Kenyan University students are set to battle it out in a new singing competition dubbed ‘Beat Ya Campo’ which was launched by Infinix Mobility.

‘Beat Ya Campo’ is an inter-campus singing competition where students with a musical talent compete to win amazing prizes and also get a chance to represent their university at the finals.

The initiative was kick started at Mount Kenya University (MKU), Thika with the auditions taking place late last month. The next ones conducted at the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University campuses in September.

The final event for those who auditioned at MKU last month will be held on July 5 at an event to be graced by Masauti as one of the judges.

GOOD MUSIC

The event will also include special performances from Ochungulo family who are part of the new sound wave in the Kenyan music industry.

Speaking to Nairobi News, Infinix Brand Manager Mr Qiang said Infinix, being a brand in an emerging market, understands the need to invest in the future of young people through their skill set and talents.

” Music is the greatest communication in the world. Even if people don’t understand the language that you’re singing in, they still know good music when they hear it,” he said.

INTERNSHIPS

Apart from ‘Beat Ya Campo’ the phone brand will also see them have a book drive in collaboration with participating universities.

The drive will involve donation of books by the students to Emmanuel Children’s Home in Kayole for their library which they built.

In addition, they will offer internships for students in the different universities, and offer one permanent position annually to the best students.

The overall winner of the competition stands to seal a recording deal through BOOMPLAY who have also partnered with Infinix in the project.

Jamaican King of Lovers Rock, Jah Cure, has arrived in Kenya for the first part of the African leg of his worldwide dubbed “The Royal Soldier Tour”.

The Grammy-nominated artiste will be the main act at the Umoja Splash Festival to be held on Saturday at Uhuru Gardens.

The curtain raisers of the event will be home-based reggae artistes Jah Watchman of Dohty Family, Nutty Bwoy, Musikal Sherriff and Teargas alongside DJs Moh, Zionites and Nutty Konshens.

IMPACT LIVES

During his one week stay in the country, Jah Cure, who is among reggae artistes topping the charts at the moment, will take part in a number of activities in Nairobi ghettos.

Speaking at a conference on Thursday, Jah Cure said he is in the country not only to perform but also to impact the lives of the people.

“You don’t even know how happy I am to be back in Africa, back in Kenya. There’s never a better time. There’s never a better place. I think here in Kenya I have a connection, that’s why besides the performance, I want to do something for the society in Kenya, something good that I can be remembered for in Kenya,” Jah Cure said.

TOP HITS

“With the help of my team during my stay here, I will be visiting the slums to see what I can do,” he added.

Jah Cure has been on ‘The Royal Soldier Tour” since the beginning of the year. The 10-city tour has already seen him performing in the capital cities of Bahamas, Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

Jah Cure is best known for topping the music charts with global hits such as Call on Me, Never Find, What Am I Longing For, Unconditional Love among others.

Parking fees in Nairobi will be doubled to Sh400 within the city centre if MCAs adopt the administration’s proposal to reverse the cutting of the rates last year.

The move will also see parking charges of Sh200 introduced in residential areas with motorists paying Sh300 at shopping and business hubs.

The hubs are listed as Upper Hill, Community, Westlands, Yaya Centre, Eastleigh, Industrial Area, Karen, Gigiri, Ngara and Hurlingham.

DECONGESTING CBD

The rise is aimed at reversing the drop in Nairobi revenues and decongesting the Central Business District (CBD), says City Hall, adding that traffic jam is costing the city estimated Sh37 billion in fuel and lost man hours.

“The reduction in parking fees for street parking fees was the cornerstone of the amendments last year and has drastically reduced revenue collections from daily parking and increased congestion within the CBD,” said City Hall.

The county collected an estimated Sh10 billion in internal revenue against a target of Sh15 billion. The previous year’s collection was Sh10.1 billion.

The increased charges come a year after ward representatives shot down similar proposals last September and instead slashed it to Sh200.

The plans by the Mike Sonko-led administration to raise parking fees is not in tandem with his campaign promise of halving the charges to Sh150 from the then Sh300.

