On November 22, 2018, President Uhuru Kenyatta sharpened his criticism of Cabinet Secretaries, even as Joseph Irungu, known as Jowie, moved to have High Court Judge Justice Wakiaga step aside from his murder case. The day’s headlines also tracked abortion, KCPE performance in Githurai and stalled demolitions in Nairobi.
Uhuru’s public anger at his Cabinet ¶
President Uhuru Kenyatta has been showing clear frustration with his Cabinet, according to insiders who say the irritation has been building inside meetings for some time. What made the matter stand out this week was his decision to say it openly in public rather than keep the criticism behind closed doors.
He accused Cabinet Secretaries of having an “unquenchable appetite for money” and of demanding billions to complete what he described as a simple project. The remarks pointed to a leadership team the President appears to trust less than a year after forming it, although he has not moved to reshuffle it.
Jowie challenges Justice Wakiaga in murder trial ¶
Joseph Irungu, alias Jowie, has accused the judge handling his case of being influenced by social media and wants him disqualified from the trial. Jowie is charged alongside his fiancée, TV journalist Jacque Maribe.
The application follows remarks in which the judge reportedly referred to him as a “woman eater,” a comment Jowie says shows a lack of independence. He argues that he cannot get justice before the same judge.
The two are accused of killing Monica Nyawira Kimani in Nairobi on September 19.
Hard realities behind the abortion debate ¶
Another report focused on the grim conditions surrounding abortion access and the moral arguments that continue to divide the country. The story opened with a young girl in a dark, worn room waiting for help from a woman she had been told could assist her.
The scene described a dilapidated hospital bed in the corner and a setting that underscored the desperation many women face when seeking care. It framed the debate not as an abstract political fight, but as a matter shaped by fear, secrecy and unsafe conditions.
Githurai school beats the odds in KCPE ¶
Clanne Academy in Githurai, Kiambu County, posted strong results despite being located in an area known as Kona Mbaya, where illegal chang’aa dens and crime are common concerns. The school sits at the centre of three notorious dens.
More than half of the 44 candidates who sat the KCPE at the school scored above 350 marks. The performance stood out because of the difficult environment around the institution.
Demolitions stall over lack of money ¶
The multiagency team carrying out demolitions of illegal buildings says it has run out of cash and cannot continue the crackdown it began in August. The operation was supervised by the Nairobi Regeneration Task Force.
The exercise targeted structures on riparian land and road reserves before stopping in September. The team says it hopes to resume next year if funding is provided.
Other headlines from the day ¶
Elsewhere, MPs continued to oppose the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2018, which seeks to increase women’s representation in Parliament, including in the National Assembly and Senate. The opposition was also visible on the floor of the House the previous evening.
For readers following the archive, these were among the stories shaping the morning news cycle in Kenya on November 22, 2018.
