A new intelligence report released by the United States government on the possible source and cause of the Coronavirus has played down claims that the virus may have been biologically engineered or processed in a laboratory. The intelligence report, authored by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, says that Covid-19 could have been an accidental virus whose exact origin is unknown and determined. The declassified report, released in June 2023, sought to determine whether there was a potential link between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the origin of the Covid-19 pandemic. The report argues that an analysis…
Author: Silas Apollo
The National Treasury has proposed a reduction in the national government expenditure by about Sh6.4 billion for the year ending June 2023. This is according to figures contained in the second supplementary estimates for the 2022/23 financial year and which are currently before the National Assembly awaiting debate and approval. The proposed figures, according to the supplementary estimates, comprises a reduction of Capital Expenditure by Sh39 billion, an increase in recurrent expenditure by Sh7.6 billion and an increase in Consolidated Funds Services (CFS) by Sh24.8 billion. The second Supplementary Estimates for 2022/23 seek to provide additional resources for drought related…
The total amount of pending bills owed by both the national and county governments increased by about Sh102.21 billion in the first nine months of the 2022/23 financial year. An analysis of a report released by the Office of Controller of Budget shows that the total outstanding bills for both the national and county governments stood at about Sh689.26 billion as of March 31, 2023, compared to about Sh587.05 billion reported on 31st March 2022. This amount, the report shows, comprises of some Sh529.53 billion (76.8%) owed by the national government and another Sh159.94 billion (23.2%) owed by counties. The national…
Kenya currently sends roughly one-fifth of all its exports to the EU, its biggest market. The Kenya government and the European Union on Monday announced the conclusion of negotiations for an economic partnership that is expected to boost trade in goods and services between Kenya and the EU. The negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), were concluded during an official ceremony in Nairobi by EU Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis and cabinet secretary for trade and investments Moses Kuria, in the presence of President William Samoei Ruto. EPA is poised to be the most ambitious EU…
ARC Ride has grown to become a central player in the e-mobility sector, boasting a catalogue of electric motorbikes and tuk-tuks When Jo Hurst set out on a journey to Africa to work in clean energy about 20 years ago, he had no idea that the trip would one day land him in Kenya, pioneering the adoption of electric motor vehicles and bicycles in the country. Hurst, an investor, and researcher of clean and renewable energy, is the founder and chief executive officer of ARC Ride, a mid-size company in Nairobi assembling and selling electric motorcycles and tuk-tuks. The company…
The Senate has established a special committee to investigate the proposed removal from office by impeachment of Siaya Deputy Governor William Oduol. Senate Leader of Majority Aaron Cheruiyot, in a motion tabled in the House, moved members to adopt a list of 11 Senators to investigate the allegations raised against the Deputy Governor. Oduol was on June 8th, 2023, impeached by members of the Siaya County Assembly after the MCAs approved a motion to remove him from office as the deputy governor of the county. The speaker of the County Assembly of Siaya conveyed to the Senate Speaker a resolution…
Budget highlights 2023/24 The ministry of Education is one of the biggest beneficiaries in this year’s budget, receiving the lion’s share of funds allocated to ministries, departments and state agencies. A document on the budget highlights released by the National Treasury shows that the ministry of education will receive about Sh630 billion in the 2023/24 Financial Year, making it one of the best earners of funds from the national government. The funds, according to the highlights, represents about 27.4% of the entire budget and will be used to promote shared prosperity, by providing accessible and quality education to all Kenyans. The…
National carrier defied improved its financial performance by reducing operating losses from Sh6.8 billion to Sh5.6 billion despite weak shilling Kenya Airways reported significant improvement in its revenue collection for the 2021/22 financial year, signifying a positive outlook for the airline which has struggled for years to turn around its fortunes. The airline’s chief executive officer, Allan Kilavuka, in a meeting with MPs in Parliament, said that KQ recorded a 66 percent improvement in revenue, compared to what it collected in the 2020/21 financial year. Speaking during a meeting with the National Assembly’s Public Debt and Privatisation Committee, Kilavuka said…
The National Assembly has formally adopted the bi-partisan committee formed by President William Ruto and Azimio la Umoja One Kenya leader Raila Odinga to address the grievances raised by the opposition coalition during the country-wide demonstrations. The decision by MPs to adopt the committee follows a communication issued by the House Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, asking the leadership of both the majority and minority parties to formalize the recognition of the bipartisan talks committee in accordance with the Standing Orders of both Houses. In his communication to the House, Wetang’ula stated that he and his Senate counterpart Amason Kingi are committed…
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has dismissed reports of failing health following his diagnosis with Covid-19 last week. Museveni, in a statement released over the weekend, said that he had taken time to self-isolate out of the country’s capital of Kampala after he tested positive of the virus last week. The Ugandan leader argued that the virus, by domesticating him, had instead helped him catch up with office paper work. “Greetings. Day 4 of my corona status has seen me assault, all day long, 3 loadfulls of government papers. I started at 6:30am (Saa kumi na mbiri, in our African languages,…