Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

The Kenya Media Sector Working Group has criticized recent media regulations announced by the government amid rising political temperatures in the country. The group comprising of bodies such as the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), Kenya Union of Journalists, Editors Guild among others, termed the regulations announced last week by the National Security Advisory Committee (NSAC) as retrogressive. The committee led by Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua had last Wednesday indicated that all media outlets are to be held responsible for the content they broadcast or publish. Kinyua criticised leaders saying unchecked utterances and political weaponization of public gatherings…

Former Senate Majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen has warned Kenyans downplaying the fallout between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto as a mere “Jubilee political joke”. In a tweet on Monday, the Elgeyo Marakwet Senator stated that the infight in the top Jubilee leadership will have a ripple effect on the economy of the country soon. The firebrand Ruto ally quipped that political tension being witnessed in the country due to the President “fighting” his deputy threatens the economy as the shilling will keep falling and Kenyans will pay heavily for the political mess. “President fighting his Deputy isn’t…

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested four more people linked to robbery with violence by way of luring unsuspecting victims through online dating sites to their dens before torturing and extorting money from them. The four were arrested on Sunday evening at Ruaraka Shopping Centre in Nairobi. They are Bernard Mbunga, Fredrick Mutiso Mutua, Catherine Mumbi Kivuva and Kelvin Nzioki. According to the DCI, detectives based in Lang’ata who have been pursuing the case raided a house within Ruaka, only to find a Turkish national being subjected to torture by Mbunga and Mutua. https://twitter.com/DCI_Kenya/status/1315354580780290048?s=20 Read: Stand-by…

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga on Sunday attended a church fundraiser in Bondo, Siaya County alongside his businessman friend Jimmy Wanjigi. The leaders came together to raise funds for the completion of a Ksh160 million Bondo Anglican Church Synod Plaza. The ODM leader was also accompanied by several lawmakers including James Orengo (Siaya Senator), Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja), Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Christine Ombaka( Siaya), Oburu Oginga (EALA), Otiende Amollo (Rarieda) and Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Kisumu Deputy Governor Mathews Owili and Siaya County Assembly Speaker George Okode. Kirinyaga Senator Charles Kibiru and former Nairobi Deputy Governor Polycap Igathe also attended…

The Law Society of Kenya has notified Speakers and Clerks of National Assembly and Senate on intention to occupy Parliament on Monday, October 12, if President Uhuru Kenyatta will not have dissolved the August House by then following an advisory from Chief Justice David Maraga. In a notice seen by Kahawa Tungu on Sunday, LSK President Nelson Havi stated that Parliament stands dissolved on Monday if the President doesn’ heed to the Maraga advisory to send the lawmakers home over failure to enact laws key in the implementation of the two-thirds gender rule. Havi said that the lawmakers will not…

Nakuru residents on Sunday morning woke up to find their business premises being demolished as the Kenya Railways started reclaiming its land along Geoffrey Kamau Way. Chaos erupted as the locals protested the move with police deployed to oversee the demolitions keeping them at bay. Kahawa Tungu understands that the demolitions that started around 4am are targeting restaurants, godowns, night clubs, petrol stations and motor vehicle yards among others. The demolitions attracted looters who took no chances to get away with valuables. The demolitions are aimed at clearing the way for the rehabilitation of the Nairobi-Nakuru-Kisumu railway line by the…

Former Nairobi Diaries TV series actress Stacy Vugusta popularly known as Pendo was on Friday arraigned in a Mombasa Court over an unpaid hotel bill amounting to Ksh208,000. Pendo owes the money to English Point Marina hotel, the complainant in the case. The Shanzu Court heard that the actress had accumulated a total bill of Ksh330.000 and was only able to raise Ksh145,000. She committed to clear the balance within two days on September 14. However, she was not able to clear the bill within the agreed timelines forcing the management to block her from leaving the hotel. The court…

