VP: Part of German aid to ease patrolist-farmers clashes

The VP and German Chancelor Angela Merkel during her one day official visit to Kenya yesterday.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has said that part of aid promised by German Chancellor Angela Merkel will go along way to ease skirmishes between pastoralists and farmers in Ukambani region.

Ms Merkel on African tour was in a one day visit in Kenya and promised over Ksh 100 million to mitigate against drought and help Somalia Daadab famine refugees.

“The aid will not only help famine victims in the country but also ease clashes between Somalia herders escaping famine and farmers in the Ukambani area” the Vice President said.

Somalia pastoralists escaping drought with their cattle have clashed with farmers over grazing land and water holes raising tension in Ukambani.

 Mr. Kalonzo was speaking in Yattaa constituency where he joined hundred other mourners in the burial of Joseph Kariuki who passed away earlier this month.

“Mr. Kariuki lived in harmony with the community as a teacher in several high schools in the region, a deacon of United Church and a farmer making his death to be untimely demise” Kalonzo said consoling the bereaved family and other constituents.

Mr. Kariuki the principal of NYS Huduma Academy passed away from a heart attack and left behind a widow, four children and two grand children.

Former Gatundu North MP Kariuki Mwiruri and area MP Charles Kilonzo also attended the funeral services.

VP Kalonzo Pays his 4.4M tax Arrears Today

30/06/2011

The VP Kalonzo Musyoka (right) handing Michael Waweru KRA General Commisioner his tax today at Times Towers.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka today took a bold step to pay his salary tax areas.

Kalonzo joins the list of Kenyan prominent personalities who have already bowed to the pressure and paid their taxes.

Mr. Kalonzo wat at the KRA offices where he paid his taxes amounting to 4.4M.

“I am very pleased to fulfill this obligation as a citizen of this country and in accordance with requirement of our new constitution” he said. 

“I am now fully tax-compliant and happy” he said before handing over four banker’s cheque to Mr. Michael Waweru the General Commissioner of KRA amounting to Ksh. 4,423,000.

Earlier this with week the VP had advocated for dialogue between KRA and Parliamentary Service Commission to break the impasse of paying tax saying he would comply before end month to a letter sent to him by the taxman last week.

“I take this opportunity to urge fellow Kenyans to pay their taxes dutifully as it constitutes government revenue for public service” he said.

Kalonzo said paying taxes was not a public relations exercise for the 2012 elections but a way of implementing the new constitution.

During his press briefing it emerged that the president who is attending presidential summit of AU in Equatorial Guinea paid up to Ksh. 8 million based on his Ksh. 24.5 million salary.

“As the deputy of his Excellency the president I like to state that the president paid his taxes sometimes last week” the VP told reporters saying Kibaki avoided fanfare in remitting his taxes.

The VP though refused to state the amount saying he was out of Malaysia for a state visit last week.

The same stance was taken by Mr. Waweru saying he could not give the figures to the press.

“Under the oath of office I can’t divulge information of any tax payer’s amount without his prior consent or a court order” Mr. Waweru said.

Waweru said the taxman wasn’t pressurizing the MP’s to pay since most have willingly complied, although he refused to give the exact figure.

“From first July, tomorrow the judiciary too will start paying their taxes” Waweru said although he was clear if their remittance could be backdated to august last year when the new constitution was promulgated

Vice President officially launchs the Cisco Expo at KICC

Cisco Algeria Expo 2011 earlier this year. The same Expo was launched today at KICC in Kenya

Kenya's conducive business environment and investment in the ICT sector is turning the country into a regional center for international conglomerates seeking to expand their business in Africa like the two day Cisco Expo in Nairobi.

Starting today, the Expo with a theme of collaboration and virtualization beyond borders is running at Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC) bringing together several exhibitors locally and internationally.

“The excitement of the internet connectivity has brought the aspect of a global village closer home by eliminating distance and borders in the world” Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka said at the official launch.

Mr. Musyoka said the government investments like the rolling out of 20,000Km fiber optics cable in the country has made broadband and ICT efficient which has not only attracted investors but also improved lives of Kenyans in attaining the vision 2030.

