KENYA: Kabete police investigate mysterious death of 39-year-old man

Police in Kabete, Dagoretti sub-county in Nairobi region have launched investigations into the mysterious death of a 39-year-old man.

A police report seen by this reporter revealed that Mr David Kaime Ngamau vomited and died while his friends and relatives rushed him to the hospital.

“It was reported by one Thomas Gachuru Nganda, a resident of Matini that at about 1100 hours today, he learnt that his nephew David Kaime Ngamau aged 39 years was unwell as he had vomited and was unresponsive in his house,” the police report reads in part.

Mr Nganda then rushed to the house and asked neighbours to assist him in rushing Mr Ngamau to a nearby hospital, identified as St Theresa Hospital in Kikuyu, Kiambu County, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Also read: Woman dies mysteriously after spending the night with her lover

Officers from the station promptly visited the scene and carried out essential procedures, which included documenting the house where the deceased resided by capturing photographs.

The deceased’s body is at the Kikuyu Pentecostal Church of Eastern Africa (PCEA) morgue awaiting autopsy.

Such cases of people dying mysteriously have been reported in the city and are rising.

On 28 May 2023, police at Kabete Police Station launched investigations after a man died on his bed in the Kawangware area, Dagoretti North Sub-County.

In a report seen by Nairobi News, Ms Jerusa Amoit Wanyonyi went to Muthangari police station where she reported that her husband, identified as Mr Godwin Wanyonyi, had died at Kawangware Area Two bus terminus.

“Police officers rushed to the scene and found the body of Mr Godwin Wanyonyi, 67, lying face up on his bed in a one-room rented house,” the report reads in part.

Officers said family and neighbours informed them that the deceased only complained of chest pains and died around 4pm as they prepared to take him to the hospital.

According to the report, the body had a minor injury to both hands, which were wrapped in an Elastoplast – bandage.

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Huddah Monroe intends to pursue legal recourse against individuals who are damaging her brand

 

Huddah Monroe has announced her intentionto take legal action against anyone who tries to tarnish her brand.

She has warned netizens sternly, informing them that spreading fake news about her life could result in a hefty fine of Sh36 million.

Huddah stresses that making false claims about her product and knowingly spreading lies will have serious consequences.

“We will thoroughly investigate the matter by conducting all necessary tests, including seeking professional medical opinions. If the allegations are proven to be false, you will be held accountable for defamation and false accusation, with a fine of $250,000 (Ksh 34,662,500)”.

Huddah also mentions that regardless of one’s financial situation, compensation will be pursued even if it means collecting earnings for the rest of one’s life.

She emphasised the importance of the time and effort it took to establish her brand and reach her current position.

Also read: 5 celebrities Huddah Monroe has attacked

In June 2022, content creator Murugi Munyi received a package from Huddah’s Rich Beauty.

As she examined the products, she couldn’t help but notice that the packaging reminded her of the success cards sent to candidates before national exams.

Unlike Nivea products, Murugi shared her thoughts with her followers, expressing a slight concern about the lack of individual descriptions for each product.

However, she reserved judgement until she had actually tried the products.

Murugi promised her followers an update in two or three weeks to share her experiences.

“One thing that feels like a bit of a red flag is that all the products say the same thing… it doesn’t have a description like Nivea products… but I don’t want to pass judgement because I haven’t tried them. I’ll try them and give you an update in two or three weeks and tell you how it goes,” Munyi told her followers.

Upon hearing Murugi’s comments, Huddah quickly attacked her, criticising her for the negative review and accusing her of not giving the products a fair chance before sharing her opinion.

Huddah said she would also take action against anyone who published lies about her.

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Trust unveils annual plans, gets new board

