Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

The High Court has barred police from arresting Kimilili Member of Parliament Didmus Barasa over a matatu sale dispute. The lawmaker moved to court early this week seeking to stop police from taking him into custody over the dispute stemming from the sale of a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) to a local businessman four years ago. In orders issued today, the MP was directed to appear before Kajiado Chief Magistrate on August 4 to take plea in the case. Barasa through his lawyer John Khaminwa had told the court that he sold the matatu to Irungu Mwangi through an agent…

A police officer was killed and three others injured on Wednesday evening after an attack by suspected Al Shabaab militants at Yumbis Rural Border Patrol Unit (RBPU) police camp in Garissa County. Northeastern Regional Coordinator Nick Ndalama confirmed the attack saying the injured officers are hospitalised in Garissa. The militants are said to have gained entry into the camp after hauling several explosives. What followed, residents said, was heavy exchange of fire as police responded to the attack. The residents said the attackers also terrorised them accusing them of sharing information with security agencies. Several houses were also torched at…

Gospel singer Ruth Matete is set to bury her husband John Apewajoye at the Lang’ata cemetery in Nairobi today, Kahawa Tungu has learnt. A family spokesman told Standard that the remains of Apewajoye will be interred at the public cemetery on Thursday morning. Most of Apewajoye’s relatives and friends reside in Nigeria and will not be able to attend the burial because of the existing Covid-19 travel restrictions. The deceased’s remains have been lying at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) mortuary accumulating a huge bill. Matete was early this month allowed to bury her husband after months of investigations. Read:…

A family in Kang’undo is living in a makeshift shelter after being kicked out of their rented house over arrears. A man identified as Benjamin Kilonzo and his Form Two son have reportedly been living in the makeshift shelter featuring a polythene bag roofing and twigs since they were kicked out of their house three months ago. In photos seen by this writer, the two sleep on a tattered mattress with no comfort. Kilonzo told Citizen TV that he was rendered jobless after local hotels he depended on for menial jobs closed down following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus…

The Ministry of Health has confirmed 637 new cases of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) after testing 4,275 samples in the last 24 hours. This now raises the number of infections in the country to 14,805. In a statement on Tuesday, Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Rashid Aman said of the new cases, 623 are Kenyans and 14 foreigners. Of the new cases, 361 are male and 276 are female. The youngest patient is a 1-year-old child and the oldest is aged 88 years old. The cases are spread out across the country as follows: Nairobi (342), Machakos (85) Kajiado…

Operations at Makadara Law Courts have been suspended for 14 days after two staffers tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19). In a statement on Wednesday, Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Anne Amadi, directed Magistrates and members of staff to self-quarantine. The break will allow disinfection of the court premises and allow those affected enough time to seek medical attention. The registrar further said that a Mombasa Court that was closed down under similar circumstances on June 19 resumed operations on July 6. Read: CJ Maraga Suspends Court Sessions In Mombasa After 11 Employees Tested Positive For Coronavirus “There…

Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo Were has pleaded guilty to flouting government measures aimed at curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19). The MP was arraigned at an Oyugis Court on Wednesday following his arrest yesterday night for holding a public gathering in total disregard of an existing ban on such meetings. The court freed him after paying Ksh15,000 fine. Were was arrested at the chief’s camp in Oyugi town where he was distributing sanitisers to the locals. Police said that group was not observing social distancing rules and other health regulations issued to prevent the spread of…

After years of planning, construction of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is set to kick off next month, Kahawa Tungu has learnt. A Chinese firm, Stecol Corporation, bagged a Ksh5.6 billion deal to start the project aimed at easing traffic in the capital Nairobi. Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary Charles Hinga confirmed to Business Daily that the contract was signed last week and the project which entails the construction of special lanes for high-capacity buses through the Nairobi city centre and Thika highway is set to commence in August. Kahawa Tungu understands that in its initial stages, the…

The government has confirmed 397 new cases of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) after testing 3,637 samples in the last 24 hours. This now raises the number of infections in the country to 14,168. In a statement on Tuesday, Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Rashid Aman said 642 more patients have been declared cured. Out of this 587 were in home-based care programme and 55 were in hospitals. The total number of recoveries recorded in the country so far stands at 6,258. On a sad note, the CAS noted that 12 more patients have succumbed to the disease raising the…

Churchill Show Proprietor Daniel Ndambuki has broken his silence over claims of his directors driving upcoming comedians into depression. Comedienne Zainabu Zeddy, who became a household name after making appearances on the show, had accused Churchill Show Creative Director Victor Ber of being a “dream killer”. Churchill, as he is popularly known, has also had his share of criticism as comedians have always accused him of paying them peanuts. Ndambuki took some minutes in his Sunday night show that airs on NTV to express his displeasure with the claims. According to Churchill, comedians should use the platform to build themselves…

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has criticized President Uhuru Kenyatta’s for conferring 24 advocates with Senior Counsel rank despite a pending case in court. In a statement on Monday evening, just hours after State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena made the list public, LSK termed the President’s move as “impunity”. LSK President Nelson Havi said that the list was recalled in May this year after numerous complaints on the selection process. “President Uhuru Kenyatta acted with impunity in conferring rank of Senior Counsel on the 24 Advocates. The dispute on their recommendation for conferment is still pending in Court. Havi…

The Nairobi county government has moved to court in a bid to stop the National Treasury from disbursing funds to the newly created Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) Office. The Mike Sonko-led government, through Chief Finance Officer Halkano Waqo is seeking orders to stop NMS and its employees from interfering in any manner whatsoever with the city county budgetary allocations. This now escalates the row between the county government and NMS Boss Major General Mohammed Badi who took over four key functions surrendered by governor Sonko In February this year. In the deed of transfer that was gazetted on February 25,…

Citizen TV anchor Jeff Koinange has revealed that he recently tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19). In a tweet on Monday, Mr Koinange, however, said he is asymptomatic and in self-isolation. “Folks, just to let you know, I have tested POSITIVE for Covid-19. I’m doing Good..NO symptoms…and my Family is fine. All my close contacts have been informed. Right now I’m in self isolation. Many thanks to Royal Media Services Management for its Support. Stay SAFE & God Bless!” he wrote. https://twitter.com/KoinangeJeff/status/1285212932532568067?s=20 This comes days after another journalist at the Royal Media Services-owned station, Stephen Letoo, confirmed to…

Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua have finally been conferred with Senior Counsel title by President Uhuru Kenyatta after a long wait. Others on a list of 24 senior lawyers and advocates of the High Court released on Monday by State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena Mararo are Otiende Amollo, Fredrick Ngatia and former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Philip Murgor. Others are renowned arbitrator John Ohaga, family lawyer Judy Thongori, former chief executive of the defunct Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) Patricia Nyaundi and Kioko Kilukumi. OM Parkash Nagpal, Fackson Walnaina Kagwe, Pravin…

President Uhuru Kenyatta has convened a special sitting between the national and county governments’ leadership on Friday, July 24, to deliberate on the Covid-19 situation in the country. In a press statement on Monday, State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena said the 5th Extraodinary Session has been convened following a surge of Covid-19 infections in the country. Since the Head of State eased restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the virus on July 6, the ministry of health has continued to report a high number of cases. So far, a total of 44 out of 47 counties have recorded at…