Neighbourhood Kenya 20th Edition - Kara

MARCH 2012
20TH EDITION
neighbourhood
KENYA
The Authoritative Journal of The Kenya Alliance of Resident Associations
Infrastructure
Blessings and
curse of Thika
Super-highway
Cartels
Dirty tricks that
enrich few and
impoverish millions
The Dew Dawn
The Kenya Alliance of
Resident Associations
of Justice
www.kara.or.ke

COVER STORY
Editor’s
Note
Welcome to the 20th edition of your
preferred public service delivery
focused journal. We appreciate
your support and encouraging
feedback.
2012 has begun on a very dramatic note for
Kenyans as the real impact of the Constitution
begins to manifest itself. Kenyans are more assertive
and are demanding strict fidelity to the Constitution.
As a result, senior Government offi cers such
as the Deputy Chief Justice Ms. Nancy Baraza,
the Deputy Prime Minister and former Head of
Public Service Mr. Francis Muthaura who found
themselves on wrong side of the law have been
compelled to relinquish their respective positions.
The demonstrated citizens’ vigilance and demand for
the respect of the rule of law must be sustained to
realize the full impact of the Constitution.
In this edition of our journal, we focus on security
issues and bring you arguments for and against
having a civilian Inspector General to head the
Kenya Police Service and the impact on the much
anticipated police reforms.
Also read about diverse views on the proposed
phasing out of the 14 seater matatus. Will such a
move solve traffic congestion on our roads or there
is need for a more integrated transport system
The construction of the Thika-Superhighway is
near completion. But what exactly will be the impact
of the superhighway on Kenya’s economy and the
regular users We bring you experts’ views on the
various aspects of the superhighway and its impacts.
We also bring you experts’ views on whether
Kenyans have begun experiencing the full impact
of the Constitution of Kenya and how the ordinary
citizens are benefiting. What lessons can be drawn
from the recent predicament of the suspended
Deputy Chief Justice and how can that be attributed
to the Constitution
On the Kara front, we continue with the
sensitisation of the public on key principles of
devolution and roles and responsibilities of the
citizens in achieving a responsive devolution
process.
Among other activities, we have held
sensitisation forums in 10 Counties and still have six
more lined up. The second Annual Media Excellence
Awards will be hosted at the end of the year and we
will soon request you to nominate candidates for the
awards.
We look forward to a rewarding 2012 with
enhanced access to public service delivery. As
always, we are counting on your support and active
participation in our programs. Thank you!
The new dawn
of Justice
When Chief Justice Willy
Mutunga assumed
offi ce in June last year,
he made a vow to
indiscriminately root out corruption and
impunity in the country. Mutunga, who is
also the president of the Supreme Court,
emphasised that his mission was diffi cult yet
achievable.
In a country where the high and mighty
have always had their way, analysts swiftly
warned that to transform a judiciary widely
seen as ineffi cient and corrupt, we should
stand up to the political elite, powerful
businessmen and other groups deemed
untouchable in the past.
While Mutunga has been commended
for making a positive and bold start that
has seen him strongly stand by judges who
have made rulings that have rubbed even
the political elite the wrong way, one of
his trickiest tests yet came when his own
deputy strayed into murky waters.
On New Year’s Eve, Deputy Chief
Justice (DCJ) Nancy Baraza made
unexpected headlines after Rebecca
Kerubo, a guard at the Village Market
shopping mall, claimed she threatened her
with a gun. The claims elicited widespread
uproar with the public calling for Baraza’s
resignation and subsequent prosecution.
Sensing the negative image that the
newly-constituted judiciary was gaining
due to the incident, Mutunga immediately
summoned an emergency session of the
Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to
discuss the shopping mall incident. The
JSC is the body that employs judges,
magistrates and other judicial offi cers and
can equally discipline judiciary offi cials or
recommend to the President that a tribunal
be formed to remove a judge from offi ce.
A sub-committee formed to probe
the incident recommended that the JSC
petitions the president to have Baraza
removed from offi ce, just eight months
after she endured gruelling and at times
extremely embarrassing public interviews
to secure the job. And that was not all as
the police have recommended that the DCJ
faces criminal prosecution.
With Kerubo expected to have been
the outright loser in such a duel in the past,
the bold and decisive action proposed
3.

COVER STORY
From Page 3
New justice...
against Baraza has not only drawn mixed
reactions but also raised critical questions.
Could it be a sign of the end of impunity
in Kenya Has the new constitution fi nally
guaranteed Wanjiku the rights she has
always been denied
Kerubo, says she is relieved that the
ordinary citizen now seems to have a say
when it comes to duels pitting the high
and mighty against lowly.
“Mnyonge hakuwa na haki hapo
mbeleni lakini mambo yamebadilika na
sasa ako na haki (the poor did not have
rights in the past but the situation has
changed and now they do),” she notes.
According to Maina Kiai, a UN Special
Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of
peaceful assembly, JSC’s decisiveness on
the matter might be an ideal opening for
the judiciary to garner public confi dence.
Acknowledging that the old days of
impunity are disappearing, Kiai says by
not demeaning the issue, the judiciary has
set a convincing precedent on how public
"Mnyonge hakuwa na haki
hapo mbeleni lakini mambo
yamebadilika na sasa ako na haki
(the poor did not have rights in
the past but the situation has
changed and now they do),"
servants should behave.
The human rights activist lauds the
way Kerubo stood her ground against the
deputy chief justice, noting that if handled
aptly, this could be the defi ning moment in
the transformation Kenyans crave.
“As Kenyans enjoy the new
Constitution and the changes that it
promises, more ordinary people will stand
up to be counted and for themselves,
certain of a fair hearing,” Kiai notes. He
says it is only when ordinary people do
extraordinary things that change comes.
Former Kibwezi MP Kalembe Ndile,
who has been a consistentl vocal
advocate for the voiceless, says the fact
that severe action was taken against
Baraza is a positive sign that the new
constitution is ensuring that the ordinary
citizens are also heard.
But he opines that the JSC verdict
could have been politically motivated and
expresses hope that the justice accorded
to Kerubo will not be a one-off affair.
Peter Gichira, a human rights activist,
notes that the JSC’s bold verdict will give
everyone a chance to obey the law as it
will be clear that the law is about justice as
opposed to position in society.
“The ruling marked the day when men,
women, children and the old were given
reason to entrust their lives, property and
destiny in the law and a judicial system
headed by men and women of honour,
who truly believe that justice is indeed, our
shield and defender,” he states.
But Bishop William Abuka of the Faith
Community Fellowship in Nairobi differs.
He says Baraza’s case does not represent
justice for the lowly and that the DCJ is
a victim of public lynching. He notes that
action against Baraza is discriminative
rather than constitutional no such action
has been taken against other public
offi cers accussed of arrogance.
“We appreciate the new constitution
and that it gives everyone a chance to
enjoy liberty. But as much as Baraza
was wrong and treated someone with
arrogance, the fact of the matter is that
she has been used as a sacrifi cial lamb by
individuals who have vested interests,” the
bishop asserts.
Disclaimer:
Neighbourhood Kenya is produced bi-monthly by The Kenya Alliance of Resident Associations (KARA) The opinion expressed in the articles are those of the authors and
do not necessarily reflect KARA’s offi cial position. The editor welcomes contributions of articles and photographs from members of the public. Any materials received will
be treated as unconditionally assigned for public and will be subject to KARA’s unrestricted right to edit and publish.KARA reserves the right of this publication and no
part can be published in anyway without express permission.

