The governments of Kenya and China have initiated a crash programme to train Kenyans both locally and in Chinese universities to acquire railway operations and maintenance skills.

The move will ensure locals are fully involved in the operations and maintenance of the Sh372 billion Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), expected to start commercial operations in June this year.

Speaking while commissioning six locomotives at the Port of Mombasa, Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said already, 300 students are undergoing training at the Railway Training Institute on field training in the SGR project.

He said the SGR contractor, China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) has also launched a railway technology transfer training facility in Voi town on the Mombasa-Nairobi highway to improve the capacity of its Kenyan employees.

“We expect at the end of this year, a further 500 students will have completed training in middle-level skills related to driving of trains, maintaining infrastructure, locomotives and rolling stock and traffic operations,” said Macharia.

The post Kenya partners with China to train locals on rail operations appeared first on Mediamax Network Limited.

Charles Okwemba @charlito56

Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) in partnership with the Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association (KMJA) have launched the Commercial Law Guidebook that provides a simplified understanding of the judicial process governing commercial disputes in Kenya.

Speaking during the launch, Chief Justice David Maraga said the guidebook would go a long way in educating the public on commercial court systems.

“The booklet will serve as reference for those dealing with commercial cases. It includes best practices in handling disputes such as illicit trade, customs, standards and intellectual properties,” Maraga stated.

The launch comes as producers grapple with delay in judgment of business-related court matters, due to backlog of cases and a host of other malpractices that include corruption, tax evasion, trading with sub-standard goods and infringement of intellectual properties.

KAM chairlady Flora Mutahi said the development of the guidebook is a great milestone for the private sector and the general public.

“We are hopeful that this publication will contribute to realisation of well informed decisions, improved case flow management and increased speed at which cases are handled and resolved,”she said.

The post Judiciary, manufacturers launch law guide booklet appeared first on Mediamax Network Limited.

Mercy Mwai and Irene Githinji @PeopleDailyKe

Deputy President William Ruto has highlighted five key issues he stated distinctly differentiate this year’s General Election from the 2013 exercise, which sees as placing the ruling Jubilee Party in a better position to win the next General-Election.

Top on the list is the fact that in 2013 they had what Ruto described as heavy load on their shoulders owing to the International Criminal Court (ICC) cases that he and President Uhuru Kenyatta were facing.

The ICC cases, he said, gave rise to the ‘choices have consequences’ slogan but this time round they are free and no baggage with them, he stated. Ruto spoke while launching the Jubilee Smart card on Friday, a mandatory document for party members to vote during its forthcoming nomination exercise.

Leader present called for unity in the countdown to the August 8 polls and took a swipe at the Opposition. The Sh20 smart card launch brought Jubilee aspirants and sitting governors, National Assembly Members, Senators and MCAs from across the country to converge at the Kasarani Gymnasium inside the Moi International Sports Centre, clad in the red-and-yellow party colours.

Once one acquires the card, they will be required to activate it by sending an SMS to 30553. Ruto also urged Jubilee Party supporters to come out in large numbers when the second phase of national voter registration conducted by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), which commences on Monday and runs for the next one month.

“Bad leaders are chosen by people who do not come out to vote. Everyone must realise that it is their duty, right and responsibility to make sure they participate in moving the agenda of this country forward by registering to vote,” Ruto said.

And unlike 2013 where they asked for votes as different parties in a coalition, Ruto said this time they are coming as a single party that unites all cadres of people regardless of their background.

Thirdly, the DP said they faced the electorate in the last election with a list of pledges but now the Jubilee Government has a score-card and a track record they are proud of and ready to advance for a second term.

It is also a different election this year as Ruto said owing to the fact that Jubilee Coalition faced a formidable opponent from a sitting Prime Minister and and a serving Vice- President among other significant people who had served in government.

Ruto dismissed the challenge ahead of them at the moment saying: “Today we face a clueless, rudderless, leaderless and disorganised Opposition. You do not need any further evidence beyond what you saw at Bomas of Kenya on Wednesday.”

