Saturday, July 5News That Matters

Tag: local news

China Firm Surrenders More SGR Functions to Kenya
local news

China Firm Surrenders More SGR Functions to Kenya

A Chinese firm that has been running the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) has surrendered more functions to Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) ahead of the full handover May 2022. nitially, Kenya Railways was only tasked with handling ticketing, security, and fuelling functions that were handed to it in March 2021. This was done in accordance with the contract entered between the two parties. However, the Chinese firm, Africa Star Railway Operation Company (AfriStar), which has been at the centre of controversies over ownership, has surrendered the loading and offloading of the SGR passenger and cargo trains to Kenya Railways as part of a deal to fully offload the running of the multi-billion Chinese-funded project to Kenya.“The corporation (Kenya Railway) has now assumed the loading ...
Eric Theuri Elected The New LSK President
local news

Eric Theuri Elected The New LSK President

Eric Theuri is the new president of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) after emerging victorious in the Thursday elections. Theuri garnered 1,811 votes ahead of outgoing Vice President Carolyne Kamende, who also sought the top seat but fell short with 1,085 votes. Omwanza Ombati came third with 920 votes followed by Mathew Nyabena (745) and Bernhard Ng’etich (452) in fourth and fifth position respectively. Theuri now steps into the shoes of the outgoing LSK boss Nelson Havi who has dipped his toes into politics and is eyeing the Westlands Parliamentary seat on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ticket. Theuri, the former LSK Nairobi branch chairperson, commended the electoral process that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) carried out as he thanke...
5 Arrested for Ferrying Stolen Sheep Worth Ksh.2M In Naivasha
local news

5 Arrested for Ferrying Stolen Sheep Worth Ksh.2M In Naivasha

Detectives in Naivasha, Nakuru County, have arrested five people who were intercepted in a lorry full of stolen sheep along the Naivasha-Longonot highway. The five, Nancy Njeri, 40, Philip Karuga, 55, John Mwaura, 49, James Githinji, 44 and Peter Cecilia, 49, are said to have been ferrying the sheep valued at Ksh.2 million to Nairobi. The DCI added that the sheep had been stolen from a herder in the Mirera area of Longonot. The George Kinoti-led agency has further raised the  alarm over a steady rise in livestock theft cases in recent months due to what it terms as a growing demand for meat. Another herd of livestock valued at over Ksh.2.5 million was also reportedly stolen two weeks ago. “In December last year, a butcher operating a chain of nyama choma eateries a...
MPs  Summon Former KETRACO Boss Fernandes Barasa
Entertainment

MPs Summon Former KETRACO Boss Fernandes Barasa

Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) Acting Managing Director Anthony Wamukota had a tough time at the National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Thursday. This as he was put to task to explain why a tender for the construction of a transmission line from Loyangalani to Suswa was made on the advice of Lake Turkana Wind Power company, a firm that eventually benefited financially from delays in completion of the project. Members of Parliament now want former KETRACO CEO Fernandes Barasa summoned to the committee to explain why KETRACO entered into an unfavourable contract. Barasa recently left the company to run for the Kakamega gubernatorial seat; but even before he crafts his election roadmap, MPs want him recalled to answer questions over how a tender fo...
deputy county commissioners reshuffled in new changes
local news

deputy county commissioners reshuffled in new changes

More than 130 Deputy County Commissioners were reshuffled in major changes announced by Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho. The changes come ahead of major political developments and the August polls. DCC are like District Commissioners in the old and defunct constitution. Kibicho announced the changes in a memo dated February 11 to Regional Commissioners. He ordered them to move immediately. Khalif Abdulahi was moved to Nakuru West, Fred Sungu (Kiminini), Michael Yator (Changamwe), Meshak Mwangi (Eldas), Alinoor Duba (Bungoma Central), Felix Wafula (Ugunja), Daniel Mwendwa (Lamu East), Hussein Alason (Kisumu Central) and Victor Kamonde (Bomet Central). Solomon Kiptoo was moved to Soy, Philip Koima (Endebes), John Maina (Githurai), Jeremiah Tumo (Pokot Central...
KAA begins Sh240 million expansion of Kisumu International Airport
local news

