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Kenya Kwanza Unveils 7 MPs to Face Azimio in Bipartisan Talks

President William Ruto addressing the Kenya Kwanza Parliamentary Group meeting at State House Nairobi on April 11, 2023.
President William Ruto addressing the Kenya Kwanza Parliamentary Group meeting at State House Nairobi on April 11, 2023.
Photo: PCS

President William Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza parliamentary group on Tuesday, April 11, nominated Kakamega senator Boni Khalwale to lead the faction in the bipartisan talks. 

Other members included in the list of seven were Eldas Member of Parliament Adan Keynan, Tharaka MP George Murugara, nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri and Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse.

The other two were Taita Taveta Woman Representative Lydia Haika and Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei.

Ruto's faction maintained its commitment to ensuring that the issues raised by the faction were adequately addressed by the committee.

Kenya Kwanza MPs holding a Parliamentary Group meeting at State House Nairobi on April 11, 2023.
Kenya Kwanza MPs holding a Parliamentary Group meeting at State House Nairobi on April 11, 2023.
PCS

"The Parliamentary Group agreed with the President on a Parliamentary bipartisan approach in resolving such matters.

"We agreed with the President on the need to govern the country with the constitution and the rule of law," read the statement in part.

The seven Kenya Kwanza lawmakers are set to engage with their Azimio colleagues on the issues raised by both factions including the recruitment of commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC)

Azimio had already appointed a team of seven to represent them in the 14-member committee.

Senators Edwin Sifuna (Nairobi), Ledama Ole Kina (Narok) and Enock Wambua (Kitui) were included in the Azimio list.

The other Azimio representatives were from the National Assembly and included Amina Mnyanzi (Malindi), Millie Odhiambo (Suba North), David Pkosing (Pokot South) and Otiende Amollo (Rarieda).

"The joint committee should recommend measures to lower the cost of unga, fuel, electricity and school fees and conduct a review and forensic audit of the servers used by the IEBC before, during, and after the 2022 presidential election," Azimio's statement read in part.

Dates for the engagements between the two sides are yet to be made public even as reports indicated that the team would begin their mandate immediately.

Former Prime Minister speaking during Azimio Parliamentary Group meeting in Athi River, Machakos County on Thursday April 6, 2023
Former Prime Minister speaking during Azimio Parliamentary Group meeting in Athi River, Machakos County on Thursday, April 6, 2023.
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Raila Odinga

Several Feared Dead as Speeding Lorry Rams Into Crowd in Migori Town

A photo collage of onlookers around the lorry that rammed into a crown in Migori County on  April 8, 2023.
A photo collage of onlookers around the lorry that rammed into a crown in Migori County on April 8, 2023.
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Migori News

UPDATE Saturday, April 8: Azimio party leader Raila Odinga sent his condolence message to the victims' families.

"I offer my deepest sympathies to all those who have lost their loved ones, friends, and colleagues in the tragic accident that occurred this morning at the boda boda stage in Migori town,"  Raila stated.

"May God grant you all fortitude to get through this difficult moment," he added.


At least 9 people were killed and others injured in a grisly accident after a lorry lost control and rammed into a boda boda parking spot in Migori County on the Migori-Isibiania road on Saturday morning, April 8.

Residents gathered near the grisly incident in Migori County on Saturday morning April 8, 2023
Residents gathered near the grisly incident in Migori County on Saturday morning April 8, 2023
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Collins Mwanga

Eyewitnesses who spoke with Kenyans.co.ke confirmed that the driver was among the victims who suffered critical injuries. 

The lorry was said to have crashed near Migori Primary School after the driver failed to control its speed outside the CBD. 

"We saw the lorry speeding into town, and it crashed passers-by, motorists, and boda boda riders as it went down the hill. 

"It then rammed into a lorry with sand, forcing it to stop. If the lorry without sand weren't in that spot, then the lorry with rice (which lost control) would have killed more," the eyewitness who works near Easy Coach booking station in Migori stated. 

He added that some residents resorted to stealing the rice while others rescued the victims. Police also rushed to the scene to man the crowd and traffic. 

Alongside the police were other rescue personnel rushed to the area to rescue the victims and transfer them to the nearby hospitals. Dead bodies were also ferried to a nearby morgue. 

It was reported that the accident occurred after the lorry's brakes failed to cause it to lose control on the steep terrain.

According to data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), 1,072 lives were lost in road accidents between January and March 2023, with the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway being the most dangerous road in the country.

