Deputy President William Ruto has told President Uhuru Kenyatta to face him directly and stop hiding behind junior government officers.
In a statement, Ruto urged Uhuru to come out boldly, and stop using junior government officers to attack him over his 2022 presidential bid.
Ruto is said not to be satisfied with how President Kenyatta has been conducting himself since the handshake with ODM Leader Raila Odinga.
And according to Ruto’s statement, Uhuru should come out and reveal his true colors, instead of hiding behind some nonentities.
“Let the Dynasties and Deep State unveil themselves so that we can meet face to face. They should stop involving their officers in this battle. Yes, it is a battle between me, and them,” Ruto avers.
A statement by Deputy President says that President Uhuru Kenyatta has been fighting Ruto using senior government officials to diminish his political ambitions ahead of the 2022 General Elections.
Health promotion advocates have formally solicited the government to uphold the current ban on nicotine pouches and ignore the latest by one manufacturer to allow them back accompanied by a sign. The vow by British American Tobacco, sent to Health CS, Mutahi Kagwe, on September 7, 2021, asks that their nicotine pouches, brand names LYFT or Velo, be allowed back into the market and health warning covering 10 per cent of the packet. ‘The manufacture, distribution and sale of our LYFT product have been temporarily ceased in the market since October 2020. Our resumption of factory operations and sale of LYFT in Kenya hinges on the provision of appropriate health warnings for the product,’ says the letter by BAT’s Managing Director, Crispin Achola.
Achola added that the Cabinet Secretary exercise discretion and direct that oral nicotine pouches such as LYFT (also known as Velo) apply text health warnings in the form and format as shred in this letter and as shown in the pictures in the appendix. The Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance (KETCA), the umbrella organization for all organizations involved in tobacco control and health promotion in Kenya, advised the Health CS to stick to the Kenya Tobacco Control Act and The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control , for outlaws any involvement of the tobacco industry in the formulation of health news.
‘The World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which Kenya has signed and ratified in 2004, also clearly states the industry must not sit on the table where tobacco control laws those drafted. In Kenya, the industry is purporting to draft the laws on behalf of the government. Of course, they draft loophole-ridden legislation and then wait to exploit them,’ said KETCA Chairman Mr Joel Gitali. He added that the tobacco industry has been diversifying into alternative tobacco and nicotine products to grow profits in a rapidly shrinking cigarette market.
The letter by Achola says that nicotine pouches are BAT’s ‘lowest risk’ products. ‘This assessment is based on BAT’s analysis of, among others and emissions, heavy metals as well as cellular analysis across its product portfolio.’ Mr Gitali noted such assertions based on fraudulent science because there is no data to show nicotine pouches are safe or are effective to help quit cigarette smoking. ‘Nicotine pouches come with their risks, including skin irritation, addiction, and gum disease. Nicotine use during adolescence has shown to impact learning, attention span and proneness to addiction,’ Mr Gitali said. He added that Side effects of the use can include irritation of the gums, sore mouth, hiccups, nausea and most importantly, Nicotine increases relapse risk with other tobacco products noting that 10 per cent warning disintegrates when subjected to scrutiny.
Hon Halima Daro aspiring Women Representative, Marsabit County in a past event / PHOTO COURTESY
It’s a political season time and politicians are aligning to get the numbers for the coming 2022 elections. Halima Daro a young, visionary and vibrant leader from the minority group of the Burji Community in Marsabit County, Isiolo Girls alumni with a degree in Human Rights and Law from recognized Universities.
Halima was among the seven contestants during the 2007 elections where she was the only woman contesting for MP seat emerging number 5 out of 8 using the free ticket offered by Chama Cha Mwananchi led by Koigi Wamwere, a ticket given because of the human rights activism standing for the minority groups.
She resigned as the deputy secretary-general of the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) of Mwandawiro Mghanga and joined the ODM caravan in 2013 but didn’t vie for any seat but only to campaign for the Chungwa House party- ODM only to campaign for Honorable Raila Amollo Odinga among the minority groups as she terming it the true house for the sidelined. “Mimi ni mtu wa ODM na hii ndo Nyumba yetu sisi wanyonge” Said Hon Daro . Daro applauding the virtually voter registration growth since 2007 among the Burji Community as the Borana is the majority. The community recommends the marrying of more than 1 wife for the purpose of multiplication of the minority group to achieve the highest population. They’re commonly known as the Kikuyu’s of Marsabit because of the hardworking in improving the economy of the county.
Hon Halima Daro aspiring Women Representative, Marsabit County/ PHOTO COURTESY
The community adversary contributes greatly to the economic growth of Marsabit. Burji are a prayerful people, the society enjoys the hardworking and unity amongst. They grow crops such as Cassava, maize, beans among other medicinal crops such as the Moringa tree which cures several diseases.
