NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 10-Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has announced that he will name his Deputy on Friday almost a year since Polycarp Igathe resigned.

Speaking in Mombasa on Wednesday, Sonko further said he will be naming his cabinet in full.

Several CECs in Sonko’s cabinet have been suspended , others have not had their contracts renewed after the one year one lapsed, leaving only three in office.

This comes amid talks that Nairobi County Government is facing crisis following suspensions and resignations by County executives in the last one year.

Sonko’s cabinet which started off with 10 CECs that is Charles Kerich ICT , Veska Kangongo (Finance), Emmah Mukuhi (Environment), Janet Ouko (Education), Youth and Gender, Larry Wambua (Devolution), Mohamed Dagane (Transport and Infrastructure), Danvas Makori (Agriculture), Hitan Majevda (Health), Peter Wachira (Lands and urban planning) and Allan Esabwa (Tourism and E-commerce).

During the one year majority of the CECs had been reshuffled from their dockets and others suspended.

Some of those who have been suspended include Danvas Makori, Hitan Majevda, Veska Kangongo and Emmah Mukuhi.

Sonko had one year contracts with the CECs and only three had their contracts renewed among them Janet Ouko who resigned on Monday.

Sonko however defended the suspensions witnessed in his administration saying that is tyle of leadership.

MOMBASA, Kenya, Jan 10 – The National Land Commission chair Mohammed Swazuri on Thursday said 20 acres of the Mama Ngina Water Fronts have been grabbed.

The entire parcel of land, which is said to have been reserved by the government in the 1970s was 26 acres.

Swazuri said 13 individuals and companies were irregularly allocated the 20 acres between 1985 and 2012.

The NLC chairman has now issued a 90-day notice to the 13 title holders to leave the parcel of land.

“The total acreage for the Mama Ngina Water Front gardens is 26 acres, but on 20 acres have illegally been hived off. However, they have not been developed, it is still on paper,” said Swazuri.

He said two plots have – which are about 2 acres in total – have been fenced off by the grabbers.

“The Mombasa County government and the police should make sure the two walls around those parcels of land are brought down immediately,” Swazuri said.

Accompanied by Mombasa County Land Executive Edward Nyale and Mombasa Deputy County Commissioner Mohammed Salim on the tour of the garden, Swazuri said they will publish a notice in all local dailies on Tuesday.

On Monday, President Uhuru Kenyatta commissioned a Sh460 million regeneration of the Mama Ngina Water Front.

During the function, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho told the Head of State that two parcels of land at Mama Ngina Water Front Park had been grabbed.

The President issued a directive to the Ministry of Lands and National Land Commission to ensure that the parcels of lands are returned to the public within five months.

Swazuri however said the project launched by the President on Monday will go on as planned.

“The project will go on as planned because this is a government land. Those who were illegally allocated land here must leave,” said Swazuri.

NAIROBI, Kenya Jan 10 – National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale has dismissed former Jubilee Party Vice Chairman David Murathe’s views on the 2022 succession debate, saying they are personal and the party remains intact.

Speaking to Capital FM News, Duale has asked leaders to respect the presidency and President Uhuru Kenyatta as an institution and shun what he termed as ‘meaningless and divisive politics’. 

“I really want to ask Jubilee leaders who want to reduce the President and his deputy to their community and their regions that it is against the principles of the Jubilee Party in which we formed after collapsing a number of the regional and tribal parties that propelled us to government in 2013,” Duale said.

The Garissa Township lawmaker who broke his silence on the 2022 succession debate that has since taken the country by storm, castigated leaders who have geared up for early campaigns which he termed as premature and instead encouraged them to redirect their energies to focus on developing their respective regions.

But even as he admitted that Jubilee Party was a democratic entity where her leaders had the latitude to express their own opinion, Duale cautioned that the freedom of speech accorded to the leaders had to be exercised in a reasonably and mature manner.

He maintained that the party was precisely formed on the basis of embracing divergent views but warned if it threatened to split to the middle the unity and harmony ‘that is a fundamental component for the progress of the party’, none would be spared.

Duale who did not mince his words was outright that the party would censure the leaders whom he labelled as rebellious for fueling what he described as ‘unnecessary tension and imaginary divisions’.

