Good morning,
The 2023 Devolution conference currently underway in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County has turned out to be a bigger stage for leaders to comment on ten years under devolved governments.
The second day, Thursday, August 17th 2023, was highly anticipated because the opposition leader Raila Odinga was the keynote speaker and as expected, was likely to talk about the previous elections and the ongoing talks with the government.
Raila Odinga received a standing ovation after calling out US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whiteman for terming the 2022 election a free and fair exercise.
“Tell the rogue ambassador- Kenya is not the US- Kenya is not a colony of the United States. Keep your mouth shut while you are here. Otherwise, we will call for your recall back to your country,” said the former Prime Minister.
The closing remarks shocked many and Kenyans and leaders alike have been debating whether Raila’s remarks could jeopardize the relationship between Kenya and the US.
On one hand, Odinga’s call can be seen as a plea to ensure that foreign entities, no matter how well-intentioned, do not inadvertently exert undue influence on Kenya’s elections.
Historically, external actors have often played a role in shaping electoral outcomes in various countries, sometimes leading to unintended consequences and conflicts.
But on the other hand, the involvement of international observers, including ambassadors can be seen as an expression of goodwill and a commitment to upholding democratic values.
The question now begs, do you think Raila’s utterance was reckless or a legitimate assertion of Kenya’s independence in dealing with her affairs?
State wants to freeze Mandago bank accounts over Finland airlift saga
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) is seeking to freeze bank accounts belonging to Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago and his co-accused in the Finland and Canada airlift scandal.
Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Hassan Abdi told the court on Thursday August 18 that he intends to file a formal application seeking to freeze their bank accounts and preserving their assets pending the hearing and determination of the case.
Mathee wa Ngara: Drugs, millions in cash and city’s infamous dealer
When police announced on Tuesday that they had arrested four suspects in Ngara, Nairobi, less than three kilometres from the city centre, and recovered marijuana and other hard drugs along with Sh13.4 million in cash, they were merely playing to the gallery.
They also never clarified whether the 54-year-old woman, identified as Teresia Wanjiru, who was plastered on police social media pages together with her cache of drugs and cash, was the popular and influential drug lord nicknamed “Mathee wa Ngara”.
Peter Kenneth bank among firms hit by Sh1.1bn tax demand
Former presidential aspirant Peter Kenneth and three companies, including a bank, are the latest high-profile individuals and entities to be caught up in the ongoing tax crackdown by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
The Business Daily has established that the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is demanding more than Sh1.14 billion from shareholders of three companies, including Mr Kenneth, for underpayment of tax paid on sale of shares.