliable high-speed Internet available throughout the country, along with 25,000 free Wi-fi hotspots in all market centres and 1,450 ICT hubs in every ward.

We have expanded the digital provision of public services to encompass 13,000 services, and it is our commitment to ensure full digitisation by the end of next month. Our decision to enhance efficiency and integrity in the provision of government services has gone a long way to improve revenue collection. Working with the private sector, we launched the local assembly of affordable smartphones last week in Athi River.

Digitisation and automation enhance service delivery and citizen satisfaction and also assure greater accuracy, transparency, and accountability and reduce opportunities for corruption in the course of transacting with government ministries, departments and agencies.

Corruption, wastage, inefficiency and negligence are serious threats to our transformation agenda, and unacceptable practices that have no place in our nation. I have given my firm assurance to the people of Kenya that cases of misconduct and corruption shall be dealt with ruthlessly, with finality and expeditiously.

I ask Parliament to finalise the Assets Declaration and Conflict of Interest Bill to further tighten our anti-corruption policy framework, and eliminate space for misbehaviour.

Securing Transformation

The security and safety of all citizens is our foremost commitment and most fundamental obligation, without which every other endeavour is not possible. The reason why Kenya has continued on the path of steady progress is that we have maintained stability, peace and security by affirming our territorial integrity and maintaining internal tranquillity.

This is not to say our country has not had its share of security challenges. The spectre of terrorism is a continuing threat that we must remain constantly vigilant against. Pockets of banditry, cattle-rustling and armed lawlessness have besieged and devastated communities in the Rift Valley, North-Eastern and, occasionally, parts of Eastern and the Coast regions.

We all know that insecurity disrupts lives and destroys livelihoods. Our country has lost too many people to this problem. Many children have been orphaned and missed school, and many families have been displaced because of lawless men taking up illegal arms and waging war against communities.

The government exists to ensure that those who challenge our sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security and the safety of the people are expeditiously countered and rendered harmless for all time.

We have therefore taken firm and decisive measures to deal with the challenge of banditry, armed crime, cattle rustling and other forms of impunity in all parts of our country. Beginning with the successful security operation to restore calm in the North Rift, we have been systematic, focused, thorough, unrelenting and totally committed to removing for good all threats to the lives and livelihoods of Kenyans.

In discharging this commitment, we have been mindful not to use security imperatives to commit impunity, including misuse of resources and extrajudicial infringements on the freedoms and fundamental human rights of citizens. We are conscious of providing security as a public service for the benefit of law-abiding citizens and as a guarantor of economic growth. Therefore, our security services have been committed to a citizen-centred, rights-focused, inclusive and community-based security strategy.

I am therefore quite clear that there exists no tension between the effective delivery of security services and the upholding of human rights and fundamental freedoms. We can be and therefore must be secure, yet free and democratic.

In order to entrench our all-of-society coalition, we have resolved to enhance diversity and inclusion, by enrollment into the National Youth Service (NYS) as an agency to capture young people at the bottom of the pyramid.

Consequently, we are doubling enrolment to 40,000 in the Service from next year, and have made it absolutely mandatory that every village, centre, town and city in Kenya is properly represented in the recruitment. To consolidate this proposition, we have directed that 80% of future recruits to all our national security services will be from among the well-trained, talented and committed young men and women who have undergone training at NYS.

President William Ruto during an inspection of the guard of honour at the NYS pass-out parade at Gilgil, Nakuru County on March 3, 2023. /STATE HOUSE KENYA

The Regional and Global Role

Kenya finds itself continuously summoned by its duty of care to serve as a reliable anchor to our region’s security, peace and stability. We continue to answer to our historic, moral and strategic responsibilities to deploy our resources in solidarity with our region in general, and our immediate neighbourhood in particular.

To prevent the imminent collapse of Goma in Eastern DRC, which would have had serious consequences for the wider East African region, we deployed our troops under the East Africa Community Regional Force. We have continued to anchor the fight against Al Shabaab in Somalia under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia. The Kenya Defence Forces continues to make Kenya proud.

It is our firm position that only a democratically accountable system that is sensitive and responsive to the diverse composition of Sudan can secure that country. Given the regional interconnectedness, together with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the U.S., we have engaged the Jeddah process as IGAD to fashion a framework that is best placed to successfully deliver peace in the Sudan.

International Obligations

Our economy is firmly interconnected with regional, continental and global economic systems. Our security and stability are likewise integrated with those of our neighbours. Kenya has a fundamental, essential, legitimate and clear interest in conducting robust diplomacy in the form of bilateral and multilateral engagements.

For the past 12 months, we have continued to fulfil our international obligations through Kenya’s leadership in the international arena. This is underscored by the high-level summits Kenya has hosted and participated in.

Kenya successfully hosted the inaugural Africa Climate Summit, the 43rd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council, the 5th MidYear Coordination meeting of the African Union and the Regional Economic Communities, and the first-ever African edition of the Berlin Climate and Security Conference in Nairobi, bringing over 30 Heads of State and Governments to our country and over 30,000 delegates from different parts of the world.

The Government has made deliberate efforts to harness the immense potential of Kenyans in the Diaspora. Indeed, I established the State Department of Diaspora in the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs so that they can fully participate in the affairs of their motherland.

I have committed to work collectively, consultatively and collaboratively with the counties and all Kenyans to uphold our cherished national values such as human dignity, equity, social justice, national unity, inclusiveness, integrity, good governance, transparency and accountability. I encourage all honourable members and indeed all Kenyans to embrace an open mindset in regard to national strategic interests and to leverage our rich heritage.

One of the greatest strengths of our country is our capacity to devise bold, unprecedented solutions to our threats and challenges, create imaginative strategies to avert danger and chart new paths to deliver us from adversity. There is no doubt that our nation has been confronted with immense pressure emanating from political misunderstanding and electoral disagreement arising from our robust democracy. Such pressure can disrupt lives and livelihoods and undermine our economy.

Thankfully, Kenyans always find the moral strength and political imagination to reach across the political divide and engage in dialogue in the spirit of goodwill, fraternity and commitment to the national interest and the welfare of the nation.

It would be remiss of me not to mention the ongoing bipartisan process of national dialogue that has enabled our leaders to find common ground on many of the issues whose resolution will accelerate our transformation, deepen our democracy and entrench national unity. I salute the courage and patriotism of my fellow leaders who have embraced national dialogue and encourage all of us to keep up the noble work of bringing Kenyans together.

There is so much to report about the progress we have made in serving the people of Kenya and transforming our economy. I have provided only a summarised highlight of the most salient instances of transformational progress in my address.

It is my pleasant duty to hand to the Speakers of the Houses of Parliament the three reports in full as follows: the 10th Annual Report on Measures Taken and Progress Made in the Realisation of National Values and Principles and Governance, the 10th Annual Report on Progress Made in Fulfilling the International Obligations of the Republic of Kenya, and the 10th Annual Report on the State of National Security.

I will not hesitate to acknowledge, with profound humility, that a lot of the successes we have achieved in delivering the BottomUp Economic Transformation Agenda, was due to the patriotic support and solidarity from members of Parliament, both in the Senate and the National Assembly. We are fortunate to be attempting this ambitious historic project of radical change in a bipartisan era when dialogue, consensus, collaboration and partnership have replaced dissent, contention, conflict and disarray, as the operating principles of political discourse.

Issue-oriented politics is not just a democratic necessity and a pathway to sustainable transformation, it is the most effective way of mobilising diversity for collective national good.

As the world reels from destructive assaults on democracy and the relentless subversion of human dignity, freedom reigns supreme in our land and our democracy grows deeper and more robust by the day.

Our collective resolve as a nation to further entrench constitutionalism, democracy, and good governance is a unique quality that confers on us an incomparable advantage: The power to face the future without fear, to imagine a transformation that extends to posterity and envision prosperity that benefits our children’s offspring and beyond.

As long as we put the welfare of the people of Kenya as our central agenda and play our respective roles in ensuring that government is effective and accountable, efficient and transparent, Kenya’s best fortunes are well within reach. I am persuaded we shall achieve transformation beyond our wildest dreams within this generation.

As a leadership and as a people, we have a historic opportunity to preside over the greatest transformation and progress ever witnessed in the nation. Kenya is a nation of brave, hard-working, enterprising people who are determined to prevail in the struggle for economic freedom and win the race for prosperity.

In a nation like ours, great deeds will be accomplished whenever and wherever opportunity exists. This is why the hard work we have done is already showing the promise of abundant fruit. We have laid a firm foundation for rapid development, and Kenya is no longer “on your marks”.

The state of our Nation at this moment in time is Prepared and Ready to Go.

I thank you. God Bless You. God Bless Kenya.

Details Of King Charles III's Ksh7.5 Million Land Rover

admin — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 16:59:20 +0300

The highly-anticipated visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom (UK) to Kenya for a four-day State Visit began in full swing, marking this his first visit to a Commonwealth country as British Royalty.

The Royal Couple were honoured with a 21-gun salute at State House after they arrived in the country on Monday night, October 30 for the visit aimed at celebrating the warm relationship between the two countries and the strong and dynamic partnership they continue to forge.

However, in comparison to the fuel-guzzling Toyota Land Cruisers that other leaders use while they slip through Nairobi to other destinations within the city and the country, King Charles III chose a conventional method of travel which is a stark contrast to the dazzling royal convoy that lit up his coronation in London back in May.

His Majesty and Queen Camilla have been riding through Nairobi in a Land Rover Discovery 4, a car preferred by the King owing to his support as a proud Englishman for Jaguar Land Rover, a British multinational automobile manufacturer with showrooms in Kenya.

The Land Rover Discovery vehicle used by King Charles III and Queen Camilla during their state visit on October 31, 2023. /THE STAR

Viral Tea takes a look at the features of the Discovery 4:

Features

The Land Rover Discovery is a large 4×4 manufactured in the United Kingdom by the Land Rover company. In Kenya, it competes with the likes of Toyota Prado, Mitsubishi Pajero, Nissan Pathfinder, and Ford Everest.

The SUV is one of the most iconic and functional 4x4s in the world today; that is, it can haul 7 full-sized adults through rough terrain in absolute comfort. It blends the luxuriousness of the Range Rover with the toughness of the Defender into one exciting package.

It comes in four trim levels:

Land Rover Discovery 4 GS (Previously known as S)
This is the entry-level model that comes with 7 seats (all cloth), Air Suspension, All Terrain Response system(For selecting off-road driving modes), Climate Control, All electric windows, rear parking sensors, Electronic Stability Program(ESP), Bluetooth, CD Player with a non-touch monitor and 18 Inch alloy wheels
Land Rover Discovery 4 XS (Previously known as SE)
Its got all the equipment as the GS plus leather seats, satellite navigation, a touchscreen monitor, cruise control and a 3-panel sunroof
Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE
Its got all the equipment as the XS Plus Windsor leather seats, Harman Kardon sound system, lacquer veneers, reversing camera, mood lighting and advanced climate control.
Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE Luxury
It builds on the HSE with a Surround Sound Audio System, Rear Screen Entertainment, 20-inch alloy wheels, Santorini Black paint, Silver roof rails, special stitch leather, privacy glass, heated steering and a cooler box.

The Discovery 4 is known and loved for its off-road capabilities and its ability to get work done, starting with a 3,500kg towing capacity. Drivers love the high seating position that allows them to see far beyond the cars in front of them as well as the level of comfort that Land Rover is known for.

Star billing on the Land Rover Discovery 4 goes to the highly efficient and refined new LR-TDV6 3.0 twin-turbo diesel engine. This delivers a 9 per cent fuel economy improvement (EU combined cycle) and 10 per cent fewer CO2 emissions, at the same time as increasing power by 29 per cent, all compared with the existing 2.7-litre engine.

Torque increases even more, up 36 per cent to 600Nm - believed to be the highest torque output of any 6-cylinder, production diesel, passenger vehicle engine in the world.

The power and torque are both accessible across the entire rev range, to deliver immediate throttle response and effortless cruising ability. The results include a 0-100 km/h in 9.6 seconds, a 24 per cent improvement over the 2.7-litre.

Land Rover's engineers also transformed the on-road ride and handling for the new generation Land Rover Discovery 4 and even improved on the near-legendary off-road capabilities of its predecessor. The comprehensive changes include new suspension components, revised steering, larger brakes, improved traction control, and enhancements to the award-winning Terrain ResponseTM system, which helps optimise the vehicle for virtually all on-road or off-road driving situations.

The iconic exterior design has smoother and simpler surfaces at the front, including a new, more aerodynamic bumper. The sportier new lights help give the vehicle a new character and include LED technology front and rear and the sophisticated new front headlights include High Beam Assist, switching on or off, as conditions require.

Interior of the Land Rover Discovery 4. /AUTO TRADER

The interior is completely redesigned, with a transformed dash and centre console, new seats and an array of user-friendly features.

"The new interior not only has a much more premium look and feel but it's also gained improvement to its functionality. The new console inclines towards the driver, the switchgear and controls fall more readily to hand, and new LED Interior Mood Lighting on HSE models helps make the cabin a more pleasant and more easily used space after dark. We've made the interior environment more premium too, with smoother surfaces, softer materials and close attention to critical details such as stitching," Gerry McGovern, Design Director, was quoted by NetCarShow.com.

Some of the features available for the Discovery 4 include a Portable Audio Interface, DAB radio, a new five-camera 'surround' system, for easier parking and towing, and a new key system which offers Keyless Entry and Push Button Start.

The Discovery is also packed with features aimed at reducing fuel consumption and reducing CO2 emissions. The LR-TDV6 3.0 Sequential Turbo Diesel engine was designed from the outset to deliver class-leading fuel economy and improved low-end torque.

The parallel sequential turbocharging system of the 3.0-litre diesel makes use of its larger, primary turbo most of the time. The smaller secondary turbo remains dormant when higher power is not required, reducing pumping losses and consequently, fuel consumption.

A highly efficient, third-generation common rail injection system with piezo injectors and fuel metering, also makes a substantial contribution to fuel economy.

Depending on the car dealer, some models of the Discovery 4 can be priced up to Ksh7.5 million. King Charles III's deep blue in colour Disco is a 2993cc diesel engine tinted at the rear windows, most probably where he sits.

The high-end vehicle was visible during their visit to State House, Nairobi and when the royals toured the Eastlands library on Tuesday afternoon, October 31 accompanied by security with riders leading.

It is worth it to note that earlier this year, Charles' 2007 Discovery 3 delivered to him he was then the Prince of Wales went up for auction in the UK, with a winning bid of £12,050 (Ksh2.2 million).

The Discovery was leased to the royals, which is a common procedure -- the Royal Family gets low-priced leases for their large fleet, and Land Rover gets the brand association of their vehicles being driven by them. After the lease expired, the vehicle went for private sale, and it had two owners before being put up for auction.

This Discovery also had a red registration number plate, a key feature for vehicles driven on Kenyan roads to either mean that the vehicle is owned by a foreign embassy (British High Commission in Kenya, in this case,) or an international agency. The red plates are called diplomatic number plates.

King Charles III during his visit to the tomb of unknown warrior at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi on October 31, 2023. /PCS

Nissan GT-R: Features Of Multi-Million Car Spotted Many Times In Kenya

admin — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 18:51:19 +0300

The next time you think that Kenyan roads cannot accommodate some of the world's most popular sports cars, you may need to retract your statement. Roads especially in Nairobi and Mombasa cities have borne witness to supercars that are quite a common sight in developed countries.

However, there is one rare sports car that anytime it graces Kenyan roads, it gets car enthusiasts talking. While it looks appealing to many eyes, it packs a performance that can easily defeat a customized Subaru in a race and can go toe to toe with a Ferrari.

This high-performance car is the Nissan GT-R (full name Gran Turismo Racing). Introduced to the market in 2007, the GT-R has been spotted several times in Nairobi, sparking a lot of interest in car and motorsport enthusiasts and embedding dreams among some of them in terms of owning the vehicle.

"I've always wanted to own a GT-R. Maybe one day I'll be able to afford one," a social media user stated while reacting to a Twitter post on Saturday, May 20, when one of the GT-R cars was spotted in the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD).

A Nissan GT-R at Two Rivers Mall in Nairobi, Kenya. /DAIMLAR MOTORSPORTS

One of the GT-Rs believed to be owned by a private Asian citizen has sent tongues wagging with its tremendous speed and acceleration that leaves rival sports cars eating dust, so much so that some say it is one of the fastest sports cars in East Africa.

Viral Tea takes a look at the features of the Nissan GT-R:

Features

The GT-R is a two-by-two seater, front mid-engine, all-wheel drive sports car and grand tourer, developed and produced by Japanese car maker, Nissan. It succeeds the Nissan Skyline GT-R, a high-performance variant of the Nissan Skyline luxury coupe.

Although this model was the sixth generation to bear the GT-R name, it is no longer part of the Skyline line-up. The GT-R is built on the PM platform, which is derived from the FM platform used in the Skyline and the Nissan Z models.

GT-R, nicknamed Godzilla (gojira), is a powerful car, with a 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine that produces 570 horsepower. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.9 seconds, has a top speed of 195 mph (313.8 km/hr), and is also equipped with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive.

The Nissan GT-R is powered by the VR38DETT engine, a 3,799 cc (3.8 L; 231.8 cu in) 60° degree DOHC V6 engine with plasma transferred wire arc sprayed cylinder bores.

Two parallel Ishikawajima-Harima (IHI) turbochargers provide forced induction. Models manufactured between 2007 and 2009 were rated at a manufacturer-claimed engine output of 353 kW (473 hp) at 6,400 rpm and 583 N⋅m (430 lb-ft) at 3,200–5,200 rpm. The engine also meets California Air Resources Board Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) standards.

It is the IHI turbocharger that is mounted on each bank of the engine.

The exhaust manifolds, inspired by racing technology, have optimized turbo flange attachment points, which allow for easier servicing and potential tuning, without touching the exhaust manifold. To ensure there is no turbo lag as torque rises, high-precision electronic controls are employed.

A titanium exhaust helps ensure proper cooling from the engine’s massive output. Notoriously difficult to work with, each exhaust is hand-built by a master craftsman and is specifically designed for an individual vehicle.

A new “burnished” finish to the exhaust tip gives the perfect look – of a high-performance vehicle that’s been enjoyed to the fullest. The cylinder block features a closed deck for strength.

For added strength, a ladder frame structure was also adopted to give the crankshaft added support, important with the engine’s massive torque. Magnesium alloy was selected for the oil pan and rocker cover for its light weight and strength.

Despite its thrilling speed, the GT-R is sharp and responsive, especially around corners. Even though it is not as twitchy, it can change direction with ease even at speeds of 160 km/hr.

The GT-R is one of the first production cars to feature launch control and a dual-clutch transmission as well. The overall body is made out of steel, aluminium and carbon fibre.

Image of a Nissan GT-R sports car in Kenya. /BIZNA KENYA

Including several acceleration and speed records, the car has also set record lap times at the Nürburgring, a motorsports race track based in Germany.

Availability & Awards

The GT-R is offered worldwide, unlike its predecessors which were sold in a limited number of markets. It received several facelifts and updates to be up to date with its competitors, and special variants were also offered during its prolonged production span.

The car is used in motorsports, notably winning championships in the FIA GT1 World Championship, Super GT and GT3 racing.

It is well received among enthusiasts and automotive publications as well, with British motor magazine Top Gear naming it as "one of the most incredible cars ever built of any kind", due to its exceptional performance and practicality at an affordable price. Despite being one of the fastest production cars, it has won numerous notable accolades such as the World Performance Car of The Year among many others.

Price

The GT-R's price tag is however where things get interesting. Any sports car with the aforementioned features carries a hefty price tag.

Depending on the year of manufacture, the sports car can start from as low as Ksh15.05 million ($100,000) to Ksh18.2 million ($120,990) for the 2024 edition, without tax upon importation, making the car out of reach for most Kenyans.

Features in Summary

3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine
Six-speed dual-clutch transmission
All-wheel drive
0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds
Top speed of 195 mph (313.8 km/hr)
Brembo brakes
Bose sound system
Leather seats
Heated seats
Sunroof
Navigation system
Back-up camera

Here is a past video of the GT-R along the Southern Bypass:

Lamborghini, Porsche, Ferrari: When & Where To Watch Supercars In Nairobi For Free [PHOTOS]

admin — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 14:33:42 +0300

For the past few days, Kenyans have been taking notice of exotic vehicles only affordable to the elite and racing enthusiasts in developed countries spotted along Nairobi roads.

A video surfaced on Wednesday, October 18 showing two sports cars, a Porsche 911 GT3 and a Ferrari 458 Italia plying Limuru Road on their way to Village Market in Nairobi, one of the several occasions the sports cars have been turning heads on Kenyan roads.

However, as Viral Tea learnt, the cars bearing foreign number plates are not just in the city for show. They are among a series of exotic cars expected in the country ahead of the first edition of OneLife Safari Rally Kenya set to take place between Nairobi and Malindi from Saturday, October 28 to Saturday, November 4.

The main highlight is the racing cars which will be flagged off from Nairobi on October 28 and make their way through Maasai Mara, Amboseli, and Tsavo National Parks before cruising to the finishing line at Malindi on November 4, 2023.

A Porsche 911 GT3 parked next to a Ferrari 458 Italia in Nairobi. /GABRIEL TV KENYA

As though that is not enough, the OneLife Rally organisers have staged a public event to be held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi on October 28 from 1 pm to 7.30 pm which will be a free entry for car lovers.

Viral Tea takes a look at the supercars spotted in Nairobi so far as well as some notable ones on the way:

Ferrari 458 Italia

Kenyans may be familiar with the Ferrari sports car given that its convertible edition was spotted in Nairobi in 2022. Kalasinga, a bigwig on the social media platform, had tweeted at the time “There is a Tanzanian casually driving a Ferrari 458 in Kenya.”

The red Ferrari is hard to miss on the road due to its unique design and sleek appearance.

The 458's base price is Ksh40 million but can reach Ksh70 million depending on the specs. It is a special unit since it’s the last Ferrari powered by a naturally aspirated V8.

The hand-built engine produces an impressive 562 horsepower without a turbocharger or supercharger. It features a seven-speed automatic gearbox, according to Carsguide and has a top speed of over 325 kilometres per hour, accelerating from 0-100 km/hr in 3.4 seconds.

Porsche 911 GT3

According to Car and Driver, the Porsche starts from around Ksh24 million before taxes.

It features a naturally aspirated 4-litre flat-six engine that makes 502 horsepower. The GT3 accelerates from 0 to 96 km/h in 3 seconds, can attain a top speed of 319 km/hr and has an unusual rear wing mounted at the top instead of the bottom.

The GT3 is also the only 911 that's not turbocharged, and the responsive nature and immersive sounds of its 502-hp 4.0-litre flat-six qualify as inspirational.

"The specialness of the rear-mounted mill is further realized by the telepathic seven-speed PDK automatic transmission or the rewarding six-speed manual," states Car and Driver on its website.

"Thanks to a unique suspension setup and track-focused tire options, the 2022 911 GT3 has a surprisingly supple, albeit firm, ride and incredible steering feel that are just a few of the reasons it's so exhilarating to drive."

Lamborghini Urus

One of the world's most expensive SUVs is no stranger to Kenyan roads as a yellow version of the car was first spotted in Kenya a few years back and said to be owned by a local businessman.

A Lamborghini Urus with Ugandan number plates spotted in Kenya on March 5, 2020. /IBK LTD

Speed is in the vehicle’s DNA, and it can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds and from 0 to 160 in 8.4 seconds. The Urus has a top speed of 305 km/h.

“The Urus enables you to discover any terrain, from track to sand, ice, gravel or rocks. It is the absolute all-around super sports car and more,” Lamborghini describes the vehicle.

Other cars anticipated to feature in the OneLife Rally include the Porsche Macan GTS, Ford Ranger 4x4, Ford Raptor F150 and Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid with more expected in the days leading to the flag-off.

“ONELIFE Safari Rally isn’t the conventional event as it looks to highlight the massive tourism, agriculture, mining, marine, and so much more potential in our counties and the country at large,” stated Onelife Rally Africa Limited Director and Chairperson of Leopard Point Luxury Beach Resort Antonio Colleluori during a mock flag-off held in September 2023.

“We expect more than 200 supercar fans as well as corporates to join this charitable course as we showcase the rich cultural diversity and economic potential of Kenya to the world."

Mashujaa Day: Ruto Honours Class Three Dropout Who Built Business Empire

Marvin Chege — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 12:58:39 +0300

President William Ruto on Friday, October 20 celebrated the late Samuel Ng'etich Kipsoi who was known for vested interests in real estate, transport, tea, sugar, hospitality, mining, warehousing and retail.

During his speech at the Mashujaa Day celebrations held at Kericho Green Stadium, the Head of State revisited Ng'etich's rise from a humble background where he dropped out of primary school at Class Three.

"We also celebrate Mzee Samuel Kipsoi Ngetich Chepsetyon, an incredible entrepreneur who exemplifies the bottom-up story.

"A class 3 dropout, he pulled himself up through sheer determination, to set up the Kipchimchim Group of Companies, whose interests span various industries and employ thousands of Kenyans," Ruto remarked.

A photo of the late Samuel Ng'etich. /CHARLES KETER.X

According to the President, before Ng'etich's untimely death on August 26, 2022, he was working at the West Valley Sugar Company which began milling operations last week.

Ruto concluded his speech by mourning his demise, stating "Fare the well Mzee Samuel Kipsoi Ngetich Chepsetyon."

Viral Tea takes a look at the life and times of Ng'etich:

Samuel Ng'etich Profile

He was born in Chepsetyon village, Kericho County, in 1949 according to family members. He dropped out of Keongo Primary School, where he enrolled in 1956, at Class Three but rose to become a councillor, a member of the county assembly for Kapkugerwet civic ward and Kericho deputy mayor.

Mzee Ng'etich, popularly known as Chepsetyon (after his village), had vast interests in tea processing and farming and ran a chain of supermarkets across Kericho, Bomet, Narok, Kisumu, Nandi and Nakuru counties, businesses that he started from scratch and built them to formidable enterprises.

Some of the companies that he owned are Mbogo Valley, the Sangalo Tet and Kuresoi tea factories, Kipchimatt supermarkets, SABS Mining and Construction Company, ABSS Warehouses Limited and West Valley Sugar company – running under the Kipchimchim group of companies.

Little do people know that Mzee Ng'etich used to dig pit latrines and weed maize and tea plantations to provide for his siblings. On market days, he was known as a chicken broker but he later opened a hotel, a bar and a shop, and went into the matatu and transport business.

The former councillor and first member of the Kericho County Assembly for Kapkugerwet ward in Ainamoi constituency was a respected Kipsigis community elder and was regarded as a “walking library” of Kericho town.

A staunch Catholic, the politician-businessman died aged 73 while undergoing treatment for a liver ailment at MP Shah hospital in Nairobi, weeks after returning from a hospital in India, his family said.

He is remembered by family and friends as a humble man who went out of his way to prop up others and paid attention to detail in whatever he chose to do. He educated more than 5,000 needy students with his resources through secondary, and middle-level colleges and universities.

He was known for his burly figure, broad smile, trademark flowered and untucked shirts, Kaunda suits and grey afro hairstyle.

In the Kericho County Assembly, he always insisted that, at the time Speaker, Kiptergech Mutai, interpreted to him what had been agreed by members whenever he felt lost, and the significance of the matter at hand.

“He was a very knowledgeable old man, who took very seriously the trust bestowed on him by voters as their leader. He truly wanted to change the lives of the people for the better and used his personal resources and time to achieve that,” Mutai was quoted as saying by the Nation.

A photo of the late Samuel Ng'etich. /FACEBOOK.KALENJIN CULTURE

Read Ruto's Full Speech At 60th Mashujaa Day Celebrations

Marvin Chege — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 11:14:28 +0300

1. Mashujaa Day is a celebration of the power of individuals who changed the course of history and the destiny of our nation. It is a reminder that nations are driven forward and changed by individuals, ordinary men and women who believe they can make a difference, who believe they can change the status quo.

2. The status quo in 1963 was a colonial state, the denial of basic freedoms and dignity. Deep inside, many individuals believed change was necessary and they took action. Individual belief resulted in action and ultimately progress.

3. Today, the status quo is a hunger for socioeconomic transformation, one that most of us feel is long overdue, and rightly so. The need for heroism is as urgent as it was in pre-independence Kenya. The power of individual action is still as powerful today.

4. Our heroes today are on the farms, the markets, the factories, and the offices. Our heroes are using their creativity to create content and shape culture; they are playing on fields and working across various fields.

5. Every day when we do our best, when we deploy our diligence, intellect, passion, creativity, hard work, and sense of purpose; every day that we believe we can make a difference - we are changing this country.

Kenyans following Mashujaa Day proceedings at Kericho Green Stadium on October 20, 2023. /NG'ENDO MURUGU

6. This is our call to Ushujaa, to the best of us every day, to move this country forward.

7. This is why we are focused on empowering Kenyans to be at their best in diverse fields, by democratising and innovating government services to ensure that we give as many Kenyans as possible the opportunity to be their best so that they can move us forward.

8. The Constitution guarantees Kenyans the right to the highest standards of health. Since independence, successive governments have made efforts to guarantee access to quality and affordable healthcare for Kenyans, but with limited success.

9. There have been several efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage in 2003, 2013 and 2018. However, these efforts were not entirely successful.

10. It is for this reason that the government identified healthcare delivery as one of the core pillars of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. In the Kenya Kwanza Manifesto, we made several commitments towards the delivery of Universal Health Coverage. These include the provision of fully publicly financed primary healthcare, the installation of a digital health management information system and the setting up of a fund for improving health facilities.

11. Other commitments were the setting up of an emergency medical treatment fund, the establishment of a national insurance fund that covers all Kenyans, and the availability of medical staff who would deliver Universal Health Coverage.

12. The government has instituted a paradigm shift to preventive and promotive health rather than curative. This approach also makes economic sense. Community health reports state that for every KSh1 invested in community health, KSh9.40 are realised in economic and social gains.

13. In our Plan, the delivery of primary healthcare services at the community level will start with Community Health Promoters (CHP).

14. The work of the promoters will include basic preventive and promotive health, health education, basic first aid for the treatment of minor injuries and ailments at the household level and referral for facility-based healthcare.

15. Each community health promoter is allocated 100 homes within their neighbourhoods countrywide.

16. Considering the pivotal role played by community health in the attainment of UHC, the long-term financial sustainability of community health is contingent on enhanced domestic resources for health.

17. The National Government is working closely with the county governments to strengthen the delivery of community health services through the payment of stipends for 100,000 Community Health Promoters, on a matching basis of 50:50. The national government has allocated KSh3 billion annually for the payment of the stipends. It is worth noting that, as of today, over one million households in 10 counties have been visited by community health promoters, offered services and their data captured in the AFYA NYUMBANI dashboard. This is a major achievement.

18. We also agreed to provide 100,000 Community Health Promoter with kits – which contain basic equipment for household health screening, medicines and supplies used for service provision at the household level.

19. Quality community health data is essential for the planning, resource allocation and monitoring of progress towards Universal Health Coverage. The Government is committed to delivering on the digital health agenda starting from the community level. The electronic community health information systems (e-CHIS), which is live and being used by promoters across the country, is a simple and user-friendly mobile health application that will be used to collect real-time accurate household data, initiate planning for health service delivery and provide linkage to health facilities. Along with the CHP kits, the Government has provided 110,000 smartphones for use by the promoters and Community Health Assistants.

20. The shift from curative to preventive healthcare will further be strengthened by the promotive services provided by community health promoters at the household units, and the integration of preventive services at the primary healthcare levels.

21. These services will include screening for hypertension, diabetes and eye conditions; offering the necessary health education on water and sanitation, nutrition and providing community rehabilitation services, among others. These services will be provided through multidisciplinary teams that will be established at the level of the Primary Care networks.

President William Ruto speaking during the signing of four Universal Health Coverage Bills into law on October 19, 2023. /PCS

22. To strengthen the legal basis for health financing, health service provision and achievement of UHC, four new health laws have been enacted. These are:

• Social Health Insurance Act, 2023

• Primary Health Care Act, 2023

• Facility Improvement Financing Act, 2023 and

• Digital Health Act, 2023

23. Health insurance coverage in Kenya is generally low at 26 per cent, with those at the bottom of the economic pyramid having the least coverage of less than 5 per cent. Many Kenyans incur catastrophic expenditures from out-of-pocket healthcare payments, while many more do not seek care when they fall ill, because they simply cannot afford it. Over the last decade, several measures have been put in place to enhance the capacity of the National Hospital Insurance Fund to effectively deliver on its mandate.

24. While these reform initiatives have yielded significant progress, several gaps remain. Recent analysis shows that, among others, the NHIF operates as a passive, rather than a strategic purchaser, is plagued by inefficiency and governance challenges, and is potentially financially unsustainable.

25. It is against this backdrop that the government proposes a paradigm shift in the provision of social health insurance, in the new Social Health Insurance Act, 2023, which provides for the formation of a Social Health Authority which will repeal the current National Health Insurance Fund Act, 1998.

26. In our Plan, I promised a fully, publicly financed primary health care system, an emergency care fund and a health Insurance fund that will cover all Kenyans. This promise is delivered through the enactment of the new Social Health Insurance Act which, among other things, establishes the publicly financed Primary Health Fund, a fully publicly financed chronic, emergency and critical illness fund and the Social Health Insurance Fund. Access to healthcare will no longer be based on the ability to pay; It will be based on the health needs of every Kenyan.

27. We are implementing a per-household payment system, where a flat rate applies to everyone, regardless of their income.

28. Consider this for example, previously, an individual earning Ksh10,000 had to part with Ksh500 to NHIF, a hefty 5% of their earnings. On the other hand, those with salaries of Ksh100,000 or more contributed Ksh 1,700, a mere 1.7% of their income. Astonishingly, even someone with a monthly income of Ksh1 million, say, the President, paid the same amount - Ksh1,700, which translates to a paltry 0.17% of their substantial earnings. This bizarre setup meant that low-income earners were effectively subsidizing high-income earners.

29. The Social Health Insurance Fund also signifies a shift to increased use of domestic resources for health financing and a sustainable approach, especially at a time when resources from donors and development partners are dwindling.

30. The healthcare system in Kenya is largely focused on curative services at the expense of preventive and promotive services. This has occasioned inequity in financing, which has disadvantaged primary healthcare uptake and promotion.

31. The Government’s mission is to build a progressive, responsive and sustainable healthcare system for accelerated attainment of the highest standard of health for all Kenyans.

32. The funds allocated to public health facilities have substantially reduced over the years, as they are directed to the County Revenue Fund and are rarely re-invested into the facilities. The lack of autonomy in public health facility management and financial control has led to increasing fragmentation, poor service delivery, deteriorating health outcomes, reduced efficiency, access, equity, financial risk protection, transparency, and accountability.

33. The Facility Improvement Financing Act aims to structure the process and guide the counties on how to provide for retention, management and use of revenue, derived from health-related services rendered at public health facilities.

34. The Act seeks to ensure a unified approach for health facility financial and management autonomy where public health facilities can retain their funds and have autonomy to operate their facilities based on their priorities. This will improve the availability of resources at the facility to provide adequate and equitable quality health services, increase efficiency and thus improve health outcomes for patients.

35. Kenya has made significant strides towards digital transformation, with many sectors leveraging technology to enhance the implementation of digital products and services. The health sector has made steady progress in digital technology transformation through the implementation of digital solutions to manage, share and use health data. However, the adoption of technology has been uncoordinated and characterised by fragmented implementation, with health sector actors not adhering to basic digital health standards, guidelines, recommendations and digital development principles. These technologies have affected how health data is managed, resulting in multiple systems that have limited ability to exchange data.

36. The Kenya Kwanza Manifesto identifies digitisation as a pillar for the health sector to achieve Universal Health Coverage. Accordingly, the Digital Health Act provides the legal basis for the development of a comprehensive and integrated health information system. These systems will enable end-to-end visibility of health processes and seamless sharing and portability of information that will enhance health service delivery and improve the efficient use of resources.

President William Ruto signs four Universal Health Coverage Bills into law on October 19, 2023. /PCS

37. The enactment and implementation of the Act and the digitisation agenda will deliver on the promise to ‘integrate ICT to enhance telemedicine and health management information systems'.

38. Apart from the four laws, the Ministry of Health has put in place various policies and strategies to actualise strengthening of local manufacturing of health products and technologies, to have at least 50 per cent of medicines on the Kenya Essential Medical List produced locally, ensuring procurement mechanisms guarantee value for money and provide the advantage of economies of scale.

39. Our mission is clear: To build a healthcare sector that is a shining example to the world, with healthcare workers in the right numbers, who are motivated, well-supported and inspired to deliver their best. Together, we will ensure that every Kenyan has access to quality healthcare services when they need it, regardless of their background or circumstances.

40. I acknowledge the Ministry of Health, Safaricom, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, the UN Programme on HIV/Aids and United Nations Population Fund, the Danish International Development Agency, the United States Government, the World Bank, the Children Investment Fund Foundation, Academic Model Providing Access to Health Care, Medic Mobile, US President’s Emergency for AIDS Relief, and AMREF Kenya, among others, for their support.

41. Kenyans have deliberately rejected ideas and programmes that limit our productivity, waste our resources and delay our take-off.

42. This is why our focus on effectively lowering the cost of living is based on increasing agricultural productivity and expanding land and other resources for production. We have rolled out an agricultural support programme that has provided farmers with access to fertiliser, affordable credit and extension services.

43. By the end of July, we had distributed 3.5 million bags of region-specific crop fertilisers in 41 counties to registered farmers, working with county governments for last-mile delivery. For the first time in Kenya, fertiliser was distributed based on acreage, and the crops that farmers produce, via a digital e-voucher platform.

44. The results of this program are evident across Kenya. We have placed over 200,000 acres under cultivation, which is more than last year. We are looking forward to a bountiful 44 million bags from the long rain season and 61 million bags overall for both seasons, marking an impressive increase of over 40%.

45. Fertiliser support for the short rain crops is now available at National Cereals and Produce Board depots for the regions that plant this season, including Central Kenya, Eastern and Western parts of the country.

46. I urge all unregistered farmers to use this opportunity to register so that they can benefit from subsidised fertiliser.

47. To reduce our national edible oil import bill of $1 billion (KSh 148 billion), the government is supporting sunflower cultivation by distributing 600 metric tons of seeds to farmers in partnership with counties in the Eastern, Western, and Nyanza regions, during the short rain season.

48. When we came to the office in September last year, only 320 Government services were available online. Today, there are more than 13,000 services and we expect to onboard all services by the end of the year. This has increased efficiency in service delivery, revenue collection and enhanced accountability.

49. The government is currently rolling out the last mile of 100,000km of fibre optic infrastructure throughout the country to improve health facilities, schools, Judiciary offices in far-flung areas, and other public institutions. We are also concurrently setting up 25,000 WiFi hotspots targeting fresh produce markets, bus parks and other public spaces. We are also working with Members of Parliament in the set-up of 1450 ICT Hubs in every ward in the country, and I am happy that the National Assembly has aligned the NGCDF act to actualise this strategic intent. Our goal is to spur e-commerce, the creative arts and the digital economy; the frontier of our Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

50. We continue to make significant progress in our education sector. Immediately after assuming office last year, we ended months of uncertainty by resolving that Junior School be domiciled in primary schools.

51. We have reduced the teacher shortage by hiring more teachers. In the last year, the Teachers Service Commission has recruited 56,000 teachers, which is half of the required number. This is the highest recruitment in the history of the commission in one year and the largest such exercise in Kenya's history. In subsequent years, we commit to recruit even more.

52. Further, and in keeping with the government’s policy to equip Kenyan youth with practical skills and competencies, the commission has engaged 46,000 teacher interns.

53. Because of the centrality and value of technical and vocational training in the provision of skills, knowledge and competencies, we are increasing tutors in our TVET colleges by another 2,000.

54. In a transformative shift, we unveiled a new funding model for higher education and technical and vocational training that guarantees needy students free college studies. The funding comprises government scholarships, loans and bursaries. Through this model, we have raised funding per student by 40 per cent.

55. Housing is a revolutionary agenda that will have an extensive impact on the economy. At scale, the Affordable Housing Programme will create jobs for our young people, expand the manufacturing of construction products and materials, and enhance economic activity across many sectors. The construction of 46,792 units is already underway, and another 40,000 units are ready to commence construction.

56. Architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, masons, electricians, plumbers, transporters, steel factory workers, cement factory workers, and hardware merchants, will be engaged in this transformative construction housing enterprise to construct 200,000 housing units annually. The construction of one housing unit creates between 3 and 5 direct jobs and 5 to 8 indirect jobs. More jobs will be created with the formalization of the Jua Kali clusters that will provide products such as doors, windows, and hinges for the program.

57. I stand before the people of Kenya to express my pride and admiration for all Kenyans who have risen to the challenge of the moment, seized opportunities that came up as we delivered on our commitments and implemented the bottom-up economic transformation agenda. This enterprising ethos, the hustling spirit, and the motivation to do your part in moving this country forward are heroic.

58. Therefore, let us all dedicate ourselves to nation-building endeavours, assured that as long as we are implementing the bottom-up economic transformation agenda, your government stands with you, and will walk the road of growth and development with you, until we accomplish our purpose and fulfil our mission.

59. In conclusion, allow me to celebrate Kiprugut Chumo, the first Kenyan to win an Olympic medal, by renaming the Kericho Green Stadium after him.

60. We also celebrate Mzee Samuel Kipsoi Ngetich Chepsetyon, an incredible entrepreneur who exemplifies the bottom-up story. A class 3 dropout, he pulled himself up through sheer determination, to set up the Kipchimchim Group of Companies, whose interests span various industries and employ thousands of Kenyans. Before his untimely death, he was working at the West Valley Sugar Company which began milling operations last week. Fare the well Mzee Samuel Kipsoi Ngetich Chepsetyon.

President William Ruto during the Mashujaa Day celebrations at Kericho Green Stadium on October 20, 2023. /SAM TERRIZ

How Rains Trigger Power Blackouts- Kenya Power CEO

Marvin Chege — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 11:44:18 +0300

Kenya Power Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joseph Siror on Tuesday, October 17 attributed the rainy seasons to the cause of frequent power blackouts Kenyans have been subjected to annually.

Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV, Siror explained that heavy rains for instance are likely to cause disturbances on power distribution lines, leading to short circuits.

In its purest form, water is an electrical insulator, meaning, it shouldn't be able to conduct electricity or allow current to flow through it. The danger lies with the components dissolved in water, specifically its ions.

Furthermore, short circuits may result from stormy rains swaying trees or power lines, bringing them into contact.

Image of a lightning strike. /UNSPLASH

"When it rains heavily, it can cause trees to fall on the line, and it causes a short circuit, thereby causing a disturbance on the network," Siror explained.

"Sometimes rains are accompanied by strong winds which affect the conductors and cause a disturbance."

The CEO further noted that strong surface runoff water can also destabilise power poles during heavy rainfall.

Furthermore, Siror indicated that lightning plays a part in triggering short circuits as the power lines have no option but to accept the overwhelmingly excessive current which creates a massive spike, therefore creating a power surge.

"Rain does a number of things. There is the aspect of lightning which is part of the factors but in certain installations like the poles and towers we have a situation where during heavy rains, some of them are washed away," he added.

Siror was addressing concerns raised by Kenyans who discovered over the years that at the onset of rains, several areas experience power blackouts, some of which last longer than the rainy period. So dire is the situation that it is predictable.

