Author: Francis Muli

Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) CEO Dr Ezekiel Mutua has announced plans to Venture into politic, to contest for a ‘big seat’. In a tweet that has raised mixed reactions from netizens, Mutua post his preferred photo that he would use in campaign banners and posters. “This photo will one day be on campaign posters and billboards for a very big seat!” he captioned the photo. Read: Tanzania Music Regulatory Body Speaks Out After Ezekiel Mutua Restricted ‘Tetema’ Hit Song Reacting to the post, Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr sarcastically told him that he would also be dancing to Diamond’s…

Cash strapped Choppies Supermarket  has announced plans to leave the Kenyan market, four years after acquiring Ukwala stores for Ksh1 billion. In an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) with its shareholders on Wednesday, the troubled retailer revealed that it had listed its Kenyan assets for sale and has also classified its 12 stores as distressed. “Zambia has a steady performance in a volatile economy, Kenya’s distressed business has been identified for disposal. Tanzania and Mozambique are distressed while Namibia is performing as expected. In Botswana there is steady income flow under difficult trading circumstances, South Africa North West business is distressed…

A 33-year-old man, Job Arwa Omondi, has been arrested by sleuths from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in possession of Ksh2.7 million fake currency. Omondi was arrested in Ngurubani, Mwea East  driving a Mazda Demio with the money hidden in the bonnet of the car. Detectives also confiscated assorted bottles of chemicals believed to be used in processing the fake old Ksh1000 currency notes. Read: One Arrested With Over Ksh200 Million In Fake Foreign Currencies In Kileleshwa “Interrogations ongoing and the suspect (who was also found with a roll of cannabis sativa) to be arraigned on Monday. All exhibits…

Mombasa businessman Abdi Gedi Amin was yesterday arrested in Mombasa over tax evasion amounting to over Ksh1 billion. According to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Mr Amin will be charged with failure to pay taxes, to file returns and giving false information that affects tax liability for two companies and himself. The suspect is reported to own at least seven companies trading as manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers in household commodities including sugar, oils, general goods to transport services. In the companies, he is either a director or used proxies to manage the firms. The offences contravene Section 97(c) as read with…

Reggae DJ Kriss Darlin has been sacked from NTV following his bid to vie for Kibra Constituency seat in the upcoming by-election. The DJ hosted NTV’s weekly Jam Rock reggae, but has now been ‘relieved’ of his duties to allow him concentrate on politics. “Kris has made his decision that he is getting into politics and as per the editorial policy, he left us with no choice but to terminate his contract as the host of the Jam Rock Reggae Show. This decision was mutual between both parties. We wish him well in his future endeavors. He will, however, host…

The first former Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe has died at the age of 95. Mugabe had been hospitalised in Singapore where he had been receiving treatment. His death was announced by the current President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who termed him as an icon of liberation and a pan-Africanist. “It is with the utmost sadness that I announce the passing on of Zimbabwe’s founding father and former President, Cde (comrade) Robert Mugabe. Cde Mugabe was an icon of liberation, a pan-Africanist who dedicated his life to the emancipation and empowerment of his people. His contribution to the history of our nation and…

Senators have bowed to pressure from the executive and the parliament to agree to Ksh316 equitable revenue share to the counties. This comes after a long impasse that threatened to bring down services at the counties, with senators and governors demanding Ksh335 billion. Addressing journalists outside Senate chambers in Nairobi, Senate Majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen said that the move was to ensure that services continued smoothly at the county level. MPs had previously approved the allocation of Ksh316 billion to counties, disagreeing with senators and governors forcing the latter to go to the Supreme Court. Read: Governors Threaten To Shut…

The Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) appointments were made to appease political cronies of some individuals and were centred on tribal politics, a new report by the Uwazi Consortium has revealed. The report lays bare possible illegalities in the BBI, which was formed last year following the March 9 handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga. The handshake was meant to calm political turmoil in the country after a disputed presidential election in 2017. “Due to the opportunistic nature of politics, politicians find it cheaper to mobilize their support bases around ethnicity rather than around social and economic…

Private equity firm Adenia Partners through its special purpose vehicle Sokoni Retail Kenya has inked a deal to acquire majority stake at Quick Mart at an undisclosed amount. The deal will see operations of Quick Mart and Tumaini Self Service merged to float a new retail store that seeks to compete with other established retailers such as Tuskys and Naivas. “Quick Mart and Tumaini Self Service announce that their respective board of directors have authorised the commencement of a merger and business integration of the two companies. This follows the approval by the Competition Authority of Kenya on August 26,”…

The Water Bottlers Association of Kenya (WBAK) estimates that the retail price of bottled water could go up by 80 percent if the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) implements the Excisable Goods Management System (EGMS) for bottled water and non-alcoholic beverages. In a statement, WBAK chairperson Henry Kabogo said that implementation of the system will push SMEs out of business, since it will require them to automate their production which could prove a tall order. Currently, a 20-litre bottle of water is estimated to cost between Ksh250 and Ksh350, but upon implementation of the system the retail price will shoot to…

The Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) has been selecting people to appear before them and give their views, a new report by Uwazi Consortium has revealed. According to the findings of the report, invitations carried out did not encourage meaningful stakeholder participation, casting doubts on the quality of submissions received by the task force. Participants who voluntarily attended the ‘public participation’ were sidelined and more attention given to politically active citizens. “Some participants complained of discrimination where submissions from people known to be active in political party politics, people seeking or holding political positions are given more weight and more time…

The public, especially women, have been warned by the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) against investing with Tess Kariuki and Wanjiru Macharia-owned Women Investing in Entrepreneurship (WIIE) Ltd. In a statement dated September 2, CMA cited discrepancies in the information that appears on the WIIE website as against that which has been submitted to the market regulator. “In a bid to enhance investor protection and the fair treatment of customers, Capital Markets Authority (CMA) has cautioned the public against participating in any capital raising and public offer of shares offered by WIE Limited also operating under the name Women Investing in…

Kenya Airways (KQ) has formally withdrawn its Privately Initiated Investment Proposal (PIIP) intended to take over operations of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). The proposal was submitted to the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), Public-Private Partnership Committee (PPP) and the national treasury in October last year, before it was rejected by MPs in February this year. “The deal seems to only benefit KQ which is a loss-making institution compared to KAA which made a profit of Ksh3.8 billion,” noted Public Investments Committee chairman, Abdullswamad Nassir. Read: Kenya Airports Authority Was Not Involved In JKIA Proposed Takeover – Ouko Instead, the…

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has dispelled reports that they had suspended taxes on bottled water, juices, soda and any other non-alcoholic beverages as earlier reported in sections of the media. In a press statement published on the dailies, KRA says that that they were misquoted, saying that they only postponed the implementation of of Excisable Goods Management System (EGMS). “KRA postponed the implementation of Excisable Goods Management System which is a tool for accounting for excise production and traceability of excisable goods. This is not a tax. Taxes are imposed by law and become effective by way of statute.…

Two Kenyans, Omar Faruk Abdullahi and Abdulhakim Dahir Sheikh want the ouster case against Wajir governor Mohamed Abdi Mahamud revived, but this time through investigative and prosecution agencies. In a letter addressed to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji through their lawyer Wanja & Kirimi Advocates, the two want the governor charged afresh with forgery and procurement of forged documents contrary to section 348 of the Penal Code. The two base their argument on the decisions made by the High Court in 2018 and the dissenting judgement of Chief Justice David Maraga in February 2019, where Mr Mohamud…