Duale, Gachagua Dare Uhuru to Arrest the Thief He’s Warning Kenyans About

Politicians allied to Deputy President William Ruto have come out to challenge President Uhuru Kenyatta to take decisive action against the thieves eyeing political seats in 2022.

Speaking in Ruiru, Kiambu county on Saturday, President Kenyatta warned Kenyans against electing thieves who will destroy his and Kibaki’s legacies.

“I urge you, don’t be incited. Choose leaders who will ensure this country remains peaceful and united and those who will carry on with the work we already started and not take us back to where we came from,” Uhuru said.

“Please don’t allow Mwai Kibaki’s 10 years and my 10 years to be destroyed by electing thugs and thieves,” he added.

In response, Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua and Garissa Township MP Aden Duale told Uhuru to exercise his power and arrest the thief.

“Maybe the President has news that there is a thief who wants to contest in the general elections. He should make plans for the person to be arrested, taken to court and sent to jail so that he won’t be in the race,” Gachagua said.

Duale on his part accused Uhuru of insulting Jubilee party members and its supporters.

“So President today you are telling us that 8,000,000 Jubilee supporters in your own reading are full of conmen, crooks and thieves. That is an insult to the Jubilee family and to your supporters. If there is anybody, kama kuna mtu mwizi Kenya ambaye anataka kuwa kiongozi, Mr President, you have the instruments of power. The National Intelligence Service falls under you. You have the EACC, DCI and the Auditor General. Use those and tell the country, don’t be general be specific,” he said.

source https://nairobiwire.com/2021/11/duale-gachagua-dare-uhuru-to-arrest-the-thief-hes-warning-kenyans-about.html

CRAZY: Funny Memes Going Viral on Social Media

Check out our weekly compilation of viral memes trending on the Kenyan interwebs.

source https://nairobiwire.com/2021/11/crazy-funny-memes-going-viral-on-social-media-23.html

Funny Tweets by Kenyans on Twitter for your Monday Blues

Scroll through for your weekly dosage of random and humorous posts going viral on the interwebs.

source https://nairobiwire.com/2021/11/funny-tweets-by-kenyans-on-twitter-for-your-monday-blues.html

Q&A With KRA Chairman Francis Muthaura

Kenya Revenue Authority Board Chair Francis Mutura fields questions from the public courtesy of Sunday Nation.

Billions of shillings in taxes are held up at the Tax Appeals Tribunal because of disputes between KRA and taxpayers. What mechanism is KRA employing to resolve these disputes efficaciously to free these billions to be spent on improving the lives of Kenyans? Hassan Ali, Malindi

In the 2020/2021 financial year, we concluded 1,167 tax cases, compared to 652 cases in 2019/2020. Out of these, KRA won 982 cases and lost 185. Some 173 cases were concluded in court, while 994 were before the Tax Appeals Tribunal (TAT). The total revenue released for collection from these cases was Sh40.3 billion compared to Sh26 billion in 2019/2020.

However, KRA is also encouraging taxpayers with tax disputes to utilise the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process because of the many advantages that come with it. Through ADR, the authority was able to conclude 552 cases against a target of 307. The resolution of these disputes led to the release of Sh31.4 billion for collection against a target of Sh10.3 billion.

To fast-track resolution of cases, all ADR meetings were conducted virtually during the year, reducing the average time taken to resolve the cases from 69 days in 2019/20 to 42 days in 2020/21.

A third of the national budget is lost to tax corruption. How is the KRA board confronting money laundering, tax evasion and avoidance, which are impediments to the authority meeting its revenue targets? Davis Basweti Ombane, Nairobi

We have put in place various strategies and initiatives to seal loopholes and tax leakages even as we strive to facilitate compliance among taxpayers.

KRA has established a robust transfer pricing division that deals with international tax. The division focuses on identifying entities that have international transactions and determine whether their policies are consistent with their transactions to mitigate tax avoidance and evasion. Equally, KRA has robust frameworks that enable it to collect, process and analyse intelligence related to tax malpractices.

Through the frameworks, the authority is able to gather intelligence on tax evasion, cybercrime threats among other illicit financial flows. The authority has also invested in conventional intelligence gathering resources, including people and technology. It is through this framework that during the FY 2020/2021, KRA penetrated tax evasion cartels and collected more than Sh100 billion from tax evaders.

KRA has also employed technological strategies to seal revenue loopholes. Some of these strategies include the launch of a web-based system, iWhistle where the public can unanimously report corruption to KRA. The system has enabled KRA to gather corruption and tax evasion-related information from the public, while keeping whistle-blowers anonymous.

The authority has also used strategic collaborations with local and international agencies to strengthen capacity in the fight against tax evasion both locally and beyond our borders.

Sir, many Kenyans believe that the elephant in the room concerning poor tax collection is leakages facilitated by your own employees who are compromised by rogue businesses or employers. What is your take on such allegations? How has the authority been dealing with corruption within? Komen Moris, Eldoret

KRA conducts internal investigations that focus on employees who engage in corruption, fraudulent activities, unethical behaviour and other vices that constitute a breach of KRA’s code of conduct. The authority also undertakes proactive integrity testing programmes on business areas susceptible to corruption and other staff malpractices.

Staff found to have breached the code of conduct or any other laws of Kenya are subjected to internal disciplinary process and in other instances referred to other law enforcement agencies for criminal prosecution. In the last two financial years, 331 cases were investigated, leading to 144 staff members being dismissed, and 155 facing various sanctions such as caution and warnings.

There was a proposal some time back to subject all KRA employees to lifestyle audits. The proposal seems to have fizzled out amid rumours of resistance by staff. What exactly became of this proposal? Is lifestyle audit an undertaking your board would be open to doing for the staff? Silas Muriithi, Uthiru

KRA has developed an anti-corruption policy that has not only enabled it undertake lifestyle audits of its staff, but also conduct integrity testing. The lifestyle audit is an ongoing process at KRA. To date, the authority has conducted and finalised lifestyle audits for 49 staff and the findings were shared with other law enforcement agencies for appropriate action. The success of these audits can be attributed to a coordinated multi-agency approach.

The multiple taxation of investors by both the national and county governments has been cited as among the factors that hinder ease of doing business in Kenya. What collaborations are you promoting between the two levels of government to ensure such investors are not being exploited? Dan Murugu, Nakuru Town

The Article 209 of the constitution allows counties to impose property rates, entertainment taxes, charges for services they provide, and any other tax or licensing fee authorised by an Act of Parliament.

KRA is the collector of national government revenue and advises the government on all matters relating to the administration of, and the collection of revenue. In this role KRA was involved in the development of the National Policy to Support Enhancement of County Governments’ Own-Source Revenue (OSR).

The policy proposes a standardised framework for county governments’ OSR measures as well compliance enforcement. The measures generally aim to strengthen the legal underpinnings for revenue collection and its link with policy objectives: achieving efficiency in revenue administration; enhancing governance and promoting transparency; and making public participation more effective.

KRA has also directly engaged various county governments in capacity building on revenue administration, technology and developing revenue administration technology and laws that ensure fairness, adequacy, simplicity, transparency, and administrative ease.

