Election Observation Group (ELOG) members during a press conference
Election Observation Group (ELOG), has called upon the Political Leaders and Kenyans to ensure credible, Peaceful, Free, and Fair Elections 2022.
Today members have called for peaceful 2022 elections. ELOG is made up of civil society organizations and faith-based organizations.
Political parties are set to conduct nominations from 16th to 22nd April 2022. Our Observations and reports over the years indicate that party primaries have been shambolic. We call for Credible party primaries since they are a precursor towards a peaceful election. Affirmative actions should also be allowed by political parties. Party primaries should also allow free and fair elections free from violence or Bribery.
”We also call on all social media users to be responsible and avoid spreading hate through the propagation of fake and provocative information. We further urge the communication authority, security, and other relevant agencies to flag out social media handles and persons who spew hate speech.” Said Anne W. Ireri chairperson, steering committee Peace panel.
Political alignment should also avoid the use of insensitive language for it may stir a wave of violence.
Electoral legal and administrative policies and performance. Some of the laws should be amended before elections like the party primary bill, special interest amendment bill.
The IEBC up to now lacks substantive staffing like the CEO absence which causes an alert on matters of the whole exercise. The voter law registration witnessed only proves voter apathy due to various reasons like unfair elections, poor service delivery, and corruption among leaders.
ELOG is also concerned about the rise of cases like hate speech, incitement by, few political leaders. Every Kenyan has been urged to be responsible to ensure a peaceful, credible and fair election free from violence.
Transparency in the Electoral process is paramount and IEBC must keep the public informed about every activity it is undertaking, to avoid suspicion and mistrust. It is recommended that the commission strengthen its public communication and stakeholder outreach structures.
Sicily K. Kariuki (Mrs), Egh, Cabinet Secretary, For Water, Sanitation And Irrigation addressing media Photo: Bogonko Nyokang’i
The Ministry’s core mandate is to implement the constitutional requirement on article 43(b), (c), and (d) on right to reasonable standards of sanitation, freedom from hunger, and to have adequate food of acceptable quality, and to clean safe water in adequate quantities.
The National Water coverage has increased from 53.3% in 2013 (27.7 Million People) to the current coverage of about 70% serving 34.8 Million people. This indicates that 12m additional people have access to clean water. Sewerage coverage has increased from 22.1% to 29% in urban areas. The Ministry plans to
increase the coverage to 80% and 40% respectively by 2022 including improving access to food security. The sector aims to achieve 100% water coverage both in urban and rural areas, 40% for urban sewerage 60% for the non-sewered system for urban sanitation, and 100% for rural sanitation by 2030.
To achieve the three basic human rights, the Ministry has embarked on the implementation of many Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation projects across the Country. The Ministry had a portfolio of 685 Projects by June 2020 spread across the country of which 113 number were completed by December 2021 through the 3 rd and 4 th wave RRI. The current portfolio is estimated at approximately 650 ongoing projects as of December 2021.
In the past, the completion rate of projects has been very low as projects take long to be completed leading to cost overruns and frustration by the people the projects are expected to serve.
Examples of projects the Ministry has completed include: – Dongo Kundu Water Supply Project (Phase I), Naivasha Industrial Park, Mavoko Water Supply and connected health Centres to Water supply, Nyamira, Kisii Vihiga Cluster, Homa Bay Cluster, Narok Sewerage, Carissa Sewerage, Wamba Water Project and more across the country. These projects are in support of the manufacturing and health pillars in the BIG FOUR AGENDA.
Three (3) Peace dams and water harvesting projects have been completed including the Nakuetum, Forolle Mega Peace Dam, Yamo Dam, and Wamba. The Ministry has fast-tracked the implementation of key flagship projects; Thwake Dam (64%), Karimenu Dam (76%), Galana Kulalu (74%), Thiba (84%), Bura Irrigation Project (45%), Lower Nzoia Irrigation Project (50%), Chemususu Water Supply (93%), and Northern Collector (99%).
