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Sunday, 25 December 2016

Kenya: Earth Tremors Shake Nairobi

By Jane King'ee And Catherine Kinoti

Nairobi — Earth tremors have hit several Kenyan towns causing fears of an imminent earthquake and panic to some residents. One tremor swept through parts of Nyanza and Rift Valley provinces in the early hours of Sunday May 12, 2002. Kisumu, Nyamira and Transmara districts were the first to be hit by tremor that lasted for about five seconds. According to experts, the tremor, which hit the Lake Victoria basin two weeks ago measured 4.0 on the Richter scale.

The second tremor shook Nairobi, Nakuru and Kericho areas on the evening of Saturday May 18, 2002. In Nairobi the tremor occurred at 6.20 pm and lasted about a minute. In Nakuru, slight earth movements were experienced. One started at 6.20 pm and lasted a few seconds. It was followed a few seconds later by two more which were weaker. In Kericho the tremor took place at 6.17 pm.

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Question

Hello Mr. Khan,

I am part of Engineers Without Borders-USA Rutgers University Student Chapter working on a water supply project in Kolunje, Kenya (near Kisumu). We plan to construct a 21ft structure to elevate a 16K liter storage tank. Do you know the wind and seismic loads for this region of Kenya or can you please direct me to a source for these numbers?

Thanks,
Colleen

Get the answer below

the efficiency of diesel engine cycle increases with

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MBITA MP MILLIE ODHIAMBO ‘RESURFACES’, GOES TO COURT

Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo and other ODM MPs walk out of parliament in protest during President Uhuru Kenyatta's State of the Nation address in March, 2016

Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo has gone to court seeking anticipatory bail following incessant calls for her arrest.

Anticipatory bail is a provision in the criminal procedure code especially on offences which are non-bailable.

Such applications allow a person to seek for bail in anticipation of an arrest; and, the court may give direction for the person to be released on bail even before the person is arrested.

The application by Millie Odhiambo, comes just a day after she was reportedly kicked out as chairperson of Kenya Women Parliamentary Association for allegedly insulting President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The ODM MP has been a subject of wide condemnation, especially from Jubilee MPs after she openly criticized President Uhuru Kenyatta for allegedly undermining the country’s democracy.

In a video that has since gone viral after Tuesday’s special sitting of the national assembly, Millie Odhiambo is heard throwing jabs at President Uhuru Kenyatta, accusing him of alleged mismanagement of the country.

“When we were busy fighting for democracy in Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta was abroad as a son of the president. He cannot possible understand what Kenyans went through to attain democracy which he wants to abuse,” stated Millie Odhiambo.

“The only reason he (Uhuru Kenyatta) is in power is because he stole the elections. He cannot even be compared to me leave alone Raila Odinga. He can take me to court is he feels like, I have a right of expression.”

Question had emerged on social media on Thursday over the whereabouts of Millie Odhiambo, fuelled by reports on Tuesday that she had been arrested over her utterances against the president. These reports were however disconfirmed.

Millie Odhiambo who was vocal in her opposition of the amendments to the Election Law on Tuesday, skipped Thursday’s session over safety concerns, a source in Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has told 411 News.

The Mbita MP was reportedly a target by a section of Jubilee MPs, during the Thursday session, who were angered by her utterances against President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday.

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria is one of the Jubilee MPs who had expressly stated that he would seek revenge on Millie Odhiambo over her utterances.

In a Facebook post that has since been deleted, Kuria told Millie Odhiambo: “Verily, verily I say unto you. You have pushed our patience to the end…today you have crossed the red line disrespecting the lawful authority of the land. Now no one will have a reason to blame me. Keep away from parliament.”

President Uhuru Kenyatta also responded to Millie Odhiambo, calling her “an idiot who has freedom of expression” during his address at the official launch of KICC lighting and fireworks on Tuesday night.

The President went further to post on his official Twitter account Wednesday at 4am that he would not be “discouraged by the noise and insults peddled by a few individuals because…every market has its own mad man.”

Prominent personalities face risk of being stripped of degrees

By OUMA WANZALA
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Fred Matiang'i, the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Science and Technology, at Kenya Technical Trainers College on July 27, 2016. PHOTO | ANTHONY OMUYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Summary

In the letter to CUE chairman Chacha Nyaigotti Chacha dated December 22, Dr Matiang’i wants a report to be submitted to him by January 31.
The investigation was triggered by reports that some universities were admitting ineligible students into their degree programmes.

