Ahead of the November 25 deadline for commenting on the SGR phase II’s environmental assessment, WildlifeDirect CEO Dr Paula Kahumbu calls for balance between conservation and infrastructure

While the standard gauge railway will be a boon for the economy, Nema director general Geoffrey Wahungu should demand that it skirts around the Nairobi National Park for the sake of conserving the environment.

Kenya Railways applied for an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) licence to construct the second phase of the SGR from Nairobi to Naivasha across the park.

After hundreds of conversations with Kenyans from diverse sectors, including industry, communities, wildlife experts, and government officials, I believe Wahungu should reject this application.

On October 27, concerned citizens and stakeholders from Kenya Railways, Kenya Wildlife Service, and several conservation and research organizations met for a dialogue on “How best can we achieve a balance between conservation and infrastructure development in SGR Phase II?”

The 176 participants all agreed that Kenya needs the SGR, as it will bring great rewards in terms of economic growth and poverty alleviation. However, there was overwhelming consensus that the SGR should not go through the park.

President Uhuru Kenyatta commissioning the second phase of the Standard Gauge Railways at Em-bulbul in Kajiado county on October 19, 2016. /PSCU

PROTECTED AREA

For one, the park is a protected area. As such, the railway should give way to the park, not the other way round. There is growing global recognition of the importance of wilderness, parks and open spaces for human health and well-being, especially in cities. Our forefathers knew this when they gazetted the parks, reserves and forests of Kenya.

As such our protected wildernesses should be considered a sacred cultural heritage, as well as globally important sanctuaries for wildlife and biological diversity. It is Wahungu’s duty, on behalf of all Kenyans, to defend them.

Secondly, the project will set a precedent that will affect all our parks and reserves, forests and other areas of national heritage. It will also set a precedent for the rest of Africa.

Thirdly, Kenya has lobbied internationally for global support for conservation of environment, and for decisive action to eradicate the illegal wildlife trade and halt climate change. This proposal flies in the face of our commitments and intentions. It will significantly damage Kenya’s international reputation as a world leader in conservation, and the image and name of our President as Africa’s number one champion for wildlife.

Fourthly, alternative routes for the SGR exist, for example, via Konza or Athi River. The courageous decision to adopt an alternative route will establish Kenya’s leadership of efforts to achieve sustainable development for Africa and its people, while protecting wildlife and the environment.

This may cost more money, but my guess is that international donors will be queuing up to support such a ground-breaking initiative, given that it allows them to deliver on the Sustainability Goals that they and Kenya signed up to earlier this year. Money can be obtained. Our wildlife is priceless and, once lost, irreplaceable.

Tourist holding a banner during the protest about the SGR project on 17th October 2016/ Photo Ivy Njeri

RISK OF DESTRUCTION

I have subsequently reviewed the ESIA, which does not address the precedent that it will set. While I appreciate the importance of the SGR, it is my opinion that regardless of any proposed mitigation measures to reduce impact on wildlife, the SGR must not cross Nairobi Park.

We simply cannot take this risk that it will destroy the park. The section of SGR in Tsavo National Park has impacted wildlife significantly. Just this week, another elephant was killed on Mombasa Highway at Mtito Andei due to the effect of the SGR interfering with elephant movements between Tsavo West and Tsavo East. People on the ground have also witnessed a dramatic surge in deadly human-elephant conflict as a result of the SGR.

Though most government officials are surprisingly silent about their concerns around the SGR, thousands of Kenyans have reacted. Some have conducted demonstrations on the streets, others have chained themselves to the park gates, and still others have delivered petitions to the president.

The outcry by Kenyans has been reported widely by the international press and has alarmed lovers of nature and wildlife around the world. These citizen actions and concerns among friends of Kenya overseas must not be ignored.

Elephant killed by speeding truck along Mombasa Road

NATIONAL IDENTITY AT STAKE

Kenya is at a crossroads. We find ourselves in a crisis. Our national identity is associated with thriving wildlife, yet conservation is currently being viewed as a threat to development, poverty alleviation and threatening our aspiration to become a middle-income country.

Do we want to be known as the country with the only park in the capital city, or the only country in the world constructing mega railways across our parks?

The truth is Kenya can have secure parks and ecologically sensitive railways and infrastructure. We can become known in the world as the country in the world that leads by having both thriving wildlife and development, if we simply improve our planning processes, avoid rushed implementation, ensure transparency and stakeholder involvement, and balance attention to development with environmental protection.

Destroying the oldest park in Eastern Africa, a park our founding President Jomo Kenyatta promised to protect at all costs, the park where 105 tons of ivory was famously burned earlier this year, will be a great embarrassment and cost to all Kenyans, especially our Head of State who currently stands as Africa’s main champion for wildlife conservation.

It’s not just that Kenya Railways’ plans contradict our understanding of “protected area”, but it has already led to several court cases. This results in costly delays, damages Kenya’s reputation and that of the Head of State in international arenas, and destroys trust among financiers of the project.

The Transport ministry must take responsibility for working within Kenya’s environmental frameworks and deliver the full ESIA for the entire length of the SGR from Nairobi to Malaba, and not do things in the present piecemeal way, which has really led to the crisis in Nairobi. We would hate to see another crisis in the Mara, and then the Mau and yet other areas along the pathway of this great railway.

Nairobi Park turns 70 on December 16. Show your support for this unique park by writing to Nema and commenting on the proposed railway. The deadline for submission of comments on the ESIA is the November 25. After that, Nema will consider public feedback and respond to the Railways proposal.

I urge all Kenyans and people around the world who care about Nairobi Park to respond to Nema and express their views, by writing to the Nema director general Geoffrey Wahungu today.

President Uhuru Kenyatta operates a machinery to officially launch construction works of the Phase 2A of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project at Em-bulbul, Kajiado County.Photo PSCU

Dr Paula Kahumbu is the CEO of WildlifeDirect and chair of the National Museums of Kenya. She has a PhD in Ecology and spearheaded the Hands Off Our Elephants campaign, which catalysed action in Kenya to save elephants.

The row in Ford Kenya deepened yesterday as 40 branches snubbed party leader Moses Wetang’ula and resolved to boycott his National Governing Council meeting at the Bomas of Kenya.

Instead, officials from the 40 counties will attend a parallel NGC in Thika organised by a rebel wing that wants Wetang’ula and all national officials removed for mismanaging the party. Both meetings are on Saturday.

Rebels accuse Wetang’ula of failing to call a major party meeting fore three years and for nominating himself as Cord flagbearer.

National organising secretary Peter Munyae yesterday said 300 delegates out of 350 have confirmed they will be in Thika. “We have finalised plans for the Thika meeting and it will proceed as planned so members can rescue Ford Kenya from possible collapse under Wetang’ula,” he said.

Wetang’ula’ s team was, however, busy organising for the Bomas meet yesterday. Deputy party leader Boni Khalwale said it will go on as planned. Kwanza MP Ferdinand Wanyonyi said the rebel group, led by Trans Nzoia Senate aspirant Ken Wafula (pictured), is being used by rivals to cripple the party.

Munyae yesterday said they have invited Wetang’ula and all top officials to the Thika meeting, adding the Bomas meet will flop.

The propaganda in the Auditor's General audit report is being directed to Cord counties, leader Raila Odinga has said.

Raila cited the Star newspaper's exclusive coverage of the report released on Monday, saying Jubilee counties were yet to be covered.

"It is not only in Cord counties unfortunately... the propaganda being spread right now is directed as cord...even Nakuru is supposed to be led by ODM... even Garissa.. it's not objective," he said.

"...and they are quiet when they know others like Kiambu, which is a Jubilee county, lost money. It is something that is spread across the board."

But the opposition chief said in Kilifi county on Wednesday that they did not want to use the report to fight back as "the Auditor General is entitled to raise audit queries" in the court of his work.

"The queries need to be answered. But what we want is not to be told about the queries... We want to talk about a report that will confirm money was lost in one or another way," he said.

Cord leader Raila Odinga (Center) accompanied by with Mombasa governor Hassan Joho,Kilifi counterpart Amason Kingi and Kwake Senator Boy Juma Boy during a press conference at Tamarind Hotel in Mombasa on Wednesday. Photo /John Chesoli

The county reports have pointed out instances under which money could have been misused and raised concerns about the particular cases.

