Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

An Ethiopian court has ordered release of Kenyan journalist Yassin Juma from police custody. In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, the court also granted Ethiopia’s OMN journalist Melese Diribsa and three co-detainees bail. According to the defense team, the court ordered their release after police failed to present evidence to prove they committed a crime. The Ministry of Foreign affairs is said to have been working behind the scenes to secure the freedom of Juma whose health deteriorated while in custody. The former NTV journalist was arrested early July by the Ethiopian military while covering protests that erupted in Ethiopia’s…

The Employment and Labour Relations Court on Wednesday ordered reinstated Nairobi County Assembly Clerk Jacob Ngwele to step aside from his position pending the hearing and determination of his case challenging the appointment of Edward Gichana as his replacement. Justice Maureen Onyango directed Deputy Clerk Adah Onyango to take over Ngwele’s functions pending judgment in October. Last week the court suspended the appointment of Gichana as the new assembly clerk. Gichana had been sworn into office and gazetted by besieged assembly speaker Beatrice Elachi, a move that Ngwele protested. “It is hereby ordered that the appointment of Edward Gichana as…

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested a security guard accused of breaking into a foreign High Commissioner’s residence and stealing valuables. According to the DCI, Brian Mbache Libasi was traced to his hideout at Mwembeni area in Kibra. He is accused of having broken into the envoy’s Kileleshwa residence on June 23 while on duty. “The sleuths have been pursuing the culprit, a former security guard who was on duty on the fateful day at the High Commissioner’s residence in Kileleshwa, ” said DCI. DCI said sleuths recovered all household items reported to have been stolen…

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has said that hotels are allowed to sell alcohol to their guests but in their rooms. While issuing a clarification on the ban of alcohol sale announced by President Uhuru Kenyatta on July 27, the CS, however, maintained that hotels are not allowed to serve alcohol to clients sitting in a public space. Balala said this in a letter dated August 4 and directed to Mike Macharia, the CEO Kenya Association of Hotek Keepers & Caterers, who had sought a clarification on the alcohol ban. “The President’s announcement on the issue of the sale of…

Cash-strapped local retailer Choppies has announced that it will exit the Kenyan market through its subsidiary in its 2020 financial year. The Botswanan retailer, which announced plans to exit the Kenyan market in September last year, has over time cited negative cash flow as reasons to ditching the competitive market. “Choppies Distribution Kenya Limited is a non‐operating entity and since the cash flow of Choppies Enterprises Kenya Limited (Kenya) was negatively impacted by adverse trading conducts. Management has decided to fully impair Choppies Distribution Kenya Limited and exit from the country during the financial year 2020,” the Group revealed in…

The Kenyan senate has suspended physical meetings for one month as part of efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus. Senate Speaker Keneth Lusaka told the Standard that during the period all committee meetings will be held virtually as the house checks the spread of the virus. “We had a liaison committee meeting, which has all the chairpersons of committees, and agreed that all meetings should be held virtually,” said Lusaka. This comes days after the National Assembly banned physical meetings after a number of staffers and MPs contracted the virus. The Council of Governors had written to Lusaka last…

Former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chief Executive Officer Ezra Chiloba is on the receiving end of a section of Kenyans wrath after Roselyn Akombe accused him of threatening her regarding recent claims on Chris Msando murder. In a screenshot of an email that the former IEBC commissioner claimed Chiloba sent her, the former CEO said, “Do not attempt to rewrite history, our silence is not your license.” Akombe has vowed to spill the beans. “I received this email from Ezra Chiloba, former CEO IEBC. It confirms my call for an inquiry. Kenyans deserve the truth. I owe it…

The Samburu County government has dismissed reports by the Ministry of Health that a resident in the area tested positive for Covid-19. Clarifying the ministry of health’s Saturday report, Governor Moses Lenolkulal said there is no need for panic among residents as a single case confirmed did not originate from Samburu but from Forole in Marsabit County. “The case is not actually from Samburu, it is not among the samples that we sent to Nairobi, from reliable sources the contact has been traced to Forole in Marsabit and there is no cause for alarm’” he said while speaking at Samburu…