All these measures are aimed at ensuring that taxation is streamlined between the national and county governments and ensuring that taxation is fair and equitable.

The constitution has waived all forms of taxation against all persons with disabilities who are in business and who have been vetted by their registered welfare associations and certified by the Ministry of Health. What other incentives can the authority offer to them in its corporate social responsibility undertakings? Dan Murugu, Nakuru

The Persons with Disabilities (Income Tax Deductions and Exemptions) Order, 2010 provides that a person with disability may apply to KRA through the National Council for Persons with Disabilities for exemption from income tax. KRA is constantly creating awareness of this benefit and processes to follow.

As we do this, we also prioritise persons with disability in our corporate social responsibility undertakings based on identified needs. For example, we have donated various aids like wheelchairs. Currently, we are constructing a borehole in partnership with the Ministry of Water in Machakos County to serve the vulnerable, including persons with disability.

It is in the public domain that KRA was hard-hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on the economy. Added to that, there were stimulus interventions made by the government to cushion the vulnerable but which had the overall impact of reducing the tax collected. How is the recovery mission? What is the greatest concern for th authority at the moment? Komen Moris, Eldoret

In spite of the difficult operating economic environment brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, in 2020/21, KRA surpassed its revenue target for the first time in eight years. This is after a revenue collection of Sh1.669 trillion, compared to Sh1.607 trillion collected in 2019/20. The automation of KRA processes during the pandemic enabled the authority to improve taxpayers’ services and subsequently collect more revenue. For example, KRA implemented the use of a mobile service platform for tax registration and filing, payment of some tax obligations and enquiry services.

Our main concern is how to bring into the tax net the sectors of the economy generating taxable income but are not yet in the tax bracket. Through the 8th Corporate Plan, the authority will implement the tax base expansion strategy. This aims to bring into the tax net two million more taxpayers by the end of FY 2023/24.

source https://nairobiwire.com/2021/11/qa-with-kra-chairman-francis-muthaura.html

In Conversation With Cyrus Jirongo

United Democratic Party (UDP) leader Cyrus Jirongo spoke to Sunday Nation in an interview on wide-ranging topics.

Here are some excerpts;

Who will fly the OKA presidential flag? 

We will cross that bridge when we get there. But the people of western where I come from are very clear; we want the presidency but the minimum we can take is the number two slot. Now that the President cannot sack the deputy, and now that it’s called the presidency, a Deputy President post is as good as number one.

Some MPs are pushing for changes in the laws to give the President powers to dismiss the deputy at will. Do you support that?

I cannot support such. Ruto today has his security of tenure, he cannot be sacked, he gets his salary, he has his office, and he has his powers just as the President. Now, we have a presidency instead of a president. The DP can object to your plans. I will not accept that and that is a good thing democratically speaking.

Can you work with DP Ruto again?

William Ruto is my friend as a human being. But it will be impossible for me to work with William Ruto at the moment or in the future because that accumulation character has pronounced itself more and more as he grows up.

But you need him more than he needs you… He is more successful than you are.

It depends on what you call success. Can we say Idi Amin was successful because he was the President of Uganda? Do you call that success? He took what belonged to Asians and ordered them to leave Uganda. For some time, he was very popular with Ugandans because he was taking riches and giving to the poor. Is that success, and how did it end? I do not call it success. In the end, his true self showed.

You can accuse me of having many women and children that is the crime I commit, but you cannot accuse Jirongo of stealing from the public. You can only say he built some houses here, he sold them to so and so, but never will you accuse me of stealing public funds. I was a minister in Moi’s government, go and see if you can find where you will say that I made 10 shillings and that I stole it from the government. Never.

What is the greatest thing you learnt from Moi?

Mzee Moi was a firm man, he organised his family well. I have been with the family. They are respectable. They are a family many Kenyan families should emulate. There have not been any squabbles. Bringing up your children to be friends with each other is one of the biggest successes you can achieve, not children who will start fighting once you die. Kenyans should emulate that and ensure our children are friends.

You made a lot of money but are currently in court over unpaid debts. Are you broke?

Sometimes I have money, sometimes I do not have it, which is normal. If you have money all the time, then something is not right. Sometimes you have, but sometimes I feel pain just like every other Kenyan.

You lost some, if not most, of your investments for what some say were miscalculations or being over-ambitious. Would you do things differently today?

I developed Hazina, Nyayo and the Syrus estates in Kayole (what they call Saika), Nairobi. It was not over-ambition, I only lived ahead of time. Developers are building off-plan houses now, I did that over 30 years ago. I was just ahead of things. Even today, there are certain things I talk about and people wonder if I am normal. I was just thinking ahead and I did so successfully.

But you have been accused of land grabbing, including the 1,000 acres the government repossessed from you in Ruai…

Ruai land was an issue. I never got an allotment from the Kenyan government, if anyone tells you that Jirongo got an allotment from the Kenyan government, he is lying to you. In the case of Hazina Estate, I bought the land. When I was fighting with Biwott and the rest, they decided “we will just pay him for the construction work he did”, they did not want to give me the value of the land.

In Ruai, it is an issue of the government taking your property by force, they do not want to pay you. Ruai land would in those days sell for Sh3,000, so let us finish this man, they thought. That was the story, but with years, it has gained value. The government will have to compensate me. It is just as simple as that.

What is the final settlement on it?

It is not settled yet, we are in court.

A number of your friends say that your major undoing is that you splash money around and are generous to a fault, that you can have Sh10 million today and fail to afford a meal tomorrow. Is that so?

What did I come with to this world? Why would I deny you to enjoy the extra that I have, that I want to hold it. When I came from my mother’s womb, I had nothing. It is through giving that you receive.

Do not watch a friend go through pains and problems because you are hoarding for your children. That is how we end up with drunkards because that person is cursing. If you have, do with your whole heart, that is the whole purpose of living, service. That is what is interesting in life.

When somebody tells you ‘thank you’, you feel very nice. That is the purpose of life because you have served, because somebody appreciates what you have done. I believe that is what we must all do as human beings.

Families of prominent leaders have been left in chaos either for lack of a will or leaving a contested one. Do you have a will for your family?

My children are very good friends, they do not need a will. You see the way children grow, to understand somebody, you need to watch them in various instances. When they are alone, and they do not know you are watching. When they have money, when they are with their girlfriend, you tend to get a real feel of what your son, daughter is. I do believe they are good people because I have watched them grow, marry, earn money. I have seen how they behave with money and when they don’t have it.

That may change when you are not there, especially because they have different mothers.

No, they will turn against that person who tries to poison their minds. I know them, they will turn against them very viciously.

How many children do you have?

(Laughs) Wanga, you know that we do not count children where we come from, you know it. We say we have many children, so I have many. They are several.

How many wives do you have?

That is also another topic on its own. They (children) come from several mothers but that does not make them not to be friends. They have grown up together, I have taken them to school together, there is nothing like this child belongs to this or that mother. It does not matter who their mother is, they all come from my house.

