State allowed to detain 13 suspects arrested during Masjid Musa raid for one week

A Mombasa court has granted police additional seven days to investigate 13 men arrested during Masjid Musa and Sakina raid two weeks ago.

Principal magistrate Justus Kituku granted the application by prosecutor Paul Makonde who said the ongoing investigations are wide and complex and involves establishing link between  the suspects and Al-Shabaab terrorist outfit.

In his prayers, Mr Makonde asked the court to grant police two more weeks to complete their investigation which they did not conclude within seven other days the court had earlier been them last week.

He expressed that the suspects would be faced with new additional new including being members of Al-Shabaab.

 

The suspects were  last week charged with being in possession of explosives contrary to section 6 (1) of the explosive act cap 115 laws of Kenya.

Five accused persons denied being found in possession of five hand grenades on November 17, 2014 at Musa mosque without the authority from explosive licensing officers.

They include Baraza Riziki Sudi, Abdallah Said Sarahi, Swaleh Pesa Juma, Swaleh Ahmed Swaleh and Swaleh Juma Salim.

Eight others denied being in possesion of three hand grenades on November 17, 2014 at Sakina mosque.

They include Ali Kashmin, Rama Nasoro Makoto,Kazungu David,Bakari Kassim Omar,George Kasongo, Yassir Said Amuor,Ahmed Japhet and Ame Haj Ame.

They were among 158 others arrested during last week police's crackdown within Mombasa County.

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Six former Kenya Navy servicemen sentenced to life impronsonment for disserting job at time of war

The number of former Kenya navy soldiers sentenced to life imprisonment increased Thursday to six a court martial sitting at the Kenya Navy Mtongwe handed similar sentence to a senior private serviceman.

Senior private Alfred Ketole was convicted by a panel of military judges of disserting job at time of war and subsequently handed life sentence.

The panel of officers of the rank of majors and colonel passed the verdict after Judge advocate Elizabeth Usui who is also Kwale principle magistrate summed up the prosecution evidence.

She asked them to determine whether the prosecution case was proven beyond any reasonable doubt, to which the panel approved unanimously and passed the sentence.

Mr Ketole‘s lawyer Michael Mwanyale confirmed the sentence passed days after the same panel sealed the fate of his four other colleagues.

They include Samuel Maingi Malombe, John Mutua Mwewa, Leonard Kighombe and Moses Nyongesa Sumiyu.

Four months ago, lieutenant Jeffery Pepela was sentenced to life imprisonment by another court martial presided over by judge advocate Joyce Gandani who is Mombasa senior principle magistrate.

Mr Pepela has also filed his appeal before the High Court Justice Martin Muya where his lawyers have expressed that he will apply to be released on bond until his appeal is heard and determined.

They were charged of deserting job while in acting service contrary to section 74(a I) as read with section 74(3) (a) (I) of the Kenya Defense Force act 2012.

They were accused of deserting KDF on diverse dates in the year 2007 and joining private America security firms where they were deployed in war torn countries in the Middle East including Iraq, Syrian and Jordan among others.

They were initially charged with deserting KDF contrary to section 74(a I) which ordinary attract two years sentence in jail before the charge sheet was amended.

seventeen charged for breaking curfew order

At least 17 people were charged on Monday before a Lamu county court for allegedly failing to comply with curfew orders imposed by the Inspector General of the National Police Service.

The suspects denied the charges when they were arraigned before acting principle magistrate Johnstone Munguti.

The accused, who included civil servants, were accused of failing to “comply with curfew orders issued to persons residing within Lamu county between 6:30 pm and 6:30 am”.

They were allegedly found at around 22:20 hours on October 26 this year within Mpeketoni town “drinking beer and shouting at Rocky Club in contravention to the curfew orders”. 

The ten men and seven women alleged, through lawyer Ken Njuguna, that they were beaten by police officers who arrested them.

Prosecutor Chief Inspector Caleb Mutonya told the court that the accused committed the offence contrary to section 8(1) of the public order act, chapter 56 of the constitution of Kenya.

The prosecuting counsel further told the court that suspects were found drinking while they were expected to stay indoors in accordance to the curfew orders.

Mr Mutonya also denied claims that the arresting officers assaulted the suspects.

 In his ruling Lamu acting principle magistrate Johnstone Munguti fined each of the accused persons Sh 1000 or in default serve three months in jail.

Mr Munguti directed Lamu West criminal investigation officer to record statements from the accused persons they were torched during interrogation.

Muslim leader angered over closure of mosques

A group of Muslim leaders, civil societies and politicians have called for unconditional and immediately removal of police siege placed around four mosques in Mvita and Kisauni sub-counties of Mombasa County.