Former IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba has responded to Roselyne Akombe regarding claims that slain ICT boss Chris Msando was led “to the slaughterhouse” by commission insiders. In a short email, Chiloba who was kicked out of the commission unceremoniously following the chaotic 2017 elections, fired a warning shot across Akombe’s bow saying, “Do not attempt to rewrite history, our silence is not your license.” https://twitter.com/DrRoselynAkombe/status/1289689579507744769?s=20 While marking the third anniversary since Msando was found brutally murdered, Akombe stated that she was ready to testify in an inquiry into the former IEBC ICT boss’ murder. She called on the Law Society…

Two people died and six others injured at the port of Mombasa on Friday after a fertiliser silo bin fell on them. The accident is said to have occurred at about 5.10 pm at the Portside Freight Container Station, which is owned by Governor Hassan Joho’s family. A police report identified the deceased as 44-year-old James Mwangi Gathendo and 35-year-old machine operator Vikash Singh. Those injured were listed as Harrison Munyaka (30), Keya Biria (25), Rebecca Maranga (28), Morris Oluoch (27), Laik Ahmed (25) and Bibi Rama (27). They were treated at the Coast General Hospital and discharged. Confirming the…

The Ministry of Health has confirmed 723 new cases of Covid-19 after testing 8,679 samples in the last 24 hours. This now raises the number of infections reported in the country so far to 20,636. The new cases include 700 Kenyans and 23 foreigners with the youngest patient being a 9-months-old baby and the oldest 87 years. Nairobi continues to lead with the highest Covid-19 cases (436), followed by Nakuru 83, Mombasa 48, Kiambu 45, Turkana 12 and Uasin Gishu 10. Distribution in other counties is as follows: Machakos 9, Kajiado 9, Busia 8, Muranga 7, Kericho 7, Kisumu 6,…

Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong’o’s son Junior is off the market. This has been revealed by Junior’s sister and renowned actress Lupita Nyong’o. Taking to Instagram, the multi-award-winning actress said that Junior married his long-time lover Wanja Wohoro this week in a private ceremony. Lupita regretted that she was not able to attend the wedding apparently due to existing Covid-19 travel restrictions but said she was happy for him. She took the opportunity to welcome Wanja to the Nyong’o family. “Yup, he is off the market, folks! Sharing a moment of joy in my family’s life when my sweet, gentle, loving…

Cabinet Secretary without portfolio Raphael Tuju and his three children Yma, Mano and Alma are in trouble for disobeying court orders in Ksh1.6 billion debt row. High Court judge Mary Kasango directed the four to appear in court on September 21 to show cause why they should not be jailed for disobeying a directive to allow managers appointed by the East Africa Development Bank (EADB) – Muniu Thoithi and George Weru – to take over operations of Dari Limited. The firm owns high-end Dari Restaurant in Nairobi’s Karen area and a 20-acre recreational resort dubbed Entim Sidai. The four were…

The Postal Corporation of Kenya also known as Posta Kenya and the Immigration Department today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will see the former deliver passports directly to applicants. The MoU was signed by Post Master General Dan Kagwe and Immigration boss Alexander Muteshi. According to the immigration department, the initiative which is currently in its pilot stage will be fully operational from September 1, 2020. The initiative is part of the government efforts to reduce congestion at the immigration department offices, save time for applicants as well as help in the fight against coronavirus. Read: Posta Kenya…

Safaricom shareholders on Thursday approved dividend payout of Ksh1.40 per share up from  Ksh1.25 paid in 2019. In a statement, the leading telecommunication company in the country said the disbursement, which is equivalent to 80 per cent of its normalized earnings, is a 12 per cent increase from last year. The company is set to pay a total dividend of Ksh56 billion to shareholders with the National Treasury expected to receive Ksh19.63 billion. Safaricom announced a 14.3 per cent increase in profits after tax to Ksh71.7 billion in the financial year ending March 31, 2020. In 2019, the company issued…