Muslim leaders hail Mohamed Ibrahim's appointment as acting CJ

 

Justice Mohammed Ibrahim. Muslim leaders have lauded his appointment as the acting president of the Supreme Court.

Muslim leaders in Mombasa have welcomed the move to appoint Justice Mohamed Ibrahim as the acting president of the Supreme Court following the retirement of Willy Mutunga.

Led by the chairman of Council of Islamic preachers of Kenya CIPK Sheikh Mohamed Khalifa and Mvita MP Abduswamad Sherrif, the leaders said Justice Ibrahim was up to the task and urged the court to appoint him as the Chief Justice.

“We want to congratulate our brother for the acting position he has been given. We now want him to work hard in the given short period so as to clinch the position permanently,” said the Mvita MP.

Sheikh Khalifa on his part said that he should now work to serve all Kenyans in equal capacity and not be deterred or compromised by any force.

“We urge Justice Ibrahim Mohammed to work diligently in the capacity of Chief Justice and not to favour anyone based on his tribal or religious back ground,” said Sheikh Khalifa.

The leaders also praised the manner in which retired Chief Justice Willy Mutunga had steered the Supreme Court, and urged the acting CJ to uphold the judicial reforms that were initiated by Mutunga.

Dr Mutunga on Thursday gave his final speech as the CJ, where he named Justice Ibrahim as the acting CJ.

Politicians pushing Kenya back to dark old days, says former CJ Mutunga

Former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga who retired on Thursday. He called on the government to work together with the opposition.

Former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga on Monday said the efforts of freedom fighters of Kenya's independence made over the years risk being rolled back due to perpetual politicking.

Justice Mutunga, spoke while making his final address as the head of the Judiciary in Nairobi saying that the government and opposition politicians are likely to make the country sink if both sides will not allow dialogue to prevail.

''Kenya's development is likely to collapse if the war between Jubilee and Cord parties will not stop. This nation needs both parties to work together, uniting people so that it can boost its economy,'' said Mutunga.

His sentiments have been echoed by many Kenyans.

The Cord coalition has asked the Jubilee administration to reform the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission ahead of the 2017 general election.

Jubilee on the other hand has maintained that  IEBC will not be disbanded.

The issue has seen Cord hold anti-IEBC protests which have led to the killing of innocent people with the most affected region being Nyanza.

Uhuru appoints a 14 member taskforce on development of miraa industry.

Uhuru Kenyatta has appointed a 14 member taskforce on the development of Miraa Industry. 

The taskforce has three months to complete its assignment, according to a gazette notice published Friday.

Geoffrey Nchooro M’mwenda will chair the taskforce with PS Dr. Richard Leresian Lesiyampe as the alternate chairperson. 

Dave Ntawa Muthuri is the Vice Chairperson of the taskforce. 

In consultation with farmers, traders and relevant stakeholders the taskforce shall recommend strategies and interventions that will support development of the Miraa Industry. 

Specifically the taskforce will suggest ways to ensure recovery of lost markets and search for new markets for Miraa produce.

The taskforce will also identify initiatives, activities and interventions that may be supported by the resources availed by the government and any other development partners; 

Other tasks of the taskforce include research on Miraa agronomy, variety improvement, product development and value addition. 

The team will also identify opportunities for development of capacity among farmers including identification and establishment of demonstration farms. 

The gazette notice also requires the taskforce to suggest institutional and administrative structures for the Miraa value chain and additional farming enterprises for Miraa farmers. 

To ensure immediate implementation of the report the taskforce will also develop and attach a prioritized implementation matrix clearly stating the immediate, medium and long term strategies for development of Miraa. 

Mweria Joseph Miriti, Kinyua Geoffrey John, Kilemi Lucy Nkirote, Rimbere Peter Kinyua and Karumpu R. Rodgers are some of the members of the taskforce 

Others are, Henry Ntongai Ituuru, Hon. Joseph Mturia, Solomon Odera, Isabella Nkonge , Ephantus I. Njeru and George Karicha Thuranira.  

The Joint secretaries of the task force are Jasper Mbiuki and Philip Nyingi. 

The move comes after several consultations with different players in the industry including farmers, experts and leaders from Meru region. 

Murang’a teacher jailed 90 years for sexual assault

John Gichia who was accused of sexually assaulting​ primary school boys in Murang'a. Gichia was sentenced 90 years in jail.

A 23-year-old teacher in Murang’a County has been sent behind bars for 90 years.

John Gichia Mugi, a primary school teacher, was found guilty of sexually assaulting 10 boys at Muthiria Primary school where he was a boarding master.

The boys narrated to the court how Gichia used to lure them to his office at night and fondle their privates as he kissed them.

After listening to the witnesses’ accounts, the court sitting in Murang’a was convinced the suspect committed the offence.

