Mother kills son

By our correspondents, Dec 23 2008
A mother killed her son and seriously injured three others following a domestic row in Kabondo, Rachuonyo District. Police said the middle-aged woman attacked her children aged between three and 10 using a kitchen knife on Monday morning. The woman later tried to commit suicide by taking poison but was rescued from enraged residents and taken to Kabondo Hospital. More>>>

Justice Minister hints at dropping offensive media bill

By our correspondents, Dec 23 2008
Justice Minister Martha Karua has assured the media there is a chance to amend the Kenya Communications (Amendment) Bill 2008. The minister was speaking at a dinner organised by the Editors Guild in Nairobi on Friday. "We can make a second attempt and delete the controversial clauses in the Bill that has caused hue and cry," she said. "I know the media cuts across as the people’s watchdog and should not be gagged. " she said. More>>>

Kenyan children sold into Darfur's slave market

By our correspondents, Dec 22 2008
A chilling angle is emerging from the abduction of 17 children rescued by police in Kapsabet last week. Police believe the slave market in the troubled Darfur region of Sudan and child pornography could be the driving force behind the business. The rescue of the children and the arrest of two suspects purported to be clerics sheds light on child trafficking involving bogus churches in Nairobi’s Eastlands and an underworld network of crime. More>>>

Three teachers killed in Uganda

By Bikechi Kiketi, Dec 22 2008
Three teachers died in a road accident after a matatu they were travelling in rolled near Bugiri town in Uganda. The teachers had completed their in-service degree programme at Kampala International University (KIU) and were on their way back for the Christmas holiday. More>>>

Mother of all degrees

By Dennis Odunga, Dec 22 2008
At 45, Mrs Julia Nduta Korongo has made history at Moi University and beyond. She was one of this year’s few graduands awarded a First Class honours degree during the university’s 23rd graduation ceremony. And she beat her daughter, with whom they had pursued the same course. More>>>

US investor fights for Yala despite bottlenecks

By Aurelia Anyika and Topi Lyambila, Dec 20 2008
London Africa Media Network recently spoke to the man behind Dominion Venture Group, Mr. Calvin Burgess. He was in London as part of the team from Kenya to state the case of Kisumu City as an investment destination on the continent. Giving an insightful account...warts and all. Kisumu was the first African City to be identified as a Millennium City under the Millennium Cities Initiative.  Currently Burgess who is the president and owner of the Dominion Venture Group in Edmond, Oklahoma spoke at length on his trials and tribulations in his efforts to transform the Yala Swamp just outside Kisumu. Giving an insightful account of; the challenges, the threats, the scandals, and the good news on the potential money-spinning Yala Swamp located in President Elect Barrack Obama’s ancestral District. More>>>

Karani appointed boss of Maseno University

By our correspondents, Dec 18 2008
President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila flew to Kisumu for Maseno University’s eighth graduation ceremony. But the two steered off controversial issues facing the country and confined themselves to written speeches, on Wednesday. Even Raila, who peppers his official speeches with political anecdotes, was brief and official. President Kibaki appointed Prof Florida Amakobe Karani as the Maseno University Chancellor, replacing Dr William Wamalwa. More>>>

Uganda army arrests 40 Kenyan fishermen

By Isaac Ongiri, Dec 18 2008
Six MPs from Nyanza province are protesting over the arrest of 40 fishermen in Lake Victoria. The MPs from the lake region led by Jakoyo Midiwo (Gem) and John Mbadi (Gwasi) complained of the presence of Ugandan military in the lake. More>>>

Were c'est ici

By our correspondent, Dec 18 2008
Head of the National Aids Control Council Miriam Were has once again been honoured for her contribution in fighting HIV and Aids. She has been conferred the title of Knight in the National Order of the Legion of Honour, thought to be the highest decoration in France. More>>>

