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Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi in his new book has revealed that there was immense pressure from their supporters after 2007 polls for a parallel swearing in.

Mudavadi was Raila Odinga’s running mate by then.

“We were told that a judge of the High Court and a section of the military were willing and ready to come to Uhuru Park to swear in Raila Odinga as president. I never got to know the name of this judge or who in the military had been contacted,” Mudavadi reveals in Soaring Above the Storms of Passion.

Mudavadi further divulges that he was among those opposed to the swearing in because Kenya would have erupted in civil war.

“I brought in some prominent lawyers to persuade the radicals in ODM that this would be the wrong way to go. We were perched on a precipice. We were now on the verge of sinking the country into a civil bloodbath,” Mudavadi reveals.

Amidst demonstrations and violence across the country, then President Mwai Kibaki had been sworn in for a second term  by Chief Justice Evans Gicheru at State House Nairobi  in a hurriedly prepared ceremony at night.

This escalated the post-poll violence that eventually culminated in deaths of more than 1,300 people while hundreds of thousands others were internally displaced. 

The 417-page autobiography also lays bare tussles that characterised the transmission of election results at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre.

Mudavadi further discloses that he and Raila were shocked at the turn of events at KICC as suspicious results began trickling in especially from the Mt Kenya region.

“Our candidate and I watched everything from Pentagon House. William Ruto, Andrew Ligale, Henry Kosgey and Caroli Omondi were our main people at the KICC. We watched them engage Kivuitu as things degenerated very steadily,” the ANC supremo recounts.

As Mudavadi and Raila arrived at KICC, they encountered heavy police presence as then ruling Party of National Unity (PNU) representatives piled pressure on Electoral Commission of Kenya chairperson Samuel Kivuitu to announce the results.

“On the third day, we went up to the ECK offices at the KICC and found the commissioners ready to make the announcement in favour of Mwai Kibaki. There was high tension. Martha Karua of PNU was almost belligerently urging them to announce,” Mudavadi says.

As ODM, Mudavadi points out that the turn of events was not surprising considering the intrigues that had surrounded the pre-election period.

“There had been signs all along, especially in the last few days to the election. There had been talk of security people who were masquerading as PNU agents in many parts of the country,” Mudavadi writes.

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Kimilili Constituency Member of Parliament Didmus Barasa has said that the cap he lost in Kibra during by-elections was a counterfeit.

Speaking on Tuesday during Raidio Maisha’s Bunge la Maisha morning show, Barasa said that he was well aware that he would face trouble, and therefore decided to keep the original cap at home.

“This one is the original one, the other one was counterfeit. You don’t go into another man’s bedroom with your original belongings. You might leave your cap or coat in there. (Hii yenye nimevaa ndiyo original, ile ilikuwa counterfeit, huwezi enda bedroom ya mtu mwingine na vitu original. Unaweza wacha kofia ama koti mle ndani),” he added.

The first time Jubilee MP was roughed up in Kibra while safeguarding Jubilee candidate McDonald Mariga’s votes.

He was also accused of bribing voters alongside former Kakamega senator Boni Khalwale who got pelted with stones over the claims.

Barasa’s cap got lost when he got roughed up with Dagoreti North MP Simba Arati being accused of unleashing the goons on him.

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Just a few days after the official launch of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report by president Uhuru Kenyatta at Bomas of Kenya, some MPs are already mulling an amendment to the Constitution to make Garissa Township MP Aden Duale Prime Minister.

With the excitement around the BBI, a lawmaker who sought anonymity has revealed that they plan to present the proposal next week.

Just like the BBI report recommends, the proponents of the idea say Duale is the leader of the party with the majority in Parliament and should without delay become the premier.

If endorsed, he will also chair cabinet sub-committees and not Interior CS Dr Fred Matiang’i.

The only brake to the plot is the fear of a backlash in the wake of no implementation framework.

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Controversial Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria has claimed that National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi was bribed by a tilapia meal by Suba MP John Mbadi to rule out a parliamentary route for Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report.

Kuria further announced that he was launching a bid to impeach the National Assembly Speaker.

Muturi, speaking at a church fundraiser in Migori County on Sunday, December 1, had insisted that it was up to Kenyans to read the BBI report and decide on how to go about it, and not the National Assembly’s role to decide for the public.

“If it was justice Maraga pronouncing himself in a public baraza on how he will rule on a matter before the court, there would be no devils in hell. They would all be in Kenya. Why Justin Muturi would allow himself to be bribed with a tilapia meal by John Mbadi in Migori to rule out a parliamentary route for BBI is a mystery to me. Today I will start collecting signatures to impeach him,” Kuria wrote.

