USAID on Monday issued a notice to suspend funding for activities carried out by a number of Ministry of Health departments.

The US agency, in a May 8 letter, cites unspecified conditions that are yet to be met by some of the implementing partners.

However, funding for procurement of commodities and equipment related to life-saving treatment, prevention, outbreak or emergency response have been exempted.

Brian Woody, USAID Kenya and East Africa Contracting Officer, listed activities that directly strengthen county health systems will still be funded.

"Surveillance and service delivery will also continue receiving donor cash from USAID," he said.

The suspension will see salaries and wages for project coordinators, administrative staff, accountants, supply chain officers, financial officers, field epidemiology and laboratory training program staff cut.

"If your organisation is directly impacted by this suspension you will receive a separate letter suspending activities and assistance to the MoH."

"However, whether you receive a separate letter or not, you are to refrain from any activities further specified in this letter and inform your contracting or agreement officer immediately," Woody said.

Funding for domestic, international travel and activities undertaken during such trips like training, conferences, site visits and conventions have been suspended.

Other activities the agency will not fund include meetings, events, and workshops as well as the printing of communication material such as brochures, training materials, and guidance documents.

Woody, however, said that clinic data collection tools and national guidelines may be exempted from the suspension.

"Please contact your COR/AOR prior to conducting any of these activities," he said.

Other key departments affected by the suspension order include ICT, security services, building and equipment maintenance, fleet maintenance and fuel.

"USAID will host an information session on Wednesday in order to address any questions or requests for clarifications related to this suspension notice," Woody said.

Woody did not give specific reasons for the mass suspensions although the move could likely be in line with US President Donald Trump's proposal to cut aid.

In the Ministry of Health, US deals with interventions on nutrition, family planning, and maternal and child health, malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and strengthening health programs.

There are also programs aimed at making devolution work for the benefit of all Kenyans through democracy, governance and conflict programs.

In 2015, USAID distributed 3.8 million mosquito nets in 23 endemic and epidemic counties prone to malaria attacks.

In the same year, the agency signed a Sh65 billion ($650 million) contract with the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA).

This increased the amount of US-funded medical commodities it procures, warehouses and distributes.

More on this: How Trump’s proposed US aid cuts will affect Africa healthcare

Technology company Oracle has raised issues with the IEBC about software supplied with election equipment that may not be properly licenced by it.

If the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission is not licenced as the end-user of the software, Oracle can demand that the IEBC pay for it or be sued for piracy.

The software is supposed to be used alongside the election equipment, the Kenya Integrated Elections Management System, delivered by French firm Safran Identity and Security that was awarded the tender.

READ: IEBC settles for Safran for poll equipment, says deadlines must be met

CEO Ezra Chiloba yesterday however said there was no issue on the software powering the KIEMS technology for verification.

“The kits do not run on Oracle neither do they need an Oracle licence to operate. So far, the Kenya Bureau of Standards has run all the expected tests on the KIEMS and we are happy to report that there is 100 per cent conformity with required standards,” he said.

Chiloba clarified that it is the Biometric Voter Registration central processing system that runs on an Oracle licence acquired in 2012 as a package.

“Safran is one of the main dealers of Oracle in Europe and it would not make sense for both parties not to ensure compliance. Since 2012, the Commission has come a long way in ensuring necessary reforms are taken to guarantee the security and integrity of its systems before the General Election. And that is what we continue doing and will continue to do,” he said.

The IEBC is set to start biometric voter verification on Thursday in all the 44,000 polling stations across the country. It has also received 11,000 devices and staff training has been going on.

The IEBC chiefs hurriedly awarded the Sh4 billion tender to Safran Identity and Security, despite its having been knocked out by the tender evaluation committee.

But in what may now throw preparations for the General Election into disarray, the Star was told yesterday by staff of the Commission that the Safran licence which IEBC acquired at Sh500 million could lack a number of proper licences.

“In a meeting with the Commission, Oracle could not confirm the authenticity of the licence, [whether] it was purchased from a third party. Even then the documentation should have stated it somewhere,” a highly placed source familiar with the behind-the-scenes intrigues told the Star.

By 7pm, Oracle country director Corine Nana had not responded to our calls and text messages, despite promising to give us a response.

Safran supplied the over 15,000 BVRs that were used in 2013, amid claims of inflated pricing.

There are now questions why the Commission disregarded the report of the evaluation team against going back to Safran.

It is alleged that the kits are yet to be stress-tested, especially for areas with unstable electricity supply, ahead of the Thursday voter verification of the register.

Safran had been knocked out by a five-member evaluation committee, chaired by David Towett, on four grounds.

First, the copy of certificate of incorporation it submitted indicated that it has been in existence for nine years, two months and 18 days by the closing date, as opposed to the required 10 years.

Safran’s tax compliance certificate had also expired.

The accounts the firm provided, the evaluation committee report states, were not signed by any external auditors and therefore could not be considered as audited accounts.

Some pages of the submitted bid documents were not serialised.

But IEBC boss Wafula Chebukati then defended the decision to single-source, citing time and budgetary constrains.

Gemalto SA, the company that was responsive on all mandatory requirements, was later knocked out on what the IEBC said were budgetary constraints.

The company quoted Sh5.2 billion above IEBC’s Sh3.8 billion budget.

According to the Election (Amendment) Act 2017, voter verification should take place in all the polling stations across the country.

“The Commission shall, not later than ninety days before the date of a general election, open the Register of Voters for verification of biometric data by members of the public at their respective polling stations for a period of thirty days,” the Act states.

However, Safran has only supplied 11,000 gadgets known as the KIEMS. Over 30,000 gadgets are still pending.

In an interview with the Star last week, Chebukati said only 10,000 gadgets will be distributed for the exercise and the remaining 1,000 will serve as backup.

There are fears that some IEBC staff are setting the stage to again award the Sh2.5 billion contract for the printing of ballot papers to Dubai printing firm Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing.

Some 15 firms were invited to bid, but only eight responded. Among them are Uniprint Ltd from South Africa, Ellams Product Kenya Ltd, GI Solutions Ltd from UK, Rosecate Promotions and Supplies Ltd from Kenya and African Infrastructure Development Company, also from Kenya.

“There are forces within the IEBC who still want to derail starting the evaluation process to cite lack of time to facilitate them to go for direct tender to Al Ghurair. Tenders of this nature can be evaluated in five days with all experts on board and the IEBC will get the best bidders for supply of a sensitive nature,” another source said.

The Isaack Hassan-led IEBC team was hounded out of office late last year, mostly because of integrity issues.

The National Super Alliance principals have consistently condemned the IEBC for what they call shoddy preparations for the August 8 General Election.

