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President Uhuru Kenyatta-led Jubilee Party has declared it will field a candidate in the November 7 Kibra by-election. The Party’s Secretary-General Raphael Tuju has asked interested candidates to apply for the ticket.

The Kibra Parliamentary seat fell vacant following the demise of Ken Okoth.

The Raila Odinga-led Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) will on Saturday August 31, 2019 hold its nominations ahead of the Kibra Member of Parliament by-election.

Mr Odinga made the announcement on Sunday at a rally in Kibra in which he also revealed that at least 26 aspirants will battle it out for the party ticket.

Among those expected to seek the ODM ticket in the race include: Benson Musungu (ODM National Youth Coordinator), Imran Okoth (late MP Ken Okoth brother and PA), Reggae DJ Kriss Darlin, Sigar Agumba, Peter Orero (Dagoretti High School Principal), and Ochieng Jera.

Former Embakasi South MP Irshad Sumra, who was earlier reported to have also been seeking the party ticket, however said “I am not in the race” adding that “I only came because I support Kibra and I love Kibra.”

Mr. Odinga’s daughter Rosemary Odinga who was also in attendance joined Mr. Sumra saying she would also not be in the race.

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Popular Reggae DJ and renowned MC Chrispinus Odhiambo poularly known as Kriss Darlin has finally opened up on why he knelt before ODM leader Raila Odinga on Sunday during an ODM rally at Kamkunji grounds in Kibera, Nairobi.

Kenyans on social media had heavily criticized the NTV Jam Rock show host, with some saying that he was pulling a publicity stunt.

But in a phone call interview with a local daily on Monday, the DJ said he was not pulling a publicity stunt by kneeling before the ODM party chief.

“Raila, having been the area as MP for over two decades and because Kibra is one of the ODM’s zones in the city, he will have the final say on who succeeds Okoth,”he was quoted by the local daily.

He, however, said the power of who will be elected as Kibra MP lies from the people of Kibra, not Raila solely.

“The people of Kibra have the final say. If elected I will represent the party, not just Raila,” he added.

Darlin said he believes he is the best candidate for Kibra as he was born and raised in Kibra and he resonates well with the challenges faced in the slum.

He said all his charitable projects are based in Kibra.

“I donate Sanitary towels to girls schools in Kibra constituency, I donate boxers to male children. I have a football tournament called Kriss darling Supercup that has been running for four years,” he said.

Darlin on August 21 presented his official documents to the ODM headquarters. 

Raila however on Sunday ruled out direct nomination for its candidate for the November 7 Kibra Constituency by-election.

Raila said that ODM will hold its primaries on August 31.

The seat fell vacant after the death of MP Ken Okoth on July 26, 2019.

Raila unveiled 24 aspirants seeking the party’s ticket in the by-election.

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Kakamega County governor Wycliffe Oparanya is yet again on EACC radar over his newly acquired multi-million hotel in Kisumu.

According to a local daily, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is investigating the Council of Governors chairman over acquisition of Sh250 million Kisumu hotel.

An EACC report claims that Oparanya  bought St John Manor hotel “using public funds believed to have been embezzled from the county government of Kakamega.”

St John’s Manor hotel is a three-star star facility located along the Nerhu Road in Kisumu town.

It borders the lucrative Kisumu Impala Sanctuary and the exclusive Kisumu Yatch Club.

The hotel is the preferred choice for nearly all governors from the Lake Basin Region when holding meetings in Kisumu and costs between Sh6,000-Sh9000 a room per night.

According to the information on its website, the hotel features a swimming pool, fully air-conditioned rooms, a private balcony, laundry services, and airport pickup services.

However, Oparanya on Sunday  termed the EACC probe a waste of time saying he neither owns the hotel nor does he have any interest in the facility.

“I don’t own that hotel and I have never owned it. If they want to investigate, let them go and do so,” Oparanya told the local daily in a telephone interview.

He went on: “There is nothing wrong with me owning a hotel. Even if I owned it, I would gladly say so. What is wrong with owning a hotel?”

Oparanya has been hailed for his impressive development record in Kakamega and the anti-corruption purge would be an anti-climax in his enviable career.

A report Story

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ODM leader Raila Odinga’s daughter Rosemary Odinga has announced that she will not be part of the August 31, 2019 nomination battle to replace Ken Okoth.

ODM on Sunday had several candidates who were expected to battle it out in search of the coveted ticket for Kibra MP.

