THE national census enters its third day today and whereas those carrying out the exercise were upbeat, there were concerns too about slow pace, raising fears that not all Kenyans will get to be counted before it ends.The government admitted yesterday that the National Population and Housing Census has been marred by some logistical problems with some areas still to receive materials to be used in the exercise.And last evening, former President Daniel arap Moi added his voice to the raging debate of tribe that had threatened to scuttle the exercise.
The retired President faulted the government for what he termed, fragmenting the Kalenjin community during the ongoing national census.In a statement released yesterday by his press secretary Lee Njiru, the former President said it was unfair for the Kalenjin community to be divided into sections for no apparent reasons.He wondered why the census officials insisted on sub-tribes such as Kipsigis, Keiyo, Nandi and so on, instead of just Kalenjin as was the case in past enumeration exercises.
The government has defended the inclusion of tribe question in the census saying the information will be used for planning purposes and not to advance political agenda.There have been a hue and cry over whether people should disclose their tribe during the census especially given the ethnic animosity that played a key role in the post-election violence of early 2008 and which polarised the country along tribal lines.Despite the fact that the questionnaire bears the question on tribe, KNBS says no-one will be forced to state his tribe or religion. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Director General Anthony Kilele said some districts such as Pokot North have not received materials.
However, Kilele said they have dispatched the materials and expressed optimism that the exercise will go on well. “We must appreciate that an exercise of this magnitude has a few hitches on material distribution. We expect Pokot North district to receive all materials by tomorrow (today) because pastoralists have returned home to be counted.We have also ensured that the census officials who had not received T shirts have received them,” said Kilele told a press conference at his Herufi House office in Nairobi yesterday.Apart from lack of materials, Kenyans living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps such as Olkalau boycotted the exercise accusing the Grand Coalition Government of being insensitive to their plight.
They sent away census officials arguing the exercise will not add value to their lives since the government has left them languishing in camps for the past 18 months.However, Kilele down played the issue terming the it as an isolated case which they were protesting that for not being hired as census officials. He said the Provincial Administration has sorted out the issue and they will take part in the enumeration exercise.
A number of Kenyans complained that they yet to be enumerated at the close of the second day of the exercise. Central Organisation of Trade Unions Secretary General Francis Atwoli claimed majority of the people he had contacted indicated they were yet to be enumerated.“The exercise is quite slow and at this speed, I am not certain whether they would be able to cover all the 30 million plus Kenyans,” Atwoli told Kenya Times by telephone.
But while allaying fears of the slow pace, Kilele admitted that census officials in Bomachoge and Shinyalu constituencies which will have by-elections tomorrow were actively engaged in campaigns hence putting the credibility of the enumeration exercise in the areas to question.“We are aware that some enumerators in the constituencies are agents for the candidates taking part in the by-elections tomorrow.The provincial administration will make sure they don’t interfere with the counting exercise,” said Kilele.The enumeration exercise was expected to concluded by today in the two constituencies to pave way for the elections but that did not happen due to logistical hitches.
The fifth national census which kicked off on Monday has also been hampered with security concerns. In Central province, where there had been fears of members of Mungiki disrupting the exercise, there was a heavy presence of security personnel. This has not only slowed down the exercise but also made it difficult for the government to achieve its targets.Yesterday, Kilele acknowledged that the National Population and Housing Census was not moving at the expected pace but expressed optimism that all Kenyans will be enumerated by Monday when the exercise ends.
Although the government had planned to cover 90 percent of the population during the first two days, Kilele said it has not achieved the target. Kilele who was accompanied by Nairobi Provincial Commissioner Ndirangu Njoroge said they expect to cover at least 60 percent of the population by today 10 pm. “We had estimated to cover 12 million households in the first day but we are not sure whether we have covered that. But we expect to count all Kenyans by Monday,” said the Director General.He said enumerators will conclude counting Kenyans in the disputed Migingo Island by today.
