September 28, 2014 - Today's News In Gazetikenya

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Governors set terms to drop campaign

COUNTY CASH ROW | You are lying to Kenyans on the cash-sharing formula, Raila tells Uhuru and Ruto

Governors will abandon the Pesa Mashinani campaign if Parliament passes a law guaranteeing counties more cash, chairman Isaac Ruto said yesterday. Mr Ruto said the Council of Governors would draft a Bill to be ratified by all county assemblies and send to Parliament for enactment into law. The Bomet governor said if such a Bill were drafted at the national level, it would not capture the aspirations of the county leaders. “We cannot allow Nairobi to make that Bill for funds, we know they will cook the same to suit their whims. What we want is a homegrown Bill from the Council of Governors and approved by all (county) assemblies to be taken to Parliament and later assented to by the President guaranteeing more funds will be allocated to county governments as a matter of course not at the whims of an individual,” he said. 

Speaking at Njoro’s Mauche area, Mr Ruto said the push for more funds was geared towards better services for all Kenyans and had no link with Cord’s referendum agenda. Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya said the Pesa Mashinani campaign was not about parties but a plea to compel the government to abide by the decision of the Commission on Revenue Allocation that recommended Sh274 billion for counties only for the government to release Sh226 billion. “As chairman of the CoG, Ruto should not be crucified as an individual because he is representing a resolution made by 47 governors. He is suffering for all the 47 and he has no other agenda. 

All counties have similar problems — that is shortage of funds. If this money is given, then we will stop the referendum push. Our push is not about individuals but funds. It is different from Cord’s,” he said. Devolved functions And speaking later in Busia, the two governors criticised the formula used to allocate money to counties. “We are not asking for any money from other departments but rather money that should serve devolved functions. 

There is Sh120 billion that is lying in other areas that we need them to allocate to us. Sh17 billion has been allocated to health for deworming children and we feel this is a lot of funds. Sh24.5 billion to build water reservoirs instead of providing piped water to residents,” Mr Ruto said. “These monies are meant to serve the departments that the Constitution devolved to the counties. The 45 per cent we are asking for is from the 2013/2014 financial year and yet the 43 per cent allocation that they claim is from the 2008/2009 financial year. 

There is no need to increase taxes for them to increase funds. This is money that is readily available only that the national government has refused to give us,” he added. Mr Oparanya said all governors were behind the campaign, though some had been forced to skip their meetings due to political pressure from party leaders.

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September 27, 2014 - Today's News In Gazetikenya

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Employers warn of labour unrest over new NHIF rates

MANAGEMENT | Lobby says it doubts the Fund’s capacity to utilise cash

The FKE boss wants to know how the new rates were arrived at and how they will affect the overall staff deductions “to avoid a situation where the total deductions amount to more than two-thirds of the gross salary which is the upper limit set in law”. Under the law the employer cannot deduct more than two-thirds from an employee’s salary. “So we are concerned that employees may not be in a position to meet this threshold,” Ms Mugo noted. In the current NHIF rates, salaried workers’ contributions to NHIF range from Sh30 to Sh320. NHIF has over time been criticised of misusing funds, a situation that has dented its credibility. FKE has also questioned the fund’s capacity to handle the intended contributions. 

“Such actions show lack of clear direction on how to implement the government’s plan for universal healthcare,” Ms Mugo said. The employers have also voiced their concerns over the repeated exclusion of FKE and Cotu from the National Social Security Fund board of trustees meetings. “FKE has learnt that the NSSF board has been holding meetings without sending invitations to the FKE executive director and Cotu secretary General,” FKE board member Ms Gilda Odera said, adding that the argument used for this, is that Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi has not re-gazetted the FKE and Cotu representatives to the board after the court nullified the previous gazette notice. She demanded implementation of the court order.

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September 26, 2014 - Today's News In Gazetikenya

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Raila’s change agenda for polls and counties

REFERENDUM | Campaigners want chiefs to stay and APs devolved to lower units in five-point agenda

The Okoa Kenya campaign leaders yesterday called for the introduction of special returning officers to handle presidential election results from constituency to the national level in the next General Election. The group also wants special returning officers to handle the results for governors and another set for senators. This would be a departure from the current tradition under which the same returning officer reports results for all the six positions including for Members of the County Assembly, MP, Woman Representative, governor, senator and President to the national tallying centre. Cord is campaigning for a referendum to change the Constitution. 

