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Uhuru Kenyatta

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday presided over the destruction of 8,700 illegal firearms and 366,00 pieces of assorted ammunition.

The event took place at the General Service Unit (GSU) Magadi field Training Campus in Kajiado County.

Last year, Kenyan civilians acquired 70,000 guns for personal use within two years even as private firearm ownership dropped among their counterparts in neighbouring Uganda and Tanzania, a new global report has revealed.

Geneva-based Small Arms Survey conducted last year said Kenyan civilians own 750,000 firearms up from 680,000 in 2016.

Most of the guns are illegal having not been registered by the licensing authorities.

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President Uhuru Kenyatta has been briefed by Education CS George Magoha and officials of KNEC on the results of this year’s KCPE ahead of their release today.

Speaking at State House, Uhuru commended the officials for conducting the national exams in a transparent and secure environment.

He praised the team for ensuring that the process was undertaken without any hitch, terming the exercise a major success.

Uhuru expressed gratitude to all stakeholders for ensuring that the whole examination process including marking of the papers was conducted within schedule.

Present at the meeting were Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua, Teachers Service Commission CEO Nancy Macharia and Acting KNEC Chief Executive Officer Mercy Karogo among others.

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The Central Organization of Trade Unions (Cotu) secretary general Francis Atwoli has been hitting the headlines with his prophecies, some of which have come to pass.

Do you remember his prophesy on Kibra by elections? Should we eve talk about former Sports CS Rashid Echesa?

Well, Atwoli has once again made another prophecy on 2022 politics.

The COTU boss now says that President Uhuru Kenyatta is destined to be the Prime Minister come 2022, after a new constitutional dispensation.

Speaking on Saturday during a funds drive at Evangelical Bible Church-Ilula in Uasin Gishu County, Atwoli said that the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) would give way to an expanded government that would accommodate leaders from different tribes hence kill the menace of post-election violence and tribalism.

He also said that Uhuru was too young to retire, and that he had a lot to offer the country.

“I said about three years ago that this country needs a constitutional amendment because those in leadership are still young to retire and a new law will accommodate them in leadership. I said that about six slots should be created to accommodate more leadership positions and prevent the usual politically instigated skirmishes experienced every election year,” he stated.

According to Atwoli, the BBI report, born following President Uhuru Kenyatta’s handshake with ODM leader Raila Odinga, would be passed with a landslide to give Kenya a new face.

“Kenyans will have an opportunity to give their opinions on the draft and I am very optimistic this is the best document that will address challenges that have been affecting the country every five years,” he stated.

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Raila Odinga-led Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has issued a statement following Prrsident Kenyatta’s Friday meeting with Mt Kenya leaders at Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri County.

In a statement written by the party chairman Hon John Mbadi, ODM says it has had the benefit of reviewing the importance of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s recent political activities especially his Friday meeting with leaders from Central Kenya region as part of the on- going effort to unite the country.

While thanking President Kenyatta for remaining focused on the Handshake and Building Bridges Initiative (BBI ), ODM say they are keen to see a united country at peace with itself .

They have also extended their gratitude to president Kenyatta for seeing the recent Kibra by election for what they thought it was: a strong indication that with unity and interest of the country at heart, a peaceful election is possible, not only in Kibra but in any part of the great Republic of Kenya.

Read the full statement below.

We have now had the benefit of reviewing and fully understanding the import of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s recent political activities especially his Friday meeting with leaders from Central Kenya region as part of the on- going effort to unite the country.

On behalf of the Orange Democratic Movement and all Kenyans who are keen to see a united country at peace with itself, I wish to thank President Uhuru Kenyatta for remaining focused on the Handshake and BBI, which are fundamental instruments in the effort to remake the Kenyan nation.

