How Barca bit, spat on record scorer

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October 10, 2020

Luis Suarez has scored twice since joining Atletico Madrid, Luis Suarez says he cried over the way he was treated by Barcelona before leaving for Atletico Madrid.

The Uruguay forward ended a six-year spell at Barca in September and says he was stopped from training with the first team before his departure.

“Those days were very difficult. I cried because of what I was having to go through,” said Suarez, 33. “I was hurt most of all by the way they did things, because one has to accept it when a cycle comes to an end.”

Suarez joined Barcelona from Liverpool for £74m in 2014 and became the Spanish giants’ third all-time top scorer with 198 goals, winning four La Liga titles, four domestic cups and the 2015 Champions League in the process.

He netted 21 goals in 2019-20 – his lowest tally during the six years – and, after not being involved in Barca’s pre-season matches, he left with one-year remaining on his contract.

Atletico paid a nominal fee of no more than 6m euros for Suarez.

“I didn’t take the club’s message that they were looking for a solution for me in order to mix things up very well,” added Suarez, who has two goals in three games for Atletico.

“Not everyone knows what happened but the worst thing was going to training and being sent to a different group from everyone else because I was not allowed to play in practice matches.

“My wife could see how unhappy I was and she wanted to see me smile again and when the chance came to join Atletico I had no doubts.”

Barcelona’s record scorer Lionel Messi posted a message of support for Suarez on social media, saying he had been “kicked out”.

Messi says Suarez deserved more from Barca in move to Atletico
“I wasn’t surprised that Messi supported me publicly because I know him too well,” said Suarez. “He knew the pain I was going through, the feeling that I was being kicked out was what hurt me the most.

“The way they did things was not right and Leo knows how me and my family suffered.”

Battle for Msambweni Parliamentary by-elections gathers momentum as small parties and independent candidates go on the loose, asking for votes

By

Dan Ojumah

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October 9, 2020

As the battle for the Msambweni by election seat gather momentum, small parties and independent candidates are also on the prowl trying to outwit the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) which has staged the by-election as a one easy go for the Raila Odinga led political party.

No daggers have been left as the December date narrows down and little time remaining for the candidates to ask for votes from the people of Msambweni.

The Msambweni seat in Kwale County fell vacant following the death of legislator Suleiman Dori in March this year. He died at the Aga Khan Hospital in Mombasa where he was receiving treatment for cancer.

Since his death, politicians have slowly been silently campaigning until recently when the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) announced that the by-election will be conducted in December.

The seat has so far attracted six candidates who are Omar Boga(ODM), Shee Abdulrahman (Wiper),Bashir Kilalo(Kadu Asili),Feisal Abdallah(Independent), Sharlet Mariam Akinyi (Independent) and Mohammed Mwakaonje (United Green Movement Party).

According to Kwale ODM chairman Hassan Mwanyoha, the party is keen to win the seat

“We are campaigning on a clear target of winning this seat because it belongs to us as ODM and that is what will happen,” he said.

Kadu Asili party leader Gerald Iha Thoya and his Deputy Party leader Daniel Mangi said they will camp in Msambweni to campaign for their candidate Bashir Kilalo.

“It is not about a big political party but rather a person who will look at addressing the needs of the people of Msambweni. As Kadu Asili, we shall pitch tent in Kwale and campaign for our candidate who is conversant with the issues in Msambweni. ODM will have a run for their money.

It will not be a walk in the park because our candidate campaigns on the ideals of our party manifesto which calls for the development of the Coast region,” said Mr Thoya.

Mr Boga a former Gombato/Bongwe MCA won the ticket after he floored ODM Kwale Vice-chair Nicholas Zani in what was dubbed as do or die primaries.

ODM has termed the Parliamentary by-election as a contest pitting Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and Deputy President William Ruto who is silently supporting an independent candidate Feisal Bader whom he recently paraded in his Karen home in Nairobi after Jubilee Party declined to field a candidate in the by-election.

Jubilee Vice-Chairman David Murathe has insisted that the party will back the ODM candidate.

“For us, we will support the ODM candidate so let them continue with their defiance against the party leader and the position of the party,” Mr Murathe said.

An NGO asks President Uhuru Kenyatta to stop eviction of Njukini residents in Taita Taveta County

By

Dan Ojumah

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October 9, 2020

A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) based in Mombasa has asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene and stop the eviction of residents of Njukini location in Taita Taveta County.

