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Nation

Court orders nurse to refund Sh708,664 in double salary payments

The money was paid to Evelyne Adhiambo Ogweno between February 2015 and May 2018, according to a judgment delivered by the High Court.A Homa Bay County nurse and a payroll official have been ordered to repay Sh708,664 that the High Court found had been paid to the nurse in irregular additional salary over more than three years.The money was paid to Evelyne Adhiambo Ogweno between February 2015 and May 2018, according to a judgment delivered by the High Court’s Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Division in Nairobi on September 18, 2026.The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) had sued Ms Ogweno and three county officials, seeking recovery of the money on behalf of Homa Bay County Government.The commission alleged that Ms Ogweno received additional monthly salaries and that the payments were facilitated by payroll officials.However, Justice BM Musyoki found that while EACC had established that Ms Ogweno received money she was not entitled to, it failed to prove that two of the three county officials it sued had directed, approved or facilitated the irregular payments.The judge therefore ordered Ms Ogweno and Maurice Ochieng Wambo to jointly and severally pay the Sh708,664, with interest at court rates from the date the case was filed until payment in full.EACC’s claim against co- accused Solomon Owuor Ochogo and Joseph Omondi Otieno was dismissed, with the commission ordered to meet their costs.The case arose from payments made to Ms Ogweno after she had been employed as a nurse by Homa Bay County.She had initially been appointed by the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation as a registered community health nurse in June 2013 before being appointed by Homa Bay County as a nurse with effect from January 1, 2014.Her entry basic salary was Sh19,323, rising to a maximum of Sh24,662, subject to applicable increments.According to the evidence presented in court, she received additional payments between February 2015 and May 2018. The disputed payments were traced through her Kenya Commercial Bank account.EACC investigator Augustine Mukwekwe told the court that Ms Ogweno had acknowledged receiving excess money and had promised to repay it at Sh10,000 a month. The promise, however, was not honoured.KCB Homa Bay branch manager Dorothy Achieng Omollo confirmed that the bank account used in the case belonged to Ms Ogweno and authenticated the account statement showing the payments.But she could not establish who had issued the instructions resulting in the payments.The court heard that Homa Bay County had two payroll systems operating at the same time — a manual system and the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Database (IPPD).The existence of the two systems became central to the dispute over who was responsible for the additional payments.Mr Ochogo, who had worked in the county payroll section, denied responsibility for the payments. He told the court that he was mainly involved in the IPPD system and did not have access to the manual payroll system through which some of the disputed payments were allegedly enabled.He said he became involved in the payroll after being promoted to accountant I and that, in 2017, Mr Otieno handed over the payroll system to him.Mr Ochogo also said he discovered that Ms Ogweno was receiving double salary payments and instructed Mr Wambo to stop them in June 2018.The judge noted that the evidence showed the payments stopped when Mr Ochogo was acting as payroll manager.However, Justice Musyoki said this did not by itself prove that Mr Ochogo had authorised or facilitated the earlier payments.EACC's own witness also acknowledged during cross-examination that there was no evidence showing that any of the disputed money had been transferred to Mr Ochogo.The commission had also not produced the manual payroll records or schedules showing that Mr Ochogo had authorised the payments.Mr Otieno, who served as payroll manager from June 2015 to December 2017, similarly denied responsibility.He told the court that the disputed payments had started in February 2015, before he took over as payroll manager, where he was responsible for preparing the digital payroll but had no access rights to the manual payroll system.He also told the court that he had raised concerns about the two payroll systems in a letter dated July 19, 2015 to the interim county director of human resources.Mr Otieno later handed over the payroll system to Mr Ochogo and disclosed the password as directed.Justice Musyoki found that EACC had not produced evidence linking Mr Otieno to the specific payment instructions that resulted in the additional salary payments.The judge also noted that the county's human resources director had overall responsibility for payroll, but the official was neither joined to the case nor called as a witness.The court took a different view of Mr Wambo, who had been involved in the manual payroll system and did not file a defence to the claim.

