Author: Francis Muli

Missing businessman Dafton Mwitiki was under pressure to deliver on an unspecified deal the day he went missing, his brother Victor Mwitiki has said. Speaking to the Nation, Victor said that his brother went to pick his two children from school on the material day, and was in a haste as he wanted to close on a certain business deal the same day. “First he was agitated after being delayed at a school where he had gone to pick his two children. Secondly, he was agitated because he was under a strict deadline in a certain business deal that he…

The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has recanted a statement it had issued earlier calling for a state of emergency over coronavirus, saying it was issued in error. In another statement yesterday, KHRC said that a state of emergency would be easily be misused and abused by those in power. “KHRC’s statement calling for a state of emergency regarding the coronavirus situation in Kenya was issued in error and before there was full processing and is hereby recalled. In a country like Kenya where executive over-reach is common, and accountability resisted by those in power, a state of emergency would…

Both the Senate and the National Assembly have suspended their sittings for one month as the coronavirus (Covid-19) scare escalates. The National Assembly has adjourned sittings until April 14, while the senate has adjourned for 30 days, meaning they will resume on April 16. This comes at a time the government has confirmed at least four cases in the country, after testing 111 suspected cases. Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on Tuesday confirmed that one more patient tested positive at a private health facility. Read: Kenya Set To Receive Ksh6.2 Billion From World Bank To Fight Coronavirus Several government and…

Kenya ha announced closure of its embassy in France as from Wednesday, March 18 up to March 27 over the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country. So far, at least 148 people have died of coronavirus in France and another over 6,600 infected with the deadly virus. This means that embassies under the jurisidiction of the Kenyan emissary in France Prof Judi Wakhungu such as Holy See, France, Portugal and Serbia will be affected. “During this period (of closure), all consular services, save for emergencies, will be suspended. Services to be affected include issuance of visas and processing of…

Polycarp Igathe has been announced as Equity Group chief commercial officer days after resigning from Vivo Energy on Friday. Igathe was the managing director and CEO of Equity Bank Kenya before resigning to rejoin Vivo Energy where a new role was created to accommodate him. On Friday, Vivo announced that they were parting ways with Igathe, who was working with them as the  Executive Vice President in charge of Sales for Africa. Read: Confusion As IEBC Says Polycarp Igathe Is Still Nairobi Deputy Governor According To Records “We thank Polycarp for his contribution to Vivo Energy and wish him the…

The World Bank has committed Ksh6.2 billion to help the Government of Kenya to respond to Coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country. On top of it, the lender will also grant Kenya Ksh1.4 billion to fight the desert locusts. “The World Bank has committed $60M to help GoK respond to Covid-19: $50M from Covid-19 Financing Facility & $10M from Contingency Emergency Response component of Transforming Health Systems for Universal Care Project,” the lender said in a statement. the statement. This comes just three days after Kenya announced the first case of coronavirus in the country, and hours after two more cases…

The National Transport And Safety Authority (NTSA) has suspended crucial services including collection of logbooks, PSV Badges, Smart driving licence enrollment and collection, Driver Testing and Motor Vehicle Inspection until further notice. This follows the directives of the National Emergency and Response Committee on Coronavirus (COVID-19) that was issued on March 16 following discovery of two more coronavirus cases in the country. NTSA however said that their online services will not be affected. “We will provide a further update on our services within the next 48 hours,” a public notice read in part. Read: Coronavirus: Competition Authority Cracks Whip On…

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations yesterday arrested 23-year-old Elijah Muthui Kitonyo from Mwingi for sharing misleading information about coronnavirus. In a tweet, Kitonyo alleged that he worked at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), and that he knew patient zero who was the first case of coronavirus in the country. He even went ahead and published a phono of the plane she allegedly boarded from Rome, and attached a name  Millicent Musau. Read: List Of What President Uhuru Has Banned Over Coronavirus Fears He has since pulled down the tweet, and tweeted again saying that he does not…