Following rampant accidents, Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced a crackdown on all unroadworthy vehicles to reduce the fatalities.

The aftermath of an accident involving a lorry in Migori town on Saturday April 8, 2023
The aftermath of an accident involving a lorry in Migori town on Saturday, April 8, 2023
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Migori News

"I directed NTSA to heighten surveillance to ensure unroadworthy vehicles are not allowed on our roads," the CS declared.

Murkomen also announced measures to reduce the casualties, including, cameras on highways, improved car inspection and civic education to Kenyans on road safety. 

Raila Unveils 7 Allies to Face UDA in Bipartisan Talks [LIST]

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga addressing the media after meeting Azimio Senators in Nairobi on February 15, 2023.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga addressing the media after meeting Azimio Senators in Nairobi on February 15, 2023.
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Raila Odinga

Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina and his Nairobi counterpart Edwin Sifuna are among a team of seven legislators who were picked by Azimio la Umoja on Thursday, April 6,  to represent the faction in the scheduled bi-partisan parliamentary engagements.

In the list sent to Kenyans.co.ke by Kanu party secretary of political affairs, Fredrick Okango, Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua was also among Raila's chosen confidants. 

The other four were from the National Assembly, including Amina Mnyanzi (Malindi), Millie Odhiambo (Suba North), David Pkosing (Pokot South) and Otiende Amollo (Rarieda).

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna joins Azimio mass action protests in Nairobi on Monday, March 20, 2023.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna joins Azimio mass action protests in Nairobi on Monday, March 20, 2023.
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Edwin Sifuna

Raila's team of seven was picked during the Azimio la Umoja parliamentary group meeting in Machakos County.

The ODM boss chaired the meeting which was also attended by the coalition's top leadership including Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua.

Azimio picked the team of seven following the faction's agreement to call off demonstrations and engage with the government side on four issues they had raised.

President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza is yet to release its list of parliamentarians to engage with Azimio.

In the meeting, the Raila-led faction reiterated the need to have the team expanded outside parliament as they maintained that they were not interested in sharing the government.

"The joint committee should recommend measures to lower the cost of unga, fuel, electricity and school fees and conduct a review and forensic audit of the servers used by the IEBC before, during, and after the 2022 presidential election,

"Review the appointment and dismissal of IEBC Commissioners, including their tenure of office, and recommend institutional, policy, legal, and constitutional mechanisms, restructuring and reforms of the IEBC," read the statement in part.

Ruto on the other hand insisted that the issues would only be addressed in parliament as they had the mandate to amend laws.

The President made the remarks while touring Nyandarua County.

President William Ruto speaking at an event in Kwale County on April 6, 2023.
President William Ruto speaking at an event in Kwale County on April 6, 2023.
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William Ruto

Raila Calls Off Countrywide Demonstrations

Azimio Chief Raila Odinga and President William Ruto shake hands at a apast event..jpg
Azimio Chief Raila Odinga and President William Ruto shake hands at a apast event.

Azimio party leader Raila Odinga on Sunday, April 2, called off the ongoing mass protests.

Speaking during a press conference at his Capitol Hill office, Odinga confirmed that the mother of all demonstrations would not take place on Monday, April 3, as earlier planned.

"In view of the foregoing, we stand down our demonstrations for Monday, April 3, 2023.

a_photo_of_azimio_party_leader_raila_odinga_during_a_press_briefing
Azimio party leader Raila Odinga addresses his supporters during a press briefing on March 28, 2023.
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Raila Odinga

"I believe that Kenya is facing its worst crises in decades after which we can either recover or go the way other failed states," Odinga declared.

The decision came after President William Ruto offered to engage in dialogue over some of the key issues raised by Azimio during the demonstrations. However, had one condition.

"In accepting the call for dialogue we ask that all arrests and prosecutions related to our demonstration be stopped with immediate effect," Odinga stated. 

Odinga accepted the call by President Ruto for dialogue over the constitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). 

"We agree that a balance parliamentary process co-chaired by both sides and backed by experts from outside should proceed. This committee should be composed with immediate effect with strict deadlines for resolving the crises facing the country," he declared.

Nonetheless, he reiterated that Ruto had to officially respond to the offer lest he would recall the protests.

"Should there be no meaningful engagement or response from Ruto to our counter-offer, we will resort to resuming our demonstrations after one week," the Azimio.

