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“You’re Too Junior!” Atwoli Slams Senator Malala Over Threats To Stop His Bukhungu Meeting

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has torn into Kakaemega senator Cleophas Malala over a Luhya meeting that is scheduled for December 31, 2021 at Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega town.

Malala while addressing Kakamega residents on Sunday December 26, 2021 said that the meeting that has been planned by Atwoli is fake, and that it has been called off.

According to Malala, Atwoli must seek permission from Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi before holding a Luhyia meeting.

The vocal lawmaker went ahead to claim that Atwoli wants to use the meeting to force the Luhya community to endorse ODM leader Raila Odinga for 2022 presidency.

Malala argued that Kakamega is his political bedroom, and that there is no any meeting that was going to happen without him being consulted.

According to him, a meeting meant to endorse Raila should be held in one of his political backyards, either in Siaya or Kisumu.

“It is now official. The fake Luhya meeting slated for the 31st Dec at Bukhungu Stadium is hereby nullified, ” Malala posted on Twitter.

However, Atwoli while responding to the claims told off Malala, saying that he was too junior.

Atwoli argued that Malala has no capacity to speak on behalf of the Luhya community, and has no any ability to call off such meetings.

The flamboyant trade unionist went ahead to clarify that the Bukhungu meeting is still on, and that it will bring together all progressive leaders and locals from all the five Western Kenya region counties.

“You are a junior Senator who has neither the capacity to speak on behalf of the Luhya community nor the ability to call on and off such a meeting. The Bukhungu II meeting brings together ALL progressive leaders and locals from the 5 counties in the region,” Atwoli tweeted.

On Sunday December 26, 2021, Atwoli hosted the Orange party leader at his Khwisero home. Raila accepted the invite to attend the Bukhungu meeting.

From Atwoli’s home, Raila toured Busia County where he held meetings in Budalangi.

Raila declared his interest in the 2022 presidential race on Friday November 10, 2021 during the Azimio La Umoja Convention that was held at the Moi Sports Centre, Kasarani.

Deputy President William Ruto, Musalia Mudavadi, Mukhisa Kituyi and National Assembly speaker Justin Muturi are some of the leaders interested in succeeding President Uhuru Kenyatta.

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Lifestyle

Mental Health Awareness: Parents Urged To Embrace Positive Relationship With Their Children

by Pauline Waswa
written by Pauline Waswa

Parents have been asked to create a good relationship between them and their children in order to create a free platform where they can share their issues without any fear of being scolded during this festive season.

Speaking during a pad drive event at red cross offices in Bungoma, Tracy Mutala who is a youth advocate and a mentor to young people noted that the act of keeping the children close and mentoring them accordingly will see many of them feel wanted, listened to and also adapting good characters and avoiding the bad behaviors that have seen many of them participate in unrests in schools.

Miss Tracy asked the parents to use this holiday to bond with their children to allow an emotional presence between them and the children Moreso the teenagers saying that mental health issues is one of the reasons that contributes to school unrest.

She went ahead to ask the parents and guardians to caution their children on excessive exposure to social media during this holiday noting that they tend to be wasting their time, instead they should direct their energy to profitable events like games, tournaments and church competitions to consume their free time.

She called out the advocates of change and mentors to not only focus on empowering the girl child in the society but to empower both genders.

“It is very important to empower both genders because the more we empower one gender leaving out the other, the impact become null and void because one gender ends up to be more empowered and it will not be easy to push the other gender to be at the same level with the other,” she said.

She further called upon the society at large to take a responsibility in guiding the young people to adopt good behaviors so that the rising school unrests come to an end.

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Crime & Investigations

41-Year-Old Murang’a Man Fighting For His Life After Being Sodomised By 4 Young Men

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

A man aged 41 years is fighting for his life in hospital after he was attacked and sodomised by four young men in Murang’a.

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the bizarre incident happened in Githiagara village in Kugumo, Murang’a County.

The man who was walking home at 1am on Tuesday was rushed to a Murang’a hospital while in serious condition.

At the time, he is said to have been coming from one of the local drinking joints. He was walking from Kahethu shopping centre to his home.

“The man was walking home from imbibing frothy waters with elders, when he was approached by the four, at around 1am. They immediately dragged him to a secluded area before they wrestled him to the ground and did the despicable act in turns,” reads part of the statement by DCI.

