RIGA - Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) is stepping down, as Karins announced on Monday.
Karins told a press conference today that he would submit his resignation to President Edgars Rikevics during their meeting this coming Thursday.
With Karins' resignation, the entire Cabinet of Ministers will step down, paving the way for formation of a new government where the coalition will expectedly be made up of New Unity, Union of Greens and Farmers, and the Progressives.
Karins' original decision to stay on as the prime minister after he announced a new round of coalition talks was one of the main objections from his former coalition partners, National Alliance and the United List, which claimed that this was against the Constitution.
According to the law, Cabinet members will continue to work until Saeima approves a new government. The Baltic Times
New British High Commissioner Neil Wigan has jetted into the country to kick off his Kenya assignment.
Speaking on his arrival, Wigan pledged to work with the government on priorities of strategic partnership.
“It has been a long-term ambition of mine to lead the team at the British High Commission in Nairobi. I first visited Kenya in 1977, my children went to school in Nairobi, and I have visited Kenya many times, for work and pleasure. I am delighted to have returned and am looking forward to exploring magical Kenya.
I look forward to working with the Government of Kenya on the priorities of our Strategic Partnership, particularly the KES 500 billion of UK investment in clean, green infrastructure projects including Nairobi Railway City, Menengai Geothermal Plant, Grand High Falls Dam and the Malindi Solar Expansion project,” he stated.
He pointed out that these projects, among others, will improve the lives of Kenyans and boost sustainable development while heling to and help tackle climate change.
“I look forward to seeing these projects and other UK-Kenya partnerships for myself,” he stated.
He further indicated that “Across the partnership, there are further opportunities for us to go far, together. Tafaulu Pamoja!”
Neil takes up his post at an exciting time for UK-Kenya relations, with the relationship between both countries and peoples going from strength to strength.
He recalled that rapid progress is being made across all pillars of the Strategic Partnership, signed in 2020 between the UK and Kenya – tackling climate change, increasing mutual prosperity and sustainable development, building stronger people to people links, and strengthening vital security cooperation.
“The UK is working with the Kenyan Government to improve lives and livelihoods, while our defence partnership ensures the safety and security of our two peoples and promotes Kenya’s role as a stabilising force in the region,” he said.
He mused that the UK and Kenya share a deep and complex history, “one that has created strong bonds between our countries, governments and people.”
“Our people-to-people bonds are the foundation of our relationship. This year we celebrate 40 years of Chevening, our scholarship programme, which has enabled more than 600 Kenyans to study at UK universities,” he stated.
“Through the British Council, we have strengthened Kenya’s creative and cultural industries and the UK-Kenya Tech Hub is working with entrepreneurs and tech talent to build a sustainable digital ecosystem.”
The UK is the largest international investor in Kenya and is Kenya’s fifth largest export market.
Progress on key green infrastructure projects, backed by UK investment, is securing Kenya’s place as a climate leader in the region. Source: Capital News
The High Court is to rule on whether it is illegal to fine motorists using CCTV evidence.
Transport for London is seeking a judicial review to try to establish whether it has broken the law by issuing fines through the post using CCTV evidence.
A judgment by London Tribunals, which hears appeals against penalty charge notice (PCN) fines, ruled that analysis of legislation and ministerial guidance showed CCTV fines should be a last resort and only used when traffic wardens were unable to enforce road rules.
The laws attempting to limit the use of CCTV were introduced nearly 10 years ago after ministers became increasingly concerned about “overzealous enforcement by local authorities”.
Now, Transport for London (TfL) has lodged an application seeking a judicial review to try to overturn the appeal ruling.
An order issued by Mrs Justice Foster to the High Court in London said “there is an urgent issue of statutory interpretation requiring decision concerning the penalty enforcement mechanism on red route parking bays in London”.
The move comes after Ernst & Young, TfL’s official auditors, received a letter claiming the transport authority’s accounts needed to be reviewed because they included money raised from fines that had been found “contrary to law”.
The test case is expected to be used to overturn numerous fines issued by CCTV.
Derek Dishman, who helps people challenge fines, wrote to Ernst & Young claiming TfL may have to pay back some of the fines it had issued following the London Tribunals ruling.
Mr Dishman, from north-west London, said the ruling that found using traffic wardens allowed motorists to contemporaneously challenge a fine was a “fairer, more human system” than a CCTV fine arriving weeks later in the post.
“What TfL is doing, by relying on cameras, is using the most cost-efficient system at the expense of trouble for motorists, especially blue badge holders whose badge cannot be seen if the camera points at the rear of the vehicle where it cannot possibly read the details of a blue badge at distance.
