Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has expressed his reservations over the efficacy of an experimental Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech saying he does not understand how it works. The minister, who is not a medical expert, said he cannot comprehend how one will be injected with a “disease” to keep the virus at bay. He was speaking on Wednesday when he appeared before the Senate’s Health Committee to give a status report on the fight against the pandemic. “Yes we are hearing there is a vaccine…Pfizer say there is a vaccine but personally to tell you the truth,…

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Kenyan human rights activist Alice Wairimu Nderitu as Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide. Ms Nderitu takes over from Adama Dieng of Senegal who took office in 2012. “Ms Nderitu is a recognized voice in the field of peacebuilding and violence prevention, having led as mediator and senior adviser in reconciliation processes among communities in Kenya, as well as in other African settings, ” the UN boss said while announcing the appointment on Tuesday. Ms Nderitu, who served as Commissioner of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission in Kenya, from 2009 to…

As Kenya continues to record a high number of Covid-19 cases with many Kenyans raising concerns over high treatment costs, the government has come out to explain why the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) won’t help offset the bills. Appearing before the Senate Health Committee on Wednesday, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe and NHIF CEO Peter Kamunyo said it is expensive for NHIF and private insurance firms to foot the bills. “It is not practical for NHIF and private insurance companies to cover pandemics,” Kagwe said. Kagwe, however, noted that the government won’t neglect poor Kenyans who are unable to…

Bien Aime Baraza of the renowned Sauti Sol music group is in quarantine after contracting the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19). The lead vocalist told the Star that he tested positive for the disease last week revealing that before the test he had a fever, joint aches and eye problems. “For the last couple of days, I have been indoors. I started feeling weak and so I decided since I was travelling to Uganda, I needed the tests done before, only for me to test positive, ” he said. Bien, however, revealed that his wife Chiki Kuruka tested negative for the…

Tanzania’s opposition leader Tundu Lissu has fled the country for Europe amid reports of a crackdown on government critics days after President John Pombe Magufuli was sworn in for a second term after a disputed poll. In a video seen by this writer on Tuesday evening, the Chadema leader is seen leaving for the airport accompanied by officials from the German embassy in Tanzania. https://twitter.com/TunduALissu/status/1326173421923950593?s=20 The German embassy has been hosting the former presidential candidate for the past few days after he claimed that his life is in danger. Reports indicate that Lissu is flying to Belgium, a country that…

Populous counties in the country are set to get additional constituencies if proposals contained in the recently launched Buiding Bridges Initiative (BBI) report are passed. The BBI report that was officially launched at Bomas of Kenya on October 26 by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his handshake partner Raila Odinga, recommends an additional 70 MP seats in what its drafters say is meant to address issues touching on gender, People living with disabilities and under-representation in heavily populated counties. The proposal will see the National Assembly have a total of 360 MPs up from the current 290. The 14-member BBI steering…

United Nations High Commissioner Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has called for the immediate release of opposition leaders and members detained in Tanzania amid a crackdown on government critics following the disputed October 28 poll. In a statement on Tuesday, Ms Bachelet said she was disturbed by reports of continued intimidation and harassment against opposition leaders and members in Tanzania in the aftermath of the general elections. At least 150 opposition leaders and members are said to have been arrested since October 27 in mainland Tanzania and in Zanzibar. Reports indicate that most of the detainees have been released but at…

Sharlet Mariam, an independent candidate, who was eyeing the Msambweni Parliamentary seat in the December 15 by-election has withdrawn from the race. Addressing members of the press on Tuesday at Millenium hotel in Ukunda, Mariam said she had resolved to support Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) candidate Omar Boga after consulting with the party leader Raila Odinga. Mariam had ditched ODM for the ruling party Jubilee but failed to get the ticket after Jubilee announced that it would not field a candidate in the interest of a “bigger picture” that puts into consideration the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Odinga,…

The rivalry between Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) boss Major General Mohammed Badi over the management of the city has taken a new twist with the two leaders now engaging in social media spat over the garbage menace in various estates. Sonko had on Sunday, November 8, hit out at NMS over filth in the city, further sharing pictures of heaps of garbage in Pipeline. “Nairobi Super Governor who is also the President of the Republic of Kenya and commander in chief of Defence forces Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta and Saddam Hussein (referring to Gen. Badi) really…

Former Nation Media Group Editor Dan Otieno was on Monday night killed in a hit-and-run accident on Waiyaki Way near Uthiru Stage in Kiambu County. According to police, the journalist was hit by an unknown car that was heading towards Kikuyu as he crossed the road at around 9pm. He died on the spot. The driver sped off leaving his body on the road. “The body was taken to the City Mortuary. Investigations are ongoing to establish the identity of the vehicle,” said Kabete police boss Francis Wahome. Read: Legendary Swahili Author Ken Walibora’s Body Found At KNH Mortuary Until…

Wafula Chebukati, the Chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), has revealed that some of the commissioners who resigned after the 2017 poll left because they were opposed to internal audit calls. Chebukati noted that the commission wanted to do an audit with the aim of finding out why the cost of the 2017 election was high. “We retreated and reflected on where we have come from… from what we had seen the cost of election was too expensive.. we needed to do an audit to see how to reduce the cost… when we came back, we engaged…

Tanzania opposition leader Godbless Lema has been freed from police custody hours after he was arrested in Kenya as he fled Tanzania. The Chadema politician, who lost his bid to retain his seat for Arusha Urban Constituency for a third term, was arrested on Sunday at Ilbissil in Kajiado County after he and his family crossed over through the Namanga border. Chadema party confirmed on Monday evening that Lema had been freed from police custody. https://twitter.com/Chademakaskazni/status/1325800503394103297?s=20 Lema’s lawyer George Luchiri Wajackoyah told Nation that the government had agreed to offer the politician asylum. Read: Amnesty International Warns Kenya Against Deporting…

Police officers implementing recently announced Covid-19 rules have been dealt a blow after the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) rejected charge sheets for people arrested flouting Covid-19 containment protocol in Isiolo citing a lacuna in the law. The 24 individuals were arrested on Monday for not wearing face masks as directed by government in its efforts to contain the spread of the contagious disease. However, police officers could not arraign them as the DPP declined to register the charge sheets. The police had indicated that the individuals were to be charged for not wearing masks, contrary to Section 6 (1)…

Former Member of Parliament for Singida North Constituency Lazaro Nyalandu has reportedly been barred from fleeing to Kenya amid a crackdown on opposition leaders days after President John Pombe Magufuli was sworn in for a second term in office after a disputed poll. Nyalandu, who lost his bid to head Singida North Constituency — which he served from 2000-2010 — was blocked at Namanga border while en route to Kenya to seek asylum. The immigration officials at the border point cited lack of travel documents as reason for denying the Chadema party official entry to Kenya. Longido District Commissioner Frank…

Pressure is mounting on Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha to apologise over his recent actions while visiting Langas Primary School in Uasin Gishu County. In a viral video, the CS was caught on camera on Friday, November 6, giving the County’s Director of Education Gitonga Mbaka an embarrassing dress down during a visit to the school. The CS had taken issue with the school’s tidiness and called the official a fool before dismissing him when he tried to respond to his queries. https://twitter.com/Asmali77/status/1325091619385831427?s=20 Besides the slur, Prof Magoha is also said to have forced teachers and students to collect garbage…