In addition, we have fast-tracked the processing of new projects that include Mwache Dam in Kwale County, Ruiru II Dam, Kericho and Kisii Waste Water Management, Kisumu Sanitation Project, Nakuru Biodiversity project, Bute Dam in Wajir, Kamumu dam in Embu among others. The projects will lead to the progressive realization of the human right to water and sanitation.
The Rapid Result Initiative being a result based process aimed at fast-tracking implementation of the Ministry’s priority programs has been successfully adopted by the Ministry to achieve results both in increasing the Project Completion Rate, gaining value for money on investments, and ensuring quality in
completed works.
The 3rd Wave RRI ran between 19 to February 2021 up to 30th May 2021. This wave brought 44 projects (31 water and 13 irrigation projects) to completion increasing 1.5M persons with access to safe drinking water and a total of 4,870Acres of land being brought under irrigation.
The 4th wave ran between 22 and August up to 30th November 2021 and resulted in 19 Projects being completed an area of 6,210 acres brought under irrigation and additional 170,160 people gaining access to safe drinking water.
The 5th Wave running between 1st February up to 12th May 2022 intends to bring an increase of area under irrigation by 8,257 acres serving 6,880 households by completing 69 projects. A total of 3,317,297 persons are planned to access safe drinking water during this 5th Wave RRI.
There are 63 projects to be commissioned and handed over under this wave to benefit 2,730,265 persons to access safe drinking water and an area of 36,495 acres will be put under irrigation benefitting 44,300 Households.
WATER SECTOR REFORMS
The National Water Policy was approved by National Assembly on 14th October 2021 as Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2021. This policy will guide the Sector in ensuring good governance, and acceleration of access to water supply and sanitation services to progressively realize universal access while also ensuring gender mainstreaming, climate change, and education in the sector are achieved.
The Water Sector regulations: Water Services Regulations, Water Resources regulations, and Water Harvesting and Storage Regulations have also been officially gazetted. This will ensure that the sector is well regulated and both the water resources and services are sustainable and affordable. The Irrigation General Regulations have been developed and will ensure that the sector is well-coordinated, quality is assured, resources are mobilized and the irrigation sector is stable.
The Sector Strategies: Water Services Strategy, Water Resources Strategy, and Water Harvesting and Storage Strategy have further been developed to guide development in the sector for the next 5 years. The Irrigation Strategy is at an advanced stage which will enhance the planning of the irrigation subsector,
whereas the Irrigation Guidelines have been developed and are accessible from the Ministry’s website
These are further supported by the newly signed Sector Financing and Investment Framework (NAWASIP) which embraces the spirit of collaboration and consultation between the two levels of government, and further puts responsibility and commitments on each level of government on coordinated financing in the Sector.
Finally, the CS stated that she is happy that NAWASIP will realize the establishment of a Conditional Grant
that will ensure sustainable financing of the Water Sector. The Ministry is fast-tracking the finalization of the KEWI Act, Water Act 2016 miscellaneous amendments bill, and Sanitation Management Policy.
UDA allied MPs at DPWiliam Ruto‘s Residence in Karen (Photo Courtesy)
Members of parliament allied to deputy president William Ruto on January 25, 2022, managed to shoot down a motion at the national assembly seeking to reconstitute the house business committee.
Their move is going to disrupt the house business for six months until the names of the new members in the committee will be tabled for debate.
“There cannot be any business because there has to be a House Business Committee to process anything for the House” Speaker Justin Muturi ruled.
However, what many do not recognize is that majority of MPs allied to Azimio la Umoja were not in the house, thus creating room for DP Ruto’s foot soldiers to chest thump.
Members of parliament drawn from the Luhya community today met President Uhuru Kenyatta at the statehouse. Most of the leaders have in the past sided with the handshake wing of President Kenyatta and ODM’s Raila Odinga. As such their votes were not counted in the motion.
