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Fireworks As Kang’ata Skips Jubilee’s Top Meeting, Dumped Uhuru For Ruto?

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Has Senate Majority whip Irungu Kang’ata decamped from President Uhuru Kenyatta’s camp to Deputy President William Ruto’s side?

Well, the Murang’a Senator’s no show at Jubilee party’s top meeting held at the party’s headquarters in Pangani, Nairobi on Wednesday has triggered a debate on whether the once Uhuru’s diehard has shifted camp.

Kang’ata failed to attend the meeting convened by the Party Secretary General Raphael Tuju, despite him having been invited.

Speaking to a local daily on why he skipped the meeting, the lawmaker stated that he was busy somewhere else and he could not make it.

Senate Deputy Majority leader Fatuma Dullo, National Assembly Majority leader Amos Kimunya and his deputy Jimmy Angwenyi, National Assembly Majority Whip Emmanuel Wangwe, his deputy Maoka Maore and secretary to the Jubilee parliamentary group Adan Keynan are some of the officials that attended the meeting in which the party decided to pull out of three upcoming by-elections.

The no-show at the meeting, that culminated in a press conference, came a day after Kang’ata reportedly rejected a push by the party honchos and President Uhuru  Kenyatta’s allies to withdraw his letter to the President.

Late last year, Kang’ata shocked the nation when he penned a letter to the President discrediting BBI’s popularity in Mt Kenya region, Uhuru’s political bastion. Uhuru’s men termed the move ‘disrespectful’.

In the letter, the senator told the President that the BBI referendum might fail in the region unless Uhuru and his handshake partner ODM leader Raila Odinga change their strategy.

He affirmed the position at a press conference in Parliament on Monday despite criticism and pressure to withdraw the letter and apologise to the head of state.

He cited opposition to the expanded Executive, the involvement of provincial administrations and campaigns by former MPs as some of the issues working against the initiative.

Sources intimated that Jubilee bigwigs hosted Kang’ata for a meeting on Tuesday evening, where he was asked to retract the letter, but he declined.

Yesterday, Tuju and Dullo confirmed Tuesday’s meeting.

“We held a leadership meeting yesterday, he was with us…. He is still our whip until otherwise he decides or any other things come up,” Dullo said.

But when asked whether he was ditching the President’s camp, Kang’ata replied, “I am fighting for the truth and rights. I don’t believe in Jubilee factions and divisions.”

At the press conference, Tuju and Maore said the party had not discussed punishing Kang’ata for his letter to the President.

Kang’ata has been one of President Uhuru’s foot soldiers and most trusted lieutenants in the Mt Kenya region.

In May last year, Uhuru influenced his election as the Senate Majority Chief Whip following a meeting at State House where senators Susan Kihika (Nakuru) and Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet) – key allies of the DP – were kicked out as Majority Chief Whip and Majority leader, respectively.

Later, Kang’ata excited key party decisions by whipping party members to among others vote out Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki as Senate deputy speaker.

However, his letter and skipping party meetings have triggered murmurs and talks that he was on his way out of the President’s circles.

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Politics

Raphael Tuju Speaks On His Relationship With Ruto’s Wheelbarrow Party

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Jubilee party Secretary General Raphael Tuju has broken his silence on the recently launched United Democratic Alliance (UDA), a party linked to Deputy President William Ruto.

Speaking during a press conference at the Jubilee headquarters, Tuju explained that UDA had only changed names from Party of Development and Reforms (PDR), a party that he founded in 2012.

“If you are confused, I am more confused because PDR was POA,” the Jubilee Secretary General stated.

Tuju asked the Senate Deputy Majority Leader Fatuma Dullo, who was elected on the PDR ticket, to set the record straight.

“Members of parliament who were elected on a PDR ticket have seen change of name the way you have seen in media.

“There have not been any consultations in terms of where sitting members are concerned, but more importantly PDR was a coalition partner with jubilee and that is why I was given a leadership position in senate,” Dullo stated, adding that PDR had not been deregistered

“As far as I am concerned, I am still within my coalition partner which is jubilee,” she stated.

Deputy President William Ruto’s affiliation with PDR dates back to 2017 when the party was hosted at DP’s previous private office in Nairobi CBD.

