Author: Lorren Aliwa

The political climate in Kenya continues to heat up as Ernest Nyerere, Chief of Staff to Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo, was arrested under mysterious circumstances early Tuesday morning. According to Odhiambo, Nyerere was taken from his residence at 5 a.m. by individuals believed to be police officers, adding to the mounting number of Kenyans reportedly detained during the ongoing anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests. LSK President Faith Odhiambo addressed journalists, decrying the surge in abductions and pledging to uncover the identities of those responsible. “Over the last 72 hours, Kenya has been drawn back to the dark…

Six individuals implicated in the murder of former Juja MP George Thuo have been handed down a 15-year prison sentence each by Justice Roselyn Korir. The sentencing, which took place today at the Thika High Court, marks the conclusion of a long-running legal saga that began with Thuo’s tragic death in 2013. In her ruling, Justice Korir emphasized that the sentence would be calculated from April 19 of this year, the date on which the convicts were found guilty. The court considered various factors, including victim impact statements, mitigating circumstances presented by the defendants, and a pre-sentencing report recommending a…

During Tuesday’s parliamentary proceedings, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula issued a two-hour ultimatum demanding immediate disclosure of the status of Gabriel Oguda, a policy analyst working in the Minority leader’s office, who was reportedly abducted in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi recounted receiving a distressing call at 2:30 a.m. from Oguda, who claimed that police officers were forcibly entering his house. According to Wandayi, subsequent efforts to mobilize legal assistance were thwarted as his phone calls were jammed. I was unable to make or receive phone calls until 6:30 a.m. They broke into his compound,…

In a significant move backed by the United Nations, 400 Kenyan police officers departed from Nairobi on Monday night to join a multinational mission aimed at tackling gang violence in Haiti. The deployment, announced by Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki, is part of Kenya’s commitment to send 1,000 police officers to stabilize the troubled Caribbean nation, despite facing legal opposition at home. The officers, drawn from elite units including the Rapid Deployment Unit, General Service Unit, Administration Police, and the Kenya Police, left aboard a Kenya Airways flight at 10:50 pm (1950 GMT), bound for the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. This initial…

A man named John Kiarie has found himself at the center of a bizarre case of mistaken identity, resulting in the receipt of over Sh96,000 from well-meaning but misinformed Kenyans. The confusion arose after a public apology from Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie concerning his stance on the Finance Bill 2024. The MP’s phone number, along with those of other Members of Parliament, was leaked online, leading to a flood of calls, messages, and unintended financial transfers to another John Kiarie who is not a member of parliament. The mistaken recipient, who bears the same name as the MP, sought…

The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUN) announced on Monday that it will provide free medical care to all demonstrators injured during the ongoing protests against the Finance Bill 2024. The union’s Secretary General, Seth Panyako, emphasized that this initiative is in line with Kenyan law, which guarantees every citizen the right to medical care. “We hereby request our members to join other health workers and volunteers to provide first aid to our citizens in the event of injuries during the peaceful demonstrations,” Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has issued a set of guidelines for protesters, stating that…

Prominent activists Boniface Mwangi, Hanifa Adan, and Hussein Khalif were released on Monday afternoon after a tense morning at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters. They had been detained earlier in the day over their alleged involvement in the ongoing protests against the Finance Bill 2024. The trio reported to the DCI to record statements regarding recent abductions and their links to the anti-Finance Bill demonstrations. Their lawyer, Stephen Mbugua, stated that they were told to leave while in the middle of recording their statements, and no specific reasons were given for their detention. Mbugua expressed concern about the…

Kenya is witnessing a wave of abductions as police intensify their crackdown on activists and protesters opposing the contentious Finance Bill 2024. The arrests have sparked outrage among citizens and human rights groups, with widespread condemnation of what is seen as a return to dark, oppressive tactics. Gabriel Oguda, a prominent social commentator and critic of President William Ruto’s administration, was reportedly abducted from his home early Tuesday morning. His brother, Zachary Oguda, confirmed the incident in a tweet at 2:53 a.m., stating, “I can confirm that my brother has been taken by unknown gunmen from his house 5 minutes…

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has issued a plea for witnesses to come forward with any information that could assist in the investigation of the fatal shooting of Rex Kanyike Masai, 29, during anti-Finance Bill protests on June 20. Masai tragically lost his life when gunfire erupted during demonstrations in Nairobi. In a statement posted on their official channels, IPOA urged the public to provide witness accounts to help bring closure to Masai’s family and friends, emphasizing the importance of accountability in policing. “IPOA appeals for witness accounts for anyone who may have witnessed the fatal shooting of Rex…

Retired Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, alongside a team of prominent activists, spearheaded a significant protest on Monday against the controversial Finance Bill 2024. The group, including notable figures like Boniface Mwangi and Hussein Khalid, Executive Director of Haki Africa, presented a petition at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters on Kiambu Road, highlighting alleged abductions targeting peaceful protesters. Arriving at Mazingira House, the DCI’s headquarters, Mutunga declared, “Abductions are unconstitutional,” as he addressed the press. The area was under tight security, with police enforcing a perimeter and barring people from approaching within 200 meters of the main gate. Boniface…