Author: NLM Correspondent

Caroline Theuri Kenya’s economic growth stabilised in the second quarter due to a slowdown in inflation (persistent rise of prices) and a decline in interest rates. According to a statement by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the period ranging from April to June 2015 had an expanded Gross Domestic Growth (GDP) of 5.5 per cent, down from 6 percent in 2014. “This surge can be attributed to growth in the agricultural sector, which benefited from the rains during the period under review,” reads the statement. The sector experienced a surge of of 5.4 per cent in the second quarter of…

By TNLM Reporter When the chair of the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission Mumo Matemu suspended Michael Mubea, the deputy chief executive, who is charge of Operations, on March 9, those in the know were not surprised by that action. Insiders and keen observers were in agreement that the suspension was informed by two imperative factors. First, two weeks prior to the suspension, the three commissioners of the commission – Mumo Matemu, Irene Keino and Prof Jane Onsongo – had gone for a retreat at South Coast in Mombasa without a single officer in attendance from the Secretariat. It was at…

The overall winners of the 5th All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA) in Partnership with CNBC Africa Grand Final were revealed at a gala dinner held in Sandton, South Africa on November 13. Renowned for identifying excellence in business on the African continent, the AABLA Awards recognise the challenges and diversity of the African business arena, and the All Africa awards celebrate the overall champions of business who have shaped the continents business landscape. The event started with a special recognition by media partner Forbes Woman Africa, who, having awarded Wendy Appelbaum the Forbes Woman Africa Business Woman of the Year award…

By Hedwig Matano The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is desperately fighting for survival in the wake of damning corruption allegations levelled against its top brass, supremacy wars between commissioners and the secretariat and poor funding from government. At the heart of the woes bedevilling the anti-corruption body are a Sh2.6 billion bribe to top officials, and an attempted out-of-court deal to save one of the masterminds of the Anglo leasing scandal. Also playing out are reports that several commissioners and members of the secretariat are on an extortion spree from would-be corruption suspects to “sit on” investigation files, raising…

BY DAVID WANJALA “Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, my name is Paul Gathiomi Mwangi the new Member for Kipipiri… This being my first time to have a chance to speak in this House, I would like to thank the Kipipiri constituents for electing me their representative against all odds… because the whole government machinery was set to work against me, but through the grace of God I beat them all. I will never forget to thank the Opposition Members of Parliament for the sleepless nights… I would also not forget to thank the Kanu MPs for being inefficient, deficient and…

BY YUVINALIS TONUI The much-touted reforms in the public service which initially promised to be the hallmark of the Jubilee administration’s first year in office appears to seem to have been swept under the rug. The loud silence around it in government quarters is perhaps indicative that the move was a long shot by the government of President Uhuru Kenyatta. All indications are that the recommendations made by the presidential taskforce on parastatal reform steered by presidential adviser and respected lawyer Abdikadir Mohammed and corporate executive Isaac Awuondo may not be implemented after all. This is largely due to the…

Equity Bank Kenya Limited today announced withdrawal of a one month notice it had issued to its customers to increase interest rates on loans effective November 19, 2015, providing a reprieve on already prohibitive lending rates in the country. In its notice dated October 20, 2015, the bank sought to align interest rates to new Treasury Bills interest rates which had peaked at above 22% on October 15. It is this notice of loan interest rate increase that Equity Bank has revoked, meaning its’ customers will continue to pay the old interest rates on loans and maintain the existing loan repayment installments. While releasing the…

Caroline Theuri Kenyans are buying fuel at lower prices this October compared to a similar period last year. According to a Consumer Price Indices and Inflation Rates for October 2015 report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) released this month, Kenyans are buying a litre of kerosene at an average retail price of Sh57 in October, down from Sh81.1 over the same period last year. This represents a 30.3 per cent decrease. In addition, motorists are buying a litre of diesel at an average price of Sh83, down from Sh101.59 during the same period last year, representing a 17.9…

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has formed a Committee on Protection and Ideal Implementation of the Constitution. LSK President Eric Mutua said that the Council of LSK resolved to form the Committee over increasing concerns on the state of the rule of law sound implementation of the Constitution. “The Executive arm of Government has demonstrated uncontrolled appetite towards violation of the Constitution and disregard to judicial pronouncements,” Mutua said at its unveiling, adding that MPs have at times passed or attempted to pass legislation that is glaringly unconstitutional, and pursued their oversight role with mala fide (bad faith). “Judicial transformation…

BY JOHN HABERSON The Mo Ibrahim Foundation’s annual index (MOI) of African governance quality has recently confirmed other findings that momentum for improved governance across the continent has stagnated. The Foundation’s finding is particularly significant because its index centres only upon Africa, where the other major indices have made the same observation over the last several years base in observing governance performance by most all countries across the globe. A distinctive feature of the MOI lies in its defining governance more comprehensively that other indices to include the condition of the state itself, the quality of economic development, and the…