Author: staff reporter

by Maximilla Wafula

Githunguri MP and Chairperson of Parliamentary Coffee Caucus, Gathoni Wamuchomba with other legislators today visited the East African Tea Trade Association

A group of legislators from the Coffee Caucus Committee and National Assembly today were hosted by Vice – Chairman Mr. Abdi Hussein and entire board at the Tea Trade Centre Mombasa , who interacted with some key stakeholders including the buyers , brokers and other associate of the auction.

As members of the parliamentary committee our visit was geared towards the facts finding , understanding how tea is treaded and what are the challenges towards that process and how to use parliamentary platforms to provide solutions for the challenges there in.

“We had the tea-coffee caucus in the 12th Parliament and they had a plateful of issues to deal with that meant that some of the matters were never given the attention they deserved,” said Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba, who chairs the 40-member group.

Speaking during the press briefing in Mombasa, Hon. Kosgei, Hillary Kiplangat Mp. Kipkelion west constituency said ‘’the tea was the highest income earner in 2021 more than tourism, tourism has a stand in its own ministry and it gives the country less than tea sector, so we are going to elevate tea production, marketing and selling to make sure that we double in the next few years our exports and double income on our farmers down in the constituencies” said.

Kipkeleon constituency is on the least of tea farming and coffee, which form the coffee and tea caucus but we have chilchila ward that does tea on the other side but we are also concern not necessarily on kipkelion west a lone but also kericho which is known for tea and therefore as a leader I have to participate fully in seeking solution not only into problems of my constituency but those ones affecting my county.

On behalf of our members we want to promise our farmers that we are there for them, they elected us so that we can find solutions, we will advocate and lobby on their behalf. Members agreed to create a rapoo to avoid blame games as in the past.
As Tea and coffee caucus we have come here to reach out, to understand how we can facilitate their trading process for the benefit of the farmer.
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By Njeri Irungu
A section of MPs from Kenya’s tea growing constituencies met The East African Tea Trade Association (EATTA) to discuss on how to improve tea exportation in the country. Some of the MPs are drawn from Kiambu, Embu, Nandi, Nyeri, Kirinyaga among other counties. The Caucus which is chaired by Githunguri Member of Parliament Hon. Gathoni wa Muchomba decided that there is a need to establish a direct link between all tea stakeholders in the tea sector.

EATA Managing Director, Mr.Abdi Hussein said that the Kenyan tea is packaged in Egypt yet the government can make it easier by having it packaged here in Kenya. The main Kenyan tea importer, he said, is Egypt and Singapore so there is also a need to create more markets for the crop.

The 13 member caucus through the chairperson suggested that the tea policy that was abandoned in 2014 should be relooked and reviewed since it was very beneficial to the farmer. The taxation regime in the country needs to improve and the Senate should also review the Pending Bill that was abandoned by the 12th Parliament.

The Githunguri Legislator said,”together with the Deputy President, we will push for more value addition on all cash crops.”

Manyatta MP, Hon Gitonga Mukunyi added,”We will begin yo remove app impediments to the value addition to all our cash crops; maize, coffee and tea which will then give the guaranteed minimum return to the farmer.”

by Bernard Mulwa

Makadara Chief area in nairobi Alixander Hoops has issued a stern warning to locals engaging in brewing illicit brews. In his efforts, the administrator said this is in respond to the government efforts in fighting alcoholism through nyumba kumi platforms to eliminate  the menace in the society.

Alixander assured the locals about his new plans to re-brand the brewing processes of the illicit brews and shifting the entire process to the industrial sector, away from domestic and residential premises where families live.

During the pilot program in Makadara sub county, Alixander said the first plan will be translocating brewing activities and process away from nyumba kumi units. “People’s participation will be a key component in the entire process, Industrial and medical input will be another key component where education awareness and moral concerns will accompany the processes including mental health issues,” he said value addition in the holistic brewing industry of second generation brews will be considered to bring positive change to the society. 

The fourth and other several steps going forward he said will be adopted with a clear supervision and facilitation of the government where necessary.

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by Maximilla Wafula

Members of the Parliament (MPS) have agreed to continue with an induction seminar in Mombasa after Treasury disbursed Sh4billion into the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) kitty .

The MPs, who are attending a week- long induction workshop at Pride Inn paradise Beach Resort in Mombasa, had boycotted the retreat demanding the release of the (NG-CDF) funds.

