Author: NLM Correspondent

When a court orders the payment of compensation for a victim of human rights violations by state, any public officer who is involved ‘shall pay a portion of the compensation. A year after Human Rights Watch issued a strongly-worded report on torture and illegal detention carried out by security officers in Uganda, a court in that country has awarded substantial damages to a man who was held and tortured for 17 months by the country’s Internal Security Organisation (ISO). The court also ordered that the damages, and legal costs, be paid by the members of the ISO involved. Musa Nsereko brought…

By Wendy Edelberg In recent years, household finances have fluctuated amid large swings in federal income support and the stock market, a surge in inflation, and strong consumer spending. As documented by The Hamilton Project, household balance sheets at the end of 2021 were stronger than would have been expected before the pandemic. However, this Economic Analysis explains how household balance sheets have deteriorated in some respects since then. Moreover, an examination of household finances for different demographics (age, race and ethnicity, and income) shows that the deterioration in finances has been faster for nonwhite and lower income households. The…

By Mumbi Mutoko Recent actions by President William Ruto, known for being vocal on climate change, have earned him criticism for undermining his government’s climate change commitments. Two recent actions come to mind. The first is a decision to lift a six-year ban on logging imposed in 2018, informed by shrinking water resources and came amid discussions to save Kenya’s water towers. Environmentalists have argued that lifting this latest ban risks reversing the gains made in recent years to improve Kenya’s tree cover. The country surpassed its 10% minimum tree cover target in June 2022 and plans to raise tree…

Cabinet has approved the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Terrorism Financing Amendments Bill, 2023, which seeks to ease the rules governing cash transactions of at least Sh1 million, reducing the requirement for customers to disclose details on the source, use, and beneficiaries. As it stands, the law mandates commercial banks to report all transactions above Sh1 million to the Financial Reporting Centre (FRC) on a daily basis. The Bill, set to be tabled in parliament, aims to increase the reporting threshold by 50 per cent, a move that is mounting pressure from international companies on the government to combat money…

That most sub-Saharan African states have become profoundly fragile over their six decades of independence has been the cause and effect of millions of citizens lost to war and destitution By Prof. John Harbeson Sub-Saharan Africa is composed of 49 nation-states. Western Sahara and Somaliland have long waited in the wings, and the Maghreb states of North Africa, are conventionally, albeit debatably, regarded as looking more toward the Middle East than south across the Sahara. Everyone recognises that describing these 49 countries as nation-states Is so remote from reality as to verge on indulging in euphemism. With the possible exception…

President William Ruto’s hollowing out of state institutions – by placing loyalists in key positions and enabling his cronies – is the source of his present frustration. On August 1, 2023, the President and his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, lashed out at government officials for showing up late to government events, with state officers suffering the ignominy of being locked out of State House where CSs and PSs had been called to sign performance contracts. The President expressed his frustration, citing instances of lateness to meetings and a lack of commitment to their work, which has translated into performance laxity. The…

The Court of Appeal in Kisumu has awarded Sh2 million in compensation to the family of a man killed during demonstrations in the County. In its ruling, the Appellate Court emphasized that the Constitution remains a safeguard against the excesses of armed police and stressed the importance of protecting the rights of unarmed citizens. The bench, composed of Justices Patrick Kiage, Mumbi Ngugi, and Francis Tuiyott, cited Article 22 of the 2010 Constitution, which focuses on the enforcement of the Bill of Rights, reaffirming the role of the courts in ensuring that citizens’ fundamental rights are upheld and given meaning.…

The Chinese Yuan is experiencing a surge in popularity among commercial lenders as traders prefer the yuan to the dollar, which continues to experience shortages.  According to Habil Olaka, the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Bankers Association, who spoke with Chinese publication Xinhua, flourishing Sino-Kenya trade relations have spurred trade between the two countries. Kenyan traders prefer the readily available yuan for trade settlements between Kenya and China. As a result of the currency’s growing popularity, most commercial banks in Kenya now offer yuan trading facilities to facilitate businesses engaging in cross-border transactions. This shift towards the yuan has…

Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has announced the immediate suspension of all World Coin activities in the country. In a statement shared on Wednesday, August 2, the Ministry of Interior termed the registration activity carried out by World Coin as a ‘controversial registration of citizens through the collection of eyeball/iris data’, raising significant privacy and security concerns. The suspension comes as relevant security, financial services, and data protection agencies launch inquiries and investigations to determine the authenticity and legality of World Coin’s activities. Additionally, the government will move to secure citizen data collected and verify how the organisation intends to utilise…

Head of State demands written explanation for late-show officers as DP issues ultimatum. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kindiki Kithure and his Trade counterpart Moses Kuria were locked out of the performance contract signing event after being locked out of State House for turning up late. President Ruto asked members of the Executive who arrived late at the Cabinet Appraisal meeting to submit written explanations, and they should not indicate traffic matters as an excuse for their lateness. “I will be expecting a written explanation detailing why you came late, and don’t include traffic unless you are not serious with your work…