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Mustafa Juma

Jubilee candidates in the just concluded nominations have allegedly reconciled and vowed to support soccer star McDonald Mariga in November 7 Kibra parliamentary race.

The candidates had threatened to support the opposition candidate in the upcoming by-elections arguing that Mariga had been rigged in during the Monday nominations.

But taking to social media on Thursday, Statehouse employee Dennis Itumbi who currently works at Deputy President Dr William Ruto revealed that the candidates had reconciled and vowed to back Mr Mariga.

Mariga has been rumored to have been imposed on Jubilee by DP Ruto.

One of the candidates Mr Morris Peter Kinyanjui who had protested Mariga’s selection said the selection was “not only unfair, deceptive and shrouded in secrecy but also contrary to the provisions of the Jubilee Party constitution.

In his petition to Jubilee Secretary-General Raphael Tuju that was received on September 3, Mr Kinyanjui stated that Article 11 of the party’s constitution provides for “open, free, fair and transparent nomination in national and county elections through consensus, secret ballot or through the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC)”.

He further said: “Not only was there no nominations conducted, the board “arrogated upon itself powers it does not have to conduct the aforesaid selection, and even then they did not feel it right to inform the aspirants.”

Since Itumbi alleges that the candidates have reconciled, Mariga will now face ODM candidate who will be nominated on Saturday September 7 through ballot, ANC’s Eliud Owalo and Ford Kenya’s Eng. Khamisi Butichi.

The Kibra MP seat fell vacant following the demise of Ken Okoth who succumbed to cancer in July.

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Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party membership register will be used in the Saturday September 7 race for the party’s ticket in upcoming Kibra Parliamentary race.

The party’s National Elections Board (NEB) led by Chairperson Senator Judith Pareno on Thursday briefed all candidates for the party ticket on the preparations for the nomination exercise.

The board said that all 180 polling stations gazetted by Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will be used in the exercise.

ODM Party leader Raila Odinga on Wednesday made clarifications concerning the nominations declaring that his support for the candidates was impartial.

He further dispelled the rumours that had been doing rounds concerning the AU Envoy secretly handpicking his candidate.

Amid cheers, Raila concluded his short address by assuring the elated aspirants that nominations will be free of bias.

“The nominations will be free and fair because this is a friendly match. I will guide whoever will emerge victorious.”

The aspirants seeking to contest for the Kibra seat on an ODM ticket include,  Awino Christone Odhiambo, Orero Peter Ochieng’, Sine Tony Ogola Sira, Ojijo Reuben William Ayako, Oguwa Stephen Okello, Okoth Bernard Otieno, Obayi Obaricks Eric Ochieng’, Owino Brian Shem, Millar John Otieno, Musungu Benson and Owade Lumumba Patrick.

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An eye witness in the ongoing South African Xenophobic attacks has recounted how the deadly attacks started in the country.

In a video doing rounds on Social media, two eye witnesses have narrated how a tax driver was shot dead in Pretoria town.

They say the attack on the tax driver was carried out by Tanzanians who have been terrorizing people in the town of Pretoria for a long period now.

According to the witnesses, the alleged Tanzanian Nationals do drug trafficking in the South Africa’s town and rob people.

They say they normally blame the attacks on Nigerians and convince the media and everyone that it is Nigerians who carry out the deadly attacks.

The attacks have triggered violence and widespread looting of South African-owned brands in Nigeria.

Protesters set fire to many entrances leading into a busy mall housing South African retail store Shoprite and looted groceries and toiletries from the supermarket in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial center.

Another outlet belonging to the chain and one owned by South African mobile company MTN were vandalized in Ibadan city in southwest Nigeria on Tuesday despite appeals from the government for peace.

Many other stores owned by Nigerians were also plundered in the raids.

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WCB Wasafi’s finest Rayvanny has come out to strongly condemn the ongoing xenophobic attacks in South Africa through his newest jam ‘No Xenophobia’.

In the song that was released on Thursday morning, Rayvanny urges Africans to open their eyes and minds to see what is going on in South Africa.

He says love is everything since we have same color, same kind, since we are children of ‘Mama Africa’.

The bongo star further urges those engaging in the ongoing killings to stop burning and killing Africa.

The attacks have brewed a culture war between South Africa and its continental neighbours.

Although the majority of the deceased were South Africans, that hasn’t stopped a fierce international condemnation coming our way.

The attacks have also triggered violence and widespread looting of South African-owned brands in Nigeria.