The winner for the presidential vote is declared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman after the national tally has been collected. A meeting of governors, MPs, senators and MCAs supporting the ‘Okoa Kenya’ initiative, which is spearheaded by Cord leader Raila Odinga, also declared that the Administration Police should be devolved and placed under county administration while the Inspector General of Police retains overall command. During the meeting at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi yesterday, the group unveiled a five point referendum agenda focusing on devolution, land, judicial and electoral reforms. The group led by Mr Odinga appeared to be paying special emphasis on devolution, a move that could draw them closer to the parallel ‘Pesa Mashinani’ referendum campaign spearheaded by governors. Under their proposed constitutional amendment plan, the group wants 45 per cent of revenue collected by the national Government devolved to the counties with five per cent of the amount set aside for a proposed Ward Equalisation Fund. The amount is to be computed from the previous year’s revenue received as opposed to the current situation where the allocation is drawn from the most recent audited accounts approved by the National Assembly.

 On provincial administration, the meeting proposed that chiefs and their assistants be retained but the other positions in the system should be scrapped. They also proposed a strong law encouraging inclusivity in public appointments and outlawing the domination of the Government workforce by one ethnic group. They want 30 per cent of all public appointments reserved for minorities and a cap of 15 per cent for any one community. They are also pushing for the strengthening of public institutions and constitutional commissions. In his address to the gathering, Mr Odinga dwelt more on devolution to justify the need for more money in the devolved governments. “We are out to strengthen devolution because we have seen what it can do and what ails it. We have seen what county governments have done with so little money in such a short time,” 

Mr Odinga told the delegates. He said fears that the billions could end up being lost through corruption were misplaced. “For months, we have been asking the national government to account for the Sh15 billion that was stolen from OP (Office of the President). No one is talking,” said Mr Odinga. He also criticised the Deputy President, Mr William Ruto, for presiding over too many fundraisings. He claimed that Mr Ruto donated more money than he officially earned from his public office and businesses. “We need to be told where he is getting all this money from because I was also in the same office and I know. It is strange that he is capable of raising Sh10 million a week to offer in fundraisings countrywide,” said Mr Odinga, who was Prime Minister under the Grand Coalition Government whose tenure ended in March last year. The Deputy President occupies the office that Mr Odinga used when he was Prime Minister. Yesterday, Mr Odinga said that in the last 50 years, only 20 boreholes had been drilled in Marsabit. Since the last election, he said, the county government had drilled 20 more. 

He said Kisii never had a dialysis machine but one was being set up. He also cited the launching of a 25-kilometre tarmac road in Wajir as a landmark devolution case as it was a first since independence. On presidential polls, the meeting proposed “that there shall be a returning officer of the presidential, senatorial and governor elections in every constituency.” The group also proposed the creation of part-time electoral commissioners appointed by parliamentary political parties. The commissioners would have the power to elect their own chairman. “We also want the Constitution amended to extend the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to have original and concurrent jurisdiction to determine the constitutionality of new Bills within 30 days after they become law,” said Mr Paul Mwangi who is the chairman of the Okoa Kenya Movement Committee of Experts. Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula said Cord leaders would campaign in all parts of the country to educate public on the need for the referendum. Kitui Senator David Musila who spoke on behalf of Wiper Democratic Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who is on a trip to China, asked Kenyans to support a well-funded devolution.

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September 24, 2014 - Today's News In Gazetikenya

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Uhuru starts US tour with forests pledge

DIPLOMACY | Head of State to meet investors and Kenyans living in America

Kenya is restoring its forest cover and encouraging the use of environment-friendly means of transport to reduce emissions, President Kenyatta has said. In a speech at the United Nations Climate Summit in New York yesterday, President Kenyatta, who is on a tour of the US, told world leaders that climate change was “a serious global challenge that continues to affect Africa’s socio-economic development.” Mr Kenyatta outlined Kenya’s efforts to combat climate change, which include using locally available renewable energy resources such as hydro, geothermal, wind and solar power. Kenya is developing a national transportation policy that encourages non-motorised and other sustainable forms of transport, he said. 

The nation is also striving to protect its natural resources through initiatives such as making more efficient use of water. The President was the fifth speaker in one of the morning sessions yesterday when heads of state presented their views on climate change. Earlier, the President hosted a meeting at the UN headquarters where he urged African countries to finance their health services instead of waiting for outside help. He said Africa was rising economically, but the fruits of this transformation would only be sweet if proper investments were channelled towards health. Mr Kenyatta said that health was as important as any other sector such as infrastructure, and Africa should get its own solutions. “We have always depended on external help for health services, but we have to mobilise domestic resources and find our own solutions instead of moving from one crisis to another,” the President said. 

