Friday, July 31, 2020
Thursday, July 30, 2020
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
Monday, July 27, 2020
Uhuru's updates on COVID19
27/7/20
THE TENTH [10TH] PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC MONDAY, 27TH JULY, 2020 STATE HOUSE, NAIROBI
My Fellow Countrymen,
Today marks the 21st day since I last addressed you on the 6th of July 2020. On that day, in order to enable our economy to open, I reduced some measures we had taken against the COVID-19 pandemic. This action was made alongside a national call to individual and collective ‘civic responsibility’.
This process of de-escalating the measures against the pandemic needed all citizens to be far more serious with wearing masks, sanitising often, and keeping social distance. We have had 3 weeks to assess the response.
This morning, I chaired the Fifth Extraordinary Summit of the National and County Governments. This was third consultation we have had on where we stand as a country against one of the greatest health and economic threats faced by humanity in the last century.
The results are in. The surge of the infections has continued for the last 21 days, and in some areas accelerated sharply. The virus has now infected Kenyans in 44 counties.
Nationally, 17,603 persons have so far tested positive for the virus. My greatest concern at the moment is the aggressive surge of infections among young Kenyans who are in turn infecting their elders.
Contact tracing of the recent surge of infections indicates that our socialising without regard for protective behaviour, particularly in environments serving alcohol, is becoming a high risk factor.
We are fortunate that our Case Fatality Rate, at 1.6%, is much lower than the global average. Perhaps it is this relatively low rate that is giving some Kenyans false comfort that this is not a serious health risk to them and their families.
Those are the people who have interpreted the de-escalation of the measures as a green light to pay no heed to the guidance by our health authorities. Their reckless actions are endangering those around them, and our whole country.
I must remind Kenyans that the Government cannot police the morality of its citizens. Citizens must balance between their individual rights and their responsibility to each other.
We cannot have a policeman at every street and in every village to enforce the rules. We need, as citizens, to hold ourselves and one another accountable.
If someone enters your shop without a mask, insist that they wear one. If a waiter in a restaurant is not complying with the health rules, speak up, report them, and even refuse them your business. Do your part knowing that it will keep you and your loved ones safer.
These are not normal times. Countries whose citizens have taken a careless or relaxed attitude have suffered greatly. Let us not follow their example.
Some who have the most extensive and advanced medical facilities have been completely overwhelmed.
Their sick, by the tens of thousands, have suffered loneliness as comforting visitors are kept away to prevent infection. They have lacked sufficient space in their morgues.
They have dug graves by the tens of thousands for lonely, scary burials as health authorities limit the numbers who can mourn at the graveside. We cannot allow this to be Kenya’s fate.
We mourn the 280 Kenyans lost to this cruel virus as of yesterday. Unfortunately, there will be more. The only question is whether we shall emerge with a low number of deaths or shall suffer a catastrophe.
The harsh reality is that we are at war. With an invisible, ruthless and relentless enemy.
In war, no mercy is shown by either side. In war, survival is key. Self-preservation is the priority for all in a theatre of war.
This is precisely the level of danger we find ourselves in today. COVID-19 will only be defeated if Kenyans stand shoulder-to-shoulder and take up arms.
In war, victory is assured by united armies that pursue the singular aim of subjugating the enemy. Our victory will be to suffer minimal harm, and to shorten the length of the war.
It is time to get realistic as parents, brothers, sisters, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Look at those around you that you love dearly and care about.
They are the people that your actions are going to impact going forward. You do not want to mourn them, and they do not want to mourn you.
The power is in your hands to save them. Wear a mask and wash your hands because you are a responsible and caring person, not because the Government is telling you to do so.
We all have to step up to being responsible. This is especially the case with leaders, particularly the elected ones.
All measures announced today shall be applied to all citizens regardless of their social or political standing.
When we de-escalated 21 days ago, I said that I would not hesitate to re-escalate again if reckless behavior is widespread.
Accordingly, in response to today’s resolutions from my consultation with the Governors, and on the advice of the National Security Council and the National Emergency Response Committee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, I further order and direct as follows:
I. The Nationwide Curfew shall remain in force for a further 30 days.
II. There will be no sale of alcoholic drinks and beverages in eateries and restaurants across the Territory of the Republic of Kenya, effective at midnight today, for the next 30 days.
III. The closing time for restaurants and eateries has been amended from 8pm to 7pm, starting today at midnight, for the next 30 days.
IV. Bars shall remain closed until further notice.
V. That the Inspector–General of the National Police Service shall cause withdrawal of all licenses for bars operating in breach of this directive.
VI. That the Inspector General shall file a weekly return of all bars whose licenses have been withdrawn to the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Co-ordination of National Government.
