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Ruto Takes Ksh 2 Billion Project to Raila’s Backyard

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Deputy President William Ruto on Tuesday August 4, 2020 revealed that four constituencies in ODM leader Raila Odinga’s political turf are set to reap big from a Ksh 2 billion project that is set to kick off.

Taking to his official social media accounts, the second in command announced that the Sh2 billion Government of Kenya/Kuwait upgrading of primary and secondary schools’ proposal has been concluded.

His announcement came shortly after meeting MPs, MCAs and other local leaders from Nyamira County at his Karen residence in Nairobi.

“Met MPs, MCAs and other local leaders from Nyamira County; discussed development issues, mainly on the completion of roads, electricity connectivity and Technical Training Institutes, Karen, Nairobi County,” he tweeted.

The DP revealed that they had discussed development issues, mainly on the completion of roads, electricity connectivity and Technical Training Institutes.

He revealed that the four constituencies in Nyamira, West Mugirango, North Mugirango, Kitutu Masaba and Borabu will reap from the project.

“We are pleased that the Sh2 billion Government of Kenya/Kuwait upgrading of primary and secondary schools’ proposal has been concluded.

“The management team has been set up, and soon, the four constituencies in Nyamira: West Mugirango, North Mugirango, Kitutu Masaba and Borabu will reap from the project,” reads DP Ruto’s tweet.

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Murkomen Responds to Murathe’s Threats

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen has broken his silence on threats issued by Jubilee Vice Chairman David Murathe against him, Nairobi senator Johnson Sakaja and Lamu’s Anwar Oloititip.

Murathe in an interview with The Standard had threatened to kick out of Jubilee party the three senators over their stand on the controversial County revenue sharing formula.

Murathe said the party would take disciplinary action against Sakaja and his colleagues for conspiring with fellow senators under the “One Kenya Movement” banner to shoot down the Senate Finance and Budgets Committee report.

Murathe accused the three of defying  the party position last week and sank its proposal.

“We are not yet done, we will deal with the senators for going against the party position. They will have themselves to blame for their parochial decisions. We will kick them out of the party. Read our party constitution, it gives room to deal with them,” Murathe was quoted by the local daily as having said.

He said whereas the other Jubilee senators from the affected counties had their grievances against the formula, Sakaja, Murkomen and Oloititip acted defiantly and maliciously given that they had no credible grievance.

But in response to the headline ran by the Standard on Tuesday August 4, 2020, Murkomen said the story confirmed that he was doing the right thing.

Seeming unshaken with Murathe’s threats, the former senate Majority leader said such headline can only confirm that the peace in his heart flows like a gentle river.

“When I see such a headline I am so assured that I am doing the right thing and the peace In my heart flows like a gentle river,” he tweeted.

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Senators to Receive Ksh 5 Million Bribes to Pass Uhuru’s Proposal on Revenue Formula

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Senators are set to receive up to Ksh 5 million in bribes for them to pass the controversial new County revenue allocation formula.

Narok senator Ledama Olekina has this morning hinted at the plot, arguing that it will be suicidal for any senator to accept the bribes.

According to the ODM senator, the bribe will only help to fuel division of Kenya due to the revenue share discourse.

Taking to his official twitter handle, he went further to curse the lawmakers who will accept the Ksh 5 million bribe and in turn betray Kenyans.

Ledama prayed for the family of those who will accept the bribe not to have peace at all.

“It will be suicidal for any Senator to accept a bribe of Ksh 5M to fuel the division of Kenya due to the revenue share discourse! May your family never have peace if you accept a bribe to divide Kenya! Tadoi anaa Enkolong!” senator Ledama tweeted.

The senate is this afternoon expected to vote on the crucial County revenue formula, with senators having different opinions ahead of the special seating.

A section of senators opposed to the county cash sharing formula have vowed to reject it.

According to a report by The Star, the 25 senators who last week engineered the defeat of an amendment to defer the disputed formula by two years have plotted another elaborate plan to reject it in totality.

The amendment was sponsored by Majority Chief Whip Irungu Kang’ata (Murang’a) with the blessings of President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga.

