By Athman Amran & our reporter, March 11 2010
The Kenya Anti Corruption Commission is under the spotlight. It has been alleged that the anti graft body has been infiltrated by PNU agent provocateurs to besmirch high ranking ODM officials in order to weaken the party ahead of 2012 polls. Yesterday, Mudavadi argued KACC never gave him the opportunity to defend himself against the adverse claims in line with natural justice. But KACC, instead, leaked the report to the Press before investigations were complete. In ordinary circumstances, the report would have gone to the Attorney General for possible prosecution. Mudavadi, who described himself as a victim of falsehood, alleged it was a plot by Party of National Unity to weaken ODM, through targeting him in the saga. The Local Government Minister argued some politicians might have infiltrated KACC to use it to intimidate anti-corruption crusaders. "It is unusual for a KACC report to be handed over prior to verification. Is KACC supposed to file a report to the Head of Public Service or complete the report and present it to the Attorney General first?" Mudavadi posed. More...

By our correspondent, March 11 2010
The lawyer alleged to have been the conduit for Musalia Mudavadi's share in the massive cemeteries scandal, has denied ever being the DPM's emissary. Mr Nelson Osiemo distanced himself from allegations he was acting on behalf of the DPM when he allegedly received Sh59 million for the purchase of cemetery land. "I would like to state that I have no relationship, personal or business, with Mudavadi or (suspended) PS Sammy Kirui. At no time was I ever introduced to anybody as a representative of the above. The insinuations in the purported KACC report are baseless and not supported by any facts or evidence," he said. He said the fraud was engineered between the Treasury, officers in the Ministry of Local Government, and the Nairobi City Council. "Treasury allocated and released funds in excess of Sh280 million before the land was identified, valued, and approved for purchase. Funds were illegally paid out to purported owner (s) and lawyers in June 2008 – more than six months before the sale agreement was signed," he added. More...

By Robert Wanyonyi, March 11 2010
First it was the milk glut then a bumper maize harvest and it seems sugar is joining the bandwagon. A consignment of sugar worth Sh400 million at Nzoia Sugar Company remains unsold despite a market flooded with imports. The company is in a dilemma with 120,000 bags of 90kg unsold sugar in its stores after local businessmen opted for cheap imports from Uganda, Swaziland and Comesa countries. Nzoia Sugar Company Managing Director Saul Wasilwa says they have been forced to construct an extra store to handle the excess sugar. "Although we are still on schedule in paying farmers, our swift payment programme may be disrupted if the Government does not intervene urgently," Mr Wasilwa said yesterday. More...

By Ally Jamah, March 11 2010
Over 12,000 missing files were recovered at the Lands Ministry after PS Dorothy Angote made a surprise visit at Ardhi House. Commissioner of Lands Zablon Mabea yesterday said officials finished counting the missing files and returned them to the records office for further analysis. On March 1, operations at Ardhi House, the headquarters of the Lands Ministry, were temporarily disrupted when Ms Angote searched some of the "missing files". She caught many staffers flatfooted, as hundreds of files supposed to be in the records office were found in their desks, some dating back to 1995. "They have been using these files to demand huge bribes from the public for their files to be recovered," said Angote. The Deputy Co-ordinator of the Kenya Land Alliance Catherine Gatundu lauded Angote but urged that it be extended to lands registries countrywide. More...

By Evelyn Kwamboka, March 11 2010
Former TV anchor Esther Arunga has been charged with being a member of an unlawful sect. Ms Arunga yesterday pleaded not guilty a few days after she sued her parents and a psychiatrist and was released on a Sh20,000 cash bail. Chief Magistrate Gilbert Mutembei ordered the prosecution to provide her with copies of witness statements it wishes to rely on in the case set for hearing on April 21. The charge stated that on February 20, this year at Runda Estate in Nairobi, with others not before the court, she was jointly found to be a member of an unlawful society commonly known as Finger of God Church. It is the same charge that jazz musician Nimrod Hellon Onyango, Quincy Zuma Timberlake and six others are facing. Arunga last week said she is married to Timberlake and that she was now called Esther Adongo Timberlake. She then sued her parents for subjecting her to psychiatric tests but the case was dismissed on grounds it was a family affair. More...

By Francis Kagolo, March 11 2010
A Kenyan student of Kampala International University (KIU) is held at Kabalagala Police station for allegedly stabbing her boyfriend to death. Jane Nyiha, a second-year student of bachelor’s of public administration, is accused of stabbing David Musunga Ivita in the throat, causing him to bleed to death. She was yesterday picked from her room in Kansanga, a Kampala suburb, where she allegedly committed the crime at around 11:00am. The Police also recovered a knife which she is suspected of having used in the crime. More...

Happier times: Daniel Musunga and Janet Nyiha.

By Peter Leftie, March 10 2010
Musalia Mudavadi, the embattled deputy prime minister came out fighting over allegations that he used an emissary to obtain a cut in the Sh283 million cemetery land scandal. Addressing a press conference in Nairobi, he released documents showing that the money was paid out six months before the sale agreement was signed and denied claims that a Mr Newton Osiemo had acted as his “emissary” in the transaction and collected Sh59 million on his behalf. Addressing a Press conference after meeting officials from the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission (KACC) in his office, Mr Mudavadi accused the anti-graft body of leaking a report to the media implicating him in the scam even before it had completed investigations into the affair. He tabled letters he had separately written to the anti-graft body and Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura demanding that action be taken against Local Government ministry and Nairobi City Council officials implicated in the scandal, yet no action was taken. In the first letter, dated February 17 this year, Mr Mudavadi asked KACC to take action against all those who had been implicated in the fraud by a Special Audit report of the Controller and Auditor General. More...