President Uhuru Kenyatta had acknowledged the party during the 2017 campaigns.

At the same time, Jubilee party indicated that no disciplinary action would be taken against Senate Majority Whip Irungu Kang’ata over BBI leaked letter.

The senator had expressed fears that he might be demoted.

Dullo stated that the party met with Kang’ata and a way forward would be communicated later.

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Politics

Jubilee Announces Major Plan To Counter The Ruto Wave In Nairobi By-election

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee party has announced its plan in the upcoming by-elections across the country.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is expected to conduct by-elections in Nairobi (Gubernatorial), Matungu (Parliamentary), Machakos (Senatorial), Kabuchai (Parliamentary) and in various wards.

Speaking during a press conference on Wednesday, January 13, at the Jubilee Party headquarters, Secretary General Raphael Tuju stated that they were monitoring the situation in court and how everything will play out, before giving directions on the way forward.

“As for Nairobi’s seat of Governor [sic] we are on standby mode as the matter plays out in the High Court and Nairobi County Assembly,” he said.

The Nairobi mini polls set for February 18, were suspended pending the hearing and determination of former Governor Mike Sonko’s appeal on his impeachment. 

Sonko is also engaged in another court case against Ann Kananu Mwenda, whose nomination as deputy governor he is said to have revoked. 

The court, however, declined to stop the planned vetting of Kananu who was represented by senior counsel Paul Muite. 

Jubilee is said to be considering BBI Secretariat co-Chair Dennis Waweru as the candidate to battle it out with UDA’s Margaret Wanjiru.

Tuju also announced that the party would not be fielding candidates in the Machakos, Matungu and Kabuchai by-elections. 

He added that Jubilee was engaging ODM, Wiper, ANC and Ford Kenya in the listed polls. 

Jubilee has avoided facing off with the Deputy President William Ruto-linked United Democratic Alliance party, which has already announced it’s participation in the Machakos, Matungu and Kabuchai by-elections.

Wiper has fielded Agnes Kavindu who is UDA Chairman Johnstone Muthama’s ex-wife for the Machakos by-election. 

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Politics

New Details Reveal The Real Masterminds Behind Kang’ata’s BBI Letter To Uhuru

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Fresh details have emerged, revealing how the letter addressed to President Uhuru Kenyatta by Senate Majority leader Irungu Kang’ata on the alleged unpopularity of BBI in Mt. Kenya, was carefully drafted.

According to the details, the Murang’a Senator had held a series of consultations that culminated in a secretive night meeting held at his Grogan home in Murang’a on New Year’s eve. 

Reports indicate that the meetings had been prompted by Jubilee Party and Governor Mwangi Waria’s Civic Renewal Party (CRP) losses in a by-election held in Gaturi ward, Murang’a on December 15, 2020.

Kang’ata is said to have held a meeting on the night of December 31st in which he carefully vetted attendees. A source revealed that 24 people were present, 3 from each of the sub-counties. 

Strategists who have guided the Senator in his political career were also present. 

The meeting was dominated by a popularity analysis of the Tanga Tanga and Kieleweke factions, after which Kang’ata was asked to chart a new political journey, starting with a candid report to President Kenyatta.

“He (Kang’ata) was told to tell the president that people were complaining of being forced into unpalatable political formations, was reeling under policy-driven business hardships and that generally, the president had become a stranger to them hence rebellion against him and his administration was at their peak,” the source was quoted by a local daily as saying.

In the course of the meeting, the delegates are said to have questioned Kang’ata’s alliance with the Kieleweke faction. 

Joshua Kimani, who spoke to the local daily revealed that the senator was informed of Tanga Tanga’s popularity in the region.

“The senator urged us to be as truthful as possible with him because he wanted to ensure his 2022 contest for Murang’a governor would be premised on the political pulse of the county. We were all unanimous that, first, he was in the wrong wing of politics. We told him point-blank that how he was used by Kieleweke to de-whip Tanga Tanga loyalists had eroded his standing in Murang’a, and that, unless he remedied the situation, he was walking into his political gallows,” Kimani was quoted as saying.

