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David Maraga & Uhuru

Chief Justice David Maraga has  written to President Uhuru Kenyatta advising him to dissolve Parliament.

This, Maraga states that is due to failure of the parliament to enact the two-thirds gender rule.

In an advisory dated September 21, Maraga said he was responding following six petitions seeking his advice on the matter.

“The petitions are based on the ground that despite four court orders compelling Parliament to enact the legislation… Parliament has blatantly failed, refused or neglected to do so….” Maraga said.

The CJ said it was his constitutional duty to advise Uhuru.

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A 26-year-old woman in Nakuru County has died after being gang-raped by a group of unknown people.

According to reports, the brutal gang of young people inserted a glass bottle and sticks in the woman’s private parts after raping her. 

Further, they also slashed her with a machete during the Saturday, September 19, incident.

Senior Assistant Chief Emitik Sub-Location, Richard Langat, said that the woman was picked immediately by Good Samaritans and taken to Olenguruone Sub-County Hospital for treatment.

He said that the woman succumbed to the injuries on Sunday, September 20, while undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Kuresoi South OCPD Henry Nyaranga said that two suspects have already been arrested as detectives continue to comb the area for their accomplices.

“I have dispatched DCI (Directorate of Criminal Investigations) officers to undertake thorough investigations and appropriate action taken,” he said.

Nyaranga said that the incident is unfortunate and those liable will face the wrath of the law.

Langat, on the other hand, said that the youths could be under the influence of drugs and vowed to work closely with the security officers to root out the menace.

The woman’s body has been moved to the hospital’s morgue.

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Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) communication director Philip Etale has revealed the unknown details the Orange party leader Raila Odinga told Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno when they met at nominated MP Wilson Sossion’s home in Bomet County.

Taking to his official twitter account on Sunday September 20, 2020, Etale claimed that Raila had reminded the controversial lawmaker how he had catered for his University education’s fees.

Etale further claimed that the former Prime Minister described Ng’eno as his son.

According to Etale, Raila said, the only thing he had not asked MP Ng’eno to do and which he regrets was to have good manners and have respect for other people.

“Baba reminded Emurua Dikirr MP Hon. Johanna Ng’eno how he paid his University fees and described him as his son. He said, the only thing he had not asked him to do and which he regrets was to have good manners and have respect for other people,” he tweeted.

Ng’eno hit headlines early this month after making scathing remarks against President Uhuru Kenyatta on his relationship with his deputy William Ruto.

Ng’eno, while addressing a gathering in his constituency, asked President Kenyatta to dissolve government if he couldn’t work harmoniously with his deputy.

He further sensationally accused Rift Valley Regional Coordinator George Natembeya of fueling ethnic clashes in the region.

He then got arrested at Mogondo in his constituency where he had gone to inspect a local technical institute.

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Deputy President William Ruto’s Tanga tanga movement cannot be registered as a political party, acting registrar of political parties Anne Nderitu has said.

According to Nderitu, Section 8 of the Political Parties Act doesn’t allow such movements to be enlisted as a political party.

Nderitu on Friday told MPs at the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee during her vetting for the job that a party’s name should have a democratic meaning.

The law states that the registrar may refuse an application for the registration of a political party over unacceptable names or abbreviations.

This will be so if the name is obscene or offensive; already used by another political party or has symbol that is used by an already existing entity.

“Tangatanga, from the face value of the name, sounded offensive. We found it to be in violation of the Act. At the heat of the moment someone can identify, but consider 10 years from today when the word is not in the politics people get lost,” Nderitu said.

She said the ideal situation is where people register parties with unique identities “which can speak for generations.”

A few months ago, DP Ruto’s camp was dealt another blow after a businessman tried to register  Jubilee Asili as a party, just days after the camp launched a Jubilee Asili center, an alternative venue for their meetings.

Jubilee Asili, which is associated with DP Ruto was rejected for not meeting the legal requirement of not resembling another registered political party.

In response to James Simiyu, who had applied to reserve and subsequently register the name as a political party, Ms Nderitu said the suggested name was not in compliance with section 8 of the Political Parties Act, 2011.

“The name does not meet legal requirement, so any application on the same name cannot be admitted,” Nderitu said.

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Weeks after Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga estimated the cost of carrying out a referendum at Ksh2 billion, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has come out to dismiss the figure, saying that the cost is imposiible.

