Kenyan women on week-long sex boycott

By Susan Anyangu, April 30 2009
Sex, money and power are said to make the world go round, especially when dealing with politicians who take people round in circles until they feel dizzy. Now, women in Kenya have joined hands to boycott sex for the next seven days to push for reforms and constitutional review. Beginning today, G10 - a consortium of women lobbies - announced a week-long sex boycott to push for political reforms, and have secured support from a prominent personality in the land. Ida Odinga has joined teh boycott but no word yet from Lucy Kibaki. More>>>

Kalonzo's swagger turns whimpish

By Lucas Barasa, April 30 2009
Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka will not take the fight for the leadership of the House Business Committee to the courts. His change of heart comes a day after he indicated that PNU would seek an interpretation of the position of the National Accord on the issue from a constitutional court. But on Wednesday, the VP said consultations were taking place to resolve the impasse. His backtracking came as lawyers and diplomats backed Speaker Kenneth Marende’s ruling. More>>>

7,000 prostitutes ply trade in Nairobi daily

By Gatonye Gathura, April 30 2009
An ongoing census on the number of female and male prostitutes in the country indicates there are more than 7,000 of them in Nairobi’s Central Business District every night. Through the recently launched Wacha Mpango wa Kando programme, the Ministry of Public Health is identifying prostitution hotspots and providing them with services and products to curb HIV. More>>>

Marende overrules Kibaki, reminds him he must consult Raila

By Philip Mulee, April 29 2009
SPEAKER Kenneth Marende yesterday surprised both friends and foes when he overruled President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga and installed himself the interim chairman of the influential House Business Committee (HBC). In a landmark ruling, Marende broke the stalemate that had paralysed parliamentary business since Tuesday last week when President Kibaki officially opened the Third Session of the Tenth Parliament. In his ruling Marende declared “neither of the principals could lead the country without the other.” More>>>

Law Society applauds Speaker, PNU cries foul

By our correspondents, April 29 2009
Lawyers have welcomed House Speaker’s decision to take over as chairman of the House Business Committee (HBC). The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) chairman Okong’o O’mogeni and International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) Kenya chapter chairman Alfred Nderitu praised Marende’s decision. PNU led by Kalonzo Musyoka termed the decision "an assault on the presidency" and vowed to move to court to seek redress. Interestingly, George Saitoti, Martha Karua, Paul Muite, hailed the decision. More>>>

Uganda lowers flag in Migingo to cool tensions

By Samson Ntale, April 29 2009
Uganda pulled down her flag on Monday on the disputed Migingo Island in Lake Victoria to allow final preparation for the demarcation. This will calm nerves of the Kenyan public who are said to have become hostile to Ugandans living and travelling through Kenya. More>>>

Four killed in border dispute

Uneasy calm has now returned to the troubled border of Migori and Trans Mara districts. Four people have been killed and several houses burnt since the clashes started. More>>>

Top law don is dead

By Beauttah Omanga, April 29 2009
Top constitutional lawyer Hastings Okoth-Ogendo is dead. Ogendo, who played a key role in the Bomas draft constitution, died on Friday evening at an Ethiopian hospital where he was taken after developing respiratory complications. His son, Rodney, said his mother, Ruth, had accompanied Ogendo to an international land policy conference. She was by his bedside when he died. More>>>

Ligale picked to head boundary review commission

By Oliver Mathenge, April 29 2009
The Parliamentary Select Committee on the Constitution has nominated former assistant minister Andrew Ligale (ex-MP for Vihiga) to chair the Interim Independent Boundary Review Commission. Mr Ligale was picked ahead of Nairobi lawyer and human rights activist Harun Ndubi and former National Agency for the Campaign Against Drugs Abuse (Nacada) boss Joseph Kaguth. More>>>

Child dies as swine flu spreads across the globe

A 23-month-old child in Texas is the first person known to have died of swine flu outside Mexico, where it may have killed as many as 159 people. Officials in Washington gave no other details of the patient - one of 64 cases of infection with the virus. Germany and Austria have detected their first cases of the virus and the UK and Spain have confirmed new cases. More>>>

Huge explosion rocks Dar es Salaam

By our correspondent, April 29 2009
An ammunition dump on the outskirts of the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam has exploded, causing a huge fire, panic and the ordering of a mass evacuatio at Mbagala army base. More>>>

Swine flu which started in Mexico is spreading across the world. Protective masks are a must.

