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Nzoia Sugar Company farmers have condemned the management of the Company on what they have termed as misuse of funds in relation to 228 bags of sugar which went missing under unclear circumstances.

The Company which was one of the leading sugar producing industries in Africa and even awarded as the best company in the year 2015 has since been facing various hurdles in its operation.

Sources have revealed that the 228 bags of sugar were lost to fraudsters yet farmers have not been paid for the past one year.

Addressing the press on Wednesday May, 27, 2020, Juma Lubakaya, a farmer condemned the Company’s Management for insufficient service delivery to the people and so prompting the job to protest for the next seven days.

‘’This is very bad,as farmers we are very annoyed with such management and if they are not going to pay farmers their money, we will have peaceful protest,’’ he ranted.

He however, added that since the new Managing Director Michael Wanjala was given mandate to run the Company it has experienced much political pressure which has lowered the performance of the Company as well as corruption.

‘’This management and the board has been misusing farmers money through many travels, seminars and workshops around the country as well as abroad, this eventually left it insolvent,’’ he said.

Wanjala, the Managing Director said that the matter is already in the public domain urging the DCI and the police to investigate the matter and establish the truth.

The Managing Director added that the Company has many employees and when something goes wrong the Company needs to investigate the matter before clear information is given to the public.

“Let it be known please that I don’t work with angels and as human beings we mess,”he said.

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Tharaka Nithi senator Kithure Kindiki has declined a job offer from the ruling Jubilee party.

Days after being removed from his position as the senate deputy speaker, Kindiki, alongside other senators who had been removed from various committee chairmanships were proposed to other various committees.

Kindiki and former Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo-Marakwet) were on Tuesday May 26 named to seat in the Justice and Legal Affair Committee and the Devolution Committee respectively in changes set to be filed.

However, Kindiki in a press statement dated May 27 said that he had only learnt about the offer through the press. He said that he had declined the offer, to focus on serving the people of Kenya as the senator for Tharaka Nithi.

“I have learnt through the press that the Jubilee party has recommended me to serve in another capacity in the senate. I respectfully decline the offer. Henceforth, I want to focus on serving the people of Kenya as the senator for Tharaka Nithi County,” reads the statement.

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Murkomen who was also proposed to be a member of the Devolution Committee in the new changes that were announced by the ruling party declined the offer.

Murkomen through a tweet said he only learnt from the media that he had been proposed to serve in the Senate Devolution Committee in effect replacing Senator Kinyua who is being punished for standing with him.

According to the former Senate Majority leader, accepting the position will be tantamount to repaying unstinting loyalty with spite and treachery.

“This afternoon I learnt from the media that I have been proposed to serve in the Senate Devolution Committee in effect replacing Sen.Kinyua who is being punished for standing with me. Accepting the position will be tantamount to repaying unstinting loyalty with spite&treachery,” tweeted Murkomen.

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has also rejected an appointment to the Senate Powers and Privileges Committee.

This comes after he was moved from the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) in a reshuffle announced on Tuesday.

In a letter dated Wednesday May 27, Cherargei stated: “I hereby write to notify you that I have declined the appointment to be a member of the powers and privileges committee in the senate of the Republic of Kenya.”

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Three Mt Kenya region MPs have dumped Deputy President Dr William Ruto’s camp, and declared their support for President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The three Kirinyaga lawmakers have said that they have ditched DP Ruto’s Tanga Tanga camp, and vowed to be loyal to Jubilee party, and its party leader.

The Mwea MP Kabinga Wachira, Gichugu MP Robert Gichimu and Kirinyaga Central’s John Wambugu were welcomed by Interior PS Karanja Kibicho who addressed a number of public gatherings as he inspected development projects.

The MPs have been supportive of Ruto’s 2022 political campaigns.

They have however, disowned the Tanga Tanga movement and said their loyalty was strictly to President Kenyatta and the Jubilee Party.

A number of MCAs who have been supportive of the DP’s forays in Mt Kenya also disowned him.

Ruto is now left with Kirinyaga Woman Rep Purity Ngirici who is the only elected politicians who has stood with the DP.

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Deputy President William Ruto has mourned Kikuyu Benga musician Walter Githinji, popularly known as Jimmy Wayuni, who passed away from a grisly road accident that happened on Tuesday night.

The second in command has described the late musician as a diligent, prolific, creative and talented musician with a melodious voice that made his songs such as Airítu a Ruiru, Mama Sululu, Wayuni Útúire Uhenagia, among others, outstanding.

