The Star 01/14/2017

Children under the age of five in eight counties could be at risk of malnutrition, as about two million Kenyans stare at starvation from next month. The National Drought Management Authority has said Baringo, Isiolo, Mandera, Marsabit, Meru, Samburu, Turkana and Wajir counties have reported malnutrition rates above 15 per cent. Meru has the highest rate at 28 per cent and Mandera 26.3. Embu, Garissa, Baringo and Samburu counties, which experienced some of the highest rates of malnutrition in previous month – at 52, 32, 25 and 23 per cent – have now reported improved trends. Devolution CS Mwangi Kiunjuri on Thursday said the drought is worsening and the government has set aside Sh21.4 billion to reduce its impact. “In many counties, the food security situation is worse now than…

ANNAH NYOKABI Presents bursaries to students Some 947 students from Kiambu county on Wednesday received Sh7 million bursaries through the state’s Affirmative Action Social Development Fund. Woman representative Annah Nyokabi presented the cash in Ndumberi Grounds, Kiambu town. The fund will finance their enrolment in Kiambu polytechnics. See Page 17 CS EUGENE WAMALWA Firms invited to bid for dam The National Irrigation Board on Friday invited bids from international firms to build the proposed Sh200 billion High Grand Falls Dam, after the project was suspended over corruption allegations. This is the third time the government is trying to implement the project. It is expected to hold about 5.6 billion cubic metres of water. See page 12 MOSES WETANG’ULA Accused of rocking opposition Five Kakamega, Busia and Vihiga MCAs yesterday accused…

Nanyuki is the latest town to be hit by water shortage, as the country grapples with how to resolve the worsening problem. A notice has been issued to residents. Nanyuki Water and Sanitation Company MD Kennedy Gitonga said the drastic decline in the water levels if the Likii Central River is due to the prevailing dry spell. “The company distributes water from the treatment plant located near the Mt Kenya Safari Club and draws its raw water from the Likii River, whose flow has gone down,” he said. Gitonga said the plant currently produces 80 litres against the 150 litres demanded by residents. He said this has adversely affected supply, leading to the need for water rationing to allow equitable distribution. “We advise our customers to store enough and conserve…

BEFORE opposition leaders went to the Bomas of Kenya for their meeting on Wednesday, Corridors has learnt that the protocol to be followed was a thorn in their flesh. This emerged over lunch. ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi wanted to speak before or after ODM leader Raila Odinga — as a way to show his supporters he was fully accepted. But Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula protested, saying “Mudavadi was the new entrant” and must speak before them. They are also said to have protested that allowing Mudavadi to speak last would be seen as an endorsement of the National Super Alliance, which was yet to be agreed on. It was later agreed that Raila would speak last as the de facto opposition leader. SOME people…

 PRESIDENT Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday described a more united and energised opposition as an outfit led by mad men, as he rallied his troops to mobilise supporters to register and vote. IN 2013, WE FACED A FORMIDABLE OPPONENT WITH A SITTING PRIME MINISTER, A SITTING VICE PRESIDENT AND HALF OF GOVERNMENT, BUT WE NOW FACE A CLUELESS, RUDDERLESS, DISORGANISED AND LEADERLESS OPPOSITION The President said the opposition has no agenda and told Jubilee supporters not to lose focus but concentrate on multiplying numbers when month-long mass registration begins on Monday. Turnout could determine outcome of the August polls. He also told JP members from many merged parties to stop squabbling and infighting because that could bring down the united outfit. “If you fight internally until we all fail, what will be…

Primaries have been a thorn in the flesh for many political outfits around the world, and we can attest to this in Kenya.Yesterday, however, marked a fresh start for Kenyan politics as the Jubilee Party made history. This is the first time an African party has used a smart card to register members. It’s not only a smart move by the Jubilee Party — it’s a brilliant move and it could be a game-changer in the August general election. In 2012, before the birth of the Jubilee coalition, TNA had already shown in its activities that politics can be done differently and better. Launching the membership smart card is another example of how JP has sought to revolutionise the way politics is played. The card is intended to ensure that…