IEBC has affirmed "radical changes" in the commission to ensure it delivers a free, fair and credible presidential rerun on October 26.

Commissioner Roselyne Akombe announced this on Friday saying there will be zero tolerance to non-compliance with its new guidelines.

The commissioner said IEBC resorted to contacting Al Ghurair for the printing of ballot papers after all political parties rejected an offer presented by UNDP.

She said printing will have begun "by the end of this week" and that the agency has also resolved to standardise all forms 34A and Bs to avoid discrepancies highlighted by the court.

She said KIEMS gadgets have been reconfigured to transmit both text and images with an effective complementary mechanism so delays are prevented as the court directed.

Akombe further  said IEBC will not rush to announce results before verification.

"We have seven days to announce the results. We shall not be rushed to announce no matter the pressure mounted on staff. All results will be veriffied at the constituency level before transmission," she said.

She added they have agreed with media stakeholders that all 290 constituencies will be covered during results announcement and that journalists will be given unfettered access to forms 34A and 34B.

Akombe said the commission has also resolved that since Safaricom is the main service provider in the country they will still provide the 3G network for results transmission.

"To say we cannot use Safaricom would be lying."

She said the number of polling stations without the 3G network has reduced from 11,000 to nearly 3,000 stations.

She said all coordinates to the polling stations will be provided to candidates in due time after the locations are gazetted.

Related: Ignore rumours, no ballot paper printed, says IEBC

Also read: IEBC gazettes results transmission path as Senate passes Election Bill

200 PRESIDING OFFICERS OUT

The commission has dropped more than 200 presiding officers.

The commissioner said they have looked into the errors the Supreme Court said they made and drafted a 10-point manual for staff.

The top court nullified President Uhuru Kenyatta's victory over NASA chief Raila Odinga in a ruling on September 1.

"With these guides, we have vowed zero tolerance to non-compliance. That is why we have, for instance, dropped over 200 presiding officers who made errors in the previous election. We have also dropped some ROs that after vetting...they were not competent."

At a meeting with journalists and observers on Friday,Akombe said they have concluded standardised training of all returning officers and their deputies.

She said they have also identified returning officers who interfered with the August 8 election and that action will soon be taken against them.

Akombe noted it is unfair that fingers have been pointed at commissioners yet it is 450,000 recruited Kenyans who managed the poll on August 8.

"Some of you have even requested we contact UN to give us the 290 ROs to manage the election but the answer is 'absolutely no'," she said.

"It is not that the staff we have do not know what to do....they have been told  what to do and we expect things will be done differently."

Akombe reported that all technical preparations are on course and that they are confident there will be a difference this time round.

She said printing of ballot papers is expected to begin this week and all logical preparations on delivery of election materials are in the final stages.

The official noted there is limited time following Justice John Mativo's order for all eight presidential candidates to be on the ballot.

She said the commission is striving to configure the technology to accommodate them since this had only been done for Uhuru and NASA chief Raila Odinga.

"The election is not only about technical preparations but also the environment," she added.

"If I were asked today whether the commission is ready the answer would be 'yes' but the question is whether the environment and conditions are conducive for the commission to conduct a free, fair and credible election."

Opposition leader Raila Odinga said on Friday his withdrawal from a presidential election rerun scheduled for October 26 meant the poll had been "cancelled" and there should be fresh nominations for a new vote.

He said that based on a 2013 Supreme Court ruling, the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission now had 90 days to accept new nominations following his withdrawal this week from the rerun against President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Uhuru and Raila were due to return to the polls because the Supreme Court nullified Uhuru's win in the August 8 election, citing procedural irregularities.

But Raila's withdrawal this week has thrown the country into political turmoil. A regional and trade gateway, Kenya is East Africa's richest economy and an important Western ally in the fight against terrorism in the region.

The Opposition leader said he could return to the Supreme Court to seek a clarification, but if the IEBC went ahead with the October 26 election it would be "in breach of the law".

"If it goes ahead it is not an election, it is a selection," Odinga told Reuters in an interview during a visit to London. "This must be done right in the interest of electoral democracy in our country."

"As far as we are concerned, the elections are cancelled and we expect that the IEBC will return to the process of nominations shortly," he said.

Raila's withdrawal had fuelled speculation about whether the vote would go ahead at all. But on Wednesday, the election board said the polls would be held as planned and all eight of the original candidates would be on the ballot.

Only Raila and Uhuru polled more than 1 per cent in the August election.

PROTESTS BANNED

Raila said the only relevant law now was the Supreme Court decision of 2013 stating that if a presidential election were nullified, the election commission would hold a ballot in which the president-elect and the petitioner were the only candidates.

"That law also goes on to say that if one of the candidates dies or pulls out, the election commission is obligated to carry out fresh nominations. That is where we are right now," he said.

"What we are demanding is that the electoral commission should respect the Supreme Court and carry out elections in accordance with the ruling," the NASA leader said. "If need be we will go for clarification."

In 2013, Uhuru defeated Raila in a hotly contested election. Raila challenged the decision in the Supreme Court, which ruled that Uhuru had won fairly.

The standoff over the elections has sparked demonstrations, but the numbers of protesters has tended to be in the hundreds rather than the thousands.

Earlier on Friday, police used teargas to disperse demonstrations in Kenya's three main cities, and shot dead two protesters in Siaya county, a local official said.

On Thursday, the government banned demonstrations in the centres Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, an opposition stronghold. Acting Interior CS Fred Matiang'i said demonstrators had damaged and looted property.

Raila said he supported the right of Kenyans to demonstrate enshrined in the constitution and accused heavy policing for any outbreak of violence.

"(The government) are talking about a benevolent dictatorship - we can assure them that the people of Kenya will not take it lying down," he said.

"The government sending the police to stop the people by throwing teargas and using live bullets, they are basically violating the fundamental rights of the people ... I support the exercise of their fundamental right."

IEBC Wafula Chebukati will not resign despite challenges concerning the repeat race for State House on October 26.

Chebukati, said to have the toughest job in Kenya, said this on Saturday, noting IEBC is intact despite differences of opinion among commissioners.

"There may be differences of opinion but the commission is united and committed to deliver a credible, free and fair elections," he said.

He spoke in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu, during a training for election officials. Chebukati, who was with county returning officer Jackstonne Nyonje, will visit six training centres in Rift Valley and Western.

The chair said the commission has decided to stay put and deliver on election day.

He denied claims he walked out of his meetings because of differences with his colleagues.

