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Tag: kenya

  • 50.5pc of Kenya’s population are Women

    By: Brenda Mongare (brendamongare171595@daystar.ac.ke

    Thumbnail photo courtesy of: Varcity.co.ke

    Kenya has more women than men according to the 2019 census results.

    Of the total population of 47,564,296, 24,014,716 are female which translates to 50.5% of the population while 23,548,056 are male and 1,524 are Intersex.

    The 2019 census results released by Kenya National Bureau of Statics Director General Zachary Mwangi at State House also indicate that the Country’s population has increased from 37.7 Million in 2009 to 47.6 Million in 2019.

    Mwangi said the intercensal growth rate has declined to 2.2% in 2019, from 2.9% in 2009 while the average household size has declined to 3.9 in 2019 from 4.2 in 2009.

    Nairobi County has the highest number of people at 4.4 million of which 2,192,452 are male while 2,204,376 are female.

    Kiambu County ranks second with 2,417,735 people followed by Nakuru with 2,162,202.

    Lamu County has the lowest population with 143,920, followed by Isiolo with 268,002 and Samburu with 310,327.

    Mwangi said the enumeration was successfully conducted from 24th/25th to 31st August 2019 and a mop-up exercise carried out on 1st and 2nd of September 2019, to cover those not enumerated during the seven days. KNBS will undertake further analysis to produce 4 basic reports focussing on population by: Administrative units up to sub-location, Age and Sex by county, Political Units, Socio-economic characteristics; and thematic analytical reports.

    “I am also grateful to the security personnel who ensured peace prevailed during the census exercise. You lived to your true calling by providing the necessary security, not only to the census officials, but also to all members of the public.” Uhuru Kenyatta.

    The President said Kenya was the first Country in Africa to release census results two months after the exercise was conducted.

    “I am happy to note that this is the first Census to be conducted under the 2010 Constitution and was by and large fully funded by my Government. This year’s Census was a first of its kind in Kenya, in that for the first time ever, we fully embraced the use of technology in the census processes.”

  • INTERNS REJECTED BY MINISTRIES AND GOVERNMENT DUE TO GLITCH

    By: Brenda Mongare (brendamongare171595@daystar.ac.ke)

    Thumbnail photo courtesy of: the-star.co.ke

    A delay in the introduction to ministries and government corporations saw interns posted by the Public Service Commission (PSC) rejected. Public Service Cabinet Secretary Margaret Kobia admitted the glitch affected several interns but this was being addressed.

    “The majority of interns are reporting to ministries and a few in State corporations. There are no State corporations that rejected interns. However, some interns reported to corporations with their posting letters while the corporations had not received PSC guidelines on how to deploy the interns,” she said.

    Some of the departments wanted to be allowed to directly contract the interns, while some heads complained that the graduates sent to their dockets did not possess the primary degrees to learn on the job and a suspicion that some of them have been detailed to spy on them and subsequently report them to their bosses or investigative agencies.

    “All MDAs have received guidance letters and interns continue to report with a deadline of November 1. Any recruited intern who has any reporting challenges to contact PSC for assistance,” Prof Kobia said.

    Some turned them away saying they did not have physical space to accommodate them.

    An unemployment crisis continues to bite, with many graduates opting for menial jobs to earn a living. Prof Kobia revealed that 40 percent of Kenya’s productive population, mostly the youth, do not have meaningful jobs. “We are looking forward to recruiting 4,000 health workers following a request from the ministry.

    “Those with certificates, diplomas and degrees will benefit as the ministry moves to address the shortage of manpower,” PSC Chairman Stephen Kirogo said.

    Some of those that have turned interns away are Kenya Ports Authority, Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kenya Bureau of Standards, Kenya Medical Research Institute, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, and the Kenya Revenue Authority.

    The government recruited 3,600 graduates in a plan the PSC believes will address the problem of an aging workforce when they are finally absorbed after one year.

    Some 3,200 public servants exit the service every year through natural attrition while 18,600 graduates applied for the slots.

    Mr. Kirogo disclosed that they had received 13,000 applications for the second intake that targets 4,000 recruits.

