We have moved

This blog has moved to breakingnewskenya.com. Please change your bookmarks accordingly. The new site is functional but is not pretty. Please bear with me as I get it all cleaned up.

Thanks so much for visiting us here and hope to see you at our new location.

Regards,

kenyanobserver

Online payment gateway coming to Kenya

A company called i360 Microsystems and Commercial Bank of Africa have joined together to create the first online payment gateway in Kenya. The transactional logic of the system will be powered by Safaricom’s M-Pesa while the settlement will be handled by Commercial Bank of Africa.

The inability of government to keep up with e-commerce legislation and a narrow bandwidth to the internet backbone has been a huge impediment in getting Kenya fully engaged with the opportunities of the internet.

Kenyan Truck Driver Found Dead Inside Truck In Gainesville, Florida

Source: Diaspora Messenger

Samuel Nyambagera Ogari

A Kenyan truck driver who was working over the road (long distance) was found dead in his cab in Gainesville, Florida on Sunday 07/27/08. His name is Samuel Nyambagera Ogari of a resident of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Confirmed sources indicate that he left Arizona with a load that he delivered on 07/25/08 Friday night at 10.00PM at Wal-Mart distribution center in Gainesville.

After he delivered the load and was empty he pulled his rig on the side of the road a place seen from Wal-mart facility to take a nap before he could be dispatched by his brokers to the next destination. Since Friday night when he went to sleep he never woke up until he was found on Sunday 10.00AM by a worker from Wal-mart who saw him deliver and pull his rig on the side of the road on Friday and was suspicious forcing him to check on him and found him dead.

According to the investigator from medical examiner’s office Steve Harvey “ He owned his own company known as Nyke Transport. When he went to sleep although Florida is hot his truck was not running making his body partially decomposed from the heat as the aircondition was also not working. His truck is a single bunk and no forced entry making us to believe without the results from the examiner that it was a natural dead. All his properties are secure in his truck”.

Gainesville township is off US Hwy 301 where he died. He came to USA a student in 1997. The hard problem Kenyans will face on this is that Kenyans in Oklahoma are not united as other states; making several questions linger into people’s minds whether his body should be shipped directly to Kenya from Florida or be taken to Oklahoma then Kenya.

His younger brother Nicholas Nyambagera who is an F-1 student in Oklahoma has little to say since this was not expected. He is requesting Kenyans to give him assistance for the funeral home costs and transporting the body to Kenya. Samuel’s body is still at the medical examiner’s office until preliminary results are determined as the cause of his dead.

No relative has travelled Florida to view his body due to limited funds.

Most truck drivers prefer independence of their business attracting many to be independent in trucking industry but lately drivers have been hit hard by the cost of fuel. Samuel is believed to be in his early 40s and has never gone back to Kenya since he came to USA. He is married with one child.

How you can help;

Contact any of the committee members below;

Nicholas Nyambagera 405 -269- 4079

Euphrase Nyokwoyo 760 521 2388

Dr. Sagini…….405-503-6603

Dr. Joshua Kigeya……..405-466-6160

Dr. Chongo Mundende………405.812-9255

Mr. David Mireri……405-924-8542

Mr. Dan Mbai

Mr. George Basweti……..405-474-3757

Mr. Orina Obiero…..405- 202-5743

Mr. James Mwangi

Mrs. Susan Mbayi……405-408-2336

Mr. George Ombachi……..405-503-6603

Fundraising Day And Venue

Sunday 08/10/08

Time: 1.00PM Onwards

Venue: Oklahoma International SDA Church

21477 North Western Avenue

Edmond, Oklahoma. 73012

Send Checks To: Nicholas Nyambagera

P.O BOX 335 LANGSTON OK 73050

East Africa embassy bombings: Kenya police make fresh arrests

As Kenyans commemorate the 10th anniversary of the US embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, the Standard newspaper is reporting that fresh arrests have been made in Garrisa in connection with one the organizers of the bombings, Msallam Saleh Mahdi. The Kenyan police intercepted a call from the couple to the wanted fugitive.

Swiss diplomat accused of kidnapping child in Kenya

Maureen Nanyanzi Mawejje, the accuser

A UN Swiss diplomat has been accused by a 25 year old single Ugandan mother of kidnapping her child in Nairobi, Kenya. Maureen Nanyanzi Mawejje met the diplomat through his wife, a former Ugandan beauty queen and became acquainted with them and even moved in with them.

