Kenya Insights

Category: Politics

  • Mr. Habat Sheikh Abdi The Highly Regarded In Garissa And North Counties Politics

    Mr. Habat Sheikh Abdi The Highly Regarded In Garissa And North Counties Politics

    Mr Habat Abdi Sheikh has been a man who rose from the humblest of all backgrounds, scaled the height of leadership and has successfully served in positions with respect and dedication.

    Mr Habat currently the director of basic education in the ministry of education has been praised for his wonderful leadership style and visions. He is an accomplished education activist who has agitated for better academic infrastructure for the schools in the Northern part of Kenya. He has especially created a name for himself by advancing girl child education.

    The Garissa County native has been vocal on issues that affects the people and has been agitating for their welfare both in his private and official capacity. This earned him positive reviews courtesy of his leadership based on solving issues and problems like lack of good classrooms , learning equipments and materials that has bedevilled the Northern counties.

    Mr Habat has been instrumental in ensuring that children from humble background don’t drop out of schools by providing bursaries through working closely with stakeholders in the education sector

    Habat has now emerged a favourite and influential figure among the residents of Garissa County who regard him as a transformational leader who if given the pedestal and the podium to serve the great Garissa people will immensely contribute to the growth and development of the area.

    Via Abdi Sama, Political Commentator.

  • Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey Bans All Political Ads From His App

    Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey Bans All Political Ads From His App

    Twitter founder and CEO has announced that all paid political advertisements will be banned from the platform as soon as next month.

    Announcing this, Twitter founder and CEO took the declaration to his social media.

    From November 22,  major Political campaigns around the world such as the U.K. election, are expected to be hardest hit even as Dorsey maintained that

    Jack also states that online political campaigns or ads have introduced unparalleled risks such as unchecked misleading information and deep fakes at an alarming rate.

    Dorsey requested for enhanced political ad regulation and transparency saying that regulators need to think past the present day to ensure a level playing field.

    The move by Twitter to ban political ads from its platform has left world leading APP Facebook on the spotlight. Mark Zuckerberg-led company has been facing backlash after a move to exempt politicians from fact-checking by third parties. Jack’s fans have also hoped that Facebook will follow the footsteps of Jack.

    https://twitter.com/Marmel/status/1189638511516733440?s=19

     

  • Cornel Rasanga’s Communication Team Embroiled In Sex Scandal With Peoples Wives

    Cornel Rasanga’s Communication Team Embroiled In Sex Scandal With Peoples Wives

    Siaya governor Cornel Rasanga’s county communications department has been mired with sex scandals that have since sparked off outrage from members of the public who demand quick action before they take the matter in their own hands.

    Normally, County Communication teams entails proffesionals that are directly charged with ensuring that the Governor’s deeds, administration and leadership face remains on on a positive public side at all times.

    However, things are totally different in Siaya county’s Comm office, as one senior officer Salim Odeny has been alleged of having raucous appetite for married women.

    Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga

    Curious members of the public have been making impromptu visits to the governor’s office in search of Salim Odeny, the hypersexual dude who eloped with a mans wife since the time the husband of the snatched woman went public.

    Background checks indicate that Siaya Comm Office is led by Jerry Sando and Eric Juma. Locals speacking to media on anonymity stated that both Juma and Sando are staunch Christian yet shelving the sodom and gomora odeals at the County office.

    While campaigning in 2017, Cornel Rasanga said that there will be no employment opportunities in the county for outsiders. A promise that he seems to had fulfiled as his  Siaya communications docket is filled with, apparently, local individuals who are not officially recognized as county employees.

    According Siaya county records, Salim Odeny and  Makamu wa Makamu are in governor Rasanga’s communications team but they only get paid based on private assignments from the Governors cut.

    Makamu, is described by the locals as governor’s attack dog. He, together with Odeny are always ready to fire up the crowd and through their prowess neutralise any environment considered hostile against their employer, Siaya governor.

    Whereas Makamu has fastened to his job, Salim Odeny has turned into a notable wife snatcher and angry locals are now planning to publicly ‘teach him a leason’ in front of the governor.

    Odeny, who is a married with three children had capitalized on his closeness to governor Rasanga and snatched the wife of a middle-aged man only identified with street name as Ruler.

    Ruler and angry residents of Siaya stormed Rasanga’s office to take action after it emmerged that Odeny had allegedly kept his wife in unrevealed location for three days.

    The same accused Odeny according to Weekly Citizen, lost his last job with an international NGO due to his unpaired appetite for married woman and staff.

    Salim Odeny is also an alcoholic who can’t stand nor meet any high integrity standards set by any international or local organization. All these, perhaps, indicate why he’s employed by Cornel Rasanga!

    So how did he get the Siaya communication gig? According to documents filed at Siaya Comm offices, Salim Odeny, in his CV, is discribed as an activist, public critic, governance and development consultant who was retained from Governor Rasanga’s campaign 2017 team due to his luo-oratory skill.

