President Ruto Strikes Key Deals With Angola President João Lourenço

President William Ruto on January 8, agreed to work with Angola President João Lourenço to boost relations between the two countries. Kenya’s head of state flew to Luanda on Tuesday evening after attending the inauguration ceremony of President John Mahama in Accra Ghana. Among those who accompanied the President were Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Governors Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga) and Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Mandera Senator Ali Roba and Kinangop MP Kwenya Thuku. One of the biggest deals made was the resumption of direct flights from Nairobi to Luanda, starting January 2025 in a move that will mark a significant milestone in deepening economic ties between Kenya and Angola. The two Presidents also resulted in a resolution to ease travel restrictions, with Angola set to waive visa requirements for Kenyans. Kenya had earlier extended a similar gesture to Angolans. According to Ruto, the move will significantly improve access for Kenyan professionals, particularly teachers, to job opportunities in Angola. “We welcome Angola’s decision to work with Kenya in facilitating the resumption of Kenya Airways’ direct flights to Luanda from March. Coupled with the reciprocal waiver of visa requirements for Kenyans, this will strengthen bilateral ties and expand opportunities for enhanced cooperation and mutual benefits,” Ruto said in a statement. The two heads of state also discussed the need for a meeting between the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) to address the DR Congo conflict, which has displaced more than 100,000 people in less than a week.

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KRA goes after Morara Kebaso over tax returns on 186 million earned

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The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is investigating political activist Morara Kebaso for allegedly failing to file tax returns on Sh 186 million earned by his businesses. The taxman claims that Morara Kebaso’s businesses have failed to file tax returns on Sh 186 million generated in sales over the past three years. KRA’s analysis shows that Morara has three bank accounts, two registered to a real estate and furniture business, respectively, and one registered to him. The two businesses are said to have been receiving payments via paybill. The analysis moreover shows that the businesses raked in Ksh 9.5 million in 2022, another Ksh 31.9 million in 2023, and Ksh 144.9 million in 2024, adding up to Ksh 186.3 million over the last three years. “The trade credits were compared with income tax turnover declared in the income tax returns, to which it was noted that you are a non-filer, to determine undeclared income turnover. It was noted that you are not registered for Value Added Tax (VAT),” KRA told the activist. It is further alleged that the activist owes the taxman Ksh 27 million. To arrive at that figure, KRA notes that Morara’s businesses have VAT due of Ksh 25.7 million. Morara additionally owes another Ksh1.37 million coming from his income tax. KRA also lists records from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) indicating that Kebaso has four cars, a tuktuk and a motorcycle. Till now the activist has not publicly commented on the issue. Morara gained popularity last year when he began making trips to various government projects that have stalled and his activism resonated with Kenyans, who started sponsoring him to make trips to expose the government.

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KEMRI announces an increase in the price of DNA testing services

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The Kenya Medical Research Institute has recently announced an increase in the price of DNA testing services for 2025. In a statement on January 8, KEMRI disclosed that the price would increase by Ksh7,000 to retail at Ksh 27,000. “We wish to inform our valued customers of a marginal price adjustment for the DNA Testing Service from Ksh20,000 to Ksh 27,000 starting this January 2025,” the statement read. The KEMRI Human DNA Identification Laboratory (HID) offers DNA Testing services in the areas of paternity and family relationship testing, a service that has become popular in recent times. services that are offered are both to private clients and those referred by the courts, especially in family cases involving child support payments. Notably, in 2023, DNA home test kits costing Ksh600 hit the Kenyan market sparking a debate on how accurate and safe they were. The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) even cautioned Kenyans against using them, stating that they had not been authorised to be sold in Kenya.

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IG Kanja and DCI Boss Amin Mohamed to face jail time if they fail to appear in court for the next hearing