The agency has affirmed "radical changes" in the commission to ensure it delivers a free, fair and credible presidential rerun.

Commissioner Roselyne Akombe announced this on Friday saying there will be zero tolerance to non-compliance with its new guidelines.

More on this: IEBC takes 'radical' steps for rerun, settles for Al Ghurair, Safaricom

Chebukati assured the election that now includes candidates other than President Uhuru Kenyatta and DP William Ruto will go on as planned.

The electoral agency boss said Raila, who withdrew from the poll alongside his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka, will be on the ballot.

He reiterated that the ODM leader is yet to withdraw lawfully 

"We have not received any other communication from him so we are proceeding with all plans as scheduled."

Chebukati said five presidential candidates will be on the ballot because paragraph 71 of the High Court ruling on Ekuro Aukot opened the door for all.

He added he does not foresee a situation where NASA blocks elections in its strongholds.

"Our mandate is on elections and we are ready in all areas. There are institutions to ensure we do our work smoothly."

Cyrus Jirongo has been excluded from the gazetted list of candidates running in the October 26 repeat presidential election.

The politician was declared bankrupt by the High Court after he failed to pay a Sh700 million debt.

"The candidate Shakhalaga kwa Jirongo is not eligible to participate in the fresh presidential election as he does not qualify under Articles 137 and 99 (2) (f) of the constitution," the IEBC said in the notice on Friday.

Read: Cyrus Jirongo excluded as IEBC gazettes presidential candidates

Also read: Raila may seek Supreme Court direction on October 26 poll

Raila Odinga is "acting as the chairman of IEBC" and losing focus on vote-hunting, the President has said, and declared arbiters are not welcome for peace talks.

Uhuru Kenyatta reiterated on Saturday that his NASA challenger is not interested in the rerun and is seeking options to get to power.

"We said this over one year ago an we are now being vindicated. He tried 'showing us' but it became hard and he is now kneeling before Europeans for help while he should be seeking votes," he said at Kenol in Murang'a.

"Foreigners will not help him because this is our country and we put our foot down...that Kofi Annan or any arbitrator is not welcome to Kenya to broker peace with someone not interested in an election. Kenyan voters will vote."

Raila flew to the UK after he and his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka announced their withdrawal from the election.

He has met leaders including Minister for Africa Rory Stewart who raised concerns about the rush to amend election laws just few days to the repeat presidential election set for October 26. Stewart also said it is regrettable that the NASA chief withdrew from the race.

Read: Rushing laws bad for Kenya, Raila's pullout regrettable - UK

In March, Annan marked nine years since he brokered a deal for peace in Kenya after the 2007/8 post-poll violence that left at least 1,300 dead and at least 600,000 internally displaced.

The peace accord signed between retired President Mwai Kibaki and Raila ended the violence that was sparked by a disputed election.

It saw the birth of the Grand Coalition Government with Kibaki as the President and Raila as the Prime Minister.

More on this: Kenya peace deal was toughest to broker, Annan says 9 years after 2007 chaos

Uhuru also said the government will take firm action against anyone who destroys property during demonstrations by the Opposition.

"We are not going to watch as protesters stone our police stations or steal from Wanjiku in the name of demos. We are a government of rule of law and order and that must stand."

Acting Interior CS Fred Matiang'i has banned protests in Kisumu, Nairobi and Mombasa CBDs but Opposition leaders have said his order is pointless.

RUTO SAYS NO NEGOTIATIONS

Deputy President William Ruto insisted there will be no talks on power-sharing between Jubilee Party and NASA.

Ruto also criticised Raila for travelling to the UK saying he is seeking support from foreign bodies so as to get a power-sharing deal.

"Raila can travel to all cities in the world but what matters is that we will not sit for any talks or negotiations. We will let the people decide through the ballot so he should be ready for the election," he said.

"Kenyans want development-focused politics, not rhetoric on how to sneak into power without allowing the people to decide the leaders they want."

Related: Raila using demos to sabotage economy for nusu mkate - Mandago, Gakuru

Also read: Has Raila been outfoxed this time?

NASA politicians have hinted at forcing a caretaker government after November 1 and said they will ensure no election on October 26.

November 1 will be 90 days after the nullification of President Uhuru Kenyatta's re-election on August 8 and five days after the date set by IEBC for fresh poll.

It is not clear how this will be achieved but Mombasa politicians have said directions will be made public on Sunday when NASA principals attend a mega rally in Mombasa.

The Mama Ngina rally will be first for NASA after the court overturned Uhuru's win. The President has visited.

Read: NASA chiefs to hold mega Mombasa rally, Matiang'i persona non grata - Nassir

Pundits have said NASA will gamble with conflicting constitutional articles and Supreme Court rulings to attain this.

NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga, backed by a legion of lawyers and brilliant minds, has signaled he will be heading to court to seek interpretations.

Read: Raila may seek Supreme Court direction on October 26 poll

Mvita MP Abdulawamad Nassir said police have schemed to use violence to scuttle their "hidden plans".

"We will ensure there is proper liberation," he said on Saturday when he and other leaders inspected Mama Ngina grounds ahead of the rally.

Mombasa Deputy Governor William Kingi said: "Directions and what pertains to the election will be discussed in detail."

Salim Bajaber, a Wiper member, said Chief Justice David Maraga should confirm there will be no election on October 26 after Raila's withdrawal.

Bajaber said IEBC and Jubilee's lawyers have been misadvising their clients on matters concerning the election.

Lawyers have been giving contradictory interpretations of the situation.

Related: What does it mean? Obiter dictum and the Kenyan election

Former Kisauni MP Rashid Bedzimba said President Uhuru Kenyatta must approach Raila for dialogue.

"The country is seriously divided. Kenyans abroad have not been spared either," he said.

But Uhuru said in Murang'a that Kofi Annan and other arbiters are not welcome for peace talks in Kenya as Raila iis not interested in the poll.

Raila withdrew saying IEBC is not ready to hold free, fair, transparent, verifiable and credible election.

He and other NASA chiefs have insisted on mass action but acting Interior CS Fred Matiang'i has insisted elections must be held and that police will man the streets and poling stations.

Uhuru said Raila is "acting as the chairman of IEBC" and losing focus on vote-hunting.

"We said this over one year ago an we are now being vindicated. He tried 'showing us' but it became hard and he is now kneeling before Europeans for help while he should be seeking votes," he said at Kenol in Murang'a.

"Foreigners will not help him because this is our country and we put our foot down...that Kofi Annan or any arbitrator is not welcome to Kenya to broker peace with someone not interested in an election. Kenyan voters will vote."

