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Details of IEBC, ODM Meeting Over Kibra Mini Polls

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party on Wednesday morning held a meeting with Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission at Anniversary Towers over the upcoming Kibra constituency by-elections.

The meeting followed concerns raised by the Raila Odinga-led party over Kibra voters register where ODM had claimed that Jubilee party had manipulated the register to rig the polls.

During the meeting, the two came to a conclusion that the register which ODM was demanding will be available for the public on 18th October 2019.

They also agreed that in this elections,there will be no transmission of results as it has been a norm in most polls . The commission said that the whole process will be done manually.

IEBC agreed to use the 2017 voter register in the November 7 by-election after a two-hour meeting with ODM leaders in Nairobi.

The commission’s chairman Wafula Chebukati said that all poll officials who participate in Kibra by-elections will be shared with the political parties through the officer of the registrar of parties and if there are any issues those concerns will be raised by the parties.


De La Rue will print ballot papers.

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Tough Talking Elachi Vows to Play Rough on Rogue Nairobi MCAs

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

After 13 months in the cold, embattled Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Beatrice Elachi made a dramatic return to her office on Wednesday morning.

Elachi made the comeback in a manner eerily similar to the way she was ejected from the office when drama erupted inside City Hall on the afternoon of September 10.

Vowing to play rough, Elachi held a press conference inside her office where she proceeded to demand respect from the Jubilee Party.

For her protection, the Speaker brought an entourage of eight people who cheered her on shouting “Ingwe”.

“In Nairobi County, we have a good relationship with member but the leadership intimidates and manipulates members and the governor. This manipulation, they did it to Kidero…the cartels are all over. I want to thank the members for yesterday. You can’t use the floor of the House to insult women. When you abuse the prime minister, you are abusing Mama Ida,” said Elachi.

The Speaker said that she will crackdown on illegal foreign travel by ward representatives, and urged embassies not to allow MCAs to travel outside the country if their documents don’t have her signature.

“Do not allow any member of the Nairobi County Assembly to travel outside the country without the signature of the Speaker, because that is what they are using to intimidate the members,” said Elachi.

The Speaker accused the Nairobi County Assembly leadership of intimidation, manipulation and lack of respect for her office.

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Bobi Wine Under House Arrest as Police Surround His Home, Again

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Ugandan Police and military on Tuesday night pitched camp at Musician and opposition politician Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine’s home in yet another move to put him under house arrest.

According to Bobi Wine, police surrounded his home and private property, One Love Beach Busabala from 11:00 pm on Tuesday.

The People Power leader says the police have intentions of putting him under house arrest and block his planned Independence Day Concert, which is 156th concert in Uganda so far.

Bobi Wine has accused the Yoweri Museveni-led government for denying him right to sing and perform in his own country.

“Since 11:00pm, police & military surrounded my home & my private property, One Love Beach Busabala, in yet another move to place me under house arrest & block our Independence Day music concert. 156th concert so far! For singing truth to power, I can’t perform in my own country,” reads Bobi Wine’s post on twitter.

The inspector general of police Martins Okoth Ochola had earlier on canceled the Kyadondo East MP’s music concert.

Ochola in his letter dated October 2, but released on Tuesday to Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP), said Kyagulanyi did not consider the preparatory plans for medical care, traffic control, crowd control and security. 

“The serves to inform you that the notice to the inspector general of police has remarkably deficiencies, which do not guarantee lawfulness, safety, security for the public and organisers,” reads Ochola’s letter by AIGP Asuman Mugenyi. 

Kampala Metropolitan police spokesman, Patrick Onyango, quoting Ochola’s letter said police in Kampala won’t be in position to provide adequate security since police officers will be at the independence celebrations in Sironko and other authorized venues. 

Kyagulanyi had scheduled a music show dubbed ‘Osobola’ at his One Love Beach in Busabala in Makindye Ssabagabo Municipality in Wakiso district. 

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Elachi Back in Office, Set to Receive Governor Sonko at Airport

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Beatrice Elachi is back in office as Nairobi County Assembly Speaker following a court order that reinstated her after impeachment.