OUR PEOPLE
OUR PEOPLE
VALLEY VIEW RESIDENTS
ASSOCIATION (VVRA)
Valley View Estate, which comprises 418
housing and 7 trading units, is located about 30
Kms from Nairobi along Mombasa Road, just
after Mlolongo Trading Centre at the valley overlooking the
Kenchic Hatchery – thus the name of the association. The
houses were developed by Harp Developers with the first
habitants streaming in early 2006.
The challenges faced by the residents then, which
included lack of an access road to the estate from
Mombasa Road, poor garbage and waste management in
the estate and security concerns, were among the needs
that caused the formation of the Association in 2008 and
consequent registration as a Society in April 2008 and
further joining KARA in 2010.
To manage its needs, the Association is served by 16
staff headed by an Estate Manager. Other than general
maintenance, security and cleanliness of the estate, the
estate manager coordinates the daily matters relating to
the welfare and needs of the residents in consultation with
the estate’s Executive Committee (ExCo). The Association
has had fruitful engagements with the developer and
government agencies including Mavoko County Council,
MAVWASCO, NEMA, KeNHA through the ExCo, at
times in conjunction with KARA to ensure the welfare of
the residents is met.
Residents contribute a monthly service charge that
covers staff and common area costs including security
lights, water and garbage collection. Maintenance costs
and improvements are met from these funds.
To build good neighbourliness, the association has
enhanced lane meetings that culminated in successful
lane end of year parties that give residents opportunities
to closely interact and forge unities. There is also a
jogging group that also builds contacts among residents
as they keep fit. For communication purposes, VVRA
maintains a Google Group email address where
residents are listed after execution of requisite form.
Notices and general communications are posted through
this media.
Nutritious Meals in Minutes: Recipe One
‘The Perfect Hot Dog’
Ingredients: Farmer’s Choice Frankfurters or Viennas
Method: Heat, Seat, Eat.
Serves 4
Farmer’s Choice - Keep it Simple!
Pork Frankfurters, Beef Viennas and Poultry Viennas are available from your favourite supermarket. Kids love ‘em!
www.farmerschoice.co.ke

PERSPECTIVE
Italian Ambassador:
The future is bright
for Kenya/Italy
diplomatic relations
In life it is not always that we live our
dreams as circumstances at times
force us to pursue interests that are
different from our initial aspirations.
However, Her Excellency Paola Imperiale,
the Italian Ambassador to Kenya and
Seychelles, is living her dreams as her
childhood ambition was to be a diplomat. It
is clear from interacting with her that she is
passionate about diplomatic issues and has
spent most ofher life serving her country in
various capacities in the diplomatic circles.
A graduate of Political Science and Law
from University of Rome, she started her
career in 1975 and has risen through the
H.E. Paola Imperiale,
the Italian Ambassador
to Kenya and Seychelles.
At present, the
Italian Government
is funding 19 projects
in Kenya worth
Kshs.60 billion in
priority areas of
water, health, urban
development and
emergencies
ranks to her current position. She also
undertook professional training at the Italian
Diplomatic Institute in the early part of her
career.
While she has spent her career life in
diplomatic circles, it is the fi rst time she is
representing her country as an Ambassador.
She has been in Kenya since March 2011
and is proud of the cordial relations between
the two countries.
“At present, the Italian Government is
funding 19 projects in Kenya worth Kshs.60
billion in priority areas of water, health,
urban development and emergencies,” she
explains. Through the Kenya Italy Debt for
6.

PERSPECTIVE
Development Programme (KIDDP), the
Italian Government has been supporting
Kenya to reduce its external debt burden
while at the same time sustaining its efforts
towards achieving the development targets
set by the national policies and Millennium
Development Goals. On Humanitarian
assistance, an initiative worth Kshs.120
million has been approved to support
332,000 Somali refugees in Dadaab camps
.
Apart from development initiatives, the
Ambassador is also keen to enhance the
diplomatic relations between Kenya and
Italy through promotion of cultural practices.
In this regard, she invited a renowned Italian
Orchestra to perform in Kenya last year
and hopes that such initiatives will provide
platforms for Kenyans and Italians to learn
from each other in terms of their cultural
practices.
Despite the good relations between the
two countries, she says there is still much to
be done regarding the bi-lateral economic
ties and she is determined to enhance the
ties during her tour of duty.
The envoy says that one strong attribute
that Kenya has is the vibrant media. “The
media in Kenya, just like in other countries,
plays a signifi cant role in keeping the public
informed on various political and socioeconomic
issues and this is very important
for the growth of the country,” she explains.
She sees the implementation of the
Constitution of Kenya as the main priority
for Kenyans and reaffi rms her country’s
commitment to ensure the process is on
track. Regarding the ongoing situation in
Somalia, the Ambassador calls for patience
to allow the international organs such as the
United Nations Security Council to make
an informed decision that will lead to a long
lasting solution.
Her position on the ongoing International
Criminal Court (ICC) process in regards to
the 2007 post election violence is that the
ICC should be allowed to fulfi ll its mandate
under the Rome Statute and ensure justice
is delivered.
Ms. Imperiale’s typical day is spent
reading historical books of ancient and
medieval ages. She also likes gardening
and walking as a way of exercising. She has
no specifi c mentor: “I draw inspiration from
fellow colleagues who have helped shape
my diplomatic career and I can say that they
are my mentors,” she says.
What constitutes happiness for her “I
think that happiness is a very big word
with a lot of meaning. It is diffi cult to reach
happiness during your own human life.
Happiness includes constant efforts to try and
avoid bad things and get the good aspects
of a situation. Happiness must transcend
material possession, it must be an effort
to change one’s personality especially the
negatives bits and to accept the others for
who they are,” she explains.
She has a son who is currently a student
at a university in Italy. She has a younger
brother whom she has a lot of affection
for and is a lawyer back in Italy. When she
fi nally calls it a day in her diplomatic career,
she hopes to put to use her legal training
and start practising law.
7.