He also addressed concerns of the Western region being constantly thrown into darkness, rains or not. The Western part of Kenya includes the Nyanza region and the former Western Province.

Siror attributed the blackouts in the Western region to constraints in the transmission network, stating "As an assurance to those groups of people and generally residents of this country, Last week the cabinet approved Ksh16 billion which, part of the money, will be used to address such challenges."

"When having long lines, serving a particular part of a country is prone to challenges."

On power challenges facing parts of Kisii and Luo Nyanza, Siror revealed that the main problem facing that area is that the link between Muhoroni and Chemosit is constrained in capacity, thus the transmission link is unable to evacuate all the power that is needed in that part of the country.

To address the situation, Siror said they will reduce the long lines that supply power to those regions from the source, adding that the parastatal goes out of its way to serve its 9.2 million customers well but because of challenges beyond its control, some areas experience power outages.

"Many challenges have risen out of the government's bid to expand. Ten years ago we had two million customers, now we have 9.2 million customers.

"When you have such a vast network, you are likely to face challenges," Siror said.

Kenya Power engineers at work on a transformer. /FILE

How To Find & Verify Licensed Lawyers In Kenya Through LSK Portal

Marvin Chege — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 17:33:51 +0300

The saga surrounding Brian Mwenda, who was exposed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) for masquerading as a lawyer and practising without a license sent shockwaves across the country and the world, rattling the legal profession.

On Monday, October 16, LSK Nairobi Branch, through the Rapid Action Team (RAT) and President Eric Theuri, with the support of Capitol Hill Police Station Officers, nabbed another fake lawyer, Sharon Adunya Atieno, for impersonating an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and masquerading under a registered lawyer.

"The said quack had stolen the identity of one Sharon Atieno Obade which she used to carry on and represent herself in court and in her daily duties, thus deceiving the unsuspecting members of the public," stated LSK Nairobi on X (formerly Twitter).

A video seen by Viral Tea showed her at a coffee restaurant when she was picked up by a police officer in uniform as well as Theuri and led out of the premises to Capitol Hill Police Station, where she is being held pending investigations and arraignment in Court.

She was accused of forging a National Identity Card and a Practising Certificate to affix the real Sharon Atieno Obade’s identity, which she used to run the law firm of Auma & Co. Advocates as a partner, pretending to be an Advocate.

"It’s unfortunate that the masquerader is a student at the Kenya School of Law who is yet to complete her studies to qualify for admission to the bar," added LSK Nairobi.

Worries have since swirled regarding the credibility of the legal profession which is the latest to be hit by individuals who pose as lawyers without the required license.

To combat this, LSK established rigorous measures to ensure that only licensed legal practitioners are authorised to practice law in the country. One of them is a dedicated online portal through which individuals can verify whether a lawyer is licensed to practice and affiliated with a specific firm.

Viral Tea takes you through the steps to verify the status of a lawyer:

How To Verify

First, go to the LSK portal website which is online.lsk.or.ke which can be accessed after searching 'LSK advocates' on any search engine.
You will be taken to a page on the portal featuring a search area written 'search advocate'
Type in the full name of the lawyer and click search
If the lawyer is registered, a photo and company he works for, practising year, address and practising status will be displayed as results. However, if he or she is not registered the results will read 'no results found'.

The portal also keeps a record of inactive lawyers, suspended, those struck off and even those who have passed on.

"Disclaimer: The information on this website is provided in good faith and has been derived from sources believed by the Law Society of Kenya to be reliable and accurate at the time of providing it. Therefore, every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate and up-to-date.

"However, the Law Society of Kenya does not make any representations, warranties or guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness or currency of the information, and therefore repudiates any liability for any loss, damage or harm suffered as a consequence of relying on this information," the portal indicates.

Additionally, the Advocates Act stipulates severe consequences for those falsely claiming to be advocates, prohibiting them from seeking remuneration for legal services rendered.

How To Get Admitted To The Bar

Admission of lawyers to the bar marks a transition from studies to practising what they have been studying. However, law happens to be one of the most rigorous professions in Kenya and the world alongside medicine.

The rigorous training is hinged on the importance of the services these professionals offer and the delicate nature of the issues they need to handle.

The journey to the status of a lawyer and an Advocate of the High Court in Kenya begins in high school after one completes primary education and transitions to this level.

Any student who wants to pursue a bachelor's degree in Law (LLB) needs to excel in language subjects, in the Kenyan context, Kiswahili and English. Legal education legislations demand that before undertaking LLB one must have scored a mean grade of at least a C+ in Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) with a B in either English or Kiswahili.

The exclusivity of law is that it cannot be studied on a crash programme basis and students mandatorily study for four years.

Once one has completed their undergraduate degree in law they are identified as a lawyer, however, it does not entitle one to practice law, especially representing clients in the courtrooms, even though one can work as a researcher in a law firm.

“After completing your undergraduate studies one is supposed to enrol to the Advocates Training Programme at the Kenya School of Law (KSL). Here is where you study to become an Advocate of the High. The programme takes 18 months inclusive of pupillage,” an advocate explained in a past interview.

Lawyers during a past admission to the bar. /THE KENYA JUDICIARY

“A lawyer cannot practice in court and cannot draw documents. The only option is to be a researcher or join academia while an Advocate of the High Court is a licensed lawyer who can do everything under the Advocates Act like representing clients, drawing and commissioning documents."

For one to transition from this level, one must pass exams on all nine legal subjects at the Kenya School of Law (KSL). One needs to get at least 50 per cent per unit with oral examinations accounting for 20 per cent which is distributed among all the units and a project for every unit which accounts for 20 per cent.

Failing even a single exam at this training level means one must redo the paper until one passes it. It is after one passes their examinations at KSL and completes their pupillage that they can petition the Chief Justice (CJ) for admission to practice law in the country.

In territories like the United Kingdom, pupillage is a two-month training period for individuals who want to become barristers. These students will have to spend the 12 months in a barrister’s chamber and shadow cases of experienced barristers for six months and their own in the final six months.

Advocates have previously described the journey as a painstaking one which comes at the sacrifice of one's social life and devoting more time to study for the tough KSL exams.

Details Of New Bureau Set To Investigate All Road Accidents

admin — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 18:51:14 +0300

President William Ruto's Cabinet on Monday, October 9 approved the establishment of the Kenya Transport Accident Investigation Bureau (KTAIB) in a bid to get to the bottom of transport accidents across the country.

According to a Cabinet despatch, KTAIB is a proposed intervention which is part of the institutional and legal reforms proposed in relation to transport accident investigations.

"Once established, the Bureau will utilize international best practices and will pursue safety interventions in Road, Rail, Pipeline, and Marine Transport.

"The Bureau will be an independent agency tasked with comprehensive transport-related accident investigations and the making of safety recommendations," stated the despatch in part.

President William Ruto chairing a Cabinet meeting at State House on June 27, 2023. /PCS

The bureau will take the lead in terms of investigations from bodies such as the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the National Police Service, who have acted as regulators and investigators.

Cabinet further noted that the formation of KTAIB was motivated by the need to avoid cases of conflict of interest among regulators handling transport safety investigations which may interfere with independent reporting and raise questions regarding the credibility of the investigations.

To give greater impetus to a worthy and long-overdue proposal, the Cabinet directed the Ministry of Transport led by Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen to lead in the preparation of the legal framework to actualize the policy intervention.

"In that regard, the Ministry is expected to lead all industry stakeholders in preparation of the Kenya Transport Accident Investigation Bureau Bill, 2023," added the despatch.

The bureau will immediately seek to improve the maritime sector, where most accidents involving small vessels usually go unreported.

Furthermore, the Kenya Railways Corporation, handling safety issues in rail transport, will hand over the duties to the bureau.

However, the Cabinet noted that the mandate of the Bureau would exclude aircraft-related accidents, as those are best investigated under the Civil Aviation Act, 2013, in compliance with international best practices and our international obligations.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Department is mandated with investigating air accidents.

Meanwhile, statistics at NTSA released in June 2023 revealed that 2,124 people died in road accidents from January to 25 June 2023, which is a decrease of 137 compared to last year’s record over the same period where 2,261 people were recorded to have perished in a similar period in 2022.

A breakdown of the fatalities indicated that more pedestrians were victims of road accidents with 729 recorded fatalities in 2023 followed by motor cyclists at 561.

“Motorcyclists followed with 561 deaths, 403 passengers, 196 pillion passengers, 189 drivers and 46 pedal cyclists have died since the year started,” stated NTSA's report.

The number of fatalities for pedal cyclists increased from 33 recorded in 2022 to 46 recorded within a similar period in 2023.

NTSA in June also started a re-test of all Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) and commercial vehicle drivers to curb road fatalities.

“The re-test is for commercial and public service vehicle drivers and is a pre-requisite for renewal of driving licenses with class endorsement(s); 83, D1, D2, D3, C, Cl. CE and CD. 2. The re-test shall be conducted every three years upon the expiry of driving licenses with class endorsement (s): B3, DI, D2, D3, C, Cl. CE and CD,” the statement read.

It was however suspended by Murkomen until early 2024 to allow his ministry to engage stakeholders on the way forward.

Photo of an accident scene along Southern Bypass on October 4, 2023. /MARK MASAI.X

MV Uhuru II: Ksh2.4 Billion Kenyan Ship Built From Scratch [PHOTOS]

Marvin Chege — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 12:34:59 +0300

President William Ruto has officially commissioned the MV Uhuru II at the Kenya Shipyards Limited in Kisumu County.

After the grand launch on Monday, October 9, the ship will set sail on its first voyage on Lake Victoria in a move highly anticipated by fuel transporters to neighbouring East African countries.

MV Uhuru II is a cargo ship, equipped with a range of advanced systems that are essential for its safe and efficient operation. It is also the first ship in Kenya built entirely from scratch at a cost of Ksh2.4 billion.

The vessel was built and assembled in Kenya, saving Kenyan taxpayers Ksh1.3 billion in imports.

The 1,800-ton MV Uhuru II was built at the Kenya Ship Yard by Kenyan agencies, including the Kenya Defence Forces, in collaboration with a Dutch firm, Damen Shipyards.

A photo of MV Uhuru II prior to its commissioning by President William Ruto on October 9, 2023. /KENYA SHIPYARDS LIMITED

Viral Tea takes a look at the features of the MV Uhuru 2:

Features

MV Uhuru II is a powerful and reliable vessel, equipped with a range of sophisticated systems that are essential for its safe and efficient operation.

One of the most important systems on the MV Uhuru II is its hull structure which is designed to be strong and durable, capable of withstanding the stresses and strains of heavy cargo and rough waters. The hull is constructed from high-quality steel and carefully welded together to form a watertight enclosure that will protect the cargo and crew from the natural elements.

In addition to its hull structure, the MV Uhuru II is also equipped with an advanced piping system which is used to transport oil from the ship’s cargo tanks to its engines, where it is used to power the ship’s propulsion system.

The piping system is carefully designed to ensure that the oil is delivered to the engines at the correct pressure and temperature, which helps to maximize the engines’ efficiency and performance.

Engines

"The ship’s engines are the heart of its propulsion system, providing the power and reliability needed to move the ship through the water. They are equipped with Caterpillar 3500 series four-stroke, V-type, turbocharged marine diesel engines that are well suited for the demands of commercial shipping.

"These engines are designed to be rugged and reliable, with a proven track record in the marine industry. They can deliver high power output and are known for their fuel efficiency, which helps the ship to conserve fuel and reduce its carbon footprint," states Kenya Shipyards on its official website.

The engines are connected to the ship’s propulsion system through a complex network of pipes and valves that carefully regulate the flow of oil from the tanks to the engines. The piping system is carefully designed to ensure that the oil is delivered to the engines at the correct pressure and temperature, which helps to maximize the engines’ efficiency and performance.

The engines are also equipped with advanced control systems that enable the crew to monitor their performance in real-time. This helps the crew to adjust the engines’ settings, if necessary, to optimize their performance and ensure that they are operating at their peak efficiency.

In addition to the engines themselves, the ship is also equipped with a variety of ancillary systems that are essential for operation. These systems include fuel pumps, filters, and separators that ensure that the engines receive clean and properly filtered fuel.

The engines are also equipped with advanced cooling systems that help to regulate temperature and prevent them from overheating. The cooling system is designed to draw water from the lake and circulate it through the engines, where it absorbs heat and is discharged back into the lake.

Inside the engine room of MV Uhuru II prior to its commissioning by President William Ruto on October 9, 2023. /KENYA SHIPYARDS LIMITED

Power Systems

Another important system of MV Uhuru II is its electrical equipment. The ship is equipped with a variety of generators and electrical cables that produce the electricity needed to power the ship’s navigation system, communication systems, lighting, and other essential equipment.

The electrical system is designed to be reliable and robust, capable of operating even under the most demanding conditions.

Fire Fighting

Finally, the MV Uhuru II is equipped with a firefighting system, which is essential in case of a fire emergency on board.

The firefighting system is designed to quickly detect and extinguish fires to protect the crew, cargo, and the ship itself, and consists of several components, including fire alarms, fire suppression equipment, and fire extinguishers.

The fire alarms are strategically placed throughout the ship, and they are designed to quickly detect any signs of a fire. Once a fire is detected, the alarms automatically trigger the suppression equipment, which floods the affected area with water or foam to extinguish the fire.

The fire extinguishers are also strategically placed throughout the ship, and the crew is trained to use them in case of a fire emergency.

Fire extinguishers come in diverse types, depending on the type of fire they are designed to extinguish. For example, a Carbon Dioxide (CO2) fire extinguisher is used for electrical fires, while a water-based extinguisher is used for ordinary combustible fires.

The firefighting system also includes a dedicated fire pump, which is capable of supplying water to the fire suppression equipment at high pressure. This ensures that the fire is extinguished quickly and that the crew and ship remain safe.

"In addition to the firefighting system, the MV Uhuru II is also equipped with a fire prevention system. This includes regular maintenance and inspections of the ship’s electrical equipment, piping systems, and engines, to ensure that they are in good working condition and free from any potential fire hazards. The crew also receives regular fire safety training to ensure that they are prepared in case of a fire emergency," added Kenya Shipyards.

Miscellaneous

The ship is expected to supplement the MV Uhuru I, which had a capacity of 1,260 tonnes and was delivered to Kenya in 1966 by a Scottish company. Former President Uhuru Kenyatta visited Kisumu Port on August 2, 2022, to supervise the ship’s floatation and to commission the shipyard.

The 100-meter vessel, which has a capacity of two million litres of crude oil per trip, can comfortably transport 22 wagons across the lake.

According to Kenya Shipyard Managing Director Brigadier Paul Otieno Owuor, the ship can sail to neighbouring Uganda and Tanzania in 10 hours. The load capacity is slightly higher than that of the MV Uhuru I, which has a capacity of 1.1 million litres and a speed of 17 hours to Port Bell Uganda.

Apart from expanding export opportunities, the facility is expected to provide job opportunities for locals.

President William Ruto test-drives the MV Uhuru II on October 9, 2023. /PCS

Rebecca Miano: Energy, Business Guru Taking Over From Moses Kuria

admin — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 10:44:39 +0300

After numerous reports by research firms ranking her among the worst-performing Cabinet Secretaries, Rebecca Miano was moved from the Ministry of East African Community, the ASALs and Regional Development to the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry on Wednesday, October 4.

Miano had notably replaced Moses Kuria in the Trade docket in a Cabinet reshuffle by President William Ruto, with Kuria's reshuffle making most of the headlines given his brash demeanour, especially on social media.

Speaking after the reshuffle was announced, she expressed her gratitude for serving at the helm of the EAC ministry and extended her thanks to President Ruto.

"I am grateful for the incredible journey at the helm of the Ministry of East African Community, the ASALs & Regional Development. Thank you H.E President William Ruto for the trust and invaluable opportunity.

CS Rebecca Miano accompanies President William Ruto in Bujumbura, Burundi on February 4, 2023. /X.REBECCA MIANO

"It is with honour and humility that I assume my new assignment at the Ministry of Investments, Trade & Industry. I remain dedicated to advancing our nation's growth, as envisioned in the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, and delivering progress to the people of Kenya. So help me God," she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

She followed this up with a post of a beautiful bird taking flight, which was viewed as a cryptic message regarding soaring to new heights as she takes charge of a critical docket in Kenya.

pic.twitter.com/VaMz76gSxs
— CS Rebecca Miano, MBS (@rebecca_miano) October 5, 2023

But who is Rebecca Miano and why is she fit to take over as the Trade Cabinet Secretary?

Her Profile

Miano has amassed over 30 years of experience in the energy sector, earning recognition in the continent as a business leader.

Other areas Miano is credited with include business law, corporate governance and policy development.

Before being appointed a CS, Miano served as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen), a position she has held since October 2017.

Miano also founded the Pink Energy forum in KenGen to address female and gender parity to close the gap within the company.

Awards and Achievements

Miano has been recognised by different global institutions, celebrating her contribution to the energy sector. In November 2019, she was appointed to the Board of Global Compact Network.

Seven months later, in July 2020, she joined the World Bank Group’s Advisory Council on Gender and Development.

She has also served on the Finance Committee of the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) and is a member of several boards alongside chairing the giant Stima Sacco Board.

In 2010, the KenGen CEO won the Company Secretary of the Year award in the Champions of Governance Awards series.

Her exemplary leadership saw former President Uhuru Kenyatta confer her the Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (MBS) in recognition of her outstanding service to the nation in 2019.

A photo of CS Rebecca Miano at her office. /KENYAN WALLSTREET

Education

She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree with Honours, a diploma in Law and Post-graduate studies in Comparative Law. In 2010, she completed the Advanced Management Programme from Strathmore University.

She is a registered Certified Public Secretary of Kenya and is a member of the Institute of Certified Public Secretaries of Kenya (ICPSK) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).

What Must Miano Do Now In The Trade Docket?

Miano in her new role will be tasked with handling matters of trade, industry and commerce in Kenya and serving as the lead policy advisor to President Ruto's government on trade, industrial and private sector development with responsibility for the formulation and implementation of policies for the promotion, growth and development of domestic and international trade and industry.

Her Ministry is also the advocate for the private sector within the government and is the principal agency responsible for monitoring and implementing the Government’s private sector development programmes and activities through communication and attention to detail.

Miano will also ensure that Kenya derives maximum benefit from international trade relations and that domestic trade is conducted in a smooth and orderly manner. Furthermore, it is her responsibility and that of her Ministry to strengthen trade relations with all friendly countries on a most favoured nation basis.

Miano Cleaning Up Kuria's Mess

However, arguably Miano's toughest task will be to bring sanity to the Trade docket given that Kuria has rattled everyone in the country ranging from politicians to common folk.

On Thursday, October 5, Kuria hinted at Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua playing a key role in his kicking out from the Trade Ministry by posting on X an uncaptioned photo of the DP, having collided for weeks.

The post was made a few minutes after Kuria posted a gospel song remarking God will see him through his tribulations, coming moments after he was moved to the Public Service from Trade, something experts could argue was a demotion.

On Friday, September 22, Gachagua dismissed calls for Kuria to be fired from Ruto's Cabinet, believing that there was no way Kuria could have bitterness towards him as not only is he his worker but also a father figure to him who only corrects him when he has made a mistake.

"I saw reports claiming that the Mt Kenya region has a problem, Deputy President is fighting with CS Kuria...now, is he my CS? I'm the DP, this is our worker. Can you argue with your employer?

"I want to say that Moses Kuria is our son. I heard people calling for him to be sacked, where will he go? For what reason? I'm his father, I told him not to annoy people too much and to go slow, isn't that my work?" he posed.

US Announces Green Card Lottery In Kenya: How To Apply

Marvin Chege — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 14:44:32 +0300

The United States (US) Department of State has kicked off applications for the annual Diversity Visa (DV) lottery programme, popularly known as the Green Card.

The Diversity Immigrant Visa program is a US government lottery program for receiving a Permanent Resident Card which allows one to live and work in the US. The Immigration Act of 1990 established the current and permanent Diversity Visa program.

In a statement, the US State Department revealed that the programme commenced on Wednesday, October 4 and will run until Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

"The online registration period for the DV-2025 Program begins on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4) and concludes on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at 12:00 noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5)," read the statement in part.

Soldiers raise the national flag at the United States of America Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. /STANDARD DIGITAL

The State Department will provide 55,000 green card opportunities for foreign citizens in the current programme, which is a free registration process.

However, selectees who are scheduled for an interview will be required to pay a visa application fee prior to making their formal visa application, where a consular officer will determine whether they qualify for the visa.

The 55,000 opportunities will then be selected by the Department of State using a random process done through its internal systems.

Applicants who are selected in the program (selectees) must meet simple but strict eligibility requirements to qualify for a DV.

Education & Work Experience

Each DV applicant must meet the education/work experience requirement of the DV program by having either:  

at least a high school education or its equivalent, defined as successful completion of a 12-year course of formal elementary (primary) and secondary education;  or:
two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience to perform.

No minimum age is required during the application, but the requirement of a high school education or work experience for each applicant for the application will mostly disqualify those who are under the age of 18 years.

In terms of work experience, the department will use the US Department of Labour's database to determine the work experience of an applicant, which groups job experience into five job zones based on education, experience and training levels necessary to perform the job.

The database groups the job zones from Job Zone One to Five, where one requires little or no preparation while five require extensive preparation. The State Department places a requirement for the job category to be 7.0 or higher.

Passport

Applicants should also possess a valid passport as a passport number will be integral during the application process. You must write your name as it appears on the passport.

"If your passport includes a first, middle and last/family name, please list them in the following order: last/family name, first name, middle name). If you have only one name, it must be entered in the last/family name field," read part of the statement.

"Only you as the principal applicant must meet these requirements, your spouse and children do not have to meet the requirements."

How to apply

Applicants who meet the requirements for a DV visa should visit the US State Department website to register online, with the option of doing it independently (remotely) or through a cyber cafe.

You should carry a passport-size photo, birth certificate or ID and submit the entry electronically on the DV website.

It is worth it to note that multiple and incomplete entries will lead to automatic disqualification. Applicants have until September 30, 2024, to check the status of their entry through the State Department's website.

"The law allows only one entry by or for each person during each registration period. The Department of State uses sophisticated technology to detect multiple entries. If you submit more than one entry you will be disqualified," added the statement.

Which countries can & cannot apply?

The department has listed 53 countries in Africa whose residents can apply for the program. The countries are selected because they have in the past recorded low rates of immigrants into the United States.

For DV-2025 however,  natives of the following countries and areas are not eligible to apply, because more than 50,000 natives of these countries immigrated to the United States in the previous five years: 

Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, The People’s Republic of China (including mainland and Hong Kong-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Venezuela, and Vietnam.

However, the department offered an alternative for residents whose countries are not listed on the database if either your spouse or your parents are natives of a country already listed.

Natives of Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible. With the exception of the United Kingdom and its dependent territories, which are now eligible for DV-2025, there were no changes in eligibility from the previous fiscal year.

An image of a US visa. /FILE

KRA Answers Your 6 Questions On Revenue Service Assistants

Marvin Chege — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 11:30:08 +0300

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) on Wednesday, September 27 responded to concerns raised by Kenyans regarding the mandate of more than 1,400 employees dressed in uniform dubbed the Revenue Service Assistants (RSA).

1,405 staff on Friday, August 25 graduated after they received two months of training in collaboration with the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

The staff underwent rigorous training at Recruits Training College in Eldoret and were qualified to aid the authority in enhancing its mandate regarding tax collection.

"The Field Officers are part of KRA's reforms initiative aimed at enhancing productivity and culture, in order to deliver quality and friendlier services to taxpayers. The Field Officers have been equipped with knowledge and skills to handle tax-related processes through a capacity-building program comprising KRA core values and tax modules," stated KRA on Monday, September 25.

A KRA Revenue Service Assistant (RSA) attending to a businesswoman in Nairobi on September 27, 2023. /X

The RSA officers were deployed at Tax Service Offices across the country and will support taxpayers in updating correct details on their iTax profiles, registration of trading businesses that are not registered with KRA, including addition of applicable obligation, verification of details such as location, contact information and support taxpayers to comply with other tax regulations.

However, Kenyans raised concerns regarding the true purpose of the RSAs, with some businessmen claiming that the officers queried them regarding their county government licences, turnover, rent, landlord/landlady if they had any other businesses among others.

KRA now answers six of your questions regarding the RSAs as follows:

1. Briefly tell us about RSAs and their role.

Revenue Service Assistants (RSAs) are the recently recruited KRA field officers domiciled in the Domestic Taxes Department. They are located and operate across Tax Service Offices (TSOs).

Their main role involves field visits to monitor compliance and facilitate tax base expansion initiatives, helping KRA to achieve its overall objective of collecting revenue on behalf of the government.

2. Have they undergone any training?

Yes, the RSAs have been taken through a training program comprising technical tax modules on Value Added Tax, Customs and KRA business systems; and security training.

3. How was the training facilitated?

The training was spearheaded by the Kenya School of Revenue Administration (KESRA) and delivered in partnership with the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF). KESRA handled all tax, customs and KRA-related training which comprised 80% of all training, and KDF supported the process through the discipline module.

4. What was the objective of the discipline module?

Due to the complexity and the challenges associated with the RSA's role in dealing with diverse taxpayers and a myriad of taxation issues, the training was to inculcate discipline, and patriotism and help trainees achieve physical fitness for the demanding revenue field job.

5. Is this the first time KRA is collaborating with KDF to train its staff?

No. KRA has implemented various training programs in collaboration with KDF. This has been for our senior staff, middle-level staff and entry-level staff. Besides KDF, KESRA offers training in partnership with many other partners including local universities and international partners.

6. With the dynamic taxation landscape, is there a sustainable capacity-building plan for RSAs?

Yes. Training for the RSAs is continuing within an elaborate refresher training program between KESRA and other partners besides KDF.

KRA Revenue Service Assistants at the Revenue Services Assistants graduation ceremony at the Recruit Training School-Eldoret on Friday, August 25, 2023. /KRA

Milestone For Kenyan Who Drove From Nairobi To Furthest Point In Europe [PHOTOS]

Marvin Chege — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 16:23:34 +0300

Kenyan driver, Kim Musau, has added another massive achievement in his expedition of Europe by reaching the northernmost point of Europe in North Cape, Norway, nine months after starting his journey from Nairobi.

Musau has been updating his followers on social media regarding the one-of-a-kind expedition that redefined the rules of exploration, going from Kenya to Europe by road, traversing South and Western African countries.

Musau, who goes by the nickname, AlphaLandRover, has been crisscrossing Europe in his trusty Land Rover Defender and decided to test himself by covering an 11,887-kilometer journey by road that would usually take 180 hours if he opted for a non-stop flight.

His journey to North Cape, as he highlighted in an X (formerly Twitter) thread, was far from easy.

A photo of Kim Musau at Northern Cape, Norway. /ALPHA LANDROVER.X

"Interesting meet-ups, unplanned hikes and much more along the way. The ice-capped peaks became more as I ventured North. Waterfalls coming directly from melting Glacier, watching phenomenal stuff right in front of my eyes," he began.

Musau visited Nord Norge, the northern side of the world, before embarking on to the Arctic Circle where the sun shines for 24 hours and darkness goes for 24 hours at different times of the year, coupled with more tunnels and ferry crossings.

During his trip, he revealed that he missed a ferry and was forced to wait for nine hours, for another!

"Lofoten islands came with a missed ferry and a looong wait (arguably the most beautiful and most visited part of Norway). It's a 4-hour sail, 2 ferries per day.

"Missed the 4 pm and had to wait for 1 am," he went on, cautioning his followers to plan properly by booking in advance for the ferry ride.

Kim Musau poses for a photo at the Arctic Circle. /ALPHA LANDROVER.X

Musau marvelled in awe at the Aurora Northern Lights at Lofoten Islands, which he termed a "great possibility". He then set off to Nordkapp, where the north becomes more flat, that is no more ferry crossing and only a few tunnel roads.

He was treated to an amazing view of Nordkapp, English for North Cape, completing a perilous journey to the topmost part of Europe.

"Arriving in Nordkapp was very emotional. Very! Such a dream for any Overlander and here I am. With an old engine roaring," he expressed.

To mark his achievement, Kim Musau hoisted the Kenyan flag in Norway and set camp there before declaring that he would proceed to Finland as his European adventure enters the homestretch.

Getting from Kenya to Europe was tough for Musau. He had to transverse through South, Central, West and North Africa and his dream almost went up in smoke in June when he was denied entry to Senegal.

At the time, his entry denial caused a storm back home as Senegal was supposed to be visa-free for Kenyan citizens.

In the end, he decided to reroute his journey through Guinea Bissau. Around the same month, while progressing through Spain on his ambitious journey towards Norway, Musau revealed his goal of covering 400,000 kilometres by driving.

The intrepid traveller revealed that he managed to accomplish this feat while spending less than Ksh1 million on fuel and car-related services.

Musau at one point shared a snapshot of a North Cape fuel pump selling petrol at Ksh328 per litre, more than the price of Super Petrol in Kenya which stands now at Ksh211.64 per litre.

As he embarked on this adventure in January, Musau's original aspiration was to explore 30 European countries.

His feat has been going viral, attracting the attention of among others, CNN international correspondent, Larry Madowo who on Sunday, July 2 had a chance meeting with Musau during his daring expedition from Nairobi to Portugal in six months.

Kenyan motorist Kim Musau poses for a photo with Larry Madowo in Portugal on July 2, 2023. /TWITTER.ALPHA LAND ROVER

How Blunder In Westgate Attack Led To Birth Of #FichuaKwaDCI Hotline

Marvin Chege — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 14:21:15 +0300

10 years ago today (September 21, 2013), the Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi was turned into a terrorist zone as members of the Somali-based Islamist group Al-Shabaab launched an over-48-hour assault on the premises, killing at least 71 people including 62 civilians, five Kenyan soldiers, and all four gunmen.

On the fateful day at around midday, the militants stormed the high-end Westgate Mall throwing grenades and firing indiscriminately at shoppers in a coordinated slaughter that also left approximately 200 people wounded.

Al-Shabaab later claimed responsibility for the incident, terming it as revenge for the deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) troops to Somalia under 'Operation Linda Nchi' in 2011.

However, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) uncovered on Thursday, September 21 details preceding the attack that detectives discovered had taken months of planning.

A police officer taking cover during the 'Siege of Westgate' on September 21, 2013. /AL JAZEERA

How Westgate Attackers Exploited Blunder In Communications

Investigations revealed that the notorious militants based in Somalia joined efforts with their contacts at the Kakuma refugee camp and in Nairobi on the attack.

"They avoided detection from detectives thanks to the then lax procedures in obtaining mobile phone SIM cards which they used to communicate. As sleuths later found out, eight (8) mobile phone lines directly linked to the attack were registered in Nairobi and switched on days before the attack," stated the DCI in part.

The Aftermath

The shaky and questionable response to the attack that exceeded the 48-hour mark meant that DCI had to learn from its mistakes, and has since implemented strategies to avoid a repeat of the siege at Westgate.

One of the strategies was developing the human resource capacity of the DCI officers to respond to the contemporary security demands of time.

Consequently, the DCI-Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) was upgraded and a highly specialised counterterrorism and hostage rescue tactical team - the Emergency Response Team (ERT) established. The well-trained and highly motivated team remains on standby 24/7 for any terror-related eventuality.

"Additionally, an anonymous, toll-free call centre dubbed #FichuakwaDCI was established at DCI Headquarters to specifically handle calls related to serious crimes such as terrorism, human trafficking and armed robberies among others.

"The call centre which receives about 50 calls in a day, half of which are actionable, has revolutionized the manner in which we gather verifiable information and respond in time before criminal acts are committed," DCI explained how the hotline operating under number 0800 722 203 works behind the scenes.

These among other measures including embracing the multi-agency approach in responding to security threats have ensured that the safety and security of every citizen has been assured.

While DCI reiterated its commitment to ensuring that the lives and property of all Kenyans are safeguarded, the investigative agency continued appealing to the public to be its partners in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

"We celebrate and honour the commitment of every security officer from across the country’s security agencies, involved in the ongoing multi-agency fight against terrorism.

"Ours is not only a calling but a responsibility to serve Kenyans from all walks of life with Dedication, Care and Integrity," added the DCI.

Police headquarters on their part stated they had enhanced operations to disrupt any form of insecurity related to a similar attack, incorporating private security guards who are now apparently trained on how to detect and report many forms of crimes including terrorism for action.

What Has Changed?

The attack rattled Kenya and the entire region, prompting a re-evaluation of security in public spaces. For instance, the government began profiling and watching its own citizens, ushering in a new era of mass surveillance.

Parliament passed sweeping legislation, allowing government agencies to listen to and record phone conversations without court permission. Strict enforcement of SIM registration with punitive penalties for those in breach followed.

A local telco was tapped to install and run a communication and surveillance system that is linked to police stations.

The attack also saw the country significantly increase spending on intelligence. Spending on the National Intelligence Service (NIS) has more than tripled from Ksh13.4 billion in the year ended June 2013 to Ksh44.3 billion in the current one.

The huge budget has enhanced capacity for phone, email and internet surveillance. The increased eavesdropping is reckoned to have foiled more terror attack attempts.

Today, telcos and their agents face stiff penalties for allowing unregistered SIM cards into their network or for selling pre-activated cards.

Any person who knowingly provides false information during SIM card registration is liable to a fine not exceeding Ksh100,000 or a jail term of not more than six months or both. Firms that breach the SIM registration rules face a financial penalty of up to 0.5 per cent of their annual gross turnover.

Heightened Security

In Nairobi and other major metropolitan areas in East Africa, malls, supermarkets and hotels are typically protected by gates and staffed with security guards.

It is now a routine for cars that to be checked multiple times before entering buildings; security officers often run mirrors under vehicles to check for explosives before allowing them in.

At Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), passengers must exit their vehicles far from the entrance and pass through metal detectors on the side of the road while their vehicles are checked separately.

Entrance to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. /MARVIN CHEGE.VIRALTEAKE

Thorough checks on people entering public spaces became the norm, meaning hardly can a person enter a building without being scrutinised. Metal detectors that were few and far between are now a regular feature in buildings, as is the requirement for visitors to leave their details.

Generally, better collaboration between security agencies was witnessed during the Dusit attack in Nairobi in January 2019 when security forces ended a similar siege more quickly and with fewer casualties.

The attack also led to the enactment of the Security Laws (Amendment) Act 2014 and the establishment of a Multi-Agency Taskforce. However, critics saw them as intrusive, especially particular clauses that allow government agencies to listen in to phone conversations and collect their data, such as where the calls were made.

On September 6, 2013, the Westgate attackers purchased a Mitsubishi Lancer from a garage in Nairobi. It was used to conduct surveillance, rehearse and identify potential secure routes to the mall from Eastleigh and eventually for the attack.

The undetected movement of the vehicle in part prompted the State to ink a deal with the local telco for a security surveillance system backed by thousands of CCTV cameras. The contract involved the installation of ultra-high definition CCTV cameras in Mombasa and Nairobi, connected to a command and control centre.

The national surveillance, communication and control system links all security agencies, military and police, electronically, making it easier to share information and direct operations.

Elizabeth Wathuti: 28-Yr-Old Kenyan Who Has 11 Awards In 8 Years

admin — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 13:39:48 +0300

Kenyan climate activist Elizabeth Wathuti is setting a new precedence in terms of environmental conservation efforts and mitigation of climate change. Mind you, she's just 28 years old.

The founder of the Green Generation Initiative and Head of Campaigns at the Wangari Maathai Foundation was on Tuesday, September 12 unveiled among a list of high net worth and impactful world leaders in Time Magazines' annual TIME100 Impact Awards.

However, her real goal is to sow the seeds of climate consciousness and advocacy in other young people.

"Wathuti first developed her passion for the environment as a child growing up in Nyeri, a region of Kenya with one of the country’s largest tree canopies. As she grew older, her appreciation for nature morphed into activism.

Elizabeth Wathuti at the Africa Climate Summit on September 7, 2023. /ELIZABETH WATHUTI

"She revived her high school’s environmental club to learn more about climate change by tracking trends like rain formation using the school’s weather station," states Time Magazine in part.

When Wathuti graduated from Kenyatta University, she founded the Green Generation Initiative to teach children to “clean their own air, grow their own food, and create their own green spaces", in part by planting trees, a project she expressed her pride in bringing different species of fruit trees to schools in Kenya and encouraging each child to adopt and take care of one.

“Africa’s greatest resource is its young people. 70 per cent of the continent is under the age of 30.

"These young people are the ones that are driving ideas, creating solutions, and driving innovations on the ground. And it's the same young people that, if you don't invest in them, will have to live longer with the consequences of climate inaction," she told the publication.

Profile & First Taste of Popularity

"I saw Biden’s security team trying to signal to the president that it was time to leave but he waved them off. He wanted to listen. Perhaps I had something he really needed to hear," she stated in a later interview.

Elizabeth Wathuti takes a selfie with President William Ruto on September 2, 2023. /ELIZABETH WATHUTI

Wathuti is fresh from serving as the lead coordinator of the first-ever African Youth Climate Assembly, which seeks to unite and amplify the perspective of young Africans in international climate discussions.

Wathuti expressed her desire to one day be the UN Secretary-General because she thinks she could have the greatest impact from that position.

“I am a strong believer that for young people to be able to effectively and gently engage, we have to have opportunities to take up leadership,” she expressed, adding that “We need to be systematically embedded into existing climate and environmental frameworks.”

Awards

In 2019, she was awarded the Africa Green Person of the Year Award by the Eleven Eleven Twelve Foundation and named one of the 100 Most Influential Young Africans by the Africa Youth Awards.

Wathuti graduated from Kenyatta University with a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Studies and Community Development.

At Nyeri, she planted her first tree at the age of seven and she established an environmental club in her high school with the help of her geography teacher.

She was part of the leadership of Kenyatta University Environmental Club (KUNEC) where she was able to conduct numerous activities; such as tree planting, clean-ups and environmental education; all while increasing awareness of global environmental challenges like climate change.

In 2019 on International Youth Day, she was recognized by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their Instagram feed for her work in environmental conservation. She was featured on the Queen's Commonwealth Trust website.

In the same year, she was named alongside Vanessa Nakate and Oladuso Adenike by Greenpeace as one of three young black climate activists in Africa trying to save the world.

The Time Magazine award is her 11th overall since launching the initiative eight years ago. The rest include:

2016 fourth Wangari Maathai Scholarship Award
Africa Green Person of the Year 2019 Award by the Eleven Eleven Twelve Foundation.
The Diana International Award (2019)
UN Young Champions of the Earth Regional finalist for Africa (2019)
International Youth Day 2019 Recognition by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Green Climate Fund Climate Youth Champion Award 2019
TIME100 Next 2022
100 Most Influential African Women in 2022.
100 Most Influential Young Africans by the Africa Youth Awards.
Bloggers Association of Kenya - BAKE Awards (2018) for the best environmental blog.

Elizabeth Wathuti with President William Ruto's daughter, Charlene Ruto. /ELIZABETH WATHUTI

Soipan Tuya: From Looking After Cows, Topping KCPE To Ruto CS

Marvin Chege — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 17:08:35 +0300

Before she was appointed the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for the Ministry of Environment, 42-year-old Roselinda Soipan Tuya was only known due to links with her father, former Narok South Member of Parliament (MP) Samson Ole Tuya.

The fourth daughter of 15 is the first Maasai woman to hold one of the country's most lucrative and at times heavily scrutinised roles and like probably most of the CSs, Tuya was immediately thrust into action by President William Ruto following her appointment in September 2022.

Her first assignment was preparing Kenya's agenda at and delegation to the world's climate meeting COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, a magnitude which was underscored by the fact that Kenya led the continent's push in ensuring the setting up of a loss and damage fund for those grappling with the most devastating impacts of the climate crisis for the first time after more than 40 years of lobbying.

CS Tuya is fresh from noting down another major milestone as Kenya hosted several heads of state and over 10,000 delegates at the three-day inaugural Africa Climate Summit, the first time the country has ever held such a forum in collaboration with the African Union (AU).

President William Ruto leading other presidents and other government officials including Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Environment CS Soipan Tuya at KICC on September 4, 2023. /PCS

But for a Cabinet Minister who leaves a sense of admiration, awe and fantasies in some men owing to her beauty and brilliance, she did have a humble start to her life.

Soipan Tuya Early Life & Education

Like most people from pastoralist communities, tending to cows, sheep and goats was part of the Environment Cabinet Secretary's upbringing, which made her fall deeply in love with nature.

In her formative years, Tuya attended Ololulunga Primary School in Olentutu, Narok County, an institution set up by the World Bank to support pastoralist communities. She sat her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination in the school and emerged as the top girl in Narok County.

She thereafter joined Kenya High School in Nairobi after transferring from Moi Girls High School in Eldoret due to health complications and then sat her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams in 1998.

She graduated with a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Nairobi in 2002 and later obtained a diploma from the Kenya School of Law. In 2004, she was admitted to the bar as an advocate of the High Court.

However, her passion for environmental law would convince her to apply and win a scholarship to pursue a Master's degree in sustainable international development at the University of Washington in Seattle, United States (US).

Career

Tuya's first job was with a non-profit organisation (NGO) where she worked as a legal officer, coordinating environmental and land issues concerning governance, taking part in various regional and international forums apart from winning many land-related court cases.

She later joined the United Nations (UN) as a volunteer specialist, where she developed policy briefs focusing on human rights abuse among Kenyans, such as the infamous Tana delta environment cancer case in Marsabit caused by oil spills in the county.

Politics & Minister In Ruto Cabinet

After a working stint at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Tuya joined elective and competitive politics in 2012, winning the Narok Woman Representative seat.

She shelved her ambitions to vie for the position of Narok governor in September 2022 to push for a slot in President Ruto's government, which she eventually clinched, taking charge of the Environment, Climate Change and Forestry docket from Keriako Tobiko who hails from the neighbouring Kajiado County.

"I love to be part of positive change in a way that it impacts lives. When I am in a position where I have a say and have the space to do the right thing, I go on overdrive," she told the Business Daily on Monday, September 11.

Tuya described President Ruto's work ethic as ruthless though in a unique fashion that encourages a person to stretch themselves beyond their capability.

"I could never ask for another boss. He pushes you out of your comfort zone. He rolls his sleeves and gets his hands dirty to ensure things get done and accomplished," she described a typical day of working with the Head of State.

Environment CS, Soipan Tuya with President William Ruto and PS Eng Festus K Ng'eno at the official opening of the 3-day AYCA at KICC in Nairobi on September 1, 2023. /MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT

"Anyone who works for or with President Ruto and does not grow cannot find help elsewhere. Dr. Ruto is a destiny shaper."

Tuya, who is a mother of four and married to former Narok County Assembly Majority leader Stephen Ole Kudate, is seeking to maintain a work-life balance owing to the rigours of her job.

"As a mother of four, the biggest challenge has been to strike a good balance between the demands of my job and giving my children quality time and attention. I know there is no such thing as succeeding in my work life and failing to raise my kids well. I have to succeed in both.

"I pray a lot to strike this balance. I have a solid family backup. During the times I have to be away from my children for work. I also travel with them whenever I can when they are on holiday, even when I am travelling for work because it helps them understand and appreciate, especially when I can't spend time with them," she added.

Dorcas Rigathi Awarded For Empowering The Boy Child In Kenya

Marvin Chege — Sun, 10 Sep 2023 14:37:36 +0300

Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, the wife to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, was on Friday, September 8, awarded during the Africa Public Sector Conference Awards (APSCA) 2023 held at a Nairobi hotel.

