IEBC Guliye: Senior Uhuru Men Wanted Raila Or Runoff

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January 23, 2023

Abdi Guliye, a retired Commissioner of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), has shed light on the alleged behind-the-scenes discussions and requests for altered election results by some senior leaders.

Guliye revealed in his submissions to the Muchelule Tribunal on Monday that the commission had received requests to slow down the election process, with visits from senior leaders in the country asking them to ‘consider the bigger picture and not operate in a vacuum’.

Guliye also stated that during an early morning visit, some of the commissioners agreed with the visitors that the results should be moderated in order to keep the country together and announce a specific candidate.

“Specifically, commissioner Irene Masit agreed to the remarks moderating the results for the purposes of holding the country together,” Guliye said.

However, Guliye stated that the commission should follow the constitution and not discuss winning or losing before the election results were known.

“Personally when the chair gave us an opportunity to react, I told him we need to abide by the constitution. I said I did not know the election’s outcome at that time and my view was that we didn’t need to discuss winning and losing because we did not know who was winning or losing,” Guliye proclaimed.

Guliye also revealed that there were other visits, specifically at 3 a.m. on August 15, 2022, where the visitors left immediately following their discussions with the commission.

Guliye stated that the commission was also informed by security teams at the IEBC headquarters that the chair would be receiving visitors.

“They wanted us to declare Raila Odinga as the winner of that round,” he said.

The visitors included former Attorney General Kihara Kariuki, former Solicitor General Kennedy Ogeto, former Inspector General Hillary Mutyambai, and former Lieutenant General Francis Ogola, according to the submissions.

According to Guliye, the sentiments sparked a discussion about the results, which some commissioners felt fell short of their expectations. The argument was that the commission should have forced a runoff because the gap was too small.

“Irene Masit was in the position of the other three that we moderate the results and have a runoff,” he added.

12 Al Shabaab Militants Killed In Garissa Raid

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John Mutiso

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January 23, 2023

A multi-agency security team successfully conducted a raid on an Al-Shabaab camp located in Sedahgose, Garissa County.

The operation resulted in the neutralization of 12 out of 30 militants and the capture of one individual.

The other militants fled to Somalia with injuries.

The agency, led by Counter Terrorism Policing, also seized one IED, one PKM machine gun, and one AK47.

It is alleged that there is a strategic ploy by the Al-Shaabab to disrupt or delay the LAPSSET project, which would open the NEP Kenya for supersonic development.

The Al Shabaab killed six people on Sunday in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu.

A suicide bomber set off a huge blast that tore through a building near the office complex with gunfire erupting afterwards, Somali police spokesman Sadik Dudishe said at the end of the four-hour siege.

President Ruto Hosts Jubilee MPs Ahead Of Raila’s Kamukunji Rally

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John Mutiso

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January 23, 2023

President William Ruto and his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, met with Jubilee-allied Members of Parliament at State House this morning in a closed-door meeting.

The meeting’s purpose is unknown, but it comes ahead of a planned meeting of the Azimio coalition, of which Jubilee is a member, at Kamukunji grounds later today.

However, President Ruto provided a brief update following the meeting.

“We must build a bigger and better team that will work together to effectively prosecute the agenda of the people of Kenya. We cannot move our country forward by leaving others behind,” Ruto tweeted after the meeting.

The meeting was attended by several key members of the Jubilee party, including Kanini Kega and Sabina Chege.

Also present were David Kiaraho (Ol Kalou), Irene Njoki (Bahati), Zachary Kwenya (Kinangop), Shadrack Mwiti (South Imenti), Mark Mwenje (Embakasi West), Amos Mwago (Starehe), Daniel Karitho (Igembe Central), Stanley Muthama (Lamu West) and Joseph Githuku (Lamu).

President Ruto Signs IEBC (Amendment) Bill Into Law

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John Mutiso

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January 23, 2023

President William Ruto has signed the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (Amendment) Bill into law.

The Bill — which was considered and passed by the Senate last week — sought to alter the composition of the Selection Panel that oversees the filling of vacant positions in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

The signing means the allocation of the Parliamentary Service Commission will reduce from the current four to two out of the seven members of the Panel.

It further allows the Political Parties Liaison Committee to each nominate one member to the Panel.

This translates to a Panel that will consist of one member each drawn from the Public Service Commission, Political Parties Liaison Committee and the Law Society of Kenya.

The Parliamentary Service Commission and the Inter-religious Council of Kenya will each have two members.

Russian Warship With Missiles To Join Drills With SA

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John Mutiso

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January 23, 2023

A Russian warship armed with hypersonic cruise weapons will take part in joint exercises with the Chinese and South African navies in February, Russia’s state-owned Tass news agency reports quoting a military source.

“The Admiral Gorshkov will call at the logistics base in the Syrian port of Tartus, following which it will participate in the joint drills with the Chinese and South African navies,” the agency reports.

It was the first official mention of the participation by the frigate, “Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov,” which is armed with Zircon missiles, the Reuters news agency adds.

On Thursday South Africa’s military announced it would next month hold joint military drills with Russia and China off its coast.

The drills will run for 10 days from 17 February to 27 February in the port city of Durban and Richards Bay.

The aim is to share operational skills and knowledge, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) said.

Fury After Eswatini Activist Is Gunned Down At Home

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John Mutiso

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January 23, 2023

Many human rights campaigners, including opposition groups in Eswatini, have expressed their outrage on social media platforms following the brutal murder of a prominent pro-democracy activist in the southern African kingdom.

Thulani Maseko founded a coalition of parties and had been calling for reforms.

He was sitting in his living room at home with his family on Sunday in the town of Luyengo when gunmen shot him through a window.

