Here Is The Full Statement Issued By Roselyn Akombe before She Quitted

For many months now, I have questioned my role as a commissioner at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. But I have soldiered on hoping that we could collectively find a way of addressing the crisis our country faces today. I have agonised over the decision to leave my committed IEBC FIELD staff and my country. My decision to leave the IEBC will disappoint some of you, but it is not for lack of trying. I have tried the best I could do given the circumstances Sometimes, you walk away, especially when potentially lives are at stake. The commission has become a party to the current crisis. The commission is under siege. It has become increasingly difficult to continue attending plenary meetings where commissioners come ready to vote along partisan lines and not to discuss the merit of issues before them.

It has become increasingly difficult to appear on television to defend positions I disagree with in the name of collective responsibility.

I have concluded that I am no longer making any significant contribution to the commission and to my country as a commissioner. 

It broke my heart in the last few days to listen to my staff in the field, majority of whom truly want to do the right thing, express to me their safety and security concerns.

I shared detailed reports from staff in four of the counties most hit by the ongoing protests - Nairobi, Siaya, Kisumu, and Homa Bay - with the hope that this will bring sobriety to our decision making.

Instead this was met with more extremist responses from most commissioners, who are keen to have an election even if it is at the cost of the lives of our staff and voters.

It is unacceptable for any party to disrupt, attack and injure our staff in Mumias, Bungoma, Homabay, Siaya, and Kisumu as they did today (Tuesday). 

These acts must be condemned by all and action taken against the perpetrators. 

I acknowledge that the Supreme Court gave us orders to organise the presidential election within 60 days

Raila Odinga Defeats President Uhuru Kenyatta In The New Opinion Poll

For the first time NASA Presidential candidate Raila Odinga has defeated President Uhuru Kenyatta in a new poll by Ipsos Synovate. Accoording to Ipsos Synovate, Raila surged ahead in May to poll at 53% against Uhuru’s 41% in a development that is set to raise political temperatures in the country. Statistics from the poll shows that Raila will defeat Uhuru in 27 counties, including the three major capitals of Kenya: Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

 Moreover,Raila will defeat Uhuru in Kisii, Nyamira, Wajir, Kwale, Kilifi, Bungoma, Vihiga, Busia, Kakamega, Machakos, Makueni, Kitui, Migori, Homabay, Siaya, Trans Nzoia, Turkana, Garissa, Taita Taveta, Narok, Tana River, Samburu Kajiado and Lamu counties. In what will be good news to Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto, the polls reveal the county will vote NASA with the vote nearly evenly divided between the two coalitions. Same trend replicates in Nakuru.

 Residents residing in Uasin Gishu, West Pokot, Isiolo, Meru and Baringo Counties have have expressed their support for Raila Odinga an indication that his votes will increase significantly as compared to the previous elections. More bad news for Uhuru as the poll also reveals first time voters are leaning towards NASA than Jubilee with many apprehensive over diminishing opportunities for employment.

Hundreds of banks and firms have retrenched employees in the last three years, with Kenyan economy stagnating for a third year in a row. NASA strategists internal document shows Raila will win the next polls with 53% of the vote on round one. The polls, to be released later this week, has been leaked to Kenya Today by sources privy to goings on at the research firm. Ipsos has been under pressure by Jubilee not to release the polls when it became apparent the President is losing to Odinga, who was last month chosen as the joint NASA presidential candidate.

 Raila is campaigning on the platform of zero tolerance to corruption, expanding the economy to spur job opportunities for a young skilled generation, deepening devolution as a system of national equity and making education free. President Uhuru on the other hand is seeking reelection on the platform of bringing all Kenyan communities together.

Several people injured as a passenger train derails in Nairobi

Several people were injured on the morning of Wednesday, June 7, when a train and a petrol tanker collided at Donholm area in Nairobi's Eastlands. the accident occurred when the driver of the tanker was crossing the railway line on the road .further

reports indicate that The oncoming train derailed and rammed into the tanker. 

 The derailed train was from Nairobi's Railways station in town headed for Embakasi when the accident occurred. According to the statement made by St. John's Ambulance "The 6:30 am incident happened when a train heading to Embakasi from town derailed after hitting a petroleum truck that was trying to cross the railway. The injured was rushed to Mama Lucy Hospital."

