President Kenyatta Nominates Muturi, New Solicitor General

President Uhuru Kenyatta has today nominated Njee Muturi as the new Solicitor General. Muturi, a long-time aide to Kenyatta will replace the current Solicitor General Wanjuki Muchemi, who is retiring.

His name has been forwarded to parliament for vetting by the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, chaired by Eldoret East MP Samuel Chepkonga.

47 County Commanders Appointed by Inspector General

Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo has today appointed 47 County Commanders, retaining Benson Kibui as the Nairobi City police chief.

In the new appointments, there are 37 Senior Superintends of police, 7 assistant commissioners of police, 2 senior assistant commissioners and a deputy commissioner of police.

Kimaiyo's appointment comes after Court of Appeal quashes High Court order, ruling retired President Kibaki acted legally in appointing County Commissioners. 

OLX Social Media Awards are Now Open

The inaugural OLX Social Media Awards (SOMA) are now open to users of Facebook, Twitter and bloggers. You can nominate someone or yourself in the categories below before June 30th.

The awards are expected to be held on August 9th with winners promised to bag cash, hi-tech electronics and other fabulous prizes.

Online classified, OLX has promised to award Ksh100,000 to the Most influential Facebook personality.

Here are the categories;

 1.   Social Media News channel of the year

•     Television show/programme
•     Radio show
•     Print magazines
•     Digital channels

Uhuru Unveils 26 Principal Secretaries

President Uhuru Kenyatta has today named 26 principal secretaries that will serve in his government.

Below is the full list:

Mutea Iringo - Interior and Coordination of National Government
Karanja Kibicho -Foreign Affairs
J. Ntiba - Ministry of Fisheries
Richard Lesiyampe - Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources
Joseph Njoroge - Ministry of Energy and Petroleum
Ibrahim Mohamed  - Ministry of Commerce and Tourism
John Konchellah –Ministry of Devolution
Dr.Kamau Thuuge  - Treasury
James Tekoo Lopoyetum - Ministry of WaterNduva Muli  - Ministry of Transport
Monica Juma -Ministry of Defence
Fred Sigor - Ministry of Health 
Khadija Kassachoon - Ministry of Livestock

Speech on Mau Mau Compensation

On Thursday, the British government announced it will pay $30.8 million in compensation to elderly Kenyans tortured by British colonial forces.

The out-of-court settlement will be split between 5,228 victims, leaving about $4,100 per claimant.

Here is the full speech delivered by British Foreign Secretary William Hague on the Mau Mau Compensation.

With permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to make a statement on a legal settlement that the Government has reached concerning the claims of Kenyan citizens who lived through the Emergency Period and the Mau Mau insurgency from October 1952 to December 1963.

During the Emergency Period widespread violence was committed by both sides, and most of the victims were Kenyan.  Many thousands of Mau Mau members were killed, while the Mau Mau themselves were responsible for the deaths of over 2,000 people including 200 casualties among the British regiments and police.

Free Maternity Healthcare is Official, Circular

On Madaraka Day President Uhuru Kenyatta announced the waiving of maternity fees charged in all public hospitals, in line with the Jubilee Manifesto.

The government also waived the Sh20 charged for registration in the same health centres.

Below is the official circular from the Ministry of Health.

President Uhuru Becomes the First Kenyan to be Verified on Facebook

President Uhuru Kenyatta's Facebook Page is now the first and only Kenyan page that has been verified by Facebook.

The president who also boasts of the most liked Facebook page in Kenya (standing at over half a million likes) has employed social media as a key tool in his administration.

Here is a part of an earlier statement on his support of this key media;

"We wish to assure Kenyan bloggers that when the Jubilee Coalition wins the 2013 elections on Monday, the new government will mainstream Social Media in governance and administration."

Facebook Unveils Verified Pages

Facebook recently announced the launch of verified pages for celebrities and high-profile people, to curb the high number of fake sites on the largest social media network.

President Uhuru's Inaugural Speech at the 50th Anniversary of Africa Union

Here is President Uhuru Kenyatta's Inaugural address at the 50th Anniversary of Africa Union.

I am delighted to be among brothers and sisters at this eminent Assembly that marks the 50th Anniversary of the launch of our premier multilateral institution of the Organization of the African Unity and precursor to the African Union.

I also wish to congratulate you, Mr Chairman, for hosting this historic celebration and commend you most sincerely for the able manner in which you steered the watershed and memorable celebrations yesterday. I am sure that each and every one of us will return home with cherished memories of the event.

I feel honoured that my first AU Summit is this defining Assembly that seeks to set the stage for the re-birth of Africa, as espoused by the theme of our Summit: Pan Africanism and African renaissance.

Mr Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Government and people of Kenya, allow me to extend our deepest gratitude to Africa in its entirety for the honour you all bestowed upon me and the people of Kenya by attending my swearing-in ceremony on 9th April, 2013 in Nairobi. I also acknowledge the many messages of goodwill that I received after my election as President of the Republic of Kenya, and remain humbled by the strong expression of support.

Samwel Kambi & Joseph Ole Lenku Join Uhuru's Cabinet

President Uhuru has today nominated Samwel Kazungu Kambi and Joseph Jama Ole Lenku to fill the two remaining slots to his cabinet.

Samwel Kazungu Kambi has been nominated as Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Services while Utalii College principal Joseph Jama Ole Lenku as Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Interior & Coordination of National Government.

The two names have been forwarded to Parliament for approval.

More to follow..

Profiles of Kenya's Cabinet Secretaries Nominees

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto have today unveiled twelve more cabinet secretaries nominees to bring the number to sixteen out of the eighteen who will make up the new cabinet.

Here are the 16 Cabinet Secretaries Nominees

Amb. Rachel Awuor Omamo, Ministry of Defence

Studied Law at the University of Kent at Canterbury in the UK.
Senior Counsel, has been an Advocate of the High Court of 27 years standing.

She was the First Woman Chairperson of the Law Society of Kenya
First woman Ambassador of Kenya to France, Portugal, The Holy See and the Republic of Serbia and Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Kenya to UNESCO.

Rayechelle has made substantial contribution to the advancement of the rule of law in Kenya and to the development of legislation and policy, for example:

Member of the Task Force on the Establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Kenya;

Member of the Task Force on the Review of Landlord and Tenant Legislation;
Assisting Counsel to the Ndungu Commission:

She was the Jurist of the Year 2002.

Adan Mohammed - Ministry of Industrialization and Enterprise Development

Born December 1963 in Mandera.

Adan has worked for Barclays Bank for over 15 years in different parts of the world.  He has been the CEO of Barclays Kenya for a period of 10 years that has seen the Bank grow from strength to strength.  In recognition of his contribution, Barclays Group recently promoted him to the role of Chief Administrative Officer with responsibilities for 10 countries in Africa.

Prior to Barclays, he worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers for a period of 7 years in London where he trained as a Chartered Accountant.

4 out of 18 Kenyan Cabinet Secretary Nominees

President Uhuru Kenyatta has named four of his 18 Cabinet Secretary nominees in a press conference held at State House, Tuesday.

The four include a respected World Bank consultant Dr Fred Matiang’i Okengo, seasoned diplomat Amina Mohammed, Economist Henry K Rotich and James Wainaina Macharia from the private sector.

Profiles

 Amb Amina Mohammed, Foreign Affairs
 Married to Mr. Ahmed and has two children.

• Lawyer and diplomat by profession and has served in the public service since 1985.
• Former Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations and Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme at Nairobi.
• Former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs. 
• Former Ambassador of Kenya to the United Nations at Geneva.
• Served in the Ministries of Local Government, Foreign Affairs and Justice.