Author: Eva Nyambura

Healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson will cease sale of its talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder in the US and Canada. The firm is facing 20,000 lawsuits claiming that that the powder causes cancer. On Tuesday, however, the company denied the allegations noting that their decision to pull out of the two markets was solely dependent on a drop in sales for the last 3 years. According to Financial Times, sales have sunk by 60 percent. “Demand for talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder in North America has been declining due in large part to changes in consumer habits and fueled by misinformation around…

Tanzanian actor Idris Sultan was on Wednesday arrested by officers from the Cyber crimes unit over an undisclosed offence. According to his lawyer, Shilinde Swedy, the Big Brother Africa winner has been transferred to Oysterbay Police station in Dar es Salaam. Speaking to Millard Ayo, the lawyer said, “Idris Sultan alikuwa Arusha msibani, aliporudi akaambiwa aripoti Oysterbay na anashikiliwa kwa makosa ya mtandao, wamesema watapeleka faili Makao Makuu ya Polisi akahojiwe huko, bado hatujui kosa ni lipi, tunasubiri apelekwe Makao Makuu au tukiona muda unaenda tumuombee dhamana.” Idris has in the last couple of months had a few run ins…

Tanzania has claimed that 19 samples tested by Kenyan authorities at the Namanga border point tested negative after being retested in their national laboratories in Dar es Salaam. In a statement, Arusha Regional Commissioner Mrisho Gambo accused Kenya of falsifying coronavirus results so as to sabotage tourism and business in the John Magufuli-led country. “Arusha region is convinced that this is a deliberate sabotage strategy  designed by Kenya against the tourism industry in Arusha and Tanzania at large,” Mr Gambo said. He also noted that between May 14 and May 18, 44 truck drivers were tested for the coronavirus. 30…

Former Sports CS Rashid Echesa is back in court seeking to have his Range Rover (Reg No.KCR 786H) released. Through his lawyer Bryan Khaemba, Echesa told Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Kennedy Cheruiyot that using public transport exposes him to the deadly coronavirus that so far killed 50 people, countrywide. He also wants his firearms – a Beretta 92 and a Ceska pistol – released into his custody until the prosecution files a response to his request. “Let the vehicle and his firearms be released until the State is ready to respond to the application. “It is almost three months since…

Two Kenyan journalists arrested in Tanzania on Saturday while interviewing locals on coronavirus have been charged. The two men from Elimu TV; cameraman Clinton Isimbu (22) and reporter Kaleria Shadrack were on Tuesday charged with illegal entry into the country and working without the appropriate permit. They pleaded guilty to both charges. They were fined Sh23,000 (Tsh500,000) for each offence which means they will have to part with Sh46,000. Should they fail to pay the fine, Isimbu and Kaleria risk serving a 3 year jail sentence. On Monday, Arusha Police Commander Jonathan Shanna said the Kenyans sneaked into the East…

South Sudan’s Vice President Riek Machar and his wife Angelina Teny are coronavirus positive. In a televised news conference Machar confirmed that he and his spouse who also serves as the Defense Minister, had contracted the disease from members of the High-Level Taskforce on Covid-19. Mr Machar who rejoined the government of national unity in February, also told reporters that some of his staffers including security guards also tested positive for the novel COVID-19. “We are still awaiting other tests and hopefully tomorrow we will have the full list (of positive cases among the Taskforce),” he said on Monday. He…

Kenya denied 53 truck drivers entry into Kenya after they tested positive for the coronavirus. Addressing reporters at Afya House on Monday, Health CAS Rashid Aman said they were 51 Tanzanians and 2 Burundians. “They were denied entry after testing positive at the border entry points,” Dr Aman said. Further, the CAS noted that Tanzania posed a serious threat to Kenya. He reiterated that positive cases of COVID-19 will not be allowed into the country. “Kenya has put in place to contain importation of the disease and now it’s from the land. That is why we have tightened measures at…

