A Nairobi court has issued a warrant of arrest against two Game warders linked with the shooting dead of a protester during demonstration against the Narok County Governor seven months ago.
Senior principal magistrate Martha Mutuku issued the arrest warrant
for Moses Kuiyoni and Samwel Kishoyan following application by senior
state counsel Daniel Karuri the Director of Public Prosecution has
recommended their prosecution in connection with the shooting.
Karuri informed the court the DPP had earlier instructed Inspector
General Joseph Boinett to arrest and charge the two suspect with the
offence but they have not been arrested.
The magistrate granted the application and issued arrest order against the two suspects. She directed the case to be mention on August 31, for purpose of confirming the arrest.
Nairobi court warned Narok Senator Stephen Ole Ntutu and
four MPs who are under investigations over chaotic demonstrations late
January 2015 to desist from taking part in the alleged another planned
demonstration.
Earlier the DPP dropped incitement to violence charges against
Senator Ntutu and four MPs Johana Ngeno (EmurwaDikir), Moitalel
Kenta (Narok North), Korei Lemein (Narok South) and Patrick Ntutu (Narok West).
The five were discharged after the DPP found no evidence to prosecute them.
The DPP had urged the court to release the five suspects on bond
saying he had received information that chaos had erupted in Narok the
same morning as residents protested the arrest of the politicians.
During the protests, one person was injured while businesses remained
closed as angry youths barricaded roads leading to Narok Town.
Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko has moved to the court seeking orders to compel CS Infrastructure and Transport and Kenya National Highway Authority be compelled to remove bumps and rubbles strips along Thika road.
The senator says, that bumps and rubbles located at the superhighway at the specific points which are identified as Survey of Kenya are the main cause of traffic jam along the busy road.
Today when the matter came up for hearing, the senator’s lawyer Harrison Kinyanjui, told the court that the congestion complaints of is not capable of being demonstrated on paper by way of affidavit evidence.
He told Justice George Odunga, that the bumps and rubbles strips also spotted at Homeland, Kenya Breweries points; they must be made in such way to pave way for pedestrian to use footbridges along the highway.
The lawyer wants the court to visit the complaint pints for it make a determination on bumps and rubbles strips which should be removed forthwith.
Mr Kinyanjui submitted that the CS, KNHA, Nairobi County Kenya Roads Boards and AG having not replied to the application for judicial review, the court should issue an order directing the removal of the bumps and rubbles strips.
The court heard that the senator will at full hearing of the application demonstrate that he is not merely lodging proceedings for the sake of it, but to the intent that a just and fair decision for the benefit of highway user.
” Upon the court assessing for itself on two points then its discretion can exercised based on actual facts is fully verified by the court as opposed to deciding the matter without the benefit of such evidence” he said.
Kinyanjui said the impact of rubbles trips and bumps can verify at around between 6.30 and 6.30 in the morning in the weekdays.
The court will make a ruling on September 2to determine whether to issue the orders sought by the applicant.
President Salva Kiir has signed a peace deal with the SPLM in opposition ending 20 months of conflict in South Sudan.
The president signed the agreement in the presence of regional heads of state from Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Sudan, plus government officials and other dignitaries.
President Kiir said he had “reservations” about how the mediation was conducted and some of the clauses in the compromise deal. He asked the mediators to consider revisiting, revising and rethinking the peace deal document.
” This is neither a bible, nor a koran, why cant it be revisited?” Kiir asked.
The signing of the agreement is meant to end 20 months of a brutal conflict that would see former vice president Riek Machar return as vice-president.
Riek Machar together with the leader of the G10 signed the deal last week in Addis Abba.
President Kiir however refused to append his signature on grounds that he needed to consult his constituents.
Chairman of Nakuru-based Trusted Society of Human Rights Alliance Elijah Sikona (left) together with the alliance’s treasurer Raphael Maleka peruse through the papers after the high court restrained the Attorney general from forwarding the proposed amendment of public Benefits organization by NGO coordination’s board to the national assembly outside Milimani law courts on Monday 24 August, 2015..
BY SAM ALFAN.
High court has restrained the attorney general from forwarding to the clerk of the national assembly the proposed amendment of public benefit organization by NGO Co-ordination board.
