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Raila fences his ‘bedroom’ ahead of November 7 battle with Ruto

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga has continued to get reinforcement ahead of November 7 Kibra by elections in what is seen as a war between him and deputy president Dr William Ruto.

Kibra, which has been described as Raila’s bedroom by his allies has turned into a Raila-Ruto battle. Ruto is fighting to have his candidate McDonald Mariga win the parliamentary seat that was left vacant following the demise of Ken Okoth who succumbed to cancer in July.

On Saturday, Raila got a back up from two Ukambani governors in a move that seem to have strengthened his ‘bedroom’ fence.

Maendeleo chap chap party leader who doubles up as Machakos governor Dr Alfred Mutua alongside his Kitui counterpart Charity Ngilu threw their wight behind ODM’s Bernard Otieno Imran Okoth.

Mutua’s party through their official twitter account noted that they are fully supporting Imran, noting that it was good to recognize ideologies over party politics.

Raila asked Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua to rally the Kamba community living in Kibra, Nairobi, to campaign for its candidate ahead of the by-election on November 7.

Mr Odinga and Governor Mutua are expected to address a joint campaign rally at Woodley grounds today (Sunday) afternoon, to drum up support for Bernard Imran Okoth, the Orange Democratic Movement’s candidate.

The surprise move comes two days after ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna declared that the party will form new political alliances after the Kibra by-election.

However, the move has seen DP Ruto criticize Raila in what he terms as calling for reinforcement in your own bedroom.

Ruto who was speaking in Salgaa on Saturday expressed his confidence that Mariga will emerge the winner in the forthcoming mini polls.

On November 7, ODM’s Imran Okoth will face off with Jubilee’s Mariga, ANC’s Eliud Owalo, Ford Kenya’s Khamisi Butichi among other candidates.

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Politics

Tension as residents wake up to faeces over Elachi assembly war

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

They do say that politics is a dirty game, and indeed it is! Do you remember an incident during 2017 presidential campaigns where a NASA rally at Jacaranda grounds was disrupted when human waste and all manner of garbage were littered all over the place?

Well, the incident might have just repeated itself! Wrangles in Nairobi County pitting Governor Mike Sonko, speaker Beatrice Elachi and MCAs seem to be getting messy and noisy by the day.

Early this week, residents of a ward whose MCA has been at the centre of the infighting in the county, woke up to a sad state of affairs as per reports by a local daily.

Human waste and all manner of garbage were littered all over the place. Nearly all roads, walkways and markets in the ward were tuned into a dumpsite.

Those in know intimated to the local daily that the ward rep was paying the price for refusing to ‘toe the line.’

On September 6, 2018, former nominated Senator Beatrice Elachi and then the speaker of the Nairobi County Assembly was on her lowest moment after MCAs passed an impeachment motion against her and later attempted to eject her from office.

Bloodstained floors, broken furniture and gunshots marked the return of Speaker Beatrice Elachi to the Nairobi County Assembly on October 9, 2019.

Ms Elachi stormed the assembly precincts and camped at the Speaker’s office citing a court order reinstating her after her impeachment in September last year.

Accompanied by Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga and about 13 ward reps allied to Jubilee and Orange Democratic Movement parties, Elachi announced that she was back to stay and dared anyone disgruntled by her return to force her out of the office.

A fistfight began when ward reps supporting acting Speaker Chege Mwaura and Majority Leader Abdi Guyo stormed into Elachi’s office.

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Politics

Ruto’s Sugoi MP is an independent, Aladwa mocks DP over Kibra campaigns

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Makadara MP George Aladwa has mocked Deputy President Dr William Ruto over his continued efforts to campaign for Jubilee candidate McDonald Mariga ahead of November 7 Kibra by elections.

Speaking on Saturday, the MP questioned Ruto’s interest in the seat and confidence that he can deliver it to Mariga, arguing that the DP failed to deliver the Turbo seat which is in his backyard to Jubilee.

He pointed out that Turbo is represented by an independent MP, yet Ruto is the Jubilee Party deputy leader.

“He is coming to tell people to vote for his man yet his own Sugoi MP is an independent. The person who won in Turbo was not a Jubilee candidate (Huyu sasa anakuja kuambia watu wapigie mtu wake kura na huko kwake Sugoi mbunge wa pale ni independent. Pale Turbo mwenye alishinda si wa Jubilee),” he said.

