Kenya Insights

Author: Kenya Insights Team

  • Bluebird Aviation Charters Flights For Stranded KQ Passengers

    Bluebird Aviation Charters Flights For Stranded KQ Passengers

    As Kenya Airways pilots strike enters its fourth day, passengers continue to cancel their flights and many are left stranded.

    To fill the void, Bluebird Aviation has announced it is ready to help ease current flight disruptions in the country by booking stranded passengers for charter flights following a strike by Kenya airways pilots.

    Bluebird Aviation General Manager, Captain Hussein Mohammed said while other small operators have begun recording an increase in enquiries and bookings, it is ready to take up passengers on charter flights.

    ”We are ready to take in passengers on charter flight basis. We welcome all passengers currently stranded in various airports to come and savour our unrivalled experience with more customised services,” said Captain Mohammed.

    Following the strike, Kenya Airways on Saturday requested its passengers to cancel their tickets for other available airlines.

    KQ declared the strike illegal and claimed they’re making loses in millions.

  • South Sudanese Politician Under Anti-Corruption Watchdog Radar In Jirongo’s Fraud Probe

    South Sudanese Politician Under Anti-Corruption Watchdog Radar In Jirongo’s Fraud Probe

    A prominent South Sudanese politician is among people being probed by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over the alleged illegal payment of Sh250 million that has sucked in prominent Kenyans.

    Mr Albino Mathom Ayuel Abuog, 43, a member of the South Sudan National Legislative Assembly representing the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement was named as a recipient of part of money allegedly paid out to former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo by the Nairobi County government in 2020 in compensation for land that was in the custody of the government over Sh19.8 billion loan default.

    Mr Abuog could not be reached for comment even as other suspects were summoned to Integrity Centre, the EACC headquarters in Nairobi, for questioning on Friday.

    Several other suspects, including accounting officers at Nairobi County government, are scheduled to be interrogated by EACC detectives.

    Mr Abuog is reported to have received Sh38 million, the second largest amount of money from a payout reportedly made to Mr Jirongo as compensation for the land situated in Nairobi’s Mukuru Kwa Reuben slum.

    Investigators have not yet established why Mr Abuog, a former University of Nairobi student, who served as a diplomat in various African countries and is a member of the Pan African Parliament (PAP), received the money.

    The dual South Sudanese and American national was the chairman of the Pan African Youth Council and Youth Affairs ambassador to the Pan African Parliament.

    A former child soldier, Mr Abuog was an ambassador and presidential special envoy for South Sudan and a former advisor to Republic of Congo’s president Dennis Sassou Nguesso.

    Jirongo

    Mr Jirongo’s previous engagement in South Sudan has been controversial. In 2021, a firm associated with Jirongo, Yu sung Construction company, was involved in a court tussle with the South Sudanese government over Sh5.4 billion payment claim for the construction of Dr John Garang Military Academy and Natinga Warehouses.

    According to the EACC report, Sh60 million was wired to Cotu secretary-general Francis Atwoli, Sh25 million to Jubilee party vice-chairman David Murathe while former National Assembly speaker Kenneth Marende received Sh3 million.

    Mr Jirongo got Sh20.6 million while former Vihiga Senator George Khaniri received Sh5 million. “Immediately the funds were paid out by the county government, the money was shared and distributed through law firms to several entities,” says part of the preliminary investigation report that lists the alleged beneficiaries.

    Detectives have summoned Mr Jirongo, Mr Murathe and Mr Atwoli to clarify how the compensation was made to the former Lugari MP for public land on which several public institutions, including AEF Reuben Primary School, a health centre, a police station and a vocational centre sit.

    Investigations have so far established that AEF Reuben Primary School, run by African Education Fund and financed Mukuru Promotion Centre has been on the parcel of land since 1986.

    In 1998, Mukuru Promotion Centre surrendered the school to Nairobi City Council through the Ministry of Education.

    An investigation report revealed that in 1989, the then Maj-Gen Augustine Cheruiyot applied for and was allocated the parcel, which he then transferred to Kuza Farms and Allied Limited.

    Although Kuza Farms never developed nor occupied the land, it was used to secure Sh1.6 billion loan by Jirongo’s Sololo Outlets Limited from Post Bank Credit Limited.

    Sololo Ltd defaulted the loan leaving Post Bank Credit with the title until it went into liquidation and the then Deposit Protection Fund Board, currently Kenya Deposit Insurance Corporation (KDIC), took custody of the title.

    The loan balance has so far accumulated to Sh19.8 billion.

    In 2014, KUZA Farms & Allied Limited through their lawyers Wagara, Koyyoko & Company filed a suit ELC 507 of 2014 against the Boards of Directors of AEF Reuben Primary school, the Nairobi City County, the office of the Attorney General and the National Land Commission (NLC) seeking to have the school, police station, health centre and vocational centre demolished and compensation for trespass.

    The parties agreed on an out of court and a decree was entered on August 1, 2016. Nairobi county paid the money to Kuza despite the title being with KDIC.

  • Ahmednasir Doesn’t Have A Professional Profile Worth Of Defaming Neither Peppercorn Damages, DBK Fires Back

    Ahmednasir Doesn’t Have A Professional Profile Worth Of Defaming Neither Peppercorn Damages, DBK Fires Back

    A friendly social media spat between two top lawyers has turned ugly court battle after one of the advocates accusing friend-turned foe of defamation.

    Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi and flashy lawyer Donald Kipkorir both enjoy mass following on twitter and have been exchanging banter on the handles on various topics including legal opinions, politics and intellectually.

    Kipkorir popularly known as DBK who is a strong political supporter of opposition leader Raila Odinga has denied defaming lawyer Ahmednasir and has asked the court to dismiss the case.

    In response to defamation case lodged by Ahmednasir, Kipkorir says Ahmednasir’s reputation is not worth peppercorn damages.

    Kipkorir denies posting, publishing and circulating the alleged offending tweets on his personal Twitter account knowing the same to be false.

    According to lawyer Kipkorir, veteran lawyer Ahmednasir has no professional profile that is worth emulating and capable of defamation.

    Lawyer Kipkorir adds that Ahmednasir in his twitter handle ‘@Ahmednasirlaw,” where he has more than 1.9 million followers, he has demonstrated a peculiar fecundity to attack,damage and spoil reputation of Supreme Court Judges ,Court of Appeal Judges,High court judges lawyers and members of public.

    “The plaintiff used his position as the president of Law Society of Kenya , the chairperson of Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) and as commissioner of Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to extort and intimidate judges , judiciary employees and members of the public,” lawyer Kipkorir says in his court documents.

    According to Ahmednasir, Kipkorir tweets were meant to discredit, embarrass and lower his dignity in his capacity as respected member of the society and advocate. He further says it was meant to bring him ridicule, contempt and disrepute in the eyes of any right thinking members of society.

    Kipkorir denies his alleged tweets were not intended to be defamatory, libelous contemptuous or disparaging to the senior Counsel.

    “I reiterates that subject tweets were true and justified in the context, and we’re neither actuated by malice nor were they malicious,” says Kipkorir.

    He further dismisses claims that Ahmednasir has not and is not suffering any harm to his personal and professional reputation as a result of the subject tweets.

    Kipkorir insists that Ahmednasir has used his Twitter handle to abuse, insult and intimidate all and sundry and in particular him, in the context, Ahmednasir has no reputation that he desires to protect and his therefore undeserving of any award of damages and prayers sought in his suit.

    “Whereas there is no doubt that lawyer Ahmednasir has succeeded in making money, his qualifications, trustworthiness, competency and honesty has been and remains in question in the public arena , judicial and parliamentary proceedings,” adds Kipkorir.

    Ahmednasir in his suit claim that prior to lawyer Kipkorir posting the offending statement, he was enjoying excellent and priceless professional reputation as a qualified, trustworthy, competent, eminent lawyer and an acclaimed practitioner who has attained the zenith status of senior Counsel which shaped and defined the legal industry over several years.

    In his defamation case against lawyer Kipkorir, Ahmednasir wants the court to enter judgement against the law including general damages, aggravated damages and exemplary damages.

