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Mustafa Juma

Controversial Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino is set to try out a new subject in his online classes.

The lawmaker is this afternoon set to take the students who have now overstayed at home following schools’ closure due to covid-19, through Islamic Religious Education (IRE).

Born a Christian, Babu Owino on Saturday September 5, 2020 donned a Sheikh outfit and took to his official social media handles to announce his 1pm IRE class.

To prove that he was not limited to any subject, the first term MP announced his lesson in Arabic language, followed by various quotes from the holy book, the holy Quran.

He then finished his statement with a Takbir, an Arabic statement which is also similar to Allah hu Akbar, meaning God is great and magnificent.

Babu Owino has been recognised by the United Nations and the Voice of America (VOA) for teaching students online amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The ODM legislator has been taking the 2020 KCPE candidates through revision lessons.

He started in May with mathematics and taught Chemistry in his second online lessons which are normally live on his Facebook page.

A story done by Voice of America about Babu’s online teaching was posted on the United Nation Swahili website.

The lawmaker is a First Class Honours degree holder in Actuarial Science from the University of Nairobi (UoN).

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Muhammed Manzi, a betting enthusiast is crying for justice after he allegedly won Ksh 1,100,000 from betting firm betika which has allegedly refused to pay him.

According to Manzi, he played the firm’s casino on their website using two different accounts on Sunday last week.

He says he won over Ksh.100,000 and Ksh.1,000,000 with two different accounts ; 0712742718 and 0790949360 simultaneously and the betting company deleted the winnings and his betting history just minutes after the win.

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According to screen photos shared on his twitter account, the gambler played with a stake of $ 100 (Ksh 1000) in one of his bets that won him the said cash.

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This forced him to take to social media to launch his complain.

However, betika has maintained that they are a legit business, and uphold ethics and professionalism at all times.

Responding to Manzi’s complain, the company said that the figure on the screenshot shared by the gambler is the amount that is in the demo account and not real cash won on actual gaming.

According to Betika, Manzi’s last bet placed and won was at 21:14.

“Hi, we trust that you are well and keeping safe. kindly be aware that the figure on the screenshot is the amount that is in the demo account and not real cash won on actual gaming. The last bet placed and won was at 21:14. Kindly confirm from your bet history,” reads the post.

However, Manzi insists that he genuinely won the cash and wants the money send to him without fail.

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Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) bid to oust Migori governor Okoth Obado has taken a twist.

This is after a section of Migori Members of County Assembly allegedly fled the South Nyanza County over fear as tension continues to rise.

According to a report by one of the leading local dailies, a number of MCAs claimed the mission to kick out Obado may fail because of sharp divisions among Orange party MCAs, threats and intimidation as well as fears of a backlash from the residents.

With President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee party plotting to join Raila Orange party in the ouster motion, a number of MCAs are said to have travelled out of Migori, with some claiming they were holding strategy meetings in Kisii, Kisumu and Nairobi in the wake of the developments.

Migori County Jubilee coordinator Mwita Nyangi on Friday September 4, 2020 asked Jubilee MCAs to support Obado’s ouster motion.

However, a section of Jubilee MCAs have refused to buy the idea. A section of them skipped a meeting organised in Kuria to rally them behind the ouster bid.

Yesterday, the Assembly’s minority whip Joseph Oyoo of Jubilee party dismissed attempts by the party to compel them to join ODM to oust Obado.

The Makario Ward MCA dismissed the party’s coordinator Mwita Nyangi who convened a meeting with other party officials from the county and said they would not support Obado ouster.

Several other MCAs claimed anonymously that the push to oust Obado was ill-informed and would not succeed.

There are fears that violence may erupt in the county should the leaders fronting for Obado’s ouster proceed with the move and table an impeachment motion against him.

Some MCAs claimed that the fear of violence erupting as a result of the planned exercise exceeds the wrath of the party should they fail to go against the party’s wishes.

One of the ODM MCAs said he had moved to Kisii to escape intense pressure at the county.

Muhuru MCA Hevron Mahira, who reported threats on his life on Wednesday said that he has moved to a safe place within the county.

He alleged that a few hours after reporting about threat on his life, he received more threats from a strange number for supporting the position of his party over Obado’s fate.

Do you think impeaching Obado will be a walk in the park?

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Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen has dared environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko to go ahead with his threat of kicking him out of Mau forest alongside his father.

Angry CS Tobiko on Friday, September 4, asked Murkomen and his father to vacate the Mau forest.