    “There is an overwhelming response and I’m happy people are keen to take part in the program,” he said on Saturday.

    Recruited from all the 290 constituencies, the PSC chairman holds that the program will in the long run cure the dominance of a few ethnic groups.

    A PSC report in July on its ethnic composition tabled in Parliament indicated that five tribes – Kikuyu, Luhya, Kisii, Maasai and Embu — control 53.3 per cent of the 223 jobs.

  • A DIVE INTO FASHION

    By: Valyne Laibuta (vklaibuta@gmail.com)

    Photos courtesy of: Sapatu Kenya

    Wambui Ndaiyo. Founder and lead designer at Sapatu Kenya.

    This week I got the opportunity to interview the lovely Prisca Noel Waiganjo also known as Wambui Ndaiyo. Wambui is not only a third year Public relations student at Daystar University but she is also the lead designer and founder of the fashion brand Sapatu Kenya.

    Sapatu Kenya was born in 2015, “I took a short course in tailoring and design after high school” says Wambui when talking about how Sapatu Kenya came to be. She adds, “it also helped me cope with depression.

    Before joining the tailor and design school, Wambui described how she would take her mother’s clothes are transform them to be more modern, sexy and sophisticated, this is what inspired her to pursue her passion in fashion design.

    Wambui went on to describe Sapatu as a clothing brand for the modern African woman that promotes body positivity, sophistication and confidence. From her collections, I could tell that Sapatu Kenya lives up to its purpose.

    “The kind of fashion you would find at Sapatu Kenya, is based on diversity. It is a brand that implements its creativity to ensure our clients are satisfied with the products” Wambui when asked about the kind of fashion found at Sapatu. She adds that Sapatu Kenya aims to provide clients with unique and stunning pieces that you will not be able to find in a typical clothing store.

    Prisca recounts that her favourite collection was based on shoot that she did with her couple of her friends a year back known as the forest shoot. Her main aim with this collection and shoot was to inspire people to lean on nature when they are feeling overwhelmed with day to day activities.

    “Nature is the foundation of everything and fashion itself. Nature allows me to reach into my creative wits and create something that’s uplifting and relatable”.

    Speaking about the challenges she has faced with starting and running Sapatu Kenya, she says that “starting any business is not easy”. She wishes she had not rushed too quickly to the creative side without first considering the business side of the brand.

    Organization and marketing of her brand proved a challenge to her in the beginning, luckily she had help from her friends and also help from Urban Change Lab that allowed her brand to reach a larger market.

    While interviewing Wambui, I found her to be remarkable and hardworking; along with her brand and her studies, she is also the Public relations manager of Urban Change Lab.

    She describes Urban Change Lab as a platform that allows local craftsmen to showcase their products abroad. The craftsmen and clients are able to interact in transparency, the clients are able to also send in their ideas and be able to be their own designers with the help of these craftsmen.

    Urban Change Lab is a new form of comfort shopping that allows people from different parts of the world to share ideas which are realized by craftsmen in Africa. The platform allows both the craftsmen and client to interact fairly and share ideas.

    Wambui believes that this platform might open doors to job opportunities in Africa especially to fellow designers who would like to gain internationally recognition.

    She concludes the interview by offering advice to upcoming business owners, that they must be focused and set realistic goals for their businesses. She also urges the ambitious women out there trying to be billionaires before they hit 30, that it is not too early to start their journey into the world of business.

    Wambui is an inspiration out there to those studying or working but have always been dreaming to start their own brand that it is never too early to start and whatever challenges come your way, you must work through them and keep pushing forward. I hope her interview serves as inspiration to someone out there.

    If you would like to watch the video interview, click here.

  • SIKUKUU YA MOI YAREJESHWA TENA

    Picha kwa hisani ya: businesstoday.co.ke

    Na Gladys Sheila,
    gladyshila52@gmail.com

    Katibu wa baraza la mawaziri katika wizara ya mambo ya ndani na uratibu wa serikali ya kitaifa Daktari Fred Matiang’i alitoa taarifa siku ya Jumanne na kuidhinisha sikukuu ya Moi kama sikukuu ya kitaifa.