“I am in consultation with the Secretary General of the Party, I am a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC), and as a party we plan to discuss the conduct of those errant members or officials who want to disparage the President and his deputy,” he said.

The Jubilee and government’s mouthpiece also defended President Kenyatta’s development record and maintained that the Jubilee administration will not relent in improving the lives of all Kenyans across the country, in the wake of accusations by Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria that Central Kenya has been neglected.

“President Kenyatta is not a president of the Mount Kenya region or of the Rift Valley people but he is an elected leader who represents every community in the country and those who helped him to ascend to power we will continue to stand with the president and his policy on development,” he said.

In a veiled attack to the President’s critics who have accused him of neglecting the expansive Mount Kenya region, Duale said the President will not be cowed by ‘sideshows’ and asked the detractors to be focused on delivering the government’s big four agenda.

“Our party is on course and we want the president to exercise equity in his administration like he did it on his first term. We want roads in every part of the country and affordable health care among other projects and we fully support him in that together with his deputy,” he said.

There has been discontent by a section of Jubilee Party leaders since last week when Murathe declared that the region will not back Deputy President William Ruto to succeed President Kenyatta who is on his second and final term.

On Thursday Duale clarified that the 2022 succession race will not be an ingredient towards the disintegration of the party noting that the party had set out measures to ensure it holds a peaceful transition particularly on who will be it’s 2022 flag bearer.

“Ruto who is eyeing the president has insisted he does not want any endorsement from anyone and as a party I want to assure our members that we will have a free and fair nomination of all the party officials and whoever will clinch the presidency ticket will be fully backed by the party,” he said.

NAIROBI, Kenya Jan 10 – Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria now claims his life is in danger following his remarks on New Year where he castigated President Uhuru Kenyatta for failing to allocate development projects to his Mount Kenya backyard.

Speaking during a news conference, Kuria attributed the threats to persons whom he described as opportunists taking advantage of the backlash he has received from the President and some of his close allies.

The vocal MP said he has given the details of the threats to the Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti to investigate.

“To those who might have wanted to exploit the current crisis for selfish objectives, I also urge you to go back to working for our people. I trust that this will put to an end the subtle and not to subtle threats on my life from opportunists details of which I have already shared with the DCI George Kinoti, a man of immerse capabilities and patriotism and who is doing everything possible to investigate the same,” he said.

The seconded term MP told revelers at a New Year Celebration concert in Thika Town where he accused the President of ignoring his Mt Kenya region backyard and focusing on developing areas that voted for the Opposition.

Kuria criticized the Head of State for only visiting the region to issue certificates to recovering alcoholics.

Kuria has also apologized to President Uhuru Kenyatta saying his remarks were not directed to him but to Kiambu County leaders.

“I offer my unmatched apology to the President whom I have worked with and respect so much,” he said. “I have no problem with him launching projects in any part of this country.”

He also says he supports the handshake between President Kenya and Opposition chief Raila Odinga saying he’s a beneficiary of the same.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 10- Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has backtracked on his earlier remarks where he had accused President Uhuru Kenyatta of neglecting the Central Kenya region on matters development.

Speaking at Parliament Buildings on Thursday, Kuria who has received backlash from former and current political leaders for his utterances now says that his remarks were not directed to the President and offered his apology.

“I have nothing but utmost respect for President Kenyatta with whom I have worked for a long time towards making Kenya a great nation; in a previous  press conference I offered my unqualified apology to the President for any hurt and misconception that my words may have created. I hereby reiterate that apology to the president and my fellow Kenyans,” Kuria apologized.

The second time MP expressed his support for the handshake between Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga, adding that he will continue working with both, for the benefit of the country.

“There is nothing wrong with the President launching projects in any part of this country. I have similarly sent an invitation to Hon Raila Odinga to come and launch projects in Gatundu South in the spirit of building bridges,” Kuria said.

“I am a beneficiary of the handshake; since 2007 the only part of Kisumu I could venture is Kisumu Airport- thanks to the handshake I can now freely walk in the streets of Kisumu.”

While telling off his critics, Kuria urged them to tone down and stop taking his remarks out of proportion for their  personal political gain.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 11-Nairobi County has benefited from Sh152 Million from United Kingdom Global Challenges Research Fund, to develop risk management policy and underlying data.