VII. That the Inspector General of Police shall ensure that his officers spare no mheshimiwa, or individual, regardless of social status or rank, who is either out after curfew or who flaunts the health protocols without being an essential worker. The rules are for all of us, and rank or status does not exempt you from them.
VIII. That the National Government Administration Officers and the National Police Service will strictly enforce Ministry of Health protocols on public gatherings, and particularly funerals.
IX. That strict personal sanction will ensue to all police and National Administration officers in whose areas of jurisdiction there is breach of the set guidelines.
X. That the Ministry of Health will develop a protocol to temporarily retain retired anesthetists and ICU staff to support the medical staff assigned to dealing with serious COVID-19 cases in the Counties.
XI. That any Government Institutions including all sporting facilities, stadia and educational institutions and other Government facilities, upon designation by the Cabinet Secretary for Health as a public health facility, shall be availed to the Ministry of Health for Isolation and Quarantine purposes.
If, and when, necessary, these measures will be made even more stringent. We will do this without hesitation because we hold precious the life of every Kenyan.
We also understand that our economic health as a country is ultimately tied to keeping our infections and fatalities as low as possible. There will be little tourism, scarce investment and falling trade if our headlines start to match those of countries that have been hardest hit by the pandemic.
I want to thank the Governors for the efforts they are making. I have been encouraged to note that over 70% of County Governments have met the set irreducible minimum we agreed on a few weeks ago.
This is only the start. I have urged them to do more to reach full compliance and to go even further. I have promised to work with them to help keep Kenyans working and producing as much as possible during this time.
Let me remind Kenyans that this is not a competition, not between counties and National Government, not amongst counties, not between political groupings, this is a war that we shall either drown together of hold each other up and see the glory of God as we celebrate victory against this invisible enemy.
In closing, let us salute the sacrifices made by our frontline staff the medical care workers who have unflinchingly sustained our war against COVID-19.
We honour the soul of the first health care worker to succumb to the coronavirus: Dr. Doreen Adisa Lugaliki. May perpetual light shine upon her oh Lord and grant her family and particularly her twins, who have been robbed the gift of a mother too early.
We extend our gratitude too to our law enforcement officers for their valiant acts.
We thank God for his Grace and Mercy, and pray to him to save the souls of those we have lost this pandemic.
Thank you.
Courtesy
Raila's take on county revenue sharing
In recent few days, the attention of the country has been captured by the standoff over the sharing of revenue among county governments. Five times, the Senate has failed to adopt its own amendments to the third basis formula for sharing revenue from the Commission for Revenue Allocation.
This stand-off is causing paralysis and mistrust at a time the country needs to be united and singularly focused on tackling the grave pandemic currently threatening the lives and livelihoods of our people. It has also taken a dangerous ethnic undertone instead of being a level-headed debate on the nation's development trajectory.
The revenue sharing formula that the Senate has deadlocked over is a variation of what was recommended by the Commission for Revenue Allocation (CRA), the body mandated under Article 216 (1) of the Constitution of Kenya, to come up with a formula.
The key principle in the CRA recommendation on the third basis for revenue sharing for the next five financial years is that allocation should be population-driven. The CRA recommendation is based on an understanding that county governments are about service requirements of the population including in health, agriculture, infrastructure,education, among others.
The Senate made certain amendments to the CRA recommendation but equally retained the central principle that allocation must be about the population. Unfortunately, the institution has disagreed on its own amendments.
Under the circumstances, the country and our people would better served if we adopted the recommendation of the CRA for the next five years.
The CRA recommendation built on lessons from a comprehensive review of the second basis, a comparative analysis of financing transfer systems from other countries, and extensive consultations with national government, county governments, public finance experts, and the public in an independent and non-partisan manner.
In order to avoid a similar stand-off next time, the concerns currently arising should be forwarded to the CRA for consideration in its future recommendation.
The resources currently being recommended can adequately serve our counties if we eliminate corruption in addition to heavily punishing those perpetuating the vice both at the national and county levels. Luckily, the war on corruption is yielding fruits and should safeguard public finances.
We must also focus on encouraging counties to raise own source revenues from the economic activities within the county and demanding a prudent usage of those resources.
Having had a robust debate on this matter, the Senate should now allow the country move forward by adopting the CRA report while using the concerns voiced for future recommendations on revenue sharing.
Courtesy
Sunday, July 26, 2020
ODM HAS NO "SECRET PACT" WITH KALONZO
Edwin Sifuna
The Orange Democratic Movement is shocked by claims made by Hon. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka that there exists a secret pact between him and our party Leader H.E. Raila Odinga that will see Raila support him in 2022.
We wish to state categorically that no such deal exists. We are however not surprised that Kalonzo is making those claims. It is typical of Mr Kalonzo's character as a two faced treacherous character who is always whining while seeking to reap where he did not sow. It is a continuation of his “ kati kati” brand of politics. Kalonzo has indeed been variously described as a hyena who follows a man hoping the hands will fall.