More on this: Raila kneeling before Europeans, Kofi Annan not welcome, says Uhuru

IEBC now says KIEMS gadgets will not be reconfigured to accommodate new presidential candidates owing to significant time constraints.

In an internal memo on Saturday, CEO Ezra Chiloba said the commission made the decision following the revision of the results transmission workflow.

He said the TRS will only transmits election results from forms 34A and 34B from polling stations and constituency tallying centres.

Chiloba said the forms 34B excel worksheet will however be revised to include all the seven candidates as appropriate in the order of names captured in the gazette notice.

"On October 11, the High Court ordered the commission to include the name of Ekuru Aukot as candidate in the fresh presidential election to be held on October 26. The court also observed that indeed all candidates that participated in the August 8 presidential election were entitled to participate as candidates," the memo noted.

"Accordingly, the commission has now gazetted seven candidates for the fresh presidential election. The commission has however resolved that the RTS will not be configured to accommodate new presidential candidates except for the original two owing to time constraints."

Related: I won't resign, IEBC intact despite differences of opinion - Chebukati

Also read: IEBC takes 'radical' steps for rerun, settles for Al Ghurair, Safaricom

Chiloba said the text results shall not be taken into account since the system as configured features only two candidates.

"In other words, the RTS text results, which are provisional, would be automatically collated and displayed on the screen or website shall not be availed. The commission is however considering alternative form of display."

Chiloba said in order to increase transparency in the results process, the commission is exploring mechanisms that will facilitate media access to tallying centres across the country and setting up of a result monitoring centres accessible to candidate agents, observers and other accredited stakeholders.

He said since the KIEMS will remain with names of only two candidates, POs should be trained to ensure that the text information of the two candidates is typed as zero in all data fields.

The original form 34A will then be scanned, transmitted to the national tallying centre as provided for in the current RTS workflow.

President Uhuru Kenyatta intends to rule Kenya by killing those with divergent opinions, two ODM MPs have said.

Samuel Atandi (Alego Usonga) and Raphael Wanjala (Budalang'i) blamed the President for deaths during anti-IEBC demonstrations.

They claimed more than 100 Kenyans have died while exercising their democratic rights under instructions by Uhuru.

The President has not issued such orders but has warned that destruction of property will not be tolerated.

Acting Interior CS Fred Matiang'i banned demonstrations in Nairobi, Kisumu and Mombasa's city centres, citing economic troubles and a growing threat to the government.

Three people were shot dead in Bondo during protests on Friday. Three were shot and wounded in Migori town and six injured in Kisumu.

NASA leaders and supporters have torn into Matiang'i and termed his ban inconsequential.

Read: Three shot dead in Bondo as anti-IEBC demos turn bloody

Also read: NASA demos: Three shot, six injured, Chiloba and Matiang'i 'buried' in Nyanza

"WANANCHI NOT THE CRIMINALS"

In an address to journalists on Friday, the MPs warned Uhuru against dictatorship, saying what has been seen in Yoweri Museveni's Uganda will not be replicated.

"We will not allow those who were in their comfort zones when liberation was fought for to deny us our hard-earned democratic rights," Wanjala said.

He said Uhuru and Matiang'i should arrest IEBC chief executive Ezta Chiloba and Jubilee chief agent Davis Chirchir instead of "struggling to shoot demonstrators".

"In this context, Chiloba and Chirchir are the criminals who should be shot if they don't want to arrest them for tampering with the IEBC server."

The Supreme Court ordered the repeat election on September 1 saying election laws and the constitution were not followed.

No official was implicated and IEBC, Jubilee Party, Safaricom and OT-Morpho have denied participating in a rigging plot.

Riot police officers detain a supporter of the National Super Alliance  opposition during a demonstration in Kisumu, October 13, 2017. /REUTERS

On October 9, a report by Kenya National Commission on Human Rights stated 37 people were killed during the chaos that erupted after IEBC declared Uhuru defeated NASA chief Raila Odinga on August 8.

The report said police used excessive force to contain protests in Mathare, Kibera, Dandora, Lucky Summer and Kawangware areas of Nairobi.

It stated live bullets and teargas were also used in Manyatta, Kondele and Nyamasaria in Kisumu as police tried to disperse demonstrators.

Read more: 37 killed in post-poll demos, bribery and hate campaigns rife - KNCHR

"ECONOMY NOT IN ROADSIDE SHOPS"

Wanjala wondered how demonstrations can cripple the country's economy and still be enshrined in the constitution.

"If Jubilee is stealing our money through Eurobond, NYS and the Health ministry,  who should be shot for crippling the country's economy?"

Eurobond  (Sh250 billion), NYS (Sh1.8 billion) and Afya House (Sh5.3 billion) are some of the major scandals that have rocked the Jubilee administration.

Raila has campaigned against corruption and pushed for accountability alongside other leaders and members of the public but some of the investigations have not been concluded.

Atandi told the President and Matiang'i "to prepare to shoot everyone" as they are going to intensify their demonstrations from Monday.

"You cannot shoot innocent Kenyans exercising their rights in the pretext of crippling the economy. Who told you the country's economy lies in roadside shops?"

Pro-government demonstrators protest, as Kenya's opposition party leader, Raila Odinga (not pictured), arrives at Chatham House for a press conference in London, Britain October 13, 2017. /REUTERS

The legislator said that as an economist, he knows a nation's economy  is driven by serious planning and micro-economic policies.

He added NASA's demands for the repeat poll on October 26 are "so clear that nobody needs to lose his life over their implementation".

Atandi said if Jubilee does not adhere to their irreducible minimums, they should be prepared for secession.

"We will have no option but to have the Jubilee government and the peoples' republic led by Raila," he said.

Related: Uhuru receives election laws Bill, has 14 days to 'apply his mind'

Also read: Secession talk divides country

Kenyans must "wake up, take a stand and defend the constitution and freedom" as the risk is an overthrow and dictatorship, lobbyists have said.

Civil societies raised concerns raised during a forum of the International Commission of Jurists in Nairobi on Friday evening.

"We have seen university students being beaten, tortured and raped by police officers, who forcibly removed them from their lecture rooms and halls of residence, to terrorise them. No one has been held to account," said Njonjo Mue, a human rights lawyer and a transitional justice expert.

Read: 'That was terrorism': UoN students narrate ordeals in hands of GSU

Mue further said: "We have witnessed the naked intimidation of the Judiciary and threats directed at judges following the nullification of the August election with ominous promises by the President to re-visit and fix the Judiciary if re-elected.

