By Silas Apollo Initially, the idea was to compel the government to rein in the high cost of living in the country, among other things. When the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition called for the country-wide mass protest early this year, the decision was a response to the rallying call from Kenyans asking the government to lower the high cost of commodities. The coalition, led by ODM leader Raila Odinga, accused the President William Ruto-led Kenya Kwanza administration of introducing punitive levies and policies on Kenyans and pushing the cost of essential goods and commodities to exorbitant levels. And…
Author: Silas Apollo
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission could, in the future, be forced to discard the use of population in delaminating boundaries if a proposed legislation currently before Parliament is passed. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2023 wants the electoral commission to be compelled to use other non-population criteria considerations in reviewing boundaries. This, the sponsor of the Bill, Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri argues, will align with what he believes are the principles of fair representation and equality of vote. Kiunjuri argues that the current provisions and criteria that IEBC uses to delineate boundaries undermine the principles…
Increased budget is as a result of increases to ministerial national government expenditure and expenditures for the Consolidated Fund Services The overall budget for the 2023/24 financial year is likely to increase by about Sh180 billion if the Supplementary Estimate currently under consideration by the National Assembly is approved. An analysis of the Supplementary Estimates 1 presented by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) to the House Departmental Committee on Public Debt and Privatization shows that the overall budget is set to increase by Sh187.28 billion. This is a rise from the Sh3.74 trillion approved by the House in June 2023…
Kenya Bankers Association has called on PArliament make legislative interventions to expand the tax base rather than rely on the traditional contributors to shoulder the tax burden The government has been asked to expand the country’s tax base instead of relying on the already existing tax avenues to increase collection and reduce pressure on businesses and on Kenyans. The Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) argues that an increase in tax avenues will not only ensure that the government collects more tax, but also promote innovation and growth in the country and increase earnings for Kenyans. KBA, led by the Association’s Chief…
In August, KQ reported a growth in its operating profit, the first in about six years, with the airline management linking the Sh998 million growth to KQ’s turnaround strategy. The national carrier Kenya Airways has expressed optimism at returning back to profitability at the end of the current financial year in the wake of growing pressure and criticism over its poor performance in the recent past. Kenya Airways chief executive officer Allan Kilavuka during a meeting with a departmental committee of the National Assembly, said that the airline had instituted a raft of measures to cut down on costs while also increasing revenues…
Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza has in a significant political reprieve, emerged unscathed from a second impeachment bid in less than a year after senators on Wednesday evening voted to save her against an impeachment motion passed by MCAs in Meru county assembly. The senators, in a majority decision, voted to quash the impeachment charges that had been levelled against the governor thereby disapproving of a motion passed by Meru MCAs to kick her out of office. The House, during a plenary session that lasted hours into Wednesday evening, rejected all seven charges put forward by the Meru MCAs against the…
The formation of the Pending Bills Verification Committee follows a previous cabinet resolution which called for the establishment of a team to audit all bills owed by the national and county governments to ease and facilitate payment. Contractors and suppliers who have done business with the government but are yet to be paid are set to receive their payments after President William Ruto on Tuesday officially set up a taskforce to audit and facilitate the payments. The Pending Bills Verification Committee formed by Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u following an approval from the cabinet, is expected to begin the process…
Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza is set to know her fate today when senators will vote either to save her from impeachment or endorse a motion passed by Meru MCAs calling for her removal from office. The embattled governor who was impeached by MCAs last month, appeared before the Senate on Tuesday when the House commenced hearing on her impeachment trial. At the Tuesday session, the Senate plenary heard from members of the Meru county assembly who listed a litany of charges against the governor, including accusations of abuse of office, nepotism and corruption. During the start of the session, the Senate…
The Kenya Meteorological department has advised Kenyans to expect more rainfall in the coming days leading to next week as part of its earlier warnings of the onset of the El-Nino phenomena. The department in its seasonal weather update report, says that the ongoing rainfall is likely to intensify in most parts of the country with isolated storms occurring in some parts of the Rift Valley, the Southeastern lowlands and at the Coast. The seven-day forecast which covers the period between Tuesday this week to Monday next week, however shows that other areas may also experience spatial coverage and a…
Proposed Financial Markets Conduct Authority aims to regulate and supervise the conduct of providers in financial products and services to retail financial customers. Kenyans seeking loan facilities from banks and other credit providers could soon enjoy some form of protection from unscrupulous financial institutions, if a proposed legislation is passed into law. The proposed Financial Markets Conduct Bill, 2023 which is sponsored by the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning Chairperson Kimani Kuria, also seeks to establish an authority that will regulate and supervise the conduct of credit facility providers. The Bill proposes the creation of a…