The Senate Chief Whip was advised that there was little chance that he would be elected Murang’a Governor in 2022, so long as he continued to associate himself with the Kieleweke faction aligned to President Kenyatta, ODM Leader Raila Odinga, and former presidential candidate Peter Kenneth.

Kang’ata prides himself in not having lost any election since joining politics in 2002, at a tender age of 21 years. 

“We made our case very well and backed it with actual evidence that is in the public domain. We told Kang’ata that if the Kieleweke 2022 ticket was the one being sold by the Handshake team with Raila Odinga as President and Peter Kenneth as his running mate, then he had better kiss his Murang’a gubernatorial ambitions goodbye,” Kimani added.

“As a Jubilee die-hard loyal to President Kenyatta, I saw it wise to collect that intelligence and compile it and bring it to the attention of the party and its leader,” Kang’ata is quoted as saying when he revealed that the meeting at his home was heated.

The letter by Kang’ata to President Kenyatta was dated December 30, however, it has been established that it had been authored on December 31, 2020, before hitting the headlines on January 3, 2021.

Kang’ata informed the President of the political landscape in the Mount Kenya region with regard to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), and his findings rubbed off pro-BBI champions the wrong way.

In the letter, Kang’ata urged that the BBI consider adopting two pet lines – a consensus-oriented process that would see the referendum bear multiple questions- something that has through the course of the report been championed b Deputy President William Ruto.

Critics of the letter have since accused Kang’ata of playing sideshows and that he was rejoining Tanga Tanga.

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Politics

ODM Forced To Clarify On How Former MP Were Was Picked For Matungu By-election

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Raila Odinga-led Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has come out to clarify on the creteria that was used to land on former Matungu MP David Aoko Were as their preferred candidate in the upcoming mini polls.

In a statement issued on Wednesday January 6, the Orange party stated that three interested persons namely David Were, Paul Posho and Jeremiah Namunyu visited Chungwa House in December last year and picked nomination forms.

By close of business on the 24th December which was the deadline, ODM says only David Were had returned the forms.

“CLARIFICATION ON MATUNGU: Three interested persons namely Hon. David Were, Mr. Paul Posho & Mr. Jeremiah Namunyu visited Chungwa Hse in Dec. last year & picked forms. By close of biz on the 24th Dec which was the deadline, only David Were returned the forms. The other two did not,”ODM said.

https://twitter.com/TheODMparty/status/1346791443332009986?s=20

ODM settled on David Were as its candidate for the Matungu by-election. 

Were was handed a direct ticket by the Orange party, a move that has not gone down well with rivals who have vowed not to support him in the March 4 mini-poll.

According to ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, the former legislator was awarded the party ticket after meeting set requirements.

In Were, Sifuna said the party had a strong candidate with the capacity to clinch the seat that fell vacant after the death of Justus Murunga on November 14, last year.

He will now face ANC candidate Peter Nabulindo and about 10 independent candidates, including Benard Wakoli who decamped from Ford Kenya after the party leadership withdrew from the race in support of the ANC candidate.

Were served as the MP for Matungu from 2002 to 2017 when he lost to Murunga.

He vied on Jubilee party ticket in 2017, having fallen out with the Orange party leadership.

Paul Achayo, a newcomer, clinched the ODM ticket but performed dismally after a section of voters branded him an ‘outsider’ from neighbouring Butere constituency.

Achayo ditched ODM two weeks ago, accusing the party of resorting to undemocratic tendencies.

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Junet Breathes Fire Over Senator Kang’ata’s Leaked BBI Letter To Uhuru

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

The Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Secretariat Co-Chairman Junet Mohamed has hit out at Senate Majority Whip Irungu Kang’ata over his leaked letter to President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Junet questioned the timing of Kang’ata’s poll that was recorded in the letter, as the public were engaged in festivities and noted that the opinion is based on his claims.

“I don’t come from that area (Mount Kenya) so I cannot confirm what (Mr) Kang’ata is saying but this is the gospel according to Kang’ata. He may have his own opinion but I don’t know when Kang’ata became a pollster in this country.

“The last time I checked, he was Majority Whip in the Senate but today we are seeing  Kang’ata who is a pollster and who can go and commission an opinion poll within the Christmas period,” said Junet.

The Suna East MP insisted that the BBI secretariat is currently engaged in the verification of the collected signatures.

