ICC AND AU:

WHAT THE
MASS WITHDRAWAL OF ICC
MEANS TO KENYA
AND AFRICA AT LARGE

Kenya Members of Parliament Led by Majority Leader Aden Dualeaddress the media Outsidde the ICC Court on
April Last year. PHOTO COURTESY
African Presidents Whose Fathers
By Africa World News Were Former Presidents

T
Pg4
he recent move by the African heads of state meeting held in Addis
Ababa in Ethiopia to endorse their countries withdraw from ICC
has a lot more than what’s is seen. Members of the African Union
have backed a Kenyan proposal to push for withdrawal from the
international criminal court, repeating claims that it unfairly targets the con-
tinent.
Chad’s president, Idriss Déby, who was elected African Union chairman at
the two-day summit in Addis Ababa, criticised the court for focusing its
efforts on African leaders.
“Elsewhere in the world, many things happen, many flagrant violations of
human rights, but nobody cares,” Déby said at the close of the summit late on
Sunday, which had an official theme of protecting human rights.
...................................Continued Pg 5

2
Editorial

Karibu!

We are happy to launch AfricaWorld News in this beautiful land that shows the
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account, the story of the hunt will always favour the hunter, we are out to preach
the promises of Kenya. "Unity is strength, division is weakness," so says a Swahili
proverb. As such we are here for all Kenyans and the star of the east African sub
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Shukrani.
Unless the hunted gives their account, the story of the hunt
Ukachukwu Okorie
will always favour the hunter.
Editor-at-large

Happy to launch the AfricaWorld World Kenya

GRAPHICS DESIGNER
KENYA BUREAU CHIEF

Happy to launch the Africa news

world Kenya, We are ready and ea-
ger to tell all stories as they happen,
and how they happen.

As a dedicated Kenyan I welcome

you to read and follow our stories
online at Africa World News Ken-
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Special adverts and partnership
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Unless the hunted gives their ac-

count, the story of the hunt will
always favour the hunter.
Karibuni. Davis Muriungi