Popular benga musician dies in grisly road accident along Thika ...
The late Jimmy Wayuni. PHOTO/COURTESY

“Walter Githinji “Jimmy Wayuni” was a diligent, prolific, creative and talented musician with a melodious voice that made his songs such as Airítu a Ruiru, Mama Sululu, Wayuni Útúire Uhenagia, among others, outstanding,” reads part of his post.

The DP further notes that through his numbers, Jimmy Wayuni advocated for social justice, condemned bad governance, glorified good leadership and worked towards bringing people together.

“Through his numbers, Jimmy Wayuni advocated for social justice, condemned bad governance, glorified good leadership and worked towards bringing people together. We will miss his humility, resilience and focus,” Ruto tweeted.

The celebrated musician died after his car rammed into a lorry at Kahawa Sukari near Githurai 45, as he headed to Nairobi from Ruiru, Kiambu County.

Wayuni, a retired Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) deputy commissioner was going to drop off a fellow musician when the fatal crash occurred.

His friend, Jacksam Kibandi, survived the crash and is in hospital.

Besides music, the retired taxman also had an interest in filmmaking, having acted in several home-grown movies.

He is not however, the first Kikuyu Benga musician to perish in a car crash. Last August, another Kikuyu Benga musician John Demathew also perished in a crash involving his car and a lorry near Thika town.

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Kenya has recorded 123 new Covid-19 positive cases, raising total number of confirmed cases in the country to 1471

This is after a total of 3,077 samples were tested in the last 24 hours. 85 of the new cases are in Nairobi and 24 from Mombasa.

In Nairobi, 33 Mathare residents were recorded as positive.

Three more people have died of Covid-19, raising the number to 55.

Speaking on Wednesday May 27, 2020 during the daily COVID-19 updates, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said that infection rate is now higher in informal settlements like Mathare (33) and Kibera (14).

He also warned Kenyans to be vigilant, citing that no one is currently safe since the cases are now coming from the community.

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Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen has declined a new offer that had been granted to him by Jubilee party.

Murkomen was on Tuesday May 26, 2020 proposed to be a member of the Devolution Committee in the new changes that were announced by the ruling party..

The changes according to the newly installed senate Majority whip Irungu Kang’ata have been communicated to the Senate speaker Ken Lusaka for immediate implementation.

Murkomen was to replace John Kinyua.

In the changes, Senator Christopher Lang’at (Bomet)has been replaced at the House Business Committee by Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja.

Lang’at also lost his post as Education Committee chairman to Senator Alice Milgo.

However, Murkomen has declined to take the offer. Murkomen says he only learnt from the media that he had been proposed to serve in the Senate Devolution Committee in effect replacing Senator Kinyua who is being punished for standing with him.

According to the former Senate Majority leader, accepting the position will be tantamount to repaying unstinting loyalty with spite and treachery.

“This afternoon I learnt from the media that I have been proposed to serve in the Senate Devolution Committee in effect replacing Sen.Kinyua who is being punished for standing with me. Accepting the position will be tantamount to repaying unstinting loyalty with spite&treachery,” tweeted Murkomen.

Murkomen further noted that as a Majority Leader, he chose not to serve in any committee and that he ensured that committee membership and leadership was distributed fairly among his colleagues.

He has condemned the unwarranted humiliation of Senators Linturi,Kinyua,Langat and Cherargei merely because they stood by the truth and fairness.

“As a Majority Leader I chose not to serve in any committee&I ensured that committee membership&leadership was distributed fairly among my colleagues.I condemn the unwarranted humiliation of Senators Linturi,Kinyua,Langat&Cherargei merely because they stood by the truth&fairness,” he posted.

He further notes that he is ready to serve the nation in any capacity and in any committee even as a mere member, now and in future.

The vocal senator says that he abhors taking up positions at the expense of his colleagues who are being humiliated for no apparent reason.

“Now and in the future I am ready to serve the nation in any capacity and in any committee even as a mere member. What I abhor is to take up positions at the expense of colleagues who are being humiliated for no apparent reason. Thank you and God bless,” he tweeted.

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Kenya’s Covid-19 cases have surged to 1348.

Heath Chief Administrative Secretary Rashid Aman on Tuesday May 26, 2020 announced 62 news Covid-19 cases after testing 2293 samples in the last 24 hours.

