Top stories that dominated headlines on Sunday, September 24, 2023:
1: “Rethinking Sympathy in Leadership: DP Gachagua Takes on CS Moses Kuria”
2: “IEBC Signals Transparency: Ready to Unlock Election Servers for Ruto-Raila Talks Team”
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, known for his diplomatic approach, surprised many on Saturday, September 23, when he veered away from his usual tone to critique Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria.
Gachagua’s comments targeted Kuria’s statements regarding fuel price hikes and equitable resource sharing within the government.
Here are the highlights from Sunday, September 24, 2023:
1. Rethinking Sympathy in Leadership: DP Gachagua Takes on CS Moses Kuria
Deputy President Gachagua, who had refrained from endorsing calls for Kuria’s dismissal on Friday, revisited the issue after Kuria’s remarks were interpreted as belittling the plight of Kenyans grappling with rising fuel costs.
Gachagua stressed the importance of leaders displaying empathy in their communication with citizens.
Gachagua also appeared to respond to Kuria’s assertion that Kenya was not akin to a shareholder firm and advocated for fair development and appointment distribution.
During a public appearance, Gachagua stated, “Every Sunday, the clergy gives us hope. I implore leaders who issue declarations of despondency to Kenyans to do the same. Fuel prices are becoming an international problem. Let us put an end to hypocrisy and tell Kenyans the truth.”
These remarks were made during Mr. Gachagua’s speech at the funeral of Ms. Teresia Mwangi, the mother of Vice Chief of Defence Forces Lt. Gen. Jonah Mwangi, in Nyandarua County.
Gachagua, unapologetic for his statement that Kenya is akin to a shareholders’ company, emphasized that those who sow should reap the benefits of their labor.
“You can’t grow maize and expect to get beans. Even within a family, a mother does not feed her neighbor’s children before her own. I’ve been accused of being blunt and criticized for stating the facts as they are, but I stand by my words,” asserted the Deputy President.
2. IEBC Signals Transparency: Ready to Unlock Election Servers for Ruto-Raila Talks Team
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), under the leadership of CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan, demonstrated its commitment to transparency by agreeing on Friday to open the servers utilized during the 2022 general election.
In a statement before the National Dialogue Committee (NDCO), IEBC ICT director Michael Ouma affirmed the servers’ readiness for a forensic audit by independent auditors.
“I want to say that the servers are available for forensic audit, yes, I confirm, at any time, and that they were used to process an exact replica of the physical forms that are available,” stated Michael Ouma.
The IEBC Secretariat issued this statement in response to inquiries from the National Dialogue Committee regarding the necessity of opening the servers. Inquiring about the legal framework surrounding server access, Cecily Mbarire asked, “I’ve heard people say open the server, but under what circumstances would you open the server, and is there a legal framework that allows that to happen or not?”
The IEBC expressed confidence in the integrity of the data stored on the servers, asserting that the figures on the servers align with those on the physical forms.
The ICT director clarified, “The server’s role was nothing more than taking a replica of that physical form and making it available to the portal.”
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