Protesters set fire to many entrances leading into a busy mall housing South African retail store Shoprite and looted groceries and toiletries from the supermarket in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial center.

Another outlet belonging the chain and one owned by South African mobile company MTN were vandalized in Ibadan city in southwest Nigeria on Tuesday despite appeals from the government for peace.

Many other stores owned by Nigerians were also plundered in the raids, which Rayvanny is seemingly addressing.

Watch Rayvanny’s video below:

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A video of Deputy President Dr William Ruto that is doing rounds on social media, where the DP talks about the Maasai Mau Forest has yet again sparked a debate among Kenyans amid government’s standoff on Maasai Mau Forest evictions.

In the video which was recorded in June last year, the DP is heard talking tough about the evictions.

Ruto who was speaking at Sogoo High School in Narok South where part of the forest is located asked those who are living beyond the cutline to move out saying environmental conservation was crucial for the country.

He also announced that those who are legal settlers will be issued with title deeds and 15 schools that were demolished in the 2005 eviction shall be rebuilding adding that the government has allocated Sh65Million for the project.

“Those who live inside the forest will be moved out. We have planted tea to separate the forest and the settlement area as we have to conserve our environment,” he said.

Watch the video in this tweet.

The video has just started doing rounds on social media as Rift Valley leaders call for Ruto’s intervention in the ongoing standoff but Ruto has hence remained mum on the issue.

Early this week, a group of leaders from the Rift Valley told President Uhuru Kenyatta to break his silence on the Mau complex evictions.

The order by Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko to have nearly 50,000 people voluntarily leave the Mau or be forced out without compensation has angered some leaders, culminating in meetings.

Some families have already started leaving the forest voluntarily. 15 schools have also been closed down.

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ODM party leader Raila Odinga on Wednesday convened a meeting with all the aspirants ahead of Saturday showdown where they will compete for the ticket.

He held a discussion with the candidates for the party ticket in the Saturday 7th September nominations, where among others, Odinga was assured by the aspirants that they will strictly adhere to the rules and regulations of the party besides rallying for peace.

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“PL @RailaOdinga today held a discussion with candidates for the party ticket in the Saturday 7th Sept. nomination exercise. The aspirants assured the party leader that they will adhere to the nominations rules and that they will ensure the exercise is peaceful,” the party confirmed.

Already, Jubilee party has fielded former footballer McDonald Mariga while ANC has settled for Eliud Owalo. Ford Kenya will be represented by Ramadhan Khamisi.

The seat was left vacant following the death of ODM legislator Ken Okoth in July.

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Raila Odinga-led Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has issued the procedure that should be followed in their upcoming Saturday 7 nominations ahead of Kibra by-elections.

The nominations that were to be held on 31st August were pushed to September 7 over lack of security personnel who were engaged in the census exercise.

The star had on Wednesday morning reported that ODM was considering a consensus in the Kibra primaries, a report that has been dismissed by the party.

The party through its official twitter handle on Wednesday asked Kenyans to ignore the story by The Star, saying that they are ready for the nomination exercise.

The party further noted that all candidates who were cleared for the nominations are also ready for the exercise.

“We are ready for the nomination exercise in Kibra this Saturday 7th Sept. 2019 at all @IEBCKenya gazetted polling stations. All candidates who were cleared for the nominations are also ready for the exercise. It is all systems go,” read the tweet.

The party further asked the media to stop speculations that are aimed at causing unnecessary friction and tension, arguing that the party has proper channels of communication and any information needed for dissemination should be sought from the SG, ED or the Director of Communications.

“The media should stop their speculative tendencies that are aimed at causing unnecessary friction and tension. We have channels of communication within the party and any information needed for dissemination should be sought from the SG, ED or the Director of Communications,” read the statement posted on twitter.

All the ODM supporters and members in Kibra constituency have been urged to prepare for the nominations exercise on Saturday. They should carry their ID and membership card to participate in the exercise.

“We urge our supporters and members of the party in Kibra Constituency as well as our candidates for the party ticket to prepare for the nominations exercise on Saturday, they should carry their ID & membership card to participate”

ODM further revealed that all party members are listed in the register and will be identified once at the polling station before taking part in the exercise.

However, Only ODM Party members will be allowed to participate in the nomination exercise in Kibra.

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Just a few months ago, Raila Odinga-led Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) admitted to have been in a deep financial crisis and and that it was unable to run some of its operations including grassroots elections.

Suna East MP Junet Mohamed who doubles as the director of elections admitted at a public event in Migori county in March this year that the Orange party was broke and needed to be bailed out to get back to the right track.

