Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

The cumulative jail term for Sirisia Member of Parliament John Waluke in the maize scandal case is 67 years, the Judiciary clarified on Friday. The MP was sentenced yesterday alongside Grace Sarapay Wakhungu after being found guilty of Ksh314 million maize scam and fined 721 million and Ksh700 million respectively. It was, however, not clear whether the sentences meted to the two, the directors of Erad Supplies, would run concurrently or consecutively. But clarifying the matter, Anti-Corruption Magistrate Elizabeth Juma said that if the fines she set are not paid, the two convicts will serve their own terms and if…

A Kiambu Magistrate Court has summoned the Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti for disobeying a court order directing the release of motor vehicles belonging to former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa. In an order issued on Friday, Kinoti was directed to appear in court on July 3 to explain why the vehicles had not been released as directed. The vehicles, Toyota Lexus, Ford Ranger and a Mercedes Benz E-350, were not part of the search warrant issued by the court. “You are hereby required to attend this court at 8am on July 3, 2020 in the above case to…

Makueni County Governor Kivutha Kibwana has announced that he will contest for presidency in 2022. In a tweet on Friday, Kibwana said that part of his manifesto would be to promote devolution. “I have listened to the voice of Wanjiku asking me to run for presidency in the coming election. I am available, ready and willing to be Wanjiku’s President. Will go all the way to the Ballot Box with Wanjiku in 2022. We must ensure devolution works for our communities, ” said Kibwana. https://twitter.com/governorkibwana/status/1276456346217598976?s=20 Kibwana has over the recent past been recognised as the best performing governor in…

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has advised President Uhuru Kenyatta against reopening schools in September as earlier announced. Magoha cited the surge in the number of the coronavirus cases as reason for asking for more time before learning in pre-primary, primary and secondary schools can resume. The CS noted that it will be difficult to enforce social distancing in 40,000 schools with a population of over 14 million students. “I will advise not to open schools when the infections from the disease are rising. We propose that school clusters be attached to a health facility before we can open,” Magoha…

The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties has rejected a request by a city businessman to reserve Jubilee Asili name. The man identified as Andrew James Simiyu had written to the parties registrar to reserve the name on June 18, the day Deputy President William Ruto allies unveiled Jubilee Asili Centre offices. But in a letter to Simiyu, Anne Nderitu, the Registrar of Political Parties, declined to approve the request on grounds that the name did not meet the requirements of section 8 of the Political Parties Act 2011. “Kindly suggest other names for verification. Should you need any…

The Inspector-General of Police Hillary Mutyambai has ordered the immediate arrest and suspension of a police officer who shot and killed a cobbler at Lessos in Nandi County earlier today. Residents, who stormed the streets to protest the killing alleged that the police officer shot the physically challenged man identified as Lazarus Kirop for not wearing a mask. But in a statement on Thursday, Police Spokesperson Charles Owino stated that the shooting followed the arrest of a boda boda operator who was carrying two passengers. Owino said boda boda operators, who were protesting the arrest of their colleague attacked police…

The Nairobi Hospital has announced that its Southfield Outpatient Centre located at Southfield Mall will reopen on Monday, June 29, after about three months of closure. The hospital broke the news through its official Twitter page on Thursday. Kahawa Tungu understands that the outpatient centre will reopen under strict Covid-19 protocols as laid out by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health. https://twitter.com/thenairobihosp/status/1276049008771940352?s=20 Southfield Outpatient Centre was among a list of six clinics that the hospital said it was closing on April 2. Read: Nairobi Hospital Suspends Operations in Six Clinics after Medic Contracted Coronavirus Others are…

The Court of Appeal has handed Keroche breweries reprieve in a tax case with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) after setting aside a High Court order requiring the company to pay Ksh500 million to stop the taxman from collecting Ksh9.1 billion in taxes. In a ruling delivered on Thursday, the Appellate court instead directed the brewer to deposit a sum of Ksh100 million within 45 days. The decision, the court said, was arrived at after considering all factors in the ruling including the negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic that has disrupted business operations not just in Kenya but the…

Kisii Senator Sam Ongeri has been elected Chairperson of the powerful Senate County Public Accounts and Investment Committee. In the elections conducted on Thursday morning, Marsabit Senator Hargura Godana was elected to deputise Ongeri. This comes weeks after Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina surrendered the chairperson seat following opposition from ODM party. Olekina had trounced Ongeri to clinch the seat in elections held in early May. But minority leader James Orengo accused the senator, who received major support from Jubilee party members, of betraying party agreement to support the Kisii Senator. Orengo went ahead to de-whip the senator from CPAIC…

Former Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama has officially announced his exit from the Wiper Party further drumming up support for Deputy President William Ruto’s 2022 presidential ambitions. In a press conference on Thursday, Muthama stated that he ceased to be a Wiper Member the day he decided not to defend his Machakos senatorial seat in 2017. “What business do I still have in wiper? I have no business to be in wiper. I will ensure William Ruto becomes the 5th president of Kenya. And for the record, I am not being expelled from Wiper, I vomited wiper in 2017, excuse me,”…

As Deputy President William Ruto’s allies were busy explaining to Kenyans why they had to open parallel Juilee Party officers dubbed “Jubilee Asili Centre”, a mysterious man found the name “interesting” and moved to reserve it at the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, Kahawa Tungu has learnt. 30-year-old Andrew Simiyu hastily made the request to reserve the name last Thursday. The man, who introduced himself as a businessman to a local media, claims he is yet to get a response from the Registrar Anne Nderitu. “I am not interested in politics. I am just a businessman engaged in…

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has announced resumption of Issuance of Certificates of Good Conduct services. In a statement shared on Twitter on Wednesday, the DCI noted that the department has put in place strict measures in line with the ministry of health guidelines to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus disease. Starting tomorrow, June 25, the DCI said, its officials will strive to process a total of 37,751 pending applications on an appointment basis. To ensure the governments social distancing directive is adhered to, the department says it will process fingerprints of 600 applicants per day, from…

Leading telecommunication company Safaricom has announced that M-Pesa services will undergo a planned maintenance between 12am to 5am on Thursday, June 25. In a statement on Wednesday, Safaricom said during the period all M-pesa services including airtime purchase shall be temporarily unavailable. “The timing of this maintenance activity has been planned to result in the least of inconvenience to our customers, ” the statement reads. “We apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused and thank you for your continued support.” Read: Safaricom Introduces Feature That Alerts You When Someone Tries To Register New Line With Your ID Last week,…

Former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri has unveiled a new political party, The Service Party (TSP), months after he was dropped from cabinet unceremoniously. Speaking during the official launch of the party on Wednesday, Kiunjuri said TSP will be a grassroots party that will give the common mwananchi voice. “We have listened carefully to Kenyans and made the commitment to bring forth a platform that as our name suggests, will be unequivocal about service delivery to our people,” he said. “TSP believed that Kenya will change dramatically over the next decade. We have the opportunity to pull together and ensure…

The prosecution has opposed the release of a police officer accused of shooting and killing 13-year-old Yassin Moyo while implementing curfew orders in Nairobi’s Huruma area in March this year. Duncan Ndiema was charged with the murder of the minor yesterday. He pleaded not guilty and was detained at Capitol Hill Police Station awaiting his bail ruling today. The High Court had earlier deferred his plea taking after his lawyer told the court that the officer had been admitted to the Mbagathi Hospital pending the results of a coronavirus test. But appearing in court on Wednesday, Benard Otieno, an investigator with…