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Mustafa Juma

Kenya Airways has suspended one if their staffs who recorded the arrival of a Chinese Southern Airline loaded with 239 passengers from China.

The video went viral o social media, triggering an uproar from concerned Kenyans.

Jumping into action, KQ decided to suspend the whistle blower with immediate effect, citing that the matter was under investigations.

In a letter dated February 27, 2020, Gire Ali, the suspended staff is ordered to go on a suspension with effect from February 27, 2020.

During the suspension period, the staff is required to avail himself to the said investigating team, his manager or any other person in authority.

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The Kenyan government on Wednesday allowed 239 Chinese to land at JKIA amid Corona Virus fears, triggering an immediate uproar.

Angry legislators confronted Foreign Affairs CS Raychelle Omamo to explain what informed what they termed as a reckless’ move to allow in the Chinese plane.

The National Assembly’s departmental committee on Defense and Foreign Relations wondered why Kenya is out “to pamper China” even at the point of endangering the lives of its own citizens.

The situation got worse when the CS tried to inform the committee that the decision to allow the Chinese into the country was done in the best interest of the country.

“The aeroplane did not originate from Wuhan because Wuhan has been under lockdown and people quarantined and no aeroplane goes there. The passengers were cleared under the guidelines of World Health Organization..The decision was made in the best interest of the country,” Omamo said.

The CAS in a media conference later in the day said the Chinese arriving in Kenya are not from Wuhan, the city where the corona virus outbreak began. 

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Deputy President William Ruto on Thursday hit back at ODM party leader Raila Odinga over his “I taught Ruto everything he knows, he can’t stop BBI reggae” remark.

Ruto shared a screenshot of a comment on the matter, which had been posted by former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga..

On the screenshot,the former Chief Justice had opined: “Students can be brighter than their teacher. As a teacher of law I know that for a fact.”

in a Wednesday night interview on KTN, Odinga said that he was Ruto’s teacher having recruited him to the change movement and helped him gain his political skills.

“Why should I fight Ruto? In fact, it is me who recruited him to the change movement and helped him sharpen his political tactics

“I want Ruto to be part of the struggle against corruption. Running around the country with bags of money in the name of building churches is hogwash,,” the ODM party leader stated.

On Thursday afternoon, Odinga continued with his scathing attacks on his politics student.

“The theft of public resources is now called hustling. The sacking of corrupt and incompetent individuals is now called targeting our people,” he said.

Ruto has declared himself as a hustler whenever questions of his source of wealth arise.

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Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga on Thursday tore apart Deputy President William Ruto over his hustler nation tag.

Raila who was speaking during FOPA BBI forum faulted those using hustler tag to steal from Kenyans.

He said theft of public resources is now being glorified as hustling.

He said it is unfortunate that some politicians have resorted to inciting their constituents when corrupt public officers are sacked.

The former Prime Minister further noted that sacking of corrupt and incompetent individuals is now being called “targeting our people”.

According to Raila, it is through BBI that this pattern of events can change.

If not changed, the AU envoy notes that there will be no nation left to save.

“The theft of public resources is now called hustling. The sacking of corrupt and incompetent individuals is now called targeting our people. Changing this pattern of events is not going to be easy. But it must and has to be done or we will have no nation to save. |FOPA BBI Forum,” he tweeted.

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The deal between President Uhuru Kenyatta and governor Mike Sonko to handover Nairobi City County to National Government was characterized by tough demands and an ambush on the part of the Nairobi County Government, details have revealed.

When Sonko left his home to come to the city, he was only prepared to meet Nairobi MCAs at his Upper Hill office and had no idea the day would end with his powers significantly neutered.

At around 11am, President Uhuru through State House Comptroller Kinuthia Mbugua summoned Sonko to the house on the hill – giving him only 15 minutes to show up.

So unprepared was Sonko that he is reported to have won his suit and tie on the way to State House.

State House had also summoned acting County Secretary Justus Kathenge who was equally given a strict deadline.

At State House, Sonko and Kathenge found President Uhuru, Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa, and Leboo Morintat whom the Nairobi Governor had fired a day earlier from the position of County Secretary.

It was at the meeting that Sonko was informed that the only way to keep Nairobi County running was to hand over functions.