Raila echoed Council of Governors chairman Peter Munya's sentiment that IFMIS has loopholes that must be sealed for the war on corruption to be won.

He blamed the system for the loss of Sh51 million Kilifi county funds but said Governor Amason Kingi was not at fault as he quickly initiated investigations to prevent the loss of a higher amount.

"Kingi and his government have not sought to spread blame and pass the buck," he said.

He added that the county chief did better than President Uhuru Kenyatta "who defends corrupt officials instead of calling for investigations".

The President has sacked key officers including ministers linked to corruption deals and has said he has done everything in his power to end the vice.

The Cord boss further bashed Jubilee leaders who scolded him for remaining silent on the Kilifi scam saying he was out of the country and could not speak without facts.

Raila said he held an overnight meeting with Kilifi officials, including the Governor, and obtained "satisfactory" answers.

"I'm here on a fact-finding mission about corruption to get the facts right from ODM counties. I have met Kilifi county officials," he said.

It emerged last week that Sh51 million, not Sh45 million was allegedly stolen from Kilifi. It is suspected that cartels from IFMIS, the national online payment system, and five banks colluded to steal money.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye has defended the purchase of hundreds of erectile dysfunction pills when she visited Kenya.

Geun-hye visited Nairobi in May to boost trade and strengthen ties with Kenya.

Her office is said to have purchased about 360 Viagra pills and the generic version of the drug ahead of her visit to Africa.

But according to Daily Mail, Geun-hye's office said the pills were bought to potentially treat altitude sickness for presidential aides and employees on her May trips to Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya.

The countries are said to be 1 to 2 kilometers (0.6 to 1.2 miles) above sea level.

Spokesman of the presidential Blue House Jung Youn-kuk said none of the pills were used during the trips.

Her party members have accused her of letting a secretive confidante manipulate government affairs and amass an illicit fortune.

Prosecutors said on Sunday they believe Park was collusively involved in the criminal activities of her longtime friend, Choi Soon-sil, and two presidential aides.

These aides are believed to have allegedly bullied companies into giving tens of millions of dollars to foundations and businesses Choi controlled adding "also enabled Choi to interfere with state affairs."

During her visit in Kenya, Geun-hye signed seven trade agreements towards improvement of health, education, energy, ICT and industrialization sectors.

One of the deals will see the Korea Export-Import Bank pump an initial Sh5 billion to support the agricultural sector towards food security.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and President Park Geun-hye also chaired a bilateral meeting, witnessed the signing of the bilateral pacts at State House, Nairobi.

More on this:Kenya signs seven trade pacts with South Korea

Business came to a halt in the CBD as a man who looked like Jesus was spotted along Moi Avenue on Wednesday evening.

Dressed in a long rob, the long-haired, thick-bearded 'Jesus' drew people’s attention as he made his way barefoot through the street.

His appearance resembled that of the Western image of Jesus Christ that has been etched in popular culture.

Kenyans on Twitter used the hashtag #JesusInNairobi to share their excitement, with many posting selfies they took with the unidentified man.

Adam Lamar said "watuuu waande kutubu sasa #JesusInNairobi"

'Jesus' was spotted walking around in Nairobi CBD barefoot on Wednesday November 23, 2016. /COURTESY

@Ma3Route posted a tweet saying: "Again Jesus spotted at Moi Avenue #JesusInNairobi via @BhingyWilliez"

T-coin ‏ asked: "inaeza kua ukweli (could it be true?) #JesusInNairobi at Moi Avenue"

Chito Ndhlovu said: "HAHAHA #JesusInNairobi The Lord has returned....The Rapture has happened y'all didn't listen to your pastors."

This comes after another “Jesus” was spotted in Zambia in March 2015. He turned out to be an Italian tourist named Antonio Boretti.

The Jubilee administration has tasked county commissioners and other national administration officers to collect views on its three years in office, to help plan its reelection in 2017.

Although the project is officially described as a government performance and coordination review, those in the know say it is part of Jubilee's campaign strategy.

The civil servants — county commissioners, their deputies, assistant county commissioners, chiefs and assistant chiefs — are gathering data to help the government measure perception of its successes and identify problems it can quickly address countrywide.

"We are not leaving anything to chance. There are reports of growing apathy among Jubilee supporters and we must uproot this before the elections," a senior Jubilee government official told the Star in confidence. "In addition, we need to know what the people want to hear. A reelection is very different and we cannot run it the same way we did in the last election."

Expert comment: Why public servants must avoid politics

Civil servants started fanning out across the country in early November and will present their findings in early December to President Uhuru Kenyatta and DP William Ruto.

The project is run from the Office of the President in Harambee House and coordinated by county commissioners under the Interior ministry.

Government sources reveal the officers will measure perceptions of Uhuru's popularity, especially in opposition zones.

In particular, the presidency is focussed on what negative perceptions of the administration are held by Jubilee supporters. This will help strategists map their campaign structure to cover both strongholds and opposition areas.

The survey will identify hot spots where the government should deploy more security resources in case of pre- or post-election violence.

The project will review the issuing of national IDs — essential to obtain voter's cards — especially on Jubilee turf. This will help the government measure the number of new ID holders and ensure they register to vote.

The opposition previously has accused the government of using the provincial administration to sway voter registration by concentrating new IDs in Jubilee zones.

The survey will be used to revise the Jubilee Party manifesto.

Administration officers will map focus areas of focus for the recently named presidential campaign teams.

The project is said to have started in opposition strongholds to measure Jubilee's inroads.

Uhuru and Ruto are on a mission to gain support, or at least reduce hostility, in opposition strongholds, especially South Nyanza, Western and the Coast.

The national government administration office is responsible for coordinating government functions in the devolved system.

It was established by Section 15 of the National Government Coordination Act of 2013.

Officers are to oversee implementation of national development projects, counter insecurity and help during disasters.

They also manage assets, inventory, planning, peace-building initiatives, coordination and organising government functions and perform other duties assigned by the Interior ministry.

Majority Leader Aden Duale, nominated MP Johnson Sakaja and Kasarani MP John Njoroge yesterday defended the use of civil servants paid by the taxpayer to gauge government performance.

"They represent the face of the national government. They do monitoring and evaluation of national government projects. They are in charge of security and so they work for the national government," Duale said.

He added, "It is their business to propagate policies and achievements of the national government and that national government happens to be the Jubilee government."

According to the two Jubilee leaders, the officers work for the government of the day and should be part and parcel of its determination to deliver services.

"County commissioners and others in that structure must measure the performance of government. I would be very worried if they are not doing so. A government implements a party's manifesto. Only the party leaves once a new one takes over, but the structures remain," Sakaja said.

He said Jubilee is focussed on delivering to all Kenyans and must be able to measure effectiveness.

Njoroge said, "It is true we are reaching out to the last man at the grassroots, not through the provincial administration. We have our own structures including lobby groups we will unveil by December."

"Nobody should be scared of our machinery. Jubilee is past those old tactics. The national administration is not the IEBC. That must be very clear because elections will be overseen by an independent body," he said.

This is not the first time such a project has been carried out.

Ahead of the 2007 elections, the Internal Security ministry launched a similar survey, which lead to panic after it showed President Mwai Kibaki was trailing the opposition.

Kibaki went on to win, controversially, and protests by the opposition led to the deaths of 1,650 people and displacement of 600,000 others.

The presidency wants to win decisively in the first round.

Revelations of project come only days after the Star reported State House has embarked on research to measure the popularity of the six summits it has hosted to showcase Jubilee projects.

Last Sunday the Star obtained a summary report on the first summits by media analytics company Reelforge contracted by the Presidency.

State House Spokesman Manoah Esipisu said the summits allow the President’s communications team to focus the country on sectors where the state has made specific investments.

The PR analysis evaluates 'Transforming Kenya' publicity in mainstream media between January and September.

It says, "A total of 426 Transforming Kenya-related media reports were captured in 47 radio stations, 11 TV channels and 10 publications during the reviewed period. The Health Summit n September at State House was the most covered Transforming Kenya-related topic during this period,” the report says.

Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi recently confessed that he had lost more than Sh11 million to con groups who dupe people around Eldoret town that they can multiply money. The conmen leave victims with fake currency, as they flee with the genuine cash given to them.

Eldoret is awash with stories of the illegal business, popularly known as ‘Wash Wash’, which has been thriving in the town in the recent past. Sudi is just but one of the many victims, especially athletes, politicians and businessmen, who have fallen victims to illicit trade.

