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Mustafa Juma

Talented and immensely creative journalist with a commitment to high-quality research and writing with over 5 years of professional experience. Dedication to sound investigative research methods and a strong desire to know the truth of the matter. Excellent reporting and interviewing skills and award-winning writing techniques. Experience writing and reporting across a variety of platforms, including Opera News Kenya, DailyActive.info, LitKenya.com, theexchange.africa and Scooper News

Crime & Investigations

Top IEBC Official Found Murdered

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has been thrown into deep mourning.

The commission on Thursday, January 21 confirmed that one of its staff members has been found murdered.

According to IEBC, the official identified as Brian Silale lost his life in the ongoing Kapedo attacks.

Silale, a Constituency Administrative Assistant for Tiaty Constituency Office, was among the six bodies that were found dumped in Arabal area.

“Mr Silale was last seen alive being picked by unknown person, together with five (5) other people, from Chemolingot shopping centre in Tiati Sub-County on January 19, 20201 at about 3 p.m.

“He was later murdered under unclear circumstances and the remains of his body together with other bodies were recovered on Wednesday, January 20 at Arabal Sub-location,” read the statement in part.

The IEBC called on the state to investigate the incident with immediate effect and apprehend the culprits. 

The bodies of the six individuals were found dressed in suits and neckties – a rare dressing style in a village where most residents are herders.

The are suspected to include a Human Resource Officer, a Primary School Headmaster, an MTC student and a businessman.

Tiaty MP William Kamket has been arrested over the banditry attacks in Kapedo that have left at least seven people dead so far.

The KANU lawmaker was apprehended by detectives in Nairobi County on Thursday, January 21. 

Reports stated that he was detained at Kileleshwa Police Station. 

Kamket was accused of inciting local citizens to revolt. The issue is facing a number of challenges, from land and boundary cases to civil wars among various communities. 

Interior CS Fred Matiang’i had on Tuesday, January 19, after a meeting with security officials, revealed that operations in the area would be ongoing until individuals behind attacks there were caught.

The warning came after chaos in the neighboring Kapedo, Turkana County left a police commander dead.

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Politics

After Kang’atta’s Letter, Waiguru Now Sends Another Explosive BBI Message To Uhuru

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Just a few weeks after Senate Majority whip Irungu Kang’ata’s BBI letter to President Uhuru Kenyatta went viral, Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has also raised concerns.

Kang’ata in his letter had warned the President that the BBI document was unpopular in Mt Kenya region, and unless much is done, it was likely to fail.

Waiguru wants an all-inclusive team to lead the BBI campaigns in Mt Kenya region if it is meant to pass.

She said there is a need to embrace all leaders, including those with varied opinions, if efforts to sell the document in the vote-rich region will succeed.

Waiguru spoke even as the Mt Kenya BBI secretariat met leaders from the region in efforts to calm discontent arising from alleged exclusion of some of the leaders.

The claim emerged after a five-member team was picked to popularise the BBI in the region.

Yesterday’s meeting was chaired by Kirinyaga Senator Charles Kibiru with most of those who attended refusing to divulge details.

Waiguru in an interview with The Standard cast aspersions on the newly-selected secretariat saying: “BBI is a political process that must be led by people the community recognises as political influencers.”

According to her, BBI is a political process and if it is not led by people the community recognises as political influencers, it will have challenges.

The team selected a fortnight ago comprises Kibiru, MPs Maoka Maore (Ntonyiri), Ruth Mwaniki (Kigumo), Peter Mwathi (Limuru) and Jane Njiru (Embu). 

The five have pledged allegiance to Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration, but are accused of not being strong defenders of the president.

Waiguru was a member of Team Embrace that brought together women parliamentarians from Jubilee and ODM which drummed up support for the BBI.

Asked whether she was among the leaders that selected the Mt Kenya BBI secretariat and what she felt about it, Waiguru said she was not invited at Thika Greens meeting where the matter was discussed. 

She said she is not worried about being excluded as she is busy pushing development projects in Kirinyaga.

The governor said for the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2020 to get approval, there is need to make the process as collaborative as possible.

This, according to Waiguru, will entail bringing on board leaders with divergent views so that all leaders can own the document.

She warned that the process should not be made competitive as that would end up bringing more opposition to the BBI project which will spell doom to agenda and the mission of amending the 2010 Constitution.

“It is my view that for it to pass smoothly, we need to move from making BBI a competitive to a collaborative process by bringing everyone on board, including those with divergent views, so that we all own the document as opposed to having competing internal and external camps,” Waiguru said.

On whether she will continue supporting the proposed constitutional amendments, the governor said: “I will wait to be advised and then make decisions on how best to engage.” 

