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IEBC issues stern warning to Kibra voters as voting process continues

by Nathan Sialah
written by Nathan Sialah

The Independent and Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has warned voters in the on going Kibra Constituency by-election against sharing pictures of marked Ballot papers on social media.

In a statement posted on its Twitter account, the electoral body has warned those to be violating the directive of dire consequences.

The commission asked voters to adhere to secrecy of Ballot violation stating that it is an electoral offense punishable by law.

The warning came after various pictures of marked Ballot papers were making rounds on social media on Thursday morning, hours after opening of the polling stations. 

Two people have so far been arrested by the police since the mini-polls started in the morning for voter bribery allegations, the Chebukati led commission stated.

Voters began polling on early Thursday morning to vote for a new Member of parliament to succeed the late Ken Okoth. The polling stations opened on 6 am and is expected to close at 6pm.

ODM is trying to defend the seat through its candidate the brother to the late Ken, Imran Okoth while Jubilee on the other hand fielded veteran footballer McDonald Mariga.

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2 arrested as list of 12 is released over voter bribery in Kibra

by Gabriel Omolo
written by Gabriel Omolo

New reports have emerged of voter bribery in Kibra even as voting goes on. The list of 6 suspects has been shared by top ODM officials on various social media platforms implicating among others a nominated MCA in the constituency.

The suspects allegedly received Ksh50,000 each from a 5 star hotel located on Lang’ata road and were giving out cash in Ksh200 denomination.

This has triggered a number of arrests with three people being apprehended by the police for questioning as confirmed by the Nairobi police boss Philip Ndolo.

Among those arrested in the Thursday morning incident include Lang’ata CDF committee member James Kipkorir.

Earlier on commotion ensued at the Mashimoni primary school where a man was caught bribing voters.Security has since been beefed up with heavy police deployment in the various wards in the constituency following alleged threats of violence.

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Miguna cries out to Raila after court acquitting TJ Kajwang of treason charges

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Exiled lawyer Dr Miguna Miguna has issued his cry to ODM party leader Raila Odinga after court acquitted Ruaraka MP TJ Kajwang of treason charges.

The High court on Wednesday acquitted TJ Kajwang of the charges saying the case against the lawmaker was politically instigated.

Mr Kajwang had been accused of illegally administering an unlawful oath to ODM party leader Raila Odinga on the 30th of January 2018 at Uhuru Park Nairobi.

Kajwang’ and Miguna Miguna were at the centre of events at Uhuru Park that culminated in the “swearing-in” of Mr Odinga as the ‘people’s president’.

During the ceremony, Mr Kajwang’ donned a lawyers’ robe and wig and received a thunderous welcome by Nasa supporters as Miguna Miguna played the commissioner of oaths role.

Miguna is now questioning Raila why he has also not been acquitted of the treason charges against him.

He further questions Raila why his Kenyan passport has not been returned to him, asking further why he has not been allowed into the country after being deported to Canada.

“How about me, The People’s Con-Man @RailaOdinga? Why have I not been allowed entry into the country so that I can deal with the treason charges against me? Why hasn’t my valid Kenyan passport been returned by your fake brother Despot Muigai Njee Meta Meta/Kenyatta? ” tweeted Miguna Miguna.

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Politics

List of senators who voted against the 9 Trillion debt ceiling

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Senators on Wednesday afternoon approved the adjustment of the National Assembly-backed revised borrowing ceiling to Ksh.9 trillion.

The approval by the Senate follows a vote on the motion on Wednesday afternoon with the proposed revision garnering the support of 30 of the 47 senators.

Out of the 37 senators present, only seven voted against the motion.

They are Mutula Kilonzo Jr (Makueni), Moses Wetangula (Bungoma), Boniface Kabaka (Machakos), Enock Wambua (Kitui), Samson Cherargei, Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho) ,Mithika Linturi (Meru)

The new Ksh.9 trillion borrowing ceiling is expected to be anchored in law, replacing the current threshold of debt in net present value (NPV) at no more than 50 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as outlined in the Public Finance Management Act of 2012.

The vote also serves to unlock an estimated Ksh.421 billion in program loans support from both multi-lateral and bilateral partners whose signing was pegged on the allowance of further lending by government.

Among the projects lined up for new loans support include the construction of the Mombasa Gate Bridge and Konza City.

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IEBC validates petition to suspend Taita Taveta County

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has validated the petition to suspend Taita Taveta County government.

This is after the electoral agency confirmed that the petition meets the required legal threshold of Section 123(2) of the County Government Act of 2012.

