Smart Times

PHOTO: NCCK General Secretary, Rev Canon Chris Kinyanjui during a press conference. NAIROBI, Kenya, June 27... The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) has urged president William Ruto to unite the nation amid protests by Kenyans on Finance Bill 2024 which has caused unrest in different parts of the country. "The president is a symbol of national unity and it is in your hands to reassure calm and unite kenyans at all times, we appeal to you to publicly recognize and condole with hundreds of kenyans who are mourning the deaths of there loved ones and comfort the hunderds nursing injuries". reads a statement by NCCK.  NCCK further urged the head of state to ensure no further bloodshed of kenyans peacefully picketing adding that police should cease killings and physically harming demonstrators, cease emerging trends of abductions and instruct security agencies to immediately release all the persons who have been abducted or otherwise arrested.     "We ur

PHOTO: KCDF awards cheque of Ksh 23,950,000 to the finalists of the Young Environmentalist Innovative Challenge. NAIROBI, Kenya, June 26... The Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) has awarded Ksh 23,950,000 to five youth organizations to support their innovation ideas towards environmental sustainability and conservation under its Young Environmental Innovative Challenge (YEIC). Finalists of the inaugural challenge launched in 2023 were awarded in the event that also saw the launch of second edition, winners included Inua damsite from Nyandarua county, EcoRich solutions, Placom manufactures from Nairobi county, Farmer lifeline Technologies and Fruity schools Africa from Kiambu county. In addition the ceremony brought together Youth representatives, the private sector, Environment champions, advocates and enthusiasts. The 2024 edition seeks to award three young individual environment champions with grants to Ksh 1.5 millionand six organizations with grants of upto

PHOTO: Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) Director General and CEO David Mukonyi speaking during a past event. NAIROBI, Kenya, June 24... Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) says that it has received inquiries regarding an imminent internet shutdown on 25th Tuesday 2024. This comes following a planned protests by youths on Finance Bill 2024 in the capital Nairobi and different parts of the country. "For the avoidance of doubt, the Authority has no intention whatsoever to shutdown internet traffic or interfere with the quality if connectivity, such actions would be a betrayak to the constitution as a whole the freedom of expression in particular and our own ethos" reads a statement by CA. "Such actions would also sabotage our fast-growing digital economy as internet connectivity supports thousands of livelihoods across the country"  CA further urged Kenyan's to use the digital space in respect to all and within the confines of the law.

PHOTO: Standard Group Video editor , Justice Mwangi Macharia being arrested while covering the protests NAIROBI, Kenya, June 19...The Media council of Kenya (MCK) has condemned Arbitrary arrests and attacks on journalusts covering tuesday 19 June 2024 protests in Nairobi central business district by armed police officers. The council says that its dismayed that while journalists were relying on police to provide them with security in line of duty,the security guards resorted in manhandling, harrasing, arresting and assaulting them despite journalists identified with MCK press cards and press jackets. "In an incident captured on a video, Standard Group video editor Justice mwangi macharia was arrested and violently hauled out of a moving police motor vehicle sustaining injuries" Stated Mr Omwoyo. Nation Media Group Taifa leo reporter Sammy kimatu was also thrown out of a moving police land rover vehicle sustain some injuries and currently receiving treatment Mauree

PHOTO: South Africa President-elect Cyril Ramaphosa. PRETORIA , South Africa, June 15... The National Assembly (NA) of South Africa during its first sitting of the 7th Parliament elected Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa as the President-elect of the Republic of South Africa.  Ramaphosa has been re-elected to serve a second term as the President. "In terms of the Constitution, the National Assembly must, at its first sitting after its election, elect a woman or a man from among its members to be the President" reads a statement. Mr. Ramaphosa was elected with 283 votes against Mr Julius Malema with 44 votes.  The President-elect will be inaugurated during a ceremony in Pretoria which according to the South African Constitution it should take place within five days after the President’s election. "Once the President has taken the oath of office, he will proceed to form a cabinet, selecting ministers who will head various government departments and execute the administratio

NAIROBI, Kenya , June 14... According to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) petroleum pump price for Super Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene decrease by KShs.3.00, KShs.6.08 and KShs.5.71 per litre respectively.  In Nairobi, Super Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene will now retail at Kshs.189.84, Kshs.173.10 and Kshs.163.05 effective midnight for the next 30 days.  Subsequently Mombasa Petroleum, Diesel and Kerosene will retail at Kshs 186.66, Kshs 169.93 and 160.00. In Nakuru Petroleum, Diesel and Kerosene set to retail at Kshs 188.90, Kshs 172.54 and 162.57 while in Kisumu Petroleum will retail at Ksh 189.66, Diesel  Kshs 173.31 and Kerosene Kshs 163.34. In addition Eldoret Kshs 189.67 for Petroleum, Kshs 173.31 for Diesel and Kshs 163.34 for Kerosene. "The prices are inclusive of the 16% Value Added Tax (VAT) in line with the provisions of the Finance Act 2023, the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act 2020 and the revised rates for excise duty adjusted for inflation as per

NAIROBI, Kenya, June 14... The exclusive broadcasting rights across its platforms include Showmax mobile, DSTV, DSTV Stream and GOTv stream. Its scheduled to kick off on Friday  14 June 2024 with Germany vs Scotland match and culminating in the grand final on Sunday 14 July, football ethusiasts across Kenya can savour every match, monumental goal and defining football momenent exclusively on multichoice platforms.  "No matter your budget or lifestyle, multichoice has something for everyone opt for showmax sports for on the go football, chose DSTv for outstanding HD quality or go to GOTv for a more affordable and social experience" noted Nzola Miranda, Managing director multichoice Kenya. Showmax sports tailored for mobile users and powered by Supersport  revolutionizes the football viewing experience  providing mobility and Affordability. Additionally the platform allows fans to Catch all 51 UEFA EURO games live, stay connected  With the Euro tounament whenever th

LILONGWE, Malawi, June 10... The Malawi defense force aircraft left Lilongwe on Monday 10 June 2024 at 09:17 hours carrying the Vice president Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima and nine others failed to make its scheduled landing at Mzuzu international Airport at 10:02. "All efforts by Aviation Authorities to make contact with the Aircraft since it went off the radar has failed thus far". reads a statement. Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera has since been informed and has cancelled his scheduled departure for the Bahamas and ordered all regional and national to conduct an immediate search and rescue operations to locate the whereabouts of the Aircraft. " The public will be updated on any developments on the situation as facts are established" the statement reads further.

PHOTO: EPRA Director General Daniel Kiptoo flags off e-bikes and e-motorcycles during Tusonge na Evs campaign launch. NAIROBI, Kenya June 4... Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) regulator has launched a nationwide campaign dubbed ' Tusonge na Evs ' to create awareness of safety, Affordability and rally the nation towards mass markets adoption with the support of Ministry of Energy and  Petroleum and United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP). "The country has witnessed a steady increase in EV imports with electric vehicles rising by 1.6 percent in 2023 from 0.17 percent. Kenya's electric vehicle fleets currently comprises Over 3,700 registered units with approximately 90 percent being 2 and 3 wheelers" said Daniel Kiptoo Bargori, Director General EPRA. Additionally the campaign supports gocernment aspiration to attain a 5 percent market share of all newly imported vehicles being fully electric by 2025. while sales of EVs are increasing