BIGGEST REVENUE SOURCE

Parking fees is the biggest source of revenue for City Hall with collections of about Sh2 billion every year but corruption and collusion between parking attendants and motorists have denied the city administration the much needed millions of shillings it requires to fix many service lines.

City Hall has struggled to raise revenues needed to upgrade roads and clear garbage in a county that salaries gobble up more than 60 percent of its total income.

If adopted, the new charges will boost the county collections but make life harder for city motorists who are also grappling with increased cost of petrol and diesel.

A litre of petrol is retailing at Sh115 in Nairobi, up from Sh100.09 in February.

Parking fees for non-commercial buses and lorries will be Sh1,000 while trucks will pay Sh3,000 in the central business district and half the amount in the residential areas.

Kenyan actor Lupita Nyong’o and American singer, Janelle Monae, on Tuesday made headlines when a video of them dancing to ‘I Got The Juice’ surfaced and circulated on social media.

Janelle was making a stop for her Dirty Computer tour at London’s SSE Wembley Arena and surprised the audience by announcing the arrival of her “queen” and special guest Nyong’o, right before bringing her to the stage.

TWERKED

The Academy Award-winning actor twerked with Janelle while the singer was spanking her as the Us actor turned and dry humped the singer.

Janelle Monáe just brought out LUPITA FUCKING NYONG’O pic.twitter.com/JaFJgLLqgi

— Joel Freeman (@JoelJFreeman) July 2, 2019

Last month the two stars shared controversial photos and videos on social media and captured on tape getting cozy with the musician sparking lesbian rumours.

In the videos and images shared online, Lupita and Janelle are seen dancing together during an event dubbed Met Gala 2019, an annual fundraiser in support of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York.

ROMANCE

During the dance, the Black Panther actress gets affectionate with Janelle, who is openly gay.

janelle monáe and lupita nyong’o dancing to make me feel. that’s it. that’s the tweet. pic.twitter.com/58LfvjHicg

— jo (fan account) (@metalcIouds) May 10, 2019

The incident has left online users speculating that the two may be in a romantic relationship.

The two are yet to respond to the rumours.

Interim Safaricom chief executive Officer Michael Joseph is under fire over remarks he made on Thursday while eulogizing the late Bob Collymore.

Taking to the podium at the All Saints Cathedral (ACK) in Nairobi, Michael described how had come to change his perception about Collymore over the last 15 years.

“Over the last 15 years I went from being amused by this white man in a black body pretending to be a very serious corporate person to really becoming a serious corporate leader,” he said.

The comments have been judged as racist by many social media users .

MJ called Bob Collymore 'a white man in a black body' and that racist holds more than 5 top positions in this country

— Kenneth (@KenMortician) July 5, 2019

"Always saw Bob as a white man in a black body." What did Michael Joseph mean by this statement??

— Gerald Journeyman. (@GeraldJourneym2) July 4, 2019

Michael Joseph, while eulogising Bob Collymore, said Bob "was a white man in a black body"…what !!OUTRIGHT RACISM!!!
May bob rest in peace.#BobcollymoreRIP
Pole to wambui collymore and family,peter kenneth

— Raymond Matata. (@raymondmtetezi) July 4, 2019

White man in a black body – who said these words and what do they infer?

— Mwalimu Kahato (@Ganjoka) July 4, 2019

"Bob was white man trapped in a black body", Michael Joseph. This is abhorent racism.

— Ndung'u Wainaina (@NdunguWainaina) July 5, 2019

Eti Bob was a white man in a black body!!
Michael Joseph ought to explain

— Robert Solomon (@Rosolonazi) July 5, 2019

“White man in a black body”, what was white about the man. pure racist prejudice

— Frank (@Frank5622Z) July 5, 2019

Wow! A White man in a black body! This so derogative to black people

— M.A.A (@itsAlumasi) July 4, 2019

Did I just hear Michael Joseph refer to @bobcollymore as "A white man in a black body."?… Maybe Michael Joseph should have just read the bloody poem and sat down.

