By Leonard Murunga

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Kisumu chapter on Wednesday filed a petition on behalf of 29 victims of police brutality, pushing for justice and compensation.

The victims allegedly suffered after being met with brutal force from police officers, during protests against the high cost of living, in 2023, called by Azimio la Umoja One Kenya, leaders.

Speaking outside the Kisumu Law Courts after filing the petition, Dorcas Akinyi Oluoch, LSK Kisumu chapter said they received numerous complaints of police brutality, and settled on the 29 after collecting enough evidence in collaboration with civil society organisations.

“Innocent lives were lost, families were shattered and many residents were left with scars, both visible and invisible,” said Oluoch.

“We called upon duty bearers to exercise their mandate and put an end to these grave violations of human rights. Sadly, to date, no one has been held accountable for these atrocities,” she added.  

The 29 cases, she added, involve victims of police brutality, ranging from serious injuries to death. One of those killed is Benard Ochieng Otana who succumbed to excessive internal bleeding while receiving treatment, after allegedly being shot by a police officer.

Another victim, David Ochieng Ouma was reportedly shot by police officers at the Nyando River bridge, in Ahero town, at the height of the street demonstrations dubbed Unga revolution.

Some family members of victims of police brutality. Photo/Leonard Murunga.

He was rushed to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), popularly known as Russia, where he succumbed to injuries two days later.

Everline Akhala said she lost two of her loved ones, William Akhala Amulele, her son and Brian Oniang’o, her brother’s son on July 26, 2024, while receiving treatment at JOOTRH, after alleged physical assault by police officers.

The respondents in the case are Inspector General of Police, the National Police Service (NPS), the National Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Attorney General.

Na Ellon Odhiambo

Mgomo wa wafanyakazi wa viwanja vya ndege, umelemaza shughuli za kawaida katika viwanja mbali mbali vya ndege nchini.

Mgomo huo umeathiri pakubwa shughuli katika uwanja wa kimataifa wa ndege wa Jomo Kenyatta jijini Nairobi, uwanja wa kimataifa wa Moi (MIA) jijini Mombasa na uwanja wa kimataifa wa Kisumu (KIA) jijini Kisumu, huku kampuni za ndege kama vile Kenya Airways na Jambojet zikifutilia mbali baadhi ya safari.

Hali hiyo, ilisababisha mamia ya wasafari kukwama kwenye viwanja vya ndege. 

Wafanyakazi wanaogoma wanapinga mchakato wa kampuni ya Adani ya India, kuchukua usimamizi wa uwanja wa JKIA, kwenye mkataba utakaodumu miaka 30.

Kampuni ya Adani inapanga kukodesha uwanja wa JKIA kwa kima cha dola billioni 1.85.

Wakosoaji wanasema kuwa mkataba huo utasababisha ukosefu wa ajira, na kuwaongezea walipa ushuru mzigo wa madeni.

Juma hili, maafisa wa chama cha mawakili nchini (LSK) na tume ya kutetea haki za binadamu nchini (KNCHR), walipata agizo la mahakama kusitisha kwa mda mchakato wa kampuni ya Adani kusimamia uwanja wa JKIA.

JKIA ni miongoni mwa viwanja vikubwa vya ndege barani Afrika. Uwanja huo uliwahudumia takribani abiria millioni 8.8, huku ukipitisha tani 380,000 za mizigo kati ya mwaka wa 2022 na 2023.

Hata hivyo, umekumbwa na ukusefu wa umeme pamoja na paa zinazovuja wakati mvua inaponyesha. Kampuni ya Adani inapanga kujenga njia ya kurukia ndege, na kuboresha miundo msingi kwenye uwanja huo.

Maamlaka ya viwanja vya ndege nchini (KAA) kwenye taarifa imeutaja mgomo huo kama usio halali, huku katibu mkuu wa muuungano wa kutetea maslahi ya wafanyakazi nchini (COTU-K) Francis Atwoli, akimnyoshea kidole cha lawama aliyekuwa waziri wa barabara na uchukuzi Kipchumba Murkomen, kwa matatizo yanayoshuhudiwa JKIA kwa sasa.  

By Jabali Media

Nominated Senator Raphael Chimera wants the running of bursaries taken away from politicians, and domiciled within the national government apparatus to guarantee free education for all.

According to the legislature, the money in politicians’ hands in the name of bursaries could go a long way in sealing fee gaps from needy learners.

Coupled with the money already available at the Ministry of education, Chimera said, Kenyan children will be guaranteed free and quality of education.

“People have used the bursary as a political tool. Even during campaigns, sadly you hear sentiments to the effect that if you don’t vote for me, that program will go away. Maybe that guy is the initiator of that bursary program. People sometimes perish because of lack of knowledge. They believe if I don’t vote for Chimera for instance, the bursary program he runs will go, yet it is a policy it is in law,” said Chimera, who was nominated by the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.  

“The way the bursary program is being administered nationally; it is not streamlined. It is discriminatory in nature. A politician would always want to support people who supported him or her in elections. So, there is some kind of tokenism in the whole administration framework of the bursary program,” he added.