They warned the government that it is counterproductive to close Masjid Musa, Sakina, Swafaa and Minaa and violation of the constitutional right to freedom of worship.

They argued that the government should deal with underling issues including problem of radicalization, violent gangs terrorizing residents, drug abuse among other social problems.

The sentiments were delivered by Supreme Council of Kenya Muslim (SUPKEM), Haki Africa and Muslim for Human Rights (MUHURI) organizations, Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir and his Kisauni counterpart Rashid Benzimba.

 Supkem National chairman Prof Abdulghaful El-Busaidy said he did not expect security officers to raid the four mosques clad in their full regalia including boots.

He observed that such action is not only igniting emotions of the entire Muslims community but working in the favour of those with extreme religious views.

The leaders further argued that the raid at the four mosques and their subsequent closure is detrimental to peace and harmony among Kenyans and urged the government to stop raising unnecessary animosity and tension in the coast.

Haki Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid, Mr Nassir and Mr Benzimba said Muslims and political leaders in Mombasa are ready to work with the government deal with insecurity caused by radical youths and violent gangs in estates.

But on the same breath, they asked the government to stop its counterproductive tactics to escalate issues and unconditional open Masjid Musa, Sakina, Swafaa and Minaa.

Six killed in twin botched attacks on an army barrack and AP station

A police officer views bodies of the six killed men

Six armed men were Sunday gunned down and several others injured when a gang of about 20 armed youths attempted to raid the Nyali Army Barracks at dawn.

A similar incident occurred in Malindi when armed men attempted to overrun an Administration Police camp but were overpowered.

The two raids took place at about 5.30am

Circumstances of the daring attacks were scanty but sources indicated that the youths armed conducted the raid under the cover of heavy rainfall.

 
Speaking during a press brief at Uhuru na Kazi Building, the Mombasa County Commissioner Nelson Marwa said in the ‘wee hours’ 20 youths attacked the 17 Kenya Army Rifles Nyali Barracks but were repulsed.

 He said the gang dressed in black trousers resembling track-suit bottoms, black T-shirts and sky blue ribbons around their heads, unsuccessfully attempted to gain entry into the barracks, housing the 17 Kenya Rifles, an infantry battalion.
 
Officers shot dead six and arrested one before recovering knives, pangas and literature.

Marwa warned that the government would take decisive action against anybody planning to cause mayhem in the county.

He dismissed there was casualty from the security officers and  improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were recovered from the gang.   

 

15 boys arrested inside girls’ dorm

NATIONAL

Police are holding 15 male students found sleeping in a girls’ dormitory in Mbeere South, Embu on Friday.

Boys from Embu High School sneaked into St Marys Gachoka, cut off the power and entered into a dorm.

The 11 Form Four and three Form Three students as well as one in Form One arrived in taxis after contacting the girls by mobile phones.

The school’s watchman heard male voices and alerted the principal who called police at 2am.

Local police boss said the boys were taken to hospital to establish of they had had sex.

Muhuri opposes Kimaiyo's directive over 'invasion of a mosque

Khelif Khalifa

A Mombasa based human rights organization has appealed to the government not to close down Masjid Swafaa Mosque allegedly taken over by radical youth since Friday last week.

 

Muslims for Human Rights group Chairman Khelef Khalifa called on the Inspector General David Kimaiyo not to allow the police to interfere with the mosques and places of worship.

 

He advised the government to let the Supreme Council for Kenya Muslims to handle disputes at the mosque.

 

Khelef called on Mr Kimaiyo to directed his officers to arrest and prosecute preachers who advocate for hatred in the society instead of directing them to invade mosques.

 

Addressing journalists, Masjid Swafaa Imam Sheikh Hassan Rashid denied being ejected from the position.

 

He said he resigned from the position and dimmised media reports that he went into hiding fearing for his life.

 

On Thursday, the Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo directed officers to flush out the youth who accused of kicking out the moderate imam.

 

Muhuri Executive Director, Hassan Abdille said the information by the media about the mosque was exaggerated.

 

There was uneasy calm Friday as police patrol vehicles made rounds in Kisauni.

Over 30 body builders expected to take part in this year's Mr Kilifi Body Building Contest

Over 30 body builders are expected to take part in the Mr Kilifi Body Building Contest scheduled to be held at De Coffee Club in Kilifi town on November 15.

 The event organiser Wilson Onyango  confirmed that participants from many parts of Coast region are expected to take part and win the contest.

Onyango said he is organising the contest for the purpose of selecting participants to represent Coat region in the national Mr Gender Warrior Body Building Contest to be held in Mombasa on December 6.