— Helen Anyiso Otolo (@Hotolo) July 4, 2019

michael joseph Has described his friend Bob as a white man in a black body
what is that supposed to mean

— edward njuguna (@wacessys) July 4, 2019

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko is willing to sponsor Kibera residents to visit their ailing MP Ken Okoth who is undergoing treatment in France.

The MP is undergoing cancer treatment and has been in the European country for over six months now.

In a Facebook post on Thursday,  Sonko said the national government needs to act more urgently in addressing the rising cases of cancer.

“Cancer is really hitting us hard. The most important thing in illness is never to lose heart. However, as a nation it’s a very high time we should think of having a permanent solution of dealing with this scourge,” read part of the post.

“On behalf of the great people of Nairobi our prayers are with you Hon. Ken Okoth. I shall be willing to sponsor and lead a delegation of pastors, Imams and a few Kibra constituents to visit him in France and pray for our beloved MP,” he further said.

Mr Sonko also wished the MP quick recovery.

Police have urged city motorists to keep off four major roads in the city on Saturday to pave way for the annual Diabetes Walk.

Nairobi County Traffic Commander Joshua Omukata said in a statement that Lang’ata Road, Haile Sellasie Avenue, Hospital Road and Uhuru Highway will be inaccessible from 6am to 12pm.

He advised motorists to use alternative routes.

Motorists using Lang’ata Road have been advised to use Southern Bypass to join Mombasa Road.

From Mombasa Road, they will be diverted to Lusaka, Jogoo and Landhies roads to avoid the event road.

This will also be the route used by all motor vehicles entering the city centre using Mombasa Road.

Uhuru Highway will be used as a single carriage way from Uhuru Highway/Haile Selassie Avenue roundabout to Uhuru Highway/Bunyala roundabout.

Motorists headed to CBD from Ngong direction on Saturday have been advised to divert at Ngong road/Haile Selassie junction to access the CBD through Valley Road and Kenyatta Avenue.

Vehicles headed to Bunyala Road through Hospital road will be diverted at Hospital Road/Ngong Road junction to join Valley Road and Kenyatta Avenue to CBD.

Traffic Police officers will be deployed at strategic points to facilitate traffic accordingly.

A handshake between Deputy William Ruto and Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki has set tongues wagging online.

The two shook hands at the All Saints Cathedral church in Nairobi during the memorial service of former Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore.

But it’s the extra firm grip on Ms Kariuki’s hand by Dr Ruto that has excited netizens.

For starters, the Ms Kariuki is one of the cabinet secretaries who the DP has complained of having attended a meeting where a plan to eliminate him was allegedly discussed.

However, State House digital secretary Dennis Itumbi has been arrested and detained for five days as police investigate a letter he is said to have authored, which sparked off the claims.

Here’s what a few Kenyans had to say:

Sicily Kariuki and William Ruto. This man is so bitter !! pic.twitter.com/R2pocrkE6n

— Jamal Magak (@magak_denis) July 4, 2019

Sicily Kariuki and William Ruto pic.twitter.com/gnXBbPe1e4

— Hakuna Matata (@Matoke_) July 4, 2019

I can relate how DP Ruto felt when he met one of the La Mada 4.

@WilliamsRuto @SicilyKariuki pic.twitter.com/uZfwXh3ulE

— Jim kitch langat (@JimKitchKE) July 5, 2019

Over 22,000 Administration Police officers (APs) have been moved to Kenya Police Service (KPS) in accordance to police reforms announced last year by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

In a circular sent to all regional commanders on Thursday, the National Police Service Board announced that the 23,999 officers will now work as Kenya Police officers under the same command structure.

The most affected region is Rift Valley where 6,707 APs have been moved.

Coast, North Eastern and Nairobi regions respectively saw 2,043, 1,785 and 1,438 officers affected.

The officers have been directed to liaise with their respective Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit (CIPU), Regional and County commanders for guidance on how to effect the changes.

“All officers are directed to liaise with regional and county commanders for proper physical handling, taking of the position and handling equipment like firearm,” the circular read in part.

