Author: Francis Muli

Seven officials of the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) have been arrested over a Sh660 million scandal involving the procurement of hydrant valves. General Manager (Finance) Samuel Owuor was among those arrested today by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives in a sting operation conducted to unravel massive corruption that has hit the organisation. The sleuths are looking for six others, including former Managing Director Charles Tanui. According to EACC, the tender was inflated by more than 1,000 per cent, making it one of the biggest scandals at KPC. Read: Hudson Andambi Replaces Joe Sang At The Helm Of KPC This comes a…

Kenyans can now pay for products they buy from the global market in Amazon using Kenyan currency, Amazon has said. The firm says that the in the new development, shoppers will not be required to pay extra money in conversion fees. “You don’t need to worry about credit card charges or hidden bank fees. Western Union doesn’t charge you for payment. Plus Amazon PayCode shows you clearly how much Kenyan Shillings are needed to make the purchase,” says Amazon in a statement on their website. After shopping on the platform,in order to pay using Kenyan currency, shoppers during checkout will have to…

The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) has lost over 87.9 hectares to private developers and grabbers. In the saga, more than 119 title deeds have been issued to the cartels, without the knowledge of the National Land Commission (NLC). “There are two kinds of people we are dealing with: some inside the airport who got the titles just before JKIA got theirs, and others who were creating titles on top of the JKIA title,” NLC vice chairperson Abigael Mbagaya said, adding that they are preparing to revoke the title deeds. According to NLC, most of the grabbed land sits on designated site…

Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) sleuths have arrested five National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) officials in Kisumu and Eldoret alongside an Assistant Chief and a trader over the Ksh5.6 maize scandal. Among those arrested include Renson Kibet Korir, a silo manager in Eldoret, Omutsani Omwayi who is the deputy silo Manager in Kisumu, Laban Momanyi who works as a cashier in Kisumu, Thomas Sang, an extension officer in Soi. David Korir, an Assistant Chief at Sinonim and Rodney Kimutai,  a trader have been arrested in the operation. The six are believed to be involved Ksh5.6 billion in questionable payments for…

Former National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) CEO Geoffrey Mwangi and ex-finance manager Simon Kirgotty and the Web Tribe directors have been released on a Ksh3 million bond or Ksh2 million bail. They have also been ordered to deposit their passports in court as part of the terms of the bond terms. All the other accused who were charged will each deposit Ksh1 million bail. Webtribe, which trades as Jambo Pay, has also been charged as a company but was allowed access to NHIF after court told the revenue system it manages would collapse if the firm is shut out. Mwangi was…

Homa bay Speaker Elizabeth Ayoo will continue carrying on her duties until the matter is heard and determined, the court has ruled. Ms Ayoo was impeached by the Members of County Assembly last month, accusing her of mistreatment, frequent adjournments among other reasons. This follows an earlier order by the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Kisumu reinstating Ms Ayoo as the Speaker. “I therefore extend the interim orders of 16th October 2018 and therefore order the petitioner to be reinstated as Speaker pending hearing and determination of the case,” ruled Judge Nduma Nderi. Ayoo has been accusing the MCAs of impeaching…

The National Youth Service (NYS) scandal has taken a new twist after it emerged that most suspects withdrew their graft proceeds before the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) obtained court orders to freeze the accounts. One of them, James Thuita Nderitu, believed to be among the prime beneficiaries of the scandal made away with more than Ksh1.5 billion, even as ARA gave Kenyans false hope of recovering the whole amount stolen through his companies. By the time ARA froze 10 accounts belonging to Flagstone Merchants, Excella, Firstling and Interscope, firms associated with Nderitu and his wife Yvonne Wanjiku Ngugi, they were holding Ksh33.8 million…

When you meet him at his reception office at the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), you would brush him off as any other ‘poor’ reception in the country. However, he is not the type of a man who would queue for public transport, neither is he the kind of man who would be stressed over rent at the end of the month like other ordinary Kenyans. Behind the smiley ‘humble’ face of Fredrick Sagwe is a millionaire who has had a taste of good life, be it top of the range cars or houses. Among his fleet of cars includes to…

Nakuru Railways Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Ms Beatrice Nyaga was on Friday roughed up by irate mechanics within Nakuru town following an eviction row. According to media reports, the OCS in the company of other officers had gone to enforce a court order that directed the mechanics to vacate a premise where they had been operating from. It is reported that a businesswoman who had leased the space moved to court and obtained a court order that ordered eviction of the mechanics from the premises with immediate effect. The mechanics could not hear of any eviction notice and decided to…

Solicitor General Ken Ogeto has revealed that Kenya wants former International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo investigated by an independent, impartial and neutral body. Ogeto, who is representing Kenya in at the 17th session of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to the Rome Statute at the ICC in The Hague, The Netherlands, says that all ICC officers who handled the case of the infamous ‘Ocampo six’ should be investigated on how they handled the case. Ocampo has been on the spot after suspects in the collapsed cases accused him and his officers of coaching witnesses to make up evidence against…

Former nominated Senator, Joy Gwendo has been sentenced to two and half years in prison over fraud. Ms Gwendo was apprehended in January by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives over stealing and issuing a cheque of Ksh2.2 million that bounced, belonging to  Kisumu East Cotton Growers Cooperative Society between October and December 2016. In August,  Gwendo pleaded guilty to abuse of office charges and theft of Kshh2.2 million. It was reported that she entered a plea bargain with DPP Noordin Haji to pay the full amount of money amounting to Ksh3 million in four installments, but seemingly she has been unable to raise…

The outdoing Kenya Pipeline Corporation (KPC) managing director Joe Sang has been arrested by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) in connection to the ongoing graft probe in the firm. Sleuths camped in the manger’s home this morning, while other five managers in the firm were arrested at night. Among those arrested include the General Manager, Supply Chain Vincent Cheruiyot, Gloria Khafafa and general manager in charge of infrastructure Billy Aseka. Ms Khafafa is said to have been hired fraudulently, without papers. Sang has been at the centre of graft allegations in which the company lost over 23 million litres of…

Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa has responded to ODM’s recommendation for expulsion of Msambweni MP Suleiman Dori and herself from the party over disloyalty allegations. In a statement, Jumwa says that the plot to oust the two from the party has been crafted by a politician from the coast region who has declared interest in the 2022 Presidential race. “We are aware the push to have Hon. Aisha Jumwa and Hon. Suleiman Dori kicked out of the party is being crafted and pushed and pursued by a leader in a neighboring County who has declared interest in the Presidency and sees any…

NIC Group PLC and Commercial Bank of Africa Limited have announced commencement of discussions regarding a potential merger of the two entities. In a joint statement to newsrooms, the two financial institutions have said that subject to approvals from shareholders of the two entities and regulatory authorities the two will form one financial institution. “It is the view of the two Boards that the potential merger would bring together the best in class retail and corporate banks with strong potential for growth in all aspects of banking and wealth management. A combined entity would create a complementary base of over 38…

Kenya Airways (KQ) has reduced the number of direct flights on the newly launched New York route from the current seven to five a week effective January 15, 2019. The five flights will be on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday every week, according to statement from the carrier. “Kenya Airways has today announced that it is adjusting the schedule for its Nairobi – New York route to 5 flights in a week effective 15th January 2019. Currently, the airline is flying this route daily,” read the statement in part. Kahawa Tungu learns that this is just the beginning as executives…