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Nation

Gachagua allies to Kindiki: ‘Elders don’t give kingpin titles’

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki (left) and Democracy for Citizens Party leader Rigathi Gachagua.Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leaders have told off Deputy President Kithure Kindiki over his recent instalment as Mt Kenya spokesman.Speaking in Embu County, allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, led by Nyandarua Senator John Methu, reminded Prof Kindiki that kingpin title is not given by elders.“It is the people of the region who decide who should be the kingpin, but not the elders. Kindiki should stop thinking that he is our kingpin,” said Mr Methu at Kianjokoma in Manyatta Constituency.The leaders insisted that Mr Gachagua remains the bona fide kingpin of the vote-rich region.“Gachagua was chosen by the residents to speak on their behalf and Kindiki should stop being cheated by the elders that he is the spokesman of the region,” Mr Methu added.Nyandarua Senator John Methu addresses a Democracy for Citizens Party rally in Solai trading centre, Nakuru County on September 6, 2026.The leaders further said the region is united under Mr Gachagua, while accusing President William Ruto of trying to split the region into East and West for his own selfish political interests.They told President Ruto that his efforts to divide the region will be an exercise in futility.“Sh60 billion is being used to split the Mountain so that our votes can be divided, ahead of 2027 polls. We shall not allow this to happen. Our region will remain intact, whether the Kenya Kwanza government likes it or not," said the Manyatta MP, Gitonga Mukunji.On Saturday, elders from the region installed Prof Kindiki as the region’s spokesman, while pledging to support him for the region’s benefit.The elders also declared that they will not to allow any leader to divide the region, resolving to ensure lasting unity among their communities. In a historic declaration at the revered Kirigiti Grounds in Kiambu County attended by Prof Kindiki and senior leaders from the region, the elders from the Kikuyu, Embu, Mbeere and Meru communities vowed to protect the region from any attempts to split it in favour of political interests. “The people of Mt Kenya Region have historically worked together in unity and solidarity. We hereby reaffirm our unwavering commitment to preserving, strengthening and advancing this unity for the present generation and for generations to come,” the leaders declared. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki with elders at the solemn Mt Kenya elders assembly at Kirigiti Stadium, Kiambu County, where he was endorsed as the Mt Kenya spokesperson. During the solemn occasion, Prof Kindiki was tasked with advancing the interests of all the communities in the region without discrimination.“We hereby endorse and mandate Kindiki to serve as our spokesperson and representative in advancing the interests and aspirations of the Mt Kenya region,” the elders declared. The declaration was read by elders from the Kiama Kia Ma, Kikuyu Council of Elders, Njuri Ncheke, Kiama Kia Muembu, Ngome and Nyangi Ndiriri on behalf of the Kikuyu, Meru, Embu and Mbeere communities respectively. In pursuit of unity, they also resolved to support the government and push for the development of the region. “We affirm our support to President William Ruto and Deputy President Prof Kindiki in their efforts to promote peace, development, economic growth and prosperity for our people and for the nation as a whole,” the elders stated. In his address following the declaration, Prof Kindiki thanked the elders for their declaration and endorsement vowing to respect and obey their counsel and instructions in spite of any circumstances.“I have heard you and I will do so as directed. As the Deputy President of Kenya, I will ensure that the region gets its rightful share of development. I will, with your counsel and prayers, assist President Ruto to ensure Kenya is united, peaceful and developed,” he said. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki delivers his speech after he was installed as the Mt Kenya spokesperson at Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu County.“I will not let you down. I will not shame you. Like all the previous leaders from the region, I will serve the country and ensure we have the fair share of development we deserve as a region,” he added.While expressing his disappointment with divisive talk that had prevailed in the region for months with increasing calls to split the Mt Kenya region into two over differing political engagements, Prof Kindiki appreciated the efforts by the elders for reining in the situation. “I have been saddened for months by the intensifying divisive talk in our region. Our forefathers ensured the unity of our people and we will not be the first ones to break this accord.  They fought together for our independence. They sang Mau Mau redemption songs together,” Prof Kindiki said.Read: Kindiki to Gachagua: You're a small timer, in August 2027 we will whitewash youTo preserve this decades-long unity, the DP rallied the people of Mt Kenya not to allow political affiliations or personal interests to divide them, promising to be in the forefront protecting the region and ensuring it gets deserving development projects. 

