POLITICIAN WITH HATE SPEACH SHOULD BE ARRESTED

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery has directed all county commissioners and county police commanders to arrest politicians who spread hate speech.

Nkaissery yesterday warned that cases of political incitement and negative ethnic mobilization are likely to increase as the country prepares for the 2017 general election.

“We are heading into a season of heightened political rhetoric and a lot of posturing; be on the lookout on hate speech and I have given you the authority to take action. Arrest anyone who incites, because we do not want to go back to 2007. Do not fear,” he said.

Nkaissery addressed county commissioners, regional coordinators and police commanders at the Kenya School of Government during a workshop on how to address the threats that face the country.

He said cases of hate speech, especially propagated through social media, are something he will fight to the end.

“As the Cabinet Secretary in charge of security, I will not relent in my fight against individuals whose agenda is to cause chaos,” he warned.

County commissioners coordinate national government activities at the county level.

Nkaissery rubbished claims by Cord that the government was denying the opposition strongholds identity cards, saying 370,000 cards all over the country have not been collected.

“I have directed that anyone who is eligible to have an identity card be given one,” he said, urging Cord to prove its claims.

Interior PS Karanja Kibicho, Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet, and CID director Ndegwa Muhoro attended the one-day workshop.

Nkaissery warned the county chiefs against sitting back to watch as the country slides back to the chaos witnessed in 2007.

The violence that rocked the country between December 2007 and February 2008 saw over 1,100 people killed, thousands injured and more than 600,000 forced to flee their homes.

Nkaissery at the same time gave an amnesty to chiefs who had been interdicted last year after illicit brew was found within their jurisdiction.

COURT LIFT SUMMON OVER FORMER TRANSPORT CS KAMAU

A court has lifted the summons to former Transport CS Michael Kamau over abuse of office after receiving his original medical report.
Milimani senior principal magistrate Lawrence Mugambi said on Thursday that the documents show Kamau is unwell and cannot appear in court.
Mugambi had issued summons for the ex-CS to appear in court today saying documents that had been tabled before him were not genuine.
Kamau's lawyer had told the magistrate on Wednesday that he had returned from out of the country but was unwell.
The former CS, who was suspended in March 2015 and replaced in November 2015, faces five charges of abuse of office and irregular use of public funds.
He was also accused of failing to comply with procedures by ignoring the design of the Kamukuywa-Kapsokwony-Sirisia road, leading to a loss of Sh33.3 million. This was while he served as Permanent Secretary in the Roads ministry.
Kamau was charged in June 2015 with abuse of office and failure to follow the procurement rules.
He was released on Sh1 million cash bail after he denied all the charges levelled against him.
The case will be heard on March 4.

THE MAN WHO FLOGGED CORD LEADER ACCUSES HAKI AFRICA FOR IGNORANCE

The man who flogged Cord leader Raila Odinga has accused Haki Africa of failing to honour a promise to sponsor the treatment of a tumor in his left armpit.
Lengo Mdzomba also caned Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya after storming a rally at Kinango market in the county on September 29, 2014,
“Haki Africa took me to an office in Mombasa where I met someone but they did not take me to hospital for the treatment. I wish they did," he told journalists in the county on Monday.
Mdzomba was arrested after attacking the leaders but a Kwale court withdrew the assault charges after Raila and Mvurya forgave him.
But he was convicted on Monday of causing disturbance, before resident magistrate Christine Njagi, and released after paying a Sh5,000 fine.
Haki Africa official Francis Auma dismissed his claim of abandonment saying they have been in touch for a long time.
“We are the ones who paid the cash bail and have involved him in different activities in line with advocacy for peace,” he said.
Auma said the organisation's aim was to ascertain Mdzomba's mental state.
“Our doctor said the mental illness issue was not a big deal, that is when he started being counseled. We were not interested in the tumor," he said.
"We have all hospital documents to prove that we have taken him to hospital. We are happy the court case is over...he will continue to be our ambassador of peace."
The human rights crusader urged Kenyans not to let politicians use them to cause chaos ahead of the 2017 general election.
"We are working with Mdzomba and youths to preach peace at the Coast. Our human rights and security work recognises that for lasting peace to be achieved, the community needs to be at the forefront and work with government entities," he said.
He said Haki Africa is running a campaign to counter acts of electoral violence involving youths.

