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Mustafa Juma

ODM party leader Raila Odinga has revealed that President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday failed to show up for the funeral of veteran politician Nginyo Kariuki due to changes in his schedule arising from the corona virus global crisis.

Raila who took the head of state’s apologies to the mourners and the family on Tuesday said President Kenyatta had wished to attend the burial but his schedule couldn’t allow.

The former Prime Minister added that President Kenyatta had requested the family to adjust the funeral date from tomorrow (Wednesday) to today (Tuesday) but was unable to attend.

“I will begin by bringing apologies from His Excellency the President. This burial was to take place Thursday but the family upon request changed it to day so the President could come. Unfortunately due to the corona virus visitation, some appointments were rescheduled and he could not make it,” Odinga stated.

President Kenyatta, whose TNA party was founded by the late Kariuki, was represented by his brother Muhoho Kenyatta, his uncle George Muhoho, and a delegation of senior government officials.

Amani National leader Musalia Mudavadi, Baringo Senator Gedion Moi, Hon Martha Karua are among other distinguished guests who attended the burial.

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Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party founder member is dead.

The Orange party on Tuesday morning took to its official social media handles to announce the death of Mama Zaharia, whom it says was the party’s founder member.

The Raila Odinga led party has described Mama Zaharia as a strong grassroots mobilizer in Mombasa.

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The late Mama Zaharia. PHOTO/COURTESY/ODM

The late is the wife to Hon. Ramadhan Seif Kajembe, a former MP for Changamwe and Assistant Minister .

“We join the family of Hon. Ramadhan Seif Kajembe, a former MP for Changamwe & Ass. Minister in mourning the death of his wife Mama Zaharia early this morning. Mama Zaharia was a founder member of the party & a strong grassroots mobilizer in Mombasa. May her soul RIP,” ODM tweeted.

The party did not however disclose how the deceased met her death.

She died on Tuesday morning.

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Former Sports Cabinet Secretary (CS) Rashid Echesa has finally broken silence following a car drama at his Karen home.

Monday morning, DCI sleuths were forced to jump over the gate into his compound and arrested him over fraudulent accusation of three motors belonging to Esther Kabura.

In his response, the Former CS produced a letter stating how the Directorate of Criminal Investigations vindicated him from an alleged fraudulent accusation of three motors.

Echesa claims that the DCI act of arresting him and taking his vehicles was malicious.

“AMBIGUOUS! It’s amazing that the @DCI_Kenya works in a cryptic and abstruse way! Why are they acting as if they never served me with this letter dated 5th February 2018!” tweeted Echesa.

In the letter shared by Echesa, a complaint was made on January 23rd 2017 by Kabura who claimed that the Former CS, who was a friend to her late husband, took three vehicles belonging to her late husband immediately after his death for safe custody but failed to return them.

The three vehicles were listed as KBZ 009 J Toyota Land Cruiser V8, KBN 242 W Toyota Mark X and KAY 388 A Volkswagen Passat.

The DCI Kenya further established that Echesa was given the vehicles for safe custody after the complainant, Kabura, was embroiled in an inheritance dispute with the relatives of her late husband who are accused to have plotted to take over the properties.

The letter further vindicates Echesa from the claim of fraudulent accusation with the DCI stating that the complainant had requested the Former CS to dispose of the vehicle for her due to her financial constraints.

“It was established that indeed the said motor vehicles were given to Rashid Mohamed following a disagreement between the complainant and the family of her late husband who wanted to deprive her of their properties which included the motor vehicles.

“Later the complainant approached Rashid requesting him to assist her in disposing of the motor vehicles as she was undergoing serious financial problems.

“Upon completion of the investigations, it was established that the motor vehicles in question were sold by the complainant a fact that was supported by the production of a signed agreement and cash deposits into her account,” reads in part the letter from the DCI dated February 5th 2018.

According to the alleged DCI’s letter: “Due to the aforesaid, the matter was closed as no further police action was required after both parties were summoned and were advised accordingly.”

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Drama on Monday ensued at former sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa’s Karen home when sleuths raided the home over his fraudulent acquisition of five high end cars.

Following a complaint made to the DCI Public Complaints Section by a Kisumu widow of Echesa having Fraudulently transferred to his possession her late husband’s three Motor vehicles; a Passat KAY 388A, KBZ 009J Toyota LandCruiser V8 and KBN 242N Toyota Mark X in 2016, DCI Crime Unit Detectives Monday carried investigations in the Karen Home of Mr. Echesa and recovered the following;

1. KCW 289Q Toyota LandCruiser V8,

2. KCL 350J Mercedes Benz,

3. KAY 388A Volkswagon Passat,

4. KBP 725B Ford Ranger,

5. Lexus with no Reg Number,

6. Front and rear number plates (KBS 388F).

Ksh. 507,000 was also found in the front seat of the Benz.