Eric Bosire
 Social;
Meet The Five (5) African Presidents Whose Fathers
By Eric Bosire
Were Former Presidents
The Trend Worldwide
L ast year, Justin Trudeau, son of the 15th Prime
Minister of Canada Pierre Trudeau, was elected
Prime Minister which ushered in Canada’s first
political dynasty. The concept of political dynasties
is often perceived as problematic within Africa, even
though dynasty is not an anomaly in other parts of
the world. The United States, for example, has had
two father-son presidents in its history.
The first were John Adams and his son, John Quincy
Adams, who were the 2nd and 6th Presidents of the
U.S. respectively while the second set were George H.
W. Bush, who was the 41st President for 1 term, and
his son George W. Bush, who was the 43rd President
for 2 terms. Asia is the only continent where we have
seen an instance of father-daughter presidential leg-
acy such as the daughter of Mahatma Ghandi, Indira
Ghandi and the daughter of former South Korean
President Park Chung-hee, President Pak Geu-hye.
With this perspective in mind, here are five current
African Presidents, whose fathers have also been
president and how they differ from their fathers in
governance.
President of Kenya
In 2013 Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta was elected as
the 4th President of Kenya. He is the son of the
Founding President, Jomo Kenyatta. Kenyatta,
known as Kenya’s youngest president, was sworn
in 2013 amid a dispute from the Kenya opposition
in which his election was challenged and the Ken-
yan Supreme Court stamped his election as Valid.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and his father to the right
President Uhuru Kenyatta has travelled out of
Kenya several times unlike his father who trav-
elled only twice during his 15-year rule as Pres-
ident. Last year, this elicited sharp reactions on
his foreign trips and policy on running Kenya
among Social media users in the country.
His father was also known to be an authoritarian
who carried a fly-whisk as his mark of authority.
President Uhuru does not have a natural flair for
public speaking but has a powerful voice and can
be persuasive when fighting in his corner.
President of Botswana
Ian Khama, the current President of Botswana, is
the son of Sir Seretse Khama, The country’s first
post-independence leader. Ian was born on the
27th of February 1953 during his parents’ exile in
England.
He took over as President in April 2008 and se-
cured a five-year term in the 2009 parliamentary
election. He also contested and won the election
which took place in 2014.
President Ian Khama and his father on the right
According to the BBC, critics describe him as an
authoritarian while supporters say he is decisive
and efficient in his political governance. Ian has
been advised to act like his father, Sir Seretse Kha-
ma’s who was a statesman and played a vital role in
the liberation of the Southern African region rather
than give way to notions that harm his relationship
with fellow African leaders.
President of DR Congo
Joseph Kabila, the current President of DRC has
been so since 2001. He assumed the Office of the
President ten days after the assassination of his
father, President Laurent-Désiré Kabila. He was
elected as President in 2006 and re-elected for a
second term in 2011.
Until 2004, he was famous for being the world’s
first president born in the 1970s. The Kabilas’
have ruled for almost 18 years since the country’s
post-independence history and unlike his father
who had three wives, Joseph Kabila has only one
beautiful wife.
4
President of Gabon
The current President of Gabon, Ali Bongo
Ondimba, is the son of Omar Bongo who
was President from 1967 until his death in
2009.
Following the death of his father, Ali Bon-
go Ondimba contested for the presidential
seat under the Gabonese Democratic Party
(GDP) in 2009 where he won the
election with a total of 42% of all
the votes cast.
Ali Bongo may not be very dif-
ferent from his father as he was
accused in 2010 of swindling mil-
lions of Dollars of tax payer money
to purchase private property in
France. Though, critics argue that
he has a different style of gover-
nance as compared to his father
Omar Bongo.
President of Togo
The current President of Togo, Faure Essozim-
na Gnassingbé, assumed office after the death
of his father, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, in 2005.
International leaders originally denounced the
naming of Faure as President but he later con-
tested and won through a democratic election
that was held, becoming the official Head of
State.
He also contested and won the presidential
elections in 2009 and 2015. The Gnassing-
bé family has run Togo through its 55-year
post-independence history, with five more
years to go following the re-election of the cur-
rent President.
Left Picture is President Joseph Kabila and his late
father (On the right Photo) President Faure Es-
sozimna Gnassingbé and his father, Photo Coutesy
General News:
No threat over Gauge Railway through
Park Says Cs Wakhungu
By Maurice Momanyi
T
he government of Kenya is facing one of
the toughest tasks in recent history in terms
of securing its national parks in the face
of a rail development project scheduled to tear
through several nature parks.
The ambitious 500-km standard gauge railway
under construction from the coastal city of
Mombasa to the capital Nairobi is seen to pose
a great threat to the survival of wild animals
while also compounding the perennial menace
of human-wildlife conflict which has seen many
Kenyans lose lives by getting contact with roam-
ing animals.
Kenya’s cabinet secretary in charge of environ-
ment and natural resources Judy Wakhungu says
the government is looking at compensating Ken-
yans who have happened to fall in the way of the
multi-billion shilling Standard Gauge Railway.
The problem of human wildlife conflict has been
there for decades with affected families seeking
compensation from government over loss of lives
and injuries inflicted by wild animals on the loose.
The compensation is not always easily forthcoming
owing to intricate procedures involved.
Now the Standard Gauge Railway is seen by by crit-
ics as a venture that could aggravate the situation
MACHAKOS KNOW
YOUR COUNTY
Machakos
By Leah Muthoka
W
henever you mention the Ivia ya
Nzambani (Nzambani Rock) to any
Kamba, they will most likely have
a funny story about it. From how the Kamba
emerged from the rock, how if you go round
the stone you will mysteriously turn to the op-
posite sex, to reports of strange noises.
What makes this rock unique is the story
behind it that has been passed along from one
generation to another. However, it’s clear that
the Nzambani rock has an almost sacred signif-
icance to the Kamba. Being one of the largest
outcrops in Kenya,
it is quite a scenic attraction. To the west of the
rock you look towards the hills of Machakos
and to the east is the South Kitui National Re-
serve. Some people are convinced that the rock
is living.
How else can you explain the amazing fact that
even though the nearby trees are constantly
growing throughout the year, they somehow
never seem to surpass it. Nzambani Rock is
located about 24 Km from Kitui town – a 45
minutes’ drive. On a clear weather day, it can be
seen as far as 80.5 Km away.
as aresult of opening up the parks through which
the project is expected to pass through. Some of the
parks set to be affected are Tsavo East, Tsavo West,
Environment CS Ann Wakhungu
Chyulu, Nairobi National Park, and Hell’s Gate.
Game parks in Kenya are a big attraction to foreign
tourists since independence and earns the country
Experts : cancer would be leading
cause of death by end of 2016
By Eric Bosire
W hen he world marked world cancer day,
Cancer survivors Thursday rallied Ken-
yans to go for screening, saying they are
living testimonies that early detection is
key to combating the disease.
The survivors spoke as Kenyans joined the rest of
the world in marking World Cancer Day in Nyeri,
with officials outlining plans to improve treatment
locally including the setting up of four treatment
centres. The centres are to be set in Nyeri, Mom-
basa, Nakuru and Kisumu respectively
Statistics show that Kenyans are generally more
aware about the disease, despite this few have
been screened, many waiting until they fall ill to
get checked. Statistics showing that Most of those
who go for regular checks being women.
“Even at the Kenyatta National Hospital people
only come when they are in advanced stages, and
by then all we can do is manage the disease,” said
Dr Kahumba who practices at the Kenyatta Na-
tional Hospital.
By the time Rhoda Obare was diagnosed with cer-
vical cancer, the disease had advanced to stage 2 B,
but she, like most Kenyans, only went for testing
when she felt signs of illness. “I was bleeding ev-
eryday so I decided to go for a checkup,” she said.
She was referred to the Kenyatta National Hos-
pital for radiotherapy and chemotherapy but she
would have to wait in line for one and a half years
to get treatment. In the meantime the cancer was
advancing.
An emergency admission would see her pushed
to the front of the queue. For close to 6 weeks, she
underwent radio therapy and chemotherapy
5
substantial ammounts of money in park revenue.
Speaking at the reception of a new director general
of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) at the agen-
cy headquarters in Nairobi, Ms Wakhungu said
erecting impenetrable fences around all game parks
and reserves was a priority to the government.
She said it is a tedious and expensive exercise,
though she did not divulge how much the gov-
ernment has to use for the same.
We are currently dealing with SGR displace-
ment issue and discussions are still ongoing to
determine the population segments affected
and how we can compensate them and secure
the regions,“ she said. We shall erect fences in
all ecologically sensitive areas to mitigate loss of
lives.“
Kenya Wildlife Service board chairman re-
nowned conservationist Dr RichardLeakey said
it was incumbent upon the new management to
be led by Mr Kitili Mbathi to help end the men-
ace of poaching and loss of life by human-wild-
life contact. Dr Leaky said his board was ready
to work with him and other stakeholders to
ensure parks are well run and secure.
The new director general is a long time career bank-
er; his immediate former post is CEO of Stanbic
Bank.
“It wasn’t easy getting the required amount of mon-
ey, especially because I had to do blood tests every
day and they are expensive,” she said.
Rhoda was declared cancer free in May last year,
today she was at the hospital to mark the World
Cancer Day, a living testament that local hospitals
and doctors can handle the disease.
Only about 180 people however showed up at the
event where screening was being conducted at no
cost.
Similarly at Makadara health centre is Faith Mwi-
kali. Mwikali also suffered from breast cancer. A
disease which she had to cope with for a year, until
she went through an operation to remove one of
her breast; something that gave her life. “People
don’t think they can get the disease,” noted Faith.
The event also was marked amid poor turnout and
people response. It was cosponsored by the Kenya
Red Cross society.
Since then faith has taken the initiative for being
the cancer ambassador and rally people to go for
early checkups to know their health status.
Doctors argue that it is cheaper and easier on the
body; you don’t have to wait until you’re ill for you
to visit a doctor.
In the celebrations marked in Nyeri, acting Director
of Medical Services Jackson Kioko outlined govern-
ment plans to make cancer treatment available to
more Kenyans.
Cancer is now the third leading cause of death in
Kenya. One in every 14 deaths is from cancer, with
WHO predicting that by the end of this year, cancer
will be the leading cause of death, surpassing HIV,
Malaria and TB combined. Thus; the trend is wor-
rying for the growth of an economy.
Politics:
.....cont from pg2...
N
o legally binding decision was made,
and the decision to leave the ICC’s
founding Rome statute can be decided
by individual nations. The decision was a “pro-
posal … for the AU to develop a roadmap for the
withdrawal of African nations”, a Kenyan presi-
dential statement read.
Back in Kenya Earlier last year a motion was
tabled in parliament to implement the withdrawal
from icc by the leader of Majority in the Kenyan
Parliament. The motion is due for discussion
again when the Kenyan parliament resumes.
The war crimes trial of the former Ivory Coast
president Laurent Gbagbo began last week, rekin-
dling a bitter row across Africa over the interna-
tional justice system.
Set up in 2002 as the last resort to try war crim-
inals and perpetrators of genocide never tried at
home, the ICC has opened inquiries involving
nine nations, all but one of them African: Kenya,
Ivory Coast, Libya, Sudan, Democratic Repub-
lic of Congo, Central African Republic (twice),
Uganda, Mali and Somalia whose president has
been slapped with an arrest warrant and, most
recently, Georgia.
The AU, and particularly Kenya, has accused the
court of unfairly targeting Africans for prose-
cution. Cases included a failed case to Kenya’s
president, Uhuru Kenyatta, and a faltering case
against his deputy, William Ruto, for allegedly
masterminding deadly post-election violence in
2007-09 in which about 1,200 people died.
“We refuse to be carried along in a vehicle that
has strayed off course to the detriment of our
sovereignty, security and dignity as Africans,”
Kenyatta said in a statement.
About one-third of the court’s member states are
in Africa. While some leaders criticised the court,
others said that was a mistake. “Leaving the ICC
with no credible mechanism for justice for mass
crimes in sight would be an error of colossal pro-
portions,” Kenyan international law Experts have
warned in an interview in a local television
“It is far better for member states to stay in the
court and advocate reforms, rather than bolting
and leaving millions on the continent unprotected
by an international court which can step in when
national institutions fail.” Says Eric mutua the
outgoing Chair of Law Society of Kenya
On Monday the trial of Gbagbo continued, with
defence lawyers accusing the current Ivorian
president, Alassane Ouattara, of seizing pow-
er by force aided by the former colonial ruler
France after disputed 2010 elections.
Gbagbo and his co-accused, Charles Blé
Goudé, a firebrand militia leader, have denied
four charges of crimes against humanity when
3,000 people were killed after the Ivory Coast
vote. Their highly anticipated trial opened on
Thursday and is set to last three to four years.
Gbagbo declared himself the winner of the
election in late 2010, which was contested by
western powers including France and the US, President Uhuru Kenyatta giving his presidential speach to Au Meeting in
and theUnited Nations-backed Ouattara.
It led to a bitter standoff, with Gbagbo holed up
in the fortified presidential palace and Abidjan –
the country’s main city and commercial capital –
turned into a warzone.
The ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has
alleged that Gbagbo, aided by the military, police
crimes against peace, and to effectively prosecute
Members of the African Union have backed a
visceral violence against humans, it will make it
Kenyan proposal to push for withdrawal from the
harder for the ICC to extend its reach.
international criminal court, repeating claims that
iCC Court. Photo Coutesy
Raila on ICC withdrawal
it unfairly targets the continent.
Chad’s president, Idriss Déby, who was elected
In a statement to newsrooms, the opposition lead-
African Union chairman at the two-day summit
er noted that by not sending troops to Burundi,
in Addis Ababa last week, criticised the court for
the AU was standing with the incumbent presi-
focusing its efforts on African leaders.
dent whom he accused of running a murderous
“Elsewhere in the world, many things happen,
regime.
many flagrant violations of human rights, but
nobody cares,” Déby said at the close of the sum-
“The decision to not to deploy troops is a decision
mit late on Sunday, which had an official theme of
to stand with the incumbent and his murderous
protecting human rights.
regime, against the helpless citizens of Burundi,”
Speaking in an interview by Ntv, the foreign affairs
read the statement.
minister says that its up to the specific countries
who had signed the ministerial coference to come
Raila also castigated the African leaders for con-
up with ways to leave icc.
centrating all their attention and energies on with-
“The Thoughts are just formal and all the legal re-
drawing their countries from the Rome Statute
quirements should be dealt with and its earlier time
without offering an alternative, further accusing
to exit ICC and the time is now”, Amina said
them of only looking after their interests.
here is one more unexpected consequence of Ken-
ya's vote to withdraw from the ICC. The ICC was
“Common sense would dictate that talk of with-
established in 2002 for the major "crimes against
drawal from the ICC be preceded by presentation
peace": war crimes, genocide, crimes against hu-
of alternative institutions and legal infrastructure
manity, and crimes of aggression. There have been
to give Africans what they were looking for when
attempts, led by British lawyer Polly Higgins, to
they joined the ICC in the first place,” he said.
add to this list of crimes against peace, "ecocide"
– crimes against the environment, and to place
He stated that it was unwise to withdraw from the
ICC without an alterna-
tive, as it would expose
citizens of African
countries to “marauding
tyrants”.
“For the African Union
to leave the ICC before
this infrastructure is
put up is to expose the
population of Africa
to marauding tyrants,
many of them in con-
trol of State power, who
can now carry out their
Ethiphia recently. PHOTO COURTESY atrocities in the comfort
of the knowledge that they
ecocide and crimes against the environment under
shall never be brought to account for their crimes
the jurisdiction of the ICC.
against humanity,” further read the statement.
If the ICC fails to be seen to addressing established
6
General News:
A PROPOSED DAM TO END CATTLE RUSTLING
By Erick Maranga
Speaking at the same venue Elgeyo Marak-

