Category Archives: Local News

IEBC makes new changes ahead of Tuesday elections

August 6, 2022 Ian Amulega

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has agreed to use the manual register in polling stations after months of push and pull.

In an address to the press on Friday, August 5, IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati noted that the process of distributing the manual registers had started.

The last-minute changes followed a ruling by the High Court requiring that the electoral body incorporates the manual registers into its operations.

Initially, IEBC had maintained that it would only use KIEMS kits in its operations.

“We shall now deploy the printed register of voters at the polling stations where the names of the voters shall be crossed out after identification of voters using the KIEMs Kit.

“The Commission commits to adhere to the rule of law and will facilitate the realisation of political rights of Kenyans as is capitulated in Article 38 of the constitution in order to deliver a free, fair and credible election,”
announced Chebukati.

He further explained that register contained all the details of the voter ranging from the photo and ID number among others.

“It has two levels of usage; it will be crossed out at the same time with verification by the biometrics and also as complementary if the KIEMS Kit fails,”
Chebukati added.

The announcement succeeded a ruling by the High Court, which revoked a decision by the IEBC to exclude manual registers.

In July, Azimio la Umoja One Kenya led by former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, had threatened to boycott the election if the commission excludes the use of the printed register.

Raila, at the time, stated that the IEBC must embrace both manual and electronic voter registers and if they do not, there would be no election on August 9.

He insisted that both registers must be accessible due to alleged attempts to sabotage the upcoming election.

“With a manual register, it will be easy to tell how many people have voted in every polling station. In the electronic register, there is no record that remains.

“That is why we are saying that there must be a manual register at every polling station, it is not negotiable. We are telling the IEBC they must have a manual register along with the biometric identification of voters on that day; failure to which, there will be no election,”
he argued at the time.

Local News

Embattled KU VC Paul Wanaina finds new replacement

August 5, 2022 Ian Amulega

Kenyatta University Council has disregarded orders by the Employment and Labour Relations Court blocking the firing of Vice Chancellor, Paul Wainaina.

In a statement dated Friday, August 5, KU Chairman of Council, Chrispus Kiamba, noted that Wainaina has been replaced by Waceke Wanjohi, who will be the acting VC until a permanent replacement is found.

He urged all the staff members and students to accord Wanjohi all the necessary support to ensure the continued stability of the university.

“The attention of the university community is drawn to a decision by the Hon. Justice Gakeri of the Employment and Labour Court in Nairobi on 4th August 2022 where the court dismissed an application by Prof. Paul Wainaina for injunctive orders.

“Arising from the above developments, Council has resolved that Prof. Waceke Wanjohi continues as the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University until further notice,”
the statement read in part.

“Pending hearing and determination of this application inter-parties, this honourable court is pleased to issue a temporary order suspending the implementation of the decision contained in the letter dated July 12 by Professor Crispus Kiamba suspending, terminating and/or dismissing the petitioner from the Office of the Vice Chancellor, rendering his position vacant and/or revoking his salary,”
ruled Justice Gakeri.

This comes amid orders by Justice Jacob Gakeri who temporarily barred the suspension of Wainaina and directed the case be placed before any Judge on July 28 for inter parties hearing.

Wainaina, through his lawyer, filed a petition seeking the court’s order barring the enforcement of the orders issued by Head of Public Service, Joseph Kinyua, arguing that the termination of Wainaina’s employment was a preserve of the University Council.

“An injustice has been perpetrated upon the applicant herein and this honourable court should remedy the said injustice by the Head of Public Service by urgently staying the impugned suspension,”
the embattled VC told the court through his lawyer.

Wainaina’s lawyer, Manwa Hosea, had asked the court to issue a conservatory order suspending the decision contained in a letter dated July 12 by Kiamba that suspended the VC and appointed Wanjohi in an acting capacity.

President Uhuru Kenyatta had engaged in a war of words with Wainaina for opposing plans to cede part of the institution’s land to the World Health Organization to build the Ksh600 million emergency hub that would cater for its regional operations.

Wainaina’s dismissal saw the President come under sharp criticism from a section of leaders allied to Deputy President, William Ruto, who accused him of trying to meddle with the running of independent public institutions.

Local News

Kisumu County: Gov’t issues new orders ahead of August elections

August 4, 2022 Ian Amulega

The County Government of Kisumu on Thursday, August 4, ordered all bars, nightclubs, lodgings, and markets to be closed from midnight August 8 to 5 pm August 9 to encourage more voters to turn up for the election.

In a directive issued by acting City Manager Abala Wanga, the county noted that the order would prevent residents from overindulging in alcohol among other pleasures, and fail to vote.

With the social joints closed, Wanga noted that voters would easily go to polling stations without many disruptions.

“On August 8, we are going to close all bars, clubs, shops, markets, and lodgings as early as midnight and all activities stopped except the Boda Boda riders who will be allowed to ferry voters to the polling stations,”
said Wanga.

He further assured city residents that the county had their best interests and that no one would be forced to vote. He, however, stated that those with ink on their finger – an indication of voting- would enjoy the services later.

In addition, the government official reached out to the Kisumu Bar Owners Association Chairman Daniel Maneno Ouma to ensure that the directive was implemented.

“We had consulted with the city manager and we will ensure that we close in time and monitor clients who have no ink on their fingers. They will not be admitted to the bar,”
stated Ouma.

The government official added that a letter was also being crafted to direct supermarkets to comply. Residents were also urged to do their shopping early before the facilities were closed.

This directive came after Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i declared Tuesday, August 9 a public holiday to give Kenyans ample time to cast their votes for the next government.

Bob Onyona, a bar owner, assured the county government of total compliance. He noted that plans were underway to ensure employees got to travel on Sunday to their registered polling stations and exercise their civic duty.

“This will afford the people of Kenya the opportunity to participate in the 2022 General Election and elect Members of Parliament, Members of County Assemblies and County Governors, and the President.”

The CS’s directive was fueled by the increased calls from political leader.

Local News

CJ Martha Koome issues new directive on lawyers’ dress code

August 4, 2022 Ian Amulega

Chief Justice Martha Karambu Koome has issued a waiver on periwigs – the most precious garment worn by advocates during admission to the bar.

The historic declaration by Chief Justice will see the garment – which is considered an achievement by fresh legal graduates – those being admitted to the bar opt to attend the event without donning it.

The announcement by the CJ was done on Thursday, August 4, just a day before the Judiciary admits 774 advocates to the bar to join their colleagues in the legal profession. This will be the highest number of admissions to be done at once in the country.

The decision for waiver is based on the high number of graduates who applied for the admission, with those able to access the garment being encouraged to do so.

“Having been notified of the difficulty in securing periwigs due to the high number of petitioners, I hereby waive this requirement for this particular ceremony,”
CJ Koome declared.

Despite its simple appearance, one periwig goes for Ksh35,000. This means the Judiciary would bag Ksh27 million in a single day should advocates stay the CJ’s decision.

This has, however, not been welcomed by some advocates who argue that the CJ’s move is simplistic.

They argue that the CJ has subverted the court procedures and that she has no jurisdiction to implement the waiver.

“Only Parliament can do that by amending the Judicature Act Campaign Section 3,”
Martin Nyakundi, a lawyer and a lecturer at Mount Kenya University, stated.

According to Nyakundi, the Judicature provides that procedures and practice of English Court, July 10, 1897, should proceed and that what the CJ has done is not tenable.

The Kenyan legal profession is among renown sectors that conflate with substance, or the dignity of office with garb.

The profession comes with its stature and one feels well identified with a periwig, better known as advocate wig, on top of their heads.