No student in Finland will be discontinued, Governor Bii promises

 Even after the academic institutions threatened to expel the students for failing to pay their tuition, the County Council of Uasin Gishu has promised the parents of 202 students studying in Finnish universities that none of their studies will be interrupted. It comes after an Uasin Gishu County Assembly probe that revealed the money lost through the kids' airlift plan.

Governor Jonathan Bii announced on Monday, however, that the county has halted all recruiting of new students to attend Finnish institutions while the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) conducts its ongoing inquiry.

Even after the academic institutions threatened to expel the students for failing to pay their tuition, the County Council of Uasin Gishu has promised the parents of 202 students studying in Finnish universities that none of their studies will be interrupted. It comes after an Uasin Gishu County Assembly probe that revealed the money lost through the kids' airlift plan.

Governor Jonathan Bii announced on Monday, however, that the county has halted all recruiting of new students to attend Finnish institutions while the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) conducts its ongoing inquiry.

He remarked as the three MPs urged that the county officials who were discovered to have stolen money from the program be prosecuted.

Former Governor Jackson Mandago oversaw the implementation of the scholarship program.

The county government, under the management of Mr Mandago, had acted as guarantors to enable the students to pursue studies and employment in Finland, but parents were expected to pay fees for their children.

All of the pupils who are enrolled in Finland's educational system will continue their studies, we have agreed. We will continue to train those who have already paid and received their visas, but we won't have new hires until we've resolved this problem, stated the governor, who was accompanied by his deputy.

Mr. Bii said that the county had formed a second account for the payment of fees in order to support the students' efficient academic progress at the three Finnish universities.

"We have set up a different account so that parents can continue funding their kids' education. There are now two parents who have signed. The account under trustees, which is currently the subject of an investigation, previously had no parent as a signatory, he added.

The governor said, "We want to reassure our parents that we are worried about this matter and we will investigate it until the truth is revealed.

We want to urge guardians and parents to keep paying fees for their kids through the new account so they may keep going in school, he said.

The Lawmakers argued that the program must continue, pointing out how many pupils in the county have benefited from it.

"As EACC sleuths look into this case, we wish to appeal to parents to maintain their composure. We want individuals who will be discovered to be responsible to be detained, Ms. Sitienei stated. Many youngsters from this county stand to profit from this program, so we don't want it to be cancelled, the woman stated.

The management of the foreign education account should be looked into for forgery, abuse of office, and integrity, according to recommendations made by an ad hoc committee of the county legislature created in February to look into the scheme.

It was suggested that Mr. Joseph Maritim, the principal trustee and recently-retired chief officer of the department of Youth and Sports, Mr. Joel Ruto, the director of the Uasin Gishu County Education Revolving Fund, and Mr. Meshack Rono, the deputy director of the Uasin Gishu County Revolving Fund, be among those recommended for investigation.

In a recent article, the New York Times reported that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is preparing a report on the effectiveness of the USDA's Agricultural Research Service's (ARS) Agricultural Research and Development Program.

The governor said on Monday that because it wasn't a scholarship program and parents were paying for their children's education, no public cash had been wasted.

Mr. Sudi said that the program was being undermined by a smear campaign.

We would want to advise all parents to avoid working with lone agents or brokers. They should contact the county government, we wish to inquire. If money is lost, county officials may be held responsible, according to Mr. Sudi. "We want those responsible to be jailed and to repay the money because we know parents made significant sacrifices to send their kids to study overseas."

KMTC trainee medics expelled over fake papers

 Following the discovery of a significant scandal involving false academic papers, the Ministry of Health has dismissed a large number of Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) students from several campuses throughout the nation. Nation has learned that the students were admitted to the colleges in September of last year using fictitious Kenya Certificate Secondary Education (KCSE) certificates, seven months after nearly finishing their first term of college.

It's been a while since I last posted. In Garissa, 15 out of 50 first-year students who began classes in September were discovered to have bogus identification documents, along with five additional students from the Port Reitz campus in Mombasa.

The Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) and the Health ministry looked into this as a result. As a result of the pupils' poor test results, KMTC was able to uncover the swindle. "We questioned how they were able to gain admission. Another report stated, "These are students who may have never entered Form Four. The North Eastern area is home to the majority of the afflicted students.

