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Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has dismissed the call from health workers for allowances.

Speaking on Wednesday November 18 when he appeared on Citizen TV’s JKLIVE show hosted by Jeff Koinange, CS Kagwe said that this is not the right time for health workers to say that they want more money.

CS Kagwe said that doctors and all health workers should currently concentrate on their worker, owing to the situation of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.

He noted that the health workers should at the moment focus on saving lives.

“This is not the time, in my view, to start saying that ‘I want more money..for now let’s focus on saving lives,” he said.

The doctors through their unions have been complaining of neglect from government.

Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) had argued that their members have been receiving low quality personal protective equipment from the government, and that their allowances have not been paid.

The union had early this week issued a three week strike notice, if the government will not take any action.

On Wednesday, Members of Parliament sitting in the Parliamentary Health committee were brought to tears when doctors explained to them their plight.

However, CS Kagwe dismissed the issue of allowances, saying that the doctors should understand that the pandemic has hit every organization, and some workers are even taking half their salary.

On the issue of PPEs, CS Kagwe said that they are not currently an issue, since the country has enough of them.

Kagwe indicated that even some of the local PPE manufacturers are exporting them.

He added that counties are free to get protective equipment for their hospitals from the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), since the government already allocated them funds.

On the issue of providing a better health cover for health care workers, CS Kagwe noted that it has been already sorted, citing that all civil servants are currently enjoying a better medical cover, effective from October this year.

While addressing the issue of doctors contracting Covid-19, CS Kagwe said that the health care workers are also socialising with others just like any other human being, bringing a possibility of them contracting the disease from elsewhere, not necessarily their work place.

He said that the government is committed to protecting health care workers against getting infected while on their line of duty.

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Government spokesperson Cyrus Oguna on Wednesday night shared two photos showing how a Huduma card will look like.

This came after Netizens and a section of media circulated another sample card that had an expiry date, with master card also being indicated on the card as a partner.

The circulation started shortly after Information, Communication and Technology Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru announced that National Identity Cards will case being operational on December 2021.

CS Joe Mucheru. Photo/courtesy

CS Mucheru made the announcement while leaving the roll out of the Huduma card distribution.

Interior Cabinet secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i led a similar exercise in Kiambu County.

According to the two Cabinet secretaries, Kenyans who had registered for Huduma Namba last year will start receiving their cards on December 1, 2020.

The Huduma cards are set to replace the current National ID cards.

A fake sample of Huduma card that was circulating in the media. Photo/courtesy

With the image of a sample card doing rounds on social media, the government spokesperson had to come out and clarify.

However, the photo used on the sample card he shared caused an uproar, with Kenyans questioning why an image of a while woman had to be used.

Netizens had a problem with the woman on the sample card, who was identified as Martina Specimen.

However, the sample card shared by Oguna has no an expiry date, as compared to the one that had been circulated the media earlier.

Here are some of the reactions from Kenyans on the photo of a white woman used on the sample card.

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President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced the date of release of the 2021 academic calendar.

Speaking on Thursday November 12,2020 during his 7th state of the nation address in Parliament, Nairobi, President Kenyatta said that the ministry of Education was going to make an announcement on the new academic calendar.

According to President Kenyatta, the Prof George Magoha led ministry will, within the next 14 days from today, announce the 2021 academic calendar.

The head of state also noted that all other classes are expected to resume learning in January.

“The Ministry of Education will, within 14 days from the date hereof announce the 2021 Academic Calendar, with all other classes expected to resume learning in January 2021,” the head of state announced.

President Kenyatta further noted that the gradual and phased reopening of schools that began with the examination classes is being carefully monitored at all levels.

This is to ensure that the learners are safe and secure as they continue preparing for their national examinations.

“The gradual and phased reopening of schools that began with the examination classes is being carefully monitored at all levels so as to ensure that our Young Kenyans are safe and secure as they continue preparing for their national examinations,”he said.

The government had kicked off phased reopening of schools on October 12, with class 8, form four and grade four students being the only ones allowed in school.

Other learners were expected to resume learning later, but the surge in Covid-19 numbers stopped the move.

