August 9, 2023: 8 top stories to look out for today
By Wycliffe Nyamasege, August 9, 2023
Hello! Here’s what you need to know in order to get up to speed with today’s happenings.
1. National Dialogue
A 10-member committee on national dialogue will hold its inaugural meeting at the Bomas of Kenya today.
The team comprises five members each from the Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya Coalition Party and the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
The delegation led by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka (Azimio) and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah is expected to engage in talks aimed at resolving the current political staffoff between opposition leader Raila Odinga and President William Ruto that saw the former call for nationwide street protests.
The talks will be facilitated by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.
2. President William Ruto winds up tour of Mt Kenya region
President William Ruto’s 5-day tour of the Mt. Kenya region ends today.
The Head of State is scheduled to launch various development projects before heading back to Nairobi, traversing three counties – Nyeri, Kirinyaga and Kiambu.
President Ruto will start his day with the opening of the three-storeyed, 175-bed capacity Naromoru Level IV Hospital in Kieni, Nyeri County at around 9:00 am.
He will later launch an affordable housing project in Gichugu before landing in Thika where he will commission the Karimenu Dam Water Supply Project and also launch an affordable housing project.
During the stopovers, President Ruto is expected to comment on various issues of national interest including the national dialogue between the government and the opposition which is set to kick off today at the Bomas of Kenya.
3. Salary structure review for state and public officers
The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) is today set to convey the final outcome of a review of the remuneration and benefits for State and public officers.
This follows the completion of the review of the salary structure for State and public officers under the Third Remuneration and Benefits Review Cycle for the period 2023/2024 – 2024/2025.
SRC has also reviewed some allowances in the public service and is expected to issue a report on the same.
The press conference will be held at Fairmont, The Norfolk from 9:00 am and will be addressed by Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u and SRC chair Lyn Mengich.
4. Award ceremony for Sports and Creative journalists
Youth Affairs, Arts and Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba is this morning set to preside over an awarding ceremony for Sports and Creative journalists at the Weston Hotel in Nairobi.
The event is aimed at nurturing the relationship between the ministry and the media.
5. Meal sampling ahead launch of Nairobi school feeding programme
Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson and his deputy Njoroge Muchiri are expected to lead staff members to a meal sampling courtesy of the 60k Capacity Giga kitchen ahead of the school feeding program launch later this month.
The county leadership says the purpose of the event will be to sample the exact meals that will be prepared and served to pupils.
The event will be held outside NCC Cash office, City hall, from 1:00 pm.
It will cost Ksh5 for schoolchildren in public schools and ECDEs within Nairobi to get free meals under the Ksh1.2 billion county plan.
6. Refugees Appeals Board
The Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration and Agriculture is set to meet the Principal Secretary – State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services – Ministry of Interior and National Administration.
The purpose of the meeting is to appraise the committee on the status and the operationalization of the Refugees Appeals Board.
7. Education institutions’ audit queries
The National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education is scheduled to meet six education institutional heads today to discuss audit queries contained in reports of the Auditor General.
The institutions are Kenyatta University, Thika Technical Training Institute, PC Kinyanjui Technical Training Institute and Ngong Technical and Vocational College.
The managements of Kamukunji Technical and Vocational College and Multimedia University will also appear before the committee.
8. IDPs petition
Senate Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources will be meeting on Wednesday with petitioners concerning the Petition by Nyandarua Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to deliberate on the delayed compensation and occupation of parcels of land bought for their settlement between 2010 and 2013.