The 8th edition of the Safaricom Kisii Half Marathon which was scheduled for September 1 has been postponed indefinitely.

Nyanza South Athletics Kenya chairman Peter Angwenyi said the race was called off after consultations between sponsors Safaricom and Athletics Kenya.

“We postponed the race due to unavoidable circumstances. A new date will be announced in due course,” said Angwenyi.

The former Athletics Kenya public relations officer appealed to athletes should continue training.

“We are very sorry for the inconvenience caused but the decision was taken in interest of the athletes and officials. We expect a bigger event this year,” he added.

The race, which is normally held in Kisii town and it’s outskirts is part of the Safaricom road races and marathon series.

Even though Angwenyi said the race was not called off due to the Supreme Court ruling which will be delivered on September 1, a source told the Star that the impending ruling would have informed the decision to postpone the race.

President Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee Party will dominate the running of devolved governments in their second five-year term of existence.

An analysis of the August 8 election results shows the ruling coalition has the majority of governors (25 out of 47) and senators (34 out of 67).

Governors are in charge of devolved units while the Senate has the key oversight mandate, the aim being to protect the system of government.

Jubilee has 24 senators while its friendly parties KANU and PDR having two and one respectively, giving it 27 slots in the Senate.

The party also has 10 Nominated Senators and KANU has received another. Uhuru's party has 25 governors, KANU one and Maendeleo Chap Chap another, giving a total of 27 county bosses.

More on this: [INFOGRAPHIC] Gains in South Nyanza, Northern Kenya gifted Uhuru second term

The Opposition's NASA coalition, led by ODM leader Raila Odinga, has a total of 20 senators and 18 governors.

There are also two independent governors who were previously associated with Jubilee Party.

ODM has 13 Senators, Wiper three and ANC two, while Ford Kenya and Chama Cha Uzalendo have one each.

The orange party has seven Nominated Senators while Wiper and ANC have one each.

ODM won the top seats in 13 counties, Ford Kenya two, Wiper two and Narc one.

Also see: [INFOGRAPHIC] 10 counties where Uhuru, Raila got the most votes

Supreme Court judge Mohamed Ibrahim will not attend Tuesday's hearings as he has fallen sick.

A doctor is attending to Ibrahim, Chief Justice David Maraga said, adding they could not wait for him to return.

"...because of pressure of time we will start without him."

Others in the team handling the petition are Deputy CJ Philomena Mwilu and Justices Jackton Ojwang’, Njoki Ndung’u, Smokin Wanjala and Isaac Lenaola.

NASA moved to court to contest the presidential results that put Uhuru Kenyatta ahead of Opposition leader Raila Odinga with 1.4m votes.

On Monday, Raila's lawyers were allowed 'read only access' to IEBC servers provided they do not endanger their firewall.

Read: Raila lawyers granted read-only access to IEBC servers

During their submissions, NASA lawyers said the presidential election results declared were not based on evidence.

They cited the mismatch of results in Forms 34B and the IEBC online portal.

James Orengo and Otiende Amollo outlined "glaring errors" in IEBC forms that led to an allegedly rigged election.

More on this: IEBC made deliberate mistakes, NASA lawyers tell Supreme Court

IEBC servers are in Europe, lawyer Paul Muite has said, adding they have not refused to give the Opposition access.

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered IEBC to allow NASA, which is disputing the presidential election result, to have access to its computer servers and electronic devices used in the counting of votes.

Justice Isaac Lenaola said the National Super Alliance and Jubilee could have limited access to the electronic devices to verify certain details.

More on this: Raila lawyers granted read-only access to IEBC servers

But the Opposition accused IEBC of failing to comply with the order and only allowing access to printed logs.

Muite said they will comply but noted the process is long.

"These servers are in Europe and we have to wait for them to start working. They have to set up access windows. The exercise is going on," he said at the Supreme Court while making his submissions on Tuesday morning.

