https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-8128885996810902
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
-
Betty Kyallo now relents putting her relationship on social media
Media personality Betty Kyallo now says she will never expose her relationship on social media after several failed attempts.
Kyallo expressed regrets for putting her previous relationship with Nick Ndeda on social media adding that it contributed to their breakup.
“In my last relationship, I put him out on social media and I am now like, I will never do that again. That is my space and we should stop overlapping each other when it comes to my social media space,”
Kyallo said.READ ALSO: George Wajackoyah responds to viral video endorsing Raila Odinga
Betty, the former TV girl has never shied away from flaunting her relationships on social media. In a previous interview, she defended the move saying she was in love and there was no need to hide it.
Earlier this year, she announced her separation from boyfriend Nick Ndeda after they dated for a couple of months.
The two started dating late last year with their relationship going public following leaked pictures that captured their late-night endeavors.
It was speculated that Betty dumped Nick following a series of misunderstandings including finances.
Speaking during an interview with Jalang’o TV, Ndeda revealed that they were forced to go public after the photos leaked despite wanting to keep things off social media.
READ ALSO: Rigathi Gachagua takes new move after losing Ksh. 200m to State
“We had agreed that we never wanted to go public, we knew that there will be rumors and the what not because we are seen together here and there…which is fine. There is a lot of pressure, there are many people invested in the success as they are in the failure… I know that when a relationship doesn’t work it just doesn’t work and I know I won’t stay in it just because of the public… but in any relationship, you should always have it in mind that you want to get it right,”
Ndeda said.Betty has previously been involved with NTV’s Dennis Okari, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, and “Somali Bae”.
-
George Wajackoyah responds to viral video endorsing Raila Odinga
Roots party Presidential candidate George Luchiri Wajackoyah has dismissed claims that he has endorsed former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s state house bid.
This is after a 37-second video clip surfaced online showing Wajackoyah in his signature durag addressing revellers at an entertainment joint.
“I am here to join the battle of liberators in this country and the person who makes me stand here is none other than Raila Amollo Odinga,”
Wajackoyah was captured saying amid cheers from the merrymakers.READ ALSO: Rigathi Gachagua takes new move after losing Ksh. 200m to State
Wajackoyah was at an entertainment joint in Kisumu where he uttered those words.
Through a statement dated Wednesday, August 3, Wajackoyah explained that his words were taken out of context.
However, the Roots Party Presidential candidate has maintained that he is still in the presidential race.
He insisted that the clip making rounds on various social media platforms had been doctored.
“We would like to categorically state that we have a presidential candidate who is on the Ballot and will win this Election. We have not and will not endorse any other candidate.
We would like to distance ourselves from those claims and assure our supporters that victory is coming,”
their statement read in part.READ ALSO: Uhuru talks tough on Bungoma residents following latest opinion polls
On June 27, Wajackoyah, while campaigning in Kisumu, stated that a win for Azimio la Umoja Presidential candidate or him would be beneficial to the Western region.
Speaking in Dholuo, he disclosed that he was the chief food taster for Kenya’s first Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and wouldn’t mind teaming up with the son.
“I am made to understand Baba came from Wanga (Kakamega), so we still have his bedroom in Mumias. I am a neighbour here, and as you know, I am in the race with Baba. A victory for either of us will be a win for the Western region,”
Wajackoyah stated.The claims of his endorsement come just a day after an opinion poll by Trends and Insights for Africa (TIFA) placed him third in Nairobi county if elections were held today.
-
Rigathi Gachagua takes new move after losing Ksh. 200m to State
The Kenya Kwanza running mate and Mathira Member of Parliament Rigathi Gachagua moved to Court on Tuesday, August 2, to challenge a verdict ordering him to forfeit Ksh202 million.
Through his lawyer Kioko Kilukumi, Gachagua filed a petition at the Court of Appeal to block the Asset and Recovery Agency (ARA) from reclaiming the funds.
The money is said to be in his two bank accounts which he argued were acquired legally and not via corruption means as earlier ruled by the High Court.
READ ALSO: Uhuru talks tough on Bungoma residents following latest opinion polls
The first time-MP argued the court did not give him enough time to explain source of his funds, a decision he described as a blatant attempt to curtail Kenya Kwanza’s bid to ascend to the presidency in the upcoming August 9 poll.
Gachagua was ordered to forfeit the funds by Justice Esther Maina of Anti-Corruption division of the High Court on July 28.
This was after ARA convinced the court that he acquired the money from government agencies without supplying any goods or services and therefore was a beneficiary of proceeds of corruption.
