Kenya

Strange and unscheduled military planes from the US

2008-08-12T06:08:00.001Z

Strange and unscheduled military planes from the US have in the last two months been making secretive night landings in Kenya, in what are feared as missions to move terror suspects from the country.

The night landings of US planes at Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, carrying American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officials have raised suspicion and controversy not only among local security agents, but also players in aviation.

Questions have been raised over US aircraft operating from the airport.

EU CO2 hysterics could harm Kenya's small scale organic farmers

2008-08-12T06:02:00.000Z

August 12, 2008: Kenya’s horticulture industry is facing a new market access threat as the European Parliament prepares to vote on a new law that would see aviation included in the continental emissions trading scheme (ETS).

The law, which has been on the cards for nearly two years, comes before Parliament for a vote later this month and could be implemented in 2010 if passed.

It will force EU retailers to give preference to agricultural produce that has not been airlifted to meet their obligations under the ETS.

This means that a British supermarket would, for instance, give preference to flowers from the Netherlands that can be transported to its outlets by rail over Kenya’s air freighted consignments.
...

Most of Kenya’s horticultural exports are produced organically by small scale farmers and are freighted in passenger air craft to foreign markets.

Kenya Consulates Report Steady Progress

2008-08-06T09:54:00.000Z

A visit to the Kenya High Commission in London, confirmed what reports from the Kenya Tourism Industry have been indicating, that it is slowly but surely picking up and by the end of the year it will be back to full capacity. Friday afternoon revealed a healthy cue at 45 Portland Place as visitors came in to pick up their visas.

Following the post-election skirmishes and consequent travel advisories from Kenya’s top tourist clients in Europe and America, the tourism industry virtually ground to a halt as visitors cancelled their holidays leaving the country’s Hotels struggling to cope. Many travel agencies actually closed down with some laying off most of their staff and just keeping a skeleton office to manage the affairs of the day
Read more;http://kenyalondonnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2136&Itemid=1

Murder of Kenyan woman, daughters from Njathaini in Kiambu still unsolved

2008-08-02T10:01:00.001Z

By YOLANDA RODRIGUEZ
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/01/08

The calls stopped coming within a few months of their deaths. But last year's murders of Jane Kuria and her teenage daughters haunt the people who knew them.

The bodies of Kuria and her daughters, Isabela, 19, and Annabelle, 16, were found Aug. 1, 2007, in their home in the Country Cove neighborhood in Powder Springs.

Uganda hands over Kenya rebels

2008-07-21T04:26:00.000Z

Six Kenyan rebles of Saboat have been handed over to the Kenyan government.The rebels crossed into Ugan da while fleeing the recent fighting between the government military forces and the rebels at the climax of the fighting in March.

The UPDF 3rd division spokesman, Capt. Henry Obbo, said the rebels who have been in UPDF custody for close to four days in Manafwa, were handed over on Wednesday at Lwakhakha Uganda-Kenya border.
Read more;http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/regional-special/Uganda_hands_over_Kenya_rebels_68574.shtml

Kenya to attract new investment at meeting in Britain

2008-07-21T04:25:00.000Z

Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga will leave for Britain on Monday night, leading a high-powered government and private sector delegation that would spell out the transformed climate for new investment in the country.
A statement from Odinga's office said on Sunday that the focus of the three-day visit is to show case Kenya as an investment hub where the premier is expected to address an investment conference on Wednesday.
"Conditions for that level of enhanced economic growth already exist now, but will require substantial new domestic and international investment," Odinga said on Sunday.
Read more;http://www.mworld.com/m/m.w?lp=GetStory&id=314611751

Willit work???????

2008-07-21T04:21:00.000Z

Moi speaks out on planned ethnic law

Government efforts to bury tribalism and encourage co-existence among different communities through legislation has been described as an exercise in futility.
Retired former president, Mr Daniel Moi, said that peace could only be achieved if Kenyans were willing to live together and love each other.

