KBC Channel 1

Author: Maxwell Wasike

  • Sonko lauded for reforming the life of Congestina Achieng

    Sonko lauded for reforming the life of Congestina Achieng

    Former Nairobi County Governor Mike Sonko has continued to receive overwhelming backing from Kenyans over his initiative to change the lifestyle of former legendary boxer Congestina Achieng who accomplished her rehabilitation program at the Mombasa Women Empowerment Network Hospital in Miritini. 

    In a series of tweets and posts on social media platforms, the local sporting stakeholders and politicians across the devide lauded Sonko for his bold step that has seen the 45 year-old secure full recovery after suffering from mental illness since 2011 having been diagnosed with Schizoaffective disorder.

    “My brother Mike Sonko ,what you have done to my sister Conje is historical .You are a great human being” wrote Alego Usonga MP Sam Atandi.

    His words were echoed by the Secretary General of Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) Stephen Mutoro.

    “Mike Sonko transformation of Conjestina Achieng should offer real hope to all people out there hurting. They must put on the ‘half-full’ cap – believing in themselves. Path of possibilities. Same as trusting President William Ruto on #BudgetKE2023 turning around the not-so-good Kenyan economy into a Singapore of Africa.Transformation is about turnarounds.Hongera Sonko” noted Mutoro

    Lawyer,Governance expert and Gender activist Phannie Kwegah on her part wrote-Sonko deserves an applause for bringing Conjestina back to life. Her skin has a glow and that’s a smile we never knew it would return given the hopelessness she was in before Sonko rescued her.She was sinking deep in to oblivion.But here she is, back.I pray for her total healing.I hope, we meet people who take chances on us and give us that second shot at life.

    On June 11,the flamboyant politician sponsored a boxing fight in an event that brought together the former Boxing champion nicknamed “Hands of Stone” and the World Boxing Council (WBC) super bantamweight champion Fatuma Zarika in Mombasa.

    “Conje’s story is one of a fighter’s spirit that refuses to be extinguished. Despite facing personal challenges and setbacks in life, she has emerged back stronger and more determined than before. Throughout her rehabilitation journey, Conjestina has shown incredible strength, both physically and mentally. Her unwavering commitment to better herself has inspired alot of youths that were almost giving up in life” he said.

    She became the first African to clinch an international title as the middleweight champion in the Women’s International Boxing Federation (WIBF),an achievement that made her dominate media space, with her promoters trying to slot in interviews and endorsements in her busy schedule for companies that fought to have her as a brand

    “She loved her thing. Boxing was her passion, and she was one of the most dedicated people I have worked with.In the ring, she was brutal, fast and calculating. Her opponents feared her blow, with some bowing out before end of matches. The wins were many, punctuated by camera clicks and curious boxers who wondered how she does it,” says her former coach Julius Odhiambo, reminiscing about Conjestina’s past glory.

    Conje as she’s commonly known is the gym instructor and head security at Salama Bling Beach resort, Kanamai and together with her family, they have agreed that she will live and work at the Coast, with supervised visits to her home in Siaya

  • Harambee Sand Starlets secure a place to the World Beach Games

    Harambee Sand Starlets secure a place to the World Beach Games

    Kenya’s women football team has earned a direct qualification to the World Beach Games in Bali, Indonesia, after they were handed a walkover against their only opponents at the Africa Beach Games, Cape Verde.

    The West Africans pulled out of the competition in Hammamet, Tunisia, in the eleventh hour, with Kenya having already arrived.

    A letter from the World Beach Soccer Competitions Department to the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) confirmed that Kenya will fly Africa’s flag in Bali.

    The team has now chosen to use the time in Hammamet to step up their training, with a new focus of playing against the best in the world.

    Head coach Fathimi Hamisi says she is delighted that the team has earned a ticket to the World Championships for the first time ever, and says they will immediately embark on good preparation, with under a month before the games which kick off on August 2.

    “We had been training in Malindi for the last 10 days and we were very well prepared for this competition. We had come ready to show that we are a good team as well. We have a walkover but for us, we were ready to play and show our abilities,” said the tactician.

