A KK Security staff who disappeared with Sh25 million that he was transporting from Mombasa to Nairobi has been arrested.

Hudson Nyasaka was arrested in Homa Bay on Sunday alongside three others after being in hiding since August 11.

Police are looking for more suspects.

Nyasaka was transporting the cash from Mombasa airport to JKIA when he went missing.

The cash, which was in foreign currencies of 50,000 US Dollars, 98,500 Euros and 90,000 Swiss Francs, was to be delivered to Trust Bank in Nairobi.

More on this: KK security employee vanishes with Sh25 million

Police arrested him in a room in the town.

He has since been moved to Nairobi with his accomplices.

The High Court has quashed an advert shortlisting candidates for the position of Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice and Supreme Court judge until the JSC reconsiders applicants who were left out of the list.

Justice George Odunga said on Monday that JSC cannot make any recommendations to the President on the appointments until candidates who were left out are reconsidered.

Among those who did not make the shortlist are lawyer Makau Mutua, Isaac Rutenberg, and Supreme Court judge Jackton Ojwang.

More on this: Why lawyer Makau Mutua, Ringera were locked out of CJ shortlist

In the case, professor Yash Pal Ghai and the Trusted Society of Human Rights Alliance moved to court to compel JSC to provide information or criteria used on the shortlisting of applicants for the positions.

They accused the Judicial Service Commission of failing to facilitate accountability and the transparent administration of justice.

But in its response, the commission denied breaching any of its constitutional duties in the ongoing recruitment process.

JSC’s secretary Anne Amadi said no valid grounds have been advanced as to why the commission should be restrained from proceeding with and concluding the process of recruitment of suitable persons to fill the vacant positions.

She argued that the court ought not to permit the petitioners to hold the entire country at ransom when there are no legitimate grounds upon which the process is challenged.

Also read: Man goes to court to stop CJ recruitment, says woman should get job for fairness

In an affidavit, Amadi confirmed that the commission duly observed and complied with all the applicable administrative procedures as stipulated in the constitution and the act.

She said the commission will ensure a fair and just process in scrutinising and reaching the list of the successful candidates who have been scheduled for interviews.

The JSC panel has already commenced interviews on Monday morning with Court of Appeal judge Alnashir Visram undergoing questioning.

More on this: Visram first to face JSC panel as CJ interviews begin August

A youthful parliamentary aspirant caused a stir during the thanksgiving ceremony of Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau on Saturday.

Benson Gatu, 25, arrived at the event in a chopper accompanied by Nairobi senator Mike Sonko's daughter Saumu Mbuvi.

Gatu, a business man aspiring to be Mathioya MP, temporarily disrupted the event with his helicopter's stunts.

"Everything stopped as the attention of the residents was shifted to the landing chopper," a witness said.

Another youthful politician Joseph Kamau Munyoro was also given a thunderous welcome by area residents after he arrived for the ceremoney at Kigumo Bendera high school.

Kamau, who is vying for the Kigumo parliamentary seat was then given a standing ovation after he thanked current MP for service to the two people in his tenure and called for election of development-minded leaders in the coming general elections.

"Our people must ensure that the leader they choose will focus on their needs because development is what we all want."

MPs Mpuri Aburi (Tigania East), Muthomi Njuki (Chuka Igamba Ng'ombe), Alice Wahome (Kandara) and Samburu women representative Maison Leshomo had to stop their speeches to wait for the excitement to calm.

Most locals thought it was governor Mwangi wa Iria who had threatened to storm the event if the host (Jamleck) criticised his development record.

Wa Iria had on Friday warned the MP who is running for the governor’s seat not to mention his name during the event accusing him of using public forums to discredit him.

Read:Kigumo residents promise to back Jamleck’s bid for top job

"We were worried as we thought it was the governor who has made good his threat and decided to attend the event. With the heavy presence of police it would have been an ugly scene," a local told the Star.

Read: I am now ready to oust governor Wa Iria, MP Jamleck says

Gatu, when he spoke, said it was time for people to elect youthful leaders who have the energy to fight for their rights and bring fresh ideas.

"I am here to say that it is time for us as youths to make a difference in the lives of our people," Gatu said.

It's the "dark stain" on Kenya's law enforcement, outrage is mounting.

In yet another apparent extra-judicial killing, the body of a Meru nurse allegedly abducted by cops was discovered yesterday at a Machakos mortuary.

The discovery comes days after two men suspected to be policemen walked into the Mwingi Level 4 Hospital before dawn on Thursday and pumped 10 bullets into a patient, a hawker. The man was being treated for gunshot wounds. His sister watched in horror and fears for her life.

Two policemen have been arrested and charged in the death.

Killings persist despite a direct message to President Uhuru Kenyatta by US President Barrack Obama, delivered two weeks ago by Secretary of State John Kerry, calling for an end to extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.

Human rights activists yesterday again demanded Uhuru urgently launch a judicial commission of enquiry into widespread killings, allegedly by security agencies.

Uhuru has yet to comment or condemn the killings.

Yesterday, 15 national and international rights groups said in a joint press statement that Kenya must "acknowledge the troubling increase of abductions" allegedly involving security agencies.

Last night police spokesman Owino Wahongo promised the Star a statement would be issued on the issue but none was received by press time.

Kenyan authorities have denied a policy of extrajudicial killings and disappearances and blame 'isolated' cases on rogue cops.

Yesterday, the body of 31-year-old Job Omariba was discovered at the Machakos District Hospital mortuary where it had been lying for eight days.

On Sunday, three police officers from Kabete and Riruta police stations, together with a taxi driver suspected to have been involved in the disappearance, were arrested by the Special Crime Prevention Unit in the case of the missing medic.

They were arraigned in a Kibera court on Monday and remanded for 10 days so police could investigate.

Omariba was a nurse at Cottolengo Catholic Mission Hospital and owned a Meru butchery. He was identified by his wife Lucy Omariba, who worked at the same hospital, and by special unit officers.

He went missing in Nairobi on August 21 after meeting a woman said to have promised to help his business. She has recorded a statement and is to testify for the prosecution.

She allegedly lured Omariba at the request of a police officer claiming he was linked to theft of five goats from his Meru farm.

According to sources, the policemen claimed Omariba slaughtered the goats for sale in his butchery.

The woman lured Omariba, who was abducted and killed.

Mortuary records indicate the body was delivered to the mortuary by police and booked as "identity unknown."

The officers who took the body allegedly said it was collected at Salama area in Machakos. No identification documents were found and initial police reports stated said he was the victim of a hit-and-run traffic accident.

Yesterday, investigators viewed the body and established it had visible injuries to the neck and hands, indicating possible torture before death.

This case comes hot on the heels the murder at Mwingi Hospital where Ngandi Malia Musyemi was executed.

The 27-year-old was shot in the ward while a second man kept watch.

Musyemi had earlier told police at the hospital that he had been carjacked in Majengo area in Kitui, blindfolded, taken to a thicket at Sosoma junction where he was shot in the head and ribs. A Good Samaritan took him to hospital where he talked to police who then departed.

His family wants to know why police abandoned the shooting victim in hospital, instead of placing him under guard, only for him to be shot again.

Two months ago there was an uproar when human rights lawyer Willie Kimani, his client Josephat Mwenda and taxi driver Joseph Muiruri were tortured and killed allegedly by police officers.