By our correspondents, March 10 2010
Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi is under investigation by the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission over the Sh283 million cemetery land fraud. KACC on Tuesday said it wants to establish whether the minister was party to the fraud in which the City Council of Nairobi bought land valued at Sh24 million for nearly Sh300 million. But Mr Mudavadi protested his innocence and said KACC was being unfair by accusing him without giving him a chance to be heard. In Parliament, an MP sensationally claimed a lawyer received Sh59 million on behalf of a senior Cabinet Minister in the purchase of the land and asked Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo to confirm to the House the allegations. Justice Assistant minister William Cheptumo promised a response to the statement on Wednesday. Mr Nelson Gaichuhie of Subukia demanded a ministerial statement in which he wants the minister to tell the House whether indeed Mr Newton Osiemo, a lawyer, represented the interests of the said minister, “who was awarded” the money in the fraudulent transaction as contained in a report by the KACC. Mr Mudavadi, through his spokesman, Mr Kibisu Kabatesi, has denied sending anyone to represent him in any transaction. More...

By our correspondent, March 10 2010
An MP has vowed to continue campaigning ahead of the 2012 General Election despite opposition from a section of lawmakers from Western Province. Mr Eugene Wamalwa of Saboti said he would not be intimidated by those opposed to his presidential ambitions. He added that he had a democratic right to contest the presidency without seeking the approval of any politician. The MP announced that he would be in Kitale on March 21 for a rally to sell his presidential policies. “I am determined to move on with my rallies and let us meet come 2012 with those in ODM who are castigating me for going for the top seat,” Mr Wamalwa told the Daily Nation. At the weekend, ODM lawmakers who had accompanied Prime Minister Raila Odinga during his tour of the Western region, launched a scathing attack on the MP, claiming that he was being used by PNU to divide Western Province voters. More...

By Bernard Kwalia, March 10 2010
More than 21,000 squatters were evicted from a parastatal’s farm. The squatters had invaded the Sabwani Agricultural Development Corporation’s (ADC) farm in Kwanza District. Regular and Administration police officers under the command of acting district commissioner Ben Nyagaga arrested the chairman of Kiboroa Squatters’ Alliance and six other officials before expelling the invaders. The DC ordered the squatters to leave and warned those who disobeyed that they would be arrested and prosecuted. More...

By Kenneth Ogosia, March 10 2010
At least 13 Cabinet ministers have been caught up in President Kibaki’s temporary ban on foreign trips to facilitate debate on the draft constitution. Those affected include Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Cabinet ministers Najib Balala, Moses Wetang’ula, Anyang’ Nyong’o, Amos Kimunya, Dalmas Otieno, Henry Kosgey, Sam Ongeri, Sally Kosgei, Samuel Poghisio, Soita Shitanda, James Orengo and Charity Ngilu. Ms Kosgei was to travel to Egypt to hand over as chairman of the Council of African Ministers for Science and Technology. Kenya will, therefore, miss out on world forums as the ministers have swiftly cancelled the trips, some of which they were invited to attend as early as June last year. More...

Were, Chanzu fault Mwakwere for sacking of port boss

By Alphonce Shiundu, March 10 2010
A parliamentary panel on Tuesday criticised former Transport Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere for his move to sack the embattled boss of the Kenya Ports Authority, Mr James Mulewa. At a meeting with ministry officials, the parliamentary committee on transport termed the minister’s decision as not only unprocedural but one reeking of “malice and witch-hunt.” The committee chairman David Were (Matungu, ODM) said Mr Mwakwere’s move appeared “rushed” because he did not have recommendations from the board. More...

By Steve Vickers, March 10 2010
The Lemba people of Zimbabwe and South Africa may look like their compatriots, but they follow a very different set of customs and traditions. They do not eat pork, they practise male circumcision, they ritually slaughter their animals, some of their men wear skull caps and they put the Star of David on their gravestones. Their oral traditions claim that their ancestors were Jews who fled the Holy Land about 2,500 years ago. It may sound like another myth of a lost tribe of Israel, but British scientists have carried out DNA tests which have confirmed their Semitic origin. More...

By our correspondents, March 10 2010
Thirteen top officials in the ministries of Local Government and Finance have been suspended over corruption allegations. Those interdicted include Local Government permanent secretary Sammy Kirui, Mr Reuben K. Rotich (senior deputy secretary), Mr Boniface Misero (director of procurement) and Mr Herman Chevera (chief financial officer). Others are Mr Paul Ngugi, director of budget in the Ministry of Finance, Mr John Gakuo, the Nairobi River Project coordinator and former Nairobi town clerk, Mr Geoffrey Katsolleh, deputy town clerk and Mr Kanyi Njambura, director of procurement. Also in the firing line are Ms Mary Ng’ethe, director of legal affairs, Mr Karisa Iha, deputy director of legal affairs, Mr Alexander Musee, deputy director procurement, Dr Daniel Nguku, medical officer of health and Mr I.N. Ngacha, chief internal auditor. More...

By our correspondent, March 10 2010
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Local Authorities sparked outrage last week when it released a report on the purchase of the land. The report showed that City Hall disregarded the advice of the director of city planning on tender documents during the search for the cemetery land. The report, now awaiting debate in Parliament, reveals the magnitude of corruption and fraud surrounding the purchase of the land. It recommends that all officers involved be relieved of their duties and arraigned in a court. Local Government minister Musalia Mudavadi is also harshly mentioned in the report, which points out that he has not even gone to see the land. More...