Among those injured was a boda boda rider who was caught in the accident. The accident comes four years after a similar one killed eight people in Nairobi. A train headed for Dandora collided head on with a bus belonging to the Ummoiner SACCO in 2013, leaving eight passengers dead.

Revealed:The Naked Truth Behind The Killing Of Mumias Sugar Legal Officer

The refusal to authorise importation of illegal sugar and release of money for campaigns are the strongest leads in the killing of Mumias Sugar Company legal officer Ronald Lubya.

Three MPs from western Kenya have alleged that Mr Lubya was being coerced by some people to sign for illegal sugar, which was in turn to be branded as a Mumias consignment and released to the market for sale, but he refused. Addressing a press conference at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi on Monday, MPs Ayub Savula (Lugari), Alfred Agoi (Sabatia) and Yusuf Chanzu (Vihiga) described the death of Mr Lubya as unfortunate, since he died protecting public money. “It is sad that now we have resorted to killing public officers who are protecting public funds from being misused in political campaigns. Let political parties get money for their campaigns from the right sources,” said Mr Agoi. “We call on the police to speedily investigate the killing of Mr Lubya and justice must be done to the people of Kenya,” added the Sabatia legislator.

Reports by the Daily Nation reveals that  Mr Lubya was killed at his rural home in Kholera sub-location in Matungu Constituency on Sunday night. He was shot in the head and was taken to St Mary’s Mission Hospital in Mumias, but died while undergoing treatment. Mr Agoi warned principal secretaries and public officials not to allow themselves to be used by politicians in looting public money to finance political activities. Mr Chanzu said there was a lot of illegally imported sugar in the country branded with names of local sugar factories and when Mr Lubya refused to be part of the illegality, he was killed.

 The Vihiga MP challenged the government to give an account of what it has achieved since it started investing in Mumias. “The government tried to use Mumias to woo the people of western Kenya to vote for them, it is now time to give us their results,” he said. “This time we want investigations that will yield results, we know that high profile cases in this country have never been fully investigated and concluded but on this one, we want results,” said Mr Chanzu. Mr Savula said all top managers at Mumias should be interrogated. “Our party leader Musalia Mudavadi talked about the intrigues in Mumias during the Nasa rally in Kakamega on Saturday, then on Sunday, Mr Lubya was killed. The top managers must be investigated so that they can tell the police what they know about the killing,” he said. Meanwhile in Kakamega, police have launched a manhunt for three armed men who killed Mr Lubya. The gangsters are said to have been in camouflage uniforms similar to those worn by police.

Western region police coordinator Moses Ombati said the men abandoned a stolen vehicle at Kabula market, on the Mumias-Bungoma Road. He said police were pursuing all possible angles that could help unravel the motive behind the killing of the sugar firm’s legal officer. The victim’s wife, Mrs Josephine Lubya, said the attackers waylaid her husband when he left the house to answer a call of nature. The couple screamed for help before he was shot.“One of the robbers walked into the kitchen and warned he would shoot me if I raised the alarm,” she said. The gang ransacked the house for cash and valuables after harassing the woman during the 10pm attack.

Mr Lubya, who was lying in a pool of blood, had his hands tied with ropes from behind. His wife’s hands were also tied before she was assaulted. The robbers stole a laptop and briefcase containing documents before escaping in the family vehicle. Mrs Lubya said her husband had just arrived from Nairobi to attend the sugar miller’s board meeting and had been resting at their newly constructed house before tragedy struck. “I went to pick him from the airport in Kisumu ... We drove to Bungoma to refill our gas cylinder and returned home by 5pm,” she narrated.

The gangsters, who wore hoods, pounced on her husband shortly after he stepped out of the house as she was cooking. The killers had entered the compound after cutting through a wire fence and were waiting to attack. One of the gangsters went to the kitchen and ordered her to lie down without a sound. Ms Lubya said that while she was lying down, two men in jungle uniforms entered the house and demanded money. “They told me they had finished with my husband and if I didn’t comply, they would shoot me dead,” she tearfully narrated. She said two of the gangsters went outside the house and came back dragging her husband who was bleeding profusely.