    Ahmednasir further wants the court to issue permanent injunction restraining lawyer Kipkorir from further publishing offending statement or further defamatory against him.

    He also wants lawyer Kipkorir to be compelled to pull down the alleged defamatory tweets against him and issue an unqualified apology.

  • A Flagged Chinese Firm Accused Of Engaging In Illegal Activities And Frustrating Kenyan Workers

    A Flagged Chinese Firm Accused Of Engaging In Illegal Activities And Frustrating Kenyan Workers

    A Chinese firm that has previously been involved in a shoddy construction project in Kenya is on the spotlight once again.

    Chinese Overseas Construction and Engineering Company China Railway Number 10 has been accused of neglecting its workers, according to the workers, the firm has not paid them their salary for the last eight months, while sending away workers on unpaid leave.

    According to aggrieved workers, those who raise their concerns are being sent on unpaid leave without payments for the eight months they have worked.

    They’ve tried reaching out to labour offices but efforts have been futile as they suspects officials have been compromised.

    Cases of Chinese firms mistreating local workers has been rampant and the previous government failed in its mandate to protect its citizens from exploitation and it’s for this reason that the aggrieved workers are reaching out to the new administration with the hopes that they reign in and that their please be heard.

    The company which defended itself in claiming that the non-payments is as a result of being owed by the government is accused of double standards, it’s said that those in senior positions continue to receive their salaries and only the low carder workers are neglected. The firm also recently bought a Sh900 million stone crusher despite claiming that they’re too broke to pay workers.

    The machine is already in use in Kiserian area despite not having obtained full government approval including Nema assessment report.

    Sigiri collapsed bridge

    The company shot to the spotlight in 2017 after the iconic Sigiri Bridge which was under construction in Budalang’i constituency collapsed.

    The construction costs for the Sh1 billion bridge that collapsed soon after inspection by President Uhuru Kenyatta was hugely inflated.

    The Sh1 billion Chinese-built Sigiri Bridge in Busia County, collapsed before it was completed.

    Contract documents show that the highly-hyped project would cost Sh685 million, just about half of the reported prices.

    But the contract price would still arouse interest when the project is stacked up against comparable ones including a seemingly sturdier bridge further up on the same River Nzoia.

    Khaunga Bridge, over the same river near Mumias, was built at a fraction: less than Sh128 million.

    Other comparisons with the Standard Gauge Railway which consists 98 bridges, most being much longer, further points out the abnormal price paid for Sigiri.

    Investigations revealed that the government may have doubled the value of the much-hyped project in Busia County amid a series of inconsistencies.

    The award letter issued to the contractor China Overseas Engineering Group Company Ltd indicates the contract sum as only Sh685 million.

    A classic case of under dealings.

     

  • Munya Backed KTDA Management Swallowed In Similar Mismanagement And Sexual Scandals As The Filthy Predecessor

    Munya Backed KTDA Management Swallowed In Similar Mismanagement And Sexual Scandals As The Filthy Predecessor

    The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA ) management team has been hit with what is now becoming a norm in the scandal ridden agency following a recent rift that threatens to undermine its main cores.

    The strife at KTDA is nothing new. In 2020, some tea farmers in central Kenya called for the disbandment of KTDA, after it failed to pay farmers their annual mini-bonus. Then President Uhuru Kenyatta decided to disband the board and called for its overhaul.

    The board was then dissolved, and a new one assumed control in June 2021. The new board is led by David Muni Ichoho.

    Ichoho has however been accused of embarking on a serious witch hunt at the headquarters, including allegations of sexual misconduct including some members of his administration.
    The new board has suspended six senior managers and demand a forensic audit of the operational and financial systems.

    Lerionka Tiampati, KTDA CEO, Company Secretary John Omanga, Managing Director Alfred Njagi, Finance and Strategy Director Benson Ngari, General Manager ICT David Mbugua, and Head of Procurement and Logistics Brown Kanampiu are the six managers who have been placed on indefinite leave in order to facilitate the investigations.

    The ousted members claim the chairman oversaw their illegal dismissal that didn’t follow due diligence procedures followed but purely based on nepotism, sex exploits advances and tribalism according to a local publication privy to the details.
    In a dramatic move, the disbanded board and staff led by disgraced former board chairman Peter Kanyago stormed the headquarters in a bid to chase away the Ichoho’s led team.

    The ousted board instantly asserted that it was still in charge and asked people to ignore the new team’s “illegitimate” acts.

    It referenced the Constitutional Court of the High Court in Mombasa and Nairobi issuing conservatory orders prohibiting the election of directors of tea factories.

    According to Weekly Citizen, the looting at KTDA is back with Ichoho and his team hiding its operations and fooling farmers.

    Ichoho is the chairman, Wesley Koech vice chairman, Wilson Muthaura CEO, James Mwangi (director), Godffrey Chege Kirundi (director), Michael Ngatia (director) John Wasusuna (director), Enos Njeru (director), Baptista Muriki (director), Eric Chepwokony (director), Mose Magenya (director). Ombasa Omweno (director), Abungana Khasani (director), Simeon Rugut (director) and Mathews Odero (company secretary).

    Allegedly, directors from other regions are at war with thosefrom Mount Kenya region. The Mount Kenya directors openly boast of using deputy president Rigathi Gachagua to help them remain in power. Infact, it is said, Chege Kirundi for years who fought legal battles with former KTDA bosses led by Kanyago is the defacto head of happenings at KTDA. The current CEO and Ichoho are just robots.

    Records have emerged indicating that Mr Peter Kanyago, the former board chairman of the embattled KTDA now fighting to force his way back, owns a tea brokerage firm, in a clear conflict of interest in the tea industry.

    This raised questions why the East African Tea Traders Association (EATTA), the auction platform, allowed a producers’ representative to own a brokerage company and whose interests he represents within KTDA.

    While KTDA is appointed by farmers as its agent to the brokers, records from the registrar of companies indicate that Mr Kanyago is a shareholder of Atlas Tea Brokers through his company, Geopet Investments Limited.

    Other shareholders of Geopet include his business partner George Kamau Muhoho. Geopet is an acronym for George and Peter.

    According to Rule 5 of EATTA, broker members undertake not to act in any transaction in tea “in which it or he or any of its or his partners, directors or assistants are interested, directly or indirectly as seller, buyer, shipper or otherwise.”

    Atlas was a broker for Imenti Tea Factory.

    A tea broker earns a commission for every sale from both the producer and the buyer and Atlas is one of the largest broker in the industry.

    Another company with shares at Atlas Tea Brokers is Pennant Trading Company, which is owned by Nicholas Munyi, a former EATTA chairman, which means that the brokerage is owned by insiders in the tea industry.

    Mr Kanyago’s led KTDA board battled Uhuru’s tgovernment to stop reforms in the multi-billion shilling sector, which had been stymied for years due to insider interests and cartels like Konyago’s interests in a brokerage firm.

    Insiders tell WC that millions cannot be accounted for with Ichoho and his team hiring choppers to crisscross the country visiting factories and flying slayqueens to Mombasa whenever on tour.
The cartel controls the finance, human resource, procurement, operations, sales and audit departments.

    KTDA woes widened when Twitter users shared their frustrations further exposing the rot consuming the company and its management.