Raila during the recent swearing-in of ODM’s National Election Board and Disciplinary Committee members said the Building Bridges Initiative referendum should not cost more than Sh2 billion.

Raila went further to insist that the referendum must be done before the 2022 general elections since the country has all the resources required for the exercise to successfully take place.

However, IEBC Commissioner Boya Molu on Friday said it will cost not less than Sh10 billion to carry out the exercise in the country.

Molu who spoke during commemoration of the international day of democracy hosted by Centre of Multiparty Democracy Kenya said going by the last presidential repeat elections, a referendum will not cost less than Sh10 billion.

According to Molu, the commission needs to hire not less than 50,000 vehicles on election day, and it is impossible for them to get a vehicle for less than Sh10,000.

He said the commission will also need to hire 350,000 poll officials on election day.

The officials include Presiding Officers and their deputies, clerk’s, at least two police officers for every polling station.

“I may not be able to give you exact figure but going by the last presidential repeat elections, a referendum will not cost less than Sh10 billion.On election day you hire not less than 50,000 vehicles and you cannot get a vehicle for less than Sh10,000. We also have to hire 350,000 poll officials on election day,” Molu was quoted by a local daily to have said.

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Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and economist David Ndii have this morning engaged in a twitter spat over a petition that was filed in court to challenge the constitutional changes that are set to happen through the famous Building Bridges initiative.

Economist David Ndii and activists Jerotich Seii, Jane Ngondi, Wanjiru Gikonyo and Ikal Angelei are seeking ‘to stop reggae completely’ with their eyes on sections of law which are at the heart of the BBI drive.

The petitioners, through lawyer Nelson Havi, want the court to declare that five chapters of the 2010 Constitution – Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Four, Chapter Nine and Chapter Ten – cannot be altered or changed through amendments, either by Parliament or popular initiative. They argue these chapters form the foundation of the country and should not therefore be altered.

However, Sifuna while responding to the petition argued that it should be thrown out as it is a “poorly” drafted “academic thesis disguised as pleadings.”

Sifuna further argued that instead of the three Judge bench they want, Chief Justice David Maraga should save time and money and dismiss the petition.

“Some “activists” filed an academic thesis disguised as pleadings. You will not see more poorly drafted, nebulous, theoretical musings than that so called petition. Instead of the 3 Judge bench they want, the CJ shd save time and money and dismiss the thing in limine,” Sifuna posted.

In his response, Ndii said a law degree should be a second degree, adding that the lawyer does not “know now his Dworkin from his Hart.”

Ronald Dworkin argues that moral principles that people hold dear are often wrong, even to the extent that certain crimes are acceptable if one’s principles are skewed enough.

Sifuna again, came to fire back urging the economist to instead share the court papers on his blog.

Terming the filed petition as a conference presentation, Sifuna told Ndii that it will be thrown out faster than he could say second degree.

“My brother… Court papers are not economic theory. That conference presentation you filed will be thrown out faster than you can say 2nd degree. You should just have posted it on that blog of yours along with your other musings on dynasties,” he posted.

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Makueni governor Kivutha Kibwana has responded to senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior’s threat against him over governor Wycliffe Oparanya’s order to shut down counties over lack of funds.

Mutula Junior on Wednesday September 16, 2020 while responding to Council of Governors chairman’s memo to all governor to shut down some of the county services, threatened to impeach governor Kibwana should he follow Oparanya’s directive.

“I want to tell my governor Kivutha Kibwana, if you close level 4 hospitals in Makueni, we will impeach you. It is an impeachable offence for any governor to take instructions from another governor and shutdown hospitals,” Kilonzo stated.

One after the other, the senators stood and expressed their displeasure with the COG, terming Oparanya as incompetent.

Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula indicated that it was a clear abuse of power saying that the council of governors was not the employer of any county governors.

Responding to the senators, however, Kibwana indicated that the senators were solely to blame for the stalemate.

“For three months @Senate_KE has denied Counties funds for development and salaries. Can @SenMutula run a county as Governor without funds for three months? My 2014 impeachment by Mutula and others is still in Senate. The Senator’s askari who shot at me was jailed.

“How can Senate miserably fail Kenyans and then blame the presidency and @KenyaGovernors? Several county employees have come to me after their rental premises were padlocked. Senators continue to draw their salaries and sitting allowances. How are they defending devolution?

Governor Kibwana went ahead to dare the Makueni senator to bring on the impeachment motion against him, saying that it will not be the first time he will be doing so.

