KBC Channel 1

Author: Nicholas Kigondu

  • Swimming expedition turns fatal for two minors in West Pokot

    Swimming expedition turns fatal for two minors in West Pokot

    A dark cloud hangs over Kamito village in West Pokot County following the death of two minors who lost their lives during a botched swimming expedition.

    Isaac Ruto and Elias Rotich, both aged ten years and grade three pupils at Kodongou Primary school, met their deaths while swimming at river Kwilitei on Wednesday evening.

    According to Isaac Ruto’s grandmother Jane Opata, her grandchild had arrived from school, changed his uniform, and took lunch before going out to play with his peers.

    Opata would later receive the shocking news that her grandson had drowned.

    Efforts to resuscitate the two children at the Kapenguria County Referral Hospital were unsuccessful as they were pronounced dead.

    She appealed to both the County and National governments to assist area residents by drilling boreholes saying the current drought and above normal temperatures has forced children to go to the river to swim and might result in further accidents.

    Lilian Lokwapang, a neighbour and a resident appealed to both County and National governments to make access to safe drinking water possible adding that river Kwillitei has claimed the lives of four children over the years.

    The bodies of the two young boys, who were close friends, were transferred to Kapenguria referral Hospital Mortuary.

     

     

     

  • Man who forged certificates to secure TVET job arraigned

    Man who forged certificates to secure TVET job arraigned

    A man accused of forging academic and professional certificates to secure a job was Thursday arraigned before an Eldoret court.

    Joash Kimurgor Kirwa, who was wanted for the offence of forgery of academic certificates, was nabbed on Wednesday at Waitaluk location within Trans Nzoia County.

    Investigations that resulted in his arrest revealed that the suspect forged a Moi University degree certificate as well as academic transcripts which he used to secure employment with the Ministry of Education State Department for Technical and Vocational Education and Training.

    He denied five counts of forgery and was released on a 200,000 shillings cash bail, with the mention for pre-trial scheduled for February 26, 2024.

    The ongoing crackdown to smoke out Kenyans holding fake academic certificates comes in the wake of the Public Service Commission handing over a report bearing 1,280 cases of forged certificates from 91 public institutions and 787 from ministries, state department and agencies to the DCI and EACC for action.

    The development coming amid concern over increased cases of cheating and fake qualifications with a number of Kenyans securing jobs without the requisite qualifications.

  • Police cautions taxi operators over surge in violent robberies

    Police cautions taxi operators over surge in violent robberies

    Police have issued an advisory over a surge of violent robberies targeting taxi drivers.

    According to the advisory, criminal gangs have in recent weeks been hiring taxi services only to turn against the drivers.

    “The DCI cautions taxi operators to be wary of an ongoing trend by criminal syndicates that are hiring taxi services for either long distances or trips with several pickup points while guised as cash-rich customers, only to turn violent robbers along the way.” Says the police.

    According to police investigations, a member of a well-organized criminal ring often identifies a target that they deem vulnerable to a good deal of money out of the ordered trip, and whose car suits their need.

    “The “customer” negotiates with the taxi driver on the charges for the trip, and while on the way communicates with one or more accomplices who will be conveniently waiting along the route. With promises of an extra inconvenience fee for the stop, the driver goes ahead to let onboard new passengers.” Reads the advisory.

    On some occasions, the accomplices lie in wait at the drop off point with the route or destinations picked having secluded areas, where the gangs turn against the drivers, robs them off their vehicles and at times murder them in cold blood.

    In one of the latest scenarios reported at Kikopey Police Post within Gilgil, Nakuru County on January 14, 2024, a 42-year-old male taxi operator in Nairobi CBD was hired by a customer to drive him to Nakuru using his motor vehicle. Once in Naivasha, the customer requested that they pick his two friends at Karagita area before setting off towards Nakuru.

    A short moment into the final stretch of the journey, the passengers turned against the male driver, robbed him of his vehicle before dumping him at Diatomite area in Gilgil.

