Author: Francis Muli

Kenya’s fresh farm food distribution company Twiga Foods is planning to expand to West Africa, after acquiring $30 million (approximately Ksh3 billion) from lenders and investors led by Goldman Sachs. $6.25 million of the funding was received in form of convertible debt and $23.75 million in equity, classified as a Series B round. “This funding enables us to invest in our technology and organization to tackle the inefficiencies in Africa’s domestic food production and distribution ecosystems; a $300bn informal and fragmented market that is estimated to grow to $1trn by 2030. With the support of our investors, we are developing…

Kenya Power has put on notice “unlicensed telecommunication operators” stringing their fibre optic cables onto their distribution poles to offer internet, communication, television and other services to various households and businesses countrywide. In a notice, the electricity distribution company noted that the installations have been causing accidents along roads and in private homes, therefore, endangering public safety and life. “This is to notify these operators that such actions constitute a breach of Kenya Power’s wayleave trace and safety clearances as provided for under the Energy Act, 2019 and as such, the illegal installations should be removed immediately and not later…

A Silverstone aircraft today was forced to make an emergency landing in Eldoret, after it lost its left wheel while taking off in Lodwar. The plane, registration 5Y-NOP Dash 8 300 which was headed to Nairobi was forced to divert to Eldoret International Airport where it was granted emergency landing permission. Authorities are reported to have cordoned off the airport and are not allowing pictures of the aircraft. Yesterday, one of Silverstone’s aircraft hit and damaged another plane at the Wilson Aiport in Nairobi on Sunday morning. Read: Silverstone Air Exposed After Aircraft Collides With East African Air Plane At…

At least 16.4 million loan disbursements have been made in the last seven years, since the first online lending platform was launched in Kenya. According to a survey by Microsave Consulting, the rate of online borrowing has more than doubled in the last two years, with the number of defaulters escalating. Most defaulters are noted to have a loan of less than Ksh1,000 and already blacklisted with the various credit reference bureaus. “Across Kenya, 16.4 million loans have been disbursed digitally since the launch of the first digital credit offering seven years ago. In the past two years alone, the…

Campaigns in the Kibra by-election today turned chaotic after Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi’s car was stoned by rowdy youths. The incidence happened at Kamkunji grounds, where Musalia was addressing residents in support of his party candidate Eliud Owalo. Mudavadi and his team were forced to flee the youths who pelted his car, forcing police to lob teargas canisters. The group is thought to have been sponsored by political rivals, even as political parties and independent candidates move against time to lure residents before the by-election happens on November 7. The race has attracted several candidates, including…

The Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) should recommend a constitutional change from pure presidential system to a pure parliamentary system, National Assembly majority leader Aden Duale has said. In a tweet thread, the vocal Garissa Township MP says that the new system will shift powers from Central Kenya to other communities. “Since independence, Central Kenya has dominated the leadership, and we should spread both political and economic dominance to all the communities to create an all-inclusive and stable nation for future generations,” says Duale. Read: If DP Ruto Becomes President, I Will Retire From Politics – Duale “This will ensure election…

A police officer attached to the Anti-Mugging squad was on Saturday attacked by suspected thugs around Nairobi’s Globe Cinema area, and his Jericho pistol stolen. The officer was on foot patrol around 9pm when the thugs who rode two motorcycles attacked him and took his pistol that had 15 bullets. Nairobi police boss Philip Ndolo confirmed the incidence, saying they had launched a manhunt for the thugs. The officer sustained head and leg injuries and is admitted at a Nairobi hospital. In June, an officer attached at Riruta Police Station was drugged and robbed of his gun in Parklands, Nairobi.…

Police in Ikolomani, Kakamega County are holding a 75-year-old man who was caught defiling a 14-year-old girl in a thicket after giving her Ksh100. The man was arrested on Saturday evening (October 26), and will be arraigned on Monday for committing the act. Mid this month, another Kakamega man was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of defiling a four-year-old girl and infecting her with HIV. Read: Italian Priest’s Defilement Case In Samburu Returns To Haunt Catholic Church After 30 Years The trial court heard that the man came to the minor’s home where he found her…