There have been fears that Kenyans in the Island which both Kenya and Uganda claim ownership will not be counted.“We will be through with Migingo by tomorrow (today). This is good because we were fearing we might not be allowed to carry out the exercise there,” added the Director General.On his part, Njoroge said the security situation was under control to facilitate smooth execution of the exercise. “This is the safest week in the country’s history. The rate of crime has gone down. I thank bar owners for closing as we had requested,” said the PC who is also the alternative Chairman National Census Steering Committee.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Raila Odinga was counted at his Karen home after returning from an official visit in Italy, and urged Kenyans to provide the enumerators with all the answers asked, including one’s tribal affiliation. President Mwai Kibaki, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and retired President Daniel Moi were enumerated on Monday.This year’s census is the most expensive in the country’s history costing Sh7billion compared to the 1999 one which took approximately Sh33 million.
On Monday, Planning Minister Wycliffe Oparanya said the country’s population is expected to hit 40 million based on the projection of the 1999 census.Oparanya said the population has risen in the country due to low HIV prevalence which currently stands at seven percent unlike in 1999 when it was 14 percent.He promised to release the provisional results by December the final results by April next year
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Task Force
Mwai Kibaki on Wednesday extended the mandate of the Task Force on Police Reforms to enable it finalise on policy recommendations.
The team, led by Justice (Rtd) Philip Ransley presented its interim report to President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Wednesday, in which it has proposed far reaching measures.
It now has an extra month to incorporate recommendations on a national security policy, a national policing policy, a policy on police service transport and reviewing functions and structures of police establishments, formation and units.
The committee was also mandated to make proposals for traffic control including policy on road blocks, the creation of municipal policing authorities and those for creating effective community policing. The taskforce is to present its report at the end of September.
President Kibaki underlined the government’s commitment to police reforms, adding that the government would keenly study the report with a view to ensuring that what is implemented will benefit the country, enhance national security and boost police staff morale.
“Welfare of police officers would continue to be a priority especially housing and remuneration. We want the reforms we implement to also lead in better relations between the police and members of the public in order to ensure that security is enhanced in all corners of the country,” said the President.
“We also want the Police Force to be transformed into a Police Service that serves wananchi well.”
Some of the recommendations in the Interim Report include the change of name from Kenya Police Force to Kenya Police Service, the establishment of a Police Service Commission and the creation of an Independent Civilian Police Oversight Authority.
In addition, recommendations on police welfare and service conditions include the audit of police housing projects and broader review of housing conditions for the police, the Introduction of Special Police Allowance and a comprehensive medical and insurance scheme. The team also recommended the establishment of a Police Reforms Implementation Commission.
The news came in against reports of discomfort from the Police Headquarters on some of the recommendations of the team.
In recent weeks, unsigned statements from Vigilance House have been in circulation castigating the task force and its interim report and have in many occasions sought to question the credibility of some of the task force members.
One of the statements criticises members of the task force as a bunch of former Provincial Administration officials who are “likely to give recommendations that favour the Administration Police.”
One of the documents titled ‘Disband Police Task Force for Mediocrity’ states that the task force had overstepped its mandate by recommending the sacking of the top police leadership instead of concentrating on giving a roadmap to policy and institutional reforms.
Sources say Vigilance House is unhappy with a raft of recommendations in the interim report, particularly calls to sack all officers holding the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) among others.
The team, led by Justice (Rtd) Philip Ransley presented its interim report to President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Wednesday, in which it has proposed far reaching measures.
It now has an extra month to incorporate recommendations on a national security policy, a national policing policy, a policy on police service transport and reviewing functions and structures of police establishments, formation and units.
The committee was also mandated to make proposals for traffic control including policy on road blocks, the creation of municipal policing authorities and those for creating effective community policing. The taskforce is to present its report at the end of September.
President Kibaki underlined the government’s commitment to police reforms, adding that the government would keenly study the report with a view to ensuring that what is implemented will benefit the country, enhance national security and boost police staff morale.
“Welfare of police officers would continue to be a priority especially housing and remuneration. We want the reforms we implement to also lead in better relations between the police and members of the public in order to ensure that security is enhanced in all corners of the country,” said the President.
