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Ruto on Spot For Prematurely Launching a Sh5.3 bn Project

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Deputy President Dr William Ruto is known for criss-crossing the country launching various development projects with some Kenyans speculating that it is a strategy of earning himself a political mileage ahead of 2022 presidential race.

The DP has launched various projects in Western Kenya region and other parts of the country. But are all of these projects normally ready before he launches them?

Well, the DP is in a spot for prematurely launching a Sh5.3 billion irrigation project without the knowledge of line ministries.

According to the Standard, Ruto launched the Lower Nzoia irrigation and flood mitigation project on June 7 when it was not ready for commissioning due to pending compensation for land owners.

Water and Sanitation Principal Secretary Joseph Irungu on Tuesday told the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee there was no formal communication that Ruto was to launch the project. 

Mr Irungu said they were still addressing compensation delays for affected families in Busia and Siaya Counties.

The Opiyo Wandayi-led team also heard that the National Land Commission (NLC) and National Irrigation Board (NIB) were not involved in the launch.

NIB is the implementing agency while NLC is involved in land acquisition for the project that is meant to end perennial flooding as well as help to increase food production.

“There was no contact between the DP’s office and my office. Even my project engineer was not there. Compensation is a very sensitive matter, which we must handle well,” said Irungu.

However, Water Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui was present for the launch.

 

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The Hidden Intrigues Behind Aisha Jumwa’s Meeting With Raila

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Malindi Member of Parliament Aisha Jumwa on Tuesday was the talk of the day after she met ODM party leader Raila Odinga, a move that shocked many Kenyans.

Jumwa who is a rebel member of the ODM party is currently allied to deputy president Dr William Ruto. Her meeting with Raila at her Parliamentary Service Commission Office on Tuesday afternoon came after Raila’s ODM Parliamentary Group meeting at County Hall which Jumwa never attended.

In a tweet that was immediately pulled down, ODM said that the rebel MP was back to the party since it was her DNA and that she had vowed to support and campaign for ODM candidate in Kibra by-elections Bernard Imran Okoth.

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But later on, Aisha Jumwa denied having dumped DP Ruto nor endorsing Imran for Kibra seat.

She said through her social media account that Raila had only made a surprise visit to her Parliamentary Service Commission Office and that she was not even aware of the ODM Parliamentary Group meeting at County Hall.

Well, was the Opposition leader’s meeting at Malindi MP’s office a coincidence or was it planned?

Reports by a local daily says that Loyal women MPs allied to Raila were not amused after he visited the office of the rebel Malindi MP yesterday. 

Aisha seemed to have been in communication with Raila. After the  ODM Parliamentary Group meeting, Raila went straight to Aisha’s swanky office.

Surprisingly, this happened despite Aisha’s boycott of the ODM PG.

The women MPs were grumbling in the corridors of Parliament, wondering how Aisha manages to capture the attention of top political bosses across the divide.

She’s DP William Ruto’s cheerleader at the Coast and shortly after meeting Raila, she met Ruto alongside other Jubilee legislators in a bid to support Jubilee candidate McDonald Mariga’s Kibra parliamentary race.

Then what was it that ODM said she had vowed to campaign for Imran?

“This evening I did join the Deputy President William Ruto and other legislators and meet up with Devine church elders and pastors at Mash Park Hotel Nairobi in a bid to support Mariga for Kibra Constituency,” reads Aisha Jumwa’s facebook post.

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Governor Alfred Mutua Faces Arrest as His Session With Senate Flops

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

A Senate committee has recommended the arrest of Machakos County governor Dr Alfred Mutua.

The Senate County Public Accounts and Investment Committee was incensed on Monday after Mutua failed to appear before it for the third time.

Mutua was summoned to respond to audit queries in the 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18 financial years.

The Public Accounts and Investment Committee (PAIC) chaired by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang begins a three-day whirlwind tour of the three counties in Ukambani region to investigate alleged misuse of public funds.

