Mt Kenya Tycoons Favour Raila Over DP Ruto For President – LitKenya

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We have picked for you the Top 10 stories making the headlines on this day, 20th June 2021

Mt Kenya Tycoons Favour Raila Over DP Ruto For President

At least 200 prominent businessmen from the Mt Kenya region have picked ODM leader Raila Odinga as their preferred presidential candidate over Deputy President William Ruto.

The tycoons, who hosted the former Prime Minister at a private event in Nairobi on Friday, said the opposition chief was most qualified among the various presidential hopefuls, as he was aware of the country’s business environment and political landscape.

Equity Bank Chief Executive Officer Polycarp Igathe, who was the host, said Raila had demonstrated in the past that he is capable of propelling the country to greater heights.

DP Ruto: I’m in UDA

Deputy President William Ruto has, for the first time, associated himself with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), revealing that he will use the wheelbarrow party to seek the presidency.

DP Ruto reiterated that the Jubilee Party had been hijacked and that he could continue hanging on.

Further, the Deputy President warned that the alleged attempt to postpone the General Election from August next year would plunge the country into chaos.

10-Member to Negotiate Jubilee-ODM Coalition

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s ruling Jubilee Party and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) of Raila Odinga have appointed a 10-member team to spearhead talks of a possible merger between the two largest political outfits in the country.

ODM has picked National Assembly Minority Leader John Mbadi, Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, Nominated Senator Agnes Zani and Kisii Woman Representative Janet Ong’era, while the Jubilee Party has Secretary-General Raphael Tuju, Vice-Chairman David Murathe, Samburu MP Naisula Lesuda, National Assembly Majority Whip Emmanuel Wangwe, and his deputy, Maoka Maore.

The committee has been given 14 days to draw up a roadmap to midwife the alliance.

Chris Kirubi Buried

Billionaire Chris Kirubi had drawn up a clear family succession plan to avert disputes after his death.

Speaking during the burial of her father yesterday, Kirubi’s daughter, Mary-Ann Musangi, said the tycoon had developed a proper transition plan.

Kirubi was interred at his Bendor Farm in Kandara, Murang’a County.

Former Diplomat Laid to Rest

Veteran diplomat Dennis David Afande was on Saturday laid to rest at his Matayos home in Busia County.

In his message of condolence, President Uhuru Kenyatta said the former ambassador to Washington, DC, had served the country with dedication.

The 84-year-old diplomat served in Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel arap Moi governments.

KRA Gets Greenlight to Prosecute Rai Company in Tax Dispute

The Rai family-owned Menengai Oils Limited has suffered a major blow after the court allowed Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to proceed with a case in which the taxman is demanding Ksh1.5 billion from the firm.

According to KRA, the manufacturer allegedly listed some goods worth billions of shillings as exports to Tanzania and Uganda to evade taxation. The authority, in court documents, however, indicates that there was no evidence to show that the goods were taken to the destinations.

In March 2020, the consumer goods company had lodged a successful case at the Tax Appeals Tribunal.

Looting of Covid-19 Funds

A special report by Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu has revealed how the Ministry of Health squandered money in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic last year.

The audit points out that the Mutahi Kagwe-led ministry procured ventilators at exaggerated prices, but what is more unsettling is the fact some of the equipment is still lying idle at government warehouses because hospitals did not have enough capacity to store them.

Gathungu also said millions were transferred to individuals’ bank accounts under unclear circumstances and officials cannot account for how airtime money was used up.

Covid-19 Testing Hitch

The mutation of the Covid-19 virus has posed a new challenge in the fight against the pandemic following concerns that PCR tests are now failing to detect the new variants.

This according to research conducted by scientists from the United Kingdom, who established that some tests are giving false results.

The researchers indicated that symptoms of the new strains of coronavirus include soar throat, severe headache and a runny nose.

Govt Insists Arror and Kimwarer Dams Failed the Procurement Test

The State Law Office has dismissed the reliefs being sought at the International Court of Arbitration by the Italian firm had won the tender to construct the Arror and Kimwarer Dams in Elgeyo-Marakwet.

In a response to CMC di Ravenna company, the State insisted that the procurement for the projects had flaws from the start.

Solicitor-General Ken Ogeto demanded the firm explain how it utilised the Ksh19 billion advance payment from Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA).

CMC di Ravenna has been claiming that the contract for the dam projects was terminated as a result of political interference.

US Soldiers Arrive in Wajir

A group of American military officers has been dispatched to Wajir County to help Kenya in the fight against terrorism.

The troops will provide air surveillance and will be on standby to respond to any emergency.

This comes a weeks after US President Joe Biden approved deployment of special operation troops to Kenya.

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