Author: Opinion

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) has been temporarily closed down one of its terminals following a night fire. The fire razed terminal 1C on Wednesday night. Confirming the incident, Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) noted that the fire was caused by a baggage-belt-system malfunction. KAA noted that the fire only affected operations at check-in counters 7 and 8. Read: Planes Operating From JKIA Forced To Fuel In Neighboring Countries’ Airports According to the Airports Authority, the situation was managed in time. KAA affirmed: “All passengers and staff at the terminal were evacuated safely and the fire contained by the airport’s fire…

High Court Judge Mumbu Ngugi has on Wednesday afternoon reduced Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal’s bail terms. In a ruling issued on Wednesday afternoon, Justice Ngugi placed the governor’s bail terms at Ksh10 million or a bond of Ksh30million with one surety of a similar amount. This was after the court had granted him a Ksh100 million bail or an alternative bond of Ksh150 million on Tuesday following his arrest. The previous bail terms had elicited mixed reactions from citizens and prominent Kenyans alike. Read: Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal Charged Over Sh84 Million Fuel Saga In a rejoinder, Governor Lenolkulal through…

The Kenyan government has divulged its plans to acquire a third Eurobond to aid in paying off its previous loans. Speaking on this plan, Treasury Principal Secretary Kamau Thugge noted that the borrowing is in line with the government foreign borrowing plans for the current financial year to meet the budget deficit. According to Thugge, the government aims at raising Ksh608 billion, with its target investors being Europe and the United States. In addition to that, the Uhuru-led administration also seeks to take another Ksh37 billion from a consortium of international banks as a syndicated loan. Thugge further exclaimed that…

Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich is now seeking the approval of Members of Parliament (MPs) to regularise Ksh3.5 billion payments for Kimwarer Dam project. The CS’s request comes barely two months since the realisation of the controversial payment made to alleged contractors tasked to construct the Ksh21 billion project. The dams, which are under investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), have attracted a lot of questions due to the embezzlement of funds allocated for its construction. In his request, CS Rotich wants the MPs to approve the payout which will be part of the Treasury’s Ksh95.8 billion supplementary…

The Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) director Ezekiel Mutua has declined a request to have Rafiki, a gay-themed film to be played in court during the hearing of a case. According to Mr Mutua and the KFCB board, it is not necessary for the film to be played in court to help in the determination of the case. Through their lawyers from the firm of Sisule Musungu & Associates Advocates, Mutua argued that the film’s director Wanuri Kahiu had failed to produce a certificate in court for an electronic material to be played in court as evidence. The lawyers affirmed:…

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested 17 suspected members of the outlawed Mombasa Republican Council (MRC). The 17 were arrested in a house in Diani, Kwale County. “The suspects were arrested as they assembled at a house in Kibundani area,” DCI revealed. Speaking on the arrests, the DCI noted that the suspects were aged between 41 and 84 years. Additionally, the DCI stated that during the raid, they recovered membership registers and contributions at the said house. The suspects are to be presented in court on Wednesday. Read: Moses Kuria Alleges That Raila Met With Al-Shabaab…

Kagunduini Member of County Assembly (MCA) Peter Mburu Wamuthoni has been freed on a bond of Ksh1.5 million. In her ruling, Kigumo Law Court Principal Magistrate Agnes Mwangi granted him release on the set bond amount. Mburu was arrested on Monday over claims that he had defrauded a woman of Ksh3 million. It is reported that he was able to con the woman by pretending that he could offer her a tender to supply ballast to a Chinese company. Speaking on Mburu’s arrest, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI)noted that their detectives are still on the lookout for other suspects…

Deputy President William Ruto on Sunday received a “yellow reception” from his supporters who donned yellow T-shirts with his image printed on them. In what was seen as a way of announcing their stand, the supporters, mostly youths hinted at retreating to DP Ruto’s former party, United Republican Party (URP) should Jubilee deny him a direct presidential ticket. The youth also had their t-shirts engraved on them a hashtag #teamWSR, when they showed up to welcome Ruto to Banana, Kiambu County. According to political commentators, the “yellow reception” was a clear reflection of the divisions in the ruling party that…

Health Cabinet Administrative Secretary (CAS) Rashid Aman is mourning the death of his father, Abdi Aman. Mzee Aman, who passed on at 92, was also the father of former Principal Secretary (PS) Mohamed Isahakia. Following the news of his demise on Tuesday morning, President Uhuru Kenyatta sent condolences to the family of the CAS, describing their father as a role model and mentor to many. President Kenyatta further described Mzee Aman as a man whose words of wisdom will be missed by many from his community and beyond. “Indeed as a respected member of the community, he was a reference…

An Italian firm that was allegedly contracted to construct the controversial Ksh21 billion Arror and Kimwarer dams has filed a case in an Italian Court for ‘pre-insolvency proceedings.’ According to the firm, CMC Di Ravenna, they are currently experiencing financial challenges following non-payment for the services they had started rendering. The Italian firm’s case application was filed in response to a case filed by Barclays Bank against the firm over Ksh1 Billion debt. The Italian company has gone to court to rescue its business operations and prevent the company from being liquidated for defaulting to service a Ksh1billion loan. The…

Three Court of Appeal judges, Wanjiru Karanja, Alnasir Visram and Martha Koome, in Mombasa have withdrawn from a case challenging the management of the Mombasa Port. The Mombasa judges recused themselves from the case following an application that called for their withdrawal on grounds that the county government was dissatisfied with their previous ruling. The case is seeking a determination on whether the case on Mombasa Port should be heard by the court or a special inter-governmental committee. The judges now want Chief Justice David Maraga to put together a bench to hear the case. Read:Retrenchment Looms As Gov’t Mulls…

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has been put on the spot over the lack of a new fire station despite the county collecting over Ksh1.6 billion in fire inspection since 2013. Even with the rampant occurrences of fires in Nairobi County, the governor is yet to come up with another station. Despite the millions amassed in revenue from fire inspection, the county is noted to have only two functional fire stations. Surprisings, even the county boss before him, Evans Kidero, made no effort to have one put up. The functional two fire stations were built before independence. One is along Tom…

Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Fred Matiang’i has suspended the betting licences for firms operating in Kenya. Speaking during a meeting with the members of the Betting and Licencing Board, CS Matiang’i affirmed that the licences are suspended effective July 1,2019. He further noted that the renewal of the licences will be subject to proof of tax compliance. Acknowledging the contributions of the sector, Matiang’i sternly noted that the government is concerned with the Betting Board as over 76 percent of youth are involved in the gaming sector. According to him, the numbers are alarming since the youth are not utilizing…

The now popular YouTube vlogger Rnaze, officially known as Moses Mukibi, has surprised netizens after a much publicized breakup from Natalie Tewa, by deleting his Instagram page. Rnaze, who for almost a day trended on Twitter last week for breaking up with the YouTube star Natalie Tewa, deleted his page after first getting rid of traces of their memories on all his social media platforms. He is also noted to have deleted all YouTube content that he had worked on with his then pretty lass, Ms Tewa. The two accused each other of cheating, with Natalie claiming that she only…

National Police Service (NPS) Airwing pilot has resigned from the service alleging that his bosses are tribal. Tobias Ogeto, who is a pilot, tendered his resignation on Friday last week. He noted that he was denied promotion at the service on tribal grounds since he is the only one from his community working as a pilot. In his resignation, Ogeto wrote to the outgoing IG Joseph Boinnet, his deouty Edward Mbugua and the Directorate of the NPS Airwing Commander Rodgers Mbithi giving a one month notice. He further noted in his letter that he is proceeding on terminal leave ahead…