Speaking during an interview with four vernacular radio stations in the region on Monday, the President lashed out at the BBI opponents accusing them of stirring up incitement among Kenyans through the dynasty versus hustler narrative which he warned will divide Kenyans.

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Crime & Investigations

Man Robbed 320k Outside Co-op Bank In Broad Daylight Reveals What Transpired

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

I believe you have come across a video that was hugely circulated online, showing boda boda operators almost lynching suspects who had robbed someone of his money in Nairobi CBD, haven’t you?

Well, if you have not seen the video, then we will show you in this article.

Fredric Otieno, the man who was robbed of Sh320,000 he had withdrawn from a bank in Nairobi has narrated the events that led to a dramatic chase by boda boda operators.

Speaking to a local daily, the 30-year-old Otieno said he might have been confused by ghosts.

The victim narrated that he suspects those behind the incident sprayed chemicals onto his face as they confronted him outside the bank.

Otieno believes there are more members of the group that attacked him who are on the loose. He said two women who first approached him are yet to be found or arrested.

“I did not see them in the videos that circulated as the other accomplices were almost being lynched. They are out there may be attempting a similar thing on unsuspecting Kenyans,” he said.

Otieno said he had driven with his cousin to the bank and withdrew about Sh25,000 which he wanted to send to a university in Canada for his online studies.

He told his cousin to drive on and look for parking as he transacted in the bank at about 1pm. After he finished the transactions he walked out and was confronted by two women near the entrance who first introduced themselves as Safaricom agents.

They said they were carrying out a promotion, which if he put his money would triple it.

“In the process I felt dizzy and could not remember much. I handed one woman the money I had and I walked back to the bank and withdrew Sh270,000 more. I walked back and was looking for my cousin albeit confused when a man now came and grabbed the other money and walked away,” he remembered.

After the man grabbed the money, he saw him board a black Voxy car that was later intercepted kilometres away.

He screamed for help alerting boda boda riders who were nearby.

Some of the riders had witnessed the drama and gave chase after the car as it sped off towards Haile Selassie Avenue, joined Uhuru Highway before it was intercepted at University Way roundabout.

The boda boda operators beat up the three suspects who were on board and vandalised the car. In the process, the money vanished.

It took the intervention of police officers at the roundabout to shield the three who were later rushed to the Mbagathi Hospital with multiple injuries.

The drama of their beatings was captured on camera by other motorists. The getaway vehicle whose windshields had been smashed in was towed to the Central Police station.

Otieno, a father of two children, cannot explain how the two women who first approached him knew he had withdrawn the money. 

He said he is a week old in Kenya and planned to stay for a month before going back to Qatar where he has worked for the last seven years.

He appealed to police to go to the bank and seek security footage of Tuesday’s events to identify the women who first approached him.

He added his family was shocked to learn he was robbed of the money.

Otieno said police recorded his statement soon after the incident. Police said a team of detectives is investigating if bank staff or imposters were involved in the incident.

Police believe some staffers or imposters usually sit in banking halls and monitor transactions before alerting gangs.

Such incidents have been reported in the past whereby people are robbed of money soon after withdrawing.

Nairobi police boss Rashid Yakub said they are investigating the incident. He discouraged mob lynching, terming it illegal.

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Business

Bloggers Accuse Co-operative Bank Of Arrest Threats And Intimidations

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

In the lead up to the launch of Kingdom Bank, police detectives rounded up several bloggers and blog administrators and those who had published stories bordering on the country’s third largest bank – Cooperative Bank of Kenya.

Several were picked from their residences and held incommunicado for five-six days before they were released without any charges.

The idea behind the clandestine arrests was to silence the alternative voice in the country’s media in a characteristic way that the bank has applied in its modus operandi for a long time.

They were branded as extortionists for allegedly publishing stories touching on the bank. Ostensibly, the reason for the arrest was to make sure that the investors in the bank were not disturbed ahead of the launch that has its fair share of doubts within the banking sector.

Most of those arrested over the week that the bank deployed police to crush the dissenting voices or those seen to the against the bank’s ideals, are traumatised and too scared to talk about the ordeal that included torture and humiliation and constant threats.

In the wake of the arrests, many blogs pulled down stories on Cooperative Bank and its CEO Gideon Muriuki. Indeed, very few stories can be found on social media about the bank and its senior management.

Early December, one of the country’s leading and bravest bloggers Disembe Dikembe, penned a story in kenya-today.com that shook the whole country in its prose and content.

Disembe, in the story, lunged on a document released in August and suppressed by the mainstream media with only premier business content publisher Business Daily giving it a mention.

