political news Archives - Page 13 of 16

Former President Jakaya Kikwete is alive and well, says son

27May

By Nasra HusseinNo Comments

Politics

Former President Jakaya Kikwete is alive and well, says son

Ridhiwani Kikwete, son of Tanzania's former President Jakaya Kikwete, has come out to refute rumours of his father's death following speculation on social media. Through a statement issued on Thursday via his Instagram and Twitter pages, he rubbished the claims and said the ex-Head of State is in good health. “After receiving various phone calls and messages I have found it necessary to use this opportunity to make things clear. Our Parent Dr Kikwete is safe and in good health. He has no health problems and is continuing with his responsibilities,” he said Kikwete, who was president from 2005 to 2015, is currently 70-years-old. President Samia Suluhu recently presented him with a government-built house as part of upkeep for retired Tanzanian leaders. At the cerem...

President Uhuru, Ruto, CJ Koome attend the National Prayer Breakfast

27May

By Nasra HusseinNo Comments

Politics

President Uhuru, Ruto, CJ Koome attend the National Prayer Breakfast

President Uhuru Kenyatta is at the Parliament buildings for the national prayer breakfast meeting. He was received some minutes past 8 am by Deputy President William Ruto and host speakers Justin Muturi of the National Assembly and Senate’s Kenneth Lusaka. Newly sworn-in Chief Justice Martha Koome is also present at the event. President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy Thursday met face-to-face with his deputy after months of avoiding each other. The two greeted each other on the elbow as they smiled at each other with their masks on. Uhuru and Ruto have only met twice face to face this year – on February 15 during the burial of former Cabinet minister Simeon Nyachae in Kisii and February 25 during a Cabinet meeting at State House, Nairobi. Participants observed a minut...

Martha Koome Sworn in as new Chief justice.

21May

By Nasra HusseinNo Comments

Politics

Martha Koome Sworn in as new Chief justice.

President Uhuru Kenyatta presided over the event. He congratulated the new appointees. In his speech, the President first apologised for delaying the swearing in as he was held up in Mombasa. He reminded the CJ and the judge to practice what the oath office they ascribed to, at the brief event, states. The President told the Supreme Court president and the Judge that it “was not in his place to teach them how they should do their job”. President Kenyatta said he was honored to witness the swearing in of the first female chief justice of the republic of Kenya. Staying off his official speech, the president said: “These people here (handlers) prepared for me a long story for me to say…but I purposely say I will not because it is not for me to tell you how to execute yo...

Justice Koome lifts lid on IEBC events in 2017.

21May

By Nasra HusseinNo Comments

Politics

Justice Koome lifts lid on IEBC events in 2017.

Chief Justice Martha Koome has lifted the lid on how she managed to be in the team of the Court of Appeal judges that decided the petition against the IEBC on a public holiday. The 2017 case in which the Appeals court overturned the High Court ruling that found the appointment of IEBC returning officers as illegal featured prominently in Koome’s vetting. Khelef Khalifa, a human rights activist and director of the Muslim for Human Rights (Muhuri), petitioned the National Assembly to reject the appeals judge’s nomination. The petitioner told the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee that the judge lied to the Judicial Service Commission on why they held a sitting without the permission of then Chief Justice David Maraga. He argued that on the said day, Interior CS Fred Matiang...

Eritrea’s Isaias visits Sudanese leaders amid Ethiopia tensions.

5May

By Nasra HusseinNo Comments

International news

Eritrea’s Isaias visits Sudanese leaders amid Ethiopia tensions.

Eritrea’s President Isaias Afwerki is in Khartoum for talks with Sudanese officials, in a two-day visit taking place amid tensions between the governments of Ethiopia, a close ally of the Eritrean leader, and Sudan. Accompanied by Foreign Minister Osman Saleh and presidential adviser Yemane Ghebreab, Isaias was received on Tuesday at the Sudanese capital’s international airport by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of Sudan’s ruling sovereign council. The two leaders then began closed talks on cooperation and ways to strengthen ties between their countries, according to a statement from the council. Eritrea’s information ministry said in a separate statement that Isaias and al-Burhan had “agreed to strengthen their efforts in the implementation of the Agreement of Cooperati...

