Author: Mercy Auma

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) will regulate monthly interests charged by digital mobile lenders in new proposed changes if adopted by the Parliament. According to Business Daily, the banking regulator will, among others, have to approve increases in digital lenders rates and other loan charges as well put a ceiling on non-performing loans at not more than twice the defaulted credit. The agenda behind the Central Bank of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2020 is to curb the high digital lending rates that have plunged borrowers into accumulating huge debts. “The principal objective of this Bill is to amend the Central…

Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja has resigned as the chairman of the Senate Adhoc Committee on COVID-19 following his controversial arrest. “I take responsibility for having flouted the COVID-19 rules, I was outside my home past 9 PM…It is regrettable but all of us make mistakes,” he said. https://twitter.com/ntvkenya/status/1285132159230054400 This comes after he faced backlash following his arrest on Saturday for flouting COVID-19 guidelines that bar people from drinking alcohol at nightclubs and prevent citizens from being outside after 9 PM and before 4AM. Sakaja who chaired the Senate ad hoc committee on Covid-19 was arrested on Saturday morning at Ladies…

Grace Andeyo, 51-year-old NHIF accountant at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has reportedly gone missing with zero communication to friends and colleagues. According to K24, Andeyo is said to have left the office on Friday for presumed lunchtime and has not been seen since. At the time she left, she was in a blue dress and carried a small paper bag, with her other belonging including mobile phone and handbag left in the office. Her car, a Volkswagen Polo registration number KBU 167J is also still at the KNH Parking Yard raising more questions on her whereabouts. Read: Kiamaiko Rights Activist…

Legendary actor Charles Bukeko popularly known as Papa Shirandula has finally been laid to rest at his home in Funyula, Busia County. Sources close to Kahawa Tungu indicate that his body arrived at 3AM with stipulations from the Ministry of Health that he is laid to rest before 8AM. https://twitter.com/RobertAlai/status/1285053473667592194 https://twitter.com/KinyanBoy/status/1285088278274768896 Read: Great Works Legendary Actor Papa Shirandula Will Be Remembered For Papa, 58, passed away on Saturday morning at Karen Hospital, Nairobi after developing breathing complications. Born and bred in Mumias, Western Kenya, Papa is regarded as the man who brought about fundamental changes in the comedy industry with popular…

Three journalists have been injured in the course of duty following a confrontation with rowdy youths at the home of Hamisi MP Charles Gimose. The journalists have been identified as one who works with Ebru TV while the other two work with a local TV within Vihiga County, with their identities, kept anonymous for safety reasons. According to Star, the trio were up for a story when rowdy youths came out of nowhere and wanted to force their way into the MP’s compound. They became wild forcing security officers manning the place to flee. Read: County Security Block Mudavadi, Wetangula From…

The High Court has set aside the orders requiring the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to disclose evidence prior to charging and prosecuting corruption cases. According to Star, a ruling by Justice Mumbi Ngugi on Friday, July 17, 2020 indicated that the initial orders by Anti-corruption Magistrate Douglas Ogoti were irregular. Magistrate Douglas Ogoti had on May 14, 2020 delivered a ruling directing investigative agencies and the DPP to ensure that disclosure in each prosecuting file is done prior to the registration of a plea. Justice Mumbi in her ruling faulted Ogoti stating that he accorded himself powers that had…

The Kenya Medical Supply Authority (Kemsa) is on the spot for having procured Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) at double the market price. According to Nation, the agency procured items at exorbitant prices amid the COVID-19 pandemic raising questions of a lingering scandal. The agency is said to have procured N95 (1860) masks at an outrageous price of Sh1,300 per piece against the Sh700 market price and ordered 5000 pieces. At the same time, it also bought KN95 masks at Sh700 per piece against the market price of Sh450, went ahead and ordered 1,836,400 masks. Read: Dr Waqo Rigged Out Of The…

