News

Raila targets American envoy Meg Whitman over ‘fairest election’ remark

Published

2 months ago

April 1, 2023

By Wanja Waweru

Head of the opposition, Raila Odinga, accused Meg Whitman, the US ambassador to Kenya, of turning a blind eye to what he claimed was ongoing election injustice in Kenya.

The leader of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition accused the US envoy of blatantly siding with one side over another and putting US and development interests above the fight for electoral justice.

“There is no European democracy, American democracy and African democracy. It must be measured by the same standards universally. You cannot put development ahead of democracy,” he said in Siaya during the burial of the first Kisumu MP, grace Onyango, at her home in Gem.

“Democracy must precede development. That is why we are so surprised to see this diplomat completely turn a blind eye to violation of fundamental human rights in Kenya in the name of development. Most of them have the audacity to misrepresent facts in our country,” Mr Odinga said.

“The American Ambassador yesterday addressed American businessmen saying that Kenya did the most transparent and democratic elections in the history of Kenya. I told her that she did not know which country she was talking about,” he said.

Ms Whitman had on Wednesday attended the American Chamber of Commerce Regional business summit held in Nairobi where she said the August 9, 2022 General Election had been rated as the “most transparent and democratic.”

“I arrived in Kenya days before the August 9, 2022 elections. What I witnessed is nothing short of remarkable. Kenya held what many analysts and commentators call the freest, fairest and most credible election in Kenyan history,” Ms Whitman said, asking the American investors to put their money in Kenya.

But Mr. Odinga emphasized that her brief visit was insufficient for her to endorse the procedure.

Mr. Odinga pointed out that it was unlawful for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to proclaim President William Ruto to have been legitimately elected notwithstanding the disagreement of four of the seven commissioners.

“There was a reason why the electoral commission had an odd number of commissioners and when there is a division there must be a winner,” stated the ODM leader, who questioned whether the exact same scenario, were it to occur in the US, would have been considered acceptable.

He reiterated that Kenyans have a right to question the independence of the commission to ensure that the same mistake does not happen again in 2027.

Crime

Nyeri teen arrested with homemade gun, bhang to be charged

Published

3 days ago

May 31, 2023

KSN Reporter

By Wanja Waweru

A 19-year-old guy was detained by police in Nyeri County after being discovered in possession of a handmade gun that could fire and marijuana.

The National Police Service (NPS) said in a statement that the young man was detained as a result of a tip from the general public.

“Police officers from Munyange Police Station arrested a 19-year-old suspect after he was found in possession of a home-made pistol, stones of cannabis sativa and rolls of the same. He has been remanded in police custody,” the statement read in part.

The NPS also expressed gratitude to the general public for helping to support community police in the battle against crime and illegal narcotics.

A police officer assigned to the General Service Unit (GSU) was also found in possession of a handmade pistol the day before the teen’s arrest.

A failed heist in Kasarani sub-county led to the arrest of Mr. Graham Ndichu Chege, a GSU officer.

On Monday, May 29, 2023, Nairobi News broke the exclusive that the suspect has been on police radar for more than four months.

Officers worried about an armed gang terrorizing people in Kasarani Sub-County knew when, not if, Mr. Chege would be apprehended.

The suspect was being questioned about more robberies that had occurred nearby, according to an investigator with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) who is aware of the current inquiries.

“Officers involved in the matter believe that he was the one leading a gang that has been giving the locals in this sub-county a hard time. Plans are also underway to arrest his accomplices,” said the officer, who spoke in confidence as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

According to a police report reviewed by this reporter, Mr. Paul Maina said that three individuals on motorcycles and carrying pistols robbed him at gunpoint of his cell phone at the Cooperative area along Kamiti Road.

“Police officers on foot patrol responded very quickly and with the help of bodaboda riders they chased the suspects to Juja Weighbridge where the suspect’s motorcycle developed mechanical problem and Mr Chege was arrested,” the report reads in part.

As a GSU officer assigned to the GSU Headquarters and Transit Section, Mr. Chege then revealed to the officers that he was to them.

When the police searched him, they discovered a makeshift pistol that they claimed might fire.

“A bloodstained broken knife and a motorcycle with registration number KMFH 031U, make Ranger Black, were recovered,” the police report added.

News

Kenyans ranked 87th most unhappy people in the world

Published

3 days ago

May 31, 2023

KSN Reporter

The top 20 most miserable persons, according to Hanke’s Annual Misery Index, created by Steve Hanke, modified and ratified by Harvard University, and published by The Wall Street Journal, are listed below.

Inflation, unemployment, and high interest rates are the main causes of these people’s misery.

Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Syria, Lebanon, and Sudan took the top five positions.

Ranked sixth to tenth were Argentina, Yemen, Ukraine, Cuba, and Turkey.

Sri Lanka, Haiti, and Angola were 11th, 12th, and 13th, while Tonga, Ghana, and South Africa were 14th, 15th, and 16th. Ranked 17th to 20th were Suriname, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, and Rwanda.

At the bottom of the list in 87th place was Kenya with a misery index of 29.264 and the main factor contributing to its misery was the interest rate on loans.