Author: staff reporter

By Tum David

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Kenya Himan Rights Commission (KHRC) together with the victims of the Karebe Gold Mine tragedy staged a peaceful demonstration to the offices of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) in Nairobi on Tuesday 20th April, 2023 to present a memorandum to the Director Mr Noordin Haji.
The LSK in partnership with KHRC are deeply concerned by the recent events surrounding the investigations into the deadly gold mine blast that killed three (3) people in the Karebe Gold Mine shafts at Kibisem Location, Tinderet Sub-County of Nandi County on 23rd January, 2023.
The tragic incident which occurred around 1615hhrs resulted in the death of the following young men namely Geofrey Onyango, Julius Kiochumba and Geofrey Rotich with scores of others nursing serious injuries.
It was established that the Chief Magistrate’s Court at Kapsabet Law Courts acknowledges befire it the arrest and arraignment of ten (10) suspects and a miscellaneous application file No: E013/2023 in their custody on February 7, 2023 where the court granted the investigating officer fourteen (14) days to hold the suspects in custody pending further investigations into the deadly blast. It was also noted that due to the nature and the magnitude of the investigation, the case was taken up by the DCI investigators from the HeadQuarters in Nairobi who upon the completion of their investigations made a recommendation of a charge of murder against the suspects.
The LSK confirms a duplicate file was also forwarded to the office of the ODPP in Nairobi for perusal, direction and further action in court.

” The LSK therefore seeks answers to this pertinent issues” said the LSK President in a press conference in his office. He said that the LSK now demands for answers about the actual position of the DCI file about the investigations which were made and what was the recommendations and the charges referred against the suspects.

” We want to know the current position of the file that was forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and why it has taken too long to charge the suspects” Mr Theuri said.
He added; ” We call upon the authorities to move with speed and wr hive them seven (7) days to act and provide answers failure to which, we as the LSK, we’ll be copelled to explore other options of law to compel the government to act in the best interest of the victims”.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) endeavours to promote human rights to ensure that justice is served to all.

The Chairman of Kenya Tea Development Authority Mr David Muni Ichoho is a reformist leader and is results oriented.

Mr Ichoho notes,

“The last three days (18-20th April 2023) marked a great milestone in tea reforms calendar.
The west of Rift 34 factories from Bomet ,Kericho ,Kisii ,Nyamira ,Nandi /Vihiga/Kakamega successfully negotiated Management Agreement (MA) with KTDA MS.
The MA is geared to entrench reforms ,realize farmers revenue ,ensure accountability,enforce efficiency and compliance with the law and the best management practices.
Congratulations to West of Rift leaders for this milestone . The Tea board and the KTDA Holding representative witnessed the exercise.
The East Rift 37 Tea factories will undertake the exercise from 3rd May . The completion of the exercise will entrench reforms and pave ways for farmers focused re- engineering.”

The Kenya investment authority KenInvest under the wise leadership of the Acting managing director June Chepkemei is partnering with Korea trade investment agency.

“We are delighted to announce that KenInvest will be collaborating with the Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency (KoTRA) to organize the 3rd Edition of Kenya International Investment Conference (KIICO 2023), which is scheduled to take place in Nairobi from 28 to 31 May, 2023.

The Kotra-KenInvest side events will feature sessions on Smart Cities and Korea Bio Roadshow. This will be a great oppportunity to connect with Korean entreprenuers and investors in building long-term business connections.
To participate get in touch via kiico@invest.go.ke

By Jeff Kizzilah

United Progressive Alliance UPA party UPA has appointed new party officials as well as new party members.

This is the first election being held by UPA party since election was over.

Speaking during the launch and election of party members in Nairobi,the new party leader and Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo.

“Everyone must accept new members and stop tribalism and negligence for this party”.

Governor Nyaribo says he will lead the party with democracy and rules as guided by the political parties act of Kenya.

Irene mwende

The Law Society of Kenya and the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) are deeply concerned

by the recent events surrounding the investigations into the deadly blast that occurred in the Karebe

on January 23, 2023. As a result of the blast, three (3) people Geofrey Onyango, Julius Kipchumba

and Geofrey Rotich lost their lives, and six (6) others were seriously injured.

