The irony of life played out on Wednesday afternoon when Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria was teargassed and predicted a revolution moments after a picture of ODM leader Raila Odinga getting a massage went viral.

Kuria was caught up in the teargas melee outside Parliament Police Station after Starehe MP Charles Njagua aka Jaguar was arrested after his alleged xenophobia remarks.

Meanwhile, Mr Odinga was seen in an undated picture all cozied up while getting a massage after what looked like a haircut.

The Gatundu MP’s remarks predicting a revolution after the teargas moment was met with hilarious reaction.

TEARGAS

ODM secretary Edwin Sifuna reminded the Gatundu lawmaker of the days when ODM supporters held anti-IEBC demonstration at Anniversary Towers every Monday that came to be known as ‘teargas Monday’.

“Unakula teargas nusu saa unaanza kunusa revolution… Na ukikula weekly for a year kama wengine wetu si utanusa second coming?” posed Sifuna on Twitter.

The irony is that Mr Kuria backed President Uhuru Kenyatta’s bid for a second term. Mr Kenyatta also hails from Gatundu South which Mr Kuria represents.

Other netizens had more to say on the change of fortunes.

“Hata Mimi nashangaa wangelikula Kama zile za 2017 kwa Raila Odinga ingekuwaje? Mkuki Mtamu kwa binadamu mchungu,” tweeted Daniel M Limbu.

“Kwa hayo machache, it-is-finished!… allow for time-out handkerchief ya maji itambe kiasi!,” commented Oliver Wabwire.

“Raila was relaxing at the spa on the same day,” Thomas Perez Munyao posted.

“Sasa Matiangi akiwachilia the water canons na rubber bullets, sihawa watasema ni ‘assassination attempts’ Revolution sio ya kola mtu,” posted another tweep.

“MP down, I repeat MP down! Can we have medics please, does anyone know CPR here?” said Wycliffe Kodongo.

“I didn’t know Moses Kuria’s breaking point was this low, just a whiff of tear gas and the man turns philosophical and sage-like,” Nicholas Chirchir posted.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri has distanced himself from meetings by his fellow cabinet colleagues from Mount Kenya region that have given rise to claims of an alleged plot to assassinate Deputy President William Ruto.

Kiunjuri has denied knowledge of the meeting that led to the summoning of the four Cabinet Secretaries by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Monday.

The four Cabinet Secretaries who were summoned are Peter Munya (Trade), Sicily Kariuki (Health), Joe Mucheru (ICT) and James Macharia (Transport).

While speaking in Kwale, Kiunjuri restated his allegiance to President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto.

KIUNJURI’S ABSENCE

“Those of us who were employed were given work by the government of Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto… and that is the work we’re continuing to deliver for these two people because if we work for them we work for the people of Kenya,” said Kiunjuri.

Kiunjuri’s remarks are perhaps in response to questions why he missed out on the meetings by some of his colleagues to discuss development matters in Mount Kenya region, as Munya explained after being grilled at the DCI headquarters.

“He (Kiunjuri) wasn’t at the meeting… maybe he is accessible, I don’t know. There were complaints about certain issues relating to agriculture but many of them were issues relating to me in the cooperatives sector. Issues of marketing coffee and processing are under the cooperative department. I didn’t have any specific issue about agriculture relating to him that I was complaining about,” Munya said.

Shadowy businessman Paul Kobia alias Paul Ilunga Ngoei, is set to be arraigned n Thursday after over a Sh173 million gold scam after he was arrested on Wednesday morning alongside his employees.

But Kobia has never fallen short of controversy and facing off with the police has been his thing for a while now.

In March, a video made rounds on social media capturing expensive cars inside a compound located along Riverside in Kilimani.

In the clip, Mr Kobia introduced himself as the fourth in command after President Uhuru Kenyatta, DP William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga.

It is the same compound, which serves as his office, that detectives attached to the Special Crime Unit at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) raided on Wednesday in search of crucial documents linked to an ongoing investigation where a Dubai national lost Sh173 million in a gold deal.