W
ater and Irrigation Cabinet wet Governor Felix Tolgos said the project
Secretary Eugene Wamalwa will bring about land rehabilitation and
has affirmed cattle rear- reclamation and do away with the contin-
ing communities that cattle rustling uous land degradation and slides at Kerio
among them will be the thing of the Escarpment.
past once the proposed dam in Elgeyo Also present at the press conference were En-
Marakwet County is constructed. vironment Cabinet Secretary Judy Wakhun-
gu and Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba
Speaking on Monday during a press Murkomen among other delegates from the
briefing in his office Wamalwa stated county at large.
the Arror Multipurpose dam will pro- The Arror Multipurpose dam is a project
mote farming as well facilitate peace- proposed on River Arror in Elgeyo Marak-
ful coexistence between the neigh- wet County which its construction cost is
bouring communities which usually Environment Cs Eugene Wamalwa (Centre) And Senotor of estimated to be Sh26 billion and expected to
clash over livestock theft. Elgeyo Marakwet addressing the press after the Launch of the Dam take approximately five years to be completed.
“This projects is expected to enhance
security between communities living Upon completion the dam is expected to gener-
In kerio valley as these communities will engage Wamalwa further revealed that the feasibility and ate over 60 MW hydro power as well provide wa-
in irrigation and other alternative livelihoods evaluation tests were undertaken in 2013 and 2015 ter for irrigation for over 2,500 hectares of land.
replacing pastoralism associated with the risk of respectively and what is remaining is the construc-
cattle rustling”, he said. tion work which is about to start.

SOLVE THE DISPUTE OVER UBER TAXIS OR ELSE –

TAXI UNION TELLS THE GOVERNMENT
By Eric Bosire & Leah Muthoka
cash option was introduced in June to cater to

T
he Kenya United Taxi Organization the number of Kenyans without credit cards drivers have complained over decline in their busi-
(KUTO) has now given the government but with mobile money M-Pesa accounts. ness since the app-based taxi service came along
a maximum of seven days to either Following the introduction of the cash pay- with lower rates.
solve the dispute pitting them against Uber ment option, Uber tripled its growth in Nai- The company’s troubles in Nairobi reflect the
Taxi drivers, failure to which they would cause robi making it one of the fastest growing cities broader resistance Uber has been facing when
paralysis of transport across Nairobi. internationally for the company entering new markets. The service has been battling
Ashford Mwangi, the organizations spokes- Mwangi further went ahead to say some Uber traditional taxi drivers in almost all the 60 countries
man, while speaking to the press on Wednes- drivers are smashing their vehicles in an at- it is operational. Similar tensions have come to the
day said that KUTO will hold massive demon- tempt to fool the public. The new Uber service, fore in South Africa where the company hired secu-
strations across rity to protect drivers receiving
the city once the threats. Last month, French taxi
ultimatum expires drivers took to the streets across
without any action the country to protest against
being taken. The the company’s presence.
drivers further But Uber believes these reac-
denied claims of tions are typical of taxi monop-
having attacked and olies working hard to protect
destroyed vehicles their turf. The traditional taxi
belonging to the industry “feels threatened by
new entrants - tax- our high quality service and
is partnering with quick response time,” Travis
Uber - accusing Kalanick, the company’s CEO,
them of seeking said in a 2013 interview.
sympathy. Uber taxi According to Mwangi, who has
drivers have report- operated a Taxi business for two
ed attacks in the last decades, he says they have no
few days, mainly grudge against the Uber Taxis
claiming the tradi- but they want a free fair and
tional taxi drivers as An Urber Taxi at one of their Parkyards agreeable terms of engagement
the most likely suspects. within the industry. “Let them come engage us
Uber launched in Nairobi in 2015, and we will work together”, he says.
the sixth of nine African cities to host the which has been termed efficient and reliable, However The Cs for Security Gen. Joseph Nkaisery
service. It has since become one of the most has received fierce resistance in various coun- has called for the concerned parties to meet and
popular modes of transport in the city, mainly tries including; Paris and Canada, with the sort out their matters amicably. He delegated his Ps
because it’s a cheaper alternative to tradition- traditional taxi service drivers crying foul over in Security to oversee the matter so as not to affect
al taxis. Uber drivers in Nairobi reportedly the stiff competition. the security of passenger’s. The management of
charge half the price of their competitors. A Uber, Kenya has kept mum over the issue.
Since Uber made its debut in the country, taxi

