Author: Francis Muli

Samburu North, Mwala, Ndaragwa, Mandera East, Dagoretti South, Bondo, Mumias West constituencies cannot account for close to Ksh1 billion allocated to them, the auditor general Edward Ouko has revealed. In a report tabled to parliament last week, Ouko says that the constituencies lack documentation fo the funds allocated from the National Government-Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF). The report reveals that the money was spent on paying fees for students in learning institutions, build classrooms and murram roads, but not backed up with documentation. Millions were also spent on events that are supposed to be financed by the county governments. Samburu North…

Every time the president drives through the city, motorists are treated to sirens and bullied out of the road by the Presidential security. However, were different today when President Uhuru Kenyatta was caught on camera driving himself patiently waiting in the city traffic. The Commander-in-Chief was driving a bulletproof Mercedes G-Wagon to Masai Lodge – Rongai, most probably for his favorite meal, nyama-choma. Read: Fire Razes Down Structures In Gikomba Market The Head of State, in the photo, is seen talking to a certain lady most probably a beggar but it is not yet clear what they are talking about.…

Ruiru-based alcohol brewers Platinum Distillers Limited have been closed over a Ksh14 million tax evasion case. Officers from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) raided the distillery today and arrested four people in connection to the case. The company is accused of paying Ksh383,962 in taxes instead of Ksh14 million. Dr Edward Karanja, the KRA’s head of tax investigations, revealed that the company concealed its imported goods as raw materials for making alcohol in a bid to pay less in taxes. Read: Mathare Hospital Senior Assistant Director Arrested Over Bribery Claims The company is best known for its Ferari Ice brand…

A house gifted to a Nakuru family, whose son thrilled President Uhuru Kenyatta at 3KR barracks in Lanet in 2014, will be handed to another needy family after they rejected it. According to Nakuru North Deputy County Commissioner Mutua Kisilu, they have received a directive to give the home to a more needy family that would appreciate the gift. “We are set to hand over the house to another family after the family which had been gifted turned down the offer terming it as substandard. Plans to have the new family move in are already underway. We were instructed to…

The government is set  to import 11 used trains from Spain, some as old as 25 years, in a Ksh10 billion scheme. A single train will cost the taxpayers between Ksh71 million and Ksh137 million in the deal that has been assented by the cabinet. The trains are set to start arriving in the country as from June, alongside the BRT buses. Reports by the Sunday Nation indicate that deal was brokered in a trip to Barcelona in September 2018 by a team of 11 officials drawn from Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), the World Bank and the ministry led by…

The terror threat could be deep-rooted in government leaders of certain countries, after it emerged that the Iranian Ambassador to Kenya Hadi Farajvand was caught trying to free two terror suspects. The ambassador was trying to set free Iranian nationals Ahmad Abolfathi Mohammed and Sayed Mansour Mousavi, and is said to have already  parted with undisclosed amount of money (bribe). The ambassador is said to have been working with two people who introduced themselves as senior government officials from the ministry of interior security, and could secure the freedom of the two Iranian officers. The two imposters, Mr Wesley Kiptanui…

Police have arrested four women and one man were capture by CCTV cameras breaking into a car in Jambo Hotel in Murang’a. The four are seen driving into the hotel’s parking area in a white Toyota Fielder KCK 693T before inspecting all the cars to check for goodies. They spot a red car, which has several handbags. The man who has a master key gets into work while two women keep watch. The driver of the Toyota reverses ready to leave, as the man opens that red car within seconds and executes his mission. His part is done, as he…

Professor Laban Ayiro has been appointed the fourth Vice-Chancellor of the Daystar University, months after he was rejected at Eldoret-based Moi University. In an internal memo, the university’s council chairman, Prof Henry Thairu said that Prof Ayiro had been picked from a list of 30 candidates who had applied for the position. “The appointment of Prof Ayiro follows a rigorous process which started on December 5, 2018. In January 2019, the council received six potential candidates from a total of 30 applicants interviewed by the human resource consultant, Manpower Limited,” he said on Friday. At Daystar he takes the position…

Pulse Magazine editor Steve Muendo is a man under siege after it emerged that he fabricated an interview for bubbly K24 news anchor Betty Kyalo, to suit current events. In the interview posted today on the Pulse Magazine, Muendo is said to have twisted the interview to suit a story where Ms Kyalo’s ex-husband Denis Okari had a ‘secret’ wedding. Kyalo accuses Muendo of adding comments to the interview about the Okari’s wedding, which she never uttered. “You used an interview I did 7 months ago just to make a story relevant now. How unprofessional and uncouth. Steve Muendo we…

Diamond Trust Bank manager Sophia Njoki Njogu, who was arrested in connection to the Dusit D2 terror attack has been released on a Ksh2 million cash bail. Ms Njogu was also required to deposit two sureties, her ID card, passport and refrain from travelling outside the court’s jurisdiction. She was also required to present herself for interrogation when required by the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU). She was charged with aiding and abetting the Dusit D2 terror attack that left 21 people dead for not reporting suspicious money transactions amounting to Ksh34.7 million that was used to fund the attack. “It…

The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) shall not use the police to hunt down loan defaulters, but shall instead use its own officers. Giving a clarification on the announcement that has not settled well with most graduates, Helb says that it will be particularly  pursuing those who are employed. “Law enforcement means use of people like us; section 15 of the Helb Act sub-section (2) gives the board the mandate to use its own inspectors to pursue those who have intentionally refused to pay back their loans, yet they have jobs,” said Helb CEO Charles Ringera. According to Ringera, the…

The waters are getting murkier for the ‘man of God’ cum business man Bishop David Kariuki Ngare alias Gakuyo of Ekeza Sacco over Ksh2.5 billion owed to investors. The authorities have ordered for the seizure of his assets in a bid to recover Ksh1.5 billion he withdrew from the Sacco’s account to his personal account. This follows an investigation by the Co-operatives ministry which discovered that the Thika-based Calvary Chosen Centre bishop and his wife withdrew Ksh1.5 billion to their personal account. Part of this money was loaned to some members, who are yet to repay. According to government auditors,…

Tea and coffee processing company Sasini has appointed Mr Martin R Ochien’g as the Group managing director, effective from March 1, 2019. Ochien’g replaces Stephen Maina Githiga who resigned last year, two months to the expiry of his tenure. Githiga opted not to renew his tenure at the helm of the company and proceeded on leave for the remainder of his two year contract which expired on December 31, 2018. Group Financial Controller Dr Samuel Kanga Odalo was appointed the managing director in an acting capacity. Ochien’g has previously worked for 3M Healthcare as a medical representative in charge of Western Kenya…

Panic has engulfed Nairobians in several buildings at the Central Business District (CBD), as they are reported to be receiving water contaminated with what is suspected to be sewage. Reports by Business Today, which is based in the CBD indicate that the most affected building are those along Kenyatta Avenue and adjacent areas. “The contamination was flagged yesterday and notices issued in the buildings against using tap water. Some of the buildings affected include I&M, which houses Standard and KTN offices as well as I&M Bank; Postbank, which has Postbank and Ministry of ICT offices, as well as Pioneer House,” reports the…

Heydays for the famous Sunset Hotel in Kisumu are over, even as the government contemplates on converting the facility into a conference centre, or a regional Utalii College. The hotel which has been reeling in debt and financial difficulties has been on the verge of privatisation, the norm to any public facility that is looted dry by cartels. In a u-turn, Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala yesterday informed investor who were eyeing the hotel that it was no longer on sale, as earlier indicated. ”We are thinking of coming up with a big convention centre with a capacity…