security
Police Reforms:
Is a civilian service
head the answer
Is Kenya ready for a civilian police
boss This is one question that has
triggered fi erce debate in the country
amid attempts to have the police
service conform to the new constitutional
order.
The nation is currently awaiting the
appointment of members of the National
Police Service Commission (NPSC), who will
subsequently be responsible for the hiring of
the country’s fi rst Inspector General of Police.
But the fact that the constitution
indiscriminately allows any qualifi ed Kenyan
to apply for the position has generated
controversy. While this might pave way for a
civilian to take over the topmost management
of the police service, senior offi cers of the
Kenya Police have openly opposed any such
move.
The offi cers are adamant that the Police
should be led by a trained professional, with a
section of Kenyans also terming this a ploy by
non-governmental organizations to have one
of them as the police boss. But the issue has
attracted as much support as opposition, with
some opining that having a civilian police boss
will be the best way to cleanse a force that has
for decades been dogged by a poor image.
Among those who have outrightly opposed
the move are Police Spokesman Eric Kiraithe
and his deputy Charles Owino, as well as
Criminal Investigations Department CID
Director Ndegwa Muhoro.
It is Owino who fi red the fi rst salvo when
he stated that Vigilance House, the police
headquarters, is not be a training ground for
civilians who want to be police officers and get
leadership posts. “We have competent offi cers
who can be inspector general,” he noted.
The CID chief has also made it clear
that Kenya is not ready for a civilian police
boss.
“Police is not G4S, Group 4, Securex or
Wells Fargo that needs a managing director
to run it well. This is a professional institution
that needs a professional to guide it and we
have qualified offi cers to be appointed to that
position,” he exclaimed.
The comments have drawn mixed
reactions from the government and private
sector, with some even accusing Owino of
threatening mutiny in the police force while
enjoying the blessings of his seniors.
But Owino has since made his position
clear. He says the constitution calls for a
professional to be the inspector general of
police and notes that in his opinion; only
a trained police offi cer can be deemed a
professional in police matters.
“Let’s not have formed opinions that we
do not have qualifi ed policemen. What I said
is that we do not need a civilian police boss
now since you cannot separate operation and
management within the police force,” he notes.
And being an election year, Owino notes
that the country should not gamble with
security by hiring a civilian, a move he says
would inevitably draw some form of resistance.
But he is quick to note that the force would not
mind having an experienced foreigner as the
boss in the meantime in a bid to facilitate a
smooth transition.
8.

security
“Let the best brains come forward but the
fact is that we will beat civilians hands down
during interviews,” he affi rms.
Police spokesman Kiraithe echoes Owino’s
views.
“The inspector general of police is, as
established under the constitution, supposed
to take command. He is neither a politician nor
a supervisor, but a commander. Those talking
about a civilian police boss are missing the
point,” he says.
Kiraithe says the police force ought to be
led by a qualifi ed police offi cer but assures that
if a civilian gets the nod, he will be welcomed
and supported.
But there are those who believe the police
force should be marshaled by a civilian if the
perceived culture of impunity within the force is
to be checked.
Muslim for Human Rights (Muhuri)
Executive Director Khalid Hussien says the
police force should be led by a civilian as the
inspector general if it is serious about reforms.
He states that only a civilian will inject fresh
blood into a police service that he notes is
characterized by deep impunity and a culture
of mistrust.
“The judiciary has already set precedence
by hiring Dr. Willy Mutunga from the NGO and
he has brought significant reforms within a
very short time. The police should not be an
exceptionand should hire a qualifi ed outsider
who stands for change,” Khalid states.
He disputes claims by senior police
offi cers that only trained policemen can
qualify as security professionals and notes
that the private sector has well-educated and
experienced security experts who can deliver.
But there are those who believe the
position should be handed to any qualified
Kenyan, provided he delivers quality service.
“It matters less where the inspector general
will come from, be it a civilian or a police offi cer
provided he is qualified and meets the set
standards,” states Capt [Rtd] Simiyu Werunga,
a security expert.
He urges police officers opposing a civilian
as the inspector general to hold their guns
and welcome any outcome as they are not the
ones who advocated for reforms in the police
force.
Werunga’s sentiments are echoed by
former Kenya National Commission on Human
Rights (KNCHR) commissioner Omar Hassan,
who affi rms that the constitution allows any
qualifi ed Kenyan to apply for the police top job.
Former Internal Security Permanent
Secretary Francis Kimemia has also been
quick to call for calm among police offi cers
opposing the hiring of a civilian, saying the
constitution should not be opposed.
Kimemia, who is noe head of civil service,
wonders why police are reluctant to accept a
civilian as their boss yet the military has never
had such protests despite being led by the
president, who is a civilian.
Before the current Police Commissioner
Mathew Iteere assumed offi ce, the police force
was under Major Gen. Hussein Ali, a military
man who albeit taking time to settle in his job,
was deemed effective.
9.