"We have also seen the passing of amendments to election laws whose sole purpose appears to be to circumvent the Supreme Court judgement."

He also cited acting Interior CS Fred Matiang'i's ban on NASA demonstrations, saying this was "in violation of the clear provisions of the constitution."

Read: Uhuru receives election laws Bill, has 14 days to 'apply his mind'

Also read: 'Hata wewe ungesikia aje?' Uhuru admits Supreme Court ruling left him 'really angry'

"DISSENT OUTLAWED ON WHIMS"

This comes after June's KTN News interview where Jubilee vice chair and President Uhuru Kenyatta's confidant warned that Kenya should be prepare for a more lethal, brutal and ruthless second term .

David Murathe also said the constitution will be amended to give "the President power to make executive orders". He has hit the airwaves lately with the argument that Kenya needs a benevolent dictator.

More on this: Be a dictator to save Kenya, Jubilee vice chair David Murathe advises Uhuru

Mue said: "What we seeing shows the dictatorship that Murathe promised and continues to campaign for is already here. It’s just not that benevolent.

"For dictatorships are the ones that brutalise young people seemingly without consequence. Dictatorships are the ones who instrumentalise parliaments and intimidate Judiciaries."

He added such systems change laws to suit their short-term desires and outlaw public expressions of dissent at a whim.

As a community of jurists, Mue said, they will remain politically non-partisan and unapologetic for their bias towards democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

"We have a responsibility to defend our constitution whenever it comes under threat. And at this critical moment, history is summoning us one more time to take a stand,."

"OCTOBER 26 LIKELY TO JOIN LIST OF SACRED DAYS"

On the planned October 26 repeat election, the lawyer said: "If Jubilee goes ahead with its plan to circumvent the Supreme Court judgment, reintroduce the discredited manual system of result transmission, and fundamentally alter the design of the IEBC to suit its own ends, then the period between October 26 and beyond will mark another watershed for Kenya's history."

"We will be faced with a decision - whether to agree to rubber-stamp a coronation in the name of an election or take a stand to defend our democracy."

"In the same way, if our politicians do not step back from the brink and rise up and lead our country out of the current crisis, October 26 is likely to join this list of our sacred days. For it will be the day that Kenyans will decide whether to submit to David Murathe’s dictatorship or to take a stand and defend their freedom."

NASA candidates Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoa withdrew from the election and reiterated they will not participate without reforms.

Supporting Opposition leaders in Mombasa said details of NASA's election plan will be given at a mega rally at Mama Ngina grounds on Sunday.

More on this: NASA will ensure 'proper liberation', election details at mega rally - Nassir

Mue referred to biblical stories, saying: "Speaking to the children of Israel in the early days of their nationhood, their leader Joshua challenged them in these timeless words: 'Choose this day whom you shall serve, whether the gods your ancestors served or the gods of the Amorites. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord'.

"In the same way, the time is coming and will soon be upon us when the Kenyan people must choose whether they will serve the gods of the old order that seems so determined to re-establish itself or whether they will stand up and defend their constitution."

NASA has compared himself to Joshua and said he is taking Kenyans to the promised land. But Jubilee supporters have dismissed him as a "fake Joshua" who has been unable to accept defeat in elections.

Read: NASA's Joshua: Raila prays at Israel's Wailing Wall ahead of election

Also read: Forget 'fake Joshua', vote Jubilee, Ruto tells Western

Mike Sonko declared on Saturday that Jubilee will swear-in President Uhuru Kenyatta after October 26 - the date set by IEBC for a repeat poll.

But the law says only the Chief Justice or deputy CJ can do this.

The Nairobi Governor said NASA will not scuttle their plans by withdrawing from the ballot.

Raila Odinga said he will not take part in another sham election "whose organisers are hell-bent to botch".

But Sonko said it is not a must for the ODM leader to take part.

"We as Jubilee we are prepared. We want the election to be held on the date set by IEBC and after that, we shall swear-in President Uhuru," he said in Mombasa when he met the Kamba community.

Sonko claimed the Opposition is working with international entities to undermine Uhuru's presidency.

"This will not dampen our decision to go to election," he said, adding the coalition is avoiding the poll to cause a crisis.

During Jubilee Party campaigns in Murang'a yesterday, Uhuru told international communities there is no crisis in Kenya and that they are not welcome for peace talks.

He chided Raila for "kneeling" before them for help.

Uhuru alleged Raila had asked the communities to help mediate them and save Kenya from crumbling.

Read more: Raila kneeling before Europeans, Kofi Annan not welcome, says Uhuru

Also read: NASA will ensure 'proper liberation', election details at mega rally - Nassir

Sonko said foreginers will not succeed inforcing Jubilee into a coalition government.

"That one they should forget [sic]," he said adding Uhuru has Kambas' interests at heart.

He said the President abandoned his tribesman in the Nairobi​ county chief race to support him. He was referring to Peter Kenneth who has not been in the limelight since the election on August 8.

Sonko said the community has resolved to back Uhuru's candidature.

Kamba community members in Mombasa during their meeting with Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko on October 14, 2017. /ERNEST CORNEL

"KAMBAS CANNOT SURVIVE IN OPPOSITION"

On Thursday, Jubilee MPs in Ukambani declared their allegiance to the ruling party, saying Kenyans should choose leaders who give them opportunities.

Peter Munyaka (Machakos Town), Vincent Musyoka (Mwala) and Nimrod Mbai (Kitui East) and several others denounced leaders who engage in empty politics.

"Machakos people want peace, development and income-generating activities for the youth, not violence propagated by NASA through anti-IEBC demos," said Munyaka.

"I laud the acting Interior CS Fred Matiang'i for issuing orders of no more demonstrations in major cities and towns across the country. Crooks have invaded the demos."

Munyaka said President Uhuru Kenyatta should sign the controversial elections laws which he received on Friday.

"The amended laws are pro-active. The Supreme Court said many things on August 8 elections irregularities. The laws will solve the problems Supreme Court highlighted during its ruling," he said during a National Youth Service recruitment in Machakos town on Thursday.

Read: Uhuru receives election laws Bill, has 14 days to 'apply his mind'

Machakos Town MP Peter Munyaka, Vincent Musyoka of Mwala, Deputy gGovernor Francis Maliti and Kitui East MP Nimrod Mbai during NYS cohorts recruitment in Machakos Town on October 12, 2017. /GEORGE OWITI

The MP further said some IEBC officials intentionally engaged in election malpractices to give NASA leaders the opportunity to petition the results.

