The Nation (Kenya) articles from November 2010, page 7

The Nation (Kenya) archives from November 2010

Internet Logs Middlemen Out of Agriculture Market.
November 15, 2010... Byline: Mwangi Ndirangu Every Saturday morning Hannington Mwangi rides his bicycle 16km to Sipili market to hawk his farm produce. On this particular day, the 62-year-old farmer from Ol Moran division in Laikipia West is selling oranges. ...

Demand for Staple to Rise On Continent.
November 15, 2010... Byline: Joseph Bonyo A fast growing population in Africa is expected to double the current demand for staple foods by 2020. This will see the consumption of foods like grains and tubers increase across the continent. In the Comesa...

Unilever Unveils Plan to Save Environment.
November 15, 2010... Byline: Kaburu Mugambi Consumer goods group Unilever has unveiled an ambitious sustainability plan that aims to double sales and halve the environmental impact of its products over the next 10 years. Unilever's new Sustainable Living Plan,...

Oil Marketers Feel Heat as Ship Owners Raise Fees Over Piracy.
November 15, 2010... Byline: Kennedy Senelwa Oil marketers are feeling the pinch of rising piracy attacks as ship owners charge higher premiums to sail to Mombasa. "Shipping operators will face higher insurance premiums due to the increased risk of piracy in...

Mobile Operators Face a Tough Call Growing Revenue.
November 15, 2010... Byline: Jevans Nyabiage The rivalry in the telecoms industry has shifted to data and mobile money transfer services as firms move to shore up their revenues following drastic cuts in call rates. In August telecoms regulator Communications...

Scientists Tinker With Biology to Ease Deficiencies.
November 15, 2010... Byline: Nyokabi Musila Vitamin A deficiency has been getting a lot of media attention in recent months. According to data from the World Health Organisation (WHO), young children and pregnant women in low-income countries of Africa and...

Aids Still a Mystery Despite Numerous Medical Exploits.
November 15, 2010... Byline: Rose Nyawira Njoroge and DR Matilu Mwau "Hope is essential to create meaning in life, but it is especially crucial in the depths of a scourge like HIV," wrote Michael Shernoff, a renowned psychotherapist in an article, 'A History of...

Power Firms Asked to Open Dams to Farmers.
November 15, 2010... Byline: Eric Mutai Power generating companies on the Seven Forks dams should provide residents with water for irrigation and domestic use, a parliamentary select committee has said. The committee on agriculture also wants the livestock...

Eco-Friendly Coffins That Simplify Burial.
November 15, 2010... Byline: Joy Wanja Bereaved families can now bury their dead in coffins made from recycled cardboards or cartons. Christened Eco-Jeneza, the coffin is made out of bio-degradable materials and has been endorsed by the National Environmental...

The Country Praised for Fighting Sea Crime.
November 15, 2010... Byline: John Ngirachu Kenya has been asked to continue its efforts to clamp down on pirates off its Indian Ocean coast and that of lawless Somalia. The European Union said on Monday the country should play its part in keeping the waters...

Alcohol Dealers Have Nine Months to Play By the New Strict Law.
November 15, 2010... Byline: Gatonye Gathura The new law on alcoholic drinks, expected to come into effect next weekend, will be implemented in nine months but some aspects take immediate effect. The National Campaign Against Drug Abuse Authority (Nacada) says...

Knut Leadership Row Goes to Court.
November 15, 2010... A member of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) sued its national executive council, seeking to stop its push to remove three of its top officials from office. However, the court has declined to certify as urgent the case filed by the...

Soccer Fans Troop Back to Stadia as Ulinzi Triumphs.
November 15, 2010... Byline: Odindo Ayieko Ulinzi Stars won the 2010 Kenyan Premier League title on Sunday but the biggest story was the return of thousands of fans to the local stadia after years of apathy. Gor Mahia, one of the country's most successful...

