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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CS Joe Mucheru. Photo/courtesy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Results are expected to be announced withing one week.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Deputy President William Ruto on Thursday October 15, 2020 stormed Nyamira County in the company of Nairobi governor Mike Sonko.

This comes just a week after police blocked the event from taking place.

The DP arrived at Sironga Stadium for an empowerment programme for Nyamira South Bodaboda Sacco at around 10am.

On Wednesday, the DP met East African Court of Justice Judge Charles Nyachae at his Karen office, Nairobi.

The two discussed matters of national interest as well as regional integration, linkages, and how Kenya can make optimum gains from the five-member trade bloc through improved market efficiency.

As Ruto continues to sell his ‘Hustler Nation’ brand in Kisii, Nyachae is expected to join the caravan.

The police granted Ruto permission to go ahead with his public meetings in Nyamira county on Thursday after his hosts applied for permission.

Ruto will hold a funds drive for Nyamira South Sub County Boda Boda Sacco at Sironga playground and later, a funds drive at Miriri in Kitutu Masaba constituency for Seventh Day Adventist Churches in Nyamasebe district.

The two functions were disrupted last Thursday by heavily armed policemen who said the hosts failed to obtain permission from the local police, which they disputed.

Follow the live event below:

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Jubilee Vice Chairperson David Murathe, on Thursday, October 14, ruled out any truce between President Uhuru kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto.

This comes just a day after reports emerged that allies of the two were engaging in secrete talks to strike a handshake.

Murathe however, stated that the talks should be regarded as propaganda.

“The president is busy serving the nation and those claiming that there is a planned truce are talking to themselves,” Murathe stated.

He was backed up by Nominated MP Maina Kamanda, who stated that the DP and his allies were allegedly advocating for truce talks in a bid to slow down the president’s support for ODM leader Raila Odinga.

“We are telling them that we cannot be distracted. With the way Ruto is disrespecting the president, who wants to associate with him?” Kamanda posed.

Odinga’s allies led by Suba South MP John Mbadi also waded in on the matter saying that the conversation between the two leaders would have to be honest.

“The person leading the reconciliation talks should either tell Uhuru to abandon his peace and unity agenda of the country and help Ruto’s selfish 2022 presidential campaign, or tell Ruto to stop early campaigns and help in service delivery,” Mbadi stated.

On the other hand, Ruto allies stated that they were not interested in a truce, rather, they wanted the president to restore the DP’s duties as well as ask his juniors to treat him with respect.

Jubilee deputy secretary general Caleb Kositany opined that President Uhuru already had a handshake with ODM leader Raila Odinga and Kenyans would not benefit from another handshake. Kositany suggested that all political effort should be put into improving the livelihoods of Kenyans and not more handshakes.

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Strategy meetings are currently being held to reconcile President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto, details have emerged.

According to a report by the Standard, there are attempts by bishops and senior politicians to reconcile the two leaders.

The report detailed that the bishops have been meeting representatives of the two national leaders in an effort to strike another handshake similar to that of President Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Two Catholic clerics are leading the quiet push.

A bishop who was reluctant to be quoted said there was progress but they were yet to firm up the process.

“We started the process of reaching out to the leaders. The talks are fruitful but not concluded. We pray for unity and reconciliation,” the bishop said.

He said political tension is not good for the country. The team hopes to rope in more leaders.

Activities have intensified with night meetings led by a Cabinet Secretary from the Rift Valley and the religious leaders, seeking ways of reconciling the two by the end of the week.

A meeting was held by the leaders on Sunday night and the following morning, the DP left the city for Sugoi to meet Nyanza clergy.

On Monday afternoon, he flew back to Nairobi and met the bishops then went to a private meeting. It is not clear what they agreed upon.

The relationship between the head of state and his deputy has been growing sour as time goes by.

In April and May, Kenyatta removed Ruto allies from key positions.

The removal of National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale, Majority Whip Ben Washiali, Senate’s Murkomen, Susan Kihika, Kithure Kindiki diminished Ruto’s political clout in Jubilee.