Kelly Oluoch, the chief executive officer of KMTC, texted Nation that he will comment on the situation "later" after spending the majority of yesterday cooped up in a board meeting about it. Dr. David Njeng'ere, his Knec colleague, referred Nation back to KMTC without confirming or denying the admissions controversy.

Iten, Kabarnet, Kakamega, Kangundo, Kapenguria, Kapkatet, Kaptumo, Karen, Karuri, Kilifi, Kisii, Kisumu, Murang'a, Mwingi, Nairobi, Nakuru, Nyamira, and Kitale are just a few of the 74 campuses that make up KMTC. Kitui, Mandera, Manza, Mathare, Mbooni, Meru, Migori, Molo, Mombasa, Mosoriot, Msambweni, Nyandarua, Nyahururu, Nyamache, Nyeri, Othaya, Port Reitz, Rachuonyo, Rera, Siaya, Sigowet, Tana River, and Taveta are also included on the website.

Thika, Chwele, Eldoret, Embu, Garissa, Ugenya, Voi, Vihiga, Wajir, Kombewa, Kuria, Kwale, Lake Victoria, Lamu, Lodwar, Loitoktok, Lugari, Machakos, Makindu, Makueni, and Webuye are some additional locations. With the exception of nursing, which requires two and a half years, you need a minimum grade of C- in KCSE cluster topics to enroll in any certificate program that lasts two years. One needs to have particular credentials in cluster subjects and a minimum grade of C to be eligible for diploma programs.

The controversy occurs only a few days after the college declared that it would accept about 13,000 applicants who took the KCSE in 2022. This equates to 6.07 percent of the applicants, of whom 119,068 received a C- or higher and 95,154 received a grade of C.On March 14, 2023, the new students will report to the college.

The amount of applicants this year is the highest and greatly exceeds the number of training spots available, according to Dr. Oluoch. Because there are only a limited number of places available and the courses are competitive, according to Dr. Oluoch, KMTC only sent admission letters to around 13,000 candidates.

Throughout their training, KMTC students work in over 450 healthcare facilities, making up 85% of the middle-level workforce.

Belarus tractor deal is a live wire

 I'm shocked that, of all places, we would even dare to consider purchasing thousands of tractors and other agricultural machinery from Belarus. Have the dangers of violating the trade restrictions put in place by the US and its allies on Belarus and Russia been thoughtfully considered?

You might call me a sensationalist journalist and claim that I'm exaggerating, but these are some of the dangers that a corporation or government that decides to violate the trade restrictions imposed on Russia and Belarus by Western nations must be prepared to face.

The foundation of your involvement in the international financial system is your Central Bank's account at the New York Fed, which they can first freeze. You can find yourself in a situation where importing food, medication, and fuel is hard if you lose access to deals with the New York Fed.

Second, any nation-state or business that violates Western trade sanctions runs the risk of having its access to regulated commercial banks in the West restricted or blocked. It will be challenging for you to open letters of credit. We occasionally run into issues being paid for the tea, coffee, and flowers we export.

Thirdly, breaking sanctions carries the risk of possibly losing access to the worldwide Swift money transfer system, as we witnessed with Russia and Belarus. This might make import and export trade impossible.

The possibility of losing good status with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is the fourth risk. Dealing with nations that have been imposed sanctions by their major shareholders is typically frowned upon by the Bretton Woods institutions.

The US Trade Representative conducts an annual certification procedure under Agoa, the agreement that grants Kenya and other developing nations duty- and quota-free access to US markets. If you violate the rules, this body may reference you negatively.

We must always keep in mind that, compared to the time of the 2008 global financial crisis, our financial systems are more intertwined with the global financial system. We have issued a ton of Eurobonds, just like Ghana, Angola, Mozambique, and Rwanda have done. The demand for commercial borrowing, mostly in the form of syndicated loans, has exploded to previously unheard-of heights.

The Friday failure of the Silicon Valley Bank got me thinking about its ramifications. I learned that the huge bank's demise was directly related to the US's rising interest rates.