Dorcas revealed that she took home the ‘Outstanding Catalyst in Vulnerable Empowerment Award’ owing to her work in uplifting the boy child and working with widows, orphans, and people with disabilities in Kenya.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Pastor Dorcas dedicated her latest feat to her husband, DP Gachagua, who supported her throughout the time they have been together and for supporting her as she moved mountains to salvage the boy child from the trials and tribulations stemming from drug abuse.

"I thank God for the honour bestowed on me by the award of the Africa Outstanding Catalyst in Vulnerable Empowerment Award during the Public Sector Conference and Awards 2023.

Pastor Dorcas Rigathi holding her award alongside Environment CS, Soipan Tuya at the Africa Public Sector Conference and Awards (APSCA) gala dinner at a Nairobi Hotel on September 8, 2023. /DORCAS RIGATHI

"I appreciate my husband, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, for 35 years who has always been supportive because I would not have made it, even to those drug dens without his encouragement and support; and together with my boy children," Dorcas Rigathi tweeted.

She also recognised the partnerships she struck which had enhanced her efforts, adding that she helped change the perspective of narratives regarding the public sector which for long has been subjected to criticism.

"I also cannot take this award and say it's mine, the work you've seen is a collaboration of many partners and people who have believed in my vision and have worked hand in hand; with ministries and government departments.

"Many times when you hear stories about the public sector, you only hear the negative but we have public servants who dedicate their time to make sure the world runs better," she added.

The awards are aimed at recognising individuals, departments and ministries in public service that have worked selflessly for the betterment of society.

Others awarded yesterday night included Ghana Library Authority (Most Promising Public Sector Agency of the Year), and Kenya Revenue Authority (Public Sector Brand of the Year), among others.

Another prominent awardee was Tourism Cabinet Secretary (CS) Peninah Malonza who bagged the 2023 Africa Tourism Woman of the Year Award, attended also by her Environment counterpart, Soipan Tuya.

“Receiving this nomination is unbelievably humbling and a joyous moment in my career path.

"It is a statement of the collective efforts of so many dedicated individuals who have tirelessly worked towards the betterment of our tourism industry. I am both honoured and privileged to be recognized in this esteemed capacity,” the excited Malonza stated.

During the event, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) bagged three awards; Environmental Agency of the Year 2023 and Public Sector Team of the Year - NEMA Management Team-Bronze.

Ruto's Ksh1.7M Electric Car Which Used Ksh10 From State House To KICC

admin — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 10:21:22 +0300

The tiny electric car that President William Ruto has been driving himself with during the Africa Climate Summit consumed just Ksh10 for the trip from State House, Nairobi to the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), setting a new precedence in terms of energy consumption and costs.

This is according to Green Africa Foundation owner Dr. Isaac Kalua, the parent company of the manufacturer Auto Pax Air Yetu, who during an interview on Citizen TV’s JKLive Show on Wednesday, September 6, noted that the rather short journey used only a portion of the 300-kilometre range available on a full electric charge.

On a full charge, the car takes about Ksh740, consuming Ksh2 per kilometre, something Dr Kalua hailed as a new era set by electric cars in terms of future transportation as well as cost-effective measures and potential to transform the industry.

President William Ruto drives himself to KICC on Sunday, September 3, 2023. /PCS

He revealed that anyone driving the car uses Ksh90 for a 45-kilometre trip from Nairobi to Thika and Ksh708 from Nairobi to Kisumu.

As a result, the vehicle, Dr Kalua added, which is produced by Auto Packs Limited, received 314 orders in two days since Ruto sparked conversation by driving it himself to KICC during the three days of the ACS Summit, 100 of those orders being similar to the yellow car Ruto drove.

Autopax Air Yetu electric car is the product of a partnership between Kenyan EV company Autopax and Chinese automobile company SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW) in Liuzhou, China and despite the original Wuling version price of up to Ksh3 million exclusive of tax, Dr Kalua revealed that this version will set one back Ksh1.7 million averagely.

On Ruto using the car, Dr Kalua revealed that it was by sheer coincidence that the Head of State selected the now-popular Autopax Air Yetu as his ride of choice at the start of the ACS.

"We had no plans to have the president in that vehicle. On Sunday, the e-mobility Association of Kenya paraded vehicles and we were doing rounds in the city starting with City Centre,” he said.

“The President’s Advisor on Climate Change asked the details of the car. He termed it as extraordinary. Because I believe in prayers and we had just prayed about it, it ended up in State House."

He added that the car is produced by Auto Packs Limited, part of the Green Africa Group which the CEO is a 24-year-old girl.

He also dispelled claims that the choice of yellow for the car was politically motivated since it is synonymous with Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, instead exuding confidence that the company’s model which they had been working on for over seven years stood out among the rest.

“…The president walks into the car in a yellow cap …it is a dream that started in a yellow car in 2012 and has no relationship with politics…When the president did ride in that car, it brings the country in one place," he added.

The car, as Wuling describes on its official website, has a compact design and future tech, so it is very suitable for modern users. It is also equipped with various advanced features that can provide convenience, comfort, and no safety factor for its users.

Under the hood, Wuling comes with 30/50 kW electric motor options with two range options to choose from; 200 and 300 kilometers on a full charge.

The standard range car’s 17.3 KWh battery takes eight and a half hours to be fully charged while for the long-range version, its 26.7 KWh battery takes four hours to charge fully.

Ruto broke protocol and drove himself to KICC for the ACS summit, flanked by an all-electric motorcade consisting of three electric cars and electric motorbikes, a departure from the usual security protocol which sees him flanked by no less than 10 cars and five security motorcycles.

President William Ruto arrives at KICC for the Africa Climate Summit in an electric car on September 4, 2023. /PCS

Meet Colombian Vice President Who Is Called 'Nyawira'

Marvin Chege — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 17:16:32 +0300

President William Ruto on Tuesday, September 5 amazed participants attending the African Climate Summit 2023 when he revealed that Colombian Vice President, Francia Elena Márquez Mina, has roots in Kenya.

He was speaking at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) where he revealed that Colombia's second-in-command has a Kenyan name, Nyawira, meaning her roots can be traced to the Mt Kenya region.

Moreover, the Head of State told the crowd that had gathered at the KICC who eventually cheered her on that Marquez, during a recent visit to the country, had seen her descendants traced to Meru County.

“Thank you very much my sister Francia for that candid statement. By the way, Francia has a Kenyan name, Nyawira.

President William Ruto speaking at the Africa Climate Summit at KICC on September 5, 2023. /PCS

"When she came to Kenya we traced her origin to a place called Meru. Thank you very much Nyawira,” Ruto revealed after the Colombian VP’s address, amidst applause.

Nyawira Meaning

The name Nyawira is a Kenyan name of Kikuyu origin. It is a feminine name that denotes a hardworking person.

It is a popular name in Kenya and is given to girls whose parents expect their children to be strong and independent.

Other possible meanings of the name Nyawira include one who is industrious, always busy, never afraid of hard work and a valuable asset to their community.

Francia Elena Márquez Profile

Francia Elena Márquez Mina is a Colombian human rights and environmental activist, lawyer, and the 13th and current Vice President of Colombia.

She was born on December 1, 1981, in Yolombó, a village in the Cauca Department. At the age of 13, she became an activist when the construction of a dam threatened her community.

A formidable leader of the Afro-Colombian community, Francia Márquez organized the women of La Toma and stopped illegal gold mining on their ancestral land.

She exerted steady pressure on the Colombian government and spearheaded a 10-day, 350-mile march of 80 women to the nation’s capital, resulting in the removal of all illegal miners and equipment from her community. Since then, she has dedicated her life to caring for the territory and building peace in Colombia.

Her important work and struggle was recognized nationally with the 2015 National Human Rights Prize, and internationally with the Goldman Prize (the most important recognition for defenders of the environment in the world) in 2018.

She was a candidate for the House of Representatives in the Special Congressional Seats for Black Communities in 2018. Thereafter, she served as president of the National Council for Peace and Coexistence (2020-2021).

She started out her career as a housekeeper and later decided to pursue law to better understand how to fight and defend her community, leaving behind her two children.

However, in 2014, she dropped out of law school in another fight for the community and the environment after receiving reports that there was illegal mining activity at the banks of Ovejes River where she grew up.

After a career as a social activist for Afro-Colombians and climate justice, she decided to run for the vice presidency and won, becoming the first Afro-Colombian vice president in the country's history. She is also the second woman to hold the post, after Marta Lucía Ramírez.

She assumed office on August 7, 2022, and is a member of the Soy Porque Somos political party and the Historic Pact for Colombia.

Visit to Kenya

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua while welcoming Francia to Kenya on Monday, March 15, lauded her for being a true hustler because of her resilience in fighting for the freedom of the people and rising from a housekeeper to the vice president position.

"This visit is very exciting and equally significant because a girlchild from the generation of African slaves and freedom fighters rose from a housekeeper to the second most powerful office in the government of Colombia.

"You have a sustained legacy of fighting for the freedom and dignity of the people. You are indeed a real hustler," Gachagua stated.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua with the Vice President of the Republic of Colombia H.E Francia Elena Màrquez Mina whom he hosted at the DP official residence in Karen on May 15, 2023. /DPPS

Details: Ksh3M Electric Car Ruto Drove To Africa Climate Summit [PHOTOS]

Marvin Chege — Mon, 04 Sep 2023 16:16:40 +0300

For the second consecutive day, President William Ruto drove himself to the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) for the ongoing African Climate Summit in a tiny electric car.

The President was flanked by an all-electric motorcade consisting of three electric cars and electric motorbikes, a departure from the usual security protocol which sees him flanked by no less than 10 cars and five security motorcycles.

The Head of State on Sunday, September 3 drove himself to KICC using the same electric car with a mustard-yellow exterior where he engaged the youths ahead of the three-day Summit.

Viral Tea takes a look at the features of the tiny electric car that turned heads in a space of two days in the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD).

President William Ruto arrives at KICC for the Africa Climate Summit in an electric car on September 4, 2023. /PCS

The car was manufactured by Chinese automobile company SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW) in Liuzhou, China, with the version used by Ruto assembled in Nairobi dubbed the Autopax Air Yetu electric car, the product of a partnership between Kenyan EV company Autopax and Wuling.

Wuling Air EV Interior & Features

Wuling Air EV is equipped with Internet of Vehicles (IoV) technology innovation or the Wuling Remote Control App that allows cars to be connected to the Internet. One of the advantages of this technological innovation is that the Wuling Air EV can be controlled using the user's smartphone remotely.

Wuling car users can download the MyWuling+ application on smartphone devices, after which they can synchronize the application on their smartphone with the car system, and they will immediately have complete control of the car anywhere.

The IoV or Wuling Remote Control App has many functions that make it very easy for users, including turning on the air conditioner before entering the vehicle to prepare for navigation before starting to drive. In this way, when the smartphone is connected to the car's head unit, the navigation on the car will automatically function.

Wuling Air EV also features the Keyless Entry Remote feature, meaning users do not need to use a key or press a certain button to open and close the electric car door, only through a modern key with intelligent technology wrapped in a practical design.

"In addition to opening and locking car doors, Wuling Air EV also has a Smart Start System feature. This feature helps Wuling Air EV car users turn on or off the engine without the need to use a key or press a button. This method is certainly more practical so as to make your mobility more efficient and practical," Wuling explains in part.

To provide convenience and comfort when driving, the Wuling Air EV car is also equipped with the Intelligent Tech Dashboard feature on the front to provide convenience and comfort when going. This section combines futuristic panels and knobs and an interface screen that is wide enough for comfortable viewing.

There is also a Multifunction Steering Wheel equipped with various audio operation buttons and menu settings that will make it easier for the driver. In the center of the steering wheel, a silver Wuling logo is, embedded which makes it look even more classy and modern in the interior feel.

On the dashboard, the Wuling Air EV is equipped with dual screens or two 10.25-inch Integrated Floating Wide Screens which are positioned right in front of the steering wheel.

There are various buttons, such as an electric window regulator, an Electric Parking Brake safety feature, and Auto Vehicle Holding. The two Integrated Floating Widescreen screens are also very responsive, making it very easy for the driver.

President William Ruto arrives at KICC for the Africa Climate Summit in an electric car on September 4, 2023. /PCS

Additionally, the head unit's entertainment system is already equipped with internet connectivity, so Wuling Air EV users can easily and comfortably make various entertainments to accompany their trip. On the center console, there is also a Rotary Gear Selector decorated with chrome rings which further adds to the futuristic impression of the interior of Wuling Air EV.

Specifications

Under the hood, Wuling comes with 30/50 kW electric motor options with two range options to choose from; 200 and 300 kilometers on a full charge.

The standard range car’s 17.3 KWh battery takes eight and a half hours to be fully charged while for the long-range version, its 26.7 KWh battery takes four hours to charge fully.

Price

Currently, the Wuling Air EV comes with two variants, namely Standard Range and Long Range.

The price of Wuling Air EV for the Standard Range type starts at Ksh2.3 million, while for the Long Range type, the price starts from Ksh2.8 million to Ksh3 million for the Long Range with Charging Pile type, all prices exclusive of tax.

Buyers can choose between two colours; the ‘Lemon Yellow’ President Ruto has been driving and an ‘Avocado Green’ option, even though the car is yet to go on sale in Kenya.

Ruto Drives Self To KICC In Electric Car [VIDEO]

admin — Sun, 03 Sep 2023 13:07:37 +0300

President William Ruto on Sunday, September 3 took advantage of the Sunday driving scene in Nairobi by driving himself to the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in a tiny electric car.

The Head of State shared a live two-minute video of himself driving a two-seater MG Comet with a mustard-yellow exterior to KICC where he is currently engaging the youths ahead of the three-day Africa Climate Summit.

The President was flanked by an all-electric motorcade consisting of one security motorcycle and two electric vehicles, a departure from usual security protocol which sees him flanked by no less than 10 cars and five security motorcycles.

State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed revealed that Ruto went for the unpopular choice of driving electric and amongst Kenyan motorists, as a way of showing that he is committed to adopting electric vehicles.

Here is the video:

"President Ruto leads by example, driving himself to KICC in an electric car and an all-electric motorcade to connect with Africa's Youth on their climate declaration ahead of the Africa Climate Summit tomorrow," Hussein stated.

Nairobi, Kenya's capital, is hosting the summit aimed at driving and creating awareness for green growth and climate finance solutions for Africa and the world.

Climate change has hugely been attributed to fossil fuel which vehicles run on and whose emissions have contributed to global warming; green energy has thus been vouched for.

In his engagements with the youths, Ruto reiterated the need for the African populace to leverage agriculture to create wealth besides mitigating the after-effects of fossil fuel emissions.

The summit will hugely centre on adaptation, resilience, and other natural measures toward climate change and its adversities. About 30,000 delegates are slated to grace the event.

On Saturday, September 2, Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen assessed the preparations at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) ahead of the international arrivals.

Meanwhile, security was heightened ahead of the Africa Climate Summit and Africa Climate Week 2023 scheduled for September 4 to 8, with multi-agency teams spending Saturday running a full simulation test of various events.

The security protocols and logistics were subjected to a full simulation test, which featured a dry-run of the arrival of dignitaries at JKIA and movement to Nairobi Central Business District (CBD).

Others included activities at the main venue, emergency responses, as well as the general flow of traffic and crowd control measures.

Internal Security Principal Secretary (PS) Raymond Omollo outlined that Nairobi City has been zoned for ease of security management, with Harambee Avenue, Parliament Road, City Hall Way, and Taifa Road and the adjacent buildings marked “Red”.

“Those working within this zone will be required to produce their employee badges and official identification documents at the police barriers,” he stated, adding that police officers and marshals will be available to provide direction on the movement and flow of people and vehicles into and out of the city.

A multi-agency security team of about 4,000 officers has been deployed to secure the venue of the event and provide the delegates with the required logistical support before, during and after the Summit.

The team comprises personnel from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), the General Service Unit (GSU), General Duty Police Officers as well as the National Youth Service (NYS).

Nairobi Regional Police Commander, Adamson Bungei called on motorists to avoid inconvenience by using alternative routes which include the Eastern Bypass, Wangari Maathai Road, Outer Ring Road as well and the Southern Bypass.

The police listed Valley Road, Lusaka Road, Haile Selassie Avenue and University Way as alternative routes for accessing the CBD.

At least 17 Heads of State and Government, including the UN Secretary-General António Guterres are among high-ranking dignitaries who have confirmed attendance.

Renson Ingonga: DPP Nominee Reveals Source Of Ksh300M Net Worth

Marvin Chege — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 13:12:50 +0300

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) nominee Renson Mulele Ingonga on Thursday, August 31 declared his estimated net worth at Ksh300 million.

Appearing for vetting before the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC), Ingonga disclosed that the millions are derived from a house he lives in as well as land property.

The JLAC Committee chaired by George Murugara was vetting him on his suitability for the post. Parliament is mandated by the Constitution to conduct the approval hearing of a nominee for the position and is expected to report back to the House within 21 days.

Members will then debate on the submitted report to either adopt or reject the nomination. Should the report be adopted, Ingonga will become the third officeholder under the Constitution of Kenya 2010.

DPP nominee Renson Mulele Ingonga being vetted by the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee on August 31, 2023. /CITIZEN DIGITAL

He will succeed Noordin Haji who was appointed the National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director General. A DPP holds office for a term of eight years which is not renewable upon its expiry.

Coincidentally, when Haji, Ingonga's potential successor, was being vetted for the post of NIS DG, he left Members of Parliament (MP) scratching their heads by declining to reveal his net worth.

Wealth declaration is anchored by the Public Officer Ethics Act of 2003, which states that every public officer must make financial declarations of incomes, assets and liabilities.

How Ingonga Rose To DPP Nominee

Ingonga, out of 15 individuals who were shortlisted for the top job, was among the least-known names, only rising to national prominence when President Ruto nominated him.

In fact, his only mention in the national space was in January 2016 when he applied for the position of judge of the Environment and Land Court but was not shortlisted. However, as he was admitted as an advocate in April 2005, legal minds might have an idea of who he is.

Born in Kakamega, the senior counsel rose rapidly through the ranks landing at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), sharpening his legal skills in the process.

Since joining the rank of Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions via a Gazette Notice signed by former DPP Noordin Haji in 2022, Ingonga has travelled far and wide within Kenya running ODPP outposts.

He began as the head of the Kajiado office before moving to Kiambu and Mombasa counties, respectively and was running the North Eastern Region's office until President Ruto nominated him on Thursday, August 17.

He is a career prosecutor who has been serving at the prosecutions office for nearly 10 years and holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of Nairobi and a Master of Laws degree in International Criminal Law from the University of Cape Town. He is also a certified mediator and arbitrator.

Ingonga has extensive experience in criminal law, with a particular focus on corruption and economic crimes and is known as a passionate advocate for justice and human rights, committed to ensuring that the law is applied fairly and impartially, regardless of the circumstances.

If approved by Parliament, Ingonga will be tasked with making the decision to charge and determine what charges should be preferred in a criminal case. He will be expected to perform the following functions;

To institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court of law other than a court martial in respect of any offences alleged to have been committed by that person;
To take over and continue any criminal proceedings instituted or undertaken by another person or authority;
To discontinue at any stage before judgment is delivered on any criminal proceedings;
To direct investigation and guide the conduct of criminal investigations;
To handle matters relating to international relations including extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance(MLA);
To advise government Ministries, Departments, Agencies and County Governments on matters pertaining to the development and application of criminal law;
To monitor, train, appoint and gazette public prosecutors;
To facilitate victims of crime and witnesses during prosecution;
To contribute and influence policy, procedure and law reform; and to address complaints raised by ODPP clients that are within the office's mandate.

The Office of The Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). /ODPP

New Higher Education Financing Model: Eligibility and The Application Procedure

Marvin Chege — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 17:12:03 +0300

As 2022 KCSE students prepare to join various higher education institutions, the Government has unveiled a new funding model that will ensure students facing financial hardships will not be required to pay any fees to colleges and universities including their upkeep.

Any student who prior to the introduction of this new funding model, had not applied for financing will be required to apply through the new platform.

Key to note is that all continuing students will not be affected by this funding model and will continue to receive their funding based on the Government’s existing model.

What you need to know about the new funding model

In accordance with President William Ruto’s directive when he unveiled the new funding model on May 3, 2023, students from the vulnerable and extremely needy households will receive 100% funding while the needy and less needy will get 93% government funding and a paltry 7% contribution from their households to cover for the tuition fees.

All university and TVET students who have received letters from universities and TVET colleges as per the placement from Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) are eligible for funding.

To effect this, the government has classified students seeking funding into four categories, the vulnerable, extremely needy, needy and less needy. The students joining private institutions too are eligible for the HELB loan and are encouraged to apply.

Funding across the four categories will be determined by evaluating family economic background to ensure that students from poor households are given priority in terms of scholarship allocation while those from less needy households are covered by loan financing from HELB as has been in the past.

How to Apply for Scholarships and Loans in the Higher Education Financing Portal

To get information on the new funding model, parents and students are encouraged to visit www.hef.co.ke, HELB, UFB or visit Huduma centres for correct information on the new funding model.

Students who require funding must make formal applications through www.hef.co.ke from August 8, 2023, to the midnight of September 7, 2023.

Revenue Service Assistants: Role Of New KRA Cops Trained By KDF [PHOTOS]

Marvin Chege — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 16:55:42 +0300

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) was on Friday, August 25 over the moon regarding the 1,405 staff who graduated after they received two months of training in collaboration with the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

The staff called the Revenue Service Assistants (RSA) underwent rigorous training at Recruits Training College in Eldoret and were qualified to aid the authority in enhancing its mandate regarding tax collection.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who attended the graduation ceremony on behalf of President William Ruto, expressed that the Revenue Service Assistants will play a great role in boosting tax collection during the financial year 2023/24.

PCS Musalia Mudavadi speaking at the Revenue Services Assistants graduation ceremony at the Recruit Training School-Eldoret on Friday, August 25, 2023.

"Congratulations to the 1,405 graduates who successfully completed a two-month training course at Recruits Training College in Eldoret and are now qualified as KRA Revenue Service Assistants.

"As the National Revenue Collection Agency, KRA plays a crucial role in being a "Globally Trusted Revenue Agency Facilitating Tax and Customs Compliance." To live up to this call, it's essential for KRA to prioritize professionalism among its tax officers," he addressed.

Mudavadi also acknowledged the exemplary performance of the RSAs and urged them to use their skills gained during the training to support the government's transformation agenda through revenue collection.

"An important aspect of achieving integrity in tax mobilization involves the training of tax administration officers. This ensures that they are equipped to enforce compliance and maintain high standards.

KRA Revenue Service Assistants at the Revenue Services Assistants graduation ceremony at the Recruit Training School-Eldoret on Friday, August 25, 2023. /KRA

"To the new graduates, I challenge you to make a significant impact on tax collection during the financial year 2023/2024," he added.

KRA on its part saluted the partnership indicating that it plays a big role in the enhancement of tax compliance and helping to broaden the tax base through applicable innovations and enforcement.

"The dynamic partnership between KRA & KDF led to the rigorous training of the Revenue Service Assistants.

"The new skills and knowledge they acquired during this intensive 2-month period will empower them to execute their mandate with unparalleled proficiency and dedication," stated KRA on social media.

The KRA, in early May, advertised for revenue service assistant jobs, listing their role as overseeing the issuance of e-TIMS receipts by traders, ensuring VAT-registered traders are compliant and keeping an eye on compliance with excise regulations.

Other duties are compiling weekly and monthly reports on suspected cases of tax evasion, sending notices of seizures for products seized for excise, interception and verification of tax receipts issued by businesses and taxpayers.

The tax authority was allocated Ksh1.2 billion to facilitate the hiring process.

Humphrey Wattanga: New KRA Commissioner Who Was Top KCSE Candidate

admin — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 09:03:37 +0300

Humphrey Wattanga Mulongo was unheard of until Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u appointed him as the new Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Commissioner-General.

Wattanga takes over from Githii Mburu who in February 2023 handed his resignation letter to the KRA board on the same day as he went on to pursue personal interests.

He is a prominent figure in the field of corporate finance and business strategy but his academic background makes it difficult for any ordinary Kenyan to pin him down in a business-related argument.

His road to the top began at the famous Alliance High School where in 1990, he emerged as the top student in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) of that year, scoring straight As. He studied at Uhuru Primary School prior to his move to Alliance and was position 20 nationally in the 1986 KCPE.

Entrance to Alliance High School. /ALLIANCE HIGH SCHOOL

This earned him the Dr Ouko Award for Academic Excellence and thereafter an internship at East Africa Industries (UNILEVER) in Nairobi.

Wattanga then joined the University of Nairobi (UoN) though his academics were disrupted due to frequent strikes, coming at a time anti-government protests were commonplace owing to the push for multiparty democracy.

The new KRA Commissioner-General would in 1992 join the prestigious Harvard University to study Biochemistry until 1996 when he graduated.

He joined the Wharton School in 1998 for an MBA in Information Systems Strategy and Economics and Healthcare Management.

Until his appointment to KRA, Wattanga was working as the managing director of Meghraj Capital Limited, the investment banking advisory arm of the Meghraj Group, a firm that deals with among other issues, advising clients on mergers and acquisitions and partnerships.

His first job was as a Marketing Manager at Agillion before moving to American telco AT&T /SBC Communications in 2002 as a Business Development Manager.

In 2003 he moved to AFCORP Investments, a specialist Pan African private investment banking, business development and transaction advisory firm based in Johannesburg, South Africa and Kenya.

His first foray into public service came when he was appointed the commissioner and vice chair of the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA), his stint at the Times Tower coming after that of running Meghraj Capital.

Before his exit, he pushed for the automation of revenue collection in counties.

He describes himself as a corporate finance professional with over 20 years of international experience where mobilized capital and structured financial transactions in the public and private sectors.

"He has also been keenly focused on the application of technology to gain efficiencies and deliver targeted outcomes," KRA said in a statement appointing him as the new boss.

"He played a key role in the conceptualization, design, development, and implementation of a groundbreaking mobile gateway platform that linked Kenya's mobile money platforms to the Nairobi Securities Exchange, which was used to launch the M-Akiba bond."

Wattanga has also served as a member of the investment committee of Kenya Climate Ventures (KCV), a pioneering climate-smart investment platform that supports small and medium-sized enterprises.

He received the Nelson Mandela Hope Worldwide scholarship to the Wharton School of Business, where he graduated with a Master of Business Administration in Information Systems Strategy and Economics. Other job achievements are Cancer Research Laboratory Technician, at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center – Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA (1996-97).

The new commissioner-general has a full plate in front of him with the President William Ruto-government seeking to raise Ksh2.768 trillion in the 2023/2024 financial year to fund his activities and stabilise the economy.

He will be expected to spearhead KRA’s operations and ensure that the Authority achieves its revenue targets.

History Of World's Largest Ship Library Which Docked At Mombasa [PHOTOS]

Marvin Chege — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 14:39:29 +0300

MV Logos Hope, a ship known also as the world's largest floating bookfair, docked at the port of Mombasa on Tuesday, August 22.

Dubbed ‘the floating library', the vessel docked at the Mbaraki Wharf at 0930hrs with a selection of over 5,000 different titles of books aboard.

The 132-metre-long floating library, operated by GBA Ships, a non-profit organisation based in Germany, docked at the coastal city with approximately 350 people on board, 18 years after its sister ship Duolos visited Kenya in 2005.

"The ship remains in each port for several weeks and opens the gangways to thousands of visitors each day. On average, one million visitors have been welcomed onboard one of our ships every year!

Visitors with the Kenyan flag when MV Logos Hope docked at the port of Mombasa on August 22, 2023. /KENYA PORTS AUTHORITY

"The floating bookfair offers over 5,000 titles, providing many visitors with their first-ever opportunity to purchase quality literature," GBA Ships explains on its official website.

Sailing under the Malta flag, MV Logos Hope has a length of 132.5 meters, a width of 20.8, a draft of 5.2 meters and a carrying capacity of 12,519 Gross tonnes. Onboard the vessel are 350 passengers of 65 different nationalities.

With around 60 different nationalities represented on board, the Logos Hope community is regarded as a genuine expression of international goodwill and understanding.

The crew and staff are all non-salaried volunteers, including many serving in their professional capacity, such as seafarers, engineers, electricians, nurses, teachers and cooks. Sponsorship from friends, family members and civic organisations enables crew members to serve on board.

"Teams go from the ship into surrounding areas to visit hospitals, schools, orphanages or prisons, supply aid and provide community care. In each port, the ship's crew and staff partner with community groups to share hope and show love to people whatever their circumstances, culture or background," added GBA Ships.

MV Logos Hope History

MV Logos Hope started life in Rendsburg, in the north of Germany, in 1973 as the car ferry Gustav Vasa with the company Lion Ferry AB.

Maintaining the same route between Malmö (Sweden) and Travemünde (Germany) for 10 years, she was chartered out to many companies. Her route was later extended to include Rønne (Denmark) and Trelleborg (Sweden).

In April 1983, she was sold to the Faroese ferry company Smyril Line and renamed Norröna. Sailing from Torshavn, the Faroese capital, to Lerwick (Shetland Islands), Bergen (Norway), Hantsholm (Denmark) and Seyðisfjörður (Iceland) each summer, she was often chartered in the winter to cover other operators' overhaul schedules.

When Smyril Line delivered a new Norröna in 2003, the old vessel became Norröna I and was put up for sale. Following inspections, GBA Ships purchased her in March 2004.

MV Logos Hope docks at the port of Mombasa on August 22, 2023. /KENYA PORTS AUTHORITY

After a further period of planning and fundraising, extensive renovations began in earnest in the Brodotrogir Shipyard in Trogir, Croatia in June 2005. A new deck was inserted into the double-height vehicle deck to create space for what is now the Visitor Experience.

An additional deck was added towards the aft to accommodate the school for children of families serving on board. A new galley was installed, and the bridge was completely refurbished.

Machinery in the engine room was overhauled. Accommodation sections and community spaces were rebuilt, and air-conditioning, sprinkler and electrical systems were renewed.

In November 2007, the ship left Croatia bound for Kiel, Germany, for a further period of outfitting. On arrival crew and equipment were transferred from Logos II, the ship she would replace, and outfitting work took on new momentum with increased numbers on board and many volunteer project workers from northern Germany and around the world coming to help.

The ship departed from Kiel in May 2008 heading for dry dock in Landskrona, Sweden, where a larger, more efficient generator was brought into the engine room through the side of the ship. Thereafter, Logos Hope was berthed in Køge, Denmark, for final outfitting.

As well as the completion of the accommodation areas and community spaces, work continued on the areas intended for the public, including the Logos Lounge conference room and the Visitor Experience deck. A massive combined effort saw all the surveys completed and certificates in place, and Logos Hope was launched into service in February 2009.

In Mombasa, MV Logos Hope will open her doors to members of the public to select books of their choice from a wide array of genres, including science, sports, hobbies, language, faith, cookery arts and purchase medicine.

For 45 days, members of the public will be treated to the fun of touring the expansive vessel to explore other amenities like the international café, visitors deck and welcome area, among others.

Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) managing director, Captain William Ruto, hailed the anticipated arrival of the vessel, terming it significant not only for the port of Mombasa but the country at large.

He noted that the ship’s visit implied that Kenya is making progress towards reclaiming her position as a cruise hub in the Indian Ocean cruise circuit.

“As a port authority, we have made significant strides to improve cruise reception facilities, notably completion of a modern cruise terminal, a dredged channel, improved security and safety standards in compliance with the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) code,” he stated.

Visitors aged 3 to 60 will be admitted to the ship for a small fee to sample its many offerings, which include books on topics ranging from science to sports, hobbies, cookery, arts, medicine, languages, and faith.

MV Logos Hope docks at the port of Mombasa on August 22, 2023. /KENYA PORTS AUTHORITY

Why Scrapping Presidential Term Limits In Kenya Is Very Difficult

Marvin Chege — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 12:29:42 +0300

A United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Senator on Tuesday, August 15 revived calls to have the presidential term limit scrapped, just eight months after President William Ruto opposed proposals to have his own term limit doubled.

Laikipia Senator John Kinyua advocated for the abolishment of the presidential term limit, as well as the term limit of governors, arguing that this would empower the leaders who wield those positions to effectively fulfil their commitments to Kenyans that they would be remembered for after they leave.

The UDA legislator made these assertions during the Devolution Conference 2023 happening in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.

Though he supported the five-year term limit for other leaders, Kinyua argued that the five-year term limit was insufficient for a president or a governor given the workload that is bestowed upon them in terms of service delivery to Kenyans.

A past photo of Laikipia Senator, John Kinyua shaking hands with President William Ruto. /TWITTER

"Five years is not enough for any leader to do something that Kenyans will remember for a long time. What I would quickly say is that if it is possible, Kenyans will give governors an opportunity to serve for a 10-year term or five years as stipulated in the Constitution.

"The author of the Constitution had a clear mind that he wanted the governor as well as the President to be there for 10 years but there will be some examination at the five-year term so that they can assess whether he is going in the right direction, it's not to say he has done the correct thing so that he can finish in the next five years," he defended.

The last daring proposal to have presidential term limits extended was made by Fafi Member of Parliament (MP) Salah Yakub who disclosed a plan by the lawmakers to scrap the current term limit and replace it with an age limit of 75 years through a constitutional amendment Bill, less than 100 days since President Ruto assumed office on September 13, 2022.

What The Constitution Says About Presidential Term Limits

Article 142 of the Kenyan 2010 Constitution indicates that: (1) The President shall hold office for a term beginning on the date on which the President was sworn in, and ending when the person next elected President in accordance with Article 136 (2) (a) is sworn in. The President, however, is prohibited from holding office for more than two five-year terms.

Though one cannot rule out the possibility of amending the term limits of a Head of State, those fronting the proposal should know that it is a difficult process to have their wishes granted. The Constitution carries complex mechanisms for amending certain fundamental provisions, and the presidential term limit happens to be one of them.

What It Takes To Change Presidential Term Limit

As per a past report by The Conversation, one of the requirements is that the proposal would have to be approved by Kenyans in a referendum. Voters are unlikely to accept any efforts to interfere with what is a robust and effectively functioning constitutional system...why is that the case?

The purpose of term limits is to minimise corruption and abuse of office, open the government to new people and ideas, and infuse the government with more innovative and creative ways to solve national problems.

Term limits reinvigorate the country’s democracy and curb the potential for monopoly. They protect the democratic system from turning into a de facto dictatorship and prevent the incumbent from becoming a president-for-life.

Term limits are especially important in a country such as Kenya where most citizens still believe that an incumbent administration will favour the president’s ethnic group. They however do not discourage poor performance and the Constitution provides for other ways to deal with gross misconduct from a Head of State, including impeachment.

An image of a joint Senate and National Assembly in Parliament. /FILE

The Constitution thus sets the process for amending some of its provisions. For instance, changing the term limits of a President in Kenya requires:

Securing the votes of two-thirds of both houses of parliament – the Senate and the National Assembly
Securing the support of a simple majority of the citizens of Kenya voting in a referendum.

Chances Of Amending Presidential Term Limit

It is also unlikely that a constitutional amendment to change the presidential term would garner the two-thirds majority in Parliament since it would also require the support of the opposition, as Kenya Kwanza does not hold a two-thirds majority in either house.

The opposition, being Azimio la Umoja, would also oppose efforts to change a presidential term out of concern that the amendment could significantly enhance the president’s ability to remain in power for more than two terms.

Second, Kenyans would probably see the amendment as a naked power grab and a danger to their constitutional order, and as a result, could punish the proposal’s supporters during future elections.

Third, the complex and prolonged process involved in amending the constitution could derail Ruto’s policy agenda and reduce his re-election prospects in 2027.

Has It Happened Before?

This is not the first time that politicians have proposed amendments to presidential term limits, with the first attempt coming when former president Mwai Kibaki was completing his 10-year (two terms) term of office in 2012, and again in the failed attempt to amend the Constitution during the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) in 2020.

There were also those who thought that at 61, former President Uhuru Kenyatta was too young to leave office in 2022.

The proposals were merely hot air from politicians and given the scrutiny of the courts and Kenya's robust civil society, arguably the hardest thing that exceeds threading a needle is making amendments to the 2010 Constitution.

After the latest development, it remains to be seen how President Ruto will react to the proposals by distancing himself from the conversation again and how the opposition will respond.

President William Ruto during the swearing-in of Cabinet Secretaries on October 27, 2022. /STATE HOUSE KENYA

He Is A Gift From God- Charlene Ruto Emotional After Story Of Employee

Marvin Chege — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 10:35:24 +0300

President William Ruto’s daughter Charlene Ruto shared how the story of Nathan Kiplangat Kikwai who she introduced as the Executive Director of her foundation SMACHS Foundation, had moved her to tears.

Kiplangat spoke during the commissioning of the 2023 Mashav Agricultural Programme at State House on Tuesday, August 15, where he gave his account of his experience of Israel.

He revealed that he had gone to participate in the Mashav Agricultural Programme which he termed as one of the proudest achievements in his career, as Charlene celebrated him for his exemplary work ethic and commitment to the organisation.

“Late last year, God gave me a gift in Nathan Kikwai, the executive director of my foundation SMACHS, a truly resilient and hardworking young man.

Charlene Ruto with Nathan Kiplangat at State House on August 15, 2023. /TWITTER.CHARLENE RUTO

"Today I shed a tear or two as I heard him share his story and experiences in Israel under the Mashav Agricultural Programme, a programme in which he is a proud alumnus, of which about 200 young Kenyans have been competitively chosen for," she stated.

Before joining the organisation, Kiplangat served as the secretary general of the University of Nairobi (UoN) Student Association from 2020 to 2022.

Charlene further thanked her mother, First Lady Rachel Ruto, as well as the Mama Doing Good organisation for hosting, commissioning and encouraging the young Kenyans as they prepare to depart and the Israeli government for partnering with the Kenyan government to create opportunities for the young people of Kenya

The First Lady of the Republic of Kenya on the same day commissioned 210 Kenyan trainees for the 2023 Mashav Agricultural Training Program. This is an 11-month practical training at the Arava International Centre for Agricultural Training (AICAT) in Israel.

Mama Rachel Ruto lauded the successful cooperation between Kenya and Israel, which has resulted in the exchange of Kenyan trainees in key fields such as security, medicine and agriculture.

According to a statement from the First Lady's office seen by Viral Tea, the 2023 Mashav Agricultural Training Program is a product of the strong relationship between these two nations.

The Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) prioritises agriculture as a key sector for economic growth, food security, job creation, and industrialization. The trainees will return to Kenya equipped with skills and fresh perspectives and contribute to the development of our Nation.

Speaking during the event, Drova Dorsman Yarkoni, the Deputy Head of Mission of Israel in Kenya said; "We aspire to have as many AICAT Alumni as possible harness their training to be successful in the Kenyan Agriculture sector.

"The goal is to give these young, educated, and skilled individuals a chance to become successful agripreneurs by providing innovative solutions on food production and food security in Kenya."

Kello Harsama, the Principal Secretary of the State Department of Crop Development, said that the Training Centre located in Southern Israel in the Arava desert will be a great inspiration for the trainees to create solutions for agriculture targeting the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) in Kenya, which covers 23 out of the 47 counties in Kenya.

Charlene Ruto with First Lady, Rachel Ruto at State House on August 15, 2023. /OFFICE OF THE FIRST LADY

Watch Motorist Drive In Reverse Gear Along Busy Highway [VIDEO]

admin — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 14:08:05 +0300

A Kenyan motorist showed daredevil skills by driving in reverse gear along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway all the way to Naivasha town, ignoring the presence of traffic police officers.

In an undated video shared on Sunday, August 13 and seen by Viral Tea, the motorist, driving a Nissan Juke, was seen reversing with determination on the lane where another motorist was driving while filming the proceedings, with hazard indicators on to alert other motorists, even those driving in the opposite direction.

Ahead of him were traffic officers waving him to stop his car at two different roadblocks, but the driver did not heed their demands, with one officer whacking the vehicle's chassis in an angry response to the driver refusing to heed to their demands.

The driver went on to overtake other cars, including trailers plying the road, potentially putting the lives of himself and other road users at risk.

Here is the video:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Buzzroom Kenya ™ (@buzzroomkenya)

While approaching Naivasha town, the driver kept reversing but his navigation of the busy road was tougher given that he had to be watchful of bends and speed bumps, as well as pedestrians crisscrossing the road at the edge of the populous town as residents stood on the side, watching in bewilderment.

The clip sparked mixed reactions on social media, with many praising the driver for his reversing skills along a road that has witnessed numerous accidents in the past.

Driving In Reverse Gear

Most people drive in reverse gear occasionally such as when backing out of a parking spot, garage, or parallel parking. In most cases, the car moves in reverse gear only for a short time.

According to the Car From Japan website, driving backwards in reverse gear is similar to driving forward in first gear. If your car runs on an automatic transmission, it will automatically move to higher gears with the increase in speed.

As the reverse has only one gear, you have to maintain a certain speed to keep the vehicle running in reverse mode. So, it can be said that even if the car moves in reverse gear as long as you want, you have to drive it within a specific speed limit.

A car is not designed to drive backwards, that is, the single reverse gear is there to give your vehicle adequate torque at low speeds so it moves from a standstill. A car's engine and other components are compatible with driving in reverse gear for an extended time or higher speeds.

In reverse gear, a car is only capable of reaching perhaps 50 km/h at the redline of the rev counter; it’s the equivalent of first gear but in reverse. In stop/start traffic in the city, this is less of an issue, but on the open road, you would become a slow-moving hazard for other drivers to negotiate.

The durability and resilience of the reverse gear are much less than what the gears and bearings of the forward gears can endure. Normally, you spend only a fraction of time in reverse, meaning driving in that mode for a long time will put stress on the reverse gear components.

The car will make more sound and generate more heat in that condition. What is worse, the car won’t release much heat in reverse mode, leading to the overheating of inner components.

The engine is going to be another area of concern. There is only one reverse gear, which means that you are driving the car constantly in the first gear.

An automatic car engaged in reverse gear. /FILE

Running a large distance in reverse means the Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) will go up, causing overheating of engine components. It will lead to serious damage to and failure of the valve train, piston rings, camshafts, and more parts and eventually, the engine will fail and the gearbox will be broken.

Instances Making You Drive In Reverse Instead of Forward

There are however instances where an automatic vehicle will fail to move on the drive gear, but move on the reverse gear.

Transmission is most likely to be the culprit for the car won't move in drive but will in reverse. When the vehicle does not function in one or more gears, you should check the gear shifter.

The gear cable could be stretched further than the normal length and requires adjusting. The failure of some internal components can be the cause too. The car will reverse but not go forward because of worn-out solenoids, clutches, or gears.

Other issues include a faulty speed sensor as well as incorrect air-fuel ratio in the cylinders of the engine which can cause problems with the production of proper combustion and keeping the vehicle moving smoothly.

A faulty Engine Control Unit (ECU) (a tiny device that controls several tasks in your vehicle) may display erroneous warnings, causing your car to not perform properly, including in-drive performance.

If your vehicle does not move in drive but does so in reverse, you may have a sliding clutch, which causes engine engagement and disengagement. A sliding clutch indicates that little or no power is being transferred to the wheels, resulting in the vehicle not moving.

Govt Answers Your 14 Questions On University Scholarships Under New Model

admin — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 15:19:49 +0300

The Ministry of Education commenced the rollout of the new university funding model proposed by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWER).

However, as with every major change that happens in life, the government's rollout of the new funding model has sparked confusion amongst parents and students, with parents of the 2022 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) students and other stakeholders wondering whether to embrace the programme or not.

