Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

Two gunmen were on Tuesday killed in Nairobi after a shootout with detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). According to the DCI, one of the suspected gangsters killed was on the detectives’ radar after he snatched a firearm from a Police Officer who was on duty on Monday evening. The officer and his two colleagues, DCI said, were handling an unruly crowd at Bee Centre in Kayole when the suspected criminal who was a motorbike pillion passenger snatched the firearm. Detectives were immediately deployed and launched a manhunt for him. “With stealth and precision, Masood was today afternoon…

Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has been dealt a huge blow in his bid to replace impeached Nairobi County boss Mike Mbuvi Sonko after the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) clarified that ousted leaders can not hold public office. The Senate upheld Waititu’s impeachment in January this year after Kiambu Members of County Assembly voted to impeach him on grounds of gross misconduct, abuse of office and graft. Yesterday, it emerged that the former governor is among leaders who have thrown their hats in the ring to succeed Sonko who was kicked out two weeks ago on similar charges that…

Kenya’s electoral body has set Tuesday, March 23, 2021, as the date when it will hold a by-election for Member of the Senate, Machakos County. In a gazette notice, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chebukati said each political party intending to participate in the by-election is to submit the names of the persons contesting in a party primary and the date of the party primary on or before Monday, January 4, 2021. “The Commission shall publish, in the Gazette, the names of the persons contesting in a party primary and the date of the party primary within…

147 more people have tested positive for Covid-19 from 3,043 samples tested in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday. The number of confirmed positive cases in the country now stands at 96,139. The total number of tests conducted so far stands at 1,038,352. In a statement to newsrooms, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said of the new cases 137 are Kenyans while 10 are foreigners. In terms of gender, 115 are males and 32 are females. Age-wise, the youngest is a one-year-old baby while the oldest is aged 92. One more patient has succumbed to…

Amos Nyaribo has been sworn in as Nyamira County’s second governor following the death of John Nyagarama. Nyaribo, who served under Nyagarama as Deputy Governor for seven years, took oath of office on Tuesday at Nyamira Primary School. He was sworn in by Nyamira High Court Presiding Judge Esther Maina. The new county boss is expected to announce the appointment of a Deputy Governor within a period of 14 days. Attending the event were Council of Governors Chairman Wycliffe Oparanya, Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugen Wamalwa, Kisii Governor James Ongwae and elected leaders from Nyamira including Members of Parliament Joash Nyamoko…

Medical laboratory officers have joined nurses and clinical officers in their nationwide strike a move that will further deepen the crisis in the public health sector even as Covid-19 continues to ravage the country. Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers chairman Adel Ottoman said the strike began yesterday, December 28. The strike was declared in Kisumu. Dr Ottoman and his colleagues argue that the government has failed to recognise the important part medical laboratory workers play in helping patients. “We have told our members to remain at home until the government begins taking us seriously,” Dr Ottoman said. “We…

The Kisii County government has offered Dr Stephen Mogusu’s widow, Jackline Wanjiru, a job. Speaking during the burial ceremony of the late Dr Mogusu at Iranda Primary School grounds Kisii on Monday, County Secretary and Head of Public Service, Patrick Lumumba, said Dr Wanjiru will report to the Department of Health Services. Lumumba said the county had received several applications but decided to consider Dr Wanjiru for the vacancy. “This is an assurance from Governor James Ongwae that the widow will join Kisii County’s workforce. We condole with the bereaved family and pray that God intervenes and gives her and…

The government has put reckless motorists on notice as the festive season begins. In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, the National Police Service and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) said 3,663 people have died from road accidents since January marking a 9.4 per cent increase from 2019 statistics. “We acknowledge the devastating effects of road traffic carnage in our country. Analysis of the causes of the crashes continue to point at common road traffic offences such as drinking and driving, overloading, speeding, driver fatigue, use of un-roadworthy vehicles, dangerous overtaking, lack of proper lane discipline, freewheeling among…

A Nigerian national, who was recently arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, has lost his bid to recover Ksh100,000 million seized by authorities. Mauzu Bala had last week moved to court claiming that the government is only interested in his money as he is yet to be charged with any offence. But Justice James Wakiaga dismissed Bala’s application for the release of the confiscated money, saying whether he declared the currency in Nigeria before boarding the plane to Nairobi was not relevant at this stage. Justice Wakiaga ruled that the application which was before the court…

Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has directed all National Government Administration Officers to ensure all learners report to school in January as ordered by President Uhuru Kenyatta. The Head of State had during the 57th Jamhuri Celebrations on December 12, directed the interior ministry through chiefs and their assistants to ensure all learners report back to school on January 4, when the learning institutions reopen following a nine-month break due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Speaking in Homa Bay County on Monday, the CS, who was accompanied by his Eduction counterpart George Magoha, directed…

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has recorded a statement with the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) over a recent spat with Malindi Member of Parliament Aisha Jumwa. The two were summoned by the commission last week over “vulgar and hateful” remarks made during the Msambweni by-election campaigns. In a statement, NCIC said the remarks are “likely to affect harmonious coexistence between ethnic communities” within the area. In a tweet on Monday after honouring the summons, Sifuna said he had apologised to those offended by his choice of words. Read: Aisha Jumwa, Sifuna Summoned By NCIC…

The crisis in the public health sector deepened on Monday as doctors joined nurses and clinical officers in nationwide strike even as Covid-19 continues to ravage the country. The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), accuses the government of neglecting the welfare, safety and health of healthcare workers. According to the union, the medics have no medical insurance, workman injury benefits and compensation and also lack Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) hence increased risk of infection. As of November, at least 30 healthcare workers including 10 specialist doctors, had succumbed to Covid-19. “The grievances raised have not been resolved…

Six more patients have succumbed to the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) raising the number of fatalities recorded in the country to 1,639, the Health Ministry announced on Sunday In a statement to newsrooms, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said 349 more people have tested positive for the virus, from 5,025 samples tested in the last 24 hours, bringing to 94,500 the number of confirmed positive cases in the country. Cumulative tests are now at 1,008,518. From the new cases, 334 are Kenyans while 15 are foreigners with 230 being male and 119 female. The youngest is an 11-year-old and the…

Two touts hanging recklessly on a moving matatu died on Saturday night after the vehicle was involved in an accident on Jogoo Road, Nairobi. Reports indicate that the matatu rammed into an immobile lorry that had parked by the roadside at Hamza, near Buru Buru estate. The two died on the spot. Another tout, who was sitted near the window, was injured during the accident. It is reported that the driver of the bus was attempting to avoid colliding with a private car at the junction when he veered off and rammed into the lorry. The junction, according to locals,…

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has threatened that health workers who are on strike will be fired. The CS on Saturday directed county governments to advertise vacancies for healthcare workers, mostly nurses, who downed tools recently in protest of what they termed as a neglection of frontline workers at a time when the country is fighting Covid-19. He urged over 8,000 unemployed nurses to apply for the vacancies once advertised. “Wale ambao wako nje ambao wanataka kazi na wanataka kuendelea na kazi wakati huu ndio sasa walete barua zao waajiriwe kazi na hiyo maneno iishie hapo. Lakini sana sana tungependa…