Nondescripts have been docked 10 points for allegedly fielding ineligible players in the 2017-18 Kenya Cup campaign. Kenya Rugby Union insist Nondies’ latest acquisitions of Fidel Oloo, Levy Ochieng (Kabras Sugar) and Blak Blad trio of Moses Begi, Mark Ongayo and Franz Obudo were not done in accordance with the rules.
The five have played all of Nondies matches this term including wins over Strathmore Leos and Mombasa Sports Club and losses to Homeboyz, Impala and Blak Blad.
The development has seen Nondies drop from sixth to 10th on the standings behind Mwamba, Nakuru, Blak Blad and Strathmore. Nondies are expected to appeal the decision with team manager, Kevin Were, terming the decision by KRU unjustified.
“We are going to appeal. We find the move unreasonable. We are confident the move will be rescinded since we signed the players in good time and in accordance with the rules,” said Were. Nondies face Resolution Kisii RFC on Saturday.
Elsewhere, South Coast Pirates climbed to ninth in the KRU championship after beating Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology 10-0 over the weekend.
Kevin Amiani scored the only try in the win over JKUAT with Hajj Mohamed bagging a drop goal and a conversion to seal the win. JKUAT drops to 12th as University of Eldoret sinks into the relegation zone after a 26-0 defeat to Menengai Oilers. It was also a bad day in the office for Moi University, who lost 19-8 to Egerton Wasps.

In a major space science breakthrough, Kenya has built its first satellite, mainly to observe farming trends and monitor the coastline.

The Sh120 million tiny 10 by 10cm cube nanosatellite is to be launched in April or May from the International Space Station.

The satellite was developed by the University of Nairobi in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Mostly funded by Japan.

The University of Nairobi said the satellite will also be used to test technologies for the launch of a larger earth observation satellite in the future.

Read: US in 15 hours: KQ's maiden New York flight to cost Sh89,000

The launch, if successful, will earn Kenya a position in the small club of African countries engaged in space science.

Only South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Algeria, and Egypt have satellites in space. Koichi Wakata, the Japanese agency’s ISS programme manager, said Kenya’s satellite will be delivered to the ISS in March.

It will be launched from a robotic arm known as Kibo in April or May

“At Jaxa, we are committed to making every effort to prepare for the successful deployment of the Republic of Kenya’s first satellite utilising unique capability of the Japanese Experiment Module Kibo on the ISS,” he said.

COMPLETED LAST WEEK

The ISS is a large spacecraft built by several countries to orbit Earth and house astronauts working on experiments.

UoN engineer Dr Jackson Mwangi, who was involved in the satellite development, said it was handed over to Jaxa in Japan on Tuesday last week.

“The 1KUNS-PF ( 1st Kenyan University Nano Satellite Precursor Flight) is the first satellite to be developed by Kenya and first satellite to be operated by a Kenyan university,” he said.

It comes in a new form, a nanosatellite. It’s extremely small, a 10 by 10 centimetre cube, with volume of one litre.

Miniaturised satellites increasingly perform commercial missions that previously required larger satellites.

Kenya’s first satellite was developed through a programme known as KiboCUBE, launched in September 2015 by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and the Jaxa.

The programme offers educational and research institutions from developing countries the opportunity to deploy cube satellites from the ISS.

The term “nanosatellite” or “nanosat” is usually applied to an artificial satellite with a mass between one and 10kg.

For the first time, a voice call was made via a nosatellite using a regular smartphone, in September last year.

Click here for the latest political news  

A 73-year-old woman has filed for divorce from her 76-year-old husband in Kangema, Murang’a, saying he abandoned her for a second wife.

They have been married for 55 years.

Wheelchair-bound Marcella Mukami told a Kangema court on Friday she wants a share of Peter Kinyugo’s property because they built businesses together.

Read: Briton arrested for killing wife in Malindi 'accident' after domestic quarrel

She said she earns only Sh2,000 from her farm, her husband took her pension and does not support her.

Mukami from Kiru location in Mathioya constituency told the court she contributed to purchase of the family land and construction of their permanent home.

That’s when both were working as teachers. Mukami said when Kinyugo married his second wife, he gave the bigger chunk of their land to her, leaving her with a small parcel.

“I helped plant the tea he gave her and he left me without any. I had to plant tea afresh on the small land he gave me,” Mukami told the court.

Mukami was wheeled into court from Huruma Hospital in Nanyuki. She told senior resident magistrate Dennis Kivuti her marital issues worsened six years ago when her husband stopped visiting her.

Mukami said she built many businesses with Kinyugo and she wants a share of them.

She said her husband forced her to participate in his traditional wedding to his second wife and to live in the same house with her for a year.

Defence counsel Gichuki Waiganjo produced photos of Mukami and her co-wife during her dowry ceremony.

Mukami saidher husband took her pension after she retired from teaching, adding they shared an account. “Just before I retired, I applied for a separate account but my pension still got into the joint account,” she said.

The hearing is continue on February 15, when Kinyugo will testify.

Click here for the latest political news  

Jubilee yesterday told off NASA leaders over threats that the country will plunge into chaos if President Uhuru Kenyatta will not accept dialogue by Monday next week.

Jubilee Party secretary general Raphael Tuju, Majority Leader in the National Assembly Aden Duale and a host of MPs said the remarks were reckless and irresponsible.

Read: Forget 'chaotic' Raila oath, focus on beating Ruto in 2022, Kuttuny tells NASA

They said the threats amounted to blackmail aimed at attempting to force Uhuru to form a coalition government.

NASA principals Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka on Sunday warned of a possible civil war if Jubilee does not accept dialogue.

