Author: Mercy Auma

Esther Mwenda, wife to late freedom fighter Ronald Ngala has passed on at a hospital in Mombasa aged 90 years. This was confirmed by Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho through his twitter as he commemorated her as a strong pillar in the empowerment of women in the Coastal region. “She was a pillar in the empowerment of women in the coastal region & held high the torch of education for years. She will be sorely missed by many. I pass my condolences to the entire family led by Hon. Katana Ngala & to the entire coastal family. May her soul…

A stand-off was witnessed at the Milimani Law Courts on Monday, April 27, 2020 when a state prosecutor refused to approve charges leveled against National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority (NWHSA) CEO Geoffrey Sang. According to local media, the ODPP refused to approve the charge sheets and rather redirected that the original police file is taken to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Noordin Haji. Sang ideally failed to appear in court as his lawyer presented a doctor’s report indicating that he had been hospitalized. This desk had reported Sang’s arrest alongside three of his colleagues on…

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has announced 8 new Coronavirus cases in the country tally rises to 363. Of the new confirmed 4 are from Nairobi and 4 from Mombasa. The CS has also confirmed eight recoveries bringing the total number of those who have recovered to 114. Further, he raised concerns over the increasing number of cases in Mombasa County stating that local transmission had taken roots. Read: CS Kagwe Announces 11 New COVID-19 Cases, Number Rises To 281 He referenced the directive by President Uhuru Kenyatta on the re-opening of restaurants stating that directives are in place to ensure…

Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony on Sunday unveiled mass COVID-19 testing equipment which were capable of taking approximately 2,000 tests daily. Taking to his twitter, the governor indicated that he had purchased the equipment to aid in speeding up the tests thus the county did not need to send the samples to Kisumu for analysis. “The equipment is top-notch and the KEMRI lab in Kericho is one-of-its-own kind. We no longer need to send any samples of suspected persons to Kisumu or Nairobi for analysis,” Chepkwony wrote. https://twitter.com/GVNChepkwony/status/1253714674983620613 Read: Mixed Reactions As Kenyans Come Up With Ways To Enter Nairobi Despite Movement…

President Uhuru Kenyatta has today, April 25, 2020 signed into law the Tax Laws Amendment Bill aimed at cushioning citizens amid the Coronavirus pandemic that has affected the economy. The Tax-related laws amended include Income Tax Act (CAP 470), the Value Added Tax Act of 2013, the Excise Duty Act (2015), the Tax Procedures Act (2015), the Miscellaneous Levies and Fees Act (2016) and the Retirement Benefits Act(1997). The amendments detail the rise in the threshold for turnover tax to between Sh1 million and Sh50 million to exclude small-scale traders from the presumptive tax. The new law further lowers turnover…

President Uhuru Kenyatta has confirmed 7 new Coronavirus cases in the country within the last 24 hours, total now stands at 343. While addressing the media at State House today, Saturday, April 25, 2020, the head of state also announced the extension of the cessation of movement in the four counties of Nairobi, Kwale, Mombasa and Kilifi. Further, the nationwide dusk till dawn curfew has been extended for 21 days. “We extended our appreciation to the health and security personnel standing at the forefront of the war against the coronavirus pandemic. While we mourn the 14 who have succumbed, we…

Chief Inspector Stephen Lelei is one of the most celebrated heroes following the Westgate terror attack on September 21, 2013. The Inspector is reported to be among the first police officers to have responded to the attack thus played a crucial role in rescuing people. In reports published by Daily Nation, Lelei was shot in the leg while making efforts to rescue Kenyans who were trapped in the mall and continued with the rescue mission until special forced arrived. After the attack, he was applauded for his bravery and celebrated countrywide thus earned a Silver Star from the head of…