All the vehicles taken for verification by NTSA officers as further investigations into the complainant’s allegations continue.

In a police report filed by complainant, Esther Kabura, Echesa was close friend to Kaburu’s late husband Patrick Akifuma who died in March 14, 2016.

“That before his demise, the deceased had the following motor vehicles – Toyota V8, Toyota Mark X and Passat,” read part of the affidavit.

Kabura claimed that Echesa was with his husband when he died and that the deceased had hired out his Toyota Land Cruiser to the former CS which she tried to reclaim but in vain.

“Later on, the complainant found out that the respondent had fraudulently transferred the ownership of the said motor vehicle to his name,” the affidavit further read.

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Homa Bay County Women Representative Gladys Wanga has blasted Deputy President William Ruto over recent acts of his lieutenants.

Speaking at the Mombasa Sports Club on Sunday evening after meeting members of Kochia Welfare Association, an association of Kuoyo Kochia residents of Homa Bay county living in Mombasa, Wanga said DP Ruto has no moral authority to hold that position and should resign.

She said Ruto continuously defies President Uhuru Kenyatta and shows him utmost disrespect by going against him on issues of national importance. 

“If you do not want to support the BBI, go and tell Kenyans why you, as Deputy President, are defying your boss,” the woman MP said.

“I want to ask Ruto whether he feels he still has the moral authority to pretend to deputise Uhuru when he is openly and continuously defying him and showing him utmost disrespect.” 

The Woma Rep said the DP was behind the “childish acts” of his lieutenants like Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, “who want to steal the limelight in public BBI rallies “.

Murkomen and Kuria on Saturday stormed out of the BBI rally at Kinoru stadium in Meru, attracting criticism from EALA MP Mpuru Aburi who was speaking at the time.

Aburi said it was disrespectful to leave a meeting halfway even if one was offended.

However, Murkomen denied he intentionally walked out of the BBI meeting saying he was catching a lift and had parental duties to undertake.

“It isn’t true that I stormed out of the Kinoru BBI meeting.Moses Kuria who gave me lift was leaving for another engagement.I had no choice but to follow.I also had parental duties in my children’s school.I apologize that wanachi followed us out of the stadium.We intended Not,” he tweeted.

On Sunday evening, Wanga tore into Mukormen and Kuria accusing them of paying some 300 people Sh500 each to accompany them to the Meru BBI meeting to try and show they have numbers.

She said the two were childish.

“Walking out of a stadium with a rented crowd of 300 people out of the 30,000 people who were at the Kinoru stadium is childish, to say the least,” she said.

Wanga said the BBI train has left the station and is unstoppable. 

She noted that disrupting the BBI meetings only revealed the true nature of some of the leaders whom she said did not deserve leadership positions because they did not want the best for Kenyans.

“If you support the BBI, support it from deep down in your heart. If you oppose the BBI, please go and tell Kenyans you oppose the BBI and why you oppose it. 

“But coming and showing disrespect to the people of Mt Kenya who already organised their meeting and were articulating their issues is unacceptable and childish.”

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An online poll has placed KETRACO CEO Fernandez Barasa as the suitable candidate to succeed Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya.

The poll that was ran on Strawpoll.com by one of the platform’s users challenged Kenyans to vote for the most suitable candidate from alist that had Barasa, Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, Governor Opranya’s deputy Prof Kutima and Lugari MP Ayub Savula.

50% of those who voted had Barasa as their suitable candidate with only 30.18% voting for Malala.

Prof Kutima came third with 7.93% followed by Khalwale who had 6.71%.

In the poll that had a question “who is best suited to replace Oparanya in 2020”, Savula emerged last with 5.18%.

The online poll had attracted 328 by the time this story went on air.

The 2022 Kakamega gubernatorial race is expected to be very tight with the current senator expected to face it off against the current KETRACO CEO FCP Fernandez Barasa.

In Kenya online polls are used to do analysis of the support base of a candidate and do political calculations.

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Five cars parked at former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa’s Karen home compound were on Monday afternoon driven to Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters along Kiambu road.

This is after DCI detectives raided his Karen home to investigate his car ownership.

In the Process, Echesa was arrested for allegedly acquiring one of the cars fraudulently.

The sleuths accused the former ODM youth league chairman of fraudulently acquiring a Toyota Land Cruiser.

