Author: Eva Nyambura

Embu governor Martin Wambora is the new Council of Governors (CoG) chairperson. Wambora was battling it out with Kitui’s Charity Ngilu and Dhadho Godhana of Tana River. In an election that was this morning held at the Movenpick Hotel, Nairobi, Wambora will be deputised by James Ongwae of Kisii county. Wambora takes over from Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya who has served his maximum two terms. Read: 10 Governors From Central Region Dismiss Senator Kang’ata’s BBI Views As Untrue Ongwae replaces Murang’a’s Mwangi wa Iria who is keen on running for the presidency come 2022. County bosses serving their second terms in…

The government has on Friday extended the National Hygiene Program better known as Kazi Mtaani by another month. The programme which is under the State Department of Housing and Urban Development will now come to an end on March 4. Cohort “A” as announced in a notice shared on social media will be expected to resume duties on February 3. https://twitter.com/HousingUrbanKE/status/1355054713813823488 In its first phase, the program absorbed at least 31,689 Kenyans in eight counties, Housing PS Charles Hinga confirmed. The second phase which was launched in July 2020 was expected to absorb some 270,000 youths. “The Kazi Mtaani national technical…

Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) rejected a lower price for the Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), MPs heard on Thursday. The deal could have seen the taxpayer save at least Sh1.65 billion. According to the director of Northlink GSC Ltd, Ahmed Takoy, the government agency rejected his Sh4,500 offer and instead asked him to review his prices upwards to Sh9,000. Mr Takoy told the Public Investment Committee (PIC) that is led by Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir that he had ready PPEs over in China back in April. Read: Auditor-General Admits Error In KEMSA Report “I told them that was my price and…

American tech giant Google has announced a Sh1.1 billion package to support Kenya’s post Covid-19 recovery efforts. Google’s Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai made the announcement during a virtual meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta on the sidelines of a public discussion on digital transformation in Africa organized by the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA). CCA is a Washington DC-based trade association focusing on strengthening trade and commercial ties between the United States of America and African economies. In addition to the package, which includes Sh300 million to support small businesses, Sh500 million for Kenyan start ups and Sh200 million for…

A tout who earlier in the month pleaded guilty to smoking bhang so as to better understand the BBI report has claimed that his life is in danger and for older women to appear attractive. Appearing before Nairobi Chief Magistrate Martha Mutuku in his innerwear, a t-shirt, and a jacket Wycliffe Aloys Orinda, told the court that he was scared for his life because he was in remand with Lawrence Warunge. Warunge is the 22-year-old IT student who killed his four family members three weeks ago at their Kiambaa home. Orinda told the magistrate that remand was “not a good…

Garissa County Assembly chambers were on Thursday morning on fire whose cause is yet to be established. The morning inferno razed neighbouring ward representatives’ offices. The fire brigade which is about 5 kilometres away took 45 minutes to arrive at the scene of the incident. Members of the public were already on-site trying to put out the fire, but their efforts proved futile. Speaking to the Star, County Assembly Clerk Mohamed Santur said the 8.20 am fire was “a huge loss.” “We are trying to ensure that the fire is stopped from spreading further to the adjacent offices. I can…

The Kirinyaga County Assembly has denied passing the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Bill. Kirinyaga County Assembly Speaker Anthony Waweru said on Wednesday that the House is still on recess and will resume plenary on February 8. Waweru did however confirm that the assembly had received the Bill but was yet to consider it. “The County Assembly of Kirinyaga has not considered the Constitutional amendment Bill 2020 (BBI),” he said. “The County Assembly of Kirinyaga shall in consultation with the people of Kirinyaga and within the confines of the law consider the Constitutional Amendment Bill and submit its decisions to the…

A man suspected to have killed his ex-girlfriend in Njiru, Kasarani constituency and threatened to take his life on Wednesday morning has been arrested. The suspect this morning made his way to the roof at a Kayole apartment after learning that Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB) officers were looking for him. “He is currently at a balcony, threatening to commit suicide. Our officers are at the scene pleading with him not to take his life on account of his actions since all is not lost,” DCI tweeted. Officers are currently trying to evacuate him but have been blocked by…