The party stated failure by the government to remit the political parties’ funds on time as the cause for its financial crisis.

However, exiled lawyer Dr Miguna Miguna seem not to have read from the same script as ODM.

Miguna is now claiming that the Orange party has been unable to pay rent at Orange house since last year.

According to the self-declared general, in December 2018, Caroli Omondi evicted Raila’s ODM from Orange House.

Miguna states that ODM begged him for an extension of the lease until March 2019 which came but the party failed to honor its pledge.

Miguna says that ODM cannot pay rent at Orange house up to now, accusing the party of getting used to theft and exploitation.

“In Dec. 2018, Caroli Omondi evicted Raila’s @TheODMparty from Orange House. ODM begged him for an extension of the lease until March 2019. March came and went but ODM which recently received Shs. 3 Billion public funds still can’t pay rent. They are used to theft & exploitation,” tweeted Miguna Miguna.

Orange House is the property of Caroli Omondi, who was once the principal administrative secretary in Mr Odinga’s prime minister’s office between 2008 and 2013.

ODM has been using the building since 2006, months after the party was formed.

Last year, ODM denied reports that it was being kicked out of Orange House, insisting that it was to leave out of mutual understanding.

The one-storey building, located in Nairobi’s Kilimani, is the base of ODM’s national secretariat.

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A section of Jubilee Party MPs has broken silence on the ongoing debate on McDonald Mariga’s ticket in the upcoming November 7 Kibra by-elections.

The soccer star was given a direct Jubilee ticket on Monday evening. But according to a section of leaders from the party, Mariga has been imposed on the party by Deputy President Dr William Ruto.

MPs Maina Kamanda (nominated) and Moses Kuria (Gatundu South) on Tuesday said they would back Opposition Chief Raila Odinga’s ODM candidate in the poll set for November 7.

Mr Kamanda said he would not allow Deputy President William Ruto to ruin the peace brought by the handshake between Raila and President Uhuru Kenyatta with his “selfish political interests”.

Mariga on Monday denied claims that his decision to vie for the seat was influenced by Dr Ruto.He said he had sought the advice of people close to him before deciding to throw his hat in the Kibra by-election ring.

Kamanda yesterday dismissed the former footballer’s assertions, saying Ruto was using him as a pawn in his quest to face off with Raila in Kibra.

“The candidate Jubilee Party picked has been imposed on the party by Ruto. He is Ruto’s candidate and not Jubilee’s. I am for a candidate who will be announced by ODM,” said Kamanda.

He questioned Ruto’s keenness on having a candidate in Kibra, even after Jubilee decided not to field any in Ugenya, Migori and Embakasi South for the sake of the handshake.

As a result, the leaders have vowed to support the opposition in the upcoming by-elections.

Mr Kuria said Mariga was not suited to represent Kibra. He vowed to throw his weight behind Benson Musungu should ODM settle on him.

Kuria said Mr Musungu had lived in the sprawling informal settlement and understood it, adding that the handshake had freed them to support any candidate irrespective of the party.Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja was also cagey on who intended to back in the Kibra by-election.

He said he had hoped Jubilee would back an ODM candidate to continue the late Ken Okoth’s legacy in Kibra.“I had asked my party to back a candidate from ODM, but that request was declined. What I can say is that Kibra needs a good leader who can continue what Ken started,” said Mr Sakaja.

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Soccer star McDonald Mariga’s Kibra MP candidature on a Jubilee party ticket has continued to raise more questions, with the latest being whether he is a registered voter or not.

The questions started on Monday evening after the President Uhuryu Kenyatta-led Jubilee party gave him the ODM flag to fly in the November 7 Kibra by-elections.

Details have however emerged that Mariga was listed as a voter in Kariakor only two weeks ago and may not be considered as a registered voter in Kenya just yet. 

This is because, the updated register has not been gazetted as required by law.

The last time IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati gazetted the voter register was in 2017.

But Jubilee Party NEB chairman Andrew Musangi quickly dismissed the claims as rumours, insisting one only needed to register to be a voter.

“The law only says that one should be a registered as a voter not gazetted to participate in an election, either as a voter or as a candidate. The gazettement does not make you a voter. It is the act of registration that makes you a voter,” he was quoted by a local daily.

“Gazettement is only evidence, but if I register as a voter, you are given a voter’s card and this is what you walk with as a voter. So, these are rumours. And by the way, if there is an issue, the IEBC will communicate to us and we will respond as a party.”