Citizen TV reporter Stephen Letoo who has been on the forefront in covering COVID-19 related news has tested positive for the virus. This comes barely 24 hours after the news reporter opted to go to Nairobi Hospital for testing. Taking to Instagram where he captured the testing process, he captioned, “Corona is Satan.” https://www.instagram.com/tv/CCtXwptHbvY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link According to Star, the results are finally out and Letoo has tested positive for the virus despite stating that he did not exhibit any Covid-19 related symptoms. Read: City Pastor Robert Burale Hospitalized After Testing Positive For COVID-19 “I did not have any signs and even now…

A High Court in Mombasa has awarded Sh700,000 to a man as part of damages after finding out that he was not the biological father to a child he had with his former wife. Nation reports that the said amount is the sum for compensation for the mental anguish, stress and embarrassment following a paternity test that was conducted revealing the son was not his. In a ruling by Justice Eric Ogola, the complainant, Mr SVK as per court documents, is said to be an honourable man who took care of his wife whilst pregnant and took her to a good…

The country is set to receive 20 more specialized Cuban doctors to aid in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Nation, the new team which is part of the prestigious Henry Reeve Medical Brigade constituted by Fidel Castro in 2005 to deal with emergencies and serious epidemics is expected to arrive in the country today afternoon. “The team is on its way to Kenya. This humanitarian mission which, save for the transport and accommodation costs, is normally at no cost to the recipient country, is in the spirit of the existing strong bilateral relations between the two countries,”…

Residents from Ngong, Kajiado County have called on the Ministry of Environment to come to their rescue claiming a private developer is choking them with toxic wastes. According to Star, the residents claim Ngong River has been polluted by toxic substances hence posing a threat to their health. Apparently, the private developer has been a thorn in their flesh with projects that release raw sewerage in the river, leading to the death of crops and animals that depend on water from the river for survival. The details of the project according to the publication indicate that it is an apartment…

President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed the State to procure 500 locally manufactured beds from two youthful Jua Kali innovators. According to the Head of State, the beds which are innovations by 26-year-old Mungai Gathogo and Joseph Muhinja, 35 will be essential in relieving public hospitals from the pressures of COVID-19 admissions. He thus dispatched the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) Secretary Andrew Wakahiu and Kiambu County Commissioner Wilson Wanyanga to Githunguri to assess the beds and convey the government’s decision. Read: Meet Jua Kali Artisans Behind Viral Unique Locally Made Hospital Beds This comes days after the artisans went viral with their hard…

15 Kenyan truck drivers have been blocked from entering Uganda after testing positive for the deadly COVID-19. According to the Ministry of Health, the 15 tested positive on the Busia-Malaba border hence barred from accessing Uganda. They were among the 19 foreigners including 2 Tanzanians and 2 Congolese. “Their entry into Uganda was not permitted,” reads part of the statement by the Ugandan authorities. Further, the Ugandan authorities indicated that there were three confirmed new COVID-19 cases as on July 14, 2020 out of which two are truck drivers who arrived from Kenya via Busia borders. Read: Kenya, Tanzania To Test…

A 50-year-old man was hacked to death in Siaya County, Got Rawalo village following a land tussle with his nephew. Police have launched investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death as neighbours intimated the two had a quarrel. According to Citizen, one of the neighbours stated that the nephew, identified as Ford had pruned trees from the uncle’s compound a move that ignited an argument forcing them to have intervention from the village elder. Apparently, the village elder was being escorted by the deceased after trying to solve the conflict when the suspect, nephew came out of a maize plantation…

Five people have died in the last 24 hours as 497 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the country bringing the tally to 10,791. Total fatalities for the deadly virus now stand at 202. Speaking during the daily COVID-19, Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi stated that the positive cases were arrived at following the testing of 4,922 samples in the last 24 hours. On a lighter note, 71 patients have recovered as recoveries tally jumps to 3,017. Out of the new cases, 480 are Kenyans while 17 are foreigners with 318 male and 179  female. According to the Health Ministry,…