With their number standing at 25, the opposing senators have surpassed the 24 threshold required to defeat the formula that would see 18 counties lose Sh17 billion.

On Sunday, Raila met a section of Uhuru’s allies led by Jubilee vice chairman David Murathe at the Kajiado home of Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli.

At the meeting, Raila assured the President’s side that he would rally his senators to support the formula.

 Siaya Senator James Orengo who is the Minority Leader was charged with bringing the leaders together.

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Senators Sakaja, Murkomen And Anwar Oloitiptip to be Kicked Out of Jubilee

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Nairobi Senator John Sakaja, his Elgeyo Marakwet counterpart Kipchumba Murkomen and Lamu’s Anwar Oloitiptip now risk being kicked out of the ruling Jubilee party.

The party’s Vice Chairman David Murathe on Monday August 3, 2020 issued a warning to the lawmakers ahead of crucial Senate vote on county revenue formula.

Murathe’s warning comes after the three senators defied the party position and sank its proposal.

In an interview with the Standard, Murathe said that Jubilee party will take a disciplinary action against Sakaja and his colleagues for conspiring with fellow senators under the “One Kenya Movement” banner to shoot down the Senate Finance and Budgets Committee report.

“We are not yet done, we will deal with the senators for going against the party position. They will have themselves to blame for their parochial decisions. We will kick them out of the party. Read our party constitution, it gives room to deal with them,” he said.

Murathe said whereas the other Jubilee senators from the affected counties had their grievances against the formula, Sakaja, Murkomen and Oloititip acted defiantly and maliciously given that they had no credible grievance.

Sakaja and Murkomen led a group of seven senators from the counties that were gaining in the formula arrangement to oppose the vote, claiming they were doing so in solidarity with the devolved units that were losing.

Others were Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, Makueni’s Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, Sam Ongeri (Kisii), Philip Mpaayei (Kajiado) and Boniface Kabaka (Machakos). 

In the formula, 18 counties saw their allocation reduced from what they were receiving in the second generation formula, a matter that raised opposition.Sakaja is a former Uhuru’s TNA party chairman.

He said there was no party position on the matter, and that a party position would only be arrived at if members of a caucus debate an issue and agrees or disagrees but moves on with collective responsibility.

Yesterday, Sakaja woke up to banners displayed in strategic places branding him a traitor. On Twitter, a betrayal hashtag carrying his name was trending.

The senator, however, played it down, asking his followers to help “the keyboard warriors to earn their bread”.

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Ruto Allies Raid Raila’s Nyanza Backyard as They Assemble Grassroots Troops

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Deputy President William Ruto his battling for Luo-Nyanza votes as 2022 nears.

Over the weekend, DP Ruto’s allies raided Opposition chief Raila Odinga’s Nyanza backyard by hosting youths from the region.

Through his close ally Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, Ruto has been assembling grassroots troops from Nyanza that will campaign for him in the 2022 elections.

In a meeting attended by Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa and his Bahati counterpart Kimani Ngunjiri, Sudi at the weekend hosted youths from Kisumu, Siaya, Migori and Homa Bay at his rural home in Kapsaret.

Those who attended the rally included youth leaders, women groups and clerics  who previously supported Raila’s presidential campaigns.

The youth were mainly from Kisumu’s Kondele estate, which is a political hotbed in the lakeside city and those from Raila’s Bondo rural home.

Others were from Ahero, Nyakach, Muhoroni and Kendu Bay.

According to a report by a local daily, the youths have formed a movement dubbed “ Nyanza Youth Movement for Ruto 2022” to campaign for Ruto.

On Sunday August 2, 2020, the Kapseret MP told the local daily  that they were determined to raid Raila’s political turf. 

“We are determined to penetrate Luo Nyanza so that we can unlock its residents from the chains of poverty. Our intention is to sell the DP as the best alternative,” he was quoted saying.

Sudi said Kenyans should live together in harmony despite holding divergent political views, citing his relationship with Raila.

“Raila is my friend, even though we have different political views. Just the other day we had lunch as friends,” he said. 

The Kapseret MP also asked leaders not to incite Kenyans against each other.

“There is no day citizens engage in violence on their own, they are usually incited by leaders,” he said. 