“The government is in place and we have the President and Deputy President who are legally in office. There is no need to engage them,” Tuju told the Star on phone yesterday.

Duale said Kenyans “held dialogue in the August 2017 election and another will be held in 2022 through ballot.” 

He said Raila and Kalonzo should use Parliament to champions any reforms they wish to implement.

Read: NASA, Jubilee talk tough ahead of Raila swearing

REFORMS

“Raila and Kalonzo should take their time and read the mood of Kenyans. No one is with them. The country has moved on and Kenyans want to see the Jubilee manifesto rolled out,” Duale said.

“It is sad that he [Kalonzo] wants to be the President of a country in which he is calling for civil war. They should know that Jubilee will not be intimidated or blackmailed.”

The Garissa Township MP said Parliament - both the Senate and the National Assembly - was ready to listen to all Kenyans, including Raila and Kalonzo, on any reforms they wish to see in the Constitution.

Read: Sober up or plunge Kenya into chaos, Sapit warns politicians

On Sunday while presiding over a People’s Assembly in Mombasa, Raila and Kalonzo gave Uhuru a seven-day ultimatum to accept dialogue, failing which the country will go to civil war.

“This country is headed for a civil war and I am telling Uhuru to call Raila in the next one week or things will go bad,” Kalonzo said.

“There will be no elections in 2022 if the 2017 issue will not have been resolved,” Raila said.

MPs Martha Wangari (Gilgil), Nelson Koech (Belgut) and David Pkosing (Pokot South) asked police and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission to take action against the NASA leaders.

DEMONS

Wangari asked Kalonzo to apologise to Kenyans, saying women and children will suffer in case a civil war breaks out.

“It is unfortunate that the remarks were made by a high ranking leader in this country. Kalonzo saw what happened in 2007/08 and he should not be allowed to cause tension,” Wangari said.

Pkosing said he was shocked by Kalonzo’s statement.

“We know him as a God-fearing man. I think bishops should pray for Kalonzo because the path he is taking is dangerous. He may have been possessed by demons,” Pkosing said.

Click here for the latest political news 

Over 120 MPs have signed up recognising Raila Odinga as the duly elected People’s President and backing the National Constituent Assembly even as the Attorney General yesterday filed an petition in the High Court challenging its constitutionality.

Only 34 members of NASA’s 154 legislators in both the National Assembly and Senate are yet to enlist or have refused to sign the controversial affidavit championed by Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala.

Among those who haven’t signed, some still claim to support the NASA chief’s swearing-in but are opposed to the signing.

Malala has been on an offensive to test the commitment of the MPS and says he will name and shame those who shall not have signed the affidavit by end of today.

Terming the 15 Assemblies so far established as 'an illegality', AG Githu Muigai wants the court to urgently hear the petition  because “there is an ongoing violation of the Constitution and the spending of public resources on unlawful activities.”

An affidavit filed by Deputy Chief State Counsel Charles Mutinda says the Assemblies are “unconstitutional activities contrary to the Constitution and the Public Finance Management Act”.

He said they raise “a substantial question of law which is of great public importance”

The 15 county assemblies that have passed the People’s Assembly motions between November 8 and December 6 last year are Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Mandera, Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia, Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay and Migori.

The Council of Governors has been cited as an interested party.

But as the state responds to NASA activities, Uhuru Park, the venue for the planned swearing-in has reliably been booked for a parallel event — the signing exercise has also triggered friction in the Opposition coalition a week to the ceremony next Tuesday.  

More on this: 'No backing down' Coast People Assembly says on Raila-Kalonzo swearing in

Read: NASA, Jubilee talk tough ahead of Raila swearing

Lawmakers who have not signed the affidavit include National Assembly Deputy Minority Leader Robert Mbui, South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro, Kitutu Chache MP Richard Onyonka and Luanda MP Christopher Omulele.

Omulele termed Malala and nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi as “jokers” who are using the affidavit drive for political mileage.

“My leader is Raila. I don't need to swear an affidavit before some ANC members who were fighting Raila up to the last moment. In the IEBC record, I am one of the proposers for Raila to be President...I believe in Raila and I have never supported any presidential candidate even when Musalia was on the ballot,” Omulele told the Star.

Osoro also vowed he will not sign the affidavit, calling the Kakamega Senator an attention-seeker who is using opposition MPs for selfish reasons.

“I haven't got details from my party leadership, I cannot be called upon by a senator of a certain party within our coalition to tell me to sign the affidavit,” Osoro told the Star on the phone.

“I will not sign because Malala cannot call upon me to sign an affidavit. It needs to be a coalition position. If Baba says I sign, I will, not Malala,” he said. Am not answerable to Malala or any other Senator or leader of my caliber.”

Onyonka who broke ranks with his opposition colleagues early this year when he publicly confessed President Uhuru won fair and square has also not signed.

Sources told the Star he is one of the MPs who are leading the anti-affidavit campaign within the Opposition circle.

ANC Secretary General Barack Muluka dismissed the affidavit push as blackmail, saying the document has a "sinister motive and intent".

“Needless to say, there is divergence on this matter even within NASA. Those who refuse or fail to sign will be declared to be moles, traitors, quislings, turncoats and abracadabra,” argued Muluka in his Sunday column.

Osotsi however expressed confidence that all the legislators will sign the document, terming those who are dismissing it as moles who dine with Jubilee.

“We are over 120 so far, short of 34 but we will get them before the end of the day,” ANC nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi said. “We will use the list to petition the international community and draw their attention to the fact that things are not okay.”

The Opposition was supposed to publish the names yesterday but pushed it to Wednesday in what organisers say is to allow more time for members to sign.

