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Moses Kuria Names Two Vocal ODM MPs in Ksh7 Billion Covid-19 Funds Scandal

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has named two vocal Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) MPs in a Ksh 7 billion Covid-19 funds scandal.

The controversial lawmaker on Sunday July 19, 2020 claimed that Suna East MP Junet Mohamed and Homabay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga were allegedly part of the Kenya Medical Supply Authority (KEMSA) scandal.

According to Kuria, the PPE tender was given to an individual in single sourcing, and when investigations were conducted, Junet Mohammed and Gladys Wanga were given the Ksh7 billion tender.

Kuria further argues that the matter would have been discussed everywhere only if Kenya had a working opposition.

He claims that the matter is not being addressed because opposition went to bed with the government through the famous March 2018 handshake.

He urged Ministry of Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe to stop touring the country and focus on solving the mstery behid the scandal.

The MP went as far back as when the independence party KANU united with KADU and noted that the period was marked by some of the country’s biggest scandals, most notably the looting of land.

Kuria warned that the union of ODM and the Jubilee Party could witness the same looting and even greater than previous ones experienced in the history of the country.

He added that the Kenya Medical Supply Authority (KEMSA) could be a first of many to come in the country.

KEMSA has been on the spotlight after the recently unearthed procurement and financial irregularities that jeopardised more than Ksh100 billion of donor funds as well as allegations of misuse of funds meant to boost the fight against Covid-19.

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Crime & Investigations

Sonko Rescue Team Retrieves 3 Infant Bodies From Nairobi River, Korogocho Slums

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Sonko Rescue Team has yet again retrieved three infant bodies from Nairobi River.

Taking to his official twitter account on Sunday July 19, 2020, Nairobi governor Mike Sonko revealed that the team had retrieved the bodies near Kogocho slums.

Sonko said that triplets might just have been killed by their mother, and thrown into the Nairobi River.

Sonko while condemning the incident said that he keeps on feeling sad whenever he sees such incidents all the time.

Sonko noted that there are women outside there struggling to have a child, while someone who has been blessed is going ahead to kill them.

“TRIPLETS KILLED: Just a few minutes ago, our team yet again retrieved 3 infant bodies from Nairobi River, Korogocho slums. I keep on feeling so sad seeing this all the time, bearing in mind some women are still struggling to have kids just to be called mums,” Sonko tweeted.

This is not the first time infant bodies are being retrieved from Nairobi River.

In June this year, bodies of two infants have been retrieved from Nairobi River in Korogocho. Members of Komb Green Solutions found the bodies as they cleaned the river

This brought to 21 the number of bodies retrieved from the river in the informal settlement since the launch of the Nairobi River Restoration Project early last year.

At the time, the tally stood at 16 infants and five adults.

In September last year, Sonko called for a 24-hour surveillance of the river to stop the dumping of bodies.

Residents were also asked to be on the lookout and report the culprits to the authorities.

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Politics

I can’t and won’t work with Ruto ! Prof Makau Mutua Turns Down DP’s Job Offer

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Professor Makau Mutua has turned down a job offer from Deputy President William Ruto.

Through his article in the Sunday Nation, Prof Mutua says that a top commander in DP Ruto’s campaign locomotive had begged him to work with them to ensure that the second in command clinches to the topmost political seat come 2022.

He says that the DP Ruto’s campaign team should read from his lips.

While responding to the offer, Mutua says that he cannot,and that he will not work with the DP.

He further notes that whenever he hears the mention of Mr Ruto, or sense his proximity, he heads in the opposite direction, noting that it has been so since Ruto’s emergence in Youth for Kanu ’92.

Mutua notes that the case on crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court cemented his political disdain for Mr Ruto.

He also says that Ruto volubly and vigorously led the No Campaign against the 2010 Constitution, and has been alleged to be involved in a number of corruption scandals.

In at least one case, Prof Mutua says, a court found Ruto liable for buying the grabbed farm of one Adrian Muteshi amidst the 2007-2008 poll violence. He says Ruto was forced to return the farm to Mr Muteshi.

Mutua also mentions unsolved crimes that have focused investigation on DP Ruto’s office.

He cites the most recent case where Sgt Kipyegon Kenei, a senior policeman in DP Ruto’s Harambee House Annex office, was murdered in mysterious circumstances hot on the heels of former sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa’s arms scandal.