Dar es Salaam. The Private Agricultural Sector Support Trust (Pass Trust) plans to introduce three more products this year with the view of consolidating its presence and role in enhancing vibrancy in the country’s economic mainstay sector.
The Pass Trust managing director, Mr Iddy Lujina, told journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday now that they had a new board in place, all was set to take the country’s agricultural sector to completely new heights.
He outlined the three products as including: linkage banking guarantee; portfolio guarantees; and leasing product. All are aimed at accelerating and widening financial support to the sector this year.
Linkage banking guarantee seeks to provide support to community banks and micro-finance institutions (MFIs) to access funds lending to their customers in rural areas. The portfolio facilitates commercial banks’ accessed loans, thus cautioning lenders against risk.
The leasing product would assist many agricultural firms to acquire machinery and equipment on soft terms and thus facilitate the setting up of more tractor hiring centres and agro-processing facilities across the country.
“We will work with all entrepreneurs who are ready to invest in the regions to exploit opportunities,” he said, adding that they would continue to assist entrepreneurs through other zonal offices so that they would grow their businesses.
He said that in 2013, Pass Trust also plans to consolidate the recently opened branches in Moshi and Mtwara, both of which have large diverse agricultural potentials.
Mr Lujina said that given the high level of expectations on contribution by Pass in catalysing wider provision of credit facilities into agricultural sector, the varied skills and experience of the new board members would complement each other very well. The new board comprises Prof Andrew Temu, the chairman, while Dr Salum Diwani, Mr Dunstan Mrutu, Mr Linus Gedi, Mr Hatibu Senkoro, Mr Benson Mahenya and Peter Shao are trustees.
“Given the wide economic opportunities that are available in Tanzania in the immediate region and globally, the board is expected to steer Pass Trust to enable investors to exploit the country’s vast resource base and resultant comparative advantage in the agricultural sector,” Mr Lujina said.

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Minister heckled as slain priest is buried

The slain Catholic priest, Fr Evarist Mushi, was laid to rest here yesterday with religious leaders dismissing a statement by the government that the priest’s death was the will of God. Speaking on behalf of the Zanzibar government shortly after the priest was buried at Kitope on the outskirts of the municipality, Minister of State in the Second Vice-President’s Office, Mr Mohammed Aboud, said: “What happened was God’s will which we cannot question.”At this point, mourners in their hundreds booed, an indication that they disagreed with the minister’s sentiments. A requiem mass for Fr Mushi, who was gunned down on Sunday morning as he drove to church, was led by the Archbishop of Dar es Salaam Polycarp Cardinal Pengo at St Joseph’s Church in Minara Miwili.
A few minutes before the mass, Zanzibar President Ali Mohamed Shein signed a book of condolence for the 55-year-old cleric.
Following the minister’s statement, religious leaders had to calm down the multitude of mourners who shouted: “Is it God’s will that assigned the killer to gun down the priest?”
Bishop Augustino Mushi of the Catholic Diocese of Zanzibar who was seated beside President Shein stood up, grabbed the microphone and said:
“Let me say this: the statement that the death of the priest is God’s will can’t be true. It was an outright murder and we cannot entertain such criminality.”
The burial of Fr Mushi was attended by a number of religious, government and political leaders, including President Shein, Zanzibar First Vice-President Seif Sharif Hamad, minister for Home Affairs Emmanuel Nchimbi and Mr Aboud.
Others were Chadema secretary general Willibrod Slaa and the NCCR-Mageuzi chairman Mr James Mbatia.
Dr Slaa asked the government to take serious measures to forestall sectarian violence. He said the pledge by President Kikwete that the killers would be hunted down and arrested were not enough to solve religious violence.
On Tuesday, the European Union (EU) Delegation in Tanzania urged the authorities to undertake full investigation into the killing of Fr Mushi. The EU also urged investigations into past attacks on Muslim and Christian clerics to be continued until those responsible are brought to book.
The EU Delegation also asked the governments of Tanzania and Zanzibar and other stakeholders to support open dialogue between the Muslim and Christian communities — and take measures to prevent recurrence of religious animosities.
On Monday, the US offered to support Tanzania in pursuing and bringing to justice those who killed the Catholic priest. The US offer came only a day after the minister for Home Affairs, Dr Nchimbi, toured the scene of the crime and declared it a “terrorist attack”.
Meanwhile, two Cabinet ministers warned yesterday that the recent killing of priests and religious tensions could mess up the robust tourism industry, one of the pillars of the country’s economy.
They also said Tanzanians can’t keep quiet over the killings and have the right to push for the arrest and prosecution of those behind the crime.
“Nobody will come to Tanzania when we senselessly kill one another,” warned the minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Prof Anna Tibaijuka when she officiated at the opening of the Sh16 billion Palace Hotel.
She admitted she could not understand the motive behind the killing of the two priests: one in Geita and another in Zanzibar, noting that Tanzanians have since the independence refused to be divided along religious and tribal lines.
The minister added that the situation was worrisome as the country has in recent years witnessed increase of killings targeting the albinos and old women.
“It is saddening at this era of the digital, Tanzanians are still killing old women on witchcraft suspicions,” she said.
Reported by Elias Msuya in Zanzibar and Zephania Ubwani in ArushaReported by Elias Msuya in Zanzibar and Zephania Ubwani in Arusha

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Nairobi’s meteoric rise hampered by failings

 

Partly for scoring low in liveability and governance indices, EIU cautions that Nairobi and other growing African cities may fail to overtake the old political powerhouses of Europe and the economic giants that have over the past three decades sprouted in Asia. In this survey, Nairobi is ranked 115 out of 120 cities for overall competitiveness

Jane Weru, a lawyer who litigates on behalf of the urban poor, describes Nairobi as one would an especially confident young woman.