After the occurrence of the blast ten (10) suspects were arrested and arraigned before the Chief Magistrate’s Court at Kapsabet vide miscellaneous custody application nomE013/20230 on February 7,2023 and the court granted the investigating officer 14 days to hold the suspects in custody pending further investigation into deadly blast

In addition, due to the nature and magnitude of the

investigation, it was taken up by Investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI)

Headquarters who completed their investigations and made a recommendation of a charge of

murder against the suspects. A duplicate file was also forwarded to the Office of the Directorate of

Public Prosecution (ODPP) Nairobi for perusal, directions, and further action in court.

The prosecution’s intent to withdraw the case, citing areas that have not been covered, has left the families of the deceased and public at large with some several questions.

By Fred Maingi
Thousands of Nairobi’s Kangemi, Mountain view and surrounding Kibarage slums were treated to a bumber Easter holiday treat by the Ananda Marga Mission.
The residents who turned up in large numbers despite the morning drizzles received Blankets, food stuffs that included Maize floor 2kg,bread,milk,cabbages amounting to a whooping Ksh. 1. 3 million.
Addressing the media at the Ananda Marga Mission based at Mountain view, Chairman Dinesh Kumar pleaded with well wishers,and parastatal bodies to support his mission in order to help the less fortunates.
He said the number of those seeking assistance is increasing on a weekly basis.
“It’s the responsibility, he added, of the Government to ensure all citizens are taken care of with minimum requirements, it is our job to support the Government to achieve their goals.”
He added “As part of the social responsibility, those who are able, should share with the less fortunates. Today we ave given out 2000 blankets worth Ksh. 700,000 and if you add the foodstuffs it will amount to over 1 million”
Dada thanked his partners, volunteers and the local administration that includes police officers for their support.
He observed that his major challenge is controlling and containing the high number of people coming that included slum dwellers and street boys.
The Ananda Marga mission which has been in existence for the last 31 years has been catering for the less fortunates, orphans, needy, abandoned, abused and the vulnerable class.

Prof. Alice Njuguna, DVC Academics, Research& Student Affairs at Zetech University and Joseph Njogu, Juja traffic police boss flag off more than 200 bodaboda riders from Witethie ward and Juja constituency after a Financial and Customer Service Management crash course at Zetech University Technologypark in Mang’u. The training is part of Zetech’s community outreach activities to mark 25 years of scholarly excellence.

More than 200 bodaboda riders from Witethie ward and Juja constituency have been taken through a crash course on financial management, customer service and business management to equip them with skills in financial management, excellent customer service and identification of opportunities to grow their businesses.

The training, which took place at the Zetech University Technologypark in Mang’u was facilitated by the School of Business and Economics, officials from the Kenya Revenue Authority and the Juja traffic Police is part of the University’s Community Outreach activities to celebrate 25 Years of Scholarly Excellence.

According to Prof. Alice Njuguna, the DVC Academics, Research& Student Affairs, Universities need to use their resources to cultivate cordial relationships with the community in ways that contribute positively and address the community’s needs and concerns.
Data from the Motorcycle Assembly Association of Kenya shows that the motorcycle (bodaboda) business in Kenya generates about Sh400 million daily, which translates to 3.4 percent of Kenya’s GDP.
It is therefore crucial for stakeholders in the education and government sectors to empower SMEs in the bodaboda sectors and help them explore ways through which they can expand their businesses.

Nairobi County Boss Governor Johnson Sakaja is the best performing governor in the country according to an independent audit.
In the score card released Friday afternoon following a survey on the performance of the County government for the period from December 2022 to April 2023, Sakaja’s administration received an eighty percent (80%) rating, majorly attributed to the stabilized operations of the county after the governor formulated a bi-partisan approach working formula.
Speaking during the release of the report, Nairobi County Social Audit Network chairman Edward Githaiga said that efforts by the governor to make all inclusive decisions had made it possible for the administration to deliver services and development projects to Nairobi residents making him top among other governors across the country.
The County has been able to reduce the wrangles synonymous with previous Nairobi County Governance while also involving the Business Community, the Youth Women and Person’s living with disability through the Governors Public Participation mechanism of inclusion.
Githaiga said that despite the challenges that the Governor and his County Government has faced, the County Development Plans have continued. This was achieved through giving recommendations and suggestions which according to the public submissions during the social Audit accounted for the upward trajectory. The Budget Processes and Development Plans all the way to the ward levels of governance were pointed out as among the biggest gains for the county.
Some of the parameters used to assess the youthful and hardworking Governor are health, infrastructure, talent and skills development and improved the cleanliness of the city.
The Nairobi City County Government Administration Performance is aimed towards looking at the socio-economic impacts of counties in the score card which is geared towards the residence, business community and the public in general.
Nairobi County Social Audit Network is founded on the principle of Public Participation and Inclusion by creating awareness among beneficiaries and providers of local social and productive services. Increasing efficacy and effectiveness of local development programmes. Its other core mandate is in the scrutiny of various policy decisions, keeping in view stakeholder interests and priorities, particularly of the poor.
This is a way of measuring, understanding, reporting and ultimately improving the Nairobi City County Government socio-economic performance and is aimed at helping the Nairobi City County Government narrow gaps between vision, goal and reality, between efficiency and effectiveness.