Further, Mutua says that given DP Ruto’s anti-democratic legacy and the allegations of corruption, it stretches credulity that any legitimate civil society organisation – let alone the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC),would ever have anything to do with him.

“It is an open secret Mr Ruto and his brain-trust have targeted civil society groups like the KHRC to penetrate, convert, and instrumentalise them into witting, or unwitting, allies. It is in this context that they’ve approached me and others. This can only happen over my dead body. Mr Ruto can forget civil society,” he says in his article.

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Latest NewsPolitics

Plot to Have Uhuru’s Relative Replace CJ Maraga

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Chief Justice David Maraga is on record as the first top judge in Africa to nullify a presidential election in 2017. This was only borrowed recently by Malawi top court which also nullified the presidential poll.

However, Maraga is set to exit office. But who will now replace him?

Well, Attorney-General Kihara Kariuki is emerging the frontrunner in the race to replace Maraga who is set to retire anytime from now.

For now, if Maraga decides to proceed on leave, deputy CJ Philomena Mwilu will act. Mwilu is being favoured by a section in ODM to succeed Maraga by virtue of her closeness to former AG Amos Wako and now Busia senator on ODM ticket.

According to a local daily, Kariuki, formerly the president of the Court of Appeal, is being considered a safe bet by State House mandarins eager to have a reliable gatekeeper at the corridors of justice.

Supreme Court judge Smokin Wanjala is the favourite by the majority of lawyers according to a secret report compiled by various state agencies and if voting by lawyers was to determine the next CJ, Wanjala will definitely win. However, he is seen as independent-minded like Maraga.

Other names that are being touted include East African Community judge Charles Nyachae, former national assembly speaker Kenneth Marende, Supreme Court judge Njoki Ndung’u, Lady Justice Hannah Okwengu of Appeals Court and Solicitor General Ken Ogeto, and Justice Isaac Lenaola mong others.

But according to sources, the State House mandarins do not want a repeat of the 2017 scenario where Maraga led the bench in nullifying the presidential election and that is why they want a reliable candidate for the CJ’s position, and that person is Kariuki.

Brief history of Paul Kariuki, Kenya's new Attorney General
AG Kihara Kariuki. PHOTO/COURTESY

Besides, the AG is a relative of Uhuru Kenyatta as his mother is the daughter of Senior Chief Koinange. Kariuki, who was born on May 11 1954 in Kiambu, is the son of the late bishop of Anglican Church Obadiah Kariuki and Lillian Wairimu, the daughter of Senior Chief Koinange.

It is to be recalled that Uhuru’s father, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta married his third wife, Grace Wanjiku, daughter of Senior Chief Koinange and sister of Mbiyu Koinange in 1946.

But Wanjiku died when giving birth in 1951 to their daughter, Jane Makena Wambui (also known as Jeni). Jeni Makena Gecaga is the mother of Soiya Gecaga, Nana Gecaga, and Jomo Gecaga, who serves as the president’s private secretary.

Insiders added that State House is keen to have the holder of the CJ’s position a person they can trust since he or she will be instrumental in the re-composition of the Supreme Court bench which will determine any petition challenging a presidential election in 2022.

Already, Justice Jackton Ojwang has retired as Supreme Court judge after attaining the mandatory retirement age while Justice Isaac Lenaola is being fronted to head the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

Apart from blood ties with the first family, Kariuki is also emerging the favourite due to his past rulings as a judge which have tended to side with the executive.

As the president of the Court of Appeal, he led the bench in overturning a ruling by High Court judge George Odunga that had declared the appointment of returning officers for the 2017 general election as not procedural, a day to the repeat presidential poll.

Justice Odunga had declared the appointments unconstitutional but had declined to grant the reliefs the petitioners were seeking, which included halting the polls.

Nevertheless, Odunga’s ruling, if not overturned, would have come in handy in the petition seeking to declare the repeat presidential poll a nullity.

It was this ruling that saw former Law Society of Kenya chief executive officer Apollo Mboya seek to block Kariuki after Uhuru tapped him to be his chief legal advisor.

Mboya filed a misconduct case at the Judicial Service Commission where he averred that Justice Kariuki was unfit to take over from Githu Muigai as Attorney General.

The JSC formed a special committee to look into the misconduct and insubordination allegations against Kariuki and his fellow Court of Appeal judges, Erastus Githinji, Martha Koome and Fatuma Sichale who had overturned Justice Odunga’s ruling.

