Tag Archives: government

ID CRISIS | Government lags in issuance of IDs

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On October, 2009, the Public Procurement Administration Board ruled that the tendering process for the new generation IDs was unfair, and ordered the ministry of Immigration to begin it anew.

Otieno Kajwang-Minister of State for Immigration and Registration of Persons

Last weekend on Saturday, Daily Nation reported that “more than 4 million Kenyans-the majority of them youths-could be prevented from voting next year if the political infighting over a Sh. 12 billion tender for the production of national identity cards is not resolved soon.” The tender for design, supply, installation and commissioning of the 3rd generation IDs, advertised on April 2007, “has attracted a lot of attention from powerful people in government. It has been derailed because some forces think that ODM wants to turn it into an Anglo Leasing and mint money for campaigns,” Otieno Kajwang-Minister of State for Immigration and Registration of Persons, said for the record. On 3rd March, 2011, allAfrica.com reported that, “although funds were allocated for the project, powerful people with vested interests have been fighting to influence who gets the contract.” On the flip side, “without an ID one cannot transact official business, get a job, travel outside the country, join college, access government offices, and entertainment spots or acquire other crucial documents like passports.” Daily Nation reported. Findings from a research carried out by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) addressing the crisis on issuance of national identity cards in Kenya stated that, “the Government only recognizes the importance of an ID card in so far as elections are concerned, but not for other crucial purposes… This means that political interests of those in Government tend to supercede the day-to-day interests of Kenyans.” Surprisingly, the government seems to have disregarded results of the 2009 census, exhibiting that “young people constitute a core voting bloc that will determine who becomes the country’s next president.” The KNCHR research drew a conclusion that “registration of persons and issuance of ID cards is core in determining the extent of enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by Kenyans.”

For how long the Kenyan government will view the citizenry as mere statistical elements, is an issue begging for urgent corrective reasoning, lest much more young people will stand disenfranchised and dispossessed.

References:

ID crisis: 4 million face lockout in poll Daily Nation July 23rd 2011

Sort Out ID Cards Crisis allAfrica.com March 3rd 2011

Youth Seeking IDs to Wait Longer After Tender Quashed allAfrica.com October 15th 2009

An Identity Crisis? A Study on the Issuance of National Identity Cards in Kenya KNCHR 2007

 

Drought Situation in East Africa

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In August 2010, World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Center (NOAA/CPC), both, officially declared a La Nina event.

Sea Surface Temperature (SST) measurements in 2010 indicated rapid cooling, thus yielding “a moderate La Nina event…” projected to last for 9 to 12 months, Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET) reported. “La Nina events are generally associated with drier than normal conditions in the eastern sector of East Africa, and wetter than normal conditions in the western and northern sector of the region.” FEWSNET reported. According to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the La Nina phenomenon results in “drought over most parts of East Africa and floods and lush vegetation in Australia and other parts of southeast Asia.” guardian.co.uk reported. Jan de Leeuw, the Operating Project Leader (OPL) in the Vulnerability and sustainability in pastoral and agro-pastoral systems within ILRI’s People, Livestock and Environment theme (PLE) was put on record saying, “this La Nina event is one of the strongest since the 1970s.” Meanwhile, Daily Nation reported that “Kenya has been listed among countries facing the world’s worst food security crisis in the eastern horn of Africa.” Further afield, Associated Press (AP) reported that, “UN officials sounded the alarm Tuesday about a deepening humanitarian crisis in East Africa caused by a severe drought and fighting in Somalia…” Approximately 10 million people in northern Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea and South Sudan need urgent humanitarian assistance as the region experiences the worst drought in 60 years. An estimated 1,300 Somali refugees stream into Dadaab refugee camp daily following continued conflict in Somali, coupled with severe drought. The situation on the ground is getting worse as the world’s largest refugee camp- Dadaab, in Kenya has been forced to house people, four times its full capacity.

I echo Kimani wa Njuguna’s opinion on Tuesday that, “Rather than being preoccupied with weighty bread and butter issues which will add value to the lives of Kenyans, we have seen most elected leaders concentrating on non-issues like singing to the tune of tribal kingpins, how to escape paying taxes, and the 2012 elections.” Real issues are on the ground; drought, a looming food shortage, high inflation, delayed constitutional implementations, and so on. “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty”, Winston Churchill said. The Kenyan Government should savor the opportunity to act decisively and do something significant to comprehensively take care of the current drought situation.

What’s your say?

