Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

The government has issued a cautionary statement against politicians amid rising political temperatures in the country ahead of the 2022 General Election. In a statement on Wednesday, the National Security Advisory Council chaired by Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua accused politicians of inciting the youth. “NSAC noted that the country is experiencing growing political tension that is creating division and pitting sections of politicians and their supporters against perceived opponents. This situation is increasingly polarizing the country along ethno-political lines, and therefore undermining national cohesion, peace and security and derailing our transformative economic agenda, ” said Kinyua. “This disregard…

A Nairobi court has found two people accused of being behind the Westgate terror attack guilty of conspiring to commit a terror attack. The two are the first and fourth accused; Mohamed Abdul and Hussein Mustafa. In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, Milimani Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi acquitted the second accused, Liban Abdullah Omar, of all the charges levelled against him for lack of evidence. Liban, a refugee from Somalia, was arrested after police tracked phone calls with his brother, who was killed in the attack. He has been in custody for over seven years. The three faced up to…

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has declared the registration of nicotine pouches popularly known as LYFT illegal. In a letter to the Pharmacy and Poisons Board CEO Fred Siyoi, the CS wants the nicotine pouches deregistered. He argues its licensing was done contrary to the provisions of Section 25 of the Pharmacy and Poisons Act CAP 224. Nicotine pouches are marketed as a safer alternative for smoking addicts who want to quit the habit but are addicted. The pouch is placed inside the mouth between the lip and gums for extended periods. The nicotine and flavour is released to deliver…

Two young men allied to Tanzania’s opposition party Chadema are nursing injuries after they were reportedly kidnapped and beaten in a series of election campaign violence reported in the country ahead of the October 28 General Election. The two identified as Evarist and Adam Mallya were reportedly kidnapped on Tuesday at Hai district. They were found on Wednesday morning dumped in Arusha with serious injuries. Witnesses said the youth had been beaten badly with cut wounds. https://twitter.com/najiniusnaj77/status/1313740566354489345?s=20 This comes at a time the opposition continue to accuse President John Pombe Magufuli’s government of frustrating their campaigns ahead of the…

Heavily armed Tanzanian police officers on Tuesday blocked opposition leader Tundu Lissu’s convoy at Kiluvya, Coastal part of the country. The Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) presidential candidate and his aides were headed to Kibaha district. A video shared by the party on its Twitter page shows some armed officers in a Landcruiser and others milling around the scene questioning the opposition officials. https://twitter.com/ChademaTz/status/1313406710552424448?s=20 This comes four days after the National Electoral Commission (NEC) Ethics Committee suspended Lissu’s presidential campaigns for seven days for allegedly contravening election rules. The suspension followed complaints filed by two political parties, President John Pombe…

Progressive reopening of primary and secondary schools will commence on Monday, October 12, 2020, with Grade 4 (Competency-Based Curriculum), Class 8 and Form 4 learners, Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has announced. In a press statement on Tuesday, the CS said that KCPE and KCSE candidates will begin their examinations on March 22, 2021, and March 25, 2021, respectively. According to the revised school calendar, the students returning to school will continue with learning until December 23, 2020, when the second term will come to an end before proceeding for a one-week Christmas break. Term 3 will begin on January…

There was tension in Kahawa Wendani Ward on Tuesday as the ruling party Jubilee cancelled a nomination exercise without an official communication to all aspirants eyeing the seat. The party primaries had been scheduled for today but by 10:30am election materials had not arrived from the party Headquarters in Pangani, Nairobi. There was also no clear communication on whether the exercise would take place. Reports indicate that some aspirants and their supporters arrived at the Chief’s camp where the materials were supposed to be delivered as early as 6am ready for the party primaries. However, to their surprise, there were…

The prosecution team in the case against two Sarova Stanley contractors charged with leaking a CCTV footage of President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga touring the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) has been directed to supply the defense with statements of the two leaders if any. The order was issued on Tuesday by Trial Magistrate Bernard Ochoi. The case will be mentioned on October 29, 2020, for the court to give directions on the CCTV footage provided. The Court had on July 2, ordered the investigating officer in the case to record statements from the Head of State…

The Council of Governors (CoG) has moved to court to challenge a landmark ruling by the High Court that all county chiefs charged with graft be barred from office until their cases are heard and determined. In a petition filed on Monday, the county bosses who are seeking protection from the harsh ruling question its constitutionality. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Inspector General of Police are listed as respondents in the case. High Court Judge James Makau certified the case urgent and ordered that direction on hearing the petition be given…

The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the country has risen to 39,499 after 22 more people tested positive in the last 24 hours. Addressing members of the press on Monday, Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Rashid Aman said the cases are from a 595  sample size. The cumulative tests conducted so far stand at 564,078. The CAS aid that all of the new cases are Kenyans except one who is a foreigner. 15 are male and seven are female with the youngest being an 18-year-old and the oldest aged 65 years. The cases are…

National Assembly Minority Whip Junet Mohamed has condemned chaos witnessed at Kenol town in Murang’a County on Sunday that left two people dead and several others injured after rival groups clashed. Speaking to the press on Monday, the Suna East Member of Parliament accused Deputy President William Ruto of orchestrating the chaos that preceded his visit in the area. The vocal ODM MP said the DP and his Tanga Tanga allies are responsible for the mayhem. He termed the DP as “too angry, too bitter and too entitled to be President of Kenya”. According to the lawmaker, the second in…

The East African Community (EAC has endorsed Kenya’s Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed for the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Director-General position. In a letter dated October 4, Vincent Biruta, Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers, said the move follows a proposal by Rwandan President Paul Kagame who is the chairperson of EAC Heads of State. “I would like to inform you that Ambassador Amina C. Mohamed is endorsed as the candidate of the East African Community to the post of Director General of the World Trade Organisation,” the letter addressed to EAC Ministers reads in part. “I take this…

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has summoned Neo Kenya Mpya Commuters Limited and Joy Kenya Services Limited officials over chaos witnessed at Kenol in Murang’a County on Sunday that left two people dead and several injured. In a statement on Monday, NTSA directed the officials to appear before the authority to provide an “insight” into the incident. https://twitter.com/ntsa_kenya/status/1313016217918111744?s=20 It’s alleged that the buses ferried goons to Kenol where Deputy President William Ruto was expected to preside over a fundraiser at AIPCA Kenol Church. Read: MPs Ndindi Nyoro, Alice Wahome Summoned By DCI Over Kenol Chaos Whereas the DP’s…

Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro and his Kandara counterpart Alice Wahome have been summoned this morning by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations over the chaos witnessed at Kenol in Murang’a County yesterday. In a statement shared on DCI Twitter page, the two among others who were not mentioned were directed to appear at the Regional Criminal Investigations office in Nyeri to assist Police with investigations. Murang’a Woman Representative Sabina Chege is said to be among leaders summoned by the DCI. https://twitter.com/DCI_Kenya/status/1312972754526834688?s=20 Yesterday night Inspector of Police Hillary Mutyamabi ordered the two be arrested for allegedly mobilising goons to cause…

Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai has ordered immediate arrest of Members of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu) and Alice Wahome (Kandara) for allegedly mobilising goons to cause mayhem at Kenol in Murang’a County earlier today. In a statement on Sunday night, Mutyambai directed that the motor vehicles which were hired to ferry goons be tracked and detained to assist in investigations. https://twitter.com/NPSOfficial_KE/status/1312804265228988419?s=20 Earlier, the IG confirmed that two people lost their lives and several others after rival groups clashed on the Kenol-Murang’a road moments before Deputy President William Ruto arrived in the area for a church function. In a statement…