It is reported that Uhuru was keen to avoid a by-election in Nairobi which was likely to happen if Sonko was impeached in the process that had already kicked.

A by-election in Nairobi would drain the already struggling National Treasury.

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Deputy President William Ruto has revealed more details surrounding the takeover of Nairobi City County by the National Government.

The DP has spoken on the unexpected move by Governor Mike Sonko to hand over the County functions to President Uhuru Kenyatta led government.

DP Ruto disclosed that President Kenyatta met with the Council of Governors and IEBC Commissioners before the move was actualized.

The management of Nairobi city county has been a major source of concern for GoK and Nairobians,” Dr Ruto stated.

HE the President met with CoG & IBEC chairs in consultation with other actors to facilitate the agreements signed,” he added.

The Deputy President also urged all stakeholders to “support this effort to ensure our city functions“.

Sonko’s move to surrender key county functions to the national government was considered the least disruptive of the options available to address the leadership crisis at City Hall.

Sonko has hence defended his decision to hand over some county functions to the national government.

In a statement posted in the wee hours of Thursday morning, Sonko — who is facing corruption charges in court — said the needs of Nairobi County are unique compared to other devolved units.

“My government set out on a fact-finding mission that saw us benchmark and take lessons from other jurisdictions across the world including Washington DC in the US and Abuja in Nigeria. From these case studies, we established that cities and metropolis the size of Nairobi are best served jointly by devolved units and central governments,” he said.

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Raila Odinga led Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party on Wednesday submitted their proposals on Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) to the BBI Steering Committee at the KICC.

The Orange party made several demands from the BBI report.

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Change of DCI

ODM has proposed that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) be divorced from the National Police Service and be set aside as an independent body.

The new DCI, according to ODM, should be renamed Bureau of Criminal Investigations, National Criminal Investigations Services or any other name as shall be suggested by relevant authorities.

MCAs Just as Powerful as MPs

ODM has proposed that Members of County Assembly be accorded similar powers just as the Members of Parliament.

In the new arrangement envisaged in their recommendations, 30 per cent of all the County Government budget should go to the wards.

Regional Economic Blocs (REBs)

ODM has suggested the creation of Regional Economic Blocs with the view of coordinating inter-County cooperation in the respective regions.

This comes hot on the heels of a major debate about ODM’s plan to create a soft landing for their second-term Governors.

More Money for Development

ODM has proposed that at least 70 per cent of the total National budget directly goes towards Development projects, with only 30 per cent for recurrent expenditure.

However, the Party noted that this could not be achieved instantly and that it should be implemented progressively.

Collapse Redundant Parastatals

ODM also wants all the national parastatals whose functions are covered by Counties to be dissolved.

This is seen as a further measure to reduce the huge wage bill that threatens to stifle development projects.

35 Per Cent to Counties

The party has also proposed an allocation of at least 35 per cent of National Government budget to be chanelled to the 47 Counties.

Creation of Prime Ministers Post

ODM has strongly supported the creation of a Powerful Prime Minister to be at the centre of conducting Government business.

The Prime Minister will be appointed by the President from the majority party in Parliament.

IEBC Reforms

ODM has suggested a bucketload of changes at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Key among the recommendations is that political parties in Parliament be allowed to recommend IEBC commissioners to be appointed by the President.

County Police

To address the challenge of insecurity, ODM has suggested the creation of County Police Service.

The security council will be chaired by the Governors of the respective Counties.

7-Year Tax Holiday

ODM has also suggested that the Government provides a tax holiday for the youth who are venturing into business.

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A video doing rounds on social media showing University of Nairobi students and a lecturer protesting being locked out of lecturer room at the university’s premises has caused an uproar.

In the video, a seemingly angry lecturer who has been identified as Dr Richard Bosire stated that they had been barred from accessing a room at the University of Nairobi Towers by Chinese students.

“What we are protesting is the Chinese locking students out of the facility with their lecturer. We cannot allow it!” Bosire lamented.

The entrance to the room from which the video of the protest was recorded from shows Chinese writings and decor on the walls.

The Chinese claim they bought two floors in this tower. The university has given them land, they constructed Confucius Institute headquarters along Arboretum Road, which is a huge facility, perhaps on two acres of land, yet they are closing us out,” Bosire alleged.

