SOURCED FROM CURRENT NEWSPAPERS AND JOURNALS
Kenya Power posted a net profit for the second successive year at Sh24.47 billion in the year ended June 2025, as the firm rides on a growing customer base, increased sales and improved system efficiency.
Joseph Siror, the firm’s CEO, talked to this publication about the year under review, plans ahead, Kenya’s growing reliance on neighbouring economies mainly Ethiopia to boost electricity supply among others.
This was the case in June 2023, when the State Department for Planning issued the requisite rules to be adopted by ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), introducing a new section on learning that was tethered to the existing monitoring and evaluation (M and E) framework.
The M and E stages provide insights that enhance the authority’s operations. These lessons are synthesised and shared across the organisation to enhance responsiveness, innovation, and efficiency, achieving the set objective of creating efficient markets for consumers. To support this, the authority has developed a knowledge management framework, which incorporates various principles that the government agencies can adopt to enhance MEL.
First, put in place robust systems for capturing and documenting knowledge from projects and programmes. These are developed through standardised templates, digital tools and platforms to facilitate data collection, analysis, and dissemination.
Thereafter, collate and store reports in a centralised digital repository that is accessible to staff members. In line with the rapidly evolving digital landscape, ensure that the systems can be enhanced using appropriate artificial intelligence and data visualisation tools for efficient analysis and presentation of the data.
Secondly, promote timely and structured information exchange across departments by leveraging knowledge-sharing platforms, including townhall sessions/plenaries and webinars.
At the authority, every staff member, within days of resuming work from a local or international training session, is required to disseminate key learnings to all colleagues in plenary.
A softcopy report is also curated for future reference, with a special focus on actionable insights that can enhance the execution of our mandate. To enhance transparency and accountability in the authority’s operations, MEL insights are also incorporated into the authority’s public communication strategies. Third, the integration of knowledge into policy and decision-making processes fosters a culture that prioritises learning, accountability, and continuous improvement. Senior management must champion knowledge sharing and continuous learning.
This commitment is demonstrated through attending and presenting at knowledge-sharing sessions, moderating discussions, and monitoring the application of MEL recommendations in decision-making.
Finally, agencies should institutionalise evaluation processes by involving diverse stakeholders and, preferably, collaborating with academic and research institutions for independent evaluations and evidence generation.
This would also be enhanced by facilitating public feedback mechanisms to incorporate public insights into MEL frameworks.
Fitting contextualisation is available in a seminal article by Sarah Evans titled Why so many clean water projects fail.
Sarah opines that 60 percent of water projects in Africa fail despite well-laid strategies and objectives, further asserting that this failure is partly occasioned by donors, leaving communities the requisite training on how to maintain and manage the new systems.
This, unfortunately, forces communities to default to the known-their unsafe water sources! Such botched projects highlight the risk of failing to implement a robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) system.
This got me thinking. While organisations may deploy the best strategies to meet their objectives, there is inadequate learning borne of evidence-based evaluation. So, let’s look at each of the three elements of a MEL system.
Monitoring entails tracking progress within a pre-determined period by identifying the outputs from each activity.
For instance, the Competition Authority of Kenya monitors activities in its plans every quarter, identifying the immediate outputs during each cycle.
Evaluation, on the other hand, determines the level of impact actualisation.
This process is longer. In the authority’s case, implementation of its five-year strategic plans is evaluated twice: at mid-term (two and a half years in) and at the end of the term.
Evaluation does not present the outcomes of an activity, and enables us to decipher and process the underlying factors supporting each performance metric.
The podium that stood at the centre of Uhuru Park for many years is no more. For the average Kenyan adult, it occupied a space of gathering for political, civil, cultural and religious purposes.
The promulgation of Kenya’s new Constitution was celebrated here on August 27, 2012. Presidential inaugurations have been held here and numerous political and social rallies hosted at the Park.
The government has shaken up the board of Consolidated Bank of Kenya Ltd (CBKL) amid the pending privatisation of the State-owned lender that has been grappling with falling deposits, a dwindling loan book, increased impairment costs and capital constraints.
CBKL and another State-owned lender, the Development Bank of Kenya, are lined up for sale as the government attempts to cut reliance on the Exchequer, with the recouped money being channelled into development projects.