Luckily, the Ministry on Friday, August 11 offered clarity on the new model, explaining its differences from the old funding programme to bring about a simplified understanding of the new model.

Whether you're a prospective university student or a concerned parent, the following guide will provide you with valuable insights into how these scholarships work, their eligibility criteria, application processes, benefits, and much more.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu speaks at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development in Nairobi on January 27, 2023. /DAILY NATION

Here are 14 of the most-asked questions about the model that you might be having in your mind while reading this article and the responses:

1. What is the difference between the former university grant and the new Higher Education Government Student Scholarship?

The Higher Education Government Student Scholarship is a financial assistance programme provided to learners in public universities and TVET institutes.

Funded through government resources, this scholarship aims to support students pursuing undergraduate, diploma, craft certificate and artisan education. The scholarship is based on the actual cost of the programme and the student's financial needs.

2. Who qualifies for the Scholarship?

To be eligible for the scholarship, one must be Kenyan and a 2022 KCSE examination candidate for university learners. He or she must have been placed by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) to pursue an undergraduate, diploma, craft certificate or artisan course at one of Kenya's accredited public universities or TVET colleges.

The scholarship application is open to students who sat their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination from 2022 onwards.

3. A student can apply for this government scholarship at any stage of their academic programme. Can a student apply for a loan and scholarship in the same year?

Yes. Loans and scholarship awards will be categorized differently. A vulnerable student will get an 82 per cent scholarship and an 18 per cent loan of the cost of the programme.

An extremely needy learner will get a 70 per cent scholarship and a 30 per cent loan of the cost of the course while a needy learner will get a 53 per cent scholarship, 40 per cent loan and seven per cent household of the cost of the programme.

Lastly, a less needy learner will get a 38 per cent scholarship, a 55 per cent loan and a seven per cent family of the cost of the course to be pursued.

4. Can students below 18 years apply for the scholarship since we know those below that age have previously not been allowed to apply for study loans?

Minors individuals who have not attained 18 years of age - who sat their KCSE examination last year and have been placed by KUCCPS in a public university or TVET college can apply for the Higher Education Government Student Scholarship.

Once the individuals reach 18, they will be required to update their profiles to continue benefiting from the government scholarship and loan.

5. Is it a must for a student to apply for the Higher Education Government Student Scholarship?

It is not mandatory. It is advisable to only apply for the scholarship if you need government financial assistance.

6. What are the steps one needs to follow when applying for a Government Student Scholarship?

To apply for a Government Student Scholarship, visit www.hef.co.ke. Remember also to keep an eye on official communication channels and updates from the Universities Fund, the HELB and KUCCPS for announcements regarding application details and deadlines.

7. Are Government Student Scholarships based on financial need, merit or both?

The scholarship is based on the financial needs of the applicant and academic merit. One must be placed by KUCCPS to a public university or TVET institute to apply.

8. Is the application for the Government Student Scholarship a one-off for a learner throughout the degree?

For you to get the Government Student Scholarships, you must apply through www.hef.co.ke and submit an application every year for the course duration.

9. What happens if one receives less than the Government Student Scholarship award applied/or?

An individual may appeal or request a review of their Government Student Scholarships award if they were not satisfied with the amount given. This includes unsuccessful scholarship applications.

10. Can a foreigner apply and receive the Government Student Scholarship?

No, this scholarship is restricted to Kenyans only. International students should check with their institutions, governments or financial aid offices to determine if they are eligible for other scholarships.

11. How can a student use the Government Student Scholarship fund?

This Government Student Scholarship fund takes care of the tuition fees. These funds will be disbursed directly to the university or college the applicant is undertaking their studies.

Graduands attend a graduation ceremony organised by a Kenyan University. /PHOTO

12. Can the Government Student Scholarship affect other forms of financial assistance to the learner?

Yes. If a student is fully funded by another agency, individual or institution, the government Student Scholarship cannot provide a scholarship to the same student since it will lead to over-funding.

Students are expected to fully disclose agencies sponsoring them and the amounts applicable for their sponsorship. Non-disclosure may lead to withdrawal or cancellation of the scholarship.

13. Are there any requirements or responsibilities for Student Government Scholarship recipients?

Beneficiaries of the Government Student Scholarship are required to complete their studies within the stipulated course/programme duration.

Any extended study duration cost will not be catered for by the scholarship. Secondly, the students will be required to give accurate information to assist in the award of the scholarships.

14. Will a student need a guarantor for to be eligible for the Government Scholarship?

No guarantors are needed.

Kenya's First Open University: What It Is & Courses Offered

admin — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 15:01:21 +0300

Kenya on Thursday, August 3 launched its first open university located at the Konza City Technopolis in Machakos County.

The Open University of Kenya (OUK) had its charter awarded by President William Ruto during a function held at the university's grounds after the previous administration had shelved the plan due to financial constraints.

"Whereas the Cabinet Secretary for Education has submitted the charter to me with recommendation there on and whereas Parliament has approved the establishment of the said Open University of Kenya, in accordance with the requirements of the universities, act 2012. I William Samoei Ruto, President, and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, of the Republic of Kenya I am satisfied that the awarding of charter to the Open University of Kenya, will be of benefit to the advancement of University Education in Kenya," Ruto said.

“In exercise of the powers conferred on me by Section 24 (1b) of the University Act, I William Samoei Ruto, President and commander of Armed Forces of the Republic of Kenya, hereby award the charter to the Open University of Kenya on August 3, 2023 and wish the university a great success.”

Group Chief Executive Officer of Equity Group Holdings PLC, James Mwangi (Left) shakes President William Ruto's (Right) hand after being appointed Vice Chancellor of the Open University of Kenya's Chancellor on Thursday, August 3, 2023. /MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

The Head of State at the same time appointed James Mwangi, Group Managing Director of Equity Group Holdings PLC, as Chancellor of the OUK. Professor Ezra Maritim will be the OUK's council chair.

Viral Tea takes a look at what you should know about the Open University of Kenya:

What are open universities?

Open universities are institutions offering degrees with low or no entry requirements. They are the ideal study options for students who have graduated from their previous studies with low grades but want to continue their higher education.

Another aspect that makes them stand out is the fact that they are distance learning studies, meaning you don't have to travel to a physical location to study. This means that courses are taught fully online or with materials sent to your home.

The goal of open universities is to offer everyone equal opportunities to develop their abilities, improve their level of education and retrain for a new career. They are also the ideal way to become eligible for pursuing a typical university degree afterwards.

Open universities have very few entry requirements

The term open university usually refers to a university with an open-door academic policy, that is, no entry requirements. That is why open universities are usually ”open” to all students.

The initial thought behind open universities was to make higher education accessible to everyone. For example, this means that you might be accepted even when you do not have a certificate from secondary school.

How Was The Open University of Kenya Formed?

OUK's idea was conceptualised through the Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2005 which was titled, A Policy Framework Education, Training and Research; Meeting the Challenges of Education, Training and Research in Kenya in the 21st Century.

President Ruto appointed the Presidential Working Group on Education Reform (PWER) on September 30, 2022, led by Prof. Raphael Munavu, to, among other things, recommend a framework for the operationalisation of the National Open University of Kenya and open, distance and e-learning (ODEL).

A technical working committee was established on January 9, 2023, to fast-track the implementation of the proposed university.

President William Ruto awarding a charter to the Open University in Kenya (OUK) on August 2, 2023, in Machakos County. /MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

The Commission for University of Education (CUE) in a letter dated June 7, 2023, approved the recommendations for the award of a Charter for the OUK by the Head of State.

“The Commission in its deliberations appreciated the uniqueness of the proposed Open University of Kenya, being the first university to be established without being mentored by an existing university hence lack of a governing organ to incur expenses,” the letter read.

Another letter dated May 4, 2023, by the Secretary to the Cabinet Mercy Wanjau, showed that the Cabinet approved the establishment of the OUK noting that the proposed university was of strategic national importance.

Its formation is based on the Universities Act, of 2012 which provides for the setting up of a specialised university to offer programmes on e-learning platforms. Previous attempts to form OUK stretched back to 2010 when the late Mwai Kibaki was president, but they fell short owing to a deficiency of funds.

How Will The University Be Managed?

Just like any other university, OUK will be managed by a Vice-Chancellor who will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the institution. The VC will also have Deputy Vice-Chancellors, a Senate, a Council and student bodies.

"The funds of the University shall comprise such sums as may be granted to the University by the exchequer and such monies or assets as may accrue to or vest in the University in the course of performance of its functions under this Charter and the Statutes," the draft regulations reads.

Courses Offered

The Open University of Kenya seeks to admit its first cohort of about 7,100 students in September 2023 into eight programmes; six Bachelor programmes and two postgraduate programmes.

The bachelor flagship programmes include; a Bachelor of Data Science, a Bachelor of Science in Cyber and Digital Forensics, a Bachelor of Technology Education, a Bachelor of Entrepreneurship and Business, a Bachelor of Economics and Statistics, and a Bachelor of Agri-Technology and Food Systems.

The two postgraduate programmes offered are Leadership and Accountability and Learning Design and Technology.

Location of the university

According to a report on the Consideration of the Draft Charter for the Establishment of the OUK, the university will be located at Konza Technopolis while its virtual presence will be supported by a Learning Management System with both physical and cloud servers.

“Currently the seat is currently being hosted at the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) headquarters on a temporary basis,” the report reads.

Fees Charged

Even though the institution is yet to announce in detail the course fees and additional charges, previous reports indicated that the committee proposed that degree students pay between Ksh10,400 and Ksh10,900 per module while post-graduate diploma courses cost Ksh130,000 per year.

This is considering that a full-time student will be expected to take between four and six modules.

"The cost per module is Ksh10,400 for the Bachelor of Data Science, Bachelor of Economics and Statistics, Bachelor of Science in Business and Entrepreneurship, Bachelor of Technology Education and Bachelor of Cyber Security and Digital Forensics,” the committee said.

"For the two post-diploma courses, Diploma in Learning Design and Technology and Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership and Accountability offered in the first year, the projected fee per year is Ksh130,000.”

The proposed fees are however expected to be lower than other universities.

A look at the Open University of Kenya located at Konza City Technopolis in Machakos County launched on August 3, 2023. /PCS

How To Get Govt Loan & Scholarships Plus Requirements [LIST]

Marvin Chege — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 17:34:33 +0300

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu on Monday, July 31 launched a portal for the new funding model portal for higher education, to benefit students joining Universities and Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) institutions.

Speaking during the release of the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) selection results, Machogu revealed that the new Higher Education Financing (HEF) Portal will allow students to apply for both scholarships, loans and bursaries.

“Since the Presidential directive on 3rd May 2023 on the roll-out of the New Funding Model, the Government has developed and completed the Higher Education Financing Portal, to receive applications for both Scholarships, Loans and Bursaries for University and TVET students,” said Machogu.

The Education CS further noted that students who require funding must first make a formal application in the HEF Portal.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu speaks at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development in Nairobi on January 27, 2023. /DAILY NATION

Even before making their applications, they will have to follow a checklist of requirements to obtain the government loans and scholarships, designed for learners who sat for the Kenya Certificate for Secondary Education (KCSE) in 2022.

Checklist for Loans and Scholarships Applications

1. A valid email address, which will be used to sign up an account for the purposes of uploading and submitting documents.

2. Valid telephone number, which must be registered in the student's name in order for them to be able to apply for a loan.

3. KCPE and KCSE index numbers and year of examination.

4. Passport-size photo, which will be uploaded to the account.

5. Copy of your National Identification (ID) (for loan application).

6. College/University admission letter.

7. Your parents' registered telephone number.

8. Your parents' national ID number.

9. Death certificate if any of your parents are deceased.

10. Two guarantors' ID numbers and registered telephone numbers (for loan application).

11. Copy of the sponsorship letter if you were sponsored in Secondary school.

12. Your birth certificate

How to Apply

After fulfilling the requirements, students can make their applications by visiting the HEF portal accessible via www.hef.co.ke

“The continuing students will not be affected by this funding model and will continue to receive their funding based on the Government’s existing model,” the CS however cautioned.

According to the CS, 45,000 university students and 42,000 TVET students from poor households who sat for their KCSE in 2022 will receive a fully funded scholarship from the government in the new model.

“The categorisation will be realised through a reliable scientific method Means Testing Instrument, used to determine the student’s level of financial needs, to ensure they are supported adequately," he added.

On Wednesday, May 3, President William Ruto revealed that the new model will be student-centred and the funds will be channelled through scholarships and loans.

"This new funding model does not increase university fees. Under the new model, we are increasing the university allocation in the new financial year from Ksh54 billion to Ksh84.6 billion.

"Universities and TVETS will no longer receive block funding in the form of capitation based on a Differentiated Unit Cost. Funding to students shall combine scholarships, loans and Household contributions on a graduated scale," he stated.

According to the Head of State, the new model will include students categorised into three: the Vulnerable, the Less Vulnerable and the Able.

Ruto noted that the government would issue full scholarships for vulnerable students, thus sparing their parents from the need to pay any amount for the education of the students.

However, for the students in the less vulnerable category, the government would offer them a scholarship that would pay up to 53 per cent of their education and issue them with a 40 per cent loan.

Those joining TVET institutions will receive scholarships of 50 per cent of their fees and 30 per cent in loans.

The less needy students who are joining university will get scholarships of up to 38 per cent of the cost of their education and loans of 55 per cent.

President William Ruto addresses KCPE candidates at Joseph Kang'ethe Primary School in Kibra Constituency on November 29, 2022. /WILLIAM RUTO

Hezena Lemaletian Bags 2 Awards During Trip To Ghana

Marvin Chege — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 07:28:53 +0300

Nominated Senator Hezena Lemaletian on Friday, July 28 won two awards during her visit to Accra, Ghana.

In a statement, Hezena announced that she was honoured with the African Leadership Hall of Fame Award as well as the Exceptional Young African Leaders Award during the New Africa Leaders Summit and Honours.

The Senator dedicated the two awards to both the Kenyan and the African youth for bringing about influential change in society.

Hezena Lemaletian recieves the African Leadership Hall of Fame Award in Accra, Ghana on July 28, 2023. /HEZENA LEMALETIAN

"I do not take for granted the tireless support, believe and respect I receive from the distinguished Kenyan Youth. I dedicate this award to every Patriotic Kenyan Youth and every Pan-African-hearted and minded African youth.

"We cast a stone in the Ocean and create ripples of change across the Ocean. We do not talk of Emancipation when half the Society is held in silence and when some voices do not matter," she stated.

Hezena appealed to African Leaders to provide a platform where women and the youth can contribute to the overall growth and success of the economy of their countries.

"We also do not talk of Emancipation when more than half of our population is comprised of consumers and then we complain of low GDP for a continent that has a huge potential.

"I call on all fellow African Leaders to ensure that the Youth and Women contribute to the Overall GDP of our Countries. Consequently, we can eradicate Poverty in the Mother Continent," she added.

The distinguished senator was awarded for being renowned as a committed advocate for peace and youth leadership while also serving as a passionate promoter of women's empowerment and gender equality.

She is the visionary founder of Pastoralists Sports, impacting lives through goodwill, culture and charitable endeavours across the Commonwealth and Africa.

Hezena was born and bred in Samburu County and attended Milimani Primary School in Maralal. She later enrolled at St. Theresa Girls High School where she excelled in her secondary school education and was admitted to the University of Nairobi (UoN).

The outspoken Samburu lady is the reigning Miss Commonwealth Kenya and became the first from the North to win the crown.

She is also the Global Peace Ambassador, A Goodwill, Culture, and Charity Ambassador for the Commonwealth and the Rift Valley Peace Champion being the founder of Pastoralists Sports Initiative which economically empowers the youth through sports and culture to create peace and cohesion.

Hezena had in 2022 dropped her ambitions for the Samburu County Woman Representative seat during the August 9 General Elections following extensive consultations with Azimio la Umoja coalition presidential candidate, Raila Odinga and elders from her community.

However, she would bounce back by being nominated to the Senate by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to represent the youth alongside Fikirini Katoi Kahindi, who was picked as the male representative.

Senator Hezena Lemaletian during the New Africa Leaders Summit and Honours Award ceremony during her trip to Accra, Ghana on July 28, 2023. /HEZENA LEMALETIAN

Avoid Cruise Control, Use Brakes Early- NTSA To Motorists

Marvin Chege — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 11:00:51 +0300

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) on Friday, July 7 advised motorists to apply their brakes in advance and avoid using cruise control while driving along highways.

Cruise control allows you to maintain a set speed without using the accelerator. Once you've selected the speed, you can take your foot off the accelerator and the vehicle will cruise at that speed.

NTSA revealed in a statement that the move was prompted by rains experienced in recent days across the country, which have made the road surfaces wet and skiddy.

An image of a foggy Nairobi-Nakuru Highway. /FILE

The authority also warned motorists against instant braking on wet roads as this could lead to vehicles skidding and causing accidents that could lead to loss of life.

In addition, the authority took note of the presence of fog along commonly-used roads across the country which have the potential to hamper visibility.

"Take great caution during wet weather, reduce your speed and turn your fog lights on for visibility," stated NTSA in part.

NTSA also warned motorists against travelling in heavy rain as well as crossing running water, urging them to be alert while driving.

Drivers were further encouraged to use their wiper blades and slow down. For passengers, NTSA urged them to have their seat belts on at all times, just like drivers while driving along the roads.

NTSA's statement coincided with that of the weather forecast issued by the Kenya Meteorological Department which alerted Kenyans of rainfall to be experienced until the next week.

Areas targeted for the rainfall included Central Highlands, Rift Valley, and Western Kenya, with the rest of the country generally dry with instances of cold weather conditions.

In Nairobi, the minimum weather temperature is projected at 7 degrees with the highest put at 26 degrees. Friday, July 7 was projected to be the coldest.

"Rainfall is expected to continue over some parts of the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the Coast and the Rift Valley. The rest of the country is likely to be generally dry.

"Occasional cold and cloudy conditions are expected over the Highlands East of the Rift Valley as well as over some parts of the South-eastern lowlands and the Highlands West of the Rift Valley," stated the weatherman in part.

Floods along Mombasa Road along Sultan Hamud Township on April 22, 2023. /NPS

Larry Madowo Meets Kenyan Who Drove From Nairobi To Portugal In 6 Months

Marvin Chege — Sun, 02 Jul 2023 14:06:46 +0300

CNN international correspondent, Larry Madowo on Sunday, July 2 had a chance meeting with Kim Musau, who embarked on a daring expedition from Nairobi to Portugal in six months, driving his Land Rover Defender.

On Friday, June 30, he revealed that he was in Casablanca, Morocco, which he successfully crossed and got to Spain before continuing on to Portugal.

Kenyan motorist Kim Musau takes a photo of his Land Rover on a ferry in Spain on June 30, 2023. /TWITTER.ALPHA LAND ROVER

The epic journey was far from easy for the intrepid traveller as it drained his budget, thus his appeal to Kenyans to support him financially as he continues to fly the Kenyan flag high in Europe.

"This solo exploration hasn't been easy, my pockets are empty but my heart is full," he stated.

Madowo, who himself was in Portugal for the Afro Nation concert, happened to run into Musau and expressed awe at his spirited commitment to go to great lengths to discover new things for his life.

"I ran into a Kenyan car in Portugal! Kim Musau has been on the road for six months.

"He left Nairobi and drove to Namibia, then along the coastline to Morocco, ferried to Spain and now he’s here. Are you not jealous?" Madowo posed on social media.

During his travels, Musau discovered party venues, and camping sites with fellow travellers and told it all about his journey to his fans, aboard his customised Defender which he christened as 'Alpha Land Rover'.

"I found another party scene here in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. I camped next to these overlanders with a mega truck from the Netherlands. And yes, by the beach. The breeze."

"I took some more days here. It's a great stopover for every traveller especially those going for the train ride experience - The iron ore train!!. Man, the stories here. I'm happy I cancelled that plan," he revealed.

However, Musau disclosed that for anyone wishing to embark on the epic journey, one will need to commit to more than 20 hours of relentless driving every day as well as a series of showers to maintain hygienic standards during the perilous journey.

"I think it's an extreme adventure. But fun I think. If you decide to ride the whole journey, it will be 20hrs+ (night and day). Seated and sleeping on iron ore."

"You may need hours of repeated showers over some days to get clean," he weighed in.

Nonetheless, his feat was recognised by Kenyans On Twitter who urged him on as he aspired to continue his journey across Europe before returning to Nairobi.

"Congratulations, Alpha. You are an inspiration to many black African travellers. May the much-needed financial help come through? Having done just East and Southern Africa, we felt the pinch. We are recovering financially too, but our hearts are so full," She Defender stated.

"Congratulations man on that. My trip is scheduled for November 2031 With a brand full-kitted Landcruiser 79," Chege added.

A map of Kim Musau's travels from Nairobi to Casablanca in Morocco. /TWITTER.ALPHA LAND ROVER

Tom & Ken Osinde: Story Of Brothers Who Died Two Years Apart

admin — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 18:00:56 +0300

The late former National Treasury official, Tom Mokaya Osinde, who was found dead after going missing on Sunday, June 18, is the brother of the late Ambassador Ken Nyauncho Osinde, who served in Germany between 2010 and 2014.

His demise reported on Thursday, June 29 undoubtedly shocked the country, days after he was reported missing.

However, in a matter of coincidence, Tom's brother also served in the government, in particular, in the office of President William Ruto (then Deputy President) as his Chief of Staff.

Ken Osinde Death

Ken Osinde passed away at the Nairobi Hospital on December 10, 2021, after he was taken ill three days prior. He was admitted to the hospital a day later where he underwent emergency surgery before being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Image of the late Ken Osinde. /FILE

The family sent their appreciation to the entire team at Nairobi Hospital for their speedy response and tireless efforts during the period that Osinde was under their care.

“The funeral arrangements will be announced by the funeral organizing committee in due course,” revealed the family in a statement at the time.

Ruto mourned the late Osinde as a good leader with robust management as well as good problem-solving skills.

“As our Chief of Staff, he was a hardworking, diligent, broad thinker and a master of human resources. We will miss his wise counsel and team spirit.

“My heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the family, colleagues and friends. Rest In Peace my friend, Ken,” he wrote on social media.

According to the eulogy read during his burial thereafter, Osinde complained of stomach pains on December 7 and was rushed to the hospital where he was diagnosed with extensive internal bleeding due to a rupture of a vein.

Osinde’s wife Judy described their 32 years in marriage as a pleasant journey of marital bliss during which they had five children.

“Ken lived a full life. His love for me, his family, and his people was unmatched. He touched the lives of thousands of people at a professional level and otherwise. He had a way of making everyone feel valued,” said Judy.

Ken drew media headlines on November 26, 2021, when he was barred from addressing the Annual Devolution Conference on behalf of his boss, Ruto, who had been lined up to close the three-day governors' convention. Ruto at the time had political engagements in Nyandarua County.

Osinde was born on August 18, 1962, in Kenya. He held an M.A. degree in Linguistics from the University of Nairobi and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and instructively the M.A. was the first one ever on Sheng.

After teaching at the University of Nairobi, he landed a managerial job at the National Bank of Kenya where he rose to the position of Head of Strategic Planning. In 2010, he was named Kenya’s ambassador to Germany.

In his university days, Osinde was a talented actor and would later star in Kenya’s premiere soap opera Tushauriane. He co-starred with household names such as Dennis Kashero, Paul Onsongo and the late Tony Msalame.

Tom Osinde Death

The late Tom on the other hand studied Economics at the University of Nairobi and transitioned to the Treasury Department after his graduation, where he worked for several years.

He left the Treasury in 2010 to start his own business and his success saw him acquire a large property in Ngata, Farm, Nakuru.

The late former Treasury official Mokaya Osinde who went missing on Saturday, June 24, 2023. /FILE

Osinde was well-known for his expertise in financial management and was well-respected by his colleagues. He was also a philanthropist who donated generously to various charities and was often described by his family as a kind and generous man who was loved by his family and friends.

While Ken Osinde's death resulted from natural causes, Tom's death came after he was reported missing, with the events surrounding his demise leading to the case going from a missing person's case to that of murder.

Autopsy On Tom Osinde Murder

On Friday, June 30, an autopsy conducted by Chief Government Pathologist Johansen Odour, who conducted the postmortem at the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital Mortuary, revealed that the late Tom died after suffering injuries to his head inflicted from several blows using a heavy object.

Two suspects have since been arrested in connection with the murder, with the main suspect reported being seen driving the deceased's vehicle days before his body was discovered.

The suspect had admitted to having thrown the body of the former Treasury employee in River Kuja also known as Gucha River.

Nyakeyo Assistant Chief had revealed to the press that the prime suspect had directed detectives to the river on Wednesday, June 28 and pinpointed the exact location where Osinde's body was thrown in from.

Neighbours further revealed that the suspect had fled the village three days ago and had resurfaced days before the murder, forcing them to raise the alarm.

The concerned neighbours had become curious about his intentions and why he was driving Osinde's black Landcruiser. When questioned, the suspect turned a deaf ear, against their expectations, and requested their assistance in washing the car.

"We did not wash the inside of the car. We were told that it had a lot of luggage," one of the neighbours recalled.

The neighbours also startingly recalled that the suspect fled from his home in Kisii after he was implicated in another murder case.

A vehicle belonging to the late former Treasury official Fred Tom Mokaya Osinde (inset) was positively identified by his family at Kilgoris police station in Narok County. /DAILY NATION

Fake Ksh25 Million Range Rover Handed To Govt For Destruction

admin — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 17:57:36 +0300

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) on Thursday, June 29 intercepted and rejected an imported 2021 Range Rover HSE suspected to have been cloned to hide its authentic year of release.

The regulator stated that it handed over the sleek Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) to the government for destruction or shipping back to the country of origin.

KEBS noted that the vehicle was intercepted during a routine inspection in Mombasa while raising alarm regarding the increased cases of vehicles being smuggled into the country.

A Range Rover was intercepted in Mombasa by the Kenya Bureau of Standards and handed over to the government on Thursday, June 29, 2023. /KEBS

"KEBS recently intercepted and rejected an imported high-end motor vehicle suspected of being cloned. The Range Rover HSE 4x4 model 2021. Chassis Number SALGA2AEXLA400687 was apprehended during a routine inspection at the Regional Logistics Centre, Mombasa

"Today, KEBS Acting Managing Director (MD) Esther Ngari Esther Ngari handed over the suspected cloned vehicle to the Kenya Revenue Authority for destruction or return to the country of origin, as per requirements of the Standard Operating Procedures," stated KEBS.

Some of the used versions of the intercepted Range Rover cost between Ksh7 million and Ksh15 million while a newer version of the vehicle can cost up to Ksh25 million.

"This is an expensive vehicle which has been fraudulently brought into the country. Our inspection agencies collaborated with various stakeholders to intercept it.

"There are processes that we have put in place to make sure that fraudulent activities do not happen," Ngari explained.

Another KEBS official lamented that many Kenyans were losing money by importing counterfeit cars, adding that the suspects attended auctions in the United Kingdom (UK) and United States (US) to get more information on the vehicles.

The official thus cautioned Kenyans against purchasing vehicles from unregistered dealers and urged them to follow stipulated inspection procedures so that they do not fall for cloned vehicles which are against Kenyan standards.

A former governor on April 13, 2023, paid Ksh9.9 million (US$71,600) for a sleek Range Rover Vogue that was to be delivered to Kenya but was nabbed at the port of Mombasa before it could even get to him.

A report by Citizen TV on Sunday, June 11 revealed that the luxury SUV had left the UK for Dubai while the governor already made payments for the car on that date. The Range Rover arrived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on May 15, 2023, and was issued a certificate for shipping by a motor dealer to the port of Mombasa, Kenya.

The former county boss, whose identity was not revealed in the report, made the payments to the dealer in Dubai and was issued an ocean transport card by emporium cars in UAE after paying transit costs.

However, the car was seized at the port of Mombasa after it emerged that it was stolen in London.

According to a report by the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service in the UK, while responding to inspection inquiries made by QISJ -the firm subcontracted by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) noted that the chassis number for the Range Rover did not match its actual number as per records.

“The chassis number displayed on this car is for a 2020 car, the car you have is actually a 2019 model and not 2020. The identity labels are fake but the engine number is genuine. the car was reported stolen in the UK on 21/09/2022," stated the report.

The Kenya Bureau of Standards officials led by Acting Managing Director, Esther Ngari, who intercepted a Range Rover and handed it over to the government on Thursday, June 29, 2023. /KEBS

Why I Don't Let My Driver Touch My Mercedes Benz- Gachagua

admin — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 14:25:24 +0300

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Thursday, June 29, revealed his little-known love for German vehicles, especially the Mercedes Benz.

Speaking during a meeting with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) president Martin Schulz in Karen, Gachagua revealed that the Mercedes Benz, a common feature among Kenya's wealthy class, is one car he prefers to drive himself.

The DP noted that he loves the car so much that he does not let his driver take the wheel in it.

He further explained that he prefers the automobile due to its efficiency and reliability, which accords him the confidence to drive it himself.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua with German delegates at his Karen residence in Nairobi on Thursday, June 29, 2023. /PCS

"On a lighter note, I am a fan of your car, the Mercedes Benz. Mercedes Benz is a car that I don't allow my driver to drive.

"I drive it myself because most vehicles from Germany last long, they are tested and they are efficient. Even a lot of equipment in our industries is from Germany," Gachagua stated.

The former Mathira MP also lauded the comfort of the car, whose latest models range between Ksh10 million to Ksh30 million, adding to the delegates that Kenyan buyers preferred machines and other household items manufactured in Germany because they gave them value for their money.

"German technology is very much accepted here because it is proven and reliable," he added.

Gachagua's love for Mercedes Benz is compared to President William Ruto, who has a special love relationship with the Lexus LX 570 tracing back to his campaign trail and which he now uses as his official car.

Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Foundation

In terms of the foundation, the DP lauded the Friedrich Ebert Foundation's tremendous contribution to Kenya’s transformative agenda and urged them to continue supporting the Government’s agenda in promoting democratic values of freedom, social justice, climate change & sustainable development, and peace & security.

DP Gachagua also stated that the UDA Party will emulate the federal republic of Germany for its consistency in entrenching an ideology-based party.

"When we went to the election, the party was 7 months old. We want to strengthen internal democracy, strengthen institutions and make it a party based on ideology.

"Empowering people at the bottom of the social pyramid, we are building our party on that ideology. We want it to remain a serious party for years and years to come,” he stated.

President of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Foundation, Martin Schulz, on his part, welcomed Gachagua's sentiments and indicated that Germany was keen on bolstering bilateral relations with Kenya to end security threats, especially in Lamu.

"Policy of the federal republic of Germany in relation to your country is inspired by full respect. We have constructive cooperation on the basis of shared values.

"We rely on bilateral relations. Kenya is in an economic relationship with Europe. It is a reliable partner in our cooperation," Schulz stated.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua with German delegates at his Karen residence in Nairobi on Thursday, June 29, 2023. /PCS

Explained: How To Remove CS Moses Kuria From Office

Marvin Chege — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 12:57:49 +0300

On Tuesday, June 20, the Senate hinted at initiating plans to impeach Trade Cabinet Secretary (CS) Moses Kuria over his utterances against the Kenyan media.

The Senate was reported to be considering a motion by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna seeking a declaration that Kuria is unfit to hold office over his remarks threatening government officials who place adverts on the Nation Media Group (NMG), a media house which has been victim to the CS's numerous attacks on Twitter.

Sifuna terms Kuria's utterances "concerning," noting that his attacks on NMG amount to an infringement of the Constitution as they go against press freedom, guaranteed under Article 34 of the supreme law.

A photo of Nation Media Group. /BUSINESS TODAY

"...the CS for Investments, Trade and Industry, whose reckless tongue has now reached an unmatched level of infamy in the country, and whose divisive, abusive and demeaning rhetoric continues to cause consternation, Sunday, June 18, 2023, posted on his verified social media handles, in reference to the Nation Media Group that 'Kwa wale xxx(unprintable)wa Aga Khan pale Nation Centre. You can still advertise auctioneers and funeral announcements. We will not stop those," the Deputy Minority Whip's motion read in part.

The censure motion is an official admonishment of a person's character, and if successful, could lead to the process of Kuria's dismissal, a role that rests with the National Assembly.

"On the same verified social media accounts, CS Kuria posted a screenshot to celebrate a drop in the share price of the Nation Media Group, an indication that Kuria has chosen to run a vendetta against the Nation Media Group for its perceived failure to echo the regime's lies and false promises. An attack on one media house, as history has shown in other jurisdictions, often leads to attacks on press freedom as a whole," Sifuna added.

The Kenya Media Sector Working Group (KMSWG) on the same day revealed that it wants the court to declare CS Kuria unfit to hold public office.

"We already have a court process that will start anytime today so that some people in the Kenya Kwanza government can be declared unfit to hold a public office.

"We will be going to court under Chapter 6 of the Constitution so that the court can declare some leaders in the Kenya Kwanza administration unfit to hold public office based on the utterances that have been attributed to them," Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) Secretary General Eric Oduor addressed.

However, both parties should be aware that the process of impeaching a Cabinet Secretary through Parliament is a long and tough one, and it has never been successfully done in the process since the promulgation of the Kenyan Constitution (2010).

Process Of Impeaching A Cabinet Secretary

The Kenyan Constitution, under Article 152, however, grants the President sweeping powers to appoint, reassign or dismiss a CS at will.

The Article under Clause 6 gives an elaborate procedure the Parliament can use in kicking out a CS over any gross violation of the Constitution, a crime under national or international law, and gross misconduct.

In any event the CS is found to have violated any of the above, a member of the National Assembly, supported by at least one-quarter of all the members of the Assembly, may propose a motion requiring the President to dismiss a Cabinet Secretary, that is a threshold of 88 MPs to support the proposal of a motion to dismiss the CS.

Once the motion is proposed, the MP would need the backing of 117 of his or her fellow lawmakers to advance to the next stage of establishing a special committee of 11 MPs to investigate the matter. The select committee should, within 10 days, report to the Assembly whether it finds the allegations against the Cabinet Secretary to be substantiated.

The whole House must then take a vote on the impeachment motion. If Moses Kuria gets to this stage, he will have the right to appear and be represented before the select committee during its investigations.

Trade CS, Moses Kuria during a past forum. /FILE

If the select committee reports that it finds the allegations unsubstantiated, no further proceedings should occur. However, if the committee finds the allegations substantiated, the National Assembly should accord CS Kuria an opportunity to be heard and vote on whether to approve the resolution requiring the dismissal of a Cabinet Secretary.

If a majority of the members of the National Assembly support a resolution requiring CS Kuria's impeachment, then Speaker Moses Wetangula must immediately write to President William Ruto on the resolutions of the House.

The Head of State will then use powers provided in Article 154 Clause 6(c) to dismiss the CS. The CS can however remain in office if the allegations against them are unsubstantiated.

CS Moses Kuria has been on the spot over reckless public remarks that also included the presence of China Square in Nairobi, GMO foods and the ongoing war in Sudan, where he urged the African Union (AU) to invade the country and "bomb Khartoum to smithereens."

Meet Kenyan Chef Aiming To Break Hilda Baci's World Record

admin — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 18:22:02 +0300

26-year-old Nigerian chef, restaurateur and actress Hilda Effiong Bassey, alias Hilda Baci became a worldwide sensation after having broken a four-year-old Guinness World Record (GWR) for marathon cooking (Cook-athon) with 93 hours 11 minutes. However, her counterpart in Kenya is threatening to surpass it.

GWR on Tuesday, June 13 certified Baci's world record after analysing footage and evidence submitted from her cooking marathon before deciding to award her.

“The current record stands at 87 hours and 45 minutes and was set by Lata Tondon in India in 2019. This is a challenging record with strict rules that must be followed throughout.

"These include: two items must be prepared or cooked at any one time and the number, name and weight of each item cooked must be submitted with the evidence. Hilda met all these rules, but anyone attempting a marathon record is given a 5-minute break for each hour completed,” stated a GWR official.

Hilda Baci during a past cooking session. /BBC

The GWR analysed the evidence provided by Chef Hilda’s team and found that there had been a miscalculation when it came to Hilda’s rest breaks. As a result, Headquarters was unable to award her the 100 hours of cooking she was aiming for and instead recognised her for cooking for 93 hours and 11 minutes, still the world’s longest cooking marathon.

Now, 40-year-old Mombasa-based Kenyan chef Maliha Mohammed, who made history in 2019 by cooking for over 75 hours straight, is aiming to snatch the prized crown from Baci and do what no human being has done before; cook for 100 hours.

Mohammed began her mission in 2018 when she was just a cook who also worked as a caterer.

"I learn part of my cooking from YouTube, I take it as my school, and on that particular day, during my lunch break at work, I saw a certain chef from California in the United States cooking for 65 hours. It inspired me. I had never seen such a challenge in Kenya and so I went for it.

"We have marathon runners who break records, but there are not many Kenyans in the Guinness World Records and I wanted to change that because we can do it too," Mohammed told the Nation on Friday, June 16.

The mother-of-two revealed that she immediately created a website, updated her social media accounts and signed up for a 75-hour cooking marathon challenge in 2019, where she cooked 400 recipes.

How Maliha Mohammed Began Cooking Journey

Mohammed, who attended Alibhai Panju Jaffery Primary School from 1990 to 1994 before moving to Nairobi to complete her primary education, admitted she never pursued a career as a cook.

"When people ask me why I am doing this, I say for me and my two daughters and everyone who has had a setback in life, this is our comeback year.

"For all the tears, humiliations, struggles, sleepless nights, prayers and small victories, I am destined for greatness and I will fight for my dreams because they have no expiration date," she added.

Mohammed began her cooking marathon on June 16, inviting her fans to follow the proceedings live on TikTok. She aims to cook non-stop for 55 hours and make 100 recipes which include Swahili cuisines such as biriyani wa kuku, biriyani wa nyama, bhajia and chicken masala among others.

"This time I will also be trying international cuisines such as the Nigerian staple jollof rice. The food will then be donated to various local orphanages, rehabilitation centres and street families under Empowering Africa Woman, an organisation that is spearheading the donations," she added.

"We just started 2hrs 30min ago trial training cooking. Follow the whole journey on my TikTok account chefmalihamohammed," her Instagram post shared at 1 pm read.

Chef Maliha Mohammed preparing food on August 15, 2019. /TWITTER.LEO TUNAPIKA

In May, Mohammed cooked for 45 hours in what she described as her first training session, working on 54 recipes. Her June 16 feat is seen as a preparation for the main challenge in August and November this year.

Mohammed started cooking at the Kenya Bay Beach Resort in Mombasa on Friday, August 15, 2019, at 10 am, finally finishing her 75-hour 'cook-a-thon' three days later at 1 pm.

Throughout the three days, she cooked 400 dishes including traditional Swahili foods like coconut beans, fried fish, mandazis, mukimo (mashed potatoes and green vegetables) and githeri (corn and beans) - as well as international cuisines like Indian biryani and chapati, Portuguese chicken peri peri and more than 10 different types of pizza.

How Chef Maliha Will Break Hilda Baci's Record

At first, the chef - a mother of two - conducted her first trial at the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM) by cooking 100 recipes for 36 hours non-stop. In July 2019, she began the second trial of 200 recipes for 54 hours before going for the final marathon on August 12, which was supervised by officials from the Guinness World Records.

Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, May 17, Chef Mohammed revealed that she had submitted an application in December 2022 to attempt to break the record in 2023.

In an email notification, she was informed that the challenge would take place in August. The determined chef is attempting to break two records: the Longest Cooking by an Individual Marathon and the Home Kitchen Cooking Marathon, both scheduled for August 11 and November 11.

CS Moses Kuria Hands Ex-Running Mate Faith Mwaura Govt Job

admin — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 14:15:55 +0300

Trade Cabinet Secretary (CS) Moses Kuria on Friday, June 16 appointed his former running mate Faith Mwaura to be a member of the Kenya Development Corporation.

According to a Gazette Notice obtained by Viral Tea, Mwaura will serve as a member of the corporation for a period of three years, effective immediately.

The former Kiambu gubernatorial running mate candidate replaces Mboche Waithaka whose appointment has been revoked.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 6 (1) (e) of the State Corporations Act, as read together with section 51 of the Interpretations and General Provisions Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry appoints Faith Mwaura to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Kenya Development Corporation, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 16th June 2023. The appointment of Mboche Waithaka is revoked,” the notice read.

Trade Cabinet Secretary, Moses Kuria, with his former running mate, Faith Mwaura. /MINISTRY OF INVESTMENTS, TRADE & INDUSTRIALIZATION

In other appointments, CS Kuria appointed Grace Otieno and Judith Kerich as members of the Board of Directors of the Kenya Accreditation Service, for a period of three (3) years.

Mwaura rose to prominence when Kuria picked her as his running mate ahead of the August 9, 2022, general elections, whereby the CS was among the first to announce that he conceded defeat in the Kiambu gubernatorial race even before the official results were announced by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

He was vying against Kimani Wamatangi (UDA), James Nyoro (incumbent & Jubilee), William Kabogo (Tujibebe), and independent candidate Patrick Wainaina, popularly known as 'jungle'.

Wamatangi emerged victorious with 348,371 votes ahead of Wainaina who amassed 237,361 votes. Former Kiambu Governor Kabogo managed to get 106,980 votes while the outgoing governor James Nyoro garnered 99,562 votes.

Kuria who had already conceded defeat managed to get 25,512 and the only lady, Mwende Gatabaki managed to get 4,674 votes.

Faith Mwaura Profile

Faith Mwaura holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and Masters of Science in Real Estate from Scotland. The CS had tapped on the expertise of the real estate guru to strengthen the real estate sector which he termed as key to his leadership.

According to her LinkedIn profile, she is a passionate Entrepreneur in Real Estate with a keen interest in developing Value Added, Superior, Affordable Housing.

"I am deliberate about adding value, nurturing the environment through tree planting www.mitimillioni.com, mentorship and creating meaningful relationships. I endeavour to leave a positive trail everywhere I go.

"I have strong skills in leadership, marketing and business development, business strategy and customer experience," describes her bio.

She graduated from Heriot-Watt University Scotland with an MSc. Real Estate Management and Development in 2020 and is also a Bachelor of Commerce degree holder with a major in Marketing and Business Management from Daystar University which she got in 2007.

Mwaura is the founder of the Mentorship Institute, a Social Impact Enterprise that seeks to Mentor and Coach youth in their endeavours to become Entrepreneurs and build successful businesses.

The company works with 16-30-year-olds and helps them achieve their life dreams by walking with them and encouraging them to open their eyes to a world of opportunities and to be the best they can be one day at a time.

Faith Mwaura at her office on June 6, 2023. /FACEBOOK.FAITH MWAURA

She is also a Managing Director at Immensity Holdings Limited, a position she was appointed to in 2010 after her five-year stint as a Broker Owner at real estate agency RE/MAX Heritage Kenya.

She worked at Golden Grills Limited as a business development manager for three years. The firm does personalized Outdoor Catering for mid and high-end private and corporate parties using live cooking on location, event handling and a Live event called Golden Grills Under The Sky.

In 2005, she began her career as a Marketing Executive at International House Limited where she managed the first Business Center in Nairobi and ensured the smooth flow of operations as well as marketing office space and Conference facilities

Danstan Omari: How Fighting For Ruto In Court Transformed His Career

Marvin Chege — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 13:24:45 +0300

Nairobi lawyer Danstan Omari has in recent months amassed nearly the same level of popularity as any bigwig Kenyan politician or celebrity owing to his chain of representation in high-profile cases.