"In about an hour, the team in Europe should be done with the process...Europe is a couple of hours behind us but they will be setting up access windows with safeguards in one or two hours.

The lawyer further said they experienced logistical issues but that they were resolved.

"There is the issue of logistics but there is no difficulty about giving access to the servers. We need to be guided by experts so that we factor in the technical aspect of this."

But NASA lawyer James Orengo intercepted, noting the order was given yesterday.

"They were wide awake yesterday by the time the orders were given," Orengo said. "The excuse of saying that the people in Europe are asleep is not justifiable. We need compliance"

CJ David Maraga told the lawyers to ask their clients to comply with the law.

"If they are asleep, wake them up."

Maraga said they will demand an explanation from anyone who will not comply.

"Even if your clients are in Europe, wake them up and comply with the orders."

Master orator PLO Lumumba has once again left many Kenyans talking about his skills after making a submission at the Supreme Court.

Lumumba, while defending the IEBC from NASA's petition, used terms that had Kenyans wondering whether he knew what he was saying or was just using words.

"The pleadings before you suffer from lack of focus and particularity. The test of the election is simple, it doesn't require Pythagoras theorem," the lawyer told the seven-judge bench.

The remarks evoked displeasure among observers, social media users, as well as NASA and Jubilee leaders. Many took to social media to air their displeasure at the PLO.

Professor Makau Mutua‏ said, "Does my friend PLO Lumumba have anything more than the grating Sound + Fury of the English language?"

"Justice is plain spoken not bombastic," he added.

Read: NASA accuses IEBC of giving printed logs instead of 'read only' server access

Opposition leader Raila Odinga' spokesman Dennis Onyango claimed Lumumba had applied to be NASA lawyer but was not admitted.

"PLO had applied to be spokesman for NASA through an SMS to one of the principals. The application was turned down. He has an axe to grind," he said.

Onyango added: "PLO's known history of betrayal and treachery made no NASA principal willing to vouch for him when he applied for a role. Let PLO deny."

'@dsmasinde' said: "I can see why a counsel like PLO Lumumba failed to succeed at the Anti Corruption Court. He supports stolen election."

"Cramming Latin words doesn't make one a good lawyer. In all honesty, I think PLO Lumumba risked sounding a little egotistical," said '@ProfGeoffnell'.

But Elgeyo Marakwet Senator-elect Kipchumba Murkomen criticised NASA saying "they had 30 advocates and now they hate PLO for descending on them while defending his client."

Murkomen added: "But why? That's the intolerance of our friends."

Former Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba said he was proud to associate with Lumumba.

"Proud to have been taught law by this distinguished Kenyan patriot, a fine son of Bondo, Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba," he said.

'@MutindaMusembi' said: "De Minimis Non Curat Lex! Wafula Chebukati lawyer PLO Lumumba takes Supreme Court to school, calls NASA's case 'petty grievances'."

In the simmering heat of Tudor Moroto slum in Mombasa, children and women go about their business oblivious of the dirty air around them.

Most slum dwellers lack electricity supply so they use candles, firewood, charcoal and kerosene lamps on a daily basis.

Those who cannot afford these burn plastic bags and containers, unaware they are exposing themselves to a silent killer or aware yet stuck with the option.

Burning these items releases pollutants such as carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, poly-aromatic hydrocarbons and particulate matter in different sizes.

The World Health Organisation reports the level of fine particulate matter in the city’s outdoor air is 17 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3). This is 70 per cent above the recommended maximum level.

WHO also reports around three billion people cook and heat their homes using solid fuels (wood, charcoal, coal, dung, crop wastes) on open fires or traditional stoves.

LITTLE OR NO AWARENESS

Many of the people who use these methods are unaware of the dangers.

At lunch time, Jumwa Kitsao, a mother of five, lights her kerosene stove as is the norm. She has no alternative and says her work does not allow her "luxurious types of cooking". 

"We are waiting for the right time to get good money. Right now I am doing the work of removing flakes from coconuts. I do this for households that need my services and the money is not enough."

