The Star 12/16/2016

Deputy President William Ruto’s bid to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta is proving to be no walk in the park with former DPP Philip Murgor declaration he will run for the country’s top job. Murgor has promised to fight graft. Although Murgor will run next year, it is seen as a warmup for 2022. His entry into the race complicates the rush for the Kalenjin vote, with Baringo Senator Gideon Moi expected to run for the country’s top seat in 2022 as well. Murgor was yesterday endorsed to run next year on the United Democratic Movement ticket. “We know Kenyans have a solution to everything affecting them, but when it comes to politics, as a country we usually go back to the tribal groups and that is what we must overcome,”…

MAISON LESHOMO Samburu women unite Samburu women have said they will unite, compete with men and vote for other women next year. “We will not allow culture, fear, gender discrimination and intimidation to prevent us from competing with men,” religious leader Lillian Letiwa said yesterday. Those running for Samburu woman rep include Pauline Lenguris and incumbent Maison Leshomo. See Page 32 JOSEPH NDATHI Kirinyaga headquarters moved Residents of Kirinyaga have failed to overturn a decision to move the county headquarters from Kutus to Kerugoya. Also dealt a blow is the county government, which has already put up a Sh380 million headquarters in Kutus town. The county assembly sits in Kerugoya. The President assented to a bill that gazetted Kerugoya as the county headquarters. See Page 29 BERNARD MUIA Builder digs…

GSU officers had to be called in yesterday to calm a crowd of commuters at the Likoni Channel following the breakdown of three ferries. For about five hours, only MV Likoni was operating. The other three ferries – MV Kwale, Harambee and Nyayo – developed mechanical problems and had to be withdrawn, sources at the Kenya Ferry Services said. Trouble started at 1pm, when the crowd got bigger and started competing with cars for the only ferry. The KFS, through its Facebook account, said two ferries were withdrawn for safety reasons. “Kindly be patient as we wait to resume operations,” it said. MV Harambee resumed operation just last week, after a year out of service. It was reportedly repaired at a cost of Sh140 million. The overwhelmed sentries could no…

SULEIMAN Shahbal (pictured), the man who hopes to unseat Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, is not taking chances in his latest bid. We are told that the businessman has been able to find his way to the Presidency and has now been fully embraced by Jubilee leaders, led by President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto. Shahbal’s rising star is causing concern in Joho’s camp, especially because rumours have been flying around two other challengers, Anania Mwaboza and Cyprian Awiti, who will in the end be asked to endorse Shahbal. On the other hand, Joho’s team is vowing to put up a fight for the seat. From the look of things, Mombasa will be an interesting county to watch. A Cabinet Secretary has become a daily joke in his own…

‘THOSE WHO ARE SAYING JUBILEE IS TRIBAL ARE DOING SO BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT IN GOVERNMENT. WHEN YOU ARE NOT IN MY GOVERNMENT, THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE WHOLE OF YOUR TRIBE IS NOT THERE’ President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday launched a blistering attack on opposition leaders Raila Odinga and Musalia Mudavadi and scorned the forthcoming National Super Alliance as tribal. It was the latest salvo in the increasingly bitter and personal war of words between Uhuru and Raila. On Tuesday the ODM and Cord leader said Uhuru should have been jailed in The Hague before and during his trial by the ICC for crimes against humanity in the 2007-08 post-election violence. The charges were dropped in December 2014. Yesterday, the President dismissed the Super Alliance, saying opposition leaders are…

PRESIDENT Uhuru Kenyatta has for the umpteenth made a tour of the Luhya region in an effort to woo the vote bloc to his side of the divide. The President’s sojourn is a continuation of the near-weekly ritual his deputy, William Ruto, has perfected through his fundraisers that have become his byword in the region. The Luhya region is critical for the major political players as the country heads to the 2017 general election. As the second most populous community, the Luhya have the numbers on whose back Raila Odinga support is anchored and which give the leader of the Opposition the political strength that he wields. The region is important for Jubilee because cutting away some of this support will significantly reduce Raila’s political stock in national politics. Almost…