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Mustafa Juma

There was drama in Kitui when Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria was ordered to leave the ongoing BBI rally minutes after arriving.

Kuria who was in the company of senate majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen were blocked by security personnel from accessing the podium where ODM leader Raila Odinga, Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu had sat.

The crowd at the stadium after seeing that the two leaders were being frustrated, began chanting ‘Wapewe Viti’.

Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwa who read the resolutions by the Ukambani leaders, was forced to cut it short after the chaos erupted.

Things got ugly and Kuria was chased away from the podium.

In an act of defiance, the controversial MP opted to sit on the ground in front of the podium.

Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu was heard urging supporters to eject the feisty legislator for his continued attack against president Uhuru Kenyatta.

“Nobody will abuse Mheshimiwa Rais Uhuru Kenyatta na aingie kwa mkutano yangu, hakuna atolewe, aendee!” Ngilu ordered.

Calm was later restored and Mr Kuria was allowed back upon intervention of former vice president Kalonzo Musyoka and ODM leader Raila Odinga.

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Embattled Nairobi County Governor Mike Sonko on Friday night held a secret meeting with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

The discussions of the meeting revolved around Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).

During the meeting, Raila certified Gov Sonko as a BBI compliant.

According to details shared on social media by East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Simon Mbugua, Sonko promised Raila to use his mobilization skills, network and resources to campaign for BBI in Nairobi County.

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Governor Mike Sonko with ODM Party leader Raila Odinga during the meeting. PHOTO/COURTESY

Sonko also unveiled BBI branded vehicles and lorries to be used for the campaign’s/ awareness.

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“P.M Raila Odinga yesternight certified Gov Sonko as BBI compliant.Sonko also unveiled BBI branded vehicles and lorries to be used for the campaign’s/ awareness. Sonko promised BABA to use his mobilization skills, network and resources to campaign for BBI in Nairobi County,” Mbugua shared on facebook.

Governor Sonko also made BBI-branded T-Shirts, with some Kenyans speculating that he he decided to dance to BBI tune after seeing what had happened to his Kiambu counterpart Ferdinand Waititu.

Here are some of the reactions from Kenyans.

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Drama ensued after Journalists were on Saturday denied entry into President Uhuru Kenyatta’s public baraza at Wang’uru stadium in Kirinyaga county.

Members of the public who are not on the chiefs’ lists were also locked out of the event.

They were blocked by security agents from accessing the President Kenyatta’s function.

President Kenyatta is meeting locals at the Wang’uru stadium.

Uhuru is visiting Central Kenya where he is launching a host of projects aiming at reducing rebellion in his backyard.

On Friday, he visited Nyandarua County where he launched Njabini-Naivasha road worth Sh1.8 billion.

After Kirinyaga County trip on Saturday, Uhuru will visit the expansive Meru region where he is set to commission projects.

This is not the first time we are seeing people getting locked out of Uhuru’s events.

Politicians allied to his Deputy, Dr William Ruto have been locked out of his events in the recent past.

On Friday, drama ensued at Nyandarua County Commissioner’s office in Ol Kalou town after area MP, Ken Mukira and Nyandarua Women Representative Faith Gitau were bundled out of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s function.

Several MCAs allied to the Tangatanga wing of Jubilee party were also chased away by security officials minutes before kickoff of a presidential function.

Senator Susan Kihika and MP David Gikaria were also subjected to the same treatment after they were barred from attending a public function in Nakuru where President Kenyatta issued title deeds.

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Forty six people who were heading to a Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) rally in Kitui have narrowly escaped death after a bus they were travelling in was swept by floodwaters from River Waani, Makueni county.

However, no one was injured in the 9.30 am accident along Tawa -Itangini road.

According to Mbooni East Police Commander Agnes Omojong’ , the victims were calling for help from the curious crowd that was building up at the scene.

Makueni MCA Denis Masavu confirmed the vehicle was one of those hired to ferry Makueni residents to the BBI rally in Kitui on Saturday.

The Kitui chapter of BBI rallies is the fourth one after Kisii, Kakamega and Mombasa respectively.

Those expected to attend the Kitui rally include Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu, Makueni’s Kivutha Kibwana and Alfred Mutua of Machakos.

The Ukambani leaders who have publicly expressed their political differences will meet on the same podium.

On Friday, Tanga Tanga members who are allied to Deputy President Dr William Ruto said that they would attend the Kitui rally.