BUNGOMA PARENTS SEARCHING FOR JUSTICE OVER DEFILEMENT OF THEIR DAUGHTER

family in Bungoma South wants a teacher immediately arrested for allegedly defiling their 14 year-old daughter in August 2015.
They accused teacher Paul Wafula of committing the offence at Namwacha market after luring the girl while she headed to school at about 7am.
The girl's father explained that she was limping when returned home from Gamba Primary School one evening. He said she only revealed what had happened when her mother inquired.
The teacher allegedly seduced the girl into sleeping with him and threatened her with death if she reported him to anyone.
The family from Namwacha village told journalists in Bungoma town that their efforts to have the teacher arrested and punished have been unsuccessful.
The girl's father said on Thursday that the matter was reported at Namwacha AP post but that no action has been taken against the teacher.
"I reported the incident immediately after it happened, OB number 26/28/7/15, but maybe police have colluded with the teacher who ruined my daughter's life," he said.
The man said his daughter has not returned to school since the attack.
The girl's parents appealed for help from relevant authorities, saying doctors at Bungoma County Referral Hospital confirmed she was defiled.

RAILA:I WON'T COMPLAIN AGAIN ON RIGGING

OPPOSITION chief Raila Odinga has assured his support base it will not be possible to rig him out in the 2017 presidential contest.
During a strategy meeting two weeks ago, Raila and his ODM confidants discussed anti-rigging mechanisms.
Apart from running a parallel electronic vote tallying system, Raila and the Cord team plan to train and deploy party agents in every polling station across the country.
The agents will be equipped with mobile phones and will take and transmit to the national tallying centre images of every result announced in streams.
“Just register, vote and leave the rest to me – but, this time round, am not coming to tell you my votes have been stolen,” Raila said on Ramogi FM, a Luo vernacular radio station.
Raila has long complained that his victories were stolen in 2007 and in 2013.
Yesterday he also said there would be no more nomination fiascos in his ODM party that have often been blamed for puncturing his presidential bid.
This is the latest indication that the former PM is laying the groundwork for a do-or-die political battle against President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Raila's supporters, especially on his Nyanza home turf, have asked the Cord leader to offer them what they term a “Plan B”, amid fears Uhuru may be unwilling to relinquish power in the event of an ODM win.
Raila narrowly lost to President Mwai Kibaki in 2007 and by a wide margin to Uhuru in 2013, on both occasions alleging massive rigging.
In a bid to stem nomination fallouts, Raila said the ODM primaries would be conducted six months to Election Day, “so that in areas where people are dissatisfied, the process is repeated”.
It is understood that Raila has told ODM leaders that they must do everything they can to ensure the party nominations are fair, with only the most popular candidates getting the ticket.
The next election could be Raila’s last serious attempt at the presidency, and people close to him say he is leaving nothing to chance.
On Ramogi FM, he urged his troops to take

COUNTING OF ZEBRAS IN LAIKIPIA

More than 200 people turned up to count the endangered Grevy's Zebra in Laikipia county last weekend.

Also known as the imperial zebra, the Grevy's is the largest extant wild equid and the largest, most threatened species of the zebra. It is tall, has large ears, and its stripes are narrower.

The species lives in semi-arid grasslands where it feeds on grasses and legumes. It can survive up to five days without water.

The Grevy's differs from other zebra species in that it does not live in harems and has few long-lasting social bonds.

“Grevy's Zebra are special in the sense that they are beautiful," said Princeton University's Danie Rubenstein, one of the world’s leading experts on zebras.

"Biologists want to preserve the endangered species and so do many people with the desire to be part of wildlife conservation."

At the census, 'citizen scientists' drove through designated areas photographing the right side of each animal using a GPS-enabled digital camera. Each zebra has a unique stripe pattern that is the best identifier.

Rubenstein noted: “The rarity of a species serves as a wake up call. To know how the species is doing, collection of data comes in handy."

"The Great Grevy's Rally is a big operation that has never been done on such a massive scale. We are hoping to do it yearly so as to keep track of their population.”

Photographs taken during the exercise will be processed using the Image Based Ecological Information System (IBEIS), which identifies an animal, its age and sex, and records the time and location of observation.

IBEIS uses sophisticated stripe recognition software to analyse the number of sighted and re-sighted over the weekend.

The methodology will also provide insights on the sex structure of the Grevy’s zebra population in each area to assess if the overall population is stable, growing or decreasing.

When it comes to the sex structure, three females for every one male indicates high potential for reproduction and overall population growth.