    Hii ni baada ya uamuzi wa mahakama. Mnamo mwaka wa 2010, sikukuu ya Moi iliondolewa katika orodha ya sikukuu za kimataifa wakati katiba mpya ilizinduliwa rasmi. Mwezi wa Novemba mwaka wa 2017, jaji wa mahakama kuu alipinga uamuzi huo kwa kusema kuwa ni jambo ambalo linakiuka sheria. Mojawapo ya sababu ilikuwa kuwa sikukuu ya Moi haikuwa ya kuadhimisha wananchi au ufanisi wa nchi, bali mtu mmoja.

    “Kulingana na sheria kuhusu Sikukuu (Sura ya 110, Sheria za Kenya) na uamuzi wa mahakama katika Kesi ya Kikatiba Nambari 292 ya 2017, ninatangaza kuwa Oktoba 10, 2019, itakuwa sikukuu ya kitaifa,” Waziri Fred Matiang’i akasema.

    Hata hivyo, Wakenya wengi walikuwa na njia anuwai za kusherehekea siku hiyo. Wengine waliendeleza biashara zao kama kawaida, wengine wakisafiri kukutana na jamaa na familia zao na wengine wakapumzika kutoka kazini.

    Liliofanya sikukuu hii iwe ya kipekee ni kuwa wakenya wengi walitumia muda huu kuwatembelea na kuwapa msaada watoto katika nyumba za mayatima, wajane, wazee waliotengwa na familia zao, walemavu na wengineo kama ishara ya upendo.

    Hali kadhalika, wakenya wengine walikuwa na msimamo tofauti kuhusu maadhinisho ya sikukuu hiyo huku wakifananisha kipindi cha uongozi wa Mheshimiwa Moi kama dikteta.

    Picha kwa hisani ya: Nairobinews.nation.co.ke

  • MCHUANO WA KUKATA NA SHOKA

    Na: Dorothy Waweru
    dorothywaweru161706@daystar.ac.ke

    Picha: Wachezaji wakijikakamua uwanjani

    Sikukuu ya Moi chuoni Daystar ilisherehekewa kwa mbwembwe, vifijo na nderemo kwani katika uga wa “Santiago Barna Betheli” kama unavyojulikana na wacheza kandanda wengi, mchuano mkubwa ulikuwa ukiendelea. Mchuano huo uliandaliwa na wanafunzi wacheza kandanda ikiwemo; Walter Nalwa, Nicholas Atulo Snr, Cedrick na Dadiseh Olwaga ambao walinuia kujiburudisha katika mchezo huo wa miguu.

    Mchuano huo ulijumuisha timu sita zikiwemo: Blueboys, Rawa, Buffoons, Bomboclats, DCF handball na Fimbu. Timu hizi zilimenyana vilivyo ili kushinda zawadi murwa ambayo ilikuwa ni mbuzi mzima. Timu za Buffoons na Rawa ndizo zilifungua uga huo ambao ulikuwa na utelezi kufuatia mvua kubwa iliyokuwa imenyesha usiku wote.

    Timu ya Buffoons ilijikakamua katika dakika za kwanza huku Caleb Msando akiifungia timu hiyo bao la kwanza naye Nicholas Atulo Snr akifunga bao lao la pili. Timu ya Rawa ilijikakamua katika kipindi cha lala salama ambapo John Lemaiyan aliifungia Rawa bao lao la kwanza. Kitengo hicho cha kwanza cha mchezo kilipotamatika, Buffoons walikuwa wamefunga mabao mawili kwa moja.

    Mashabiki wa timu ya Buffoons walijaa uwanjani wakiimba nyimbo za ushindi kwani timu hiyo ingemchinja mbuzi kama zawadi ya ufanisi wao iwapo wangewashinda wenzao kwenye semifinali. Baada ya dakika chache za mapumziko, timu ya DCF handball ilijitosa uwanjani kumenyana na wachezaji wa timu ya Fimbu. Uzoefu mkuu katika mpira wa mikono wa timu ya DCF handball ulionekana kuwapa mkono uwanjani. Hata hivyo baada ya dakika kumi na tano Wallace kutoka timu ya Fimbu alifunga bao la kwanza. Baada ya dakika zingine tano, DCF handball ilisawazisha kupitia mchezaji Ephantus.

