The Star 12/13/2016

Jamhuri Day celebrations in Meru turned chaotic and were delayed for more than two hours after they descended into a political rally and show of bitter rivalry between Senator Kiraitu Murungi and Governor Peter Munya. The arena, the Meru Polytechnic grounds, placed under tight security, had more than 3,000 residents, making it difficult to control the crowd. Police had to use rubber bullets to disperse a section of rowdy youths. Earlier, Munya showed up at the event with county employees and supporters in a motorcade, leaving county commissioner Wilfred Nyagwanga and other national government officials stranded at his office waiting for him. Kiraitu and Jubilee supporters were waiting for the county commissioner and his team and when his motorcade left his Milimani residence, the Jubilee motorcade joined it to create…

CS IRUNGU NYAKERA Lamu port project ahead of time The construction of the first three berths at the proposed Lamu port is running ahead of schedule, the Transport and Infrastructure ministry has said. The ministry projects the first berth will be operational by June 2018. PS Irungu Nyakera said works have been facilitated by the Sh10 billion allocated to the Lapsset project this financial year. See page 15 ISAAC RUTTO Says JP is opposition party Jubilee is an opposition party in the Rift Valley, Bomet Governor and Chama Cha Mashinani leader Isaac Rutto has said. He said to the Kalenjin community, especially in Bomet, Jubilee is a forgotten party. “I have mobilised all leaders in my county, including MCAs, to join CCM. My mission is to mobilise leaders in the…

The Wiper governing council will today endorse its leader Kalonzo Musyoka as its presidential candidate as he seeks to run against other Cord presidential hopefuls to fly the coalition’s flag at next year’s election. Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama yesterday told the Star the endorsement will place Kalonzo in a better position to be the Cord candidate. ODM leader Raila Odinga and his Ford Kenya counterpart Moses Wetang’ula were endorsed last month by their own national delegates to square it off for the top seat. “Each party has its own presidential candidate. They will only be sorted out at the Cord level. At the moment, each party has to nominate and push for its presidential candidate,” Muthama said. The Wiper NGC meeting will be held in the Kasarani Stadium, Nairobi. Muthama…

RESIDENTS of the city’s Eastleigh Section Three estate are an unhappy lot. They are seething with anger and fear over the invasion of a deadly criminal gang nicknamed ‘Superpower’ that is robbing and killing people at will. The group, formerly operating in Eastleigh North, relocated after Pangani police decisively descended on them. The residents are now worried that the continued inaction by Shauri Moyo police station and the Eastleigh Section Three police post may worsen the security situation in the area. Claims of the law enforcers collecting bribes from suspects arrested by law-abiding residents have not been addressed and remain a ticking time-bomb. The area chiefs are a frustrated lot too, as their reports are not acted on. If only Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet (pictured), through the county…

PRESIDENT Uhuru Kenyatta has publicly claimed external powers are seeking to influence the 2017 Presidential poll results even as he pledged to concede if he is defeated in the epic race. The Head of State at the same time gave his strongest hint yet that Kenya may join other countries in withdrawing from the ICC - an institution many have credited with the peaceful general election in 2013. Speaking when he led the country in commemorating Kenya’s 52nd Independence Day, Uhuru said some global powers are bankrolling regime change in Kenya “in the guise of supporting good governance or civic education”. Uhuru said the true intent of the donor countries is to influence Kenya’s electoral choices. “I want to caution those members of the international community taking these actions that…

“Patriots like Jomo Kenyatta and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga; Tom Mboya and Makhan Singh; Masinde Muliro and Paul Ngei; Bildad Kaggia and Achieng’ Oneko set aside their differences, and joined hands to overthrow the colonial order. In their unity, they were indomitable; in our disunity, we are defenceless.” For more news on our website. Scan this quick response code using your smartphone.…