December 6, 2023: Top news events to look out for today

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

1. Reactions to CoB Nyakang’o’s arrest, arraignment

Several lobby groups and other newsmakers are on Wednesday, December 6 expected to react to the arrest and arraignment in court of Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o.

Nyakang’o was arrested in Mombasa on Tuesday morning in connection with a complaint made against her and 10 other persons dating back to 2016 before she assumed office as the CoB.

She was charged in court on Tuesday afternoon with four counts including conspiracy to defraud, operating an unlicensed Sacco, forgery, and uttering false documents.

The CoB denied all the charges and was released on a Sh2 million bond, with the option of a similar surety or Ksh500,000 cash bail.

Yesterday, the Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga questioned the timing of the arrest, terming it as a political witch hunt aimed at pushing Nyakang’o out of office for exposing alleged suspicious dealings by the Kenya Kwanza administration.

“The arrest was always coming, in light of her determination to act professionally and with integrity in a regime infested by crooks and unprofessional conduct. It was only a matter of when, not if Ms. Nyakang’o was going to sent packing on frivolous and trumped up charges to create room for a user-friendly holder of the office, who will support and sanitize the looting currently underway,” he said.

“Her tribulations are thus politically motivated witch hunt, which the EACC will find difficult to convince Kenyans about, at a time Kenyans are wreathing under full-blown corruption.”

In a separate statement, Azimio co-principal Martha Karua also condemned Nyakang’o’s arrest, terming it harassment and intimidation of a state officer.

“Timing suggestive of harassment and intimidation, especially coming after her revealing testimony at Bomas. Those siphoning government money at treasury are scot free but the whistleblower is under arrest,” Karua wrote on X (formally Twitter).

Nyakang’o, while appearing before the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) in October claimed that the National Treasury had inflated salaries for top government officials.

She alleged that the rot in the National Treasury had partially contributed to the high cost of living in the country.

More leaders are expected to react to the matter today.

2. Obado, Sonko in court

Former Migori Governor Okoth Obado and seven other persons are today expected in court for the hearing of the case in which they are charged with conspiracy to commit an economic crime, and conflict of interest.

The allegations relate to the alleged misappropriation of public funds by the former governor through his alleged proxies during 2013/2014., 2014/2015, 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 financial years.

According to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Obado looted Ksh2.6 billion from the county government coffers during his first term in office.

The case will be heard at the Milimani Anti-corruption Court.

At the same time, the hearing of the graft case against former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko will also continue today at the same court.

The former county boss and three others are charged with conflict of Interest. The Allegations relate to the alleged embezzlement of Ksh24.1 million from the Nairobi City County Government.

3. Ruto winds up his trip to India

President William Ruto is expected back in the country today after a two-day official visit to India.

President Ruto arrived in India on Monday and has over the last two days held discussions with several leaders in the country including President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Head of State also attended the Kenya-India Trade and Investment Forum in New Delhi during his visit to the Asian country.

In his address, President Ruto emphasized that Kenya is targeting investors to explore investment opportunities in the manufacturing sector and harness the country’s renewable energy resources.

During Ruto’s visit, PM Modi pledged to provide the Kenyan government with $250 million (Ksh38.3 billion) in a financial credit line for the modernization of the country’s agriculture sector.

4. COP28

Today marks day seven of the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) more commonly referred to as the Conference of the Parties (COP28).

Several high-ranking government officials from different state departments are attending the event at Expo City, Dubai.

The 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference kicked off on November 30 and will run until December 12, 2023.