The MP spoke of his tribulations in the wake of the riches-to-rags story of athlete Daniel Komen, who claims to have been conned of shillings and property by a lawyer friend. Komen is also said to have lost cash through the Wash Wash groups in Eldoret.

“I fell victim to the con groups and was left with the fake currency, which I just had to dispose of,” Sudi said.

Just recently, Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago issued a public warning about the Wash Wash groups, whom he said were operating from a house in Elgon View area of Eldoret.

Many of the groups operate in residential areas, where they rent private houses and have fake currency printing machines.

“We know where they operate and we will soon go for them,” Mandago said. His warning came amid an outcry from tens of people who had been conned of their hard-earned money.

TRIPLE TRAGEDY

The most shocking case was when a prominent bishop in the region fell victim two years ago and delivered Sh17 million to a group of conmen, including four foreigners, who promised to triple the cash.

The clergyman was left with two 90kg bags full of fake currency. The church faced a crisis that almost led to the auction of its assets. Police could not arrest those involved as they immediately fled out of the country.

Photo caption: A businessman in Eldoret checks against the sun to identify the water mark on a Sh 1,000 so as to know if its genuine

“It’s a deep-rooted illegal business that we have to deal with because many victims are suffering in silence,” Mandago said.

A former powerful minister from Trans Nzoia early this year lost Sh4.8 million to the Wash Wash groups, while another famous athlete in Uasin Gishu known for his high life including driving in sleek cars around Eldoret, also walked into a makeshift casino with Sh4 million in cash and lost all of it.

His wife called the Star newspaper in Eldoret to expose the con game but the athlete prevailed on her not to expose the matter.

“As a family, we have lost more than Sh10 million to the Wash Wash groups, shylocks (loan sharks) and other conmen, but we cannot talk about it because my husband, who is a prominent athlete, doesn’t want to be exposed,” said the wife, who identified herself at Josephine.

One MCA in Eldoret wept in public after getting a Sh3 million loan from the county assembly and gave it to the Wash Wash groups to multiply it. The unwise investment went up in smoke and the MCA was only left with multiplied problems and continues to repay the loan.

“We are aware of this illegal business and already the county security team is taking measures to bring those involved to book. People must do legal business and those who want to rely on conning will be dealt with ruthlessly,” Uasin Gishu county commissioner Abdi Hassan said.

Hassan said foreigners involved in such illegal business will also be prosecuted and deported. Businessmen from Uganda and Tanzania are also said to have lost money to the gangs in Eldoret.

HOW THEY OPERATE

The Wash Wash groups in Eldoret are known to involve young people who collude with foreigners, mainly from Cameroon and Congo. Police have been making efforts to crack down on the illicit trade without success, amid claims that some of the security officers are involved in the deals.

Some of the houses used as hideouts where the Wash Wash business is said to take place are located in areas like Elgon View, West Indies and Mwanzo among other residential areas.

Mostly printed are fake Sh1,000 notes. Shop owners have frequently complained of fake notes circulating.

So lucrative has been the Wash Wash and shylock business around Eldoret that some of those involved are now aspiring political aspirants for elective seats. One of them who is not known to engage in any other business recently told journalists he had set aside Sh20 million for publicity alone during the campaigns.

Eldoret is known to have a lot of money in circulation, especially during wheat and maize harvesting season, and the Wash Wash gangs, along with commercial sex workers and property dealers, flock to the region to make a killing.

Athletes are the most affected. Stories are told of how the gangs usually monitor races to know Kenyans who win and then target them on return. Many of the athletes are less educated and easily fall pray to conmen, including those who cheat them with investments plans that end up being con games.

Athletics Kenya (AK) President Jackson Tuwei says they are aware of cases of athletes who have lost their hard-earned cash to conmen.

“We usually have many training forums for athletes on investments and we urge that they should not ignore such forums, where they will be advised accordingly, instead of relying on people with other interests,” he said.

Former Boston Marathon champion Moses Tanui, who has investments in Eldoret, says the upcoming athletes who land into money early in life require guidance to avoid falling into financial problems.

“It’s not just Wash Wash or shylocks. Many just invest in wasteful ventures. AK must really step in to help the athletes use their earnings well,” he said.

GAMBLING AND HIRING RACKETS

Hassan said many people have the urge to get quick money and do not think twice when approached by the Wash Wash gangs. “Shortcuts do not pay. People, especially the youth, must learn to work hard to earn a living by getting genuine money,” Hassan said.

The county commissioner said apart from Wash Wash gangs, the area has also been flooded by operators of gambling machines, who are also fleecing members of the public.

“We have seized some of the illegal machines and we will intensify the crackdown to net all those operating illegal businesses, be it Wash Wash, shylock or gambling,” he said.

The backstreet businesses appear to be thriving in this North Rift town that is a hub to farming and other investments. Bishop Sybery Nyabero of the Baptist Churches sympathises with victims but says security agencies should crack down on the illegal operations.

“People work hard to earn genuine money end up losing it in stupid ways, while those who do not sweat benefit. This Wash Wash business is a threat to our economy when we have too much fake cash in circulation,” Nyabero said.

Police are also investigating the link between the con groups and employment rackets, where those involved collect money from unsuspecting people promising the jobs at keys state parastatals and private firms.

NAKED FURY

A 24-hour bar along Uganda Road in Eldoret is known to be frequented by wealthy farmers, many of whom end up losing millions of shillings every year to sex workers.

Last December, one farmer had just been paid Sh350,000 by the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) for maize deliveries. He withdrew the money from the bank, stashed it in his pockets and headed to the popular bar, where he got hooked up by one of the commercial sex workers.

They later went into a room, where the man was allegedly drugged. He woke up the following day to find himself alone without the cash and even his clothes.

The farmer ran into the streets naked and wailed as he searched for the sex worker, who had vanished.

Some on the streets thought the farmer had gone mad, but his predicament is no different from similar tales in the Wash Wash madness that has plagued Eldoret, leaving a trail of people with harrowing tales of riches to rags.

Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi

MP Sudi, who rose from a matatu operator to an MP and successful businessman, is lucky to have made it back in life, as many others suffer and die in silence as victims of the con tricks.

Eldoret town, popularly known as the City of Champions, is slowly being turned into the City of Wash Wash Business.

Despite all the health warnings against energy drinks, it seems appreciation for Red Bull has not wavered.

Whether it's a boost for work, an energy-kick while driving, or a caffeine high mixed with spirits, millions of people guzzle the canned beverage on a daily basis.

But do we actually know what it is doing to our bodies? Probably not.

Here, in a step-by-step guide, we describe what happens 10 minutes, two hours, and even 12 days after you finish a can.

The data, courtesy of gift site Personalise, offers an alarming insight into the science of the drink.

And it comes just weeks after a study claimed energy drinks have the same effect as cocaine on a teenager's brain.

Just as with the Class A drug, the cocktail can have a devastating affect on the chemical balance of the brain that lasts long into adulthood.

This is a taste of the effect it has on the body in the first 12 days of finishing a can:

First 10 minutes after finishing a can

The caffeine begins to permeate your bloodstream.

In turn, your heart rate and blood pressure start to pick up pace.

15-45 minutes later

If you drink it fast, you'll start feeling more alert and concentrated around 15 minutes later. Slow drinkers may not feel the effects for about 40 minutes.

30-50 minutes later

Caffeine absorption is complete.

Your pupils dilate, your blood pressure rises, as a response your liver dumps more sugar into your bloodstream.

The adenosine receptors in your brain are now blocked preventing drowsiness.

Your blood sugar spikes, causing an insulin burst. Your liver responds to this by turning any sugar it can get its hands on into fat - of which there is plenty.

One hour later

Your body starts to experience a sugar crash, as well as the effects of the caffeine dying down, you'll start to feel tired and energy levels will start to feel low.

You've also now urinated out all the water that was in the Red Bull.

First, however, that water infused with valuable nutrients that your body could have used to hydrate your system or strengthen your bone, which were also washed out.

5-6 hours later

It takes this long for the amount of caffeine to halve in your body.

For women who take the Pill, it will take 10 hours.

12 hours later

The time that it takes most people to fully remove caffeine from their bloodstream.

The speed at which this happens depends on many factors from age to activity.

