Kenya Insights

Author: John Bosco

  • CJ Position Nominee Lady Justice Martha Koome:​ Handpicked – not Qualified.

    CJ Position Nominee Lady Justice Martha Koome:​ Handpicked – not Qualified.

    The journey already seems long – bumpy and rough road for handpicked Lady Justice Martha Koome.

    Her nomination decision bangled with legal controversies and gender sympathy.

    1. The end didn’t justify the means.

    The concluded JSC interview for CJ position candidates position was for the first time interrupted by High Court in the history after 4 petitions filed by citizens over conflict of interest and integrity concerns among some members of the Judicial Service Commission whom they wanted removed from the bench of interviewers.

    High Court ordered for an halt into the Nomination process until the cases are heard and determined. But JSC filed an appeal at the appelate court and whose 3 bench judge: Justice Roselyne Nambuye, Patrick Kiage and Sankale Ole Kantai quashed the High court decision to halt the process and instead greenlighted the process to resume – and also barring High court further from hearing the petition filed pending determination of appeals filed by the Commission JSC and Attorney General. 

    The Court of Appeal in its decision to quash High Court’s judgement termed the authority of the High court to have been under attack adding that the High court should strive to facilitate Obedience and to observance of constitutional bounds and statutory timelines. 

    The court of appeal argued that the right channel of that case petition, was to be presented to National Assembly by way of petition as per Article 251 of the constitution says.

    However much this was the appropriate channel through National Assembly, but Parliamentary sittings was adjourned almost a month ago and the petitioners only legal place of refuge was the Judiciary at that time of crisis. In this case for me, only the High court was fair enough.

    2. Tax Compliance and Wealth Declaration.

    Among the vital requirements for candidates for the CJ position was personal declaration of wealth of both the candidate and the spouse and Tax return compliance so as to prove transparency, integrity. And among the 10 candidates- it was only Court of Appeal President Justice William Ouko who complied as per the requirement by JSC for candidates to produce tax compliance and wealth declaration forms.

    Justice Martha Koome, CJ nominee only produced 2 of the 3 required wealth declaration forms and even failed to submit her spouse’s wealth declaration form as per the requirement for any public officer.

    3. Who chaired the process?

    The law provides for either Chief Justice or Deputy Chief Justice to steer the JSC process and despite DCJ and acting CJ Philomena Mwilu being present in the panel, it was JSC Vice Chairperson Prof Olive Mugenda – an illegality contrary to the law. And this was among the concerns petitioners raised on the credibility of the due process only to be quashed away by court of appeal.

    4. Making public score sheet for each candidate.

    For the sake of acknowledgment of the sovereignty of the the people of Kenya – general public, for the sake of integrity, credibility, faithfulness and fairness of the process and as one of the 3 arms of Government – and many people like Prof Makau Mutua would agree with me that making public score sheet of the candidates only brews public confidence and trust in the process and in the Judiciary.

    It’s unfortunate and unfair that even the candidates themselves don’t receive their own score sheet results to even at least help them self-evaluate themselves. It is such nitty gritties that poke holes in the fine linen of the Justice system.

    Despite some critics surfacing Martha Koome’s 1986 graduation results where she attained PASS results – an illustration of an average public officer for the job of 1st class owners candidates also partially jeopardizes her qualification for the top job in one way or the other but the most important is she passed and graduated.

    5. The cards.

    Judiciary Leadership

    1.Chief Justice – Martha Koome (Meru) (female)

    2. Deputy Chief Justice- Philomena Mwilu (Kamba) (female)

    3. President, Court of Appeal- William Ouko (Luo) (Male)

    4. Chief Registrar Judiciary- Atieno Amadi (Luo) (female)

    5. Principal Judge, High Court of Kenya- Lydia Achode (Luo) (female)

    As a matter of ethnic cards by the deep state ( of which unfortunately still plays a bigger role) that deliberately made Prof ​Olive Mugenda chair the process seems to have not been in favor of the Only over-qualified candidate William Ouko(Luo) being head of the Judiciary when it’s already a Luo the Chief Registrar and at the same time Principal Judge of the High court is already a Luo – not forgetting William Ouko by the time of his candidacy he was the Head of Court of Appeal. So, his nomination would have brewed ethnic Balkanization and so they had to handpick under-qualified Martha Koome instead and of which they failed on gender balance as you can see on the above list.

    JSC Nominee Lady Justice Martha Koome was the only least scandalous candidate amongst them all as other candidates were marinated with controversies and in public domain. Hence the handpicking of her for her ‘faithful’ life and journey.

