A 14-day strike noting that is scheduled to expire on February 7, 2024 was issued by doctors stationed at the devolved unit on Wednesday night, raising concerns about the health of Kitui County residents.

In a meeting with members from the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), the physicians bemoaned their experiences with what they saw as labor exploitation.

Among the numerous problems they were facing, they listed years of denial of postgraduate study leaves, burnout, career stagnation, demotivation, and ongoing personnel shortages.

The doctors threatened to stop providing their services by the end of the strike notice if their demands are not addressed, even as they accused the county government of making false promises to address their problems over the years.

“We must admit that the plan to frustrate and mistreat doctors to the brink of depression can no longer be taken as business as usual and it must be put to a halt,” KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah said in a statement to newsrooms following the meeting.

All labor rules, including the Employment Act and the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), must be followed.

“A crocodile infested river cannot be easily crossed by an individual and as a group we urge all doctors to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers in maintaining the dignity of our profession and pushing back against all forms of labour injustices.”

A staff reorganization at Harambee House has been announced by Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki in an effort to improve service delivery across National Government Administration cadres.

Kindiki said in a statement on Thursday that Jacob Narengo and Mohammed Barre will be Njenga Miiri’s secretaries in his capacity as Internal Security Principal Administrative Secretary (PAS).

Kindiki also declared that twelve county commissioners will be moving to various work sites around the nation.

These include: Joshua Nkanatha (Kiambu to Murang’a), Jacob Ouma (Turkana to Meru), Henry Wafula (Samburu to Makueni), Erastus Mbui (Kitui to Laikipia), and Abdirisack Jaldesa (moved from Mombasa to Nyandarua).

The other six are as follows: Hiram Kahiro (Ministry Headquarters to Kwale), Patrick Mukuria (Murang’a to Kisii), Apollo Okello (West Pokot PA to RC Rift Valley), Susan Waweru (Nairobi to Siaya), and Kipchumba Rutto (Busia to Kitui).

Additionally, five County Commissioners have been called back to the Interior Ministry’s Nairobi headquarters.

They are: Tom Anjere (Kisii Ministry Headquarters), Jude Wesonga (Kajiado Ministry Headquarters), Joseph Kanyiri (Laikipia Ministry Headquarters), Isaac Masinde (Narok Ministry Headquarters), and Mohamed Barre (formerly stationed at Nyandarua Ministry Headquarters).

Kindiki continued by saying that 24 County Commissioners had received orders to stay in their existing positions.

Among them are Josephat Biwott (Kilifi), Pius Murugu (Nyeri), Josephine Onunga (Taita Taveta), Karuku Ngumo (Wajir), Amos Mariba (Mandera), Nobert Komora (Marsabit), Geoffrey Omoding (Isiolo), Wesley Koech (Tharaka Nithi), Jack Obuo (Embu), Josephine Ouko (Machakos), Josephine Onunga (Taita Taveta), Josephine Onunga (Taita Taveta), and Tobiko Naiyoma (Kirinyaga).

The others are: Dr. Ahmed Omar (Bomet), Loyford Kibaara (Nakuru), Gideon Oyagi (Trans-Nzoia), Eddyson Nyale (Uasin-Gishu), John Korir (Elgeyo-Marakwet), Caroline Nzwili (Nandi), Felix Watakila (Vihiga), Thomas Sankei (Bungoma), Moses Lilan (Homa Bay), David Gitonga (Migori).

Twelve deputy county commissioners were also promoted and subsequently transferred, according to the interior cabinet secretary. These included David Koskei (from Masinga to Tana River), Mohamed Ramadhani (from TransMara to West Garissa), Julius Kavita (from Kirinyaga Central to Turkana), Khalif Abdillahi (from Nakuru West to West Pokot), Reuben Lotiatia (from Mount Elgon to Narok), and James Taari (from Kajiado North to Kajiado).

The remaining ones are David Wanyonyi (Mathira East to Nairobi), John Cheruiyot (Ministry Headquarters to Nyamira), Duncan Darusi (Narok West to Kiambu), Benson Leparmorijo (PA/RC Central to Kisumu), and Mwangi Meru (Kwale to Kakamega).

Dolal Mohamed Mohamud, the managing director of Garissa Water and Sewerage Company (GAWASCO), was detained by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives on Thursday on suspicion of falsifying his academic credentials.

Mohamud is suspected of fabricating his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate in order to obtain admission to the University of Nairobi (UoN).

According to a source, Mohamud received a D on his KCSE examinations, but he falsified his certificate to make it appear as though he received a C+, which is required for admission to universities.

After obtaining a diploma in public relations and a certificate in purchasing and supplies from the University of Northern Nigeria, Mohamud proceeded to enroll in a bachelor’s program in development studies at Mount Kenya University using the falsified credential.