    She added; “Of course we are really delighted to have qualified for the World Beach Games because this is a massive opportunity. We will not rest and immediately, we are going back to training and ensuring that we have a very strong team.”

    The team of 10 arrived in Hammamet on Tuesday afternoon and held their first training session early Wednesday morning. The tactician says they will look to strengthen the team in areas of attack and will look for a few additions back home.

    Meanwhile, captain Terry Ouko, a former captain of the Harambee Starlets, says the team is delighted to be playing at the World Games.

    “We have a very good team with some players who were at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2016 and that means it is an experienced side. We are delighted to be playing at the World Games and we have to prepare well. It will be a good opportunity for us,” noted the skipper.

  • Explaining the Sevens Circuit draw and points system

    Explaining the Sevens Circuit draw and points system

    The National Sevens Circuit returns from 1st July with the season opener taking place in Kisumu.

    The Division 1 competition comprises 16 teams comprising 12 top teams based on ranking from a previous tournament.

    For the first tournament of the season, in this case, the Dala 7s, the 12 teams have been determined by last season’s standings.

    Additionally, the overall winner of last season’s Division 2 competition and three invitational teams determined by the host club (in this case, Kisumu) in consultation with KRU complete the line up in Kisumu.

    As the circuit progresses, it is the top 12 teams based on ranking from a previous tournament as well as the division two winners and three invitational sides who feature at the subsequent rounds.

    The 13th 14th 15th and 16th placed team at the completion of each round are relegated to Division Two while the winning team from the Division Two Circuit Qualifying Tournament is promoted to the Division One of the upcoming tournament and seeded 13th.

  • Kipchoge seeking an Olympic marathon treble

    Kipchoge seeking an Olympic marathon treble

    The double Olympic Marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge will be hoping to write history and win his third consecutive crown next year during the Paris Olympics two months after his disappointing performance at the Boston Marathon where he finished distant sixth

    The world record holder regarded as the greatest marathon runner of all time has set himself many challenges in his dazzling career, and remains insatiable despite his two Olympic titles, his world record of 2:01:09 in Berlin in 2022 and an incredible 15 wins in 18 marathons he has entered.

    He broke the mythical two-hour barrier over the 26.2 mile (42.195 kilometre) distance in Vienna in 2019, with a time of 1:59:40, but the feat was not recognised as an official world record as it was not in open competition.

    Victory has eluded the 38-year-old in the Boston and New York marathons, which if he won would make him the first man to have all six major titles under his belt.

    “The priority now is to focus on the Olympics and win a third time. The other (challenges) will come later,” Kipchoge says in an interview with AFP at the renowned Kaptagat training camp in Kenya’s Rift Valley.

    His two Olympic marathon gold medals in 2016 and 2021 put him at level pegging with Ethiopia’s Abebe Bikila (1960, 1964) and Waldemar Cierpinski of East Germany (1976, 1980).

    A third gold at the Paris Olympics in 2024 would make Kipchoge the undisputed marathon giant at the Games, and bring him a victory steeped in symbolism.

    The French capital was the city where he won his first international crown in 2003 at the age of 18, clinching the 5,000 metres world championship title ahead of sporting legends Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco and Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele.

    However, Kipchoge does not rule out giving up on his other goals.

    “If time comes in to hang the racing shoes, I will say bye to other big things in sport.”

    Sitting on a shaded bench in the Kaptagat camp where he has lived and trained for several months a year for 20 years, Kipchoge looks back on his poor showing in Boston on April 17, where he dropped from the lead group in the 30th kilometre.

    This rare failure dampened his spirits.

    “I’m trying to forget what has happened in Boston. It’s caught in my mind… but I believe that what has passed has passed.”

    With his lifelong coach Patrick Sang, he has analysed the reasons for his disappointing performance, saying “it’s mostly the hamstring”.

    He brushes aside concerns about his difficulties on hilly courses such as Boston and New York and which will also confront him in Paris.