What would happen to a sovereign state like Kenya, which has approximately $50 billion in external loans denominated in dollars, if rising interest rates in the US might cause the collapse of the 16th-largest bank in the country (with assets totaling $200 billion)?

The idea is that the current state of the world economy is so precarious for us that even considering doing business with a nation subject to Western sanctions would be an act of economic suicide.

From the correspondence I have seen, including draft Cabinet Memos, a concept paper by the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC), the government agency carrying out the project on behalf of the government, and the party acting on behalf of Belarus, I need to explain what the deal being planned with Belarus entails.

Finally, an SPV-like organization established in Dubai and owned by Belarusians will purchase the tractors and equipment from Belarus. Fourth, Belarus has designated the Dubai-based business known as AFTRADE DMCC as its representative in the program. It's been a while since I've been this excited about a project. Second, the government has named AFC as a key implementer of this project. This project is intended to be a "government-to-government arrangement," which means that no open bidding will be required to purchase the equipment.

A wide range of parastatals, including the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organisation (Karlo), the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC), the Kenya Prisons Service, and the National Cereals and Produce Board, would share the tractors and equipment once they arrive in the nation (NCPB).

These grandiose initiatives carry a considerable danger of corruption. The largest conundrum in this tale, though, is how the massive scheme was paid for. The money is expected to arrive from the Trade Development Bank, according to letters from government agencies (TDB). Oddly, according to the regional bank, neither it nor the initiative are known to them.

Look, by dealing with Russian oligarchs seeking to conceal their wealth, we may be exposing ourselves to hazards. Thus, the government ought to cancel the agreement with Belarus right away. We just cannot take the chance of violating the sanctions the US and its allies have placed on the nation.

Kenya Power conceals breakdown of power bills as prices surge 10pc

 

Kenya Power has ceased providing consumers with specific information about particular pass-through expenses, so Kenyans will no longer receive a full breakdown of their electricity bills. When one purchases power through Kenya Power's prepaid system through text message, the company has been providing a thorough explanation of the pass-through charges.

The SMS would display the customer's total expenditure, the units received, the percentage of the total spent on actual energy purchases, as well as other expenditures like value added tax (VAT), fuel cost charges, and foreign exchange charges.

The Rural Electrification Programme Charge, Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) Charge, Water Resources Management Authority Charge, and Inflation Adjustment Charge were also included in the breakdown of prices. But, Kenya Power no longer sends consumers this thorough analysis. The utility now simply displays to consumers under "other charges" the total amount spent, the number of units received, a token amount, and the total of all pass-through fees.

This occurs at a time when Kenyans are upset with the utility on social media due to high electricity prices, particularly due to the significant pass-through charges.

According to the business, the adjustment followed a study in which participants expressed a desire for a less thorough analysis of their electricity bills.

According to Kenya Power, the adjustment was implemented as a result of multiple interactions with the general public, including a recent poll in which our consumers requested a shorter explanation of their electricity bills. "From now on, we won't include all of the cost components in the SMS. Consumers can dial *977# to acquire more information about their bills.

According to Epra data, hydropower generation fell drastically in February, from 184.68 million units in January to 112.7 million units. This is the fifth month in a row that the amount of electricity produced by hydroelectric dams has decreased. However, some customers have perceived malice in the shift and want the utility to revert to providing a thorough analysis of the cost components of the electricity bill.

Due to a severe drought that limited hydropower production and forced increased use of expensive thermal power when fuel costs remained high, electricity prices have grown dramatically.

As a result, the cost of electricity for lifeline customers has increased from Sh20 last month to Sh22 this month.

The increased cost of electricity is a further setback for consumers who are already feeling the effects of rising inflation. After slowing for three consecutive months to reach 9 percent in January, the inflation rate increased to 9.2 percent in February.

Kenya's second-largest source of energy is hydro, behind geothermal. In the fiscal year that ended in June 2022, Kenya Power purchased hydropower for 26.46% of its electrical needs.

Epra this week hiked the fuel cost price to Sh8.3 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) up from Sh6.59 per unit last month. Since June 2012, the fuel energy component has increased at its highest rate.

Food products had a significant impact on the high inflation during that month, according to the Consumer Price Index from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. According to the Purchasing Managers Index from Stanbic Bank, the high inflation had a heavy toll on businesses, which saw a decline in demand for products and services for the first time in six months.