12-24 hours later

Withdrawal symptoms kick in.

About a day after you had your caffeine hit, you're in the mood for another.

If you have become used to a daily - or more regular - fix, you will start to feel lethargic, distressed, experience headaches and constipation.

7-12 days later

Studies have shown this to be the time frame for your body to become tolerant to your regular caffeine dosage.

That means you'll get used to it and won't feel the effects as much.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has yet again criticised opposition leaders for "misleading wananchi with retrogressive politics" ahead of the August 2017 election.

Uhuru said Kenya will never forge ahead while leaders spread hatred, lies and propaganda about his Jubilee administration.

"I was shocked to see in the papers today, someone saying Kinyua went (home) because we gave Bungoma county Sh100 million meant for the health sector," he said.

"I am asking you, my friends, is the money supposed to come to Bungoma hospitals for residents to acquire proper healthcare, or is it supposed to go back to Nairobi?"

The Business Daily reported that State House Chief of Staff Joseph Kinyua approved the payment of Sh400 million to Health ministry suppliers.

Part of this was Sh100 million to Lamu and Bungoma hospitals each, for upgrades.

The newspaper referred to the final interim audit report presented to Parliament. It said the amounts were part of the Sh5.3 billion highlighted in an interim audit report, as an amounts that may have been embezzled.

Uhuru said it was sad that the country has elected leaders who have specialised in "making noise" every time the government does something good for the people.

Watch: [VIDEO] Raila defends Cord governors, says corruption audit biased

He addressed a crowd at Kanduyi area in Bungoma town on Thursday when he made a stop on his way to Kibabii University's first graduation ceremony.

The President said his government has tried to improve lives since it took over power in 2013, and that most Kenyans can attest to that.

Uhuru said they have proof of services offered in the years they have been in power, but that some leaders are consistent nags who might divide the country.

''We are surprised because they cannot tell wananchi what they have they done for residents,'' he said.

"Anyone who cannot see anything good for his country is not supposed to be in the country or alive. It is better someone to say 'we have seen this and want you to improve on this'. That is what is called constructive opposition."

The President asked those in the opposition to put their differences aside and work together for the country's good.

"We as Jubilee want a country where someone should not worry about his tribe, religion or status as long as he is Kenyan. Let us love one another so as to succeed in making our country better,'' he said.

He discouraged politics of hatred saying it can only lead to a dead end, and will not help solve Kenya's many problems.

Uhuru noted that Bungoma county received a charter for Kibabii University which had been denied for four years.

He also said Webuye's Pan Paper factory was being revived, roads constructed and electricity installed in schools and homes.

The President promised to pump Sh300 million for the university to complete the construction of buildings.

He asked institutions of higher learning across the country and the Education ministry to ensure politicians and those who want to vie for various seats do not acquire certificates without merit.

Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka, Senator Moses Wetang'ula were among leaders who attended the ceremony.

Government spokesman Eric Kiraithe said the claim against Kinyua was malicious and aimed at portraying him as corrupt.

Kiraithe told journalists on Thursday that the newspaper's report did not explain his involvement in the wiring of the funds and how he issued the directions.

“Having gone through the final report presented to Parliament I can confidently say the Chief of Staff did not authorise any payment,” he said.

He added that Kinyua, who also serves as Head of Public Service, did not have the mandate to authorise payments on behalf of the Health ministry or any other office.

"We therefore wish to refute your story indicating that he directed or authorised any expenditure of funds at the ministry," he said.

The law says only an accounting officer can authorise payments by a ministry once budget estimates are approved by the National Assembly,

Kiraithe further said that his office will send Media Council of Kenya a complaint letter following the claims.

He noted Kinyua was free to take any legal action to redress his reputation.

Opposition chief Raila Odinga is walking a tightrope.

The former Prime Minister is grappling with accusations that he attacks the Jubilee administration for corruption but defends Cord governors whose spending of public funds is in question.

Selective condemnation and an apparent double standard threaten to crash his long political career.

The Auditor General's explosive 2014-15 report has put on the spot governors across the political divide over massive irregular spending.

Raila has vigorously supported Cord governors while making state corruption the cornerstone and mantra of his presidential campaign.

To maintain his credibility and presidential ambitions he must strike a balance between sustaining his anti-graft momentum and ensuring friendly governors are not destroyed.

Raila has been under intense pressure from Jubilee honchos and church leaders to publicly condemn county graft.

Political analyst Herman Manyora yesterday said Raila must tread carefully so he can continue “lighting up the corruption fire rather than putting it out".

Expert: commet: No Governor has been accused of theft of county funds

Manyora, from the University of Nairobi, told the Star Raila is walking a tightrope between building his army to consolidate his strongholds and taking the anti-graft battle to the next level as a central campaign theme.

“There is an unfortunate reality in Kenyan politics — the same generals Raila wants in the war are also engaged in graft,” he says.

Governors and Raila's defenders say not so.

On Wednesday Raila sought to exonerate Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi from an alleged Sh1 billion heist. The county says Sh51 million, not Sh1.1 billion, was stolen and wired into accounts of five Nairobi-based companies on September 29.

Raila flew to Kilifi where he heaped blame on the Integrated Financial Management System, Ifmis, the Treasury's online payment platform. He said counties from his strongholds are victims of its loopholes. He cited Homa Bay, Siaya, Nairobi and Kakamega.

Painting Kingi as a corruption fighter, Raila said, "Governor Kingi and his government have not sought to spread the blame and pass the buck. They have not sought excuses by saying who else is suspected of corruption where,” Raila told the press in Kilifi.

National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale on Wednesday sensationally claimed the former Prime Minister was on the payroll of counties led by ODM governors who finance his travels.

He said he had proof of payments, including Sh20 million for Raila to attend last year’s swearing-in of Tanzanian President John Magufuli.

“I am ready to appear before the Senate and Raila Odinga must appear before the Senate,” Duale told journalists. “I’ll only speak to you if Odinga does.”

Yesterday, three governors dismissed Jubilee claims Raila benefits from misappropriations.

Okoth Obado (Migori), Jack Ranguma (Kisumu), Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega) called Duale's allegations baseless and corruption claims unfounded.

“Raila having championed devolution, it is in his best interest that devolution succeeds, unlike the Jubilee government that persistently has frustrated devolution,” Ranguma said.

However, yesterday Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale (Ford Kenya) warned Raila there should be no double standard in fighting massive county corruption.

He urged Raila to condemn “rampant graft being perpetuated by the Kakamega county government without mincing words” when he attends a meeting with ODM delegates today.

“I welcome Raila in Kakamega and thank him for breaking his silence on corruption in Kilifi. As I told him, he must break his silence on the collapse of Bukhungu Stadium and the stage-managed stealing of computers in procurement in Kakamega,” Khalwale said.

Raila will be in Kakamega today to meet ODM delegates from Western Kenya.

Kitutu Masaba MP Timothy Bosire yesterday defended the Cord leader against claims of shielding corrupt governors.

The ODM national Treasurer said the presidential duel will focus on Jubilee's failure to tackle runaway graft mutating into a "cancerous catastrophe".

“The election will be won on the battlefront of corruption. I commend the Prime Minister for taking the war on graft to the doorstep of the perpetrators,” he said.

He denied Raila's anti-graft war was strategically selective. "Corruption knows not party alliance. Our vision as Cord is to wipe out corruption. The party leader is not favouring Cord or Jubilee,” he said.

However, Manyora says Raila, just like President Uhuru Kenyatta, has found himself in a precarious situation.

“You find the same people we ask Raila or Uhuru to deal with firmly are the same people they need to win the election,” he said.

Read: Raila Odinga proposes Bill to cut out graft cartels

Counties headed by Jubilee governors have also been named by the Auditor General over the loss of money through unsupported expenditure on goods and services, duplicate payments, undeclared bank accounts and undocumented payment of staff.

Millions of shillings may have been lost in 2014-15 in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s backyard.

In Kirinyaga, the county could not provide information to support the expenditure of Sh1.48 billion. The report identified three projects that were over-funded and the Auditor General concluded that public resources were not utilised efficiently and effectively.

Kabuti dispensary was allocated Sh2.4 million in the budget but Sh4.4 million was paid.

Kianjiru health facility was allocated Sh5.9 million but Sh8.5 million was paid out.

