Judiciary Gone Rogue! Cherargei Vows To Appeal Ruling On CASs

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July 3, 2023

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has criticised the High Court’s decision to halt the appointment of the 50 Chief Administrative Secretaries.

A three-judge panel found that the law was not followed in the establishment of the said office.

Cherargei stated in a statement that the High Court ruled the positions unconstitutional without considering the merits of the case.

“The Judiciary has gone rogue by ruling that creation of CASs positions is unconstitutional without considering merits of the case,” he said.

He claimed that the Judiciary received an additional 4 billion over their normal budget in the 2023-2024 budget.

“In the FY 2023/24 Judiciary received additionally 4B above their normal budget but they is a continuation of cases backlog, corruption and ineptitude in dispensation of Justice by Judiciary,” he added.

Cherargei further revealed that they shall appeal the high court’s decision.

“We shall appeal this decision that negates public interest and principles of Natural justice. Who will watch the watcher?” He posed.

This comes after the High Court revoked President William Ruto’s appointment of 50 Chief Administrative Secretaries on account of lack of public participation.

Two of the three Judges (Justices Kanyi Kimondo and Visram Alnashir ) ruled that the appointment of the 50 CAS violated Section 27 of the Public Service Commission Act hence null and void.

“The procedure of establishing an office in the public service Commission has a basis in the Constitution…in undertaking that procedure, the president and the public service commission must be guided by the Constitution.” Ruled Justice Kimondo.

“The office of CAS lies somewhere between CS and PS which undergo Parliament petting…pursuant to the gazette notice, the CAS were placed in a higher job group that the PS. We find that whereas the president has the power to create additional positions in the public service commission, the appointment has to undergo Parliament petting” proceeded Justice Kimondo.

The judges further ruled that it was not the intention of the framers of the Constitution to have 50 Chief Administrative Secretaries deputising 22 Cabinet Secretaries.

Zelensky Calls Putin ‘Weak’ And Says Russian President’s Power Is ‘Crumbling’

By

John Mutiso

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July 3, 2023

Vladimir Putin’s response to the armed Wagner rebellion was “weak” and the Russian President is losing control of his own people, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN in an exclusive interview.

Putin faced the greatest threat to his authority in two decades last month when the head of the Wagner paramilitary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, launched a short-lived uprising, claiming control of military facilities in two Russian cities and marching toward Moscow before he agreed to stand down.

“We see Putin’s reaction. It’s weak,” Zelensky told CNN’s Erin Burnett in Odesa, in an interview taped on Sunday.

“Firstly, we see he doesn’t control everything. Wagner’s moving deep into Russia and taking certain regions shows how easy it is to do. Putin doesn’t control the situation in the regions.”

“All that vertical of power he used to have is just crumbling down.”

Some Russians cheered on Wagner fighters as Prigozhin led the unprecedented challenge to Putin’s authority. Video geolocated and verified by CNN showed crowds cheering as the Wagner boss’ vehicle departed the southern city of Rostov-on-Don on June 24.

Zelensky said Ukrainian intelligence reports showed the Kremlin was measuring support for Prigozhin, and he claimed that half of Russia supported the Wagner boss and the paramilitary group’s mutiny.

The interview with Zelensky comes at a critical time – not only in the wake of Prigozhin’s failed insurrection, but also weeks into Ukraine’s slow push to recapture territory occupied by Russia.

That effort has come under intense scrutiny from Western allies and on Saturday a US official told CNN the head of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Bill Burns, had visited Kyiv recently and met with Zelensky and Ukrainian intelligence officials.

Zelensky told CNN he was “surprised” to see his meeting with Burns reported in the media. “My communication with the CIA chief should always be behind the scenes,” he said. “We discuss important things – what Ukraine needs and how Ukraine is prepared to act.”

Burns, a veteran diplomat, has become a trusted interlocutor in Kyiv, and has made several trips to Ukraine during the war.

“We don’t have any secrets from CIA, because we have good relations, and our intelligence services talk with each other,” Zelensky said.

