Author: Wycliffe Nyamasege

Lungalunga Member of Parliament Khatib Mwashetani on Tuesday escaped arrested during the Msambweni by-election. The MP was about to be arrested when Tanga Tanga allied colleagues confronted the police accusing them (security officers) of taking sides in the ongoing mini-poll. General Service Unit (GSU) officers are also said to have surrounded the MP’s residential home ready to take him into custody. It’s alleged that the lawmaker’s attempted arrest was linked to voter bribery in the constituency. Led by Nyali lawmaker Mohamed Ali, the MPs asked the police to leave Mwashetani alone. Read: Sharlet Mariam Pulls Out Of Msambweni MP Race,…

A househelp was on Tuesday arraigned at a Kibera court and charged with theft of Ksh300,000. Consolata Luyeku is accused of stealing the money from her employer, Joyce Kayere, on diverse dates between October 10 and October 27 in Kileleshwa, Nairobi. The maid was also charged with a second count of possessing Kayere’s clothes all valued at Ksh50,000. The court heard that the complainant had tried to contact Luyeku but to no avail. Read: Buruburu Househelp Arrested While Attempting To Cross Busia Border With Employer’s Children The accused denied the charges before Kibera senior principal magistrate Derrick Kuto and was…

Suspected Al-Shabaab militants on Monday night attacked and destroyed a newly-built police station in Borehole 11, Mandera County. There were no casualties reported. Reports indicate that heavy explosions and gunshots rented the air as the militants destroyed the security offices. In photos shared on social media by locals, the newly erected building was reduced to rubbles. Local authorities have launched a probe into the incident. The attacks are common in the area with several phone masts having been destroyed in the recent past. A number of people including police officers have also lost their lives in similar attacks. Read: Judiciary…

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has ruled out an extension of the December 31, 2020 deadline for importing 2013 used cars, insisting on eight years age limit. In a notice issued on Monday to importers of second hand/used motor vehicles including returning residents, diplomatic staff and the general public, KEBS stated that only right-hand drive (RHD) vehicles whose year of first registration is from January 1, 2014, and later shall be allowed into the country effective January 1, 2021. Any 2013 vehicle registered in 2013 arriving after December 31 shall be rejected at the importer’s expense, KEBS said. “All…

Police officers on leave have been recalled as part of the government efforts to beef up security as the festive season begins. Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai disclosed this on Monday during his engagement with members of the public on Microblogging site Twitter. The IG said police will enhance patrols across the country during the festive season. “All officers on leave have since been recalled to give sufficient back up. Also, because of the uniqueness of the season, a multiagency team is put in place to enhance security. #EngageTheIG, ” said Mutyambai. https://twitter.com/IG_NPS/status/1338407567932977152?s=20 With many Kenyans expected to travel…

Five support staff members at Lugulu Girs’ High School in Bungoma County have been sent on compulsory leave for allegedly inciting students to stage protests last week. The staffers are the school nurse, cateress, storekeeper and two cooks. A suspension letter issued to one of the workers indicates that the leave will end on January 10, 2021. The students had taken to the streets on Tuesday to protest over alleged defilement of one of their colleagues. The victim is said to have been defiled on Saturday, December 5, while taking a bath just before the morning preps. Read: Lugulu Girls’…

Police investigating the alleged abduction of Thika businessman Julius Gitau now say that the incident did not take place. According to the police, a review of CCTV footage from the alleged scene of the crime on the day Gitau claims to have been abducted by six gunmen did not reveal such incident. Gitau, a well-known wholesale trader in Thika town, went missing on September 21. A ‘suicide note’ was found on his vehicle’s dashboard. Thika West Deputy County Commander Mathioya Mbogo told Nation that Gitau’s car was not even at the scene where he claimed to have been abducted. The…

