Requiem Masses For Kenyan Priest Who Died In Lodging Announced

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July 11, 2023

The Catholic Church in Ruai, where the late Father Joseph Kariuki, 43, served, has announced the dates for his requiem mass.

The deceased’s first requiem mass will be held on July 11, 2023, at St Peter’s Parish in Ruai, and on July 12, 2023, at St John the Baptist Parish in Mangu, beginning at 2pm.

Following that, a funeral mass will be held at St. Mary’s Msongari grounds at 10:30 a.m., and he will be laid to rest on Thursday, July 13, 2023, at the Clergy Cemetery.

The late Father Karis’s death continues to be infamous considering he died after a reported night out at a guest house with his girlfriend, 32, of six years.

The Catholic Church does not allow its religious leaders to marry and requires them to abstain from sex for the rest of their lives.

According to the police, Father Kariuki went to Muranga County to have fun and meet up with his girlfriend at their favourite hotel, where they had been meeting for the past two years.

It was reported that he spent Sh 6,000 on food and alcohol last Friday evening and had a good time. However, he died under mysterious circumstances on Saturday morning.

His girlfriend allegedly told the hotel reception that she was his colleague and was thus allowed to see him. It was the same hotel reception she rushed back to for help the next morning after noticing her boyfriend was becoming dizzy and unconscious.

Two hotel employees and the priest’s girlfriend then escorted the naked but covered in a bed sheet, unconscious priest to his personal car and rushed him to the hospital.

He was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. White foam was seen oozing from his mouth and nose.

Police at the hotel sampled the food and drinks he took and the girlfriend was also questioned.

Despite the mysterious death of Father Karis, parishioners at the Ruai Church left glowing tributes to the deceased.

Azimio Launches Citizens’ Initiative Website To Collect Kenyans’ Signatures

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John Mutiso

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July 11, 2023

Raila Odinga, leader of the Azimio la Umoja party, has launched a signature collection initiative dubbed Tumechoka Citizens in his push to remove President William Ruto from office.

Speaking at the Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka Command Center, Raila urged all Kenyans to append their signatures in solidarity against Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua.

The former Prime Ministers explained that Ruto had turned against Kenyans’ will and assumed the grievances raised over the Finance Act 2023.

“Having read and understood the intention of the promoters of this initiative, I hereby Support the Citizens’ initiative to remove from office Mr. William Ruto as President and Mr. Rigathi Gachagua as Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya,” the website tumechoka.com pleads.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Leader stated that it was the people’s responsibility to protect their future and not be subjected to unnecessary tax burdens.

“The signature will show that Raila is not speaking for himself, but for millions of people who are walking together with him,” Raila stated.

Raila’s anti-government protest was centred on the high cost of living, which he claimed Ruto had worsened through policies designed to maximise revenue at the expense of people’s well-being.

“We are tired of the high cost of living, the high taxes, and the corruption that is rampant in this government.

“We are tired of being lied to and taken for granted. We are tired of being ruled by a government that does not care about the people,” Raila claimed.

Leaders attending the launch and signing of the petitions include Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Narc Kenya boss Martha Karua, DAP- K boss Eugene Wamalwa and former Murang’a governor Mwangi Wa Iria.

Former Kakamega governor Wickliffe Oparanya and ousted Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni, ex-Laikipia governor Nderitu Muriithi and Nation Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi were also present.

Jose Chameleone Hits The Stage Hours After Leaving Hospital Bed

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John Mutiso

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July 11, 2023

Ugandan legendary singer, Jose Chameleone, delighted his fans in Toronto, Canada as he took to the stage mere hours after being discharged from a hospital in the United States.

“I showed up – Thank you for the unconditional love. The smiles on your faces is the prayers for me. One day we shall come back big, brighter and better. Thank you management for all the special care. We shall be back next summer.#Energy.”

Before then, the ‘Valu Valu’ hitmaker had announced he is back on his feet and was recovering.

“I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the love, support, and prayers that I received during my hospitalization. Your kind wishes have truly given me strength through this challenging time.I am now on the road to recovery. Thank you Aline Medical Hospital Minneapolis for your significant role in my progress.While my recovery may still require some time and patience, I am confident that I will return to good health soon.God has always been good to me .Thank you all my people.”

The news of the Ugandan star’s hospitalization was announced by his father;

“Chameleone has been sick in the past months. When he moved to America, the illness became worse. He is now so sick, he is on his sickbed. He has been having complications in his stomach that he is currently receiving treatment for.”

Barcelona’s La Liga Opener To Be Played Behind Closed Doors

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John Mutiso

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July 11, 2023

Barcelona’s first La Liga match of the season against Getafe is set to take place behind closed doors, according to reports.

The defending champions will begin their title defence with an away game against Getafe, but the home team has been instructed to play without fans.

Cadena SER has revealed that this punishment stems from an incident in 2019, during a clash with Tenerife, where Getafe fans were observed throwing objects from the stands.