Justice George Odunga, said pending the hearing a determination of the petition filed by Trusted Society of Human Rights Alliance, there should be no action by the AG.
He said that applicants have raised very serious constitutional issues over the composition of the board, which must be determined first.
The judge was told by the applicant’s lawyer Julie Soweto, that there has been no properly constituted NGO board since March 2015, due failure by the CS devolution not publishing the Act to be come operational
She said in the absence of the proper board no amendments can be made and be forwarded to AG.
The judge directed that the application be served and the matter be heard inter parties on September 22.
Senior counsel Gitobu Imanyara, Abdrizak Hussein Shafat who has obtained orders stopping his arrest over terror suspicion.
BY SAM ALFAN.
It’s a reprieve for United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) staff Abdrizak Hussein Shafat .
This is after he filed a successful application on Thursday in the high court through his brother Abdikalib Hussein seeking orders restrained police from harassing or arresting him over terror suspicion.
He obtained orders restraining police or any security agents from harassing or intimidating him.
Through lawyer senior counsel Gitobu Imanyara, Abdrizak Hussein Shafat is seeking to bar the Director of Criminal investigations, the Inspector of Police and the Director of Public Prosecution from having him arrested and charged with terror related charges.
Vacation judge, Justice George Odunga directed director of public prosecution Kiriako Tobiko to respond to Abdrizak Hussein Shafat application within 14 days.
Odunga restrained police or their agent not to harass Abdrizak Shafat and in case he is to be arrested he should be released on police bail.
“I hereby issue an order prohibiting the sued parties from arresting, detaining or prosecuting Abdrizak and in the event the police are minded to arrest him, he must be released on police bail of a reasonable amount,” Justice Odunga said.
On Thursday last week, Justice Korir directed that the matter be served Director of Public Prosecution, Director of Criminal Investigation and Inspector General of police before any directions were to be issued.
Abdrizak’s brother moved to court on his behalf arguing that he had not been involved in any criminal activities or terrorism organization or requested by security agents to assist in any investigations.
Senior Counsel Imanyara told court that Abdrizak is a UNHCR Protection Officer at the Hagadera Refugee camp sub office and that part of his duties is taking calls.
“Abdrizak does not have any means of knowing whether or not the various people from whom he receives calls are involved in any criminal activities or they belong to terrorist related groups,” Imanyara said.
According to Abdrizak, his friend was arrested by security officers on his way to work on August 14. On the same day, Anti- Terror Police had been to the camp looking for the two in order to arrest them for allegedly being involved in terrorist acts.
He said in the case documents that his friend had told him that the police also had his work numbers in which he uses to communicate while doing his duties.
“My brother has told me and I also believe that the reason for seeking him for arrest is on the basis of contacts and communication made to him though his work telephone number. In his capacity, if requested by security officials with any lawful information meant for proper investigations, he would fully cooperate,” he said.
The UNHCR officer wants it declared that he is entitled to know the basis upon which is to be arrested and prosecuted.
He further wants it declared that the rampant state of insecurity existing in Garissa is a direct result of the sued parties’ inability to perform their constitutional duties which has created a lawlessness situation exploited by political motives to different clans in the area.
He also wants the sued parties stopped from arresting him on account of information obtained from his work telephone.
The matter will be heard on 22 of September for further direction.
Former registrar of Judiciary Gladys Boss Shollei before the Anti-corruption court where she’s facing charges of abuse of office and economic crimes at Milimani law courts on Monday 24 August, 2015. BY SAM ALFAN.
Former Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Gladys Boss Shollei, now claims shes being prosecuted because of politics
This is after she appeared in the Milimani courts in Nairobi to answer abuse of office charges but vehemently protested that she was a victim of political persecution.
Shollei presented herself before the chief magistrate of the anti-corruption court Felix Kombo and denied the four-count indictment relating to the controversial acquisition of the official residence of the Chief Justice.
She was granted Sh600, 000 cash bail requiring her to attend trial whose dates will be fixed on September 7.
“I am in court because of politics. I am in court because I stepped on some toes and some people are determined to fix me. I have also heard rumors that I am being persecuted because of perceptions that I have political interests,” Shollei told journalists outside the court precincts after securing her liberty.