In a short video circulated to newsrooms by the County Government’s Director of Communications Elkana Jacob, Elachi is heard telling Governor Mike Sonko that she is back and ready to receive him at the airport when he arrives from France.

She did not have kind words for MCAs who kicked her out of office in dramatic scenes that went viral on social media in September last year.

Elachi had stayed away from office following acrimony from a section of County Assembly members who were opposed to her reinstatement, but she walked in on Wednesday and assumed her responsibility.

Ngara MCA Chege Mwaura, who has been acting in the position, however, insists he is still in charge.

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IEBC Bows to ODM Pressure, Issues Status of Kibra Register of Voters

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Wafula Chebukati-led Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has been forced to issue status of Kibra constituency register of voters.

This follows claims by Raila Odinga-led Orange Democratic Movement party that the commission is secretly planning with Jubilee party to rig the upcoming Kibra by-elections.

But IEBC through a press release on Tuesday evening says that following the death of Hon Ken Okoth and subsequent receipt of the writ from the Speaker of the National Assembly, and in line with Section 5 (1) (b) of the Elections Act, the Commission suspended Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) in Kibra Constituency.

ODM through its MPs on Tuesday claimed that the commission has been registering voters in favor of Jubilee candidate McDonald Mariga.

The Raila-led party has vowed to conduct demonstrations at Anniversary Towers to push IEBC to avail the updated Kibra register of voters.

But IEBC notes further that it embarked on the process of facilitating the voters registered during CVR to participate in the upcoming by election immediately after receiving the notice of vacancy from the Speaker of the National Assembly.

According to the commission, the process entails uploading of CVR data to the biometric voter registration (BVR) server, performing duplication process, production of the preliminary register, quality assurance and inspection of the preliminary register of voters, approval by the Commission, certification and distribution to the Constituency.

The commission notes that the Number of registered Voters as at 2017 is 118,276.

Number of voters registered by CVR and Uploaded is 333.

Number of Transfers into the Constituency is 44.

Number of transfers within the constituency is 22.

Number deleted is one.

Name updates (change of voters biographic details) stands at one.

See the full press release below.

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Is Uhuru Appeasing Raila While Backing Ruto?

by The Star
written by The Star

The Kibra by-election has raised questions about President Kenyatta’s succession strategy and who he truly supports between ODM leader Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto.

While the President has been consistent in his public support and defence of the handshake with Raila, Ruto’s supporters insist the President has not abandoned their man.

The Kibra by-election has lifted the lid on the President’s perceived delicate bid to hold onto the two protagonists in a strategic move not to disrupt the delivery of his Big Four agenda.

While Uhuru’s supporters among them Nairobi Senator John Sakaja previously said Jubilee would not field a candidate in Kibra, Ruto picked footballer Macdonald Mariga and ensured he was on the ballot against  Raila’s candidate Imran Okoth.

On September 18, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino launched a scathing attack on Kenyatta after the President endorsed Mariga.

Owino accused the President of betraying the handshake by choosing to back the former Inter Millan midfielder who is running on a Jubilee ticket. 

“Baba must be very careful with this thing called handshake. No fruits so far. We can’t be duped twice. President Uhuru must be genuine with this handshake,” Owino said in a Facebook post.

“Baba, we must be very careful and if the “marriage” is void because  one party is incompetent for being in a subsisting marriage or voidable because it’s not consummated then we must be out very fast.

“We need not lie to each other and in return, their intention is to embarrass you. Jubilee must never and will never win Kibra. I’m ready to go back to the bush.” 

On Sunday while campaigning, Mariga claimed the Head of State calls him to check on his progress.

“Baba must be very careful with this thing called handshake. No fruits so far. We can’t be duped twice. President Uhuru must be genuine with this handshake ,”MP Babu Owino

“You all know the person who gave me the Jubilee cap? I was with a host of Jubilee MPs. We sat down with the President and he told me during my campaigns I should talk to the Akiguyu community in Kibra and they will not fail to support me,” Mariga said.

A day after Mariga met Uhuru at State House, nominated MP Maina Kamanda met Raila and announced he would campaign for Imran.

