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Here is what you need to know to get up to speed with today’s happenings.

Karua’s comments on Ruto’s governance

Reactions to Martha Karua’s sentiments on President William Ruto’s recent cabinet reshuffle and abductions are among the news events expected to dominate headlines today. 

Karua, while speaking during an interview with a local TV station on Monday, December 23, 2024, weighed in on Ruto’s governance policies, university funding model, livestock vaccine, the Kenya Kwanza administration among others. 

She also spoke on her relationship with former President Uhuru Kenyatta, where she noted that she still shares a unique relationship with the former president despite their political differences. 

“He remains my brother and friend but politically I beg to differ…Kenya has one common enemy called William Ruto and his regime,” she said. 

Gachagua vs government

The government’s reactions to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s claims that the government is enhancing use of illicit brews in the Mount Kenya region are expected to make headlines today. 

Gachagua had alleged that the state was undoing his efforts to eliminate illicit brew in Mount Kenya. 

He particularly claimed that Interior Principal Secretary (PS) Raymond Omollo was instructed to reopen all alcohol factories manufacturing substandard alcohol and sell the alcohol exclusively in the Mount Kenya region.

“The Interior Security PS was instructed by the President to reopen all those alcohol factories, and they were urged to sell the alcohol exclusively in Mount Kenya. It is not sold in Rift Valley or anywhere else. Yesterday, three people died in Bahati,” Gachagua said.

In a statement, the government through Interior Principal Secretary (PS) Raymond Omollo rubbished Gachagua’s comments and  clarified that they were not supplying the illegal alcohol to the region. 

“The State Department of Internal Security and National Administration wishes to condemn the reckless statements made by the impeached former Deputy President Mr. Rigathi Gachagua in a church service he attended yesterday accusing the government of deliberately targeting citizens of Kenya in Mt. Kenya region with illicit and counterfeit alcohol distribution,” Omollo said.

“Only this weekend we had the unfortunate tragic loss of lives of three Kenyans in Nakuru following the consumption of illicit alcohol and their families are in mourning. We take great exception that such grave national matters can be trivialized by one individual, on a church podium nonetheless, without empathy for the families that may be struggling with this crisis.”