The Star 09/30/2017

The appetite for Kenyan wildlife trophies is exposing the animals to more threats as South East Asian country Laos is the fastest growing ivory market in the world. According to a new report released yesterday by a local NGO Save the Elephants, at Sarova Panafric Hotel, Chinese are now buying over 80 percent of ivory in Laos. The retail prices are lower than in China. The report, ‘The ivory trade of Laos: Now the fastest growing in the world”, says that most of the raw ivory comes from Africa by ship in containers destined for Vientiane, the capital of Laos. “Until recently, 90 percent of large consignment would be moved directly to China, but nowdays much of the ivory is being diverted to Vientiane,” the 88-page report says. Researchers Lucy…

PAUL TERGAT Elected new NOCK boss Five-time cross country champion Paul Tergat is the new National Olympic Committee of Kenya president. He was elected unopposed on Friday after his rival, Patrick Muya, failed to meet the threshold. He takes over from the legendary Kipchoge Keino, who was at the helm for close to two decades. FK Paul is the only top ranking official who retained his seat. See page 40 ALFRED KHANG’ATI Will never agree with Wetang’ula A former Kanduyi MP Alfred Khang’ati says his war with Senator Moses Wetang’ula will not end until one of them is buried. He accused him of frustrating his relationship with Raila with rumours and gossip. During the campaigns, Wetang’ula accused Khang’ati of being a Jubilee mole working to dismantle NASA in Bungoma for…

A controversial law enacted in 2015 denies opposition leaders key state benefits including round-the-clock security, not withstanding their entitlements. The Retirement Benefits (Deputy President and Designated State Officers) Bill, 2012, that was passed by the last Parliament states that leaders can only get state benefits when they retire from active politics. This means that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and former vice presidents Musalia Mudavadi and Kalonzo Musyoka are enjoying their current benefits at the behest of the State. Raila said the move by the government to deny him state protection was part of a wider scheme to cause harm to opposition leaders, but acting Interior CS Fred Matiang’i defended the move. Matiang’i said there is no legal requirement that entitles Raila to bodyguards. “Why should we give you 20…

IS Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet aware of wayward city youths smoking bhang and injecting heroin at the sunken parking on Harambee Avenue which is just metres away from his Jogoo House office? The young boys are always seen during evening hours high on drugs and harassing passers-by near the Nairobi county’s public toilet. A former MP, who lost in the August General Election, is yet to let go of the trappings of power. While former MPs are allowed to visit Parliament, the frequency of the visits from the former legislator from one of the counties bordering Nairobi, has become a concern and a subject of gossip among the newly-elected MPs. BOARDROOM wars have erupted at a parastatal in the Ministry of Health. It is whispered that the parastatal’s…

‘OUR FRIENDS IN THE OPPOSITION ARE NOT INTERESTED IN ELECTIONS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO VOTES. THEY HAVE SENSED DEFEAT AND THAT’S WHY THEY’RE LOOKING FOR WAYS OF GETTING TO POWER THROUGH THE BACKDOOR’ A fired-up President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday told his nemesis Raila Odinga he has no powers to derail or stop the October 26 rerun. Speaking at a Busia rally, Uhuru told off the ex-Prime Minister over his “no elections without reforms” threats, calling them “imaginary and nonsensical”. Tension has been heightened since NASA called for mass peaceful action countrywide on Mondays and Fridays. They will protest against Jubilee’s proposed radical changes in election laws and demand major IEBC reforms. Among other things, amendments will make it virtually impossible for the Supreme Court to nullify an election, as…

It is a useful visit by President Uhuru Kenyatta to Western Kenya to the extent that it reminds the people that voted for him from that area that he is still on the race and needs their support once again. I think those who voted for him are likely to stay with him. It is important that President Uhuru retains former Bungoma governor Ken Lusaka to secure the same votes that he brought on board during the August 8 General Election. It is an added advantage that he was made the Senate Speaker which secures myriads of votes for Jubilee. Water Cabinet Secretary Eugine Wamalwa also secured many votes for the President in the region. But former Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba is an object of ridicule and laughter in Luhyaland.…