Atwoli cautions Western Kenya leaders against defecting to Jubilee

 

Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) Secretary General Francis Atwoli at a past event. Atwoli has cautioned politicians from Western Kenya against abandoning their current parties and defecting to the yet-to-be-unveiled Jubilee Alliance Party. 

 

Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has cautioned politicians from Western Kenya against abandoning their current parties and defecting to the yet-to-be-unveiled Jubilee Alliance Party. 

Mr Atwoli claimed that some politicians have literally been “bought” to defect by people who were not interested in improving the lives of members of the community.

Leaders from Western region have recently shown signs that they will be abandoning the Raila-Odinga led opposition alliance Cord for other political outfits. 

“Leaders from western should not allow themselves to fall victim to Jubilee’s intrigues, especially being brainwashed with a few million shillings,” Atwoli said while addressing a consultative forum of Trade Union leaders at the Tom Mboya Labor College in Kisumu.

The experienced trade unionist cautioned that the Jubilee Alliance was keen to use all means to win the support of the heavily populated Western region.

Their counterparts from Jubilee lead by President Uhuru have asked them to retreat to the ruling coalition that is yet to transform itself into a full-fledged party.

“What these people are doing is trying to recruit defections or attract insurgents into their group,” Atwoli added. 

He spoke against the backdrop of a growing rebellion by a section of the Orange Democratic Movement Members of Parliament from the region and sustained forays by the Jubilee leadership. 

Cotu held a consultative forum of trade union leaders at Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu on July 25, 2016.

Nyayo war of words: Ruto vs Moi

 

 Deputy President William Ruto (left) and Baringo Senator Gideon Moi.

 Stop your insults, Gideon tells DP Ruto

 Baringo Senator Gideon Moi has told off Deputy President William Ruto and asked him to stop insulting him and his party, Kanu.

Gideon said Monday he respects Ruto as the deputy president but he should cease interfering with his work and Kanu, terming the latter’s actions as ‘unfortunate and uncalled for.’

“Our competitors should know that Kanu has awakened and should brace themselves for a bruising battle during the next general election because every corner of the country is willing to join us. I have not spoken yet and when I speak, it will be unstoppable,” posted the Senator on his Facebook page.

According to the Star, Ruto downplayed Gideon’s influence saying he cannot match him academically, and so won’t engage with him in a tug of war in the scramble for the Rift Valley votes.

"I wonder why this son of Moi continues to gang up against me from the back yet I respected and supported his father while he was in power as the second president of this country," the DP said.

Ruto is said to have asked Gideon to "stop being stubborn" and honour a call by Jubilee leaders who are pushing for a single party to counter their competitors during next year’s polls.

As regards the former ruling party, Ruto termed it as old-fashioned, noting that it needs to be undressed and given a change of attire.

"More leaders from all corners of the country including Mombasa, Western and even Kisumu are already decamping in numbers to Jubilee. I wonder what my friend Gideon is still doing in the ageing Kanu party," said Ruto.

The DP made the remarks during a funds drive in aid of the Mary Mother of Jesus Catholic Church at Kabarnet High School grounds.

Koffi Olomide: Congo singer guilty of assault

 

Koffi Olomide, one of Africa's most popular singers, has been given a three-month suspended prison sentence for assaulting his producer. 

The rumba star, 56, was arrested after a fracas on Wednesday at a hotel in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Correspondents say the courtroom was packed to see the star, who leads the Quartier Latin band.

Olomide this year denied charges of raping three of his dancers in France. 

The altercation with his producer, Diego Lubaki, was over a debt of 3,000 euros ($3,680, £2,345), the court heard.

'Door damaged' 

Mr Lubaki said he wanted to drop the charges, but the judge continued the trial.

"He wanted to withdraw charges in favour of social peace and peace between him and the one he calls his 'big brother'," one of his lawyers is quoted by the AFP news agency as saying. 

The court convicted Olomide of assault and battery but acquitted him of malicious destruction to property, after the hotel room door was damaged in the fight. 