READ: NASA faults IEBC award of tender to 'shady' French company

President Uhuru Kenyatta has been invited to address the world’s most powerful leaders, the G7 Summit, later this month.

The President is the only African leader who has been invited to the exclusive summit on May 26 and 27 in Taormina, Sicily, in Italy.

The G7 leaders are US President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President-elect Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe and the UK’s Teresa May.

Attending will be European Union President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

This summit follows the G7 Summit in Japan in 2016 and the summit hosted by the EU in Brussels in 2014.

It will focus on the global economy, foreign policy, security of citizens and environmental sustainability.

The G7 summit plays an important role in shaping global responses to global challenges, complementing the global economic coordination carried out by the G20.

This is the first time a Kenyan leader has been invited to the gathering and many in the international diplomatic world consider Uhuru’s invitation a “diplomatic coup”.

“This marks the end of the transformation process of President Kenyatta from a pariah, who was wanted by the ICC before the 2013 election, to a respected man to go to in Africa,” Prof Macharia Munene, a lecturer in diplomacy at USIU, said.

Yesterday State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu confirmed the President will attend the Summit.

“The President will honour the invitation because it is a great opportunity to place Kenya on the global stage yet again,” he said.

Since 2013, Uhuru has travelled widely, mainly looking to reposition Kenya as one of the major countries where the world can invest.

“Our engagement with the world is to open doors for Kenyans across the world and also to let the world know we are ready and committed to doing business with them,” the President said on Tuesday during a briefing at State House Nairobi.

Kenya has played host to various regional and world leaders in the last five years. They include former Barack Obama, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, former South Korean President Park Geun-hye and Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan.

Yesterday, Uhuru met UK Prime Minister Theresa May and held talks at Number 10 Downing Street, London. He sought a pact to guarantee Kenyan exports accessed the UK market on a duty-free quota-free basis after the country exits the European Union. At a landmark meeting at Downing Street, the President spoke strongly about strengthening bilateral relations and closer security cooperation, especially in regard to Somalia.

It was the first meeting between Uhuru and the British PM. The UK is Kenya’s third most important export destination after Uganda and the US.

It is the leadin source market for Kenya’s lifeblood tourism sector.

Details of Raila Odinga's high-powered NASA presidential campaign team and elaborate strategy have emerged.

Raila is expected to formally launch his campaign on June 3, two days after President Uhuru Kenyatta launches his Jubilee reelection drive.

READ: I will lead you to the promised land – Raila

ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi will be the overall leader of Raila's team, supported by a secretariat and smaller teams of regional leaders, mostly governors.

Norman Magaya, former head of the Cord secretariat, will be the campaign's executive director.

Mudavadi will report directly to the Pentagon, including ODM's Raila, Wiper's Kalonzo Musyoka, Ford Kenya's Moses Wetang'ula and Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto of CCM.

Businessman Jimmy Wanjigi will be responsible for resource mobilisation and experts, such as distinguished economist David Ndii and Abubakar Zein of the East African Legislative Assembly, will support the Pentagon.

Under the regional chiefs will be county coordinators, constituency coordinators and polling station managers.

In total, Raila will have about 500 mainly young people and experts working on his campaign countrywide.

READ: ODM endorses Raila as presidential candidate at charged Kasarani

According to multiple sources, most team members will be based in the counties and report to their coordinators and regional team leaders.

Key members of the team will be in place by the end of this month.

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, ODM deputy leader, will be responsible for campaigns in the Coast region.

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero and Deputy Governor Jonathan Mweke have been tasked to ensure Raila gets the majority of votes and seats in the capital city-county.

Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana will rally Ukambani, together with Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama and Kitui Governor Julius Malombe.

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, another ODM deputy leader, will lead the team in Western Kenya. That team includes Busia governor Sospeter Ojaamong, Vihiga governor aspirant Yusuf Chanzu, Vihiga Governor Moses Akaranga and Bungoma governor aspirants Alfred Khang'ati and Stephen Mutoro.

Kisumu governor nominee Prof Anyang Nyong’o will take charge of Luo Nyanza, together with Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti, Siaya boss Cornel Rasanga and Migori Governor Okoth Obado.

In the Kisii region, the team will be led by Governors James Ongwae of Kisii and John Nyagarama of Nyamira. MP candidates will also be on board.

Turkana Governor Joseph Nanok will jointly lead the North Rift team with his Trans Nzoia counterpart Governor Patrick Khaemba.

The South Rift team will be headed by Kajiado Governor David Nkedianye and Pentagon member Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto.

Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi will manage the entire Northeastern region

Godfrey Kanoti, Caesar Asiyo and Chris Mandu Mandu will manage all the logistics.

The secretariat will be located in Nairobi's Riverside and Lavington areas, although Raila's Capitol Hill offices will also be used.

It is understood that Raila and his financial backers will spend any amount of money on technology to stop vote rigging.

"He is willing to spend his last coin to ensure that he wins the election," an aide said.

The massive election management system that Raila, aided by IT experts from Germany, is setting up will ensure all votes are counted immediately they are announced, sources familiar with the planning tell the Star.

"It is a real-time system. Once results have been announced at the polling station, our agents will immediately take pictures and send them to the national tallying centre in Nairobi," a source explained.

Raila has already brought on board two German IT experts working with a team of local data managers and security experts to design the system.

In NASA's vote-protection strategy, party agents will have satellite phones to capture both video and pictures of Forms 34 and 36. They will instantly relay them to the national opposition tallying centre in Nairobi.

The pictures and photos are to be irrefutable evidence in case of a challenge to the outcome of the presidential vote.

NASA is not allowed to publicly declare votes and totals but is free to keep its own tally.

The main NASA national tallying centre will be in Nairobi’s Westlands area on Rhapta road, where the opposition has rented a building.

Only the NASA principals, IT gurus and presidential election officials will have access to the secured building under renovation.

Security around the house is being enhanced and CCTV cameras are fixed all around it.

“A lot is happening now as part of the opposition’s preparations for the elections. Yes, we have a building around Westlands but I can’t confirm if it will be our national tallying centre. Some of the undertakings are highly sensitive and may not be shared with the media,” a NASA insider said.

Raila’s grand strategy involves university student volunteers who will be deployed to polling stations countryside. They will be equipped with satellite phones to relay live the presidential results declared by presiding officers.

The volunteers will be embedded with the presidential candidate’s agents and pockets of election observers in all polling stations.

NASA 's national vote tallying centre in Nairobi will have a data backup system established outside the country.

The opposition will also use the Cloud as part of its data backup plan.

Raila and the opposition say the 2013 election victory was stolen from him, hence, all the security precautions, backups and controls.

"This time we are not taking any chances," Kalonzo told the Star yesterday.

