Author: Francis Muli

State corporations have been ordered to surrender cash balances in their bank accounts to the treasury. This follows a meeting held last week between the Treasury and the parastatal heads, meant to negotiate how much they should surrender in order to reduce government’s cost of borrowing. “It has happened in the past but it has not been targeting all State corporations as it is happening now. It’s only that we want to be more formal how we do it this time round in a more orderly way. If they got surplus money they pay back and that would be taken…

The Kenyan government paid at least Ksh58 millions to Europeans and Indians whose identification documents could not be traced, a new audit report has revealed. According to the report from the office of the auditor general Edward Ouko, the amount is part of Ksh100 million paid to ghost pensioners, some listed as retired colonial officers. The report further reveals that at least Ksh27 million was made to deceased persons. “Payments amounting to Ksh27,378,721 were made to deceased persons. Of this amount, Ksh12,580,674 relate to repeat payments to deceased persons’ accounts even after the money was returned by the receiving bank…

Correctional Services Principal Secretary Zainab Hussein has announced a reshuffle in the prisons department, and given prison bosses seven days to report to new stations. In the reshufle, George Dianga has been transferred from Kamiti Maximum Prison to Kisumu Maximum Prison, Mathews Kimanzi from Thika Main Prison to the Central Regional Coordinator’s office, Horrace Chacha Kiseria from Kisumu Medium to Nairobi West Prison and Mary Muhoro from Kericho Women to Nakuru Women’s Prison. Stephen Ithanzu Mutua has been moved from Garissa Medium to Mwingi Main Prison, Alphone Nkieya from Marsabit Prison to Nyeri Main Prison, Benjamin Boit from Kisii Main…

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to chip in to force the Presidency to discard a list of prisoners that were supposed to be released under the Presidential Pardon. President Uhuru Kenyatta, under the Power of Mercy vested upon him by the constitution, would have released at least 120 prisoners but the exercises was halted following revelations by the DCI that some of them were capital offenders and did not deserve the pardon. “As a law enforcement agency, we have noted with concern that most convicted criminals find their way back to the society where they continue to commit crimes…

Former Nyaribari Masaba MP and Moi era assistant minister Dr Hezron Manduku has passed on. Dr Manduku was admitted at the Nairobi Hospital in the ICU since last week, and lost the battle on Saturday night. Manduku was first elected in 1992, defeating Prof Sam Ongeri. He was appointed assistant minister Foreign Affairs following his success. Read: Traffic Cop Caught On Camera In Eastleigh Asking For Ksh1,500 Bribe (Video) In 1997, he lost to Prof Ongeri before recapturing the seat in 2002. Dr Manduku is a medical doctor who has previously worked at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kakamega Hospital, Meru among…

22 people out of 300 who attended a free cancer screening at Mbagathi and Mama Lucy Hospitals have been diagnosed with cancer. Among them include seven women diagnosed with breast cancer,  one man with prostate cancer, and twelve women with cervical cancer. Two cases were referred for further analysis. According to health officials from the two hospitals, the cases are at manageable stages hence no need for alarm. Read: DPP Noordin Haji Orders Arrest Of Africa Spirits Directors Over Tax Evasion Mama Lucy Medical Superintendent Musa Mohamed said the cases can be stopped from escalating to dangerous levels if relevant…

East Africa Portland Cement company has withdrawn its notice to workers that sought to declare all positions redundant. Managing director Stephen Nthei says that communication on the matter will be issued later, saving staffers from lay-offs which was to see all employee fired by the end of this month. “We wish to bring to your attention that the said notice has been withdrawn,” read the memo signed by acting Managing Director, Stephen Nthei. Read: EAPCC To Sell Idle Land To Offset Ksh15 Billion Capital Deficit Announcing the move in a memo to employees a day ago, Nthei said that the company…