There is also unexplained escalation of the cost of construction of mortuaries at the Sagana and Kianyaga subcounty hospitals from Sh4 million each to Sh17.7 million and Sh17.9 million respectively.

The report also said the county government spent Sh14.9 million on fuel but no fuel registers were maintained to control and account for the money.

In Laikipia, the audit revealed the existence of 24 bank accounts belonging to the county government not connected to IFMIS. The audit also found payments of goods and services worth Sh95.2 million with no supporting documents.

In Kiambu, the audit revealed that duplicated receipt numbers for revenue collection amounted to Sh359.5 million. The highest amount of Sh323.7 million was in Thika subcounty, where 54,549 duplicate receipts were discovered.

The audit also found that the county government spent Sh11.6 million to convert a ward into a neurosurgery facility at the Kiambu Level 4 Hospital. However, auditors found that the facility has not been put to use.

The report, however, gives a qualified opinion that the financial statements present fairly the financial position of the Kiambu county government.

The Nyeri county government paid all its staff Sh30 million leave allowance in December 2014 and February 2015, but there are no supporting documents.

“Further, the possibility of all officers proceeding on annual leave concurrently in one month is untenable. The payment was therefore unjustified and was paid contrary to the code of regulations,” the report said.

This is one of the queries that has made the Auditor General conclude that Nyeri county may have misused 47 per cent of all its funds in 2014-15.

Nyeri county provided the Auditor General with an expenditure of Sh2.3 billion in the 2014-15 financial year that was unsupported with the relevant schedules and ledger.

The Auditor General reports that due to the significance of the unsupported amount, his office is unable to state whether 47 per cent of total county funding was used effectively and in a lawful manner.

Meru county assembly speaker, the Auditor General stated, lives in a Sh115,000-a-month house. However, the county assembly paid Sh470,000 to the speaker who is actually the landlord as per the contractual agreement at Sh80,000 per month for November, December 2014 and January 2015 and Sh115,000 for February and March 2015.

It further indicates that the payments were not validated with any invoices or documents, which the speaker says had been misplaced when the audit was being conducted.

In Embu, county officials pocketed millions of shillings in double payments while on trips to Tanzania.

In one instance, the county government spent Sh14.5 million for a five-day trip to Arusha. Among those who travelled are 34 MCAs, two aides, one clerk, a driver, a security officer and 15 executives.

Veteran politician Jackson Kibor’s second wife Josephine Jepkoech says she loves and respects her husband of 51 years and does not understand why the politician filed a divorce case against her.

“He is here in court and he knows very well that we have always lived happily. He is our husband and I don’t know why he brought me to court,” said Josephine, who was in the dock to testify in defence of their matrimony.

She produced pictures of past family events in which Kibor was photographed with all his three wives and other family members.

Kibor filed the divorce case last month to end the marriage with Josephine, 67. He accused her of desertion, cruelty and interfering with his ownership of 800 acres in Kipkabus, Uasin Gishu county.

He told senior principal magistrate Charles Obulutsa on Friday that he has not spent time with Josephine for more than 30 years.

Kibor asked the court to cancel their marriage certificate, which was issued in 1965.

Read: Politician Jackson Kibor files divorce case to end 51-year marriage

Politician Jackson Kiprotich Kibor (2nd from left) during the hearing of the divirce case Photo/Mathews Ndanyi

Yesterday, Kibor, who was in court, laughed heartily when Josephine showed the court one of the pictures they took after a family function. She said she has never committed adultery, cruelty or desertion against Kibor.

“The court can look at this picture in which we were very happy. We did not have any problem and you can even see he is happy here in court,” said Josephine.

She denied that she had ever chased Kibor from their Kipkabus home.

“It's not possible for me to chase my husband from is home. When he is away, I manage the farm for the family and when we got married he always told us to work hard so that we repay a loan which he had used to purchase the land,” said Josephine.

Her testimony was however cut shot when she produced handwritten notes done in Kalenjin dialect, which she claimed Kibor had written to her severally, giving her instructions on family matters.

“Your honour this letters are being produced for the first time and they have to be interpreted and authenticated to confirm that they were written by my client,” Kibor’s lawyer Waziri Omolo said.

Josephine has indicated that she will produce four witnesses to defend her 51 year’s marriage.

Read: Kibor wife calls co-wife, 3 witnesses to save wedlock

Josephine Chepkoech Kibor testifying in court yesterday Photo/Mathews Ndanyi

“In fact every Christmas we celebrate together at either of his homes and we usually take pictures in very happy moods,” she said.

Among the witnesses she will produce is Kibor’s third wife Naomi Cheptoo, who also argues that they have been happily married to Kibor.

Josephine said although Kibor leaves with his fourth wife Yunita, he frequently visits their home in Kipkabus. His first wife Mary is deceased.

Josephine maintained she had no differences with the 82-year-old politician to warrant the divorce. Kibor had claimed that Josephine had been abandoning their home to visit her two children in Canada without his authority and that animals at home home had died due to lack of care when she travels.

“He is always aware whenever I travel and the farm is taken care of by his children in case I am away,” she said.

Josephine links the dispute between them to a demand by Kibor to be allowed to sell part of their land, which she rejected.

When he testified last month, Kibor caused laughter in court when he said Josephine did not come with the land when they got married and it should not be her concern.

Kibor has accused Josephine of imposing a caveat on the land to bar him from selling it.

Kibor has told the court that he has not spent time with Josephine for 30 years and wants the court to cancel their marriage certificate issued in 1965.

“She is my wife, but I have not slept in the house I built for her for the last 30 years. She does not respect me and she has been abandoning the farm for long, causing the death of my livestock and chickens,” Kibor said.

OPPOSITION supremo Raila Odinga has always been a trailblazer, even when the trail led nowhere fast and resulted in years of personal adversity. A good example was his self-confessed role in August 1 1982 attempted coup by elements of the Kenya Air Force against the then four-year-old Moi administration. Daniel arap Moi would go on to rule for 20 more years and Raila to spend nine years in detention without trial.

RAILA THROWS AWAY THE PROTOCOL FORMBOOK, TRUMP STYLE

In recent weeks as the extent of corruption in the national government has been exposed in the media, Raila has played trailblazer by going straight for President Uhuru Kenyatta’s jugular in a manner never before seen in our politics. When news of the Ministry of Health so-called Mafya House scandal broke and Uhuru’s kid sister Nyokabi Muthama and cousin Kathleen Kihanya were adversely implicated, Raila sought to enlarge the debate by depicting the Kenyatta family and all its extensions as the kings of graft.

Not even Mwai Kibaki ever did that to Moi, not even in 2002, the year he fell Kanu, ending a 39-year run in office.

Raila loves being head and shoulders above everyone else in the room (or the teeming stadium), especially in the matter of the race for the Cord presidential flagbearer, but this time he has breached all known protocol. None of the other major opposition leaders has attacked Uhuru in this bare-knuckle way.

Kalonzo played a gracious and humorous host to the President and Deputy President William Ruto when they took the Majushaa Day official celebrations to Machakos county on October 20.

On Sunday in Oledeem village, Narok North constituency, Kanu national chairman Gideon Moi, who is also the senator from Baringo, went out of his way to defend President Kenyatta against corruption allegations. Saying he had known Uhuru at a personal level since boyhood, Gideon said he was confident the President is has no truck with corruption. “Uhuru is a good President who means well for this country. I have grown up with him and he is my friend. He is not a thief but those around him are the problem,” Gideon said.

Echoing Gideon’s sentiments, former Kenya National Congress leader Peter Kenneth, who said, “The government is not corrupt. It is some few individuals who are corrupt. Those who will be found culpable of corruption should be jailed without the option of a fine”.

Gideon and Kenneth shared the podium with Raila in Oledeem on the occasion of the homecoming ceremony in honour of Anglican Church of Kenya Archbishop Jackson ole Sapit.

Raila remarked that the Jubilee administration had become self=defensive about the corruption explosion on its watch and then declared, “This Jubilee government has eaten too much. It is high time Kenyans took out their identification and voters’ cards to send them home”.

Raila’s animus towards Uhuru has surprised many on all sides of the political divide. Kalonzo, Gideon and Kenneth’s diplomatic postures on runaway corruption on Jubilee’s watch contrasts starkly with Raila’s Donald Trump-like approach. Trump called Hillary Clinton a liar and a crook throughout the campaign trail and organized for women who have claimed her husband forced himself on them to attend a presidential debate in an attempt to distract and humiliate her.

