Over 10,000 NYS Recruits to Graduate from the NYS College Gilgil, Nakuru County

By Graham Kirwa.

Over 10,000 National Youth Service recruits will graduate tomorrow (20^th December, 2016) from the NYS College in Gilgil in a ceremony that will be presided over by His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta, CS Sicily Kariuki from the Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs and the Director General of the NYS, Dr. Richard Ndubai.

The pass out parade will include 7,903 male and 2,848 female recruits who have successfully completed their training.

This will be the second pass out parade in 2016, the first having been held in April, 2016 where 9,031 recruits graduated, bring the 2016 total of graduands to nearly 20,000 young men and women.

After graduation, the NYS servicemen and women, as they will now be known, will move to various areas of National Service for four to six months before progressing to Vocational Training at various academic institutions across the country.

Commenting on the NYS program, CS Kariuki said that the NYS training endeavors to instill discipline and positive values in the recruits.

“The young men and women who will be graduating at this Pass Out reflect the face of Kenya. They are highly motivated and patriotic Kenyans,” she said. “We are proud of this young men and women and we believe that after graduation and as they go through National Service, they will be role models for their peers in the counties.”

Before the Pass Out parade, President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to tour and unveil 10 new barracks at the NYS Gilgil College with a capacity to house 9,000 recruits.

“The new barracks at Gilgil will increase the capacity of NYS to take in more recruits and therefore have the ability to empower more young men and women,” CS Kariuki added. “We have also built two new double span kitchen and dinning areas, and associated infrastructure to support the increased capacity.”

DP WILLIAM RUTO VISITS HORRORIFIC ACCIDENT SCENE IN NAIVASHA

While condoling with the victims and relatives of the bereaved, Ruto said
the government was looking into possible ways of assisting them overcome
the burden.

The Deputy President directed Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Wanyama
Musiambo to work with relatives and the Naivasha sub county referral
hospital to see how best the families can be assisted by government.

“We will work together with all those concerned to see how we can help the
families of the bereaved overcome the current situation”.

Though he did not point to financial assistance to the families, Ruto
called on Kenyans to be mindful while on the roads especially during this
festive season.

He said that such incidents happen during festivities and called on drivers
to exercise caution while carrying their passengers.

“Losing 33 innocent Kenyans is painful and I ask all Kenyans to pray for
the families at this difficult time”.

He at the same time said the government was speeding up the construction of
a dual carriage way of the Nairobi-Nakuru highway to avert such crisis.

Ruto said the road from Tigoni in Kiambu to Pipeline in Nakuru will be
upgraded as one way of avoiding such tragedies.

It is believed that close to 40 people lost their lives although police
have put the official figures as 33 fatalities among them ten from the
General service Unit.

Several vehicles were also destroyed during the midnight night accident
with a family believed to have come from a dowry ceremony in Subukia being

among the casualties.

President Kenyatta gives road network in Kericho, Bomet counties a Ksh 9 billion revamp

The President, who was accompanied by Deputy President William Ruto, kicked off the road projects at Kipchimchim in Kericho County by launching the upgrading of the Premier – Kabianga –Taplotin – Ainamoi – Thesali – Choborge – Kiburgat road and the Kericho by-pass. The two key roads in the tea-growing region will be constructed at a cost of Ksh 5.06 billion.



President Kenyatta, thereafter, proceeded to Maili nne trading centre where he launched the tarmacking of Brooke Bond – Maili nne – Kipkelion – Londiani and the Maili nne – Chepseon roads that will be upgraded at a cost of Ksh 1.55 billion.



Addressing thousands of jubilant wananchi after launching the road projects, President Kenyatta outlined the Jubilee Government’s commitment to implementing infrastructure projects across the country to open up the rural areas for rapid economic growth.



“In Kericho county, we are constructing close to 200 kilometres of road because our focus is to put in place the infrastructure so that agricultural products do not go to waste because of bad roads. We also want to ensure that farmers get their produce to the market on time and at low transport costs,” President Kenyatta said.



He said the roads being constructed are also intended to act as an incentive that will encourage value addition of agricultural produce and attract investors who will establish businesses that will create jobs for the youth in the rural areas.



