The Star 01/12/2017

A state agency has warned of a repeat of the drought experienced six years ago if appropriate action is not taken to mitigate the situation. In an early warning bulletin released yesterday, the National Disaster Management Authority said the food security situation will continue to worsen over the next few months. But Agriculture PS Richard Lesiyampe assured Kenyans there is enough maize to last the country until June. The NDMA said the short rains season was too brief and weak to have any meaningful impact on recovery. The bulletin noted a worsening trend and a rise in the number of counties in the alarm category from eight to 11. These include Garissa, Isiolo, Kilifi, Lamu, Mandera, Marsabit, Samburu, Tana River, Turkana and West Pokot. Makueni, Narok and Taita Taveta counties…

JAMES MACHARIA Says SGR ahead of schedule The Transport Cabinet Secretary and PS Irungu Nyakera said politicians opposing the project are naysayers. Macharia said the project knows no borders and the lives of millions of Kenyans in 17 counties, where the railway passes from Mombasa to Malaba, will be transformed. He said President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to officially launch its operations on May 31. See Page 12 MOSES WETANG’ULA ‘Fears’ Mudavadi will hurt his bid Political analyst Amukowa Anangwe says the Ford-K leader and his brigade oppose the installation of ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi as Luhya spokesman because it threatens to eclipse them. Anangwe said Wetang’ula, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo will be the main casualties, unless they Mudavadi’s bandwagon. See page 37 KIPCHUMBA…

Prominent Mombasa businessman Tahir Sheikh Said was laid to rest yesterday, marking the end of an era for his multibillion-shilling empire. The tycoon was buried at Saragoi cemetery, where leaders, including Sheriff Taib, were buried. Former Chief Kadhi Sheikh Hammad Kassim led thousands of mourners in the last prayers at TSS Mosque along Haile Selassie Avenue. Leaders present included Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar, politician Suleiman Shahbal, former Kisauni MP Anania Mwaboza and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho’s elder brother Abubakar. Said’s body was flown to Kenya early on Tuesday from South Africa and taken to his family home at Kizingo. Leaders described him as an icon whose death is a big blow to the society that depended on him. Said was known for helping the less fortunate. He had invested billions…

INSPECTOR General of Police Joseph Boinnet (pictured) seems to be living in a world of his own - convinced his police force is spotless and to be defended at all costs. Corridors wonders why Boinnet is yet to discover that his boys in blue create artificial traffic jams on major highways in the city, including the Thika Superhighway, to inconvenience, harass and extort money from road users. Our mole tells Corridors the most notorious and rogue Traffic police officers engage in criminal acts every day during morning rush hour between Pangani and Guru Nanak. It is said a team of officers dressed both in Traffic police uniforms and civilian clothes stop vehicles, especially matatus, and order drivers into a waiting car without revealing any offence committed. Officers in civilian clothes…

Opposition chiefs have for the first time pledged publicly to remain united in a strategic effort to unset President Uhuru Kenyatta. They aim to have a single flagbearer, but made no agreement. They did not launch the National Super Alliance, which is expected to take off early this year. The clock is ticking down to the August general election, just seven months away. In an historic unity bid reminiscent of the 2002 Narc accord, about 5,000 opposition supporters, including aspirants, thronged the Bomas of Kenya yesterday and promised to make Uhuru a one-term head of state. In a move that surprised some members but not analysts, the leaders shelved plans for street protests against the controversial electoral laws — until after the month-long voter registration starting next Monday. \Analysts say…

I was actually at this event. It was entertaining, although there was an element of rowdiness among some youths, mainly in the car park. Some party groups were more exuberant than others. But that should not take away the more important point: Which is that it was a good exercise, insofar as it was the first step toward a very diffident goal – Opposition unity. Of course there were those who had hoped to see the single Presidential candidate of the joint Opposition announced. This did not happen. Indeed, that was not the objective of the meeting. The intention was just to agree on the way forward and give the impression that the Opposition leaders were united without committing anyone to anything. There was no intention of coming to a…