Weekend Vibes Ke

The National Drought Response Steering Committee yesterday released the PayBill and bank account details that will allow Kenyans to donate cash to assist those impacted by the ongoing drought. Donations to the appeal fund can do so via: M-PESA PayBill 880990   Drought Response Committee Releases PayBill and Bank Account Details as the account number  or  National Drought Mitigation Appeal Fund  Kenya Commercial Bank ,  Riverside Branch,  ACC. NO. 1305486137 . The PayBill number applies to Safaricom's M-pesa, Airtel Money, and Telkom’s T-Kash subscribers. "We thank Kenyans and all our friends for their continued support towards this course." Said DP Rigathi Gachagua on his twitter handle. 

 President William Ruto has announced that Kenyans tapping from the financial inclusion fund, popularly known as the Hustlers Fund, will obtain the funds through an online platform. Addressing the Kenya Kwanza PG on Wednesday, Ruto disclosed that there will be no committees regulating the disbursement process to allow a seamless process ahead of its expected first phase launch on November 30, 2022. "The product is going to be seamless, you will not need any committee, you do not need to know anybody and the product will be online just like M-Pesa,...I know some of you had made arrangements to form a committee for disbursing Hustler funds. Sorry I will disappoint you there will be no Hustler Fund committee," said President Ruto. The Head of State went on to note that he has already launched talks with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and service providers to enroll the programme online. "We are working with our MNOs and technology providers and all the mobile operator...

The Court of Appeal has granted the Sirisia MP John Waluke a Sh10 million cash bail until his appeal against the 67-year jail term he was given for a Sh297 million fraud is heard and decided. Even though Waluke claimed the government owed him Sh300 million as a result of a 2004 maize supply contract that authorities allege was fraudulent. A three-judge bench that included Justices Asike Makhandia, Grace Ngenye, and Sankale ole Kantai decided the MP's imprisonment might result in the loss of his parliamentary seat and call for a by-election. "Once [Waluke] does not attend eight consecutive sittings, then he will automatically lose his seat. On that ground, we find the application for bail has merit and is allowed,” said Judge Ngenye, who read the ruling. The judges also offered him the chance to post a bail in the amount of Sh20 million. The bail conditions are the same as those that the High Court had set. “Assuming he is heard on appeal and he succeeds, he will not be able t...

President William Ruto was disobeyed by Kenya Kwanza MPs last night when they chose to reject two of his top picks for the five party-backed candidates for the regional assembly, even though Azimio leaders Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka won with significant margins. Kenya Kwanza chose Hassan Omar, a former Mombasa senator, former MP David Sankok, former Nandi woman representative Zipporah Kering, former senator Falhadha Iman Dekow, and former URP secretary-general Fred Muteti as their preferred lineup in a meeting presided over by President Ruto on Wednesday in State House.  Mt. Kenya MPs felt that at least one of their own deserved a place in the regional parliament and were unhappy with the final five candidates chosen at State House. The President publicly endorsing the five, according to some MPs in the Kenya Kwanza camp, was also inappropriate since it upset the coalition. “Within the coalition, they should have known the favourite candidate; endorsing the five in public mea...

The High Court has directed that Tony Gachoka, a journalist, deposit Sh500,000 as security in an election suit in which he is contesting the deletion of his name from the list of individuals the Narc Party intended to nominate for the National Assembly. The decision was made after it was found that the petition was an election dispute covered by the Elections Act's (Parliamentary and County Elections Petition Rules) deadline of six months. Justice Erick Ogolla has since been chosen by Chief Justice Martha Koome to hear and decide Mr. Gachoka's case. After the Charity Ngilu-led National Rainbow Coalition (Narc) neglected to include Mr. Gachoka on its list of candidates for the National Assembly's seat representing people with disabilities, hence Mr. Gachoka filed a lawsuit. He claims that as a person with a disability, the party affiliated with the Azimio la Umoja Coalition had promised to place him at the top of its nomination list. However, his name was absent from the lis...

A former Member of County Assembly (MCA) who falsified academic credentials was sentenced to four years in prison. The Kiamwangi MCA For forging his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate, Robert Kibe Githongo was given a sentence of four years in prison or an Sh500,000 fine.  At the Milimani Anti-Corruption court, Senior Principal Magistrate Hon Peter Ooko condemned Githongo to his first offense of violating Section 347(a) of the Penal Code, with the possibility of paying a Sh500,000 fine. “Githongo was charged with making a false document namely KSCE S/No .625123 purporting it to be a genuine certificate issued by Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC). For this count, the convict is to serve two years in jail or default pay a fine of Sh250,000,” the court documents read in part. The former lawmaker was also accused of uttering a fraudulent document in violation of Penal Code section 353, which carries a comparable penalties. According to the charge sheet...

