Author: NLM Correspondent

The potential for conflicts related to large-scale land acquisitions could be cut down significantly if seven key pieces of information are included in every property transaction, land professionals say. The International Land Measurement Standards (ILMS) are the first global benchmark for classifying, defining, measuring and reporting land information with the goal to improve tenure security and enable fair compensation. Large-scale land acquisitions can spark conflict because of their potential to drive local people from their land and homes, with research published last year showing displacement of local people was the most significant driver of investment disputes in Africa. The new…

The expected rise in US interest rates will increase financial pressures on developing countries already struggling with a 60% jump in their debt repayments since 2014, a leading charity has warned. The Jubilee Debt Campaign said a study of 126 developing nations showed that they were devoting more than 10% of their revenues on average to paying the interest on money borrowed – the highest level since before the G7 agreement to write off the debts of the world’s poorest nations at Gleneagles, Scotland, in 2005. Five of the countries on the charity’s list – Angola, Lebanon, Ghana, Chad and Bhutan –…

In Kakuma, the barren plains of sand and stone have always known lean times: times when the rivers run dry and the cows wither day by day, until their bones are scattered under the acacia trees. But the lean times have always been followed by normal times, when it rains enough to rebuild herds, repay debts, give milk to the children and eat meat a few times each week. Times are changing, though. Northern Kenya — like its arid neighbours in the Horn of Africa — has become measurably drier and hotter, and scientists are finding the fingerprints of global…

By Kibe Mungai High Court Judge Joseph Louis Omondi Onguto, who died on February 28, 2018, was an accomplished legal practitioner, budding scholar, first-rate jurist and one of the most promising of the recently appointed judges. His death was both sudden and surprising both because he was only 53 years old; he died after a training session at Parklands Sports Club Nairobi in circumstances that belied his long-term dedication to wellness of body and that of the mind. By all yardsticks, Justice Onguto, who was appointed as a judge in July, 2014, leaves a rich legacy of diverse, sound, incisive…

Kenyatta Otieno In March 2008, at the height of uncertainties brought about by post-election violence, I found myself in Eldoret. I had just lost my job, which somehow did not bother me, and then my church asked for volunteers to go on a prayer and humanitarian trip organised by churches across the country. We went down to Mombasa then drove back to Nairobi, Naivasha, Nakuru, Eldoret and lastly down to Kisumu. The Nakuru and Eldoret sections of the trip have stuck with me to date. Even the Christ in us may not have withstood the weight of the stories we…

Jesus entered the temple and ate bread meant for worship. He also said, in response to a question by teachers of the law that the Sabbath was made for man not man for Sabbath. Afterwards, he healed a man on the Sabbath at a time when people were forbidden from doing any work during the Sabbath. When the Pharisees pointed it out he answered by wondering whether it is lawful, on the Sabbath, to do good or evil, to save a life or destroy it? Thus was born the maxim – the law is made for man, not man for…

Antony Mutunga Relations between China and all African countries were established and have been promoted based on sincerity, and growing Africa-China ties are just what the African continent needs for development – Moussa Faki, AU Chair Nowadays, the Chinese communities are in every African country: The plan is to take some of its population and put them in Africa, while Africans just look on and African leaders hold fruitless meetings – The late Muammar Gaddafi Ever since the colonial period, Africa has been at the mercy of West as the continent has been heavily reliant on the region in terms…

Prof Kembo Sure There have been interesting but very dishonest statements intended to glorify President Uhuru Kenyatta by dissociating him or his person from what is going on in the Jubilee government. Some people, including those in NASA, have tried to make us believe that Uhuru is a good man, a good president surrounded by bad guys. Some have even gone further and identified William Ruto as the source of all evil in the UhuRuto government. To the latter claim, I think, the jubilee government has correctly seen the hand of their enemies trying to create division in the inner…

NLM Writer Long ago, the Jubilee government decided that Justice Mohamed Warsame of the Court of Appeal should never be allowed to serve a second term in the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). In government circles, Justice Warsame is too independent-minded as judge and is seen as anti-establishment, who has little time for the interests and needs of government. With looming changes in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, the government put in place an elaborate scheme to effectuate its plan and ensure that a more pliable representative is elected to the JSC. The present fight over whether the…

Republicans on the House Intelligence committee released their report on the Russian meddling in the 2016 election concluding that while provocateurs had interfered there had been no collusion with the Trump campaign. Robert Mueller, the special counsel is still investigating China’s rubber stamp parliament the National People’s Congress removed the 2 term presidential limit allowing Xi Jingping to remain in office for life. It also announced the reorganization of more than 2 dozen ministries and departments. 44African countries have signed the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) framework agreement which commits countries to removing tariffs on 90% of goods and…