The Star 04/17/2017

The ‘kidnapped’ youthful and colourful politician eyeing the Kabete MP seat was found yesterday morning groggy and incoherent. Charles Chege, aka Chege Fresh, had been missing since Friday night and family and friends feared the worst. A shivering and dishevelled Chege was stumbled upon by a passerby in Narok, 125km from Kikuyu town where he was last seen on Friday night. His disappearance hit the news on Saturday when his bullet riddled Toyota Prado was seen near a dam in Gitaru, Kiambu county. Chege’s brother-in-law Joseph Kinyanjui said, “We moved him from Narok County Referral Hospital to the Aga Khan University Hospital for better medical care.” He said he did not want to speculate about what happened, and would leave the authorities to investigate. Narok North OCPD Philip Kipkirui said…

MBUVI NGUNZE Direct flights to US soon Kenya Airways has started the clearing process for direct flights to the US, CEO Mbuvi Ngunze has said. The airline has to seek two crucial licences - the Air Service License which gives it commercial approval and the Air Operating Certificate, which gives it technical authority to operate in the US.“We have begun the process,” he said. See Page 14 BRAINS AND/OR BEAUTY? Nairobi woman rep race At least nine aspirants have lined up for Nairobi woman representative seat in a contest described as the ‘battle of the beauties’. With catchy slogans, including ‘Msupa na works’ - used by Millicent Omanga - and ‘bae wa Nairobi’, the women have gone all out to woo voters. Incumbent Rachael Shebesh said she is confident she…

Kabete OCPD Joseph Ongaya has said police collected two spent cartridges around Kabete MP aspirant Charles Chege’s vehicle. Two mobile phones, which had been switched off, were found in the car. They are believed to be Chege’s. Chege went missing on Friday and was found yesterday.This is not the first time puzzling kidnap claims reported in Kenya. Embu speaker Kariuki Mate went missing in May 2014, only to be found four days later unconscious. Reports indicated he had been kidnapped at Utalii Hotel. The case has never been resolved.…

NAIROBI Governor aspirants Mike Sonko (pictured) and Bishop Margaret Wanjiru’s reluctance to name running mates ahead of the Jubilee Party nominations has raised eye brows in Jubilee, and especially among their supporters. Their key rival Peter Kenneth has picked Linet Mirehane, a former councillor. But Sonko and Wanjiru — the only survivors of Team Nairobi after Johnson Sakaja and Dennis Waweru bowed out — have been viewed as walking the tight rope of choosing a running mate in a cosmopolitan city. A woman aspirant in Garissa county is organising rallies and transporting supporters from Township constituency to her constituency to gather a sizeable crowd since residents are not willing to attend her functions. Voters suspect the pictures might be used to solicit campaign cash from unsuspecting foreign donors. The aspirant…

DRAMA BEGAN WHEN WETANG’ULA PROTESTED AGAINST THE PRESENCE OF RAILA’S CAPITOL HILL CAMPAIGN TEAM AND OTHERS. ONLY THE FOUR PRINCIPALS AND ONE CLOSE AIDS WERE SUPPOSED TO ATTEND NASA’s Coastal retreat to name the presidential flagbearer collapsed in disarray, creating new alignments within the unsettled opposition, the Star has established. Another retreat has not yet been scheduled, but the four principals agreed to stick together. It is understood neither ODM chief Raila Odinga nor Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka would deputise the other. Principals Moses Wetang’ula (Ford Kenya), Kalonzo and Musalia Mudavadi (ANC) said selection was biased in favour of Raila. Wetang’ula walked out. The April 9 retreat at Vipingo Ridge, Kilifi, was to select a candidate. “Nothing is agreed. I demand the ODM secretary general (Agnes Zani) withdraw her statement,”…

AT THE END OF THE DAY, NASA HAS A TOUGH DECISION AND THE GRASSROOTS INITIALLY WILL BE VERY UNHAPPY The reason NASA has difficulties selecting one candidate — and why there will be problems when they announce him — — is Kenya is deeply divided. Not just Jubilee and NASA, but also divided within those alliances. That’s why, for example, Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto is still strong, even with DP Ruto fighting him day and night. That’s why Baringo Senator Gideon Moi is strong, even with Ruto preferring he loses. It means Kalenjin voters are not as united as you might think and why strong Central candidates are opting for small parties. They know they are strong enough to win in other parties. Party structures weaker than they seem, and…