7
 Agricultural output will be improved through
Kenya- Netherlands Partnership
By Vincent Munga
K
iringai Kamau. Agribusiness and
Private Sector Advisor to the Cabinet
Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture Live-
stock and Fisheries
Kenya’s agricultural output is set to increase
enormously if partnership deal with a cooper-
ation from the Government of Netherlands is
sealed, said Kiringai Kamau, adviser to Kenya’s
ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries.
Currently, the sector contributes 15 per cent to
the country’s GDP, but with collaboration of the
two economies, this is set to improve following a
resolution to move away from aid development
to trade.
“When we said we are moving form aid to trade,
we say we are stopping supporting development
through concessions or development but doing
inter-trade between two countries,” Kamau said
The Dutch government has been supporting
the Kenyan government through aid, they want
to move that to ensure it supports the country
There will be
‘Deadly Violence’
in 2017 Election -
Chief Justice
Willy Mutunga
WARNS
By ANWK Correspondent
T here are signs politicians are dividing the
public along ethnic lines, the president of
the Supreme Court, Justice Will Mutunga has
said, and called for their taming to avert vio-
lence in the 2017 poll.
Willy Mutunga asked the civil society to take
action before it is too late. “If you have not
heard them then you do not know anything
about this country,” he said. He also called for
sobriety and tolerance among Kenyans.
He spoke in Nairobi on Friday during the
launch of the Governance and Human Rights
Programme that promotes justice and democ-
racy.
Mutunga’s warning comes barely amid investi-
gations on several politicians, who have issued
statement that have termed hateful and inciting
and are facing different charges.
Last Year, The DPP Keriako Tobiko had or-
dered the prosecution of Nairobi ODM chair-
man, George Aladwa, who had allegedly said
in a political rally in kibera that for Raila to be
President some people had to die.
Among other politicians facing hate speech
charges include, Senator of Machakos John-
stone Muthama, Gatundu South Mp Moses
Kuria, who denied inciting youths to violence,
saying he was quoted out of context and a vid-
eo of him edited.
through trade, according to the adviser. “Dutch Kamau said the Kenyan government is committed
enterprises will be supported and facilitated by their
to making sure that doing business in Kenyan is
country.” smooth.
Melle Leenstra, Food and Security Development
Adviser, Netherlands Embassy, said the two
countries were combining trade and development
to ensure interests of both parties are met. “As
the Dutch embassy, we have taken a decision that
the country, as a lower middle income country,
is not best served by handouts, we feel that our
relationship with Kenyans should be more mature
to move from being a donor recipient to a trading
partner,” he said.
Dutch spend about five million euros annually in
the country’s agriculture sector, Leenstar added
and further hopes that through this investment
the two economies will build sustained relations
and create deep impact.
“We are trying to improve Kenya’s horticulture
sector in three thematic areas. We want to help
Kiringai Kamau. Agribusiness and Private Sector with food safety through correct use of pesticides,
Advisor to the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Agricul- reduction of post-harvest losses and also help
ture Livestock and Fisheries small to medium farmers to gain access to mar-
kets.”
Meru business
woman wins
Sh50m for
innovative idea
By Eric Bosire
A
Meru businesswoman has received a Sh50
million grant for a UK funded organisa-
tion for her innovative farming start-up.
Ruth Kinoti, CEO of Shalem Investments, re-
ceived the windfall for her ‘A Stitch a Time’ proj-
ect that brings together smallholder farmers in
order to market their produce at greater volumes
so as to compete in a regional market.
Speaking during the project’s launch ceremony at
Kianjae Market, Food Trade ESA Team Leader,
Marc Van Uytvanck, re-iterated the company’s
support for the project, saying the organisation is
proud to be a part of Shalem Investment’s mis-
sion of mobilising farmer groups and creating
wealth for small-scale farmers.
“We are excited to be part of such an innovative
project that targets small-scale farmers and devel-
ops strategies to create a unique mechanism of
facilitating collective marketing for the farmers
and as such increasing the volume of high quality
target produce in the regional market,” he said.
The project is expected to focus on giving incen-
tives to small scale farmers to encourage them
to clean and grade their products to increase the
prices offered for their produce.
Ms Kinoti on her part expressed gratitude for
the grant saying it will enable the company to
buy post harvest technology to assist farmers
to increase the volume of their products in the
market.
Currently the company has a network of 9,000
smallholder farmers that it connects to in Kenya,
Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Rwanda.
8
Special Feature: Art
THROUGH THE ARTISTIC EYE; JAK KATARIKAWE
By Leonard Munyao
C reativity is a form of expression, and a way
to channel your skills, talents, beliefs and
emotions. Here is a story of an east Afri-
ca’s most successful painter who can barely read
or write. Instead of letters, his language is art of
painting.
Born Moses Jak Katarikawe in Uganda; born of a
painter and a blacksmith. He has over the years
earned a living from art, with his piece of work
attracting both local and international art pro-
moters.
In an exclusive interview with Africa News world,
Jak says he was encouraged by her mother who
was a potter and a painter. “She motivated me into
painting while i was still a young boy”, Katari-
kawe asserts jovially. “Majority of My mother’s
paintings reflected Uganda tradition and culture”,
he adds.
Just like any other youngster he enjoyed look-
ing at his father’s livestock during his childhood
before he went to the city and ventured into milk
selling business. Later he became a taxi driver. Ka-
tarikawe`s father was a farmer and a blacksmith.
He met Professor David Cook in Makerere Uni-
versity and became his everyday customer, some-
thing that nurtured their friendship to greater
heights.
Kampala Just like any other city where people`s
cars are stolen, unfortunately Jak`s car was stolen
under mysterious circumstances. This saw him
move to Makerere University friend Prof. hoping
to be offered a job as his driver by Prof. Cook.
‘’Nikingoja mkubwa wangu nilikuwa najifunza
kuchora kwa makaratasi na pia kwa mchanga ili
kupitisha wakati(while I was waiting for my boss
I used to draw on papers and sand just to pass
time)’’explains Jak in Kiswahili.
He used to do this hiding from his boss fearing to
lose his job.
One of Jaks art designs
One day on their way to Dare-salaam still in his line
of duty, their car got a puncture and they had to
replace the torn tyre. On opening the boot, profes-
sor Cook was surprised to find a pile of Jak’s paint-
ings. The agitated Jak could not even talk to his boss
thinking that, that was the end of his job.
Instead Professor was impressed by Jak’s artwork.
Jack Katarikawe at his workshop in nairobi
From that time the professor realized that Katari-
kawe was a talented painter.
Professor Cook started providing him with material
support for painting, and also allowed him to use
the university space. And so from that time his star
started shining brighter and brighter.
Due to his proven skills later he became the univer-
sity music demonstrator where he met James Ngugi
currently known as Prof. Ngugi wa Thiongo who
was also a great friend to Prof. David Cook
Things turned worse when Idi Amin came to
power; forcing Jak to move to Nairobi where Pro-
fessor introduced him to gallery Watatu founder
the late Ruth Schaffuner and Jochen Schneider
9
who helped him achieve his goals. From the gallery
Watatu he used to learn by observing what the oth-
er artists were doing.
Surprisingly Jaks art was a skill earned by talent,
since he never went to any formal training on how
to draw, but he had all the skills to come up with
excellent paintings compared to those that had
been to university. Katarikawes’ art was based on
observation, imagination and also dreams. Though
he could barely read or write, he could give a story
of more than a thousand words in a single painting.
The artist started his first studio at Hilton Hotel but
later moved to the Norfolk towers where he stayed
for over thirty years, before he moved to his current
studio on forest road Nairobi
Since then, Jak Katarikawe has managed to stage
quite a number of exhibition both locally and in-
ternationally attracting thousands of buyers world-
wide. Some of his artwork is displayed in local art
galleries e.g. gallery Watatu, Afrik Kontemp Art
Gallery in Uganda and the national museum of
Kenya among others.
“Soon I am planning to stage more exhibitions
with my family since most of my family members
are painters. Katarikawe told Africa World News in
his studio along forest road in Nairobi.
Katarikawe advices those aspiring to be painters to
be devoted and use art to illustrate feelings that can
change morals in the society as modern artists in
the 21st century since the industry is fast growing.
“Drawing is an ary that if used in a
right way, can educate the
society”, Says Katarikawe
Special Feature: Art
Art: Wood carving in Kenya
By Leonard Munyao and Eric Bosire
A t around three hours from the Nairobi
Capital, a drive through the Machakos –
Kitui Road is Wamuyu Town. The town
is famously known inth prowess of woodcarv-
ing to make specific artifacts for human use. In
Kenya, the Kamba community has been famous
for wood carving among other economic activ-
ities which include basketry, farming, trading,
leather tanning among others.
It is believed that, Wood carving started in
Ukambani at a small village called Wamunyu
located along the Kitui-Machakos highway. “The
art was introduced in the area in 1918 by one
Mutisya Munge after he returned home from
Tanganyika the present day Tanzania where he
served in the First World War.’’ says Mr. Joseph
Mutuku who is the Wamuyu Handcraft society
manager
The display of some of the curvingand basketry
in the show room PHOTO; LEONARD MUNYAO
Munge who hailed from Kambiti village, near
Wamunyu town was born in 1892, and later
died in 1936. He was inspired by the artistic
prowess of the Zaramo people who resided near
Dar-es-salaam from whom he mastered the art
