The Star

The National Transport and Safety Authority on Friday suspended the operation licence of Marimba Matatu Sacco, following the murder of former student leader Joseph Kiarie last Sunday. A matatu crew allegedly beat Kiarie to death on Christmas Eve. He had an altercation over a minor accident, as he headed to church to prepare for a Christmas Mass that was to be held later that evening. The former Maseno University student leader is reported to have demanded compensation from the driver of a minibus that hit and damaged his car. The confrontation turned ugly after conductors and drivers from other matatus outnumbered him, roughed him up and beat him. Kiarie is said to have died upon arrival at the Nema Uhai Ruaraka Hospital, located opposite the Moi Sports Centre, Kasarani, Nairobi.…

PAUL CHEPKWONY To upgrade airstrip to airport The Kerenga Airstrip in Kericho county is set to be upgraded to an international airport from next week, Governor Paul Chepkwony and Energy CS Charles Keter have said. The proposed airport has been allocated Sh100 million this financial year. The county assembly will approve more funds in the next financial year. See page 21 JULIUS MALOMBE Wiper wants petition dropped Wiper is considering having former Kitui Governor Julius Malombe drop his election petition against current county chief Charity Ngilu. Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana on Thursday indicated that Malombe would be prevailed upon. Malombe challenged Ngilu’s August 8 victory, saying the election was marred by irregularities. See page 18 EUGENE WAMALWA Analysts say Western against JP The ejection of Water CS Eugene Wamalwa from…

The NASA leaders head for a retreat in mid-January to unveil their calendar of events, including what insiders claim will be the swearing-in of principals Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka as the People’s President and Deputy President. ODM chairman John Mbadi said on Friday the retreat was on the cards and the alliance’s captains shall unveil the details on Tuesday. “We’ve not decided on the venue of the retreat and the exact dates, but the principals will communicate to their parties on Tuesday next week,” he said. NASA leaders are playing their cards close to their chest amid fears that details of the planned meeting could be used against them by the state. The outfit has vowed to use the activities to push out President Uhuru Kenyatta from power after…

 A 32-year-old man who allegedly murdered his two children at Kiganjo estate in Thika town three days ago has been remanded for 14 days. THE SUSPECT WILL BE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO A MENTAL EXAMINATION BEFORE HE ANSWERS TO THE CHARGES OF KILLING CHILDREN James Kioho was presented before Milimani magistrate Sinkiyian Tobiko yesterday, but was not required to take a plea after the prosecution sought more time to complete investigations. State prosecutor Duncan Ondimu told court that police required at least two more weeks to complete the probe. Investigating officer Stanley Munene said he is yet to record statements from key witnesses. The suspect, who was dressed in a red shirt, showed no emotion as the prosecution sought more days to keep him in custody. He gazed at the ground…

ARE political leaders in the Western region jostling for visibility? Well, sources tell Corridors that a second-term governor with ambitions for higher office has recently been talking to a top Jubilee leader about 2022. That seems to have made some rivals jittery and intensify plans to command the ground. Not a weekend passes without the leaders attending a wedding or a funeral here and there. Maybe that explains why Water CS Eugene Wamalwa (pictured) has been on a roll this Christmas, albeit dogged by missteps. After being unceremoniously ejected from the Maragoli festival on Boxing Day, the CS was not so lucky hours later. He arrived uninvited at an informal gathering of professionals in Bumula constituency, which prompted other local leaders to troop in. But his closing remarks were rudely…

2018 will be a make-or-break year for Kenya’s highly rated education system as the government begins to implement a raft of radical changes that include transiting to a new education model. The government will also be rolling out a key Jubilee Party election pledge — free day secondary education — to achieve 100 per cent transition for all learners from Standard 8 to Form 1 that has many parents excited and anxious at the same time. Another radical shift is the decision by the ministry to supply textbooks directly to the schools. The mass transition means that schools will be forced to admit everyone who sat the KCPE, including traditionally rejected “failures” who scored inadmissible marks. Of the 1 million candidates who sat the 2017 KCPE examination, some 2,360 attained…