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It Will End in Tears, Moses Kuria Cries Foul as Tuju Does The Unthinkable to Tangatanga

by Gabriel Omolo
written by Gabriel Omolo

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has said that Jubilee Party Secretary General Raphael Tuju has declared a political war, which will end in tears.

The controversial lawmaker took to his official facebook page to react to the changes in the ruling party that have been highly protested by Deputy President William Ruto and his allies.

Tuju, despite all the protests from lawmakers allied to Tanga Tanga faction of Jubilee, has gone ahead to publish the changes made on the ruling party’s National Management Committee (NMC) in Saturday’s May 2, 2020 leading local dailies.

Moses Kuria, while reacting to the publications, termed Tuju as an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party special envoy in Jubilee.

Kuria says that Tuju has placed a notice in Saturday papers with the irregular changes in the Jubilee National Management Committee despite the ruling by the Registrar of Political Parties.

He went ahead to say that the Country is at the onset of a budget and Finance Bill process in parliament and it needed peace and space without political sideshows.

“Despite the ruling by the Registrar of Political Parties, ODM special envoy in Jubilee Raphael Tuju has placed a notice in Saturday papers with the irregular changes in the Jubilee National Management Committee. We are at the onset of a budget and Finance Bill process in parliament and we needed peace and space without political sideshows. Anyway, war has been declared. It will end in tears,” he posted.

The Registrar of Political Parties had temporarily stopped the anticipated change of names in Jubilee Party’s National Management Committee.

RPP Anne Nderitu halted the decision to effect the changes after 350 members of the party filed written objections with her office over the manner in which the process was carried out.

Ms Nderitu wrote to Tuju, forwarding the objections and ordering resolution of the issues the members raised in their demand for the process to be halted.

She noted that the issues must be addressed in accordance with the party’s constitution, the Political Parties Act and the conclusion filed with her office.

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Politics

We Will Sanitize The Healthcare System, CS Kagwe Breaks Silence on Ksh 4M Tea Budget

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has broken his silence on the ministry’s Ksh. 1 billion expenditure that had caused an uproar among Kenyans.

In a post on his Facebook page on Thursday evening, Kagwe said information on Coronavirus expenditure that has been circulated on social media is baseless and if there is any truth in it, he will take action.

The CS dismissed the information on how the ministry spent the Ksh 1 billion donated by world bank, that has hence gone viral as lies, innuendo and propaganda.

“Good Evening. I have debated posting tonight but am doing so because I read your comments and appreciate your sentiments and fears. As a Kenyan, I too have been disappointed by leaders who fail us for reasons that span inefficiency to corruption.

” The allegations you are seeing are based on this trend: public skepticism and pessimism. I get it. And so I am here to let you know that among us is a cohort that believes in exploitation and that thinks that by spreading lies, innuendo and propaganda, I will be intimidated and worse, lose the trust of you – – the Kenyan – – who believes in our cause and my integrity.

“They want us sidetracked. I am no greenhorn; I have seen such mischief before, wasn’t intimated then and will not be intimidated now. Watch my actions, they will illustrate this.

“The job at hand is simple: save lives in the most cost efficient way and accomplish this in collaboration with the people this position devotes me to: YOU.

“So, in pointing out the fakeness of the financial analyses making the circuit, I am sure that you will agree with me this is not the appropriate forum for me to delve into detailed accounting, balance sheets et all.

“But that is coming. You need transparency and will get it in a manner detailed enough for your critical analyses. Suffice it to say, there will be no theft of COVID-19 resources under my watch and if there is any truth regarding the misuse of COVID-19 funds, beyond being disheartened, I guarantee you that those responsible will be out of the ministry faster than we can blink. Propaganda or not, we, WILL sanitize the healthcare system…so God help us” he posted.

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Politics

Details of Gideon Moi’s Meeting With Mombasa Business Mogul-Cum-Politician

by Gabriel Omolo
written by Gabriel Omolo

KANU party leader Gideon Moi Thursday morning held a meeting with Mombasa business mogul-cum-politician Suleiman Shahbal.

Taking to his official facebook page, Shahbal said that they had discussed the current state of the country and the challenges that Kenya is facing from Covid-19.

The Mombasa business mogul emphasized to Gideon Moi that the country needs to immediately start planning on a recovery strategy and implementation plan.