The Head of State said Jubilee has a marshal plan to transform the country and improve the lives of Kenyans, saying that is why its focus has always been on implementing mega agriculture, education, health and electricity projects.



President Kenyatta said the opposition have gone into a panic mode because they have seen that Jubilee has gained overwhelming support across the country because of its focus on development and improving the lives of Kenyans.



“We are able to implement all these projects because we are focused and working as a team. But the same cannot be said of our opponents whose main pre-occupation is who will hold which position,” President Kenyatta said.



He added: “For example since we came to office, we have connected over five million households to electricity compared to only two million that had been connected to electricity since independence.”



Deputy President Ruto said he was happy that the Jubilee Government was delivering to the people of Kericho roads that they had waited to be tarmacked for over 40 years.



“These are developments that will improve the lives of the people of Kenya because we are implementing these projects across the country without discrimination or favour,” the Deputy President said.



From Maili nne, President Kenyatta and his deputy drove to Chepseon and Ng’oino where they addressed residents before they reached Choborge to launch the tarmacking of the Choborge – Kibugat and Cheplanget – Kapkatet roads.  



From Kericho County, President Kenyatta and Deputy President Ruto crossed over to the neighbouring Bomet County where they flagged off the tarmacking of the Tengecha –Koiwa –Kaptebeng’wet and Koiwa –Cheptalal –Sotik –Kaptebeng’wet –Chebangang –Kimulot –Changoi roads. The roads will be upgraded at a cost of Ksh 2.26 billion.



Speaking at the launch of the two roads at Koiwa, President Kenyatta and Deputy President Ruto took issue with some leaders from Bomet county who were trying to block construction of the important road that would benefit residents.



President Kenyatta and his deputy also censured some opposition leaders for talking against Itare dam and other water projects that are set to alleviate the water problems in the counties of Kericho, Bomet and Nakuru.



Tomorrow, President Kenyatta will spend the day in Bomet county where he will launch more projects.



Present were Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony, Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot and his Elgeyo Marakwet counterpart Kipchumba Murkomen, National Assembly majority leader Aden Dual, Kericho Women Rep Hellen Chepkwony, Kipkelion East MP Joseph Limo and Jackson Rop among a host of other leaders from Kericho and Bomet counties.

NO MONEY NO VOTE,EX MAU MAU CONVICTS TELL PRESIDENT

By Antony Kioko.
The Mau Mau National governing council has declared that their over 20, 000 registered victims won’t vote in any government in the oncoming general elections if President Uhuru Kenyatta doesn’t sign the release of Sh96 Million worth of compensation funds by the European government.

Led by their Chairman Ngaca Kariuki, the elderly men and women who addressed the press on  said that they fought with the European government legally demanding compensation for 60 years and after compensation the President has refused to sign the release of the funds with no reason.

Kariuki who led a delegation from all over the country said that they suffered in the hands of the European which led to destruction of property, injuries and deaths of parents and their siblings due to the fight for freedom.

The group noted with concern that the European assembly passed the compensation of the victims worth 96 million which was also passed by the Kenyan parliament but the President has continued to withhold the money and alleges that it is only Sh9.6 million which was released.

On the other hand, Nyanza regional Mau Mau Chairman Omite Nyanchoka said that they will not allow their funds to be utilized instead of compensating the elderly victims and the deceased’ siblings who should be living a good life.

He added that they demand for the funds to be released and that there will be no voting without receiving their funds. He added that the home guards were already compensated led by the Mau Mau coordinator Gitu Wakahengeri.

General Kabaka, an elderly from Kirinyaga County reiterated that he suffered in the hands of the colonialists adding that his children and fellow fighters were murdered after they failed to kneel before the European and call them Sir.

He has urged the government to fast track the operation to ensure he enjoys his last days on earth due to his age. Kabaka said that they should be appreciated during the oncoming Jamhuri Day celebrations.The group resolved to continue fighting for their compensation until their last days.

KANU and Jubilee in a Show of Might as Harambee Deadline Draw Near

By christopher Kiprop.
The Jubilee and KANU parties yesterday engaged in a show of might in Baringo with both parties holding fundraising 50 metres from each other in a vote hunting mission.