The meeting, whose theme was Domestic Financing for Health: Invest to Save was sponsored by Kenya and the Global Fund to fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria. He said the Kenyan Government planned to raise health funding to 15 per cent of the total budget from its current level “in future”. Mr Kenyatta, who was the key speaker and also a panellist at the event, asked African governments to improve transparency to attract support and investments. The President will present a policy address to the UN General Assembly today and to hold bilateral talks tomorrow with US Secretary of State John Kerry.

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September 23, 2014 - Today's News In Gazetikenya

Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua tries out a tractor his county government bought recently.

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Why your county is not developing as fast as expected

DEVOLUTION | Alfred Mutua’s Machakos leads in the purchase of cars having spent Sh863 million

Most counties spent substantial budgetary allocations on buying vehicles in the first year of devolution. The counties spent Sh36.6 billion on development, a paltry 21.6 per cent of their Sh169.4 billion total expenditure, according to the annual report on the implementation of the budget released by Controller of Budget Agnes Odhiambo yesterday. Machakos County, headed by Dr Alfred Mutua, had the highest spending on vehicles having used a whopping Sh863 million. 

Dr Evans Kidero’s Nairobi County was the second highest spender, having used Sh367 million on vehicles. The report does not state the type of vehicles bought, meaning they may range from those used by the governor and other employees, to the utility ones such as ambulances and police cars. In total, the counties spent Sh6.3 billion on vehicles. The cumulative budget on car for all counties was Sh8.4 billion, the report says. However, Machakos was also the highest spender on development of the 47 counties, having pumped in Sh2.7 billion. Other big spenders on development were Wajir at Sh2.6 billion and Turkana at Sh1.9 billion. Machakos is among eight counties whose expenditure on vehicles exceeded their budgetary allocations. 

The others are Tana River (Sh76.1 million), Kericho (Sh84.5 million), Kajiado (Sh21.5 million), Trans Nzoia (Sh68 million), Homa Bay (Sh155.3 million), West Pokot (Sh205 million) and Samburu (Sh122.5 million). Elgeyo Marakwet (Sh6.4 million), Murang’a (Sh21.2 million) and Busia (Sh22.8 million) spent the least amount on vehicles. Mrs Odhiambo is critical of some counties, which did not fully adopt the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS). 

“Transactions involving large amounts of money were processed manually, contrary to requirements of the National Treasury,” she says. “Failure to use IFMIS resulted in overdrawing which became apparent when manual transactions were finally uploaded. It also affected efficiency and accuracy in reporting,” Mrs Odhiambo said. Tana River’s development expenditure was the least at Sh32.2 million. Kisumu’s was Sh98.9 million and Mombasa’s Sh107.9 million. Wajir, Turkana and Bomet are reported to have had the highest proportion of their total expenditure on development at 57.8 per cent, 56.5 per cent and 48.4 per cent respectively. Mombasa, Kisumu and Tana River had the lowest expenditure on development against that on recurrent expenses at 2.1 per cent, 2.2 per cent and 2.4 per cent respectively. Bomet, 

Wajir and Trans Nzoia counties spent much of the money they had budgeted for development projects with absorption rates of 92.4 per cent, 78.2 per cent and 74 per cent respectively. Mombasa led the counties that were unable to spend the money they had allocated to development and could only manage to use 2.4 per cent of their development money. Tana River and Kisumu were in the same league as they only spent 2.7 per cent and four per cent of their development budgets respectively. “I hope as county governments usher the second year of devolution, more focus will be placed on

Governors spent only Sh36.6 billion on development of their total expenditure of Sh169.4 billion

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September 22, 2014 - Today's News In Gazetikenya

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Robbery suspects seized inside plane.
Jet-set gang arrested in plane over Sh18m heist

NABBED | Four committed crimes in Coast before flying to Nairobi

Flying Squad officers stormed a plane, pulled out four robbery suspects and recovered stolen cash at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at the weekend. The four men, among them an Administration Police officer, were suspected to have robbed Mombasa residents of more than Sh18 million in separate incidents before flyingto Nairobi aboard a Jambo Jet plane. 

Passengers in the aircraft waited for more than two hours as police screened them. During the screening, the officers found Sh400,000 in one of the suspect’s bags. Kenya Airports Police Unit commandant Joseph ole Tito said the suspects were seized at about 6pm on Saturday. “We arrested four people and detained them. We later handed them over to our colleagues in Mombasa because it is them who were pursuing the suspects,” said Mr Tito. The airport in Nairobi is policed by officers from the Kenya Airports Authority and the Kenya Airports Police Unit. 