By Martin Mutua, March 10 2010
Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Cabinet Minister Naomi Shaban and two assistant ministers escaped death narrowly when a military helicopter they were travelling in developed mechanical problems. The VP and his entourage were headed to the Kenya-Uganda border to distribute 700 bags of maize and other foodstuff on behalf of the Government to victims of the recent mudslide that killed close to 300 Ugandans. The sources told The Standard the Ugandan Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi, who was waiting for Kalonzo and his entourage, left after he spoke to the VP on telephone. Kalonzo informed him about the mechanical problem. However, as Prof Nsibambi flew to Kampala his helicopter also developed a mechanical problem and was forced to crash-land at Bukiri. More...

By Martin Mutua, March 10 2010
The Committee of Experts on the constitutional review process has been operating illegally for the past two weeks, The Standard has learnt. Sources say the committee’s contract expired on February 23, when it handed over the draft constitution to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Review headed by Mandera Central MP Abdikadir Mohammed. "There has been anxiety at our offices on the manner in which we have been operating without a contract and this has caused concern," a committee member told The Standard. Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Mutula Kilonzo confirmed the contract had expired but down played the issue. More...

By our correspondent, March 10 2010
Housing Minister Soita Shitanda has said the grand coalition must not bury its head in the sand and pretend things were all right. This follows the war of words between lieutenants of both ODM's Raila Odinga and President Kibaki's PNU over just who is the boss. "The principals must sit down and talk to each other and show united leadership and commitment to resolving issues." "When the President and the PM issue contradicting statements on how to deal with corruption, it only serves to hurt the fragile coalition," Shitanda said. "Part of the problem is also with us ministers who keep on attacking and answering each other through the media." Shitanda lamented. More...

By our correspondents, March 10 2010
The undercurrents between the two blocs in the Coalition are said to stem from perception that the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Review ‘favours’ PNU while Committee of Experts ‘leans’ on ODM’s side. Though ODM has not attacked PSC, PNU has accused CoE of bias against what it called ‘majority views’ by Kenyans. Both PSC and PNU however insist they are independent and beyond reproach. Sources familiar with the latest development on the constitutional review process told The Standard President Kibaki’s move was meant to shore up sufficient support to pass the draft but after amendments. Central to the power games expected in Parliament are said to be contentions over a number of clauses in the Proposed Constitution over which PSC and CoE had differed on. More...

By Johanna Shneller, March 9 2010
The producers of Sunday night’s Academy Awards show obviously were counting on Kathryn Bigelow to win best director for The Hurt Locker when they booked Barbra Streisand to open the envelope. Streisand, a showbiz icon as an actress and a singer, is also the director of three features, and she has been a long-time, vocal critic of how the Hollywood boys’ club marginalizes women filmmakers. Bigelow, whose eight features can hold their own against any action helmer’s, was only the fourth woman to be nominated for best director. Oscar knew it had a potentially historic moment on its hands, and made the most of it. As did Streisand: Upon opening the envelope, she touched her heart and breathed, “Well, the time has come,” before announcing Bigelow’s name. But if anyone was expecting Bigelow to wax emotional about the sacrifices of the women who had gone before her, as Halle Berry did in 2002 when she became the first African American to win best actress, they were sorely disappointed. More...

By Michael Evans, March 9 2010
Urgent warnings have been circulated throughout Nato and the European Union for secret intelligence material to be protected from a recent surge in cyberwar attacks originating in China. The attacks have also hit government and military institutions in the United States, where analysts said that the West had no effective response and that EU systems were especially vulnerable because most cyber security efforts were left to member states. More...

By James Ratemo, March 9 2010
The Kenya ICT Board has partnered with Google to push more local content to the Internet. The partnership, which offers the Kenya ICT Board support worth Sh2.4 million, will result in a sharp increase in the size of the online community in the country and see Kenya inch closer to becoming a knowledge and information economy. Through meetings dubbed ‘Tandaa Symposium’, the collaboration aims to raise awareness on how the Internet can be relevant to Kenyans and encourage development of more local digital content. The development comes in the wake of a high profile one-week meeting in Nairobi by a global Internet corporation - the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). ICANN, a non-profit public benefit corporation, is holding its global meeting in Nairobi from March 6 to March 12. According to Kenya ICT Board CEO, Paul Kukubo (right) , these bi-monthly events will showcase successful initiatives that demonstrate the potential of the Internet for economic and social change. More...

By Alex Kiprotich, March 9 2010
The former executive director of Kenya Times Media Trust (KTMT) Wilson Kibet is dead. Kibet, 62, died at the Kenyatta National Hospital. His son, Kipkemoi Kibet, said his father had been in hospital since January. "He has been in hospital for the last two months," he said. Before joining the KTMT, Kibet worked as the MD, Kerio Valley Development Authority and human resources manager at Kenya Airways. "He has been in private business since his retirement and did community services," Kipkemoi said. While at Kenya Times, Kibet defended the assets of KTMT from being disposed of by Agriculture minister William Ruto, who claimed he had injected money in the media house. More...

By our correspondent, March 9 2010
Demonde Selenga scored his maiden AFC Leopards goal to guide his side to their first 2010 Kenyan Premier League victory, a 1-0 triumph over Thika United on Sunday at the Nyayo National Stadium. For 45 minutes, Leopards dominated, taking a deserved lead through the excellent Selega after 38 minutes against an initially confused, lacklustre United. More...

By our correspondent, March 8 2010
President Mwai Kibaki has sent a message of condolence to the family, relatives and friends of former Labour Minister Dr. Newton Kulundu who died early today at the Nairobi Hospital. President Kibaki described the late Dr. Kulundu as a patriotic servant of the people and development-conscious leader who served the country with dedication in various capacities. The President noted that as a politician and a Cabinet Minister, the late Kulundu distinguished himself as a man of courage who never allowed empty criticism divert him from his objectives. More...

Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli and former National Social Security Fund (NSSF) managing trustee Naftali Mogere mourned Kulundu saying the nation had lost a reformist. The two said Kulundu had spearheaded various reforms in NSSF and labour movement when he served as Labour minister. More...