     

  • Complaint Regarding Kenya’s Safaricom Corporation

    Complaint Regarding Kenya’s Safaricom Corporation

    I introduce myself as Michael Mundia Kamau, and I have been the holder of Safaricom cell phone number 0720 761349 for the last 18 years i.e. since January 2004.
    Safaricom have crudely and abruptly deactivated and discontinued my said Safaricom phone number 0720 761349, very likely in connection with a registration of subscribers exercise that lapsed, to my understanding, on 15th October 2022, after a six month extension, effective 15th April 2022.
    I totally ignored the said Safaricom registration that lapsed, to my understanding, on 15th October 2022, because Safaricom conducted a similar exercise either ten or eleven years ago, as I recall i.e. either in 2011 or 2012.
    In either 2011 or 2012, I visited the Safaricom Customer Care Centre on Moi Avenue, Nairobi, Kenya, gave my National Identity Card to a Safaricom Customer Care employee, who went ahead to key in my details into a computer, and who then confirmed to me that I was now duly registered as a Safaricom subscriber, in line with a new law that came into effect back then.
    I therefore saw no reason whatsoever to engage in the repeat exercise that Safaricom conducted in 2022, because this to me, was both a waste of time and a reflection of total incompetence on the part of Safaricom.
    Is Safaricom sinking and on the verge of collapse, and why am I being made to shoulder the sheer mismanagement, misdirection and incompetence of Safaricom?
    There used to be giant global airline company called Pan American Airways (Pan Am) that abruptly closed shop globally in 1991. Is Safaricom on the path of Pan American Airways (Pan Am)? Pan Am, when they operated in Kenya, used to have a classy booking office on City Hall Way, Nairobi, on the ground floor of Nairobi’s Hilton Hotel. There were also other giants that operated and flourished in this region in past decades that similarly and abruptly closed shop, such as East African Railways and Harbours (EAR & H), and East African Posts and Telecommunications (EA & PT).
    I do not see why Safaricom has abruptly terminated my cell phone number 0720 761349. As mentioned, I complied with the Safaricom registration exercise of either 2011 or 2012. Other than that, and over the last 18 years i.e. since January 2004, I have not contravened or violated any Safaricom guidelines or regulations, and nether have I used my cell phone number 0720 761349 to engage in any criminal activities or insults. You can confirm or discount this by going through the history of my Safaricom cell phone number 0720 761349 over the last 18 years.
    I humbly ask that Safaricom reactivate my cell phone number 0720 761349. I am not making a demand and neither will I declare that it is my right i.e. I am making a humble request that Safaricom reactivate my cell phone number 0720 761349. I plainly do not see why Safaricom has subjected me to the inconvenience of deactivating my cell phone number 0720 761349 of the last 18 years.
    If my request to Safaricom that my cell phone number 0720 761349 be reactivated is rejected and declined, then so be it. I will move on, I will re-engineer and recalibrate myself to fit into food chains that accommodate people without cell phones.
    Col. Muammar Gaddafi (RIP) was the leader of Libya for 42 years from 1969 to 2011, and sometime during Col. Gaddafi’s 42 year rule in Libya, his Government and foreign owned oil companies in Libya, differed on policy. The legend goes that Col. Gaddafi told the foreign owned oil companies in Libya that “Libya survived 5,000 years without oil, and could survive another 5,000 without it.”
    What’s my point?
    Borrowing from the words above attributed to Col. Muammar Gaddafi, Kenya survived 5,000 years without Safaricom, and can survive another 5,000 years without Safaricom.
    Were it not for our ancestors, none of us would be here in Kenya today in 2022, and our ancestors did not have Safaricom, or oil either, so if Safaricom rejects and declines my request to reactivate my Safaricom cell phone number 0720 761349, I will, inter alia, have to embrace and adopt certain aspects of “ancestor mode.” It’s called survival.
    Stay safe, vote wisely, may Safaricom continue to reign over the universe for many centuries to come, and god bless you.
    Safaricom is good all the time, and all the time, Safaricom is good.
    I resent having to be made to write this lengthy letter of complaint on account of the incompetence, buffoonery, ineptitude, lawlessness and sheer mismanagement of Safaricom, I resent that my cell phone number 0720 761349, that I have had for the last 18 years i.e. that I have had since January 2004, has crudely and abruptly been deactivated and discontinued by Safaricom, for no valid reason. As mentioned, I registered my cell phone number 0720 761349 in either 2011 or 2012, in accordance with the law, and saw no reason whatsoever why I should have been subjected to a repeat exercise by Safaricom this year, 2022.
    Best Regards,
    Michael Mundia Kamau.
    (Republished in permission from email).
  • Rogue Immigration Exposed In Somali Visa Deals

    Rogue Immigration Exposed In Somali Visa Deals

    A junior immigration official based at Nyayo House has been exposed by a local newspaper for his involvement in issuing referral visas for Somalis by applying double standards while executing his duties.

    According to the publication, Wario Abdikadir has been using his connections in the system to lobby for a friendly face to replace the outgoing immigration director Alexander Muteshi. Wario is also said to have been in good books with the outgoing Interior CS Fred Matiang’i who supposedly gave him protection.

    Despite holding a junior position, Wario has favored one agent, Abdulrahman Mohammed, to issue visas for applicants engaging in questionable activities in Somalia.

    Other agents are blocked over flimsy grounds by Wario as he favors Mohammed. Travel agents who apply for visas are rejected on basis of security clearance.

    The publication claims that the cartel has incorporated an intelligence collection agency agents seconded at the Immigration Department to smoothen and level their operations.

    NIS officer named was recently transferred and replaced by a lady officer, Mohammed is said to have managed to Compton it the new officer with the initial NIS official’s help.

    The publication further claims that Mohammed, the broker agent, held a secret meeting with the agent he commonly refers to as Madam in a meeting that he openly boasted about.

    In the meeting, supposedly, a business deal was signed. Mohammed boasted to those who cared to listen that he parted with Sh4M in the deal that supposedly involved Wario.

    As a result, other agents who referred others visas online have been locked out with Mohammed having a field day.

    Mohammed’s own citizenship is questioned in the dossier. He’s said to be originally from Somalia bought fraudulently acquired Kenyan citizenship.

    He operates from Eastleigh if not from Wario’s office in Nyayo House.

    The publication claims that, one time, agents bitterly confronted Wario, and raised a series of complaints. Instead, Wario implicated the intelligence agency as being responsible to secure the visas.

    What surprised them was the fact that Mohammed afterwards laughed off the matter boasting that he was in bed with the intelligence agency’s agents at Nyayo House, and regularly visits their office based on 24th floor.

    For now, agents dealing with Somali visa referral that has the intelligence agency involved cannot access the process due to the cartel of Wario, Mohammed and sleuths stationed at Nyayo House. Genuine agents have blocked from clearing their clients this rendered useless.

  • Part II: Lobby Group Raises Concerns About Corrupt Conduct By PS For Shipping And Maritime Nancy Karigithu

    Part II: Lobby Group Raises Concerns About Corrupt Conduct By PS For Shipping And Maritime Nancy Karigithu

    In our continuing series, Seaman Lobby Group in a letter addressed to Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission Integrity Centre (EACC) and copied to Kenya Insights, Integrity issues have been raised about the Principal Secretary Fir Shipping and Maritime Nancy Karigithu in her capacity as the Acciunting  Officer of Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) in 2014 where she’s accused of overseeing a corrupt procurement of the new KMA Headquarters land under Tender Number KMA/LAN/ONT/005/2014-2015.

    Belowbis a statement from the lobby group that accused her addressed to EACC’s boss Twalib Mbarak;

    I refer to the subject matter and various public allegations.

    I, Ahmed Mabrouk, the Founder and Coordinator of Macho ya Baharia Lobby Group, Mombasa; pursuant to Article 3(1) of the Constitution and in exercise of the Freedom of Expression guaranteed under Articles 33 of the Constitution; invoking the protections guaranteed under Section 65 of Anti- Corruption and Economic Crimes Act (Cap 65); hereby formally submit to you a Complaint Concerning Corrupt Conduct by Nancy Karigithu, the current Principal Secretary of Shipping transportation under Ministry of Transport.

    Nancy Karigithu was the long-serving Director General/Accounting Officer of Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) when under tender no. KMA/LAN/ONT/005/2014-2015, she oversaw procurement of the land on which sits the new KMA headquarters, in a procurement process replete with corruption in contravention procurement laws and other applicable laws, in the following instances:

    (a) Nancy Karigithu occasioned Government to buy its own land when Tile & Carpet Centre (TCC) Ltd sold KMA land that is still owned by Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC).

    (b) Nancy Karigithu failed to conduct the required diligence before purchasing the said land leading KMA to pay Tile & Carpet Centre Ltd over Sh. 200 million, for a lease that now stands at 44 years, reducing.

    (c) Nancy Karigithu failed to conduct tender Financial Evaluation as required by law.

    (d) Nancy Karigithu failed to keep (or, it is alleged she confiscated/destroyed) important records pertaining to the land purchase.

    (e) Nancy Karigithu paid Tile & Carpet Centre Ltd 10% down payment on 7th December 2014 and yet the contract was signed on 23rd December 2014.