He argued that he had came across such threats before, and even got a threat that he would be expelled from the Kalonzo Musyoka led Wiper Movement party.

“If Mutula Kilonzo Junior wants to impeach me a second time, he is welcome. I had heard of the impeachment threat and expulsion from @WiperMovement before today,” he posted.

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Makueni senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior on Wednesday September 16, 2020 launched a scathing attack against the Council of Governors (CoG) chairman Wycliffe Oparanya.

His attack came shortly after the Kakamega governor issued a memo directing all governors to provide notice on the suspension of some counties’ services due to lack of resources, with effect from tomorrow (Thursday September 17).

Counties were advised to issue necessary notices that the county health facilities will not permit any new inpatient admissions.

They will only provide minimal outpatient services and that all non-essential services suspended and county employees are advised to proceed on leave for two weeks.

In response, senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior claimed that if Governors accede to the memo by Governor Oparanya, they will have violated the Constitution.

While terming Governor Oparanya as clearly incompetent, the lawmaker argued that the Supreme Court issued an unequivocal order on release of funds pending determination of any issue concerning division of Revenue.

“If Governors accede to the memo by Governor Oparanya, they will have violated the Constitution. The Supreme Court issue an unequivocal order on release of funds pending determination of any issue concerning division of Revenue. The chair is clearly incompetent,” he tweeted.

However, Senator Mutula’s statement landed him in big trouble with Kenyans on Twitter, with his attack against Oparanya backfiring badly.

Instead, the netizens turned against him, claiming that he was the most incompetent.

They argued that the senate had failed the devolved units by failing to pass the revenue allocation formula for a record 10 times.

Here are some of the reactions.

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Embattled Kapsaret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi will remain in police custody for seven more days.

Sudi on Wednesday September 16, 2020 appeared before Nakuru chief magistrate Josephat Kalo after spending another two days in police cells.

The lawmaker this morning appeared for a ruling on his bail that he had sought.

However, he is not yet a free man as police sought to detain him for seven more days to complete investigations.

The prosecution, led by Daniel Karuri, had sought more time to complete investigations into the crimes allegedly committed by the legislator.

Karuri objected to his release on bond, saying he was being investigated for hate speech, assault of a police officer, offensive conduct, unlawful possession of firearm and bullets and resisting arrest.

The MP was on Sunday airlifted to Nakuru minutes after he surrendered at Langas Police Station in Uasin Gishu County.

Sudi was arrested for hate speech, which is under investigation by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission.

This is after he made remarks deemed abusive towards President Uhuru Kenyatta and his family.

His arrest came after a drama involving the police and his constituents who tried to bar the officers from gaining access to his home to arrest him.

He was aided by police to escape as a team of officers arrived at his home.

During the siege, one of the MP’s supporter was shot and injured while a police officer was attacked by a machete.

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Renown activist David Ndii has moved to court seeking to stop the constitutional amendments through the famous Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).

Ndii together with four others who have filed the case want the matter certified as urgent.

The other activists who have filed the case against BBI are Jerotich Seii, Ikal Angelei, Ciru Gikonyo and James Gondi.

They also want the matter to be immediately sent to Chief Justice David Maraga for the constitution of a three-judge bench to hear it.

They have sued the chief government advisor, the Speaker of National Assembly Justin Muturi, Speaker of Senate Ken Lusaka and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

Deputy President William Ruto’s allies had been earlier reported to be at an advanced stage of filing a petition to stop the BBI process, which is expected to culminate in a referendum before 2022 general elections.

A local daily had on Wednesday September 16 reported that Ruto fears if he is defeated in a referendum too close to the election, then the result will give momentum to his rivals who will ride on the plebiscite to win the 2022 polls.

This will not be the first time an attempt will be made to disband the BBI.

A similar petition was lodged unsuccessfully with the High Court by former presidential candidate Akuru Aukot of the Thirdway Alliance.

Aukot had argued the initiative was unconstitutional and a waste of taxpayers’ money.

High Court judge John Mativo ruled, however, that President Kenyatta exercised executive powers that cannot be questioned by the court.

Ruto has publicly indicated he might rally his troops to oppose any amendments to the Constitution.

The second in command has on several occasions, during public rallies argued that a few individuals are planning to create political seats for themselves through BBI and referendum, a move he said he was not going to allow.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga have however, maintained that BBI is about unity and making Kenya better again.