While issuing new measures to help contain the spread of Covid-19 after a surge in number of cases, President Kenyatta maintained that students who are expecting to do their national exams will continue with their learning.

Schools in Kenya closed in March, after Kenya started recording cases of Covid-19.

They have not been able to reopen since then, after the Covid-19 curve failed to flatten.

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Former Chief of Defence Forces General Samson Mwathethe has landed a lucrative job at Kengen.

Kengen in a statement issued on Wednesday November 4,2020 announced that it had appointed General Mwathethe as its new Board chairman, replacing Joshua Choge who retired on Tuesday.

According to the statement, General (Rtd) Mwathethe was elected by shareholders at yesterday’s virtual AGM that was held by the power generator.

“We are delighted to welcome General (Rtd) Samson Mwathethe as the Chairman of the KenGen Board. General (Rtd) Mwathethe was elected by shareholders at yesterday’s virtual AGM,” reads part of the statement.

Gen. Mwathethe has a decorated CV, that might have seen him land the lucrative position.

He has held various command appointments including Vice Chief of the Defence Forces, Commander of the Kenya Navy, Deputy Commander Kenya Navy, Kenya Navy Logistics Commander, Base Commander Mtongwe and Fleet Commander.

His other appointments included Chief of Systems and Procurement, Department of Defence, Commander of Individual Kenya Navy Ships, Staff Officer Operations at Navy Headquarters, 86 Squadron Commander and Staff Officer and Coordinator at the Department of Defence.

His professional and military training includes International Sub-Lieutenants Course (UK), International Principal Warfare (IPWO) Course, UK, Missiles Course (Italy) and Royal Navy Staff College Greenwich (UK).

He also attended the Defence Resource Management Course in Monterey, USA in 1998, and the National Defence College in Nairobi in 2000

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Kenya has yet again reached out to International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help fight the coronavirus pandemic.

IMF resident representative Tobias Rasmussen said the government had asked the for another loan following the $739 million (Sh79.3) billion received in May that Kenya sought to help it respond to the economic shocks caused by the global pandemic.

“Following up on the support provided by the IMF in May under our Rapid Credit Facility (RCF), the Kenyan authorities have expressed interest in a Fund arrangement. IMF staff is in discussions with the authorities toward such an arrangement,” Mr Rasmussen told one of the local dailies.

This comes amid a surge in Covid-19 cases in the country, with more than 100 deaths reported in the last one week and total recorded cases in the country at 56, 601 as at Monday November 2.

This will be the second time in less that six months that Kenya has approached IMF for budget support during the Corona virus pandemic.

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The State Law Office has laid down directives that will grant it access to collect contact and residential information of investors that hold more than 10% stake in companies.

This, in an effort to curb money laundering and use of appointee accounts that investors have been using to get around ownership limits in companies that have been listed under Nairobi Security Exchange (NSE)

The online portal that has been established at the Attorney General’s (AG) office will list ownership details in both listed and private companies.

Companies will now be required to fill out beneficial ownership registers while existing firms will be offered a deadline whereby their shareholder records will be updated in November.

Identities of secret shareholders who have more than 10% control in companies will also be revealed to the AG through the Registrar of Companies.

Names of the substantial shareholder, KRA pin, copies of National Identity card or passport, postal address, residential address, telephone contact and date when the investor became a beneficial owner are some of the details required to be filled during filing.

Failure to abide by the new rules will see the company facing a penalty of Ksh 50,000 of each day the rules are broken and Ksh 500,000 fine for failing to hand over the required details.

The move is set to avoid scrutiny by unmasking influential business men who hide their identities behind foundations, trusts and law firms.

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The Name ‘Dr Mugo wa Wairimu” is no longer new to Kenyans! Or is it? James Mugo alias Mugo wa Wairimu is not a new face in the Kenyan media.

Mugo grabbed media headlines in September 2014 after a sensational video clip showing a man taking an advantage of a sedated woman at the Prestige Health Care clinic in Githurai went viral and sparked public outrage on social media.

In 2018, Mugo again hit the headlines after NTV ran an expose, unravelling the dirty businesses of the now known quack doctor.

The expose forced relevant authorities to swing into action, and Mugo was arrested.