In his defence, the accused claimed there was a conspiracy by certain teachers in the school to ‘fix’ him due to a rivalry that emerged after he got a promotion.

Resident Magistrate Jesse Masiga, however, said sexual assault bridges stigma and hence witnesses could not come out to lie about it.

“The prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that you had sexually assaulted the boys,” Masiga said.

“As such, I sentence you to serve a 10 years prison term for each of the nine counts of sexual assault. The sentences will run consecutively,” the judge added.

Consecutively means following one another, Masiga will therefore stay behind bars for 90 years if the judgment stays. 

Moses Kuria 'Abandoned' by His People

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria 

Residents of Gatundu South have reportedly refused to go on a rampage to demand the release of their legislator Moses Kuria.

Mr Kuria has been in police custody for the last three days after a video of him calling for the 'assassination' of CORD leader Raila Odinga went viral.

According to reports, the constituency's CDF officials organised the protest then tried to woe boda-boda operators who declined to participate unless they were paid.

"The few officials and Kuria sycophants took part in the tyre burning incident but it did not last. Had they paid us, we would not have disappointed them," one of the riders was quoted by the Nation.

A section of the locals noted that it was not an uncommon scene to see the legislator arrested adding that he had not even fulfilled his promises to them.

Another resident identified as Gichana Mukundi stated that: "Kuria committed the offence alone. Let him face the music. He is not a first-time offender”.

Kuria was arrested alongside seven other politicians from the CORD and Jubilee coalitions over inflammatory statements.

The eight alleged hatemongers were on Friday morning arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts and were set to be charged.

Raila arrives in Nakuru Jubilee strong holds

Cord leader Raila Odinga received by ODM Nakuru County Chairman Ole Osono and other officials.

Cord leader Raila Odinga has arrived in Nakuru town for a political rally at the Mkarafuu grounds.

Raila who arrived shortly after 11am on Saturday is also expected to meet party officials.

He was received by ODM Nakuru County Chairman Ole Osono and other officials.

On Friday, Raila was given a rousing welcome at Nyamira county while on a mission to open ODM party offices.

During his visit, Raila insisted that talks to resolve the IEBC standoff must be done outside parliament. Raila said if the talks fail, ODM has no option but to resort to demonstrations.

In April, Raila toured Meru County to woo voters in the region where he asked the government to provide more markets not subsidies for Miraa.

The president had announced that the state will give Sh1 billion to cushion miraa growers from the hardship caused by the ban of the crop in Europe two years ago.

2016/17 Budget won’t benefit the common mwananchi – MP

Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich at the National Treasury buildings on Wednesday, June 8, 2016 before he read the 2016/2017 national budget.


Kiminini Member of Parliament Chris Wamalwa has criticised the 2016/2017 Financial Year Budget, saying it did not take care of the common mwanachi.
 
Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich read the Sh2.3 trillion budget on Wednesday afternoon in the National Assembly.

Wamalwa said the increase of tax on kerosene will hurt many Kenyans who use the commodity every day.

The Cord lawmaker said the reduction of excise duty on imported stoves was of no significance as far as relieving Kenyans from tax burden is concerned.

Rotich said tax on kerosene will increase by 10 per cent, while excise duty on stoves will reduce from 25 per cent to 10 per cent.

“This is a public relations budget. The common mwananchil will suffer more because of the introduction of tax on paraffin,” Wamalwa said.

“How many people use LPG gas? Very few, therefore, the reduction of VAT on LPG is of no benefit to most Kenyans,” he added.

The price of kerosene is set to rise by at least Sh6 per litre after the re-introduction of exercise duty on the commodity. 

Rotich said the move is primarily meant to deter oil marketers from adulterating petrol and diesel using kerosene.

The MP however praised the government for allocating Sh19.7 billion to Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, saying there was need to pool adequate resources for 2017 polls.

The price of beauty products is set to go up after Rotich proposed to collect more taxes from cosmetics. 

The beauty products will now be charged an excise duty of 10 per cent.

Security, youth and women and farmers are among the big winners of the 2016/17 national budget.

Sh124.04 billion has been allocated to the Defence Ministry and the National Intelligence Service (NIS).

The State Department of Interior and Coordination of National Government received Sh140.6 billion allocation.

Rotich said the allocations would go towards military and police modernisation, and enhanced security operations across the country.

Treasury also set aside Sh4.9 billion to subsidise fertilizer and seeds.

Another Sh8.4 billion has been set aside for the modernisation of the Kenya Meat Commission, the revival of the pyrethrum sector, a livestock and crop insurance scheme as well as the mechanisation of agriculture.

Miraa farmers are also set to benefit from a crop diversification programme, which Treasury allocated Sh1 billion.