Raila wants Ruto to resign over Jubillee turmoil

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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

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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

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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?

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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.

Pope prayer intention for October: is women be given greater leadership roles in church

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Dan Ojumah

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October 9, 2020

In his prayer intention for October 2020, Pope Francis asks everyone to pray that women be given greater leadership roles in the Church.

It has become the custom of Pope Francis to release a video message detailing his prayer intention for each month.

This month, the video is a collaboration with the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. It highlights the role of the laity, whom Pope Francis considers true protagonists in the proclamation of the Gospel.

In the video, the Pope asks especially that women be given participation in “areas of responsibility in the Church” because they “tend to be left aside.”

Over his pontificate, Pope Francis has made many gestures to give momentum to this desire to give women greater weight in the Church. The Pope’s Evangelii gaudium reads:

“Demands that the legitimate rights of women be respected, based on the firm conviction that men and women are equal in dignity, present the Church with profound and challenging questions which cannot be lightly evaded” (104).

Fr. Frédéric Fornos S.J., International Director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, observes that “since 2013, much has been accomplished, but more needs to be done.”

He also points out that “by virtue of Baptism, we are all called to faithfully proclaim and serve the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to be missionary disciples of the Lord. Nonetheless, among the lay faithful, women have been consciously and unconsciously relegated to an inferior level. As Francis reminded us in Querida Amazonia, many women, moved by the Holy Spirit, keep the Church alive in many parts of the world with remarkable devotion and deep faith. It’s essential that they participate more and more in areas where decisions are made. This requires a profound change of mentality; it requires our conversion, which implies prayer.”

No one has been baptized a priest or a bishop. We have all been baptized as lay people.

Lay people are protagonists of the Church.

Today, it is especially necessary to create broader opportunities for a more incisive female presence in the Church.

And we must emphasize the feminine lay presence because women tend to be left aside.

We must promote the integration of women, especially where important decisions are made.

We pray that by the virtue of baptism, the laity, especially women, may participate more in areas of responsibility in the Church, without falling into forms of clericalism that diminish the lay charism.

Development top agenda as President Kenyatta hosts Kisii leaders at State House

By

Dan Ojumah

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October 8, 2020

President Uhuru Kenyatta today at State House, Nairobi hosted leaders from the greater Kisii to discuss development in the region ahead of this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations. The national celebrations will be held at Kisii Stadium in Kisii County and today’s meeting gave the Head of State an opportunity to, jointly with the region’s leadership evaluate the progress of national government development initiatives.

Led by Governor James Ongwae (Kisii County) and his Nyamira County counterpart John Nyagarama, the leaders engaged the President in a detailed conversation on a number of projects including roads, water supply, education and fresh produce markets among others. In a memorandum presented by Governor Ongwae, the leaders who included chairman of the Kisii professionals John Simba and chairman of the community’s council of elders James Matundura, thanked the Head of State for the various development programs initiated by the Jubilee administration in the region.

The leaders listed several key roads, water works including the upgrading of Kisii water supply system, hospitals and fresh produce markets at Daraja Mbili and Nyakoe as some of the Government’s projects that are helping uplift the economic wellbeing of the greater Kisii. At the same time, the Kisii leaders requested the President who was accompanied by Cabinet Secretaries Dr Fred Matiang’i (Interior), James Macharia (Infrastructure) and Mutahi Kagwe (Health) to fast track the implementation of ongoing projects.

Rehabilitation of the Kisii to Sotik road and Suneka airstrip, waiving of coffee factory debts amounting to Shs 650 million and establishing a soapstone value addition facility in the area as some of the projects the leaders asked the Government to prioritize. The Kisii leaders also cautioned politicians engaged in divisive politics saying those spreading hate and sowing division among Kenyans are not welcome in their region. “We intend to maintain the statehood of this country together, the way you’re doing it.

We intend to put this nation together so that generation after generation will have a place where to stay unperturbed by anybody. “If somebody wants leadership, let him go ask from people in a polite way, not in this manner, first of all defying you,” Kisii Senator Prof Sam Ongeri said.

In his address to the leaders, the President said he wants to be remembered more for uniting the country saying the BBI process is aimed at achieving cohesion and inclusion for greater national equity. Once again, the President cautioned political leaders against pre-mature campaigns saying they are polarizing the nation and derailing the country’s development agenda.

On Mashujaa Day, the Head of State said the reason for devolving the celebrations to the Counties was so as to give Kenyans across the country an opportunity to feel they are part of national progress. “If truly we want to start making Kenyans feel that they are part and parcel, it is good to move this event (Mashujaa Day) around the country,” the President said as he thanked Kisii leaders for agreeing to host the national event.

