Author: Francis Muli

There is now ease at the pump after the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) reviewed the price of fuel downwards. In the January 2019 review, the prices of super petrol, diesel and kerosene went down by Ksh9.33, Ksh10.04, and Ksh3.52 respectively. “Taking into account the weighed average cost of imported refined petroleum products, the changes in the maximum allowed petroleum pump prices in Nairobi are as follows: Super Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene decreases by Ksh9.33, Ksh10.04, and Ksh3.52 per litre respectively,” said Robert Pervel Omieke, the ERC director general. This means that in Nairobi Super Petrol will cost Ksh104.21 per litre while Diesel…

The National Super Alliance Coalition (Nasa) has confirmed that it recommended two candidates to Governor Mike Sonko for the Nairobi Deputy Governor position. According to letters addressed to Governor Sonko, the coalition recommended Jane Wangui Muringi for Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party and Rahab Wangui Ndambuki for the Wiper Democratic Movement. The seat fell vacant last year after the then deputy governor Polycarp Igathe resigned to join the corporate world. While addressing journalists in Mombasa, Sonko postponed naming his deputy governor in a bid to “consult with stakeholders before making an announcement which will be made in the next 2-3 weeks.”…

Over 50 people are recuperating at Longisa County Referral Hospital in Bomet after they took poisoned food in a funeral service. Among them are 12 children. It is also reported that over 200 others were treated in their homes in connection to the same, at Tabook Village in Mutarakwa Ward, Bomet. It is reported that the villagers started experiencing stomach pain, diarrhea and vomiting immediately after eating rice and beef in the funeral. County Executive Committee member in charge of medical services and public health Joseph Sitonik said those admitted were in stable condition. Read: Drama Ensues After Kamket, Kamuren Fight Over Microphone “All…

Former Molo Member of Parliament Joseph Kiuna and Dennis Mtai, both of whom are wanted over hate speech remarks, have been ordered to surrender at the nearest police station. Mutai has been trending for the better part of the week over a tweet he made saying that the 2007/8 scenario of post election violence would repeat itself in case President Uhuru Kenyatta ‘betrayed’ Deputy President William Ruto in the Presidential poll. “Our attention has been drawn to some Tweets supposedly issued by a named individual issuing threats to ingnite inter-ethinc clashes akin to what occured in 2007/8 in parts of…

Kenyatta family-owned Commercial Bank of Africa is set to buy out Jamii Bora Bank at an estimated price of Ksh1.4 billion. This comes weeks after CBA announced  takeover of the NIC bank, setting a strong footing in the Kenya’s banking sector. An acquisition of the bank will put total assets of CBA to Ksh457 billion, becoming the third-largest bank in Kenya after Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) and Equity. Currently, KCB has an asset base of ksh684.1 billion while Equity has Ksh560.3 total assets. According to reports, the merger of the three banks will see each concentrate on a certain sector…

Late last year, our investigative desk unearthed cases of covering-up corruption, sexual harassment, bullying and harassment of whistle-blowers and staff in general at the International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa (IPPFA) Region Office in Nairobi. The rot had been reported to the global office under the whistle blowing policy in the organisation, which prompted investigation into the allegations. They complained of misappropriation of funds at the IPPF Africa Region office, cover-up of corruption, sexual harassment and bullying at the work place. However, it was not until nine months later after investigation was done that they got a response from the Central Office.…

Close to 50 passengers on board a Fly540 plane escaped death by a whisker on December 29, 2018 after one wheel of the plane they were boarding came off during touch down at Eldoret International Airport. The operators of the Dash-8 300 plane and the airport authorities have kept mum about the accident, despite having received several complains on the Fly540 planes, which are prone to accidents. It is reported that the pilots in charge of the plane did not notify the control tower operators of any anormally, hence risking a lethal crush in the airport involving other planes. The accident inconvenienced…

