Kenyan Newspapers Review: Kenya Kwanza, Azimio Lay Grounds For Bipartisan Talks

On Wednesday, August 16, the national dailies reported on the motion that was tabled in parliament on the recognition of the National Dialogue Committee for the ongoing truce talks.

The papers also reported on the government's rebranding of the fuel subsidy to 'compensation' after it came under heavy criticism.

1. The Standard

The allies of President William Ruto and Opposition leader Raila Odinga are now laying the foundation for the truce talks ahead of the August 21 sitting.

The preparation for the talks gained momentum yesterday, Tuesday, August 15, when Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah and his Minority counterpart Opiyo Wandayi tabled a motion seeking the official recognition of the National Dialogue committee.

Should the National Assembly pass the motion, the committee will be expected to present a progress report on the talks to the House in 60 days.

The committee will also be tasked with making suitable, constitutional, legal and policy recommendations to the House on matters of interest to Kenyans.

2. Daily Nation

This paper reports that the government has rejected the characterisation of Monday's fuel price intervention as a 'subsidy' and instead preferred to describe it as compensation.

The Energy and Regulatory Authority (EPRA) said the KSh 7.33, KSh 3.59 and KSh 5.74 per litre of premium, diesel and kerosene, respectively meant to retain the prices of the commodity will be paid from the Petroleum Development Fund.

The authority described the payment as compensation to oil marketers as provided for in the Petroleum Development Order of 2020.

This came after the government came under harsh criticism for restoring the fuel subsidies which it had earlier castigated.

3. Taifa Leo

This newspaper reports that a 28-year-old man who attacked his mother in Njiru, Nakuru county, will now undergo a mental assessment.

This is after a court directed that the suspect is checked before the case continues. The court heard that the suspect is said to have attacked his mother in cold blood and confessed it in court.

The suspect had asked the court to jail him immediately for the offence.

On July 28, the suspect's mother reported to the police at Obama Police Station about the incident, accusing her son of attacking her.

4. People Daily

The People Daily reports about Kenyan Chef Maliha Mohammed, who achieved an incredible feat by surpassing the longest home kitchen cooking marathon record.

The chef broke the record of 95 hours cookathon as of the morning of Tuesday, August 15.

Mahila's streamed her latest fete on her TikTok and Instagram accounts, breaking the record set in 2018 by American Rickey Lumpkin, according to the Guinness World Records.

Maliha prepared sumptuous meals during her marathon, where she also showcased her culinary skills and diversity by cooking various cuisines.

However, the Guinness World Record is yet to ratify her new record.

5. The Star

This newspaper reports on the gruesome attack that occurred in a Gatundu village that left four men dead and one with severe injuries.

The four men are said to have been attacked on the night of Monday, August 14, by unknown assailants, and the motive for the attack is yet to be established.

The attackers are said to have hit their victims' heads, and the villagers found their bodies several meters apart.

The police in Gatundu are yet to determine the weapon used in the macabre Monday night attack.