The petition questioned how Justice Kariuki was able to impanel a three-judge bench of justices Githinji, Koome and Sichale on a public holiday and without the authorization from the Chief Justice.

He also questioned the manner the appeal was expedited and final ex parte orders given within minutes. But Kariuki passed the vetting and became a member of the JSC by virtue of his position as Attorney General.

Having resigned as a judge, the JSC was not in a position to pursue the matter of his misconduct further. If Kariuki lands the slot, to hoodwink Kenyans that he is not playing tribal card in Judiciary, a face outside Kikuyu will replace him as AG.

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Business

Co-op Bank Partners With Nyeri County to Salvage The Economy From Covid-19 Effects

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

The Cooperative bank and Nyeri County government have embarked on a partnership that will salvage businesses from collapsing because of the adverse effects of COVID-19.

Representatives from the county government led by Governor Mutahi Kahiga held talks with representatives from the bank today.

The deal is expected to be finalised next week, according to the Governor.

The partnership between the two entities on post Covid-19 economy recovery measures will tackle Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

“The two entities will partner in capacity building, funding, cushioning of SMEs including private schools, saccos and Corporate Social Responsibility” Mutahi stated.

He laid emphasis on PayCheck Protection Loans to help businesses that are struggling to avoid laying off of workers which is hurting the families that are dependent on those wages.

The team was represented by Jacquelyne Waithaka, Director-Corporate & Institutional Banking Division, Moses Gitau Head-Business Banking, Silvance Nono Head-Government & Public Sector Banking, Annie Thagishu Relationship Manager, Ngumo Kahiga Head-Marketing and Communication and Samuel Mukiti Relationship Manager.

The county administration was represented by the County Secretary Ben Gachichio, Economic Advisor Ndirangu Gachunia and Trade Chief Officer Ibrahim Adan.

“Consultative meetings will be held next weeks to come up with a concrete plan on how to cushion Nyeri residents against the adverse economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and execute an MOU immediately” Kahiga stated.

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Politics

Oscar Sudi Pokes Fun at Report That Revealed he Hadn’t Spoken in Parliament Since 2017

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi on Friday July 17, 2020 poked fun at a report that revealed he hadn’t spoken in Parliament since 2017. 

Speaking at a funeral ceremony at Kabenes in Soy Constituency, the vocal Tanga Tanga MP faulted the media for making him the biggest topic yet some lawmakers with interests in 2022 presidential race were in the report as well.

Sudi noted that Baringo senator Gideon Moi has not as well said anything in the senate yet he is in the race to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta come 2022.

Sudi went ahead to claim that he can as well content for the 2022’s topmost political seat just like the KANU party leader.

“I have never spoken in Parliament and neither has Baringo Senator Gideon Moi and yet he is the one who they want to make president in 2022, I think even I qualify to run for that seat,” he stated.

According to a Parliamentary Scorecard released by Mzalendo Trust, a Parliamentary Monitoring Organization (PMO), Sudi and his Nakuru Town West counterpart Samuel Arama have made zero contributions in the National Assembly since 2017.

Sudi furthermore declared that he was not interested in being a part of any parliamentary committee under the Jubilee administration.

“I have seen I have been nominated to a committee. I ask that you remove me because I have no desire to serve in any capacity under the leadership of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“We are not beggars, we are the ones who formed the government but it is being driven by corrupt and selfish individuals,” Sudi affirmed.

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Business

All M-pesa Services to be Unavailable For 13 Hours

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

All Mpesa services will be unavailable for almost 13 hours, Safaricom PLC has announced.

In a notice issued to its customers on Friday July 17, 2020, Safaricom said that M-pesa services will be undergoing an upgrade from Saturday night July 18 to Sunday morning July 19.

The planned maintenance is set to start at at 10 pm on Saturday to Sunday at 10 am. All M-pesa services including airtime purchase shall be temporarily unavailable during this time.

According to Safaricom, the timing of the maintenance activity has been scheduled to result in the least inconvenience to customers.

Image

This is however, not the first time the services are being interrupted for maintenance and upgrading purposes.

The first scheduled maintenance in June 2020, was announced on Wednesday, June 17, scheduled for Thursday from midnight to 5 am.

