The present Constitution does have many principles and institutions of the Bomas draft—but not two critical features, resisted by politicians. When in opposition Kibaki claimed to be bitterly against the executive presidency, denigrating it as an “imperial presidency”. Once (thanks to Raila) he defeated Uhuru in 2002, he became a great champion of executive presidency. We have come full circle: At least on this point, the talk is all of a parliamentary executive system. There is no discussion of the way a parliamentary system really works.

In some cases, politicians, too, are celebrated and heralded as heroes, for being arrested, tortured and even killed for agitating for the democratic and human rights of their fellow citizens. Can the same be said about Kenyan national heroes? Who do Kenyans consider as national heroes? Ask anyone born before that, then the answer would depend on how close to Independence Day they were born. While in prison, Matiba was refused medication and suffered a stroke, which affected half his body and incapacitated him for some time.

Champions Police are gunning for their second win of the season when they face Wazalendo today at City Park as the Kenya Hockey Union men’s Premier League enters its third round. Police launched their title defence last weekend on a positive note, beating Nakuru Club 2-1 and will be hoping to extend the good start. “This is going to be a tough game as Wazalendo will be seeking to prove a point against us. After falling 2-1 to Police last weekend, Nakuru are hoping to bounce back to winning ways when they host Nairobi Sikh Union. On Sunday, Butali Warriors face Parkroad Badgers at City Park.

Mwingi West MP Charles Nguna has urged farmers to use aerial soap to kill armyworms that have invaded their farms. Nguna said it had been proved that sprinkling a solution of the soap on crops kill the worms. Armyworms attacked maize farms two weeks ago with farmers relying on conventional methods of dealing with the pest. Farmers are concerned on the use of aerial soup to kill the worm. Understand that when we have enough rains, these worms always invade our farms but now they should be contained completely.

Supplies to Masalani in ijara subcounty have been cut off following heavy rains that have impaired roads in and out of ijara. Roads between Garissa -Masalani and Masalani -Hulugho have been affected. Essential supplies like fuel,vegetables and food supplies from Mombasa, Garissa and Hola have stopped due to heavy down pour in the sub county and the flooding of River Tana . Supplies of fuel from the three petrol station of Heller, Masalani and Ijara filling stations in Masalani town have reduced tremendously. Fuel operators say they don't know how they will get supplies from Mombasa as roads between Gamba in Tana delta and Kotile had been washed away.

The government has sidelined Kisumu county in the distribution of food for flood victims, Ruth Odinga has said. As a result, genuine flood victims have been sidelined in favour of masqueraders. “We have received reliable information that food meant for flood victims are sold at Ahero in Nyando subcounty. “This nonsense of seeking popularity with relief food meant for flood victims must stop,” she said. Owili said they had allocated Sh113 million to buy relief food.

The government has published a bill seeking to exempt some food products from being taxed in bid to improve the cost of living and realise food security. This means that if adopted, Kenyans are going to pay less for these products while farmers are likely to see a reduction in waste of fruits and food produced in the country. Some of the food products proposed for exemption include unprocessed milk and Maize seed, meat and edible meat offals, Fish and crustaceans, oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, sugarcane, and muluscs. Others are edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers of, edible fruits and nuts, peal of citrus fruits or melon and cereals. More to exempting tax on food products, the government also wants seeds such as those of cotton, mustard, sesamum, sunflower, and the low erucic acid and colza.

At least 30 people have been bitten by snakes, some venomous, in Manda Island in Lamu in one month. “The distance between Manda Island and Lamu Island is huge. We are worried since the snakes are now crawling to our houses,” Manda Island resident Fatma Abdi said. Separately, residents of Kiwayu Island in Lamu have also reported numerous snake incidents. Lamu senior warden Mathias Mwavita on Friday said KWS has not received information about more snakes and attacks on Manda and Kiwayu islands.