The electoral body verified that the petition presented to IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati last month is supported by 21, 861 registered voters of Taita Taveta.

Taita Taveta governor Granton Samboja in July signed a memorandum to initiate the petition, a move he termed necessary after longstanding wrangles between the executive and the county assembly culminated into an impasse over the county’s budget.

Mr Samboja said the wrangles had adversely affected development in the county and called for its dissolution to end the tussle after attempts to initiate dialogue between both factions failed.

ODM leader Raila Odinga, Council of Governors (CoG) chairman Wycliffe Oparanya and Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi were involved in talks to resolve the row between the county’s executive and assembly but proved unsuccessful.

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Tangatanga planning to ferry people from Embakasi, Lang’ata to vote Mariga-ODM

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has claimed that Deputy President Dr William Ruto’s Jubilee faction Tanga Tanga is planning to ferry non-Kibra residents to vote for their candidate McDonald Mariga in tomorrow’s (Thursday) mini polls.

According to ODM, the alleged people are to be ferried from Lang’ata and Embakasi constituencies.

The party further claims that vehicles has been hired to ferry the people who have been paid to vote.

In a video shared by ODM’s director of communications Philip Etale, vehicle operators who have been hired to ferry voters have been warned.

The non-Kibra residents who are planning to vote have also been told to step in Kibra at their own risk.

Jubilee’s Mariga will face off with ODM’s Bernard Okoth Otieno (Imran), ANC’s Eliud Owalo, Ford Kenya’s Khamisi Butichi among others on Thursday.

Watch the video below.

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ODM communication boss breathes fire hours to Kibra by elections

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

ODM communication boss Philip Etale is breathing fire just hours to Kibra parliamentary by elections.

Etale on Wednesday afternoon took to his social media accounts issuing out several claims on the Thursday battle.

While issuing out a series of threats, Etale alleges that on Tuesday night at around 10:00 pm a section of Jubilee party officials met with IEBC officials at Weston Hotel where bribing took place.

He says IEBC returning Officer Madam Beatrice Muli has briefed ODM on what IEBC officers were told and instructed to do by Jubilee officials.

He notes that ODM are ready for anything silly and fishy.

“The brown bags that exchanged hands last night at Weston Hotel from 10pm between Tangatanga and IEBC officials won’t help anything. Returning Officer Madam Beatrice Muli, tell us what your officers were told and instructed to do. Nonetheless, we in ODM are ready for anything silly and fishy,” posted Etale.

Etale in another post notes that as Jubilee plan to play dirty, they should know that the people they talk to, mingle with and share information with are feeding ODM with the same information.

“As they plan to play dirty, they should know that the people they talk to, mingle with and share information with are feeding us with the same information. They are not happy with their plans,” reads the post.

He notes further that IEBC Must produce the updated voter Register as it has been directed by the high court.

“IEBC Must produce the Register. Stories mingi baadaye. We mean business as O D M. Ni hayo tu kwa mukhtasari,” he posted.

In another video shared by Etale, ODM alleges that Jubilee officials are planning to ferry non-Kibra residents to vote in favor of McDonald Mariga tomorrow.

The party alleges that vehicles have been hired to ferry people from Lang’ata and Embakasi.

They issued a warning to those planning to be ferried and vehicle owners, threatening an action against them.

Watch the video below.

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Politics

Court acquits Ruaraka MP TJ Kajwang of treason charges

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

The High Court has acquitted Ruaraka MP Tom Joseph Kajwang popularly known as TJ Kajwang of treason charges.

The court says the case against the lawmaker was politically instigated.

Mr Kajwang had been accused of illegally administering an unlawful oath to ODM party leader Raila Odinga on the 30th of January 2018 at Uhuru Park Nairobi.

TJ Kajwang was on 31st January 2018 arrested outside Milimani Laws Court by plain clothed officers.

Kajwang’ and another lawyer, Miguna Miguna, were at the centre of events at Uhuru Park that culminated in the “swearing-in” of Mr Odinga as the ‘people’s president’.

During the ceremony, Mr Kajwang’ donned a lawyers’ robe and wig and received a thunderous welcome by Nasa supporters.

As Mr Odinga took the “oath”, Mr Kajwang’ stood right behind him, although his role remained unclear.

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ODM records first win in Kibra by elections

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

With just less than 24 hours left to Kibra by elections, the High Court has ordered the electoral board, IEBC, to furnish ODM with Kibra Constituency voters’ register before the by-election penciled in for Thursday November 7.

Justice James Makau said the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) violated ODM’s rights by denying the outfit access to the updated voters’ register.

