Author: Francis Muli

Details have emerged roping in Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) chairman John Ngumi to be among the clique of cartels hiding Ksh5 trillion in off-shore accounts. According to sources, Ngumi is hiding over Ksh2 billion (from KPC alone) in off-shore accounts owned by his shell companies. The money is believed to have been from kickbacks in the fraudulent tenders issued under his watch. Most of the KPC tenders were awarded fraudulently to a Chinese company, ZIC International. Having facilitated the award, Ngumi had to get his kickbacks, but it was supposed to be kept a top secret. Ngumi had to keep…

Civilian firearm holders will be issued with new identification cards that will be fitted with chips that will contain the personal details of holders. This was announced today by Interior CS Fred Matiang’i who said that all licenced gun holders have up to March 18 to acquire special identification cards. Matiang’i was speaking in Mombasa during a meeting with regional coordinators, regional police commanders, county commissioners and county police commanders from across the country. The CS said that the move is aimed at curbing the issue of unaccounted firearms in the wrong hands. “We collect a lot of cartridges but are not able to…

Following earlier allegations of mistreatment and underpayment of workers at Del Monte, it has emerged that the company fired at least 1,000 employees this January. According to those in the know, the sacked workers did not receive a send-off package in accordance with labour laws that require compensation of workers in case they are fired without notice. The company went ahead and contracted a third party company(Pewa Roma) to be maintaining their vast pineapple fields. “This company(headed by Chege & Ndung’u) has taken advantage of the situation and pays Ksh14 per one line where chances are that one can probably complete 10…

Online taxi drivers have cited cases of mistreatment and harassment by Nairobi City County askaris especially at night. According to drivers who spoke to Kahawa Tungu following several cases of mistreatment, the askaris who are in plain clothes start their ‘operation’ at 10pm. The drivers reveal that the askaris move around in the city and if they find any online taxi driver they ask if its uber. Upon response, they faorce themselves inside the car. If the drivers ask for job IDs, it is an invite for trouble for them “They beat you up and all of a sudden their seniors…

The government of Uganda has banned sports betting, issuing orders that no new sports betting company should be registered. Also, the existing companies will not have their licences renewed upon expiry. The government said that it took the step after discovering that the companies were “diverting the attention of youth from hard work”. “We have received a directive from President Museveni to stop licensing sports betting, gaming and gambling companies. The President has now directed the board which has been regulating them. From now onwards, no new companies are going to be licensed. Those which are already registered, no renewal…

Fly540 has halted its Dar es Salaam route following reduced number of passengers. The carrier which has been experiencing several accidents has halted the route barely two years after launch. The firm has been losing grip over the last few years, following escalated number of accidents, with passengers vowing never to use it after escaping death by a whisker in most accidents which go unreported in the mainstream media. On December 29, 2018, close to 50 passengers on board a Fly540 plane escaped death by a whisker after one wheel of the plane they were boarding came off during touch…

Police have released photos of suspects believed to be linked to the Dusit D2 terror attack on the 14 Riverside complex that left 21 people dead. The police have warned the public against the nine, who are said to be armed and dangerous and are believed to be radicalized Kenyans. They include Violet Kemunto alias Khadija, Dido Mohamed Fugicha alias Dingdong, Hussein Adan Hussein alias Etto, Gadaffi alias Munene, Abdi Ali Kachora, Ramathan Wario Bonaya alias Rasho, Boru Abdi Bidu, Omari and one unnamed middle aged man. Read: All Terrorists Felled At Dusit D2 14 Riverside Attack – Photos Dido Mohamed…

Petrol stations in Maralal town, Samburu County, have reportedly closed down in protest against the reduction of fuel prices by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). According to media reports, the owners close down during the day and open at night, selling fuel at exorbitant prices of between Ksh200 and Ksh300 for petrol and diesel. According to the ERC fuel price guideline, a litre of petrol should cost Ksh108.61 while diesel should cost Ksh106.81. “Motorists are buying fuel at less than Sh 110 per litre in places like Nyahururu and Rumuruti in Laikipia County which is our neighbor but here at Samburu…