The five-year project which is set to commence in March this year, will provide an opportunity to show case lessons and learn from risk management experiences in other cities which will be beneficial to the Nairobi County Government.

Dr Mark Pelling, the Professor in Geography at King’s College London, who are the sponsors of the project said this will be an opportunity for Nairobi to develop policies,training and development of risk and vulnerability assessment and management decision-support tools.

“This project will provide considerable support for the development of risk management policy and underlying data in applied research funding over the next three years and additional resources then available,” he said.

Pelling said the collaboration of the Nairobi County Government has been and will be central to shaping planned work which, following the ambition of the NCCG, the aim of supporting transition towards integrating risk management into development policy and practice in Nairobi.

The first substantial activity being planned by Nairobi County Government disaster management and coordination sector will a be a three day meeting in Mombasa aimed at reviewing Nairobi County Disaster Management Act 2015 as well as develop a Nairobi Disaster Management Plan and Policy.

The three day closed door meeting will have invitees from the World Bank, UN agencies and across the Nairobi City County and other officials from the National Government.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 11- A section of Amani National Congress lawmakers have joined other political leaders in supporting President Uhuru Kenyatta development agenda.

The Musalia Madavadi led team maintained that they are still in Opposition but that will not stop them from appreciating what President Kenyatta is doing for the benefit of the country.

Speaking during a press conference Deputy Party Leader Lugari MP Ayub Savula and his Butere counterpart Tindi Mwale demanded respect for the president and urged other leaders to give him a peaceful time to do his job.

“Being in Opposition does not mean that we will not be loyal to the president; the notion that development should go where the president hails from does not stand the test of time,” Mwale said.

MP Savula shared the same sentiments saying they will continue being part of the development projects which are meant to benefit the whole country.

“Being loyal to the president does not mean that we are not doing our oversight role; contrary to that, we are keen on what is happening. We will stand with our party leader in criticizing leaders who want to halt development,” said Savula.

On 2022 succession politics, the leaders said it is still too early to politick, advising their colleagues to tone down and focus on development projects in their regions.

“We in ANC equally call on the president to remain firm, initiate development projects and ignore a few politicians dragging him down into 2022 politics,” Mwale added.

President Kenyatta has for the last one week been showered with praises by former and current political leaders for his commitment to develop every part of the country and unite all Kenyans.

This is after Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria accused the president of taking development projects to other regions while neglecting the central region.

Kuria who has received fierce backlash for his remarks has since apologized to the president and Kenyans at a large.

“I have nothing but utmost respect for President Kenyatta with whom I have worked for a long time towards making Kenya a great nation; in a previous press conference I offered my unqualified apology to the President for any hurt and misconception that my words may have created. I hereby reiterate that apology to the president and my fellow Kenyans,” Kuria apologized.

KILIFI, Kenya, Jan 10 – Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko on Friday postponed the much-awaited announcement of a new deputy governor.

He said he will nominate a suitable deputy after wide consultations from within Jubilee government and opposition.

According to Sonko, the NASA coalition had asked him to nominate Rahab Wangui because of her vast experience in leadership.

“I was ready with the name, but today morning I received a request from NASA that in the spirit of the handshake I should consider Rahab Wangui for the position of the deputy,” said Sonko.

He said therefore he will not forward the deputy governor nominee that he had chosen to County Assembly for approval.

“I will nominate a suitable deputy governor after wide consultations. This will be within the next three weeks,” said Sonko.

Wangui was the Wiper candidate for Nairobi Woman Representative.

At the same time, Sonko has appointed five new County Executive Members to his Cabinet.

Lucia Mulwa will be the new Education, Youth, Sports Executive, Stella Bosire-Otieno in Health) and Winfred Kathangu as the new Finance and Economic Executive.

Pauline Kahiga Waititu will be incharge of Public Service and Devolution and Sanjeev Kaur is the new Environment Executive.

He has retained Charles Kerich as Lands, Urban Planning and Housing), Alan Igambi will be incharge of Trade Tourism and Coperatives), Newton Munene as Finance Exexutive while Larry Wambua in the Water and Agriculture docket.

MACHAKOS, Kenya, Jan 13 – Governors of Machakos, Kitui and Makueni on Sunday announced the formation of the People’s Empowerment Movement whose main agenda is to fight poverty, generate wealth and provide cohesion in the Ukambani region and the entire nation.  