Four Administration Police officers from the Mlolongo AP camp are facing murder charges. The trio were last seen on June 23 after Kimani represented Mwenda in a shooting case he filed against a police officer. He was subsequently harassed by police after he refused to withdraw the case.

"Enforced disappearances are both illegal and devastating to families. They cause untold suffering to relatives and friends, who often never learn whether their loved one is alive or dead,” says Otsieno Namwaya, Africa researcher at New York-based Human Rights Watch.

HRW documented 34 "enforced disappearances" and 11 suspected "extrajudicial killings" over two years in Garissa, Mandera and Wajir counties as part of counter-terrorism operations in the predominantly ethnic Somali northeast.

More than 100 Kenyans have “disappeared” since the year began.

In Mombasa county alone, there have been 78 killings and enforced disappearances in two months, according to Haki Africa executive director Hussein Khalid.

On Friday, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho is to lead demonstrations against the killings. They will coincide with President Uhuru's visit to the coastal city and tensions are high.

Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir says young people are being targeted.

The latest victim Coast victim is16-year-old Tony Kenga, killed by police on August 12, ostensibly for belonging to a gang. He was shot while walking home from a wedding.

On Monday evening, Joho led lawmakers, clerics, Tony's parents and the public in storming Nyali police station to demand answers about the killing. They included Nassir, Kisauni MP Rashid Bedzimba, Badi Twalib (Jomvu MP) and Mishi Mboko (Mombasa women representative).

Bedzimba said he is bitter his nephew, Salim Hanjari, was killed by police on July 21 on suspicion of terrorism-related activities.

The protests yesterday coincided with the UN International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances, observed annually on August 30.

Rights groups say Kenyan police, army, intelligence agencies and wildlife service are behind the wave of kidnappings and killings.

According to international human rights law, an enforced disappearance occurs when a person has been detained by government officials or their agents, followed by refusal to acknowledge deprivation of the person’s liberty or to disclose what has happened to the person.

HRW's Namwaya says Muslim communities are the most affected by disappearances, “caught between the threat of the armed militant group al Shabaab and security forces carrying out abusive counter-terrorism operations”.

“While Kenyan government officials often condemn al Shabaab's horrific violence, they remain troublingly silent about security forces’ role in enforced disappearances,” he said.

Justus Nyang’aya, country director of Amnesty International Kenya, said, “Enforced disappearance is a crime under international law. Kenya must take concrete steps towards ratifying the Convention without reservation to ensure that impunity does not prevail for this cruel human rights violation.”

In their press statement yesterday, the 15 rights groups called for investigation.

"Enforced disappearances have become widespread practice and a dark stain on the fabric of law enforcement in Kenya," said Peter Kiama, executive director of the Independent Medico-Legal Unit. "[This] can only be sustainably addressed by bringing to account those suspected of responsibility through fair trials," he said.

“While indeed Kenya faces a real security threat from al Shabaab, it must not resort to unlawful responses that amount to crimes under international law and violate human rights,” said Kamau Ngugi, executive director of the National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders.

The groups signing the statement include the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, Kenya Human Rights Commission, National Coalition for Human Rights Defenders – Kenya, Protection International and Amnesty International Kenya. Others are Independent Medico-Legal Unit, Constitution & Reform Education Consortium, Kenyans for Peace with Truth and Justice, Africa Centre for Open Governance, among others.

At least 30 boys may be recovering from bungled circumcisions in the just conluded mass exercise by the Bukusu in Western Kenya. Although medics have not released the figures, a spot check by the Star reveals many boys were admitted and discharged from hospital after the traditional rite of passage this month.

In one case, a teenager in Lutaso village, Webuye, is still nursing injuries after his manhood was chopped off. The 13-year-old boy’s parents believe the incident was a mere accident because the initiator had performed the cut on many other boys on different occasions.

This is the dark side of the rite that comes with pomp and pride once every leap year. This year, it took place in Bungoma, Kakamega, Trans Nzoia and parts of Busia counties, targeting more than 7,000 boys aged between 13 and 18 years.

It is a closely guarded secret that not all circumcisions are successful. Several traditional circumcisers have been taken to court and charged with inflicting damage on young boys while circumcising them.

Sixty-year-old Jared Wafula from Ndivisi was recently charged with badly performing the cut on the 13-year-old boy. He pleaded not guilty and told the court this was just bad luck because he has been cutting boys for eight years.

Elders argue that the traditional cut is not performed by quacks, but by strictly chosen elders who have been “spiritually called” to do the task. They must belong to a family of initiators and have undergone the cut themselves. Aside from being required to have a head full of hair, they are banned from having sex during the circumcision season.

Elders blame the accidents on ‘musambwa’, which implies that something might go wrong if the circumciser met an evil person on the way to the ceremony. They say more than 7,000 boys were circumcised last month, and only a few of those were “botched”.

Webuye County Hospital medical superintendent Patrick Mutoro blames quack doctors. “We have boys here whose manhoods have been ruined by some people who have just been idling in the village but now claim to be doctors who go round homes, performing the cut and injuring young boys. We want parents to bring their children to hospital and be cut properly,” he said.

In another case, a 70-year-old man and his 40-year-old daughter were lynched because villagers suspected they had bewitched a 15-year-old boy from Sirisa, who died after a botched cut.

The two were lynched at their home. The man’s wife escaped and called the police. She says her family has no witches. Death during circumcision may come if families bring out long-standing disputes during the exercise, she said.

In another case, a 27-year-old man was stabbed to death at Chetambe village in Webuye East, when a fight broke out during the night songs by the boys in Khuminya.

Among the Bukusu and the Tachoni subtribes of the Luhya in western Kenya and the Abamasaba in Uganda, one has to be circumcised the traditional way before they are 18 years old, to be recognised as “man enough”.

The initiates are now allowed to marry and be leaders in the community.

Bishop Pius Wafula of the Catholic Church in Kimatuni parish prefers that children go to the hospital and be cut by professionals to prevent the spread of diseases.

“We think with the coming of education and modernisation, parents should take their children to hospitals,” he says.

However, some Bukusu and Tachoni traditional circumcises from Bungoma county have threatened to forcibly stop doctors from going to homesteads to “interfere” with their work.

They says these medics simply circumcise boys and do not teach them proper Bukusu morals that accompany the traditional cut.

“When we circumcise these boys in the traditional way, we impart on them many teachings of the Bukusu that were taught since the old days; how they ought to live with their wives and carry themselves as respected members of the society,” says Walinywa Mukhamule, an elder from Bumula constituency.

He says it’s disturbing that even women and uncircumcised medics are allowed nowadays to perform the cut on boys in hospitals. This is a taboo among the Bukusus, he says. “We want our boys to know exactly who they are and where they came from and stop being brainwashed to think their culture is primitive or full of witchcraft.”

Walinywa claims some of the medics even go away with the boys’ foreskins and end up ‘spoiling’ their future.

But not all is gloomy. The Bukusu ceremony has made booming business this year, says Simon Wekesa, a livestock vendor who sells cows, sheep and goats at the Kimilili market. He says a lot of people buy animals to be slaughtered in the ceremony.

“We are making a killing this season as most of those who are taking their children for the cut want animals to slaughter during the events and to give to their children after the cut,” he says.

Before a boy is cut, two cows are slaughtered, one at the parents’ home and the other at the uncle’s homestead. Some parts of the cows’ meat are worn on the boy’s body and special rituals are performed.