On Wednesday October 28, 2020, Mugo was slapped with a Sh1.4 million fine, failure to which he is to spend three years in jail.

This is after he was found guilty of unlawfully operating a pharmacy business without being registered by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board.

Senior Resident Magistrate Martha Nanzushi ruled that the prosecution had proved its case against Wairimu.

He was also convicted of operating a medical laboratory without registration and licence by the Kenya Medical Laboratory Practitioners and operating an unregistered medical clinic.

Wairimu was also found guilty of practising as an unregistered and unlicensed medic.

Mugo was arrested and charged in 2015 with various offences linked to operating an illegal clinic in Githurai 44, Nairobi, and raping a sedated woman.

Mugo was also charged with operating a drug shop not registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board.

In 2015, the name of his clinic then was offering 24-hour health care services. The services included, bizarrely, all kinds of x-ray and ultrasound scans though he never had the equipment.

In the dubious mix were also dental surgery, major theatrical services among others.

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Despite nationwide reports of restricted internet access and arrest of an opposition leader, polls have opened ready for the general election in Tanzania.

President John Magufuli, whose Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) has ruled the country since independence, is seeking a second term in office.

His main rival is Tundu Lissu of the biggest opposition party Chadema, who survived an assassination attempt three years ago.

Reports indicate that both Magufuli and Mr. Lissu have attracted huge crowds during their campaigns although Mr Lissu’s campaign was suspended for seven days after being accused of sedition by the electoral commission.

A total of 15 candidates are vying for the position including former foreign minister Bernard Membe, who defected from the ruling party and is now the leader of ACT Wazalendo party.

29.1 million citizens are registered to vote in today’s election, which is six million higher than the 2015 polls.

Voters have until 4.00pm local time to cast their votes.

Under Tanzania’s electoral rules, the winning candidate requires a simple majority to become president.

Results are expected to be announced withing one week.

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Tanzanians have today (Wednesday October 28, 2020) taken to the ballot to elect their leaders in yet another general election that has been deemed as a two horse race between incumbent president John Pombe Magufuli of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and the opposition party Chadema’s Tundu Lissu.

Magufuli, whose party has ruled Tanzania since independence in 1961, is seeking a second term in office.

Tundu Lissu, who survived an assassination attempt three years ago, returned from Belgium in July where he had undergone rounds of treatment for gunshot wounds, and is the main Magufuli’s challender in this year’s elections.

However, Tundu Lissu has taken to social media to claim that there irregularities have already marred the voting process.

He argued that he had received reports which indicated widespread irregularities in the form of preventing his polling agents from accessing polling stations.

According to Tundu Lissu, stuffed ballot boxes had already been seized in Kawe, Dar-es-Salaam.

He claimed that if the process continues in that manner, there would be a mass democratic action, which he claimed that will be the only option to protect the integrity of the election.

“Voting reports indicate widespread irregularities in the form of preventing our polling agents from accessing polling stations. Stuffed ballot boxes seized in Kawe, Dar. If this continues, mass democratic action will be the only option to protect the integrity of the election,” Tundu Lissu tweeted.

Lissu’s campaign was suspended for seven days after being accused of sedition by the electoral commission. He had reportedly said that Mr Magufuli was planning to rig the elections, but the commission said there were no such attempts.

Earlier on, there were reports of restricted internet access plus the arrest of an opposition leader in the semi-autonomous islands of Zanzibar.

Voters have until 16:00 local time to cast their ballot. Results are expected to be announced within one week.

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Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen has fired back at the people who were heckling Deputy President William Ruto when he was giving his speech at the Bomas of Kenya during the official launch of the second Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report.

Taking to his official twitter handle after the official launch of the report at Bomas ended, the former senate Majority Leader said that those that were heckling the DP are now ashamed of themselves.

Murkomen argued that DP Ruto’s critics had been told that BBI needed a dialogue, but they did not listen.

He told them not to get angered when they fail to argue with facts.

Murkomen made the post just moments after President Uhuru Kenyatta and DP Ruto embraced each other and had a light moment when the event came to an end.

“To the hecklers who were heckling DP in Bomas ona sasa aibu ndogo ndogo mumejipatia. Mliambiwa hii kitu inataka dialogue na kama huna point usilete makasiriko,” Murkomen tweeted.