The music he plays is known as "soukous", which comes from the French word secouer, meaning to shake, and its dancers are renowned for their erotic moves.

Like other Congolese musicians, he is known for his extravagant lifestyle and flashy outfits. 

Born in 1956, he won a scholarship to do a maths degree in France. On his return to the then-Zaire, he joined the band of musician Papa Wemba, initially as a songwriter.

He later struck out on his own and in the 1980s his soukous style gained popularity around Africa and he has won several Kora All Africa Music Awards.

However, his career has not been without controversy and the raunchy performances of some of his songs have been banned in some countries.

He sang in support of DR Congo's President Joseph Kabila during the 2006 election campaign, angering many of his fans in the opposition. 

Olomide has battled to hold successful tours in Europe since then, as opposition supporters disrupt his concerts, the BBC's Patrice Chitera in Kinshasa says.

Wetangula criticezed Raila's presidential bid:

Bungoma Senator and one of Cord co-principals Moses Wetangula has criticized Raila Odinga's presidential bid.

Wetangula revealed this during a live television interview on KTN Leo on Thursday. The Senator advised Raila to drop his ambition and endorse either him or former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka.

“Cord will do well if Raila drops his presidential bid and accepts that he has vied for the seat three times and lost, he can now support a winning team,” Wetangula said.

Wetangula further urged Raila not to be misled by a huge crowd turnout in his rallies since they do not automatically translate to votes.

"You can go to rallies and have huge crowds. Don't think those are votes maybe people have just come to see and listen," Wetangula said.

The Senator also purported that Raila has faced a lot of opposition in his Western Kenya tour because he had not accompanied him.

“He is now in Western trying to popularise the ODM party, people are asking Raila why I did not accompany him,” Wetangula said.

In a quick respond via his twitter account, ODM Director of Communication Philip Etale told Wetangula to forget his request since Raila will be the definite Cord Presidential candidate on the ballot come 2017.

Etale also said people want to ride on Raila's back to get where they want to go and when asked to reciprocate they give silly narratives.

Leaders names could be a cause of schools on fire: 8-member team to probe school fires

Education CS Fred Matiang'i before Senate committee on education on Tuesday.Photo Hezron Njoroge

Education CS Fred Matiang’i and his Interior counterpart Joseph Nkaissery named an eight-member team to investigate the spate of school fires yesterday.

They are Claire Omollo (administration secretary in the Office of the President), Patrick Mugo (assistant Inspector General, CID), and Lillian Muli (assistant Inspector General of Police) from the Interior ministry.

From the Education ministry, members are Charles Khayira, James Kairu and Loise Nyasenda from the TSC.

Other members are educationist Grace Mullei and retired Lt Col FC Mugambi.

There have been more than 70 fires this year. Matiang’i had initially ruled out forming a task force.

There have been two task forces - the Lawrence Sagini and Naomi Wangai teams – whose recommendations have not been fully implemented.

The new team starts work immediately and will submit a report in 30 days.

The report will state measures to curb unrest and how to deal with people who raze schools.

In a statement, Matiang’i and Nkaiserry encouraged the community to get involved in protecting learners and property.

Fires have become common every second term.

Fear of exams has been cited as the major reason.

Diamond Platnumz ft P'square KIDOGO (Official Video)

MERCILESS KENYANS ON TWITTER VICIOUSLY ATTACK SENATOR MOSES WETANGULA FOR HIS VERY INSENSITIVE REMARKS ON KAPENGURIA ATTACK!!! WAH! #KOT ARE JUST TOO FUNNY AND BRUTAL YAWA…

Bungoma Senator,Moses Wetangula has been a subject of ridicule once again after his tweet insinuated that the RECCE squad was incompetent of handling the attack on Kapenguria police station by saying Rescue forces had rushed to the scene with Rungus’.

Kenyans on Twitter clearly didn’t take this lightly and were quick at giving him their piece of mind.

This is the post which has caused the uproar;