The number of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in the country rose to 40,620 on Friday after 442 more cases were confirmed from 5,327 samples tested in the last 24 hours. Speaking during the daily Covid-19 briefing in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Rashid Aman said of the new cases 419 are Kenyans while 23 are foreigners. In terms of age, the youngest is a three-year-old infant while the oldest is 86 years old. Aman said four more patients have succumbed to the disease. The number of fatalities now stands at 755. Read: NHIF To…

Tanzania’s President John Pombe Magufuli has asked Tanzanians to join Kenyans in praying for the country for the coronavirus pandemic to go away, claiming prayers helped in the eradication of the deadly virus back at home. Speaking on Friday, Magufuli, who has over the recent past been criticized over Tanzania’s unconventional response to Covid-19, lauded his Kenyan counterpart, Uhuru Kenyatta, for convening three days of national prayer as the country grapples with adverse effects of the coronavirus pandemic. “We thank God because with him nothing is impossible, with prayers Tanzania was able to eradicate Coronavirus,” he said. “I was speaking…

The government has confirmed that tomorrow, October 10 will be a public holiday named Huduma Day. In a statement, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i said the Holiday formerly known as Moi Day, will be observed through national prayers that will highlight service and volunteerism to the community. “Kenyans are encouraged to participate in the prayers and promote national unity, social justice, cohesion and sustainable development in their communities for the benefit of present and future generations, ” reads the statement dated October 8. The Cabinet approved the renaming of Moi Day to Huduma Day in December last year. According to…

Deputy President William Ruto has downplayed reports that a section of members of cabinet dared him to resign during a tense cabinet meeting on Thursday. Daily Nation reported on Friday that during the meeting chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta, the DP was put on the defense over polarising premature campaigns witnessed over the recent past. According to the local daily, some CSs scolded the DP over what they termed as divisive campaigns in which the second in command and his Tanga Tanga allies are on record demonizing their colleagues in government. The tense meeting reportedly marked “a drawing of red line”…

Liban Abdillahi Omar, a Westgate terror suspect who was acquitted yesterday, has reportedly been abducted after being freed from police custody. Reports indicate that Omar was abducted on Thursday morning by unknown gunmen moments after leaving Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) offices in Upper Hill, Nairobi. Omar is said to have been in the company of his sister in a taxi when four gun-toting men in a Subaru ordered them to stop. The gunmen pulled Omar from the taxi and forced him into their vehicle before speeding off. The incident took place near KCB towers. The gunmen reportedly took off with…

Deputy President William Ruto has cancelled two functions he was expected to attend in Nyamira county on Thursday after police termed them as illegal. In a tweet on Thursday afternoon, Ruto said the Boda Boda and Church fundraiser functions have been postponed to Thursday next week after consultation with his hosts MPs Vincent Kemosi (West Mugirango), Shadrack Mose (Kitutu Masaba) and Joash Nyamoko (North Mugirango). The second in command castigated the police department saying the disruption of his scheduled meetings was “unnecessary”. “After consultations with MPs Kemosi, Mose,Nyamoko, the bodaboda sacco and church leadership who had invited us, we have…

Deputy President William Ruto supporters in Nyamira County have been dealt a blow after police blocked them from attending the DP’s meeting that had been scheduled to take place at Kebirigo High School on Thursday. Kahawa Tungu understands that the second in command was expected in the region to meet Boda Boda riders as part of his youth empowerment program. The venue had been set up and the riders who had converged for a fundraiser function were ordered by police to vacate the premises. Nyamira County Commissioner Amos Mariba said the meeting was illegal. Police were forced to lob teargas…

Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) beneficiaries will have a five-year grace period for repayment if Parliament approves changes to the law. This will be an increase from the current one year grace period within which the students in Universities and Colleges are required to start repaying their loans after completing their studies. In the proposed changes to the Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) Act, the proponents of the bill want interest charged on the loans slashed to three per cent from the current four per cent. The changes will cushion jobless youth from tough penalties including Ksh5,000 monthly fine for…