     

  • New List Of Raila’s Trusted Lieutenants As He Drops Traditional Allies

    New List Of Raila’s Trusted Lieutenants As He Drops Traditional Allies

    Even though not yet officially announced, Raila’s name will be on the ballot paper in the 2022 polls. The recent reshuffle of who the AU’s special envoy intends to keep beside him are also in line with his political truce with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

    The former Premier through an ODM internal taskforce led by Catherine Mumma is rebuilding the once biggest political party in Kenya by shaking off chaos filled primaries that has been the main reason as to why ODM was losing seats in past polls.

    Raila is also shaping his Western and Nyanza bloc inner circle after falling short of soldiers who were politically swayed and bought out from his buddies by Jubilee party some directly while others influenced through affiliate parties.

    When the former Gem MP, the mouthy Jakoyo Midiwo and former Chief of staff in the Grand Coalition government Caroli Omondi ditched RAO, whose impact in Nyanza has been felt and seen, the AU envoy is now refilling the cuts.

    Also, Raila’s fallout with the former ODM vocal secretary-general Ababu Namwamba, and former vice-chairman Paul Otuoma dented his Western tight-circle.

    In Nyanza, Raila is replacing Midowo and Caroli with current vocal insiders, ODM Chairman John Mbadi, and the Director of elections Junet Mohammed. The two are also leading  ODM’s campaign to repossess the Kibra Constituency seat.

    Kisumu Governor and a political scientist Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, Raila’s sister and former deputy governor Ruth Odinga, Nyando MP Jared Okello and Seme legislator James Nyikal have also been lined up in Raila’s team.

    Dr Nyikal Okello, who has a vast international  connection, the chairman of the Luo Parliamentary Group, is also in Raila’s kitchen cabinet as the Secretary of Public Policy and Economic Affairs.

    Raila also has former minister and now senators Sam Ongeri and the former Attorney General Amos Wako as part of his team Nyanza.

    Confirming this yesterday was ODM Chair and Suba MP John Mbadi who said this reshuffles are a normal political strategy in every formidable team.

    “I can tell you that we have recruited new people to our team as part of our preparations. People like Senator Sam Ongeri, Amos Wako are part of our team. We also have people from Jubilee who are now working with us,” Mbadi Said.

    “That new working relationship was demonstrated in how county assemblies rejected the Punguza Mizigo Bill. You could see central and Nyanza leading in rejecting the bill. I can assure you that we will have a very formidable alliance.” ODM’s Chair added.

    In the Gusii bloc, Kisii Governor James Ongwae leads Raila’s team while in Southern Nyanza, Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga is a key backer.

    “Junet is not only Baba’s man in southern Nyanza, he is also a national errand boy. He is a trusted emissary. He is also a good negotiator. This is why you always see him by Raila’s side in some very difficult missions, like during the March 9, 2018 handshake at Harambee House.” said an ODM insider.

    In western, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, one of ODM’s two deputy party leaders, leads the team of Raila’s generals.

    Raila is also outsmarting the ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi in Western Kenya by swaying Mudavadi’s own Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, Saboti MP Caleb Hamisi, and evicted ANC Secretary General and nominated MP Geoffrey Osotsi. ODM SG Edwin Sifuna and Busia Woman Rep Florence Mutua are also Raila’s key allies.

    “Stop reading too much into this. I believe nobody can claim to be closer to the party leader than the other.” Nyando MP Okello replied on claims that he was included in Raila’s 2022 team.

    “It is too early to speak about 2022. The strategy we may have now may change before then. As a party, we will continue to strengthen our outfit.” Junet commented on the reports yesterday.

    In Siaya, Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi, who is also the ODM director of political affairs, and East African Legislative Assembly MP Oburu Oginga are key figures in Raila’s political strategy.

    Siaya Senator James Orengo, in a previous TV interview hinted to an Uhuru Raila alliance in the comming elections that is probably, going to happen after a referendum to change the system of governance.

    “Raila wants to build a new generation of leaders in western while scheming for better things. He has stopped shooting straight from the hip and has succeed in calming the hitherto hot waters in the region,” says governance expert Joshua Orero.

    “It is difficult to say who is his man in Nyanza and western. It is only guesswork. Raila does not want to burn bridges,”  Ochieng’ Obiero, a political commentator and strategist said.

  • Kenyans Savagely Hits Back At Miguna Over His Smear On Raila’s Family

    Kenyans Savagely Hits Back At Miguna Over His Smear On Raila’s Family

    Self declared General Miguna Miguna yester evening  breathed fire, this like most of the time, through his official Twitter account. Former senior personal advisor to the former premier Raila Odinga, General Miguna has claimed that the late Fidel, Winnie And Junior Odinga are not Raila’s biological children.

    Miguna, who was ejected from Kenya after  swearing in Raila Odinga as the people’s president on the 30th Of January 2018, was responding to media reports of Raila’s family inheritance tussle.

    According to Mama Ida, Lwam Bekele, the widow to Fidel, masterminded the death of his son. In statements to detectives captured in court documents, Ida says Lwam was behind the mysterious demise of Fidel, their firstborn who Miguna Miguna now claims otherwise, in January 2015.