The former powerful Accounting Officer of the Judiciary exclaimed that she was “relieved and amused” by the criminal charges since the allegations against her did not involve theft of money, receiving bribes or engaging in corrupt activities. Instead, she was merely accused of improperly conferring a benefit by signing a valid commercial contract and failure to ensure that Government funds were used in an efficient, economical and transparent manner, Shollei said.
She dismissed her prosecution on “trumped-up charges” and reiterated that she had been hired to make independent judgments and firm decisions. “I do not fear those who want to kill my spirit, my energy and passion. I do not fear those who want to destroy me because I am indestructible,” Shollei said in press statement.
Shollei was charged alongside six former Judiciary Staffs who took plea on August 5.Shollei did not take plea that day as she was outside the country.
The six former tender review commissioners denied the charges and were released on a bond of sh 1.5 million or a cash bail of sh 600,000.
The court heard that Shollei and the six commissioners, Francis Kakai Kissinger ,Martin Okwatta, Benedict Omollo, Thomas Oloko Atak, Nicholas Mbeba and Wycliffe Wanga being the Tender engaged in irregularly purchasing a fully furnished residential property of the Chief Justice from Johnson Nduya Muthama Holdings Limited at a sum of sh 310 million.
They were also charged with willful failure to comply with the law and applicable procedures relating to tendering of contracts contrary to the law.
Shollei and the six were also charged with failing to ensure that the Judiciary did not pay in excess of the prevailing market prices in the purchase of a residential property from Johnson Nduya Muthama Holdings Limited for the sum of sh 310 million.
Nairobi Governor, Dr.Evans Kidero has denied that contractors are uprooting grass planted in Nairobi for US President Barack Obama’s visit.
A video began circulating on social media on Thursday appearing to show workers in the city uprooting plants and alleging they were only on loan.
But Nairobi governor Evans Kidero said a contractor was “restoring the ground in order to do the proper planting”.
Mr Obama left Kenya on Sunday after his weekend visit.
The governor’s efforts to plant grass along the roads only a few days before President Obama’s trip had previously been mocked on social media.
It is reported that the governor spent about 50m Kenyan shillings ($488,000, £312,000) on giving the city a facelift, which included planting the grass.
Last week, the governor used the hashtag #KideroGrass in a plea for people to avoid walking on the newly planted verges.
It then began trending on Twitter, and even Uhuru Kenyatta got involved, joking: “Don’t worry: Plant it, it shall grow”, Kenya’s Capital TV reports.
Kidero used the hashtag again in his Facebook post on Thursday denying the accusation that plants were being uprooted.
“NO ONE is uprooting #KideroGrass,” he said.
“#KideroGrass is well on course, the quality of grass selected takes time to grow!” he added.
One of the comments on his post said: “Governor please explain to me slooowly why the flowers were planted with polythene bags intact”.
I want to speak out for all the voiceless whether they are poor or rich. And I want to speak candidly.
This is on the issue of the Keroche Breweries, its obligations, importance to the country and compliance with the law. The company has been facing a barrage of attacks from not only MPs from Central province but now the tax man, KRA, is after the humble lady, Tabitha, saying that Keroche has not met its tax obligations.
Though we don’t know each other, I am always inspired by Tabitha Karanja because she is appealing to my heart. I think I would have married her, supported and protected her and we would have had beautiful children. She is an iron lady. The type I admire. I am not a man of kuch kuch hota hai type. I admire strong and determined ladies who will push boundaries to achieve their dreams. Tabitha has built what the country has failed to build, a key manufacturing economy. The woman has built a working production engine employing hundreds who serve the local economy in a way which is uncommon in Kenya.
I say its uncommon because Kenya is turning into a service or sales economy. We buy all from wherever they are produced and sell them locally. We have an economy with less foreign exchange getting in but much more of out cash going out. In effect, the current Kenyan economy is actually having a negative effect on the shilling. We can’t be a country of consumption and minimal production.