She tells The Star she is proud of what she has achieved so far.

Kitsao is one of the many people in Mombasa who are not well aware that indoor pollution causes about 4.3 million premature deaths globally each year.

Estimates of indoor air pollution levels in homes do not come by easily due to difficulties in monitoring each one.

The invisibility of the problem is worsened by the notion that it is private.

Mercy, who also lives in the slum, says she uses a jiko and a stove to cook and that she has not had any problems.

"They have never affected me. What affects me are my surroundings."

Eldoret resident Gladys Wanjiru using firewood to cook. /MATHEWS NDANYI

'CHEST PAINS BUT NO CHOICE'

Gladys Wanjiru, a mother of one at Kamukunji slum in Eldoret, says she uses firewood to cook despite the negative effects she has suffered.

Wood smoke has been shown to have similar pollutants as cigarette smoke but at higher concentrations.

Poor ventilation in homes because of concerns about security or outdoor air pollution worsens matters.

The pollutants are associated with respiratory diseases, cancers and serious maternal and child health concerns.

"Mara nyingi moshi huingia kwenye kifua na hata kwa macho lakini inabidi nitumie stove kwa sababu sina namna. Wakati mwingine kifua kinafungana kwa sababu ya moshi (Most times the smoke gets into my lungs and eyes but I have no choice since it is the only cooking method I can afford. At times I suffer chest congestion)," Wanjiru says.

She says she is not fully aware of the long term effects and would love to use gas.

"Kuni huokoa muda kwa sababu sina gas wala pesa za kununua jiko (Using firewood saves time. I don't have gas and money enough to buy a jiko)."

Peris Wambui says she uses the jiko because it is cheap.

"Lakini saa zingine moshi yaumiza macho (But the smoke from the jiko sometimes hurts my eyes)."

Poverty is also what has led to an increase in illegal electricity connections in the Coastal city.

 Mombasa has a population of more than 900,000 and a majority of the people in the slums are on connections that Kenya Power has not authorised.

An electricity pole at Tudor Moroto slum in Mombasa, August 27, 2017. /ELKANA JACOB

"We have not had electricity because of too many disconnections," Kitsao says, adding this forces them to turn to the illegal connections.

According to HuruMap, Mombasa's rate of electricity use for lighting is 59 per cent, more than double the national rate of 22.69 per cent.

Electricity is followed by tin lamps and lanterns.

OPENS SEWERS ANOTHER DANGER

Sewer lines lie open outside many homes in Tudor Moroto and just like in the case of dirty air, residents seem accustomed to this.

They play, hang their clothes to dry and air mattresses while hopping over the open lines.

WHO reported that a quarter of all global deaths of children under five are due to unhealthy or polluted environments, including dirty water and air.

A public toilet at Tudor Moroto slum in Mombasa, August 27, 2017. /ELKANA JACOB

The risks include diarrhoea, malaria and pneumonia, conditions which kill 1.7 million children a year.

HuruMap shows 27 per cent of the Mombasa population use sewers or septic tanks as their main mode of human waste disposal.

INTERVENTIONS TO REDUCE INDOOR AIR POLLUTION

According to WHO, Interventions can be classified according to the level at which they are effective: a) interventions on the source of pollution, b) interventions to the living environment, and c) interventions to user behaviour.

The organisation notes people can use alternative fuels for their cooking.

"The largest reductions in indoor air pollution can be achieved by switching from solid fuels (biomass, coal) to cleaner and more efficient fuels and energy technologies."

The alternatives include liquid petroleum gas, biogas, producer gas, electricity, solar power and improved stoves

Improved stoves come in handy in poor, rural areas where it is difficult to find alternative fuels and biomass is the most practical fuel.

Changes in design and installation would help, alongside maintenance, significantly reducing the amount of smoke emitted and shortening the cooking period.

Illustration by Wandia Karige

An operation will be launched on the Meru-Isiolo border to flush out bandits, Meru county commissioner Wilfred Nyagwanga said on Monday.