MORE: Anxiety in NASA as fallout rocks Wiper, Kalonzo grip on Ukambani

ALSO READ: I'll not disappoint, Raila vows, promises won't cling to power

Businessman Bundotich Kiprop, popularly known as Buzeki, says he is definitely running for Uasin Gishu governor, dismissing reports he is under pressure to withdraw.

He will run as an independent.

Buzeki on Wednesday told the Star he will face Governor Jackson Mandago on August 8, saying he will not pull out.

He rejected as propaganda reports he has withdrawn and will back Mandago after he was pressured by DP William Ruto.

“I announced I would vie as an independent as my people wish and nothing have changed. I have supporters and cannot let them down,” Buzeki said.

He has started branding six helicopters and a fleet of more than 100 cars for his campaigns. Sources close to Buzeki say he will spend as much as Sh200 million to campaign.

Most of his supporters, especially in Eldoret town, were not allowed to vote in the primary election, he said.

“Buzeki is the property of the people of Uasin Gishu and they want him in the race. He was not looking for any job except that of the governor,” Buzeki’s key campaigner Sultan Kemboi said.

His fleet of campaign cars and choppers are predominantly white, with red and blue.

They bear his Kalenjin campaign slogans “Tai ole Tai”, which means “Ever For

The other slogan is “Buzeki Nebo Chego” or “Buzeki the Milkman” because he owned dairies, including Molo, but sold part of the business.

Buzeki’s assurance that he is the race follows the DP’s separate meetings with Buzeki and Mandago.

Ruto told them two not to cause tribal divisions.

Buzeki disputed Mandago’s victory in the Jubilee primaries, but his appeal was rejected. Analysts say he has a huge war chest and can give Mandago a run for his money.

Mandago got 126,000 votes, Buzeki 82,000.

Five Kenyans are among 72 people who have been deported from the US over immigration issues.

The rest of the people are of Somali origin.

Police and immigration officials said a private plane carrying the 72 individuals landed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport this morning.

The deportations had been anticipated given the ongoing operations in the USA targeting illegal immigrants.

This is the second batch of immigrants to be deported from the US in five months

Read: Kenyan girl detained at Chicago airport for hours, denied US entry over Trump ban

In January 2017 two Kenyans and 90 Somalis were deported from the US for immigration reasons.

US President Donald Trump halted the entire US refugee programme in an executive order and instituted a 90-day travel ban for nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Read: Trump's US travel ban signals 'turbulent times' for Africa - AU chief

Also read: AU criticises Trump for ban on immigrants from predominantly Muslim countries

But a US judge issued a stay temporarily halting the deportation of visa holders or refugees under the executive order.

The judge's stay prevents those "caught up" in the aftermath from being deported.

The court decision came as thousands protested at airports in several US states over Trump's clampdown on immigration.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which filed the suit, estimated that between 100 and 200 people were being detained at airports or in transit.

Read: Trump immigration order temporarily barred by US court

Also read: US appeals court upholds suspension of Trump travel ban

A UK firm Equinox Energy Capital has said it is near financial closure of its $250 million(Sh26b) 35 megawatt Homa Bay hyacinth-to-energy plant, which it wants President Uhuru Kenyatta to launch.

The announcement was the biggest investment unveiled when Uhuru met British investors under the umbrella East African Association in London on Thursday.

"We are making progress on our Homa Bay plant and are nearing launch. We would request you to come to Homa Bay for this event," a representative of Equinox Lord Barker said.

Read: Water hyacinth chokes lake, hurts fishing

Also read: Kenyan firm to export hyacinth to the UAE

Another UK peer Lord Pollock, said the consortium he represented was ready to move on its $100 million Kipeto energy investment.

"...and only a few details are remaining, including the issuance of a standard letter of support from the government," he said.

The peers and other business executives were speaking at a forum convened by Uhuru to hear investor plans, fears and challenges.

CEO of tea firm Kericho Gold Nadeem Ahmed said he had $25 million ready for new investment in a value-adding plant on a 25-acre plot in Miritini, Mombasa County.

The meeting was also attended by Bob Chestnut, CEO of Aldwych International, who are part of the group delivering the 310 MW Lake Turkana Wind Power Project.

Uhuru welcomed the progress and assured investors that Kenya was fully committed to the continued removal of bottlenecks to business.

Uhuru was accompanied to the forum by Cabinet Secretaries Amina Mohamed (Foreign Affairs), Charles Keter (Energy and Petroleum) and AG Githu Muigai.

The president travelled to the United Kingdom to attend the 3rd London Conference on Somalia.

The conference will focus on accelerating the progress of security reforms in Somalia and build on an international response to the ongoing drought and humanitarian crisis.

More on this: Africa's famine is mostly man-made

Also read: Hungry Somalis weigh a daughter's freedom against her siblings' lives

Uhuru will also meet Prince William at Buckingham Palace on Friday.

USAID on Monday issued a notice to suspend funding for activities carried out by a number of Ministry of Health departments.

The US agency, in a May 8 letter, cites unspecified conditions that are yet to be met by some of the implementing partners.

However, funding for procurement of commodities and equipment related to life-saving treatment, prevention, outbreak or emergency response have been exempted.

Brian Woody, USAID Kenya and East Africa Contracting Officer, listed activities that directly strengthen county health systems will still be funded.

"Surveillance and service delivery will also continue receiving donor cash from USAID," he said.

The suspension will see salaries and wages for project coordinators, administrative staff, accountants, supply chain officers, financial officers, field epidemiology and laboratory training program staff cut.

"If your organisation is directly impacted by this suspension you will receive a separate letter suspending activities and assistance to the MoH."

"However, whether you receive a separate letter or not, you are to refrain from any activities further specified in this letter and inform your contracting or agreement officer immediately," Woody said.

Funding for domestic, international travel and activities undertaken during such trips like training, conferences, site visits and conventions have been suspended.

Other activities the agency will not fund include meetings, events, and workshops as well as the printing of communication material such as brochures, training materials, and guidance documents.

Woody, however, said that clinic data collection tools and national guidelines may be exempted from the suspension.

"Please contact your COR/AOR prior to conducting any of these activities," he said.

Other key departments affected by the suspension order include ICT, security services, building and equipment maintenance, fleet maintenance and fuel.

"USAID will host an information session on Wednesday in order to address any questions or requests for clarifications related to this suspension notice," Woody said.

Woody did not give specific reasons for the mass suspensions although the move could likely be in line with US President Donald Trump's proposal to cut aid.

In the Ministry of Health, US deals with interventions on nutrition, family planning, and maternal and child health, malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and strengthening health programs.

There are also programs aimed at making devolution work for the benefit of all Kenyans through democracy, governance and conflict programs.

In 2015, USAID distributed 3.8 million mosquito nets in 23 endemic and epidemic counties prone to malaria attacks.