When a boy is cut, he stands on a special prepared ground called ‘etyangi’. Family members are usually keen when preparing it and no one is allowed to touch it because that might be a bad omen.

During the cut, every drop of blood shed is keenly monitored so that no witches and wizards can tamper with it.

It said that during that period, witches and wizards may come out and try to spoil children’s futures while they are facing the cut.

CFC Stanbic Bank has become the first lender to cut rates for all loans - both new and existing.

In a press briefing this morning, CFC chief executive officer Philip Odero said the bank has answered the cry of borrowers in cutting rates for both old and new loans.

In realigning its rates to the new law, this means it will charge an interest of not more than 14.5 per cent on all loans.

Co-operative Bank was the first lender to cut lending rates in line with the new law passed last week capping interest rates at 400 basis points above the prevailing Central Bank Rate.

Read:Co-op Bank caps loans at 14.5% as rout on bank stock persists

Majority of lenders followed suit announcing that new loans will be charged an interest of 14.5 per cent but said they will await Central Bank directive on existing loans.

Other than Co-op and CFC other banks that have reduced their lending rates as per the new law are Kenya Commercial Bank, Standard Chartered and Barclays.

Read:Law to cap interest rates welcome

Appellate judge David Maraga on Wednesday found himself at pains to demonstrate his expertise in applying the law in conflicting lawsuits when he was interviewed by JSC.

The Kisumu-based judge was the third to be interviewed for the position of the next Chief Justice.

Attorney General Githu Muigai, one of the panelists, put Maraga to the test when he sought to know how he would pass judgements in suits where two or several laws are at conflict with each other.

He used a case study of a surrogate mother who decides not to forfeit ownership of a child to its separated biological parents and each is seeking custody.

"So, now you have a three way dispute. What law shall we turn to because in my view, there is none?" Muigai asked.

He added: "To seal these loopholes, shall we turn to the law of contract, the children’s Act or the Constitution to find the answer of who should have this baby,"

Maraga admitted that the question was tricky but answered nonetheless. "In this scenario, the child's interest is paramount," he said.

He stated that he would also consider whether or not the contract signed between the surrogate mother and the couple was legal; and whether it went against public policy or not.

Maraga’s understanding of the law was again tested when the AG painted a similarly delicate situation that required a decision that goes beyond the application of the law or the constitution.

Read: High Court quashes CJ, DCJ, Supreme Court judge shortlist as interviews commence

Muigai sought to know what the judge would do in a scenario where a terminally ill patient writes a will that s/he be put off life support in the event that they are in a vegetative state; but his family disputes the decision on grounds that assisted suicide is illegal in Kenya.

"The Constitution states that life is sacred, and as you have stated, euthanasia is not legal in Kenya," justice Maraga said.

Euthanasia is a legal term that refers to the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or one who is in an irreversible coma.

Muigai did not stop there. He put it across to Maraga to explain what parameters he would use as Chief Justice to qualify a dispute for adjudication "as not all disputes are ripe for adjudication".

Maraga was also asked how he would decide political cases which cannot be resolved through judicial processes.

The AG also sought to know if justice Maraga agreed with the argument that the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court over a dispute can only stand if the bench is constituted of a minimum of five judges.

He responded by saying the court can pass substantial orders only if the bench is made up of the legally acceptable quorum.

"A single judge of the court can only at most give a procedural order like applications to appeal out of time," said justice Maraga.

Read: Longest serving judge Mbogholi promises to clear backlog of cases

Former American ambassador to Kenya Michael Rannerberger paid dowry for his Kenyan wife on Tuesday in a colourful ceremony held at Ololchani village in Narok county.

Rannerberger paid 20 cows as dowry for Ruth Konchellah who he met 10 years ago during a tour at the Enoosaen area.

He had gone to see cows donated by members of the Uasin Gishu clan to the American government, in remembrance of those who died during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack.

‘’Ruth was among a group of women who welcomed me with a song and dance when I toured the Enoosaen area, after which we spoke briefly [and] she told me that she managed a non-governmental organisation known as ‘Cherise Others’ which was involved in a campaign to fight Female Genital Mutilation and early marriages,’’ Rannerberger said.

From left: Former US Ambassador to Kenya Michael Rannerberger, his wife Ruth Konchellah and his mother-in-law Grace Mesopirr at the dowry ceremony, August 30, 2016 /EDWIN NYARANGI

The former Ambassador said that they exchanged contacts and "one thing led to another".

He said after they became an item and they have gone on to confound many who thought that their relationship was short-lived.

He described the payment of dowry as "the crowning of their 10-year relationship".

Former US Ambassador to Kenya Michael Rannerberger and his wife Ruth Kochellah share a plate of nyama choma during the dowry ceremony, August 30, 2016 /EDWIN NYARANGI

Rannerberger was all praises for his mother-in-law Grace Mesopirr, who served as a continuity announcer in the Kenya Broadcasting Cooperation in 1960s.

She was also a cultural assistant in the Kenyan Embassy in France for 25 years.

Rannerberger’s wife Ruth was overjoyed that her husband had decided to adhere to the African customs by paying dowry to her mother.

Rannerberger prepares to cut some nyama choma for his wife Ruth Konchellah during the dowry ceremony, August 30, 2016 /EDWIN NYARANGI

He spent a better part of Monday at the Kilgoris Livestock market bargaining for the cattle.

‘’This is a very special day in my life since I do not know what to say but I am grateful that my husband has seen the need to comply to this very important custom to the members of the Maasai community and all Africans,’’ she said.

From right: Former US Ambassador to Kenya Michael Rannerberger, his wife Ruth Konchellah, his mother-in-law Grace Mesopirr singing a Maasai song at the dowry ceremony, August 30, 2016 /EDWIN NYARANGI

During the ceremony attended by a few invited guests, they ate a lot of nyama choma accompanied with drinks to celebrate the official marriage of Rannerberger and Ruth as per the Maasai Culture.

The couple are going to stay in the country for a few days after which they will leave for the United States of America where Rannerberger is a Consultant in the Private sector.

From right: Former US Ambassador to Kenya Michael Rannerberger, his wife Ruth Konchellah and mother-in-law Grace Mesopirr in Mesopirr's home, August 30, 2016 /EDWIN NYARANGI

Fierce lobbying is underway for coveted, powerful positions in the mega Jubilee Party, just nine days to the official launch.

President Uhuru Kenyatta's TNA and Deputy President William Ruto's URP will get six of the 21 national positions. The other 13 Jubilee affiliate parties will share the remaining 15 positions.

The launch of the party is on September 10 in a three-day JP jamboree involving more than 123,000,000 delegates and others.

Though there are hundreds of positions down to the polling station level, the focus is on the 21 national offices and 47 county chairmanships.

Professionals are also angling for key party organisations, including the secretariat, advisory council, Jubilee Foundation, business council, the council of elders, the elections board and the county elections board.

The county elections board will run hotly contested primaries.

Election for the positions had been anticipated on September 9, ahead of the main launch on September 10 at the Moi International Sports Complex, Kasarani.

However, the Jubilee Party constitution to be ratified on September 9 says the positions will be filled through consensus.

"The merger Party shall agree by consensus on the distribution and sharing of Party positions among officials of dissolved parties having regard to the respective strengths of the dissolved parties," the document says.

According to insiders, TNA and URP will hold positions of Party Leader, Deputy Party Leader, National Chairman, Secretary General, National Organising Secretary and National Treasurer.