The fifth issue that Ruto spoke of was that unlike in 2013 when the elections were heavily influenced by matters hinged on tribalism, regionalism and division, the forthcoming election will be about what Kenyans consider as the key agenda regardless of where they hail from.

“Even the Opposition have started to talk about the projects implemented so far and Kenyans are demanding to know what their agenda is? We are proud of ours and we will win with 70+1 per cent,” said Ruto.

The post Jubilee poised to win 2017 polls, says Ruto appeared first on Mediamax Network Limited.

Residents of Turkana East sub-county have decried the deteriorating security in Lomelo area. More than 20 leaders and residents who addressed the press in Lodwar town on Friday said learning has been paralysed in Lomelo and residents are unable to access water points due to insecurity which has claimed three lives so far, including that of a chief on Wednesday morning.

Turkana county Knut chairman Kenyaman Eriong’oa said pupils and teachers are afraid of attending school due to insecurity. The residents now want the national government to intervene to ease the suffering of the locals.

Already the members of the National Assembly led by James Lomenen of Turkana South and the county government leadership have raised concern over the insecurity witnessed over the past two weeks.

The post Turkana locals decry insecurity appeared first on Mediamax Network Limited.

A firm has sued Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Anne Amadi over a decision to contract rival company to provide security services at the Judiciary. Bedrock Security Services Limited claims that the Registrar awarded Lavington Security Services Limited the tender despite an appeal at the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board over the same. In court ...

The post Judiciary Registrar sued over tender appeared first on Mediamax Network Limited.

The Aga Khan Foundation plans to expand its Kisumu hospital facility at a cost of Sh1.4 billion over the next five years upgrading it to a 100-bed capacity.

Kisumu Business Development manager Rita Gachahi made the disclosure during the signing of Expansion and Upgrading Financing Agreement between Aga Khan Health Services, Kenya and Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) on Friday.

Gachahi said a similar proposal for expansion of Mombasa hospital will cost a further Sh1.1billion for the development of a cardiology programme, a day care and a chemotherapy centre.

The post Aga Khan hospital Kisumu set for Sh1.4b expansion appeared first on Mediamax Network Limited.

The government will soon roll out specialised tablets to cater for visually impaired pupils, ICT’s Director of programmes Paul Rono has said.

He said the tablets would be equipped with braille material as the government seeks to ensure that all primary school going children access digital education.

Speaking in Nakuru, Rono said the ICT department was engaged in a programme that would see at least 700 teachers trained per week on the Digital Learning Programme to ensure a successful roll out of the devices in all public primary schools countrywide.

He said his department is working round the clock to ensure the devices are distributed to at least 100 schools per day in order to meet an October 2017 deadline for delivery to all schools.

The post Visually impaired learners to get specialised tablet appeared first on Mediamax Network Limited.

Sophie Njoka

Three sons of slain drug baron Ibrahim Akasha and an Indian national have been charged before a Mombasa court with engaging in a fight in a public place.

Baktash Akasha, Ibrahim Akasha, Adbulsalam Akasha alongside Vijaygiri Goswami appeared before Mombasa Principal Magistrate Henry Nyakweba and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

They are charged that on January 1 this year at Rahian Bar and Restaurant in Nyali estate, jointly with others not before court took part in a fight in a public place.

The accused, through lawyer Cliff Ombeta, requested the court to order the prosecution to supply them with all documentary evidence to be used in the case.

However, Senior Assistant counsel Alexander Muteti, for the State, informed the court that they were yet to record statements from witnesses and requested the parties in the matter to allow the prosecution more time. The four were released on a Sh20,000 cash bail. Hearing is set for March 20.

The post Akasha sons in court public scuffle appeared first on Mediamax Network Limited.

Sophie Njoka

Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho and two legislators were on Friday detained at the Urban Police Station in Mombasa after storming to demand for the release of his ally, Nahidi Musa— a firearms dealer.