M-pesa usage has risen since March when the government appealed to Kenyans to use mobile money services as opposed to cash, to curb the spread of Covid-19. 

Safaricom M-pesa customers can continue enjoying free transactions under Ksh 1,000 as the Central Bank of Kenya on Wednesday, June 24 announced the extension of a set of measures that were announced in March 2020.

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Politics

Aisha Jumwa, 9 Other MPs Exposed For Evading Parliamentary Duties

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Malindi Member of Parliament Aisha Jumwa has not been attending any parliamentary committee meetings, report tabled by National Assembly Majority leader Amos Kimunya has revealed.

According to the report tabled on Thursday, the rebel ODM MP is reported not to have attended any meeting by the Members Services and Facilities Committee from January to October 2019.

Jumwa’s disloyalty to her party made her ejected as the representative to the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) in June.

However, in the changes that were announced on July 15, she has been moved  to the committee on Parliamentary Broadcasting and Library.

Others who did not attend any meetings were Makadara MP George Aladwa who sits in the Departmental Committee on Lands and his Ruaraka counterpart Tom Kajwang (Ruaraka) who is in the Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC).

Also highlighted were Emgwen MP Alexander Kosgey who was recently moved to the Procedure and House Committee from the Trade and Industry docket and Turkana North MP Christopher Nakuleu who will now serve in the Trade committee as well as the Public Accounts Committee.

Alfred Sambu (Webuye East) and Abdi Tepo (Isiolo South) who are both in the Committee on Delegated Legislation did not attend any meetings accordig to the report.

Makueni Woman Rep Rose Museo who sits on both the Labour and National Cohesion committees and Maison Leshomo (Samburu), Agriculture and Livestock and the National Cohesion committtes retained both positions in the new line-up.

Enoch Kibunguch (Likuyani) was also spotted as having absconded the committee meetings in that period. He was moved to the Special Funds Accounts Committee in the new changes.

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Politics

Ruto Allies Now Take Fight to Raila’s Doorstep After Losing to Uhuru

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Members of Parliament affiliated to Deputy President William Ruto’s Tanga Tanga faction of Jubilee party have now taken their fight to Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga’s doorstep, days after losing the fight to President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The head of state has been carrying out a purge in the ruling party that saw tanga tanga affiliated members lose plum positions both in the senate and in the National Assembly.

This week, the MPs adopted changes in the National Assembly leadership, which saw Ruto allies kicked out of powerful house committees, with some like Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungwah being demoted from lucrative Budget committee to catering.

After losing the fight to reclaim their positions in parliament, Ruto allies have now claimed that the ODM party is now running the government and must relinquish its Minority party positions in Parliament.

According to The Standard, Ruto’s camp now wants the plum positions that are being held by ODM, taken up by MPs in Musalia Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress (ANC) who would play the opposition role in both the National Assembly and the Senate.

Soy MP Caleb Kositany and his Aldai counterpart Cornelly Serem on Thursday July 16, 2020 announced plans to write to National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi to make a ruling on whether ODM should continue holding the positions after “joining the government and taking up Majority side slots.”

The two MPs declared that they were ready to move to the High Court to seek an interpretation of the current setup of Parliament and whether ODM should continue acting as the opposition.

Kositany argues that ODM is running the government and Kenyans cannot expect them to oversight the excesses of the same government.

Similar views were expressed by Serem, who said they are ready to take up the battle to kick out ODM MPs from Minority leadership positions as well as oversight committees held by the opposition.

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Lifestyle

Murkomen Reveals How he Used to ‘Bribe’ His Parents to Evade Punishment

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Elgeyo Markwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen has revealed how he used to trick his parents to avoid being punished while he was still young.

Taking to his official twitter account on Thursday July 16, 2020, the former senate majority leader narrated how he would disappear from home the whole day, go play and come back later in the evening with a small ‘bribe’ to the parents.

While referring to a meme that he said was reminding him of his past days, Murkomen said that he would come back in the evening after playing the whole day,with a small log of wood which he called in his native language as sipeen, and make sure he throws it to the compound from the top of the fence.

According to Murkomen, the small gate pass could eventually not save him but at least helped in mitigation.

“This picture always cracks me up.Reminds me the days I would come back in the evening after playing the whole day,with a small log of wood (sipeen)&make sure I throw it to the compound from the top of the fence.Eventually it couldn’t save me but at least helped in mitigation,” he posted.