By John Ngirachu, March 8 2010
Former Cabinet minister Newton Kulundu died at Nairobi Hospital on Sunday morning. Dr Kulundu, who served as Lurambi MP, is said to have succumbed to a short illness at about 4 a.m. According to his younger brother, Prof Kulundu Bitonye, his brother fell sick two months ago. He was then taken to Kisumu's Aga Khan Hospital where he stayed for four days before being transferred to Nairobi. Dr Kulundu then underwent treatment at Nairobi Hospital until Sunday when he passed on. Prof Kulundu said plans were now underway for the funeral at his rural home. “We will soon be making arrangements to lay him to rest at Bunyala,” he said. He leaves behind a widow and six children. According to Prof Kulundu, his brother decided to avoid politics after the 2007 election and had been running his business and farming before he fell ill. The former Labour minister was born in June 1948 and was a minister in the Narc government, which came into power in 2003 after pushing out President Moi’s preferred successor, Uhuru Kenyatta. More...

By our reporter, March 7 2010
Dr Newton Kulundu was perhaps President Kibaki's strongest pointman in Kakamega. He joined the Democratic Party in the very beginning and was nominated to Parliament in 1992. He was then elected in 1997 and re-elected on a Narc ticket in the 2002 General Election but was swept away from the 10th Parliament by the ODM juggernaut in 2007 that ushered in a political nondescript, Athanas Manyala Keya, a former financial attache at the Kenyan High Commission in London. He had a masters degree in Public Health from Loma Linda University, a Seveth Day health sciences institution in southern California, US but his first degree in Medicine was at the University of Nairobi.

Excerpts from a keynote speech by Dr Sophie Yohani of Alberta University during Black History Month celebrations at Africa Centre, Edmonton on Saturday February 27, 2010.

By Dr Sophie Yohani, March 7 2010
How is it possible to talk about inspiring hope when there seems to be so much suffering and despair in the world? How so, when recent economic cutbacks have put so many families in financial crisis, when earthquakes and other natural disasters leave families homeless and children parentless? How is it possible to inspire hope and activate the human capacity for resilience when some of our youth are dropping out of school and some are forgetting who they are and seeking identity in unhealthy activities?  I hope that my talk today will make you consider that it is precisely because of these situations that hope is relevant for us to talk about. It is also my hope that you will find room to consider ways to be intentional about inspiring hope in your own and other people’s lives. I want to introduce you to three aspects or qualities of hope that I have learned both in my own life experience, clinical practice and research that reveal why hope is an important life ingredient for all of us to share and practice.  These are:
• Hope is intimately linked to our life experiences - Hope exists in experiences of success and adversity
• Hope is nurtured in reciprocal relationships - Hope thrives in community
• The dynamics of hope involve action - Hope is fuels and is fuelled by action. More...

By Judy Ogutu, March 6 2010
Former TV personality Esther Arunga has lost an attempt to have her parents and police temporarily stopped from ‘interfering with her rights and freedom’. High Court Judge Lady Justice Jean Gacheche declined to issue the interim orders, saying it was a mother, father and daughter matter. Arunga, whose stories have dominated media headlines, went to court claiming she feared there would arise grave violation of her rights and that she could be detained against her will. She has sued her father Dr Robert Arunga, her mother Petoline Amollo Arunga and Commissioner of Police. She wants the respondents "restrained from in any way directly or indirectly taking physical control of her unless for a cause certified by the court". More...

By Patrick Mathangani, March 6 2010
Rampant corruption within the Kenyan police force and Kenya's new found love affair with China have been blamed for massive contraband trade that is posing a health hazard to unsuspecting consumers while fraudsters rake in billions of shillings. A detective who has been investigating the traders in Kariobangi said several weeks of surveillance revealed police have been collecting protection fees. Further, detectives said they received death threats and stern warnings to stop snooping or risk getting harmed. Once, when a contingent of police and security officers for a beer manufacturer tried to raid the premises of a counterfeiter, they discovered policemen attached to Kenya Revenue Authority had forewarned him of the raid, a detective said. Kenya’s newfound love with China has created new avenues for counterfeiting. More...

By our correspondent, March 6 2010
A pupil and a driver died in two separate road accidents on the Malaba-Bungoma road on Wednesday. The driver attached to the Teso district police boss was driving from Amagoro to the Malaba border at 11 pm when his vehicle rammed into a stationary trailer. Malaba traffic boss Fatuma Nsaphai said the driver, who was alone in the vehicle, was first taken to Kocholia district hospital and later referred to the Bungoma district hospital, where he died. In the second incident, Ms Nsaphai said the six-year-old primary school pupil died near Kocholia after she was knocked down by a car. Elsewhere, three people were admitted to the Webuye district hospital after being shot by police on Monday morning in what has been termed a case of mistaken identity. Two Administration Police officers are being held in relation to the shooting as investigations continue. Bungoma police boss Mary Omar said the three were shot after residents of Kwena in Bungoma East District called APs saying they had been attacked by robbers. More...

Malaba border where congestion and lack of parking facilities is responsible for many accidents.

THE BBC will have to do more with less after the biggest shake-up in its 88-year history. The broadcaster has said it will close two radio stations and half its websites in a bid to save up to £600million. The changes, announced by BBC director general Mark Thompson yesterday, will mean hundreds of job losses. More...

By Galgalo Bocha, March 6 2010
A university’s academic programmes have stalled because land meant for expansion has been illegally taken over by individuals, according to an official. Prof Josphat Mwatelah, the principal of the Mombasa Polytechnic University College, said several marine courses had failed to kick off after the college’s land at Tudor Creek was allocated to a private developer. He said the 4.6 acres that had been set aside for marine engineering, environment, and other courses was illegally acquired. “We also have 4.5 acres in Tudor’s Kiziwi area but we only hold a few acres as squatters have grabbed the rest,” he said. More...