FOCUS
As 2012 maneuvers the teething
stage, the fact that the year
will be a defi ning period in the
country’s history seems not lost on
Kenyans.
And it will not only be momentous due to a
probable general election and subsequent transition
from one presidency to another. It is also the year
when the country will face major institutional,
governance and administrative changes that could
highly transform service delivery. This is not to
mention several appointments anticipated in various
government authorities, and which could eat into,
stagnate or build on recent gains.
The most crucial, and perhaps the most
sensitive event in 2012, would be the General
Elections. If the two principals concur that the
elections be held at the end of this year, the
expected political duel would be signifi cant in
various ways.
First, they will be the first polls since the
disputed 2007 elections that triggered widespread
ethnic violence and hatred, the worst in the country
since independence. Secondly; they will be the fi rst
presidential polls under the new constitution and
unarguably the most sophisticated ever.
While the polls will pose a key test to the
citizenry and the leadership alike, the main test
will fall in the hands of the Issack Hassan-led
independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission
(IEBC). With the 2007 polls having almost plunged
the country into civil war, it will be IEBC’s duty to
restore public confidence in the electoral process
and avert any tension by ensuring the polls are
conducted and managed in a free and fair manner.
Prior to conducting the
elections, IEBC will also have
to overcome the tricky task of
setting up new constituencies
followed by countrywide voter
registration.
The impending polls will also
not just mark the election of a new head of
state but equally the exit of President Mwai
Kibaki, who is serving the last full year of his
constitutionally allowed two terms as President.
The Kibaki presidency has been characterized
by phenomenal infrastructure development and
at one point saw the economy grow by seven
percent per annum. But it has also had its
The most crucial,
and perhaps the
most sensitive
event in 2012,
would be the
General Election.
downside,
having been rocked by several
mega corruption scandals and a
record fall of the shilling against major
currencies, not to mention unprecedented
infl ation levels. As President Kibaki exits State
House, it will thus be interesting to see who Kenyans
will vote in as head of state, and the leadership
approach he/she will assume. The International
Criminal Court (ICC) has also given the upcoming
polls a new twist after it confi rmed charges facing two
of the leading presidential aspirants William Ruto and
Uhuru Kenyatta. The nation will be keenly watching
to see if the two are given the green light to vie for
the top seat, and how they juggle their campaigns
with a highly demanding legal process.
The year 2012 is equally expected to be a
phenomenal year for the judiciary, a crucial arm
of government as far as governance and service
delivery are concerned.
Among the key events on this front will be the
ongoing vetting of all judges and magistrates who
were still serving when the new constitution was
promulgated in August 2010. The vetting kicked off
with the 10 Court of Appeal judges followed by High
court judges and then magistrates.
With a signifi cant percentage of the serving
judges having at one point made rulings that were
highly unpopular in the public eye, the vetting is
expected to be a chilling affair in which the judges
will have to justify their decisions.
In another key turning point, Court of Appeal
Judges will also from this year be posted
permanently in stations across the country. This
10.

FOCUS
will be a major boost to service delivery in the
judiciary given that under the current system, the
judges visit several stations on a circuit calendar.
The judiciary will also hire 160 more
magistrates and 129 research assistants for
judges to ensure speedy delivery of judgments
and rulings. On the economic front, the Central
Bank of Kenya (CBK) will be put under close
scrutiny following a year that saw the shilling
slump to a record low of Sh107 against the dollar.
CBK Governor Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u will also
have to be alert if he is to effectively deal with
economic crimes such as money laundering, a
vice that is highly prevalent during the election
year.
Events at Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) will
equally be of utmost interest due to the change of
guard. John Njiraini recently succeeded Michael
Waweru and it will be interesting to see how the
former handles the mantle at Times Tower.
Waweru, whose term ended recently after
eight years as the taxman-in-chief, has been
credited with not just significantly improving tax
collection but also by giving KRA a professional
image. And having impressively increased
revenue collection from Sh183 Billion in 2002
to Sh635 Billion during the last fiscal year, eyes
will be trained on Njiraini to see if he effectively
sustains, or surpasses this rate. Having made
a name for compelling legislators to pay taxes
last year, it will also be absorbing to see how
Njiraini ensures those who did not do so clear
outstanding tax arrears accrued since the new
constitution was promulgated. He will also
be faced with the challenging task of clearing
those seeking political offi ces on grounds of tax
compliance.
Another aspect of governance that will be
brought to test in 2012 will be the much-hyped
devolution. A devolved system of government will,
under the new constitutional dispensation, not
just take services closer to the people but also
have Kenyan citizens get involved in the budgetmaking
process. And it is in 2012 that the process
is expected to take shape, particularly once
Parliament enacts all necessary legislations.
When it comes to the fi ght against graft,
2012 will equally be a critical year. This is putting
in mind that the controversy surrounding the
appointments of commissioners to the Ethics and
Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is already
threatening to give the commission a false start.
President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila
Odinga recently nominated Mr. Mumo Matemu,
Ms Irene Keino and Prof Jane Onsongo to the EACC,
only for the Parliamentary Justice and Legal Affairs
Committee to declare them unfi t for the posts. MPs
nonetheless shot down the parliamentary committee’s
report countering the nominations, in essence setting
the stage for the House to debate the commissioners’
aptness afresh.
With some civil society groups having gone
to court to block Mr. Matemu’s appointment and
many others calling for a fresh start in the process,
Parliament’s decision on this issue will be of key
public interest as it might be crucial in defi ning how
Kenya will tackle graft under the new constitution.
Another appointment that is being keenly awaited
is that of the National Environmental Management
Authority (Nema) director general. The post remains
unfi lled over one and-a-half years since the previous
director general saw off his contract. But despite the
Nema board conducting interviews and short-listing
candidates last November, no appointment is yet to
be offi cially made. This has been attributed to vested
interests among powerful individuals who want a
candidate of their choice to be given the nod. But at
a time when the country is experiencing unparalleled
environmental degradation, the nation will have its
eyes trained on the president to see who he appoints,
and how the appointee handles this vital offi ce.
COLOUR
PRINT
ADVERT

ADVERTORIAL
HIGH QUALITY
MEAT PRODUCTS
Farmer's Choice is the leading
purveyor of quality meat
products in the East Africa
region producing 14,000 tons
of fresh and processed meat per annum.
The company is vertically integrated
from animal feed production through
to the end product and boasts the only
pork export licensed slaughterhouse
and processing plant in the region.
The concept of Total Quality Control is
embraced in all production processes
satisfying international hygiene and
safety criteria throughout the world.
Among the many accolades
that Farmer's Choice has attained
in recognition of its high quality
standards is the prestigious ISO 22000
certification.
Founded in 1980 the core business of
Farmer's Choice has been the production
12.

ADVERTORIAL
of fresh sausages, bacon, ham and pork.
Beef has also become an important
supplementary product. A Halal certified,
beef slaughterhouse subsidiary has
been commissioned and is now trading
separately under the brand Choice
Meats'. As the company expanded into
pig production in the 1980's the Total
Quality Control concept was adapted
and the health of all pigs constantly
monitored to ensure good quality meat.
Pigs at the company's pig units and those
from producers that are subcontracted
to supply pigs for slaughter, are regularly
checked by Government Veterinary
Inspectors.
On arrival at the slaughter house pigs
are put into a lairage, built to government
veterinary specifications where an
inspector checks for any sign of disease.
Immediately prior to slaughter, the pigs
are screened for any sign of distress
that might adversely affect the quality
of the meat. The cleaning, dressing,
inspection and subsequent butchering
of the pigs are all strictly controlled. All
meat products are packed on site either
by vacuum or food grade wrappers. All
packs pass through computerized dating
machines that ink jet critical sell by
date information, to ensure the product
reaches the consumer in the freshest
possible state. Before final dispatch from
the plant all products are stored at 0
degrees Centigrade, having been scanned
to ensure quality and safety.
The Farmer's Choice wide product
range includes delicious sausages, bacon,
ham, continentals, delicatessen and
fresh meat cuts in pork, beef or poultry
varieties. Consumers can be confident in
the guarantee that the products that they
buy have been carefully and hygienically
prepared and packed with their safety
and enjoyment in mind.
Among the many
accolades that
Farmer’s Choice has
attained in recognition
of its high quality
standards is the
prestigious ISO22000
certification.
13.

