BY PHILLIP OCHIENG A political party should be distinguishable from all others through (a) a specific long-term ideological line and (b) a set of rules of conduct by which leading members must live their public lives. Moreover, on both these strategic and tactical guidelines, the party’s paramount chief must be recognised as its general guardian. Therefore, Raila Odinga is breaking no fundamental tenet of democracy by asking leading members of his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to abide by its policies – both long-term and short – or get out of the party. If you disagree with any of…
Author: NLM writer
Kenya might find it extremely difficult to forestall large scale terrorist acts unless the National Intelligence Service (NIS) moves fast to up its game, insiders warn. They say one year since the country grieved over the death of at least 67 people in the Westgate Mall massacre, security agencies are in dire need of upping their game in the fight against terrorism. In particular, they cite the lacklustre NIS, claiming its work quality is not corresponding to the huge amount of resources it controls. This financial year, the Service was allocated more than Sh14 billion, which is usually never accounted…
Children who don’t eat breakfast may have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to international NewScientist journal. There is already evidence that skipping breakfast raises the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes in adults. The researchers studied 4,000 children aged 9 and 10 years old in the United Kingdom. They gathered information on how often the kids had breakfast, measured each child’s body fat and collected blood samples. Half of the children then took part in one-on-one interviews with the researchers, in which they attempted to remember everything they had eaten the day before. The kids…
Wildlife custodian, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), has urged 32 newly-appointed ambassadors, high commissioners and heads of missions to help the country sustain advocacy on total ban on international ivory and rhino horn trade. Director General William Kiprono asked the diplomats to help in demand-reduction campaign on wildlife and wildlife products. Ivory, rhino horns, reptiles, pangolins, and sandal wood are some of the wildlife and wildlife products being poached and trafficked for international black markets. Mr Kiprono wants them to use their diplomatic missions to lobby other countries to help reduce the demand for endangered species. Africa range states have faced…
Exactly a year ago, a cabal of senior politicians in the William Ruto-led party, United Republican Party (URP), accused top aides of Uhuru Kenyatta of submitting to the International Criminal Court (ICC) evidence incriminating the deputy president with serious crimes against humanity. Charles Keter, the Kericho Senator, and Alfred Keter, the member of National Assembly for Nandi Hills had issues with a powerful quartet – comprising President Uhuru Kenyatta’s chief political advisor Nancy Gitau, current Defence Principal Secretary Mutea Iringo, current secretary to the Cabinet Francis Kimemia, NIS retired chief Michael Gichangi – that served under President Mwai Kibaki’s regime…
Notwithstanding the weak, fragile condition of the state in much of Africa, notably in the Horn, there has been a relative dearth of efforts to examine carefully what the process of state building, or rebuilding needs to be in Africa and perhaps elsewhere in the developing world. Clearly, the question of how to build, or rebuild, strong states in the Horn of Africa, as well as elsewhere Africa is an issue of on-going immediacy, as everyone realizes. There has been no shortage of literature on the properties a strong states would possess and that weak and fragile ones lack: stability,…
The East African region is ripe with promise. Our three nations have experienced rapid political, social, legal and economic developments in recent years. The unstoppable march of progress has been matched by steady integration at the East African Community (EAC) level. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have grown into emerging modern, mature, social democracies; whose people dream of and expect their increased economic prospects to come hand-in-hand with greater human rights, freedom and democratic space. In Kenya, the vibrancy of the state of the Rule of Law is higher than ever before. Following the promulgation of a new Constitution in 2010, Kenya has undergone a complete governance overhaul. As I stated during my speech to a Special…
Let me start by honoring a great East African citizen who has just passed away: Prof Ali Mazrui, a distinguished scholar and friend whose intellectual contribution to the cause of justice, rule of law, and good governance – both here and abroad – is indisputably immense. He is definitely a prominent member of that pantheon of the world’s best thinkers, and this region should be proud that it produced such a great mind that was listed as one of the top 100 most influential thinkers in the globe
Even though the new Constitution 2010 reintroduced a bicameral Parliament hence the Senate and the National Assembly, the latter, which retained the form, mandate and most powers and privileges of the pre-2010 Legislature, still carries the most influence in Kenya’s governance system. The conduct therefore, of the National Assembly’s business and more so its leadership, which is mandated with ensuring successful steering of the imperative functions of the House, is critical than ever in Kenya. With, for instance, the total overhaul of the governance system from a centralized to a decentralized one occasioned by the new constitutional dispensation, the National…
National Parliament is a pivotal institution of state governance. It is confluence melting point of the knowledge, expertise, culture and ingenuity. This convergence of resourcefulness makes it play an important role in the life of nation state. It performs three main functions: Make new laws, change existing laws and repeal laws which are no longer needed; represent and articulate the views and wishes of the citizens in decision-making processes; and oversee the activities of the Executive so that the government is accountable to the people. Since Parliament plays a crucial role in gauging, collating and presenting the views and…
