News

IEBC official: I followed the law in blocking Mariga’s candidature

Published

4 years ago

September 13, 2019

Former Harambee Stars player McDonald Mariga denied a chance to vie for the Kibra parliamentary seat slated November 7 after his name was not found in the KIEMS kit, IEBC official has said.
IEBC returning officer Beatrice Muli has explained that the electoral body took Mariga’s documents through same process other candidates underwent but unfortunately his name was missing from the KIEMs kit.
“We received Mariga document on September 10 and Mariga went through the nomination process the same way other candidates did. We have a checklist which we use to clear candidates,” she said.
Muli said the relevant documents were first submitted to verification desk and forwarded to her.
She said IEBC nomination checklist requires aspirant be a registered voter.

Muli insisted that the only way the returning officer can verify if the aspirant is a registered voter is checking the register in the KIEMS.
She said however in Mariga’s case, upon presenting his ID cards, his details could not be found in the KIEMS.
The search was repeated several times but his details could still not be found.
According to section 5 (1) b of the Elections Act, all electoral activities including voter registration must stop upon declaration of a vacancy.
“Mariga applied for registration on August 26 after the vacancy was declared on August 14 and IEBC gazetted the by-election on August 16, two days later. By law, the application must be brought to headquarters and all details confirmed before they can be put in the voters’ roll. Once that is done the register will have to be gazetted.

“In this case, Mariga’s application is still pending. He cannot, therefore, be cleared to vie,” said an IEBC official.
Muli is reported to have been prevailed upon by IEBCE Wafula Chebukati to clear Mariga but declined saying in the event of any thing, she will be held personally responsible.
“The law is very clear that IEBC election officials will be held personally liable for any electoral offence. She refused to commit an offence,” said another IEBC official.
On Tuesday evening, IEBC returning officer Muli told Mariga to seek redress with the IEBC Disputes Resolution Board.
The IEBC will give its verdict on Mariga’s petition on Monday next week.

News

He is a very dangerous man! Sonko’s daughter accuses senator of attempting to kill her

Published

2 years ago

February 16, 2021

Cate Iteyo

Lamu Senator Anwar Loitiptip and Saumu Mbuvi, daughter of former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, have announced their separation following wrangles and disagreement.

The reports were fuelled by photos and videos of Senator Loitiptip hanging out with a female friend.

Saumu, on Instagram, announced that the two have separated, claiming that she has undergone domestic violence under Loitiptip.

“These are the things he did to me,” wrote Saumu, in one of her photos showing a swollen face and bruised lips.

“He almost killed me. I will forever fight for women to stand for their rights. Never allow a man to be violent to you.”

She also claimed that the senator had neglected their child, leaving Saumu as the primary caregiver.

Loitiptip told Kenyans.co.ke that Saumu shared her father’s traits and was suffering from bipolar disorder, threatening to expose her past to prove his claim.

The two have been dating for months and at one point planned to get married. However, Sonko’s daughter clarified that the two had split before officiating their union.

“Wedding date confirmed,” she captioned a picture of herself and the senator in June 2020.

Her previous relationship with businessman cum politician Ben Gatu also ended after she accused him of being violent.

News

US raises alarm over Covid-19 cases surge in Tanzania

Published

2 years ago

February 11, 2021

Cate Iteyo

The US government has revealed that there are significant cases of Covid-19 in Tanzania.

This is just a week after it advised its citizens against travelling to the East African country.

“The US Embassy is aware of a significant increase in the number of Covid-19 cases since January 2021,” the Embassy said.

In a Health alert, the US said the practice of Covid-19 mitigation and prevention measures remains limited.

The Tanzanian government has not released aggregate numbers on Covid-19 cases or deaths since April 2020.

“Healthcare facilities in Tanzania can become quickly overwhelmed in a healthcare crisis. Limited hospital capacity throughout Tanzania could result in life-threatening delays for emergency medical care,” US said.

The Department of State’s travel advisory level for Tanzania is Level 3.

The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention says that travellers should avoid all travel to Tanzania.

The Embassy continues to recommend that all individuals take caution in day-to-day activities.

President John Magufuli assured the 58 million inhabitants that they need not worry about observing Covid-19 preventative measures.

News

Siwachii wezi! Uhuru vows not to leave the country to thieves in 2022

Published

2 years ago

February 11, 2021

Cate Iteyo

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday made a surprising stop to lecture Nairobi residents after finishing his engagement at the National Cargo Deconsolidation Centre (NCDC-Nairobi).

The Head of State said he was angry at Nairobians for being against the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Bill stating that the report has given Nairobi more constituencies.

“If we have a BBI that says the people of Nairobi will have more constituencies and if it’s bursaries a child in Mathare who today receives Ksh500, how will that child study up to university level,” President Kenyatta said.

“But there is another child who gets Ksh100,000 in Busury per year is that right?… BBI is not for helping Raila or Uhuru it is for you,” he continued.

Uhuru went on to disclose that he has no plans to rule after his term is over and his interest is in finishing the job that Kenyans elected him to do.