Lang’ata MP Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o, has announced plans to introduce a new Bill in Parliament aimed at reforming Kenya’s motor vehicle insurance industry. The Motor Insurance Bill 2024 seeks to tackle long-standing issues, including compulsory insurance and poor compensation for policyholders. Jalang’o’s Bill proposes scrapping mandatory vehicle insurance, arguing that most Kenyans only buy insurance to avoid being arrested, not because they need it. “Most Kenyans take insurance covers for their vehicles, not because they need them, but because they don’t want to be arrested,” he said. The MP also pointed out the widespread dissatisfaction with how…
Author: Samuel Njihia
Joyce Akinyi has long been a controversial figure, both in Kenya and abroad. From her time in an Indian prison to public accusations against her ex-husband of being a wanted drug trafficker, Ms Akinyi’s life has often had the media’s attention for all the wrong reasons. But after years of legal battles, it appears that Ms Akinyi’s luck has finally run out, as she now confronts the inevitable fallout from her troubled past. Last Friday, after almost five years of trial, Ms Akinyi was found guilty of drug trafficking, a conviction that adds yet another dramatic twist to her already…
Moses Marite, once the trusted manager of Mugithi star Samidoh, orchestrated a fraudulent scheme, swindling clubs out of millions of shillings by exploiting his position and using the singer’s name to secure fake bookings, it has now emerged. Marite, who had managed Samidoh for five years, is alleged to have collected advance booking payments from several clubs, promising Samidoh’s performance without informing the artist. The venues, believing they had secured exclusive deals, paid substantial amounts — some as high as Sh100,000 — only for the performances to never materialise. One such incident occurred at Pcash Lounge in Sagana, where Marite…
The National Assembly has approved Issack Hassan, the former Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), to lead the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA). The Assembly confirmed Hassan’s approval, along with that of several others, as members of the IPOA Board. “The National Assembly has approved the following individuals for appointment as Chairperson and as Members of the Board of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority,” the statement read. Those approved as members of the IPOA Board include Ann Wanjiku Mwangi, Dr. Micah Onyiniego Nyakego, Boniface Kipkemoi Samati, Dr. Annette Mudola Mbogoh, John Muchiri Nyaga, Kenwilliams Nyakomitah, and Jackline…
Wilfred Mutubwa, Vice Chairperson of the Political Disputes Tribunal and Dean of Mount Kenya University’s School of Law, died after collapsing during a short break from a virtual court session in Nairobi on Tuesday evening. The cause of his death remains unclear, and his family is still grappling with the loss. Chief Justice Martha Koome expressed her condolences, describing Mutubwa as a distinguished legal scholar who championed the multi-door approach to justice delivery in Kenya. “On behalf of the Judiciary family and on my own behalf, I extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Dr. Wilfred…
The High Court has temporarily suspended the special Privileges & Immunities status granted to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, pending the hearing and determination of a case filed by the Law Society of Kenya. Justice Bahati Mwamuye issued orders preventing the foundation from enjoying these privileges and immunities while the case is ongoing. The Kenyan government’s decision to grant immunity to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has been challenged by the Law Society, which argues that the move should be declared null and void. These privileges were granted to the foundation, a non-humanitarian organisation, under a government announcement…
Top officials at Moi University are under fire as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) investigates allegations of embezzling Sh2.2 billion through fraudulent infrastructure projects. The EACC has summoned Vice-Chancellor Isaac Kosgey, Chief Accountant Egla Samoei, Head of Procurement Wilson Bett, and Head of the Development Unit Moses Kipkulei for questioning at the commission’s Eldoret office today. This comes after a prolonged strike by university staff, who have been demanding the payment of Sh8.6 billion in overdue salaries and other dues. The strike, which has lasted two months, has caused significant unrest within the institution. In response, university management issued…
A Member of the Nyandarua County Assembly (MCA) has filed a motion to impeach Governor Kiarie Badilisha, marking the beginning of what is expected to be one of the biggest political moves in the county. Mirangine MCA Samuel Mathu, the sponsor of the motion, says Dr Kiarie has committed acts that violate the Constitution, hence the need to hound him out of office. Mr Mathu claims that he has evidence to prove that the governor has acted contrary to the law over the past two years. The motion will be tabled in the Chambers next week. “I have [proof] of…
Safaricom has voiced concerns over the government’s plan to use mobile money paybills and till numbers as a tool for tax collection, warning that it could disrupt the progress made in digitising payments. The telco fears that this move could hinder the use of M-Pesa, a platform that has become central to Kenya’s mobile payments ecosystem. “We are the largest taxpayer, so we are quite conscious about the need to pay taxes but also for our customer base, we are also conscious that this country has made significant progress on digitisation and therefore we need to make sure even as…
The immediate former Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kithure Kindiki, has been sworn in as Kenya’s third Deputy President, replacing Rigathi Gachagua, who was impeached by Parliament last month. Prof. Kindiki’s swearing-in follows the High Court’s decision on Thursday to lift an earlier injunction that had blocked his appointment to the Deputy President position. A three-judge bench comprising High Court Judges Antony Mrima, Eric Ogola, and Freda Mugambi ruled that the injunction would interfere with the functions and structures of the Constitution by envisioning vacancies in constitutional offices. “The applications for conservatory orders are disallowed. The conservatory orders issued on 18 October…