Regional and county police heads have been warned against transferring officers from the sub-counties they are serving until the transformation is over and all officers integrated to Kenya Police Service.

All the officers affected will serve under the command of Deputy Inspector General Edward Mbugua.

Administration Police officers who have not been affected by the changes will work under the supervision of Deputy Inspector General Noor Gabow as Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit (CIPU).

The circular also outlined roles of officers working under CIPU which include protection of electricity sector, protection of Government buildings and data centres which include Huduma Centers and courts.

Other roles are protection of road furniture that include bridges, railways, protection of water points, protection of banks, cash in transit and protection of learning institutions and learning Institutions.

Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino on Thursday viciously defended President Uhuru Kenyatta.

In the rare moment, Mr Owino who is serving his first term in Parliament, told off a clique of leaders who have been against the President.

“Some people are blackmailing the President, in the name of painting his good name yet they have not performed anything,” said Mr Owino.

Mr Owino who was speaking at a Press-conference organized by 20 MPs drawn from Jubilee and ODM where he took issues with Deputy President William Ruto accusing him of making rounds in the country busy campaigning for the 2022 general election.

“Kenyans let us ask one question between Raila Odinga and Ruto who is the lord of poverty?” He poses. Mr Owino finishes his address with the words- “Thank you and I owe no one an apology.”

In September 2017, Mr Owino was arrested over alleged abusive remarks on President Kenyatta.

It is alleged that Mr Owino while addressing a public rally in Kawangware, he referred to unnamed person as mtoto wa mbwa.

Jamaican hit maker Garfield Spencer alias Konshens has been impressed by Kenya’s latest sensational group Ethic Entertainment.

Homeboyz radio presenter G Money had apparently done a remix of the group’s latest song ‘Figa’ and shared it with the Jamaican artiste.

Konshens was blown away by the remix and let the world know about it.

He took to social media and asked G money to get back to him with the group’s contacts.

“Yo tell @GMONEYizME to wake up and check his email plz.. @ the artistes for me too plz,” he posted.

Yo tell @GMONEYizME to wake up and check his email plz.. @ the artistes for me too plz. pic.twitter.com/ptoQyUvfqr

— KONSHENS (@konshens) July 5, 2019

Though he did not understand the song’s lyrics, Koshens said the beat sounded different.

In his reply, G money was more than excited and was left wondering what Ethics had done to him.

@ethicofficial – Yo why you doing me like this. I might have to play this right now https://t.co/SP4hvXFp5a

— G MONEY (@GMONEYizME) July 5, 2019

According to G Money, not even the Kenyan group has listened to the remix.

“Anyway. Sending this @ethicofficial and @konshens remix out to DJs and all. Ain’t mine to hold onto. Pretty sure y’all will have it by the end of the day, just a brother out here connecting dots.”

Anyway. Sending this @ethicofficial and @konshens remix out to DJs and all. Ain’t mine to hold onto. Pretty sure y’all will have it by the end of the day, just a brother out here connecting dots.

— G MONEY (@GMONEYizME) July 5, 2019

Ethics released their first single ‘Lamba Lolo’ which was condemned for promoting loose morals.

They have never looked back since, producing hit after hit even after their bitter fallout with their manager (we are currently unsure of the status of the relationship).

The ‘Gal a Bubble’ hit maker has performed several times in Kenya and has big following locally.

The late Bob Collymore’s ‘Boys Club’ appear to have gotten themselves into trouble with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

This is after the Head of State put them on the spot for drinking a bottle of reserve whisky that he (Uhuru) says belonged to him.

Mr Kenyatta spoke on Thursday during Mr Collymore’s memorial service at the All Saints Cathedral.

It all started when former presidential Peter Kenneth –one of the boys in the club- revealed that the former Safaricom CEO had them quaff off a special bottle of whisky that he had reserved for a special friend.

WHISKY STORE

“He (Collymore) eventually went into his whisky store and opened a very special reserve blended whisky that he had saved many years for a special guest. He insisted we become the special guests and he insisted that we all share the whisky even for those who do not drink whisky,” said Kenneth.

