The National Assembly has approved regulations to establish the National Peace Support Operations Fund, which will provide support for Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) peacekeeping missions and operations. This is after the House adopted a report of the Committee on Delegated Legislation, which considered the Public Finance Management (National Peace Support Operations Fund) Regulations, 2023. The purpose of these regulations will be to create the National Peace Support Operations Fund, into which the government is expected to contribute about Sh1 billion. Currently, Kenya contributes troops to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).…
Author: Silas Apollo
Unsettled financial obligations by governments and their agencies, sometimes tunning into decades, leave a trail of broken investors, families and businesses, and suppliers buried in debt – sometimes literally When Simon Gichuki joined the Association of Public Suppliers, he had no idea of the horror stories he would hear of the devastating effects that bills owed to suppliers and contractors by national and county governments had on some of his members. Mr Gichuki, the secretary-general of the Association of Public Sector General Suppliers, says that unpaid bills owed to suppliers by various government agencies and entities have driven many of…
Devolved units have underperformed by about 75%, resulting in poor service delivery, stalling of development projects and a failure to deliver on essential services County governments have for the seventh year running failed to meet their targets in the collection of their own source revenue, leading to poor service delivery and the collapse of some key development projects. An analysis of a report released by the office of the Controller of Budget shows that governors have year after year failed to meet the set target of about 75% in collecting revenues in counties. This in the end, has resulted in…
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has asked a Committee of the Senate to push for the amendment of the Section 226 of the Penal Code of laws of Kenya and decriminalize suicide in the country. The Commission argues that individuals who attempt to kill themselves have mental illness and deserve medical care instead of being arrested and charged in court of law. In a submission to the Adhoc Committee on the Proliferation of Religious Organisations, which is investigating the Shakahola deaths, Prof Mariam Mutugi, a commissioner with KNCHR, said the decision to arrest and arraign in court…
The Teachers Service Commission has announced new vacancies for intern teachers for both Junior Secondary Schools and Primary Schools. The commission, in a job advertisement published on Wednesday, said that it intends to recruit about 20,000 intern teachers, out of which 18,000 will be attached to Junior Secondary Schools and the remaining 2,000 sent to Primary Schools. TSC says that successful candidates will be attached to various schools across the country, in an internship programme that is set to run for about 12 months in the new financial year. Equally, those attached to Primary Schools will be paid at least…
The National Assembly’s Agriculture and Livestock Committee has called for the introduction of a 4% Sugar Development Levy to help bolster cane development and revitalize the country’s ailing sugar industry. The National Assembly’s Committee of Agriculture and Livestock on Tuesday said that the decision was in response to concerns raised by farmers and sugarcane millers across the country and was also in line with efforts by the government to revive the sugar sector. “We need substantial reforms to rescue our sugar industry from its current state of disarray and bring prosperity to both farmers and millers,” committee chairman John Mutunga…
The management of Telkom Kenya and the American Tower Corporation are once again expected to appear before members of Parliament to answer questions regarding a sale and lease agreements signed between the two companies. This follows an invitation by the Senate Committee on Information, Communication and Technology over claims that Telkom Kenya had failed to honour a leaseback transaction it had signed with American Tower Corporation. The committee chaired by Trans Nzoia Senator Allan Chesang, made the ruling after ATC Kenya informed members of the Committee that Telkom Kenya owes them a Sh4 billion debt over a telecommunications tower sale…
Kenyans who have attained the age of 18 years may soon be required to register as voters six months after receiving their identity cards if a Bill seeking to enforce timelines for registration of voters is passed by Parliament. The proposed Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2023 sponsored by Laikipia senator John Kinyua, seeks to revise the Elections Act to compel individuals who turn eighteen to register as voters within a defined timeframe after receiving their identity cards. The proposed legislation aims to enforce specific deadlines for new voters to register upon acquiring eligibility. Under the current legislation and constitutional provisions, adults…
Eldoret Town may soon become the country’s fifth city should a petition filed before the Senate by the Uasin Gishu County Assembly to have the town elevated to a city status is adopted and passed. Uasin Gishu County wants senators to consider a report it passed last week calling for the elevation of the town to a city status after Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Nakuru. The MCAs in their report, argue that Eldoret, just like the four other cities, had met all the requirements needed for its elevation, a move they say will help open the town up for investment…
Raried MP Otiendo amollo had raised a point of order on Standing Order 244C with regard to the introduction, consideration and passage of the Finance Bill, 2023. The Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula has ruled that the Finance Bill should be submitted for debate in the House before April 30th in each year. In a communication issued during debate in the House, the Speaker told MPs that Parliament is at liberty to prioritize consideration of the Bill before or after the presentation of the Budget Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning. The Speaker…