Jamii Bora chief executive officer (CEO) Samuel Kimani has called it a day at the bank after seven years of service. His place will be taken by Timothy Kabiru, the Deputy CEO, in an acting capacity when Kimani leaves next month. Kimani will however retain his seat on the board, according to board chairman Richard Kiplagat, who said that Mr Kimani will be available for consultations during the transition period. “He will continue to support the bank through the transition which we expect to be smooth as his successor has been an insider at the bank,” said Mr Kiplagat. Read: World Bank President…

The Jubilee Party Secretary General Raphael Tuju has dismissed speculations that the party is headed to a dead end following a political storm that is threatening the party unity. In a state of the party address today, Tuju says that no party member should be vilified on the basis of their political opinion. “No Kenyan should be vilified, hated, discriminated against on account of their tribe, gender or political persuasion. Jubilee represents every part of our country, every group in our nation and is committed to uniting Kenyans under a shared vision of peace, progress and prosperity Kenyans are ready…

More is resurfacing in the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) scandal with more rot emerging that has been engineered by chairman John Ngumi and PS Andrew Kamau. In June, Ngumi and his accomplices engineered a scandal where Kenya Power paid SIEMENS France Ksh944 million to repair the vandalized underground cable which the same contractor had erected for Ksh1.1 billion. How repairs could take 85 per cent of the initial cost is yet to be explained today, but this desk learns that Ngumi and accomplices wanted to account for deficits which were set to be unearthed by the government auditor. In May,…

The national Bank of Kenya (NBK) is struggling with loan debts amounting to more than Ksh47.1 billion, part of which it might be forced to write off for non-recovery. Ksh4.2 billion bailout money from principal owners has also delayed. At Nairobi Securities Exchange, the share price for the lender has dropped by over 50 per cent, from Ksh9.15 last year to the current Ksh6. Kahawa Tungu has learnt that 70 per cent of the debts (Ksh32.9 billion) are Non-Performing Loans (NPL’s), which could see the bank collapse. But what has led to such a huge loss? Sources within the bank indicate…

Mpesa users will be able to send money from their account, even when they do not have enough or have nothing at all. This is after the telco launched an overdraft facility for its customers dubbed Fuliza or Okoa M-pesa, borrowed from its sister service of Okoa Jahazi that enables users to borrow airtime. Through the new service, the users will be able to borrow as high as Ksh50,000, which attracts an intrest of 0.5 per cent per day. The service was launched in conjunction with the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) and the Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA). In order…

Fanisi Capital, the co-proprietor of Hillcrest International School, have sold it for Ksh2.6 billion to a Dubai-based firm, GEMS Education. This makes a Ksh800 million for Fanisi and Anthony Wahome, who bought the school from Barclays Bank of Kenya and the family of Kenneth Matiba in 2011. The school was facing bankruptcy then. The two were able to turn around the misfortunes of the school, to the current population of 1,000 students. According to a local daily, all the agreements of the takeover have been instituted as the transaction awaits a nod from the regulators to be completed. Fanisi and…

The Kenya National Highways Authority has reshuffled its staffers even as graft allegations against the state body escalate. In the reshuffle, the Director for Road Asset and Corridor Management James Njuguna Gatitu will now head the Policy Strategy and Compliance docket. On the other hand, the Deputy Director (Roads) Mutii Kivoto will lead Road Asset and Corridor Management Directorate. “The changes will ensure that issues of quality assurance are effectively implemented to mitigate on the authority’s risk exposure,” said KeNHA Director-General Peter Mundinia. The body has been on the spotlight for unethical practices, with local contractors accusing the executive of…

Pamela Makotsi Sittoni has been appointed the Executive Editor in charge of Daily Nation even as the Nation Media Group (NMG) undertakes major changes on it editorial board. Ms Sittoni was dispatched from The EastAfrican where she was the managing Editor. The appointment was announced by the newly appointed NMG Editorial Director Mutuma Mathiu, announcing that she will have a primary focus in promoting growth in circulation of the paper. “Pamela first joined the Nation in 1993 and has edited The EastAfrican, among others. She will play a pivotal role in turning around the circulation of the Daily Nation, which will…