NSSF project illegal, declares House team

Attorney-General Githu Muigai (centre) with Mr Adan Keynan (left), the chairman of Parliament’s Public Investments Committee, and committee member Chris Wamalwa. The national pensions fund broke the law by authorising a controversial housing project at a city estate, a parliamentary committee has said. Photo/Jennifer Muiruri 

In Summary

• The MPs said allowing the award of the contract without assurances it would be funded was contrary to the Public Procurement and Disposal Act.
• The Kikuyu MP also noted that in her approval via email, Federation of Kenya Employers representative Jacqueline Mugo had stated that her support for the project was on condition that “it would not pose an additional cost to the fund.”

Witness put to task over politics

PHOTO | DPPS Deputy President William Ruto (centre), his wife Rachel Ruto (second left) and Radio journalist Joshua arap Sang (second right) in prayer before going into the ICC court room on January 20, 2014 in The Hague, Netherlands. Deputy President William Ruto’s defence Thursday challenged the 10th prosecution witness’ knowledge of Kenya’s political affairs before and after the 2007 General Election.  NATION

In Summary

• Prosecution lawyer Anton Steynberg said they had nothing to prove the claims that the witness made on Wednesday.
• The witness, who has been testifying since Wednesday, defended himself, saying he was not involved a lot in politics.
• Further, the defence also questioned the witnesses’ understanding of Aldai constituency leadership. He had told the court that he resided in the constituency before he fled due to violence.

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.

Can courts prevent county assemblies from voting on impeachment ?

A geothermal plant. PHOTO | FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Trouble had started brewing in Embu after the governor and his deputy were blamed for irregularly awarding a KSh33 million stadium upgrading project coupled with a suspicious maize seeds purchase.
• There are two main laws dealing with impeachment of governors: The Constitution of Kenya 2010, article 181, and the County Governments Act, 2012, section 33.
• Courts should respect the autonomy of Parliament and County Assemblies. 

World's oldest flamingo dies in Australian zoo, aged 83

A flamingo is pictured on January 22, 2014 at the zoo in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany. PHOTO | DPA | BORIS ROESSLER  AFP

In Summary

• The flamingo, known as "Greater" after his species, was put to sleep on Thursday due to complications associated with old age, having arrived at the zoo in 1933
• Zoo staff said records showed another flamingo was still alive aged 67, believed to be in a South American zoo. No bird in the wild would live so long, due to predators and lack of medical attention

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