    Baada ya nusu wakati wa mchezo huo, timu ya Fimbu ilifunga bao lingine ambalo liliwawezesha kuibuka washindi katika kitengo hicho kwa mabao mawili kwa moja. Timu ya Blueboys vilevile ilichuana na timu ya Rawa huku wakifunga bao lao la kwanza ambalo lilikuwa la pekee katika mchezo huo hivi basi kuibuka washindi dhidi ya Rawa.

    Hata ingawa jua lilikuwa mtikati, wachezaji wa Bomboclat waliingia ugani kumenyana na DCF handball. Yasemekana kuwa wachezaji wa Bomboclat walikuwa wamekesha wakijitayarisha kwa mchuano huo wa kipekee. Katika dakika za kwanza, Bomboclat ilifunga bao lao la kwanza na baadaye kufunga la pili. DCF handball ilijizolea nunge hivi basi Bomboclat kuibuka washindi.

    Isitoshe, kabla ya semi fainali, Bomboclat ilichuana na Fimbu na wakailaza Fimbu bao moja kwa nunge. Timu zilizofuzu kwenye semi fainali ni Fimbu, Buffoons, Bomboclat na Blueboys. Mechi ya kwanza katika semi fainali ilikuwa kati ya Buffoons na Fimbu. Buffoons walilazwa bao moja la kufunga virago baada ya kucheza kwa ukakamavu mwingi sana.

    Nyuso za wachezaji wa timu ya Buffoons zilijaa simanzi kwani mbuzi alikuwa amewakwepa. Lisilobudi hubidi, Buffoons walidondolewa kwenye mchuano wakabaki kuwa mashabiki tu. “Ni uchungu sana mama kubeba mimba tumboni kwa miezi tisa halafu anampoteza mwana wake. Nasikitika sana kuwa tumeshindwa,” Duncan Olile, kipa wa timu ya Buffoons alisema.

    Timu za Bomboclat na Blueboys zilichuana kwenye mchezo wa pili katika semi fainali huku Bomboclat ikiibuka mshindi baada ya kuilaza Blueboys mabao mawili kwa nunge. Washindi wa semi fainali walikuwa Bomboclat na Fimbu. Wakati ukiwa saa kumi na mbili kamili, mchuano kati ya timu hizi mbili ulianza huku Bomboclat ikifunga mabao mawili mida ya dakika za kumi na tano za kwanza. Japo Fimbu iling’ang’ana kiudi na uvumba kujizolea angalau bao moja, jitihada zao hazikuzaa matunda kwani katika kipindi cha pili cha mchezo huo, Bomboclat ilifunga bao lingine. Bomboclat wakafunga mabao matatu kwa nunge.

    Mbwembwe na shamrashamra zilijaa uwanjani wakati ambapo wachezaji wa Bomboclat walipokabidhiwa mbuzi wao. Wachezaji waliachwa ugani wakisherehekea ushindi wao huku mashabiki wakiungana nao kushangilia ushindi wao.

  • KIVUKIO CHA KIFO

    Na: Dorothy Waweru
    dorothywaweru161706@daystar.ac.ke

    Picha kwa hisani ya: The Star

    Ni afueni kwa wakenya wote na haswa familia yake Bi. Mariam Kighenda kwa kutolewa katika hindi la Victoria.

    Shughuli hii iliyochukua siku kumi na tatu, imezifanya nyoyo nyingi sasa kupata na utulivu. Aila ya Bi. Mariam sasa inauhuru wa kuzipumzisha mili ya wapenda wao ambao wamesumbuka usiku kucha. Japo bado uchungu upo, tunamwomba Mwenyezi Mungu aweze kuilaza roho zao pahala pema peponi.

