The Star 04/07/2017

The Cabinet yesterday approved the creation of the Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, to remove the capital’s traffic gridlock and unlock its vast economic potential. The Cabinet, chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi, was first briefed on the Nairobi Metropolitan Transport Authority Bill, 2016, which will provide relevant laws to run the authority. Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia sought approval for the formation of the authority through the Executive Order issued by President Kenyatta in February. The authority will address the transport challenges that have hampered the economy of the wider Nairobi metropolitan area covering the city, Murang’a, Kiambu, Kajiado and Machakos. The functions of the authority will include developing a coherent transport policy supportive of the development of the Nairobi Metropolitan Area. It will oversee the…

WAIRIA’S MILK PROJECT 300,000 pupils to benefit The Murang’a government has started a milk programme for schools to ensure every child gets 200ml every week, where more than 60,000 litres will be consumed each wek. The programme launched on Wednesday by Governor Mwangi Wairia will benefit more than 300,000 pupils in more than 350 schools. The project will boost farmers’ income. See page 29 ODM ASPIRANTS Five battle for Budalang’I MP Budalang’i constituents will today nominate one candidate out of five parliamentary aspirants competing for the ticket. The five include former area MP Raphael Wanjala who defected to ODM from the Jubilee Party, Andrew Nakitare, David Obara, Leonard Obimbira and Albert Gumo. The contestants have been traversing the area to woo voters. See page 36 FACING HUNGER No food, water…

The Cabinet yesterday waived fees for title deed searches. Chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta, it said this will cushion Kenyans from unnecessary costs. This is part of the government’s ease of doing of business in Kenya policy. policy to The directive is also expected to reduce the bureaucratic procedures that have characterised land transactions for decades. The decision comes on the back of the progress that the Jubilee administration has made in issuing more than three million title deeds since coming into office. The government was able to surpass its target of issuing three million titles by fast-tracking the issuance of titles through a temporary waiver of land adjudication and survey fees. The Ministry of Lands is also working on the digitisation of land registries that has seen automation of…

THAT ODM never seems to learn from its mistakes is no secret. The confusion at the party headquarters is shocking. The secretariat looks rudderless and everyone seems to do what he or she wants and officials are even doing business with the party, clear conflict of interest. What is most appalling is that the party has not replied to simple requests by the US embassy and the UK high commission for accreditation to observe its party primaries. The question many are asking is: Why is the Orange party so hesitant to allow observers at their nominations exercise, if it truly plans to hold free and fair primaries? WE are told that MIGORI GOVERNOR OKOTH OBADO phoned Suna East MP Junet Mohamed and called him “al Shabaab”. The governor had just…

NASA won big yesterday as the IEBC caved in to pressure and allowed the opposition alliance to operate a parallel tallying system. The condition is that it’s only for internal use. The opposition alliance now can implement a vote protection strategy involving 45,000 polling agents deployed countrywide on August 8. After meeting for nearly three hours with NASA captains at Anniversary Towers, IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati emerged to announce even the media would be free to tally and verify results. “Parties recognise it is the mandate of the IEBC to announce and declare the results of an election. However, political parties and media may monitor, tally and verify the results for the own internal use,” Chebukati told a joint press briefing with the opposition. But only the commission may announce…

REPORTS from certain unverified sources carried by some sections of media purporting that NASA has reached a decision on the position of flagbearer are erroneous. Our members in the National Coordinating Committee and technical committee are unaware of any decision having been made by the NCC or the technical committee on the flagbearer. We are however aware of many working documents and proposals under discussion in the two committees. We therefore encourage that anchor parties to the NASA coalition must refrain from conduct that undermines unity. As a party, we are happy to announce that, towards validating our mutually agreed competitive and democratic process to unveil the NASA Presidential candidate, on Wednesday evening we presented to the IEBC the Honourable Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi as the party’s Presidential aspirant alongside other…