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  • Kenya-UK defense cooperation agreement debate kick-starts in Parliament

    National-Assembly-Kenya-main Chambers

    The National Assembly has today begun the debate of a Report of the Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee on the Kenya-United Kingdom Defence Cooperation Agreement.

    The Report followed the signing of a Cooperation Agreement between the two Governments on July 27 2021 and replaces the previous Defence Cooperation Agreement signed in 2015.

    The Agreement provides a framework for the exchange, sharing and utilization of the respective State’s experience, knowledge, military facilities and infrastructure.

    The Committee recommendations on the Cooperation Agreement is the amendment of Article 6 (5) of the Agreement to include murder as one of the offences triable under the jurisdiction of the host country. This amendment will allow Kenya to prosecute foreign troops suspected to have committed murder on Kenyan soil.

    Committee Chair Hon. Nelson Koech said the Committee made this proposal on account of the slow pace of the wheels of Justice in the case of Ms. Agnes Wanjiru who was allegedly murdered by a British soldier in March 2012, before her body was dumped in a septic tank.

    “This recommendation will ensure that visiting troops undertake their training, within Kenyan Law. We don’t want a repeat of Ms. Agnes Wanjiru incident,” said Hon. Koech.

    Additionally, Hon. Koech told the House that the Agreement would greatly enhance intelligence sharing to tackle security challenges given the security threats facing the Horn of Africa region.

    “The UK has an advanced defence capability due to the size and nature of its economy, and geo-political position, including its large coastline hence there are a lot of military lessons that Kenya can learn from the UK,” said Hon. Koech.

    Further, the Committee recommended an amendment to Article 23 of the Agreement to include Corporate Social Responsibility among the obligations of the visiting Troops.

    The consideration of the Cooperation Agreement was expected to be undertaken by the last Parliament after the then Defence Cabinet Secretary Dr. Monicah Juma – through a letter dated September 6 2021 submitted it to the House for approval. However, while the Defence Committee in the last Parliament was considering the Agreement with a view to facilitating ratification, the County Government of Laikipia, where the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) is based, submitted a memorandum raising issues of concern on the Cooperation Agreement.

    Among the concerns raised by the County Government were claims of deaths, injuries and other forms of suffering arising from the activities related to BATUK.

    Several Members who contributed to the debate said the Agreement was a major milestone to entrench discipline among visiting troops and rooted for keener collaboration between Kenyan and UK authorities to bring to book Ms. Wanjiru’s killers.

    Debate on the Report will continue when the House resumes sittings.

  • Muslim Leaders condemns Israel’s latest raid on Masjid al-Aqsa attacks

    Muslim Leaders condemns Israel’s latest raid on Masjid al-Aqsa attacks

    The National Muslim Leaders forum has condemned the raid on Masjid al-Aqsa saying that the attack was carried out Wednesday 05 April 2023, during the holy month of Ramadan, terming it as a ‘terrorist state’.

    Muslim leaders have said that Surrounding the Al-Qibli Prayer Hall, Israeli police went up to the roof of the mosque, smashed some of the windows, and initially intervened with sound bombs against the worshippers inside after Jewish settlers called for a raid on the mosque saying that Israeli police detained around 450 worshippers from inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex.

    “Israeli police armed with batons, tear gas grenades, and smoke bombs, burst into the mosque “by
    force” and “beat the women and men” worshipping there. One video widely circulated on social
    media showed police clubbing people on the floor inside the mosque.” Muslim leaders said.

    The Palestinian Red Crescent said it had treated over 50 people, including some after their release from custody saying that Israel has made it habitual during Ramadhan, it not only intimidates Palestinian Muslims but also aims to insult and defame both them and all Muslims around the globe.

    Muslim leaders have called upon the United Nations, including the Security Council, to assume its legal, moral, and humanitarian responsibilities for halting Israeli aggression and providing international protection for the Palestinian people.

    The Al Aqsa mosque is one of the most sacred sites for Muslims around the world. The Muslims have however said that it’s a desecration and a blatant violation of the religious and human rights of the Palestinian people.