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Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga’s son Raila Odinga Junior was on Wednesday September 16, 2020 forced to apologise over a controversial tweet in which he had hit at some of the Orange party leaders.

His apology that was followed with a clarification of his tweet came just hours after ODM chairman John Mbadi appeared in a heated interview on Citizen TV on Tuesday night.

Raila Junior, the former Prime Minister’s third born child had launched a scathing attack on his father’s party and its officials, accusing them of losing focus.

He also blasted party director of elections Junet Mohamed’s stand on the arrest of Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi.

“We as ODM need to find our way back to basics. We are not just about private jets and slay queens whilst abusing rival politicians,” reads part of the tweet.

ODM, he said, has a development agenda clearly outlined in its manifesto. He also urged leaders to focus on service delivery, democratic space and protecting private citizen rights.

While hitting back at Raila Junior, Mbadi in an interview with Waihiga Mwaura claimed that Raila Junior is not an ODM member nor does he hold any position in the party.

On Wednesday morning, Kenyans were surprised to wake up to Raila Junior’s tweet apologising.

He said that as an ordinary member of the Orange party, his views are his won and not that of the party. He went ahead to note that his views were not targeting any leaders and apologised for any misunderstanding he might have caused.

“CLARIFICATION as an ordinary ODM member my views are my own and not that of PARTY, 2. I’m grateful to ODM for allowing democratic space in which different views and opinions are expressed, 3 My views were not targeting any leaders & I apologize for any misunderstanding caused,” he tweeted.

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Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen has exposed an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) senator from the Coastal Counties who has allegedly been offered Kakamega senator Cleophas Malala’s position in the senate so that he can vote against his county.

The former Senate Majority leader’s accusations came shortly after former State House employee Dennis Itumbi saying that a source had intimated to him about the Orange party’s plans.

Itumbi had asked Makueni senator Mutula Kilonzo junior, his Narok counterpart Ledama Olekina and Murkomen to confirm the claims.

Responding to the question, Murkomen claimed that it was Taita Taveta senator Johnes Mwaruma who had been offered senator Malala’s position in the senate so that he can vote against his county.

Senator Malala is the current senate Deputy Minority leader, a position ODM is allegedly planning to take away and give it to senator Mwaruma.

Murkomen asked the Taita Taveta lawmaker not to his beloved County for 30 pieces of silver.

The Senate leadership met President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday morning ahead of the crucial debate on the revenue sharing formula, with Malala missing the meeting.

Majority leader Samuel Poghisio, his deputy Fatuma Dullo, Majority Whip Irungu Kangata and his deputy Farhiya Haji, Minority leader James Orengo, Minority Whip Mutula Kilonzo Jnr and his deputy Beatrice Kwamboka were all in attendance at State House.

ODM leader Raila Odinga also attended the meeting.

Speaker Ken Lusaka did not attend the meeting as he was reportedly chairing a session of the powerful House Business Committee to chart ways on how to deal with the debate this afternoon.

The Senate will be trying for the 10th time to reach a consensus on the contentious county revenue sharing formula.

President Kenyatta during the State House meeting, pledged to raise next year’s counties budget by Sh50 billion, the latest of inducements seeking to unlock the stalemate on the revenue sharing formula.

The allocation of the additional funds will, however, be dependent on the financial performance of the economy.

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Nyeri Town Member of Parliament Ngunjiri Wambugu has finally reached out to  Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti over politicians that have been using certain phrases in rallies.

In a letter shared on his Facebook page on Tuesday September 15, 2020, the lawmaker has argued that phrases like “Watu fulani” and “Watu wengine” may sound harmless but could be coded by politicians to fan violence against a section of Kenyans.

Wambugu has pointed out Kapseret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi, his Emurua Dikirr counterpart Johana Ng’eno and the Deputy President William Ruto as the leaders who commonly use the phrases, which he termed as ambiguous.

He has likened the phrases to  “kwekwe” and “madoadoa” which were allegedly used to spread hate messages and incite ethnic violence by politicians during the 2007 General Election.

“Please note that the phrases “Watu fulani” and “watu wengine”are politically ambiguous. In current p[ublic political conversations these phrases are being assumed to refer to particular Kenyan political families. Others assume that these refer to particular Kenyan economic sector. However, some…fear that these phrases could as easily refer to a certain ethnic community,” reads part of his letter.

