NAIROBI, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's agricultural regulator on Tuesday announced new measures to tighten controls on the export of mangoes in a bid to curb illegal shipments.

The regulations, which include mandatory physical inspection of shipments, are intended to prevent exporters from mixing mangoes with other fruits, a practice that emerged following the suspension of avocado exports on Oct. 31, the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), a government corporation established to develop, regulate and promote scheduled crops, said in a statement published by local media on Tuesday.

"All mango exporters, with effect from Nov. 13, are required to apply for physical inspection of their consignments at their packing houses," AFA Director-General Willis Audi said.

Audi added that the AFA took the step after noticing that some exporters were mixing shipments of mangoes and avocados in order to circumvent a temporary ban on the export of the latter to stop the shipment of unripe fruits.

Mangoes are Kenya's second most important fruit export after avocados. Kenya exports fresh and processed mangoes mainly to the Middle East, China and European Union countries such as the Netherlands and Britain. - Xinhua

Senate Standing Orders require 15 Senators to be in the chamber or attend virtual

Senators are now demanding the impeachment of Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria over his disparaging remarks on the house on the ouster proceedings of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza.

On a point of order, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruyoit castigated CS Kuria calling for his sacking saying his conduct has been embarrassment to the appointment authority.

Senators were expressing disappointment concerning CS Kuria statement on the X platform formerly known as twitter poking holes on the evidence and charges tabled against Governor Mwangaza saying they don’t warrant impeachment.

“That tweet was in bad taste. It paints senators as two people who have no cognitive abilities to make interpretation of the matters that are before us and make a sober decision,” Cheruyoit stated.

“Mr. Speaker, it’s the earliest chance that CS Kuria is laid off his duty, the better for this administration, Mr. Speaker because every single day, in every action that he undertakes, he continues to embarrass the president and the people,” he said.

Homabay Senator Moses Kajwang implored the leadership of the House to commence the proceeding of censuring the Cabinet Secretary in the National Assembly which has the mandate to undertake the process.

“I will speak I want to urge the members of the other house because they’re the ones who have the responsibility of censoring and sending home cabinet secretaries to take serious judicial notice of the conduct of this particular cabinet secretary and this house through the relevant committee can come up with resolutions that can then be used to move the other house to discuss his conduct and to have intention,” Kajwang noted.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna who has previously questioned the appointment of CS Kuria to the Cabinet termed the embattled Cabinet Secretary as a national shame.

“Speaker, one of the things that I asked myself is just how much embarrassment does the President have capacity to endure?” he posed.

Meru Senator Murungi Kathuri urged President William Ruto to relieve CS Kuria off his duties saying he is a shame to the Kenya Kwanza Alliance administration warning him to keep off Meru politics.

“CS Kuria is an embarrassment to the people who voted for the Kenya Kwanza government and should be relived his duties immediately. The President should take notice on the comments we are making and CS Kuria should stay away from Meru politics,” Kathuri said.

Yesterday night, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi had warned CS Kuria over his comments on the proceedings in the Senate on the impeachment of Meru Governor.
Kingi cautioned the Cabinet Secretary against making any further comments on the impeachment, failure to which he will be summoned.

“I, therefore, caution Moses Kuria, Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management, and all other persons to desist from adversely making utterances whether written or spoken with the conduct of the impeachment process which may prejudice the just and fair disposal of the present matter,” Kingi said.

CS Kuria ignored the caution and instead mentioned a list of Senators in what has been misconstrued as involvement on the house business.

He mentioned Senators; Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho), Jackson Mandago( Uasin Gishu), Hillary Sigei(Bomet), Alex Mundigi(Embu), Samson Cherargei( Nandi), Lenku Seki(Kajiado), Fatuma Dullo(Isiolo),Abdullahi Haji(Garissa), Kamau Murango(Kirinyaga), Wahome Wamatinga(Nyeri), Kathuri Murungi(Meru), Enoch Wambua(Kitui) and Moses Kajwang(Homa Bay) on X. By Irene Mwangi, Capital News

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the Middle East over the weekend (Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO)© Provided by The Independent

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suspended a minister who suggested dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza.

Heritage Minister Amihay Eliyahu, from a far-right party in the coalition government, was asked in an interview with Radio Kol Berama about a hypothetical nuclear option to which he replied: “That’s one way.” 

His remark drew swift condemnation from around the Arab world, scandalised mainstream Israeli broadcasters and was deemed “objectionable” by a U.S. official.

On Sunday, Netanyahu’s office issued a statement saying that the minister concerned - Heritage Minister Amihay Eliyahu, from a far-right party in the coalition government - had been suspended from cabinet meetings “until further notice”.

“Eliyahu’s statements are not based in reality. Israel and the IDF (military) are operating in accordance with the highest standards of international law to avoid harming innocents. We will continue to do so until our victory,” Netanyahu’s office said.

Neither Eliyahu or his party leader are in the streamlined ministerial forum running the Gaza war. Neither would they have inside knowledge of Israel’s nuclear capabilities - which it does not publicly acknowledge - or authority to activate them.

Eliyahu said in a social media post: “It is clear to anyone who is sensible that the nuclear remark was metaphorical.”

But he added: “A strong and disproportionate response to terrorism is definitely required, which will clarify to the Nazis and their supporters that terrorism is not worthwhile.”

The crisis prompted another troubleshooting visit to the Middle East by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken over the weekend.

“Obviously that was an objectionable statement and the prime minister made very clear that he (Eliyahu) wasn’t speaking on behalf of the government,” a senior U.S. State Department official said.

The League of Arab States said in a statement: “The racist statements of Israeli Minister Eliyahu are revealing. Not only does he admit that they possess a nuclear weapon, but he also confirms the reality of the Israelis’ abhorrent racist view towards the Palestinian people.” By Athena Stavrou, The Independent