Tobiko’s remarks came a day after Murkomen referred to him as a non- performer who was given a soft landing at the environment docket because he could not fill the shoes of a Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

“Mr. Tobiko you are a mere clerk in Jubilee government. You forget so fast that you became a CS because the President was trying to get rid of you from the office of DPP. You have no moral authority to lecture your boss the DP even if he is being molested by his boss. First, try to be MCA,” Murkomen stated.

Angered by his sentiments, the former DPP told off Murkomen and demanded him to respect other leaders, especially President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“Wakati wa Mau, ati Murkomeni ndio ndume zaidi, anaenda kusema watu hawatoki, si walitoka? Yeye mwenyewe na baba yake wanaishi kwa msitu. Seneta Murkomen, anza kufunga virago uende manake msitu sio wako.”

“(When we were evicting people from the forest, Murkomen was championing for the opposite. He even vowed that they would not vacate, but they did. He and his father live in the forest and I want to tell him to start packing his belongings.)” the angered CS stated.

Responding to the threats, Murkomen dared the CS to go ahead and revenge.

Murkomen argued that Tobiko exploded just because of his single tweet.

“We have a CS who is mentally deranged.Just because of one tweet he has exploded&now promising to revenge against me&my father. Never mine the facts he will find some crime somewhere in the books.Just imagine this idiot was once our DPP!From Embobut to Tobiko I say come baby come!” he twitted.

Murkomen who accused Tobikoof insulting Deputy President William Ruto argued that the CS should be sacked.

“Without the blessings of the President these idiotic CSs would never have insulted the DP.William Ruto is not anyone’s clerk,he was jointly elected with the President&without him Uhuru would not be President&Tobiko would never be a clerk. In a working state Tobiko would be sacked,” Murkomen said.

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Former Nairobi County Deputy Governor Jonathan Mueke has resigned from the Kalonzo Musyoka-led Wiper Democratic Movement – Kenya.

In a letter dated September 4, 2020, Mueke also resigned from the party’s National Executive Council, and as an ordinary party member.

Mueke thanked the Wiper Movement for granting him a chance to run as the party’s flag bearer as he ran for Westlands parliamentary seat in 2007 and as former governor Evans Kidero’s deputy in 2013 and 2017 general elections.

In his resignation letter, Mueke cited that Kenya’s evolving political landscape, coupled with the kind of change required to bring the promise of a better tomorrow for Kenya’s youthful population has forced him to pursue a different political path than what Wiper currently represents.

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Over the recent past, several politicians have been seen ditch their political parties, with them failing to publicly declare their next political destination.

Former Amani National Congress (ANC) party secretary General Barrack Muluka last month resigned from the Musalia Mudavadii-led party, saying that he did so to give the party boss enough political space.

Few days later, former ODM leader Raila Odinga political strategist Eliud Owalo also tendered his resignation from ANC, citing similar reasons as those of Muluka.

Ditching political parties is however, expected to be witnessed more as politicians continue to realign themselves ahead of 2022 general election.

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Lari MP Jonah Mburu Mwangi has been arrested.

The lawmaker was arrested on Friday September 4, 2020 alongside five other individuals.

Their arrest came shortly after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji approved the prosecution of the Lari MP and members of Lari Constituency Development Fund in respect of embezzlement of Ksh 27 million from the CDF kitty.

The DPP in a statement issued on Friday September 4, 2020 said that the lawmaker alongside other CDF officials directly and indirectly received Ksh 27,200, 375 in conflict of interest between the financial year 2017/2018, from businesses that traded with Lari NG-CDF.

The Lari CDF officials are Ayaan Mahadhi who is the funds account manager, Peter Mugo Mwangi who is the chairman Lari NG-CDF, Francis Gachoka Kamuyu who is the clerk of works in Lari, Paul Nyanjui Mucheru and Grace Muthoni Macharia.

According to DPP Haji, the companies used to trade with Lari Constituency NG-CDF are Claymug General Suppliers, Kienjeku textiles and Uniforms General Suppliers, Rumuli Limited, Ndemeki Limited, Kimondo and Sons General Suppliers among others.

The suspects are currently being held at Ethics and Anti-Corruption (EACC) headquarters. It is not yet known whether the MP will spend his weekend in police custody, or will be later in the day released awaiting his arraignment.

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Raila Odinga-led Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has come up with a new strategy to fight embattled Migori County governor Okoth Obado.