But in his remarks, the President revealed that he was the special guest.

“My one disappointment I was supposed to have gone back to collect something that had been reserved for a special friend, so Peter Kenneth, (Kenya Commercial Bank CEO Joshua) Oigara and crew you have to pay. That did not belong to you,” said Mr Kenyatta sending the church into laughter.

The ‘boys club’ is made up of businessman Ally Khan Satchu, Radio Africa Group CEO Patrick Quarcoo, politician Peter Kenneth, Citizen TV News Anchor Jeff Koinange, Scangroup CEO Bharat Thakrar, British High Commissioner Nic Hailey and Kenya Commercial Bank CEO Joshua Oigara.

Detectives from the Special Crimes Prevention Unit (SPCU) on Friday morning shot dead three suspected thugs in Marurui, Kasarani.

Police say the three suspects were in a white Toyota Fielder KBX 441X which had been reported stolen.

Officers spotted the car along the road and when the suspects were challenged to stop they shot at the police prompting a shootout. Police killed all the three occupants.

Confirming the shooting, Kasarani OCPD Peter Kimani said they recovered an AK 47 with several rounds of ammunition.

In another police shooting, two suspected thugs were on Tuesday shot dead along Waiyaki Way.

Officers on patrol along the busy highway near Brookside Junction had witnessed four men robbing motorists.

They managed to shoot two dead as the other two accomplices escaped.

A toy pistol and seven mobile phones were recovered from the slain suspects.

The bodies were taken to the city morgue for postmortem and identification.

Muthaiga Police OCS Alphonce Kemengua has been interdicted.

Nairobi News has established that Mr Kemengua was interdicted on Thursday over pictures taken and shared by friends of State House Digital Director Denis Itumbi inside the station.

Authorities claim that officers allowed Mr Itumbi and his friends too much access including allegedly leaving the cells to sit outside, where the photos were allegedly taken.

The OCS is the officer in charge of a police station and is therefore responsible for whatever goes on in the station.

Those captured in the pictures include TV journalist Jacque Maribe, politician Josiah Murigu and Itumbi’s brother, David Itumbi.

In photos making rounds on social media, Mr Itumbi is seen sitting next to Ms Maribe.

The photos are believed to have been taken at the Muthaiga Police Station cells.

A source privy to the incident said that the OCS was informed about the move and it was purely a disciplinary action.

“It is true that it has happened and I cannot comment further,” a source within the force said. We could not reach National Police spokesman Charles Owino because his phone was switched off.

For one to access the police cells at the station, they have to pass through the reception which is always guarded by the officer recording criminal reports at the station.

Interdicted government officers are put on half pay for a period of time as investigations are carried out.

Mr Itumbi while appearing in court on Thursday asked the magistrate to have him locked up at State House, Gigiri or Muthaiga police stations and not Kamukunji Police Station.

According to him, hardcore criminals are held at Kamukunji and they may harm him. He was detained for five days at Muthaiga police station.

A man suspected to be mentally ill is being held at Kimilili Police Station in Bungoma County after he was found with Sh250,000 cash and a consignment of banned polythene bags.

The suspect, identified only as Shikuku, was apprehended on Thursday during a sting operation by police and officials of the National Environment Management Authority (Nema).

Shikuku, dressed in dirty, worn-out clothes and with unkempt hair, was spotted speaking to himself near Kimilili Katiba grounds where he normally sells plastic bags, seemingly oblivious of the ban.

“The suspect was nabbed with around 15,000 pieces of banned polythene bags [that amount of money]. He is currently in our custody,” Kimilili Sub-County Deputy Commissioner Joyce Onguzo told journalists in her office on Friday.

She said the man will be arraigned once police finish the investigation.

Some of the money and polythene bags that Shikuku, a man suspected to be mentally ill, was found with during a Nema crackdown in Bungoma County on July 4, 2019. PHOTO | COURTESY

‘PRETENSE’

Residents claimed Shikuku pretended to be ‘mad’ in order to avoid punishment.