Workers at Del Monte could be a frustrated lot after details emerged that the company has reduced wages for its workers to Ksh15 a row of pineapple harvesting. According to Ellen van Gemert, a former Customer Service at Goedhart Keukens en Tegels in Netherlands, who knows about the developments, workers at the company are forced to earn Ksh15 per row of pineapple harvesting. The luckiest of the workers can do only four rows a day, translating to Ksh60 a day. “Well done Delmonte Kenya and contractors. Great job of lowering the wages of the fieldworkers far below a minimum. Even without NHIF. Earning Kshs…

Blogger Abraham Mutai was on Saturday evening blocked by President Uhuru Kenyatta following a move by the blogger to criticise Mr Kenyatta’s leadership. Mr Mutai, an ardent supporter of the Jubilee government and a defender of Machakos governor Dr Alfred Mutua found himself on the wrong side, following his highly opinionated tweets on President Kenyatta’s leadership. Following the block, Mutai vowed to engage a lawyer for a way forward. “This is completely UNACCEPTABLE and a clear show of intolerance to criticism and it is in itself discriminatory. It is also UNCONSTITUTIONAL. I’m speaking to a lawyer right away,” he tweeted.…

52 Al-shabaab militants were killed in Somalia after a deadly air strike by US forces less than a week after the terrorist attack in Nairobi. According to a statement from US Africa Command, the militants had attacked the Somali Armed Forces in Bulogagdud military base, forcing the US to intervene after a heavy gunfire. “US Africa Command conducted the airstrike in response to an attack by a large group of Al-Shabaab militants against Somali National Army Forces. We currently assess this airstrike killed fifty-two militants,” read the statement. The Somali is said to have lost eight soldiers in the battle.…

The Jubilee Party has announced that it will not field parliamentary candidates in Ugenya and Embakasi South Constituencies by-elections. In a statement signed by Jubilee Party Secretary General Raphael Tuju, the party said that they had reached the decision after considering the ‘main parties’ and looking at the ‘bigger picture. “The Jubilee Party leadership has decided that the Party shall not be fielding candidates for the forthcoming Parliamentary By- elections in Ugenya and Embakasi South Constituencies. This is in the spirit of furthering the steps of constructive engagements with the other main parties engaged in the contest and with an…

The government of Zimbabwe early today imposed internet shutdown over intensified protests against the increase of fuel prices. The violence rose on Monday after President Emmerson Mnangagwa raised fuel prices by 150 percent. The cost of a gallon of gas now costs almost $13 (Ksh1,300). Zimbabwe becomes the most expensive in the world in terms of fuel. A litre of diesel now costs $3.11 per (Ksh316.29) and and $3.33 (Ksh338.66) per liter of petrol. So far, the government reports that three people have died during confrontations with the police. However, Lawyers and activists say the toll was much higher and that…

In Kenya, private security guard have to carry arm licences in case they carry firearms, and is the same case in most countries. However, very few, especially in public places are licensed to carry arms. The licenses require regular refresher courses in gun safety and shooting to ensure that the person carrying is up to date and safe. However, most of the guards, for instance in Kenya, are not trained in basic firearm handling, let alone the idea of possessing them. It was reported that the government had approved a proposal to have private guards armed on condition that the Private…

Dusit D2 luxury hotel which came under attack during the 14 Riverside Drive attack has announced that they lost four of their employees, while three are recuperating at hospital. This was announced by the hotel general manager Michael Metaxas  while addressing journalists in a Nairobi hotel. “From the 100 employees that were on duty during this tragic event; we can confirm that four have unfortunately lost their lives and three are admitted to hospital and receiving treatment,” said Metaxas. The 14 Riverside Complex and Dusit D2 hotel are currently closed until further notice. Metaxas said that the hotel will give…