After the act, the man is said to have been left lying on the ground helpless.

Following the beastly incident, two suspects Bernard Kamande, 25 and Erick Kimani, 21 who were positively identified by the victim have been arrested and are currently being held at Muthithi Police Station.

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Crime & Investigations

One Dead, Several Injured As Neo Kenya Bus Full Of Students Overturns

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Several students from Gititu mixed secondary in Murang’a county were injured after a Neo Kenya bus they were travelling in overturned.

According to reports, the vehicle overturned a few moments after departing from the school.

While confirming the incident, Makuyu police boss Alexander Shikondi said the bus driver had perished in the accident.

The students were being ferried to their respective homes after they closed school on Monday morning, December 13, 2021.

Police reports indicate that the driver lost control of the vehicle at a sharp corner and the bus overturned with the students on board. 

Good Samaritans rushed to the crash site and helped pull the students out of the bus. Rescue teams helped to ferry the students to various hospitals in the county.

Police stated that six students were treated and discharged from the Makuyu sub-county hospital where they had been taken.

At Kenol hospital an additional six students were treated and discharged while one is admitted with a fractured hand. 

Two other female students were referred to Thika Level 5 hospital where they are currently under treatment.

Eight more students were taken to the Muranga level 5 hospital where they were treated and discharged. One student is currently admitted at the health facility while one more was referred to the Kenyatta national hospital with complex injuries.

The Neo Kenya vehicle was towed to the Makuyu police station. 

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Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Business

How Covid-19 Vaccination Requirements Have Affected International Travel

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), a serious respiratory viral infection caused by a novel coronavirus named SARS-COV2 whose outbreak started in Wuhan City, Hubei Province in mainland China and has since spread globally has remained to be a thread to the entire world.

To offer a life-saving protection against the Covid-19 pandemic, scientists around the globe have worked so hard to come up with Covid-19 vaccines.

Despite the record speed at which they have been developed, COVID-19 vaccines have still been subject to the same checks, balances, and scientific and regulatory rigour as any other vaccine, and shown to be safe.

So far, the vaccines have been spread across the world, with African countries receiving donations from developed nations.

Kenya is among the countries that have been receiving the Covid-19 vaccines from donors around the world, and the country targets to vaccinate a large population by next year.

So far, Kenya has only managed to vaccinate a smaller percentage of her populations, with citizens being encouraged to come out in large numbers and get vaccinated.

However, the vaccination is currently among the requirements of international travels.

According to studies, fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to get and spread COVID-19.

However, international travel poses additional risks, and even fully vaccinated travelers might be at increased risk for getting and possibly spreading some COVID-19 variants.

To avoid such issues, many countries have denied entry to visitors who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19 pandemic.

In November 2021, Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced that only people who have got both shots of the vaccines, such as AstraZeneca, Pfizer or Moderna or the single shot Janssen jab will be able to access government services or travel across the country.

According to the health minister, all travellers to Kenya will have to carry a Covid-19 vaccine certificate.

After the announcement, Kenya joined Spain, Iran, Italy, Denmark, Israel and Germany in imposing such strict measures in the fight against the virus.

Kagwe said that visitors, tourists, travellers from the European region must be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination before they enter Kenya.

But how is someone considered fully vaccinated?

Well, for you to be considered fully vaccinated, you have to meet the following conditions.

  1. You will be considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks (14 days) after your dose of an accepted single-dose vaccine
  2. Two weeks (14 days) after your second dose of an accepted 2-dose series
  3. Two weeks (14 days) after you received the full series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine (not placebo) in a clinical trial
  4. Two weeks (14 days) after you received the full series of a Novavax (or Covovax) COVID-19 vaccine (not placebo) in a phase 3 clinical trial
  5. Two weeks (14 days) after you received 2 doses of any “mix-and-match” combination of accepted COVID-19 vaccines administered at least 17 days apart.

The United States of America has also advised U.S Citizens, U.S. Nationals, U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents, and Immigrants not travel internationally until they are fully vaccinated.

In case they travel, they have also been advised to always check their destination’s COVID-19 situation and travel requirements before traveling since countries may have their own entry and exit requirements.

When you travel to the United States by air, you are also required to show a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before you board your flight. You have been exposed to COVID-19, unless you are fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days.

