The proposed Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) won’t survive after the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023 is put into effect, according to Narok Senator Ledama Olekina.
Olekina believes that the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) would be replaced by the SHIF, which will put additional financial obligations on Kenyans at the expense of inadequate healthcare services.
During a Monday panel discussion with Citizen TV, the lawmaker stated that the plan will be undermined by dishonest people and will need to face weeks of legal fights.
“All these pieces of legislation are sponsored by special interests, companies out there and you’ll find that some of the companies that will be given those contracts are associated with very senior politicians. We are behaving as if we live in a first world forgetting that we live in a dilapidated, corrupt environment in which we are led by sycophants. This will collapse, there will be a myriad of cases, people filing lawsuits on a daily basis,” said Olekina.
Silvanus Osoro, the Member of Parliament for South Mugirango and Chief Whip of the National Assembly, supported the plan on the same panel, claiming that it will assist equalize service provision in the health sector.
He also acknowledged that the program will have to contend with a greater challenge from underequipped hospitals, which could limit the successful implementation of the ambitious plan.
Employees on wages will contribute 2.75% of their monthly salary to the SHIF, while Kenyans without income must contribute at least Ksh. 300.
The High Court had blocked the Act’s implementation until the Court of Appeal overturned the High Court’s judgments on January 19.
Justice and explanations are now being sought by the family of a 31-year-old man who was allegedly beaten to death by the pastor and other Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) churchgoers in Homa Bay County.
On December 21, 2023, Bernard Otieno Anah was killed in Kagan village, Rangwe Constituency, on suspicion of stealing 8 kg of beans and maize, valued at around Ksh. 2,000, from the Rabondo SDA church during the Pathfinder Camporee of the West Kenya Union Conference.
His wife described how the local assistant chief and the church pastor, surrounded by their congregation, bombarded their home on that day, dragged the deceased outside, and then frog marched him to the house of worship.
She recounted that after being rendered unconscious by severe beatings, they brought him to a local marketplace, where he was ultimately put to death.
On January 18, 2024, Anah was buried at home. His relatives, led by his cousin, Dr. Davji Atellah, Secretary General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), promised to follow up on the case until justice had been served.
“It is imperative that we acknowledge the grave consequences of such actions. There is no evidence to suggest that mob injustice perpetrated by the church members effectively minimizes crimes in our villages. On the contrary, it perpetuates a cycle of violence and destruction
We strongly believe that our church leaders play a pivotal role in spreading messages of hope, protecting their buildings and places of worship, and fostering an environment of justice and harmony but not a place where any suspect is sent to heaven before their time. Additionally, local chiefs are tasked with restoring order and ensuring that our communities coexist peacefully,” said Dr. Atellah.
He added: “As we mourn Anah and bury him, we want to notify the authorities and those involved in the killing that we will pursue transformative justice, we will bring the accusers to the law and take the law to the community. Justice to Anah is justice to his wife, children, parents, and neighbours.”
A human head has been found, and police believe it to be that of the late Rita Waeni, a student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).
The head was discovered in Kiambaa Dam in Kiambu County on Sunday night.
Pius Mwandhi, the commander of Kiambaa police, confirmed the occurrence to reporters present at the scene and stated that inquiries are still on.
On January 14, a 20-year-old Waeni’s disfigured body with her head gone was discovered in an apartment in Nairobi’s Roysambu area. The victim’s identification could not be immediately verified by the police.
The victim was Waeni, who had gone from her aunt’s home in Syokimau to see a friend, the family would later disclose.
The family released a statement on January 17th, stating that at approximately five in the morning on Sunday, her father got a message from her phone number requesting Ksh. 500,000 to be paid as a ransom within twenty-four hours in order to free the JKUAT student.
The student’s body parts were found inside a trash bag in the flat by the caretaker, who was about to start her fourth year of university.
Important witnesses have shown up at the Bungoma police station in Bungoma County in relation to the unexplained death of an Egerton University second-year student.
Francis Pepela, 23, was in Kanduyi watching an African Cup of Nations (AFCON) match at night when he passed away, according to his family.
Lazarus Pepela, the father of the deceased, says that he was informed that his son Francis had been struck by a trailer and had suffered brain injuries. He questioned the report.
Francis was a journalism student at that particular university.
