The newspapers on Wednesday, March 4, reported on the ODM politics, with the rebels reportedly pushing for a new political party.
Source: UGC
Elsewhere, the newspapers continued reportage on the chopper crash that killed Emurua Dikirr MP Johanna Ng’eno and five others, and also the experience of a young nurse who showed up at the crash site.
1. Daily Nation
Daily Nation spotlighted the alleged move by the perceived ODM rebels to register a new party.
Much like the Linda Mwananchi initiative, driven by perceived ODM dissenters and shaking up the political landscape, a fresh twist has surfaced with an application to register the movement as a political party.
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This surprising step has aroused skepticism across the board, even among the movement’s own backers.
Three possible explanations are being floated: it may serve as a backup plan for the perceived ODM rebels, a bid to hijack the popular name, or a strategic business move by political opportunists.
The application, filed last week with the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP), seems to have caught the faction linked to ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna and his allies off guard.
Now under ORPP review, the request to reserve the party’s name has sparked suspicion and quiet maneuvering among rival groups, raising three urgent questions: Is this Sifuna’s fallback plan?
Is it a ploy by ODM adversaries, or by elements within the broader opposition and government, to block them from using the name? Or is it a commercial tactic, a ‘Mugambi Imanyara moment,’ where someone rushes to secure a political brand before its presumed owners act?
At the heart of the dispute is Charles Wanyonyi, who confirmed he submitted the reservation.
“I have made the reservation, but I cannot comment on the matter at the moment because it is still under review by the Registrar of Political Parties,” said Wanyonyi.
“Until it is approved, we can wait,” he added.
The Nation verified that the name reservation application had indeed been filed.
However, Registrar of Political Parties John Cox Lorionokou declined to discuss the details, opting instead to outline the procedure.
Meanwhile, Sifuna’s camp has denied any intention of transforming Linda Mwananchi into a political party.
They stressed that the movement has not formally resolved to pursue party registration.
Godfrey Osotsi, ODM co-deputy leader, Linda Mwananchi founder, and Vihiga Senator, rejected claims that the group had reached that stage.
“As a team, we haven’t discussed anything of that nature because we haven’t reached that stage yet,” said Osotsi.
“Our priority is resolving the issues within the ODM party.”
2. Taifa Leo
Taifa Leo reported on the probe into the chopper crash that killed Emurua Dikirr MP Johanna Ng’eno and five other people.
Detectives have completed the collection of crucial evidence from the site of the Saturday, February 28 helicopter crash.
On Monday, March 2, a joint team of officers from the DCI and aviation specialists spent the day examining the wreckage, retrieving flight instruments and technical components described as the black box equivalent.
The items are expected to shed light on the aircraft’s final moments before impact.
The investigation has now shifted to technical analysis in Nairobi, marking the next stage in uncovering the cause of the tragedy.
Some wreckage will be examined by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Department (AAID) in Nairobi, while other parts from helicopter registration 5Y-DSB will be sent abroad for metallurgical testing, data recovery, and further technical review.
Nandi County Criminal Investigation Officer Peter Ochieng confirmed that an inquest has been launched, with the focus now on forensic and technical analysis to establish the cause of the crash.
He urged the public not to speculate as the inquiry continues.
He stated that a detailed report would be ready within 30 days.
“We are committed to revealing every piece of information necessary to determine the cause of this accident. A full report will be ready within 30 days,” he said.
The probe was strengthened on Monday morning with the arrival of Martin Nyaguto, Director of the Homicde Bureau in Nairobi, who joined local detectives and aviation accident investigators in reconstructing the final moments of the ill-fated flight.
3. The Star
The newspaper reported on the loopholes used by recruiters taking Kenyans to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Kenyan authorities have raised alarm over citizens secretly crossing land borders and using neighbouring countries to travel abroad and join the Russia‑Ukraine war.
Officials reported to MPs that some recruits slip through Busia and Malaba into Uganda before flying out of Entebbe, while others mislead immigration officers by listing Addis Ababa as their destination before proceeding to Moscow.
Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu told Parliament that many Kenyans who ended up in Russia’s military were recruited through illegal channels run by unlicensed agents.
She noted;
“From the information that we have, every recruitment has been done by persons not licensed and regulated by us.”
Although the government has established safeguards such as licensed recruitment agents, job order verification, and mandatory pre‑departure training, most recruits bypassed these procedures, relying instead on rogue agents.
Officials likened the trend to cases in Myanmar and Cambodia.
Some rescued Kenyans revealed they were duped with promises of security or construction jobs, only to discover they had been enlisted into combat.
Others were assured of non‑combat roles but later deployed to battle zones.
Njogu acknowledged that not all recruits were misled, some knowingly signed contracts but later sought to withdraw after facing the realities of war.
She stressed that once contracts are signed, cancellation is legally impossible.
Despite tighter checks at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, recruiters and recruits continue to exploit alternative routes.
A National Intelligence Service report tabled in Parliament estimated that about 1,000 Kenyans have already joined Russia’s military, underscoring the scale of the challenge.
4. The Standard
The Standard spared space for the account of a nurse who was at the scene of the helicopter crash in Nandi County.
What began as a normal Sabbath for Jacobeth Jeptoo ended in tragedy.
She recalled that heavy rains kept her and her mother from returning to church for the afternoon service, so they stayed indoors for Bible study until around 4:30pm, when a loud bang echoed from the forest nearby.
On hearing that a helicopter had crashed, she felt compelled to help.
Carrying a first aid kit, she and her mother rushed to the site, where four men were trying to recover two victims trapped in the burning wreckage.
They managed to put out the fire and pull the bodies, but both were already dead. Nearby, Jeptoo noticed four more victims, two of whom were still alive.
“They were writhing in pain,” she recalled.
Jeptoo, 22, a recent nursing graduate, relied on her training to administer first aid. Wearing gloves, she attended to the injured while hundreds of shocked residents looked on, hesitant to assist.
“No one knew that Johana Ng’eno or any prominent person was among the victims,” she said.
She observed one man with severe internal injuries and another struggling to survive.
“He would occasionally lift his hand in pain, perhaps asking for help. All I could do was administer first aid, control the bleeding and help him breathe, as we waited for an ambulance,” she said.
Sadly, he died in her arms about 30 minutes later.
“He died in my arms. Those around me felt helpless. Efforts to call an ambulance were futile. It arrived two hours later when it was too late,” she said.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Jeptoo admitted;
“I was frightened, but I had to do whatever I could to save lives. I remembered what one of my lecturers, Betty, taught me: if you cannot add days to a patient’s life, you can at least help them die peacefully. I believe the victim I tried to help died peacefully.”
She later identified MP Johana Ng’eno among the victims and condemned onlookers who took photos instead of helping.
“In the event of an accident, people should prioritise saving lives. Horrific scenes do not need to be recorded and shared. It is unfair to the victims’ loved ones,” she said.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
