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Manyasi Peris

an enthusiastic journalist seeking to tell the truth

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Uhuru Breaks Silence on Marakwet Landslides After Murkomen’s Uproar

by Manyasi Peris
written by Manyasi Peris

President Uhuru Kenyatta has mourned the 29 Kenyans who lost their lives in Elgeyo Marakwet and West Pokot due to the mudslides.

Speaking on Saturday April 25 from State House, Nairobi, the President said that his administration continues to make every effort to support the affected families and communities across the country.

“I mourn the 29 Kenyans we have lost in Elgeyo Marakwet and West Pokot. My Administration continues to make every effort to support affected families and communities across the country,” President Kenyatta said.

The head of state further urged those living in dangerous areas such as escarpments to relocate to safer areas.

His statement comes a day after Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen accused the government of neglecting the victims.

Murkomen through his twiiter handle on Friday said that 23 bodies were still missing in Marakwet landslide tragedy, forcing locals to launch search for their loved ones on their own.

Murkomen accused Rift Valley regional commissioner George Natembeya of moving to the scene, taking pictures and leaving without doing anything.

“23 bodies are still missing in Marakwet landslide tragedy. These people are searching for their loved ones. RC Natembeya and the Military went their took pictures and left. meanwhile thousands of them are without shelter.What the hell is going on in this country?” Murkomen posted.

Hundreds of the survivors have sought refuge in churches and schools while others are being accommodated by their relatives.

At Kipchumwa location where the landslide started, more than 300 residents are huddled at AIC Wewo Church with no food and sanitation facilities. 

The government has sent some help but much of it is being directed to Chesegon and Sambalat areas, which were hard hit by the mudslides. Seventeen other people are still missing.

Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya said the government was doing its best to provide food to the displaced and asked those still living on the escarpment to relocate before another disaster strikes.

He said a command centre had been set up at Sambalat Primary School and Cheptulel Secondary School in the respective counties to coordinate recovery efforts and relief missions.

West Pokot was one of the areas badly affected by heavy rains in November and December last year when more than 40 people died after massive landslides. 

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Latest NewsPolitics

Government Finally Clears The Air on Possible Lock down

by Manyasi Peris
written by Manyasi Peris

The Government has finally cleared the air on possible lock down of the country as a measure to contain coronavirus pandemic.

Kenyans have been speculating that the country is planning for a lock down, with some Kenyans speculating that the possible lock down could start this week.

However, while appearing in a video interview at K24 TV in a show dubbed punchline on Sunday night, government spokesperson Cyrus Oguna said Kenya has not yet reached to point of locking down.

Oguna said that the country is not yet ready to declare a lockdown since the cases have only been reported in seven counties, with most of them concentrated in one county.

“The first factor would be the eruption of infections sustained in many counties and the health systems are overwhelmed. Right now we are talking about 7 counties,’ he said.

Oguna was clear that locking down the nation is not a one man decision, citing that all government agencies have to put their heads together before coming up with such a decision.

Instead, he said that they were urging people to obey the directives issued by the government to ensure that the number of confirmed cases remain the way they are.

“We don’t have to lockdown everything. It is not a one man decision, it is a decision to be made by a committee. All these agencies need to put their heads together. There are several options but we are urging people to obey the directives issued to ensure numbers remain where they are,” Oguna said.

Oguna said the coronavirus situation is not dire enough to be categorised as a national disaster.

Further, Oguna said that even if a lockdown is ordered, it may not be a total lockdown of all the 47 counties.

So far, Kenya has had a total of 142 confirmed coronavirus cases, with four recoveries and four deaths.

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Politics

Waiguru Breaks Silence on Her Impeachment

by Manyasi Peris
written by Manyasi Peris

Kirinyaga County Governor Anne Waiguru has finally broken silence on her planned impeachment by a section of Kirinyaga MCAs.

The County Chief who spoke on Tuesday at her offices in Kutus said impeachment plans against her won’t succeed.

She said the MCAs’ priorities currently are misplaced, given the country is undergoing the COVID-19 crisis that requires the ward reps’ input more than where they have placed their energies on.

On Monday, a formal impeachment suggestion against Waiguru prepared by Mutira MCA, Kinyua Wangui, was received by County Assembly Speaker, Anthony Waweru Gathumbi. The removal plan will be formally filed on Wednesday, April 1.

However, Waiguru has noted that MCAs are fighting her over non-issues, instead of joining hands with her to serve Kirinyaga constituents.