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has lowered its target for inflation in the coming months to below the 5 percent midpoint, mirroring its view of less pressure on consumer prices than previously expected.
The lender, which had seen the inflation rate breaching the midpoint by March next year, now expects changes in consumer prices to stick below the threshold through August 2026.
Prime Minister and Bhumjaithai (BJT) Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul topped the list of candidates for premiership, according to the latest survey by Khon Kaen University.
The survey, also known as the E-Saan Poll, was carried out to gauge the northeastern region’s household economic conditions and political preferences. The poll, conducted between Oct 3 and 5, 2025, sampled 1,074 respondents aged 18 and above from 20 provinces across the Northeast, according to Suthin Wianwiwat, director of the E-Saan Poll.
When asked, ‘If a general election were held today, who would you want to be prime minister?’ about 24.3% of respondents picked Mr Anutin, followed by opposition People’s Party (PP) leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut (22.8%), Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt (19.1%), businessman Natthaphong Khunakornwong who is close to the Pheu Thai Party (7%), Yoschanan Wongsawat, from Pheu Thai (6.6%), and Thai Sang Thai Party leader Sudarat Keyuraphan (6.3%).
When asked which party they would vote for in the constituency MP race if an election were held today, PP led with 30.6%, followed by Pheu Thai with 27.4% and BJT with 12.3%. About 20.1% of respondents were undecided or had other opinions.
For the party-list vote, results were similar: PP with 41.7%, Pheu Thai (20.6%), BJT (12.6%) and undecided (8.5%).
The E-Saan Poll noted that Mr Anutin’s personal popularity currently exceeds that of BJT, largely because both PP and Pheu Thai lack a clearly defined or high-profile prime ministerial candidate at this time.
Meanwhile, the poll noted Chadchart Sittipunt remains one of the most popular figures nationally. Analysts working believe the party which nominates him as its prime ministerial candidate could gain a significant advantage in the next election.
Phuket Provincial Police have launched a cyber awareness initiative aimed at equipping frontline personnel with the skills to combat online threats in response to a dramatic rise in technology-related crimes.
Pol Maj Gen Sinlert Sukhum, commander of the provincial police force, presided over the opening of the “Phuket Cyber Check” training programme on Tuesday, held at the National 191 Emergency Centre in Muang district.
The event brought together police, teachers, hotel and shopping mall managers, public and private organisations to strengthen their cybercrime prevention knowledge.
Experts from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) were invited to share their knowledge with attendees, who will later pass on this information to the public, including the youth.
Pol Lt Col Chanakarn Na Nakhon, deputy superintendent of Phuket Provincial Police’s Investigation Sub-Division, said cybercrime cases in the southern province have surged, with scammers exploiting social media and mobile phones to deceive victims.
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) developed an application that allows users to verify phone numbers, websites, bank accounts, and social media accounts before conducting financial transactions.
Pol Maj Gen Sinlert said the initiative aligns with the national police chief’s policy.
He urged the public to remain wary of online purchases and unsolicited calls. Since 2022, Phuket has recorded 15,000 cybercrime cases.
Jeremy K. Hon, a Hong Kong-born oncologist, haematologist and author of the remarkable memoir An Impossible Life Journey, will be in town to share his powerful story during the 30th Book Expo Thailand at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Ratchadaphisek Road, on Oct 13 at 5pm.
He will take the stage at the Author’s Salon, a dedicated seminar for authors and writers of all genres and experts from various fields to showcase their work, share knowledge, ideas and valuable experiences with readers.
Born in Hong Kong to a refugee family from Southern China, Dr Hon’s life embodies resilience. He began his studies in pharmacy at National Taiwan University, but his participation in the historic Diaoyutai student protests led to a ban from Taiwan.
Refusing to give up, he moved to the US where he worked to support himself. After earning his pharmacy degree in Alabama, he pursued his studies at the School of Medicine at the University of Alabama in Birmingham and discovered his passion for oncology during his training at the renowned MD Anderson Hospital.
In 1988, Dr Hon co-founded the Clearview Cancer Institute in Huntsville, Alabama, where he became a pioneer in cancer research and treatment. His work advanced clinical trials and therapies for pancreatic, breast, lung and colorectal cancers and he also directed a stem cell programme.