Read more;http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=2&newsid=127766

Iko kitu

2008-07-21T04:17:00.000Z

Kalenjin meeting in Dallas

My Dear Kenyans have you heard about the Kaleo meetings that were held in dallas during the memorial weekend, my sources tell me that other tribes were not allowed in to some meetings which had been dubbed "community empowerment".

What I want to know is what was this "empowerment" that was only for a specific community all about.....Let us not be caught unaware like we were in January. These people must be upto something.

Mobile development on the rise in Nairobi, Kenya

2008-07-21T04:10:00.001Z

A journalist from the New York Times asks the question: “Inside Nairobi, the next Palo Alto?”

This is a provocative title — maybe as sensationalist as the alarmist news reports that were published at the beginning of the year. While I’d do anything to see a technology boom in Nairobi (or in Madagascar), Nairobi has still a long way to go before comparing it to Palo Alto, such as solid infrastructure and mass adoption of technology.

Rift Valley Railways is Bankrupt, says Kenya’s Auditor General

2008-07-18T09:31:00.000Z

THE Kenya Railways is bankrupt. And its survival depends on cash from government and its creditors.

In a report to Parliament this week, the Government of Kenya’s Auditor General Prisca Komora said KR owed workers and creditors Shl3 billion.

Even after handing over its cargo and passenger services to Rift Valley Railways, KR still made a Shl billion loss last year
Read more;http://kenyapolitical.blogspot.com/2008/07/rift-valley-railways-is-bankrupt-says.html

KNCHR warns of return to dark days of the police State - Kenya

2008-07-18T04:45:00.000Z

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), a state agency, on Friday expressed grave concern at the recent spate of violent police crackdowns on citizens exercising their rights.

This year, several peaceful demonstrations have been violently broken up by the police and the demonstrators brutally assaulted in the process of arrest.

On May 30, several civil society activists who were peacefully demonstrating demanding government intervention to bring down the cost of food and fuel were tear-gassed and arrested. The protesters had informed the police of their intention to demonstrate, as the law requires.
Read more;http://www.cisanewsafrica.org/story.asp?ID=3284

Uganda-Kenya rail cargo falls to 8%

2008-07-18T04:40:00.000Z

By Mikaili Sseppuya

SINCE Rift Valley Railways (RVR) took over management of the Kenya-Uganda railways, freight cargo has reduced to 8% from 16%, an official of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has said.

“The committee noted that the rail market share had declined from 16% to 8.7% over the last two years. This has led to a major shift of cargo from the railway to roads, which has increased road accidents, road maintenance and freight costs,” Alex Kabuga, the KPA Inland Container Depot manager and chairman of the Seamless Transport Committee, said. The committee met from July 14 to 15 at Crested Towers in Kampala.
Read more;http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/220/639690

International Gold Exploration IGE AB announces progress at its Kilimapesa gold project in Kenya

2008-07-18T04:34:00.000Z

published in Nordic Business Report on Thursday, 17 July 2008 at 15:18 GMT
Copyright (C) 2008, M2 Communications Ltd.

Swedish exploration and mining company International Gold Exploration IGE AB (IGE) (OSE:IGE) said on Thursday (17 July) that its Kilimapesa gold project in Kenya continues to make progress toward starting gold production in the fourth quarter of 2008.

The project is jointly owned by International Gold Exploration IGE AB (50%) and Goldplat PLC (50%) through Kilimapesa Gold (Pty) Limited, the operator.

Phase II of the programme (Phase I consisted of project evaluation) is a staged development. The total exposed strike length has been extended to 93 metres, the company said.

The cost of Phase II is estimated to USD200,000. An additional USD500,000 will be spent to refurbish the 10-year old processing plant.

Production is expected to start in the fourth quarter 2008.

IGE, headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, has exploration and mining activities in Sweden, Norway, Kenya, Angola and Burundi.

One British pound (GBP) is worth approximately 1.98 US dollars (USD).

