Hello and welcome to this edition of The Roundup.
We start by reviewing the latest developments in the Azimio la Umoja Coalition where leaders have been torn between two choices; “boarding” and “not boarding” the dialogue ship.
Drama unfolded during a planned press briefing on Wednesday when a group of rowdy youth stormed the venue forcing Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka to cut short his speech.
How it Started
Azimio Parties had convened a parliamentary group meeting to discuss matters including the coalition’s stance on the upcoming national dialogue.
ODM Leader Raila Odinga was among the leaders present at the meeting expected to end with a resolve on whether the coalition would engage in the dialogue.
He, however, left the venue at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation earlier to attend a meeting described as “urgent”.
According to reports, Kalonzo was designated to read Azimio’s resolve on the dialogue.
But as soon as he rose to the podium, unidentified individuals attempted to disrupt him with jeers in the background forcing him to plead for silence.
He eventually managed to quell the noise and started reading the speech in full glare of the press cameras.
The meeting, however, ended abruptly when goons stormed the venue and ordered everyone out.
Journalists, too, were not spared with reports indicating that several of them were roughed up.
The incident came against the background of divisions among leaders, where some principals have vowed to shun calls for a dialogue despite Raila’s endorsement.
In a subsequent statement on Friday, Kalonzo declared that “should any of our members opt to join the proposed Kenya Kwanza led broad based government of national unity we shall not be party to that decision”.
“They will be joining in their individual capacity and not on behalf of Azimio Coalition,” he added.
What Next for Gen Z
Meanwhile, the youth movement under the Gen Z banner sustained pressure against the government as a majority vowed to reject calls for dialogue.
On Tuesday, hundreds showed up in Nairobi CBD, among other towns, to protest against police brutality and extra-judicial killings.
Their plans to hold a meaningful assembly were, however, thwarted as police used teargas to disperse any semblance of a gathering in the city.
A subsequent assembly dubbed “Occupy Uhuru Park” scheduled for Thursday also failed to take off as police were deployed at the venue.
An earlier directive by the Police banning protests until further notice could also have played part in the failed assembly call.
EPRA Sets Fuel Prices for July 15 to August 14 Cycle
In the world of business, it was a relief for Kenyans as the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) reduced fuel prices for the July and August Cycle.
In its monthly review report, EPRA set the maximum price of Super Petrol per liter at Ksh 188.84 in Nairobi.
The price of one liter of Diesel was reduced to Ksh 171.60 in Nairobi while a liter of Kerosene will retail at a maximum price of Ksh 161.75.
The new prices reflect a decrease by KSh 1.00, KSh 1.50, and KSh 1.30 for Super Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene prices respectively.
Leaders Cope with New Reality
Politicians have had to cope with a new order where churches have been discouraged from allowing them to address congregations.
A light moment ensued during the funeral service of Bishop Allan Kiuna of the Jubilee Christian Church when the Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua stated that politicians would not be allowed to speak.
In his speech, the DP cracked up mourners when he proclaimed that leaders present at the venue “would not be able to speak” and went on to only mention their names.
“There are new challenges. Where we are all going to church now our leaders are not being allowed to say anything,” he said as the congregation burst into laughter.
The moment followed a series of other occasions where leaders have been denied chance of speaking as part of the campaign by Gen Z s aimed at deplatforming politicians in churches.
Several church functions and fundraisers have also been canceled since the Gen Z movement commenced.
More Boots in Haiti
Days after the first 200 Kenyan police officers arrived in Haiti for the UN mission, a second batch of 200 officers arrived in Port au Prince on Tuesday, July 16.
Photos taken at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in the Haitian capital showed the officers donning the General Service Unit (GSU) combat as they disembarked from the plane.
On Thursday, reports emerged that the Kenyan police in collaboration with Haitian Police had managed to recapture a port in Port-au-Prince that had been under the control of gangs for months.
The takeover took place on Wednesday after a fierce gun battle between the police and the gang that had seized control of the Port since March 2024.
Their arrival of the 200 more officers signaled another milestone in the mission at a time the transition government was calling for deployment of more officers.
Already, the first batch of 200 officers had started patrolling the streets of Haiti in their armored vehicles and rifles.
Tragedy strikes Judiciary again
On a sad note now, Justice Daniel Ogembo was confirmed dead on Wednesday. Justice Ogembo was until his death the presiding judge at the Siaya High Court and had served in various capacities within the Judiciary.
Justice Ogembo joined the Judiciary as a Magistrate in 2004 and was subsequently appointed Judge of the High Court in 2016. According to a police report, Ogembo was dropped at his home on Tuesday by his driver after work.
Upon arriving to pick him on Wednesday morning, the driver found his door locked from inside with no response coming forth.
His calls also went unanswered prompting the driver to alert colleagues and subsequently the police who found him dead in his house.
Judicial officers who have passed on since May;
Justice David Majanja- passed on after undergoing a surgery at the Nairobi Hospital on July 10.
Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti who was shot in an open court session at the Makadara Law Courts in June.
Also Big This Week
- SRC announced the planned salary reviews for all public officers would be halted in line with austerity measures adopted after the fall of the Finance Bill 2024.
- President William Ruto appointed Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi as the acting CS in all ministries while officially gazetting the dismissal of former holders.
- Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka requested the Senate Committee on Transport to disclose details of the alleged leasing of the JKIA to an Indian firm. His demand followed questions over the deal reportedly shrouded in secrecy.
- DCI arrested Jumaisi Khalusha, a man named as the prime suspect in the Mukuru killings that preceded discovery of bodies in Kware.
- Still in the Kware bodies saga, DCI also arrested two other suspects in an operation that started with the discovery of a man caught with a victim’s phone.
- President Paul Kagame won the Rwandan elections with 99.15% of the votes to secure his fourth term that will see him extend his over 24 years rule in the East African country.
- Former US President Donald Trump named Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate in the American elections slated for November this year. His decision followed an incident where a shooter fired shots towards him during a rally in Pennsylvania.
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