Throughout his career in the US, he has remained deeply rooted in Chinese culture, drawing lifelong inspiration from Confucian values and Tang poetry — principles he credits with guiding him through both hardship and achievement.
An Impossible Life Journey, now available in Thai from Sanskritbook and Saengdao Publishing, is not only a chronicle of his personal and professional challenges but also a meditation on perseverance, cultural identity and the universal human spirit to overcome adversity.
Audiences at the book expo will have the chance to listen to his remarkable journey that took him from a refugee childhood to co-founding one of America’s leading cancer institutes. His talk promises to inspire readers, students, professionals and anyone seeking courage to face life’s challenges.
The House of Representatives made good progress in pushing for the long-awaited amnesty bill this month. The bill, which is now known as the “peace-building legislation”, was submitted early this month to the Lower House.
It aims to grant an amnesty to those who are charged or penalised for their political activities. The second and third readings are expected before the parliamentary session ends later this month. The scrutiny can also resume when the House reconvenes in early December. The bill has a chance to become law before the Lower House is dissolved early next year.
This bill is inclusive, as it incorporates proposals from various parties and civic groups. However, it still excludes offences related to the sensitive Section 112, also known as the lese majeste law.
Essentially, the bill seeks to erase offenders’ criminal records once they are granted an amnesty. This draft law also adjusts the time frame for politically motivated offences, such as political protest campaigns, to cover incidents that occurred from 2003 to July of this year, rather than the 2003-2022 duration.
This draft law also prevents state agencies and enterprises from seeking compensation resulting from the actions of offenders.
Interestingly, the bill aims to extend the list of offences to cover cases involving religious crimes, as well as breaches of laws governing parties and elections, including those involving members of parliament and senators. However, the amnesty will not cover those guilty of poll fraud, including lying about qualifications to make themselves eligible as election candidates, violating the Referendum Act, and a series of executive orders issued by juntas.
Under the legislation, a nine-member panel will be formed to review individual lawsuits. The panel’s decision will be considered final. With the prime minister as chairman, the panel will comprise various sectors and ministries, such as the justice minister, the secretary-general of the National Human Rights Commission, including human rights experts, and a civil society specialist in conflict resolution.
At a glance, several clauses of the bill offer hope that the dream of political reconciliation is approaching. Yet the elephant in the room is that Section 112 is excluded from amnesty.
Without an update, Section 112 — along with its loopholes and disproportionate sentences — will only widen the division and invite criticism against the monarchy that this law is meant to protect.
The People’s Party has been lobbying parliament to include lese majeste offenders under 18 years old charged under this legislation, but such prospects are quite dim, as not many parties, and above all, the Upper House, support the idea.
By overlooking this, parliament appears to fall short in its support for real and meaningful political reconciliation.
However, for the past 15 years, successive parliaments have attempted to pass an amnesty law. Now that the chance has finally arrived, lawmakers must seize the opportunity to make the amnesty law attain its noble and ambitious goal.
Crystal Home unveiled two world-renowned brands at The Craft of Living Salon – An Unveiling of Design You Can Feel. The event marked the debut of THG Paris, the French luxury brand celebrated for its iconic taps and collaborations with Baccarat, Lalique, Daum, and Christofle. Alongside it, Composit introduced its made-in-Italy kitchens and wardrobes to Thailand, showcasing over 50 years of craftsmanship and limitless customisation.
Mrs Suthipa Svasti-Xuto, Executive Director of Crystal Home, shared: ‘At Crystal Home, we believe kitchens, bathrooms, and wardrobes should go beyond function to reflect how people truly live – shaping spaces filled with joy and meaning. This philosophy is why we chose THG Paris and Composit. Both brands share our values of craftsmanship, limitless customisation, and artistic expression, making them the perfect partners to help homeowners transform everyday spaces into personal reflections of lifestyle and individuality.’
The Craft of Living Salon was honoured by the presence of H.E. Mr Jean-Claude Poimboeuf, Ambassador of the French Republic to Thailand, and H.E. Mr Paolo Dionisi, Ambassador of Italy to Thailand. Their attendance underscored the strong cultural and creative ties between Europe and Thailand, highlighting that design is not only about products but about people, heritage, and collaboration across borders. For Thai designers, it offered a rare opportunity to experience European craftsmanship first-hand, while reinterpreting these influences through their own creative lens.