He becomes the highest-ranking official in the BBI team to respond to the letter which has been widely circulated since its release on Sunday, January 3rd. 

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) began the process of signature verification on Thursday, December 31 to get one million credible signatures and meet the constitutional threshold.

In the letter to Uhuru, Kang’ata warned that the provincial administration’s role in the BBI process was contributing to its unpopularity. 

“The role of the provincial administration & other forms of hard tactics in BBI mobilization is being framed as an example of government using its hard power to force citizens to endorse BBI. I propose we find ways of government wears velvet gloves.”

“Based on a survey I conducted during the December 2020 holidays, I have to the conclusion, BBI is unpopular in Mt Kenya… Out of every 10 persons I surveyed, six opposed it, two support it, and two others are indifferent,” his letter read in part.

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Senator Ledama Wants Nairobi MCAs, Speaker Jailed For Impeaching Sonko

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Narok Senator Ledama Olekina has called for the arrest and prosecution of all Members of Nairobi County Assembly who participated in the impeachment of governor Mike Sonko.

Taking to his official Twitter account on Sunday, December 6, the ODM lawmaker said that the MCAs including the City Assembly speaker and clerk disobeyed court orders in their process to impeach the embattled governor.

Ledama insisted that there is no one that is above the law, including the head of state.

He accused those who participated in the impeachment process against governor Sonko, of defying a court order.

He went further to say that they must be cited for contempt, fined and jailed. Ledama argued that everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

“No one is above the law! We must obey Court Orders! Not even the President! Nairobi MCA’s including the clerk and the speaker who defied the court order and impeached @MikeSonko must be cited for contempt, fined and jailed. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty!” tweeted senator Ledama.

Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka has already confirmed receiving a notice from the Nairobi County Assembly seeking to impeach Governor Sonko.

Lusaka said that plans are underway to call for a special sitting next week, including the collection of 15 signatures required to call for the sitting.

Senate will then start the process of hearing the charges against the governor, after which they will uphold or vote against the impeachment motion.

88 out of 122 MCAs voted to remove Sonko from office, on grounds of;

i) Gross Violation of the Constitution or any other law (the County Governments Act, 2012, the Public Procurement and Disposal Act, 2015 and the Public Finance Management Act, 2012)

ii) Abuse of office and

iii) Crimes under National Law.

Two MCAs opposed the vote while twenty others abstained.

The motion to impeach Sonko was moved by Minority Leader Michael Ogada.

Nairobi County Assembly. Photo/courtesy

The Members of County Assembly said that Sonko had failed to approve the Sh37.4 billion budget to facilitate operations undertaken by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).

However, Sonko’s allies, whom he had taken to Mombasa for vacation, claimed that Thursday’s voting was fraudulent because they were logged into the assembly’s system despite their mobile phones being off.

Sonko had taken about 57 MCAs to Diani, to deny the County Assembly quorum to oust him.

Sonko had earlier on petitioned the High Court to stop the ouster, arguing it was “illegal and unconstitutional.”

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Gideon Moi and Isaac Ruto
Politics

Ruto to Gideon Moi: I Will Support You For Presidency in 2022

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Baringo senator Gideon Moi has been assured of support in 2022 presidency, should he he declare his interest in the top most political seat.

Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) led by former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto is ready to support the KANU party leader in his 2022 presidential bid.

The first Bomet Governor while speaking at an event in Bomet on Friday December 4, said that his party plans to field candidates in all other elective positions except the presidency.

Ruto encouraged Gideon Moi to enter the race to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Ruto challenged the senator to go for the top seat, saying many would love to see his name on the ballot.

He was addressing Kanu delegates and supporters during a BBI sensitisation campaign.

However, Gideon did not respond to Ruto’s challenge. He said he was fully behind the BBI and that he belonged to a political formation that reflects the face of Kenya led by President Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga.

He exuded confidence that the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill 2020 would sail through the county assemblies and eventually at the vote because majority of Kenyans fully support the process.

He said Kanu will continue to popularise the document as the party’s top leadership meets members across the country.

Gideon has so far toured five counties to rally the masses behind the BBI and revitalise his party.