“I will not be able to vie in Kibra, but I wanted to come here today to greet and talk to you and to say I will keep interacting with you to the end,” she said.

Ms Odinga was expected to be among the front-runners but a sickness ruled her out in 2017. Kenyans on twitter had already started speculating that Rosemary was set to vie for a vacant Kibra Parliamentary seat, with some demonstrating against the idea.

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

Former Embakasi South MP Irshad Sumra has also revealed that he will not contest.

“I am not in the race. I only came because I support Kibra and I love Kibra,”he said at Kamkunji grounds on Sunday.

The unveiled 26 candidates will on Tuesday be vetted in readiness for a nomination battle scheduled for Saturday August 31, 2019.

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ODM leader Raila Odinga has warned Deputy President William Ruto and his allies they risk being swept by a political storm should they oppose constitutional reforms proposed by the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).

Raila said the BBI team was currently writing its report which will be made public next month for Kenyans to give further views before the country can go for a referendum which he declared will sweep away Tanga Tanga allies – a reference to Ruto’s camp.

“There are very good views from Kenyans and once the report is out, we will publish it for Kenyans to give their views then go for a referendum. I have seen a storm, there are signs that it will rain. There’s is a storm that will take all the Tanga Tanga people to the ocean,” said Raila amid cheers by the wild crowd at Kamukunji grounds.

Dr Ruto has publicly declared his opposition to any initiative seeking to expand the Executive through the creation of a Prime Minister position and two deputies.

Most of the submissions to the team formed by President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila have suggested expansion of the Executive.

Speaking in Kibra on Sunday, the Opposition chief described some of the views collected by the team as “very good” and asked Kenyans to back amendments to the 2010 Constitution.

He further asked people to ignore the Punguza Mizigo Initiative by Ekuru Aukot’s Thirdway Alliance which is currently before the 47 county assemblies.

“Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) is already writing its report and it will be made public next month. If they recommend a referendum, we will go for it. Those bringing other initiatives should be ignored,” said Raila. 

The former premier spoke when he unveiled 24 aspirants seeking the party ticket in the Kibra by-election.

A Report Story by The Standard

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Deputy President Dr William Ruto’s camp, led by ODM “rebel” Aisha Jumwa, has suffered another blow after two of its erstwhile backers, Kilifi North MP Owen Baya and Women Representative Gertrude Mbeyu, rejoined ODM leader Raila Odinga’s camp ahead of Kilifi mini poll set for October 17.

The Ganda ward seat fell vacant following a successful petition challenging the election of then-ODM candidate Abdul Omar. Mr Reuben Katana, who ran on a Kadu Asili ticket but lost, filed the petition.

Mr Omar, a close ally of Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa, has since decamped from the Orange party and will contest for the seat as an independent candidate.

On the other hand, Mr Katana has rejoined ODM and secured its ticket to contest the seat. Mr Joseph Kiponda alias Giuseppe’s will vie on Jubilee Party ticket.

In an interview with Daily Nation on Friday, Gertrude Mbeyu vowed to make sure the ODM candidate wins the by-election.

“I am an ODM member and I will support our ODM candidate to win the seat. As we speak now, I am from an Embrace rally in Kakamega. The team is coming to Kilifi at the end of this month,” she said.

Ms Mbeyu accused Ms Jumwa of chasing her out of the Ruto camp on grounds that she had “no votes” to offer the DP.

“If a friend tells me that I don’t have any vote to enable the DP to win the 2022 General Election, then let it be. But I want to tell the friend that she will be in for a surprise,” she said in a statement.

“I am embracing Raila and the President in supporting the Handshake, so my duty as an ODM member is to make sure that my candidate wins the Ganda by-election.”

A report Story

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President Uhuru Kenyatta has revealed fallen Kikuyu musician John DeMathew’s hand in his International Criminal Court (ICC) case.

Speaking during the late musician’s burial in Mukurwe, Muranga County on Saturday, the head of state said DeMathew lent him a helping hand when he was facing crimes against humanity at the ICC.

President Kenyatta, however, did not indicate how  the musician helped him during the case.

This followed Uhuru’s implication in the 2007 post election violence which left hundreds of Kenyans dead and thousands displaced.

The Head of State added that DeMathew also played a major role in his campaigns, before his election in 2013, and reelection in the 2017 polls.