He said the phrases must be viewed  as dangerous as the “madoadoda” and “kwekwe” encountered in Kenya’s violent history.

Wambugu has therefore urged DCI Kinoti to investigate whether the phrases are meant to incite some sections of Kenyan society against others.

He demanded that appropriate charges be preferred against anyone who has used these phrases in political rallies, should they be found to have meant to incite Kenyans.

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Alice Wahome

Deputy President William Ruto’s close ally and Kandara MP Alice Wahome has sued the state over the inclusion of Nairobi Metropolitan Boss (NMS) Mohammed Badi to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s cabinet, allowing him to attend cabinet meetings.

In her petition, the lawmaker says the invitation extended to Badi is unconstitutional.

Wahome now wants the court to bar Badi from attending any other cabinet meeting.

On Thursday, September 10, 2020, Badi took the Oath of Secrecy to henceforth attend all Cabinet meetings.

This was in pursuant to Executive Order number 3 of 2020 issued by the State House with a ceremony conducted by the Head of the Public Service at State House.

He was tasked with the responsibility of transforming the city and given 100 days to deal with corruption and dismantle cartels that have held the city at ransom for years.

The ceremony conducted by the Head of the Public Service was a precursor to the Cabinet Meeting held at State House, Nairobi on Thursday.

NMS was formulated onMarch 18, 2020, by the President nearly a month after Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko handed over four key functions to the National Government.

Badi handles county health services, transport, public works, utilities and ancillary services and county government planning and development which were transferred to his docket from the Nairobi County government.

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Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen has exposed details of deal three senators entered with government that has now put their lives in danger.

Taking to his official twitter account on Monday night, the former senate majority leader claimed that Kakamega senator Cleophas Malala’s life is in danger because he owes the state.

Murkomen claimed that President Uhuru Kenyatta-led government in collaboration with Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga had paid the three senators to vote in favor of the government’s proposed revenue sharing formula.

However, according to Murkomen, the three lawmakers, that is senator Malala, his Samburu counterpart Steve Ltumbesi Lelegwe and Bomet’s Christopher Andrew Lang’at ate received the money in their accounts.

Murkomen went ahead to claim that the three lawmakers ate the money and failed to vote in favor of President Kenyatta’s formula, which led to their arrest.

He argued that the lawmakers owe the state and that is why their lives are in danger.

Murkomen however, wants the government to stop bribing senators, and let them exercise their constitutional mandate.

“According to Mtu Fulani and @RailaOdinga Govt paid Senators to vote for their formulae. Apparently Malala,Lang’at and Lelegwe ate the money but didn’t vote with govt side.We are told Malala’s life is in danger because he owes the State.Why in the first place is govt bribing Senators?” Murkomen tweeted.

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Deputy President William Ruto is planning to tour Kisumu and Migori counties just days after his Kisii tour.

The second in command has been traversing regions perceived to be ODM leader Raila Odinga’s strongholds, with an intention of popularising himself ahead of 2022 succession politics.

The Kisumu tour is tentatively scheduled for next week and preparations for the rally began in earnest Monday. Ruto on Monday received a delegation of select people from Siaya, Kibra and Kisumu at his Karen home in Nairobi.

The delegation was led by Eliud Owalo who announced his decision to join the Ruto 2022 presidential camp. Owallo ditched Musalia Mudavadi’s ANC last month.

Raila has enjoyed near fanatical support in Nyanza over the years and it will remain to be seen if Ruto can make any significant forays into the region.

While in Kisumu, Ruto plans to grace church functions and to dish out goodies to the youth and women.

In Migori, he plans to visit areas where he has enjoyed some support and also show support for embattled Governor Okoth Obado who is facing various charges ranging from murder to corruption.

ODM has asked its 42 MCAs to impeach Obado after he was charged with graft and barred from office.

Both Ruto and Raila are seen as the front-runners in the race to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.

In what is shaping up to be a game of numbers, the DP has focused his attention strategically at four regions that have traditionally voted for Raila.

Coast, Nyanza, Nairobi, and Western are on Ruto’s radar while on the other hand he is attempting to make inroads in Mt Kenya.

The DP was last in Luo Nyanza in December 2018 when he shared a podium with the former Prime Minister in Kisumu county in a function that was officiated by Uhuru . Will he manage to win the hearts of the Luo Nyanza voters with his hustler nation narrative?

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