Omari has become a popular figure by himself in the Kenyan legal atmosphere, taking up complex cases involving some prominent personalities that usually, many other lawyers would be too hesitant to take up, and has had a considerable success rate in terms of securing freedom and justice for his clients.

High-profile cases usually concern a person who holds an influential position in society, whether political, commercial, religious or otherwise. These are cases Kenyans pay attention to the most because of information about them compared to other court subjects, be it good or bad.

It is however worth it to note that Omari is not new in terms of representing big names such as former Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Fred Matiang'i, the late Tob Cohen and his family or the family of the late rally driver Asad Khan in the case against rally driver Maxine Wahome among others.

Lawyer Danstan Omari outside Milimani Law Courts during a past media address. /NAIROBI NEWS

Omari Meets Ruto

Speaking to KTN News' Stephanie Wangari on Sunday, June 12, Omari revealed that he was contracted by President William Ruto as an advocate to represent him in a case at the children's court, which shot up his profile in Kenya's law atmosphere.

"His Excellency the Fifth President of the Republic of Kenya Dr William Ruto was my client, that is I reached the apex at the children's court by representing him in the Abby case. I was his advocate.

"Later I represented the former Chief Justice David Maraga in the children's court. The number of cabinet ministers, the number of top executives that I represented are numerous," he disclosed.

Owing to the demands for his services by high-profile clients, Omari had to change his lifestyle to ensure that he was available for blue-chip clients whenever they needed him. The changes, he noted, were well embraced by his wife who had stood by his side for the past 34 years.

Omari would then go on to become a favourite in high-profile cases and featured from time to time in messy brawls pitting big names against each other in the legal profession including outgoing Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji and former Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti.

His popularity is so big that he has often been ridiculed for strapping his boots, suit and tie on and a suitcase in hand ready for action at the request of people who need him.

“High-profile clients don’t get problems during the day. I always laugh at the memes that Omari is sleeping with the briefcase...practice has changed,” he explained.

Danstan Omari Profile & Being Ferdinand Waititu's Classmate

The 59-year-old was born to Elkana Mogaka and Milka Kemunto in Nyabite, Nyamira county, in a family of 12 children and coincidentally, shared the same class in high school with former Kiambu Governor, Ferdinand Waititu, even though he wasn't the brightest mind around.

“For my Secondary, I went to Ruiru Secondary School, I was with former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu. I was active in extracurricular activities and I diverted a lot of my energies to other matters.

"Hence, I scored a division three. I would go back to school, form three, at Kiabonyoru High School where I met former CS Fred Matiang'i. I did my Form Four, and I scored a division two,” he said.

He thereafter revealed his discovery that very bright students do not succeed in life and that middle-level students are marathon runners and they are able to beat the odds and reach the top.

After secondary school, Omari went to Kenyatta University where he obtained a Bachelor of Education degree. He went on to become a secondary school teacher, teaching English and Kiswahili, but had a change of fortunes after 15 years in the profession, enhancing the common English phrase that life begins at 40.

“I decided to study law at 41. Every day I could leave Nairobi, drive to Kerugoya where I was a Children’s officer then come back for my evening classes in Nairobi. It was hectic.

"I was admitted as an advocate on the 4th of November 2011. And then I graduated with a masters 28 days apart,” he added.

At the Children's Office, he was well known by his colleagues as the advocate who knew his stuff with regard to the law and especially on children's matters, and he would be introduced to clients who needed representation.

Since representing Ruto in the case, Omari grew from strength to strength and at 59, he feels that he is still young and can pursue a career in any field that he chooses, pointing out to the Shakahola massacre by stating “I might decide to do pathology, Shakahola has taught me that we don’t have enough pathologists in the country.”

Outside his career, Omari is a husband and father of two and has been married for 34 years.

“My wife decided to marry a person who metamorphosises like a butterfly, she has learnt to cope, I’m a fool to her, she’s a fool to me. In the wing I run for divorce, we were divorcing 25 people a week during Covid because they were not able to provide food for their families. My family knows this is how I provide.

“The keyboard warriors called Facebook and Twitter do not pay school fees for my children. They do not bring food to the table, people are busy making noise, and the oath we took is to defend anyone who has issues with the law. The public is emotional,” he affirmed.

Omari is now a headline over his decision to represent televangelist Pastor Ezekiel Odero, a preacher who was accused of, among others, terrorism, kidnapping and indoctrination of his faithful.

Nairobi lawyers, Danstan Omari (left) and Cliff Ombeta address the media, on Saturday, April 29, after they were hired to represent Pastor Ezekiel Odero in court. /TWITTER

How Ex-Governor Ended Up Buying Ksh9.9M Range Rover Stolen In UK

Marvin Chege — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 00:33:09 +0300

A report by Citizen TV on Sunday, June 11 revealed that the luxury SUV had left the United Kingdom (UK) for Dubai while the governor already made payments for the car on that date.

The Range Rover arrived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on May 15, 2023, and was issued a certificate for shipping by a motor dealer to the port of Mombasa, Kenya.

A Range Rover vehicle at the port of Mombasa. /CITIZEN DIGITAL

However, the car was seized at the port of Mombasa after it emerged that it was stolen in London.

According to the KEBS letter to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), their inquiries from the Metropolitan Police in the UK revealed that the Range Rover shipped to Kenya is registered in the UK and is paying taxes to the government.

The vehicle that was imported by the former governor who fell victim to the con dragnet by the individuals in Dubai is now a subject of police and Interpol investigations, with KEBS seeking to have it shipped back to the point of origin.

In similar circumstances, through a different syndicate, a Lexus vehicle from the United Kingdom was found to have been stolen in Tilbury, a port town in England.

Another Range Rover Sport was also flagged for bearing duplicate chassis numbers with other cars in the United Kingdom.

The car export operatives are said to have found a new route to ship their consignment into Kenya without undergoing quality inspection, a matter which has KEBS calling for the tightening of inspection procedures at the port of entry for all motor vehicles.

Being Careful Before Buying A Stolen Car

While car ownership is one of the most coveted statuses in society, it can become one of your major sources of stress in case it is not executed with caution and care, especially when you are buying a secondhand car.

It is estimated that imported second-hand vehicles account for 85 per cent of car purchases in Kenya, meaning that most Kenyan car owners buy used cars, however, used cars, whether imported or locally bought, do not give a guarantee that they will give the best service to the owner.

Before importing or buying an imported used car, you need to cross-check carefully lest you end up with a stolen car. In 2011, the Kenya Criminal Investigation Office urged Kenyans wishing to import vehicles to consult the Regional Interpol Office in Nairobi to make sure they are not buying cars stolen from another country.

This was after information was revealed that Kenya and other countries in the region were increasingly becoming the market for four-wheel vehicles stolen by an international criminal ring from as far as the United Kingdom.

Car buyers should thus use experienced car dealers to ascertain genuine cars lest they end up losing money. A detective who spoke to Business Daily in a past interview noted that the Interpol office has an inventory of all vehicles stolen across the world and at a click of a button, they are able to tell whether a car was stolen or not.

Newly imported second-hand cars parked at a yard in Mombasa. /NAIROBI NEWS

This service is free so the would-be buyers should have no reason to buy stolen cars.

Charles Munyori, Secretary-General of Kenya Auto Bazaar Association, noted that one should have the engine and chassis numbers of the vehicle one wants to buy checked to establish if it has been reported stolen in other countries.

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) also keeps records of all registered cars and one can check if the car had changed ownership legitimately.

10 Popular Performance Divisions Found In Car Makers

admin — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 16:35:07 +0300

Performance cars are growing in popularity among Kenyan car enthusiasts with a craving for one thing other than looks: speed.

Compared to ordinary vehicles, performance vehicles carry that extra punch such that even the slightest pressure applied to the accelerator turns your vehicle into a rocket bunny speeding down Thika Road before speed guns even have a chance of catching you.

You can buy a car and take it to any number of world-class tuning houses, or you can buy a car that has already been tweaked and tuned by one of the automaker's in-house tuning divisions, giving you an extra edge over your competitors, for example, at a race at the Nyahururu Airstrip.

However, not every automaker has a specific division dedicated to building crazy fast cars, even if it makes high-performance versions of some of its models. You may have, at some point, seen letters such as M, AMG, and TRD among others on performance cars known to turn heads along Kenyan roads.

A Toyota Yaris GR in a showroom in Kenya. /FACEBOOK.CARS WITH BIG BOY TREV

Viral Tea takes a look at performance divisions found among popular sports cars:

STI

Subaru Tecnica International is owned by Subaru’s parent company Fuji Heavy Industries' motorsports division. It was founded in 1988 to promote the company's performance-oriented identity.

Along with British performance outfit Prodrive, which owned the now defunct Ford Performance Vehicles in Australia, it specialises in preparing Subaru cars for the World Rally Championships and producing tuning kits for Subaru road cars including the WRX, Forester and BRZ.

STI was purposed to take over all of Subaru's motorsport activities and participate in the World Rally Championship (WRC). The late Colin McRae won the Safari Rally in 1997 aboard the two-door Subaru Impreza, which is believed to have popularised the Subaru brand across Kenya.

AMG

Taking its names from the initials of its founders, Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher, and their home town of Grossaspach, AMG has added extra performance to Mercedes-Benz vehicles since the 1960s when it modified engines for touring car racing.

Today, AMG is perhaps the most respected high-performance division of any manufacturer, with its products adding extra power, better handling and refinement to cars already renowned for all-around excellence.

BMW M

The “M” stands for “motorsport” – was set up to develop and run the carmaker’s racing program that dominated European touring car championships in the 1960s and ’70s. It was born in May 1972 with just 35 employees as BMW Motorsport.

The first official project was the BMW 3.0 CSL race car and its street-legal homologation special version, but before then special racing models could be found all over the world.

It was incredibly popular, but the first M-badged car was the spectacular but ill-fated M1 supercar revealed in 1978.

The 1979 M535i followed as a high-performance 5 Series, but the legendary 1985 M5 cemented the M badge as a popular pick for car lovers. That was followed by the 1986 M3, which cemented BMW as a performance icon.

The E46 generation followed, and the model M3 became the benchmark of which all compact sports sedans are still judged. BMW now has a full stable of ultra-aggressive M cars and SUVs, not to be confused with the diluted M Sport models.

Toyota Racing Development (TRD)

TRD traces its roots to 1979 when it started off as an aftermarket parts distributor and 'speed shop'.

Other than tuning Toyota and Lexus cars, TRD also backs Toyota's racing interests. It also produces tuning products and accessories, including performance suspension components, superchargers, and wheels, that are offered as accessories on new Toyotas.

These parts can also be bought from Toyota dealers. However, parts for Lexus cars are now labelled as F-Sport while its performance models are labelled F in order to help discern Lexus's F division from TRD.

Currently, two official branches operate under the TRD brand, namely TRD Japan and TRD USA, and each has a tuning division and a race division.

Toyota GR

While Toyota’s history of performance brands is rich (including TRD), a new ‘face’ of performance reigns supreme at the Japanese motoring firm today.

Initially, GR – which stands for Gazoo Racing – took part in the Nürburgring24 Hours in Germany, where Toyota and luxury spin-off Lexus would compete in a bid to develop performance models. Now, it is not only the team name for Toyota’s Le Mans and Rally efforts but also the badge given to numerous performance models, including the reborn Supra.

GR is a known competitor in the World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally, scooping all top 4 positions in the 2022 edition.

It is worth it to note that Chief Justice (CJ) Martha Koome's new Ksh23 million Toyota LandCruiser is part of the GR family.

A photo collage of the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GR Sports car used by Chief Justice Martha Koome on June 1, 2023. /STANDARD DIGITAL

Nismo

Nissan's tuning arm was formed in 1984 but became a legend throughout the world following its second branded model, the 1990 Skyline GT-R Nismo.

The first cars were based around Nissan's racecar-building prowess but follow-ups like the R33 Skyline 400R and S14 Silvia 270R showed off its street-tuning abilities.

Nismo supplies both tuning kits and ready-built Nismo badged cars across the board with cars among them the Sentra and Juke receiving Nismo specifications. However, Nissan's most-prized car in the modern Nismo line of streetcars is the GT-R Nismo.

It takes the already supercar-level coupe and turns it into the most hardcore production car Nissan has built. The hand-built 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 engine can propel it up to 100 km/hr in just 2.5 seconds, with its crown jewel being the chassis upgrades.

Hyundai N

Hyundai doesn't have the greatest of motorsport or performance pedigrees to its name, but it is now well on the way thanks to the foundation of the N high-performance brand.

Picking and choosing expertise from all over the world, the division’s work so far has been lauded, particularly the astounding i30N hot hatch. The road-going activities are being backed up by successful campaigns in the WRC, touring car racing and the Nürburgring24 Hours; the latter of which is held at the circuit the division calls home.

Much like BMW’s M division, the N brand is also seen on less performance-oriented cars with go-faster styling, dubbed N-Line.

SVO

Launched in 2014, Special Vehicle Operations is the performance arm of Jaguar Land Rover producing limited-edition, high-performance versions of Jaguar, Land Rover and Range Rover models.

It also provides an engineered-to-order service for wealthy customers wanting their own bespoke versions of British luxury cars.

SVO has created high-performance Jaguar F-Type SVR and Range Rover Sport SVR variants, as well as the limited-edition F-Type Project 7 and Range Rover SV Autobiography.

Audi RS

It’s a trend with all the German carmakers that they have a performance-oriented vehicle associated with their rather sophisticated vehicles, even though conventional models can produce exceptional performance. That said, R.S. or RennSport (German) translates to Racing Sport.

Just having an R.S. badge on your Audi car can do wonders. For instance, the smallest RS1 has a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine that pushes 228hp.

The RennSport range concludes at RS7 with a 4.0-litre turbo petrol V8 that produces 591hp.

Volkswagen R

The 'R' brand is used by German manufacturer Volkswagen to indicate a sport or high-performance model. An "R" badge is placed on the grille, front fenders and trunk of R-model vehicles to indicate the vehicle's trim level.

The R-marque is used on certain performance models alongside "GT" model designations, such as the GTI, GLI, GTE and GTD. These vehicles are also sold as "sports models" but are less performance-oriented when compared to vehicles such as the Golf R.

Common models include the Golf R32 (Mk4 & Mk5), Scirocco R (Mk3), Golf R (Mk7), Touareg R50 (7L) and the Tiguan R.

Volkswagen began offering the R-Line trim level in 2010, being first introduced on the Volkswagen Passat B6. R-Line vehicles consist of sports upgrades that are mostly cosmetic, such as different bumpers and wheels.

A Volkswagen Golf R. /MUSYOKI MUSYOKA

Profile Of Otiende Amollo's Daughter Admitted To High Court [PHOTOS]

Marvin Chege — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 16:26:33 +0300

Rarieda Member of Parliament (MP) Otiende Amollo took to social media on Tuesday, June 6 to celebrate his daughter Miriam Hope Onono Amollo who was admitted to the bar as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.

Miriam was among over 800 advocates admitted to the bar in an elaborate ceremony that took place at the Supreme Court of Kenya building in Nairobi.

The red-carpet ceremony was evidenced by newly-admitted advocates who populated social media, especially Twitter, with their sharply-dressed suits and their ceremonial wigs, one of the most notable symbols of a court in Kenya.

MP and SC Otiende Amollo and his daughter Miriam Amollo during her admission as an advocate of The High Court on June 6, 2023. /TWITTER.OTIENDE AMOLLO

“Congratulations Miriam H. O. Amollo On Your Admission As An Advocate Of The High Court Of Kenya! Nice & Solemn Ceremony, In Which I Also Represented the Senior Counsel Bar! We Thus Get The Third Advocate In The Family. To God Be the Glory,” tweeted an elated Amollo.

"And Congratulations Still Flow To Nyoyude, From the Entire Family, Kwaru & Dani, From JoRarieda & Beyond. May You Stay on The Narrow & Righteous Path Of Advocates Of The Old Tradition."

Viral Tea takes a look at the profile of Miriam Amollo as evidenced by her LinkedIn account.

Miriam Amollo Professional Profile

Miriam graduated from the University of Nairobi with a Bachelor of Law (LLB) in 2020, having commenced her studies in 2016.

She began in July 2019 as an intern at Rachier and Amollo Advocates, which his father and Ambrose Rachier, the chairman of Gor Mahia Football Club, jointly own.

The law firm was founded in the tail-end of the 1990s as a dynamic and result-oriented law firm, providing a full range of legal services to commercial and private clients. Set up by Rachier, its goal included establishing a vibrant law firm with unequivocal underpinnings on principles of honesty and non-exploitation of both staff and clientele.

"The firm aspires to become a pillar of efficient and un-paralleled legal practice and expertise, large enough to handle the multinational conglomerates, yet modest and caring enough to grant audience to the financially challenged, yet aggrieved members of society, whose rights have been abrogated unlawfully," reads a description of the firm.

Miriam then joined The Commission on Administrative Justice Office of the Ombudsman, Government of Kenya as a legal extern in November 2019 and worked as a legal intern at Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV/AIDS between November 2020 and April 2021.

She joined the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNHCR) as a pupil in June 2022 and she has been there to date.

"I am an ardent believer in human and humanitarian rights protection and promotion, and passionate about assisting the marginalized in society. This has been a great driving force in my past and continuous professional and charitable works," Miriam describes in her bio.

She is the second-born child of Amollo, following Rodney Abel Sewe who is also an advocate.

SC Otiende Amollo poses for a photo with his family on June 6, 2023. /TWITTER.OTIENDE AMOLLO

Otiende Amollo’s third born Paul Amollo is named after him and completed high school in 2022. The fourth borns are triplets namely; Gift Amollo, Grace Amollo, and John Jayden Amollo.

How To Get Admitted To The Bar

The rigorous training is hinged on the importance of the services these professionals offer and the delicate nature of the issues they need to handle.

The journey to the status of a lawyer and an Advocate of the High Court in Kenya begins in high school after one completes primary education and transitions to this level.

The exclusivity of law is that it cannot be studied on a crash programme basis and students mandatorily study for four years.

Advocates have previously described the journey as a painstaking one which comes at the sacrifice of one's social life and devoting more time to study for the tough KSL exams.

Some of them described the journey to being an advocate as one filled with days and nights of reading as well as interacting with mentors and learning how they made it through the dreaded examinations.

Lawyers during a past admission to the bar. /THE KENYA JUDICIARY

Kenyan's Rise From Maasai Activist To Making History In UK

admin — Sun, 04 Jun 2023 19:15:50 +0300

A valuable piece of advice that we like to use quite often; Keep doing what you do best and do it well every day because someone, somewhere, is watching.

Kenyans have continued to put the country onto the global scene through ascension to top positions, with some of the world's most influential countries having elected leaders with Kenyan roots into office, a number that is increasing with every passing period.

Kenyans including Narok County Senator Ledama Olekina on Saturday, May 20 took to social media to celebrate Lilian Seenoi Barr, a Kenyan who became the first-ever black person to be elected into public service in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom (UK).

Seenoi, who was active in politics in the UK for two years, was appointed a councillor in Northern Ireland. An Irish publication, RTE, revealed that Barr won the May 20 elections with 15.5 per cent of the total votes cast, to represent Derry and Strabane City Council.

Northern Ireland Councillor Lilian Seenoi (Centre) and colleagues on Saturday, May 20, 2023. /LILIAN SEENOI

Vying under the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), Councillor Barr expressed her heartfelt gratitude upon being elected by the people.

“I'm beyond delighted to have gained nearly 1,000 first preferences and to now have an electoral mandate in my own right.

"When I joined Derry City and Strabane District Council just under two years ago, I had been chosen by the SDLP members. At the time, I made a commitment that I would work tirelessly to earn people's trust and deliver for the local area,” said Barr at the time.

Back in 2019, Barr lost the elections. However, the SDLP co-opted her onto the council in 2021 before selecting her to vie for the seat.

She began as a human rights activist in Kenya before moving to the UK more than 10 years ago and as the Director of Programmes at the North West Migrants Forum, she campaigned tirelessly, knocking on countless doors across the Foyleside District Electoral Area.

Her efforts were repaid with 960 first preference votes – one of the highest counts of all candidates in the hotly contested DEA.

“Congratulations to my baby sister, the first ever black person to be elected as a councillor in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. May the Good Lord open many doors for you,” Senator Olekina stated on Saturday, May 20.

Barr’s election as a member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party came after she arrived in Northern Ireland as an asylum seeker in 2010. She is a prominent Black Lives Matter campaigner and a refugee activist from the Maasai community.

“This victory is not just mine but a testament to the power of diversity and representation in our community. I hope that my election serves as an inspiration for individuals from all backgrounds to step forward and serve their communities. I firmly believe that anyone, regardless of their background, can make a difference and serve their community," she went on.

Barr had further noted that her aim was to make a lasting difference in the lives of local people, expressing her commitment to fulfilling the promises she made during the campaign and addressing the needs and concerns of her constituents.

"I love this city and over the past 13 years, I have made Derry my home. It’s emotional to know that this city in turn has truly adopted me and its people have trusted me to represent them. Today I truly am a Derry girl," she celebrated.

After her arrival in Northern Ireland, she saw the hurdles that immigrants and minority groups met and began to vigorously participate in social work, helping them to find their footing in the new environment.

In 2012, she joined the North West Migrants Forum, an organisation that fights racial inequality and prejudice.

Barr’s passion for helping the less fortunate stemmed from her roots in Kenya. As a young girl growing up in Oloombokishi in Narok County, she became acutely aware of the social challenges encountered by the Maasai girl, including cultural practices requiring girls to undergo female genital mutilation (FGM), early marriage (often to older, polygamous older men), teenage pregnancies and loss of opportunities for education.

These grave matters troubled her young mind as she attended St Peter’s Primary School and later Ole Tipis Girls’ Secondary School.

She became an anti-FGM advocate, encouraging girls to pursue their education, which she promised would open doors to a brighter future as opposed to being forced into early marriage.

Seenoi's election in Derry City puts her in the esteemed company of leaders with Kenyan roots who have made a mark across the world and they include Former President Barack Obama in the US, Senator Lucy Gichuhi in Australia, First Minister Humza Yousaf in Scotland and Rishi Sunak at Number 10 Downing Street.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak looking at his phone. /FILE

Sunak was born on May 12, 1980, to African-born Hindu parents of Punjabi-Indian descent. His father, Yashvir Sunak was born and raised in Kenya during the colonial era while his mother was born in Tanzania.

At the age of 42, he became the first Hindu, the first person of colour to be Britain's Prime Minister in October 2022 and the youngest person to take office in more than 200 years.

Hustler Fund, Finance Bill: Ruto's Maiden Madaraka Day Speech [FULL]

admin — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 14:38:57 +0300

Here is President William Ruto's first-ever Madaraka Day speech on Thursday, June 1 since being sworn in as Head of State:

1. On this day, 60 years ago, Kenya formally gained its right to internal self-government. Madaraka, the mandate of majority African self-determination, was a major step towards the emergence of this nation as a Republic later that year. That first Madaraka Day, then, was the golden dawn of our country’s sovereignty: Freedom from colonial oppression, autonomy from racist repression and liberty from foreign suppression.

2. In fighting for our sovereignty, our noble freedom fighters had primarily waged a political struggle to liberate a people violated, humiliated and impoverished under a predatory system whose institutions were vicious and extractive. So, although the freedom struggle was political and the first Madaraka Day represented political autonomy, every Kenyan African understood it to be the beginning of the hard and noble work of securing and enhancing social and economic freedom as well.

3. For six decades now, the people of Kenya have worked hard, with admirable diligence and unwavering determination, to perfect the political freedom of their nation through sustained socioeconomic progress. In this manner, Kenyans have reiterated their commitment to true freedom by complementing political freedom with freedom from want, freedom from suffering, freedom from ignorance and freedom from indignity.

4. Our forefathers’ heroic struggle to vindicate our God-given right of self-determination entailed tremendous sacrifice and immense determination against a colossal adversary. Ultimately, they triumphed. Similarly, our war against underdevelopment, poverty, indignity and vulnerability has been daunting. Yet we have made steady progress year after year, over 60 years of freedom.

5. At the heart of our struggle for freedom, both before and after independence, is the distinctively Kenyan spirit of determination that is nevertheless flexible, consistency which is innovative, the pragmatism that is also hopeful and faith strong enough to take chances. The sacrifices required were inspired by a spirit that is truly unique, which transcends ordinary decision-making.

President William Ruto inspects a Guard of Honour during Madaraka Day Celebration in Embu on Thursday, June 1, 2023. /PCS

6. We recognise that spirit even now. It lives in the heart of every Kenyan who wakes up every morning to give their best, try their luck, knock on doors and chase their dream. We see it every day when we meet traders, artisans, farmers and other workers braving the scorching sun and enduring cold rain in pursuit of a livelihood. We also witness it in the teachers, nurses, police officers, extension officers and technicians who go far from their comfort zone, often beyond the call of duty, to attend to Kenyans in their communities throughout the country.

7. This noble ethic, of willingness to struggle by working hard and embracing risk, and of determination to achieve positive change in great leaps as well as little instalments, has brought us far and will take us beyond the horizon of our destiny.

8. Today, I join all Kenyans to celebrate our magnificent collective achievements, and the spirit of brave endeavour which inspired them 60 years ago and sustains us today. This celebration speaks to the sustained effort we have invested in perfecting our national mandate of self-government. I will highlight the wonderful ways in which we have stewarded political freedom into democratic maturity, enhanced economic freedom by empowering enterprise and expanded social freedom by securing dignity.

A Maturing Democracy

9. We must never forget that until fairly recently, our country’s politics was a divisive, violent, do-or-die affair by which neighbours, colleagues and even relatives were incited into hatred in the name of political competition. In this dark era, the tribe was the fundamental term of all political engagement and the master variable of the democratic contest. Many highly respected experts and eminent persons confidently affirmed that Kenyan politics is inherently tribal, and many leaders designed their political parties, policies and campaigns on the basis of raw tribal appeals.

10. Leaders also made sure that political discourse revolved around personalities and the private interests of a few privileged individuals, and not the aspirations of the majority. Some used political parties as personal vehicles to access the high table where important decisions were made and exploited their ethnic constituencies to negotiate a bigger share of public resources as well as positions of power and privilege in the service of private ends.

11. For decades, Kenyans understood that this perverse political culture not only defiled our democracy but also obstructed the spirit of daring and achievement, arresting our collective progress. The people of Kenya, therefore, yearned for freedom from the tyranny of political personality cults, toxic tribal discourse and the violence they engendered. They desired a more unifying, cosmopolitan framework of engagement which promoted the expression of their shared aspirations, and encouraged inclusive negotiation and a collective means of pursuing them.

12. In the last General Election, the people of Kenya finally broke free: The campaign was conducted purely on the basis of important national issues, foremost of which were economic issues. Not only did Kenyans reject the old divisive politics of tribe and tribal chiefs, but they also demanded and interrogated well-considered party manifestos with detailed plans for economic transformation. As a result, although the election was closely contested, it was the most peaceful in the multi-party era.

13. Our public discourse and political discussion and the agenda of social debate has changed for good. Substantive policy issues continue to define the national conversation well beyond the election. At the moment, there is a robust debate on the Finance Bill taking place everywhere in this country: Church, social places, formal and informal workplaces, all media platforms and busy markets, as well as in urban and rural gatherings.

14. We are truly a trailblazing nation. Many countries struggle in vain to generate a national debate on public financing, taxation or other policy issues. In Kenya, we have easily sustained intense discourse on the Finance Bill and the Affordable Housing Policy for several weeks now. The debate has remained issue-oriented, and there is no hint of divisive ethnic rhetoric at all. The cost of living is keeping all leaders, including myself, awake, and this is precisely as it should be.

15. Superficially, the intense national debate on housing is not about whether it is a tax or a contribution. The attention sharply focused on the housing contributions is an implicit expression of ownership. People desire better information and stronger assurances regarding the custody, security, investment and return on their money.

16. More encouragingly, the discourse on public finances and the Housing Fund has opened our eyes to our emergence as a Stakeholder Republic. Kenyans today, more than ever, are fully involved citizens in shaping public policies and making institutions accountable in the manner in which they run national affairs. This is the vision of Madaraka expressed in the first article of our Constitution: All sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya.

Houses in the Kings Serenity affordable houses project in Kajiado County commissioned by President William Ruto on October 18, 2022. /STATE HOUSE KENYA

17. We have crossed a fundamentally decisive threshold in the history of our political freedom and democratic maturity. Today, Kenyans of this generation honour patriots who went before us in this celebration of a noble and historic achievement, our priceless legacy to future generations.

18. Kenya also set a new high in election management by deploying a secure, freely accessible public portal which accurately and faithfully relayed vote tallies in the last election, enabling Kenyans and indeed anyone else to compare and verify tallies and ascertain results. This enabled the IEBC to credibly declare and certify the winners of elections, and to establish before court, in response to petitions by dissatisfied candidates, that the elections met the constitutional threshold as simple, accurate, verifiable, secure, accountable and transparent. In fact, the openness and credibility of the 2022 election are affirmed by the fewer petitions filed; 124 petitions compared to 303 in 2017.

19. The economy was the most important issue on which the last election was canvassed. The people of Kenya, in their multitudes, made their voices heard, their ideas clear and their desires known. From Busia to Banissa, Lokichoggio to Lamu, Magadi to Moyale, Mandera to Migori, and everywhere in between, the people said they wanted to transform our economic system, democratise opportunity, enhance inclusion and reduce exploitation.

Enterprise: MSMEs, Cooperatives and the Hustler Fund

20. Instead of the traditional campaigning of confrontation, incitement and division, the last campaign became a sustained national debate on the most pertinent economic issues: the millions of our unemployed youth, access to affordable credit, inclusive financing, promoting the robust expression of the legendary Kenyan ‘hustling’ spirit through MSMEs and the facilitation of individual enterprise by enhancing market power through collective interventions like the chama and sacco. This is how Kenyan entrepreneurs desired to secure access to credit, savings, markets, social security and health insurance.

21. By paying attention to their aspirations, we established that Kenyan entrepreneurs desire to pursue success through enterprise, which takes positive measures to ensure that no one is left behind or exploited. It is an enterprise culture which encourages the pursuit of individual aspirations through collective systems, which empower every person to succeed within the context of a thriving community.

22. In the course of consultations with Kenyans at the grassroots throughout the country, we identified a number of barriers to the effective realisation of their economic agenda. The first was the bureaucracy in regulation and compliance, including tax administration.

23. Second, the extreme informality of most enterprises, which effectively relegated them to the margins of empowerment, facilitation or even recognition as lawful undertakings. Third, was the misconception around “expanding the national tax base”: Is it about people paying more or more people paying? The answer lies in empowering more Kenyans to enter the taxable income category through intentional efforts to create millions of new jobs.

24. Fourth, a huge number of Kenyans, about 10 million, had either been blacklisted by the Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) over their inability to pay loans advanced by financial technology platforms or were struggling to pay. Other lenders required hefty securities and valuable assets as collateral, yet these struggling entrepreneurs required financing to acquire such assets in the first place. It was clear, therefore, that the prevailing financing and credit facilities were not supportive to the profitable existence of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

25. Self-employment accounts for 51.31 per cent of all jobs in our economy. 83 per cent or 15.3 million jobs are in the informal sector, and only 3.1 million jobs are in the formal sector, representing 17 per cent. Considering this employment landscape, it was imperative that we attend to the interests of this underserved majority of workers urgently, resolutely and effectively.

26. This engagement with the business community inspired the creation of the Financial Inclusion Fund or the Hustler Fund. To eliminate the financial cost, delay and bureaucracy entailed in complying, the facility employs the latest fintech, powered by Kenyan telecommunications corporations. The Hustler Fund also re-engineered the idea of collateral by deploying the borrower’s credit score as effective security.

27. Without a doubt, the Hustler Fund has been more than transformational; it is revolutionary.

28. On its way to becoming effectively the biggest financial institution by the number of borrowers and active loans, the Hustler Fund also turned around the country’s fintech, transforming it from a predatory ecosystem to a more responsible one. As a result, Kenya’s digital economy has received a tremendous shot in the arm as demonstrated by reports that Safaricom alone has enrolled at least 2 million new subscribers into its financial ecosystem courtesy of the Fund.

29. Today, as we celebrate progress in achieving economic freedom, we also celebrate our digital economy, powered by our famous fintech community. Kenya’s legendary spirit of enterprise has entered the digital space.

30. Kenyans responded to this promise of economic freedom in unequivocal terms. The total number of digital transactions now stands at 42.5 million through which 20.2 million Kenyans have accessed nearly KSh30 billion, and repaid KSh19.7 billion, with 7 million being repeat customers. Not a single shilling has been stolen through corruption, and borrowers do not need to know anyone, bribe any official or go through complex bureaucratic procedures to access the Hustler Fund. They only need a device, a little airtime and a few minutes, and they are able to get money wherever they are.

31. The second product of the Hustler Fund will usher our unique collective-driven competitive market enterprise to the online domain. To promote inclusion, the Hustler Fund is going to deploy groups such as chamas and saccos to overcome exclusion and barriers to participation in credit, savings, social security, health insurance and other socio-economic amenities. This is how we will use policy and technological innovation to mainstream our way of life. We are committed to leveraging fintech in ensuring that no one is left behind in the financial and entrepreneurial inclusivity revolution.

32. I am delighted to announce that during today’s celebrations, I shall be launching the second product of the Financial Inclusion Fund, which is aimed at facilitating people's access to funding through groups. I am sure that this will be very good news to my good friend Shiko from Ruaka, who, like many informal business entrepreneurs, was ready for this innovation even before we launched the first Hustler Fund product.

33. I am glad that this launch of the group loan product is taking place against the backdrop of the phenomenal success of the Hustler Fund Personal Loan product. I expect that this product will encounter even greater appetite from the market.

34. As I have already mentioned, your credit score will determine the amounts you can access, and the group is your collateral. This means that your conduct as an entrepreneur, and as a member of the community will begin to define your creditworthiness. But there will also be opportunities to rehabilitate defaulters if they demonstrate sustained behaviour change.

35. Thus, we have equalised the formal and the informal system, enabling both to enhance their complementary contributions to jobs and wealth creation from an equal footing. As we celebrate this increase in our economic freedom, today we also celebrate the democratisation of the Kenyan economy.

Housing

36. This is why more Kenyans are taking part in robust conversations about our economy. The conversation is inclusive, focusing on the proposals to raise taxes to discourage imported goods that can be manufactured locally so as to grow local manufacturing and enhance export competitiveness. In this debate, Kenyans are interested in how the government will create the 1 million jobs it has committed to providing through the Affordable Housing Programme.

37. During this discourse, an understanding is emerging that the construction of a housing unit consumes a tremendous amount of manufactured products. The Affordable Housing Programme is, therefore, an intervention supporting the local construction industry, including the Jua Kali sector, to create high-quality and competitive opportunities for manufacturers and jobs for citizens. By catalysing the construction of hundreds of thousands of affordable housing units, we shall also be stimulating productivity and competitiveness in the manufacture of cement, steel, paint, nails, ballast, timber, roofing materials, windows and doors, among many other products.

38. In enhancing Kenya’s industrial productivity, our export performance will increase and have a positive impact on our balance of trade, employment creation and the growth of wealth. Through regional and continental integration initiatives, a vast untapped African market exists to consume Kenyan industrial output.

39. Our vision for the Affordable Housing Programme is premised firstly on the economic objective of creating a million direct and indirect employment opportunities throughout every value chain in the housing development ecosystem. A single housing unit is capable of employing 3-5 workers directly, and an additional 8 workers indirectly, in the manufacturing of construction products, transport and logistics.

40. The second objective of the Affordable Housing Programme is to increase the number of homeowners and transition more Kenyans from rent-paying to homeownership.

41. The Affordable Housing Programme aims to enable mama mboga to access and afford a mortgage and embark on a feasible journey towards home ownership. Beyond the cost of houses, the programme, therefore, entails an entitlement aspect, which gives priority to the communities resident where the projects are situated. This way, the housing programme will raise the bar in terms of quality at the bottom.

42. The third objective of the Affordable Housing Programme is human dignity which entails the liberation of millions of people who live in unhygienic environments without proper sanitation. We did not fight for independence to relegate our innocent compatriots to a life of suffering, exclusion and indignity in slums.

A group of informal traders at the Madaraka Day celebrations on June 1, 2023. /PCS

43. In brief, our nation is involved in collective public reasoning on the ways and means of baking a much larger cake for everyone, as opposed to unpleasant quarrels about who gets a share of a minute cake, and who does not.

44. To enhance our national productivity, we are prioritizing the consolidation, processing and value addition of agricultural products. This is being achieved through the establishment of county aggregation and industrial parks in all the 47 counties. Additionally, the government has stepped up the establishment of five additional export zones in the coming financial year in Sagana, Thika, Njoro, Eldoret and Busia to complement the one in Athi River. Our special economic zones in Dongo Kundu, Naivasha and Isiolo will act as further catalysts in attracting domestic and international investments.

45. At the same time, we remain firmly committed to continental free trade, and the effective implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area. Just this week, we concluded the working retreat for trade ministers of the continental free trade area with the private sector. I am glad to welcome to this gathering the delegation that has been holding Africa Private Sector discussions in Nairobi led by my brother the President of Comoros, His Excellency Azali Assoumani, and one of the foremost champions of Africa Continental Free Trade Area.

46. It is also gratifying to note that 11 Trade ministers are here today. I wish to recognise the following delegations led by the AfCFTA Secretariat:

I. Delegation from Comoros

II. Delegation from Niger

III. Delegation from Central Africa Republic iv. Delegation from Chad

IV. Delegation from Namibia

V. Delegation from Djibouti

VI. Delegation from Cote D’Ivoire

VII. Delegation from Nigeria ix. Delegation from Botswana

VIII. Delegation from Ghana

IX. Delegation from Burkina Faso

47. Today, we also gather to celebrate our achievements in enhancing social freedom through the implementation of our commitments to health, food security and education.

Food Security and Kenya’s Biggest Employer: Agriculture

48. A significant portion of household budgets goes to food, a major component of the cost of living. Understandably, there has been animated engagement on this subject. After a prolonged drought, which pushed the entire Horn of Africa region to the brink of famine, widespread shortages of staple foods have driven food prices beyond the ability of many households to afford them.

49. Enhancing food production is an intervention with multiple fundamental implications. It promotes access to affordable and adequate food and nutrition for the majority. It also increases food supply, lowers prices and thus reduces the cost of living. Moreover, subsidising food production increases jobs and productivity in the country’s biggest employer - agriculture.

50. In keeping with our commitments in this critical sector, we have registered 5 million farmers nationwide. These farmers immediately became eligible to receive subsidised fertiliser, and those who stepped forward received their full fertiliser requirement unlike in past seasons when the allocations were rationed. As a result of these measures, Kenyan farmers have been able to plant 200,000 additional acres of food this year and used 2 million more kilogrammes of seed.

51. As international petroleum prices continue to rise beyond reach, the cost of fuel locally rises steeply. Transport, as a component of household budgets, is affecting the cost of living. We have to liberate Kenyans from reliance on transport that depends on petroleum. For this reason, we are rolling out an electric vehicle public transport system which will bring down the cost of transport significantly.

52. Our boda boda industry is about to experience inclusive transformation through the introduction of more efficient, affordable and clean vehicles. With this intervention, owning and operating a boda boda will become affordable, secure and profitable. I am eager that this information reaches the seconder of my presidential nomination, Mr Calvin Ochieng, who operates in Kilimani, so that he can escalate his hustle to the next level.

Health

53. A healthy nation is liberated from human suffering and empowered to pursue its livelihoods and dreams without the hindrance and underperformance associated with ill health. A healthy nation is a happy nation. Freedom from disease is therefore a primary plank of our agenda to perfect self-government. We are committed to doing so affordably, inclusively and in a manner that enables Kenyans to receive quality medical attention from the comfort of their homes.

54. Towards this end, we are reforming the National Health Insurance Fund to meet the urgent needs of Kenyans at the bottom of the socioeconomic structure by actualising its purpose as a social medical insurance facility.

55. Secondly, we have committed to delivering universal health coverage that enables every Kenyan to attain dignified healthcare at the minimal cost of a subscription fee.

56. Thirdly, we have collaborated with county governments to recruit community health promoters (CHP) throughout the country in such numbers as will make available one promoter for every 100 households. This means that each promoter will be tasked with visiting Kenyans at their homes to determine whether any conditions need to be managed through a healthier lifestyle or basic medical attention. They will also be tasked with enabling patients with chronic conditions to manage their medication, diet and general well-being in a manner that makes hospitalisation unnecessary. Finally, the promoters will facilitate early detection of conditions for referral to comprehensive attention in the spirit of effective healthcare management.

Inclusive, Equitable, Quality Education: CBC, Higher Education

57. The imperative of Madaraka mandates us to build a strong democratic prosperous nation through the successful pursuit of high productivity and competitiveness, industrialisation and technological innovation. All these things require a people who are all empowered with knowledge, skills and understanding not only to effectively participate as informed citizens of a democracy but also to pursue meaningful livelihoods and perform their share of economic production and even go further and imagine, create and build the Kenya of our future.

58. Education, therefore, matters for our freedom and self-reliance and is the enabler and optimizer of every other undertaking. We have taken all possible measures, and pursued every available option, to actualise our vision to make education at all levels accessible, affordable and inclusive, and removed social and economic barriers to the attainment of the highest level of education by Kenyans. Beyond subsidising primary and secondary education in all public primary and day secondary schools, we have re-imagined higher education financing to deliver equity and broader access to all Kenyans, with special attention to enabling the most vulnerable learners to realise their right to education.

59. We have also employed 35,000 teachers in a historic and unprecedented drive to improve the national teacher: pupil ratio and enhance performance. Additionally, we are re-designing the competence-based education curriculum to make it responsive to our education needs at this point of our social, cultural and economic development. Finally, the National Open University will obtain its charter in the course of this month and as we speak, courses are being uploaded for commissioning.

60. For long, tertiary education in Kenya has been a privilege for the most fortunate, while university education was the exclusive entitlement of elites. Not anymore. A month ago, I unveiled a new funding model for higher education that will make the universities and technical training fully inclusive, financially robust and capable of competing with their peers globally while contributing to our national socio-economic transformation through innovation, research and development.

CSs Moses Kuria and Ezekiel Machogu, and Kimani Ichung’wah arriving at Moi Stadium in Embu for the Madaraka Day celebrations on June 1, 2023. /FILE

61. The model is aimed at financially supporting an increasing number of students enrolling in these institutions and ensuring that those from households at the bottom of the socioeconomic structure enjoy equal education opportunities. Under the model, therefore, they will receive full scholarships, while others will receive appropriately graduated levels of scholarship support determined through a robust financial testing instrument (MTI).

Technology

62. The eternal conundrum of Kenya’s integrity agenda revolves around the questions of: “Who will watch over the trustees of public interest?” and “Who will watch over the watchman?” These questions do not arise because we have low trust. Rather, they exist because we have high expectations. Given that these expectations are legitimate in a technologically driven new millennium, we are increasingly resorting to technology as the answer to our transactional efficiency problems.

63. From the Elections Results Portal for our democracy to the Hustler Fund for MSMEs and the Means Testing Instrument for higher education, as well as registration of farmers and distribution of fertiliser, digital technology is enabling the government to deliver services efficiently and to give citizens confidence that the system is fair and incorruptible.