The Commission was sued by ODM, who told the courts that IEBC literally refused to release to them or publish details of the new number of registered voters in Kibra.

In a suit filed at the High Court last Monday, ODM said it had written several letters to IEBC, seeking to be granted access to the voters’ register, but the agency did not heed their request.

IEBC asked the court to allow them seven days to furnish ODM with the information, but the judge declined to grant the respondents their request.

IEBC argued it was impossible to supply the register, given “there is a short time left before the November 7 by-election”.

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PHOTOS: ODM makes final campaigns in Kibra

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party on Monday wound up their campaigns in Kibra constituency to drum up support for their candidate Bernard Otieno Okoth (Imran).

Taking to twitter to share the photos of their final campaigns, ODM noted that they had committed Imran to God and left him in the hands of he people of Kibra.

“This is how we wound up our campaign in Kibra today. To God we commit our candidate Bernard Otieno Okoth (Imran) and to the people of Kibra, we leave him in your able hands. He has the oomph, energy, experience and the will to steer Kibra to the next level,” posted ODM.

On Thursday, Imran will face off with Jubilee party’s McDonald Mariga, Musalia Mudavadi-led ANC’s Eliud Owalo, Moses Wetangula-led Ford Kenya’s Khamisi Butichi among others.

Here are the photos.

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ODM boss fires a warning to Itumbi, dares Ruto as rigging claims emerge in Kibra

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Raila Odinga-led Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party’s communication boss Philip Etale has send a warning to Dennis Itumbi over Thursday’s Kibra by elections.

Etale who took to his social media accounts on Monday evening says tagging Itumbi claims that on Sunday deputy president Dr William Ruto made it clear that Jubilee candidate “ McDonald Mariga will be announced winner whether they like it or not”.

According to Etale, Ruto went further to say “they will know I am the Deputy President of Kenya”. 

The seemingly angry Etale send a warning to Itumbi, saying that those sending him to troll him that “KIBRA INA WENYEWE” which loosely translates to Kibra has its owners.

“I want to make it clear to you and those sending you to troll me that KIBRA INA WENYEWE. Ni hayo tu kwa sasa,” wrote Etale.

Etale’s claims raises concerns on rigging claims as he notes that the DP said Mariga must be announced the winner whether they like it or not.

ODM candidate Bernard Imran Otieno Okoth will face off with Jubilee’s Mariga, ANC’s Eliud Owalo, Ford Kenya’s Khamisi Butich among others in the Thursday mini polls.

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Census 2019: Nairobi county leads in number of intersex gender

by Gabriel Omolo
written by Gabriel Omolo

Nairobi county has the highest number of intersex people in the entire country.

This is according to the recently released census results that were presented to President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday.

According to the statistics, Nairobi topped with 245 intersex people followed closely by Kiambu county with 135 then Nakuru with 95.

This year was the first time in history the intersex gender is being featured in the national census exercise as the world fights for equality and inclusion of all.

Tana River county however had the lowest number of intersex gender in the country with only 2 out of its total population of 315,943 people.

Lamu county had only four making it the second county with the least number of intersex gender.Out of the total enumerated population of the country that stands at 47.6 million people, 1,524 are intersex with 23,580,56 being male and 24,014,716 being female.

“This is the first census to be conducted under the 2010 constitution and fully funded by my administration,” said president Uhuru.

The census exercise was conducted between the night of 24th of August and 31st of August.

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Business mogul Buzeki throws his weight behind Imran in Kibra by elections

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Business mogul Bundotich Zedekiah Kiprop alias Buzeki has declared his support for ODM candidate in the Kibra by-election Benard Imran Okoth. 

Through his Twitter handle, Buzeki on Sunday said that Imran is fit to take over from his late brother the late Ken Okoth. 

The former Uasin Gishu gubernatorial aspirant says the ODM candidate was in charge of Kibra when Ken Okoth was receiving treatment abroad before he succumbed to cancer in July this year. 

“IMRAN kept KIBRA going when KEN was sick. Endelea Na KAZI,” he tweeted.

Buzeki who a few months decamped to Chama Cha Mashinani was once a Jubilee party member before he fell out with the party’s leadership after he lost to Governor Jackson Mandago during the Jubilee party preliminaries in 2017. 

Imran will battle it out with Jubilee’s McDonald Mariga, ANC’s Eliud Owalo, Ford Kenya’s Khamisi Butichi and other 20 candidates in November 7 by elections.

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ODM boss slams Ruto over bedroom reinforcement remark against Raila

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party communication boss Philip Etale has slammed deputy president Dr William Ruto over his remarks against Raila Odinga on Saturday.