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The Internet war between Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen seems not to be ceasing anytime soon.

On Friday, Murkomen attacked Babu Owino on social media terming him as a woman following the heckle he faced at Bomas of Kenya on Wednesday during the official launch of Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report.

While commenting on the incident of him being heckled at Bomas by CAS Rachael Shebesh, Hon Rosa Buyu and Hon Alice Wahome, Murkomen said that they had broken the unwritten rule governing comrades by heckling at their classmate.

He said he won’t mind other women led by Homa Bay Women Rep Gladys Wanga, Babu Owino and Mishi Mboko.

“Hon.Shebesh,Hon.Roza Buyu&I are alumni of the first class of Political Leadership Development Program 2003-05 together with Hon.A.Wahome&Hon.Mariro. By heckling their classmate they broke the unwritten rule governing comrades.I don’t mine the other women led by Wanga,Babu&Mishi! ” Murkomen posted.

But in a swift response, Babu Owino has accused Murkomen of being a gay after he referred to him as woman.

He says BBI should set aside a national prayer day for gays like Murkomen who look at fellow men as women.

“BBI should set aside a national prayer day for gays like @kipmurkomen who look at fellow men as women.After the prayers he should be given free dildo/vibrator and a cork to block his anus incase of any emergency,” Babu Owino posted.

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Is Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria warming up to taking Prime Minister post once Deputy President Dr William Ruto manages to become the head of state in 2022?

A viral photo of the two shared on Moses Kuria’s social media pages indicating that Kuria is to be the Prime Minister when Ruto becomes president has stirred heated reactions on social media.

The photo viral photo indicated that the two were perusing through a phone, with the item of discussion amusing Ruto who burst into laughter as Kuria stared stone-faced.

Kenyans while reacting wondered whether Kuria had joined the Ruto bandwagon.

DP William Ruto with Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria. The posted sparked an uproar on Saturday, November 30, 2019

Some Kenyans had to laugh off, citing that Kuria has fallen a victim of “If you can’t beat them join them”, thus becoming the latest tanga tanga recruit.

Some started speculating about 2022’s government structure, arguing that Mr Kuria might become Prime Minister, Ruto president as Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i becomes Deputy President.

The photo was taken at a wedding event that DP Ruto had attended on Friday evening.

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Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria clashed with the Kiambu Woman Representative Gathoni wa Muchomba after he dismissed those calling for adoption of BBI report through a referendum.

It all started when Mr Kuria told a gathering at a function in Kirinyaga on Friday that there was no logic in the country spending billions to take the document back to the public when they had already given their views on the same.

“It was just the other day we spent Sh500 million collecting views on the same initiative. Why would we again want to spend more on a referendum when we can easily get everything done through Parliament where we are the people’s representatives?” posed Kuria.

But Ms Wamuchomba dismissed the parliamentary route claiming that MPs could not be trusted to undertake the process as they can be compromised.

“We cannot allow this process to be left to these political thugs and it should be left to the people who are supreme on matters Constitution,” she said.

The Woman Reps remarks attracted the fury of MPs Gichimu Githinji (Gichugu) and Wangui Ngirichi (Kirinyaga Woman Rep), who were attending a harambee in aid of Gathuthini Hope Foundation organised by Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho. Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i was in attendance.

“By simply expressing our democratic rights to state how we feel the BBI should move, and supporting that it comes through Parliament, does not make us political thugs,” Ms Ngirichi said.

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Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) senator has rejected the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report that was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta at Bomas of Kenya on Wednesday.

The Narok senator Ledama Ole Kina says a status quo should be maintained as per now.

He says if the report is implemented the way it is, it will divide kenya further.

The vocal ODM legislator adds that they is no way he is going to support a report that creates an imperial presidency.

“We maintain the Status quo for now! If we implement the report the way it is, we will devide kenya further … there is no way I will support a report that creates an imperial presidency – no way! ” he tweeted on Wednesday night.

According to the report, the President will remain the Head of State and Government and the Commander-in-Chief. He or she shall be the central symbol of National Unity.

The President will chair the Cabinet, which comprises of the Deputy President, the Prime Minister, and Cabinet Ministers.

The Executive, under the authority of the President, shall have the power to determine the policy of the Government in general, while the Ministers under the leadership of the Prime Minister, shall be collectively responsible in the National Assembly for the execution of the affairs of the Government.