of woodcarving. He learnt the skills while serv-
ing as a soldier in Tanganyika during the First
World War.
“The Zaramo people were making the carvings
and selling them to the British soldiers serv-
ing in the colonial army,’’ explained Mr. Kyalo
Ndaya an official at Wamuyu Handcraft Society.
Upon his return home, Munge continued carv-
ing and even invented new designs which he in
scripted with his signature. ‘’He used to compete
with his wife who was an expert in basket weav-
ing,’’ added Mr. Mutuku.
Munge who never wanted people to copy or
acquire his skills decided to erect his workshop
on top of a tree a few meters from the home-
stead. “He did that to shield his knowledge
from copycats whom he feared could spoil the
market for his products,’’ Mr. Ndaya explained
quoting Munge’s documented history. After
aging, Munge passed the skills to his sons and
neighbors who later ventured into commercial
carving leading to birth of the Akamba Carving
Movement. Thus a tradition a way of life for
the Kamba people was born. The officials said
further development of the craft movement after
Kenya attained independence led to the forma-
tion of Wamunyu Handcraft Co-operative Soci-
ety in 1963. “Currently, the society has a mem-
bership of over 2,000 artisans after over 5,000
of them shifted base to the Mombasa based
Akamba Handcraft Centre at Changamwe,’’ Mr.
Mutuku noted Sentiments which are echoed by
carvings] have no market and we only make them
Mr. Francis Mutiso the society chairman.
on order,’’ explained one of the artisans. They all
didn`t deny that they feared sculpting the animal
for they believe doing so, invited bad omen as
believed by Kamba people.
.
An artistic work of the late Munge who is the
ancenstral father for creative wood carving.
Photo; Leornard Munyao
Proceeds generated from the venture have seen
Wamunyu town become one of the fastest grow-
ing centers in Ukambani as most of the money
is invested locally. “some of the landmark build-
ings you see here have been built with proceeds
generated from wood carving,’’ the manager Mr.
Mutuku noted citing a number of successful
Apart from the human and animal objects, other
businessmen in the town who were formerly
carvings on display are household items including
master wood carvers at Wamunyu handcraft
wooden spoons, bowls, salad servers, and letter
centre.
openers, sitting stools, drums and other musical
In 1981 European Economic Commission
instruments, baskets, bracelets, walking sticks and
[EEC] built them the Wamunyu handcraft
decorative weapons.
exhibition centre which hosts dozens of work-
“The wooden spoons and bows are very popular
ing sheds.This was a gesture that stabilized
with the tourists. Most of the carvings we derive
the movement to create and sell their artwork
them from hard and soft wood tree varieties. E.g.
globally.
Mahogany, rosewood, black and yellow wood,
“On average, we currently have a turnover of $
jacaranda and mango stumps.” expressed Ndaya
Us Dollars 13.8 million annually which we feel
is low owing market limitation,’’ remarked the
The society works closely with the Kenya Forest
manager . He however expressed optimism of
Research Institute [KEFRI], so as to get supplies
improvement from the earnings once the mar-
of different varieties of drought tolerant tree
keting challenges are addressed. Pointing at the
seedlings for planting, and also get advice on the
inability of the carvers products to access the
environmental conservation.
lucrative overseas markets where citizenry were
obsessed with artistic work.
According to the officials, most of the tree species
  The artisans capitulate their products at the
had matured for they were planted in 1987 which
showroom for display to potential buyers after
is 28 years ago when the program was start-
they are through with carving them. They get a
ed. ‘’The tree species are ready for exploitation
remission of 80 percent per each item sold while
now,’ Mr. Mutuku further said citing Terminalia
the remaining 20 percent is retained by the
Brownie, Acacia Mellifera [Melia Volkensii),
society
Jacaranda [Jacaranda Mimosifolia], mango tree
for meeting overhead and other management
[Mangifera Indica] and Grevillea Robusta as the
expenses.
varieties among others.
The Show room In order to fight the shortage of trees in future,
the society has taken a stride to establish a num-
ber of tree nurseries inside the exhibition centre.
The exhibition centre is characterized by click-
Sometimes back carving logs which were un-
ing sounds of adzes as the master artisans and
available locally used to be acquired from major
their apprentices split large logs to carve out
forests in the country e.g. Karura and Ngong
objects of their choice. Only fitting words such
forests before the government slapped a ban on
as beautiful, marvelous, wonderful, splendid
exploitation of forests resources at public forests.
and magnificent can best describe the products
“This used to happen years back before the kenya
on display when one enters the showroom.
government became serious on environmental
The products include human and animal
conservation. The officials were concerned that
statues and figurines and many other differ-
Mpingo, the tree variety botanically referred as
ent carvings in various sizes. Animal carvings
Dalbergia Melanoxylon and which is commonly
include statues and figurines of giraffes, ele-
used by the carvers was becoming extinct owing
phants, cheaters, gazelles, hippopotamus, lions,
to overexploitation without any efforts on replant-
buffaloes, and rhinoceros except hyenas.
ing. It’s very popular with the carvers because it is
The artisans expressed indifference in making
the hardest and most resistant to pests.
the beast citing low demand. ‘’They [hyena
9
 Special Feature: Art
.......... Continued from Pg 9
T hey lamented that its supply was running
short and petitioned the government for
assistance to secure a permanent por-
tion of land for regeneration of such special tree
species and others frequently used by the carvers
for the sake of the industry’s future. “The artisans
rely more on Muuku botanically referred as Ter-
minalia Brownii after supply of Mpingo stumps
became scarce,’’ noted Mr. Ndaya
Membership
A third of the society’s 2000 plus members are
women involved in weaving of baskets, ornament
and ciondos (Ornamented baskets). They also
have a special role in the final decoration of the
woodcarvings done by the men. ‘’Although the
carving is restricted to men, women do the final
polishing and varnishing of the artifacts,’’ the
manager explained noting that although the 2014
members of Wamunyu handcraft Cooperative So-
ciety are drawn from other districts in the county.
The facility has a daily turnover of over 11,765 Us
dollars during the peak season and 5,882 Us
dollars when the season is low,’’ noted Mr. Ndaya
who used to carve at the centre before.
The Mombasa based artisans are exposed to more
marketing opportunities than their Wamunyu
counterparts owing to the millions of internation-
al tourists who flock the coastal town for holidays
A shade where the artisans spend most of their time and to the right is seedlings in a tree nursery await-
ing to be planted Photo:Leornard Munyao
every year,’’ he said with the other officials con-
curring.
The biggest challenge facing the Wamunyu hand-
craft industry is limitation of market, according to
the officials which they blamed on improper pen-
etration of the lucrative overseas market outlets.
‘’Overseas tourists form the bulk of market for
souvenir products but unfortunately our exhibi-
tion centre is located
upcountry where the visitors are very rare and in
addition we have no means of transporting our
cargo to the popular tourists destinations like
Mombasa and Nairobi for marketing,’’ explained
Mr. Mutuku saying the centre also required a
truck for transporting the woodcarvings to the
urban centers where the tourists visit frequently.
Price range of the carvings is pegged on size; the
quality of log
used and market
forces. For exam-
ple, an extra size
of a giraffe mea-
sured in height/
length/width
fetches not less
than 1,765 us
dollars, medium
size 94 us dollars
and small size 35
us dollars. Mr.
Mutuku said
the prices were
not static but
controlled by demand and other prevailing market
forces.
The biggest
Price range of the carvings is pegged on size; the
quality of log used and market forces. For exam-
ple, an extra size of a giraffe measured in height/
length/width fetches not less than 1,765 us dol-
lars, medium size 94 us dollars and small size 35
us dollars. Mr. Mutuku said the prices were not
static but controlled by demand and other prevail-
ing market forces. The biggest size of an elephant
statue is worth 1,765 us dollars too while similar
size of a hippo bared price tag of 1,126 us dollars.
Cheater which is diminutive by nature attracted
235 us dollars for the extra large size. ‘’As you can
see, the carvings are derived from mpingo stumps
start selling the souvenirs online as an outreach
project to attract more buyers for us in American.
And other parts of the world, apart from Spain,
China and the US, the society is keen to penetrate
more market outlets in the Asia, UK and other
European Scandinavian countries to improve
income for the artisans.’’
Said Mr. Maluvu the society vice chairman
which explains why their pricing is higher than The main drawback to the society is the dwin-
dling supply of carving logs caused by wanton
others are,’’ explained Mr. Munyao, the secretary.
The animal and human figurines go for between 17 plunder of the natural vegetation by charcoal
burners and timber merchants who continued to
to 35 us dollars.
exploit the indigenous trees.
Work of some artisans, they added was hampered
Marvelous Kamba traditional items like guards,
calabashes, ciondos, spoons and sugar pots are also by lack of the specialized carving tools including
adzes and several others for doing the finishing
on display. Asked why most of the human carvings
were designed with the Masaai cultural dress, the which had become expensive.
officials said the branding was for marketing pur-
pose. ‘’Most tourist are familiar with the Maasai The officials concurred that sometimes luck come
their way when they get orders for carvings worth
cultural values and most carvers choose to design
them so to woo buyers,’’ Mr. Ndaya answered. big sums of money.
Additional information By Eric Bosire
However, he pointed out to other carvings high-
lighting the cultural values of several other com-
munities, including the replica statue of the Kamba
pioneer woodcarver Mutisya Munge.
‘’Some clients and organizations have agreed to
10