Receiving prizes to be awarded to the winners from Kenya Body Building Supplements company, he asked other well-wishers to come forward and help the event successful.

Categories to be contested involves lightweight, middleweight and heavyweight.

Kenya Body Building Supplements company Managing director, Ahmed Kide said they have given out prizes to attract more people to take keen interest in the sport. 

“We want the sport to be popular in Coast region and other areas throughout the country,” Kide said 

Mombasa Olympic Ladies FC goes on a goal-scoring spree

Mombasa Olympic Ladies FC went on a goal-scoring spree when they whipped the visiting Mt Kenya University team 8-1 during a National Women division one league match at Ziwani Lasco ground in Mombasa on Sunday.

 A form two St John’s Kaloleni student and top scorer Mwanahalima Adam scored a double in the 18 th and 46 th minutes with Veronica Lillian also netting a brace in the 12th and 21st minutes.

Other Olympic goals came from Akinyi Diana in the 17th minute , Mustafa Nuru in the 78th minute, Happy Muta in the 80the minute and Muko Veronica in the 89th minute) scored a goal each with Mt Kenya getting their lone goal in the 41st minute via Lydia Mutuku.

Mt Kenya thus return back to upcountry  with their tail coiled between their legs after going down to Likoni Starlets 1-3  today Sunday at Likoni secondary ground

Meanwhile, Meru based Kenya Methodist University (KEMU)  came from behind to hold Mnarani to a one all draw in the national men division one zone A2 league match played today at Kilifi ground.

Mnarani took the lead in the 18th minute through Idd Kambi but KEMU fought gallantly in the second session to equalise via Ibrahim Hussein.

The results enabled Mnarani to remain tenth in the 15-team zone A2 league standing with 18 points, 39 points below leaders Police.

In other division one matches, Technical University of Mombasa (TUM) bowed down 2-3 to Strathmore University during an ill-tempered match at Strathmore ground ground while Shimo Prison were held to a one-all draw by Limuru VYSA at Limuru ground.

Elsewhere, Brighter Stars failed to show up at Chegoria while the match between Takaye Stars and Yatta Combined was postponed at the eleventh hour

KPA told to increase special allowances to Bandari FC players to boast their morale and win games



David Naftali (left) and Shaaban Kenga (right) in action during Bandari’s premier league match against KCB played at Mombasa County ground. The teams drew 1-1. PHOTO BY GALGALO  BOCHA

Bandari Football Club and its sponsors Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) have been asked to increase  special allowances to players to enable the team win its remaining Tusker premier league matches and avoid relegation. 

Admiral FC technical director, Aref Baghazally said the team’s 1-1 draw results against Western Stima was dismal and asked KPA and the club officials to give out incentives to boast  players morale.

Mr Baghazally said something had to be done for the Coastal side to win their remaining six matches because other two lower teams KCB and City Stars have improved and are increasing their points.

The Admiral tactician added that he was hopeful players will perform better and win matches.

Bandari supporters returned home disappointed when their team registered a one-all draw by Stima in a match played at Mbaraki Sports Club on Saturday.

The fans were overheard saying their team endless one goal draw against Tusker 0-0 and two consecutive barren draw against Sofapaka and City Stars fortnight ago signals danger of the team being relegated to the lower national superleague.

They were worried of the outcome of their team’s mid-week clash against Gor Mahia in Nairobi and the following match away game with Thika United .

However, the coastal based football club is in better position to remain in the top flight league if it wins its remaining home feature against AFC Leopards, KCB, Top Fry and Ulinzi Stars .

US commando who killed Osama Bin Laden to reveal identity

Former Al-Qaeda leader the late Osama bin Laden at an undisclosed place inside Afghanistan. AFP FILE PHOTO

The US Navy Seal commando who fired the shots which killed Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden is to reveal his identity in a Fox News television documentary next month.

In a press release Friday, the network said  it will air reveal the commando's name in the documentary dubbed as "The Man Who Killed Osama Bin Laden" slated to go on air between November 11-12.

 The program would also offer a look at a "secret" ceremony in which the commando donated the shirt he was wearing during the mission to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City, it said.

Fox News television stated that the Navy SEAL "will share his story of training to be a member of America's elite fighting force and explain his involvement in Operation Neptune Spear, the mission that killed Bin Laden,"

The daring nighttime raid on May 2, 2011 saw a team of Navy SEALs in Blackhawk helicopters swooping on Bin Laden's hideout in Abbottabad.
 

There were no casualties among US forces, who killed Bin Laden and four others at the compound.

