Author: Francis Muli

Kitui governor Charity Ngilu is on the spot for allegedly orchestrating a multi-million scandal involving her son-in-law John Oduor and EDN George Diesel Ltd company. According to documents in our possession, Ngilu’s administration awarded a stone crusher project to EDN George Diesel Ltd in May 2018, in what looked like a noble project aimed at helping residents. However, Kahawa Tungu learns that EDN, owned by George Mungai and Nancy Wachira, was awarded the tender under the condition that they would open a new bank account with Sidian Bank that would accommodate Mr Oduor as a mandatory signatory to the account.…

Maasai Mara University Vice-Chancellor Prof Mary Walingo has been sent on compulsory leave following an exposé by Citizen TV that implicated her in graft. Prof Walingo has been replaced in an acting capacity by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) in charge of Academic Affairs, as she (Walingo) heads to a compulsory leave. Prof Walingo, the school finance officer Anaclet Okumu and Walingo’s driver Abdi Noor Hassan are accused of embezzling over Ksh190 million belonging to the institution. Read: DCI Question Maasai Mara University Vice-Chancellor For Five Hours Over Ksh190 MIllion Scandal The exposé dubbed ‘The Mara Heist’ showed how the VC siphoned…

Tycoon Jaswant Rai’s bid to freeze the sale of cash strapped Athi River Mining Company to National Cement Company has flopped, following a rejection by the company’s administrator PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) of their bank guarantee. Rai and his associates had placed a Ksh1.3 billion bank guarantee ordered by the court to stop the sale, where the National Cement Company owned by Narendra Raval had offered Ksh5 billion. Former CEO Pradeep Paunrana moved to court saying that the company (ARM) had been undervalued in the Ksh5 billion buyout deal. Read: Ksh5 Billion ARM Takeover Bid Halted As Former CEO Moves To Court…

Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya has announced that the famous Nyayo Tea Zone will be cleared in the ongoing efforts to reclaim Mau Forest. Speaking in Nakuru, Natembeya said that the tea estate had encroached the forest around Olpusimoru forest, hence it would not be spared in the restoration efforts by the government. “There is this issue of the Nyayo Tea Zone, with people talking about the cutline and boundaries. Now the position is that [zone]was planted when there was a lot of encroachment on Olpusimoru forest, a national government forest,” said Natembeya. The tea estate was planted during…

Star witness in Dennis Itumbi forgery case who withdrew following alleged death threats from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Samuel Gateri has been arrested. Gateri withdrew from the case early this month, citing death threats from the DCI, who wanted him to implicate Deputy President William Ruto. Kahawa Tungu learns that Mr Gateri was arrested today when he met his lawyer to file a constitutional application to protest his illegal confinement two months ago. He also wanted the DCI to release his documents like the identification card, driving licence and phones. Gateri was arrested at Sagret Hotel by DCI…

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is hunting down Ms Jane Wawira Mugo, an alleged serial criminal. Ms Mugo is wanted for various criminal activities including robbery with violence, impersonation and murder threats. In a tweet, the DCI indicated that a warrant of arrest to that effect was issued by Milimani  Law Courts. The suspect who claims to be a Private Investigator and the CEO for Trimo Security Limited has been charged with various offences since 2015. In 2015, she was accused and charged with detaining a man for hours after forcing him to pay Ksh440,000 to her. Read: Senior…

When Dr Esther Mbaabu, a tutor at Meru Teachers College, dropped Ksh60,000 at  Nice Digital Hotel in Meru, the least she expected was getting the money back. Unknown to Dr Esther, the money was collected by a waiter, Ms Eva Karendi, a 23-year-old born again Christian who decided to keep the money with the hotel management until the owner was found. Dr Esther had met her husband in the hotel last week where she accidentally dropped the money, which she says was meant for orphaned children she supports. “My husband and I had a meal at Nice Digital Hotel and…

