Maurice O. Ndole Contributed to this report.
Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua Tours the Diaspora
Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, toured several countries to meet Kenyans living in the diaspora.
While meeting with Kenyans in Seattle, Washington, Mutua promised to open more consulate offices.
“We plan, in time, to open more consulates in the USA. One for the Midwest either in Chicago or Mineappolis, in the South either in Dallas or Atlanta & one in the Northwest in Seattle. We’ll also have mobile biometric kits to process passports, Huduma no’s & ID’s in the US,” Mutua said.
He, however, did not state how long it would take to open the offices.
We plan, in time, to open more consulates in the USA. One for the Midwest either in Chicago or Mineappolis, in the South either in Dallas or Atlanta & one in the Northwest in Seattle. We’ll also have mobile biometric kits to process passports, Huduma no’s & ID’s in the US. pic.twitter.com/RVuZiGiLuL
— Dr. Alfred N. Mutua (@DrAlfredMutua) November 17, 2022
More on this story coming soon.
The World Cup Kicks Out in Qatar
Qataris gave the world a spectacular World Cup 2022 opening ceremony, putting critics to shame and calming the nerves of skeptics who thought the event would be a disaster.
But despite the fantastic opening ceremony, the home team did not fare well in the opening match, losing 2-nil to Ecuadorians.
Five countries, Cameroon, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia, are representing Africa and
Senegal will be the first African country to see action when they play against the Netherlands.
Twenty-eight teams are competing in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, including the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
The U.S. offers a $10 million reward for the Arrest of Al-Shabab leaders.
The U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program has offered up to $10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of al-Shabab top leaders and the disruption of the financial networks.
Targets for arrest are Ahmed Diriye, Mahad Karate, and Jehad Mostafa.
The U.S. State Department released the following charges against the subjects.
Al-Shabaab is al-Qa’ida’s partner in East Africa and is blamed for attacks in Kenyan and Somalia that have claimed hundreds of lives. A 2015 al-Shabab attack on Garissa University killed 148 victims, mostly students.
Ahmed Diriye
Al-Shabaab’s emir since September 2014, was designated by the Department as an SDGT on April 21, 2015, and by the UNSC’s Somalia Sanctions Committee on September 24, 2014. He was seen in a video meeting with al-Shabaab fighters prior to the January 2020 attack on Camp Simba in Manda Bay, Kenya, that killed one U.S. Army soldier and two U.S. contract personnel, and wounded three additional U.S. personnel and one Kenyan soldier.
Mahad Karate
Designated by the Department as an SDGT on April 21, 2015, and by the UNSC’s Somalia Sanctions Committee on February 26, 2021. Karate is al-Shabaab’s second or shadow deputy emir and continues to lead some al-Shabaab operations. Karate maintains some command responsibility over Amniyat, al-Shabaab’s intelligence and security wing, which oversees suicide attacks and assassinations in Somalia, Kenya, and other countries in the region, and provides logistics and support for al-Shabaab’s terrorist activities.
Jehad Mostafa
Jehad Mostafa is a U.S. citizen and former resident of California. Mostafa has served as a military instructor at al-Shabaab training camps, a leader of foreign fighters, a leader in al-Shabaab’s media wing, an intermediary between al-Shabaab and other terrorist organizations, and a leader in al-Shabaab’s use of explosives in terrorist attacks. In December 2019, he was indicted in federal court on charges of conspiring to provide material support to terrorists, conspiring to provide material support to al-Shabaab, and providing material support to al-Shabaab. The FBI assesses Mostafa to be the highest-ranking terrorist with U.S. citizenship fighting overseas.
Click here to read the full press release from the US State Department.
Bill Gates tour in Kenya
Billionaire American businessman, software developer, and philanthropist Bill Gates arrived in Kenya on Tuesday for an official visit that saw him meet with farmers and local leaders.
Gates committed to spending about Sh850 billion in the next four years to combat hunger, disease, gender inequality, and poverty in Africa.
Before meeting with President William Ruto at State House Nairobi, Gates visited Makueni County and said his foundation is still devoted to supporting African institutions developing and implementing innovative approaches in health, agriculture, and other areas.
“We appreciate the support it continues to extend to Kenya in realizing our development goals, especially in the healthcare, agriculture, and ICT sectors,” President Ruto said when he met Gates in the State House.
