Kenyans worse off under Uhuru regime as country is ranked 4th in the bribery index....100 days later

[Ab-Titchaz]

Poll: Kenyans worse off under Uhuru regime

Ipsos Synovate lead researcher Tom Wolf during a news conference to release results of a referendum survey on the proposed constitution July 23, 2010. Nearly half of Kenyans say their lot has worsened since the government of Uhuru Kenyatta took power in April, a new survey by the pollster showed July 10, 2013. FILE

By LUCAS BARASA
Posted Wednesday, July 10 2013 at 12:32

Nearly half of Kenyans say their lot has worsened since the government of Uhuru Kenyatta took power in April.

Some 49 per cent said they have less money in their pockets with only 16pc reporting an upturn in their fortunes.

According to an Ipsos Synovate opinion poll released Wednesday, Kenyans are grappling with high cost of living and insecurity with 54pc and 21pc respectively saying the two issues are of great concern.

Some 10pc of Kenyans reported being victims of crime in the last three months alone with Nairobi recording the highest incidence of the vice. 58pc of those who reported to police were unhappy with the response while an equal number did not go to the authorities.

On security, 25pc said they feel less secure since the March 4 General Election, 41pc feel secure while for 32pc, the situation is the same as before the polls.

Of those polled, 58pc said they unhappy with the proposed VAT Bill that seeks to tax essential goods including bread, milk and maize flour.

President Kenyatta has secured the support of Jubilee MPs to support amendments to the Bill with a view of exempting maize flour and bread from taxation.

Hague process

On confidence in public institutions, 51pc of those polled said they have confidence in President Kenyatta's leadership, Supreme Court (34pc) and Independent Boundaries and Electoral Commission (32pc).

A total of 39pc want the cases facing President Kenyatta, his deputy William Ruto and former radio presenter Joshua arap Sang at the International Criminal Court to proceed, 32pc want the trial brought closer home while 29pc want the Hague process stopped.

Of those polled, 36pc want former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to retire from politics as opposed to 32pc who want Mr Odinga to remain active and vie for the presidency in 2017. Some 28pc are of the opinion that the former MP should engage in politics but not seek elective office in the next polls.

A total of 2,000 respondents participated in the survey conducted between June 23-30.

Poll: Kenyans worse off under Uhuru regime - News - nation.co.ke

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-127501/kenya-ranks-fourth-bribery-index-tiKenya ranks fourth in bribery index - TI

 

[Lupweko]

But how old is Uhuru regime?

 

[Koborer]

But how old is Uhuru regime?

You are right. It is still too early to judge Uhuru this way. Most of what is happening are spillover effects of the last regime.

 

[Ivonya-Ngia]

But how old is Uhuru regime?

.....was wondering too. How can this be linked to Uhuru's regime? Barasa na agenda yake hapa.

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

You are right. It is still too early to judge Uhuru this way. Most of what is happening are spillover effects of the last regime.

Mkuu,

hebu stop throwing 'baby punches' on this one....every regime is always held to account after it's first '100 days in office'. That's what's going on here. Sample this that he pledged to the country himself:

President Uhuru Kenyatta Lays Out Plans for His First 100 Days in Office


Within the first one hundred days, we will ensure that maternity fees are abolished and that all citizens of Kenya are able to access government dispensaries and health centres free of charge.

Within the first one hundred days, we will develop a framework to direct the 6 billion Kenya Shillings previously allocated for the election run-off towards establishing a new Youth and Women Fund that will be open to the youth and women from every part of this country.

Within the first one hundred days, we will put measures in place to ensure that all students, joining class one next year , within the public school system receive a laptop. We made a promise to our children and we will keep it because we believe that early exposure to technology will inspire future innovation and be a catalyst for growth and prosperity.


Read President Kenyatta's entire inaugural speech here.

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

You are right. It is still too early to judge Uhuru this way. Most of what is happening are spillover effects of the last regime.

And this....

We're meeting our pledges 100 days on – Uhuru

By OLIVE BURROWS | July 12, 2013

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 12 – Talk of horns, ugali and briefcases at a breakfast meeting with editors at State House punctuated the commemoration of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto's first 100 days in office. As they took their oaths of office on April 9, the ‘dynamic duo' made a number of promises which they even more aspirationally pledged to get done within the first 100 days of their swearing in.

The list of promises included the provision of free health care to expectant mothers in public health facilities, the setting up of a fund for the youth and women with the Sh6 billion saved by the avoidance of a presidential run-off and perhaps more notably, that all the pupils who join class one in 2014 will receive a laptop.