The two units are based at JKIA. In Saturday’s operation, however, the Flying Squad officers detained the aircraft, frisked the passengers and searched their luggage. Flying Squad commander Munga Nyale said the suspects were members of a gang that waylays bank customers who make large cash withdrawals. Police in Mombasa contacted their colleagues in Nairobi after a man was robbed of Sh800,000 he had withdrawn from a bank. Investigations indicated that the suspects boarded a Nairobi-bound plane soon after the attack. 

The suspects had earlier been linked to a robbery involving a cooperative society employee who was kidnapped on Nyerere Avenue after withdrawing Sh2 million from a bank. Mombasa County police commander Robert Kitur yesterday described the arrest of the four as “a major breakthrough”. The robbers had booked into a hotel at Mtwapa, Kilifi. Mr Kitur said the gang had, for some time, robbed people withdrawing cash from ATM machines and banks while posing as police officers. (See editorial on Page 12) Separately, police at JKIA are holding a 31-year-old Nigerian man over drug trafficking. He was arrested after arriving from Pakistan at 6pm on Saturday. 

By yesterday, the man had emitted 15 pellets and police were expecting him to produce more. Analysis at the Government Chemist will confirm the type of drugs he was carrying. The man had travelled from Pakistan on a Qatar Airways flight and was scheduled to take a connecting flight to Conakry, Guinea.

Stupidity or what?

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September 21, 2014 - Today's News In Gazetikenya

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I led GSU squad into the mall unaware I had been sacked

PERSONAL PAIN | Many mistakes were made in fightback

I was in my house in Nairobi’s Utawala estate at midday on September 21 last year when a TV news flash caught my attention. Reports indicated there was shooting at Westgate Mall in Westlands — possibly a robbery — but I had a nagging feeling there was more to the incident. My boss, then General Service Unit (GSU) Commandant William Sayia, was on leave so I called Deputy Commandant Boniface Maingi to find out what was going on. Unfortunately, I could not reach Mr Maingi on the phone. I called the Staff Officer (Operations) Anthony Kamito who dismissed the reports as an ordinary robbery. But I was still not convinced. 

I called my driver and asked him to take me to Westgate. I reasoned that if it was a robbery, the general duty officers (regular police) would be handling the situation. But if it was a bigger security threat, the GSU would be involved. On our way, I received a call from police headquarters. The superintendent on the line informed me that there was a suspected terrorist attack at the mall. He asked me to call the GSU Recce Company (an elite unit) to rush to the scene. I immediately called Mr Josephat Kirimi, the officer in charge of the Recce Squad based in Ruiru, who told me his officers were on standby and ready to leave for Westgate. I was among the first senior officers to get to the scene at around 2 p.m. It was my first time to go to Westgate and when I got there, I learned that Inspector- General of Police David Kimaiyo had ordered the Recce Squad into the mall to combat the terrorists. 

I went into the building with the team in a single file. I was at the back. When we got in, at around 2.30 p.m., the ground floor resembled a slaughterhouse. The floor was covered in blood which made the surface slippery. There were many bloodied bodies on the floor. Some of the people had been shot multiple times. These were unarmed civilians whose only “mistake” was being at the mall on that day. It was horrifying. After a while, we attempted to go upstairs using escalators. That very moment some people started firing at us. And it was not light gunfire! I saw some people in combat fatigues. The only other group who would have that kind of uniform are the GSU or Anti-Stock Theft Unit. But there was no way GSU personnel would have gone in without my knowledge. I realised these were Kenya Defence Forces soldiers. I knew that police officers, including the Flying Squad, were at the scene, but we had not been told that the military was also there. Before then, I had never seen KDF at such an operation. Given the go-ahead I called Mr Philip Ndolo of Operations at police headquarters to confirm the identity of the men in fatigues, but I was told moments later that Mr Kimaiyo was angry at what he thought was the questioning of his orders. Mr Ndolo relayed the message back to me that we should go ahead with our mission. The GSU officers at the front of the file were shouting “Afande tunapigwa na wale wanatupiga tunaona kama ni askari.” (Sir, we are being shot at by people who appear to be officers). I told them to shout that we were police officers.

 But my voice was drowned in the sound of heightened gunfire. The next thing I heard was: “Afande nimepigwa mguu” (I have been shot in the leg). It was then that I ordered the team to retreat. When we got outside, I discovered that three officers had been shot and seriously wounded. The situation was chaotic with blaring ambulance sirens, people shouting and journalists all over the place. At around 5 p.m., my officers went back inside the mall until at around 7 p.m. when a special unit of the military under the command of a major arrived. I had remained outside, and we started planning how to go in as a team. Even though we belonged to different agencies, in terms of seniority I assumed that my rank (assistant commissioner of police) was higher than the major. My boss, Mr Maingi, had also arrived. But the Major wanted to be in charge. I asked him to talk to my boss, but he would not listen. A lot of bad decisions When an elite Israeli team in civilian clothes arrived, they declined to work with the military. Because of their training, they preferred to work with the GSU. 