Shahbal said that Kenya needs to start creating jobs again quickly .

The two also discussed the Port, Free Zone and the challenges facing Mombasa. They agreed to work together with all people that share a common vision to bring peace, prosperity and unity to the country.

“This morning I met with Senator Gideon Moi, Chairman of KANU. We discussed the current state of our country and the challenges that we are facing from COVID 19. I have emphasized to him that the country needs to immediately start planning on a recovery strategy and implementation plan. We need to start creating jobs again quickly. We discussed the Port, Free Zone and the challenges facing Mombasa. We have agreed to work together with all people that share a common vision to bring peace, prosperity and unity to our country,” he posted.

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Politics

Moses Kuria Slams Raila Over Firing of His Own Ally, Reveals His Role in Uhuru Gov’t

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria has dragged Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga into the firing of Nicholas Gumbo as Chair of Kenyatta National Hospital.

The Controversial lawmaker Thursday morning took to his social media pages to question why Raila fired Engineer Gumbo.

Kuria questioned whether Raila feared if Gumbo will floor his brother Oburu Odinga in the 2022 Siaya gubernatorial race. He went ahead to say that Luo Nyanza region won’t take off if Raila continues extinguishing hope inspiring candles like Gumbo.

He further questioned whether Raila cares if Luo Nyanza region takes off or not, arguing that he extinguished Oduol and Siaya has lost a decade under current governor Cornel Rasanga Amoth.

Uhuru fires Nicholas Gumbo, appoints George Opondo Ooko new KNH board chair
Nicholas Gumbo and his successor George Opondo Ooko. PHOTOS | COURTESY

Citing that Raila is President Uhuru Kenyatta’s co-President, Kuria went ahead to advise the former premier to use his powers realising that there is God in heaven.

“Dear Raila Odinga. Why did you fire Eng Nicholas Gumbo as Chair of Kenyatta National Hospital ? How many COVID billions are you expecting at KNH that you want a compliant man ? Or is it because Gumbo will beat Oburu 10-0 for Siaya Governor 2022? When you keep extinguishing hope inspiring candles like Gumbo, how do you expect Luo Nyanza to take off? Or do you even care whether Luo Nyanza takes off or not? You extinguished Oduol and Siaya has lost a decade under Rasanga Amoth. Now another decade you want lost. Yes you are co-President today but use your power realising there is a God in heaven,” read his post.

President Kenyatta appointed George Opondo Ooko as the new Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) board chairperson.

President Kenyatta, in a gazette notice, appointed Mr. Ooko to the position on a two-year term effective April 21, 2020.

The Head of State hence revoked the appointment of Nicholas Gumbo who has been serving as the KNH Board Chair since May last year.

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Politics

Sonko Sends Strong Message to Harambee House “Prefects” Obsessed With Power

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko has send a strong message to people working at President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Harambee House office, whom he feels are intimidating him.

His message comes days after the embattled County chief faced humiliation from unnamed people who are close to President Kenyatta.

The Nairobi County boss last week had his security details withdrawn both from his Mua Hills home and his private office in Upper Hill, as well as having his Covid-19 sanitisation booths that had been installed in Nairobi CBD and Kibra vandalised.

Sonko in his Tuesday night message told his Harambee House friends that Power comes, power goes, power is temporary, and transient but the will of the people, and the will of God, is eternal.

He went ahead to remind them that in the 1990’s, Hon. Nicholas Biwott (RIP) was the most powerful man, probably across Africa, but before his demise, he used to sit lonely at a corner at the Serena Hotel, and very few people even bothered to say hi to him.

He further reminded them of 2006, when President Kenyatta was the official opposition.

Sonko said that in 2006, there was a stand off between Hawkers and the Police, and President Kenyatta stepped in to help quell the crisis, but his efforts did not succeed after senior officers at the OP directed the then Nairobi PPO to instruct his officers on the ground to disperse the hawkers and the then the leader of official opposition Uhuru Kenyatta by tear gassing them.

By then, Sonko says, nobody knew that he would one day become President.

“Sometimes in 2006, there was a stand off between Hawkers and the Police. The current President stepped in to help quell the crisis, but his efforts did not succeed after senior officers at the OP directed the then Nairobi PPO to instruct his officers on the ground to disperse the hawkers and the then the leader of official opposition Uhuru Kenyatta by tear gassing them. Nobody then knew that he would one day become President,” he posted.

