Author: Mercy Auma

A Skyward Express flight with 50 passengers on board is reported to have forced an emergency after it developed mechanical problems on Saturday, January 18, 2020. Reports indicate that the Mombasa bound flight developed mechanical problems shortly after taking off from Manda Airport in Lamu. The pilot was then forced to turn around and make an emergency landing after strange noises were heard, with a lot of smoke being emitted from the plane’s side. The passengers have been reported to have been evacuated safely from the plane, hence no casualties or serious injuries. Read: Jetways Airlines Plane Forced To Make Emergency…

Deputy President William Ruto today, January 18, 2020,  attended a burial in Makindu, Makueni County to lay the mother to former Cabinet Secretary Cleopas Mailu to rest. The burial was attended by various dignitaries including Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama. In his speech, the Deputy President reached out to Wiper leader and asked him to work with him ahead of 2022, since ODM leader Raila Odinga had already failed him twice. According to the country’s second in command, it was time Kalonzo tried a different formula at taking a shot for the top positions and…

Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavi and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula on Saturday, January 18, made their entrance at Bukhungu Stadium, for the Building Bridges Meeting. The two leaders arrived in a convoy, accompanied by some of their supporters while other leaders from the region were already seated, and ready for the meeting. This contrasts their earlier stand where they had vowed to not attend the meeting, claiming that they had not received invitations and further planned to hold a parallel meeting, at the Nabongo Stadium in Mumias. “My brother Wetangula and I have not received an invitation to…

Elgeiyo marakwet Senator and Senate majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen has trolled and criticized the heavy security deployed in Nabongo Grounds, Mumias Town ahead of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Meeting at Bukhungu Stadium. Through a twitter post, Murkomen alluded that the BBI was not sincere in its goal of building bridges following the heavy police deployed in Mumias to stop a parallel meeting by organized former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale. Humorously, he indicated that the BBI is built on force and anyone who opposes it is dealt with ruthlessly instead of being democratic and allowing people to air their views…

The University of Nairobi (UoN) has suspended lunch allowance for all its staff in a bid to cut on costs. However, the ban does not apply to the office of the Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice Chancellor and college principal. According to an internal memo dated January 13, 2020, the acting Deputy Vice Chancellor Finance and Planning Madara Ogot indicated that the ban was aligned with the government on its directive on austerity measures. “As the University of Nairobi implements the government directive on austerity measures all lunch programmes have been stopped,” read part of the memo. Read: UoN Student Leader Ann…

30 more managers are set to lose their jobs at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) following interdiction on tax evasion. According to online sources, the tax agency has instituted stringent measures to curb incompetent managers who are delaying the targets on tax collection. This includes shedding off employees colluding with tax cheats to avoid paying tax hence hindering the set yearly achievements. The 30 managers are among the 75 employees who were arrested and charged after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) planted spies to unearth the syndicate. Read: KRA Official, AP Officer At Large After Detectives Intercepted Uncustomed Cigarettes…

Three Kitui County officials who were arrested by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over irregular and fraudulent awarding of tenders are set to be arraigned at the Machakos Anti-Corruption Court, on Friday January 17, 2020. The officials; June Mawiya Munyao (Chief Finance Officer), Jeremiah Ngui Kisilu (Tender Evaluation Committee) and Rodgers Makau Sande (Secretary) were arrested on Thursday January 16, and are to be arraigned for having awarded tenders for roads construction and river drifts irregularly. In a statement, the EACC indicated that the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Noordin Haji consented their arrest after a series of investigations…

The Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC) is now facing auction due to debts owed to several business entities. Nation reports that the KICC has accrued pending bills amounting to Sh211 million, owed to close to 69 business entities. The debts owed by the establishment managed and run by President Uhuru Kenyatta’s niece Nana Gecaga apparently date back to 2015 with suppliers threatening to move to court to have KICC’s assets auctioned in a bid to clear the debts. The debts dating from 2015 include services rendered for the 10th Edition of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Inter-ministerial Conference. Read: KICC…

29 year old Enosh Momanyi from Webuye West Constituency, Bungoma County was caught up in a blunder after his name and face were plastered in a leading local daily for being nominated for a top government job. The newspaper bore his face and name, and indicated that he had been appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta as Principal Secretary for Physical Planning. Apparently, the newspaper made a mistake as the nominated Physical Planning Principal Secretary Enosh Momanyi who was appointed is his namesake hence the confusion. In a video that has gone viral, the 29 year old youth is seen documenting…

Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria now wants to be handed Raphael Tuju’s Jubilee Party secretary General position. The legislator posted a mock campaign poster on his Facebook Page, with his name and image as the Secretary General and Cabinet Secretary without portfolio for Jubilee party. This position is currently held by Raphael Tuju, who has been the party’s secretary General and was also appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta as a Cabinet Secretary without portfolio. “Hon Moses Kuria HSC for Secretary General and Cabinet Secretary Without Portfolio,” read the poster. Read: MPs Keep Vigil At Police Station After Bloggers…

Four businessmen have been found guilty of defrauding the judiciary Sh80 million after hacking the Judiciary Financial System. The four are said to have hacked the Judiciary Financial system and requested the National Treasury to pay a sum of Sh80 million to imaginary firms for having supplied “air”. They were identified as Henry Achoka, Dancun Bokela, Rueben Kirongothi and Martin Murathe, and were presented before Chief Magistrate Roselyne Oganyo for theft and forgery. Apparently, this happened in September 2013, and Sh80,013,302 was lost in the process. Read: Treasury Backtracks on Judiciary Budget Cuts After Maraga Outburst The hackers conspired with…

Newly appointed Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya has swung into action a day after appointment and introduced competent people to deal with locust invasion menace. Through a press conference, Munya stated that competent people have already been deployed on ground with scientific methods to discover the locusts and eradicate them. In his statement to the media, he acknowledged that the locust invasion had proceeded into eight counties, and swarms identified. He also directed netizens to stop sending pictures of locusts, as per the instructions given by his predecessor, Mwangi Kiunjuri who asked people to take photos and post on social…

The promulgation of the new constitution on August 27, 2010 introduced devolution and structures including ministerial positions aimed for efficiency and accountability of government. The Principal Secretary position was created in the process, and according to Article 155(2) of the constitution, they play the role of administration of state departments. They thus oversee the departments and take on oversight roles to ensure activities are run smoothly as well as accountability of resources is upheld. In addition, they are proxy to Cabinet Secretaries, hence offer support and cover the inconsistencies that might arise in the various departments. The principal secretaries are…

Sensational couple and Citizen TV presenters Rashid Abdalla and wife Lulu Hassan are unarguably some of the most loved news anchors, who made history as the first couple to anchor news on mainstream media. The couple, who co-anchor at Citizen TV have been dubbed couple goals, while to others it is hectic working together due to speculation and scrutiny. Lulu, during an interview with a Tanzanian media, indicated that it is not all rosy working with the husband, as there are challenges attributed to it. Speaking to Millard Ayo while on a visit in Tanzania, she stated that one of the challenges…

President Uhuru Kenyatta has banned service providers Viusasa, Skiza and has directed the Interior ministry to ensure broadcasters meet all their obligations in paying tariffs. In an address from State House in Mombasa County, Uhuru stated that it was within his power to have all right holders receive royalties. In addition, he directed that all payment of royalties in regards to local content be channeled through the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO). Read: President Uhuru Kenyatta Orders 16PC VAT On Milk Products Imported From Outside EAC “Skiza and Viusasa will be eliminated because they sit outside the collection management organizations. I…