President Kenyatta and DP Ruto had differed in opinions during the launch of the report. DP Ruto while giving his speech pointed out all the weakness in the report, and argued that there is still a large room for a dialogue aimed at improving the report.

President Kenyatta responded back to the DP, saying that he was aware of everything that was going on, and even took part in the selection process of BBI steering committee.

Despite them differing in opinions, they still had a light moment as soon as the head of state finished addressing the people at the Bomas.

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Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen has questioned whether President Uhuru Kenyatta ill really retire in 2022 as his term comes to an end.

Speaking through his official twitter account on Monday October 26, 2020, the former senate Majority leader questioned why the head of state wants to amend the constitution, just two years to his retirement.

Murkomen noted that the president was not sincere with his 2022 retirement if he wants to leave an imperial president, after amending the constitution through the famous Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).

“Why does a retiring President want to leave behind an imperial President if he is truly retiring?” Murkomen posted.

President Kenyatta and his new-found friend, the ODM leader Raila Odinga on October 13 received the second BBI report recommendations at the Kisii State Lodge, with the report set to be officially launched to Kenyans today (Monday October 26), at the Bomas of Kenya.

The report has elicited mixed reactions since it was handed over to the handshake duo, with some Kenyans opposing it, claiming that the recommendations carries the interests of selfish politicians.

A task force was created after Prsident Kenyatta and Raila’s March 9, 2018 handshake to look at nine issues, including ethnic antagonism, corruption and devolution- some of the major issues perceived to be affecting the country since it got its independence.

Last year, the task force presented its findings at Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi amid much fanfare.

Some of its key proposals included; Introducing the position of a prime minister, giving counties bigger budgets to implement development schemes, making the cabinet more representative of the nation and intensifying corruption fight.

In the BBI report, the president remains the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief, while the Prime Minister will draw his powers from parliament and supervise the execution of day-to-day government affairs.

The PM, under the proposals, will be the leader of the largest political party or coalition of parties and will be appointed by the president and approved by the House.

However, the critics of the report have argued that the return of an imperial president is ill-advised. Some claim that President Kenyatta is likely to stick to power in 2022, but the head of state has on several occasion dismissed the claims.

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Father John Pesa, the cleric who made headlines a few weeks ago after mistakenly claiming that King Solomon killed Goliath using a stone and sling, is in trouble following a latest court ruling.

The High Court in Kisumu has ordered Father Pesa to compensate a sick boy who was allegedly tortured at while and confinement at Father Pesa’s Holy Ghost Coptic Church of Africa headquarters in Mamboleo, Kisumu.

According to a report by The Standard, the court ordered the cleric to pay Ksh 500,000 for denying the boy suffering from an acute psychotic disorder his freedom as he was preparing to sit for his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination in 2017.

Father Pesa together with his church are to pay the boy the cost he incurred in the case plus interest that is to be calculated at the court rate.

The boy is said to have been taken to Father Pesa in 2017 when the school noticed he had trouble concentrating on his studies and advised his parents to take him for medical treatment.

The cleric was to take the boy through spiritual healing.

However, that was not the case. Father Pesa is said to have chained the boy in his church, until May 2019 which was long after KCSE exams had been undertaken and therefore missed his studies and examination.

The boy’s parents found out when they visited him in the company of officers from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.

According to reports, the boy is said to have been cuffed in heavy chains and when his parents demanded for his release, Father Pesa is said to have declined to do so, forcing them to seek legal redress in a battle that has seen them in the corridors of justice since 2018.

Father Pesa had however denied the claims, arguing that there is no medical evidence to prove that the boy was tortured, but a report by a psychiatrist revealed that the boy was on treatment for acute psychotic episode.

Acute psychotic episode is an illusionary illness that can be a one-time occurrence, usually of sudden onset, or can occur repeatedly or may be the early phase of mental illness.

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Two schools in Kenya have suspended learning, barely two weeks after the government kicked off phased reopening of learning institutions.

Star of the Sea High school and Tononoka High school have been forced to shut down after Covid-19 cases were reported.