“We have given them up to Tuesday evening to make sure they sign. Then on Wednesday, we will have a list of shame,” Malala insisted.

The senator encouraged Opposition leaders to walk the talk by appending their signatures in support of Raila's inauguration.

Also read: NASA's radical plan for Raila's swearing-in

The Star has also established that whereas some MPs have not signed the three-page document due to ill-health, others are not comfortable with the whole idea fearing it will lead to bloodshed and even death.

One such case is Kathiani MP, Robert Mbui, who is yet to sign due to ill health. The deputy leader of the Minority in the National Assembly had to undergo surgery after suffering a broken leg during police confrontation with NASA supporters last year.

“The affidavit is a very good idea. It is not a party position but an initiative kicked off by some enterprising members of our coalition,” he explained. “It is basically meant to prove that NASA MPs and governors support the swearing-in of the people's President and his deputy,” Mbui told the Star.

“My support for the swearing in is not in any doubt. Unfortunately, I have been unavailable to sign because of my mobility-related issues. I will definitely sign it,” he added.

The Opposition has dismissed Attorney General Githu Muigai’s warning that taking, participating in or facilitating a presidential oath is treason punishable by death.

They have vowed that they will use the annulled August 8 presidential election, which they claim they won, to swear in Raila and Kalonzo as the People's President and deputy.

The affidavit calls for among other things non-recognition of Uhuru Kenyatta's presidency and the October 26 repeat presidential polls.

“I recognise the Rt Hon Raila Odinga as the People's President of the Republic of Kenya, having been duly elected by the people of Kenya on August 8, 2017,” reads part of the NASA affidavit.

Click here for the latest political news

Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter lost his Labour committee chairman post following a vote of no confidence by his Jubilee Party counterparts on Tuesday.

Nominated MP David Ole Sankok moved the motion claiming they did not take into consideration the requirement of regional balance.

"I can also be a chairman. I was chairman of Sonu when I was [at University of Nairobi]. It's not about qualifications. It's about balance. There was no consideration of regional balance," he said in Parliament.

More on this: Defiant MPs summoned to State House

But Keter said passing a vote of no confidence would mean legislators were working  with the executive yet Parliament should be independent.

Last week, President Uhuru Kenyatta summoned four MPs who defied the party's directive to resign from the committees they were elected to head.

The other three were Moiben’s Silas Tiren, Marakwet MP David Bowen and Emgwen's Alex Kosgey. They defied a directive by deputy president William Ruto to relinquish the seats they had won, against their party's wishes.

The four have been at loggerheads with Jubilee Party chiefs in Parliament after going against president Uhuru Kenyatta's preferences and working their way to committee leadership roles.

Keter said: "I thought names given by the president and DP were suggestions but was surprised to realise they [gave directives].

"We are setting a bad tradition. Parliament has the capacity to produce its leaders. It is wrong to be seated here instead of going through an induction."

An agitated Keter further said it was unfortunate that the party wanted him out because of regional balance.

"We were elected to lead the people of Kenya and as long as we are here, we work towards the betterment of Kenya, not because of a president's directive."

The lawmaker noted Parliament's mandate is not to create balance but added "if you insist on having your way then we move on".

"We have to insist on the constitution. You cannot sit here and purport that I am not fit to sit here. We have no reason to stand here and say that we are MPs. The constitution is supreme."

Echoing what Keter said, Nominated MP Wilson Sossion said the decision was the most reckless one they had ever made.

"It is sad ... it is sad ... it is very sad. This is the most reckless process we have ever engaged in. I have confidence in the chair and vice chair," he said.

Sossion noted Kenya needs a Parliament that is not influenced by other arms of government.

"The three arms of government should be independent. Parliament should be allowed to do its work instead of listening to people outside," he said. 

NASA MPs were asked to skip today's meetings for four parliamentary committees as the ruling coalition sought to oust rebels from leadership positions.

In a letter seen by The Star on Monday, minority whip Junet Mohamed directed the opposition MPs to skip the meetings as they had exercised their mandates.

The Suna East MP wrote the letters to all members of the Labour and Social Welfare, Agriculture, Environment, Parliamentary Broadcasting and Library committees.

More on this: NASA directs MPs to skip meetings on removing Jubilee rebels

Also read: Jubilee MPs go to court after 'irrational' removal from committees

Click here for the latest political news 

Nairobi governor Mike Sonko has sacked three of his aides just three months after appointing them.

They are his personal assistant Bernard Mulwa, delivery unit deputy director Joseph Ireri and Michael Mutua.

Sonko published the names, ID numbers and photographs of the three officers in the dailies on Tuesday.

“The county advises the public that the persons... are neither employees of the governor's office nor of the county government, hence are not mandated to transact any business on behalf of the county,” reads the notice.

The three were part of a 'dream team' that Sonko unveiled in October last year to steer his agenda.

Sonko warned the public of people masquerading as county officers and soliciting bribes from contractors and suppliers in the name of facilitating their payments.

“They are also soliciting bribes from unemployed youths, promising them employment as security constables and firefighters," he said.

“Nairobi wishes to state that soliciting and receiving bribes is a criminal offence hence any person masquerading as a Nairobi county employee or associating the county government with such criminal acts should be apprehended and prosecuted in a court of law."

A source at the Governors office told the Star that the sacked aides took advantage of their closeness to Sonko to defraud residents.

"They have never been employees of either the country or the governor's office. One of them [Mulwa] was arrested last evening by Flying Squad officers while receiving bribes from members of the public."