“John De’Mathew supported me as a person. During the ICC cases and during the campaigns. (John De Mathew alinisaidia sana kama mtu binafsi, nilipokuwa kwenye kesi ya ICC na baadaye nilipokuwa nikitafuta kura),”

He lauded him as man who committed himself to bring people together, adding that reports about his death really shocked him.

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Murang’a County Representative Sabina Chege apparently shares a similar characteristic with Deputy President Dr William Ruto.

Speaking during Kikuyu benga musician, the late John Ng’ang’a famously known as John DeMathew’s burial ceremony in Gatanga, Murang’a County on Saturday, Chege declared herself the original hustler in the presence of the DP.

“I your excellency the Deputy President when you see today I am called the County Women Representative, I started far. As you are called hustler, I am the hustler original because I started when I was still a very young girl and today you have seen that I sang with John De’ Mathew. I was an actor in a program called Tausi and later met John DeMathew when I was a broadcaster

“(Mimi your excellency the Deputy President ukiona leo naitwa Mama wa kaunti, nimeanza mbali. Ukiitwa hustler, mimi ndio ule hustler original kwa sababu mimi nilianzia nikiwa msichana mdogo sana na leo umeona niliimba nyimbo na John DeMathew. Mimi nilikua actor wa tausi nikawa mtu ambaye alikua wa michezo ya kuigiza, na kutoka hapo nikiwa broadcaster nikakutana na John DeMathwew),” she said.

She further denied having had romantic encounter with Benga maestro John De Mathew’s who was buried on Saturday.

A local publication claimed that Ms Chege had love relationship with the musicians, who was involved in an accident along Thika Road last week.

But speaking at Murang’a on Saturday during the burial, Chege accused the media of disrespect, arguing that the information was propaganda.

The second term legislator said she worked with De Mathew’s as a producer and their working relationship was professional. She had appeared in one of songs as video vixen.

She said had she sired with the deceased, the child would have attended the funeral to pay tribute to the fallen musician at his ancestral home.

“I was not involved in any romantic relationship with the Late De’Mathew. Yes, he was my good friend, but not a lover. I respect myself, I respect De’Mathew’s family.”

“If we, indeed, had a relationship, which yielded a son, then that child would be here today for his father’s burial. I am a married woman, who has children, and I respect my husband and my children. I, therefore, urge the media, [especially blogs], to refrain from publishing fabricated allegations. The media should, instead, be sensitive and respectful to De’Mathew’s family,” said Chege.

Watch the video below:

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President Uhuru Kenyatta and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta were among the first Kenyans to be enumerated in the 2019 National Population and Housing Census exercise that kicked off on Saturday evening.

In a brief address after the enumeration exercise, the President reiterated his earlier call to Kenyans to participate in the national exercise so as to provide the government with appropriate data for purposes of planning national development programs.

“Mine is to say that I have formally gone through the process. We’ve completed that exercise with my family,” the President said.

“Once again I reiterate that this is an exercise that’s geared towards helping us plan for your future. It is an exercise that is geared towards better utilization of your taxes to ensure that they get to the people. You cannot plan if you do not have the right statistics,” he added.

Present during the exercise was Treasury CS Ukur Yatani who said the exercise had taken off smoothly across the country.

“The exercise has taken off in every part, every enumeration area of this country and so far we are registering good progress. We have not had any major hitches anywhere,” the CS Yatani told the President.

Others present were the Principal Secretary for National Planning Torome Saitoti, Treasury Chief Administrative Secretary Nelson Gaichuhie, Kenya National Bureau of Statistics Board Chairman Peter Kiguta and Nairobi Regional Coordinator Wilson Njega.

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Details have emerged of some 90,000 teachers who have pulled out of the Wilson Sossion-led Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut).

This follows an ongoing tiff between the union and the teachers’ employer, TSC.

According to the Standard, the fear of being locked out of the ongoing promotions and the looming deduction to recover monies paid to KNUT members following implementation of Collective Bargaining Agreement two years ago is behind the mass exit.

The local daily further understands that the matter has further been complicated by primary school heads, who lead institutions with majority membership of Knut, disowning the union’s push to fight for them, further isolating the union.

Secondary school heads and the rival Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) have openly sided with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), casting Knut as a lone ranger in championing teachers’ issues.