Dead suspects photo fuels claims of police execution

 

A police pursuit of gangsters who had robbed an Unaitas Sacco branch in Kigumo town on Saturday using a rifle they had stolen from a police officer in Muthithi on February 25 had initially seemed like a noble cause. However, it has since devolved into a major crisis for the National Police Service.

On Sunday, police approached the four armed gangsters in Kinyona Forest and were able to apprehend two of them. Youth cops in the area pulled out their smartphones and began filming and snapping pictures of the detained detainees. The pictures showed the males seated in handcuffs and surrounded by many armed police officers.

They then posted the video and images to social media, clearly displaying the two men as they were being arrested but also including pictures of them lying dead. This sparked rumors that the police had killed suspects who were already in custody.

Central regional police commander Lydia Ligami made a statement praising "members of the public who offered us all the actionable information that led to the arrest of the two criminals".

Later, when speaking to journalists, she modified her first story and described how the suspects had engaged the police officers in a fierce firefight.

"This resulted in the two suspects suffering fatal wounds from which we recovered two firearms and bullets that had been stolen from our officers, Sh1.14 million as part of the amount they had stolen on Saturday from Unaitas Sacco and we are pursuing the remainder," Ms Ligami said.

According to preliminary investigations, the bank may have lost anywhere between Sh3.5 million and Sh5 million.

In a Saturday press conference, Unaitas Sacco stated that the security breach at 9 a.m. "where armed persons gained access to our Mununga branch banking hall after disarming police officers manning the facility lasted less than 10 minutes" took place.

Together with others, County Commissioner Karuku Ngumo and Murang'a County police Commander Ali Nuno surrounded Ms. Ligami.

During a fierce battle, police shot the two people dead, according to a social media post by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).But, astute Internet users picked up on the differences in the images.

The accused were thus taken into custody first, stripped of their weapons, and handcuffed. They then managed to free themselves despite being encircled by numerous heavily-armed police officers, take their weapons from the officers, and take positions to start a gunfight, said one user.

The DCI removed the images that showed the suspects being restrained.

In order to help media fully comprehend the shooting, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority reached out to them.

Officials from Harambee House called Ms. Ligami yesterday morning and demanded details on the event.

Officers from the DCI, National Police Service, National Government Administration Officers, and National Intelligence Service participated in the operation.

The police chief said she put out a press statement on the premise of a briefing she received from Mr Nuno under whose jurisdiction the incident took occurred.

Mr. Nuno claimed that Kigumo Sub-county Police Chief Inviolata Lumati briefed him.

"I have called security heads to convey my disgust at the turn of events," the Lawmaker said, calling the situation a shame.

Mr Munyoro said the recent incidents in Kigumo are symptomatic of "serious security deficiencies that need to be addressed promptly".

Together, through Ms Ligami, they all said: "We would prefer to be [judged on the basis of the] technical operations without the poisoned aspect that was introduced by our indisciplined personnel who videotaped their own operation and without any authority published the photographs".

The cops who took the images, according to Ms. Ligami, are the subject of ongoing investigations. Police officers were being targeted by criminals, according to Kigumo MP Mr. Joseph Munyoro, and difficult decisions needed to be taken.

Why you'll have to soon spend more money to put ugali on the table

 Kenyans will pay extra for maize flour because, despite the government's approval of the importation of duty-free maize, numerous millers have ceased operations due to an extreme shortage of the grain to the point that they cannot sustain operations for the upcoming month. Millers have petitioned the government to implement steps to protect consumers from the high price of flour because they estimate that what is in stock will last less than two weeks.

The severe lack of maize in the local and regional markets has forced the majority of millers to suspend operations and fire staff, according to Mr. Wilson Too, a miller in Eldoret.

Most retail establishments in the North Rift region are now selling two kilograms of maize flour for Sh230, and the government is relying on the importation of 10 million bags of duty-free maize to bring down the price of the basic food. A total of 42,464 tonnes of yellow maize arrived in Mombasa on Sunday from Ukraine, but millers have cautioned that the imports will only have a little impact on prices.

The consignment, which the millers claim is intended for animal feeds, is anticipated to relieve pressure on the market for white maize intended for human use.

