Author: Eva Nyambura

Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) has warned Kenyans of an an ongoing SIM card scam. According to the authority, fraudulent persons have been sending messages to unsuspecting Kenyans warning them that they have reached the maximum number of SIM cards allowed per subscriber. This is known as “Smishing”, a scam through which subscribers are tricked into sharing their personal details including passwords, credit card details, ID numbers among others. The messages, CA has said, are said to originate from the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK), the former’s predecessor. “They do not emanate from CA but from criminals who are out…

Gospel artiste Eko Dydda has been released after spending three days in forced quarantine for flouting curfew orders. The hitmaker was arrested on Saturday night on his way home from the CBD. He had gone to get medicine for his sickly wife, Sylvia Ayugi. According to activist Boniface Mwangi who first broke the story, Eko was set free on Wednesday. “Eko Dydda was released today. Thank you to everyone who worked behind the scenes to ensure he was released. Let’s make it the norm, to call out injustices when they happen. To the good people in government who did the…

A swarm of narrow bee flies but better known as “Nairobi flies” forced Kabarnet residents to scatter for safety. The 6-10 mm insects infested the town forcing business people to close shops. Roads too, were impassable. According to a community leader who spoke to a local TV station, the sudden infestation could be a plague just like the locust invasion. He urged the people to be cautious as they were harmful to the skin. https://twitter.com/citizentvkenya/status/1252963984459825153 Experts say that the insect releases pederin toxin when crushed on the skin hence causing inflammation. “The substance is released when the insect is crushed…

Blogger Cyprian Nyakundi wants an autopsy report for a senior Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). According to Nyakundi, the KRA Southern region manager Anthony Gichia succumbed to the novel COVID-19 but the tax authority has concealed the cause of his death. Through his lawyer, Dudley Ochieng, the blogger applied to be furnished with an autopsy report showing that the deceased succumbed to another illness. Gichia, Nyakundi said, had traveled to Italy and only came back home towards the end of February or at the begin of March. KRA, while announcing his demise only indicated that he died following a short illness…

Interior CS Fred Matiang’i has ordered for cessation of movement in and out of Mandera County by road and air for a period of 21 days. On Wednesday, the CS noted that the ban will take effect today starting 7 pm when the dusk till dawn curfew commences. Matiang’i cited an increase in community based infections of the deadly Covid-19. “Following the increase in community-based COVID-19 infections in Mandera County, the Govt has sanctioned the following; That there be cessation of movement by air and road INTO and OUT OF Mandera County for an initial period of 21 days, commencing…

Gospel artiste Eko Dydda was on Saturday night arrested for allegedly flouting curfew orders. The singer was apprehended on his way home around Coptic Hospital, Ngong Road. He had gone to get his wife, Sylvia Ayugi medicine. On his way back he got a puncture and fixing it took a while. He left for home at around 6.50 pm meaning he could not get home on time. As it happened, Eko was taken to Kilimani Police Station where he spent the night and released on Sunday after paying a Sh5,000 cash bail and a similar amount to the tow company.…

Those who escape from quarantine facilities will be returned to their respective facilities when caught up, President Uhuru Kenyatta has said. Speaking to Radio Citizen on Wednesday morning, the head of state said these persons will be returned to complete the mandatory 14 days. He was referring to the 50 quarantined persons who escaped from the KMTC quarantine facility. The individuals are said to have complained about the exorbitant fees. Those at the facility are required to part with Sh2,000 per day. “We have received reports from KMTC and we have activated channels through the Ministry of Interior who are…

As the number of coronavirus cases continue to be reported worldwide, Kenya’s toll is also on the rise. Health CAS Dr Mercy Mwangangi while addressing reporters at Afya House confirmed 15 more cases of COVID-19. This brings the total number to 296. The ministry has in the last 24 hours tested a total of 545 samples, she said. Of the 15 new cases, 11 are Kenyan nationals and four foreigners, all of whom have not left the country In the recent past. 7 of the cases are from Mombasa, 6 from Nairobi and two from Mandera. They are aged between…

Machakos county will effective Wednesday 5 am ban transit trucks and lorries from stopping within the county. Governor Alfred Mutua said this is due to the drivers’ lack of discipline in complying with government set directives especially the dusk till dawn curfew. The drivers will, however, be allowed some 30 minutes to refuel their vehicles. “No transit trucks/ lorries will be allowed to STOP in Machakos county. They can only stop to refuel and do it within 30 minutes. This is to reduce chances of infection to our people due to contravening of the curfew by drivers. This order takes…

Ruaka market in Kiambu county has been closed until further notice in line with the Public Health Act Cap 242. In a notice signed by sub-county administrator David Mugo, the market will remain shut until further notice. This, he said, will allow relevant authorities to fumigate and clean the area. Mugo has advised traders to clear their stock and observe social distancing and proper hygiene while at home. On Monday, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe announced 11 new cases of the killer coronavirus. Of the 11 cases, 4 were Ruaka residents. This he said as he cautioned those living outside the…

On April 18, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe stunned the country when he announced that a truck driver ferrying an empty coffin to Homa Bay had tested positive for the coronavirus. Kagwe said the driver who has been identified as Kevin had forged travel permits as did the family he was transporting. “The governor of Homa Bay informed me of a group of people who travelled from Nairobi in a private vehicle pretending that they were attending a funeral, fully equipped with an empty coffin to illustrate that they were mourners. “Those people travelled all the way from Nairobi to Homa…

Veteran journalist and prolific Swahili writer Ken Walibora will be laid to rest on Wednesday at his Makutano home in Cherang’any Constituency. According to Trans Nzoia County Commissioner Samson Ojwang’, only 15 mourners will be allowed into the burial ceremony as directed by the health ministry. This is to help combat the spread of COVID-19 which has thus far killed 14 people, countrywide. “A crowd will not be allowed at the burial. Even the number of journalists will be restricted at the venue to ensure we don’t violate the restriction,” Mr Ojwang told a local daily. The family has been…

The government on Monday launched a quarantine facility for health care providers in collaboration with the Rockefeller Foundation and AMREF. Addressing the press at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Health CS Mutahi Kagwe said the 100-bed capacity centre will offer all the frontliners in the fight against coronavirus health care services. The government, the CS added, will foot all the bills. Rockefeller Foundation MD of the Africa regional office William Asiko, also present during the event, pledged his support in Kenya’s fight against the novel COVID-19. “In just under two weeks we have been able to come and support your strategic…

Jubilee members of parliament in support of Deputy President William Ruto were on Monday afternoon teargassed outside the party headquarters in Pangani, Nairobi County. The MPs include Kikuyu’s Kimani Ichung’wa and Lang’ata’s Nixon Korir. On Sunday, party deputy secretary-general Caleb Kositany, Soy MP and Gatundu South’s MP Moses Kuria said the DP was scheduled to attend a meeting at the party headquarters sometime this week. Top on the agenda was supposed to be the appointment of National Management Committee members and Elections Management Board. Speaking to the Star, Kuria said lawmakers allied to the DP had resolved to work from…

Nigerian High Commission in Nairobi will not independently look into the death of gospel singer Ruth Matete’s husband BlessedJohn Apewajoye. Nigerian High Commissioner Mahmoud Lawal told the Nation that they will not present a pathologist during the deceased’s post mortem examination. The Nigerian embassy which last week held Apewajoye’s remains at the Kenyatta National Hospital morgue has said that they will rely on information presented to them by the DCI. The DCI will in turn rely on the autopsy examination scheduled for tomorrow and a report presented by Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) indicating whether there was indeed foul…