    Raila’s family became apprehensive when Lwam was granted the letter of administration of the Fidel Castro Odhiambo Odinga’s estate, which is speculated to be worth billions.

    This prompted Ida and her daughter, Winnie, to file an objection to that, arguing that Lwam is a suspect in the death. They claim she vanished soon after Fidel was buried and investigations into the death were launched, then cut off communications.

    Ida Odinga and her last born daughter, Winnie. The two have filed a case against the widow of Fidel Odinga. 

    On her defense on the case, Lwam, states that Ida has been making false and unkind remarks about her in connection to the sudden death of her husband.

    However, Raila Odinga still enjoys the fact that he’s a political darling to many he didn’t have to bother and reply to Miguna Miguna. Kenyans on Twitter, who are loyal fans of RAO and others elected ODM leaders took to their accounts and savagely threw The Kenyan  Revolutionary Federation General in RAO’s ‘boiler’.

    Here are sampled tweets reaction to what Miguna Miguna had alleged.

    https://twitter.com/HEBabuOwino/status/1184998726651260929?s=19

    https://twitter.com/BelAkinyii/status/1184904783200706565?s=19

    https://twitter.com/gabrieloguda/status/1184896461126979585?s=19

    https://twitter.com/kinyuanjogu/status/1185015730774908928?s=19

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Tweet Tales From Dead Kenyan Leaders

    Tweet Tales From Dead Kenyan Leaders

    After a Kenyan On Twitter impersonator of Jimmy Wanjigi went viral for tweeting via a parody account that the tycoon was going to buy Eliud Kipchoge a private jet, allegations that Wanjigi has since refuted, another person or individuals has resurrected  murdered Foreign Affairs Minister Robert Ouko, First president Jomo Kenyatta, The father of opposition, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Trade Unionist Tom Mboya and many others.

    Here are sampled tweets from these long dead leaders expressing what is perceived to be their ‘opinions’ on the current State of Affairs and their  personal  life.

    https://twitter.com/JARAMOGl/status/1184485923364454400?s=19

     

    https://twitter.com/GorgeSaitoti/status/1184541897504808962?s=19

    https://twitter.com/KijanaWamalwa/status/1184503899987808258?s=19

    https://twitter.com/SamwelKivitu/status/1184491016621035526?s=19

    https://twitter.com/JaramogiOginga/status/1184526927585054721?s=19

    https://twitter.com/JaramogiOginga/status/1184486788011823107?s=19

    https://twitter.com/ChegeMusando/status/1184508931210698752?s=19

    https://twitter.com/RealGama254/status/1184512873827049472?s=19

    https://twitter.com/LucyKibakii/status/1184509760839847938?s=19

    The tweets are many and has attracted huge mixed reactions from kenyans on twitter. Here are a few of the reactions.

  • Ruto Allied Jubilee MPs Want IEBC To Disqualify ODM’s Imran Okoth

    Ruto Allied Jubilee MPs Want IEBC To Disqualify ODM’s Imran Okoth

    After ODM accusing DP Ruto of changing his Karen Home to an IEBC headquarter, a section of Jubilee Party legislators have now called on IEBC to disqualify the Orange Democratic Movement candidate Imran Okoth from the November 7 Kibra parliamentary by-election.

    The Ruto alied MPs who had earlier today attended a church service at PCEA Emmanuel Church in Makina on Sunday, criticized the Sartiday’s invasion on Jubilee Party candidate McDonald Mariga as he campaigned in Kibra.

    Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wa and his Lang’ata counterpart Nixon Korir accused Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati of inciting youths to stone Mr Mariga’s convoy.

    “Let all candidates and political parties embrace peace and give Kibra people a chance to decide who they want,” said Mr Ichung’wa.

    The DP Ruto sycophants similarly cussed at Kieleweke team led by nominated MP Maina Kamanda for scattering propaganda.

    According to them, which probably is the same thought of their boss William Ruto, Maina Kamanda who is only nominated because of his background was misleading Kenyans that President Uhuru Kenyatta does not support  Rito’s candidate Donald Mariga.

    “Let them (Kieleweke) respect the President and stop lying that they have been sent (to Kibra) by him. It is shameful the youths who attacked Mr Mariga’s convoy yesterday (Saturday) have followed us here and destroyed window panes,” said Mr Korir.

    Nixon Korir, the Lang’ata legislator stated that he’s going to write to the IEBC to disqualify the ODM candidate over the violence.

    “(Mr) Raila Odinga is in the government courtesy of handshake hence we are free to ask for votes anywhere. The handshake did not come to finish democracy,” he said.

    Mariga on his side called out on political leaders to stop manipulating youths to mete out turmoil on their competitors.

    “The youths should not be used to unleash chaos on opponents, violence never pays, I have forgiven those who assaulted us,” said Mr Mariga.

  • Handshake’s BBI Report To Be Tabled Before Mashujaa Day

    Handshake’s BBI Report To Be Tabled Before Mashujaa Day

    A detailed report from the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) members that have since officially sought an appointment with President Uhuru Kenyatta and AU Representative for Infrastructure and development Raila Odinga to hand in the official final report before 20th of October.