Kenya, Tanzania launch road project

By Reuters, April 29 2009
Kenya and Tanzania have launched a $164 million road project expected to boost trade, tourism and agriculture in the region. The 240 km stretch runs from Arusha through Namanga to Athi River in Kenya. More>>>

All eyes on Marende to forestall crisis as ODM calls for fresh elections

By our correspondents, April 27 2009
At 2.30 p.m. this Tuesday, the entire nation will be watching Speaker Kenneth Marende deliver one of the most anticipated judgments in the history of the 10th Parliament. The weight of the moment is not lost to observers. Marende will become both hero or villian from the words that will come from his mouth tommorow depending on whether you are PNU or ODM. At stake is who drives the House agenda; pitting President Kibaki's appointee, Kalonzo Musyoka and the ebullient PM, Raila Odinga. More>>>

Villager annointed by Greek gods

By Cosmas Butunyi, April 27 2009
When he stepped into the presidential palace in Athens, Greece, Tobias Olang’o Nyabola thought he was dreaming. He did not understand how the president of a European country could have time to see a villager like him, a retired teacher from Bondo in Nyanza. On seeing him at the entrance, President Karolos Papoulias rose and walked towards him, took him by the hand and led him to a seat in the tastefully furnished room. More>>>

Wanjiru wins London Marathon

Olympic champion Sammy Wanjiru won his first London Marathon title in a course record time on Sunday as Irina Mikitenko defended her title in the women's race. More>>>

Wabukala elected Archbishop

By our correspondents, April 25 2009
Dr Eliud Wabukala is the new Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya, the second largest Christian denomination in Kenya. He will succeed the Right Reverend Benjamin Nzimbi who retires in June. In a four-hour long election, Wabukala, 58, trounced three other contestants to become the fifth ACK Archbishop. Wabukala who is married to Karen hasd five adult children and becomes the second Luhya to hold the coveted position in the Anglican Church. The first was the late Archbishop Fest Olang' from Bunyore. His closest competitor was Bishop Joseph Wasonga who he beat in the fourth round. Wasonga, who is also the Maseno West Diocese bishop, lost to Nzimbi in 2003. Taita Taveta Bishop, Samson Mwaluda and his Kitale counterpart Stephen Kewasis lost in the first and the second rounds. More>>>

10-year wait for wage review shocks Mudavadi

By Ben O'Nyasimi, April 25 2009
GOVERNMENT will make radical changes to the Local Government Act to address various challenges facing local authorities in Kenya, Deputy Prime minister Musalia Mudavadi has said. Mudavadi said among the challenges the Act will address once amendments are made include addressing serious salary disparities that existed among workers of local authorities. He expressed shock that due to politics and use of the amended Act, there were some employees who had stuck in the same job groups for more than ten years, a thing he said that will come to an end soon once amendments are made. More>>>

George Wajackoyah

Wajackoyah for Sierra Leone fundraiser

Professor George Wajackoyah will speak on "causes of poverty in Africa" at a Sierra Leone fundraising event in Los Angels on May 30. more

Secret memo spills the beans on Migingo Island

By our correspondents, April 24 2009
Details have emerged of how Uganda launched and executed operations to forcibly take the disputed Migingo Island near its border with Kenya. The Standard has uncovers the operation, code-named Restore Sanity, was launched on February 20, when Uganda entrenched its presence on the island. More>>>

Konzolo charged with Shs51m theft

By INGONEWS Reporter, April 24 2009
Jos Konzolo, the flamboyant businessman from Isukha, Kakamega, has been charged with stealing Shs51m from Barclays Bank. Consequently he has resigned as Chair of Kenya Association of Stockbrokers and Bankers, a position he has held for the last two years. The hearing will take place on May 28, 2009. Konzolo is a director of several firms among them Econet, the third mobile telephone provider. More>>>.