That is how the whole operation was left to KDF and no police officer went inside the mall after that. We were left to cordon off the mall’s perimeter to ensure no terrorist escaped. For the 25 years I was in the service, I can vouch for those boys (Recce Squad). They are specially trained for such operations. They have performed special operations, within a short time and with minimal casualties when general duty officers were overwhelmed. One wonders why they were not given a chance to work. I think the military are trained to use excessive force and are not suited for rescue operations. I believe the operation could have ended fast had it been left to the GSU. I can say that without fear of contradiction. The way the operation was conducted should be a lesson to all security agencies. 

What I witnessed at Westgate was total confusion. Many mistakes were made. Many bad decisions were made. In hindsight, the siege should not have resulted in so many casualties. This was an internal security situation. Why call the military to bomb the building yet the police have not been overwhelmed? The people who made those decisions made a mistake. In any case, I don’t think the terrorists had more superior weapons than the Recce Squad. From what I have seen from the CCTV footage and media reports, the four men were armed with AK-47 rifles and grenades

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September 20, 2014 - Today's News In Gazetikenya

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Governors fire first salvo in vote push

REFERENDUM | Leaders want to place 12 questions to the people for consideration

Governors will today officially start collecting signatures in their bid for a constitutional amendment. This is the first official action by the governors in their campaign for a referendum. The governors say they want to place 12 issues before the people for consideration. Collection of signatures is a requirement for a referendum petition, which must meet a constitutional threshold. The campaign will kick off in Governor Isaac Ruto’s Bomet County, according to a press release from Council of Governors (CoG) communication manager Barrack Muluka.

 Mr Ruto is the chairman of the council and one of the chief architects of the referendum campaign, dubbed Pesa Mashinani. After the launch at Bomet Green Stadium, the governors will proceed to neighbouring Kericho County. Tomorrow morning, they move to Ivugwi PAG Church Grounds, Likuyani in Kakamega County before heading to Malava Township in the same county. In the afternoon, they will be at Mwiboma Grounds in Mumias Town. The list of 12 questions that will be developed into a Bill include amending the law to increase funds to the counties and strengthening the Senate by making it an Upper House with similar powers like the National Assembly.

 However, the governors want the Senate to have the final say on matters affecting counties. They want separate gazettement of laws between the national and county governments and a role in security matters. Impeachment of elected leaders, the council says, should be based on a uniform law and a clearing house for legislation should be created. The governors also want the Constitution amended to give members of county assemblies similar privileges with MPs. The governors insist that their push for constitutional amendment should not be mistaken with Cord’s Okoa Kenya. Yesterday, Deputy President William Ruto met county assembly members and MPs from Uasin Gishu County in Eldoret and won assurances that they would not support the campaign for a referendum. Mr Ruto was in the town to flag off a fleet of new police vehicles.

 “We just came from a General Election and the time for politicking is over. Let us work together to transform our economy for the betterment of our people,” he said. Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos and MPs William Kisang’ (Marakwet West), Oscar Sudi (Kapseret), Silas Tiren (Moiben), Edwin Barchilei (Soy) and Uasin Gishu Woman Representative Eusila Ngeny attended the meeting. Rift Valley threw its weight behind the Jubilee Coalition in General Election last year but a split has emerged over the referendum drive. Governor Ruto, his Nandi, Kericho and Baringo counterparts Cleophas Lagat, Paul Chepkwony and Benjamin Cheboi respectively support the Pesa Mashinani push. Those in opposition are Uasin Gishu‘s Mandago and Nakuru’s Kinuthia Mbugua. 

Governor Mandago dismissed Council of Governors stance and cautioned his Bomet counterpart that he risked being ousted. “Our stand is that we oppose the referendum and we are ready to replace Mr Ruto with a sober leader,” he declared. In Nakuru, Governor Mbugua said he would return to Cord headquarters booklets used by the Okoa Kenya group to collect signatures that were confiscated in parts of Nakuru. Mr Mbugua said he would send them back with a message that the people of Nakuru did not need a referendum. Meru Governor Peter Munya accused Jubilee of trying to silence governors through “propaganda, insults and intimidation”. 