JUDGE TUNOI TO KNOW HIS FATE ON FRIDAY

Supreme Court Judge Philip Tunoi will on Friday know his fate concerning claims he received a bribe to help deliver a favourable judgment on a petition.

Former Kass FM journalist Geoffrey Kiplagat accused Tunoi of receiving Sh200 million in relation to an election petition against Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, in August 2014.

The petition was by Ferdinand Waititu who is now Kabete Member of Parliament.

Margaret Kobia, the chairperson of a special JSC sub-committee probing the allegations, said the Wednesday deadline was not met as all evidence obtained must be looked at.

"The committee has not been able to complete the report and has sought and obtained an extension from the Judicial Service Commission to complete its work by Friday," Kobia said.

"Kiplagat and Tunoi appeared before us, among seven other persons of interest to the committee. We are considering the information and documents submitted before making the final report."

Tunoi and Kidero have denied ever meeting Kiplagat, who claimed he facilitated the payment. But the National Intelligence Service confirmed Tunoi had conversations with Kiplagat , contrary to the judge's assertions.

On February 2, new evidence emerged that Tunoi recently acquired 180 acres of land. It also emerged that Kiplagat was promised Sh30 million but was never paid the amount.

PREGNAT WOMAN BATTERED BY HUSBAND

A man allegedly beat his 22 year-old pregnant wife, leaving her bleeding and unconscious, after claiming she stole from him and that she was a nag.

Justa Kawira, who has been married for six years, said John Wachira, 30, accused her of stealing after returning drunk to their home in Lang'ata, Nairobi.

The woman said she confronted Wachira, who returned at about 10pm on Sunday night, when he insisted that she stole his money.

"I told him I did not steal any money but he beat me until I could not take it anymore. I ran out to my friend's house where I spent the night," she told The Star on phone on Wednesday.

Kawira said she found her husband with another person who was taking pictures of their house when she went back on Monday morning.

"I asked why they were taking pictures of the house but they did not talk to me. Wachira got angry when I insisted, saying I was driving his friend away," she said.

Kawira said her husband assaulted her again, asking why she was nagging him about a trivial matter.

"He punched me in the face and I punched him back. He was stronger than me... he pushed me to the ground and dragged me to the house where he beat me some more. I woke up in hospital," she said.

Kawira, a housewife who is six months pregnant, said Wachira often beats her without reason while drunk. They have a son aged three.

"He has stabbed me before, causing me to have a miscarriage. My parents know about the beatings but only my mother has tried to intervene," she said.

"I am glad my baby is fine," she added from Lang'ata hospital where she is admitted.

Kawira said a neighbour among those who took her to the hopital reported the incident at Langata police station and obtained an OB number. She said Rose Karanja was with her at the hospital.

Langata OCPD Elijah Mwangi said he had received a complaint and arrested the man whom Kawira said works at a textiles shop in the city centre.

But he told The Star on phone on Wednesday that the man, who could not be reached for comment,

SALIM JUNIOR LAID TO REST

THOUSANDS of mourners gathered at the Subukia market park yesterday for the funeral service of one-man-guitar musician Paul Mwangi, popularly known as Salim Junior.

They first viewed his body at the Nakuru War Memorial mortuary.

The service was attended by fellow musicians, media personalities and officials from the national and Nakuru governments, among them Governor Kinuthia Mbugua.

Mbugua said the county and the country has lost one of the greatest musicians.

He said it will take time to replace him.

“We have lost a king in the music industry and it is my prayer that God will give Mwangi’s family strength,” Mbugua said.

Kieni MP Kanini Kega said politicians have a role to play in ensuring musicians are paid their royalties.

He said Kenyan musicians die poor despite writing popular songs.

Kega said he will sponsor a bill to ensure artists are paid their dues even after death.

Nakuru East MP David Gikaria and Kimani Ngunjiri of Bahati said Kenyan musicians “have been misused for a very long time”.

“We are more than willing to ensure our Kenyan musicians are well paid after composing their music,” Ngunjiri said.

Musicians Muigai wa Njoroge, John Demathew, Ben Githae and Lois Kim eulogised Mwangi as a down to earth person who cherished others.

Demathew urged fellow musicians to emulate him and make his dream of establishing a music studio in Nakuru to nurture talent a reality.

WAIGURU:AM CONSULTING UHURU OVER KIDERO JOB

Former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru is consulting President Uhuru Kenyatta on whether to enter politics.