“We received complaints from a foreigner that he had lost millions to a fake gold syndicate and that is how we decided to raid his home,” said a source within the DCI.

FIDEL’S DEATH

The sleuths also carted away a number of documents from the office which they believe will assist in the ongoing investigations. In addition, two vehicles were impounded and taken to the DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road.

When detectives stormed into the compound at 10am, Mr Kobia was among those in the office and at 3pm, journalists spotted him standing side by side with two detectives as he smoked a cigarette.

At one point he was shouting on top of his voice attracting onlookers who peeped through his compound.

His habit of shouting and causing a scene can be traced back to 2015 when police pounced on him as he was shouting near Village Market, bragging that he was responsible for the death of Fidel Odinga, son of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

He was arrested and later rushed to Chiromo Lane Medical Center for mental assessment after he became violent to officers and inmates at the Gigiri Police Station.

GOLD SMUGGLING

In March 2017, Mr Kobia was arrested and arraigned for assaulting a Congolese man identified as Blanchard Londole in Kindaruma, Kilimani.

Police say he abducted Mr Londole and assaulted him claiming that he owed him Sh40 million.

And when he appeared in court to take plea on the assault charges, Mr Kobia started screaming and shouting demanding that he should be freed to seek treatment.

Police officers for the last three years have confiscated three different guns from him in three incidents.

Mr Kobia, who does not have one finger on his left hand, was in November 2011 mentioned in a 392 page UN report on gold smuggling from Congo.

In 2010, he was arrested and charged with pretending to sell 825kg of gold and obtaining Sh17.4 million from a South African identified as Dennis Ray.

Starehe MP Charles Njagua alias Jaguar was in February this year convicted with causing death by dangerous driving, it has emerged today.

The accident occurred at Makutano on the Nairobi-Nyeri highway, within Kirinyaga County on March 21, 2017 along Sagana.

A boda boda rider his passenger died in the accident.

Details of the conviction went unreported until today when a state prosecutor in a new case where he is accused of spreading xenophobia alluded to it.

On Thursday, State lawyer Duncan Ondimu pleaded with a Nairobi court to deny the MP saying he had been convicted with dangerous driving on February 21 and therefore he was not a first offender.

MOTORCYCLIST

In 2017, Jaguar was accused of being reckless on the road when he knocked down motorcyclist Mugo Mwangi and his passenger Joseph Mwangi Kairia.

He was driving his Range Rover sports utility vehicle at the time of the accident.

He was then arrested and charged at the Kirinyaga Law Court with two counts of causing death through dangerous driving.

Jaguar was convicted and ordered to pay a fine of Sh40,000 or face imprisonment for six months. He was further barred from driving for a one year period.

He now supports the families of the victims.

Deputy President William Ruto has refused to field questions from journalists over an alleged plot to assassinate him.

Dr Ruto on Thursday ignored requests from journalists to talk on matter after a press conference on female genital mutilation at his Karen residence office in Nairobi.

He waved to journalists after the press briefing outside his office before retreating to the building.

Moments later, security personnel ordered reporters who had pitched camp outside the office in the hope that the DP will show up and speak on the assassination claims to leave.

KEPT SILENT

Dr Ruto has kept silent since the storm over the alleged murder plot rocked the Uhuru Kenyatta government and the ruling Jubilee Party.

Mr Kenyatta’s deputy is also yet to file a formal complaint against central Kenya Cabinet secretaries, principal secretaries and parastatal heads adversely mentioned in the claimed scheme.

On Monday, three Cabinet members from Central Kenya appeared at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to record statements after a letter allegedly authored by a Cabinet sectary and revealing the alleged assassination plot appeared online.

They are Peter Munya (Industry), Sicily Kariuki (Health) and Joe Mucheru (ICT).

The mystery letter had accused them of plotting to assassinate the Deputy President during a series of meetings held at Hotel La Mada.

DISCUSS DEVELOPMENT

While they admitted that they had been having meetings at the hotel, they said it was meant to discuss Mt Kenya development matters.