On his part, Barasa called on Nyanza residents to shun tribal politics and vote for leaders with a clear development agenda. 

“You do not eat the title of your tribesmen in Government. Your life will not change because your tribesman is in power, your life will only change if the people you elect have a plan to transform lives,” said Barasa.

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Atwoli’s Hand in The Aborted Ruto-Mudavadi 2022 Deal

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

COTU boss Francis Atwoli has been linked to the dirty intrigues that saw a political deal between Deputy President William Ruto and Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi.

Atwoli is said to have been in talks with MPs allied to Mudavadi cautioning them to tread carefully with Ruto power strategy.

To Atwoli, according to a local daily, Ruto is an over-ambitious politician who, knowing what the presidency entails, will not forgo it for Mudavadi for himself to benefit.

According to sources, during Kibaki succession, Uhuru had agreed to step down for Mudavadi but it is the same Ruto who opposed and forced Uhuru to retreat back to the race.

He ended up winning and succeeding Mwai Kibaki, forming the government with Ruto as Mudavadi UDF party he ran on for the presidency was snatched from him, forcing the former vice president to find homage in ANC party, a brainchild of nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi.

Uhuru wanted Mudavadi in his first cabinet but Ruto was against the move, according to our impeccable sources.

Ruto’s fear was that with Mudavadi in the cabinet, he was to overshadow him in Uhuru succession 2022.

Analysts say that Ruto, Mudavadi power struggle started during their days in ODM when then ODM leader and Raila pushed for Mudavadi to be deputy prime in the power-sharing deal with Kibaki in the government of national unity.

Ruto having delivered many votes from Rift Valley Kalenjin land expected to be named deputy PM but instead, he was named Agriculture minister, and then moved to Education ministry before Raila sacked him.

With such a historical background and the fact that the current constitution does not allow Ruto to be deputy president after serving two terms, it is impossible for him to back Mudavadi’s presidential bid.

Instead, they argue that Mudavadi should be Ruto running mate. Another theory has it that Mudavadi power deal with Ruto was bound to complicate events in the DP camp as his followers are out to gain plum political offices and to them, Mudavadi is an outsider.

Reports of the Ruto-Mudavadi alliance started emerging after the ANC leader made political moves where he incessantly attacked Raila triggering speculation he was plotting to team up with the deputy president.

The reports were given credence after one of Ruto’s vocal supporters, Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, stated that most leaders in Western region allied to the DP had no problem accommodating Mudavadi.

But the mooted alliance came to the public limelight when Ruto secretly met MPs allied to Mudavadi and Wetang’ula at his Karen residence before he proceeded to State House to attend Madaraka Day celebrations.

Ruto’s meeting came four days after Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali had hosted 32 MCAs drawn from four counties in Western Kenya where he told them to be friends with Mudavadi because he was in talks with the DP for a possible pact ahead of the 2022 elections.

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Coast ODM Lawmakers Plot to Dump Raila For New Party

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

A section of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) lawmakers from the coastal region are plotting to dump the Raila Odinga-led Orange party for a new political outfit.

This follows Raila’s  decision to back the third basis formula of revenue allocation across counties.

ODM’s Kilifi North MP Owen Baya, on Wednesday, July 29, announced that plans were well underway to launch a new political outfit for the Coast region.

He also revealed that legislators from various factions including the ruling Jubilee Party had been meeting regularly to iron out various details regarding the workings of the proposed party.

A week ago, ‘ODM rebel’ and Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa openly called for other coastal leaders to ditch the Raila-led party.

Coast Parliamentary Group Chairman, Galole MP Said Hirbae, backed his colleagues’ statement, adding that consultations were well underway.

ODM’s decision to overlook leaders from the region for coveted parliamentary committees was also mooted as a major reason behind the decision to break away.

Despite having not yet settled on a date for the launch of the party, the Kilifi North MP, while addressing the media, made it clear that their new political outfit would be launched before the 2022 General Elections

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Raila Breaks Silence on Revenue Sharing Formula, Offers Long-lasting Solution

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila odinga has issued a detailed statement on the revenue sharing formula that has caused a standoff in the senate.