Kenyan nurses working in slave conditions in Lesotho

By Alphonce Shiundu, Dec 18 2008
Over 150 Kenyan health workers are stuck in Lesotho working under poor conditions, the Union of Kenya Civil Servants has said. According to the Union, the workers are “mainly nurses working as nannies in rural Lesotho.” Addressing a news conference Thursday, the Union’s Secretary General Tom Odege said it would be difficult to sort out the mess given that it was a government to government agreement. More>>>

Waki's secret list localised

President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Wednesday signed the agreement which starts the process of establishing a local tribunal to try post-election violence suspects. More>>>

David takes Goliath to court

By Evelyn Kwamboka, Dec 17 2008
A man who claims to be the brains behind upgrading Safaricom’s money transfer service, M-Pesa, says he has not been paid for the invention. Mr Christopher Ondieki moved to the High Court on Tuesday seeking to stop Safaricom Ltd from continuing to use the invention until a dispute is determined. More>

Maize millers cry foul

By Dedan Okanga, Dec 17 2008
Maize millers have called for fair trading practices. Millers in the North Rift said they had not received subsidised maize promised by the Government on December 1. They said this was unfair since millers in the region continue buying maize at Sh2,360 while those in Nairobi buy at Sh1,750. "We are incurring loss because we have not received the cheap maize from National Cereals and Produce Board," said Said Al-Amoody, the Eldoret Grains Marketing Manager. More>>>

Curtain falls on Kivuitu's show

By Maseme Machuka, Dec 17 2008
Electoral Commission’s employees are now contemplating on their next move following the passage of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill. Many of them were more than convinced that they were now jobless even as the Civil Service and Parliament assured them they will be redeployed to the Civil Service. A sombre mood engulfed the ECK headquarters as section of staff who had reported to work resorted to watching TV as the Bill was being debated. More>>>

Police brutality returns to Kenya

By our correspondent, Dec 16 2008
Police brutally broke up a peaceful demonstration protesting the draconian law meant to suppress press freedom and arrested seven journalists even as Prime Minister Raila Odinga gave the strongest assurance from Government that the law could be reviewed.The arrests put the police on the spot for the second time over the controversial Bill on the media. More>>>

Orengo hits at Raila, Kibaki over media

By George Olwenya, Dec 16 2008
Lands Minister James Orengo has criticised the Government for failing to uphold democracy. Mr Orengo said public disillusionment towards the Government was fast increasing. More>>>

Sabaot cleansing fete flops

By Bernard Kwalia, Dec 16 2008
A meeting called by Sabaot Laibons to cleanse former members of Sabaot Land Defence Force (SLDF) aborted at the last minute following disagreement among the elders. The elders had also planned to discuss the disputed Phase III land of Chepyuk settlement scheme. The elders from Soy and Ndorobo clans are said to have differed over the venue as one group proposed Terem River in the area while the other recommended an open ground at Chepyuk scheme. More>>>

Cholera outbreak in Kisumu

By Walter Menya, Dec 16 2008
Fear of a fresh outbreak of cholera gripped Kisumu residents after at least four people were admitted to a local hospital suffering from what is suspected to be the killer disease. The provincial director of medical services, Dr Ojwang’ Lusi, on Monday said two of the patients had been admitted to Nyanza Provincial General Hospital before they were transferred to Kisumu District Hospital. More>>>

Kisii gang kills family

By Dan Nyakundi, Dec 16 2008
A day after internal security minister Prof George Saitoti assured residents of the larger Kisii region of their security, armed gangsters raided a market centre in Masaba district and brutally murdered two family members in cold blood. The gangsters who were armed with an AK 47 rifle and crude weapons raided Ochoi Nyambane’s home at Esani market and gunned him down along with his son Peter Oseko who had responded to his distress call. More>>>

Madoff's pyramid comes crashing: Just what is next?