But without any formal complaint filed, the trio did not record any statement.

On Wednesday, the DCI denied claims that he had approached the Deputy President to record a statement and said that he had not yet spoken to him.

“We can only ask for a statement from him once we determine whether the letter is genuine or mischievous. But we are treating it seriously since it touches on the life of the Deputy President of the country,” said Mr Kinoti.

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has come up with an ingenious solution to help curb the rising number of stray dogs in the city.

According to Sonko, the county government is in the process of identifying a suitable area to set up a market that will strictly deal with the sale of dog meat.

Sonko said the market will also target bringing together dog eating nationalities in the country.

“Soko ya Mbwa coming soon to Nairobi. We are in the process of identifying a market for stray dogs in Nairobi where we shall be recruiting and bringing together all the dog eating nationalities and open for them a Koroga club where they’ll be buying slaughtered stray dogs ready for cooking or eating,” Sonko said in a Facebook post.

VACCINATION

However, when Nairobi News contacted Nairobi County Chief Media Officer Elkana Jacob over the matter, he said that the county is planning to establish vaccination centres for stray dogs in the city.

Elkana said that after receiving vaccination, the dogs would then be kept and sold to will buyers who wish to keep them as pets.

“What the county government is working on is to come up with centres where the stray dogs will be captured and taken for vaccination. They will then be kept at the centres where those who wish to be dog owners will be allowed to get one,” he said.

ONLINE REACTION

Online, Sonko’s sentiments attracted varied views:

“Muheshimiwa this is how we are going to show hospitality to our creditors, by eating their staple food?” asked Vicky Vicky.

“Kindly bwana Gavana there are so many stray dogs in Umoja Innercore kindly help us to eliminate them,” said Onyinkwa Kefah.

“Eating dogs is unbiblical, unchristian, unafrican and unethical. It’s evil. Mr Governor, review your plan,” wrote Elphas Kipleting.

“Stop play cat and mouse game sonko ulisema Uta fix Nairobi. We want clean city, water and sewage drainage, bursary fees and jobs. Hiyo mambo ya doggy apana,” commented Dhaxanride Abdikh.

“How is this funny, acceptable or relevant? Instead of addressing real issues affecting Kenyans you are here addressing unnecessary issues and by all means being inhumane. How is this leadership?” asked Parky Kamau.

“Let’s first fix the traffic in CBD bfru start selling dogs,” said Mwari wa Njuguna.

DOG MENACE

In the past City residents have raised concern over the growing number of stray dogs in the city that have become a nuisance.

In April Muriithi Muhari, the county Veterinary Services director said Nairobi will spend Sh100 million to kill stray dogs in the next one year in the city.

This is because the dogs have become a menace having bitten school children and causing road accidents.

World Animal Protection however, opposed this plan by Nairobi City County to kill more than 50,000 stray dogs.

The lobby group argued the county to instead direct the funds to a vaccination and sterilization exercises.

Kenyan businessman, Raphael Ongangi, who was abducted on Monday night in Dar es Salaam was in the company of his wife when the incident happened.

The 9:30pm incident happened when Ongangi and his wife Veronica Kundya were making their way home.

Three gunmen reportedly intercepted the couple at the intersection of Karume and Msasani road in the neighborhood of Oysterbay, right next to Ugandan High Commission.

Three men then entered their car and forced Ongangi’s wife to the back seat and then drove them to Safari Beach near Msasani fish market.

INSTRUCTIONS

CCTV cameras at the scene of the incident showed there were three cars, two motorbikes and more men arriving along with the couples’ Land Rover Discovery Sport.

They moved Ongangi to another car and left his wife in the first car and left.

Sources who spoke to Nairobi News say Veronica was left with orders to wait for further instructions from the abductors.

They later called her and told her not to report the matter to the police or anywhere else and just go home.

ABDUCTORS

Veronica however reported the kidnapping to Oysterbay police and later to the Kenyan High Commission.

Since then the abductors have not communicated with Ongangi’s family.