In the same year, the agency signed a Sh65 billion ($650 million) contract with the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA).

This increased the amount of US-funded medical commodities it procures, warehouses and distributes.

More on this: How Trump’s proposed US aid cuts will affect Africa healthcare

Technology company Oracle has raised issues with the IEBC about software supplied with election equipment that may not be properly licenced by it.

If the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission is not licenced as the end-user of the software, Oracle can demand that the IEBC pay for it or be sued for piracy.

The software is supposed to be used alongside the election equipment, the Kenya Integrated Elections Management System, delivered by French firm Safran Identity and Security that was awarded the tender.

READ: IEBC settles for Safran for poll equipment, says deadlines must be met

CEO Ezra Chiloba yesterday however said there was no issue on the software powering the KIEMS technology for verification.

“The kits do not run on Oracle neither do they need an Oracle licence to operate. So far, the Kenya Bureau of Standards has run all the expected tests on the KIEMS and we are happy to report that there is 100 per cent conformity with required standards,” he said.

Chiloba clarified that it is the Biometric Voter Registration central processing system that runs on an Oracle licence acquired in 2012 as a package.

“Safran is one of the main dealers of Oracle in Europe and it would not make sense for both parties not to ensure compliance. Since 2012, the Commission has come a long way in ensuring necessary reforms are taken to guarantee the security and integrity of its systems before the General Election. And that is what we continue doing and will continue to do,” he said.

The IEBC is set to start biometric voter verification on Thursday in all the 44,000 polling stations across the country. It has also received 11,000 devices and staff training has been going on.

The IEBC chiefs hurriedly awarded the Sh4 billion tender to Safran Identity and Security, despite its having been knocked out by the tender evaluation committee.

But in what may now throw preparations for the General Election into disarray, the Star was told yesterday by staff of the Commission that the Safran licence which IEBC acquired at Sh500 million could lack a number of proper licences.

“In a meeting with the Commission, Oracle could not confirm the authenticity of the licence, [whether] it was purchased from a third party. Even then the documentation should have stated it somewhere,” a highly placed source familiar with the behind-the-scenes intrigues told the Star.

By 7pm, Oracle country director Corine Nana had not responded to our calls and text messages, despite promising to give us a response.

Safran supplied the over 15,000 BVRs that were used in 2013, amid claims of inflated pricing.

There are now questions why the Commission disregarded the report of the evaluation team against going back to Safran.

It is alleged that the kits are yet to be stress-tested, especially for areas with unstable electricity supply, ahead of the Thursday voter verification of the register.

Safran had been knocked out by a five-member evaluation committee, chaired by David Towett, on four grounds.

First, the copy of certificate of incorporation it submitted indicated that it has been in existence for nine years, two months and 18 days by the closing date, as opposed to the required 10 years.

Safran’s tax compliance certificate had also expired.

The accounts the firm provided, the evaluation committee report states, were not signed by any external auditors and therefore could not be considered as audited accounts.

Some pages of the submitted bid documents were not serialised.

But IEBC boss Wafula Chebukati then defended the decision to single-source, citing time and budgetary constrains.

Gemalto SA, the company that was responsive on all mandatory requirements, was later knocked out on what the IEBC said were budgetary constraints.

The company quoted Sh5.2 billion above IEBC’s Sh3.8 billion budget.

According to the Election (Amendment) Act 2017, voter verification should take place in all the polling stations across the country.

“The Commission shall, not later than ninety days before the date of a general election, open the Register of Voters for verification of biometric data by members of the public at their respective polling stations for a period of thirty days,” the Act states.

However, Safran has only supplied 11,000 gadgets known as the KIEMS. Over 30,000 gadgets are still pending.

In an interview with the Star last week, Chebukati said only 10,000 gadgets will be distributed for the exercise and the remaining 1,000 will serve as backup.

There are fears that some IEBC staff are setting the stage to again award the Sh2.5 billion contract for the printing of ballot papers to Dubai printing firm Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing.

Some 15 firms were invited to bid, but only eight responded. Among them are Uniprint Ltd from South Africa, Ellams Product Kenya Ltd, GI Solutions Ltd from UK, Rosecate Promotions and Supplies Ltd from Kenya and African Infrastructure Development Company, also from Kenya.

“There are forces within the IEBC who still want to derail starting the evaluation process to cite lack of time to facilitate them to go for direct tender to Al Ghurair. Tenders of this nature can be evaluated in five days with all experts on board and the IEBC will get the best bidders for supply of a sensitive nature,” another source said.

The Isaack Hassan-led IEBC team was hounded out of office late last year, mostly because of integrity issues.

The National Super Alliance principals have consistently condemned the IEBC for what they call shoddy preparations for the August 8 General Election.

READ: NASA faults IEBC award of tender to 'shady' French company

Small parties that endorsed President Uhuru Kenyatta's reelection will each get a Cabinet post and other goodies if Jubilee wins the election.

In a frantic courtship of small parties that had declined to merge with JP, and some that have cropped up, Jubilee will reward them with lucrative parastatal appointments and plum diplomatic postings.

The Star has established that the number of slots for each party will be determined by the performance of each party in the polls on August 8.

By wooing these parties Jubilee hopes to consolidate its support and penetrate NASA zones.

After the big Tuko Pamoja Jubilee merger in September last year, the parties that refused to merge were treated like the opposition. Now they are embraced and catered to, as long as they support UhuRuto.

They still may field candidates for other posts.

Last Saturday, six parties separately held special National Delegates Conferences and supported Uhuru's reelection. They are Narc Kenya, Kanu, Maendeleo Chap Chap, the Economic Front Party, Frontier Alliance Party and the Kenya Patriotic Party.

Yesterday Kanu secretary general Nick Salat told the Star on the phone that the Jubilee Party has entered into a post-election deal with small affiliates so each will get "at least a stake in the next government".

"The law allows political parties to enter into pre- or post-election agreements. Kanu, among other parties, hase agreed to work with the President and we will be represented in all aspects of the next government," he said.

He added, "Government is not a small unit. It is large enough to accommodate all the parties. There are Cabinet slots, diplomatic and other positions that Kanu and the rest of us will be asking for."

On Saturday last week, President Uhuru disclosed that his government will fully accommodate all the parties, should Jubilee Party emerge the winner.

“The foundation of Kanu is unity and I believe that by being united we will win in August and I promise we will all be in government,” Uhuru told Kanu delegates at Kasarani Stadium.

“We will be coming to Mandera very soon to ask for votes and we will work with your leaders to tap resources for the benefit of Mandera residents and Kenyans at large," he told the Economic Freedom Party convention at Nyayo Stadium.

"I assure you that you will be part of my government."

