Press Review: Today’s top stories at a glance

Today is Wednesday, February 15, 2023.

You can read the Daily Nation e-paper here: https://epaper.nation.africa/

Here is a quick look at what is making headlines.

Ruto declares vacancies at IEBC 

President William Ruto has declared vacancies for the Chairperson and five commissioners at Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), following retirements and resignations.

The vacancies follow the retirement of Wafula Chebukati, Abdi Guliye, and Boya Molu, and the resignations of Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, and Justus Nyang’aya. With only Commissioner Irene Masit remaining in office, the commission is currently not constituted legally.

The President’s announcement follows the recently assented IEBC (Amendment) Bill 2022, which alters the selection panel’s composition for filling the vacant positions at the commission.

The opposition has opposed the changes, arguing that they give the ruling coalition an advantage in recruiting new commissioners.

The recruitment process for the new commissioners is critical in building trust and confidence in the electoral agency. However, the opposition is calling for a fair selection that will be perceived to be unbiased.

Raila reveals enlisting foreign hackers to uncover alleged stolen victory in 2022 polls

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition leader Raila Odinga has claimed that he worked with ethical hackers to uncover details about his alleged stolen victory in the August 2022 polls.

According to Raila, foreign hacking experts helped unearth the facts about the presidential tallies by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), who he claims announced different figures from those captured in the servers.

Raila also stated that the state tried to stop the work of his hackers when they arrived in the country with their sophisticated machines, as they were trailed for over a month.

The Presidential election results announced by IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati and validated by the Supreme Court showed that President William Ruto beat Raila with 7.2 million votes against 6.9 million votes.

However, Raila claims that this was not the true outcome of the election. He has maintained that he won the August 2022 polls and called for an audit of the elections.

DCI legitimizes wealth acquired from NYS scandal

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has declared that the wealth amassed by Charity Wangui Gethi using millions of shillings from the National Youth Service (NYS) scandal nine years ago is legitimate.

The DCI findings state that the wealth was obtained using money rightfully paid by NYS to a company owned by Wangui’s son, Ben Gethi, after legitimate business was carried out.

The DCI findings have clashed with those of the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA), which believes that the wealth is from proceeds of crime and corruption at NYS and should be forfeited to the government.

The properties in question include five prime assets valued at KES 291,513,000.

Wangui and her daughter have fought ARA’s attempts to recover the properties and filed fresh evidence in court to prove that the wealth is legitimate.

US issues Kenya a default notice for KES 57bn KQ debt

US financier issues default notice to Kenya over KES 57.8bn loan guaranteed by the government for Kenya Airways. Exim Bank, which is fully owned by the US government, had issued the notice due to Kenya failing to make payments on the loan.

The country’s public debt continues to mount, with the cost of servicing expected to be more than half of projected state revenues in the fiscal year ending June.

The airline has been surviving on State bailouts since the Covid-19 pandemic, with the carrier expected to receive another KES 35bn in the current financial year, some of which will be used to repay its debts.

The government in December announced it would take over Kenya Airways loans amounting to KES 59.7bn that it had guaranteed the carrier.

Eight men charged with stealing KES 449.6M from Fuliza

Eight men have been charged with stealing KES 449.6 million from NCBA Bank through its popular mobile overdraft facility, Fuliza.

The accused – Peter Gitahi Wambui, Isaac Kipkemoi, Moses Rono, Collins Kipyego, Maxwell Njamba, Edwin Kipkorir, Gideon Kipkirui, and Gideon Kipkoech – appeared before a Nairobi court on Monday and denied all 13 counts against them, including stealing, conspiracy to steal, engaging in organized criminal activities, and possession of stolen property.

While two suspects were exonerated, the eight defendants were accused of jointly conspiring with others to steal the amount from NCBA Bank between January and July 2022.

During investigations, police recovered identity cards, motor vehicles, and SIM cards that were allegedly used for purposes of stealing.

The police claimed that over 123,000 mobile phone subscribers joined Fuliza and borrowed loans between January and July 2022 and thereafter switched off their SIM cards.

The prosecution opposed the release of the accused on bond, citing the large amount involved. The court will decide on the bail application tomorrow.

EPRA maintains petroleum prices for the fourth consecutive month

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has announced that fuel prices will remain unchanged for the fourth month in a row. This comes after the latest review conducted on Monday, which covered the period from February 15, 2023, to March 14, 2023.

EPRA stated that the prices for Super Petrol will remain at KES 177.30, Diesel at KES 162, and Kerosene at KES 145.94 per litre. The prices are inclusive of the 8% Value Added Tax (VAT) and revised rates for excise duty adjusted for inflation.

To ease the burden on consumers, EPRA has maintained a subsidy of KES 19.41 per litre for kerosene. The government will utilize the Petroleum Development Levy to compensate oil marketing for the difference in cost.

Ruto Pledges Church Involvement in Governance and Financial Autonomy

President William Ruto has pledged to make the church a central part of the country’s governance and expressed optimism that God would lead the nation to prosperity.

Speaking during the National Prayer Day at Nyayo Stadium, he stated that the church had rediscovered its role in politics and would help guide the government in its plans.

The president also dismissed opposition rallies as mere noise that would not deter his administration from implementing its development plans.

Furthermore, he promised that his government would work towards financial autonomy, stating that Kenya could now access international financial markets and that the country would pay off its debts to leave an inheritance for future generations.

The prayer day aimed to pray for divine intervention amid the ongoing drought that has left over 4.3 million Kenyans requiring food assistance.

Sports

Gor Mahia takes charge of the table, Benson Omala scores a first-half hat-trick

Benson Omala’s first-half hat-trick inspired Gor Mahia to a 4-0 victory over Wazito in a rescheduled Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF-PL) match at Moi International Sports Centre (MISC) Kasarani in Nairobi on Tuesday.

The former Western Stima man’s treble took his goal tally to 15 and cemented his lead in the top scorers chart. K’Ogalo coach Johnathan McKinstry praised Omala’s improvement this season and his team’s clinical performance.

Wazito’s goalkeeper coach Samuel Odhaimbo praised his young team, saying they would improve with time. Gor Mahia are now at the top of the log with 33 points and a game in hand, while Nzoia Sugar dropped to second with 31 points.

On Wednesday, former champions Mathare United and Kariobangi Sharks will clash at MISC Kasarani Annex.

AC Milan snatch a slim win over Tottenham in the Champions League Last 16

In the first leg of the Champions League last 16, Tottenham lost to AC Milan with Brahim Diaz’s early goal. AC Milan’s midfield pairing of Pape Sarr and Oliver Skipp deputised for the suspended Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and the injured Rodrigo Bentancur.

The Italian team showed a level of expertise, despite their difficult run earlier this year. Spurs couldn’t manage to score an equalizer despite their efforts. The second leg will be held in London on March 8.

Tottenham will try to win the match without defender Eric Dier who was booked in the second half of the first leg. While Charles de Ketelaere and Malick Thiaw both failed to put Milan in a stronger position, stopping Rafael Leao in the second leg is critical to Spurs’ success.

In another match, Bayern Munich beat Paris St-Germain in their last-16 first-leg tie. Kingsley Coman scored the winner, his second goal in a Champions League final, as he did in 2020 when Bayern won the trophy.

The Ligue 1 champions have now lost their last three matches in all competitions. Meanwhile, Bayern are unbeaten in all competitions since September 17 and the current favorites to reach the quarter-finals, despite having defender Benjamin Pavard sent off for a second booking in injury time.