October 24, 2023: Top news events to look out for today
By Wycliffe Nyamasege, October 24, 2023
Here is what you need to know in order to get up to speed with today’s happenings.
1. MPs to grill CBK governor over decline of Kenyan shilling
The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning will today take to task the Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya, Kamau Thugge, over the sharp decline of the Kenyan shilling against the dollar.
Since the beginning of the year, the Kenyan shilling has been in a free fall, hitting a record low of Ksh150 this week.
In general, the shilling has depreciated by 17.7 per cent against the dollar, compared to last year’s figures that stood at 8.3 per cent for the entire year.
The CBK boss is expected to appear before the committee from 10:00 am.
2. Kenya Railways, NLC CEOs session with MPs
The Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs & Energy is scheduled to meet with the Kenya Railways Corporation Managing Director Philip Mainga and Kabale Arero, the CEO National Land Commission (NLC), to shed light on several audit queries, including unsupported balances, receivables and irregular land compensation
Issues of alleged grabbing of Kenya Railways Corporation land, and pending evictions will also discussed during the meeting set to be held at Panari Hotel from 10:00 am.
3. Education committee meeting with TSC officials
The Teachers Service Commission (CEO) Nancy Macharia and Commissioners are today expected to appear before the National Assembly’s Committee on Education to shed light on the plight of teachers in the North Eastern region.
The TSC officials are expected to explain why the agency recently interdicted over 100 teachers after they requested to be transferred from Northern Kenya due to insecurity.
4. Environment CS to visit GSU camp in Ruiru
Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya will today lead Police Officers from the Kenya Police Service’s General Service Unit (GSU) Recce Company for a rapid tree-growing exercise at the Unit’s Ruiru Camp, off Thika Superhighway.
The Cabinet Secretary will be accompanied by Principal Secretaries Mr Gitonga Mugambi (Forestry) and Eng Festus Ng’eno (Environment and Climate Change).
5. Former assistant director at Deposit Protection Fund Board in court
The hearing of the graft case against John Kimani Mwega, a former Assistant Director, Administration and Finance at the Deposit Protection Fund Board, continues today at the Milimani Law Courts.
Mwega is charged with failure to disclose a private interest to one’s principal.
According to the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC), the accused abused his office by conferring to himself a benefit of Ksh12.5 million after participating in a public auction in 2013, in which a company where he was a director won the tender.