New York, Dec 16 2008
The losses in the Madoff mess are still being tallied. But even if U.S. financial firms avoid a big hit, this episode won't exactly bolster their tattered reputation. Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities collapsed Thursday, when Madoff, the founder of the big broker-dealer, was arrested on a charge that he ripped investors off to the tune of $50 billion in a pyramid scheme. More>>>

Media law that shames Kenya

By our correspondent, Dec 15 2008
The draconian Bill that seeks to give the Internal Security minister power to seize broadcast equipment in media houses is proving too hot to handle. As pressure mounted on the Government on Sunday to amend the offensive clauses in the Kenya Communications (Amendment) Bill 2008 and save the country from sliding back to the dark days, President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga steered clear of the issue at separate functions. More>>>

Kasavuli gets rare order as a grand media warrior

By Beuttah Omanga, Dec 15 2008
Standard Group’s Farida Karoney and media personality Catherine Kasavuli received Order of Grand Warrior of Kenya during Jamhuri Day celebrations. Leaders who received the highest wards and honours include House Speaker Kenneth Marende, Cabinet Ministers Mutula Kilonzo, James Orengo, Fred Gumo, Helen Sambili, Samuel Poghisio, Beth Mugo and Otieno Kajwang. University dons were also awarded among them Mabel Imbuga, Kepha Otiso, Dankit Katai Nassiuma and Agnes Mwangombe. Kasavuli's recognition for her media services is rare and is in sharp contrast with the draconian media law now awaiting presidential assent. More>>>

Two illegal nursing colleges closed in Western

By Bob Odalo, Dec 15 2008
Two illegal nursing colleges have been closed and two of their directors arrested in western Kenya. One of the colleges was owned by an MP from Rachuonyo District. The MP’s brother, who was a director at one of the colleges, was arrested and is expected to appear in court on Monday. The other suspect was a doctor who runs a nursing and maternity hospital in Kakamega Town. Five students found in a makeshift classroom were asked to record statements at the Kakamega police station and are likely to appear in court as State witnesses. More>>>

Clans fight over Obama's ancestry

By Peter Atsiaya, Dec 10 2008
An extended family of US President-elect Barack Obama plans to build a mausoleum in honour of his father. The relatives claim Barack Obama Senior was born in Kanyadhiang’ near Kendu Bay, Rachuonyo District. They disagree with the long held belief that Obama Snr was born in Alego-Kogelo Siaya District, where he was buried in 1982. This comes two weeks after Tourism Minister Najib Balala announced plans to put up a mausoleum in Kogelo at a cost of Sh5 million. More>>>

Confusion marks launch of two-tier ugali price

By our correspondent, Dec 10 2008
Confusion marked the distribution of the subsidised maize flour, which is supposed to go on sale on Wednesday at Sh130 for a 5-kilo bag. Millers across the country said they had little information about how the flour was to be distributed. They said their contract with the Government entailed milling the new brand and handing it over to the cereals board. Supermarkets too were not sure whether they would be asked to sell the flour. Agriculture minister William Ruto launched the retail sale of the flour at the National Cereals and Produce Board headquarters in Nairobi. More>>>

Women locked out of credit

By Benson Kathuri, Dec 10 2008
Women entrepreneurs cannot access more than Sh700 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB) due to unfriendly lending procedures by local commercial banks. A group of women traders lamented that most banks were scaring away women borrowers by demanding unrealistic security for loans. More>>>

362 vehicles destroyed

Kenya Revenue Authority has began destroying 362 uncollected vehicles at the port of Mombasa. More>>>

Violence mars ODM polls in Busia, Vihiga

By our correspondent, Dec 8 2008
Violence, parallel elections and logistic hiccups marred ODM branch elections in many parts of the country. In Samia, confrontations marred the elections forcing officials to call of the polls. Violence between supporters of Cabinet Minister Paul Otuoma and his rivals scared off voters, who had hoped to elect branch officials. Mr Patrick Afande, who was one those seeking the branch chairmanship, said the atmosphere was hostile to voters. In Vihiga, supporters of area MP Mr Yusuf Chanzu and those of former legislator Andrew Ligale held parallel elections. The returning officer, Mr Jonathan Angote, however, said Chanzu was elected unopposed. More>>>