But in a statement, Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet denied that the three had been arrested saying they were camping at the station demanding the release of a suspect.

Musa was arrested after detectives had earlier in the morning raided his shop and home in what is seen as a crackdown on illegal guns circulating in Mombasa.

About 20 officers raided the firearms shop located at the underground floor of the Krish Plaza in Nyali at around 9am. Later, Joho, Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir and his Kisauni MP Rashid Bedzimba went to the station demanding the release of Musa, who is also the Mombasa County Government's Director of Inspectorate.

There was drama outside the building as armed plain clothes police officers from the Flying Squad and Special Crime Prevention Unit sealed the area preventing the entry and exit of any vehicle into the building.

"The officers came heavily armed, took control of the entire building and the surroundings. They blocked the entrance and exit with their vehicles before storming into the underground shop," said a security guard, who sought anonymity.

The armed policemen had earlier raided the home of Arub Ibrahim, a close ally of the Joho in search of illegal firearms. The raid took place at around 7am but no guns were recovered.

Musa, who is a licensed firearms dealer, termed what appeared a raid by the police a normal firearms verification exercise aimed at identifying identity of those who have acquired guns and their licences.

"This is a normal exercise that is carried out in accordance with the Firearms Acts. Police officers are required to carry out inspection of firearm dealers shops every three months to establish how many guns have been sold and to whom," he said.

He said police wanted to establish who he had sold guns to in the recent past. 
This raid comes two days after Coast Regional Coordinator Nelson Marwa ordered a crackdown on illegal fire arms holders in Mombasa and cited the posh Nyali estate as one of the areas with high proliferation of unlicensed firearms.

Marwa sensationally claimed that the county government's Inspectorate department was recruiting a militia disguised as askaris to be used to intimidate and threaten rival politicians during campaigns.

Meanwhile, Joho has asked Kenyans to pray for him over what her termed as "harassment under the hands of the National government."

Speaking a day after arriving back in Mombasa, the governor claimed State agents were harassing him, his family and friends. He said his allies and family members have been targeted by the government after their houses and business premises.

The post Joho, two MPs storm police station over arrest of gun dealer appeared first on Mediamax Network Limited.

Chama Cha Uzalendo (CCU) National Executive Council  has threatened to take legal action against party leader Wavinya Ndeti and former secretary general Felippe Saja for allegedly masquerading as party officials.

The council, led by secretary general Anthony Mureithi and chairman Maur Bwanamaka, said the two ceased being CCU members and denied claims that the party has joined Cord.

 “We have instituted criminal proceedings against Saja for posing as secretary general yet the council does not recognise him,” said Mureithi.

Two years ago, a faction of delegates announced that Wavinya had been kicked out as party leader for being a “Cord sympathiser”.

Bwanamaka said the party will field candidates for various political positions ahead in this year’s General Election. “We are not joining any political coalition,” he said.

Wavinya has recently been seen at Cord events.

The party top organ has locked horns with some of officials who have been expelled over alleged misappropriation of funds.

The post CCU top organ threatens to sue Wavinya, ex-official appeared first on Mediamax Network Limited.

The second and final phase of Mass Voter Registration kicks off this morning across the country.

Turnout is expected to be high as parties have been mobilising supporters to enlist in large numbers to increase their chances of  winning the August 8 General Election.

Both Jubilee and the Opposition have been using all means to ensure as many of their supporters as possible enter the register.

Last week, President Uhuru Kenyatta urged aspirants to rally their supporters to register saying the August elections will be won or lost in the next 30 days when new voters enlist.

On its part, the Opposition shelved  street demonstrations to oppose controversial amendments to the elections laws to allow supporters to register.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is targeting to register at least six million new voters.

It has also sought to assure Kenyans that the distribution of biometric registration kits is fair, contrary to claims  by some Opposition leaders that Jubilee-leaning zones had been favoured.