It is reported that he began working with GAWASCO in February 2007 as a billing clerk. On December 1, 2015, he was named the Human Resource and Administration Manager.

Mohamud was appointed Corporate Affairs Manager on March 12, 2020. In August 2022, he was promoted to Acting Managing Director, and in September 2023, he was officially confirmed in that role.

The source claimed that the suspect received salary and benefits of Ksh.12,987,290 during this time, which the commission is currently attempting to recoup.

After being apprehended at his workplace, Mohamud is being detained at the Garissa Police Station until his arraignment on Friday morning.

Rancher Lucy Wambui Jennings of Laikipia, who was shot on Sunday in the Rumuruti area by unidentified intruders, has gone away.

Jennings passed away on Thursday morning at Pope Benedict XIV Hospital in Nyahururu while receiving medical care.

The deceased had been receiving care in the hospital’s intensive care unit, but, according to his brother Njihia Mbugua, things got worse in the early hours of Thursday morning, the day she passed away.

On January 21, when Jennings was on her way to church, the attackers ambushed her. She was shot in the hand and in the back of the skull.

Six people have been detained by police thus far in relation to the incident, but no formal charges have been brought against them.

Benjamin Muhia, the commander of Laikipia West Sub-County Police, stated that investigators are pursuing further suspects and working to recover the gun that was used in the shooting.

An arrest has been made in relation to a 46-year-old male who is suspected of fatally stabbing a woman in Kilae Sub-Location, Narok County.

The National Police Service (NPS) claimed in a statement that the culprit, known as Patrick Mujitwa, killed Sarah, 45, and left her lifeless in a pool of blood.

Numerous deep wounds are reported to have been made on the woman’s head, along with injuries to her belly, right leg, and right hand near the elbow.

“Some of the exhibits recovered from the suspect’s compound include a pair of gumboots, a slasher and a crowbar, all stained with blood,” read part of the statement.

In anticipation of an autopsy, the deceased’s body has been brought to Lolgorian Level IV Hospital.

The suspect will be in police custody until their arraignment in the interim.

The Business Daily newspaper reported on Thursday that the head of Kenya’s public debt management division at the finance ministry intends to resign from his position within the next two months.

Since taking over in 2018, Haron Sirima Bio has played a pivotal role in the East African country’s management of Eurobond issuances.

“My tour of duty has come to an end. I need to give way to young blood. I have a couple of months to go awaiting recruitment of a new director,” the Business Daily quoted Sirima saying.

An advertising is being sent out by the Public Service Commission, which is in charge of hiring civil workers, to find candidates for Sirima’s position.

The debt office was not immediately ready to comment on Sirima’s departure.

Kenya has been dealing with severe liquidity issues as a result of doubts about its capacity to obtain financing from financial markets prior to the June maturity of a $2 billion Eurobond this year.

Earlier this month, the chairman of an IMF delegation to Kenya stated that the organization does not believe Kenya will miss its Eurobond payment.

A German national, Schultz Hannjo, 58, is suspected of defiling his 4-year-old daughter in the Diani area. 

He is said to have fled to the neighboring Mombasa County after the incident. Kwale County police have detained the foreign citizen.

Hannjo was taken into custody and held at the Diani police station.

On Thursday, the accused is scheduled to appear in Kwale Law Courts to face charges related to the child’s sexual abuse.

Thirdway Alliance The leader of the Kenya party, Ekuru Aukot, has claimed that the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), the country’s ruling party, has long since “bought” the opposition, making it incapable of carrying out its mandate.

According to Aukot, the opposition has been an integral part of the government and is deceiving Kenyans by attempting to declare openly their opposition to the government while secretly cooperating with it.

He said that the country no longer had an opposition to hold the government accountable due to the purported agreement.

“I don’t think we have opposition, we have a very compromised opposition. These people are in government in fact the so-called Azimio was bought by UDA a long time ago by UDA as early as February last year,” said Aukot while speaking to Citizen TV on Thursday.

The lawyer contended that the contentious National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report was the outcome of nonpartisan discussions conducted at the Bomas of Kenya.

According to Aukot, the negotiations were merely a ploy to give Kenyans false optimism because they did not address the pressing challenges affecting the country.

MP Titus Lotee of Kacheliba, who switched from opposition to UDA, refuted Auko’s assertions, pointing out that everyone who chose to leave the Azimio la Umoja coalition did so voluntarily.

He claimed that because Azimio had not organized their affairs, they would not be a strong enough force to overthrow the government.

This is happening under the shadow of reported division within the coalition, despite Raila Odinga’s firm declaration that they will continue to fight for Kenya’s sovereignty.

Some coalition leaders, including Eugene Wamalwa of DAP-K and Kalonzo Musyoka of Wiper party, have indicated interest in contesting for the presidency in the general election of 2027.