There is a time they used to go to Makini School in a bus. I had a minibus for all my children, you must have had that story. All my children used that minibus. They do not know those stories about daddy’s girlfriends.

Would you advise the youth to have more than one wife?

Most men have more than one partner. The only difference is some of us do not know how to hide. People have mistresses here and there and know how to hide. Personally, I do not hide because whatever the product, it is my product, so why should I hide? I talk to my wives and tell them, there is this boy, there is this girl, and he or she is a member of this family.

The law allows polygamy. The law would not have allowed it if it was something bad. The law is just trying to remove you guys from where you are hiding because you all have mistresses. The law is just telling you, guys, do not bring us problems when you pass away, just do it, it is okay. Let the other members of the family know that she is not the only one. How I can advise a man? All of them are polygamous by nature.

Don’t your wives have a problem with you bringing other children to their homes?

Whether they take it well or not depends on the man. You have to put your foot down. You do not open that up for debate. When it comes to my children we do not discuss. Mtoto atakuja nyumbani (the child must come home). Otherwise, why are you a father? Why are you the leader of that home?

You know in your case, you are a man of means so you can afford. It is…

You are forgetting there was a time I slept in jail because I could not pay Bran Yongo 10 million shillings. People paid for me, including President Uhuru. Sometimes I have, sometimes I do not have because I do not have formal employment. I am a businessman where today you make a profit and tomorrow you do not. Sometimes you have too much, other times you do not have, totally. They have also come to understand the dynamics of business.

What are some of the dos and don’ts in polygamy?

There is no uniform script for that. Let me tell you, those who pretend every Sunday that I am with my wife and we are going to church and so forth, it is a shocker. They are not living in reality. So much pretense around.

In the animal kingdom, where does an animal have one wife? And we are animals, the appetite for the male species is propagation of its genes and when you look, be it a lion or any other animal, they all try to own as many as possible. And I think that is how God made us anyway. Just be honest, do it openly and don’t leave problems behind where people are fighting saying they do not know each other. Be open.

That child is just as good as the children of your wife, give her or him his right to be known as your child and let that child feel proud that you are the father. Do not deny the child the good things. God meant the child to have a mother, a father, to be proud of her father. You know for children, the biggest hero is their father, they think no one can beat their father, so why do you deny them that? They think we are everything, do not deny your children that.

What ails our politics?

Sometimes, some of us do not understand what politics is. I believe that I don’t understand politics very well because I have never seen a deceptive game like politics, and if you live an honest life and want things to be done honestly, you will find it very rough in politics.

Unfortunately, I am a son of a pastor, brought up by my mother, she died in 2014. She was a deeply religious woman and we were taught to be truthful, to say what is wrong without blinking.

We apologise when we make a mistake, repent when we sin. In politics there is no repentance, no apology, no wrongdoing; everything you do is justifiable and I think that is why I stood back to relook the whole thing.

There is a lot of coating of words in politics unless you are very careful and look at the body language of whoever is speaking, look at his eyes, see that he does not blink or look aside, it is very hard to tell when a politician is telling the truth and that is my biggest weakness. My biggest weakness is that I speak the truth. Time has come when I feel indecency has gone beyond, craftiness gone beyond and we must come in and force sanity into politics.

source https://nairobiwire.com/2021/11/in-conversation-with-cyrus-jirongo.html

Mt Story – Living With Dwarfism

Rose Wachira, 26 a businesswoman based in Nairobi was born with achondroplasia dwarfism. She narrates her story via Saturday Magazine.

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“From the moment I was born, people kept staring at me and saying, ‘Oh, God.’ When I was born, my parents told me that the nurse exclaimed, “She is too tiny, she might be a dwarf.” My parents didn’t know what that meant until I got to school. My height had stagnated despite me being in grade 1.

When I was diagnosed with achondroplasia dwarfism, a condition in which a person does not grow to what is perceived as normal height, my parents were shocked.

With dwarfism, people don’t grow beyond four feet, and usually have a large forehead with the middle part of the face being small. My parents knew that my life would be hard and so, they always told me “I don’t care how tall you are, you are our daughter and you are pretty.” Their affirmations meant so much to me and gave me hope even when I was ridiculed by other kids because of my height.

My three sisters have been my protectors from the day I was born. My parents played a major role in this as they always ensured that my sisters and I participated in whatever we wanted to. My family cared for me and has never isolated me from the world. I grew up knowing I am their small baby and I got all the affection enjoyed by most lastborns.

Life wasn’t easy growing up with my condition as I became the source of entertainment to people. I got traumatised by the ugly names people would call me such as ‘katumani’ which is a maize plant that does not grow long. Other children would laugh and alert their friends “There is a midget.” My existence was a joke to them and when referring to me, they would say, “Look at it.” It wasn’t easy and I almost gave up on schooling.

My self-esteem was affected and I recall an incident where I took five painkiller tablets thinking that they would kill me, only to find myself alive. Despite the challenges I faced, my family taught me to be resilient and always gave me a shoulder to lean on. I thank God for my mother and late dad who always encouraged me to keep moving and shaped me to be strong and never allow anyone to demean me.

I am the only person with dwarfism in our family but my grandparents explained to us that long ago, there was a person in our family who had the condition. My extended family always extends their love to me which makes me feel special.

When I was a child, I would internalise the torment and though I pretended that I was strong, I would cry when alone and wish I was someone else. It shaped how I felt as I was often the target of bullies. Coming to terms with being a dwarf has been a journey. With time, I have learnt to be strong and I never wake up thinking “Oh, woe on to me, I am a dwarf!” I get out of the house in whatever outfit I have, visit anywhere I want, and I am no longer affected by how people view me. I have loved myself and accepted that I was born with the condition. I have also embraced that I would never change myself and I do not have any limits to becoming who I want in life.

In the last 10 years, I have stopped bottling up my anger and started directing it outward to where it belongs. Why should I be concerned about what people call me just because I look different externally? I shouldn’t. I have become assertive and always have different responses to people’s reactions to my physicality.

For instance, if someone laughs at me, I always ask, “What’s funny?”. Most of them respond, “Nothing, nothing”, and they disappear in embarrassment. At times people call me “midget”, and I boldly face them and say, “It’s called dwarfism, don’t use that name ever again.”

I also encounter men who approach me on the streets and tell me, “I wouldn’t mind having sex with you, it would be different.” In such cases, I yell back, “I am not a sex object, go look for your type.” For a while, the world treated me as if there was something wrong with me and that’s why I learnt to protect myself from any criticism.

One of the biggest challenges that I have encountered is in searching for a job. I am a diploma holder in journalism and mass communication. Sometimes, I apply for a job and it happens that I am shortlisted, but when I appear for the interview, the interviewers tend to judge me by my physical look and think I might be incompetent because of my height. Another challenge I face in public places like restaurants and churches is that they don’t put up structures that are dwarfism-friendly. For example, you find there are no adjustable seats and this makes my legs go numb.

Despite these challenges, I have learnt to accept myself and I always feel unique. At times, I feel good when people look and point at me because of my height. People with dwarfism become celebrities very fast and attract huge numbers of followers on social media. My height comes with valuable opportunities. I will never forget a memorable event when I shook hands with the deputy president. Out of a huge crowd, he easily noticed me because of my height.