            With Harambees deadline set by the IEBC drawing near the parties jostle for harambee  avenue with three jubilee senators, Baringo Governor, and three members of parliament attending three fundraisings.

            The legislators led by Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Mr. Kipchumba Murkomen started with a Women’s group harambee in Marigat before chopper hoping to Kabarnet town and later in Elgeyo Marakwet county.

            KANU on the other hand held an harambee for matatu workers at the KANU office which is only a stones throw away to a jubilee fundraiser held at Kabarnet Boys High school.

            The two factions will also attend two harambees in Bartolimo and Chemolingot areas as they criss cross the area in show of supremacy aboard choppers.

            Political undertones of which party was mightier in the region carried the day with Murkomen defending jubilee government development track record.

            He said the Jubilee administration has achieved what previous governments had failed to achieve in the previous 60 years.

            “By the time we came to power only two million households had been connected but in the last three years we have done a further three million, and here in Marigat over 127 schools have been connected to the grid,” said Murkomen.

            He urged the residents to embrace education saying it will uplift the life of future generations. He thanked the education CS Dr. Fred Matiang’I for creating a level playing field as it has been replicated by the recently released KCPE results.

            He called on Baringo senator to join other local leaders in providing solutions to problems facing their electorates.

            “The recent security meeting we held in Kerio valley has yielded results as the residents can now sleep in peace simply because we the leaders came together and talked to our people,” added the Elgeyo Marakwet Senate representative.

            The leaders also thanked the area residents for supporting their sick member of parliament Mrs. Geace Kipchoim.

            “your MP has been a very loyal jubilee member and she has your interest at heart as evidenced by the spirited fight she has put to help you especially in security matters,” said Murkomen.

            Same sentiments were shared by Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot and his Nandi counterpart Stephen Sang.

            Baringo North Member of Parliament Mr. William Cheptumo joined other members in pledging allegiance to jubilee party urging politicians to campaign peacefully and avoid discrimination.

Baringo central MP Sammy Mwaita disputed claims that Baringo was a KANU area saying the area was not a KANU zone as potrayed by some quarters.

            Marigat MCA Mr. Isaiah Kibowen who has since decamped from Jubilee to KANU caused an uproar when he said he is steadfast in KANU and would not leave the party.

            On his part Baringo County Governor Mr. Benjamin Cheboi called on the national government and the county government to put their heads together and sort the health workers strike the soonest possible.

            On the other hand KANU officials led by the partys chairman Mr. Gideon Moi assured called on the area residents to support the party in the forth coming elections saying the party has what it takes to lead the country again.

            “I cannot lead my people astray, I want you to prepare for the best ever elections duel in this country,” assured Gideon who asked the President to consider waiving the agricultural loans owed to Baringo farmers as he did in central Kenya.

            The Party’s secretary general Mr. Nick Salat cautioned the Deputy president Mr. William Ruto against misleading the public that he would be elected in 2022 saying the seat was open to any one.

            “We will take part in all elective posts in the elections, no one has any lead in the 2022 presidential elections anyone can vie and be elected, its not reserves for the DP,” added Emurua Dikkir Member of Parliament Johanna Ngen’o.

            Over Ksh. 15 million was raised in both Harambees with Ruto sending Ksh. two million while Gideon Moi donated Ksh. One Million.

JUBILEE PRESIDENTIAL PARTY CAMPAIGN HAVE BEGUN IN NAROK COUNTY

By Stanley Mbugua.

The Jubilee Campaign Team in Narok County Led by Soipan Kudate has expressed that the Presidential party campaigns have begun and no aspirants will be left behind. Soipan who the chief coordinator in Narok County gave assurance to all aspirants that the nomination process will be fair adding that it will be a people driven exercise.

Soipan noted that despite sitting leaders opening their offices within the counties the Jubilee party will officially open its branches across the country and will not be biased in favoring any leader. She assured all aspirants that the registration exercise will soon commence ahead of the nomination slated for April next year.

Narok County assembly Speaker Nick Kamwaro stated that Narok County is a Jubilee zone.

Nominate MCA Magret Nenkai called on all aspirants to back Soipan in the Jubilee Campaigns adding that those who were against her should stop politicking and move Jubilee Agenda forward.