“Nairobi is edgy,” she begins. “It’s a bit brash. It’s not shy. It’s young and it is a city on the go.”

If Nairobi is a young woman, then she is coming of age... and the suitors have noticed, because the narrative of the city’s transformative growth is one that currently permeates briefs circulated by investment analysts.

It is a narrative that is woven into the strategies of multinationals expanding into new markets, and one that carefully laces the speeches of C-suite executives trooping to Kenya to woo the government and its people.

However, Nairobi does have a dark side. It is a city of stark inequalities with serious infrastructural challenges that may yet stall its rise to the top.

“Nairobi is also a paradox,” says Ms Weru. “Abject poverty co-exists with near First World luxury. The city’s expansion may just push these extremes farther apart.”

The importance of Nairobi to the national and regional economy and its failings are by no means unique phenomena.

Financial services firm Citi last year commissioned the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) to carry out a survey of 120 cities globally, assessing their competitiveness as investment destinations.

The resultant report noted that middle-tier cities in emerging markets — once considered too risky — may now steal the show from European cities that are stuck in economic doldrums and facing the challenge of infrastructure fatigue.

“Already, global business is beginning to plan strategy from a city, rather than a country, perspective,” EIU said.

In China, for instance, megacities such as Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai compete with each other for investors.

In this new economic order, where the city rises in status above the country, African, Asian, and Latin American cities are leap-frogging the smog and coal industrialisation of the old world to carve themselves new niches.

They are choosing to invest billions to excel in narrow fields such as financial services, technology, or business process outsourcing (BPO).

Over the past two months, Microsoft, IBM, and Google top brass have made their way to Nairobi. In public forums and university lectures, they extolled the virtues of the city, justifying their need to suddenly turn to Kenya for profits.

“Nairobi has emerged as a serious tech hub and may become Africa’s leader,” noted Google chairman Eric Schimdt in a blog post following his visit.

One of the factors behind the city’s rise is basic geography. In 1890s, when Nairobi was set up as a railway depot, its central location was a major selling point. This advantage has not waned over time.

Within the regional context, Nairobi is prime real estate. It is connected to a coastal harbour and is within a four-hour flying distance of most African destinations.

Technology has been adopted wholeheartedly, increasing efficiency in communication. For any multinational looking to extend its tentacles across the continent, the city is a entry point.

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Big leads in senate and governor races

Many county races have clear front-runners and are more likely to be determined by the qualities of the candidates rather than their party, according to opinion polls commissioned by the Nation Media Group.

The first wave of opinion polls carried out in five counties shows candidates with commanding leads and others where the frontrunner is not necessarily the choice of national politicians.

In Machakos county, Dr Alfred Mutua, the former government spokesman and now Cord politician, was a clear favourite among those polled, with 68.3 per cent saying they would elect him governor if the polls were held at the time of interview.

The interviews were conducted between 14 and 17 February with a margin of error of +/-2 per cent and a confidence level of 95 per cent.

In the senate race, Mr Johnstone Muthama, the former Kangundo MP, was the choice of three quarters of those polled, with 73 per cent saying they would have voted for him had the election been conducted at the time of the interview.

In the governor race, Dr Mutua’s closest challenger, assistant minister Wavinya Ndeti, who is running on a Chama Cha Uzalendo ticket, was the choice of 18.7 per cent of the respondents.

In the county that boasts of the multibillion Konza technocity, there are 10.2 per cent undecided voters, according to the poll by Infotrak Consulting. The pollster interviewed 631 people in the county.

In the Senate race, Mr Muthama’s closest challenger is Mr Boniface Kabaka of Ford People, being the choice of 11 per cent of those interviewed.

Some 11 per cent of the respondents were classified as undecided on which way to vote.