Govt paralysed by impasse over House leader

By our correspondents, April 24 2009
The impasse over who between Vice- President Kalonzo Musyoka and Prime Minister Raila Odinga should be the Leader of Government Business in Parliament continued, even as it emerged essential services could be paralysed. At stake is Sh8.5 billion for the importation of maize to feed the starving, which is part of Sh26 billion supplementary budget held hostage by the deadlock over the creation of the House Business Committee (HBC). More>>>

25,000 die of malaria annually

By Raila Odinga, April 24 2009
Kenya has seen Malaria deaths drop from 32,000 to 25,000 annually in the recent past. But this still means that we are losing 25,000 potential heroes who might make a difference globally, just like US President Barack Obama did. More>>>

PNU, ODM tussle could shut House for 6 months

By our correspondents, April 23 2009
A tussle between Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Prime Minister Raila Odinga for the position of Leader of Government Business in Parliament yesterday sabotaged the creation of the House Business Committee (HBC) and unless resolved could shut Parliament for six months, House Speaker, Kenneth Marende has warned. More>>>

Bishop Wabukala and Wasonga vie for top Anglican Church job

By David Ohito, April 23 2009
The Anglican Church will pick a new archbishop on Friday in an election that has attracted four bishops. All eyes focus on the 150 members of the electoral college who will decide the fifth archbishop to succeed the Reverend Benjamin Nzimbi. The four contenders race are Bishops Eliud Wabukala (Bungoma), Joseph Wasonga (Maseno West), Samson Mwaluda (Taita Taveta) and Stephen Kewasis (Eldoret). More>>>

House Speaker, Kenneth Marende has lived to his word in modernisng parliamentary procedures and making the House accountable to the electorate.

Shitanda huffs over grabbed land

By Ken Wekesa, April 23 2009
THE Government will repossess all public land grabbed by developers, Housing Minister Soita Shitanda has said. Soita warned the grabbers of dire consequences, saying the ministry was ready to fight them until they surrender all public land. “We will bring down the structures however tall they are, however old their title deeds would be. We are ready to challenge your title deeds in court,” said the minister. More>>>

Marende overhauls archaic parliament

By Alex Ndegwa & INGONEWS Reporter, April 23 2009
When Parliament reopened on Tuesday, it operates under new rules that will cut it loose from archaic and rigid traditions. It is a triumph particularly for House Speaker Kenneth Marende. When he took office early last year, Marende promised radical reforms to an institution hitherto closed to society, operating in mysticism and governed by archaic rules. More>>>

Zuma zooms into SA presidency

By our correspondent, April 23 2009
As leader of the African National Congress, Jacob Zuma looks set to become South Africa's next president. Barely four years ago, his political career was all but written off when he was battling sleazy allegations of rape and corruption. He is zulu and a former freedom fighter. More>>

World Bank gives $5m to small scale maize farmers

By our correspondent, April 23 2009
The World Bank has approved an emergency grant of US$5 million to assist Kenya’s small scale farmers increase maize production, according to a press statement from the Bank.. The grant will scale up an existing Government of Kenya seed and fertilizer voucher scheme, the National Accelerated Agricultural Inputs Access Program. It will target 50,000 smallholder farmers in six maize producing districts in the Rift Valley.

