The Star 10/20/2017

The NCIC has expressed alarm that civil conflict may break out if leading politicians fail to resolve the current political impasse. Chairman Francis ole Kaparo yesterday said a repeat of the poll clashes experienced in the country 10 years ago cannot be ruled out after next Thursday’s election. He described the current political situation as “irresponsible, unfortunate and untenable”. “The current political climate strikingly resembles the period prior to 2007-08 post-election violence. Allowed to take root, the current political dynamics will catastrophically roll back the gains we have made as a nation to build a cohesive, peaceful and prosperous country,” Kaparo said. He told President Uhuru Kenyatta and NASA leader Raila Odinga to dialogue as the political polarisation and the competitive nature of electoral politics is deeply dividing the nation.…

YUSUF HASSAN Gikomba to get Sh19bn facelift The frequent fires at Gikomba Market could end after the county and state announced plans to construct a Sh19 billion multi-storey market. It will also have a fire station, better feeder roads and water points. Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan, whose constituency contains the vast retail and wholesale market, said construction will begin soon. See page 27 SHEIKH JUMA NGAO Urges all Muslims to vote Muslims should vote in next Thursday’s repeat presidential election, the Kenya Muslims National Advisory Council has said. This is the only way to end political tension, chairman Sheikh Juma Ngao said. There are about 10 million Muslims in the country, but not specific figures on Muslim voters. Ngao accused Jubilee and NASA of creating unhealthy political tension. See page…

Striking nurses yesterday told Health CS Cleopa Mailu to stop lying that nurses have returned to work. They also denied being invited by Mailu for a meeting that was to take place yesterday at the Council of Governors offices in Nairobi. Kenya National Union of Nurses secretary general Seth Panyako said they had not received any invitation from the ministry and the CoG. “How do you sit down to discuss the impact of the strike by nurses? That is a misplaced priority. The only way to solve this stalemate is by ending the strike, which will involve coming up with a return-to-work formula that will capture the contents of our CBA,” Panyako said. Reports from the Council of Governors show that 60 per cent of nurses have resumed work, but…

IS Immigration director Gordon Kihalangwa (pictured) aware of a cartel involving AP officers at the Passport Control Centre, Nairobi? The officers cleverly create long queues by boxing everyone in a single linwe (application, replacement, inquiry and collection) and, out of frustration, some people give bribes to be served first. Some APs are said to be receiving the bribes through M-Pesa. The second arrangement is the use of brokers, usually outside Nyayo House and Teleposta Towers. They offer the services at a cost. The cops allow them to freely pass but they’ll have their cut. Can the good director and Deputy Inspector General Samuel Arachi look into this and allow the efficiency we see at Huduma Centres? Kihalangwa should also let his officers conduct the customer relations tasks, instead of the…

Jubilee is holding one last trump card to ensure Thursday’s one-man, shoo-in election takes place. President Uhuru Kenyatta has not signed the recently passed amendment Bill radically changing election laws. He could propose amendments to the Jubilee-majority Parliament before he signs it. They would rubber-stamp his will. When MPs passed the Bill, they retained a clause saying the IEBC chairman must hold an advanced law degree and be qualified for the Supreme Court. No one but Chebukati is qualified. None of the commissioners holds a law degree. Chebukati has expressed disgust with the partisan Secretariat and commission clique that have thwarted him. If the situation doesn’t change, Chebukati said on Wednesday, he would rather bow out than preside over an election without credibility. Meantime, IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba last night…

1 She claimed that Chiloba sabotaged the Election Operations Committee 2 Regrets Commission couldn’t make basic concessions to NASA demands 3 Alleges collusion between secretariat and four IEBC commissioners 4 Chebukati's team is being crippled by a secretariat determined to stay in charge 5 Questions why audit of ICT system sanctioned by Commission hasn’t been done 6 She asks Chebukati why secretariat staff in Nairobi can’t be fired 7 Claims she was almost fought at a plenary meeting by a commissioner…