The Star 04/11/2017

The Council of Governors has expressed concern Ifmis has not worked since Monday last week, disrupting operations across the 47 counties. In a statement yesterday, the governors said the disruption has affected payments for emergency services, development and workers. “The promise was that through Ifmis, county governments will have enhanced efficiency in planning, budgeting, procurement, expenditure management and reporting ensuring prudent disbursement and utilisation of resources,” the statement read. The governors accused the national government of cheating them, adding that when presented with the system, they were assured it was foolproof, “but that is not the case”. “The Council of Governors views this as a subtle attempt to slow down county governments’ expenditure as the General Election date draws nearer. Delivery of services to Kenyans cannot, and should not be…

ROBERT GODEC US pumps cash for Turkana plan The US government has pumped in Sh25 billion to an underground water exploration project in Turkana county.US ambassador Robert Godec has said Turkana’s underground water is enough to supply water to the entire semi-arid Northern Kenya. He said the mapping project will also establish how the water resource will be exploited. See Page 9 PHILIP MURGOR Shelves presidential ambition Former Director of Public Prosecutions Philip Murgor yesterday pulled out of the presidential race only four months after declaring interest in the highest office in the land. Apart from the expensive campaigns, Murgor, who was running on a United Democratic Movement Party ticket, cited the IG’s refusal to assign him bodyguards. See Page 14 MUSICIAN JAGUAR Charged with careless driving Popular musician and…

Cases of child abuse are still rampant in Mombasa county, regional civic education assistant director Maryam Mzee has said. Many children, especially girls, suffer in silence as perpetrators are relatives or people known to them, she said on Saturday. In a meeting held at Kisimani with women’s lobby Super Mamas of Bridge International Academy Coast region, Mzee said children need to be protected. She said her office has received many reports of rape and girls being forced into prostitution by their relatives, foster parents and guardians. Mzee, however, did not provide the statistics. “Right now I do not have the actual figures, but the cases are on the rise. There are also so many cases which go unreported,” she said. Rukia Lugogo, the chairperson of Super Mamas, said government agencies…

WHAT is going on at Kenya Airways? We are told that the people are strategically being given positions before the new CEO takes over. It is not clear whether chairman Michael Joseph (pictured) is aware of the changes, some that may undermine his effort to turn around the airline. We are told some positions have been filled without being advertised and their jobs are similar to the ones their juniors are holding. The fear by those making the decisions, we are told, is that the new CEO is likely to be a mzungu because four of them have been shortlisted to take over from Mbuvi Ngunze. That may complicate things for them. A senior ODM member was overheard laughing off the ongoing probe into the conduct of some party members…

THOUGH SIGNIFICANT EARLY-WARNING PLATFORMS ARE FUNCTIONING IN ADVANCE OF THE POLL, ANTI-VIOLENCE EFFORTS DO NOT MATCH THOSE MOUNTED IN THE RUN-UP TO THE 2013 ELECTIONS Pre- and post-election violence is a grave concern for Kenyans who say the question is not whether it will happen but where and how much, an influential US observer group has said. The respected American NGO, the National Democratic Institute, said most Kenyans interviewed want state security to closely monitor political activities and incitement before, during and after the August 8 General Election. An NDI delegation is visiting the country and interviewing residents and stakeholders countrywide. It released its report yesterday. In July 2015, when US President Barack Obama visited Kenya, the two countries agreed the US would provide electoral assistance. Memories of the 2007-08…

The government is conducting continuous situation analyses in areas predisposed to pre-and post-election violence. Factors include politicians’ character. Measures are in place and every situation is reviewed continuously. Police commanders are trained on joint operations planning so they work in unison towards the same goal. We have encouraged officers to do a lot of close liaison with politicians. Operatives on the ground have been advised not to exploit the section of the population posing threat of violence. Our message to citizens is there is no physical violence hotspot. Violence caused by breaking law and order is only likely to happen where it is tolerated. Violence does not occur by itself, instead, politicians are its agents. We are monitoring all politicians’ conduct so when somebody instigates violence, they are dealt with…