Kenya Newspapers Review: Nairobi Family In Distress After Househelp Disappears With 6-Month-Old Son

On Thursday, January 4, the local newspapers reported on the fallout following President William Ruto's attacks against the Judiciary and judicial officers he claimed were compromised.

1. The Standard

The publication reported that it was a sad Christmas Day for a couple in Kwa Reuben, Embakasi South, Nairobi, after their baby went missing.

On December 23, 2023, the family of Kennedy Simiyu was in shock after their 6-month-old baby and the househelp disappeared.

The couple said the househelp, only identified as ‘Maurine’, had only spent three days in their house.

"On December 23 in the morning, my wife left to purchase milk only to return and find the lady and the baby missing," a disturbed Simiyu narrated.

Simiyu's wife, Ruth said the lady approached her on Tuesday, December 19 and identified herself as 'Maurine' and was looking for a job.

She said they agreed with the lady that she would be doing house chores and assisting in the shop where she used to spend the nights after the close of business.

"On the fateful morning, I left for the shop but found my son and the househelp missing. My husband, who had stepped out to run errands, was equally shocked when I called to inform him about our baby’s disappearance," she said.

The matter was booked at Reuben police station under OB number 27/22/12/23 as a case of a missing child.

“Kennedy Simiyu, a resident of Reuben reported that his wife left her son, namely Peter Simiyu who is 6 months old, with a friend in their house,” the police statement reads in part.

“She went to the shop to buy milk and upon coming back she found the said friend and the child missing. Efforts to trace the said Maureen and the baby have proved futile.”

The couple said 'Maurine' did not have a mobile phone or any identification, and they offered her the job out of goodwill.

2. People Daily

A police officer attached to Kangema Police Station is fighting for his life at Murang'a County Referral Hospital after he shot himself.

The officer is said to have used the rifle he had been given while on duty to shoot himself with the intent to take away his life.

He is said to have retreated to his house at around 5pm, where he shot himself through the mouth.

His colleagues, after hearing the gunshot, rushed to the scene and found him lying on the floor.

He was rushed to the nearby Kangema sub-district hospital and later moved to Murang'a Hospital.

His colleagues said that for the past few days, the officer looked disturbed and depressed but had not shared what was bothering and he was living in isolation.

Murang'a County police commander David Kainga said doctors were still trying to remove the bullet which was lodged in the body.

He said a report from the doctors indicated that the officer was in critical condition, but they were trying their best to save his life.

The police commander added that they are yet to establish the motive behind the incident, urging all police officers in the county to seek help instead of taking such drastic steps of taking their lives.

"We understand people are going through a lot of challenges, and police officers are no exception, but I urge them to seek assistance, and we have well-established structures to handle such matters," said the police commander.

3. Daily Nation

The paper reported that the Controller of Budget (COB), Margaret Nyakang'o, expressed concern over the lack of a plan by the Nairobi City County Government to clear outstanding bills owed by the devolved unit.

The bills have risen to a staggering KSh 107 billion as of November 2023.

Nyakang'o, in a recent budget implementation report for the first quarter of the 2023/2024 year, noted that the county government failed to provide a payment plan and status on clearing the huge pending bills.

"In the course of monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the county budget, the COB has identified the high level of pending bills amounting to Sh107.33 billion as at June 30, 2023, coupled with the absence of a payment plan as one of the challenges affecting budget implementation," the report says. It has also raised concerns about foreign travel without the approval of the National Treasury.

"Weak financial controls and discipline were evidenced in the reported expenditure on foreign travel when there was no request from the Treasury for the same during the period. The COB has written to the State Department of Devolution."

4. Taifa Leo

The Kiswahili publication reported that the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) had opposed a bill proposing that MPs serving less than 10 years receive pensions. The bill also suggests accumulating backdated pay for MPs serving up to five years.

In a statement sent to the National Assembly statement, SRC stated that the 2023 Parliamentary Pensions Law Amendment Bill violates laws and the constitution.

SRC Chief Officer Anne Gitau warned that pensions are benefits determined by SRC due to their nature of employment.

Gitau stressed that any bill proposing changes in pension payments must align with SRC's constitutional authority. She declared the bill invalid as it infringes on SRC's mandate.

The bill seeks to replace Section 7 of the Parliamentary Pensions Law, allowing individuals to receive post-parliamentary pay after serving five years or less.

It also suggests that MPs who served for more than one term could opt for service pay "instead of" a pension after their term ends.