The millers have expressed fears that the imported maize will not sell at the anticipated Sh4,200 per 90-kilogramme bag as desired by the government due to the acute shortage of the grain on the global market, which has pushed up prices.

Maize prices have hit Sh6,200 up from Sh4,800 per 90-kilogramme bag in most parts of the North Rift region —the country’s grain basket — and the prices are likely to increase further due to the biting shortage.

The National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) has admitted that it has no emergency maize stocks and is faced with stiff competition from traders and millers who offer better prices and prompt payment.

To entice farmers to deliver the product to its buying centers, the board increased its prices from Sh5,100 to Sh5,600 per 90kg bag. However, to date, it has only purchased less than 60,000 bags, mostly in the North Rift region.

The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAOmost )'s recent global food index for December 2022 predicts a 6.2% increase in maize and rice prices globally as a result of limited supply and high demand in Asian exporting nations.

"A strong export demand from Brazil and Paraguay as well as a strong import demand in the European Union have contributed to an increase in the price of maize globally. The decrease is mostly the result of lower stockpiles in Ukraine due to production disruption, according to FAO in

The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics reports that over the past five years, Kenya has imported 295,092 tonnes of maize annually on average. The Ministry of Agriculture has issued a warning that the country's maize supplies will only last through the end of the month, putting an estimated 5.1 million families, mostly in Northern Kenya, at risk of hunger.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, as of last month, the nation had a supply of 6 million bags of maize that could last until the end of the month despite the rising cost of produce, which caused maize prices to hit Sh6,200 per 90 Kg.

"The price of unga needs to be managed. There are signs that our supply of grain may be inadequate. During a meeting between President William Ruto and maize millers two weeks ago, a report said that food inventories were anticipated to last for two months, or until March 2023-6 million bags.

Due to a severe corn scarcity that has driven up the price of flour and put 5.1 million Kenyans at risk of famine, a number of millers in Western Kenya have ceased operations.

At least ten small and large-scale milling facilities have temporarily closed due to an extreme maize scarcity brought on by a drop in supplies, and some of its personnel have been placed on mandatory leave.

"As the supply deteriorates, more sackings are inevitable, forcing most millers to halt operations until

In Central Kenya, the hardest-hit milling facilities are located in Bungoma, Busia, Kisumu, Narok, Kajiado, and four other locations. They belong to both the Grain Belt Millers Association and the Grain Mills Owners Association (GMOA) (GBMA) Five large-scale millers — Mombasa millers, Unga, Pembe, Dolar, and Kitui millers — have maize reserves that can last a few months, according to trustworthy information at the Cereal Millers Association (CMA).

The Ministry of Agriculture and millers have acknowledged difficulties locating duty-free maize due to the commodity's scarcity on the international market, which has driven up costs.

The government wants to sell imported maize for Sh4,200 per 90kg bag, but millers have imposed strict requirements, such as letting the market's forces of supply and demand establish the prices and paying Sh2.6 million in subsidy arrears from the previous year.

Millers are concerned that maize prices would continue to rise as the supply situation worsens.

WHO announces drop in malaria infections, deaths after vaccine rollout

 The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that over the past three years in Kenya, cases of children hospitalized and dying from malaria have decreased dramatically as a result of the introduction of the world's first malaria RTS,S vaccine. In addition to Ghana and Malawi, Kenya is one of three nations where WHO initiated the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Program's trial phases in 2019.

The trial projects, which will be finished by the end of the year, were first started in 26 sub-counties in Western Kenya's eight counties with the highest prevalence of the disease.

In the counties of Homa Bay, Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga, Busia, Kisumu, Siaya, and Migori, over 400,000 children have now received four doses of the RTS, S vaccine, which is available in over one million doses.

In Kenya, Malawi, and Ghana, more than 1.2 million kids have received vaccinations overall.

According to a report issued by the WHO last week, child mortality and severe malaria infection have significantly decreased in the eight lake-endemic malaria zones.

According to Dr. Abdourahmane Diallo, WHO Representative for Kenya, "there was a large drop in lethal severe malaria and a decline in all-cause mortality among children in areas getting the vaccination.