Activists Challenge Truth Commission.
November 15, 2010... Byline: Jillo Kadida A three judge bench has been appointed by Chief Justice Evan Gicheru to hear a case challenging the legality of the truth commission. The three will start hearing the case, which was filed by political activists come...

Military Bosses Fail to Answer Query On Jets.
November 15, 2010... Byline: Alphonce Shiundu Kenya's military bosses for the first time ever, on Monday, appeared before a parliamentary committee to answer questions on recruitment and purchases of fighter jets and armoured personnel carriers. However the...

Wetang'ula Blames Woes On His Rivals.
November 15, 2010... Sirisia MP Moses Wetang'ula has spoken emotionally about his decision to step aside from his Foreign Affairs ministry job, blaming it on political rivals. He reiterated his ambition to vie for the presidency in 2012 despite the challenges he...

Bishops Want More Action Against Graft.
November 15, 2010... Byline: John Ngirachu The Catholic Church has criticised the government over what it called "the deeply rooted vices in the leadership of Kenya today." The bishops accused politicians of focusing on settling of scores, the General Election...

Hand Over Report to Polls Team, Ligale Told.
November 15, 2010... Byline: Bernard Namunane The team reviewing constituency boundaries has been asked to hand over its report to the polls commission to end the row surrounding proposals on the new seats. Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo made the call on...

Address Varsities Crisis.
November 15, 2010... University education has recorded phenomenal growth in the past two decades. First was the expansion of public universities to admit increased numbers of school leavers. This was followed by the parallel degree courses for qualifiers who...

Protests Are Hurting Innocent Wananchi.
November 15, 2010... Transporters, commuters, and ordinary citizens have lately resorted to blocking roads to protest at either poor roads or excessive levies. The most dramatic one was at Voi where residents blocked the Mombasa-Nairobi highway last week to send...

Yes, We Can Make Food Security a Reality.
November 15, 2010... Byline: George Marenya Kenya ranks high in the opinion of many of our African brothers. I remember the clarion call by a top Africa Union diplomat in the wake of the post-election fiasco that Kenya cannot be allowed to fail. "If Kenya goes,...

Why Nominees to the Highest Courts Should Go Through Rigorous Vetting.
November 15, 2010... Byline: Kennedy Buhere One of the most radical features of the new Constitution is that it allows Parliament to participate in the appointment of judges to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the High Court. The President no longer...

Co-op Bank Go One Up Over USIU Tigers.
November 15, 2010... Byline: Caxton Apollo Co-operative Bank had to struggle from behind to edge out hard-fighting Tigers of the USIU-A 70-65 in a tight Game One of the play-off quarter final at the Nairobi's Nyayo Stadium at the weekend. Tigers had to throw...

Five Rookies Picked for Worlds.
November 15, 2010... Byline: Ayumba Ayodi Five rookies have been drafted to the national team for the 10th World Swimming Championships-Short Course to be held in December 15-19 in Dubai, United Arab Emirate. Kenya Swimming Federation (KSF) public relations...

Brewers Now Extend Cecafa Deal to 2014.
November 15, 2010... Byline: Sammy Kitula The launch of the new Cecafa Tusker Cup trophy ahead of this year's Senior Challenge Cup is a clear indication that the regional tournament is getting bigger and bigger. East African Breweries Limited (EABL) have...

Ulinzi Execute Task With Military Precision.
November 15, 2010... Byline: Sammy Kitula After the thrilling 2010 Kenyan Premier League, Ulinzi Stars have a reason to sit back and savour their triumph while the rest of the pack count their losses. Even though the league did not end the way many had...

Opposition Party Rejects Kikwete Poll Win.
November 15, 2010... Byline: Florence Mugarula Chama Cha Demokrasia Na Maendeleo on Monday announced that it would not to recognise President Jakaya Kikwete as a President because of several weaknesses that were recorded during the past general election. The...

