Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

Emmanuel Ambunya Oyombe, the Police Officer accused of killing of Leeds University Student Carlton David Maina, was on Thursday charged with murder. Appearing before Justice Jessie Lessit, the police constable denied the murder charges and was granted Ksh600,000 cash bail or an alternative bond of Ksh1 million. In her bail ruling, the judge barred the accused from visiting Kibera until the case is heard and determined. Oyombe’s lawyer Cliff Ombeta had pleaded with the court to admit the suspect to bail arguing that he is not a flight risk and he was still serving at the National Police Service. The…

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has revealed that all Members of Parliament and Staff, who recently participated in voluntary testing exercise for COVID-19, tested negative for the virus. The tests that sparked a heated debate on social media were carried out between 2nd and 4th April 2020 in the precincts of Parliament. In a statement shared on the House’s social media handles, Muturi, however, called on the lawmakers from both the Senate and National Assembly to continue exercising safety measures to contain the spread of the contagious disease. ” I wish to confirm that for all the individuals who tested,…

As businesses struggle to remain afloat in the wake of the negative effects of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the economy Parliament has moved in to protect employees from possible loss of jobs. In the latest recommendations that might change the lives of many that hung in the balance, the National Assembly’s Finance and National Planning Committee wants employers who are struggling to pay salaries amid the economic slowdown to offer their staff unpaid leave during the period of the pandemic. “Where the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the ability of an employer to pay salaries or wages, the employer shall not…

The appointment of retired Court of Appeal Judge Erastus Mwaniki Githinji as Chairman of the Tax Appeals Tribunal has elicited a public debate on his eligibility for appointment to the position. In a Kenya Gazette Notice dated April 15, 2020, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani appointed Githinji to the position for a period of five years. But a section of Kenya’s legal minds has termed Githinji’s appointment as illegal. Taking to Twitter Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi stated that the 71-year-old is not qualified for the job for the simple reason that he is a retired judge. The law stipulates…

Two of the at least 50 people who escaped from the government quarantine facility at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) have been arrested. Reports indicate that the two were arrested on Wednesday at Marurui off Thika Road. Police recovered a laptop believed to have been stolen from the KMTC quarantine facility before the escape. The two were taken to the Kasarani area’s chief camp awaiting further action. The latest comes hours after the President assured the nation that the individuals who made their way out of the facility illegally will be arrested and returned to complete the 14-day mandatory…

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Kenya now stands at 303 after seven more people tested positive. In a statement on Wednesday Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said all the seven individuals are Kenyans. The CS said mass testing is ongoing adding that the government aims to conduct 250,000 tests by the end of June. Kagwe, however, pointed out that because the number doesn’t march the Kenyan population, the government has collaborated with other development partners to exploit on the surveillance testing mechanisms. The plan entails community, hospital and population-based surveillance. “For the community-based surveillance, we are working…

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko is not your ordinary politician. He pulls the trigger when you least expect. In his latest move, the embattled Governor now says he wants to terminate the Nairobi County deed of transfer that saw four key functions surrendered to the National Government. In a Facebook post, Sonko cited frustration orchestrated by his political enemies as the reason for his second thoughts. Sonko was responding to one of his followers, who asked him to take responsibility for the mess in Nairobi and not engage in blame games over vandalized sanitisation booths in Kibra, Kencom and Buruburu. The…

Landlords will not be compelled by government to waive rent for their tenants as a majority of Kenyans struggle to make a living in the wake of the COVID-19 health crisis, President Uhuru Kenyatta said on Wednesday morning. Speaking during an interview with Radio Citizen, the Head of State said that would be overstepping the government’s mandate on private properties. President Kenyatta, however, said he can only appeal to the landlords to be humane during the pandemic. “These are tough times or all Kenyans. There many landlords who have refused to chase away tenants during this crisis. As humans, let…

Nation Media Group contributors and columnists have been subjected to 40 per cent pay cuts as the company struggles to generate revenue in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The huge pay cuts for the individuals, who contribute to the group’s Daily Nation, Business Daily, The EastAfrican and Taifa Leo newspapers will take effect from May 1, 2020. In a memo dated Tuesday, April 21, NMG Group Editorial Director Mutuma Mathiu noted that its revenue had dropped significantly following reduced economic activity and restrictions of movement in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. “These have severely dented our principal revenue…

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) on Tuesday launched a grant program to help journalists cover the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement, MCK CEO David Omwoyo said the partnership with Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa (OSIEA) will help facilitate reporting of COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya as part of the efforts to educate and empower the masses in the wake of the outbreak of the contagious disease. The program will see up to 500 journalists receive between Ksh500 to Ksh25,000 which they will use to cater for travel, communication and related costs in the research, interviewing and compilation processes of their…

Employees of Mediamax Network Limited have received consent letters days after the company declared intention to slash salaries by up to 50 per cent over the negative effects of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on its business. Mediamax is the holding company of TV stations (Kameme and K24), People Daily Newspaper and Radio stations ( Emoo FM, Milele FM, Kameme FM, Msenangu (formerly Pilipili FM), Mayian FM and Meru FM). In a letter seen by this writer, Acting Chief Executive Officer Ken Ngaruiya said the proposed 20 to 50 per cent deductions on gross pay will be effected on the month of April…

Tanzania has convened a national prayer day to seek divine intervention over the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This after 84 new cases of COVID-19 were reported on Monday raising the tally to 254, the biggest number recorded in a day in the East African countries. The country also confirmed three COVID-19 related deaths bringing the total number of fatalities to 10. In a statement on Tuesday, the Health Ministry announced that the interdenominational prayers will be conducted on Wednesday at Karimjee grounds in Dar Es Salaam from 9am. The country’s Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa will lead the nation in the prayers…

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has accused Interior Principal Secretary (PS) Karanja Kibicho of frustrating his efforts to help residents pull through the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In a lengthy post on Facebook, the embattled Governor said Kibicho gave instructions to his juniors to remove and vandalize a new public sanitisation booth that had been installed at the Kibra Deputy County Commissioner’s office. The vandalism, Sonko said, took place on Monday morning. “I am saddened by the vandalism that occurred earlier today, supervised by the Kibra Deputy County Commissioner who personally confirmed to me of his ill actions through his cell phone…

Tuskys supermarket has closed down three of its branches as the country grapples with the increasing number of Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. In a public notice on Monday, Benard Kahianyu, the Chairman Tusker Mattresses Limited, said the company is consolidating its business to better serve its customers in spacious branches by adhering to the government’s directives aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19. “We have noted that in some areas where we have multiple locations close to each other, we can adequately serve customers better and more efficiently by consolidating our businesses in spacious branches which allow us to implement social…

At least 455 people have been quarantined at different facilities across the country for flouting curfew rules, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said on Monday. Addressing the media during the daily COVID-19 briefing, Kagwe said the individuals were found outside their homes between 7pm and 5am against the stipulated curfew hours. “Once you are out during curfew hours, it is assumed that you have now been exposed and therefore you will be taken to a quarantine site at your own expense,” the CS said as he announced 11 new cases of COVID-19. This comes just hours after Dr Mercy Mwangangi,…