US President Barack Obama to launch leadership centre in Kenya

Josephine Kulea listens as President Barack Obama delivers remarks during the Young African Leaders Initiative summit in Washington, DC, on July 28, 2014. WHITE HOUSE PHOTO | PETE SOUZA 

In Summary

• The US President unveiled the initiative at the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) summit in Washington
• Other regional leadership centres will also be opened in Senegal, Ghana and South Africa, Mr Obama said

By KEVIN J. KELLEY
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WASHINGTON, DC

The United States will establish a leadership centre in Kenya to train young East Africans for executive positions in business, government and civil society, President Barack Obama announced Monday.

Up to 10,000 new teachers to be hired

Pupils of Wambi Primary School in Muhoroni, where MP James Oyoo broke the ground on July 29, 2014, for the building of modern classrooms at a cost of Sh5 million. The Teachers Service Commission has asked prospective candidates to apply for 10,000 teaching jobs in different counties by August 11. PHOTO | TOM OTIENO | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• Funds for the fresh recruitment were set aside in this year’s budget, which Finance Cabinet Secretary Henry Koskei presented to Parliament in June.
• Reacting to the announcement, Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary-General Wilson Sossion described the additional teachers as “a drop in the ocean.”

By OUMA WANZALA
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More than 10,000 new teachers are to be hired starting next week.

Of these slots, 5,000 teachers will replace those who have left the service due to retirement, death or other causes, while 5,000 will boost the numbers of the existing workforce, said Mr Gabriel Lengoiboni, the secretary of the Teachers Service Commission.

Committee set to ensure journalism training standards

Media Council of Kenya CEO Haron Mwangi. He has announced that a committee has been formed that will inspect and ensure all media training institutions in Kenya conform to set journalism standards. PHOTO | DIANA NGILA  NATION

In Summary

• The standards are stipulated in the Media Council Act 2013.
• MCK has already set up a committee to conduct the inspections.
• Media training colleges are required to have al the necessary equipment and qualified personnel.
• The Council is also supposed to consider and approve applications for accreditation.

By EVELYNE MUSAMBI
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Journalism and media colleges will undergo inspection in two months in order to ensure they conform to the set standards as stipulated in the Media Council Act 2013.

Kenya border health staff on Ebola red alert

Members of medical charity Doctors Without Borders put on protective gear at the isolation ward of Donka Hospital on July 23, 2014, in Conakry. AFP PHOTO | CELLOU BINANI 

In Summary

• National carrier Kenya Airways recently said its flights from West Africa are safe
• The spread of Ebola is yet to be declared an epidemic and no travel ban to affected regions has been recommended

By NATION REPORTER
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The Kenyan government has enhanced screening at border points to prevent and contain the spread of Ebola.

In a tweet posted Wednesday, the Kenya National Disaster Operations Centre said port health officers are on standby and are vigilant as the virus spreads in West African countries.

Westgate attack suspects face more charges

The Westgate mall terror suspects, from left, Hussein Hassan Mustafata, Aden Dheq, Liban Abdiraham and Mohammed Ahmed Abdi in a Nairobi court. PHOTO | PAUL WAWERU  

By VINCENT AGOYA
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Additional charges have been filed against four suspects linked to the Westgate shopping mall attack.

The prosecution Thursday added three more charges against the accused.

Brewers in court to protest Kebs order on methanol

Kenya Bureau of Standard (Kebs) has issued new directives on the use of methanol and ethanol in drinks. PHOTO | FILE 

By THOMAS KARIUKI
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Alcohol brewers have moved to court to protest new directives by the Kenya Bureau of Standard (Kebs) on the use of methanol and ethanol in drinks.

Mauritius firm to give SMEs unsecured loans

   

Customers wait to be served at Standard Chartered Bank branch in Nairobi. The bank's annual Grand Sale will see consumers offered loans for as little as 10.9 per cent. Photo/FIL

By Sandra Chao-Blasto

In Summary

• The business cash advance facility is targeted at 15,000 merchants of the Afb retail card and those registered on the Kopo Kopo platform.

Mauritius-based finance company Afb has launched a credit facility targeting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that find it difficult to get financing from traditional lenders.