Last week residents of Maili Saba held a demonstration to protest against the killing of two people by armed herders from Isiolo county.

“We will not negotiate with criminals. We will use force where necessary to flush them out and restore peace,” Nyagwanga said.

He spoke at a meeting in Maili Saba, Buuri constituency, with national government security officers from both counties.

The meeting was attended by Buuri deputy county commissioner Asha Kiiva, Meru police boss Nelson Taliti and Isiolo assistant county commissioner Otieno Okitch among others.

Residents of Maili Tatu said guns are fired sporadically.

Nyagwanga said he will not give amnesty to residents with illegal firearms as the deadline to surrender them expired.

“We also have reports of people colluding with criminals,” he said. “We will apprehend them. We have enough officers. Jails were created, they are for such people.”

Wanted criminals list

Nyagwanga urged herders not take their livestock to people’s farms, adding that the drought is no excuse to invade residents’ private property.

Nyagwanga said herders are hiding on a nearby hill but they will conduct a “tough” operation to restore peace.

“We urge residents to give information regarding those they view as a threat to security,” he said.

Nyagwanga asked residents not to block roads. Residents blocked the Isiolo-Meru road at Maili Tatu shopping centre on Friday to protest against crime.

He said they will increase the number of police officers and open new police stations.

Taliti said they will recover stolen animals and give them back to the owners.

Okitch gave the names of nine wanted criminals from Isiolo suspected of causing havoc in Maili Saba.

He identified them as Edong’a Reet, Eyan Awol, Gabriel, Loibash Long’elesh, Lomunyin Lokunoi, Lomutukai Ngichilik, Londung’o Kapel Bok, and Lotaba.

He declined to name their accomplices in Meru, saying they might be lynched.

A two-month-old baby has been detained at Komarock Modern Hospital, Utawala branch, Mavoko,over a Sh400,000 unpaid bill.

Jensen Okwaro and his mother Jacqueline Awuor, 32, were admitted on July 19.

He was in a coma and his mother was very ill as she had undergone a C-section.

Okwaro was only three weeks old. He was put in an incubator.

“It was not my choice to seek treatment at the private hospital. I had no alternative since nurses in public hospitals were on strike,” Awuor told the Star at the hospital on Monday.

She was released a few weeks ago to raise funds and walked 15km to Doors of Hope NGO in Athi River to seek assistance.

Programmes manager Jacqueline Shibalira said the NHIF won’t intervene because she defaulted on payments 16 months ago when the organisation she worked for went under.

To assist her donations can be sent to M-Pesa till number 680426, account Doors of Hope Baby Jensen.

Two of Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o’s allies want to be city manager.

Former Kisumu Deputy Governor Ruth Odinga and Doris Ombara are eyeing the position in the yet to be constituted City Management Board.

Ombara and Ruth supported and played a key role in Nyong’o’s election.

Ombara, a former city manager, was head of Team Kali Secretariat for Nyong’o.

This places Nyong’o in a difficult position should the two make it to the shortlisted candidates.

Ruth is viewed as the political link that will stabilise the county government in the city.

Also eyeing the position are Ken Ouko, a former YK92 secretary from Homa Bay county and once a lecturer at Maseno University, and Larry Gumbe, a Nairobi-based consultant.

There is intense lobbying as Nyong’o plans to form the board in his first 100 days in office to expedite services.

He pledged to swiftly constitute the board, which he blamed for poor services in the previous administration.

“My administration is issue-based and providing services is key. The board must be in place in 100 days,” Nyong’o said during his swearing-in last week.

His predecessor Jack Ranguma failed to form the board for the past five years in office.

This was largely blamed for poor services, especially failure to relocte the Kachok dumpsite.

The city board consists of not more than 11 members, six of them appointed through a competitive process by the county executive committee, with approval of the county assembly.

Nyong’o said it is difficult for the city to run smoothly without the board. Lack of a board, he said, derailed the implementation of Kisumu urban projects.

