Kenyan Governor Fernandes Barasa has urged President Ruto and opposition leader Raila to engage in unconditional dialogue without the involvement of DP Rigathi Gachagua. Raila’s decision to call off mass protests was seen as a reciprocal gesture towards Ruto’s willingness to engage in dialogue. Barasa said that the involvement of Gachagua may lead to other issues.
However, Raila emphasized the need for quick and meaningful progress in discussions on the issues raised. Alinur Mohamed claims that both Raila Odinga and William Ruto are secretly planning for a handshake and have given Kenyans signs. According to Barasa, Rigathi Gachagua has been acting weird in the past few days and therefore he should not be involved.
In light of these developments, it remains to be seen whether the proposed dialogue will materialize and lead to meaningful progress toward addressing the challenges facing Kenya. Ruto and Raila are set to have a secret dialogue that is oriented towards the betterment of the Kenyan economy.
One of the police officers deployed in Embakasi to control Azimio La Umoja One Coalition protests has spoken out on what he went through on Thursday.
It reached a point when the policeman and his colleagues ran out of tear gas. At this point, the policeman and his colleagues were surrounded by the youths.
Stones were landing on them indiscriminately, injuring them badly. They tried to shoot in the air but the youths could not stop attacking them. They continued coming closer and throwing stones.
The policeman said that at this point he was torn between shooting and saving his life. He imagined how using his gun would lead to the killing of someone’s son as he was a father of one.
On the other hand, being killed was the worst for him. Who would take care of his children and wife? Was the media going to report his case as it does for those protestors who get killed?
Luckily, he got an escape route and landed in a house of a certain woman who gave him first aid. The policeman had broken his hip and he was bleeding from the injuries caused by stoning.
He was later taken to the hospital where he now lies on the bed not able to do anything. As the media reports how protestors who were hurt during protests are recuperating in the hospital, nobody wants to know whether there was a policeman who was hurt in the same scene and how he is doing.
It pains him more seeing that he can’t do anything now and the children still look upon him for provision. Again, he had a gun that he could have used to rescue himself and prevent being stoned.
The policeman said that the police are also human beings. They have families to provide for and are afraid of losing their lives too. We hope that the policeman will soon get well and get back to work. What do you think about this policeman? Please share your views with us in the comments section below.
Hon. Capt Ruweida Mohammed with Team Distributing Busary Cheques at Kenyatta Universty Coast Campus.
Bursary and Cheque distribution in Lamu East Constituency.
In last year’s KCSE exams (2022-2023) the whole constituency just garnered a single B- with Zero C+ and several C- and below grades.
During the Campaigns period Hon. Capt. Ruweida Mohamed Obo, who is a commercial pilot holding Commercial Pilot License promised that she will give key attendance notes on Education, Equality of Bursary distribution from the previous regime where a single student was given up to Ksh. 70,000 whereas others received Ksh.5,000 or Ksh.10,000 in sec schools.
Capt. Ruweida currently she is in closely monitoring bursary distribution to honor her pledges during the campaigns.
Hon. Obo, has equally started to distribute a Bursary of Ksh. 8,000 for any secondary day school, Ksh. 16,000 to each student of boarding secondary school and Ksh. 25,000 in every university student at any university provided is Lamu East Pupils and students.
Hon. Ruweida has launched door-to-door campaigns in search of all pupils and students who are in schools and those who have abandoned education to resume school as she has set a serious CDF Board committee tasked with reviewing the application process to ease the learning process.
Lamu County, a constituency with Basuba, Kiunga, Siyu/Pate, Faza/Tchundwa, Kizingitini West, and Ndau Wards, has been marginalized and sidelined from development activities. Lamu East especially is known as the Centre for crime, hostage for Al-Shabaab bandits, and Centre for criminals from Somalia. Lamu town is just 5km away from the Somalia border.
A signed Bursary Cheque by Lamu East Constituency Member of Parliament, Hon. Capt Ruweida Mohammed.
Through education, Mrs. Obo is determined to end marginalization issues terming that education is the through solution to end the root-cause factors of underdevelopment in Lamu East Constituency.
Learning trips for pupils and students.
Lamu East board members have been closely organizing education and tour trips to Nairobi.
The board has frequently brought pupils and students to explore how education has transformed cities such as Nairobi.
In Lamu, the majority has not majored in education and through this system conveyed by Captain Ruweida is to eradicate banditry, poverty, and crimes and embrace education for change.
During the Parliament procession, Hon. Captain vehemently encouraged young generations from Lamu to embrace education and put in more hard work to bring change in the region.
