Author: Eva Nyambura

Kenya on Thursday recorded 705 new cases of Covid-19 from 8,853 samples tested in the past 24 hours, with an 8 percent positivity rate. The tally as a result stands at 162,098. Of the cases, 687 are Kenyans while 18 are foreigners. 404 are males and 301 are females. The youngest is a one-month-old baby while the oldest is 100 years old. In the same period, 711 patients have recovered from the virus, 299 from health facilities and 412 from the home-based care program. Total recoveries now stand at 110,480 out of which 80,186 are from home-based care and isolation, while 30,294 are from various health facilities. Read: Contacts…

Six Kenyan fishermen have been arrested by Tanzanian authorities. They were on a fishing expedition in Lake Victoria when they were apprehended and their two boats seized. According to Kibro Beach Management Unit chairman Joel Maulidi, the arrested fishermen and boats were taken to Sota beach in Northern Mara district. The Tanzanian authorities, Maulidi said, demanded Sh50,000 for each boat. Read: Tanzanians Free To Do Business In Kenya Without Work Permits, Visas – President Uhuru Kenyatta This comes in the backdrop of President Samia Suluhu’s two-day visit to Kenya that came to an end on Wednesday. Her visit was meant to…

Eight of the foreigners who tested positive for the Indian Covid-19 variant are quarantined in Kisumu. In a statement to newsrooms on Wednesday, Kisumu Health CEC Prof. Boaz Otieno said the county government has stepped up efforts to contain the spread of the virus. He also noted that at least 100 individuals who came in close contact with the eight have also been put under strict quarantine. “The County Government has confined at least 8 foreign nationals who tested positive to the Indian variant and is currently conducting an elaborate contact tracing to help stop the spread of the virus.…

Kenya’s neighbouring country, Uganda is contemplating a total lockdown following the rise in Covid-19 infections by 81 percent between March and April. Dr Misaki Wayengera, the chairperson of the ministerial scientific advisory committee, on Wednesday evening told reporters that the country was experiencing a second wave that could be more severe than the first one. Wayengera said that the wave is in the lag phase. “We might hit a point where infections rapidly go up as it happened in India. Unfortunately, given that we have active transmission going on in the communities, this might be the same thing that will…

Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo has denied threatening to resign via SMS from the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC). Speaking to Citizen TV during the Day Break show, the legislator said the SMS and tweet assertions were meant to divert attention from the issues he raised on the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2020 – the BBI Bill. He also denied snubbing a meeting with his party leader Raila Odinga on Monday. This too, he claimed was a way of spinning the narrative. “This is an act of spin mastering to move the issue from what it is to where…

One of the four men who disappeared from Kitengela on April 19, Benjamin Imbai, died of strangulation and suffocation. This is according to an autopsy exam conducted at the General Kago Funeral Home on Tuesday. The report also showed that the deceased’s body had bruises all over, an indication that there could have been a struggle between him and his killers. Read: IG Mutyambai Directs DCI to Form Special Team that will Probe Kitengela Murders The report further indicates that the marks on his neck and hands show that the perpetrators first handcuffed him, and later used a rope to pin…

Evans Karani, the prime suspect in the murder of his lover, Catherine Nyokabi, has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge. The 38-year-old appeared before Justice Mary Kasango in a virtual session. Before the charges were read to Karani in Swahili, the court warned that he would be sentenced to death if he entered a guilty plea. Karani will remain in remand at Nairobi Remand Prison pending his bail ruling on June 2. Read: Kiambu Businessman Evans Karani Who Confessed to Killing Lover Asks for Quick Sentencing The murder suspect was supposed to take plea on Tuesday but could not as…