Raila in a statement issued on Monday July 27, 2020 has accused the senate of failing to adopt its own amendments to the third basis formula for sharing revenue from the Commission for Revenue Allocation (CRA).

The former Prime Minister argues that the senate standoff is causing paralysis and mistrust at a time Counties need to be united and singularly focused on fighting Covid-19.

Raila says the current standoff in the senate is a variation of what was recommended by the CRA, the body mandated under article 216 (1) of the Kenyan Constitution, to come up with the formula.

Raila notes that the revenue should be population driven.

He says the CRA recommendation is based on an understanding that County governments are about service requirements of the population including in health, agriculture, infrastructure, education among others.

Under the circumstances, Raila says, the country would be better served if the senate adopted the recommendation of the CRA for the next five financial years.

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In order to avoid similar standoffs next time, Raila says that the concerns currently arising should be forwarded to the CRA for consideration in its future recommendation.

However, the African Union envoy notes that Counties must be encouraged to raise their own source revenues from the economic activities within the counties and demanding a prudent usage of those resources.

He says the senate should allow the country move forward by adopting the CRA report while using the concerns raised for future recommendations on revenue sharing.

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Moses Kuria Exposes Dirty Intrigues Played in The New Revenue Allocation Formula

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has exposed the dirty intrigues that are being played in the new revenue allocation formula that has caused division in the senate .

Taking to his official Facebook account this morning, Kuria claimed that in the 2017 General Elections, Kiambu County had 1,173,593 registered voters.

He argues that Mandera, Garissa, Wajir, Isiolo and Marsabit had a combined 718,940 but in the existing formula for resource allocation, Kiambu gets Ksh 9 billion while the five Counties get combined Ksh 45 Billion.

The controversial lawmaker is now demanding for an explanation where justice and fairness lies in he current revenue allocation formula.

“In the 2017 General Elections, Kiambu County had 1,173,593 registered voters. Mandera, Garissa and Wajir, Isiolo and Marsabit had a combined 718,940. In the existing formula for resource allocation, Kiambu gets Ksh 9B. The 5 Counties get combined Ksh 45 Billion. Someone please look at me in the eye and explain to me like a two year old where justice and fairness lies here. With all humility please,” reads Kuria’s Facebook post.

Most senators want no county to lose a single cent in the new revenue sharing formula developed by the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA).

According to the Standard, at least 30 senators are in support of a motion by Nairobi’s Johnson Sakaja seeking to ensure no county gets reduced allocation based on the third formula that will see regions that have been receiving a higher allocation because of their huge landmass and high poverty indices, get less.

However, the move by senators backing Sakaja has created further divisions on the hotly contested formula the commission forwarded to the Senate for consideration.

Senators backing the third basis revenue sharing formula are those from counties that will be gaining as those from counties that will lose, rejecting it.

There are those that, while their regions are gaining, are backing Sakaja’s motion.Sakaja, Kithure Kindiki (Tharaka Nithi), Mohamed Faki (Mombasa) and Abshiro Halakhe (Nominated) have vowed to reject any proposal that will see any allocation to any county reduced while others gain.

Kindiki, who spoke on behalf of 18 other counties, argued that the formula being pushed by a section of senators, led by Murang’a’s Irungu Kangata, is highly divisive and meant to victimise some regions.

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Jubilee to Kick Out Kositany as Party Deputy SG, Replace Him With Joshua Kuttuny

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Jubilee party is planning to kick out deputy Secretary general Caleb Kositany and replace him with a fellow Nandi, Cherangany MP Joshua Kuttuny.

Kositany who doubles up as Soy MP, a constituency in Uasin Gishu county, is a vocal supporter of deputy president William Ruto while Kuttuny who represents Cherangany which is in Trans Nzoia county is a supporter of Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga handshake.

Kuttuny will be rewarded with the post for his support for the Building Bridges Initiative which saw him become the key speaker from the Kalenjin community during the public rallies held across the country before they were halted due to the outbreak of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic.

In the 2007 elections, Kuttuny successfully contested for the Cherangany parliamentary seat on an ODM ticket but failed to recapture it in the 2013 elections when he lost to Boston Marathon winner Wesley Korir.