Marsabit Governor Ukur Yatani, leader of the Frontier Alliance Party, said they will support the reelection of UhuRuto not only because of their development record in the Northern region but because Uhuru will accommodate the community.

“We have decided to support President Kenyatta because we are confident that only by working with him will we achieve our development aspirations," Yatani said.

It it is no longer mandatory for civil servants seeking election to resign six months to the elections.

Sources at State House told the Star, however, that Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua is carrying out an audit of posts that may have been vacated in the national government after office holders quit to join politics.

The positions will be reserved until after the elections when they will be dished out to the various parties.

The Employment and Labour Relations Court in Kericho struck down the quit-office provision of Section 43(5) of the Elections Act of 2011, calling it unconstitutional and without legal basis.

The orders issued in March quashed a letter written by Kinyua on December 1, 2016, which required public servants eyeing election to vacate office on or before February 7.

Already several vacancies have been created, especially in the diplomatic corps and in parastatals, as envoys, chairmen and members quit to try their luck in lucrative politics.

Some of them got tickets in the just-concluded party primaries while others have opted to be independent candidates.

There is a vacancy in the Anti-Female Genital Mutilation Board, as outgoing chairperson Jebii Kilimo is running for Marakwet East MP. Kilimo lost to incumbent MP Kangogo Bowen in the JP primaries, opting to run as independent. He said the nominations were not fair and transparent.

Another position that will be reserved is that of the chairman of the Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation. Former secretary to the Cabinet Francis Kimemia is set to quit and run for Nyandarua governor after clinching the JP ticket.

It is not clear if former Industrialisation minister Henry Kosgey resigned as chairman of the Tourism Fund as he ran against Nandi Governor Cleophas Lagat. Both were defeated by Nandi Senator Stephen Sang.

Omingo Magara, seeking the Kisii Senate seat on his Peoples Democratic Party ticket, will relinquish chairmanship of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.

Former Information and Communication minister Samuel Poghisio, running for West Pokot senator, has also resigned as chairman of the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.

Chirau Mwakwere, who has been the Kenyan High Commissioner to Tanzania, has tendered his resignation, as he seeks the Kwale governor's job on a Wiper ticket.

Kalembe Ndile of the Water Services Regulatory Board will step down before he can try to recapture the Kibwezi parliamentary seat.

President Uhuru's political adviser Joshua Kuttuny will also resign. Kuttuny won the JP ticket and he plans to recapture his Cherangany parliamentary seat.

Former Moyale MP Mohamud Mohamed Ali will resign from the National Hospital Insurance Fund in a bid to recapture his seat.

Former aide de camp of President Mwai Kibaki, Retired Colonel Geoffrey King’ang’i, will resign as chairman of the of the National Cereals and Produce Board to contest the Mbeere South seat.

Some public servants have already tendered their resignations, including Ombudsman Otiende Amollo, chairman of the Commission on Administrative of Justice, who is eyeing the Rarieda seat.

Nairobi woman rep aspirant Esther Passaris has claimed that goons attacked her and roughed up her bodyguards at the University of Nairobi on Friday.

Passaris was invited to deliver a motivational talk to Women Students Welfare Association members at the UoN women Hall.

She said about 30 goons attacked her after she arrived at the institution.

"They blocked my entry, roughed up my bodyguards," she said via twitter on Saturday.

Passaris claimed that the goons were led by a former student who demanded that she gives him Sh150,000.

"...the student is also an aspirant for MCA. I refused to pay them to enter but they got rougher and rougher, hurling insults, threatening violence," she said.

Narrating her ordeal, Passaris said her bodyguards managed to get her into the hall, with the help of male UoN students. But noted that the goons did not stop at their thirst to get the ransom from her.

"I got the chance to talk to the students but trouble started again when I had to leave the hall," she said.

"The same gang was now inside the school and demanding money to let us out. They attacked us, broke the door handles of my car, side mirrors and threatened to burn the car."

Passaris said the gang grabbed her handbag and roughed up her bodyguards.

"They found nothing but now they got incensed. They stoned the car, blocked our passage with rocks, shouting abuses at me," she said.

The Nairobi businesswoman said she managed to call the police and managed to get away.

"We sought refuge at Kileleshwa Police Station. Though the MCA aspirant was arrested later, the threat of violence still remains a central part of these elections," she said.

Passaris asked the police to protect Women aspirants as Kenya heads into August polls.

Passaris beat five opponents to get 65,104 votes for the Nairobi woman representative ticket in the ODM primaries. She will battle for the women representative seat with Jubilee's Rachel Shebesh.

More on this: Passaris, Babu Owino secure ODM tickets for August polls

"The dangers that women aspirants face even within institutions is far from acceptable. Something must be done," Passaris said.

"I ask the National Police Service, and the IEBC that even as they prepare for the elections, they must take measures. Protect women"

Speaking to the Star on Saturday, Nairobi county commander Japheth Koome confirmed that Passaris had lodged a formal complaint at the Kileleshwa police station.

"But she has not yet recorded a statement of the same," Koome said noting that the matter is under investigation.

Heavy rains were on Sunday reported at Afraha Grounds in Nakuru where Nasa leaders are holding their rally.

The rains which begun at 3pm made it difficult for speeches and entertainments to go on in the stadium.

With the packed stadium, Nakuru residents were seen scampering for shelter while others shared umbrellas.

Heavy rains at Afraha stadium./RITA DAMARY

But others stood in the rain as they waited for a directive from the opposition principals.

Some of the residents were also seen getting into the VIP tents while others used chairs as shelter.

Earlier, NASA principals said they will use all strategies to convert the Rift Valley region into NASA zone.

NASA brings together Raila Odinga(ODM), Musalia Mudavadi (Amani), Kalonzo (Wiper), Moses Wetang'ula (Ford Kenya), and Isaac Rutto (CCM).

Nakuru residents ready for the principals before the rains begun at Afraha stadium./RITA DAMARY

Speaking during a private meeting in Ngata, Nakuru, Raila assured his supporters that they will reap more votes in Rift Valley region that is 'perceived as a jubilee stronghold.'

This is the first NASA rally after the coalition announced that Raila was going to be its flag bearer.

"NASA will deliberate Nakuru and the neighbouring regions from a Jubilee to a NASA zone," Raila said.

"Nakuru has all the 42 tribes and NASA represents all the tribes' Nakuru ndio Kiherehere ya siasa. We will not leave any stone un-turned."

The closed door meeting was to iron out political differences among the coalition representatives in Nakuru County.

After the meeting, the principals headed to the historical Afraha Stadium to hold a rally and woo the electorates.

On Saturday, the Nasa flag bearer invited Kenyans to the mega rally in Nakuru.