The story was picked up and obviously pulled down for many reasons know tp the journalists. Kenyagist.com (https://www.kenyagist.com/banking-scam-co-operative-bank-being-looted-dry-to-launch-kingdom-bank) still has the story online after various attempts to shoot it down failed.

Other newspapers, despite having the illustrations and contents including interviews from interested parties and stakeholders, chose to play it down for obvious reasons.

The shocker that the Disembe story exposed includes a fact that most people in the media know and have all the facts but fear reprisals from the bank and its financial muscle.

Later, the Disembe story was pulled down in a move that people feel was unfair.

Effort to corroborate the story was confirmed by those arrested as much as they are fearful of the outcome of the interviews. It is only when they are promised that the story is balanced that they open up, though they all demand for anonymity.

“I don’t want to speak about the ordeal. I was picked up from my house and taken to several police stations. My mistake is that someone planted a story on my blog. My blog was a small one and the designer planted a story that left me in pain and I regret having had the story on my blog.

“I was taken by the investigators to the station and I wrote a statement on the same. We were released after some days but we were given warnings on what to say and further punishment. I was told that we are being used to fight and publish negative stories about Cooperative Bank,” says one of those detained for days.

The victim says he is on consultation with the bank and his family’s lawyers on what to next after the ordeal that left him traumatised and fearful. He has since relocated to county in Eastern Kenya.

Another victim was more blunt about his experience in the hands of the police and the bank as he prepares to make a move at the courts for justice. He says that he was threatened with death, castration and even his family members’ arrest.

“To be honest, I don’t care what they do to me. I was picked up from the house and driven around Nairobi in different police stations. My only mistake was to carry a story on a blog I was administering. I am sure that is not a crime. But, the fact that the bank told us they can spend money to get us from wherever we are is testament to a fact they are ready to do evil. I will be moving to court and I will sue the bank for the illegal arrest and detention,” a blogger only know as JK told this writer.

On a wider scope, the efforts by Cooperative Bank to stay clean have a long history.

Starting with the IPO in 2008, a report by Mars Group lifted lid on the underhand dealings that saw management and senior staff members benefit immensely. The story was carried by wazua.co.ke (http://m.wazua.co.ke/forum.aspx?g=posts&t=27050&p=2).

Various other stories have been written, mainly from sources within the bank touching on the management and other personal issues affecting the bank.

Another blog, the Sun Weekly reported a serious malfunction on the systems that led to customers losing their money. (http://thesunweekly.co.ke/panic-as-coop-bank-systems-experience-downturn-amid-fears-of-hacking/).

But, the stories of the bank do not end with management. They are extended to the bosses. In another blog The World News, it is reported that the bank CEO Gideon Muriuki is involved in a fight with a set of squatters who have laid claim to a piece of land in Nairobi’s Embakasi https://theworldnews.net/ke-news/exposed-inside-fraudulent-exercise-in-the-gideon-muriuki-led-cooperative-bank

In another shocking story former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonkoposted on his Facebook page about dealing between the bank and a blogger Mildred Atty Owiso in which the fiery politician accused the Marketing director Ngumo Kahiga of paying money to suppress social media stories https://www.facebook.com/GovernorMikeSonkoMbuvi/posts/2548076675230665.

It is further claimed in media circles that some of the country’s bloggers have been silenced by the bank after being paid millions of shillings.

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Politics

Take It Or Leave It! Raila In Dilemma As Uhuru Slaps Him With This Demand

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga has been left in a big dilemma after President Uhuru Kenyatta issued him with a new demand regarding their March 2018 handshake.

According to reports, Raila is stuck between accepting the demand or rejecting it and fold out of the handshake deal that has seen him work closely with President Kenyatta.

Details have already emerged that President Kenyatta wants Raila and his Orange party to sign a formal deal that will seal their agreement. 

The two decided to work together to calm the political tension emanating from the controversial August 2017 General election.

Insiders who spoke to a leading local daily said that the head of state wants Odinga to enjoy the fruits of the handshake, which birthed the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) and has also seen several projects unveiled under Kenyatta’s regime. 

Jubilee is also pushing ODM to enter into a formal agreement after the latter reportedly asked to be awarded the position of Nairobi County Deputy Governor. 

ODM reportedly claimed to have played a role in impeaching former Governor Mike Sonko. New Deputy Governor Anne Kananu is poised to take over as governor. 

Odinga’s party may opt to present a candidate who is aligned to the party and not necessarily a party member as a Deputy Governor nominee. 