The Head of State thanked the leaders for their steadfastness in support of his administration’s development agenda and assured them of his commitment to ensure all ongoing projects in the region are concluded. Cabinet Secretaries Dr Fred Matiang’i, Mutahi Kagwe and James Macharia also spoke at the meeting. Dr Matiang’i reiterated the Government’s commitment to see through all development programs in the region while Mr Macharia proposed a joint leaders and Government officials visit to the region to audit the progress of infrastructure projects ahead of Mashujaa Day.

Blood sugar control may help diabetes patients boost brain health, new study reveals

By

Dan Ojumah

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October 8, 2020

It is common knowledge that if you have high blood sugar or diabetes, you are at a high risk of suffering from heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, metabolic disorders and vision problems. High blood sugar levels are known to not just cause sudden and unexpected weight loss or gain but also affect the functioning of the entire body. High blood sugar has a deep impact on the brain, brain health, and may even lead to early cognitive decline.

Sugar and brain connection

Decades of research studies indicate that the functioning of the brain depends on blood sugar and any fluctuations in it — whether it’s high or low — can affect the brain. A study published in Trends in Neuroscience in 2013 points out that the human brain accounts for about 2 percent of the entire body weight but consumes around 20 percent of glucose-derived energy. This makes the human brain the body’s main consumer of glucose.

The metabolism of glucose by the brain provides this vital organ with the fuel it needs to maintain physiological function through the generation of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the main cellular currency for energy. This lays the foundation for all neuronal and non-neuronal cellular processes as well as the production of neurotransmitters, which are the brain’s chemical messengers that carry orders to the rest of the body. Tight regulation of glucose metabolism is, therefore, critical because any disturbance in its balance can not only affect the brain but also the entire body’s functioning through the nervous system.

How glucose imbalance affects the brain

An article in Harvard Medical School’s newsletter, On the Brain, explains the effects of this imbalance. A low level of glucose in the brain means that the brain isn’t producing enough neurotransmitters, which suggests that the communication between the brain and the body can break down. Hypoglycemia (very low levels of blood sugar) can lead to loss of energy for brain function and is also linked to a decline in attention and cognitive function.

Too much glucose can be an equally bad thing. An excess of glucose in the brain can cause brain atrophy or shrinking, as well as memory and cognitive deficiencies. This is the reason why diabetes, which is chronic and destroys the body’s ability to maintain glucose levels through insulin, can have a profound effect on the brain, its function and health. A 2015 study in Psychosomatic Medicine suggests that controlling their blood sugar levels by any viable means is crucial for diabetics to reduce the risk of neuropathic problems, early ageing and more exacerbated cognitive decline.

Enhancing blood sugar control in diabetics

A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism further underlines the importance of controlling blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes to improve brain health. The researchers collected data from 1,089 diabetic participants aged 45-76 years from the Action for Health in Diabetes (Look AHEAD) study, which studies the effects of intensive lifestyle interventions (ILI).

One group of participants was guided to focus on blood glucose management via diet, physical activity and social support while the other group was recommended to change their diet and physical activity to lose at least 7 percent of their body weight in a year. Two to three cognitive tests were given to the participants between eight and 13 years since they adopted either of these two ILIs.

The researchers found that the group which focused on weight loss had mixed results in their cognitive scores, indicating that if you have diabetes, weight loss alone is not going to improve either brain health or overall health status. On the other hand, it was observed that participants who focused on better blood sugar control and made greater improvements in this regard had much better cognitive scores. The study, therefore, concluded that active intervention to lower blood sugar levels from diabetes range to prediabetes range can help diabetes patients offset brain damage and cognitive or neurological health issues in the long term.

Trump vows to skip virtual Presidential Debate

By

Dan Ojumah

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October 8, 2020

President Donald Trump has vowed not to participate in next week’s debate with Democratic nominee Joe Biden after organizers announced it will take place virtually because of the president’s diagnosis of COVID-19.

“I’m not going to do a virtual debate,” Trump told Fox Business News, moments after the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates announced the changes.

The Commission on Presidential Debates made the decision unilaterally, citing the need “to protect the health and safety of all involved with the second presidential debate.”

When Republican Mike Pence and Democrat Kamala Harris squared off for their only vice presidential debate in Salt Lake City on Wednesday night, they shared a stage but were separated by plexiglass to prevent the spread of the virus.

Trump’s campaign said the president would do a rally instead of the debate.