“We also want the Police Force to be transformed into a Police Service that serves wananchi well.”
Some of the recommendations in the Interim Report include the change of name from Kenya Police Force to Kenya Police Service, the establishment of a Police Service Commission and the creation of an Independent Civilian Police Oversight Authority.
In addition, recommendations on police welfare and service conditions include the audit of police housing projects and broader review of housing conditions for the police, the Introduction of Special Police Allowance and a comprehensive medical and insurance scheme. The team also recommended the establishment of a Police Reforms Implementation Commission.
The news came in against reports of discomfort from the Police Headquarters on some of the recommendations of the team.
In recent weeks, unsigned statements from Vigilance House have been in circulation castigating the task force and its interim report and have in many occasions sought to question the credibility of some of the task force members.
One of the statements criticises members of the task force as a bunch of former Provincial Administration officials who are “likely to give recommendations that favour the Administration Police.”
One of the documents titled ‘Disband Police Task Force for Mediocrity’ states that the task force had overstepped its mandate by recommending the sacking of the top police leadership instead of concentrating on giving a roadmap to policy and institutional reforms.
Sources say Vigilance House is unhappy with a raft of recommendations in the interim report, particularly calls to sack all officers holding the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) among others.
Raila Vs Wekesa
Raila Odinga has overruled a fourteen-day eviction notice given by the Kenya Forest Service on Mau settlers.
The Premier told the settlers to ignore the order and instead wait for the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee that will spearhead the restoration of the water tower.
“The committee will be gazetted very shortly and officially commissioned early next week. It is this committee that will spell out the programme and activities geared towards the restoration of the Mau in all its aspects,” a statement from the PM’s office said.
The contradicting orders came barely a month after Forestry and Wildlife Minister Noah Wekesa asserted that his Ministry was the one charged with spearheading the resettlement program of the water tower.
The evident contradiction angered a section of MPs from the Rift Valley who said this was creating more confusion and anxiety. The legislators dismissed the notice and demanded that the government puts its act together on the resettlement program.
“Unless there is an alternative land set aside somewhere nobody will move,” Belgut MP Charles Keter said.
“The government must follow the due process of the law in reclaiming the land,” said Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto.
The Forest Department failed to state whether any land had been identified for the resettlement of the genuine settlers as promised by the government. The PM however assured that: “holders of small parcels of land who hold legal title deeds will be compensated” stressing that the exercise to evict people in the forest will be done peacefully, orderly and in a humane way.
“We wonder whether the alternative land will be identified in the nine days remaining in the notice,” Ainamoi MP Benjamin Lagat inquired.
The MPs told off KFS saying that it has no mandate over the settlements since they were legally hived off from the forest and the order has not been overturned.
“They can only issue a notice on the areas within their jurisdiction in the forest not the land that was exercised from the forest a long time ago,” Mr Ruto stated.
KFS has ordered the eviction of 22 settlements covering 400,000 hectares of land and the MPs said that over two million people now occupy the contentious land.
President Mwai Kibaki last week ordered the Premier to hasten the eviction of settlers in the country’s water towers. The invasion of the forests and the subsequent destruction is widely blamed for the current water, food and energy crisis Kenya finds itself in.
The Premier told the settlers to ignore the order and instead wait for the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee that will spearhead the restoration of the water tower.
“The committee will be gazetted very shortly and officially commissioned early next week. It is this committee that will spell out the programme and activities geared towards the restoration of the Mau in all its aspects,” a statement from the PM’s office said.
The contradicting orders came barely a month after Forestry and Wildlife Minister Noah Wekesa asserted that his Ministry was the one charged with spearheading the resettlement program of the water tower.
The evident contradiction angered a section of MPs from the Rift Valley who said this was creating more confusion and anxiety. The legislators dismissed the notice and demanded that the government puts its act together on the resettlement program.
“Unless there is an alternative land set aside somewhere nobody will move,” Belgut MP Charles Keter said.
