Author: Kenyaleo Editorial Team

After Azimio La Umoja Bi-partisan team decided to recusal from the talks citing a number of issues among them demanding Aden Keynan be excluded from the team.

Kenya Kwanza leader in the talks issued a statement after engaging in the preliminary informal talks with the Azimio team, they resolved to remain committed to the process endeavoring to bend backward to accommodate the views and concerns of Azimio.

Kenya Kwanza is set to table their issues before the Azimio team saying that the opposition group insisted on the exclusion of Hon. Keynan as the team objected to the inclusion of Hon. David Pkosing citing the conflict of interest in the process.

To demonstrate the process of commitment during the peaceful bipartisan conversations, Kenya Kwanza has said that they are ready to recuse Hon Keynan from the process calling for Pkosing to equally be recused.

Kenya Kwanza team has called the Azimio team to return to the table and engage requesting them to stop the plans of the demonstrations saying only bipartisan is the true confident way to end the recurring issues.

Finally, the Murugara-led team has called the opposition team to call off the protests appealing to resume the engagement inviting the co-chair Hon. Otiende and the leader of Azimio talks, both House minority and majority for a discussion to break the impasse.

Prime Cabinet Secretary, Rt. Hon. Musalia Mudavadi made his way into the National House answering questions from the legislators. Musalia Mudavadi told the Members of parliament that the Government of Kenya has spent over Kshs.19 billion since July 2022 to alleviate the impact of drought in the country’s Arid and Semi-Arid Areas.

Rt. Hon. Musalia Mudavadi today responded to Questions by Hon. Yusuf Hassan, MP Kamukunji Constituency regarding the drought management, supply, and distribution of relief food in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas.

Hon. Mudavadi disclosed that the Ministry of East African Community, the ASALs, and Regional Development conducted a National Food and Nutrition Security Assessment to establish the impact of the drought in the Semi-Arid and identify the number of people affected, and determine necessary interventions.

The assessment revealed that approximately 4.4 million people in the ASALs and an additional 495,362 in nine non-traditional ASAL regions faced acute food insecurity, and over 2.5 million livestock deaths were attributable to the drought.

Members of the National Assembly learned that the worst affected counties were identified as Marsabit, Garissa, Isiolo, Mandera, Tana River, Samburu, Turkana, and Narok, where people were displaced in large numbers, and livestock and household items were swept away by floods.

In a session chaired by Speaker, Hon. Moses Wetang’ula, Members of the National Assembly asked forty supplementary Questions regarding measures to replenish livestock that have perished due to drought, over-reliance on rain-fed agriculture, and the Safety Net programs the Government has put in place to protect from recurring drought.

“Interventions have been in terms of relief food, emergency relief cash transfers, support to the school feeding program, cash transfers under the Hunger Safety Net Program, water trucking, and livestock off-take”, said Hon. Musalia Mudavadi.

He further added that county governments had also provided relief food assistance, scaled up cash transfers, livestock feeds and vaccination, and water trucking, as well as overseeing peace dialogues and resource-use agreements.

Documents tabled revealed that development partners, UN agencies, NGOs, and other non-state actors have contributed more than Ksh. 48 Billion towards drought response interventions, while the private sector-led National Steering Committee on Drought Response (NSCDR) has distributed 163,150 food hampers worth Ksh.450 Million to approximately 978,900 most affected persons.

While making his submissions to the National Assembly, Hon. Mudavadi informed lawmakers that the Government has also taken other steps to ensure relief supplies reach as many people as possible and to scale up relief and humanitarian response to save lives, alleviate suffering, and bolster human dignity among affected parties.

Mudavadi was adamant that it wouldn’t be soon to seek out the ongoing economy. The CS said the country should be ready for challenges that will last for at least two years, focusing on priorities.

“I want to be very honest, as a former Minister for Finance that we are in this for a long haul. We are working to turn the economy around,” he said.

As banditry is a headache in the North, Cabinet Secretary for Interior & National Administration appeared before the Senate to give updates on the status of security raised by various senators before the house and updates on the Kilifi cults and the vast 800-acre Shakahola ranch linked to Mr. Mackenzie.

Sen (Dr.) Ltumbesi Lelegwe paused tough questions asking the CS to give an update on Samburu and environs security status.

The Powerful CS affirmed on 13^th Feb 2023, the government deployed joint operations to restore normalcy after serious instances of breach of peace adding the police force through the inclusion of KDF.

