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.

Two KCSE candidates in police custody after being found in possesion of bhang

A KCSE candidate in an examination room

Two Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam candidates in Lamu county have been arrested after they were allegedly being found with the bhang .

The two from Lamu’s Bujjra Boys Secondary School were forced to write the examination in police cells.

They were arrested alongside a Form Three student after they were found smoking the bhang in the school a few hours before the exam kicked off Tuesday.

The two had to do their English papers at the Lamu Police Station and were expected to be arraigned at the Lamu Law Courts on Tuesday afternoon.

The Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) legal officer in-charge of Lamu County, Andrew Nyachio, however, said his agency was making plans to ensure the students sit their exams within the police cells.

Meanwhile, the KCSE examination started well, with security tightened in all the 19 centres in the entire Lamu County.

Lamu County Commissioner Njenga Miiri said more police officers were posted to all schools especially those located in areas that were mostly affected by the June-July attacks that left over 70 people dead.

Mr Miiri said they will ensure nothing disrupts the exams and that students in the region do the exam in a well-secured environment.

DPP Keriako Tobiko orders two police officers prosecuted over school girl's death

Director of Public Prosecution Keriako Tobiko

Director of public prosecutions Keriako Tobiko has ordered for the prosecution of two police officers over the killing of 14-year-old school girl in Kwale County in August.

In a letter to Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo, Tobiko directed that Inspector Veronicah Gitahi and Constable Issa Mzee with the murder of Kwekwe Mwandaza at the High Court in Mombasa.

A copy of the letter was sent to Assistant DPP in Mombasa Alexander Muteti to ensure sufficient charges are preferred against the suspects.

The girl was shot dead at 2 am on August 21, during an incident in which eight police officers stormed her family’s home at Mwawewu village in Kinango.

The police had raided the home with the aim of arresting her uncle George Zani.

Mr Tobiko gave the orders following separate investigations conducted by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority.

An investigation file by the Directorate, which is the investigations arm of the police, recommended that the matter be referred to “public inquest,” while IPOA said the two officers should be charged with the capital offence.

The DPP upheld the investigation carried out by the civilian oversight body and disregarded the one by the police.

A postmortem conducted before the girl was buried revealed that two bullets shattered the skull.