At the Star of the Sea High School, four teachers tested positive for Covid-19.

At Tononoka High school, 11 teachers have contracted the virus.

The seven-month Covid-19 imposed closure of schools finally came to an end on Monday October 12 when a section of learners resumed classes.

The Ministry of Education announced a phased reopening of schools, starting with the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC) Grade 4, Class Eight and Form Four candidates.

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha said the revised 2020 school calendar will see the second term for Grade 4, Class Eight and Form Four run for 11 weeks from October 12 to December 23.

Learners will then break for a one-week holiday, from December 24 and resume on January 4, 2021, up to March 19.

Magoha announced that the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations will start on March 22, 2021 and end on March 24, 2021, while KCSE exams will start on March 25, 2021 and end on April 16, 2021.

Upon reopening, he said that all schools will be required to strictly adhere to COVID-19 containment protocols and guidelines, among them mandatory use of face masks, monitoring of body temperature and observance of high levels of hygiene.

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President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga on Wednesday received the Building Bridges Initiative report.

Uhuru who is in Kisii County received the report by the Yusuf Haji-led team after months of waiting.

Sources close to the team revealed that the report is likely to be launched on Sunday.

The BBI report is expected to change the country’s governance structure, including the creation of the Office of Prime Minister and two deputies.

This, in turn, has caused mixed reactions from politicians who are supporting and opposing yet they have not seen what is in the report.

During Mashujaa day on October 20, President Uhuru Kenyatta made a strong case for a referendum to approve changes to the Constitution before the 2022 General Elections.

The President appeared to set the stage for the release of the Building Bridges Initiative report expected to recommend the expansion of the Executive.

Uhuru said the changes would entrench political inclusion, equity in the distribution of opportunities and resources, and end violence every electoral cycle.

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Just two months after being appointed the new Dean of Medical College at Aga Khan University, COTU boss Francis Atwoli’s son Dr Lukoye Atwoli has yet again landed a new plum position.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, a gazette notice dated Friday October 16, has appointed Dr Lukoye Atwoli as the non-executive Chairperson of Mathari Teaching and Referral Hospital.

He will be the chairman of the Mathari Teaching and Referral Hospital for a period of three years.

Lukoye is the former Dean of the Moi University School of Medicine, where he excelled at building collaborations and partnerships between the School of Medicine and academic medical centres in Africa, Europe, and the US, transforming it into a regionally leading research and graduate medical school.

Professor Atwoli also leads and participates in mental health research locally and globally, a move that might have also handed him a soft landing at the Mathari Hospital.

He is a member of the WHO World Mental Health Surveys Consortium, which is the leading collaborative project in psychiatric epidemiology globally.

He has a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from Moi University, and a Master of Medicine in Psychiatry from the University of Nairobi as well as a PhD from the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.

Professor Lukoye has over 50 publications to his credit in academic books and in peer-reviewed journals.

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Former Harambee Stars head coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee has this morning been involved in a road accident in Westlands, Nairobi.

According to multiple reports, ‘Ghost’ has been rushed to Aga Khan Hospital for a check up after his car was hit by a rogue matatu along Brookside Drive, Westlands.

The famed radio presenter’s car was thrown into a City Clock after being hit.

He was on his way to work at Lion’s Place along Waiyaki Way, where the Radio Africa Group is hosted.

‘Ghost’ was rushing to do his famous show ‘Gidi na Ghost asubuhi’ that airs on Radio Jambo.

The radio show is famous across the country for its ‘Patanisho’ segment, where Ghost alongside his fellow show host Gidi Gidi, normally reconcile couples and lovers who have had some differences in their relationship.

Mulee coached Kenyan club side Tusker between 1999 and 2009, winning the Kenyan Premier League title three times. He later coached APR of Rwanda and Young Africans of Tanzania. 

He first took charge of Kenya between 2003 and 2004, including at the 2004 African Cup of Nations.

Last year, Ghost while in an interview with a local publication revealed he will be making a return to coaching in the Kenyan Premier league this season.

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Mulee has been out of competitive football for about 10 years.

Should he make a return to the Kenyan Premier League, it is not yet known which side he will be taking.

He had earlier been linked with Wazito FC.

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