This is after they cancelled their planned parallel rallies days after DP Ruto getting summoned to State House by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Tanga Tanga group was set to hold their first rally on February 8, 2020 in Nakuru.

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President Uhuru Kenyatta has broken his silence on embattled Ferdinand Waititu’s woes.

The head of state on Friday remarked that Waititu’s fate was destined to happen.

Speaking in Nyandarua after launching a Ksh 1.8 billion road project, the president noted that the embattled ex-governor had himself to blame for the mess.

He stated that the ouster of the leader had nothing to do with politics.

President Uhuru went on to mock the politician and pointed out that it was a shame Waititu’s wife and children were roped into the case.

“Stop bringing politics into this matter. You(Waititu), your wife and children ate money belonging to the people that elected you. Thus you must return that you ate to them.

“Stop saying this is politics because you did this alone and you should carry your cross now,” uttered the Head of State.

The Jubilee party leader further pointed out that the controversial politician’s demise was just an example of the things to come in the future.

He indicated that it should serve as a lesson to the governors currently facing corruption charges.

The Commander-in-chief highlighted that the corrupt leaders should be aware that Kenya had changed and the citizens will not tolerate such behaviours.

At one point, Uhuru jokingly articulated that Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemiah should be warry of his MCAs or he may end up like Waititu.

“I was telling Kimemia, tread carefully here. Talk to your army(MCAs) well. Guard the property belonging to your people. If you try stretching your arm, it will be shortened and that is where they will pin you,” advised the leader of the ruling party.

He added, “If that happens, you(Kimemia) will start saying that Uhuru is after me. I am not after you. The people you steal from are the one who will come after you.

Watch the video below:

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There is confusion in Jubilee’s Tanga Tanga faction over their stand on Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).

The Deputy President Dr William Ruto allied lawmakers led by Senate Majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen on Friday changed their tune on BBI again, making another major declaration.

Just a few days ago, Tanga Tanga members announced the beginning of their own BBI rallies after their Naivasha retreat.

They announced that the first rally will be held in Nakuru County on February 8, 2020.

They outlined that the ongoing rallies spear-headed by handshake partner Raila Odinga have proved to be politically inclined.

However, the group has changed their tune, announcing that they will not be having their parallel rallies again.

The DP Ruto’s allies led by Senator Murkomen have now vowed to attend all BBI rallies across the country, dropping their intentions to run parallel events.

This comes days after President Uhuru Kenyatta summoned Ruto to State House over the Parallel BBI Rallies.

President Uhuru on Monday, January 27, summoned his deputy William Ruto at State House, Nairobi, and gave him a dressing down over parallel BBI meetings planned by the DP’s allies.

The head of state read a riot act to Ruto expressing his displeasure at the persistent attempts by the DP’s lieutenants to frustrate efforts of uniting Kenyans through the BBI, which is a brainchild of the March 9, 2018, handshake Uhuru had with ODM party leader Raila Odinga.

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The government has commenced generation nd issuance of Huduma Namba cards and electronic Identity Cards.

This is after the High Court on January 30 agreed to the roll-out of the National Integrated Identification Management System in favour of the government.

The schedule for the roll out of the process is set to be announced later.

A three-judge bench ruled on Thursday that Huduma Namba is lawful.

The justices did, however, note that the collection of DNA and GPS data were not only unconstitutional but also intrusive and unnecessary.

In a statement on Friday, Spokesman Cyrus Oguna said the ruling allows the generation of Huduma Namba to eligible Kenyans who registered.

Oguna said they will give Scheduled dates for the collection and issuance of the cards.

In February last year, a petition was filed challenging the implementation of NIMS barring the government from proceeding with the generation of e-ID.

The case was filed by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), the Nubian Rights Forum and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNHCR).

They questioned the implementation of a digital platform that will digitise and centralise records of vital life events of citizens and foreigners in Kenya.

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Ousted Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu’s deputy Dr James Nyoro has finally been sworn in as the third governor of Kiambu County.

Kiambu Chief Magistrate Patriciah Gichohi was the Master of Ceremony for the day and led proceedings.

High Court Judge John Oyiengo administered the oath of office at the ceremony attended by various leaders from Kiambu and beyond.

The ceremony proceeded smoothly a day after Nyoro’s scheduled swearing-in on Thursday, January 30 failed to take off as Oyiengo noted that organizers of the ceremony had failed to comply with various constitutional provisions.

The court on Thursday declined to grant Waititu orders to stop the swearing in of Nyoro as the new county chief.