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Nation

Oburu Oginga remains in UK as family waits for doctors’ clearance

ODM party leader Dr Oburu Oginga. He is in the United Kingdom for medical attention.Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Dr Oburu Oginga remains in the United Kingdom for medical attention, with his family saying he has improved but is not yet ready to return to Kenya.Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga, Dr Oginga’s younger sister, said the veteran politician is continuing to see doctors and that the family has no immediate plans to bring him back home.Ms Odinga said the priority was to allow doctors to complete their assessment before any decision is made on his return.“He has really improved, but we have not yet planned for his return to Kenya,” Ms Odinga told the Nation from the UK, adding that the family was in no hurry to bring him back as he continues with his medical appointments.Dr Oginga is not admitted to hospital, according to his sister, but is staying close to the medical facility to make it easier for him to attend appointments and be seen by doctors.“He is not admitted. We are staying just outside the hospital, so visiting is not a difficult task,” she said.The family, she added, would rather allow the 83-year-old politician to complete his medical programme than rush his return because of his political responsibilities.“He is also not in a hurry to return because, as a family, his health remains key to us,” Ms Odinga said.The update comes as the ODM leader seeks to keep up his public engagements while undergoing further medical reviews in the UK.On Thursday, Dr Oginga posted a message on social media indicating that he was active and engaging with Kenyan officials based in Britain.He said he and his wife, “Mama Judy”, had welcomed Kenya’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Maurice Makoloo, for a courtesy call at their residence.Dr Oginga said they discussed strengthening Kenya-UK ties, supporting the Kenyan diaspora and leveraging the skills and investments of Kenyans living abroad to contribute to development at home.“A strong diaspora is a vital pillar of our nation's prosperity,” he said, thanking Mr Makoloo for the visit and expressing optimism about continued collaboration.The appearance was the latest public indication that Dr Oginga is continuing to engage despite his ongoing medical appointments.His aide said the ODM leader still has some appointments with doctors before his medical team can give him a clean bill of health.“He still has some medical appointments before the doctors give him a clean bill of health, then we can plan for a return,” the aide said.The aide said the family was allowing the doctors to determine the next steps, with no pressure being applied on Dr Oginga to resume his normal schedule or return to Kenya before he is cleared.The latest development follows a period of concern over Dr Oginga’s health after he was hospitalised in Nairobi last month.In an interview with the Nation before travelling to the UK, Dr Oginga had sought to calm fears about his condition, saying he had recovered after being discharged from hospital and was recuperating at home.“I have been sick and was admitted on Sunday the previous week but was discharged on Thursday last week. I felt sick again on Saturday night after playing golf in Kisumu and was admitted that night before being discharged on Monday,” he said.“As of now I’m at home, feeling better and people should avoid a lot of speculation on my health. As a leader, I can’t hide anything concerning my health, and when I’m sick, all of Kenya will know,” he added.His hospitalisation had nevertheless triggered speculation, particularly because of the restricted access to him while he was receiving treatment.Only his two spouses and children were initially allowed to visit him, while several political leaders who attempted to see him were reportedly turned away.A few senior leaders were initially allowed to visit before such visits were subsequently restricted.The restrictions were understood to have been made on medical advice, with doctors seeking to give the veteran politician sufficient time to rest.Dr Oginga had also remained away from some of the political activities involving ODM, adding to questions about his health.He took over as ODM leader following the death of the party's former leader, his younger brother Raila Odinga, on October 15, 2025, while undergoing treatment in India.His leadership has come at a particularly consequential period for the party, with senior figures seeking to establish their positions within ODM and the wider opposition movement.His continued absence from Kenya, including missing President William Ruto’s five-day tour of Nyanza region, has therefore generated interest beyond his health, given his role in managing the party and participating in the political realignment ahead of 2027.But his family has sought to separate the medical process from the political calendar, insisting that his recovery takes precedence.Ms Odinga said there was no pressure on her brother to return simply because of political events at home.