Truth Team Beyond Redemption, Kibaki Told.
November 15, 2010... Byline: Emeka-Mayaka Gekara Lands minister James Orengo has asked President Kibaki to disband the cash-strapped Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission saying it was unlikely to achieve its mandate. The minister called for a fresh...

Sharp Drop in Nationals Studying in U.S.
November 15, 2010... Byline: Kevin J. Kelley The number of Kenyans enrolled in US varsities dropped sharply in 2009, causing the country to fall farther from the top spot it once occupied among African countries sending students to the United States. A survey...

Govt - No Nepotism in Our Embassies.
November 15, 2010... Byline: Alphonce Shiundu The government on Monday parried away accusations of nepotism, tribalism and political patronage in the appointment of ambassadors to Kenya's 51 foreign missions. Speaking when they appeared before a panel of MPs...

Town's Rich Past Lives On, in Photos.
November 15, 2010... Byline: Mazera Ndurya and Philip Muyanga Mombasa's rich historical past has now been immortalised for posterity in a photographic collection. This comes as the wave of modernisation slowly creeps on this centuries-old town, threatening to...

Burial of Kenyan Killed in U.S. Postponed.
November 14, 2010... Byline: Antony Karanja The burial of a Kenyan woman and her two children murdered last month in Minnesota, United States, has been postponed after their Kenyan relatives failed to secure travel visa to attend. Bilha Omare and her two...

PM in New Delhi for Economic Forum.
November 14, 2010... Prime Minister Raila Odinga is in New Delhi, India, for the World Economic Forum - India Economic Summit 2010. On arrival, the Prime Minister was received by the High Commissioner of Kenya Prof. Festus Kaberia. Also present to receive the...

Daily Flights to Boost Tourist Numbers in South Coast.
November 14, 2010... The launch of daily flights to South Coast by a local airliner is expected to boost the tourism industry. Delays and frequent breakdown of ferries at the Likoni crossing has seen the number of visitors to the region go down. Fly540...

Good Corporate Governance 'Will Spur Economy'.
November 14, 2010... Byline: Kennedy Senelwa Kenya's mission to attain new middle industrialised country status by 2030 requires public and private sector agencies to embrace high corporate governance standards. The Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission director...

Let's Safeguard Our Intangible Heritage; It Forms an Integral Part of Our Identity.
November 14, 2010... Byline: Irina Bokova Why do we need to safeguard our intangible heritage? This is a valid question, especially now as the fifth session of Unesco's Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage prepares...

New Alcohol Act Likely to Burden Consumers.
November 14, 2010... Byline: Albert Muteshi Dealers in alcoholic drinks have until November 27 to get permits if they are to continue their business, for that is when the new Act takes effect. The new law will enforce good sanitation and hygiene in and around...

Yes, Africa's Star is On the Rise, But We Still Lack Visionary Leadership.
November 14, 2010... Byline: Rasna Warah Africa's image as a basket case where war, famine, and poverty are endemic might finally be changing, according to recent studies that show that the continent's star might finally be on the rise. Early this year, the...

The Mobile Phone Market is Changing.
November 14, 2010... Byline: Ng'ang'a Mbugua Dear Mr Bob Collymore, How are you sir? I hope this mail finds you because, for some time last week, my incoming and outgoing phone calls were being "diverted". My hope is that this letter does not suffer the...

Mwanawasa Family in Feud.
November 14, 2010... Byline: Elias Mbao Zambia's late president Levy Mwanawasa's two daughters are embroiled in a feud with former first lady, Maureen, over their father's estate and have threatened to sue her. Appearing on privately-owned Muvi Television in...

Young Entrepreneur Makes It Through Insight And Creativity.
November 14, 2010... Byline: Aby Agina Wanjau Matemo is yet to finish his architectural study at the University of Nairobi, but he is already running a shop. The entrepreneur in him recognised an opportunity and acted immediately. Struggles of young talented...

Nuclear Energy And All That Buzz.
November 14, 2010... Byline: Waga Odongo I wanted to write an article, in officialese, on Kenya's Official Secrets Act. (Shhh! Don't read this aloud). It would have shone light on the nooks of government obfuscation and the crannies of official obscuration. I...