The Opposition said there was rigging so Uhuru would get re-elected.

Following his petition, the Supreme Court ordered a fresh election and asked IEBC to make changes so errors are not repeated.

Read: I won't resign, IEBC intact despite differences of opinion - Chebukati

Also read: IEBC locks out five as KIEMS only configured for Uhuru, Raila

Musyoka said their good relationship with the Jubilee administration has resulted in development in their constituencies.

"Kambas should not be cheated that we can survive outside government; that is lying to ourselves. We will continue working with Uhuru and his government," he said.

"It is for that reason that I was re-elected to Parliament. I am calling on those who voted Munyaka on August 8 to vote Uhuru on October 26."

Musyoka said voting for a candidate other than the President "is voting out Munyaka for an opposition MP  thereby barring opportunities and goodies".

He said residents should not associate with Opposition slogans Tialala and Tibim slogans since "this is devil worship".

"Youths need jobs and more employment opportunities," he added.

For the second day running, President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday warned opposition leader Raila Odinga not to use the international community to push for the formation of a coalition government.

Addressing a series of political rallies in Laikipia and Nyeri counties, Uhuru said he would not engage Raila in any dialogue ahead of next week’s repeat presidential election.

The President, whose victory for the second term in office was nullified by the Supreme Court last month, maintained that nothing, not even foreign intervention, would stop Kenyans from taking part in the repeat poll.

“We accepted to have a repeat poll, despite the fact that we won. We however will not be pushed to sit and talk with someone whose main need is to just clinch power,” the President said.

The President’s announcement came on the same day that NASA dug in at a rally in Mombasa, maintaining there would be no election as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission had failed to level the playing field and was openly biased in favour of Jubilee.

 Uhuru said the choice of the leader to lead Kenya will be made by Kenyans and not through talks mediated by foreigners – but in an election.

He further castigated Raila for “refusing the will of the people and being driven by his desire to take power through the backdoor” by seeking help from abroad, instead of accepting the outcome of the people’s wishes.

 “Kenya does not have any problem because all problems are caused by one man called Raila Amollo Odinga. You cannot lead demonstrations where property is destroyed, people are attacked and police stations stoned and then start crying foul, we will take action against any such behaviour,” the President said.

Speaking in Nyeri, Uhuru said the NASA leaders can make as many foreign trips as they want, but must know that Kenya is not ruled from London or Washington and that all decisions will be made locally.

 He said while he is not opposed to peaceful demonstrations, the police will deal firmly with those who use such occasions to rob and intimidate others.

Deputy President William Ruto, who accompanied the President, insisted there will be no coalition talks to share power with Jubilee, saying there will be no repeat of the 2008 talks.

Ruto accused Raila of “acting as the chairman of the IEBC” and losing focus on vote-hunting, adding that the former Prime Minister is not interested in the repeat election set for October 26 and is seeking options to get to power.

“Foreigners will not help him because this is our country and we put our foot down...that Kofi Annan, or any arbitrator, is not welcome to Kenya to broker peace with someone not interested in an election. Kenyan voters will vote.”

Raila flew to the UK after he and his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka announced their withdrawal from the election.

He met leaders, including Minister for Africa Rory Stewart, who raised concerns about the rush to amend election laws just few days to the repeat presidential election set for October 26. Stewart also said it is regrettable that the NASA chief withdrew from the race.

The DP, who spoke at Africa Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA), Bahati, Nairobi, county before joining the President in Nyahururu, assured the nation that the election will go on as planned and as stipulated in the Constitution.

Ruto, who was accompanied by several Jubilee leaders, dismissed opposition calls to boycott the repeat polls.

He said: “If it were up to us, we would have sworn in the President because he won the election. If it were up to our competitors, we would have formed a coalition government.

"But we have to respect the Constitution. The Constitution stipulates that if elections are nullified we have to hold fresh elections in 60 days. You cannot manufacture a crisis so as to seek foreign support to get to power. That is an illegitimate way to ascend to power.”

In Mombasa, where he addressed his first rally after jetting back from the UK, Raila told off Uhuru and Ruto, saying he was not interested in a coalition government, instead noting that his victory was stolen by the IEBC in collusion with Jubilee.

He told the crowd that his mission in the two-day visit overseas was to go and “set the record straight on matters election.

“We went to the UK to tell the truth. The ambassadors have been spreading lies," he said, citing the US and UK envoys in Nairobi.

He said UhuruRuto are using Kenyan ambassadors and High Commissioners to spread government propaganda abroad.

“I had to be present myself to set the record straight,” he said.

He dismissed remarks that he had gone to “kneel before my masters abroad.”

Raila who spoke at Mama Ngina Drive, told off Ruto for claiming he is clamouring for a coalition government, saying it was Ruto who introduced the coalition government in Kenya during the mediation talks after the infamous 2007 poll and post-election violence crisis.

He said Ruto had sensed he was going to be jailed by the International Criminal Court and he was looking for an escape route.

According to Raila, Ruto felt he would be vindicated if he were in government.

“Ruto was part of the team that negotiated. He was the one who proposed the coalition government,” Raila said.

He said he did not beg the international entities to force Jubilee to a negotiating table, adding the Thirdway Alliance presidential candidate Ekuru Aukot is a traitor for accepting to be part of a sham process.

The IEBC announced Aukot and other six candidates, including President Uhuru Kenyatta and excluding Cyrus Jirongo will take part in the fresh poll.

“The other candidates had less than one per cent in the annulled election. They had conceded. They have less than 10 days to campaign. They are shameless to accept the offer with these few days,” Raila said.

He said Aukot is a Jubilee puppet.

The NASA leaders, who included Moses Wetang’ula, Musalia Mudavadi and James Orengo, also said they are ready to pay the ultimate price - including jail and death - to ensure no poll is held on October 26.

They said the protest demos will go on, “even if the police sustain their killing spree”.

They called for sabotage of the economy by avoiding to pay taxes to force electoral reforms.

“We are ready to die to liberate our country," Siaya Senator Orengo said, mentioning the deaths of Ronald Ngala and Robert Ouko, who were “assassinated by the system” in the 1970s and 90s.

He said Kenyans will go to the ballot when Raila says so.

“Uhuru you are not above the law, you are under and deeply in trouble. Uhuru must go!” he said.

Kenyans could wait up to a week to know the winner in next week's repeat presidential election.

The IEBC is leaving nothing to chance and has come up with new regulations to seal loopholes that could see it dragged back to court again.