“The court finds that the funds are liable to forfeiture as the Assets Recovery Authority (ARA) has discharged its burden of proof that the funds were received by Gachagua,”
Justice Maina ruled.Justice Maina ruled that ARA had proven beyond doubt that Gachagua and his associates engaged in corrupt practices and acquired the millions, which they could not explain.
READ ALSO: Beijing reacts after DP Ruto expressed plans to deport Chinese
The vocal lawmaker previously claimed that the decision was political witch hunt after he outsmarted his Azimio presidential running mate, Martha Karua in the deputy presidential debate held on July 19.
“Mr Gachagua being dissatisfied with the decision of High Court Judge Esther Maina delivered on Thursday last week intends to appeal to the Court of Appeal against the whole decision,”
said Kilukumi.“The judgment was hastily rushed ten days before the elections in a futile attempt to undermine my candidature in the coming elections and dent my sterling performance in the running mates debate last week,”
the Mathira MP stated.Gachagua’s appeal comes against the backdrop of an intensified political rallies from both coalitions, Kenya Kwanza and Azimio La Umoja as the campaign period hits fever pitch ahead of the August 9 poll.
-
Beijing reacts after DP Ruto expressed plans to deport Chinese
China is said to be closely following Kenya’s election, considering that its bilateral ties with the country are at stake.
One of the issues that saw Beijing shift its focus to the August 9 polls is the controversial statement made by Deputy President William Ruto who threatened to deport Chinese nationals in retail trade.
Despite refraining from stating its position on the matter, reports indicate that the sentiments caused jitters in Beijing.
“A senior aide to Ruto, who has been in contact with Chinese officials, admitted that the comments went down badly in Beijing,”
UK-based Financial Times reported.Kenya’s ambassador to Kenya, Zhou Pingjian, is also yet to speak on the August 9 general election which has focused more on economic recovery. Offsetting China’s loans is one of the measures all four presidential candidates are exploring.
READ ALSO: IEBC issues statement on disappearance of 3,000 KIEMS kits
DP Ruto in different sets of interviews and rallies spoke against China’s influence on Kenya, from job creation to loans.
“These are Kenyan businesses and for those engaged in them, we have enough aeroplanes to deport them back to where they came from,”
Ruto said.“That Chinese nationals are roasting maize and selling mobile phones! All those businesses are for Kenyans,”
he added.His allies also vowed to hold Beijing accountable for what they argued were poorly disbursed loans that were embezzled rather than developing the nation.
“We know the owners of the newly constructed Nairobi Expressway. We are telling the Chinese government that we will hold you and your companies to account. Any government that gives loans and debts in the next two months, you are violating the constitution,”
Garissa Town MP Aden Duale stated during a rally in Kamukunji, Nairobi County on Saturday, June 4.In an interview on KTN News on Thursday, July 7, the DP was as well drawn to the debate on the Nairobi Expressway, pledging to remove charges for motorists using the road.
He, however, assured that he would pay Kenya’s debt to China through avocado exportation. Ruto is seeking the presidency for the first time in his political career, running on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket.Other than the DP, Roots Party presidential candidate, George Wajackoyah also promised to deport idle foreigners in the city and repay Kenya’s debt to China through bhang farming, snake rearing and exporting hyena testicles.
READ ALSO: Uhuru talks tough on Bungoma residents following latest opinion polls
Azimio La Umoja flagbearer, Raila Odinga, however, promised to improve diplomatic relations with all foreign superpowers.
“China came in as a result of many African nations’ failure to raise capital for infrastructure development. Working with China is not to the exclusion of the rest. We want to work with everyone else. We want Europeans to come & invest in Africa,”
he stated in May 2022.A July 2022 report released by the development firm, Inter Region Economic Network (IREN), revealed that Kenya and other African countries prefer taking loans from China as the Asian nation is quick on decision-making and completes projects on time.
Beijing was also credited with minimal interference in host nation politics.
In the same month, the Chinese ambassador to Kenya, Zhou Pingjian, refuted reports that China has overburdened Kenya with loans. Kenya, he said, owes China only 10 per cent of its total debt.
Among the key projects built by the Chinese in Kenya are the Nairobi Expressway, the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and the Thika Superhighway.
-
Uhuru talks tough on Bungoma residents following latest opinion polls
President Uhuru Kenyatta has warned Bungoma County residents over the latest opinion polls that indicate that the county will be a swing vote in the August 9 polls.
Speaking on Tuesday, August 2, during the inspection of the rehabilitation of the Nzoia Sugar Company, Uhuru told the residents that they risked being left out of government.
He told locals that supporting his deputy, William Ruto, was akin to playing with fire and that only Azimio flag-bearer Raila Odinga would save them.