    (f) Nancy Karigithu paid a total of Sh. 202,800,150.00 for land which was valued by Government at Sh. 150,000,000.00.

    (g) Nancy Karigithu paid total Sh. 202,800,150.00 when the approved budget was Sh. 200 million.

    (h) Nancy Karigithu signed the Agreement with Tile & Carpet Centre Ltd as a witness and not as the KMA Accounting Officer.

    In brief, information availed to us shows that during the vicious war (2016 – 2018) between Nancy Karigithu (who was PS Shipping and Maritime but then not in charge of KMA) on one side and the KMA Board of Directors on the other side, Nancy Karigithu instigated the audit of KMA by requesting the PS for the State Department for Transport (who was then in charge of KMA) to cause the audit of KMA. PS Transport wrote to the Inspector General of State Corporations vide letter Ref. MOT&I/C/SM/015VOL dated 17th July 2017, requesting the State Corporations Advisory Committee (SCAC) to audit KMA.

    As fate would have it, in a classic case of “hunter becomes the hunted”, the Audit Report fingered Nancy Karigithu (the audit instigator) for being responsible for loss of millions of public monies in the December 2014 procurement of the KMA headquarters land. (See ANNEX I: copy of the SCAC the Auditor’s Report and ANEX II: copy of the initial “transmittal letter”, both documents sent on 9th February 2018 by SCAC’s Margaret Chebii: [email protected] to Titus Muriithi: [email protected], the immediate former Inspector General of State Corporations).

    Nancy Karigithu could not countenance the unexpected development. And so, a plot was hatched to sanitise Nancy Karigithu.

    Macho ya Baharia Lobby Group have obtained a heavily redacted copy of letter ref. ISC/INS/POL/101/TY (13) dated 9th January 2018 which was intended to communicate the Audit Report and findings and recommendations to PS for the State Department for Transport, who had requested for the audit. (See the enclosed ANNEX III: copy of the heavily redacted letter ref. ISC/INS/POL/101/TY (13) dated 9th January 2018)

    The letter heavily redacted letter contains recommendation “x” that states thus:
    The Parent Ministry should take appropriate disciplinary action against Mrs. Nancy Karigithu, for negating her responsibility as an accounting officer at time of the execution of the land sale-agreement by signing as a witness contrary to Section 7(c) of the Public Procurement and Disposal Regulations of 2006.

    Macho ya Baharia Lobby Group understand that both the Auditor’s Report and the transmittal letter were altered to remove any negative references to and allegation of corruption by, Nancy Karigithu. A cursory scrutiny of the heavily redacted letter indicates that the immediate former Inspector General of State Corporations Mr Titus Muriithi (who has since been charged by ODPP in the Kimwarer and Arror dams scandal) had signed the initial letter – with the recommendation for disciplinary action to be taken against Nancy Karigithu – before changing his mind.

    Notwithstanding the attempt by the immediate former Inspector General of State Corporations to ‘sanitise’ Nancy Karigithu, Macho ya Baharia Lobby Group expect EACC to conduct independent investigation into the present Complaint Concerning Corrupt Conduct by Nancy Karigithu. As such, the SCAC Audit and its findings and recommendations should be treated only as indicative of corruption that warrants EACC investigation.

    Macho ya Baharia Lobby Group understand that numerous other similar complaints against Nancy Karigithu that were previously reported to EACC were swept under the rag. For example, in January 2016 EACC ‘sanitised’ Nancy Karigithu during National Assembly vetting for PS position despite, EACC acknowledging to the Clerk of the National Assembly that it (EACC) was in possession of information where Nancy Karigithu was adversely mentioned in corruption cases. (See the enclosed ANNEX IV: copy of the letter of the Clerk of the National Assembly ref. KNA/COMM/APPT/2015 dated 9th December 2015)

    So, is Nancy Karigithu ‘untouchable’? Maybe. Macho ya Baharia Lobby Group have obtained an unflattering audio recording of a conversation between Nancy Karigithu and an acquaintance, where Nancy Karigithu is bragging to that acquaintance that she (Nancy Karigithu) is “very powerful” and alleging that she is “protected” at the highest levels. This is wrong because we do not imagine Government – at any level – condones corruption or protects corrupt State/Public officers. (Please let us know whether the said audio recording may be of help to you, since now you may wish to ascertain whether Nancy Karigithu has been executing her duty(ies) under the dictates of Chapter Six of the Constitution and the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012)

    In conclusion, therefore, we believe this letter has established and communicated to you a prima facie valid Complaint Concerning Corrupt Conduct by Nancy Karigithu under tender NO. KMA/LAN/ONT/005/2014- 2015, which warrants immediate investigation(s) by EACC.

    Please note, in the event that EACC is unable to commence investigation(s) by 1st July 2020, Macho ya Baharia Lobby Group will, as the next recourse in pursuit of justice for the people of Kenya, petition:

    (a) The Commission on Administrative Justice, to inquire into the Complaint Concerning Corrupt Conduct by Nancy Karigithu; and

    (b) The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Transport, Public Works and Housing, to censure Nancy Karigithu.

    We look forward to expedited investigations into Complaint Concerning Corrupt Conduct by Nancy Karigithu in order to bring justice to the Kenyan people.

    We commend you for EACC’s recharged impetus in the fight against corruption.

    Yours faithfully,
    Ahmed Mabrouk
    MACHO YA BAHARIA – SEAMAN LOBBY GROUP

  • Part I: Corruption By Nancy Wakarima Karigithu PS Shipping And Maritime At The Kenya High Commission In London

    Part I: Corruption By Nancy Wakarima Karigithu PS Shipping And Maritime At The Kenya High Commission In London

    The outgoing PS Shipping and Maritime Nancy Wakarima Karigithu, conniving with officials in the Last Administration, created herself a MARITIME ATTACHÉ office in Kenya’s UK High
    Commission.

    Kenya’s UK High Commissioner is the bonafide Kenya Permanent representative to the
    International Maritime Organization (IMO). Additionally, Government regularly funds officials (from Ministry of Transport, Kenya Ports Authority, Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA), NEMA, etc.,) to attend IMO meetings to represent Kenya.

    The created MARITIME ATTACHÉ office has NO justification, is unsustainable, and an unnecessary burden to the taxpayer. For instance, Maritime Attaché will rent an office at the cost of Ksh. 600,000.00 per month (Ksh. 7,200,00 per year).

    THE REAL REASON FOR CREATION OF THE MARITIME ATTACHE OFFICE.

    The outgoing PS Nancy Wakarima Karigithu since early 2022 has been going around claiming
    she is Kenya’s nominee to vie for the position of IMO Secretary General in December 2023.

    The outgoing PS Nancy Karigithu hopes that she can occupy the London MARITIME ATTACHÉ
    Office from where she can campaign and lobby for the IMO Secretary General position.

    A letter released by the outgoing Ministry of Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary on 22-04-2022 lends credence to this assertion. The said letter stated that the outgoing PS Nancy Karigithu had been appointed “Ambassador and Special envoy for the Blue Economy”. The National
    Assembly is yet to vet her for the ambassadorial appointment.

    The outgoing PS Nancy Karigithu has now turned all her official duties and functions, using
    public funds, to the sole purpose of creating publicity for herself. Her international gallivanting
    from Jan. – Oct. 2022 has so far cost the taxpayer over Ksh. 5,000,000.

    THE MARITIME ATTACHE OFFICE IS UNBUDGETED

    Nancy Karigithu’s State Department for Shipping and Maritime DID NOT budget for the
    MARITIME ATTACHE office.

    PS Nancy Karigithu on 14-10-2022 compelled the Board of Directors of KMA to direct the KMA
    Director General to reallocate Ksh. 47,394,000.00 from KMA’s approved staff training budget
    and credit the State Department for Shipping and Maritime.

    KMA is on Wednesday 19-10-2022 set to transfer by RTGS the Ksh. 47,394,000.00 to the State
    Nancy Karigithu’s State Department for Shipping and Maritime.