People have also been discouraged to travel if they are sick or tested positive for COVID-19 and haven’t ended isolation (even if you are fully vaccinated).

You are also advised not to travel if you are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test. This is because the results may come back positive while you are at your destination. This means you will need to isolate and postpone your return until it is safe for you to end isolation.

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Latest News

Matiang’i Declares Monday a Public Holiday

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has announced Monday December 13, 2021 as public holiday.

This is by dint of Jamhuri Day falling on a Sunday.

Matiang’i in a statement to newsrooms said the government will hold the celebrations on the said day but the country will have a holiday on Monday in line with the Constitution.

He noted that this will be in line with the provisions of Sections 2 and 4 of the Public Holidays Act (Cap 110).

“This day bears profound historical significance as it marks the attainment of Kenya’s independence and the birth of the Republic. All citizens are encouraged to honour and celebrate this day in a manner that promotes unity, national cohesion and economic progress in the country,” the statement read.

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Lifestyle

The Impact of COVID-19 on Sport, Physical Activity And Well-being And Its Effects on Social Development

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma
  • Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, several sectors across the world have suffered adverse effects.
  • The pandemic forced several governments across the globe to introduce some measures to curb its spread.
  • To safeguard the health of athletes and others involved, most major sporting events at international, regional and national levels were cancelled or postponed in 2020.

Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, several sectors across the world have suffered adverse effects.

Having spread to many parts of the world within a short period of time, the pandemic forced several governments across the globe to introduce some measures to curb its spread.

The measures include social and physical distancing, lockdowns of businesses, schools and introduction of dusk to dawn curfew.

The measures, which have now become commonplace to curtail the spread of the disease, have also disrupted many regular aspects of life, including sport and physical activity.

The impact of COVID-19 on sporting events and the implications for social development

Although governments have been exercising a safe reopening of sporting events, things are yet to return to normal.

To safeguard the health of athletes and others involved, most major sporting events at international, regional and national levels were cancelled or postponed in 2020– from marathons to football tournaments, athletics championships to basketball games, handball to ice hockey, rugby, cricket, sailing, skiing, weightlifting to wrestling and more.

The Olympics and Paralympics, for the first time in the history of the modern games were postponed in 2020 and held in 2021.

The global value of the sports industry is estima­ted at US$756 billion annually.

According to a report released in 2020 by United Nations, many millions of jobs are at risk globally, not only for sports professionals but also for those in related retail and sporting services industries connected with leagues and events, which include travel, tourism, infrastructure, transportation, catering and media broadcasting, among others in the face of Covid-19.

Professional athletes in the year 2020 were under pressure to reschedule their training, while trying to stay fit at home, and they risked losing professional sponsors who may not support them as initially agreed.

Sports education sector, which is comprised of a broad range of stakeholders, including national ministries and local authorities, public and private education institutions, sports organizations and athletes, NGOs and the business community was also affected by the closure of education institutions around the world due to COVID-19

While this community has been severely impacted by the current crisis, it can also be a key contributor to solutions to contain and overcome it, as well as in promoting rights and values in times of social distancing.

As the world begins to recover from COVID-19, there will be significant issues to be addressed to ensure the safety of sporting events at all levels and the well-being of sporting organizations.

Physical activity and well-being

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, people were unable to practice normally. This came as a result of closure of gyms, stadiums, pools, dance and fitness studios, physiotherapy centres, parks and playgrounds.

In Kenya, people have been going for morning runs either individually or as a group, but this became almost impossible when the dusk to dawn curfew was introduced, making it hard for people to go outside their homes in the name of doing physical exercise.

As a result, many people tend to be less physically active, have longer screen time, irregular sleep patterns as well as worse diets, resulting in weight gain and loss of physical fitness.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is important for someone to have 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week. This is helpful, especially in times of anxiety, crisis and fear.

Therefore, lack of access to regular sporting may result in challenges to the immune system and physical health.

Mental health impacts which can compound stress or anxiety that many will experience in the face of isolation from normal social life can also be attributed to the lack of proper physical exercise.

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Business

The Tanzanian pocketing 70% of South Sudan taxes

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

The South Sudan government is nearly grinding into a halt after it emerged that 70% of the tax collected doesn’t go into government coffers but is siphoned away by none other than the man incharge of South Sudan Tax agency, a Tanzanian Patrick K Mugoya.