Waititu on Thursday morning moved to Milimani Law Courts where he sought the orders and filed a suit challenging the senate’s majority vote to endorse his impeachment.

Waititu, argued that the Senate did not properly evaluate the impeachment motion forwarded from the County Assembly in December last year, that voted to send him parking over abuse of office and other charges.

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Tana River County governor Dhadho Godhana has been thrown into deep mourning.

On Friday morning, the county boss announced the passing on of his father Mzee Yona Hiribae Godhana.

Governor Godhana noted that death had robbed him a man who gave him grounded advice on many issues and who had a rich institutional memmory.

“Sad day.I lost my father, Mzee Yona Hiribae Godhana, this morning.Death has robbed me of a man who gave me grounded advice on many issues and who had a rich institutional memory. Fare thee well PAPA,” he tweeted.

His Kilifi .counterpart Amason Jeffer Kingi and Mombasa’s Hassan Ali Joho have joined him in mourning.

Kingi in his condolence message prayed that God grants Godhana strength and fortitude to bear the loss.

“We stand with you and the family during this difficult time & pray that God grants you strength & fortitude to bear this loss,” Kingi tweeted.

Joho on his part also wished strength for governor Godhana.

“My heartfelt condolences to you H.E Maj. (Rtd) @EGodhana following the passing on of your father Mzee Yona Hiribae Godhana. We in Mombasa wish you strength during this mourning period. May the Almighty God rest Mzee’s soul in eternal peace,” Joho tweeted.

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Nairobi county governor Mike Sonko who is running his operations outside his office has yet again made a quick reshuffle to his cabinet.

In the reshuffle, Sonko has reinstated Charles Kerich to his cabinet after firing him last month.

Mohamed Dagane who was also sent packing at the time was also drafted back.

Kerich and Dagane will play the role of CECs for Lands docket and Road docket respectively.

While restoring the two, the embattled Sonko also reshuffled his cabinet with the immediate former Lands CEC Pauline Kahiga and ex- Agriculture department head, Winfrend Gathangu, sent home.

Others officials given new dockets include Vesca Kangogo from Health and Environment to Devolution and Hitan Majevda will now head the Health department.

Reports have it that Kerich’s reinstatement was due to being innocent in the Precious Talents Academy tragedy.

Kerich and Dagane met their unfortunate fate after they were kicked out of office following the calamity that took the lives of 8 pupils in 2019.

The owner of the school, Moses Wainaina, explained that the county administration dug a sewer line behind the classrooms that would have caused the accident.

Following concerns raised by the public over the matter, the controversial leader took action after promising to get to the bottom of the matter.

Sonko on his part, claimed that rogue officials behind the catastrophe would be held responsible and justice sought for the families of the victims.


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Former Kakamega County senator Boni Khalwale has claimed that the High Court will reinstate embattled Kiambu County governor Ferdinand Waititu should the senate vote for his removal.

Waititu on Tuesday made a passionate appeal for senators to allow justice prevail as they hear an impeachment motion against him.

According to Waititu, the impeachment was driven by propaganda and political differences in the county.

“The whole process is politically instigated and the allegations against me lack basis and should be treated as so,” he said.

He fought to convince senators that the Kiambu County Assembly did not meet the threshold when they passed the verdict.

While the threshold is two thirds of the membership or 62 Members of the County Assembly, only 57 were present.

“I urge you to be fair in dispensing this motion, some of you might find yourselves in the same precarious position. Your decision today will inform decisions for such motions in future,” Waititu said.

Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen urged the House to allow the preliminary objections be determined first since the contention was whether an impeachment took place or not.

Lawyer Nani Mungai for the County Assembly said Waititu has been charged with accountability issues and abuse of office.

Solomon Kinuthia the MCA who moved the motion, was hard pressed to produce evidence that indeed the required number of members participated in the impeachment motion.

Senators are today (Wednesday) set to vote on whether the impeachment the Kiambu County boss should proceed after the plenary hearings which kicked off on Tuesday.

If the Senators agree to proceed with the impeachment hearings, Waititu will be given a chance to defend himself and even call witnesses to help him fight off the impeachment by MCAs who want him kicked out over several charges, including abuse of office, contravention of public finance management act.

Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka gave guidelines that allow Senators to make an informed decision when it votes on whether to impeach or not impeachment.

Waititu, his wife Susan Wangari and some of the officials in his administration were charged late last year with corruption-related offences.