The operation was ordered by President Barack Obama after the CIA traced Bin Laden's courier to the high-walled compound.

Victor Wanyama voted best EPL African Player of the month of September

Southampton FC midfielder and Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama says the club is going through ‘a great feeling’ after receiving his Premier League African Player of the Month of September in a brief ceremony.

Wanyama was voted EPL African Player of the Month of September for the part he played in Southampton FC’s bright start to the season, which saw them rise to second place in the table, at the time.


The Kenyan star received the award and expressed delight at winning saying it was an honour to find that his modest work was noticed and appreciated by African folk.

Wanyama started October still in good form, returning from the international break to come off the bench and score again in the 8-0 routing of Sunderland.

Wanyama said he is aware that it will be hard for Southampton  to stay third in the EPL table till the end of the season

In a brief response, CEO and Director of New African Soccer Awards, Tunde Adelakun praised the humility of Victor Wanyama and said the sky was the limit for any player who respected his roots and appreciated little things.
 
Adelakun expressed hope that people will collectively continue to support the initiative, because there is nothing better than appreciating and rewarding players, and thus giving them the motivation to even do more in future.

Bayern Munich to extend unbeaten run this weekend

By AFP

Bayern Munich's forward from Netherlands Arjen Robben (back) celebrates after scoring during their Champions League group stage football match against AS Roma on October 21, 2014 at the Olymic stadium in Rome. PHOTO | FILIPPO MONTEFORT |   AFP

Bayern Munich return to Bundesliga business on Sunday in a top-of-the-table clash at Borussia Moenchengladbach with winger Arjen Robben insisting their Champions League record romp at Roma is already history.

Pep Guardiola's Bayern are four points clear of Gladbach ahead of Sunday's clash at Borussia Park and Lucien Favre's side have their work cut out to prevent Bayern claiming a seventh straight win.

The Bavarian giants romped to the biggest European away win in the club's proud history on Tuesday when they hammered Roma 7-1 in the Italian capital with Robben scoring twice.

Gladbach are unbeaten in their eight league games and are one of only four clubs who remain unbeaten in the Bundesliga, including Bayern, Mainz and Hoffenheim.

They have a decent recent record against Bayern with two wins against the Bavarian giants in their last six meetings.

But Guardiola's Bayern claimed a 2-0 win at Borussia Park on their last meeting in January.

Deputy President William Ruto to sue five Coard leaders of linking him to Karen land saga

 Deputy President William Ruto has vowed to sue some of top Cord leaders over allegations made against him in the multibillion-shilling Karen land saga.

Mr Ruto asked five Cord leaders to apologies and retraction their statement that they signed purporting that he is among top Jubilee officials who have benefitted from the Sh8 billion land in Karen, Nairobi.

He asked Machakios senators Johnson Muthama, his Siaya and Kakamega counterparts James Orengo and Bonny Khalwale  respectively to apologies and retracted their statement within seven days.

Others are nominated senator Elizabeth Ongoro and Suna MP Junet Mohamed.

The Cord politicians accused Ruto of abuse of office and being part of the high-ranking Jubilee government officials at the centre of the scandal.

Ruto’s lawyers, Kioko Kilukumi on October 23, 2014 wrote to the leaders individually, stating that they face legal action if they don't recant the remarks.

Kilukumi noted that their remarks suggesting that high-ranking personalities in the Jubilee administration have grabbed a parcel of land in Karen was offensive and defamatory.
 

The lawyer said the statement accused his client of being a beneficiary of yet another mega corruption scandal in which he is said to be one of the “main architects in the monumental and unprecedented land grabbing and accusing him of flagrant gluttony.”

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has already ordered senators James Orengo and Muthama to furnish it with information on the allegations they made regarding the grabbing of the Karen land.

US President 'thoughts and prayers with Ebola patient'

President Barack Obama has spoken with the New York Governor and New York Mayor following news that a doctor has become the first patient in the city to test positive for Ebola.

The President said his "thoughts and prayers" are with the patient and asked to be kept up to date on the case, the White House said.

According to British television station, ITV, Obama also offered extra support to the city should it be needed "to provide the highest standard of patient care, maintain the strictest safety protocols for healthcare workers, and to identify and, as necessary, monitor any contacts of the patient potentially at risk of exposure."

The White House said the president noted the extensive preparations New York City and Bellevue Hospital, where the patient is being treated, had made to prepare for cases of the virus.

They also discussed the deployment of officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who will be deploying further teams in the city.

Why Kenyan teachers are worried with technological advancement

Fear of jobs redundancy among Kenyan teachers has been indentified as a challenge in realization of various goals in $ 400,000 Microsoft Company and other donors’ E-learning programme initiative established at Kenya Institute of Education (KIE).

