Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

Weathermen have raised alarm over a rare tropical cyclone that could hit Tanzania’s largest city Dar es Salaam. A report by CNN indicates that Cyclone Jobo could become the first cyclone to make landfall in the neighboring country since 1952. A statement from Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) corroborated the forecasting last night. The weatherman said Cyclone Jobo has continued to intensify and is moving towards the coast of Lindi region. Tropical Cyclone Jobo which is currently located near the island of Madagascar, in the South Indian Ocean, is equivalent to a strong tropical storm with winds moving at nearly 100 kilometres…

Two days after the ruling Jubilee party declared a war on the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party that rebranded recently from the Party of Development and Reforms (PDR), the latter has fought back. Jubilee Secretary-General Raphael Tuju on Tuesday initiated the process of terminating a pre-election agreement with the rebranded party ahead of the 2022 polls as the rift in the ruling party continues to widen. In a letter to Anne Nderitu, the Registrar Of Political Parties, Tuju cited ideological differences with the rebranded outfit saying the pact can not stand hence asked for dissolution. In its response directed to…

Jane Muthoni, the woman accused of killing Kiiru Boys High School Principal Solomon Mwangi Mbuthi, has been found guilty of murder. Muthoni, who is the widow of the principal, has been in remand for nearly five years following the murder. She and her co-accused Isaac Ng’ang’a alias Gikuyu were alleged to have committed the offence on diverse dates between November 6 and November 11, 2016, at Karakuta Coffee Estate in Juja sub-county, Kiambu County. The court ruled that the convict will be sentenced on May 18. 20 witnesses testified in the murder case. During the trial, Muthoni denied killing her…

A Nairobi court has scheduled the murder trial of Joseph Irungu alias Jowie and journalist Jacque Maribe for May 5. The ex-lovers are charged with killing businesswoman Monica Kimani about two and half years ago. The case had come up for hearing virtually yesterday, April 21 but was adjourned after the parties sought to have the matter heard in open court. After considering their request, Justice Grace Nzioka directed the matter to be heard from May 5 in open court. 20 witnesses have so far testified in the matter. The prosecution has line up seven more before the case is closed.…

Police in Nairobi are holding three security officers arrested for conducting unwarranted arrests in the Central Business District. The three, who include a Kenya Defence Forcers (KDF) officer, a prison warder and an Administration Police (AP) officer, were arrested on Tuesday. According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Police Corporal Cliff Ombati, KDF Lance Corporal Ben Shiundu and Prison Warder Eugine Shivachi made a mockery of the multi-agency spirit in fighting crime, by uniting to commit crime instead of complimenting each other’s efforts in guaranteeing the public safety and security of Kenyans. In a statement on Wednesday evening, the…

The Council of Governors (CoG) has raised concerns about the lack of Covid-19 testing kits in counties, a shortage that is likely to slow down the fight against the pandemic in the country. In a statement on Wednesday, Health Committee chairman Anyang Nyong’o, who also doubles up as governor for Kisumu County, asked the Ministry of Health to avail rapid testing kits (antigens) and PCR Covid-19 testing equipment to all counties without delay. “Testing across all counties has slowed down due to lack of kits. This, therefore, means that County Governments have no control over the increasing number of Infections,”…

Margaret Kobia, the Cabinet Secretary for the Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs, has raised alarm over the sharp rise in gender-based violence cases amid the Covid-19 pandemic. In a statement shared on Twitter, the CS said data at the ministry’s disposal show that 5009 GBV cases were reported in 2020 up from 1411 in 2019. Kobia went on to reveal that between January and March 2021 the country has recorded 877 cases with a high prevalence in Nairobi, Kakamega, Kisumu, Nakuru and Kiambu Counties. https://twitter.com/CSMargaretKobia/status/1384546664829030400?s=20 To end the violence, the CS noted that there is a need for Kenyans…