Ruto who was speaking in Salgaa mocked Raila of seeking for reinforcement in his own bedroom, arguing that bedroom matters had now overcome him.

Ruto’s remarks came after Raila got reinforcement from Machakos governor Dr Alfred Mutua and his Kitui counterpart Charity Ngilu in the race to take Kibra parliamentary seat.

The two Ukambani governors threw their weight behind ODM candidate Bernard Otieno Imran Okoth.

Raila asked Dr Mutua to woe Kamba people living in Kibra to vote for Imran in November 7 by elections, a move that saw Ruto say that Raila had rushed to ask for help on bedroom matters.

Philip Etale, while responding to Ruto’s remarks notes that ” Human Reinforcement is much better than stolen money reinforcement”.

The ODM communication in his tweet speculates that Ruto has been dishing out stolen money in Kibra to woe voters to rally behind Jubilee candidate McDonald Mariga.

“Human Reinforcement is much better than stolen money reinforcement,” he tweeted on Sunday.

ODM’s Imran will face off with Jubilee’s Mariga, ANC’s Eliud Owalo, Ford Kenya’s Khamisi Butichi among other candidates in a bruising battle seen as a war between Raila and Ruto.

There is a total of 24 candidates battling to replace Ken Okoth who succumbed to cancer in July this year.

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Pack up and Leave if you can’t support BBI, DP Ruto told

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Deputy President Dr William Ruto and his allies have been told to pack up and leave if they are not ready to support President Uhuru Kenyatta on the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI)push.

Firing the salvo on Saturday, Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo asked the DP and his allies in government to pack up and leave if they are not ready to support the President on the push.

He said Dr Ruto is contradicting the President, who has openly stated that he is supportive of the BBI.

“There is no turning back on the push for reforms, which we know will be ushered in through the BBI initiative. We will only listen to Raila and Uhuru, nobody else,” Mr Amollo said.

Speaking during the burial of freedom fighter Achieng Oneko’s widow, Loice Anyangi, at Kunya village in Rarieda, Siaya County, Otiende Amollo alongside Siaya Senator James Orengo tasked the DP to declare his stand on BBI.

Orengo told Dr Ruto that it was time he told Kenyans whether or not he supports the BBI that followed a truce between President Kenyatta and Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga, after the prolonged elections season in 2017.

Mr Orengo claimed Dr Ruto is a “fence-sitter” who can’t be trusted with the country’s leadership.

He said it is strange that the DP supports the Constitution yet he opposed its adoption in 2010.

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Orengo: Ruto is a “fence-sitter” who can’t be trusted with the country’s leadership

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

A section of Raila Odinga-led ODM party members are now challenging deputy president Dr William Ruto to declare his stand on the looming Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) proposals.

The lawmakers on Saturday said the DP has been sending mixed signals, leading to speculation that he is opposed to the drive.

The group of six lawmakers led by Senate minority leader and Siaya senator James Orengo tasked Ruto to say whether or not he was supporting BBI, an initiative that was formed by his boss president Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila after the March 9, 2018 handshake.

Orengo said the DP has been sending mixed signals, leading to speculation that he is opposed to the drive.

He further told Dr Ruto that it was time he told Kenyans whether or not he supports the BBI.

Orengo claimed Dr Ruto is a “fence-sitter” who can’t be trusted with the country’s leadership.

He said it is strange that the DP supports the Constitution yet he opposed its adoption in 2010.

“Ruto must declare his stand on the BBI. Those he has lined up to oppose the document must also give us the alternative they’re proposing. Let them put their proposal on the table” the senator said in Rarieda, Siaya County.

Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo fired the first salvo when he asked the DP and his allies in government to pack up and leave if they are not ready to support the President on the BBI push.

He said Dr Ruto is contradicting the President, who has openly stated that he is supportive of the BBI.

“There is no turning back on the push for reforms, which we know will be ushered in through the BBI initiative. We will only listen to Raila and Uhuru, nobody else,” Mr Amollo said.

He said it is strange that the DP supports the Constitution yet he opposed its adoption in 2010.

“Ruto must declare his stand on the BBI. Those he has lined up to oppose the document must also give us the alternative they’re proposing. Let them put their proposal on the table” the senator said in Rarieda, Siaya County.

Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo fired the first salvo when he asked the DP and his allies in government to pack up and leave if they are not ready to support the President on the BBI push.

He said Dr Ruto is contradicting the President, who has openly stated that he is supportive of the BBI.

“There is no turning back on the push for reforms, which we know will be ushered in through the BBI initiative. We will only listen to Raila and Uhuru, nobody else,” Mr Amollo said.

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