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Boost for Katuku as more ex-MCAs support his senatorial bid
February 16th, 2021Barely two days after a section of former MCAs who served in the first county Assembly of Machakos announced their support for Mutua Katuku, dozens others followed suit Tuesday morning and declared the Maendeleo Chap Chap candidate was the best bet for the Senate seat.
The former county legislators led by Felix Ngui of Katangi Ward were received at Maendeleo Chap Chap party offices in Machakos town by Katuku.
They vowed to lead a vigorous campaign in his favor across the county, prioritising civic education among voters to ensure residents make informed choices in the March 18 mini polls.
“As the pioneers of devolution in Machakos, we have keenly evaluated all the candidates vying for the Senate seat and our honest conclusion is that Katuku is best placed to execute the roles of senator,” said Ngui.
The MCAs said Katuku’s social, academic and political standing placed him at a superior position compared to their candidates.
“Katuku has better experience, education background and even skills to carryout senatorial roles than any other candidate,” he said.
The former MCAs said as the pioneers of devolution in Machakos, they will take the frontline in conducting civic education to the voters to ensure residents make informed choices at the ballot. The first Speaker of the Machakos county Assembly, Bernard Mung’ata who presided over the Assembly termed the MCAs true champions of devolution.
“These are great men and women who understand matters of devolution and we will be commissioning them to take the frontline in educating members of the public about what they deserve,” he said.
He urged voters to ignore propaganda that the role of Senator should be to always contradict the sitting governor.
Katuku vowed to work with the former county legislators and pledged to work for all residents if elected, irrespective of their political affiliations.
I Have The Network to Lobby for Development Cash – Katuku
February 7th, 2021Maendeleo Chap Chap candidate in the Machakos senate by election, Mutua Katuku has said his well-established networks locally and internationally will enable him to swiftly lobby for development resources to spur progress in the county.
Katuku, who addressed the faithful at Mwala Catholic Church where he attended a Sunday Mass, said as a former assistant minister for Finance, he gathered wealth of experience in financial lobbying from global development partners which he can now activate to help Machakos.
“When elected to the Senate, I will easily activate my networks which include the World Bank, the African Development Bank (ADB) and other Government agencies to secure more resources for the county’s development,” said Katuku.
He said said the short duration of period remaining before next year’s general election required an experienced leader in the Senate, and one who was capable of working closely with the sitting Governor, Alfred Mutua to accelerate development programs in the county.
He pledged to prioritize some of the infrastructural projects including lobbying for the tarmacking of Mwala-Kangundo road, Kamuthambya- Kikesa-Matuu Road as well as Kivandini-Mbiuni-Katheka road.
“When you compare myself to the rest of my opponents, you will realize that I am the best suited candidate to serve the people of Machakos in the position of Senator,” he said.
He was accompanied by Yatta MP, Charles Kilonzo, former Machakos County MP Susan Musyoka and Makutano MCA, Brian Kisila.
He later addressed a series of political rallies at Mwala town, Kivandini, Mbiuni and Kituneni markets.
His campaign caravan also cruised through Miseleni and Kathama.
Photos: Katuku Cleared by IEBC for Machakos Mini-poll
January 26th, 2021The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has today cleared Hon. Mutua Katuku EGH to run for the Machakos senatorial by-election to be held later in March this year.
The former Minister for Water and Assistant Minister for Finance is running on a Maendeleo Chap Chap Party ticket.
Accompanied by Machakos County Governor Alfred Mutua and several other politicians from the region, Katuku presented his papers to the county IEBC officials today at 8.00am at the commissions offices in Machakos.
Having met all the required prerequisites he was thereafter cleared to run to fill the seat left vacant following the demise of former Senator Daudi Kabaka.
Wiper MCAs root for MCCP’s Katuku in Machakos By-election
January 20th, 2021Some 36 out of 59 MCAs from Machakos have endorsed former Cabinet Minister Mutua Katuku for the county’s senate seat in a by-election slated for March 23.
Eleven out of the 36 ward reps supporting Mr Katuku are from Wiper, having broken ranks with their colleagues to campaign against their party’s nominee Agnes Kavindu Muthama — the estranged wife of former senator Johnstone Muthama.
According to Mua Ward MCA Francis Ngunga, the group also includes 13 MCAs from Maendeleo Chap Chap, four from Jubilee, three from Narc, two from Muungano and three independent members.
Wiper party enjoys a majority in the 59-member county assembly, with 28 elected and nominated MCAs, but the split in the party led by former vice-president Kalonzo Musyoka may dim the prospects of their candidate.
The group claims that it is backing Mr Katuku (Maendeleo Chap Chap) because he is best suited among the candidates seeking to replace Senator Boniface Kabaka who died in December last year.
Maendeleo Chap Chap is led by Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua.
As the aspirants prepare for clearance by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) next week, the former Water minister in the Mwai Kibaki administration has garnered support from almost two-thirds of the Machakos County Assembly.
“We have consulted across political parties and decided to campaign for the best candidate in terms of competencies, including academic qualifications, parliamentary experience and impressive track record required for the job” said Mr Ngunga.
The MCA, who served as minority leader before being ousted last year, said that unlike all the other aspirants, Mr Katuku has the necessary experience having served as MP for Mwala for 10 years and therefore understands how government, both executive and Parliament, works. “The current Parliament expires in one year and a few months. We want a senator who will not waste time acquainting himself with parliamentary work,” Mr Ngunga said after a Sunday service at Matuu Catholic Church where the group had accompanied Mr Katuku.
Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo and former county assembly majority whip Tariq Mulatya also endorsed Mr Katuku, saying he initiated many water projects in Machakos County during his tenure at Maji House.
Mr Mulatya, the MCA for Masinga Central, said Ms Kavindu, the Wiper nominee, is an “outsider”, having vied for the Woman Rep position on a Jubilee ticket in the 2017 elections.
The Machakos by-election is shaping up into a three-horse race pitting Mr Katuku, Ms Kavindu and Urbanus Ngengele of United Democratic Alliance.Other candidates include Simeon Kitheka (GNDP) and Lilian Nduku Mwanzia (CCU).IEBC is set to clear the candidates on January 25 and 26.
Photos: Senate Aspirant Mutua Katuku in Matuu
January 17th, 2021The Maendeleo Chap Chap Party’s candidate in the upcoming senatorial by-election attended church service in Matuu, Yatta sub-county.
He was accompanied by Machakos County deputy governor HE. Eng. Francis Maliti, Area legislator Charles Kilonzo among other politicians from the region.
Former Minister Katuku Sends Shivers as Rivals Seek Ruto’s Support in Machakos Race
January 7th, 2021The Maendeleo Chap Chap Party’s flag bearer has send opponents in panic as the Machakos by-election campaign intensifies.
John Katuku has been busy over the past week touring several wards in the vast county. Due to his proven past record, he has been recieving a positive reception by locals.
This has not gone well with other aspirants eyeing the senatorial seat left vacant after the passing on of Hon. Kabaka.
This has made most of them to join hands and seek audience with the Deputy President William Ruto.
Led by Machakos Town’s MP Victor Munyaka and his Mwala counterpart Vincent Kawaya, the more than ten aspirants have been seeking the Deputy President’s support to try and water down Katuku’s popularity in the county.
Today, Thursday 7th of January, it was Albanus Ngengele’s turn. An independent candidate seeking seeking the senate seat after failing in securing the Mwala MP slot in 2017.
This comes just a day after another 13 aspirants met the deputy president in his Karen home. They included Bernard Kiala, Joseph Mathuki, Prof.Peter Lewa, Rita Ndunge, Charles Muthama, Gilbert Maluki, Stephen Muthoka, Eng.Titus Ndundu, Magdalene Dawa, Dr.John Musingi, Winfred Ndunge, Dr. Alex Mbelenzi and Titus Ndambuki.
We expect to see more developments in the coming days as the Tangatanga affiliated aspirants try to arrive to a compromise candidate to face of with Former minister of water John Katuku.
Kenya’s Elijah Manangoi Handed Two-Year Ban for Anti-Doping Violation
November 16th, 2020
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has banned Elijah Manangoi for two years for “whereabouts failures”, which is a breach of World Athletics anti-doping regulations.
The 27-year-old is now set to miss the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, having missed three doping tests. Manangoi was provisionally suspended in July for the violations and the AIU said his ban will come into effect “on the date of the third Whereabouts Failure” from Dec. 22 2019.
The ruling means “disqualification of all competitive results obtained by the athlete since 22 December 2019 with all resulting consequences, including the forfeiture of any titles, awards, medals, points prizes and appearance money,” AIU said in the statement.
Manangoi is the latest in a series of high-profile Kenyan athletes to be banned for violatins of anti-doping regulations. Others who has been banned include 2008 Olympic 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop, former Boston and Chicago Marathon winner Rita Jeptoo and 2016 Olympic marathon champion Jemimah Sumgong.
Cop Nancy Njeri to be Interdicted, Charged With Murder of Makueni Lawyer
October 19th, 2020Police officer Nancy Njeri who was charged with the chopping off the hands of Lawyer Onesmus Masaku on the 9th of October is set to be interdicted and her case changed to murder after the lawyer passed on Sunday morning.
This is according to Makueni Police Commander Joseph Ole Napeiyan.
The police officer Nancy Njeri who was still in custody was interdicted from her position and her case is set to be upgraded from grievous harm to murder. “It now direct charge no more further investigations, now it is directly upgrading the charge from grievous harm to murder and I now want her to be arraigned in court tomorrow as we finalize on her suspension immediately,” said Napeiyan.
Lawyer Masaku’s death was confirmed by the vice president of the Law Society of Kenya Caroline Kimende who said that he passed on Sunday morning while receiving treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital.
“I confirm I received a call from Morris Mulei advocate at around 1pm informing me that Masaku’s cousin had indicated to him that he had passed on today at around 6 am. He was being treated at Kenyatta National Hospital, we have not gotten details on the cause but we will contact the family for more information, ” she said.
On the 7th of October, Nancy Njeri a Makueni police officer chopped off lawyer Masaku’s hands under unclear circumstances where he was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital to receive treatment and the police officer was taken to Machakos Law Courts where she is still in police custody.
Law Society of Kenya president Nelson Havi read suspicion into the incident then saying police were complicit to the attempted murder.
“Police in Makueni are complicit in the attempted murder of Lawyer Onesmus Masaku by Policewoman Nancy Nyeri. The two are known lovers and Njeri attempted to kill him after he refused to accede to her demands for marriage. Nancy Njeri should be arrested and charged. ” Havi via a Tweet said.
Gor Mahia Sign Raila on 4 Years Deal
September 28th, 2020
Gor Mahia have completed the signing of Striker Dickson Raila from Masawa FC, a lower division side from Kisumu.
Raila, who becomes the latest arrival at the camp, signed a four-year deal with the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions.
Confirming the arrival, Gor Chairman Ambrose Rachier told the club’s website: “We are done with the exercise of signing new players and that means, Dickson Raila is the last player to be ropped into the squad. We believe we have done our best to get the necessary players.”
He now joins the club’s latest attack line which includes former Western Stima forward Benson Omalla, Nichoals Kipkirui, Clinton Okoth and Burundian Jules Ulimwengu.
Some other new signings at the club include Andrew Malisero Numero from Malawi, midfielder Sidney Ochieng, goalkeeper Samuel Njau, and defender Wesonga from Western Stima, Cameroonian midfielder Bertrand Konfor, John Macharia, and John Ochieng from Chemelil Sugar.
K’ogallo have been on a signing spree after losing some of their key players- David Mapigano to Azam FC, Joash Onyango to Simba SC of Tanzania, Dickson Ambundo to Dodoma Jiji, Omondi, and keeper Peter Odhiambo to Wazito FC.
I Can Resolve Revenue Stalemate in Six Hours – Muthama Tells Uhuru
September 8th, 2020Former Machakos senator Johnston Muthama will solve the revenue sharing stalemate if given the chance.
Speaking to K24 TV on Tuesday, the ex-lawmaker said should he take President Uhuru Kenyatta’s place for six hours, the contentious revenue allocation formula would be a thing of the past.
“President Uhuru Kenyatta has the mandate to sit down with CS Treasury and senate and agree to release at least 50 per cent to allow counties to operate while senate is still debating on the remaining 50 per cent.
“Give me that seat for just six hours and it will take me only three hours to send money to the counties.”Further, the politician alleged that the government is bankrupt hence the delay to disburse funds to county governments.
He advised the president to summon the senators and reach an amicable solution.
“All these English being used on revenue allocation is unnecessary it is simple mathematics and I put all the blame on the Executive, the President should call senators and come up with a solution,” he said.
The legislators have for a record nine times deferred the revenue sharing debate prompting the formation of a 12 member committee led by Moses Wetangula and Johnson Sakaja. This comes as governors have threatened to shut down counties on September 17 over the lack of funds.
“If the prevailing situation persists, effective Thursday, September 17, Counties will have no choice but to shut down. Consequently, we shall release all county employees to proceed on leave until an amicable solution on the issue is reached,” they said.
The governors are also threatening to sponsor a motion that will see the Senate dissolved for failing to safeguard the interests of County Governments.
“To this end, we hereby forewarn the Senate that a Petition for its dissolution can be initiated by any member of the public through the High Court as provided for under Article 258 of the Constitution,” the statement said.