The Tanzanian who got the job last year, immediately formed a cartel that siphons money with martial precision, a fate that has even amazed some of the most corrupt South Sudan leaders.

Patrick K. Mugoya, a Tanzanian national was hired in 2020 as National Revenue Authority Commissioner General to help the government of realise effective tax collection and custom administration under a contract funded by the Africa Development Bank

On assuming the office, Patrick landed in the hand of cartels who have always been stealing taxes.

The South Sudan national intelligence agency estimates the money lost in the past 18 months Mugoya has been at helm is at at least USD 240 million.

According to intelligence briefs that was shared with Africa Development Bank six months ago and yet no action has been taken against their employee draining South Sudan government coffers, notably one officer, Mugoya’s deputy Lino Ajang Ajang was the one who recruited the New commissioner General into the cartel, but it is Mugoya who professionalised it to international standards that has even shocked the most corrupt people in South Sudan government, Mugoya began to collect taxes directly from tax payers and transport it by air, using private plane tail number UJF428 to Uganda with the help of Lino Ajang Ajang. At one time Ajang had to carry 3 million dollars in a bag up to Tanzania where is was received by Mugoya’s three children.

Intelligence from South Sudan intelligence agency reveal other members of this cartel include: Deputy Commissioner General of NRA Hon. Africano Mande who joint the cartel after Realizing that he couldn’t stop them. He opened various accounts in the name of NRA in commercial banks who’s collection do not go to government coffers. We have the account numbers and the amounts that have passed through the said accounts, information that was shared to Africa Development Bank.

He turned NRA to spending agency for him to siphon money out through projects and purchase of nonessential things.

The other person in the cartel is Gen. Akol Ayii, the Director General of South Sudan Custom. He is well connected with the first family who protect him from being remove from the office. Gen. Akol takes away 70% of custom duty tax at various border point and juba airport which he shares with other powerful individuals inside the system.

Hussain Abdelbagi Ayii, the Vice-president in charge of services cluster. This VP is one of Lino Ajang Ajang pillars. He is said to be building a powerful Islamic movement in South Sudan in which Ajang Ajang is helping him mobilise funds from government taxes.

The cartel include many people from Domestic Tax Division where Mr Ajang Ajang is a patron.

Unknown to the Africa Development Bank, the person they are paying salary has forgotten expertise role he was hired for/ sourced to come and play, he indulged himself in deadly financial fraud, taking advantage of lack of oversight of his performance.

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Lifestyle Changes Among Kenyans Post-Pandemic
Lifestyle

Lifestyle Changes Among Kenyans Post-Pandemic

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma
  • Because COVID-19 returns in waves, the psychological impacts of physical distancing will persist over time and may indeed become accentuated with repeated iterations of physical distancing.
  • Increasing handwashing, minimizing face touching, wearing masks in public, and physical distancing are the measures that have been adopted globally.
  • Similarly, as aerosols are known to be the primary method of spreading the virus, people will avoid hugging others.

When the Covid-19 pandemic first hit Kenya in March 2020, the President Uhuru Kenyatta-led government implemented its so-called ‘partial lockdown’ in which people were urged to leave their homes as little as possible and work from home.

A phased lockdown was also implemented in the country, affecting several towns and major cities.

In fact, the whole of Western Kenya Counties were in 2021 put under lockdown after Covid-19 cases in the area surged.

This life changing event may have caused changes in lifestyle behaviour, an important factor in the onset and course of diseases.

Covid-19 pandemic

Well, Covid-19 belongs to the same family of viruses (coronaviruses) as the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV).

Many respiratory viruses are believed to transmit over multiple routes, including droplets, aerosols, and fomites.

Respiratory droplets moving from one person to another and contact with contaminated surfaces and objects are the primary sources of transmission.

 Presymptomatic transmission is the second type of transmission, in which the virus is transmitted from an infected person who has yet to develop symptoms to another person.

Covid-19 preventive measures

To curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, the government through the ministry of health introduced some measures , among them physical distancing, stay at home orders and the dusk to dawn curfew.

However, the effectiveness of physical distancing is determined by individual behavior.

Change of behaviors

The interventions most essential for control of pandemics necessarily disrupt social processes. Public measures were implemented in response to COVID-19; people were encouraged by authorities, media, and peers to voluntarily adopt “personal distancing” behaviors to reduce virus transmission (e.g., avoiding physical contact or close proximity with non-household members and reducing use of shared public spaces).

