Top Newspaper Headlines for Tuesday, February 9 2021
The expulsion of six nominated senators from the Jubilee Party over disloyalty leads in newspaper reportage on Tuesday, February 9.
Also widely covered are the temporary orders issued by the High Court barring the IEBC from conducting a BBI referendum until hearing and determination of petitions challenging the bill.
Daily Nation
An order issued by the High Court on Monday barring the IEBC from subjecting the BBI Bill to a referendum has been described by Daily Nation as one that has dealt the popular initiative a heavy blow. Despite the court not interfering with the role of county assemblies and parliament in considering the bill, the five-judge bench ruled that even after the bill has been passing in the two Houses, it could still be declared unconstitutional by the court. The court can also declare a referendum as unlawful if it rules that it was not conducted according to the law.
“We decline to interfere with the legislative process but the court can interfere at the tail end. Even when considering the bill, be aware that the court can declare it unconstitutional upon hearing of the petitions,” the judges rule.
People Daily
The Jubilee Parliamentary Group Meeting set to be convened today is likely to see Senate majority whip Irungu Kang’ata ousted from his influential position. Kang’ata is likely to join the list of six other senators whom the party took disciplinary action against after being charged with disloyalty to the party. The Murang’a senator, according to the daily, will be facing the consequences of drafting a controversial letter informing the president the BBI Bill was unpopular in his Mount Kenya backyard. To show that Kang’ata could be next on the chopping board, the PG was communicated to Jubilee senators by his deputy, Senator Farhiya Ali.
Taifa Leo
A man in Nairobi’s Riruta area has been charged with assaulting his mother and destruction of property while demanding to know the identity of his father. John Kinuthia 55, descended on his mother, 88, with a blow and later vandalised her handbag and phone. Kinuthia was arraigned before a Kibera court where he denied the charges. According to court documents, Kinuthia had also demanded to be allocated a section of residential estates his mother owns but the woman rejected the request.
The Standard
ODM leader Raila Odinga has allayed fears that his handshake partner President Uhuru Kenyatta will betray him. Raila, who spoke in Kisumu on Monday, stated that before he struck a cease-fire deal with the president, they held very elaborate talks premised on uniting Kenyans and leaving indelible legacies.
“We had lengthy discussions with the president.
Before we agreed, he brought his issues and I also brought mine. We looked at the resolutions and that is when we shook hands. What we want to see is a united Kenya. We want a nation that upholds what is embroidered in our national anthem. So that plenty can be found within our borders. So we must dwell in unity,” said Raila.