Hon Daro held a Team Leader role and she was a key player in The Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission ( TJRC) of Kenya in Marsabit County, a the commission which was established in 2008 not only by liberation struggles but also by ethnic conflicts, semi-despotic regimes, marginalization and political violence, including the coup d’état of 1982, the Shifta War, and the 2007 Post-election violence
She narrates how they went through hardships but to deliver for the people in the marginalized groups. ” Tunabeba maziwa in the process tukiona mtu ako na Shida tunamsaidia, water is a problem in Marsabit” Said Hon Halima.
She urges the Marsabit County government to intervene and help people to get water, people go through hardships to get water for domestic uses by use of Donkeys and she blames the leadership at the county levels. ” Our leaders wanatutesa they don’t understand we people,” Said Hon Halima Daro. However, maintained that leaders to be responsible for handling the current security situations through uniting and coming together and preaching peace as the country is heading the General elections 2022. “ Serikali Ina mkono mrefu, the government engage the community leaders, maskini wanaumia , please come together and promote Peace” Said Hon Daro.
The Burji Community always shows up to assist each other when the need arises. They support each other as they’re entitled to social amenities but has put emphasis on job creations and placements where she feels Hon Raila Odinga as the president he will be able to create the opportunities. Hon Daro, is a member of the National victims and survivors network, Marsabit County Monitor at refugee consortium of Kenya and also served as ODM disciplinary committee and she currently serves a powerful post as a member of the National Executive Council/Committee (NEC) of ODM and Secretary for Special Interest Groups, however, she doesn’t support Upya movement, that was formed by northern Kenya leaders to champion for interests of the region, will now be a political party as she feels the new formation is not all-inclusive.
Hon Halima Daro aspiring Women Representative, Marsabit County/ PHOTO COURTESY
The ODM activist holding a Degree in Human Rights, She’s developed the interest contesting for the Women Representative County government for Marsabit County. Halima Raila as commonly referred to in Marsabit county has extolled the virtues of Raila Odinga and she is the foot soldier of Raila who believes he has the impactful agendas for bringing equality in politics and the youths plans and jobs creations and fighting for the growth of Women and Youths.
Halima Raila, the true Baba supporter has urged the Marsabit residents to note that The Burji girl is now active in politics and she believes that Odinga (Baba) being the president has the people’s agendas in line.
Kenyans are no longer interested in the politics that does not help change their lives for the better, Deputy President William Ruto has said.
He said people had come to the realisation that changing the Constitution was only aimed at creating positions for a few leaders instead of transforming the country.
“As a people, the decision has been made. We are going to build an equal-opportunity society through an economic revolution that is anchored on the bottom-up model,” he said.
In the proposed policy, Dr Ruto explained, millions of jobs would be generated and a conducive business environment created.
However, he noted that many political figures were not happy that Kenya was about to take off.
“There are multiple plans to derail it. But they will not succeed. We are building an indomitable alliance of the ordinary people that will propel this grand dream,” added the Deputy President.
He spoke Thursday when he met religious leaders from Embu County at his Karen residence.
The Deputy President said it was not going to be business as usual in Kenya.
“The poor will no longer be misused by the powerful to go up the political ladder,” he argued.
Dr Ruto insisted that the formation of political alliances will not make Kenya any better.
“It is not the alliance of the mighty but that of the lowly and the jobless that will create a revolution that will change our country.”MPs present during the meeting were Cecily Mbarire (nominated), John Muchiri (Manyatta), Geoffrey King’ang’I (Mbeere South), Eric Muchangi (Runyenjes), Alice Wahome (Kandara), Jayne Kihara (Naivasha), Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira) and Purity Ngirici (Woman Rep., Kirinyaga).
Led by Kiambu Town MP Jude Jomo, Kieni MP Kanini Kega, Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu and Murangá Woman Rep Sabina Chege, the leaders said there is need to replace the current party leaders with fresh, youthful and vibrant leaders who will spearhead a vigorous grassroots campaign.“In this regard, we have agreed to clean our grassroots party leadership by replacing those that have betrayed the course and abandoned the ship with those that are royal to the party and the Party Leader President Uhuru Kenyatta,” They said.
Section of Jubilee Party Members at Windsor Hotel
The MPs under the Central Kenya Jubilee Caucus further resolved that the Party undertakes a grassroots mobilization exercise targeting Nyeri, Murangá, Kirinyaga, Nakuru, Nyandarua, Laikipia and Kiambu Counties and that they open party offices in the 7 Counties immediately.
They have also agreed to cover each ward and constituency in the 7 Counties with Coordinators to consolidate party activities.“We wish to reiterate that the priority of the Jubilee Party is to strengthen, rejuvenate and rebrand itself and the party structures. This will help the Party Leader as he engages other like-minded parties and party leaders to build winning alliances and deliver victory in the 2022 general elections,” They said.
The Caucus said they could no longer ignore recent developments within the party saying it has lost its vibrancy especially after losing recent by-elections in a region it used to enjoy unrivalled support.“Following the Kiambaa by-election, we took time to engage our party members and supporters in the grassroots, to understand their views on the direction of the party ahead of 2022,” They said.