    “It is not really a concern, but I respect everybody’s thoughts,” he says. “I think it was a bad day and every day is a different day. I’m looking forward for next year.

    “Everybody can write anything, you have no control. But I know myself.”

    Kipchoge is now preparing for his final marathon of the year.

    “I’m doing well. My training is going on in a good way,” he says.

  • Chimera:Senate has been vindicated after throwing out Oduol Impeachment

    Chimera:Senate has been vindicated after throwing out Oduol Impeachment

    Nominated Senator Raphael Chimera has lauded the Senate for throwing out the Impeachment of Siaya County Deputy Governor William Oduol after surviving the removal from office,in a process which had been initiated by the area Members of County Assembly a few weeks ago.

    Chimera, the youthful and vibrant lawmaker was part of the 11-member panel chaired by Elgeyo Marakwet Senator William Kisang which had found Oduol guilty of gross violation of the constitution; and abuse of office and gross misconduct.

    “We did our very best and God did the rest.Being part of the team to probe Impeachment hearing was an amazing feeling.For once Senate has pronounced itself on what it means to protect Devolution. We need to have a conversation on the Office of Deputy Governor. Governors have been descrating on their Deputies. That is now in the past” he said

    The special committee found that the charge against the Deputy Governor on Gross Violation of the Constitution and other Laws, on the allegation of Interference with the Procurement Process through Acts of Bid- Rigging was substantiated.

    The deputy governor was also found culpable on the charge of Abuse of Office and Gross Misconduct on the allegation of Misleading the Public by Giving False Information.

    However, this decision was overturned by the Senate during the Monday plenary sitting that saw twenty-seven Senators vote against the two grounds while 16 Senators, majorly from the Azimio side, approved the earlier verdict to remove Oduol from office. 

    “The net effect of this vote is that pursuant to Article 181 of the Constitution, Section 33(8) of the County Government Act and Standing Order 87 of the Senate Standing Orders, the Senate has failed to remove from office by impeachment William Oduol, the Deputy Governor of Siaya County.”

    “The Deputy Governor accordingly continues to hold office,” ruled Senate Speaker Amason Kingi.

  • Ogier will savour the ‘exhausting’ Safari Rally victory

    Ogier will savour the ‘exhausting’ Safari Rally victory

    Victory at last week’s Safari Rally Kenya has left a lasting impression on Sébastien Ogier, with the Frenchman hinting the result ranks highly among his 58 FIA World Rally Championship event triumphs.

    Idyllic landscapes and Africa’s captivating wildlife provided the ultimate backdrop to some of the most spectacular scenes in Safari Rally history as Ogier overcame obstacle after obstacle to head a 1-2-3-4 finish for Toyota Gazoo Racing.

    Tyre dramas, a missing tailgate and an overheating engine were just some of the challenges faced by the eight-time world champion, who now drives part-time for the Japanese marque, en route to his second Safari win.

    It was, in Ogier’s own words, “one hell of a weekend”, but one which he took extra pleasure from by beating such odds.

    “It was a proper Safari Rally,” he confirmed, “and I think the show was great, and that is what people want to see. We had the capacity to push and make some difference when we wanted, but also every day we were hit by a couple of issues.

    “I am going to enjoy this one and it will take a bit of time to let it sink in because all of the elements I had to fight during this rally made it very exhausting, but it is also in adversity that you enjoy the wins the most. This one I will for sure count as good one and a well-deserved one, so I am a very happy man today.”

    Ogier admitted that his biggest scare came in the rally’s penultimate stage when an unavoidable section of thick fesh-fesh sand pushed the temperatures of all four Toyota cars to alarming heights, subjecting the GR Yaris’ engines to the ultimate test of endurance and reliability.

    “With this fesh-fesh section honestly there is not much you can do, you have to go through,” he recounted. “And then we started to have this massive overheating problem with still a long way to go in the stage.