“The situation is pretty straightforward. We have good relations with the CIA chief and we are talking. I told him about all the important things related to the battlefield which we need.”

Burns traveled to Kyiv before Prigozhin’s rebellion, which was not a topic of discussion, the US official told CNN.

Speaking at a news conference in Kyiv Saturday, Zelensky said Prigozhin’s rebellion had “greatly affected Russian power on the battlefield” and could be beneficial to Ukraine’s counteroffensive.

While the thrust of Kyiv’s efforts have focused on recapturing territory in the south and east of Ukraine, Zelensky told Burnett that his ultimate goal was to liberate Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014 in violation of international law.

“We cannot imagine Ukraine without Crimea. And while Crimea is under the Russian occupation, it means only one thing: the war is not over yet,” he said.

Asked whether there was any scenario under which there could be peace without Crimea, Zelensky said: “It will not be victory then.”

Nairobi Has The Lowest Fertility Rate, Report Says

By

John Mutiso

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July 3, 2023

The Kenya Demographic Health Survey 2022 has revealed that women in Nairobi have the lowest fertility rate at 2.6pc.

According to the study, Nairobi was followed by Nyamira and Machakos at 2.7 and 2.8 children respectively.

The research further indicated that the total fertility rate in women in Kenya has declined to an average of 3.4 children.

“This marks a significant decrease from the 2014 figure of 3.9 children per woman. Women in Nairobi City have the lowest average number of children as the total fertility rate among Kenyan women declines,” the report stated.

Kirinyaga, Mombasa, and Kiambu also recorded a low fertility rate at 2.8, 2.9 and 2.9 children respectively.

Counties that recorded the highest fertility rate are Mandera (7.7), West Pokot (6.9), Wajir (6.8) and Marsabit (6.3).

While women in rural areas are likely to have an average of 3.9 children, their counterparts in urban areas would have 2.8 children by the end of their childbearing years.

The survey showed that the fertility rate declines with increase in level of education, where women with no education would get 6.3 children, while those with more than secondary school education will have 2.8 children.

“TFR declines with increase in wealth quintile, from 5.3 children for women in the lowest wealth quintile to 2.7 children for women in the highest wealth quintile,” the survey further indicates.

In regards to the desire for another child, the survey showed that more married men want to have another child.

Irrespective of the number of children one has, a higher percentage of currently married men compared to women desire another child.

Blow To President Ruto As Court Sacks CASs

By

Cyrus Kimanga

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July 3, 2023

Blow to President Ruto as the High Court revokes his appointment of 50 Chief Administrative Secretaries on account of lack of public participation.

Two of the three Judges (Justices Kanyi Kimondo and Visram Alnashir ) ruled that the appointment of the 50 CAS violated Section 27 of the Public Service Commission Act hence null and void.

“The procedure of establishing an office in the public service Commission has a basis in the Constitution…in undertaking that procedure, the president and the public service commission must be guided by the Constitution.” Ruled Justice Kimondo.

“The office of CAS lies somewhere between CS and PS which undergo Parliament petting…pursuant to the gazette notice, the CAS were placed in a higher job group that the PS. We find that whereas the president has the power to create additional positions in the public service commission, the appointment has to undergo Parliament petting” proceeded Justice Kimondo.

The judges further ruled that it was not the intention of the framers of the Constitution to have 50 Chief Administrative Secretaries deputising 22 Cabinet Secretaries.

On the issue of financial implications for the creation of the 50 CAS posts, the Court concluded that PSC proposed a higher salary to the CAS than that of the PS without proper consultation of the SRC.

The majority of judges in the bench hearing a constitutional petition challenging the appointment of 50 CAS by President Ruto ruled that there was no sufficient public participation on the side of the public service commission to create additional 27 posts for the CAS, hence creation of additional 27 posts was unconstitutional.

However, Lady Justice Hedwing Ong’udi in her dissenting minority judgement said the creation of the additional 27 posts in the office of CAS was properly constituted in Law.