TRANSPORT
Mixed reactions
over phasing out of
14-seater matatus
Stakeholders in the matatu industry are
split on the benefi ts of the phasing out of
the 14-seater minivans, which is currently
being undertaken by the Transport ministry.
In January 2011, the Transport
Licensing Board (TLB) ceased issuing new licences to the
low capacity matatus and observers have noted that the
phasing out will be more visible this year when the exercise
enters its second year.
However, matatus that were in business before the
policy came into effect have had their operating permits
renewed upon inspection.
But last month, former Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta
and his Cooperatives counterpart Joseph Nyagah threw a
spanner in the works by publicly opposing the phasing out.
Speaking after receiving a petition from some matatu
owners, Uhuru reportedly announced that Treasury would
oppose the move.
The petition argued that the targeted 20,000 matatus are
worth Sh16 Billion and that the cumulative losses include
daily loss of fuel intake, wages to the employees, profit
margins, local authority rates as well as taxes paid to Kenya
Revenue Authority.
On his part, Nyagah said wananchi are bound to suffer
if the low capacity matatus are removed from the road. The
minister said the market dictates smaller public service
vehicles to go to the grassroots and the big buses to bigger
towns.
“It is okay to have buses in bigger towns like Nakuru and
for long distances like between Nairobi-Mombasa or Nairobi-
Bungoma. A 70-seater bus can fi ll quickly there but would
take a whole day to fill in a small town,” Nyagah said.
But the Transport ministry appears resolute on the policy.
Transport Permanent Secretary Cyrus Njiru says no new
licences have been issued to the 14-seaters since January
last year, adding only the existing ones had their licences
renewed.
“We have seen new big buses being brought onto our
roads to share the work with the existing 14-seaters but
which will progressively pave way for the higher capacity
PSVs,” said Njiru.
14.

TRANSPORT
But like Nyagah, Matatu Welfare
Association chairman Mr Dickson Mbugua
argues that the small matatus “are here to
stay” as the high capacity vehicles would
fi nd it unhard to operate in certain areas.
“There will be a vacuum in these areas
when the big matatus run away because of
low business,” he said.
Mbugua says his association has been
exerting pressure on the ministries of
Transport and Local Government to come
up with a strategy that will see some 14-
seaters remain in business in some areas.
“For the population in the rural areas
and those in small towns, the 14-seaters will
forever remain useful,” said the chairman.
Matatu Owners Association Chairman
Mr Simon Kimutai also says some matatus
should be allowed to operate in some areas,
albeit on a need basis.
He, however, notes that the transport
ministry has agreed to “some exceptions”
for the small matatus to operate. Both
Kimutai and Mbugua said the big buses
have started fi lling in the void left by ageing
matatus in major towns.
However, for Mbugua, this transition
has left some voids, as the number of new
buses does not correspond with that of the
matatus being phased out.
“I can tell you for sure that in Nairobi
for instance where we have 16,000 PSVs,
the combined number of new buses is now
3,000,” said Mbugua.
Kimutai, raised concerns that the void
left by the 14-seaters in the rural areas
was now being fi lled by “Proboxes”,
masquerading as taxis.
He also said the higher capacity buses
are yet to start operating inter-cities or intertowns.
“We still have the small vehicles being
used by passengers moving from one town
to another; instead, they prefer CBD to
estates within a given town,” he said.
Industry players and lawmakers are
also concerned about the job losses to
be occasioned by the policy, saying up to
60,000 youths are likely to lose their jobs.
Juja MP William Kabogo posed inside
parliament: “Is the minister aware that the
directive is already negatively impacting
on the livelihoods of over 60,000 young
persons, who are directly employed in the
sector”
But the Transport minister Amos
Kimunya dismissed the assertions as
untrue. “We have 22,000 14-seater matatus
out of the 79,000 PSVs. Typically, a 14-
seater matatu creates employment for
a driver and a conductor. So, maximum
people who will be directly employed by
those vehicles will be 44,000,” stated
Kimunya.
He added that the 22,000 matatus were
still on the road but would be phased out
progressively.
Kimutai endorsed the intended changes,
saying they would herald fewer accidents
and bring back sanity onto the roads. In
2011 alone, over 3,200 people lost their
lives in accidents caused mainly by human
error.
“Because one bus will cost an investor
roughly Sh4 million then we are likely to
have owners seriously looking after their
businesses,” he said.
But for Mbugua, the high cost of buying
the new matatus might cause a vacuum
since the envisioned Sacco funding will
highly depend on their size and fi nancial
muscle.
Kimunya said the ministry would stick
to the policy, as it was viable. “I have no
intention of considering rescinding this
decision because it was arrived at by the
stakeholders and we are convinced that the
passengers and the industry players can
benefi t from it.”
The policy is being implemented by
the Transport ministry –through Transport
Licensing Board and is aimed at reducing
traffi c jams and fi nally restore order to the
sector, including improvement on passenger
safety and confl ict.
It is part of a wider scheme to transform
Nairobi transport into world-class. It is part
of the Integrated Transport System where
passengers will seamlessly move from one
mode of transport to another.
Njiru announced that the Syokimau train
station is 70 per cent complete and that the
laying of the railway line from the station to
Embakasi was underway.
The rehabilitation of the railway
line from Nairobi to Ruiru was also in
progress, said Njiru, adding that tenders
for the construction of the line connecting
Syokimau and Jomo Kenyatta International
Airport (JKIA) will soon be out. “We need all
modes of transport: rail, road and airports
are being rehabilitated,” he said.
We have 22,000 14-seater matatus out of the
79,000 PSVs. Typically, a 14-seater matatu
creates employment for a driver and a conductor.
So, maximum people who will be directly
employed by those vehicles will be 44,000.
15.