64. We must therefore take a moment today to celebrate technology in general, and in particular Kenyan fintech and other innovations that are making it possible for us to serve Kenyans to the best possible standard. I remind all Kenyans who work in technology, and everyone who uses technology that our forefathers fought with basic technology against a technologically superior superpower and won our freedom. We have a duty to deploy the best innovations and technologies to make Kenya efficient, competitive and prosperous.

65. I am persuaded that technology holds the key to improving efficiency, enhancing inclusion, promoting transparency and integrity, deepening trust and strengthening public confidence in government service provision. This is the reason why we are digitising government information and taking public services online. On this day, I invite all Kenyans to embrace the new era of eGovernance, which empowers people everywhere, including the majority at the bottom of the socioeconomic structure, to access government services at their convenience, through their mobile devices.

66. Since the advent of e-Citizen, the government gradually increased the number of services available on the platform to 391. The rate of increase of on-boarded services is now shifting to a new radical trajectory. Today, 3,570 services have been onboarded, and we expect 5,000 services to be online by the end of this month. Our ambition is to offer every government service on the eCitizen platform by the end of 2023.

67. Finally, as we contemplate all the achievements we are celebrating today, let us reflect on the noble motivations and visions which inspired our heroic freedom fighters to make such immense sacrifices for the sake of freedom, not just for themselves, but also for the rest of their people who were not willing or able to join the struggle. Why did these heroes embrace such profound risk and danger in pursuit of a benefit that everyone else would enjoy?

68. The answer must not only define our attitudes to public service, but it must also shape our understanding of the reasons and values that underlie collective undertakings and social policies. For our freedom fighters, a country in which anyone was unfree and oppressed was not worth living in.

69. We have a duty to translate this truth into our political, social and economic affairs. Our collectivistic spirit that anchors competitive individual enterprise encapsulates this magnificent ethos. We owe each other certain duties as members of a community that we call a nation. Whenever we can do anything to make another person’s life better at no or little cost to ourselves, we have a solemn obligation to proceed and do it.

70. There is a fundamental level at which we are morally obligated to think about our duties to the unemployed youth, vulnerable communities struggling in slums and other people at risk of exclusion. Their struggle for dignity as human beings appeals to our duty of moral consideration. Their complicated pursuit of livelihood can potentially complicate our more stable prospects. No human is an island. In community lies power, and to unlock that power, we must attend to our values and perform our obligations.

71. That is why freedom fighters consider the inherent morality of their cause to be sufficient reward. For example, those earning Ksh200,000 monthly will pay only Ksh2,500 to a fund that helps create jobs for millions of youth and brings a meal to the tables of many hustlers. This is a worthwhile contribution to make for the greater good.

72. As we continue to make progress in our pursuit of the transformation of our economy from the bottom going up, we must remain vigilant that no one is left behind and no resources are lost to waste or corruption. Public servants must ensure that public resources must be utilized solely and exclusively for purposes that serve the interests of the people. I have made a personal commitment to use all instruments and authority at my disposal to curb waste and theft. I will not permit greed, lawlessness or impunity.

It is now my honour and pleasure to introduce and officially launch the second product of Hustler Fund, the HUSTLER Group Loan.

President William Ruto inspects a Guard of Honour during Madaraka Day Celebration in Embu on Thursday, June 1, 2023. /PCS

Inside CJ Koome's New Ksh23M Toyota Land Cruiser Sports Car [PHOTOS]

admin — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 12:00:46 +0300

Chief Justice (CJ) Martha Koome on Thursday, June 1 made a grand entrance to the Madaraka Day celebrations at Moi Stadium in Embu with her new vehicle which grabbed Kenyans' attention due to its exquisite specifications.

Meet the new Toyota LC300 GR Sport SUV, which she arrived in and which sports a pitch-black look down to its wheels and was a headline-grabber as she arrived at the celebrations to commemorate 60 years since Kenya attained self-governance in 1963.

The black sports car launched in Japan on August 2, 2021, was labelled with the customised number plate CJ 1 to indicate that this was her new official car, an upgrade from the Land Cruiser 200 she was known for.

Various car dealers estimate that the SUV ranges between Ksh20-23 million, an upgrade from her LC200 which cost Ksh15 million.

A photo collage of the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GR Sports car used by Chief Justice Martha Koome on June 1, 2023. /VIRALTEAKE

Land Cruiser 300 GR Features

The Land Cruiser first participated in the Dakar Rally, known as the world's toughest race, in 1995, and has continued to take part in the production car category for more than 25 years since then.

For the new 300 Series Land Cruiser, and for the GR Sport model in particular, feedback from drivers participating in the rally was used for vehicle development; the goal was to implement improvements and create a vehicle that was secure, easy to drive, yet difficult to tire in even the harshest driving conditions, and thereby make "ever-better cars" through motorsports.

One of the standout features of the vehicles is the dominant brand of the wording - TOYOTA - on the front bumper, which is different from the traditional logo.

Also indicated is the GR emblem, which stands for Gazoo Racing, related to the team which competes in FIA's World Rally Championship (WRC) (as TGR WRT), World Endurance Championship and World Rally-Raid Championship.

The LC300 GR features the world's first Electronic-Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (E-KDSS) electronically controlled stabilization adjustments.

An interior of the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GR Sports car. /TOYOTA

"E-KDSS is a suspension control system that contributes to both increased driving stability in urban environments and superior off-road performance. It automatically and electronically controls each front and rear stabilizer independently, reacting to road conditions and the individual conditions of each of the four wheels to provide more precise stabilization adjustments.

"Alongside the implementation of E-KDSS, the new Land Cruiser features optimized spring constants and AVS for outstanding steering stability. It is also equipped with a significantly lengthened suspension stroke and the longest wheel articulation of any generation in the series," Toyota explains on its official website.

The GR Sport is equipped with both front and rear electronic differential locks, contributing to improved performance in a variety of off-road environments.

Other features include a special radiator grille, special front bumper and rear bumper, exclusive wheel arch moulding (Black), rear Toyota emblem (Acrylic + Black), special rear mudguards, 18-inch aluminium wheels (Mud Grey colour) and special lower back door decals.

Its interior features a special genuine leather-wrap steering wheel (machined carbon-weave pattern with GR emblem), a special start-up screen (when equipped with T-Connect Navigation System), special front seats (with GR emblems) and interior decoration (machined carbon-weave panels), an interior colour: GR-exclusive Black; GR-exclusive Black and Dark Red as well as a smart key.

"The new Land Cruiser has adopted the latest Toyota Safety Sense active safety package with additional advanced functions. Two functions have been added to the pre-collision system that helps avoid a collision or reduce damage by detecting pedestrians," Toyota noted further.

Its powerful engine and off-road suspension make it a versatile vehicle for traversing Kenya's diverse terrain. It has a 3.3-litre V6 twin-turbo diesel engine.

An interior of the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GR Sports car. /TOYOTA

Inside Moi Stadium Built In 3 Months At A Cost of Ksh476M [PHOTOS]

admin — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 07:45:16 +0300

President William Ruto's administration launched Moi Stadium in Embu on Wednesday, May 31 just in time for the Madaraka Day celebrations set for Thursday, June 1.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, during an address to the media, revealed that the stadium was built at a cost of Ksh476 million.

The upgrading was also done in a record period of 15 weeks, setting the stage for a new era in terms of construction technology.

"We are very happy with how this project has been undertaken in a record 15 weeks for Ksh476 million. We have been able to completely transform the face of this facility," stated Namwamba.

Moi Stadium in Embu opened by Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. /MINISTRY OF INTERIOR

The CS further noted that the government was able to revamp the playing surface as well as the terraces surrounding the pitch which can sustain a capacity of 9,500 people.

"In those 15 weeks, we have been able to redo the playing surface fitted with a pop irrigation technology.

"We have been able also to do terraces around the field with a capacity of 9,500 seats. We have identified extra spaces to extend that capacity to 15,000," the CS added.

The CS further noted that the stadium features five VIP lounges, including a presidential-level and deputy-presidential section.

The lounges are also self-contained with state-of-the-art facilities that meet international levels for hosting government and sports events. Besides revamping the lounges and waiting bays, the contractor also increased the parking facilities and stadium lighting system.

Namwamba thanked the Head of State for completing his first stadium project under a splendid fixed timeline, adding that Embu's Moi Stadium had set Kenya at the right stage in preparing to host international events, including football and athletics.

Moi Stadium in Embu opened by Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. /MINISTRY OF INTERIOR

On June 1, Kenyans began arriving at the stadium as early as 5.00 am in time for the celebrations, determined to secure their spot at the upgraded stadium.

The venue for Madaraka Day Celebration was changed from Njukiri ASK Showground to Moi Stadium due to reasons related to the time and cost of constructing a new stadium at Njukiri, in Embu.

Madaraka Day Celebrations

Madaraka Day is a significant celebration in Kenya, marking the day when the country attained internal self-rule in 1963. On this day, Kenyans celebrate the freedom fighters who fought tirelessly for their nation's liberation from colonial rule.

It is a day to honour their sacrifices and reflect on the progress made since attaining self-rule.

Madaraka Day celebrations also provide an opportunity for the president to address the nation and reflect on the country's progress.

Esteemed guests, including government officials and community leaders, take to the stage to deliver speeches and emphasized the importance of unity, peace, and development for the nation's future.

Following President William Ruto’s order in 2022, the festivities now extend beyond the stadium celebration, with exhibitions showcasing Kenya's achievements in various fields.

Local entrepreneurs proudly presented their creations, ranging from handcrafted artwork to innovative technological advancements. These exhibitions provided a platform for Kenyans to appreciate and support local talent while promoting economic growth within the country.

The theme for the 60th Madaraka Day celebrations is Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which is a change from the earlier-set Affordable Healthcare.

Kenyans arriving at Moi Stadium in Embu for Madaraka Day celebrations on June 1, 2023. /VIRALTEAKE

Similarities Between Ruto, Uhuru Housing Fund & Hussein Mohamed's Stance

admin — Tue, 30 May 2023 10:27:45 +0300

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta on December 28, 2018, found himself in uncharted territory regarding his plan to deduct 1.5 per cent from Kenyans' salaries in favour of the National Housing Fund.

During the State of the Nation address held at Mombasa State House, Hussein Mohamed who was working at Citizen TV at the time compelled Uhuru to offer clarity regarding the controversial deductions, which drew mixed reactions from Kenyans.

Hussein had pressured the president to explain to Kenyans why they would be required to sacrifice 1.5 per cent of their salary towards the Housing Fund.

"Why would someone be forced to pay the tax yet they may not necessarily buy into the plan?" posed Hussein.

Principal Secretary, State Department for Housing and Urban Development, Charles Hinga, during the press briefing on the housing agenda at State House on May 24, 2023. /TWITTER.HUSSEIN MOHAMED

Uhuru responded swiftly by clearing the air on fears that the deductions were to serve as another form of tax on Kenyan employees by assuring them that the contributions were merely a saving and not a tax as per reports leading up to the address.

"You see, that is where you are getting it wrong because you are misleading people by telling them that it is a tax. It is not a tax, it is a saving and a contribution towards owning a home. It is not a tax, it is a contribution," he argued.

Uhuru also explained during the interview that Kenyans contributing to the fund would get back their money if they were not interested in settling in the constructed houses.

In his defence of the mandatory contributions, Uhuru argued that the country had an exorbitant mortgage system with rates that were out of reach to most Kenyans.

"Gentlemen, let us not go so far. We are living in a country where since independence, we have less than 500,000 mortgage householders. We have people who go to borrow and are given a loan to pay for five years. How do you pay that for five years?

"If the government and Kenyans don't get involved in that process, we continue with this system that becomes exorbitant, and that is why you don't have affordable houses in the country," he added.

Despite his defence of the government imposing a 1.5 per cent deduction on Kenyans' salaries, the court stopped the plan through a ruling by Lady Justice Maureen Onyango in April 2019.

"Since there were previous orders stopping the implementation of the housing fund levy, I am satisfied the application by Cofek is of utmost urgency and grant order stopping the deduction of employees' salaries until May 20 when the dispute will be heard,” Onyango noted.

The plan was abolished by the court which forced Uhuru to change his strategy in adopting the Affordable Housing Agenda. Five years later, Hussein Mohamed, who is the State House spokesperson, is in support of the plan.

President William Ruto is attempting to adopt a similar strategy to his predecessor, but he plans to impose a 3 per cent levy on all salaried workers, private and public, which is twice the rate that was there in Uhuru's regime.

Just like Uhuru, Ruto argued that the 3 per cent was not a tax but rather a saving, though it would act as a guarantee for investors building the houses.

He further noted that Kenyans would withdraw their money after seven years if they choose to opt out of the fund. In a similar fashion, the proposed deductions have drawn mixed reactions from Kenyans, however, Ruto's proposals have led to mostly uproar.

Houses in the Kings Serenity affordable houses project in Kajiado County commissioned by President William Ruto on October 18, 2022. /STATE HOUSE KENYA

How To Get Your Passport Urgently- Govt Announces

admin — Thu, 25 May 2023 18:48:30 +0300

The Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government on Thursday, May 25 unveiled a new system for urgent processing of Kenyan passports.

In a statement, the Ministry revealed that Kenyans can make use of a new hotline in case they want a passport processed promptly.

Citizens who require urgent passport processing can now reach the government through the mobile number +254 796347902.

Alternatively, they can reach the government through the hotlines at +254 110922064 or +254 110923423.

An image of a Kenyan passport. /BIOMETRIC UPDATE.COM

Kenyans can also write to the Department of Immigration through the email info@immigration.go.ke.

“The Directorate of Immigration Services wishes to express its commitment to serve Kenyans. In fulfilment of this mandate, we remain open to facilitating urgent passport processing.

"Therefore for urgent passport processing, kindly contact the Immigration department and provide documents showing proof of urgency,” the statement read in part.

Customers can also physically visit Nyayo House and head to the customer care desk at the Passport Section or counter 16 or 17 for assistance.

"Working hours are from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm from Monday to Friday," added the statement.

Previously, the contacts used to reach the department for passport processing were +254 110 923 422, +254 110 923 423, and +254 110 922 065.

On Wednesday, April 5, over 60,000 individuals who were waiting for their Kenyan passports would finally receive them within a three-week period, thanks to the arrival of over 100,000 passport blank booklets.

Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary (PS), Prof. Julius Bitok announced that the backlog of passport applications will be cleared in 21 days, and if individuals apply through the e-Citizen platform, they can receive their passports within that time frame.

The Immigration Department revealed that there were 63,265 passport applications that were pending issuance, with the majority being the popular 34-page A-series.

The backlog, which sparked uproar across the country, was caused by a shortage of booklets and an increase in demand for passports, especially by Kenyans seeking employment abroad and students enrolling in foreign institutions.

To address this problem, PS Bitok disclosed that the government engaged in discussions with potential investors to invest in local manufacturing of passports to provide faster and relatively cheaper supplies.

“We are in talks with investors for Public-Private Partnerships (PPT) so that we can manufacture and print these documents here in Kenya.

“As a government, we are looking for the possibility of investing in local manufacturing of passports for faster and comparatively cheaper supplies," Bitok stated.

Immigration PS Julius Bitok holding a box of passport booklets on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. /FACEBOOK.JULIUS BITOK

Imeldah Kigunda: Profile Of Radio Boss Who Caught Sonko's Attention

admin — Sun, 21 May 2023 17:09:06 +0300

Before reports emerged on Wednesday, May 17 that left the country talking, the name Imelda Mwendwa Kigunda was one that was only common in some social circles.

Kigunda was arraigned at the Kibera Law Courts before Principal Magistrate Renee Kitagwa to answer to charges amounting to damage to property valued at Ksh235,605. She allegedly damaged her ex-boyfriend, Vincent Alata's car as well as his television set and laptop on January 18, 2023.

The court was informed that she committed the offence on that day at Gemini Club, Nairobi county, contrary to the law. Reports added that the two had arguments over cheating allegations which led to the said offence.

Imelda Mwendwa Kigunda at the Kibera court on May 17, 2023. /THE STAR

In court, Kigunda, through her lawyer Brian Mwenda pleaded with the court for a lenient bond term release, arguing that she was a law-abiding citizen and was not a flight risk.

Mwenda told the court to supply her with all the documentary evidence that the prosecutions intended to rely on during the entire trial. She denied the charges and was released on Ksh100,000 bond or an alternative cash bail of Ksh50,000, with Kitagwa directing that the case proceeds on Wednesday, May 31 for pre-trials and further directions.

Flamboyant politician and former Nairobi Governor, Mike Sonko, got wind of the case and condemned men for taking action against women whom they have been dating for destroying property in the wake of cheating allegations.

He urged anyone with information regarding Kigunda's case to send the court case number, saying he would cater for her legal representation and even find her a female lawyer.

"This is totally unacceptable, friends and relatives of this lady send me the court case number with immediate effect so that I bail her out. Then, for any lady lawyer to pick that case and defend this lady, I will meet the legal fees on her behalf," stated Sonko on Thursday, May 18.

Kigunda was unavailable for comment or clarification on the case when contacted by Viral Tea, however, she did release a public statement on her Instagram stories, denying any romantic links to Alata.

"The past few months have been incredibly difficult and unwarranted period for me and my family, privately however since yesterday it has gone from not so bad to hard.

"There is a gross misrepresentation of the truth, I am a party in an ongoing matter in a court of Law so out of respect for the judicial system and the legal acuity of my attorneys I will be brief and precise. I have never been married to or had ANY intimate relationship whatsoever with Mr V," she stated.

Kigunda promised to conclusively address the matter and clear her name while expressing confidence that the truth would prevail on her behalf.

"We were barely acquainted. In the fullness of time and with context I will clear my name in court, I do not aspire to prosecute or defend my case in public, In the fullness of time the truth will vindicate me," she added.

Imeldah Kigunda Profile

Kigunda is an experienced Account Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the media industry. According to her LinkedIn bio, she is skilled in Marketing Strategy, Public Speaking, Online Marketing, Project Management and Social Media Marketing.

The 26-year-old has a Bachelor's degree in Finance and Banking from Moi University and currently works as the Account Manager at Soundcity Africa, a 24-hour Nigerian lifestyle and music TV channel based in Lagos from Consolidated Media Associates Limited and which is home to Soundcity Radio, where TikTok star Azziad Nasenya works as a radio presenter.

Kigunda held a similar role at NRG Radio for two years, between December 2019 and July 2021. Before that, she worked as a Marketing Executive and Sales Team Lead in real estate companies based in Nairobi.

Her social media profile shows a woman with a preference for the finer things in life as she has been to popular destinations across the country as well as popular events.

Imeldah Kigunda posing for a photo. /INSTAGRAM.IMELDAH KIGUNDA

Meet Singapore PM Visiting Kenya Who Is Paid Ksh303M Per Month

admin — Thu, 18 May 2023 12:58:21 +0300

President William Ruto on Thursday, May 18 hosted the Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong at State House, with the PM on a two-day official state visit to strengthen bilateral ties.

Loong was born on February 10, 1952. He married Dr Wong Ming Yang in 1978 and was widowed in 1982, but remarried Ho Ching in 1985. He has one daughter and three sons.

He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and a Diploma in Computer Science from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom (UK). He was later a Mason Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, receiving a Master's in Public Administration.

Loong has been Singapore’s Prime Minister since 2004. He is the Secretary-General of the People’s Action Party (PAP).

President William Ruto with the Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong during a media briefing at State House, Nairobi, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. /PCS

He led PAP to four consecutive Singapore General Elections victories in 2006, 2011, 2015 and 2020. He was first elected Member of Parliament (MP) in 1984 and has been re-elected eight times, most recently as an MP for the Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency.

Loong also chairs GIC, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, and the Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council, an international panel that provides strategic direction for Singapore’s Research and Development efforts.

As Prime Minister, he launched SkillsFuture to support Singaporeans in embracing lifelong learning and skills, and the Smart Nation initiative to use technology to create a future of better living, more opportunities and stronger communities.

Before becoming Prime Minister, Loong had held various Ministerial appointments, including being Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Finance, Minister for Trade and Industry and Second Minister for Defence. He was concurrently the Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore from 1998 until 2004.

Before joining politics, he had served in the Singapore Armed Forces, retiring as a Brigadier-General.

The Singapore PM is considered the highest-paid politician in the world and receives a salary of Ksh302.5 million ($2.2 million) inclusive of bonuses. The Singapore government pays this amount to discourage corruption in the PM’s office.

Loong is serving his fifth consecutive term as Prime Minister. He is currently in his 18th year as PM and was only 13 years old when Singapore gained from Malaysia on August 9, 1965, and rose to a first-world country from being only a small city in Malaysia.

In his first two years, his government enacted a "five-day work week" and extended maternity leave days. His proposal to build two Integrated Resorts (IRs) in Singapore to increase tourism revenue led to the development of the Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa.

Following the Great Recession, he oversaw the country's economic recovery within two years. Further political reforms in 2010 saw increased online activism as well as the number of Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMPs) in Parliament.

Loong's libel suits against journalists and political opponents have been frequently covered by international news outlets.

Ruto & Loong Talks

President Ruto and Loong held bilateral talks and witnessed the signing of MoUs on ICT, climate change and skills development, with the Kenyan Head of State noting that the ICT agreement will facilitate cooperation on cybersecurity, digitisation of government services and ICT capacity building.

He explained that the MoU on skills development will facilitate collaboration in human resource capacity building for civil servants and students.

The Prime Minister noted that the signing of a climate change pact will build a collective action to deal with the “greatest existential threat to mankind”.

President Ruto and members of his Cabinet meet delegations from Singapore at State House, Nairobi. /PCS

“Our ties have been growing. We will further this by pursuing more economic opportunities that will stimulate our shared prosperity,” said Loong.

Kenya will consider Singapore’s strategic location in South East Asia as a gateway to its products, with President Ruto stating that the move is guided by the government’s commitment to expanding lucrative markets for its agricultural produce.

He said South Asia, made up of 10 countries and with a population of approximately 670 Million, offers Kenya a “unique and massive” market to sell its goods.

Mother's Day: Pauline Njoroge Opens Up On Losing Twins To Miscarriage

admin — Sun, 14 May 2023 12:45:04 +0300

Communication strategist Pauline Njoroge, a blogger synonymous with the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya alliance, on Sunday, May 14 opened up on the tough experience that saw her lose her unborn twins.

In a statement she penned on Facebook in commemoration of Mother's Day, Njoroge recalled that she was at one of the happiest moments in her life while siring the twins to the point that her friends even gave her a nickname.

"Not long ago I carried twins in my womb and they brought me the most fulfilling joy.

Pauline Njoroge posing for a photo during her past pregnancy. /FACEBOOK.PAULINE NJOROGE

"Those few months made part of my life’s happiest days, and I was ever smiling. One of my close friends even nicknamed me Mama Happiness," she wrote.

However, her joyous moments would soon take a turn for the worse, with the miscarriage cutting short the happiness she had been having since her conception.

According to Njoroge, she was left devastated for several months beyond comfort and went through several teary episodes while trying to keep her act together in the public eye.

"Losing my unborn children crashed me…watching as they disappeared in a pool of blood caused me unexplainable pain. For several months I was an emotional mess and nothing could comfort me.

"I broke down a million times and tears became my daily food. Out here I kept a strong face because sometimes as women and leaders, we do not have the luxury of breaking down in public no matter what is happening internally," she went on.

Nonetheless, she expressed her gratitude for the strong support system she had in her life, which enabled her to get through the difficult period, as well as for God's grace.

Njoroge urged every mother to treasure the experience of bearing life and bringing it to the world as she concluded her bitter-sweet Mother's Day wish to all her followers who are mothers.

The strategist has maintained her ardent support for Azimio leader, Raila Odinga, despite being fired from the Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) on March 10, 2023, through a Gazette Notice by Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Wildlife, and Heritage Peninah Malonza.

Former Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala in 2021 revoked her appointment as a member of the Board of Tourism Regulatory Authority after the appointment the previous year was met with controversy owing to her remarks on the Nairobi National Park.

She had served as a Digital Media Strategist for Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition before the August 2022 General Election.

What Is Mother's Day?

Mother's Day is a celebration honouring the mother of the family or individual, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society.

It is celebrated on different days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March or May and marked on the second Sunday of May in countries such as Kenya.

It complements similar celebrations, honouring family members, such as Father's Day (marked every third Sunday of June), Siblings Day (recognized annually in some parts of the United States and Canada on April 10, and as Brothers and Sisters Day on May 31 in Europe), and Grandparents' Day (In 2021, Pope Francis declared World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, to take place annually on the fourth Sunday of July).

A graphic celebrating Mother's Day on May 14, 2023. /VIRALTEAKE

19-Year-Old Lion Killed By Herders In Kenya

admin — Sat, 13 May 2023 08:35:41 +0300

A lion considered to be the oldest in Amboseli National Park in Kenya died on Friday, May 12 following an attack by herders.

The lion, named Loonkiito, was reportedly speared by herders who were repulsing him in Olkelunyiet village at night on Wednesday, May 10.

Loonkiito was reported to have attacked livestock in a village bordering the Amboseli National Park towards Kimana town after he had gone into the village in search of food alone, away from the pride.

"The animal entered the cowshed around 9 pm and the owners attacked him with spears before he attacked the animals. It was weak due to old age and succumbed to the spear wounds in its head," a source was quoted by Nation.

A photo of the late lion Loonkiito. /GULF NEWS

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) spokesman Paul Jinaro on his part told AFP that "It was an old lion that had issues...getting prey on its own and livestock is easy prey. A normal lion would go for wildlife inside the park."

Loonkiito was mourned by conservationists who remembered him for his enduring resilience after his brother's death and for losing control of his pride.

He was documented to have ruled over a large pride of females and cubs until 2017 when he began to lead a lonely life after his brother Ambogga died in a territorial fight and he was injured.

"It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of Loonkiito (2004 - 2023), the oldest male lion in our ecosystem and possibly in Africa. He died yesterday, on the 10th of May 2023 at 19 years old.

"He was a symbol of resilience and coexistence. We at Lion Guardians feel privileged to have borne witness to his life and his legacy," stated the conservation group Lion Guardians on social media, which expressed hope of sharing Loonkiito's life story in the coming weeks and months.

This King of the Jungle was admired for years by wildlife conservationists as most lions do not typically survive for so long in the wild.

The village Loonkiito visited is just on the outskirts of Amboseli National Park which is famous for being the best place in Africa to get close to free-ranging elephants and other wildlife species.

The great predator was dubbed the 'legendary big cat warrior' by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) after he defended his territory for over 10 years.

Lions & Lioness Lifespan

According to AZ Animals, female lions have an average lifespan of about 15-16 years in the wild, while males live 8-10 years, depending on their access to nutrition and their natural habitat. However, once a lion reaches age 10, they start to become weak and are unable to provide for themselves as they have been.

Lions that reach age 10 or older may be exiled for their lack of ability to perform the tasks needed of them by the pride. Other male lions will challenge each other for authority over the pride before the defeated male is cast out.

Old age isn’t a luxury that most of these big cats are afforded as the result of conflicts with other male lions to be the alpha male in their pride. Males must leave the pride that they are born in during adulthood, but the struggle to find the power they need to thrive leads to an early death.

Hunger is considered the biggest killer of lions of this age, with females raised to hunt within the pride, giving them the advantage of knowing how to feed themselves. They also are able to live with their birth pride when they are older because they do not have to fight for power.

A lion and a lioness. /TRAVEL + LEISURE

For lions in captivity, the average lifespan can be much greater because they don’t have natural threats. Instead, they are cared for by zookeepers that provide them with healthcare, food, and other necessities.

There are no challenges for power that can overthrow male lions, and no lioness has to hunt for their food. The only possible cause of death for most lions in captivity is their old age.

When provided with the right environment, it isn’t unheard of for a lion to surpass 20 years old, with some cases seeing lions possibly living to be even 25 or 26 years old. Lions tend to do well in captivity, thriving with constant attention from their caregivers.

How Many Lions are Left?

There are just over 100 lions in Amboseli and the big cats are considered 'vulnerable' on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

There are just 23,000 lions left in the wild as their population has decreased by 90 per cent over the last decade, according to African Impact, with most of them living in Africa, with a small population in India.

Israel Wailing Wall: World's Holiest Place Where Ruto Went To Pray

Marvin Chege — Wed, 10 May 2023 10:42:34 +0300

President William Ruto on Tuesday, May 9 prayed at the Western Wall of Jerusalem, Israel commonly referred to by Christians as the Wailing Wall.

He was received by the director of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, Mordechai Eliav, who narrated the long and enchanting history of the wall, also called the historical site.

Photos shared showed the President in an earnest session of prayer at the wall, where thousands go to have their prayers. He was in the company of his wife, First Lady Rachel Ruto.

“We should never face the isolation and prejudice against our brothers and sisters of the Jewish nation. That we shall be united as a people in peace as one people under God,” Ruto prayed, wishing the Israelites peace and tranquillity.

President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto pray at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, Israel, on May 9, 2023. /PCS

The Head of State was alluding to the prejudice against the Jewish people that led to the Holocaust. More than six million Jews were killed under dictator Adolf Hitler’s rule in Germany and spread to other European countries.

This prejudice acted as a catalyst for the formation of the modern State of Israel, which gained its independence on May 14, 1948.

“Israel is a great place. It is good that I have come to Israel.

“Even though there are difficulties everywhere in the world but coming to the Holy Land is my greatest pleasure,” Ruto told the audience that was with him.

History Of The Wailing Wall

The Western Wall, also known as the “Wailing Wall” or the “Kotel”, is the most religious site in the world for the Jewish people. Located in the Old City of Jerusalem, it is the last remaining outer wall of the ancient Jewish temple and an incredibly important site of modern Israeli history.

Thousands of people of all faiths journey to the wall every year to visit and recite prayers. Traditionally, these prayers are either spoken or written down and placed in the cracks of the wall, which also splits into two sections, one area for males and the other for females.

The term wailing Wailing Wall was coined following the Jews' act of weeping at the site during prayers. However, Jews perceive the phrase Wailing Wall as derogatory.

The wall is a portion of the ancient limestone wall in the Old City of Jerusalem and according to online sources, it plays a crucial role in Judaism due to its proximity to the Temple Mount.

It is the only remains of the retaining wall surrounding the Temple Mount, the site of the First and Second Temples of Jerusalem, held to be uniquely holy by the ancient Jews. The First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587–586 BCE, and the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE.

King Herod built this wall in 20 BCE during an expansion of the Second Temple. When the Romans destroyed the temple in 70 CE, the support wall survived.

For hundreds of years, people prayed in the small area of the wall that could be seen. In 1967, following the Six Day War, Israelis dug below the ground of the wall, exposing two more levels, and also cleared the area around the wall to create the Western Wall Plaza that visitors see today.

The Temple Mount has several entry restrictions, hence the Wall is the holiest place where Jews are permitted to pray outside the previous Temple Mount platform, as the presumed site of the Holy of Holies, the most sacred site in the Jewish faith, which lies just behind it.

Raila's Visit to Wailing Wall

The Western Wall is free to visit and is open 24 hours a day, year-round.

Women and men should dress modestly in the Western Wall Plaza. To pray at the wall, women should have their legs and shoulders covered (scarves are provided at the site) while men should cover their heads.

In 2017, opposition leader Raila Odinga also prayed at the Wailing Wall, which he termed a very strong symbol of strength and unity.

“This week, I travelled to The Holy Land to deliver an address on democracy, religion and peace in Africa. While in Jerusalem, I visited the Western Wall. The Western Wall is the pulpit of the Temple of Solomon and is said to have been built over 5,000 years ago.

"This site is sacred to all three Abrahamic religions - Judaism, Islam and Christianity - and to me, it is a very strong symbolism of strength and unity,” Raila said at the time.

Ruto paid a visit to the wall after talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Israel counterpart Isaac Herzog at his residence in Jerusalem in his bid to expand Israel-Kenya cooperation.

President William Ruto shakes hands with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Netanyahu's office in Jerusalem, Israel, on May 9, 2023. /PCS

“We must exploit these opportunities. There is a wide range of exports that deserve to reach the Israeli market,” said Ruto.

He said the absence of direct flights between Kenya and Israel is a “serious impediment” that continues to hamper trade and tourism. Ruto observed that Kenya and Israel possess unique global attractions that can sustain robust growth in tourism.

Why Nairobi Garbage Collectors Are Beating Up Residents Who Don't Pay Fees

admin — Sun, 07 May 2023 17:41:20 +0300

A section of Nairobi residents on Saturday, May 6 sounded an alarm regarding garbage collectors accosting them on their way home over failure to pay them monthly collection fees.

Speaking to Viral Tea, a resident in Mathare North on condition of anonymity lamented that he was a victim of such attacks after failing to remit collection fees to the garbage collectors on multiple occasions.

He revealed that he was targeted by one of the collectors in the company of goons who tailed him to his residence and attacked him at around 11.00 pm and managed to gain access to the residence, causing a commotion in the process.

He added that they searched his pockets, including a Ksh100 note which the collector took away, but got it back in the midst of the scuffle which drew the attention of other residents.

A garbage truck in Nairobi CBD. /DAILY NATION

His narrative was backed up by residents who opened up on his little-known lifestyle and how he and his comrades go to extreme lengths to fund it. One of them noted that the collectors often keep the fees amongst themselves and spend it on recreational substances including indulgence in alcohol and muguka (khat).

"When they don't have it, they start getting desperate and will do anything. That's why you should be careful of them and not get cross with them," noted a resident to Viral Tea.

They further termed the collector as a known thief who has been chased out of several residences in the area as he is known for going door to door and asking for monthly collection fees while spying on the residences and at times, being linked to break-ins and robberies, further accusing the landlord of failing to take action against him.

Robbers Disguised As Garbage Collectors

Past reports from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) showed how thugs were arrested or shot dead by police officers while defying orders to surrender and found that many of the recent cases are being reported within residential areas, more than within major cities themselves.

Simply put, the likelihood of being robbed from your own house is higher during the day than at night in a section of Nairobi estates, especially those infamous for harbouring dangerous criminals.

Many times, the thugs pounce on unsuspecting Kenyans while going about their daily activities, such as running to the shop to buy a basic item.

For instance, you might have forgotten to buy something or you realize that your cooking oil ran out when you are about to cook. Somewhere on your way to the shop, someone threatens you with a knife or a bonoko (fake gun) and asks you to surrender your phone or any other valuable, leaving you wondering if someone had been waiting for you to leave the house.

In an estate, the following people know a residence best: a caretaker, a security guard (in some estates) and a garbage collector. It is the latter that is a preferred role for robbers while other suspects collude with caretakers to break into homes.

A majority of estates in Nairobi have specific days when garbage is collected, from Monday to Sunday, for example, collectors could be in Buruburu today, Kilimani tomorrow and Ruaraka the next day. A racket of criminals takes note of this and ensures that they are in your estate when the collectors come.

The shocking bit is that most of the robberies take place in the afternoons, when a lot of residents are away from home, between 12 pm and 3 pm. As Viral Tea discovered, this is also the same time garbage is collected in the area, leading to suspicion that the collectors could be the culprits.

In 2019, Kenyans On Twitter (KOT) raised an alarm about a garbage collector who was going about his duties with a gun strapped on his behind in a photo that was taken in secret and shared on Twitter, which went viral, attracting the DCI's attention.

The man was donning a red t-shirt from a telco company, wearing a rosary amongst several chains on his neck and a brown trouser collecting garbage, but his rearview was trotting a gun.

In 2017, residents of Roysambu in Nairobi, which is mostly inhabited by middle-class earners and students from the surrounding universities, who are often away during the day, expressed concern regarding the rate at which their houses are being broken into.

A man who was photographed in February 2019 collecting garbage with a gun on his rearview. /TWITTER.DCI

One of the residents claimed he was in school when he got a phone call from his caretaker asking him to urgently go back home. When he got to his house, he was met by a broken padlock and a vandalised house and subsequently lost a tablet, mobile phone and a laptop.

Nairobi's Losses To Garbage Collection Gangs

A report released in 2021 by Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC) revealed how Nairobi’s waste management sector is rife with corruption and continues to be infiltrated by criminal gangs.

It stated that all stages of the waste processing including the award of contracts, collection of waste from households and dumping of waste at the Dandora dumpsite are infiltrated by corruption, with a huge chunk of the business controlled by criminal gangs.

“Procurement in the waste-management sector is fraught with so many irregularities. And this has been going on for decades on end, and keeps defying every change in the leadership at City Hall,” the report stated in part.

The GI-TOC report further noted that fraud and lack of oversight that accompanies the criminalisation of the waste-management sector are so severe that Nairobi County does not know how much rubbish it actually produces with some saying it is 2,500 tonnes of rubbish per day while others say it is 3,500 tonnes.

“The level of procurement irregularity such as double-invoicing, and the proliferation of illegal and unofficial dumpsites, the dysfunctional weighbridge and the fines levied by gangs make exact estimates nearly impossible,” it explained.

EXPLAINED: Will Ruto Ride In A Bus To King Charles III's Coronation?

admin — Fri, 05 May 2023 17:49:42 +0300

Moments after State House spokesperson, Hussein Mohamed, announced that President William Ruto would attend King Charles III's coronation ceremony in the United Kingdom (UK) set for Saturday, May 6, a potential de-ja-vu set of rumours emerged.

The President will fly out of the country on Friday evening, May 5 to attend the ceremony, marking a return to the UK for the first time since Queen Elizabeth II's funeral on Monday, September 19, 2022.

Other than the colourful send-off, a major talking point was President Ruto with First Lady Rachel Ruto and other African presidents in attendance at the funeral riding in a bus like ordinary town folk, unlike Western heads of state, who were driven in private cars.

President William Ruto riding to Queen Elizabeth's funeral aboard a bus and US counterpart, Joe Biden travelling in his armoured motorcade to the same destination. /VIRALTEAKE

In particular, United States (US) President Joe Biden rode in his armoured presidential limousine dubbed 'The Beast', which was airlifted to the UK for the headline event, more than 5,000 kilometres away and across the Atlantic Ocean.

Months later, Ruto would air out his unhappiness on African presidents being hounded into a bus like school children during the funeral in London, despite them wielding significant power in their countries and being accorded VIP treatment during their trips on numerous occasions.

“We have these meetings, Africa-US, Africa-Europe, Africa-Turkey, now we are waiting for Africa-Russia and Africa-Japan. We have made the decision that it is not intelligent for 54 of us to go and sit before one gentleman from another place.

“Sometimes we are mistreated. We are loaded into buses like school kids, and it’s not right,” he stated in a conversation with the British-Sudanese billionaire, Mo Ibrahim, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) during the Mo Ibrahim Governance Weekend on Saturday, April 29.

With that in place and with confirmation of Ruto's attendance at King Charles III's coronation, a section of Kenyans have been wondering if lightning will strike twice.

International reports however indicated that world leaders will not be transported by bus to the King's coronation, with UK publication The Telegraph revealing that foreign dignitaries visiting London for the ceremony will travel to Westminster Abbey in their own cars.

This is however in comparison to the Queen's funeral where the majority of world leaders travelled together by bus to the event instead of their own cars, one of the strict rules in place for the funeral. Leaders were transited in a bus from the receiving point in west London to the funeral venue.

In addition, world leaders were required to travel to London on commercial flights, meaning they were barred from using private jets to the capital as well as using helicopters to move around. This is because Heathrow Airport was not allowing private jets to the country.

This time around, the rule on travelling commercial was dropped, with multiple reports indicating that presidential aircraft and private jets from various countries were spotted making their way to the UK.

Representatives from 203 countries, including around 100 heads of state, are expected to be part of the 2,200-strong congregation in London's Westminster Abbey on May 6. The White House however announced that Biden would miss the event; no US president has ever attended a British coronation.

Instead, his wife and First Lady Jill Biden will lead a US delegation that includes special climate envoy John F. Kerry, who has worked closely with Charles on climate initiatives over the years.

Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, who both attended the queen’s funeral, will not make the trip this time, according to British media reports. Instead, Crown Prince Fumihito (who, like his parents, studied at the University of Oxford) will represent Japan, along with his wife, Crown Princess Kiko.

Despite the heavy security expected at the event, organizers stated that the coronation will be, by design, a smaller affair than the late Elizabeth’s coronation 70 years ago.

King Charles III posing for a photo. /GETTY IMAGES

Kenya Marines: Details Of KDF's First-Ever Marine Commando Unit [VIDEO]

Marvin Chege — Fri, 05 May 2023 12:08:31 +0300

The first-ever Kenyan Marine Commando Unit (KMCU) under the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) made history following its successful establishment on Friday, May 5.

The unit was formed after its soldiers completed their basic training, marked by a passing-out parade at Mtongwe Naval Base in Mombasa, the training being carried out by elite forces from the United Kingdom (UK).

A statement shared by the UK government revealed that KMCU will be an elite fighting force with the ability to conduct specialised amphibious operations to weaken and disrupt threats to Kenya and take the fight to the notorious Al-Shabaab terrorist group by land and by sea.

Below is the video:

By land.

By sea.

Taking the fight to terrorism.

The ???????? and ???????? present…

The first-ever Kenyan Marine Commandos. pic.twitter.com/qgrsJtifWk
— UK in Kenya ???????????????? (@UKinKenya) May 5, 2023

"Ten (10) British Marines from 40 Commando Royal Marines trained the KMCU over 12 weeks as part of a training programme including physical fitness and amphibious assaults.

"Potential recruits were selected from the Kenyan Military to undertake a rigorous training programme. The UK-funded obstacle course that was constructed at Mtongwe Naval Base is a near identical replica of the course used at the Royal Marine Commando training base in Lympstone, UK," the UK government stated in part.

This first cohort of Marines kick-started a self-sustaining training cycle, whereby the Kenyan Navy will eventually be able to train their own Marine Commandos.

The UK government, under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, hailed the joint endeavour to create the Marine Commando Unit as an example of the UK and Kenya’s enduring commitment to building a strong, capable and adaptable Kenyan Military that is already an anchor of regional stability and security.

“The UK, Kenya the US stand shoulder to shoulder in the shared endeavour of countering Al Shabaab. This history-making partnership - the creation of the first-ever Marine Commando Unit - is a clear signal of our three countries’ enduring commitment to the Kenyan Military and to regional security.” British High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Marriot stated.

The UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership is an ambitious five-year agreement delivering mutual benefits for the UK and Kenya, and keeping our people safe; it is underpinned by the Defence Cooperation Agreement that provides the framework for this training programme.

The United States (US) Military are also an integral part of the creation of the KCMU by ensuring that this specialist and formidable force are equipped to the highest standard.

British High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Marriott during the passing-out parade of Kenyan Marine Commando Unit (KMCU) on Friday, May 5, 2023. /TWITTER.JANE MARRIOTT UK

Ruto’s Son-In-Law Alexander Ezenagu Featured In Global Ranking

Marvin Chege — Tue, 02 May 2023 16:35:10 +0300

President William Ruto's son-in-law, Alexander Ezenagu was on Tuesday, May 2 feted among the Top 100 Most Influential People of African Descent.

The Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) had announced its Class of 2023 honorees in two global 100 lists; Health & Wellness Edition and 100 Under 40 Edition.

In the spirit of recognition and in accordance with the first pillar of the International Decade for People of African Descent, MIPAD highlights individuals, organizations and governments who have distinguished themselves in the advancement of people of African descent worldwide.

Alexander Ezenagu posing for a photo. /FILE

Kamil Olufowobi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MIPAD, revealed that the global lists are in continuation of the group’s effort towards highlighting the positive contributions made by people of African descent worldwide.

“We continue to amplify global black narratives and showcase the many untold stories of our struggles and triumphs in every corner of the world, sometimes in unexpected places and high positions,” he stated.