B.C. couple brutally attacked in Kenya to return home

2008-07-18T04:23:00.003Z

John Bergen, and his wife, Eloise Bergen, are seen resting in a Nairobi Hospital earlier in July after they were attacked at their guarded residence in Kenya. (Sayyid Azim/Associated Press)
A Canadian missionary couple recovering from severe injuries sustained in a vicious attack in Kenya will be returning home soon, said their daughter-in-law.

John Bergen, 70, was attacked on July 9 by a gang of robbers armed with machetes, suffering broken arms and a skull fracture. His 63-year-old wife Eloise was tied up and sexually assaulted. The couple had moved from Vernon, B.C., to Kenya in March to do missionary work and run programs to feed the poor.

Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga -Maiden Official UK visit.

2008-07-16T04:15:00.000Z

News reaching KLN indicate that Hon. Raila odinga, Kenya's Prime Minister is to visit London in what becomes his first offcial visit to the Capital since his inauguration as the country's Prime Minister in March this year. Hon. Odinga brings with him a horde of Cabinet Ministers including Deputy PM Uhuru Kenyatta. The visit is being coordinated by the Kenya High Commission, who have yet to release the official itinery of the entourage that will also include
Read more;http://kenyalondonnews.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2027&Itemid=1

NIC bank in Kenya bank goes online

2008-07-15T04:45:00.000Z

NIC Bank in Kenya has unveiled an online system that allows its customers to access banking services for 24 hours and uploading of payments like salaries, pension, insurance, and suppliers' fees, reports Business Daily.

The service is an improvement on the previous one, which only enabled access to account statements. The premium online banking service is reportedly a first for Kenya and will allow customers to make online purchases, transfer funds and pay for utilities.

Analysts have singled out innovation as a key driver for growth in the banking sector, which is under pressure to diversify its income sources through commissions and fees, says the report.

Kenya coffee output up 38%

2008-07-15T04:44:00.001Z

airobi - Kenya's coffee output will rise 38% to 57 830 tonnes in the 2008/09 crop year, from an estimated 41 861 tonnes this year, on improved farming practices and good weather, a trade association said on Monday.
"Due to unusual intense flowering of the coffee trees in January, a big proportion of the late crop will mature and ripen earlier than normal by nearly two months," the Kenya Coffee Traders Association (KCTA) said in a report.
"The resultant outphasing of the berry development and the CBD cycles is also expected to reduce crop losses attributable to the disease."

Fury at Obama terror ‘spoof’

2008-07-15T04:30:00.002Z

Racism in AMERICA

AN American magazine has caused uproar with a spoof front page showing Presidential hopeful Barack Obama and wife Michelle as TERRORISTS.
The Stars and Stripes can be seen burning in the fireplace as Obama wears a turban and Michelle has a rifle slung over her shoulder.
Bosses at the New Yorker magazine say the picture was meant to be satirical, lampooning the caricature right-wing critics tried to create.
Read more;http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/the_real_american_idol/article1422162.ece

Hon Raila and Hon Uhuru in London Bound

2008-07-15T04:12:00.001Z

Kenya's Prime Minister Hon. Raila Odinga and Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta the Deputy Prime Minister and minister for Trade among others are scheduled to meet with Kenyans on Tuesday 22 July 2008 at 6:30 pm at a London Hotel, whose details will be announced shortly. Hon. Raila will be accompanied by, among others, his wife, Mrs Ida Odinga. The interactive evening will afford Kenyans in the United Kingdom an opportunity of discussing with the team several issues among them healing the past and reconciliation. More information later.
Source;www.misterseed.com

Missionaries Brutally Attacked in Kenya

2008-07-15T03:46:00.000Z

Two elderly missionaries working in Kitale, Kenya were attacked with machettes and clubs earlier this week. John and Eloise Bergen came down a few months ago to work with children affected by the political violence. Together, they started a school in a refugee camp with Hope for the Nations. They plan to stay. John (70) was attacked outside his house, and Eloise (65) in her bathtub. Read the article for all the details (they are very disturbing), but in short, John suffered from multiple fractures of the skull, arms, leg and knee, while Eloise was raped, tied up and beaten. After the attackers left, Eloise freed herself and found her husband in the bushes nearby.
Read more;http://juliadesantis.wordpress.com/2008/07/13/missionaries-brutally-attacked-in-kenya/