“For the swamp creatures at the Presidential Debate Commission to now rush to Joe Biden’s defense by unilaterally canceling an in-person debate is pathetic,” Bill Stepien, Trump campaign manager said in a statement.

“The safety of all involved can easily be achieved without canceling a chance for voters to see both candidates go head to head. We’ll pass on this sad excuse to bail out Joe Biden and do a rally instead.”

Trump was admitted for three days but was discharged to recover at the White House. He has vowed to return to the campaign trail soon.

Still, the commission’s move is yet another indication that the presidential election is being dominated by the virus — defying the president’s monthslong attempts to underplay it and declare that the country was ready to move on. – AP

Uhuru stamps authority on political tensions

By

Dan Ojumah

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October 8, 2020

President Uhuru Kenyatta today chaired a Cabinet Meeting at State House, Nairobi.

In the meeting, Cabinet considered the prescriptions and directives issued by the National Security Advisory Committee (NSAC) regarding the Preservation of Public Order and Security in the Conduct of Public Gatherings and Processions, Media Reporting and Responsible Conduct of Persons using Social Media.

Cabinet noted with concern that over the last month, Kenya has experienced growing political tensions that have exacerbated partisan divides and threatened peace, security, and harmony within Kenya.

This fast-evolving situation threatens to derail the delivery of the Administration’s transformative agenda for the Country; as well as jeopardize Kenya’s image and place within the community of nations, which has been recently uplifted by Kenya’s membership of the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member.

In that regard, Cabinet unanimously endorsed and ratified the prescriptions and directives as issued by the National Security Advisory Committee (NSAC) as National Security Advisory, whose effect would commence immediately.

To institutionalize the prescriptions and directives issued by the NSAC, Cabinet approved the establishment and immediate operationalization of a Multi –Agency Team on Public Order comprising of representatives from the following state and public offices:

Convener (a) Ministry of Interior and Government of National Government Members

(b) Office of the Attorney-General and Department of Justice;

(c) Ministry of ICT, Innovation & Youth Affairs;

(d) National Intelligence Services;

(e) National Police Service, comprising of one representative of Kenya Police Service, Administration Police Service and Directorate of Criminal Investigations; (f) National Cohesion and Integration Commission;

(g) ICT Authority; and

(h) Communication Authority of Kenya.

The Multi-Agency Team on Public Order will monitor, document and enforce compliance with the prescriptions and directives with respect to the conduct of all public meetings and processions.

The secretariat will also monitor the permitted processes for media broadcasting, publishing and reporting; and the responsible conduct of persons using social media.

Revenue Sharing Stalemate

Cabinet also considered and approved the 2020 Budget Review and Outlook Paper for the Financial Year 2021/2022’s Medium Term Budget.

The proposals by the National Treasury anchor the framework upon which the Government’s efforts to stimulate and sustain economic activities through the Economic Stimulus Programme and the Post Covid-19 Economic Recovery Strategy.

The proposals also set out targeted state expenditures that focus on the priority programmes and initiatives that will bring the most gains to Kenyans within the shortest time possible.

In accordance with the Public Finance Management Act, Cabinet sanctioned the transmittal of the 2020 Budget Review and Outlook Paper for the FY 2021/22 Medium Term Budget to the National Assembly.

First Lady resurfaces at a virtual seminar

By

Dan Ojumah

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October 8, 2020

WhatsApp Image 2020-10-08 at 14.38.35 — First Lady Margaret Kenyatta

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has resurfaced from State House, after being Missing in Action since the COVID-19 struck Kenya.

While appearing at a virtual seminar on technology, the First Lady called for enhanced digital inclusion for persons with disabilities so as to eliminate technological barriers that prevent them from accessing services.

“Most affected by the pandemic have been vulnerable, blind and visually impaired persons who, due to their circumstances, have faced multiple forms of digital exclusion such as lack of computer assistive technology, inaccessible websites or online content,” the First Lady noted.

The First Lady emphasized the need to scale up digital access and inclusion by adopting regional and global best practices to ensure young people with disabilities are not left behind in contributing to Kenya’s development.

The First Lady commended Kenya’s Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs for its recent launch of a new inclusive National Information, Communication and Technology Policy that prioritizes access and inclusion of technology for persons with disabilities.

“This new policy is a significant step in the development of new standards for digital accessibility and I look forward to its implementation,” the First Lady said.

While praising Kenyan industries and businesses for investing in innovations for inclusive digital services, the First Lady called for more investment in interventions that serve children with disabilities so as to equip them with modern technological capabilities from an early age.

“And that more investment will be allocated towards education and digital training and employment of youth with disabilities,” the First Lady said.

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