Home Tags Posts tagged with "President Uhuru Kenyatta"
Tag:

President Uhuru Kenyatta

Just days after businessman Suleiman Shahbal bowed out of the Mombasa gubernatorial race, details of how President Uhuru’s hand played a role in the decision have emerged.

Shahbal last week shocked many when he announced that he had dropped his governor bid in support of Mvita MP Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir.

While making the announcement, he said that he had reached the decision after thoughtful consideration of the needs and aspirations of the people of Mombasa, long deliberations with ODM party leader Raila Odinga and advice from the chair of Azimio la Umoja Coalition, President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Details have, however, emerged that Shahbal had rejected calls to step down in favor of Abdulswamad.

This is even after Raila made several attempts to convince him, including chairing a meeting with him in Nairobi.

According to sources that spoke to one of the leading local dailies, Raila made a phone call to President Kenyatta to seek his intervention.

It is President Kenyatta together with Raila who then reportedly told Shahbal that his hardline stance had created divisions among ODM supporters.

They urged him to step down given that three opinion polls had shown Nassir was ahead.

Shahbal found himself between the sitting president and the possibly incoming president, leaving him with no option.

Meanwhile, Shahbal has accepted an offer to join Raila’s Presidential campaign team.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail

Bumula MP Mwambu Mabonga has asked president Uhuru Kenyatta to address the nation over the rising cost of living.

According to the lawmaker, the recently-read national budget dies not consider the struggling Kenyans.

The 2022/2023 budget proposal was delivered on 7th of April 2022 by Treasurer cabinet secretary Ukuru Yattani, coming out earlier than the usual dates of June.

Mwambu, during a public engagement with the residents of Siboti ward in Bumula constituency said Kenyans are suffering but it doesn’t seem to ring a bell to the president to come out and address the nation over the same and give a way forward over the ailing state of the economy.

“The president has kept quiet over the recent reading of the budget yet it has raised a mixed reaction among Kenyans, he needs to come out and say something on it because we can’t continue operating like this as a country,” he said.

He went ahead to say that President Kenyatta and his alleged project, the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya flag bearer Raila Odinga do not relate to the problems of the common Wananchi.

Mwambu went ahead to drum up support for his UDA party boss William Ruto saying that he is the real hustler and can relate to each and every problem.

The quick-witted law maker went ahead to call out the Bungoma county boss Wycliffe Wangamati over his empty promises after he failed to deliver the promise of drilling water in the wards which has resulted in water shortages in Bungoma county.

Mabonga further asked the residents to vote for the leaders who can deliver and not those who come with lies and not receipts.

He, however, asked his opponent Jack Wamboka to stop causing chaos while seeking support from the residents saying that politics should not always involve chaos and insults, and should instead let the residents decide saying that for him he knows that he will beat him hands down.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail

Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa has rubbished claims that he is set to ditch Deputy President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) for the ruling Jubilee party.

The lawmaker says he is still strongly behind Ruto and that he is determined to see him take over the government come 9th of August.

Addressing his constituents in Kibingei ward at Khwiroro market, Barasa said that he indeed had a talk with the Jubilee party members but he has not declared to have moved from the United Democratic Party(UDA) terming it as propaganda.

“I met with the Jubilee party members and because of my good work, they asked me to join and work with them, just before I make a decision, they have already started walking around propagating lies that I have ditched UDA,I want to tell them that I am strongly behind William Ruto, ”he said.

This comes after an MP and MCAs allied to Ruto in western region decamped from the party led by the former UDA chairman John Waluke and joined the Jubilee party who’s leader is president Uhuru Kenyatta.

Barasa went further to urge the residents to bank their trust in him and his party boss William Ruto saying that with him, the country will be able to revive the ailing economy making sure that every Kenyan gets a sustainable living.

“The current government doesn’t care about the hustling Kenyans and that’s why I am asking you to vote in the leaders who can relate to the problems that common people go through, ”he said.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail

Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula has lashed out at President Uhuru Kenyatta for imposing a president of his choice to the people.

The Ford Kenya party leader while speaking at Ford Kenya offices in Bungoma told the head of state to focus on finishing his term and retire peacefully.

Wetangula who had met Ford Kenya aspirants from Bungoma said that President Kenyatta should dare to embrace politicking above tribes and community asking him to pave way for the Kenyans to choose the leader of their choice.