Read: Sonko fires cabinet, advertises positions

Sonko's 'dream team' included journalists and other professionals - K24's Joab Mwaura was appointed a director of the governor's press service and Richard Bosire, an editor at Radio Citizen, his deputy.

People Daily's Sarah Ndung'u was appointed media liason officer while former Kiambu director of public communication Mukami Kamau served in the same capacity at City Hall. She was sent home last December for unclear reasons. 

The county chief also appointed Githende Gachanja as his economic adviser, Alphonse Mutinda as legal adviser and Abel Onchari as a political adviser.

Click here for the latest political news 

Politician Alfred Keter can run and make noise on TV stations but the die has been cast, National Assembly majority leader Aden Duale has said.

Duale said this on Tuesday after the Nandi Hills MP lost his Labour committee chairman position in a vote of no confidence.

Nominated MP David Ole Sankok moved the motion claiming they did not take into consideration the requirement of regional balance.

More on this: No confidence vote: Alfred Keter ousted as Labour committee chair

Duale defended Jubilee Party legislators in his address to the media on this and other development.

It had been said that the ruling coalition wanted to tame four rebel MPs but Duale, who is in charge of Garissa Town, said their choices were based on equity and inclusiveness.

"I told Keter two days ago that Tuesday was his D-day but he did not listen. He went ahead and assembled with members of parliament who have trade union backgrounds to back him up."

Nominated MP Wilson Sossion, who is Knut secretary general, backed Keter saying there was nothing wrong with him leading the committee.

But Duale took offence saying Sossion did not have the right to speak on Jubilee's affairs.

"I want want to tell Sossion and the rest that the way we run parliament is not the same as running the Teachers Service Commission or trade unions."

The fierce Jubilee defender noted its strict principle of equity, which he said cannot be sacrificed for anybody's ambitions.

"Look at us and see the representation of our part of the house. Compare it to others in parliament. When we were deciding on the men and women who should take the positions it was not based on qualifications," he said.

"I am not more educated than our colleagues but once you come to the house of Jubilee, the principle of equity must be looked into That is what president Uhuru Kenyatta is championing for."

Duale added he will write to speaker Justin Muturi on ensuring with trade unionist backgrounds do not participate in matters that concern them.

"I am going to write to the speaker ... that when a matter that concerns these trade unionists arises, they must, as per the standing orders, excuse themselves. They can't take part in any deliberation andthey can't vote."

Read: [Statement] We're not done, Duale tells MPs reinstated to committees

"No side shows permitted"

The majority leader further noted that the party will not permit side shows from Keter and his counterparts and that Jubilee will maintain discipline.

"We will not allow certain members to disenfranchise our rank and file in Jubilee. In government, we have the principle of equity. In parliament, we have the principle of equity," he said.

Duale reiterated that Jubilee did not do anything unusual.

"This is how a presidential-parliamentary system works. There is nothing wrong that Jubilee Party has done. We have the numbers," he said.

 "We told our members that out of the 26-plus committees that Jubilee chairs, we only have a problem with four."

Earlier, Keter said passing a vote of no confidence meant legislators were working with the executive yet parliament should be independent.

Last week, Uhuru summoned four MPs who defied the party's directive to resign from the committees they were elected to head.

The other three were Moiben’s Silas Tiren, Marakwet MP David Bowen and Emgwen's Alex Kosgey. They defied a directive by deputy president William Ruto to relinquish the seats they had won, against their party's wishes.

The four have been at loggerheads with Jubilee chiefs in parliament after going against the president's preferences and working their way to committee leadership roles.

Keter said: "I thought names given by the president and DP were suggestions but was surprised to realise they [gave directives].

Realted: NASA directs MPs to skip meetings on removing Jubilee rebels

Also see: [VIDEO] Stop intimidating MPs, Alfred Keter tells Uhuru

Click here for the latest political news 

Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter insists he is Labour committee chairman yet his Jubilee Party counterparts removed him in a vote of no confidence on Tuesday.

Keter told a press briefing that the manner in which the MPs voted him out was unconstitutional.

"It is wrong. It is immoral and we are not going to allow that. We will not relent. We are still the chairmen and vice chairmen. There is no way the Labour team can balance Kenya," he said.

More on this: No confidence vote: Alfred Keter ousted as Labour committee chair

The embattled MP accused president Uhuru Kenyatta's party of allowing cartels to take control of parliamentary duties and committees.

"I know why they want us out. It is because the cartels are in control and are using the presidency as an institution to coronate puppets to run the committees."

Keter added that the cartels want to continue stealing from Kenyans but emphasised he will not allow this.

"If they can control committees then they can control parliament. It is very unfortunate. It's not about us losing ... nobody here is losing ... it is the people of Kenya losing," he said.

"If there is a party that wants to have its members de-whipped, there is a process in the constitution and there are standing orders. What happened was wrong, illegal and immoral."

The legislator said the party expected the National Assembly speaker Justin Muturi to be neutral because he is a referee but noted that he was disappointed.

"They went to State House and it is good that even the speaker was in State House. We expected the speaker to be neutral because he is a referee but he was there," he said.

Keter was voted out earlier today after nominated MP David Ole Sankok moved the motion claiming they did not take into consideration the requirement of regional balance.

Majority leader Aden Duale later said he can run and make noise on TV stations but the die has been cast.

Duale defended Jubilee Party legislators in his address to the media moments after the controversial vote.

It had been said that the ruling coalition wanted to tame four rebel MPs but Duale, who is in charge of Garissa Town, said their choices were based on equity and inclusiveness.

"I told Keter two days ago that Tuesday was his D-day but he did not listen. He went ahead and assembled with members of parliament who have trade union backgrounds to back him up."