Waiguru made the disclosure on Sunday, when she responded to a question by a Kikuyu FM station reporter after attending church in Komarock.

“I cannot say today if I will be vying or not. But I can say that we are praying and we are talking to other politicians. We are talking with the Head of State. We are talking to everyone so that we know how it goes,” Waiguru said.

She was responding to whether she had made a decision to join the race for Nairobi Governor in 2017.

Dropping the President’s name in the ongoing speculation that she is preparing to join politics may fuel the notion that Jubilee is considering her to be the candidate in Nairobi.

After going silent for close to two months, Waiguru has suddenly started engaging in public activity in Nairobi that has been shared on her social media platforms.

Two Sundays ago, she went to the LCC church community in South B and last Sunday she was at the Calvary Covenant Centre in Komarock.

At the two churches, Waiguru addressed the congregation and was also prayed for by the pastors, before the gathering.

Last week, some 200 women leaders drawn from Nairobi county’s 17 constituencies endorsed Waiguru for the position during a meeting with her at the iconic Ufungamano House.

At the time, Waiguru said she was motivated because she believes women will play a big role in determining the political course for the country starting in 2017 and into the future.

“I will take some time to pray and think about it then call a meeting to announce the way forward. I came to say ‘thank you’, but I am leaving with a lot more,” she said.

Waiguru resigned last year after continuous calls for her removal from office as her ministry faced a firestorm of criticism for the theft of Sh791 million from the National Youth Service.

During her resignation press conference, she said she was ready to take up

CORD TO STRIKE A DEAL WITH MARTHA KARUA FOR NAIROBI SENATE 2017 SEAT

Cord is finalising a political deal with Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua that could see her become the coalition’s Nairobi senator candidate next year.
Sources close to opposition chief Raila Odinga told the Star that Karua could also be named the coalition’s spokesperson, citing her vast political experience, legal grounding and eloquence.
The former Gichugu MP ran for president in the March 4, 2013 election but was vanquished by the Jubilee machine, coming a distant fourth even after little known Abduba Dida.
The Star has established that Raila is putting up a presidential campaign team and top notch technocrats are being approached as he prepares for a do-or-die rematch with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
So far, none of Uhuru’s allies has publicly declared interest in the Nairobi senator seat as Senator Mike Sonko is set to battle it out with Governor Evans Kidero for the gubernatorial position.
“We have done our math well and we believe Hon Karua will be an easy sell,” a Raila think tank said.
Opposition strategists believe Karua’s democracy and constitutionalism credentials and bare-knuckle politics would be a plus for Cord.
“Karua would be the perfect prescription for Duale,” the Cord official said.
However, Karua did not answer our calls or respond to text messages.
Homa Bay woman representative Gladys Wanga said she is not aware of the deal.

KIDERO VERSUS AHMEDNASIR

NAIROBI Governor Evans Kidero says lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi has linked him to Judiciary bribery allegations because he refused to pay him a fee note of Sh25 million.
Kidero yesterday said the lawyer harbours a grudge against him after he refused to hire him as his advocate in the 2014 election petition.
“My case was so strong that he offered to represent me. But the Sh25 million he demanded in fees upfront was too steep and I already had a competent defence team,” said Kidero.
He threatened to sue both the lawyer and the media for linking him to the bribery allegations.
Ahmednasir confairmed Kidero's claims but wondered why the governor was making them now.
“Yes I met Kidero, because he wanted me to represent him. When I gave him my fee note, he declined and Ferdinand Waititu accepted my terms. What is wrong with that?” said Ahmednasir.
Kidero spoke to the media minutes after he appeared before the Judiciary Service Commission subcommittee appointed by Chief Justice Willy Mutunga to probe the Sh200 million bribery claim against Justice Philip Tunoi.
Kidero said his election petition case was strong and as such it was unnecessary for him to even think about bribing a judge.
The governor said: “Whether it was one shilling or 300 million shillings, I did not pay any bribe.”
Lawyer Issa Mansour, who earlier appeared before the subcommittee, said bribery allegations against Judge Tunoi cannot be blamed on succession politics inside the Judiciary because he is locked out by law from becoming the next Chief Justice.
Mansour said the law requires any individual eyeing the position of CJ to be below 70 years of age and now that justice Tunoi is already 72, he cannot qualify.
Justice Tunoi had taken issue with Mansour for commissioning Tunoi accuser William Kiplagat’s affidavit, hinting at a possible conflict of interest.
The judge had said Mansour is also the lawyer representing the JSC in a case filed by the former challenging the decision to send