After losing, he was appointed by Uhuru as his political adviser, a post he held up to December 2017 when he declared his candidature for the Cherangany parliamentary seat.

He won the seat with a slim margin. Sources revealed that the move to appoint Kuttuny to replace Kositany is meant to appease the Nandi community whose son will be losing the big seat of Jubilee for supporting Ruto’s presidential bid as his replacement will come from the community.

Nandis are second in numbers to Kipsigis among the Kalenjin.

Kipsigis community occupies Bomet and Kericho counties. The Kipsigis are also found in Narok and Nakuru counties which they share with the Maasai and Kikuyu communities besides other tribes.

Sources added that the move to appoint Kuttuny is also informed by the realization that the Nandis of Trans Nzoia, unlike those in Uasin Gishu, Nandi counties which is Ruto’s home turf, are likely to cast their lot with the president’s wing in 2022 polls.

In contrast in Uasin Gishu county, where Soy constituency is situated, Ruto enjoys massive support and hence it would be unwise to appoint Kositany’s replacement from the region as the appointment will have little impact on the ground.

The Nandi’s dominance of Uasin Gishu county came to the fore in the last general election when the Soy MP sparked a storm by declaring the community would determine the choice of governor as they are the majority.

Sources say the decision by Jubilee to fire Kositany was arrived at after he launched a full attack on secretary-general, Raphael Tuju, demanding the financial records of the party.

In an episode that added fuel to the cold wars between the president and his deputy, Kositany in a letter to Tuju which was copied to the Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu, claimed he was acting on behalf of more than 100 MPs and over 500 MCAs who are members of the party in demanding information on Jubilee’s financial records from 2016 to date.

He demanded Tuju vanish him with the approved budgets for financial years 2016/2017, 2017/2018, 2018/2019 and 2019/2020, as well as all approved procurement records, reports and all committee minutes for the same period.

Kositany also demanded records for all Jubilee party county offices including copies of lease agreements as well as the lease or tenancy agreements for the party’s headquarters in Nairobi since 2016.

His demand came days after he accused top party officials of squandering funds, alleging that officials at the party’s headquarters were spending more than Sh7 million per month on tea and snacks.

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Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jr Calls For Impeachment of Speaker Ken Lusaka

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Makueni senator Mutula Kilonzo junior has called for the impeachment of senate speaker Keneth Lusaka.

Taking to his official twitter account on Thursday July 23, 2020, the senate minority whip said that senators should impeach Lusaka for adjourning the senate unlawfully.

“We should impeach speaker Lusaka for adjourning the senate unlawfully ! Bure,” he posted.

 A week ago, the Senate was compelled to adjourn a Special Sitting convened for the second time to vote for the formula that has divided the House down the middle.

It followed spirited resistance by senators whose counties were set to lose cash under the proposed arrangement.

A day-long informal gathering (Kamukunji) convened by Speaker Ken Lusaka to build consensus on proposals by the Committee on Finance and Budget ended in disarray after lawmakers whose counties were set to lose up to Sh17 billion stood their ground and vowed to reject the proposal in the House.

They got the support of at least five other senators, mainly from areas controlled by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) as well as the Wiper Party, who argued that the formula was “about to split the country into two”.

While supporting the adjournment, Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula said the proposed formula has been divisive from the onset.

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Joho Renews His War Against Coast Elected Leaders as he Works on 2022 Lineup

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Mombasa governor Hassan Joho has reportedly renewed his war against Coast elected leaders.

According to a local daily, Joho is targeting leaders who are perceived to be supportive of Deputy President William Ruto’s 2022 Presidential bid.

Currently, Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya is under siege from hostile MCAs suspected to be under instructions of Joho through county speaker Sammy Ruwa.

Ruwa has been a longtime Joho sidekick and has also acted as his legal adviser in the past. He has been fronted for governor seat twice but rejected. He is speaker for a second term.

Towards the end of Mvurya’s first term, he has been a Ruto man. He has no time for Joho, insisting Kwale is not an extension of Mombasa county.

In the last general elections, Joho had vowed to ensure Mvurya was defeated at the ballot. But this was never to be after the Mombasa governor fell out with Chirau Mwakwere who was a sure bet against Mvurya on the then popular ODM ticket.