By Kipchumba Kemei, March 6 2010
The Government is seeking title deeds for 146,800 hectares of land in the Mau Forest Complex. The latest move, which is being fast tracked, is seen as a fresh attempt to kick settlers out of the forest without compensating them. A source at the Mau Forest Secretariat said title deeds for Eburu Forest, which is the catchment area for Lake Naivasha, have been processed. He said they expect the exercise to be over in May then begin evicting settlers. "Once the title deeds are out, all those who will have encroached will have to move out," the source said on condition of anonymity. More...

Fighting for her language: Ms Eunice Sirankasio displays the Yakunte dictionary. Ms Sirankasio has been distributing the dictionary, a glossary of Yakunte words translated into the Maasai language, in an effort to preserve the language of her Yaaku people. Photo: Mwangi Ndirangu

Thousands of last year’s KCSE examination candidates quietly watched from the sidelines as their A-grade colleagues celebrated good results with song and dance on Tuesday. They scored average grades, but will this be the end of the road for them? Is there hope that these youngsters will one day be great men and women despite scoring average, or even poor grades? Can you guess who that is? Yes it is none other the suspended PS in education ministry, Prof Karega Mutahi. More...

By our correspondents, March 6 2010
The death of an elderly woman last week may have gone unnoticed to many, but to those fighting to preserve the culture of the Yaaku community, it was a big blow. Not many Kenyans have heard of the Yaaku community in Laikipia North district, or the fact that their total population is just 6,000. The Yaaku have been struggling to keep their culture, language and tradition alive, and the death of their matriach, Ms Naruato Matunge, aged 105, could not have come at a worse time. Until two weeks ago, Ms Matunge was among the only remaining eight people who could speak pure Yaaku language - Yakunte - fluently without using words borrowed from the Maasai community, which is dominant in their region. In fact, her grandson, Manasseh Rux Ole Matunge, himself a Yaaku and a Yakunte speaker, is now struggling to revive the language. All the seven people left alive who speak the language are aged over 70. Yakunte speakers occupy two administrative areas; Mukogondo and Sieku locations, and are represented in Parliament by Mwangi Kiunjuri of Laikipia East. More...

By our correspondent, March 5 2010
Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo has said the 20 named as key perpetrators of post-election violence by International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo was still on the lower side. Mr Mutula said there were hundreds of crimes that were committed during post-election violence and if culprits were to be nailed, the number would go into hundreds. The Funyula MP said a strong case should first be presented about the suspects, and due procedure followed, before their names are made public. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) welcomed the handing over of names of post-election violence suspects. And Law Society of Kenya Vice-Chairman James Mwamu said there is a lot of anxiety among Kenyans, over the names Moreno-Ocampo presented to The Hague Bench of three pre-trial judges. "The names should be revealed, since some of them hold high offices in Government," he said. More...

By Karanja Njoroge, March 5 2010
Could someone have carted away more than 100,000 iron sheets donated to internally displaced persons? The victims post-election violence have raised concern over the whereabouts of the iron sheets donated by the Chinese Government. The iron sheets were supposed to be distributed to IDPs in 19 camps, but only a few camps have received the materials. The intended beneficiaries are now demanding an explanation from the Government now more than ever, especially due to the bad condition of their tents and the onset of heavy rains. He said they had signed an agreement with the Government to have the iron sheets released early this year. And speaking at the camp, the Humanitarian Advisory Board Vice-Chairman Moses Akaranga said they were considering buying another batch of iron sheets. More...

By Cyrus Ombati, March 5 2010
Former KTN anchor Esther Arunga plans to sue her parents and a psychiatrist for allegedly incarcerating her. Ms Arunga also announced she was joined to Quincy Timberlake in a civil marriage. Quincy is in jail. "You can marry someone who is still in jail. Let it be known I have changed my name to Esther Adongo Timberlake," she said. She claimed her attempts to escape from Bustani Community Centre for the mentally retarded were thwarted by security. She said the medical officials at the institution sedated her to detain her despite the fact that she was found to be mentally stable. She says she escaped from her parents Kileleshwa home on Thursday. More...

By our correspondent, March 5 2010
Troubled former KTN anchor, Esther Arunga is to sue her parents and a pyschiatric doctor for Sh300m for unlawful detention. Addressing a Press conference Thursday, Arunga said she would seek Sh300 million from her parents and Dr Frank Njenga, who she alleged attended to her.Arunga, who was accompanied by the leader of Finger of God Church Joseph Hellon at their Runda home, said she had severed links with her parents for liaising with police and psychiatrists to incarcerate her. "They should know I am a grown up with freedom to do anything and I have nothing to do with them," she said. Arunga, who is also a lawyer, displayed drafted and unstamped chamber summons and affidavits that she claimed were restricting orders against police and her parents. More...

By Ben Agina, March 4 2010
It is official - the International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo is closing in on 20, not three or six prominent Kenyans, as earlier reported. But what are bound to shake the political arena are the profiles and motivations of the suspects. On the one hand is the team out to retain power, and on the other is the side seeking it. As if to point how high up he could be casting his net, Moreno-Ocampo explained those holding higher responsibility for the chaos that drove the country to the precipice in January-February 2008, were "guided by political objectives to retain or gain power". Standing before The Hague-based Bench, from which he seeks leave to pursue 20 prominent Kenyans, Moreno-Ocampo dropped the bombshell his suspects were from President Kibaki’s PNU and Raila Odinga’s ODM. More...