“Where do they want us to go? Do they want us to learn under trees? Is it Chinese colonialism? They have gone too far.

“The Indians built Gandhi wing, donated it to the university in the early 70s, Unesco built Education building gave it to the university, many institutions donate to this university but the Chinese have come to grab this University. It is not right!” He lamented.

The move has seen netizens angrily react, expressing their disappointment in the University leadership.

However, the University of Nairobi through the director of corporate affairs has refuted the allegations that the building had two of its floors acquired by China, terming Bosire’s sentiments as personal and ill-motived.

“The Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi is not a property of the People’s Republic of China. The attached video by Dr. Bosire is misleading and ill-intentioned,” the statement by the director of corporate affairs read in part.

“His sentiments are personal and do not reflect the correct position,” it adds further stating that the students had been assigned a different lecture hall.

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Embattled Nairobi County governor Mike Sonko has broken his silence hours after handing over the administration of Nairobi County to the national government.

Sharing a video of himself pleading with President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene in the murky Nairobi county administration situation,  Sonko dispelled rumors that the role was forcefully taken away from him, owing to his inability to effectively execute his duties as a county head, after he was blocked from office by the court.

In the video, Sonko pours out his heart to the head of state, saying that cartels rooted deep within Nairobi had been interfering with his service delivery.

He further asks the president to assist him to weed out corrupt untouchables in the county, offering to give up roles such as revenue management and county planning to the national government.

Tunaomba uingilie hiyo kazi mheshimiwa rais. Vile ulifanya KRA ukapeleka wafisadi nyumbani, naomba msaada wako Nairobi mheshimiwa rais (we request that just as you did at KRA and sent corrupt officials packing, you also need to assist me in Nairobi),” Sonko said, during the launch of the Nairobi Expressway in Oct. 2019.

‘Kama ni revenue chukua huko national government, kama ni planning mheshimiwa rais ichukue pia iende huko national government (Please take up the revenue and planning functions as the national government)” he added.

In his social media post on Tuesday, just hours after State House announced the surprise move, the governor promised the Nairobi electorate service delivery, putting aside political and court slideshows aside.

”TBT video. Service delivery to the great people of Nairobi kwanza Siasa na kesi baadae (service delivery first then politics and other cases will follow),” the politician wrote.

Among the roles taken away from Sonko’s government, following Tuesday’s deal with the national government, are county health services, county transport services, county public works, utilities and ancillary services, and county planning and development.

It is still unclear what mandate the governor will execute going forward.

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Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen will tomorrow (Wednesday) in the senate challenge the transfer of Nairobi County government’s key functions to national government.

The Elgeyo Marakwet senator says the matter is such a weighty that requires deep deflection.

Murkomen will make a comprehensive statement in the Senate tomorrow and according to him, the matter will occupy most of the senators’ debating time.

“The matter of transfer of functions from Nairobi County to National Government is such a weighty matter that requires deep deflection. I will be making a comprehensive statement in the Senate tomorrow and this matter will occupy most of our debating time tomorrow. Thank You,” he tweeted.

On Tuesday evening, embattled Nairobi governor Mike Sonko surrendered his county’s key functions to President Uhuru Kenyatta.

A statement from State House noted that Sonko and Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa signed an agreement.

Sonko handed over the functions of the County to the National Government, pursuant to Article 187 of the Constitution.

According to the Constitution, 1) A function or power of government at one level may be transferred to a government at the other level by agreement between the governments if:

(a) the function or power would be more effectively performed or exercised by the receiving government; and(b) the transfer of the function or power is not prohibited by the legislation under which it is to be performed or exercised.

The signing of the agreement was also witnessed by the Speaker of the Senate,  Kenneth Lusaka and the Attorney General Paul Kihara.

The National Government therefore, will take over the following functions of the Nairobi County Government:

i) County Health services

ii) County Transport services

iii) County Public Works, Utilities and Ancillary services

iv) County Government Planning and Development

State House said that this will ensure Nairobi residents receive services efficiently.

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Functions of Nairobi County Government have been handed over to the National Government pursuant to Article 187 of the Constitution, as per a statement sent to newsrooms by State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena.