    Once the incident was reported to police, a team of detectives from DCI Headquarters was deployed to launch a manhunt for the suspects, two of whom were traced to Bungoma County.

    39-year-old Francis Ojerepata Omoindi and Jack Odhiambo Otieno aged 38 were both arrested, and the vehicle recovered, before being handed over to DCI Gilgil for further police action.

    In their possession were seven sim cards, five national ID cards and two driving licences. Their case is ongoing at the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Naivasha as pursuit for other accomplices continue.

    Police are now urging taxi operators to be vigilant and report any suspicion of danger to the police through the various police hotlines.

  • Wanyonyi to headline WABA bout against America’s Kamron

    Wanyonyi to headline WABA bout against America’s Kamron

    Kenya’s super middleweight champion Daniel Wanyonyi is poised to face USA’s Kamron Humphrey in an eight-round World Alliance Boxing Association [WABA] fight, scheduled for March 16th at Kinoru Stadium, Meru County.

    In a duel dubbed ‘Shujaa Wa Mashujaa’, Wanyonyi will be looking to replicate the performance against Tanzania’s Karim Madonga, where all the judges scored the match in his favor, earning him a unanimous decision.

    Wanyonyi, who has a massive following among boxing fans around the country, will be hoping the support and home advantage plays into his favor.

    Two-time Commonwealth Games champion Lee McAllister of the United Kingdom will also grace the tournament as the former International Boxing Organization light-welterweight champion takes on Amos Mwamkula of Tanzania.

    The fights are meant to act as a charity tournament to raise funds for the Greenland School for girls in Meru, which is offering teenage mothers a second chance in education.

    Kenya Professional Boxing Commission president Reuben Ndolo is expected to grace the event, with reports that the next boxing championships will be staged at Malindi, for the first time.

                                            Fight card

    1. Exhibition: Chris Byrd [US] vs Harry Simon [Namibia]
    2. WABA Title: Lee McAllister [UK] vs Amos Mwamkula [TZ]
    3. WABA Title: Daniel Wanyonyi [Kenya] vs Kamron Humphrey [US]
    4. Non-Title: Harry Simon Junior [Namibia] vs Paul Peers [UK]
    5. Women’s WABA Title: Charity Mukami [Kenya] vs Leila Macho [Tanzania]
    6. National Title: Martin Achebi [Kenya] vs John Oloo
    7. Non-Title: Taiwo Abolafi [US] vs Kamala Ntege [US]

     

     

     

     

     

  • Multiple world record holder Henry Rono passes on

    Multiple world record holder Henry Rono passes on

    Former multiple world record holder Henry Rono has passed on.

    Rono, who had been receiving treatment at the Nairobi South Hospital, was pronounced dead at 10.30 am on Thursday in yet another blow for the Athletics fraternity, days after the tragic death of World marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum.

    Kiptum succumbed to his injuries following a grisly road accident alongside his Rwandese coach Gervais Hakizimana.

    In an announcement made by Athletics Kenya, the legendary athlete is said to have died after a short illness.

    Rono represented Kenya at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada where he bagged gold in the men’s 3,000 metres steeplechase and the 5,000 metres race.

    In only 81 days, he broke four world records; the 10,000 metres where he clocked 27:22.5, the 5,000 metres in 13:08.4, the 3,000 metres  steeplechase with a time of 8:05.4 and the 3,000 metres in 7:32.1, an achievement unrivaled  in the history of distance running.

    He lowered the 10,000 record by almost eight seconds, the 5000 by 4.5, the steeplechase by 2.6, and the 3000 by three seconds.

    He improved the 5,000 metres world record in 1981 in Norway, where he clocked 13:06.20.

    He also won gold at the All Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria, winning in the 3000 metres steeplechase and 10,000 metres events respectively.

    Rono was aged 72 at the time of his demise.