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The Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, and the Director of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Mohamed Amin, will face jail time if they fail to appear in court for the next hearing. The two bosses failed to appear before the court on January 8 to respond to questions regarding the abduction of seven people in a case filed by the Law Society of Kenya among others. While delivering the ruling, Justice Bahati Mwamuye summoned the two for the next hearing, warning that they would be sent to jail if they did not attend. The hearing has been set for January 27. “If the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, misses the third hearing, I will have no option but to cite, convict, and sentence him on the spot,” ordered Justice Mwamuye. The judge further directed that if the DCI boss doesn’t appear, he will be convicted on the spot. He will, however, be invited for a mitigation and sentencing hearing. According to the judge, the ruling is out of character, as ordinarily, he would have ruled on IG Kanja’s absence from the second hearing. However, he chose to extend the grace period to the two in the interest of locating the one abductee who remains at large. Kanja and Amin were last month ordered by Justice Diana Kavedza to produce six suspects who were abducted in December 2024. The orders required that the victims be produced before the court on December 31, 2024, but this did not happen. Therefore, Justice Bahati Mwamuye directed that they attend court in person today to show cause why they should not be cited for contempt for failing to comply with the orders. The two failed to appear, with Kanja’s counsel requesting the court to grant them 14 days to provide answers.

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High Court Finds Former IG Koome Criminally Responsible After Police Harmed Doctors

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The High Court has ruled that the former Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome should be held personally responsible for certain orders that he issued while serving as Kenya’s police boss. According to Justice Ngaah Jairus of Nairobi Court, Koome erred in his directives to police on how to deal with protestors during his reign and that he should be held responsible. ”As to whether the respondent can be held criminally responsible for the acts of officers under his command in violently disrupting KMPDU (Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union) members’ peaceful assembly, demonstration or picketing or other forms of expression consistent with the exercise of their rights under articles 36, 37 and 41 of the Constitution as result of which Dr. Devji Atelu was injured, the answer is in the affirmative.The respondent could, and can properly be subjected to a criminal trial for the acts or omissions of the officers under his command if those acts or omissions fit the description of offences as defined in law,” Justice Ngaah ruled. In his ruling, Justice Ngaah has moreover emphasised that the Constitution unequivocally vests all command and responsibility powers in the Inspector General as an individual, making them directly accountable for any orders they issue. The ruling comes after the human rights groups moved to court to file a petition to subject Koome over unlawful conduct where he ordered police officers in April last year to deal with striking doctors ‘firmly and decisively.’ After which KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atelah was seriously injured while leading industrial protests by the doctors at that time. Human rights groups then immediately piled pressure on the then IG to come clean on the intention of his orders, as to whether they were intended to harm the SG or not.

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Outrage As St. Anne’s Girls Secondary Closes Gates, Locking Students Out At Night Over Fees Balance

Government Dismisses Alleged Outbreak of Human Metapneumovirus

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The government, through the Ministry of Health, has dismissed reports of an alleged outbreak of a flu-like illness caused by the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in Kenya. According to Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa, the HMPV is not a new virus and it is yet to be documented as a respiratory illness in the country. CS Barasa also added that despite its absence in Kenya, the national public health surveillance system remains on high alert to contain any potential cases. “We are happy to confirm that currently, there is no reported increase in the expected number of patients presenting with respiratory symptoms in our health facilities,” the CS assured Kenyans. The Ministry of Health has however called on Kenyans to remain vigilant and continue observing public health practices such as maintaining hand hygiene. Kenyans were also urged to practise respiratory etiquette as promoted through the Epuka Uchafu, Afya Nyumbani initiative. The clarification follows online reports highlighting an outbreak of the Metapneumovirus, a flu-like illness, in China in recent weeks. The virus, which has been likened to the Coronavirus, has sparked fears worldwide, particularly among individuals suffering from respiratory diseases. Photos and videos of people wearing masks in the streets of China have been circulating all over the social media, raising eyebrows with many expressing concerns over its possible spread to other countries.

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Clinical Officers To Launch Nationwide Strike On January 19

University Students Threaten to Protest Over Abductions and Salary Delays

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University student leaders have warned the government about a new wave of protests they will organise across Kenyan universities over the increasing cases of abductions and salary delays among lecturers. Student leaders have accused the government for failing to act on the increasing instances of abductions targeting Kenyan youth. According to the leaders, the protests will begin on January 15, when universities re-open. ”Revolution is the voice of the unheard, revolution is the voice of the majority silenced and pressed. We are announcing that immediately the comrades of the universities resume, including the lecturers and staffers, we are going to stage demonstrations in the republic of Kenya.” The leaders further noted that it is unfortunate that the government has done little to crack down on the instances of abductions, subjecting many families to untold suffering and pain. They moreover announced that they would seek to compel the government during their protests to pay all the pending salary arrears of university staff. The leaders concluded by urging all university students across the country to come out in their numbers and paralyse key business activities, in a bid to send their message to the concerned authorities.

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