Chief Administrative Secretary Rachel Shebesh met women leaders two weeks ago and claimed that the Head of State was ambushed and that he was not backing Ruto.

“He has a mouth. Have you heard him say he supports Mariga?,” paused Shebesh who is known to be close to Uhuru.

“The President is well aware that any mishap to antagonise the Deputy President or Raila would directly slow down his desire to deliver on his legacy programmes,” said university don Macharia Munene.

Munene, a lecturer at the United States International University, told the Star the President is walking a political tightrope.

“The President is largely silent when Ruto and Raila are fighting. For example in Kibra, the President is trying to appease both camps because for him, whatever the outcome, that would be a non-issue,” he said.

Until the handshake last year, Ruto enjoyed a lot of privileges and power.  After Uhuru and Raila announced their truce Uhuru went out of his way to shower Raila and defend their deal as he maintains relative harmony between the two politicians.

Ruto and his supporters have seized every opportunity to attack Raila and his ODM even accusing the opposition chief of importing confusion into Jubilee. 

As the President has kept off altercations between the two, Raila has been behaving like a state officer and sometimes issuing orders to public servents as his troops launch attacks on Ruto.

RAILA ATTACK

Ruto and his supporters have seized every opportunity to attack Raila and his ODM even accusing the opposition chief of importing confusion into Jubilee. 

Unlike before when Kenyatta and Ruto attended the same functions, even wore similar shirts and ties, the President has been conducting his activities alone and is reportedly not consulting the DP as much as he did in his first term.

On the other hand the President has appeared in functions with Raila even celebrated Raila’s birthday in Mombasa on January 7 and visited the Opposition leader in his Bondo home.

Musalia Mudavadi greets President Kenyatta at Moi Girls School in Vihiga in February. PHOTO/ PSCU

NEW FRIENDS?

The President has thrown the two politicians into further confusion by his relationship with ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi.

People close to the Head of State have told the Star that the President has been talking to Mudavadi, his childhood friend, frequently and even encouraging him to continue playing the role of Opposition leader.

During the Kenya Open golf event in Karen early this year, the two are understood to have held a two-hour meeting.

“The body language between the two suggested that they were on the same page,” said a source in the President’s team.

Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula says the President could swing a surprise because no one knows his plan.

“We do not know what the handshake is about. President is either being dishonest with Ruto or Raila. Both Ruto and Raila are operating in the dark, both trying to make intelligent guesses,” said Wetang’ula.

 Starehe MP Charles Njagua said the President is not in any dilemma as he has demonstrated his support for Mariga.

“The President has been clear who he is supporting. It is the other camp that is misguided,” Njagua said.

While Uhuru has avoided to publicly campaigning for Mariga for the November 7 by-election just as he did during the one in Wajir West, he has equally not denounced claims by a section of anti-Ruto forces that he is supporting ODM.

Belgut MP Nelson Koech challenged Uhuru to “put Jubilee’s house in order”, saying his silence has “created a perception that he is a lame-duck President.”

“While I know that the President is fully backing Mariga, it will be in the best interest not just of Jubilee but that of the country for him or through his communication department to come out to clear this confusion,” he said.

Dagoretti North MP John Kiarie dismissed claims Uhuru is not keen on Mariga’s candidacy, saying the Jubilee boss is firmly behind the football star.

“Jubilee has one candidate who was endorsed by President Uhuru Kenyatta himself. Those saying Mariga is not a Jubilee candidate are political rejects who were defeated in the last elections and are bitter with the DP,” Kiarie said.

Embakasi North MP James Gakuya said both Shebesh and Kamanda were embarrassing the President and called on the Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua to crack the whip on her.

“Kamanda and Shebesh are misleading our supporters that the President does not support Mariga. It is unfortunate that they have been allowed to take that route and disciplinary action should be taken against them. The two should respect the President who is our party leader deputised by DP William Ruto,” he said.

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Drama as Kimilili MP Denies CAS Chance to Address House Committee

by The Star
written by The Star

Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa caused a stir in a committee meeting after rejecting attempts to have Chief Administrative Secretary respond to his questions.