Out of the new 62 cases, Nairobi has 23 while Mombasa has 16. So far 64,264 people have been tested. Three patients have been discharged bringing total number of recoveries to 405.

Eight of the new cases came from Kwale, six are from Kajiado and Kiambu, and three in Kitui.

The number of deaths remain at 52.

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The newly installed Senate majority whip Senator Irungu Kang’ata, has announced new changes in the ruling Jubilee party, as President Uhuru Kenyatta’s purge continues.

The new changes will see Deputy President Dr William Ruto’s allies removed from the leadership of key committees and being replaced by perceived party loyalists.

In the changes, Senator Christopher Lang’at (Bomet)has been replaced at the House Business Committee by Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja.

Lang’at also lost his post as Education Committee chairman to Senator Alice Milgo.

Vocal Ruto ally Senator Samson Cherargei (Nandi) was also removed as chairman of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee.

Meru Senator Linturi Mithika also lost his membership at the powerful Senate County Public Accounts and Investment Committee.

Linturi has been replaced by Senator Fatuma Dullo.

John Kinyua will also lose his position as the chairman of the Devolution Committee in the Tuesday changes.

Former Senate majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen will now be a member of the Devolution Committee.

The changes according to Kang’ata have been communicated to the Senate speaker Ken Lusaka for immediate implementation.

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Narok senator Ledama Olekina on Tuesday May 26 surrendered his senate Public Accounts Committee chairmanship seat.

This is after the vocal lawmaker met the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga this morning.

Ledama also agreed to withdraw the case he had filed against the ODM party following the party’s decision to remove him from the seat, and dewhip him.

Raila, through his official twitter account said that Ledama had agreed to the decisions after they held a meeting. Raila also revealed that the Narok senator had apologized to the party following his decision.

In return, the former Prime Minister said that he had instructed the party to reverse the decision to dewhip the Senator.

“Senator @ledamalekina has this morning agreed to withdraw the case he had filed against @TheODMparty over the Senate Public Accounts Committee chairmanship, surrendered the seat and apologized. In return I’ve instructed the party to reverse the decision to dewhip the Senator,” Raila tweeted.

Early this month, ODM through Minority Leader James Orengo, gave notice to discharge the senator from the County Public Accounts and Investments Committee (CPAIK).

Olekina contested and won the election against his party’s preferred candidate Kisii Senator Sam Ongeri after being backed by Jubilee senators.

He had already chaired the CPAIC’s first meeting when Senate minority leader James Orengo (ODM) gave a notice indicating the party’s wish to dewhip him from the CPAIC and the Senate Business Committee (SBC).

Olekina had vowed to fight the removal, a move that saw him file a case against the Orange party.

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President Uhuru Kenyatta has yet again convened another top Jubilee party meeting.

The head of state is set to meet with Jubilee’s key decision-making panel, the National Management Committee.

According to a local daily, President Kenyatta will chair the NMC meeting on Thursday at State House. Members of the parliamentary leadership have been invited.

The meeting is a precursor to a Parliamentary Group Meeting to be held on June 2, when the National Assembly reconvenes from a one-month recess.

This will be the first NMC meeting since President Kenyatta seized control of Jubilee Party from Ruto’s grip after a successful ‘coup’ last month.

Ruto on Thursday last week lost his case before the Political Parties Disputes  Tribunal where he was challenging reconstitution of the NMC.

It is not clear if the DP and his allies would attend the crucial meeting on Thursday to endorse sweeping changes to the National Assembly leadership and approve the President’s working relationship with the opposition.

On Monday Jubilee Party secretary-general Raphael Tuju confirmed the President had called for the meeting, which he termed “critical” to the party’s ongoing housecleaning.

Tuju confirmed the ongoing purge in Parliament targeting members considered disloyal to the President would continue until the Jubilee house is in order.

National Assembly Majority leader Aden Duale, Majority Whip Benjamin Washiali and Senate Majority Whip Irungu Kang’ata, as well as Senate Majority leader  Samuel Poghisio, are among those expected to attend.

NMC members include chairman Nelson Dzuya, Tuju and five newly appointed members.

They are Lucy Macharia, Marete Marangu, Walter Nyambati, Jane Nampaso and James Waweru.

Ruto’s ally Albert Mutai, who is the Jubilee national treasurer, is also a member of the NMC by virtue of his position.