In June 2020, ODM declined to enter into an agreement with Jubilee after former Vice President, Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper Democratic Movement and Isaac Ruto’s Chama Cha Maendeleo signed a deal with the ruling party. ODM, however, insisted that it would continue to partner with Jubilee and did not need to sign any formal deal.

Odinga held a crisis meeting with his key allies on Monday, January 19, to discuss the demand issued by Jubilee. 

“We don’t need to have a formal agreement with Jubilee. All we need is to trust each other,” ODM Chairman John Mbadi said, later on.

However, trust issues are key to the new deal being sought by Kenyatta as Odinga has on numerous occasions asked his critics to distance him from Jubilee failures. 

His allies such as Siaya Senator James Orengo have also openly criticised Jubilee for unemployment and Kenya’s high debt level.

Deputy President William Ruto hinted that Odinga and Kenyatta may be at loggerheads over the handshake deal, arguing that ODM wanted to pull out of the agreement after allegedly sabotaging the government. 

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Entertainment

“Anyango Ni Mama Wa Kuuza Boxer Tu”, Willy Paul Drops Banger Exposing Cheating Men

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Singer Willy Paul has just released a new banger dubbed LIAR, in which he has featured talented singer Miss P.

Miss P is Saldido International’s New female artist with a very unique voice. Saldido International is a record label owned by Willy Paul.

The new banger has been Mixed and Mastered by Teddy B.

In the video song that lasts 3 minutes and 30 seconds, the singer tries to bring out how unfaithful men cheat in relationships and defend themselves.

Singer Miss P acts as a lover to Willy Paul, and confronts him after going through his phone and realizing some female contacts in the phone.

Upon confronting, the suspecting lover wants to know who are the women in the man’s phone, but instead the man answers by saying that one of them is just a boxer seller.

In the video that has been directed by TREY JUELZ, the lover disagrees with the man, arguing that he was just a LIAR after realising a lipstick mark on the man’s shirt.

They keep on arguing, with the man defending himself claiming that the woman thinks thank whenever he pursues another women, he is just after sex.

Watch out the banger in the video below.

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Politics

Why Plan To Have Kananu Take Governor’s Oath On Same Day As DG’s Was Shelved

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Anne Kananu Mwenda finally took the oath to assume the office of the Nairobi County Deputy Governor, which has been vacant for a period of 2 years.

According to the law, the Deputy governor is supposed to assume the office of the governor, should a vacancy fall in the office of the county boss, either through death or impeachment.

Details have emerged that Kananu was to be sworn in as the new Nairobi County chief immediately after taking the oath to assume Deputy Governor’s office on Friday, January 15, but the plan was shelved.

The former Disaster Management CEC was supposed to succeed former Governor Mike Sonko on the same day when she was vetted and approved to be Deputy Governor. 

“The plan was to swear her in as the substantive governor but this was held as we want to find out how the cases filed by Mike Sonko will play out,” an anonymous source was quoted by Nation. 

Sonko wants the court to overturn the Senate’s decision to impeach him. The former Makadara MP was accused of gross misconduct, violation of the constitution, crimes under national law, and abuse of office. 

The former Governor said that he would recall all the suits he filed in court, but he is yet to do so. 

He also added that he would retire from politics for ten years. 

His case will be mentioned on Wednesday, February 17 a day prior to the Nairobi by-election taking place. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) gazetted February 18 as the by-election date. 

However, the process was suspended twice owing to the case by Mike Sonko and another filed by Nairobi Deputy Governor Anne Kananu. 

Kananu wanted the exercise stopped as it contradicted her vetting process. 

Insiders privy to the Nairobi County politics added that Kananu may be sworn in even before Sonko’s case is determined. 

She may take over in late January 2021 or February 10/11 when Acting Governor Benson Mutura’s term expires. Mutura, the County Speaker took over for 60 days prior to the election taking place. 

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Politics

Man Behind Senator Irungu Kang’ata’s Life-threatening Messages Arrested

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

A man believed to be the one who sent life-threatening messages to Senate Majority whip Irungu Kang’ata has been arrested by sleuths from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

The Murang’a Senator had earlier on claimed that his life was in danger.

He said he had become a marked man and had been threatened with violence and death on account of the letter he authored to President Uhuru Kenyatta over BBI’s popularity in Mt Kenya region.

The Murang’a Senator said he had received death threats from unknown people and from government quarters.

“I have forwarded the text messages to DCI to an officer known as Mr Mwangi who is in charge of the investigations. I hope that the culprits will be brought to book,” he told a vernacular TV station.

According to Serious Crime Unit boss Obadiah Kuria, the arrest was made on Friday evening, January 15, 2021.

