Hello and welcome to the Evening Brief Newsletter where we are standing on shaky grounds, literally.
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Shaky Grounds
Nairobi residents on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 5, reported experiencing tremors. The incident occurred at around 1:20 pm and lasted for a few minutes.
Responds revealed that the tremor was characterised by weak shaking of the earth that caused the shaking of windows, doors, and furniture.
Areas affected: Select estates including Westlands, Kasarani, and Embakasi among the affected alongside satellite towns of Ngong and Thika.
- Volcano Discovery, a site that tracks tremors and earthquakes, further showed that the neighbouring Kiambu, Athi River, and Limuru felt the tremors.
First Person experience: "I felt my seat shaking, the same for the curtains and the water bottle on my table. It was a brief but scary experience."This forced me to check what was happening outside but everything seemed normal. The tremor lasted for approximately 30 seconds," Dennis Kibet, a colleague residing in Thika and employee of Kenyans.co.ke, stated.
Expert Confirmation: The incident was also captured by earthquake monitoring sites like the Volcano Discovery.
- "We are receiving unverified early reports of ground shaking possibly caused by seismic activity in or near Nairobi, Nairobi Area, Kenya on 5 June 2024 (GMT) at approximately 10:20 GMT.
- "There are no details yet on the magnitude or depth of this possible quake. If confirmed, we can expect more accurate data to emerge in the next few minutes. The location, magnitude and time mentioned are indicative, based on our best-fit seismic model," read part of the preliminary report.
- According to experts, an earthquake tremor causes ground shaking, surface faulting, ground failure, and in extreme cases, Tsunamis.
Look Back: A similar tremor was experienced in March 2019 affecting the counties of Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, Mombasa, Nyeri, and Makueni.
Another tremor was reported in April 2023.
Affordable Housing Policy Change
Kenyans looking to own affordable houses from the government can now sigh with relief after Housing PS Charles Hinga confirmed that they will be allowed to resell the houses.
Hinga made the confirmation on Tuesday while appearing before the National Assembly's Delegated Legislation Committee.
At the time, the PS confirmed that the state had thrown out a policy that required house buyers to maintain their ownership in perpetuity.
New Rule: Initially, the state required the buyers to maintain forever ownership but now, they will be able to dispose of their units after holding onto them for five years.
He added that the five-year requirement was to prevent the commercialisation of the Affordable Housing units.
Yes, But: While appearing before the Committee, Hinga was cornered by lawmakers who required him to subject the new proposal to public participation
Currently, the draft regulations mandate the affordable housing board to issue a two-week notice to the public, specifying the period for public participation.
This notice must also be published in two newspapers of national circulation and broadcast on one radio station with national reach and appear in two newspapers of national reach.
By The Numbers: President William Ruto, in his flagship project, aims to deliver 200,000 units a year. He further noted that the sector employs 140,000 people and seeks to expand with additional projects in Eastleigh, Mathare, and Kibera as well as all counties countrywide.
Affordable Question Mark: In Bondeni, Nakuru, the state announced that it had completed building houses that are open to the public. A 2-bedroom unit is valued at Ksh3,1 million while the three-bedroom units are being sold at Ksh4.5 million.
- Under the rent-to-own option, those who desire to own a two-bedroom unit will pay a monthly rent of Ksh16,997 until they clear the government's asking price.
- Buyers who prefer the three-bedroom units will be charged Ksh22,933 for rent.
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The project, which targets Kenyans earning below Ksh20,000 monthly salary, cast doubt on whether the target market will be able to own them.
Here are five other stories we have prepared for you today;
- In a remarkable twist to a case that has sparked nationwide outrage, Corporal Jacob Ogendo, the police officer brutally attacked by 19-year-old Ian Njoroge, has extended forgiveness to his alleged assailant.
- Government of Kenya to translate Raila Odinga's Curriculum Vitae into six languages as race for AUC Chairmanship job heats up. Here are the preferred languages.
- Narok County Government explains four reasons that led to the banning of all private vehicles at the Maasai Mara National Park.
- The government has disclosed plans to spend Ksh130 billion ($1 billion) for partial repayment of the Eurobond maturing in 2027.
- MP Babu Owino decries betrayal and intimidation within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party and accuses politicians of inciting him against Azimio leader Raila Odinga.
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This newsletter was written by Derrick Kubasu and edited by Brian Muuo.
Washington Mito contributed to the content.
Graphics prepared by Adongo Kyalo.