“My children learn, the tour to our parliament buildings is a learning process, coming to see Nairobi City is a learning process, see the city’s development is because of education. Education is the key to success and development. When you go back, get knowledge to help you, education is the equalizer” Captain quotes.
A signed Bursary Cheque by Lamu East Constituency Member of Parliament, Hon. Capt Ruweida Mohammed.
Challenges faced by Lamu learners, the recommendation process
It is shocking that in Lamu East Constituency, during exam times the constituency suffers the most as Hon Ruweida affirmed that they have faced challenges of teachers teaching science subjects specifically Patte Girls Secondary School, the first-ever girls boarding secondary school in the often marginalized region which has missed chemistry teacher since its existence in 2019.
“Patte Girls the first Girls Secondary school we’ve missed science teachers in Chemistry and biology, it’s high time to end this marginalization and create a conducive environment for our children to learn and improve the community” She asserted.
Hon Ruweida has however confirmed that when local pupils and students go in search of education from other counties they perform excellently at all times.
“Our students and pupils when they vacate and go to get an education outside Lamu perform absolutely and extremely high, some become most performing during exams.” Hon Captain says.
Students lack model centers such as in Chandani Island.
Lamu East being an island, logistics is very expensive as Ruweida affirms saying that conditions on the island are very high. She shockingly states that Lamu East Constituency has no single tarmac or even an inch of a tarmacked road.
The area has lacked water for a long time. Through Constituency Development Funds (CDF) Captain has affirmed to put more efforts to transform the sectors by all means to ensure equality and inclusivity.
Hon Ruweida has robbed for KERRA to get in touch and start the process of road maintenance and Murraming to pave way for the tarmacking process. She has stated that she will be the first Member of Parliament in Lamu East Constituency to bring into existence of a tarmacked road in the area.
Hon. Ruweida has finally urged parents, clan leaders, and clan elders to help in search of pupils and students to make bursary applications to change the Constituency and produce more students with improved grades for the well-being of the community.
Raila Odinga’ Azimio team have been dispersed after it encountered heavily armed security personnel while demonstrating in Pipeline area Nairobi.
The problem started when Raila’s convoy neared Outer ring road, where police had mounted a huge roadblock. A huge crowd that was accompanying Azimio’s convoy was forced to scamper for safety when police rained teargas canisters on them.
Raila’s convoy was forced to make a stop for over five minutes as teargas ruled the air. After things calmed down, the convoy was forced to make a U-Turn and went back using the route it came from.
The convoy was said to be heading to town for mega demonstrations but was prevented from accessing outer ring road.
Water canons were also used during repulsion that saw supporters scamper for safety. The convoy had sneaked its way through Imara Daima, Mukuru kwa Reuben, and was in Pipeline before teagas came calling.
There was peace for the better part of the procession starting at Capitol Hill until they encountered a police roadblock. It had been reported that the team was heading to Jacaranda grounds before it changed the plans.
At least 14 people were confirmed dead on Thursday after a Pwani University bus collided with a matatu at the Kayole Bridge on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.
Naivasha Deputy County Commissioner Kisilu Mutua confirmed this number of fatalities but said more bodies could still be in the bus.
“That is the latest figure but the number could be higher. I am still getting updates from traffic officers and hospital authorities,” said the administrator.
Pwani University Deputy Vice Chancellor James Kahindi said students were heading to the Chepkoilel campus for a national sports event when the accident occurred.
Prof Kaindi said two buses left with 120 learners, four drivers and one sports officer.
“The students left the school this morning and on reaching Naivasha, they had an accident. We have asked our chief security officer, who was in Nairobi on official duty, to go there and give us more information so we can inform the public. We are in Kilifi, relying on information from other people,” he said.
Both the bus and the matatu were heading towards Nakuru.
Eye witness Ruth Wambui said the bus driver lost control of the vehicle after hitting the matatu that was joining the main road after picking up a passenger.
“The bus driver hooted continuously, with the vehicle moving at high speed,” she said.
Another witness, Simon Njoroge, said the brakes of the bus failed during a steep descent.
“The bus hit the matatu twice from the rear end before it landed in a ditch by the road,” he said.
It was a chaotic scene at the Naivasha sub-county hospital as medical personnel attended to the injured.
Azimio coalition leader Raila Odinga was among those who sent a condolence message following the accident.
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ Kenya) chipped into the conversation around mass protests organized by the Azimio La Umoja coalition, saying they are becoming a basis for violating the rights and freedoms entrenched in the Kenyan Constitution (2010).
The body of jurists noted that the events of the two mass protests of March 20 and 27 closely mirror the events of the Post Election violence in 2007 where political incitement led to atrocity crimes.