Three weeks ago, Uhuru and Ruto indicated they were not keen on taking up positions, though there are suggestions they become Party Leader and Deputy Party Leader.

Expert comment: Creating a political monolith may prove to be shortsighted

URP will hold positions of National Chairman and Organising Secretary and TNA will take Secretary General and National Treasurer positions.

Other than the 21 national officials, 19 positions will up for grabs in every county, 11 at every constituency, 11 at every ward and 11 at every polling station.

The contest at the county level is because all county chairmen, secretaries, treasurers, organising secretaries, women leaders, youth leaders and heads of persons with disabilities will be part of the National Governing Council.

The NGC is the second-highest JP organ and will include the Party Leader and Deputy Party Leader. It will also have members of the National Executive committee, all party MPs, governors, majority and minority leaders and whips to represent MCAs.

Yesterday, Ruto chaired a Jubilee Parliamentary Group meeting at his official residence where merger plans were discussed.

Afterward, the presidency confirmed the JP Convention will run from next Thursday to Saturday.

"... the 15 Jubilee affiliate parties' delegations conventions will be on Thursday in various locations. The full party convention will take place on Friday, culminating on Saturday when the Jubilee Party is unveiled in an event expected to attract over 100,000 Kenyans and eminent leaders from other political parties from across the world to witness the historic launch," the statement said.

The issue of positions arose in yesterday's meeting but Ruto insisted party strength be the criterion.

Yesterday, TNA Secretary General Onyango Oloo said no one, other than Uhuru and Ruto, knows who will fill which position.

"The President and DP have already taken over as interim party leader and deputy party leader. We also gave them unfettered authority to appoint interim national officials. All we said is this should be based on the strength of each party and should follow the current political landscape and represent the face of Kenya," Oloo said.

Depending on their strength in elected leaders, the other 10 parties will share out the three positions of Deputy National Chairman, the three Deputy Secretaries General and the three Deputy National Treasurers.

The 10 other JP affiliates will also share the positions of Deputy National Organising Secretary, National Youth Leader, National Women's Leader and National Leader of Persons with Disabilities.

Besides TNA and URP, other parties folding and merging into JP are JAP, APK, UDF, New Ford Kenya, Ford People, UPK, PNU, Republican Council, TIP TIP and GNU.

APK and NFK have been angling for key positions. Their most prominent figures are Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi and Water CS Eugene Wamalwa, respectively.

However, it appears they will be excluded by the JP Constitution's clause on party strength said to have been engineered by TNA and URP, whom it favours.

It also emerged on Saturday that Jubilee Alliance Party will be transformed into the Jubilee Party, which has not been well received by everyone.

Notice of the transformation was published in dailies on Saturday by JAP secretary general Veronica Maina.

"Notice is hereby given Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP), a fully registered political party, wishes to amend constitution, rules, and regulations, title, name and address of the party officials, name, symbol, slogan and colour in accordance with section 20 of the Political Parties Act 2011," reads the advert.

JAP was formed in January 2015 last year as the TNA-URP merger party. It has two legislators, Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu and Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot.

Jubilee Party's National Steering committee will meet today to iron out issues. It is co-chaired by Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi and former Kwanza MP Noah Wekesa.

The issue of collapsing into JAP-JP will be discussed, as some affiliate parties feel some big party officials are already taking up positions.

Jubilee MPs say the Political Parties Act was amended to allow parties to merge into an already-existing political party.

All affiliates have been instructed to bring 500 delegates to Nairobi, 10 from every county, to the National Delegates Convention,

However, some parties say they should have more delegates than others, as some do not have elected leaders.

This has led to a vicious power struggle between elected county leaders and aspirants, each group trying to control the delegates' list. Hopefuls accuse incumbents of trying to block them from holding party positions to insure their own nominations.

Sexuality returned to the fore yet again as the Judicial Service Commission yesterday interviewed candidates for the Chief Justice position.

Candidate David Maraga said the law should accommodate intersex people. “Gays and lesbians have chosen a way of life, which is condemned by many religions. Marriage is between a man and a woman,” he said.

Maraga seemed sympathetic to intersex people, saying they never chose to be born the way they are and they need to be protected and provided for. “Intersex did not choose to be what they are. As long as what they are urging is not against the public, the law and does not infringe on anyone’s rights, they should be accommodated. Anyone can get an intersex child and you have to provide for them and protect them,” he said.

Maraga was tasked to explain how he would deal with an intricate child custody case in which a surrogate mother and a biological one demand the child’s custody.

He said even though it is a grey area in law, he would put the child’s interests first and consider the agreement between the two parents and the surrogate mother under normal contract law. Maraga, however, believes the emerging issue of assisted suicide should not be handled by courts.

He categorically told the JSC he would not work on a Saturday because he is a Seventh-Day Adventist and his religion forbids work on the Sabbath.

Maraga said if need arose for him to work on Saturday, he would implore his colleagues to accommodate him and come up with a way of getting the work done, even if it meant working late or putting in extra hours.

Maraga disagreed with the Supreme Court in its ruling expanding its jurisdiction to handle election petitions other than those of the presidential election. He said the court’s powers are limited to only handling a petition challenging a presidential election.

Kenya is arguably the biggest winner of the just concluded sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, which left Africa with a $30 billion (Sh3.042 trillion) investment pledge from Japan.

From minting more than Sh12 billion in the hospitality and tourism industry which saw city hotels record 100 per cent occupancy, as the host country, Kenya also sealed major deals with Japan from the summit which focuses on Japan-Africa development.

TICAD first held in Tokyo on October, 5 and 6, 1993 with the intention to bring global attention back to Africa. In the early 1990s, global interest in Africa relatively faded after the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the end of the Cold War. Capitalist and communist countries had raced to support African countries in order to expand their own blocs and spheres of influence.

The Government of Japan established TICAD to promote Africa’s development, peace and security, through the strengthening of relations in multilateral cooperation and partnership, particularly with the country.

In the course of the past 20 years, TICAD which is organised by Japan, the United Nations, the World Bank, the UN Development Program and the African Union, has evolved into a major global and open multilateral forum.

For the first time in history, the forum was held outside Japan and Kenya boasts of becoming the first foreign country not only in Africa, but globally, to play host to the forum.

A harvest of MOU’s

On August 26, Kenya entered two key agreements with Japan, setting pace for the conference which culminated with 73 MoUs between Japan and Africa countries, with Kenya securing 22 MoUs.

The two were a ‘High Quality Infrastructure’ agreement which seeks to promote development of superior quality projects in the country.

Mining CS Dan Kazungu also penned an MOU with Japan’s Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation, on remote sensing technology in field mineral resources.

On August 28, Kenya and Japan entered an agreement on the ‘Promotion and Protection of Investment’ signed by Japan Foreign Affairs Minister Fumio Kishida and National Treasury CS Henry Rotich.

The agreement aims at further protection and promotion of investment between the contracting parties. It entails fair and equitable treatment of investments, free transfers requirements, conditions for expropriation and compensation and procedures for dispute settlements.

President Uhuru Kenyatta who hosted more than 30 Africa heads of state and top government officials called on Africa to “stand as one in pursuit of equitable growth”.

“It is only by coming together, to embrace partnership, mutual respect and long-term thinking that we can make the world more secure for the dreams of our people,” said Uhuru at the conference, attended by over 10,000 delegates including twenty - three Presidents, nine Prime Ministers and more than five Vice Presidents.