Mr Ongangi has been running a transport business between Dar es Salaam, DRC Congo, Zambia and Rwanda.

This is not the first time in the recent past to hear and read about abductions and kidnapping in Tanzania.

Last year, billionaire Mohamed Dewji was kidnapped in Dar es Salaam but was later released.

Shieys Chepkosgei is now claiming to be transgender and is demanding to be treated in special way while in custody.

She hit the headline last week when police officers at Eldoret West police station found out she possessed men’s physical features while in custody despite claiming she was a woman.

Police claimed the suspect in an international athlete. Nairobi News is yet to verify the claim.

An athlete with a similar name was in 2017 sanctioned by the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (Adak) for using banned performance enhancing substances.

Chepkosgei has been charged with impersonating a female nurse at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.

The case took a new twist on Thursday when she filed a petition at the Eldoret High Court demanding to know where she is supposed to be detained as a transgender person.

INTERPRETATION OF LAW

In the petition, she wants the court to give an interpretation of the law on the kind of cells where transgender people are supposed to be detained either in police cell or prison cell.

Through her lawyer Chepkosgei say, prison warders at Eldoret women prison infringed on her rights as a transgender person by isolating her from female cells at the facility on allegations that she was a man and not a woman.

Chepkosgei who is represented by lawyer Colbert Ojiambo feels that her right to belong to a gender of her choice was violated when she was subjected to a medical test to determine her gender without her consent at MTRH.

“It is my right to associate myself with gender of my choice and nobody should force me to confess to belong to the gender that I am not comfortable with,” she said in the petition.

HOSPITAL REPORT

Following the issues that she raised in the petition Eldoret chief Magistrate Charles Obulutsa directed investigating officer Victor Odhiambo who was to present in the court a hospital report showing the gender and identity of the accused person.

“Following emerging issues on this matter I direct the investigating officer to hold hospital report on the gender identity of the accused and other reports in relations to his identity until July 4 after high court ruling on issues of custody of transgender people,” ordered the Magistrate

The high court petition will be heard on July 1.

She was joined in court by Audrey Mbugua, who is the chairperson of Transgender, Education and Advocacy, an organization that champions for the rights of transgender people in Kenya.

“Everybody has a right to choose the gender he or she want to belong to, it is wrong to force someone to belong to gender that is not of his or her choice,” said Ms Mbugua who spoke outside the court after the hearing.

Kenyans appear to have now joined activist Boniface Mwangi in his fight with VIPs who feel entitled the right of way, even when driving on the wrong side of the road.

After his confrontation with one such VIP motorcade early this week, the fiery activist has now shared a video online capturing another city motorist blocking the way of a vehicle which was being driven on the wrong side of the road.

In the post, Mwangi urged Kenyans not to give in to bullies on the road, especially if they have the right of way on the road.

Motorists stop giving way to bullies who have sirens. If you have right of way, stick to your lane. Don’t let a big car or even a Matatu bully you out of the road. If you get arrested for blocking someone breaking the law, l promise to get you a lawyer. Let everyone #ObeyTheLaw pic.twitter.com/9miUdQexV4

— Boniface Mwangi (@bonifacemwangi) June 27, 2019

He added that the rule should apply to both people driving big cars and public service vehicles.

Furthermore, Mr Mwangi said that he is willing to provide a lawyer for anyone who will be arrested for blocking someone breaking the law.

Journalist Robert Nagila also shared a photo of a motorist blocking the way for a matatu which was being driven on the wrong side of the road.

Big up to this motorist who refused to give way to a matatu driving on the wrong side of the road….. not sure how this ended. pic.twitter.com/mENRhy3rbk

— Robert Nagila (@Rnagila) June 26, 2019

Kenyans on Twitter expressed their readiness in taking up the challenge.

ONLINE VOICES

Mtetezi wa Bunju said,“Get me a lawyer, like seriously? Your words give strength to do it right now.”

Thomas Munyao wrote, “We are on board. #standyourground.”