More on this: NASA to hold mega rally in Nakuru on Sunday

Raila with Kalonzo Musyoka as his running mate will face off President Uhuru Kenyatta in the August polls.

Under the Nasa arrangement, Mudavadi is proposed to take up the position of Premier Cabinet Secretary.

This will be created after the election in the event of NASA victory.

Under the Premier CS will be two powerful deputies of equal rank.

Rutto will be in charge of the State Department of Devolution and Planning.

The other deputy in charge of Public Service will go to Wetang’ula of Ford Kenya party.

Read: How Wetangula, Rutto made Raila the Nasa flagbearer

Reporting by NANCY AGUTU, @NancyAgutu, RITA DAMARY and STEVE WAMBUGU

Kiambu Governor William Kabogo will face off his political rival Ferdinand Waititu as an independent candidate in August polls.

Kabogo lost to Waititu popularly known as"Baba Yao" in the Jubilee primaries after he garnered 69,916 votes against Waititu's 353,604 votes.

"Having consulted my wife, Kiambu residents and friends I hereby announce my independent candidature...I will be on the ballot. At the end of the day, we are one people with the same dream," Kabogo said.

Addressing the media on Sunday, Kabogo said in recent weeks he met many people and received calls on the next cause of action.

".. this is not my fight it is our fight. it is not about who is stronger at spreading propaganda but about the vision that will take us where we need to be. That is the vision that consumes me," he said.

Kabogo who is seeking for a second term said power is given by the people adding that he was ready to make Kiambu a better county.

"As a team we will have some work to do, that is the power given by the people. For those who had a little faith, I want to promise everyone that I will give you the best whether you are a Kikuyu or Luo or any other tribe," he said.

Stronger Kabogo to fight on

Noting that the nominations were flawed, Kabogo said he will not be swayed and was ready to face hurdles ahead of the polls.

"The elections had many flaws and since our campaign was about transformation, we have the evidence that there was rigging," he said.

"My silence was as a result of the peace pact that I signed. The younger Kabogo would have handled things differently."

Kabogo claimed that there are people who had hurt his family but noted that he would not give up.

"There are a lot of things said about me but those who want to seek the truth will find it. Some of them have hurt me and my family but we are strong," he said.

He thanked the voters for coming out in large numbers and voting for him during the nominations.

"I thank voters who came out in large numbers, for everyone who voted for me, I want to say Asante. I am proud of you and for those who did not vote for me I thank you as well," he said.

Last month, Kabogo conceded defeat as results trickled in from Kiambu Jubilee's primaries.

Preliminary results showed that the Governor was trailing behind significantly against longtime rival Ferdinand Waititu.

Read: Kabogo concedes defeat as Waititu widens gap in Kiambu Jubilee primaries

After the nominations, Waititu extended an olive branch to Kabogo after beating him hands down in the Jubilee primaries.

"Those people who have been voted out, Kabogo and his government, we do not have any personal problem with them," he said.

More on this: I have no personal problem with Kabogo , Waititu says after win

NASA principals have threatened to boycott the August 8 elections if an appeal logged by IEBC goes through.

The electoral body wants the appellate court to overturn a high court ruling that election results announced at the constituency level are final and should be used to determine winners in the general elections.

The commission has anchored its argument on the constitutional provision that gives it the mandate to declare winners during elections.

"We will not allow IEBC to tamper with the court ruling on the tallying issues. If they will, let them know that no elections will be held," NASA coalition flag bearer Raila Odinga said.

Odinga spoke on Sunday at Afraha stadium during a NASA rally.

Read: Heavy downpour disrupt NASA rally in Nakuru

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka echoed his sentiments saying IEBC should withdraw the appeal and accept the earlier ruling.

He urged Nakuru residents to be ready, if called upon, to take to the streets to protest should the ruling be overturned.

“If the appeal goes through, will you be ready to protest?” Kalonzo said.

He reiterated that they will conduct parallel tallying of votes for transparency purposes but not declare winners.

"We know it's their duty to declare winners. We have no problem with that. But why is he (IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati) saying results must be announced at Bomas of Kenya?" Kalonzo said.

Machakos senator Johnstone Muthama said they will not accept a rigged election.

He dared the government to arrest him for making the declaration.

"I want to tell (Interior CS) Joseph Nkaissery that he should not oversee a stolen election. As Kenyans, we will not accept."

Other leaders who spoke at the rally faulted the Jubilee administration for a surge in basic commodity prices including maize flour, milk and sugar.

ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi accused Uhuru's administration of insensitivity adding that they only acted after matters got out of hand.

He said the consignment of maize that docked in Mombasa on Friday will not help the situation of scarce food as the country was already facing starvation.

"We want to stabilize the economy; we want to give our youth jobs," Mudavadi said.

Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula said the shortages in food items being experienced in the county were by design to benefit certain individuals in government.

“A government that commits economic crimes on its people does not deserve to be called a government,” Wetangula said.

"I urge all women to boycott sex on the eve of the voting day so that the electorate can be alert and go vote. We will even go for patients in health facilities to come and vote," Raila said.

"Youths will be going house to house to urge everybody to come out and vote," he added.

The rally was the coalition's first public outing since it unveiled Raila its flag bearer and Kalonzo as his running mate.

The two will take on President Uhuru Kenyatta of Jubilee and his running mate William Ruto at the August polls.

[VIDEO] Raila named NASA flag bearer, Kalonzo deputy in August poll line up

Britain is still pumping millions of pounds of foreign aid into Kenya’s health service – despite the US pulling its support because of concerns over corruption.

US ambassador Robert Godec announced last week that America was cancelling its £16 million (Sh2.13b) a year payments to the African country’s Ministry of Health due to ‘ongoing corruption and integrity issues’.

Despite the move, Britain’s Department for International Development (DFID) is pushing ahead with an eight-year project costing taxpayers £106 million (Sh14.11b).

The US did not take its decision lightly as the massive cut will affect seven critical programmes and result in many job losses.

However, Mr Godec insisted no funding will be reinstated until accounting weaknesses are resolved. He said: ‘The US taxpayers want to see their money is spent appropriately and goes to the right causes.’

Kenya’s Medical Practitioners And Dentists Union leader Ouma Oluga publicly welcomed the dramatic move and said he was ‘not surprised because the ministry is riddled with accounting issues’.

Worryingly, the hugely expensive DFID programme operates in the very areas which have caused alarm to US officials. An investigation by USAID found that salaries and travel expenses were not properly accounted for.

Britain’s continuing financial support is all the more astonishing as some of its funds go towards providing free maternity care. Yet a probe by the Kenyan government’s own anti-corruption unit last year exposed a scandal in which £6.7 million, some of it intended for free maternity care, was diverted to private healthcare companies.