The incident comes just as a proof that Echesa’s woes are not yet over.

Last month, Echesa was arrested over a fake firearms deal that is alleged to have been signed within Deputy President William Ruto’s Harambee Annex office.

Echesa was accused of entering in DP’s office alongside other two foreigner investors whom he duped through a fake military tender.

The deal worth Ksh. 39 billion is still under the police probe.

The probe extended to DP’s office with the sleuths visiting Harambee Annex not less than once.

Echesa was granted a Ksh. 1 million cash bail in the fake fire arms deal.

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Former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa has been arrested by detectives from Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

The former ODM youth league leader has been arrested at his Karen home over fraudulent acquisition of a Toyota Land Cruiser vehicle.

The sleuths who while investigating the ownership of Echesa’s vehicles raided his Karen home on Monday.

Echesa who is not new to controversy has been mentioned in several scandals, the latest being the fake fire arms deal that is alleged to have happened within Deputy President William Ruto’s Harambee Annex office.

Echesa was arrested just metres away from the DP’s office on Thursday, February 13 over the scandal.

The controversy over an alleged Ksh39 billion arms deal that was to be orchestrated by Echesa took a dark turn on Thursday, February 20 when SergeantJohn Kipyegon Kemei, a police officer who was on duty when Echesa visited Ruto’s office with two arms dealers representing a Polish firm, was found dead.

Police soon confirmed that Echesa had been apprehended after allegedly getting into a fake contract with foreign investors dealing with military equipment whom he convinced he could help secure a lucrative multi-billion shilling Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) tender for arms and military surveillance technology.

He was accused of using the Office of the Deputy President and the signature, fraudulent or otherwise, of Defence Cabinet Secretary Amb. Monica Juma in a bid to seal the deal.

Echesa allegedly convinced the Polish firm, Eco Advanced Technologies LLC, to pay Ksh11,500,000 to a company known as Pizzle Consultancy Limited to show commitment.

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Detectives from Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have raided former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa’s home.

The sleuths who are investigating the ownership of Echesa’s vehicles raided his Karen home on Monday.

Echesa who is not new to controversy has been mentioned in several scandals, the latest being the fake fire arms deal that is alleged to have happened within Deputy President William Ruto’s Harambee Annex office.

Echesa was arrested just metres away from the DP’s office on Thursday, February 13 over the scandal.

The controversy over an alleged Ksh39 billion arms deal that was to be orchestrated by Echesa took a dark turn on Thursday, February 20 when SergeantJohn Kipyegon Kemei, a police officer who was on duty when Echesa visited Ruto’s office with two arms dealers representing a Polish firm, was found dead.

Police soon confirmed that Echesa had been apprehended after allegedly getting into a fake contract with foreign investors dealing with military equipment whom he convinced he could help secure a lucrative multi-billion shilling Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) tender for arms and military surveillance technology.

He was accused of using the Office of the Deputy President and the signature, fraudulent or otherwise, of Defence Cabinet Secretary Amb. Monica Juma in a bid to seal the deal.

Echesa allegedly convinced the Polish firm, Eco Advanced Technologies LLC, to pay Ksh11,500,000 to a company known as Pizzle Consultancy Limited to show commitment.

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Police at Wilson Airport are holding at least eight Members of Parliament from North Eastern Kenya.

The police are set to question the lawmakers over their secret mission to Somalia.

According to reports, the MPs flew to Mogadishu on Saturday and jetted back to the country on Sunday morning aboard a chartered plane.

they are said to have departed to Mogadishu aboard Salaamair Air Express Flight WU-751.

Sources disclosed that Kenyan detectives had information that the eight were making their way to Somalia, where they were allegedly hosted by the Somalia Intelligence Services.

Detectives will be keen on establishing the agenda of the meeting considering the current strained diplomatic relations between Kenya and Somalia.

The eight will also be questioned on the nature of the trip; whether it was private or official, in which case the Speaker of the National Assembly should have been informed.

Several vehicles belonging to the Serious Crimes and Anti-terror police units were spotted at the Wilson Airport where the eight are set to be questioned.

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Former Kiambu County governor William Kabogo has blasted Mt Kenya governors for messing up the Meru Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) rally held at Kinoru stadium on Saturday.

Taking to his social media pages, Kabogo shamed governors Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga), Kiraitu Murungi (Meru) and Francis Kimemia (Nyandarua).

The first Kiambu County chief argues that the three governors were the cause of the mass storm out that was witnessed at the stadium.

While sharing the video of people walking out of the stadium, Kabogo accused the trio of failing to asses the ground, citing that they should take responsibility for the mess caused.