“The Deputy President has been doing the rounds in the country, especially in Jubilee strongholds, saying governors are not with the government. Leaders should stop putting a wedge between governors and the people,” he told the Press. In Embu, the Council of Elders — Nyangi Ndiiriri — hosted Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang’ on Thursday in Runyenjes Town. Its chairman, Mr Andrew Ireri, said the council was pushing for a referendum because Kenyans continued to suffer. Mr Ireri said Jubilee should tell Kenyans why they were opposed to a referendum when it was anchored in the Constitution. In Mombasa, Cord claimed it had collected about 500,000 signatures

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September 19, 2014 - Today's News In Gazetikenya

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WESTGATE ONE YEAR LATER

TERRORISM | Kenya has not yet secured its borders to ensure that all foreigners entering the country are accounted for and has not effectively policed refugee camps, some of which host terrorists, while the military has left an unmanned corridor inside Somalia

The Westgate Shopping Mall attack last September in which 67 people were killed resulted from a catastrophic and systemic failure by Kenya’s security agencies, analysts believe. Failure to detect the terrorist plot, to investigate and stop it were symptomatic of deeper failures of performance and coordination among security agencies, the analysts, some of them in government service, said. The victims were of 13 nationalities. Two of the attackers are believed to have flown from Somalia to Entebbe and travelled by road to Nairobi. 

The weapons they used were hidden in Eastleigh, as were the terrorists themselves. On the day of the attack, they drove across the city with their weapons undetected. Each had an AK-47 rifle, grenades and an ammunition pouch with eight magazines of 30 rounds each, or 240 bullets. In short, the four had enough bullets to kill 1,000 shoppers. The government believes that the planning for the logistics of the attack took place at the Kakuma refugee camp. At Westgate, security was provided by unarmed guards from a private company. With the exception of a few APs guarding the two banks at the shopping complex, the mall was virtually unprotected against an armed assault.

The National Intelligence Service has taken the main force of the criticism for failing to infiltrate the plotters and prevent the attack. The military has also been criticised for a ham-fisted response that resulted in a long siege, the partial destruction and looting of the mall while it was under military control and the relatively high casualty rate. But an even bigger concern is the loss of effective border control, meaning that the government does not always know who is being allowed into the country. A computerised immigration system has not been implemented at all border points. 

There is also loss of control over refugee areas — which are sometimes used as havens for Al-Shabaab — and Eastleigh, which if often the staging ground for terrorism. In conversations with government officials briefed on security, the technocrats don’t seem to have faith in the politicians’ willingness to reform the security systems and take the measures necessary to secure the country. First, the politicians do not seem to have good strategies to protect Muslims from stigma, while at the same time enlisting the support of the community in fighting the radicalisation of the youth. Political engagement is a little more than populism and politicking. Secondly, strong civil society action has driven counter-terrorism work underground. While NGOs, which happen to be strongly active in terrorism cases, are important in protecting the rights of suspects — some who are innocent — they have also created the temptation for illegal or extra-judicial actions among law enforcement officers. Also pointed out is the fact that the government’s intention to create a security buffer zone between Kenya and Somalia has been defeated by the pattern of deployment of KDF. 

After moving into Somalia, soldiers were deployed in Lower and Middle Juba and not in the third province bordering Kenya, Gedo. This province, and Mandera, have become a corridor of terror, through which Al-Shabaab operatives and weapons, including homemade bombs from the Somali hinterland, are moved into cities. After public pressure, President Kenyatta last September promised a judicial commission of inquiry into the Westgate attack, whose formation is still awaited. International relations An investigation by two parliamentary committees, the Departmental Committee on Defence and Security and the one on international relations, was in the opinion of many, not an effective review of the operations of the country’s security agencies in the period before and during the attack. In conversations with government officials, it became apparent that no professional, administrative review has been conducted on the way the government and its agencies handled Westgate and, therefore, there has been no organised attempt to address the failures which resulted in the attack.

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September 18, 2014 - Today's News In Gazetikenya

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Duale, a little decorum has never hurt anyone

The personal attack of Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto by Majority Leader Aden Duale was extremely annoying. And Duale has refused to apologise for the demeaning manner in which he conducted himself. Duale’s outburst was no different from the heckling by the Migori mob a few days earlier that the Majority Leader chastised and told to apologise. There are many ways he could have put his point across without coming off as insulting. On social media, some State officers want to put Duale’s words into some context that still fail the justification test. Dragging unconcerned parties like family members into disputes is juvenile. Decorum never hurt anyone

CHRIS KHAMASI, Eldoret

Kabogo threatens to sue Duale over graft claims

Kiambu Governor William Kabogo yesterday said he would sue National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale for claiming he embezzled public funds. Mr Kabogo (below) said Mr Duale’s remarks were insulting and lacked respect for mothers. “Let us stop politics of insults. After uttering the words, he called me to say it was a slip of the tongue and he was sorry. But I will deal with him legally,” the governor said at Kimende in Lari during the launch of a Sh157 million bursary fund. Mr Duale is also facing a backlash from MPs, with Mr Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills, URP) and Ms Millie Odhiambo (Mbita, ODM) yesterday joining the growing chorus of discontent over his statement last Monday. 