“The formula used for distribution of kits is the fairest and most equitable we can ever have and we are confident with. It’s now about how many people are mobilised to come out and register. IEBC commits to share updates of the exercise weekly,” IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba said in Nairobi yesterday.

He said each County Assembly Ward will have a minimum of three and a maximum of 10 BVR kits.

“Our registration clerks will draw up a kits movement schedule and it will be publicised adequately. We will recruit 2,900 voter educators to sensitise the public on where the kits are,” he said.

Being the last registration before the August 8 elections, Chiloba called on Kenyans not to miss the chance to register.

The main target are people who did not register between 2012 and 2016 as well as those who have  recently attained voting age and have been issued with national identity cards.

About nine million people with IDs are yet to register as voters.

The commission projects to have at least 22 million voters on the voters’ registrar, up from 14.4 million in the 2013 General Election.  By December 2016, the number had risen to 15.9 million.

The post IEBC targets six million new voters as listing starts appeared first on Mediamax Network Limited.

The African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA) has picked Bishop Julius Njoroge of Kirinyaga Diocese to be the new archbishop.

Njoroge was elected by delegates at the Bahati AIPCA Cathedral in Nairobi last week. He garnered 27 votes against 23 of his closest challenger Bishop David Njuguna.

Others who contested include bishops David Njuguna and Wilson Muchai who got eight and one votes, respectively. Njoroge will replace Archbishop Amos Mathenge, who has reached the retirement age of 70. He promised to work other leaders to harmonise the operations of the church which has in the recent past been dogged by leadership wrangles.   

“I will work with everyone. The national governing council of the church will be called within two weeks so that we can deliberate on the way forward,” said Njoroge.

The post Leadership row-hit AIPCA picks new archbishop appeared first on Mediamax Network Limited.

The Transport Licensing Appeal Board has warned the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) against impounding vehicles using feeder roads to evade traffic snarl-up.

Board chairman Dick Waweru yesterday said provided the matatus are not diverting the routes they are licensed to ply, they are not breaking the law by using feeder roads.

[ad id="277292"]

“If a matatu is licensed for a specific route, it has a right to follow any road so long as they are within the specified boundaries,” he said.

Speaking during sensitisation workshop for public transport stakeholders in Mombasa, Waweru also urged NTSA to develop clear policies and regulations.

“For example, it is unfortunate that a driver can be arrested for failure to renew driving licence yet it is NTSA’s portal that has broken down ,” he said.

Transfer documents

Waweru also decried the long procedures involved before the transfer of a logbook is effected, which he said was denying some owners right over their vehicle.

“Some vehicles have been sold several times by different owners. How do you then expect a driver to produce transfer documents when the vehicle could have passed through 10 people?,” he asked.

Meanwhile, Waweru urged matatu owners to file cases with the board especially regarding issues whose provisions are vague or untimely.

The Board has settled 30 cases between September last year and January 10, this year.

The post Let matatus using feeder roads be, NTSA urged appeared first on Mediamax Network Limited.

Youth leaders in Naivasha have embarked on a major voter registration exercise targeting the young population majority of who are yet to be registered.
The leaders say it is critical for all patriotic Kenyans register and exercise their civic duties to elect their leaders.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWq-ERMHohg

The post Youth leaders in Naivasha embark on a major voter registration targeting young population appeared first on Mediamax Network Limited.

The voters registration exercise which begins today might face challenges in areas along the border of West Pokot and Turkana counties due to cases of insecurity which have so far left three people have been killed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hum0sAB9x6o

The post Three people killed by suspected bandits in the wake of mass voter registration launch appeared first on Mediamax Network Limited.

Political leaders have now been warned against using past injustices as a tool to incite communities against each other.

Dr. David ole Sankok from the Maa community says leaders will not be allowed to use the emotive land issues to incite the Maa community.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3w0s6nHOFk

The post Cord leader Raila Odinga accused of using land as a campaign tool in Narok county appeared first on Mediamax Network Limited.

