The Star 11/06/2017

President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta and NASA leader Raila Odinga yesterday met for the first time since the presidential re-run that was boycotted by the opposition alliance. The two political nemeses, together with Chief Justice David Maraga, whose ruling on the August 8 presidential election precipitated the fresh polls, were among the hundreds of Kenyans who attended the first centenary celebrations of All Saints’ Cathedral. The service was presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican communion, Justin Welby, and Archbishop of the Anglican Church Jackson ole Sapit. Though only the President-elect was given time to address the congregation, Raila appeared jovial from his body language. He greeted Uhuru and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta after he received a book of the cathedral’s history at the…

POLICE BRUTALITY PAYOUT Victims to receive Sh150,000 Homa Bay victims of police brutality will get Sh150,000 each from a fund established by their MCAs. The county assembly has passed a motion to create an emergency fund for those injured or killed during the anti-election protests. Four residents died, while about 25 people were injured. The money will be contributed by MCAs and CEC members. See Page 28 WHO OFFERS HELP Stopping Marburg spread The World Health Organization is helping Kenya’s Ministry of Health to guard against the spread of Marburg Virus Disease from Uganda. In a statement, WHO yesterday said it has delivered 300 kits of personal protective equipment, with an additional 2,000 PPE kits on the way. The organisation is supporting enhanced surveillance. See Page 11 PRIVATE SECTOR OUTPUT…

NASA will swear in its chief Raila Odinga if President Uhuru Kenyatta is sworn in for a second term following the disputed repeat polls. The opposition said it does not recognise the October 26 repeat polls. “As the Opposition we demand that they open the servers for the August 8 general polls so that we can declare Raila the fifth President of the Republic of Kenya,” said Siaya Senator James Orengo. “The world knows who won the August polls with 80 per cent votes.” He was speaking in Kibra’s Kamukunji grounds in Nairobi yesterday, accompanied by other NASA legislators. “This time we are totally prepared and we will not be intimidated by a fake government. We know the Constitution and in the next two weeks we will tell Kenyans the…

HAS Jubilee taken its charm offensive against the opposition all the way to the doorstep of NASA deputy leader Kalonzo Musyoka (pictured)? Social media has been abuzz with reports that President Uhuru Kenyatta could have come to the aid of the former vice president’s deep financial crisis, following the lengthy hospitalisation of his wife Pauline. The reports claimed that the president donated Sh38 million to defray Pauline’s hospitals bill in Germany, where she is recuperating. With Kenyans’ wit and creativity unrivalled, others said opposition leader Raila Odinga sent a paltry Sh100,000. The claims opened an avalanche of political views and criticism as well, with NASA supporters trolling Jubilee diehards for taking advantage of Kalonzo’s plight to push a political agenda. A political heavyweight from Western Kenya who recently deserted the…

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s bid for a second term faces a first major hurdle as a fresh petition challenging his October 26 victory is filed at the Supreme Court today. The Star has established that the petition will be filed by a coterie of civil society organisations, setting the stage for yet another major legal duel at the apex court. The new suit will essentially bring to a halt the swearing-in preparations for Uhuru and his deputy William Ruto that was set for November 14. The petition is likely to pose a major challenge for the Judiciary that has been under intense pressure after the David Maraga-led team historically voided Uhuru’s win on September 1. An unshaken Maraga however swore his team was prepared to pay the ultimate price to protect…

The time to challenge Uhuru Kenyatta’s October 26th election lapses today. Raila Odinga boycotted the exercise and may not challenge the outcome. NGO Coordination Board chairman Fazul Mahamed has targeted activist Khalef Khalifa on claims of tax evasion, an indicator that a petition to the Supreme Court may come from civil society. Circumstances in which Raila’s petition was decided have been repeated with aggravation, in ways that threaten the Court’s independence. Soon after the September 1st decision invalidating his election, Uhuru went on the rampage, threating to ‘fix’ the majority four judges for conducting a ‘judicial coup’ against him. A Jubilee legislator petitioned the JSC to remove CJ Maraga from office. Another petitioner demanded removal of DCJ Mwilu and Judge Lenaola. The claimed evidence in support of the latter complaint…