Juma Felix commented, “On board. It is too sickening to be harassed on our own roads.”

Mike Challo stated, “If they feel so important they should make themselves their own road with their own money NKT!”

NGMaroa said, “#BMchallenge it is. Ninaanza Leo Mombasa road.”

Kenya’s Harambee Stars kept their hopes alive of progressing to the knock-out stage of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations with a gutsy 3-2 win over familiar foes Tanzania in a Group C encounter at 30 June Stadium here on Thursday night.

Harambee Stars came from behind twice before taking the lead for good late in the second half with a double strike from Michael Olunga.

The win gave Kenya three points and third place in the group and they will have all to play for the final round of matches on Monday against Senegal for second spot or best third loser to progress to the round of 16.

Tanzania’s first goal came out of nowhere. They won the ball from deep in their half and right back Hassan Ramadhani set off their danger man Genk’s Mbwana Samatta, whose pile drive was parried by Partick Matasi at full length and the lurking Saimon Msuva obliged with the loose ball to tap it in.

Kenya pressed forward with urgency and were duly rewarded when Olunga, with a close range overhead kick from close range sent the ball home on 37 minutes.

Tanzania replied almost immediately, the speedy Samatta breaking loose on the right flank to power the ball home with Kenya’s rear guard in sixes and sevens.

Johana Omollo restored parity for Kenya on 61 minutes powerfully heading home a well worked corner by Ayub Timbe and Aboud Omar .

Olunga got his second in fine fashion and Kenya’s lead for the first time in the match, getting on the end of a flowing move to beat the busy Tanzania goalkeeper Aishi Manula with a grass cutter.

It proved to be the match winner.

Kenya will feel the two goals conceded were soft but it all came down to poor marking and poor ball anticipation which improved considerably in the second half of a match well competed.

Migne made three changes to the team that lost against Algeria, starting David “Calabar” Owino in place of Philemon Otieno at right back and Johanna Omollo and Erick Ouma in midfield in place of Dennis Odhiambo and Eric Omondi.

This was a much better performance for Kenya after a poor show in their opening match.

A noisy band of travelling Kenyan fans were at the stadium to cheer the Stars, one group to the left of the main stand and another on their other end.

Lamu West MP Stanley Muiruri Muthama was on Thursday night arrested by detectives attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over alleged fraud.

The MP was arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) after being trailed.

Mr Muiruri is expected to be charged in an Eldoret court where he was taken after his arrest in Nairobi. He will be charged with tax related offences.

He will be charged in an Eldoret court with a tax related offence,” the DCI said.

Separately, sleuths also arrested a Police Constable Collins Wanjala in connection to a series of robberies reported in Nairobi.

“His accomplice, identified as Paul Origi, was also nabbed while driving,”the DCI said.

The past has finally caught up with Starehe Member of Parliament Charles Njagua aka Jaguar after he denied bail on Thursday by a Nairobi court where he was charged with making xenophobic remarks..

Jaguar, who appeared before the Milimani Law court, will now spend another night at Kileleshwa Police Station to allow the prosecution to complete investigations.

The prosecution wanted to be given 14 days while his lawyers wanted to secure a bail for him.

It’s here that Jaguar’s past came back to haunt him.

RECKLESS DRIVING

“It is important for the court to be aware that he’s a convict. He was sentenced on February 21, this year on two counts of causing death by dangerous driving. If released on bail he might commit further crimes,” State lawyer Duncan Ondimu said.

According to the court papers, Jaguar was charged with reckless driving on March 21, 2017 causing the death of a motorcyclist, Mugo Mwangi.

A Range Rover with Registration No. KCB 808J was said to have hit and killed the rider and his passenger on Sagana-Makutano road within Kirinyaga County.

BAIL DENIED

Jaguar insisted that he was the one driving the car, although an eye witness said they saw a female driver when the accident occurred.

According to the prosecution, it is this case that warrants a denial of bail.

The lawmaker was arrested on Wednesday for making xenophopic remarks which have strained diplomatic relationship between Kenya and Tanzania.