This seems to be a clear message that as much as his intimidation continues, he will at some point rise to power in this Country, since the Supreme Will of God has never faltered, neither floundered.

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Crime & Investigations

Mali ya Doshi Lands Governor Joho in a Big Trouble

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Mombasa governor Ali Hassan Joho is in a big trouble.

The county chief on Tuesday April 28 received a blow after the Mombasa High Court dismissed his application asking to be spared a jail sentence for demolishing a multi-million property in Changamwe.

In a case that was heard via a video link, Justice Sila Munyao said records in court proved the governor was aware of the injunctive court orders barring the demolition of property belonging to Mombasa tycoon Ashok Doshi.

Munyao ruled Joho was well represented by his lawyers and had been served with a show cause notice in a letter dated Friday, May 17, 2019.

Joho had filed an application seeking to have Justice Munyao suspend his order dated Wednesday, February 12, 2020, sentencing him to six months in jail  after he found him guilty of contempt of court.

Last month, Munyao suspended Joho’s sentencing to allow him submit the application stopping his sentencing.

The judge had found Joho guilty of disobeying Lady Justice Ann Omollo’s orders dated Tuesday, March 6, 2019, stopping the county government of Mombasa from interfering with the said suit through a consent written by him and county government lawyers.

The governor was scheduled to appear before court to mitigate before his sentencing.

Through his lawyer Ali Mohamed, governor Joho argued the application dated Friday, May 17, 2019 was never personally served upon him, and as such, he was a stranger to the proceedings.

Joho said he only got to know he had been held in contempt of court through the mainstream and social media.

He contended he had never disobeyed a court order, and that as a matter of principle, he fully respects the sanctity of the rule of law and all court orders.

Doshi’s lawyer Willis Oluga however, said personal service was not mandatory in such an application and the need for personal service was raised and dismissed in an earlier ruling by Justice Munyao on Wednesday, February 12.

Oluga said one Gordon Odhiambo personally served the ODM deputy party leader with the application dated Friday, May 17,2019.

Munyao dismissed the argument the application dated Friday, May 17, 2019 was defective as it failed to follow the procedure laid down in the judicature act.

In his ruling, the Judge said the acts of disobedience were attributed to the governor as the chief executive of the county.

The judge said Joho actively participated in the application through the county attorney.

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Crime & InvestigationsLatest News

Jubilee Politician Arrested For ‘Battering Wife Following Dispute Over Sold TV set

by Brian Miano
written by Brian Miano

Police in Nakuru East have arrested the county’s former deputy mayor, Joseph Munyiri, on allegations of causing grievous bodily harm to his wife, Joyce Wangui.

The couple’s fight started after Munyiri, 36, on Monday afternoon (April 27) allegedly went to his spouse’s electronics shop in Menengai Ward, Nakuru East and sold a 32-inch TV set to his friend at Ksh2, 000 without his wife’s knowledge or approval.

Munyiri is also said to have failed to record the sale of the TV set in the sales record-keeping book, prompting his wife, 36, to ask him why he hadn’t registered the transaction.

Later Monday evening, when Munyiri and his partner returned home, the ex-deputy mayor is said to have descended on Wangui with kicks and blows, causing her dental trauma and grievous injuries to the face and ears.

The suspect is alleged to have been angered after his partner “challenged his authority as the head of the family in front of his friends”.

Wangui, who has sought treatment at Nakuru Mediheal Hospital, told police that it wasn’t the first time her spouse was meting out violence on her.

“He has anger problems. While beating me up yesterday (Monday, April 27), he threatened he would kill me. He even followed me to hospital as I went to seek treatment,” said Wangui.

“He often brags that he is the man of the house, whose authority shouldn’t be questioned by his wife. He often says he has a right to sell anything at my shop without seeking my consent,” said Wangui.

The two have been married for nearly 20 years, and have seven children together.

Munyiri is being held at a Menengai police station.

“I urge the Government to ensure I get justice,” said Wangui.

The former deputy mayor vied for Menengai Ward Jubilee Party ticket in the run-up to 2017 general election, but lost.

Ever since, he has been eking a living out of selling second-hand clothes in Nakuru Town.

A report by the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) shows that 85 per cent of domestic violence victims in the world are women.