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Politics

Another MP From Western Dies

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Western Kenya region is yet again mourning the death of another MP, just weeks after Matungu MP Justus Murunga died.

Kabuchai MP James Lusweti Mukwe has died after a long battle with illness.

Lusweti, who was receiving treatment at the Nairobi Hospital for an undisclosed illness, died on Friday morning (December 4, 2020).

His death has been confirmed by Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula via his social media pages.

“It’s with profound shock and sorrow to learn of the passing on of Hon James Lusweti Mukwe, Kabuchai mp. He willl be remembered as a hardworking & loyal member of Fk party who served his people with utmost honesty, commitment & accountability. RIP kuka,”Wetangula tweeted.

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Politics

Raila Tears Into DP Ruto Shortly After Receiving BBI Signatures

by Jacinta Mbithi
written by Jacinta Mbithi

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga has torn into critics of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).

Taking to his official twitter account on Friday December 4, shortly after receiving the BBI signatures from 13 regions across the country, the former Prime Minister slammed those claiming to be speaking for the people.

Deputy President Dr William Ruto and his allies have been opposing the constitutional changes, with the DP claiming to be speaking for millions of Kenyans.

However, Raila said that those claiming to be speaking for the people should leave them to speak for themselves.

Raila noted that the people have already spoken by appending their signatures in support of the BBI, which is aimed at amending the 2010 constitution, through a referendum that has been proposed to happen in 2021.

He further revealed that over 5 million Kenyans had appended their signatures in support of BBI.

Image

He said that the journey towards referendum now continues, with the collected signatures expected to be presented to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for verification.

“I appeal to the naysayers out there who claim to be speaking for the people to realize that the people have spoken and let the people continue speaking for themselves. Over 5 million Kenyans have thus far appended their signatures endorsing the BBI process. The journey continues!”Raila tweeted.

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Politics

PS Kibicho Announces Major Changes On This Year’s Jamhuri Day Celebrations

by Jacinta Mbithi
written by Jacinta Mbithi

Interior Principal Secretary Dr Karanja Kibicho has made a major changes on this year’s Jamhuri day celebrations.

In a notice addressed to all Regional Commissioners, PS Kibicho directed that the December 12 event will only be celebrated at the Nyayo National stadium.

According to PS Kibicho, there will be no any other celebrations that will be marked in any place across the country, apart from the Nyayo Stadium event.

The event that will be presided over by President Uhuru Kenyatta will run from 8am, with a live broadcast.

The changes come as a result of Covid-19 pandemic. According to PS Kibicho, inviting people for the Jamhuri Day celebrations will not be possible, to aid observing of the health protocols that were issued by the government.

Kenyans have been urged to follow the event on Televisions, radio and social media platforms.

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Politics

This Ain’t Nothing But a Gangster Party! ODM Lawmaker Blasts BBI

by Jacinta Mbithi
written by Jacinta Mbithi

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) lawmaker has blasted the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), barely two days after President Uhuru Kenyatta and his handshake partner Raila Odinga officially launched collection of signatures at KICC.

Taking to his official Twitter account on Friday November 27, the Narok Senator Ledama Olekina faulted his party leader Raila and President Kenyatta for going ahead with the launch of signature collection ahead of a looming referendum, despite the document not having captured the issues he had raised.

Olekina said that unless the amendments made to article 203 of the constitution are removed, he will not support the BBI document.

While affirming his solid stand, the vocal lawmaker argued that he was not going to keep quiet when money is being taken away from pastoralists.

While confirming that he was not a happy man because of the recommendations made in the BBI report, Olekina claimed that the BBI movement is nothing but just a Gangster Party.

“You’ll so happy about the BBI right ? Unless the amendment to article 203 are removed I will not support it! That’s my solid stand! Now you know! You can’t take money away from pastoralist and expect me to be happy! There you have it! This ain’t nothing but a gangster party!” Senator Ledama posted on Twitter.

Earlier on , senator Ledama Olekina had made the former Prime Minister, where he said that he had raised to him the issues affecting his Maasai community.

Olekina then argued that Raila had agreed to include the issues in the final BBI document.

However, the issues seem not to have been captured.

Among the issues that the lawmaker want solved are land issues that are witnessed in Laikipia, Kajiado, Narok and Samburu counties.