For 30 yrs he lied low as an antelope; now he's ready to strike

By Wahome Thuku, Dec 8 2008
A businessman is seeking court orders to reclaim more than 400 acres of land he claims were forcefully acquired from him by the Government 30 years ago. Mr Kiptalam arap Cherunya wants the compulsory acquisition in March 1978 nullified because he was not compensated. The land said to be for the construction of an industry was instead allocated to individuals, he claims. The prime land near Eldoret town was allegedly shared among influential people in the Kanu regime. They have since developed it. More>>>

Kenyan athlete dies in Brazil

By Mutwiri Mutuota, Dec 8 2008
Kenyan athlete, Barnabas Kipkoech, died on November 30 in Goiania, the capital of the Brazilian State of Goias and his family are appealing for assistance to bring the body home. Kipkoech is reported to have collapsed and later died while competing at a half-marathon in the central-western city of the South American nation. More>>>

Wako, Ringera clash over graft

By Judy Ogutu, Dec 8 2008
A war of words has erupted between the Attorney-General and the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (Kacc) over anti-graft efforts. Yesterday, the AG’s office accused Kacc of deliberate attempts to depict it as a stumbling block. The AG further asked an anti-corruption court to summon Kacc Director Aaron Ringera to explain alleged misrepresentation by his office in a graft case against two police officers. More>>>

Oparanya in London to drum up investment for Kisumu

By INGONEWS Reporter, Dec 9 2008
Wycliffe Oparanya, minister for planning and development receiving Vision 2030 document from President Kibaki in June 2008. Oparanya is leading a Kenyan delegation to the Millennium Cities Investment Conference in London this week. Kisumu was the first city to be named Millenium City and holds pride of place alongside Kumasi in Ghana, Akure in Nigeria and Blantyre in Malawi. The two day conference at Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square ends tomorrow. More>>>

Mudavadi sacks Nairobi town clerk

By our correspondent, Dec 8 2008
The positions of Nairobi Town Clerk and his deputy have been declared vacant. Local Government Minister Musalia Mudavadi and PS Sammy Kirui told the Public Service Commission of their intention to hire new officials. The move appears to end the c careers of Town Clerk John Gakuo and deputy Nelson Otido. Mr Gakuo and Mr Otido were due for retirement. Gakuo, a former provincial administrator, was due for retirement in April 2004 but was appointed Town Clerk on April, 2005. More>>>

Kuria girls flee from female circumcision

By our correspondent, Dec 8 2008
At least 300 girls in south-western Kenya have reportedly fled from home and sought refuge in churches in a bid to escape forced female genital mutilation (FGM). The girls, some as young as nine, are at two rescue centres in rural Nyanza province, police told the BBC. Female circumcision is banned in Kenya, but remains common in some areas where it is considered to be part of a girl's initiation into womanhood. The traditional ceremonies take place between November and December. More>>>

Bull fight runs into a muddle

By a correspondent, Dec 5 2008
An animal welfare lobby group has opposed a scheduled bull fighting event at Nairobi's Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, terming it as illegal and cruel. The African Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW) said the fight scheduled to take place on Saturday December 4 was unethical and retrogressive. The bull fighting event contravenes the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act Chapter 360, Mr Ngonyo argued. He warned the organisers that they would be liable to prosecution. ( Bull fighting is the most traditional sport in Luhyaland and goes on every year. Scores of VIPs including Ikolomani MP, Bonny Khalwale count the sport as one of their favourites. - editor) More>>>

Sasia: Highest ranking Luhya army general promoted

The highest ranking Luhya military officer, Major General Emoch M Sasia has been appointed Assistant Chief of General Staff (ACGS) in Charge of Personnel and Logistics at Defence Headquarters. Until his appointment yesterday, he was Directing Staff at the National Defence College. Before him, the highest ranking officer was Brigadier Okanga who was retired last year. Other senior officers include Colonel Josphat Bukhala, Humphrey Khisa and Jeremiah Musumba. The changes in the army were announced by President Kibaki yesterday and saw General J K Tuwei appointed Army Commander to replace Lieutenant General A S K Njoroge, who moves to the ministry of Foreign Affairs as an Ambassador. More>>>