    Image result for bbi kenya

    According to sources close to the team, other than proposing a shift to the parliamentary system of government, the BBI team suggests that some counties be merged in what may attract resistance like what has befallen the Punguza Mizigo by Ekuru Aukot’s Thirdway Alliance that has seen at least 14 county assemblies thwack it on the grounds it seeks to reduce the number of elected representatives.

    Mr Yusuf Haji, the BBI task force chairman, said they were working to complete the task ahead of the October 23 deadline and are now waiting for the president’s word on when to submit the report.

    “The secretariat completed all the editorial work on Friday and we are good to go. The team is proud of what it has accomplished and we hope that the report will help the President and the former Prime Minister (Raila Odinga) achieve the vision they have for the country,” said Mr Haji.

    Harambee House, where the March 9, 2018 handshake was affixed is the preferred venue for the handover ceremony as BBI team remains hopeful that both President Kenyatta and Mr Odinga will be present to receive it.

    However, the Chair had this to say about the handover ceremony that is yet to be dated. “Announcing the venue would expose us to infiltration,” Mr Haji said.

    The team was mandated to tackle nine agenda, including how to end ethnic antagonism, lack of a national ethos, how to foster inclusivity, strengthening devolution and curing divisive elections. The report has also highlighted on enhancing safety and security, eradicating the runaway corruption in government, enabling shared prosperity and entrenching rights and responsibilities.

    Last week, High Court Judge Weldon Korir dismissed a petition filed by Moraa Gesicho on the basis that she had not demonstrated how she would suffer prejudice were the report to be submitted to the President. The petitioner contended that the team was not constitutionally established.

    Mr Paul Mwangi, one of the BBI co-secretaries, said the final document is a product of extensive public participation and consultations that saw them go to all the 47 counties, 210 constituencies and 1,500 civic wards in town-hall meetings.

    “We engaged with a total of 82 national institutions and persons, including Speakers of the bicameral Parliament, the Chief Justice, all constitutional commissions and independent offices. This is a rich document that captures the views and aspirations of the people on what ails the country with the remedial measures,” Mr Mwangi said.

    While both Mr Haji and Mr Mwangi avoided talking about the contents of the document, there have been reliable leaks from within the team that they chose not to recommend a referendum as a way of changing the Constitution to re-introduce the position of a powerful prime minister, among other landmark changes to a New Constitution that was promulgated in August 2010.

    Raila Odinga, Uhuru’s close buddy right now has previously stated that the country would likely have a referendum to alter the executive structure to eliminate ethnicisation of state power while Deputy President William Ruto remains the main opposer to a referendum citing that its a plan to create more seats for greedy wealthy individuals and has no intention of helping Kenyans.

    After a year and a half, it will be a total waste of time if indeed the report that will soon be tabled to have the very same contents of the leaks we have seen so far.  It will be a waste of public funds too to spend cash for a year plus on things that can be settled by a simple task team in a few weeks. I might be wrong or right, but this remains my opinion. BBI was a political initiative that is already biased from the start, though unreleased, the report has to be, rather is already partisan or let’s say, supposed to be pro handshake.

  • Ayub Savula: Muluka And His Fictitious Handlers Misleading Musalia Mudavadi

    Ayub Savula: Muluka And His Fictitious Handlers Misleading Musalia Mudavadi

    Once prominent NASA hypeman, founder and ANC Party Leader Musalia Mudavadi alias MaDvD, has handed his political journey and career to fictitious people with ‘book history’ calling themselves advisors- a political hogwash move that has rendered him non-viable since the birth of UhuRaila Handshake.

  • Why President Uhuru Has Canceled Kimwarer Dam Project And Approved Immediate Commencement Of Arror Project

    Why President Uhuru Has Canceled Kimwarer Dam Project And Approved Immediate Commencement Of Arror Project

    President Uhuru Kenyatta today at State House, Nairobi received a Report on Kimwarer and Arror Dam Projects from the Technical Committee he formed following the discovery of irregularities and improprieties surrounding the two infrastructure projects.

    At its formation, the President tasked the Technical Committee chaired by Principal Secretary for Infrastructure Prof Paul Maringa and comprising of Quantity Surveyor Julius Matu, Eng Benjamin Mwangi and Eng John Muiruri to assess the viability of the two dam projects and report to the Head of State within 30 days.

    In the course of their assignment, the Technical Committee reviewed the designs, technical sustainability and financial proposals of both dams and established as follows:

    (a) Kimwarer Dam

    The KShs 22.2 billion Kimwarer Dam was found to have been overpriced and that the project is neither technically nor financially viable.

    The committee established that no current reliable feasibility study had been conducted on the dam project.

    The only feasibility study carried out on a similar project twenty eight (28) years ago had revealed a geological fault across the 800 acre project area, which would have negative structural effects on the proposed dam.

    The Technical Committee also established that the project area is settled and would require compensation of displaced residents.

    According to the technical design of the Kimwarer Dam, the water supply mechanism would involve pumping, an aspect the Technical Committee found to be unsustainable in terms of operations and maintenance costs.