We also thank President Kenyatta for seeing the recent Kibra by election for what we in ODM thought it was: a strong indication that with unity and interest of the country at heart, a peaceful election is possible, not only in Kibra but in any part of the great Republic of Kenya. We join the president in thanking the people of Kibra for the significant role they played in ensuring that the elections were peaceful. With that, the people of Kibra won their place in history for taking a leading role in the remaking of the Kenyan nation. Everyone including the president took note, and history will surely record it that when this country decided to mend its ways, with Uhuru Kenyatta and Rt. Hon Raila Odinga providing leadership, Kibra acted affirmatively thereby making it clear that no part of this country is too volatile to know peace.
With Kibra having shown the way and now behind us, I urge Kenyans in general and ODM supporters in particular to remain focused on BBI and the new Kenya we expect it to give birth to.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and his brother Raila Odinga have said it before and the president said it again in Sagana; the handshake and the BBI are never about 2022 and any individual leader’s presidential ambitions. It is about Kenya and it’s posterity. It is about the country staying united and focused in addressing its pressing needs and urgent challenges through a consultative and inclusive process of national rebirth, now and into the future. We encourage President Kenyatta and Rt. Hon Odinga never to lose sight of this high goal they set for themselves. The two leaders must refuse to be distracted by side-shows. On behalf of all elected leaders in ODM and the people we represent, I assure the President and Rt. Hon. Odinga of unwavering support in this once in a life time journey of national rebirth.
God Bless Kenya.

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Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria is crying foul after being denied a VIP treat at President Uhuru Kenyatta’s meeting with Mt Kenya leaders at Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri on Friday.

Kuria has expressed his disappoint in the meeting, terming it a flop and a waste of time.

The MP who flew from Nairobi on a chopper to attend the meeting has told the Sunday Standard that those who spoke were predetermined and had been told what to say thus negating any effort at unity.

“Which unity are we talking about? I flew from Nairobi on a chopper, when I got to Sagana I was shown where to sit on the grass in the sun as if one needs to be shown where to sit in an open space. The meeting flopped,” said the Gatundu South MP.

Mr Kuria who had arrived in a chopper after the President was not even allowed into the VIP podium.

Tigania West MP John Mutunga who arrived late was also barred from the red carpet area even as Igembe North’s Maoka Maore who arrived after him was rushed through the red carpet and given a strategic sitting position.

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Details of a meeting convened by Deputy President Dr William Ruto’s allies immediately President Uhuru Kenyatta left Sagana State Lodge meeting on Friday have emerged.

It is understood that Ruto’s tanga tanga brigade coalesced once again to re-look their strategy after President Kenyatta contradicted Ruto on the Kibra by-election, the essence of the handshake and the 2022 deal with Opposition leader Raila Odinga.

According to the Sunday Standard, a late lunch at the Ngorano village home of Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua was hastily convened where 15 Ruto allies conducted a quick postmortem of Uhuru’s event.

Besides the host, those who attended the meeting were Susan Kihika (Nakuru Senator) and MPs Jayne Kihara (Naivasha), Mary Wamaua (Maragua), Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Kimani Ngunjiri (Bahati), John Kiarie (Dagorreti South) and Ndindi Nyoro of Kiharu.

Others were Woman Reps Catherine Waruguru (Laikipia) Beatrice Nkatha (Tharaka Nithi), Purity Ngirichi (Kirinyaga) and Rahab Mukami of Nyeri.

“I regret attending it. It was a waste of time and nothing was achieved. It was choreographed to achieve the organisers intentions,” Mr Kuria said of the Sagana meeting, lifting the veil of the disappointment among his colleagues.

Moses Kuria told the local daily that those who spoke were predetermined and had been told what to say thus negating any effort at unity.

According to sources who attended the Gachagua lunch date, the team discussed their alleged humiliation by the President and how to counter the same in the coming days.

Besides missing out on speaking slots, the bad chemistry between them and the President’s men was on full display in Sagana.

Sources in Tangatanga told the Sunday Standard that the Gachagua lunch floated the idea of popularising the rejection of BBI ahead of the anticipated presidential tours of the region.

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It is not less than once President Uhuru Kenyatta has gone or spoken against his Deputy President Dr William Ruto. The two have on several occasions differed on different issues.

On Friday during his meeting with Mt Kenya leaders at Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri County, President Kenyatta noted that he had for once witnessed the most peaceful campaigns in Kibra constituency, contrary to his deputy who has been attacking ODM leader Raila Odinga over what he claims to be violence witnessed during the just concluded Kibra by elections.

Well, President Kenyatta is again said to be dodging pressure from his deputy to have a major cabinet reshuffle.

It’s understood that Uhuru has been showing reluctance towards the topic even as Ruto camp insists on the need to effect a reshuffling that would also pave way for a new person at the Treasury docket.

The Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection, Ukur Yatani has been the acting CS National Treasury and planning since Henry Rotich was dropped on corruption allegations.