This comes barely hours after the Sagana 3 meeting whereby President Kenyatta openly declared his support for ODM leader Raila Odinga.

“Take the example of your predecessor the former president Mwai Kibaki, when he finished his term he let Kenyans decide on who to be their President and God gave you the grace to be and so you should also do that and let the people decide, ”he said.

Wetangula went further to say that the constitution does not grant Uhuru the power and the authority to impose a puppet on Kenyans telling him to stop using the public resource in support of his own choice.

“Mr. President stop using public resources to determine your successor because am sure the Sagana meeting spend public resources. If there is public resources to play public politics then access that money to everyone and let us fight, ”he said.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail

Self-declared Hustler Nation spokesperson Dennis Itumbi has given the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) a 24-hour ultimatum to make public a comprehensive list of those who reportedly benefitted from the Kemsa scandal.

A damning investigative story by NTV last year had exposed how a few individuals siphoned billions of shillings from the medical supplies agency through fraudulent tenders.

This forced President Uhuru Kenyatta to order investigation into the matter and submit a comprehensive report to him within 21 days.

Through a social media post on Tuesday afternoon, Itumbi has threatened to make public a list of the beneficiaries of the scandal, after the expiry of the 2-hour ultimatum at 1400 hrs on Wednesday.

The former State House employee claims that his team of investigators from the Hustler Nation Intelligent Bureau (HNIB) have gathered the evidence.

He noted that HNIB which works for Deputy President William Ruto’s UDA party will make public the companies and the real beneficiaries of the scandal.

“It shall be done via a live Social Media Address right on this space. HNIB promised months ago, we would investigate and AFTER 8 months we have completed our investigations,” reads part of Itumbi’s post.

For security reasons, Itumbi noted that the information is secured with fifteen other people.

Below is Itumbi’s Facebook post.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail

President Uhuru Kenyatta has moved to the court of appeal to file a notice of appeal against the High Court’s order that requires him to appoint six judges he had rejected over alleged integrity issues, within 14 days.

The President had refused to appoint the six judges citing intelligence briefs from the National Intelligence Service (NIS).

However, the Judicial Service Commission, which did the vetting of 41 judges to be appointed argued that the brief did not provide evidence.

The President has said he is not happy with the ruling rendered a week ago by Justices George Dulu, William Musyoka and James Wakiaga. Through lawyer Wawru Gatonye, he intends to appeal against the entire 69-page judgement.

The appeal comes two days after Attorney General Paul Kihara Kariuki also filed a similar notice, signaling that the impasse may continue.

The attorney general lodged his notice through deputy Chief State Counsel Emmanuel Bitta.

The President and the AG are aggrieved by the court’s ruling that the Head of State can be sidestepped in the appointment of judges.

Both want to challenge a finding by the court that should the President fail to make the appointments and facilitate an oath-taking ceremony within 14 days, he will lose control of the process and the judges will be deemed dully appointed.

The judges at the center of the legal dispute are George dunga, Aggrey Muchelule, Joel Ngugi and Weldon Korir, together with Mombasa Chief Magistrate Evans Makori and High Court Judith Omange.

When the 14 days given to the president lapse, it will be presumed his power or authority on the issue will be deemed duly appointed to their respective offices, said the High Court.

Subsequently, Chief Justice Martha Koome and JSC will be at liberty to take all necessary steps in having the nominees sworn in and assigned duties.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail

President Uhuru Kenyatta has made new appointments in state corporations. He has placed Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat as the new chairperson of the agricultural development board for three years.

Former Attorney General Githu Muigai has also been appointed as the none-executive chairperson of Council of Legal Education.

The head of state also reappointed Kathleen Openda and Andrew Musangi as chairpersons of Kenya Institute of Mass Communication council and Public Procurement Regulatory Board respectively. Here is the full list of the appointments:

Dorothy Kimeu- Chairperson of Special Economic Zones board

Dr. Andrew Kiplagat- Chairperson, Kerio Valley Development Authority board.

Ben Oluoch Olunya- Chairperson, Expoert Processing Zones Authority

James Mureu- Chairpersons Micro and Small Enterprises Authority

Patric Obath- Chairperson, Board of Directors of the National Oil Corporation of Kenya

Kioko Kilukumi- Chairperson, Energy and Petroleum Tribunal

Dr. Dinah Mwinzi- Chairperson Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute board.