Barasa who was appearing before the National Assembly’s Health Committee chaired by Sabina Chege on Tuesday said the CAS position is not recognised in law.

The lawmaker insisted that only the Health Cabinet Secretary or in his absence Principal Secretary are mandated by law to appear before House committees to respond to questions from members.

“There is a good reason why we said that the person to appear before a committee must be either a policymaker or an accounting officer,” Barasa told the committee.

“The National Assembly is the apex of people’s sovereignty, I can’t allow the person who holds a position not defined in the Constitution. I am convinced 100 per cent of the Speaker’s ruling that whoever appears before the Committee should not be lower than the PS.”

Attempts by Committee members to prevail upon the lawmaker to give CAS a chance to read the CS’s signed response was futile.

CAS Rashid Aman was representing CS at the Health Committee.

Barasa had asked the CS to state statistics of cancer patients who have travelled outside the country in the last five years to seek treatment.

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Kalonzo to Monitor Mozambique Elections

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka will be among four other dignitaries that have been picked as the Commonwealth team to observe elections in Mozambique.

The elections that will be held on Tuesday, October 15, will also see former Zambia Solicitor-General and former Attorney-General Musa Mwenye, Head of Africa Programme, Chatham House Dr Alex Vines, South Africa Electoral Commissioner Dr Nomsa Masuku, Ms Emma Lee Wilson, a Cambridge University lecturer as part of the observation group

In a press released on Monday ahead of the elections, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said the elections are crucial for the further consolidation of peace and democracy in Mozambique.

“I am pleased that through this group of eminent persons, the Commonwealth will once again be present to demonstrate its support to the people of Mozambique,” she said. 

Scotland said that the recommendations the group will make in its final report will contribute to the strengthening of Mozambique’s democratic culture.

The Commonwealth Observer Group will be in Mozambique from October 10 to 20, to consider the pre-election environment, election preparations, the vote on election day itself and the immediate post-election environment, including the results process.

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Keep Off Government Affairs, Ruto And His Allies Warn Raila

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Deputy President (DP) William Ruto has warned opposition politicians to keep off affairs of the government in a veiled attack on Raila Odinga.

Speaking in Meru on Sunday, DP Ruto said he would continue crisscrossing the country because that is his constitutional mandate.

“Wale watu wanashida na mimi kutembea Kenya waende wasome katiba..Watu wa upinzani wafanye kazi yao (Those of who have issues with me criss crossing the country should go and read the Constitution, those in the opposition should stick to their work),” said the Deputy President.

Several Jubilee MPs who attended the church service at Kithirune Methodist Church in Central Imenti urged civil servants to ignore roadside orders issued by Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila.

The MPs said Raila has no power to issue such orders, adding that such directives can only come from government officials.

Speaking during a prayer service at Kithirune Methodist Church of Kenya in Central Imenti, Meru County on Sunday which was attended by Deputy President William Ruto, the leaders said Raila was taking advantage of the handshake.

The MPs said Raila was usurping President Uhuru Kenyatta’s powers.

Among the lawmakers who attended the service were: Raheem Dawood (North Imenti), Moses Kirimi (Central Imenti), Mugambi Rindikiri (Buuri), Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira), Silvanus Osoro (South Mugirango) and Halima Mucheke (nominated)

Mr Gachagua dismissed Raila’s directive to stop dredging works in the Indian Ocean to allow divers retrieve bodies of Mariam Kighenda and her daughter Amanda Mutheu.

“Those orders are his own jokes. We urge all civil servants to ignore Mr Odinga’s directive; he has no authority over such,” he said.

Mr Osoro criticised Raila, telling him that such orders can only come from the President.

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Moses Kuria Warns of Impending Dangers Should Country go Into 2022 While Divided

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria has warned that the country risks sliding into violent chaos if it goes into the 2022 amidst deep political divisions.

Speaking during K24’s punchline show on Sunday night, Kuria said that if the country goes into 2022 politics while still divided, “God may not save us this time”.

The MP was speaking in reference to the past post-election violence that saw the country burn.

 “The first thing to do is to agree that we can’t continue fighting in this country. The President and Deputy President is the big elephant in the room…Can we continue in investing in chaos. But for some people chaos is an ingredient for success,” said the Gatundu South MP.