After Mwakwere bolted out of ODM to Wiper, Joho turned to little known Issa Chipera as party candidate. Chipera literally became minced meat for Mvurya who easily beat him and made a comeback on a Jubilee ticket.

Mvurya is grooming his deputy Fatuma Achani to succeed him in the next general election but observers say this is a tall order.

Joho on the other hand is reportedly pushing Crop Development PS Hamad Boga for the Kwale seat against Mvurya’s candidate and Mwakwere.

Another Ruto man on Joho’s radar is Kaloleni MP Paul Katana. Recently, the legislator was discharged as a member of the parliamentary investment committee in actions said to have the Mombasa governor’s hand.

Ironically, Katana was Joho’s PA when he served as Kisauni MP. But it appears other than fighting Katana for aligning himself with Ruto, he never wanted him to be MP in the first place.

In the 2013 general election when Katana first contested and lost to little known Gunga Mwinga, there were allegations that ODM insiders had rigged him out.

Currently, Joho is said to be financing the political activities of Mwinga to undermine Katana in the constituency. Katana has said severally that his cooperation with Ruto is because of the handshake between Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“I’m a loyal member of ODM with full respect to my party leader. I also support the handshake and that is why I have been working with DP Ruto to further development in my constituency,” the legislator was quoted as saying.

He has also said his cooperation with Ruto is not for selfish reasons but for the benefit of his constituents. He says the DP has presided over high profile funds drives towards public projects in his constituency.

The MP says some of the people fighting him have never assisted Kaloleni to move forward but wants leaders who can bootlick them.

Mohammed Ali of Nyali constituency and a close ally of the DP is another one whom Joho is scheming against. He is pushing his cousin Said Abdalla aka Saido against the Jicho Pevu.

Jicho Pevu’s recent rising political profile after he filed a motion to impeach transport CS James Macharia over chaos at Mombasa port has alarmed the Joho camp. In spite of the rejection of the motion by Speaker Justin Muturi, Ali has become a hero in Mombasa.

Last week, pro-Joho Mombasa MPs led by Mvita’s Abdulswamad Nassir were doing damage control. They toured the port and pleaded with the KPA management to put out a notice affirming that usage of SGR for containers upcountry was optional.

This was meant to cool the heat against them after residents began collecting signatures to recall them for failing to support Jicho Pevu motion.

Another Joho political foe Aisha Jumwa of Malindi constituency is politically wounded and the Mombasa governor no longer cares what she does or says. The Malindi MP’s self-inflicted woes have dimmed her 2022 Kilifi governor bid.

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Senator Sakaja Resigns

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Nairobi County Senator Johnson Sakaja has resigned as chairman of the Senate Adhoc Committee on Covid-19.

Sakaja has this morning presented himself at Kilimani Police station.

Sakaja went to the police station accompanied by Makueni senator Mutula Kilonzo jnr (in official governemnt vehicle) and Lawyer John Khaminwa.

He was released on a Ksh10,000 bond.

His lawyers say that he will be charged tomorrow but say the police have not revealed the charges he will face.

Sakaja also publicly apologized to Kenyans for going against the Covid-19 protocols.

Sakaja had been arrested on Saturday morning at a club in Kilimani, Nairobi for flouting Covid-19 safety guidelines.

Police found him at Ladies Lounge along Dennis Prit road while drinking in the company of 10. He was later released on a free bond and was to go back to the station and record his statement before being arraigned today (Monday July 20, 2020).

Police had started looking for him after he failed to record the statement. He had been given up to Sunday evening, but he did not show up.

He had allegedly switched off his phone and went into hiding.

According to Nairobi police boss Philip Ndolo, following his release on Saturday, Sakaja had promised to present himself to the police.

“He has not recorded the statement. I am sure he will be recording anytime. We don’t know his whereabouts. He said he would present himself to the police. We hope he will keep his word,” Ndolo was quoted by a local daily.

He was arrested with three others and according to a police report, he became unruly after being ordered to leave the nightclub. He incited the others into staying put.