Milimani Law Courts will remain closed for two days to allow fumigation of the premises in a bid to curb the spread of Coronavirus. In a public notice by the High Court registrar, the exercise will be carried out on Friday and Saturday. Normal services will resume on February 1. In 2020, when the virus first struck, the courts remained closed for 10 days after an officer from the family division contracted the virus. Read: Milimani Court Family Division Closed for 10 Days After Staff Tested Positive for COVID-19 So far, at least 100,000 people have tested positive for the virus,…

Members of the county assembly for Nairobi want former governor Mike Sonko to be charged over recent remarks on post-poll demonstrations. Sonko last weekend claimed that he, Interior PS Karanja Kibicho, and the “deep state” were responsible for stage-managed demos implicating ODM supporters. Led by assembly majority leader Abdi Guyo, the MCAs said the besieged ex-county boss did not act on behalf of the Jubilee party and should therefore be “charged on his own account”. “We are convinced that Sonko incriminated himself by making the utterances on Sunday and as such he should be charged for the atrocities he committed…

A parent has sued Brookhouse School for infringing on her son’s rights and expelling him unfairly over an alleged fight with classmates. In a suit filed through her lawyer, Musyoki Mogaka, the mother wants the school Board of Directors compelled to readmit her son who has been at home since January. “The school continues to violate her child’s fundamental rights and unapologetically operate under unfair administrative actions that expose the parents to potential abuse through their unilateral decisions,” said Mogaka. In court papers, the mother said her son had previously complained about being sexually harassed but no action was taken…

Carrefour has launched a new mobile application that will enhance the online shopping experience for its Kenyan customers. The app promises customers a seamless shopping experience allowing them to quickly and conveniently browse and add all their essentials to a digital cart. The app, offering more than 8,000 items, has a “build your shopping list” function as well as a “frequently purchased” tab that saves regularly purchased items. Customers will also be able to access their receipts from recent and past transactions through the app. Read: Carrefour to Open New Branches in Diani, Shanzu and Nyali in Mombasa Franck Moreau, Country…

Parliamentary Public Investment Committee (PIC) has summoned the directors of the little known company, Shop ‘N’ Buy, for its involvement in the Kemsa scandal. The directors declined to appear before the committee on Tuesday. The company was awarded a Sh1 billion tender to supply Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) only a month after being registered. The company, owned by James Cheluley, was registered on February 14, 2020 and was awarded the lucrative tender a day after he sought to supply the government agency with the medical equipment. Read: How “Lucky” Passerby Landed Sh180 Million Kemsa Tender In December while appearing before the…

Lawrence Warunge, the 22-year-old IT student who killed his family at their Kiambu home two weeks ago, is unfit to stand trial, a court has been told. This was following a mental assessment that found him unfit to take plea on Monday. His girlfriend and the second suspect, Sarah Muthoni has been released under Section 87 (a). She will turn into a state witness in the case. Read: Lawrence Warunge, Girlfriend Locked Up For 14 Days Pending Probe In Murder Of Family Members The prosecution applied for one month for Warunge to be detained. In the meantime, further medical check-ups will…

The government has denied claims that it hoodwinked Githunguri innovators, tasked with making hospital beds. In a statement on Monday, President’s Delivery Unit Secretary Andrew Wakahiu said the process of procuring the beds came to a sudden stop after one of the innovators was facing “several criminal allegations.” According to Mr Wakahiu, Mungai Gathogo, 26, was facing at least three cases related to fraud and obtaining money by pretence. Records at the Githunguri police station indicate Gathogo has at least three pending criminal cases: OB 35/05/11/2019 and OB 64/05/11/2019 relating to obtaining money by false pretence and OB 51/21/10/2020 relating…