Also Read: Raila is a Tough Sell in Mt Kenya-Moses Kuria

The vocal MP said that he supports the Building Bridges Initiative, especially the bid to expand the Executive by including posts for a prime minister and deputy prime ministers.

But the Gatundu South MP said there is no need for a referendum since many of the constitutional changes he proposes can be done through Parliament.

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Raila is a Tough Sell in Mt Kenya-Moses Kuria

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria says that Raila Odinga is a tough sell in Mt Kenya despite his dalliance with President Uhuru Kenyatta following their handshake.

Kuria, who was appearing on K24 TV’s Punchline show on Sunday, said that Mt Kenya region is uneasy with Raila’s push for a parliamentary system.

“I am not sure that Mt Kenya have come to consider who they are going to vote for. Do you want the truth or the cousin of the truth?…tough sell,” said Kuria when asked about if Mt Kenya is ready for Raila as suggested by Kirinyaga County governor, Anne Waiguru.

The Gatundu South MP said central region residents are uneasy about Raila’s proposal for parliamentary system since it would disadvantage them.

“Maybe that is what scares them about such a line up. In 10 counties in what we call 10 plus three…with all that and 6 million votes, we have got only 64 constituencies out of 290 and unless that is redressed we are going to have a big issue. Every time they hear about Raila Odinga, they say he wants to introduce a parliamentary system and our 64 constituencies don’t count for much. They think it is loss of their historical advantage,” said Kuria.

The MP, who plans to be on the presidential ticket in 2022 to battle it out with his party leader, said Mt Kenya region MPs are divided but have been receiving “love” from Deputy President William Ruto.

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Ruto’s Lawyer Slams Standard Media Over Controversial Headline, Again

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Just a day after Deputy President Dr William Ruto cursing out Nation Media Group over a controversial headline that ran on Thursday, his lawyer in the case case involving Weston Hotel Ahmednasir Abdullahi has slammed Standard Newspaper over another headline.

The Standard on Friday morning ran a headline titled “Bank Fights to Get Back one billion from Ruto hotel”, which Ahmednasir has termed as fraudulent.

While referring to the Mombasa road-based media house as a gutter press, the Grand Muller said false reporting is the paper’s stock in trade.

This is not the first time the DP has been at a tussle with media houses over headlines.

Early last month, Ruto lashed out at The Standard newspaper over what he termed as ‘desperate gutter journalism lies of drama.’

The DP’s remarks were in reaction to an article published by the newspaper which reported an alleged airport drama involving one of the DP’s men when President Uhuru Kenyatta arrived in the country from Japan on Thursday.

In august, Ruto again had put the Standard newspaper on the spot over a story they had published.

The DP referred to the publication’s article titled, ‘BBI A Waste of Taxpayers Money’, as misleading and alarming.

He, therefore, took to his Twitter account, where he expressed his displeasure with the said newspaper.

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Kalonzo, Musalia, Wetangula to Miss out on ODM’s Sh6.2 Billion

by The Star
written by The Star

Nasa principals Kalonzo Musyoka, Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetang’ula have been dealt a blow in their push for a piece of ODM’s Sh6.2 billion cash from the exchequer.

In what could spell doom for the already moribund opposition coalition, Kalonzo’s Wiper, Mudavadi’s ANC and Wetang’ula’s Ford Kenya will miss out on the cash.

Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu has declared that the Raila Odinga – led party is not under any obligation to share its political parties cash with coalition partners.

The registrar explained that the coalition agreement deposited with her office does not provide for the sharing of funds.

“Ordinarily, when dealing with coalitions we go by what the parties agreed in the MoU. If that MoU gives a formula of sharing of funds, then we go with that. But if it does not, then we go by the [Political Parties] Act,” she said.

“In this particular case, the MoU did not stipulate such a formula and therefore we cannot enforce the sharing of the funds. We go by what the Act provides.”

Nderitu was responding to Mavoko MP Patrick Makau of Wiper who sought her intervention to compel the ODM Party to share the monies with other coalition partners.

