Published on 30 June 2012 by Ben Barczewski

The Uvumbuzi Club, a cycling focused environmental conservation organization, is in the final stages of planning of its 24^th annual Bikeathon. The Bikeathon is slated to take place on the second weekend of July. The event aims to raise awareness in Nairobi of the viability of cycling as a mode of urban transportation that is both environmentally friendly, and accessible to many Kenyans. The ride begins at Wilson Airport off of Langata Road and makes its way south to Magadi, a 108km (67 mile) ride. Along the way Uvumbuzi arranges for food and water stops as well as paramedic services. Once the riders arrive in Magadi they are provided with a bus to carry them back to Wilson Airport. “The ride there is all downhill, but the ride back is all uphill so we like to provide a bus ride back,” said Edmund Murage, project manager.

Uvumbuzi asks for a 1,000 Ksh registration fee, part of which goes to help support communities in the Magadi area. For instance, this year Uvumbuzi will be partnering with AAR Health to help rid school children of parasitic worms. Continue reading →

Published on 17 June 2012 in Daily Nation by Peter Ng’etich

A slum, a petrol station and some shops will be demolished in the next three months to pave the way for construction of roads in a bid to ease traffic jams in the eastern side of Nairobi.

The Sh3.5 billion project will involve constructing 16 kilometres of road, a dual carriageway on Lusaka Road, bridges and connection of missing links to ease congestion. Continue reading →

Published on 14 June 2012 in the Standard by Jackson Okoth

As expected, Finance Minister Njeru Githae delivered a Budget of containment that had few surprises. And although the word “borrowing” was hard to come by in his statement, it was written all over the Budget, as Githae himself admitted Treasury had virtually zero new tax options to boost revenue.

“We have taxed Kenyans almost to the limit. The only way we can increase revenue is by taxing those who have not been paying,” Githae told journalists immediately after reading the 2012-2013 Budget. Continue reading →

Published on 02 June 2012 in Daily Nation by Alphonce Shiundu

Japan has given Kenya a grant of Sh1.6 billion to help ease traffic in the capital, Nairobi. The money will be used to expand Ngong Road –the 4.7km stretch between Adams Arcade to the Ngong Road-Kenyatta Avenue junction.

There will be sidewalks for pedestrians and cyclists once the three-year project, whose deadline is February 2015, is completed. Continue reading →

Published on 09 February 2012 in The Star by John Muchangi

Kenya Wildlife Service has been offered Sh1.8 billion as compensation to allow the Southern bypass road to cut through the Nairobi National Park. Roads PS Michael Kamau this is “reparation” for the 150 acres to be hived off the park. He said they explored other options including digging a tunnel to save the park, but they were not viable. Continue reading →