In Kenya, 40 per cent of all married women have been abused at one point or another in their relationship, a figure that is higher than the global average of 30 per cent.

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Latest NewsPolitics

Bungoma Dual Carriage Way 25 % Done, to be Completed Next Year

by Pauline Waswa
written by Pauline Waswa

Bungoma county roads CEC Collins Mukhongo has expressed his satisfaction towards the ongoing construction of the dual carriage way which had been left unattended to since the 1970s with the growing population now seeing Bungoma county with over one million people.

Speaking to Dailytrends.co.ke from his office on Tuesday April 28, he noted that the progress is so far good and on time, and it currently stands at 25% and approximately by the end of the year 2021 it will be done and set.

This comes after the Kanduyi-Musikoma dual carriage way project was launched on 12th of May 2019 with 1.3 billion shillings being allocated for the project.

The 6.5km dual carriage way was estimated to take 24 months to construct.

Touching on the bridges following a recent incident that got one boda-boda member losing his life at Siritanyi on Namisi river after drowning, Mr Mukhongo noted that as a county the requirement for bridges is 97 bridges and so far, 17 have been done.

He went further to note that the budget for bridges is quite expensive hence the smallest bridge can cost around 5-6 million approximately and the bigger one can go up to Ksh 30 million plus , and so it is advised to have some money for world based programs and so members of the county assembly are expected to prioritize such bridges because every ward is allocated between 13 and 15 million shillings every financial year and its expected that those kind of bridges fall under that category.

On other roads the CEC noted that the county government is collaborating with the likes of KENHA, Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERRA) and the Kenya Urban Rural Roads Authority (KURRA)to see the success of transportation in the county of Bungoma.

He finalized by urging all the Bungoma county residents to be vigilant in the prevention of  Covid-19 by washing hands frequently, wearing masks and staying at home as much as possible.

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Crime & Investigations

Wangamati’s Ksh 10,000 Jerrycan Return to Haunt Him as EACC Launches Probe, Goes For Other 6 Governors

by Gabriel Omolo
written by Gabriel Omolo

Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has demanded documents over suspicious procurement of food and medical equipment—as well as hiking of prices, which have emerged as the most common avenues abused by corrupt county staff to skim off public resources.

A total of six counties are now on EACC radar over alleged misuse of funds meant to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

Among the six Counties is Bungoma, where common jerrycans used for carrying water were bought at Sh10,000 each, Kilifi over the Health ministry’s expenditure and a county in North Eastern Kenya where the probe has just began.

On Sunday, EACC executive officer Twalib Mbarak told a local daily he is focusing on claims of inflated prices, conflict of interest where unscrupulous officials are said to have awarded inflated tenders to relatives and cronies as well as cases where firms are supplying less than the agreed order.

“The expenditure is the most vulnerable where there are county officers who do not have integrity. They are taking advantage of the situation but we are tracking them and they should know that crime doesn’t expire.Even after the pandemic, we still go for them,” Mbarak told the local daily.

Further, the EACC is investigating claims of supply of substandard goods and services, and poor planning by counties, leading to wastage. For example, some county officials are installing too many sanitising jerrycans in public places without water and soap.

The purchases, Mbarak said, awere sanctioned by corrupt officials who detectives suspect are getting fat kickbacks from suppliers who are being picked through direct procurement and single sourcing.

The EACC chief said immediately coronavirus became a crisis, and with counties being deeply involved in mitigating the spread, the agency anticipated that corrupt officials could take advantage to steal public resources.

Yesterday, however, Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua defended county officials against accusations of using the pandemic to misappropriate funds, saying their actions were guided by Gazette Notice Number 53 signed on April 2 on asset disposal.

However, according to multiple sources, direct procurement and single sourcing which had been allowed since the pandemic broke, had opened avenues for corrupt officials including governors, to dish out business to their cronies and relatives.

The tenders mostly involve supply of foodstuff, medical supplies and equipment to promote hygiene such as hand washing containers and sanitisers and expenditure in health departments. 

To this effect, EACC sent a circular to Council of Governors chief executive Jacqueline Mogeni and copied it to Council of Governors chair Wycliffe Oparanya, asking counties to ensure corruption loopholes are sealed. 

“The commission will be keenly monitoring the utilisation and management of public resources by all county governments and State agencies to avert any loss or misuse of public resources during the current extra ordinary period,” said Mbarak’s letter, copied to the Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua.