In place of Bruno Shioso, who was elevated to Commandant of the National Police Training Campus in Kiganjo, Dr. Resila Atieno Onyango has been named the National Police Service spokeswoman. After 2014's Zipporah Mboroki, Resila is the second woman to hold the role of Police Service spokesman. Resila, a Senior Superintendent, held the position of Deputy Director of Planning at the Office of the Inspector General of Police before to being promoted. In 2021, she earned her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania in the United States. She had previously worked for Interpol's regional office for East Africa as a criminal intelligence officer. In the most recent shifts announced by the interim Inspector General of Police Noor Gabow, her predecessor Shioso has taken the place of the newly appointed Police IG Japheth Koome. Philip Ndolo, who served as the college's deputy commandant, has since been transferred back to the Nairobi Police Headquarters. Manaseh Musyoka, the Cent...

 controversial media personality Andrew Kibe started a fundraising campaign for comedian KK Mwenyewe, who is well known for his immaculate imitation of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. He stated in a tweet that the charity has already received over Ksh100,000 and that he is aiming to raise even more so that he may give him the money tonight. "We do another ‘blessing’ round tonight then hand over kibunda mzuri. So far we are above 1,000$ and still climbing. Every cent we collect @austintexanone will match. Our Riggy G will have his cash tonight atese mbaya!" Kibe wrote in a tweet. Just a few days prior, the TikTok phenomenon, actual name Zacharia Kariuki, stated that the governor, Johson Sakaja of Nairobi had paid his Ksh 10,900 fee arrear just before the deadline following a viral online appeal. In a social media post, he wrote; "After I posted my issue on fees, many of my fans offered to help. I want to thank Sakaja for paying my fees. Thank you and God bless you all....

  If a promise made by the recently sworn-in Public Service CS, Aisha Jumwa, is fulfilled, government employees would be laughing all the way to the bank at the end of January 2023 Jumwa made a promise to raise all federal officials' pay within 100 days of taking office on Monday, October 31. She claimed that her decision was motivated by the general sense of demoralization prevalent throughout government agencies. The CS highlighted that many of the workers battled with basic needs like paying school fees and rent on their present pay by drawing an analogy to her own experiences growing up in a poor household. The CS further committed during her tour to extending Huduma Centers' operating hours, noting that the service was essential to many Kenyans. If implemented successfully, Huduma Centers' doors would be open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm as opposed to the nine-hour working day that currently runs from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Employees would be hired to work in shifts. Jumwa was...

  President William Ruto appears to have restored punctuality at state events.During the previous regime of the former head of State President Uhuru Kenyatta, delays were rampant and members of the Fourth Estate were often kept waiting longer. On several occasions, events such as press conferences would start up to one and a half hours late. This touched off a running joke on Twitter where, whenever State House announced an event, users would wonder whether it was GMT or “State House time”.Now, President Ruto seems to be changing the culture at the State House, after a few months in office. For instance, the press invitation from the State House on Thursday indicated that the swearing-in ceremony of the cabinet Secretaries would start at 11am. The event started about 10 minutes earlier. According to sources, the president was also present for a Kenya Kwanza Parliamentary Group meeting at State House, which started at 7am on the dot as announced. That is not all, last Thursday durin...

Governor Mwangaza has been engaged in a tough war with Members of County Assembly since assuming office, hitting a crescendo last week when MCAs walked out as she delivered her inaugural speech.  Police were forced to lob teargas canisters as supporters of Ms Mwangaza and the MCAs hurled stones at each other. So bad is the row that Meru legislators have offered to mediate between the county boss and ward representatives even as each side hardens its stance.  On Sunday, Meru MCAs woke up to find their WhatsApp group, “Meru County MCAs 2022” disbanded. This, they say, was the only link between them and governor Mwangaza. Governor Mwangaza, who was the founder and administrator of the group, removed all the MCAs and disbanded it as the tiff with the county legislators escalated.

  Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi left Kenyans scratching their heads after not holding up the Bible while taking the oath of office during the swearing-in ceremony of Cabinet members at State House on Thursday. As it is customary in taking oaths, though optional to denomination, one is needed to lift up the Bible or the Quran as a sign of pledging allegiance to the constitution and serving with diligence. Mudavadi however did not follow suit, bringing questions to the fore on why he averted the traditional "lift of the Holy book". Mudavadi is of the Quaker denomination, which believes that each individual can experience God without needing a priest or the Bible.  The chief CS has in the past self-confessed to be part of the Quaker faith, which he has professed to use as a guide in administering his role in government. "Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Togetherness & Equality are strong Quaker values that I believe can hold us together individually & collec...

  A petition has been filed at the Meru County Assembly by a resident to impeach Governor Kawira Mwangaza over alleged gross misconduct and abuse of office.Constitutional activist Salesio Thuranira, popularly known as Omtatah, for his litigation on public interest matters, delivered the petition to the Clerk of the Assembly on Thursday afternoon. Meru assembly clerk Jacob Kirari said the petition is being studied by the legal team to establish if it meets threshold. In the petition Mr Thuranira is urging the Assembly to initiate the impeachment process arguing that there are sufficient grounds for removal of Governor Mwangaza from office. Ms Mwangaza has been locked in a standoff with members of the Meru County Assembly over allocation of ward development fund and bursary kitty under the new administration. Mr Thuranira cites the appointment of a Mr Francis Mungai as the Meru County Revenue Board general manager which he says was done against the revenue board act. He als...

