On the Radar: Ruto set for week-long North Eastern region tour

President William Ruto is set to embark on a week-long tour of the North Eastern region starting today.

The Head of State who will be accompanied by his deputy Kithure Kindiki will traverse the three counties of Mandera, Garissa and Wajir.

On Saturday, UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar and Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot opened the party office in Mandera.

Among the major projects he is set to inspect while in the region are the Garissa LAPSSET project, the affordable housing projects and the ongoing construction of the Tana River bridge.

Sarah Wairimu caseA case in which Sarah Wairimu is charged with the murder of her husband Tob Cohen comes up for a bail application hearing today.

Wairimu, who is being held at the Langata Women's Prison, is accusing Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Igonga of allegedly abusing his prosecutorial powers by relying on compromised evidence to charge her in connection with the 2019 murder.

She wants the court to release her on bond or bail.

Wairimu was initially arrested and charged with the brutal murder of Cohen.

Then DPP Nordin Haji later withdrew the charges citing insufficient evidence.

Gakuya case

The hearing of a corruption case against Embakasi North MP James Gakuya is set to continue today.

Gakuya and his brother Patrick Wairungi were charged alongside 12 other co-accused in August 2018 with fraudulent acquisition of public property, conflict of interest, conspiracy to defraud and wilful failure to adhere to procurement and disposal laws.

The accused are charged with fraudulent acquisition of Sh39,858,050 Constituency Development Fund cash that was allegedly used for fictitious road construction contracts.

Gakuya and his brother Patrick Wairungi are accused of receiving Sh19,691,772 for supplying nothing.

Court documents also show that Wairungi's Mabaks Enterprises was paid Sh11,691,771 for the construction of Muoroto AP road.

The MP, alongside Teresia Macharia and Stacy Njoki of Hunyu Bush Clearing and Nurseries, was also charged with fraudulently receiving Sh7.6 million from the CDF on November 20, 2015.

The money was listed to have been paid for clearing bushes along DO's road.

In the third count, Gakuya was charged alongside Wairungi and Salome Kimamui of Tresmu Investments with fraudulently receiving Sh12,566,278.

The suspects allegedly received the money between July 8 and November 20, 2015.

Women RISE initiative

Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage Principal Secretary Anne Wang’ombe will be the chief guest during the Women RISE initiative end-of-project workshop.

The Women RISE Initiative is a globalundertaking aimed at supporting research focused on the intersection of
Women’s health and their work (whether paid or unpaid) in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and
generating solutions in the context of preparedness, response, and recovery from past and future pandemics.

It will be held at the Emara Ole Sereni Hotel.