Power, speed and tragedy

By Cyrus Ombati, Dec 5 2008
Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s son and first President Jomo Kenyatta’s grandson were on Thursday injured in road accident in Nairobi. Raila Junior and Mr Joseph Muhoho were travelling in a sleek Mercedes Benz when it rammed a BMW belonging to one of their friends on Valley Road at dawn. The BMW belongs to Mr Mwangi Pepe, the son of former CID Director Joseph Kamau. His passenger was identified as Mr Jeffrey Kiboro. The group had been at a popular entertainment spot in Kilimani up to about 3am when they left to regroup in town. More>>>

Jirongo, Namwamba yet to act on tax

INGONEWS Reporter and agencies, Dec 5 2008
Although Curus Jirongo, MP for Lugari and Ababu Namwamba are willing to pay tax on their fat allowances, they are yet to authorise deductions, INGONEWS has learnt. So far only three MPs have matched word and deed and include Johnstone Muthama, Jeremiah Kioni and FT Nyammo. Another striking observation in the list of 27 MPs willing or have paid tax is that half of them are Kamba. The public is outraged that while ordinary Kenyans pay tax, legislators are unwilling to do so even though they are among the highest paid in the world. More>>>

Fraud alleged in Were's estate letters

By Evelyn Kwamboka, Dec 5 2008
The late Embakasi MP Mellitus Were’s siblings now want the court to revoke letters of administration of his estate. The court issued the letters to Ms Maria Palma and Ms Agnes Wairimu on November 13. The siblings want the letters revoked because "Wairimu is wasting Were’s estate and has even sold the Mercedes Benz in which he was killed". Their advocate said the letters of grant were fraudulently obtained. More>>>

Marende acts on MPs fat wages

By our correspondent, Dec 3 2008
The campaign to have MPs accept taxation of their enormous allowances is gaining momentum, with Parliament appointing an independent team to review and recommend salaries and allowances. National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende made the announcement last evening after chairing a four-hour meeting at County Hall, Nairobi. More>>>

13 villagers killed by cattle rustlers

By Osinde Obare, Dec 3 2008
Thirteen people were on Monday killed in a cattle raid in Turkana Central District. Heavily armed Pokot raiders attacked residents of Lorengippi village in Loima Division and shot dead nine people before stealing cattle.

The attackers carrying AK-47 rifles sporadically opened fire at the villagers killing five women, four men and wounding two others. More>>>

Two-tier maize price polarises nation

By Jackson Okoth, Dec 3 2008
The Government’s radical intervention in the maize market is a temporary measure, meant to end a price distortion caused by a perceived shortage of the commodity.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga made the disclosure yesterday, at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, while launching a document, the Kenya Competitiveness Benchmark Report 2008, produced by the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM). More>>>

Kenya's 'oldest' man is dead aged 115

By our correspondent, Dec 3 2008
Mzee Elijah Kiptoo Chepkilot, featured by the Daily Nation in July this year as the oldest man in Kenya has died. Mzee Chepkilot who was born in Baringo District in 1893, died at Valley Hospital in Nakuru Town after witnessing more than a century roll past. He lived to see more than 80 grandchildren and 200 great grandchildren. His grandchildren include Kabarak University Registrar Dr R.K Chepkilot and Siaya DC Boaz Cherutich. More>>>

Water rationing hits Webuye, Kitale

By Luke Kapchanga, Dec 3 2008
Western Kenya residents have been told to brace themselves for water rationing. The Managing Director of Nzoia Water services and Sanitation company Mr Patrick Munialo said Kitale, Bungoma and Webuye will experience water shortage. He said they have opted to ration water in order to meet needs of different consumers and scarcity of water. “We cannot be able to pump water continuously for 24 hours, due to high cost of energy and diversity of consumers,” he said. More>>>

Malaba police recover stolen fuel

By Henry Andanje, Dec 3 2008
Police at Malaba in Teso district on Tuesday recovered more than 2,000 litres of diesel in a raid along the Kenya-Uganda border. Teso OCPD Mr Julius Korir who led the operation said the diesel was recovered in different unoccupied houses in 20-litre jerricans. Mr Korir told journalists that no suspects were apprehended in the six-hour operation. More>>>.