ODM in a statement signed by its chairman John Mbadi on Thursday afternoon revealed that it was going to furnish the government with the names of Obado’s allies who have been engaging in dirty deals at the County government.

The Orange party said it was going to forward the names of Migori County CECs, directors of various departments, contractors, Chief officers, MCAs, officials and suppliers who are currently involved in raising money and diverting public funds to bribe MCAs and finance violence in Migori.

ODM said that as soon as they forward the names, they will ensure that police arrest the said individuals so that law and order is maintained.

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Obado, a long-time friend of Deputy President William Ruto, has openly dared ODM leader Raila Odinga to bring on his impeachment motion, saying the party has no numbers to kick him out.

According to Obado, ODM placed MCAs in a closed meeting and intimidated them.

Obado is a long-time friend of DP Ruto dating from the time of the governor’s tenure at the defunct Kenya Sugar Board when Ruto was the Minister for Agriculture.

He has hosted the DP several times against ODM’s wishes, including shortly after he was released from prison on bail over the murder of his pregnant girlfriend Sharon Otieno. The case is ongoing. 

Then, he alluded to ODM’s hand in his woes and asked his constituents to allow him to work with Ruto.

For the impeachment to sail through, the motion will need approval of at least 43 members in the house which has 57 MCAs.

ODM has 41 MCAs, seven are independent, Jubilee Party has three, Ford Kenya two while PPOK has one.

Out of the 37 ODM elected MCAs who attended the meeting, 14 refused to sign up for the impeachment bid and only 23 appended their signatures despite persuasion from the party’s top leadership.

Mbadi who chaired the meeting confirmed that 23 signed up but stated that only five refused.

Mbadi, speaking on Wednesday morning – said out of 41 ODM MCAs in Migori, four skipped the function with apology for being sick and 23 “willingly without any intimidation signed and agreed to the impeachment.”

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Transport CAS Chris Obure has clarified how Kenya lost Covid-19 donations made by Chinese businessman Jack Ma.

Appearing before the National Assembly Health Committee on Thursday, September 3, 2020, Obure noted that 21 packages of assorted medical supplies did not reach Nairobi from Ethiopia. 

He said that five other consignments were received and stored in Kenya Medical Supplies Agency warehouses in Nairobi. 

“We received what we received in the manner in which it was packaged and dispatched from the source (Jack Ma Foundation (China). Am not aware if there was any repackaging in Addis Ababa.

“The 21 packages were missing after we verified with the parking documents from China. We realized that 21 packages were short delivered, I assure you we will continue to pursue the matter with the Ministry of Health to ensure they are delivered,” Obure stated.

According to Obure, MoH had reached out to Ethiopian authorities who were investigating the matter.

The CAS nonetheless distanced himself and his ministry from the scandal which saw President Uhuru Kenyatta issue two directives to investigating agencies and Health CS Mutahi Kagwe.

Earlier reports alleged that the Jack Ma donations were stolen and sold to MoH at inflated prices. 

President Kenyatta ordered the Directorate of Criminal Investigation and the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission to table a report on the KEMSA scandal in 30 days. Kagwe was also given 21 days to table his report.

On Wednesday, officials from the Ministry of Transport were hard-pressed to explain the ministry’s role in the clearing of Jack Ma Foundation donations that arrived in the country in March.

Obure, found it hard to convince the committee as he was accused of lacking facts regarding the clearing of the consignment.

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The Nairobi’s iconic Sabina Joy club is set to make a major comeback after having its doors closed for a long period of time.

The club is set to have its doors reopened for its customers once more as government seeks to reopen bars and clubs in a pilot project after a longer closure due to Covid-19.

As a way of ensuring safety during the Covid-19 pandemic period, the government has asked Liquor Welfare Group to pick two clubs for a pilot project, which will pave way for reopening of other clubs should the project work out.

Sabina Joy located at Ambassador area along Moi Avenue and the Green Club along Latema Road in Nairobi are the clubs that will be reopened, with a new face following renovations that are being done to ensure social distancing rules among customers.

Sabina Joy and Green Club are stepping up their efforts to have the bars ready for the project including setting up hand sanitisation points and fitting perspex screens to separate tables.

East African Breweries Limited is also involved in the initiative to ensure bar operators meet the set protocols.

A news story done by Citizen TV on Wednesday showed how the two clubs are working on the final touches to have their doors reopened again.

While in the clubs, the customers will maintain a 1.5 meters social distance, have their face masks on and wash their hands.

President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered closure of all bars and clubs as a measure of helping combat Covid-19.

