On Wednesday, the local newspapers wrote about politics, including the allies of the former vice president Rigathi Gachagua slandering the former president Uhuru Kenyatta for meeting his successor, and other important topics for the nation.
Source: UGC
Elsewhere, President William Ruto he sought to enact a law punishing anyone who opposes the process of transferring power after the presidential election.
1. Nation Today
The recent meeting between the former president Uhuru Kenyatta and President William Ruto continues to spark a debate about the source of tension between the two leaders who have been at odds for the past two years.
In particular, the people of former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua are asking what Uhuru can do to help his former deputy, even though before the 2022 general election he said he was not ready to lead and support the opposition leader Raila Odinga.
“We want to see how the former president will do after the meeting. Everyone wants to see how Uhuru will help him,” said one of them.
2. Daily Nation
This newspaper reported on the Cabinet's decision to introduce a new law on the official transition of the president after the election.
In the last meeting of the year 2024 held on Tuesday, December 17, the Cabinet, led by President William Ruto, approved the Assumption of Office of President and Transition of Executive Authority Bill 2024.
The bill, which will now go to Parliament for consideration, aims to simplify and strengthen the presidential transition process in Kenya, ensuring the transfer of power is done in an orderly and unified manner.
According to the statement of the meeting, the proposed law combines the procedures for the inauguration of the president and the transfer of executive powers within a single legal framework.
The law proposes severe penalties for government officials and the public who will obstruct the transition, if it is a fine of up to KSh 10 million, imprisonment of up to 10 years, or both.
If approved by the National Assembly, the current ministers and permanent secretaries will continue in their duties until new appointments are made by the incoming administration.
In addition, the bill makes it clear that the transfer of executive powers will be completed as soon as the president-elect, vice-president-elect, attorney general, ministers, permanent secretaries, and Cabinet secretary are sworn in.
The bill also covers unforeseen circumstances, including situations where the outgoing president cannot attend the inauguration ceremony. In such a case, the handing over of authority documents will be absent without affecting the validity of the swearing-in process.
Furthermore, the bill ensures that the president-elect and the vice-president-elect are given the same security arrangements as the current president and his deputy.
3. Nation Today
This newspaper highlighted the tension that occurred at the Elgeyo Marakwet police station, where residents found lost cows butchered allegedly by police officers who were involved.
Residents had complained about the loss of three cows a few weeks ago. They launched a hunt for the animals, but without success.
However, on Monday night, December 16, they found a cow carcass at the Kaptagat Police Station.
Residents flooded the station demanding the arrest of the officers allegedly involved in the theft and slaughtering of the cows. They threatened to take the law into their own hands if the security officials did not bring those responsible to book.
Sub-county police commander and MCA of the area quickly arrived at the station to try to calm down the angry residents who threatened to set it on fire.
The initial investigation led to the arrest of two police officers who were present in the area and were wrongly named by the residents as the perpetrators of the robbery and subsequent actions.
4. The Standard
The Standard reported on the decision of the Council of Ministers to extend the agreement to import oil from the Gulf states on a government-to-government basis.
The second extension of the program expired this month after the first extension earlier this year.
In a meeting held on Tuesday, December 17, at the Nairobi Palace, the Cabinet concluded that the agreement has reduced pressure on the exchange rate, strengthened the shilling, and lowered fuel prices.
“The Cabinet has approved the extension of the Government-to-Government (G-to-G) program to import refined oil products. This program has reduced the monthly demand for US dollars for oil imports, stabilizing the exchange rate of the shilling and the dollar to KSh 129 from a high of KSh 166, and lowering fuel prices from KSh 217 per liter of petrol to KSh 177,” read a statement from the Council of Ministers.
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