Saturday 1 September 2012

PM Raila Odinga Launches Sh.3B Poverty Alleviation Program in Busia County

Prime Minister Raila Odinga yesterday formally launched the Programme for Agriculture and Livelihoods in Western Communities (PALWECO) which is aimed at reducing the prevalence of poverty in Busia County in Western Kenya and is set to run for 5 years.

The event was held at the Busia Municipal Stadium and targets to reduce poverty and improve the living standards of the population of seven districts in the County. The joint agricultural program being sponsored by the government of Finland in partnership with the Kenya government at a cost of Sh3 billion.

Speaking at the Busia Municipal Stadium during the official launch of the PALWECO project, Raila said the programme will increase average household income in the County from Sh1,239 to Sh8,000 in 2016.

Planning, National Development and Vision 2030 Permanent Secretary, Edward Sambili, said the program comes at a time when Busia County continues to experience high levels of poverty estimated at 69% by the Kenya Intergrated Household Budget Survey, 2005/06, which is above the national average of 46%.

PALWECO Program Director Sakwa Mwangala, said the programme that although the seven districts; Bunyala, Busia, Nambale, Butula, Samia, Teso North and Teso South do not represent the poorest in the country, absolute poverty remains at 60%, which is significantly higher than the national averages for rural (54%) and urban (53%) areas.

Mwangala added that: “The results of PALWECO are largely impact oriented and it is based on three components; Household economy, value chains approach and support function.” The director also said that the program will reach a high number of beneficiaries but not all of them in the same way. “The household economy component includes subcomponents and activities from which the targeted households and communities can choose the ones that best correspond with their needs and priorities,” he explained.

Other dignitaries at the launch included Minister for Planning, National Development and Vision 2030 Wycliffe Oparanya and the PS Dr Edward Sambili, PS Ministry of Finance Joseph Kinyua and the Finland Ambassador to Kenya Sofie a number of MPs among others.

Friday 31 August 2012

ODM Creates Campaign Clusters in Readiness for Campaigns

The ODM Parliamentary Group meeting at the party headquarters in Nairobi yesterday set the pace for a vigorous campaign for the party and it's Presidential flag bearer. 

The meeting at Orange House attended by 30 Members of Parliament under the chairmanship of Industrialization Minister Mr. Henry Kosgey created campaign clusters that will be headed by appointed personalities to spearhead the campaigns for the party and it's presidential candidate. The clusters are as follows; 

  • Nyanza Region 
  • North Rift 
  • South Rift 
  • North Eastern 
  • Western 
  • Coast 
  • Eastern 
  • Central 
  • Nairobi 

The clusters will be headed by Conveners who will be in charge of the party campaigns in their respective regions. The Conveners will organize and coordinate the campaigns. A meeting for the appointed Conveners is scheduled for the coming week to plan for the campaigns and set the pace for the same. 

The ODM plans to launch its vigorous countrywide campaigns next month (September). 

At the same time, the ODM has called on Kenyans living at the Coast to maintain peace and tranquility in the region following the chaos that erupted after the killing of Islamic Preacher Sheikh Aboud Rogo on Monday this week. Parliamentary Group Secretary Mr. Ababu Namwamba told the press after the Party Parliamentary Group meeting that although the party condemns the murder of Sheikh Aboud Rogo but urged the residents of Mombasa to be peaceful as the government investigates the motive behind the cold blood murder. 

Meanwhile, the ODM Parliamentary Group has congratulated Mr. Noor Sheikh Abdillahi, the party's candidate for the vacant Nana Ward in Moyale of Marsabit County for sailing through unopposed. Mr. Abdillahi went through unopposed after the other political parties failed to field a candidate for the seat in the September 17 by-election. Mr. Namwamba while conveying the MPs congratulatory message to Mr. Abdillahi appealed to Kenyans to vote for the party candidates in all the vacant positions in the by elections across the country on 17th of next month.

Thursday 30 August 2012

PM Odinga Due to Interact With Kenyans on Livestream

Prime Minister Raila Odinga will interact with Kenyans on Thursday evening 30th August 2012 through the talk2raila platform via his official presidentail campaign website www.raila-odinga.com/talkraila.

The PM will be using the Thursday session, which will kick off at 7.15 pm local time (16.15 GMT), to focus on the implementation of the constitution and peaceful elections as the topic of his discussion with his audience. He announced the live streaming session has been moved from its original day on Friday to Thursday due to public demand to allow more people to tune in and interact with him. Click here to post your questions to the Prime Minister of Kenya.

Wednesday 29 August 2012

NCCK: Muslim Attacks on Kenyan Churches Atrocious and Unwarranted

The National Council of Churches of Kenya strongly condemns the atrocious and unwarranted attacks on five churches and our own office at Mombasa today during which innocent worshipers were injured. Vandalism and looting by demonstrators resulted in extensive damage and immense loss of property at the Jesus Celebration Center Buxton, NCCK Office, PAG Church Ziwani, Mombasa Pentecostal Church, Seventh Day Adventist Church Ziwani and Salvation Army Church Majengo. 

We have completely failed to understand the logic that made the demonstrators associate the heinous murder of Aboud Rogo with the churches and other properties belonging to innocent Kenyans. The clear message is that these attacks are indicative of a deep seated hatred towards the churches whose cause is inexplicable.

In addition, NCCK has been very perturbed that in the recent days, scores of Kenyans in Tana River, Mandera, Wajir and now Mombasa have lost their lives in the hands of politically motivated criminals. It is only after the events that the presence of security personnel is witnessed. We are concerned that the skirmishes and the lawlessness that is building up is a prelude to greater violence nearer the elections as has happened in the past. What we cannot fathom is how a government that is charged with the responsibility of protecting its citizens perpetually plays catch up with the criminals and is clearly unable to protect its own people.

We state here that the killers of Aboud Rogo as well as the instigators of violence against the churches, as well as those behind the clashes in Tana River, Mandera and Wajir must be brought to book. This calls for speedy investigations and decisive action by the security agencies. Failure to do this will be terror against justice.

We further call upon the leaders of the Muslim community to condemn the attacks and restrain their followers.

As Kenyans, we must not allow ourselves to sink into sectarian violence.

Signed on this 27th day of August 2012 at Nairobi.

Rev. Canon Peter Karanja

Raila Odinga's End-August Weekend Schedule Unveiled

Prime Minister Raila Odinga who is also the ODM Party Leader will this weekend tour Western region, Mt. Kenya Region and Kajiado. The following is the full programme for the Prime Minister;

Friday 31/08/2012
The Prime Minister will address
a major political rally at the Busia Stadium in Busia town Busia County. The rally begins at 10.am.

Saturday 1/09/2012
The Prime Minister will join the other mourners at the burial of the late Hon. Martin Shikuku in Kiminini area of Saboti Constituency in Transnzoia County.

Sunday 2/09/2012
The Prime Minister will address a major political rally in Mikinduri area of Tigania East Constituency of the Meru County. He will also meet local ODM leaders and officials.

Monday 3/09/2012
The Prime Minister will lead the entire ODM team in drumming up support for the party candidate for the Kajiado North seat in the September 17th 2012 by election Eng. Peter Ole Mositet. Mr. Odinga will begin his campaign trail in Ewaso Kedong then Isinya and end up in Kitengela. The PM will arrive in Ewaso Kedong at 10.am.