    Further, the Technical Committee established that the pumping would make the project financially unsustainable in the long run.

    Therefore, the Technical Committee recommended to the President that the Kimwarer Dam project be discontinued.

    (b) Arror Multipurpose Dam

    After a detailed technical review, the Technical Committee was satisfied that the Arror Multipurpose Dam Project is economically viable but noted that it was overpriced.

    As such, the committee recommended to the President a cost rationalisation plan that will ensure the project is implemented cost effectively without affecting its performance and out put.

    As part of the cost rationalization plan, the Technical Committee has prepared a new Bills of Quantities (BQ) for a modified dam with its height scaled down to 60 metres from the original design height of 96 metres which was found to be unviable.

    The optimized dam will be technically viable since it will only require about 250 acres of land and cost KShs 15.4 billion with power and Shs 13.1 billion without power. The dam was previously estimated to cost KShs 28.3 billion.

    Wayforward

    President Uhuru Kenyatta has accepted the report on the two dam projects as prepared and presented by the Technical Committee and directed as follows:

    (a) The immediate cancelation of the Kimwarer Dam project which was found to be technically and financially not feasible by the Technical Committee;

    (b) The immediate commencement of the implementation of the Arror Multipurpose Dam project with the new design components and cost rationalization plan as developed by the Technical Committee.

  • Mariga Finally Out Of Trouble

    Mariga Finally Out Of Trouble

    A few minutes ago, Political Parties Disputes Tribunal court chairperson Kyalo Mbobu has dismissed petition challenging the candidature of McDonald Mariga in the Kibra by-election.

    Deputy President William Ruto candidate of Choice for the Kibra by-elections was facing trouble yet again after a voter went to court with allegations that pressure from the DP and top Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission officials led to the clearance of football star McDonald Mariga to vie for the Kibra parliamentary seat.

    Mariga is said to have registered in Starehe 12 days after the Kibra seat was declared vacant, a factor the petitioner said was another ground for barring him from contesting. Mariga’s legal team submitted to the tribunal that the definition of a register under the Election Act is not limited to Kiems and that the decision by the Kibra returning officer to disqualify Mariga was ill-conceived, grossly illegal and tantamount to taking away his constitutional right.

    The petitioner Morris Peter Kinyanjui wanted Mariga stopped from flying the Jubilee Party flag in the upcoming mini-poll because he was not validly nominated as per the party constitution and the Election Act.

    Mbobu said the avenue in which Kinyanjui filed his petition was wrong and the court had no jurisdiction, whatsoever, to hear the matter.   The court said the Jubilee Party candidate’s nomination certificate has already been accepted by the electoral board, IEBC.

    Kinyanjui lost the Jubilee Party ticket to Mariga, a move which left him accusing the ruling party of rigging him out of the race. The Kibra by-election is set to happen in November 7.

  • Crisis Looms In Nairobi County As Governor Sonko And Majority Leader Guyo Face Corruption Charges

    Crisis Looms In Nairobi County As Governor Sonko And Majority Leader Guyo Face Corruption Charges

    NAIROBI County government is headed for rough times and leadership vacuum as EACC is poised to arraign Governor Sonko in court over corruption. Sonko is expected to face charges over the award of tenders for collection and disposal of garbage within the city.

    The governor is suspected to have corruptly awarded the tenders to his cronies, who later paid bribes to him. EACC is also investigating how money from the bank accounts of the garbage collection companies ended up in Sonko’s private bank accounts.

    Also implicated in the scam is the Nairobi County Majority Leader Abdi Guyo who, sources have intimated, will be charged alongside Sonko. Investigators have found a direct link between Guyo and Flexilease Limited, one of the garbage collection companies implicated in the scandal.

    Flexilease is being investigated for receiving payments for services not delivered and making the Nairobi County government pay for ghost workers. Guyo, a close ally of National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale, is also being investigated over a scam involving public toilets in the city. He is accused of working with shadowy businessman identified as Abbas Khalifa to grab all public toilets.

    According to sources close to the investigations, Guyo and Abbas pocket at least Shs 1 million each every week from the public toilets. Investigators are also probing the source of Guyo’s sudden wealth. He is said to be building a huge shopping mall in Isiolo.

    Management of Nairobi County affairs will be imperiled when Sonko and Guyo are finally charged with the court. With the recent court ruling, both leaders would be suspended from office. Sonko has refused to name a deputy governor since Polycarp Igathe resigned last year.

    In the absence of the governor and deputy governor, the constitution stipulates that the County speaker takes over in acting capacity. There is no clear indication who is the legally recognized Nairobi county speaker. While High court reinstated Speaker Beatrice Elachi, Guyo and his MCAs have blocked her return to the county assembly

  • Mariga In Fresh Trouble

    Mariga In Fresh Trouble

    Deputy President William Ruto candidate of Choice for the Kibra by-elections is in trouble yet again after a voter went to court with allegations that pressure from the DP and top Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission officials led to the clearance of football star McDonald Mariga to vie for the Kibra parliamentary seat.