ECONOMY
Cartels reap
from miseries
of poor Kenyans
In August 2011, Kenya was
suddenly hit by an acute sugar
shortage. Then, a 2kg packet
was retailing at between Sh195
and Sh200 supermarkets. A few
packets of sugar were, however, available
on the shelves but with a caveat: ‘don’t
pick more than one packet’. The price had,
however, doubled to Sh400.
Stakeholders in the industry and
government offi cials quickly blamed the
shortage on the refurbishment of a major
plant in the country and promised that
supply would be restored within no time.
True to their word, constant supply was
restored -but the prices still remained high.
This epitomizes the vulnerability of
Kenya’s economy to manipulation by
profi teering businessmen who work as
a cartel with the blessings of corrupt
government offi cials.
Unfortunately for poor wananchi, the
cartels have fi rm grip on all key sub-sectors
including oil, sugar, maize and transport.
They dictate prices in a bid to make a killing.
As a result, a helpless -perhaps
unwilling- government has resorted to
desperate measures of fi xing prices in order
to quell disquiet among an overburdened
populace.
In September last year, Mathira MP
Ephraim Maina sponsored a Bill, Price
Control Bill (Essential Goods), in parliament
to give powers to Finance minister to set
prices for essential commodities.
Defending his Bill, which is now an Act,
Maina said it would deal with cartels in the
food industry, which have been charging
exorbitant prices for their commodities.
Maina argues that Kenyan economy is
a market full of cartels rather than a free
market economy. The legislator cited cartels
in the fi nancial, food, fuel and utility sectors,
saying these people collude to fl eece
consumers.
Gwassi MP John Mbadi, also says
the fair competition notion in Kenya has
been replaced with cartelism extorting and
exploiting Kenyans.
“Look at the petroleum industry, it is
just a cartel profiting at the expense of
Kenyans to the extent that we have even
had a company like Kenya Power making
huge profi ts at the expense of the economy.
This is not a free economy. It is an economy
that is being controlled by cartels and the
government has been doing very little,”
charged Mbadi.
His sentiments were echoed by Defence
assistant minister David Musila, who
said the idea of removing price controls
was good but experience had shown that
creating a free economy had not worked.
“We have managed to create billionaires
at the expense of ordinary Kenyans. We
have suffered at the expense of cartels.
We have seen people hoarding sugar
and importing it in order to benefi t from
wananchi,” said Musila.
In 2010, the government also started to
set maximum fuel prices through the Energy
Regulatory Commission.
This move was prompted by public
condemnation of the oil marketers after
studies confi rmed they were operating as
cartels.
However, ERC has been unable to
rein in cartelism in the oil industry. Just
last month, a severe fuel shortage hit
Kenya when the commission reduced fuel
prices with profiteering oil marketers being
accused of hoarding the all-important
commodity to force a review in prices.
However, the marketers explained that
16.

ECONOMY XXXXXXXX PROFILE
the shortage had been occasioned by a
projection of price reduction by ERC a week
prior to the effective date.
Through their lobby, the Petroleum
Institute of East Africa (PIEA), the marketers
said outright knowledge that prices would
be coming down a week in advance saw a
number of players engage in practices that
might be detrimental to both industry and
general public.
“We would like to advise that the
regulator takes caution in making
provisional petroleum price announcements
in advance and instead revert to
announcement of said prices on the 15th
day of the month as stipulated by relevant
regulations,” said Wanjiku Manyara, PIEA
general manager.
Nevertheless, experts say Kenya’s
economy is fi rmly in the hands of cartels.
In a paper, “Inflation and Exchange Rate
in Kenya: Why we Must Act Decisively”,
released in October last year, the
Parliamentary Budget Office expressed
concerns that there was a possibility
that price of most essentials goods and
services like foodstuffs, oil and transport are
controlled by cartel-like behaviour.
The paper concluded that it was highly
likely that if the government makes heavy
investment in mass transport, foodstuffs
and oil storage facilities, it can effectively
regulate the prices of such commodities.
In March 2011, Joseph Kieyah of the
Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research
and Analysis (Kippra), in “The Study on
Petroleum Industry in Kenya, found that
since 2005, petroleum pump prices have
been surging at relatively higher rate than
crude oil, implying a cartel-like pricing
approach by the major oil companies.
“Given that the market structure of
the petroleum industry could facilitate
cartelization, we assume the oil companies
behave like a cartel,” concluded Kieyah.
An Inter Ministerial Taskforce set up in
2005 to investigate cartel-like behaviour
of major oil companies in Kenya also
found cartel-like behaviour by the major oil
companies.
Besides the oil, the matatu industry is
also controlled by cartels and gangs that set
exorbitant fares at the bus stop and extort
from the crews ostensibly for protection
purposes.
Successive Finance ministers in their
budget speeches have banned touting at
the bus termini to rein in the behaviour but
this did not help. The smartest measure
was to stop registering 14-seater matatus
and forcing all PSVs to be registered under
a Sacco. But the extortionist groups have
crafted a way to defeat this initiative by
rushing to register Saccos and making
genuine matatu owners join in as members.
As a result, Kenyans continue to be
overcharged for transport to cater for the
interests of the cartels.
We have
managed to
create billionaires
at the expense of
ordinary Kenyans.
We have suffered
at the expense
of cartels. We
have seen people
hoarding sugar
and importing
sugar in order
to benefit from
wananchi
17.

INFRASTRUCTURE
Blessings and curse
of Thika super-highway
This month, president Kibaki will
take a short walk on the newly
converted Thika Road flanked
by senior government Officers.
Although motorists are
already using a huge chunck of the road,
that walk and perhaps a flagging off of a
few vehicles will mark the official opening of
Kenya’s best road.
Besides the beauty and grandeur that will
come with the completion of the road, the other
obvious benefit will be eliminating traffic jam.
But beneath these are innumerable effects
-both positive and negative- which could make
the road a necessary evil.
First, this will be the model road
for designing modern roads
in urban centres,
especially in
Nairobi.
It will also remain as one of the epitomes of
president Kibaki’s legacy, the other being the
free primary education.
Already, motorists and pedestrians are
benefitting from the Sh27-billion superhighway.
Motorists are, however, complaining that
the lack of proper signage and markings on the
road have made driving a nightmare.
While the Roads ministry has said proper
signage and markings would be placed once
work is complete, there are also concerns
that the road may still prove too complex for
motorists to navigate.
As a result, in August
last year, the Motorists
18.