They claim that the government owes them a total of 12billion
But on Thursday January 25, MPs confirmed that the law makes had received 4billion.

Hon. Anne Wamuratha – Women Rep Kiambu County on the exclusive interview speaking to the press, said “it wasn’t easy to start up the meeting because they had issues on (NG-CDF) and (NGAAF) that has not been disbursed” said. And to realized from the common ground that anything that we are all in agreement is about (NG-CDF) and (NGAAF).

To every place you need to go you’re able to see places built by (NG-CDF) and (NGAAF) and able to do accountability of finances that has been disbursed by the MPs or Woman Rep. Being the only money that can be accounted for and so the very first two days were not easy with us because we were trying to put for this agenda and we are great full that finally we have got it as she emphasize.

The issues of committees during the induction seminar taking place for the parliamentarians at the coast especially for those who are very new in parliament and first timer was very important moment in their lives when they get to understand what it takes for them to be in the parliament, whereby Parliament runs the country and all members just have to be on top of the game in every area involved.

Coming from the education committee where currently we are in a very serious crisis in education, everyone involved must be equal to the task and catch up to see what happens, since there are so many issues of examination and reports to deliver once all the stake holders will be involved for a complete report.
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by Maximilla Wafula

Timothy Kipchumba Toroitich Marakwet West Member of Parliament on Monday, January 30, urged the government to suspend the CBC programme

Speaking at the National Assembly Post Election Seminar (PES) forum held at the Paradise Pride Inn Beach Resort in Shanzu, Mombasa, comes after the week long house committee induction that saw members equipped with tools needed to effective discharge their constitutional mandate of presentation, oversight and legislation.

He stated that “the schools which were proved to host the junior secondary schools purportedly enlisted by the ministry of education under the CBC programme. unfortunately most schools were initially primary schools which have been left out in the assessment and the parents have been advice to seek alternative schools” said.

Coming from a constituency where some schools are 10 kilometers a part, it’s unfair, discriminatory and unconstitutional to direct a parent to seek or to look for a school that’s almost 10 kilometers away emphasized, that flies in the best of that interest of the child.

The MP’s position is that all the primary school currently constituted should be able or authorized to host junior secondary school. The CBC program was rushed out because most school have no laboratories and enough infrastructures , alternative MP urged the government to suspend the CBC program for five years until the government puts enough infrastructure at the school .

The issues of banditry along the kerio valley was condemned as a disaster of monumental proportions, he said that there is no government in kerio valley, where its runs by militia from Tiaty that has terrorized several counties.

The malicious of Tiaty has taken over the borders of Sumburu, Turkana, Baringo, Laikipia and Elgeyo Marawet counties a long kerio valley. ” It’s unfortunate that the government was elected to agitate lives of people but it has neglected that constitutional responsibility “said Timothy

The government must convene a national Security Council meeting and declare the pokot bandits as terrorists to be dealth with the way sabot land defense, Mombasa republic council and mungiki was dealth with.
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By Njeri Irungu
Kiambu Woman Representative Ann Wamuratha has expressed her joy and gratitude following the Legislature’s agreement with the National Treasury to disburse the Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) and the National Government Action Affirmative Fund(NGAAF) money after a long delay.

Speaking to the Media at a Mombasa hotel the Kiambu legislator said that NG-CDF and NGAAF was the only money that voters can account on on the ground.

“In every corner of our country today you are able to see and feel the various developments that CDF and NGAAF have done, this is the only money people can account for on the ground, we are now great full that the money has been released ”she said.
Wamuratha said the war on CDF was worrying since schools, police stations, health centres and other projects like swcurity that have to be done using the funds were delaying therefore the voter does not get to enjoy services.

“It’s only through the funds that the Mwanaichi will give us a scorecard after five years” She said

Over 300 MPS who attended the five-day induction workshop in Mombasa last weel stormed out of the hall demanding the release of the money before they resumed training. The national Speaker Moses Wetangula was forced to intervene and break the stalemate between the MPs and National Treasury Cabinet Njuguna Ndung’u over the delayed release of Sh44 billion to constituencies.

The Speaker held a closed-door meeting with the MPs where he disclosed that the National Treasury had released KSh. 45 billion which will be in the constituency accounts by March. Each constituency will receive 21 Million shillings.