During the last coalition government where Kibaki was the president and Raila the PM, in fact October 2008, something occurred at Keroche which will explain what is happening now. Keroche got a Ksh 5 billion financing from Barclays Bank. The company built a new bottling plant then wanted the President to open it to assure her financiers that she had the government’s backing in her operations. She has always been solo.
When she sent out an invite to President Kibaki through his PA, Joe Wanjui, she was assured of the support of the President. Madam Tabitha Karanja wanted President Kibaki to open the new plant. It was until the last minute (2 days to the opening) that someone whispered to her that nothing like that was on Kibaki’s diary. In fact, Kibaki knew but someone had prevailed on him not to open the plant because “huyo sio wetu.”
In the circle of wealthy Kikuyus, you just don’t have to have the money, chums or mbesha but you also need to be cleansed and admitted into the inner circle of the elite who controls the Kenyan economy. You can’t just be a billionaire and have access to the Muthaiga Club which runs the country. You need to be cleansed, analysed and invited into the club. Tabitha Karanja with all her influence, money and expertise has never been allowed anywhere near Muthaiga Club. She can’t wine and dine with the powerful Kikuyus controlling the Kenyan economy. She is an outsider to them.
So back to the story. Tabitha realising that she was played, decided to do the unthinkable. She drove all the way from Naivasha to State House hoping to get to see the President and personally prevail on him to support her. Tabitha was angry, sad and disappointed at the same time. She spent over 1 hour pleading with her State House connections to be allowed to see President Kibaki. She was completely denied access. Hyslop Ipu (then State House Comptroller) was her contact. She had to look for other ways of surviving. She drove to the nearby Serena Hotel to catch a drink, drown her sorrows and recollect herself. She was burning inside.
It took Hyslop Ipu’s assistant to call her and tell her that the battle she was fighting, she was not going to win. The assistant asked her to look for Raila for support. She slapped herself and thought how stupid she was not to think of Raila. She called Oburu to ask if Raila would be comfortable. Oburu said, “WHY NOT.” It was late in the evening and everyone was retired home. She wanted to go see Raila immediately. Oburu gave her the directions and she drove straight to Karen. She got access to Raila and explained her predicament.
After hearing all her stories, Raila told her that on the said date, he had a scheduled event in Kisumu and he would be flying there in his chopper. He agreed to pass by for a maximum of 30 minutes to launch the new production plant then fly to Kisumu. The problem was that Keroche didn’t have a good place to land the chopper. Tabitha promised to build an helipad in a record 48 hours if she was given the specifications. She sure did. When Raila landed at Keroche, he was wowed and dumbstruck. He was shocked by what he was seeing. As an engineer, he knew what he was seeing and he thinks that it’s what Kenya needs. Instead of staying for 30 minutes, Raila stayed for over two hours.
Tabitha has FOREVER been grateful to Raila. That’s why Oburu Odinga was appointed the firm’s chairman.
A previous incident was even more painful. In 2003 when Kibaki went to Nakuru to open his first agricultural show, Keroche was to be feted in the show among the leading manufacturing industries in the region. Everything was set and Tabitha’s seat was on the podium among others’. Just before Kibaki arrived for the show, Michuki ordered that her seat be removed from the podium. Tabitha cried but vowed to soldier on. She was pained. This woman has seen the worst form of treatment.
The targeted frustration of Tabitha Karanja is an ACT of TREASON. Kenya willl never prosper on malls and the service industry alone. Kenya will grow if we build unrivalled manufacturing economy to support the service economy. The service economy needs a much more affluent populace. We can’t say we are developed because every town has an average of two big malls. We must build our production. We must create, innovate and even export. Tea, coffee and flowers is going down. We must support sugar cane, pyrethrum, sunflower, macadamia, sorghum, cotton and onion production.
This is what Tabitha Karanja has been doing.
She is being sabotaged now because the Uhuru wing of the Jubilee coalition thinks that she has been close to Deputy President, William Ruto. Uhuru’s people believe that Ruto is amassing a war chest for his future ambitions. Some insiders told me that Ruto has already, close to Ksh 75 billion which he doesn’t use much. They believe that his ambitions are scary and so they are looking for ways of taming him
cks from not only MPs from Central province but now the tax man, KRA, is after the humble lady, Tabitha, saying that Keroche has not met its tax obligations.