    Hata hivyo, Shirika la Kenya Ferry limekabiliwa na mashtaka chungu nzima kufuatia ajali iliyotokea katika kivuko cha Likoni. Ajali hiyo ilihusisha kutumbukia kwa gari moja kwenye bahari hindi mnamo Septemba ishirini na tisa mida ya saa kumi na mbili. Gari hilo lilikuwa na abiria wawili, Bi. Mariam Kighenda na mwanawe Amanda Mutheu.

    Yasemekana wawili hawa walikuwa wametoka kuzuru shamba katika kaunti ya Kwale na walikuwa wakirejea nyumbani walipopatana na kifo chao.
    Matukio yaliyojiri baadaye yanaashiria utepetevu mkuu wa shirika la Kenya Ferry katika kutekeleza majukumu yao ya kuhakikisha usalama wa wasafiri.

    Baada ya ajali hiyo kutokea siku ya Jumatatu tarehe thelathini Septemba, Kenya Ferry kupitia mtandao wa kijamii wa twitter ilitangaza kuwa watahakikisha kuna meli nne katika kivukio cha Likoni.

    Wakenya kupitia mtandao huo walituma jumbe zilizosheheni kughadhabishwa kwa usemi wa Kenya Ferry kwani la muhimu lilikuwa kuomba msamaha kwa familia ya walioadhirika badala ya kuwaambia wananchi kuwa feri nne zitatutumika kuwasafirisha abiria hapo likoni.

    Ni jambo la kukereketa maini kugundua kwamba shirika la feri halina mikakati bomba inayowahakikishia abiria usalama wao hasa wakati kuna tukio kama hilo linalohatarisha maisha yao.

    Uchunguzi ambao unaendelea kufanywa umebaini kwamba shirika la feri la humu nchini halina wapiga mbizi ambao wanasafiri katika feri mchana na usiku bali wanawategemea wapiga mbizi katika shirika la Kenya Ports Authority na jeshi la baharini humu nchini.

    Uhai wa mama Amanda na mwanawe haungekatizwa ghafla iwapo shirika la Kenya Ferry lingekuwa na wapiga mbizi katika chombo hicho wakati wa mkasa huo. Wapiga mbizi wangelikuwepo wangefanya hima kuwaokoa abiria hawa punde tu gari lao lilipoanza kuzama.

    Msemaji wa serikali Col Rtd, Cyrus Oguna alipokuwa akitoa taarifa aliwaambia wanahabari kuwa gari lilichukua chini ya dakika moja unusu kuzama kwa hivyo kulikuwa na muda tosha wa kuwaokoa wasafiri hawa.

    Sababu za kucheleweshwa kwa kutolewa kwa miili ya walioaga ni kuwa kuna meli zinazopita baharini kupitia bandari ya Mombasa kufanya biashara ambayo inailetea kaunti ya Mombasa fedha nyingi. Tunaelewa kwamba tukikatiza usafiri wa meli baharini uchumi wa Mombasa utaadhirika pakubwa.

    Sababu ya pili ni giza kali ambayo imeshuhudiwa baharini hivyo wapiga mbizi wanatatizika sana. Tatu ni mawimbi makali yanayovuma baharini hivyo shughuli za uokoaji zinagonga mwamba wakati huo hadi mawimbi yatulie. Lakini ile sababu muhimu zaidi ni kuhakikisha kuwa usalama wa wapiga mbizi na wale wote wanaohusika katika shughuli za uokoaji unadumishwa,” haya yalikuwa maoni ya msemaji wa serikali Col Rtd.Cyrus Oguna.

    Shirika la Kenya Ferry limeshuhudia visa kama hivi vya ajali bali ni hatua chache sasa zimechukuliwa kuimarisha utendakazi wao. Wasafiri hawana uhakika wa usalama wao kwani janga kama hili linaweza kutokea bila usaidizi wowote. Ni bayana kuwa uwepo wa kuwa tayari kukabiliana na mikasa ya baharini ni jambo linalofaa kutiliwa mkazo.

    Feri zote zinafaa kuwa na vyombo vya kuhakikisha usalama wa wasafiri na magari pia. Sheria mpya zinafaa kubuniwa ili kuwe na mpangilio katika feri hizi. Hakuna mtu ambaye anafaa kupoteza maisha yake kupitia kisa cha kuhuzunisha kama hiki.

