The Star 03/23/2017

The IEBC will set up a strong interdepartmental team to vet aspirants amid forgery and executive interference reports in the political process. The team will have a command centre at the IEBC offices in Nairobi at the end of next week. It will have a full-time dedicated staff to verify documents, research and investigate aspirants. The staff attached to the facility will be sourced from the IEBC, the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, as well as the Justice department. “The command centre will enhance the collaboration in the enforcement of Chapter Six on integrity and other relevant laws, as well as provide an integrated effective mechanism to resolve issues of leadership,” IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati…

HYACINTH Firm to supply aquatic weed to UAE A local company has signed a contract with the UAE to supply 9.8 billion kilos of hyacinth and other aquatic weeds. This could be a solution to the hyacinth that occupies a huge part of Lake Victoria. Simon Mwaura, a director at Hyaquip Company, said the weeds have a glue substance that compacts sand granules together to retain water. See page 16 WILLIAM RUTO Suspends rallies in North Rift The Deputy President has suspended most political events in his North Rift backyard to avoid interfering with the Jubilee nominations. He will, however, host President Uhuru Kenyatta for a series of meetings to launch projects. Dates for the President’s tour in Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Trans Nzoia and Elgeyo Marakwet are yet to be…

Prime Minister Theresa May was safe after a policeman was stabbed inside the perimeter of Britain’s Parliament Building, a spokesman for her office said. He declined to say where May was when the attack took place. Police are treating the attack as a terrorist incident. The leader of the House, David Lidington, said in the chamber that an assailant who stabbed a policeman had been shot by police. Amid confusing scenes, it appeared the incident may have unfolded in several locations, including the busy bridge where tourists often congregate to take pictures of Big Ben and other attractions. The incident took place on the first anniversary of attacks on Brussels in Belgium. Reuters reporters inside Parliament said a large number of armed police, some carrying shields, were pouring into the…

COULD NASA secretly be planning to unveil its presidential candidate this Friday? Well, sources whisper to Corridors that the principals – Raila Odinga, Musalia Mudavadi (pictured), Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula – could be planning to shock the nation. Our source says Raila and his team have often shied away from holding a rally in Nairobi on a weekday, unless there is a crisis. Secondly, the ODM leader had already given his State of the Nation address in a statement from the US. Could there be a surprise waiting? It’s only a matter of hours . . . THE relationship between a top ODM official and his area governor is the talk of the town. It is said when the official, a sitting MP, launched his election bid, it was…

Politicians are forming militias to protect themselves, ensure victory and cause trouble for opponents, reports the National Security Council headed by President Uhuru Kenyatta. The NSC also warns of the reemergence of outlawed criminal gangs in the campaign period. Uhuru, who attends all NSC meetings and presides, on Wednesday last week tabled in Parliament the 43-page report saying candidates are mobilising gangs ahead of the August 8 polls. “The heightening political temperature in view of the 2017 general elections has seen the resurgence of criminal gangs, political goons and militias,” the 4th Annual State of National Security Report says. It was tabled during Uhuru’s State of the Nation address. A brief section of the report is devoted to organised criminal groups. It says they are believed take advantage of the…

IN my opinion, there has been reluctance, unwillingness, in the past to crack down on pastoralists with guns and they have been allowed to retain their firearms for many decades. In the past, the firearms were not very well maintained, they were not modern and they were not as many as they now are in these areas. The head of the Laikipia Ranchers’ Association was quoted as saying that there are 25,000 illegal firearms, most of them AK-47s. Also, we do not know where the bullets from the Kenya Ordnance Factory actually go and that is a significant problem. Some of the cartridges that have been found around Laikipia – and probably Baringo – are stamped KOFC, the Kenya Ordnance Factory. This is a factory that is owned by the…