Click here for the latest political news 

The NASA coalition has threatened to rally its supporters to boycott Nation Media Group over unfair reporting.

In a letter addressed to acting CEO Stephen Gitagama, NASA director of communication Dennis Onyango on Tuesday said the manner in which the company is reporting their activities clearly point to a pattern that it is against the coalition.

Onyango said the NMG especially the Newspaper department is either being used to do the work of NASA’s opponents or has deliberately assigned itself the task of fighting the Opposition.

"By this letter, we are putting the Nation Media Group on notice that if this trend does not stop immediately, NASA will have no option but to call on its supporters to take the company as an impediment to the realization of electoral justice, police reforms, independence of the Judiciary and strengthening of Devolution, among other issues NASA holds dear," reads part of the letter.

It adds; "NASA will then have no option but to call on supporters to boycott the company and all its products."

Insisting the coalition has the right to fight back, Onyango in the statement claimed for some time the Newspaper Division of the Nation Media Group has engaged in what is clearly a mission of misinformation about the activities and intentions of the National Super Alliance.

The aim he said appears to be to divide the Coalition and demoralize supporters.

These are some of the headlines the coalition is reacting to;

NASA in Crisis Talks on Raila Oath Plan (January 15, 2018).There was no information to back the claims and no evidence that the meeting was dealing a crisis. The Nation Media Group wants the Opposition coalition to run its affairs without holding meetings.

Puzzle of Raila Role Derails Unity Talks (January 16, 2018). In this story, the Daily Nation claimed that there are intentions to form a unity government and those intentions are being frustrated by lack of clarity on the roles to assign Rt. Hon Raila Odinga and Hon Kalonzo Musyoka. The paper presents no evidence at all that such intentions exist. It even quotes anonymous diplomats saying unity government has not been on the cards in their push for dialogue. But in its headline, Nation insists on the narrative of unity talks and sharing of positions

NASA Scrambles to end Split over Raila’s Oath Bid (January 19, 2018). In this story, the Daily Nation claimed that the Coalition’s People’s Assembly meeting in Machakos last Friday was a “make-or break” talk to determine the future of Raila’s political ambitions. This despite the fact that the meeting was part of the on-going activities that began last year and continue in the days ahead. Such meetings have happened in Mombasa, Kakamega, Vihiga and Kitui, among other places. The Machakos meeting was clearly not an exception.

Tough Questions over NASA plan to Swear in Raila (January 20, 2018). In this story, the Saturday Nation went all out to create rifts in the Coalitions’ technical team, talking of ODM technocrats versus those from other parties when no such formations exist. NASA strategy talks are often open and flexible. We encourage the free exchange of views with no fixed documents being presented to be discussed. The documents the paper is talking about are either fictitious or its own creation for propaganda purposes.

Venue Hitch Hits Raila Oath Plans (January 22, 2018). This story continues the trend of creating doubts about NASA activities and, despite quoting city Hall officials about the venue, makes no effort to get NASA side of the story on the same.

What Happens Next? (January 23, 2018). In this lead story today, the Daily Nation describes Opposition activities as “theatrics” that will have no effect on the country’s politics. The story is clearly an opinion disguised as objective reporting of news.

NASA changes venue of Raila “oath” ceremony (January 23, 2018). In this story, Nation claims that NASA has changed the venue of its swearing in but names no new venue and quotes nobody. The aim is to create confusion and plant doubts among NASA supporters.

Siaya speaker George Okode has exonerated MCAs  from blame by politicians that they derailing development.

Okode differed with the politicians, among them Alego-Usonga MP Sam Atandi, who have accused MCAs of dragging back the county by rejecting a list of nominees for executive posts presented by Governor Cornel Rasanga. 

Okode was speaking on Monday at the assembly where four new nominees were vetted.

     They are Charles Ogada (Agriculture), Joseph Warega (Finance), Elizabeth Owino (Culture) and Leonard Mboha (Roads, Energy).

Collapsing and cramped mud buildings, earthen floors, filthy latrines, jiggers and snakes.

That’s the plight of learners at Eshianini Primary School in Butere.

There are also no tablets for digital learning — President Uhuru Kenyatta’s flagship project — and the promised electricity to power them.

But that’s nothing compared to the risks the 405 pupils and teachers take daily to learn.

The school in Butere constituency, Kakamega county, has only one habitable building — a block housing some upper classes built in 2015 with CDF cash.

The rest of the pupils and teachers operate from small, dilapidated mud-walled classrooms. Many children sit on dusty earthen floors. Desks and tables are rare.

The Butere CDF office yesterday acknowledged it was aware of the situation. It said it has plans to help transform the school, but added it might take time before the problem is fixed.

“The problem with Eshianini Primary School has been there for a long time, but the new office will soon allocate money to help,” CDF chairman Francis Wangatia said yesterday.

snakes in classrooms

Children and teachers have struggled for more than 10 years. Buildings are near collapse. The damaged mud walls are full of holes and cracks, exposing children to snakes.

“We have had to kill many snakes that come from the neighbouring sugarcane farms,” head teacher Dennis Waswa said on Monday.

Pit latrines are a health risk. Children are exposed to filth that can cause disease. The majority of the 405 pupils have no uniforms.

Classrooms are so tiny that teachers have difficulty moving around and helping children with their lessons. Some teachers just stand by the door and stay there.

near-average performance

Waswa was posted to the school last year. He said he lacks resources to give the pupils a decent learning environment.

Still, the school produced a near-average result in the KCPE exam.

“Two of our pupils managed to get 300-and-above marks. We had a mean score of 235,” Waswa said. With better structures, we can do better, he said.

