Sunday, 29th May – Good morning! This is your daily edition of our brief, but salient Kenyan news selected for you.
Kalonzo Back in Azimio
Sources with the Wiper Democratic Movement (WDM) have revealed that Kalonzo Musyoka accepted the Chief Mister position that Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate offered him after he was bypassed for the running mate slot.
However, Kalonzo’s allies insisted that the Chief Minister slot must be guaranteed in a written pact so that the former Vice-President is not shortchanged after the August 9 General Election.
Raila has reportedly agreed to give Kalonzo the Energy and Foreign Affairs ministries in the “Azimio government”. He also negotiating for the Devolution and Water dockets.
“Kalonzo called us to a meeting and told us to announce that he had decided to work with those determined to foster peace and end corruption in Kenya,” Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, one of those who have been pushing the Wiper boss to run for President, said.
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Shembeteng is Here With Us
Master, Brian Muasya and Zachary Mwangi are the newest celebrities in town for developing another language, Shembeteng, which sounds like an ameliorate of Sheng – Kenya’s unofficial language that borrows heavily from English, Kiswahili, and local dialects.
Shembeteng has taken the internet by the storm even as Kenyans continue to struggle to learn a word or two. Master and his counterparts have been moving from one media station to another to make the country understand the new language.
Now let’s understand a few Shembeteng words: Kenya (Kembetenya), Love (Lombotove), Phone (Phombotone), Jesus (Jembetesus) Facebook (Fambatace-book), News (Nembetews), Uhuru (Uhurumbuturu), William Ruto (Wimbitilian Rumbututo) and Raila Odinga (Raimbitila Odimbitinga).
Have MPs Sanitised Another Scandal in The Health Ministry?
The National Assembly Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is on the spot after clearing the Ministry of Health following questions raised about the operations of 100 mobile clinics that were imported at a cost of Ksh1 billion.
While the Mutahi Kagwe-led ministry has been at pains to explain how the portable containers have made a difference in the access to healthcare in the country, MPs have suddenly stopped investigating the matter. Counties that were to benefit from the services of the mobile clinics include Nairobi, Nakuru, Murang’a, Kisumu, Nandi, and Makueni.
PAC Chairperson Opiyo Wandayi has refused to comment on the matter.
Raila: Wamalwa Will Be Retained in My Cabinet
ODM leader Raila Odinga yesterday promised the Mulembe Nation that Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa will be part of his Cabinet if the Azimio la Umoja form the next government.
Apart from Wamalwa, Raila has pledged that Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya will be the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury. He also dangled the Senate Speaker position to former National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende.
The former Prime Minister said these posts will be of great benefit to the Luhya people. Opayanya said he will use his position to better the livelihoods of the Western people.
Raila added that Deputy President William Ruto, who has the backing of Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetabgula, is a not friend of the region.
KDF Air Show Festival
Thousands of Kenyans, including President Uhuru Kenyatta, thronged Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi yesterday for the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Air Show festival which was held in conjunction with the Aero Club.
It was a spectacular show where various teams took off to the skies to display their prowess as Kenyans enjoyed the rolls in the air.
The South African group arguably carried the day with its four jets. One was going up, another was coming and two were moving left and right at the same time. Indeed, it was a sight to behold.
Ruto: We Will Make Farming Profitable
Deputy President William Ruto yesterday addressed rallies in Nakuru and Nyandarua counties where he promised that he will boost agriculture if elected President in August.
The DP said the first “my government” will do is to lower the prices of fertiliser from Ksh6,000 to Ksh2,000.
He promised that large and small scale farmers will be ripping big if his Kenya Kwanza Alliance succeed the Jubilee government of President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Kenyan Teacher Wins Global Award
A Kenya teacher has been feted by the World Health Organization (WHO) for playing a crucial role in the fight against tobacco.
Joel Gitali, a Kiswahili teacher at the St Stephen Bujwang’a secondary school in Bungoma County, was named the winner of the WHO World No Tobacco Day 2022 Awards. Six other people from different countries in Africa were also recognised.
As the chairman of the Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance (KETCA) for more than eight years, the tutor has been moving around the country to educate Kenyans about the adverse effects of the addictive drug.
Kinoti Escalates Fight With Haji
The tug of war between George Kinoti of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Noordin Haji has taken a fresh twist after the former issued new directives.
Kinoti has ordered officers under him to stop recording statements and taking fingerprints from suspects.
This comes days after Haji drafted new guidelines that bar police officers from signing a charge sheet and presenting suspects in court. The DPP delegated that duty to State counsels and prosecutors.
Kenyans Warned as Covid-19 Wave Strikes Again
The Ministry of Health has asked Kenyans to take precautionary measures after Covid-19 cases started to rise again.
For the first time in weeks, Kenya recorded 128 cases within 24 hours on Saturday. The positivity rate stood at 5.6 percent.
As of yesterday, the country had registered 324,686 positive cases and 5,651 deaths.
Man Mobbed to Death After Killing 2 Girls
A man was lynched by a mob on Saturday in Ivumba, Makueni County after he allegedly killed two girls aged seven and 10.
Before strangling the minors to death, Charles Musembi raped them in his house. He had picked the children from their home when their grandmother was away.
He had hidden the bodies of his victims under the bed.