It was the biggest gathering of leaders in Kenya in more than 30 years, signaling President Uhuru’s aggressive foreign policy, including visits abroad to trumpet Kenya as the investment destination of choice on the continent, were bearing fruit. All African countries except Libya and Morocco attended the meeting where 33 countries were represented.

The forum also attended by more than 100 chief executive officers from top Japanese corporations, saw Kenya rekindle its long term relationship with Japan, which pledged Sh10 billion for economic and social development in the country. President Uhuru said the grant will go towards building food security and sustainable agriculture as well as strengthening the health sector.

The two countries agreed on priority areas of corporation which include health, energy, infrastructure development, education, trade and security.

During the forum, the Kenya Investment Authority signed three MoUs, a move that will see increased investment flow from Japan, managing director Moses Ikiara said.

These include a partnership with the Japan External Trade Organisation to offer Kenyan investments in Japan.

Keninvest also signed MoUs with Japan’s Mizuho bank and the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi.

“The two cover all big corporates in Japan. They will directly offer investment opportunities in Kenya to their clients in Japan,” Ikiara said.He said Kenya is eying investments in agro-processing, energy, telecommunication, tourism among others.

Kenya also took the opportunity to push for more market access of local products in Japan.

“What we have asked Abe is for easy and more market access for agricultural products which include tea and horticultural produces,” Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Kirpono Kittony said.

He said Kenya firms have also initiated talks to have equity in Japan-Kenya based companies.

“We expect a lot of benefits to come from TICAD for our local industries,” Kittony said.

Kenya’s health sector was also a big beneficiary of the forum.

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta’s Beyond Zero initiative received a Sh8 million mobile laboratory from four international companies. The fully fledged lab that has a higher disease diagnostic capacity than a normal basic lab was donated through a joint partnership between Japanese entities Toyota Tsusho, Sysmex and Terumo Corporations alongside Eiken Chemical. The facility will largely concentrate on diagnosing blood-related diseases and CD4 counts in informal settlements and other areas where HIV/Aids is prevalent.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Japan will use Kenya as a model country in Africa, in its move to foster universal healthcare.

Kenya and Japan also signed an MoU to jointly develop the Mombasa-Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone, with Kenya securing Sh27 billion from the Japanese government in form of both loan and grant for the project. In February, Cabinet approved the development of the 1,326 hectares SEZ facility, which could create up to 27,000 jobs. It will host wholesale and retail trading entities, breaking bulk, re-packaging logistics, warehousing, cargo handling and storage among others.

“We will re-enforce our corporation for ports and harbor development as well as geothermal in regards to quality infrastructure promotion.” Abe said.

Other achievements during TICAD VI include Kenya-Japan corporation in maritime security and the fight against terrorism.

President Uhuru Kenyatta also called on Japan to take advantage of Kenya’s position as the regional hub and gateway to East and Central Africa, to set up firms in Kenya and penetrate the regional market.

Kenya will be seeking to leverage on its long term relationship with Japan to reap maximum benefit from the $30 billion (Sh3.042 trillion) investment pledge to Africa. Part of the pledge is a $10 billion (Sh1.014 trillion) kitty for infrastructure development starting this year, which Kenya will be seeking to gain from.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the funds will be channeled through the African Development Bank, focusing on electrical power, urban transport systems, roads and ports. Uhuru affirmed his government’s commitment to create an enabling environment for the operation of private businesses.

Japan’s Nairobi pledge comes in addition to a 2013 - five year investment promise of $30 billion (Sh3.042 trillion). Japan has already implemented 67 per cent of the aid money, Abe said.

TICAD VI also saw the adoption of the “Nairobi Declaration” which will guide the development agenda between Japan and Africa for the next three years. Japan took advantage of the forum to market among others, its infrastructure development programme and industrial sector to the Kenyan government and private sector.

Its aggressive move to bring TICAD to Africa’s door step signals a battle for the share of the continent’s development project, where countries like Kenya have increased engagement with the likes of China attributed to its “flexible debt terms and low-cost infrastructure technology”.

(+)Key Japanese projects

One of the key projects is the construction of the Sh30 billion Mombasa port second container terminal, which will be commissioned on Friday. Completed in March, the project by Toy Construction Company brought an additional 550,000 twenty-foot-equivalent unit capacity at the port, raising the port’s total capacity to 1.65million TEUs.

Japan has provided loans and technical assistance to Kenya’s geothermal projects in the past, among them a $408 million (Sh41.4 billion) loan signed in March, to build a 140 MW geothermal plant expected to be operational within two years.

Historical projects by Japan include the Nyali Bridge in Mombasa which was completed in 1980.

Japan through its development agency - JICA is currently co-financing the design of the proposed Likoni Bridge, together with the Kenyan government.

Ruth Kamande, who came to the limelight last September for allegedly stabbing her lover 22 times, was crowned the most beautiful woman at the Langata Women's Prison on Wednesday.

Her dashing beauty awed the judges leaving them with no doubt but to crown her the beauty queen.

But Ruth regrets her action which has led to her incarceration at the remand prison for one year now.

More on this: [PHOTOS] Woman accused of stabbing boyfriend 22 times crowned Miss Langata prison

Ruth's fragile hands and likable demeanor contrast with her moment of madness that led to the stabbing of her beloved boyfriend Farid Ahmed in Buru Buru estate on September 20, 2015.

It was said in court that she stabbed Farid, 23, after finding lewd text messages from a secret lover.

Ruth, 22, allegedly also sustained stab wounds on her stomach, right thigh and left hand during the fight.

Ruth says if she could take back the hand of time, she would not commit the crime.

“There is always a better way to resolve issues than getting to the extreme,” she said regretfully a few hours before being crowned Miss Langata Prison 2016.

Ruth alias 'Biggy' was crowned after trouncing 19 contestants.

The trained beautician, now serving her twelfth month as a remandee, stunned contest judges with her elegance, flawless moves, confidence and her short, firm strides, to win the competition.

Sitting with her, it is hard to imagine that the happy-go-lucky girl, who even sang during the contest, faces such serious charges in the country.

But she says she is a reformed person.

The beauty says prison is not as bad a place as she initially thought. Despite going through hard times and stress in the beginning, Ruth says she has learnt to accept the situation and smile through it.

“Despite lack of freedom, prison is not a bad place. They have reform programmes and I was enrolled immediately I came in and went through counseling,” she said.

She said the best way to live in prison is to show the management your willingness to reform.

"If you show them you are ready to change they give you the opportunity to engage in different activities like what I am doing now,” she said referring to her new modeling career.

Ruth's case is currently at pre-trial and she denied charges against her.

A Tanzanian named Tina Martin, who is facing drug smuggling charges, was first runners up, while Susan Wairimu, who is accused of robbery with violence, came in third place.

Speaking during the event, the deputy commissioner general of prisons in charge of Langata, Olivia Obel said the event is meant to celebrate beauty behind bars.

“We are bringing out beauty with a difference, showing the world that there is beauty in prison,” she said.

Olivia said they are giving their clients (prisoners) a second chance and asked the society to accept them when released, without stigmatising them.

Nairobi women representative Rachel Shebesh who attended the event said such events make the women feel human and should be encouraged.

“Celebrating their beauty makes them feel their life is worth something,” she said adding that most of those young girls in prison commit crimes for lack of guidance.