    The group has urged the Israeli government and it’s armed forces to be held accountable for their actions and to immediately cease all hostilities against innocent civilians and worshipers terming it an act of violation of international law and human rights, calling on the international community to take urgent action to put an end violence.

    “We strongly condemn the acts of killing, brutality, and violence at Al Aqsa in Jerusalem, during the
    holy month of Ramadan. The desecration of the holy mosque of Al Aqsa, which is one of the most
    sacred sites in Islam, is a heinous act that cannot be justified under any circumstances. We also
    express our deepest concern and outrage at the disproportionate use of force against peaceful
    worshippers, which included women and children.” Muslim leader’s statement read.

    During this month of players, the holy month of Ramadhan is a time of peace, reflection, and spiritual growth for Muslims around the world for the Muslim community, It is deeply distressing to see such violence and brutality being perpetrated against worshippers at one of our most sacred sites.

    “We call on the Israeli government to respect the rights of all worshippers at Al Aqsa and to take
    immediate steps to prevent any further violence and desecration at the holy site. NAMLEF stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people and reiterates its commitment to supporting their just cause for freedom, dignity, and self-determination. We call upon all people of conscience to stand with us in denouncing the senseless violence and supporting the rights of the Palestinian people.” NAMLEF says.

    Finally, NAMLEF  has sent  condolences to the families of those who lost their lives during these
    attacks and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.

    “We believe that peace and justice can only be achieved through a just and lasting solution that
    guarantees the full rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to establish their own
    independent and sovereign state with East Jerusalem as its capital,” NAMLEF says.

  • Comrades Call For Inclusion in Governmental bipartisan dialogue

    Comrades Call For Inclusion in Governmental bipartisan dialogue

    United Democratic Alliance Comrade’s Caucus has called for inclusion in the Bi-partisan talks through the Parliamentary route that seeks to address the grievances raised by opposition leader Raila Odinga.

    Led by the Chairperson Daniel Keith Wafula, the comrades expressed their expectations for a better tomorrow and a better Kenya.

    “We gather here today pregnant with expectation, expectations for a better tomorrow for a better Kenya, for our workers, our youth, our women, a better Kenya for every single Kenyan. Student leadership and representation dates way back with gallant foreleaders such as the great Wafula Buke, student leaders who informed the place and space of young people in governance,” he said.

    The caucus also implored upon His Excellency The President Dr William Ruto not to be swayed nor distracted.

    “On this day we decide as fearless warriors of this great nation to choose optimism over skepticisms, courage over fear and cowardice and most of all unity of purpose over discord and division,” he added.

    The Caucus also thanked the commitment exhibited by his excellency the President Dr William Ruto to direct prompt disbursement of the Higher Education Loans to the tune of 5.7Billions to benefit more than 140,000 students.

  • Huawei calls for expansion of mobile spectrum as 5G demand gallops

    Huawei calls for expansion of mobile spectrum as 5G demand gallops

    Additional investment in the spectrum for future mobile network usage is important in anticipation of the exponential growth of 5G connectivity Kenya is to achieve the vision outlined in the government’s Digital Superhighway plan of connecting homes and businesses, especially those of MSMEs, to high-speed broadband.

    Speaking at the Connected Kenya Summit, Adam Lane, Huawei Kenya Deputy CEO, Government Affairs said that most telecommunication operators currently lack sufficient spectrum resources to launch full 5G services.

    The 6 GHz band is key for the success of 5G devices and it is important for this radio frequency spectrum to be available for use by mobile networks in the future as the demand to connect homes and businesses through 5G modems and dongles continue to rise.

    “With high network demands by large households and entire businesses that take advantage of near unlimited data packages offered by 5G, we expect the radio frequency spectrum allocated for 5G services last year will not be enough in a few years’ time. 6 GHz is also a potential ultra-wideband for ‘5.5G’,” said Lane pointing out that data from the Communications Authority show that Fixed Wireless subscriptions grew by 33% in 2020 and in 2021 but last year exploded by increasing 67%.

