Author: NLM Correspondent

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has clarified that the government’s recent intervention in fuel prices does not signify a revival of fuel subsidies, but is rather a strategic approach to maintaining stability in fuel prices. In a statement released by EPRA CEO Daniel Kiptoo, EPRA said that the utilisation of the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) was not a return to the era of fuel subsidies, but a tactical move to balance and stabilise prices in an unpredictable market. According to Kiptoo, the PDL served as a mechanism to cushion Kenyans from abrupt and drastic fluctuations in pump prices.…

Kalenjin and Kikuyu applicants account for 57 percent – 788 posts – of the 1,406 vacancies advertised The Senate Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunities and Regional Integration has reprimanded KRA after the tax agency acknowledged claims of significant political interference and alleged favouritism in the recent recruitment of Revenue Service Assistants (RSAs). This stems from the disclosure that two prominent ethnic groups, Kalenjin and Kikuyu, account for 57 percent of the 1,406 vacancies, raising red flags about potential ethnic bias in the selection process. The Kalenjin and Kikuyu communities secured 788 posts, with 403 positions going to Kalenjin candidates…

105 ghost workers gobbled up some Sh490 million between 2016 and 2022 t the National Museums of Kenya (NMK), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) can reveal. Following extensive investigations, the Commission has recommended the prosecution of high-ranking NMK officials for widespread fraud and financial misconduct. The EACC revealed that some 105 phantom employees were inserted into the NMK payroll between 2016 and 2022 and enjoyed the spoils of illicit earnings, pocketing monthly salaries ranging from Sh 88,000 to a staggering Sh 95,000. These phantom workers also managed to secure loans from a local bank, only to hand over the…

How the West imported an investor crisis to the NSE By Peter Wanyonyi November 1971 was a watershed moment for international economics and the US dollar. Up to that point, the United States had maintained and honoured dollar-gold convertibility at market rates: back then, as now, countries settled their international accounts in dollars. But, unlike today, those dollars could – and frequently were – converted to gold at a fixed exchange rate of $35 per ounce, which was redeemable from the U.S. government. Thus, the United States was committed to backing every US dollar with gold, and other currencies were…

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) is facing intense public backlash following a stunning admission by its acting Managing Director, Esther Ngari that goods manufactured and sold within Kenya are not subject to testing by the authority, triggering concerns over consumer safety and product quality. Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee, Ngari disclosed that Kebs does not engage in testing to determine the suitability of products. Instead, the bureau relies on the trust placed in manufacturers to uphold high standards of production. Ngari clarified that Kebs’ focus lies in inspecting the facilities used by manufacturers who fulfill the criteria outlined…

Ghana’s new critical minerals policy adds to a growing list of African countries coming up with measures to spur processing and prevent the export of unprocessed critical minerals as the continent faces a rare opportunity to control supply. By Conrad Onyango, bird story agency As global demand for green minerals such as lithium, copper and cobalt surges, African countries are coming up with policies to control the exploitation and export of these critical minerals. Ghana is the latest country to announce approval of a green-minerals policy to help manage the exploitation, production of lithium and help local businesses tap a…

Aspiring medical students who dream of joining the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) this year face uncertainty and disruption after the National Assembly declared the placement process conducted by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Services (KUCCPS) null and void. The decision comes amidst allegations of illegalities and irregularities, leaving over 42,000 applicants in limbo. Of the 42,000 applicants, only 11,975 (28%) secured spots in KMTC colleges, leaving 30,000 students without a placement, fuelling concerns about fairness, transparency, and the effectiveness of the placement system. The Parliamentary Committee on Health, led by Robert Pukose, has deemed the placement procedure…

A petitioner wants the High Court to stop government borrowing until the country’s debt undergoes a comprehensive audit. The petition by Operation Linda Ugatuzi also calls for rectification of the nation’s debt data on official websites and other platforms by the National Treasury and Central Bank of Kenya. In an affidavit submitted by Prof. Fred Ogola, Operation Linda Ugatuzi argues that the government’s borrowing practices have undermined constitutional integrity. The crux of the petition lies in amendments made to section 50 (97) of the Public Finance Management Act no.18 of 2012 by the National Assembly in 2014. The petitioner alleges…

Mzalendo Kenya, a non-partisan watchdog focused on enhancing public involvement in the legislative process, has unveiled its latest index that sheds light on the activity levels of Senators and Members of Parliament (MPs) in the 13th Parliament. The spotlight is now on youthful Senators identified as the least active during House sessions, with names like Japheth Nyakundi, Zaheer Jhanda, and Karen Nyamu featuring prominently. The latest index published on Wednesday, 9 August 2023, named Japheth Nyakundi, representing Kitutu Chache North, Zaheer Jhanda of Nyaribari Chache, and Teresia Wanjiru Mwangi, who holds a Nominated position among the youthful Senators who have…

For Catherine Conteh, there’s a moment from the birth of her daughter that still plays over and over in her mind, 30 years later. She had been lying in her hospital bed in Sierra Leone, in Labor, writhing in untreated pain, for four days straight. The doctors told her that due to complications with her Labor, she needed a Caesarean section surgery – one that 18-year-old Catherine and her husband, Augustine, couldn’t afford. Without payment up front, she would not be given the surgery. Decades later, she remembers the thought that ran on a loop amid the pain and fear.“I…