The standard gauge rail project may turn out to be great value for money

President Uhuru Kenyatta with Deputy President William Ruto (2nd right) & Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho (right) at the launch of the standard gauge railway line in Changamwe, Mombasa County, on November 28, 2013. PHOTO | FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Technically, one will consider the risk profile of a project, the available financing, its complexity, and the time available or desirable to implement the project.
• International lenders, whether multilateral financial institutions, commercial banks or individual governments have different lending conditions based on their risk assessment.
• Few can dispute the imperative of the railway. Some, though, have loudly raised questions as to the scope, design, financing and implementation of the project.

ODM is not a Luo party, says Raila

ODM leader Raila Odinga in Siaya County during the launch of Tractors on January 30, 2014. Mr Odinga Thursday declared that the opposition party was not only for the Luo. NATION  

In Summary

• Mr Odinga has been facing a rebellion from some politicians over his apparent support for candidates from other regions vying for senior party posts.
• Legislators led by Kisumu central MP Ken Obura had insisted that the party had its grassroots in the Luo community and therefore deserved to hold the key positions.

How to solve a problem like South Sudan? Time for really tough love

President Uhuru Kenyatta with the seven detainees released to his custody by South Sudan President Salva Kiir after addressing a press conference at State House, Nairobi. PHOTO | PSCU  PSCU

In Summary

• The political contest between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar is a fight over the control of the SPLA/M and, by extension, the country.
• The current tentative steps in this direction are designed to fail: those already in power are keen to build a ‘national’ army answerable to them; those required to hand over their militia feel vulnerable and are distrustful.
• Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development have, working with the international community, de-escalated the fighting. The hard work begins next week with the substantive talks on the underlying political problems of South Sudan.

Demand for power in EA creating 'substantial' opportunities for investors

A geothermal plant. PHOTO | FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• The governments of Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda have prioritised energy development and diversification with the main focus on electricity generation, transmission and distribution
• The report observes that private companies have an opportunity to come in a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) arrangement

Suspected poacher killed by buffalo in Serengeti

 

Buffalos at Lake Nakuru National Park. PHOTO | FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• The suspected poacher, a Miseke Village resident, died after the buffalo broke loose and gored him
• Eyewitnesses claimed the buffalo disappeared shortly after the attack

Two killed, 20 injured in Githurai bus hijacking

Buses at the Githurai roundabout on Thika Road. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Police said the bus left Nairobi at 9:45 pm heading to Githurai 45 with 51 passengers, but on reaching Roasters area five armed gangsters who were posing as commuters commandeered it

5-year-old accidentally starts car, runs over woman, toddler

The mother and toddler were rushed to hospital but police said the injuries were not life-threatening. Photo/FILE 

In Summary

• The boy had been sitting in the car while his mother was speaking to a friend outside the creche on Thursday afternoon.