A new political alignment, the Non-Signatories South Sudanese Oppositions Group (NSSSOG), on Friday appointed Gen. Pagan Amum of the Real Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (R-SPLM) as its spokesperson, a press release said.

Gen. Amum is a leading South Sudanese political dissident who served as the Secretary General of the SPLM party before the December 2013 crisis which morphed into a war that engulfed most of the country.

“The Non-Signatories South Sudanese Oppositions Group (NSSSOG) would like to inform the people of South Sudan, the International Community that in line with its recently issued press statement (An urgent Call to All South Sudanese Stakeholders dated 13th July), the Group met on 14 July, and appointed Hon. Pagan Amum as its Interim Spokesperson,” the statement said.

“Hon. Amum is the officially authorized person to speak on behalf of the (NSSSOG) in dealing with media and the public,” it added.

According to the group, the appointment of Amum does not prevent the other five leaders of the (NSSSOG) to express their views if requested to do so.

The NSSSOG also said they nominated Deng Vanang, Peter Natana, and Lual Dau to be the focal point for those political, civil society, faith-based, women, and youth organizations that are interested in joining their urgent call to rescue the country from a constitutional vacuum and total collapse.

On Wednesday, the new grouping sent out a missive titled ‘An urgent call to all South Sudanese stakeholders’ in which they said the Republic of South Sudan is on the verge of collapse and that President Salva Kiir plans to stealthily extend his term in office.

The new political alignment comprises the United Democratic Revolutionary Movement/Army UDRM/A, National Democratic Movement Patriotic Front (NDM-PF), National Salvation Front (NAS), South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A), Sudan National Movement for Change (SSNMC), and the Real SPLM. - Radio Tamazuj

Six people have died after a 14-seater matatu collided head-on with a saloon car and burst into flames at Kwa Majini area in Yatta Sub-County, Machakos County.

The accident occurred at 9am on Friday, July 15 on the Thika-Garissa Highway.

The public service vehicle (PSV) was heading towards Nairobi from Matuu, while the saloon car was heading towards Garissa direction. 

All the six people, who died, were aboard the matatu, which caught fire after the crash.

Their bodies have been taken to Matuu Level Four Hospital morgue. By Erastus Mulwa, The Standard

Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga on Thursday rallied Mombasa residents to consider his bid as he promised to review the controversial Standard Gauge Railway cargo directive if elected.

Raila said his government will revive the economy of the coastal town and ensure nobody is forced to use SGR as is the case currently.

He said importers will have a free hand to choose their preferred mode of transport for their cargo.

Government directives currently compel all cargo imported through the port of Mombasa to be hauled to Nairobi and the hinterland exclusively by SGR.

The former Prime Minister said the directive, which was opposed by his Azimio MPs, rendered thousands of locals jobless weakening the Mombasa economy.

Suna East MP Junet Mohammed had called on Raila to consider reviewing the regulations.

Raila accused Deputy President William Ruto of engineering the ‘retrogressive’ SGR directive in the National Assembly.

“They brought a motion that made it mandatory for all cargo to be hauled through SGR, they are now shedding crocodile tears,” Raila said.

“We have a plan to bring back the Mombasa economy. We will implement an open sky policy where tourists will fly directly to Mombasa without going through Nairobi.”

The Azimio candidate said SGR and expanded port services were the brainchild of the grand-coalition government promising to make it work as they envisioned with late President Mwai Kibaki.

Raila accused Ruto of double-speak over the relocation of port services to Naivasha.

He said his administration will restore the region’s economy and turn Mombasa into the next Dubai, attracting direct international investments.

The ODM leader spoke when he toured the Coastal city to drum up support for his bid.

He was accompanied by his running mate Martha Karua.

The Narc Kenya boss said the Azimio government will have no sacred cows when it comes to fighting against corruption.

“Under Azimio, there will be no special treatment even if you are my brother or sister. The law will apply to all,” she said.

Leaders in Raila’s entourage included Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli, Governor Hassan Joho, Senator Mohamed Faki, and former Gatanga Peter Kenneth.

Others were MPs Abdulswamad Nassir (Mvita), Mishi Mboko (Likoni), Omar Mwinyi (Changamwe, Junet Mohamed (Suna East, Babu Owino (Embakasi East) and Naomi Shaban (Taveta MP).

Raila called on Coastal voters to adopt a six-piece voting pattern to ensure the coalition has controlling numbers in the bicameral Parliament and the local assemblies.

“We have 24 days to the ballot, I don’t want you to vote for me as President without foot soldiers. I want my team,” he said.

Karua said the Azimio government will only push through his manifesto if it has a majority of MPs in Parliament to push the government's legislative agenda.

The leaders campaigned in Kengeleni, Sabasaba, Changamwe, and Jomvu where they urged electorates to reject Ruto saying he is unfit to lead.

Raila promised to embark on the delivery of his manifesto promises insisting they are achievable and will not get distracted by critics.

“We are on the final stretch, we are marching to the ballot. It is upon you to herald change or fuel continuation of status quo,” he said.

Raila reiterated his commitment to rollout the Babacare health insurance scheme that will ensure millions of vulnerable Kenyans have access to health services and implement the Sh6000 monthly social protection stipend in his first 100 days in office. - LUKE AWICH AND ALLAN OTIENO, The Star Edited by Kiilu Damaris