  • We must be intentional and deliberate, President Ruto

    We must be intentional and deliberate, President Ruto

    President William Ruto Thursday took a swipe at those opposed to his administration’s plan to export labor for Kenyan youth describing them as regressive.

    Speaking during the commissioning of the Ithanga water project in Murang’a County, the president said his administration remains committed to provide opportunities for jobless young Kenyans.

    The president saying his administration has already signed pacts with several countries including Germany, France and the United States of America to offer employment opportunities for Kenyans.

    “I have already assented to the NCDF Act that will see ICT hubs constructed in every ward across the country with the government having already entered into partnerships with multinational tech companies that will offer digital jobs for the Kenyan youth.” Said the President.

    He urged Kenyans and the political class to support the government’s radical plans intent on taking Kenya to the next level of development.

    “If we continue playing reggae, Kenya will not develop. You see we played these games and we almost got suffocated by debts,” observed the president.

    He said the government is spending 600 billion shillings annually to fund the education sector, and it will only be prudent to ensure there are opportunities for those completing their studies.

    “It would be irresponsible for us to spend such amount of resources to educate our children, yet we don’t have a plan for them when they get out of school,” said the president.

    The president taking the chance to seek the support of MPs in endorsing the Affordable Housing Bill 2023 that is before the National Assembly saying the government want 300,000 young people to be engaged constructively in the government housing programme by the end of the year with about 130,000 people currently engaged in the project.

    “And then you hear some people intent on stopping the programme, are those people serious? They want the 130,000 young people already engaged in the programme to lose their jobs and idle on the streets?” posed the president.

    He said the government has also put in place elaborate mechanisms to make the country food secure through increased investment in mechanization and the agricultural financial corporation to enable farmers access affordable credit as well as reducing the cost for a bag of fertilizer from about seven thousand shillings to the current 2,500 shillings.

    According to Ruto, there was need for the country to reduce overreliance on rain-fed agriculture and increase acreage on irrigation.

    He said the next phase of the Ithanga water project will see about 100,000 households within Gatanga constituency access clean and safe water by end of September with those in the neighboring Masinga and Yatta constituencies also set to benefit.

    This even as he urged the local community to make use of the water to increase food production as part of ongoing efforts to make the country food secure.

    The president at the same time reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensure all Kenyans access quality healthcare saying the roll out of the Universal Health Coverage remains a top priority.

    “From next month, the government intends to implement the government’s health plan that seeks to ensure that every Kenyan has access to quality and affordable healthcare with the government taking care of the cost of indigents in line with the new Health laws.” Said the President.

  • Two arrested in Bomet over sim swap fraud

    Two arrested in Bomet over sim swap fraud

    Police are holding two suspects in connection with robbery and sim-swap fraud in Bomet and its environs.

    31 year-old Kevin Kiplangat aka Elvis  and Evan Kiprotich Chirchir aka Protio, aged 22 years, were arrested in Mulot and Chepalungu areas of Bomet respectively.

    The two, who are said to be members of an armed gang that has been terrorizing residents of Bomet, Kericho and Nakuru County, were arrested in an ongoing operation to weed out the criminal syndicate.

    According to detectives handling the matter, the ongoing operation is spearheaded by detectives from DCI Headquarters, following numerous complaints of sim swap fraud by known gang members, most of whom have ongoing court cases across the country.

    The two suspects  have been booked at Litein Police Station pending identification parade and arraignment at the Kericho Law Courts for a violent robbery reported at the station on December 29, 2023.

    After arraignment for the charge, police say the suspects will be processed by other stations where electronic fraud cases implicating them have been reported.

  • Huduma Kenya partners with Mombasa Cement in Kibarani

    Huduma Kenya partners with Mombasa Cement in Kibarani

    Huduma Kenya has extended its partnership with Mombasa Cement with the launch of a 21-day Huduma Mashinani programme targeting 15,000 people in Kibarani, Changamwe Sub-County.