To enrich the occasion, Crystal Home curated a multi-sensory exhibition where guests engaged with design through layers of sensation – sight, sound, scent, taste, and touch. Each experience unveiled the inspirations behind THG Paris and Composit, transforming the Crystal Home Concept Store into an immersive journey of craftsmanship and creativity.
THG Paris – French Icons for Design-Led Living
THG Paris embodies the elegance and refinement of French artistry, inviting clients to take part in the creative process – personalising materials and finishes to transform every tap into an individual expression. Mr Eric Boulin, THG Paris Executive, remarked: ‘We constantly ask ourselves how every element of the bathroom can become a true piece of functional art. This is why we place such importance on fine craftsmanship and the use of precious materials – from glass and crystals to marbles – ensuring that each creation speaks not only to refined taste but also to the emotions of its user.’
ZOOM Collection: Inspired by the camera lens, ZOOM is expressed through a dual-ring tap design that contrasts polished and matte surfaces, creating a dialogue between stillness and movement. The concept came to life in a photo exhibition by Leica Ambassador Chatchawan Janthachotibutr, whose work emphasised emotion over aesthetics.
ICON-X Collection: A collaboration with Studio F. A. Porsche, ICON-X embodies poise, precision, and power, earning international recognition for product design, including the Red Dot Design Award 2021. Guests experienced the collection through the sound of a car engine, followed by an art talk with Ten-Sihabutr Xoomsai Na Ayudhya, who shared his passion as a car collector and how that lifestyle resonates with the spirit of ICON-X.
Yoko Collection: Yoko offers a contemporary take on personalisation, inviting clients to combine materials such as glass, marble, and metal. At the Yoko Design and Material Bar, visitors experimented with textures and pairings first-hand, discovering how subtle shifts in material could transform the mood of an entire room.
Club Saint-Germain Collection: Evoking the timeless spirit of Saint-Germain-des-Prés – the world of jazz, cafés, and poetry – this collection brings retro Parisian charm into the bathroom with classic lines and refined details. A bespoke fragrance collaboration with perfumer First-Architapon Parntong of Ashram Scent completed the experience, enveloping guests in ‘Parisian elegance.’
Mille Nuits Showcase: Presented as a radiant centrepiece, Mille Nuits extends Baccarat’s crystal design language – first seen in chandeliers, glasses, and vases – into taps through its collaboration with THG Paris. Baccarat crystal taps in Clear, Brume, and Champagne shades were unveiled exclusively in Thailand at this event, following their international debut at Milan Design Week 2025.
Composit – Crafted in Italy, Built Around You
With over 50 years of Italian expertise, Composit is celebrated for its 100% made-in-Italy kitchens and wardrobes and limitless customisation. At the launch, the charm of Italian kitchens – beautiful yet highly functional – came alive through an Aperitivo Experience by Chef Marco Avesani of La Bottega, who prepared fresh dishes within a Composit kitchen, showcasing the seamless balance of elegance and everyday use.
Composit’s portfolio spans diverse styles, from the timeless LINEA and CÉLINE ranges – blending wood, stone, and metal-framed glass in serene yet powerful palettes – to the modern TOUCH series, defined by monobloc forms, push-to-open systems, and modular storage.
Mr Andrea Sorgente, Composit Executive, noted: ‘Every Composit kitchen and wardrobe is designed around real life, harmonising inspiring aesthetics with functional practicality. Each piece is not merely furniture, but an essential part of daily living – reflecting the owner’s style and taste with authenticity.’
Mrs Suthipa Svasti-Xuto concluded: ‘Our goal with The Craft of Living Salon is to create an immersive space where visitors can not only view design objects – but truly feel what it means to live with them. From French taps by THG Paris to Italian kitchens and wardrobes by Composit, true luxury lies in choosing what resonates personally and bringing elegance and meaning into daily living.’
Guests can experience The Craft of Living Salon at the Crystal Home Concept Store, CDC Building D, from 19 September to 19 October 2025. To book an appointment, call 02-101-5123.