On Saturday, January 4, Kenyan newspapers reported extensively on the debate over the sudden increase in kidnappings targeting critics of the President William Ruto.
Source: UGC
1. The Saturday Standard
The newspaper reported that after more than a month, the body of Ibrahim Hilal Mwiti, who had disappeared, was found in the morgue of Thika Level 5 New Year's Day.
The bodaboda driver from Nairobi, who was buried yesterday in the Lang'ata cemetery, had disappeared, sparking speculation about his fate.
Mwiti, who some claim is an activist, went missing in Nairobi in November.
“I have looked at his body, and it looks like a case of hit and run, although I have heard rumors spreading on some blogs that he was captured and killed,” said Sadhiah Iman in his phone conversation earlier.
Sadhiah, who refused to speak to the media at the cemetery, explained that the delay in finding the body was due to Mwiti not having his ID when he met his death.
However, friends who attended the burial expressed suspicions of foul play, linking his death to the abduction and subsequent murder.
“The motorcycle he was riding when the accident happened was found and taken to the police station, but no one at the station took the license plate number and was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Authority (NTSA) to get the details of his next of kin. let them know. We see a lot of foul play in this narrative.
Another close friend, Prince Bahaalso claimed it was kidnapping and murder.
“The family refused an autopsy, I looked at the body, and there was no sign of a hit and run. We are tired of these kidnappings and the deaths that followed, he was only 24 years old and he did not deserve to stop kidnappings and murders in this country,” he said at the burial site.
2. Saturday Nation
The newspaper reported that parents with students in 349 schools that were barred from hosting boarding students have been asked to transfer them to other educational institutions before the school reopens next week for security reasons.
The Ministry of Education urged parents to ensure their children are placed in separate schools after an inspection conducted following the fire tragedy that killed 21 students from Hillside Endarasha Academy four months ago revealed security issues in the 349 schools.
The audit revealed that many primary boarding schools are facing security and infrastructure challenges that endanger the lives of students.
A total of 2,974 schools were evaluated, of which 1,415 were government and 1,659 were private.
Overcrowding in the dormitories was common at the school. The space between beds in most schools was less than 1.2 meters, while corridor or aisle space was less than two meters, contrary to the Guidelines for Safety Standards for Schools in Kenya (2008).
Primary Education Secretary General Belio Kipsang said the government will not go back on the order to ban some schools from hosting boarding schools.
He said that parents of students in schools that do not meet safety standards must move their children.
“We told the institutions that were not prepared enough to run boarding schools to stop until they were properly prepared… And each of the 349 boarding schools was given a report telling them what they needed to do,” said Dr. Kipsang .
Kipsang said Ministry of Education officials have re-inspected some schools.
“Any school that meets the level of preparation will be allowed to continue, but those that are not ready, we have told parents to find an alternative school for their children. We have had enough time, almost two months, so we are not worried about what will happen to those children,” said PS.
3. The Star
According to the newspaper, there was tragedy at a police station in Nandi County when a mob stormed there and dragged out a suspected murderer before stoning him to death.
The group also set fire to the body, then returned to the Chemase Police station and destroyed it before burning it.
Police said the suspected killer was arrested and detained at a police station on January 1 after the body was found on the side of the road with the head in a well.
This was after the suspect, who is now deceased, blew up the murder case after threatening to attack and kill his mother on January 2.
He said he would kill him and his family members just like he killed the murdered man.
Police said the mother alerted local authorities, who moved to arrest the suspect, who later confessed to killing a 38-year-old man identified as Enock-Kipsang.
According to Tinderet Police Commander Johnson Mwariga, the suspect confessed to committing the crime and even accompanied the investigating officers to where he was reported to have hidden the victim's head and other body parts.
The incident angered more than 3,000 residents of the area, causing them to storm the police station, demanding that the suspect be released from their custody.
When the soldiers refused to comply with their demands, they attacked and burned a police car before overpowering the soldiers and entering the cell where they confronted the suspect of murder.
4. Nation Today
Kiswahili newspaper reported the former vice president Rigathi Gachagua criticized Ruto and vowed not to allow the division of Mount Kenya.
He warned that Mount Kenya will “lose its power” if residents allow the area to be divided.
“Our strength is in our unity, and we must remain strong,” Gachagua said.
Speaking during the funeral service of the late Eric Mutugi, 41, his son former Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti, at the Kanyuambora Secondary School grounds in Mbeere, Gachagua vowed to strongly oppose the President's attempts to divide the area.
Gachagua emphasized that following his removal, the Mount Kenya area is now more united than before.
He assured Mt Kenya residents not to worry about his removal, promising to give a political direction later this month.
Gachagua said that he has consulted with elders, church leaders, experts and businessmen, and will issue a detailed political statement soon.
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