There are also accusations that Mariga was just rigged in, being Deputy President Dr William Ruto’s preferred candidate.

On Tuesday, one of the Jubilee Party contestants in the just concluded nominations Morris Peter Kinyajui appealed against Mariga’s nomination, arguing that Mariga is not a registered voter.

“To make matters worse, the said selected person is not a resident or a voter of Kibra constituency and there are serious doubts whether or not he has ever voted,” he protested.

“His candidature will be an impossible sell to the people of Kibra given the calibre of MP we had in the immediate past.”

Party secretary-general Raphael Tuju confirmed to a local daily that an appeal had been launched.

Will Mariga’s journey to parliament be easy as thought?

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Emurrua Dikirr Member of Parliament Johanna Ngeno has been arrested after leading protests against the second Mau Forest eviction.

Some local leaders have also opposed the planned evictions and called for dialogue.

Tension has gripped the settlers since Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko directed that they leave the forest.

The CS ordered the land to be cleared of human settlement immediately, because it forms a crucial part of the water tower.The evictions target about 10,000 families occupying approximately 17,000 acres of forest land.

On Monday, some 4,000 learners could not access primary schools that were put up by the Government at a cost of Sh40 million between 2011 and 2016.

About 100 policemen in five police vehicles were stationed around Sierra Leone according to a report by the Standard.

The armed regular officers were stationed at Koitabai Primary, Chebirbeleek, Sebetet, Noosagam.

They turned away the learners, informing them that there are no schools in the area.The children seemingly had heeded calls by some Rift Valley leaders, who on Sunday told residents to ignore the Government’s order asking pupils to stay away from the shut schools.

More to follow…………..

 

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Stivo Simple Boy became famous for his hit song ‘Vijana tuache mihadarati’, a song that advocates for all youths to shun drug abuse. But what comes to your mind when you first hear the term mihadarati? Well, some will think of bhang, cafein, heroine and all other hard drugs. However, some will think of alcohol.

On tuesday morning, Stivo Simple Boy was the talk of the internet when netizens spotted him taking alcohol at a certain drinking joint.

The Vijanaa hit maker was in the company of some other artists, among them being Jua Cali.

Kenyans on twitter took on Kibera’s finest, questioning what he meant by singing Vijana tuache mihadarati.

According to some, mihadarati, which loosely translates to drugs is only bhang as per Stivo’s understanding.

Some are now saying that drugs has to leave youths rather than the youths leaving the drugs.

Here are some of the reactions that have exploded the internet.

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Circumstances that led to President Uhuru Kenyatta-led Jubilee Party to land on McDonald Mariga Wanyama as its preferred candidate in Kibra by-elections has continued to stir different reactions among Kenyans.

Mariga on Monday evening was announced as Jubilee’s candidate, which the party through its NEB chairman Andrew Musangi said the decision was reached after a detailed interview.

The party initially had 16 candidates who presented them at the headquarters in Pangani, Nairobi for the interviews.

Besides Mariga, Morris Kinyanjui, Walter Trenk, Ibrahim Said, Doreen Wasike, Oscar Kambona, Bukachi Chapia, Jane Githaiga, Jack Owino, Elli Rajab and Daniel Aden were interviewed.

Others were Daniel Orogo, Ramadhan Hussein, Frank Amollo, Timothy Kaimenyi and Geoffrey Mwangu were interviewed.

However, accusations have now come out that Deputy President Dr William Ruto rigged in Mariga. Gabriel Oguda, a renown columnist says Doreen Wasike who was the Jubilee candidate in 2017, coming 2nd behind Ken Okoth was rigged in favour of Mariga.

The columnist has also accused Ruto of rigging in Mariga “simply because Mariga represents Ruto’s betting firm.”

“Doreen Wasike was the Jubilee candidate in 2017, coming 2nd behind Ken Okoth. She presented herself for vetting today, but Ruto rigged in MacDonald Mariga who has no political clout, simply because Mariga represents Ruto’s betting firm. You now know who’s been fighting women,” tweeted Gabriel Oguda.

Mariga will face ANC’s Eliud Owalo, Ford Kenya’s Khamisi Butichi and an ODM candidate. The Orange party will hold its nomination on Saturday.

The seat fell vacant following the demise of Ken Okoth who succumbed to cancer in July.

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The Kibra parliamentary race is really hotting up after President Uhuru Kenyatta-led Jubilee party settled on soccer star McDonald Mariga as their candidate in the November 7 by-elections.

Barely hours after Mariga was given a direct ticket on Monday, Kenyans have taken to social media to weigh into his candidature.