CLERGY,BODABODA OPERATORS HOLD PRAYERS TO CONDEMN ACCIDENTS

By antony Kioko.

Clergy, Boda boda operators hold prayers to condemn accidents along Thika Road

Clergy men drawn from all over the country in collaboration with the traffic police and the boda boda operators in Ruiru town held a joint prayer meeting in a move to condemn the increased immature deaths caused by accidents along the Thika road.

The group, which is aiming at conducting the prayers all over the country in this festive season, said that they have been watching as youth die in their tender ages due to accidents and that they will pray until accidents reduce.

Led by Bishop Paul Githinji Wanjohi ad Ruiru traffic base commander Chief Inspector Benson Mwai, the group conducted prayers on all the accidents black spots where, according to them, there is existence of demon powers which cause the accidents.

Bishop Githinji condemned the acts of drivers, conductors and other road users consuming alcohol, bhang among other drugs before driving and thus driving carelessly and causing deaths. He said that they will ensure they sensitize the road users to the road deaths.

He has urged the drivers to avoid consuming any kind of drug whilst driving mostly during this festive season. He called for responsible road suing from Kenyans.

On his side the Boda boda chairman in Ruiru Paul Kariuki noted with concern that the Thika Road has claimed over 200 road users for the last three months and insisted that there are accidents that cause death each week along the superhighway and they are in the frontline to condemn the deaths.

He called upon his colleagues to drive careful and responsibly and being their brothers’ keeper to ensure no deaths are experienced this festive season.

STATEMENT BY STATE HOUSE SPOKESPERSON ON THE 2016 KCPE RESULTS.

STATEMENT BY STATE HOUSE SPOKESPERSON ON THE 2016 KCPE RESULTS

Manoah Esipisu, MBS

In March this year, when H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta delivered his State of the Nation address, he undertook to deepen reforms in the education sector, and specifically to end malpractice and cheating prevalent in national examinations.

The release of the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education results today confirms that reform of the national examination process has happened and integrity and credibility have been restored.

The President commends the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Dr Fred Matiang’i, his colleagues at ICT and Interior, and their teams, the Kenya National Examinations Council, the Teachers Service Commission and other stakeholders for a flawless execution of their mandate.

The President encourages CS Matiang’i and other stakeholders to press on with the education reforms, and to continue the stringent measures imposed during the 2016 examinations to ensure gains made are maintained and become the norm.

The President is pleased at the achievement of parity between boys and girls sitting KCPE, but notes that some counties still lagged behind in attaining this goal because of practices that undermine education of the girl child. He instructed the Ministry of Education to move to rectify that situation.

President Kenyatta, earlier this year, instructed the Ministry of Education to pay special attention to students with special needs. The President is pleased to note that the Ministry has introduced a raft of measures that have worked – this is important in meeting the Jubilee administration’s goal of ensuring inclusivity in the education sector.

Lastly, President Kenyatta notes that his goal of attaining 100 per cent transition from primary to secondary school remains on course, and CS Matiang’i assured him at a briefing earlier on Thursday that the target of 2018 would be achieved.

Manoah Esipisu, MBS

Secretary, Communication &

State House Spokesperson

SHOPPPING MALL FEARS ALLAYED

By Chris Mahandara.

The National Buildings Inspectorate has allayed fears that work at a multimillion shopping mall in Kisumu city was substandard and could collapse any time.

Reports in a cross-section of the social media indicated that parts of the 17 storey wing of the building had cracked and the contractors were busy trying to reinforce the pillars to prevent it from collapsing.

An official of the National Building Inspectorate at the State Department of Housing, Moses Nyakiongora who led an inspection tour of the Nakumatt Mega Plaza said the ongoing works were as per the structural designs of the project.

Nyakiongora confirmed that six pillars on the left wing of the Sh. 600 million shopping mall complexe were being reinforced to accommodate weight of 62, 000 liter tanks to be placed on top of the tower.

This, he said, was no reason to create fear and panic since it was only a safety measure to ensure that the additional weight does not affect the stability of the building.

“This kind of reinforcement is not strange in fact it is good because for a building of this nature nothing should be left to chance,” he said.

The structural designs of the building were approved nearly 20 years ago, however, the additional works took long to be completed since ownership changed hands.