Health CAS Rashid Aman on Monday during the daily COVID-19 briefing at Afya House said 1139 samples were tested in the last 24 hours. Out of these samples, 25 tested positive bringing the toll to 912. 23 of these are Kenyans and two Somali nationals. In terms of gender, 23 were male and 2 female, with the youngest being a 22-year-old and oldest being 50. The new cases are spread out in the counties as follows; Kajiado (6), Mombasa (5), Nairobi (3), Kiambu (3), Kwale (3), Taita Taveta (2), Garissa (2) and Meru (1). 22 more patients have recovered from…

The family of the late Gem MP Aggrey Ambala has accused the police of failing to carry out a court order protecting their property from being encroached. According to the family property administrator, and the late legislator’s son Oduor Ambala, police at Hardy Police Station are in cahoots with those seeking to grab their father’s Karen property. In a letter to Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr Ambala accused the officers of not taking action when there has been trespassers on their land. “The only action they have taken was to arrest and subsequently charge me when in fact I…

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday banned movement into and out of Kenya through the Tanzania and Somali borders starting midnight tonight. Uhuru did however, allow vehicles transporting cargo. “In the last week we have unfortunately witnessed an increased number of imported cases among individuals crossing into our countries through our borders; these areas have become a matter of grave concern to us,” he said. This was after imported cases of COVID-19 grew at an alarming rate. Addressing the nation from State House, he said that 43 of the cases reported within the last week were confirmed in border points such…

Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi and his Bahati counterpart Kimani Ngunjiri have claimed that they have received threats to their lives in the recent past. Addressing reporters in Eldoret Town on Saturday, Sudi said that threats against their lives for supporting Deputy President William Ruto will not scare them. The staunch DP supporter also said that there are plans to arrest him and Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen among others. Further, the vocal Rift Valley leader said they will expose those who murdered IEBC official Chris Msando, days leading to the 2017 general election. “It’s not a joke and soon we…

Another group of Kenyans stranded in the UK jetted into the country on Saturday morning aboard a Kenya Airways plane. According to Kenya’s High Commissioner to UK Manoah Esipisu, the chartered flight left Heathrow Airport on Friday afternoon. https://twitter.com/MEsipisu/status/1261273070330949632 In a tweet, KQ said that the passengers were received by Ambassador Michael Oyugi. “KQ103 has touched down. This is our second special flight to bring Kenyans home from the UK in partnership with the Government of Kenya. Amb Michael Oyugi of @ForeignOfficeKE was at the airport to welcome the flight home,” the tweet read. https://twitter.com/KenyaAirways/status/1261478346631925767 The flight tickets were slightly…

Keroche Breweries heiress Tecra Muigai’s burial is drawing closer. Her boyfriend, Omar Lali who is still locked up at Lamu Police Station, and his family want to pay their last respects but only if invited by the Muigais. According to the Standard, through their family spokesperson, Lali’s family said they would like to say goodbye as she treated them with respect when she lived with their kin in Lamu. Tecra who until her untimely death worked as the Strategy and Innovation Director at Keroche Breweries is set to be laid to rest in private function attended by family only. Kahawa…

The gazettement of the Referendum Bill 2020 elicited mixed reactions on social media. The bill was in the Kenya Gazette dated May 15, supplement 71. Some irate netizens wondered why the government would prioritize the referendum during this period when the country is faced with coronavirus, floods. But according to the Nation, the Referendum Bill 2020 proposes a number of amendments down to the counties. The Bill, shared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) with the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee of the National Assembly back in March, if adopted will allow county governments conduct referendums in their…

My loyalty lies with President Uhuru Kenyatta. These were the words of nominated senator Naomi Waqo who is facing disciplinary action after missing without apology a Jubilee Party parliamentary group meeting chaired by Kenyatta on Monday. But in a statement, the Marsabit nominated lawmaker stated that she could not attend the PG meeting due to unavoidable circumstances which she has since communicated to the party. She also noted that she fully supports decisions made by the party leader. “In light of the recent political ongoings, I would like to state that my loyalty lies with our Head of State and…