Condolence to Nairobi's Westgate Mall Victims

The Daily Kenya team joins fellow Kenyans in offering our deepest condolences and sympathies to the families and loved ones of all those killed and injured in the Westgate Mall Attack.

May God Bless Kenya.

List of the new 130 OCPDs Apppointed by IG

Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo has appointed 130 new Officers Commanding Police Division ( OCPDs), like earlier the appointments and posting have sidelined the National Police Service Commission.

Here are the new OCPDs;
Michael Mbaluka (Limuru)
L. Kiplimo (Kibwezi)
Gregory Mutiso (Kandara)
Charles Rotich (Magarini)
Juma Ali (Kangema)
Joseph Gichangi (Mutito)
Mildred Achieng (Kathiani)
Charles Okweya (Moi Airport)
Francis Sang (Ongata Rongai)
Bernard Kibe (Koibatek)
David Kerina (Kaloleni)

KTDA Wins Financial Times/ International Finance Corporation Awards

Kenya Tea Development Authority (KTDA) has been feted at the 2013 Financial Times and International Finance Corporation (IFC) Sustainable Finance Awards.

KTDA which was among five companies shortlisted in the 'Achievement in Inclusive Business' category, was jointly awarded with a private university in Colombia, Universitaria Minuto de Dios at a Gala Dinner held in London.

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.

Kenyan Natives Make Mayors in Britain & California

This past weeks two Kenyan natives, Opanyi Nasiali and Abdul Mohammed have taken office as mayors in the United States and United Kingdom respectively.

Opanyi Nasiali

The 67-year old, descendant of Maragoli, was voted by his fellow Claremont Council Members as mayor in March, becoming the first black resident and Kenyan native to be mayor of a town of nearly 35,000 people.

Mr. Nasiali went to Chavakali High School in Vihiga County. After completing high school, he later got a checker job, where he supervised people who moved cargo from ships to the warehouses at the port of Mombasa. At the age of 23, he landed a job at Parliament where he and 11 others transcribed the proceedings for members of National Assembly.

UON Wins Kenya Intervarsity Debate Championship 2013

The University of Nairobi, Parklands Campus are the winners of the second Kenya Inter-varsity Debate Championship 2013.

The UoN team consisting of Bonbegi Gesicho and Eugene Kubali saw off stiff competition from Strathmore University's Edel Were and Willis Mwenda, the reigning 2012 champions.

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. 

Ushahidi Made-for-Africa Modem Unveiled at TED

'If it works in Africa, it will work anywhere.'

Kenya Tech Firm, Ushahidi unveiled its new modem that is designed for Africa at the TEDGlobal conference in Edinburgh, Scotland.

BRCK, a small, lightweight box about the size of a real brick, supports up to 20 devices, with Wi-fi powerful enough to cover multiple rooms.

The modem works just like a mobile phone switching between Ethernet, Wi-fi Bridge, and 3/4G connection whenever the user’s preferred network is down.

Help the Kenyan Tea Farmer through Justea.com

Kenya is proudly the largest exporter of black tea, however, nearly 500,000 small scale tea farmers are trapped in a cycle of debt and poverty.

These farmers are forced to sell their raw tea leaves for low prices to central processing factories. The tea then goes through many hands until it ends in your cups. Of the price the consumer pay, only 1 percent of that money goes back to the farmer.

Another Attack in Eastleigh's California Area

Barely an hour after a grenade was hurled at a church in Likoni, Mombasa, another grenade explosion has been reported in Eastleigh’s California area.

3 have been reported injured.

More to follow....

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The attack took place in Mpambe restaurant near Pumwani Hospital.

Grenade Attack at Earthquake Miracle Ministries Church, Likoni

News Just In: There was a reported grenade attack at the Earthquake Miracle Ministries Church in Likoni, Mombasa.

6 people are believed to be injured but details remain scanty.

Police are at the scene.

More to follow..

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

Mount Kenya University to raise the tallest building in Kiambu

The Proposed MKU Complex

Mount Kenya University is set to commission the building of an ultra-modern complex at their Main Campus in Thika.

The 10-storey building will be the tallest in Kiambu County and its official commissioning is expected to be held on the 15th of next month at the Thika Campus.

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.

2013 Groove Award Winners, Full List

The 8th annual Groove Awards were held on Madaraka Day at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC). Gospel artistes Gloria Muliro and Willy Paul, famous for their mega-hit 'Sitolia' bagged the female and male artistes of the year respectively.

In-attendance was President Uhuru Kenyatta and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, in what was one of the biggest event in the region for honouring top performing gospel artists.

Below is the complete list of Groove Award Winners 2013;

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Willy Paul

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Grace Muliro

GROUP OF THE YEAR
BMF

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR / GROUP OF THE YEAR
Bahati

SONG OF THE YEAR
Appointment- Jimmy Gait

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Conquerer - Joyce Omondi

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.

Kenyan Crowned Miss Africa Perth 2013 + Photos

Sylvia Wambui Karanja, a Kenyan living in Australia was over the weekend crowned Miss Africa Perth 2013.

Miss Karanja beat competition from Liberia, Zambia, South Africa and DRC to bag the coveted prize at a pageant which was held at the Astor Theatre in Perth City, Australia.

Contestants from Liberia and Zambia took the first and second runner up respectively.

Kibaki is the Most Inspirational Kenyan, Survey

Retired president Mwai Kibaki is the most inspirational Kenyan, this is according to a recent survey conducted by Consumer Insight.

Two percent of those who participated in the survey cited Kibaki's achievements and value system as the root of inspiration.

US president Barrack Obama was polled as the most inspiring with 6.8percent followed by Nobel Prize winner and former South African president Nelson Mandela (4.8percent) and British billionaire Richard Branson with 2.4percent.

Huddah Monroe & Annabel Represent Kenya at Big Brother Africa 8

In a star-studded ceremony on Sunday night in South Africa, 28 new housemates were revealed for season 8 of Big Brother Africa, dubbed "The Chase".

Kenya will be represented by 21-year-old model and Socialite Huddah Monroe and compatriot Annabel Mbaru, a 24-year-old fashion designer.

The two will join the other 26 contestants garnering for USD 300,000 prize money.

Here is Huddah's bio courtesy of bigbrotherafrica.dstv.com

Huddah is a model with a Diploma in Programming. She loves Chinese food, ugali and fish.

Huddah’s favourite place in Kenya is Mombasa, and she says the best thing about Africa is the diversified cultures and natural resources. Her favourite place outside Kenya is Miami, because it’s a beautiful place and she loves tropical weather.

Her role model is Marilyn Monroe, because “she was intelligent, a go-getter, a sexy woman with a charming smile and also very popular”. Huddah entered Big Brother because she believes it’s a once in a lifetime experience and she felt she really needed to be part of it. “Plus it has brought a lot of opportunities in life for a lot of people,” she says.