Category: National News

{Photo courtesy of COTAA}

By Samuel Owino

Police in Mombasa disrupted a vigil held at Uhuru Gardens on 26 July 2023.

The protesters lit candles in honor of their fallen colleagues, a directive by the opposition leader, Raila Odinga. The police came and interrupted the meeting and sent them away. The national government had put police in various areas in fears that citizens may hold protests.

There were also marches at Jacaranda gardens where they also held a vigil. They marched as they sang songs.

“Sisi ni wageni, hapa Nairobi, wanaua watu wetu, hapa Nairobi” that translates to “we are visitors, here in Nairobi , they kill our people, here in Nairobi”

The opposition leader, Raila Odinga visited patients at Mama Lucy Hospital during the vigils. The patients were victims of police brutality during last weeks protests.

The nation remains confused as the political tensions rise and the citizens issues that seems to be snubbed by the national government.

{Photo courtesy of Babu Owino – Instagram}

By Janet Wambua

“I was denied food and water for three days,” Babu Owino recounts of his three-day detention.

Embakasi East Member of Parliament Paul Ongili, alias Babu Owino, claims that he was denied access to food, water, and communication with his family and legal counsel while being held in solitary confinement for three days.

“I was arrested on Tuesday on the 18th of July at Jomo Kenyatta International airport, around 9pm,handcuffed blindfolded and thrown in a boot of a Subaru car, driven in the middle of nowhere and put in a solitary confinement for 3 days, I went without food no access to my family, no access to my lawyer, to my legal representation I did not take a bath, I did not take water.”

In a post on Instagram, he described being handcuffed and blindfolded, highlighting how cruel and inhumane it was for him to be handled that way as a member of Parliament. He also raised concerns about how ordinary Kenyans would be treated in such a situation.

“And that was a very in human treatment accorded to me. If a member of parliament can be treated in a very harsh way, what is happening to normal Kenyans. I want to take this opportunity to condemn such acts. The only mistake I made was to fight for Kenyans. And as a leader an elected member of Parliament, I’m a voice of the voiceless, I’m a messenger. You can kill the messenger, but you will never kill the message.”

The member of parliament declared that because he was the voice of the people of Kenya, he would keep fighting for their rights. Additionally, he stated that even if it meant risking his life, he would carry out his responsibility and keep fighting for those who were living in poverty.

“You can harass the messenger, but you will never destroy the message that is delivered. And if fighting for Kenyans is what will cost me my life, so be it. I’m an elected Member of Parliament whose role is to fight for Kenyans, to fight for the people who are suffering in poverty, it’s to ensure that I deliver the best to them.”

However, he mentions the difficult living conditions in Kenya and how life is intolerable, arguing that both the expense of living and the prices of most items, such as unga, must decrease.

“ As you can see there are very harsh conditions in this life. Life is unbearable, the cost of living must come down. The price of fuel must come down. The price of unga must come down. The price of other commodities must come down. A good leader is one who ensures that his people do not suffer. Subjecting people to these harsh conditions to suffering means that you’re fighting for a personal interest,” he declared.

In the same breath, he added and stressed that Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party leader Raila Odinga, was not at all to be blame since he had not given orders for the police to use brute force. Furthermore, he asserted that since Raila Odinga was not in government, he cannot be held responsible for the skyrocketing prices of commodities.

“On a daily basis you blame Raila, to be the cause of the deaths of the people. Raila did not give instructions to the police to use brute force, stop using extra judicial means to gag people from fighting for their inherent and alienable interest not only spiritedly but also religiously. Never blame Raila on this because Raila is not in government. Raila did not take the price of unga to the ceiling. Raila has not raised the cost of living,” stated Babu Owino.

He added that people were lacking in many areas of life as a result of the high expense of living, thus the idea of constructing homes for them would be of little use. Instead, he claimed that food was the biggest problem facing the populace, and that President William Ruto should reduce the expense of living, failure which it will be compelled to come down.

“Because of the high cost of living, people lack a lot in life, you’re rushing to build for people house, people don’t need houses. People just need food; people need school fees and as a leader I know what it is to lack food. And that’s why we fight for them because I lacked food at some point. You’re rushing to build for people houses which is not the main challenge, but people’s main challenge is the food. Just let the cost of living come down. If it doesn’t come down, it must be forced to come down,” he said.

On Friday, July 21st, Babu Owino was released on a sh100,000 bond in connection with the anti-government protests.

[Photo courtesy of The Star]

By Samuel Owino

The former and fourth president of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta is mad after he got the news that personnel claiming to be the police wanted access to his son’s home on 21 July, 2023 at around 2000 hrs.

Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta was off the chains when he got the information that people claiming to be the DCI wanted to talk to his son, Jomo Kenyatta. The security informed him of these people in a car with foreign number plates and this seemed to concern the former president such that he came to his son’s place in Karen himself.

During the press conference, he said that he has been quiet for some time and he thinks that he may have made the wrong move as the current government has been coming for him. His association with the opposition leader, Mr. Raila Odinga seems to be causing him a lot of trouble as there are rumors that he is behind the Azimio la Umoja protests and that he is funding it.

“Maybe silence sometimes is not right. But I have ignored it because I ask myself, how, how… have you seen me in any of those events? Have you seen me talk about any of those events? Now you say because of my association with Raila, am I not supposed to talk to my friends? Is that a crime in Kenya today?” he agitatedly asked.

The retired president also added that there is no need to intimidate a 90-year-old woman, referring to his mother, Mama Ngina Kenyatta, and his children. He says that if they want him they should just come for him. He ended the press conference by urging the journalists to guard their freedom and their democracy as that is their right.

Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta hinted that the raid may have been due to possession of firearms. “If it’s a question of illegal weapons, tell the world… But if they are licensed weapons, how many people in Kenya have licensed weapons? Even foreigners. Si we followed the procedure. Si you withdrew their security so they are not supposed to defend themselves? What more do you want now?” he asked.

The Interior CS, Mr. Kithure Kindiki has since made a statement stating that 23 guns were found in an operation from three homes in Karen on Friday, 21 July. He did not, however, mention the former president’s son’s house being raided.

The operation, according to the CS, will continue to seize all firearms from anyone suspected of giving them to violent protesters and other people for various illegal objectives.

[Photo courtesy of Fridah Anjili Instagram]

By Samuel Owino

Fridah Ongili, Babu Owino’s wife, pleads for the release of her husband who had been arrested by the DCI after his arrival from Mombasa at the airport on 19 July 2023.

The wife, in a video she posted on her Instagram, explained the occurrence of the night since her husband called her from the airport at around 11 pm saying he had been arrested. The wife went to the DCI headquarters and did not find him. She went around the city police stations trying to find him with no hope.

She later got word that her husband might be at Wanguru Police Station in Mwea. She says she believes that he might be there due to the heavy police presence. They have denied her a chance to see her husband even though she claims to only want to give him food and medicine.

‘there was a lady who took me aside, I went to the gate and was begging them that all I want is to give my husband food and medicine because he wasn’t feeling well on Monday when he left for the trip.”

She also pleads to the Azimio La Umoja team to help her free her husband whom he is affiliated. She says the husband has done nothing wrong that warrants his arrest.

[Photo courtesy of Pulse Kenya]

By Sophie Kinya.

At least four people have died on the first day of three days of nationwide demonstrations organized by the Azimio coalition, while numerous others have been hurt and are in danger of losing their lives in different regions of the country. Speaking to the press, the medical superintendent of Nakuru Level Five Hospital, Dr. James Waweru Munene, revealed that one person had been shot and killed in Nakuru County while seven others were receiving medical attention there for their wounds. Two people in Nairobi County and one more in Makueni County have also been confirmed dead.

The protests started at around midday in Kibera and Mathare areas where the people protesting dared the police to intervene. This did not turn out very well for them especially in Mathare because police in civilian clothes showed up and opened fire which resulted in a 13-year old boy being shot. He was later taken to the hospital and his current health status is unknown.

Peace was also disrupted in Migori, Kisumu and Siaya Counties where about thirty-eight protesters were injured and majority of them left with gunshot wounds.

The Interior Cabinet Secretary, Mr. Kithure Kindiki released a statement that said that more than 300 people have been arrested across the country. They will be charged with various crimes including looting, arson, malicious damage of property, robbery with violence, assaulting law enforcement police among other crimes.

Aside from the 300 protesters arrested, it is believed that at least nine Azimio leaders have been arrested so far due to the protests. Among them are Kilifi South MP Ken Chonga, Kilifi County Speaker Teddy Mwambire, and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino.

The protests, set in motion by the Azimio Coalition, are aimed to pressure the Kenya Kwanza government to lower the cost of living and slash taxes. Speaking exclusively to the Nation media group, Azimio leader Raila Odinga maintained that the demonstrations would go on as planned until the government paid attention to them. He also thanked his supporters for coming out on the streets and asked them to end the demonstrations at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday.