We know that Kalonzo tried to push Raila to commit to support him in 2022 as part of the NASA pact and as a party, we flatly rejected that demand. It is why the coalition agreement left it open for the party to support any of the partners in the event the coalition was renewed in 2022.
The so-called deal therefore only exists in Kalonzo's wild dreams. Consistent with Kalonzo's politics of whining and lying while seeking to reap where he has sowed nothing, he claims that ODM frustrated NASA and that that is the reason he is seeking a coalition agreement with Jubilee. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is a fact that for a whole year after 2017 elections, ODM single-handedly financed the NASA Secretariat, including paying staff salaries. That was because Wiper and all the other NASA parties refused to submit the Ksh10,000 monthly payment of their elected leaders to finance the Secretariat. ODM had no option but to stop shouldering the burden.
NASA became untenable after Kalonzo, Moses Wetangula and Musalia Mudavadi, in their usual cowardice, skipped the swearing in of its presidential candidate despite having committed to be present. They alone are responsible for the death of NASA.
With their subsequent withdrawal of financial support to the Nasa secretariat it became clear to us in ODM that we were dealing with very dishonest cowards who could not be depended on to put up a fight. It is quite dishonest of Kalonzo to claim that he is seeking a coalition agreement with Jubilee because of ODM betrayal.
The fact is, Kalonzo is feeling threatened by Governors Charity Ngilu, Prof Kivutha Kibwana and Dr. Alfred Mutua. In seeking a deal with Jubilee, Kalonzo is seeking protection from the three Governors. It is equally extremely dishonest of Kalonzo to claim that ODM stopped attending meetings of NASA management committee. The fact is, members of that committee from the other parties long left.
Kalonzo knows that Johnson Muthama left Wiper long ago and has since joined Willam Ruto, together with Dr. Bonny Khalwale who was also a member of the committee. Even before the elections, Muthama had made it clear that he would never campaign for Wiper because of Kalonzo's politics of dishonesty, cowardice and backstabbing. Isaac Ruto left the NASA Coalition ahead of 2017 repeat elections and went back to Jubilee. Which management committee would Kalonzo be whining about now?
Kalonzo is a known traitor, currently undermining governors Ngilu, Mutua and Kibwana who won their seats against his wishes. It is his politics of slyness, cowardice and self aggrandisement that has made him lose Hon Muthama and it is that brand of politics that is pushing him to Jubilee despite the fact that his arrival will add absolutely no value to Jubilee.
As a party, we challenge Kalonzo to man up, stop whining and be able to stand up for something for once.ODM and its leader Raila Odinga owe Kalonzo nothing. As a party, we have moved on and we are not planning our politics around Kalonzo. We feel it is our duty to advise anybody or party seeking to work with Kalonzo to know that they will come to know nothing but singular misery from that association.
They will be harangued, blackmailed and extorted at every turn as their new "partner"pushes for goodies for himself and his close relatives. You will be expected to be a babysitter and sponsor to someone who will offer nothing in return in a toxic one way parasitic relationship.
Edwin Sifuna
Secretary General
July 26 2020
The Orange Democratic Movement is shocked by claims made by Hon. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka that there exists a secret pact between him and our party Leader H.E. Raila Odinga that will see Raila support him in 2022.
We wish to state categorically that no such deal exists. We are however not surprised that Kalonzo is making those claims. It is typical of Mr Kalonzo's character as a two faced treacherous character who is always whining while seeking to reap where he did not sow. It is a continuation of his “ kati kati” brand of politics. Kalonzo has indeed been variously described as a hyena who follows a man hoping the hands will fall.
We know that Kalonzo tried to push Raila to commit to support him in 2022 as part of the NASA pact and as a party, we flatly rejected that demand. It is why the coalition agreement left it open for the party to support any of the partners in the event the coalition was renewed in 2022.
The so-called deal therefore only exists in Kalonzo's wild dreams. Consistent with Kalonzo's politics of whining and lying while seeking to reap where he has sowed nothing, he claims that ODM frustrated NASA and that that is the reason he is seeking a coalition agreement with Jubilee. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is a fact that for a whole year after 2017 elections, ODM single-handedly financed the NASA Secretariat, including paying staff salaries. That was because Wiper and all the other NASA parties refused to submit the Ksh10,000 monthly payment of their elected leaders to finance the Secretariat. ODM had no option but to stop shouldering the burden.
NASA became untenable after Kalonzo, Moses Wetangula and Musalia Mudavadi, in their usual cowardice, skipped the swearing in of its presidential candidate despite having committed to be present. They alone are responsible for the death of NASA.