IEBC SECURE ATLEAST KSHS 20M FOR OKOA KENYA

THE Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has finally secured funds to start verifying the Okoa Kenya referendum signatures.
The National Treasury has given the commission powers to spend up to Sh20 million for the process.
The money will be used to hire verification clerks, their supervisors and cater for their wages.
It will also hire a special room from where the verification exercise will be conducted.
IEBC chief executive Ezra Chiloba yesterday said the Treasury has given the commission authority to incur expenditure pending approval of the supplementary budget by Parliament.
“We have reached a deal with the Treasury and we are in agreement on the budget to verify Okoa Kenya signatures,” he said.
The commission has in the past said Cord complicated the work when it submitted the signatures in hard copy format.
It said this had doubled the work in verifying the signatures.
The commission has suggested that if all booklets submitted had copies and the signatures handed in soft copy, the work would be much faster, because it would have involved running the data against the BVR kits.
Chiloba said they plan to hire 120 clerks, with only nine days left to the expiry of the time within which IEBC should have done the job.
The constitution gives the commission 90 days to verify one million signatures.
Cord presented 1.4 million signatures on November 9 last year and the mandatory 90 days expires on February 9.
This means the commission has slightly more than a week to complete the task.

KRA REOPENS JOHO'S FIRM

A major logistical nightmare faces the clearance of cargo in Mombasa, following the abrupt re-opening of two container freight stations owned by Governor Hassan Joho’s family.
The CFSs had been accused of handling smuggled goods, including sugar, ethanol and rice, and were shut down last week by the Kenya Revenue Authority and operations halted at the stations.
However, there was uproar over the move, with the Joho family, managers at the two CFSs, a section of politicians, importers and clearing agents accusing the government of unfairly closing the stations.
Joho’s family is also on record saying that the goods, worth millions, impounded at the port last year, belonged to a businessman who happened to be their client, a statement that has also been backed by the CFS Association.
But yesterday afternoon, KRA cut the seals at the gates to allow importers and clearing agents to evacuate their consignments from the CFSs after it issued a 36-hour order to have the containers cleared.
On Saturday, KRA Commissioner General John Njiraini, in a statement, accused the CFSs of failing to comply with the order to re-open and shut them once the goods were cleared.
Portside Container Freight Station Operations manager Salim Juma said it would be impossible to clear all the containers within the KRA deadline.
He accused the KPA of also being in contempt of a court order despite KRA honouring the same, saying the management was in discussions over what to do next.
Omar confirmed that the number of containers still inside Portside stood at 1,020, while Autoport had 1,007 and hundreds were still within KPA awaiting clearance.
The official also said vehicles in transit, most of which were headed to South Sudan, stood at around 150.
“We have received complaints from importers as far away as Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Southern Sudan, threatening to boycott using the port and are looking for alternative facilities due to the closure, which was done non-procedurally, without giving reasons

JSC:TUNOI BOUGHT 180 ACRES OF LAND

NEW evidence has emerged that Supreme Court judge Philip Tunoi, who is at the centre of Sh200 million bribery allegations, acquired 180 acres of land recently.
It also emerged that the man who blew the whistle on the bribe affair, Geoffrey Kiplagat, was promised Sh30 million, but was never paid his share. Once the money was paid, virtually all the people involved became hostile to him.
According to sources, the Judiciary tabled a report before the special subcommittee investigating the bribery allegations on Sunday, saying it found that the judge purchased two parcels of land and two tractors recently. The farms are said to be in Uasin Gishu county.
However, the Judiciary did not indicate whether there was any link between the alleged bribery and the properties allegedly acquired.
Judge Tunoi has been accused of receiving Sh200 million to deliver a favourable judgment in the election petition by Ferdinand Waititu, now Kabete MP, against Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, in August 2014.