Jacob Zuma: Set to become SA president

Community mourns executed engineer

By Dominic Wabala, April 23 2009
Wilson Juma Abura, 49, had just had his regular workout at a city gym and was walking to his car at about 8pm. Two gunmen lying in wait emerged and shot him five times in the chest and stomach at point-blank range. The ministry of Public Works engineer died instantly. The April 7 incident outside Gym & Tonic on Baricho Road near Nakumatt Mega had all indications of a well-planned execution rather than a spontaneous crime or a carjacking gone wrong. According to witnesses, the two gunmen waited for Mr Abura and called out his name when he was putting his bag into the car. As he turned and surrendered on seeing guns pointed at him, the hit men fired and disappeared as watchmen in the vicinity fled at the sound of gunshots. The gangsters did not attempt to steal his car or frisk him for his wallet or any other valuables. Mr Abura, a father of four, was buried on Saturday at his Amerikwai village home in Samia, Busia. More>>>

Health gives Nyong'o, Mugo pounding headache

By Elizabeth Mwai, April 22 2009
Public Health Minister Beth Mugo and her Medical Services colleague Anyang Nyong’o have differed over calls to merge their ministries. Yesterday, Mrs Mugo argued merging the two would override preventive and promotive measures, which are core in global health.However, Prof Nyong’o criticised the split citing overlaps in responsibilities. More>>>

Tikolo quits cricket next year

By Mutwiri Mutuota, April 22 2009
National cricket team captain, Steve Tikolo, has resisted demands to stay on until after 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, insisting he will step down from the side before the event to be staged India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Tikolo, 37 and a veteran of four World Cups and 117 ODIs, said reaching the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup was the high point of his captaincy. He made his ODI debut against India in 1996 and was appointed captain in 2002 replacing Maurice Odumbe. More>>>

Kenya-US direct flights start in June

By John Oyuke, April 22 2009
Delta Airlines has confirmed it will start commercial flights from the United States to Kenya on June 3. The new four-time weekly flights would be the only direct service to the US from Kenya. More>>>

Wanjala, Bifwoli, Jirongo boast about their many wives, mistresses

By Ouma Wanzala, April 21 2009
Polygamy is the way to go. That seemed to be the top message former assistant minister Raphael Wanjala had for his Budalang’i constituency supporters during a homecoming rally on Sunday. And for the first time in public, Mr Wanjala said he was having an affair with Ms Joyce Akinyi - whom he referred to as Teresa - under customary law, and asked the media to keep off his private life. Mr Wanjala said any 18-year-old Kenyan had a right to marry a woman of his choice without being condemned, adding that the law allowed a man to marry under church, customary and AG’s chambers. More>>>

29 killed overnight in Mungiki revenge

By our correspondent, April 21 2009
At least 29 people have been killed in Monday overnight clashes between Kirinyaga residents in central Kenya and suspected Mungiki members. The sect members struck two villages on the border between Kirinyaga and Nyeri and killed 29 people in retaliation after a week in which more than ten of their members were killed in Kirinyaga area. More>>>

New twist in border row over Migingo

By our correspondents, April 21 2009
A delegation of Ugandan ministers is in Nairobi for daylong consultations with Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetangula over the disputed Migingo island in Lake Victoria. Yesterday, diplomatic and security sources intimated that the battle for Migingo could be a smokescreen to pressure Nairobi to deliver a negotiator for the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) presently based in Nairobi. And speaking for the first time, David Nyekorach Matsanga claimed "Migingo was a diversionary issue." More>>>

Wako elected president of racism conference

By Peter Opiyo, April 21 2009
Attorney General Amos Wako has been elected President of the Durban Review Conference on Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and related intolerance. Wako was nominated for the post by South Africa on behalf of the African Group and seconded by Cuba on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and India on behalf of the Asian group. The conference in Geneva, Switzerland, which started on April 20, closes on April 24. More>>>

Out with outmoded housing laws

By Abiya Ochola, April 21 2009
The Government has finally moved to review outdated building regulations. This comes after hundreds of deaths and billions of shillings in losses after the collapse of several buildings. More>>>

New challenger for world's tallest man

A new contender for world's tallest man has been discovered in China, after he attended hospital for surgery. Zhao Liang (left) was measured at 2.46m (8ft 07in) by doctors in Tianjin, where the ex-basketball player was being treated for an injury to his left tendon. It puts him 10cm (3.9in) above the official title-holder, Chinese citizen Bao Xishun, who was first recognised by Guinness World Records in 2005. More>>>

UK woman leaves house after 18 yrs

An agoraphobic woman who was too scared to leave her home for 18 years has ventured outside for the first time. Sue Curtis, 40, from South Shields on Tyneside, UK developed the phobia during a panic attack at a local library. More>>>

Left: Geoffrey Olianga as Mr Eldoret and right with his 5 months old son, Carlos Abukho.