Counties can’t
handle garbage
collection –
Environment CS
By ANWK
T he devolution of the waste management
function is not working as counties lack
the capacity. This is according to Environ-
ment Cabinet Secretary Judy Wakhungu, who has
accused counties of poorly handling the manage-
ment of refuse after it was transferred from the
national government.
Wakhungu says counties are finding it difficult to
identify dumpsites since no one wants garbage
dumped in their neighborhoods, adding that
counties have failed to meet National Environ-
mental Management Authority requirements.
The CS has also added that the government is
seeking an alternative dumpsite for Nairobi resi-
dents after Dandora reached its capacity ten years
ago and the land identified in Ruai is situated on
a flight path.
Wakhungu has also faulted Kenyans for not
disposing of their garbage carefully to keep their
environment clean and called for a change of the
waste disposal culture.
Kapsabet residents recently cried foul over the
stench caused by uncollected garbage in the town
after cleaners downed their tools protesting un-
paid salaries.
The residents, led by Nandi County Chamber of
Commerce Chairman Mr Samwel Seroney, said
the town was no longer habitable as a result of
excessive garbage and leaking sewages especially
in the market.
They faulted the county government for failing to
collect garbage from the market despite collect-
ing revenue each day from business owners and
town residents.
Meanwhile, the Nairobi County Government
blamed the El Nino rains for the littered city
streets.
According to City Hall officer in charge of solid
waste management, Samuel Ndungu, the heavy
rains have made the Dandora dumpsite inacces-
sible, leading to a breakdown of most garbage
collection trucks.
Ndungu is now appealing to the National Youth
Service to help in collection of garbage in the city
due to lack of garbage collection trucks at City
Hall.
At the same time members of the CBD Business
Community have written to City Hall protesting
lack of service delivery including garbage collec-
tion in their business area.
Eastleigh North Ward MCA Osman Ibrahim has
supported the businessmen who are now saying
they will not pay taxes to the Nairobi County
Government in 2016 until the county govern-
ment delivers services in the area. Sentiments
which are echoed by many traders along river
road, Nairobi which is the most affected
A spot-check done by ANWK found out heaps of
garbage uncollected in every part of Nairobi city,
Along Market market that serves Nairobi with
food stuff and cereals.
General News
Kenya Prepares To Host Other Dignitaries after
Obama and the pope
By Eric Bosire
K enya is preparing to host hundreds of
government dignitaries, the academic
community, students and guests for the
fifth edition of the prestigious DStv Eutelsat Star
Awards on 9th February 2016.
The DStv Eutelsat Star Awards is organized by
MultiChoice Africa and Eutelsat and was started
in 1999 to create meaningful engagement with
students, the academic community and the sci-
entific world.
This year’s edition of the DStv Eutelsat Star
Awards received a record 1959 entries, almost
doubling entries in 2014 and showing the in-
creasing interest in this unique event.
The Eutelsat Star Awards competition is open to
all learners between the age of 14 and 19 who are
expected to write an essay or design a poster on
how satellites have helped understand and take
care of our planet.
Kenya will have two finalists in the both the President Barack Obama of USA
poster and essay writing categories who compete
with 36 other finalists from East, West, Central Technology and Research; Dr. Perkins Muredzi,
and South Africa for the coveted prize which is a Dean of School of Industrial Sciences and Tech-
trip for two to Eutelsat in Paris and onwards to a nology, Harare Institute of Technology (HIT); Melt
rocket launch. Loubser, GM: Broadcast Technology, MultiChoice
In 2012, Kenyan student, Eva Chemwgorem won Africa and Rodney Benn, Regional Director, Eute-
the Best Poster Award for her work titled “Af- lsat.
rica united through satellites.” Eva got a chance Nespoli has an illustrious career spanning stints at
to visit Eutelsat’s Paris headquarters where she the European Astronaut Centre (ESA/EAC) and
learnt more on satellite technology. NASA’s Johnson Space Centre in Houston before
Since it was set up in 2011 by MultiChoice Af- being selected by the Italian Space Agency to fly as
rica and Eutelsat, the DStv Eutelsat Star Awards an ESA astronaut.
has attracted the interest of over 5000 students Besides crewing on the 2007 Discovery shuttle
across the continent and more than met its goal mission, Nespoli spent over five months in space
to invigorate a passion for science and technol- aboard the International Space Station (ISS) where
ogy in secondary school. ESA (European Space he was responsible for a range of science and tech-
Agency) astronaut Paolo Nespoli is presiding nology experiments and educational activities.
over the Awards as Jury Chairman for the third
year in a row, assisted by an international panel He is preparing a third trip into space in 2017 to
Pope Francis greets childrenen at the Kangemi Parish duringhis tourto Kenya last year.
PHOTO AWNK
of skilled industry experts: Ronke Bello, CEO the International Space Station where he will spend
at Innovative Technology Literacy Services Ltd, five-months. Students in Nairobi will this year have
Nigeria; Dr Jane Munga, Policy Advisor, Kenyan the opportunity to meet him during an outreach
Ministry of Information, Communication, event where he will share his adventures in space.
11
 Technology:
New Airplane Without Windows, replaced
with OLED touch-screens
T
he Center for Process Innovation, a
British technology research company,
thinks they’ve got the next big step in
aviation transportation figured out. Their
idea is this: they want to remove the windows
from passenger planes and replace them with
OLED touch-screens that extend along the
plane’s entire length and display the view from
outside through cameras mounted on the plane’s
exterior. Sounds scary? Only if you are afraid of
heights and flying.
According to them, windows are one of the
greatest sources of unnecessary weight in pas-
senger planes. Solid walls are stronger and allow
the walls to be built thinner as well. The OLED
screens that replace the windows would display
the view outside and allow passengers to select
entertainment and stewardess service.
1. OLED screens along the
plane’s length
This possibility should let the passengers get to
see the world from above one hundredth per-
cent, not only from the tiny windows. This way
the passengers can literally feel like birds and
would be able to see the clouds from every side
of their seat.
2. What are OLEDs?
OLEDs are a combination of advanced materials
that give out their own light when activated by
electricity and are typically used to make screens
and lighting. Unlike LCD and plasma displays,
they do not need a back light, meaning that they
use less energy and can be much thinner than
other displays, while also displaying a higher
contrast. Among ambitions for OLEDs involve
printing them on sheets or wallpapering them
on rooms, effectively turing the walls into lights.
3. But, being able to look 6. Don’t worry it won’t be cra-
through the plane’s wall won’t zy expensive
be the only thing
These touchscreens will show passengers in- Best of all, it will apparently be cheaper for the
formation about their flight and let them order customers and manufacturers, more fuel efficient,
stewardess service. So no longer pressing that and emit substantially less CO2. Cheap, slim,
coffee button above your head and waiting for the windowless and environment-friendly: it almost
stewardess service to arrive by your service. sounds too good to be true. This revolutionary
4. Hold on! Internet on the change could potentially cut down on fuel costs,
which of course would lead to cheaper flights —
plane
and allow manufacturers to produce wider planes,
which, thank god means wider seats and more
legroom.
7. What if you sit by the wing?
Would you still be able to see
without the wing blocking your
sight?
Okay, maybe this is even more exciting than
everything else, right? (Of course, we are in-
ternet addicts!) The screens will also enable
internet and media access. So unless you are not
interested to stare at the clouds right beside you,
you can actually check your e-mail, post some
photos of your see-through flight on Facebook
and Instagram or chat with your friends while
you are thousands of meters in the sky.
5. It’s about the weight
Worried a wing might get in the way of your
view? Don’t be. Developers say the cameras
mounted on the exterior of the aircraft would
provide unobstructed 360-degree views of the
world zooming past. Passengers would even re-
portedly be able to set their screen to show a live
stream of a different portion of the plane.
The reason given for taking away the portholes is
purely economic. No windows means less weight
in the fuselage, making them cheaper to fuel and
fly. So, it’s not really about the passengers and
their fun during the flight. Of course, that story
won’t get good sale as the one with the ultimate
flying experience in the see through planes. The
advertising images will have travelers so happy
in their magic flying cloud they don’t notice the
turgid coffee breath of the guy next to them or
the constant elbowing by the lady in a parachute
tracksuit who insists on getting up and stretch-
ing every half hour to ward off deep vein throm- Source: Sundayolivia blogs
bosis.
12
Business and Technology:
Advertiser CT CS lauds Air- Kenya eyes bud-
tel’s for providing get deficit of 6.9%
free Internet to in 2016/17 fiscal
schools year

