Uhuru Kenyatta's Cabinet in Pictures

Mr Adan Abdulla Mohamed - The nominee for the post Cabinet Secretary of Industrialization and Enterprise Development

Anne Waiguru  - The nominee for the post of Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Devolution and Planning

Najib Balala - The nominee for the post of Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Mining

Mr Davis Chirchir - The nominee for the post of Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum

Mr Felix Kiptarus Koskei - The nominee for the post of Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries

Dr Hassan Wario Arero - The nominee for the post of Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Arts at State House Nairobi.

Prof. Jacob Kaimenyi  - The nominee for the post of Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Education

Eng. Michael Kamau  - The nominee for the post of Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure

Mrs Charity Ngiru  - The nominnee for the post of Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development

Mrs Phyllis Jepkosgei Kipkingor-Kandie - The nominnee for the post of Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism

Ambassador Raychelle Awour Omamo  - The Nominee for the post of Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Defence

Prof. Judi Wangalwa Wakhungu  - The nominee for the post of Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, water and Natural Resources

No More 'Outsiders' in The Kenyan Drama Festival Script Preparation

Professor. George Godia

The Kenyan Ministry of Education banned outsourcing of drama festival script writers. The Ministry of Education has banned the writing of scripts by people who are not students or teachers, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry, George Godia has said.

Godia asked the Kenya National Drama Association to streamline the rules and regulations that govern the operations of the association to ensure strangers do not hijack the writing and performance during the National Schools & Colleges Drama Festival in future. He said that the annual National Drama festival was an extension of the classroom work that students were exposed to, saying that the writing of scripts and their performance must strictly be done by students with the guidance of teachers and not outsiders. This is to enable the students to develop their creative talents in writing scripts, directing and in production of plays and other creative activities.

He was speaking during the Kenya National Drama Festival Gala at The Aga Khan High School Hall in Mombasa on Thursday. Last week, the High Court directed the Ministry of Education to allow the staging of a play, entitled The Shackles of Doom by Butere Girls High School, saying its was incendiary in its thematic thrust, hence violating the guidelines that the National Drama festival had spelt out for script writing to schools. The script had reportedly been written by writer who is neither a student nor a teacher.

The Permanent Secretary said outsourcing the writing of scripts and the whole production and direction of the plays by people who are not teachers or students denied a chance to students to develop their talents in creative arts. “It also denies a chance to the Ministry to place responsibility on the schools if and when it may become necessary to do so,” Godia noted.

The sentiments were supported by the Chairman of the National Drama festival, Mr. Kahura Chokera who said that strangers to the formal school system were exploiting students for their own ends. He said non teachers should use other avenues to ventilate their creative energies instead of exploiting students for their own political and other ends.

Raila Promises To Be Involved in The Government

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said he will work with Cord's 24 governors to implement the coalition’s manifesto. Mr Odinga said Cord has majority governors elected during General Election and will use them fulfil promises they made during the campaigns.

Speaking at Mombasa County Hall on Thursday when he met governor Hassan Joho and ODM's 30 ward representatives, Mr Odinga said he will work with donors who are willing to fund Cord to fulfill its promises.

“We have to continue seeking more donors to help the 24 governors propel their agendas and that of Cord as they serve their people at their respective counties,” said Mr Odinga. He added: “We shall explore all the avenues to prove to Kenyans that Cord meant to transform their lives and we shall do so through supporting counties headed by our party governors.”

Mr Odinga also urged the members of national assembly to address issues of debts inherited by County governments from previous local authorities. He proposed the writing off of such debts to help the devolved governments run their systems effectively.

He also asked the national government to iron out issues on sharing of revenue from national parastatals such as port of Mombasa so that people in the counties can also benefit from them. “The Transition Authority has stated clearly in its recent advertisement that harbours and ferries belong to county government. But the national government has not stated how the county will get its share,” said Mr Odinga.

During the meeting, Mr Joho said the his office has inherited Sh2.8 billion from the Mombasa Municipal Council and urged the national government to release devolution funds to kick start county operations. “It is frustrating that national government was supposed to release some funds to assist in the recruitment and other County operations but until today we have not received anything from the treasury. We are asking those involved to check on the matter to ensure County operations do not stall,” he said. Mr Joho also warned former council workers to shape up and embrace change so as to achieve the county’s set mission.