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Politics

Ruto Sends Bold Message to MPs Over Changes in Parliamentary Leadership

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Deputy President William Samoei Ruto has sent a strong message to Members of Parliament, a day after conclusion of changes in Parliamentary leadership including committee membership and leadership.

Taking to his official twitter account on Thursday July 16, 2020, the second in command urged the lawmakers to unite and work together.

He told them not to be divided but put their hands together in serving the people of Kenya.

DP Ruto went ahead to dedicate a biblical scripture to the lawmakers, quoting Colosians 3:23, which says, “Whatever you do,work at it with all your heart, as working for God,not human master.”

“With the changes in Parliamentary leadership including committee membership & leadership now concluded, I urge all MPs NOT to be divided but work TOGETHER in serving the PEOPLE. Col.3:23, Whatever you do,work at it with all your heart, as working for God,not human master,” he tweeted.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga have tightened their grip on five parliamentary committees crucial for constitutional reforms and approval of Cabinet appointments.

The two party leaders packed the committees with their loyalists, completing a purge that saw allies of Deputy President William Ruto moved to less influential ones.

Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC), Committee on Appointments, Budget and Appropriations, Finance and Delegated Legislation play important roles in the envisaged reforms the two leaders seek under the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).

And the anticipated Cabinet and Principal Secretary appointments to cement agreements the Jubilee Party struck with opposition outfits including Kanu, Wiper, Chama Cha Mashinani, as well as another envisaged with ODM, explains the reconstitution of the committee that vets the nominees.

The Kieleweke camp comprising supporters of President Kenyatta and Raila has since tipped MP Muturi Kigano (Kangema) to chair JLAC, Kanini Kega (Kieni) to chair Budget, Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay) to chair Finance and William Kamket of Tiaty to chair Delegated Legislation.

Committee on Appointment is chaired by Speaker Justin Muturi. Muturi and the four MPs set to take up the leadership of the committees are all allied to Uhuru and Raila.

The committees are set to hold elections for chairperson and vice chairperson positions today and tomorrow.

The leadership and membership of four of the committees was previously in the control of MPs allied to Ruto and who are accused of fighting the BBI project. 

Kikuyu Member of Parliament (MP) Kimani Ichung’wa who was recently de-whipped from the lucrative Budget and Appropriations Committee has been slotted in the Member Services Committee, previously known as the Catering Committee.

Ichung’wa is among the 16 MPs allied to Deputy President William Ruto, who were axed from the leadership of key House committees in the purge orchestrated by President Uhuru Kenyatta, as he sought to wrestle control of Parliament from his number two.

The second-time Kikuyu lawmaker welcomed his inclusion into the Member Services and Facilities Committee, though seen as a demotion from the influential Budget Committee.

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Politics

Uhuru is The Next Prime Minister, Controversial ODM MP Reveals

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

President Uhuru Kenyatta will be next Prime Minister of Kenya, controversial Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili popularly known as Babu Owino has claimed.

Taking to his official twitter account on Thursday July 16, 2020, Babu Owino argued that President Kenyatta is still young and Kenya needs him in the next Government.

“President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta is the next Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya. My President is still Young and we need him in the next Government,” he posted.

President Kenyatta’s falling-out with his deputy William Ruto has left him with no heir apparent as the clock ticks towards the 2022 General Election.

With the crack now a reality following what insiders say is “irreconcilable differences” between the two, state operatives are busy analysing various viable succession scenarios for 2022.

Already, there are reports that as the coalition grows and with the post-election pact between Jubilee and Gideon Moi’s Kanu, a deal with Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper and Raila Odinga’s ODM, a possible line-up is being crafted for 2022.

Behind the tightly-knit plan, the leaders working with the President want a structure of government that will have a President, a Prime Minister, two Deputy Prime Ministers and a Deputy President.

Other senior government positions being floated to contain other senior members of the supper alliance include the two Speakers – for the National Assembly and the Senate.

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Lifestyle

Distribution of the New Covid-19 Cases by Counties

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

A total of 4,261 samples were on Wednesday July 15 tested, out of which 461 have tested positive for Covid-19.

This now brings Kenya’s case load to 11,252 and pushes the country’s cumulative tests carried out so far to 225,495.

Speaking at Afya House while giving the daily Covid-19 updates, Health Chief Administrative Secretary Rashid Aman said the positive cases have 432 Kenyans and 29 foreigners.

