The Star 01/05/2017

Kenya Power outgoing CEO Ben Chumo has said he is leaving voluntarily after reaching retirement age. This comes after the appointment of Finance general manager Ken Tarus in an acting capacity, overturning a previous attempt to renew Chumo’s term. “I turned 60 on July 11, and so I have had a bonus from then up to now. A second term would have not been possible even if I needed it. So I knew all the while I was going to retire at 60,” Chumo said during the handing over in Nairobi. Chumo, whose contract ends on Friday, exits the company after serving a three-year term as CEO and group managing director since January 7, 2014. He was appointed acting CEO on June 27, 2013, when he replaced engineer Joseph Njoroge,…

WAFULA CHEBUKATI Firm not guilty of negligence The Nairobi government failed to provide relevant information to enable a law firm associated with IEBC chairperson nominee Wafula Chebukati to file a defence in a suit in which taxpayers will have to pay Sh325 million. Court documents show Cootow and Associates Advocates representatives were present during every hearing and mention of the case. See Page 10 JACKSON MOGUSU Says sacking was unprocedural Sacked Nyamira assembly minority leader Jackson Mogusu has said he will remain in office, despite being voted out by Jubilee MCAs during a meeting held on Tuesday. “First of all, I have heard it from your fellow journalists. They did not follow procedure in purporting to remove me from office. I was not even invited to the meeting to defend…

The NTSA has dismissed claims it forced speeding drivers to carry placards showing they broke traffic laws during the December holidays as punishment. Deputy director John Munya yesterday told the Star the photos doing the rounds on social media are fake. “We did not force anyone to do anything. We told them to choose between going to court and lifting the placards and they chose the latter,” he said. “The authority is not out to punish anyone. What we do is sensitise the drivers to instill discipline on the roads.” The transport regulator last month devised a new way of punishing traffic offenders at Sachangwan black spot on the Nakuru-Eldoret highway. The authority told traffic offenders to carry placards written, “Kindly observe lane discipline, don’t be like me.” Munya said…

A fiery gubernatorial aspirant from the Coast is a man closely being watched by his political coalition. Reason? He is said to be secretly flirting with the State while laying plans for an unprecedented onslaught on his opponent, the incumbent. Sources whisper to Corridors that the man met President Uhuru Kenyatta (pictured) at State House, Mombasa, on Monday. It’s not however clear what their discussions centered on, although the alleged meeting has heightened speculation about his political game plan. Is a high profile defection in the offing? Those closely monitoring the politician claim he has long stopped demanding accountability at the national level and has retreated with a vengeance into the devolved unit. His backers however say taxpayers’ money must be guarded irrespective of the level of governance and the…

For more news on our website. Scan this quick response code using your smartphone.  Kenya’s 416 MPs are not known for frugality, simplicity or humility. ‘NOTHING CHANGES WHEN YOU’RE ELECTED. YOU’RE STILL A WOMAN AND EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY WORKS’ Far from it. Their public and private style is characterised by luxury, expensive suits and fashion, grand houses in upscale neighbourhoods, trendy nightclubs, lots of whisky, fancy cars and entourages of bodyguards and courtiers. While much is said about high-living MPs, it’s reassuring to know there are exceptions. Whatever they have in the bank, they don’t flaunt it. At least 18 MPs, admittedly not many, have shunned trappings of wealth and power. They lead modest lives, accessible to everyone, interacting freely in Nairobi streets and their constituencies. They are…

THE MORE MONEY A POLITICIAN HAS, THE MORE HE OR SHE IS ELEVATED. CANDIDATES ARE JUDGED NOT BY THEIR IDEAS AND TRACK RECORDS, BUT BY HOW MUCH MONEY THEY HAVE TO SPEND ON THE ELECTIONS THE rancorous debate on the possibility of a compromised election in 2017 lacks in depth and circumvents the question of corruption and its impact on the credibility of the elections. Contrary to popular opinion, the stealing of elections does not happen on Election Day, but rather in the months and years leading up to the vote. Let me break this down a bit. The social and economic problems that Kenya faces today are not problems that cannot be solved. But to solve them requires leaders who have the interest of the nation at heart. Unfortunately,…