Joe Ager- Chairperson National Mining Corporation board

Prof. Elishiba Njambi Kimani- Chairperson- Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development

Eva Adega Oduor- Non-executive Chairperson, Kenya Accreditation Service board

Nick Nesbitt- Chairperson, Capital Markets Authority board

Philip Charo- Chairperson, Coast Development Authority

Edwin Kinyua- Chairperson, board of directors of the East African Portland Cement Company Limited.

Prof. Ben Sihanya- Chairperson, board of directors of of the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis

Peter Musei Ntoyian- Chairperson, board of directors of the Consolidated Bank

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail

Uasin Gishu Woman Representative Gladys Boss Shollei has hit out at President Uhuru Kenyatta over the Pandora Paper leaks. According to Boss, the president is blurring the link between morality and legality in connection to the wealth hidden abroad.

While speaking to Citizen TV, the woman representative slammed Uhuru Kenyatta saying that he disrespect his office by not leading in the front in the fight against corruption.

According to Boss, the leaks displayed by the Pandora Papers does not exactly reveal the illegality committed by the president but it shows his ‘immorality.’ She now says the president should declare what his he has abroad and in the country the same way DP Ruto’s property was made public by the CS for Interiror Fred Matiang’i.

“President Kenyatta has constantly been clear that we should declare our wealth. He has been leading in saying that he wants to fight corruption. We have the recent list of wealth owned by the deputy president revealed by the minister of interior in Parliament, they went into great details scrutinizing the DP’s wealth,” she said.

“And now the president has stated that it is a new era for transparency. Now that we know what they own out there, we can now also have a discussion on what they own in here. It may not be illegal, but it is immoral, because if you are leading country. Even if you have that money and it is legitimate, why not repatriate that money back into the country and therefore improve our economy?” she continued.

Boss Shollei added that it is not appropriate to lead a country that is suffering economically and you take your wealth out of the country. Especially if most of the wealth was created in the within. “So the immorality of it is important, and it is significant if the Parliament adjourn and discuss the matter,” said the woman rep.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s lawyer ICC lawyer Evans Monari is dead.

According to his family spokesman Ken Monari, the lawyer died on Monday night while undergoing treatment at the Nairobi Hospital.

The late had been admitted at the facility’s Intensive Care Unit for weeks.

He is said to have been battling multiple complications of his internal organs.

“It is with profound sadness that I would like to inform on behalf of the Ogeto family that Evans has gone to be with the Lord. May the almighty God rest his soul in peace. Thank you for your continued support,” Ken Monari said.

Evans Monari was an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and was a Partner in Coulson Harney, Advocates where he was the Head of Dispute Resolution and Arbitration.

He represented former Police Commissioner Hussein Ali who faced Crimes Against Humanity Charges in The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) arising from the 2007-08 post-election violence in Kenya.

He has been the co-vice chair of the International Bar Association Africa Forum, representing the Law Society on the Board of the Council for Law Reporting

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail

Fuel prices could be reduced this week as the government conducts a crisis meeting with stakeholders in the energy sector.

The meeting will be chaired by CS Fred Matiang’i and will focus on the high cost of electricity according to the findings of the report of the presidential task force on the review of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).

The team will discuss the challenges facing the energy sector and create a strategy to reduce the prices that have increased the cost of living.

Details of the meeting were revealed by the Super CS on Sunday when he stated the overhaul of scandalous Kenya Power will be among the key issues to be discussed.

While presiding over a fundraiser in support of Seventh-day Adventist Church in Isinya Kajiado County, Matiang’i said, “In light of the challenges facing the Ministry of Energy announced by the President, we shall this week start an aggressive programme to reduce the cost of fuel and electricity.”

The announcement comes a day after ODM leader Raila Odinga, while addressing a crowd in Bungoma hinted that the government would reduce the cost of fuel this week.

Dr. Matiangi’i said he would ensure the recommendations of the stakeholders’ meeting are implemented. The task force which is chaired by John Ngumi suggested an overhaul of Kenya Power and review of the PPAs between the company and private firms.

The task force noted the great difference between KenGen and IPP tariffs and electricity dispatch allocations and and lack of proper demand forecasting and planning as some some of the issues contributing to losses at Kenya Power.

Last week, Preident Uhuru Kenyata directed the Ministry of Energy to establish a path towards the reduction of the cost of electricity by over 33 percent within four months. In this anyone who spent Sh 500 per month for electricity shall by end of December 2021, pay shillings 330 per month.