A joint commentary by Editors’ of Kenya’s leading media houses asked the government to give dialogue a chance one more time so as to stop the protests. Speaking on behalf of the editors, Journalist Dan Mwangi advised the people in question to first address the underlying reasons of the perpetual conflict. “To do this you must hold dialogues and they must contain the following core principles; the constitutional freedom of expression cannot be curtailed under any circumstances even under the guise of maintaining law and order or protecting the government in power, those set out to exercise their constitutional right must do so under the confines of the law. When protesters destroy property, cause chaos, disturb the peace and limit the movement of other people, they must face the wrath of the law.” he said.

The journalist also went on to remind the police and security agents of their mandate, which is to serve the people of Kenya rather than the political need of any individual.

“Those in the government must be cautioned against the arrogance of power and the presumption that they are in office eternally and that they will never be called to account. Those on the other side must respect that there is a government in place, elected on a platform by which it must be given time and space to deliver on or fail and face the wrath of voters.

At the end of the day we all live in one nation sailing on the same boat. If it sinks, we will all go down with it. No one will be spared.” Dan Mwangi said as he finished his commentary.

By Beverly Mautiah (beverlymautiah200648@daystar.ac.ke)

The East Africa Spectre Limited company associated with the Raila Odinga family has been invaded and vandalized in the ongoing Azimio protests.

According to the Security and Safety Manager Humphrey Waswa, the company that leads and deals with gas cylinder manufacturing and distribution both locally and internationally, was vandalized by several outsiders who made their way into the company ferried by motorbikes. “In the morning a group of around 50 motorbikes attacked us. “Waswa stated.

Waswa insinuated that the attackers were being sponsored by some individuals seen with land cruisers. “There were people in three land cruiser’s who started surrounding this place in the morning. Some (of the cars) had number plates and others did not have number plates. They patrolled until 9am. At around 10am, I saw people on motorbikes approaching the company.” He said.

He noted that their target was the Managing Director since her office was largely invaded and pelted with stones thus causing more damage.

The invaders who were ferried by motorbikes with one motorbike accommodating an estimated three people damaged the building. “We were lucky that today we did not park our cars at the outside parking lot because the intruders majored in destroying the building.” He spoke.

At the time of the vandalization by unknown assailants with unknown motives, there were close to 100 workers but none was injured. “No one was injured, the only tampered areas were the window panes and the building itself.” He remarked.

Waswa said the company will issue updates later after investigations are done and concluded.

A similar occurrence took place today, March 27, 2023, where the Kenyatta family land, Northlands farm in Ruiru sub-county, was invaded by intruders who cut down trees using power saws, set the farm on fire and made away with an unknown number of goats and sheep.

The two affected owners, Raila and Uhuru are yet to react to the issue.

By Beverly Mautiah (beverlymautiah200648@daystar.ac.ke)

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua during a wheat flagship in Mombasa declared 1 billion losses following the Azimio organized protest.

“As a result of the closure of some businesses due to the protest, Kenya has lost almost two billion shillings which would have improved the economy”. Gachagua stated at the Grain Bulk Handlers Limited compound where he received two consignments of food aid from the US and Ukraine.

Gachagua noted that quite a number of the businesses were closed because of the tension ignited by the Azimio party.

“Quite a number of the business people in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) did not open their businesses due to the fear of disruptions and destruction of personal properties.

”The businesses were forced to close down following the uncertainty that came with the demonstrations. Business persons feared that their businesses were going to be derailed and perhaps vandalized as was seen in Kisumu where Naivas Supermarket and a hotel in Kisumu bore the brunt of the protests.

“What they are doing is destroying the economy. We had started showing signs of recovery from the economic downturn,” said Gachagua.

He appealed to Raila to call off the mass action.

By Beverly Mautiah (beverlymautiah200648@daystar.ac.ke)

On March 6, the gazette notice no. 8002 of 2022 issued to Eric Mungai’s appointment to the National Environmental Management Authority {NEMA} board as the chairman was revoked.

Mungai, who is said to be the former president’s cousin, was yesterday officially relieved of his duties as the chairman after President William Ruto handed former Kenya Forest Service chief conservator Emilio Mugo a new lease of life after appointing him the new National Environment Management Authority board chairman.

Ruto in gazette notice No.2861 dated March 6, 2023, appointed Mugo who was hounded out of KFS helm in 2018 after a task force that had been formed to investigate illegal forest activities showed the harvesting of trees in plantation areas was riddled with corrupt practices.Mugo, however, successfully cleared his name after moving to court.

Emilio Mugo replaces Mungai as the new NEMA chairman for the next three years.Mungai served as the NEMA board chair for less than seven months before his three-year contract was terminated.

Mugo will now head the Nema board for a period of three years which took effect on March 10, 2023.