From: Judy Miriga
Folks,
If you add all the going ons, I must say Kenya is being formed to a battleground. Poli-tick is sucking life out of the Constitution and the government operation therefore has been made anemic.
We are back to square zero with wars looming at our doors.
We fear Kenya is soon turning to a battleground for the greater 3rd world war, the mother of all civil wars in the world if good leaders of the world will not step in now and save this situation ……Very very sad indeed….
May our good Lord God break this cup and save a situation for the sake of many innocent souls from perishing in the hands of the evil wicked ones……
Amen.
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
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Police masqueraders nabbed
Published on Jun 22, 2012 by NTVKenya
http://www.ntv.co.ke
Be wary of police officers masquerading as anti terrorism police officers at the Coast province. That is the warning that is being given by Coast Provincial Police Officer Aggrey Adoli after it emerged that there is a group of men pretending to be anti terrorism police officers who have been moving from town to town terrorizing members of the public for the past three weeks. Members of the public are now being urged to demand identification from police officers before they are arrested for any offence.
MPs under fire over constitution changes
Published on Jun 22, 2012 by NTVKenya
http://www.ntv.co.ke
Reactions to the spirited attempts by Members of Parliament aimed at exempting themselves from the academic qualifications have drawn mixed reactions. Just a day after members of parliament attempted to pass that exemption they slowly retraced their steps undid the amendment making it clear that members of parliament who do not have a university will have to kiss their parliamentary aspirations goodbye. NTV’s Linda Oguttu looks at the reactions that could have joted the mps back to their senses.
Citizens, leaders unsure of govt structure
Published on Jun 22, 2012 by NTVKenya
http://www.ntv.co.ke
The County Assemblies are the most misunderstood structures in the new constitution. Lawyer Kipchumba Murkomen says it is important for leaders and citizens to fully understand its functions, as that will be the main body that that will run the counties on a day-to-day basis under the new constitutional dispensation. And as Ferdinand Omondi reports, many speakers at a conference on devolution and County Assemblies are agreed that time is running out for the streamlining of transition from a central to devolved system of government.
US evacuates her citizens from Mombasa
Published on Jun 23, 2012 by NTVKenya
http://www.ntv.co.ke
In an unprecedented move, the US government has ordered all its officials to leave the coastal city of Mombasa over what it considers an imminent terror attack. The government reacted angrily to this latest advisory which it considers as economic sabotage. Head of Public Service Francis Kimemia told NTV that Kenya will protest officially to the us government and as Harith Salim reports, the government says the US did not even have the courtesy of informing it before issuing the warning.
US warns of possible terror attack in Mombasa
dated Saturday, June 23 2012 at 11:21 GMT+3
By CYRUS OMBATI
The US government has warned of an imminent threat of a terrorist attack in Mombasa and asked all their government personnel to leave the coastal city.
The embassy said in a statement that all U.S. government travel to Mombasa is suspended until July 1, 2012.
“U.S. private citizens are not subject to the same restrictions, but should consider this information in their travel planning,” read part of the statement.
This is the third such travel advisory being issued by the US since Kenyan troops crossed to Somalia to hunt down Al Shabaab militants who have been blamed for various insecurity incidents.
But acting head of civil service Francis Kimemia said there was no cause for alarm adding security agencies are ahead of events. He said police have been thwarting several terror attempts in the country linked to the terror groups.
“We work with even the FBI in this war. We are ahead of the criminals.”
Commissioner of police Mathew Iteere too said police are working round the clock to ensure the country is safe from such threats.
The advisory came days after police said they had arrested two Iranians after they seized chemicals they suspected were going to be used to make explosives in Mombasa, which has been hit by a series of attacks.
The port city, the capital Nairobi and other parts of Kenya have suffered a series of grenade attacks since Kenya sent troops into Somalia last year to try to crush Al Shabaab insurgents it blames for a surge in violence and kidnappings threatening tourism.
Police arrested the Iranians on Wednesday in Nairobi and impounded a container in Mombasa originating from Iraq and suspected to be carrying explosives.
On Thursday, police flew one of the suspects to Mombasa, where he led police to recover 15 kg of powder, which security experts took to their laboratory for testing.
Kimemia said the chemical was apparently part of the consignment impounded by anti terrorism officers at a go down in Changamwe and is being tested by local and foreign experts.
He said police want to find out whether the substances are linked to any terror groups, including Al Shabaab, al Qaeda and any other group.
He added that the government had sought the help of international agencies such the FBI and Interpol in helping deal with security threats.
“We have been working with them in terms of identifying criminals. We cannot fight terrorism alone. You have to work with other partners and other state organs,” he said. In the most recent attack, a bomb exploded in a trading centre in the heart of Nairobi in late May, killing one person and wounding more than 30 people. Al Shabaab has hundreds of foreign fighters in its ranks.
Marende calls for support on devolution
Updated Friday, June 22 2012 at 22:03 GMT+3
By STEVE MKAWALE and ATHMAN AMRAN
National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende has challenged the Executive to create a more enabling environment for reforms and support devolution.
Marende appealed to President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to adhere to the letter and spirit of the Constitution, which dictates public participation as the country, goes through transition.
He said leaders must put the interest of the country before their own during this critical period.
“I call for patience and further appeal to the Executive to adhere to the substance of our Constitution which dictates public participation and consultation in accordance with the National Accord and Reconciliation Act,” Marende said.
He was speaking at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi where he opened a two-day workshop dubbed “Towards Effective Devolved Government in Kenya: Reflecting On and Planning for County Assemblies.”
The Speaker stressed the importance of speeding up the process of devolution, saying a devolved system of government would fast track development.
“That it is the best available way to ensure equitable distribution of wealth and closing in on the social economic disparities through proper fiscal measures, and of triggering positive competition that will enhance transparency and accountability,” said Marende.
Better cohesion
He observed that if properly implemented, devolution would encourage interdependence between regions thus greater appreciation of each other and better cohesion among the people of Kenya.
The workshop is organised by the National Assembly in conjunction with donor agencies and is expected to lay modalities for ensuring County Assemblies work.
Marende allayed fears that county governments would weaken the central government, saying the two governments, though distinct, are supposed to be consultative but independent in discharge of their mandate.
Speaking during the same forum, Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim said the country has to lay the ground for County Assemblies or risk having County Governments similar to the current county councils.
He said there has to be massive recruitment of staff to the units, saying the National Assembly, which has a responsibility to midwife them, is already grappling with understaffing.
“National Assembly is itself understaffed yet it has to prepare the ground for the Senate, which will diffuse down to the counties,” said Maalim.
Mandera Central MP Abdikadir Mohamed regretted that at the moment everybody appears keen on wanting to interpret the Constitution to suit them, saying the important task should be left to courts.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Departmental Committee on Local Authorities David Ngugi said three Bills on devolution that were passed by Parliament and assented to by the President were key in devolution.
He said the Intergovernmental Relations Bill, the Transition to Devolved Government Bill, which is now an Act and the County Government Bill, which was recently returned to Parliament after the President rejected it, would be instrumental in the realisation of the devolved system of government.