Aladwa made the remarks during an interview on Radio Jambo on Saturday morning.

He also faulted the DP for causing too much attention in Kibra, saying that out of his eagerness to see Mariga winning the seat, he is turning a mini poll into a general election.

“This is just a by-election. When I see Ruto with choppers there I begin to wonder whether this is really a by-election (Hii ni by-election tu. Nikiona Ruto na machopper pale nashindwa hii ni by-election kweli)” he added.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has fronted Imran Okoth as the party’s candidate in the race.

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Politics

Imran disowns Twitter account attacking Mariga, KOT finger Itumbi

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

ODM candidate for the Kibra by-election, Imran Okoth, has disowned a Twitter account which has accused his opponent and Jubilee candidate, McDonald Mariga, of stealing his manifesto among other misdeeds.

In a tweet on Friday night, Imran said he is working to get his account verified and warned supporters against following @Imran_Okoth, which he said is a fake account.

Okoth reiterated his commitment to ODM party leader Raila Odinga and urged voters to turn out in big numbers to vote him in.

However, Kenyans on twitter have pointed fingers at Dennis Itumbi, arguing that he is the one responsible for Imran’s fake twitter account.

Imran is seeking to replace his brother, Ken Okoth, who succumbed to cancer in July.

Imran is among 24 candidates who will battle it out for the Kibra seat next Thursday.

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Hii ni njaa imemleta!Itumbi blasted for ‘hiring’ Jamaican artist to perform at Mariga’s rally

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Statehouse employee Dennis Itumbi has found himself in trouble with Kenyans on twitter after he shared the news of Legendary Jamaican reggae artist Kenyatta Hill endorsing Jubilee’s candidate in the November 7 Kibra by elections McDonald Mariga.

Itumbi posted Kenyatta Hill’s video, captioning it “Kenyatta Hill Endorses Mariga. He will be performing on Sunday in Kibra.”

In the video, the legendary singer who is the son to former reggae star Joseph Hill of the group Mighty Culture says he will be in Kenya for one reason.

Kenyatta Hill, who is named after Kenya’s founding father Jomo Kenyatta says he will be here to support Mariga because Mariga has promised to support the talent once elected.

But Kenyans on twitter have refused to take any of Itumbi’s narrative. They argue that Kenyatta Hill is just after money. Some are arguing that he comes from one of the most poorest regions in the world.

Some have accused Itumbi and his team of affording the money to pay the musician but can’t afford to upgrade Kibra.

Some blasted Itumbi for what they argued as thinking that performing at a rally based on a promise will make things change for their candidate.

Kenyatta Hill began his music career one day after the death of his father Joseph Hill who collapsed and died while on stage in Germany in 2006.

From the time of the death of his father, Kenyatta Hill has staged numerous shows across the world perhaps proving to the globe that he has the capacity to step into the shoes of his late dad who was internationally respected for songs including Adis Ababa, Where Do You Get Your Bread Mr Slagad, Wings Of A Dove, Be Honest To Yourselves, among others.

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Politics

Kibaki admitted at Nairobi Hospital

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Former President Mwai Kibaki is admitted at The Nairobi Hospital.

According to reports by a local daily, Kibaki was admitted to hospital on Monday after he complained of pain on his knee.

Kibaki, 88, was in London last week for a series of medical checks where his knee was also examined. It is understood that Mzee’s knee has been paining.

“Mzee was taken to the hospital for some check-ups but we are praying for him,” a family source was quoted by the local daily.

But Kibaki’s Private Secretary Ngari Gituku vehemently denied that the ex-President was admitted. He described him as “cheerful and alert.”

Gituku said The Nairobi Hospital is one of the facilities the former Head of State occasionally visits for medical attention.

“It could be one of the medical facilities where he occasionally seek medical attention. That doesn’t mean he is there,” Gituku was quoted.

Kibaki’s predecessor Daniel Moi is also undergoing treatment at the same hospital.

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Governor Sonko exposes city hall cartels milking Nairobi dry by supplying air

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Nairobi County governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko has yet again exposed cartels who have been milking his government dry by supplying ‘hot air’.

Taking to his facebook account on Wednesday evening, Sonko said that the cartels who had siphoned money from the previous Evans Kidero-led administration have come back again.

The flamboyant governor says a company by the name PROLAND Ltd owned by Mr Fredrick Mungai recorded a consent with Nairobi County Gov’t during the previous administration to be paid Sh35m for supplying hot air

According to Sonko, the cartels were paid over Sh50m during the previous regime for the supply of air.