Prominent personalities, most of them seeking political seats in next year’s General Election, face the risk of being stripped of their degrees following a new investigation into universities abusing student admission requirements.

Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has written to the Commission for University Education (CUE) ordering a month-long audit of the 70-plus public and private universities to establish those that have offered degrees to unqualified people.

In the letter to CUE chairman Chacha Nyaigotti Chacha dated December 22, Dr Matiang’i wants a report to be submitted to him by January 31.

The investigation was triggered by reports that some universities were admitting ineligible students into their degree programmes.

Also cited were irregularities in examination systems and incidents of students missing their marks. Some universities were running unaccredited academic programmes, he said.

“The net effect of the poor state of the university sector is a reflection of, to say the least, the ineffectiveness of your commission to carry out its mandate, as the sole legal body charged with the responsibility of ensuring quality in university education in Kenya,” said Dr Matiang’i.

The probe report is expected to include evidence, clear action points and recommendations on what action should be taken on universities that will be found to have broken the law.

According to the letter, the commission is required to establish the status of qualification of students pursuing degrees, including the extent to which universities are complying with the admission criteria.

The commission is also required to look into management of students’ records; from admissions, examinations and graduation records.

'CLEARLY STIPULATE'

“The report should clearly stipulate the commission’s undertaking and to ensure enhanced quality university education in Kenya,” Dr Matiang’i says in the letter.

The investigation should establish if there are credible and supporting documents for each of the students enrolled in the respective academic programmes.

Specifically, the commission will also have to establish if there have been any unqualified individuals who were admitted to academic programmes and awarded degrees and diplomas in the last five years.

Ahead of next year’s General Election, when it was hoped aspirants for various positions will be required to have degrees, there has been a rush by many to acquire degrees.

In the letter, the CS said he expects, where necessary, to see far-reaching measures, which might include, and not limited to, cancellation of admissions of unqualified individuals, withdrawal of awards given to undeserving individuals, recommendations on revocation of Letters of Interim Authority or Charters of institutions that have flouted the guidelines.

Dr Matiang’i said he had taken the decision following concerns, complaints and petitions which suggest that all is not well within public and private universities.

“Most of these concerns indicate that some universities are not adhering to the legal framework for university education in Kenya and, more specifically, the set standards and guidelines,” said Dr Matiang’i.

Dr Matiang’i has also demanded reports on security audit and on the implementation of the biometric identification system in all universities.

The Universities Act of 2012 mandates the commission to advise the cabinet secretary on policy relating to university education, develop a policy for criteria and requirements for admission to universities.

Friday, 23 December 2016

High Court suspends NGO board order on IFES

By MAUREEN KAKAH
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A senior officer in Interior ministry, Mr Mohamed Fazul, who has drafted stringent measures that will govern how non-governmental organisations in the country are run. FILE PHOTO

NGO Coordination Board Executive Director Fazul Mahamed, whose qualifications are in question, issued orders stopping IFES dealings with IEBC on December 19, 2016. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP.

Summary

NGO Coordination Board Executive Director Fazul Mahamed on December 19 stopped IFES’s Sh2 billion elections programme, saying the entity was operating illegally.
The NGOs board said that the employees of IFES had not been registered by them nor had they obtained a work permit from the Principal Immigration Officer, who was also copied in the letter.

The High Court has suspended NGO board order stopping International Foundation for Electoral Systems from offering assistance to IEBC as it prepares for 2017 General Election.

Mr Justice George Odunga issued the order on Friday after activist Okiya Omtatah sued the NGO Coordination Board.

Claims that IFES is not registered as an NGO, Mr Omtatah argued, are unfounded.

SH2 BILLION

He said IFES is registered as a Trust under the Lands ministry and denied claims that the NGO is a company.

Judge Odunga consequently suspended the NGO board order and agreed to certify the matter as urgent.

NGO Coordination Board Executive Director Fazul Mahamed on December 19 stopped IFES’s Sh2 billion elections programme, saying the entity was operating illegally.

The NGOs board said that the employees of IFES had not been registered by them nor had they obtained a work permit from the Principal Immigration Officer, who was also copied in the letter.

UHURU CLAIM

This was a week after President Kenyatta claimed foreigners were pumping in billions of money “in the guise of civic education”, but funds he said were meant to influence regime change.

IFES has funded NGOs to actively participate in the electoral process by voter registration, civic education, capacity building, and advocacy for women and youth participation in elections, consensus building and early conflict response.

USAid, the funder of IFES, has denied Mr Fazul’s and President Kenyatta’s claims.

