Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

There was excitement at the Mombasa International Airport on Thursday, December 9 after Antonov An-124 Ruslan aircraft landed in the coastal county in a rare sighting. Those at the airport couldn’t help but take photos of one of the largest aircraft in the world, specifically designed for carrying bulky loads. The Antonov An-124-100M Ruslan freighter landed at the airport at around 4pm. Details on online aircraft tracking website, flightradar24.com, show the plane registered in Ukraine is operated by Antonov Airlines and maintained by Antonov Design Bureau. The aircraft landed in Mombasa from Larnaca City, Cyprus, Middle East. On December 10,…

Sarova Hotels and Resorts Kenya has announced plans to deny unvaccinated guests services in all its facilities as the festive season approaches. In a statement to newsrooms on Thursday, the management said the decision is in line with a directive issued by Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on November 21, 2021. The directive that will take effect on December 21 applies to all guests who have attained the age of 18 years and above. Read: Amnesty International Warns Gov’t Over Threats to Deny Unvaccinated Kenyans Services “As announced by the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Health in a statement dated 21…

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has approved the liquidation of the assets of Imperial Bank that was placed on receivership in 2015. In a statement to newsrooms on Thursday, the regulator announced the appointment of Kenya Deposit Insurance Corporation (KDIC) as the bank’s liquidator. In arriving at the decision, CBK considered recommendations by KDIC that winding up the business was the only feasible option due to the weak financial position of Imperial Bank Limited (In Receivership) (IBLIR). “CBK has assessed the recommendation by KDIC, the external auditor’s report, other pertinent information, and considered that liquidation would facilitate the orderly…

United States President Joe Biden has nominated former Hewlett Packard CEO Margaret C. Whitman as the country’s ambassador to Kenya. Biden made the appointment on Wednesday. If approved, she will replace Kyle McCarter who resigned following the end of Donald Trump administration on January 20, 2021. Eric Kneedler has been holding the position in an acting capacity. Read: Eric Kneedler Takes Over As US Ambassador To Kenya Whitman, who has been active in politics for years, is a board member of Procter & Gamble and General Motors. She was a senior member of Mitt Romney’s presidential campaigns in both 2008…

The National Police Service (NPS) has condemned the behaviour portrayed by some of the newly graduated General Service Unit (GSU) officers in a video that went viral on social media Wednesday. In the 30-second video, the overly excited young recruits are heard bragging that they “are coming out” and that this was the “bad squad in red beret.” A section of Kenyans termed their remarks as threats to the general public. In a statement issued on Wednesday night, NPS termed the remarks as irresponsible and reckless, adding that appropriate measures will be taken against the officers. “We wish to clarify…

The Mount Kenya Foundation (MKF) has endorsed ODM leader Raila Odinga for the presidency in the 2022 General Election. Speaking at Safari Park Hotel on Wednesday evening, the group of rich businessmen from the vote-rich region said they fully support Odinga’s Azimio La Umoja (Declaration of Unity) initiative. The leaders confirmed that they will be attending the Azimio La Umoja’s National Delegates Convention (NDC) that will be held at Kasarani Stadium on Friday. The former Prime Minister is expected to officially declare his presidential during the event. Over 10,000 delegates from the central region are expected to grace the event.…

Nyeri Town Member of Parliament Ngunjiri Wambugu now says that Deputy President William Ruto will not pick a running mate from the Mount Kenya region in his bid for the presidency. In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Wambugu claimed Ruto’s allies from the vote-rich region don’t add value to his presidential campaigns, the reason why he may consider a running mate from other parts of the country. “The DP’s Mt Kenya allies depend on him for the votes they will get; while he doesn’t need them to get votes from Mt Kenya. No one around him has the capacity to…