Barack Ochieng Aluoch, a man accused of stealing NTV news anchor Ken Mijungu’s car, has been released on a Ksh500,000 bail. Aluoch allegedly conspired with others to steal the Toyota Prado VX valued at Ksh5.6 million on June 13 at 9:40pm outside Nation Centre on Kimathi Street, Nairobi. He was arrested on August 9, but did not take plea until today when he pleaded not guilty before Nairobi Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi, who gave him an alternative of release on a Ksh1,000,000 bond. When the car got lost outside Nation Centre, Mijungu took to Twitter to plead with the public…

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has announced changes at the management level, amid leadership wrangles that has seen newly appointed acting director general Mercy Wanjau fight to command authority. In a public notice published in the dailies, in what looks like stamping authority at the helm, Ms Wanjau redeployed Mr Christopher Kemei  from the department of Licensing, Compliance and Standards to the department of Universal Service Fund (USF) as the director. Mr Matano Ndaro, currently the director in charge of Competition, Tarrifs and Market Analysis has been redeployed as director Licensing, Compliance and Standards  while Mr Maxwell Mosoti, currently…

Jubilee Party candidate for the Kibra by-election McDonald Mariga has been disqualified from the race after his name was found missing from the voter register. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) said Tuesday evening that they cannot accept McDonald Mariga’s candidature because his details are missing in the voters’ register of 2017. Following the announcement, Lang’ata MP Nickson Korir said they are going to appeal the decision at the party’s tribunal. Read: Mariga, Imran Ready To Face Off As Parties Issue Kibra Nomination Certificates Mariga was handed nomination certificate today by the party to battle it out against ODM…

The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) has proposed the establishment of a recovery board at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE). The board will be mandated to protect investors from losses in case the firms they have invested in are crumbling, or are engaged in illegal activities. “In order to enhance investor protection, the Exchange (NSE) and the Authority are jointly proposing the establishment of a Recovery Board at the Exchange on which securities of an issuer who is technically insolvent, non-compliant with any other listing obligation or whose operations are being conducted in a manner that is prejudicial to the interest…

The Kenya Airports Authority has announced permanent closure of a private road at the south most end of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). The road was opened during construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), but KAA says that it has outlived its purpose  since construction of the line is complete. “The private road was open for use following a request by Kenya Railways during the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). The construction of this section of the SGR is complete and the road is no longer required,” said KAA in a statement. Read: CMA Warns Women Against…

200 staffers at the Choppies Supermarket have been sacked following last week’s announcement that the troubled retailer is set to exit the Kenyan market. The 200 have already been handed termination letters and are serving a one month notice, awaiting to leave in September. However, during the notice period, the workers will not be required to report to work, but will be paid the month’s dues plus one month salary in lieu. “This termination is due to the reduced business which has been running for several months which you are aware of, and the company is unable to sustain the…

Dar-es-Salaam Provincial Commissioner Paul Makonda has given permission to religious leaders to preach at bars and entertainment joints so that people can hear the word of God, lest they say they missed out in the ‘end time’. Announcing the move, the regional commissioner issued a warning to club owners who will block the men of cloth that stern action will be taken against them. In the East Africa region, preachers who wish to speak to revelers do so at the discretion of club owners, or the revelers themselves. Read: Tanzania Music Regulatory Body Speaks Out After Ezekiel Mutua Restricted ‘Tetema’…

Kenyan-American rapper Barak Jacuzzi is now the talk of the town after a lady ‘busted’ him in the backstage after he snubbed her severally. In the undated video, the lady is heard shouting at the rapper, who had apparently switched off his phone to conceal ‘crucial evidence’ of the alleged relationship. “How many times have I been pregnant for you Barak?” says the yet to be identified lady, to Jacuzzi who is apparently being prepared for a performance. “Nimeshika mimba yake mara ngapi…mara tatu. Weka simu on niwaonyeshe. Mbona anajifanya hanijui? (He has impregnated me three times. Put on the…