Limuru MP Peter Mwathi has been elected unopposed as the new chairperson of the powerful Security Committee of the National Assembly. Mwathi replaces the late Kiambaa MP Paul Koinange who passed on in March over Covid-19 related complications. Wajir Woman MP Fatuma Gedi, who had expressed interest in the seat, did not submit her application by the deadline. Read: Kiambaa MP Paul Koinange Dies Of Covid-19 Related Complications She abandoned her quest after ODM party leader expressed his support for Mwathi. “The fact that the Prime Minister told me his preferred candidate for this position is Mwathi and that he has…

Tanzanian national carrier Air Tanzania has temporarily suspended flights to Mumbai, India over a surge in Covid-19 infections. In a statement, the carrier said the suspension took effect from Tuesday. “Air Tanzania will waive all penalties on reservation charges, re-issues and refunds to affected passengers,” the airline said as it apologized for inconveniences caused. https://twitter.com/AirTanzania/status/1389658989634404355 This comes after the Tanzanian government introduced new Covid-19 travel regulations. Citing concerns about new variants of the disease, the President Samia Suluhu-led government said travelers entering the East African country will henceforth be required to show proof of a negative coronavirus test taken…

DCI detectives have arrested three Cameroonian nationals who were found in possession of fake currencies in Ruiru, Kiambu County. According to DCI boss George Kinoti, the three were nabbed following an operation conducted on Monday night in BTL area in Ruiru. The trio, Paulin Francis Proper, Njikam Omar and Job Kentong were found in possession of Sh350 Million in fake US dollars and Pounds, one Glock pistol and 28 rounds of 9mm calibre. The sleuths also discovered over 250 kilograms of fake gold nuggets and gold bars. Proper and Omar were found to be in the country illegally while Kentong holds…

Teachers marking the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams at State House Girls have downed their tools. The teachers went on strike over unpaid allowances a day after their colleagues at Moi Girls. According to the Standard, the teachers received word that their colleagues at other centres were sent home without pay hence the go-slow. They were set to mark the last paper, English today before being released on Wednesday. They also complained that their allowances had been halved to reach Sh10,000. “Since we came here, we have not received any single pay. We were told due to the…

Tanzania has issued new Covid-19 guidelines for people arriving in the country, both locals and foreigners. The government requires travelers entering the country to quarantine for 14 days and present a test certificate showing negative Covid-19 results. For those coming from countries with a high rate of infection will be required to undergo another Covid-19 test at their own cost. The directive, signed by the Permanent Secretary for Health Prof Abel Makubi, will take effect starting Tuesday. Read: President Suluhu Forms Tanzania Covid-19 Committee, Urges Caution In April, President Samia Suluhu formed a Covid-19 committee of experts to help contain the…

Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Nelson Havi has declined to apologize or withdraw a memoranda sent to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on Chief Justice nominee Martha Koome. In response to Koome’s demand letter, Havi said his comments about the Court of Appeal judge were made in public interest. “I need not say more on the question as to whether the reputation of Justice Koome has been lowered in the minds of right-thinking members of the Kenyan society in particular: commissioners of JSC, judges, judicial officers and advocates,” Havi said. “It’s unfortunate that after praising the almighty for her…

15 supporters of a party linked to Deputy President William Ruto have been arrested for holding a political meeting. The fifteen United Democratic Alliance (UDA) supporters were nabbed in Bonchari as they attended a campaign meeting at St Angelic Teachers College in Suneka town. They cooled their heels at Suneka police station on Sunday night and were transferred to the Kisii High Court on Monday morning. They have been released on Sh5,000 each. Read: Ruto-linked UDA Party Fights Back after Jubilee’s Move to Sever Links According to former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara who is supporting Teresa Bitutu for the MP…

Kiss FM presenter Lynda Nyangweso will at the end of the week leave the station after an 11 year stint. Lynda made the announcement via social media but was cagey about her next venture. “11 years ago, I started out on @kiss100kenya on the graveyard shift where I had room to mess up, try again, rinse then repeat. then I moved to midmorning and I was so proud of the work I did. from there I moved onto the breakfast show which was an amazing learning curve. then I started drive which became where I was most confident probably because…