I admire global actress Kiruna Stamel because despite being a little person, she has proven that no human is limited, through her acting. I believe we are humans and despite our condition, we deserve the best. So don’t use height to demean us, we are little but the cutest.”

source https://nairobiwire.com/2021/11/mt-story-living-with-dwarfism.html

One on One With Mental Health Specialist, Dr Margaret Kagwe

Dr Margaret Kagwe is an educator, research consultant and mental health specialist. For the last eight years, she has volunteered in many forums to educate the public about mental health.

Dr Kagwe also founded the Mental Health Championship programme in 2020 and generated a unique curriculum to empower trainees and give them skills to enable them to identify and support those in mental distress.

She has also authored a book, The Mental Health Champion.

What inspired the conception of the Mental Health Championship Initiative and when did it happen?

The initiative was officially started in July 2021. After Covid-19 triggered the ‘stay at home’ directive from the government, I was invited to speak in many online forums about the psychological effects of the pandemic.

Questions asked during these forums made it clear that people generally lacked basic mental health facts and all behaviour that deviates from the norm is either criminalised or demonised. In some forums, participants were clearly uncomfortable with sharing their experiences and efforts to make sense of their questions often hit a brick wall.

From my professional experience and knowledge, there is need for training of basic psychological knowledge and skills to expand problem solving options when faced with adversity, situational stress or ordinary life problems. The desire to provide an avenue for such empowerment is what led to the formation of Mental Health Championship Initiative, Kenya.

What were the initial goals of the initiative? Have they changed? If so, to what?

The goal of the initiative was preventive approach to mental health and this involved empowering individuals with relevant knowledge, skills and attitudes to be able to take care of their own mental health and also become sensitive to the mental health needs of others. This is the same goal that the initiative pursues to-date.

Tell us more about the training

It’s a 10-week online training programme. The classes are held once a week for two hours and trainees are given practical challenges or assignments to research on during the week.

One of the key factors of the training is five sessions of personal therapy that is meant to help the champion become self-aware for purposes of self-management and readiness to help others.

What has been the reception and feedback from past graduands so far?

The most humbling feedback I have received from a champion was, ‘You have saved my life.’ I did not imagine that the lives I would help preserve were those of the champions who were meant to look out for others. During the last class of sharing experiences after every cohort, trainees openly share what the classes and therapies have done for them and their loved ones and even the work space. It is usually an emotional moment.

I have also received feedback from relatives of champions who express their interest in the programme based on the transformation of the trained champions. As a result of the impact of the programme, most of our trainees are referrals. I have seen employers attend our graduation ceremonies in support of their employees in the programme and for me that is a good sign and hope for the future.

Among the trainees are professionals like medical doctors, pharmacists, lawyers, nurses, journalists, teachers and social workers. We have trained champions from Uganda, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Africa, United States and Somalia.

What challenges have you faced?

We have faced a few challenges while facilitating the programme. Since our vision is to have a champion in every home, institution and organisation, we enrol all those who express interest even if they may not afford to get internet access, pay for the subsidised therapy sessions or even for their certificates. We have managed to ensure that nobody drops out due to financial challenges and we do this by asking the trainees to adopt a champion who is unable to pay for their therapy.

Another challenge is graduation hosting, which requires a physical location and issuance of certificates. Financing the budget has been difficult. We have found ourselves paying the deficits from our own pockets and that has been tough.

Any sponsors on board so far?

No, the initiative does not have any sponsors yet. However, those who appreciate the positive impact of the programme have formed a group called Friends of MHC and they have helped in sponsoring some of the trainees and programme activities. Special thanks go to Dr Beatrice Kathungu and a number of Kenyatta University psychology department lecturers for supporting the programme. We also appreciate other therapists who have offered pro-bono services to the champions.

Where do you see the initiative in the next five years?

Based on the current trend, we will have many trainers and even physical locations to help us deal with the alarming suicide rates, depression and stress in general.

Mental Health Championship skills will be a requirement in organisations and institutions. Therefore, the possibility of the programme being main-streamed in schools and colleges is high. This is to ensure that learners are equipped with skills for holistic personal wellness and societal wellness.

Courtesy: Life & Style.

source https://nairobiwire.com/2021/11/one-on-one-with-mental-health-specialist-dr-margaret-kagwe.html

My Hustle – I Make Ksh200K Teaching Swahili to Politicians, Foreigners

Gilbert Awino is a communications expert with a master’s degree in communication. He is also a journalism lecturer, Chair of the editorial board of the Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK).

Awino tells The Nairobian how he makes over 200k a month teaching Kenyans and Foreigners to speak fluent Swahili.

What motivated you to venture into teaching Kiswahili as a business?

There is a shortage of effective communicators in Kiswahili in Kenya. Many realise that Kiswahili is an effective form of communication when it’s too late.

How has the response been so far?

The response has been impressive. I train politicians and CEOs how to speak to the masses. I also train pastors who want to be effective Kiswahili preachers and foreigners who have never spoken in Kiswahili.

What other businesses do you do apart from this one?

I manage a communications company that specialises in media buying, PR, editorial services and customer service training. We have partnered with nearly all the major media outlets in Kenya and a number in the region. I am a journalism lecturer, though this has taken a break due to school. I am also the chair of the editorial board of Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK).

What qualifications set you apart as a Kiswahili expert?

I am a communications professional with a master’s degree in communications. I have a postgraduate diploma in journalism and forensics. Currently, I am pursuing law to beef up my technical skills. I started my career as a Kiswahili editor in a publishing company, then joined Taifa Leo as an editor before going into full-time PR and communications. Try me if you are struggling with Kiswahili.

Why do you think students in the Coast region fail occasionally in Kiswahili exams yet that is the language’s origin?

Maisha ni mtihani pia. There is language acquired and language learnt. Those who acquire a language from the environment become better speakers. There is something the environment gives you that class can’t. However, exams are usually about the science of language, which any student who puts effort can pass. Those who learn to speak a language first without learning the written beat become corrupted and therefore find it hard to reconcile the inadequacies of spoken word with the written. Therefore, the bara kids put in more effort in Kiswahili exams because they are “disadvantaged”. But we have a number of Kiswahili professionals from the Coast.

Why do you think many leaders find it difficult to speak in Kiswahili, which is a national language?

We were socialised to believe Kiswahili is inferior. Speaking English was a sign of knowledge, success and exposure. Yet the number of Kiswahili speakers in Sub-Saharan Africa is quite large compared to English. It is only the 2010 Constitution that recognised Kiswahili as an official language in Kenya.

Do you think sheng is overtaking Kiswahili?

No. The media has deliberately been promoting the language. Human beings have immense ability to learn many languages. Sheng is the devil we like running to, to justify our inadequacies in Kiswahili. They are not related. No language is static, so some words in sheng have found their way into the mainstream Kiswahili.

What is your take on the fast growth of sheng and its increased use by Kenyans?

