Author: Eva Nyambura

Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) CEO Evanson Kamuri has dispelled claims of negligence that allegedly led to the death of prolific Swahili writer Ken Walibora. Speaking to Senate Health committee, Kamuri denied that the deceased lay in waiting for hours. He told the Michael Mbito-led committee that Walibora who was laid to rest last week on Wednesday was attended to within 10 minutes of getting to the referral hospital. In fact, he said, three medical doctors took care of him until his time of death. The KNH CEO gave a breakdown of events starting with April 10 when the Siku Njema…

402 people were over the weekend apprehended for going against directives meant to combat the spread of COVID-19. According to Interior PS Karanja Kibicho, the individuals who he referred to as “idiots” were arrested on Sunday as they tried to challenge the state set restrictions. Echoing Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Kibicho said the “idiots” do not understand that the restrictions are meant to save the lives of Kenyans. “You heard Museveni recently saying God has the whole world to take care of, he is not just in Uganda looking after idiots who don’t want to follow instructions,” the PS told…

Reopening of restaurants does not mean license to start selling alcohol, health CS Mutahi Kagwe has warned. Addressing reporters at Afya House on Monday, the CS said that bars will still remain closed. “This is not a licence to start alcohol sales, we have not opened bars,” he cautioned. He gave a series of guidelines that restaurant owners will be required to adhere to. Kagwe said that the establishments will only operate between 5am and 4pm even as cases of coronavirus increase. Workers at these food joints will be tested for the respiratory disease while customers will at all times…

Low-cost carrier Jambojet has appointed Karanja Ndegwa as its new managing director in an acting capacity. Mr Ndegwa will take over the reins of power effective May 1. Ndegwa, the airline’s chief financial officer replaces Allan Kilavuka who is now Kenya Airways CEO. “We are grateful that Ndegwa has accepted to continue serving as the Chief Financial Officer even as he takes on the new role of acting Managing Director,” Chairman, Board of Directors Vincent Rague said on Monday. Ndegwa, an Economics and Statistics graduate from the University of Nairobi has over 20 years of experience in the aviation industry.…

A Kenya Airways (KQ) flight meant to bring Kenyans in Britain back home has been cancelled. In a statement, the Kenyan High Commission in UK said the flight was cancelled over the strict rules pertaining to COVID-19, back home. Kenya requires that those entering the country present documents showing that they are coronavirus free. But in the UK, only the sickly and in hospital are tested for the respiratory disease. “Covid-19 tests in the UK are administered only to those who are sick and are admitted to the hospital. Passengers are, therefore, unable to take tests to prove that they…

President Uhuru Kenyatta has extended the cessation of movement in and out of Nairobi metropolis, Kilifi, Kwale and Mombasa. Addressing the nation from State House, the head of state extended the order for another 21 days. Uhuru also extended the nationwide dusk till dawn curfew for the same amount of time. “Cessation of movement into and out of Nairobi Metropolitan Area, Kilifi, Kwale and Mombasa shall be extended for 21 days. The nationwide curfew shall be extended for 21 days… Security services will upgrade response and alert measures in every border area,” he said. The initial 21 day movement ban…

A man in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua county has protested forceful quarantine of his spouse. Joseph Mathenge wore sack clothes and is reportedly on a hunger strike until relevant authorities release his wife, a trader at the Ol Kalou Market. According to K24 Digital, Mathenge alleged that his wife had completed the mandatory 14 day quarantine period but continues to be held at JM Kariuki Memorial County Referral Hospital. He further stated that the mother of two had travelled to Migori for farm produce but upon returning home, she was summoned to Ol Kalou Police Station. He blamed his wife’s woes…

800 more City Hall employees have jumped ship and are headed to the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS). They join the 6,052 others who were redeployed after governor Mike Sonko handed over four key county functions to the national government. The 800 are drawn from inspectorate, administration, investigation departments and sub-County administrators. On Friday, NMS Director General Mohammed Badi said the 759 inspectorate officers, 21 investigative officers, 14 sub-County administrators and six others from the administration department will be required to report to their new work stations either on Monday or Tuesday. Those who do not show up will have absconded…

The Public Service Commission (PSC) is seeking to implement voluntary pay cuts, a memo to regional commissioners, department heads and county commissioners indicates. The memo dated April 23 asks the aforementioned persons to issue any public officer who would like to volunteer a salary cut with a consent form. “The head of public service vide circular No. 8/202 dated 16th April 2020 has given the procedure for effecting the voluntary salary cuts on the payroll. “You are expected to issue any public officer who would like to volunteer salary cut to signify their consent to the Authorized Officer by completing…

The number of coronavirus cases has risen to 336, after 16 other persons tested positive, Health CAS Rashid Aman announced. 946 samples have been tested across 12 counties in the last 24 hours. 0f the new cases, 11 are from Nairobi and 5 from Mombasa. In Nairobi, they are spread out in Eastleigh 1, Parklands 2, Dandora 5, City Park 2 and Pipeline 1. In Mombasa, the 5 cases were from Kiembeni (1), Centi Kumi (1), Stadium (1), Msikiti Nuru (1), and Mulaloni (1). So far the government is monitoring 887 close contacts of the new cases. “In the last 24…

A Kenyan family living in the state of Massachusetts, United States of America, surprised the Paxton Police Department on Thursday. Wilson Kiriungi and his daughter Alayna donated one hundred 3M particulate respirators to the police worth Sh150,00. But it was Alayna’s note to the police that really warmed their hearts. In a handwritten note, Alayna described the cops as “heroes” who are in the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic. She said, “Thank you for being heroes in our community all the time, but especially now during the coronavirus pandemic. My dad and I want you guys to stay safe and healthy,…

Kenyans in China will on May 1, 2020 fly home, the government said in a notice on Thursday. The Kenyan Embassy in Beijing said those willing to pay for their one way ticket will be flown back home. The ticket will however cost a staggering Sh80,468 for the trip from Guangzhou to Nairobi. Interested parties will be required to be Kenyan passport holders and will be subjected to the laws of the People’s Republic of China as pertains to immigration. The notice also asked the persons willing to fly on the chartered flight to send their bio data and Chinese visa pages…

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko needs no introduction. His way of dressing, demeanour will almost always give him away. Last week, the county boss made headlines locally and internationally after he included a bottle of Hennessy cognac in his care package to the vulnerable people of Nairobi. Sonko in his statement that made it to CNN claimed that alcohol can kill the coronavirus. In fact he referred to the alcoholic drink as a “throat sanitizer”. “I think from the research which has been conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and various health organisations, it has been revealed that alcohol plays…

Gospel singer Ruth Matete’s husband John Apewajoye died of multiple organ failure, an autopsy report has revealed. According to government pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor, the Nigerian national also suffered 60 percent burns. Further, the Nigerian Embassy in Nairobi has asked DCI to make sure the deceased is not buried until it gives consent. Last week, the embassy had declined to release the remains for a post mortem examination. On Monday, the embassy again said it would not conduct independent investigations into the matter but would instead rely on findings filed by the DCI. The widow has accused Bellevue Hospital of…

The total number of coronavirus cases on Thursday rose to 320 as 17 other persons tested positive for the respiratory disease. 668 samples tested have been tested in the last 24 hours, she said. All the new cases are Kenyan nationals. 15 cases were picked up by the surveillance teams and the other two from the quarantine facilities. 12 cases are from Mombasa and 5 from Nairobi. Of the 17 new cases, nine are male and eight are females. On a positive note, 6 others have recovered from the novel COVID-19, bringing the number of recovered persons to 89. Dr…