This structure executive makes it more accountable in Parliament and to the people.

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Cherengany Member of Parliament Joshua Kutuny has taken credits in most recommendations made in the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report just hours after being handed to President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The BBI’s task force led by Garissa senator Yussuf Haji handed over the report to the president and ODM party leader Raila Odinga at State House, Nairobi on Tuesday.

Present was Deputy President Dr William Ruto.

However, Kutuny says the report set to be made public today ( Wednesday) at Bomas of Kenya is similar to what he was pushing for in 2018.

He says the BBI task force borrowed on his proposal to come up with its report in regard to the creation of the post of Prime Minister and his deputies.

“On matters Building Bridges Initiative (BBi)- This was the proposal I was pushing in 2018 to amend the constitution of Kenya. I am glad BBI taskforce borrowed on my proposal to come up with it’s report in regard to the creation of the post of Prime Minister and his deputies,” he posted.

In the BBI report, the president remains Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief, while the PM will draw his powers from parliament and supervise execution of day-to-day government affairs.

The PM, under the proposals, will be the leader of the largest political party or coalition of parties, and will be appointed by the president and approved by the House.

“Within a set number of days following the summoning of parliament after an election, the President shall appoint as prime minister an elected member of the National Assembly from a political party having a majority of members in the National Assembly or, if no political party has a majority, one who appears to have the support of a majority of MPs,” the 14-member BBI team has recommended.

The report says that prime minister shall have supervision and execution of the day-to-day functions and affairs of the government.

He/She shall also be the Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly.

On the president’s tasking, the prime minister will chair Cabinet sub-committees. In the exercise of his authority, the prime minister shall perform or cause to be performed any matter or matters which the president directs to be done.

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President Uhuru Kenyatta received the BBI report on Tuesday afternoon from task force chairman Senator Yusuf Haji.

Present were Deputy President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

The report recommends that the state should eliminate sitting allowances of public officers in both the national and the county governments.

MPs and MCAs have been accused of earning huge sitting allowances.

In July 2017, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission abolished MCAs’ mileage reimbursements, sitting allowances for plenary sessions and special responsibility perks.

But last year, the High Court reinstated the benefits, forcing the SRC to return the allowances .

“Strengthen the capacity of the Controller of Budget to enable to detect and respond in a timely manner to misappropriation , wastage and illegal process,” the task force said in the report to be launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta tomorrow (Wednesday) at Bomas of Kenya.

The task force which was constituted by Uhuru and ODM leader Raila Odinga following their handshake in March 2018 also calls for total enforcement of powers of SRC to rationalize all public sector salaries and to address the large discrepancies in remuneration.

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President Uhuru Kenyatta alongside Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga on Tuesday received the much anticipated Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report.

The report was handed over to duo at State House, Nairobi in presence of Deputy President William Ruto.

The report, among other issues recommends a President, with executive authority who will be directly elected by the people, with the loser in the State House contest directly nominated to Parliament and takes over as leader of official opposition.

On the structure of government, the BBI team recommends what it termed “a home grown and inclusive” system, that comprises an executive headed by a popularly and directly elected President, and a robust, structured opposition that holds the government to account.

This has seen a section of MPs allied to DP Ruto change tune, and publicly declare their support for the report after strongly criticizing it.

Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa who has been a great critic is among Tanga tanga members who have publicly declared support for the report.

He says that the report has avoided divisive referendum and reckons that the issues raised can be prosecuted through the parliamentary process .

“Now the BBI Task force has avoided the divisive referendum and reckons that the issues raised can be prosecuted through the parliamentary process.I wish to declare my support for this report,” he tweeted.

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, who has also been a strong critic of BBI said ” So far so good, Twende Kazi”.

The report will be made public to Kenyans tomorrow (Wednesday) during its official launch at Bomas of Kenya.

Kenyans will be allowed to read and understand it before making a decision.

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The much anticipated Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report was on Tuesday finally handed over to President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM party leader Raila Odinga.

Deputy President Dr William Ruto was present at Statehouse during the handover.

His dream to clinch the topmost seat in 2022 might come to pass, but what awaits him after the BBI report?

Well, the report recommends a President, with executive authority who will be directly elected by the people, with the loser in the State House contest directly nominated to Parliament and takes over as leader of official opposition.

On the structure of government, the BBI team recommends what it termed “a home grown and inclusive” system, that comprises an executive headed by a popularly and directly elected President, and a robust, structured opposition that holds the government to account.