The Conversation begins…

References:

Kenya in urgent need of food aid, says US Daily Nation July 11, 2011

La Nina blamed for east African drought guardian.co.uk July 14, 2011

UN struggling to cope with East Africa drought Associated Press July 12, 2011

Executive Brief: La Nina and Food Security in East Africa August 2010 FEWSNET as of July 14, 2011

East African drought ‘worst in 60 years’ Channel 4 News June 28, 2011

Leaders must get their priorities right and put food security at top of agenda Daily Nation:-Opinion July 12, 2011

 

 

 

The Alcohol Dilemma

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In an already soaring economic environment, the so soon effected directive to increase excise duty on alcohol is projected to reduce government revenue.

On March 22nd 2010, National Campaign against Drug Abuse (Nacada) acceded to legalizing chang’aa so that its production can be regulated. On July 22nd the same year, Sam Ikwaye, the Executive Officer of the Pubs and Restaurants Association of Kenya (PERAK) was reported saying that “the proposed laws(Alcoholic Drinks Control Act) will do to the alcohol industry what the “Michuki Rules” did to the public transport sector.” However, we should note that the cause/effect of either vary significantly. Ideologically, the new alcohol law is designed to limit drinking hours in an effort to allow for more time to be spent on productive activities. In a society characterized with high unemployment, and rising cost of living, compounded by increased taxation on alcoholic drinks, it will be difficult to implement the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act because, frequent alcohol consumers who can now not afford the bottle would compulsively opt for cheaper nonstandard alcoholic drinks, which are still highly unregulated, thus reduced revenue collection from licensed alcohol. “Increase of excise duty on alcohol is ‘counter productive’ and likely to reduce government revenue from the industry which is one of the major contributors”, said Consultancy firm Deloitte and Touche Kenya.

Instead of aggressively enforcing regulation of the alcohol industry by strict adherence to directives by the district liquor licensing boards, the government should consider a more overt system to address the issue of alcohol abuse by establishing adequate and affordable rehabilitation facilities and advocate for aggressive civil education on the economic, social, and psychological effects of alcohol abuse. Do not bite the hand that feeds you, and two wrongs never make a right.

References:

High Alcohol Tax Likely to Affect Revenue-Analyst allAfrica.com June 10, 2011

License Chang’aa, Nacada tells State Daily Nation March 22, 2010

New alcohol law hard to effect, say players Daily Nation July 22, 2010

 

Fraud in the Ministry of Education

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More than 100 people, including top civil servants may face graft charges following a new forensic audit by the government revealing fraud involving Sh4.2 billion in the Education Ministry.

The Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta disclosed findings that alleged Sh4.2 billion intended for the Free Primary Education Programme (FPEP) is unaccounted for. Kenyatta, who is also the Finance Minister, handed over the audit report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Director, Ndegwa Muhoro. Daily Nation website reported that, “according to Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, the officials (in the Ministry of Education) not only stole the money, but also manipulated the records to hide the theft.” On one hand, Education Minister Prof. Sam Ongeri has sided with Uhuru Kenyatta in saying, “the focus was not going to be on prosecutions alone, but also on the recovery of the money, with the real possibility that some of the assets of those found guilty may be seized”, Daily Nation reported. On the other hand, Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) Director, PLO Lumumba was reported accusing Uhuru Kenyatta of “putting on a show for the World Bank…” The article goes on to read that “Lumumba said Kenya is trying to look good before the world, whereas it is not, adding that the launch and handover of the report to the CID was meant to please the World Bank officials who are in the country to inspect the projects they sponsor.”  Last year, the U.K. Department For International Development (DFID) terminated its financial support to the Ministry of Education in Kenya citing, “It is vital that U.K. aid money is being spent on its intended purpose. We could not be sure this was happening and also we have stopped direct funding to the Ministry of Education in Kenya,” following a statement made by the DFID concerning allegations that some officials in the Ministry misappropriated the fund. Prior to the statement by the DFID, Prime Minister Raila Odinga suspended Ongeri from office for a period of three months following a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers Kenya and  Internal Auditor General, which “laid credible foundations…” African Press International (API) website reported. However, President Kibaki later annulled the suspension.

In 1970, Abba Eban, an Israeli diplomat, said, “history teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives.” Maybe this time the culprits involved in the scam will face the law. ‘Big and small fish’ alike all should be prosecuted, because only then will the government inch closer to recovering the lost billions and more so, toward ending the culture of impunity.

References:

How free education billions were stolen Daily Nation June 16, 2011

Heat over missing billions for schools The Standard June 14, 2011

DFID Halts Funding for Kenyan Education Ministry Devex March 16, 2010

Ministers Ongeri, Ruto suspended by PM Raila over graft: Will his action breed powerful

enemies and destroy his chances to seek presidency come 2012? African Press International February 14, 2010

 

Unexploded Ordnance Kills Five Children

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Four children aged between six and twelve were killed on Sunday following a fatal detonation of what has since been said to be an anti-personnel bomb. A fifth child involved in the same incident succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at the Kenyatta National Hospital. The explosion occurred 25 kilometers north of Ngong Town, while the five youngsters were out grazing cattle in Ole Maroroi village, Ewaso Kedong.