“There were some rumours that ODM recently received Sh6.4 billion. Is there a way you can intervene to ensure the parties in the coalition get the money?” the MP asked the registrar who appeared before the National Assembly Public Accounts Committee to respond to 2016-17 audit queries raised by Auditor General.

NASA co principle Musalia Mudavadi with Kalonzo Musyoka at City Hall Balcony after being cleared by IEBC officials on May 28,2017.PHOTO/ENOS TECHE.

The issue of sharing the money has been emotive and is threatening to sound the death knell for the once vibrant opposition coalition.

Wiper, Ford Kenya and ANC have accused ODM of bulldozing them and pocketing the millions it receives from the National Treasury.

In its financial statement published in the dailies on Monday, ODM indicated its expecting Sh6.2 billion from the National Treasury.

This is money that has accrued over the years including Sh4 billion that was awarded by the Court of Appeal after a protracted legal battle with the Jubilee administration.

With the handshake, there is little chance the government will appeal the ruling giving ODM’s a war chest as the 2022 polls beckon.

The Political Parties Act, 2011, which established the Political Parties Fund, dictates that not less than 0.3 per cent of the last audited account should be allocated to political parties.

Currently, the money is shared between ODM and the ruling Jubilee Party.

“In this particular case, the MoU did not stipulate such a formula and therefore we cannot enforce the sharing of the funds. We go by what the Act provides,” Anne Nderitu

Some 15 per cent of the fund goes to the registrar’s office for administrative purposes.

The fund is based on the number of seats a party wins and votes cast for the party’s candidates.

Statistics obtained by the Star show that Jubilee has received the highest amount – Sh816.05 million – since 2017 by virtue of the number of elective seats it won in the last elections.

In 2017-18, it got Sh240.37 million, followed by  Sh434.64 million in 2018-19.

In the current financial year, the ruling party is entitled to 564.16 million. However, it has so far received only Sh141.04 million 

ODM has received Sh381.09 million since 2017.

In 2017-18 it got Sh112.25 million and Sh202.98 million in the following financial year.

In this financial year, the party has so far received Sh65.86 million out of Sh263 million is it was allocated.

In June, the orange party was awarded Sh4.1 billion by the Court of Appeal after a long battle.

In the landmark ruling by a three judge bench, the court directed Parliament to allocate ODM the money backdated to November 1, 2011.

ODM moved to court, demanding that it should be paid the arrears which had accrued over four financial years between 2011 and 2016.

Yesterday, the registrar said her office has not received the money.

“The judge awarded Sh4.1 billion but i think they might have claimed more because of the accruals. But what we know is Sh4.1 billion,” Nderitu said.

Yesterday, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna attacked the Nasa affiliate parties and reiterated that the party will not share the money with them.

According to Sifuna, the partners have betrayed, back-stabbed and disrespected ODM and insisted that the coalition should be dissolved.

“When Mudavadi comes from US, he should be the first person to sign the dissolution agreement and forward it to Wetang’ula and then to us so that we can formally disengage. We are no longer in coalition. We are not friends. Why should we pretend?” he said.

“Even a girlfriend or slay queen must take care of the boyfriend for her to be given money for rent. You cannot abuse a sponsor and you still want his money. These people refused to come for swearing in, today [yesterday] Musalia attacked the handshake and they are fielding a candidate in Kibra. Are those people you can give your money?” Sifuna posed.

But Wiper Party executive director Jared Siso and ANC secretary general Barack Muluka tore into the registrar and the orange party for attempting to collude to deny their parties their rightful share of the funds.

Siso and Muluka claimed that the MoU provides for sharing of the cash and threatened to move to court to force the registrar, the National Treasury and ODM to share the money with them.

“She just hasn’t read the MoU. I think it is a big embarrassment that she has not read the MoU. If she hasn’t, her officers should have read it for her,” Muluka said.

Siso said that his party will explore avenues including dialogue and going to court to get the cash.

“We still believe there is room for dialogue although our patience is slowly fading. We will exploit all possibilities and divorce will be the last,” he said.

According to Siso, the MoU provided for the sharing of the funds among the four parties but the exact formula was to be developed by the co-chairs of the coalition.