The Executive, according to BBI, should include the President, a Deputy President, a Prime Minister, and Cabinet Ministers. The president shall have garnered at least 50% plus one vote in the State House race, and at least 25% of total votes cast in at least 24 counties.

The President, according to the report, shall remain Head of State and Government, and Commander in Chief of the Defence Forces.

The Deputy President, according to BBI report, remains the President’s principal assistant, and running mate at the ballot.

The proposed Prime Minister in the BBI report shall be an elected member of the National Assembly. The President shall nominate a Prime Minister, whose appointment must be approved by the National Assembly.

The Prime Minister, according to the BBI report, shall control and supervise execution of day-to-day functions and affairs of the government. The Prime Minister shall also, be leader of government business in Parliament and chair of Cabinet Sub-committees.

The BBI report recommends Principal Secretary in the Prime Minister’s office, to chair the technical implementation committee that shall comprise all principal secretaries.

The report also proposes the return of Prime Minister’s time, where MPs can pose questions directly to the premier and cabinet ministers.

And in response to the ‘winner takes it all’ mantra that was cited as one of the key causes on bitterly contested elections, BBI has recommended that the loser in a presidential election be nominated to the National Assembly and takes over as leader of official opposition.

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Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report will be made public on Wednesday. 

The report will be handed over to President Uhuru Kenyatta and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga today (Tuesday).

The report will then be officially launched by the duo on Wednesday at Bomas of Kenya.

The BBI chairman Yusuf Haji on Friday said that the report will be presented to the duo on Tuesday.  

 Haji divulged that claims that the report had leaked to the general public were fake. He reiterated that the contents of the report had been kept top-secret. 

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday asked leaders not to engage in the sideshows in the name of the report. 

He reminded the leaders to avoid the politics of insults whether they support or oppose the report. He also warned them not to spread rumours before they know the contents of the report.

The head of state made the remarks when he presided over the fourth Kibabii University graduation ceremony in Bungoma County.

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Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Beatrice Elachi has come to Governor Mike Sonko’s defence, linking his troubles with authorities to politics.

Speaking when she appeared on K24’S Punchline show on Sunday evening, Speaker Elachi said Sonko is also being fought for allowing her back to office after she was ousted by MCAs.

“We voted for Sonko. We fully voted for him. We knew his style of leadership….and I think Kenyans forget that Sonko is an orphan, he doesn’t have a mother and a father. He has his God and he will finish his five years. The only father Sonko has is President Uhuru Kenyatta,” said Ms Elachi.

Sonko has recently found himself on the wrong side of the authorities with investigative agencies digging into his financial dealings as well as his criminal past.

On November 5, Sonko spent was queried by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over alleged cover-up of his past brushes with the law.

The governor spent hours with EACC detectives at the Integrity Centre in Nairobi.

EACC sleuths accused Sonko of failing to disclose information about his pending multiple criminal cases in court when he was seeking clearance to vie for the Nairobi gubernatorial race.

Speaker Elachi said there is more than meets the eye in the Sonko’s woes since it were the same government agencies that cleared him to run as an MP and later for senate, long before he contemplated vying for the governor’s seat.

Watch the video below:

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Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga will on Thursday unveil the party’s strategy ahead of 2022 politicking period.

The event which was to be held tomorrow (Tuesday) was postponed due to Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report which is set to be handed to President Uhuru Kenyatta on the same day.

Raila will also officially open ODM’s new offices in Lavington and launch a digital membership registration platform.

Details of the party’s elections set for next year will also be given.

Changes in the party’s leadership are also expected, with some top directors set to be shown the door as the party prepares for a revamp ahead of 2022.

Bangled party primaries witnessed in the past are some of the reasons behind the revamp with reports indicating that the party is planning to have a new team of professionals at the new Lavington headquarters.

Do you think Raila is planning to be in the 2022 Presidential race?

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Makueni County Governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana has been crowned the most outstanding public servant of the year 2019.

Kibwana was crowned by League of Young Professionals during the inaugural edition of Gamechangers Awards held at Mövenpick Hotel & Residences Nairobi on Saturday night.

The second term county chief shared the news via his social media accounts. 

For the past seven years, Kibwana has initiated various development projects in Makueni, and changed the face of the county.

His exemplary performance has made Makueni a pioneer county for matters development. Leaders from across the country have been touring Makueni for bench marking. 

Some of the huge projects credited to Governor Kibwana’s administration include; Universal Health Coverage in the county, food processing factories among others.

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