Out of the new cases, 320 are males and 141 are females. By age, the youngest is a one year old infant while the oldest is 86.

On a positive note 51 patients have been discharged from various hospitals bringing to 3,068 the number of recoveries from the disease in the country.

Nairobi has 248 cases, Machakos County has 97 cases, Kiambu has 20 cases, Kajiado has 15, Migori has 14 cases, Busia has 12, Nakuru has 11 cass, Laikipia has seven (7), Nyeri with seve (7) as well, Kilifi has six (6), Lamu has four (4), Uasin Gishu with four (4) as well, Kakamega has three (3), Kisii has three (3) too, Kisumu has (2), Makueni has two (2), Mombasa has one (1), Taita Taveta has one (1) and Bomet also with one (1) case.

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Sports

Stop The Noise, Kenyan Football Needs More Ricardo Badoers

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

When Ricardo Badoer took charge of Wazito FC in 2018, the team was in bad shape, it had lost all its good players during the mid-season transfer window due to lack of finances, many had predicted that the team would not last for another one year, despite his best efforts to avoid the drop the damage was already done, the team was relegated.

In the national Super League, the team recruited well as they plotted their return to the Kenyan Premier League. Despite some underwhelming results in some matches, Wazito managed to return to the Kenyan Premier League.

The team started making headlines. Salaries were paid on time, good winning allowances. Actually, in the National Super League, they paid the biggest winning bonuses in the country, better than all Kenyan Premier League teams, it slowly became every player’s dream team in Kenya.

At the start of the 2019/20 season the team recruited massively, they went for some high profile players. Much was expected of the team but they ended up disappointing.

Badoer has insisted that he did not sanction most of the signings done at the start of the season and was in fact against the acquisition of some of them, he was however convinced otherwise by the persons in charge of recruitment then.

It goes to show how much greed and personal interests some people harbor, Wazito would have performed better if those recruiting would have put the interests of the team at heart and not their own.

He was in charge of signings in January and the players brought on board have impressed massively. Dennis Ng’ang’a and Dennis Sikhayi are arguably some of the best full-backs in the country.

Kennedy Owino one of the best wingers and in Whyvonne Isuza is quality attacking midfielder. Roland Ashimoto and Alvin Ochieng are good young prospects and they will help the team when their time comes.

Like any other business, there must be returns on investments, Badoer decided to let go of some players in recently. It elicited bad and bitter reactions from part of the football fraternity in the country with some no so wise asking for Badoer’s deportation.

This is someone who had done so much for Kenyan football within a short time, he is someone who should be celebrated and not condemned because he had decided to make a business decision.

This was high-level hypocrisy from people who have milked Kenyan football dry for years. Over 60% of Kenyan Premier League clubs do not pay their players, Wazito is not one of them. It is the only team in which players are assured of their full salaries, allowances, medical cover, and much more.

Unlike many clubs that abandon players when they get bad injuries Badoer and Wazito attend to their own. Gor Mahia for example abandoned Curtis Wekesa, Shafik Batambuze, and Philemon Otieno when they picked knee injuries, the players had to literally beg online for well-wishers to come to their aid.

Wazito on the other hand has overseen surgeries for some of their players. This has been done in good hospitals. Bernard Ochieng, Zachary Gathu, Eric Odhiambo Dennis Gicheru, Teddy Osok, Abouba Sibomana just to name a few all underwent their underwent fully paid surgeries, they also had doctors from the club who took charge of their rehabilitation after surgery, a clear indication that this is a team that takes care of its players.

Kenyan football needs more Ricardo Badoer and less vocal hypocrites

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Lifestyle

497 More Kenyans Test Positive For Covid-19 as 5 Succumb

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Kenya has registered 497 new coronavirus cases.

This is after a total of 4,922 samples were tested. Kenya’s total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases now stands at 10,791.

Speaking on Tuesday July 14, 2020 at Afya House during the daily Covid-19 updates, Health Chief Administrative Secretary Mercy Mwangangi noted that the figures will keep rising and should worry Kenyans.

CAS Mwangangi also noted that five more people have succumbed to the virus, raising the total number of fatalities in the country to 202.

However, in the last 24 hours, 71 have been discharged raising the recoveries to 3,017.

Kenya now has 7, 574 active cases of Covid-19.

