The Star 04/27/2017

The government is committed to eradicating Malaria in Kenya, Health CS Cleopa Mailu said yesterday. To achieve this, it will work with partners this year to distribute more than 15 million of long-lasting treated mosquito nets to curb spread. Beneficiaries of the nets will be pregnant mothers, children under five and other vulnerable groups in 23 malaria-prone counties. The remarks were made in a speech read on his behalf by Director of Medical Services Jackson Kioko during this year’s World Malaria Day marked in Narok. The theme was ‘End Malaria Now’. The Kiswahili rallying call was ‘Pamoja Tuangamize Malaria’ (Lets end malaria together). Mailu urged healthcare providers to adhere to the three Ts — Test, Treat and Track (monitor) — in malaria treatment to avoid recurrence. He added that the…

KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN Wins in Elgeyo Marakwet JP race Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos and Senator Kipchumba Murkomen celebrated victory in the JP primaries as all county MPs also won. Murkomen edged out his four challengers in a landslide win. He had 83,905 votes. Hopeful John Kangogo was second with 12,724 votes. Murkomen declared he would play position 11 in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s team. See page 32 NASSIR DOLAL Hopeful says he’s still in MP race Garissa Township MP hopeful Nassir Dolal has denied rumours on social media that he has stepped down for Farah Maalim. Dolal and Maalim, the Wiper candidate, are from the same clan. There have been claims the ODM top leadership had prevailed upon Dolal to support Maalim to consolidate their votes and be in a better…

Hopes for party-hoppers were dashed yesterday in a landmark High Court ruling that dismissed a case seeking to allow nomination losers to change parties. Justice John Mativo ruled that the case filed by the Council of Governors lacked merit and had been brought on a clear misunderstanding of the law. The CoG moved to court to challenge the new election law that prohibits losers from defecting to other parties. “Persons aspiring for elective offices must embrace systems that promote democratic values and practices that are consistent with the spirit and intent of the Constitution,” he said in a ruling read on his behalf by Justice Chacha Mwita. The ruling means those who lose in party primaries can only try their luck as independent candidates or wait for 2022. The judge…

WHY did ODM appoint Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho (pictured) to take charge of its Nairobi nominations on Sunday? Word has it that his Nairobi counterpart Evans Kidero had his own list of preferred aspirants, especially MCAs, and had plotted to influence the county’s elections board. Corridors has been told that an MCA aspirant defected on Monday after learning that Kidero was interfering with the process by backing a candidate from his tribe. This could be among reasons ODM’s National Elections Board resolved to disband the Nairobi Elections Board and appoint deputy party leader Joho to oversee the exercise. Kidero early this month met all aspirants at Nyayo Stadium and assured them of free and fair nominations. A Jubilee honcho from Central Kenya is a happy man, following the defeat of…

OPPOSITION chief Raila Odinga is all set to be named the National Super Alliance presidential candidate at a “million man and woman” rally in Uhuru Park today. Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula and Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto’s backing helped Raila to secure the ticket after days and nights of tense negotiations. Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka had put up a fight for the ticket, insisting that a Kalonzo-Musalia Mudavadi ticket would have been the best. “This was a tough call, but, eventually, all agreed that Raila was the best bet,” said an official privy to the negotiations. Raila will be unveiled alongside Kalonzo as his running mate, setting the stage for a gruelling contest with President Uhuru Kenyatta of Jubilee Party. Under the arrangement, ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi is proposed to…

‘WE HAVE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT IT IS OUR CANDIDATE. RAILA HAS TRIED TWICE, IT IS NOW HONOURABLE KALONZO MUSYOKA’S TURN’ THE declaration of Raila Odinga as the NASA presidential candidate today and Kalonzo Musyoka his running mate will come as no surprise. Kenyans know no living politician has Raila’s grasp of the magnitude of problems raced by Kenyans, or the capacity to do something about them. The ticket could never have been Raila and Musalia Mudavadi, because that would be viewed as a Western Kenyan alliance and very easy propaganda fodder for Jubilee. The opposition has gone for a Face of Kenya ticket. The reasons they arrived at Raila are fixed: One, this is his last chance. Two, there are his followers who cannot be transferred to any…