Yesterday, the lawmaker claimed that it is the question of land in the above counties that was going to decide the way forward for him on BBI.

He argued that he was not going to keep quiet and watch his people get evicted from their ancestral lands.

“From Kajiado, Narok, Laikipia and Samburu the question of land will decide the way forward for me! This is what matters to me now! Historical land injustices must be resolved. You cannot forcefully evict our people from their ancestral land and expect me to keep quite!” he tweeted.

Meanwhile, the BBI train has already taken off, with the signature collection exercise expected to take one week.

Suna East MP Junet Mohamed and Dennis Waweru are leading the exercise.

As per yesterday, a section of Kenyans had already endorsed the document by appending their signatures online via a digital platform that was launched by the BBI team.

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Concerned Kenyans Get Worried Over Hassan Joho’s New Look

by Yahil Felix
written by Yahil Felix

Mombasa’s governor Ali Hassan Joho caught the attention of curious Kenyans after photos of him seemingly in a reduced weight than other days.

Besides being popular as a politician, Joho is well known to be a “fashion-killer”.

He has continuously displayed his unquenchable taste of fashion ranging from clothes, shoes and even the style of hair-cut.

The soft spoken governor apart from working in his office also works on his body and the results have been outstanding. He has left ladies drooling over his looks.

Photo: Hassan Joho/ Courtesy

Various sites have described him as trendy and the most awoke politician in these times.

Joho has proven that even with older age, and his stomach which some said makes him look ” oldie”, one can still over look with the keen interest of an agent in a polling station, their sense of fashion.

What to wear and what to avoid, diet and physical fitness. Joho has gone a bit higher by even making sure that he wears the most expensive outfits which he displays in his Instagram account.

All these portray that Joho has been enjoying his life without much issues. However, what caught Kenyans unaware sending spasms of worry in their already shaken souls brought by the dilemma of BBI, is Joho’s sudden loss of weight.

In the photos shared online, Joho seems to have experienced a dramatic loss of weight which made inquisitive Kenyans ask questions whether the self-proclaimed sultan is well.

Photo: Joho (Center) with Uhuru Kenyatta/ Courtesy

Here are some of the comments from concerned Kenyans:
@Clement Richu Malikh, “He looks dilapilated…hope all is well.”


@Gilbert Tanui, “The Governor has lost much weight he as to reduce zoezi”

@Julie Wanna, “Kariuki Mwangi amekonda sana😳😳

Photo: Joho in his latest look/ Courtesy
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Politics

Ex-Embakasi East MP Aspirant Denies Sh320m Military Tender Fraud

by Daily Trends
written by Daily Trends

Former Embakasi East MP aspirant Francis Mureithi has been charged with fraud and forgery in a multimillion military tender scam case.

He is accused of obtaining Sh320 million by pretending that Doc Find Company had contracts with the Ministry of Defence to supply foodstuffs and the Department of Defence, and a sugar distribution agreement with Mumias cane mill.

The court heard that Mureithi was to distribute its sugar within Nairobi and its environs and had a business service permit with Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) to build a weighbridge in Athi River-all claims said to be false.

He allegedly committed the offence between April 26 and November 3, 2016. He was charged with a second count of acquiring shares in CISCOS Kenya Limited and a property Ngong Ngong 1491213 situated in Kerarapon Karen worth Sh75 million on June 30, 2016.

Mureithi was further charged that with others not in court, with intent to defraud by obtaining from Abeba Abbay Sh25 million pretending that a letter dated April 30, 2015, was genuine, validly issued by the Ministry of Defence and signed by one ZG Ogendi for Defence principal secretary.

He alleged it to be a contract agreement to Doc Find Company for supply of sandbags to the defence forces. The prosecution says the accused also forged a Ministry of Defence letter dated April 30, 2015, purporting to be genuine document issued and signed by Ogendi.

The court heard that Mureithi forged an LPO purporting it to be a genuine one issued by the ministry. He was to supply 5,000 bags of Mumias sugar each 50kg, 5,000 bags of Mwea rice, 5000 bags of wairimu beans, among other items worth Sh106 million, to Defod Kahawa through the ministry.