The Opposition Chief clarified that his party and its supporters did not engage in the destruction of property and blamed it on detractors hell-bent on painting the demos in a bad light.

He further called on the police to exercise more restraint when engaging protesters.
 

A photo of  President William Ruto during  a past address at State House Nairobi
A photo of President William Ruto during a past address at State House Nairobi.

Raila Releases Whistleblower's Website With Data to Prove He Won

A collage image of Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga (left) and Deputy President William Ruto (right).
A collage image of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga while on the campaign trail in Nakuru County in July 2022(left) and President William Ruto ar a rally in Bungoma County in June 2022(right).
PCS
Raila Odinga
Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga on Saturday, April 1, share a link to a website that hosted what he termed the actual results of the 2022 General Elections. 
 
Kenyans.co.ke accessed the website before it crashed. Inside, Raila claimed he won the election with over eight (8) million votes, while President William Ruto closely followed with over (5) five million.
 
"We'd like to reiterate that the collated results on this link, https.//kenyaelectionresults.com leave no room for doubt that Azimio emerged victorious in the last election.
 
"In light of this, we strongly urge Mr Ruto to vacate his office immediately, ahead of the upcoming," Raila declared while reiterating that protests would proceed Monday, April 3.
A photo of Raila Odinga during an interview with BBC on Tuesday, March 27, 2023..jpg
A photo of Azimio leader Raila Odinga during an interview with BBC on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.
Ferdinand Omondi

The site also detailed the poling centres where results were allegedly altered and the difference in the numbers.

However, the website's public Internet Protocol (IP) address seemed to have been deactivated immediately after Raila shared his numbers.

A click on the link that Raila provided did generate error 500, which is a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) challenge to a hosting server.  

It is not clear whether Raila's domain was purposely deactivated or a technical error occurred on the hosting gateway. 

Error 500
Error 500 was generated on the website link that ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga shared on Saturday, April 1, 2023.
Kenyans.co.ke

Twitter users expressed their frustrations, noting that were not able to access the same results on the website. 

Raila had for the last since months claimed that Ruto did not win the August 2022 President Election, and faulted the Independent and Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for aborting his win.  

IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati declared Ruto the winner of the Presidential Election with with 50.5 per cent of the vote. 

However, Ruto dismissed vote rigging allegation, noting that Raila was simply trying to find his way into his Kenyan Kwanza government. 

In response, Raila organised mass action that began on Monday, March 20, to protest against the Kenya Kwanza government. 

MCA Stabbed to Death in Confrontation With MP

The late Kisa East MCA Stephen Maloba at a past event
The late Kisa East MCA Stephen Maloba at a past event
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Kakamega Deputy Governor, Ayub Savula, on Saturday, April 1, announced the death of Kisa East MCA, Stephen Maloba. 

Savula, while addressing residents in Malava, Kakamega, at Farouk Kibet's thanksgiving ceremony, alleged that the MCA was stabbed to death in a confrontation with a local MP. 

Maloba, who was voted on a KANU ticket, passed away after a melee ensued between supporters of the two camps. 

"We would like to stay here longer, but we can't. Apologies for that. An MCA has just passed away in Khwisero Constituency. 

The late Kisa East MCA Stephen Maloba at a past event in December 2022
The late Kisa East MCA Stephen Maloba at a past event in December 2022
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"He was stabbed after a confrontation ensued between two camps, his and that of an MP," Savula claimed. 

Kakamega senator Boni Khalwale added that the MCA was killed due to political indifferences.

"I was in a good mood, but that news ruined it. The young man they killed was in my house for breakfast the other day. He was to vie on UDA, but he joined KANU and won.

"They have killed him. I am going to console them and not to cause more chaos," Khalwale added. 

The senator, and deputy governor announced they would accompany Kakamega governor, Fernandes Barasa, to grace the funeral. 

"Apologies to my Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, our guest of honour today. Allow us to rush," Khalwale pleaded. 

Additionally, Khwisero OCPD Samuel Kogo confirmed the incident. 

However, the legislators did not disclose the cause of the altercation that resulted in the death of the MCA.

News of his death was sadly received by the area residents and the leader who eulogised him as a hardworking and focused leader.

The late Kisa East MCA Stephen Maloba (holding scissors) launching the Maloba Rescue Team in 2022
The late Kisa East MCA Stephen Maloba (holding scissors) launching the Maloba Rescue Team in 2022
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