They then wrapped the wound on his head with a bed sheet as he groaned in pain. They then dragged her into her bedroom and assaulted her. “They ate the food I had prepared for our dinner before they left in our car with the stolen electronic gadgets,” she said. Mrs Lubya said her husband had been jovial before the attack but had appeared restless in the past two weeks.

Credit:Daily Nation

JUBiLEE AND NASA LEADERS HAVE FINALLY TEAMED UP AGAINST IEBC OVER THIS ISSUE

Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok addressing the presss

The Council of Governors has come out strongly to warn the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission not bar any governor from contesting in the August polls over integrity issues. Addressing the press on Monday 5th, the new chair Turkana governor Josphat Nanok argued that despite the integrity of some aspirants being questioned, there is no way of proving that their record is questionable .He was quoted saying that “"No governor has been charged in the court of law to date.” He went ahead to quote the section of the constitution which gave all the aspirants power to contest for the available elective posts.

This means that they have freedom to enjoy the freedom of carrying out their campaigns until they are proven to have committed an offense. Aside from Kidero and Sonko, other governors who are also facing integrity issues include Alfred Mutua (Machakos), Mwwangi wa Iria (Muran'ga), and Godana Doyo (Isiolo).

NASA LEADERS MAKES THIS SPECIAL APPEAL TO RAILA ODINGA

The National Super Alliance (NASA), Raila Odinga, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Moses Wtanguala, Amani National Congress' Musalia Mudavadi. (Courtesy)Opposition leaders have asked Nyanza voters not to let down National Super Alliance (NASA) presidential candidate Raila Odinga. Against the backdrop of intense feuds in the region sparked by rivalry between ODM and independent candidates, NASA co-principal Musalia Mudavadi asked voters to respect Raila's wishes and embrace the controversial 'six-suit' voting pattern; referring to voting ODM candidates in all the six elective posts. Mudavadi said the debate over whether the region should only vote for ODM party or independent candidates derails the coalition's plan of forming a strong government with a majority in Parliament and the Senate. Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Kalonzo Musyoka, Moses Wetang'ula and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, when they joined Raila in Bondo , Mudavadi said Nyanza leaders must be seen to be supporting Raila as a block without stirring controversies over the party primaries. ODM is facing a tough hurdle to capture seats in the region after a number of its members quit the party to contest as independent candidates after the controversial primaries. According to the  standard the independent candidates have resolved to support Raila but are asking their supporters to vote for candidates of their choice in the other seats. But, Mudavadi who addressed a jubilant crowd in Bondo town after attending a church service at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology said the country had faith in Raila and as a result should get similar support from his stronghold. "We have total belief in Raila and that is why we even shelved our presidential ambitions to support him and that belief and unity is what we want to see in his backyard," said Mudavadi. The leaders had earlier attended the consecration of the new Bondo Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) bishop David Kodia. Mudavadi said all principals respect and support Raila and as a result, should be accorded the same respect back at home and that his supporters should respect his decisions and calls. "My question for you is that if we have accorded Raila great respect,

NASA Coalition Still Commands The Western Region

The Jubilee administration is banking on its efforts to revive stalled industries and tarmacking of key roads to win votes in the Western region.

Speaking during a press briefing at State House Nairobi, the Head of State indicated that constituent parties will hold their National Delegates Congress (NDCs) the previous day at the Bomas of Kenya to ratify their merger with the Jubilee Party/PSCU

 However, the Jubilee Party is facing an uphill struggle because some of the projects have either stalled or are proceeding at a snail’s pace. Key among them are the Webuye-based Rai Paper mills, formerly known as Panpaper, the ailing Mumias Sugar factory and a number of roads. And the ruling party is also having to deal with the issue of rising cost of living which has seen food prices skyrocket with a 2kg packet of maize flour, the staple food, selling for as high as Sh140 in the region.

 A government attempt to reduce the price to Sh90 has not worked as the subsidised flour is not on the shelves of many retail outlets in the region. Jubilee point men are harping on the government bailout of the cash strapped Mumias Sugar Company but the factory is not yet out of the woods. It is currently closed for three months for annual repairs, according to officials.