Kenyan Youth Leaders Blast Ruto Admin
Kenyan Youth Assembly, an organization that seeks to involve Kenyan youth in active participation in the country’s governance, has blasted President William Ruto’s administration for failing to appoint a young person to his cabinet.
The youth, led by 26-year-old 2022 presidential aspirant Pigbin Odimwengu, raised concerns about insecurity, low job opportunities, high cost of living, and heavy taxation, among other issues affecting the youth.
“Kenya Youth Assembly is a composition of young people who’ve come out as youth governors, senators, M.P.s, and Members of County Assembly, with a clear role to act as a parallel assembly to oversight, legislate, and represent the youth of this nation,” Odimwengu said.
Decrying the lack of youth representation in the Ruto administration’s recent appointments, Odimwengu said the government used the youth during the campaigns but has not reciprocated their support.
Hustler funds
The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the legal and institutional framework for implementing the Hustler Fund, which will be launched on November 30.
Kenyans will be allowed to borrow between Ksh 500 and Ksh 50,000. The Fund will have an interest rate of 8 percent per year.
Ruto said the Sh 50 billion annual kitty would aid micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The funds will be channeled through credit societies and investment groups.
The government deploys GSU and RDU in Nairobi to curb insecurity.
The Cabinet Kenya on Tuesday approved the deployment of the General Service Unit (GSU) and the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) to combat the crime wave that has swept Nairobi streets.
On Wednesday, Ruto met the top officials of the National Police Service in State House Nairobi and asked them to deal thoroughly with the gangs.
“We cannot allow criminals to overrun our cities. We have given you the instruments, and you have the backing of the law, make sure we deal with them conclusively,” the President said.
Ruto further asked the officers to use firearms to protect their lives and those of Kenyans.
“Msingoje askari wetu wauawe na wakora, deal with the wakoras before they deal with our officers,” he added.
KDF troops flown into DRC for a peacekeeping mission
The first batch of the Kenya Defence Forces troops Saturday, November 12, left Kenya aboard a military carrier for DRC on a peacekeeping mission.
Chief of Defence Forces Robert Kibochi flagged off the joyous troops and asked them to obey the law and the military chiefs in the mission.
“I wish you blessings as you are deployed. You are the arrowhead. Make sure you work well with your counterparts. We are known to follow the law wherever we go. Respect the chiefs of defense where you go,” Kibochi said.
The second cohort of the Kenyan military flew into DRC on Wednesday 16th.
Under Major General Jeff Nyagah, Kenya will be the leader of the East African joint force deployed to pacify the M23 troops, which are wreaking havoc in Eastern DRC.
Kenyan Parliament votes for EALA MPS
Parliament (the Senate and the National Assembly) Thursday voted for the Kenyans who will be the country’s representatives in the East African Legislative, the independent legislative arm of the East African Community.
Winnie Odinga and Kennedy Musyoka, the daughter and son of Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka, respectively, were among the Azimio-allied nominees who were voted in. The others from Azimio are former Kieni MP Kanini Kega and businessman Suleiman Shabal.
Kenya Kwanza voted for Hassan Omar Hassan, who lost the Mombasa County gubernatorial seat, former Nandi Woman Zipporah Kering, former MP David Sankok, Maina Mwangi, and former nominated Senator Falhada Dekow.
Houses collapse in Kasarani and Ruaka
Tuesday, a 7-story building under construction collapsed in Kasarani, killing at least three.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja termed the accident murder and said he would take action.
“These people came here to try and earn a living but lost their lives. This tragedy was caused by corruption and impunity. We pass our condolences and sympathies, and we will find a way to support those families,” Sakaja said on Wednesday.
“This building had an enforcement notice starting last year. Yesterday, the National Constructions Authority (NCA) was here and closed the site, but the contractor went on. As a county, we are going to take action,” he said
On Thursday, another house of six stories collapsed at 3 am in Ruaka, killing a couple.
Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi visited the scene and blamed the contractor for not following construction regulations.
“We have agreed to sit down and find immediate ways of addressing this menace. We cannot continue to lose innocent lives like this,” Wamatangi said.
“People must face the law if they commit offenses. If contractors do not want losses, they must adhere to the rules. We will demolish all buildings that have not been properly built,” the governor added.