The NGO, Haki Yetu through its Executive Director Fr Gabriel Dolan said that as the President calls for nation to prayers,there is need to halt the evictions that have caused dear among those living in the disputed area.

“Please note that as the President calls the nation to prayers for three days that should be matched with good deeds.

The President should cancel the eviction threat. Besides that, he must also consider doing the following as acts of mercy to the people.

First he should order for the reopening of the water points in the vast Gacheha estate and let the recently settled families access,” said Fr Dolan

In his statement he said that for two years residents have been deprived of the water from River Tsavo.

“Please, give more land to the community because at the moment the vast estate is occupied by wild animals yet there are people without land,” Fr Dolan said in the statement.

The organization in the statement said it had been closely following developments in the Njukini area of Taita Taveta, in relation to land injustices.

“Hundreds of families were evicted in 2018 from Gicheha farm, a land believed to be the property of the first family, and resettled in adjacent land, popularly known as Sir Ramson land. This became the Ziwani Settlement Scheme, Taveta Sub-county,” the statement further said.

Fr Dolan said during the resettlement, some of the targeted beneficiaries were not allocated land.

“A dispute and complaints committee established to look into their cases did not render actionable verdict, leaving the affected families with nowhere to settle except on rocky grounds and hilltops, where no one had been allocated land. It is these families, approximated at 76 that are the subject of the prevailing notices to vacate or face forceful evictions.

He further says that during a recent public baraza conducted at Ziwani settlement scheme, the area Assistant County Commissioner, Chala/Njukini Division, said that the hills and rocky grounds where the families settled on belonged to Gicheha farm, and were not part of the Ziwani Settlement scheme, despite the hills being located within the perimeter of the settlement scheme and reiterated the need for the families to vacate the land, without offering an alternative.

The organization has written to Taita Taveta county Commissioner asking for the cessation of the planned evictions until an alternative has been explore.

The letter has also been copied to the regional commissioner.

The county government of Taita Taveta has equally written to the county commissioner demanding the planned evictions be halted until discussions have been had and alternatives explored.

On 7^th October, the county government also called for the suspension of the evictions until both parties meet for discussion for an amicable solution.

County Lands Executive Julius Mwandawiro Mghanga said the fear of evictions had caused a great worry among the residents and said it might cause untold crisis for both governments.

The evictions are slotted for Monday next week.

“While we respect private property, still it would have been better that the matter was discussed by both governments and the owners of the land to address the problem so as to take sustainable measures to avoid the impending crisis now and in the future. In this regard, I am requesting that the planned eviction, if indeed it is true, be suspended until we first meet with the owners of the land,” Mr Mwandawiro said in a letter seen by Uzalendo News.

Kenya to mark first Huduma day in National prayers

By

Dan Ojumah

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October 9, 2020

The government through the ministry of interior has declared Saturday a public holiday to be marked through prayer and community work.

Interior CS Fred Matiang’i in a statement announced October 10 as Huduma Day in the exercise of the powers conferred by Cap 110 of the Public Holidays Act.

The CS, in a press release, “Kenyans are encouraged to participate in the prayers and promote national unity, social justice, cohesion and sustainable development in their communities for the benefit of present and future generations,” he said.

The development follows a call by president Uhuru Kenyatta for an interfaith National prayer day to be held at statehose Nairobi on the same day,as announced by statehose spokesperson Kanze Dena

“His Excellency the President has dedicated the forthcoming weekend, Friday 9th to Sunday 11th October 2020, a national weekend of prayer during which Kenyans are encouraged to pray for the country in their usual places of worship in compliance with Covid-19 containment protocols,” a statement from State House Spokesperson Kanze read in part.

In the past October 10 was referred to as Moi Day, and was a public holiday.

The promulgation of the 2010 constitution marked the end of it, hence the government through a judicial review has retained the day as public holiday

“In Judicial Review, No. 292 of 2017 (Republic v Cabinet Secretary for Internal Security Ex Parte G O Nyauchi & 4 others) the court affirmed that the 10th of October remains a public holiday to be observed as such.

Going by this decision, therefore, 10th October shall be a public holiday,” explained Matiang’i in a statement released back in October 8, 2018.