Alfred Mutua of Machakos, Kivutha Kibwana of Makueni and Charity Ngilu of Kitui held a day-long strategy meeting to define the development agenda for their citizens.

“Our people have suffered for a long time due to poor leadership,” said Ngilu. “We have to provide leadership that changes the lives of our mothers, youth and men.”

Governor Kibwana added that the people of Ukambani will need to be mobilized for national issues such as the forthcoming census, Big Four Agenda programs and referendums.

“We have to change our past of poverty of leadership,” he said.

As part of their working together, the three Governors hope to reverse apathy that has crept in the region.

“Our Meeting focuses on strategies of moving our people from poverty to prosperity,” added Mutua. “We need to move our people from hopelessness to hope as we galvanize our shared resources.”

Mutua added that it is vital that there is clarity in the Kamba community’s linkages with national and international networks.

The three vowed to stick together and would not respond to those insulting them. Instead, they will grow each others’ economies by trading and buying goods from each other.

“In 10 or 20 years time we do not want to be blamed for being sycophants and doing nothing,” Mutua said. “The time for change is here for the sake of our people.”

They announced that in early February they will unveil the agenda and programs for the People’s Empowerment Movement that, according to Kibwana “will transform lives in a way never seen before.”

“We will continue working together for our people,” Ngilu said. “We are committed and nothing will separate us because we have a clear development agenda for our people.”

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 14- Three Chinese and a Kenyan found in possession of game meat, a tortoise, two ivory tusks, two sculpture of ivories among other things are set to plead to charges Monday at Milimani Law Courts.

The suspects have spent the last five days in custody, during when detectives were concluding investigations.

They were arrested after neighbours complained of a foul smell emanating from their house where a deep freezer containing decomposing dog and game meat was found.

Last week, a Magistrate in the company of one of the accused visited the scene, where he directed the meat to be disposed off to avert a health nightmare.

The January 8 raid was carried out by a multi-agency team drawn from detectives, officers from the Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Bureau of Standards and the Kenya Revenue of Authority.

It all started when public health officers in the company of police officers went to the house to confirm whether the foreigners were running a slaughterhouse within a residential area, following complaints from neighbours.

The officers said they were faced by violent resistance from the Chinese, who claimed that they work for a senior politician.

The officers later called for back-up from Kilimani Police Division, who subdued the suspects and commenced a search that lasted more than 8 hours.

Apart from the tortoise, the Chinese were also keeping two cats and a dog as pets.

Another neighbour said the Chinese had been running a supermarket in Lavington before embarking on the fast food business.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 14 – Jane’s (not her real name) painful story started on Tuesday night and triumphantly ended on Saturday.

She played the role of a wife for some 72 hours before she was rescued though already defiled.

The only “excuse” her father used to marry her off at that tender age was for “lacking the brains” to excel in her studies.

During last term’s examinations, Jane – a resident of Kajiado County – managed to become position eight, in a class of 40 students.

This coming August, the class four pupil was scheduled to undergo Female Genital Mutilation.

Already, the girl though now under safe hands had been defiled but this, she has vowed will not stop her dream to become a teacher.

In a tone of vulnerability, she says, “I did not want to get married. I want to study up to that point where God will let me.”

She knows of her challenges by names and numbers- a Kenyan girl whose love for Mathematics and Science is unrivalled.

Until her rescue last week, Jane has already started playing wife to an older man.

The man’s grandmother was grooming her for the onerous task.

A cow that she was to milk twice a day had been handed over to her as part of her responsibility that would have included bearing children for her husband – a predator preying on a minor.

“This really pained me,” a visibly distraught Jane said.

She knows pain, as it is defined by her ordeal.

On December 8, Jane unsuccessfully tried to reach out to the area chief to see whether he could stop her “marriage.”

That very night and against her will, she was taken to her to be husband.

“At night, the father to the man that I was supposed to marry came to our home on a motorbike and picked me up. He then took me to their homestead where I was to start life as a wife,” a traumatized Jane narrated.

All along, Jane’s mother had been ‘beaten’ to submission and had been warned against raising alarm.

Yet another case of forced early child marriage in the country, that begs the question, how many more go undetected?