“It’s true we have arrested him. The suspect allegedly sent him threatening messages and we intend to investigate further before preferring charges on Monday,” Kuria told journalists. 

Kang’ata praised the detectives for the arrest since the threats made him fear for his life.

“I feared for my life. I had to switch off the phone since I did not know what awaited me, apart from the threats. I was also under undue pressure due to my decision to penning a letter to President Uhuru,” he stated. 

Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua had also tried to reach out to Kang’ata on January 6, after which he claimed that the senator’s phone had been switched off. 

“The good senator Kang’ata’s phone is off. If anyone gets in touch with him, please tell him I want to buy him a drink. He has made me proud,” he praised.

Later that day the two met and exchanged notes on the contents of the controversial letter. 

Despite the pressure to either step down from his position as the Senate Majority Whip or offer a public apology to the president, Kang’ata has insisted he had not committed any crime. 

During the burial of ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi’s mother Hannah Atsianzale in Mululu, Vihiga County on January 9, Uhuru stated that he did not need anyone telling him what to do and was in charge of the government. 

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Politics

Kibra MP Imran Okoth’s Mother Dies

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Kibra Member of Parliament Imran Okoth has been thrown into deep mourning following the death of his beloved mother.

The mother, Angeline Ajwang passed away on Saturday morning, January 16, a few minutes past 12 am. 

The ODM politician took to his official social media handles to make the announcement at around 2 am. 

He, however, did not disclose the cause of the mother’s death.

“In life, we loved you dearly, in death we still love you. In our hearts you hold a place, I cried endlessly when you died but I promise, I won’t let the tears mar the smiles that you’ve given me when you were alive.

“I know you are listening from above. Fare thee well mum,” Imran wrote. 

His followers were quick to wish him well and pray for strength for the family.

Ajwang has passed on one year and six months after she lost her older son and former Kibra MP Ken Okoth.

Okoth succumbed to cancer on July 26, 2019, while receiving treatment at the Nairobi Hospital.

His mother Ajwang confronted Luo elders who then opposed the family’s decision to cremate the former MP. The elders wanted to bury a banana stem.

“The best thing they could have done is to come and sit down with me as the mother instead of going to the media. They should let my son rest in peace.

“They saw what happened, did you even see one of them coming to me to give advice on what should happen? They now say I was part of the cremation idea, did they see me attend the ceremony?” Ajwang wondered. 

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Politics

Political Parties With Ruto’s Hustler Nation Narrative Blocked From Registration

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

At least 176 political parties, some mirroring Deputy President William Ruto’s hustler nation narrative have been blocked from registration.

According to the Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu, of the 176 parties that sought registration, at least 10 proposed names that mirror Ruto’s hustler nation ideologies and campaign slogans.

However, only 21 jumped the hurdles and managed to receive certificates of provisional registration awaiting further scrutiny.

The others failed to go through on suspect the outfits were fronted on tribal or social platforms.

They included the Jubilee Asili Party, the Hustlers and Achievers Party of Kenya, the Hustlers Alliance Party of Kenya, Hustle, the Strive and Achieve Party of Kenya and the National Alliance of Hustlers and Achievers Party of Kenya.

Others were National Party of Hustlers and Achievers of Kenya, and Hustlers and Ground Masses Party of Kenya.

However, the registrar rejected the hustler names on the basis that they seek to unite on social status, threatening the country’s peaceful co-existence.

DP Ruto, who vowed in 2013 that Jubilee was formed to end the culture of tribal parties, has embarked on a charm offensive and is spearheading the creation of regional parties.

The DP has fashioned himself as the real hustler from Sugoi who rose from a roadside chicken seller to become the country’s second in command and has whipped the youth to reject the scions of Kenya’s privileged families.

After a rigorous legal and physical verification process, only three parties managed to get full registration, pushing the country’s parties to 71.

Party of Economic Democracy, The Service Party and the National Ordinary People Empowerment Union are the only parties that met all the statutory requirements and were fully registered.

The Party of Development and Reform managed to complete its change of name to United Democratic Party, an outfit also associated with Ruto.

A party given provisional status must be subject to a rigorous process by the registrar’s’ office to ensure it has physical offices, verified details of governing body officials and membership data.

Many parties that seek provisional registration even after going through the name search stage, fail to comply with the strict provisions of the law on membership and even physical offices.

Among those rejected were names seen as promoting registration of parties based on social groupings, an element that goes against the principles for registration of parties in Kenya.

The registrar also declined proposed registration on the basis of resemblance in colours and symbols.

Some politicians seeking registration of political parties through name searches saw their requests turned down based on the fact that their proposed names do not ‘make meaning’.