“ODM is using a different clause that states that upon winning election, the co-chairs of the coalition will sit down and design a formula of how the money should be shared. The formula is not yet out because we appear to be reading from different scripts,” he said.

In June, attempts by the registrar to mediate the parties to agree on a formula of sharing the monies flopped after ODM remained adamant. The parties have also been negotiating to agree on a formula.

Wiper, ANC and Ford Kenya have claimed that they contributed towards the campaigns of the coalition’s presidential candidate – Raila – in both 2013 and 2017 and should therefore get the political parties funds.

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Angry Ruto Blasts Nation Media Over Controversial Headline, Terms it Bankrupt

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Deputy President Dr William Ruto has been in a tussle with Media houses not less than once over controversial headlines.

Just recently, the DP has been been seen blasting the Standard Media Group on several occasions over controversial headlines that run with his name, and now, he has turned his anger to the Nation Media Group.

On Thursday morning, Daily Nation newspaper ran a headline titled “Murumbi Land Ownership Row Haunts Ruto”.

Responding to the headline, the seemingly angry Ruto said that the news was fake and sponsored.

Accusing the media house of being bankrupt, Ruto said that it has become hard for them to make a sale without his name on the headline.

“The now persistent, obviously sponsored FAKE NEWS by hired bankrupt media that finds it difficult to make a sale without the name Ruto. Bure kabisa. Riswa! ” Ruto tweeted.

Two months ago, Ruto put The Star Newspaper on the spot over a story on their cover page.

Ruto referred to The Star’s cover story that was titled ‘Ruto Allies Plot to Scuttle Uhuru-Raila Referendum’, as fake news.

According to the Deputy President, it was uncouth of newspapers, to use his name to sell stories even when he was not involved in the said news.

The DP has also been at odds with Standard Newspaper several over controversial headlines.

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Governor Kivutha Kibwana Fires a Warning to Senate

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana has cautioned a Senate committee against being used by malicious people to taint his good reputation.

Kibwana accused the Senate’s watchdog team of accepting documents that are not procedurally correct before the House.

The governor was speaking on Tuesday at the Makueni County Assembly when he appeared before the committee to answer questions over alleged loss of Sh1.4 billion through fraudulent procurement, conflict of interest and money laundering by this administration.

Senators queried the quality of the Auditor-General’s report that gave the Kibwana administration a clean bill of health in the 2017/18 Financial Year report.

“I am beginning to question the rigour and the seriousness the auditors who were sent to Makueni County had. I am beginning to think that is a lazy report,” said committee chair Moses Kajwang’.

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Politics

Duale’s Dual Citizenship Lands Him in Hot Soup

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Garissa Township Member of Parliament Aden Duale is yet again facing another hurdle after it emerged that he holds dual citizenship.

Activist Okiya Omtatah has written to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to probe members of parliament who hold dual citizenship, among them being Duale.

It is against the Kenya’s constitution for anybody with a foreign citizenship to hold any state office. 

Through his later to EACC, Omtatah has published names of eight members of Parliament and two senators who are suspected to be holding dual citizenship. 

He further requested EACC to disclose their findings within 15 days said that it is important for the lawmakers to adhere to the laws they expected the diplomats to adhere to. 

“In the spirit of adhering to the rule of law and applying the law consistently and equally to all, it’s of overwhelming national importance and public interest that our legislators submit themselves to the same standards they have set for diplomats,” reads part of Omtatah’s letter. 

Four MPs from North Eastern region are said to be having Somali citizenship  and they include; Adan Bare Duale (Garissa), Adan Haji Ali (Mandera South), Mohammed Dahir Duale (Dadaab) and Lagdera’s MP Mohammed Garane. 

Kamukunji lawmaker Yusuf Hassan Abdi and his Marsabit counterpart Safia Sheikh Abdi are said to be holding United Kingdom nationalities while Naivasha’s Jane Kihara is allegedly registered as US Citizen.

In the Senate, Narok Senator Ledama Olekina and his Nakuru counterpart Susan Kihika are registered as United States’ citizens. 

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