    In 2023, the firm expects to see the large-scale roll-out of 5G networks in Kenya alongside 5G pricing packages that are more affordable than 4G, and the long timelines for rolling out fiber optic cabling to every home and business in Kenya to reduce considerably.

    Lane noted that these near future predictions reinforce the need for the local industry players to start thinking ahead 3-5 years to ensure the telco networks maintain capacity for more internet and mobile telephony connections while keeping prices low.

    He explained the complexity of global negotiations around deciding how spectrum should be used meant that global regulators have to agree years in advance so that the equipment and devices can be compatible and other services are not affected.

    He further added: “Both our networks and devices need to be upgraded to deliver a 10 Gbit/s experience. By the end of this year, it will be crucial that Kenya supports the decision to use the 6GHz spectrum band use for mobile telephony so that network operators can avoid building 5 times more base stations to provide enough speeds for those customers which will keep costs high”.

  • African children summit, a forum to set a voice of reason for children in the community

    African children summit, a forum to set a voice of reason for children in the community

    Children’s committee coordinator Brian King has formally held talks to champion the African Children’s Summit objectives and the importance of involving children in decision-making processes.

    King, has told SasaNews that children’s recognition is a vital part of society citing the importance of voices being heard in the community.

    “It is important to recognize that children are a vital part of any society, and their voices should be heard in matters that affect them. When children are involved in decision-making processes, it not only empowers them but also leads to better outcomes for the community, the country, and the world in general.” Brian King affirms.

    King says that at the African Children’s Summit, the group is aiming to amplify the voices of children in Africa through the provision of sharing experiences on the set platforms.

    “At the African Children’s Summit, we are aiming to amplify the voices of children across Africa by providing a platform for them to share their experiences, concerns, and ideas. Through this summit, we hope to empower children and give them a sense of ownership over their future.” King says.

    African Children’s Summit

    The summit has ventured to various objectives to create the space for the voices of children to be heard at all given times.

    Among the key roles of the group are, Generate and share evidence-based child rights concerns and challenges in Africa, Propose key policy recommendations on how Africa can address child protection challenges, Documentation and packaging of key issues like advocacy asks and recommendations into an outcome statement, to recognize State parties, organizations, and individuals contributing to the well-being of children in Africa, A Communique statement with policy recommendations and advocacy asks to be shared with Regional bodies, UN, Governments, and CSOs, A report on the child rights concerns and challenges in Africa, to show the world how children’s events are supposed to be organized to create a basis for An action plan on children’s involvement of children in Africa.

    The group has ardently confirmed they are in the process to raise their voices sighting that when an opportunity arises they will be of impact on society and are about to bring a change of reason.

    “We want to prove that when given the opportunity to contribute to their communities, children can have a significant impact and Can Contribute Solutions to problems facing them For example, there are many other simple but inspiring stories of children who have started community gardens, organized environmental clean-up drives, or raised awareness about social issues,” King speaks.

    Daniel Mulati – summit coordinator and child participation manager at Mtotonews, has encouraged the creation of the position and platform for children terming the generation a critical to invest in children.

    “Provided with skills, opportunities, and space to engage, the world’s children today can become the largest generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and change-makers the world has ever seen. Now is a critical time to continue investing in their development and make sure that they are equipped to seize opportunities provided by facilitating intergenerational learning.” Daniel Mulati – participation manager, Mtotonews.

    The Summit is set to be held in Nairobi between the 10th – 12th of April and anticipated to be graced by over 100 Children from across Africa, Prof. Philip Jaffe – the Vice Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Dr. Najat M’Jid Maalla – the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children, members of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, CJ Martha Koome, Justice Teresiah Mumbua Matheka – Chairperson of the NCAJ Standing Committee on Access to and Administration of Justice for Children in Kenya.

    Finally, King has said that children play a vital role in decision –making calling the summit a showcase platform for the children.

