TALKS between the government and brokerage firms on implementation modalities of the five per cent tax on net gains from sale of shares and bonds have been postponed indefinitely, it emerged yesterday. Treasury Cabinet secretary Henry Rotich said last Wednesday he had convened a meeting that was scheduled for yesterday to address challenges raised by stockbrokers in withholding and remitting the capital gains tax. The Kenya Revenue Authority, the Capital Markets Authority, the Nairobi Securities Exchange and, the Kenya Association of Stockbrokers and Investments Banks, Rotich had told...
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Talks on capital market net gains tax called off
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Kenrazy wins big at Bingwa Music Awards
RAPPER Kenrazy was the biggest winner at the debut edition of the Bingwa Music Awards gala held on Saturday at the MJ Centre, Nairobi. The Grandpa Records-signed artiste bagged three awards in three different categories: Verse of the Year for Dumbala Remix, Artiste of the Year and Stage Performer of the Year. His label-mate rapper/producer Visita won New Artiste of the Year award, as Grandpa Records was named East Africa’s Music Label of the Year. Comedian Churchill scooped Showbiz Personality of the Year, singer Nameless awarded the Comeback of the Year award as DJ Joe Mfalme was named DJ of...
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Jaguar: Nigerian artistes are selfishly exploiting us
SINGER Jaguar (pictured) has asked his fellow East African artistes to stop exposing themselves to exploitation by their Nigerian counterparts. He said this after learning that his collaboration track with Nigerian musician, Iyanya, (for the remix of his single One Centimeter) was done with “hideous” intentions. Jaguar alleges that the West African singer only agreed to do the remix just to gain popularity in Kenya and the region, but helping him penetrate the Nigerian/West African music market was never on his radar. He told Word Is: “When Iyanya agreed to do the remix with me, he dished...
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Haphazard sale of land in Kajiado leaves families poorer
The quest for a shot-lived modern and leisure life among the Maasai community is blamed for the uncontrolled sale of land according to a report. The 2014 baseline report dubbed, ‘Effective Land Ownership, Management and Transfer in the Context of Rapid Urbanisation and Change among the Maasai of Kajiado County’, states that conflicts arising from multiple claims over the same land sometimes ends up in loss of life, destruction of property, displacements and disharmony among the different ethnic groups. Dr Beneah Mutsotso, one of the lead researchers said the problem of land in Kajiado County...
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Retired teacher takes up large scale rice farming in Busia
Rice farmers in Busia County have a reason to smile, thanks to the recently formed Farmers Link Co-operative Society that has transformed their standards of living. Prior to the formation of the cooperative society, members of Ruambwa-Mudembi Rice Irrigation Scheme in Bunyala Sub-County had been operating merely as out-growers under Magombe cooperative society, which they claimed had given them a raw deal hence prompting them to defect to Farmers Link cooperative society limited. The cooperative society chairman Alfred Ochieng Opondo says the scheme has a total of 110 acres of land under rice...
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New farming technology unites HIV widows in Nyanza
If you visit Gombe village in Bondo constituency, Siaya county, two things stand out: the high level of poverty and graves that dot several homesteads. Harsh weather has been blamed for the poverty levels with the few farmers in the area relying on unpredictable rain for agriculture. As for the graves, the area is one of the most affected by HIV/Aids in the country. The disease has resulted in tens of orphans, widows and widowers in the area. Despite the challenges facing them, some of the widows have come together for good. One such entity is the Yawpachi Women Group which consists of 34...
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Fighting maternal deaths in Samburu
One of World Health Organisation’s facts about maternal health is that most of maternal deaths can be prevented through skilled care at childbirth and access to emergency obstetric care. However, this is not always the case. In Samburu county, the statistics stand at 360 deaths for 1000 births, making it one of the worst counties in terms of maternal health. For most residents of Samburu, access to health care has been poor due to a variety of factors including extremely harsh weather conditions and insecurity. The lack of adequate staff to attend to such cases has also contributed to the...
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Oshwal Youth League’s 12-hour swimathon
Sunday afternoon saw a swimming marathon like never before. The Oshwal Youth League Swim-A-Ling-A-Ling was a 12 hour relay which ran from 7am-7pm. It was held at the Oshwal Sports Complex and organised by Krushit Gudhka and Ayush Shah. The idea behind the event was to introduce swimming as an entertaining and fun sport as majority of the swimming competitions held in the country are formal swimming meets. A total of 80 swimmers ranging from the age of six to 45 took part. They were split into three teams: Dancing Dolphins, Krazy Krakkens and Sink or Swim, based on a combination of their...
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Spotted Tuesday
Former Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo, in a dark suit, exiting the Cardinal Otunga Plaza in Nairobi on Thursday midday.
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Kenya climbers conquer Mt Kilimanjaro for charity
As the rest of the world was celebrating the start of 2015, 39 individuals from seven nationalities braved a snow-storm on Africa's highest mountains; Mt Kilimanjaro. The climbers were at the top of the mountain as part of a fund-raising initiative dubbed #RotaryKilimanjaro2015 by the Rotary Club of Nairobi East led by President Carole Kimutai. Kimutai is the managing editor of Management Magazine. The initiative is aimed raising awareness on polio eradication. They managed to raise Sh3.5 million from individuals and corporations both local and international. The team left on January 2 and...