They are out on bond but the court barred Waititu from accessing his office until the case is heard and determined.

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President Uhuru Kenyatta has told his Deputy Dr William Ruto that his relationship with ODM party leader Raila Odinga is unstoppable.

His message to the DP was issued in a closely guarded meeting between the two leaders on Monday afternoon at State House.

According to People’s Daily, the President is said to have summoned his deputy in the morning, but the meeting did not start until after two hours of Ruto’s arrival at State House, Nairobi, where none of the officials present were willing to confirm the talks.

Sources who spoke to the local daily revealed that the President told Ruto to his face that he has to stop the insubordination as well as frustrating his (Uhuru’s) unity efforts.

“He (Uhuru) told the DP that if he thought he was going to stop him from working with Raila in the unity bid he was daydreaming,” a source was quoted by the local daily.

The revelations come barely a day after President Uhuru, while addressing a gathering in Bahati Nakuru, emphasized that his course to unite the county apparently through the BBI was unstoppable.

The president in a bold declaration said the path of bringing the country together is one of his key plans as he serves his last term and no one will tell him otherwise.

“I will not be stopped in my bid to unite the country. That is the position I have taken moving forward in that direction. I want to ensure Kenyans remain peaceful during and after General Elections every five years,” said Uhuru.

The developments come in the wake of looming tension in the county after Tanga Tanga leaders allied to Deputy President William Ruto announced parallel rallies to that led by the ODM leader and his allies.

The Ruto-allies despite announcing earlier that they will be a party to each rally led by the ODM leader made a sudden u-turn after there Naivasha meeting saying they had decided to hold different rallies to reinforce on the already scheduled ones.

A group of MPs sensationally claimed yesterday their colleagues allied to DP Ruto were plotting to impeach President Kenyatta.

Addressing the press at the Parliament Buildings, the 32 legislators from the Kieleweke faction of Jubilee and ODM claimed Ruto allies were out to oust the President because they were unhappy with his Handshake deal with Raila and its resultant Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).

The legislators, who included the Leader of Minority in the National Assembly John Mbadi, Minority Whip Junet Mohammed and Kieni MP Kanini Kega, were reacting the Naivasha retreat meeting by Tanga Tanga.

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A section of Tanga Tanga members, a Jubilee Party faction associated with Deputy President William Ruto are now blaming Raila Odinga-led ODM party for their woes.

The Tanga Tanga group over the weekend held a retreat meeting in Naivasha which they termed as Jubilee party Parliamentary Group meeting.

However, their meeting was on Monday evening dismissed by Jubilee party Secretary General Raphael Tuju.

Tuju through a notice issued on Monday evening said the Naivasha meeting convened by members of its Tanga Tanga faction, was not a PG meeting.

Tuju said that such a meeting cannot and will never qualify to be a PG meeting.

According to Tuju, a PG meeting is only valid when it is convened and chaired by party leader or such other person whom the party leader may delegate the role.

He added that any resolutions of any meeting not convened in accordance with party’s provisions are not official party’s resolutions.

However, Nandi County Senator Samson Cherargei who is a tanga tanga member that was present in Naivasha retreat meeting says that Tuju is pushing an ODM narrative.

He accuses Tuju of working together with the enemies who are plotting to kill Jubilee.

According to Cherargei, their enemies fear that Jubilee has become a formidable political party with a national outlook.

“Tuju is pushing an ODM narrative & he is in bed with enemies & merchants who want to kill jubilee. they fear that jubilee has become a formidable political party with a national outlook.
I didn’t know being a CS without a portfolio is this idle,” he tweeted.

The Tanga Tanga MPs had announced the beginning of their own BBI rallies after the retreat.

The MPs said that the first rally will be held in Nakuru County on February 8, 2020.

The group outlined that the ongoing rallies spear-headed by handshake partner Raila Odinga have proved to be politically inclined.

The MPs noted that part of their recommendations on the BBI report include a 5% allocation of the national budget to go to farmers in Kenya.

They also recommended another 5% to be allocated to the unemployed or job seeking graduates in Kenya as a stipend to cater for their needs before they get a stable source of income.

Lastly, the Tanga Tanga squad recommended 3.5% allocation of the national budget to be directed to of the Judiciary arm of government for it to act independently.

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Embakasi East MP Babu Owino is finally free.

