Latest Updates: Nakuru

Showing posts with label Nakuru. Show all posts

Monday, September 5, 2022

Introduce fuel kitty for Senators-Tabitha Karanja urges Ruto

Nakuru

Eric September 05, 2022 0

IEBC temporarily suspends Rongai MP election after ballot papers mix-up

Nakuru

Eric August 09, 2022 0

IEBC has temporarily suspended MP elections in Rongai Constituency after a mix-up in the MPs ballot papers.

Confirming the development,Nakuru County IEBC Manager Joseph Mele said the discrepancy in the Rongai parliamentary ballot papers forced the exercise to be suspended indefinitely.

"The IEBC headquarters in Nairobi will give further communications. That's all that I can say for now” he said

Supporters of the candidates including incumbent Raymond Moi of Kanu, Paul Chebor (UDA)and Luka Kigen expressed their disappointment by barricading the roads and burning tyres.

One of the presiding officer situated at Mercy Njeri primary school said that they noticed the discrepancy at 3am when they went to collect the ballot papers.

"We're told the papers had been mixed-up with others. Those are unconfirmed reports even officials of IEBC have not told us exactly what is the problem," said the official.

Rongai Member of Parliament Raymond Moi while addressing the press ,alleged that the move was a ploy to rig him out as this happened again in 2017.

Suspected confirm ring leader detained for 15 days

Nakuru

Eric August 06, 2022 0

A Magistrate court in Nakuru has allowed the police to hold for 15 days a man suspected to be the leader of the dreaded Confirm criminal gang.

In his ruling on Friday, Principal Magistrate Isaac Orenge told the prosecution that they should prefer charges against Mr Dickson Macharia Waithera within the two weeks or release him.

The police had sought 30 days to hold Mr Waithera who was flushed from his hideout in Kivumbini area on Wednesday night so that they could complete their investigations.

"Prosecutors have persuaded the court that they have good reasons to warrant detention of the suspect further," said Mr Orenge.

Mr Waithera is suspected to be the mastermind of a spate of crimes committed by members of criminal gangs in Nakuru.

On Thursday, Nakuru County Police Commander Peter Mwanzo while confirming Waithera's arrest said the suspect had been on police radar after escaping arrest several times.

Among the items seized from his house during the time of arrest include narcotics worth Ksh 300,000,opium, a phone and a laptop.

The case will be mentioned on August 19th.

Leader of dreaded Nakuru gang arrested

Nakuru

Eric August 03, 2022 0

Police in Nakuru have arrested a middle-aged man believed to be the ring leader of the dreaded ‘Confirm’ gang.

Dickson Macharia Waithera, alias Deco, was arrested on Wednesday morning during an operation in the city that has witnessed an increase in organized crime and mysterious murders over the past weeks.

Confirming the arrest, Nakuru County Police Commander Peter Mwanzo says, the alleged gang leader was apprehended following intelligence reports.

Mr Mwanzo, while briefing the media, said that ‘Deco’ and other gang members who have been operating in Nakuru town, had moved out of town to evade arrest since the roll out of the crackdown by police.

"We arrested him with one sack of bhang, opium, heroin and mobile phones," he said.

The gang has been linked to a number of murders, muggings and mobile money fraud in the city.

A crackdown against the gang commenced last month after at least six women were killed in Mawanga Estate.

Following the killings, Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang'i visited the county ,effected change in the police leadership and instructed that a crackdown against the gang be rolled out immediately.

At least 140 members of the dreaded gang have been with 5 of them facing murder charges, as they are suspected to have been behind the murders of the women in Mawanga.

Police quiz Nakuru lawmaker over gang links

Nakuru

Eric June 28, 2022 0

Police in Nakuru are interrogating Nakuru East lawmaker over his suspected links with a criminal gang.

Rift Valley Directorate of Criminal Investigations boss Mwenda Meme while speaking to a local news outlet said detectives are questioning MP David Gikaria over 'Confirm' gang.

"He is here, he arrived on Tuesday morning and is being interrogated by detectives," Mr Meme told Nation.

The Confirm gang and other splinter groups have been linked to spate of robberies, rape and a series of heinous murders in Mawanga area, Bahati sub-county.

Although investigations are ongoing, authorities have said that members of the group could be behind the killings that's involves only women, which have been reported within two weeks in Mawanga and its neighbourhood.

The second-term mp's grilling comes after a special security squad deployed by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i intensified a crackdown on Confirm and other criminal gangs in Nakuru City leading to the arrest of 27 suspects.

Molo Academy closed indefinitely

Nakuru

Eric December 02, 2021 0

Molo Academy has been closed indefinitely for the third time in 8 weeks after the students demanded to go home.

Confirming the closure, Molo Sub-County Education Officer Sylvester Musikoyo said the school was closed after the students refused to go to class after assembly on Wednesday, December 1.