    “These initiatives not only benefit the children involved but also contribute to the betterment of their communities, involving children in decision-making processes is crucial for the development of a strong and vibrant society. The African Children’s Summit is an excellent opportunity to showcase the potential of children and to encourage their participation in shaping their future.” Brian King affirms.

  • Raila’s Plan to discipline Rebel legislators in Proposed Constitutional Changes

    Raila’s Plan to discipline Rebel legislators in Proposed Constitutional Changes

    Azimio leader Raila Odinga on Thursday, April 6, renewed calls to ensure that disloyal Members of Parliament (MPs) are disciplined within the Law.

    Addressing Azimio la Umoja Parliamentary Group Meeting in Machakos County, Raila lamented that some elected legislators were rogue and needed to be tamed.

    According to Raila, the MPs blatantly disobeyed the directives of the parties that sponsored them to Parliament.

    “Review and recommend changes in the law that will entrench party discipline and fidelity by requiring MPs who cross party lines after elections to seek a fresh mandate from the electorate,” Raila stated.

    Raila argued that the law should be changed to allow political parties to discipline and punish rebels who support other outfits.

    The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Leader held that the Constitution should grant him powers to replace nominated MPs who crossed party lines.

    “Initiate legislation to address the electoral, governance, and economic gaps identified during the inquiry for consideration by the Houses as appropriate,” Raila stated.

    On February 7, 2023, President William Ruto met a section of ODM Party Legislators for talks at the State House, in Nairobi.

    Among the MPs that Ruto met included Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Mark Nyamita (Uriri), Caroli Omondi (Suba South), Shakeel Shabir (Kisumu East, Independent) Felix Odiwuor alias Jalang’o (Lang’ata), Paul Abuor (Rongo), John Owino (Awendo) and Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda.

    “Leaders must join hands, foster coexistence and work together in confronting the challenges facing our country. They must endeavor to lead by example and serve the interest of the people. This is a sure route to a more united and developed Kenya,” Ruto stated in a statement.

    The former Prime Minister also made other recommendations for constitutional change, including plans to fix winner takes all system.

    Raila told Azimio PG that they were demanding a review of what is largely known as the ‘Winner-Takes-It-All’ approach.

    Even though Raila did not expressly demand the return of Building Bridges Initiatives (BBI), he was clear that Azimio was looking at the possibility of reviewing the Constitution.

    “We are driven by the concern that despite the 2010 Constitution, our political culture retains a winner takes all system.

    “This is what has clearly been demonstrated by the Ruto regime. This monopoly of power by hook or crook by the party in the State House can only be rectified by a legislative process involving all Kenyans,” Raila noted.

    He further claimed that President William Ruto’s government was acting erratically due to the powers that it holds.

    “We need a proper constitutional review to cure the governance defect in the 2010 Constitution and remove any form of an imperial Presidency.

    “In our dialogue with Kenya Kwanza, we will be putting this matter on the table,” Raila declared.

  • EU Parliamentarians Visit Kenyan Businesses Backed By European Investment Bank Financing

    EU Parliamentarians Visit Kenyan Businesses Backed By European Investment Bank Financing

    A delegation of six Members of the European Parliament is visiting Kenya to see first-hand how the European Investment Bank (EIB), which is the European Union (EU)’s lending arm, is supporting high impact investment in Kenya. The members are part of the Committee on Development which covers EU development policies globally.

    The parliamentarians had the chance to be briefed on the EIB’s projects in Kenya touching on the areas of Sustainable Development Goals, Climate Change, Food Security, EU-Kenya partnerships, improving development effectiveness and global health.

    They undertook site visits to several EU and EIB-funded projects to get a better understanding of the investment in the region, and in particular Kenya’s efforts to deal with prolonged drought and the worsening impact of climate shocks.

    The European Investment Bank is the world’s largest international public bank and is owned directly by the 27 EU member states. EIB’s operations in Kenya represent a significant amount of Europe’s overall support to the country delivered through the Member states and their bilateral agencies with whom EIB co-operates closely.

