The Star 03/31/2017

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has received an additional Sh2.1 billion from the budget, compared to last financial year’s allocation. This is meant to support its operations for the August 8 election. National Treasury CS Henry Rotich yesterday announced that the Wafula Chebukati-led team has been given Sh21.4 billion in the 2017-18 budget. Last year, it got Sh19.3 billion. This will enable it to deliver a free, fair and credible poll. “We are all aware Kenya will be going for election in August. The government is committed to a free and fair election,” he said, reading the Sh2.6 trillion budget in Parliament. Rotich presented the budget much earlier than the traditional June because the August poll would interfere with the budget-making calendar. The extra allocation to the IEBC will…

HASSAN JOHO Becoming more popular Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo on Wednesday condemned what he called continuous persecution by the state of its fierce critic, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho. He said it is ironic that the few individuals trying to silence Joho are making him popular. Madzayo said Joho is being harassed to silence him from speaking his mind. See page 31 DAVID MARAGA Once arrested for loitering Chief Justice David Maraga yesterday narrated how he was once arrested in Nakuru town while still a student allegedly for loitering, and detained for hours. Maraga said criminal sanctions on petty offences that expose poor Kenyans to rampant violations of human rights by enforcement officers are unconstitutional. See page 9 KENNETH LUSAKA EACC probes irregular tenders Barely two days after Governor Kenneth Lusaka…

The government has allocated Sh6.3 billion to irrigation projects countrywide to improve food security. The money will be used to expand irrigation projects and rehabilitate old irrigation schemes Presenting the budget statement yesterday to the National Assembly, Treasury CS Henry Rotich said the money will ensure Kenya becomes food-sufficient. “The country will be food secure through agriculture, which is the backbone of our economy,” he said. The schemes set to benefit include the Galana-Kulalu irrigation scheme, which will receive Sh600 million, Mwea (Sh2.1 billion) and Bura (Sh900 million). “The government has allocated Sh2.2 billion for the expansion irrigation projects, Sh200 million for smallholder irrigation programmes and Sh300 million for community-based irrigation programmes,” Rotich added. He said the government has increased land under irrigation to more than 27,000 acres between 2013…

The government yesterday increased allocations to key health projects started by the Jubilee government and institutions under the national government. Kenyatta National Hospital received Sh9 billion, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital Sh6.2bn, while the Kenya Medical Research Institute received its highest allocation ever – Sh2 billion. The government also put more money into President Uhuru Kenyatta’s pet project – free maternity – which got Sh4.3 billion in 2017-18, up from Sh4.29 billion in 2016-17. Last year, KNH got Sh8.8 billion, MTRH Sh4.8 billion and Kemri Sh1.7 billion. The medical equipment scheme for 98 hospitals received Sh5 billion, compared to Sh4.5 billion last year. Finance CS Henry Rotich said the free maternity programme has led to construction of more than 200 delivery theatres across the country. He said hospital deliveries increased…

POLITICS is the game of making the impossible possible. Well, a sitting MP from Kisii who has been flip-flopping of late as to which party he will use at the August 8 polls is a man under siege. The vocal MP, who decamped from ODM to Jubilee and later reunited with the Orange party after a few weeks, is not sure whether he will get the party ticket in the primaries. This is because top party leadership is said to be favouring his youthful opponent who is in good books with the party leader. The lawmaker, who has been restless of late trying to shop for his political vehicle ahead of the polls, is said to be headed back to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s (pictured) Jubilee Party to ensure he is…

President Uhuru Kenyatta is using his fifth and final budget before the August polls — Sh2.62 trillion — to appeal to the common man. The proposed budget is Sh340 billion higher than the Sh2.26 trillion for 2016-17. Treasury CS Henry Rotich yesterday announced drastic measures to bring down the cost of living and the cost of food, which has been shooting up. But he also slapped a uniform 50 per cent ‘sin tax’ tax on all forms of betting and gaming, saying they have negative social effects. The theme was help for wananchi. Maize and wheat flour will be exempted from VAT. Households, manufacturers and low-income earners were among the biggest winners in the budget presented to Parliament. The budget also seeks to grow the manufacturing sector and create jobs.…