March 30, 2024: Top news events to look out for today
Here is what you need to know to get up to speed with today's happenings.
Naivasha rally
Today marks day three of the ongoing 2024 World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally in Naivasha.
Yesterday Kenyan driver Andrew Muiruri incurred a penalty from the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and fined Ksh71,000 for possessing unauthorized spare tires.
Today promises even more exciting action in the ongoing race as drivers jostle for top positions.
The World Rally Championship kicked off on Thursday, March 28, 2024, and will run until March 31, 2024.
Doctors' strike
As the doctor’s strike enters day 17 today, there are no signs of the continued industrial action being resolved any time soon as concerns continue to be raised on the plight of patients across Kenya.
Despite efforts to resolve the impasse, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacist and Dentists Union (KMPDU), has accused the government of being non-committal in addressing its plight with the government in turn threatening to sack doctors who fail to return to work, stressing that talks on a return-to-work formula will only happen then.
Yesterday the Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ Kenya) called for an urgent resolution of the health crisis in the country owing to the doctors' strike and NHIF cash crunch.
Doctors at Kenya's public hospitals began the nationwide strike on March 14, 2024.
The doctors downed tools calling for the Health Ministry to honour the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) made in 2017.
Their grievances are; the delayed posting of interns, fair remuneration of interns, postgraduate training, employment of more doctors and comprehensive health coverage for medics.
Road closure
Motorists will today be affected by the closure of a section of Uhuru Highway at Hotel Boulevard and the University of Nairobi roundabout (Mombasa Bound).
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) in a statement on Thursday, March 28, said the closure is to allow maintenance work on the busy highway.
KeNHA announced that the closure would be effected beginning Thursday, March 28, until Saturday, April 6 at midnight.
“The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) wishes to notify the Public that there will be a temporary closure of Uhuru Highway (A8) between Hotel Boulevard and the University of Nairobi roundabout (Mombasa Bound) from 11.59 pm on Thursday, March 28, 2024, to 11.59 pm on Saturday, April 6, 2024,” read the notice in part.
The authority advised motorists accessing Uhuru Highway (A8) from Westlands and Thika Road to use alternative routes and asked drivers to take caution while approaching the affected sections.
The alternative routes include Harry Thuku Road, University Way, Prof. Wangari Mathai Road, and Kipande Road.
NTSA
Travellers using Bungoma Line Safari Ltd and Smart Highways Sacco Ltd will today be affected as the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) suspended the operating licences for the two transport companies.
NTSA in a statement on Friday said the two companies failed to comply with speed regulations set by the law.
"The Authority notifies the public that it has suspended the Operator Licenses for Bungoma Line Safari Ltd and Smart Highways Sacco Ltd. The suspensions were necessitated by the saccos failure to comply with provisions of Section 5 of the NTSA ( Operation of PSV) Regulations, 2014 and analysis of speed data violations that were compiled through the NTSA Intelligent Road Safety Management System (IRSMS)," part of the statement stated.
NTSA further ordered the two saccos to present their vehicles for compliance inspection to establish their roadworthiness and to confirm the functionality of the installed speed limiters.
The authority is carrying out an aggressive campaign to tame road carnage amid a rise in fatalities resulting from accidents in the country.
Throughout this week NTSA has been conducting a nationwide crackdown on major Kenyan roads.
NTSA teamed up with the National Police Service to erect roadblocks on major highways in a multiagency operation that nabbed several traffic offenders.
Many motorists were caught unaware during NTSA road safety compliance checks across several counties.
Saturday blackout
Kenya Power announced a scheduled blackout in parts of Kiambu and Bungoma Counties on Saturday, March 30, 2024.
The interruptions, according to the utility firm, will run between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, as a result of routine maintenance.