He denied the charges before Milimani chief magistrate Martha Mutuku. Through lawyers led by Dancun Okach, Murethi pleaded for lenient bond terms. Okach asked Mutuku not to be swayed by the figures in the charge sheet.

‘Don’t be manipulated by the case when there is an ongoing civil case at the High court on the same,’ he said.

Murethi was granted Sh5 million bail with an alternative Sh10 million bond. The case will be mentioned on December 8.

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There Will be Contested Referendum Unless Tangatanga Surrenders to BBI, Says Raila’s Right-hand Man

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

ODM leader Raila Odinga’s spokesperson Dennis Onyango has dismissed Deputy President William Ruto’s call for a non contested referendum.

Taking to his official Twitter handle on Thursday night, Onyango claimed that the idea that there can be a non Contested referendum exists only in the minds of “cowardly and sly conmen and women”, whom he claimed that are only found in tanga tanga political faction.

According to Dennis Onyango, Tanga tanga only want to have their cake and eat it.

Onyango argued that there will be a Contested referendum unless the political faction allied to DP Ruto surrenders and supports the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) the way it is.

“The idea that there can be a non contested referendum exists only in the minds of cowardly and sly conmen and women in Tangatanga who want to have their cake and eat it. There will be a contested referendum unless Tangatanga surrenders and supports BBI as is, ” tweeted Onyango.

DP Ruto through his official social media handles had said that a non Contested referendum in the country is possible.

The second in command was responding to a headline that had been written by The Standard newspaper, which said “Uhuru, Raila take BBI numbers war to Ruto”.

Ruto in his response said that he loved Kenya enough, never to be part of any wars.

The DP said that there is a real possibility of a win-win consensus ahead of the looming referendum.

According to DP Ruto, an us versus them, and a Yes or No contest is unnecessary since it will lead to a lose-lose outcome.

He urged the leaders pushing for BBI to accept a non-contested referendum.

“I LOVE this country enough NEVER to be part of any ‘war.’Not when there is a real possibility for a WIN-WIN CONSENSUS beckoning. An ‘US vs THEM, ‘YES/NO’ contest that will lead to LOSE-LOSE outcome is UNNECESSARY & UNWARRANTED.A NON-CONTESTED referendum is possible. INAWEZEKANA,” DP Ruto tweeted on Wednesday November 18.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his handshake partner Raila Odinga were to launch the official collection of signatures on Thursday November 19, but the exercise was halted.

The collection of signatures which was to take one week was postponed after President Kenyatta and his Deputy Ruto held a 3-hour meeting at State House.

According to reports, the two agreed to allow some time for dialogue, to correct the gaps that are in the initial BBI report.

Raila had earlier on argued that there is no room to make any changes on the document, claiming that the only changes to be made will be editorial.

With President Kenyatta seemingly having bowed to dialogue pressure from DP Ruto, do you think Ruto’s demands will be accepted on the document, to allow a non Contested referendum?

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Politics

Court Stops Burial of Matungu MP Justus Murunga

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

A court has stopped the burial of the departed Matungu Constituency MP Justus Makokha Murunga.

This is after an alleged lover Agnes Wangui went to the court claiming that he had an affair with the late MP.

The court has now directed Wangui to serve the MP’s two wives with her papers, pending a haring on November 26.

Wangui had filed the case through lawyer Danstan Omari, claiming that Murunga is the father of her two children.

Wangui argues, in court documents, that they had been excluded from funeral arrangements and are now apprehensive that they may be left out in getting a share of the late legislator.

She had sought orders to stop any burial arrangements of the MP, until a DNA test is done to ascertain that he was indeed the real father of her two children.

Wangui in her case also wants to be recognized as the late MP’s wife, and also be allowed to attend the burial alongside her two children.

Her application was filed on Wednesday November 18, under a certificate of urgency.

Murunga died on Saturday night after collapsing at his rural home in Matungu.

He was rushed to a nearby health facility, which lacked oxygen that he was in need of, forcing his family to rush him to St Mary’s Mission Hospital in Mumias where he was pronounced dead.

The MP’s Death was attributed to Covid-19, but his family maintained that he was suffering from diabetes, and had been just discharged from Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu, after being admitted for two weeks over diabetes.

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