In May, Kenyatta sanctioned the change of guard at the Jubilee Party National Management Committee, kicking out Ruto allies. The changes are seen to have trimmed DP’s influence in the party.

Ruto’s close allies have however, poured cold water on the possibility of a handshake between Kenyatta and the DP.

“What talks are you talking about? I am not aware. Why would the president and his deputy reconcile? When did they differ in the first place,” Soy MP Caleb Kositany posed.

Ruto’s communication director Emanuel Tallam said the claims were absurd.

“I am not aware of any differences between the president and his deputy. Someone must be overworking,” Tallam said.

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Maendeleo Chap Chap party leader and presidential aspirant Dr Alfred Mutua has urged the government to put in place measures to end marginalisation in many parts of the country.

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The Machakos Governor said some sections of the country especially in Eastern and North Eastern region need special attention to improve the quality of life for the area locals.

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“There are places in this country that have lagged behind in development for far too long and require urgent measures to bring them at par with the rest of Kenya,” Dr Mutua said.

The presidential hopeful said that despite being endowed with land fertile for production of coffee and tea, Mbeere in Eastern Kenya is underdeveloped and needed special intervention from the national government to spur growth in the area.

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Dr Mutua was speaking in Embu town during his meet-the- people listening tours of the county said national government needed to expand markets for both coffee and tea in order to benefit regions growing those crops.

“I am shocked that markets for agricultural products like milk, tea and coffee have continued to deteriorate while government has done little to address that,” Mutua said.

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Dr. Mutua who has announced intention to contest for the presidency in 2022 said he will improve global markets for coffee and tea if he wins the presidential election.

” Kenyans are lied to everyday in this country and their voices stifled, my presidency will give power to people because they come first,” he said.

Governor Mutua decried the state of unemployment in the country and promised to create job opportunities for young people, adding that they are the backbone of the nation.

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NARC Kenya party leader Martha Karua has this morning tore into President Uhuru Kenyatta over his relationship with his Deputy William Ruto.

Karua told Uhuru to renew a proper working relationship with his deputy or for the Jubilee government to resign and go home to allow Kenyans elect new office-holders.

Karua, speaking on Citizen TV’s Day Break show said according to Law, the Presidency consists of the President and Deputy President hence both should relinquish their offices if they are unable to work together.

She thereby rubbished calls from a section of political leaders for DP Ruto to resign from government saying his (Ruto’s) and President Kenyatta’s roles are intertwined and one cannot leave office while the other stays on.

Karua slammed President Kenyatta for allegedly abandoning his deputy and throwing him out in the cold saying their mandates require them to work together for the good of the country even if they do not see eye-to-eye.

“The occupier of the Office of President must be conscious, at all times, that his mandate is together with his deputy, and if he feels that they can no longer work together, the government can resign and we will elect another president with his deputy,” said Karua.

The NARC Kenya party boss further questioned the Head of State on the example he is setting for other leaders, especially governors, on how to treat their deputies in cases of disagreements.

She posed, “My question to our president, with the greatest respect, is what precedent are you setting of how a president should treat a deputy? What examples are you giving to the governors on how to treat their deputies? We already had instances where some governors were using their power to oppress their deputies, are you now putting your stamp on such a practice?”

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Former NRG and Kiss FM radio presenter Andrew Kibe has announced his interest in getting back to politics.

Kibe who in 2013 unsuccessfully vied for Lang’ata constituency parliamentary seat took to his official twitter account to notify his fans.

Kibe noted that he was still debating on whether to get back in the politics game after losing in 2013 on his first trial.

“I’m still debating if I should get back into this politics thingy after my ass was whooped a gudwan Langata 2013. The ass-kissary is ridiculous,” he posted.

His announcement came just a day after he met former Nairobi County Deputy Governor Polycarp Igathe.