A question no one seems to have an answer.

According to Equality Now, a Non-Governmental Organisation fighting for the protection and promotion of the human rights of women and girls around the world, the national prevalence of child marriage is estimated to be at 23 per cent.

Kajiado, Narok, Kisii, Migori, Garissa, Isiolo, Marsabit and West Pokot Counties lead in this front.

If not rescued, Jane would have become part of the worrying statistics. She lives to tell her ordeal as a survivor.

She was rescued over the weekend by Beyond Hope, a rights group based in Kajiado and a partner of the Equality Now. The Organisations runs a rescue centre for girls.

“We found her inside a house and she was alone. When she saw us, she got scared and started asking us to forgive her while crying. So, we assured her that she was safe because she is just a baby,” Beyond Hope founder Dorcas Parit said.

“This is the worst case that I have seen because she is so young.”

Over the December holiday, the Organisation rescued 10 other girls who had been circumcised.

Equality Now Programme Officer Felister Gitonga said, “this case is just a fraction of a bigger problem. Equality Now is extremely concerned about the high rate of child marriage across Kenya, especially in regions where FGM is practiced. As it stands, the national prevalence is 23 percent, and this is alarming because child marriage has numerous harmful effects on young girls. It takes them through a cycle of discrimination and poverty.

They are not able to attend school, they are not able to take care of their families because they are too young, and it exposes them to a lot of gender-based violence in addition to increasing complications during childbirth.”

According to Gitonga, child brides experience a lot of violence “because it’s common for husbands to think that it is okay to physically and emotionally abuse them.”

In Kajiado County, she says cases of FGM are interlinked to child marriage because it is a cultural process.

“People believe that if a girl goes through FGM then she is ready for marriage and any other thing including sexual relations. This is problematic because you find that after FGM, the community sees her as a woman, not as a child. She is wrongly treated as an adult who is ready to become a mother and a wife despite her young age,” Gitonga asserted.

Authorities have vowed to act against the perpetrators in Jane’s case.

“It is good that we were able to rescue her and take her to the hospital as we seek to ensure that the perpetrators are taken to court,” Kajiado Deputy County Commissioner, Lawrence Kinyua said.

“My caution and reminder to the public is that the law is very unfriendly to those who disregard the rights of the girl child, especially now. The law cannot treat such people with any mercy so whoever wants to face the force of the law should try us.”

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 14 – Three people accused of carrying out a terror attack at the Westgate Shopping Mall in 2013 have a case to answer.

Ahmed Abdi, Liban Omar and Hussein Mustafa, were Monday put on their defence by trial Magistrate Francis Andayi.

However, the court freed the fourth accused Adan Dheq for lack of evidence.

At least 67 people lost their lives in the September 21, 2013 terror attack.

The four had been jointly and separately accused of conspiracy to commit a terrorist act among other charges.

The case will be mentioned on January 21 for purposes of fixing defence hearing dates.

Abdi faces an additional charge of being a member of Al Shabaab.

He was allegedly found with videos titled Training Series in Swahili and Ambush at Bardale, which the prosecution said could facilitate terrorism.

While putting the three on their defence, Magistrate Andayi said the prosecution had established a prima facie case against them.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 14 – Motorists who are now enjoying paying Sh200 parking fees have lauded Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko for reducing the charges and ensuring parking is affordable.

Motorists who spoke to Capital FM News have welcomed the decision to reduce the fees, saying cases of clamping will now reduce since the charge is pocket friendly.

Capital FM News visited various parking lots within the Central Business District and spoke to a number of motorists who had just paid parking fees.

“I didn’t know about it until the parking attendant charged me Sh200; I normally pay Sh300 which I felt was a bit high but with this reduced fee I will be driving to the city frequently,” said Joseph Mwaura.

John Mwangi a taxi driver who parks along Standard Street daily couldn’t hide his joy after the parking attendant charged him Sh200 instead of the usual Sh300.

“As a taxi driver am very happy because reduction in Sh100 means a lot in business,” said Mwangi.

“This is good news and we hope the county continues with this trend until it reaches Sh150,” said another taxi driver.

Along Moi Avenue, Nancy Wekesa had just paid the Sh200 parking fee and was also pleased by the reduction.