Kiambu residents have borne the brunt of heavy rains, which have left many gravelled roads impassable and hurt many sectors. On Friday, the residents told the county to act swiftly and repair the roads before the situation worsens. The rains have washed away the murram and most of the roads have no drainage, especially the rural access roads,” Evans Maina from Githunguri said. They complained that they only see earthmovers on site and leaders commission roads but have little knowledge of the projects. Githunguri MP Gabriel Kago said cash for tarmacking Githunguri roads has been allocated but work will start once the rains stop.

By EDITORIALMore by this AuthorDebate has started in earnest over review of the Constitution to align it with emerging socio-economic and political realities. At least three petitions have been made to Parliament to consider initiating a process of constitutional review. In turn, politicians have been seized of the matter and started discussions outside the House. REVIEWHowever, the ruling Jubilee Party is dismissive of the proposals to reform the Constitution, arguing the document remains solid and warrants no alterations. After eight years of implementation, the Constitution is ripe for an audit, a fact its framers were pretty alive to.

By AFPMore by this AuthorNEW YORKAvicii, one of the world's most successful DJs who helped lead the global boom in electronic music, died Friday in Oman, his representative said. Two years after his unusually early retirement, the Swedish DJ was found dead on a visit to the Gulf kingdom's capital Muscat, a statement said without specifying a cause. "It is with profound sorrow that we announce the loss of Tim Bergling, also known as Avicii," his management said. Avicii was among the first DJs to break through in the mainstream as electronic dance music grew over the past decade from nightclubs to Top 40 radio. In 2016, Avicii stunned fans by announcing his retirement when he was just 26, saying that he wanted to leave the high-flying electronic music lifestyle.

[Photo: Courtesy]Swedish DJ and record producer Avicii, one of the biggest stars of electronic dance music (EDM) in Europe, was found dead on Friday afternoon in Muscat, Oman, his U.S. publicist said. Avicii, whose real name is Tim Bergling, was 28. "It is with profound sorrow that we announce the loss of Tim Bergling, also known as Avicii," publicist Diana Baron said in a statement. Avicii, known for hits like "Wake Me Up" and "Hey Brother," announced in 2016 that he was retiring from touring. Avicii won a number of American Music Awards, Billboard music awards and MTV Europe Music awards for his EDM work.

A private organization has partnered with the Community in Likia-Mau forest to plant over 300,000 indigenous trees, a move that will reverse environmental degradation by doubling forest cover. The tree planting exercise which began on Friday last week will is an ongoing activity until 100 hectares of forest cover is met. The exercise is part of a campaign launched by Environment CS Keriako Tobiko that seeks to increase forest cover to 10 percent by 2022. According to the 2015 National forest policy, the current forest cover in Kenya is 6.9 percent which is below the constitutional requirement of ten percent. Likia Forest is situated along the Njoro – Mau Narok Road some 15 km from Mau Narok town.

Deputy President William Ruto has urged leaders along the Kerio Valley to use cultural exchange programmes to preach peace and reconciliation among communities living in the region. Ruto said communities in the valley of Turkana; West Pokot, Baringo and Samburu Counties could use cultural festivities to preach peaceful coexistence among themselves and with their neighbours. Speaking during the Turkana Cultural Festival held in Lodwar town on Friday, Ruto urged leaders and residents in the region to use the positive part of their culture for peace and harmonious relations. Ruto assured communities along the Kerio Valley that the Government will ensure peace and stability prevailed in the area at all times. He said it is through teamwork and unity that challenges of insecurity along the Kerio valley could be solved.

Barden is busy scooping soil from his farm carpeted with green gram crop just as he checks the soil moisture level. “When I came here, my mind was set that I will grow crops using conservation agriculture methods because the area receives little rainfall but has fertile soils,” he says. Thereafter, one digs the holes for planting seeds or first tills the land using chisel ploughing to a depth of 20cm before he makes planting holes. He notes conservation agriculture can also be used in regions that receive high rainfall with farmers taking advantage of this to plant twice. His prowess in the farming has landed him a new title – conservation farming ambassador.