Sheng is a product of urbanisation and a language that the youth use to hide meaning from adults. The high population of the youth makes sheng a big thing. No child wants to be like their parents. They only want to be like their parents after they mature and start appreciating them.

Most of the available digital gadgets do not recognise Kiswahili and so users find it cumbersome to communicate in the language. How can this be solved?

Let’s learn the language first – whether through the classroom or environment. The digital gadgets look for where the numbers are because they are in business. If users are good at it, the platform becomes irrelevant.

There has been increased demand for Kiswahili experts around the world. How should Kenya help meet the demand?

By people changing their perception of the language. Let’s preserve our languages. Let your children learn it and speak it early so that they don’t lie to wazungu when they go abroad and are asked to explain something in Kiswahili.

What do you think needs to be done regarding the management of Kiswahili in Kenya?

Legislation. All radio stations must dedicate an hour daily to play Kiswahili songs and programmes. A visit to a “Kiswahili environment” by school children should be encouraged.

How much do you charge for your services?

I charge Sh30,000 for 10 hours. It is a block package, not an hourly package. These charges are standard but if a client wants something extra such as speeches, then we agree. A client once paid me $1,000 (Sh100,000) after two weeks of 40 hours.

On average, how much are you able to make monthly?

Between Sh80,000 and Sh200,000.

What have you learnt about Kenyans and foreigners regarding learning Kiswahili?

Currently, I have a mother and a daughter who have never lived in Kenya and I am teaching them Kiswahili. I have observed that those who don’t know Kiswahili at all learn the art of communicating faster than those who have been here.

source https://nairobiwire.com/2021/11/my-hustle-i-make-ksh200k-teaching-swahili-to-politicians-foreigners.html

Meet Reggae/ Dancehall DJ Selector Stinger

Joshua Odhiambo aka Selector Stinger,26, is a fast-rising reggae and dancehall mixmaster.

First off, why did you opt for Stinger as your moniker?

First of all, Stinger was an inspiration from a music producer called Di Genius of Di Genius Records.

It came up every time my friends and I were jamming to his new release on the internet where the album cover art came along with a bee logo.

It was later followed by the scorpion logo on the cover art. They started referring me to as the bee and scorpion, and that’s how Selector Stinger was invented before switching to DJ Stinger. I loved it and it stuck.

Did your background influence you in becoming a DJ?

Besides coming from a family where music ran freely, I grew up at a place where people loved music with a passion.

They would always jam to dancehall, raga, riddims and reggae, and in a way, that influenced me in becoming an entertainer, especially of the reggae genre.

When did you discover you had an interest in deejaying?

That was back in high school in 2012, all thanks to inspiration drawn from my big brother DJ Bua, who is a gospel deejay.

At the time, I would play around with his hired decks before and after going for the church gigs. The rest, as they say, is history.

You are currently among the highest-ranked Kenyan deejays. How does that feel like?

Well, I wouldn’t have been where I am if it wasn’t for God, then the backing support from family, friends, and colleagues, plus self-determination and hard work.

My family has played a big role in my career as a DJ; from buying me equipment to being my biggest support system and fans.

To be precise, my dad has been my number one fan right from the moment I started. On fame, well, most of it I owe it to the matatus.

They’ve been playing my mixtapes in a big way, and from that I’ve managed to build a big fan base across the country. That is where I made hay from and started landing big shows.

What was your breakthrough gig and how did you get it?

That must have been a freshers’ bash back in 2016 at Maasai Mara University in Narok.

They reached out to me through the business numbers we place on the video mixes, and I pocketed a cool Sh100,000 from that gig.

Ever since, shows have been coming my way and I am so thankful to God.

What’s the biggest show you have done so far?

Konshens Live in Kenya in 2019 for sure. The show packed an electrifying line-up of other top-rated Kenyans acts such as The Kansol, and deejays Styles and G-Money, among others. I loved every bit of that event and is still etched in my mind to date.

What achievements are you most proud of?

I have managed to set up a deejaying academy called Dancehall Franchise Unit DJ Academy, where I train and mentor other aspiring and up-and-coming deejays and emcees.

Another achievement came in 2017 when I landed a deal with Red Bull to do activation gigs all over the country and on my video mixes.

In 2019, Unicef came through with a project on raising awareness to the public on matters cholera through my mixes; it was quite a good deal because that’s where I managed to buy my first car.

Currently, I am one of the brand influencers of betting company Odibets, alongside celebrities Jalang’o, Miss Katiwa and Jaymo Ule Msee, among other top artistes and deejays.

What genre have you specialised in?

Dancehall, riddims and reggae. But I also do hip-hop, Afrobeats and Kenyan bangers; they are trends of party life nowadays.

Describe a good event as a DJ?

It starts from the sound setup and stage, then an honest promoter when it comes to paying up, plus a good cheque. For me, that’s what I regard as a superb event.

Have you ever had a bad incident during an event, and if so, how do you avoid such incidents?

I have had all manners of mishaps raging from equipment failures, gigs backfiring in the last minutes, payment delays name them.

However, Tony, my manager, does all the ground work to ensure everything is set before I hit the ground running and that it runs smoothly.

That way, I avoid many disappointments or challenges that a majority of DJs complain of.

Who do you look up to?

Kenyan deejays who are based in the USA, DJ Fully Focus and DJ Simple Simon.

Who would you go on a head-to-head battle with and beat them clean?

DJ Kalonje without a doubt.

Do you have a dream gig?

Yes, I do. The Dallas Memorial in USA hosted annually by Breakpoint Entertainment and DJ Kelz.

Your word of advice to all aspiring DJs.

Practice, consistency and patience, and trust the process. But most importantly, put God above everything.

source https://nairobiwire.com/2021/11/meet-reggae-dancehall-dj-selector-stinger.html

13 Things To Know About Singer Viola Karuri

Viola Karuri is a recording artiste and a music producer having studied at the Berklee College of Music. She is the first and only female producer to have ever been featured at Coke Studio/

1. The last time I put out fresh music was in June last year. It’s a single called ‘I Like It’

2. I have not quit doing music. That’s not an option for me at all. It is inherently who I am
3. Yes, I have been quiet since the pandemic, but during the time, I was a panelist on numerous creative webinars sharing knowledge in my capacity as a producer.
4. Also as a recording engineer, I did many acoustics engineering which basically is fitting out sound spaces.
5. Perhaps I am the only well-known female music producer in this country but hey we are quite a number. Kaneda Nicole, Ms Karun and Muna Chuba are good producers and recording engineers as well.
6. My last date was a lunch date, a couple of days ago with my husband. It’s always a good time with us.
7. It wasn’t love at first sight for me. I don’t believe in love at first sight… but infatuation, yes.

8. What attracted me to him is his laugh. I love when he laughs, it feels romantic. lol!

9. Despite being married, I still do get hit on constantly. It comes with the job, you know.  I always politely brush them off.

10. Some say marriage becomes boring with time.  For the many years I have been married, I think marriage is as engaging as you both allow it to be.