KAA begins Sh240 million expansion of Kisumu International Airport

The Kenya Airports Authority has started the expansion and rehabilitation of Kisumu International airport ahead of the Africities summit. The Sh240 million upgrade is expected to be completed within 90 days. KAA managing director Alex Gitari said they have handed the works to China Jiangxi International Economic and Technical Cooperation. We have told the contractor to stick within the time frame to ensure the works are completed on time," he said. The director spoke during a ceremony to commence the works on Friday. The Africities summit will attract a large number of delegates and V.I.Ps from across the continent. Gitari said that in order to accommodate the large number of delegates, the airport required enhanced infrastructure. He said as a result and with the...
Two Marsabit businessmen abducted in Nairobi
local news

Two Marsabit businessmen abducted in Nairobi

Police are investigating claims that two Marsabit based businessmen who are missing were abducted in Nairobi. Kunni Hele Halanka and Roba Abduba Sereka are said to have been abducted by armed men in separate places in Nairobi. Halanka went missing on February 7, 2022, and his family say they have been searching for him in vain, while Roba went missing on February 2, 2022. Halanka, 70, was riding in a taxi along Likoni Road when the car was intercepted before he was picked up by men who claimed to be police officers. The family says he is on medication, which if he does not take it, may lead to a heart attack. Sereka, 60, was picked up at gunpoint at Green Valley shopping centre at about 11 am. The families of the two say they are yet to be contacted by the said abduc...
Two killed in separate fire incidents in Nairobi
local news

Two killed in separate fire incidents in Nairobi

Two people were killed in two separate fire incidents in Nairobi at the weekend. One died in a fire that was reported in Riruta area while the second one died in Embakasi’s Juakali area. Police said up to 50 structures were destroyed in both incidents leaving tens of people homeless. Ten other people sustained slight injuries in the Sunday incidents. Investigations to establish the cause of the fire are ongoing. The bodies of the men were taken to the mortuary. Witnesses said they were discovered after the fire had been contained. Those whose houses were destroyed camped at local churches as they sought help to reconstruct them. They said they lost all their valuables in the fire. Nairobi acting police boss James Mugera said experts are investigating the cause ...
Man  Arrested  defiling a 15-Year-Old Girl and holding her  Captive For Over 10 Months,
local news

Man Arrested defiling a 15-Year-Old Girl and holding her Captive For Over 10 Months,

A 30-year-old Eldoret-based man has been accused of holding a 15-year–old schoolgirl captive for over 10 months, repeatedly defiling her and getting her pregnant in the process. The suspect, Douglas Kagai, a watchman by profession, is said to have committed the heinous acts between April 8, 2019 and February 29, 2020. He was presented before an Eldoret Court on Wednesday where the victim revealed that Kagai had duped her on the pretence of being a police officer who could help her land a job at Eldoret Police Station. The minor had run away from home before encountering Kagai after falling out with her family over alleged mistreatment. She used to sleep at a local church when she met Kagai. After agreeing to be taken in by the suspect, the victim would soon realize th...
DCI dispatched to River Yala to probe 19 unclaimed bodies
local news

DCI dispatched to River Yala to probe 19 unclaimed bodies

A special forensic team has been dispatched to River Yala in a bid to probe the 19 unclaimed bodies. In a statement on Wednesday, Police spokesman Bruno Shioso said the bodies had been dumped in the river for the past two years. The bodies were found in sacks, some tied up and others mutilated.  He denied claims that the 19 bodies were dumped at once. "Despite an appeal from the police, no one has come forward to claim the bodies," he said. Shioso appealed to anyone with information to come forward to aid in the investigations. HAKI Africa wrote to DPP Noordin Haji requesting his intervention over the River Yala bodies saga. There is an ongoing public debate over the 19 bodies. A section of Kenyans took to social media to raise con...