Ombara is perceived as a strong contender, having been in the position for almost one year.

She was brought by Ranguma to the city, bypassing others who were qualified and experienced.

Ombara managed to relocate traders from the famous Oile market.

Ranguma and Ombara reportedly disagreed over expenditure of the Sh4.5 billion Kisumu Urban Project, funded by French government, and the awarding of tenders. This led to a falling out.

She was replaced by Lydia Muthoni in an acting capacity.

Ombara, however, linked her replacement to her firm stand against corruption. Ranguma transferred her as the director to a non-existent Lake front directorate.

In other seats, former Kisumu mayor Sam Okello and Gumbe are also seeking the board chairman position.

Okello, an ally of NASA leader Raila Odinga, is considered qualified and suitable. He was key in negotiating the Sh4.5 billion Kisumu Urban Project by the French government in 2012.

Many residents praised Okello, saying he has the blueprint of the city.

Gumbe applied for the position of city board chair initiated by Ranguma’s administration last month, but stopped by court injunction.

Appointment of new officials for Homa Bay by Governor Cyprian Awiti is taking a different direction after churches raised their voice and emphasised merit.

Contention has emerged on the criteria Awiti should follow in making appointments to his cabinet.

The Pentecostal Churches in the county have urged Awiti to shun the clan factor and regional balance.

Homa Bay Bishops and Pastors’ Unity chairman Elijah Kwanya said Awiti should consider professional credentials of applicants, not clannism.

Speaking to journalists in Homa Bay town yesterday, Kwanya said making regional balance a priority in appointing the officials may result in officials who are not competent and can’t deliver.

Some residents say under-performance in Awiti’s first term was due to disregard for professionalism.

Lugari MP Ayub Savula and Lurambi’s Titus Khamala have broken ranks with ODM and said they will be sworn in.

Last week ODM chairman John Mbadi and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed said NASA MPs would skip the swearing in.

But Khamala said the declaration is for ODM members only.

“I am not answerable to Junet and Mbadi, but Musalia] Mudavadi. As ANC we’re Mudavadi’s army and we cannot do so when we are not sworn into office as MPs,” Khamala said at Shibuli market yesterday.

Savula said he will be sworn in but will not participate in electing the speaker and deputy speaker.

ANC MPs and senators-elect are set to meet their party leader today to decide on a course of action.

If NASA MPs agree to be sworn in but snub the election of the speaker, they will paralyse Parliament proceedings.

Jubilee alone cannot raise the two-thirds majority required to elect a speaker, despite enjoying numerical advantage in both Houses.

Jubilee has a combined majority of 177 MPs over NASA’s 123. However, 233 MPs must vote for a speaker to be validly elected in law. In the Senate, Jubilee has 36 legislators, while NASA has 31.

Won’t elect speaker

Savula said ODM legislators are insincere in calling for NASA MPs to boycott the swearing- in ceremony.

“All NASA governors were sworn in. Why should MPs not take the oath of office yet they won the elections fairly?” he said.

Savula said an MP-elect who misses being sworn in without a valid reason and misses seven sittings is presumed to have lost the seat and the constituency will be subjected to a by-election.

But ANC’s approach would circumvent this if effectively implemented as Parliament cannot operate without a speaker.

Governors sworn in

Savula said the dispute before the Supreme Court is about the presidential election and not MPs’.

MPs will be sworn in tomorrow, despite a case in court challenging the constitutionality of the 12th Parliament, which does not meet the two-thirds gender parity.

The High Court declined to block the swearing-in of the 12th Parliament.

NASA co-principal Moses Wetang’ula, Mudavadi and Kalonzo Musyoka on Friday addressed a press conference and said President Uhuru Kenyatta’s recall of Parliament was in bad faith.

They said it was meant to weigh down NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga’s case at the Supreme Court.

Wetang’ula said Uhuru was wrong to convene the first sitting of Parliament before the petition challenging the validity of his reelection is concluded by the Supreme Court.