According to a local daily, Ruto has been arguing that Yatani is overburdened by the virtue of holding the two sensitive dockets.

However there are talks that, the DP is ordinarily pushing for his tribesman man to assume the position, which according to him is a reserve for the  Kalenjin, as dictated in the power sharing agreement between him and President Uhuru.

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Security was high in and outside Sagana State Lodge on Friday as President Uhuru Kenyatta held a meeting with Mt Kenya leaders.

The meeting was attended by over 4,000 leaders drawn from the larger Mt Kenya region. Others came from Nakuru, Lamu, Eldoret, Kajiado and Nairobi.

However, guests were barred from entering the meeting venue with their mobile phones, wrist watches, wedding rings, earrings, bangles and goggles. 

This is to ensure no proceedings of the meeting, whose agenda remained a highly guarded secret, are recorded. 

Further National government administrators such as regional and county commissioners, sub-county commissioners and chiefs were not present in the meeting where journalists were denied access. 

Despite indications that Cabinet Secretaries from Mt Kenya region were supposed to attend, none of them was seen in the venue.

This is the first time President Uhuru Kenyatta is meeting Mt Kenya leaders amid bitter succession politics, which have seen the leadership split into two groups.

The head of state denied promising opposition leader Raila Odinga 2022 support and gave indication he is open to Prime Minister position.

He pleaded with Central leaders not to abandon the government agenda through pressure to endorse candidates and early political campaigns

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President Uhuru Kenyatta has indicated that he is open to a Prime Minister position should it be created.

While denying promising opposition leader Raila Odinga of his support come 2022, the head of state pleaded with Central leaders not to abandon the government agenda through pressure to endorse candidates and early political campaigns.

He was speaking in a meeting at Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri County attended by more than 3,000 leaders on Friday.

He pleaded for calm and said leaders from the region started to discuss the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report too early.

“I do not know the contents of the BBI report yet I hear people claiming Uhuru Kenyatta wants to become the Prime Minister of Kenya. I wouldn’t mind being in leadership in such a post, though let us deal with the current situation first,” Mr Kenyatta said.

The President told the leaders to “analyse and understand” the past in order to secure their political future. He defended the handshake saying it was all about political stability and not 2022 politics.

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Acting National Treasury CS Ukur Yatani’s wife Gumato Ukur Yatani has landed two state appointments on the same day.

Dr Gumato was on Friday appointed by Education CS George Magoha as the chairperson of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Council where she will serve for a period of three years with effect from November 8, 2019.

She was also appointed by Industry Trade and Co-operatives CS Peter Munya as a member of the Taskforce on Standards and Quality Infrastructure Reforms in Kenya.

Part of the Terms of Reference of the Taskforce is to review and evaluate in comprehensive terms, the weaknesses and shortcomings of the entire Standards and Quality Infrastructure institutional architecture and arrangements.

They have also been tasked to analyse the entire ecosystem policy, legal and legislative frameworks of the various institutions/agencies and make appropriate recommendations to re-engineer the Standards and Quality infrastructure architecture.

Other notable appointees by President Uhuru Kenyatta in the Gazzette Notice include John Konchellah as chairperson of the National Environmental Management Authority for a period of three years.

Uhuru also appointed Margaret Kamar, Cecilia Mbaka and Anne Mugambi as trustees to the National Fund for the Disabled in the country.

Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri appointed a team of 13 to be members of Technical Team for the Implementation of Miraa Taskforce Report.

Among the functions of the task force, will be to review, identify and prioritize recommendations contained in the Miraa Taskforce Report for immediate implementation.

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Several leaders have been lined up to address President Uhuru Kenyatta’s meeting at Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri County where governors, senators, MPs MCA’s, county commissioners and representatives from various sectors have been invited.

According to the official programme, former Nyeri Senator Mutahi Kagwe will be the master of the ceremony.

The meeting will kick off after a prayer from Pastor Peter Munga representing the Kikuyu Council of Elders.

Wambui Nyutu will talk on behalf of the youths from the region highlighting the challenges that they are facing in the region.

Immediate past Equity Bank Group chair Peter Munga will be the other notable speaker, representing the business community from the region.

Polycarp Igathe, who is the Executive Vice President in charge of Vivo Energy’s sales across the oil marketing company’s operations in Africa will represent the professionals at the meeting. 

Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu will talk on behalf of Mt Kenya MPs.

He is a Jubilee MP allied to the Kieleweke section of the party which is pro-BBI and in support of the Handshake between Uhuru and ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Embu Senator Njeru Ndwiga will represent the senators from the region and address the high profile meeting. 

Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga and his counterpart Anne Waiguru from Kirinyaga will speak on behalf of governors.

There will also be a representative talking on behalf of Maendeleo ya Wanawake and the Matatus Association from the region.

The event will also be addressed by CSs Joe Mucheru (ICT), James Macharia (Transport), Sicily Kariuki (Health), Margaret Kobia (Public Service) and PSs Karanja Kibicho (Interior) and Kirimi Kaberia (Sports).

Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi will also address the meeting before inviting the President.

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Just a day after Deputy President Dr William Ruto cancelling his anticipated fundraising tour in Murang’a County, residents were on Sunday left in shock when Prrsident Uhuru Kenyatta failed to show up.

Instead, the head of state send some cabinet secretaries to represent him.

According to Murang’a senator Irungu Kang’ata, the divisive politics among Murang’a leaders are to blame for cancellation of the tours by the two leaders.

Speaking on Monday morning on Inooro TV, Mr Kang’ata said the meetings were planned separately.

According to Mr Kang’ata, the plan for President Kenyatta to visit Murang’a County was hatched in May when the senator, alongside other leaders, went to receive a school bus at State House.

“The bishop was among those who had accompanied me and we had a chat with the President and this is when we invited him for the service,” he said.

But despite having that agreement, they had not been given official communication to confirm the President’s visit, the Murang’a senator said.

“His coming was confirmed on Thursday but unfortunately this also changed at the last minute,” said Mr Kang’ata.

Kang’ata said the President did not deliberately avoid visiting Murang’a, but had official duties to attend to.

But the senator could not explain why Mr Kenyatta has been cancelling his tours into the area that is perceived to be his stronghold.

He denied claims that the President was losing touch with people in Mt Kenya region, adding that there is so much that the government has done for the locals.

“All is not lost, I am sure the President will be coming soon. I am just urging the people to exercise patience,” he said.

In regard to DP Ruto’s visit, Kang’ata claimed that the team organizing his tour had also not informed local leaders.

By coincidence, the two leaders had their visits planned on the same day in neighboring constituencies.

The cancellation of the visit by the two has also angered the locals, who are now blaming their leaders over their divisive politics.

Clear lines have been drawn between the leaders who support Mr Kenyatta, Kieleweke and Tanga Tanga camps.

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Deputy President William Ruto has reportedly cancelled a planned trip to Murang’a today (Sunday).

According to reports by Sunday Nation, the DP cancelled the trip to avoid a clash of itinerary with the President’s tour.

The two leaders were today expected to attend separate events within the same county.

Earlier Saturday, some of his handlers had indicated that he would visit the region but he would skip the church service-cum fundraiser he was scheduled to attend in Kandara and join President Uhuru Kenyatta at ACK Kenol.

However, according to the local daily, Ruto’s spokesman David Mugonyi later said that the DP had decided to shelve the visit altogether.

“The answer as to whether the Deputy President will be visiting Murang’a is ‘no’, nothing more,” Mr Mugonyi said curtly when contacted.

Another close aide of the DP said that he had not been aware that the President would be touring the area around the time he was scheduled to attend the fundraiser.

“We would not want to be seen as subjecting the two to supremacy contests of sorts,” he said.

Sunday Nation reports that Ruto’s change of plan was informed by a policy he adopted not to appear to antagonise the President in his backyard, a constituency upon which he hopes to ride to State House in the next General Election.

The DP is betting big on the central Kenya support to boost his presidential bid and has attended dozens of functions there since 2013.

Reports of the parallel visits elicited mixed reactions about the working relationship of the country’s top leadership at a time when speculation is rife that the marriage is on the rocks.

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Speculations of a rift between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto are set to be fueled further as the two leaders plan to make separate tours within same county on a similar day.

According to reports by Daily Nation, the two are expected in different churches in Muranga County on Sunday.

Muranga Governor Mwangi wa Iria, Senator Irungu Kang’ata and ACK Mt Kenya South Diocese Bishop Julius Karanu have confirmed to have received the official communication from State House while Kandara MP Alice Wahome and Dennis Itumbi have separately confirmed that DP Ruto will worship in Kandara.