By Reuters, March 4 2010
Kenya licensed its first credit reference bureau on Thursday, which is seen eventually leading to lower commercial lending rates by improving credit information in the banking sector, the country's central bank governor said. For many years, Kenyan banks have had to contend with having incomplete information about borrowers, that in turn translated to higher risk premiums on interest rates. Bank industry players also say lack of credit reference information leads to a risk of overpricing low risk borrowers and underpricing high risk borrowers. More...

By our correspondents, March 4 2010
The Catholic Church could whip its followers to reject the Proposed Constitution if clauses that could be exploited by abortionists remain. The populous church reiterated its stand to oppose the Proposed Constitution if the referendum draft leaves a window for the procurement of abortion. With the statement by John Cardinal Njue, who heads the Nairobi Diocese, the church appeared to pull the plug on one of the most contentious issues in the draft that could frustrate the realisation of the two-decade dream for a new constitution. More...

By Martin Mutua, March 4 2010
The recruitment of a new Kenya Airports Authority boss should be suspended due to allegations of irregularities. Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has recommended the process be postponed until claims of bias are addressed. In a confidential letter, the commission urges the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, Public Complaints Standing Committee and Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura to investigate the allegations to ascertain whether the law was breached. KNCHR has received a report alleging irregularities in the recruitment including claims that Mr Muhoho prefers Mr Stephen Mwangi Gichuki, the general manager rather than his deputy Matthew Wamalwa to succeed him. More...

By Joel Okwayo, March 3 2010
It was celebration time at Booker Academy in Mumias following the school’s excellent performance in last year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examinations (KCSE). Learning was temporarily paralysed immediately the Education Minister Sam Ongeri announced the results. The top student at the school Fred Osundwa was number eight in Western Province. Osundwa, who comes from a poor home, was on a bursary courtesy of Mumias Sugar Company. The school, which had 88 candidates sitting for the examinations, grabbed eight positions in the top 100 in the province. School principal John Wandera said 10 candidates scored A plain, while 15 obtained A minus. Osundwa hopes to study Medicine at an international university. More...

By our correspondent, March 3 2010
There were 80 cases of exam irregularities in Western Province. Affected districts include Busia, Kakamega Central, Vihiga, Lugari, Samia, Bungoma North and Bungoma East. Busia had the highest cases of irregularities, 47 in total. There were 24 cases at Busiada Secondary School and 23 at Bujumba Secondary School.Bungoma East followed with 14 cases reported in three schools. There were three cases at Friends School, Bokoli, nine at St Mathews ACK Secondary School and two at St Cecilia Girls, Misikhu. Bungoma North had nine cases. Seven cases were reported at Chesamis High School and two at Elunya Friends School. Four cases were reported at Mbale High, three at St Austin’s Secondary and two at Ingotse High. There were 1,171 cheating candidates last year down from 1,419 in 2008 with Magena Secondary School in Gucha District topping the list with 180 cheating cases. More...

By our correspondent, March 3 2010
Maseno School continued with its dominance in KCSE in Nyanza Province and produced the second best overall student nationally. Equally in the national category Nyanza Province posted good results producing four students in the top 20 nationally and 11 students in top 100 out of which five were from Maseno. Others school with students in top 100 nationally included Mbita, Rapogi Maranda, Kanga and Sawagongo. Similarly new academic giants emerged. They include Mbita Boys, Sawagongo, St Francis Rangala and St John’s Nyamagwa Boys that produced students in the top 20 in the province. Again, Maranda, Kanga and Rapogi equally performed well in the last year’s KCSE coming second, third and fourth respectively in the province. St Mary’s Yala, Kisii High and Cardinal Otunga once academic giants are fast receding to the periphery and managed a paltry of four and one each in the top 100 students in the region respectively. More...

Maseno School still remains the centre of educational excellence in Nyanza. The alumni is a gliterati of Luo who is who including Barack Obama Snr and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.

Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetang’ula is not off the hook yet.The minister lost his bid to stop filing of a notice, seeking to appeal against a judgment that saw him retain his Sirisia parliamentary seat in November. On Tuesday, Justice Alnashir Visram said the explanation by the petitioner, Mr John Koyi Waluke, on why he delayed in serving the minister with a notice of appeal was legitimate. More...

By Roselyn Obala, March 3 2010
Learning was temporarily interrupted at Lubinu Primary School in Mumias District, after news of Celine Keya’s sterling performance in last year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Eduaction (KCSE) examination was received. Keya, who sat the exam at Lugulu Girls High School, emerged sixth nationally in the female category and the top girl in Western Province. In the region, she came second after Brian Simiyu of Musingu High School. The former student of Lubinu Primary School was joined by pupils and former teachers in celebrating her achievement. Her father Elly Keya, who is the school’s principal also congratulated her daughter. Keya, the second born in a family of seven, said she wants to pursue medicine at university. More...

By our correspondent, March 2 2010
Pan Paper Mills will be reopened in two weeks, a Cabinet minister has announced. Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetang’ula said the President had directed the Treasury to release Sh500 million for the firm to resume operations. So far Sh190 million had been released while the remainder would be given out next week, he said. A further Sh1.1 billion would be released in the next financial year, he added. More...

By our reporter, March 2 2010
Mike Malomba of London has tied the knot with Christine Naliaka Malomba nee Hinkley at a colourful wedding ceremony in London at Church of the Ascension, Pollards Hill, Croydon, London on Saturday February 20 2010. Mike (pictured left with his bride in his arms) is originally from Hakati in Budalang'i from the Abamulembo clan but the family emigrated and now lives in Kanduyi, Bungoma.