Shebesh offered to pay bail for petty offenders who are in prison and lack funds to pay bond.

“It’s not sensible to remand petty offenders just because they cannot afford bail. This only congests the prisons,” she said.

Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg is in Kenya.

The 32-year-old Internet entrepreneur and philanthropist announced his arrival via his Facebook page where he pointed out that his mission is to meet with Kenyan entrepreneurs and developers and learn about mobile money.

The post read: “Just landed in Nairobi! I'm here to meet with entrepreneurs and developers, and to learn about mobile money -- where Kenya is the world leader.

I'm starting at a place called iHub, where entrepreneurs can build and prototype their ideas. Two of the engineers I met -- Fausto and Mark -- designed a system to help people use mobile payments to buy small amounts of cooking gas, which is a lot safer and better for the environment than charcoal or kerosene. It's inspiring to see how engineers here are using mobile money to build businesses and help their community.”

Zuckerberg was also spotted at Mama Oliech's eatery in Yaya, accompanied by ICT CS Joe Mucheru and PS Victor Kyalo.

"I had lunch in Nairobi with Joseph Mucheru, the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary of Information and Communications. We talked about internet access and his ambitious plans for connecting everyone in Kenya."

The billionaire praised Ugali, a popular Kenyan food, " We ate at MAMA Oliech Restaurant. -- a local place everyone recommended. One of my favorite parts of traveling to a new country is trying the food. I enjoyed ugali and a whole fried tilapia for the first time and loved them both!"

Zuckerberg's surprise visit to Kenya comes after the one in Nigeria where he staged a surprise visit to the country's economic capital Lagos on Tuesday.

His message while in Nigeria had glaring similarities to the one he posted on his Facebook page when he landed in Kenya on Thursday.

He said: "This is my first trip to sub-Saharan Africa. I'll be meeting with developers and entrepreneurs, and learning about the startup ecosystem in Nigeria. The energy here is amazing and I'm excited to learn as much as I can."

Nailab founder Sam Gichuru responded to Zuckerberg’s surprise visit to his company with a simple Facebook message that read, “Surprise visit by @Mark Zuckerberg to the Kenyan tech ecosystem. In Kenya.”

In June, his foundation the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative made a multi-million dollar investment in Andela, a two-year-old startup that trains African software developers and gives them full-time roles at international companies.

Andela works out of headquarters in Lagos and Nairobi, Kenya.

Zuckerberg has also put his weight behind an initiative called "Free Basics," which provides free Internet access to cellphone users in under-served countries, including Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya.

Late last year, Zuckerberg and his wife Dr. Priscilla Chan pledged to donate billions of Facebook shares to fund projects and charities that advance human potential and promote equality though their Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

She has mesmerised men online with her stunning looks and the women are envious of her bedazzling beauty. Ruth Kamande is the talk of town thanks to Langata Women's Prison beauty pagent that went down yesterday.

The 22-year-old woman alias Bigy, is accused of stabbing her 24-year-old boyfriend, Fareed Mohammed to death with a knife. in a fight over a text message. After the fight, Ruth was is admitted at Metropolitan Hospital under police watch. She was admitted with a stab wounds in the stomach, right thigh and left arm.

Full Details Here: Woman kills lover over text

According to The Star, the landlord told police on patrol there was a commotion in the house where the two lived. When the police arrived at 10am, they found Ruth holding a kitchen knife and walking around the house. There were spots of blood in the sitting room and bedroom. Police found Fareed’s body on the bed. They recovered the knife and a broken mobile phone from the house.

Ruth made a public debut after winning the Miss Langata Prison.

Also Read:Miss Langata Prison regrets killing boyfriend

Here are the top ten photos we have selected for your viewing pleasure.

The golden handshake required to send home the nine IEBC commissioners will cost the taxpayer Sh164 million.

The glittering parachute will include unpaid salaries for the year remaining in their contracts, winding up payments, gratuities, existing mortgages and car loans, medical and life insurance, cars and fuel, drivers, bodyguards, telephone service and other perquisites of office.

Attorney General Githu Muigai yesterday told the Star the compensation model will be the framework used when the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission was sent home in 2011. This exit package has not yet been prepared.

Former commission boss PLO Lumumba and four deputy directors departed on August 23, 2011, after Parliament passed a law on the commission.

The IEBC commissioners agreed to depart after the opposition and key segments of society said they had no confidence in their ability to conduct free, fair and transparent elections next year.

They are to leave as soon as new commissioners are appointed by the end of this month.

Yesterday, Parliament passed amendments to the IEBC Act outlining how commissioners can leave office and how new commissioners will be appointed.

"There is nothing on the table yet. We are waiting for the Electoral Laws (Amendment) Bill to be passed and assented to. Then my office, Treasury and IEBC can sit down and come up with an agreement in at most two week," Muigai said.

He added, "We will follow a framework similar to that used when the Lumumba team left office."

Using the Lumumba formula and considering the commissioners' contracts run for another year, the IEBC team are set to leave office in three weeks with millions of shillings.

According to Star calculations, IEBC Chairman Issack Hassan is likely to take home Sh33.1 million, including the Sh12.9 million he would have earned from November this year to November 2017.

Having served five years, he is also entitled to Sh20.1 million gratuity, calculated as 31 per cent of the annual salary for each year served.

IEBC vice chair Lilian Mahiri-Zaja is to receive Sh27.3 million, including Sh10.7 million salary and Sh16.3 million gratuity.

The other seven IEBC commissioners are to take home Sh22.2 million each — Sh8.7 million as forfeited salary and Sh13.4 million gratuity.

The package totals Sh164 million.

The government will spend part of the Sh5 billion Emergency Fund to pay off the commissioners, Treasury secretary Henry Rotich says.

When the Treasury, the AG and IEBC meet, they will consider other issues, such as mortgages and car loans the commissioners may have received as perquisites of office.

In addition, they will also consider the period during which ex-commissioners will continue using government vehicles and bodyguards.

The IEBC chairman is entitled to at least two bodyguards, a government car and driver. The rest each have a car, driver and bodyguard.

In 2011, it was agreed Lumumba's team, affected by the change of the law. would receive money covering the remainder of their terms, as well as gratuity,

They were to receive at least Sh80 million, each but this was revised downward to Sh35 million.

The commissioners had served for only one year and were entitled to salaries for the remaining four years, plus gratuity.

They were also to get a winding up allowance for six months, 46 months' allowance for security guards, allowance to fuel motor vehicles, a paid driver, telephone allowance, medical premiums and annual insurance and cover for life insurance.

It was argued that they had anticipated serving their full term and it was only fair they be compensated.

“From the foregoing, it is clear termination of the employment contract for Director and Assistant directors of KACC was by virtue of change in law, hence, they did not serve their full term," the AG said in an advisory opinion at the time.

He added the compensation was in the interests of justice and fairness for eminent persons who had reasonable expectations of serving full five-year terms.

"They should on an exceptional basis, and reflecting the special circumstances in this case, be accorded the winding up allowance plus such sum or sums as may be negotiated, representing a lump sum compensation for loss of legitimate expectation of employment for the unexpired contract period," the AG said.

Further, the KACC directors were not permitted to be employed in other work or business, hence, there was reasonable expectation that the five year contract would cater for them adequately.

When former KACC director Aaron Ringera was kicked out of office in 2010, he was granted bodyguards, staff and government vehicles for10 years.