“Spent the day with the most employable man in africa @IgathepolycarpI I will support anyone who has the young Kenyan man as their top agenda. Let’s watch this space,” reads a post on his twitter account.

He also made another post on the same day he met Igathe, saying that politics was loading.

“Siasa loading…lazima tujue mbivu na mbichi leo,” he posted.

In 2013, Kibe vied on Musalia Mudavadi’s UDF ticket. Should he decide to vie in the next general election, he might consider vying on Raila Odinga’s ODM ticket.

Just the other day, he took to his twitter account to praise the Orange party leader when he attended a Church fundraiser in Bondo alongside business mogul Jimmy Wanjigi.

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Deputy President William Ruto has summoned three of the Msambweni parliamentary by-election aspirants to his Karen home in Nairobi for a strategy meeting.

According to a report by The Standard, the second in command has summoned the three rival candidates for him to get one strong candidate that will face ODM’s Omar Boga.

Sources within the DP’s team said yesterday the three aspirants, Feisal Bader, Bashir Kilalo and Peter Nzuki are set to travel to Nairobi for the consultation.

The meeting comes days after police stopped a meeting at Diani Reef Hotel on Friday that was intended to reach a consensus on who among the three aspirants the DP should support against Raila’s candidate.

“The three aspirants and a handful of their supporters are set to travel to Nairobi for a consensus forum so that the best one can face ODM,” said the source that was quoted by the local daily.

Diani OCS Zachary Nyawara blocked former senators Johnstone Muthama, Hassan Omar and Boni Khalwale from entering the hotel on Friday, claiming the conveners did not properly serve a notice for the meeting.

Candidates are expected to present their nomination papers to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission on October 15.

The candidates are seeking to replace MP Suleiman Dori who died on March 9.

The DP  is set to tour Msambweni Constituency, Kwale County on Friday October 16, 2020, ahead of the scheduled mini polls in the region.

According to reports, the second in command was invited by local Imams for a fundraiser.

The DP has been invited for a fundraiser at Bomani village to build an office for Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya in Kwale.

The invite letter dated September 28, this year was signed by Sheikh Abdallah Mfunga, Kwale County chairman for the Council.

Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya, his deputy Fatuma Achani, Lunga Lunga MP Khatib Mwashetani, Kassim Tandaza (Matuga) and Benjamin Tayari (Kinango) are also invited for the fundraiser, in the letter.

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Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai has finally addressed the issue of selective application of enforcing the law on public gatherings.

Mutyambai was on Monday October 12, 2020 forced to speak following an uproar from Deputy President William Ruto’s allies.

DP Ruto’s allies have been unable to hold any public gathering since the government through Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua on Thursday last week directed that all public meetings and processions around the country should be held in compliance with the Public Order Act.

Kinyua said the conveners should be present throughout the meeting or procession and shall assist the police in maintain law and order, and should inform the police three days prior to their meeting.

However, some other politicians have been holding meetings, with latest being ODM leader Raila Odinga’s meetings over the weekend, where he successfully hosted a delegation from Mt Kenya region at his Bondo home on Saturday, and held a church fundraiser within the same area on Sunday.

DP Ruto allies were on the other hand teargassed in Mumias, and a church fundraiser which was to be attended by DP Ruto cancelled over claims that their meeting were against the set restrictions.

However, IG Mutyambai explained that the National Police Service authorizes public gatherings after ascertaining that there is no risk of violence or attack on the particular group.

Through his #EngageTheIG hashtag on Twitter, Mutyambai noted that authorization is declined for safety of the public and the properties around the said area should police establish any possible risk.

He further noted that the groups that there are groups that have not attracted any form of violence while others have attracted violence, hence varied authorizations.

“I have taken note of complaints about selective application of enforcing the law on public gatherings. National Police Service authorizes public gatherings after ascertaining that there is no risk of violence or attack on the particular group. Should we establish any possible risk, then authorization is declined for safety of the public & the properties around the said area. There are groups that have not attracted any form of violence while others have attracted violence, hence varied authorizations,” he explained.

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