Well known Nairobi Eastleigh businessman George Kabiru alias Mrefu is claiming his life is in danger after receiving death threats from a Somali trader who has thrown him out of his 20 year old premises. He has appealed to the Government to intervene.

By Fred Maingi
Nairobi’s Eastleigh well known businessman George Kabiru alias Mrefu has claimed his life is in danger after receiving death threats from some Somali traders
Mrefu, a well known Nyumba Kumi leader in Eastleigh is now appealing to the Government to intervene and save his business that was supporting many Husslers who have been rendered jobless.
Mrefu has accused the proprietors of Dar es salaam Towers based along Eastleigh
Kiringothi street between 1st Avenue and muratina road of spoiling his 20 years old business that supported many Kenyans.
“I’m now being treated like a foreigner in my own country by people who are foreigners from Somali. They ave used money to entice the local administration including the Police to throw me out of my land. I ave tried all means even reporting to Pangani police station but I ave never received any help”noted Mrefu.
Addressing the media at the premises that almost erupted into a drama after his Somali opponents stormed and interrupted the press briefing, Mrefu vowed never to relent since he is a Kenyan fighting for his right.

The proprietor of the Dar es salaam Towers a Mr Moha with a white cap storms and interferes with a press conference that was being addressed by prominent local businessman George Kabiru alias Mrefu

Farmers Party of Kenya, has moved to the High Court and filed a case against the Minister of Agriculture over its decision to contract Zambian farmers to carry out large scale cultivation of maize for export to Kenya.
Under the Certificate of Urgency filed on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, the party avers that the decision by the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS) to contract Zambian farmers was “unreasonable, irrational, and illegal and in gross violation of the Constitution of Kenya.”
CS Mithika Linturi in March 2023 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with his Zambian counterpart Mtolo Phiri for large-scale farming of maize in Zambia for export to Kenya. The CS revealed that the development was part of the government’s long-term plans to curb food insecurity in the country.
Through Chege Kamau Advocates, Farmers Party argues that the decision where the two governments are supposed to enter into a contractual agreement where Zambia farmers would grow maize solely for export to Kenya is tantamount to admission of dereliction of duty by CS Linturi and by extension the government of the Republic of Kenya to support and provide enabling infrastructure for Kenyan farmers to produce food locally.
The petition names Attorney General of Kenya Justin Muturi and CS Linturi as first and second respondents respectively.
Farmers Party, which is a member of the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition, in the petition further avers that it is illogical for the government to contract the Republic of Zambia to do maize farming for export to Kenya, in lieu of supporting the local farmers to produce qualitatively and quantitatively as Agriculture is the backbone of the Kenyan economy.
Principally, the petition raises important matters of public interest touching on ordinary farmers of the republic of Kenya and therefore by implication touching on the economy of the country.
Farmers Party, through the petitioner Irungu Nyakera, who is also its Party Leader, argues that the decision will prejudice the interests of farmers in Kenya as well as the economy of Kenya.
The party which has been on the frontline agitating for the interest farmers in the country argues in the petitioner that it is illogical for the Kenyan government to engage the Republic of Zambia to produce

Maize for Kenya whilst Zambia is struggling with a similar challenge and is in fact importing maize to satisfy the demands of its citizenry.
On Tuesday, April 11, the Zambian Government announced a maize shortage that was threatening food security in the country. Interestingly, the shortage, which was announced by the country’s Ministry of Finance and National Planning, was made barely a month after Kenya inked a deal to grow maize in the South African country.
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