Think Innovation, Create, And See the Jobs Come, Advises It Guru.
November 14, 2010... Byline: Mwaura Samora This is the man behind Alcove Media Kenya Ltd - a software development company whose flagship invention is the M-Drive. This is a mobile phone application that enables users to access music, news, and other services...

The 'Kanju' Has to Put Its House in Order First.
November 14, 2010... Byline: Ciku Kimani I miss John Gakuo (no matter what cheeky business he might or might not have been up to). He, in my opinion, was in touch with reality. His reign will always be associated with lighting up the city, the installation of...

Inside the Mind of a Spree Murderer.
November 14, 2010... Byline: Mwaura Samora They said that Administration Police constable Peter Karanja, who appeared in court last week accused of killing ten, was a quiet teetotaller. His fate lies with the court but whatever it will be, the rural town of...

No Let-Up in the Misery of Our Women's Side.
November 14, 2010... Traumatic. That is how Cable News Network sports anchor Pedro Pinto described how it is for the fans of Pakistan cricket. Just after the best team in the world - at least according to me - bounced back from a streak of loses at "home" in UAE...

Golf Union Sends Its Entire Talent Board Packing.
November 14, 2010... Byline: Larry Ngala The Kenya Golf Union has disbanded the board of trustees of the Golf Talent Foundation (GTF), a subsidiary of the KGU set up to nurture and train talented caddies and club members below the age of 30. The GTF board...

Fear Has No Place in Jockey Kiptoo's Equine Adventure.
November 14, 2010... Elias Kimutai Kiptoo, 35, is an assertive, competent, stylish, jockey, embracing mortal hazards to give life fresh purpose: "We all play the lead role in our short stint on earth. "The essence of each individual is to pluck yourself from...

There's No Stopping Baraza Banging in the Goals.
November 14, 2010... Byline: Odindo Ayieko If Ruud Van Nistelrooy wanted to see a mirror image of his goal poaching instincts, he would easily find it in Kenya. John Baraza, the Sofapaka danger man stands out as the answer to the ex Manchester United man who...

There's Hope for Football.
November 14, 2010... The excitement that the Kenya Premier League has generated is an affirmation of the huge potential and following football has in this country. Sunday's winning of the league by Ulinzi ahead of Gor Mahia was just the beginning of a long...

False Alarm About Our Labs Was Mishandled.
November 14, 2010... Last week a team from the US Government was in the country to follow up on what it claimed were concerns that Kenya's biomedical laboratories were not secure and so could allow dangerous germs to fall into the hands of terrorists. The...

Bad Farming Blamed for Drop in Cane Yields.
November 14, 2010... The sugar industry could be headed for troubled times due to a decline in yields reported in sugar cane-growing regions. A report by the Kenya Sugar Research Foundation (Kesref) indicates that the national average cane yields had dropped from...

Nation On the Verge of Digital TV Revolution.
November 14, 2010... Byline: Chris Musyoka When President Kibaki switched on digital television broadcasting last December, he literally launched Kenya into an exciting new world of information and entertainment currently enjoyed only by the First World. The...

Video Technology to Help Officers Enrolled in Varsity.
November 14, 2010... Police officers pursuing degrees at Egerton University will now be able to learn through video conferences. Vice-chancellor James Tuitoek said the university is to set up a Sh10 million video-conference facility to run the Bachelor of...

Kibera Lord It Over Homeboyz in One Night Stand 7s.
November 14, 2010... Byline: Ayumba Ayodi Is time ripe to host Safari Sevens at the Nyayo National Stadium? That was the question on many fans' lips as Homeboyz earned a One Night Stand 7s tournament victory at the 30,000-seater arena on Friday. In the end...