Senate majority leader has urged the government to close schools to avoid rampant spread of the deadly coronavirus in Kenya. In a tweet, Murkomen, who is also the Elgeiyo Marakwet Senator said that schools should be closed as from tomorrow until the authorities prepare well to contain the virus. “Ordinarily, flu spreads fast through Children in School and other social places. It’s my considered opinion that schools should be closed as from tomorrow until the relevant authorities prepare well for better ways of containing #COVID19 in Kenya,” tweeted Murkomen. https://twitter.com/kipmurkomen/status/1239163952304738305 On Friday last week, the government confirmed the first case…

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) ICT director James Muhati has resigned, and could be headed to the Huduma Kenya, it has emerged. Reports reaching Kahawa Tungu intimate that the troubled director has been appointed by the Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender affairs as the Huduma Kenya CEO and the appointment is to be made public in a few days. He will replace the current CEO Mr Dennis Mutuku. His five-year term ends in May, but he has opted to leave early. Following his resignation, his position will be taken up by manager for business systems at the…

The police are investigating a fire incidence at the Metro Plastics Kenya Ltd which happened over the weekend where workers were allegedly locked in. According to reports, one of the workers, probably a supervisor, locked in the workers and left them before the fire broke out. The workers were forced to jump over the walls of the company, and no fatality was reported in the company along Nadume Close off Lunga Lunga Road in Nairobi’s Industrial Area. Few injuries were reported. Read: University of Nairobi Students On Rampage, Set Hostel On Fire – Video Makadara Deputy County Commissioner Fred Ndunga…

Kenya Airforce (KAF) on Saturday March 14 is reported to have deployed a squadron to overfly the Frontier in Mandera County in North Eastern as a show of might after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed snubbed Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta. The Fighter Jets overflew Bula Hawo borderlands and south of the frontier. Mr Ahmed was expected to meet Mr Kenyatta to mediate in the Kenya, Somalia issue but instead, sent his ceremonial President Sahle-Work Zewde last week, who is not averaged with the issues. As a formality, a press statement issued on Thursday March 12 indicated that Mr Kenyatta and…

Steve Mbogos ally Dafton Mwitiki has been missing since Wednesday last week, it has emerged. Mwitiki is reported to have gone missing on Wednesday March 11, and his car, a Land Rover registration number KCK 997C found dumped at Ruiru adjacent to the Recce Squad headquarters. Mwitiki shot to limelight in January last year during the Dusit D2 terror attack when he posed for photos carrying a Derya-Anakon 12 gauge shotgun in the company of controversial politician Steve Mbogo. In April 2019, Dafton Mwitiki traveled for the 2019 IDPA Southern Nationals Pistol Competition held at Space Bona Range in Touwsrivier…

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) was on Friday blocked by the High Court from recovering Ksh9 billion from Keroche Breweries Ltd’s accounts. High Court Judge David Majanja’s came to the rescue of the troubled brewer, giving Keroche temporary reprieve as it figures out its next move. On Friday, KRA froze Keroche’s accounts at Equity Bank and Absa Bank, following a ruling by the Tax Appeals Tribunal (TAT) that allowed the taxman to recover Ksh9 billion in taxes from the brewer. In a letter to Equity Bank, KRA deputy commissioner of Domestic Taxes department Mr Daniel Kagira ordered that the bank…

The adverse effects of the coronavius outbreak are being felt in the trade industry, the latest victim being traders at the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE). On Friday, NSE suspended trading at the bourse after stock prices fell by over 15 percent, following revelations of a coronavirus case in the country. “The NSE wishes to notify market participants, investors, key stakeholders and general public that trading at the NSE was halted on Friday 13, March 2020 at 2:38 p.m as per the provisions of Rule 9.4.1 (ii) of the NSE Equity Trading Rules,” read a statement. Read: KRU Suspends All Rugby…