The National Assembly has approved President William Ruto’s 24 Cabinet Secretary nominees, paving way for their appointment to the top Executive offices in charge of developing and implementing policy and government programmes.. The House rejected the National Assembly Committee on Appointments move to declare Tourism and Wildlife CS nominee Peninah Malonza as unsuitable for the role. The committee, which is chaired by Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, had declared Ms Malonza unsuitable, saying the former Kitui deputy governor did not show a grasp of the issues in the docket. " The nominee did not demonstrate knowledge on topical, administrative and technical issues touching on the ministry. She lacked the requisite abilities and professional experience to be approved for appointment to the office of Cabinet Secretary,” the committee said on Ms Malonza. But MPs had from Tuesday ganged up against the report, castigating the committee for what they said was unfairly targeting Ms Malonza. ...

The eldest of three siblings, Rishi Sunak was born on May 12, 1980, in Southampton to Yashvir and Usha Sunak, Hindu parents of Punjabi Indian origin who were born in Africa. His father was born and raised in the British Protectorate of Kenya (present-day Kenya), while his mother was born in Tanganyika (which is present-day part of Tanzania). His grandparents were born in Punjab province, British India, and migrated from East Africa with their families to the UK in the 1960s. Sunak went to Winchester College, a boys' independent boarding school, where he was head boy, and Stroud School, a prep school in Romsey, Hampshire. During his summer vacation, he worked as a waiter at a curry restaurant in Southampton. He earned a first-class degree in 2001 after studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) at Lincoln College in Oxford. He worked as an intern at the Conservative Campaign Headquarters while he was a student. In 2006, he ga...

  President William Ruto, Dp Rigathi Gachagua and CS Nominee Alfred Mutua  When asked about Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka joining President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza coalition, Deputy President responded that he is welcome but difficult to work with. On Sunday, when in Kitui for a ceremony of thanksgiving, DP Gachagua stated that they had attempted to persuade Kalonzo to leave the opposition but had been unsuccessful since he had been irresponsive to their requests. The DP was responding to Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti's request for President William Ruto to include Kalonzo in his administration and give him a position. Gachagua went on to describe the running-mate interviews for Azimio la Umoja that were conducted in May 2022, asserting that Kalonzo was humiliated but still chose to support Azimio. Kalonzo Musyoka with Azimio Presidential Candidate, Raila Odinga He also used Kalonzo's appearance at the Mashujaa Day festivities last week as an example, saying that...

  Wafula Chebukati, Immediate former Iebc Chairperson  Wafula Chebukati's position as chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is vacant, as announced by President William Ruto. The President also declared vacancies for two other commissioners, Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye, whose terms expire in January 2023, in a Gazette Notice dated October 22, 2022. "Now, therefore, in the exercise of the powers conferred to me, I William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya notify of impending vacancies in the aforementioned positions," Ruto stated.  According to the IEBC Act, the President must publish a gazette notice announcing the vacancies six months before the mandates of the commissioners expire. For the purpose of choosing the chairperson or member of the commission, he must also appoint a panel of seven people.

The Ministry of Interior has distanced itself from reports indicating that it declared Monday, October 24, a public holiday. Officials at the Ministry insisted that outgoing CS Fred Matiang'i did not gazette the holiday to allow Kenyans to celebrate the Diwali festival insisting that it was highly unlikely as the event was not celebrated in the previous years. Kenyans are urged to ignore false reports doing rounds on social media and instead proceed with their normal working duties. Reports on the purported Monday holiday emerged on social media following government publications on the regulation and use of fireworks during the festivities. This, however, is not the first time misleading reports on public holidays have been in circulation. In the last year, the Kenyan government was made to distance itself from a fake gazette notice that had been gone viral.

The Diversity Visa Program, also known as the Green Card, is now inviting applications as stated by the US Embassy in Nairobi. Kenyan citizens who are interested should apply via the US State Department website between October 5 and November 8, 2022. "The entry form will only be available for submission during this period and this period only. Entries will not be accepted through the US Postal Service," cautioned the embassy. Notably, any application flaws, such as incomplete entry forms, may result in disqualification. If you do not meet the qualifying educational or work experience standards outlined below, you should think twice before pursuing a diversity visa application because you might not be qualified and any expenses you pay for the visa application will not be reimbursed. Qualifications All applicants must have successfully completed a formal elementary and secondary education program that is equivalent to a 12-year program in the United States. Additionally, equiv...

  Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, now claims that any plans to ban him from Twitter should be “some type of joke.” The controversial military commander seemed on social media late Tuesday night time to claim that he is an adult who cannot be barred from something after tweeting about a rumored invasion plot for Kenya and inflicting an net uproar. He seemed to be making reference to the Sunday televised interview his father did to KTN News, all through which the long-serving president used to be wondered about his son’s web behavior. However, it used to be throughout a precise interview with a neighborhood Ugandan television station on Monday when Mr. Museveni stated blocking off his son from Twitter.