    During a visit to Vert Limited, one of the agribusiness companies that is benefiting from EIB funding, Edward Claessen, the Head of the EIB Regional Hub in Nairobi said, “We are honoured by the visit from the Members of the European Parliament. To date, EIB has signed more than 60 projects in Kenya and invested more than Ksh 223B in the country. Our projects span the areas of energy, water, targeted urban development and social infrastructure, financial inclusion and private sector investment to support MSMEs.”

    “The EIB will continue to stand by its Kenyan and regional partners because business investment is ever more important in getting Kenya to fully recover from the COVID pandemic and recent economic shocks as well as building a stronger, more inclusive, greener and digital-led economy. Our focus is on continued partnership in sustainable growth/ job creation; accelerating green transition & digital transition; strengthening health systems and improving education and training,” he added.

    On her part, the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Vert Limited, Jane Maina said that she was very thankful for the support shown by the European Investment Bank to grow the agribusiness value chain.

    “We support a small holder farmer base of over 5,000 countrywide from whom we source for fruits and fresh produce which are then mainly exported to the European Market. The financing we received enabled us to increase the quantity of mangoes we purchased from smallholder farmers, creating and sustaining 95 permanent jobs and over 300 temporary jobs during the peak seasons as well as creating countless other indirect jobs across the chain. I am one example of many other businesses that have grown or expanded due to EIB financing” she said.

    The lead of the Delegation, Dr. Pierrette Herzberger- Fofana said, “We are very pleased with the work and impact that the EU and EIB funding is having on the ground. We shall be your ambassadors back in Europe to articulate the need for increased investment in the projects in Kenya as they are helping create sustainable jobs and grow the economy. We look forward to the continued partnership between the EU and Kenya.”

    The visit comes after a highly successful EU-Kenya business forum held last month which was graced by H.E. President William Ruto and other high ranking government officials. The forum brought together members the business community from the EU and Kenya.

    Kenya remains a key economic and political partner for the EU, with an important role as a regional peace broker and energy producer.

    Under a recently signed Global Gateway Africa – Europe Investment Package, EIB aims to support Africa for a strong, inclusive, green and digital recovery and transformation by accelerating the green energy transition, digital transition, sustainable growth and job creation as well as strengthening education and health systems.

    The Investment Package will be delivered through the EIB, EU and its Member States as well as other European financial institutions working together with local stakeholders to support concrete and transformational projects jointly identified in priority areas.

  • Huawei eyes health sector amid county digitalization

    Huawei eyes health sector amid county digitalization

    Huawei Technologies has singled out the local health sector for its Digital Hospital, a new raft of systems designed to support the county digitalization programs.

    One of the key issues identified in healthcare is the use of technology to address human resourcing challenges and the new systems will be used to boost telemedicine. Huawei’s fully connected healthcare solutions will provide medical professionals and organizations with the collaborative infrastructure they need to securely share, process, and use healthcare data, to deliver more effective care for their patients.

    This said, Steve Kamuya, Director of Huawei Kenya’s Enterprise Business, includes the company’s advanced, people-oriented medical services solutions such as telemedicine applications to enable remote HD video, teleconsultation, remote surgical demonstrations, medical video-on-demand, and remote doctors’ visits.

    “Often counties struggle with insufficient specialist staff, and therefore the systems we have introduced will enable them provide initial guidance, and follow-up care, and even sometimes actual diagnosis or recommendations for treatment through an online video meeting with the patient and the local healthcare worker, particularly if the local test results can be done and shared online as well,” said Kamuya.

    Speaking during the Connected Kenya Summit, he noted that there are several examples where digitizing a hospital’s operations improves its operational efficiency, reduces revenue leakages, and significantly enhances patient services.

    “Nowadays if we have good historical data of when patients get sick, including the medicines they use, and its frequency, we can predict their future needs and plan accordingly with staffing. Indeed, with Digital Hospital, we can even combine other forms of data, such as climate information that can affect certain infectious diseases or food price data which can lead to malnutrition, and act accordingly to mitigate such issues,” he noted.