Governors Alfred Mutua (Machakos), Kivutha Kibwana (Makueni) and Charity Ngilu (Kitui) have been summoned to appear before the Kajwang committee to respond to audit queries and petitions raised by both the Auditor-General and locals.

However, the committee was forced to cancel Monday’s session after the Machakos County Assembly said it will not be available to host the intended Senate PAIC sittings because it is on recess.

In a letter seen by the Nation, Assembly Clerk Felix Mbiuki said he was only notified by telephone of the planned sittings in their chambers but MCAs and staff are also participating in the County Assemblies Sports Association (CASA) national games in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.

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Raila Will be Homeless if Kibra is Taken Away From Him- Analyst

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga will be left homeless if Kibra constituency is taken away from him, political analyst Ambrose Weda has said.

Speaking on Monday morning during a morning talk show dubbed Morning Express on KTN News, Weda said that Kibra is like Raila’s home since he has represented it for a long time.

The analyst says that despite Raila’s native home being Bondo, his real political home is Kibra.

His remark comes a day after various aspirants in the forthcoming mini polls stormed Kibra on Sunday to launch their manifesto.

Jubilee Candidate McDonald Mariga, Ford Kenya candidate Khamisi Butichi, ANC’s Eliud Owalo and ODM’s Imran Okoth were in different parts of the constituency to woo voters.

While Mariga, Owalo and Butichi held rallies in different locations, Imran resolved to doing door to door campaigns after attending several church services in the region.

However, out of the three rallies, Mariga is believed to have had a huge crowd, which has been seen as a bigger threat to Raila’s ODM, an incident Kenyans say is an upper hand for Mariga.

Deputy President William Ruto has already expressed confidence that the Jubilee party will triumph in the coming Kibra Constituency By-elections scheduled for November 7th.

Ruto said that already, the Jubilee administration has transformed Kibra through the construction of roads and toilets, which he said had not been done for several years, despite the leadership of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

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Rutto Faults Government Eviction of Settlers in Mau Forest

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Former Bomet governor, Isaac Rutto, on Sunday faulted the govt eviction of settlers in the Maasai Mau trust land.

Rutto, who was appearing on K24 TV’s Punchline show with Anne Kiguta, said the Maasai Mau has not been gazetted as a forest and the 60,000 people being kicked out should be compensated.

Confronted with the findings of a task force created by the former prime minister Raila Odinga into the encroachment of the Maasai Mau, Rutto faulted the team for not writing a memo to the Cabinet that would have formed a basis for a bill to gazette the land as a protected area.

“Maasai Mau is not government land. It is not under the Kenya Forest Service. It is not gazetted as a forest. We have not reached a solution to the Mau issue because every other time a solution is being pushed from the top. I would like a situation in which there is a clear discussion and engagement between the government and local community,” said Rutto.

The former governor said that land from which settlers are being evicted from has three ward representatives, several schools and government-built roads, including one that was officially launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“There is a certain area in Maasai Mau that is a catchment area. Do a survey and give us the coordinates. Officially, it is not a water catchment area. It is just a statement,” said Rutto.

In August this year, the government halted the second phase evictions of settlers from the Maasai Mau forest but gave them 60 days to voluntarily vacate the area.

The 60-day notice was given after government administrators were accused of kicking out the settlers inhumanely.

A 10-member task force was also formed, headed by the Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya, to over devise a plan for the second phase evictions.

The team comprises members from Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Wildlife Service and the Ministry of Environment.

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Wetangula Trolled Over His Response on KCB’s Move to Take Over Mumias Sugar

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Bungoma County senator Moses Wetangula on Friday morning found himself in a hard tussle with Kenyans on Twitter after he issued his piece of advice on KCB’s move to put Mumias Sugar Company under receivership.

Ponangipalli Venkata Ramana Rao, who KCB appointed as the receiver-manager on September 20, arrived at the company premises around 3.30 pm on Tuesday escorted by police officers from Mumias Police Station ready to take control of the struggling factory.

Rao then went to the administration block and issued managers with his notice of appointment from KCB.

The move has attracted mixed reactions from a section of leaders, with Wetangula taking to his twitter account to give his comments.

