Author: Mercy Auma

A newly acquired Italian Spartan aircraft C-27J for Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) is set to undergo acceptance trials locally. According to sources from the KDF, the aircraft will undergo the said trials by a special military unit before being registered, KAF 222. The trial entails different teams of engineers, pilots, and other skilled personnel who do testing on newly acquired aircraft before being registered locally. “They’ll do ‘acceptance trials’ get the aircraft through its paces and certify everything is working as it should then only after that, they accept it into service,” a top military official is quoted by the…

Citizen TV anchor and radio presenter Willis Raburu has made a comeback on the airwaves one month after taking a break following his daughter’s death. In the Monday morning Daybreak show, the bubbly anchor announced that he was back and ready to pick from where he left. “Wagwan my people, niko ndani (I’m back). It is Monday and what a beautiful way to kick off February,” he said. Additionally, taking to his Instagram page, Raburu applauded the effort by his employer and fans in sending love and comforting words through the tragic period he was going through. “It’s great to be back…

16 Governors have been locked out of their city offices located in Delta House, Westlands over rent arrears. According to Standard, the offices occupied by Governors detail a lease between the owner and the Council of Governors (CoG) which expired hence they cannot access their offices as from Monday, February 3. “Please note the lease between the CoG and the landlord is coming to an end at the midnight of January 31, 2020,” reads the notice. Additionally, the letter signed by Rosemary Njaramba stated, “In compliance with the lease agreement, the Council of Governors will hand over the premises back…

Bomet County Governor Hillary Barchok and Senator Christopher Langat were caught up in a scuffle that almost led to exchange of blows during a night fundraiser. The fundraiser that took place at Kipreres Market is reported to have turned chaotic after the Senator accused Barchok of corruption and misappropriation of County funds. Bomet East MP Beatrice Kones was also caught up in the scuffle as she tried to intervene. According to Citizen, Langat is said to have made a comparison between Barchok and his predecessor the late Joyce Laboso, stating that he had failed the County. Read: Bomet Governor Barchok Appoints…

A bus believed to be ferrying 46 supporters for the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) heading to Kitui  plunged into a river on Saturday February 1. According to a video circulated online, the bus plunged into River Waani in Makueni County, but no fatalities have been reported. Residents were captured trying to rescue some of the passengers, with emergency services said to have been deployed to the scene. https://twitter.com/KenyanTraffic/status/1223527607305670656 Read:BBI In Mombasa: Crowd Attempts To Block Murkomen, Kuria, Jumwa From VIP Dais Makueni county is set to host the next BBI Consultative meeting after having been previously held in Kakamega and…

Arie Dempers a South African national employed by Deputy President William Ruto was arrested on Friday, January 31 following public outcry on illegal water connection at the latter’s Kisima Farm. The employee, Ruto’s farm manager is said to have been nabbed by detectives after investigations and inspections at the farm. Through public outcry, Taita Taveta residents had filed complaints that the said 1,000 acre farm belonging to the DP had diverted water supply to cater for his livestock and other activities leaving residents with no water supply. According to a court order, Taveta Principal Magistrate Benson Khapoya gave the police…

County Governors have given the swearing-in ceremony of new Kiambu Governor James Nyoro a wide berth. Nyoro has been officially sworn in as the third Kiambu Governor by Justice John Onyiego after Ferdinand Waititu was successfully ousted from office on Wednesday by the senate. Kiambu Chief Magistrate Patricia Gichohi was the Master of Ceremony for the day and led the proceedings. The ceremony was postponed yesterday after the High Court judge declined to swear in Nyoro as Kiambu Governor. Sources had intimated that the judge had been persuaded by the county commissioner Wilson Wanyanga to swear in the deputy governor,…

A study by a local publication said to have been conducted in Kenya and Uganda has revealed the obsession that men have with breast milk. The study has depicted that men drinking their partner’s breast milk is not an uncommon act, as it is practiced in different parts of both Kenya and Uganda despite having various impacts. Furthermore, in some Districts in Uganda, the obsession has been socially accepted and linked to a way of sexual intimacy and a display of affection. Jane, a 20-year-old Ugandan, who is a mother to a six-month-old says that her husband enjoys the breastmilk…

Third Way Alliance Kenya (TAK) Secretary General Fredrick Okango has threatened legal action over what he terms as purported suspension, and given up to seven days for the party to comply and rectify earlier stand. Okango was suspended in a letter dated January 28, where the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) stated that he went against the party’s constitution by releasing a statement which contradicted the party’s position “in regards to a weighty political matter on national TV”. Following the statement, Okango is said to have been suspended  and bared from conducting any businesses on behalf of the party. NEC…

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has suspended operations of Northern E Coach Travelers Sacco Limited over security concerns and failure to comply with set requirements. In a press statement dated January 30, 2020, NTSA directed that all the 35 vehicles owned by the Sacco to be presented at the nearest Police Station. “NTSA notifies the Public that it has suspended Northern E Coach Travelers Sacco Ltd following National Security concerns and failure to comply with the requirements of (operation of PSV) Regulations, 2014,” reads part of the statement. Read: NTSA Withdraws Suspension Against Modern Coast Buses In addition, members…

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has ordered for the withdrawal of 17 maize meal brands from the market including Dola and Tetema. According to KEBS, these maize meal brands contain high levels of aflatoxin hence unsafe for human consumption. Additionally, the bureau has indicated that failure to adhere to the directive to have the listed maize meal brands withdrawn would lead to legal action. Read: KEBS Bans Sale, Manufacture Of Dola, Four Other Maize Flour Brands Over Aflatoxin Here is a list of the Maize meal brands ordered to be removed from the shelves: 1. Dola-  Eldoret Grain Millers…

Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu was impeached yesterday, January 29, with 28 senators in support of the impeachment motion. This follows a 2-day comprehensive sitting in the Senate where Waititu is battling different charges and accused of abuse of office, gross violation of the constitution and Public Finance Management Act and Crimes under National law. In the first count, 27 Senators supported the impeachment motion with the number getting to 28 in the second count. The requirement for the impeachment to pass detailed a simple majority of 24 senators. According to a document circulated online, the voting was aligned to political…

The Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) Noordin Haji has indicated plans to appeal the bail ruling of Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino. Haji raised concerns over how the whole process was arrived at, arguing that the law was not properly followed. “We are going for revision against the ruling given at the Milimani High Courts. We have unanimously agreed as an office about this. “We will also be speaking to the Judicial Service Commission on this gross irregularity. I cannot fathom this. I have never heard such a ruling before,” Haji is quoted. According…

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has introduced a contradictory statement regarding the fake assassination letter against Deputy President William Ruto. In a hearing on Tuesday, the DCI through Chief Inspector Peter Maina stated that Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho was not the complainant in the forgery case involving Dennis Itumbi, rather, the state was. “To my knowledge, I was instructed by the DCI George Kinoti to investigate the letter and the PS has never been a complainant but the state is the complainant,” said Inspector Maina. The Chief Inspector also distanced himself from the claims that PS Kibicho had…

A former Chandarana Supermarket employee, Cathie Akinyi Nana will receive Sh1 million compensation following a court order after she was sacked five years ago. In a ruling made by three Court of Appeal judges; Roselyne Nambuye, Sankale Ole Kantai and Wanjiri Karanja, the victim deserved the compensation after filing a sexual harassment suit. “We have also reconsidered the circumstances leading to the claim of sexual harassment and the award; we are not persuaded that the amount awarded was excessive. Ultimately, we find no merit in this appeal and dismiss it accordingly,” read the ruling by the judges. In addition to…