Kara roots for structured public engagement at the Governance Summit
Kara participated in the recently concluded Governance Summit organized by The Institute of Certified Public Secretaries of Kenya (ICPSK) and HESABIKA under the theme ‘Good Governance for Good Citizenship.
Experts push for effective public involvement in management of urban areas
Urban Planning experts have advised that meaningful development and service delivery in Kenya’s urban areas will only happen if there is structured engagement of citizens in decision making processes.
Nairobi City County Government Shelves Review of Zoning Policies
Following reports of a Motion by Hon Anthony Kiragu Karanja, Member of County Assembly for Waithaka Ward in Nairobi County, to review zoning policy for zone 4,5 and 15,
Focus shifts to implementation of the New Urban Agenda
Kara participated in the National Urban Forum (NUF) organized by the Ministry of Transport, Housing and Urban Development and held on 15th – 16th January 2018 in Nairobi.
Kara to work with key stakeholders to push for Resident Associations engagement law for Machakos County
After successfully facilitating development and enactment of Resident Associations Engagement Act for Nairobi and Kiambu Counties,
Partnership with Resident Associations Key to Addressing Service Delivery Challenges
Service delivery situation in Nairobi appears to be deteriorating with each passing day and there is need for urgent and well thought-out approach to addressing the emerging problems.
Kara to work with 11 Counties to support development of Solid Waste Management laws
After successfully engaging Nairobi County Government in the development of Solid Waste Management Act and regulations for the County,
Worrying Service Delivery State of Nairobi County
Service delivery situation in Nairobi appears to be deteriorating with each passing day and there is need for urgent and well thought-out approach to addressing the emerging problems.
Why hawkers' menace in Nairobi is not about to go away
STANDARD: Walking in Nairobi's Central Business District has become a major headache for city residents. One has to carefully guard their pockets and handbags from thieves while dodging hawkers' wares on pedestrian paths.
Nema says traders still getting plastic bags from Uganda
Nation: The National Environment Management Authority (Nema) has said there is still a challenge in the eradication of plastic bags mainly in the border towns, five months after the ban took effect in Kenya.
This is as most of the countries in the region are still manufacturing the plastic bags making it easy for people to access from across the borders.
Nema’s Chief Enforcement Officer Robert Orina said the plastic bags are still finding their way into major towns, a business still going on among a few traders.
“We have information that some business operators are still getting the commodity in bulk from the neighbouring countries, mainly Uganda, despite the ban that took effect in August 2017,” said Mr Orina.
SNACKS
He noted that the main target of the illegal business are small scale traders who sell goods like vegetables and snacks in small portions.
“The small bags are in circulation…and are usually in display during odd hours,” he added.
Mr Orina was speaking in Nakuru where he led a team of national and county Nema officials in an operation to raid the illegal plastic bags businesses in the town.
This was after a tip-off on operators importing the plastic bags in bulk from Uganda and later distributing them to various traders in the area.
However, the officials did not manage to arrest any culprit in connection to the matter.
“We have information that the plastic bags are still in circulation and that the operators of the businesses are using motorbikes to circulate the product. We shall keep vigilance and ensure that the illegal business comes to an end,” said Mr Orina.
ACHIEVE OBJECTIVE
Nakuru County Director of Environment Natural Resources and Energy Mureithi Kiogora said his office is working closely with Nema to ensure they achieve the objective.
“Apart from the small scale traders who are still packing their products in the plastic bags, the level of compliance in Nakuru is encouraging,” said Mr Kiogora.
The authority’s county director of environment, Mr Omondi Were, said more than 10 people had been charged in court since the ban took effect.
He said majority of those charged are those selling snacks along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway.
“Our focus is now on the distribution point which is the core challenge,” said Mr Were.
KARA Christmas Break and End Year Statement
The year 2017 has been quite eventful not only for Kenya but also Kara. The prolonged political climate impacted on a number of plans we had for the year. Nonetheless, with your unwavering support we were still able to record a number of milestones aimed at enhancing access to quality service delivery. Thank you for your partnership, friendship and support.
Arch. Aidah N. Munano: Government to facilitate provision of 1 million housing units by 2022
The State Department for Housing and Urban Development appreciates the role of KARA over the years in facilitating conversations on issues touching on the built environment. The theme of the KARA Business Expo and Conference: Enhancing quality of urban life in Kenya through Resident Associations is indeed appropriate as it comes at a time when the Government is facilitating the provision of one million affordable housing units by 2022.
Prof. Judi Wakhungu: Resident Associations have a Critical Role to Play Towards Sustainable Development in Kenya
I am delighted to be Chief Guest for the KARA Annual Resident Associations Excellence Awards 2017. This event comes at a very prime moment when Kenya is hosting the United Nations Environment Assembly with the theme “Towards a Pollution Free Planet”. I am aware some of the engagements by the Resident Associations contribute to this theme.
Awards: Resident Associations Feted at The KARA Annual Resident Associations Excellence Awards Ceremony
The Kenya Alliance of Resident Associations (KARA) hosted the first ever Annual Resident Associations Excellence Awards (AREA) Ceremony on 2nd December 2017 at Sarit Centre. The ceremony, which was part of the 2nd KARA Business Expo and Conference event, was presided over by Prof. Judi Wakhungu, the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources. AREA is designed to reward Resident Associations that have demonstrated exemplary performance in promoting sustainable development and access to better public services in Kenya.
Urban Development: Government establishes New Urban Agenda secretariat
The government through the State Department of Housing and Urban Development has established a secretariat to drive implementation of New Urban Agenda (NUA) in Kenya.
Transport: Focus shifts to implementation of Non Motorized Transport policy
Kara in collaboration with Nairobi City County Government (NCCG) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) developed Non Motorized Transport (NMT) Policy for Nairobi County.
Government challenged to set aside funds for public participation
Principal Secretary, State Department of Devolution, Mr. Micah Pkopus Powon
Participants at the Kara Bimonthly Talk Series forum held on 17th October 2017 challenged the government to set aside funds that will facilitate effective public participation in Kenya.
Bill to elevate Nakuru and Eldoret towns into cities gets cabinet approval
Nakuru and Eldoret towns are set to become cities if a bill approved by cabinet is passed.
Kara signs Urban Boards Non State Nominating Agencies (UBNSNA) cooperation agreement
Kara signed the Urban Boards Non State Nominating Agencies (UBNSNA) cooperation agreement during a breakfast meeting convened to provide updates on the progress made by UBNSNA.
2nd Kara Business Expo & Conference event set for December 2017
Unpublished
Preparations for the 2nd KARA Business Expo & Conference event to be held on December 1 – 3, 2017 at the Sarit Centre, Nairobi are in top gear.
