Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

Kenyan comedian Jasper Muthomi alias MC Jessy has dropped his bid for the South Imenti parliamentary seat after talks with the leadership of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party. UDA party leader William Ruto said on Wednesday that MC Jessy had withdrawn from the race in favour of Mwiti Kathaara after successful consensus talks. Kathaara will fly the UDA flag in the contest set for August 9. He will face off with a candidate from rival Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya Coalition. Ruto announced that MC Jessy will now join the UDA presidential campaign team in preparations for the…

Bongoma politician Zachariah Baraza has given the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party seven days to refund Sh500,000 he paid as nomination fees after he was asked to shelve his gubernatorial ambitions. Baraza issued the demand after learning that UDA had opted to support Ford Kenya’s Kenneth Lusaka for the county’s top job under the Kenya Kwanza coalition arrangement. Lusaka, the current Speaker of the Senate, is seeking to recapture the Bungoma governor’s seat from Governor Wycliffe Wangamati. The first governor of Bungoma lost the seat to the incumbent in the 2017 polls. Reports indicate Baraza’s fate was sealed on Monday…

The Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) has embarked on an aggressive process to recover more than Ksh10 billion that beneficiaries have not paid for over 10 years. Helb Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Charles Ringera confirmed on Tuesday that the tough recovery measures include prosecuting ‘hardcore’ defaulters. According to Ringera, hardcore defaulters are persons who have not been servicing their student loans for at least 10 years since completing their studies. The state corporation that falls under the Ministry of Education says it has filed cases in court against five hardcore defaulters, and plans are underway to sue many others who…

The United States embassy in Nairobi is cautioning its citizens residing or travelling to Kenya of security threats as the country prepares to go into the polls. In an alert issued on Tuesday, April 12, the embassy warned of election-related demonstrations and violence during party primaries scheduled for this month and the General Election slated for August 9, 2022. “Candidate selection for national and county offices will take place throughout the country in April, followed by nationwide campaigning. Election-related demonstrations may occur, possibly blocking key intersections and resulting in widespread traffic jams,” the notice reads. “Violence associated with demonstrations may…

Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua has criticized Wiper counterpart Kalonzo Musyoka for allegedly wrecking the Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition from within. Mutua, in a statement on Tuesday morning, expressed his reservations over an attempt by the One Kenya Alliance (OKA) that is led by Musyoka to stop the registration of the Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition party. OKA yesterday wrote to the Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu objecting the listing of the coalition agreement on grounds that the document had been altered without their consent. In what could stir a fresh storm in Azimio, the…

The High Court in Kisumu has halted the planned sale of teachers-owned Spire bank. Justice F. Ochieng on Monday issued conservatory orders against Mwalimu Sacco and several other parties in the matter from engaging in any steps to wind up the cash strapped lender following a case filed by a Siaya teacher. Keneth Nyanjom and lawyer Joshua Odhiambo Nyamori, who is suing in public interest, are challenging the legality of the process to wind up the bank. Justice Ochieng, while holding that substantive steps of any of the parties, prior to the hearing of the parties, may have the effect…

The Kenya Railways Corporation has raised alarm over a new scam targeting its customers. In a public notice on Monday, Kenya Railways said the fraudsters are targeting Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) passengers seeking cancellation and refunds of already purchased tickets. Persons behind the fraud pose as Kenya Railway staffers. They demand a fee before offering the services. “We are aware of phone calls, text messages and social media posts from third parties posing as Kenya Railways staff, whose intention is to defraud our passengers, the notice reads. “If you are a victim of this suspicious activity, please do not comply…

Igembe South Member of Parliament John Paul Mwirigi has told off Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya over allegations of disrespecting President Uhuru Kenyatta. CS Munya, over the weekend, accused the youthful legislator of being ungrateful and disrespectful to the President who bought him his first car in 2017. The 28-year-old became a national sensation after Uhuru gifted him a Toyota Landcruiser Prado following his poll victory Mwirigi, who comes from a humble background, beat all odds to bag the seat on an independent ticket. The President was touched by his story after learning that he trounced Jubilee party’s Rufus Miriti…

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has released a list of 19 words that the commission will going forward consider as hate speech. The list contains commonly used words such as ‘hatupangwingwi’ and ‘kama noma noma’. Also on the list is the ‘madoa doa’ phrase linked to the 2007/08 post-election violence that left more than 1,100 people dead and 600,000 others displaced. Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga and Meru Senator Mithika Linturi were recently summoned by NCIC over the slur. Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi on Friday, NCIC Chairman Samuel Kobia said the lexicon words…

Multichoice has unveiled a new Kenyan TV series, Salem, as curtains come down on the popular Swahili telenovela Selina on Friday. Salem will premiere on Monday 11 April 2022 at 8.30pm on Maisha Magic Plus (DStv 163) and GOtv Supa (Channel 8). The telenovela stars Mumbi Maina, Foi Wambui, Melvin Alusa, Brian Kabugi and other acclaimed TV stars. The producers of the series promise non-stop riveting weekday viewing for DStv and GOtv customers bringing the twists and intrigues of the lives of two families that find themselves trying to make ends meet in two contrasting worlds of the rich and…

Two suspected thugs were on Wednesday night shot dead after an encouter with police in Nairobi’s Kayole area. The two were part of a six-man gang that has been terrorizing residents in the larger Kayole area. The gang had just attacked a middle aged man walking home on foot from work. Armed with a knife the gang stabbed the man several times before stealing his phone and other valuables. They were ambushed by the police while escaping from the scene of the incident in Njiru, Nairobi County. “After taking away the victim’s mobile phone and other valuables, the six walked away…

The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) has condemned accusations linking the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to nepotism. Citing a suit filed against the ODPP that is headed by Noordin Haji, the council, in a statement on Thursday, alleged malice in the case. The suit in reference was filed at the Milimani Law Courts by one Memba Charo, through lawyer Danstan Omari. Charo is seeking orders to stop the ODPP from proceeding to interview candidates shortlisted for various positions in the investigative agency. In court papers, the petitioner accuses the ODPP of nepotism, claiming that the…

Fresh details have emerged regarding Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja’s bid for the city’s governor seat in the August 9 General Election. While many have been associating Sakaja with the Amani National Congress (ANC) party, the ‘Super’ Senator holds he is a member of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), on whose ticket he intends to vie for the governor position. The perception about Sakaja joining ANC can be traced to wrangles in the ruling Jubilee party that saw hundreds of members walk out in protest of the purge against Deputy President William Ruto’s allies in parliament. As Ruto’s allies found a…

Fresh details have emerged regarding the sudden death of a Form One student at Gatanga CMM Secondary School. Ebby Noelle Samuel died on March 9, 2019, with the management of the school claiming that the new student died after falling from her bed at night. But investigations conducted by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have revealed that the student died after being assaulted by a teacher over her hairstyle. In a lengthy statement on Wednesday night, DCI said the director of the Homicide division based at DCI headquarters took over investigations into the alleged murder of Ebby…

A Migori-based Magistrate, who was arrested last week after being busted with a ‘minor’ at a lodging in Bomet, wants charges against him dropped. James Ongondo, a Senior Principal Magistrate practising at Kehancha Law Courts, was arrested on March 31 at the lodging located at Kaplong Centre. The 51-year-old has dismissed claims by the police that the said girl is 17 years old. In a petition filed in court through lawyer John Sakwa, Ongondo claims he has evidence to show the alleged underage girl is 22 years old. Ongondo details, in court documents, that he is a married man and…