Limuru MP Peter Mwathi,New chairperson of security committee of the National Assembly.

5May

By Nasra HusseinNo Comments

Politics

Limuru MP Peter Mwathi,New chairperson of security committee of the National Assembly.

Limuru MP Peter Mwathi is the new chairperson of the powerful Security Committee of the National Assembly. Mwathi was elected unopposed to take over from the late Kiambaa MP Paul Koinange. Wajir Woman MP Fatuma Gedi, who had expressed interest in the seat, did not submit her application by the deadline. Members of the committee asked their new chairman to take up from where Koinange left. They hailed Mwathi as having what it takes to propel the committee to greater heights. Mwathi was until his election on Tuesday chairman of the Labour Committee. He has been a member of the Parliamentary Service Commission, was the first vice-chair of the privileges committee. Gedi, who is the committee vice-chairperson, said former PM Raila Odinga had expressed his support for M...

30Apr

By Nasra HusseinNo Comments

Politics

Kenya, UNHCR agree on refugee Roadmap.

Kenya and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees have agreed on a repatriation roadmap for refugees in Kakuma and Dadaab camps. The roadmap includes provisions for voluntary safe return of refugees to their home nations, departures to third countries under various arrangements, and alternative stay options in Kenya for refugees from the East African Community member states. The plan that will be implemented by a team of Government and UNHCR officials was agreed upon Thursday evening during a meeting between President Uhuru Kenyatta and the visiting UN Refugee Agency's High Commissioner Filippo Grandi who paid the Head of State a courtesy visit at State House, Nairobi. At the meeting, also attended by Head of Public Service Dr Joseph Kinyua, and Cabinet Secretaries ...

JSC given go ahead to nominate next Chief Justice.

27Apr

By Nasra HusseinNo Comments

Politics

JSC given go ahead to nominate next Chief Justice.

The Court of Appeal has stayed the orders issued by the High Court barring the recruitment of the Chief Justice. Justice Patrick Kiage on Tuesday said it is in the public interest that they have decided to stay the order. This now means that the interviews scheduled for this week for the Supreme Court judge can proceed though they will behind by two days. The three-judge bench has stayed the orders saying that the High Court did not deal with the issue of jurisdiction before they issued the orders. Speaking to the press after the ruling, Lawyer Danstan Omari representing one of the petitioners says they are not satisfied with the ruling but they cannot move to the Supreme Court. Omari said as it is now, there are only four judges at the apex court when you remove Deputy...

23Apr

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Politics

BBI BILL FOUND TO CONTAIN ERRORS.

A record 32 county assemblies debated a BBI Bill containing errors, the joint committee considering the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2020 has confirmed. Speaking on Friday after week-long deliberation, the joint committee however downplayed the errors as minor and correctable. Joint chairs Muturi Kigano (Kangema MP) and Senator Okong'o Omogeni (Nyamira) told journalists that the report is now ready and will be sent to the two speakers. The leaders said the discrepancies are captured in the report that will be tabled in Parliament. "We have taken note and that affects 32 County Assemblies and that is captured in our report," Omogeni said. "There were no two copies of the Bill. There could be small errors here and there but that is correctable," ...

KDF commissions acquires new aircraft in Nairobi

22Apr

By Nasra HusseinNo Comments

Politics

KDF commissions acquires new aircraft in Nairobi

The Kenya Air Force (KAF) Wednesday commissioned the newly acquired C-145 Skytruck aircraft. This is a boost to the service that is currently rushing to upgrade its arsenal to match the demands. The type can perform varied roles such as precision combat airdrop, combat search-and-rescue, humanitarian assistance, casualty evacuation and disaster relief missions. Commander Kenya Air Force (KAF) Major General Francis Ogolla presided over the event at Moi Air Base (MAB), Eastleigh. The C-145 Skytruck which is intended to phase out the Y-12 aircraft was acquired through Excess Defence Article (EDA) after the signing of the Kenya United States Liason Office (KUSLO) agreement by the two Governments in April 2017. Maj Gen Ogolla expresse...