She was invited to Switzerland by the couple and in order to obtain a visa, she had to travel back to her country of origin to obtain the visa from there, leaving her child with the couple. When she returned, the couple had traveled to Switzerland and she was shut out.

The diplomat’s lawyer, Ian Maina, says that Mawejje voluntarily gave up the rights to her child.

Mawejje sought help from the Children Legal Action Network, a UNICEF funded project and the Kenyan police were notified immediately thereafter and have opened an investigation and an arrest warrant has been issued for the couple.

Kenyan refugees may be resettled in the US

Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, Samuel Witten announced yesterday that Kenyan refugees who were having a hard time resettling might be relocated to the US at the end of the year. He made the statement shortly after meeting with Kenya’s Immigration minister, Otieno Kajwang to discuss the issue.

Nation story

Kenyans living abroad remit more than US$330 million in the first half of 2008

According to Business Daily and data from the Central Bank of Kenya, Kenyans living abroad remitted a mind boggling Kshs 22 billion (US$ 331,794,996.96 to be exact) in the first half of 2008, a 28% increase over the same period last year. This buoyed the value of the shilling against dollar when the lift was needed most following the election crisis at the end of last year.

Briefs: LG plans cell phone assembly plant in Kenya in ‘09

South Korean electronics giant LG announced today that the company will open a cell phone assembly plant in Kenya in 2009. According to Byung Su Lee, LG’s regional manager, the will spend Kshs 100 million to set up the assembly plant.

Two months ago, China’s Huawei Technologies announced plans to expand in the region.

Mudavadi fires 57 councillors appointed by Uhuru Kenyatta

64 new councillors appointed

Deputy Prime Minister and Local Government Minister Musalia Mudavadi (ODM) yesterday fired 57 councillors allied to Uhuru Kenyatta (KANU) who is also a Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State. In a controversial move back in February, Uhuru, who was briefly the Minister of Local Government at the time, was accused of stepping out of bounds by omitting several names forwarded to him by the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) and inserting names from a list of people known to be his allies. The names appeared on Kenya Gazette No. 1276 dated February 22nd 2008.

Kenya has 210 constituencies each represented by a Member of Parliament, usually referred to as an MP. Each constituency is further divided into wards. Each ward is represented by a councillor. There are approximately 3,800 councillors. Two-thirds of these councillors are directly elected by the electorate during the general elections. The remaining one-third are appointed by the Minister from a list forwarded to the Electoral Commission of Kenya from parties or coalitions based on their representation in each ward.

The proviso to section 39 of the Local Government Act states;

“Provided that the total number of councillors nominated or appointed under paragraph (b) and (c) shall not exceed one third of the number of elected councillors under paragraph (a), or where the number of elected councillors is not divisible by three the next lowest number so divisible.”

In addition to swapping the official list given to him by the ECK, Uhuru was accused of going over the one-third limit by 33 appointees. When pressed to explain himself, Uhuru asserted that he was following the law to the letter.

These are the people appointed by Uhuru as councillors, were published on Kenya Gazette No. 1276 dated February 22nd, 2008 and were not on the list provided by the ECK;