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Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen on Wednesday September 2, 2020 painfully narrated how President Uhuru Kenyatta had kicked his deputy William Ruto out of a mansion in Mombasa, meant to be his official residence.

Early this year, drama ensued after DP Ruto was reportedly locked out of his official residence with his property packed and taken out of the palatial residence.

Reports indicated that the DP and his handlers had arrived in Mombasa and dropped off his personal effects at his newly refurbished official residence that was formerly Coast Provincial Commissioner’s residence before attending to other matters.

DP Ruto was set to spend the night at the residence but was treated to a rude shock when his personal effects that had been lodged at the facility were hurriedly packed.

Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV on Wednesday night, the seemingly heartbroken former senate majority leader narrated how the events happened.

Murkomen who had appeared on the famous JKLIVE show said that the president recently kicked his deputy out of a house in Mombasa.

“What became of Uhuru Kenyatta that today he chased William Ruto from a house in Mombasa. He is the same person who has been ordering the arrests of anyone associated with the DP,” he stated.

Murkomen also revealed that three years ago, he was flying with President Uhuru and DP Ruto in a private chopper to Nakuru to assure their supporters that they were ready for a re-run after the election results were nullified by Chief Justice David Maraga.

He however, found it difficult to point out what had exactly happened for the relationship between the party leaders to deteriorate at such a rate.

“What is this one sin that washes away all the good things DP Ruto has done for the President?” he asked.

According to Murkomen, President Kenyatta has been sidelining his deputy, using the Covid-19 pandemic as a cover.

“He hasn’t been inviting him to very important meetings nor has he been giving him any task. Let us stop trying to hide behind diplomacy, the fact is that the President is persecuting his deputy,” Murkomen asserted.

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Top Transport ministry officials were on Wednesday September 2, 2020 sent away by National Assembly committee on health, saying the team was unprepared to respond to its questions.

The Sabina Chege-chaired committee said the Transport ministry officials who appeared before them were not adequately prepared.

The Transport ministry was represented by Health CAS Chris Obure during the afternoon session.

He appeared before the committee to explain the ministry’s role in the clearing of Jack Ma Foundation donations.

Obure had told the committee that all the donations were cleared exclusively by the government clearing agency.

“The document before us from the ministry is not well prepared. We need to compare what was donated, what was received and what actually ended up in the warehouse,” Chege said.

The Health committee probing the loss of Covid-19 funds demanded written submissions.

Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny said the ministry is not prepared to face them in regards to the questions they have.

“…when we have people come here with half baked information, it causes tension,” he said.

“I will appeal that any institution invited here, if they are not prepared, they need to go back. I know you are experienced, you should not panic.”

Kutuny said the public should be fed with enough information on the investigations.

“I want to appeal to the government that they fine tune their communication,” he said.

Chege asked Obure to go and prepare himself and come back with facts.

“If we have this gaps you will keep Kenyans guessing. We will see you tomorrow at 9:30am on Thursday,” she said.

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Deputy President William Ruto has fired back at Jubilee Vice Chairman David Murathe’s remarks during his interview with Citizen TV on Tuesday night.

Murathe while being interviewed by Waihiga Mwaura dragged DP Ruto into the Covid-19 millionaires scandal, claiming that DP’s allies are at the center of the KEMSA scandal.

Murathe distanced himself from a company that had been associated with him and argued that it belonged to partners of DP William Ruto.

This is despite reports that Murathe and the owner of the company that was allegedly awarded a tender by KEMSA had previously partnered in other businesses.

According to Murathe, he partnered with the said individual in a lot of issues but  not on the deal with KEMSA.

He said he had not submitted his evidence to the investigating agencies since he had not been summoned.

Murtahe however, noted that he had filed a complaint with the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) against individuals who linked him to KEMSA scandal.

KEMSA was accused of inflating prices of personal protective equipment (PPEs) and masks and awarding illegal tenders.

In his response, DP Ruto claimed that he was being used as a scapegoat in the scandal and warned that the end of corruption in the country was coming.

“The corruption “consultants”, brokers and conmen, some bankrupt in 2013, are now billionaires after looting while scapegoating WsR (William Samoei Ruto).

“Their overgrown impunity is shamelessly making them steal even from the sick in a pandemic. The end is nigh. Nowhere to hide. No more scapegoating,” stated Ruto.

Ruto condemned the Covid-19 scandal a number of times and even accused ODM of double speak after the party called for thorough investigations in the graft. 