In a land mark agreement signed at State House today, Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko and Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa in concurrence with H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta, signed an agreement, handing over functions of the Nairobi County Government to the National Government, pursuant to Article 187 of the Constitution.

The signing of the agreement was also witnessed by the Speaker of the Senate, Hon. Kenneth Lusaka and the Attorney General Paul Kihara.

The National Government therefore, will take over the following functions of the Nairobi County Government:

i) County Health services
ii) County Transport services
iii) County Public Works, Utilities and Ancillary services
iv) County Government Planning and Development

This will ensure Nairobi residents receive services efficiently.

The move comes as a breakthrough in the running of county services that had ground to a halt.

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Deputy President William Ruto allied MPs are plotting to stop ODM leader Raila Odinga’s BBI reggae in Uasin Gishu County.

The Tanga Tanga lawmakers on Monday warned the former premier against holding BBI consultative forums in the county.

Led by Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi  and his Soy counterpart Caleb Kositany, the Tanga Tanga MPs claimed that they would not allow outsiders to go and spread hate in the county.

“We will not remain silent and allow hate-mongering that has been witnessed in Kitui, Kisii and Mombasa to be transferred to Eldoret. Any meeting must be organised by the leadership of the area, not outsiders,” Sudi told journalists on Monday.

On his part,  Kositany said the region’s leadership will organize its own rallies with the help of the BBI task force which is headed by Garissa Senator Yusuf Haji.

The two have accused Raila of using the BBI to spread hate among Kenyan communities.

They also claim that the forums have been used to demonize Ruto and portray him as a man who is not supporting the handshake between Raila and President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“If those are the kind of statements made at the rallies, then we can as well say goodbye to such forums in our county because we do not want to polarise the country any further,” Kositany said.

Their claims come just two days after the Narok BBI rally that was held at Ole Ntimama Stadium with its discussions being accused of siding along tribal lines.

No BBI rally had been slated for Eldoret town.

Rift Valley leaders led by Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos and Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny are planning for a rally to be held at Nakuru’s Afuraha Stadium.

The BBI train will pitch camp at Kinoru Stadium in Meru this weekend.  Ruto had indicated that he may attend the function.

But this is now uncertain after he warned Raila and his bandwagon that he may try to stop reggae if they continue inciting Kenyans.

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Deputy President William Ruto allied Member of Parliament has spelled doom for ODM Party leader Raila Odinga’s 2022 presidency.

Speaking during a panel discussion on Citizen TV’s Daybreak on Tuesday morning, Uasin Gishu Women Representative Gladys Boss Shollei said it was highly unlikely that Raila would become president in 2022.

This, according to her, is based on Raila’s knack of losing in the polls.

“Raila has made his mark in history, he is a formidable politician but there is something wrong with his strategy, I’m very sure in 2022, he will not win the election, period!” She said.

Shollei further claimed that Raila won his first election but only with the backing of the entire Rift Valley and William Ruto.

“It is my personal opinion that Raila Odinga did win the 2007 election and guess who was behind him, Dr. William Samoei Ruto and the whole of Rift Valley, that’s how he won…” She added.

She further accused Raila of short-changing Kenyans by telling them that Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) is not about leadership positions.

“Raila Odinga has said it (BBI) is not about positions, he is lying, it is about positions, we have been talking about the Prime Minister position, we are creating positions instead of addressing pertinent issues.

Her statements come just a day after Raila said that the BBI is not geared at making him the president in 2022, or President Uhuru Kenyatta the Prime Minister.

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Former Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa is a man who qualifies to be called a friend of the cells.

His recent arrest on allegations of attempting to defraud foreign investors 40 billion shillings in an arms deal is the biggest scam and dent to his political career. 

However, Echesa’s arrest could be a big blow to Kakamega senator Cleophas Malala’s candidature according to political analysts. 

The two former political enemies reconciled late last year publicly in Mumias town and Echesa promised to stand by Cleophas Malala in his 2022 gubernatorial candidature in Kakamega County and in return senator Malala offered to give Rashid Echesa extra evening tuition so as to be able to get a degree by 2022.

The hotly contested Kakamega gubernatorial race comes after the exit of governor Wycliffe Oparanya who also doubles up as the chair of council of governors serving his second term in office.