Mr Eldoret now wants Bunyore title

By INGONEWS Reporter, April 17 2009
Geoffrey Olianga from Bunyore is the reigning Mr Eldoret. The muscleman is now a tamed man, thanks to his son, Carlos whom he says wants to be a body builder just like him and win championship titles. Mr Olianga now wants to be officially crowned Mr Bunyore if not Mr Luhya if anyone is willing to organise a contest. He is now preparing to contest Mr Kericho and Mr Kenya titles. Any sponsors? Contact the editor@abeingo.org

Map evidence shows Migingo is Kenyan

By our correspondents, April 16 2009
So who exactly owns Migingo? The combined governments of Kenya and Uganda require two months to determine the case - but we today reveal the truth about who owns the island. The Standard team took just one week to lift the lid on the vexing question - it is Kenya’s. Period. And as politicians and Government functionaries took Kenyans round in circles through diplo-speak, colonial maps from 1917 and updated in 1946 exclusively published in The Standard today indicate that Migingo - then known as Ugingo - is our sovereign territory. More>>>

Raila wins more power

By our correspondents, April 16 2009
Prime Minister Raila Odinga will now have more powers in executive appointments in Government. In far reaching resolutions arrived at during the meeting of the Permanent Committee on the Management of the Grand Coalition Affairs yesterday, members agreed that ways be worked out by next week in which Raila will be involved in the appointments. More>>>

Kwanza residents cry foul

By Osinde Obare, April 17 2009
The Government has launched a security operation to mop up illegal firearms at the troubled Kwanza and West Pokot border. More>>>

Teacher shortage hits Mumias

By our correspondent, April 17 2009
Mumias faces an acute shortage of teachers, an official of the Kenya National Union of Teachers has said. Knut Mumias branch secretary-general John Wesonga said under-staffing at most schools across the country remained a major challenge. More>>>

Pythons escape from aeroplane: An Australian airliner was grounded after four baby pythons escaped from their container. A python can swallow an animal four times its size. More>>>

Railway line uprooted over Migingo dispute

By our correspondent, April 15 2009
The dispute over Migingo Island threatened to balloon into a regional security issue as youths in Nairobi’s Kibera slums uprooted a railway line linking the two countries to protest at continued occupation of the island by Ugandan soldiers. Government Spokesman Alfred Mutua announced yesterday Kenya and Uganda would hold a joint Press conference today to explain "what is really happening at Migingo Island". However, the Ugandan authorities jumped the gun by declaring Migingo their territory, according to a statement posted on the Uganda government website. More>

AU allocates Sh700m to eradicate tsetsefly

By our correspondents, April 15 2009
The African Union (AU) has set aside more than Sh700 million to eliminate tsetse fly and boost milk production. The on-going program me under the Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Campaign (Pattec) is in its first phase and will run for six years. Pattec Country Director Pamela Olet accompanied by the Director of Veterinary Services Peter Maina and the programme supervisor in Africa John Kabayo said AU was out to eradicate tsetse fly in the continent. They said the eradication for the good health of cattle was also to end sleeping sickness. More>>>

Wekesa dismisses coalition committee as waste of space

By Beauttah Omanga, April 14 2009
Cabinet ministers and a section of MPs now want the Permanent Committee on Management of the Coalition disbanded. This comes amid revelations that Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura has been mandated to organise another session of talks. But Cabinet ministers Mutula Kilonzo and Noah Wekesa dismissed the committee as ‘misplaced’. "That committee will never get the coalition any results. It is a waste of resources and the earlier it is dissolved the better," said Dr Wekesa. More>>>