But it appears the advice was ignored and some counties, which have been announcing that they had set aside millions to fight the pandemic by equipping hospitals, promoting hygiene and donation of food, are taking advantage of the virus to siphon public funds.

For instance, Bungoma county headed by Governor Wyclife Wangamati, allegedly bought 600 20-litre jerrycans at Sh10,000  each to distribute to residents in a hand washing drive, and the EACC boss said there are similar reports from other counties. 

In the Amason Kingi-led Kilifi county, Mbarak said they were probing tendering transactions in the Health department, noting that they had asked for relevant documents to facilitate investigations.

The North Eastern county, which Mbarak did not name, is said to have drafted a Sh450 million budget to fund Covid-19 activities, but according to the EACC chief, the itemisation does not make sense and could be a ploy to facilitate theft.

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Crime & Investigations

30 Bungoma Youths Arrested at a Party in County Employee’s House

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Thirty youths were over the weekend arrested in Bungoma while having a party in one of the County employee’s house.

The youths who had defied the government’s directives on containing Covid-19 were busted on Saturday while enjoying some bottles of liquor, with some managing to escape the arrest by running away.

The 30 were arrested for not adhering to social distancing regulations as the country fights the spread of the coronavirus disease.

Sources at Bungoma Police Station said the 30 youths were arrested after members of the public raised concerns over their conduct.

The group was later released on a free bond after a stern warning against gathering in public for as long as the virus continues to wreak havoc in Kenya and across the world.

Some were charged for only being drunk and disorderly. Bungoma social media and local radio stations have send panic following their release.

According to the rules set by the Ministry of Health, anyone arrested for defying the national dusk to dawn curfew and not adhering to the social distancing regulations should be arrested, charged and taken into a mandatory quarantine.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said anyone found defying the dusk to dawn curfew is assumed to have been exposed to Covid-19, and should therefore be quarantined for 14 days at his/her own costs.

Bungoma residents are now requesting County Commissioner to rearrest the 30 youths and quarantine them. The irate residents have also threatened to burn the houses of the released youths should they not get rearrested.

They have also urged CS Kagwe to intervene and ensure that an action is taken against the youths, whom they now say are posing a great danger to the community.

A local youthful MCA who is a member of the Bungoma Health Committee requests for the guarantee of the Bungoma populace by quarantining the party goers

One of the youths is believed to have some travel history. He has traveled far and wide and is back in the country for a holiday.

Our efforts to contact the CEC Health and Police Boss in Bungoma have been futile.

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Politics

Ruto’s Lawyer: ODM Has Excellent Chance if Joho is Their Presidential Candidate For 2022

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Flamboyant City lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi has claimed that Mombasa governor Ali Hassan Joho might be the Kenya’s next President.

The senior counsel who has been representing Deputy President William Ruto in a case involving Weston Hotel says that Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has an excellent chance if Joho is made their Presidential candidate for 2022.

Through a Sunday morning tweet, the lawyer claimed that leaders are born during crisis.

He argued that the the ODM party leader has gone completely awol at this time of Covid-19 pandemic. He says that Governor Joho is the only ODM politician who has been visible and effective at the time of coronavirus pandemic.

“Leaders are BORN during crisis and at a time when Hon Raila has gone COMPLETELY AWOL Governor @HassanAliJoho has been the only VISIBLE/EFFECTIVE ODM politician during the Coronavirus crisis. ODM has excellent chance if Joho is ODM’s Presidential candidate for 2022,” he tweeted.

Joho has taken the lead in the fight against Covid-19 in a way that has caught many by surprise. He has won praise for his style of leadership in a time of crisis, which is arguably better than that of his compatriots in the Council of Governors. 

The county has even threatened to prosecute residents who fail to comply with directives. 

Joho, who has set aside a Sh200 million war chest against the coronavirus from the county’s kitty, has been pulling different players together. 

He has even acquired the most unlikely unofficial assistant, hitherto political rival Suleiman Shahbal, who has taken the lead role among the business community. 

Shahbal’s idea of a disinfecting booth at the Likoni ferry crossing, where ferry users can be disinfected en masse, was quickly taken up by his new-found partner in crisis. 

