Press Review; Here is what is making headlines

Waluke lodges appeal claiming court relied on hearsay

Sirisia MP John Waluke has lodged an appeal against his 32-year jail sentence accusing the High Court of relying on hearsay.

Waluke and co-convict Grace Wakhungu are charged with defrauding the public of KES 313 million.

The two have also asked to be released on bail while the Court of Appeal decides their case, claiming that there are exceptional circumstances that justify their release.

The two claimed that High Court judge Esther Maina disregarded their evidence, which demonstrated that they had not stolen any public funds.

“The judge erred by failing to subject the evidence on record to a fresh and exhaustive re-evaluation, analysis, and re-assessment to draw her own conclusion. She only relied on what the prosecution had told her and disregarded all our evidence,” said lawyer Duncan Okubasu.

At the same time, Azimio leader Raila Odinga on Monday called for the release of Sirisia legislator on bond, as well as demanding that the case be dismissed.

He argued that Kenya Kwanza leaders who were facing court cases have been given a chance to vacate their charges and that Azimio leaders should be given the same opportunity.

Boy with jembe in head lost fight after 14 hours says mother

A grief-stricken Judith Muthoni, the mother to baby Travis Maina who lost his life at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) last month with a fork jembe lodged in his head, narrated her 24-hour ordeal before her baby breathed his last to the Senate Health Committee Monday, October 31.

Appearing before the committee chairman Jackson Mandago and four other senators, she described how her son battled through the countless minutes and hours that looked like forever before he could be wheeled to the theatre room, leaving her depressed for 14 hours.

Between her and her child’s life was KES 20,000. Her two-year-old son’s story might have been different if she had been able to raise the necessary funds.

Muthoni, however, had used the KES 1,650 she had borrowed to pay KES 1,260 for admission. They arrived at KNH at 6.30 pm but weren’t attended to until the baby was taken to the theatre at 1 p.m. the following day.

Mandago, speaking during a sitting at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi Monday, said they will meet with the management of KNH and Thika Level Five Hospital next week to shed more light on what led to the baby’s death.

Tough times as inflation hits a 5-year high of 9.6 per cent

High prices for food, transportation, and household goods have driven up inflation in the country to a 5.4-year high of 9.6%, underscoring the suffering households continue to experience as the cost of living rises.

According to the most recent data on commodity prices from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), consumers continue to bear the largest burden from food, with its 12-month inflation rising from 15.5 percent in September to 15.8 percent in October.

Irish potatoes, sugar, beans, and Sukuma Wiki prices all increased significantly in October, worsening the nation’s food inflation.

According to KNBS, between September and October, the average price for a kilo of potatoes increased from KES 80.69 to KES 90.78, while the price for a kilo of sugar increased by KES 16.6 to hit KES 154.95, a 12% increase.

Sukuma Wiki increased from KES 57.93 to KES 60.13, while the cost of a kilo of beans increased by 7.5% to KES 161.13.

High Court bars KQ pilot strike

The Labour Court Monday, October 31, granted the orders to temporarily halt a planned pilot strike that threatened to paralyse Kenya Airways operations and derail its recovery from effects of travel restrictions that followed the Covid-19 pandemic.

KQ on Friday, October 28, sought court orders to stop the strike, citing the risk of paying hefty fines for cancellation of flights, cash flow strain, and revenue losses.

The strike was scheduled to begin today with the board failing to meet pilots’ demands for the resignation of the board and CEO as well as the reinstatement of their pension.

On Monday, KQ Chairman Michael Joseph rejected repeated requests for him and airline CEO Allan Kilavuka to leave the struggling airliner.

Joseph, who received a new three-year term as chairman in July, informed the carrier’s employees via memo that their resignation was unjustified.

He added that the carrier was working on peace talks with the Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA), despite insisting the carrier cannot meet the flyers’ demands.

Sports

Klopp says Liverpool will wither the storm

As he brushed aside claims that his team is deteriorating, Jurgen Klopp said that managing Liverpool is about more than just “when the sun is shining.”

The Reds, who have already advanced to the Champions League knockout stages, will host Napoli on Tuesday.

They’ve had trouble in the Premier League, though, and are currently ranked ninth after winning just four of their first 12 games.

“It’s not a quick fix but we will not stop fighting,” Klopp said.

“People look at me and they say ‘he looks tired’ or whatever but I’m not. I cannot give that excuse. My job is not only to be here when the sun is shining and somebody gives us a trophy.

“My job is to be there when we go through a really rough period and I will do that with all I have.”

Following consecutive losses to struggling teams Nottingham Forest and Leeds, Liverpool now has 16 points, which is their worst 12-game point total since Klopp took over as manager in 2015. The Reds are now 15 points behind leaders Arsenal and eight points out of a top-four spot.

Pogba to miss World Cup

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba will miss France’s World Cup defence in Qatar because he needs more time to recover from knee surgery.

Pogba, 29, returned to the Serie A team from Manchester United in the summer but hasn’t played for them yet this year.

He suffered a knee injury in July and initially decided against surgery in an effort to recover in time for the competition.

On November 22, France will play its opening World Cup game against Australia.

Rafaela Pimenta, Pogba’s agent, issued the following statement on Monday: “Following yesterday’s and today’s medical review in Torino and Pittsburgh, it is extremely painful to inform Paul Pogba will still need recovery time from his surgery. “For this reason, Paul will not be able to join Juventus’ squad before the World Cup break nor the French national team in Qatar.”