Locals have protested the increase in security incidents in the neighborhood and have demanded that the offices act quickly.
In the meantime, an investigation has been started to determine what caused the death.
Nearly 20,000 ghost workers who were paid by the government have been exposed by the Public Service Commission (PSC).
According to a commission report, there appears to be an overcrowded public service that is depleting public funds.
According to PSC’s annual report for the fiscal year 2022–2023, there were 19,467 more workers across various departments and agencies of the government than the authorized staffing levels.
Both State House and the New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC) Limited had more than 100 members, while fifteen other organizations were identified as having more than 50% of their suggested staffing number.
The PSC disclosure validates the findings of the Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakango regarding the disparity in the nation’s spending, wherein 70 percent of budgetary allotments to national and local governments are used for ongoing expenses, such as salary payments, with only 30 percent or less going toward development.
According to a PSC study that monitors public sector performance, 19,467 unauthorized employees were added to the government payroll in the 2022–2023 fiscal year, defying recommendations about staffing levels for ministries and departments. With 12,535 authorized employees, ministries and state agencies had the largest number, followed by public institutions with 2,287 and state corporations with 4,558.
There were fifteen organizations with more employees than needed, and five of them were listed by the commission as having more than fifty percent more employees than what was advised.
The National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority had 72% of its workforce, the State Department for Devolution had 61%, the State Department for Higher Education and Research had 69%, the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services had 59%, and the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) had 115% of its workforce above the recommended levels.
Six institutions, notably State House and the New KCC, with 483 and 492 employees, respectively, showed significant discrepancies with over 100 more employees than what was listed in the personnel register.
Regarding excess staff numbers, the commission’s recommendations from the previous fiscal year were disregarded by four institutions. KEMSA, the State Department for Higher Education, the State Department for Transportation, and the State Department for Devolution are these.
The overabundance of personnel inside firms led to underutilization of workers, exorbitant salary expenses, and overworked workplace amenities.
Out of 523 organizations, only 21 had created thorough plans for human resource management and development that guide hiring and training.
Since then, the commission has advised that by June 30, 2024, all public organizations create strategies for human resource management and development.
A middle-aged woman who is suspected of fatally stabbing her boyfriend in the Chianda market in Rarieda, Siaya County, is being held by police.
Esau Okoth Onduru, the assistant chief of East Katweng, claims that the late Vincent Odiyo was stabbed in the stomach during a fight with his girlfriend.
After being whisked to the neighboring Odede dispensary, Bondo Sub County Hospital was referred for Odiyo. Upon arriving, it was determined that he had passed away.
Since then, police have been to the homicide scene, which is a home that Macrine Akinyi Omil, the deceased’s alleged lover, rents.
After finding a kitchen knife soiled with blood, they went to the mortuary at Bondo Hospital to look over the victim’s body.
Omil will be held in the Aram police station while the authorities wait for the results of the postmortem.
President William Ruto has issued a warning to education authorities who demand money from parents while claiming that the government has not yet allocated education funds.
Speaking on Sunday at a Thanksgiving ceremony in Busia County, Ruto claimed to be aware of the unethical practice of some officials to demand school money from parents even if it has been covered.
According to him, the government has given Ksh. 60 billion in capitation to all educational institutions in the nation, together with Ksh. 10 billion in bursaries, to enable students to receive an education wherever in the country.
Ruto stated that his administration has raised the number of teachers working at various institutions and that many more will be hired, all the while reaffirming the government’s commitment to bolstering access to education across the country.
The Ministry of Education claims that the government of Kenya provides free primary education.
But in boarding schools, every student receives a stipend from the government. Parents cover the boarding costs associated with the various school locations and their classifications.
On January 3, the State Department for Basic Education received Ksh. 4.74 billion from the National Treasury to support free primary education for Term 1.
Furthermore, Ksh.7.6 billion was paid to the State Department as junior secondary school (JSS) capitation.
Additionally, Ksh. 2.8 billion was distributed by the Treasury to cover the costs of school exams and invigilations, and Ksh. 16.2 billion would be used to fund free-day secondary schools for the first term.
Similarly, Ksh. 192 billion was given to TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) institutions on January 17.
