Kenya's Parliament defends closed-door BATUK inquiry amid public backlash
via Tuko6 min read
The National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations has defended its decision to hold a closed-door meeting with British officials regarding allegations involving the British Army Training Unit Kenya BATUK. Committee Chairperson Nelson Koech stated that the June 10 session was conducted in camera due to procedural and diplomatic considerations, dismissing claims that the committee was attempting to shield anyone from accountability. He explained that discussions involved ongoing investigations, legal processes, and aspects of bilateral defence cooperation, necessitating confidential deliberations. Koech reaffirmed the committee's commitment to transparency and acknowledged the important role played by victims, human rights organisations, and the media. He indicated that future meetings would be conducted openly when circumstances permit. The committee is also intensifying pressure on the government to secure the extradition of a British soldier linked to the murder of Agnes Wanjiru, viewing it as a critical test of Kenya's commitment to justice. Government agencies are engaging their British counterparts through diplomatic and legal channels to ensure progress in the case. Koech stressed that justice for Wanjiru's family requires a full account of the circumstances surrounding her death, accountability from all institutions involved, and guarantees that similar incidents will not recur. The committee pledged continued parliamentary oversight until
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Tuko.
Conservation leaders emphasize that the effective safeguarding of marine ecosystems relies on the active participation of coastal communities and civil society. This call follows the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, which secured over 320 commitments and approximately $6.4 billion for marine action. Nancy Ogonje, executive director of the East African Wild Life Society, highlighted the disconnect between international policy discussions and the realities of vulnerable coastal populations. She stressed that for the Mombasa Declaration, aimed at curbing illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, to be successful, implementation must prioritize localized institutional support. Ogonje stated that lasting environmental stewardship occurs when communities whose livelihoods depend on the ocean are empowered to protect it. She also noted that local communities possess invaluable traditional knowledge and need legal knowledge to navigate environmental regulatory frameworks. The experts argue that only with active, well-funded, and legally recognized local partners can marine preservation efforts truly succeed.
Must ReadKenya is experiencing significant losses of treated water, with almost half failing to reach paying customers, according to the latest Impact 18 Report. This 48% loss, attributed to leaking pipes, illegal connections, faulty meters, and operational inefficiencies, is more than double the global benchmark of approximately 20%. The Water Services Providers Association WASPA indicates that these non-revenue water losses have consistently exceeded 40% for two decades, depriving utilities of billions of shillings needed for service improvements. WASPA Chief Executive Officer Anthony Njaramba highlighted ageing infrastructure, unreliable electricity for water pumping, rising treatment costs, and insufficient funding as contributing factors. While some utilities are implementing smart meters and digital monitoring, these technologies are not uniformly adopted. The water sector faces a substantial financing gap, requiring about KSh 1 trillion to achieve universal clean water access by 2030, but receiving just over KSh 100 billion annually. These losses result in water rationing, unreliable supply, and increased reliance on water vendors for households. Stakeholders are urging the government to prioritize water infrastructure investment and explore innovative financing models to reduce losses and enhance water service access nationwide.
Must ReadThe Social Health Authority SHA has mandated that all Kenyan hospitals fully integrate into the Health Management Information System HMIS within three months, or risk being de-contracted. This directive, issued during a stakeholder forum by the Ministry of Health, SHA, and the Digital Health Agency DHA in Nairobi, aims to enhance efficiency, accountability, and service delivery under Taifa Care. SHA CEO Dr. Mercy Mwangangi stated that non-compliant facilities would be de-contracted, a sentiment echoed by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, who emphasized the importance of a robust digital ecosystem for Universal Health Coverage. The HMIS is a digital platform designed to collect, store, analyze, and manage healthcare data, transitioning hospitals from manual paperwork to integrated software that streamlines patient care, financial billing, inventory, and national Ministry of Health reporting. Benefits include reduced patient wait times, elimination of lost files and medication mix-ups, and protection against revenue leakage. Currently, 11,034 healthcare facilities have been accredited by SHA, and the government is phasing out the old Provider Portal in favor of a fully integrated, paperless health system.