"We made a promise to our children and we will keep it because we believe that early exposure to technology will inspire future innovation and be a catalyst for growth and prosperity," President Kenyatta said to a packed Moi International Sports Centre on his inauguration.

The promise the president referred to was the Jubilee Alliance campaign pledge "to work with international partners to provide solar powered lap-top computers equipped with relevant content for every school age child in Kenya," as stated in their manifesto.
A befitting pledge given President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto fashioned themselves as the "digital team" and evolved into the "digital government."

Fifty-three days into his term, President Kenyatta delivered on his promise to expectant mothers and the framework for the disbursement of the Sh6 billion is still being formulated but the laptop project remains the most ambitious yet.

Especially as just three months since they took up office, teachers went on strike on account of Sh15.37 billion allocated toward the laptop project instead of allowances they say have due to them since 1997.

President Kenyatta however remains adamant that contrary to what has been the practice in the past, campaign pledges must be met "For anybody to tell me that rather than borrow and invest in our children; invest in our school infrastructure, I should borrow money to pay somebody their salary… you want our children tomorrow to be paying off debts that you used to eat today? Surely, that doesn't make sense; you invest in the future!"

Even not including the teachers' strike, the Jubilee government's first 100 days in office have been anything but uneventful as President Kenyatta and his Deputy sought to implement a number of firsts, themselves included, as stipulated in the recently adopted constitution.

As never done before, the two unveiled their first four Cabinet Secretaries with their jackets off, in matching ties, with resumes in hand and as they look forward to many more firsts, six days before the 100 day mark, the fourth estate made some promises of its own.

A statement whose significance was not lost on Deputy President Ruto but in the uncanny way we have come to expect, he sought a bit of good faith.

"I asked a friend of mine who is a journalist, ‘the way you write it's like you don't find anything good about the things we are doing' and he told me the best way the media can support a government is to criticise it when it goes wrong and when they do well to criticise it for not doing better… we don't mind but at least if you criticise us for not doing better at least say we did well."

Editors, led by chairman Macharia Gaitho however reminded the president and his deputy that they will keep the government in check, pin-point shortcomings and expose corruption when it rears its ugly head.

We

 

[Dr. Ng'ida D. Mollel]

Time will tell

 

[Jammu Africa]

You are right. It is still too early to judge Uhuru this way. Most of what is happening are spillover effects of the last regime.

Uhuru Kenyatta has been the president of Kenya,,just for two months.

Ati,,half of Kenya says,,did synovate interview 20 million Kenyans????

Is it not the same 1000 selected people at random is what is referred,
here,,,,as the whole population of Kenya???????

Is this the same Synovate company which kept repeating that the
recent general election in Kenya,,,,that,,,,, could not be won on
a first round ticket????????

Mmmmmmmmmm,,,,wacheni mchezo,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,:bored:,,haki mna,,,boooooo,,,

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

​

"apanasema mtapatia watoto laptop na hata mwalimu hana ujuzi ya kutumia laptop..." RAILA ODINGA

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Raila Odinga hits out at Jubilee over failed poll promises

Updated Tuesday, July 16th 2013 at 00:04 GMT +3 By James Munyeki


Kenya: Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has criticised the Jubilee Government for failing to fulfill its 100 days pledge.

He said that Kenyans had already lost hope with the Government, as their lives have remained the same despite the pledges by the new Government, which have not been fulfilled.

He said the education and health sectors were the ones Kenyans were assured would change but nothing has happened since.

He pointed out the free maternity promise, which he said had not borne any fruits.

"How can you tell Kenyans that maternity fees have been dropped and yet there are no hospitals and enough doctors? They should have first established more hospitals instead and then waive the fees," he noted.

Laptop computers

He took issue with the Government on its free laptop computers project, which he said was not practical at this particular moment.

Raila said the programme would not benefit children and it should be revised.

"We are not opposed to the new technology for our children but how can you give them laptops when even their teachers have not had a chance to see one. We cannot work in this manner since we should first give teachers the education they need to transfer to the children," he noted.

At the same time, he maintained the stand that the CORD Coalition will not change its stand to have IEBC overhauled.

He was speaking at Lolora in Laikipia North during the homecoming party of area MP Mathew Lekidime.


Standard Digital News - Kenya : Raila Odinga hits out at Jubilee over failed poll promises

 

[Kabaridi]

I remember when narc government got into power most underlings of the political class went off the scene to sleep..only to awake after a popular voting excersice exited them out of power..
the current polls from synovate are suspicious..even if the current government were to be headed by a non-indicted icc president and deputy, the leaders would find the nation 'ungovernable' if union-hardliners continue having a field-day boycotting duty, running lawlessly through the streets and ignoring negotiations..
..Even so, while populist-editors and populist-pollsters through their collective mindsets and commentaries are keen on keeping the country in state of an emergency, much assertiveness and control of affairs is being achieved by the current leadership, Jubilee is within its time-frame and working within its time limit...let us accept that a new govvernment is in place and appreciate and move on....
..or rather it maybe masters of graft or drug-lords and porn-lords mocking about with the ICC headlines, knowing very well their days are numbered..