11. Harsh truth I prefer to ignore is the fact that I cannot control everything.
12. What does my book library look like? Well, African fiction, Classics, Biographies and a few business books.
13. I work out three times a week. I love meat and potatoes, chapati and fruits. Vegetables are just a necessary evil arrgh!

source https://nairobiwire.com/2021/11/13-things-to-know-about-singer-viola-karuri.html

Bitcoin Phone: A Look at the 2021 BSV Hackathon Winner

On October 7, 2021, the first-ever voice-over-Bitcoin protocol, Bitcoin Phone, was declared the winner of the 2021 BSV Hackathon during the third day of the eighth CoinGeek Conference held in New York. Here is a look at what Bitcoin Phone is and what it offers. 

What is Bitcoin Phone?

Bitcoin Phone essentially allows users on the BSV blockchain to make voice calls through transactions in near real-time streaming. This form of BSV communication also permits payments to be linked to the calls. 

“You can call people, you can pay for them, you can set your rate, whatever you want. What you’re doing is you’re taking your audio data and you’re taking your money. You’re putting it into a Bitcoin packet, and you’re pushing it into the network. And by doing so, anyone on the network can listen in, decrypt your data if they have the appropriate keys and listen to the audio that you’re sending. And your peer will do the exact same thing in reverse,” Canadian developer Joe Thomas, creator of Bitcoin Phone, said during his presentation at the CoinGeek Conference.

What are Potential Practical Applications?

Bitcoin Phone is geared towards the tutoring ang language services industry, allowing users to both offer and buy teaching services over the BSV blockchain without having to worry about not getting paid or getting ripped off as transactions are all immutable and timestamped, which serve as evidence for clarification to settle disputes.

And because transactions are instant, users can pay and be paid immediately. Using the BSV blockchain also means transaction fees are at their lowest at mere fractions of a penny as compared to the current to popular digital currencies. The average fee per transaction of ETH is currently at $54.01, while BTC is at $2.56.

“People on these platforms are interested in getting their money right away and getting paid as soon as possible. Those are the two things that one can target with Bitcoin because just by the permissionless nature of the Bitcoin network, we’re pushing the price of transactions to as low as possible. Because it is Bitcoin and payment channels, payment is instant,” Thomas explained in a separate interview after winning the BSV Hackathon.

Identity verification is also an essential component of Bitcoin Phone. Where Bitcoin users would not usually willingly give out their identities, it can be done with Bitcoin Phone in cases where, for instance, a patient looking for a psychologist or counselor will need credentials to verify that they are qualified to provide counseling or therapy sessions.

Auctioning is a feature that can also be added to Bitcoin Phone in the future. For instance, if a tutor’s afternoon sessions are in high demand, users can start bidding higher in order to claim afternoon slots. This makes everything more competitive and advantageous to service providers. 

“We’re going to add auctioning, which is impossible to do efficiently on the current Internet. But bidding in BSV is simple – it’s just data. That’s another thing we aim to provide, because you can’t do that natively with the [Bitcoin Phone] protocol, so that’s a service we will have to provide eventually,” Thomas stated.

Although Bitcoin Phone is targeting the tutoring and language services industry, it is not limited to that alone. In the future, Bitcoin Phone hopes to create a more dynamic Bitcoin web, where all kinds of communication is possible.

source https://nairobiwire.com/2021/10/bitcoin-phone-a-look-at-the-2021-bsv-hackathon-winner.html

POLL: Ruto Leads 71% in Murang’a County. Raila a Distant Third

It is foregone conclusion that for the first time since Multi-party democracy in the Republic of Kenya, Mt. Kenya region will not have a viable presidential candidate in 2022.

The region is finding itself in unfamiliar territory, and between now and August next year, will have to decide which of the so called 2 horses to get behind.

Despite falling out with his boss Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto has consistently been polling well in the region. This perhaps is proof of Uhuru’s lame duck status, a position where a departing president still has all the power, but holds little sway even in his own backyard.

Ruto was an early campaigner in the region, and has practically camped there since 2017. To his credit, he did have the foresight to know that he would have to work hard for the region’s vote by himself, if for nothing else, as an insurance policy in case Uhuru withdrew his support.

So far, that strategy seems to have worked. Despite Raila seemingly having the support of the most high profile leaders from the region, among them Cabinet Secretaries and governors, so far, that has not amounted to much on the ground.

The hustler message has resonated well in the region, a reality that has likely not been acknowledged by the top power brokers in Nairobi.

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru saw this for herself, and even acknowledged that despite her performance, she would most likely lose to a UDA candidate next year.

“If I ran today on a Jubilee ticket and someone else ran on a different party, even if people felt I had performed, it would be hard to convince them to vote for me,” she said.

The final convincing for her to decamp to UDA came from her own mother and son, when they told her point-blank that they were in the hustler nation.

Now, a new poll conducted by former PS and Murang’a gubernatorial candidate Irungu Nyakera, paints a similar picture. According to him, he polled 2 people at each of the 584 polling stations in the county last week.

I’m not sure how scientific that is, but the result was a resounding victory for Ruto. 71.46% said they will be voting for the DP, with Raila getting just 8.32%.

The ODM leader even trailed joke candidate Mwangi wa Iria, although that is understandable, he being the governor of the county. The two other non-serious candidates Musalia Mudavadi and Kalonzo Musyoka received low single digits each.

Last time when I said the ground hasn’t changed and asked those trying to change it to do it kwa mashinani, stones came at me like I was a chicken thief. I did another poll last week, 2 people at each 584 polling stations. Raw data available at a fee. Am still a fence seater. pic.twitter.com/VEd8IFuvqT

— Irungu Nyakera, CBS (@wnyakera) October 28, 2021

The argument has been made that Ruto needs virtually all of Mt. Kenya votes, or in numbers closely resembling what they got in 2013 and 2017. The proponents of this argument say that the reason for this is because Raila will beat him resoundingly everywhere else, with the exception of the Rift Valley.

It has also been said that because Ruto is starting on a high, it can only be downhill for his poll numbers and momentum from here, especially when the campaigns enter high gear.

For this argument to hold however, the ODM leader will need to hold on to his previous support. He must not allow Ruto to chip away any of it, and currently the DP is hard at work doing exactly that.

The DP is doing something very few politicians have ever done. He is raiding regions without permission from their kingpins, and getting substantial votes while at it. He has done that in several by-elections in Central. And recently in Ukambani where his MCA candidate defeated Kalonzo’s candidate.

Ruto is particularly directing his efforts to the Coast region and to the Western region.

Having supported Raila unsuccessfully for 3 elections, it is reasonable to expect some form of ‘Raila fatigue’ from some quarters. Only time will tell how significant that will be.

Certainly his BBI Reggae message, which was hated all over the country but really loved by his elite friends, did not help his case. Ruto was able to run with it, and continues to hammer him for it until this day.

A lot will change in coming months, and we will likely see movements and re-alignments. Right now, we can only speculate and enjoy the show.

source https://nairobiwire.com/2021/10/poll-ruto-leads-71-in-muranga-county-raila-a-distant-third.html

Pastor Ng’ang’a Under Fire from MCK for Referencing The Size of His Genitalia on TV

Controversial preacher, Pastor James Ng’ang’a is finding himself in the spotlight yet again, and not in a good way.