The Senate has launched an inquiry over claims of negligence at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) leading to the death of veteran journalist Ken Walibora. The body of the legendary Swahili author was found lying at the KNH Mortuary with reports that indicated he had been run over by a matatu along Landhies road, Nairobi. Reports also indicated that Walibora had been rushed at KNH using a Nairobi County ambulance but was left unattended for hours hence his death. Apparently, after he was rushed to the hospital, he remained unattended to from 10:30 AM until his demise at midnight. Read: Legendary…

Deputy President William Ruto has rubbished claims propagating the existence of a new coalition that would sideline him. Taking to Twitter on Friday, April 24, 2020, the second in command stated that the Jubilee party should ignore the propaganda being peddled adding that the party had no room for selfish experiments meant to benefit brokers. “Jubilee fraternity should ignore propaganda peddled by desperados seeking ragtag ethnic coalitions. Our progressive constitution vest power in party organs not personalities. Jubilee the governing party has no room for selfish evil experiments meant to benefit brokers & their ilk,” read the tweet. https://twitter.com/WilliamsRuto/status/1253733276377927683 Read: Fraudsters…

At least 20 senior police officers have been sent home on early retirement in new changes announced by the National Police Service. Their replacements have also been named with more changes expected in the service. Among the ones sent on retirement include Kenya Police Service head of operations Henry Barmao, head of logistics Joseph Kiget, commandant of Administration Police Training College (APTC) Peter Muriithi and head of planning at police Silas McOpiyo. Also, Patrick Ndunda who was the former head of fingerprints at the office of the DCI has been named the new head of planning and finance at the office…

Sleuths from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) have arrested a lands officer in the County Government of Kilifi over bribery. Johnson Mwabata, the Magarini Assistant Development officer was pounced on by the Anti-corruption agency following reports and complaints from a victim, Daudi Omar Elema. Apparently, Mwabati is accused of demanding bribes before issuing clearance letters to Omar who is a developer. Further, he is said to have pocketed Sh65,000 to facilitate the issuance but has been going in circles thereafter. Read: EACC Now Investigating Bungoma County Officials Who Purchased Jerrycans For Ksh10,000 Each The details by the EACC indicate that…

Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi and Elgeiyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen have been on the receiving end of social media users for holding rallies amid Coronavirus menace in the country and flaunting the social distancing directive. The two leaders trended for the better part of the morning with netizens calling them out for allowing gatherings despite the state directive to ban the same. Currently, COVID-19 cases in the country have surged to 320 and 14 fatalities with measures such as curfew and ban of social gatherings among the initiated measures to curb a further spread. Yesterday, Murkomen hosted leaders including Kapsaret…

15 cleaners contracted by Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) who were quarantined at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) in Mombasa have been left stranded over unpaid bills. The charges for the quarantine facility are Sh2,000 per person daily hence the 15 cleaners are expected to pay Sh420,000 for the 14 days they have been in quarantine. Star reports that the workers were taken to the quarantine facility following the seven cases of COVID-19 that were initially reported at KPA. According to Mary Amanda, one of the cleaners being held over, there was no payment agreement on the day of admission…

Justice James Makau has today, Thursday, April 23, 2020 allowed pastors to conduct church services together with media teams for broadcast as long as they maintain social distance. In his ruling, the judge temporarily allowed the church leaders and broadcasting crews to broadcast services to their members. This was following the petition by two pastors who had moved to court to have the directive by the state barring church gatherings suspended. “Pending the hearing and determination of this application, the courts be pleased to order that the alternative forms of worship such as broadcasting of church service be allowed on…

Two Tanzanian men, 30-year-old Hassani Rajabu and 20-year-old Amiri Salamu narrowly escaped death after a Captain to a Chinese Ship and his crew threw them into the shark-infested Indian Ocean over fears that they would infect them with Coronavirus. The Ship’s Captain and his crew have pleaded guilty for attempted murder as the two men Tanzanian nationals luckily escaped death. According to the New York Post, the ship is reported to have arrived at the port of Durban, South Africa early last month when the crew comprising of seven people found out that there were two stowaways of African descent…