He said allowing Mumias to go under receivership is a terrible mistake, arguing that receiverships have never saved any enterprise.

Wetangula further noted that he was going to bring together key leaders from the region to respond.

“Allowing mumias to go under receivership a terrible mistake. Recieverships have never saved any enterprise. With Gov holding substantial interests in kcb & msc the move on mumias is sinister. I will bring together key leaders from our region to respond,” reads his post.

But Kenyans on Twitter did not take any of his advice, going ahead to tell him off the matter.

Some argued that the same leaders from the region are the ones who sat and watched Mumias being mismanaged.

Some told him to kindly give other alternatives too as he responds, arguing that they can’t just say it won’t work without giving other sustainable solutions to the problem.

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Cancelled Kimwarer Dam Project Leaves CMC di Ravenna in Limbo

by The Star
written by The Star

The decision by President Uhuru Kenyatta to cancel the Kimwarer dam and scale down the Arror dam projects has left CMC di Ravenna staff and officials stranded. 

There has been no clear communication on the fate of the Italian firm which had been contracted by Kerio Valley Development Authority to put up the two dams.

“We are waiting to see what happens,” a senior official who did not want to be named said at the firm’s offices in Eldoret yesterday. 

The company is still operating an office in Eldoret despite the row over the Sh63 billion projects in Elgeyo Marakwet county.

Two month’s ago, CMC di Ravenna scaled down its staff from more than 190 to less than 30 at the liaison office on the 13th floor of the KVDA Plaza.

President Uhuru acted on a report by a technical team formed to look into the viability of the two dams to issue the directives. 

 The team found that the two dams had been overpriced and that Kimwarer was not viable. It proposed that the Arror project should be scaled down.

CMC officials had two months ago said they were ready to start construction work on the dams.

They could, however, not proceed with the plan because the firm had no access to the land for the projects.

Arror and Kimwarer dams chief engineer Eva Luongo was not at her office yesterday amid reports that the company may shut down the office due to the uncertainty on the projects.

Three months ago, Luongo indicated that they had finalised initial designs and moved machinery on site.

Among staff who had been deployed in Eldoret were 40 engineers who have since left the region with no work taking off.

The government had gazetted more than 6,500 acres, which were to be acquired from 1,000 families at Arror and Kimwarer.

The affected families have taken back their land after the government failed to relocate and compensate them.

Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos has asked the families to stay on the land and use it until they are fully compensated. 

“We would like to have the projects continue as planned once the government is through with investigations,” Tolgos said. 

Yesterday leaders from Keiyo said they would hold demonstrations at Kimwarer over the cancellation of the dam.

Organisers Micah Kigen and Paul Kibet said the demos at Kimwarer begin today.

“We want President Kenyatta to reconsider his decision on the dam that was the only major project for the government in Keiyo,” Kibet said. 

The dams’ scandal caused the suspension of Treasury CS  Henry Rotich. The CS and top officials from both the Treasury and the KVDA were charged in court.

PS Kamau Thugge, ex-PS Susan Koech, ex-KVDA boss David Kimosop and acting CEO Francis Kipkech, were among others charged. 

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Sonko’s Chaotic Reign And His Fallout With ‘Super’ CEC Kerich

by The Star
written by The Star

Since his appointment as ‘super’ CEC in July, it has been a question of when Charles Kerich would be kicked out of City Hall.

‘Mr Fix It’ as he is popularly known at City Hall, fell out with Governor Mike Sonko immediately after he was elevated to coordinate projects in the capital.

The veteran journalist was among the 16 top officials the governor suspended on Wednesday following the disaster at Precious Talent School in Dagoretti on Monday. Eight pupils died after a classroom block collapsed. 

Kerich was seen as the executive closest to Sonko and served in four dockets – Lands, Finance, Health and ICT – in two years.

He was a hands-on officer who the governor turned to ‘fix things’ whenever a crisis occurred at City Hall.