According to Sources within Knut leadership ranks who spoke to the daily on Saturday, the likelihood that TSC may not honour any meetings with the Knut leadership to push for teachers’ benefits has further driven away members.

The tutors’ employer deregistered Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion from the teachers’ roll, arguing that the teachers’ code of conduct and ethics required them to maintain political neutrality at all times and not act in a manner that may compromise or be perceived to compromise their neutrality.

The decision to strike Sossion off the roll has split Knut leadership down the middle, with a crisis meeting called last week to plan for his ouster in the special National Executive Council (NEC) meeting postponed to next Thursday.

“We are in a tight corner as a union because we are unable to even run operations at the branches. But we have one last chance to rescue the union from collapse this week during the NEC meeting,” said a high-ranking Knut official.

The number of members who have exited Knut could be higher as more teachers continue to exit the union citing stalled benefits of the Third Phase of the Sh54 billion Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Last month, TSC ran a parallel payroll, locking out all the 190,000 Knut members from the benefits of the CBA signed in 2016.

TSC said it was complying with an order issued by Judge Byram Ongaya that set aside Career Progression Guidelines rolled out in 2017 and reverted to the old Schemes of Service to guide promotions of all teachers under its payroll.

The Commission adopted career progression guidelines in 2017 to enable the implementation of the job evaluation exercise and the CBA that were signed in 2016.

It also emerged that the impending recovery of the monies already paid to Knut members after implementation of the 2016 CBA has further necessitated the mass exit.

Story Source

 

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2019 census exercise has kicked off across the country with deputy President William Ruto and Opposition leader Raila Odinga being among the first ones to be enumerated .

Ruto and his family members took part in the count at his official residence in Karen, Nairobi shortly after 6pm

The DP urged Kenyans to participate fully in the exercise, saying it would aid government to plan and make key policy decisions in allocating resources.

Mr. Odinga was enumerated at his Karen residence in the company of his family.

Former President Daniel arap Moi was enumerated at his Kabarak home in an exercise led by Nakuru County Commissioner Erastus Mbui.

Baringo Senator Gideon Moi who was also enumerated during the exercise called on Kenyans to cooperate with census officials to make it a success.

Other leaders who took part in the exercise soon after the launch include Governors Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga), Ole Lenku (Kajiado) and Mohamud Mohamed Ali (Marsabit).

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Kenyans are gearing up to participate in the 2019 national census, which kicks of on Saturday evening. While Kenyans are keeping an eye on government’s directive of having all bars and clubs closed by 5:00 pm on Saturday, there are other things that they should be careful with to avoid heavy fines and jail.

Did you know some of the actions that might land you in jail during the census exercise?

Well, National government spokesman Cyrus Oguna emphasized that households should provide accurate information in the exercise or risk getting fined or jailed.

“It is important for households to provide the accurate information. It is illegal not to do so and you can face a jail term of six months or a fine of Sh500,000 or both,” he said.

The ‘Big Count’ starts on Saturday at 6pm. The counting shall continue until August 31.

After the night of August 24 and 25, people will be counted with reference to where they were on those two nights. That then becomes the reference night.

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Deputy President Dr William Ruto has continued to poke holes in areas believed to be his rivals’ strongholds ahead of his 2022 political gameplan.

On Friday, businesses came into standstill in Luanda as Dr Ruto made triumph entry to Mumboha grounds, within the expansive Vihiga County which is believed to be ODM leader Raila Odinga’s stronghold and the home for ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi.

The DP graced a women’s empowerment programme in Luanda.

It was the third trip to the county which is headed by ODM governor Wilberforce Otchillo. Thousands lined up to have a glimpse at Dr Ruto, who had earlier graced an event at Chesumei constituency.

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Dr Bonie Khalwale, one of his chief campaigners, lauded the attendance, which he admits that was unique given the voting patterns of Western region.

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“Today I saw so many people at @WilliamsRuto’s rally in Luanda, Vihiga that I almost thought I was at Malinya Stadium where I call ALL the shots. Western, thank u for being part of the dream of the New Kenya,” Khalwale tweeted.

The DP, who has been accused by his opponents of premature campaigns, maintained that he’s focused to help President Uhuru Kenyatta deliver.

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Homa Bay county commissioner Harman Shambi has urged night runners to suspend operations during the census which runs between August 24 and August 31.

“The census exercise needs to cover all Kenyans. I appeal to night runners, if there’s any, to suspend their work,” Shambi said.