Chinese phone maker Huawei has launched its own Operating System (OS), HarmonyOS or HongMeng in Chinese, after a strained relationship with US, resulting to threats of barring it from accessing Android OS. The first version of the operating system according to AFP will launch later this year in Huawei’s smart screen products, before expanding across a range of smart devices including wearable technology over the next three years. Huawei’s head of consumer business Richard Yu says that the new OS is set to “bring more harmony and convenience to the world”. Read: Huawei P30 Pro Prices Drops to as Low…

MPs now want Kenya Commercial Bank’s (KCB) offer to buy out cash strapped National Bank of Kenya (NBK) suspended, saying that it is exploitative and unfair to Kenyans. According to a report by the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning, the deal undervalues NBK and does not bear the best interest of workers, taxpayers, NBK staff and minority shareholders. NBK is majority owned by National Treasury at 22.5 percent and National Social Security Fund (NSSF) at 48.05 percent shares. Read: Bad Debt Threatens To Bring Down National Bank “Considering submissions by stakeholders, the committee recommends that the…

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has ordered for the arrest and arraignment of nine directors of the Africa Spirits Ltd/ WOW Beverages Ltd to face tax evasion and money laundering charges. In a statement, Haji said that the companies have evaded taxes amounting to Ksh41 billion between 2014 to 2019. Among those set to be arrested include the directors of WOW Beverages Humphrey Kariuki Ndegwa, Robert Thinji Murithi and Stuar Gerald Herd, the directors of Africa Spirits Ltd Peter Njenga Kuria and Geffrey Kaaria Kinoti. Read: Aly Khan Satchu’s TV Show Halted As Insider Trading Scandal Bites On Others…

East African Portland Cement has announced that it is set to fire all its employees, citing an unprecedented cash crunch. The company says that it is making a daily loss of Ksh8 million, painting a bleak future for the Blue Triangle cement manufacturer. “As a result of the restructuring program, all positions in the company will be declared redundant and the employees released. Currently we suffer daily losses of up to Ksh.8 million. In the last three years, the company’s market share has also dropped drastically impacting negatively on sales,” said acting Managing Director Stephen Nthei in a letter to…

Computers that were donated to Kenyan MPs from China were intercepted by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) over suspected bugging, Kahawa Tungu has learnt. According to reports, NIS officials suspected that the computers were to be used as spy tools against the MPs over several projects funded by China that had caused jitters. The Director of Criminal Investigation George Kinoti said that the matter was under scrutiny, and they would divulge more details with time. “The matter is under our jurisdiction to get to the bottom of everything and once we are through, we shall give out full details. We…

Former Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) commissioner general John Njiraini has withdrawn from the race to succeed former National Land Commission chairman Mohammed Swazuri. In a letter addressed to the selection panel, Njiraini said that he had withdrawn to pursue personal interests. “I wish to communicate my decision to withdraw as candidate for the position of Chairperson of the National Land Commission in order to pursue other interests. I wish to thank you and other panel members for having granted me the opportunity to present my ideas on how this important national institution can be transformed through the injection of a…

At least 141 candidates have expressed interest on the position of the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) managing director that was advertised last month. The position was left vacant following the arrest of the then MD Joe Sang, who was charged in connection with the Ksh1.9 billion Kisumu Oil Jetty scandal. Hudson Andambi took over in an acting capacity after the arrest in December 2018. KPC Chairman John Ngumi is a state witness in the case. “KPC offers a competitive remuneration package in line with public service guidelines. The appointment will be for a contractual period of three years, renewable once…

Stock broker Aly Khan Satchu has been dealt another blow after his TV show, The Smart Investor, was halted following his suspension at the stock market. The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) is reported to have sounded a strong warning to Metropol TV, which has been running the show since Satchu was suspended from the market a month ago. CMA sanctioned Satchu from trading or holding any significant office in any listed firms at the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) last month, following reports of insider trading. Read: Key Individuals Involved in the KenolKobil – Kestrel Insider Unmasked Satchu was implicated in…