On Wednesday, the President redeployed Energy CS Charles Keter and his PS Joseph Njoroge hours after receiving the report of the task force.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail

ODM leader Raila Odinga for the Central people has been for a long time portrayed as an ‘enemy’ especially in the 2007, 2013 and 2017 general elections. This was a tactic employed by his opponents to deny him support in the vote-rich region. However, this time as 2022 general elections nears, he has a chance to eke it out with his opponents for support.

Over the weekend, he made eight stopovers between Nanyuki and Nairobi, including Karatina, where he addressed an excited crowd chanting his name and displaying oranges, ODM’s symbol, which is a situation distinct from 2007 when he was jeered in some instances and chased out of a local hotel. After the Laikipia and Nairobi campaigns, he attended another important meeting with leaders and tycoons from Mt. Kenya, who embraced him and dubbed the forum, “the beginning of the search for President Kenyatta’s successor.”

He was hosted by the Mt. kenya Foundation, whose chairman is Mr. Peter Munga. They said that they were impressed with Mr. Odinga’s forays into Mt. Kenya on Monday. The meeting was vital because it composed of the wealthy supporters of Uhuru Kenyatta and his predecessor Mwai Kibaki’s campaigns. This meeting is a clear indication that Raila’s fortunes have changed.

Mr. Munga likened Raila’as entry into Mt. Kenya to Jesus’ triumphant entry to Jerusalem. He told Raila not to worry about getting mass support in Mt. Kenya but he should support the gradual positive changes. The foundation’s vice chairman Mr. Titus Ibui said the group is looking for President Kenyatta’s successor who will stick to the Constitution and offer them a conducive environment to run their businesses.

During his meeting with the Mt. Kenya leaders, Raila acknowledged the problems faced by boda boda operators and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). He said he had forwarded their issues to President Kenyatta. Raila said to improve the economy, the youths should be empowered.

Igembe North MP Maoka Maore said that he heard Uhuru Kenyatta complaining that the person who ought to have taken the button from him ran in the opposite direction. He said it is now the time for Raila to be handed over the button. The Mt. Kenya Foundation leaders said they would meet OKA leaders to learn their plans for the region.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail

Deputy President William Ruto and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga will jail each other after the 2022 electioneering period, Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala has claimed.

Malala who was speaking on Wednesday September 15, 2021 during an interview on a local radio station stated that whoever will become the fifth president between Raila and DP Ruto, will jail the other.

He argues that Raila will send Ruto to prison immediately after clinching power, and Ruto will do the same to Raila should he also succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.

This, according to Malala, is because the two leaders have deep-rooted enmity and bitterness that if either of them gets the top seat, they will seek to punish the other.

Malala who is rooting for a Musalia Mudavadi presidency argues that should Raila win the 2022 general election, half of the country will gladly welcome that win while the other half will frown over it.

As a result, he argued, the country will remain divided. The same outcome would be expected if Ruto becomes the next president.

The ANC lawmaker argues that for the country to avoid the looming division that will be brought about by Raila and Ruto, a neutral leader must be given a chance.

In his appeal to ODM leader and Ruto, he urged them to compromise their candidacy for the sake of the country, arguing that the nation needs healing from all manners of political intolerance.

He says that Kenyans should elect a leader who will not hold any grudge against another leader.

Malala insisted that the anger and bitterness that exists between DP Ruto and the former Prime Minister is beyond just politics, therefore, risks hurting the entire nation.

Raila who has not yet declared his 2022 presidential candidature is on the record saying that he will send all the thieves to prison should he become the next president.

Ruto on the other hand has been accusing Raila of causing Jubilee government’s failure to deliver on its promises to Kenyans.

The second in command has been accusing Raila of killing Jubilee party through his handshake with President Kenyatta.

Ruto has hence abandoned Jubilee and is now focusing on popularizing United Democratic Alliance (UDA) which he will use as his vehicle to presidency in 2022.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail

A senior government agency employee accused of leaking President Uhuru Kenyatta’s intelligence briefs to the Deputy President William Ruto’s rival camp has allegedly been moved.

Reports indicate that the employee was suspected of being a mole in President Kenyatta’s camp.

He was accused of leaking the contents of high-sensitive meetings to digital strategist Dennis Itumbi who has been leaking them through the now famous Hustler Nation Intelligence Bureau (HNIB).