    According to media sources, Kibra Returning Officer Beatrice Muli was right in barring the Jubilee candidate from running because he was ‘not a registered voter’.

    However, Mr Mariga’s woes might not be over, since a voter in Kibra, Mr. Leina Konchellah, who petitioned the IEBC to state its position on the issue of Mr. Mariga’s age, might move to the High Court.

    In the Monday ruling, the electoral commission tribunal largely concentrated on the authenticity of Mr. Mariga’s registration as a voter and not the authenticity of his ID.

    “It is curious to note that the complainant presented a national identity card indicating his date of birth as April 1987, and further presented his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education certificate indicating he sat his Form Four examinations in November/December 2002,” says Mr Konchellah.

    The Petitioner stated that the documents Mariga presented to the commission could be having integrity issues, and thus go against Chapter Six of the Constitution. In its 20-page ruling delivered at its headquarters, the tribunal said that Mariga is duly registered as a voter and that the decision by the Kibra returning officer had been set aside.

    IEBC chair Wafula Chebukati and commissioner Boya Molu, ordered the returning officer to immediately process Mariga’s application for nomination as the Jubilee candidate for the November 7 by-election.

    Mr Chebukati said although Ms Muli told the tribunal that she could not find Mr Mariga’s name in the Kiems Kit at the point of verification, she could not confirm whether the register had been updated to reflect subsequent voter registration.

    “We are of the view that the absence of Mariga’s name on the register that was used by the respondent could not have been taken as conclusive proof of lack of registration, more so given that Mariga had indicated that he was registered in a different constituency. We are aware of the technological challenges which might result in a delay in real-time update of the Kiems kit, especially where the registration is conducted in different areas using BVR machines,” Mr. Chebukati said.

    National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale and his Senate counterpart Kipchumba Murkomen were also present at the function and praised IEBC for doing justice to their candidate.

    Election Act 5 (1) b, of the new constitution, stipulates that voter registration will be carried out at all times, except in the case of a by-election between the date of the declaration of the vacancy of the seat concerned and the date of the by-election. However, the tribunal pointed out that this provision is exclusive to the electoral area, in this case Kibra Constituency, and not Starehe, where Mr Mariga registered.

    “It does not apply to other constituencies where there are no by-elections, and neither does it apply to the registration of candidates. It is limited to the registration of voters. There was, therefore, no impediment to the complainant being registered in any other constituency which was not subject to the by-election,” Mr Chebukati said.

    Mariga is said to have registered in Starehe 12 days after the Kibra seat was declared vacant, a factor the petitioner said was another ground for barring him from contesting. Mariga’s legal team submitted to the tribunal that the definition of a register under the Election Act is not limited to Kiems and that the decision by the Kibra returning officer to disqualify Mariga was ill-conceived, grossly illegal and tantamount to taking away his constitutional right.

  • Unbelievable: Raila Refunds Nomination Fees To All ODM Kibra Seat Aspirants

    Unbelievable: Raila Refunds Nomination Fees To All ODM Kibra Seat Aspirants

    Reports reaching Kenya Insights state that the ODM Party leader and AU’s High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa Raila Odinga has refunded a total of sh 2.25 million nomination fees to nine aspirants that had paid to the party.

    The Orange house was not at peace with frequent visits from the aspirants who, according to our sources, were forced to admit and accept the win of the late Ken Okoth’s brother Imran Okoth even after rogue party officials bungled primaries in Kibra.

    Raila handed each of the aspirants Ksh 250,000 they had paid for the party primaries following revelations of how some top party officials orchestrated doctoring of the voters’ roll. The money was handed over on Monday following a closed-door meeting with party leader Raila Odinga.

    The aspirants had a chance to deliberate with the party leaders over mishaps that took place during the party primaries and the party acknowledged that there were avoidable mistakes that occurred. It is during the meeting that Raila Odinga resolved to refund the Sh2.25 million the nine had paid to the party for the primaries.

    The nine aspirants were named as Peter Orero, Ben Musungu, John Otieno, Chris Odhiambo (DJ Kriss Darlin), Tony Ogola, Stephen Okello, Brian Owino, Reuben Ojijo, and Eric Obayi.

    Image result for Raila odm nominations

    Kisumu Woman Representative Rosa Buyu confirmed the reports of the nomination fee refunds today on a morning media talk show where she passionately defended the ODM party primaries in Kibra.

    “ODM has been at the forefront, advocating for credible and fair party nominations. The ODM party has apologized to other aspirants in Kibra and has accepted to refund the KSh250,000 that they had each paid as nomination fee,” she stated.

    Rasa Boyu also refuted claims that Raila Odinga was mad at what happened in Kibra and emphasized that the former premier was keen to encourage the aspirants to remain loyal to his party.

    “Mr Odinga acknowledges that there were challenges in the nominations, with names missing from the voter register but those were not tailored or deliberately introduced to favour or disenfranchise any aspirant,” a statement sent to newsrooms on Monday read in part.