Insiders say that Kerich’s fate was sealed at a night meeting between the governor and two executives in July. The Star established that there was disquiet in Sonko’s cabinet over the appointment of Kerich as super CEC.

The executives, who were opposed to Kerich ‘meddling in their dockets’ by overseeing projects initiated by their sectors, made unfounded allegations involving him.

“They were not happy at all. Kerich had to go and that was known to many people at City Hall,” a source said.

Days later, Sonko hinted at a fallout with his ‘most trusted executives’ and threatened to sack six CECs and three chief officers for being disloyal and cutting deals behind his back.

He ranted in a Facebook post that some CECs had been recruited by cartels and were now making decisions without his knowledge.

“Imagine a CEC you trust most being absorbed by the so-called cartels to the extent of making sensitive decisions without consulting me as a boss,” the governor wrote on his Facebook page.

He claimed the Lands and Planning department was allowing Chinese developers to construct extra-floors on buildings against the law.

Sonko had in May appointed Kerich to the Finance docket from Lands and Planning sector which he had led for more than a year.

The governor then indirectly attacked Kerich during a meeting in Mombasa accusing him of disrespect and working with Sonko’s political enemies.

Yesterday, Kerich did not respond to calls for a comment about the allegations.

The Wednesday suspensions climaxed the chaotic and erratic rule that has defined Sonko’s administration.

He has sacked more than 500 officers, including top executives over claims of insubordination, corruption and disloyalty. He has reshuffled his cabinet more than eight times since he was elected in August 2017.

Early in January, Sonko suffered a huge blow when Janet Ouko bravely called it quits from his leadership.

In an interview with the Star at the time, Ouko said she had nothing against the governor but could not continue living under intimidation and fear.

Sonko subsequently linked Ouko with missing bursary funds at City Hall.

The governor also alleged she had colluded with cartels to operate an illegal account where Sh10 million in county funds were channelled.

In August 2018 he suspended Hitan Majevdia then CEC for Health and a former director Thomas Ogaro over what he claimed was laxity.

They were on the spot over lack of drugs and other medical supplies in hospitals. This was despite it being public that the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency had cut medical supply to all county hospitals over a debt of Sh234 million.

The same month, Sonko suspended John Ojwang from the urban planning department.

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Meet Nakuru MCA Giving Bungoma Politicians a Run For Their Money

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

A Nakuru County Assembly Member’s move to empower youths in Wycliffe Wangamati-led Bungoma County is giving a section of politicians from the region a run for their money.

Mr.Peter Palang’a , the Olkaria ward MCA has put his focus on Bokoli ward and the entire Webuye West constituency, a move that has started worrying some politicians interested in the regions ahead of 2022 general polls.

Pundits have it that Palang’a, the current Nakuru county assembly minority Leader is likely to face Mr.Dan Wanyama, the current Webuye West MP in 2022 but if the worst comes at the nomination stage, he is strategizing to unseat Bokoli ward MCA Jack Kawa.

An insight report by a local publisher, newsflash.co.ke has dug deep into Mr Panga’s development record, among it being his love for sports, thus organizing youth football tournaments.

“Mine is to give back to the society, despite being an MCA in Nakuru, I believe that as I age, I need to help my people, am not interested in local politics because am still the servant of Olkaria voters who trusted me with their votes, I will still serve them given another chance,” he was quoted by the local publisher.

Palang’a has organized three successful tournaments in Bokoli Ward involving almost all disciplines.

Political pundits hover that both Wanyama and Kawa who are renowned sport men’s have failed to organize such events which are youth friendly since they were voted for the first time in 2013.

The pundits suggest that the two are worried because if Palang’a contests for either of the seats it will be an up hill task for them.

He was born and raised in Sasa village, Bokoli Ward before moving to Naivasha where he played for the now defunct  Oserian Fastac.He later joined politics in 2007 on an ODM party where he has won thrice in a row.

But the Webuye West MP has dismissed Palang’a as an outsider who cannot mount a serious campaign in Webuye West.

“Palang’a is an elected leader in Nakuru, let him concentrate his politics there, if it is about the issue of empowering my people in his small way, he is welcome, I was reelected based on my development record,” he was quoted.

