Kenyan-American Couple Found Dead in their Home in Nyamira.

A Kenyan couple based in America was found dead  in their house on Tuesday in Nyamakoroto village Nyamira County.

The news was a shock to the people of Nyamakoroto village.

The deceased Edward Morema Nyangechi 63, and wife Grace Morema 60, are suspected to have been murdered.

The couple resides in Minnesota USA and were paying a visit to the country.

Edward’s body was found lying  dead near his garage with deep cuts on his head and hand and legs were tied to a binding wire.

Masaba North Deputy Police  Commander Robert Ndambiri confirmed the incident and said the death was a result of excessive bleeding.

According to Robert Ndambiri the deceased were first tortured before being killed.

“It seems the criminals first captured  them,tied their hands thenthen later gagged their mouths so that they could not scream for help.We think they died as a result of excessive bleeding,”Robert Ndambiri said.

A maid and farmer who were working for the couple were arrested for questioning over the death of the couple.

Investigations by detectives and police officers  are underway to establish the murderers so that they can be brought to book for the offence they committed.

 

 

World Celebrates International Water Day.

On March 22,2023  the World celebrates International World Water day with this year’s theme being #acceleratingchangeinwaterandsanitation .

However, this is not the case in Kenya,as most residents have no access to clean water supply.

According to a report published late last year by Water.org,a non-profit organization, with a population of 53 million, about 28 million Kenyans lack access to safe water and 41million lack access to improved sanitation.

Growing water demand and scarcity have turned into a notable challenge in the country.

Billions of people and countless schools, businesses, healthcare centers, farms, and factories are being held back because their human rights to water and sanitation still need to be fulfilled.

Recently, counties in the northern part of the country have been severely affected by drought and famine.

Former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga Appointed as Muslims Rights Group Board Chair

Former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga has been appointed  as the chairman of Muslims for Human Rights (Muhuri) Board.

In  a notice on Wednesday,the lobby group said Mutunga was unanimously elected  its board effective march 2023.

“Muslims for Human Rights Board, Management, Staff, and Partners congratulate Prof. W***y Mutunga (Chief Justice of Kenya from 2011 to 2016) for being unanimously elected to chair the Board of Directors effective March 2023,” the notice reads in part.

 

The notice further said that Dr Mutunga has an immense wealth of experience, especially in civil society and human rights sector.

 

MUHURI said the former CJ brings to the board an immense wealth of experience, especially in the civil society and human rights sectors.

“His impressive track record of defending the constitution and the rule of law will advance MUHURI’s goal of averting impunity and boosting constitutionalism in Kenya,” MUHURI added.

Mutunga served as Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya between 2011 and 2016.

He is in intellectual, reform activist and was the Commonwealth special envoy to Maldives.

 

Senator Susan Nyamu Wants the Minimum Wage Increased to Ksh 22,680.

Nominated senator,Karen Nyamu wants the minimum wage rate increased by 50 percent due to the harsh economic conditions in the country.

“Further aware that there exists a symbiotic relationship between the employer and the employee where both acquire mutual benefits from each other, considering that workers form the largest part of the consumer base for most goods and services produced in any economy,” the Senator says in her Motion.

“Appreciating that in the year 2022 the then government reviewed the minimum wage upwards by 12% thereby making the lowest paid worker earn Ksh.15,120; Recognizing that the government collects huge revenue from employees in form of taxes and other statutory deductions.”

In a motion to be tabled to parliament today,Wednesday March 22,Ms.Nyamu seeks to increase the wage rate to sh 22,680.

The minimum wage rate as of the year 2022 was sh 15,120 according to the yearly data published by National Bureau of Statitstics.

The senator Susan Nyamu stated  that the current minimum wage rate is far too low for survival since the  cost of living is high  in the country thus she seeks to have the wage rate revised.

 

Marburg Virus Kills Five People in Tanzania

A mysterious disease that has been identified as  Marburg haemorrhagic fever has killed five people in Tanzania  a cousin of Ebola, the health ministry said on Tuesday.

“Our public health laboratory results have confirmed that this disease is caused by Marburg virus,” Health Minister Ummy Mwalimu said, urging citizens to remain calm “as the government has managed to control the spread of the disease”.

Three patients are receiving treatment in hospital and 161 contacts are being traced by the authorities, she added.

“There is no need to panic or stop economic activities as Tanzania is not the first. We have all we need to control the infectious disease,” Mwalimu said.

The East African country last week sent a rapid response team to the northwestern region of Kagera which borders Uganda to probe the illness.

The Marburg virus is a highly dangerous microbe which causes severe fever, often accompanied by bleeding and organ failure.

It is part of the so-called filovirus family that also includes Ebola, which has wreaked havoc in several previous outbreaks in Africa.