The long wait will be worsened by the IEBC’s admission that no results will be streamed in the polls that attracted great local and international interest.

The sharp changes are occasioned by a number of regulations fronted by the commission to comply with the last week’s High Court ruling, which gave leeway to inclusion of other candidates in the presidential ballot.

Earlier, the IEBC had only gazetted President Uhuru Kenyatta and NASA leader Raila Odinga for the fresh contest on Friday next week.

Last week, High Court judge John Mativo ordered the electoral agency to include Thirdway Alliance presidential candidate Ekuru Aukot in the race.

Raila has, however, maintained he will not participate in the October 26 election until the IEBC implements NASA’s irreducible minimum demands.

The opposition has declared daily street protests beginning today to push for reforms at the electoral agency.

Contained in the new changes is the mandatory requirement that IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati, who is also the national returning officer for the presidential elections, to manually verify all the 40,883 forms 34As from the polling stations before announcing the winner.

This means Kenyans will wait longer to know the final winner given the amount of time required to physically go through the voluminous forms.

After verifying the Form 34As, Chebukati is also required to verify what is contained in Forms 34Bs, before making Form 34C.

The law gives the IEBC seven days within which to count, tally and announce winner of the election.

The IEBC declared the nullified August 8 presidential results on August 11. Two days after voting.

The new regulation by the IEBC is meant to cure technical hitches that led to the cancellation of the August 8 presidential election results by the Supreme Court.

On Saturday, IEBC chief executive Ezra Chiloba, in a leaked memo, indicated that only Uhuru and Raila will have their results transmitted through the KIEMS gadgets.

In the memo, Chiloba said the kits had been reconfigured and due to time constraints, including the other five will make it impossible to have the polls as scheduled.

IEBC’s earlier communication had sidelined Chiloba in the preparation for the repeat exercise and instead named a project team to spearhead the process.

Last month Chebukati appointed Marjan Hussein, one of the two deputy CEOs to lead the team as project coordinator.

“The Results Transmission System will not be reconfigured to accommodate new presidential candidate owing to significant time constraints to successfully deploy the same,” Chiloba said in the memo dated October 14.

Even for the two candidates, only the Forms 34A and 34B results will be transmitted by the KIEMs gadgets with the presiding officers and returning officers instructed to key in zero under the text information in the transmission kits.

As was the case during the August polls, where results were beamed from the Bomas of Kenya, Kenyans will this time round be in the dark as the portal results will not be availed given not all candidates will have their results electronically transmitted.

The results from the five candidates gazetted last week will be physically taken to the National Tallying Centre at Bomas of Kenya for tallying.

The other candidates are Japhet Kaluyu, Michael Wainaina and Joseph Nyagah – all independent candidates – and Aukot of Thirdway Alliance.

The raft of changes developed by the IEBC to guide the repeat polls will also give presiding officers authority to open sealed ballot boxes at the constituency to retrieve any election material mistakenly stuffed at the polling station.

Currently, the Election Act requires that sealed ballot boxes after results are announced at the polling station can only be opened after obtaining a court order.

The IEBC document indicates that any presiding officer, who mistakenly puts election material in a sealed ballot box at the polling station need only to raise the matter with the returning officer at the constituency tallying centre and the sealed box will be opened.

The new regulations, however, requires the presence of the polling station agents at the constituency centre.

In situations, where the polling agents are unable to make it to the polling stations, the presiding officer will inform the commission, which will give further guidance.

Matungu MP Justus Murunga will table a motion in Parliament to compel the state to surrender its Mumias Sugar Company shares to the Kakamega government.

He is in the first stages of drafting the Bill to transfer the 20 per cent shares owned by state to the county.

The company has been experiencing financial difficulties in the past few years.

It was closed in May for maintenance, but has not been reopened.

The factory was to start operations on Saturday, but this was postponed as some of the machines needed repairs.

Management said milling will resume when the machines are functional. Murunga on Sunday said the county has the potential to stabilise the company’s operations.

“We need to force the national government to surrender its shares so we can monitor the company’s development easily at the county level,” he said.

Murunga said, however, said there is need for both governments to agree on capacity and manpower before giving up the shares.

The Bill, if passed, will serve the interests of farmers and eliminate middlemen who have been fleecing them, Murunga said.

He said at least Sh2 billion should be set aside for cane development.

“Last week, we passed the law in Parliament that sugarcane farmers will be paid every two weeks after they deliver the cane to the factory,” Murunga said.

Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has urged the national government to offload its share to the county government.

Residents have been urged to go back to growing sugarcane so that when the company reopens, they will provide enough raw materials.

The national government has pumped Sh3.7 billion into the company in a bailout plan and promised more cash to ensure it operates fully.

Jubilee-allied MP Bernard Shinali of Ikolomani on Saturday said Parliament has approved Sh500 million for the company in the Supplementary Budget.

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya (pictured) has asked DP William Ruto to apologise for linking him to Jubilee. Ruto at the weekend in Kiambu said Oparanya is among governor candidates from Vihiga who have decamped from NASA to Jubilee. But Oparanya termed the statement erroneous. He said he has never been a candidate in Vihiga county. “The mention of my name in relation to Vihiga and Jubilee is baffling. I expect an immediate correction and apology from the Deputy President,” Oparanya said. He said the DP may have wanted to name former Vihiga Governor Moses Akaranga and mentioned his name by mistake.

 “I have been and remain steadfast in ODM and NASA,” Oparanya said. He said he will hold a rally in Matungu tomorrow to outline his political stand. “I’m urging people of Vihiga, Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia and Trans Nzoia counties to remain focused in NASA,” Oparanya said. Failure by Oparanya and other NASA elected leaders in Kakamega to actively get involved in the weekly anti-IEBC demos to push for reforms in the electoral agency fuelled speculations they could be warming up to Jubilee.

The Kisii county assembly has become the first in Nyanza to approve names of County Executive Committee members.

Siaya MCAs rejected nine out of the 10 names presented by Governor Cornel Rasanga while Kisumu’s Anyang’ Nyong’o is yet to forward names of his nominees to the assembly.

Homa Bay and Migori MCAs are yet to start vetting nominees.

In Homa Bay, vetting failed to take place last week for lack of funds while in Migori, it has been delayed by the standoff over the speaker.

The Migori assembly is on recess until further notice, after the election of speaker was interrupted.

The Nyamira county assembly began vetting Governor John Nyagarama’s nominees yesterday.