Aid Agencies around the country are now raising the red flag over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in different parts of the country due to severe drougt currently ravaging the nation.
The agencies say unless the Government moves fast then human lives will be lost in Marsabit and West Pokot counties which are among the worst affected regions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrFQizfq7uE

The post Residents of North Horr lose over 80% of their livestock to drought appeared first on Mediamax Network Limited.

Jubilee party leaders have hit out at former Gatanga Member of Parliament Peter Kenneth yesterday for being a traitor. The leaders who had converged in Muranga rallying electorate to participate in the Mass Voter Registration accused Kenneth for backing down last minute in defending President Uhuru Kenyatta who was facing crimes against humanity at the ICC in Hague.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_JLpBc_uBQ

The post Leaders urge Kenneth to drop his Nairobi governorship ambition appeared first on Mediamax Network Limited.

A section of AIPCA leaders from the Nairobi diocese now say they will not recognise new leaders voted in last week, saying the electoral process used was flawed.
The leaders claim some of the new leaders were rigged in and are now demanding a fresh election.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7X1kXGvNxU

The post A section of AIPCA church leaders dismiss elections conducted on Monday appeared first on Mediamax Network Limited.

Judith Kemei and Wangarì Njuguna @PeopleDailyKe

At least 10 schools have been closed in Tiaty, Baringo county as a result of hunger caused by the ongoing drought. A spot check by the People Daily showed that more than 10 primary schools and at least 19 Early Childhood Centres (ECDs) had been closed

. Among the schools affected are: Natan, Toplen, Riongo, Naudo, Akwichatis, Chesakam, Lonyangapuo, Nakoko, Napukut, Nalekat, Chepkalacha and Lotita.

Some of these learning institutions failed to reopen for first term while others have registered low turnout. Nearby seasonal streams they have been relying on for drinking and cooking water have dried up forcing locals to dig burrow-like wells on dry river beds.

The schools which had already opened are on the verge of closure as parents have started moving with their children in search of pasture and water.

In Lotita Primary School, pupils spent most of their time at Akwichatis River hence their learning paralysed according to the school head teacher Sheila Chesang.

Shortage of water and pasture is also posing a serious security threat with locals fighting over the few water points available. For instance, hundreds of angry residents barricaded Nakuru-Mogotio road over the weekend accusing some farmers of diverting Molo river and Rongai rivers to their farms and denying those living downstream of the essential commodity.

In Chesakam village, Tiaty constituency residents have camped in the shores of dry river beds where men dig boreholes and women boiling wild fruits for 12 hours in a bid to neutralise the poisonous substance.

The drought situation further worsens the tense relationship between communities living in Baringo and its border with other counties. Pokots from Tiaty constituency have moved in to Baringo South in search for pasture and this has led to conflict. Further, along the border of Baringo and Turkana three people were killed last week including a chief in Lomelo near Kapedo.

This comes as hundreds of livestock succumb to drought in Barwesa ward. River Kerio, which has never dried, is now dry forcing residents to take their livestock to Rimoi Game Reserve at the risk of being attacked by elephants.

Residents are now calling on the government and humanitarian agencies to intervene and avert more losses. The most affected areas in the county are the entire Tiaty sub-county, Barwesa in Baringo North, Baringo south and some parts of Mogotio.

Elsewhere, Maragua MP Kamande Mwangi has appealed to the National government to hasten release of relief food to the thousands of people who are facing starvation in his constituency.

He said approximately 10,000 people have been affected by the drought which has hit most parts of the country. The MP said his constituency, which is classified as a hardship area has received minimal rainfall and that many of the residents are staring death in the eye.

Addressing the press from his office in Kenol, Kamande said Kambiti, Makuyu, Kirimiri, Kamahuha and Nginda areas are in dire need of food aid.

The post Drought forces closure of over 10 schools in Baringo appeared first on Mediamax Network Limited.