Kenyans Newspapers, June 23: Raila's Party Seeks Sakaja to Cede Nairobi Governorship to ODM
The local newspapers on Wednesday, July 23, covered an array of topics, including the details of Raila Odinga's conditions for supporting President William Ruto in the 2027 presidential election.
Source: UGC
Elsewhere, the newspapers reported on the discovery by Kenyans that Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat did not step aside as he had earlier indicated.
1. People Daily
The newspaper reported on the likelihood of the ODM party not fielding a presidential candidate in the 2027 General Election.
According to People Daily, the Raila Odinga-led political outfit might opt to support President William Ruto's reelection, but with a host of conditions.
Among them is Ruto's party sparing the Nairobi governorship for the ODM candidate.
Meanwhile, the newspaper revealed that Raila had settled on Makadara MP George Aladwa to vie for the governorship.
This would cast Embakasi East MP Babu Owino away from Raila's blessing for the seat, despite having declared his interest.
Until People Daily's report, Babu and his Westlands counterpart, Tim Wanyonyi, had been the only ODM stalwarts known to be eyeing the city governor's seat.
Wanyonyi instead declared his bid for the Bungoma gubernatorial race, leaving Babu.
Aladwa had, on the other hand, been known to be eyeing the Vihiga governorship.
The Makadara MP confirmed having been considered for the candidacy.
"It is absolutely true that my party leader implored me to remain in the city, though he is yet to tell me which position I should vie for in the city. But my position to graduate from the National Assembly to a more senior position still remains," People Daily quoted Aladwa as saying.
2. The Standard
The newspaper reported on Eliud Lagat's leave that was interpreted as stepping aside last month.
According to the newspaper, Lagat never stepped aside or resigned from his role following allegations surrounding the death of teacher Albert Ojwang last month.
He explained that he merely took 18 days of approved administrative leave, challenging widespread claims that he had officially stepped down as Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service.
The leave, he noted, was intended to allow the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to conduct an impartial investigation amid growing public concern over the incident at Nairobi’s Central Police Station.
In response to a petition seeking his dismissal, on the premise that his absence amounted to resignation, Lagat emphasised that his leave had been formally sanctioned by Inspector-General Douglas Kanja.
The petition was submitted by UK-based human rights activist Eliud Karanja Matindi.
"I categorically deny and rebut the allegations, insinuations, and inferences drawn by the petitioner to the effect that I unlawfully relinquished or vacated my of fice as Deputy Inspector-General or that I purported to appoint a successor, contrary to the Constitution or any written law," Lagat's affidavit read.
Represented by his lawyer, Cecil Miller, Lagat stated that he had officially requested administrative leave due to the ongoing investigations, which had drawn widespread public attention and scrutiny.
To reinforce his explanation, he submitted documentation, including a leave application dated June 16, 2025 and a formal approval letter from Inspector-General Kanja issued on the same date.
"The said application was made voluntarily and in good faith, in line with the principles of public accountability, institutional integrity, and preservation of public confidence in the police service. I reiterate that there was no misconduct on my part. No disciplinary process has been initiated against me by the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) or any other competent body," he added.
Lagat wants the petition for his removal be thrown out, asserting that the implementation of the requested orders would hinder his ability to perform his official responsibilities, disrupt the continuity of operations within the police service, and conflict with the broader public interest in maintaining efficient law enforcement.
3. Daily Nation
Daily Nation spared space for the freedom of a Kenyan on death row in Saudi Arabia.
Steve Bertrand Munyakho was facing the death penalty in the Gulf nation; he was officially released from detention.
Munyakho, popularly known as Stevo, the eldest son of veteran journalist Dorothy Kweyu, was released at 10am on Tuesday, July 22, according to Kenya's Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary in, Korir Sing'oei.
This marked the end of Munyakho's more than a decade in prison.
"Steve Abdukareem Munyakho, a Kenyan citizen who was on death row in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is now free from 4am today, following the full implementation of the court's conditions," said Sing'oei.
"Our embassy in Riyadh has confirmed that Steve performed Umrah just after his release. We will provide further information regarding his return to the country," he added, praising all those who donated about KSh 150 million blood money.
The Kenyan's agony stemmed from an incident in April 2011, when a work dispute between him and Abdul Halim Mujahid Makrad Saleh, a Yemeni national, led to the latter's death.
Munyakho was later detained for murder.
4. Taifa Leo
Taifa Leo highlighted President William Ruto's strategy to counter his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua', growing influence ahead of the 2022 general election.
Ruto is using his current deputy, Kithure Kindiki; the majority leader in the National Assembly, Kimani Ichung'wah, and some Cabinet Secretaries to fight Gachagua.
Meanwhile, Gachagua has joined opposition leaders, including Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, DAP-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa, former Cabinet secretary for Interior Fred Matiang'i, People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua, and Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya, to form a coalition towards 2027.
The hostility against Gachagua from Ruto and even allies of former president Uhuru Kenyatta seems to be troubling Gachagua.
"One person is being followed by more than 10 groups," he lamented in a recent interview.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi criticised Gachagua's visit to the US, calling it "exported tribalism," as the latter has been addressing his audiences in his vernacular.
Gachagua claimed that there are coordinated activities in the Mt Kenya region aimed at fighting him.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