“This is a relief to all motorists and we hope the county will not decide otherwise and increase the fees,” she said.

This was the case in the various streets within the Central Business District where motorists normally park.

This revised charge which took effect on Monday is stipulated in the county’s budget for the Financial year 2018/2019 which was passed a month ago, and is aimed at making motorists more compliant.

It also said to increase revenue collection in the parking department as more motorists will be encouraged to drive to the city.

County’s parking director Tom Tinega said motorists should not pay more adding that the online payment platform (JamboPay) must ensure the new rate is executed.

All the parking attendants said they had received directive to adhere to the Sh200 street parking charge for saloon vehicles.

Reducing parking fees was part of Sonko’s pledges during the campaign period.

The Nairobi County Government may however need to consider increasing parking lots so as to meet the demand as many people are now bringing their vehicles to town.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 14 – The Nairobi County Government will be among six global cities that will be participating in the AIDSfree Global Forum that will take place in London at the end of this month.

The AIDSfree Global Forum is part of global efforts aimed at reducing the burden of HIV in cities across the world and to achieve the target of ending the epidemic.

Governor Mike Sonko has been invited to speak at the forum and demonstrate Nairobi’s continued commitment in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

“Nairobi has made great progress against the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets enabled by a commitment to the Fast Track Cities Initiative. Your ongoing leadership in this area is vital and I hope that you might be available to attend and speak at the forum to demonstrate Nairobi’s continued commitment,” an invite to Sonko from the office of the British High Commissioner to Kenya says.

Executive Director of the National Aids Control Council of Kenya Dr Nduku Kilonzo has also been invited to the forum.

Other leaders of the participating cities include London, Maputo, Atlanta, Kiev and Delhi will showcase their progress and commitment to further action in addressing HIV/AIDS.

Leaders, doctors, NGOs and activists across the AIDSfree cities will gather and discuss how to bring to an end this major public health threat.

People living with HIV and those working as service providers will also have a platform to share first hand impact of the projects and the needs for support to continue.

The event is being hosted in partnership with the Evening Standard newspaper and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 15 – Medical practitioners and dentist fees are set for a downward review of 20 per cent, the Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday.

The review was recommended by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Board (KMPDB) chaired by Prof George Magoha when it submitted a report to the ministry last Friday following public consultations earlier in the week.

Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki said in a press statement on Tuesday the 20 per cent decrease in the minimum and maximum practitioners’ fees gazetted by her predecessor Cleopa Mailu in 2016 was in compliance with a directive by the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health.

She said the recommended fee guidelines will be forwarded to the parliamentary committee for approval.

Kariuki acknowledged the goodwill from doctors saying the fees would otherwise have risen 21 per cent from the 2006 rates based on a three-year cumulative inflation rate.

“In essence, based on the inflation for the past three years, the 2016 fees would ideally have increased by a minimum of 21 per cent. To this end, the goodwill of doctors in the process of supporting universal health coverage by improving access by assuring affordability cannot go unappreciated. They have essentially given Wanjiku (the common man) a 41 per cent reduction,” she stated.

KMPDB further recommended the reduction of cost of health through a multi-sectoral approach that would comprehensively review all components contributing to the high host of healthcare.

Health insurance providers had in a forum convened by KMPDB on Tuesday last week had termed the 2016 fees as an impediment to affordable healthcare insurance saying they contributed a sizable portion of medical insurance premiums.

“If the doctors’ fees go high it means the premiums would also go high. If the premiums go high then the uptake becomes very low. As we speak, the penetration rate is about 2.7 per cent,” William Kiama from the Association of Kenya Insurers said.

“The fear from insurance companies is that if these fees continue to go up, the number of Kenyans able to subscribe to healthcare insurance would further plummet,” he added.

A number of stakeholders in the health sector had termed the 2016 rates as exploitative, calling for the return of tariffs set out in the 2006 fee guideline.

Rights Activist Benji Ndolo who spoke at the KMPDB forum described the 2016 rates as exploitative saying they were fuelling poverty as families with ailing relatives are forced to pay through the nose to access healthcare.

“The culture of exploitation continues to derail this country. Most Kenyans cannot afford these medical costs,” he said.

In a report released on November 15 last year, the National Assembly Health Committee had instructed the Health Cabinet Secretary to replace the prevailing fees with 2006 rates citing exorbitant prices.