The county boss said one of the biggest problems now facing Kirinyaga residents is the COVID-19 outbreak, which should be addressed urgently.

Waiguru is said to enjoy support from six MCAs, with 27 reported to be against her leadership.

The anti-governor MCAs say they will, on Wednesday, April 1, introduce a motion of no confidence against Waiguru.

They are accusing her of misappropriating public funds, flouting procurement procedures and undermining the County Assembly powers, among other issues.

Waiguru is also accused of solely making decisions likely to impact on the county government’s finances without involving the MCAs, contrary to Section 30 of the County Government Act 2012.

Waiguru is also accused of irregularly awarding County Government tenders to companies and persons she has a cordial relationship with.

One of the tenders that has resulted in the governor facing wrath from the MCAs is that of the upgrading of Kagumo Market. The tender was prepared on December 20, 2018.

The other tender that the MCAs claim was unprocedurally awarded was that of the acquisition of a Ksh15 million governor’s official car.

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Crime & Investigations

Kenyans targeted in Xenophobic attacks in South Africa

by Manyasi Peris
written by Manyasi Peris

Kenyan high commissioner to South Africa Jean Kamau on wednesday confirmed that several Kenyans are among those attacked in Gauteng Province.

He has advised Kenyans in South Africa to report to the police when threatened with cases of arson, looting and physical attacks.

The ongoing attack has brewed different reactions on social media with some south Africans justifying these acts of injustice on foreigners.

More than 50 shops owned by foreigners have been destroyed and hundreds of people hospitalised. The attacks on foreign-owned businesses and properties have been roundly condemned on Twitter with many demanding that the South African government takes action and stops the violence .

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Lifestyle

Teenager turns blind after feeding on chips and crisps

by Manyasi Peris
written by Manyasi Peris

A 17 year old boy in Bristol, United kingdom has lost his sight after living on a diet of chips and crisps.

This poor eating habit started right after he left primary school as he was avoiding certain textures of food which he could not tolerate, therefore depended on eating french fries, pringles, white bread and occasionally sausages and ham.

He saw his GP at age 14 and was put on supplements but did not stick to them after being diagnosed with deficiency in vitamin B12. Three years later he was taken to Bristol Eye Center because of progressive sight loss.

According to BBC News, Dr Denize Atan who treated him at the hospital rechecked the young man’s vitamin levels and found he was low in B12 as well as some other important vitamins and minerals – copper, selenium and vitamin D.

He was not over or underweight, but was severely malnourished.

“He had lost minerals from his bone, which was really quite shocking for a boy of his age.”

In terms of his sight loss, he met the criteria for being registered blind.

“He had blind spots right in the middle of his vision,” said Dr Atan. “That means he can’t drive and would find it really difficult to read, watch TV or discern faces.

“He can walk around on his own though because he has got peripheral vision.”

Dr. Atan also added that vegans are also at increased risk of B12 deficiency-related sight problems if they do not replace what they can lack when excluding meat from their diet.

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Politics

60,000 families to be affected by the Mau forest evictions

by Manyasi Peris
written by Manyasi Peris

The second phase of the mau forest eviction is on the go as the Kenya Forest Service rangers move into the forest in preparation for yet another round of evictions.

The settlers have been given 60 days notice to pave way for the restoration of the mau by October 31st. This is the first step to the realization of Cabinet Secretary Keraiko Tobiko’s announcement to refurbish the land.

100 KFS officers have been dispatched to three camps in the forest to carry out the second phase of the evictions. the first phase of eviction took place 14 years ago in Narok south where 15 schools were demolished and thousands of families evicted.

The move is however being opposed by some Rift Valley leaders and thirty five lawyers. Nairobi based advocates Moses Kurgat, Hillary Sigei and South Rift Law Society of Kenya chairman Kipngetich Korir have moved to court to secure orders against the eviction until the case is heard and undaunted.

In the new case the 11 respondents issued with the order include the Cabinet secretaries for Environment, Interior, Education, the TSC, the Narok County government, Kenya Forest Service, Inspector General of Police, Director Department of Civil Registration and the Regional Commisioner, Rift Valley. Environment and Lands court judge Silas Munyao has directed that the case be heard on wednsday in Kitale.

if the evictions are sanctioned more than 10,000 school children will be affected, including 1000 candidates that are set to sit their national at the end of the year.

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