He said they cannot close the school because then the children would have to travel long distances to other schools.

“Most of these pupils are bright, but we can’t nurture them in such conditions. We urgently need help,” Waswa said.

Some pupils walk barefoot. They have been infested with jiggers because of the dusty floors.

Boys use one old mud-wall pit latrine that is almost collapsing and an external urinal with walls made of dried maize stalks.

Girls share one latrine built last year by a well-wisher.

teachers alternate lessons

One classroom is divided into two with a makeshift board — one section serving as Standard Seven classroom and the other as Standard Five classroom. A teacher in one section can be heard in the other.

The Standard Five pupils yesterday said they sometimes go home having heard more from Class Seven lessons than their own.

Teachers have no staffroom and nine of them use the veranda as their office. In one classroom, a small partition separates the head teacher’s office from Standard Eight pupils.

“We had to divide one of the classrooms so one section is my office, while the rest is used by Standard Eight pupils,” Waswa said.

A visitor speaking in the head teacher’s office is easily overheard by pupils, and this undermines administration and learning.

“It’s hard to discuss sensitive issues with visiting parents,” Waswa said.

Pupils have the hardest time during rainy seasons. The classrooms are muddy and soaked. Pupils shelter in one dry area.

Still, they try hard to learn.

The CDF office said it might take some time before new structures are put up so the children can have a decent school. Meantime, pupils suffer and hope that one day, like other children, they too will have a decent school.

Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati yesterday defended the county’s bursary allocations against claims of bias and lack of transparency.

Through his communications director Tim Machi, he said that the programme is undertaken in phases. Wangamati said Sh400 million was allocated to bursaries — of which 30 per cent is meant for college students.

“The awards will follow the same process of public participation to ensure transparency at all levels,” he said.

The county boss said the cash will be distributed equitably across the 45 wards.

He said a team, led by Education CEC Richard Sabwami, has liaised with officials of other funds — the CDF, the Affirmative Action Fund and those given by corporates such as Equity Bank — to prevent double allocations to students.

Nyanza South regional cross country will be staged on Friday at Kiendege Secondary  School in Nyamira County, regional chairman Peter Angwenyi has said.
Angwenyi said athletes from Nyamira, Kisii and Migori counties will battle it out for places to represent the region at the national cross country trials.
“We expect a very strong field of athletes to take part in the regional showpiece. It will be very competitive if what we saw at the Nyamira and Kisii County Championships is anything to go by,” added Angwenyi. He said athletes, who did not get an opportunity to participate in the county championships, are free to take part in the regional show.
Mully Half Marathon champion Sammy Nyokaye, who won the Nyamira meeting at Rigoma last weekend, starts favourite in the senior men’s 1okm race.
He faces stiff competition from compatriots Dancun Manyara and Dennis Kiyaka alongside Kisii County’s Joseph Koech of Keroka Athletics Club, Dennis Koech and Dennis Kayiok. “I’m in good shape ahead of the regionals. My target is make the cut for the national trials,” said Nyokaye who trains at Mochenwa.
In the senior women’s race, experienced marathoner Teresa Omosa will battle it out with Lorna Nyabochoa. The duo won the Nyamira and Kisii County meetings respectively. “I know regionals will not be easy but I’m prepared for it,”  said Omosa, who is preparing for the Kilimanjaro Marathon in Arusha in March.
They will, however, face off with experienced Winfrida Moseti who has been entered from Nyamira County. Also expected are—Beatrice Begi, Sheila Nyambura, Nancy Kerage, Doris Monda and Hyline Mogaka.
In the junior races, World Under-18 race walking bronze medallist, Samson Ndigiti, will hope to utilize his home advantage in the 8km race. He finished fifth in the Nyamira cross country. The event was won by John Morang’a of Mochenwa while Eric Nyambane of Kiendege and Enoch Onchari finished secondf and third respectively. They will battle it out with Kisii County’s Cosmas Kiprop, Francis Charito and Bernard Mogeni. East Africa secondary schools 5, 000m and 3, 000m gold medallist Dolphine Omare is tipped in the 6km race. She  will be up against Jane Nyaboke, who won in Kisii, Esther Borura and Olivia Barongo.

Detectives from the Special Crime Prevention Unit are hunting for a Kiambu-based police officer accused of renting his gun to criminals.

The Senior Sergeant of police, attached to the Kiambu police station, went into hiding last Friday. He disappeared hours after two suspected thugs were shot dead in the Industrial Area and two 

pistols recovered.

One of the recovered pistols was identified as belonging to the officer. Head of the SCPU Noah Katumo last evening said they had not arrested the officer.

Read: Police pledge to contain muggers sprawling Nairobi CBD

This incident has exposed the collusion between criminals and police officers. In Nairobi, top police commanders are facing a similar dilemma after it emerged that some officers were colluding 

with criminals.

 Police Spokesman Charles Owino downplayed claims that police officers were colluding 

with criminals. 

“We cannot entertain any criminals in the name of police officers. Any officers giving guns to criminals know very well what will happen to them,“ Owino said. 

A new wave of crime where armed criminals target businessmen going into and out of banking halls and robbing them has emerged as one of the cases where police collude with the thugs.

Sources at the Kiambu county police headquarters said the officer had not reported the gun missing, thereby drawing the conclusion that he rented it to the criminals. 

Read: Five arrested for CBD robberies as Sonko forms anti-mugging squad

High-placed sources within the police yesterday told the Star that some officers in Nairobi are colluding with criminals in the city. Some of the rogue officers are suspected to be involved in planning and execution of robberies.