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A vocal Deputy President William Ruto allied MP has come out to claim that senators who voted to oust Tharaka Nithi senator Kithure Kindiki as senate deputy speaker, were paid.

According to Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri, the senators met at Serena Hotel, where they were given ksh. 100,000 each. He says they were promised to be given the remaining Ksh. 100,000 after their voting.

The vocal Tanga Tanga MP further claims that the entire process in which Prof Kindiki was kicked out was corrupted. He says the senate speaker ignored the voting procedure, where the senators use a special voting system to cast votes, and opted for verbal voting.

According to Ngunjiri, the senators who voted yes rushed quickly after the process, to pick their remaining balance that they had been promised.

He further accused President Uhuru Kenyatta of bringing in their political enemy, the ODM party leader Raila Odinga, to cause troubles in the ruling party. Ngunjiri says that it is President Kenyatta who taught them how to abuse Raila at the time he was fully in opposition.

Kindiki was on Friday last week ousted after a heated debate.

Out of the total 67 senators, 54 voted to kick out the deputy speaker who they accused of party disloyalty and disrespect to the party leader.

At least 26 of senators from the minority side voted in favour of his removal. Only two, Bungoma senator Moses Wetangula and Nominated Judith Pareno did not cast their votes because they were not in the House.

However, Mr Wetangula, who is on a mandatory quarantine after his brother died of Covid19, expressed his support for the removal in a message to Minority leader James Orengo.

Seven senators voted to save Prof Kindiki, a far cry from the tussle of numbers that the pro-Ruto allies have always touted. They were Kipchumba Murkomen, Aaron Cheruiyot, Christopher Langat, Susan Kihika, John Kinyua, Samson Cherargey and Kindiki himself.

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Deputy President William Ruto has broken his silence on Kikuyu Constituency poisonous food puzzle.

The second in command on Monday May 25 denied his involvement in distributing the harmful food to unsuspecting residents.

Through his communication person David Mugonyi, the DP says that dragging his foundation in the harmful incident is just but a political thuggery.

“Reports from locals indicate that the strange food donations in question were hurriedly thrown from moving vehicles to unsuspecting public with fake branding, that is not from the Foundation.

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“The William Ruto Foundation has been donating food in Nairobi and its environs for months now without any incident. It is clear those behind the distribution of the contaminated food are engaging in political thuggery for other reasons,” reads the statement in part.

The DP said it’s evil for his foes to endanger lives of Kenyans while trying to stop him politically.

“We sympathize with those who have been affected and pray for their speedy and full recovery. We shall follow up with the local leadership to assist them with medical care as is appropriate in consultation with Health officials,” he added.

“It is revolting, despicable, callous and cruel to play with the health and lives of innocent human beings to score political points. Human life and dignity are higher than any political agenda. Those behind this incident are irresponsible, barbaric savages who have no place in civilized society.”

Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah had earlier on argued that someone is out there to tarnish DP Ruto’s name. He claimed that there is some evil person who want to poison Kikuyu residents in the name of fighting him and DP Ruto.

He argued that there is a white landcruiser that has been moving in his constituency distributing the said food. The food stuffs are said to have been distributed in Gikambura area.

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Tanzania’s President John Pombe Magufuli has ordered public transport to resume normal operations without any adherence to Covid-19 restrictions.

This comes a day after he banned the use of face masks.

Magufuli through a press statement dated May 24 banned wearing of face masks on grounds that they create tension among Tanzania residents, with some closing down their businesses due to fear.

Magufuli allowed Public Service Vehicles to start carrying passengers to maximum as before. He has also ordered all schools to reopen.

He urged Tanzanians to thank God that they had defeated coronavirus pandemic, citing that they should only continue washing their hands since it is just a matter of good hygiene.

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Magufuli has said the number of coronavirus patients in hospitals is declining, although the government has not released data on infection rates for many weeks.

The president has repeatedly downplayed the risk of the pandemic, causing alarm among neighbouring African countries and international organisations.

The government has even urged Tanzanians to dedicate three days for thanksgiving this weekend as they say they’re beating the virus.

The main issue is that there’s been no official data on the coronavirus for weeks, and there are concerns that the authorities are trying to downplay the extent of the outbreak.

Doctors and healthcare professionals are afraid to speak out about coronavirus because of a climate of fear.

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As Covid-19 pandemic continues to bite more, Deputy President William Ruto has been distributing food among vulnerable families to cushion them from the effects of the pandemic.