The Kenyan government, through its spokesperson Colonel (Rtd) Cyrus Odhiambo Oguna, on Tuesday issued a statement denouncing the lawmaker’s remarks.

Nairobi County government spent Sh10,800 to buy a cooking gas cylinder at one of its health facilities, it has been revealed.

The damning revelation emerged during a County Assembly Public Accounts Committee (PAC) sitting where it emerged that officers at Mutuini Hospital irregularly spent Sh309,734 meant for the purchase of emergency drugs at the facility.

It was revealed that the officers diverted the money meant for purchase of crucial and emergency drugs for the facility to buy cooking gas cylinders and charcoal.

Interestingly, the 13 kilogram cylinders were bought at different prices even though they were of the same quantity.

One cylinder was priced at Sh10,800, another at 2,800 and the third one at 2,300. In the market, an empty 13kg cylinder retails at between Sh4,000 and Sh5,000 while filling one costs between Sh2,000 and Sh2,300.

CASH SPENT

Kilimani MCA Moses Ogeto sought to know how cooking gas falls under the emergency drugs category.

Nominated MCA Silvia Museiya and Karen MCA David Mberia wanted to know where the balance of more than Sh300,000 went to as the cash spent on cooking gas amounted to only Sh20,500.

“What we have received today are only vouchers of the purchase of cooking gas. Do you mean all this money was only used to purchase cooking gas?” posed Mr Mberia.

Health Services chief officer Dr Washington Makodingo told the committee that the cooking gas was used for maternity procedures at the health facility.

However, he was unable to explain the remaining expenditure amounting to more than Sh300,000 and requested to be given more time to table evidence before the committee.

SUMMONED

“The facility offers maternity services which means they even do sterilization and that requires the use of cooking gas cylinders. However, give us more time to reconcile our records and appear before the committee on Monday as the annextures we have provided are not clear,” said Dr Makodingo.

The watchdog committee, chaired by Mabatini MCA Wilfred Odalo had summoned the chief officer and officials from Mutuini Hospital over the irregular expenditure.

This was after the Auditor General Edward Ouko raised queries over the expenditure by the hospital’s officers.

The report stated that the hospital had collected revenue amounting to Sh3.4 million but only Sh3.1 million was banked, spending Sh309,734 was spent at source.

The officers will appear before the committee again next week to provide adequate documentary evidence on the flagged expenditure.

The Kenya Pipeline Company has lost an unknown amount of fuel believed to be worth tens of millions of shillings through a sophisticated siphoning racket.

The criminals dug a 20-metre tunnel through granite rock to access the main pressurised pipeline, which they punctured and then inserted a valve to regulate the flow of stolen fuel.

The fuel then flows through a hose pipe into a fenced, desolate compound, from where tankers are loaded with the fuel. There is only one iron-sheet shelter in the compound.

The racket was busted when Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers, together with KPC engineers, acting on a tip-off, arrested two people on Tuesday night at Kathangaita in Mlolongo township in Mavoko, Machakos County.

Another suspect was later apprehended. The three include two workers at the site, and a tanker owner.

EXPLOSIVES

It has not yet been established how long the illegal “depot” has been operating, but it is notable that the drilling was not reported earlier, despite there being clear evidence of the rock being blasted using explosives.

The tunnel is about 1 metre in diameter. An electric cable is inserted through it to power the bulbs that lit the way for the criminals as they made their way to turn the valve on and off.

“There’s no way you can do this unless you have the technical know-how or work for a pipeline. Not with this kind of pressure,” Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i said when he visited the site yesterday, accompanied by Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai.

Dr Matiang’i ordered the DCI to carry out a thorough investigation into the racket and report to him.

“We must bring this to an end. This must be a racket. Ordinary criminals cannot do this,” he said.

During the arrests on Tuesday night, one suspect escaped and is yet to be tracked down.

It is believed he could have disappeared into the tunnel, which the investigators are still wary of entering yet because of the strong petrol fumes.