I nformation, Communications and Tech-

nology (ICT) Cabinet Secretary Joe
Mucheru has lauded Airtel for provid- By Agencies, ANWK
ing free Internet connection to schools
through the company’s Free Internet for Schools
Program.
Speaking on Wednesday at Machakos Boys
High School in Machakos County where he
launched the program to connect 23 schools to
the free Internet under the program, Mucheru
said access to the Internet is very important in
the current education system as it gives students
the opportunity to have access to an unlimited
amount of information available online.
“I am very pleased to be launching this pro-
gram in Machakos County. I would also like to
appreciate the fact that Airtel is making tremen- Treasury CS Henry Rotich carries a briefcase
dous contributions in the integration of ICT containing the Government Budget for the
in the Education sector in Kenya through this 2013/14 fiscal year [Photo: Courtesy]
program,” said the CS.
“In our times, we did not get to use Internet
when we were schooling. As the world contin-
ues to change, more and more schools all over
the world are turning to the Internet for learn-
K enya is targeting a budget deficit of 6.9
percent of GDP in the 2016/17 fiscal year
(July-June), from a revised 8.1 percent this
ing resources and that is what the Free Internet fiscal year, the ministry of finance said in a draft
budget policy statement.

The East African nation has ramped up spending

in recent years, to build a modern railway, new
roads and electricity plants, driving up the budget
deficit and unnerving investors.

The deficit for this fiscal year is expected to de-

ICT CS Joe Mucheru (left) during the launch of
free internet for schools in Machakos
for Schools program is about.”
The 23 schools connected to the Internet in
Machakos County join another 167 institutions
and 250,000 students in 31 counties across Ken-
ya. The program is intended to reach 1 million
students in all counties across the country by
the end of 2016.
Speaking at the same event, Airtel Kenya CEO
Adil El Youssefi said that the company is com-
mitted to the program that it launched in 2014
as it seeks to ensure that more and more stu-
dents are able to leverage on educational infor-
mation that the Internet provides.
“The high speed Internet connectivity that we
continue to provide through our Airtel Free
Internet for Schools program guarantees stu-
dents limitless new educational opportunities,”
he said.
LOCATED “We strongly believe that through our program,
KOMA PLAZA , 3RD FLOOR, RM3. we are giving learners the freedom to connect to
KIPCHAMBA STREET the world of information, helping them to learn
MOBILE: 0721269 586, better and open up a new world of opportuni-
EMAIL; sitenei62@gmail.com ties for their future.”
Present at the launch were Principal Secretar-
ies Eng. Victor Kyalo (ICT & Innovation) and
Sammy Itemere (Broadcasting & Telecommuni-
cations), Machakos County ICT Minister Hellen
Kiilu among other top government and educa-
tion officials in the county.
Source; Citizen Digital
cline to 522.3 billion shillings ($5.11 billion), 8.1
percent of gross domestic product, from 569.2
billion shillings, 8.7 percent of GDP, where it was
set in a June budget, the Treasury said in the draft
budget policy statement posted on its website.
The narrower deficit will be arrived at through
a reduction in expenditure and borrowing, the
ministry said in the draft, which was published for
the public to offer comments before it is finalised
by the government.
“Borrowing from the domestic market has been
revised down to 168.2 billion shillings from 221.5
billion shillings in the budget while external com-
mercial borrowing has been raised to substitute
for the lower domestic borrowing,” the Treasury
said, referring to this fiscal year.
The deficit will fall to 6.9 percent of GDP in the
next financial year before declining to 4.3 percent
in the medium term.
Kenya is building a modern railway from the
main port of Mombasa to the capital Nairobi and
officials blame the investment for the higher bud-
get deficit.
“Excluding expenditures related to the SGR (Stan-
dard Gauge Railway), the deficit declines from 6.3
percent of GDP in 2015/16 to 4.1 percent of GDP
over the medium term,” the Treasury said in the
draft policy statement.

13
 County Focus:
THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION AMIDST TERROR,
CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS THORNS
By Brian Erick
M andera County lies on the extreme of
North Eastern Kenya. It borders So-
malia on the Eastern side and Ethiopia
on the Northern side. Being a border county,
it has suffered the ripple effect of war, hate and
violence that has dominated Somalia for the
past over two decades.
Within the county, clan clashes for resources
and political representation have also crippled
education to a large extent. Education thus
remains the only pillar for reconstruction and
reconciliation. But how much fruits can be
borne?
As of today, literacy levels remain critically
low with the female gender being the worst
hit. This is a reflection of sustained challeng-
es in terms of terrorism, culture and religion
“literacy levels remain critically
pare them for a productive
respectively. low with the female gender
Not forgetting
the Garissa being the worst hit”
future. Even boys from well
to do families rarely take
education seriously. They
University are coached in basic busi-
attack. What ness skills, given access to
will be its ef- financial support or live-
fect on educa- stock to begin small busi-
tion? What message do such terrible events send to nesses at tender ages!
the non-resident teachers in the region?
They are left dumbfounded, traumatized and threat-
ened and as us such they won’t be able to deliver in In the adjacent County Garissa, Things are not far
their respective areas of specialization. The key to much than Mandera. During the Garissa Universi-
passing exams is first creating a conducive environ- ty attack it was revealed that, a Nairobi university
ment for learning. graduate was the accomplisher to the attackers.
Being an area inhabited by nomads, cultural norms This also leaves many scrapyard of what the educa-
also derail education. Girls suffer the most. They are tion is giving to the young generation.
The mother of all challenges is religion. Even reli-
gious leaders themselves have refused to take up
the challenge and encourage the students to open
up and engage with the rest of the world. With this,
they can atleast work hard towards reforming their
culture and attitude from within so that they may
become compatible with the modern global society.

At tender ages, students openly show how they val-

Schoolgirls attend a class at Moi Girls Secondary School in Mandera County on February 2, 2015. Local
residents are volunteering to fill the gap left by TSC teachers
over the years that have greatly hampered the
development of norms and standards concern-
ing education. As a result the education system
has become fragmented, affecting the educa-
tion image of the whole country. But who is to
blame?
Most of the problems ailing education in
Mandera have been created by the residents of
Mandera themselves. The challenges arise from
cases of insecurity (both from bandits and ter-
rorists), culture and religion. Unless the com-
munities open up and change their school of
thought and start reading from the same script
with the rest of the country as far as education
is concerned, the road to a bright future will
remain uneven for the many years to come.
ue another version of education taught in the duksis
and madrasas rather than the formal education
offered under the national education curriculum.
The Jihadist software therefore nurtures student
hostility towards the non-Muslim teachers since
they are Kaffirs.
It becomes thus easier to impart Islamist ideology
than any other form of ideology contrary to what
religion teaches. Teaching some aspects of literature
forced to remain at home despite having attained such as drama, poetry and dance is even considered
the school going age so as to aid in field chores such haramin (Crime) some schools.
as looking after goats. As soon as they start ‘swell-
ing’ at the chest, they are married off. The county therefore needs to save itself from ed-
ucation meltdown that is currently facing. It must
They vanish from the public eye. Even in school come up with significant plans, programmes and
they cover their faces so as to wall themselves from policies or else the end of the tunnel will forever
the from the eyes of any man other than their remain dark.
It

Majority of the teachers in the region are

non-locals who have spent the better part of
their lives in ‘down Kenya’ where the loudest
explosion one can ever hear is the burst of a
car tyre.