He notes that they are back with plain cloth Police officers at his Finance offices to force the County Government to pay more millions at the expense of taxpayer’s money.

The county chief says that so far the cartels have already been paid Sh175,000,000 without supplying anything to the county.

His facebook post reads “The cartels are back again at City Hall. PROLAND Ltd owned by a Mr Fredrick Mungai recorded a consent with Nairobi County Gov’t during the previous administration to be paid Sh35m for supplying hot air.

They were paid over Sh50m during the previous regime for the supply of air.

Now they’re back with plain cloth Police officers at our Finance offices to force the County Government to pay more millions at the expense of taxpayer’s money.

So far they have already been paid Sh175,000,000 without supplying anything to the county.

But as long as I’m the Governor of Nairobi, I will not allow the cartels to steal County Gov’t money.”

He has however vowed to fight the cartels saying that he will not allow them to steal County government money.

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VIDEO: Bungoma woman sends special plea to Uhuru over his foreign trips

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday hit the headlines when various media publications documented his 31 foreign trips in 21 months.

Uhuru left the country on October 21, heading to Japan after Mashujaa Day celebrations in Mombasa. He is currently in Saudi Arabia.

He will proceed to Botswana for the official swearing-in of President-elect Eric Mokgweetsi Masisi.

In Japan, Uhuru witnessed the enthronement of the new emperor, which was the climax of a long and detailed succession process that started on May 1.

He later left for Sochi, Russia, where he attended the inaugural Russia-Africa Summit.

The President’s trips come amid call for austerity measures as the country grapples with the debt burden.

It is this burden that has forced Bungoma woman Christine Wamalwa to send a special plea to the head of state.

Mrs Wamalwa urges the president to sit down and look into Kenya’s overwhelming debt burden, cancer menace, unemployment among other issues affecting Kenya.

She says Uhuru’s foreign trips won’t benefit the country in any way, urging the president to set up cancer centres to help battle the cancer menace in the country.

Watch Christine Wamalwa’s video via this twitter post courtesy of Daily Nation.

However, State House has defended President Kenyatta’s foreign trips, saying they will benefit the nation.

Nzioka Waita, the Chief of staff in the office of the President, took to Twitter on Wednesday to say it is Uhuru’s job to position Kenya on the world stage.

What do you think about president Kenyatta’s foreign trips?

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Tension in Mudavadi, Raila camps as 200 ANC youth leaders decamp to support Mariga

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

As Kibra by elections draws near, tension has hit the camps battling it out for the November 7 parliamentary seat with ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi being the most affected.

On Wednesday October 30, 2019, 200 youths alleged to be ANC youth leaders in Kibra were received in Jubilee party McDonald Mariga’s camp.

Taking to twitter on Wednesday afternoon, former Kakamega senator Boni Khalwale while sharing the photos said that he had received the alleged ANC party youth leaders in Kibra, and that they had declared their support for Mariga.

Khalwale said that he alongside Starehe MP Charles Njagua and Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa had welcomed the youths in team Mariga.

He congratulated the youths for what he said having chosen the better option.

“Together with Hon Njagwa (Starehe) & @DidmusWaBarasa (Kimilili) received 200 @anc_party Kibra youth leaders into Team-Mariga-4-Kibra. Congratulations young people for choosing the better option,” posted Khalwale.

However, ODM aspirant in the party’s Kibra primaries Benson Musungu disputed Khalwale’s allegations saying that the alleged youths are ODM supporters and that they will vote for ODM candidate Bernard Imran Okoth.

He termed Khalwale’s allegations as Kibra lies.

“Omwami welcome to Kibra lies! Those are our youth wait and see them voting @TheODMparty on 7th!!” he posted.

Jubilee’s Mariga will face off with ODM’s Imran, ANC’s Eliud Owalo, Ford Kenya’s Khamisi Butichi among others in a hotly contested race to succeed Ken Okoth who succumbed to cancer.

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Mzee Moi admitted to ICU, experiencing difficulty in breathing

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Former President Daniel Moi is admitted at The Nairobi Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.

Moi was rushed to the hospital on Thursday last week from his Kabarnet Gardens home, Nairobi, barely two weeks after being discharged from the hospital after a medical checkup.

According to the sources that spoke to the Star, Mzee Moi is experiencing difficulty in breathing.

