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Kenya government condemns ‘shameful’ shoe-hurling at president

Published

2 months ago

May 5, 2025

The Kenyan government has described as “shameful” an incident in which a shoe was thrown at President William Ruto during a rally on Sunday.

Widely shared video clips show the footwear striking the president’s left arm as he held it aloft while he was speaking.

Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura condemned what happened and called for those behind it to be “apprehended”. “What would happen if we all decided to throw shoes at each other? What values are we teaching our children?” he asked in post on X calling for the institution of the presidency to be respected.

Kenyan media are reporting that three people have been arrested, but the police have not confirmed this.

Some MPs have also criticised the shoe-throwing, which has been described as a major security lapse.

The president was addressing a crowd at a public event in the western county of Migori as part of a three-day tour of the region where he has been launching and commissioning development projects.

While the views of some ordinary Kenyans chime with the feeling that the shoe-throwing was disrespectful, others have suggested that it reflected frustrations over the state of the economy.

An official video of the event shared by the president on X does not show the shoe incident, which appears to have happened off-camera.

However, commotion within the crowd is briefly seen. The president is heard asking his security officers, who may have been about to look for the culprit, to leave the people in the audience alone.

The screen then goes blank before and minutes later the video shows other people speaking at the rally.

The shoe-throwing comes amid growing concerns over the safety of public officials. Last week, an opposition MP was shot dead last week in the capital, Nairobi, by gunmen on a motorcycle in a suspected assassination.

Nelson Koech, an MP in the president’s party, said Sunday’s incident was an “affront to our democracy” adding that “we have taken a joke too far”.

“You can imagine if that shoe was a bullet… people joke about the security of the president. It took a very bold step for someone to take their shoe and throw it at the president.

“We must secure the head of state,” he told local station Citizen TV.

Migori is in a region considered to be a stronghold of veteran opposition politician Raila Odinga, who ran against Ruto in the 2022 presidential election, but who has since made a deal with the president.

The agreement signed in March between Odinga and Ruto was “to help ease the prevailing tension in the country”, following deadly anti-tax demonstrations last year.

Since he became president in 2022, Ruto has faced protests from Kenyans frustrated with the cost of living and increased taxes.

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FG closes case in alleged terrorism trial against Nnamdi Kanu

Published

30 minutes ago

June 19, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

File image of Nnamdi Kanu in court.

The Federal Government, on Thursday, closed its case in the ongoing trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in the allegations bordering on terrorism and treason.

The FG’s lawyer, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, announced this after the 5th prosecution witness (PW-5), identified as EEE for security reasons, was led in evidence and cross-examined by Kanu’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Awomolo told the court that after calling five witnesses in the trial, the prosecution was satisfied that from the avalanche of evidence tendered, including the broadcast of activities of the leader of the IPOB, the government had sufficiently satisfied the need to close its case.

“I therefore close the case,” the senior lawyer said.

After the announcement, the lead defence counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, informed the court that they would be opting for a no-case submission, which would be filed in due course. (NAN)

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18 Imo State Judges Face Compulsory Retirement Over Age Falsification

Published

1 hour ago

June 19, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has summoned 18 judges from the Imo State judiciary to answer allegations of age falsification and misconduct. According to reports, these judges allegedly manipulated their ages to extend their tenure or secure appointments.

The Civil Society Engagement Platform (CSEP) exposed this scandal, petitioning the NJC and providing evidence of the judges’ inconsistent birth dates. Some of the affected judges include:
– *Hon. Justice I. O. Agugua*: With conflicting birth dates of May 10, 1959, and May 10, 1960
– *Hon. Justice C. A. Ononeze-Madu*: Listed birth dates as July 7, 1963, and July 7, 1965
– *Hon. Justice L. C. Azuama*: Showing birth dates of November 11, 1957, and November 11, 1960

If found guilty, these judges may face compulsory retirement, as seen in past cases where the NJC took similar actions. In 2020, a judge in Imo State was sacked for falsifying his age, while judges in Niger, Yobe, and Osun states faced similar consequences

The NJC has confirmed the investigation and is expected to take appropriate action based on its findings

News

Cross River: Many rendered homeless as windstorm wreaks havoc in Njegbeje Village

Published

8 hours ago

June 19, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Village Head of Njegbeje Village in the Igodor Community, Nkum Iborr Ward of Ogoja Local Government Area, Ogoja LGA of Cross River State, Chief Matthew Igrami Egbor, has lamented that the severe impact of last weekend’s windstorms completely destroyed several buildings, farm crops, and economic trees, as well as displaced hundreds of his natives and non-natives.

He spoke to Daily POST, describing the windstorm as a peculiar disaster, adding that it is the worst natural incident in the community’s history.

He said the windstorm is likened to a mini-tsunami, stating that it has done heavy devastation to his community.

He lamented that the windstorm has disrupted the lives and livelihoods of his subjects, calling on the authorities to help.

The village head said, “This disaster took us completely by surprise.

“Homes, farms, and our economic trees were all swept away. Many of us are now sleeping on bare ground under makeshift shelters.

“Starvation and homelessness are setting in. This is the worst natural incident.”

He appealed to all relevant government bodies and humanitarian organizations to come to their aid swiftly, stressing that the community is in desperate need of food, shelter, and medical assistance.

Undertaking an on-the-spot assessment visit to the affected communities, the Chairman of Ogoja Local Government Council, Christopher Agbeh, appealed to the state and federal authorities and relevant emergency agencies to urgently come to the aid of victims affected by the windstorm.

The Chairman disclosed that the windstorm has left hundreds homeless, and the losses in property and economic crops are worth over a billion Naira.

Agbeh described the event as a “monumental and unnatural disaster,” emphasizing the urgent need for immediate intervention to restore normalcy to the affected community.

“This is a tragic situation that requires swift action from both the State and Federal Governments.”

He assured that relief materials and support for the rebuilding of homes will be provided.