Football fraternity mourns

By Fredrick Langat.

A plane carrying a Brazilian professional soccer team crashed in the mountains near Medellín, Colombia, late Monday, killing 76 people.

Five people survived the crash of the charter plane, according to authorities.

"The British Aerospace 146 aircraft was carrying Brazil's Chapocoense soccer team to a tournament in Medellín, Colombia's second-largest city," John Otis reports for NPR from the Colombian capital, Bogotá.

"The plane had departed from the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz but reported an electrical emergency shortly before crashing late Monday night," he says.

Internal party democracy will give the country good leadership, says President Kenyatta

BY JAMES MWAMBAI.

Internal party democracy will give Kenya good leaders, President Uhuru Kenyatta has said.

The President noted in the past the country for a long time has had challenges in picking good leaders because of interference by party leaders but assured that each aspirant will be accorded equal chance in the Party.

“We want to assure that Jubilee will conduct fair nominations and all aspirants will be given equal chance. Our internal party democracy will ensure voters are given space to choose the candidates they want,” said President Kenyatta.

He added: “The Deputy President and I have no preferred candidates. It is upon the electorate to decide whom they want. People should not go around claiming that they are our favourites. To us, all Jubilee aspirants are equal.”

President Kenyatta was addressing a mammoth gathering after he launched the tarmacking of the Kutus – Kianyaga – Kiamutugu – Githure – Kibugu road at Kianyaga in Kirinyaga county. The road will be tarmacked at a cost of over Ksh 1.3 billion.

The Head of State said the Jubilee party wanted the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to conduct its nomination to ensure free, fair and transparency in the exercise.

This, the President said, would give the electorate an opportunity to elect their leaders without any interference.

“When we say we are together, we mean that residents are given the opportunity to elect their leaders without any manipulation,” said President Kenyatta.

“It is you who will decide what kind of people you want to take up leadership positions,” the President emphasized.

The President pointed out that upon completion, the road will accelerate economic growth and boost the lives of the people of Kirinyaga County, especially farmers.

He pointed out that the Government has earmarked to tarmack 173 kilometres of road within Kirinyaga to open up the county for faster development.

“We don’t want our farmers to continue making losses because of bad roads,” the President said, adding that soon the Kirima-Karatina road would also be tarmacked to ensure easy connectivity between Embu and Nyeri counties.

President Kenyatta said electricity, road infrastructure and good healthcare are the basic ingredients for development and that is what his Government is striving to achieve.

“If Kenyans have electricity, good roads and better healthcare then they will be able to handle other issues,” said the President.

President Kenyatta also noted that the Government has continued to expand the free education programme to carter for exam fees and at the same time added more money for the free maternity programme.

“This year none of the parents with children in public schools were charged exam fees. We have also continued with our free maternity programme and allocated more funds to it. After women give birth they are given NHIF cards which allow them access free medical healthcare,” the President said.

The President also said the Jubilee Government works as a team and is action oriented unlike the opposition which is a grouping of parties without a vision for the country.

He castigated opposition Chief Raila Odinga whom he said is fond of criticizing any project undertaken by the Government without considering its merits and benefits to Kenyans.

“Even if people are to criticise because they are in the opposition, the criticism must be constructive if it is meant to improve the country. Unfortunately, our opponents only criticise for the sake of it and do not add any value,” he said.

Deputy President William Ruto – who accompanied the President – said as an action oriented Government, the Jubilee administration has fulfilled most of its pledges it made to Kenyans.

He said unlike the opposition, Jubilee is focused and has well thought plans for the development of the country.

Present were leaders from Kirinyaga County led by Joseph Ndathi, Senator Daniel Karaba and Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua among others.

Government to curb cyber crimes

By Cheruiyot Korir.

Over Ksh 2.9 trillion was transacted through mobile money transfer in Kenya last year representing 18.7 % growth compared to the previous year Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication (ICT) and Technology Joe Mucheru has said.

Mr Mucheru said the ICT sector growth stood at 7.3 % last year with 23.9 internet users during the period representing 54 % penetration in the country.

Mr Mucheru who spoke at a Nairobi hotel today when he officially launched the Serianu 2016 Cyber Security said Kenya was strategically positioned to take full advantage of the of the opportunities  offered by internet connectivity to deliver services and business transactions.

The government, he noted, was committed to developing comprehensive and offensive cyber-capabilities to protect citizens in the cyber space against threats and attacks. He said this can be achieved through hardening of ICT infrastructure and services, enhancing ICT security competencies and increasing international collaboration.

The Cabinet Secretary said the government would create an environment of trust in Kenya’s cyber security through multiagency approach in the management of national cyber security and child on-line protection.

‘As government some of the satisfying measures we have so far put in place include developing the Computer and Cyber crime Bill 2016’ said Mr Mucheru.

The Bill, he pointed out, will provide a legislative framework that will seal loopholes used by cyber fraudster to perpetrate offences in the country.

He added that, the actualization of the Bill will also witness arrests and prosecution of offenders and nation-wide sensitization programe on cyber security among law enforcers, prosecutors and judicial officers to enable them deal with cyber security effectively.

Serianu Chief Executive Officer William Makatiani said only 3% of cybercrimes are successfully prosecuted and that 65 % of cyber-attacks are not reported.

KCSE CANDIDATE DIES AFTER DRINKING ETHANOL FROM A LABORATORY IN MIGORI

BY  CELESTINE  MWANGO.