Mass Protests Threaten Democracy
In a statement on March 29, the ICJ said that the bi-weekly protests pose a threat to democracy, the rule of law, and human rights.
The ICJ said that although the constitution allows citizens to demonstrate, some abused this right and participated in destroying private property, including religious buildings.
“The destruction of property across the country was noted, particularly in Kibera, Mathare, Mukuru kwa Njenga, Northlands, Spectre East Africa International, and Kisumu, amongst other spotlighted areas.” said the ICJ.
The body further noted with concern the attacks on journalists on duty by police and goons during the protests.
“We wish to reiterate that the media must inform the public about the current situation in the country in a fair, and objective manner,” read the statement.
The group added that any attempts to gag the media should be condemned and considered a gross violation of media freedoms.
ICJ Calls Out Police for Inaction
The ICJ said that it was dismayed by the actions of the National Police Service (NPS) during the protests. Some were seen lobbing tear gas into peaceful crowds, while others failed to respond to the looting and vandalism at former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s farm in Northlands and other areas.
“We wish to remind the Inspector General of Police of his mandate under Article245 of the Constitution of Kenya and the National Police Service Act to exercise independent command of the National Police Service and duty to all Kenyans under the ‘Utumishi Kwa Wote’ banner and, therefore, cannot be seen and perceived as partisan in law and order in the country.”
The jurists also expressed concern about the reports of loss of lives, injuries, ethnic profiling, hate speech, and incitement across social media platforms.
ICJ called on the political class to consider using mediation mechanisms to promote dialogue to address divergent political positions.
Global research and business intelligence company Rystad Energy has joined the Namibia International Energy Conference (NIEC) 2023 as a strategic knowledge partner, advancing energy-related dialogue and engagement. Now in its 5th edition, the event represents the official energy conference of the country, serving to generate investment and kickstart new developments across the Namibian energy sector – an objective made more tangible with Rystad Energy’s participation.
With recent oil and gas discoveries including TotalEnergies’ Venus 1-X and Shell’s Graff-1 in 2022 and Jonker-1X in 2023 turning Namibia into a global exploration and production hub for international majors and independents, Rystad Energy’s industry know-how will be crucial for driving NIEC 2023 dialogue around the partnership and investment opportunities within Namibia’s upstream industry. Since these discoveries, the market has seen heightened interest by a suite of regional and global players, with NIEC 2023 serving as the ideal forum to expand knowledge and insights regarding the Namibian E&P landscape. With its participation, Rystad Energy will advance knowledge sharing, laying the foundation for new deals to be signed and partnerships formed.
While the Namibian government is seeking to boost energy access, socioeconomic development and economic growth by leveraging local resources, the hydrocarbons industry has a vital role to play in guaranteeing energy security for the southern African country as well as in driving gross domestic product growth through revenue generation for the government. While the availability of adequate investments continues to challenge the global oil and gas industry, platforms such as NIEC and the participation of Rystad Energy will be vital in shaping discussions around best practices for Namibia to adopt in order to attract foreign direct investments. With various factors such as increases in energy demand and geopolitical trends disrupting global energy security, Namibia’s oil and gas industry has a huge role to play in balancing global supply.
On the renewables front, Rystad Energy’s participation at NIEC is instrumental for enhancing the exchanging of ideas around investment and partnership opportunities within the country’s solar, wind and green hydrogen industry. With the Namibian government accelerating diversification, the country’s untapped renewables and green hydrogen potential has turned the market into an investment destination for European and global clean energy investors. Large-scale green hydrogen projects positioning Namibia among Africa’s green energy capitals include Fortescue and Enersense’s Daures Green Hydrogen Village, RWE and HYPHEN Hydrogen Energy’s green ammonia initiative and German-backed Power-to-X green hydrogen pilots across the southern African country.
“The African Energy Chamber (AEC), as the voice of the African energy sector and a strategic partner for NIEC 2023, looks forward to Rystad Energy’s participationg at this year’s NIEC 2023 conference. Rystad’s research and market intelligence has been crucial for maximizing Africa’s stance on the role local energy resources can play in addressing energy access, affordability, poverty and security matters. The presence of Rystad at NIEC will be vital for highlighting exploration trends and opportunities within Namibia’s energy industry for global energy services companies and investors,” states NJ Ayuk, the Executive Chairman of the AEC.
Taking place under the theme ‘Shaping the Future of Energy towards Value Creation’ in Windhoek from 25 – 27 April, NIEC 2023 unites Namibian energy policymakers, companies and stakeholders from across the entire energy value chain with global investors to discuss Namibia’s energy future. As a strategic knowledge partner for NIEC 2023, Rystad Energy will join high-level institutions, global energy firms and financiers in shaping Namibia’s burgeoning energy industry through discussions, exclusive networking sessions and deal signings.