366 more people have tested positive for Covid-19, from a sample size of 4,205 tested in the last 24 hours, the Health Ministry said on Sunday. This now brings to 91,892 the number of confirmed positive cases in the country. Cumulative tests are now at 971,522. “From the cases, 346 are Kenyans while 20 are foreigners. 236 are males and 130 females. The youngest is a one-year-old child, while the oldest is 78, ” Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said in a statement to newsrooms. The CS said one more patient succumbed to the disease in the same period raising…

The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has urged members of the public to disregard a fake notice advertising 4,189 job opportunities that has been circulating on social media. In a tweet on Sunday, the authority asked those seeking employment to always check KPA’s website to ascertain the validity of adverts before engaging further. https://twitter.com/Kenya_Ports/status/1338001639492431872?s=20 The fake notice seen by this writer had advertised six categories of jobs in ports such as Lamu, Malindi, Kilifi Mtwapa, Kiunga Shimoni, Funzi and Vanga. However, an email shared by the fraudsters — kpajobs2020@yahoo.com — was a private email and not the official email accounts of…

American singer Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas has tested positive for Covid-19 a few days after flying home from a vacation in Kenya. The singer disclosed the information in an Instagram post on Saturday night. She, however, noted that she is fine and not in any pain. “Hey y’all I can’t believe I’m saying this but I tested positive for COVID-19,” she wrote. “I’m ok and not in any pain. I’m actually down to do the Verzuz from my house… we’re trying to figure it all out!!!” The actress cum record producer landed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on…

The annual Kalasha Awards ceremony finally went down last night at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi. The event, held under unique Covid-19 circumstances, was attended by the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ezekiel Mutua, Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru, actors, actresses and film crew among others. Entries into the award ceremony sponsored by the Kenya Film Commission are films and TV series that have been aired on Kenyan television stations. In yesterday’s event, Leon Ongaya known for his role as Mbura in “Pete” drama series (Maisha Magic East)…

Angry residents of Namanjala in Kwanza Constituency, Trans Nzoia County, on Friday engaged police in running battles as they protested the killing of a university student in the area by the men in uniform. According to the residents, Eugene Sebastian, a second-year student at Kibabii University, was shot by police officers during a crackdown on illicit liquor on Thursday night. The deceased’s father said his son was killed after he left their house to go and lock their dogs in the kennel. “Wakati aliamka nikasema funga mbwa haraka masaa imeisha, akapata askari wameruka fence na wameingia ndani ya nyumba. Wakajaribu…

Former Nairobi County Governor Evans Kidero has expressed interest in contesting for Homa Bay gubernatorial seat in the 2022 General Election. In a recent interview with The Standard, Kidero said that he had been approached by locals as their “son” to vie for the seat currently held by Cyprian Awiti of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party. “It is something I am considering very seriously,” said Kidero. Read: I Almost Ran Blind, Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti Says After Two-month Absence Kidero’s declaration, according to pundits, complicates things for the ODM party, considering the fact that the party’s loyalists including the…

Kakamega residents are yet to come to terms with the sudden death of a local nurse who is among the latest victims of the coronavirus menace. Wycliffe Alumasa, who residents describe as a stickler for the Ministry of Health safety guidelines on curbing the spread of the virus, succumbed to Covid-19 on Tuesday. The nurse, who worked at the Kakamega County General Hospital, would enforce the mandatory mask rule in Kakamega town before reporting to his workstation. According to residents who spoke to journalists, the strict nurse would confront people without masks and demand they wear one. When he encountered…

Moving forward retiring prison officers will only be replaced by cadets, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i said on Thursday. The CS said the move is aimed at enhancing professionalism in the Kenya Prison Service (KPS). Matiang’i made the remarks during the official opening ceremony for 160 graduate cadets initial training course at the Prisons Staff Training College (PSTC) in Ruiru, Kiambu County. Read: CS Fred Matiang’i Urges Administrators To Use Community Persuasion Mechanisms To Fight Radicalisation The 13 months program, the first of its kind in the service, will see diverse participants equipped with the right attitude and skills to…