“The government must follow the due process of the law in reclaiming the land,” said Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto.
The Forest Department failed to state whether any land had been identified for the resettlement of the genuine settlers as promised by the government. The PM however assured that: “holders of small parcels of land who hold legal title deeds will be compensated” stressing that the exercise to evict people in the forest will be done peacefully, orderly and in a humane way.
“We wonder whether the alternative land will be identified in the nine days remaining in the notice,” Ainamoi MP Benjamin Lagat inquired.
The MPs told off KFS saying that it has no mandate over the settlements since they were legally hived off from the forest and the order has not been overturned.
“They can only issue a notice on the areas within their jurisdiction in the forest not the land that was exercised from the forest a long time ago,” Mr Ruto stated.
KFS has ordered the eviction of 22 settlements covering 400,000 hectares of land and the MPs said that over two million people now occupy the contentious land.
President Mwai Kibaki last week ordered the Premier to hasten the eviction of settlers in the country’s water towers. The invasion of the forests and the subsequent destruction is widely blamed for the current water, food and energy crisis Kenya finds itself in.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Ruto and Mudavadi
Campaigns for the Shinyalu and Bomachoge by-elections are in top gear. With just a day to go before voters in the two constituencies elect their new leaders, political parties are pitching tent in the two constituencies. Agriculture Minister William Ruto was in Shinyalu campaigning for the ODM candidate Justus Kizito barely two days after Prime Minister Raila Odinga led several ODM leaders to the constituency to campaign for party nominee. Ruto addressed several rallies in the constituency where he dismissed claims that ODM leaders were divided. Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi was also in Shinyalu campaigning for the party candidate.
Kirui for world record
World marathon champion Abel Kirui has set his sights on breaking the world marathon record.
Kirui who set a championship record of 2:06: 54 through the streets of Berlin said on Monday that he wants to savour his recent win and then focus on attacking the record currently being held by Haile Gebrselassie.
“There’s still a lot of work to be done and I don’t want to waste any time,” said Kirui upon arrival from Germany.
“Right now I’m proud of what I achieved in Berlin and will use the time I have training wisely and to train with the right people as well,” he added.
Kirui’s Emmanuel Mutai’s 1-2 finish in the men’s marathon was just one of three similar finishes for Kenya in the championships.
Ezekiel Kemboi and Richard Mateelong secured a similar finish in the men’s steeplechase while Vivian Cheruiyot and Sylvia Kibet secured a similar result in the women’s 5000m.
“I’m very happy with the silver. When I was preparing for the championships, my main aim was to be on the podium so I’m glad my dream came true,” said Mutai.
“I hope to run either the London or Boston marathons in future but I will discuss that with my agents then I will decide,” he added.
Kibet was the only other medalist who arrived with the rest of the entourage that received a heroes welcome at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Most of the other medallists are in Zurich for Friday’s IAAF Golden League meet.
“The reason Vivian (Cheruiyot) and I did well is because we talk to each other during the race as we do the lapping,” said Kibet.
Kibet said that she will not be taking anything for granted especially with the African Athletics Championships looming.
“It’s going to be very tough but we are working very hard to produce a good performance at next year’s championships,” said the All Africa Games bronze medalist.
Kirui who set a championship record of 2:06: 54 through the streets of Berlin said on Monday that he wants to savour his recent win and then focus on attacking the record currently being held by Haile Gebrselassie.
“There’s still a lot of work to be done and I don’t want to waste any time,” said Kirui upon arrival from Germany.
“Right now I’m proud of what I achieved in Berlin and will use the time I have training wisely and to train with the right people as well,” he added.
Kirui’s Emmanuel Mutai’s 1-2 finish in the men’s marathon was just one of three similar finishes for Kenya in the championships.
Ezekiel Kemboi and Richard Mateelong secured a similar finish in the men’s steeplechase while Vivian Cheruiyot and Sylvia Kibet secured a similar result in the women’s 5000m.