By Benjamin Muindi, March 2 2010
A cartel of rogue officers at the Lands ministry was exposed on Monday when permanent secretary Dorothy Angote carried out an impromptu raid on their workstations. Officers at Ardhi House, the ministry’s headquarters in Nairobi, were found with thousands of land files which they had no reason to be holding. Ms Angote raided the Lands department, which handles files for nearly five million title deed holders, at about 10am after complaints of missing files by the public had reached alarming levels. With cameras rolling, thousands of files were found in the wrong hands as officers were allegedly in the process of soliciting for kickbacks from the owners. “This is a huge network of brokers,” Ms Angote said as she ransacked an office where a large number of files was stashed. More...

By Walter Menya, March 2 2010
Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi is bitter with Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura for allegedly ignoring his recommendation to suspend his permanent secretary. Mr Mudavadi wants Local Government permanent secretary Sammy Kirui suspended over his alleged role in a scandal in which the Nairobi City Council lost Sh259 million. The scandal was exposed in the Controller and Auditor General’s report in February. Mr Kirui on Monday joined the fray, insisting the issue had been politicised, with rival factions in ODM using it to step up their supremacy wars. In a letter to Mr Muthaura dated February 19, 2010, a copy of which the Nation obtained, Mr Mudavadi questioned why the head of civil service had not taken action against the indicted officers. More...

Deputy PM and local government minister, Musalia Mudavadi (left) and his permanent secretary, Sammy Kirui at a previous press conference. Mudavadi wants the PS suspended pending investigations into the Sh260m overpaid for a new cemetery in Athi River.

By our reporter, March 2 2010
In our last months online poll, we asked: Which of these Luhya politicians do you think can be a president of Kenya? Eugene Ludovic Wamalwa, the Saboti MP who is fronting Jimmy Kibaki's Simama in Western Province, Silas Jirongo, the Lugari MP who hs teamed up with his Youth for Kanu soulmate and ODM renegade, William Ruto and Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi, the MP for Sabatia who is also the deputy prime minister and minister for local government. The results are: Mudavadi 83 per cent, Wamalwa 14 percent and Jirongo three percent. Total votes cast 119.

By our correspondent, March 2 2010
A new political movement formed by PNU affiliate parties as a vehicle for the 2012 elections has run into obstacles barely four days after its launch. The Progressive Democratic Movement has been rejected by four parties named as being among its fold. The Democratic Party, Ford Kenya, Narc Kenya and New Ford Kenya distanced themselves from the movement. Some PNU officials also dismissed PDM and said their party would win the next election. The movement was announced after a retreat of PNU affiliate parties in Naivasha at the weekend. DP national chairman Wilfred Machage said the party had nothing to do with PDM and would go it alone in the next general election. Ford-K chairman Musikari Kombo said the party would only form a coalition with others after the elections. Ikolomani MP Boni Khalwale, of New Ford-K, accused Mr Murungi and PNU MPs of failing to consult affiliate parties before making the key announcement. More...

By Martin Mutua, March 2 2010
National Assembly Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim has told off Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetang’ula for calling on a parliamentary committee to investigate his activities while on official duty abroad. The Deputy Speaker said he led a delegation of parliamentary committee that visited Somaliland in December and would this week present a report before the House on the tour. "I have no obligation to write to Mr Wetang’ula or the Executive over my trip because Parliament works independently from the Executive," he said. "Wetang’ula still lives in the old Kanu days, which he misses and cherishes so much when ministers used to summon MPs and the Speaker at will. Parliament is independent at least for now and he should let go his dreams of the Kanu days," he added. More...

By David Ochami, March 2 2010
Former Anglican Church of Kenya Archbishop David Gitari has defended embattled TJRC Chairman Bethwel Kiplagat. The cleric also accused retired South African Anglican primate Desmond Tutu of tarnishing Kiplagat’s reputation. Gitari said Kiplagat should not resign as demanded by "Tutu and his friends", arguing the former PS was one of the good people to serve under the Kanu government, and he should not be victimised by "other people only interested in his job". Gitari was accompanied by Dr Agnes Abuom from the World Council of Churches. More...

By our reporter, March 2 2010
The just released Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examinatioin results reveal a pattern of educational disparity consistent with overall economic inequalities across Kenya's tribal groups. The Luhya who form 15 percent of the Kenyan population, produced only 10 percent in the Top 100 candidates while the Kikuyu with 22 percent of population ran away with 27% in Top 100 and Luos with 13% of population achieved the largest ratio with a variance of postive 7. The Kisii, Kamba, Meru, Somalia and Maasai were evenly matched. There are various reasons why educational opportunities are skewed in Luhyaland's disfavour not least under investment and neglect of the province by successive governments.

An analysis of the KCSE results just released, indicates that Western Province performed well below par. The old big schools like Kakamega High, Butere, Bunyore and Kaimosi did not produce a single Top 100 candidate. The only salvation came from Musingu and Lugulu.

By Shad Bulimo, March 2 2010
Top schools in Luhyaland failed to live up to their academic reputation. Out of the top 10 students in this year's Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examinations (KCSE), only Musingu Boys produced a top ten student - Bryan Musungu. Out of the girl schools, Lugulu Girls in Bungoma produced Selline Keya who came in at Number 30 in teh top 100 candidates nationwide. However, the top Luhya candidate was Edwin Mugema Wekesa from little known Weiwei Secondary School in Rift Valley was sixth overall. Western Province giants like Kakamega High, Butere Girls, Bunyore Girls and Kaimosi Girls did not produce any top 100 candidate. Nearby Maseno Boys produced the second best in the country - Trevor Mokaya Omangi and 11th, Joseph Odhiambo K'Oyoo, 15th Rodgers Otana Ochieng, 26th David Okatch and 99th Eddy Onditi Onyango.

