Author: Francis Muli

Another scandal involving Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) and Southern Engineering (SECO) almost went through, before the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) swang into action and arrested KPC top officials. The well calculated graft scandal, would have cost taxpayers more than Ksh1.5 billion in the upgrade of Kipevu Oil Jetty flow enhancement. Documents in possession of Kahawa Tungu’s investigative desk reveal that the tender for the project was first floated early this year. Upon evaluation only SECO went through Technical Evaluation and therefore qualified for financial opening. Their financial bid was Ksh2.8 billion. This necessitated a re-tender and again only SECO…

Kenya could lose control of her port assets in case she defaults her loans from the Chinese government and Chinese Exim Bank. This was revealed by the government’s Auditor General Edward Ouko who says that the government used the Kenya Ports Authority assets as security to secure loans, but kept it under wraps in their financial statement. In his latest report, Ouko says that the “China Exim bank would become a principle over KPA if Kenya Railways Commission defaults in its obligations and China Exim Bank exercise power over the escrow account security.” “The KPA assets are exposed since in…

The developer of Seefar Apartments John Yang Zeyung is in another tussle with residents of Greatwall Garden Estate, who have not had water in the last five days, Kahawa Tungu can authoritatively report. Zeyung is the developer of the estate, which is in Athi River. In a letter written to the management of the estate, the residents say that the issue has kept recurring, with the management turning a blind eye to it. They say that the water meant for the estate has been diverted to a construction site. “There have been inconsistent supply of water for the last four…

KCB-Mpesa has introduced new features that will allow customers to borrow, repay and borrow again on the same day. In a statement, the Kenya Commercial Bank said that the revamped product is part of its digital banking proposition meant to deliver sustainable growth for the business into the future. “We are continually reimagining digital finance. There is need for us to embrace innovation and digitization beyond our current realm of operations” said KCB Group CEO and MD Mr Joshua Oigara during the relaunch of KCB-M-PESA on Tuesday. The Bank migrated to the new system last month and on board are…

The value of mobile money transactions hit the Ksh2 trillion milestone for the first time, even as mobile penetration shot to the 100 per cent mark, the latest industry sector statistics report shows. The report released today by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) covering July-September 2018 indicates that 730.2 million transactions valued at KSh2.027 trillion were recorded during the period up from 611.3 million transactions valued at KSh1.9 trillion the previous quarter. At the same time, mobile commerce transactions went up by 8.8 per cent to reach 526.9 million valued at Ksh1.5 5 trillion while person-to-person transfers were valued…

Embattled Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) CEO Lily Koros has been appointed the Administrative Secretary at the Health ministry, marking an end of era for her at the helm of the largest referral hospital in the country. Ms Koros was sent parking in March by the Cabinet Secretary for health Sicily Kariuki after a brain surgery was performed on the wrong patient in the hospital. A brain surgery was performed on a patient who had a swelling on the head yet it was scheduled to be conducted to a patient with a blood clot. The doctors discovered that that was the…

Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru alias Mejja Donk has been arrested in Kayole where demolition of houses in Nyama Villa Estate was going on, after demanding eviction notice of the residents. The infuriated legislator arrived at the estate in Kayole where demolitions had begun, and tried to challenge the authorities. It is alleged that the residents were not given notices, despite landlords having been informed but failed to inform the tenants. Read: The Corrupt Will Carry Their Own Cross – President Kenyatta The residents are trying to salvage what they can, even as bulldozers and excavators sneaked their way into the estate…

Graft saga involving National Land Commission (NLC) chairman Muhamad Swazuri, Kenya Railways managing director Athanas Maina and 13 others has taken a new twist after crucial evidence disappeared from NLC offices. The officers were in August charged with corruption involving Ksh221 million compensation for the Standard Gauge Railways project. Swazuri was released on a cash bail of Ksh3.5 million. It is not yet clear whether is was a break-in or an inside job. However, detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) downplayed the loss of the documents, saying that they were not sure whether the evidence lost was involved in…

Opposite Taifa Park in Kisumu stands one of the latest building that houses Skylark furniture shop. To this ‘magnificent’ development, there is a sad story of a family that was deprived of their possession by the Odinga family. The land was previously owned by the late Isaac Onyuro and his family. On the spot where the new building is built, stood an old guest house called Rozy. Onyuro was coerced into ‘selling’ it to Rosemary Odinga, Raila Odinga’s daughter by Ida declaring that Rozy fell in love with the building after seeing her name on it. Onyuro’s wife died during…

Nairobi county has repossessed over 200 public parking slots from grabbers over the last one month, the county government has announced. In an announcement, Nairobi governor Mike Sonko has said that his government is targeting other 50 slots under the control of cartels. “We have no room for land grabbers in Nairobi and my administration will not relent on it’s quest to reclaim grabbed public land in Nairobi as promised during my pre-election campaigns,” warned Sonko. Director for Parking Tom Tinega says that the county government is targeting all public slots in the Central Business District (CBD). Read: Debt, Corruption And…

The State House is believed to be the safest place in the country, and anything from the supreme office is taken for the gospel truth. A call from State House could change your life, for good or for bad. For calls giving you tenders, it is a turning point in your life. However, cons have found a new haven in the State House, stealing millions from unsuspecting Kenyans who want to venture into the lucrative field of ‘tenderpreneurship’. In August, when 700 laptops and three government vehicles were nabbed at a house belonging to Rift valley politician Allan Chesang purpotedly meant…

All is not pretty at the helm of National Bank as executive members of the bank are snitching one another in their dirty dealings at the bank. Latest to be exposed is Reuben Koech, Director Corporate Banking and Joseph Kering, the Chair of Board Credit Committee. The two are said to have engineered loss of billions from the bank, and as if that is not enough, following ‘loaded’ customers of the bank to arm twist them for kickbacks for them to secure loans. In the latest case, which this desk could term as a heist, the two cost the bank a total of…

Family Bank’s Head of Security Joseph King’ori, is expected to plead guilty to six counts of failure to report transactions made by National Youth Service (NYS) scandal suspects. It is reported that this was reached after the bank entered a plea bargain agreement with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji for handling money allegedly looted from NYS. “The accused persons is entering into this plea Agreement and is pleading guilty freely and voluntarily without promise or behalf of any kind,” reads the plea agreement in part. In return, the bank is expected to pay Ksh64.5 million as court fine for…

The East African Portland Cement ha announce the appointment of Mr Edwin Kinyua as the Chairman and director of the company. Mr Kinyua’s appointment took effect of September 20, but the company kept it under wraps only to make an announcement today through the local dailies. He replaces Mr William (Bill) Lay who has served the company as an non-executive chairman since November 2014. “The Board of Directors of the East African Portland Cement PLC is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Edwin M Kinyua, MBS as the chairman and Director of the company with  effect from 20th September,…

Narok County Commissioner George Natembeya has declared a 6pm to 6am curfew in Narok South affecting Ololoipangi, Oloruasi and neighbouring villages in the Sub-county. This follows renewed tribal clashes that have so far left one person dead, 15 injured and over 25 homes destroyed. The ban will also affect all public gatherings even as the government brings more policemen to enforce the curfew and restore law and order. “I want to urge you all to remain indoors between 6pm and 6 am. Nobody should be found outside within those hours,” said Mr Natembeya. Mr Natembeya revealed that General Service Unit and…