Africa-Press – Kenya. It has been a slow week for most Kenyans due to the protests that marked some parts of the country.
However, it turned out to be business unusual for some of the Cabinet Secretaries who had to do whatever they could to contain the situation.
This is a summary of what various CSs were up to this week;
It was not a very good week for Trade CS Moses Kuria after reports that he was sidelined from a key trade meeting.
United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai reportedly declined to hold talks with Kuria over his ‘extremist’ remarks.
“The ambassador cancelled her planned engagement with Kuria at his office. Today(Tuesday), he was blocked from the scheduled meeting with the US official but CS Miano proceeded with her meeting,” the source told the Nation.
The Nation reported on Wednesday that Tai cancelled at least two high -meetings scheduled with Kuria to discuss trade ties between America and Kenya.
As if that was not enough, President William Ruto was on Wednesday forced to leave out Kuria in a meeting with the visiting US Trade Representative at the State House.
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki and his Education counterpart Ezekiel Machogu had to issue temporary orders to close all primary and secondary day schools within Kisumu, Nairobi and Mombasa on Wednesday.
The two in a joint statement said the closure is to ensure that pupils and students are safe following intelligence gathered that their lives could be at risk.
“The government has received credible security intelligence that criminal elements planning to unleash terror and violence on the public tomorrow intend to engage in armed skirmishes with security agencies around certain schools within Nairobi and Mombasa cities,” the statement read.
The schools were reopened a day later after the two said the government had taken measures to ensure that learners are safe.
On Thursday, Kindiki assured that they have contained the unrest witnessed during Wednesday’s demos.
He said the country was back to normalcy, assuring Kenyans of their safety during Friday protests.
As the protests continued across the country, Foreign Affairs CS Alfred Mutua appealed to diplomats representing other countries to be careful in their comments regarding the status of Kenya.
Mutua cautioned them not to fall prey to propaganda adding that the government is open and listens to its people and other partners.
“As members of the Diplomatic Corps, it is advisable that you adhere to internationally set precedents while commenting on issues of your country of accreditation,” Mutua said.
Mutua blasted the international community, accusing it of meddling in Kenya’s internal affairs and inflating the demonstration death count.
The dispute was sparked by a United Nations statement saying 23 Kenyans have lost their lives in the ongoing anti-government protests.
Environment, Climate Change and Forestry CS Soipan Tuya on Monday launched the Africa Climate Summit website, social media platforms and registration portal.
The website will inaugurate the registration and accreditation process for both the Africa climate week and the Africa climate summit.
Tuya noted that the summit was going to be a momentous one as It was the first time that Africa looks at the Climate Change Development nexus.
“It is the first time in the history of Climate Change that a continent anywhere in the world has come together to discuss Climate Change,” she said.
She said the Africa Climate Summit in other speak is a Trade and Investment Summit on Climate Change.
Tuya also said the summit that is set to be held from September 4 to September 6 is still in a deficit of about 10 million dollars.
On the issue of logging, Tuya revealed the government’s plan to protect forest plantations following the lifting of the logging ban.
Tuya said the government has only given a go-ahead on the harvesting of 5,000 hectares.
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