“Duale has dishonoured women,” Ms Odhiambo said in reference to the Majority Leader’s statement to Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto that taxpayers’ money was not his mother’s. “We want to advise Duale that he is stepping on very dangerous ground. We won’t listen to him dishonouring women. Keep off the women of this country,” she told him. Mr Keter said URP “might do something ” about the remarks. “We might even censure him. We must remove him. We will not support him and he must resign,” the outspoken MP said. On Tuesday, Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma said he would sponsor a motion to remove Mr Duale as Majority Leader when the House resumes sitting next month. Ms Odhiambo said: “With or without the tyranny (of numbers) I will support it. It is about showing displeasure.” Mr Duale uttered the words at Maasai Mara University where he accused Mr Kabogo, Mr Ruto and Kisumu Governor Jackson Ranguma of snubbing Senate s u m - mons.

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September 17, 2014 - Today's News In Gazetikenya

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Shock as Juba orders firms to sack Kenyans

CONTROVERSY COUPLE | They had claimed the boy fell down a staircase

South Sudan yesterday stunned the region by expelling all foreign workers, including thousands of Kenyans. A government order said all foreign employees of private entities should hand over to Sudanese professionals by October 15. It is reminiscent of a 1972 directive by Ugandan dictator Idi Amin expelling Asians. The South Sudanese order might deal a blow to Kenyan companies which have invested in that country and rely on expatriate labour for specialised skills. Kenyan companies with operations in the oil-rich nation include the East Africa Breweries Limited (EABL) which opened a depot in Juba last year.

 Kenya Commercial Bank, East Africa’s largest bank by market capitalisation, operates the largest branch network with 21 branches in the unstable country. The bank planned to open two more branches in the current financial year. Equity Bank has nine branches while Cooperative Bank, which is in a joint venture with the government of South Sudan, and CfC Stanbic Bank, have one branch each in Juba. South Sudan is relies on oil revenue and its human capital, just like its infrastructure, is still developing. Aside from the banks, many Kenyan firms in insurance, petroleum and telecommunications industries, have established subsidiaries there. Aid organisations, NGOs as well as hotels and lodges are also expected to fire foreign staff by mid-October. The order to kick out expatriates is contained in a September 12 circular from the Ministry of Public Service and Human Resource.

 “All the above institutions, corporations and business entities are asked to advertise for the vacant positions by October 15,” read the circular signed by Mr Ngor Kolong Ngor, the country’s Labour minister.

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September 16, 2014 - Today's News In Gazetikenya

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‘Dead beat Kenya’ rattles uncaring spouses

SOCIAL MEDIA | Those mentioned are exposed to acerbic comments from group members

A Facebook page which claims to name and shame irresponsible fathers and mothers who do not take care of their children has sparked a storm on and off the social media. With over 155,000 online followers, the page known as “Dead beat Kenya” allows users to post photographs, phone numbers and other personal information about the men and women they accuse of neglecting their children. Started on September 6 by businessman Jackson Njeru, the page has gone viral after naming politicians, musicians and businessmen who allegedly do not take care of their children. They have allegedly failed to pay for their off-springs’ upkeep even after being ordered to do so by the courts. Mr Njeru said he started the page after he encountered many women who had been left with children but had no means of fending for them. “I helped two or three women with money and they told their friends. My inbox was soon full of messages of women asking me to intervene between them and their irresponsible partners…

I knew the page would open a can of worms but I did not expect it to go viral,” he told the Nation. Those who have been abandoned by their partners first approach Mr Njeru who then contacts those accused to work out a plan to cater for the children. “I call the irresponsible fathers and majority of them will deny the child and the mother. A few will communicate with the mother of the child and work out a plan to take care of the children. But those that find themselves on the page are the stubborn ones who don’t return my calls and messages,” he said. 