According to Education Principal Secretary (PS) Dr. Esther Thaara Muoria, the funds would be used to assist the institutions’ ongoing costs of tuition, supplies for training, utilities, and extracurricular activities.
“Hear this from me because these people will stop this ill behavior because the government has disbursed the money…I want to tell those managers in the education sector not to take advantage of parents on false accounts of the government having released no money, We have released Ksh.62 billion to our primary and secondary schools, Universities, TVET institutions, including Ksh.10 billion in bursaries to our MPs so that even children from vulnerable families can go to school” said Ruto.
A businessman, standing while holding a briefcase, looks up at a chart on a wall that indicates interest rates are rising.
The Central Bank of Kenya’s (CBK) Monetary Policy Committee raised the basic lending rate by two percent, from 10.5% to 12.5%, in December 2023.
The interest rate that CBK will impose on loans to commercial banks is known as the CBK base lending rate.
Commercial banks typically base their interest rates on the CBK base lending rate. Commercial banks will raise their interest rates in response to a rise in the base rate by the central bank.
Kenyan businesses and people have legitimately voiced their concerns in recent months about potential negative consequences stemming from the CBK rate increase.
More difficult to obtain credit: Higher interest rates inevitably drive up the cost of borrowing. Financing is necessary for businesses, particularly start-ups and SMEs, to expand.
This indicates that small firms find it more difficult to launch and obtain the funding they require for success as a result of the rising cost of borrowing.
The majority of individuals now have less money to spend on pointless goods and services because of rising interest rates and inflation-related price increases. This implies that sales may drop dramatically if consumers decide not to spend their hard-earned money on things they don’t think are necessary.
increased joblessness. Businesses may hire fewer people when they make less investments. This may result in increased joblessness.
reduced cost of assets. The value of stocks, bonds, and other assets frequently decreases when interest rates rise. People may become less wealthy and inclined to spend money as a result of this.
Price increases by suppliers: Purchasing the materials required for production may cost more as a result of price increases by suppliers. Businesses frequently have to raise their own pricing as a result in order to keep the same markup.
Businesses typically face increased financial burden and constricted cash flow as interest rates rise. As a result, the payee business’s cash flow may be impacted when they make late payments.
reduced rate of economic expansion. The cost of borrowing money for investments and business expansion increases when interest rates rise. The economy may grow more slowly as a result.
Higher interest rates have the potential to trigger a recession, which is a prolonged period of negative economic growth.
Although increasing interest rates can have a detrimental effect on businesses, there is no need for it to be catastrophic. Business owners can take certain measures to protect their companies from the negative impacts of rising interest rates.
Look for alternative, flexible, and fixed-rate funding. You can have some protection against rising interest rates by taking out loans with fixed rates for a period of five or six years. You may more precisely project your finances and business strategies for the near future when you have a fixed rate for a specific period of years.
In the current economic environment, flexible and alternate finance may also come in helpful. This offers adaptable credit lines that let you break up the cost of your expenses across a few months, which will make it simpler for you to pay your obligations on time.
It’s always a good idea to review and maybe alter your business plan and strategy in light of a prospective economic slump to ensure that it remains applicable.
This will entail assessing whatever debt you now have or anticipate taking on, as well as possibly changing the finance sources you had in mind.
Keep an eye on the shilling’s worth. A currency’s value may rise in tandem with an increase in interest rates.
The value of the shilling in relation to other foreign currencies should be kept an eye on by businesses that operate internationally and have revenue streams in other currencies, as this will impact their bottom line.
Lastly, keep an eye on your supply chain. You should monitor any suppliers if prices rise since, although you might be largely spared from the consequences, your partners might not be.
Changes in interest rates may not impact your finance, but they may have an impact on your suppliers. This implies that they will have to raise their prices, which usually means that you will too.
Two suspects are in police arrested And the vehicle ferrying donkey meat seized at the Kwavonza trading centre, Yatta. [Photo | Courtesy]
Yesterday evening, in Yatta, Machakos, police seized a vehicle that was allegedly carrying donkey meat.
The vehicle was reportedly transporting the carcasses of twelve donkeys to a market in Nairobi.
At the Kwavonza Trading Center in Katothya Village, Kanyonyo Sublocation, Machakos County, the vehicle was intercepted.