Bokoli MCA Jack Kawa in his comments stated he is ready for a fruitful competition but asked Palang’a to go slow on Bungoma politics because he will end up a disappointed man.

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How Ruto Misled Uhuru to Give up His Presidential Candidacy in 2013

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Details of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy Dr William Ruto’s marriage back in 2013 have emerged amid president Kenyatta’s 2022 succession debate.

Former Kiambu County governor William Kabogo has opened up on what brought about the marriage, and the secrets that downplayed the 2013 deal between the President Kenyatta and his deputy.

Speaking during KTN’s PointBlank show on Wednesday night, Kabogo claimed that Ruto misled Uhuru to give up the 2013 presidency.

Kabogo claimed he confronted Ruto for misleading Uhuru to give up his presidential candidacy when he maintained his running-mate slot.

He further said the pressure to have Uhuru out of the race was mainly because of the cases against them at the International Criminal Court, which was touching the two.

He wondered why Ruto was not ready to opt out of the race but backed Uhuru’s decision to back Amani National Congress party leader Musalia Mudavadi instead in a deal that was later divorced.

“I believe Kenyatta was put under immense pressure by interested parties. We went to his place and spent 10 to 15 hours talking with him,” he said.

“Ruto came and I was offended with him because he had agreed to give out Uhuru’s candidacy but maintained his.”

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The Secret Between Uhuru-Mudavadi 2013 Deal

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Do you remember the short-lived deal between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Amani National Congress party leader Musalia Mudavadi back in 2013?

Well, former Kiambu governor William Kabogo has revealed the secret between Uhuru-Mudavadi deal that was withdrawn a few moments to 2013 general elections.

Speaking during KTN News’ point blank show on Wednesday night, Kabogo recounted the dramatic U-turn by Uhuru to run for president in 2013 after he had decided to back Mudavadi for the top seat.

He claimed he confronted Deputy President Dr Wiliam Ruto for misleading Uhuru to give up his presidential candidacy when he maintained his running-mate slot.

Kabogo said the pressure to have Uhuru out of the race was mainly because of the cases against them at the International Criminal Court, which was touching the two.

He wondered why Ruto was not ready to opt out of the race but backed Uhuru’s decision to back Mudavadi instead.

“I believe Kenyatta was put under immense pressure by interested parties. We went to his place and spent 10 to 15 hours talking with him,” he said.

“Ruto came and I was offended with him because he had agreed to give out Uhuru’s candidacy but maintained his.”

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Uproar as Fire Guts Down Busia County Finance Offices in The Vicinity of a Fire Engine

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Kenyans have raised questions after a fire incident at Busia County finance offices destroyed crucial files on Wednesday morning.

Reports indicate that the incident happened in the vicinity of a multimillion shillings fire engine that is usually parked at the county headquarters.

The 2am inferno was confirmed by Busia County Communications Director Winnstone Mbada.

This comes two months after another inferno razed Kitui County County’s Finance Economic and Planning offices.

This has made Kenyans to question these incidents, with some arguing that the Busia county finance officers must have colluded to burn down the offices to avoid being audited.

Some have went on to sarcastically praise governor Sospeter Ojamong for allegedly playing out the game to avoid being audited.

Some are questioning why fire only burns finance offices and not any other offices at the counties. Migori County has also experienced the same.

Governor Ojamong has a pending graft case in court.

On November 12, 2018, EACC embarked into fresh investigation into alleged acts of corruption in the acquisition of solid waste management services from Madam R Enterprises Ltd in the 2013/14 financial year by Ojamong-led government.

Ojaamong and five others members of the County Executive have hence been charged with conspiracy to defraud the county by engaging in projects without proper procurement process.

The embattled governor has been indicted alongside Finance Executive Bernard Yaite, Chief Finance Officer Leonard Obimbira, Head of Treasury Accounting Samuel Ombui, Allan Omachari and Edna Odhiambo.