INFRASTRUCTURE
Association of Kenya launched a booklet to
guide motorists on how to navigate the Thika
Superhighway.
Chairman Peter Murima expressed
concern with the rate at which accidents occur
on the superhighway and said the book aims
to prevent accidents.
“The new roads require correct
responsible driving; recklessness has no
place on the new look smooth superhighways.
Motorists, pedestrians and other roads users
urgently need to keep up with change by
knowing how to use the superhighway safely,”
he said.
Experts are also concerned over the safety
of pedestrians using the multiple-lane road,
especially where school going children have
to cross from one side to the other, without
footbridges or tunnels.
Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK)
chairman Steven Oundo, while commending
the Government for the project, notes that the
safety of pedestrians had been overlooked, at
least so far.
“We need to have footbridges at strategic
points. I would not want to see a situation,
which is now common, where bumps are
being erected on highways. It beats the
purpose of having a highway,” Mr Oundo
says.
But Roads ministry Public Relations
Officer Njeru Ngare said the road design took
into consideration safety measures. “Once the
highway is complete, it will have footbridges
and underpasses to cater for the safety of the
pedestrians. These pedestrian utilities will be
constructed at designated places all along
the highway. They will be among the last
elements to be put in place when completing
the construction,” Mr Ngare said.
According to Oundo, pedestrians should
not walk for over half a kilometre without
encountering a footbridge or a tunnel.
This means with the superhighway
covering roughly 50 kilometres, the
recommended number of such footbridges
should be not less than 100.
Oundo, however, said emphasis should
be on areas where there are key institutions
such as universities, markets, schools and
high populations, while exceptions could be
made on scarcely populated areas.
Concerns have also been raised about the
Ojijo Overpass (former Ojijo roundabout near
the National Museums) with many terming it a
blackspot.
On the flipside, the Kenya National Highways
Authority (KENHA) portends the road would save
users Sh50 million a day in fuel consumption,
mechanical damage, stress and pollution.
The economy will also be spared Sh2 billion
in wasted man hours every year -Sh30 billion
is said to be lost in traffic jams every year. The
road will also help link Kenya to Ethiopia, a major
regional economy with about 80 million people.
There is also a migration towards Thika and
estates off the road, with investors rushing to set
up gated communities. Apartment buildings are
already sprouting along the sides of the highway
and landlords are making a kill.
“This has attracted private investors and will
have a positive direct and indirect impact on
taxes, as people establish and expand already
existing businesses”, says Ken Mwai, a financial
analyst and real estate investor.
However, other observers are concerned
that the craze for owning houses near the
superhighway has led to unreasonable prices
and sprouting of conmen promising to sell land
to buyers.
Thika OCPD Paul Leting admitted that land
fraud was rampant in the area but declined
to release figures of the crime, saying it is
confidential.
“The fraud is actually unquantifiable
considering the number of cases already in court,
those under investigation and the others we have
referred to lawyers,” he says.
The conmen are said to acquire accurate
details of land registration and forge title deeds
of existing land and when the buyer conducts
a search at the local lands office, the person
finds the details match and therefore believe the
transaction is transparent.
And in feasibility study dubbed, Detailed
Engineering Design, Tender Administration and
Construction Supervision of Nairobi - Thika Road
warned that there could be an increase in HIV/
Aids as a result of the road.
The rise in infections, the report concluded,
could stem from workers on the road interacting
with locals as well as the expansion of local
towns –Thika, Juja and Ruiru- once the road is
complete as travellers find them as convenient
stopovers.
“Potential for HIV/Aids transmission also
increases from the current average of 3.9 per
cent prevalence. This also applies for other
communicable disease including Sexually
Transmitted Infections,” concluded the report.
19.

MESSAGE NEWS
One of the key pillars of the
Constitution of Kenya is
devolution and majority
Kenyans supported the Constitution
during the referendum because of
chapter 11 on devolved government.
It is however clear that the concept
of devolution as envisaged in the
constitution is not yet clear to many
citizens. With the next elections fast
approaching, it is important and urgent
that citizens are supported to clearly
understand how the counties will
work and also drive the agenda of the
counties, including evaluating political
offi ce seekers.
In this regard, The Kenya Alliance
of Resident Associations (Kara) in
collaboration with Decentralization
and Governance Non State Actors
Network (Degonsa) and with the
support of Canadian International
Development Agency (Cida) has rolled
out a civic education programme aimed
at achieving a responsive devolution
process for Kenya.
Sixteen counties have been
identifi ed for implementation of various
activities. The counties are: Kwale,
Lamu, Wajir, Isiolo, Meru, Makueni,
Uasin Gishu, Kiambu, Nakuru, Kajiado,
Bungoma, Kisumu, Kisii, Turkana,
Busia and Nairobi.
Through the initiative Kara/Degonsa
seeks to infl uence attainment of a
functional devolution in the following
ways:
• Provide effective citizens feedback
to the devolution processes of
developing policies and laws, and
subsequently tools and guidelines
of rolling out devolution. There
will be continuous dialogue and
feedback to national bodies like the
Commission on the Implementation
of the Constitution (CIC), the
Commission on Revenue Allocation
(CRA) and the Legislature
• Reinforce existing citizens energy
and formations to deepen devolution,
increase level of information on
devolution, monitor progress on
devolution, and ensure capacity
of citizens formations is enhanced
in readiness for holding leaders
accountable at that level, and provide
effective feedback and linkages at the
national level
• Document the lessons and practices of
devolution process in Kenya, especially
from the work being carried out in the
16 counties. The documentation will
be published and disseminated to the
public.
• In coordination with other players in
education sector, share devolution
lessons with the education sector
players.
So far devolution forums have been
held in ten counties across the
country. These are Kisumu, Kisii,
Bungoma, Busia, Kwale, Lamu,
Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, Nairobi and
Kajiado. Participants at the forum
included leaders of faith based
organizations, youth groups, women
rights organizations, community elders
among others.
Memorable quotes
Participants at the forum were
sensitized on key principles of devolution
and the roles and responsibilities of
citizens in achieving a responsive
devolution. Separate sessions were also
organized in the ten counties for county
professionals’ forum to discuss key
principles of devolution and the roles of
professionals in setting county priorities
and agenda.
Besides the county devolution forum,
a citizen’s handbook on key principles
of devolution has been published for
dissemination to the public. Through
the Kara/Degonsa initiative, a national
county mailserv is in place and is being
used to generate debates on devolution
issues and share regular updates and
information with the subscribers.
Public preparedness for devolution
is very key as effective participation
as envisaged in the constitution will
depend to a large extent on the level
of citizen understanding as regards to
their roles and responsibilities. Kara’s
aim is to promote realization of effective
devolution roll out that leads to improved
democracy and service delivery in
Kenya.
But I know somehow, that only
when it is dark enough, can you
see the stars.
Martin Luther King Jr.
US black civil rights leader
and clergyman (1929 - 1968)
20.