  • Four Firms Caught Up In Ruaraka Land Fraud

    Four Firms Caught Up In Ruaraka Land Fraud

    Four real estate firms; Airwaves Properties, Carlsberg International, DKO Investments and Dawn Innovations have been caught up in a messy suit over a Sh2 billion 28-acre parcel of prime land in Ruaraka.

    According to a suit filed by Bancroft Properties Limited who claim to be the rightful owner of the land, the four have fraudulently attempted to possess and dispose the land.

    The company claims to be the registered owner of land No.13560/3, and states that the four fraudulently obtained title documents with the intention of subdividing and selling them to unsuspecting members of the public.

    In the petition filed by Clifford Odhiambo and Company Advocates, Bancroft Properties alleges that the firms, while purporting to be the owners of the land, advertised it for sale under a fictitious project dubbed Stadium View Estate.

    Bancroft Properties says it acquired the land in 2003 from its initial owner, Central Glass Industries, on a lease of 99 years for Sh23 million.

    The court heard that the original title deed is in the custody of Diamond Trust Bank and has never been surrendered to the Registrar of Lands.

    Land fraud

    The firm claims the four companies fraudulently obtained a certificate of lease purportedly issued by the lands office, which they used to claim ownership of the property.

    Mr Odhiambo said the companies hired some people in February 2022 to guard the land.

    On June 11, the firms organised and invited members of the public for an open day at the property with the intention of selling plots to them.

    This prompted Bancroft Properties to lodge a complaint with the police over alleged trespassing.

    “Investigations into the legality of the title held by the respondents, which [were] conducted by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, have revealed the participation of the four respondents herein in the purported transfer,” the firm says in court documents.

    The court heard that there was a wider scheme by some unknown individuals to grab the land from the owners.

    This is after an attempt was made to fraudulently alter public records pertaining to the ownership/directorship of Bancroft in a bid to dispose of the land.

    Court documents show that in June, Bancroft Properties directors Salim Jessa Haideralli and Firoz Haiderali Jessa discovered that two individuals had been appointed directors of the company without their knowledge.

    The individuals Francis Ooko Otude and Atek Otech Richard had faked minutes indicating that the company had resolved to appoint them as directors and shareholders of Bancroft Properties and allotted them one share each.

    The company directors have denied having conducted such a meeting nor authorised such an appointment.

    They now want the court to declare them the legal owners of the land and quash the titles held by the four companies.

    Bancroft also wants the court to bar the companies from selling, trespassing on and interfering with the land.

    The court battle gives a clue why investors need to do their due diligence before venturing into what would risk their money.

  • Mishra’s Uganda Deal For Mediheal Hospital Comes To Surface

    Mishra’s Uganda Deal For Mediheal Hospital Comes To Surface

    During the burial ceremony for former Ainabkoi MP William Cheokut at his Kapsundei home, Uasin Gishu County on Tuesday a lot came to surface. Speakers eulogized him as a trusted lieutenant in government circles, who cut deals with presidents across the East African region.

    Of these deals that was highlighted was that of Mediheal Group Of Hospitals venture into the Ugandan market. Coincidentally, Mr Chepkut died on October 8 after collapsing at his Nairobi house and was pronounced dead on arrival at Mediheal Parklands hospital. A post-mortem revealed a blood clot.

    Before becoming an MP, Hon. Chepkut was the personal assistant to the late Nicholas Biwott, a powerful politician in the Kanu era who ran errands for him.

    It was while working for Mr Biwott that he cut his niche exploiting it with dexterity, mourners heard.

    Nominated Senator Prof Margaret Kamar narrated how Chepkut was networked in Kenya and internationally and was like a son to her because of his service to Biwott.

    “After the death of Mr Biwott, he was asking me if I had informed several Heads of State including former Tanzania president Jakaya Kikwete and Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni. I asked him to go ahead and make calls. His loyalty was unmatched and was ready to accept corrections and a fast learner for any task,” she said.

    Prof Kamar said Chepkut was very generous and would spend the last coin on his people and it did not matter to him if he died poor.

    Biwott’s daughter Esther Koimett said her father trusted Chepkut to an extent their opinions were considered superfluous.

    “Many at times we felt that our father never listened to us because he trusted Chepkut’s word to the letter. He was liked because of his absolute loyalty,” she said.

    Chepkut’s network was not limited to politicians but extended to security circles.

    Businessman David Lagat recounted a day he was arrested over unspecified reasons.

    “I could not comprehend why I was being arrested because I was a law-abiding citizen and when I approached Chepkut who was in a cordial relationship with the then DCI boss George Kinoti, he took me to him. Mr Kinoti disclosed to us all that it was about politics. That was Chepkut. He accessed all the mighty and low in the society,” said Mr Lagat.

    It emerged from the eulogies that Mr Chepkut had an interesting relationship with former Presidents-Daniel arap Moi and Uhuru Kenyatta whom he accessed with ease.

    He also had a very sharp mind and had thousands of contacts in his memory.

    It is for this reason that Mr Biwott never owned a mobile phone as he relied on his PA to the point even the heads of state accessed him through Chepkut.

    In eulogizing him, Chepkut’s best friend revealed that the late had brokered a deal between Mishra and President Museveni using his influence to have Mishra expand his hospital to Uganda. Unfortunately, according to the friend’s eulogy, Mishra’s supposed greed took over and he shortchanged Chepkut after sealing a deal with Museveni to have him establish a wing in Uganda.

    The confidant claims there was a covenant between the two and Mishra was to pay Chepkut millions for facilitating the deal, from the speech, he didn’t. (Click to view)

    IMG_4196

    He says Mishra promised the late a commission that he never honored and asked that he donates Sh10M which could easily translate into the actual figure in forming a trustee foundation to help the late’s children welfare.

    According to reports from Uganda, in February 2021 President Museveni gave Mediheal a seven acres of land to construct an ultramodern 350-bed hospital in Nakawa-Naguru estate. This piece of land was however contested in parliament after Uganda Land Commission (ULC) defied the presidential directive to give them land.

    In 2007, Government signed a Public Private Partnership Agreement with an investor, Opec Prime Properties Ltd, to redevelop the Naguru-Nakawa housing estates into two ultramodern sustainable satellite towns.

    However, when the investor failed to fulfil this obligation, Cabinet terminated the contract and the land was reclaimed by ULC. Part of the land had been irregularly given out to some investors and this prompted the then Deputy Speaker, Anita Among, to constitute an ad hoc committee to investigate the matter.

    Mediheal Hospital Uganda directors led by the Board chairperson, Mike Mukula (R), appearing before the Ad hoc Committee at Parliament.

    Mediheal has been on an expansion spree, spreading its wings across East Africa Community with the sim of becoming a region’s giant. In Kenya, it has branches across the country and has been in the good books with the previous government.

    Mishra, the proprietor of the hospital has however not been spared the wrath of criticism.

    In the recent times, the former Kesses MP has been at the center of accusations of organ smuggling in his hospital, claims that he vehemently denies.

    The furious lawmaker has faulted his critics for for alleging he became rich through the trade. So wide the accusation has become that he sued blogger Robert Alai (now MCA Kileleshwa Ward) for writing about Mediheal supposed involvement in organ smuggling.

    The allegations came when Mediheal hospitals appointed Dr. Prem Kumar Gokul as the vice president. Mr Gokul is supposedly under investigations by Interpol according to reports for smuggling human parts. He is alleged to be part of a racket that smuggles kidney across the globe. The accusations however remain unproven.

    There have also been accusations of the hospital bringing in staff from India for jobs that can be done by the locals. In a protest letter seen by Kenya Insights, disgruntled local staff complained that their jobs are being take up by foreigners whom they claim are under qualified and asked for an audit of the staff to ascertain the claims.

    While in parliament, Mishra is accused by his critics of misusing his position as the vice chair of the Parliamentary committee on health to the advantage of his Mediheal Hospital.

    In a whistleblower complaint filed by a former employee of the Hospital to Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and seen by Kenya Insights, the hospital was accused of tax evasion. The former staff gave KRA the documents detailing supposed fraudulent activities including unwarranted tax exemptions but nothing much came out of it and he told Kenya Insights that the KRA staff were bribed for their silence. We reached out to the IPO and no response came.