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Business

Salaries to Increase as Uhuru Signs The Tax Bill Into Law

by Jacinta Mbithi
written by Jacinta Mbithi

President Uhuru Kenyatta has today (Saturday April 25) at State House, Nairobi signed into law the Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

The new tax law amends several statutes to cushion the economy and Kenyans against the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic as announced by the Head of State.

The Amendment Bill, which was published on 30th March 2020, has amended tax-related laws in Kenya including the Income Tax Act (CAP 470), the Value Added Tax Act of 2013, the Excise Duty Act (2015), the Tax Procedures Act (2015), Miscellaneous Levies and Fees Act (2016) and the Retirement Benefits Act(1997).

The amendments include the raise in the threshold for turnover tax to between one million and fifty million shillings so as to exclude small-scale traders from the presumptive tax. The new law further lowers turnover tax rate from 3 to 1 percent.

The amended law, which mainly targets low-income earners, includes a 100 percent Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax relief for employees earning less than Shs 28,000 per month. Those earning above the new threshold will benefit from a PAYE tax reduction of between 30 and 25 percent.

Similarly, the new Act has revised Corporation Tax to 25 percent while Non-Resident Tax on Dividends has been adjusted from 10 to 15 percent.

The amended law lowers the Value Added Tax rate from 16 to 14 percent, a move that is expected to lower the shelf prices of basic commodities.

The new Act, has amended Section 38 of the Retirement Benefits Act (1997) to allow access of retirement benefits for purposes of purchase of a residential house. This is aimed at increasing home ownership in the country as envisaged in the housing pillar under Big 4 Agenda.

The Bill, which was presented to the President for signature by National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi was passed by Parliament on Wednesday this week.

Present during the brief signing ceremony were National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani, Solicitor General Ken Ogeto, State House Chief of Staff Nzioka Waita, National Assembly Clerk Michael Sialai and State House Deputy Chief of Staff Njee Muturi.

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Business

Conflict of Interest? CMA Chairman James Ndegwa Appoints His Predecessor Paul Muthaura As COO to ICEA Lion

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Current Capital Markets Authority (CMA) chairman James Ndegwa has appointed Paul Murithi Muthaura, the former CMA CEO as the chief operating officer (COO) of ICEA Lion Insurance, a firm associated with the former.

The post was recently created to accomodate the lawyer, who has been out in the cold without a job since he left CMA in December 2019. Mr. Muthaura takes the reigns at ICEA Insurance, having had no insurance or any private sector operations experience.

Under his regime, CMA is considered to have recorded some successes such as listing of the NSE and bringing orderliness to brokers. However, he also had a very stinky record such as letting a few banks take control of the CMA, the chairing of CMA by a market participant happened under his watch, and during his tenor investors lost tens of billions in CMA approved products such as Imperial Bank and Chase Bank Bonds, Uchumi and Mumias shares, Genghis Money Market and Amana Monet Market Funds.

CMA also spent hundreds of millions of tax payers monies hiring foreign consultants from London, Australia and JoBurg to churn out totally useless products such asset backed securities, Development REITs, futures exachanges, ETFs, gold exchanges, in the name of innovations.

Read: How James Ndegwa Has Been Cartelling Money Markets Through CMA

This appoint also comes as a conflict of interest, as Ndegwa is the owner and chairman of ICEA Lion Insurance, and has served together with Muthaura as the CEO.

Worse still, the Insurance company runs the ICEA money market fund, an arm regulated by the CMA. As experts would argue, CMA as currently constituted does not regulate the ICEA money market, but instead protects it.

ICEA Lion General Insurance made an underwriting profit of Ksh283.4 million last year.

Muthaura has worked with the CMA for 14 years, and his appointment is seen as a way of keeping him inside CMA through the underwriter whose owner is the chairman of the regulator.

Read: CMA Chairman James Ndegwa Accused of Conflict of Interest in Market Regulation

James Ndegwa is affiliated to three money markets funds – ICEA money market fund, NCBA money market fund, and Stanlib money market fund.

Muthaura will start serving in the newly created position on May 1

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Latest NewsPolitics

Uhuru Breaks Silence on Marakwet Landslides After Murkomen’s Uproar

by Manyasi Peris
written by Manyasi Peris

President Uhuru Kenyatta has mourned the 29 Kenyans who lost their lives in Elgeyo Marakwet and West Pokot due to the mudslides.

Speaking on Saturday April 25 from State House, Nairobi, the President said that his administration continues to make every effort to support the affected families and communities across the country.