Seven days in Nairobi with 601TV

2008-07-09T06:22:00.000Z

601TV a London based media agency spent 7 days in Nairobi catching up with the trends in fashion, music and culture whilst attending various events in June.The events included Chaguo la Teeniez at Carnival, Pop Idols (show & after party) at Bomas and Galileo respectively, Daily Metro fashion shoot at Rangers restaurant in Langata.

A 20 page pictorial gallery of this tour can be viewed from the following link http://www.601tv.com/ezinee.php

Article in the Pulse (East Africa Standard) Friday 19th on 601Tv Nairobi presenter Christine Apondi.

Kimunya exit a loss for kenya

2008-07-09T06:21:00.000Z

Politics is a dirty game. To that let me also add that all human beings made of bone and flesh are fallible. These two truisms proved their worth once again today when Kenya’s Finance Minister Amos Kimunya resigned in connection to the fraudulent sale of the corruption tainted Grand Regency Hotel.
Corruption accusations, whether valid or not have robbed Kenya of one of its better Ministers in the post-Moi era. Kimunya was, for the most part, a man of principle sprinkled with pragmatism. He is credited for having brought macroeconomic stability to the Kenyan economy and restoring some sanity in the formulation of the government’s monetary policies. Most of all he is the man who was at the helm when Kenya had its best annual growth rate outside the first two decades of independence.
Most of his political detractors may have taken mileage out of the Grand Regency saga but the true loser in this case is not Mr. Kimunya but the Kenyan economy. Yes the man may have erred but by throwing him out we risk discontinuity in the setting of the economic agenda, which besides security, is the most important function of any self respecting government.
I am not saying tha there are no more Kimunyas out there or that corruption in any form should be tolerated. All I am saying is that the chances of our next Finance Minister being as successful as Amos Kimunya was are pretty slim. Most of our cabinet ministers are total clowns - I picture Kajwang singing and dancing on tv, Martha Karua with her vitriol etc etc. To me, Kimunya was one of the most level headed cabinet members and his loss is a real shame

Uncertainty as Kenya-Re hints at stopping marine cover

2008-07-09T06:19:00.000Z

News that the Kenya Reinsurance Corporation (Kenya-Re) was contemplating to stop covering marine vessels following a rise in claims has rocked the shipping industry.Kenya-Re was an idea borrowed by the Government from the west, where such companies like Munich-Re form the safety net for a number of insurers with very large risks to cover.

Kenyan Owned 601tv nominated for Afro Brits Awards

2008-07-07T09:07:00.001Z

601tv has been nominated for Afro Brits Awards (Arts & Culture and Community organisation Award 2008), pls vote online @.
http://www.afro-brits.com/nomineesfor2008.htm

The awards take place on 25 July 2008, Thank you and please vote for 601tv

The Afro Brits Awards 2008Africa is fortunate to have caring and capable leaders who serve as inspirational role models and help shape the future people like Nelson Mandela , Kwame Nkrumah and Lucas Radebe. This special event honours outstanding people who consistently and unselfishly invested their time and talents to help change and improve the lives of African people and others.

The individual stories of their significant accomplishments are always impressive, moving, and inspirational. Through the years, the program has become well known and respected, giving distinguished honourees the recognition they so well deserve. Afro Brits Awards continue to enrich the quality of life in our communities
Join us as we honour their exceptional contributions!

Anger at Kenya biofuel approval

2008-07-03T06:59:00.000Z

Kenyan environmentalists have told the BBC that the government should revoke a decision to allow a controversial biofuels project to go ahead.
The project involves growing sugarcane for biofuels in coastal wetlands.
Read more;http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7484964.stm