"After the morning assembly, the students refused to go to class and demanded to go home. We deployed a contingent of police officers at the school in order to prevent any damages," said Mr. Musikoyo.

According to reports, the students want the school management changed.

On September 6, the students went on rampage destroying property worth thousands of shillings.

In Siaya, 400 Form Four students from Maranda High School were sent home after they threatened to burn down the school over the impending examination.

Reports indicate that the students had refused to sit for the mock exam.

Nakuru becomes Kenya's fourth city

Nakuru

Eric December 01, 2021 0

Nakuru has become Kenya's fourth city, after Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday officially conferred city status to Nakuru Municipality.

Uhuru led a host of government officials as he signed the citation as the flag of Nakuru at Nyayo Gardens.

Orange Democratic Movement ( ODM)Party leader Raila Odinga and Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka were among the attendees.

Nakuru was first endorsed for city status on June 3, 2018.

Thereafter on June 3, 2021, 38 senators voted an application from Nakuru residents to have the city's status elevated, whereas two opposed.

Speaking at the launch event on Wednesday, President Kenyatta emphasized that Nakuru has passed all legal criteria and it was appropriate that the town be upgraded to a city.

“In exercise of the powers conferred on the Head of State and government under section 7 of the Urban areas and cities Act and all other enabling provisions of law, I Uhuru Kenyatta President of the Republic in Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defense Forces do hereby confer city status to the Nakuru municipality,”

Nakuru will now enjoy all the powers, rank, and privileges that come with city status.

“Now henceforth may it be known by all persons and the authorities that the Nakuru municipality is to be known as the city of Nakuru. The City of Nakuru shall therefore have all the rights, duties and standing of a city provided under the Urban areas and Cities acts and all other applicable laws,” he said.

Egerton University main campus closed indefinitely

Nakuru

Eric November 27, 2021 0

Egerton University-Main Campus in Njoro, Nakuru has been closed indefinitely following recent strike by teaching and non-teaching staff.

In a notice, the university administration said the strike that has rocked the institution for close to three weeks has interfered with the it's operations necessitating the closure.

“Following the strike by University teaching staff which has disrupted learning in the Institution, Senate at its 533rd meeting held on Thursday 25th November 2021 resolved to close the University with immediate effect until further notice,” read the notice.

Students have been directed to leave the institution premise not later than Tuesday 30th November 2021.

At the same time, the University noted that a section of students from the school of Health Sciences and Veterinary Medicine and Surgery should report back on Monday 29th November 2021 to resume lectures.

“Further to our earlier Notice regarding the closure of the University, Senate at its 533rd continuation meeting held on 26th November 2021 resolved that students from the Faculty of Health Sciences and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery be recalled to campus to continue with their studies,” said the notice.

The lecturers downed their tools on November 4th, 2021 citing high-handedness and lack of a unifying leadership model by the institution management.

The Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU)Chairman Egerton University Chapter, Benjamin Kipchumba Ruto accused the management of failing to implement the 2017/2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement by totally disregarding a court order.

The Lecturers who were also joined by the branch Kenya Union of Domestic Hotels Educational Institutions Hospitals and Allied Workers, also accused the administration of arbitrary withdrawal of negotiated salaries and benefits

Police probing death of journalist Gatonye Gathura

Nakuru

Eric November 25, 2021 0

Police are investigating the death of veteran Health and Science journalist John Gatonye Gathura.

Gathura's body was found dumped at KWS bush at Kihoto area, Naivasha Sub-County, Nakuru.

Naivasha Sub-County Police Commander Samuel Waweru told the media that a passer-by reported that a body had been found dumped in the bush and was taken to Naivasha Hospital Mortuary and booked as an unknown adult.

According to the police, the deceased had a wire around his neck.

Fingerprints were taken to the national bureau and the process of identification commenced.

"The results of the identification process were made public on November 12, 2021," said Mr. Waweru

His family which was traced to Ndeiya, Kiambu County is said to have identified the body on Wednesday and are awaiting postmortem examination due on Friday to establish the cause of his death.

House inferno claims the lives of three children in Elburgon

Nakuru

Eric September 29, 2021 0

A fire that razed down a home in Turi Farmer, Elburgon burnt three children aged 4, 5 and 6 years to death.

Reports indicate that the fire broke out when the children’s father George Omoso and their sole guardian had left the house to buy dinner.

Although the cause of the fire is still unknown, it is believed that three kids who were alone at the time died in the fire.

According to the single father, a heap of ash and burnt remains of what was once his home were all that he saw when he returned to the house.

He said, “My house has been burnt down, I had gone to town to buy food, when I came back I found my children had died.”

Molo OCPD Mwenda Muthamia confirmed the incident, saying investigations to determine the cause of the fire are underway.

