The paper reported that three Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) lawmakers from Nairobi were absent during the initial phase of President William Ruto’s city-wide tour, suggesting potential political resistance to their collaboration agreement.

Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna, who also serves as the ODM secretary general, along with Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Westlands MP Timothy Wanyonyi, were notably missing in Kamukunji constituency, where Ruto kicked off his series of political engagements.

Sifuna has been one of Ruto’s most vocal critics, while Owino and Wanyonyi have expressed their ambitions to run for the Nairobi governorship, challenging the current governor, Johnson Sakaja.

The absence of Wanyonyi and Owino might be connected to ODM leader Raila Odinga’s close ties with Sakaja, a member of Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), positioning him as a potential beneficiary of the new political alliance.

When questioned, Sifuna informed the daily that he was attending a parliamentary committee meeting.

However, Owino and Wanyonyi did not provide any explanation for their absence from the president’s development tour.

Initially, Ruto had planned a five-day tour, but according to State House, it was later shortened to three days: Monday, Thursday, and Friday.

According to the publication, a man named Collins Leitich, also known as Chepkulei or Generali claimed that he had the support of high-ranking police officials to establish a police patrol base.

A police report released revealed that Leitich had set up the Cheboror Patrol Base in Cherus trading center, Kesses constituency, and painted it in National Police Service colors.

Leitich denied allegations of his arrest and insisted that he was acting with the approval of top police authorities.

He stated that senior police officers were present during the launch and painting of the base last Wednesday.

The man expressed surprise that the same officers who had authorised the establishment of the base were now accusing him of creating an illegal post.

He defended his actions, explaining that he decided to set up the patrol base after a surge in criminal activities, including burglaries and livestock theft, plagued the area.

Leitich claimed he had consulted a regional police commander, who assured him that if a permanent building was provided, the police service would deploy officers to the location.

He described himself as a well-wisher trying to assist a community struggling with crime, adding that he had even offered his Toyota Probox vehicle to the police to aid their operations.

According to him, the day the police accused him of setting up an unauthorised base was the same day he planned to officially hand over the vehicle.

The Swahili paper reports that boda boda operators have been encouraged to acquire valid motorcycle riding licences in order to take advantage of employment opportunities abroad when they arise.

The Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Labour, Shadrack Mwadime, stated that bodaboda operators could have an easier time registering for these job opportunities only if they possess a valid licence.

The government is also seeking young people who can be employed as security guards and construction workers.

Mwadime emphasised that any youth can secure employment abroad by undergoing skills assessments and obtaining certification.

Furthermore, he mentioned that the government had put in place adequate measures to simplify the process of securing these jobs overseas.

As per the paper, a recent report has raised concerns that MPs may be earning millions of shillings in questionable mileage allowances, as the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) allows them to claim these lucrative perks without providing proof of travel.

The report highlights that the leadership of both the Senate and the National Assembly is disbursing significant sums to facilitate MPs' travel to their constituencies.

This revelation could draw scrutiny to the PSC, chaired by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, especially at a time when many Kenyans are facing economic hardships.

Auditor General Nancy Gathungu stated that her review found that lawmakers simply fill out a transport claim form each month, after which the funds are promptly transferred to their accounts.

"The allowances were only supported by a transport claim form. There were no controls in place or other documentary evidence to ascertain that a member actually travelled so as to warrant the payment of the allowance," the auditor general said.

The mileage allowances, particularly for MPs representing remote areas, can nearly double their gross salaries.

For instance, an MP travelling a round trip of 0-350 kilometers to their constituency is reimbursed at a rate of KSh 152.6 per kilometer, with a maximum monthly allowance of KSh 462,887. MPs from distant regions benefit even more, potentially pushing their total earnings beyond the KSh 1.6 million monthly salary of the president.

Source: TUKO.co.ke