    Medilife Biological a sister company of Mediheal Healthcare owner by Mishra received Sh140M from Kemsa to supply PPEs.

    A special audit by the Auditor General had shown that Kenyans lost Sh2.3 billion in the Covid-19 items procurement scandal at Kemsa.

    “The procurement process was not initiated based on need assessment and planning resulting in over-procurement of Covid-19 related stock worth Sh6.3b that is still being held at KEMSA warehouses. 97 per cent of the stock has been in the Kemsa warehouses for more than three months implying inadequate market forecasting and planning practices,” Nancy Gathungu reported.

    She added, “The items were procured at a higher price as compared to the current market pricing implying that KEMSA may realize a loss of Sh.2,338,261,175 if the products are to be sold at the current market price.”

    The auditor General indicated that the management of KEMSA violated various laws leading to the loss of public money.

    The report also reveals fraud in procurement and collusion between Kemsa bosses and the companies that were awarded multi-billion shilling contracts.

    Incidentally, Mishra was sitting on the health committee where before he was ousted in the jubilee in-house purge, he was the Vice chairman.

    Mishra fell out with Ruto and even sacrificed his parliamentary seat by going against the UDA wave in the Rift Valley. Those in the know say that he took the big risk of supporting Raila to protect his empire.

    Mishra was amongst Azimio’s agents in Bomas during the vote’s tallying.

    There are unsubstantiated allegations of the hospital involvement in NHIF fraud which calls for investigations.

    Mediheal was also involved in the medical equipment leasing program where taxpayers lost over Sh63B.

    Mishra was subcontracted by Sevens Sea to oversee radiotherapy services in the county. According to an report by the senate exposing the scandal, most companies that were awarded the contracts largely under delivered.

    While still sitting on the health committee and having an upper hand in cutting deals, Mishra shamelessly and unapologetically did business with the government. This was the contrary to directive given by the president against public servants engaging in business with the government.

    Now left with no political godfather, Mishra has been trying to reach and catch the attention of President Ruto in a bid to apologize and mend broken links, his efforts have however been futile as those in the know say that the president is not keen to meet him after he refused to support him in the last election. Those close to the president say that an audit of NHIF that has seen the national insurer lose millions is a priority with Mediheal being one of the hospitals in the list of many private hospitals listed in the probe.

  • Museveni Issues Son Muhoozi With Instructions For Twitter After Clash With Kenyans

    Museveni Issues Son Muhoozi With Instructions For Twitter After Clash With Kenyans

    Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said Monday that his outspoken son would stay off Twitter when it comes to affairs of state, after a social media tirade that included a threat to invade neighbouring Kenya.

    Powerful general Muhoozi Kainerugaba, 48, has often caused controversy with his comments on Twitter but his particularly undiplomatic outburst earlier this month caused Museveni to step in.

    “He will leave Twitter. We have this discussion. Twitter is not a problem. The problem is what you are tweeting about,” the veteran leader said in an interview with a local Ugandan television station.

    But Kainerugaba, he said, would still be able to take to social media as long as he restricts himself to comments about sport, for example.

    “Talking about other countries and partisan politics of Uganda is something he should not do and he will not do it,” Museveni added.

    The president had apologised to Kenya in early October after Kainerugaba, among other remarks, suggested taking his troops to capture Nairobi.

    He also chided Kenya’s former leader Uhuru Kenyatta for not attempting an unconstitutional third bid at the presidency in the August poll, in what was seen as a slight against the newly elected President William Ruto.

    The first son also last week sought forgiveness for his remarks from Ruto, whose swearing-in ceremony was attended by Museveni.

    In Monday’s interview, Museveni nevertheless defended his son as a “very good general”, after promoting him to the rank despite stripping him of his role as leader of Uganda’s land forces.

    Although Kainerugaba has repeatedly denied claims he intends to succeed his 78-year-old father — one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders — he has enjoyed a rapid rise through Uganda’s army ranks.

  • Businessman Jimnah Mbaru Sued For Sh320K Monthly Child Support

    Businessman Jimnah Mbaru Sued For Sh320K Monthly Child Support

    Business mogul Jimnah Mbaru Mwangi has been sued for allegedly abdicating his parental role of a 4 year old son to a putative father Eric Murimi Kaburu.

    Elizabeth Nadupoi Kimiti, the mother of the said child says the putative father has failed to submit the agreed ksh 50,000 monthly for the child upkeep.

    She further accuses Jimnah Mbaru of denying the child his identity through the exclusion of his name on the birth certificate of the child.

    Through her lawyer Suiyanka Lempaa the mother argues that giving power of attorney to the putative father to take care of his biological child Mbaru acts illegally and in contravention with the law.

    The mother now seeks for Ksh 600,000 yearly for the child’s school fees and a further Ksh 320,000 monthly for upkeep and wants the father compelled to take care of the child as his biological father.

    Nadupoi says the child has remained in her custody since birth accusing Mbaru of neglecting him and failing to contribute to his upbringing.

    Nadupoi says she was involved in an affair with Mbaru in 2017 from which she conceived and bore the minor on 10th July 2018.

    She says Mbaru then instructed Eric Murimi Kaburu to be a putative father to the minor and was supposed to remit Ksh 50,000 every month as child support but has failed to do so.

    Nadupoi further says she filed a case in the children’s court but the matter was mysteriously closed before it was even heard.

    She said her advocates wrote a demand letter to Mbaru in July 2022 regarding child support but the accused ignored it.

    She wants Mbaru compelled to comply with his parental responsibilities saying he is an astute businessman who runs businesses worth billions of shillings and is therefore able to support the child without difficulty.

  • Drama As Former MP William Chepkut’s Wife Moves To Court To Stop His Burial

    Drama As Former MP William Chepkut’s Wife Moves To Court To Stop His Burial

    The wife to former Ainabkoi Member of Parliament William Chepkut has moved to court seeking to stop the burial slated for October 18.

    Milkah Chepkut, in an application filed at the Milimani Law Courts accuses the siblings of the late MP of sidelining her in the ongoing funeral arrangements.

    The mother of two who has been the legal wife for 24 years since 1998 now fears for the future of her two children, after most of their property was allegedly taken by the siblings of the late Ainabkoi member of parliament William Chepkut.

    She wants the court to intervene and issue orders restraining Lee Funeral Home from releasing the body of Chepkut to the relatives for burial.

    “That having locked out the applicant from the burial arrangements of her late husband, the applicant has a well-founded apprehension that if the deceased is buried without involving her, her children and herself will not be able to give  the last respect to their father due to the current hostility emanating from the 1st – 5th Defendants/Respondents,” She said in the application filed by her lawyer

    “The applicant is apprehensive that this are plans to disinherit her from the estate of the deceased,” she adds

    Despite seeking legal redress, the widow of the late Chepkut fears that this might be overtaken with events since the burial is slated for 18th of October.

    The wife says the family has been using the police to intimidate them since she has been arrested multiple times.

  • Lobby Group Seek To Have KURA Senior Director Investigated Over Questionable Wealth

    Lobby Group Seek To Have KURA Senior Director Investigated Over Questionable Wealth

    This year August, Michael Ajwang, a junior procurement employee earning a Sh21,000 monthly salary, allegedly acquired 11 vehicles, nine parcels of land and a 3-Star hotel in Kisumu County.

    The Anti-corruption court ruled that the properties be frozen for six months to allow investigation into the miraculous bloated bank accounts of Ajwang.

    Ajwang’s case is among hundreds of graft cases of junior and senior employees in public service acquiring massive unexplained wealth through dubious means. Money laundering tactics.

    In a letter dated 10/10/2022, the lobby group reports on the claims of secret operation by Kenya Rural Roads Development Young Director Wilfred Oginga who accusing him of having been mincing millions of shillings at the parastatal.

    The lobby group seeks involvement of EACC and Assets Recovery Agency to inveatigate Wilfred Oginga who has been in secret operation looting public funds and sponsoring politicians for tender deals.