On December 18, 2013, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission was ordered by the court to pay former KACC deputy director Pravin Bowry Sh35.4 million.

Bowry was removed from KACC, alongside Lumumba, and sued after the government failed to honour the exit package, as advised by the AG.

The court ordered EACC pay Bowry's legal costs.

A massive brain drain at the troubled Kenya Airways has left the airline's technical department greatly understaffed causing delays and safety concerns, the Star has learnt.

Several insider sources have attributed the recent increase in flight disruptions and cancellations to technical hitches for loss of engineers who have been poached by rich Middle East airlines – Qatar Airways and Emirates.

Read: Talented KQ staff snapped up by rich Qatar Airways

"There is a massive brain drain. People are jumping ship and where it is really hurting is the technical department," said a well-placed source.

Sources who cannot be named due to sensitivity of the matter told the Star at least 50 engineers have resigned from KQ this year, with more set to leave.

"Technical managers are sometimes the ones who are being tasked to do checks on aircrafts and they are overstretched. They do maintenance work up to the bare minimum legal standards for a flight to take off and therefore, of course, small technical issues keep cropping up," said a source.

In a letter seen by The Star, the Kenya Airline Pilots Association has written to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority's director general Gilbert Kibe, requesting him to look into the matter, which could affect the airline's safety record.

"Resignations have become the order of the day and moreso within the technical department. This is a very critical department, and this high attrition has led to a galore of flight cancellations, aircraft technical issues and even air turn turnbacks," states the letter dated August 31 signed by Kalpa secretary general Captain Paul Gichinga.

"These events have largely been linked to poor workmanship, which has been attributed to inexperience, work overload and unrealistic shifting patterns," it states further.

This comes few days after Kenya Film Classification Board CEO Ezekiel Mutua criticised KQ on his Facebook page for a delayed flight from Johannesburg he was booked in that had hitches.

"We took off from OR Tambo at noon on yesterday (Tuesday) and we suspected a problem on take off but somehow we successfully settled in the skies. We were about to exit the South African airspace towards Zimbabwe when the Captain announced a Transponder failure and said we were returning to Jo'burg," Mutua ranted in a Facebook post on August 24.

"Now, a transponder is a vital equipment and no aircraft can safely fly without it. We were supposed to land in 15 minutes but half an hour later we were still maneuvering landing, which made us suspect we were not being told the truth."

Some of the flights that have been cancelled recently include KQ 117 night flight from Amsterdam (last Saturday), and KQ886 to Bangkok on Sunday night. On Wednesday, a flight to Johannesburg was delayed for three hours which the airline attributed to a technical hitch.

Other than a weakened technical department, the national carrier is also facing an exodus by pilots. This year, 67 pilots have left the company lured by better pay offered by Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad as well as East Africa's Rwandair.

Tables have turned on the airline which is now on a charm offensive to retain pilots few months after its management announced planned job cuts that were to include pilots.

KQ is facing troubled times with a serious cash hitch, amid complaints of deteriorating service and high airfares.

On July 26, the airline announced a Sh26.2 billion after tax loss for the full year ended March 31, a wider loss than the historic Sh25.7 billion loss it posted the previous year.

Read: KQ flight from India lands safely after tyre burst

Former minister and Maasai supremo Williamole Ntimama is dead.

The 86-year-old vocal Maasai leader is said to have died of natural causes in his Melili home in Narok county on Thursday night.

Family sources who spoke to the Star said Ntimama was in a jovial mood the whole day and was not in pain.

“Ntimama was scheduled to conduct a fundraising in aid of women in Olchorro area," the source said.

"He had invited former senate aspirant Andrew ole Sunkuli to assist him in the harambee and that why he decided to spend his day in his Melili home."

Area police boss Abdi Galgalo said Ntimama's body will be taken to the Lee Funeral Home.

Ntimama was the Narok North MP for 25 years before he retired from politics on September 14, 2013.

He also served as a minister in former President Mwai Kibaki's government.

The long-time chairman of the Narok County Council made a grand entry to parliamentary politics by ousting the then powerful minister in the Office of the President Justus Kantet ole Tipis in 1988 and became retired President Daniel Arap Moi’s stalwart in Maasai land.

In 2002, he joined Narc and successfully defended his seat.

In 2005, he mobilised his community to reject the then Wako Draft under the controversial Suswa Declaration.

Soon after Ntimama was defeated by the incumbent Narok North MP Moitalel ole Kenta, he announced his retirement after vying on ODM ticket.

One month ago, he led the Maasai community to State House and announced he has joined the Jubilee Party.

He has since been pushing for Narok and Laikipia leaders to join the Jubilee Party.

In 2014, Ntimama expressed regret for not supporting President Uhuru Kenyatta in the 2013 general elections.

He had backed ODM leader Raila Odinga.

William ole Ntimama during a past Cord rally at Uhuru Park on December 22, 2012 /JACK OWUOR

For close to a quarter of a century he bestrode the Maasai political arena like the proverbial colossus.

His word was law in the length and breadth of the region.

The last time the octogenarian politician was in public was in August 20 when he attended the wedding ceremony of Narok Senator Stephen ole Ntutu son at Nkorinkori.

Among those who have sent messages of condolences are Narok Governor Samuel Tunai, MP Kenta and Kanu Secretary Nick Salat.

This story has been updated

After making a surprise visit to the country on Thursday morning, Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg visited Lake Naivasha for wildlife viewing.

Zuckerberg splashed eye-catching photos of his tour to his 78 million Facebook followers, giving Kenya's recovering tourism industry a shot in the arm.

The 32-year-old Internet entrepreneur and philanthropist was with his wife Priscilla Chan.

Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan during their tour in Lake Naivasha on Thursday, September 1, 2016 /FACEBOOK

"For some good news, visiting Kenya means getting to see amazing natural beauty and wildlife. Here are some photos from around Lake Naivasha. Bonus: baby giraffes!" he posted on Facebook.

Within 14 hours, the photos had 253,000 likes and had been shared by 8,883 of his followers.

And his photos drew positive vibes from his followers with many planning to visit.

"I wish that I could take my kids to see the wildlife like this and not in a zoo in Denmark ... beautiful pictures ..." Heidi L Sorensen posted.

Terry Jordan, who has visited Kenya before, posted a warm message about the country.

"I will never forget my time in beautiful Kenya. Beautiful people beautiful country and the highlight for me was a safari on the Masai Mara. So awesome I recommend everyone do it at least once in this lifetime ..." said Jordan.

Zuckerberg was lucky to catch the hippos within the lake during his tour of Lake Naivasha, September 1, 2016 /FACEBOOK

Another admirer of Kenya, Feisal Mohammed Abdullahi, posted: "If you are a mountaineer, then you will be glad to hear that Africa’s second highest peak lies in the middle of Kenya. Mt Kenya is not only beautiful, she is rugged, challenging, and stands tall above all others (except Kilimanjaro)."

Kenya Tourism Board CEO Jacinta Nzioka praised Zuckerberg's visit saying it is a great endorsement by the Facebook founder to have a feel of Kenya's magical experience.

She said it is a testimony that Kenya is the unparalleled safari destination.

"Kenya has indeed benefited from recent positive global visibility and we all need to be proud of this and work together in spreading the message. Something right in international relations and foreign policy is happening to ensure all these VIP visits and international conferences happen in Kenya."