 

[Dr. Job]

..... much assertiveness and control of affairs is being achieved by the current leadership, Jubilee is within its time-frame and working within its time limit...let us accept that a new govvernment is in place and appreciate and move on......

Here is what you call much assertiveness mate:....and its interesting coz its coming in the midst of the much taunted oil discovery in the NEP and LAPSSET project that piggybacks on it.


Uhuru, Ruto home turfs bag top jobs in energy industry

The Kenya Electricity Generating Company's (KenGen) headquarters. Owing to the multi-billion shillings contracts in the energy sector, top jobs in the parastatals have turned out to be some of the most coveted positions. Photo/FILE Nation Media Group

By SATURDAY NATION REPORTER business@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Friday, July 12 2013 at 19:12

In Summary

• New bosses in cash-rich state firms come from either Central or Rift Valley regions
• Davis Chirchir is the Energy Cabinet Secretary while Joseph Njoroge is a principal secretary

Top jobs in state-owned firms in the energy sector are now occupied by executives from the home area of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy.

KenGen, Kenya Power, Rural Electrification Authority (REA) and Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) have appointed interim CEOs following the exit of their top brass with individuals from the Rift Valley and Central regions.

KenGen tapped Simon Ngure on June 27 to replace Eddy Njoroge while REA last week replaced Zachary Ayieko with Ng'ang'a Munyu - both appointees with roots in Central Kenya, the home turf of President Kenyatta.

The Rift Valley has benefited with the appointments of Ben Chumo and Charles Tanui as interim boss of Kenya Power and KPC respectively following the exit of Joseph Njoroge and Selest Kilinda.

The two populous regions voted overwhelmingly for President Kenyatta's Jubilee Coalition in the March 4 elections - a move that saw Mr Kenyatta appoint the Cabinet and the principal secretary of the Energy and Petroleum ministry from Rift Valley and Central.

Davis Chirchir is the Cabinet Secretary while Mr Njoroge, who served as Kenya Power CEO since 2007, was appointed Energy principal secretary.

The search for substantive CEOs of the parastatals is set to give Mr Chirchir an opportunity to appoint preferred managers to run the cash-rich firms as the balance of power shifts in Kenya's energy industry.

The process of getting permanent replacements will be keenly watched, especially the regions where the executives will come from, in a market that is used to confirming those acting in parastatals top jobs.

The President has maintained that his government will severe the practice of distributing State jobs to political followers and tribesmen despite concerns that the Cabinet is dominated by persons from Rift Valley and Central regions.

Top jobs in KenGen, Kenya Power and KPC are the most coveted among State-owned firms given that they control multi-billion shilling contracts. Last year, they generated a combined sales volume of Sh77.5 billion and Sh20.3 billion profit.

The recruitments will be guided by the boards but Mr Chirchir and Mr Njoroge will play a bigger role on who runs the energy sector parastatals.

The boards, which are dominated by state appointees, are ideally expected to forward three names to Mr Chirchir to pick his preferred candidate.

A debate has been raging as to whether the government's power should be restricted to appointing directors or State-owned listed companies like Kenya Power and KenGen should be run like any other parastatals where ministers meddle in the appointment of CEOs and managers.

The new bosses in the firms are also expected to attract attention both within the very top level of government and in the private sector, especially among deal makers eyeing a piece of the multi billion shillings projects which the parastatals have lined up.

The new boss at KPC will be expected to guide the replacement of existing pipeline linking Mombasa to Nairobi, which has outlived its 30-year life span and is prone to ruptures.

Plans to build a new $300 million (Sh25.5 billion) fuel pipeline from the Mombasa port to Nairobi have been on the radar for the past five years and KPC is floating a tender for the construction of a bigger pipeline.

Its former managing director, Mr Kilinda, was dismissed on the grounds that during his reign he hired three siblings - a sister who is a telephonist, a brother who is a welder, and a sister who is a clerical officer.

Kenya Power is seeking to spend Sh128 billion over the next five years to revamp its ageing electricity distribution network. Its CEO quit to join the government and was replaced by human resources director, Mr Chumo. KenGen is also working on multi-billion shilling power plants.

Mr Njoroge of KenGen chose to retire midstream in a five-year term and was replaced by the regulatory affairs director, Mr Ngure.