While Cord is leading in Machakos, Jubilee Coalition dominates both the senate and gubernatorial races in Nakuru county.

Former commandant of the Administration Police, Mr Kinuthia Mbugua, was supported by 75 per cent of those interviewed.

Most of those who preferred him said they did so because Mr Mbugua “had previously performed well”, “has good policies” and “has good administrative skills”. Other supporters said they will vote for him because he is “intelligent”.

Cord’s Lawrence Bomet of ODM had 16.4 per cent support while 6.3 per cent of the voters had not made up their minds at the time of the survey.

For the Senate, Mr John Kiarie was supported by 55.7 per cent of those interviewed by Strategic Research and PR, also contracted by the Nation Media Group.

Ms Jayne Kihara, the former Naivasha MP, was second with 10.4 per cent. Seven per cent of the voters were undecided.

Strategic interviewed 600 registered voters in Nakuru.

In the Meru senate race, Mr Kiraitu Murungi, Energy minister and former Imenti South MP, could be heading for a landslide with 93.3 per cent of those interviewed saying that they would vote for him.

Mr Murungi’s closest challenger is the fiery politician Gitobu Imanyara who, according to the pollsters, was supported by 6.2 per cent of respondents.

Mr Imanyara will be vying on the ODM ticket. ODM is a member of the Cord coalition.

Mr Murungi is vying on the ticket of the Alliance Party of Kenya.

For the gubernatorial race, assistant minister Peter Munya has a slim lead over his colleague in government Dr Kilemi Mwiria.

Mr Munya, according to the poll conducted by Strategic PR, had the support of 48.4 per of those interviewed, while Dr Mwiria had 43 per cent.

Mr Munya is in Kiraitu’s APK, while Dr Mwiria is in TNA, a member of the Jubilee coalition. The pollster interviewed 600 registered voters in Meru County.

In Siaya, Mr William Oduol of the National Agenda Party of Kenya is well positioned for a landslide in the gurbernatorial race.

According to Consumer Insight, which conducted an opinion poll in the county, Mr Oduol was supported by 68 per cent of those interviewed while Mr Rasanga Amoth of ODM (Cord) had the backing of 14 per cent of respondents.

Some 18 per cent of respondents were undecided. The pollster interviewed 557 registered voters in the county.

In Uasin Gishu, Mr Jackson Kiplagat Mandago of URP (the Jubilee Coalition) is the favourite for the governor’s seat with 62 per cent of those interviewed saying they would have voted for him.

Higher Education minister Margaret Kamar (Cord/ODM) was a distant second with the support of 27 per cent of those interviewed.

Uasin Gishu is the home county of Mr William Ruto, the presidential running mate of Jubilee coalition’s candidate Mr Uhuru Kenyatta.

For the Senate in Uasin Gishu, Mr Isaac Melly of URP was ranked tops with support of 58 per cent of those interviewed, while Abraham Kiptanui of Kanu comes second with 12 per cent.

The poll was conducted by Infotrak and involved interviews with 600 registered voters in Uasin Gishu.

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Jiggers infect 700 children in Moroto

A staff of International Rescue Committee treats the feet of a child affected with jiggers in Nadunget Sub-county last week. PHOTO BY STEVEN ARIONG  

A jigger outbreak in Nadunget Sub-county in Moroto District has left at least 700 children between the ages of two and five years almost physically impaired.

Ms Glades Nangiro, a village health team volunteer in Nadunget, said Acherer and Loputuk villages were the most affected.
“The district health team should help this sub-county like they did in Rupa last year,” Ms Nangiro said.

Last October, jiggers broke out in Rupa, leaving nearly 300 children and the elderly physically impaired, but after the Daily Monitor run the story, the district dispatched a health team to treat the cases.
The LC3 chairperson, Mr Max Lokabenyan, said residents cannot afford to treat the fleas attack.

“I have been advising residents to smear children with any cosmetic jelly but many parents are complaining of lack of money for buying the jelly,” Mr Lokabenyan said.

The district health director, Mr Michael Omeke Ebele, promised to send a team to treat the affected families.

Mr Ebele blamed the outbreak on poor hygiene, saying most parents do not bathe their children and clean their homes.

“Jiggers breed in places where there is poor hygiene. The major problem with our people is that they do not want to bathe, creating room for jiggers,” he said.

Local authorities say due to poverty and ignorance, residents share their tiny dusty houses with livestock, giving the fleas room to choose between humans or livestock as their host .

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