The Jubilee faithful read both malevolence and desperation in Raila’s Trump-like stance. Malevolence because of the long history of adversarial politics between the Odinga and Kenyatta political dynasties and desperation because the opposition appear to be ready to amalgamate into the National Super Alliance along the lines of the National Rainbow Coalition of 2002.

CORNERING THE 9,693,539-VOTE MAN

The Nasa idea seems to be the brainchild of Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi, a deeply conflicted figure who comes from a community that is second only to the Kikuyu in terms of vote bloc size but nowhere near as cohesive and focused when it comes to Election Day turnouts. Mudavadi is convinced that if he were to be made the opposition flagbearer, the Luhya would vote for him to the latest school leaver with ID and voter cards and that this would result in at least a runoff, the most dangerous prospect for Jubilee and Uhuru next to a Round One defeat.

Kalonzo, leader of the Wiper Party that has its epicenter in Ukambani, a million-plus vote bloc, appears to be Raila’s major headache just now. Kalonzo has painted Raila as basically unelectable and has repeatedly said he and the Kamba do not want another five-year electoral cycle out in the cold. Kalonzo is convinced that he can defeat Uhuru in Round One if the opposition unites totally behind him.

If Mudavadi is basically conflicted, then Raila is in agony. Raila garnered a total of 9,693,539 votes at the 2007 and 2013 general elections. In 2007 Kalonzo garnered only 879,903 votes in the Presidential race and Mudavadi only 483,981 at the 2013 race. The winning sides (Kibaki of PNU and Uhuru of Jubilee) received a total of 10,693,539 votes for the 2007 and 2013 polls. Raila’s achievement, a difference between both totals of only 1,064,615, is no mean feat. In contrast, Kalonzo, Mudavadi and Wetang’ula are completely untested and their bloated egos, sense of entitlement and paranoia count for little, if anything. And yet there they are taunting Raila, telling him he is a serial loser and will almost certainly lose the most important general election in Kenyan history thus far – the 12th edition now scheduled for August 8, 2017.

Making Kalonzo, Mudavadi or Wetang’ula the flagbearer means passing the baton of Raila’s phenomenal but losing performance in the last two consecutive Presidential races to persons who have never seen a million votes toted up to their names.

Kalonzo has his own problems, right inside Wiper, as demonstrated by the acrimonious falling out with Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama a fortnight ago. As political paranoia tiffs go, the Kalonzo-Muthama version was spectacular.

Out of the blue, Kalonzo accused Muthama, for years Wiper’s principal financier, of working behind his back to hand the Cord unified Presidential nomination ticket to Raila. Kalonzo specifically accused Muthama of colluding with Siaya Senator James Orengo to hand the flag to Raila.

A couple of days later, Muthama skipped the Wiper Party National Delegates’ Conference and attended all-day meetings at Raila’s Capitol Hill offices, saying the matters under discussion there were weightier than the NDC proceedings. Muthama was conspicuously flanked by Orengo.

While the pundits are agreed that Kalonzo cannot possibly lose in a head-on collision with Muthama, this falling out only serves to diminish the prospects of a united opposition. Having vanquished Raila’s high-profile mole inside Wiper, the former VP cannot meaningfully join hands with the former VP.

Meanwhile, inside Ford Kenya, the party of the third Cord principal, Moses Wetang’ula, two parallel and irreconcilable National Delegates’ conferences, one in Nairobi and one in Thika were planned, thereby dashing his hopes of becoming a contender for Cord flagbearer.

Governor Kenneth Lusaka laughed out loud against Wetang’ula’s prospects, saying, among other things, that the senator simply does not have the numbers even within Cord itself. Describing Wetang’ula’s Ford-K as a minority in Cord, he said the party is more of a regional outfit compared to ODM, which is more established and has networks countrywide.

Lusaka declared, “Let’s face it. Wetang’ula has remote or zero chances of getting the Cord ticket. It is a tall order and it is good to be realistic, rather than cheating ourselves.”

‘WAVING TO THE TREES AND BIRDS IN KAKAMEGA’

Lusaka twisted the knife, saying Raila and Kalonzo have better chances than “a man whose party’s fortunes are dwindling every other day,” thanks to the many defections in Ford-K. “How many governors does he have? Those are the indicators. It is painful but the truth must be told. The other day he was busy waving to the trees and birds in Kakamega, because people failed to attend his function,” he said.

Lusaka concluded being overambitious is delusional and dangerous.

By installing only two of its top leaders in party positions (President Uhuru and Deputy President Ruto) and having no Presidential nominations, Jubilee is travelling light ahead of the titanic contest that will likely go the way of all past events. A general election has an attrition rate of 70 to 80 per cent: The majority of the Governors, MPs, senators and MCAs on both sides are unlikely to be reelected. The only candidates JP will prop up are the President and the DP. The Cord-Nasa ticket is not known less than a year to Election Day.

Whether this makes the JP nominations much cleaner and more democratic than Cord-Nasa’s remains to be seen. It matters a very great deal indeed which side is seen to have free and fair nominations and an eminently electable team. In fact, this could make all the difference.

Will Cord-Nasa clean up its act in time for what promises to be an epic General Election? Or will they trip themselves up by scattering their strengths and falling to the JP juggernaut?

Until recently they were a formidable, united Ukambani team. Now they are estranged.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama's relationship has deteriorated to the point that Kalonzo says the senator is working for his downfall.

Kalonzo is the region's supremo, long financed by Muthama, but his position is under threat.

Political analysts cite two issues behind the falling out. First, Kalonzo believes Muthama does not support him as opposition presidential flagbearer and prefers ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Second, Muthama concludes Kalonzo will not help him replace his political nemesis, Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua.

Simmering tension erupted two weeks ago at a rally in Sultan Hamud when Kalonzo angrily accused Muthama of advancing Raila's interests. Kalonzo told Muthama to his face that he was working with Siaya Senator James Orengo to ensure Raila becomes Cord's flagbearer, at his expense.

“I am fully aware of what you have been doing behind my back with Orengo to predetermine the outcome of Cord presidential primaries and deny me the ticket. You must convince Wiper supporters the ticket you are pushing can deliver victory for Cord,” Kalonzo told the crowd.

He said Ukambani will not forgive Muthama.

“We nominated you to take care of our party interests in the Cord family, yet you are doing the opposite. The party faithful will teach you a painful lesson,” he said.

“Your punishment will be worse than your humiliation when your trousers were torn in Parliament,” he said, referring to an brawl over a controversial security law in 2014.

Muthama had given Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana an ultimatum to dissolve his Muungano Party and join Cord through Wiper before next year’s elections. The senator accused Kibwana and the real target of his remarks, Mutua, of leading “briefcase parties” to confuse Ukambani voters and end Wiper's dominance.

Muthama suggested that even if Kalonzo did not clinch the Cord ticket, Kambas should rally behind whoever is picked.

However, a bitter Kalonzo, who lately witnessed half of Ukambani MPs defect to Jubilee, blamed Muthama for the rebellion.

Former Cabinet minister Mutua Katuku said the two should reconcile.

"This disagreement is unnecessary and untimely. We need unity. Whether it's Kibwana or whoever. We should not disband parties associated with the community. We must remain wise and politically focused," he said.

Katuku added, "We can and should push our agenda together. Kambas cannot fit in Wiper but should support each other from different parties. If Kalonzo wants to be President, we will support him. He needn't worry. "

A long history

Kalonzo and Muthama’s political courtship began during the gruelling Moi succession battle in 2002.

The Kanu high command had plotted to sacrifice Kalonzo, former Secretary general JJ Kamotho, former Vice President George Saitoti and former assistant minister Mathew Adams Karauri.

At that time, Kanu was orchestrating a political retrenchment and considered Kalonzo one of the hawks who were excess baggage and whom Raila insisted must leave Kanu. Raila had folded his NDP into Kanu and became secretary general of the united party.

Four positions of vice chairman had been created in Kanu, each representing a populous region. Raila had plotted Kalonzo would not to get the Eastern region position and pushed for Joseph Nyagah.

But Kalonzo’s political mentor, the late Mulu Mutisya, prevailed upon Moi not to ditch Kalonzo. Muthama bankrolled a meeting at an Athi River Hotel where Moi was asked to ensure Kalonzo was a vice chairman.

