Kenyan Newspapers Review: Moses Kuria to Skip Ruto’s Highly Publicised 5-Day Tour of Mt Kenya Region

On Tuesday, April 1, President William Ruto is set to start his highly publicised development tour of the Mt. Kenya region. 

The paper reported that Ruto is returning to the Mt Kenya region without five of his key political pillars who contributed to his win in 2022. 

They are former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, former Cabinet secretaries Moses Kuria, Justin Muturi, Mithika Linturi, and Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro. Curiously, Kuria, despite serving as one of Ruto’s many advisors on the economy, will reportedly not accompany the Kenya Kwanza leader during his Mt Kenya tour. 

Political analyst Charles Njoroge believes Ruto's ability to overcome political obstacles in Mt. Kenya without the support of five key figures will be a key test. 

2. Daily Nation 

The publication reported on the government's ongoing efforts to retrieve the body of a Kenyan police officer killed in Haiti. The Multinational Security Support (MSS) has initiated talks with a Haitian gang that has detained the body of the Kenyan police officer. Negotiations are underway to have the gang release the body of Benedict Kuria Kabiru. “Every effort is being made with the belief that the gang will make the best decision of releasing the body to MSS. Already, negotiations through a number of avenues have kicked off,” said a source. 

Kabiru's body is believed to be held by the gang identified as Viv Ansanm (Living Together), which is led by Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier, a former Haitian police officer. highly-publicized-5-day-tour-mt-kenya-region/

A team is exploring the body retrieval. Kabiru died in a gang ambush in the Pont-Sonde Area, Artibonite Department.

3. The Star 

The paper reported on the alleged fraud case involving an online writer identified as Parmenas Kivinga Kisengese. Kisengese, who allegedly conned a US-based Kenyan woman of KSh 870,733, was charged with cheating under Section 315 of the Penal Code at the Makadara Law Courts in Nairobi on March 25. 

Kisengese appeared before Magistrate Praxides Oduke, denied the charges and requested bail. According to the charge sheet, the alleged offence occurred between August 14 and August 18, 2023. 

The magistrate was told that with other suspects not before the court, Kisengese allegedly fraudulently obtained KSh 870,733 from Sandra Mercy Mwangangi. 

4. Taifa Leo 

The publication reported on former chief justice David Maraga's reaction to claims of being state-sponsored ahead of the 2027 General Election. 

Speaking on Sunday, March 30, the former CJ expressed that he is the best candidate for the presidency in 2027. 

The former CJ added that he was still consulting over his State House bid, and he would soon tell Kenyans his presidential ambition. "Just relax, in due course, you will know whether I am a state project. 

We are consulting with people. At the end of the day, it is the people's choice. If you ask me, I would say that I am the right one," Maraga said.