The secretary general of Amnesty International, Agnès Callamard, said she was deeply saddened and angry, while Clement Voule, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Association, called on the government to ensure a thorough investigation into the murder.

Eswatini government spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo has rejected insinuations of government’s involvement in the killing.

“That is a far-fetched reality and statement. The government takes every life very seriously including the life of Thulani Maseko… This insinuation is rejected as it is being projected by those who are actually jumping all investigative mechanism that we have put in place,” he told South African public broadcaster SABC.

Over the last two years there have been waves of pro-democracy protests in Eswatini – the continent’s last absolute monarchy.

Security forces in the country have frequently used excessive force to break up protests.

Just last week the opposition accused King Mswati III of hiring South African mercenaries to attack activists – which officials denied.

Missing Outspoken Cameroon Journalist Found Dead

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John Mutiso

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January 23, 2023

An outspoken Cameroonian radio journalist has been found dead, after he disappeared on Tuesday in a suspected abduction.

Martinez Zogo was director of the privately-owned Amplitude FM and hosted a popular radio show called “Embouteillage” or traffic jam.

He had recently talked on air about an alleged embezzlement case involving a wealthy businessmen and top officials.

A spokesperson from Amplitude FM said that, along with Mr Zogo’s wife, they had identified the body of the radio presenter, which was found dumped on bare ground outside the capital, Yaoundé.

A media rights group said that police heard a loud noise outside their station on Tuesday night and discovered Mr Zogo’s badly-damaged car.

A black vehicle was seen driving away from the scene.

Roma Move Up To Fourth After Win At Spezia

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John Mutiso

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January 23, 2023

AS Roma climbed into fourth spot in Serie A with a 2-0 win at Spezia on Sunday after goals from Stephan El Shaarawy and Tammy Abraham.

Jose Mourinho’s side took advantage of the opportunity to fight for a top-four position after Juventus were deducted 15 points for the current season, leaving the former third-placed club marooned in mid-table.

Paulo Dybala ran into the box in first-half stoppage time and picked out El Shaarawy with a cross who finished past Spezia goalkeeper Bartlomiej Dragowski.

Abraham doubled their lead four minutes after the break, getting through the Spezia defence and calmly slotting the ball into the lower left corner of the goal from the edge of the box.

The result left Roma level on 37 points with third-placed Inter Milan, who play Empoli at home on Monday. Spezia are in 15th place.

Juventus play Atalanta later on Sunday, while Lazio and Milan face each other on Tuesday.

Juventus share points with Atalanta in six-goal thriller

By

John Mutiso

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January 23, 2023

Soccer Football - Serie A - Juventus v Atalanta - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - January 22, 2023 Juventus' Federico Chiesa in action with Atalanta's Hans Hateboer REUTERS/Massimo Pinca

Juventus put aside their off-field troubles to rescue a 3-3 draw with Atalanta in Serie A on Sunday.

Massimiliano Allegri’s side were playing their first match since being docked 15 points on Friday by an Italian soccer court investigating the club’s transfer dealings, leaving the former third-placed club marooned in mid-table.

Sunday’s result left Juventus in ninth place with 23 points, while Atalanta are fifth with 35 points.

“We have to keep doing our work, which is on the pitch. We must thank the players for what they did this evening, because I realise it is psychologically damaging to see yourself go from second or third place into 10th, it feels like having what you achieved taken away,” Allegri said to DAZN.

“The players and the staff who worked around them are to be congratulated.”

Atalanta started the match strongly, having scored 13 goals in their last two games in all competitions, and severely tested the Juventus defence.

“If you come to Turin just to defend, you will probably lose on a penalty or free kick. I always believe you need to score goals in these games or you don’t get a result,” Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini said to DAZN.

Atalanta took the lead after five minutes when forward Ademola Lookman managed to get to the edge of the box, where his shot from an acute angle beat Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

The hosts equalised in the 25th minute when Angel Di Maria converted a penalty given for a foul on Nicolo Fagioli by Ederson. Arkadiusz Milik completed the comeback with a volley inside the box from Fagioli’s cross less than 10 minutes later.

Atalanta needed eight minutes of the second half to retake the lead, with Joakim Maehle equalising 35 seconds after the restart before Lookman headed in his second of the night in the 53rd minute.

Danilo equalised for Juventus in the 65th minute with a well-placed low free kick.

Pedri On Target To Earn Barcelona Win Over Getafe

By

John Mutiso

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January 23, 2023

Barcelona extended their lead over Real Madrid in the La Liga standings after Pedri’s first-half strike earned them a 1-0 win over Getafe on Sunday.

Leaders Barca climbed to 44 points, six ahead of their bitter rivals Real who have a game in hand and will visit Athletic Bilbao later on Sunday. Getafe are 16th and level with Celta Vigo and 18th-placed Real Valladolid on 17 points, just above the relegation zone thanks to a superior goal difference.

Coach Xavi Hernandez made several changes to his regular team, resting key players such as Robert Lewandowski, Ronald Araujo and Frenkie de Jong ahead to their Copa del Rey quarter-final clash against Real Sociedad on Wednesday.

Pedri opened the scoring in the 34th minute when he latched onto a pass from Raphinha and tapped into an empty net.

With almost 70 per cent of ball possession, Barcelona were dominant in every aspect of the game but did not create many clear opportunities to extend their lead, with only four shots on target the entire match.

After a first half in which Ansu Fati wasted a couple of chances before Pedri’s goal, Barcelona came back from the break at a slower pace and seamed content with their advantage as Getafe failed to mount a serious threat.

“We were not great tonight, it was not our best game at home and we have to improve a lot, but we got the three points and that’s massive,” coach Xavi told Movistar Plus.

“We struggled against an opponent who played with a low block with five-man on defence. It was an important victory in which we did not give our best version.”