The County Governments (Amendment) (No2) Act, 2016 stipulates that new county executive members shall be appointed within 21 days after swearing-in of MCAs.

In Kisii, the 10 nominees are expected to be sworn in this week.

Governor James Ongwae dropped six executives who served in his first term and retained four.

Kisii Maendeleo Chap Chap chairman Samson Maisiba has urged NASA leader Raila Odinga to call off the anti-IEBC demos.

He asked the former Prime Minister to participate in the October 26 fresh presidential election, as some of his irreducible minimum demands are unrealistic.

“He went to court and successfully challenged the election of Uhuru Kenyatta as President. He should face him again," Maisiba told the Star on Sunday on the phone.

"The IEBC has met some of his demands and I don’t see the reason why he should boycott.”

Maisiba lost the race for Bobasi MP on August 8.

He said many people have been killed in the demonstrations and property looted.

“The current tension is not good. We don’t want chaos in this country again. Raila should rein in his supporters and the police should not use excessive force on the demonstrators. Out economy is going to the dogs because of the unnecessary tension,” he added.

Police yesterday raided two homes of billionaire businessman Jimmy Wanjigi and said they recovered five AK-47 rifles and 93 bullets.

The first house raided a multi-agency team is a palatial home in Malindi, Kilifi county, where the officers recovered the weapons and arrested four workers.

A later raid at Wanjigi'shome in Nairobi's Muthaiga estate was frustrated when police accessed the compound, but were unable to enter. Wanjigi had locked the doors and refused to admit them. The standoff was continuing as at 7.30pm.

Wanjigi is a fabulously wealthy and secretive tycoon recently associated with NASA as a financier, but he never funded much of anything and the association reportedly ended.

Yesterday, NASA leaders visited Wanjigi’s heavily guarded Muthaiga home — across the street from the US Ambassador's residence — and declared the police siege a political act of intimidation.

“There is no basis for police to continue being here as they have no arrest warrant. This is an illegal act pointing to circumstances aimed at trumping up charges,” Siaya Senator James Orengo said.

Orengo, a top NASA lawyer, told reporters in Muthaiga it has information the Malindi property does not belong to Wanjigi "and the cache of firearms were planted."

“Wanjigi is being tormented because of his association with NASA, he is being haunted because he switched to NASA and it appears some quarters are not happy,” Suna East MP Junet Mohamed said.

The early morning raid in Malindi was confirmed to reporters by regional police chief Mutawa Muchangi at his office yesterday.

The Star learnt police were planning to arrest the businessman and question him about the findings in the Malindi home.

The entrance has a well-manicured garden and well-polished cabro works.

There are six houses in the compound: the main house, three guest houses and two servants' quarters. There is another house and a gazebo.

The guest houses, all ensuite, can accommodate close to 10 people. Each of the houses has two huge beds.

There's an outdoor gym and three swimming pools, surrounded by palm treas.

The sitting room contains a 60-inch television and brown sofas. There is a golden-metallic house phone in the living room with extensions numbers marked on laminated paper.

From the home directory, the master can call the kitchen, workers' quarters, and each of 12 bedrooms from his chair.

CCTV cameras are mounted at strategic corners, including the bedrooms.

The living room can accommodate 50 people.

The parking lot in front has spaces for 10 cars.

Yesterday, the Star found four high-end vehicles in the compound, including a black Porsche Cayenne and Toyota Land Cruisers.

A worker told the Star one of them was charged with cleaning the vehicles daily. There are full-time four domestic workers.

Among many other business interests, Wanjigi is reported to be a licenced arms dealer, whose company supplied arms to the Kibaki government.

The regional police chief displayed weapons recovered by the Flying Squad, DCI, Special Crimes Prevention Unit and the Malindi police.

Workers said Wanjigi is their boss and documents found at the residence bear the name of the Kwacha Group of Companies, associated with the businessman.

One documents related to work on a generator. The customer is listed at Kwacha Group of Companies (Malindi).

A search of the Porsche (plate KBH 441Q) showed it is registered to Aldewright Consultants Limited.

Wanjigi has been associated with NASA since the pre-August 8 elections, but has not attended the opposition's high-profile events. He was, however, with Raila's team in Bomas of Kenya during the release of the election results.

The controversial business mogul, is reported to have financed he opposition coalition.

Yesterday afternoon, the Flying squad and Special Crimes Prevention Unit raided Wanjigi's Muthaiga home.

Wanjigi, popularly known as JW, is the son of former Starehe MP Maina Wanjigi. Yesterday the elderly Wanjigi entered his son's house in Muthaiga as the police standoff ensued.

A group of police officers arrived at Wanjigi's heavily guarded home around 1pm and demanded access, insisting they had a search warrant. The security guards refused to admit them.

After nearly an hour, police threatened to blow up the gate. The gates then were opened but the house remained locked.

Separately, another team of Flying Squad officers was dispatched to Isiolo where two AK-47 were found on two AP officers who could not explain their origin.

The two officers are suspected to have hidden the guns in a truck that they were using to transport charcoal to Nairobi.

Yesterday, police chiefs in Nairobi said they were investigating a wider scheme of firearms smuggling from Somalia to Kenya.

Police did not disclose whether the weapons found at the Malindi home were connected with the guns smuggled from Somalia.

Wanjigi was a personal friend to powerful Internal Security minister George Saitoti and through his close proximity to State House, secured huge government contracts.

The Malindi home where the five guns and 93 bullets were recovered is in Ngoe, a serene neighbourhood in Malindi town, along the Malindi-Lamu road.

The home one one acre is registered in the names of two Italian nationals.

However, a worker who would not give his name, said the property has since changed hands and the new owner is Jimmy Wanjigi.

Malindi police chief Muchangi said police are investigating whether the businessman indeed owns the home.

Former Kilome MP John Harun Mwau is seeking to stop the IEBC from holding the repeat presidential election scheduled for October 26.

He says the conduct of the rerun is in violation of the Constitution.

The case came 10 days to the repeat election.

Mwau says after the August 8 election results were nullified by the Supreme Court, the IEBC should have conducted nominations before ordering the rerun.

The apex court directed the IEBC to conduct a fresh presidential election in 60 days, as required by the Constitution.

Mwau’s case seeks orders on whether a legitimate election can be held on the basis of nominations, which, according to the petitioner, have already been quashed by the Supreme Court.

Mwau has sued the IEBC and its chairman Wafula Chebukati.

He says the matter is grave and should be heard quickly.

In his suit papers, Mwau is of the view that the election, if conducted without fresh nominations, risks being nullified by the apex court.