The UN’s World Health Organization (WHO) applauded Tanzania’s rapid reaction to the outbreak, adding that it stood ready to ensure “there are no gaps in response.”

“I call upon the community members to join hands with the government to make sure that the contacts are identified and those who need care are given at the right time,” WHO country representative Zabulon Yoti said.

 

Raila Odinga Announces Protests to be Held Every Week on Monday and Thursday.

Azimio leader Raila Odinga has announced that the anti-government protests that began on Monday will continue every Monday and Thursday from next week.

Addresing the press on Tuesday at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation in Nairobi, Odinga described the protests held yesterday in Nairobi and other parts across the country as “immensely successful” even as he blamed police for the chaotic and violent scenes witnessed.

The Opposition leader said two people lost their lives during the protests, further assuring support including seeking legal justice for the families of the deceased.

He also claimed that there was an attempt on his life and that of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka by police who allegedly shot at their vehicles.

Another Student from Maseno University Sustains Serious Injuries after Monday Protests.

A  student from Maseno university is undergoing treatment   at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH)  after he was shot following Monday’s protests.

Alex Ochieng, who is the JOOTH administrator says the student was referred to the facility after being shot in the elbow by police.

Ochieng says the 22-year-old  patient will be taken to theatre this afternoon for a surgical procedure to establish whether the bullet was lodged in his body.

The administrator adds that five other patients who suffered deep cut wounds as result of yesterday’s demonstrations, were treated and discharged.

 

Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o Condemns Killing of Maseno University Student.

Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has condemned the killing of a Maseno University student during Monday’s anti-government demonstrations in the lakeside city.

The third-year student identified as William Mayange was shot dead by police during the protests called by the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition.

Police said Mayange was among a group of students who had joined the protests which later turned violent after the protesters invaded a supermarket in Maseno town.

Through a statement, Governor Nyong’o termed the incident unfortunate, saying the police officer was not justified to shoot the literature student.

“It is unfortunate that instead of using tear gas or rubber bullets, the police chose to fire live ammunition at the students. The police should exhibit professionalism and restraint while quelling riots instead of using brutality on unarmed protesters,” he said.

He called for the expedited arrest and prosecution of the “trigger-happy” officer.
Earlier, the county boss condemned what he called acts of hooliganism by a few culprits who sparked chaos during the protest.

In a prior statement, Nyong’o said the protests were peaceful “until a few hooligans whose mission is yet to be established, infiltrated the crowd and started destroying property.”

He said the people in question, posing as opposition supporters, stoned and damaged part of a hotel, a bank, supermarket and a shopping mall in the Kisumu city centre.

“I wish, on behalf of the people of Kisumu, to strongly condemn this cowardly and criminal act. As the Governor of this County I wish to reiterate that we stand for peaceful and orderly picketing with zero attack on individual or public property and investments,” he stated.

Maseno University Student Shot Dead during Azimio’s Protests in Kisumu.

A Third Year student from Maseno University was on Monday shot dead by police during the nationwide anti-government protests by the Azimio coalition in Kisumu’s Maseno area.

According to a police report on the incident, the deceased; William Mayange, was among a group of students who had joined the Azimio protests which later turned violent after the protesters invaded a supermarket in Maseno town.

He was shot in the neck and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Coptic hospital where he had been rushed.

Police say the students overpowered the security officers who had run out of teargas canisters.

As a result, police say the student was shot in the neck after the officers started firing live bullets to repulse the intruders who had allegedly invaded the supermarket.

Six police officers were also injured during the skirmishes where the students had also lit bonfires and barricaded the Kisumu-Busia highway before they began hurling stones at police.

 

South Africa Braces for Nationwide Protests.

South Africa braced for protests on Monday after a left-wing party called for a “national shut-down”, sparking fears of a repeat of unrest that turned deadly two years ago.

Authorities said there would be a heavy police presence to deal with any possible violence, after the third largest party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) urged South Africans to take to the streets and bring the country to a halt.

“The president has instructed law enforcement agencies to ensure that we do not have to see the repeat of those scenes that we saw back in 2021,” President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesman Vincent Magwenya told a press briefing on Sunday.

“The state has a responsibility to ensure that citizens can go on about their day… in a normal way and when doing so, that they are safe and that they are not subjected to any anarchy or any form of violence.

The EFF is demanding Ramaphosa’s resignation over his handling of South Africa’s sickly economy, electricity shortages and stratospheric unemployment.

In a statement on Saturday, the party told would-be protesters their actions “must be militant and radical” but to behave “peacefully” and watch out for “agent provocateurs” attempting to hijack the strike.

“No-one can stop a revolution,” EFF leader Julius Malema told supporters on Friday.

Ports, parliament, border crossings and the Johannesburg stock exchange, among others, will be targeted as key protesting points, Malema has said.