In addition to finding animal (donkey) offal and guts, police at a homestead apprehended two individuals. A third suspect got away with it.
“After receiving information from the public, our police responded. Two persons are in police custody, but the mastermind managed to escape, according to Yatta OCPB Ben Baraza.
The police claimed that the car contained donkey meat that had been properly packaged for the Nairobi market.
On Monday, 22nd, the accused will be arraigned in the Kitui court.
Google recently made waves with the announcement of two new AI-powered tools designed to “radically improve” the way we search for information on our smartphones. Let’s dive deep into these innovations:
1. Circle to Search:
Imagine this: you’re scrolling through social media and see a picture of a fascinating building but have no idea what it is. With Circle to Search, you can simply circle the building on your screen, and Google will automatically identify it, provide information about its history and significance, and even offer links to further exploration. This feature works not only with images but also with text, allowing you to highlight specific words or phrases to trigger contextual searches.
2. Ask by Pointing:
Ever come across something you want to know more about in the real world, but typing a query feels cumbersome? Ask by Pointing lets you point your phone’s camera at an object or scene (or upload a photo) and ask a question directly. For example, you could point at a bird you don’t recognize and ask “What kind of bird is that?” Google will then use its image recognition and knowledge base to identify the object and answer your question.
Benefits and Implications:
These tools represent a significant shift in how we interact with information. They make searching more intuitive, natural, and context-aware, reducing the need for typed queries and allowing us to engage with the world around us more seamlessly. This has several potential benefits:
Accessibility: These features cater to users who prefer visual or non-textual methods of interaction, making information more accessible to a wider audience.
Enhanced Learning: Ask by Pointing offers a powerful tool for on-the-go learning, allowing users to instantly get information about anything they encounter in their immediate surroundings.
Contextual Understanding: Circle to Search’s ability to analyze specific elements within an image or text demonstrates Google’s progress in understanding context and providing relevant information.
Limitations and Future Challenges:
While promising, these technologies are still in their early stages and face some challenges:
Accuracy and Specificity: Image recognition and natural language processing are not perfect, and misinterpretations could occur. Refining these technologies’ accuracy will be crucial for user trust and satisfaction.
Privacy Concerns: Pointing your phone at the world and asking questions raises privacy concerns about how data is collected and used. Google needs to ensure transparency and user control over data collection practices.
Accessibility Gap: These features are currently limited to specific Android phones, potentially creating an accessibility gap for users with different devices or operating systems. Wider rollout and platform compatibility are necessary for broader adoption.
Overall, Google’s new search tools represent a significant advancement in how we access and interact with information. While challenges remain, they offer a glimpse into a future where searching is more intuitive, contextual, and integrated with the world around us.
I hope this detailed explanation provides a comprehensive understanding of Google’s new search innovations. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask!
These features aren’t just cool party tricks; they represent a fundamental shift in how we interact with information. They move beyond the limitations of text-based search and tap into the power of visual cues and natural language queries. This can be particularly beneficial for:
Visually-oriented learners: No more struggling to translate mental images into keywords. Circle what you see and get instant insights.
Multitasking on-the-go: Need information while you’re busy? Just point and ask! No need to stop and type.
Discovering the unknown: Encountered something unfamiliar? Ask your camera, and unlock a world of knowledge without even knowing what to search for.
Of course, this is just the beginning. Google is still testing and refining these features, and they’ve promised even more exciting developments in the future. With advancements in AI and natural language processing, the future of search looks like it will be less about typing and more about interacting with the world around us in a seamless, intuitive way.
Here are some additional points to consider:
These features are currently rolling out to Android users on select devices, including the Google Pixel 8 and the Samsung Galaxy S24 lineup. Wider availability is expected in the coming months.
Privacy concerns are always a consideration with new technologies. Google has assured users that data collected through these features will be handled responsibly and in accordance with their privacy policies.
The potential impact on accessibility is worth exploring. While these features can be helpful for many, it’s important to ensure they don’t create new barriers for users with disabilities.
Overall, Google’s new search tools are a promising step towards a more natural and intuitive way of accessing information. As they continue to develop and refine these features, the search landscape is sure to become even more dynamic and engaging. Keep your eyes peeled, and get ready to experience the world through a new lens – the lens of your smartphone camera and the power of Google’s AI.
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