READ ALSO: IEBC issues statement on disappearance of 3,000 KIEMS kits
President Uhuru Kenyatta addresses residents of Bungoma County during the inspection of the rehabilitation of Nzoia Sugar Company on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. PHOTO: COURTESY “My people in Bungoma, do not play with fire, you have already done that and got burned. Do you want to go back to the fire or to be saved? If so, the only way to get saved is Raila,”
he reiterated.“This factory would have been producing 20 times as much as it is today if leaders really cared about sugar cane farmers and the people of Bungoma.
The Head of State told them not to fall for the sweet nothing by Kenya Kwanza principals Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula, whom he claimed had nothing to show despite being in government for decades.
“Some of them have been Cabinet Ministers since retired President Moi’s term in power, have any improvements been done to this company? And do you expect them to do anything now?”
Uhuru posed.READ ALSO: DP Ruto’s allies express discontent over huge number of cops deployed in Ruto’s backyard
Bungoma County has become a headache for Raila Odinga’s Azimio camp in the Western region owing to the influence of FORD Kenya party which has dominated the county politics for decades.
Ken Lusaka, who was the pioneer county governor was elected on a Ford Kenya party ticket in 2013 before being ousted by Wycliffe Wangamati who ran on the same ticket in 2017.
In a poll released by Infotrak, Raila led in Bungoma with 46 per cent popularity and was closely followed by the DP at 44 percentage points.
According to the data from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Bungoma County has a total of 635,146 votes.
DP Ruto confronts Matiang’i, NIS over leaflets circulating in his backyard
Bungoma County has nine constituencies: Mt Elgon, Sirisia, Kabuchai, Bumula, Kanduyi, Webuye East, Webuye West, Kimilili and Tongaren.
A split in the votes cast would dent Raila’s bid to secure the threshold – 50 per cent plus one votes – to be declared the winner of the election in first round.
While Raila has enjoyed favourable support in Western Kenya, Ruto has been burning midnight oil to wrestle the vote-rich region from his political opponent.
-
IEBC issues statement on disappearance of 3,000 KIEMS kits
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has denied reports that 3,000 KIEMS kits have gone missing.
In a statement dated Wednesday, August 3, IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati – in response to concerns raised by the Kenya Kwanza faction and the Azimio la Umoja brigade, reiterated that the reports were misleading.
Chebukati indicated that it was the BVR kits that had disappeared and that they were only used for the registration of voters in past elections.
A file image of someone registering as a voter in a past exercise. PHOTO: COURTESY Further, the electoral body downplayed fears that stolen KIEMS kits can be used to manipulate poll results insisting that they had put in measures to prevent such incidents.
READ ALSO:DP Ruto’s allies express discontent over huge number of cops deployed in Ruto’s backyard
“This report is false and misleading. The Auditor General’s report made reference to BVR kits and not KIEMS kits. BVR kits are used for voter registration and not voting. The Commission procured 15,000 BVR kits in 2012 that have technically reached the end of life.
“The Commission keeps an inventory of all its kits and in the event of any loss, the kit will be blocked from doing any transaction on the system,”
read the statement in part.Additionally, the Chebukati-led agency insisted that the Form 34’s – used for tabulating presidential results cannot be tampered with given the special features they had put in them.
“These measures include but are not limited to visible and invisible security features, polling station data personalization, barcodes and QR codes.
“IEBC in partnership with the National Police Service has deployed armed security to guard ballot papers in transit and at the respective warehouses,”
he stated.READ ALSO: Eight suspects arrested over inciting leaflets in Uasin Gishu
However, the Electoral body stated that discrepancies on the presidential results form can only be resolved by the presiding officers at the polling station or the supreme court.
“Complaints with respect to the results announced at the polling station must be resolved by the Presiding Officer.
“Any complaints or discrepancies that may arise in the results Form 34A can only be resolved by the Supreme Court through a Presidential Election Petition pursuant to the decision in Raila Amolo Odinga & Another v Independent Electoral and BoundariesCommission & 2 others (2017)”
Chebukati stated. -
DP Ruto’s allies express discontent over huge number of cops deployed in Ruto’s backyard
Deputy President William Ruto’s allies have come out to fault a decision by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to deploy more security officers in his perceived strongholds.
This is after the CS announced that security would be beefed up in Nakuru, Eldoret, Kuresoi and Molo areas ahead of August 9 polls.
READ ALSO: Kihika, Tabitha Karanja absconds DP Ruto’s Rally
UDA Nakuru county gubernatorial candidate Susan Kihika lashed out at the Interior boss, claiming that his directive would only cause panic in the region.