She further stated that the board as well as the Ministry of Tourism will continue making Kenya a tourism destination brand and see increased consumer confidence and demand to visit the destination.

"KTB will host travel influencers, agents and media from over 35 countries in October 2016 during the Magical Kenya Travel Expo between October 12-14 to continue with this impetus." Jacinta said.

A photo of antelopes in Lake Naivasha taken during Mark Zuckerberg's tour of Lake Naivasha park, September 2, 2016 /FACEBOOK

Zuckerberg arrived to the country on Thursday and was spotted at Mama Oliech's eatery in Yaya, accompanied by ICT CS Joe Mucheru and PS Victor Kyalo.

"I had lunch in Nairobi with Joseph Mucheru, the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary of Information and Communications. We talked about internet access and his ambitious plans for connecting everyone in Kenya."

The billionaire praised Ugali, a popular Kenyan food, " We ate at MAMA Oliech Restaurant. -- a local place everyone recommended. One of my favorite parts of traveling to a new country is trying the food. I enjoyed ugali and a whole fried tilapia for the first time and loved them both!"

A photo of giraffes in Lake Naivasha park during a tour by Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan, September 1, 2016 /FACEBOOK

He later pledged to start a place called iHub, where entrepreneurs can build and prototype their ideas. Two of the engineers I met -- Fausto and Mark -- designed a system to help people use mobile payments to buy small amounts of cooking gas, which is a lot safer and better for the environment than charcoal or kerosene. It's inspiring to see how engineers here are using mobile money to build businesses and help their community.”

A view of Lake Naivasha park where Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan toured, September 1, 2016 /FACEBOOK

Zuckerberg's surprise visit to Kenya comes after the one in Nigeria where he staged a surprise visit to the country's economic capital Lagos on Tuesday.

He said: "This is my first trip to sub-Saharan Africa. I'll be meeting with developers and entrepreneurs, and learning about the startup ecosystem in Nigeria. The energy here is amazing and I'm excited to learn as much as I can."

William Ronkorua ole Ntimama, who died on Thursday night aged 86, was a titan in Maasailand politics for decades. During the 24-year-long Daniel Moi presidency he was also a very big deal indeed on the national political stage as a pillar of that regime and its policy of containing the Mt Kenya communities, particularly the Kikuyu.

He served as National Heritage minister in the Grand Coalition regime of 2008-2013. Although very considerably slowed down by ill health in his final years, Ntimama cast a large shadow over Maasailand right to the end. A fortnight ago at State House, Nairobi, leading a delegation of Maasai leaders, he assured President Uhuru Kenyatta that he would lead the community into the coming Jubilee Party by personally campaigning in Maasailand for him. Coming from Ntimana, for years a diehard supporter of ODM-Cord supremo Raila Odinga, these were significant sentiments indeed and a sign of rapidly changing times.

In the course of a 40-year career in politics, Ntimama championed Maa land rights, and was overwhelmingly popular among members of the community. As a result, he was more or less politically invincible for decades, first as the chairman of the Narok County Council and then as the MP for Narok North.

His loss at the 2013 General Election of the parliamentary seat he had held for a generation was a sign of changing demographics: The numbers of what Ntimama defined as the “settler” communities had so increased in the Narok region that even the “king of the Maasai” needed their support to retain his seat. As his campaign for Maasai land rights had alienated this transplanted demographic, he lost to a relative newcomer.

The octogenarian sent 15 years at the helm of the Narok Council and 25 in politics and the Cabinet. A wealthy man with large investments including in the tourism sector he amassed power under Moi, to the chagrin of the Gikuyu, Embu and Meru communities of the Mt Kenya region that enjoyed hegemony status under the Gema umbrella during the Jomo Kenyatta presidency from 1964 to 1978.

When Vice President Moi ascended to the presidency upon Kenyatta’s death he soon reactivated an old British strategy against the Gema communities, disbanding the wealthy and powerful Association and removing its leaders from State and parastatal top positions. Moi and Attorney General Charles Njonjo thinly veiled their anti-Gema move as an action against all ethnic associations, banning the Luo Union too, among others. That it was a specifically anti-Gema move and a continuation of British colonial containment policy much admired by both men there was never any doubt.

Ntimama rose to the fore in an environment where Gema and Kikuyu power were no longer able to assert themselves, having temporarily lost control of the levers of the state. And he amassed so much power that he could organize for the forcible eviction of the Kikuyu, Kisii and other non-Maa tribes from a settlement like the Enoosupukia area, citing the protection of a water catchment. It was in this period that he warned the once-mighty Kikuyu to “lie low like envelopes” and appreciate the fact that they no longer held the presidency and the forces of the national security edifice.

It was late 1993 and the Narok County Council declared Enoosupukia a water catchment area and ordered all “settlers”, mostly transplanted Kikuyus and Kisiis, to leave at once. The decree had the tacit approval of the all-powerful Moi inner circle. The Kikuyu and Kisii were brutally expelled.

Some sources put the Enoosupukia expulsion deaths at 600, but Ntimama never expressed remorse. In many parts of Central Ntimama is still considered a warmonger and congenitally anti-Kikuyu.

An articulate man and shrewd demagogue, Ntimama would years later explain the Enoosupukia expulsions in the following terms on the floor of the House, where his utterances were aimed much more at the Kikuyu than the Kisii transplanted populace:

“When people read George Orwell’s Animal Farm, they will find that some animals are more equal than others. . . . This was the situation in these areas before we started talking and projecting the rights of other people. Everybody thought they had superlative rights. … They thought that they were the best traders. They thought they were the best civil servants. … This arrogance must be punctured and probably done away with.”

As hardline and apparently fixed in his views as he was, Ntimama had a finely honed instinct for when to jump ship, politically speaking. Just as one of his last grand political gestures was abandoning ODM-Cord for the coming JP juggernaut, back in 2002 he joined in the headlong exodus from Kanu that followed President Moi’s nomination of Uhuru as his preferred successor. Others who left the then long ruling party, at that time in its 39^th consecutive year in office, included George Saitoti, Raila and Kalonzo Musyoka.

As a proponent of Maasai rights Ntimama remained unwavering and had more postures than just anti-Kikuyu. When Raila, as PM, organized a forum to discuss the Mau Forest evictions at the KICC, Nairobi, a fuming Ntimama took the microphone and made warlike threats against the Kipsigis community.

The mother of a police officer who allegedly shot herself dead at JKIA has said her daughter was killed.

Francisca Kalekye asked the government to speed up investigations and unveil the truth about her daughter’s death.

"As a family, we need to know the truth as soon as possible. We want to know who killed her," she said during the funeral on Saturday.

Corporal Caudencia Wausi was laid to rest at their home at Wikililye village in Makueni county.

She was found dead on August 24 in a washroom at the airport.

More on this: Cop shoots herself dead at JKIA

An officer said she had just reported to work after having been on leave.

"She went to the radio room where her male colleagues were and left her phone, baton and cap on the table. She walked out and went to the toilet, locked herself in and shot herself once in the head and died," the officer said.

The funeral service was attended by her colleagues from the police service and the General Service Unit.

They described her as hard-working and said she related well with everyone.

“Her death caught us by surprise, we have lost a hard working officer who was very sociable,” said Hillary Odiwuor, a police officer who had led colleagues to the burial.

The mother of one once served as an instructor at the GSU training school before she was posted to JKIA.