Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of The Roundup.
We start by reviewing the developments around the proposed Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) renovations deal by Indian company Adani Holdings.
As airport workers continued to pile pressure back at home, a ranking MP in India’s Congress raised concerns over the proposed takeover while highlighting Adani’s controversial history.
In a statement, Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Jairam Ramesh said the protests in Kenya over the deal pose a challenge to India’s image globally.
According to Ramesh, controversies in countries where Adani undertook projects are well known and have undermined India’s national interests.
He went on to state that the friendship of India’s Prime Minister and Adani owner is also well known and hence any negative perception of the deal would project the government of India in bad light.
What Jairam Ramesh said:
“The Adani Group’s proposed takeover of the airport in Nairobi, Kenya, has led to widespread protests in the country, with the Kenya Aviation Workers Union calling for a strike to demonstrate its opposition”.
“The protests can therefore easily convert into anger against India and the Indian Government. In recent years, similar controversies around Adani projects in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have undermined our national interest and contributed to bad outcomes for India.”
Ruto Bags Goodies in His China Trip
Meanwhile, President William Ruto and his entourage of senior government officials pitched camp in China where Kenya was among the invited counties during the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOFAC) summit.
Key in the President’s agenda was pursuit of cooperation opportunities between China and Kenya as well as campaigning for Raila Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission Chairmanship bid.
The President held discussions with a long list of partners, among them the China Communications Construction Company in Beijing.
The discussion centered on various projects such as the Rironi-Mau Summit-Malaba dual carriageway, Galana-Kulalu Irrigation Project, Bomas International Conference Centre and the expansion of the SGR into the region.
President also announced that Kenya has formally joined the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) as a fully paid member.
The membership, the President says, will enable Kenya to access concessional funding for infrastructure, climate change efforts, connectivity, regional cooperation and technology-enabled projects and programmes.
AIIB is a multilateral development institution with 109 members and $100 billion capitalization.
Ruto also held discussions with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in a meeting where China agreed to give Kenya’s agricultural produce access to the Chinese market.
According to a statement on Tuesday, Ruto and Jinping also agreed to discuss regional infrastructure projects such as the expansion of SGR, and the Rironi-Mau Summit-Malaba dual carriageway.
Ugandan Athlete’s Death Reawakens Femicide Concerns
Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who was doused in petrol by her former boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, died on Thursday, September 5.
Cheptegei passed away at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret (MTRH), where she had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
MTRH Acting Director Owen Menach confirmed that Cheptegei died after all her organs failed. Dr. Menach previously stated that she had sustained 80 percent burn injuries after her alleged boyfriend set her on fire.
MTRH anesthesiologist and critical care specialist Dr. Josephat Kerema noted that the athlete also suffered inhalation burns affecting her throat and airways, and that doctors were working to prevent multi-organ failure.
Cheptegei’s father, Joseph Cheptegei, revealed that the two had been embroiled in a land dispute reported to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
He further stated that this was not the first assault the suspect had committed against his daughter, with previous incidents having been reported.
Joseph Cheptegei stated that his daughter chose to buy land in Kenya and build a house, as she conducted most of her training there while raising her two children.
He added that she met Ndiema, and a friendship developed, leading to them staying together. However, differences eventually forced them to part ways.
Police Salaries
The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) announced new salaries for police officers following President William Ruto’s directive and the recommendations of the Maraga Taskforce Report.
NPSC Chairperson Eliud Kinuthia announced that the basic salary for Police Constables at the entry level has risen by Ksh 4,000, from Ksh 21,645 to Ksh 25,645.
The longest-serving Police Constable (who served more than 20 years) will earn a minimum monthly gross salary of Ksh 50,145 up to a maximum of Ksh 69,640.
Furthermore, the commission has increased the salaries of a Senior Assistant Inspector General from a monthly basic salary at entry of that rank from Ksh200,899 to Ksh 221,915, an increment of Ksh 21, 026.
Long-serving Senior Assistant Inspector General will earn a basic salary of a minimum of Ksh 310,725 to a maximum of Ksh409, 365.
The commission has also promoted 1,957 police constables between the ages of 53 and 59, who have held the same rank for over 30 years.
Additionally, NPSC approved the promotion of 31 Chief Inspectors, 88 Inspectors, 24 Senior Sergeants, 98 Sergeants, 319 Corporals, and 629 Police Constables.
Also Big This Week
- 17 pupils died following a fire outbreak at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Kieni West, Nyeri County, on Friday September 6 at night.
- Senate speaker Amason Kingi filed a response at the High Court seeking to lift the order stopping the removal of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza.
- Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei unveiled the campaign strategy of Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in his bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairman.
- Actress Winnie Bwire Ndubi, popularly known as ‘Dida’ in the Citizen TV series ‘Sultana’, has passed away after a two-year battle with breast cancer.
- The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) announced changes to how the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) Exams will be conducted.
- Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi explained the reason for the power outages experienced across the country over the past week.
- The Judiciary on Friday September 6 announced the election of high court Judge, Justice Anthony Mrima as the male representative to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
Thank you for reading
Compiled by Annah Najala
Graphics by Felix Kabugi
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