Modeling predicts that for every 200 immunized youngsters, one life is spared.

According to the Kenya Malaria Indicator Survey, for instance, the prevalence in Homa Bay has considerably fallen as a result of the vaccine, going from 27% to just 19%.

1,052,826 doses had been given in Kenya as of the end of the previous year, with 367,360 children receiving their first shot as part of the Ministry of Health's routine immunization program.

As of October 2021, vaccination rates among youngsters in the three African nations totaled over 800,000. After these outstanding outcomes, WHO in October 2021 advised Kenya, Malawi, and Ghana to utilize RTS,S more widely.

The action aims to strengthen P. falciparum malaria prevention strategies for kids living in areas with moderate to high transmission rates.

Kenya is extending the use of the vaccination in 25 more sub-counties across the eight counties in response to the advice. More children who are at risk of malarial disease and death will have access to this extra malaria tool thanks to the expansion.

According to WHO, the extension of malaria immunization in Kenya comes after comparable expansions in Malawi in November 2022 and Ghana in February 2023.

Susan Nakhumincha, the Health Cabinet Secretary, announced the decision to expand RTS,S vaccination to 25 more sub-counties in Western Kenya, bringing the total to 51 sub-counties during the commencement of the extended rollout in Vihiga County last week.

Dr. Nakhumicha cited the positive findings already obtained to reassure parents of the vaccine's safety while pleading with them to enable their children to receive the immunizations.

The vaccine minimizes severe, potentially fatal malaria and is safe. In a press release read by the acting Health Director General, Dr. Patrick Amoth, the CS urged all of the caregivers in the lake-endemic regions to bring their kids to get the malaria vaccine wherever it is available and to make sure they finish the necessary four doses to get the best protection from the vaccine.

"We are delighted to report today that more kids in Kenya will be able to take advantage of the potentially life-saving protection provided by the first malaria vaccine ever developed.

"In places where the vaccine has been provided, we've seen a remarkable decrease in the number of malaria cases and hospitalizations from malaria over the previous three years. We are thrilled to be able to provide this extra malaria treatment to more of our kids, she said.

A court fines a lady Sh348,000 for refusing to wed the man who paid for her schooling.

 A lady who attempted to appeal a decision in which she was fined Ush10.4 million (about Ksh348,000) for breaking a marriage pledge to a guy who had paid her college tuition had her plea rejected by a court in western Uganda. Ms. Fortunate Kyarikunda, a law enforcement official, was found to have broken her 2018 commitment to wed Mr. Richard Tumwine, a local teacher, by the Kanungu Magistrate Court last month. The court heard that he had financed her tuition to pursue a diploma in law with the assumption that she would eventually become his wife.

Yesterday, Magistrate Asanasio Mukobi determined that Ms Kyarikunda's application could not stand since she had faked signatures and altered her evidence during amendment.

Mr. Mukobi declared, "The application is rejected with no costs granted.

The attorneys for Ms. Kyarikunda, who was not present in court, stated that they would file an appeal because they were not pleased with the court's decision.

While Mr. Richard Tumwiine's narrative was heard, our client's tale has never been mentioned, and yet despite this, people continue to condemn her incorrectly. Because all we want is for our client to be heard, we will appeal, said Ms. Sarah Nakike, a lawyer for Ms. Kyarikunda.

Ms. Kyarikunda claimed that the summons to present her defense was not properly served on her.

The attorney for Mr. Tumwiine, Erasmus Nabimanya, praised the court's ruling but insisted that they should have received compensation for their legal expenses.

"While we are pleased that the filed application was rejected, the court did not grant us fees despite the fact that we spent a significant amount of money. In discussion with my client, we will think about filing a request for the fees associated with this rejected application, according to Mr. Nabimanya.

Mr. Tumwiine claimed that the woman's absence from court raised additional issues.

"I believe that Ms. Kyarikunda was merely buying time by requesting that the case be handled inter partes...her inability to appear in person for court proceedings establishes her guilt of the offense she committed," he stated.

Ms. Kyarikunda claimed in her appeal that she was not given the chance to provide a defense.

In July of last year, Mr. Tumwine filed the lawsuit, claiming that his decision to support her Law diploma study at the Kampala Law Development Center was based on her promise to marry him.