MIPAD congratulated the outstanding personalities and high achievers of African descent from around the world for their positive contributions to humanity.

Ezenagu, who is married to the president's daughter, June Ruto, was featured alongside Black-ish's Yara Shahidi, British actor Damon Idris, American R&B singer H.E.R. and Idris Elba's wife Sabrina Dhowre Elba.

He was recognized for 'his positive contributions to societies around the world, his resilience and strength in the face of adversity.'

The Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD), is a global civil society initiative in support of the International Decade for People of African Descent, proclaimed by United Nation's General Assembly resolution 68/237, to be observed from 2015 to 2024.

MIPAD identifies high achievers of African descent in public and private sectors from all around the world as a progressive network of relevant actors to join together in the spirit of recognition, justice and development.

Ezenagu is among Ruto's trusted men who hang out with him. On his trip to Uganda and Tanzania, the President was accompanied by First Lady Rachel Ruto, and Cabinet Secretary nominees Aden Duale and Alfred Mutua.

The Nigerian international burst into the limelight after he tied the knot with June Ruto on May 27, 2021, in a colourful event that saw guests and allies of the President attend.

According to his LinkedIn profile, he's an assistant professor of taxation and commercial law at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) in Qatar. He's a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

He studied at the University of Ibadan from 2005 to 2010, graduating with a first-class degree in bachelor of law. At the institution, he was the team leader of the Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE). He also doubled up as the president of the Literary and Debate Society.

Ezenagu joined the Nigerian Law School in 2010 and scored an impressive first-class grade in his bar certificate and obtained his master of law from the institution.

President William Ruto and Rachel Ruto share a light moment with lovebirds Dr Alexander Ezenagu and June Ruto on May 27, 2021. /STANDARD DIGITAL

Francis Ogolla's Rise From Fighter Pilot To Chief Of Defence Forces

Marvin Chege — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 13:48:51 +0300

Francis Omondi Ogolla, who is Kenya's newest Chief of Defence Forces, has had a decorated career that most military officers in Kenya dream of.

The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) is the highest-ranking military officer in the Kenya Defence Forces and the principal military adviser to the President of Kenya and the National Security Council.

Ogolla's new role will see him outrank all respective heads of each service branch and have operational command authority over the service branches.

He will lead the meetings and coordinates the efforts of the Service Commander, comprising the CDF, the Commander of the Kenya Army and Kenya Air Force, Kenya Navy and the Commandant of Military Intelligence and will also be accustomed to his new offices in Ulinzi House within the Department of Defense headquarters in Nairobi.

The then Vice Chief of the Defence forces, Lt Francis Omondi Ogolla, before the Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee at Continental House in Nairobi on November 7, 2022, regarding the deployment of the KDF to the DRC. /DAILY NATION

Following the 2010 Constitution, the Chief of the General Staff was replaced with the Chief of the Defence Forces. General Ogolla's appointment followed the Tonje Rules, which were implemented by former Chief of Staff General Daudi Tonje.

This is the establishment of a rotation system that ensures equal opportunities for the three branches of the Kenya Defence Forces: Army, Navy, and Air Force to lead the military. The President was thus obligated to select the next CDF from the Kenya Air Force, as General Kibochi, the outgoing CDF, was from the Army and succeeded General Mwathethe from the Navy.

This rotation system allows for a fair and balanced approach to leadership within the Kenyan military. But who is General Ogolla in a nutshell?

General Francis Ogolla Profile

He joined the military on April 24, 1984, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on May 6, 1985. He attended the ÉcoleMilitaire de Paris, the same military training College as Napoleon Bonaparte a famous French Emperor, military commander and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution.

Napoleon Bonaparte was trained in the academy in 1784 an academy for trainee officers from noble families without strong financial backgrounds.

Ogolla equally holds a Diploma both in International Studies and Military Science from Egerton University, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Armed Conflict and Peace Studies (First Class Honors) and a Master of Arts in International Studies from the University of Nairobi.

He was posted to the Kenya Air Force where he began his military career as a fighter pilot as well as trained as an instructor pilot with United States Airforce (USAF). Ogolla also received training in other areas, such as imagery intelligence, counter-terrorism, and accident investigation.

His dedication to continuous learning and professional development has been a hallmark of his distinguished career. In 2018, he was appointed the Commander of the Kenya Air Force for three years before rising to the rank of Vice Chief of Defence Forces.

He also held other ranks including Training, Command and Staff including Deputy Commander at Kenya Air Force, Base Commander at Laikipia Air Base, Commanding Officer of Tactical Fighter Wing, Chief Flying Instructor at Kenya Air Force Flying Training School and Operations Desk Officer at Kenya Air Force Headquarters.

A fleet of Kenya Air Force jets. /FILE

Outside Military Life

He has been instrumental in developing and implementing various training programs and operational strategies that have significantly enhanced the effectiveness of the Kenya Air Force and the Kenya Defence Forces as a whole.

Gen Ogolla's military career spans almost 40 years, during which he has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to duty, professionalism, and personal development. He is widely respected by his peers and subordinates for his exceptional leadership and tactical acumen.

His many achievements and accolades serve as an inspiration to aspiring military personnel and a testament to the importance of continuous learning and self-improvement.

Outside of military work, General Ogolla has also been active in various organizations. He served as the Chairman of the Military Christian Fellowship from 1994 to 2004 and co-Chair of the Association of African Air Chiefs between 2018 and 2019.

In his personal life, he is a golfer and enjoys reading. He is married to Aileen and has two children.

Kenyans To Learn How To Speak Spanish After Govt Deal

admin — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 14:28:14 +0300

Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary (CS) Alfred Mutua on Thursday, April 27 announced that the government signed a deal with Spain to have Kenyans trained to speak the Spanish Language.

CS Mutua travelled to Spain where he held bilateral discussions with Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation Jose Manuel Albares.

Among the highlights of the bilateral talks included the deal which will see the Spanish language formally introduced in the country so that Kenyans can benefit from language exchange and scholarship programmes in Spain on top of their understanding of English and Swahili as Kenya's common languages.

Foreign and Diaspora Affairs CS Alfred Mutua and Spain’s minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation Jose Manuel Albares show deals they signed in Spain on April 27, 2023. /FACEBOOK.ALFRED MUTUA

"Top of the agenda was signing a memorandum of understanding that will see Kenyans trained in the Spanish language even as we train them in English. This will enhance Spanish as a major language of study in Kenya and open up opportunities for Kenyan youth abroad," he revealed in a statement.

According to Rosetta Stone, an American education technology software company, Spanish is the official language in two countries and has over 500 million speakers worldwide.

Learning Spanish would thus open Kenyans up to job opportunities in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries. Currently, the Spanish language is taught in a section of schools and universities in Kenya.

Spain is also common in conversations within the country as it is not only known for cities such as Madrid and Barcelona but also on a football angle as two of the biggest football clubs in the world, Real Madrid and Barcelona, are in Spain.

In line with the Spanish language integration, Mutua revealed talks surrounding the awarding of scholarships to Kenyan students to study in Spain.

"I requested for scholarships for our Kenyan students and they promised to avail them as soon as such opportunities arise. In the meantime, we agreed on an immediate exchange of diplomats to study in Spain and in Kenya," he added.

Also covered was a bilateral deal which would see an overpass built along Ngong Road as well as the improvement of the country's railway system.

"We also discussed the various partnerships and commitment by Spain towards Kenya which includes funds for improving our railway system and roads (in particular an overpass at Junction Mall area of Nairobi’s Ngong road)," he added.

Mutua and Albares also reviewed the trade partnership between Kenya and Spain where 1,000 companies sell their products to Kenya every year, as well as discussed how Kenyans can sell their products in Spain.

They also discussed the ongoing war in Sudan, the dynamics around it and the need for a sustained cease-fire in Sudan, with Kenya requested for Spain's support for a Nairobi-based mediation process for Sudan.

Foreign and Diaspora Affairs CS Alfred Mutua speaks with Spain’s minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation Jose Manuel Albares in Spain on April 27, 2023. /FACEBOOK.ALFRED MUTUA

Pastor Mackenzie's 6 Controversial Teachings Before Shakahola Massacre

admin — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 13:29:15 +0300

Many Kenyans, and by definition, Christian faithful around the world are still finding it hard to believe that Pastor Paul Mackenzie of Good News International Church was able to lure hundreds of Kenyans into his deadly Shakahola Forest cult in Kilifi County.

Viral Tea encountered reports of Beatrice Ajenta Charles, alias Betty, an air hostess working for Qatar Airways on a highly-coveted job who sold everything and quit her career to join Pastor Mackenzie's cult. She followed her parents to join the church for fasting at the expense of her lucrative job.

Ghetto Radio reported that Betty had a son who was forced to fast to death, prompting her to return to Kenya for her son's burial but mysteriously went missing with all her social media handles deleted after selling all her properties and booking a one-way flight to Malindi.

Beatrice Ajenta Charles taking a mirror selfie onboard a Qatar Airways flight. /TWITTER.ZOWAN FAYZAN

Betty's sister Constance Chao also quit her military job to join the cult, and her husband does not know if she is alive or dead. In addition, Betty and Constance had a brother called Michael, whose whereabouts remain unknown.

Controversial Teachings

Despite insisting that he is not a pastor and clarifying that the title is a nickname which most people have chosen to use while referring to him, Pastor Mackenzie has had teachings which have sparked controversy across the country.

One of them was a belief that the Huduma Namba introduced during former President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration is the "mark of the beast, 666", seemingly referring to the book of Revelation 13:16-18 which reads, "It is also forced all people to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666."

In April 2019, the former Head of State would later refute those claims saying "Mimi nilishangaa juzi, na mimi nawaheshimu (makasisi) haswa nikiwa mkristo, nikiskia makasisi wengine wakisema, ati hii ni namba ya shetani, (I respect the preachers as a Christian myself but it was surprising to hear some of them claiming that the Huduma Namba is the devil's number)."

After moving his operations from the Migingo area in Malindi to the Shakahola Forest in 2019, Pastor Mackenzie claimed that Jesus Christ had spoken to him and told him that his work of end-time prophecy had been fulfilled and he could live a normal life as a farmer. He thereafter shut down TV operations claiming that Jesus had told him it would fail.

Mackenzie had also taught that the education system is evil and has severally condemned the teaching of sex education under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) claiming that children in Kenyan schools are being taught homosexuality. It is worth it to note that the Supreme Court recently allowed LGBTQ+ members to register an NGO in Kenya even though this sparked a nationwide uproar

Mackenzie had further referred to a prophecy he made in December 2019 where he taught that an economic downturn is the result of evil in the world and is a punishment from God.

Mackenzie had also agreed with the idea that one cannot conduct a religious fast in their own home, insisting that fasters must be gathered in one place for the fast to be successful. He favoured the idea of locking up fasters so that they are not tempted to find food, which could have led to the Shakahola massacre.

In addition, the church leader believed that the law and faith are at war - that spiritual beliefs will never align with the laws of the land.

What Next After Shakahola?

Following the events, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi condemned the deadly cult, calling for more vigilance from the National Intelligence Service (NIS), apparently backing up Minority Leader in the National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi's statement faulting security intelligence for failing to notice the red flags within Pastor Mackenzie.

“The unfolding horror that is the Shakahola cult deaths should and must be a wake-up call to the nation, more particularly the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and our community policing program. What happened in Shakahola is awful. It ought not to have happened but it happened all the same, worse still to very innocent people.

“How did such a heinous crime, organized and executed over a considerable period of time, escape the radar of our intelligence system? How did evil of such an astounding magnitude take place without being detected? How did this 'pastor' gather so many people, indoctrinated, brainwashed and starved them to death in the name of religion and then buried them in a forest without being detected?” Kingi posed.

Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome on Monday, April 24 revealed that 11 more bodies were exhumed from the Paul Mackenzie land in Kilifi, bringing the total number of exhumed bodies to 58, from the 47 confirmed on Sunday, April 23.

Later on, a man suspected to be a co-mastermind and the lead clergy attached to Pastor Mackenzie, who identified himself as "Pastor Zablon Wa Yesu", was found reading a Bible on a section of the expansive 800-acre land owned by the cult leader and arrested.

He, however, was not fasting. He said he was waiting until June so that he would start fasting along with some other men from the Good News International Church.

Police also rescued nine people from death by starvation, with five of the rescued people in critical condition and were rushed to hospital.

A man who identified himself as "Pastor Zablon Wa Yesu" is escorted by police in Shakahola, Kilifi County, on March 24, 2023. /DAILY NATION

8 Places In Kenya You Are Not Allowed To Take Selfies, Videos

admin — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 09:22:44 +0300

Digital content creator, Miss Trudy was on Tuesday, April 18 arrested by security officers at the Moi International Airport in Mombasa for filming content while on premises.

She shared a snippet of the video on Twitter, claiming that the airport security was interfering with her right to create content by harassing her.

"We got arrested for filming at the Airport! This is getting out of control! We have a right to create content without intimidation! she wrote.

"She was actually filming near the screening area, which is not allowed. What the officer did was to inform her that it was not allowed politely," she added.

Content creator Miss Trudy confronting security officers on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. /MISS TRUDY

Miss Trudy received subsequent backlash from Kenyans On Twitter (KOT) and ignited a fresh conversation regarding the limits content creators are not allowed to go to for that precious selfie moment in the country, with the assistance of the rise in social media popularity.

Viral Tea takes a look at eight places in Kenya where taking that selfie will land you in jail in the Kenyan law. Yes, you read properly, in jail, if not in big trouble.

Airports

Even though the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has certain areas within airports where Kenyans are allowed to take photos, there are some areas where just that selfie moment can pose a security risk, as was with Miss Trudy's case.

Speaking to Viral Tea, an official at KAA revealed that there are some areas at the airport that are highly diluted and that filming there would not only obstruct security checks for passengers on their way to check in for their flight.

"We have areas at the airport that are highly diluted including where she was filming, she was at the primary security screening area before check-in," the official told Viral Tea.

He further explained that the officers were only casually telling Miss Trudy to stop filming and move away from the entrance to allow the ease of flow of other passengers, adding that even in international airports, some areas require a guide as well as permission from an airport official to film.

"We are not restricting content creation but she would have reached out to us, but she did it ignorantly," the official added.

Moreover, Miss Trudy's filming and blocking of entrances to the airport, thus disrupting security checks could also endanger the lives of passengers by exposing their faces on the internet, especially those who like to travel without others knowing their whereabouts.

"Inappropriate use means the use of aviation safety information for a different purpose other than the purpose for which it was collected, including use of information for disciplinary, civil, administrative and criminal proceedings against operational personnel and disclosure of the information to the public," The Civil Aviation Amendment Act 2016 reads in part.

State House, Nairobi, and other State Lodges

State House premises, both in Nairobi and Mombasa, are prominent areas which are classified as protected and any form of encroachment would risk compromising their security and secrecy.

Simply put, you being found taking selfies or holding photoshoots around the government premises without authorization would land you on the wrong side of the law.

Military Barracks/installations

The installations include the Kenya Defence Forces headquarters in Nairobi, as well as all military barracks or air bases which are protected. As such, you will need authorization before taking pictures around the area in any form.

The installations are highly guarded and have heavy security personnel manning sentries outside the premises.

Historic Buildings

These include the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), even though the tower's rooftop is a photographer's paradise, the Supreme Court of Kenya, the Parliament Buildings, and the National Archives among others.

Photography of these sites without permission is not allowed and your device can even be confiscated when caught.

Outside Central Bank of Kenya

The CBK also happens to be one of Kenya's most protected places as it is the country's central monetary authority. As such, it is accorded round-the-clock surveillance of its premises and unlike any street, loitering around the street leading to the bank will land you in trouble.

This is on top of just taking out your phone from your pocket to capture a selfie or film a video inviting your fans to subscribe to your YouTube channel.

An image of the Central Bank of Kenya in Nairobi. /FILE

Outside Harambee House/ Harambee Annex

Even though the building is literally along a major street, Harambee Avenue is not your ideal location for a photo shoot with friends, or a selfie to update your status on social media. These buildings located on either side of Harambee Avenue, house the offices of the President and his deputy respectively.

Being the country's two most powerful persons, the buildings and their premises are usually characterized by meticulous security including surveillance devices, roof-top snippers, and other means that are confidential to the relevant authorities only. Therefore any attempt to take a photo in the vicinity unless under authorization is not just illegal, but impossible.

UN Offices/Foreign Embassies

The United Nations Gigiri base in Nairobi and foreign embassies within the city that also include the United States Embassy are not your favourite spots for a photoshoot.

The embassies and UN offices, even though they are situated in Gigiri where the wealthy are known to live in, receive watertight security and some have clear indications of "No Photography" signs to safeguard the confidentiality of the buildings.

Religious Sites & Private Property

Taking photographs of religious sites, such as churches, mosques and temples, is not allowed without the permission of the religious leader or authority in charge.

Photography of any private property, such as a home or business establishment, is prohibited without the owner’s permission.

According to the Protected Areas Act and the Official Secrets Act, contravention of the law could lead to the liability of a fine worth Ksh200,000.

Brygettes Ngana: Time Police Called NTV Reporter Blogger Over Video Of Gunshots In Laikipia

admin — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 17:18:01 +0300

NTV multimedia journalist, Brygettes Ngana once upon a time found herself in the midst of a misunderstanding with the National Police Service (NPS), who discredited her despite working for one of East Africa's biggest media houses.

Quite little was known about her but on September 7, 2021, she shared a video on Twitter showing a gunfight between bandits and National Police Reservists in Ol' Moran, Laikipia County, which went viral across the country's internet.

The gun battle ensued at Merigwit Primary School in the midst of a security operation announced by the Ministry of Interior to curb the banditry menace, with the bold twist being the battle occurring as security officials toured the area to oversee the implementation of security protocols announced by the Ministry, under former Interior CS, Fred Matiang'i at the time.

The bandits were reported to have set the school on fire as law enforcement officers pursued and engaged them in the exchange.

Here is the video:

Exchange of gunfire between bandits and National Police Reservists in Ol' Moran Laikipia, they have torched Milgwet Primary School pic.twitter.com/ow9WlFvZDZ
— Brygettes Ngana (@NBrygettes) September 7, 2021

Residents of Ol Moran were evicted by the bandits and their livestock stolen while some have decided on their own to leave their homes for fear of their lives. They had appealed to the government to find a solution to the problem and restore peace in the region around Laikipia Nature Conservancy.

"The interesting part was I kept doing videos for my news channel, NTV and I kept sending them, I also started uploading what was happening. Actually, that was the first time I ever heard gunshots live," she revealed in a recent video uploaded on her YouTube channel.

Ngana's video was viewed over 36,900 times on Twitter, considered at the time viral enough to spark conversation and draw the attention of the National Police Service (NPS), whose response was not what many would expect.

"Reference to our press release on 9th September 2021 regarding inaccurate, misleading and unconfirmed reporting on the alleged "escalation" of violence within the disturbed areas of Laikipia county by some media houses without any verification from official and reliable sources, we note the same trend is still persisting. This, therefore, leads to more anxiety, fear and despondency for those already victimized by violence and struggling to get their bearing.

"Today September 10, 2021, a Media house has continued to report through its online platform that armed bandits torched 7 houses within the Ol Moran area, including two (2) owned by police reservists. A blogger namely Brygettes Ngana also made similar reporting on Twitter alleging more houses were torched in Dam Samaki, near Ol Moran," NPS' press release read in part at the time.

In her account of the behind-the-scenes events that followed the press release, Ngana recalled that she felt a bit let down by the police's sentiments towards her, even though an uproar ensued amongst journalists based in Rift Valley over the remarks by former Police Spokesperson, Bruno Shioso in the presser.

On her part, she recounted that a number of officials from the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) as well as her bosses at Nation Media Group (NMG) reached out to her amidst fears that the police would arrest her and accuse her of spreading false information.

"Actually, being discredited by the NPS kind of discouraged me. So the following day it was the Media Council officials that called me and they were like "Just let us know" and you know there was a lot of fear that maybe I might be arrested. My bosses called me and they were like in case of anything just let us know," she recalled.

She defended her move to cover the events in Laikipia where she was deployed to document the first time residents in a remote village called Ngoisusu got access to Healthcare through a Mobile Clinic.

Ngana believed that there exist many stories that emerge behind the scenes, especially amongst journalists who are deployed to the field in pursuit of a story, and never make it to the limelight, something she aims to change with the popularity of social media.

"But I went to the ground and there was that tension, but you know what, when you're doing what you're doing with a clean conscience, at the end of the day that prevails. I was just reporting what I was seeing and maybe giving a different angle to the story that those in power or the powers that be don't want to be told.

"That's what many people or many journalists go through. There are those other things that happen in the pursuit of a story that maybe never makes it to the limelight but at least with social media like my Twitter handle, it has helped me a lot," she added.

Ngana has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Communication from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) and began her career as a communications intern for VSO Jitolee in 2011.

She joined KTN in November 2011 as a journalist for four months before transitioning to NMG in 2013 as a broadcast journalist based in Nairobi and an NTV reporter based in Nakuru, in the South Rift region.

On May 6, 2022, she was feted alongside Sam Doe during the Annual Journalism Excellence Awards (AJEA) organised by MCK in the special topic of mental health and wellness category.

Selfie photo of NTV reporter, Brygettes Ngana. /TWITTER.BRYGETTES NGANA

Retired Kenyan Teacher Recalls Climbing Mt Everest Despite Doctor's Warning

Marvin Chege — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 16:09:49 +0300

62-year-old retired Kenyan teacher James Kagambi revealed that he ignored advice from his doctor before ascending Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain, on May 13, 2022.

In a recent interview with CNN's Larry Madowo on his latest episode of the African Voices Changemakers, Kagambi revealed that he shrugged off bad pain in his knee and managed to climb a mountain few dare to attempt and succeed.

He put his faith on his knees while making the ascent, some 8,848 metres above sea level, and managed to take it easy during his descent.

“I know my knees so well that I know how to use them. The biggest problem is coming down and the medicine for that is just going slowly. And that's why on my way down from Everest, I took my time.

James Kagambi with CNN's Larry Madowo. /YOUTUBE.CNN

"I didn't get to camp until 10 at night and I was okay. I was fine. I was having fun looking around and taking care of my knees,” he narrated.

However, the teacher, also known as KG, used the challenging feat which took him 40 days to remind African people to push themselves to the limit during their outdoor expeditions.

“My first goal obviously was to entice people of colour who I don’t see in the outdoors and communities that are not exposed to this.

"It’s for them to see that this can be done through my successes. My hope is that we see it happening in Africa because we need people to realise the benefits of being in the outdoors,” he stated.

Kagambi stated that before climbing Mt Everest he was the first African to conquer Congo in 1994 and Denali in 2013.

He grew up in the foothills of Mt Kenya and had a strong passion to pursue a career in nature, however due to a lack of job opportunities he decided to become a primary school teacher coaching athletics.

Kagambi further stated that he has begun an annual fundraising hike on Mount Kenya to raise money for surgeries for children in need.

“Now that I know that there is something I can do about it and I can tell people that there is something that can be done. I feel like I have the duty to go out and preach this and bring more donors. I feel happy that I can see some of the results of our work, kids walking out here who couldn’t walk in,” he added.

Other climbers who accompanied James during the climb included Phil Henderson, Manoah Ainuu, Fred Campbell, Abby Dione, Thomas Moore, Desmond “Dom” Mullins, Rosemary Saal, and Eddie Taylor. Their number was almost double that of the overall number of Black Everest summiteers.

"The Full Circle Everest team led by Philip Henderson from California has made history as the first all-Black team to stand atop the summit, the highest mountain on earth," Jiban Ghimire, managing director at Shangri-La Nepal Treks, confirmed at the time to the Himalayan Times.

Kagambi joined National Outdoor Leadership School as a field instructor in 1987. According to his expedition company, he has worked in Africa, Chile, and the United States as a backpacking, climbing, and mountaineering instructor, spending over 700 weeks (13 cumulative years) as an outdoor educator.

Prior to embarking on the journey to climb Mt Everest, Kagambi has also completed three of the Seven Summits and in 1992 represented Africa in the UN Peace Climb for the world on the Eiger.

"KG has summited the Eiger three times, was the first black African to summit Denali in 1989, and was the ﬁrst black African to summit Aconcagua in 1994. He has led other climbs including Expedition Denali - the First African-American expedition to Denali," his expedition described him.

On December 12, 2013, he was among five people who made it to Mt Kenya’s point Batian, the second-highest point in Africa. He hoisted the Kenyan flag to mark 50 years of independence.

Mountaineers who use bottled oxygen to ascent to the summit of Mt Everest reveal that the exercise is often tedious and riddled with extreme weather conditions including negative 20 degrees as well as howling wind, as the summit is metres below the cruising altitude of large passenger aircraft.

An image of Mt Everest. /FILE

Wangari Kuria: Viral Farmer On Fire CEO Bags Global Award

admin — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 18:10:28 +0300

Wangari Kuria, aka “Farmer on Fire,” an agri-fluencer (Agriculture Influencer) and mushroom farmer based in Kitengela, was announced on Tuesday, April 11 as the winner of the 2023 Global Citizen Prize award in the Kenya category.

Kuria was recognised by the international education and advocacy organization based in Australia in the Citizen Award category for her stint as the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Farmer on Fire Limited, an organization based in Nairobi which seeks to eliminate hunger and improve food production safety through digital means.

Her firm also links established agribusinesses like AGRA, John Deere, Heifer International, and the Ministry of Agriculture to over 50,000 Smallholder farmers that follow the brand through digital channels that include YouTube.

Wangari Kuria posing with strawberries. /FACEBOOK.WANGARI KURIA

"Wangari is also passionate about the vulnerable single mothers from the pastoralist communities who are most affected by climate change and she incubates them in her model farms where she commercially produces mushrooms, BSFLarvae and Azolla.

"She additionally trains the ladies table banking and in the end of the three months, They go ahead and start their own mushroom farming businesses," Global Citizen explained in part.

The Global Citizen Prize is a yearly award that recognizes and celebrates the unsung activists who are fighting the good fight, going above and beyond to tick things off the world’s most important to-do list: the United Nations’ Global Goals.

The 2023 Global Citizen Prize Citizen Award recognized four trailblazing activists who are profoundly impacting their local communities across food security, climate change, civic space, and sexual and reproductive health, in the fight to end extreme poverty, demand equity, and protect the planet, in line with Global Citizen’s campaign to End Extreme Poverty NOW. Other award winners include:

Nkosana Butholenkosi Masuku from Zimbabwe, Founder & CEO Phenomtech-Sciency Learning who won the Cisco Youth Leadership Award
Deja Foxx, Activist & Founder of GenZ Girl Gang who won the Citizen Award, USA
Pashtana Durrani, Social & Political Rights Activist & Executive Director of LEARN Afghanistan who won the Citizen Award in Afghanistan
Ineza Umuhoza Grace, Global Coordinator & Co-Founder of the Loss and Damage Youth Coalition, who won the Citizen Award in Rwanda

Each of this year’s winners will receive a year-long program of support from Global Citizen, together with a donation to their organization to further support their work. Proud Global Partners of the Global Citizen Prize 2023 include Cisco, an American-based multinational digital communications technology conglomerate corporation, Citi (global investment bank), and Procter & Gamble (P&G) (multinational consumer goods corporation).

The award recipients will be honoured at a ceremony taking place during the Global Citizen NOW summit at The Glasshouse in New York City on Thursday, April 27. The ceremony will be hosted by actress, humanitarian, and Global Citizen Ambassador Nomzamo Mbatha and feature appearances by Sabrina Dhowre Elba, Chair of Global Citizen's Europe Board of Directors and United Nations IFAD Goodwill Ambassador; Padma Lakshmi, producer, TV host, author, and activist; Bridget Moynahan, Global Citizen Ambassador; and Erna Solberg, Former Prime Minister of Norway; and will feature performances by Natasha Bedingfield, Chloe Flower, and Samara Joy.

Global Citizen NOW is a two-day summit taking place in New York City on April 27 and 28, convening government leaders, private sector executives, grassroots activists, cultural innovators, philanthropic experts, and leading journalists to set a global agenda for action on the most urgent issues facing humanity and the planet

Kuria holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the United States International University (USIU) as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Political Science and Communication at the University of Nairobi (UoN).

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (center) posing for a photo with the Forty Under 40 Africa Awards winners including Wangari Kuria. /DPPS

She is well-known for hosting online spaces with hundreds of women who farm to discuss, learn, vent and pursue various opportunities in agriculture and for running the Farmer on Fire show which is available on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Kuria was recently among eight Kenyans who emerged winners in the categories of capacity building, agriculture, journalism, social enterprise, education, environmental and climate sustainability, science, and surgery during the Forty Under 40 Africa Awards held in South Africa, and who was hosted by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in his office.

East Africa's Biggest Mall With 32 Restaurants Set To Overtake Two Rivers [PHOTOS]

admin — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 14:11:22 +0300

Since opening on February 14, 2017, Two Rivers was the largest shopping mall in Kenya in floor size occupying 65,000 square metres having overthrown Garden City Mall (50,000 square metres) along Thika Road from the prestigious position of the region’s largest mall.

However, a newcomer in Eastleigh, Nairobi is set to revolutionize the shopping experience in Kenya and is coming for the Ksh25 billion Two Rivers' crown with determination. This is the Business Bay Square (BBS) mall.

The bustling Eastleigh estate in Kenya's capital, which is also a one-stop shop for almost everything ranging from fashion to foodstuffs at affordable prices, is set to welcome the shopping mall which once complete, will boast 333,000 square feet, making it the largest shopping mall in the whole country and in East and Central Africa.

Outside the Business Bay Square Mall. /BBS MALL

The ambitious project located along General Waruinge Street in Nairobi sits on a 6.4-acre piece of land and will be expected to host a 7-star hotel, over 3,500 shops, 3 hospitals, 12 banks, 32 restaurants, and 2,200 parking spaces. The hotel will include 130 to 150 standard rooms.

"Business Bay Square Mall is modelled to be a unique one-stop Centre for commerce that offers the ultimate shopping experience, Business Bay Square comprises several levels of retail space that include a Souk Market and a variety of shops," BBS wrote on its Instagram.

The mall is also expected to host a wide range of food and beverage services offered to customers as well as an easy access point for cars where customers can catch an Uber in minutes.

"There will also be some elite class fine dining outlets which will exhibit classy articles in the house and provide elaborate food services including international cuisines," the BBS mall stated on its website.

American multinational Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and Pizzahut, South African fast food chain Galito’s, and Artcaffe, will be some of the fast food stores to be hosted at the mall, which will also feature a food court on the rooftop, according to a previous report by the Business Daily.

Impression of a bowling alley at BBS Mall. /BBS MALL

It features a plethora of food and beverage outlets, fashion stores, health and beauty shops, and banking services. Among them include international brands such as Giordano - a Hong Kong international retailer of apparel and accessories, Linton’s Beauty World with skincare, makeup, and fragrance brands including Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty, Clinique, Estée Lauder, Turkish brand LC Waikiki among others.

Some of the businesses reported to be setting shop include Optica, Goodlife Pharmacy, Cleanfax Laundry and Cleaners, Beyond Fruits, Healthy U, and Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed lender NCBA among others. French multinational retailer Carrefour, which operates more than 12,000 outlets globally is the mall’s anchor tenant.

The ultra-modern mall will also be home to three major hospitals offering various facilities to outpatients.

"The facility shall provide consultation, pharmacies, laboratories, diagnosis, and treatment services for outpatients. It shall also be serviced by an independent lobby, lifts, and ambulance bay at the entry-level," the BBS mall stated on its website.

The residential segment will include 2-bedroom furnished apartments with a floor area of 90-100 sq m and 2 en-suite bedrooms and 3-bedroom unfurnished apartments with a floor area of 150-170 sq m.

The BBS Mall Eastleigh will also feature a grand mosque that can accommodate more than 1,500 worshippers comfortably at any given prayer session.

The remaining land will create space for storage facilities, ample parking, events & exhibition space, entertainment and recreational facilities as well as a modern swimming pool.

The mall is being constructed by BML Limited, contractors from Chinese conglomerate CRJE, Maestro limited architect, structural engineers from Stroutel Africa and the project managers from MaceYMR.

BBS Mall is a multimillion mall owned by Ten Commodities Wholesalers Limited, a business group registered in 2018 with its headquarters at Britam Towers, Nairobi.

The group was established with the goal of channelling resources to undertake significantly large trades in commodities and fund projects that change skylines. The company has interests in the import and export of commodities such as tea, sugar, coffee, oil, wheat and other bulk grains across Africa and the Middle East.

The company is managed by a steering committee composed of Abdiweli Mohamed Hassan who serves as the Founder, Chairman and Director, Ali Bashi who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Yasin Hussein who is the Chief Financial Officer and Mokase Monono who is the Project Director.

This BBS Mall project was divided into two phases, and it was reported that the first phase is 90 per cent complete.

A medical facility at BBS Mall. /BBS MALL

Inside some of the apartments at the Business Bay Square Mall in Eastleigh Nairobi. /BBS MALL

Impression of shoppers at the Business Bay Square Mall in Eastleigh Nairobi. /BBS MALL

2008 Power-Sharing Deal That Raila Wants To Revive With Ruto

admin — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 18:02:49 +0300

Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila Odinga's new proposal for a truce with President William Ruto saw him push for the revival of a power-sharing demand that would sound to many Kenyans as 'de-ja-vu'.

Odinga on Tuesday, April 4 claimed that the parliamentary process, or bipartisan approach, may not serve the purpose intended by the coalition and instead suggested a conversation at the national level that resembled the 2008 agreement under the National Accord.

He noted that the purely Parliamentary process would not achieve the bi-partisan agreement arrived at by the two parties, even though Azimio already formulated a committee constituting of 14 members who would make the decision and take it to Parliament for approval.

His new demands are believed by many as his plan to resurrect a deal which he struck some 15 years ago with the late former President Mwai Kibaki which got him a real taste of top power as the country's Prime Minister.

President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) applauds as former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto shake hands during the 16th annual Kenya National prayers breakfast at the Safari Park Hotel on May 31, 2018. /NAIROBI NEWS

The National Accord and Reconciliation Act of 2008 is an act of the National Assembly of Kenya that temporarily re-established the offices of the Prime Minister of Kenya, along with the creation of two deputy prime ministers.

This act followed the February 28, 2008, power-sharing agreement between Kibaki and Raila, who became the first prime minister of Kenya since 1964, when the constitution of the newly created Republic abolished the office. In simple terms, the Act allowed the bypassing of the Constitution to pave way for the formation of a grand coalition government.

The agreement was necessitated by the 2007/08 post-election violence in which over 1,000 people died and hundreds of thousands of others were injured and displaced. Under the Accord signed by Kibaki and Odinga, the leaders agreed on a power-sharing structure where they would equally divide the Cabinet and other key positions.

“The enactment of the National Accord and Reconciliation Act, 2008 and the agreement on the Cabinet underscores the commitment of our nation’s leadership to put the collective interest of the country and our people above everything else,” Kibaki said at the time.

The Prime Minister, while being appointed by the President without the need for prior consultation, had a distinct portfolio and coordinated the reform agenda as well as supervised ministries. The PM was also accountable to the President and was immune from civil or criminal prosecution.

Like in most other parliamentary democracies, the prime minister's government was dependent upon the party majority or power-sharing coalition majority in parliament. It would have fallen from power if or when the 10th Kenyan Parliament is dissolved, the coalition members agree in writing, or one coalition member withdraws from the coalition by resolution of the member's party's decision-making body.

The Constitution of Kenya, enacted in August 2010, provided for the extension of the power-sharing government to the end of its natural term. The Prime Minister had the potential of being dismissed from office by a majority vote of the Parliament.

On June 18, 2021, while mourning the late businessman Chris Kirubi, Raila hailed him as a key mobilizer in ending the 2007/2008 post-election violence leading to the formation of a grand coalition government. Alongside Kalonzo Musyoka, Raila explained that Kirubi convinced them to join the grand coalition government which was formed in the aftermath of the post-electoral crisis which claimed thousands of lives with many others displaced.

“The issue of forming a grand coalition and sharing positions in the new government almost caused a stalemate. Two people who came to approach me to agree on a compromise included Chris Kirubi, he pleaded with me to agree to have a dialogue with Kibaki, he was passionate and I agreed,” he said.

The agreement that paved way for the unveiling of the Grand Coalition Cabinet was reached during talks between the two principals at the secluded Sagana State Lodge.

“We managed to come up with a compromised agreement and a grand coalition was formed, thanks to the effort of Chris Kirubi,” Odinga added.

The National Accord rendered the country ungovernable unless a real power-sharing deal was struck because the events after the election threatened the country's existence. In the preamble of the agreement, the then-ruling party's power was limited especially when appointing and firing government officials as all processes needed to go through consultation.

This would therefore explain why some Kenya Kwanza leaders were up in arms over the new proposal, with Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale accusing him of trying to bulldoze his way into power.

Raila Odinga during a press address at Capitol Hill on March 21, 2023. /RAILA ODINGA

"Raila is an exposed man desperate for power at whatever cost. How does he equate the current situation to the 2007/08 period and ask for power-sharing under a National Accord arrangement?

"Your demos have nothing to do with the cost of living but a means to bulldoze your way to power. Trust me you will not succeed," Duale remarked.

Others who joined Duale in opposing Raila included Kimilili Member of Parliament (MP) Didmas Barasa, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika and lawyer Miguna Miguna.

What To Do While Driving In Rain Along Major Highways- Kenya Met

admin — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 13:34:51 +0300

The Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) has warned Kenyan motorists using the Nakuru-Nairobi Highway among other major highways on slippery roads and poor visibility caused by the heavy rainfall witnessed across the country.

In a statement on Tuesday, April 4, the weatherman noted that the combination is a high risk to motorists and pedestrians plying the Kikuyu-Kinungi stretch on the major road.

"Slippery roads and poor visibility during rainstorms may also pose a danger to motorists and pedestrians, especially along the Kikuyu-Kinungi stretch on the Nakuru-Nairobi Highway.

"The public should, therefore, take utmost care during the rainy period to minimize accidents that could result from such weather conditions. Measures such as improving road signage and traffic management, as well as encouraging motorists to use headlights during low visibility, should be implemented to enhance safety on the roads," KMD stated in part.

An image of a foggy Nairobi-Nakuru Highway. /FILE

Many people lose their lives every year to accidents on Kenyan roads due to various factors including careless driving, drunk driving, and overspeeding, among others.

Just like driving at night, the risk of accidents increases also when it rains. This is because rain reduces visibility on the road and makes road surfaces more slippery, making driving difficult.

To drive safely on Kenyan roads when it rains, you must be extra cautious to ensure your safety and that of other road users.

Slow down and maintain a safe distance

One of the most important things to do to drive safely in the rain is to slow down and maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead of you. Rain reduces visibility and you shouldn’t drive fast when you can’t see the road clearly.

It also makes the road surface wet, which might cause skidding and increases the braking distance when you apply the brakes. You are therefore recommended to drive slowly and keep a safe distance to get enough reaction time in case of emergencies.

Use your fog lights, parking lights or headlights

Some cars have fog lights installed in them, and they are there to be turned on when the weather is foggy or rainy for other drivers to see you.

If your car doesn’t have fog lights, then you can use your parking lights. However, depending on the weather condition, you can turn on your headlights if the visibility is too low.

However, make sure to use the low beams so as not to blind other drivers. Also, use turn signals correctly to communicate your intentions to other drivers.

Be extra cautious at intersections

Intersections can be dangerous when it’s raining, as it’s difficult to see oncoming vehicles and judge their distance.

Slowing down and looking carefully before proceeding is one of the most important safe driving tips to observe while at intersections.

Stop completely and be extra cautious when turning. Yielding the right of way can also help you navigate safely.

Avoid hydroplaning

In broad terms, hydroplaning (sometimes referred to as “aquaplaning”) is uncontrollable sliding on a wet surface. Essentially, your tires have lost their grip on the road, and are instead riding on top of the standing water.

This can lead to an assortment of undesirable, and sometimes dangerous circumstances; the car can turn sideways, veer into other lanes/the guard wall/off the road completely, and even flip in some cases.

In simple terms, hydroplaning happens when you drive too fast through a flooded section, which causes your tires to lose contact with the road. It is even worse if your tyres are under-inflated as this can make you lose control of your vehicle and cause an accident.

To avoid hydroplaning, reduce your speed, avoid driving through stagnant water if possible, and ensure your tires are properly inflated.

Watch out for pedestrians and other road users

Safe driving in the rain is not only about avoiding accidents with other cars, but it is also important to be mindful of other road users.

In such situations, it’s difficult to spot pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users, so it’s important to be alert and watch out for them. Be careful not to hit pedestrians who are crossing or walking by the road.

Other than the dangers of rainy weather along the roads, KMD named over 18 areas likely to experience storms, including the Lake Victoria Basin, parts of southern Rift Valley and parts of the highlands west of Rift Valley.

Others include Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, Busia, Kisii, Nyamira, Kericho, Bomet, Kakamega, Nandi, Bungoma, Vihiga and Western parts of Narok counties.

Additionally, the weatherman stated that parts of the Central and South Rift region would also experience storms as rainfall is expected throughout April. The areas listed included Baringo, Laikipia, Nakuru, parts of Narok, West Pokot, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.

Kenyans walking in heavy rain in Nairobi. /FILE

Nairobi residents should also expect long-term average rainfall, which could cause floods in some estates.

The Met Department also raised an alarm regarding vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, and chikungunya which are expected to increase in certain regions of the country.

Malaria is likely to increase in the Lake Victoria Basin, Northeast, Northwest, and the Coastal Strip, while cases of dengue and chikungunya may also increase in the Coastal region.

5 Times Raila Has Struck Handshake Deals With Kenya's Presidents

Marvin Chege — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 16:45:10 +0300

Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila Odinga, is known for many things in Kenya, and a handshake is one of the most common associations about him.

The 78-year-old has had a political career stretching back over 40 years and can best be compared to a cat with nine lives. He's been through a number of country-shaking political events and has formed alliances or some sort of agreement with four of the country’s presidents when least expected along the way.

Except for the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Raila has traversed every president in Kenya with 'handshakes' and offered different terms and conditions as an accompaniment, from the most surprising being former President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2018 to the recent 'bipartisan' agreement with President William Ruto.

Raila Odinga and William Ruto when they met at Windsor hotel on June 29, 2022. /K24 DIGITAL

Viral Tea takes a look at the five times Raila has struck handshake deals with Kenya's four presidents:

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with President Daniel arap Moi

In 1997, Raila and then-president Daniel Moi (now deceased) joined hands in a political move that sent shockwaves amongst many considering Moi had earlier fallen out with the former Prime Minister and twice detained him for nine years.

In the terms of this political agreement christened Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Raila agreed to dissolve his National Development Party (NDP) party to join Moi’s Kenya Africa National Union (KANU), which saw him bestowed a slot as KANU’s secretary general and Minister for Energy.

The deal however lasted a few years as Raila would dump KANU after he disagreed with Moi’s choice of Uhuru Kenyatta as his successor.

Raila Backs Kibaki For President ('Kibaki Tosha')

Raila then backed Kibaki’s presidential candidature for 2002 and campaigned for his presidency in tough conditions including a time when the presidential candidate was involved in a grisly road accident and had to be flown to the United Kingdom (UK) for specialized treatment.

He was rewarded with a slot as Minister of Roads, but frosty relations emerged when Kibaki and Raila fell out soon after, with Raila claiming he had been politically shortchanged. Kibaki responded by firing him from the government.