Police have revealed that the bomb was an unexploded munition from the nearby Ngong Range, used for training by the military and police. This incident is related to similar accidents reported in Samburu, where there have been explosives left behind after military training sessions by the local and military personnel from Britain. News From Africa reported that, “more than 200 accidents have been recorded in the area where the British forces have been carrying out exercises.” Unexploded ordnances, sometimes brightly coloured, are compared to toys that attract children. These unexploded ordnances are “explosive weapons (bombs, bullets, shells, grenades, land mines, naval mines, etc.) that did not explode when they were employed and still pose a risk of detonation…”- Wikipedia.org. Human Rights activists have indicated that, “one in four casualties resulting from sub-munition that fail to explode on impact are children who often pick up and play with the explosive canisters…” UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon spoke of “not only the world’s collective revulsion at these abhorrent weapons, but also the power of collaboration among governments, civil society and the UN to change attitudes and policies on a threat faced by all humankind”, referring to his contribution as the Convention on Cluster Munitions, Dublin, entered into force.httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p82jNCJNlk Kenya signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) in Oslo, Norway in December 2008 to express her “commitment to support efforts aimed at limiting the indiscriminate effects to civilians of Cluster Munitions as areas affected are not suitable for economic development and growth.” However, Kenya has not yet ratified the treaty. The Attorney General’s office alleges that competing priorities have stalled the process, and that ratification of the treaty in Kenya requires approval by the cabinet. Nobel peace prize winner Jody Williams called the convention “the most important disarmament and humanitarian convention…”

Capital FM website reported on May 9th that, Military Spokesman Bogita Ongeri was “non committal when asked if families of the children killed will be compensated by the Department of Defense.” The government should speedily ratify the CCM such that Kenya joins other States Parties who have “resolved to do their utmost in providing assistance to Cluster Munition victims, including medical care, rehabilitation and psychological support, as well as providing for their social and economic inclusion.”httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlcGHj5sosY&feature=player_embedded#at=25

 

References:

Tragedy as four boys are killed in bomb blast DAILY NATION May 11th,2011

Military on the Spot over Death of Five Boys News From Africa May 10th,2011

KENYA’S RESPONSE TO THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY
GENERAL’S REQUEST FOR VIEWS ON INTERRELATION
BETWEEN ARMED VIOLENCE AND DEVELOPMENT Google Docs (as of) May 11th,2011

Kenya Cluster Munition Ban Policy Landmine & Cluster Munition Monitor (as of) May 11th,2011

DIPLOMATIC CONFERENCE FOR
THE ADOPTION OF A CONVENTION
ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS Google Docs (as of) May 11th,2011

 

 

Prerequisite Reforms in Run-Up to 2012 Elections

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On 22nd March 2011, H.E. President Mwai Kibaki addressed a special sitting of parliament to urge the members of the August House to pass at least 10 legislations and other several crucial reforms required to implement the new constitution which will ensure that the 2012 elections are, “conducted within a framework that guarantees the freedom and fair exercise of people’s choices.”httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eM-ARMrUmk

According to The National Accord and Reconciliation Act, 2008, “a coalition must be a partnership with commitment on both sides to govern together and push through a reform agenda for the benefit of all Kenyans.” The Grand Coalition Government was anticipated to boost the process of constitutional reform-which has been done, now shifting focus to its implementation. In his address, the President said, “the Grand Coalition Government is determined to systematically implement the new constitution.” However, the government is falling behind schedule in implementing the prerequisite reforms, “which must have been passed according to the Fifth Schedule (the fifth schedule lays out the table of implementation) of the constitution, within one year of the promulgation of the constitution,” stated the President. He also highlighted bills relating to judicial reforms and electoral systems, which will be intended to; strengthen accountability, administration of justice, rule of law and ensure checks and balances in governance.”

To be able to conduct a free and fair elections-process is undoubtedly a challenging task, however, it should be noted that, “the sum of parts is greater than the whole.” The August House has a great responsibility of setting up the necessary prerequisite legislations and civil education prior to the 2012 elections. These call for; unity within the Coalition partners, and the prioritization of the process of the implementation of the constitution. Thus any decision to be made and acted upon should follow thorough dialogue and scrutiny such that the end will be seen to justify the means.

References:

Kibaki Urges MPs to Pass Reform Bills 22/03/2011
Kibaki Urges Reforms in Run-Up to Kenyan Elections 23/03/2011

Pres. Kibaki’s Address During a Special Sitting Of Parliament 22/03/2011