In 2015, while working at the same Kanungu elementary school as teachers, the two allegedly fell in love.

Mr. Tumwine stated that Ms. Kyarikunda skipped the day she had planned for their marriage introduction ceremony in February 2022. He said that she afterwards decided to end their relationship on the grounds that he was too old.

Body of Kenyan student who drowned in Australia arrives in Eldoret

 Prior to her funeral on Tuesday, the remains of Kenyan student Sharon Jepkosgei Kigen, who drowned in Australia's River Georges Macquarie while swimming with friends last month, has arrived in Eldoret. Ms. Kigen, who was 28 years old, passed away on February 21. She was two days away from beginning her studies at Catholic University in North Sydney, where she had been awarded a scholarship. Just three months had passed since she first arrived in the nation.

The plane carrying her body, which had been traveling from Australia, landed at the Eldoret International Airport at 7 a.m. on Sunday.

When the hearse carrying the deceased left the airspace and entered the airport's grounds for a brief mass, feelings ran high. The hearse was then moved to the mortuary of Eldoret Hospital in preparation for her burial on Tuesday, March 14. Early on Sunday morning, Ms. Jepkosgei's family members, including her parents, Mr. Francis Kigen and Mrs. Rael Chepkemboi, were waiting to welcome her. Invited clerics would lead mourners who followed them in a brief mass and viewing of the body, which was placed in a white casket.

The casket was opened for the family to examine their daughter's body, who had left Kenya just three months prior to her passing away in a hospital, and they were unable to contain their emotions as they did so.

After then, the hearse transporting her casket would proceed to the morgue at Eldoret Hospital, where her body had been kept alive until Tuesday, March 14, when she would be buried at her parents' house in Kimuchi village, Moiben Constituency, Uasin Gishu County.

The family had spent a lot on her travel costs and had made a request for financial assistance to bring their relative's body home.

On November 21, 2023, Ms. Jepkosgei departed Kenya for Australia in order to continue her IT studies at Catholic University in North Sydney. She died on February 21, 2023.

Prior to her death on February 22, the Kenyatta University and Kapsabet Girls alumna was scheduled to begin studies on February 23.

Emergency services personnel were dispatched to the location following the tragedy, and they were able to rescue her body from the River Georges Macquarie.

The body was discovered and carried to the shoreline after officers from the Traffic and Highway Patrol and members of the general public started searching in the water, according to a statement from the Australian NSW Police.

NSW Ambulance paramedics attempted to save her, however it was in vain because she had already passed away.

The deceased's cousin, Noah Chepkok, said it was a terrible time for the family because Ms. Kigen had big aspirations for her siblings.

"The passing of a great person that was brimming with life and compassion has robbed us. She had a bright future for her family's prosperity and educational advancement, and I was the one who welcomed her to Australia. I could not believe she had drowned, said Mr. Chepkok, an Australian resident for the past six years.

She was vivacious 4and an excellent organizer in Kenya and Australia, as evidenced by the large crowds that have been pouring in to offer their condolences and support to the family. She fit in effortlessly with everyone. We will miss her valuable contributions to society, he remarked.

According to him, the Australian Kenyan community provided emotional and monetary assistance, enabling the airlifting of the body back to Kenya.

We shouldn't be deterred from looking for chances elsewhere despite what has transpired. God has distinct plans for each of us, and he designed for Sharon's story to end that way, the minister stated.

According to the deceased's uncle David Kuto, they have scheduled a number of masses to commemorate her life, despite its shortness.

"Despite just having a brief life, she had a bright future. Before she moved to Australia, she was supposed to finish building her family's home in the Kimuchi village and look for chances for her siblings, but we praise God for everything. We also appreciate the media's attention to her story, which helped the family raise money for the body's flight back home, the official added.

"As a family, we've lost a responsible daughter who valued peace and a bright future. She will undoubtedly be missed, he said.

China against local traders: Is beef a case of dumping or competition?

 I was traveling from the countryside to Nairobi on Tuesday afternoon after attending a funeral there. Hundreds of parallel-parked vehicles could be seen along the Thika motorway as I got closer to Kenyatta University. What was happening was a mystery to me. I assumed that the university was hosting a gathering, perhaps a graduation. I didn't discover until much later via social media that everyone had gathered to China Square, which is close to KU, to shop and search around for deals. I took notice that it was a Tuesday rather than a weekend when most people go shopping.