  • Coast Top Leaders Skips Ruto’s Tour

    Coast Top Leaders Skips Ruto’s Tour

    Kenya’s Coast leaders have started deserting DP Ruto and his entire Tanga tanga movement as seen in his recent five days coast tour. Top leaders from the Coast were missing in the entire Deputy President William Ruto’s visit to the region.

    Initially, DP Ruto would attract a huge following of leaders at some instances he would have more than 15 MPs in a single rally but things seem to have turned out awful to his battalion as only a handful of political non-viable leaders are seen following him even as he tours the county launching government-sponsored projects.

    Dr. Ruto was seen to have made inroads in the region as he enjoyed the support of several politicians, including tens of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) legislators led by Coast Parliamentary Group chairman Suleiman Dori. In his earlier tours, the legislators would take turns to declare their support for Dr. Ruto’s presidential bid ahead of 2022 as they warmed up to him. Matters seemed to have changed on his current visit.

    On Saturday, Dr. Ruto’s ally, Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya, did not participate in the DP’s tour of the county. The only MPs present were Lunga Lunga’s Khatib Mwashetani, Malindi’s Aisha Jumwa, and Lamu East’s Sharif Athman.

    According to sources allied to Governor Mvurya, said that the governor failed to show up because he had not been involved in inviting the DP, and therefore felt left out.

    “It is all about politics. And we are aware that the Deputy President was invited by Lunga Lunga MP Khatib Mwashetani and this might have angered the governor. The governor has endorsed his deputy Fatuma Achani, and by virtue of attending the functions could have been seen as endorsing Mr. Mwashetani,” said the source.

    Another missing legislature was Msambweni MP Suleiman Dori who sources alleged that he has been missing because he has been sick for a while now.

    However, on Friday, the second day of his five-day tour during which Dr. Ruto visited Kilifi, had only Seven leaders. The MPs who attended the Kilifi function were Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa, Said Haribae (Galole), Khatib Mwashetani (Lunga Lunga), nominated Senator Christine Zawadi, Ali Wario (Bura), Rehema Hassan (Tana River), Shariff Athman (Lamu East), Badi Twalib (Jomvu) and Kaloleni MP Paul Katana.

    Things are for sure not going well for the son of the charcoal-burner and a former chicken seller. Recently, His candidate in Kibra by-elections was canceled on election fraud allegations and documents forgery. Is this the way Ruto wants to handle his way into the power now?

  • Kidero Is A Lonely Man

    Kidero Is A Lonely Man

    The former Nairobi County governor Evans Kidero is a lonely man. The Former CEO of the Kenyan capital has lost almost all friends his since the law caught up with him.

    Kidero while in office was a socially accepted man, he was among a few governors who were generally accepted by both the ruling and opposition political sides. In the few times he appeared in court as a governor, huge crowds followed, chanting his name and offering him company and comfort in those courtrooms.

    Things have however changed. Soon after leaving office and serious charges of graft and conspiring to commit fraud coming up, the pharmacist social circle started shrinking.

    Politicians who used to be his shadow has since vanished, maybe because the bright old days are now behind the man who rose from the slums to become one of the most admired chief executives in the country.

    He is now often seen alone at golf courts. In his last appearance in court, He was accompanied by his lawyer only.

    “If you sit here with us for an hour or so and see him come in, you will see some of his friends run away or make themselves busy just to avoid him,” one of Kidero’s friend told Nation

    Since his embarrassing arrest at Muthaiga golf club on August 8th, 2018, all his golf buddies have deserted him.

  • Imran Okoth Secures ODM Kibra Nomination Ticket

    Imran Okoth Secures ODM Kibra Nomination Ticket

    Bernard Otieno Okoth alias Imran a brother to the late Kibra MP Ken Okoth wins the Kibra O.D.M party nominations.

    Imran is set to battle it out with Jubilee’s MacDonald Mariga, Ford Kenya’s Eng. Khamisi Butichi, ANC’s Eliud Owalo and Dorn Anaclet of the Democratic Party for the Kibra National Assembly seat.

    More to follow

  • For Joseph Kabila There’s A Life After Power

    For Joseph Kabila There’s A Life After Power

    Many people know the man, Joseph Kabila Kabange, Congolese politician who served as President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo between January 2001 and January 2019.

    So what does the man who took office ten days after the assassination of his father do nowadays after 18 years in power? well, the former head of state now resides at his Kingakati farm. An estate located 50km east of Kinshasha. With trees planted, streetlights erected while he was still in power, a group of eight buildings set on a plateau, overlooking the valley of the N’Sele River, it is a sight to behold.

    Kabila’s home occupies only a small part of a much larger area. The N’Sele Valley Park is 10,000 hectares of green nature, cut off from the hustle and bustle of the capital, and surrounded by a 32km fence. There are all kinds of wild animals(antelopes, zebras, wildebeests, crocodiles, giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, and a 4-metre python) on the land thus Kabila made it a game reserve before he left the presidency. All these animals were imported from Namibia by Wildlife Vets.