“It’s clear if respondents continue with the election as stated in the Gazette notice, it is susceptible to nullification by the Supreme Court, subjecting the public and the nation to great expense, detriment, uncertainty and loss,” he says.

The former legislator argues that nomination is an express and unambiguous legal prerequisite for a presidential election and it cannot be presumed in law or waived.

He wants the court to issue a declaration that a presidential election can be won either by a candidate who has complied with the requirements to make him the only candidate nominated for a race, or, where two or more are nominated, by the one who gets most votes casts and receives at least 25 per cent of votes cast in each of 24 counties or more.

Also sought is a declaration that the IEBC or Chebukati does not have the power to waive nomination requirements.

NASA flagbearer Raila Odinga is on record saying he will not participate in the repeat election.

The alliance says the IEBC has failed to comply with ‘minimum-irreducible’ demands that would ensure the election is credible, free and fair.

The IEBC has said it will go ahead with the poll. It says all the candidates in the August 8 election, save for UDP’s Cyrus Jirongo, will participate.

The IEBC has rejected Raila’s withdrawal from the race. It said he did not follow the right procedure, hence his name will be on ballot.

NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga has been directed to respond to a suit that seeks to reverse the Supreme Court judgment that annulled the August 8 presidential election.

Deputy registrar of the Supreme Court Daniel ole Keiwua told Raila to respond to the suit filed by Jackson Ndegwa and Edward Kings by close of business yesterday.

Jubilee Party, which has been listed as a respondent, had also been directed to file and serve replies by yesterday.

The application by the businessmen had earlier been rejected by Keiwua, but the two filed an appeal and will now appear before a single judge of the Supreme Court for further directions.

Ndegwa and Kings say the September 1 judgment that invalidated President Uhuru Kenyatta’s win was erroneous and should be overturned.

They say overturning the decision will save the country Sh12 billion set aside for the rerun.

Their argument is that the Supreme Court should be the last court to sustain and enforce procedural technicalities against a party.

They say the repeat poll is a huge burden to an already battered economy and the court should intervene for the sake of the public interest.

The two say the judgment by the apex court was precedent-setting and might influence more election petitions involving senators, governors and members of the National Assembly.

“Our case raises very serious constitutional issues and legal principles. The move by the registrar to reject the case is a violation of the Constitution in Articles 1, 3-1, 10, 22, 35 and 159,” Ndegwa said.

The apex court, by a majority decision, nullified the August 8 presidential election. The court cited irregularities and illegalities in the transmission of results.

CJ David Maraga, DCJ Philomena Mwilu, Justices Smokin Wanjala and Isaac Lenaola said the IEBC failed to conduct the poll in line with the Constitution and election laws.

But Justices Jackton Ojwang’ and Njoki Ndung’u dissented and ruled that Uhuru was validly elected and there was no basis for invalidating the election.

Insurance companies are leaning more towards high-yield investment options to increase their revenues since premiums are no longer profitable, analysts at Cytonn Investment say.

“Earnings from underwriters core business is not profitable, which is why they have to move to rely more and more on investment income,” Cytonn Investment analyst Caleb Mugendi said.

A report by the firm on the insurance industry shows that underwriters are shifting to real estate and asset management as a source of revenue from government securities and the equity market. Mugendi said that compared to the fixed income market, high-yield asset classes have proven to be more stable.

“The fixed income market currently isn’t yielding that much - about 10 per cent yield on government paper - and equity prices fluctuate in a volatile manner, leading to a decline in earnings,” Mugendi said. “The high-yield asset classes gain higher returns as they are significantly more stable.”

An industry report by the Insurance Regulatory Authority shows that at least 80.4 per cent of insurers’ profits are held in income-generating investments.

Half-year data shows that the industry asset base grew 12.92 per cent, or Sh58.76 billion, to Sh513.7 billion, compared to Sh454.94 billion recorded last year. Investments also increased 12.89 per cent to Sh410.36 billion, from Sh363.49 billion.

The general business class accounted for at least 64.21 and 71.36 per cent of the insurance industry’s total asset base and investments, respectively.

Cytonn analysts said that gains from premiums were as a result of high management costs, high claims and slow uptake of innovation in the insurance industry.

“There are a few insurance companies that have mobile applications where you can look at your premiums. However looking at innovation, there is still a long way to go. Technology can save a lot of distribution costs, administration expenses and the like,” Mugendi said.

Management expenses grew by 10.6 per cent to Sh20.03 billion during the January-June period compared to Sh18.12 billion reported in the first half of 2016.

Claims incurred by general insurers were Sh28.63 billion in the second quarter of 2017, an increase of 6.5 per cent compared to Sh26.88 billion incurred the previous year.

According to the 2016 industry report by IRA, fraud continues to riddle the insurance sector, with the claim rate growing 11.8 per cent to Sh54.86 billion from Sh49.05 billion in 2015.

Medical and motor business classes cumulatively accounted for 83.5 per cent of total claims in the general insurance business, with each accounting for 33 and 50.5 per cent respectively.

The Communication Authority has called on telecommunications firms in the country to come up with default maximum protection measures for child online safety.

According to the authority, the measures should be implemented when accessing the internet, communicating with a second party using short messages or social media accounts.

This comes as they intend to introduce a policy to guide the telecommunication industry on child online safety by June 2018.

This will be done through consultations with the International Telecommunication Union among other stakeholders that will culminate in a National Strategy for Child Online Protection.

According to the authority’s director general, Francis Wangusi, the move has been prompted by an increasing trend of abuse among children in the fast-growing technology. “This makes it paramount for us to seek ways to safeguard our young ones in a motion that cannot be postponed,” he said.

Among the online crimes on the increase as outlined by the authority are cyber bullying, solicitation of a minor, pornography, identity theft and online fraud.

Recent research by Guard Child in collaboration with the University of Hampshire shows that 70 per cent of children aged 7 to 18 years have accidentally encountered online pornography, often through a web search while doing homework.

In addition, 90 per cent of children in this age bracket have seen online pornography. As early as 2004, there were at least 3,433 child abuse domains online, a number that rapidly grew to reach 10,656 in 2006.

Internet subscriptions in the country hit 29.6 million as at June 2017, translating to an increase of 15.2 per cent from 25.7 million registered in the previous quarter.

The growth was driven by a 15.3 per cent increase of mobile data subscriptions that stood at 29.4 million at the end of the quarter. According to Wangusi, this is a clear sign that moderation of the space ought to be enforced for the sake of child online protection.