By Kipkirui K'Telwa, March 2 2010
Although results of Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examinations are usually predictable, this year Wekesa Edwin Mugema put his little known Weiwei Secondary School in Rift Valley on the national map when he secured the sixth position nationally with 87.199 per cent against 87.26857 per cent scored by the leading candidate, David Ndung’u’ of Mangu. Consequently Weiwei candidate top Rift valley’s top 100 list. Whereas the leading boy scored 87.26857 per cent, the leading girl had 87.16014 per cent. Trevor Omangi, the second student nationally is Nyanza’s best student in a list dominated by Maseno School. No girl made to the top ten list according to the 2009 KCSE examination results. Instead, Njunge Grace Wambui of Moi Girls High School Eldoret, shared the 11th position with K’Oyoo Odhiambo Joseph of Maseno School. More...
CLICK HERE to download the KCSE top 100 candidates results.

By our correspondents, March 1 2010
A section of Western Province leaders have told presidential aspirants seeking votes from the region to keep off, maintaining they would field one of their own. Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetang’ula and MPs Cyrus Jirongo and Chris Okemo said it was the region’s turn to take the leadership mantle of the country. "We are tired of supporting others and always end up being number two. We are the second largest community and this should be translated into votes," said Mr Wetang’ula. The three, who have each declared their interests in the top seat, said they would support the person residents will pick to go for the top seat in 2012. They made the remarks in the presence of ODM MPs Paul Otuoma and Alfred Odhiambo. But separately, Shinyalu MP Justus Kizito said ODM was the party of choice for many Luhyas and they were waiting for 2012 to front Musalia Mudavadi. More...

By Macharia Kamau, March 1 2010
Local terrestrial fibre optic cable networks may not measure up to global industry standards. This has forced investors to bypass the country as they set shop in Rwanda, a country that has fast established itself as the regional ICT hub. Experts now warn that due to inadequate skills among telecom technicians, the country’s fibre optic infrastructure risks facing continuous difficulties, which eventually hurt users. More...

By our correspondents, March 1 2010
The stage is set for a political alliance between President Kibaki’s allies and Rift Valley leaders, the Nation can now reveal. MPs in Agriculture minister William Ruto’s camp said that they had burnt their bridges with Orange Democratic Movement party leader Raila Odinga. And they chose a function to install Nakuru Catholic Bishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba, which was attended by the President, to make public their intentions. More...

By our correspondents, March 1 2010
The ugly spectre in which the City Council of Nairobi bought a rocky patch of land ostensibly as a new public burial site continues to unfurl itself with fresh revelations of overpayment by Sh259 million. The shocker in the one-day deal as dug out by Controller and Auditor General reads: "In one single day, senior officers in Ministry of Local Government (MOLG) fast-tracked the deal for the purchase." He goes on to report on June 27, 2008, MOLG’s state counsel E N Torome requested the purchase of 75 acres (not the 120 acres later purchased) at Sh4 million per acre. More...

By our correspondents, March 1 2010
As the drama surrounding a new burial site for those who have chosen Nairobi as their final resting place plays out, the blame game storm over culpability for corruption flies between City Council of Nairobi (NCC) - which is trying to exorcise itself of ghost workers - and Ministry of Local Government. "There appears to be a major choice high up in government to cover-up and protect the culprit officers in NCC and MOLG. Indeed, it appears that while President Kibaki insists that the law must apply in fighting corruption, his office is intent on defeating the war against corruption,’’ concludes the Controller and Auditor General in his special report on the ongoing saga. More...

By our correspondent, March 1 2010
President Kibaki's party, PNU is plotting to get Kofi Anan and his team of Africa's Eminent Persons overseeing his coalition government with Raila off his back. This follows Raila’s petition to Annan intervene after Kibaki reversed his decision to suspend ministers William Ruto and Sam Ongeri pending investigation into corruption in their respective portfolios. Emboldened by the split in ODM and certain of Ruto-allied MPs backing in the House, PNU dispatched foreign affairs minister Moses Wetang’ula to the AU headquarters on February 19, to lobby AU chairman, Jean Mr Ping into disbanding the Annan team. Kibaki is believed to be uneasy with the oversight role by the AU and the Annan team. Kenya embassy staff in Addis Ababa confirmed to The Standard on Sunday that Wetang’ula held talks with Ping from 7am before returning to Nairobi aboard Ethiopian Airlines, which touched down at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 9am on the same day. The meeting was held without Franklin Esipila, Kenya’s ambassador to Ethiopia and the AU. He is in Nairobi for specialised treatment. More...

Deputy Speaker, Farah Maalim. Foreign Affairs minister, Moses Wetangula wants him investigated over remarks he made in Somalia that verged on inflammatory.

By Macharia Mwangi, March 1 2010
The Party of National Unity coalition of parties will transform into a unified political movement in readiness for the upcoming referendum and 2012 General Election. PNU secretary-general Kiraitu Murungi said the movement, known as Progressive Democratic Movement (PDM), will comprise individual and corporate members and national and grassroots structures. More...

By David Ochami, March 1 2010
For the first time in the country’s history, Parliament will investigate a Deputy Speaker for his activities while on official duty abroad. Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetang’ula has written to Parliament’s Defence and Foreign Relations Committee to investigate Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim’s activities on a tour of Somaliland in December last year. The cause is key speeches he is alleged to have made that reportedly promoted separatism in Somalia and fostered ethnic disharmony between Somaliland and Puntland. More...

By Gitau wa Njenga, March 1 2010
A Kenyan lawyer based in the United Kingdom has become the first person to sue a Commonwealth country in a British court. Mr Ronald Onyango, 36, enjoined the Republic of Kenya and the Kenya High Commission in London in a suit over Sh121 million (£1 million) allegedly owed to him. Mr Onyango set the legal precedent after the UK High Court ordered that Kenya be named the second defendant in a civil suit he had brought against the High Commission in London on May 28, 2009. The mission is named as the first defendant. More...