The Judiciary instituted thorough investigations after receiving the complaint and sought the assistance of different government agencies such as the National Intelligence Service. In its interim report, the NIS confirmed that Tunoi and his accuser were in communication during the hearing of the Kidero petition.
It also emerged yesterday that the Judiciary probe team, met Kiplagat several times to test his facts and they confirmed that the man was consistent in his story.
It is further understood that Kiplagat was picked to broker the deal because he had previously used the same judge to " fix" some problems, irrespective of the court.
According to other sources, Kiplagat's friends in the county government knew and trusted him because they had previously worked together to “sort out problems”.
Yesterday the committee, chaired by Prof Margaret Kobia, took evidence from Justice Tunoi and his accuser journalist Kiplagat.
Justice Tunoi, who appeared before the committee

FINANCIAL YEAR FOR THE COUNTY 2016-17

THE counties will share Sh307 billion in the 2016/17 Budget, including some Sh3.8 billion in loans and grants, Treasury has proposed.
According to the 2016/17 Budget Policy Statement, the equitable share for the 47 counties will be Sh285 billion, up from Sh259 billion in the current financial year.
The devolved units will also receive an additional allocation of Sh18.2 billion for free maternal health, leasing of medical equipment, Level 5 hospitals and road repairs.
Nairobi will get the largest allocation, of Sh15.3 billion, followed by Turkana, which will get Sh11.8 billion and Kakamega’s Sh10.6 billion.
Others in the top five allocations are Mandera, which will get the fourth largest allocation, Sh10.2 billion, followed by Nakuru at Sh9.8 billion.
Lamu will get the least allocation at Sh2.5 billion, followed by Isiolo at Sh3.5 billion and Tharaka Nithi’s Sh3.6 billion.
Others in the bottom-five allocations are Taita Taveta at Sh3.87 billion and Elgeyo/Marakwet’s Sh3.86 billion.
The Commission on Revenue Allocation had recommended the allocation of Sh377.5 billion to the 47 county governments in the next financial year.

CRA said the allocation should include a Sh331.7 billion total equitable share for the counties and a further Sh44.7 billion as conditional grants.
Treasury said that there are eight conditional allocations being disbursed to the counties in 2015/16, six of them earmarked for the health sector.

According to the BPS, Sh4.3 billion will go to the counties for free maternal healthcare, while Sh4.5 billion will be used for leasing of medical equipment.
In addition, 11 Level 5 hospitals will share Sh4 billion while Sh900 million will be used to compensate the counties for user fees foregone in medical facilities.
There is also a Sh200 million allocation as a special purpose grant for supporting access to emergency medical services in the Lamu and Tana River counties.
County Allocations 2016/17 Financial Year in KSh
Baringo

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DP RUTO MEETS URP SUPPORTERS

Deputy President William Ruto yesterday reached out to his URP supporters and asked them to prepare for an exodus to Jubilee.
He said those opposing the union are opposition moles within Jubilee.
Those resisting the move and wanting to remain in URP will have themselves to blame next year, the DP said.
“The vehicle that took us to where we are has reached its destination and we have prepared a new one that will take us to 2022. Those who don’t want to alight will be returned home,” Ruto said.
He asked URP members to trust him.
Ruto was addressing a mammoth rally during inter-denominational prayers at Kapsabet Boys’ High School in Nandi.
The prayer rally for new Agriculture CS Willy Bett and PS Andrew Tuimur was presided over by the Anglican Archbishop Eliud Wabukala and his AIC counterpart Bishop Silas Yego.
The DP said those against the folding up of URP have ulterior motives.
Leaders at the prayer rally included CSs Charles Keter (Energy), Henry Rotich (Treasury) and Phyllis Kandie (Labour) and governors Cleophas Lagat (Nandi), Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu) and Alex Tolgos (Elgeyo Marakwet).
Others were MPs Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Kirwa Bitok (Mosop), Julius Meli (Tinderet), Elijah Lagat (Chesumei) and Cornelius Serem (Aldai), and senators Stephen Sang (Nandi) and Isaac Meli (Uasin Gishu).
Woman representatives present included Zipporah Kering (Nandi), Sabina Chege (Murang’a) and Rachel Shebesh (Nairobi).
Several principle secretaries were also at the rally.
Leaders said the bribery claims against Supreme Court judge Philip Tunoi were stage-managed for next year’s polls.
Keter said he supported Keiyo elders’ plan to perform a traditional ‘curse’ ritual to establish the truth.
“There is something wrong with some Kalenjin youths. They are fixing others just like the ICC case where they made false statements for cheap money,” he said.

RAILA HITS ON AU

At the just concluded Head of States meeting in Ethiopia, the leaders had their discussions centred on the withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) more than other critical issues like the crisis in Burundi. Raila said despite the clear danger facing the people of Burundi who have been left on their own, the AU Summit concentrated its energies on how to pull Africa out of the ICC. 

