FORA                                                            

IMENTI Central member of parliament Gitobu Imanyara has today joined the friends of Raila lobby group. Imanyara has also been appointed as the deputy patron of the group and was officially received by Prime Mininster Raila Odinga. Giving his acceptance speech at the lobby group’s office in Nairobi, Imanyara said that he believes odinga is the best candidate to take the presidency in the next general elections. On his part the prime minister said that it is time Kenyans elected leaders that are committed to the implementation of the new constitution.

POST BUDGET ANALYSIS                                

THE 2012-2013 budget read in parliament yesterday by Finance Minister Njeru Githae has been criticized by economist across the country.Speaking during a post budget analysis meeting held in Nairobi’s New Stanley hotel, an earnest and young CEO and economist, Gitahi Gachahi says that Githae has not created jobs to young people in the Agricultural sector dominated by 60 year old thus abetting unemployment. He says emphasis should be on the local manufacturer of fertilizer to stem over reliance in the west. On wavering Mitumba, the CEO says, it will affect employment in the textile and cotton industry. He lauded leaps on infrastructure and asked a fast truck of Lamu project. He also congratulated the 1Billion drug and alcohol act as good attempt to progressing nation to help youth and asked the drug barons to be cracked. He further added that on health issues the money to release detained patients should be channeled to improving health scheme and how to make it work.

IEA                                                                           13/06/2012

The institute of economic affairs (IEA) in their budget has called on the government to spend within its means. Speaking during the launch of the citizens Alternative Budget 2012-2013, the chief executive officer Kwame Owino says that the proposal by the county government devolution bill to construct houses for the 47 county commissioners and governors is unnecessary saying that the government would rather pay the commissioners sufficient salaries to live in decent houses in their work stations. He says that the move may heavily weigh down on the estimated national budget of shillings 1.462trillion to be read in parliament tomorrow.

Owino pleads o the government to come up with austerity measures by focusing   public spending on areas of priority such upgrading health facilities infrastructure and access to clean water for the benefit of the poor. Responding to a question on how the government is going to meet the deficit of 0.5 trillion from last years estimated national budget, he said that in addition to austerity measures, bilateral, multilateral donors available to the government and grants are some of ways of meeting the deficit.

MWATELA                                                                    

EDUCATION assistant Minister Calist Mwatela now says that the idea of funding schools directly is a new concept and that with the new constitution those found guilty of embezzling public funds will be dealt with according to the law. Mwatela says that teachers will now have a reason to smile as their retirement benefit payment will be enforced according to the law. The assistant Minister made the remarks after presiding over the launch of the nestle healthy kids programme in Kenya at the St. Georges primary school in Nairobi

The Minister further added that education material suppliers who threatened to take schools to court for lack of payment over materials supplied have been paid and that those who are already in court will withdraw the cases and handle them locally.

KNUT                                                      

EDUCATION minister Mutula Kilonzo has given the treasury until the end of today to release the free primary education funds bringing to an end the looming teachers strike. This is after the treasury asked for one more weeks to release the cash. Speaking during a meeting with members of The Kenya National Union of Teachers, The minister further added that the 6 billion shillings allocated to the Ministry will used to employ 10,000 teachers before 30th June this year.

The Minister also regretted that the Kenyan National examination council had to cancel the results of many students in the last years Examination adding that a bill is ready to be presented to the parliament to address the issue