1. Lee Muchiri
2. Amina Mohammed
3. Paul Mutungi
4. Badi Ali
5. Alex ole Magelo
6. Dishon Njoka Nyaga
7. Abdulrahaman Ahmed Abdalla
8. Thomas Ng’ang’a
9. Mohamed Hatimy
10. Ali Mohamed Ramadhan
11. Ali Abubakar Modhar
12. Zakaria Zunaid
13. M’mbetsa Beja M’mbetsa
14. Fatuma Salim Nchizumo
15. Said Mohamed Kalima
16. Kupta Elija Muvovi
17. Paddyson Kasena Changawa
18. Said Ruwa Nzai
19. Nashee Nana Mohamed
20. Swaleh Imu
21. Margaret Kizongona
22. Godwin Kilele
23. Pascal Kihara Hussein
24. Habiba Abdi Birikan
25. Abdikadir Ali Mohamed
26. Lbaanoi Lekarato
27. Amina Hassan Ali
28. Mumuna Hussein Jama
29. Stephen Mithika Thiring’a
30. Joseph Muidi
31. Haron Njuguna
32. Gabriel Rwigi Nthigai
33. Alhaji Muguna
34. Peter Mwongera M’Ruchu
35. Nicholas Mugambi
36. Beatrice Kibobori Godfrey
37. Titus Chabari Kitharani
38. Amos Kiboi
39. Elizabeth muturi
40. Lucy Nyaga
41. Joseph Kalenga
42. Henry Billy Mwendwa
43. Tabitha Mithe Ndeti
44. Abaroba Godana
45. Muasya Mutie
46. Grace Munini Mutwiwa
47. Esther Wanjiku Njogu
48. Joseph Kiarie Karanja
49. Charles Ndururu Karemeri
50. Jane Wanjiru Kamutu
51. Francis Kinyua Karani
52. Jane Wanjiku Kimani
53. Stephen Maina Gathitu
54. Harris Karuri Kimani
55. Alice Kabura Muyaka
56. Julius kamau Mburu
57. Benson Mburu Chege
58. Penina Mbiu
59. Fredrick Muchai
60. Jane Njoroge
61. Jedida Njoki Wanjiru
62. Lucy Nduta Kamau
63. Mary Mukami Ng’ang’a
64. Michael Kuria Mbugua
65. John Njiru Njue
66. Yusuf Mohamed Ali
67. Peter Derick Ejore Emathe
68. Francis Chemeitoi Murkomen
69. James Kiptarbei Kibeney
70. William Kiplimo Komen
71. John Ngene Muniu
72. Jane Simita Munga
73. Simon Mararia Gathura
74. Zacharia Mwangi Njeru
75. David Mutegi Njuru
76. Esther Mangere
77. Joseph Njehia Mwangi
78. Ntoros Baari Mwangi
79. Kuyoni Ole Kosen
80. Mary Saton Rapia
81. Michael Kiplagat Korir
82. Stephen Okongo Oman
83. Stanslaus Luchebeleli
84. Ronald Yinda Asava
85. Godrick Ichondo Okichil
86. Stela Ombonya
87. Ruth Adhiambo Omolo
88. Joyce Kwamboka Isaac
89. Kennedy Ombui Mokaya
90. Jacob Nyaoso Maera
91. James Omariba
92. Patrick Sani Ogati
93. Raphael Achira

These are the names that were provided to Uhuru by the ECK but did not appear on the Kenya Gazette No. 1276 as expected;

1. Esther Muthoni Rosana Pasaris
2. Wilfred Mangara Apencha
3. Rachel Wanjiku Kamweru
4. Janet Ndago Ekumbo
5. Kadija Swaleh Hassan
6. Ahmedsabir Tahir Sheiksaid
7. Joseph Gichunge
8. Rose Wanjeru Njeru
9. Sammy King’ola Mbidyo
10. Mary Mbadi
11. Cecillia Mbinya Sereka
12. Benson Mburu Chege
13. Nancy Wanjiru Kamande
14. Robert kangethe mwangi
15. Elizabeth Mwangi
16. Miriam Wangui Kiarie
17. Rose Muthoni Chege
18. Monica Wambui Gicheru
19. Kituko Ekiru Ewotol
20. Nancy Juma
21. Richard Cheptuimet Sambu
22. Wilson Kipkurui Sang
23. Joseph Kipkosgei Maritim
24. Fatuma Chepkemboi Imran
25. Kennedy Kipchirchir Sang
26. Beatrice Kiyeng
27. Jeseph Chesire Chemuna
28. Marcella Kerubo Ontiri
29. Joseph Kipkuri Bett
30. Margaret Mwihaki Mathe
31. Muldin Mustafa Abdi
32. Evelyn Omanyo
33. Lucy Bosire

Immigration: E-Verify flaw fix is in the works

A flaw in the E-Verify system allowing illegal immigrants to trick the system by using false identification, often belonging to someone else, will be fixed according to Jock Scharfen, Acting Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

He was speaking to reporters who came to tour the Nebraska Service Center. He said the system will soon be able to notify employers when fake identification is used and that the Bush administration was working with ICE on how to handle enforcement on cases brought to their attention by the system.

Fremont Tribune