Kindiki has however said that Samburu areas security status has improved from what he terms is the biggest step he has observed by invading the hide-outs of the bandits through high establishment finding that some places like the caves and gorges where the attacks were being planned by the bandits.

The CS confirms that all the places used as hide-outs in Baringo and Elgeyo Markwet among others are now clean and says that the presence of police forces will not allow again the clean and clear areas to be dominated by the banditry again promising that the areas will be fully occupied by the police to give room for the people to live safely.

Prof. Kindiki reports that the government is working hard to clean all the remains threats for the people of the north to live saying that the bandits had specific areas where they used to plan attacks. The government noticed that; after giving the ultimatum of 24hrs of vacation, the banditry also took the 24-hour window to mix up with the people.

“Operations in our view a success, we have learned there are still gaps but we shall seal the gaps, we are determined and we will win the war, its either Kenya or banditry, it’s either the law or crime as Kenya will not give way for bandits, Kenya will stand as bandits must give way,” CS says.

The government is improving the intelligence within all agencies of police as the agencies have helped in containing the threats of the bandits saying Kenya will win through the intelligence units.

“We have deployed and enhanced the special operations groups which helped us a great deal 2 months to stabilize Samburu North and the area of Baragoi there were guns and bloodshed every day but the area is cleared clean.” CS Prof. Kindiki sad.

The future is in the specialized formed units including the general unit terming them as the front soldiers of this and the areas have been cleared as we call it.

-Invest in peace-building activities by doing disarmament assuring the public that all criminals holding guns surrender the arms maintaining that the government will defeat the banditry as the government is investing in a long time possibilities by empowering the future of the north by silencing the terrorists.

Kindiki reports that the government is compiling data from August last year of cattle rustling set to be released.

Hon Kindiki said that in his possession they have crucial evidence that the attack in Kainuk 2022 was geared, that the senior commanders in the banditry criminal are geared by some politicians and is set to be released promises to build a case in court against the sponsors of bandits saying that their activities have been linked in the support of encouraging banditry.

“I believe that the future of our country is the Northern part facing insecurity” CS Kithure Kindiki affirmed.

CS Prof. Kindiki said that the government is considering the shift of empowering the chiefs with guns to help in providing security.

Concerning the area (Shakahola) he has said that it is an active security operation zone and no access to it by the public shall be permitted effective 26th April 2023, except as may be permitted by the operation Commander and/or until these orders are vacated.

Interior CS has however imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Shakahola and banned public gatherings, processions, or movement during the period of curfew into and out of Chakama Ranch for the next 30 days.

National Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Moses Wetang’ula, held a meeting with the Executive Leadership of the Kenya Parliamentary Journalist Association (KPJA) yesterday to discuss the importance of media in disseminating factual information about legislative work.

During the meeting, Dr. Wetang’ula emphasized that the media plays a crucial role in legislative work, and Parliament endeavors to facilitate journalists in covering parliamentary events.

As the Patron of the Association, Dr. Wetang’ula praised the KPJA for their dedication in informing the public about the workings of the Kenyan Parliament.

He highlighted that factual dissemination of parliamentary work from plenary and committees was key in enhancing proper public participation in legislation.

He called on journalists to disseminate parliamentary news through all available mediums, including vernacular stations, to ensure comprehensive reach.

The Speaker acknowledged the critical role played by Parliament in legislation, oversight, and representation, which is vital for stirring development across the country.

He emphasized that factual and balanced reporting, which is informative to the public, is essential for ensuring accountability and transparency in the legislative process.

The KPJA leadership also appreciated Parliament’s efforts and urged the Speaker to provide capacity building opportunities to enhance their skills in parliamentary reporting.

The Kenya Parliamentary Journalist Association was established in the 9th Parliament to boost media efforts for the dissemination of factual news through specialized reporting in parliamentary affairs.

The association’s executive members include Mr. Dancan Khaemba – Chairman, Ms. Elizabeth Mutuku – Vice Chairperson, Ms. Chemutai Goin – Secretary-General, Julius Otieno – Deputy Secretary-General, Irene Mwangi – Treasurer, Kevin Wachira – Organizing Secretary, Chris Nyamuta – Liaison.

Dr. Wetang’ula assured the KPJA team of his support to enable them to effectively undertake their duties.

He emphasized the role of media as a great partner in legislative work and encouraged journalists to disseminate parliamentary work through all available mediums to ensure comprehensive