Various guidelines have been issued to reduce the spread of the pandemic, including avoiding handshaking or any type of physical contact, avoiding social gatherings or visiting family or friends, wearing masks and gloves, closure of public venues, and tourism and travel restrictions.

Increasing handwashing, minimizing face touching, wearing masks in public, and physical distancing are the measures that have been adopted globally.

Because COVID-19 returns in waves, the psychological impacts of physical distancing will persist over time and may indeed become accentuated with repeated iterations of physical distancing.

Given that physical distancing affects the types of activities in which one can engage and impacts how activities are carried out, it is likely that this accounts for some of the psychological impact.

Studies evaluating the changes in lifestyle due to restrictions imposed as precautionary measures have been conducted across the globe.

Post-pandemic era

In Kenya, public transport was affected, with Public Service Vehicles only allowed to carry half the capacity. Although the public transport has now gone back to normal, the industry must develop strategies to reduce this impact and plan well for the post-pandemic era.

Attending gatherings of family and friends or hugging them, religious gatherings and political gatherings were all restricted, and Kenyans had to learn how to live with this reality.

The dusk to dawn curfew which was also implemented forced Kenyans to also adjust their time schedules, from working till late in the night, to being in their houses by as early as 6pm.

Although the curfew has hence been lifted, a section of Kenyans are still getting into their houses by 10pm.

Well, will lifestyle changes brought about by this measures affect Kenyans in the post-pandemic era? Well, although little studies have been done on these, there are probabilities that many Kenyans will not go back to normal.

With new waves of Covid-19 continuing to emerge, Kenyans are likely to continue exercising caution as far as the pandemic is concerned.

In contrast, the minimum distances that have been maintained between an infected person and a potential host are disputable and are far from being established based on scientific evidence.

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Politics

“Hatupangwingwi!” Senator Malala Breathes Fire In Bungoma, Threatens To Ditch OKA

by Pauline Waswa
written by Pauline Waswa

Kakamega senator Cleophas Malala has threatened to dump the One Kenya Alliance (OKA) should the coalition associate itself with ODM leader Raila Odinga.

The vocal lawmaker told off the former Premier to cease from deceiving other leaders for his own benefits.

Speaking while addressing locals in Bungoma town during the One Kenya Alliance (OKA) people’s tour of the the Western region on Friday November 26, 2021, Malala urged other leaders to refuse the mind games played by Raila.

The first time senator noted that Raila’s political game ends up benefitting him and his people alone.

Malala’s rant comes days after Raila attended the Wiper party’s National Delegates Convention (NDC) at the Kasarani Gymnasium where Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka was endorsed as the party’s flag bearer in the coming 2022 general elections.

Malala noted that in 2017, Western Kenya leaders united to support NASA whose flag bearer was Raila, who then went into a political marriage with President Kenyatta through the famous March 2018 handshake without consulting his co-principals.

The lawmaker argued that Raila was given Kshs. 250 billion to build up his supporters, but he instead went ahead to use the money for his own benefit.

“I want Wetangula, Mudavadi and Kalonzo to learn a lesson from Raila after he went into agreement with President Kenyatta he forgot about NASA issues,” he said.

According to Malala, Raila used the alleged funds to build his Kisumu region, neglecting the western region.

He warned that OKA supporters would defect to other alliances should the coalition bring the Orange party on board.

“If you are going to unite independently as One Kenya Alliance (OKA) we are going to support you but if you are going to include ODM then we promise to decamp,” he said.

In presence was the Bungoma senator Moses Masika Wetangula who noted that people should have faith in One Kenya Alliance for it is the one going to form the next government in 2022.

Wetang’ula further noted that OKA will not betray Kenyans but instead bring equity, employment and change
among Kenyans.

Also present during the OKA tour of the Bungoma County was ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi, his KANU counterpart Gideon Moi, Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka and former Presidential aspirant Cyrus Jirongo.

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Crime & Investigations

Embattled Nick Mwendwa Re-arrested

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Embattled Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Nick Mwendwa has been allegedly re-arrested.

The arrest comes just a day after after the state failed to prefer charges against him.

Reports indicate that Mwendwa is currently being held at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters along Kiambu Road.

Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Wandia Nyamu on Thursday November 25, 2021 ordered that Nick Mwendwa’s Sh4 million cash bail be refunded to him after the Prosecution failed to press charges against the suspended FKF administrator.

On November 17, magistrate Nyamu gave the State seven days to file charges against Mwendwa, failure of which, he’d be released unconditionally.

On Thursday, the Prosecution, in a virtual session, said it had not prepared any charges against Mwendwa, prompting the magistrate to release Mwendwa unconditionally.

He was facing allegations of misappropriating at least Sh400 million belonging to FKF, claims he vehemently denied.

Mwendwa’s team at FKF was removed on November 11, and replaced by a caretaker committee, as investigations into the federation’s finances continued.

DCI detectives last week arrested Mwendwa and arraigned him before resident magistrate Wandia Nyamu and sought to detain him for 14 days to complete investigations.

The state cited fictitious withdrawals amounting to Sh29,502,302 and money transfers of Sh8.5 million wired to private bank accounts including that of Mwendwa.

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Business

The Nairobi West Hospital Unveils 24-Hour Customized Helipad To Bolster Medical Emergency Services

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

The Nairobi West Hospital has unveiled a 24-hour customized helipad to bolster medical emergency services.

Founded in the1980s with a view of offering excellent care to millions of patients from all walks of life, the facility’s unveiling of the helipad targets a growing local and international demand.

This will boost the hospitals ability to respond to medical emergencies by facilitating air evacuations in the country and across the East Africa region.

According to the Nairobi West Hospital chief medical officer, Dr. Andrew Gachie, the lifesaving resource will speed up access to medical services especially for critically ill patients.

“Each minute will now henceforth make a huge difference in our patients lives. The new helipad will speed up the time incurred transferring critically ill patients to the Hospital, giving them the very best chance of survival,” Dr. Gachie said.

He added that the facility will also cure the challenge of navigating traffic that has been a major headache in medical emergency evacuation especially for ground ambulances that normally waste hours of crucial time.

“We are now moving away from the ground to a more efficient air medical emergency evacuation regime,” Dr Gachie added.

The 50.5 meters-high helipad that is perched atop its 17 story- modern medical facility is designed to give patients quick access to crucial care in cases involving trauma, critical care, surgery, high-risk birthing and premature new-born critical care.

The Helipad has been designed and built to Joint Commission International standards with a capacity to hold up to eight tonnes.
A trauma bay has been developed below the helipad to handle critical events during the emergency evacuations.

The Hospital has expanded into a center offering general and specialized services to clients both locally and from the East African region, since it was founded.

The helipad will be a shot in the arm for the hospital forays into medical tourism bouyed by its solid reputation in the fields of cancer management, Accident & Emergency and transplants.

“We now have the right modern medical facilities that can offer a record 2-5 minutes treatment of critical illnesses. We are changing management of cancer in the country and across the region,” Dr Gachie said.  

Through partnerships with Turkish and Indian firms, the hospital intends to offer packages of cancer treatments including bone marrow transplant.

The hospital has a state of the art laboratories, 78-bed ICU facility and six operational theatres that will see the start of organ transplant over the next two months.

Dr. Gachie noted the latest development will be a great addition to the hospitals infrastructural developments.

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GSU Officers
Crime & Investigations

GSU Officer Opens Fire At Camp, Shoots Colleague Dead

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

A General Servive Unit (GSU) officer at the Miteta camp in Laikipia County is on the run after he reportedly opened fire and shot dead his colleague.

Laikipia County Police Commander John Nyoike while confirming the incident said the suspect shot his colleague on the head after a heated debate.

The debate which led to the heated argument is however still unknown. The suspect is said to have fled after committing the incident.

He is said to have picked his rifle and opened fire, shooting the other one on the head after their argument got hot, killing him on the spot.

After the incident, the assailant picked up his belongings that were packed in a bag, his rifle and fled towards the conservancy.

The officer further started shooting indiscriminately at the camp as he fled towards the Laikipia Nature Conservancy.

Officers have since been dispatched to the area to pursue, track and capture him.

The body of the victim was taken to Nyahururu County Referral Hospital mortuary awaiting post mortem.