With their subsequent withdrawal of financial support to the Nasa secretariat it became clear to us in ODM that we were dealing with very dishonest cowards who could not be depended on to put up a fight. It is quite dishonest of Kalonzo to claim that he is seeking a coalition agreement with Jubilee because of ODM betrayal.
The fact is, Kalonzo is feeling threatened by Governors Charity Ngilu, Prof Kivutha Kibwana and Dr. Alfred Mutua. In seeking a deal with Jubilee, Kalonzo is seeking protection from the three Governors. It is equally extremely dishonest of Kalonzo to claim that ODM stopped attending meetings of NASA management committee. The fact is, members of that committee from the other parties long left.
Kalonzo knows that Johnson Muthama left Wiper long ago and has since joined Willam Ruto, together with Dr. Bonny Khalwale who was also a member of the committee. Even before the elections, Muthama had made it clear that he would never campaign for Wiper because of Kalonzo's politics of dishonesty, cowardice and backstabbing. Isaac Ruto left the NASA Coalition ahead of 2017 repeat elections and went back to Jubilee. Which management committee would Kalonzo be whining about now?
Kalonzo is a known traitor, currently undermining governors Ngilu, Mutua and Kibwana who won their seats against his wishes. It is his politics of slyness, cowardice and self aggrandisement that has made him lose Hon Muthama and it is that brand of politics that is pushing him to Jubilee despite the fact that his arrival will add absolutely no value to Jubilee.
As a party, we challenge Kalonzo to man up, stop whining and be able to stand up for something for once.ODM and its leader Raila Odinga owe Kalonzo nothing. As a party, we have moved on and we are not planning our politics around Kalonzo. We feel it is our duty to advise anybody or party seeking to work with Kalonzo to know that they will come to know nothing but singular misery from that association.
They will be harangued, blackmailed and extorted at every turn as their new "partner"pushes for goodies for himself and his close relatives. You will be expected to be a babysitter and sponsor to someone who will offer nothing in return in a toxic one way parasitic relationship.
Edwin Sifuna
Secretary General
July 26 2020
Saturday, July 25, 2020
Friday, July 24, 2020
Sonko Bolts Out
Sonko unilaterally pulls out of Nairobi transfer deal
Governor accuses National Government of bullying him
Sonko: Takeover deal is grounded in "sheer bad faith
Sonko: County govt. won’t condone breaches of the law
Four key departments were taken over in the February deal Uhuru appointed Maj. Gen. Badi to run the departments
#FridayNight @lillian_muli
Courtesy
Governor accuses National Government of bullying him
Sonko: Takeover deal is grounded in "sheer bad faith
Sonko: County govt. won’t condone breaches of the law
Four key departments were taken over in the February deal Uhuru appointed Maj. Gen. Badi to run the departments
#FridayNight @lillian_muli
Courtesy
Thursday, July 23, 2020
Masks
When I wear a mask in public, or decline an invitation to a party or to come inside:
🔵 I want you to know that I am educated enough to know that I could be asymptomatic and still give you the virus.
🔵 No, I don’t “live in fear” of the virus; I just want to be part of the solution, not the problem.
🔵 I don’t feel like the “government is controlling me;” I feel like I’m being a contributing adult to society and I want to teach others the same.
🔵 The world doesn’t revolve around me. It’s not all about me and my comfort.
🔵 If we all could live with other people's consideration in mind, this whole world would be a much better place.
🔵 Wearing a mask doesn’t make me weak, scared, stupid, or even “controlled.” It makes me considerate.
🔵 When you think about how you look, how uncomfortable it is, or what others think of you, just imagine someone close to you - a child, a spouse, a father, a mother, grandparent, aunt, or uncle - choking on a respirator, alone without you or any family member allowed at bedside.
🔵 Ask yourself if you could have sucked it up a little for them.
Wearing a mask is not political. It’s public health!
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Wednesday, July 22, 2020
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Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Monday, July 13, 2020
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Friday, July 10, 2020
Thursday, July 9, 2020
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Monday, July 6, 2020
Sunday, July 5, 2020
Ruto's take
Courtesy“In today's Kenya, several politicians [linked to me] are being threatened that they'd be taken to court for alleged graft-related offences, face tax evasion charges, or they’ll be investigated by EACC & consequently arraigned.” ~ DP Ruto at his Sugoi home on Sat. July 4, 2020. pic.twitter.com/W3HnTbSJpf— K24 TV (@K24Tv) July 4, 2020
KCFA 2020 Virtual Annual National Conference Day 3
KCFA 2020 Virtual Annual National Conference Day 3
Saturday, July 4, 2020
Friday, July 3, 2020
Thursday, July 2, 2020
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
Raila is back
Courtesy..And we're back! Feeling good and fresh, ready for the game! A special message from @RailaOdinga pic.twitter.com/PVVkVdKuGV— WinnieOdinga (@winnie_odinga) July 1, 2020
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