Later, when Raila, Kalonzo and Saitoti led a revolt against Moi for anointing Uhuru Kenyatta as his successor, Muthama funded and mobilised the Rainbow coalition’s first rally at Mulu Mutisya Gardens in Machakos. Later he hosted members at his Mua home for lunch.

Later, Muthama ditched Kalonzo and defected from Rainbow to Kanu and joined Kilonzo and Gideon Ndambuki to become Uhuru's Ukambani point men.

However, the team of Kibaki, Raila, Charity Ngilu, Kalonzo, Moody Awori and the late Wamalwa Kijana beat Uhuru's team of Musalia Mudavadi and William Ruto.

Come 2007, Kalonzo ran for President and at the height of the post-election violence, occasioned by ODMs' rejection of the results, joined Kibaki as vice president.

The deal was brokered by Muthama, to ODM's chagrin. For this Muthama was awarded the powerful position of chief whip in Kibaki's PNU.

The fallout

During the coalition government, Muthama was the darling of PNU and Central Kenya politicians. He wielded so much power that he was consulted on key government appointments.

The Kamba community, like other big communities, was angling to succeed Kibaki. Kalonzo assumed that since he had backed Kibaki, the President would reciprocate in the spirit of an MoU, which was only known to Muthama, the late minister John Michuki, former minister Martha Karua, and former Kibwezi MP Prof Philip Kaloki.

But as Kibaki's second term was ending, Muthama was gravitating towards Raila.

He waited until Kalonzo travelled abroad, then invited Raila for lunch at his Tala home, where he endorsed him. On returning, a furious Kalonzo denied ever sending Muthama to negotiate with Raila for any position.

According to Kaloki, Uhuru offered Kalonzo the position of Majority Leader or House Speaker, before Muthama dragged him to the Raila camp where another MoU was crafted. This one was an agreement that Raila would rule for one term and then back Wiper. It failed to consider that Raila could lose.

Next year, Kalonzo faces the choice becoming Raila’s running mate or challenging him for the opposition ticket. Or he could join Jubilee or its terms so a position can be created for him.

Ukambani leaders have mixed views on the current Kalonzo-Muthama falling out.

Mwingi North MP Mati Munuve says the community should not pin its hopes on them.

"These people are unapologetic Kanu remnants. Their political trajectory is well known. They moved from Kanu together, hopped into LDP, then Kanu again, ODM and ODM-Kenya before settling into their private members' club, the Wiper Democratic Movement," Munuve said.

The word 'Democratic' must be edited out because no internal elections have ever been undertaken," he said.

Munuve, who now supports Jubilee, says the best Wiper can do is fold up.

"Only foolish people are engaging in small feuds in insignificant parties. Be sure Kambas will speak in one voice next year. We are bigger than Kalonzo, just as the Kalenjin community was bigger than President Moi. This you can take to a solid political bank."

Kitui Central MP, Makali Mulu of Wiper, says the two will reconcile.

"Our leader Kalonzo and Senator Muthama mean very well for the community. They are saying the same things in different languages. There in no party crisis. What divides them is razor-thin. They will overcome it and unite us. Meantime, this party must tolerate other views. If need be, we shall sign MoUs with smaller parties. But the leadership structure must be well defined," he said.

Kitui rural MP Charles Nyamai said the community will decide its future in time.

"We are studying this situation with an open mind. We shall interpret it with our people's interests in mind. Wiper does not exist in a vacuum. We shall in good time take stock of what people want and decide as a party. We recognise the need to dialogue and agree on the way forward," Nyamai said.

The storm will pass, says Francis Nyenze, Assembly minority leader and key Kalonzo ally.

"Wiper is composed of mature, able and focused leaders. We will listen, reason together and correct mistakes. No leader should cast a stone against another. As the Holy writ prescribes, no man is perfect. And no one should harbor ill will against his brother," Nyenze said.

Chaos erupted at Shibale shopping centre in Mumias yesterday when Cord leader Raila Odinga visited to console victims of police brutality.

Raila was forced to take off after youth turned violent, accusing him of neglecting the victims during the time they were beaten and terrorised by police.

He was accompanied by Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya. Raila was on his way from Bungoma to Kakamega. Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali and former ODM youth leader Rashid Mohammed had organised the meeting.

Washiali was speaking, when MCAs Rocky Omwendo (Mumias North ward) and Libinus Oduor (Mayoni ward) arrived and informed him Raila and Oparanya would attend the event.

The two ODM leaders arrived shortly and went to the podium. Omwendo interrupted Washiali, demanding that Oparanya be allowed to welcome Raila to address the crowd.

Photo caption: Mumias North MCA Rocky Omwendo faces the wrath of Washiali supporters at the chaos that erupted at Shibale shopping center in Mumias.

All hell broke lose when Omwendo attempted to snatch the microphone from Washiali. Washiali’s supporters attacked Omwendo. They beat him and threw stones at him. Omwendo and Oduor fled for safety in their cars parked 100 meters away. Raila and Oparanya appeared unfazed at the podium. Rashid accused Oparanya of neglecting the people of Mumias, despite the large number of votes he garnered from the Wanga community.

“Why should it take you two days to move from Kakamega to Mumias, less than 30km, when your people were being oppressed by security agents?” Rashid asked Oparanya.

Oparanya tried to address the crowd but he was jeered by the youths who said he didn’g care about them. Washiali asked why the ODM leadership was fighting for the fall of Mumias Sugar Company so people of Mumias can remain in abject poverty. “Why hasn’t Raila come here with Kidero to say sorry to the people of Mumias? Why did Oparanya give Sh200 million to a businessman in the name of granting Mumias Sugar Company?” asked Washiali. He accused Oparanya of double-speak against the people of Mumias and taking them for granted.

“But 2017 is not far. We shall tell these people what your intentions are for them,” he said. Washiali and Rashid are Jubilee kingpins in Kakamega county. Raila called Rashid aside where they talked briefly before he went to his vehicle. It was damaged after youths threw stones at the windscreen. Then Raila was driven off for an ODM function in Kakamega.

Fidel Castro, the Cuban revolutionary leader who built a communist state on the doorstep of the United States and for five decades defied U.S. efforts to topple him, died on Friday, state-run Cuban Television said. He was 90.

Castro, in poor health since an intestinal ailment nearly killed him in 2006.

The bearded Fidel Castro took power in a 1959 revolution and ruled Cuba for 49 years with a mix of charisma and iron will, creating a one-party state and becoming a central figure in the Cold War.

He was demonized by the United States and its allies but admired by many leftists around the world, especially socialist revolutionaries in Latin America and Africa.

Transforming Cuba from a playground for rich Americans into a symbol of resistance to Washington, Castro outlasted nine U.S. presidents in power.

He fended off a CIA-backed invasion at the Bay of Pigs in 1961 as well as countless assassination attempts.

His alliance with Moscow helped trigger the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, a 13-day showdown with the United States that brought the world the closest it has been to nuclear war.

Wearing green military fatigues and chomping on cigars for many of his years in power, Castro was famous for long, fist-pounding speeches filled with blistering rhetoric, often aimed at the United States.

At home, he swept away capitalism and won support for bringing schools and hospitals to the poor. But he also created legions of enemies and critics, concentrated among Cuban exiles in Miami who fled his rule and saw him as a ruthless tyrant.

In the end it was not the efforts of Washington and Cuban exiles nor the collapse of Soviet communism that ended his rule. Instead, illness forced him to cede power to his younger brother Raul Castro, provisionally in 2006 and definitively in 2008.

Although Raul Castro always glorified his older brother, he has changed Cuba since taking over by introducing market-style economic reforms and agreeing with the United States in December to re-establish diplomatic ties and end decades of hostility.

Six weeks later, Fidel Castro offered only lukewarm support for the deal, raising questions about whether he approved of ending hostilities with his longtime enemy.

In his final years, Fidel Castro no longer held leadership posts. He wrote newspaper commentaries on world affairs and occasionally met with foreign leaders but he lived in semi-seclusion.

His death - which would once have thrown a question mark over Cuba's future - seems unlikely to trigger a crisis as Raul Castro, 85, is firmly ensconced in power.

Kenyans are anxiously waiting for other Biblical characters to appear in Nairobi after 'Jesus' and 'Moses' have been spotted in the city.