  • CS Owalo briefed on the preparation of KECOSO Games

    CS Owalo briefed on the preparation of KECOSO Games

    The Cabinet Secretary for the ministry of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy Eliud Owalo was on Monday briefed on the upcoming 42nd edition of Kenya Communications Sports Organisation (KECOSO) Games scheduled for August 19 to 26 in Narok County.

    Owalo in his capacity as one of the patrons of KECOSO in a meeting with event organisers at his office reiterated his commitment of supporting the success of the annual event which so far attracted a number of teams seeking to take part across various sporting disciplines.

    ”I have this morning had a meeting with the KECOSO Governing Council where we discussed the preparations for the 2023 KECOSO Games that will be held from 19th to 26th August, 2023 in Narok County.The games will bring together MDAs from Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, Ministry of Tranaport and Roads, and Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts.” he posted on his Twitter handle.

    According to KECOSO’s national committee led by its secretary general Omole Asiko,it is all systems go for the tournament which has so far attracted more than 12 teams from the communications, transport and infrastructure ministries alongside parastatals.

    ”We had a fruitful engagement with CS Owalo while keeping him informed on the progress of preparations so far as well just introduction of our members to him since he is one of our patrons besides CS Kipchummba Murkomen and CS Ababu Namwamba.He promised to support our activities in line with government agenda of promoting development of the games in the Country.Preparations are in top gear and I can authoritatively say that the progress is impressive. This year’s contest will be extremely tight because several teams have confirmed to take part in various disciplines ” remarked the veteran broadcaster

    Teams will fight for titles in basketball, football, netball, volleyball, snooker, scrabble, pool, table tennis and athletics with more than 1,000 players expected to take part.

    Nakuru county will host golf on August 5 because of unavailability of golf courses in Narok

    Last year’s overall winner in Kericho was Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) while Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) won the 40th edition which was held in Kisii County in 2019 after accumulating 157 points to clinch the overall title.

    Narok which beat Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, and Meru to win the bid to host the annual games was settled on based on several parameters including hotel capacity to host officials and participants, and security and safety arrangements.

    “We look forward to welcoming our member organizations, sponsors, participants, officials and guests to Narok for this year’s edition of the games,” added Asiko.

    The objectives of the games include promoting sports activities within member organizations; promoting closer relationships and business interaction, and creating awareness of the services and products rendered.

    Other objectives include promoting peaceful co-existence and national unity through sports.

    KECOSO was founded in 1978 and brings together government agencies under the ministries of Roads and Transport, Information, Communications and Digital Economy and Sports.

  • Tobacco and Miraa are the major gateways to drug abuse in Kenya

    Tobacco and Miraa are the major gateways to drug abuse in Kenya

    By Joel Gitali

    The introduction of Shisha, oral nicotine pouches, e-cigarettes and other novel products has worsened the situation, globally, and specifically in Kenya.

    The government of Kenya has been reluctant in implementing and enforcing tobacco control policies, including the WHO- Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and the Protocol on Elimination of Illicit Tobacco Trade across the border.

    Oral nicotine pouches are now all over the country, unregulated. They are flavoured to attract the youth and children. The government is sort of in slumberland as children of Kenya sink into addiction.

    Leaders have continued to feign ignorance for political expedience as miraa continues to destroy thousands of lives.

    Together with alcohol, these seemingly legal substances open doors to thousands, if not millions of our youth into the world of drug abuse.

    Our porous borders, corruption, impunity and laxity of those in authority are to blame. Some of these goods enter thru our ports and other legal routes manned by our own officers. We need action.

    It’s disheartening to learn that addictive and harmful products such as tobacco/ oral nicotine pouches and alcohol have not been touched in this year’s budget. This is insensitivity on the part of the government. There should be a proper plan of implementing / enforcing our policies and being alert to avert pandemics.

    We can’t be talking of problems of mental health and a host of NCDs that can be prevented as we promote behaviour that leads to the same. If we do not deal with tobacco, miraa, oral nicotine pouches, e-cigarettes, alcohol and cannabis, our fight against drug abuse and illegal trafficking will remain rhetorical. Speeches by those Co NJ concerned will not cure the problem. Action will.