“It is something to do with the breathing system. He is experiencing difficulty in breathing,” a doctor who sought not to be identified was quoted by the Star.

The local daily reports that Moi’s press secretary Lee Njiru, who is away in Nakuru county, Moi’s rural home, dismissed the hospitalisation claims, saying the retired President was relaxing at his Kabarnet Gardens home.

“Retired President Moi is relaxing at Kabarnet Gardens. He left the hospital like two weeks ago. He is not back to the hospital but is resting at his home,” Moi’s long-serving spokesman emphasised.

However, Kanu secretary Nick Salat confirmed that Moi is admitted at the hospital “for a regular check-up and not in the ICU”.

Salat said Moi had gone to the facility two days ago for a check-up, which had been scheduled the last time he was there.

“He was there some days back and had just returned as requested by his doctors. He is an old man and regular check-ups for people of his age are just normal,” he added.

He continued,“Mzee has grown old and every day he is okay we thank God. We all have people who are of that age and they go to the hospital every other time.”

Moi is under the care of his personal doctor, David Silverstein.

Moi was discharged from the same hospital on October 16 and was taken to Kabarnet Gardens, which is a few kilometres from the facility.

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Flamboyant City Lawyer issues chilling advice to Kibra residents on voting Mariga

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

As Kibra constituency by election campaigns continue getting hotter as days elapse, flamboyant city lawyer Donald Kipkorir has issued a chilling advice to Kibra residents on voting Jubilee candidate McDonald Mariga.

Just a day after Deputy President Dr William Ruto storming Kibra with a tight security to woe voters, the city lawyer has taken to social media to criticise Jubilee’s campaign strategy.

According to Donald Kipkorir, for Kibra people be told that “someone who wasn’t born in Kibra, semi-illiterate and hasn’t voted and wont vote for himself will bring you development is witchcraft! “

The lawyer tells Kibra residents further that Kibra is part of Kenya and if they lack roads and better houses, they should blame the successive governments that have been in power since 1963.

“Dear Kibra: Kibra is part of Kenya & if you lack roads, houses et al blame the successive Gov’ts that have been in power since 1963 …. To be told that someone who wasn’t born in Kibra, semi-illiterate & hasn’t voted & wont vote for himself will bring you dev’t is witchcraft! ” reads Donald Kipkorir’s tweet.

His advice comes a day after DP Ruto being criticised by Kenyans on twitter of tight security he displayed during a campaign rally at Lindi grounds in Kibra where he promised to transform Kibra to a city within Nairobi.

Mariga will face off with ODM’s Imran Bernard Okoth, ANC’s Eliud Owalo, Ford Kenya’s Khamisi Butichi among others on November 7.

The Kibra parliamentary seat fell vacant following the demise of Ken Okoth who succumbed to cancer.

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Uhuru exposes ‘con’ politician

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Politicians have over a long period of time used little chances available to loot from public coffers. Most of them have been quoting high figures when they get a chance to be in charge of any development. Do you remember the incident where ex-Kasarani MP Elizabeth Ongoro used National Government Constituency Development Fund amounting to Ksh 48 million to build a non-existent Kasarani Girls High School?

Well, last month, one of the leading Kenya’s local dailies reported on a senior politician who had hatched a plot with some international businessmen to persuade President Uhuru Kenyatta to purchase a new ship for the refurbished Kisumu port.

Two weeks ago while inaugurating the Nairobi-Suswa SGR line, Uhuru made it public that indeed, the individual had attempted to present his scheme were it not for the Kenya Navy that told him that the vessel could not cost what the politician had quoted.

During Mashujaa Day celebrations, in Mombasa, the politician is said to have attempted to whisper to Kenyatta that it was unfair to embarrass him in public. Those in know say the President brushed him off.

On July 6, during his two-day private visit to Tanzania, Uhuru and Magufuli resolved to revamp ferry services on Lake Victoria.

The two heads of states noted that regular maritime travel between Kisumu, Mwanza, Bukoba and other ports on Africa’s largest lake “will help create employment, enhance connectivity and spur related economic activities.”

Kisumu Port has been under utilized for over 20 years.

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Public Service boss reveals why Uhuru can’t appoint youths to senior government posts

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

The Public Service boss Prof Margaret Kobia has dismissed claims that President Uhuru Kenyatta has been overlooking the youth when making senior government appointments.