Those mentioned in the page are exposed to hundreds of acerbic comments and criticism from group members. One has to sign up to be a member because it is a closed user-group and the information is not available to those who have not registered. Family lawyer Judy Thongori said it was unfortunate that there were so many irresponsible parents. “I appreciate the level of frustration of such mothers. That said, every parent has a responsibility because having a child is a consensual agreement. However, part of that responsibility requires that you do not unduly expose the child,” Ms Thongori said. According to her, exposing the fathers and their particulars on social media leads to identification and ridiculing of the child, and such kind of shaming has the potential of alienating the child from the parent. Exposing the identity of the child is prohibited in Section 76 of the Children’s Act. What is her advice to parents who want their children’s fathers or mothers to play their rightful role?

“The Constitution has made it impossible to discriminate against a child born out of wedlock,” she said. “The place to go is the Children’s Court. Seek legal help that can be sustained. I know justice is not always accessible and that is why people choose to go to Facebook, but people must know that you can go to court and represent yourself,” said Ms Thongori. Exposing dead beat parents without a clear-cut authentication process and verification of facts opens the page and the users to various legal challenges such as the risk of being sued for libel and defamation. According to Mr Elisha Ongoya, a lawyer, if it turns out that the information published on the page is in fact incorrect, the individual mentioned adversely can sue for libel.

 “This is because the mode of communication adopted (writing) is permanently sustainable and can last for a lifetime,” he said. A person defamed on the Facebook page can sue the one who provided the misleading information as well as the host of the page for repeating the defamatory remarks. “Every repetition of the defamatory matter gives you a fresh reason to complain. Even the company that hosts Facebook can be sued,” he said. He was also of the view that embarrassing and shaming irresponsible fathers will not always give the desired effect. “It causes more harm especially to children who go to school with other tech-savy children. The psychological effects are more than the benefits you get from blackmailing a man to take care of his children. It is too invasive,” he said.

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September 15, 2014 - Today's News In Gazetikenya

Former TV show host Regina Mutoko dies|Police gun down alleged terrorist in morning raid.

Former TV show, “Omo Pick A Box”, host and IT consultant Regina Mutoko is dead.Regina passed away on Saturday morning after a bath room accident at her house.She was the sister of KISS FM presenter Caroline Mutoko, among others.

Confirming the death, Caroline said on her Facebook update:

"My sister and best friend, Regina Kalombe Mutoko got her angel wings yesterday.

 A golden heart stopped beating, a brilliant soul is laid to rest. God broke our hearts to prove, he only takes the best. His will be done. May her soul rest in eternal peace. Amen."

I highly condemn the killing of Ahmed in Mombasa, police and all our security agencies have their heads up in their asses and that's why we might not win this war on terrorism, shoot to kill is the most backward policy i have ever heard, for heaven sake this boy was unarmed and how will they ever get intelligence on the enemy?

Every body in this country deserves a fair chance no one has the right to terminate someone's life without giving them a hearing before a judge..... I know you might disagree with me on this one but don't forget that our President and his deputy have a pending case at ICC... we still presume them innocent until proven otherwise. 

True story of what happened Yesterday, “This is when I asked my son who is in Form Two to shut the door. But when he reached it, he found a body in a pool of blood. He came back running and told me that he had seen a body lying there. I came out and discovered it was Ahmed,” she recalled outside the Central Police Station where she went to record a statement. She said the police had taken all the mobile phones and other items from the house but declined to tell her the reason when she demanded an explanation. She said she was given a piece of paper to sign that a grenade had been found in the search but she declined to do so. Mvita MP Abduswamad Nassir and officials from the Muslims for Human Rights (Muhuri) and Haki Africa human rights NGOs condemned the killing which they described as extra-judicial.

“We demand witness protection as we have our people who could clearly identify the officers  who pulled the trigger,” said the MP. He dismissed claims by the police that one suspect had escaped. According to him, the area had been sealed off by the police. Muhuri chairman Khelef Khalifa challenged the government “to come clear” over shoot to kill orders that appear “to target Muslim faithful”. Haki Africa Executive director Hussein Khalid warned that “extra- judicial killings” would encourage radicalistion and extremism among the youth.

“This radicalisation and extremism among our youth is being encouraged by these trigger-happy police officers. It will not solve the problem of crime, it is an illegal scheme of elimination by the government,” he said.

Meanwhile, KDF operating under the auspices of the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) killed atleast 33 fighters in an ambush which targeted two camps on Friday. Al Shabaab fighters had fled from Barawe, a town which is about to be captured by Amisom forces.A statement from the mission yesterday said: “During the raid, Al-Shabaab suffered heavy losses, including foreign fighters. Many Al-Shabaab militias were also wounded in the attack which completely destroyed the facility which was a hideout for the terrorists.”The statement said KDF were assisted in the operation by Ugandan People Defence Forces (UPDF) who were advancing on Al-Shabaab’s hideout in Barawe.

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