The country has long been plagued by serious political problems. President Uhuru Kenyatta was indicted by the International Criminal Court for inciting post-election violence in 2013 and the government’s Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission is itself under investigation over allegations of bribe-taking.

The commission’s chairman, Philip Kinisu, resigned last August when it emerged that a company he owned had been awarded contracts worth £266,766 for supplying equipment to another government department, which is also being investigated for suspicious contracts it received from the Ministry of Health.

A DFID spokesman said it was unable to comment because of the forthcoming General Election.

The Mail on Sunday has been leading the campaign to overhaul Britain’s commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of national income – more than £12 billion (Sh1.6T) a year – on aid.

A handcart pusher convicted of the murder of independence politician Pio Gama Pinto was on Friday awarded Sh2.5 million for violation of his rights by the police while in custody.

Kisilu Mutua was sentenced to death in 1965, following Pinto’s assassination.

Pinto was a leading freedom fighter in Kenya.

After serving 35 years in jail, President Daniel Moi pardoned him and ordered his release on July 4, 2001.

On Friday, Justice John Mativo said Mutua’s incarceration was unlawful and the action by state agents were in violation of his constitutional rights.

Mativo said Mutua demonstrated he was tortured by the police who squeezed his testicles until he lost consciousness.

“I am persuaded the petitioner proved to the required standard that his rights were violated by the police, considering the nature of torture meted out on him during the time of arrest and when he was taken to court to face murder charge,” the judge said.

Mativo said the court cannot deviate from its duty of deterring acts which amount to the infringement of the constitutional rights of a citizen.

Mutua had told the court he was arrested by six people while drinking at the New Rwathia Bar with friends.

He was then taken to Eastleigh police station, where his toes were mercilessly thrashed with a rungu and his testicles squeezed.

He also told the judge he was interrogated and tortured by European and African police officers who wanted him to confess to murdering Pinto, a Kenyan of Asian origin who was gunned down as he drove out of his house in a Nairobi suburb.

When he refused to confess, he was forced to sign a statement admitting he murdered Pinto.

“I was also detained at Pangani police station, where I was brutalised by police officers, forcing me to sign a confession statement at the point of death,” he stated in an affidavit.

Mutua made an appeal to the then East Africa Court of Appeal.

It was dismissed on November 12, 1965.

He then moved to the High Court in 2015 seeking several declarations, which included the abuse of his fundamental rights.

Mativo said the Constitution prohibits torture and inhumane acts as well as degrading treatment of suspects in the hands of police.

A burial in Olbutyo village, Chepalungu constituency, Bomet, ended prematurely on Saturday.

Supporters of Governor Isaac Rutto and National Assembly Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso clashed.

Trouble started when Rutto arrived at the venue in the company of some of his supporters clad in Chama Cha Mashinani caps.

They were shouting ‘Mashinani’ and started attacking a man believed to be a Jubilee supporter for shouting the Jubilee slogan ‘Tuko Pamoja’.

The man sustained serious head injuries.

As the chaos erupted at the burial, relatives surrounded the coffin and whisked it a kilometre away.

When Rutto arrived, Laboso had just addressed the mourners.

She thanked the family and residents for voting her in to clinch the Jubilee Party ticket to run for Bomet governor.

Laboso accused Rutto of ferrying youths to functions to cause chaos.

She said it is wrong for the governor to attend the burial in the company of supporters, while wearing CCM party outfits.

“Burials should not be used to display one’s political supremacy. They are meant to console the bereaved. We wonder what the governor has in mind when he comes to a funeral with his supporters. This is not the first time he is doing this,” Laboso said.

As the mourners and family escorted the body to the graveside, friends escorted Rutto.

He used the little opportunity to address a handful of his supporters as most of those who attended had left shouting ‘Jubilee’.

The governor condemned the chaos that erupted at the burial, saying it was the work of Jubilee supporters.

He said he is confident NASA will win the August election because Jubilee has failed to address the high cost of living. Police officers had to intervene and ordered Rutto to call off the meeting as they escorted Laboso out of the venue.

The Bomet Governor race would be a close call between Rutto and Laboso, a survey found in April.

Rutto would win with 38.9 per cent support while Laboso, would follow at 37.7 per cent. Laboso has just 1.2 percentage points to catch up with Rutto.

In the findings of the Infotrak poll, Laboso was followed by Julius Kones who would get 7.3 per cent of the votes. Some 16.1 per cent of the population said they were undecided.

Rutto broke ranks with Jubilee and formed Chama Cha Mashinani, on whose ticket he will run.

In October last year, he met elected MPs and MCAs, seeking their support in his reelection bid.

Laboso was endorsed by her clan to run for the county chief post. She was blessed and given powers of a community leader in a Kalenjin traditional ceremony. The survey found that CCM {12 per cent} came second to Jubilee {73.8 per cent} in terms of popularity in the county. The National Super Alliance came third at 6.6 per cent.

NASA has adopted a radical proposal that will see MPs appointed as Cabinet Secretaries.

It plans to hold a national referendum within 100 days of assuming office to adopt a parliamentary system of government and have ministers appointed from Parliament.

This will herald a major shift in government administration and governance that will bring an end to technocrats in Cabinet.

NASA opines that the present Cabinet is weak because the ministers are not politicians, so it wants to see ministers answer questions in Parliament.

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s first Cabinet initially comprised mainly technocrats, but has since been beefed up by a number of politicians, in a push to appoint ministers from Parliament.

Read: Uhuru forms new government, brings in politicians

Currently, a CabinetSecretary is not a Member of Parliament and has to be vetted by a parliamentary committee and endorsed by the House before the appointment.

The opposition National Super Alliance, in its governance structure overhaul plan, will prioritise and campaign for a countrywide popular vote to effect the sweeping constitutional changes.

Changing a system of government requires a national referendum as it touches on the structure of governance.

Read: Shut up, Raila, Kenya cannot afford a national referendum

Having Cabinet secretaries appointed from Parliament would mean that the current system of government changes from purely presidential to the hybrid.

A hybrid system is a mix of both presidential and parliamentary systems, in which the electorate directly elects a President as head of government and MPs as lawmakers from whom ministers are appointed.

NASA believes that the current pure presidential system has been opaque, inefficient, ineffective and bureaucracy ridden, with less accountability to the electorate.

“We are simply rekindling the demand for the parliamentary system that has always been there in the agenda of the Second Liberation. It had been achieved in the Bomas Draft Constitution, but was mutilated in Kilifi before the referendum of 2005. It was smuggled out of the 2010 draft through the Naivasha ‘deal’ and we had to accept that fait accompli,” said Kisumu Senator Anyang' Nyong’o.

Under the 2010 Constitution, Kenya adopted a presidential system of government over the hybrid government system in which the President and his ministers, all elected MPs, sat in the House.