He said with Africans crying for salvation from political inequity, reversal of democracy and State-sponsored violence, the leaders at the AU meeting missed the opportunity to salvage the war torn Burundi. “The leaders prioritised exiting the Rome Statute even as AU rescinded its decision to deploy troops in Burundi because the incumbent, who stands accused in the eyes of his people, would not agree,” he said. Marauding tyrants See also: Rethink push to have Africa walk out of the Rome Statute But Raila’s sentiments was immediately dismissed by Jubilee as hypocritical. Jubilee’s Majority Leader in the National Assembly Aden Duale dismissed Raila’s sentiments terming them as hypocritical. Mr Duale said Raila’s opposition to the decision by Africa to withdraw from ICC was a confirmation that he had a hand in tribulations facing Deputy President William Ruto and journalist Joshua arap Sang’ at The Hague-based court. “Raila’s unsolicited accusations that the AU resolution to withdraw from ICC will undermine justice in Africa is far from the truth,” said Duale. He added: “His main worry is his project that he has used and hopes to continue using against his political competitors to ascend to power is collapsing.” Raila said for AU to leave the ICC before the legal infrastructure and alternative mechanism is put up is to expose the population of Africa to marauding tyrants.

Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000190181/raila-blasts-au-over-burundi-icc

DP RUTO:JUBILEE OPPOSERS ARE PARTY MOLES

Deputy President William Ruto yesterday reached out to his URP supporters and asked them to prepare for an exodus to Jubilee.
He said those opposing the union are opposition moles within Jubilee.
Those resisting the move and wanting to remain in URP will have themselves to blame next year, the DP said.
“The vehicle that took us to where we are has reached its destination and we have prepared a new one that will take us to 2022. Those who don’t want to alight will be returned home,” Ruto said.
He asked URP members to trust him.
Ruto was addressing a mammoth rally during inter-denominational prayers at Kapsabet Boys’ High School in Nandi.
The prayer rally for new Agriculture CS Willy Bett and PS Andrew Tuimur was presided over by the Anglican Archbishop Eliud Wabukala and his AIC counterpart Bishop Silas Yego.
The DP said those against the folding up of URP have ulterior motives.
Leaders at the prayer rally included CSs Charles Keter (Energy), Henry Rotich (Treasury) and Phyllis Kandie (Labour) and governors Cleophas Lagat (Nandi), Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu) and Alex Tolgos (Elgeyo Marakwet).
Others were MPs Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Kirwa Bitok (Mosop), Julius Meli (Tinderet), Elijah Lagat (Chesumei) and Cornelius Serem (Aldai), and senators Stephen Sang (Nandi) and Isaac Meli (Uasin Gishu).
Woman representatives present included Zipporah Kering (Nandi), Sabina Chege (Murang’a) and Rachel Shebesh (Nairobi).
Several principle secretaries were also at the rally.
Leaders said the bribery claims against Supreme Court judge Philip Tunoi were stage-managed for next year’s polls.
Keter said he supported Keiyo elders’ plan to perform a traditional ‘curse’ ritual to establish the truth.
“There is something wrong with some Kalenjin youths. They are fixing others just like the ICC case where they made false statements for cheap money,” he said.

IDP RESETTLEMENT UNDERWAY BY THE GOVERNMENT

The government has begun profiling the remaining IDPs in the Rift Valley to complete the resettlement of the 2007-08 post-election violence and forest evictees.
It is estimated that 15,000 IDPs are yet to be resettled.
Speaking to the Star in his Eldoret office on Friday, Uasin Gishu county commissioner Abdi Hassan said only genuine IDPs will be compensated.
“We want to deal with real victims and not those masquerading as IDPs,” he said.
“Those claiming to be IDPs must prove it. The government wants to complete the resettling once and for all.”
The last phase of resettlement will cost more than Sh5 billion.
A task force comprising officers from the presidency and Interior ministry has visited counties including Nakuru and Uasin Gishu to assess IDPs, many still in small camps.
Hassan said the government has spent heavily on IDPs and the resettlement must now come to an end.
“Those who missed out pleaded with the government to consider them and luckily their plea was heard,” he said.
After completion of the assessment, the IDPs will be paid cash to buy land in places of their choice.
Huruma MCA Peter Chomba praised the state’s bid to complete the transfer of IDPs.
“It’s a welcome move but we want proper profiling so that none of the genuine victims will be left behind,” he told the Star on the phone yesterday.