    Picha kwa hisani ya: citizentv.co.ke

  • MWANARIADHA ELIUD KIPCHOGE AMEWEKA REKODI DUNIANI

    Na Wangu Kanuri
    kanuriwangu@gmail.com

    Picha kwa hisani ya: Reuters

    Oktoba 12 mwaka wa 2019 ni siku ambayo daima itakuwa kumbukumbu kwani mwanariadha Eliud Kipchoge amevunja rekodi aliyokuwa amejiwekea ya kukimbia kwa kilomita arubaini na mbili kwa muda wa saa moja na dakika hamsini na tisa.

    Isitoshe jina lake limeandikwa katika kitabu cha rekodi cha dunia cha Guiness. Eliud aliyekuwa amejibidisha na kuamini kuwa ataweka historia duniani, aliwafanya wakenya wengi kujumuika kumtizama akivunja rekodi hii iliyofahamika kama INEOS 159.

    Rais Kenyatta aliwaongoza wakenya katika kumhimiza Kipchoge kulenga lengo lake huku naibu wake mheshimiwa Ruto na bibiye wakisafiri Vienna kumpa mkono anapokimbia.

    Kusudio kuu lake Kipchoge lilikuwa kuonyesha kuwa hakuna pingamizi lolote iwapo mtu anataka kuwa wa kwanza katika lolote. Isitoshe, alisisitiza kuwa hashindani na wengine bali anashindana na muda na kuweka historia katika dunia.

    Shindano hili liliokuwa likitizamwa moja kwa moja katika mitandao, limewafunza watu kuwa; shindano letu si dhidi ya marafiki, maadui ama wenzetu bali dhidi ya muda. Pili, mbio yetu yapaswa kuwa dhidi ya lengo tulizojiwekea na mwishowe mbio yetu ni katika tunayonuia kulenga.

    Eliud Kipchoge vilevile amesema kuwa alikuwa mwenye tumbo joto baada ya kupokea simu kadha wa kadha kutoka viongozi wakuu katika serikali ya Kenya ikiwemo rais Kenyatta. Hata hivyo, bado alishikilia msimamo wake dhidi ya kuweka rekodi ya wanariadha duniani.

    Akizungumza baada ya shindano hilo, Kipchoge amesema kuwa imemchukua mwanadamu miaka sitini na tano kuweka historia katika mbio za dunia kwa hivyo yeye amejazwa na furaha ghaya kuweza kuifufua historia hii. Mwenyekiti wa INEOS bwana Jim Ratcliffe alisema kuwa hakuamini vile Kipchoge alikimbia mtawalia mbio ya kwanza kwa muda wa chini ya saa moja.

    Picha kwa hisani ya: New York Post

  • KENYATTA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS UNREST

    By Debbie Gitau

    debbiemumbi@gmail.com

    Images sourced from Twitter

    Kenyatta University-Main Campus students hold protests today over welfare issues and seek the removal of their Vice Chancellor Paul Wainaina.

     

    The Kenyatta University Students Association issued a memo and stated some of their grievances to be:

    1. The extension of the deadline of the fee payment is minimal.
    2. The administration forcefully directing students in Nyayo to use the flyover.
    3. The suspension of the both students and student leaders on petty basis.
    4. Supplementary fee which is free in other universities, K.U charges 2,500 shillings that applies to Nursing, Law, Medicine and Pharmacy students.
    5. Hiking of graduation fee from 3,500 to 6,000 without KUSA being informed.
    6. Replacement of student I.D cards despite payments being done.

     

    The students closed the Thika road super highway in protest. Heavy law enforcement was employed to secure the safety of the school resources and to open up the closed Thika Road super highway.

     

    “They should listen to our concerns about the extension deadline and supplementary fees,” says Anne Kaloki, a Nursing student in Kenyatta University.IMG_20191007_190317

    Screenshot_2019-10-07-18-53-46
    Kenyatta University students gathered outside the University gates

    K.U unrest 5
    Kenyatta University Students running from Security Forces

  • GOODBYE AND GOOD RIDDANCE?