Peace Accord With Kibaki After 2007/08 Post-Election Violence

Raila contested for the presidency in 2007 and finished second to President Kibaki, though in controversial circumstances. He refuted the results as the country degenerated into widespread violence in which over 1,000 people died and hundreds of thousands of others were injured and displaced.

Later, talks led by former UN secretary-general Koffi Anan led to a peace accord in which Kibaki and Odinga shook hands in public in the presence of then Tanzania president Jakaya Kikwete.

Raila was appointed Prime Minister and handed half of the ministries in government in an arrangement dubbed ‘nusu mkate’ (half a loaf) as part of the agreement. The deal lasted five years, until the end of Kibaki’s tenure as Head of State.

Raila-Uhuru Handshake

The unexpected handshake between former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila on March 9, 2018, was a watershed event and it was so surprising that it caught Kenyans unawares in the morning hours.

The August 2017 general election was marred with violence, and claims of rigging led to the Supreme Court nullifying Uhuru's victory, stating that there were illegalities and irregularities in the election.

Raila however refused to contest the repeat poll slated for October 26, saying the IEBC had failed to institute reforms to forestall “illegalities and irregularities.” The violence saw protesters clash with police and more than 66 people died.

As though that was not enough, Raila took an unofficial oath on January 30, 2018, when he was sworn in as the People’s President at Uhuru Park in Nairobi.

The infamous 'handshake' brought an end to the acrimony between leading political parties and tribes and promised to usher in a new era of peace, with the two leaders pledging to work together to address ethnic division, corruption, and historical injustice.

Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga during the 'handshake' in 2018. /BBC

During the launch of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), Raila intimated that the Handshake was born out of a 19-hour meeting with his archrival and that it “was not easy”.

“When we met with Mr Odinga we took tea for almost 45 minutes without having any discussion. All we could ask each other is how is home... how is your wife... how are the kids? There was nothing else we could talk about because of the anger from the insults we had been hurling at each other,” Uhuru shared.

While the two buried their hatchet, Kenyatta's deputy at the time, William Ruto claimed that he was left out, and thereafter side-lined from the government. The former president would later support Raila in the August 2022 General Election and heavily campaigned for him but Ruto emerged as the winner.

Ruto-Raila 'Bipartisan' Talks

Raila again lost the elections to President Ruto and the subsequent Supreme Court petition that he sought to overturn his win. Buoyed by an alleged report by a whistle-blower, Odinga first held public barazas across the country and later scaled that up to mass protests.

Despite promising that the protests would be peaceful, chaotic battles between protesters and the police were characterised by wanton looting and destruction of property, lives lost, injuries, a series of arrests and an economy in danger of sliding deeper into the black hole.

Three weeks later, Ruto urged Raila to call off the weekly nationwide demonstrations while agreeing to reconstitute the selection panel for the IEBC through a bipartisan parliamentary process, which was one of Raila's demands during the demonstrations.

Two hours after the President's address, the former Prime Minister called off the protests temporarily, accepting Ruto's call for dialogue over the constitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Raila and Ruto are on record stating that they would not enter into corporation deals in form of a 'handshake'.

State Of The Nation: Read Ruto's Full Speech To Raila Odinga

admin — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 16:02:01 +0300

STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY HON. WILLIAM SAMOEI RUTO, PhD., C.G.H., PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE FORCES

1. In the last two weeks, our Country has experienced grave acts of lawlessness, widespread violence, looting and invasion of private property by persons taking advantage of political demonstrations, called by the opposition.

2. During this period, lives have been lost, people injured, property looted or destroyed, the economy has suffered and our image as a Nation dented.

3. Our security agencies have endeavoured to do everything within the law to protect the lives and property of all citizens. Nevertheless, the violence, chaos and disorder continue to distract our national focus on economic transformation.

4. Three Kenyans, among them a police officer have lost their lives in the protests. More than four hundred Kenyans, including at least 60 security officers have been injured. A Police vehicle was burnt to ashes, while another was hijacked and commandeered by unruly protestors. Two houses of worship were burnt down. Kiosks, supermarkets and a mortuary were looted.

Police officers along Haile Selassie Avenue in Nairobi during the Azimio la Umoja demonstrations. /FILE

5. Our Country’s image and history in the league of Modern Nations has been at stake. The Country’s economy has been hard hit, at a time when my administration is doing everything possible to salvage the economy from the deep hole it was in. My administration has instituted solid measures and policies to attract investors, and through their investment, create opportunities for millions of our young people to realize their potential. We cannot allow these efforts to be derailed by acts of violence, chaos and anarchy.

6. We all have an obligation to respect the Constitution of Kenya. This also includes respect for the institutions established and created by the Constitution. Our Country’s electoral system and process are anchored on the principles of this Constitution. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) conducted a free, fair and transparent General Election on 9th August 2022, a poll that was observed by different organisations; local and foreign. The Commission declared the results for all six elections conducted and any contestant who was aggrieved by the outcome, had an opportunity to present their grievances to the country’s Judicial system for arbitration.

7. The Supreme Court of Kenya heard and determined with finality, the 2022 Presidential election dispute and ruled on the petitions that were filed by the aggrieved contestants and their supporters.

8. Nevertheless, I have carefully listened to the issues raised by Honorable Raila Odinga. In times like these, it is not about who is right or who is wrong. As Winston Churchill said, I dare say that “courage is what it takes to stand up and speak, but it is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”

9. I have always been ready to engage Kenyans from all walks of life, including elected and appointed leaders from across the political divide, and the religious fraternity on how to make our country better and more prosperous. My door still remains open for honest, objective and sincere deliberations, based on the rule of law and the Constitution.

10. On the re-constitution of the future electoral commission, the selection panel that is currently in office is a creation of the law that was passed by the two chambers of Parliament in response to a Court decision. The Court clearly stated that one institution, in this case, Parliament, cannot dominate the process of establishing an electoral commission at the expense of other institutions that have a role to play in the country’s electoral process.

11. However, considering the matters raised on this particular subject, I suggest a bi-partisan engagement in Parliament on the re-constitution of the IEBC panel within the parameters of the law and the constitution.

12. In any case as a democrat and guided by the constitution I, on 9th December 2022, sent a memorandum to Speakers of the National Assembly and Senate, requesting for purposive intervention on Implementation of the two-thirds Gender Rule; entrenchment in the Constitution of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), Senate Oversight and National Gender Affirmative Action funds, the establishment of the position of the leader of the official opposition and the improvement of Parliamentary oversight of the Executive.

13. The IEBC Selection Panel and the future process of recruitment of its Commissioners could as well be part of a conversation leading to Constitutionally and legally binding proposals, through a bi-partisan Parliamentary process.

14. In these circumstances, and in view of the recent events that led to the loss of lives and destruction of property I urge Hon. Raila Odinga to call off any further demonstrations.

15. Meanwhile, I call on all Kenyans to remain peaceful and law-abiding. I assure you that the government will continue with its sacred duty of protecting lives and property.

WILLIAM RUTO, PRESIDENT

President William Ruto speaking at State House on April 2, 2023. /CITIZEN TV

How Raila Enters Nairobi Estates During Protests Despite Police Presence [VIDEO]

Marvin Chege — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 16:59:32 +0300

Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila Odinga, has been using all manner of tricks to enter estates in Nairobi despite heavy police security stationed strategically at various points during the mass protests.

On Monday, March 27 however, the Spokesperson of the Azimio campaign secretariat Makau Mutua released a video uncovering the behind-the-scenes of Raila's navigation through Lavington into Kawangware and into Kibra from 1.30 pm.

Mutua recorded Raila's command unit in action from inside the former Prime Minister's vehicle revealing the tactics implemented to ensure his mass protests went on as he wished.

Here's the video:

Makau Mutua sharing how Raila Odinga got access to several estates amidst heavy police presence pic.twitter.com/Gzb7fZObaf
— Marvin Chege (@marvin_chege10) March 27, 2023

One of Odinga's bodyguards was seated on the co-driver's seat with a walkie-talkie on hand, constantly speaking on it and relying on it for traffic updates during the protests.

Among the alerts he received was the situation in Dagoretti as the convoy snaked its way to Kawangware.

"I am in Dagoretti and the thing is turning to stage two. You are supposed to reach stage two in 20 minutes," instructed the voice on the other end of the walkie-talkie.

Upon inquiry by Mutua, the bodyguard confirmed to him that they had broken through a barrier after certain cars 'had to be removed.'

The male voice on the other end appraised him of the updates regarding possible directions Raila's convoy would take while trying to gain entry into the Central Business District.

"From Kangemi, he may use the Expressway to enter the town," the voice stated. The bodyguard responded, "just go slow if you have already opened because we have the protestors with us."

However, Odinga and Mutua quickly interjected, insisting that his protestors should not be left behind.

The video was however pulled down by Mutua from his social media accounts by the time Viral Tea conducted spot checks.

Meanwhile, ICT Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Dennis Itumbi alleged that the clip was proof that Raila had breached police communications which endangered their security.

"Our agents are reporting that Raila has Police communication radio and the operations had been compromised.

"They are able to move and act based on police communication. We have shared the information with the police for necessary action," he alleged.

Raila for the second successive demonstration failed to get to the CBD, instead snaking through various informal residential areas perceived to be his primed strongholds to drum up support from his followers.

Raila Odinga's supporters during the Azimio mass protests in Nairobi on March 27, 2023. /RAILA ODINGA

Rachael Tabitha: Meet 24-Year-Old Student Leader Running Raila's Youth Wing

admin — Sun, 26 Mar 2023 16:02:15 +0300

Before the Azimio la Umoja anti-government protests that kicked off on Sunday, February 5 at Kamukunji grounds in Kibera, Nairobi, the name Rachael Tabitha was unheard-of.

When the Movement for the Defence of Democracy (MDD) was unveiled by the party leader, Raila Odinga on that day, Tabitha exploded into an internet sensation mainly due to her ravishing good looks and fierce attitude in her commitment to defending Raila and democracy as a whole.

However, the million-dollar question one might ask remains, who is the gorgeous woman currently serving as the deputy chairperson of the MDD movement?

Rachael Tabitha with Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila Odinga as they cut his cake on his birthday on January 7, 2022. /FACEBOOK

According to spot checks conducted by Viral Tea on her social media platforms, Tabitha has a Bachelor's degree in communications and public relations and works as the Deputy President of the Kenya University Student Organization (KUSO).

She is also a member of the East African Youth Parliament and also works with the Babu Owino communications team under the Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP), which makes her a journalist and media personality, in a way.

The 24-year-old, who is part of the Jeshi Ya Baba movement, opened up on her journey to politics which she started at the age of 15 when she used to campaign for her father, who was an MP from 2013 to 2022.

"Many people don't know where I have come from. I started campaigning when I was 15 years old. I moved from Nairobi to the village. My father who raised me is a politician. He served two terms as an MP.

"He just failed in this previous election. I used to campaign for him when I was young. I used to be on those caravans and I was controlling many things," Tabitha told Sauti TV.

She further narrated fighting past accusations of using her beauty to be with veterans in the Azimio campaign trails, terming her fast rise to her brain, strategy and prayers.

"If you want to go far as a woman, you should just read about those things, but they should not get into your head.

"People will always think that as a woman you must be favoured and that you must use your body to rise. But it is not like that," she added.

On critics slamming her move to support the former Prime Minister, Tabitha expressed her fearlessness in various situations, noting that one won't do anything while being clouded by fear.

"Cowards die many times If you live in fear, you'll never do anything. And also fear is generated in our minds so if at the end of the day, all of us have to die, then why should I fear death?" she posed.

Tabitha was one of the student leaders notably arrested on the weekend before the March 20, 2023 protests by the Azimio coalition by police who accused the students of holding an unauthorized meeting at Chester House in Nairobi to advise their followers ahead of the demonstrations.

"No amount of intimidation will make university students across the country not show up for tomorrow's protests. I would like to thank Raila because Kenyan students have gone through a lot of problems and that was even the reason why we did a press conference yesterday.

"It took place because many of your children are in high school and university. They are postponing meals...they are not eating because the government has refused to disburse HELB (funds), it is even to blame for the rise of LGBTQ issues in Kenya, this government is to blame for even the rise of gonorrhoea in Nairobi, it is to blame for very many social vices that we have seen in this country," her senior, KUSO President Anthony Manyara revealed during a church service on Sunday, March 19 which was attended by Raila.

The MDD, which Tabitha and Manyara are part of, came into prominence when more than 40 youths were arrested after they staged similar protests at the Kenya Railways roundabout and outside Kenya National Archives. The group, which was also arraigned in court, had staged an illegal assembly and it had not informed the authorities of its plans to picket.

During the arrest, police confiscated 75 beige shirts that the protesters were dressed in. The police also confiscated 29 red berets with a badge labelled Movement for the Defence of Democracy, 97 miniature Kenyan flags, blue helmets and packets of plastic whistles.

The movement draws its membership from across the country, including university students, and their brief is to execute Raila’s resistance plan. According to its Twitter bio, MDD believes in democracy, the rule of law, and free, fair, verifiable elections as well as representing the true voice of the people of Kenya.

Rachel Tabitha and Anthony Manyara with ODM leader, Raila Odinga. /FACEBOOK.RACHAEL TABITHA

Kasarani, Roysambu: 5 Cases Turning Nairobi Estates Into Death Capital

admin — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 17:59:07 +0300

Roysambu and Kasarani estates in Nairobi are two residences among the most preferred by Kenyans due to the convenience of shopping facilities such as Thika Road Mall (TRM) and Garden City Mall, as well as affordable housing.

However, the two estates have recently dominated national headlines for the wrong reasons owing to the number of Kenyans plummeting to their deaths from buildings, with the number so far rising to four, most of them in their youth, and only one occurring internally.

Other than being met with concerns by the residents, the Kasarani Police Station was put on the spot over the handling of some of the mysterious deaths, with their findings of suicide being ruled out by family members and friends of the deceased as well as investigative agencies.

Viral Tea takes a look at Kenyans who have died in the two areas:

The late popular artist Joseph Kubende. /STANDARD DIGITAL

Joseph Kubende

The popular Bungoma artist died on Thursday, March 23 after falling from a building in Roysambu Constituency, the latest in a series of alarming deaths in the residential areas.

According to reports, the artist fell under mysterious circumstances from the fourth floor and was found helpless on the ground by area residents, with efforts to rush him to the hospital by well-wishers and friends proved futile. He succumbed to the injuries while at the hospital in Pangani.

Kubende had just celebrated his birthday four days earlier on March 19 writing, "Happy birthday to me, and may my guardian saint, Joseph the worker, protect me and guide me through this turbulent of life."

The poet was known for his role in mobilising the political scene and was also a poet, singer, motivational speaker, and writer. Among those who mourned his demise included Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa.

Elizabeth Wanjiru Githinji

So far the only case that has not seen a victim fall to his death involved a Nakuru-based pastor who travelled to Kasarani, Nairobi on Saturday, March 18, to iron out some differences with a local gospel artiste, Mirugi Dishon [real name Paul Mathenge Wanderi], only to be found dead hours later at his house.

According to a police report filed under OB Number 28-18/03/2023 at Kiamumbi Police Station in Kiambu County, Mirugi had claimed that Githinji visited him at his house in the Maziwa area.

She brought him a new suit and other gift items, but she reportedly found the house untidy and offered to do some clean-ups.

“He [Mirugi] reported that he left his ex-girlfriend in his house and left for Thika Road and later tried reaching her through the phone but she was not responding. He rushed back to the house in Maziwa sub-location and found her hanging from [a bed sheet tied to] the frame of his wardrobe," read the report in part.

Mirugi, who also plies his trade as an entrepreneur in the real estate sector, was said to have placed Elizabeth's body in his car- a Toyota Mark X- and driven to Jacaranda Maternity Hospital but they declined to take the body. He then went to Kahawa West and Kasarani Police Stations before finally taking the body to Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary.

He had reportedly been dating Elizabeth, 38, since August last year, with the theory of her alleged suicide dismissed outright.

Brenda Kawira

The 29-year-old woman jumped to her death from the fourth floor of her apartment in Kasarani following an argument with her boyfriend, identified by several reports so far as 30-year-old John Marvin Kiretai, alias DJ Dela.

Kawira, a medical biochemist, was excited about her upcoming departure to Australia for her Master’s program in June 2023. Born on Jan 3, 1994, in a family of a Catholic priest, Peter Gitonga and Mama Catherine Gakii, Kawira had three brothers and two sisters.

She schooled in Nkubu Primary School between 1997 and 2006 before she proceeded to St Mary's Igoji Secondary School from 2007 to 2010. In September 2021, the late Kawira graduated with first-class honours from the University of Nairobi where she was pursuing a degree in medical biochemistry specialising to become a geneticist.

She had briefly worked as a Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry teacher at Kaanwa and Marimanti girls' secondary schools before she moved to a Nairobi-based pharmaceutical company where she was working till she met her death.

However, Kawira's family ruled out the police's conclusion that she had committed suicide, with inconsistencies in DJ Dela's narrative suggesting foul play. Moreover, a diary she left behind alleged the violent and toxic nature of her relationship with the DJ.

Side-by-side image of the late Brenda Kawira and DJ Dela. /VIRALTEAKE

Blair Muthomi

The 23-year-old reportedly jumped from the rooftop of a six-storey building in Kasarani under unclear circumstances.

A foreman at an adjacent building said he found the body when he opened the site for the construction workers. He further disclosed that the young man lived with two roommates in a cost-sharing plan.

“One of the young men led me to the ditch where he lay dead, I asked him what happened but he was not forthcoming,” the foreman told the press.

“When we were shown the remains of the boy, his internal organs were splattered everywhere making us suspicious if the death was accidental,” Muthomi's uncle explained his reservations.

Two of his housemates were arrested by police as persons of interest in the case. Muthomi's demise, coming weeks before he graduated, occurred a few metres from and barely weeks after another death case that even drew Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki's attention:

Jeff Mwathi

It is the most publicised demise of 2023 and had risked going under the radar until Simon Mwangi Muthiora, a blogger and social media personality, brought to the limelight the circumstances leading to Mwathi's death, which were initially treated as mere postulation and propaganda.

Inooro TV, a vernacular TV station carried out its brief investigative piece on the matter, which exploded into an uproar across the country and forced CS Kindiki to order a thorough probe to be conducted by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

So far, the DCI has established that Mwathi was killed being thrown off the 10th floor of Redwood Apartments along USIU Road as a cover-up to make it look like he took his own life. That apartment was found to belong to popular Kikuyu benga artist and DJ Fatxo, real name Lawrence Njuguna, who is a key person of interest.

Initially, it was believed that Mwathi jumped from the window of the bedroom but detectives ruled that out as it was impossible for him to fit through, given that the window had tight grills.

Other than DJ Fatxo, other persons of interest include all the five persons who were at DJ Fatxo’s house on the morning of February 22, 2023, when the incident happened, as well as the police officers who handled the case first.

This is after Nominated Senator, Karen Nyamu alleged that police officers from the Kasarani Police Station were involved in the cover-up of Mwathi's murder.

Side-by-side image of the late Geoffrey Mwathi and DJ Fatxo. /CITIZEN DIGITAL.FACEBOOK DJ FATXO

Maldives: World-Famous Destination Where KBC's Caren Kibbett Spent Birthday [PHOTOS]

admin — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 15:35:36 +0300

Award-winning Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) sports anchor, Caren Kibbett on Monday, March 20 arrived at the Republic of Maldives, an archipelagic state in South Asia, situated in the Indian Ocean, and celebrated her birthday the following day (Tuesday, March 21).

Since then, she has been documenting her stay in the popular tourist destination through a series of photos capturing her escapades at the luxury tourist destination that can only rival Diani Beach in terms of one of the world's most gorgeous beaches.

One of the interesting encounters she did have involved her walking into a supermarket in the country, without shoes.

"Something small for the birthday girl. It was interesting to learn about the ‘No shoe’ policy in supermarkets," she shared in part.

KBC's Caren Kibbett shopping in the Maldives on March 21, 2023. /FACEBOOK.CAREN KIBBETT

However, that is not the only intriguing fact about the Maldives, one of the best island destinations in the world. It has numerous atolls, clear waters, pristine beaches and dive sites filled with marine life and coupled with its rich history, diverse landscapes and destinations.

Viral Tea picked out some interesting facts about the Maldives:

Maldives Sits on the Equator

This means that sun rays in the Maldives get sprinkled at a 90-degree angle. In a nutshell, the sun's rays are direct, and hence it is strong; guests must put on some sunscreen to protect themselves from the ultraviolet rays wherever they explore on the island.

Interestingly, Kenya sits on the Equator which divides the country in half. Tourists visiting Kenya can visit the point of the Equator before entering Nanyuki town.

Divorce Rate is High in the Honeymoon Capital of Asia

Touted to be one of the best honeymoon destinations in Asia for tropical island vacations, thanks to its sugar sandy beaches, and overwater bungalows, Maldives is synonymous with being the honeymoon capital of the Asian continent.

But the irony is, a report by the United Nations (UN) reveals that Maldives has the highest divorce rate, almost twice the United States (US) (annually). On average, official records state that the woman in the Maldives has divorced thrice before she reaches 30 years of age.

World’s First Underwater Cabinet Meeting Was Held in Maldives

Maldives' former president Mohammed Nasheed held an underwater cabinet meeting in Girifushi on October 17, 2009, where he and 13 other government officials participated in the first underwater cabinet meeting in the world, with the agenda being to address the looming threat of global warming.

The officials signed a document asking all countries to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions and prevent climate change during the meeting. It was then presented at the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in December of the same year.

Maldives is the World’s Flattest Country And Is Sinking

This beautiful island country has an average altitude of 1.8 metres: its highest point Villingili Island is only 2.3 metres above sea level. To put things in perspective, the next flattest country, Qatar, already has an average elevation of 28 metres above sea level!

The 1,200 islands in the Maldives are only nearly two metres above sea level on average, making the area more prone to rising sea levels, erosion and other environmental factors. As a result, the country is slowly sinking into the ocean, however, Maldives has strict environmental laws in place to minimise the impact.

Maldives Has Distinct White Beaches

Unlike most “white sand” beaches that have yellowish sand, the beaches of Maldives have true white sands. The sands of Maldives beaches are made of coralline.

Other beaches often have sand from quartz with a yellow tinge. Coralline sands are rare and only present in around five per cent of beaches worldwide.

The white beaches of the Maldives. /FACEBOOK.CAREN KIBBETT

Maldives is a Melting Pot of Culture, With Low Crime Rates

The official tourism website of Maldives states that the nation follows Sunni Islam, but one will encounter natives from Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Africa, and Indonesia avenues.

To learn about traditional Maldivian life, one is recommended to visit the local islands in Maldives. African, European and Arabian used the Maldives as the crossroad of trade during the ancient time.

Additionally, the low crime rates in Maldives make it one of the safest places on the earth for all types of vacations, including family trips, honeymoon tours, couple getaways, and leisure vacations.

Some Maldives Islands Are Artificial

This signifies that not all the islands in the Maldives are naturally formed. For instance, Hulhumale Island is a man-made island close to the Male and is often replicated as an artificial island formed by the dumping loads of sand in 2004.

Tourism flourishes there as an incredible coastline and paved roads have been made by the Maldives government.

Public Affection is A Strict 'No' in the Maldives + No Alcohol.

It is because the population of Maldives is Muslim. You cannot for instance flaunt your swimsuits and display public affection in the local islands of Maldives as doing the same would land you in trouble.

Maldives also prohibits alcohol consumption on private island resorts. Additionally, homosexuality is a punishable offence in this Indian archipelago.

However, local islands have bikini beaches, but it is best to switch to private island resorts with no such restriction on boozing and flaunting your bikini suites.

Spring is the Best Time for Maldives Vacations + No Harsh Wet Season

Maldives is a year-round destination because of its tropical climate, but for anyone who wants guaranteed sunshine, January to March is the best time to go to the Maldives. These months constitute the spring season that starts and ends from November to April.

Like the neighbouring countries, Maldives’ wet season is not that rough. Travellers can enjoy watersports at a safe point since Maldives' water is shallow because of the atolls and lagoons.

Maldives has two monsoon seasons – southwest and northeast monsoon. The former commences from May to October and is September’s wettest month while the latter is mild and starts from mid-November to December.

Maldives Has Very Limited Availability of Freshwater

Another geographical fun fact about the Maldives is that the country has different drinking water. By this, it means that this archipelagic country in the Indian Ocean is highly vulnerable to climate change, and hence, limited freshwater in the Maldives is the talk of the town.

Travellers on their Maldives trip will learn about water conservation at Kandolhu Island. The same island makes water safe for drinking through the osmosis process.

Not Every Island of Maldives is Inhabited

There are 1,200 islands (approximately) in the Maldives spread across the Indian Ocean.

Some of them are private island resorts, while the rest of them are locally inhabited islands. At the same time, there are many non-inhabited islands in the Maldives where tourism is not allowed.

Traditional Maldives Boats Don’t Use Compasses or GPS

If you’re visiting Maldives, expect to ride dhonis, or traditional Maldives boats. They are one of the best modes of transportation if you want to explore the atolls of the island country.

You’ll be surprised that seasoned dhoni captains and crews still refrain from using GPS or compasses to navigate the various atolls and islands. Instead, they observe the movement of water in the lagoons to avoid dangerous reefs and at times, they navigate the waters by looking at the stars.

Maldives Has Historic Coral Houses

Traditional Maldivian houses were originally made from corals due to coral mining. These houses used coral rocks from shallow reef flats.

Since most citizens used lumber and coconut leaves to build their homes, coral was reserved for mosques, tombstones and monuments because they were a symbol of opulence.

A house made of coral was a sign of luxury and prestige. Even though coral reefs are now protected, you can still see old coral houses in Maldives.

Maldives Has Different Weekends

Unlike the majority of the countries that consider Saturday and Sunday as the weekend, Maldives have their weekends on Friday and Saturday.

This is common in Egypt, Jordan, Oman and other Islamic countries. Whenever you plan to visit a local island, keep this in mind since some services and accommodations won’t be available on weekends.

Other facts about Maldives include the coconut being the country's national tree, which is evident on their flag. The trees can last for at least a hundred years and grow up to 30 metres tall.

Coconut trees at the Maldives. /TRIP SAVVY

Coconut trees have various purposes: the trees provide much-needed shade to the islands' winding beaches and produce coconut milk and oil. They also produce coconut water, a refreshing drink. The coconut fibres are useful for coir rope construction, and native Maldives citizens use coconut wood to build dhonis for sailing.

Maldives also has a thriving marine biodiversity, meaning its seas are home to five of the seven marine turtle species in the world. You can see loggerheads, leatherbacks, Olive Ridley turtles, green turtles and hawksbill turtles when you visit popular dive sites in the country.

Maldives also has the biggest whale shark population in the world. The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and the world's biggest shark, known to get as large as 18 meters (60 feet) and the archipelago allows tourists to witness whale sharks year-round on snorkelling, scuba diving, glass-bottom boat ride adventure under experts’ supervision.

Hilarious, Surprising & Heartwarming Highlights From Azimio Protests

Marvin Chege — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 17:10:35 +0300

Citizen TV senior reporter Seth Olale on Monday, March 20 responded to growing pressure to repost a video that went viral during the Azimio la Umoja mass protests.

In a tweet, he explained that he was unable to share on the platform a video of a woman who approached police officers naked, in a bold fashion, and climbed aboard a vehicle as a result.

"I cannot post the video of the nude woman who boldly approached police officers and climbed their vehicle. While it could be a case of mental instability, there is a more serious problem," he stated.

However, a user underneath the comments section shared the actual video footage, which Viral Tea cannot publish due to its explicit nature, showing the woman walking along the surface of a busy road naked, charging at what looked like an imaginary crowd with onlookers recording her antics.

Sila Kiplagat's viral photo of a police officer firing a teargas canister during the Azimio protests on March 20, 2023. /DAILY NATION

Olale himself was even forced to dismiss a past tweet which captioned a photo of a police officer grabbing a hold of a protester to make it look like it was him.

These were among those rare moments captured on camera during the protests, which stopped the Nairobi Metropolitan area for hours while turning Kisumu City into a battleground.

A protester became a viral sensation when he was captured walking off with the Tom Mboya street signpost, with a flurry of comments insinuating that he was intending to take the famous street in Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) home to his family.

"Dear Google Maps, Kindly update us on where Tom Mboya Street, Nairobi is. Thanks," Asmali tweeted.

That was not enough. A police officer became another instant online celebrity when he was captured escorting a pupil to school, despite the fact that many learning institutions advised students to keep off the city and their premises and that this was a fully-armed anti-riot officer- in the middle of running battles.

Kenyans commended the officer's actions with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) sharing his photo with the caption, "Thank you for your service officer."

In Kisumu, Odinga's backyard, a police officer was caught on camera consoling a protester who was weeping uncontrollably after his arrest.

"How did you get here and where is your home? Do not worry, we will take you home," the officer remarked as he patted the protester's head.

Protester in Kisumu breaks down in tears after being arrested by the police#MassActionKE pic.twitter.com/8xDhyk1Mdb
— The Standard Digital (@StandardKenya) March 20, 2023

Jubilee Secretary-General, Jeremiah Kioni took his viral sufuria antics a notch higher when a photo captured him wearing a sufuria on his head like a hat during the Nairobi protests.

Citizen TV crew deployed to cover the mass action protests rescued a school-going pupil caught in the crossfire between police and protesters.

"We have actually ourselves taken a young school girl who was going back to school to hospital after she was hit by a teargas canister," Faizal Ahmed a reporter with the station, stated.

Police on horseback were captured patrolled the city, which was turned into almost ground zero in a matter of hours into the protests.

Nation Media Group (NMG) photojournalist Sila Kiplagat earned praise for his stellar shot showing police firing teargas at a crowd of protestors in Nairobi, whereby there were two security officers at bay along the City Hall Way.

Meanwhile, areas such as Eastleigh got a surprise taste of teargas when Azimio leader Raila Odinga was locked out of the city centre amidst his promise to stop at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), and forced to snake through a series of residential areas ranging from Kamukunji to Mathare as efforts to access the city was foiled by the police.

In Kibra, the windscreen of a Nation Media Group (NMG) vehicle was vandalized when police engaged protesters in running battles in the morning, featuring the first in a series of teargas events that would rule most of the day.

"Tunataka fresh teargas ya 2023 tuskie utamu ya maandamano"

Protesters complain about outdated teargas lobbed at them during #Maandamano protests#ViralVideos pic.twitter.com/RbDHyYgz80
— Viral Tea Ke (@ViralTeaKe) March 20, 2023

One of the protesters had notably complained about the nature of the teargas canisters thrown at them, saying they were outdated and that police should update them to suit 2023 standards.

Vandalism was recorded countrywide from robberies in Nairobi matatus to damage of properties in Kisumu during the demonstrations. Protesters along Juja Road had forced cops to take cover behind the wall of a residential area after they were pelted with stones.

Police forced to climb a wall to run away from protesters in Raila's convoy#ViralVideos #Maandamano pic.twitter.com/Bt2lbiALVA
— Viral Tea Ke (@ViralTeaKe) March 20, 2023

Earlier, a mechanic was rushed to the hospital for treatment after he sustained injuries from a gunshot at Toi Market while participating in the Azimio mass action in Kibera, Nairobi County.

Azimio Protests: What To Do When Exposed To Teargas

admin — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 10:05:51 +0300

Clouds of tear gas have so far been prevalent in the cities of Nairobi and Kisumu during the Azimio la Umoja mass action on Monday, March 20.

Teargas is also referred to as a riot control agent and is a chemical weapon that is illegal to use in wars, but legal in many countries if used to disperse crowds and de-escalate protests.

According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), riot control agents are chemical compounds that temporarily make people unable to function by causing irritation to the eyes, mouth, throat, lungs, and skin.

Several different compounds are considered to be riot control agents. The most common compounds are known as chloroacetophenone (CN) and chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile (CS).

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna leads a section of Azimio MPs as they brave teargas and storm inside KICC. /STAR BREAKING

Other examples include chloropicrin (PS), which is also used as a fumigant (that is, a substance that uses fumes to disinfect an area); bromobenzylcyanide (CA); dibenzoxazepine (CR); and combinations of various agents.

Riot control agents are used by law enforcement officials for crowd control and by individuals and the general public for personal protection (for example, pepper spray). CS is also used in military settings to test the speed and ability of military personnel to use their gas masks.

How Teargas Works and How You Can Be Exposed

Because they are liquids or solids (for example, powder), riot control agents such as CN and CS could be released in the air as fine droplets or particles. If agents are released into the air, people could be exposed to them through skin contact, eye contact, or breathing.

The extent of poisoning caused by riot control agents depends on the amount of riot control agents to which a person was exposed, the location of exposure (indoors versus outdoors), how the person was exposed, and the length of time of the exposure.

Riot control agents work by causing irritation to the area of contact (for example, eyes, skin, nose) within seconds of exposure. The effects of exposure to a riot control agent are usually short-lived (15–30 minutes) after the person has been removed from the source and decontaminated (cleaned off).

Immediate signs and symptoms of exposure to teargas

People exposed to riot control agents may experience some or all of the following symptoms immediately after exposure:

Eyes: excessive tearing, burning, blurred vision, redness
Nose: runny nose, burning, swelling
Mouth: burning, irritation, difficulty swallowing, drooling
Lungs: chest tightness, coughing, choking sensation, noisy breathing (wheezing), shortness of breath
Skin: burns, rash
Other: nausea and vomiting

Long-lasting exposure or exposure to a large dose of riot control agent, especially in a closed setting, may cause severe effects such as the following:

Blindness
Glaucoma (a serious eye condition that can lead to blindness)
Immediate death due to severe chemical burns to the throat and lungs
Respiratory failure possibly resulting in death

Showing these signs and symptoms does not necessarily mean that a person has been exposed to riot control agents.

Long-term health effects of exposure to teargas

Prolonged exposure, especially in an enclosed area, may lead to long-term effects such as eye problems including scarring, glaucoma, and cataracts, and may possibly cause breathing problems such as asthma.
If symptoms go away soon after a person is removed from exposure to riot control agents, long-term health effects are unlikely to occur.

What To Do When You're Exposed To Teargas

1. Leave the area where teargas has been released

It is advisable for one to quickly move to an area where fresh air is available to reduce exposure effects.

2. Rinse your face with cold water.

If your eyes are exposed, burning, or blurry, rinse them with water immediately. Try not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. Use water from your bottle to rinse.

If one is available it is advisable to use a drinking fountain or sink in a public restroom to flush your eyes with water for 10 to 15 minutes. While rinsing your eyes from the inner to the outer corner, avoid allowing the contaminated water to run onto your skin or clothes.

3. Rinse off your body

After rinsing your face, the next steps are to clean the rest of your body. Remove any unnecessary or contaminated layers of clothing you may have on you.

Avoid using hot water because it will open your pores and allow the chemicals to seep further in, which will result in even more skin irritation.

4. Dispose of contaminated clothes

After rinsing off your body, place the teargas-exposed items of clothing inside a plastic bag. Avoid touching contaminated areas of the clothing in order to reduce the chances of increased skin irritation.

If you can’t avoid touching contaminated areas, or you aren’t sure where the contaminated areas are, wear rubber gloves, turn the bag inside out, and use it to pick up the clothes.

5. Face the wind.

When exposed to the tear gas fresh air will help blow excess tear gas powder off of you and will prevent it from blowing back into your mouth or eyes.

What to wear to protect yourself against tear gas and other chemical agents when protesting:

Facemask. Scarves or bandanas large enough to cover your face from nose to chin can serve as substitutes.
Shatter-resistant eye protection (e.g. shatter-resistant sunglasses, swim goggles, or a gas mask)
Clothing: covering all your skin as much as possible
Comfortable, closed, protective shoes that you can run in
Avoid wearing contact lenses, which can trap irritating chemicals, such as tear gas powder, underneath. If you do wear contact lenses, keep a full facial gas mask or goggles on at all times.
Avoid wearing makeup such as eyeliner, for the same reason.

A man throwing a teargas canister. /FILE

What to bring to a protest:

Water in your own plastic bottle with a squirt top (to drink and to wash off your skin or eyes)
A backpack or a drawstring bag – rather than an over-the-shoulder or a cross-body bag – in case you need to run
Identification and/or emergency contact information (consider writing this on your skin)
Cash for food and transportation or cash bail, in case you are arrested. Check how much bail is in your location.
Inhaler, and several days of prescription medication, in case you are arrested.
A medical alert bracelet or information about any chronic medical conditions or allergies
A change of clothes, in case you are exposed to chemical irritants

How Kenyan Woman's Feature In Viral Advert Led To Times Square Offer [PHOTO]

admin — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 16:34:02 +0300

An online lifestyle and fashion creator could turn out to be the next surprise success story in the Generation Z era in Kenya when her post celebrating being featured in a roadside advert drew the attention of the United States (US) on Saturday, March 18.

Nyokabi Mukora, who boasts of an active presence on Instagram and TikTok (over 11,700 followers on the former and over 2,188 followers on the latter), expressed her excitement on Thursday, March 16 when she was featured in the advert involving one of the latest smartphones in the Kenyan market.

With a beautiful smile, she was captured demonstrating how to take a selfie with the new phone, while captioning "I did it! I'm on a billboard!"

Collage of Nyokabi Mukora on a billboard and award-winning US journalist Madison Jaye. /TWITTER.NYOKABI MUKORA/INSTAGRAM.MADISON JAYE

Despite the wave of congratulatory messages she received from Kenyans On Twitter (KOT), the platform she had shared it on, one user named Lee Russian commented "That's a fence" in an apparent effort to water down her success.

Viral Tea later discovered that the advert was a wall wrap, a form of advertising hoarding which can be several meters in length, usually around or along buildings or walls, which creates a lot of room for advertising content to build awareness. Their huge size naturally attracts the attention of anyone passing by.

Just like iconic billboards and backlit, hoardings and wall wraps gives customers great exposure that can help in reaching a very large audience segment for campaigns like brand awareness, new product awareness and promotions.

Still, Lee Russian's comment drew the attention of Madison Jaye, a nine-time award-winning journalist and media personality based in New York City, USA, who responded by offering Mukora an offer that could change her life.

"I really don’t like bullies. Hi Nyokabi Mukora. I’m a partner in Billboards in Times Square and 1,500 across America.

"With permission from the owner of the image, I’d like to put you on a billboard in New York City FREE of charge. I'm going to follow and DM you now," she wrote, with Mukora yet to offer an update on the lucrative offer by the time of publication.

As proof of her work, she replied with a 2018 tweet posing next to her self-titled podcast The Madison Jaye Show which was being advertised on a billboard in Times Square.

Times Square is a major commercial intersection, tourist destination, entertainment hub, and neighbourhood in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Brightly lit at all hours by numerous digital billboards and advertisements as well as businesses offering 24/7 service, Times Square is sometimes referred to as "the Crossroads of the World"," the Center of the Universe", "the heart of the Great White Way", “the Center of the Entertainment Universe” and "the heart of the world".

As one of the world's busiest pedestrian areas, it is also the hub of the Broadway Theater District and a major centre of the world's entertainment industry.

Times Square is one of the world's most visited tourist attractions, drawing an estimated 50 million visitors annually. Approximately 330,000 people pass through Times Square daily, many of them tourists, while over 460,000 pedestrians walk through Times Square on its busiest days.

Among Kenyans who have been featured on Times Square billboards include 20-year-old award-winning Kenyan singer Nikita Kering, after Spotify announced Nikita as the EQUAL Ambassador for November 2022, joining the group of featured female artistes from the continent including Muthoni Drummer Queen and Sylvia Ssaru.

Kenyan-born photojournalist Polly Irungu, who works as the first photo editor for the office of US Vice President, Kamala Harris, also had her photography works in 2020 featured on the US Times Square billboards in New York.

Others include singer Bahati's album, 'Love like this' album poster and Khaligraph Jones's 6th studio album, Invisible Currency

A Times Square billboard cost for a day can start at $5,000 (Ksh635,963) and go up to well over $50,000 (Ksh6,359,630). Moreover, it can cost up to $3 million (Ksh381,577,800) per month to advertise on Time Square’s largest billboard.

Nikita Kering on a Times Square billboard. /FILE

Full List Of 50 CASs Nominated By Ruto

admin — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 18:24:17 +0300

President William Ruto on Thursday, March 16 nominated 50 candidates for the position of Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS).

The Head of State, in a statement to newsrooms, noted that the nominations will be forwarded to the National Assembly for approval.

“It is notified that His excellency Hon William Samoei Ruto PhD, CGH, following the recommendation of the Public Service Commission has today, 16th March 2023, nominated various persons as Chief Administrative Secretaries. The Presidential Action is pursuant to Article 132(4)(a) of the Constitution.

Former Laikipia woman representative Cate Waruguru and President William Ruto during a past event. /FILE

“By dint of the Executive Action, the nominations have been transmitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval by Parliament in accordance with the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act (No. 33 of 2011),” the statement read.

The CAS nominees include:

Office of the Deputy President

Ann Wanjiku Mwangi

Nicholas Ngabiya Rioba

Edwin Sudi Wandabusi

Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary

Sharif Athman Ali

Isaac Mwaura Maigua

Rehema Hassan

Ministry of Interior & National Administration

Samuel Kuntai Tunai

Millicent Nyaboke Omanga

Mohamud All Saleh

Ministry of Defence

Hon. Alfred Agoi Masadia

The National Treasury Economic Planning

Kirui Joseph Limo

Beatrice Nkatha Nyaqa

Ministry of Foreign & Diaspora Affairs

Joash Arthur Maangi

Catherine Waruguru

Ministry of Public Service, Gender & Affirmative Action

Hussein Tuneya Dado

Charity Nancy Nanyama Kibaba

Ministry of Roads & Transport

Benjamin Jomo Washiali

Nicholas Gumbo

Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing & Urban Development

Onesmus Kimani Ngunjiri

Victor Kioko Munyaka

Ministry of Information, Communications & The Digital Economy

Dennis Njue Itumbi, HSC

Simon Mwangi Kamau

Ministry of Health

James Kimanthi Mbaluka

Khatib Abdallah Mwashetani

Ministry of Education

Elly Stephen Loldepe

Mark Lomunokol

Anab Mohamed Gure

Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock Development

Jackson Kiptanui

Daniel Wamahiu Kiongo

Ministry of Investments, Trade & Industry

Evans Odhiambo Kidero

Vincent Kemosi Mogaka

Lilian Cheptoo Tomitom

Ministry of Co-Operatives & Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development

Bishop Margaret Wanjiru

Amos Chege Mugo

Ministry of Youth Affairs, The Arts & Sports

Wesley Korir

Charles Njagua Kanyi

Ministry of Environment, Climate Change & Forestry

Jackline Mwenesi Lukalo

Nyaga John Muchiri

Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife & Heritage

Wilson Sossion

Rehema Dida Jaldesa

Ministry of Water, Sanitation & Irrigation

Chrisantus Wamalwa

Sunya Orre

Ministry of Energy & Petroleum

Mary Yaine Seneta

John Lodepe Nakara

Ministry of Labour & Social Protection

Elijah Gitonga Rintaugu

Ministry of East African Community (EAC), The ASALs & Regional Development

Mwanamaka Amani Mabruki

Rael Chebichii Lelei

Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy & Maritime Affairs

David Kipkorir Kiplagat

Fredrick Otieno Outa

The State Law Office

Allan Kibet Kosgey

The Public Service Commission (PSC) had shortlisted 224 applicants for the position but included 16 new names, the majority of whom are allies of the Head of State, which brought the number to 240.

Public Service Commission (PSC) offices in Nairobi. /FILE