Fearful Millie Odhiambo now seeks court protection

By MAUREEN KAKAH
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Millie Odhiambo, the Member of Parliament for Mbita, protests at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi on December 20, 2016. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Summary

Ms Odhiambo was caught on camera making what appeared to be offensive and derogatory remarks directed at President Kenyatta regarding his legitimacy as President and ability to govern the country.
The Mbita lawmaker claims she only expressed her displeasure at the manner in which government was transacting its business in parliament.

Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo has moved to court seeking anticipatory bail over her imminent arrest following her utterances in the precincts of Parliament on Tuesday.

Ms Odhiambo was caught on camera making what appeared to be offensive and derogatory remarks directed at President Kenyatta regarding his legitimacy as President and ability to govern the country.

The Mbita lawmaker claims she only expressed her displeasure at the manner in which government was transacting its business in parliament.

Now, she fears she might be arrested by security agencies.

Ms Odhiambo alleges she is currently traumatised and undergoing psychological torture from alleged threats from Mr Kenyatta's supporters.

She has sued the Director of Public Prosecution, the Interior Cabinet secretary, the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General.

She wants the court to issue an order stopping the sued parties from having her arrested or confined to house arrest.

IEBC slams MPs on election laws standoff

By AGGREY MUTAMBO
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By PATRICK LANG'AT
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Nyando MP Fred Outa protests outside parliament buildings over the amendments of the electoral laws on December 22, 2016. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Summary

The commission has been fighting legitimacy claims after opposition politicians went to court to stop a tender awarded for the printing of ballot papers, arguing that the contract was given when Commissioners who resigned were still in office.
Meanwhile, the umbrella workers’ union condemned the acrimonious parliamentary sitting, saying it was a recipe for chaos that it said will affect workers akin to the 2007/2008 post-election violence.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has raised concerns in the manner in which political coalitions cannot agree on how to change relevant clauses in election laws.

On Thursday, the National Assembly changed the Elections Act, just two months after amending it, by introducing an alternative manual voters’ identification system if the electronic means fails.

The amendments went through in spite of protests from opposition MPs, who also failed to get order to nullify the changes.

But the Commission which had called for such an alternative system by arguing there is insufficient communication network coverage to all polling stations said this was creating unnecessary political temperatures.

“The country is witnessing unwarranted grand standing among political players on key issues that touch on the electoral process. This is not helpful and will not be helpful,” IEBC said in a statement.

“It is the duty of each actor, especially political leaders, to give Kenyans reasons to be hopeful with elections. This will require sobriety in debates, tolerance and respect for the rule of law,” said IEBC.

The changes to the Elections Act also mean that IEBC could tally results manually if the electronic system fails.

On Thursday, the Commission said its argument for an alternative system had been misinterpreted to mean a plot to fail the system.

“It is unfortunate that the issues raised by the IEBC have been misrepresented and taken out of context.

“This is despite the fact that the IEBC held a series of meetings with Parliament, media, CSOs, political parties and state actors on the implications of the new law in election management,” said the IEBC.

The commission has been fighting legitimacy claims after opposition politicians went to court to stop a tender awarded for the printing of ballot papers, arguing that the contract was given when Commissioners who resigned were still in office.

On Thursday, the selection panel handed in nominees to replace the outgoing commissioners headed by Ahmed Issack Hassan.

The Commission admitted there are various issues of concern which may include how the Commission is constituted and the elections laws. But it called for a neutral mediation to solve the impasse.

“What is evident is that there are issues of concern which must be addressed. However, there is no unanimity on the mechanism of addressing them.

“We support the proposal that a team of non-partisan or bi-partisan actors be at the centre of constructive political dialogue whenever necessary,” the commission added.

Meanwhile, the umbrella workers’ union condemned the acrimonious parliamentary sitting, saying it was a recipe for chaos that it said will affect workers akin to the 2007/2008 post-election violence.

The Francis Atwoli-led Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to reject the proposals.

“The passing of this law was uncalled for in such an emotive and acrimonious sitting of MPs and it is evident some individuals have allowed power to get into their heads and use the August House to pass archaic legislations,” Mr Atwoli said.

Mr Atwoli warned that the way the laws were passed would create a ‘dangerous and scary trend” that he said des not help Kenya’s bid for accountability and transparency.

“We ask the President to exercise his wisdom as our Head of State and refuse to ascent to this law because by so doing, this will likely send this great country to the dogs,” Cotu said.

Sunday, 25 December 2016

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Friday, 23 December 2016

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