The President will be at ACK church in Kenol, Maragua constituency, on the proposed Kenol-Nyeri-Sagana- Marwa dual-carriage highway while DP Ruto will attend a fundraiser in neighbouring Kandara constituency.

Senator Kang’ata told the local daily that the President personally communicated with him on Wednesday confirming the visit.

“We talked with the President on phone and he has reassured me that he will be in Murang’a. I invited the President earlier this year while we were in State House with Bishop Karanu. We had gone there to receive a school bus for Mukangu Secondary School,” he said.

Governor wa Iria added: “I have received the official communication from State House that the Head of State will be in Murang’a on Sunday although briefly in order to attend to other matters,” he said.

Bishop Karanu said they are eagerly awaiting the President’s visit.

“We are elated to host the President. He will be worshipping with us on Sunday and I have official confirmation,” the bishop said.
Maragua MP Mary Waithira, a Ruto supporter, said she would attend the President’s event as he will be visiting her constituency.

“It’s true that both leaders will be in Murang’a, but I will be hosting the President and so I won’t make it to Kandara,” she said.

Asked why the leaders invited the President and his deputy on the same day, the MP said: “The President and the Deputy President were invited separately and without knowledge aforethought.”

Itumbi said DP Ruto will be in Kirinyaga and Murang’a counties for fundraisers.

“The Deputy President will be in Gichugu for a fundraiser and in the afternoon he will be visiting Kandara for another event,” Mr Itumbi said.
State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena and Mr David Mugonyi, the director of communications in the DP’s office, avoided the question on whether the duo will be in Murang’a.

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President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday hit the headlines when various media publications documented his 31 foreign trips in 21 months.

Uhuru left the country on October 21, heading to Japan after Mashujaa Day celebrations in Mombasa. He is currently in Saudi Arabia.

He will proceed to Botswana for the official swearing-in of President-elect Eric Mokgweetsi Masisi.

In Japan, Uhuru witnessed the enthronement of the new emperor, which was the climax of a long and detailed succession process that started on May 1.

He later left for Sochi, Russia, where he attended the inaugural Russia-Africa Summit.

The President’s trips come amid call for austerity measures as the country grapples with the debt burden.

It is this burden that has forced Bungoma woman Christine Wamalwa to send a special plea to the head of state.

Mrs Wamalwa urges the president to sit down and look into Kenya’s overwhelming debt burden, cancer menace, unemployment among other issues affecting Kenya.

She says Uhuru’s foreign trips won’t benefit the country in any way, urging the president to set up cancer centres to help battle the cancer menace in the country.

Watch Christine Wamalwa’s video via this twitter post courtesy of Daily Nation.

However, State House has defended President Kenyatta’s foreign trips, saying they will benefit the nation.

Nzioka Waita, the Chief of staff in the office of the President, took to Twitter on Wednesday to say it is Uhuru’s job to position Kenya on the world stage.

What do you think about president Kenyatta’s foreign trips?

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Politicians have over a long period of time used little chances available to loot from public coffers. Most of them have been quoting high figures when they get a chance to be in charge of any development. Do you remember the incident where ex-Kasarani MP Elizabeth Ongoro used National Government Constituency Development Fund amounting to Ksh 48 million to build a non-existent Kasarani Girls High School?

Well, last month, one of the leading Kenya’s local dailies reported on a senior politician who had hatched a plot with some international businessmen to persuade President Uhuru Kenyatta to purchase a new ship for the refurbished Kisumu port.

Two weeks ago while inaugurating the Nairobi-Suswa SGR line, Uhuru made it public that indeed, the individual had attempted to present his scheme were it not for the Kenya Navy that told him that the vessel could not cost what the politician had quoted.

During Mashujaa Day celebrations, in Mombasa, the politician is said to have attempted to whisper to Kenyatta that it was unfair to embarrass him in public. Those in know say the President brushed him off.

On July 6, during his two-day private visit to Tanzania, Uhuru and Magufuli resolved to revamp ferry services on Lake Victoria.

The two heads of states noted that regular maritime travel between Kisumu, Mwanza, Bukoba and other ports on Africa’s largest lake “will help create employment, enhance connectivity and spur related economic activities.”

Kisumu Port has been under utilized for over 20 years.

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