SCENE OF CRIME

The intricate work was exposed after KPC excavated the site. It has since been sealed off as a scene of crime.

The suspects were taken to court on Thursday and the DCI expects to make more arrests.

Dr Matiang’i took a KPC manager, Mr George Ajowi, to task over the scam, wondering how such a thing could go on undetected.

Meanwhile, Mr Mutyambai ordered the County Police Commandant to expedite the investigations.

“We have to get these criminals,” he said and ordered his officers to investigate how power was connected to the compound. In the lone shelter was a bed and some clothing.

Area residents said they were not aware of the illegal activity, although they said they would see fuel tankers driving in and out of the compound.

Recently, KPC has been reported to be losing fuel through spillage.

Last September, the company recalled more than 170,000 litres of super petrol loaded at its Kisumu depot after it was found to be mixed with water.

University of Nairobi Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Peter Mbithi’s bid for a second term has flopped after the council turned down his request.

The University Council chaired by Prof Julia Ojiambo has since asked the besieged VC to proceed on terminal leave starting July 6.

However, the council advised him to reapply for the position once it is advertised by the Public Service Commission (PSC).

The decision was made on Wednesday during a stormy special council meeting, which was called to decide on the fate of the VC.

On Tuesday the council held an ordinary meeting where a request letter from Prof Mbithi was distributed to members.

They communicated their decision to Prof Mbithi in a letter dated June 26.

“As you are aware, there was amendments to the Universities Act 2012, which came into force in January 2019. Consequently, within the current legislative framework, the council is not in a position to consider, approve and recommend your reappointment as requested in your letter dated May 19. The amendments demand that appointment be through a competitive process,” apply,” reads the letter.

Motorists were forced to spend the cold night on the Naivasha-Nakuru highway following a huge traffic snarl-up on the major international trade route.

The gridlock started at around 10pm on Thursday after two trailers collided, blocking both sides of the lanes.

Four people sustained injuries and were rushed to the Naivasha Sub-County hospital for treatment.

“I arrived at the scene immediately after the crash but managed to evade the snarl-up using an old road close to the highway,” said Patrick Marine, a motorist.

For Nairobi-bound Naftary Njoroge, who talked to the Nation, he said he has been stuck in the jam for close to three hours.

“It’s very frustrating. We are virtually at a standstill and I was supposed to be in Nairobi by 8am to attend to some personal matters,” he said.

Drivers and travellers stranded on the highway agonised over the situation with some motorists seeking alternative routes through the bushes.

“No vehicle is moving on either side of the lanes. We are not even sure how many hours it will take to clear the road,” said Mark Agutu, a Nation Media Group employee who is also caught in the traffic.

A senior police officer blamed the situation on impatient motorists who obstructed traffic flow as they sought alternative routes near Marula area.

“Police were already on the accident spot before intolerant drivers started overlapping,” said the officer.

Starehe MP Charles Njagua alias Jaguar will spend the weekend in police cells as police continue investigating his remarks that have been deemed to be spreading xenophobia.

The MP will be detained for three days at Kileleshwa police station as investigations are undertaken over his incitement remarks against foreign nationals trading in Nairobi.

The court will rule on Tuesday on whether or not he will be granted a bail. The prosecution want him held for 14 days.

He is accused of inciting Kenyans against Chinese, Ugandans and Tanzanians working in Kenya.

More to follow

Police in Makueni County are holding a 52-year-old man who is suspected of forcing a minor to perform fellatio on him.

Mr Alex Mutua Kimuyu, is said to have lured the 10-year-old boy into a lodging within Itangine market where he forced him to do the indecent act.

In a police report filed at Makueni police station, the minor’s mother received a call on Thursday from the school where the minor studies and informed her that her son was unwell.

“She immediately went to the school, picked the minor and took him to Makueni General Hospital for checkup. It is while being examined by the medics that the minor revealed what happened,” read part of the report.

The minor is said to have shown signs of nausea and vomiting while at school.

Mr Kimuyu was spotted by the child’s mother who asked the police to arrest him. He is expected to be arraigned in court once the investigations are complete.

Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti has been taken ill again, two weeks after he resumed work from medical leave.

Sources on Friday told the Nation that Mr Awiti fell ill on Thursday during an official event in Homa Bay and was taken to the Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu.

On Friday, the sources said, he was transferred to the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi for further treatment.

Doctors said the county boss, who has an eye problem, is in a stable condition.

Mr Awiti was recently on a long medical leave abroad, which lasted for close to three months, and just resumed duty two weeks ago.

Three Nairobi Ward Representatives who were summoned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in connection with a suspected militia this week recorded statements at the Central Police Station, Nairobi.

The trio, Anthony Kiraga Karanja (Waithaka), Ruth Ndumi (Nominated Jubilee) and Patricia Mutheu (Mlango Kubwa,) had been summoned by Nairobi Central DCIO Mr Samuel Kobina on June 7 to shed more light in what they knew about Sonko Defense Forces (SDF).

On Friday, Mr Karanja told Nairobi News that he recorded his statement on Tuesday where he denied having any knowledge on whether such a group existed.

‘DERAIL DEVELOPMENT’

“I read mischief from the word go and for real it looks that someone somewhere is not happy with what Governor Mike Sonko is doing and they want to derail the development agenda that we have as a county,” he said.

Mr Karanja argued that he would not blame the police for summoning them, saying that what they did was part of their duties as they are expected to provide maximum security to the public.

Governor Sonko in on record saying that the only group he is associated with is the Sonko Rescue Team which is engaged in charity work across the country.

He accused an unnamed Permanent Secretary for being behind the summoning of the three MCAs.

“I am shocked by the attached letter from DCI central under the instructions of our very common PS anazeeka vibaya na fitina mingi na chuki. I wish to categorically deny claims of existence of a militia by the name of Sonko Defence Forces,” Sonko said, adding that it was an attempt to divert attention of locals in Nairobi.

On Friday Mr Kobina (DCIO Central) and the OCPD Mr Peter Atavashi refused to comment on the progress of the investigations.

“I have been away for three weeks and I cannot comment on the matter as I have not been briefed about it,” Mr Kobina told Nairobi News in his office..

LABOUR DAY CELEBRATION

However, a detective privy to the ongoing investigations who spoke in confidence said that investigations into the existence and operations of the group kicked off after the Labour Day celebration.

Our source said that when members of the said group arrived at Uhuru Park carrying posters emblazoned with SDF logos they caused a scene which caught their attention.

“That is when the investigations were launched and as per now they are still ongoing,” the source said.

Investigations by Nairobi News reveal that the group not only operates during major functions but also has a huge presence on social media which detectives revealed was also part of their investigations.

Many Kenyans have been victims of the group which has also been linked to a Facebook page and account called Nairobi Mini Bloggers.

Investigations reveal how the page has been used to announce and share the roles of SDF.

For instance on April 20, a post was uploaded on the page saying that the group will assist Governor Sonko eliminate cartels in the city.

“Get to know the new Sonko Defence Force, it will help dismantle cartels in the city and help Governor Sonko achieve all the plans that he has for the city. The SDF will support all Governor Sonko’s operations to transform Nairobi County and restore its lost glory,” reads the post in part.

HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR

In other posts tagging SDF appears images of Mr Geoffrey Mosiria who is the Administrator Pumwani Hospital wearing a T-Shirt emblazoned with the words Sonko Defence Force.

Contacted Mr Mosiria said that the photos were not his and dismissed them as PhotoShop.

“I don’t know anything about the group and whoever who uploaded the images did it in bad faith and is an enemy of progress,” he said.

Mr Mosiria said that he had even reported the matter and existence of the images at Nairobi Central police station on OB number 28/26/04/19.

“I reported the matter at the station and suspects were arrested but later released,” he said.

The group also targets University students in the city, bodaboda riders and members of the public who are paid Sh1,000 to make an appearance during public functions and are not devoted members per say.