On July 24, last year, four police officers were arrested for allegedly robbing a Chinese national of Sh2 million along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway. The Chinese national was attacked as he drove from Nairobi to Bomet. Investigations by the Kikuyu DCI officers led to the arrest of the four. 

On March 5, last year, four AP officers and three security guards were arrested over a Sh4 million heist at a Nairobi supermarket. The four were arrested after CCTV cameras recorded the officers stage-managing a robbery on the Naivas Supermarket along Thika Road.

Click here for the latest political news

South Sudanese rebels have refused to release two Kenyan pilots until compensation is paid to the family of a civilian killed when their plane crash-landed.

The rebel’s deputy spokesman, Lam Gabriel, yesterday told Reuters that the plane crash-landed in the Greater Upper Nile region two weeks ago. A woman and some cows were killed during the incident.

“When the plane crashed, it took a life. A lady and some animals were killed. The relatives of the lady and the owners of the cows are complaining and they want compensation,” Gabriel said.

Read: South Sudan rebels demand compensation to release Kenyan pilots

He said Kenyan leaders will have to write an official letter to their leader, Riek Machar, for him to order the release of the pilots. Machar, the country’s former vice president, is the head of the largest rebel faction but has been held under house arrest in South Africa since 2016.

South Sudan’s military spokesman confirmed the two pilots were being held. “The plane had a technical problem. It crash-landed and killed a person on the ground,” said Brigadier General Lul Ruai Koang.

“The rebel-appointed governor of the area has demanded the ransom of Sh20 million, which is beyond normal compensation for any person killed,” Koang added. The Kenyan foreign ministry said it was unable to comment.  

Oil-rich South Sudan has been riven by civil war since 2013. The conflict has displaced a third of the population, shut down most of the oil production and wrecked the economy.

Read: Locked up: 183 Kenyans are held in foreign jails

Click here for the latest political news

President Uhuru Kenyatta has kicked off his plan to create a million jobs every year for Kenyans under his Big Four Economic Plan, even as the country waits for him to complete naming his Cabinet.

The waiting game continued yesterday as the President went about meeting several delegations expected to power his agenda for the next five years.

Uhuru and Deputy President William Ruto remained tight-lipped on Cabinet, amid speculation about naming the remaining members.

It is understood the head of state is looking for people and resources to implement his Big Four agenda that he is banking on to secure his legacy. It will also give Ruto a launching pad for his 2022 presidential bid.

During his Jamhuri Day address on December 12, Uhuru said  his second administration would focus on food security, affordable housing, manufacturing and affordable healthcare.

The National Treasury in its draft Budget Policy Statement 2018 has revealed how the government plans to implement the agenda and create thousands of jobs.

Yesterday, Uhuru met Sergio Pimenta, the Vice President for the Middle East and Africa of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), to discuss partnership with the private sector in delivering part of the plan.

IFC is a potential source of affordable, low-interest financing to enable the private sector to participate in large-scale projects.

Yesterday, Uhuru said his drive is geared to putting resources into social sectors.

"To achieve the Big Four, we will require partnership with the private sector so they can take advantage of the good foundation we have laid over the past few years to deliver to ordinary citizens," he said.

New jobs in the plan are to be generated from the manufacturing sector, which is estimated to increase its contribution to GDP from 9.2 per cent in 2016 to 15 per cent by 2022.

“It requires that we look at how to further support SMEs so that they invest in manufacturing and agro-processing,” the President said yesterday.

During the meeting, Pimenta said the IFC, the World Bank’s private sector lending arm, was keen to partner with the government to deliver on an economic agenda focused on investment in social sectors.

“We will be looking at how we can train small and medium entrepreneurs to enable them to benefit from many tenders which are being availed in various sectors of the economy,” Pimenta said.

Withmore than 60 per cent of the budget gobbled up by recurrent expenditure, Treasury CS Henry Rotich said Uhuru will rely heavily on the private sector to realise his key agenda.

“We are clearly conscious of our limited fiscal space and will, therefore, leverage on the private sector in partnership with the Government. We shall be creating a High-Speed Public Private Partnership (PPP) Unit to attract and engage the private sector to implement most projects under The Big Four Plan,” Rotich said.

The government also plans to cut by half the cost of off-peak power to heavy industry and encourage expatriates whose skills support manufacturing.

The budget policy paper shows that the government will seek to create 10,000 jobs in apparel, 50,0000 in the cotton sector and increase exports by $200 million (Sh20.49 billion). This is to be achieved through prioritising setting up five million square feet of industrial sheds, 200,000 hectares of cotton and training 50,000 youth and women.

More on this: Budget to be aligned to Uhuru’s ‘Big 4’ agenda

Also read: Uhuru accepts role of global champion for youth

Leather and tea

In the leather industry, the aim is to create at least 5,000 direct new jobs and increasing exports to $70 million (Sh7.17 billion) this year.

Priorities include training and setting up 5,000 cottage industries, completing the Machakos Leather Park, stopping leather imports and identifying three new parks.

This year Uhuru wants to create 20,000 new jobs in agro-processing, with key priorities in the budget, including mapping tea, dairy, meat and crops value chains.

The Treasury document also says the government this year aims to attract two global tea processors to set up base in Mombasa.

The government will start regulating milk hawking, developing warehousing and cold chain sites and seek to make Mombasa a food value-add hub.

This will involve processing of tea, coffee, meat, sugar, dairy, fruits and vegetables to obtain more value and create 200,000 jobs.

The Jubilee administration wants to grow the construction materials industry to create 2,000 jobs this year.

Priorities are identifying key housing components and manufacturers and a 70 per cent "Buy Kenya" policy for housing materials.