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Lifestyle

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Lifestyle, Mental Health And Well-being of Adults And Children in Kenya

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma
  • A mental health crisis has emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Changed lifestyle pattern had a negative effect on mental health and quality of life of Kenyans, both adults and children.
  • Previous studies have highlighted the importance of healthy lifestyles as they are crucial in maintaining and improving physical and mental health and improving the quality of life.

The break out of the Covid-19 pandemic brought about changes on the way people live, their mental health, well-being among other effects. Or is it?

Well, the first Covid-19 case to be reported in Kenya since the beginning of the outbreak in China in December 2019 was confirmed on March 12, 2020. Since then, things never remained the same.

As of Monday November 22, 2021, 258 million cases of Covid-19 had been recorded globally, with 5.15 million deaths. Kenya has reported about 255,000 coronavirus infections and 5,300 coronavirus-related deaths.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the Kenyan government to close schools between March 2020 and September 2020 for Grades Four, Eight and Form 4, and up to December 2020 for all other classes.

mutahi kagwe – Kenya News Agency
Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe. PHOTO/COURTESY.

However, the pandemic did not only affect the schools, which have hence resumed but with an amended academic calendar, but also affected the lifestyle of Kenyans, their mental health, and the well-being of both adults and children.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to isolation because people have to remain at home to prevent infection, but this is likely to have a detrimental effect on the physical and mental health of individuals.

Lifestyle

Previous studies have highlighted the importance of healthy lifestyles as they are crucial in maintaining and improving physical and mental health and improving the quality of life.

You can all agree that the Covid-19 pandemic has totally affected the way Kenyans used to live. Isn’t it? The government announced several measures to curb the spread of the pandemic.

Shortly after the schools were closed, a nationwide dusk to dawn curfew was imposed in Kenya. This was followed by a lockdown in major cities of Nairobi and Mombasa, whereby Kenyans were not allowed to enter or leave the said cities.

As a result, Kenyans found it hard to adapt to the new way of living, since they were now required to be in their houses by 7pm, and only get out after 4am. Bars and restaurants were as well closed, and every Kenyan, apart from children, have been putting on face masks to protect themselves from contracting the coronavirus.

Washing of hands each and every time, or using an alcohol-based sanitizer has been a norm. Or is it?

All these measures have hence changed the way people used to live. Initially, people could freely visit each other and share whatever they have, but the covid-19 measures required that one stays at home, and always maintains a 1 metre social distance whenever he/she is in public.

People have also struggled to adjust their normal daily schedules from working until late and some even overnight, to being at home by the time that had been set under the curfew.

Currently, some of these measures have been relaxed, but it has proved to be hard for Kenyans to go back to normal.

The Covid-19 pandemic is still here with us, and this fact has made Kenyans to continue observing the measures that have been put by the government to curb the spread of the pandemic.

The pandemic has also brought about significant changes in daily living patterns among adults in Kenya. With changed daily schedules caused by social distancing, the closure of colleges, universities and shops, there were changes in how Kenyans preoccupied themselves, in which they tended to spend less time on social activities, leisure, and education. 

Eating habits

Eating habits also changed during the pandemic as a result of the measures announced by the government to curb spread of the pandemic. Do you remember how Kenyans were thrown into panic shopping with rumors that the country was going to witness a total lockdown?

Well, most Kenyans rushed to buy foods that cannot go bad easily. As a result, most of them consumed significantly more carbohydrates and minerals and significantly less alcohol, since bars and restaurants had been closed. Initially, alcohol was allowed to be sold as takeaways only, then the sell was banned before it was allowed again . 

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Changed lifestyle pattern had a negative effect on mental health and quality of life of Kenyans, both adults and children.

In particular, government actions related to social distancing have been proved to be effective public health measures; however, they could also cause health problems other than COVID-19 infection such as psychological distress and fear.

Therefore, it is essential to prioritize the preventive approach as practiced in Kenya to stay protected and maintain health and wellbeing.

A mental health crisis has emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In 2020, Kenya  was ranked 6th among African countries with the highest cases of depression, which triggered anxiety by the World Health Organization (WHO), with 1.9 million people suffering from a form of mental conditions such as depression and substance abuse.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that one in four people is affected by mental or neurological disorders globally at some point in their lives. This places mental disorders among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide.

According to a study by Dr. Habil Otanga, a Lecturer at the University of Nairobi, Department of Psychology, measures such as those introduced by Kenyan government to curb the spread of the pandemic can in turn lead to surge in mental related illnesses.