    Part of the letter reads, “The source of lavish lifestyle of Wildred Oginga is a matter of concern and raises eyebrows as it is against the odds considering his salary renumeration. Oginga owns a corner house located in Kuwida upmarket Nairobi Karen area which during its construction, a Chinese firm was involved. Oginga has another house in Syokimau Machakos county which was also constructed by the same very Chinese firm with H Young which is doing multibillion road tender contracts with Kura. Documents attached”

    Part of the letter shows how Oginga launders his ill-gotten wealth, tender kickbacks through accounts operated by Luton hospital located on China Centre along Ngong road, Nairobi. A move aimed at tax evasion and that there’s a plan to open its branches and satellite ones across the country to streamline the risk of taxman KRA capture and also broaden the money laundering scheme.

    “Oginga uses a microfinance institution by the name Koba Capital to also launder and hide millions of shillings in the pretence of offering loans to its members. “We have information that Oginga and his associates at Homabay county during the regime of Governor Cyprian Awiti had construction firms operated by proxies who landed lucrative tenders and payments made affront but had projects stalled midway.” Koba Capital CEO is Richard Odak Odak.

    Apart from Koba being a microfinance, it also offers services in financing business SMEs, vehicles, education, property and road construction. As a result, payments and kickbacks made in favor of Oginga allied proxy firms are done in pretext of servicing loans for road construction advanced to seal loopholes. In our investigation we found out that Oginga he was extremely involved in the hotly contested Homabay gubernatorial race. He threw his weight behind Gladys Wanga who won and his wife believes they are a thing. Had Raila Odinga won the elections, his friends knew he was going to be tbe next Kura Director General as he boasted of his close relationship and blood relationship with the Ogingas.

    Part of the letter questions validity of road tenders that were awarded in his home county; Adiedo-Otaro-Wagwe worth 25million without due process. Oginga is a man on a tight rope as the lobby group is seeking to move to court should EACC and Assets and Recovery Agency fail to act.

  • Will Russia Use Nuclear Weapons? Putin’s Warnings Explained

    Will Russia Use Nuclear Weapons? Putin’s Warnings Explained

    (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin, who rules the world’s biggest nuclear power, has repeatedly cautioned the West that any attack on Russia could provoke a nuclear response.

    Will Putin use nuclear weapons, how many such weapons does he command and how might the United States and the U.S.-led NATO military alliance respond?

    WILL PUTIN GO NUCLEAR?

    Much depends on how Putin perceives the threat to the Russian state and his rule.

    Putin casts the war in Ukraine as an existential battle between Russia and the West, which he says wants to destroy Russia and grab control its vast natural resources.

    Putin warned the West he was not bluffingwhen he said he’d be ready to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia. Some analysts say Putin is bluffing but Washington is taking Putin seriously.

    By claiming 18% of Ukraine as part of Russia, the room for nuclear threats increases as Putin could cast any attack on these territories as an attack on Russia itself.

    Russia’s nuclear doctrine allows for a nuclear strike after “aggression against the Russian Federation with conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is threatened”.

    Many Russians live in Ukrainian territory that Putin has proclaimed as Russian, and breaking the post-World War Two nuclear taboo would not necessarily change the tactical situation on the ground.

    “He is bluffing right now,” said Yuri Fyodorov, a military analyst based in Prague. “But what will happen in a week or a month from now is difficult to say – when he understands the war is lost.”

    Asked if Putin was moving towards a nuclear attack, CIA Director William Burns told CBS: “We have to take very seriously his kind of threats given everything that’s at stake.”

    Burns, though, said U.S. intelligence had no “practical evidence” that Putin was moving towards using tactical nuclear weapons imminently.

    WHAT NUCLEAR WEAPONS COULD BE USED?

    No Russian official has called for a strategic nuclear weapons strike with the weapons that were designed to destroy cities in the United States, Russia, Europe and Asia.

    Ramzan Kadyrov, head of Russia’s Chechnya region, said Moscow should consider using a low-yield tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine.

    Russian President Putin declares the start of training launches of ballistic missiles as part of a strategic deterrence force exercise, in Moscow
    Russian President Vladimir Putin declares the start of training launches of ballistic missiles as part of a strategic deterrence force exercise, in Moscow, Russia February 19, 2022. Sputnik/Aleksey Nikolskyi/Kremlin via REUTERS

    Tactical nuclear weapons are essentially nuclear weapons used on the battlefield for a “tactical” purpose and which are much less powerful than the big bombs that would be needed to destroy large cities such as Moscow, Washington or London.

    Such weapons can be dropped from planes, fired on missiles from the ground, ships or submarines, or detonated by ground forces.

    Although Russia has specialised nuclear forces trained to fight in such an apocalyptic battlefield, it is unclear how its army of regular troops, mercenaries, drafted reservists and local militias would cope.

    WHAT WOULD THE UNITED STATES DO?

    As the dominant global superpower, the United States would in effect decide the response to any Russian nuclear strike.

    Russia and the United States control 90% of the world’s nuclear warheads. Their arsenals were built up during the Cold War, and the Soviet Union bequeathed its nuclear assets to modern Russia.

    U.S. President Joe Biden’s option would include a non-military response, responding with another nuclear strike that would risk escalation, and responding with a conventional attack that could involve Washington in a direct war with Moscow.

    U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Washington had warned Moscow of specific “catastrophic consequences” if it used nuclear arms.

    Retired General and former CIA chief David Petraeus said that if Moscow used nuclear weapons, then the United States and its NATO allies would destroy Russian troops and equipment in Ukraine – and sink its entire Black Sea fleet.

    Putin reminded Washington that only the United States had so far used nuclear weapons in battle – in the 1945 attacks on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

    WHO HAS THE MOST NUCLEAR WEAPONS?

    Russia is the world’s biggest nuclear power based on the number of nuclear warheads: it has 5,977 warheads while the United States has 5,428, according to the Federation of American Scientists.

    Those figures include stockpiled and retired warheads, but both Moscow and Washington have enough firepower to destroy the world many times over.

    Russia has 1,458 strategic nuclear warheads deployed – or ready to fire – and the United States has 1,389 deployed, according to the latest publicly declared data. These warheads are on intercontinental ballistic missiles, ballistic missiles on submarines and strategic bombers.

    When it comes to tactical nuclear weapons, Russia has about 10 times the number the United States has. Around half of the 200 U.S. tactical nuclear weapons are deployed at bases in Europe.

    The U.S. tactical nuclear weapons have adjustable yields of 0.3 to 170 kilotons (the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima was equivalent to about 15 kilotons of dynamite).

  • Auction Of Luxury Cars: How This Is Elaborate Scheme For Tax Evasion

    Auction Of Luxury Cars: How This Is Elaborate Scheme For Tax Evasion

    Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is set to auction hundreds of luxury motor vehicles and other assorted goods imported by traders and individuals who failed to pay tax.

    The goods have overstayed at the Mombasa Port, and KRA says it will put them under the hammer should the owners fail to pay the required tax within 30 days.

    This may appear as a big loss to the owners however, behind the scenes, this has been a mart trend by car buyers to evade the ballooned taxes by KRA. The ploy involves abandoning cargo and later buying the same during auctions.

    The strategy, according to those closely involved, has seen importers faced with heavy customs duty and demurrage charges get away with billions of shillings in taxes, with some officials at the port of entry involved in the deal.

    LOOPHOLES

    Others are said to under-declare the goods before abandoning them, only to buy them back during the sale using different identities.

    This deepens the tax bleeding in the scheme, which may be among the largest loopholes at the country’s entry point.

    The scheme involves importation of cargo with no intention to clear, but wait for them to be listed for auction and buy them at a price lower than the duty that was outstanding in the first place.

    HIGH-END BRANDS

    In the scheme, some importers ship one half of pairs of shoes before abandoning them to be auctioned as useless commodity.

    They then buy them at the auction before making another shipment of the other half of the pairs and matching them at a godown effectively evading tax.

    The vehicles listed in the auction include high-end brands such as Range Rovers, Toyota Land Cruisers and BMW X5s, signalling the tax value the unscrupulous traders may evade.

    When traders import the cars and end up getting slapped with higher taxes they simply leave them at the port, find away with the auction officials and get same car without the sweat of paying taxes. KRA for instant would ask for Sh6M in taxes, they let the car go up on auction and buy it at Sh2M which could be the car’s initial price.

