Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

The government has beefed up security ahead of Easter Holiday celebrations this weekend, Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai said on Thursday while announcing strict implementation of Covid-19 containment measures. Addressing members of the press at the National Police Service Headquarters- Jogoo house in Nairobi, the IG urged people within the Zoned Area of Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, Kajiado and Nakuru Counties, which was recently declared a Covid-19 disease-infested area, to exercise caution and not to travel to other parts of the country except for essential service providers. He said a total of 33 roadblocks have been erected on all the major…

Photos of young men donning Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) retrieved from Nairobi’s Dandora dumpsite have surfaced online, raising concerns over poor disposal of the crucial gear in the fight against Covid-19 that continues to ravage the country. Dandora is Nairobi’s main dumping ground. It’s estimated that it receives more than 2,000 metric tonnes of waste from the capital city’s 4.5 million residents daily. In the photos taken by Associated Press Photojournalist Brian Inganga on Sunday, March 28, 2021, the young men, who were found scavenging recyclable materials for sale, claimed they don the gowns to protect themselves during the rainy…

Your insurance claim won’t be rejected for driving during curfew hours, the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) clarified on Wednesday. The Association of Kenya Professional Insurance Agents (AKPIA) had on Sunday warned motorists against flouting curfew rules saying doing so would render their insurance claims invalid. https://twitter.com/akpiakenya/status/1376069592594931712?s=20 The notice from insurance agents and brokers elicited an angry reaction from social media users who termed it as illegal. But in a statement on Wednesday, IRA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Godfrey Kiptum rubbished AKPIA’s notice, clarifying that motor insurance cover can not be waived during curfew hours. “The motor vehicle insurance (motor vehicle…

The Judiciary has ordered a temporary closure of Naivasha Law Courts after a Covid-19 case was reported at the station. In a statement to newsrooms on Wednesday morning, Acting Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu said the court will remain closed for 10 days effective today to allow staffers at the station to self-isolate to prevent further spread of the virus. “Four days ago, Naivasha Law Courts reported one confirmed case of Covid-19 amongst one of our justice system partners at the station. Following the confirmed case, the Head of Station immediately consulted with the relevant Ministry of Health officers in the…

Deputy President William Ruto has finally received a Covid-19 jab after weeks of Kenyans asking him to lead by example. The second in command and his family opted for the Russian-manufactured Sputnik V vaccine days after President Uhuru Kenyatta and the First Family received their Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine injections at State House, Nairobi. DP Ruto received the jab alongside his wife Rachael at their Karen residence in Nairobi on Tuesday. He encouraged Kenyans to participate in the exercise as part of the efforts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic that has literally brought the world to a standstill. “COVID-19 vaccines are our…

Kilimo House in Nairobi that houses the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperatives has been closed for two weeks over a surge in Covid-19 cases among staff. In a notice issued on Tuesday, Peter Munya, the Cabinet Secretary in charge of the ministry, directed all employees to work from home until April 12. “During the closure, we shall undergo fumigation exercise while instituting other Covid-19 safety measures,” he said. The directive comes days after President Uhuru Kenyatta encouraged employers to allow their staff to work from home as the third wave of the virus continues to ravage the country.…

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has nominated Finance Minister Philip Mpango as her deputy. The 63-year-old’s name will now be presented to Parliament for approval in line with the country’s Constitution. For Mpango to be sworn in as the country’s next vice president, his nomination has to be approved by at least 50 per cent of the Members of Parliament. If he gets parliament’s nod, Mpango will take over the position left vacant by Suluhu following her swearing as Tanzania’s 6th President on March 19, two days after President John Pombe Magufuli’s death. Mpango has held the position of Finance…

Police in Tanzania have confirmed that 45 people were killed in a stampede that occurred on the second day when Dar es Salaam residents were paying their last respects to the body of the late President John Magufuli. According to the authorities, 37 more people were injured as a huge number of mourners sought to force their way into the stadium to pay their last respects to Magufuli on Sunday, March 21, 2021. The individuals were part of an impatient crowd that attempted to enter the stadium via unofficial entrance points. “These people were not criminals. They went to the stadium…

