The Star 10/30/2017

Chimpanzees, leopards and giraffes are among 33 endangered species set to receive special protection after a UN-backed wildlife conference endorsed additional protection last week in Manila, the Philippines. During the six-day Convention of Migratory Species Conference that ended on Saturday, world leaders demanded more protection for species that cross country borders. Governments also agreed to cooperate to reduce the negative impact of marine debris, noise pollution, renewable energy and climate change on migratory species. These include actions on Africa’s great carnivores, 10 species of vultures, and the endangered whale shark. The 12th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals took place from October 23-28 under the theme ‘Their Future is Our Future – Sustainable Development for Wildlife and…

INJURED PROTESTERS Homa Bay county to pay bills Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti has directed various health facilities to offer free medical treatment to res- idents with bullet injuries following anti-election protests. “Let all health facilities with such patients offer treatment first before they ask for money. My government is going to settle the bills for the victims,” he said. See Page 28 CMA To hold forum to discuss debt The Capital Markets Authority has proposed a stakeholders’ meeting to discuss Kenya’s rising debt. This was after growing concerns on the debt ratio, which keeps growing. At the moment, its is 56.4 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product. “We will discuss what appropriate levels of the debts are,” senior market development officer Justus Mogoti said. See Page 15 KAWANGWARE…

The Kenya Certificate of Primary Examination begins tomorrow with rehearsals scheduled for today. According to the Kenya National Examinations Council, 1,002,922 million registered for the KCPE exam, while another 615,284 registered for the KCSE exam. KCPE candidates will sit mathematics, English and composition exams tomorrow. On Wednesday, they will be examined in science, Kiswahili lugha and insha. The exams end on Thursday with social studies and CRE. KCSE exam candidates have been undertaking practical exams, which end on Thursday. The main exams are scheduled to run from November 6 to 30, with rehearsals set for November 3. The exams come at a time when the country is going through a turbulent political period following the repeat presidential election. Some candidates have died during the ongoing skirmishes between the police and…

THERE were assurances from President Uhuru Kenyatta and acting Interior CS Fred Matiang’i (pictured) that the government will protect the property and lives of Kenyans before, during and after the just-concluded repeat presidential election. However, in most parts of the country goons, and in some cases the police themselves, destroyed property, broke into other people’s homes and businesses. Now the question many Kenyans are asking is: Was the promise just lip service? Where were the law enforcement officers? STILL on matters to do with security officers: Where did the anti-riot water cannons go? This was a question police officers who were quelling violence in parts of the Nyanza region were overheard asking. To them the trucks fitted with panels and brushes that can clear materials used by rioters to barricade…

NASA leader Raila Odinga yesterday told off his Jubilee critics for their persistent calls for his retirement from politics, saying he will do so on his own time and terms. Addressing a a public rally in Nairobi’s Kawangware estate, where he visited to calm NASA supporters after two days of running battles with their Jubilee rivals and the police, Raila said he would remain on the political scene for the foreseeable future. The opposition chief made a fourth stab at becoming President in the August 8 election, which was seen as his ‘last bullet moment’. He said he will not bow to pressure from President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto to quit politics. “Those in Jubilee always say I should retire and that I am old. Those who…

There are still issues concerning the August election and the rerun that was ordered by the Supreme Court. I don’t think it would be prudent for Raila Odinga to retire at this point and time. But the question is: Why is that issue coming up at this point and time? I thought he would have focussed more on the agenda that NASA is going to sustain concerning the just-concluded election. The issue of his retirement is not an issue. Why would he be bringing it up at this point and time? That is a very interesting bit he is bringing up. That issue was raised during the political campaign season and he answered them adequately. The argument from the Jubilee side was that he should retire from politics based on…