The Star 04/04/2017

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho escaped death narrowly yesterday after unknown persons shot at his vehicle during his visit to Migori. Joho, who was accompanied by Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir, was touring Migori county when supporters of Governor Okoth Obado clashed with supporters of governor aspirant Ochillo Ayacko. Speaking to the Star on the phone, Abdulswamad said the governor just “cheated” death. “This was an assassination attempt and they were out to kill the governor,” he said. “The car was shot at three times and it is by the Grace of God that we survived that attempt on our lives.” He said a supporter who had just taken a selfie with Joho was, however, not lucky as the bullet hit him. Joho’s bodyguard was shot in the left leg and was…

BILATERAL COOPERATION Kenya, Seychelles deepen trade Seychelles will support various sectors to help Kenya grow its economy at no cost, a move meant to enhance the bilateral cooperation between the two countries, visiting President Danny Faure said yesterday. He said the bilateral agreement marks a new beginning for the two countries to increase trade, share skills and experience. See page 9 NYENZE BACKED Kalonzo should get ticket Two Ukambani leaders have said it is unfair for some leaders to criticise National Assembly minority leader Francis Nyenze for demanding that Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka be named NASA flagbearer. The coordinator of Mwingi Region Professionals, Campbell Munyambu, and Athi MCA Peter Kilonzo said Nyenze deserved accolades. See Page 26 BARBED WIRE HURDLE Budalang’i dorm gutted by fire Scores of students suffered serious…

Two leaders from Garissa county have appealed to the Kenyan Red Cross and other aid agencies to urgently intervene and help in tackling the current drought ravaging the region. Speaking to the Star on the phone separately, Dertu MCA Abdi Ali and livestock marketing council chairman Dubat Amey said the drought is not threatening livelihoods. Ali said although the national government was distributing relief food, it was mainly doing it in urban centres and even the little it is distributing is not enough. “It’s high time other aid agencies joined hands with the government and upscale the distribution of relief food especially in rural setups where the population has been badly affected,” he said. The MCA said parts of Dadaab and Lagdera subcounties are the most affected and the situation…

THAT the IEBC commissioners have yet to settle in office is no secret. What is worrying though is that some of them haven’t a clue what is going on in the commission. Some managers are deliberately hiding information from them and running rings around the new team led by Wafula Chebukati (pictured). We are told that some managers are even planning to transfer people they do not like and have vowed that not even the chairman will stop them from executing their agenda! HOW could a deputy governor say his county has “failed terribly” in delivering services to residents, yet he is part and parcel of the county administration? Right, this is one of the questions Isiolo residents are seeking answers to from their Deputy Governor Mohamed Gulleid after he…

The core of ODM leader Raila Odinga’s presidential campaign team was named yesterday — six major governors — and all were gifted with direct nominations. Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho will lead the corps that includes Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega), Evans Kidero (Nairobi), Josephat Nanok (Turkana), David Nkedianye (Kajiado) and James Ongwae (Kisii). Others are nominated Senator Janet Ongera and Homa Bay woman representative Gladys Wanga. Later they will be joined later by four other leaders. The election is four months away on August 8. The governors will take charge of their regions and counties and help mobilise resources, raise money and handle logistics. “This are our key people and they will manage the presidential campaign,” a senior ODM official said. The party issued nomination certificates to 850 unopposed aspirants to participate…

THE IEBC has taken enough flak over its preparedness or lack of ingenuity in fixing loopholes that stand in the way of a free, fair and credible election on August 8. It’s like lost sheep tripping into one muddied pit one after the other. As if that weren’t enough, the ideal of democratic elections is being compromised elsewhere into a time bomb. Violence is insinuating its way into general election preparations, especially through faulty party nominations. The democratic credibility of elections isn’t just dependent on the referee but also on fair play by the players. Indeed, elections will only represent the will of the people if political party nominees emerge from a transparent internal nomination process. But this cardinal principle that underpins democracy is being undermined by none other than…