According to Mariga, he wants to become the Kibra MP because he was born and raised in the area, but Kenyans on twitter have not failed to buy his idea.

They are now accusing him of being someone’s project, an idea that Mariga has refuted.

They are claiming that he was not born and raised in Kibra as he claims.

Activist Boniface Mwangi claims that Mariga is a project of Jubilee and Betin, a gaming and gambling company, which he has been severally used to advertise.

Newspaper columnist Gabriel Oguda has argued that Deputy President William Ruto rigged in MacDonald Mariga “who has no political clout, simply because Mariga represents Ruto’s betting firm.”

Others have argued that Kibra is and will always be a Raila Odinga’s zone citing that someone is trying to ruin Mariga’s football career.

They have argued that Mariga has done nothing fruitful to Kibra people throughout his successful football career.

“Kibra is and will always be a Baba Zone. Take your logic to the bank and tell me how much you can get. Now, Mariga… is someone trying to ruin him or just eat his money? Someone tell me, what this guy has ever done with all his millions? Kibra itamnyoa bila Maji na Sabuni,” tweeted one of the twitter users.

Do you think Mariga will win the November 7 by-elections against ODM and ANC candidates?

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Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria has taken to his official twitter account to issue a piece of advice to Deputy President William Ruto hours after Jubilee party’s decision on who to fly its flag in upcoming Kibra by-elections.

On Monday, 16 candidates presented themselves at Jubilee Party Headquarters in Pangani, Nairobi for interviews and vetting.

Among the candidates who presented themselves is soccer star McDonald Mariga, who is said to have been pushed by former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and DP Ruto to vie for the Kibra vacant seat.

After the interviews, Mariga was declared the preferred Jubilee candidate in the Kibra parliamentary race.

After the declaration, Khalwale was among the first people who took to social media to celebrate Mariga’s Kibra candidature.

“We are lost for words to record our profound & sincere heartfelt gratitudes to the @JubileePartyK for nominating our young Macdonald Mariga as the candidate for the by-election in Kibra Constituency. Twende kazi! ” Khalwale tweeted.

However, Moses Kuria did not read from the same script with Jubilee Party. He took to social media to condemn Mariga’s nominations, issuing Ruto with a piece of advice.

He told Ruto to let Mariga spend time to grow Kenya’s football and talents. He further told Ruto to let Mariga be, since he will live to join “this silly, dirty game of politics another day.”

” Let Macdonald Mariga spend time to grow our football and our talents. Siasa itakuwepo leo, kesho na mtondogoo. @WilliamsRuto let the young man be. He will live to join this silly, dirty game of politics another day,” he wrote.

Mariga will be facing off Raila Odinga’s ODM candidate who will be decided in the Saturday nominations, Musalia Mudavadi’s ANC candidate Eliud Owalo and Moses Wetang’ula’s Ford Kenya candidate who will be unveiled this week.

The Kibra MP seat fell vacant following the demise of Ken Okoth who succumbed to cancer in July.

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Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale’s defection to Deputy President William Ruto’s Jubilee side has continued to raise more questions among Western leaders.

Over the weekend, Western leaders opposed to DP Ruto ganged up against his tanga tanga brigade that is led by Dr Khalwale.

The leaders who included nominated MP Godffrey Osotsi and ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna told off Ruto, telling him that his frequent visits to western are of no use.

This is when Osotsi had to open up on the ceremony that marked Khalwale’s official joining of Ruto’s Jubilee side.

According to Osotsi, Khalwale defected to Ruto’s Jubilee in a small ceremony in his house in Malinya and not Bukhungu stadium or Muliro gardens where major political declarations are made.

He made the remarks while arguing out that Ruto has not been able to make any key allies from Western apart from Khalwale.

“The DP and his cronies should re-evaluate what they are calling inroads in Western after their highly-expensive trips. How many key leaders have they acquired from our side? I think they can only brag of Boni Khalwale …. but then Khalwale defected to Ruto’s Jubilee in a small ceremony in his house in Malinya and not Bukhungu stadium or Muliro gardens where major political declarations are made,” Mr Osotsi was quoted by Daily Nation.

He said ODM supporters are simply on “a political go-slow because President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed them to avoid aggressive politics and support their agenda of all-inclusive Kenya and fight against corruption”.

The leaders argued that Ruto has no chance in Western “regardless of how many time he comes calling”.

“The people of Western know which leaders have their interests at heart, and it is not Ruto,” Sifuna was quoted.

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