Nairobi News

2015 was a year in which numerous blunders in the social, political, and economic fronts came to the light.

Whether on social media or in the mainstream media, behind the scenes or in front of the lenses, there were many moments that made us go ‘What were you thinking?’

They may not all be here, but these are some of the year’s famous gaffes.

Langata Primary pupils gassed by Police, January 19

This was among the most shocking response ever by the Kenya Police Service, when officers fired tear gas canisters at Langa’ta Road Primary School. Five pupils and a police officer were injured during the protest over a disputed piece of land at the school.

The protest resulted in a wall being brought down that had been put up by a “private developer”, after it had been publicized on social media as #OccupyPlayGround. Lang’ata OCPD Mwangi Kuria was suspended, for the action taken by police under his jurisdiction.

MP Alfred Keter near physical attack on weigh bridge staff, January 25

In a YouTube video published on January 24, Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter and nominated URP lawmaker Sunjeev Birdi appeared to be infuriated at workers Gilgil weighbridge on the Nairobi-Nakuru road, after they had refused to release a truck.

Sunjeev’s, who’s popularly referred to as Sonia, truck had been detained because it lacked an exemption permit as required by law. It was fitted with a drilling rig.

Moses Kuria’s call to violence remarks, July 27

Mr Kuria’s mother of his goofs however came in July when he made the infamous ‘panga’ remarks, aimed at politicians opposed to National Youth Service projects in the county. In another case already before the court, Mr Kuria is being charged with linking Gikomba terrorist attacks to members of two communities.

Police photos of minor’s private parts hit social media, August 6

There was outrage when pictures of a high school girl were taken during a strip search by police. The strip, the student later alleged through CRADLE, was done in the view of parties other than the officer conducting the search. She and other students were caught in a matatu allegedly drinking, smoking weed and having sex.

Former Nairobi Mayor Aladwa’s inciting utterances, October 22

Former Nairobi mayor George Aladwa was arrested a day after Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko directed the police to probe him over remarks recorded in a video clip that was reproduced and widely circulated on social media over remarks he made in Kibera on Mashujaa Day.

Mr Aladwa was charged with incitement to violence and released on a Sh3 million bond with an alternative cash bail of Sh500,000, pending the hearing and determination of the case in the chief magistrate’s court.

Bro Ochola’s cloud 9, October 27

Ochieng’ Ochola, who famously got the moniker Bro Ochola, was sending a text to his wife of things he was going to do to her that she loves; in his words. Unfortunately he sent them to his “Embakasi Prayercell” group on WhatsApp, and one of them decided to share a screenshot of this mistake.

Twitter went crazy and even a flight and condom company wouldn’t be left out of the interest garnered in the incident.

Devolution PS disowns ‘sex toys’ report, November 10

Devolution and Planning PS, Eng.Peter Mangiti, had tabled documents before the Public Accounts Committee. The report showed misappropriation of funds through over-inflation of some of the assets acquired by the ministry.

He later said the report he presented was in draft form and contained errors, adding that he did not think the incorrect data was intentional or “choreographed” but was mainly due to human error.

Harambee Stars players’ drinking spree, November 28

Once again Harambee Stars players conducted themselves in a manner that would make their professionalism questionable.

Three members (names withheld) of the team and a junior member of the backroom staff decided to shake off their shock 3-1 loss to Zanzibar in CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup in Ethiopia with drink after drink, on the evening of the loss, till the wee hours of the following morning. This happened in the presence of media at the same joint they were in.

Strathmore University security drill leaves one dead, December 1

A female staff member died while 30 students and staff members were recovering from injuries in hospital, after terrorism security drill went totally south at Strathmore University. Police dressed in Muslim attire went into the institution’s learning blocks, firing live bullets.

Raila visits former Al-Shabaab cook’s grave, December 10

While looking to gain political mileage by putting Jubilee government in bad light, Cord leader Raila Odinga really jumped the gun on this one.

Firstly, Billow Kerrow publicly apologized for having caused alarm over the mass graves claim.

Then Joseph Nkaissery released a statement linking the said woman whose grave Raila had prayed at, as having formerly been an Al Shabaab cook in Bulahawa. She fled Bulahawa after the group was overrun there, and got into Kenya, settling in Mandera where she worked in a kiosk selling tea.

And Jubilee ran with the story for all it was worth to reverse the roles on Odinga, while his team remained mum on the issue.

Media get gallery tickets while bloggers get VIP tickets to B.o.B concert, December 12

Didn’t read much about the B.o.B concert? The reason was because the media invited were given gallery tickets to cover the event, while popular bloggers were given VIP tickets to the same. While some opted to give the concert a wide berth all together, there was consensus around media rooms that the PR company handling the Jameson Live Concert was greatly under-valuing media input.

Steve Mbogo billionaire sham, December 10

A Nairobi News reporter called Steve Mbogo’s bluff, after many media houses had ran with his billionaire claims and an almost cult-like reverence was forming around him in the public.

Then on December 16, another Nairobi News reporter got denial from the owner of the airline company Mbogo claimed to have been non-executive chair of. Then all of a sudden the jig was up. Everyone’s now jumping ship and the billionaire has gone silent and underground.