The Star 04/01/2017

The High Court in Mombasa on Friday issued interim orders stopping the police from arresting, charging and prosecuting Governor Hassan Joho. Judge Eric Ogolla issued the orders following an application by the governor. Joho is suing police IG Joseph Boinnet for “harassing” him over his academic certificates. He is being investigated for alleged forgery of academic certificates, which he denies. Joho is a fierce critic of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration. His bank accounts were frozen. Lawyers James Orengo and Dennis Mosota called the matter urgent. They sought injunction pending hearing and determination of Joho’s petition. In his petition, Joho asked the court to stop the police from charging, arresting and prosecuting him on matters concerning his academic qualifications. The governor said if he appears in the dock, the damage could…

NELSON ABUODHA Stops hiring of Tanzania doctors The Employment and Labour Relations Court has suspended plans by the government to hire 500 doctors from Tanzania. Justice Nelson Abuodha issued the temporary orders on Fridayafter five doctors told the court the decision to source non-Kenyan medical practitioners was illegal. A group of doctors said it was unfair. See Page 7 KERIAKO TOBIKO Defence undermines Willie case Defence lawyers spent Thursday afternoon poking holes into claims a mobile phone belonging to a policeman was used to plot the murder of human rights lawyer Willie Kimani and two others. the Director of Public Prosecutions said the calls were made between 9am and some minutes to noon, the last time Kimani was seen. See Page 10 CANCER PATIENTS Unsatisfied with budget Cancer survivors say…

More than 50 per cent of youths use close to Sh5,000 a month to gamble through their mobile phones, a survey reveals. The survey conducted by GeoPoll shows 76 per cent of Kenyan youths bet using ootball matches, compared to 57 per cent of Uganda’s youths. “A majority have never won any amount above Sh5,000. Youth elsewhere spend less than $50 (Sh5,0000 ) per month and bet only once a month,” read the report Ghana had the lowest number at 42 per cent. The survey focussed on five countries in sub-Saharan Africa — Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa. A total of 3,879 people were sampled in the poll that was conducted last Monday. “Among the most popular gambling options, football betting reigns in all countries except in…

THE PAPERS WERE RUSHED TOSTATE HOUSE FOR UHURU’S APPROVAL MPs on Thursday night secretly approved a landmark law that paves the way for anyone with a D-minus to enrol for a degree course. In the late night conclave, soon after Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich had presented his Sh2.6 trillion Budget estimates, they unanimously passed the University Education (Amendment) 2017 Bill, which now clears the way for any Tom, Dick and Harry to have a college degree. The Bill – sponsored by Education Committee boss Sabina Chege – lowers the minimum university entry grade from C+ to D- to raise the number of students locked out of university by the strict high standards. The session, attended by less than 100 MPs, was not gazetted as required of extraordinary sessions held outside…

TIATY MP Asman Kamama (pictured) was spotted in deep thoughts on Thursday during the budget reading and at the garden where MPs were taking refreshments. He appeared to avoid, quite a lot, any contact with National Assembly majority leader Aden Duale and mostly engaged with his friends from the Rift Valley. The outgoing chairman of the powerful National Assembly Security Committee has shifted allegiance from Jubilee to Maendeleo Chap Chap as he eyes to retain his Tiaty Parliamentary seat in the August 8 polls. THERE are concerns within government over the multiple cases of foreign contractors with questionable character bidding for local tenders. This matter has raised the question of whether these companies are fronts by some Kenyans or have links to Kenyan individuals seeking to get tenders through the…

‘THE PRESIDENT HAS A GOOD RECORD TOWIN VOTES. KENYANS ARE GOOD PEOPLE AND WILL VOTE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE SERVED THEM. WE MIGHT NOT HAVE ACHIEVED EVERYTHING AND IT’S GOOD IF WE CAN OWN UP AND GIVE THE REASONS’ IF WIPER LEADER KALONZO MUSYOKA MOVES OUT OF NASA, THENTHE COMMUNITY MAY HAVE TO RETHINK THEIR STRATEGY – AND THIS MAY FAVOUR JUBILEE President Uhuru Kenyatta has set ambitious vote targets — 10 to 15 per cent above 2013 totals — for his Jubilee Party in 13 battleground counties. “We can only do better and we can improve on 2013. The Jubilee delivery record speaks for itself,” JP vice chairman David Murathe told the Star in an interview. Jubilee plans to use commissioning and delivery of development projects in battleground counties…