The pastor is constantly trending on social media for doing or saying unusual things. He is not your regular pastor, and a lot of people love him for that. The evidence is the size of his congregation.

However, one entity is not loving the Pastor.

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has threatened to take action against Sasa TV, a station owned by Pastor Ng’ang’a and his church. The council says that the channel has been broadcasting obscenities, and should show cause on why action should not be taken against it.

The complaint is against Pastor Ng’ang’a himself, whom MCK claims said unprintable words on his air in a recent broadcast.

“The Council notes that the media house in question breached clauses 5 (b) (c) on accountability and 10 (1) on obscenity, taste and tone in reporting by allowing a presenter, apostle James Ng’ang’a in a live broadcast from ‘Jerusalem City Kenya’ at 10:24 hours where he uttered offensive and unprintable words on air,” chief executive officer David Omwoyo said.

“We have subsequently directed the media outlet to show cause why action should not be taken against it, further to which the council will institute sanctions in line with our mandate.”

The offensive broadcast cited happened on October 9th, 2021. The Pastor detailed how his dead body should not be handled, and even made references to the size of his genitalia.

Here’s the clip that has him in trouble.

Pastor Nganga im your follower and supporter but on this one No No No No Hapana Hapana Hapana. Umezidi Punguza ushimolatewa. You need prayers. pic.twitter.com/qwFdDxpBgT

— Mike Sonko (@MikeSonko) October 10, 2021

It is unclear what action MCK can take, and whether the council has the power to take a TV channel off the air.

Read the full statement.

source https://nairobiwire.com/2021/10/pastor-nganga-under-fire-from-mck-for-referencing-the-size-of-his-genitalia-on-tv.html

Ndichu Brothers Claim Murgor Sisters are Extortionists

Eddie Ndichu and his twin brother Paul Ndichu have finally recorded their statements with the police following their highly publicized altercation with Murgor sisters, Cheryl and Stephanie, at Ole Sereni Hotel on Sunday, October 17.

The Ndichu’s were Thursday grilled by detectives at Lang’ata Police Station for more than five hours.

They told police that Cheryl Murgor and Stephanie Murgor are part of an extortion ring.

In their statement, Eddie ad Paul Ndichu alleged that the Murgor sisters, nieces of former Director of Public Prosecutions Philip Murgor, were in the company of men on a mission to extort them.

It should be noted that two months ago, the Ndichus raised $2.2 million (Ksh244 million) pre-seed capital for their start-up,  ‘Wapi Pay’, a payment platform headquartered in Singapore.

The twin brothers are being represented by Edwin Sifuna, who accompanied them to Langata police station Thursday.

The Ndichu want everyone captured on the CCTV charged with causing an affray, a public offense consisting of the fighting of one or more persons in a public place.

On allegations that they threatened to shoot the Murgor sisters, detectives established that the Ndichu twins are not licensed firearm holders.

Once the investigations are completed, the file will be forwarded to the DPP’s office for further action.

Cheryl Murgor is a former flight attendant at Kenya Airways and a fashion designer while Stephanie is also a fashionista.

Check them out

Cheryl Murgor

Stephanie Murgor

source https://nairobiwire.com/2021/10/ndichu-brothers-claim-murgor-sisters-are-extortionists.html

Kenyans Working in Gulf Countries are Picked From Koinange Street – MP David Sankok

Nominated member of parliament David Ole Sankok has sensationally claimed that Kenyan women who work in the Middle East as domestic workers are picked from Nairobi’s “red-light” district, Koinange Street.

Sankok spoke from Saudi Arabia where he met with the country’s Ministry of labour’s officials to discuss the plight of Kenyan workers in Gulf countries.

In a post to his Facebook page, Sankok pointed fingers at recruitment agencies, accusing them of sourcing labourers from brothels such as Sabina Joy.

Ole Sankok claimed that these agencies do not train immigrant workers properly.

“From my assessment, the problem is Kenya recruitment agents pick girls from Koinange street, bars, and brothels and export them as immigrant workers without pre-departure training on laws, traditions and cultures of foreign countries.

Sankok in a meeting with the Kenya ambassador to Saudi Arabia H.E. Peter N.R.O Ogego

“Even back home you can not pick a househelp from Koinange Street or Sabina Joy and expect house services without parental control,” he wrote.

Sankok said when he returns to Kenyan, he will institute amendments to the labour migration laws that will require Kenyan immigrant workers to have good morals and the right education.

“We will lobby executive to fast-track the signing of bilateral agreements that will protect all Kenyan workers in the Middle East. We will not allow families to send drug addicts for rehabilitation to the Middle East disguising as labourers. We will not allow prostitutes from Sabina-joy to go to the Middle East with hidden agendas disguising as immigrant workers,” he declared.

source https://nairobiwire.com/2021/10/kenyans-working-in-gulf-countries-are-picked-from-koinange-street-mp-david-sankok.html

Hilarious: The Ugly Houses Built by Kikuyu Landlords.. Kikuyu Gothic Architecture

By many guesstimates, most flats in Nairobi are owned by Kikuyu landlords. They were the first to really get into real estate, although the Somalis have now taken over in certain estates.

It has been a running joke for several years on social media, how ugly the houses they build are.

Yes, they are doing a good job providing housing to Nairobians, but boy are they leaving eye-sores behind.

It has become so bad that the term ‘Kikuyu Gothic Architecture’ is been thrown around more frequently.

So what are the features of these house?

First is the incredibly small rooms. In a quest to maximize profits, many Kikuyu landlords will give you just enough room to say you live indoors. This extends everywhere from the sitting room, to the tiny kitchen and bathroom.

Another standard feature among Kikuyu landlords is the headache-inducing selection of tiles. This is probably the first lesson they teach in Kikuyu design schools. You have to select 5 different tile designs, with no flow whatsoever.

Having good old, plain tiles with neutral colors is crossing the line in the Kikuyu Gothic theory.

You will also find walls painted in all colors of the rainbow, instead of one standard color across all rooms. Occasionally, you will find items placed in the wrong places. Like a sink in the living room, or a toilet bowl in the kitchen.

And let’s not talk about the mini skyscrapers that have extremely narrow stairways and no lifts.

I went on Twitter and collected some of the finest examples. Check them out.

source https://nairobiwire.com/2021/10/hilarious-the-ugly-houses-built-by-kikuyu-landlords-kikuyu-gothic-architecture.html

The Trending Tweets and Memes This Friday

It’s the last weekend of the month, and this is what’s trending on social media.

source https://nairobiwire.com/2021/10/the-trending-tweets-and-memes-this-friday.html

Kenyans are not Stupid, Waiguru on Impending EACC Arrest

Just like many Jubilee defectors turned Hustlers before her, Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru is blaming politics for her looming arrest on graft allegations.

On Thursday, two days after Waiguru joined DP Ruto’s UDA ‘Hustler Movement’, it emerged that the EACC is finalising a probe into the corruption allegations against her and other members of her staff who accompanied her to the DP’s residence on Tuesday.