“I’m very happy with the silver. When I was preparing for the championships, my main aim was to be on the podium so I’m glad my dream came true,” said Mutai.
“I hope to run either the London or Boston marathons in future but I will discuss that with my agents then I will decide,” he added.
Kibet was the only other medalist who arrived with the rest of the entourage that received a heroes welcome at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Most of the other medallists are in Zurich for Friday’s IAAF Golden League meet.
“The reason Vivian (Cheruiyot) and I did well is because we talk to each other during the race as we do the lapping,” said Kibet.
Kibet said that she will not be taking anything for granted especially with the African Athletics Championships looming.
“It’s going to be very tough but we are working very hard to produce a good performance at next year’s championships,” said the All Africa Games bronze medalist.
Ababu-"We are ready"
Ababu Namwamba has said his constituents were now better prepared to deal with the predicted El Nino rains in September.
He said they had stepped up community awareness on disaster preparedness through a community radio station established by the Constituency Development Fund, Ministry of Special Programmes and the Meteorological Department.
“We realised that the major problem in emergency response in the district has been inability to transmit information,” the MP said.
“We should now be able to fairly accurately alert the community to move out of risk areas at least 48 to 72 hours ahead of a disaster,” he added.
He said the sensitisation campaigns conducted through the local radio station had adequately prepared the area residents to avoid huge emergency situations.
Mr Namwamba said the government and the World Bank were also working on a comprehensive plan to the flood problem which included repair and construction of dykes and dams.
“A lot of flooding is caused by meandering of the river which slows down the river flow so we have been reducing the corners, twists and turns of the river in the last one year,” he said.
“By making it straighter, you increase the water flow and diminish the possibility of water logging in a particular point and causing flooding,” he added.
Mr Namwamba said a survey had also been commissioned to construct dams upstream so that they could hold extra volume of water when it rained especially in the Cherangany hills.
He said the contract had been awarded to a British firm to do the survey which included citing of the dams, Environmental Impact Assessment of the dams and construction of fresh dykes.
“The ones (dykes) we have today in Budalangi are like 30 years old and so they have reached their limit,” the MP said.
He said the reconstruction of dykes would be complete by December but the dams would take longer.
“We have sealed most of the weak points around the old dykes but a lot remains to be done,” he said.
“But I believe that if the 1997 style of El Nino hits this country, we would still remain vulnerable,” he added.
He said construction of a disaster management centre was also underway and the first phase would be complete by September. The disaster management centre, he said, would have response equipment like boats, tents and a multipurpose hall that could serve as temporary shelter.
“We have seen horrible sights in the past where people lose their homesteads and stay in the open. The hall is supposed to cure that,” he said.
Budalangi is infamous for flooding with every rain season leaving thousands of families displaced and affecting local food production.
“We have two key irrigation schemes in Budalangi and both schemes are in very close proximity to the flood plain. We have been able to harvest rice for the first time in about ten years and we hope that we can have another harvest in September and October,” he said.
“But if it floods around that time then we will definitely lose our crop.”
The legislator said the World Bank had set aside Sh6 billion for the project dubbed Western Kenya Community driven development and flood mitigation project.
He said the project would cover the entire Nzoia basin from Cherangany hills to Budalangi.
“This will cover 10 districts through which the Nzoia basin runs,” Mr Namwamba said.
He said they had stepped up community awareness on disaster preparedness through a community radio station established by the Constituency Development Fund, Ministry of Special Programmes and the Meteorological Department.
“We realised that the major problem in emergency response in the district has been inability to transmit information,” the MP said.
“We should now be able to fairly accurately alert the community to move out of risk areas at least 48 to 72 hours ahead of a disaster,” he added.
He said the sensitisation campaigns conducted through the local radio station had adequately prepared the area residents to avoid huge emergency situations.
Mr Namwamba said the government and the World Bank were also working on a comprehensive plan to the flood problem which included repair and construction of dykes and dams.
“A lot of flooding is caused by meandering of the river which slows down the river flow so we have been reducing the corners, twists and turns of the river in the last one year,” he said.