Acting Health DG, Dr Patrick Amoth had earlier on announced that 41 staff workers at the Pumwani Maternity hospital tested positive for COVID-19.

While assessing the situation outside the hospital, Dr Amoth said out of the 290 staff that were tested, 19 are healthcare workers, while 22 are support staff.

Dr Amoth also stated an isolation centre would be created for staff who would not have met the criteria to self-isolate at home.

However, the acting Health DG assured Kenyans who want to visit the facility that the hospital is safe.

Speaking on Monday July 13, 2020 during COVID-19 daily briefings on Monday, health CS Mutahi Kagwe said that mass testing was being conducted at the hospital after a section of Kenyans raised concerns.

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Politics

Revealed: How Uhuru Has Blocked Ruto From Being Investigated

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

President Uhuru Kenyatta has on several occasions blocked multi state agencies involved in fighting economic corruption and other crimes from summoning or even arresting his deputy William Ruto to shed more light on various matters after the DP’s name featured during various investigations of prime suspects.

Whereas Ruto supporters openly claim Uhuru has abandoned his deputy and betrayed him, to the contrary, the head of state has gone full fledged to protect his embattled DP both locally and internationally.

Talk is rife, Uhuru is currently engaged in secret mission to have Western capitals have travel bans on Ruto and his family lifted.

The president’s decision not to assign Ruto international state functions is due to the said bans.According to one MP within Jubilee well versed with the scenarios, it was on this ground a bitter Uhuru openly stated in public, he was no longer going to protect anybody linked to graft including close members of his family.

Insiders familiar with the developments intimated to a local daily that in the past the president has turned down requests by detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and Directorate of Criminal Investigations to summon Ruto to record statements after the DP’s name featured prominently in corruption allegations.

To summon the DP, the sleuths require the consent of the head of state due to the political ramifications the move would generate.

Apart from corruption allegations, the detectives have been seeking to summon Ruto to record statements over his outbursts which they consider as alarming.

One such statement is when he publicly claimed three cabinet secretaries and principal secretaries from Mount Kenya region had hatched a plot to kill him.

His remarks saw Uhuru direct the CSs implicated in the Ruto assassination to record statements with DCI.

However the investigations could not proceed according to one CS involved in the matter on grounds, Ruto was to be summoned to record a statement that could have lasted for hours but when the head of state was briefed of the next action to be taken, he told those involved to go slow saying if Ruto was serious with his allegations, he should record a statement himself but not be seen as being coerced.

By then, many saw Ruto assassination claims as political games aimed at winning sympathy from his Mt Kenya voters moreso after the president had decided to sideline him from initiating development projects in favour of cabinet secretaries and principal secretaries from the region.

The group was meeting at Hotel Lamada to focus on Mt Kenya region development agenda when the DP made the outbursts.

Though the sleuths recorded statements from the CSs and PSs, Ruto did not record his statement that would have enabled the sleuths to either charge the CSs and PSs with attempted murder or alternatively charge the DP with making a false report.

Another outburst the DP made which state security organs considered as alarming was during the burial of Sergeant Kipyegon Kenei when he claimed the system wanted him out of the presidential race at whatever cost, meaning they wanted him dead.

Ruto was to record a statement on the effect but Uhuru stopped it again according a city politician well in the know of the happenings.

Insiders familiar with the developments revealed multi agencies have over six times gathered sufficient evidence linking the deputy president and his allies to suspicious mega tenders but when they sought Uhuru’s nod to summon him, they were directed to shelve the file until they get instructions from him.

But all this time, the sources added, the president has been buying time as he quietly lays the ground for Ruto’s arrest by first whittling down his influence in the government and reducing his international image by halting his interactions with global leaders.

The president has also been building a new power base where ODM leader Raila Odinga and Baringo senator Gideon Moi are key pillars who will fill the void once Ruto is vanquished.

The plan is to have Gideon take the place of Ruto to avert a rebellion by the Kalenjin community after the fall of the man many consider as their political kingpin.

Many however say Gideon foot is too small for Ruto’s oversize shoes in RV.The president has also been dismantling Ruto’s political network to ensure once he is in trouble, there will no leaders brave enough to call for demonstrations to pile pressure on the government to go slow on him.

The head of state has also been preparing Kenyans mentally by pledging that he will spare no one in the fight against corruption, including the deputy president or the president’s family members.

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