Public order act taking a tall on Tanga Tanga,as police stop Ruto brigade in Msabweni

By

Dan Ojumah

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October 9, 2020

Police officers in Msabweni have stopped a meeting convened by allies of Deputy President William Ruto that was scheduled at Ukunda Showground on Friday as a way to effect the public order act as ratified by cabinet on Thursday.

The development comes just a day after Dr Ruto Nyamira meetings at kebirogo grounds were cancelled in the last minute.

The Kwale meeting today was meant to woo support for independent candidate Feisal Bader, who is seeking the Msambweni parliamentary seat in the by-election slated for December 15.

Bader will contest against ODM choice Omar Boga.

The Msambweni meeting according to former Mombasa senator Hassan Omar was meant to prevail upon other candidates to drop out and support Bader, something that they have promised to deliver for the Tanga Tanga faction.

The political meeting was to be attended by Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungwa and former Senators Johnstone Muthama , Hassan Omar ,Bonny Khalwale and other coast Tanga Tanga allies

The leaders have criticized the government move but have vowed to stop at nothing in ensuring they clinch the seat.

Gareth Southgate team comfort win over Wales

By

Dan Ojumah

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October 9, 2020

Calvert-Lewin is on a golden streak and looking every inch the complete striker. Against Wales he capped a fine all-round display with his 10th goal of the season, powering home a header from Grealish’s cross.

Even though he is only 23, England have held high hopes for the Sheffield-born striker from as far back as 2017, when he scored the winner in the Under-20 World Cup final against Venezuela.

It has not all been plain sailing but Calvert-Lewin is now bursting with confidence and carrying serious menace every time he plays.

His attitude has never been in question but under the guidance of Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti and assistant Duncan Ferguson, he has matured out of all recognition and is now an ever-present goal threat, curing the one major flaw in his game until recent months.

The decision to rest captain Harry Kane, along with the absence of Greenwood, Abraham and Sancho, cleared the way for Calvert-Lewin to lead the England line, and he seized his chance in style.

Calvert-Lewin has muscled his way into contention, not as a rival to Kane but as a very talented alternative.

Danny Ings, too, was impressive, scoring with an overhead kick to underline England’s strength up front, which also includes options such as Marcus Rashford and the injured Sterling.

This is the sort of problem Southgate will welcome. It is an embarrassment of riches.

England’s other big winner was Grealish, who for a long time was seemingly struggling to convince Southgate of his worth at international level. The Villa playmaker was only called into the squad for the first time for the Nations League games against Iceland and Denmark after the withdrawals of Harry Winks and Rashford.

Grealish gave a lively 14-minute cameo in Copenhagen but here he was in his element against an admittedly under-strength Wales, creating problems everywhere for Ryan Giggs’ side as a goal creator, winning free-kicks in danger areas and showing the sort of confidence he has been displaying in the past two seasons at Aston Villa and in their flawless start to this campaign.

It remains to be seen, like Calvert-Lewin, how his immediate England future plays out, but this is the sort of performance that will surely mean his place in the squad is now assured.

Southgate will have enjoyed other aspects of the performance too, from Arsenal teenager Bukayo Saka’s lively debut to a first England goal and another highly intelligent performance from Ings, whose strike was a masterpiece of technique and athleticism.

Burnley’s Nick Pope was assured in goal, delivering a reminder that he is there should Jordan Pickford’s erratic Everton form transfer to England. For now Pickford retains Southgate’s trust because he has never let his international manager down.

Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips was assured in midfield while even Southgate’s smile was outstripped by that of Conor Coady. Has there ever been a more delighted-looking England goalscorer than the Wolverhampton Wanderers captain as he swept home Kieran Trippier’s free-kick?

It was a wonderful moment for the defender who rarely troubles the opposition goal, only having one shot in his previous 156 games for Wolves. It was a goal taken with assurance.

This was a good night for England and Southgate but now they face the sort of test that has floored them in the past when Belgium, number one in Fifa’s world rankings, come to Wembley in the Nations League.

Belgium will be a far more realistic measure of this England side, but reflections on this victory can only be positive ones and no-one will be more grateful for that than Southgate.

Raila wants Ruto to resign over Jubillee turmoil

By

Dan Ojumah

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October 9, 2020

By Collins Osanya

Orange Democratic Party leader Raila Odinga has once again asked Deputy President William Ruto to quit his job if he feels sidelined in the government he helped establish.

In an October 8 interview with KTN News, the former premier accused Ruto of scuttling President Uhuru Kenyatta’s efforts of uniting the country through the handshake and the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) which the DP is against.