On Monday evening, the court ruled that the embattled MP should post a Ksh10 bond, which will be used to pay for the treatment of DJ Evolve, the man he was arrested for shooting in the neck during a night club altercation.

He was ordered to pay the hefty amount in four installments, with the first payment sufficing to guarantee his release.

He has also been restricted from taking alcohol or any narcotic drug.

The family of the victim, Felix Odhiambo Orinda, had opposed Babu’s release on bond in a court session that was not without drama.

The case had earlier taken a dramatic twist in court after one of the Babu’s supporters was arrested for shouting at a lawyer from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) office as the pre-bail hearing was ongoing.

Babu is represented by lawyers Dunstan Omari, Cliff Ombeta and five others.

Omari had pleaded with the court to release the Embakasi East MP so that we could proceed with his parliamentary duties to avoid losing his seat.

Babu had, on January 20, denied two counts – an unlawful attempt to cause the death of the Nairobi DJ and carrying a firearm while drunk and disorderly – following a gun drama at Nairobi’s B-Club on January 17.

The embattled lawmaker is accused of unlawfully attempting to end the life of Orinda after shooting him in the neck.

The offence commonly referred to as accessory after the fact to murder attracts life imprisonment.

“Any person who becomes an accessory after the fact to murder is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for life,” Section 222 of the Penal Code reads.

Owino also faced a second charge arising from his disorderly conduct while armed, the prosecution telling the court the legislator violated Sections 33 and 31 (1) of the Firearms Act.

The Act (Section 33) prescribes imprisonment for a term not exceeding a year, a fine not exceeding Sh10,000 or both for any person found guilty of carrying a firearm while drunk or disorderly.

CCTV footage from the club showed Babu shooting the DJ, while smoking shisha, and surrounded by his friends – including a lady who was seated just next to him.

The DJ is still admitted to Nairobi Hospital having undergone surgeries to remove a bullet that was lodged in his neck.

Owino had failed to appear in court on Thursday, January 23, in a case he is charged with uttering abusive words against President Uhuru Kenyatta because he was reportedly unwell and had been suffering from chest pains.

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Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party communication boss Philip Etale has narrated his experience in the Indian Ocean that almost took his life.

Etale who was in the Kenya’s coast for the third consultative BBI meeting on Friday dropped by the Sarova Whitesands for coffee at the Cocos Beach bar with his friends.

While at the beach, Etale says a boat operator approached him, convincing him to take a ride in the deep sea alongside his friends at a cost of Ksh 3,000.

While narrating the ordeal, Etale says he fall for the ride and had to convince his friends to go along with him for an adventure in the sea.

Three of his friends refused to take the challenge, but he managed to convince some four other friends.

They were quickly ushered into the waiting speed boat then the journey began.

He says the sea was calm and the ride became smooth and smoother.

After doing like about three and half kilometers and the excitement continued to increase, they started taking selfies, talking happily and laughing at their own jokes.

However, things started turning soar.

All of a sudden, Etale says the engine went off and all went quiet.

One of the operators said to them that the boat had run out of fuel.

All this while, the boat was just dancing on the water lifeless. Panic struck them for ten minutes as they just stagnated at one place floating on the water and shouting at the operators.

The operators then tried as much as they could to switch on the engine and eventually managed after a long struggle.

The ODM communication boss has vowed never to try the challenge ever again after surviving the ordeal.

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Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has exposed the man who attacked him during the Mombasa Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) consultative meeting in Mombasa.

Taking to his social media accounts after the rally, Kuria revealed the man’s identity.

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Makongeni MCA Peter Imwatok. Photo/courtesy

When ODM party leader Raila Odinga arrived at Mama Ngina water front, the venue of the event, Kuria happened not to have stood up.

It is at this point that Nairobi Makongeni ward MCA Peter Imwatok  accosted him and took away his BBI hat.

In video footage making rounds on social media, a group of people were recorded heckling the MP as he tried to fire back verbally.

He, however, resisted all attempts as he ‘defended his seat’.

Mr Kuria also revealed that the MCA  is also the ODM minority whip in Nairobi County. 

He cried out to Raila, seemingly calling action against the MCA.

“Dear Raila Amolo Odinga. This is the idiot MCA Peter Imwatok of Makongeni, Nairobi who accosted me, took away my BBI hat and even my seat at the Mombasa BBI meeting. He is also the ODM minority whip in Nairobi County. My fault? Refusing to stand up when Baba entered the venue. Question: Baba is this how Kenya would be if you were to become President? ” he posted.

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