Executive Walkway

President Ruto and Raila head to China for Ninth Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)

President Ruto will, from Wednesday 4 to 6, head to Beijing, China for the Ninth Forum on China Africa Cooperation. The forum that will bring several African Heads of State will be centered on the continued partnership between Africa and China, particularly on infrastructure.

Kenya’s AUC candidate Hon. Raila Odinga is expected to accompany President Ruto, alongside the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi. The President and his newly found comrade will use this opportunity to make the case for Kenya’s AUC candidate.

Raila, as a former AU High Representative on Infrastructure, is expected to use the platform to sell his infrastructure agenda to the Heads of State, within the context of the belt and road initiative, which is a major pillar for the China-Africa cooperation.

Parliamentary Aisle

Invitation to Submit Memoranda on Treaty Establishing IGAD

As both the National Assembly and Senate enter the final lap of their recess, the National Assembly has made calls for the public to submit memoranda on the Treaty Establishing the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

Following the Summit in 2008, the Heads of State Summit called for the review of the existing Treaty as a way of improving it. Having been passed and adopted by the requisite organs on June 12, 2023, the Treaty has now been remitted to member states for ratification, before it enters into force.

Corridors ofJustice

Former Samburu Governor Lenolkulal hints at appeal after conviction.

Fresh from being convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of Kes. 83 million or serve a term of four years, former Samburu Governor, Moses Kasaine Lenolkulal remained bullish and intimated of being confident of an acquittal on appeal.

Lenolkulal became the first former Governor to be convicted in a corruption case since the advent of Devolution, to be found guilty of conflict of interest and unlawful acquisition of public property alongside nine former senior officials in his government and one businessman.

EACC investigated a complaint of financial malfeasance, conflict of interest, and embezzlement of funds by senior officials of the Samburu County Government, including the former county chief, in 2019. Investigations revealed that the Governor of Samburu County, with the help of some of his senior officials and a local businessman, traded with Samburu County through Oryx Service Station for fuel and oil lubricants from 2013/2014 to 2018/2019.

Talking of Which

Traffic Disruption on Uhuru Highway as Haile Selassie Roundabout primes for a 45 day closure

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA) in a notice dated August 28, 2024, announced a 45 day closure, running from August 31 to October 15, 2024, to facilitate construction works.

Motorists are advised to follow the proposed traffic management plans and cooperate with the police and traffic marshals on-site.

Traffic advisories are as follows: –

Upperhill to Waiyaki Way: Vehicles should use the diversion at Greenpark.
Mombasa Road to Waiyaki Way: Motorists should also use the diversion at Greenpark.
Waiyaki Way to Mombasa Road: The suggested diversion is via Rubis Petrol Station.
CBD to Mombasa Road: Vehicles are directed to use the diversion at Rubis Petrol Station or the Ring Road behind Neno Evangelism Church.
CBD to Upperhill and vice versa: Traffic between these two points will not experience any disruptions.

Watch out for

FT Africa Summit 2024

Slated to happen between 29 – 30 October 2024, the 2024 FT Africa Summit promises to be an eventful session. The event scheduled to take place in London, will offer a platform for African leaders to reflect on how to drive sustainable growth across the continent.

The conference comes at a timely period as the continent is at crossroads, owing to the fact that, on one hand, it brims with immense potential but challenges such as unsustainable debt limits growth continue to present bottlenecks to the desired growth rates.

MovingUp

Mr. Ludlow

In a notice dated 29th August, Safaricom announced that it has appointed Mr. James Ludlow as a Director in its Board, effective August 28, 2024.

Mr. Ludlow comes in to replace the departing Francesco Bianco who exited the Board on August 1, 2024.

Mr. Ludlow is currently the group reward and policy director of human resources at Vodafone Group Services Limited and is responsible for the strategic design, planning, management and communication of the company’s short and long-term reward plans. He also provides remuneration and governance advice to all Vodafone Group entities.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Pure Mathematics from the University of Wales, Swansea. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales (ACCA).

Playbook

2nd September 2024