There is a feeling that China Square had free publicity from the government before being thrust into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.

It's safe to say that many customers who rushed to the retail fair on Tuesday were even more curious as a result. Nairobi street vendors protested the Chinese owners of the supermarket for undercutting them. They came from Nyamakima, River Road, and Gikomba. A faction of the administration that was vehemently in favor of the traders wanted the outlet shut down or at the very least, precautionary measures to "prevent dumping" to be implemented.

The Anti-Counterfeit Authority even conducted a raid on China Square and seized products worth Sh50 million as being fake. The agency reluctantly returned the goods after discovering they weren't. Under the strain, the hub had to momentarily shut down. It quickly made a successful return.

The government's opposing viewpoint claimed that the sanctions sought against China Square were unfair, anti-free enterprise, and even illegal. Discriminating against China's businesses that are operating legally would have disastrous effects on our relations with the Asian dragon. China is a significant investor in Kenya. This faction has prevailed so far. China Square is still operating. "A non-arbitrary and non-discriminatory investment environment is crucial to the healthy growth of practical bilateral relations," tweeted Wu Peng, director-general of China's Department of African Affairs, after the event. China had declared in writing

If you cared to follow the China Square tale, you couldn't help but catch a smell of the post-election politics in the area. Supporters of Azimio were making fun of the Nyamakima traders for thinking they would be shielded from unfair competition by the UDA government. The traders had denigrated Uhuru Kenyatta's government and said that it was "persecuting" them, ostensibly because it cracked down on fake goods and required that all vendors pay tax.

Duty on imported consolidated containers turned out to be one pretty complicated issue. Under pressure from the Nyamakima traders, the Uhuru government agreed to tax their combined shipment at a rate of Sh200 per kilogram.

According to reports, KRA has since revoked this privilege and will tax consolidated products similarly to traditional cargo, that is, according to the commodities' invoiced value. The import tariff burden on the traders will rise as a result. According to KRA, this will level the playing field for all importers and end tax inequities. Hahaha! It's time for prayers, traders. Many UDA supporters found the behavior of the Nyamakima dealers, especially the politicians who supported them, to be unsettling. They received criticism for engaging in "regional politics". Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing'oei lamented that the tendency of focusing on China was destined to fail.

Then, on March 8, I received a lengthy, rambling email from a man introducing himself as "Mwana wa Mau Mau" with arrogance.

Although it seemed that his economics were unclear

Gitau, let me speak about China Square. You seem to be in favor of the notion. It appears to be a wonderful, inexpensive "mali mali" shop that will enable us to save money. Do you recall the stores in Uhuru Park and Nelson Kajuma? [KU Vice President Paul] After Wainaina is reinstated, does business at China Square improve a few days later?

Did you notice that the young Kalenjin MPs made up the entire group of supporters? The economic repercussions are as follows: it is the ideal Chinese marketing tactic. It is situated outside the entrance to the prosperous Mt. Kenya region. It will serve as a landfill.

Kenya Square doesn't exist in China. China Square is raising Sh15 million per day to develop China's industrial sector. CS [Moses] Kuria was accurate. He claimed that China Square would eliminate the entire Kenyan supply chain, which supports complementary firms and employs thousands of Kenyans. With the firing of taxman [Githii] Mburu, [China Square] also recovered.

The complete opposite of this is China Square. The Chinese manufacturing industry is the main winner because they have a ready market [here]. Sadly, Mt. Kenyans are among the victims. They will be forced out of business, and the money they make will be used to develop China. The next stage is to discover Chinese-speaking Kikuyu and Swahili sellers of items in your neighborhood. Then our villages will be invaded by fish and poultry with incredibly small eyes. They'll introduce a "dog choma," and they'll all be Chinese.

Manufacturing cannot be actualized in Kenya by Kenya Kwanza. Both [Rigathi] Gachagua and [William] Ruto studied oral literature, while Moi, who has benefited from Old Kenyatta's anthropology courses, taught them politics.