It has been reported that Waiguru will be arrested as early as next week to face charges over an alleged irregular land survey tender and payment of questionable allowances to the governor and county officials.

Reacting to the news, Waiguru said the plan by the State agencies, EACC and DCI, is meant to intimidate and manipulate those that are contemplating joining UDA.

“Surely, barely 48hrs after we decamped to UDA & now this? As a believer in the rule of law this is unfortunate. It’s intention is to dissuade those contemplating the same & an attempt at engineering succession politics. It wont work. Kenyans are not stupid. There is God in heaven,” Waiguru said on Thursday.

Other officials likely to be charged alongside Waiguru are county Chief Finance Officer Mugo Ndathi, Kirinyaga County Assembly Speaker Anthony Gathumbi, Leader of Majority James Murango and chairman of the Budget Committee at the county assembly David Mathenge.

source https://nairobiwire.com/2021/10/kenyans-are-not-stupid-waiguru-on-impending-eacc-arrest.html

Don’t Blame UDA For EACC Woes, Ngirici Tells Waiguru

As expected, Kirinyaga Woman Representative Wangui Ngirici was fastest to react to Governor Waiguru’s statement about her looming arrest by State Agencies.

The Kirinyaga governor is set to have some hectic days next week after it was reported that the EACC will go after her over corruption.

In her retort, Waiguru said the plan is a political affront by the State due to her switch from Jubilee to Ruto’s UDA.

“Surely, barely 48hrs after we decamped to UDA & now this? As a believer in the rule of law, this is unfortunate. Its intention is to dissuade those contemplating the same & an attempt at engineering succession politics. It won’t work. Kenyans are not stupid. There is God in heaven,” the county boss said.

This provided a perfect opportunity for Waiguru’s political rival, Ngirici, to chide her main opponent for Kirinyaga governorship in 2022.

Ngirici, who is one of the pioneer Tanga Tanga MPs, told Waiguru to keep her woes with EACC away from UDA.

“When anti-graft agencies strike, don’t blame it on joining UDA. We have built the party from scratch,” Ngirici wrote on social media.

This comes barely 48 hours after Ngirici welcomed Waiguru to UDA with open arms.

She expressed confidence in beating Waiguru and clinching the UDA ticket.

“I’m ready for her and I welcome her to the party. I’m confident I’ll win the nomination ticket. I’m more popular on the ground than her, the Kirinyaga people have decided it’s Ngirici. Waiguru failed to deliver her time is out, people’s power will determine,” she said.

Election campaign season is well and truly upon us.

source https://nairobiwire.com/2021/10/dont-blame-uda-for-eacc-woes-ngirici-tells-waiguru.html

Sudi: My IQ is Enough, I Will Prove You Wrong

Kapsaret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi has insisted that his academic credentials are legit days after a Nairobi court heard that he never sat for his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Exams (KCSE).

The outspoken lawmaker said he will prove everyone wrong in the case in which he is charged with forging a diploma certificate from the Kenya Institute of Management.

Sudi said the case is just beginning and the only people who have since testified are prosecution witnesses.

According to Sudi, he has his own side of the story and people should stop talking like the world is ending.

“The people saying Sudi is not going to be on the ballot next year, I want to assure you I will be on the ballot. I will prove you guys wrong,” Sudi said.

The Kapsaret MP went on to brag that his IQ is sufficient and that he has achieved more than people with Master’s degree.

“I have seen people saying they have degrees and I want to tell you this and I’m not bragging, my IQ is enough,” he said.

“Where I have come from and where I am going, it will take others with degrees and Masters degrees years to get there.”

The case which has been in court since 2015 continues on November 17, 2021.

source https://nairobiwire.com/2021/10/sudi-my-iq-is-enough-i-will-prove-you-wrong.html

City Man Tries to Save Neighbour’s Wife, Gets Beaten Too

Four men have been charged at the Kibera Law courts for assaulting a man who tried to stop his neighbour from beating his(neighbour’s) wife.

Caleb Chimwani from Kabete, Nairobi told police his neighbour and his friends beat him up on October 24 for trying to rescue his neighbour’s wife, who was screaming for help.

The court heard that Caleb rushed to the scene and saw his neighbour beating his wife while two other men sat and watched.

When Caleb tried to intervene, the men roughed him up; one of the men then went upstairs and alerted more people who were having a merry-go-round meeting.

The unknown number of people also joined hands in attacking Caleb, leaving him with injuries to the ribs and the head.

An informer who witnessed the chaos alerted the police who visited the scene and managed to arrest the four accused persons as the rest fled the scene.

The four: Brian Kennedy Otieno, Kelvin Ramis, James Wakalaga and Frank Mwalia, appeared before Kibera resident magistrate William Tulei.

The court heard that the accused persons together with others not before the court “assaulted Caleb causing him injuries on October 24 at a residential estate within Kangemi area in Westlands thereby injuring him”.

They denied the charges and were released on a bond of Sh10,000 each and an alternative cash bail of Sh30,000.

The case was set for mention on November 8.

source https://nairobiwire.com/2021/10/city-man-tries-to-save-neighbours-wife-gets-beaten-too.html

DJ Creme Finally Opens Up on Split From Fiancée: “I Didn’t Cheat”

DJ Creme de la Creme has finally spoken about his failed relationship with his fiancée Denise Njuguna, revealing that they have resolved to co-parent their two children.

“It is the past. We are not together for now, but we are working on things, Our main agenda is that our kids are secure and are okay. I can’t define our relationship, but at the end of the day, we are parents and adults who can handle our stuff,” he told a local tabloid.

The entertainer and businessman further dismissed speculation that his 14-year affair with Denise ended because he cheated. He said neither did it fall apart because he was struggling financially.

“My wife and I don’t fight about women, it was never about that. If we ever fought about women, I would have been affected after the last scandal I had,” he said.

“It was also not about me being broke. If my wife was to leave me because I’m broke she would have not even settled with me since I knew her when I had nothing.”

DJ Creme de la Creme mentioned that he is undergoing counseling to cope with the separation.

“We are just co-parenting. I have mentors I am talking to coz you know if you are in a crazy relationship, a part of you dies, and so your main focus becomes to work hard to become whole again.”

Some weeks after Creme indicated that his relationship was on the rocks in July, the DJ lamented that he was not able to access his kids.

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DJ Creme said things were rough at the time but they have since resolved their differences.

“I was not talking to the kids since things were a bit too hot and we had agreed we give each other space. I now have access to my kids but there was a period it was bad, let me be honest. I am glad things have turned around,” he said, adding that he turned to God during the trying time.

“It was crazy but on the other side, it strengthened my faith in God. Coz even right now, talking to my kids is a prayer that I had every day. I have learned to trust in God; I was so vulnerable and I would have messed.”

DJ Creme thanked everyone who supported him and indicated that he has not given up on love.

“Never give up on love coz it happens to people and at different times. Time heals and brings a lot of things to perspective. I did not understand when she left.”

 

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source https://nairobiwire.com/2021/10/dj-creme-finally-opens-up-on-split-from-fiancee-i-didnt-cheat.html