Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

Former Kwale Woman Representative Zainab Chidzuga has passed on. She died on Thursday afternoon at Reliance Hospital in South C, Nairobi, where she was receiving treatment. Chidzuga’s daughter, television journalist Mwanaisha Chidzuga, said the politician succumbed to Covid-19 related complications. The mother reportedly had Covid-19, healed, then breathing problems resurfaced. The former lawmaker served as Kwale Woman Rep between 2013 and 2017 when she lost the seat to Zuleikha Juma of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party. She had been elected on an ODM ticket before defecting to the ruling Jubilee party in the run-up to the 2017 General Election.…

The Council of Governors (CoG) has confirmed that the 7th Devolution Conference will go on as scheduled despite concerns over a surge in Covid-19 cases in the country. The Conference that has been postponed twice since the outbreak of the pandemic will be held on 23rd – 26th August at Makueni Boys’ High School. In a statement on Wednesday, CoG Chairperson Martin Wambora allayed Covid-19 fears saying the council is working with the Ministry of Health towards ensuring strict adherence to health guidelines. “To actualize this, the COG in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Makueni County has rolled…

The Tanzanian government on Wednesday suspended a newspaper owned by the ruling party for 14 days for publishing a “false” story about President Samia Suluhu. Uhuru, a newspaper owned by President Suluhu’s Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, had reported on its front page that the Head of State, who took the reins in March this following President John Magufuli’s death, was considering not to run for the presidency in 2025. The headline read, “Sina wazo kuwania urais 2025 -Samia (I Don’t Have Intentions to Contest for Presidency in 2025 – Samia).” In a statement on Wednesday, Tanzania’s director of information…

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party has withdrawn from the Eldas by-election scheduled for October 14, 2021. Party Secretary-General Veronica Maina, in a statement on Wednesday, said UDA arrived at the decision after consultation with the community of Eldas Ward, Eldas Constituency and Wajir County. The community, Ms Maina said, had settled on a family member of departed Member of County Assembly Ibrahim Abbas for the seat. “The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) wishes to announce that we shall not be fielding a candidate to contest for the vacant position of the Member of County Assembly, Eldas Ward, Wajir County,” Ms…

Authorities in Sudan have resolved to hand over former President Omar al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court (ICC) where he is wanted over crimes against humanity. Foreign Affairs Minister Mariam al-Mahdi confirmed the news on Wednesday saying the government will also hand over other officials linked to Darful killings. “The cabinet decided to hand over wanted officials to the ICC,” Mahdi was quoted as saying. The Darfur war broke out in 2003 when non-Arab rebels took up arms complaining of systematic discrimination by Bashir’s Arab-dominated government. Khartoum responded by unleashing the notorious Janjaweed militia, recruited from among the region’s nomadic…

The United States government has advised its citizens to reconsider traveling to Kenya over a surge in COVID-19 cases in the country. This is after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a level three travel health notice indicating a high level of COVID-19 in Kenya. “Your risk of contracting COVID-19 and developing severe symptoms may be lower if you are fully vaccinated with an FDA authorized vaccine,” the notice dated August 9 reads. “Before planning any international travel, please review the CDC’s specific recommendations for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers.” CDC is the national public health agency of…

The Ministry of Sports has come under heavy criticism over poor reception of athletes who participated in the just-concluded Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. In photos that have gone viral on social media, legendary long-distance runner Eliud Kipchoge and his colleagues received a cold reception at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) after arriving from Japan last night. Kipchoge and his teammates made their way out of the airport silently unlike their counterparts in Uganda who were welcomed home with pomp yesterday. Christened the Greatest of All Time (GOAT), Kipchoge defended his marathon title and scooped Kenya’s fourth gold in the…

Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi has welcomed a decision by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party to strip him of his role as Chairman of the Coastal County. In a statement shared on his social media pages on Tuesday evening, the governor said he respected the decision further wishing the party well as it prepares for the 2022 General Election. Kingi further thanked ODM party leader Raila Odinga for giving him the opportunity to serve, adding that he had delivered for the party for the nine years he held the position. “During my tenure as the Kilifi County ODM chairman, I…

A section of Nairobi estates relying on water from Uthiru and Dagoretti reservoirs will from Wednesday morning experience two days of dry taps over scheduled maintenance. In a notice released by the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company, the company said the shut down of the pumps at Kabete Water Works Pumping Station will facilitate installation of suction mains and delivery headers for the station. The shutdown will also facilitate the commissioning of two new Pumps to boost water from Kabete to the Uthiru reservoir. The disconnection will start from 6.00am on Wednesday, August 11 to Friday, August 13, 2021,…

The Ministry of Education has directed principals in public secondary schools, who have been charging exorbitant fees outside figures recommended by the ministry, to refund the monies to parents. In a circular directed to all county and sub-county directors, the ministry said the extra fees charged by the schools can also be treated as prepayment of fees for continuing students. The ministry also warned teachers against sending students home over the illegal fees. “Any fees collected above the revised guidelines be refunded or treated as prepayment of fees for continuing students… No child will be sent away for non-payment of…

It’s now mandatory for all civil servants to be inoculated against the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19), the government has warned. In a recent communication to all Principal Secretaries and Accounting Officers, Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua threatened disciplinary action against public servants who would not have received their first Covid-19 jab by August 23, 2021. Kinyua noted that the government was forced to make the decision due to slow uptake of the vaccine among public servants especially the security sector, teachers and the core civil service despite increased access of the vaccines to the groups. “In a recent NSAC…

Malindi Member of Parliament Aisha Jumwa was on Monday charged afresh in a graft case against her and six others. This is following a move by the prosecution to amend the charges facing the lawmaker and her co-accused. The suspects are accused of misappropriating over Ksh19 million from the Malindi Constituency Development Fund (CDF) kitty. It’s alleged that several businesses controlled by Jumwa through her proxies fraudulently received funds amounting to Ksh19 million from the National Government Constituency Development Fund and in turn transmitted the cash to her. The MP and her suspected accomplices have been charged with 13 offenses…

Deputy President William Ruto has condemned the arrest and deportation of Turkish national and close associate Aydin Harun. In a tweet on Monday evening, Ruto said the businessman, who was arrested over alleged terror links, was tortured and asked to leave the country. The country’s second in command claimed Harun was falsely profiled as a terrorist and top government officials who forced him out of the country did so to protect their image. Revealing that he had apologised to Harun on behalf of the Kenyan government, Ruto accused the government operatives of engaging in “political pettiness” dangerous for the economy.…

The number of Covid-19 cases confirmed in the country rose to 211,828 on Sunday after 800 more people tested positive in the last 24 hours. In a statement to newsrooms, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said a total of 6,530 samples were tested. This represents a 12.3 percent positivity rate, a drop from the 14.8 percent announced on Saturday. From the new cases, 777 are Kenyans while 23 are foreigners. 414 males while 386 are females. “The youngest is a two-month-old infant while the oldest is 98 years. Total confirmed positive cases are now 211,828 and cumulative tests so far conducted…

A terror suspect was on Friday gunned down in Mandera as police foiled a planned attack in Kitulo area, authorities have confirmed. According to police reports, security agents were patrolling Kutayo area in Kutulo when they met two people riding on a motorcyle. The duo was ordered to stop but disobeyed and shot at the officers. A fierce gun battle between the officers and the suspects ensued leading to the fatal shooting of one of the riders. Read: Police Reservist Killed, Two Others Injured in Mandera Al Shabaab Attack His accomplice, police said, escaped on foot. North eastern region police…