    The author is the Chairman of Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance (KETCA)

  • Gor Mahia crowned 2022/23 KPL Champions

    Gor Mahia crowned 2022/23 KPL Champions

    Record local champions Gor Mahia have been crowned the winners of 2022/23 Kenya Premier League after coming from behind to beat Nairobi City Stars 4-1 to lift their 20th title at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on Sunday.

    In what has been a hotly contested battle between K’Ogalo and defending Champions Tusker, Jonathan McKinstry needed a win to secure the title which was handed over to them by Football Kenya Federation President Nick Mwendwa, Chief Executive Officer Barry Otieno alongside ICT and Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo.

    The Brewers on the other thrashed the relegated Vihiga Bullets by 4-0 at Mumias Sports Complex.The convincing win however couldn’t help them defend the title as they finished on 69 points to settle for second place,a point behind Gor.

    Tusker coach Robert Matano praised his charges for an impressive campaign throughout the season despite losing the silverware by one point a drift after a series of draws which he believes costed his side’s title defence.

    “We slept when we lost points against Wazito FC and Posta Rangers, that’s when we lost the league, but all is not lost we are now going to focus on the league cup finals against Kakamega Homeboyz.” he said.

    Kenya Police FC striker Elvis Rupia who scored in his side’s 2-2 draw with KCB at the Utalii Grounds won the League Golden Boot by a record 27 goals breaking the long standing record of Maurice Ochieng Sonyi who scored 26 goals for Gor Mahia in 1976.

    The former Nzoia Sugar forward surpassed his closest opponent in K’Ogalo firebrand attacker Benson Omala who managed 26 goals having dominated the scoring chart for the better part of the season.

    By the virtue of Gor Mahia’s top flight triumph, the team under the patronage of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga who awarded them Kshs 1.5 million will represent the country in 2023/24 CAF Champions League.

    Tusker will shift focus to the Mozzart Bet Cup scheduled for July 1 against Kakamega Homeboyz in a clash which will see the winner play in next season’s CAF Confederations Cup

  • MCA Kamaru wants culprits of drunk driving to serve in mortuaries

    MCA Kamaru wants culprits of drunk driving to serve in mortuaries

    Kahawa West Member of County Assembly (MCA) Clement Ng’ang’a Kamaru has tabled a motion at the County Assembly of Nairobi proposing to have culprits of drunk driving work in mortuaries.

    According to the ward representative, if adopted, the move will deter reckless driving and violation of traffic rules and supplement ongoing  efforts meant to address the challenge posed by driving under the influence (DUI).

    “Deeply concerned that despite the existing statutory provisions, regulations, and mitigations on road safety towards the deterrence of drunk driving, road carnage as a result of same remains on the rise in the County and Country at large, covering 32% of all the reported road accidents, with such cases recorded on late nights in the weekends; acknowledging the need for a multi-agency approach towards the deterrence of drunk driving by the introduction of community service for the offenders as a way of changing of attitude and bring awareness of the imminent risk of loss of life associated with such unlawful and unethical act,” the motion reads.

    Those found guilty of driving while intoxicated will be deployed at a mortuary for community service, under a Community Service Order, according to the proposal titled; “Introduction of a Community Service for all Drink and Drive Conviction at the County Mortuary facilities for Deterrence,”.

    Drunk drivers have been blamed for the many accidents that have been recorded , not just in the city, but across the country.

    If the proposal is passed, an offender will be required to clean and carry out any other administrative duties in the morgue for a full day, under the supervision of the chief administrator of the mortuary where they will be deployed, as part of community service.

    The motion, which appear to have the support of a substantial number of MCAs, will need collaboration between the national and county governments, and the Judiciary for its full implementation if approved.

    The laws that govern road conduct are enshrined in the Traffic Act which provides for punishment of offences committed by motorists .

    The Act recommends that any driver found guilty of drunk driving is liable to offences ranging from hefty fines to suspension of driving licenses for 12 months.