“By making it straighter, you increase the water flow and diminish the possibility of water logging in a particular point and causing flooding,” he added.
Mr Namwamba said a survey had also been commissioned to construct dams upstream so that they could hold extra volume of water when it rained especially in the Cherangany hills.
He said the contract had been awarded to a British firm to do the survey which included citing of the dams, Environmental Impact Assessment of the dams and construction of fresh dykes.
“The ones (dykes) we have today in Budalangi are like 30 years old and so they have reached their limit,” the MP said.
He said the reconstruction of dykes would be complete by December but the dams would take longer.
“We have sealed most of the weak points around the old dykes but a lot remains to be done,” he said.
“But I believe that if the 1997 style of El Nino hits this country, we would still remain vulnerable,” he added.
He said construction of a disaster management centre was also underway and the first phase would be complete by September. The disaster management centre, he said, would have response equipment like boats, tents and a multipurpose hall that could serve as temporary shelter.
“We have seen horrible sights in the past where people lose their homesteads and stay in the open. The hall is supposed to cure that,” he said.
Budalangi is infamous for flooding with every rain season leaving thousands of families displaced and affecting local food production.
“We have two key irrigation schemes in Budalangi and both schemes are in very close proximity to the flood plain. We have been able to harvest rice for the first time in about ten years and we hope that we can have another harvest in September and October,” he said.
“But if it floods around that time then we will definitely lose our crop.”
The legislator said the World Bank had set aside Sh6 billion for the project dubbed Western Kenya Community driven development and flood mitigation project.
He said the project would cover the entire Nzoia basin from Cherangany hills to Budalangi.
“This will cover 10 districts through which the Nzoia basin runs,” Mr Namwamba said.
Raila counted
Prime Minister Raila Odinga has Tuesday urged Kenyans irrespective of their cultural norms and tradition to embrace the ongoing National Population census.
He asked communities whose beliefs and practices appeared to conflict with the exercise to co-operate and give the enumerators the data required arguing that the census was only to facilitate development planning of the country.
The Premier told the communities to discard retrogressive traditions especially those barring involvement of women and children in national statistics on flimsy and outdated grounds that they were not head of their respective families.
"At this time and age when we want the country to move to greater heights we should not hang o to such beliefs because we cannot address the development agenda unless we have statistics for planning" he said.
Odinga insisted that women were equal to men and termed the selective tradition insulting in modern times saying census was crucial to facilitate equitable distribution resource.
"We cannot entertain such misplaced sexist comments at a time when the nation wants to inculcate a non sexist, non racial, non ethnic and united society', he asserted.
The Premier made the plea at his Karen home when enumerators accompanied by Planning and National development Minister Wycliffe Oparanya and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Dr. Edward Sambili conducted the exercise at the Premier's residence.
The census officials took the Odingas through the questionnaires before the glare of press cameras for at least thirty minutes in a show of the seriousness the government had attached to the weeklong exercise.
The Premiers' wife Ida underscored the importance of inclusion of women in the statistics saying the figures would be used to project establishment of social amenities like schools and hospitals which were vital for both antenatal and post natal services.
She urged communities who in recent media reports have expressed resistance to take part in the exercise to shelf their hard line stance for the mutual benefit of their society.
On his recent Official trip to Italy with high powered government delegation, the premier regretted that the Kenyan tem at the International conference cut short their stay for a day to take part in the census exercise.
He said the conference deliberated on climate change, urbanization, wealth distribution and the perennial internal conflicts bedeviling the African continent.
He asked communities whose beliefs and practices appeared to conflict with the exercise to co-operate and give the enumerators the data required arguing that the census was only to facilitate development planning of the country.
The Premier told the communities to discard retrogressive traditions especially those barring involvement of women and children in national statistics on flimsy and outdated grounds that they were not head of their respective families.
"At this time and age when we want the country to move to greater heights we should not hang o to such beliefs because we cannot address the development agenda unless we have statistics for planning" he said.