Currently, there are bursary schemes run by the President, Members of Parliament (MPs), governors and Members of County Assemblies (MCAs), all running into billions of shillings.

The nominated Senator said all that money will do wonders as far as supporting learners is concerned, if all the bursaries are collapsed into one kitty.

“If we put all this money together into a kitty – not necessarily domesticated t the ministry of education, but give it to the treasury and let us have schools receive this money directly from the exchequer to go towards funding their capitation needs, and everybody accesses education, we make it free,” he argued.  

Chimera joins a host of other politicians calling for free universal education, as university students continue to gang up against the new higher education funding model, terming it discriminatory. 

By Jabali Media

The man who doused Ugandan marathoner Rebecca Cheptegei in petrol before setting her ablaze is dead.  

Dickson Ndiema, an ex-partner of the Ugandan athlete died on Monday night while undergoing treatment at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County. 

He died days after Cheptegei succumbed to arson injuries at the same health facility.

Ndiema is accused of dousing petrol on Cheptegei after an unresolved argument, and setting her on fire, in Endebess, Trans Nzoia County on Sunday, August 25, 2024.  

Cheptegei sustained over 80 percent burns, while Ndiema suffered more than 30 percent burns.  

Cheptegei, who succumbed to burn injuries on September 5, 2024, was part of the Uganda Marathon team that participated in the recently concluded 2024 Paris, France Olympics.   

Cheptegei’s family confirmed that she was a member of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF), and will receive full military honours.

She will be accorded a military funeral on Saturday, with Kenyan and Uganda officials expected to attend her final journey in Bukwo, Eastern Uganda.

By Jabali Media

A Mombasa Court on Monday, September 9, 2024 dropped the Shakahola massacre case against two deceased accused persons.

Mombasa Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku arrived at the decision, following prosecution's submission of burial permits and postmortem reports, detailing deaths of the two suspects.

According to the official death reports, both died from illness while receiving treatment in hospital.

They are Mary Charo Mbita who died in June this year at the Coast General Referral Teaching Hospital, and Edison Safari Munyambo alias Baba Sifa, who died on August 19, 2024 at Shimo la Tewa health facility.

The two bodies were released to the relatives for burial, after the conclusion of the autopsy.

Meanwhile, Ithuku directed the officer in-charge of the Shimo la Tewa women prison to appear and explain claims of maltreatment of female suspects.

The suspects including prime suspect Paul Mackenzie's wife Rhoda Mumbua Maweu, alleged to have been tortured including denial of food, sleeping on the floor and physical beatings, which allegations the court intends to confirm and address.

“The magistrate indicated that the allegations raised were serious and it is prudent for the officer in-charge of the women's prison to provide a comprehensive report of the allegations,” said the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in a statement.

The court directed the senior prison officer to appear in court on September 11, 2024 to answer those claims. The officer was also directed to investigate the allegations and submit comprehensive findings.

Embattled and controversial Pastor, Paul Mackenzie alongside his over 90-co accused persons are charged with 283 counts of manslaughter.

They were arrested in early 2023, after reportedly ‘sweet talking’ Good News Church followers into ‘fasting to death to meet Jesus.’ 

By Jabali Media

Kisumu County has won the bid to host the prestigious United Nations World Tourism Day (UNWTD), and the Kenya Tourism Week 2024.

Na Jabali Media

Waziri wa vyama vya ushirika Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya, amewakumbusha wakenya kuhusu umuhimu wa kulipa deni baada ya kukopa.

Akizungumza wakati alipofunga rasmi warsha ya siku tatu ya wanachama wa bodi ya Hazina ya Uwezo kwenye hoteli moja jijini Kisumu hii leo, Oparanya amesema kuwa wanaokopa fedha za umma wanafaa kulipa kwa wakati, ili wakenya wengine wanufaike.

Na Leonard Murunga

Jaji wa mahakama kuu ya Kitale Anthony Murima Charo, amechaguliwa mwakilishi wa mahakama kuu kwenye Tume ya Huduma za Mahakama nchini (JSC), katika uchaguzi ulioandaliwa jijini Kisumu mnamo Ijumaa.

Jaji huyo alijizolea kura 95, huku wapinzani wake James Otieno Olola and Sila Munyao wakipata kura 15 na 27 mtawalia.

By Jabali Media

Normal business operations came to a near standstill in Mumias town on Wednesday, when residents stopped Kakamega governor Fernandes Barasa from proceeding to his office, demanding that he first gives an address and inspect their businesses.

By Jabali Media

Ugandan marathoner Rebecca Cheptegei is dead.

She died while receiving treatment at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret, after her former boyfriend doused her in petrol and set her on fire in Endebess, Trans Nzoia County on Sunday.

The Ugandan Athletics Federation (UAF) confirmed her death in a post on X.

By Jabali Media

Equity Bank Group on Tuesday launched its suitability report for the year 2023.

Themed “a sustainable world is a transformed Africa,” the report speaks on among others, the significant role that global substantiality practices can have on transformation of the African continent.

It showcases Equity’s dedication to sustainable business practices and the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) aspirations.

By Jabali Media

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