The newly appointed chairman of the board of the Independent Police Oversight Authority Ahmed Issack Hassan already has his work cut out for him when he assumes office. Hassan who is the former and the inaugural chairman of the independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, was nominated to the position by President William Ruto on Tuesday. If approved to the position, Hassan, will be tasked with the responsibility of investigating the conduct of the police, coming at a time when the police force has been facing criticism over excessive use of force, forced disappearances and abductions of civilians. IPOA at present…
Author: Silas Apollo
ODM leader Raila Odinga will today formally begin his journey towards Africa’s politics with the unveiling of his candidature and manifesto for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. Odinga, who arrived at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa on Thursday, said that he intends to formally and officially present his vision and mission for the AUC to the Permanent Representatives Committee of the AU as part of his ongoing campaigns for the seat. The unveiling of the vision and mission statement by Odinga, comes ahead of the elections to choose…
The journey towards reforming the sugar sector in the country has begun in earnest after President William Ruto formally signed the Sugar Bill into law. The Sugar Bill (National Assembly Bills No. 34 of 2022) seeks to revive the sugar sector by, among other things, enhancing growth, regulation and support for sugarcane farmers across the country. Sponsored by Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe and Bungoma senator David Wakoli, the Bill was considered and approved by both the National Assembly and the Senate in October this year. It seeks to provide a framework for the regulation, development and promotion of the sugar…
The plans by Nandi senator Samson Cherargei to extend term limits of the president and other elected leaders has suffered a major setback after a Senate committee rejected the proposal and called for its dismissal. The Senate Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee recommended the rejection of the controversial Bill which seeks to extend the terms of elected officials from five to seven years. Committee chairman Hillary Wakili Sigei said that the voice of Kenyans had been overwhelming in rejecting the proposal and that the committee had no option but to call for the dismissal of the Bill. “The…
ODM leader Raila Odinga received another boost to his bid to become the next chairman of the African Union Commission after Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema announced his support for the candidacy of the opposition chief. President Hichilema made the announcement after a bilateral meeting with President William Ruto at the COMESA summit in Bujumbura, Burundi in October. The support of the Zambian leader comes just months before the AUC election scheduled for February 2025. The decision to support Mr Odinga, was made after Dr Ruto and President Hichilema reached a reciprocal agreement with Kenya pledging to endorse Zambia’s nominee, Dr…
The High Court has declined to issue conservatory orders to prevent the appointment of deputy president nominee Kithure Kindiki as the new Deputy President, replacing Rigathi Gachagua. A three-judge bench ruled that issuing the order would interfere with the functions and structures of the Constitution by envisioning vacancies in constitutional offices. High Court Judges Antony Mrima, Eric Ogola and Freda Mugambi in a ruling issued in October, declined to give orders stopping Prof Kindiki from assuming office, putting him on the cusp of becoming the third deputy president of Kenya under the Constitution. “The following orders are hereby issued. The…
Members of Parliament have called for swift government intervention to save Moi University from the financial and mismanagement woes that have rocked the institution for the past couple of months. This is after the National Assembly’s committee on education revealed what it said was the sorry state of the institution including university’s financial woes occasioned by mismanagement of funds, insolvency and a crippling wage bill. Committee chairman Julius Melly said that the situation has since forced the institution to seek urgent financial aid from the government. Lawmakers learnt that Moi University’s wage bill has ballooned to an unsustainable 88% of…
High Court judges hearing the impeachment case against impeached deputy president Rigathi Gachagua have rejected calls to vacate the case over allegations of conflict of interest. The three-judge bench of justices Eric Ogola, Anthony Mrima and Freda Mugambi, on Friday denied requests by lawyers representing Gachagua to recuse themselves from the case. The judges, instead asked lawyers representing Gachagua and those representing Parliament and other interested parties in the case, to file amended petitions ahead of the continuation of the case next week. They also set aside Tuesday next week, as the day for hearing and determining calls by Parliament…
The National Assembly has approved the nomination of Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki as the new deputy president to replace Rigathi Gachagua. MPs on Friday voted to approve the nomination of Kindiki after President William Ruto nominated the CS to replace Gachagua, who was impeached by Parliament. Following the approval by MPs, Kindiki is set to be formally appointed by President Ruto as his new deputy. The Head of State had in a communication to the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula on Friday, said he had settled on the CS following the removal of Gachagua by Parliament. “Pursuant…
The National Assembly is expected to hold a special sitting on Friday, a day after the Senate concludes the ongoing impeachment against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The House, in a notice issued on Tuesday, said that it had approved a motion to hold a special session to among other things, discuss priority business and other mediated Bills. According to the notice issued by the House, MPs will hold two special sessions in the morning and afternoon. The decision to hold the session, which is set to commence soon after the conclusion of the ongoing impeachment of DP Gachagua, was approved…