An unidentified trader said, “Shikuku is not mad; he only pretends. Where does he get the polythene bags?”

Others noted that unscrupulous traders smuggle the bags into Kenya through the porous border with Uganda.

The administrator cautioned business people against defying the ban, saying they will soon be arrested and prosecuted.

Some of the plastic bags and money that Shikuku, a man suspected to be mentally ill, was found with during a Nema crackdown in Bungoma County on July 4, 2019.

CRACKDOWN

Nema’s Bungoma County Director Rob Kipkoech said they involved police as a group of youths previously attacked a team in an attempt to evade arrest.

“My team was attacked by a group of youths who wanted the operation called off. This time round it was a success following the engagement of police officers,” Mr Kipkoech said.

He added that similar operations will take place in major urban centers in the bid to ensure the ban announced on August 28, 2018 is fully implemented.

Club Memphis, the nightclub where Governor Mike Sonko’s daughter Saumu Mbuvi and Lamu Senator Anwar Loitiptip were attacked and left to die, was on Thursday night raided by police.

The raid saw the manager Eliud Gitonga and an employee Eric Maina arrested and taken to Kasarani Police Station.

Kasarani Police boss Peter Kimani said  the raid was not related to the attack on Sonko’s daughter and the senator. He said they want ensure that things at the club are done right.

“The officers received a tip-off from members of the public and they acted in time leading to the arrest of the two and confiscation of 28 shisha pots,” Mr Kimani told Nairobi News.

Some of the substances nabbed at the club have been taken to the anti-narcotics department for testing.

The duo will be arraigned in court on Monday next week.

POPULAR AMONG STUDENTS

The club is located at the Safari Business Lounge, near the United States International University (USIU). It is popular among students and the young.

Police say the owner of the club is a Nigerian who was deported from the country early this year.

Nairobi News has established that the owner is part of a group of foreigners who in May wrote to the Interior Ministry accusing it for illegally deporting them.

Part of the letter which this writer read stated that “they were not in any way engaged in illegal activities and that they were students in one of Kenya’s private universities.”

On June 3,  Lamu Senator and Saumu Mbuvi were attacked outside the nightclub by a gang of six who were armed with crude weapons.

Singer Dela Maranga has revealed the reason she chose to have a civil wedding at Attorney General’s chambers instead of a fancy church wedding.

The “Nimecatch Mafeelings’ hit maker announced this week on Instagram of her wedding to long time lover Dr Reign.

Dela shared pictures of the ceremony with captions like ‘Mrs Reigns’, ‘The Reigns’.

The singer has come out to explain the reason for choosing a low key event attended by few invited guests.

She said they wanted to avoid the drama that comes with big weddings as well as cut costs.

“Yes I am finally married to Dr Reign after our private wedding at Sheria House.”  adding;

“I think normal weddings have a lot of drama and spending for nothing. We did not want our friends to spend so much because of our day.”

Dela and her husband Dr Reign, a pediatric doctor at Nairobi hospital who also records music, were engaged for a year before walking down the aisle.

Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa has said he is happy with Harambee Star’s performance at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

“Even the President (Uhuru Kenyatta) didn’t ask us to go and win matches. He said we should go and compete well, play our hearts out and represent the country,” said Mwendwa.

Mwendwa, who spoke on Friday during an interview on Citizen TV, also denied reports that he has a hand in the selection of national team players.

“There is no high level coach who can accept someone  to pick a team for him. Migne has been to seven major tournaments before. This is the first time I am taking the team to this level.

“The coach had a free hand in selecting the players and even the camp in France. It was cold in Europe and very hot in Cairo. But the coach insisted on France as a camping place. He explained his reasons.”

Mwendwa’s sentiments come after a number of players called up by Migne to the Africa Cup of Nations failed to be handed playing opportunities.

They include forwards Paul Were, Masoud Juma and Ovella Ochieng who never enjoyed play time even when the team was struggling for goals.