Nzoia seeks Sh200m to pay debts

By Allan Kisia, April 14 2009
Nzoia Sugar Company (NSC) has applied for Sh200 million loan from the Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) in readiness for privatisation. Board chairman Burudi Nabwera said the loan will mainly be used to modernise the mills and pay off debts before a new investor acquires the factory. More>>>

Army recruiters don't recognise new districts

By Karanja Njoroge, April 14 2009
The creation of new districts has caused confusion in the armed forces recruitment in Nakuru. Hundreds of youths who turned up for recruitment were yesterday turned away after they were informed that they belonged to new administrative zones, which the military had no idea about. More>>>

Papa Shirandula bids bye to poverty

Today Charles Bukeko will take his family out to a fancy restaurant in Nairobi to eat together in the spirit of Easter celebration. He can afford it, in sharp contrast to a few years back when hunger was a part of his life. Just the other day, Mr Bukeko would walk all the way to town from Eastlands because he could not afford the Sh10 matatu (public minivan) fare. Now the worst seems to be over as Mr Bukeko is a millionaire and a celebrity of international repute. More>>>

Mudavadi's sister is dead

Deputy premier and minister for local government, Mr Musalia Mudavadi has lost his elder sister. Sarah Vugutsa died last week and was laid to rest at Mululu village in Sabatia yesterday. Among the mourners was Prime Minister, Raila Odinga.

Annan to Kenya's rescue

By our correspondent, April 12 2009
Kenya’s peace mediator Kofi Annan has once again stepped in to convince President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to put aside their differences and hold talks on urgent reforms within the shortest time possible. More>>>

New Lugari district illegal

By our correspondent, April 10 2009
The new district carved out of Lugari last week by President Kibaki may be illegal after all. Questions are now being raised over the legality of all the districts created by Kenya President Mwai Kibaki in the past three years. Lawyers argue that almost all the newly-created districts are illegal since they have not been ratified by Parliament, a matter likely to spark serious debate in the country. Kenya now has 210 districts of which western's share is 21 or 10 per cent. Kibaki has created more than 100 districts since 2003. More>>>

Western province crowned national champs

By Agnes Makhandia, April 10 2009
WESTERN province were crowned national champions for the Nestle Kenya- Sponsored 27th edition of the Kenya Primary School Ball Games and gymnastics (KPSA) games at the Nyeri Moi Complex stadium on Tuesday. Western province defeated seven other provinces with a maximum of 62 points in a tight competition that saw it leading in most games among them netball for both girls and boys, and football girls. More>>>

Tension as fishermen are arrested in Migingo

By our correspondents, April 10 2009
There was tension on Migingo Island on Thursday evening after Ugandan security officials arrested three Kenyan fishermen. Migingo Beach management officials said tension was high, as fishermen demanded the unconditional release of their colleagues, who were being held in a makeshift cell on the rocky island. More>>>

Karua dumps Kibaki

Martha Karua, Kenya’s Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister has resigned from the Grand Coalition Government. She made good her threat to quit only a day after declaring “enough is enough” after attending a church service at the Anglican Church in Nairobi. She has said that she decided to resign because of frustrations in discharging her duties. Assistant minister Danson Mungatana has announced his resignation from the Kenya Government. In a double blow to the fragile Coalition Government, the Medical Services Assistant minister joins his party chairperson Martha Karua, who resigned on Monday, out of government. More>>>

Bilharzia scuttles army career for thousands of Busia youth

By our correspondent, April 6 2009
In Bunyala and Samia districts, thousands of youths failed to make it into the army after they were found to have bilharzia. In Busia, 1,000 youths turned up early but by mid-day only one woman had been confirmed to have met the requirement. We had not established the number of men by last evening. Those who were turned away either had scars or were underweight. More>>>

Swiss ready to unmask Anglo Leasing ghosts

By our correspondent, April 7 2009
The veil on the shadowy figures behind the Anglo Leasing-type contracts could soon be lifted following the decision by Swiss authorities to freeze major bank accounts held by fictitious companies. Deputy Head of Swiss Mission in Nairobi Siri Walt said they have new documents that lay bare all the ghosts of the multi billion shilling scam. More