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The Other Side Of Mandera County
After the recent terrorist attacks in Mandera where 64 Kenyans were brutally murdered, many people have started to leave the northern county. About 50 medical officers have already left and 20 health centres closed. Further, 150 teachers have submitted their requests to the Teachers Service Commission appealing to be transferred to safer areas. In addition, all the major construction projects have stalled after the technical supervisors fled amid fears of further attacks. However, there is another side of Mandera that seems to flourish. We meet John Mutinda, a farm manager at one of the...
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I am still in the race, says Alila
HOMA BAY Senator seat aspirant Hilary Alila has refuted claims he has bowed out of the race. Alila, an independent candidate, said some candidates are spreading rumours that he has stepped down. Speaking to the Star on the phone yesterday, Alila said took last week off the campaigns to mourn Cord leader Raila Odinga’s son Fidel, whom he described as a friend. “I am still in the race. Rumours that I have stepped down are because my rivals fear my candidature,” he said. The by-election is scheduled for February 12.
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MCAs told to back executive
KISUMU County executives have been urged to work closely with assemblies for economic development. Murumba Werunga, a former clerk at the Pan-African Parliament said competition between the executives and MCAs is to blame for conflicts. “Some executives complain that MCAs undermine them because some of them have little education,” he said. Werunga was speaking on Sunday during a workshops for Kakamega MCAs and executives in Kisumu.
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Governors to borrow from Sh2.5 trillion kitty
GOVERNORS are developing a framework for county governments to access the Sh2.5 trillion approved by the National Assembly for government borrowing. Governors have requested to be assigned part of the funds, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has said. He said counties have not agreed on the actual figure they can borrow. “We are looking at borrowing because we have developed the capacity to borrow and repay so that we are able as county governments to meet our development agenda,” Oparanya said. He was speaking on Sunday during a workshop for executives and MCAs at Sovereign Hotel, Kisumu...
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Kakamega TNA officials slam Khalwale
TNA officials in Kakamega county have criticised Senator Bonny Khalwale’s threat to mobilise the Luhya community against the Jubilee government. “Khalwale should stop daydreaming,” said county chairman Desmond Shinaka and Ikolomani women’s leader Phidelia Wandayi. They said Khalwale does not represent the interest of the region in Cord to warrant attacks on the government. During the burial of Cord leader Raila Odinga’s son Fidel on Saturday, Khalwale threatened to mobilise the Luhya community against the government if it does not heed teachers’ demands for salary increment. “We know Khalwale...
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MPs tell Raila to keep off senate seat race
A section of Homa Bay leaders on Sunday warned Cord leader Raila Odinga against interfering in county politics. They said Raila should instead leave residents to elect a candidate of their choice as senator. The leaders include Karachuonyo MP James Rege, his Rangwe counterpart George Oner, former Rangwe MP Martin Ogindo, politicians Peter Owidi, Ongondo Were, Erick Opiyo and Achilla Gogo. They were speaking on Sunday during a prayer meeting at Were’s home. Rege said Raila should not impose a candidate on Homa Bay people. The seat fell vacant following the death of Senator Otieno Kajwang’ in...
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Auctioneers set date for Okundi's multimillion-shilling Homa Bay plaza
FORMER Rangwe MP Philip Okundi might lose a prime commercial property in Homa Bay town. Okundi is a candidate in the Homa Bay Senate by-election to be held on February 12. The Star has established that Okundi’s multimillion-shilling Luore Plaza, which host two major banks and generates a monthly rent of more than Sh1.4 million, may be auctioned on January 30. “The subject property is in Homa Bay town and can easily be identified as ‘Luore Plaza’ or the building housing two major banks,” a notice by auctioneers Gram Investments says. “It measures approximately 1.065 acres and is developed with...
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Western MPs aim for 5.5 million voters in 2017
MEMBERS of Parliament from the Western region have been asked to give handouts to youths to register as voters. This will lure many to register and increase the region’s voting strength, Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali said. “In my constituency, I give Sh100 to any youth who has an ID and a voting card. I give Sh50 to those who don’t have the documents to go for them,” he said. Washiali was speaking at Namayiakalu Primary School in Matungu on Saturday. He said out of the six million people in Western region, only 1.4 million registered as voters in 2013. Washiali said some of the registered...
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Kakamega allocates Sh400m for polytechnics
The Kakamega government has set aside Sh400 million to revamp polytechnics. Most of the 45 polytechnics in the county are in a poor state and do not have enough instructors. Education executive Violet Amugira said Sh120 million will subsidise tuition fees for learners. She said Sh60 million will be spend on equipment. Speaking to the Star in her office yesterday, Amugira said the county government is committed to improving the institutions for learners to acquire relevant skills and knowledge. She said the county government will hire 188 instructors for all polytechnics. "We have allocated...
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Elect Kajwang to condole with Raila, say two MCAs
TWO Homa Bay MCAs have urge voters to elect an ODM candidate in the senator by-election as condolences party chairman Raila Odinga and former senator Otieno Kajwang’s families. Raila lost his son Fidel, who was buried on Saturday. Walter Okumu (Lambwe) and Julius Nyambok (Homa Bay central) said Kajwang was a loyal member of Cord and ODM. The two were speaking at Rodi Kopany Catholic Church in Homa Bay town on Sunday.
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