The Supreme Court has now decreed that Getafe must enforce a one-game fan ban as a consequence of that incident, and the ban will be in effect for the match against Barcelona.

Barcelona’s previous visit to Getafe occurred in April and resulted in a goalless draw. Notably, Barca coach Xavi Hernandez voiced his grievances about the pitch, kick-off time, and weather following the match at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s Visit To Kenya Rescheduled For Wednesday

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John Mutiso

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July 11, 2023

Kenya and Iran will hold bilateral talks as President Ebrahim Raisi arrives in the country on Wednesday.

The meeting was supposed to take place on Tuesday, but it was rescheduled.

However, foreign affairs CS Alfred Mutua clarified in a statement that President Raisi was scheduled to visit the country today.

The visit was to provide the two countries with an opportunity to review and re-energize their bilateral relations for the mutual benefit of the people of the two countries.

“The schedule of the President has now been reviewed to allow for finalization of key MoUs that are central to the furtherance of relations. The Iranian President will now arrive tomorrow for a State Visit,” CS Mutua said in a statement.

The President will be at the State House at 7.00 am tomorrow for the bilateral meeting.

He will, thereafter, proceed to lay a wreath at the Mausoleum of the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta before proceeding to tour other African countries.

Uganda Airlines Makes Over Ksh.9.5 million In Corpse Transportation

By

John Mutiso

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July 11, 2023

Uganda Airlines reported that the national carrier has made Shs247 million, which is about Ksh.9.5 million, in transporting dead bodies in the two years since it restarted operations.

During a media lab training that attracted editors and journalists, the airline reported that the United Arab Emirates and South Africa are the top countries where the deceased are transported.

Speaking at the week-long first-ever media lab training in Kasese District, Morris Ongwech, the manager-in-charge of cargo at Uganda Airlines, said that on average, a body that is fully packed in a specialised coffin is heavier than normal and weighs between 130 and 180 kilogrammes.

Ongwech explained that each kilogramme is charged $8, meaning that on average, transporting a dead body back home takes about Shs5 million.

“From October 2021 when we commenced our flights, the airline has transported about 47 bodies into the country, mainly from United Arab Emirates (UAE) and South Africa, which are countries where many of Uganda’s labourers are found,” Ongwech said.

He further explained that on average, they pick and return home one body every week. However, he said that they don’t transport many bodies from East Africa because of the already existing competition from other regional airlines.

“But since this is a national airline, we give discounts to the bereaved families in transporting dead bodies back home as a sign of mourning alongside them,” he said.

He didn’t state how much discount the airline gives to the bereaved family.

Obtained data shows that fruits and vegetables are the number one exports that the national airline carries out of the country, with the major destination being Europe. Fish and flowers then follow in that order.

At the same event, Ofwono Opondo, the executive director of the Uganda Media Centre, and Jennifer Bamuturaki, the Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Airlines, called upon the journalists to factually report about the revived national carrier.

“We are not saying you sweep the dirt under the carpet but when reporting about the national carrier, which is a very sensitive business globally, ensure you report from an informed and factual point of view,” Bamuturaki said.

Uganda Airlines is the flag carrier of the country. The company is a revival of the older Uganda Airlines, which operated from 1977 until 2001.

Bomet: Man Hacks Friend To Death Over Missing Phone, Ksh.1800

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John Mutiso

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July 11, 2023

A 25-year-old man is being held by police in Bomet after allegedly hacking to death his neighbour on suspicion of stealing his phone and Ksh.1,800.

According to Sugurmega location Chief Richard Byegon, the suspect, Amos Cheruiyot, quietly crept into the house where the 36-year-old was being hosted by a friend on Monday night. He then hacked him to death with a Panga.

Byegon said that the suspect and the deceased were known to be friends who had been moving around and visiting each other’s families prior to the tragic incident.

According to police, the deceased died as a result of deep cuts in the head, hands, and both legs while being rushed to Longisa County Referral Hospital, where the body has since been preserved.

The suspect was apprehended by members of the public and frog matched to the police station.

Chepalungu sub-county police commander Phanton Analo said the killer weapon had been found and the scene processed.

Sudan Civil Servants Go Hungry As War Claims Livelihoods

By

John Mutiso

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July 11, 2023

SUDAN-CONFLICT-ECONOMY — Pedestrians and vehicles move along a road outside a branch of the Central Bank of Sudan in the country's eastern city of Gedaref on July 9, 2023. Many civil servants in Sudan have been going on without a salary since the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces took up arms against each other. When the first blasts shook Khartoum on April 15, banks there shuttered their doors, and branches nationwide have since struggled to provide services because they are cut off from headquarters in the capital. Since then, the only government salaries that have been paid are the army's. (Photo by AFP)

Sudanese public school teacher Imad Mohammed had worked for 32 years when war broke out almost three months ago, tearing his country apart and his finances to shreds.

“We only eat one meal a day now,” he told AFP about his family of five.