Representing the leading investment platform for the energy sector, Energy Capital & Power (ECP) will also particiapte at this year’s edition of NIEC 2023, promoting its upcoming Namibian-focused market report, Energy Invest Namibia. Produced in partnership with Namibia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy, the publication serves as a framework and guideline on how to invest in the country’s energy sector. Join Rystad Energy, the AEC, ECP and many more high-level organizations at this year’s NIEC conference.
The Capital Youth Caucus Association (CYCA Kenya) has called out the Kenya Kwanza government for failing to fulfill the manifestos it promised during campaigns and elections.
The association, which was keeping tabs on the Ruto-led government for the first 100 days, said that 6 months down the line, the government had delivered the complete opposite of what it promised.
Kenya Kwanza failed to fulfill manifestos
CYCA noted that the unemployment rate among youth remains high and the economy is worsening, following the increase in fuel, electricity prices, and taxes on basic commodities.
Moreover, several countries, mainly in the Northern region, are still facing insecurity, including Turkana, Samburu, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Laikipia, and Baringo.
In a statement on March 28, the association said that youth and women-run businesses, including MSMEs, are suffering from high operating costs and expensive loans. They added that the Hustler Fund project turned out to be very expensive to ordinary citizens.
“Originally, the fund was supposed to be interest-free to start the economy of hustlers. But now, the hustlers are unable to repay the loan.” read the statement in part.
The group further stated that the education system in Kenya is slowly collapsing given that several schools remain understaffed and lack basic facilities such as books or classrooms.
Moreover, the delay in issuing University and College Students’ Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) makes it difficult for students to study smoothly.
CYCA demanded that elected leaders implement what they were sworn in to do and that the two major political formations, Kenya Kwanza and Azimio Coalitions, put the interests of Kenya first.
Law Society of Kenya President Eric Theuri at the LSK Centre with other members addressing the Press on March 28, 2023.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has come out to say that the protests organized by Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalitions are centered on electoral injustices and economic grievances and do not constitute war propaganda as earlier asserted by the Inspector General of Police.
Speaking along LSK offices along Gatanga road Nairobi the Societies President Mr. Eric Theuri Said that they’re a right of protest provisioned in the constitution.
“The right to protest is guaranteed under Article 37 of the Kenya Constitution which provides that every person has the right, peacefully and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket and to present petitions to public authorities”
President Eric Theuri continued to add that demonstration right are mentioned under regional and international human rights.
“The right is also guaranteed under regional and international Human Rights instruments ratified by Kenya to include the African Charter of Human and People’s rights and Under Article 21 on the International covenant on civil and political Rights.”
The society also came out to condemn recent attempts by the Communications Authority to restrict Press freedom for covering the protests, use of force by security personnel during the protests and the intended ancillary legislative amendments to be introduced as declared by the Ministry of Interiors as catastrophic as they continue to undermine democratic principles, social stability and peace terming it tragic for a country that worked hard to establish progressive legislation for the benefit of public harmony and healing following a difficult time.
The Law Society has urged the national police service charged with the mandate of maintaining law and order to abide by the Public order act (Cap 56 of the Laws of Kenya). and provide security to members of the public during the protests.
“We urge the police to use the principle of proportionality and further take steps to avoid even inadvertently heightening tensions and making the situations worse. As was evident on Monday there were instances of excessive use of force, unlawful arrests, threats in number, intensity, and brutality, with some of the cases resulting in a fatality, serious injuries, and damage to property.”
Finally, the President has demanded the Police Oversight Authority investigate the vices that occurred from the use of police force to determine its possibility of violations of the standing orders.
“We demand that the Independent Police Oversight Authority investigates the deaths and the injuries that have occurred from the use of force by the police to determine whether there were any violations of the Police Standing Orders as well as generally investigate the use of force and live ammunition by the police.
The Society has urged members of the public to share any information and footage of any violation by the security forces for its review and subsequent actions.
Kirinyaga County Senator James Murago is seeking a statement from the Senate Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare on the state of labor export from Kenya.
In his request, the Senator wants the committee to state the measures the government has taken, if any, to reduce unemployment among the youth and explain the steps taken by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to facilitate Kenyans applying for job opportunities abroad.
The lawmaker further requests the committee to appraise the senate on whether there are any bilateral agreements in place with any foreign country or organization for the export of both skilled and unskilled labor and provide data on the current state of labor export to foreign countries, including the number of Kenyans working abroad and the number of remittances received annually.