According to Raila, Ruto was involved in the entire handshake process and instead of deputising his boss- President Uhuru, the DP absconded duty and instead chose to hit the campaign trail even after a warning from his boss.

“If I felt frustrated and side-lined, I would take a walk. Jaramogi was a vice-president and when he found it untenable to stay in government, he stepped aside,” Raila reasoned even though he declined to give the date when contents of the BBI report would be made public.

On the other hand, Ruto has publicly stated that the hustler movement is unstoppable and that he will not quit government. However, the DP hinted at decamping from the Jubilee party sighting frustration from President Kenyatta’s alies whom he accuses of hijacking the Parklands based political party.

The DP was also accused by Raila of misleading young Kenyans through his donation of wheelbarrows to youth groups across the country. “You are not a hustler. We know the real hustlers, “the ODM leader stated.

“You are giving youths wheelbarrows without showing them where to build. These young men live in slums. What will they do with wheelbarrows in a slum?” Raila who was speaking during an ODM Women League Conference in posed.

WHO reports record one-day rise in global coronavirus cases

By

Dan Ojumah

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October 9, 2020

Europe reported 96,996 new cases, the highest total for the region ever recorded by the WHO.

Global deaths rose by 5,514 to a total of 1.05 million.

The previous WHO record for new cases was 330,340 on Oct. 2. The agency reported a record 12,393 deaths on April 17.

As a region, Europe is now reporting more cases than India, Brazil or the United States.

India reported 78,524 new cases, followed by Brazil at 41,906 and the United States with 38,904 new infections, according to the WHO, whose data lags the daily reports by each country.

According to a Reuters analysis of more recent country data, COVID-19 infections are rising in 54 countries, including surges in Argentina, Canada and much of Europe. (Graphic: tmsnrt.rs/34CabCf)

Infections in the United Kingdom have reached record levels with over 17,000 new cases reported on Thursday.

“We are seeing a definite and sustained increase in cases and admissions to hospital. The trend is clear, and it is very concerning,” said Dr Yvonne Doyle, medical director for Public Health England.

France’s new daily COVID-19 infections remained above the record 18,000 threshold for the second day on Thursday with new measures to curb the outbreak expected.

The average number of new infections reported in Belgium has been increasing for seven days straight and Germany reported its biggest daily increase in new cases since April on Thursday.

While India still leads in the globe in most new cases reported per day, new infections are down 20% from its peak.

In the United States, which has the largest total number of cases and deaths in the world, new infections are edging higher along with the most hospitalized COVID-19 patients since early September.

Chelsea goalkeeper Mendy injured a month after signing

By

Dan Ojumah

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October 9, 2020

Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has returned to Chelsea after injuring his thigh while training with Senegal.

Mendy, 28, joined the Blues on a five-year deal last month and kept a clean sheet on his Premier League debut against Crystal Palace.

He injured his right thigh in training on Wednesday and has been sent back to London after an examination at a hospital in Rabat.

Senegal play Morocco in a friendly on Friday night.

What’s the latest on Trump’s health?

By

Dan Ojumah

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October 9, 2020

US President Donald Trump has completed his course of treatment for Covid-19 and can return to public engagements this weekend, his physician has said.

Dr Sean Conley said the president had responded “extremely well” to medication and had “remained stable”.

Mr Trump later said he would probably take another Covid test on Friday and hoped to hold a rally over the weekend.

The president earlier pulled out of next Thursday’s TV debate with Democratic rival Joe Biden.

He said he was “not going to waste my time on a virtual debate” after organisers said it would have to take place remotely because Mr Trump had tested positive for coronavirus.

The move sparked a row about how and when further debates would take place.

In a memo released by the White House on Thursday evening, Dr Conley said Mr Trump was displaying no signs “to suggest progression of illness”.

“Saturday will be day 10 since [last] Thursday’s diagnosis, and based on the trajectory of advanced diagnostics the team has been conducting, I fully anticipate the president’s safe return to public engagements at that time,” the memo added.

Earlier, Dr Conley said that if the president’s condition remained the same or improved throughout the weekend and into Monday, “we will all take that final, deep sigh of relief”.

Speaking to Fox News late on Thursday, Mr Trump said he was feeling “really good” and hoped to hold a campaign rally on Saturday evening, possibly in Florida.

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