Ulinzi Have Trophy Safely Locked Up in Armoury.
November 14, 2010... Byline: Francis Mureithi and Sammy Kitula After waiting for five long years, Ulinzi Stars finally won the Kenyan Premier League title when they set Afraha Stadium ablaze by gunning down Karuturi Sport 2-0 in a mouth watering match. In...

Swede Firm's Launch of Pay Television Set to Intensify Turf Wars.
November 14, 2010... Byline: Paul Wafula Next Generation Broadcasting AB (NGB) will launch a new pay TV station next month in Kenya in a move that is set to upset the local television landscape. NGB, a Swedish firm, says it has finalised the process after...

International Flights Start At Kisumu Airport.
November 14, 2010... Kisumu Airport starts offering international services on Monday when an airline launches flights to Tanzania. Currently being upgraded to meet international standards, the airport has been offering domestic flights. With the launch of a...

Ndolo Goes Back to His Former Job.
November 14, 2010... Former Makadara MP Reuben Ndolo has been re-appointed chairman of the board of the Athi Water Services Board. Mr Ndolo's appointment by Water minister Charity Ngilu was announced through last week's edition of the Kenya Gazette, the...

Plan to Stop Shadowy Contracts Developed.
November 14, 2010... The Treasury has made it impossible for the government to award Anglo Leasing-type contracts. Director of Debt Management John Murugu said the Treasury was implementing a new strategy that would seal loopholes that might have led to shadowy...

Thika Road Works 'Behind Schedule'.
November 14, 2010... Byline: Casper Waithaka Contractors working on the expansion of Thika Road have reported significant progress over the last two months although they are still behind schedule. Regular users of the road are likely to notice the changes, but...

New Scheme Limits Civil Servant's Loans.
November 14, 2010... Byline: Samuel Siringi Civil servants will face strict rules on their salaries in a new government move aimed at controlling the loans public servants take. The government is hiring a private firm to implement a rule that will block all...

Boundaries Row Heads to Court.
November 14, 2010... Byline: Muchiri Karanja and John Njagi The dispute over the creation of new constituencies could be headed to the courts. A section of MPs intend to move to court on Monday morning to prevent the boundary review commission from gazetting...

Step Aside, Ruto Tells Rights Team.
November 14, 2010... Byline: John Njagi Eldoret MP William Ruto has asked human rights commissioners to step aside and pave the way for investigations into claims that they coached witnesses of post-election violence. Mr Ruto on Sunday said stepping aside was...

Artur 'Brother' Wants to Spill Beans On Raid.
November 14, 2010... Byline: Alphonce Shiundu A man claiming to be one of the Armenian brothers, Artur Margaryan, called the Daily Nation on Sunday night saying he was ready to clear his name over the infamous 2006 Standard raid. Mr Margaryan said he was "very...

Ngilu to Explain Rise in Dam Project Cost.
November 14, 2010... Byline: John Ngirachu The cost of a major project by the Water ministry has shot up by more than 30 per cent because of structural changes on the site. Umaa Dam, in Water minister Charity Ngilu's Kitui County, had been projected to cost...

Councillor Seats to Be Scrapped By New Laws.
November 14, 2010... Byline: Lucas Barasa The jobs of councillors, mayors and council chairpersons will be scrapped when the new Constitution is fully effected in 2012, Cabinet ministers and MPs have been told. Experts who addressed the two-day retreat for...

Kibaki Invites Al-Bashir to Addis Talks on Referendum.
November 13, 2010... Byline: Murithi Mutiga President Kibaki has invited Sudan president Omar al-Bashir to an extraordinary summit on the January 9 self-determination referendum. The meeting will be held in Addis Ababa to avoid the controversy that surrounded...

Watch Out, Mobile Phone Viruses Are On the Loose.
November 13, 2010... Byline: Sam Wambugu Mobile phones, the hallmark of modern technology in Africa has been improving both in coverage and in sophistication. E-commerce has bought into mobile technology in a big way. Cyber thieves have sniffed the windfall...