The additional works features two towers, one comprising of 16 floors while the other 17 floors, and will be accessed through eight lifts and two elevators on the ground floor.

It encompasses four distinct blocks and a middle foyer to ensure additional car parking facilities on the first, second and third floors totaling to a maximum of 400 cars.

Nyakiongora thanked members of the public who raised concern over the safety of the building, adding that investigations were ongoing and the building shall only be given a clean bill of health once the reinforcement is completed and inspected.

In the purge against unsafe buildings, Nyakiongora disclosed that 640 buildings shall be pulled down in Nairobi alone.

Most of the buildings, he said, have been poorly done while others have been erected on public land, sewer lines, fire hydrants and sewerage system.

Once the exercise is completed, he said, the department shall embark on cleaning up rivers in Nairobi to ensure that residents live in a clean environment.

“Our first priority is to first address structural integrity because it has claimed lives,” he said.

He said the exercise shall be rolled out across the country to ensure that the laid down regulations are followed to the latter.

Before betting tonight,this is what you should know.

Br Fredrick Langat.

Philippe Coutinho is set to miss up to six weeks of action with ankle ligament damage, ruling him out of much of Liverpool's busy Christmas schedule.After closing out November with a League Cup fixture against Leeds United on Tuesday night, Liverpool will face a run of six matches before the New Year.

The Reds will be without several attacking options for the visit of Leeds, with Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana also currently sidelined and Roberto Firmino likely to sit the game out after being substituted with a knock against Sunderland.
After closing out November with a League Cup fixture against Leeds United tonight ,Liverpool will face a run of six matches before the New Year.

Tonight the Reds will be without several attacking options , with Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana also currently sidelined and Roberto Firmino likely to sit the game out after being substituted with a knock against Sunderland.

ADOPTION MONTH CELEBRATION.

By Tom Kimani.

The national government is spending an estimated Sh21.3 billion to ensure orphans and venerable children are raised within family setups as opposed to children homes where they are exposed to various upkeep challenges.

East African Community, Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie through the PS Susan Mochache said the investment is with a view to ensuring the venerable children remain within family and communities.

This, she said is done through government funded cash transfers and bursaries for needy families across the country.

Some of the program dubbed Inua Jamii, she said includes a scheme to cater for orphans which has benefitted from Sh9 million, and which has reached 320, 000 families, bursaries (Sh400 million), funds for venerable families, money for the elderly and persons living with disabilities added that the government has also been sensitizes various stakeholders on the guidelines for alternative family care.

The government, she said has also launched guidelines for the alternative family care which lay emphasis on family based care for children in need of care and protection.

Apart from adoption, the CS said other forms of alternative family care include foster care, guardianship, kinship care, kafaala (for Muslims), supported independent living and supported child-head households.

Others are temporally arrangements for the care of children until they attain the age of 18 years or as the situation warrants. … Every child needs a family and we need to sensitize our people on the need of the many children institutions being brought up in a family setup for it’s the best place to nurture them,” she said.

The programs, she noted that they are meant to mitigate the challenges which lead to the children being put under the care of children homes.

Ms Mochache on her part encouraged the society to embrace adoption in order to get children out of children homes, even as it emerged that since 2009, only 1,941 children have been formally adopted.

Out of the cases, 250 were handled between 2015 and 2016.

In Kenya, Ms Mochache said adoption has been done both formally and informally, but lamented that the latter which is rampant, and which leaves children exposed to future abuse and possible disinheritance.

The processes of formal adoption, she said has now been made easier and less costly, saying the process now takes six months and cost Sh12, 000.

However, to improve it (the process) there is need to register more adoption societies all over the country for ease of access by prospective adoptive parents

Currently, there are only six registered adoption societies, all expect one are located in Nairobi, making is hard from people in other regions top go through the formal adoption.

Kiambaa Member of Parliament Paul Koinange said the government should move fast to not only hasten the adoption process but also demystify the myth associated with it with a view to encouraging more people to embrace it.

In the African setup, there has been a notion that adoption on buying children, which we need to erase in our minds. We have thousands of children to need to be adopted and this can only be made possible by hastening the processes as well as sensitization.