Kenyan dailies covered the wave of kidnappings on Thursday, January 16, with claims that the disappearances may be the work of the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
Source: UGC
1. Daily Nation
The newspaper reported on Public Service Minister Justin Muturi's disclosure of alleged government-sanctioned abductions, sparking debate about his motives, as well as the six-month delay in handling the abduction of his son, Leslie Muturi, who was abducted by. armed men during a youth-led protest in June 2024.
Muturi took his fight for justice to the door of the President William Ruto on Tuesday, marking the beginning of what he called the search for justice for his son who was kidnapped on June 22, 2024.
His criticism of the government, especially over the rise in kidnappings, follows a recent incident in Embu, where he was heckled by mourners who rejected a message from Ruto that he had been tasked to deliver during Eric Mutugi's funeral. the son of former Senator Lenny Kivuti.
This is happening while there is an increase in hatred against the administration Kenya Firstespecially in Mount Kenya.
Critics have questioned the timing of Muturi's revelations, asking why it took more than six months for him to speak.
He did not give any information to the public about the abduction during the incident, nor the information given to the police.
It was only then that Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua later implicated the National Intelligence Service (NIS) in the kidnapping.
Questions have also been raised about what Muturi knew about the kidnapping and when, given his role as a member of the National Security Advisory Council.
2. Nation Today
The Kiswahili newspaper reported that the Democratic Party of Kenya (DP), which was founded by former President Mwai Kibaki, says it is ready to grant asylum to former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua and his allies following their plan to withdraw from President William Ruto's coalition United Democratic Alliance. (UDA) party.
The party, which was among those formed immediately after the administration of President Daniel Moi restored multi-party democracy in 1991, said that its collaboration with President Ruto's Kenya First government can no longer continue due to his style of governance.
“We do not believe that Kenya First would continue to exist after the President and his party UDA decided to form a government that included members of ODM in the Council of Ministers. That was the end of Kenya Kwanza,” said Jacob Haji, Secretary General of DP and spokesperson of the party.
He said that although the DP has not held official talks with Gachagua, it is open to all, including the deputy president who was dismissed from the government.
3. The Standard
The chairman of the Kenya Secondary School Principals Association (Kessha) Willie Kuria has expressed fear about the financial challenges facing schools due to the delay in tuition fees by the government. Kuria has warned that without the provision of Sh48 billion by the end of the week, schools may have to suspend their activities.
Two weeks after reopening, many institutions are struggling with unpaid bills and disconnected services.
Despite assurances from the Minister of Education, Julius Ogamba, to issue a letter of Sh48 billion as soon as last week, no money has entered the school's accounts.
Kuria attributed the crisis to the deficit that continued from the previous year, where the government failed to fully provide spending money.
He noted that the deficits have accumulated over the past five years to reach Sh64 billion, causing a debt problem that has crippled many institutions.
4. The Star
According to the publication, Ruto's plan for another term in office is increasingly facing challenges, with ODM, a key partner in his administration, sending mixed signals regarding their support for his 2027 presidential bid.
In a calculated political maneuver, Ruto shifted his focus to Raila Odinga's strongholds after declining support from Mount Kenya, an area that played a key role in his 2022 victory.
The area which is home to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, contributed more than four million votes to Ruto in the last election, more than half of the 7,176,141 votes he got.
In recent months, the relationship between Ruto and Raila has improved, with some of Raila's key allies publicly pledging to support Ruto's ODM in the 2027 elections.
However, ODM has recently stepped up its efforts to dissuade its supporters from believing that the party will support Ruto.
On Friday last week, ODM issued a warning to its leaders advocating for the re-election of Ruto, insisting that the party will suspend its presidential candidate.
“For that reason, we must all be protected in the declarations about the future of the party and especially avoid beating the drum for our competitors,” the party said following the meeting of the Central Steering Committee.
Raila, who is arguably the most experienced politician in the country today, is known for changing his political position depending on the prevailing circumstances.
If ODM decides not to support Ruto, the president may find himself in a dangerous situation, especially with Gachagua mobilizing Mt Kenya region to reject his bid for re-election.
Interestingly, the ODM Central Management Committee meeting on Friday was chaired by acting party leader Anyang' Nyong'o, a close ally and confidant of Raila.
Sifuna, in particular, has maintained that Ruto cannot win the 2027 election, even with the support of ODM.
He argues that the party will make a big political mistake by supporting Ruto's bid to be re-elected.
“There will be no greater opportunity for ODM to form a government than I see now. It is widely accepted that the President has lost a lot of space, and it will not be possible for him to build that base,” Sifuna said during the morning talk show on Spice FM.
5. People Daily
The teachers who are reported every day at Bumala B Secondary School in the County kiss were attacked on Monday night by students and parents due to poor results.
The angry parents and students stormed the staff quarters in the morning and pelted stones and accused the school of poor results in the recent Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination, where none of the students qualified for university. The best student had a C- (minus), and several others got a grade of Es.
The parents also blocked the teachers' houses with big sticks and prevented them from leaving. Speaking to journalists, the teachers expressed their fear and revealed that the parents threatened to burn down their houses for missing their children.
“It was early Monday morning when parents, along with students, came to our house, threw stones at us, and blocked our doors with branches,” the terrified teacher recounted. “They promised to come back today to teach us a lesson.”
The teachers reported the incident at the Butula Police Station and appealed to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for assistance.
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