The Sabina Chege-led committee had given KMPDB six months to come up with reasonable charges that would then replace the 2006 rates it had recommended be adopted in the interim.

The 2016 rates set the minimum consultation fee charged by general practitioners at Sh1,800 with that charged by specialists set at a minimum of Sh3,600, up from Sh1,000 and Sh2,000 respectively.

According to the guidelines, the minimum fees general surgeries range from Sh66,000 to Sh132,000. The maximum charge for most of the surgeries ranges from Sh60,000 to Sh180,000.

Under the guidelines, urological surgeries cost as must as Sh360,000.

The chairperson of Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee in the National Assembly Jeremiah Kioni had last week said the departmental committee will seek to abolish minimum fees in a bid to make healthcare more accessible in realization of the right to health as provided for under Article 43 of the Constitution.

MOMBASA, Kenya, Jan 15 – Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho on Tuesday met with his political nemesis Suleiman Shabhal of Jubilee and agreed to work together for the development of Mombasa.

The two leaders agreed to set up technical team to look at their campaign manifestos and merge them for the development of the seaside city.

“We have agreed that we will set a technical team that will look at Shahbal’s manifesto and what are our plans for Mombasa and come up with a concrete plant to develop Mombasa,” said Joho.

Joho said majority of the issues that were in Shahbal’s manifesto are almost similar to the document they had developed in their vision to develop Mombasa.

Joho said one of the main agenda is to look at how best to develop the Dongo Kundu free port and economic zone, which the national government wants to set up south of Mombasa.

“We all agree that the Dongo Kundu port should be Kenyan-owned project. Therefore, we are going to bring on board all the six coastal governors from the Coast to see how best we can develop the project on our own with the help of national government,” said Joho.

Last week, Shahbal penned an opinion article urging President Uhuru Kenyatta not to give out the Sh30 billion Dongo Kundu free port project to Chinese and the Japanese who are fighting for the tenders.

During a press conference at Joho’s office, Shahbal said they are agreement with Joho the project should be implemented by Kenyan government, local banks and private sector.

“We are here today to discuss how we can develop the Dongo Kundu project on our own. This project was first discussed in 1962 and unless we push for it aggressively, the Japanese and the Chinese will take it over. We have the capabilities to do it ourselves,” said Shahbal.

The two leaders, Joho and Shahbal faced-off during the 2013 and 2017 General Election, with Joho emerging winner twice.

After the March 2013 General Election, Shahbal went to court through proxies to challenge Joho’s academic papers, in a case which almost saw Joho losing his political seat.

However, the case was later thrown out by the courts.

In the August 2017 General Election, Shahbal launched yet another tough fight against Joho.

Even though he had the help of President Uhuru Kenyatta, Shahbal could not beat Joho, who had by then become very popular in the region after confronting President Kenyatta head-on.

Joho blasted President Kenyatta of riding on donor-funded projects, a claim which did not go down well with those within the presidency circle.

However, since the March 9, 2018 handshake between President Kenyatta and opposition chief Raila Odinga, Joho is now seen to have buried the hatchet with the President.

Last week Monday, after the commissioning of the SH460 million regeneration of Mama Ngina Waterfront Park, President Kenyatta paid a courtesy call to Joho’s office.

Now, exactly a week after President Kenyatta paid Joho a visit, Shahbal also visited Joho in the company of Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and other Jubilee leaders from the Coast.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 15 – Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet on Tuesday evening admitted that the dusitD2 complex attack was suspected terrorism.

While sending his condolences to those affected, Boinnet said security forces were doing their best to evacuate all buildings in the complex.

“We have evacuated many people at the complex and the operation is still ongoing; we wish to offer our prayers to those affected,” he said.

The police chief added that his team was more vigilant as they suspected “more criminals” could still be within the complex, expressing optimism that the situation would be neutralised.

“There still could be armed criminals holed up at the building and our team of special forces are doing their best to flush them out and all our critical national infrastructure remain on guard,” he assured.

At a subsequent news briefing after 8pm, Boinnet said most buildings had been evacuated and indicated that a sweep of remaining buildings was underway to ensure those who may have sought refuge in offices are safely evacuated.

He urged the public to remain calm but vigilant and cooperate fully with security agencies.