VILLAGE IN NYANGO, MIGORI COUNTY WAS ENGULFED IN GRIEF AFTER A KCSE
CANDIDATE DIED MYSTERIOUSLY FOR ALLEGEDLY DRINKING A SUBSTANCE
BELIEVED TO BE ETHANOL FROM THEIR SCHOOL LABORATORY.
GEORGE OGUTU, 17 WAS SITTING FOR HIS KCSE AT NYANGO SECONDARY SCHOOL
WHEN HIM, TOGETHER WITH OTHER STUDENTS DECIDED TO TAKE THE KILLER
CONCOCTION.
UNTIL HIS DEMISE THE LATE WAS A DAY SCHOLAR AT THE SCHOOL, HOWEVER THE
SCHOOL’S POLICY HAD IT THAT ALL CANDIDATES WERE TO STAY IN SCHOOL
DURING THE KCSE.
ACCORDING TO THE PARENTS WHO RUSHED HIM TO HOSPITAL WHEN THE AILMENT
HIT THE DANGEROUS NOTCH SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED UNTIL ONE
STUDENT WHO WAS WITH THE DECEASED OPENED UP AND SAID WHAT HAD
TRANSPIRED BEFORE.
THE OTHER THREE STUDENTS WHO TOOK THE SAME CONCOCTION DID NOT DEVELOP
ANY COMPLICATIONS, UNFORTUNATE FOR THE DECEASED WHO GALLOPED THE WHOLE
BOTTLE IN CELEBRATION OF COMPLETING A BIOLOGY PAPER.

PATRICK OGUTU ONDEKE, THE DECEASED FATHER SAID HIS SON WAS BROUGHT
HOME ON SUNDAY WHEN HE WAS ALREADY AFFECTED BY THE CHEMICAL SAYING
THAT INFORMATION THAT REACHED THEM WAS THAT HIS SON WAS FOUND SLEEPING
IN THE DORM ON SATURDAY AND WAS BROUGHT HOME AFTER HE STARTED TO
CONVULSE.

HE SAID HIS SON DIED ON MONDAY MORNING WHICH HAS THROWN THE FAMILY
INTO MOURNING JUST TWO DAYS BEFORE THE EXAMINATIONS ARE FINISHED ON.
ACCORDING TO THE EDUCATION OFFICER, SUNA WEST DIVISION IN MIGORI
COUNTY SIMON OCHOLA, HE RECEIVED THE INFORMATION OF THE DEMISE HOWEVER
HE COULD NOT AUTHENTICATE WHETHER IT WAS AS A RESULT OF THE THE
ALLEGED ETHANOL.
THE COUNTY POLICE BOSS, DAVID KIRUI HOWEVER DOWNPLAYED CLAIMS SAYING
THAT THE BOY DIED A NATURAL DEATH.
THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL COULD NOT BE REACHED FOR COMMENTS AS THE PRESS
WAS LOCKED OUT.

BOMET COUNTY APPOINTS NEW CEC MEMBER FOR AGRI-BUSINESS.

By Peter Mutai.
Mrs Beatrice Kirui has been appointed as the new CEC member for Agri-Business,  Bomet county.

Mrs Kirui was sworn in today in a colourful ceremony that was presided over by the county's Senior Director of Legal Services Erick Korir and witnessed by H.E Governor Isaac Ruto.

She takes over from Mr Alex Kirui who has since been moved to head the Ministry of Lands,  Environment and Public Health.

While congratulating the newly appointed CEC,  Governor Ruto said his office will accord her the maximum support and cooperation to enable the department offer quality and efficient delivery of service to the people of Bomet.

Ruto said his administration will soon put in place measures to govern and regulate hawking  of raw milk in all urban centres within the county to ensure consumers get safe and healthy milk.

Kenyans On Twitter reacts over KTN Journalist arrest.

By KCN reporter.
Kenyans On Tweeter burst into flames following the arrest of KTN Anchor Joy Doreen Mbira who was arrested in Uganda over Kasese killings.The journalist was arrested by the Ugandan police while she was taking pictures in troubled Kasese following the clashes between government forces and militia group leading to the killing of 55.
“She was arrested because I think this crossed the red line. In operations, there are areas that are restricted and media was informed to keep away from those areas. I think she did not mind much about that and security picked her and asked her about the motive and why she was not abiding by the Standard Operational Procedures. But she is safe; I have talked to the operational commanders and they are processing a police bond,"  Uganda Police Spokesman Felix Kaweesi

POLICE IN GARISSA RECOVER DEADLY CACHE OF WEAPONS

By Kinyungu Kithendu.

POLICE in Garissa last night  recovered a deadly arsenal weapons buried outside a commercial residential house in Bula Sagare in the outskirts of Garissa town.

The weapons included an AK 47 riffle,210 rounds of ammunition's,IEDs a hand grenade, and a fully loaded suicide bomber jacket.

Addressing the press after displaying the weapons, Northeastern regional coordinator Amb. Mohamud Saleh said that a member of the public who stumbled on the weapons that were buried underground in a plastic container following heavy rains that have been pounding the area.

Saleh said that the informant later reported the matter at the Garissa police station where officers moved swiftly and on arrival discovered the deadly weapons.

Saleh said that no arrest has been made so far but added that the police are following leads that will lead to arrest.

“The discovery of the arsenal is a major breakthrough in our fight against terrorism. With the help of members of the public we have been able to pre-empt several attacks and recovered weapons that could have caused mass destruction,” said Saleh.

He added that this is the third time in Garissa town that the security apparatus have recovered such huge arsenal thanks to intelligence lead policing that involved members of the public volunteering information to security agencies.

Salel who was flanked by top regional and county security officers  said that some of the weapons were so deadly and could bring down a storey building or destroy the Tana bridge.

“We are not yet out of the woods yet. with the current rains pounding many parts of the region, the terror groups are able to cross the boarder and travel long distances to perpetuate their heinous crimes,” he added.