With a light touch...

A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment. Suddenly, the man realized that the next day, he would need his wife to wake him at 5:00 AM for an early morning business flight. Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and LOSE), he wrote on a piece of paper, 'Please wake me at 5:00 AM.' He left it where he knew she would find it. The next morning, the man woke up, only to discover it was 9:00 AM and he had missed his flight. Furious, he was about to go and see why his wife hadn't wakened him, when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed. The paper said, 'It is 5:00 AM. Wake up.'
Men are not equipped for these kinds of contests...  

Obama granny steals show

By Walter Menya, Dec 2 2008
Mama Sarah Obama, grandmother of American President-elect Barack Obama, was on Monday at the centre of World Aids Day activities in Kisumu where she flagged off an awareness marathon. As soon as residents got wind that Mama Sarah was at the Jomo Kenyatta Grounds, a huge crowd converged. A jovial Mama Sarah, who arrived in a two-car convoy escorted by female security personnel, waved cheerfully at the crowds. Her security detail had a torrid time trying to stop the excited crowd from shaking her hand. “Kogelo ber kata an be angima (Kogelo is fine and am also doing well),” she told the crowd. More>>>

Kibaki, Ruto in secret talks

By Kipchumba Some, Dec 2 2008
Cabinet minister William Ruto has been holding private consultations with President Kibaki over implementation of the Waki Report, the Saturday Nation can reveal. Sources familiar with the meetings said the President may have influenced the Agriculture minister’s sudden change of heart to back implementation of the report. More>>>

Maize: One price for the poor

A new brand of maize flour is to be sold to the poor as part of the Government’s effort to bring down the cost of the staple food. The new brand will cost Sh26 per kilo. However, the other brands will sell at Sh72 for a 2kg-packet, down from an average of Sh98. More>>>

Atwoli cautions Marende

By our correspondents, Dec 2 2008
Cotu Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has asked House Speaker Kenneth Marende not to make ‘reckless’ statements on the issue of MPs’ taxes. The Cotu boss said MPs had lost touch with reality and were on a mission to amass riches at the expense of the people. He praised MPs who have declared interest in having their allowances taxed, saying they had set a precedent that should be emulated. Mr Marende called the MPs liars. "Some MPs are coming here to cheat the public about taxation, but when we are making this law in Parliament, they are always absent," he said. More>>>

Namwamba willing to pay taxes, Gumo calls him liar

By our correspondent, Dece 2 2008
As the list of MPs willing to be taxed grows, National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende has accused them of dishonesty. The Speaker castigated MPs for hoodwinking Kenyans in public rallies that they supported efforts to tax them.

Earlier, MPs Wavinya Ndeti, Margaret Wanjiru, Kabando wa Kabando, Ababu namwamba, Peter Mwathi and Public Health Minister Beth Mugo said they had no problems paying tax on their monthly allowances. But Regional Development Minister Fred Gumo described MPs willing to pay tax as liars. More>>>

Ex-MP Khamasi sued over illegal pay

By Judy Ogutu, Dec2 2008
A Cabinet minister, two MPs and four former legislators have been taken to court for allegedly paying themselves illegal allowances amounting to Sh20.3million. Information and Communication minister Samuel Poghisio, Turkana Central MP David Ekwe Ethuro, Mwingi South MP David Musila, former MPs, Joseph Kamotho (Mathioya), Peter Oloo Aringo, Justin Muturi (Siakago) and Daniel Khamasi (Shinyalu) were sued on Tuesday and Friday last week. More>>>