But could Echesa and Malala’s new found political friendship be a friendship of doom? 

Political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi says if Malala is to win the Kakamega gubernatorial race then he has no option other than distancing himself from Rashid Echesa whose political career has been soiled by the sh. 40 billion arms deal scandal in the office of the deputy president.

The Kakamega gubernatorial race has attracted several candidates including former Kakamega senator Boni Khalwale and Lugari MP Ayub Savula.

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A Tanga Tanga lawmaker has come out to reveal the message she was allegedly sent by people she believes to be hired hitmen.

The Kandara MP Alice Wahome reiterates that her life is still in danger following threatening calls and messages she had received and circumstances surrounding the withdrawal of her security in January.

While speaking during K24’s Punchline show hosted by Anne Kiguta, Wahome claimed that threats to her life were linked to her firm political stand and her remarks which she directed at President Uhuru Kenyatta in a presser on January 2.

“I believe my life is in danger because of the events surrounding the withdrawal of my security after the new year when I issued a press statement. I think the statement made very many people in the political sector uncomfortable possibly because of the things I said regarding our economy, adherence to the constitution, including the limitation of the term of the President and whether he can run again or extend his term,” she said.

She also stated that her press conference triggered many other individuals within her Kandara constituency and Murang’a county to issue attacks through the media, which according to her, were being organised and financed by a higher authority.

The vocal legislator went on to reveal that she became aware that she was a marked woman when she received two mysterious phone calls in December last year.

“Around December I received two phone calls. One did not go through, another one went off (but) when I took the third call, the caller said that he had been asked to kill me by some politicians from Nairobi,” Wahome said.

“He then sent me a text, but I didn’t take it seriously then until my security was withdrawn.”

Wahome, who is allied to the Tangatanga faction of Jubilee Party which supports Deputy President William Ruto’s 2022 bid for the presidency, divulged that the hitman specifically said that they had been hired to kill her.

However, when asked whether she answered back, the MP said she hadn’t but had put it as a statement in Kandara.

She also revisited a January 15 incident in which she claimed that hired goons and university students had been ferried to disrupt her event as she issued bursary cheques in the constituency.

“There was a major attempt to disrupt the bursary ceremony. Over 22 students from the University of Nairobi and MK were ferried to the scene to cause chaos but they were arrested. It was after this incident that I started seeing issues and the people who made the statement made it clear that they would not allow me to continue with my work and issue press conferences. Of course, they can’t do that!” Wahome added.

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Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has threatened to reveal one of the darkest secrets of ODM supremo, Raila Odinga, during the upcoming BBI rally in Meru.

While speaking during a church service in Embu attended by DP William Ruto, Kuria restated his assertions that President Uhuru Kenyatta had been bewitched by Raila, and would use the Meru forum to reveal to the world who the former Prime Minister really is.

Tunaenda Meru… uko Kitui mliona nilikalishwa chini na nikakatazwa kuongea. (Lakini Uko Meru) Raila akikuja nitamwambia yeye ni Mchawi na wewe ni mganga, hapo kwa macho yake tu. Loosely translated as [As we go to Meru, remember how I was humiliated in Kitui, made to sit on the ground and denied a chance to speak. But in Meru, I will tell Raila to his face who he really is, a witchdoctor and a warlock!]” Kuria dared.

“I will urge all the bishops in Meru to pray for him (to stop using black magic).”

Kuria also claimed that the BBI rallies around the country were just a formality since the main BBI report had already been drafted.

“I have begged them (the BBI committee) to allow me to share my opinions just as Kalonzo and Mudavadi did, but they refused. Anyone in Jubilee and does not agree with the ‘dynasties’ agenda is being denied a chance to go before the Haji committee,” the vocal MP revealed.

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Court of Appeal Judge Sankale ole Kantai has been arrested in connection with Dutch business tycoon Tob Cohen’s murder.

The judge was arrested on Friday February 21, 2020 and is currently at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations offices in Kiambu county.

Cohen went missing in July and the police found his body in an empty water tank in his home compound on September 13. It was a brutal murder.

The widow of Cohen, Sarah wairimu had been detained in connection with the murder but was later released on bail.

Sex, violence and property were at the heart the divorce between Cohen and his wife Sarah Wairimu.

More details to follow…..

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