The Star 10/11/2017

The late Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo had a premonition of his death, a day before he was found dead at his Kwa Kyelu ranch in Machakos. His second wife Nduku yesterday told a Machakos court that her husband said his life was in danger after seeing some insects in their house. Mutula died in 2013, barely a few months after he won the county Senate seat. “I had noticed some insects in the house. I wanted to call a fumigation company, but he told me, and I quote: ‘My life is in danger. I cannot allow strangers in the house’,” Nduku said. She asked her husband whether it was about a threat he had received earlier, but “he did not want to discuss the matter”. Nduku said Mutula told her…

ALI KORANE To eliminate Garissa ghost workers Garissa county has at least 900 ghost workers and one staff member has at least 100 active salary accounts. About 6,200 people on the payroll do not report to work. These are among findings in a report by the Public Service Board presented to Governor Ali Korane two weeks ago. On Monday, he disclosed the findings to reporters. See page 35 NATION MEDIA Ordered to pay for defamation Two High Court judges have separately ordered the Nation and Standard media groups to pay former Githunguri MP Njoroge Baiya Sh6.5 million as compensation for defamation. The politician had sued the Nation Media Group and the Standard Group after the two published articles he claims ruined his political career. See page 12 WEBUYE TOWN Std…

Legislators Charles Njagua and Babu Owino fought at Parliament’s media centre yesterday, forcing sergeants-at-arms to intervene. It is not clear why the Starehe and Embakasi East MPs resorted to blows, but journalists at the centre said Njagua followed Babu after he walked in. A few minutes to 3pm, Babu walked to the Media Centre — the section that hosts the head of media relations. He greeted journalists. The reporters said Babu had been chatting with them when his counterpart grabbed him from the back and started pulling him while yelling. It was then that a confrontation ensued. Njagua is a singer and goes by the stage name Jaguar. Babu is a former UoN student union leader. “We heard Jaguar shout: ‘You cannot do that to the President. He is not…

THE disquiet in Ukambani over the community’s political future is becoming acutely distressing to many people. Since Monday last week, politicians and professionals have met several times to chart the way forward for the region that voted largely for NASA. A major concern: If flagbearer Raila Odinga (pictured) boycotts the October 26 presidential rerun, where will that leave running mate Kalonzo Musyoka politically? To them, the Kamba nation will be the biggest loser. On Monday evening, three Wiper MPs and a former governor aspirant met at a Nairobi hotel on Mombasa Road to discuss the community’s fate. COULD there be plans to temporarily relocate the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission away from Anniversary Towers in Nairobi’s CBD — to the Bomas of Kenya? A mole within the commission tells Corridors…

Opposition chief Raila Odinga yesterday dramatically withdrew from the presidential rerun and cited a 2013 Supreme Court ruling to scuttle the October 26 vote. President Uhuru Kenyatta insisted elections must go on. The Raila shocker, which could push the repeat election to March 2018, threw Kenyan politics into uncertainty. Raila said street demonstrations will continue indefinitely. The IEBC yesterday announced it had assembled it legal team to study implications of the withdrawal. There has been much speculation about a boycott or Raila withdrawal and possible constitutional crisis. NASA has repeatedly said, no reforms, no election. “Following withdrawal of NASA’s presidential candidate, the Commission and legal team are meeting and will communicate way forward,” Chairman Wafula Chebukati said. Various lawyers yesterday said IEBC may be forced to call off the election…

I understand NASA presidential flagbearer Raila Odinga has said he doesn’t want to be elected President of Kenya. He has withdrawn from the race two weeks to the polls. What is right is that he does not have to be elected. But as Raila has withdrawn from the contest, there are procedures to be followed, as stipulated in the Constitution. I know he has laws but I hope he will follow them Raila’s resignation does not change the reality on the ground and in the Constitution. The Supreme Court ordered elections in 60 days, which IEBC must follow His withdrawal is a non-issue. The IEBC will have to follow procedures laid down to conduct the October 26 poll. Whether Raila is on the ballot paper or not, Kenyans will still…