The Information Communication Technology (ICT) project was aimed to help teachers ease some of challenges they face in their teaching career.

East and Southern Africa Microsoft education programme manager Mark Matunga said several years since digital curriculum development programme was set at KIE, partly over 20,000 teachers have been trained not only on basic ICT skills, but also on ICT integration.

Speaking during Pan-African Innovative Education Forum in Mombasa’ Aga Khan  Academy, Mutunga(left) hinted that United State of America International Development Agency (USAID) and Kenya education ministry is also funding the project where Microsoft was able to subsidize software licenses to all the public schools in Kenya.

Lack of adequate facilities among public schools is also mentioned as hindrance to promotion of E-learning in the county where school managers give great priorities to improving physically structures.

The government is also challenged to develop policies that will favour development of e-learning is schools as lever of teaching and teaching in the county public schools.

The Microsoft East and Southern Africa education programme manager noted that the problem is to be blamed for return of Sh 1.3 billion allocated towards development of ICT programme in school back to treasury last year.

Microsoft Academic and citizenship manager in Africa Ntutule Tshenye said the company has a long way to go in developing soft ware to ensure learners with disability are accommodated in ICT learning programme.

 He said the company will in future target development of soft ware that would enable visual impaired students take lessons through voice recognition recorded data.  

Mr Tsenye further noted that the company has paid great attention in developing windows and offices from English to various Africa languages.

The move is aimed at providing E-learning education services developed in CD’s through the use of computers and as well enable students enroll for distance learning programme.

He said the fear is mainly dominated in schools in the countryside where dozen of computer laboratories are locked and the gadgets wrapped up in dusty rooms.

Mr Mutunga said the noble project is aimed at transforming education in the 21st century through eLearning without compromising its quality.

Teachers through the digital contents programme would easy organize their better especially in lessons planning and scheme of work drafting and further save the work for future reference.

They were also to utilize the programme to advance academically by enrolling in institution of high learning offering E-learning education courses across the globe.  

Microsoft also partnered with Kenya Institute of Education (KIE) to develop Digital Content that is mapped onto to the Kenyan National Curriculum but only 40,000 teachers have opened emails with KIE to access its contents.

A telecom firm unveils Sh 8.5 billion worth fibre optic project for Lamu port

A telecommunication firm intends to invest Sh 8.5 billion into laying fibre optic network along the Lamu Port-Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor (LAPSSET) routes.

Liquid Telecom Group chief commercial officer Paul Statham said the project is still at proposal stage.

Mr Statham added that once approved by the relevant authorities, the project will see free Wi-Fi and other wireless distributed along the LAPSETT corridor from Lamu to Turkana.

Speaking in Lamu during a consultative meeting with Lamu county executive members over a similar proposal for the county, Mr Statham said the project will enable countries spearheading LAPSETT project to also attain technological advancement through reliable, high-speed, cost-effective voice and data services for investments and economical growth.

 Liquid Telecom Group  Business Development manager William Oungo(Left), Lamu county deputy governor Eric Mugo(center) and  Liquid Telecom Group chief commercial officer Paul Statham(Right) during a consultative meeting at KPA hall on possibility to start $ 2 miillion fibre optic network project in Lamu county.Photo GALGALO BOCHA

Mr Statham said in Kenya, counties such as Lamu, Garissa, Isiolo and Turkana among others will benefit heavily once the fibre optic network will operational.

The firm’s Business Development manager William Oungo added that they have shared the idea with LAPPSETT authority adding that they are hopefully that the concept will be endorsed before the commencement of the Lamu port.

Liquid Telecom Group chief commercial officer added that already through its Kenya based subsidiary, Kenya Liquid Telecom, they have allocated $50 million towards similar projects in all 47 counties.

 He said they have already completed building Sh 175 million data connectivity project in Siaya County that will help the underdeveloped area  spur in technological advancement and investments.

He said the firm has also helped Nakuru County to reignite its failed free Wi-Fi project around 20 kilometre radius at a tune of $ 2 million which he said will be re-launched this month.

Mr Statham said to avert vandalism of fibre optic cables for internet use, fibre towers will be built closer to the population settlements and link them to Wi-Fi nodes to help population have access to free internet connectivity to increase mobile phone connectivity in such areas.

He said fibre optic network has turned to be the latest necessities required both by local and international investors after security, water, power and road network.

Liquid Telecom Group has invested $20 million (Ksh1.75 billion) which has seen the installation of 17,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi, the largest of its kind in Africa.