Govt in tatters as talks collapse

By our correspondent, April 5 2009
The Grand Coalition Government is in tatters. Prime Minister Raila Odinga walked out on a meeting chaired by President Kibaki and refused to return when he sent for him. The Cabinet is mired in confusion. Kilaguni ministers’ retreat turned a fiasco. The fires of bitter rivalry between Kibaki and Raila, momentarily quenched by power sharing, have burst the seams. The Cabinet – the country’s highest decision making organ - is in a shambles and the two managers have left the bench to stand by their teams. ODM is considering their next week. More>>>

Karua gives Kibaki ultimatum

By Munene Kamau, April 5 2009
Justice Minister Martha Karua has threatened to quit the Cabinet due to frustrations from power brokers. Ms Karua said she no longer has a hand in the running of her ministry. She charged that a cartel in the Office of the President is frustrating her and decisions on her ministry are made without her knowledge. More>>>

UK fraud investigator accuses Wako over Anglo Leasing

By Arthur Okwemba, April 5 2009
Attorney-General Amos Wako is on the spot again after the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) of Britain accused him of failing to request an investigation report it has prepared on the Anglo Leasing scandal, the Sunday Nation has established. The report, which was to be handed to the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) to help resolve some of the Sh56 billion scandals, is, however, stuck in London as Mr Wako has yet to give his approval. More>>>

Broke Kenya cuts budget by 11%

By Jaindi Kisero, April 5 2009
The development budgets of the ministry of Roads and that of Energy have been cut by Sh3 billion, Internal Securiy by Sh2 billion, Finance by Sh1.1 billion, and Nairobi Metropolitan Development by Sh1.3 billion. With regard to the recurrent budget, the biggest loser is the National Intelligence Service whose budget has been cut by Sh1 billion. The current budget was prepared on the assumption that the economy would grow by 4.5 per cent. More>>>

Obama ups the ante on corrupt Kenya

By Alex Ndegwa, April 4 2009
US President Barack Obama has told the Kenyan Government to tackle corruption first if it hopes to benefit from his administration. In his first remarks on his ancestral country since his inauguration to office, Obama sent out a stern message any assistance to Kenya would be pegged on its anti-corruption performance and the rule of law. More>>>

Saved: Chief Justice Evan Gicheru.

Kibaki saves CJ

By our correspondents, April 2 2009
President Kibaki has backed embattled Chief Justice Evan Gicheru and dismissed a petition by the Law society of Kenya against him. In the petition, LSK had requested the President to appoint a tribunal to investigate the CJ. By expressing confidence in Gicheru, Kibaki has slapped Justice Minister, Martha Karua who has condemned the CJ. More>>>

Uganda tells Raila to forget Migingo completely

By our correspondents, April 4 2009
The Migingo Island row deepened with Uganda telling off Prime Minister Raila Odinga and asking him to forget the island. Yesterday, Ugandan Internal Affairs Minister Kirunda Kivejinja maintained the island would remain under their control until boundaries are drawn. The declaration in yesterday’s Uganda’s Daily Monitor newspaper was a response to Raila’s remarks while touring Busia on Thursday. More>>>

Annan opens can of worms on 'rigged' Kenyan polls

By Oscar Obonyo, April 4 2009
Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan speaks candidly on his peace-making mission in Kenya and gives insight into the key players and secret power intrigues as Kenya burnt. It is the riveting story not only of how he brought President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to symbolically shake hands before cameras but also the burdensome task behind the scene. More>>>

Gideon Moi denies land grabbing

By our correspondent, April 3 2009
Prominent persons accused of illegally acquiring large tracts of land in Mau Forest have denied the claims. Former Baringo Central MP Gideon Moi yesterday said the taskforce appointed by Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Mau Forest Complex conservation should have offered him an opportunity to be heard. More>>>

Hosea Kiplagat, nephew of former President Daniel arap Moi denies grabbing land in Mau forest. He said the he was allocated 20 hectares legally as a Kenyan. (Am a Kenyan and I have never been allocated any land legally or otherwise - editor)