The presidential system gave chairpersons of parliamentary committees more mandate to respond to questions on the floor of the House on behalf of ministers.

Cabinet secretaries only appear before MPs when summoned by departmental committees, although their attendance has been erratic, often drawing the wrath of MPs.

The 10th Parliament reserved every Wednesday afternoon for the Prime Minister’s Question Time. Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who was also designated coordinator and head of Government Business, responded to questions from lawmakers.

“We have now tested both parliamentary and presidential systems of government and now know a parliamentary system is more accountable,” said Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma.

“This will no doubt require an amendment to the Constitution, which is a lesser price to pay to secure good governance,” said the ODM lawmaker.

ODM Treasurer and a member of the NASA Coordinating Committee Timothy Bosire said the proposed parliamentary system is popular and will be endorsed by an overwhelming majority.

“It is out of experience that, for purposes of effectiveness in responding to questions on governance and accountability, it is important for ministers to be appointed from Parliament. It is an agreed-on position because it is out of practical experience,” said the Kitutu Masaba MP.

He said currently chairpersons of parliamentary committees struggle to mainstream themselves into the system and often are ineffective in their responses because they are not hands-on heads of departments.

National Assembly Public Accounts Committee chairman Nicholas Gumbo backed the proposed parliamentary system, saying it will make ministers directly accountable to the people.

“The presidential system produces ministers who are no more than over-pampered babies, completely out of touch with reality,” said the Rarieda MP.

The PAC is a critically important parliamentary watchdog committee that summons Cabinet secretaries to respond to audit queries.

However, the panel has often run into headwinds, particularly with ministers who snub meetings over “State engagements”.

“These ministers are deprived of public legitimacy and platform, they spend most of their times glorifying the appointing authority, who, somewhat rightly, they see as their sole source of security,” he said.

Opposition Deputy Minority Whip Chris Wamalwa said while a parliamentary system will be cost-effective, it will also make ministers more accountable to the people as they understand the issues affecting people at the grassroots.

“These people do anything they want without due process: A parliamentary system is going to be cheaper, with enhanced accountability,” said the Kiminini MP.

Talking about having ministers who have not lost touch with reality, he said: “The wearer of the shoe knows where it pinches”.

He concluded: “If ministers are going to come to Parliament, that will an added advantage for Kenyans in terms of accountability”.

However, the presidential system will return significant influence to the Executive over Parliament, with the Cabinet being Members of Parliament.

In February the leadership of the National Assembly resolved during a retreat in Mombasa that the next Parliament should consider changing the Constitution so that Cabinet secretaries are appointed from among MPs.

“This will bring about more accountability to the people through their representatives,” said a House team chaired by Speaker Justin Muturi.

The switch to a parliamentary system was among the key constitutional change proposals that the now-defunct Cord was pushing for before the IEBC quashed their referendum bid for lack of a requisite million signatures.

Opposition chief Raila has supported the idea of a parliamentary system since the time of the Bomas Draft Constitution in 2004, in which he played an active role.

The new constitution was originally intended to create a parliamentary system but MPs switched to a presidential system at the Naivasha talks in 2010.

In a conversation with the Star, National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale accused the opposition of running away from the popular vote for fear of the Jubilee’s “tyranny of numbers” advantage.

He said the motivation for a parliamentary system by the opposition is nothing but power lust.

“NASA is running from universal suffrage and wants to have the CEO of this country elected by 349 Members,” he told the Star on the phone from Garissa.

“It is only a rogue Parliament that can elect people like Raila Odinga. They want to try a parliamentary system where the people don’t decide, it is a group of MPs who can decide who becomes Prime Minister,” he said.

He said Jubilee will give an opportunity to the people of Kenya to elect their next crop of leaders.

Many liberal democracies such as Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand use the parliamentary system. The presidential system is used in democracies like the United States and France.

Jubilee leaders are not impressed by NASA’s resurrection of the demand for a parliamentary system.

“Raila fervently fought for a parliamentary system of governance right from Bomas I, Bomas II and through to the Wako Draft process,” Central Parliamentary Group Leader Dennis Waweru said this week.

More: [VIDEO] How Wetangula, Rutto made Raila the Nasa flagbearer

Read More: Inside Raila's election campaign team

The names of 11,309 nominees were uploaded to the Candidate Registration Management System by the May 14 deadline, IEBC has reported.

These were from 35 registered parties, the commission tweeted on Monday and said an inter-parties meeting was taking place.

Of the 11,309 candidates, eight are seeking to contest for president, 180 for governor and 258 for the senate.

Two hundred politicians are in the race for county woman representative posts, 1,470 for the 290 MP seats and 9,133 for ward representative seats.

Another 4,000 politicians will vie as independent candidates.

Read:At least 1,200 quit political parties to run as independent candidates

The Registrar of Political Parties cleared 18 presidential candidates who are now expected to submit a list of 2,000 supporters from a majority of counties to be candidates.

The mandatory requirement is considered the biggest obstacle yet to new candidates who recently announced their bids for State House.

All the presidential candidates, including Opposition chief Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta, are expected to submit their lists of supporters to the electoral commission between May 18 and 22.

The presidential flag bearers will then be required to submit their nomination papers for clearance at the KICC between May 28 and 29.

Parliamentary candidates must submit nomination papers between June 1 and 2.

Also read: Political parties tribunal won’t resolve disputes, staff shortage

A rights group has moved to the Supreme Court with concerns about the integrity of politicians ahead of the general election on August 8.

KNCHR has sought an advisory opinion from the court on standards and guidelines that should apply to leadership and integrity.

It wants aspirants with questionable reputations barred from the election as many of those who won the just-concluded party primaries cannot pass integrity tests.

"We are calling on the DPP to take action against parties and candidates who did not adhere to election laws. This should include de-registration of such parties and barring candidates who involved themselves in malpractices," chairperson Mbogholi Msagha on Monday.

The lobby wants Chapter Six of the constitution implemented to ensure only candidates cleared by the EACC are allowed to campaign.

Mbogoli further said Cabinet Secretaries who misused public resources and campaigned for others in the primaries should face the law.

She said some CSs used state vehicles and resources to endorse candidates and campaign for them.

Read: Clean nominations key to election's integrity

Also read: IEBC, EACC set up central command to vet politicians on integrity, fake papers

Regarding nominations, the commission said voters were discouraged as out of the 220 centres it monitored, 79 opened late and closed in the night.

"It was evident that most political parties were not prepared for the primaries. The majority of them, including the two major coalitions, opted to use the 2013 voters register because they lacked an updated political party membership list," Mbogoli said.

The chairperson also said various institutions must verify all documents, including candidates' financial statements to guard against forgery.