The officer on patrol called Regional Orderly officer Mr Asambasa who approached the senator in vain.

Mr Asambasa too called Deputy OCPD Kilimani Adan Hassan who arrived with a team.

It is then that he became violent and put his hands up to be handcuffed.

After being taken into custody, Sakaja is said to have threatened to have the officers at the station transferred within 24 hours.

He also declined to be released on free bond. After reports of his arrest went viral, he took to social media to deny, saying that he had not been arrested, and will never be arrested.

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Moses Kuria Names Two Vocal ODM MPs in Ksh7 Billion Covid-19 Funds Scandal

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has named two vocal Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) MPs in a Ksh 7 billion Covid-19 funds scandal.

The controversial lawmaker on Sunday July 19, 2020 claimed that Suna East MP Junet Mohamed and Homabay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga were allegedly part of the Kenya Medical Supply Authority (KEMSA) scandal.

According to Kuria, the PPE tender was given to an individual in single sourcing, and when investigations were conducted, Junet Mohammed and Gladys Wanga were given the Ksh7 billion tender.

Kuria further argues that the matter would have been discussed everywhere only if Kenya had a working opposition.

He claims that the matter is not being addressed because opposition went to bed with the government through the famous March 2018 handshake.

He urged Ministry of Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe to stop touring the country and focus on solving the mstery behid the scandal.

The MP went as far back as when the independence party KANU united with KADU and noted that the period was marked by some of the country’s biggest scandals, most notably the looting of land.

Kuria warned that the union of ODM and the Jubilee Party could witness the same looting and even greater than previous ones experienced in the history of the country.

He added that the Kenya Medical Supply Authority (KEMSA) could be a first of many to come in the country.

KEMSA has been on the spotlight after the recently unearthed procurement and financial irregularities that jeopardised more than Ksh100 billion of donor funds as well as allegations of misuse of funds meant to boost the fight against Covid-19.

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I can’t and won’t work with Ruto ! Prof Makau Mutua Turns Down DP’s Job Offer

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Professor Makau Mutua has turned down a job offer from Deputy President William Ruto.

Through his article in the Sunday Nation, Prof Mutua says that a top commander in DP Ruto’s campaign locomotive had begged him to work with them to ensure that the second in command clinches to the topmost political seat come 2022.

He says that the DP Ruto’s campaign team should read from his lips.

While responding to the offer, Mutua says that he cannot,and that he will not work with the DP.

He further notes that whenever he hears the mention of Mr Ruto, or sense his proximity, he heads in the opposite direction, noting that it has been so since Ruto’s emergence in Youth for Kanu ’92.

Mutua notes that the case on crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court cemented his political disdain for Mr Ruto.

He also says that Ruto volubly and vigorously led the No Campaign against the 2010 Constitution, and has been alleged to be involved in a number of corruption scandals.

In at least one case, Prof Mutua says, a court found Ruto liable for buying the grabbed farm of one Adrian Muteshi amidst the 2007-2008 poll violence. He says Ruto was forced to return the farm to Mr Muteshi.

Mutua also mentions unsolved crimes that have focused investigation on DP Ruto’s office.

He cites the most recent case where Sgt Kipyegon Kenei, a senior policeman in DP Ruto’s Harambee House Annex office, was murdered in mysterious circumstances hot on the heels of former sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa’s arms scandal.

Further, Mutua says that given DP Ruto’s anti-democratic legacy and the allegations of corruption, it stretches credulity that any legitimate civil society organisation – let alone the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC),would ever have anything to do with him.

“It is an open secret Mr Ruto and his brain-trust have targeted civil society groups like the KHRC to penetrate, convert, and instrumentalise them into witting, or unwitting, allies. It is in this context that they’ve approached me and others. This can only happen over my dead body. Mr Ruto can forget civil society,” he says in his article.

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Plot to Have Uhuru’s Relative Replace CJ Maraga

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Chief Justice David Maraga is on record as the first top judge in Africa to nullify a presidential election in 2017. This was only borrowed recently by Malawi top court which also nullified the presidential poll.

However, Maraga is set to exit office. But who will now replace him?