The leakages worried a top government institution that said last week it had identified a key suspect, the senior agency employee who is said to have daily direct contact with President Kenyatta.

After he was moved, all leaks of intelligence briefs to the amorphous outfit abruptly stopped, but it looks that they have resumed.

Itumbi has continued to ‘declassify’ the briefs, with the latest on his social media accounts being the events leading to the withdrawal of GSU officers manning DP Ruto’s Karen residence who were on Thursday August 26 replaced by AP officers.

On Friday morning, Itumbi claimed that there is a Jubilee party parliamentary group meeting going on at State House, which is aimed at removing DP Ruto as Jubilee party deputy party leader.

Itumbi alleges that the plan is also to roll out anti-Ruto campaigns in Mt. Kenya. According to him, Uhuru allies from the region will be asked to start marketing ODM leader Raila Odinga in their region.

But who is now leaking these intelligence briefs to the rival camp now that the alleged mole was moved?

The leakages of the briefs started when President Kenyatta started meeting the former Prime Minister and Okoa Kenya Alliance (OKA) co-principals for a possible coalition ahead of 2022.

When President Kenyatta met Raila alongside ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetang’ula, Kanu’s Gideon Moi and Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya in Mombasa about two weeks ago, Itumbi leaked the details of the meeting to the public, through his Facebook account.

Last week, Dailytrends.co.ke reported to you that a mole within Uhuru’s camp had been exposed for allegedly leaking the briefs.

He was accused of leaking the contents of high-level and sensitive meetings to an operative of the opposing camp.

A senior senator two weeks ago gave the alleged mole a dress-down and complained that when President Kenyatta  and ODM boss met alone early this month, there was no leakage.

But when the leader was privy to the deliberations of the delegation that met the President in Mombasa, all the details and speculation spilt out.

The senator told the leader to his face that he was holding brief for their opponents and that the time had come to blow his cover.

But do you think the real mole has really been identified by Uhuru’s camp now that the leakages are still on?

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail

Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua has claimed that he spent millions of money to fund President Uhuru Kenyatta‘s presidential campaigns during the 2013 and 2017 general elections.

Gahagua who spoke during an interview on Monday August 2 alleged that it is President Kenyatta who approached him in 2012 to ask for the funding.

He went further to claim that he is the one who funded Uhuru’s campaigns in the entire Nyeri county during the 2017 October repeat polls.

Without revealing the exact amount he spent, the lawmaker noted that he acquired campaign cars, erected billboards, mobilized people to campaign for the re-election of President Uhuru.

He stated that he offered to sponsor Uhuru and his Deputy William Ruto‘s campaigns as a friend.

“In 2013, Uhuru came to me and I asked me to fund to his campaigns and nobody had an issue with me. I gave money to him as a friend. In 2017 during the repeat Presidential elections,  I told DP Ruto and Uhuru and leave Nyeri for me, where I used my money. I used millions to get cars, I erected billboards and mobilized people to run the campaigns,” he argued.

Gachagua earlier worked as Uhuru’s Personal Assistant in 2002 after the current President plucked him from the business world. 

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail

President Uhuru Kenyatta is in Lusaka, Zambia for the state funeral of the country’s founding president Kenneth Kaunda.

President Kenyatta landed in Zambia on Friday July 2, 2021 and signed a condolence book at the Agriculture Show Grounds in the upmarket Lusaka upon arrival.

He joins other African leaders who have arrived in the country for Kaunda’s send off, among them being Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera, Zimbabw’s Emmerson Mnangagwa and President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana.

Zambia's President Kenneth David Kaunda
Zambia’s founding President Kenneth Kaunda. Photo/Courtesy

Tanzania’s former President Jakaya Kikwete and Namibia’s President Hage Geingob are also in the country for the ceremony that comes ahead of Kaunda’s burial on July 7.

South African head of State Cyril Ramaphosa and Mozambique’s Filipe Nyusi, who is the African Union chairperson, have also arrived in the country regarded as their second home.

The State funeral is being held at the Lusaka Show Grounds and the casket bearing Kaunda’s body was placed at the centre of the venue as Zambians waving white handkerchiefs and international mourners followed the procession.

Kaunda, 97, died at a military hospital in Lusaka after an illness. He will be buried at the Presidential Burial Corner, where Michael Sata, Levy Mwanawasa and Frederick Chiluba were also buried.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail