Witness Narrates Pain, Horror After Former Tetu MP Assault

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January 26, 2023

A witness in the case where former Tetu MP James Ndung’u Gethenji is facing assault charges has narrated to the court the pain he has endured after the assault.

Appearing before Milimani Magistrate Muthoni Nzibe, Godfrey Kirimi Mutua the victim said he was assaulted by Gethenji on February 5,2021while on his normal duties.

Ndungu is charged that on February 5, 2021, at Kihingo villageCounty assaulted Godfrey Kirimi Mutua thereby occasioning him actual bodily harm.

Kirimi said he currently works with FAPCL group that deployed him to work at Kitsuru Estate working as a security officer based at Kihingo village Kitsuru westlands Sub-County.

He said that on the day of the incident, the former MP came holding his pistol at hand. “I asked him why he was holding the gun and we normally open for him, “said the witness.

Kirimi said that after he asked Getheni that question, he came out of his car and started assaulting him together with his bodyguards and they were also shouting. “Gethenji hit me on the face with a pistol as the bodyguard cocked his gun and ndung’u hit me shouting that I should know people,” he added.

He added that after the commotion the police officers together with other guards came in and Gethenji shouted that security guards should know people.

Kirimi says he supervises securex security guards who manage Kihingo security and during the incident, he was acting on the order from the management to check on all the vehicles.

He said that he reported the matter to his bosses who advised him to report to Gigiri Police Station. “I later went to MP Shah Hospital for treatment, “said Kirimi.

Kirimi was cross-examined by Lawyers Willis Otieno and Ishmael Nyaribo who wanted him to produce his Job Identification card and work permit.

Kirimi also Identified Gethenji as the one who assaulted him. When he was asked whether he knew that there were differences between directors, Kirimi told the court that they were employed by the directors but by then he didn’t know that there was war and division among the directors.

The prosecution intends to produce CCTV footage of the scene which will be played in court at a later date.

“I went to mpisha Hospital for treatment, including stitches on injuries, I was also given a P3 form to fill,” he added. He said that he has never had a difference with the accused person. He also identified the firearm that was used to hit him.

The said firearm was produced in court as a prosecution exhibit. The matter will continue on May 14, 2023.

Transgender Rapist Will Not Be Imprisoned In Women’s Jail

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John Mutiso

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January 26, 2023

A trans woman who raped two women before she changed gender will not serve her sentence in a female jail, Scotland’s first minister has said.

Isla Bryson was remanded to Cornton Vale women’s prison after being convicted of carrying out the rapes when she was a man called Adam Graham.

Bryson decided to transition from a man to a woman while awaiting trial.

Nicola Sturgeon has now said Bryson would be removed from the prison soon and would not serve her sentence there.

Bryson is due to be sentenced next month after being convicted on Tuesday of this week – but where that sentence should be served has been the subject of heated debate, with concerns being raised about the safety of other women in the jail if Bryson was placed there.

Speaking at First Minister’s Questions in the Scottish Parliament, Ms Sturgeon said she agreed with the chief executive of Rape Crisis that it was not possible to have a rapist within a women’s prison.

Referring directly to the Bryson case, said: “It would not be appropriate for me, in respect of any prisoner, to give details of where they are being incarcerated.

“But given the understandable public and parliamentary concern in this case, I can confirm to parliament that this prisoner will not be incarcerated at Cornton Vale women’s prison.

“I hope that provides assurance to the public.”

The first minister said any prisoner who poses a risk of sexual offending is segregated from other prisoners including while a risk assessment is carried out.

She said: “There is no automatic right for a trans woman convicted of a crime to serve their sentence in a female prison even if they have a gender recognition certificate.

“Every case is subject to rigorous individual risk assessment and the safety of other prisoners is paramount.”

Ms Sturgeon said she expected that Bryson would not be at Cornton Vale in Stirling – which is currently Scotland’s only women’s prison – by the end of a 72-hour segregated assessment period, which would be soon.

The first minister also stressed it was careful that people “do not, even inadvertently, suggest that trans women pose an inherent threat to women”, adding: “Predatory men, as has always been the case, are the risk to women.”

It came as Bryson’s estranged wife, Shonna Graham, 31, claimed her former partner’s transition was a “sham for attention” and that she is attempting to fool the authorities.

Ms Graham told the Daily Mail: “Never once did he say anything to me about feeling he was in the wrong body or anything. I have a lot of sympathy for real transgender people, it’s a hard thing to live with, but he’s just bullshitting the authorities.”

She also accused Bryson of being abusive in their relationship.

During the court proceedings, Bryson claimed she knew she was transgender at the age of four but did not make the decision to transition until she was 29, and is currently taking hormones and seeking surgery to complete gender reassignment.

Bryson said that in 2016 she was “struggling with my sexuality and having issues emotionally”.

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper earlier criticised the decision to hold the rapist in a women’s jail.

Speaking to the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 on Thursday, Ms Cooper said: “This dangerous rapist should not be in a women’s prison and it should be clear that if someone poses a danger to women and committed crimes against women, they should not be being housed in a women’s prison.”

“That is straightforward and I think most people would agree with that.”

Former SNP community safety minister Ash Regan also criticised the move.

Ms Regan quit her post just hours before the Scottish government’s gender recognition reform bill was passed in principle at Holyrood, saying her conscience would not allow her to support the plans.

She said: “Rapists should not be placed in the women’s prison estate. Many female prisoners have been victims of male violence and are vulnerable.

“It is unacceptable – the policy must be urgently changed.”

The Scottish Parliament recently passed legislation aimed at making it easier for people to change theeir legally-recognised sex – but it has been blocked by the UK government over its potential impact on equalities laws that apply across Scotland, England and Wales.

Nine Palestinians Killed In Israeli Raid In Jenin

By

John Mutiso

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January 26, 2023

Nine Palestinians have been killed during an Israeli military raid in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian health officials say – the deadliest in years.

An elderly woman was reported among the dead, in the flashpoint town of Jenin.

The Israeli military said its troops went in to arrest Islamic Jihad militants planning “major attacks”.

The Palestinian presidency accused Israel of a “massacre” in the northern town, which has been the scene of repeated raids in recent months.

The incursions are part of what the Israeli military describes as an anti-terrorism offensive which began last April.

Israeli military vehicles drive through Jenin, in the occupied West Bank (26 January 2023) — Image caption,The Israeli military said it had acted to foil “major attacks” by a cell of Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants

Heavy gunfire and explosions could be heard in video footage from Jenin refugee camp on Thursday morning, as Israeli troops clashed with Palestinian militants.

The Palestinian health ministry identified three of those killed as Magda Obaid, 60, Saeb Izreiqi, 24, and Izzidin Salahat, 26. Twenty people were also wounded, four of them seriously, it said.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its troops entered Jenin to arrest an Islamic Jihad “terror squad”, who it accused of being “heavily involved in planning and executing multiple major terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers”.

It said forces surrounded a building and that three armed suspects were “neutralised”, while a fourth suspect surrendered. The military said troops were shot at by other Palestinian gunmen and returned fire, hitting targets. It added it was looking into “claims regarding additional casualties”.

Islamic Jihad and Hamas said their militants had targeted the troops with gunfire and improvised explosive devices.

The official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that seven youths were shot and wounded while attempting to prevent the Israeli forces from entering Jenin, and that the troops “completely destroyed” the Jenin Camp Club.

Palestinians inspect damaged vehicles and buildings in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank, after nine Palestinians were killed in an Israeli military raid (26 January 2023) — Image caption,A witness said the Israeli military bulldozers destroyed several cars and the wall of the Jenin Camp Club

Taxi driver Mohammed Ammori said he had been talking to a friend when Israeli troops pulled up beside a building close to the club in cars and a lorry.

“We heard gunshots. We fled into the Jenin club and we stayed under siege there for three hours.”

He added: “After about an hour, military bulldozers destroyed cars on both sides of the road, then destroyed the club’s wall.”

“Young men threw stones, homemade explosives and Palestinian gunmen opened fire on the Israeli forces. My friend was hit in the foot and I saw a bulldozer overturn a car with a citizen inside. He was injured, but he survived.”

Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila said Palestinian Red Crescent ambulances were initially unable to reach the wounded because Israeli troops restricted access to the scene.

The children’s ward of a local hospital was also hit by Israeli tear gas, she said. The IDF did not comment on the accusation.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared three days of national mourning in response to what his spokesman called a “massacre” happening “amidst international silence”.

“This is what encourages the occupation government to commit massacres against our people in full view of the world,” Nabil Abu Rudeineh said.

Jenin Deputy Governor Kamal Abu al-Rub told AFP news agency that Israeli troops were “destroying everything and shooting at everything that moves.”

United Nations Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland said: “I am deeply alarmed and saddened by the continuing cycle of violence in the occupied West Bank.”

“Since the beginning of this year, we are continuing to witness high levels of violence and other negative trends that characterized 2022. It is crucial to reduce tensions immediately and prevent more loss of life,” he added.

At least 29 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank so far this year, including militants and civilians, as the military continues operations there.

Last year in the West Bank more than 150 Palestinians were killed, nearly all by Israeli forces. The dead included unarmed civilians, militant gunmen and armed attackers.

A series of Palestinian attacks targeting Israelis, as well as militant gunfire at troops during arrest raids, meanwhile killed more than 30 people including civilians, police and soldiers. 

KenGen To Pay Ksh 1.32 Billion In Dividends To Its Shareholders

By

John Mutiso

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January 26, 2023

Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) will pay a total of Ksh 1.32 billion in dividends to its shareholders for the year ending June 30, 2022.

This was after the company posted a Ksh.4.7 billion profit after tax.

This follows an approval by shareholders of the KenGen Board’s recommendation for a first and final dividend payment of Ksh.0.20 for the year for every ordinary share of Ksh.2.50 at the company’s 70th Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The government, which owns 70% of the shares in the NSE-listed company is expected to receive approximately Ksh.924 million in the payout while the rest will go to the private individual and institutional shareholders.

The dividend payout goes to demonstrate KenGen’s strong growth and stability over the years anchored on its geothermal-led strategy and revenue diversification.

Speaking earlier today during the AGM, which was held virtually, General (Rtd) Samson Mwathethe, KenGen Board Chairman, noted that the company’s strong business fundamentals, innovation culture, and robust expansion strategy have continued to propel the company to profitability, thereby growing value for its shareholders year-on-year.

“Our business growth is firmly anchored on our energy generation expansion strategy. In the last financial year, this strategy saw the addition of 86MW Olkaria I Additional Unit 6 into the national grid,” he said, adding, “our diversification approach on different areas such as geothermal development also played a huge role in creating more value to our shareholders.”

For his part, KenGen Acting Managing Director, and CEO Mr. Abraham Serem reiterated the Company’s 2023 priority focus areas which he said will be on new technologies to generate more electricity using the existing power plants.

“This year, we plan to leverage new technologies to rehabilitate our oldest geothermal power plant whose first unit was commissioned in 1981, the 45MW Olkaria I. This project seeks to give it a new lease of life and increase its generation capacity to about 63MW.”

Further, the company is rolling out plans to up-rate the turbines for the Olkaria I Additional Units 4 and 5 and Olkaria IV power plants to increase their output by an additional 40MW in a wider plan to further increase Kenya’s energy supply and catalyze the country’s economic growth.

KenGen is also betting on diversification in geothermal consultancy and e-mobility development to drive its financial sustainability in both the current and coming financial years.

Pope Tells All Christians To Oppose War And Injustice Wherever They Appear

By

John Mutiso

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January 26, 2023

The Lord is grieved by our indifference and lack of understanding before sacrilegious violence Pope Francis said during his homily at Vespers on the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, and he called for action to oppose war, violence and injustice wherever they begin to appear.

Celebrating the liturgy to mark the end of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in the Basilica of Saint Paul’s Outside the Walls, the Pope invited Christians of all denominations to change and walk the path of unity “the Lord has placed before us.”

The Holy Father reflected on the readings of the day that call for change, and noted that “we celebrate the joy of coming together as brothers and sisters in Christ” in days that are so “full of tragic and troubling news reports.”

“We could perhaps easily dispense with such biblical condemnations of the sins of society! Yet if we are sensitive to the profound unease of the times in which we are living, we should be all the more concerned for what causes suffering to the Lord for whom we live,” he said.

Do good, seek justice
The Pope recalled the theme of this year’s Week of Prayer – “Do good; seek justice” – explaining that God admonishes us to renounce evil and urges us to change.

“Admonishment and change are the two words on which I would like to reflect with you this evening,” he said.

Taking his cue from the prophet Isaiah, the Holy Father said the Lord does not desire “incense and offerings, but that the poor receive assistance, that justice be rendered to the orphan, that the cause of the widow be upheld.”

He said that God suffers “when we, who call ourselves his faithful ones, put our own ways of seeing things before His, when we follow the judgments of the world rather than those of heaven, when we are content with exterior rituals yet remain indifferent to those for whom He cares the most.”

In addition to this, he added “there is a second and more serious motive that offends the Most High: It is sacrilegious violence.”

This admonition of the Lord, he continued, gives us much food for thought, as individual Christians and as Christian confessions.

We have no excuses
“I would like to state once again that today, with our developed spirituality and theology, we have no excuses,” the Pope said.

Still, there are those who appear to feel encouraged or at least permitted by their faith to support varieties of narrow and violent nationalism, xenophobia and contempt, and even the mistreatment of those who are different.

Faith, he added, must maintain “a critical sense in the face of these tendencies, and prompt an immediate response whenever they rear their head.”

With God all is possible
The Pope went on to say that after diagnosing our wrongs, the Lord asks us to remedy them.

“Due to our failure to understand God and the violence that lurks within us, we are incapable of setting ourselves free,” he said, reminding those present that, “without God, without his grace, we are not healed of our sin.”

He reflected on how conversion is communitarian and ecclesial in nature, and invited all Christians to be open, together, to a change of perspective.

To rediscover that “all the faithful throughout the world are in communion with each other in the Holy Spirit, so that – as Saint John Chrysostom wrote – ‘those who dwell in Rome knows those in India to be part of the same body”.

Finally, Pope Francis expressed gratitude for this journey of fellowship and for the participation and interest of so many Christians for the synodal journey of the Catholic Church, “which I trust will become increasingly ecumenical.”

And inviting those present to continue to grow through praying, serving, engaging in dialogue and working together towards the full unity that Christ desires, he offered his thanks to all the Christian communities present for the celebration.

Newcastle’s Joelinton Fined Ksh 4.8M, Banned for Drink-Driving

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John Mutiso

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January 26, 2023

A British court on Thursday fined Newcastle United midfielder Joelinton Ksh4.8 million (£31,085) and banned from driving for 12 months after admitting to drink-driving.

The 26-year-old was stopped in the early hours of January 12.

Northumbria Police charged Joelinton with “driving while above the prescribed limit for alcohol”.

He had admitted the charge.

The driving ban will be reduced to nine months if he completes a rehabilitation course, Sky Sports said.

The Brazilian, who was accompanied to court by a club security official, fired a second-half winner to earn Newcastle United a 1-0 win at Southampton in their League Cup semifinal first leg on Tuesday

Boxer Sarah Achieng’ Named Sports Personality For December 2022

By

John Mutiso

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January 26, 2023

Commonwealth Boxing Council Champion Sarah ‘Angel of War’ Achieng’ is the LG SJAK Sports Personality of Month of December 2023.

The Boxgirls Kenya lady pugilist earned the accolade after successfully defending her Commonwealth Super lightweight title against Zimbabwean challenger Chiedza Homakoma.

In winning the December award, Achieng carried home an LG Nano Cell smart TV worth Ksh 100,000 courtesy of title sponsors LG East Africa.

The soft-spoken Achieng’ was all smiles after winning the coveted monthly trophy, becoming the fourth boxer to win the trophy after former WBC Champion Fatma Zarika, Judy Waguthii and Hit Squad mainstay Elly Ajowi.

“It is such a great feeling to win this award, more so, at a time I am preparing for my fight in Belgium next week. The award goes to show the hard work and determination we have achieved as Boxgirls, and I hope to continue working hard in my fights to take my career to the next level,” Achieng’ said after receiving the award on Thursday at the LG Showroom in Nairobi.

“My Coach (Irie Priest Onalo) has been instrumental in our training and indeed mentoring countless other girls from the sprawling Kariobangi to take up the sport of boxing. We owe him big tome,” added Achieng’.

The 35-year- old hard-hitting boxer beat top nominees among them Chess National Champion Mehul Gohil, Roslidah Asumwa of Tennis and Collins Ndunda who won three medals at the Mombasa international Tong-ll-Moo-Do Championship.

Achieng knocked out Chiedza aka ‘Queen Tiger’ in the eighth round at the Charter Hall, Nairobi to achieve the feat. Achieng’ took absolute control of the fight from the first round taking full advantage of her back-pedaling opponent, shaking her with strong body and face punches.

She will be vying for the World Boxing Association (WBA) tittle in Belgium on February 4 in the super lightweight category against home girl Belgian Oshin Deriew.

Achieng’ joins the growing list of sports personalities who have laid hands on the LG title. Others include world marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge, Faith Chengetich and Victoria Reynolds among others.

William Kamore, LG Content Manager on his part said that it had been a successful year for sports, as witnessed by the diversity this Award has showcased throughout the past season adding that the company is looking forward to continuing the partnership.

Former Cop Rashid Ahmed Ordered To Surrender Or Face Arrest

By

Cyrus Kimanga

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January 26, 2023

Plea taking of ‘Killer Cop’ Rashid Ahmed, a Pangani-based police officer, has been adjourned for a second time to February 9,2023.

The High Court Judge ruled that the suspect has so far not undergone psychiatric examination as required by the Law for all murder suspects.

Rashid has been ordered to present himself to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations at Garissa latest today in the evening.

The Court directed that Rashid should be escorted to Nairobi for medical examination immediately after submitting himself to the DCI.

The Judge has also cautioned Corporal Rashid that the Court will proceed to issue a warrant of arrest against himself should he fail to submit himself voluntarily to the DCI offices at Garissa.

The court said that if he submits himself voluntarily to police, after the medical examination, he will be released on anticipatory bail by the OCS on terms to be determined by the OCS.

The final orders of the Court were that Rashid will take plea virtually on the said date at 8:45am but only under the hands of police officers.

The cop was set to enter a plea today to murder charges in the deaths of two boys, Jamal Mohammed and Mohammed Dhair Kheri, after the DPP recommended that he be prosecuted for the cold blood murder of the boys.

According to the court documents, he murdered the pair on March 31, 2017 at Amal Plaza on 4th Eastleigh Street, 1st Avenue.

Woman Caught Making Love In Traffic Fined Sh20,000

By

Cyrus Kimanga

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January 26, 2023

A 26-year-old woman faces jail time after yelling insults at police officers and daring them to shoot her after being discovered making out with a man in a car.

Tabby Ndung’u was fined Sh20,000 by a Makadara Law court in default to serve six months in prison.

Tabby was sentenced by Makadara Chief Magistrate Francis Kyambia after pleading guilty to charges of causing a disturbance and offensive conduct at Thika Road Mall.

According to the court, two police officers on duty encountered traffic obstruction and, when checking the reason of the congestion, discovered Tabby and a male companion had parked their car in the middle of the road, blocking other motorists.

The officers found Tabby and the man kissing passionately and ordered them to drive on to ease traffic.

But, enraged by their intrusion, Tabby stepped out of the car and insulted them.

The incident was reported to the Kasarani police station by the two male policemen.

The magistrate sentenced her to six months in prison or pay a Sh10,000 fine for each offense.

Shujaa’s Willy Ambaka To Retire After Sydney Sevens

By

John Mutiso

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January 26, 2023

Shujaa rugby player Willy Ambaka announced that he will be playing his last match at the Sydne 7s tournament in Australia.

Ambaka announced the decision through a statement he posted on his social media platforms on Thursday, January 26.

His retirement marks an end to an illustrious 13-year career as a player under the Kenya Rugby Union.

“After thirteen incredible years playing for the Kenya Rugby Union, I’m beginning to understand that while pursuing great things, it is the pursuit that holds the greatest value.

“While it has been a tremendous journey, now it is time to pull the curtains on my International Rugby 7s journey. This is why I have come to the decision that I will be playing my final leg in Sydney this season,” part of his statement read.

In his statement, the rugby player noted that he has achieved many of the dreams he had when he was in school.

As a rugby player, Ambaka was part of the Shujaa team that won the final in Singapore in 2016.

He has also featured for Shujaa in two Olympic Games, two Commonwealth Games, and three Rugby 7s World Cups.

Ambaka thanked his previous coaches including the late Benjamin Ayimba for their involvement in his career.

The 32-year-old played for international clubs from France, New Zealand, South Africa, and Russia.

He also highlighted that through his career many African parents changed their perception that professional sports aren’t a career path.

Shujaa is currently in Australia for the Sydney 7s which kicks off on Friday, January 27, with the Kenya rugby 7s national team taking on South Africa in their first match.