Hello and welcome to the Friday edition of the Evening Brief Newsletter where impeachment and pregame are the orders of the day.
Housekeeping: We are thrilled to announce that this newsletter is expanding and an edition will also be available on our site, Kenyans.co.ke.
Monda Kicked Out
Friday could not begin any worse for Robert Monda as the curtains fell on his stint as the Kisii Deputy Governor.
In a voting exercise undertaken in the Senate minutes past 12 am, the senators approved the impeachment of the politician facing four charges.
Monda was charged with; gross violation of the Constitution, abuse of office, gross misconduct and crimes under national law.
The Gist: At the center of Monda's impeachment were accusations that he received a bribe of Ksh800,000 to secure a job for a middle-aged man at the Gusii Water and Sanitation Company Limited (GWASCO).
"Central to the charges was the accusation that Monda solicited and received a bribe of Ksh800,000 from Dennis Misati and his family under the pretence of securing Misati a job at the Gusii Water and Sanitation Company (GWASCO).
"It was further alleged that Monda sent Ksh100,000 to GWASCO's Managing Director in an attempt to influence Mokaya's employment, though this request was ultimately rejected," read the statement by the Senate in part.
Additionally, the Senate found the former DG guilty of misusing county resources following evidence that was tabled by his own brother.
According to his brother, Reuben Monda, the former DG once deployed county askaris and police to arrest him after they disagreed over trees.
"I was harassed very badly by the askaris, I was taken to Keumbu and at Keumbu I was not booked. And then after three hours, I was taken to Kisii Central Police Station by the askaris from Keumbu.
"I was rushed to Kisii and then I met the OCS Kisii who also failed to give me any booking. I stayed there for almost five hours but I was put to sit next to the cell in a box I was told contained the ammunition. So I could not understand," the brother testified.
Monda's Take
According to Monda, the impeachment was politically instigated even citing differences with his own boss, Governor Simba Arati.
Regarding the alleged Ksh800,000 bribe, the former DG maintained that the accusations were fabricated. He explained that the Ksh100,000 sent to the Gusii water boss was done by mistake adding that he asked for a refund after that.
"I've said it's an embarrassment as a member of Parliament in the 10th Parliament that I'm here at this particular time on a matter that I still call a fabrication to settle political scores of the past," he stated.
Curtains Fall
Despite the plea by the former DG, the Majority of the Senators voted to remove him as follows.
Gross Violation of the Constitution: Ayes - 39, Nays - 3, Abstentions - 1.
Abuse of Office: Ayes - 39, Nays - 3, Abstentions - 1.
Gross Misconduct: Ayes - 35, Nays - 7, Abstentions -1.
Crimes Under National Law: Ayes -32, Nays - 10, Abstentions - 1.
Guess Who?
Can you guess who said these words?
"Whether the Haiti Prime Minister resigns or not, the engagement between Kenya and Haiti still stands. We're not sending quacks to Haiti, but well-trained officers. I expect all of them to be promoted and honored when they return."
To find the correct answer, simply scroll down as you read this newsletter.
The Haiti Pre-Game
Meanwhile, as international pressure continues to mount on Kenya over the deployment of police to Haiti, President William Ruto has revealed that the country will send a reconnaissance mission before the official deployment.
According to Ruto, who spoke to various world leaders on Thursday, the mission will be tasked with collecting critical information which will inform the police on how to deal with the gangs.
While it is still not clear when the pre-game team will be sent to spy on the Haiti gangs, Ruto noted that the process will be expedited once an interim government is put in place.
"I further outlined our plan to deploy a reconnaissance mission as soon as a viable administration is in place, ensuring that our security personnel are adequately prepared and informed to respond effectively to the evolving situation," Ruto stated regarding his call with Prime Ministers Justin Trudeau (Canada) and Philip Davis (Bahamas).
However, Ruto could still face many obstacles with reports suggesting that some officers are opting out of the anticipated battle of the titans.
Is Your Estate Unsafe? US Embassy Issues Alert
Back home on security matters, the US Embassy issued a security alert on the rising cases of crime within Nairobi residential areas.
According to the alert, some of the crimes which are surging include snatching of phones and purses.
Therefore, the US cautioned its citizens against showing off their wealth in public. They were also advised to always stay aware of their surroundings.
In events when they are driving, the Americans were cautioned against staying in unlocked vehicles and rolling their windows down.
"Be aware of your surroundings. Do not physically resist any robbery attempt and remain calm. Confrontation with these individuals often leads to violence,"
"The government of Kenya is taking measures to place more police in high-crime areas," read the alert in part.
Weekly Kenyans.co.ke Quiz
Do you think you are a news guru? Every week, the newsletter team brings you a 10-question quiz testing your knowledge of the top news topics for the week.
Take our quiz and test how well you understood the week's most important stories.
Here are the other top 5 stories for the day;
Have you ever imagined how much media houses make from advertisements? A report by the government has revealed billions that media houses received from their clients in 2023.
Joseph Irungu alias Jowie files a notice of appeal over the death sentence issued by the High Court.
The Estate Agents Registration Board (EARB) cautions the public against interacting with unlicensed agents. Here are the documents they should have when asking for rent
Public Service CS Moses Kuria adds more twists to Jacque Maribe's employment saga.
Planning on taking a spin in Nairobi this weekend? Here are the 9 roads to be closed.
The Guess Who Answer
The answer is Geoffrey Ruku. The Mbeere North MP made the remarks while appearing in an interview on KBC on March 12.
This newsletter was written by Washington Mito and edited by Brian Muuo.
Derrick Kubasu contributed to the content.
Graphics prepared by Adongo Kyalo and Ronnie Mbugua.
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