Author: Champe

{Photo courtesy of Rachel Claire}

 

By Hilda Kavai

 

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has put forth a proposal to increase conservation fees, sparking controversy among some members of the public.

As part of these changes, adult East African citizens and residents will now pay Sh2,000 to visit Nairobi National Park, a significant increase from the previous fee of Sh500.

The revised package for Nairobi National Park that includes Nairobi Animal Orphanage and Nairobi Safari Walk, will cost Sh2,250, with students paying Sh650.

During the previous low season, fees for East African citizens were capped at Sh600 for adults and Sh215 for students.

According to the new proposals, an adult EAC citizen/resident will now pay Sh1,000 to access to Amboseli and Lake Nakuru National Parks during the peak season of July to March.

A child or student will be charged Sh500.

Initially, an adult’s entrance charge to the two National Parks was Sh800.During the high season, an adult visitor from the rest of Africa will pay US $50 to access Amboseli and Lake Nakuru National Park during the high season of July to March while a child will pay US $20.

An adult international visitor will now pay US $100 during high season to access Amboseli and Lake Nakuru National Park while a student will pay US $35.Initially, an adult visiting such parks during high seasons used to pay US $70 and a student US $20.

Accessing Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Park under the new proposals will now cost EAC adult Sh500 during the high season.

The same applies to Meru, Kora and Aberdare National Parks.

Animal tracking in selected parks with prior arrangement (per person) costs Sh2,000 for EAC citizens and those from the rest of Africa/Residents, and US $20 for international visitors.

Commercial photography and videography for feature films, commercials, adverts, dramas, music videos, and short films with the required permits will cost EAC citizens and those from the rest of Africa Sh10,000 per day, while overseas tourists will pay US $100.

KWS has defended the move saying there was strict adherence to the constitution, and the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 2013.

“The KWS conducted nationwide public participation forums between January 30 to the February 23, 2023, whose objective was to get public input on the revision of conservation fees for national parks and reserves,” Corporate Communications said in a statement.

KWS is mandated to undertake periodic, comprehensive reviews of its products and fees to ensure alignment and standardization with both local and international conservation and business landscapes.

The proposed conservation fees covers January 2024 to December 2025.

(Photo courtesy of Google Play)

 

By Samuel Owino

 

The parliament on Thursday, 10 August, declared the process undertaken by Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Services (KUCCPS) null over illegalities.

The health committee of the national assembly led by Robert Pukose said that KUCCPS carrying out the placement process on behalf of the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) was illegal.

“It is obvious that the process is null and void, there is a court order that clearly says placement of students should be done by the KMTC board, therefore, KUCCPS conducting the placement is illegal,” said Pukose.

Over 42,000 students who had applied for placement will now have to wait longer as they have to do the process a fresh. The Committee however advised that the students will not pay the fees paid to KUCCPS again. This also comes after an order to KUCCPS to transfer 84 million Kenya shillings summed from the application fees to KMTC.

“KUCCPS should surrender the money to KMTC. The 42,000 applicants who had applied to KUCCPS should not be made to pay again.” Said Pukose.

Health CS Susan Nakhumicha on Thursday, tried to defend KUCCPS’ role suggesting that she was acting on an executive order. The ministry, however, could not provide evidence.

Legally, KMTC is allowed to do their own placements as a High Court in July, ruled in favour of two students who filed a suit barring KUCCPS from the role. The ruling has not been appealed since.

{Photo courtesy of The Standard}

 

By Sophie Kinya.

 

Kenyans held a memorial service to honor those who died in the bomb blast in 1998 at the American Embassy. The annual event was held at the memorial site, which is located at the corner of Moi and Haile Sellasie Avenues, and was attended by Azimio leaders Martha Karua and Kalonzo Musyoka, as well as friends and family of the lost souls.

The bombing that occurred 25 years ago is believed to have targeted the American Embassy and was organized by the terrorist group Al-Qaeda. A truck exploded outside the building, and a few minutes later, a similar incident occurred at the US Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The horrible tragedy killed over 200 individuals and injured over 5,000 more.

It has recently come to people’s attention that not enough compensation has been provided, particularly to comfort those left behind and yet many Kenyans are still suffering from the impacts of the bombing. Some of them are blind and others deaf while others are still suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The US government’s reply is that their laws do not allow Kenyan victims of the attack to be reimbursed and recognized. However, there may be light at the end of the tunnel for them because the AD HOC committee chair, Ms. Agnes Kavindu has committed to work with the US government to make sure that all victims are compensated well. ‘We are also planning to see our president who I know will give us full back up, even the opposition will give us full back up and we are going to do everything possible for us as senate and a committee to make sure we talk to the senate in the United States so that they can include us in these funds…’ she said during memorial prayers that took place on Sunday.

It is also important to note that more than 20 people in connection with the deadly bombings have since been charged to life imprisonment in various prisons in the United States and some other people have died including the Al-Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden who was killed by the US government in 2011.