The Star 04/06/2017

Human rights lobbyists under the Police Reforms Working Group Kenya have urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to form a commission of inquiry into rampant cases of extrajudicial killings. The group of 21 organisations said in a joint statement Uhuru’s silence on the issue is worrying and a ‘silent’ endorsement of police actions. “You have a political responsibility and that’s where the buck stops,” Andrew Songa from Kenya Human Rights Commission said. The boldness and systematic manner the police are carrying out summary executions and other forms of brutality, they said, hints it is sanctioned by top security organs. This comes days after police gunned down what they called ‘hardcore criminals’ in Eastleigh at the weekend - an incident that attracted mixed reactions. Nairobi county commander Japheth Koome seemed to hail the…

MAIZE FLOUR Galana flour to retail at Sh75 The Galana-Kulalu irrigation project is to start distributing maize flour at the Coast for Sh75 for a two-kilogramme packet. Irrigation CS Eugene Wamalwa yesterday said the flour, branded Unga Galana, has been produced, milled and packaged in Galana. The price of a two-kilogamme packet of maize flour is currently about Sh142. See Page 11 ASMAN KAMAMA Ditches Chap Chap for PDR Tiaty MP Asman Kamama has again ditched Maendeleo Chap Chap for the Party for Development Reforms weeks after defecting from the Jubilee Party. Kamama made the decision after a consultative meeting with more than 500 professionals and 200 members of teh Pokot Council of Elders at Capital Hill hotel in Nakuru town on Tuesday. See Page 9 LARGE KENYAN FIRMS Accused…

The first mayor of Nairobi, President Uhuru Kenyatta’s half sister Margaret Wambui, died yesterday. She was 89 years old. Uhuru was among family members who visited Lee Funeral Home to view her body. Wambui (pictured) is the daughter of the Kenya’s founding President Jomo Kenyatta, and his wife Grace Wahu. She served as the Mayor of Nairobi from 1970 to 1976 and as Kenya’s permanent representative to the United Nations from 1976 to 1986. Her tenure in office was marked by many developmental programmes, including expansion of subways, the building of low-cost housing and sewage systems, and the expansion of public health facilities. Wambui was one of two children born to Kenyatta and Wahu after her elder brother Peter Muigai. She was born in 1928 and raised in Dagoretti, Nairiobi,…

YESTERDAY we told you of reports doing the rounds in town to the effect that Deputy President William Ruto had bought the 680 Hotel at Sh3 billion. His office has now told us that the reports are not true the DP can account for all his wealth. IT is no secret that some individuals are not yet done with teaching embattled Mombasa Governor Ali Joho (pictured) a lesson. Word has it that they are going the extra miles to ensure the ‘Simba Sultan’ is caged. Informers have confided that two top government officials went to Kampala, Uganda, to pursue Joho’s ‘fake’ degree case. The two are a top DCI officer and a State House operative. However, it is said so far they haven’t found what they are looking for. A…

ODM is staring at chaotic nominations that could once again derail the presidential bid of party leader Raila Odinga. Staggered primaries kick off tomorrow. Days after violence shattered an Monday ODM campaign in Migori, leading to the shooting of Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho’s bodyguard, Raila’s political nerve center Orange House yesterday was turned into a battlefield. Nominated Senator Elizabeth Ongoro stormed party headquarters, accompanied by hundreds of rowdy youths and women. They roughed up Executive Director Oduor Og’wen and wrestled him to the ground. ODM national youth chairman John Ketora fired several times in the air to disperse the rowdy youths. As primaries begin tomorrow, it is feared such violence may recur. Ongoro was barred from running for Ruaraka MP on disciplinary grounds but has accused the party’s National Elections…

IT is very sad that even when we seek political office it has become a normal power play in Kenya for aspirants to introduce violence in order to intimidate their opponents. They create an environment of dominance, thereby intimidating people and dictating the way people should vote. I think all government institutions given the responsibility of dealing with elections, including the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Directorate of Criminal Investigations and Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, should take these nominations very seriously. This could be a preamble to what could happen in August. The level of political intolerance is extremely high, because people are viewing politics in this country as a do-or-die exercise. It is no longer a free and fair engagement, where…