Nakuru doctor James Gakara and his two children laid to rest

Nakuru

Eric September 28, 2021 0

Nakuru based doctor James Gakara and his two children Dylan, 5, and three-year-old Hailey Gakara have been laid to rest at their Mbaruk home.

Dozens of mourners gathered at Muhereshwa village in Mbaruk, Nakuru to pay their last respects to the trio.

Dr. Gakara a popular gynecologist died on September 22 while receiving treatment at Nakuru Level 5 Hospital where he was taken after he was found unconscious in his Mlimani home.

The children were found dead in their bedroom.

According to police Dr. Gakara had injected his two children with an unknown drug before injecting himself with the same substance.

A postmortem conducted by government pathologist Dr. Titus Ngulungu on the remains of Dr. Gakara revealed that the deceased had ingested an unknown substance.

"As a result of my examination, I have formed the opinion that the cause of death was a foreign substance suspected to be medicine,” Dr Ngulungu said

A post-mortem on the bodies of the minors however didn't show the exact cause of death with detectives collecting samples for further analysis.

Family demands answers as detective goes missing

Nakuru

Eric September 26, 2021 0

Francis Oyaro, an intelligence officer attached to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has caused panic to his family after going missing without a trace for close to a month now.

His wife, Veronica Osore, said she last spoke to Oyaro on August 28, when he was on his way back to Nakuru from Marsabit National Park where he is posted.

The detective however did not make it home and his phone went unanswered two days after the call.

Veronica said, "He left in the morning at around 7 am and informed me he was approaching Nanyuki. I expected him home at 6pm, he did not show up."

She added that since then, she has tried to trace her husband through his colleagues and the police but her efforts have been futile.

The missing 45-year-old's immediate boss, Kitavi Kaloki, told Veronica that he was shocked that Oyaro had not arrived home, adding that he had granted the detective a few days off as he had requested.

According to Kaloki, Oyaro hiked a lift on a KWS vehicle that had a driver and two other female colleagues.

The other occupants who safely arrived in Nairobi claimed that the officer alighted the vehicle at Nanyuki.

Another person in Nanyuki claiming to know Oyaro personally insisted he spotted him in the town.

However, he narrated, “They snatched his phone. He asked them to explain why they were trailing him yet they had met the previous day. They took his bag and led him into their car."

According to the anonymous caller, as they were a matatu heading to Nakuru, they were flagged down at Naro Moru by people dressed in civilian clothes whom he believed were known to the detective.

The people who were in a black saloon car ordered Oyaro to alight after flagging the matatu they were in.

According to Marsabit National Park senior warden John Wambua, the matter was reported to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and investigations are underway.

Nakuru doctor who allegedly killed his two children dies in hospital

Nakuru

Eric September 22, 2021 0

James Gakara, a Nakuru-based doctor who is alleged to have killed his two has died while undergoing treatment at the Nakuru Level 5 hospital.

The deceased has been in the health facility's Intensive Care Unit( ICU) since Sunday when he was found unconscious in his home in Milimani, Nakuru.

Gakara, who was a gynecologist is suspected to have killed his two children by injecting them with insulin before attempting suicide.

The children were aged 3 and 5.

Nakuru doctor kills his two children before attempting suicide

Nakuru

Eric September 19, 2021 0

Police are investigating an incident in which a Nakuru based doctor is accused of killing his two children aged 3 and 5 by overdosing them with insulin before attempting suicide on Saturday night

Confirming the incident, Nakuru Police Commander Beatrice Kiraguri said the police were altered about the incident by neighbors.

Police were forced to breaking into the medic's house in Mlimani apartments where they found him still lying on his bed.

"We are not sure what drug the children were injected with and that can only be confirmed through a post mortem examination on the bodies,” said the Police boss

The doctor who has is said to be a obstetrician is currently receiving treatment at the Nakuru Level 5 Hospital under tight security.

The bodies of the minor have since been moved to Nakuru municipal mortuary.

TSC interdicts Nakuru Boys High School principal for charging extra fees

Nakuru

Eric September 03, 2021 0

The Teachers Service Commission has suspended Nakuru High School Principal Yator for charging extra fees between 2020 and 2021.

In a letter seen by The Latest dated September 1st and signed by Nakuru TSC director Fredrick Ng'ang'a, the school head is accused of contravening section 29 of the Basic Education Act by charging extra levies.

The Principal has 21 days to defend himself before the Commission's disciplinary team.

Mr. Yator has been directed to report to the commission's sub-county offices once a month, present evidence in support of the case and vacate office.

Man stabs to death wife's suspected lover after finding them in bed

Nakuru

Eric August 28, 2021 0

Police arrested a 39-year-old man, Micah Nyaberi, on Saturday arrested after he reportedly stabbed to death another man, Bonface Maina Njagi, for sleeping with his wife.