Mwendwa also regretted that injuries to major players including Brian Mandela, Joash Ochieng and Paul Were affected the team’s game plan.

“Uganda have had a good tournament in Egypt. But two years ago in Gabon, they failed to win a single game. Now they progressed to the round of 16. It’s a process.”

Kenya had a below par outing at the continental showpiece, winning only one of the three games it competed in at the group stages.

There is an air of anxiety about the security one of Nairobi city’s most tranquil green spaces, the Karura forest, after villagers fetching firewood stumbled on a decomposing body.

The discovery which took place on Monday came out to the open on Friday afternoon as investigations on the identity of the man started.

The police have asked members of the public whose relatives are missing to go to the City Mortuary and identify the man whom they suspect was dumped in the forest.

Initial investigations showed that there was no sign of struggle.

Additionally, the body of the middle aged man had no identification documents which has made it harder for homicide detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to find a breakthrough in their investigations.

Officers from Muthaiga Police Station responded to the scene after the body was found trapped between two trees on the southern side of the forest.

NOT IN FOREST

Friends of Karura, a lobby group that manages the forest, has denied that the body was found within the boundaries of the forest insisting it was found on the fringes.

“We have a fence around the forest. Perhaps the body was found outside the forest in an area where there is tree cover. The forest is very safe,” John Chege, the chief scout Friends of Karura responded to the Nation.

“What I can say is that I do patrols around the forest every day and I have no information about any human body which was discovered. There is even a lady who was visiting the forest today who asked me about the same and I replied that I have not heard such a thing,” he said.

With its main entrance located off Limuru Road, Karura forest is one of the few green spaces in Nairobi and is considered one of the city’s safest and most tranquil recreational spots.

Surrounded by an electric fence, the forest is an impressive 1,041 hectares of floral and fauna splendour.

It is a preferred spot for fitness lovers and capital’s expatriate population who throng it for leisure walks, cycling, hiking, picnicking, running, bird and butterfly watching.

In March, photos of a giant snake in the forest circulated on social media eliciting fear among people who frequent it.

Police were Friday night contemplating whether to summon 11 individuals who took selfies with the Secretary of Digital Media at State House Dennis Itumbi in one of the offices at Muthaiga Police Station.

Also, officers who were on duty Wednesday night might find themselves in hot soup after the investigating team accused them of granting access to Itumbi’s friends to the interiors of the station.

Itumbi and his friends are said to have held a party-like visit at the cells where they stayed until close to midnight. They later circulated selfies of the visit on social media.

INTERDICTED

Muthaiga Police Station Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Alphonse Kemengua has since been interdicted over the incident.

“For the 11 to be inside the offices it means that someone somewhere allowed them in and that is also the person or persons of interest in this matter,” Nairobi Police Boss Philip Ndolo told Nairobi News on phone.

Investigators following the matter insist there is need to question Itumbi’s visitors.

“They were inside the cells, how they ended up there is clear. They were allowed (in). But there is need of having them (to) tell us why they opted to take such a move,” a source privy to the investigations said.

In the selfies, Itumbi is seen seated at the farthest end with TV journalist Jacque Maribe while other friends surround them.

On top of a table nearby stood a Red Bull can and a bottle of water.

GOING VIRAL

The photos of the visit started going viral on social media as soon as Itumbi landed at Muthaiga Police Station.

At the time, Itumbi was supposed to be inside the police cells, having been  questioned at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters along Kiambu Road.

According to the Police Act, Itumbi selfie friends risk imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine not exceeding Sh20,000 or both if found guilty of disorderly conduct inside a police building.

Section 60 (1) of Act says that if “a person who, in any police building, police office lock-up or cell behaves in a riotous, indecent, disorderly, or insulting manner shall be guilty of an offence”.

Itumbi was on Wednesday morning arrested outside City Hall and taken to the DCI headquarters by a group of over 10 officers who were in three cars over links to DP William Ruto’s murder letter.

On Thursday, Itumbi told the court that he did not want to be taken to Kamkunji Police Station as the prosecution team had requested, saying the station is meant for hardcore criminals.