Kenyan State House Concert Items - 2013 Kenyan Drama Festivals

 

President Uhuru Kenyatta will today morning host winners of the annual Kenya Drama Festivals at State House Mombasa. Festival Executive Secretary Khaemba Sirengo said the programme would start at 10am with an electrifying dance called ‘Bushi’ produced by Oliver Minishi from Kakamega High School.

There will also be ‘The Round About’, a play by St Anthony School for the Hearing Impaired as well as Bungoma High School’s Ti Ti Ti directed by Toili. From the Abardares Region children will spice the President’s menu with a choral verse ‘Chapati’ in praise of a Kenyan delicacy, whose popularity is arguably only second to our staple food, Ugali. ‘Chapati’ is produced by Everlyne Wanjohi and directed by Lucy Ayoyi and Lucy Kariuki. Sony Sugar from Nyanza will perform a choral verse ‘Chaguo Letu’ as their counterparts Nyandiwa Teachers Training College entertain with a humourous narrative ‘Waumini Assembly’.

H.E Uhuru Kenya arrives in Mombasa

The President and his guests will find it hard to stop their ribs tickling when Highway Secondary School’s Daniel Ouma hits the stage with his narrative ‘Otonglo Time’.
Nakuru Lions will provide discourse on pertinent issues on drug abuse among children as they present their play ‘Friendly Fire’. They will give way to Nairobi Aviation’s solo verse ‘Galana’. Kisii University will perform a choral ‘Utumishi’ as Karima Girls’ provide the icing on the cake with a dance ‘Thayu’.

Expected to attend include representatives of sponsoring institutions including the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, National Authority for Campaign against Drugs and Substance Abuse, Kenya Bureau of Standards, French Embassy and Equity Bank among others. Those lined to speak include the Festival Chairman Mr Kahura Chokera and Education PS Prof George Godia.

 

Here Is the full list of institutions set to perform at the State House gala.

1. Kakamega HighSchool - Dance

2. Gachororo ECD- Singing Game

3. AIC Makutano- Narrative

4. St. Antony- Play in sign Language

5. Sony Sugar Primary School- Choral Verse

6. Nakuru Lions- Play

7. Vuga Primary- Dance

8. Kisii University- Choral Verse

9. Waa Girls'- French Solo

10. Highway Secondary - Narrative

11. Nairobi Aviation - Solo Verse

12. Nyandiwa TTC- Narrative

13. Karima Girls'- Dance

2013 Kenya Drama Festival Winners

By: Kenya Drama Festivals(Notes) .

Friends School, Kamusinga made a dramatic comeback by winning the top honours in the Kenya Schools and Colleges National Drama Festival narratives.The two-week event hosted at the Aga Khan High School in Mombasa ended on Wednesday. Friends School last won the trophy in the 1990s, and in the last five years, it has always ended as first runners-up, losing out to new entrants. Not so this year, as Selu Selu, a play written by students, carried the day.

It highlighted the challenges that face the digital generation, which is addicted to Facebook, a social media platform that allows friends to share information. The play explored the dangers of Internet addiction. It was performed to a packed audience that included Prof George Godia, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education, the event’s national chairman, Mr Chokera Kahura, Education Secretary Enos Oyaya and other officials. The show earned a standing ovation for its currency and ability to capture current affairs and captivate the audience. The story recollects the episodes of a young man, Selu Selu, in his quest to find acceptance. He joins the social networking site to satisfy his ambitions, but this turns out to be a two-edged sword.

Pupils of Lions Primary School - 2013 Drama Festivals

The play was scripted by Jan Gesora, a Form Four student, Jesse Wamwayi, (Form Three) and Fred Leaky, also a Form Three student. It was directed by Wamwayi and Carolyne Asanda and produced by Mr Edwin Namachanja, the school’s principal. Among technical training institutes, the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (KIMC) were the winners in the play category with Expandables in 3D. Nairobi Aviation were second with Acts of Subterfuge, while Mombasa Aviation came third with Dege. The best producer trophy went to Hiram Mucheke from KIMC. Zetech College were awarded for the most creative dance. They were followed by KIMC. Other winners included Kisumu Polytechnic, which carried the day in the oral narratives category.