    By: Sumaya Hussein

    husseinsumaya1@gmail.com

    The Closure of Sportpesa and Betin in Kenya

     

    The closure of SportPesa and Betin in Kenya announced on Saturday the 28th of September 2019. The shutdown of operations by these two giant betting companies was seen through an internal memo circulated to the staff. 

     

    The internal memo stated that staff from these two companies will be laid off their duties by the end of September 2019. The reason behind this was said to be the hostile environment provided by the Kenyan government which imposed a 20% tax on all wins, affecting their profitability. This came as a shocker for most Kenyans due to the impact these firms have brought to the country.

     

    Firstly, it is important to mention some of the positive things these companies have contributed to the economy of Kenya. Sportpesa and Betin were responsible for supporting local sports teams through sponsorships. These teams include the National team, Harambee Stars, which was supported in the recent Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON) by Betin, Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards and the Kenya Premier League altogether. 

     

    It was mentioned by the Football Kenya Federation manager, Nick Mwendwa, that the companies had sponsored local football with up to Ksh 600 million. The departure of these companies leaves the teams stranded not to mention sources tell us that players from teams of Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards have not been paid in over 2 months. The Kenya Premier League are also left without a sponsor and have no funds to pay the referees.

     

    One of the people who were openly happy about the closure of the betting firms was MP Kanini Kega. He mentioned that the country should be careful about the type of investors it allows into the economy. He also said that the firms caused addiction and led youth into looking for riches and easy money through gambling instead of hard work. 

     

    Kenyans took to twitter to address this matter. Some were very bitter, saying how the government should provide jobs for youth and support to the local sports teams instead. However, some shared the same opinion with MP Kega about betting being a disease and Kenyans were better off without it. 

     

    Looking at things from a different perspective, Kenya is ranked the third-largest gambling market in Africa behind South Africa and Nigeria. A study conducted by Amani Mwadime showed that approximately 2 million people in Nairobi alone participate in online betting. It has become a full-time occupation for some people and those who work find themselves betting with their colleagues at tea break, lunch hour, evenings and during the nights. Moreover, students spend more time betting than they do with their academics. 

     

    Those who have experience in it know that one is likely to lose more than he/she will gain. The effects of losing itself are not very pretty. It makes youth go broke, fall into depression and even become suicidal. Furthermore, according to social anthropologists, it is among the list of things known to cause domestic violence. 

     

    As much as it has brought some good, betting also has its disadvantages which bring a strain to the growth and economy of a country. It is therefore actually safe to say goodbye and good riddance to Sportpesa and Betin. 

  • MPs WILL REJECT BILL THAT SEEKS TO CHARGE KENYANS FOR WHATSAPP GROUPS

    By Brenda Mongare

    Brendamongare171595@daystar.ac.ke

    The Bill that seeks to regulate WhatsApp and Facebook groups will be thrown out, says the National Assembly’s Committee on Information Communication Technology.

    The Bill sponsored by Malava Member of Parliament, Malulu Ijendi sought to compel administrators of Facebook and WhatsApp groups to obtain licenses from the Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK) at a prescribed fee.

    However, William Kisang, ICT committee chair, says the Bill is not implementable and will not see the light of day.

    “We should be realistic. Even if we passed the Bill it will be quashed by the courts” said Kisang.

    Godfrey Osotsi, a member of the ICT committee also disproved the Bill as he said what the Bill sought to achieve was already covered in the Computer Misuse and Cyber Crime Act passed last year by the National Assembly.

    Ostosi failed to understand how the Communications Authority of Kenya would license millions of Whatsapp and Facebook groups.

    The proposed Bill will require that WhatsApp group administrators store all the data of the users of the platform and submit the data to the authorities when required.

    Administrators will also have to ensure that members of the WhatsApp and Facebook groups are of “age of majority”. Therefore, this will lock out minors from joining or posting comments on social media platforms controlled by adults.

     

    Photo courtesy: https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/932113/WhatsApp-Share-Data-UK-Facebook