Councillor defies
odds to dream big
Born in 1974 to Nelson and Margaret
Mwando, Councillor Aromba Mwando did not
imagine he would be doing what he is doing
today - representing Mountain View Ward.
All he wanted was to pursue his passion
for music and even dreamt of becoming a
professor of music.
Talking to him, one gets a picture of a
resilient and optimistic individual who refuses
to give up even against all odds. He went
through primary and secondary education at
Kakamega Ndani Primary School and Butere
Boys High School albeit with difficulty having
lost his father in 1981.
Having been raised by a single parent
provided an impetus for Aromba’s resilience
and determination to get the best out of the
miseries of his life.
After completing secondary education and
with no means to proceed to the next level,
he left for Nairobi with nothing but hope and
determination to turn his life and that of his
family around.
His elder brother, who was a casual
labourer, accommodated
him and before long he
was accompanying the
brother to do casual jobs
for meagre wages. Perhaps
due to his urge to improve
his living standards, it
wasn’t long before Aromba
landed another job as
a cook for a lecturer at
the Kenya Institute of
Administration.
After eighteen months,
he resumed his casual
labourer job while at the
same time playing for
the Kenya Commercial
Bank Football Club. He
later joined Securicor
Football Club where his
commitment and hard
work earned him a job as
a guard. Within a short
period, he rose to become
the company’s surveillance
officer.
True to his character
of always seeking for
new challenges and
opportunities, Aromba
resigned from his apparent
lucrative job in 2007 to try his hand in
politics. The risk paid off as he was elected to
represent Mountain View as a councillor.
Today, the father of four looks back at
how far he has come and can’t help but thank
God for seeing him through the challenges of
life. He has not lost his passion for music and
besides being a councillor, he is also a music
writer, producer and has two gospel music
albums in Kiswahili and Luhya to his name.
Singing comes to him naturally and
because of his strong Christian background
he only focuses on gospel songs. He also
still keeps a keen eye on his other passion –
football – and is a member of the Councillors
Football Club.
Aromba does not forget his humble
beginnings and colleagues he has worked
with. “I have been a guard and I know the kind
of suffering they go through. To help uplift their
standards of living, I organised the guards
to form Nairobi Guards Welfare Association,
which is a platform to air their views and find
solutions to some of the challenges they face,”
he explains. He is also a businessman with
investments in printing and music production.
But how has he fared on as a councillor
in his own estimation “I have fulfi lled most of
the promises I made, such as the tarmacking
of the Kangemi Road, placing murram on
Thiong’o Road and installation of high mast
lighting in the interior areas of Mountain
View ward to reduce insecurity. I have also
enhanced access to bursary and scholarship
opportunities for both the primary and
secondary levels for the needy students,” he
states.
His greatest challenge is dealing with some
of his electorates, whom he accuses of never
appreciating his efforts and always demanding
for more. The 38 year old is gearing up for
bigger things but for now holding his cards
close to his chest. “The only seat I’m not
considering to vie for is that of women
representative.
Otherwise,
I’m ready to
give a stab
at any of the
other seats
and will
announce
my decisions
at the
appropriate
time,” he
explains.
Given an
opportunity
to be the
President of
Kenya, his priority will be to deal decisively
with tribalism and create a unifi ed state. His
mentors in life are Martin Shikuku, Kijana
Wamalwa, Wangari Maathai and Nelson
Mandela.
21.

NEWS
02 Feb – KARA Lamu County Professionals Forum
07 Feb - KARA Delegation to Rwanda NSA Dialogue
Forum on Devolution -04
07 Feb - Nakuru County Professionals Forum
29 Feb - Decentralization and Governance Non
State Actors (DEGONSA) Meeting on Devolution
01 Mar – KARA Security, Satety and Disaster
Management Committee Meeting
01 Mar - Kara Executive Committee Meeting
09 Feb – Nairobi County Professionals Forum
05 Mar – KARA Bi-monthly Talk Series (BTS) - 25
10 Feb – Kajiado County Professional Forum
23 Feb – KARA Governing Council Meeting
29 Mar - Decentralization and Governance Non
State Actors (DEGONSA) Meeting on Devolution
13 Apr - Kara Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Feedback
“Your Journal is an informative
piece on access to public service
delivery”.
Ms. Leah Gwiyo, Permanent
Secretary, Ministry of Tourism
Your 19th Edition of
Neighbourhood Kenya was
very informative, educative and
well written. We look forward to
receiving the next edition”.
David Kipkoech, Consultant,
Nakuru County
“I found Neighbourhood Kenya
interesting enough to read from
top to bottom. Your articles are well
researched and take different angles
from the other reporting streams.
Keep it up!”
Mr. Micah Nasieku, Resident,
Kajiado county
“Your newsletters are outstanding. I
read them straightaway since they
have great and well researched
content”,
Mr. Mark Oseno, Executive
Secretary, KNUT Busia Branch
Together We Will
The Kenya Alliance
of Resident Associations
Jamhuri Crescent , off Kabarnet Road,
Off Ngong Road,
P.O Box 1411-00100
Nairobi, Kenya
E-mail: info@kara.or.ke
Telephone:
254-20-3874331, 3873828, 2341515
Mobile Phone Number:
0725983445; 0772700007;
0733779585
http://www.kara.or.ke
22.

through
kara lens
NTV reporters Messrs. Francis Mutegi & Steve Mwei
receives a cheque of Shs. 100,000 from Mr. Kipturgo Argut of
Ministry of Higher Education Science & Technology.
Daily Nation reporter Ms. Joyce Wanja receives a cheque of
Shs.100,000 from Ms. Esther Walya after emerging the winner in the
Mawasiliano category of AMEA.
Mr. Ferdinand Mwongela of the Standard Newspaper receives a glass
trophy from Mr. Ephraim Kanake after scooping top position in the Makaazi
category of AMEA
Kara Treasurer Mr. Ephraim Kanake, Kara CEO Mr.
Stephen Mutoro and IRA CEO Mr. Sammy Makove
danced to the Kayamba Africa tunes.
It was all ears for Kenya Wildlife Service staff members
as they await the announcement of the winners.
23.

Partnerships for the awards are invited for the following competitive
sponsorship categories:
Platinum (Kshs3,000,000)
Gold (Kshs1,000,000)
Silver (Kshs750,000)
Bronze (Kshs350,000) with varied benefits