In ICT, the government is shopping for two Business Process Outsourcing players to create at least 1,000 jobs this year.

Related: 'Big Four' a war chest facade

Also read: Uhuru focuses on Big Four for his legacy

Electronics assembly

In addition, the government will seek to sign at least two investors for electronics assembly during this year.

As part of the job creation strategy, the government wants to attract one fish feed mill investor and two processors for marine and freshwater fish processing.

The government wants to dramatically expand fish yield to 18,000 metric tonnes annually by 2022 from the current 2,500  tonnes.

The Big Four Economic Plan focusses on improving food and nutrition security by 2022.

The food security drive is expected to create additional jobs between this year and 2022.

Through public-private partnerships, the government aims to harvest six million bags of maize this year, in addition to those by other farmers.

The state will also place under cultivation an additional 700,000 acres of maize, potato, rice and feeds. It plans to expand irrigation schemes and secure water towers and river ecosystems.

It also aims to ensure 20,000 farmers have access to credit to enhance activities.

The policy says the government wants to reduce overall post-harvest losses of fish from 20 percent to 15 percent.

This year, the government wants to secure investors to construct shipyards at the Coast to increase the domestic fishing fleet by 10 vessels.

Treasury says the government will focus on sustaining a business-friendly by maintaining macroeconomic stability, supporting business regulatory reforms, and enhancing security. In this way it hopes to  attract and encourage investment and job creation. 

The plan is to achieve 15 per cent of GDP coming from manufacturing, 100 per cent food security, universal healthcare and 500,000 affordable new houses.

Uhuru says his administration already laid the ground for transformation, thus, the need for the focus on The Big Four Economic Plan.

The President considers the  private sector the lay partner to achieve the plan.

"It requires that the private sector looks at its investment models, looks at how they can support affordable housing and how they can invest in agriculture so we can meet our food security and nutrition goals," Uhuru said yesterday.

Click here for the latest political stories

The High Court has given Nicholas Biwott's family 21 days to accept or reject letters of administration over his properties.

The ruling came after creditor Barnabas arap Kiprono swore an affidavit saying he is entitled to Biwott's estate shares.

The former powerful minister and veteran politician died in July last year aged 77.

Read: Former powerful minister Nicholas Biwott dies aged 77

Biwott left three family members - Rhoda, Hannie and Johana Biwott - as administrators of his estate. But Kiprono moved to court wanting to be named the fourth administrator of the properties.

Through Kalya and Company Advocates, he said he was the deceased's creditor and one of the people entitled to a share of his estate.

The Eldoret court said: "This is to direct that within 21 days [the three family members make] an appearance to be entered by either the principal registry or the Eldoret registry, and accept or refuse letters of administration of the whole estate, which by law devolves to and vests in the personal representatives of the deceased."

The alternative, as stated in the dailies on Wednesday, is to show why Kiprono's request should not be granted.

The court warned that should the relatives default, the court will grant letters of administration to Kiprono.

Biwott lived as a wealthy man for most of his life. He was the Minister for Energy when a petroleum company he was associated with - Kobil - acquired the assets of Mobil which was leaving.

By using his State House and international connections, Biwott transformed himself from a simple Keiyo South MP to a billionaire with an enviable business empire, touching almost every sector of the Kenyan economy.

He owned an airline, a bank, an oil company, a construction firm and Nairobi’s Yaya Towers, among others.

Considered to be one of the most ruthless politicians in the last three regimes, Biwott managed to serve in the government for 28 years and retired quietly despite scandals and controversies around him.

He managed to make loyal friends as well as many enemies due to his way of leadership.

More on this: How Biwott weathered controversies surrounding him

Click here for the latest political news

A Kenyan film titled ‘Watu Wote - All of Us’ has been nominated for the Oscars.

The 22-minute film made it to the final list of five nominees for the Academy Awards on January 23. The 90th Oscars ceremony will take place on March 4.

The movie is a tribute to more than 20 people killed by al Shabaab militants who attacked a Nairobi-bound bus in Mandera on November 22, 2014.

Based on actual events, it shows a Muslim man shielding Christians during the ambush.

It was directed by Katja Benrath and is told through the eyes of actress Adelyne Wairimu, who played the role of one of the Christian passengers.

It also portrays Abdiwali Farrah, a teacher who was honoured for his act of courage alongside others in the bus, who refused to reveal the identities of the Christians.

The film that was shot in Nairobi has won awards at more than 40 prestigious festivals around the world. 

During the attack, al Shabaab fighters sprayed the bus with bullets killing two people, but a passenger said he and fellow Muslims defied demands from the attackers to help identify Christians travelling with them.

Abdi Mohamud, a Muslim who was among the passengers, said more than 10 militants got into the bus and ordered Muslims to split from Christians.

"We even gave some non-Muslims our religious attire to wear on the bus so that they would not be identified easily. We stuck together tightly."

More on this: How Muslims shielded Christians in al Shabaab terror attack

Two years ago, al Shabaab gunmen attacked a Nairobi-bound bus in the same area and killed 28 non-Muslim passengers execution-style.

This is the second time a Kenyan film has been nominated for the Oscars.

In 2014, Lupita Nyongo became the first ever Kenyan Oscar nominee for best-supporting actress for her role in the movie 12 Years A Slave.

She played Patsey, a slave girl, who was the object of her master's desire.

Lupita's movie bagged a total of nine nodes, including picks for best picture, best director (Steve McQueen), best actor (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and best-supporting actor (Michael Fassbender).

More on this: Lupita nominated for Oscar

Click here for the latest political news