Tuesday, 31st May – Good morning! This is your daily edition of our brief, but salient Kenyan news properly selected for you.
DP Ruto Reacts After Eviction Murmurs
Deputy President William Ruto has criticised the government following rumours that his official Karen residence in Nairobi is set to be renovated, but first he must move out with his family.
The DP remarked that renovating the place would be a waste of public resources and an Insult to the millions of Kenyans who are starving.
He advised that State to channel the money to programmes that will help Kenyans put food on the table.
Some allies of President Uhuru Kenyatta have been pushing for eviction of the DP from “Hustler Mansion” on the grounds that he has allegedly not been loyal to his boss and has absconded from duty.
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Now DP Ruto Moves Political Activities to Hustler Centre
As rumours continue to spread that Deputy President William Ruto could be evicted from his official residence in Karen, Nairobi, the UDA presidential candidate has transferred all his political activities to the newly acquired Ksh350 million Hustler Command Centre on Ngong Road.
The DP and UDA chairman Johnson Muthama will occupy the third floor of the five-storey building. UDA Secretary-General Veronica Maina will have her office on the fourth floor.
Dr Ruto’s strategy meetings and presidential campaigns will be run from the centre.
NYS Scandal
The National Youth Service (NYS) is in the spotlight again over Ksh10 billion pending bills.
The National Assembly Budget and Appropriation Committee has been investigating the authenticity of Ksh15.5 billion bills. Lawmakers only approved a payment of Ksh5.4 billion to suppliers and contractors, saying that the rest could not be verified.
Committee members Kabinga Wachira and David Sankok said that a compressive report would be tabled in Parliament next week and the findings would shock the nation.
In two other scandals that have plagued the agency, taxpayers lost Ksh2 billion through fictitious procurement.
Governors Condemn Theft of Cancer Drugs
The Council of Governors (CoG) has expressed shock at the news that cancer drugs worth millions of shillings have been stolen from the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
Kisumu Governor Peter Anyang ‘Nyong’o, the CoG health committee chair, challenged the Ministry of Health to establish a system that would be used to prevent the theft of drugs in public hospitals.
Six employees at KNH have been arraigned over the heist that has left many Kenyans angry.
Bandits Killl 3 Children
Three school-going children and an adult were on Sunday afternoon shot dead by bandits in the Tot area of Kerio Valley, Elgeyo-Marakwet County.
Several people were seriously wounded and have been admitted to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
Locals have been fleeing from the area for fear that the cattle rustlers could strike again.
Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and other leaders have accused the government of neglecting the county.
Drama as Governor Barred From Running For President
Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria caused a scene outside the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi where the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has been clearing presidential aspirants.
Wa Iria protested after he was knocked out of the presidential race for failing to meet all the requirements. However, the county boss claimed that he had complied.
For five hours, the governor and his supporters blocked the entrance.
Roots Party of Kenya presidential contender George Wacjakoyah was also disqualified.
Comedian Cleared to Run For President
You will have the option of electing a comedian to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta after veteran entertainer Walter Mong’are aka Nyambane got the green light from the electoral commission to gun for the top seat.
The former State House Director of Youth defended his resolve to run, saying that he had learnt the ropes from President Kenyatta.
He asked young people to rally behind his candidature if they want to see change in the country.
However, his bid is yet gain traction among Kenyans.
It’s All Systems Go as IEBC Clears Aspirants
Campaigns will now hit fever pitch after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) cleared hundreds of aspirants to run for various seats in the coming General Election from Sunday.
Aspirants thronged the IEBC offices in their constituencies to present their nominations papers.
Even politicians with questions on their academic papers such as Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi were cleared.
Returning officers said it was not their duty to verify academic certificates.
William Kamoti Was Without Help For 30 Minutes
Eyewitnesses have said that it took at least 30 minutes before Rabai MP William Kamoti and his driver got help after their car collided head-on with another vehicle on the Kilifi-Mombasa highway and rolled several times.
The local residents, who arrived at scene almost immediately, said the duo were trapped inside the wreckage of the car and they did not have means to pull them out. The driver is in hospital in critical condition.
The second-term ODM lawmaker was laid to rest at his home in line with Islamic customs.
ODM leader Raila Odinga, who attended the burial, asked Kamoti’s family to agree who should get the party’s ticket.
Officers Arrested After Extortion
Four police officers are in custody after they allegedly stole Ksh80,000 from a Tanzanian national on Friday last week.
The suspects, who were in civilian clothes, reportedly seized the foreigner in Loitoktok, Kajiado County, and drove him to Nairobi. They then forced him to withdraw the money from his bank account.
They then went back to Loitoktok before public reported the matter to the authorities.