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Jubilee Vice Chairman David Murathe has distanced himself from Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) scandal that saw millions of shillings meant to combat Covid-19 get lost in poor procurement of equipment.

Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV on Tuesday night, Murathe shifted the blame on Deputy President William Ruto’s allies.

He distanced himself from a company that had been associated with him and argued that it belonged to partners of DP William Ruto.

This is despite reports that Murathe and the owner of the company that was allegedly awarded a tender by KEMSA had previously partnered in other businesses.

According to Murathe, he partnered with the said individual in a lot of issues but  not on the deal with KEMSA.

He said he had not submitted his evidence to the investigating agencies since he had not been summoned.

Murtahe however, noted that he had filed a complaint with the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) against individuals who linked him to KEMSA scandal.

KEMSA was accused of inflating prices of personal protective equipment (PPEs) and masks and awarding illegal tenders.

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Jubilee Party vice chairman David Murathe has once again lashed out at Deputy President William Ruto over his continued criticism against the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report.

Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV on Tuesday night, Murathe accused DP Ruto of mobilising a ‘No campaign’ even before the BBI team hands over its final report.

According to Murathe, it is wrong to oppose a referendum before knowing the contents of the BBI report.

“I’m surprised that some people are opposing a referendum yet they have not seen the final report. People are taking positions on a document they have not seen. A document that has not been unveiled or presented to the two principals, ” he said.

Murathe said nobody is privy to the contents of the BBI’s final report.”We are all waiting for the document to be unveiled and only then will we know what lies ahead,” he added.

He maintained that everybody  had a chance to present their views to the BBI task force as it was going round collecting opinions.

Speaking during the he weekend at the Coast, Ruto said the Constitution should be fully implemented and not amended.

Ruto had earlier said no one had sought his views on BBI as a member of Jubilee, but Murathe said the President’s stand is taken as the stand of the party.

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Embattled Thirdway Alliance party leader Ekuru Aukot has been barred by Political Parties Disputes Tribunal from accessing his party offices.

The Tribunal on Tuesday September 1, 2020 gave an order on barring the suspended Aukot, his servant, agents, or employees from accessing or entering the party’s offices pending the hearing and determination of his disciplinary case by party members.

Aukot was suspended on August 26 over allegations of financial impropriety and lack of transparency to party members.

Thirdway Alliance National Executive Committee (NEC) suspended Aukot following a meeting held at the party’s headquarters.

The party had sought a prohibitory injunction from the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal proscribing Aukot, his servants from accessing the office or dealing in any manner with the members of  NEC.

The Certificate of Agency from the party filed on August 31 demanded that Aukot be barred until the party Disciplinary Committee made its ruling on September 4.

Deputy Director of the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal granted the party their wishes, giving Aukot and interested parties seven days to file their complaints.

The tribunal will hold a virtual meeting with the concerned parties on September 9 to confirm compliance.

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Migori County Governor Okoth Obado has been released on a Ksh8.7 million cash bail or Ksh20 million bond in Ksh73.4 million graft case.

Chief Magistrate Lawrence Mugambi on Monday August 31, 2020 ordered that Obado be barred from accessing Migori County office until the case is concluded.

He directed that the governor be escorted to pick his belongings.

Obado was arrested alongside his four children on August 26 after surrendering to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) offices in Kisii for questioning over the alleged embezzlement of public funds.

The accused denied all the counts of graft at the Migori county government on Friday when they were arraigned.

In today’s bail ruling, Obado and his children were ordered to deposit their passports in court.

While approving the arrest and prosecution of the suspects last week, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji said the county chief irregularly received the money through his children from companies trading with the county.

This, according to Haji, happened between 2013/14 and 2016/17 financial years.

Investigations also showed that the companies belonged to persons closely related to Obado.

The companies are; Misoft Company Limited, Tarchdog Printers, Deltrack ICT services, Seletrack Consultants, Mactebac Contractors, Joyush Business, Swyfcon Engineering, Atinus Services, Kajulu business, Victorious Investment, Dolphins Softwares, Dankey Press and Pesulus Services.

The business proprietors are his three brothers: Jared Peter Kwaga, Patroba Ochanda and Joram Opala. The others were his mother, Penina Auma Otago and his sisters-in-law Christine Akinyi and Carolyne Onyango.

An audit trail showed that Ksh38.9 million was wired to his three children; Dan Okoth, Jerry Okoth, and Susan Okoth.

This money was used to pay for their school fees and daily upkeep. Some was also used to purchase two Toyota Land Cruiser V8.

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