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Nation

Mountain to climb: Elders’ endorsement boosts Kindiki’s bid to return Mt Kenya region to Ruto

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki with elders at the solemn Mt Kenya elders assembly at Kirigiti Stadium, Kiambu County, where he was endorsed as the Mt Kenya spokesperson. The battle for political influence in Mt Kenya took a new turn on Saturday after a section of elders from the region endorsed Deputy President Kithure Kindiki as their spokesman and called for unity behind President William Ruto.The endorsement was made at the historic Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu County, where elders from the Gikuyu, Embu and Meru communities gathered for a meeting aimed at restoring unity in a region whose political loyalties have come under strain ahead of the 2027 General Election.In a declaration signed by representatives of Kiama Kia Ma, Kikuyu Council of Elders, Njuri Ncheke, Kiama Kia Muembu, Ngome and Nyangi Ndiriri, the elders said Prof Kindiki would represent and advance the interests and aspirations of the Mt Kenya region.“We hereby endorse and mandate Prof Kithure Kindiki to serve as our spokesperson and representative in advancing the interests and aspirations of the Mount Kenya Region,” the elders said.The elders also endorsed the Ruto-Kindiki administration, saying the two leaders had contributed to development in the region, particularly in infrastructure and agriculture.They singled out investments in coffee, dairy and tea, sectors that remain important to the livelihoods of millions of people in the region.“We affirm our support to President William Ruto and Deputy President Prof Kithure Kindiki in their efforts to promote peace, development, economic growth and prosperity for our people and for the nation as a whole,” they declared.Also Read: The axe and the altar - 50,000 Mt Kenya elders gather to save political marriage“As President William Ruto’s helper in uniting Kenya and moving our country forward, I will continue to defend and represent the interests of our region of Mount Kenya,” said Prof Kindiki.The meeting was also marked by a cultural ceremony in which Prof Kindiki was endorsed and handed instruments of power by the elders.Deputy President Kithure Kindiki during the solemn assembly of Mt Kenya Elders at Kirigiti Stadium, Kiambu County.Three reconciliation goats were shared, one each for the Gikuyu, Embu and Meru communities, in a symbolic gesture intended to reinforce the message that the mountain should remain united.The axe, which had become a symbol of the campaign to split Mt Kenya into East and West, was also returned to the elders.But former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, an ardent critic of the Ruto administration and self-styled Mt Kenya political supremo, was quick to dismiss the event, terming it a futile move and urging the elders to give back the axe to Prof Kindiki and Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku to hand it to Dr Ruto.“Mr Kithure Kindiki and Mr Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku have thrown in the towel, not because they want the unity of the mountain, but because they have miserably failed,” said Mr Gachagua.He added: “Having failed to divide Mt Kenya into the imaginary West and East, the mountaineers are aware of new efforts to divide the former Central Province. This too will fail. Our people are too intelligent to fall for such innuendos,” Mr Gachagua said.Saturday’s declaration by the elders placed considerable emphasis on unity, recalling the historical, social, economic and cultural ties binding the Mt Kenya communities.The elders said political divisions, ethnic stereotyping and internal rivalry could undermine social cohesion, economic wellbeing and the region’s future prosperity.They also invoked the region’s history of supporting national leadership, listing the administrations of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta, as well as the support given to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua when he was President Ruto’s running mate in 2022.“I salute our elders. We have been one community in matters of politics, business and culture. Why should we be divided by political differences now?” the DP said.Also Read:‘Recognise Kindiki as spokesman’ - Ruku sets Mt Kenya East -West unity conditionHe added: “It does not matter whether a leader comes from Nyeri, Kiambu or anywhere else; we have been together, and we have to safeguard our unity.”The elders described Prof Kindiki as the latest senior leader from the region to occupy the country’s second-highest office and as the bearer of Mt Kenya’s political aspirations.They further called on the region’s communities to participate in peaceful political activities and provide President Ruto and Prof Kindiki with what they described as a conducive political environment in pursuit of Kenya’s long-term national interests.The resolution represents a significant development in the contest over the political direction of Mt Kenya, particularly as competing groups seek to influence the region ahead of the 2027 election.The gathering followed weeks of consultations between elders from Mt Kenya East and West.

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