Author: Francis Muli

A total of  2,063 medical practitioners and 212 dental practitioners have been de-registered by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Board over eligibility issues. According to the Board, the practitioners failed to comply with Section 13 and 14 of the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act. “Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Act, the Board may, if it is satisfied that it is in the public interest to do so, confer upon any person who is not otherwise eligible to be registered as a medical practitioner or as a dentist under the provisions of this Act, by the issue,…

Twitter has announced the suspension of over 100,000 accounts that were recreated after last year’s purge that saw several personalities locked out of the mini-blogging platform. Among the accounts suspended include the handle @guru001, that was suspected to have belonged to renowned blogger Cyprian Nyakundi. “Previously, we only reviewed potentially abusive Tweets if they were reported to us. We know that’s not acceptable, so earlier this year we made it a priority to take a proactive approach to abuse in addition to relying on people’s reports,” said Twitter. In last year’s purge, several people lost a good number of followers…

Kenyans should brace themselves for tougher times ahead, as maize flour prices keep soaring every week, even as drought and famine continue to bite. A two-kg packet of Jogoo brand is now retailing at Ksh117 from Ksh109 last week, reflecting a 30 percent increase in just two weeks. A fortnight ago, the packet was retailing at an average of Ksh90. Soko brand from Capwell Millers is now retailing at Ksh120, from an average of Ksh85 in last two weeks. The rise in prices has been attributed to the sharp rise of maize prices, where the price of a 90 kilogramme…

The hurdle for government’s housing fund levy is yet to be removed, as the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) battles its implementation. In a statement, FKE said that court orders suspending the implementation of the levy is still on, up to the May 20, 2019 when the case will come up again for mention. “The Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) attended Court on April 8, 2019 for the further mention of this case and obtained an extension of the Court Orders suspending the implementation of the Housing Levy up to the 20th of May 2019 when the case will come…

Telkom has introduced a cloud-based fixed voice service dubbed “Omniconnect”, that targets SMEs and the corporate world. The service powered by technology company Avaya, besides making and receiving calls, will also offer other features such as conference calls and the ability to integrate with email and the mobile phone. According to Telkom, businesses can also flexibly upgrade or scale down the service, in line with changing needs and technology trends. “This solution will free corporates and SMEs to focus on their core businesses, without being bogged down by the cost of acquiring, running and maintaining this system. This is the…

The dry spell is here to stay, as the Kenya meteorological department has said that there will be no long rains this year. The acting Deputy Director of Kenya Meteorological Department Bernard Chanzu blamed the failed rains on climate change. “The bigger picture about prolonged dry spell which means a drought is foreseeable is growing increasingly clear,” said Chanzu. According to the weatherman’s data, there will be no drop of rain in May, a month where rains pour in plenty to mark the climax of the long rains season. This comes at a time the country is grappling with drought…

130 pilots left Kenya Airways (KQ) to Middle East airlines in just one year for greener pastures, the Kenya Airline Pilots Association (KALPA) has said. The departure of the 130 pilots leaves the carrier with 430 pilots, a deficit of 200 pilots according to KALPA. This puts to question reports by KQ that its pilots are the best paid in Africa. KQ CEO Sebastian Mokosz said a better chunk of the national carrier’s income goes to pilots’ pockets. According to the association’s secretary general Mureithi Nyaga, the financial woes facing KQ cannot be attributed to pilots’ pay, but instead are…

Sleuths from the Directorate of Criminal investigations (DCI) have this morning recovered millions of fake US Dollars, Zambian Kwachas and over 100 kilograms of fake gold nuggets along Kiboko/Mukoma Road in Nairobi. Four foreigners-one Congolese, two Tanzanians, one Nigerian and four Kenyans have been arrested and will be charged in court today. Among those arrested include Ruhota Kabagale (Congolese), Manson Chogga Mtassi (Tanzanian), Chukunosho Francis Ogbuanu (Nigerian) and Konie Kalist (Tanzanian). Kenyans arrested include Boniface Mtwasi Anjere, Robert Riagah, Arthur Caleb Otieno and Michael Omondi Okengo. Read: Detectives Bust 50Kg Of Fake Gold In Kilimani, Six People Arrested This comes…

The government has announced that the housing levy fund has come to effect, for both employees and employers. In a public notice published in the local dailies, the ministry of transport, infrastructure, housing, urban development and public works in conjunction with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) said that both the employer and the employee shall each contribute 1.5 percent of the employee’s monthly basic salary. This is in line with the Finance Act 2018, where the total amount contributed shall not exceed Ksh5,000. “The employers are required to deduct and remit the levy together with other statutory levies from both…

In January this year, Kahawa Tungu revealed how rogue officials at the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) could have siphoned out over half a billion shillings through shady firm, Nightngale company. Seemingly, the Parliamentary Service Commission has found a solace in the company and is using the same company (Nightingale) to siphon Ksh700 million in a fraudulent deal. In the deal, Nightingale was awarded a tender to furnish MPs’ offices after forging documents and most probably promising kickbacks. According to sources, the company submitted irregular bank statements, provided referee companies that were related to it, quoted works it never performed…

City hawkers will be paying a monthly fees of Ksh500 per month to do their business, if a bill seeking to legalise peddling of goods goes through. The Nairobi City County Trade Licensing Bill 2018 underwent its second reading on Wednesday last week, and is awaiting deliberations and a nod from the MCAs. The law also suggests a Ksh30 daily fees for hawkers operatig outside the city. The Ksh500 remains for those operating within the CBD. Those operating from vehicles will have to part with Ksh15,000 for an annual licence while those operating from outside will part with Ksh7,500 for…

Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JKF) Board of Management today held an emergency meeting following Kahawa Tungu’s exposé on managing director Rosemary Barasa. The board members were called on a meeting during the lunch hour today in Naivasha where they were holding a workshop. This desk yesterday exposed how Ms Barasa, 59, has extended his stay at the helm beyond retirement age, and now meting mistreatment upon junior staffers even as the firm sinks in loses. Information we are getting reveals that Barasa is facing several allegations, among them misuse of bursary funds to reward her cronies and kinsmen. Ms Barasa is accused…

The Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK) has launched their National Logistics Hub and the new Posta Cargo Service at their headquarters in industrial area along Machakos Road. The new service seeks to execute clearing and forwarding services for delivery of goods both locally and internationally. “As the Corporation mandated to includes provision of accessible, affordable and reliable Postal Services to all parts of Kenya, they will us their 623 local postal outlets and 192 international destinations to also service EMS courier and parcel services,” read a statement from the state corporation. This National Logistics Hub and Cargo Service was opened…

Despite Kenya Airways (KQ) announcing resumption of daily direct flights to US in June, it is evident that the national carrier cannot sustain the flights. In fact, the airliner will not actually resume the flights, but will use American airliner, Delta Airlines, to advance the agenda, which means that a big chunk of profits will go the firm. The two airlines announced that they had signed a code sharing deal, that would see the plan materialise. A code sharing deal is a commercial arrangement between two airlines, whereby one sells seats on a flight operated by the other. In this…

Angela Mwihaki, a city woman has been accused of being unfaithful to her husband, Joel Gachanja, after sleeping with 35 known men in their four years of marriage. Ms Mwihaki filed a divorce case on February 21, five days after leaving their matrimonial home on February 16. In her divorce case, Ms Mwihaki accused Gachanja of cruelty and irreconcilable differences. “The defendant is a man of pregnant imagination constantly accusing me of cheating and having extramarital affairs. The constant acrimony between the parties mainly caused by unfounded insecurities on the part of the defendant,” says Ms Mwihaki in court papers.…