Flawed Relief:  Irregularities in Kenya’s COVID-19 Relief Program

Flawed Relief:  Irregularities in Kenya’s COVID-19 Relief Program

By Shirley Wandera

Startling revelations have emerged over the Kenyan response to the global Covid-19 pandemic. In April 2020, former President Uhuru Kenyatta established a COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund Board comprising key business leaders in the country tasked with overseeing the management of resources to combat the economic impact of the pandemic.

A special audit report from the Auditor General examining the utilization of COVID-19 funds allocated to national government entities from March 13 to July 31, 2020, has brought disconcerting findings.

According to the report, the Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund received 2.6 billion Kenyan Shillings. Among the allocations was a substantial sum of 400 million Kenyan Shillings, designated for a Cash Transfer Program. This program aimed to provide financial assistance to 100,000 Kenyans in urban informal settlements for one month

Majority Support: Finance Bill Advances past 2nd Reading

Majority Support: Finance Bill Advances past 2nd Reading

By Shirley Wandera
The controversial Finance Bill 2023 report sailed through the second reading on Wednesday. 257 Members of Parliament were present during the vote, with 176 MPs voting in favor of the bill. 81 MPs voted against it.

Those who voted in favor of the bill include Nairobi Women Representative Esther Passaris; Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro; Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, and Kisauni MP Rashid Bedzimba.

World Environment Day Celebration in Mombasa

World Environment Day Celebration in Mombasa

Shirley Wandera
In a remarkable display of dedication to environmental consciousness, residents of Mombasa on Monday commemorated World Environment Day with a vibrant procession held in Makupa.

The event was graced by Mombasa Deputy Governor, Francis Thoya, who took note of the youth being on the frontline of the conservation movement, actively engaging in efforts to protect their surroundings.