Author: Francis Muli

Samuel Githaiga Kiambati, a man at the centre of a Ksh2 billion fake gold scam will be arraigned today following his arrest on Friday, May 21, 2021. Kiambati is reported to have obtained over Ksh29.8 million from an unsuspecting victim in a fake gold deal. According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Githaiga had in 2016 approached his target with appeals to facilitate the said gold business, with promises that the amount of money realized from the sale of gold (approximated at Ksh2 billion) would be channeled towards supporting projects of various branches of a renown Pentecostal church. “Special…

The government has announced that the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) plant in Athi River, Machakos County will resume full operation today. The plant has been undergoing a facelift since it was handed over to the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in September 2020, after years of loss-making. “From the beginning, we knew the takeover and revamp was not our usual task. We also knew from the start that failure was not an option. The strategic guidance to Defence ministry was to revamp operations and production with the objective of ensuring the commission’s survival,” said Defence Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma. The Commission…

Murang’a governor Mwangi wa Iria has become the third Gema community governor to reject National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi’s coronation as the region’s spokesman. Wa Iria’s rejection towards Muturi follows that of Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru her Nakuru counterpart Lee Kinyanjui. “On behalf of Kikuyus we say he is not our spokesman. He is not the spokesman for Murang’a people. I have spoken to Nakuru governor and he is against it. I have spoken to governor (Anne) Waiguru, and she has (also) said no,” said Wa Iria. On Saturday, May 22, 2021, governor Kinyanjui termed Muturi’s coronation as political “gimmicks”…

Out of the 750 SMEs that applied for “Mbele na Biz” initiative by World Bank, 203 have received full funding, ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru has said. In a tweet on Sunday, Mucheru said that 348 SMEs have been cleared for payment, with 197 going through verification and two payments bouncing. “I agree, it has been a painful process. My sincere apologies. I Am informed, clearing processes will be completed next week,” said Mucheru. Mucheru said that for the 197 to be cleared; the bank account details and the IDs must reconcile to prevent payments from bouncing back and being…

The body of Somali-American businessman Bashir Mohammed has been found at Kerugoya Level 5 Hospital morgue with two bullet wounds. Mohammed went missing on May 13, moments after visiting Miale Restaurant. Family lawyer Charles Madowo has requested privacy as the family “process the tragic news and plan for burial.” “It is with heavy hearts that the family of Bashir Mohamed Mohamud informs you that the body of Bashir was found earlier on today at Kerugoya Level 5 Hospital,” said Mr Madowo. “Even as Bashir rests, the family shall not rest until justice has been served and those responsible brought to…

The Directorate of Criminal Investigation has launched an investigation into the death of a 15 year old girl at her home in kilimani. According to the sleuths, the 15 year old girl was fatally assaulted by her parents and brother after they accused her of running away from home. The three suspects have since been arrested pending the investigation of the incident that occurred on Thursday night. “The three suspects have been placed in custody at Kilimani Police Station,” the DCI said on Saturday, May 22. Read: Detectives Probing Lucky Summer Incident Where Bullets Were Found Stashed in A House…

Radio Jambo presenter, Joseph Gidi Ogigi popularly known as Gidi Gidi will not be attending his daughter, Marie-Rose’s birthday after he was involuntarily forced to give up his seat on an Air France plane and go back home. “What Marie-Rose doesn’t know is that I won’t be seeing her. I was bumped out of the Wednesday night flight to Paris,” the musician wrote on social media. Gidi, who was to travel from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport was denied entry upon getting to the plane’s boarding gate. He explained that the incident occurred due to a hitch with the new…

Last month, we got information that WhatsApp was working on an update that would allow users to transfer their chats from Android to iOS and vice versa. WABetaInfo, a site dedicated to combing through WhatsApp features has now revealed that the facebook-owned messaging app could soon let users transfer messages to a different phone number. Currently,  users can transfer their messages if they have the same phone number and an device using the same operating system as their previous. The cross OS transfer is currently in testing as the company mulls allowing users to transfer their chats across different phone…

TV47 has emerged among the big boys in the TV industry in the just concluded Kuza Awards, scooping four awards, beating some of the oldest TV stations in the country. TV47 won the Compliance Award Commercial FTA TV and was the first runners up in the Upcoming Broadcaster Award TV and Copyright Award TV categories. The station, which is considered as being in the upcoming category, also won the Uzalendo Award, which was awarded to all licenced and working broadcasters. TV 47 is owned by Cape Media, a firm established by Mt Kenya University founder Prof. Simon Gicharu. The Local…

Safaricom Foundation has set aside Ksh100 million for its Ndoto Zetu initiative which calls upon Kenyans to partner with the Foundation by having their community dreams and aspirations brought to life. Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa made the announcement at Shadrack Kimalel Secondary School in Kibra where he officially opened a Ksh5.4 million science laboratory and ablution block constructed and equipped by the Safaricom Foundation. “Ndoto Zetu is our initiative to partner with Kenyans keen to make a difference in their communities through social investments. Each dream we bring to life translates to thousands of lives impacted and transformed. This year…

Taxi- hailing service, Bolt has reviewed its prices upwards following the increase in fuel prices in the country. The company’s budget ride option, Bolt lite, will now charge Sh26.90 per kilometre, up from the Sh25 for the same distance. Drivers registered on the Bolt app had protested that despite the increase in fuel prices, the low fares had persisted, resulting in low commissions for the car owners. “We acknowledge the huge financial burden on the customers and drivers with respect to the increased fuel prices in the country. Our pricing has always been informed by market forces and driver earnings,”…

The government is set to launch a National Film Fund that will help boost the local film industry through financial and tax credits, rebates and other incentives. The fund will be managed through the National Film Policy, which is in its final stages of formulation according to Principal Secretary in the State Department of Broadcasting and Telecommunications Esther Koimett. Koimett spoke during the 2021 edition of the Kuza Awards, where she insisted the importance of clean content in the media industry. “The Policy also seeks to enhance and encourage public private partnerships in film development. I wish to assure you…

The MultiChoice Group and the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) have joined in the Africa Day celebrations with the Colours of Africa film series. The series will feature 16 films that were shot and directed by the MTF Academy’s Class of 2020. Viewers will enjoy films from East, West and Southern Africa brought to life by the talent honed at the MTF Academy. “ We are proud to honour Africa Day by celebrating the work of the MTF Academies’ Class of 2020.,” says Yolisa Phahle, MultiChoice Group CEO of General Entertainment & Connected Video. From the East African Academy: Egna (Ethiopia), Rebirth…

The government is set to drop the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in favour of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine from US. According to Health CS Mutah Kagwe, AstraZeneca has not been able to supply enough doses following the sponsorship worth Ksh390 million through the COVAX facility. Speaking during the Annual Commonwealth Health Ministries Meeting, Kagwe said that the government had set aside her own resources to procure an additional 10 million doses. This was to be added to the 24 million doses that were to be received through the COVAX facility. “Kenya was to receive 24 million doses of…

Showmax first-ever Nigerian original series, ‘I Am LAYCON’, is coming to  DStv and GOtv. Multichoice Nigeria announced that the series will start running from the 22nd of May 2021. I Am LAYCON follows the life of Big Brother Naija 6 winner, Olamilekan Agbeleshe a.k.a. Laycon, as he chases his music career after the BBNaija House and settles into a life of stardom. The series will showcase his life and his relationship with family and friends, with cameos from fellow Big Brother Naija Lockdown housemates, Lilo Aderogba and Victoria “Vee” Adeyele. Laycon beat 19 other housemates on 27 September 2020 to emerge…