Also, the leadership of the ODM party at parliament was out in the field drumming up support for Odinga who is set to square it out with DP Ruto through Azimio la Umoja alliance.
Junet Mohamed, an ardent ODM defender, was attending a function where the Mount Kenya Foundation was meeting with Maasai leaders.
His counterpart John Mbadi, the minority leader at the national assembly, was weeks ago suspended from five sittings of the house after punching Sigowet/Soin MP Kipsengeret Koros in the face.
Deputy President William Ruto has told President Uhuru Kenyatta to face him directly and stop hiding behind junior government officers.
In a statement, Ruto urged Uhuru to come out boldly, and stop using junior government officers to attack him over his 2022 presidential bid.
Ruto is said not to be satisfied with how President Kenyatta has been conducting himself since the handshake with ODM Leader Raila Odinga.
And according to Ruto’s statement, Uhuru should come out and reveal his true colors, instead of hiding behind some nonentities.
“Let the Dynasties and Deep State unveil themselves so that we can meet face to face. They should stop involving their officers in this battle. Yes, it is a battle between me, and them,” Ruto avers.
A statement by Deputy President says that President Uhuru Kenyatta has been fighting Ruto using senior government officials to diminish his political ambitions ahead of the 2022 General Elections.
Baringo Senator Gideon Moi is set to be endorsed as KANU’s flag bearer for the 2022 Presidential election as delegates gather at Bomas of Kenya to ratify the decision.
Gideon, a son of former President, the late Daniel arap Moi during a home coming ceremony in Baringo called on residents from his home county to fully back his ambitions of becoming the country’s 5th President.
The Kanu party chairman urged residents to journey with him and not to abandon him during the crucial time he is also seeking support countrywide.
“Our unity as residents of Baringo is very important especially now that we are approaching the 2022 general elections,” he said.
The Baringo Senator who faces strong opposition from Deputy President William Ruto and his allies have been pushing for the formation of a strong coalition that will face the Deputy President in next year’s polls.
Gideon, a close ally of President Uhuru Kenyatta will for the first time vie for Presidency in his political career.
During 2017 elections, the KANU leader supported President Kenyatta’s re-election.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga and One Kenya Alliance leaders Wiper Party leaders Kalonzo Musyoka, FORD Kenya’s Moses Wetangula and ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi are in attendance.
NAIROBI, 30th September 2021, (PSCU)—President Uhuru Kenyatta today at State House, Nairobi bade farewell to Cuban Ambassador to Kenya Ernesto Gomez Diaz whose tour of duty has come to an end.
Speaking during the brief event, President Kenyatta commended Ambassador Diaz for the deepening relations between Kenya and Cuba especially in the health sector.
“It was a great pleasure to have had you here. You have done a lot to strengthen ties between our countries. It is through your efforts that every Kenyan knows about Cuba because of the Cuban doctors,” President Kenyatta said.
He added: “We have done well in the health sector and we can do so in sports and other fields of human development”.
The Head of State assured the outgoing envoy of Kenya’s continued partnership with Cuba on the global stage especially in the campaign for the lifting of international sanctions against the island nation.
“Equally be assured of our commitment for Cuba in all international fora. Bilateral and multilateral relations are key to us as we work towards the lifting of sanctions,” the President said.
On his part Ambassador Diaz expressed gratitude to the Government for the support he received during his tenure and assured the President of Cuba’s deep commitment to the expansion of bilateral ties between the two nations.
He said his country will continue to offer training to Kenyan doctors pointing out that Cuban malaria experts had already arrived in Kenya, and thanked President Kenyatta for playing a crucial role in efforts aimed at lifting sanctions against Cuba.
“We will continue with the exchange of doctors, and also appreciate your efforts towards the lifting of sanctions against Cuba,” Ambassador Diaz said.
Separately, also at State House, Nairobi, President Kenyatta held talks with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair who paid him a courtesy call.