Deputy President William Ruto and Senator Susan Kihika in Nakuru County on February 11, 2022. COURTESY SUSAN KIHIKA “Ridiculous! Matiangi’s goal is to create tension in Nakuru, which is peaceful. There is no justification for deploying General Service Unit (GSU) officers to Molo & Kuresoi,”
Kihika claimed.The outspoken senator further accused Matiang’i of being used by the government to intimidate the residents in areas where UDA enjoys a massive following in a bid to stop them from exercising their civil right to vote on August 9.
READ ALSO: DP Ruto confronts Matiang’i, NIS over leaflets circulating in his backyard
She opined that deploying officers just because of the inflammatory leaflets circulating in the region-which the Kenya Kwanza brigade has sensationally linked to Matiang’i and PS Karanja Kibicho -was unnecessary.
“His intention is to suppress the vote in our strongholds. The same individuals behind the inciting leaflets are using them as an excuse to deploy GSU! Shameless!”
Kihika ranted.In an earlier statement, Matiang’i explained that the decision which had been approved by the National Security Council was made based on an assessment that revealed the regions were vulnerable to violence.
“Police have got eight suspects in custody in connection with the circulation of those leaflets,
Fred Matiangi said.
and investigations continue. We have teams on the ground that have been working here for a
long time, and we are collecting more intelligence in real-time,”READ ALSO: Moses Kuria goes wild after Uhuru Kenyatta’s visit in Gatundu
“The GSU officers are not here for any particular aggression but to demonstrate that we are ready to rise up to any challenge that may come up. We are also going to increase surveillance and patrol in the areas,”
the CS reiterated.In addition, a multi-agency command centre has been established in Nakuru to provide 24/7 surveillance and prompt response should the need arise.
He added that eight suspects had been arrested in connection with the circulating leaflets. Notably, the security boss dismissed claims that the leaflets were a project by employees in the office of the president.
Speaking in Nyeri, UDA running mate Rigathi Gachagua insisted that the Interior CS and PS were using chiefs to campaign for Azimio candidate Raila Odinga.
He called on the administrators to stick to their job descriptions, adding that they should use the financial incentives allegedly offered to them to improve the welfare of their wives.
-
Eight suspects arrested over inciting leaflets in Uasin Gishu
8 people have been arrested in connection with the threatening leaflets that were circulated in Uasin Gishu County, Interior CS Fred Matiang’i has said.
The CS while pledging to crack down on everyone involved in the spread of hate during the electioneering period stated that Kenya is a democratic country that allows divergent political views.
READ ALSO: DP Ruto confronts Matiang’i, NIS over leaflets circulating in his backyard
He further ascertained that the 8 arrested have no links to the office of the president as earlier claimed by the Ruto-led Kenya Kwanza team.
“Even the claims you heard yesterday that the leaflets were authored by people from the office of the president, now we have eight suspects in police custody and none of them is an employee of the office of the president,”
Fred Matiang’i said.Read: Matatu Tout Arrested for Incitement to Violence Against Fruit Vendors in Kericho
Earlier in the week, there were claims that leaflets had been circulated in different parts to coerce people to vote for a certain faction of people. Failure of which there were consequences.
READ ALSO: Jailed Zambian woman dies in Ethiopian prison
Deputy President William Ruto while addressing the same accused the office of the President of plotting to cause disharmony in the country with elections just days away.
“I want to tell my friend Mr. President, the same way you told off (DCI George) Kinoti when he started that nonsense of post-election violence please tell off the characters at the office of the president who are now printing pamphlets to cause disharmony in the Republic of Kenya, they need to stop because they are not about to succeed,”
Ruto said during a rally.The incident has since been condemned by religious leaders and politicians alike.
30 elders from different communities in Uasin Gishu also condemned the acts while calling on tolerance of each other’s opinions.
-
Moses Kuria goes wild after Uhuru Kenyatta’s visit in Gatundu
Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria now says he was very bitter with his neigbours following President Uhuru Kenyatta’s visit on Monday August 1.
This even as the vocal lawmaker blasted Uhuru for commissioning multi-billion projects in Mt. Kenya with just barely a week to the August 9 general election.
In a statement, Kuria stated that Gatundu North residents should have tried to pretend that all was well while the Head of State was addressing them.
READ ALSO: DP Ruto confronts Matiang’i, NIS over leaflets circulating in his backyard
“Gatundu North. I am very upset with you. Is this how you respond to a visitor, a neighbour, a President ?”
says Kuria.Kuria termed Uhuru’s move as a ploy to hoodwink Kiambu residents into Azimio La Umoja Coalition corner, which in an open defiance, the two-time Gatundu South lawmaker maintained that all was not lost and freedom was on its way.