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Entertainment

End Of Sailors Gang? Lexxy Yung Ditches Gengetone Group For Gospel

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Is the famous Gengetone music group Sailors Gang coming to an end?

Just late last year, Media personality Mwalimu Rachel issued a statement indicating that she would no longer be booking Gengetone artistes Sailors for any gigs.

In a post shared on her Instagram in November last year, Mwalimu Rachel said she will instead focus on introducing new talents through her company MRX Media.

According to the radio presenter, her company had overseen the growth of the group from onscurity to their current nationwide popularity.

Rachel went on to add that she was pleased with the work her team at MRX did to grow the Sailors brand.

And just a few months later, one of the members of the music group has announced that he was leaving the group to join the Gospel industry.

In an emotional message on his Instagram page, Lexxy Yung has announced that he will be seeking salvation in the gospel industry.

Lexxy however maintained that there was no love lost with the other group members who include Miracle Baby, Shalkido African Boy, Qoqosjuma and Masilver.

“Am sorry mabro for this..And it’s with many tears Bana ..tumekuwa pamoja have done alot and achieve alot mih l wish you all best in your journey.Mih nmeamua to take on gospel industry promise sitawainamisha uko. And promise to always have your backs GOSPEL ARTISTS HERE I COME,” Lexxy Yung posted. 

Last year, Mwalimu Rachel also emotionally responded to accusations of denying Sailors their YouTube channel, which had all their previous songs and millions of video views.

The Wamlambez hit makers revealed that she had demanded more than Sh1.5 million from the group before she could release the passwords, an allegation she did not deny, saying the group and their current handlers needed to pay her for her input in building and popularising their brand.

​The media personality discovered the Sailors and was their manager for over two years before they fell out last year and the group found a new record label.

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Politics

Blow To Uhuru, Raila As Ex-NASA Co-Principal Makes Comeback To Ruto’s Camp

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Deputy President William Ruto is yet again set to make another huge political score in his bid to consolidate his Rift Valley backyard ahead of his 2022 Presidential run.

Former Bomet governor Isaac Ruto, who was a NASA co-principle in the run to 2017 general elections will today (Friday, January 15)make a comeback to DP Ruto’s camp, handing his former ally-turned-foe a boost.

The DP is set to receive Rutto during an event to be held in Bomet in what is seen as part of his elaborate strategy to ring-fence his Rift Valley bastion ahead of next year’s election.

He will be in Bomet to commission several projects, hand over a bus to the National Super League side Silibwet FC and later preside over a fundraiser for boda boda Saccos in Sotik, among other events.

The former governor will meet the DP face to face for the first time since 2018, ushering in a new partnership to consolidate the region.

The DP, who has fallen out with President Uhuru Kenyatta, is keen to diminish pockets of rebellion in his backyard as he prepares for a presidential run next year.

On Sunday, Rutto said he is ready to support the DP for the country’s top post “if we agree on principle”.

“I am not in an alliance with anybody. After all, nobody has asked me to back him or her for presidency. If William seeks my support, we shall discuss, and if he supports the tenets CCM stands for – like devolving resources – then I will back him. There’s nothing personal,” he told the Sunday Nation.

The DP has been facing a threat that could have chipped away a section of his main support base after Rutto last year led his Chama Cha Mashinani party in signing a cooperation agreement with Jubilee Party.

When he signed the agreement, there was talk of major Cabinet changes that would have seen Rutto’s entry into Uhuru’s government in what would be a strategy to tame the DP in the Rift Valley.

His change of heart to join the DP camp could puncture the Building Bridges Initiative campaigns in the Rift Valley given that the CCM party leader was a key point man of the process in the region.

Kanu chairman Gideon Moi, the son of the country’s second President who also hails from the Rift Valley, is working closely with Uhuru after the Independence party signed a coalition agreement with Jubilee.

Rutto and Gideon had been seen as a political force that would have complicated the DP’s efforts to put the region under lock and key ahead of next year’s polls.

Rutto’s move to join the DP’s camp is seen as part of his plan to recapture the Bomet governor’s seat, which he lost to the late Joyce Laboso who was backed by Ruto in 2017.

Rutto and the DP have had frosty relations since 2013 and in the lead-up to the 2017 polls. They last met face to face in 2018 at a public function at Siongiroi in Chepalungu, Bomet county. 

They have not been seeing eye to eye, a situation that could complicate Rutto’s gubernatorial ambitions after staying in the political cold for five years.

The former governor is set for another political duel in his bid to oust incumbent Hillary Barchok. A week ago, Rutto was greeted with unfriendly chants at Kuresoi in Nakuru where he had made a stopover.