She ruled that the number of posts for the office of Chief Administrative Secretary is not explicitly provided for in Law giving the president latitude to appoint any number h3 so deems fit.

The consolidated petition challenged the Constitutionality of establishing the office of the chief administrative office.

According to the Petitioners, the president unilaterally created an additional 27 posts in the office of the CAS contrary to the Law.

The petitioner further alluded that the creation of the 27 extra position added burden to the tax payer.

He further argued that appointment of the CAS was a misappropriation of Public funds.

The petitioners question the exercise of the presidential power in establishing 50 positions in the office of the CAS.

43pc Of Women Believe Husband Justified In Beating Wife

By

John Mutiso

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July 3, 2023

A recent survey has revealed that 43 percent of Kenyans believe that a husband is justified in beating his wife for among other things burning food and arguing with him.

According to the study by the Kenya Demographic Health Survey 2022, those interviewed believed that a woman should further be beaten if she refuses to cook, goes out without telling him, comes home late, neglects the children, is unfaithful, and refuses to have sex with him.

The report further indicated that wife beating is higher in rural areas than in urban areas with 51 percent and 30 percent.

“For both women and men, acceptance of beating decreases with the wealth quintile, with 63% of women and 52% of men in the highest wealth quintile agreeing with wife beating compared with 24% of women and 21% of men in the lowest wealth quintile,” part of the survey read.

35 percent of men within the same age bracket who also took part in the survey agreed with wife beating, with 40 percent being in rural areas and 26 percent in urban areas.

The level of education, the survey showed, was a factor in determining the responses given by the respondents noting that 70 percent of women and 59 percent of men with no education agreed with wife beating while 19 percent of women and 21 percent of men with more than secondary education agreed with the same.

Kenyans Are Having Unprotected Sex With Multiple Partners, New Report

By

John Mutiso

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July 3, 2023

New data shows that Kenyan men and women are increasingly having sex with multiple partners despite the risk of contracting HIV/Aids.

The data contained in the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey shows that only 37 percent of women and 68 percent of men who reported having multiple sexual partners said they used a condom during their last sexual encounter.

Acting Director-General of Health Patrick Amoth stated that the survey revealed that men are twice as likely as women to engage in sex with non-marital, non-cohabiting partners in the past 12 months.

The Survey further showed 47 percent of women and 39 percent of men age 15-49 have been tested for HIV and received their results in the past 12 months.

Brighton Sign Keeper Verbruggen From Anderlecht

By

John Mutiso

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July 3, 2023

Brighton & Hove Albion have signed goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen from Belgian side Anderlecht on a five-year contract, the Premier League club said on Monday.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed but British media reported that Albion had paid around 16 million pounds ($20 million) for the 20-year-old, who was named Anderlecht’s player of the season.

The Dutch keeper began his career at NAC Breda in the Netherlands before moving to Anderlecht in 2020.

Brighton coach Roberto De Zerbi said Verbruggen would be a good fit for the club’s playing style, where the emphasis has been on playing out from the back.

“He is used to playing a type of football similar to ours and he will have no problem fitting into our group,” De Zerbi said.

“He has the potential to become a very important player for the club in the coming years.”

Brighton finished sixth in the table and will play in the Europa League next season.

Verbruggen is their fourth signing of the transfer window following the arrivals of Joao Pedro from Watford, Germany midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud from Borussia Dortmund and James Milner from Liverpool.

Hodgson Stays As Crystal Palace Boss For New Season

By

John Mutiso

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July 3, 2023

Roy Hodgson said he was targeting a “top-half finish” with Crystal Palace after the club confirmed he will be their manager for the 2023-24 season.

The 75-year-old returned to Palace in March when he replaced Patrick Vieira on a deal until the end of last season.

He helped steer the Selhurst Park club away from the relegation zone, taking 18 points from his 10 games in charge to finish 11th in the Premier League.

Hodgson said he was “immensely pleased and proud” to be staying at Palace.