“And we don’t know how long this will go on,” said the teacher from Al-Jazirah state, which has been spared the brutal fighting but has still suffered dire shortages.

Like other civil servants, Mohammed has gone without a salary since the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces took up arms against each other.

When the first blasts shook Khartoum on April 15, banks there shuttered their doors, and branches nationwide have since struggled to provide services because they are cut off from headquarters in the capital.

Since then, the only government salaries that have been paid are the army’s.

Deprived of their pay and annual holiday bonuses for the Muslim festivals of Eid al-Fitr in April and Eid al-Adha in June, around one million desperate public sector workers have been forced to survive on their savings or on social aid networks.

“What teachers and their families are going through, in both the public and private sectors, is catastrophic,” said Ammar Youssef, head of the Sudanese Teachers Committee.

The livelihood losses and descent into poverty have compounded the horrors of the war, which has already killed around 3,000 people and displaced three million.

More than 1.5 million people have fled from Khartoum alone, using whatever money they had when the fighting started, to escape the air strikes, artillery fire and street fighting that have turned the capital into a war zone.

Collective action

But some who were unlucky enough to have had little or no savings they could access, have been left stranded, unable to pay for expensive transport as fuel prices have surged 20-fold.

“Not only are they struggling to feed their families even once a day, but they also can’t afford to take their families to safety, away from the combat zones,” Youssef told AFP.

“State education alone employs over 300,000 people, who were already underpaid before the war,” he said, adding that the education ministry has been unreachable since the war began.

“Those who aren’t killed by a bullet will die of hunger.”

With food prices soaring, basic supplies running low and salaries halted, over half of the country’s 48 million people are in need of aid, according to the United Nations.

It ranks Sudan as one of the highest alert areas for food insecurity and warns of the need for “urgent” action from the international community.

Since the war began, a handful of government officials have held news conferences seeking to assure the public that the economy is not at risk, among them the finance minister Gibril Ibrahim, an ex-rebel commander.

The central bank announced in early July that branches in most of Sudan’s states were back in service, raising the hopes of some.

But, according to economist Mohamed al-Nayer, “the situation over the next few months is only going to get worse”.

Even before the war, Sudan’s economy was hit by triple-digit inflation.

Those struggling to make ends meet while protecting their family from the horrors of war are fed up.

“We don’t understand why the government won’t pay us what we’re owed,” civil servant Al-Sammani Mohammed told AFP.

Multiple unions, unable to receive a response from Khartoum, have banded together and warned they may take industrial action, which could further heighten tensions in Sudan.

A coalition of representatives for doctors, engineers, teachers, university professors and journalists have announced they would take “escalating measures if salaries are not paid”.

Lamu: Shock As Ex-Convicts Commit Crimes To Return To Free Food In Prison

By

John Mutiso

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July 11, 2023

The Lamu Hindi GK prison administration has expressed concern about an increase in the number of ex-convicts committing new crimes just to re-enter the facility.

According to Festo Odongo, Senior Superintendent of the Hindi GK Prison, recidivism, or re-offending, undermines the primary purpose of imprisonment, which is to serve as a deterrent to future lawbreaking.

“In recent times, inmates who complete their jail terms have intentionally gone out to commit similar or minor offenses to return to the prison to continue enjoying free meals and other services like medication,” Odongo said.

Odongo stated that the main reason for the rising rate of recidivism in Lamu is that convicts want to continue receiving free services, including food, from the state due to the difficult economic situation.

With the tough economic times, including the high cost of living, repeat offenders find that life in prison is cheaper than life outside, according to Hindi GK prison.

According to Kenya Prisons data, the majority of repeat offenders are likely to be young, unemployed males who had unstable lifestyles prior to imprisonment.

“For such characters, desisting from such freedom is crucial and can enable them to make major strides in life rather than getting held in prison, hence infringing their freedom,” Odongo advised the offenders.

KeNHA Announces Temporary Closure Of Mombasa Road Section

By

John Mutiso

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July 11, 2023

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has announced the closure of a section of Mombasa Road for nearly six days.

In a notice shared on July 11, KeNHA Director-General Engineer Kung’u Ndung’u said the temporary road closure is to allow for highway maintenance works along the section.

The affected section is the Mombasa-bound carriageway between Mlolongo (near the Nairobi Expressway exit) to Athi River Interchange.

“The Kenya National Highway Authority wishes to notify the public that there will be a temporary closure of a section of the Mombasa-bound carriageway between Mlolongo (near the expressway exit) to the Athi River Interchange from Tuesday, July 11, to Sunday, July 16, between 10:00 pm and 4:00 am,” KeNHA said.

The traffic will be diverted to share one adjacent lane of the dual carriageway.

Motorists using the road have been asked corporate with traffic officers and marshalls to ensure smooth flow during the period.

“Motorists are advised to approach the section with caution and to follow traffic signs and guidance as directed by traffic marshall and police,” they said.

Normal service shall be restored fault upon the completion of works at 4.30 am.

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