But in Mandera town, due to its proximity to

the immediate border town-Bulla Hawa, barely
does a night pass without a terrifying sound of
gunfire or an explosion.
And in the wake of the most recent beastly ter-
ror act in Kenyan Soil famously dubbed #Man-
deraMassacre and the KDF camp attack, in
which teachers lost their lives, and the military
Schoolgirls attend a class at Moi Girls Secondary School in Mandera County on February 2, 2015.
husbands. Some are married off while as young as
12! Even those enrolled in school still face a myriad
of challenges including absenteeism from school
due to drought or family duties, lack of appropriate
school materials among others.
They therefore remain without skills that will pre-
14
should not be forgotten that North Eastern counties
of Kenya-Garissa, Wajir and Mandera have consis-
tently been ranked bottom among the 47 counties
of Kenya both in KCPE and KCSE. Every growth
and development must start with education so that
the residents are also given a fair chance to compete
on an equal basis intellectually and in the job mar-
ket with the rest of the world.
 Entertainment:
Alaine to
launch‘Wafula’
hit
Popular Jamaica Reggae/Dance Hall artist
Alaine is expected to jet into Kenya any time
from now to launch her new song Wafula
which was as a joke posed by Churchil.
While appearing on Churchil show last year
Churchil himself challenged the Jah Jah Cry
hit maker to come up with lyrics to praise a
luyha man by the name Wafula. It is out of
this that Alaine decided to compose a reggae
tune which she is expected to release on this
week.
Bahati
releases a
new song
G
ospel artist Kevin Kioko alias Bahati has
made a debut after three weeks silence with a
new hit dubbed Maisha iko sawa.
The new song reflects the life history of him where
he has come from as well what he has achieved so
far.
The singer at the same time revealed the main rea-
son why he decided to stay away from the public
limelight arguing that there were some individuals
who are doing all they can to bring him down.
This prompted him to deactivate both his Face-
book and twitter accounts sighting he wouldn’t
handle them anymore.
He however decided to make a comeback by
releasing his new song to proof he is still strong
despite the beef from his fellow gospel artist and
bloggers
whom he
says are
out there
to tarnish
his name.
Beyonce releases surprise new
song ‘Formation’
By Sunday Mirror
T he singer surprised fans tonight with her
new effort, letting her daughter steal the lime-
light.
Beyonce has released a surprise new song and
video - with her daughter Blue Ivy taking cen-
tre stage throughout.
The star did her classic trick of surprising fans
by dropping the hit tonight, and this time her
new song Formation shows a whole new side
of the singer.
With explicit lyrics throughout, it flicks from
dramatic Mardi Gras costumes to flood scenes
and clips of Blue dancing with friends.
With a stream of tiny outfits, lingerie, and
even a police car - Beyonce has already sent
fans into meltdown - even giving Dr. Martin
Luther King an appearance.
Showing off her winning dance moves, the star
begins in a plunging red top and stockings,
showing off major cleavage and her toned
pins.
The song includes lyrics like: “I go hard... Get what’s mine... I’m a star...’Cause I slay...I slay.”
She adds: “Okay, okay, ladies, now let’s get in formation, cause I slay / Okay ladies, now let’s get in for-
mation, cause I slay / Prove to me you got some coordination / Slay trick, or you get eliminated.”
It’s surely no coincidence she dropped the clip tonight- just a day before she performs at the Super Bowl
50 halftime show.
The new track is Bey’s first since her Beyoncé: Platinum Edition was released in November 2014.
It’s unclear if she’ll perform the song during tomorrow’s halftime show - but according to reports, she
was spotted rehearsing it this week.
The cover art for the song sees Queen Bey with her head hanging out a car window, looking like a true
goddess.
Top Kenyan Female Gospel Artists
D
ays are gone when female gospel artistes shied away from flashy
and sophisticated lifestyles. The latest crop of musicians in this
genre has totally changed the face of gospel music that was previ-
ously seen as boring. Today female gospel artistes are arguably trendier
than their counterparts who do secular music.
They have become more flashy in their style of dressing, expensive
homes and the cars they drive.
1
1. Size 8
2 2. Joyce
Omondi
5 3. Kambua
4. Dee
5. Chuchu
3
4
15

Arsenal
partners with
Sport Pesa
A rsenal Football Club has welcomed SportPe-
sa as its Official Betting Partner in Kenya.
This long-term partnership is geared towards
helping SportPesa grow their business in Kenya
where they already sponsor the SportPesa Premier
League, SportPesa Super 8 League and grassroots
football.
SportPesa will engage directly with Arsenal
supporters in Kenya through the club’s digital
channels, promotional activities and marketing
initiatives featuring first-team players and club
legends. Arsenal fans in Kenya will also be offered
a range of club-related benefits, including official
merchandise and match tickets to see the team in
action at Emirates Stadium.
As part of the partnership, SportPesa will be
offering five-day training camps twice per season
which will be led by Arsenal-trained coaching
staff. These sessions will be designed to ensure that
both footballers and coaches in Kenya learn to
incorporate the key principles of ‘playing the Ar-
senal way’. These camps will also help support the
initiatives that SportPesa have in place to identify
and nurture talent at a grassroots level.
Arsenal will also offer the opportunity for Kenyan
football administrators to meet and learn from
expert Arsenal staff and take these learnings back
to Kenya to help develop their own facilities.
Vinai Venkatesham, Arsenal’s Chief Commer-
cial Officer, said: “We are delighted to welcome
SportPesa as our Official Betting Partner in Kenya.
Arsenal has huge support across Africa and we
look forward to engaging further with our fans in
Kenya while also helping to drive the SportPesa
business and, through a wide range of initiatives,
the development of football in the country.”
Ronald Karauri, SportPesa’s Chief Executive Offi-
cer, said: “SportPesa is dedicated to uplifting the
football standards in Kenya, and we look working
with Arsenal to help achieve this. It is a true testa-
ment to the commitment SportPesa has in putting
player development at the forefront of any other
need.
“We are committed to allocating the best resources
and support to our players to help them achieve
their dreams. Our aim is to see Kenya participate
in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. We are also very
excited for this partnership and are looking for-
ward for greater revolution in the Kenyan football
world.”
News Kenya
Published By
Africa World News Kenya
africaworldnewskenya@gmail.com
For Adverttisement, Partnership write to us : africaworldnewskenya@gmail.com Or Call Eric; +254726655552
SPORTS:
Kenya names squad for Rio De
Janeiro Olympics
By Munga Vincent
K
enya Tae Kwondo Association has named will not hinder them from delivering," he said.
a four-member national team that will Akinyi who featured in the 2008 Olympics in Bei-
represent the country in the Rio De Ja- jing where she emerged fourth exuded confidence
neiro Olympics games qualifiers. Martin of steering her teammates to a sterling perfor-
Oduor (fin/fly
weight) and Emmanuel
Nderitu (Bantam/feath-
er) constitute a men
team to travel to Mo-
rocco where the games
will take place on 6-8
February 2016.
The women team is
composed of Olympian
Milkah Akinyi (ban-
tam/featherweight) and
Gladys Mwaniki (Light-
welter). Kenya will
face Libya, Senegal and
Tunisia opponents in
the qualifiers. Speaking
during the final trials
of the team at Pent House Part of the team in an Earlier Match PHOTO cOUTESY
gymnasium, View Park
Towers Nairobi, overall team manager Nesmus mance.
Wesonga said the team is good to go and make
the country proud despite of the challenges
facing it.
"They lack state of the art equipments but this
Gor Mahia refutes the claims that
they fired Nuttal over salary cut
By Eric Maranga
K
enya Premier League defending Champions Gor Mahia has rubbished the claims that they sacked their
Coach Frank Nuttal for refusing to accept his salary to be slashed by half.
In a press statement to newsroom the club management stated that they were negotiating with Nuttal
over his new season contract.
This comes barely a day after the coach
had been quoted saying that he had been
relieved his duties due to salary dispute.
The news of his sacking had been
perceived as a major blow to the
club’s future to the commencement of
the KPL league which slated for 13th Feb-
ruary 2015.
In Saturdays’ match watched by thousands
of fans who included Mombasa Governor
Hassan Joho, Bandari struggled to find
their stride in the opening minutes with
Gor Mahia dominating proceedings. Ban-
dari’s new signing Sserunkuma repeatedly
harassed Gor Mahia’s defence but could not
get a break through.
Keli thought he had put Gor Mahia ahead
in the ninth minute but his goal was ruled
out for off side by assistant referee Caroline
Kilel. Nizigiyimana was outstanding at the
back as he snuffed out any signs of danger
to ensure Sserenkuma was kept at bay.
Haron Shakava (18) of Gor Mahia FC is shown the red card by
Musa Mudde, Edwin Lavatsa and Sseren- centre referee Raymond Onyango (right) after fouling against
kuma worked well in attack giving their Dan Sserenkuma of Bandari FC pduring the DSTV Super Sports
coach Twahir Muhiddin a combination he Cup at the Mbaraki Sports Club, February 06, 2016. Bandari won
will be proud of this season. 1-0. [PHOTO COURTESY
It was also a morale boosting result for Bandari ahead of the Caf Cup confederation match against St Eloi
Lupopo of DRC next week.