President Uhuru Kenyatta has expressed concerns over the rising cases of criminal acts involving police officers in the country. Speaking during a General Service Unit (GSU) passing out parade at Embakasi training college on Wednesday, the Head of State warned police officers against misusing firearms. He encouraged the officers to talk about their family problems instead of resorting to violence. “Mambo ni mengi lakini hakuna shida haiwezi kutatuliwa watu wakiongea,” he said. President Kenyatta said the government is ready to help officers deal with mental and other problems that may affect their service delivery. “Kama kitu kinakusumbua unawezaongelesha wenzako. Mashida…

Two people died on Tuesday night after a terror suspect blew himself up using an explosive at Kayamloma village in Nyakach, Kisumu County. According to a police report seen by this writer, the suspect identified as John Odhiambo Ondiek aka Pope visited the homestead of one Petro Onyango aged 54 years old whom he found sitting outside his house together with his wife Mary Atieno, 40. In the company of the couple was their daughter Nancy Aoko aged 14. “The Al-Shabaab suspect started questioning them on things they didn’t understand,” the police report reads. Read: Two Terror Suspects Arrested at…

Former National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale has hit out at former Mungiki Sect leader Maina Njenga over an attempt to disrupt Deputy President William Ruto’s meeting in Laikipia County on Tuesday. In an interview with NTV on Tuesday night, Duale linked Njenga to a group of rowdy youth who heckled Ruto as he popularised his 2022 presidential bid in the region. Duale said Njenga is not welcomed to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party associated with Ruto because of his violent acts. “Maina Njenga and his militia Mungiki have no place in the legislature, they have no place in…

The High Court has suspended ongoing renovations at Uhuru Park in Nairobi pending the hearing and determination of a petition challenging the exercise. The case, filed by the Communist Party of Kenya, is before Edward Karoph Wabwoto of the Environment and Land Court. The petitioners through lawyers Nelson Havi and Benedict Wachira argue that there was no public participation or an Environment Impact Assessment in the whole exercise. “The 1st Respondent has also initiated a process of replacing the green lawn of grass at the Park with concrete cement blocks, an action which, unless stalled by this Court, will greatly degrade…

Police on Monday gunned down a suspected criminal said to have been terrorizing residents of Starehe Sub-county in Nairobi. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the man only identified as Ngaruiya was the leader of the infamous Katombi gang, known for operating with impunity across the Mathare valley and neighbouring estates. The deceased, who was in the company of four accomplices, had attacked a pedestrian at gunpoint and taken away his mobile phone and other valuables, police said. One of the thugs was identified as Kabuda. https://twitter.com/DCI_Kenya/status/1468184753497071616?s=20 Read: KDF Imposter Busted Coning Civilian Sh378,000 In Recruitment Fraud The gangsters…

The Mount Kenya Foundation has settled on ODM leader Raila Odinga as their preferred candidate in the 2022 General Election. Reports indicate the group of rich businessmen from the vote-rich Mt Kenya region is set to announce the decision before Friday when Odinga is expected to officially announce his presidential bid at the Kasarani Stadium. Kahawa Tungu has learnt that the tycoons led by their chairman Peter Munga will meet on Wednesday before making the endorsement public. The businessmen claim to have been tasked by President Uhuru Kenyatta to find a suitable candidate who will continue with the Head of…

Police in Eldoret have arrested a man for impersonating a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officer in a plot to swindle a member of the public. James Maina was arrested on Monday, December 6, while allegedly coning a civilian of Ksh378,000, pretending to be in a position to secure a KDF position for the victim’s son in the just concluded countrywide recruitment exercise. According to the police, the suspect had issued the victim with a fake KDF calling letter bearing the son’s name. He is currently in police custody as investigation into the case continues. Read: KDF Soldier Gets Five-year Jail…

Plans are underway to support families that lost their loved ones in the Enziu River tragedy on Saturday, Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu has confirmed. In an interview with Citizen TV on Tuesday, the county boss said the Ministry of Interior through the National Disaster Management Authority will help the affected families give the victims a decent send off. She noted that the county government will also chip in to cushion the families during this tough moment. “The national government, the Ministry of Interior through the National Disaster Management Authority are going to support all the families involved in the accident…