The Star 04/18/2017

The ODM elections board yesterday said party nominations will continue as scheduled despite claims of irregularities in some counties, though results in some elective zones have been nullified. Chairperson Judith Pareno said election materials have been dispatched to Taita Taveta, Trans Nzoia, Nyamira, Nakuru and Kajiado counties in preparation for the primaries today. “The board is satisfied with preparations for the nominations in the next phases that begin on Tuesday,” she said. “The technical issues that include late kick-offs, insufficient ballot papers because of high turnout and mischief by aspirants have been addressed with urgency and measures taken to avoid a repeat of the same.” The board has nullified nominations results for Khwisero constituency, Butali-Chegulo and Butsotso wards in Malava and Lurambi constituencies, Kakamega county. The exercise will be repeated…

BLESSING AND FAVOUR Separated conjoined twins Twins Favour and Blessing, who raised Kenya’s medical profile after their successful operation last year, will be discharged from hospital this week. They have been recuperating at the Kenyatta National Hospital after their separation on November 1 last year. They spent the first two years of their lives in the hospital. See page 11 MV MOMBASA 001 Catching more fish than before Many fishermen in Mombasa are happy with the locally assembled 10-tonne deep-sea vessel MV Mombasa 001. It was launched on November 24 last year and has increased the catch as fishermen are able to use it in the deep sea. Fishermen say the modern equipment and high catch has increased their earnings. See page 22 LAKE NAIVASHA FISH Many dying at the…

QUESTIONS abound over the low-profile Rachel Ruto (pictured), the wife of Deputy President William Ruto has taken. Rachel is known for a successful initiative — table banking — which she promoted across the country. She is hardly seen in public and her supporters are concerned. She was last seen in public at State House in February when she accompanied American Pentecostal Evangelist Dr Morris Cerullo. Not much has been coming from her press service. IS President Uhuru Kenyatta sincere on directing his Jubilee brigades in the National Assembly to pass the contentious two-thirds gender rule Bill by next month? The question many are asking is why the President did not bulldoze his Jubilee MPs to pass the Bill in the last two attempts. He did the same last year when…

‘DON’T WORRY ABOUT THE NOMINATION PROCESS BECAUSE ONCE YOU HAVE CONVINCED VOTERS IN YOUR AREAS TO VOTE FOR YOU, THEN THAT IS ALL’ Can they pull it off? Peaceful, clean, credible primaries. Jubilee’s organisational skills and promises of a level playing field will be tested on Friday in a mega day of countrywide primaries. Some 7,893 hopefuls are seeking tickets for governor, MP, senator, MCA and woman representative. Of the total, 107 are running for governor, 156 for senate, 984 for MP, 170 for woman representative and 6,476 for MCA. More than 20,000 polling stations have been set up, with 66,000 staff. A logistical challenge. ODM has been staggering primaries but that hasn’t prevented violence, confusion, mismanagement and claims of rigging — a nightmare after assurances of free and fair…

AS A FEW SUCCESSFUL ASPIRANTS CELEBRATE, OTHERS DISSATISFIED WITH JP’S DECISION WILL CAMP AT IEBC OFFICES TO PRESENT COMPLAINTS AND PETITIONS The ruling Jubilee Party faces the first litmus test of its short lifetime. Already, the main opposition party ODM has led the way in primaries and given an unsettling glimpse of what to expect this Friday. It’s safe to say the acrimony in ODM nominations may be a precursor to what Jubilee is likely to experience. JP leaders have issued a stern warning to any aspirant planning to cause chaos. A warning at this critical time may in many ways deter aspirants with such intentions. But judging from history, particularly recent events, one will not rule out ugly scenes, especially in areas where Jubilee commands fanatical following such as…

The NASA co-principals’ three-day retreat in Kilifi to pick a flagbearer will not happen from today as planned. Instead, they will officially receive Chama Cha Mashinani leader Isaac Rutto. The Star was told the principals could not travel to Kilifi yesterday as scheduled because ODM leader Raila Odinga and his ANC counterpart Musalia Mudavadi were not in the country. Raila was in South Africa, while Mudavadi’s schedule could not be confirmed. The two were to return last evening. Only Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula and his Wiper counterpart Kalonzo Musyoka were in the country. “The principals are receiving a fifth principal tomorrow (today) and definitely the meeting cannot be somewhere in the Coast. Obviously it must be in Nairobi,” one of Mudavadi’s aides said. Although the co-principals are to pick…