Odinga insisted that women were equal to men and termed the selective tradition insulting in modern times saying census was crucial to facilitate equitable distribution resource.
"We cannot entertain such misplaced sexist comments at a time when the nation wants to inculcate a non sexist, non racial, non ethnic and united society', he asserted.
The Premier made the plea at his Karen home when enumerators accompanied by Planning and National development Minister Wycliffe Oparanya and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Dr. Edward Sambili conducted the exercise at the Premier's residence.
The census officials took the Odingas through the questionnaires before the glare of press cameras for at least thirty minutes in a show of the seriousness the government had attached to the weeklong exercise.
The Premiers' wife Ida underscored the importance of inclusion of women in the statistics saying the figures would be used to project establishment of social amenities like schools and hospitals which were vital for both antenatal and post natal services.
She urged communities who in recent media reports have expressed resistance to take part in the exercise to shelf their hard line stance for the mutual benefit of their society.
On his recent Official trip to Italy with high powered government delegation, the premier regretted that the Kenyan tem at the International conference cut short their stay for a day to take part in the census exercise.
He said the conference deliberated on climate change, urbanization, wealth distribution and the perennial internal conflicts bedeviling the African continent.
Torposa
The Kenyan government has protested frequent raids and killings by Torposa tribesmen from southern Sudan.
Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetang'ula expressed the government's deep concerns over the raid by the Torposas from southern Sudan and the subsequent killing of four Turkanas in Kenya on Saturday.
The Torposas raiders also seriously injured four other people and stole over 1000 herd of cattle.
Consequently, Wetang'ula on Monday met the Ambassador of Sudan to Kenya Majok Guandong and expressed the Kenyan government's protest over the incident.
He further condemned the killing of an administration Police Constable and a police driver who were shot by the same raiders while on a peace mission to restore order after the raid.
The Sudanese envoy Majok Guandong regretted the incident and promised that his government would cooperate with Kenyan authorities to investigate the attack and ensure that similar attacks do not occur in future.
Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetang'ula expressed the government's deep concerns over the raid by the Torposas from southern Sudan and the subsequent killing of four Turkanas in Kenya on Saturday.
The Torposas raiders also seriously injured four other people and stole over 1000 herd of cattle.
Consequently, Wetang'ula on Monday met the Ambassador of Sudan to Kenya Majok Guandong and expressed the Kenyan government's protest over the incident.
He further condemned the killing of an administration Police Constable and a police driver who were shot by the same raiders while on a peace mission to restore order after the raid.
The Sudanese envoy Majok Guandong regretted the incident and promised that his government would cooperate with Kenyan authorities to investigate the attack and ensure that similar attacks do not occur in future.
Maruge buried
The world oldest student Stephen Maruge was on Monday evening laid to rest at Arashi - B farm in Subukia.
Thousands of people and his classmates turned out to pay tribute to the 89-year-old student who died last weekend from colon cancer.
Maruge stunned the world when he joined standard one when the free primary education was introduced in 2003.
He had been a symbol of hope for the free primary education program, an initiative by the NARC government in 2003.
The principal at Kapkenduiywa primary in Eldoret says in her 30 years career she has not met a determined pupil like Maruge.
The area MP Peter Gaichuhie paid glowing tribute to Murage while Nakuru Town MP Lee Kinyanjui delivered the president's speech.
Lee said when the free primary education was introduced many were skeptical about it but Maruge demonstrated a rare spirit of resilience by enrolling as a pupil in 2004.
He was recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's oldest pupil and was set to achieve his dream of reading the Bible before the 2007 post-election violence rooted him from Eldoret.
Maruge died two weeks ago at Chesire Home for the Aged where he has been battling stomach cancer.
He was forced to withdraw from school at Kapkenduiywo and relocate to a retirement home for senior citizens last year after the post election violence.
He was 89 years old when he enrolled in standard ine in 2004.
Although there are no papers to prove his age, Maruge is believed he was born in 1920.