Reportedly, Nyaberi returned home from work when he found Njagi in his Kagoto area house in Nakuru County.

Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) officers stated that the suspect returned to his house unannounced and found 34-year-old in bed with his wife, Harriet Vivian Mboga.

Nyaberi resorted to attacking Njagi relentlessly and ended up stabbing him on his back slightly below the scapula.

Police officers based at Kagoto Patrol Base rushed to the scene after being alerted by neighbors but they found Njagi’s body lying by the gate in a pool of blood.

Nyaberi and his wife were arrested and handed over to DCI Nakuru North detectives for further investigations.

Woman arrested over allegedly killing a bar owner in Nakuru

Nakuru

Eric August 22, 2021 0

Police in Nakuru have arrested a woman for allegedly killing a female bar owner over a supposed love triangle.

According to Rongai sub-county police commander Richard Rotich, the body of the deceased, Teresia Chakoko, was found one of the rooms within Olorongai centre where her bar is located.

Rotich added that it is highly likely that the incident was instigated by a love triangle.

A police report indicated that deceased's body had multiple injuries.

Furthermore, according to preliminary reports, Teresia had complained that the suspect, Anita Njeri, snatched her man.

Witnesses who saw the two women fighting over a man at the bar alerted the police who rushed to the scene.

Rotich confirmed that the suspect who was trying to flee the crime scene was arrested and further investigations are underway.

Three children, nanny die in Nakuru house fire

Nakuru

Eric May 02, 2021 0

Three children and their nanny were killed in an accidental house fire in Pakawa, Nakuru, on Saturday night.

It is believed that a candle was started by a candle.

According to Nakuru County Deputy Police Commander Phanton Analo, the four people had died by the time the police officers arrived at the incident scene.

Reportedly, the home, which was rented out to a police officer named Mary Wandia three days ago, had no electricity. Therefore, the family was lighting their home with a candle.

Johh Mwangi, a neighbor, said, “The nanny had tried unsuccessfully to purchase electricity tokens earlier, and we believe they were using a candle, which could have started the fire.”

The police report indicated that at the time of the incident, Ms Wandia was at work.

A resident of Pakawa in Nakuru, Teresia Nyokabi, said that the fire started on Saturday morning at around about 9 p.m.

The smoke billowing from the building alerted neighbors but they had no idea there were people inside the house.

“We started seeing smoke but couldn’t figure out where it was coming from; by the time we realized the house was on fire, it was too late. At the time, we didn’t know there were people in the house,” Mwangi, another resident said.

The Nakuru County Fire Department and the police made concerted efforts to eventually extinguished the fire.

Three suspects arrested over cultivation of bhang worth Ksh.15M

Nakuru

Eric April 23, 2021 0

Three suspects, Victor Kung’u Wainaina, Broddus Wainaina Kung’u, and Dennis Matete, were arrested by a multi-agency security team in Nakuru on Friday over the cultivation of bhang on a quarter-acre plot.

A police report indicated that the plot of land had full-grown cannabis sativa plants that were ready for harvest and the uprooted and destroyed ones

have a street value of about Ksh.15 million.

The police report stated, “A multi agency security team led by Nakuru Anti-Narcotics sleuths, stormed into the compound and destroyed what would have been a bumper harvest for the owners.”

One of the suspects attempted to stop the operation by claiming to be a member of a Nakuru-based Community Based Organization (CBO) that is permitted to cultivate the plant.

He said, “How comes nyinyi hamjui, halafu mbona hakuna consultation? Hii ndio inanionyesha kuwa hii ni malicious, unajua mnaharibu mali ya CBO, it is quite unfair, we have planted fruits with them.”

Allegedly, the suspect produced a letter that was supposedly was drafted by the CBO.

Another suspect claimed, “It is my constitutional right,” he said, “hata naona sitaki hiyo polisi, I will run for the MCA seat.”

The trio will be held in police custody until they are arraigned in court.

Widow of slain Kiiru Boys Principal convicted of murder

Nakuru

Eric April 22, 2021 0

A Nakuru court has found Jane Muthoni, the woman accused of killing Kiiru Boys High school principal Solomon Mbuthi guilty of murder.

Mbuthi who went missing on November 14th, the eve of Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education( KCSE) exam was found dead a week later in a coffee plantation in Juja, Kiambu County.

Three suspects including his wife were arrested and arraigned in court days later.

In his ruling Justice Joel Ngugi also convicted Muthoni's co-accused, Isaac ' Gikuyu' Ng'ang'a.

The two will be sentenced on May 18th.

Kariuku a co-accused however pleaded guilty to manslaughter and consequently turned into a state witness.

He was sentenced to seven years in prison.

According to Police Inspector Clement Mwangi, Muthoni received a text message from Kariuku who was at the crime scene on that fateful day.