Senior officials at the Kakamega government have panicked as Governor Wycliffe Oparanya crafts his new-look administration.

Last week the government advertised the positions of county secretary, deputy county secretary and chief officers, setting the stage for an impending purge.

Oparanya announced two weeks ago he would sack non-performing executives.

During his swearing-in at Bukhungu Stadium on August 21, he warned wheeler dealers and brokers their time is up. “I will put together an effective and efficient cabinet that will ensure the county achieves its development goals,” he said.

The Star yesterday learnt county staff believed to be close to Oparanya are compiling a list of staff who campaigned for his opponents for discipline.

Yesterday, sources told the Star executives, advisers and chief officers are anxious to know their fate.

County chief of staff Musa Chibole allayed fears of mass sackings.

“Only political appointees will be affected, not the junior staff,” he said.

Advisers and executives are among the political appointees.

Kenya Simbas have dropped two places to 27 in the latest World Rugby rankings released yesterday.

This follows the Simbas Kenya 43-34 defeat to Hong Kong in the second encounter of the two-match Tatu City series following a 19-19 draw in the first on August 20.

Hong Kong, popularly known as The Dragons, moved up to their highest position ever in world rugby at 22 with Portugal and Belgium the beneficiaries of Kenya’ slip as they moved a step better to 25th and 26th respectively.

The Simbas have chance to exact revenge on The Dragons when they meet in the four-nation tournament set for Hong Kong in November. Others are Chile and Russia.

The tournament will act as a build up for the Rugby World Cup qualifiers slated for next year.

Simbas assistant coach Dominique Habimana said a slow start contributed to Kenya’s defeat over the weekend. “We did not start well. Our discipline let us down. We gave away too many penalties. We then conceded two tries in the opening 10 minutes of the second half to trail by 33-6,” said Habimana. “From then, it became a job of putting respectability on the scoreline.”

He was, however, encouraged by the late fightback by the Simbas as they scored four tries to salvage some pride.

Habimana said they may include New Zealand-based winger William Ambaka in the Rugby World Cup qualifiers if he can get clearance from his provincial club, Manuwatu Turbos.

Ambaka has been in good from for the club scoring a try on his debut in the Mitre 10 Cup. The tactician said they have been in touch with him to find out his plans for next year. “Obviously, he has started his career in New Zealand so we await his feedback on whether he will be available for the qualifiers which are set for June or July,” he added.

Kenya had a mixed season on the international fixtures losing to Germany 30-29, beating and drawing with Uganda 23-18 and 33-33, beat Senegal 45-25, humiliated Tunisia 100-10, overcame Zimbabwe 41-22 and lost to Namibia 45-7 to finish second in the Africa Gold Cup.

The team will have a two-week break before resuming training in mid September.

Nicholas Mbugua and Manase Otieno are the latest players to join Team Kenya to the World English-word Players Scrabble Association Championships slated for November 6 -12 at Laico Regency, Nairobi.
The duo complete Kenya’s quota of six as allocated by Wespa. The other four who had qualified earlier are Gitonga Nderitu, Allan Oyende, Willy Mwangi and Patrick Litunya. The event was moved from Kenya International Convention Centre to move Laico Regency due to lack of committment from the government. Even after agreeing to book and foot the bill of Championship venue, the Sports Ministry remained tight-lipped about their progress and SK had to find out on their own that KICC was fully booked by other entities.
“We are excited about the championships and Scrabble Kenya is more thrilled with the whole experience of hosting the world showpiece. Everything is set for the tournament,” said Local Organizing Committee (LOC) sectary, Eva Njogu. This is the first time the World Championships is being held in Africa. As of Monday this week, 100 players had qualified for the showpiece and same number was yet to be listed by their countries. Six other players including the defending champion Wellington Jighere got wild cards for the bonanza. The Wespa Championships will see players go through 32 games over four days- between November 8 and 11 and thereafter the top two will advance to a best of seven final on November 12.
There will also be a series of other events on offer for the players over the seven days of action. The events include the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) on Tuesday where 10 per cent of (top) participants and top three youth players will be entered in the Wespa championships. Slated for November 8 is an eight-game Nairobi One Day Open Championship, which will set the stage for Kenya International Youth Championship from November 9 to 11.
The fifth event will be a three-day Kenya International Open Championship (November 9 to 11) and finally, the curtains for the world championships will come down with One Day Open on Sunday, November 12.