Maruge attended Kapkenduiywo Primary School in Eldoret before relocating to Nairobi in June last year after the post election violence.
He enrolled once again into standard six at Marura primary school in the Kariobangi area, Nairobi.
Maruge was a widower with two of his 30 grandchildren attending his former school alongside their grandfather.
He was a combatant in the Mau Mau Uprising against the British colonizers in the 1950s.
In 2005 Maruge, who was a model student was elected head boy of his former school.
In September 2005 Maruge boarded a plane for the first time in his life and headed to New York City to address the United Nations Millennium Development Summit on the importance of free primary education.
His property was stolen during 2007-2008 post-election violence and he contemplated quitting school.
As of early 2008 he lived in a refugee camp four kilometers from his former school, but still attended classes every day.
Early this year his health deteriorated and he was moved to the home where he was also baptised at the Kariobangi Catholic Church.
Thousands of people and his classmates turned out to pay tribute to the 89-year-old student who died last weekend from colon cancer.
Maruge stunned the world when he joined standard one when the free primary education was introduced in 2003.
He had been a symbol of hope for the free primary education program, an initiative by the NARC government in 2003.
The principal at Kapkenduiywa primary in Eldoret says in her 30 years career she has not met a determined pupil like Maruge.
The area MP Peter Gaichuhie paid glowing tribute to Murage while Nakuru Town MP Lee Kinyanjui delivered the president's speech.
Lee said when the free primary education was introduced many were skeptical about it but Maruge demonstrated a rare spirit of resilience by enrolling as a pupil in 2004.
He was recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's oldest pupil and was set to achieve his dream of reading the Bible before the 2007 post-election violence rooted him from Eldoret.
Maruge died two weeks ago at Chesire Home for the Aged where he has been battling stomach cancer.
He was forced to withdraw from school at Kapkenduiywo and relocate to a retirement home for senior citizens last year after the post election violence.
He was 89 years old when he enrolled in standard ine in 2004.
Although there are no papers to prove his age, Maruge is believed he was born in 1920.
Maruge attended Kapkenduiywo Primary School in Eldoret before relocating to Nairobi in June last year after the post election violence.
He enrolled once again into standard six at Marura primary school in the Kariobangi area, Nairobi.
Maruge was a widower with two of his 30 grandchildren attending his former school alongside their grandfather.
He was a combatant in the Mau Mau Uprising against the British colonizers in the 1950s.
In 2005 Maruge, who was a model student was elected head boy of his former school.
In September 2005 Maruge boarded a plane for the first time in his life and headed to New York City to address the United Nations Millennium Development Summit on the importance of free primary education.
His property was stolen during 2007-2008 post-election violence and he contemplated quitting school.
As of early 2008 he lived in a refugee camp four kilometers from his former school, but still attended classes every day.
Early this year his health deteriorated and he was moved to the home where he was also baptised at the Kariobangi Catholic Church.
ANOTHER ROAD ACCIDENT
At least 16 people were killed and dozens injured when a passenger bus veered off a road and crashed into two oil tankers in western Kenya, police said on Monday.
The bus travelling from the capital Nairobi on Sunday night collided with two lorries before veering off the road and hitting the parked tankers.
"Initial investigations show that the bus driver was speeding and he lost control as he veered off from the first accident," said Vitalis Otieno, the regional traffic police commander.
Kenya records more than 13,000 traffic accidents annually, 85 percent of which are due to human error with poor roads and badly maintained vehicles blamed for the rest.
An average of 2,600 people are killed and 11,000 injured every year, according to government statistics.
The bus travelling from the capital Nairobi on Sunday night collided with two lorries before veering off the road and hitting the parked tankers.
"Initial investigations show that the bus driver was speeding and he lost control as he veered off from the first accident," said Vitalis Otieno, the regional traffic police commander.
Kenya records more than 13,000 traffic accidents annually, 85 percent of which are due to human error with poor roads and badly maintained vehicles blamed for the rest.
An average of 2,600 people are killed and 11,000 injured every year, according to government statistics.
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