The charges against them state that on diverse dates between March 15 and September 25, 2014 all the accused persons conspired to defraud the Busia county government of Sh8 million by entering into an agreement for a feasibility study on solid waste management.

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Revealed: Oscar Sudi Knelt Down to Propose to Kitany on Behalf of Linturi

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

The case involving Meru senator Mithika Linturi and his estranged wife Merriane Kitany has taken a new twist after Kitany’s mother’s latest confession.

In her confession, Kitany’s mother has dragged in Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi whom she alleges knelt down before her daughter to propose on behalf of Linturi.

She says Sudi got down on one knee and asked for her daughter’s hand in marriage on behalf of Linturi during a church fundraiser.

“Oscar Sudi even knelt down at the same function and asked for Kitany’s hand in marriage on behalf of Linturi. It was the biggest function. Almost six choppers came for the fundraiser,” she was quoted by a local daily.

on Tuesday narrated how she invited Linturi for a church fundraiser in which he contributed Sh1 million out of the Sh4.2 million raised.

“I thank my son-in-law for coming for a fundraiser before the ceremony in my church,” she said.

Among those present at the fundraiser were Sudi, Elgeyo Marakwet Senaotr Kipchumba Murkomen, Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, Deputy Preident William Ruto’s aide, Farouk Kibet, Energy CS Charles Keter and Nandi Governor Stephen Sang.

Rhoda said Kitany informed her in 2014 that she, Linturi and their children were going to Australia to get to know each other.

In 2016, Kitany told her mother that she and Linturi wanted to visit her home for an introduction and she prepared for the function.

Rhoda said she invited all her friends and family for the occasion.

She said before the wedding, the fundraiser was the first time Linturi went to visit.

During the introduction, Rhoda said Linturi visited accompanied by 19 people and had a pick-up full of food.

Throughout the cross-examination, Rhoda referred to Linturi as ‘mheshimiwa’, saying her culture does not allow her to say the name of her son-in-law.

She said at the traditional wedding, Linturi was asked if he loved her daughter and he told them he did.

Rhoda said Linturi was asked if he was married and he said he was divorced.

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Imran’s Opponents Are Scared Of His Good Record-ODM Boss

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Raila Odinga-led Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has defended the late Ken Okoth’s move to appoint his brother Bernard Imran Okoth to be in charge of National Government Constituency Development Fund ( NG-CDF).

The party’s communication director Philip Etale says those decampaigning against Imran using his appointment to head NG-CDF are doing so because they are scared of Imran’s record.

He says the success of the late Ken in Kibra was as a result of Imran’s determination to have his brother achieve his election pledges to the people of Kibra.

Etale further urges those campaigning on the basis of that account to quote any report by the Auditor General that states financial misappropriation by the Kibra NG-CDF.

He notes that the late MP’s projects did not stall when he was incapacitated because of his ailment and had to seek treatment abroad.

Through a long social media post, Etale notes that Imran is the leader Kibra people deserve.

“I have seen some people posting on social media that the late Hon. Ken Okoth appointed his relative (Imran) to be in-charge of NG-CDF. Yes, it is a fact. No one is denying this.When Ken was incapacitated because of his ailment and had to seek treatment abroad, did his projects stall? No.Again, I want to ask those campaigning on the basis of that account to quote any report by the Auditor General that states financial misappropriation by the Kibra NG-CDF. Post it here.Imran’s opponents are just scared because of his good record.The success of Ken’s projects was as a result of Imran’s determination to have his brother achieve his election pledges to the people of Kibra.He is definitely the leader Kibra people deserve,” reads the post.

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Another Jubilee Politician Dismisses Mariga’s Kibra Candidature

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Just a few days ago, Jubilee party nominated MP Maina Kamanda threw his weight behind ODM candidate Bernard Imran Okoth in the forthcoming Kibra mini polls, hinting that more other Jubilee MPs were silently supporting ODM.

Well, they are now seemingly coming out to publicly dismiss Jubilee’s candidate McDonald Mariga.