NASA petition is a shell without a bomb, Senator Kipchumba Murkomen has said in response to lawyer James Orengo's remark that they have bombshell evidence.

Before petition hearings began, the NASA lawyer said they will demonstrate at the Supreme Court the magnitude of fraud committed during elections.

Orengo said most of the 54,000 papers filed by IEBC have no security features as stipulated in the Elections Act.

"We have a bombshell ... in my many years of practice I have never seen such magnitude of forgery. A majority of IEBC papers are fake," he said.

[VIDEO] Most IEBC papers are fake, NASA has bombshell on elections fraud - Orengo

But Murkomen at the end of the petition hearing said the evidence that the Opposition submitted to the Court had no substance.

"Eventually NASA's petition is underwhelming. A shell without the bomb as earlier promised by my colleague Senator Orengo," Murkomen said via Twitter on Tuesday.

Murkomen further said NASA are busy arguing that IEBC should have verified results by reopening and scrutinizing Forms 34A yet they said the results should be announced at the constituency level.

"You have made your bed now lie in it. You can't have your cake and eat it. You either have it or eat it," The Elgeyo Marakwet Senator said.

His remarks received mixed reactions from social media users and followers as some attacked him while others supported what he said.

"@kipmurkomen you lost direction the moment you left the lecture room. Go yap in the Senate,"‏ @MweuCarole said.

@MaduroGeorge said "The computer generated lawyer is on Twitter while real lawyers are giving their views in supreme Court."

"Lawyers argue their points in court not on twitter bwana Murkomen," @MacgoyeD said.

@FelixOmondiOyoo said "Junior counsel Murkomen is that player who warms up on the touchline for 90 minutes but never gets to play. Maembe."

"The only sense PLO said was that the baby was delivered and is alive..But he forgot to say the baby is with the wrong mother,"‏ @momanyijose said.

@Ericochola said "So your work is to blabber and jabber in the social media. I don't think this is the right platform to showcase your legal prowess."

Other users supported Murkomen's sentiments saying they waited for the evidence but they did not see.

"We all were waiting for the bomb in relation to the hacking and hatching of vifarangas via computer. NASA disappointed us on that count," @IgwetaGK said.

@maswalimajibu2 said "I feel Raila has always been misadvised, they could have shown some evidence from their agents, i saw none at all."

"They never delivered us canan how do we expect jerusalem (sic),"‏ @FredrickNgigi3 said.

During their submissions, NASA lawyers said presidential election results declared were not based on evidence as they cited mismatch of results in Forms 34B and the IEBC online portal.

Orengo and Otiende Amollo outlined the "glaring errors" in IEBC forms that led to an allegedly rigged election. Orengo said the forms issued to them and the Supreme Court do not match with their respective constituencies.

More on this: IEBC made deliberate mistakes, NASA lawyers tell Supreme Court

But President Uhuru Kenyatta's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the NASA petition saying they were based on hearsay but no evidence.

"Hold some arguments with a belt and suspender ... it is about the vote. Courts cannot demand voter certainty. The essence of this election is whether the voters voted," Ahmednasir Abdullahi said.

The seven-judge bench will deliver its ruling on the presidential petition on Friday, September 1.

Chief Justice David Maraga did not, however, specify the time the ruling will be delivered.

Read: Raila presidential petition hearing ends, Maraga says ruling on September 1

This is the moment a pair of hungry hippos stopped a wildebeest from being eaten by a crocodile - and then tried to get a bite for themselves.