A number of bodies were seen at the scene following the attack that started at 3.30pm.

Those injured were taken to various hospitals within the Kenyan capital including the Aga Khan Hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital, MP Shah, Avenue Hospital among others.

At least three vehicles were on fire at the entrance of the complex.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 15- A waiter in one of the eateries at 14 Riverside Drive says he has been serving the attackers coffee over the past few days.

The waiter was rescued on Tuesday night after hours inside what he termed as “hell.”

“I knew one of them because he had a big scar on one of his hands,” he said. “I saw them. They shot six of my friends, four didn’t die but two succumbed.”

But somehow, they spared him.

The attackers, he says, spoke in fluent English.

“Why are you killing our brothers and sisters in Somalia? They no longer attend Madrassa,” they shouted before firing, he told Capital FM News.

CCTV footage from the complex, shows at least four attackers entering, some carrying automatic rifles.

However witnesses say there were more attackers inside.

Kenya’s Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi told journalists Tuesday night that the situation has since been put to control.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 16 – The Council of Governors (CoG) has urged Kenyans to unite and help those affected by the terror attack at the dusitD2 Complex along Riverside Drive that occurred on Tuesday.

Through a statement, Chairman Wycliffe Oparanya pointed out that everyone should support those requiring medical attention or in need.

“I join the President and Kenyans across the Country in condemning the desperate and cowardly acts of terrorism witnessed today at the Dusit Hotel on 14 Riverside Drive, where there was bombing and multiple shootings that have left many Kenyans wounded, terrified and some have even lost their lives,” he stated.

While commending the efforts of the security forces and those involved in the rescue operations, Oparanya stated that the attack was a reminder of past dark days where lives have been lost.

“This event is a reminder of the dark days that we have faced before, but as a nation, we will not fret because like previous times we will rise again,” he said.

He stated that the Council of Governors stands in solidarity with “all Kenyans and the National Government and fully support the resolve and tenacity to continue standing up against terrorism.”

“It is time that fundamentalists realize that they can never achieve their objectives by resorting to terrorist activities.”

Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinett had told the country that they are in the process of confirming the causalities of the incident that unfolded from around 3pm.

The public in the meantime was urged to avoid the dusitD2 Complex along Riverside Drive until it is declared safe even as rescue operations continue.

According to police, everyone especially politicians should not come near the site as it was still a crime scene and was being processed.

They stated that the area around 14 Riverside Drive is still under an active security operation even as more people were rescued last night.

The terrorists, who started the onslaught Tuesday afternoon were said to be holed up at the complex gym and there are reports of gunshots being heard coming from one of the buildings.

Dozens of victims have been rushed to hospital, some badly injured.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 16 – President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday assured members of the public of their security and safety after the government forces neutralized a terror attack at the dusitD2 complex on 14 Riverside Drive.

In a televised address to the country, the Head of State said the government is not taking the threat of terrorism lightly.

“Throughout the breadth of Kenya and in our immediate neighbourhood, multiple security efforts are underway to detect, deter, disrupt and defeat any terrorist operative or group. We are on the highest alert, and shall remain so. I assure every Kenyan and foreign visitor that you are safe,” he assured.

He urged Kenyans to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to authorities for action to be taken.

“Security is a joint responsibility between citizens and government. We secure our families, communities and our nation by building a seamless partnership. We should not allow these people any shelter among us. I urge you to make sure that you inform the police and authorities of any suspicious individuals or actions you have noticed.”

The President declared that the government would not be deterred from its comprehensive approach in achieving inclusive and sustainable peace throughout the country.

“We are in the process of building a new Kenya that is prosperous, secure, and inclusive, and in which every Kenyan has an opportunity to thrive. We will allow no one to derail or frustrate our progress. No one in Kenya today, or at any time, should doubt our resolve to maintain security in our country, our determination is unswerving. We have prevailed and shall always prevail over evil,” he emphasised.

President Kenyatta welcomed messages of the solidarity from international and other leaders in the country and urged them “to condemn in no uncertain terms this evil and make sure to emphasize that it belongs outside our human community.”

“Our leaders should speak out strongly, as we pursue the owners, facilitators and sympathizers of these groups knowing that they are an enemy that we will pursue and offer no relief,” the Head of State concluded.