“Big Brother has gone far enough in the world of PCNs.
A TfL spokeswoman said the organisation’s accounts “will be reviewed after the resolution of the High Court application”.
She added: “We believe we have been applying the regulations correctly and are seeking a review of the tribunal’s ruling at the High Court.” By Steve Bird, Telegraph
Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula and ICT CS Eliud Owalo during the opening of free government wifi at Magunga market. [James Omoro, Standard]
Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga’s announcement stopping demonstrations has been welcomed by politicians across the political divide.
Several politicians in both Azimio and Kenya Kwanza camps on Sunday said the calls to stop demos will play a major role in uniting the country.
Lrd by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo, Suba South MP Caroli Omondi and former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero the politicians said giving dialogue a chanc is the best way to solving political issues.
On Saturday, Raila said he will not tell Kenyans to demonstrate in streets but to call on them to boycott going to work if talks between the opposition and the government fail
And speaking at Tonga Catholic Church during a fundraiser, Wetang’ula said, “I want to hail Raila for saying he will not engage Kenyans into demonstrations. It is worth noting that putting on sufuria on the head does not reduce the cost of living. The remedy is engaging in serious crop production to enhance food security.”
Wetangula said a time has come for all politicians to ensure that Kenyans live in harmony.
“What we want is the harmonious co-existence of Kenyans. Let us live in unity because Kenya is one nation that focuses on conversations,” Wetang’ula said.
His sentiments were echoed by Owalo who said Kenyans must also understand that politics of rhetoric had already been overtaken by events.
He said everyone’s focus should be on how to improve the economy.
“Politics is already overtaken by events. This is the time we are focusing on economy. Anybody who wants to engage us in politics should tell us politics of economy but not any other,” Owalo said.
He said the Kenya Kwanza government is committed to serving all Kenyans through implementation of various development projects.
The CS said his docket is establishing wifi connectivity in markets and digital laboratories in each ward.
“Earlier today we opened a wifi in Magunga market but we are going to enhance accessibility of the internet through the digital laboratories,” Owalo said.
He said the government is also going to construct Lake Victoria ring road and other development projects for enhancing blue economy in Nyanza region.
“I urge the people of Nyanza to create enabling environment for working with the government. This is the only government that is ready to serve the people of Nyanza even though residents did not vote President William Ruto overwhelmingly. Let us utilise this government to transform our lives,” Owalo said.
Omondi told leaders who are trying to scuttle the bipartisan talks to stop doing so.
“We need conversations for prevalence of peace in our country. The ongoing talks should go on successfully to unite Kenyans,” he said.
He argued that his constituency had lagged behind by being the only constituency without a tarmacked road and wifi.
“The people of Suba South told me to work with the government even though I was elected on an ODM ticket. Let everybody support the government to enable us realise development in Nyanza region,” Omondi said.
Kidero said no leader should be victimized for working with the government.
“We are working with the government and we will continue doing so whether they like it not,” Kidero said. By James Omoro, The Standard
Members of Parliament are pushing for Kenyans to pay contractors directly for power connection, which will edge out Kenya Power.
The proposal by the National Assembly’s Energy Committee will allow Kenyans who wish to be connected to electricity pay contractors licensed by the distributor and its sister company, Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (Rerec).
The contractors will then do the high voltage connection, thereafter issuing the customer with a certificate.
The customer will then walk to the nearest Rerec or Kenya Power offices and present the certificate, who will then go to examine the connection. If it satisfies them, they will then energise that line.
This move, as explained by the committee chair and Mwala MP Vincent Musyoka, is meant to reduce the hurdles Kenyans go through when they want their homes or businesses connected to power.
Currently, Kenya Power or Rerec pays contractors after a customer pays for the connection.
Mr Musyoka was of the opinion that Kenyans have to do a lot and are also charged a high amount, only to be taken round in circles for years before Kenya Power connects them.
Adoption of the proposal, he said, would help Kenya Power in regularising the illegal connections and start charging for the energy consumed.
More revenue
Even so, he said the committee was aware that such a proposal if passed into law, would deny Kenya Power some revenue, but would eventually lead to more income.
“You might think it will deny you revenue, but it will give you more because you do not make profit in the lines but in (electricity) charges,” said Musyoka as he engaged Kenya Power Chief Executive Joseph Siror, who was appearing before the committee to respond to audit queries raised by a report by the Auditor General.
“You energise that line when it has been inspected and within a very short time, you will see everybody getting connected and you start generating revenue.
“It will work to your benefit. The issues of demand which Kenya Power is struggling with because you have so much (power) that you cannot sell will be sorted. - Graham Kajilwa, The Standard
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