Author: NLM Correspondent

The Azimio coalition has officially unveiled the names of its five negotiators for dialogue between the opposition and the Kenya Kwanza coalition. The Azimio side will be led by Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka and include DAP-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa, Minority Whip Opiyo Wandayi, Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi and Nyamira Senator Okong’o O’Mogeni. Kenya Kwanza is expected to announce its team later today. The Azimio team was agreed upon during a meeting at Azimio leader Raila Odinga’s Karen residence on Sunday, which Azimio chairman Uhuru Kenyatta also attended. Azimio has a five-point agenda includes the high cost of living, audit…

By Morris Maina Financial inclusion is a crucial pillar for economic growth and poverty alleviation. But despite considerable progress in areas like mobile payments and banking, a substantial portion of the population, particularly in rural areas, remains financially underserved and out of the financial system mainstream. Make no mistake, we have made significant strides in the past 15 years. In 2006, only around 57% of Kenyans had access to financial services, of which 32% was reported to be informal. Today, around 85% of men and 81% of women have access to formal financial services. But if we want to unlock our full…

The Court of Appeal has lifted orders barring the implementation of the Finance Act 2023 pending the hearing and determination of the appeal. In a ruling delivered on Friday, July 28, 2023, Justices Mohamed Warsame, Kathurima M’Inoti and Hellen Omondi unanimously agree that the High Court erred by freezing the implementation of the new law. The Court also directed the applicants to file the appeals within the next 14 days. In the ruling, the judges considered the complexities of the act, which contains numerous revenue collection measures and had been temporarily halted by conservatory orders issued by the High Court.…

The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) has called for heightened vigilance from the public as it enters discussions with WorldCoin, a cutting-edge company involved in processing iris data using an Orb. In the statement released on Friday, July 28, the ODPC said that the primary objective of these engagements is to ensure full compliance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act, 2019. Following the recent launch of WorldCoin, concerns have arisen regarding the handling of sensitive personal data. In response, the ODPC has initiated actions to protect data privacy and security by verifying that WorldCoin is adhering…

The service is seeking to express hope to the victims of police brutality and expressing their hopes for the quick recovery of those injured during the protests. Former President Uhuru Kenyatta attended the memorial service organized by the Azimio coalition to honor the victims who lost their lives during the recent opposition protest advocating for government action on the high cost of living. The retired president received a warm welcome from the attendees, signaling unity within the coalition. The memorial was held at the SKM command centre in Karen, where Azimio leader Raila Odinga, Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua,…

Members of Parliament say new ‘electronic internet and digital’ tax regulations will expand the government revenue base, and avail more resources which can be redeployed in strategic expansion of the country’s digital space BY SILAS APOLLO The National Assembly has approved the Value Added Tax (Electronic Internet and Digital Market Supply Regulations) 2023, effectively amending the current Value Added Tax (VAT) regulations initially published in 2020. The regulations published by the National Treasury in March 2023, will guide on taxations relating to electronic, internet and digital marketplace supplies including downloadable digital content such as mobile applications, e-books and films. Other…

The court has issued a warrant of arrest for Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja, CEO of Keroche Breweries Limited after she failed to appear for the hearing of a Sh14 billion tax evasion case. The prosecution sought to amend the charge sheet in the ongoing case, leading to heated debates in the courtroom, with Keroche’s legal team ending up expressing their desire to resolve the matter outside court. A KRA officer, Irene Muthee, clarified to the court that no agreement had been made in reference to an out-of-court settlement, citing requirements under the Tax Procedure Act. However, the court gave the…

Former Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) director, Davy Koech, has been granted a presidential pardon by President William Ruto. Koech had previously been sentenced to a six-year prison term for his involvement in corruptly acquiring Ksh19.3 million. The decision to pardon Koech, along with 37 other individuals, was made under the Power of Mercy Act 2011, following a recommendation from the Advisory Committee, according to the Gazette Notice. Koech’s conviction stemmed from accusations of transferring Sh19.3 million from the institute’s bank accounts to his personal accounts while serving as the Managing Director. The funds in question were originally designated for…

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has said there was an elaborate scheme to frame his son with illegal firearms and drugs during the Friday night operation last week. “This gun issue is surrounded by lots of propaganda to divert attention from what has been happening,” Mr. Kenyatta said, as he shared his concerns with journalists on Monday, July 24, 2023. “I believe they wanted to plant drugs and guns in my son’s compound. I went because of a distress call from my son; I was not drunk, I was extremely hurt.” According to a report by Citizen Digital, the former President…

Sudan Armed Forces General Yasser Al-Atta has challenged President William Ruto to a showdown of might amid the ongoing war in Sudan. The tensions between Ruto and the Sudanese military leaders have deepened with accusations from the Al-Atta, who claims that President Ruto has been funding the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been battling for control of Khartoum since the collapse of the transitional government. RSF leader, Mohamed Hamdan ‘Hemedti’ Dagalo, is reportedly a close ally of the Kenyan president. In a video circulating online, General Al-Atta scornfully advised President Ruto not to rely on East African forces and…