    Last year, in December, during the inaugural eight–day Huduma Mashinani at the Kibarani Miracle Park, 5800 people accessed various services that were paid for by the cement firm.  The overwhelming response necessitated the rollout of phase two of the initiative.

    Huduma Centre Mombasa Assistant Manager Harrison Yogo said the overwhelming response from Kenyans seeking Identity card (IDs) replacement, Birth Certificate, HELB, NSSF, NHIF and Police Clearance Certificates in the first phase necessitated them to extend the programme in Kibarani.

    “Up to now, we have already served 584 people, we are continuing to attend to more people. The number keeps increasing. Most of the services sought are ID replacement, Birth Certificates, Good Conduct, NSSF and NHIF,” said Yogo.

    He added some of the documents sought are a requirement for job-seekers as most employers demand them before they hire.

    “Mombasa Cement is paying for all the services here; all the services are free including the food. Each service offered here the company has partnered with us and they are making all those payments,” stated Yego.

    He further urged other organizations to partner with Huduma Centers across the country to enable Kenyans access government services.

    Mombasa Cement Miracle Park feeding program manager Gulam Salim, said the company is catering for all the payments of the services for the people who will be attending the 21 days second phase of Huduma Mashinani Services.

    Fernando Bett, who hails from Rift Valley, travelled to the Coastal city to look for employment but the stumbling block was lack of a Good Conduct.

    “I heard about the programme from a friend, I have been served, we usually pay 1,050 shillings to acquire a Good Conduct but because of harsh economic times getting that money is a challenge,” said Bett.

    Mercy Nekesa, was over the moon after her fingerprints were taken, she is confident that with Good Conduct, she will be able to get employed.

     

  • Correctional Services PS reiterate commitment to ongoing reforms

    Correctional Services PS reiterate commitment to ongoing reforms

    Correctional Services Principal Secretary Salome Beacco says her department is prioritizing mental health and wellness of prison staff as part of ongoing reforms targeting correctional institutions.

    According to Beacco, the well-being of those tasked with reforming inmates has been placed at the forefront of the department’s commitments.

    “In our pursuit of effective service delivery, the emphasis on mental health becomes paramount. I’ve urged our officers to prioritize self-care and emphasized the importance of mental health training for heightened awareness among our dedicated staff.” Said the PS.

    Beacco says embracing financial discipline, proper resource management, ensuring the well-being of families as well as seeking support when needed and fostering a holistic environment are some of the factors that can positively impact mental health.

    According to the PS, the department remains committed to address the challenges affecting personnel and inmates saying the welfare of both staff and inmates stands as a key priority with every human being entitled to live with dignity.

    This even as she urged officers to support those in charge, fostering a culture of teamwork, commitment and hard work.

    “Together, we can realize the shared vision of effective service delivery and contribute to the overarching objectives of the State Department for Correctional Services,” she observed.

  • Murder suspect Kevin Kang’ethe re-arrested

    Murder suspect Kevin Kang’ethe re-arrested

    Police have arrested Kevin Kang’ethe, a man wanted by US authorities over the murder of his girlfriend, following a five-day manhunt.

    The 40-year old suspect was arrested on Tuesday evening in his hideout in Embulbul, Kajiado County by officers drawn from the special operations unit of the police.

    He had been on the run since his dramatic escape from Muthaiga police station where he was being held pending a ruling on whether he should be extradited to the United States to face murder charges in connection with the murder of Margaret Mbitu.

    A Nairobi court had approved a police application for him to be detained for 30 days while the extradition issue was heard.

    Kang’ethe, who was arrested January 30th,  is the prime suspect in the murder of Mbitu who was killed in Massachusetts United States on October 31, 2023.

    Before his capture, police had interrogated several people including his brother, cousin and girlfriend as well as some of the police officers who were at the station at the time of his escape, as they pieced together intelligence reports over the suspect’s possible whereabouts.