Today the National Assembly will continue the debate on President William Ruto’s cabinet nominees as the MPs express their opinions on the picks for cabinet secretary positions. The House Committee on Appointments recommended the approval of  23 nominees while rejecting the nomination of Peninah Malonza.

Here is everything else making headlines.

The puzzling tale of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif’s death

A statement released by the police on Tuesday has further added to the mystery surrounding the death of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif at the hands of GSU officers on Sunday. In the statement, police contradicted themselves about the circumstances leading to the death of the prominent journalist.

Sharif and his friend Kurram Ahmed are thought to have spent Sunday afternoon at a joint popular among Pakistani gun enthusiasts Ammodump at Kwenia, an entertainment complex, which also features a shooting range, before departing for Nairobi at around 8 o’clock. When they reached the main road, GSU officers stopped them because, according to the police, they had received reports that a stolen car had been seen nearby.

According to the police, the GSU personnel had been sent in a government Toyota Land Cruiser to set up the roadblock under the supervision of the inspector who was on duty.

According to an initial report filed at Magadi Police station under OB number 14/23/10/2022, the Toyota Land Cruiser’s passengers disobeyed instructions to stop at the roadblock in Kamukuru, which prompted the officers to fire at it.

In addition, according to authorities,  Ahmed called Naqar Ahmed, a Pakistani who resides in Tinga, 26 kilometres away from the shooting location, as one is travelling to Nairobi, when he heard the gunshots.  Naqar Ahmed, a local farmer, is alleged to have instructed Ahmed to drive to his residence, where they discovered Sharif had passed away upon arrival.

However, yesterday the police asserted that the car’s passengers opened fire at the GSU officers when they were stopped, wounding one of them, which caused the policemen to retaliate with their own gunfire.

The police further reported that the Toyota Land Cruiser that had been fired upon had been driven 12 kilometres away from the site before being abandoned in a village.

Investigations into the death continue as the body of Sharif was flown to Islamabad yesterday.

Former prison warder sentenced to 40 years for murdering a minor

A former prison warder was sentenced to 40 years in prison after being found guilty of killing his ex-lover’s daughter who was nine years old in cold blood four years prior.

The daughter of former Githongo Senior Resident Magistrate Carol Kemei, Maribel Kapolon, was murdered in 2018 according to the court, which found the prosecution’s case against Benson Kimathi Marangu beyond a reasonable doubt.

22 witnesses were lined up by the prosecution to support their case that Marangu and other people who were not brought before the court perpetrated the terrible crime between September 6, 2018, and September 16, 2018, at an unidentified place in the country.

On September 6, 2018, the girl was abducted in Meru Town as she made her way home from Consolata Primary School. Her body was discovered 11 days later in Gitoro Forest in Meru County.

House vetting committee rejects nomination of Peninah Malonza; Azimio opposes nominations of Jumwa, Linturi

The National Assembly Committee on Appointments tabled its report in the house yesterday as it emerged the committee recommended the appointment of 23 nominees with the exception of Peninah Malonza, who was found unsuitable to serve.

Malonza, who was chosen to lead the ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Heritage, failed to persuade the 22-member bipartisan committee of her suitability for the job.
“The nominee did not demonstrate knowledge on topical, administrative, and technical issues touching on the ministry. She lacked the requisite abilities and professional experience to be approved for appointment to the office of Cabinet Secretary,” read the report.

Yesterday, when lawmakers were debating the report, Endebess MP Robert Pukose said he would introduce an amendment to the report that would overrule the decision about Malonza.

The nomination of former Meru Senator Mithika Linturi as Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development was opposed by eight members of the committee from the Azimio coalition while that of former Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa as CS Public Service, Gender, and Affirmative Action was opposed by seven members with Likoni’s Mishi Mboko abstaining.

Those who dissented, include Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja), Robert Mbui (Kathiani), Junet Mohamed (Suna East), David Pkosing (Pokot South), Naisula Lesuuda (Samburu West), Abdi Shurie (Balambala) and Caleb Amisi (Saboti).

“We cannot allow this House to take the country backwards,” said Wandayi.

NHIF proposes regulations allowing men to cover multiple wives

The National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF)  published regulations that will allow men to get medical cover for multiple wives, if Parliament approves the proposed law, marking a departure from medical insurance norms.

The rules include a provision that covers medical expenses for polygamous families as long as the male spouse makes an additional KES 500 payment for each additional wife.

This differs from the present NHIF regulations, which only apply to one spouse and a maximum of five children.

For medical coverage, the majority of private insurance companies, particularly those supported by employers, recognise the principle member, one registered spouse, and up to four children.

It is frequently required of members who have two wives to have a second cover for the second wife who is designated as the principal member.

More than eight years after former President Uhuru Kenyatta passed a marriage bill legalising polygamy, the NHIF has decided to recognise several wives.

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