    The park has become a major attraction in Kinshasa. Every weekend, some 1,700 visitors flock to this island for safaris, at a cost of 50,000 Congolese francs (Ksh 3,094.68). Kabila is often seen walking around a certain spot on the land where the N’Sele river draws an “S” by a restaurant with a swimming pool taking pictures with random visitors.

    The former Congolese head of state is however still pulling political strings from this immense estate of Kingakati seeing as he has hosted his successor, Felix Tshisekedi , major political leaders who have remained loyal to him for example the provincial governors of the Common Front for Congo (FCC) and senators of this coalition on the land.

    The formal acquisition of this immense land (19,000 ha in total, only half of which is devoted to the N’Sele reserve) remains shrouded in mystery. It’s one of the few Kabila properties that was never touched during an investigation by Bloomberg and the Congo Research Group in 2017.

     

  • Choice Of Mariga As Kibra’s Candidate Has Brought More Divisions In Jubilee

    Choice Of Mariga As Kibra’s Candidate Has Brought More Divisions In Jubilee

    Jubilee Party thought fielding footballer McDonald Mariga was a genius move but to their surprise, it is turning out to not only be absurd but also divisive.  Mariga’s choice is facing criticism among the party’s rank and file with the latest prickle coming from Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny.

    Joshua Kutuny Speaking at Parliament buildings said that he expected the party to subject all the 16 candidates through a vigorous democratic process before settling on the best candidate terming the mode used to pick the football star on Monday by the party’s National Elections Board (NEB) as a democracy underminer.

    “Politics doesn’t know a household name, we need to go back to the drawing table and put our house in order,” he said.

    The MP now becomes the third Jubilee lawmaker to oppose the selection of Mr. Mariga to fly Jubilee’s flag in the November 7 by-election. Others that have opposed the election board choice are nominated MP Maina Kamanda and Mr. Moses Kuria (Gatundu South). The two Jubilee lawmakers on Monday said they would back ODM leader Raila Odinga’s candidate in the Kibra by-election.

    Mr. Morris Peter Kinyanjui one of the aspirants has also been opposed nomination of Mariga by the Jubilee NEB. Kinyanjui said he has appealed the decision of the board saying it was done in secrecy and contrary to party rules. In his petition to secretary-general Raphael Tuju, Mr. Kinyanjui accused the NEB of usurping powers it does not have to conduct the aforesaid selection.

    Mr. Kinyanjui, who was among the 16 aspirants interviewed, said Mr. Mariga’s selection was “not only unfair, deceptive and shrouded in secrecy, but also contrary to the provisions of Jubilee Party’s constitution.”

    The election board on Monday settled on Mariga saying he demonstrated passion, zeal, and energy to serve the people of Kibra. NEB chairman Andrew Musangi, while defending its choice, said Mr Mariga has an endearing relationship with the people of Kibra since he was born and bred in the area.

    IEBC on their side said they will only address complaints in Kibra party nominations after they are formally lodged. The electoral commission further noted that disputes relating to or arising from the nominations:

    “shall be determined within 10 days of the lodging of the dispute with the commission.”

    As if this is not an issue, other aspirants also want Jubilee Party to recall and halt gazetting of Mariga’s nomination terming it as fraudulent. Speaking at Miami Global Hotel in Nairobi, the aspirants expressed their disappointment, calling the nomination unconstitutional and a charade.

    Mr Kinyanjui said the nomination procedure should have followed due process, which is either nomination by consensus, secret ballot or any other democratic method agreed upon by members. Kinyanjui said this in the company of other aspirants, including Ibrahim Said, Jack Owino, Ramadhan Daniel Orongo, Hussein, Frank Amollo, Geoffrey Mwangi and Elly Omondi.

    Geoffrey Mwangi said they would not accept a nomination to be forced upon them without due process. The aspirants said they will unanimously submit their grievances to the Party Dispute Tribunal.

    I’m of an opinion that this is yet another move to show the public that DP Ruto is forcing things his way and the Jubilee Party boardroom descion markers have run out of action. It is either Ruto in and his people out or his people in and Ruto out. Nobody in Jubilee clearly knows how to outsmart Ruto. If he’s a pain in the nuts right now, what if they allow him to take the Commander In Chief sword?

  • Video: DJ Kriss Darlin Bows Beyond Expectations

    Video: DJ Kriss Darlin Bows Beyond Expectations

    Your favorite Reggae master DJ Kriss Darlin kneels before Raila and begs for ODM ticket in Kibra by-election race.

    A move that has since received mixed reactions from Netizens and citizens at large, the popular reggae DJ who once insulted Raila Odinga at Club K1 has now bowed beyond his words against RAO to an extent of worshiping the Kenyan Political master.

    Image
    Kriss Darlin at Jubilee Party Manifesto launch

    (Video courtesy of RMS)

    Here are some of the reactions of this very awkward and embarrassing event.

    Is Kriss Darlin the King of bluffs or a real Human worshiper?

    Image result for kriss darlin

    Well, do you think DJ Kriss Darling has already shown bad leadership sign? Does this one moment of begging portray that even if he wins in the nominations, Kibra people should not elect him because he will never serve them but only Raila Odinga?

    Or what, This is going to help him prosper politically?