“I mourn the 29 Kenyans we have lost in Elgeyo Marakwet and West Pokot. My Administration continues to make every effort to support affected families and communities across the country,” President Kenyatta said.

The head of state further urged those living in dangerous areas such as escarpments to relocate to safer areas.

His statement comes a day after Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen accused the government of neglecting the victims.

Murkomen through his twiiter handle on Friday said that 23 bodies were still missing in Marakwet landslide tragedy, forcing locals to launch search for their loved ones on their own.

Murkomen accused Rift Valley regional commissioner George Natembeya of moving to the scene, taking pictures and leaving without doing anything.

“23 bodies are still missing in Marakwet landslide tragedy. These people are searching for their loved ones. RC Natembeya and the Military went their took pictures and left. meanwhile thousands of them are without shelter.What the hell is going on in this country?” Murkomen posted.

Hundreds of the survivors have sought refuge in churches and schools while others are being accommodated by their relatives.

At Kipchumwa location where the landslide started, more than 300 residents are huddled at AIC Wewo Church with no food and sanitation facilities. 

The government has sent some help but much of it is being directed to Chesegon and Sambalat areas, which were hard hit by the mudslides. Seventeen other people are still missing.

Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya said the government was doing its best to provide food to the displaced and asked those still living on the escarpment to relocate before another disaster strikes.

He said a command centre had been set up at Sambalat Primary School and Cheptulel Secondary School in the respective counties to coordinate recovery efforts and relief missions.

West Pokot was one of the areas badly affected by heavy rains in November and December last year when more than 40 people died after massive landslides. 

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Latest NewsLifestyle

Drama as Man Wearing ‘Gunia’ Moves to Hospital Demanding Release of Wife From Quarantine

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

An angry man from Ol Kalou in Nyandarua County on Saturday April 25 decided to wear a sack, and went outside the JM Kariuki Memorial County Referral Hospital to demand his wife be released after completing a 14-day quarantine.

The man identified as Joseph Mathenge said his wife is an agricultural products trader at Ol Kalou Market, and was placed under mandatory confinement at Nyandarua High School after she returned to Nyandarua from Sirare in Migori County, where she had gone to buy fresh farm produce, including sweet potatoes, to sell.

Mathenge says his spouse, Jane Njeri — a mother of two — has completed the set 14-day quarantine period, but health officers have refused to let her go home. Njeri’s COVID-19 status remains unclear.

“When she returned from Migori, she was directed to go to Ol Kalou Police Station. Upon arriving at the police post, she was told that she would be placed under forced isolation for 14 days,” said Mathenge.

“I want my wife released. She is supposed to be out [of the quarantine center] working. Mimi sibembelezi mtu anitolee bibi yangu. Sibembelezi, na sitabembeleza (I am not begging anyone to release my wife. I vow not to do that),” shouted Mathenge on Saturday, April 25 while standing outside the JM Kariuki Hospital.

“I have a right. I will pursue my right up to the last minute. My wife should be out to look after her children. Where is she now? You’ve turned my family into a broken one. The government is not quarantining people the right way. It is breaking families, which are institutions recognised by the same government. Without families, no government can stand,” he said.

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Moses Kuria Deals a Major Blow to Newspapers

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria has warned Kenyans against buying hard copies of local dailies.

The controversial lawmaker says that for Kenya to defeat Covid-19 pandemic, everyone has to follow the directives issued by the government.

Kuria says that it is shocking that Kenyans are still buying hard copy newspapers despite the obvious risks of spreading the Coronavirus disease.

The government has hence banned handshakes as a measure of containing the viurus.

Newspaper vendors normally carry them in their hands, and should one of them have the virus, it can easily spread to the buyer.

To stop this, Moses Kuria advises that Kenyans should adopt the culture of reading from the internet, now that almost all the Kenyan dailies are online.

He has warned Kenyans to avoid buying newspapers until coronavirus disease is defeated in the country.

“Dear all Kenyans. For us to fight COVID-19 effectively, we have to follow what the government says including use of digital services. It is shocking that Kenyans are still buying hard copy newspapers despite the obvious risks of spreading the Corona Virus.

“All our newspapers are now online. Keep yourself safe from Corona Virus. Avoid buying newspapers until we defeat this virus, which we will!” Moses Kuria posted.

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