President Uhuru Kenyatta launching a Ksh. 24bn Karimenu II Dam in Gatundu. PHOTO: COURTESY Uhuru toured Kiambu County to commission the Ksh24 billion Karimenu II Dam which was conceived in 2019 under the government’s Vision 2030.
“I know you have gotten absolutely nothing from his 10 years as President and your constituency lacks water despite you hosting Ksh24 Billion Karimenu Dam, but you should have tried to pretend. Anyway, freedom is coming tomorrow my dear neighbours,”
added Kuria.READ ALSO: DP Ruto blames Raila for blocking his campaigns in Nyanza Region
Kuria is running for Kiambu county top seat under his party Chama Cha Kazi, an affiliate party of the Kenya Kwanza coalition. He seeks to dislodge incumbent James Nyoro, who is defending his seat on a Jubilee ticket, an affiliate party of Azimio coalition.
He won his first and second term in Gatundu South on a Jubilee ticket but fell out with the Head of State after the handshake between Uhuru and Raila in March 2018. This was followed by his ouster as the Vice Chairperson of the Transport, Infrastructure, Public Works and Housing Committee in the National Assembly.
Kuria reiterated his controversial statement that the Mt. Kenya region had been neglected in infrastructure development compared to the rest of the country by the Jubilee government.
The President also issued 14,000 title deeds to Gatundu North residents, after which he drummed up support for Raila Odinga, Azimio’s flag bearer and his running mate Martha Karua.
READ ALSO: Uhuru Kenyatta launches Ksh.24bn dam in Gatundu
“Don’t vote for thieves or else you will regret it. Be very careful not to vote for thugs because I wouldn’t want to hear that you are in the cold. There are those moving around speaking so nicely to you and making weird promises, but their deeds and talks behind the scenes are venomous. I plead with you to be wary of these people,”
Uhuru told Gatundu residents.The president noted his deputy and allies have been touring Mt Kenya region, tarnishing his name to an extent of dragging his mother, former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta, in their dirty politics, instead of supporting him in his development agenda and uniting the country.
-
DP Ruto confronts Matiang’i, NIS over leaflets circulating in his backyard
Deputy President William Ruto has accused senior government officials of being behind leaflets being circulated in Uasin Gishu and other parts of the North Rift region.
Speaking during a rally in Eldoret on Monday, August 1, Ruto alleged that the plot was being orchestrated by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and his Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho.
Further, he called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to take action against the two adding that they were constantly meeting with chiefs to manipulate the vote.
READ ALSO: DP Ruto blames Raila for blocking his campaigns in Nyanza Region
“Mr President, just as you reprimanded DCI boss George Kinoti, you should do the same to Matiangi and Kibicho. They should go home.
“We cannot go from where we came from. The tactic of spreading leaflets so that people can differ is something that will not happen. You will not succeed because we have decided that we cannot go back and fight over politics,” he stated.
Further, he urged his supporters to be wary of the government’s tactics calling on his supporters to remain calm during the electioneering period.
READ ALSO: Kihika, Tabitha Karanja absconds DP Ruto’s Rally
“Do not accept to be provoked in any manner. Violence cannot be part of the equation in this election or in any election for that matter. All candidates should carry their campaigns peacefully.”
On his part, Ruto’s running mate and Mathira lawmaker, Rigathi Gachagua, lamented over the complexity of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to take action over the leaflets. He called on the NIS boss, Major General Philip Wachira Kameru to take action against his officer involved in the scheme.
Interior CS Fred Matiangi during the launch of the first-ever National Risk Assessment Report on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. PHOTO: COURTESY “It is too late to create a problem between communities. They have hit a snug and that is the strategy they are using. All this is planned by Kibicho, chiefs and the NIS,” Ruto’s running mate argued.
“There is also a scheme to introduce shortages of fuel from this week because they want to systematically undermine the electoral process,” Kenya Kwanza principal Musalia Mudavadi claimed.
Matiang’i and Kibicho have previously defended their meetings with the chiefs stating that the meetings were aimed at enhancing securing during the electioneering period.
READ ALSO: Uhuru Kenyatta launches Ksh.24bn dam in Gatundu
The two have occasionally accused the DP and his allies of attacking them because of their popularity over former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
“I am telling you now that we must stand firm against incitement. Don’t be intimidated by these politicians. They cannot take up your jobs,” Matiang’i stated at a meeting with chiefs.
“The government will give electorates free space to express their views during the election day to exercise their constitutional mandate,” Kibocho echoed.
The Spotlight Post 