Addressing journalists on Friday in his office, Shambi also called for suspension of evening and night prayers during the census.

“Night prayers are out of bounds, just like clubs and bars which will be closed this Saturday and Sunday evening. We don’t expect people to hold any gathering that can interfere with the census,” Shambi said.

He warned alcohol consumers against resorting to drinking chang’aa after bars are closed.

The county commissioner assured residents living on Victoria Island that modalities had been put in place to ensure they are counted.

He said they had hired speed boats which will be used to transport equipment from the mainland.

“Let the island residents not feel they will be left out. We have the requisite modalities in place to enable them to be counted like their counterparts on the mainland,” Shambi added.

He warned masqueraders against taking advantage of the census to perpetrate crime.

The administrator said security officials will be patrolling the county to ensure everybody is safe.

“There are people who may attempt to masquerade as census officials to perpetrate robbery and other forms of crime. We will catch up with them,” he said.

CREDITS: The Star Digital

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Sometime back, Keroche borrowed Ksh 5 billion from
Barclays Bank of Kenya to modernize its factory. With such a loan, it’s always a good practice for the bank to require some political assurance as security for its investment.

Tabitha Karanja wrote to Pres. Kibaki to honour an invite and open modernized factory on completion. Kibaki agreed to be the guest of honour.

Powerful people in State House saw this schedule on the then President Kibaki’s itinerary. They didn’t like it. Tabitha was a threat to their wealth.

That opening of Keroche’s new factory by Kibaki was silently removed from the President’s itinerary. Tabitha was not aware.

The late Jeremiah Kiereini together with Ministers Amos Kimunya and the late John Michuki teamed up to stop Tabitha. Mrs. Kimunya was a major distributor of EABL products while Kiereini was a key shareholder of the same.

Michuki hated new money influences in Kiukuyuland.

Tabitha Karanja realized she was alone when she tried to confirm with the State House comptroller Hyslop Ipu. Mr. Ipu just indicated to Tabitha, “I am not aware of what happened and can’t confirm the president’s availability.”

Tabitha was then in front of State House asking for a personal audience with President Kibaki to plead her case. She was driving herself.

Tabitha Karanja literally cried in her car as she made calls to all the powerful people close to Kibaki, none who could rescue her. Confused and teary, she was determined to fight on. So she thought of what to do. In the meantime, the hawk-eyed GSU guarding State House chased her from the gates.

She had just driven from Naivasha to State House and was blocked from seeing President Kibaki who was in?

The then President Kibaki’s PA Joe Wanjui confirmed receiving her invite but someone powerful had blocked her from getting the factory opened by President Kibaki.

Realizing that Kibaki’s people had played her, she got in touch with one of her employees who knew Jakoyo Midiwo and asked for an audience with Raila.

Tabitha didn’t have access to Raila then.

Jakoyo linked her to Raila. Raila was then not well aware of what Keroche was.

Tabitha met Jakoyo at Serena Hotel and Jakoyo drove her to Karen’s residence of Raila.

On the day of the unveiling of the new factory, Raila was also to grace an event in Kisumu.

But he agreed to pass by.

He asked if they had a helipad as he could pass by on his way to Kisumu. He told them that he could spend a maximum of 15 minutes. It was 48 hours to the d-day

Sensing “mwanya”, Tabitha asked Raila what he needed for the helipad as she can prepare that.

Tabitha Karanja prepared a helipad for Raila’s chopper within 36 hours.

Raila graced the occasion and instead of spending only 15 minutes, spent 3 hours. Raila loved the investment

That’s where the friendship of Raila Odinga and Tabitha Karanja emanated from. That’s how Tabitha knew and became friends to Raila.

Today, Keroche has a factory capable of producing 24,000 crates of beer or 600,000 beers in a single day.

The competitor is not happy with this. EABL is doing all it can and now using the DCI and ODPP to sabotage it.

To get into the club of billionaires in Kikiyuland, you have to be oathed. Tabitha Karanja is growing balls without being oathed into this club.

She has to be contained. Unfortunate. So unfortunate!!!

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Unidentified gunmen on Thursday fired at the vehicle of Wajir North MP Ahmed Ibrahim Abdsalan and torched his vehicle

According to reports by a local mainstream media, the MP was travelling with census staff when the attack occurred near an abandoned mosque at Masalale.

The lawmaker was, however, rescued from the scene by his security team.

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