The Star 04/26/2017

ODM leader Raila Odinga has told the party’s National Elections Board to deliver credible nominations. The opposition chief cautioned NEB, chaired by East African Legislative Assembly member Judy Pareno, against any attempt to bungle the ongoing nominations. He also urged the elections appeal board to expedite the hearing of pending petitions. Raila cautioned the NEB when he met some of the executive members on Monday night. “The party leader was categorical the board has no option but to deliver credible nominations,” an NEB member said. Raila, whose past unsuccessful presidential bids have been partly blamed on fraudulent primaries, is not only keen to avert a repeat, but also to ensure the process is aboveboard. An internal evaluation report released by ODM after the 2013 polls revealed Raila’s presidential bid was…

KUKI GALLMANN Underwent succesful surgery Conservationist Kuki Gallmann successfully underwent an operation to remove a bullet lodged in her stomach. The Italian-born author of the memoir ‘I Dreamed of Africa’ was ambushed by gunmen at her ranch in Laikipia on Sunday. A source at the Aga Khan University Hospital said Gallmann is showing positive progress. See Page 33 KENNETH OR SONKO? Vote for JP Nairobi candidate A do-or-die race looms today for Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko and 2013 presidential candidate Peter Kenneth as JP members cast their votes to nominate who will run against Governor Evans Kidero. The nomination will brighten or destroy their political careers. There was no consensus, despite intervention. See Page 9 NDINDI NYORO Marked ballot papers found There was chaos in Murang’a town on Monday after…

Kenyans with non-symptomatic malaria can now be tested for the disease with a newly developed tool. Previously, people would spread the disease because they had the parasite but did not show any symptoms. A US firm has launched a molecular-based, field laboratory deployed test kit that is claimed to be much more sensitive at detecting the parasite than current testing tools. The test is particularly effective for the hard to detect latent malaria, a continuing infection without clinical symptoms, resulting from a balance established between the parasite and the body’s immune system. The test was developed by with the technical assistance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar, Senegal. “Illumigene Malaria has the potential to change current practices. Faster and more accurate…

AS things stand, it seems whichever team knows how to use fake news best (or worst) can easily win the next election. A good number of social media users are ready to pick up everything and run away with it. It worked well when some politicians were spun as leading before the bungled Jubilee Party primaries, and media picked up the same stories only to find our later it was false. Nominated Senator Elizabeth Ongoro’s (pictured) competitors also managed to spin that she has quit ODM. She had to quit a few days later - after everything turned against her in the party. ONE of the candidates seeking the Jubilee Party ticket in Nairobi has been blackmailing some State House officials. We are told that the man has some evidence…

TODAY, THE POLITICAL CAREER OF EITHER KISUMU GOVERNOR JACK RANGUMA OR THAT OF SENATOR ANYANG’ NYONG’O WILL COME TO AN END THE political careers of key allies of President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition chief Raila Odinga have been shattered in the ongoing fiercely contested and sometimes chaotic nominations. But as some Jubilee leaders were nursing their losses, ODM suspended elections results from Migori and Home Bay pending investigations, after claims of massive irregularities. In Migori, Governor Okoth Obado had been declared the winner with 104,250 votes, but another election board member separately declared Ochillo Ayacko winner with 105,200 votes. Protests broke out in Home Bay after Governor Cyprian Awiti was declared winner ahead of his closest competitor, Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga who got 14,661 votes. Incumbent Senator Moses Kajwang’ had…

THE INCUMBENTS FAILED TO FULFILL THE EXPECTATIONS OF KENYANS WHO WANTED GOOD SERVICES – HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, TRANSPORT AND OTHER SOCIAL AMENITIES A good number of incumbents will not come back since the electorate believes it’s payback time. It is that time wananchi elect new leaders who can serve them competently, equally and effectively. Most of the current governors have operated with a lot of impunity, got drunk with the trappings of power, stolen billions in public funds and acted as demigods. They are no different from leaders in other elective posts who have also failed Kenyans on devolution. After the governors were elected, most forgot that Kenyans had any expectations of them as underlined under the Constitution’s Schedule 6. The Constitution creates a decentralised system of government, wherein the Legislature…