“This is crucial since studies show that a 10% increase of ICT equates a 2-3% increase in the GDP” He said.

The VP's sentiments were echoed by Samwel Poghisio, Minister of Information and Communication Technology who said government is investing and supporting projects like iHub and the 5,000 acres Konza Technology City in Machakos county which will be a regional ICT hub.

Declaring the Cisco Expo 2011 officially open, the VP thanked the company on behalf of the government and Kenyans in choosing the country for their expo.

Local Exhibitors

“We are seeking to seamlessly help communication between the devolved governments and the central office through networking by Cisco” Bob Collymore, the Safaricom CEO told guests who attended the event.

In addition, Collymore said Safaricom Business has used Cisco networks to roll out other ventures like Teleconferencing, Tele-Justice and Tele-Health to reduce time, money and resources used in the country.

Collymore gave example of the Tele-Health venture  which will reduce mortality by making it easier for Kenyans, especially in rural areas to access healthcare with paramedics sharing procedures and healthcare information easily in the clinics with others not only locally but also internationally.

“This will aid in checking the low ratio between patients and doctors in country especially in the rural areas” Collymore told guests.

Other local exhibitors included Zuku and Copy Cat amongst others.

Dan Smoot, the Cisco Vice President said through collaboration money is saved and carbon emission reduced by people meeting easily without travelling.

“People and communities in different context share the same content easily in a secure environment by using teleconferencing facilities” Mr. Smoot said after guest saw a live video conferencing from New York.

Founded in 1984 at San Jose, California Cisco Systems Inc employees over 100,000 people in 165 countries globally will use Kenya as a regional hub to enter the African market with over 500 million mobile subscribers.

VP officially launches The Kenya 2009/2010 Yearbook

Masai morans, they have been a cultural symbol in kenya. The Yearbook will contain authoritative and authentic information about the country.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka  has officialy launched the 2009/2010 edition of Kenya Yearbook today at Laico Regency Hotel in Nairobi.

As an official source of information for the country the yearbook covers a wide range of subjects like Kenya’s history, culture, economy, sports and infrastructure development amongst others.

“The Kenyan yearbook is an authoritative and authentic source of information about historical and contemporary governments, private sector and individual in development of the country” Mr. Kalonzo said.

The VP added that information contained in the yearbook is an invaluable resource locally and internationally to students, teachers, researchers and tourists interested in the country.

The book has been launched in both hard and digital copy to embrace the country’s digital advancement through the 20,000 kilometers fiber cables that has increased broadband and ICT services.

“By going online I challenge Kenya publishers to take full advantage of digital technology which is cheaper by reduction of physical storage, production and revision” the VP said.

Publishers should also use the internet to seamlessly with consumers and other stake holders to share information, queries and sales by forming an online community.

Mr. Kalonzo congratulated the Kenya Yearbook staff lead by Catherine Waweru for their efforts in editing and compiling the 1.150 page publication saying the book will be available for institutions country wide.

He challenged the team to translate the Yearbook in Kiswahili to promote the use of the national language.

The occasion was also attended by Minister and Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Information, communication and Technology Samwel Poghisio and Bitange Ndemo respectively.

Kalonzo Musyoka: I will pay my taxes before end month

28/6/2011

The VPPS

Kenyans qeueing to pay their taxes at Times Towers, KRA headquaters.

Members of Parliament should pay their taxes at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) as an obligation stipulated in the new constitution.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka said today that he will join the queue at KRA headquarters in Times Towers like every other Kenyan to pay his atxes before the end of the month.

“As an obligation to every Kenyan citizen, I will pay my taxes before the end of month” the VP said.

Kalonzo was reacting to comments by Bob Collymore the CEO of Safaricom Limited today at Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC) today during the Cisco Expo Conference.

Collymore shared a light moment with the audience about the current taxation debate of MPs which prompted the VP to comment on the matter.

“I have contacted Mr. Michael Waweru the KRA commissioner general and once he gets the amount of taxes due to him he will pay promptly” he said amid prolonged laughter from the audience.