From early morning Sagana meetings to Worldcoin saga

President William Ruto’s Cabinet was on the receiving end last week after some of them arrived late for a State House meeting.

Having learnt their lessons, they did not want to repeat the mistake a second time after Ruto warned of dire consequences for late comers.

This week, the CSs braved a morning cold to attend another Cabinet meeting at Sagana State lodge in Nyeri.

All his Cabinet Secretaries attended the meeting which started at 7am.

The DP had also decried lack of quorum for Cabinet Committee meetings due to frequent travels by CSs and PSs.

Then, the Worldcoin controversy dragged to the second week as various agencies continued with their investigations into the issue.

Interior CS Kithure Kindiki on Wednesday said the government was narrowing down on those behind the controversial Worldcoin activities in the country.

Kindiki said the government had already mapped all individuals behind the registration of citizens through collection of eyeball/iris data.

“The whole things seem to have been coordinated through a local company owned and registered in Kenya,” Kindiki said.

Kindiki, together with his ICT counterpart Eliud Owalo, were directed by the MPs to furnish the House with the details of the Worldcoin Cryptocurrency tokens within one week.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula wants the two to explain how the company was registered and the measures taken to safeguard the security of the already harvested data.

Environment CS Soipan Tuya on Thursday said Kenyatta International Conference Centre will be closed and no activities will take place in the area.

The Director of Climate Change Pacifica Achieng on August 3 said the place will be closed in preparation to host the Africa Climate Summit (ACS) as it was also confirmed as the venue.

Currently, it is being refurbished for the summit that will take place from September 4 to 6.

Tuya and her Tourism counterpart Peninah Malonza toured and inspected the ongoing works at the KICC.

She said the State surpassed its target of approximately 10,000 delegates and KICC will be able to hold up to 20,000 people during the summit.

“We thank the Kenya Defence Forces under Francis Ogolla who have made sure the area is worked on. We are looking forward to the handover on August 20,” she said.

Director General of Defence National Security Industries Benard Waliaula said the refurbishment at KICC was at 85 per cent.

Education CS Ezekiel Machogu on Wednesday told senators the ministry has yet to clear the bill for textbooks and set books owed to publishers in excess of Sh5.36 billion supplied to schools.

Machogu said that government owes publishers Sh4.07 billion for Grade 7 textbooks, Sh54.5 million for Grade 6 and Sh23.6 million for Grade 5. Suppliers of 2022 and 2023 set books are owed Sh1.73 billion, he said.

On the delayed disbursement of funds to schools, the CS blamed cash flow challenges and delays by some school to upload their students’ details onto the NEMIS system.

However, Machogu said they are working to help schools have the details captured in the system and curb the problem of delays in the disbursement of capitation.

Machogu said the timelines for disbursement will change starting 2023-24 financial year, to align to the new policy.

Water CS Alice Wahome and her Health counterpart Susan Nakhumicha on the other hand accompanied the President to launch a number of key projects in Nyeri.

Wahome accompanied the President when he commissioned Othaya sewerage project on Monday.

The project estimated to cost Sh60 million is expected to serve close to or over 15,000 people.

By doing a proper sewerage system, the government is promoting health by reducing waterborne diseases.

Nakhumicha accompanied the President during the commissioning of Naromoru Level 4 hospital.    BY THE STAR