The illness include depression, feelings of confusion, anger and fear, and even substance abuse.

Children and young people

UNICEF in its flagship project on October 5, 2021 warned that children and young people could feel the impact of COVID-19 on their mental health and well-being for many years to come.

The report details that children and young people carried the burden of mental health conditions without significant investment in addressing them even before Covid-19 pandemic.

Mental health
PHOTO/COURTESY/UNICEF.

“It has been a long, long 18 months for all of us – especially children. With nationwide lockdowns and pandemic-related movement restrictions, children have spent indelible years of their lives away from family, friends, classrooms, play – key elements of childhood itself,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore.

In Kenya, UNICEF supports Childline Kenya, which takes calls from children and young people in need of help, including for mental health issues. 

The number of calls to the service more than doubled following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

UNICEF funded an increase in the number of counsellors and promoted the service through a nationwide campaign, ‘Spot it, Stop it’. 

As schools re-opened, UNICEF worked with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to send messages to over 300,000 teachers on how to deal with the impact of COVID-19 and prolonged school closures on children’s psychosocial wellbeing. 

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Crime & Investigations

Woman In Sonko’s Leaked Tapes Narrates How She Was Coerced to Implicate People, Promised Kshs. 20M

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

The woman who featured in ex Nairobi governor Mike Sonko’s leaked tapes has come out to clarify that she was under duress when she made the sensational claims against some judges and advocates.

In a police case filed under OB14/21/11/21 at Karen Police Station, Merry Nkatha narrated in a press conference how she was coerced by the former governor to implicate several people for which in return, she was promised a whooping Sh20,000,000.

According to her statement, Nkatha narrated how last week on Saturday she was carjacked at gun point by three men who identified themselves as police officers adding that the three men pushed their way into her car and roughed her up before giving her a script to read.

Her police statement reads, “They then told me that Sonko will call me and for any question he asked me, I was to answer according the what was in the script.

“The documents were in form of a questionnaire and answers leading to implicate Advocate Cecil Miller and others. One man held a gun to my neck, while the other put a gun on my face.

“When Sonko called, I was so shaken that I could not answer the way they wanted so one man slapped me around and asked Sonko to call back after I was calm.

“He called after a while and I answered the way they wanted. After that, they left me and threatened to kill me if I reported to the police.”

At the press conference, Nkatha even showed journalists her communication with Sonko from her call history, with the incoming calls and their durations from her phone to prove that the kidnapping actually took place.

“I have never met Cecil Miller, Bishop Mureithi, I don’t know Judge Kantai. I have never met the likes of Chitembwe. Everything people heard on these leaked Sonko expose on the judiciary, I was coerced to do it. Right now, I am living in fear because anything can happen to me.”

She admitted that she has known Sonko for a while and they were friends.

“The reason he chose me for this project is because he knows me very well and he knows I am friend with the current governor Kananu, so I can be a credible witness in front of the Judicial Service Commission when they investigate the judges who ruled in favor of ousting Sonko.”

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Politics

Jimmi Wanjigi Threatens To Dump Raila, Withdraw ODM Funding

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma
  • Wanjigi who is hoping to put up a competitive battle against the former Prime Minister for the ODM party presidential flag-bearer position  is demanding that the party follows its constitution in the nomination process to ensure fairness.
  • The billionaire further threatened to withdraw his contribution to the Orange party.
  • Wanjigi has been accused of setting up ODM branches around the country without consulting the national office.

Billionaire businessman-cum politician Jimmi Wanjigi has threatened to ditch Raila Odinga-led Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) if his demands will not be met.

Wanjigi who is hoping to put up a competitive battle against the former Prime Minister for the ODM party presidential flag-bearer position  is demanding that the party follows its constitution in the nomination process to ensure fairness, failure to which he would quit ODM.

The billionaire further threatened to withdraw his contribution to the Orange party.

“Why would I stay in a party that does not follow its own laid down rules? I will not. I can assure you that the party will have big problems. You know, we have also invested heavily in this party,” he stated.

Wanjigi’s quest to run for presidency on ODM has been received differently by members of the party. While others have supported his bid, some have deemed the moved as rebellion towards the former Prime Minister.

Wanjigi has been accused of setting up ODM branches around the country without consulting the national office.

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