Ministry And Taxman Feud Over Key Appointment.
November 13, 2010... Byline: Muna Wahome The government has found itself in the peculiar position of paying two occupants of the seat of Registrar of Motor Vehicles after several of its agencies failed to coordinate. Transport minister Amos Kimunya effectively...

Navy Kills Three Somali Pirates.
November 13, 2010... Byline: Alphonce Shiundu Three Somali pirates were shot dead on Friday night after they mistook a Kenya Navy vessel for a merchant ship and attacked it. The Navy personnel on board opened fire and killed the three instantly in the 11.13...

No Bad Relations Between MPs And Executive - PM.
November 13, 2010... Byline: Lucas Barasa Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said there is no strained relations between the Executive and Parliament. Addressing an impromptu news conference on the sidelines of the ministerial retreat on the new Constitution at...

Ministers Barred From Revealing State Secrets.
November 13, 2010... Byline: Lucas Barasa and Eunice Machuhi The government has barred ministers from revealing State secrets as it moves to tighten the flow of information within its circle. Stunned by recent revelations of corruption that have threatened to...

The Future is Here, Go Ahead And Grab It.
November 13, 2010... Byline: Lukoye Atwoli Kenya is once again approaching that period in its historical life cycle when showbiz is more important than substance. As we enter the twilight years of the Kibaki reign and approach the end of the Grand Coalition...

A Huge Leap in Enforcing Law.
November 13, 2010... Kenyans are already seeing the benefits of the new Constitution in a number of ways. Some are pronounced while others are quite subtle. The new Constitution has in a way already energised the fight against graft. But one of the biggest and...

MPs Should Not Determine the Face of Senate.
November 13, 2010... Byline: Mukhisa Kituyi During their recent retreat at the Kenya Institute of Administration, Members of Parliament are reported to have resolved that Parliament should enact legislation ring-fencing certain powers and functions for the...

Is This How to Be a Man?
November 13, 2010... Byline: Tom Odhiambo Media reports these days would make one think there is a gender war in the country. In a matter of three days, about 15 Kenyans have lost their lives because some man or another was "jilted", "betrayed", "cheated" or...

Where Are the North And South Poles?
November 13, 2010... Byline: Mungai Kihanya WRITING FROM KAMPALA, Uganda, Henry Nyakoojo notes: "When one holds a compass anywhere on the surface of the earth it is supposed to point North. Can you take us through what happens as one moves from the equator in...

Labour Room Isn't a Man's Place.
November 13, 2010... Byline: Caroline Njung'e Call me old-fashioned or what you will, but I am one of those people who believe that men have no business being in the delivery room. Take it from me - this room is not for the faint-hearted, and if we're honest,...

Punish Saboteurs.
November 13, 2010... Unquestionably, the sorry state of Kenya's infrastructure network remains a major impediment to national economic development. Be it the railway system, electricity, water supply or road network, Kenyans endure and pay a heavy socio-economic...

New Front in War On Impunity Welcome.
November 13, 2010... In a ground-breaking move, Parliament will this week discuss findings of investigations into the activities of two supposed Armenians popularly known as the Artur brothers as well as other reports that have been kept under lock and key by the...

What Matiba Can Teach Ruto.
November 13, 2010... Byline: Philip Ochieng A political philosopher ordained once that those who do not study history are condemned to repeat it -- the second time much more tragically. Thus the cast of this week's alfresco production of The Return of the...

Suspended Minister's Game Plan Clear.
November 13, 2010... Byline: Kwendo Opanga Finally, suspended Higher Education minister William Ruto found somebody else to blame for his myriad problems and especially his expected date with Mr Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the chief prosecutor of the International...

Ruto's Lawyers Misadvised Him On Visit.
November 13, 2010... Byline: Makau Mutua I have argued before that Eldoret North MP William Ruto is a gunslinger. He plays to win. Ruthless, cunning, and charismatic, the precocious legislator has the ego of an ostrich and the courage of a lion. Opponents...