However, before the closure, the firm had not paid its workers and there are fears about its future in the region despite promises by Jubilee that it will receive an additional Sh3 billion bailout. 

KEY PLANK 

Indeed, this pledge is a key plank in the Jubilee vote hunting strategy in the region. The scheme appears calculated at scuttling the opposition coalition National Super Alliance’s onslaught in the scramble for votes in western. Road projects are another key weapon in the Jubilee arsenal but it is also giving Nasa ammunition to against its rival coalition. During his visit in December last year, President Uhuru Kenyatta commissioned the planned tarmacking of the Lurambi-Nambacha-Musikoma road which links Kakamega and Bungoma counties and the Ebokolo-Shianda-Malaha road in Mumias East Constituency. However, there is very little work being witnessed on the roads apart from clearing of bushes.

Work on the other key road linking Kakamega to Webuye has stalled for more than two years. Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka has been spearheading Jubilee campaigns in the region and says he is sure all the projects would be completed as promised. The commissioning of the Rai Paper mills by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto in December last year, kicked off a flurry of campaigns by Jubilee to gain a foothold in western. Mr Lusaka maintains Jubilee had released billions of shillings to resuscitate stalled industries, which in the past served as the region’s economic lifeline.

 POLITICAL AGENDA The revival of Rai Paper has become a key political agenda in the last four months. Jubilee party.

But the Nasa brigade led by Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula and his Kakamega counterpart Boni Khalwale, have dismissed the projects as a trap meant to entice voters to back President Kenyatta’s re-election bid. The Ford Kenya leaders have accused Jubilee of selling the publicly-owned Webuye factory to a private investor at a throw away price. “All that Jubilee is trying to do is hoodwink communities in western that the government has put in money to revive the collapsed Pan Paper factory and locals will now get back their jobs,” said Dr Khalwale. He said there was very little activity involving production going on at the factory since it was re-opened by President Kenyatta four months ago. Mr Lusaka, however, told the Opposition to stop misleading the public about ongoing efforts by the Jubilee to economically empower communities in western. “The opposition is busy making noise about Rai Paper saying there is no smoke billowing at the factory to show that the mill is operational. What they do not understand is that new management has gone for new technology which is smokeless during the production process,” said Mr Lusaka.

ONE WORKING

According to the investigations done by Nation it shows that one production line is working at the factory. It produces paper used in making cartons and other packaging material. The line that produces newsprint and other high spec paper has not started production. Mr Lusaka said plans are underway to commission the second production line a move that will create more jobs.

 On Mumias, MP Benjamin Washiali, another Jubilee point man, announced a week ago that the sugar miller will receive an additional Sh3.14 billion bailout from the National Treasury to get back on track. He said the management of the miller was negotiating with the National Treasury for the release of the money in three phases after the maintenance works are completed by end of July. “The negotiations are in the final stages and the plan is to release the money in three phases in the ongoing efforts to turn around the fortunes of the miller,” said Mr Washiali. The lawmaker, who was accompanied by chairman of the Mumias Sugar Company board, Mr Kennedy Mulwa, asked the management to ensure accountability in the use of the money intended for revival of operations at the sugar factory.

Mr Washiali said the miller should give priority to paying the outstanding Sh900 million owed to farmers for cane delivered.

 SH3.1 BILLION

 Mumias Sugar has in the last two years received a total of Sh3.1 billion from the National Treasury as part of efforts by the Government to revive its operations and steer it back to profitability. A new turnaround by the management appears to have run into trouble due to a crippling cane shortage and aging equipment, leading to disruption of operations. But in a carefully choreographed message to residents of Kakamega County, who depend on the factory for their livelihood, Mr Washiali said the government would ensure the miller returns to profitability.

 He asked the management to review salaries of its workforce to cut down on the huge wage bill. Mr Mulwa said no effort would be spared in turning around the fortunes of the miller, adding a new chief executive officer would be recruited to replace Mr Errol Johnston after the expiry of the latter’s contract in July. “Our plan it to recruit a CEO who will be able to win back the confidence of farmers and ensure we have adequate raw material in the catchment to sustain our operations,” said Mr Mulwa. He said the closure of the factory was meant to allow for urgent repairs and maintenance work and ensure there was adequate raw material available for crushing when the factory reopens.