Nairobi County Speaker Beatrice Elachi who is also a member of the ruling party has opposed Mariga’s candidature in the November 7 Kibra by-election.

According to Elachi, Mariga cannot fit into the shoes of the late MP Ken Okoth.

“For anyone going to Kibra, they must set the bar high just like Ken Okoth…Mariga cannot continue Okoth’s legacy,” Elachi told Citizen TV on Tuesday morning.

She said Mariga just woke up one morning to claim that he can govern the people of Kibra.

“I am sorry to say that..this is why I feel sad. When I wanted to vie in Dagoretti North, I did not just wake up and go there to vie,” Elachi retorted.

“I went there two years before the election and that is what leaders must do.. Understand the magnitude of what you are going into and how the people of Nairobi live.”

Elachi claimed that Mariga cannot just go to Kibra and yet he has never voted anyone in that area.

“You want to go to Kibra for its people to vote for you and yet you have never voted anyone?” she posed.

“Okoth has been sick for two years you should have gone and said you are a part of Kibra.. and say you have projects..”

Elachi said Mariga should have built a football academy in Kibra before claiming to want to govern its people.

“You are not campaigning..I can go to any county and you start a project. You are not de-campaigning the leader .. he is a good footballer. I would want to know how many academies are there,” she said.

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Huduma Namba System Outdated, Bound to Fail – IT Expert

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

A cybersecurity specialist from India has claimed that the Sh6 billion Huduma Namba system acquired by Kenya is archaic and will fail.

Anand Venkatanarayanan who has 21 years’ experience in the field was testifying in the case where Nubians have challenged the implementation of NIIMS.

Anand told a three-judge bench that the system has so many loopholes that can facilitate duplication, hence, the data is not secure.

“NIIMS thus is an archaic design compared to modern-day systems architecture and can be rightly thought of as a horse-bungee drawn by a lame horse on a digital highway. That it would fail and fall behind is a foregone conclusion,” he said.

He further argued that data leaks by centralisation and that this is not a perception but an outcome that can neither be avoided nor mitigated.

He said that in computer security, nothing is truly secure and there are only costs of benefits of hoarding data.

“Centralised databases such as Aadhaar and NIIMs, however, hoard so much data that the cost of benefit ration tilts definitely in favour of the attackers,” he added.

Anand claims that every study done in India of the Aadhaar Project which is very similar to NIIMS indicated that the costs are too high compared to the benefits it offered.

He claimed that the NIIMS project is functionally, architecturally and technologically very similar to Aadhaar project and suffers from the same flaws.

“While the Kenyan government may promise that it will not repeat the same mistakes as Aadhaar project, it has not provided evidence of technological capabilities to honour the promise,” Anand said.

He said his assessment was based on the government’s gross misreading of how NIIMS is not very different from Aadhaar

Justices Pauline Nyamweya, Mumbi Ngugi and Weldon Korir also heard that the Biometrics authentication is defined as a comparison between the biometric parameters IRIS or fingerprint versus what was stored during enrollment, it would be hence right to call is as a biometric comparison across time.

According to Anand, a central database will inevitably leak and compromise the personal data of the residents. 

“For instance, the number of times the Aadhaar database has leaked is beyond counting as even simple google searches reveal,” the court heard.

While harmonising the various databases that contain resident’s data is a laudable goal, the Kenyan government has not done a detailed cost-benefit analysis of such an approach and other alternatives.

Earlier in the day another witness Grace Bomu an expert in Digital data said there was no law to protect children’s digital data rights.

Bomu said that the way NIIMS is currently designed will not protect the information of the children. 

Anand who was stood down yesterday will take the stand again this morning to continue with his testimony.

In the case, the three-judge bench had ruled that Kenyans should not be compelled or threatened to give their personal information to the state.

The court also barred the state from sharing or disseminating the information collected with any organisations whether international or otherwise.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, Kenya Human Rights Commission and Nubian Rights Forum had moved to court seeking the suspension of the collection of data from Kenyans under NIIMS.

The lobby groups argued the process interfered with an individual’s right to privacy.

CREDITS: The Star

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