Over the past weeks, the second in command alongside Kikuyu Member of Parliament Kimani Ichung’wah rolled out a programme that has seen thousands of Kikuyu constituency residents receive food donations.

The food donations are being distributed in carrier bags branded William Ruto Foundation and Kimani Ichung’wah.

However, there have been speculations that the donated food has affected several people, with some reports on social media indicating that the leaders have been distributing expired food that is not fit for human consumption.

“Several people have been affected in Kikuyu after eating relief food branded Ruto Foundation and Ichungwah; the MP has distanced himself from the food. They distribute rotten food but distance themselves,” popular blogger Abraham Mutai tweeted on Monday May 25, 2020.

However, the Kikuyu MP has come out to set the record clear.

Ichung’wah took to his social media pages to address the claims, arguing that someone is out there to tarnish DP Ruto’s name. He claims that there is some evil person who want to poison Kikuyu residents in the name of fighting him and DP Ruto.

He argued that there is a white landcruiser that has been moving in his constituency distributing the said food. The food stuffs are said to have been distributed in Gikambura area.

He says the food stuffs are not similar to the ones they have been distributing, citing that they have not been distributing anything openly on vehicles, on roads or stadiums.

According to Ichung’wah, DP Ruto’s donations are done through Known church leaders and from an identified list of beneficiaries identified by religious and Community leaders.

” IMPORTANT and URGENT.I have just been informed there was a white landcruiser at around 6PM distributing these food stuffs in Gikambura.

“These are NOT our food stuffs and we are not distributing anything openly and on vehicles on roads or stadiums and even the FAKE branding and items are NOT anything close to what we are distributing.All our interventions are done through your Known church leaders and from an identified list of beneficiaries identified by religious and Community leaders.

“Pls be cautious as EVIL people who are distributing these may poison people for politics! A family that consumed the sugar suspect it was poisonous as two of them have been treated after consuming it .Inform all your neighbors. Any support from our office will be delivered to your houses by your known neighbours and church leaders. To the EVIL CABAL, Shetani ashindwe! Why don’t you feed the hungry? Why poison people in the name of fighting us ? reads his post on Facebook.

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Embakasi East MP Babu Owino was on Sunday night clashed with a journalist on live TV.

Appearing in an interview with K24 TV’s Anne Kiguta on Punchline show, the two engaged in a heated interview after Kiguta started asking Babu Owino controversial questions.

Kiguta asked the controversial lawmaker that some parents had said he was a monster who shot someone pointblank and these tutorials are meant to hoodwink Kenyans, but Bbu Owino responded by saying that maybe just 1% of those who have responded say so.

The interview escalated after K24 replayed CCTV footage of the night Babu shot DJ Evolve at point blank at a city club.

After the CCTV footage was played, the visibly irritated MP declined to answer all questions touching on Dj Evolve saying the matter was in court and amounted to sub judice.

The interview had been scheduled to run for twenty five minutes ended up becoming a circus for at least 13 minutes as Babu constantly gave the same answer to Kiguta’s persistent questions on the shooting of DJ Evolve.

While Babu had in the past claimed that he had paid Dj Evolve’s bill, he declined to respond to the victim;s father who indidated that the family was still overwhelmed by their son’s medical bill.

After more than ten minutes of back and forth, Babu accused Kiguta of working for the DPP to trap him into making comments that would go beyond the terms of his bail.

“I think you were sent by the DPP to ask me these questions so that they can get an excuse for arresting me,” Babu said before the interview ended.

Interestingly, a video of the interview has since been pulled down by Youtube for allegedly breaching the terms of service.

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A journalist working for mediamax has commited suicide in Nakuru citing the hard life that has been caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The body of the K24 journalist, George Kori , based in Molo was on Sunday May 24, 2020 found dangling on a tree at Gatura Farm in Elburgon.

Cash-strapped K24 has majorly cut on its human resource, firing journalists and news presenters citing financial difficulties with ongoing court cases of presenters protesting a move to cut on their salaries.

K24 television which is a major part of the Media Max company is now being handed a lifeline by Kenya’s KTN news that would see it be able to easily operate without a bulky human resource which will enable the company to cut on cost.

The lifeline being presented by KTN news is expected to be available to other media stations and partners and is expected to enable media houses to cut on the cost of content production.

K24 currently operates only with a handful of content providers after recurring job cuts which has already seen it suffer bad blood from the ex-employees in the manner it goes around firing.

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