This archive report was first published on 26 June 2021.
Thika Road Shooting Victim and Family Linked to Armed Robbery ¶
On June 22, 2021, a man was sprayed with bullets while driving along the Thika Super Highway at Gwa Kairu area in Juja. The victim, Daniel Ndutire, had been operating a criminal gang that terrorized businesspeople in Kiambu and Nairobi counties.
According to detectives, Ndutire's gang was linked to a near-fatal shooting of a female trader in Nairobi's Eastleigh area just hours before his death. His wife, Wangari Njoroge, and mother, Wanjiku Ndutire, are facing several robbery with violence charges in court.
Wangari told detectives that her husband had indicated that his life was in danger. The family's alleged involvement in armed robbery has raised questions about the victim's death.
Meanwhile, the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) has faced a new challenge after the Court of Appeal allowed Third Way party chairman Maruru Waweru to table fresh evidence against the initiative.
The Court of Appeal gave Waweru the greenlight to cite the findings of the joint committee of Parliament on BBI, which reported that some sections of the BBI document were unconstitutional.
The Party of National Unity (PNU) has announced plans to challenge the High Court ruling that trashed the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI). The PNU leadership said it particularly wants to clear the name of the outfit after the five-judge bench claimed that party rigged the 2007 presidential election.
Wiper Democratic Movement (WDM) has denied claims that it was approaching Deputy President William Ruto for a possible coalition. Mavoko MP Patrick Makau had alleged that the Kalonzo Musyoka-led outfit was courting new coalition partners after being shortchanged by ODM leader Raila Odinga in the National Super Alliance (Nasa).
ODM party has hinted that it could dismiss aspirants without proper academic qualifications in next year's election. The party chairman John Mbadi said they support the announcement by the electoral agency that those interested in political seats should possess degree certificates from recognized institutions.
Nominated MP Wilson Sossion has resigned as the Secretary-General of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut). An emotional Sossion said he quit due to frustrations from the government and in the interests of Knut's continuity.
A woman in Tetu, Nyeri County, is being investigated after she secretly buried her lover, who died under unclear circumstances. Lucy Muthoni is said to have interred Benjamin Wanjohi at her farm even after she was informed by detectives and his family that an autopsy would be conducted.
The decision by developers of the WhatsApp platform to introduce a new feature so that users can shop and chat with traders has been received with mixed reactions. While e-commerce sellers are happy, some users feel that hackers could take advantage and start accessing private chats.
Covid-19 referrals in the 14 counties that form the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) have been allowed unconditionally. Led by LREB chair and Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, county bosses from the region said they are working together to fight the coronavirus.
Deputy President William Ruto has criticized his boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta, after he declined to appoint six judges who had been forwarded to him by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). Speaking to Ktn News, Dr Ruto said the Head of State should have addressed the matter with JSC instead of publicly shaming the judges.