Mr Ayieko, 58, opted not to seek another terms at REA and was replaced in an interim capacity by Ng'ang'a Munyu, currently the head of corporate planning at the authority.

Uhuru, Ruto home turfs bag top jobs in energy industry - Business_News - nation.co.ke

 

[Dr. Job]

This is followed by a comedy of sorts at Kenya Pipeline:.....


It's a family affair at Kenya Pipeline Company, bosses stun MPs

Updated Tuesday, July 16th 2013 at 23:36 GMT +3 By Vitalis Kimutai


Nairobi, Kenya: Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) runs like a family business with relatives holding various positions and working in the same department, a parliamentary committee heard.

Former managing director Salest Kilinda told parliamentary Committee on Energy chaired by Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau that he employed his two sisters and a brother.

Some of his juniors also have as many as five blood relatives working at the company.

The embattled former managing director and the senior managers at the State Corporation influenced employment of their sons, daughters, sisters and nephews for various positions. They used a loophole in the management policy that allows for workers to be taken in as casuals then are assessed and employed by the company on permanent terms.

Ms Rose Osiako, human resource manager, admitted she employed her daughter, while Mr Samuel Odoyo, finance manager, employed his sister. Only board chairman Samuel Maluki and chief human resource manager Rose Manji have no relatives at the company.

Kilinda confirmed that two of his sisters Agnes and Marietha and his brother Donald are employed at KPC but he was at pains to explain how they were hired.

Two sisters

"I have been accused of hiring clerks, welders and telephone operators but it should be known that it is done by the company and not me," Kilinda said.

He said he approved the employment of his relatives based on recommendations of the managers of the company.

"I got requests from State House and Cabinet ministers to employ people in the company because it is a stable institution," Kilinda said.

He added, "When people have to be taken through the interviewing process, it is difficult to turn down a relative yet they are qualified and have met all the requirements of the interviewing panel."

Kilinda said the matter was not new as he had previously told a committee in the Tenth Parliament that his relatives worked at KPC.

Maluki said Kilinda confirmed to the board that indeed he had employed two sisters and a brother and that he was ordered to proceed on leave on May 29 this year to pave way for investigations into alleged misconduct before his contract was later terminated.

Standard Digital News - Kenya : It?s a family affair at Kenya Pipeline Company, bosses stun MPs

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Jubilee Government should reorganise after false start

Updated Wednesday, July 17th 2013 at 19:31 GMT +3 By Mohamed Wato

Jubilee is a hundred days old and there are clear signals Kenyans are growing restless yearning for deep change that President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto promised before they got elected.

Their Jubilee manifesto is a detail of many programmes, presented in an attractive language and reinforced by graphics. Recall a picture is a thousand words; it captured the psyche of many Kenyans. Their panoramic and choreographed agenda suggested that Kenyans will soon be enjoying the benefits of upgraded infrastructure, a modern transport and communication network of railroads and super highways.

That was not the end; a secure environment in which a reformed security system will reverse the spiral of crime incidents gone out of control is another big promise they made.

They said, the economy will be expanded and maintained to grow by double digits, and with such an ambitious plan, they declared significant improvements of the condition of life for the average citizen.

And even though some of the promises they made are long term, requiring considerable time to accomplish, the coalition lacks strategic direction needed to lay foundation for these reforms. Yet, the coalition's vision must evolve with devolution, a completely new governance model.

Talk of a Jubilee quarter results, and what you get is a false start. In three months, if you overlook what they call "teething problems", a shield to ward off criticisms, what Jubilee is demonstrating is a discouraging narrative of a false start, instead of exploiting the good-will they have, to turn into opportunities that builds public confidence.

Their performance has suffered setbacks from unproductive issues such as turf wars, diplomatic gaffes, labour strikes, wasteful spending, insecurity, and spirited attempts by stalwarts to miscarriage devolution at the early stages.

It appears the driving force behind Jubilee's agenda does not seem to understand the value of cross functional decision making in a strategic change management environment.

To meet Kenya's urgent needs, the digital formation must bring everybody including the opposition on a round table and bargain for the implementation of their priority programs. Two things which they need to learn today are, people and communication are vital ingredients that merge to cause or influence transformational development.

Political representation is the channel through which progressive and negative signals are conveyed to steer or scuttle a change process.

So far, Jubilee has failed to build bridges it needs to execute their primary objectives. They must now reorganise, or continue to get distracted and pay back when the time comes to revert to the electorate.

The writer is an independent analyst and an employee of an international organisation

Standard Digital News - Kenya : Jubilee Government should reorganise after false start