News of the removal of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from President William Ruto’s WhatsApp diary group has sparked tension within the top ranks of the government, prompting an official explanation from authorities. Mr Gachagua, in an interview with Citizen TV on Friday night, said his removal from the group makes it hard for him to attend key presidential events since he is always not informed. “I always align my diary to the President’s,” Mr Gachagua explained, saying that the group was a critical tool in keeping him updated on the President’s schedule. An angry Deputy President blamed lack of information…
Author: Samuel Njihia
Former acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli made a last-ditch effort Thursday to get a six-month contempt sentence overturned as the window to avoid imprisonment neared closure. The senior policeman, who had previously brushed off court summons seven times, was on his knees imploring the court for a chance to present his case before Judge Lawrence Mugambi. With the seven-day reprieve granted by Justice Mugambi set to expire at midnight, Masengeli’s sense of urgency was clear. He had retreated to his office following the swearing-in of the new Inspector General, David Kanja. His lawyers, Cecil Miller and Steve Ogolla,…
The founding leader of the famous musical group Them Mushrooms, Ted Kalanda Harrison, has died at 72 years, bringing to an end a glittering chapter in Kenyan music history. Kalanda died at his rural home in Kaloleni, Kilifi County, after losing a long battle with cancer. The news was broken by John Katana, who took over the leadership of the band and is his younger brother, on Tuesday morning. He noted that the late Kalanda was an inspiration to many. “It has been a long painful journey for our eldest brother who was a source of inspiration to all of…
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has summoned over 50 officers regarding their involvement in unlawful acts during the Finance Bill 2024 demonstrations by Gen-Z and the Azimio protests of 2023. These incidents include deaths, serious injuries, and other alleged misconduct by police officers. Among those directed to appear before IPOA detectives are 15 senior police commanders, including Bungoma County Police Commander Francis Kooli. They are required to report from Tuesday through Thursday for questioning and statement recording. In preparation for this, the Kenya Police Service has instructed the officers to meet with their legal representatives on Monday for a…
Security agencies have been called into action following the abduction of Wajir Member of County Assembly Yussuf Hussein Ibrahim, which occurred on September 13. Hussein was forcefully taken from a taxi along Enterprise Road in Nairobi; circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear. He was abducted around 9 p.m. when he was heading towards South C. His taxi was intercepted by two unmarked vehicles from where the abductors took out Hussein. During the abduction, they had even taken the phone of the taxi driver to avoid immediate communication. The phone was recovered when it fell inside the taxi, but it created…
Pascaline Peter, known as Passy Ma Trevor on Facebook, was arrested on Thursday in connection with a major fraud scheme that has left hundreds of Kenyans devastated. Pascaline is the suspect in a case involving the alleged embezzlement of an estimated Sh350 million from unsuspecting investors. According to the police, Passy Ma Trevor deceived her victims by offering a fake real estate investment deal through her company, Pafrim Investments Ltd. In an elaborate scam, Pascaline had convinced victims to make deposits running into millions of shillings in four bank accounts spread across Equity Bank, Coop Bank, Stanbic Bank, and Kingdom…
The strike by Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) workers has been called off following a deal between the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) and the government. This has been confirmed by Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, union leader Moss Ndiema, and Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) head Francis Atwoli. Consequently, normal operations are expected to resume at JKIA and other major airports in Mombasa, Kisumu, and Eldoret that witnessed massive disruptions on Wednesday. The government has agreed under the deal to permit thorough scrutiny of the documents related to the proposed 30-year lease deal of JKIA with Indian conglomerate…
Mohammed Abduba Dida’s ongoing conflict with his American ex-wife is the reason behind his current imprisonment in the United States, it has now emerged. Dida, who vied for Kenya’s presidency in 2013 and 2017, was in 2021 convicted of stalking and threatening his estranged wife, Mama Leila, who lives in Illinois. He is currently serving a seven-year sentence in a US prison. According to his family, Dida moved to the US in January 2019 for further studies, met and married his now-estranged American wife, and lived happily until July 2021, when a dispute led her to seek a restraining order.…
Operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) were paralysed on Tuesday night after aviation workers went on a go-slow. Long queues of stranded travellers characterized the scene after boarding and takeoff were delayed, sparking an outrage. The disruption was the result of a formal strike by aviation workers, something which had been building up for weeks now. This strike followed a notice issued by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) on August 12, where it strongly opposed the proposed leasing of JKIA to the Indian conglomerate Adani Group. The KAWU Secretary General Moss Ndiema, in issuing the notice, had raised…
Mohamed Abduba Dida, the former teacher who ran for Kenya’s presidency in 2013 and 2017, is currently serving a seven-year sentence in a U.S. prison for stalking and intimidation. Dida, 50, popularly known as Mwalimu, has been detained at the Big Muddy Correctional Center in Illinois since November 18, 2022, after being found guilty of two charges. The offenses were committed in McLean County, Illinois. The former Lenana School teacher recently filed a complaint over the alleged violation of his constitutional rights, including the right to practice Islam and to observe the Islamic daily schedule of prayer. “Plaintiff claims that…