Ijara Member Of Parliament Supports The Creation Of an opposition Party official office.
President William Ruto today presided over a four-day post-election seminar for National Assembly members at a Mombasa hotel.
The event, whose theme is “equipping the 21st legislator for effective service delivery,” is co-hosted by the National Assembly leadership and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).
While speaking to the press Ijara Member of Parliament, Hon. Ali Abdi has lauded the government’s move to unite two coalitions and create an official office of the opposition which will give the National assembly authority to interrogate Cabinet Secretaries.
While speaking to journalists in a Mombasa hotel, Hon Abdi said, “we will support our government to achieve the goals promised in the last general election.
“We support our government because through accountability and good governance as well as paying of taxes,” he said.

by Ronald Njoroge

Job scams are the most common form of disinformation on social media platforms, according to the report released on Friday

The National 2022 Report on Disinformation and the Role of Big Tech in Kenya notes that job scams account for 62 percent of all disinformation on the social media platforms.

Death of celebrities contribute 27 percent, fake side effects of covid-19 contribute 19 percent while fake doctors giving advice account for 18 percent of disinformation on social media platforms.

The  research which was commissioned by  Trends and Insights for Africa (TIFA) sought to understand the public opinion on mis/disinformation and hate speech on the impact of social/digital media communications platforms in Kenya.

The findings indicate that television was the main source of general news followed by social media.

The duration of the study was conducted between 28 May -15 July 2022 while the target respondents were internet users above the age of 18 years.

According to the study, half of the respondents feel that social media had a positive impact on society.

The major benefits mentioned were entertainment, employment opportunities and connecting with family and friends.

Sainath Education Institute CEO Rajeev Arora has pledged to help President William Ruto’s government to create one million textile jobs through providing world class training for apparel sector workers.

Arora said that last year he set up a Skills Development Centre of Excellence (SDCE) in Kitengela at the EPZ plaza, which  provides up-to-date, relevant and practical training and capacity building for the various segments of the apparel manufacturing sector in Kenya while also solving the societal problem of youth unemployment in Kenya by bridging the skills gap.

“So far 560 youth  have undergone training out of which 505 or 90 percent of them have secured employed in the EPZ factories,” Arora said.

Arora  who has more than 38 years of consulting experience for 24 African countries in the textile sector has plans to train atleast 1500 garment workers in 2023.

He revealed that the idea to set up the institution was born from the existing shortage of skilled workers in the apparel manufacturing sector in Kenya which currently employs over 40,000 workers.

“At the current capacity, the industry has a shortage of 10,000 – 15,000 skilled workers, 60 percent of which are sewing machine operators. Training of sewing machine operators to date has been ad-hoc with non-standardized in-house training,” he observed.

Arora added that currently employers report that they are not able to get qualified staff on time which reduces the competitiveness of Kenya’s textile sector.

by Maximilla Wafula

Today Abubakari Zubeiry bin Ally Mufti Tanzania [Chief Sheikh]. Led all other Mufti, Deputy Muftis of Uganda, Burundi and representative from the office of Mufti in Ethiopia, former Chief Kadhis and other prominent persons in the launch of one of the auspicious and historical event in Kenya of the Kenya Fatwa Council (KENFAT) in event hall of Al Huda Mosque, south B.

The Council body will assist in giving Rulings (Fatawa),matters of Moon sighting closely working with the East African Moon Sighting commission and the body will act as peacemaker to reach out to all the council members from all over the country .Its rulling will be based on the Quran and sunna , where it shall be pronounced Fatwa according to the person , place and nature of the happenings mostly on matters Ibaada, Business , Finance ,Social happenings away from traditional institutional rulings that most of time are based on particular institutions .It will also work and collaborate with institution that are already in place like Supkem , CIPK, The kadhis court and other notable muslim bodies .

On his part, Tanzania Mufti Abubakari Zubeiry said “it’s our responsibility to maintain peace and tranquilty as we create relationship between Mufti of Tanzania and Fatawa of Kenya Council ‘’

Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims, Director General Lattif N. Shaban during the launch of the Fatwa body Council of Kenya said “ there is no competition with council which consists of scholars in their own right in terms of high level ranking , he emphasized the council to look into the Hustler fund initiative and the NHIF for Muslims family ’’

Lastly Zubeiry thanked all who graced the occasion , political science leaders and any other Muslims leaders who were present and prayed that the body will succeed to work for the benefit of the Muslim Umma and the country at large.

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