The Star 01/17/2017

 Governor Hassan Joho yesterday said he kicked out state-provided security officers because they had been sent to plant illegal “substances” and guns at his home — and incriminate him. SOURCES SAY OLD GUARDS WERE NOT PROVIDING INFO AS REQUIRED The Mombasa county boss yesterday alleged the same security detail that was to guard him had been ordered to spy on him and disclose his movements. He said this would have made it easy to frame and arrest him, forcing his supporters to pour into the streets to demand justice. Joho spoke at Treasury Square Garden during the launch of the mass voter registration. Sources in Vigilance House told the Star Joho lost his security because they failed to provide intelligence about the governor to authority. Therefore, the plan was to…

AN MP from Nyanza who had declared he had ditched ODM is the talk of the town. Reason? His political manoeuvres. The second term MP made a surprise appearance at the Bomas of Kenya during the opposition mass meeting last Wednesday. Before the gathering, he had a meeting with a Cord principal. His initial bravado to launch his own political outfit has fizzled out. Is the man planning to ditch ODM for a Cord affiliate party? Well, the eloquent MP faces an unprecedented onslaught from a former student leader. The student leader is also said to be close to Orange House. A senior former TNA official mocked ODM supporters in a city restaurant after they claimed several former politicians are moving back to Cord from the government side. The politicians…

 IF the election were held today, President Uhuru Kenyatta would defeat opposition chief Raila Odinga by 54 per cent to 32 per cent in the first round, a survey indicates. ANALYSTS SAY THAT IF THE OPPOSITION STICKS TOGETHER AND FIELDS A SINGLE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, THEIR ODDS WOULD IMPROVE DRAMATICALLY AND COULD SPELL TROUBLE FOR JUBILEE However, the poll by the Star’s research department indicates Raila remains the preferred presidential candidate to fly the National Super Alliance (NASA) flag on August 8. The alliance has all but been launched. The random survey of 2,000 eligible voters was conducted from January 11-13 in 16 counties, based on the number of eligible voters. The margin of error was +/-2.19. Respondents voting for the President cited development, those preferring Raila said he was more…

POLLSTERS have gotten it wrong many times, and this year the former Prime Minister will defy all odds to become Kenya’s Fifth President. The recent historic US Presidential election results showed that whatever the opinion results, whether correct or cooked, they don’t have a true, clear bearing on the actual results in an election. In this country, opinion polls have not predicted the election results consistently when it comes to the outcomes of national elections. Raila has been and remains the foremost opposition presidential contender: He will deliver a resounding victory at the August 8 General Election. Even the most cursory glance at how the Cord – and now the NASA – principals operate makes us appreciate the fact that all of them have had a hand in the major…

Kidney patients at the Aga Khan University Hospital will from now benefit from a transplant support group formed to promote local surgeries. The group consists of specialists, including consulting nephrologists, renal nurses, chaplains and nutritionists. Nephrology section head Ahmed Twahir said, “As waste and fluids accumulates, the other body systems are affected, potentially leading to complications.” He said the disease is increasing at an alarming rate the world over. “One in 10 people has some form of chronic kidney disease,” Twahir said. He said transplant is the most effective treatment for patients, as it offers high quality and long life and has higher survival chances than dialysis. The hospital will hold the event every year and is open to kidney patients within the hospital and from other hospitals.…

Britain has donated Sh1.5 billion to support IEBC operations. High Commissioner Nic Hailey yesterday said they are impressed with how the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has started the voter registration drive in most parts of the country. He said the support to the IEBC follows a request by the Kenyan government, adding that they will also support the civic education programmes through the IEBC. The envoy said Britain is interested in ensuring that the August 8 general election will be credible, free and fair. “We are not playing Kenyans politics, but helping to build the capacity of the IEBC as it prepares for the election. It’s exciting to witness Kenyans democracy in action and we are pleased with the progess,” he said. Hailey also visited parts of the Rift…