Angry youths demanded he join the wheelbarrow movement spearheaded by Ruto if he wanted to salvage his political future.

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Politics

Ruto Unveils Muthama Ngengele As His Candidate For Machakos By-election

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Just a day after Jubilee party announced that it was not going to field candidates in the upcoming by-elections, Deputy President William Ruto has unveiled his preferred candidate in the upcoming Machakos Senator by-election.

The DP met Urbanus Muthama Ngengele, who will be seeking to take over from the late Senator Boniface Kabaka.

Ruto unveiled Ngengele on Thursday at his Karen residence, accompanied by a number of leaders including the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) chairman Johnson Muthama

The DP said that he is grateful to witness the partnership forged by the Machakos Senate by-election hopefuls in favour of Ngengele.

Ruto described Ngengele as a hustler from the county.

“Grateful to witness the partnership forged by the Machakos Senate by-election hopefuls in favour of Urbanus Mutunga Muthama Ngengele, a hustler from the county. Our gratitude to them for their audacity and leadership to cede their aspirations and back Ngengele for the race,” reads Ruto’s tweet.

The Independent and Electoral Commission announced that the Machakos senatorial by-election will be held on March 18.

Earlier on, the commission had set the by-election for March 23, but the date has been revised due to the national examinations.

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Crime & Investigations

Kirinyaga Pastor Sentenced To 140 Years In Jail For Defiling His Underage Daughters

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Kirinyaga County Akorino pastor John Gichira, who pleaded guilty to defiling and impregnating his two daughters aged 14 and 16 years has been sentenced to 140 years in jail.

Senior Principal Magistrate Anthony Mwicigi ruled that the pastor will serve 70 years for each case, after defiling the girls.

On Thursday, January 7, the prosecution verified the girls’ birth certificate and ascertained that they were below 18 years, paving way for the magistrate to make his ruling on Thursday, January 14. 

Court documents disclosed that the suspect committed the offense on diverse dates between June 1, 2019, and June 30, 2019, and between August 1, 2020, and August 31, 2020, in Ndia Constituency.

The 51-year-old Akurino Pastor was arrested in early January 2021, after Woman Representatives Purity Ngirici (Kirinyaga) and Gladys Shollei (Uasin Gishu) led protests in Kirinyaga County.

The MPs also urged the mother of the victims to report the case to the police.

Police flushed him from a hideout in the county after tracking him down for one month.

Kirinyaga West Deputy County Commissioner, Moses Ivuto, said that he would ensure that the suspect never sets foot in the village as he was a threat to women and girls.

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Politics

Uhuru-Allied Governors In Closed-Door Meeting With Ruto

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

With only 18 months left to the 2022 general elections, Deputy President William Ruto has been positioning himself as President Uhuru Kenyatta’s successor.

The second in command has been working on strategies that will see him ascend to power come 2022.

As part of the strategy, the DP has been reaping big from leaders who have been decamping from President Kenyatta’s camp to his.

Details have now emerged that a group of governors who have been leaning towards President Kenyatta’s Kieleweke wing of Jubilee Party visited the recently launched Hustler Centre in Lavington, Nairobi. 

An insider intimated to a local daily that the county bosses held a closed-door meeting with the DP and his top strategists for more than an hour. 

According to the source, the meeting was a closely guarded affair. 

He insinuated that it is just a matter of time before they formally announce their defection to the hustler nation. 

However, the source did not list the names of the County Chiefs who met DP Ruto at Hustler Centre. The Centre acts as main offices for the newly launched United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party which is linked to the DP.

Leaders allied to President Kenyatta have been recently defecting to DP Ruto’s camp.

Nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura joined Ruto’s camp and tore into the President and his family at the homecoming of Msambweni MP Feisal Bader. The DP attended the meeting.

Besieged Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata on Wednesday skipped a top Jubilee meeting, triggering talk of his looming defection to DP Ruto’s camp.

Kang’ata, who had been invited to attend the meeting at Jubilee House in Pangani, Nairobi, did not show up.

The meeting was attended by Jubilee secretary general Raphael, Senate Deputy Majority leader Fatuma Dullo, National Assembly Majority leader Amos Kimunya and his deputy Jimmy Angwenyi.

National Assembly Majority Whip Emmanuel Wangwe, his deputy Maoka Maore and secretary to the Jubilee parliamentary group Adan Keynan also attended the meeting in which the party decided to pull out of three upcoming by-elections.

The no-show at the meeting – that culminated in a press conference – came a day after he reportedly rejected a push by the party honchos and President Uhuru  Kenyatta’s allies to withdraw the letter to the President.