Judges appointments sparks fury

By our correspondent, April 3 2009
President Kibaki appeared to pull the rug from under the feet of Justice Minister Martha Karua, who said she was not aware of the appointment of the seven judges sworn-in Thursday. The appointments elicited mixed reaction, with some leading lawyers and commentators dismissing them as cosmetic and falling short of wide-ranging reforms required in the Judiciary. More>>>

Aggrey Muchelule: He is one of the judges whose swearing-in was cancelled at the 11th hour, as they waited at State House in December 2006. He holds a Master’s degree in Law from the University of Nairobi and is a former chairman of the Kenya Magistrate and Judges Association. He has presided over high-level cases, including the Sh6 billion cocaine case and was handling the Sh5.8 billion Goldenberg related cases. Until yesterday, he was stationed at the Milimani Commercial Courts, Nairobi.

Wamalwa boss of KAA for only two days

By our correspondent, April 3 2009
Mathew Wamalwa who was appointed acting managing director of Kenya Airports Authority two days ago has been shunted aside after his former boss, George Muhoho was re-appointed as MD by Transport Minister, Chirau Ali Mwakwere yesterday. He will serve a one-year tenure. More>>>

Two head teachers demoted for lateness

By our correspondent, April 3 2009
Two primary school heads, who reported to work late have been demoted. The Teso district education officer, Mr Indiatsi Mabale, said that the headteachers of Osuret and Onyunyuru primary schools in Teso North District were subsequently replaced. Speaking to the Nation by phone, the officer said he was at the two schools on Wednesday and found that the headteachers had not reported by 8.15am. Pupils were being rained on because all the classrooms were still locked, the DEO said. More>>>

Revealed: Moi's son grabbed Mau forest

Twenty-five powerful individuals were given 500 hectares of Mau forest, according to a government report. They included former President Moi’s son Gideon Moi, Baringo Central MP Sammy Mwaita, who was at the time the Commissioner of Lands, a former presidential aide Joshua Kulei, former nominated MP Mark Too and former PS now MP Zacharia Cheruiyot, among others. More>>>

Coalition retreat marred by PNU, ODM political ping pong

By David Mugonyi, April 3 2009
Antagonism and grandstanding clouds a retreat that is expected to streamline the affairs of the Grand Coalition Government with PNU ruling out any renegotiation of the National Accord. Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka on Thursday called a press conference to disclose the agenda of the meeting which starts on Friday. He said the renegotiation of the Accord as demanded by ODM was not on the agenda. More>>>

Muchelule sworn in as High Court judge

By INGONEWS Reporter, April 2 2009
Aggrey Otsyula Muchelule has been promoted to the rank of judge of the High Court. Muchelule who has served as a chief magistrate in Nairobi and Mombasa was sworn in by President Kibaki today at State House, Nairobi. Muchelule was sworn in alongside seven other recently promoted judges namely: Justice Aggrey Otsyula Muchelule, Lady Justice Florence Nyaguthi Muchemi, Lady Justice Maureen Akinyi Odero, Lady Justice Abida Ali-Aroni and Justice Said Chitembwe. The new Court of Appeal judges are Justice Alnashir Ramazanali Magan Visram and Justice Joseph Gregory Nyamu. More>>>

New ECK chairman picked

By our correspondent, April 2 2009
The Parliamentary select committee on constitution has picked lawyer Ahmed Issack Hassan as chairman of the Independent Interim Electoral Commission (IIEC). Hassan was born in 1972 and was the youngest and most active commissioner in the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission during the Kenya law review process. More>>>

Street boy paints his way out of poverty

By Mangoa Mosota, April 2 2009
Ten years ago, he was among destitute children eking out a living on the streets. He rummaged trash bins and dumpsites for food on the streets of Kisumu town and lived a day at a time. But today, that squalid life is history. He has moved on and draws captivating paintings, most of them depicting his former lifestyle. Justus Onyango, 17, carefully sketches on a manila paper and takes some time before looking up to answer our questions. More>>>