Speaking when she appeared on K24 TV’s Punchline on Sunday night, Prof Kobia said that if Uhuru appoints a 25-year-old to chair a board, they will feel inadequate because they lack experience.

“If you appoint a 25-year-old to chair a board, they will feel inadequate because they lack experience. And this is not a full time job, it pays so little. They only sit quarterly; it is not about the old versus the young. It is about the skills you bring to the table at the time,” said Prof Kobia.

Last week, the Employment Court ordered the suspension of former Othaya MP Mary Wambui’s appointment to the National Employment Authority (NEA) board.

Justice Hellen Wasilwa directed that Ms Wambui should not assume office until a petition challenging her appointment is heard and determined.

Her appointment was contested by the Kenya Young Parliamentarians, who claimed that the Othaya MP is not qualified to lead NEA as its chairperson.

But the Public Service CS said their dispute is tainted by gender bias and they will take up the matter on behalf of Ms Wambui, even though the negative publicity may push the Othaya MP to reconsider the appointment.  

The petitioner claimed that the former Othaya MP does not meet the requirements set by Section 10(2) of the National Employment Authority Act, which requires at least seven years of experience in human resource management.

The Kenya Young Parliamentarians Association is headed by Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja.  

Ms Wambui was appointed as the NEA chairperson on October 14, by the Labour CS Ukur Yattani.

But Ms Wambui defended her appointment last week, saying that she got the job because “she is better than those complaining.”

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Public Service CS defends Mary Wambui’s appointment to employment body

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Margaret Kobia has defended former Othaya MP Mary Wambui’s appointment to the National Employment Authority (NEA) board.

Speaking when she appeared on K24 TV’s Punchline on Sunday, Prof Kobia said the attacks on Ms Wambui were unwarranted and motivated by gender bias.

“I did not take it very kindly that Mary Wambui was being dragged into that kind of a conversation that she was not qualified. One, I saw gender issues there. If it was a man, nobody would have talked.

“In a board you do not make decisions alone, it is a total sum of the skills mix on the table. We did not give Mary a chance to lead this board. Leading at the board is strategic and about policy. Since it has now been surrounded by negativity she may reconsider. My ministry was offended by her being picked on, there are many men who have been given that job, older than her, and nobody said anything,” said CS Kobia.

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Government dismisses reports on Dedan Kimathi’s grave

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

The Interior Ministry has dismissed claims that the grave of iconic freedom fighter Dedan Kimathi has been found at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison.

In a tweet, on Saturday the ministry said: “Our attention has been drawn to news on some platforms that the grave of our freedom fighter Field Marshal Dedan Kimathi has been found at Kamiti Prison.”

They cautioned the public not to believe any information on the same unless it is communicated by the ministry through official communication channels.

“Please note these claims are False; such info will be relayed to the public only via our official communication channels,” read part of the tweet.

The Dedan Kimathi Foundation on Friday said they had located the grave of Dedan Kimathi at Kamiti Maximum Prison, Nairobi.

The foundation’s CEO Wanjugu said the news is not only a relief to the family but also to the larger freedom struggle heroes fraternity.

Wanjugu said they were waiting for orders from the Chief Justice David Maraga on excavation and exhumation of his remains before arranging for a decent send-off.

Dedan died in February 1957 at the age of 37 after being convicted and executed for murder and terrorism by the British colonial government.

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Ruto trashes Nation’s story on BBI, vows to stand behind Uhuru

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Deputy President William Ruto has dismissed claims that he is in a predicament over his stand the Building Bridges Initiative.

Ruto was responding on Saturday to a front-page headline on the Nation which reported the DP was in a dilemma over the BBI and had no choice but to back President Uhuru Kenyatta on the report.

The country’s second in command trashed the notion saying that Jubilee as a democratic party accommodates divergent views over the report that has in recent months proved divisive across the political divide.

The DP added that eventually, they will rally behind the party and its leader Uhuru Kenyatta.

“DILEMMA?Hapana!No way! Jubilee as a democratic party celebrates diversity of opinion free of hate and focused on transformation for all; for us big or small matters BUT ultimately as initiators of inclusive non-tribal political discourse we will stand behind our Party and Leader,” Ruto tweeted.

The BBI has proposed the introduction of a parliamentary system of government with a powerful Prime Minister and two deputies, radically overhauling the current system of governance.

The BBI team is against the winner-takes-all presidential system, largely blamed for political tensions and post-election violence.

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