He argued that the three governors may end up quitting.

“Gov. Kiraitu, waiguru and Kimemia should take responsibility for this mess. Shame on you folks. Do rallies in your counties and asses your ground. You may end up quitting,” he tweeted.

Video footage on Saturday emerged on social media showing attendees of the Meru BBI rally at Kinoru Stadium walking out at the time when the ODM leader Raila Odinga was addressing.

In the footage that was recorded by phone, a group of people are seen walking out as a voice believed to be that of the ODM leader is heard at the background.

The ODM leader after the meeting labelled it a success saying the Mt Kenya region had spoken their wishes and went ahead to highlight the issues.

“Our brothers and sisters from the Mt Kenya region have spoken. The issues they want to be addressed through the BBI process include agricultural sector reforms, increased devolution funding, youth and women’s empowerment and constitutional time frames for corruption cases,” tweeted Raila.

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Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has mocked the Meru Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) rally for using microphones to address what he has termed as an empty stadium.

While sharing a video showing a low turn for the event, the controversial MP has termed the use of microphones as a misuse of public resources.

“One of the problems that the BBI is meant to solve is the misuse of public resources. That’s why I find it contradictory that they had to use a microphone yesterday to address an empty Kinoru stadium. Total misuse of public resources,” he posted.

The vocal MP went on to share a video of a visibly almost empty stadium as the ODM supremo Raila Odinga was addressing the gathering.

A standoff nearly rocked the meeting after Kuria, along with Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen and their supporters stormed out of the venue.

Through a Facebook post, the Gatundu legislator, later on, claimed he was rushing to another meeting.

“In a meeting attended by 100 MPs, 16 Senators, and over 10 governors, why is it a big deal that just one MP and one Senator excused themselves to attend to other duties? After all, the session for MPs and senators to speak was over,” he said.

On his part, Murkomen revealed that the reason he had to leave in a hurry was so that he could catch a lift offered by Kuria.

“Moses Kuria who gave me lift was leaving for another engagement. I had no choice but to follow,” he said in a tweet.

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President Uhuru Kenyatta’s super Cabinet Secretary has been endorsed for presidency.

The Interior and National Coordination of National Government Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i is slowly becoming a frontrunner in the upcoming 2022 presidential elections, with him getting endorsements from different communities.

Matiangi, who was in Murang’a to attend a thanksgiving ceremony for NCIC Commissioner Wambui Nyutu, was touted as the most fitting politician to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta, long ahead of the general elections.

The tough-talking CS was also equated to the late Cabinet Minister John Michuki both in his performance of Cabinet duties and his loyalty to the president.

“The CS has been loyal to President Kenyatta, just like the late Michuki, who was obedient to retired President Mwai Kibaki,” Mt Kenya Foundation chairman Peter Munga said.

Former Jubilee vice chairman and a close ally of President Kenyatta, David Murathe, described Matiang’i as a performer and a worthy successor of Uhuru, whom he described as the best man to safeguard the interests of Kenyans.

Borabu MP Ben Momanyi, who has been leading calls for a Matiang’i presidency in the Kisii region, told the gathering that the Interior CS was ready for the task while asking the Kikuyu community to join the rest of Kenyans in pushing for his candidature.

“CS Matiang’i has the support from Western region of the country and especially his Kisii backyard, and the best lieutenant for Kenyatta,” he said as quoted by The Standard.

Speculation has been rife on whether the ‘super CS’ is planning for a presidential run following signals that he has secured the backing of two of the country’s most influential leaders, the president and ODM chief Raila Odinga.

The details emerged as Matiang’i and Deputy President William Ruto openly clashed, signalling the increasing bad blood between the duo — who could face off in the 2022 presidential duel.

Within Ruto’s camp there is growing anxiety that Matiang’i is being propped up by powerful people, including influential individuals within the First Family.

He has recently made several trips to Raila’s Luo Nyanza backyard in the company of several ODM leaders, launching a couple of development projects and presiding over fundraisers.

The CS has also taken up communal activities, visiting his rural Kisii backyard several times, in a strategy to rally the region behind him.

Since the March 2018 handshake, the CS holds Raila in high regard and has in various public functions heaped praise on him as a “statesman”.

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President Uhuru Kenyatta’s move to save embattled governor Mike Sonko from impeachment seems not to have bore any fruits after the MCAs vowed to oust the county chief hours after meeting the head of state at State House.

Minority whip in the County Assembly, the Makongeni MCA Peter Imwatok, who is behind the impeachment said he will still table the motion.

Imwatok says Sonko has failed in his duties as Nairobi governor.