Late last year, Kang’ata shocked the nation when he penned a letter to the President discrediting BBI’s popularity in Mt Kenya region, Uhuru’s political bastion. Uhuru’s men termed the move ‘disrespectful’.

In the letter, the senator told the President that the BBI referendum might fail in the region unless Uhuru and his handshake partner ODM leader Raila Odinga change their strategy.

He affirmed the position at a press conference in Parliament on Monday despite criticism and pressure to withdraw the letter and apologise to the head of state.

He cited opposition to the expanded Executive, the involvement of provincial administrations and campaigns by former MPs as some of the issues working against the initiative.

“Let us emphasise on the soft power and art of persuasion. In my humble view, the provincial administration in BBI process should be invisible,” he said.

Sources intimated that Jubilee bigwigs hosted Kang’ata for a meeting on Tuesday evening, where he was asked to retract the letter, but he declined.

Yesterday, Tuju and Dullo confirmed Tuesday’s meeting.

Kang’ata has been one of President Uhuru’s foot soldiers and most trusted lieutenants in the Mt Kenya region.

In May last year, Uhuru influenced his election as the Senate Majority Chief Whip following a meeting at State House where senators Susan Kihika (Nakuru) and Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet) – key allies of the DP – were kicked out as Majority Chief Whip and Majority leader, respectively.

Later, Kang’ata excited key party decisions by whipping party members to among others vote out Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki as Senate deputy speaker.

However, his letter and skipping party meetings have triggered murmurs and talks that he was on his way out of the President’s circles.

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Politics

Fireworks As Kang’ata Skips Jubilee’s Top Meeting, Dumped Uhuru For Ruto?

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Has Senate Majority whip Irungu Kang’ata decamped from President Uhuru Kenyatta’s camp to Deputy President William Ruto’s side?

Well, the Murang’a Senator’s no show at Jubilee party’s top meeting held at the party’s headquarters in Pangani, Nairobi on Wednesday has triggered a debate on whether the once Uhuru’s diehard has shifted camp.

Kang’ata failed to attend the meeting convened by the Party Secretary General Raphael Tuju, despite him having been invited.

Speaking to a local daily on why he skipped the meeting, the lawmaker stated that he was busy somewhere else and he could not make it.

Senate Deputy Majority leader Fatuma Dullo, National Assembly Majority leader Amos Kimunya and his deputy Jimmy Angwenyi, National Assembly Majority Whip Emmanuel Wangwe, his deputy Maoka Maore and secretary to the Jubilee parliamentary group Adan Keynan are some of the officials that attended the meeting in which the party decided to pull out of three upcoming by-elections.

The no-show at the meeting, that culminated in a press conference, came a day after Kang’ata reportedly rejected a push by the party honchos and President Uhuru  Kenyatta’s allies to withdraw his letter to the President.

Late last year, Kang’ata shocked the nation when he penned a letter to the President discrediting BBI’s popularity in Mt Kenya region, Uhuru’s political bastion. Uhuru’s men termed the move ‘disrespectful’.

In the letter, the senator told the President that the BBI referendum might fail in the region unless Uhuru and his handshake partner ODM leader Raila Odinga change their strategy.

He affirmed the position at a press conference in Parliament on Monday despite criticism and pressure to withdraw the letter and apologise to the head of state.

He cited opposition to the expanded Executive, the involvement of provincial administrations and campaigns by former MPs as some of the issues working against the initiative.

Sources intimated that Jubilee bigwigs hosted Kang’ata for a meeting on Tuesday evening, where he was asked to retract the letter, but he declined.

Yesterday, Tuju and Dullo confirmed Tuesday’s meeting.

“We held a leadership meeting yesterday, he was with us…. He is still our whip until otherwise he decides or any other things come up,” Dullo said.

But when asked whether he was ditching the President’s camp, Kang’ata replied, “I am fighting for the truth and rights. I don’t believe in Jubilee factions and divisions.”

At the press conference, Tuju and Maore said the party had not discussed punishing Kang’ata for his letter to the President.

Kang’ata has been one of President Uhuru’s foot soldiers and most trusted lieutenants in the Mt Kenya region.

In May last year, Uhuru influenced his election as the Senate Majority Chief Whip following a meeting at State House where senators Susan Kihika (Nakuru) and Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet) – key allies of the DP – were kicked out as Majority Chief Whip and Majority leader, respectively.

Later, Kang’ata excited key party decisions by whipping party members to among others vote out Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki as Senate deputy speaker.

However, his letter and skipping party meetings have triggered murmurs and talks that he was on his way out of the President’s circles.

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