Senate Minority leader James Orengo has denied media reports that there are plans to eject Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo junior as minority whip. It had been reported that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), which is one of the partners in the National Super Alliance (NASA), is planning to strip the Wiper Senator of the minority whip role days after Cleophas Malala suffered a similar fate. The Kakamega Senator, who is a member of the Amani National Congress (ANC), was removed from the Deputy Minority position last week over alleged misconduct and disrespect. In a tweet on Monday, however, Orengo stated…

The acting Head of Kisumu City Inspectorate Wilberforce Lugusa Ndagona has tendered his resignation after a viral video of the county askaris humiliating a trader. The officials in a speeding county pick-up track were captured on camera dragging Beatrice Magolo tarmac road last Wednesday. The woman, who was filmed hanging behind the vehicle with her lower limbs on the tarmac, suffered bruises on her left hip and knee. She had reportedly been arrested for hawking oranges and lemons in the Central Business District. The incident elicited an angry reaction from members of the public who called for dismissal of the…

13 more patients have succumbed to Covid-19 raising Kenya’s fatalities to 2,117, the Ministry of Health announced on Sunday. In a statement to newsrooms, Heath Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said two of the deaths occured in the last 24 hours while 11 are late death reports from facility record audits that occurred on diverse dates. The CS further said 884 more people have tested positive for Covid-19, from a sample size of 5,377, tested in the last 24 hours. Kenya’s positivity rate is now at 16%, the CS said. Read: Russia’s Sputnik V Covid-19 Vaccine Now Available In Kenya Total…

Tanzania’s new President Samia Suluhu Hassan has hit the ground running, suspending the country’s Ports Authority Director-General Deusdedit Kakoko over alleged embezzlement of Sh3.6 billion. The agency was adversely mentioned in a report compiled by the Controller and Auditor General (CAG). The President received the report for the financial year 2019/20 at State House in Dodoma on Sunday. She noted that she had seen massive embezzlement at TPA and ordered the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) to urgently look into the matter. Read: Samia Suluhu Makes History As Tanzania’s First Woman President [Video] According to the Head of…

Motorists flouting curfew rules risk their insurance claims being rejected, the Association of Kenya Professional Insurance Agents (AKPIA) has warned. In a notice issued on Sunday, AKPIA, a membership-based association and lobby for Professional Insurance Agents that represents the interest of its members who are insurance agents in Kenya, said only motorists with essential services authorizations are exempted from curfew rules. The association cautioned motorists, who don’t fall in the group, to avoid driving past 8pm in five counties that were recently declared disease-infested regions and 10pm in the rest of the counties. “Insurance Companies/Agencies/Brokers would like to inform you that…

The Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) has fined Homeboyz Radio Sh1 million over gender insensitive remarks made by three of its presenters last Wednesday. Shaffie Weru, Joseph Munoru and Neville Muasya, who have since been fired by the Radio Africa-owned station, were accused of shaming a victim of sexual violence during the Lift Off morning show. The woman identified as Eunice Wangare is alleged to have been thrown off the 12th floor of a building by Moses Gatama Njoroge, a man she met on Facebook, after rejecting his sexual advances. Addressing members of the press on Sunday morning CA Director…

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has praised Radio Africa Group for firing its three radio presenters over gender insensitive remarks made last Wednesday. Shaffie Weru, Joseph Munoru and Neville Muasya were accused of shaming a victim of sexual violence during the Lift Off morning show on Homeboyz radio. The woman identified as Eunice Wangare is alleged to have been thrown off the 12th floor of a building by Moses Gatama Njoroge, a man she met on Facebook, after rejecting his sexual advances. Radio Africa that owns Homeboyz radio announced on Saturday that the trio had been terminated following public…