The Media Council of Kenya has faulted the Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti for summoning Royal Media Services (RMS) editorial bosses over a recent exposé aired on Citizen TV linking the National Police Service to criminal activities. In the exposé dubbed “Guns Galore” aired on Sunday night, the station exposed how rogue men in uniform allegedly hire out their guns, uniforms, bulletproof vests, and handcuffs to criminals for as low as Ksh1,000. But addressing members of the press at the DCI headquarters on Kiambu Road in Nairobi, the DCI boss denied that guns acquired by the Citizen TV crew…

The Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti has dismissed a recent expose by Citizen TV dubbed “Guns Galore” as malicious and one aimed at depicting the National Police Service in a bad light. In the report aired on Sunday night, the station exposed how rogue men in uniform allegedly hire out their guns, uniforms, bulletproof vests, and handcuffs to criminals for as low as Ksh1,000. But addressing members of the press at the DCI headquarters on Kiambu Road in Nairobi, the police boss denied that guns acquired by the Citizen TV crew led by investigative reporter Purity Mwambia were leased…

Chief Justice hopeful lawyer Fred Ngatia has asked the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) not to discriminate against him for representing President Uhuru Kenyatta in the 2013 and 2017 presidential petitions. Justice David Majanja, one of the JSC commissioners, had during the ongoing CJ interviews on Tuesday taken Ngatia to task over a perception of being close to the Head of State and possible influence if he succeeds David Kenani Maraga who retired in January this year. In his response, Ngatia said the past relationship with President Kenyatta won’t affect Judicial independence and urged the commission to look at him in…

At least two police officers are nursing injuries after a lorry rammed into a roadblock erected on Thika Road last night. The driver of the lorry that was ferrying rice towards the city is believed to have been drunk during the 11 pm incident. Kasarani police boss Peter Mwanzo confirmed the incident saying, “the driver sped past the barricade and hit one of our trucks before skidding on the wet tarmac and losing control of the vehicle which then overturned and hit a rail guard.” The roadblock had been erected as part of efforts to enforce the 8 pm-4 am…

The Council of Governors (CoG) has yet again postponed its 7th Devolution Conference following the council’s extraordinary meeting today. In a communiqué shared on Twitter after the meeting chaired by Embu Governor and CoG boss Martin Wambora, the council said the final conference that had been scheduled for 3rd-6th May at Makueni Boys’ High School will now be held from 23rd-26th August. The overall annual conference theme is Multi-level governance for climate action and the guiding theme: Sub-National mobilization in unlocking the full potential of climate action in the Post Covid-19 ERA. Read: Governors’ Devolution Conference In Makueni Postponed Indefinitely…

A Covid-19 committee of experts has been formed in Tanzania to help the new President Samia Suluhu manage the pandemic in the country. President Suluhu revealed this in Dodoma on Sunday during a national conference organized by religious leaders to remember ex-President John Magufuli and pray for the new leaders including herself and her Zanzibar counterpart, Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi. The experts will advise the Head of State on the status of Covid-19 in the country and the necessary steps to take. “As I promised during the swearing-in of the Permanent Secretaries and their deputies, I have already formed a…

Police are holding a woman over the heinous murder of a 35-year-old man in Tigoni, Kiambu County, on Saturday night. Grace Nyambura Njeri, a prime suspect in the murder, is reported to have stabbed her victim Peter Maina Kasera, several times on his chest, in a scuffle outside Maina’s rented house at Kwambuzi-Kiboko area. Njeri was arrested on Sunday with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) saying that a search for the murder weapon is ongoing. https://twitter.com/DCI_Kenya/status/1383857524189761545?s=20 Read: Murder Suspect Peter Mugure Aware of Self-representation Consequences – Court told Meanwhile, detectives are investigating the suspected murder of yet another 32-year-old man,…

Tension remains high in the volatile Baringo south area following the killing of a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officer by bandits last night. The officer is said to have been fatally shot in an exchange of fire with the armed bandits who raided a military camp in Mukutani, Marigat Sub-county at around 8pm. The camp is home to a contingent of security officers including the General Service Unit (GSU), Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU), and KDF officers. The incident was confirmed by area chief Benjamin Lecher who expressed fears over the rising tension in the area. Read: IEBC Staffer Among Six People…