The amazing video was captured in South Africa's Kruger Park by pensioner Mervyn Van Wyk, 72, who was visiting the park with his wife Tokkie.

The adventurous pair noticed the wildebeest happily grazing on the opposite side of the river along with zebras and impalas.

Mervyn's wife was happily snapping away when she noticed that one of the unlucky animals had been grabbed by a crocodile.

It struggled for its life for eight minutes with the wildebeest trying and failing to drag itself out of the water.

The exhausted animal was close to succumbing to the water when suddenly two hippos appeared before approaching the scene cautiously.

They suddenly sprang on the crocodile forcing it to release its grip on the wildebeest - and crucially giving the creature a chance to escape.

But while it might seem that the hippos were rescuing the wildebeest, it is far more likely that they were showing territorial behaviour.

It turns out that they were actually trying to attack the animal in a bid to get it out of their area of water.

Mervyn said: 'We could not believe the rarity of this situation. I have never seen a hippo coming to the aid of another animal, it was simply astonishing.

"Remember in Kruger, never rush away and always be patient because these amazing sightings are everywhere to be seen.”

NASA leaders have unanimously agreed their MPs and Senators will attend the Thursday inauguration ceremony at Parliament.

The Opposition had issued a statement saying members would boycott the swearing-in until matters surrounding Uhuru Kenyatta’s "supposed re-election" are heard and credibly determined.

At Okoa Kenya offices in Nairobi on Wednesday, Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang'ula noted the Opposition leaders will only take oaths of office.

"NASA MPs will go to to Parliament tomorrow for swearing-in and induction," he told a press briefing that other principals attended.

ODM secretary for political affairs Opiyo Wandayi had termed the first 12th Parliament's first sitting illegal and said the gazette notice had to be revoked.

Majority leader Aden Duale said NASA should stop "badmouthing the first sitting of Parliament" and added its leaders are dishonest and have ill motives.

Read: New Parliament sitting 'illegal', no business without NASA MPs - Wandayi

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Demand for old newspapers for packaging food has increased after the ban on the use of plastic carrier bags took effect on Monday.

The ban has forced many small traders in Homa Bay to use old newspapers for packing their goods.

A spot check by the Star on Wednesday at shops that sell the old newspapers revealed that traders thronged the shops to buy them.

Shopkeeper Christopher Japala, who stocks old newspapers and other goods, said, “We’re witnessing many people come for old newspapers for packaging their goods unlike before. It’s a boost to my business since stock turnovers are high.”

Pack in newspapers, used bottles

In Homa Bay town market, traders, who included butchers and grocery vendors, said they need old newspapers.

Margret Okello, a vegetable seller, said the demand for old newspapers is high because they have to comply with the plastic bag ban.

She said they fear being punished if they violate Nema rules.

“We’ve no option but to abide by the law to use recyclable packaging materials. The use of polythene bags for packaging goods had been stopped, hence, we rushed for newspapers,” Okello said.

Milk vendors have resorted to using old water bottles.

The bottles are sold at between Sh5 to Sh20 depending on its capacity.

“Customers are free to carry their own containers for carrying the milk if they don’t want to buy ours,” milk vendor Bernard Matoro said.

Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti should stop victimising county staffers over his failure to deliver, former Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga said yesterday.

He said Awiti should not blame his County Executive Committee members and chief officers for his failures. “Awiti must stop victimising county employees by sacking them,” Magwanga said.

“In 2013, people only voted for Awiti, and being the team leader he had to take control and ensure all the promises he made during campaigns and in his manifesto are executed.”

In his campaigns, Awiti said his administration had not performed to public expectation and promised to constitute a new team.

Seventeen county staffers have received sacking letters after being accused of supporting Magwanga – Awiti’s main opponent in the August 8 election.

Speaking to the Star on the phone, Magwanga gave Awiti 24 hours to constitute his government and start work.

“Other governors newly elected or those who retained their seats are in their offices executing their duties, while Awiti is only being spotted between Kisumu and Nairobi,” he said.