On Wednesday evening, a man resembling Jesus was seen on Moi Avenue.

Business came to a halt as many stopped to take selfies with the unidentified long-haired, thick-bearded man.

Read: Kenyans abuzz as 'Jesus' spotted walking barefoot on Moi Avenue

Two days later, a picture of 'Moses' on Tom Mboya street started doing rounds on social media.

The man with long, white and unkempt hair is believed to resemble the Biblical Moses who led the Israelites out of Egypt.

"Jana'Jesus' was in town taking selfies with everyone. Leo pia Moses ametokelezea pale Archives armed with the 10 commandements," read a tweet by Wyect Kingsley.

"Ebu niulize Esther anakuja lini (May I ask, when is Esther coming?). My Bible tells me she was 'a sight to behold'," he continues.

Sally Kimaru said: "Samson anakuja lini abomoe nyumba zenye NCA zimeweka X?" (When is Samson coming to demolish buildings condemened by NCA?)

"Sasa nikumwongoja Abraham," Kento Kelechi said.

But others noted something sinister in the occurences.

"After Jesus was spotted in town Leo ni Moses amekuwa hapo Tom Mboya. Maybe kuna msee anadraw attention yetu aki grab lands mahali (someone might be diverting our attention to steal land from us)," Dalmas Osoro said.

"Kuna walami wamekuja kuwapima akili (these white people are coming here to test us), huh ... ati Jesus in Nairobi, mara Moses in Nairobi," WeckeSir said.

Kamau said "One thing is clear: Holywood has done a great job of instilling images into our brains. We see things the Holywood way."

DEPUTY President William Ruto yesterday said the Jubilee Government would not protect anyone linked to corruption.

Ruto said the government would make sure all those responsible for misuse of public resources are made to account for their misdeeds.

Speaking when he presided over a fundraiser at Kaaga Methodist Church in Meru Town, Ruto said the Jubilee administration will ensure that all those who have misappropriated funds are held accountable.

Ruto urged the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Directorate of Criminal Investigations and Directorate of Public Prosecutions to crack the whip on all those engaging in corruption.

“We want to ask the agencies dealing with issues of corruption to move with speed and prosecute those behind the theft of public resources, irrespective of their status or political affiliations,” said Ruto.

He added that public funds must be managed prudently for the work that they are allocated to do and that the administration will not protect anyone who is working in the government and has been mentioned in graft.

“The Jubilee Government will not protect anyone and if anyone is alleged to have misappropriated funds they will carry their own cross and we will make sure all workers in the government who have been involved in the embezzlement of public funds face the full force of the law,” he said.

Earlier in the morning, speaking in Kuresoi South constituency, Nakuru county, where he officially opened the Keringet Africa Gospel Church, Ruto accused Cord leader Raila Odinga of being the chief mastermind of corruption in Kenya.

“We urge the anti-graft agents not to spare any corrupt leader involved in scandals of swindling government money at all levels,” he said.

The DP accused Raila of attempting to conceal how he benefits from the public coffers in the counties under ODM governors. This cash is meant for development but Raila hurls dirt on the Jubilee Government to conceal receiving corrupt payments.

“This guy did nothing while he was Prime Minister, and he is a proven corrupt leader. We as the Jubilee Government have constructed the standard gauge railway and procured medical equipment for all referral hospitals, supplied electricity to Kenyans, made maternity free and paid examinations fees for both class 8 and form-four candidates for the three years we have been in government,” he said.

Ruto said Raila is now confused and lacks any means of convincing Kenyans to vote for him against the Jubilee Government that has transformed lives.

But Speaking at Waondo Primary School in Mbita constituency, Homa Bay county, yesterday afternoon, Raila said he is not corrupt as claimed by the Jubilee leaders. He said he was MP for Lang’ata constituency for 22 years, where he did a lot to improve the welfare of ordinary people. Raila said he would not stop criticising the Jubilee administration on corruption.

“I will appreciate Jubilee when they have done something good, but from the way I see things, they are continuing to loot public funds. So I will not appreciate that,” said Raila.

ODM leaders should emulate the late Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang’s style of leadership, party chief Raila Odinga has said.

He said Kajwang was a staunch supporter of ODM and was ready to defend the party at all costs. Raila spoke yesterday after laying a wreath at Kajwang’s mausoleum in Waondo, Homa Bay county.

Present were governors Hassan Joho (Mombasa) and Cyprian Awiti (Homa Bay), Senators Boy Juma Boy (Kwale) and Moses Kajwang’ (Homa Bay).

ODM national chairman John Mbadi (Suba) and his deputy chairman Paul Otuoma (Funyula) were among other ODM legislators present.

Kajwang died undergoing treatment at the Mater Hospital on November 19, 2014.

Doctors had treated Kajwang’ for high blood pressure as well as cardiac arrest.

Raila said Kajwang used to consult the ODM leadership, despite understanding the party affairs and structures well.

“Otieno was one of the greatest soldiers ODM and I had around. He was always there to energise our team for a noble cause,” he said.

Raila urged party leaders to emulate Kajwang’s attitude, noting that his loyalty saw him rise in the party.

“Kajwang’s tireless fight for the party made him receive a distinguished platinum award. Everyone should embrace his inspiring spirit,” he said.

Raila described Kajwang’ as a good strategiser, able to approach issues with a clear mind.

He said Kajwang’s intelligence enabled him to compose the popular ‘bado mapambano’ [the struggle continues] slogan which inspires people to soldier on during times of struggle.

Joho and Awiti said they are determined to ensure the vision of the late Kajwang’ is fulfilled.

“Kajwang’ yearned for a Raila presidency and I can assure you that we are out to make this come to pass in 2017,” Joho said.

The leaders urged party supporters to register as voters in readiness for the 2017 polls.

“We don’t want to see voter apathy during elections. We have to ensure Raila wins the presidency,” Joho said.

Kajwang’ was elected to represent Mbita constituency in the 2007 election.

In 2013, he was elected the Homa Bay senator.

Upon his death, his brother Moses Kajwang’ won the election to succeed him.

KTN journalist Joy Doreen Biira was arrested in Kasese, Uganda and her whereabout is still unknown.

The journalist had been giving eye witness account on the fighting in Kasese that has left 55 people dead, including 14 police officers.

The KTN anchor was arrested with her fiancee, and three other friends on Sunday.

Uganda police arrested Charles Wesley Mumbere, the king of the Rwenzururu Kingdom and his palace razed down.

"Our friend Joy Doreen Biira, a journalist with KTN has been arrested in kasese according to her mother. Her whereabout still unknown. She has been giving eye witness accounts on the fighting in Kasese. Just yesterday was with her and I left today," a journalist friend, Barbara Among, posted on Facebook on Saturday night.

Biira, who had taken her fiancee for introduction, had posted a video of the burning palace on her Instagram account.

"It's so sad what I've witnessed today with my own eyes...part of the palace of the Kingdom I'm from, the rwenzururu kingdom, burning down..." she had posted on her Facebook page. The post was later deleted.

"Family member says military came to the home and demanded for photos @JoyDoreenBiira had taken of the attack on the palace #KaseseUpdates," her friend Rosebell Kagumire posted on Twitter.

Kenyans took to twitter with #FreeJoyDoreen in an effort to put pressure to the Uganda government to release the journalist.

Uganda Police said they had given the local king Mumbere time to surrender but he did not forcing the police to move in.

"The attackers used IED (improvised explosive devices as) grenades, guns, and spears to attack security personnel," the police said, adding a police vehicle at a security post was burned during the fighting.

"So far we have arrested 15 key ring leaders," police said.

According to the Daily Monitor, a leading local daily, a group of security personnel on patrol in Kasese, the biggest town in the region, was attacked by Mumbere's royal guards on Saturday, sparking a firefight that led to clashes.

On the morning of the king’s arrest, Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni had called and ordered him to disband the guards, who are believed to be part of a militia agitating for the creation of an independent republic straddling Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Ruwenzururu kingdom is a traditional monarchy based near the Rwenzori mountains which straddle Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, of the Bakonzo people -- with supporters among those who share the same culture and language in the DRC.

The monarchy started out as a separatist movement of the same name when the Bakonzo -- tired of being subjected to the rule of another tribe under colonial rule -- declared their own kingdom in 1962.

Also read: Possible massacre in Kasese, Uganda