Well, Attorney-General Kihara Kariuki is emerging the frontrunner in the race to replace Maraga who is set to retire anytime from now.

For now, if Maraga decides to proceed on leave, deputy CJ Philomena Mwilu will act. Mwilu is being favoured by a section in ODM to succeed Maraga by virtue of her closeness to former AG Amos Wako and now Busia senator on ODM ticket.

According to a local daily, Kariuki, formerly the president of the Court of Appeal, is being considered a safe bet by State House mandarins eager to have a reliable gatekeeper at the corridors of justice.

Supreme Court judge Smokin Wanjala is the favourite by the majority of lawyers according to a secret report compiled by various state agencies and if voting by lawyers was to determine the next CJ, Wanjala will definitely win. However, he is seen as independent-minded like Maraga.

Other names that are being touted include East African Community judge Charles Nyachae, former national assembly speaker Kenneth Marende, Supreme Court judge Njoki Ndung’u, Lady Justice Hannah Okwengu of Appeals Court and Solicitor General Ken Ogeto, and Justice Isaac Lenaola mong others.

But according to sources, the State House mandarins do not want a repeat of the 2017 scenario where Maraga led the bench in nullifying the presidential election and that is why they want a reliable candidate for the CJ’s position, and that person is Kariuki.

Brief history of Paul Kariuki, Kenya's new Attorney General
AG Kihara Kariuki. PHOTO/COURTESY

Besides, the AG is a relative of Uhuru Kenyatta as his mother is the daughter of Senior Chief Koinange. Kariuki, who was born on May 11 1954 in Kiambu, is the son of the late bishop of Anglican Church Obadiah Kariuki and Lillian Wairimu, the daughter of Senior Chief Koinange.

It is to be recalled that Uhuru’s father, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta married his third wife, Grace Wanjiku, daughter of Senior Chief Koinange and sister of Mbiyu Koinange in 1946.

But Wanjiku died when giving birth in 1951 to their daughter, Jane Makena Wambui (also known as Jeni). Jeni Makena Gecaga is the mother of Soiya Gecaga, Nana Gecaga, and Jomo Gecaga, who serves as the president’s private secretary.

Insiders added that State House is keen to have the holder of the CJ’s position a person they can trust since he or she will be instrumental in the re-composition of the Supreme Court bench which will determine any petition challenging a presidential election in 2022.

Already, Justice Jackton Ojwang has retired as Supreme Court judge after attaining the mandatory retirement age while Justice Isaac Lenaola is being fronted to head the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

Apart from blood ties with the first family, Kariuki is also emerging the favourite due to his past rulings as a judge which have tended to side with the executive.

As the president of the Court of Appeal, he led the bench in overturning a ruling by High Court judge George Odunga that had declared the appointment of returning officers for the 2017 general election as not procedural, a day to the repeat presidential poll.

Justice Odunga had declared the appointments unconstitutional but had declined to grant the reliefs the petitioners were seeking, which included halting the polls.

Nevertheless, Odunga’s ruling, if not overturned, would have come in handy in the petition seeking to declare the repeat presidential poll a nullity.

It was this ruling that saw former Law Society of Kenya chief executive officer Apollo Mboya seek to block Kariuki after Uhuru tapped him to be his chief legal advisor.

Mboya filed a misconduct case at the Judicial Service Commission where he averred that Justice Kariuki was unfit to take over from Githu Muigai as Attorney General.

The JSC formed a special committee to look into the misconduct and insubordination allegations against Kariuki and his fellow Court of Appeal judges, Erastus Githinji, Martha Koome and Fatuma Sichale who had overturned Justice Odunga’s ruling.

The petition questioned how Justice Kariuki was able to impanel a three-judge bench of justices Githinji, Koome and Sichale on a public holiday and without the authorization from the Chief Justice.

He also questioned the manner the appeal was expedited and final ex parte orders given within minutes. But Kariuki passed the vetting and became a member of the JSC by virtue of his position as Attorney General.

Having resigned as a judge, the JSC was not in a position to pursue the matter of his misconduct further. If Kariuki lands the slot, to hoodwink Kenyans that he is not playing tribal card in Judiciary, a face outside Kikuyu will replace him as AG.

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