The ODM MCA said the motion will not be impeded by President Kenyatta’s meeting with Nairobi MCAs on Saturday.

“It is a private motion and it has not been affected by the meeting. I will still bring it on Tuesday,” said Imwatok who snubbed the meeting since he was in Kisumu for a burial .

He and other MCAs, including Minority Leader David Mberia, who was attending the BBI forum in Meru, lamented that they had received late communication from State House and thus could not honour the meeting.

The meeting which was held at statehouse was greatly attended by Jubilee MCAs who thereafter vowed to turn the motive to oust Governor Sonko down.

Jubilee members in the County Assembly stated they will vote down the motion.

“Our party leader has told us not to proceed with the impeachment motion. It is as good as dead now,” Peter Warutere, Roysambu MCAs.

The impeachment is based on different counts, including the governor’s alleged gross violation of the Constitution, incompetency and inability to lead, holding the county at ransom with lack of deputy governor, unable to control county debts and clearing of pending bills among others.

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The suspended whistle blower of the China Southern plane that landed at JKIA on Wednesday morning is living in fear after he apparently received word that he might be getting followed.

Gire Ali, who was suspended by Kenya Airways on February 27, 2020 after being accused of participating in recording and sharing of the video, showing 239 passengers aboard the China plane being ushered in, says his life is now in danger.

“They have been calling and I’m yet to go and meet the team because someone warned me that my life might be in danger and that they were watching me. I handed over my work identification documents through the fence and left. I fear about what could happen to me,” Gire is quoted by a local daily.

He also intimated that the employees had earlier on in the month asked for protective gear but never heard from management.

“We’re required to maintain security presence on this flight as long as it is on the ground. Our staff are badly exposed since we do not have protective gear while discharging our duties. We kindly request that similar masks be provided to our staff working on this flight,” a letter dated February 2 read in part.

So far, China Southern Airlines has suspended flights to Kenya.

A high court also ordered that the 239 passengers be quarantined at a Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) facility.

In Africa, three coronavirus cases have been confirmed. They are in Nigeria, Algeria and Egypt.

While being relieved of duties, Gire was accused of going against company policy and exposing poor management of passengers coming from the Coronavirus infested nation.

“It has been determined that you be suspended from duty with effect from 27th February 2020 in accordance with provision of clause 16.5 of the Company HR Policy,” a letter signed by chief human resources officer Evelyne Munyoki read in part.

KQ’s actions angered netizens who thought Gire’s actions were heroic.

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Former Kakamega County senator Boni Khalwale on Friday tore into Kenya Airways for suspending one of their staffs who blew the whistle about a Chinese plane that landed at JKIA with 239 passengers from China.

On Wednesday, Kenyan authorities allowed the plane to land in the country despite of the corona virus fears.

Southern flights./COURTESY
Chinese Southern Airline Plane. PHOTO/COURTESY

Kenya Airways was pissed off with the rate at which the video showing the Chinese Southern Airline landing at JKIA spread on social media.

As a result, Gire Ali, their staff who is alleged to have recorded and spread the video was suspended with effect from February 27, 2020.

“Following a report of video of China Southern flights arrival at JKIA and circulation of the video clip widely on social media and your alleged involvement in the matter, it has been decided that you be suspended from duty with effect from Feb 27,” KQ Chief human resource Evelyne Munyoki said in a letter dated February 27, 2020.

According to Munyoki, the suspension is in line with the company policies.

“This is to pave way for further investigations into the matter. During the period of suspension, you will be required to avail yourself to the investigating team,” Munyoki said.

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But Khalwale the bullfighter in a quick response to the suspension has termed the decision as a wisdom of fools.

Khalwale says that Mr Gire Ali is just a mere whistle blower and does not deserve the suspension.

He has termed Mr Gire as a hero to Kenyans.

“Suspend Mr Gire Ali? He is a mere whistle blower. Now our hero. Kenya Airways, yours is wisdom of fools,” Khalwale tweeted.

Gire alerted Kenyans of a China plane that had landed at JKIA with authorities silently ushering in the 239 passengers by only advising them to quarantine themselves for 14 days.

So far, 17 suspect cases have been recorded in the country and all have tested negative.

On Thursday, a section of MPs demanded that all the Chinese airlines be suspended from landing at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Led by Minority leader John Mbadi the MPs said it was a careless move for those responsible to have cleared a China Southern Airline plane on Kenyan soil despite the scare of the coronavirus outbreak.

Mbadi said it was laughable that the Health ministry cleared all the 239 passengers and asked them to ‘self-quarantine’ without proper monitoring mechanisms.

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