The Star 01/04/2017

HIV infections among some groups are more than five times higher than that of the general population, a new report indicates. These groups include men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs and sex workers. The report called ‘Get on the Fast Track’ by UNAIDS shows that stigma, discrimination and criminalisation are some of the problems these groups face from society and when trying to access health services. “Communities of people who inject drugs, sex workers, men who have sex with men and transgender are among the hardest hit by the HIV-Aids epidemic. HIV prevalence within these groups is five to 49 times higher than in the general population. It is estimated that in 2014, 36 per cent of all new infections were among key populations and their…

ALICE WAHOME Wants MPs to reject bill The Kandara MP has said she will mobilise MPs to shoot down an amendment to the Sexual Offences Act lowering the age of consent from 18 to 16. Wahome said no right-minded MPs will pass the controversial amendment. She said this will put children at risk of sexual abuse. She said the country has more pressing issues. See page 24 ADEN DUALE Bar inciters from vying for office The National Assembly majority leader yesterday urged the IEBC to bar politicians who incite violence from running for office. He said the country cannot afford a repeat of the 2007-08 post-election violence. Duale supported Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery, who has warned he will order the arrest of hatemongers. See page 27 YAHYA JAMMEH Gambia shuts…

Former nominated MP Mark Too’s died of a heart problem, a post-mortem has shown. Chairman of the burial commitee Jacob Yego yesterday said tests done by chief government pathologist Johansen Oduor show Too had an aneurysm, which is caused by the rapture of a blood vein between the heart and the brain. Yego and Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi said Too will be buried on Monday at his home near the Eldoret International Airport. Earlier, Eldoret-based lawyer Simon Lilan had claimed Too may have been killed because of political reasons and his vast wealth. But Too’s widow Sophie said preliminary findings indicated he died of heart complications. “We should avoid speculation on the cause of death of Mzee until a post-mortem is conducted and a report released,” she said. Lilan said,…

DID the new ODM nomination regulations fly in the party’s face? Well, we are informed that a large number of members have failed to return nomination papers as required over fears that the primaries may not be free and fair - or they see them as a trap. By close of business on December 31, 2016, the deadline set by the National Elections Board, a number of governors, senators and MPs from Nyanza, opposition leader Raila Odinga’s (pictured) stronghold, had not submitted their nomination application forms. Those in the know claim that the rules were hastily crafted with the intention of locking in aspirants such that after participating in primaries and becoming disgruntled, they would not be allowed to decamp to other parties. Aspirants who have every reason to believe…

RAILA’S BROTHER OBURU ODINGA, A NOMINATED SENATOR, WILL TRY TO RECAPTURE HIS BONDO PARLIAMENTARY SEAT. RAILA’S SISTER RUTH ODINGA IS RUNNING FOR KISUMU GOVERNOR For years political families have ruled and wielded power over Kenya’s economy and society and this year the children of ‘royalty’ run for election. Do they have a birthright? Dynasties are taking root. Family brand names carry cachet, some dating back to the freedom struggle. This, along with financial might could propel — or at least help — the scions of nobility into office. Merit, however, plays a part. Critics say dynasties limit democratic space and cut off opportunities for lesser known candidates of greater merit. Kenyatta, Odinga, Moi, Matiba are the most famous and enduring names. Then there’s Musyoka, Ruto and Kosgey. In the Kenyatta…

POLITICAL dynasties have fascinated historians around the world. How is it that the child of a prominent leader is considered by the people to fit into the political shoes of the father? Kenya has had its fair share of political dynasties, the most famous being the Kenyatta-Odinga-Moi lineages. In the Cabinet, Musalia Mudavadi also took over from his late father, Moses, and rose to become both VP and DPM. Although still only in the second generation, there are indications that an Oginga Odinga grandchild will sit in Parliament later this year. There has been talk of many current and former politicians’ children eying their father’s positions, including William Ruto’s son said to be eyeing his father’s old constituency. In Nandi, for instance, Henry Kosgey’s son is a sitting MP and…