    So in the upcoming auctioning, it’s likely that the same owners already in sync with the ports cartels have already purchased the units or through their proxies which would mean this is a formality exercise. KRA is able to follow this trail that is if they’re serious about cracking down on this tax evading cartel. This can be done simply by doing a background check on the buyers and following the money trail.

  • First Community Bank Hit With Panic Withdrawals

    First Community Bank Hit With Panic Withdrawals

    First Community Bank (FCB) one of the leading Islamic banks in Kenya has been battling the horror of banking, panic withdrawals from customers following malicious rumors from what we gather allegedly emanated from former employees.

    The rumors were further accelerated by the news from US that the feds were going after Sh30B stolen from the Covid funds and indicated to have been laundered into Kenya through banks and real estate agencies.

    The Bank immediately experienced unusual behavior as customers believed the rumors and rushed to withdraw their money out the fear of losing their savings.

    https://twitter.com/yussufmwinyi/status/1573230750329339910?s=46&t=RotPs10W3DjzOlYG4BnXVQ

     

    In a swift move, the bank confirmed the existence of the claims and immediately issued a press statement aimed at calming the distressed customers.

     

    Despite the assurances given, over two weeks into the crisis, customers continue to air their frustrations on social media pointing at a major problem with the bank. Many are complaining that the bank has capped their withdrawals in what can be read as a strategy to avoid a possible bank run.

    CBK the body responsible for streamlining the banking system and cushioning customers is yet to  issue a public statement on the matter perhaps playing safe to avoid further pushing the panic button. In the past, panic withdrawals led to ultimate fall of Chase Bank and with this in mind, many are not willing to second guess.

    First Community Bank has also been put on spot by its client for breach of contract and charging interest against Islamic Financing Agreement,(Musharaka).

    The Bank was also controversially mentioned in the  KEMSA millionaires scandal where one of its alleged shareholders Halakhe Waqo brokered a Sh350M deal.

    Faced with claims that the bank was facing liquidity crunch, they dismissed it. Most of inquiries on social media have gone unanswered as a check on their Twitter account shows they stopped tweeting on 22nd September.

    As the bank fights for its life, the biggest challenge will be how they’ll be able to regain customer’s confidence even after this crisis. Ultimately, the silence from governing body CBK is concerning.

  • Video: Mombasa Cement Implicated In Land Grabbing Scandal

    Video: Mombasa Cement Implicated In Land Grabbing Scandal

    Locals around coastal region led by “Concerned Citizen” human rights activist Bradley Ouna have protested against the alleged land grabbing by Mombasa Cement Company.  

    The group has raised an alarm over the alleged grabbing of a road reserve around Mombasa’s Railway’s roundabout. 

    “We are calling on the county government of Mombasa, the National Land Commission, and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate how that section of the road reserve was allocated to Mombasa Cement,” claimed Ouna. 

    Ouna expressed realisation and in support of Mombasa Cement Company’s initiative to feed the poor, however, the group remains adamant and in disagreement on how the situation to award the cement firm the shed which they argue is sitting on a road reserve. 

    The activists have threatened to mobilise the public and bring down the structure in a week’s time, should the cement company not act accordingly. 

    However, Mombasa Cement Company has rejected the allegations claiming that it lawfully purchased the parcel of property. 

    The site was formerly owned by General Tyres, according to Samir Baloo, a Mombasa Cement employee and Tudor Ward MCA staffer. 

    According to the MCA, Mombasa Cement had been using the land for a program to provide free meals to citizens of Mombasa, but the location has remained blocked owing to COVID-19, and the food programs are now being held at Kibarani.

  • Why Forces Want KURA DG Eng Kinoti Thrown Out

    Why Forces Want KURA DG Eng Kinoti Thrown Out

    In the wake of new administration, silenced voices at Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) have come out with the hopes that this time their cries against the Director General Engineer Silas Kinoti will be heard and acted upon.

    KURA is one of the most corrupt state agencies who in the past regime was marred with bribery scandals and luckily the scales of investigations didn’t scale up to the most seniors whom are suspected to be the greatest beneficiaries in the now common percentage kickbacks that has seen many of junior staff busted for unexplainable wealth.

    Eng. was controversially appointed to the DG position by transport CS James Macharia despite opposition from insiders that he lacked the integrity of holding such a high office. At the time, many said he was a conduit for Macharia to loot the agency.

    Macharia is currently one of the Uhuru regime CSs who’re on anti corruption scouts with suspicions that he amassed billions from several contracts in the ministries he ran. He’s fondly referred to be one of the four million dollar millionaires in Uhuru’s cabinet.

    Before his appointment in June 2020, Kinoti had been acting as KURA Director-General since September 2015.

    He joined the authority in 2009 as Manager (Roads) and was later promoted to General Manager (Planning and Environment).

    At the time, Kinoti, was accused by critics of helping cartels in the transport sector benefit from state projects through procurement malpractice and irregular contracts.

    During his reign, KURA has been accused of giving tenders to cronies, then later advertise as a formality.

    KURA is accused of having favoured a construction firm identified as Stecol Corporation to do Ksh19 billion works in Nairobi, Kajiado and Kiambu counties.

    The firm was involved in the upgrading of Outering Road. It has also been mentioned in the construction of a bridge at AllSops that will join Outering Road and Thika Superhighway.

    Stecol Corporation is also said to have been awarded most of the contracts in the regeneration of roads in Nairobi Eastlands.

    Earlier this year, frustrated insiders wrote to EACC seeking for investigations into tender documents claiming that fraud was taking place. At center stage were accusations that one Judy Mose described as having close relations with the DG was meddling in tender awarding and that they read a hand of the DG in the manipulation.

    Judy a junior clerical officer was so powerful that it one point she confronted an Engineer Mwangi the Urban Roads Planning and Design for awarding a Sh14.2M tender pref KURA/RMLF/CE/056/2020-2021 for the Periodic Maintenance of Lot 7 Roads Nanyuki/Sweet Waters Road /Ngoro/ Theru/ Nanyuki Road in Nanyuki Municipality to Kaboi Building Contractors Ltd on October 12, 2020, to her chagrin as she had planned to have it awarded to a firm believed to be associated with her.

    Judy is said to be a sister of Reuben Mayienda, KURA’s Director for Corporate Services who also doubles as the agency’s Head of Finance. Her academic credentials have been questioned.

    A forensic audit by Financial Reporting Center (FRC) is said to have revealed a number of financial irregularities in the agency that is supposed to provide and manage quality, safe, and adequate urban road network.

    The FRC dossier says that on February 20 2020, the Mandera bank account started receiving funds from the county government. So far, the same bank account suspected to be Judy’s has received funds from KURA. On November 19 2020, for instance, the account received four cheques totalling KShs 7.6 million. Three withdrawals of KShs 980,500, KShs 945,000, and KShs 950,000 were made immediately after the funds were paid. The report says that the account holder would later transfer KShs3million to her account.

    It was also during Kinoti’s reign that two online journalists were abducted and tortured by officers from the Special Crimes Unit over an expose that detailed and uncovered alleged corruption at Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KURA). The expose unmasked various stalled road construction projects in the Nairobi metropolitan area granted to a company connected to an MP from Mandera County.

    The details of the story published involved the dirty tenders awarded by KURA. Banisa MP Kulow Maalim is at the center of the tender scandal with further accusations of failing to meet the tender requirements.

    At the core of the scandal was deputy director supply chain management at KURA Mrs Sadia Haji Adam khalifa.

    Reports indicate that Mrs Sadia Haji Adam khalifa awarded contracts to a company belonging to Abdisirat Khalif Ali without following the strict guidelines of the tender requirements by KURA.

    Abdisirat Khalif Ali is a very close friend to Maalim hence they reportedly manage the company, Tasha Holdings Limited together and get tenders from KURA. The MP’s link to the company has however been kept anonymous.

    Additionally, the engineer assigned the project reportedly does very shoddy work and is well protected and is not held accountable.

    Critics are saying Engineer Kinoti has not been able to stop massive corruption in the agency and mostly that he was a conduit to the now scandal ridden CS Macharia and want him out. He’s deemed not to be inline with President Ruto’s footage of fighting corruption in parastatals. He’s a Macharia stooge.