“I know what a fantastic squad we have here,” he added. “It’s a great blend of youth and potential, alongside experienced players with Premier League and international pedigree.

“I have spoken with the chairman [Steve Parish] at length and we agreed that we must be ambitious in getting the most out of such talent.

“As such, we have set ourselves the target of a top-half finish, which we believe is eminently achievable with such a fabulous group of players and the most magnificent supporters who get behind the team, week in, week out.”

Hodgson spent four years at the club from 2017 but decided to step away from football in the summer of 2021.

The former England boss was then appointed Watford manager in January 2022 but left five months later after they were relegated to the Championship.

Palace were without a win in 12 matches in all competitions under Vieira before Hodgson returned to his boyhood club.

His managerial career has spanned more than 45 years and includes stints at Inter Milan, Blackburn Rovers, Fulham, Liverpool and West Brom, while he has also led the national sides of Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and Finland.

Newcastle Sign Milan Midfielder Tonali For £55m

By

John Mutiso

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July 3, 2023

Newcastle United have signed AC Milan and Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali.

The 23-year-old has signed a five-year contract, becoming Eddie Howe’s first signing of the summer as his side prepares for Champions League football.

The reported £55m fee would make him the most expensive Italian footballer of all time.

Tonali helped Milan win Serie A in 2021-22 and was part of the side which reached last season’s Champions League semi-finals.

He was also a member of Italy’s squad at the Under-21 European Championships.

Tonali told the club website: “I want to repay the trust on the pitch, giving it my all, as I always have. I’m really excited about playing at St. James’ Park, I can’t wait to feel the warmth of the fans.”

Newcastle head coach Howe said of Tonali: “He is an exceptional talent and has the mentality, physicality and technical attributes to be a great fit for us.

“At 23, Sandro already has important experience as a key player in one of Europe’s top leagues and in the Champions League, as well as playing for his country.

“But he also has the opportunity and potential to grow and evolve with us, and I’m excited to add him to our squad as we approach the exciting season ahead.”

Tonali came through the ranks at Brescia and made his professional debut for them in Serie B at 17.

Brescia were promoted to Serie A in 2018-19 and, though the club was relegated the following season, Tonali made his Italy debut during that campaign when he came on as a substitute against Liechtenstein in October 2019.

He joined AC Milan on loan in the summer of 2020 and, after making the move permanent the following year, scored five goals in 36 top-flight appearances as the club won the Italian title in 2022.

Tonali scored twice in 34 Serie A outings as the San Siro side finished fourth last season, while he made 12 appearances in the Champions League before Milan were knocked out by rivals Inter in the semi-finals.

Gvardiol Wants Man City Move, Says RB Leipzig Chief

By

John Mutiso

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July 3, 2023

Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol has told RB Leipzig that he wants to move to Manchester City, says the German club’s sports director Max Eberl.

Eberl added that talks between the clubs are taking place for the 21-year-old centre-back.

BBC Sport understands City have yet to make a bid.

“Josko and his advisors have submitted the wish to us for a transfer to Manchester City,” Eberl told Leipziger Volkszeitung newspaper.

“We are in talks. There is nothing more to say about it at this moment.”

Reports suggest Gvardiol could cost in the region of £86m, which would make him the most expensive defender in football history.

Gvardiol helped Croatia reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar last year, while he finished third in the Bundesliga and won the German Cup with Leipzig last season.

He was also part of the Leipzig side which was knocked out of the Champions League by City in the last campaign, following a 1-1 draw in Germany and a 7-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium.

If Gvardiol leaves, he would become the latest high profile player to depart from Leipzig this summer following the exits of Christopher Nkunku, Dominik Szoboszlai and Konrad Laimer.

France forward Nkunku has joined Chelsea, Hungary midfielder Szoboszlai has been signed by Liverpool, and Laimer has left for domestic rivals for Bayern Munich.

“I can understand the disappointment and concern of the fans,” Eberl said. “No club and no coach in this world wants to lose players of this calibre.

“But we have been prepared for this and I can promise that we will have once more a good and exciting team.”

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