This week, thousands of African leaders flocked to Russia in the first ever Africa-Russia summit that promised to discuss political and economic relations worth billions of dollars. The summit promises a no-strings attached relations, unlike China and the Western world who seem to exploit African countries for their ‘lack’. However, the leaders seem to be looking elsewhere according to photos poping up online; about the Russian might in weaponry. Weaponry is the second largest export Russia sends to Africa, after food according to Russian President Vladimir Putin who met the over 3,000 delegates from the black continent. Read: Revealed: Details…

582 youths have benefitted from construction starter toolkits from a partnership between KCB Foundation and GIZ’s E4D/SOGA – Employment and Skills for Eastern Africa Programme after undergoing a skills training programme. The toolkits valued at Ksh20 million will enable them to start their individual and group-based microenterprises in the building and construction sectors. The tools are trade-specific for roofing, masonry, tile laying, carpentry, plumbing and pipe-fitting, welding and fabrication and electrical installation. Speaking at an event today where the last batch of 250 youth were presented with the toolkits, KCB Foundation Managing Director Ms Jane Mwangi said the drive is meant…

Mid this month, President Uhuru Kenyatta officially launched the construction of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA)-James Gichuru road Express way project, to be officially named the Nairobi Expressway. The 27Km road, which is set to ease traffic congestion on Mombasa road, will cost at least Ksh65 billion, translating to Ksh2.41 billion per kilometre. The project will be undertaken by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis. The project could be one of the most expensive undertaken by the Jubilee government, with the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line from Mombasa to Nairobi costing at least Ksh765…

Safaricom Board of Directors has today appointed Mr Peter Ndegwa as the company’s Chief Executive Officer effective April 1, 2020. He joins Safaricom from Diageo PLC where he is the Managing Director of Diageo Continental Europe. In his current role, Peter oversees the operations of Diageo PLC in 50 countries in Western and Eastern Europe, Russia, Middle East and North Africa region. He had previously served for seven years as CEO in Guinness Nigeria PLC and Guinness Ghana Breweries PLC. Prior to that, Peter served for eight years across a range of senior Executive Director roles at EABL (a Diageo…

Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed has threatened to sue the Standard newspaper, following reports that the ministry of sports had neglected the National Netball team in South Africa. In the story ran by several media outlets in Kenya, it is alleged that the government failed to pay accommodation fees for the team that was attending Afican Championship, forcing the hotel they were booked in to block them. The team travelled to SA on Thursday last week after the government secured them tickets and visas, but that was the end of support from the sports ministry. Read: Shame As Kenya Women’s…

Brian Khaemba, a magistrate who gave embattled Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu bail while on sick leave has now turned to private practice, and is representing private investigator Jane Mugo. Khaemba is now an employee of Musyoki Mogaka & Co. Advocates, a law firm owned by Dunstan Omari. Yesterday, Khaemba appeared in court to represent Ms Mugo, who wants to be accorded state protection on grounds that her life is in danger. “Our client’s life is in danger as she is afraid of the investigators in the case by the way they are treating her. We urge for the court’s protection…

President Uhuru Kenyatta has nominated Rev Dr Samuel Kobia, 72, as the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) chairperson. Dr Kobia replaces Francis Ole Kaparo, who has been the chairman since 2014, with his tenure at the helm expiring on August 8, 2018. However, President Kenyatta extended Kaparo’s tenure on August 17, by one year. Others appointed as members include Samuel Kona, former Rangwe MP Phillip Okundi, Peris Nyutu, former Madera East MP Abdulaziz Ali Farah, former Nairobi Finance CEC Danvas Makori, Fatuma Tabwara, former Vihiga Woman Rep Dorcas Kedogo. Read: We Are Fine With Traffic Jams, Kenyans Tell Gov’t…