    Kamunya stated that the Digital Hospital solution is capable of synchronizing county and national government information  to make the implementation of devolution more efficient, transparent, and effective. He outlined the example of a successful pilot that the firm has been running between Kenyatta National Hospital, Isiolo’s Teaching and Referral Hospital and a Sub-County Hospital in Garbatula.

    “Our experience has shown the importance of a good internet connection, high quality picture quality, and a flexible platform for integrating with different sources of medical information and data,” said Kamunya.

    This is the importance of county alignment and close collaboration with the national government in implementation of Kenya’s Digital Superhighway that is expected to enhance connectivity to the County institutions, provide public Wi-Fi and set-up Digital Innovation Hubs.

  • “Live Vivid, Let’s Vibe” Xiaomi Celebrates Xiaomi Fan Festival 2023

    “Live Vivid, Let’s Vibe” Xiaomi Celebrates Xiaomi Fan Festival 2023

    Xiaomi kicked off its annual ” Xiaomi Fan Festival” with the theme of “Live vivid, let’s vibe” on April 1st. The Xiaomi Fan Festival (XFF) event that celebrates Xiaomi’s founding anniversary of April 6th, 2010. This year marks the 13th anniversary of the company, and it’s also a special event for both Xiaomi and its community of dedicated fans worldwide. Throughout the festival, Xiaomi aims to reward Xiaomi Fans with exclusive discounts, promotions, activities, and giveaways.

     

     

    Great fun, Great gifts

    In Kenya, we are celebrating Xiaomi Fans Festival 2023 with various promotions and great giveaways. Xiaomi customers can win a fun novelty gift when they deliver their phone for repair at the Xiaomi service center or if they post photos taken with Xiaomi 12 or 12Pro with a watermark then post on social media and tag Xiaomi Kenya or if they follow all Xiaomi Kenya social media handles and share a screenshot. In addition to the fan festival giveaway, Xiaomi has discounted some devices – Redmi A1+ has been discounted by 5% and the Redmi 10A (4+128) comes at a discounted price and with a free pair of earphones. Check out Xiaomi Kenya social media pages to learn more.

     

     

     

    History of Xiaomi Fan Festival

    Xiaomi Fan Festival (XFF) is celebrated each year on April 6, the anniversary of Xiaomi’s founding, to show appreciation for the supporting fans of Xiaomi.

    The first XFF was held in 2012 in Mainland China when Xiaomi decided to launch an event to celebrate the two-year anniversary of its founding. 100,000 Xiaomi smartphones sold out in just 6 minutes and 5 seconds on that day. Outside of Mainland China, XFF was first held in India and Indonesia in 2015, and launched in European markets in 2018, beginning in Spain. Now XFF is available in more than 40 countries and regions around the world.

  • Proposal to strengthen parliament as the sole law making institution in Kenya

    Proposal to strengthen parliament as the sole law making institution in Kenya

    Hon. Bishop Robert Mutemi is the Deputy President of Kenya National Congress of Pentecostal Churches and the Presiding Bishop of Global Vision Church. This is his opinion pertaining strengthening parliament as a supreme organ for law-making.

    “In recent years there has been deliberate efforts to belittle the importance of parliamentary debates on the floor of the house in the law making process. The desire to create other structures outside parliament to make laws for the country indicates lack of confidence in the competence of our Mps to make sound and good laws for posterity. This was confusion was brought about by leaders of opposition dictating and discussing issues outside parliament.

    To cure this problem, let there be a law that allows the official leader of opposition to automatically become a member of parliament to offer effective oversight over the executive on the floor of the house. This proposal will cure the issue of opposition. Party leader always instructing MPs to take hardline positions before the debate of the house has commenced- hence diluting the effectiveness of the debates on the floor of the house. This calls for the creation of the office of the official opposition leader within parliament.

    This will improve our governance structures greatly because leaders can now face each other within the law and debate issues conclusively. I believe this is the way to go to stop mass action every now and then- which has proven very destructive to the country in many ways.

    I request any sitting member of parliament to draft the bill and take it to parliament for debate.”