    In this whole process, the process was coated with illegal dissensions of which justifies that the product- CJ nominee Martha Koome was fixed to be. 

  • Kicking Out Carrefour And Keeping Quickmart Is Ill Advised

    Kicking Out Carrefour And Keeping Quickmart Is Ill Advised

    Different monkeys, same forest.

    When Competition Authority of Kenya first found French and world’s second largest Retailor Carrefour guilty of abuse of power to local suppliers in Kenya and hike of prices last year 2020 and again this year 2021, many Kenyans have had mixed reactions with some suggesting boycotts while some are of the opinion that the retail giant is innocent.

    Initially, Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK)  ordered Carrefour, through its franchise holder Majid al Futtaim’s (MAF), to expunge six items from its supplier contracts that are said to give the store the power to offer ultra-competitive pricing to boost sales and increase market share. The clauses included forcing suppliers to pay a non-refundable fee to do business with it and forcing merchants offering the retail chain goods to provide extra rebates or discounts.

    Carrefour was found to be in breach of the law for forcing suppliers to post their own staff at its outlets at the expense of the suppliers. It was also accused of rejecting goods already delivered. Carrefour was accused of abusing its buyer power and risked a financial penalty equivalent to 10 percent of its gross sales, which stood at Ksh14 billion ($140 million) in 2018, if it failed to review the “offending provisions.”

    Prior to which the retail was already fined Ksh124,767 ($1,247) for exploiting yoghurt supplier, Orchards Limited, and the fine was equivalent to 10 percent of the sales generated from the dairy products supplied by the firm in 2018.

    Buyer Power is the ability of a buyer to obtain terms of supply more favourable than a supplier’s ordinary contractual terms. Carrefour has been accused of using the supplier contract to depress their earnings (suppliers) and gain market advantage through competitive pricing. And in recent tribunal verdict, it has been found ‘guilty’ and been ordered to review contracts of 700 local suppliers within 30 days.

    Since launching its Kenya operations in 2016, the franchise has grown far faster than expected and this seems to have awaken goose bumps of some cartels who want to frustrate the giant to bribe them or kill their local success dream in the country through KRA frustrations of which already happened, Competition Authority of Kenya etc.

    In case of KRA : The owners of Carrefour in November 2019 received various VAA assessments for January 2018 to May 2018. The total was Sh523,009,184. In 2018, KRA introduced value added tax auto assessment system to detect inconsistencies between purchases and sales invoices declared.

    Majid Al Futtaim immediately filed its objection to the tax demand and invited KRA to conduct a physical assessment. Its objection was based on the fact that the implementation of VAA effectively places an obligation on the supermarket to ensure its suppliers declare output VAT and remit the same to KRA, which it said contravenes tax laws.

    Secondly, it said the inconsistency between the input tax claimed by KRA and the output tax declared by the supplier does not necessarily imply noncompliance or tax leakage.

    And since November 15, 2019, KRA has not rendered a decision on the objection raised by the supermarket owners, while the principal tax assessment amounts continue to reflect and accrue interest.

    In January this year 2021, the French retailer Carrefour sued the taxman for rejecting a Sh523 million VAT refund claim over inconsistency with filings from its suppliers under a new digital system.

    Locally, suppliers set a recommended retail price for their products and approach retailers. Retailers then calculate how much profit they would want per item and in the end come up with a shelf price that meets the needs of both parties. Carrefour’s proposal meant that over and above such gains, suppliers were to be paid their dues less this incremental extra rebate with negotiations happening only if sales targets were not met.

    The Paris-based retailer like any other demanded that suppliers pay at least Ksh10,000 ($100) for every new item they launch in the market. This amount was payable for every store where the goods were stocked, a rule that they are accused of being extortionists, but even the government demands non-refundable fee from tender applicants. 

    At first before writing this article, I had a different antagonistic opinion against Carrefour and fully supported how the authorities were fighting them- from the time of racial abuse incident at their Karen hub branch that occured in 2017 and of which after indepth thinking I came to a conclusion that the incidence was just insensitive and the enemies tried to insinuate and take advantage that Carrefour isn’t locally owned and so spread the hatred of racism like every white-foreigner are always racist.

    Mistakes that Carrefour are being accused of are the same and the norm of the competative business. Even world’s largest retailer Walmart has such issues not that they aren’t aware but that’s the game and that’s it. I felt I’d be preaching water and taking wine by castigating Carrefour and supporting frustrations and decisions made by CAK who might be on payroll by likes of Quickmart to kick out the giant out the Kenyan Market.

    Quickmart is no better than all that Carrefour is being accused of. It’s only that they’ve silenced the system but soon the truth will prevail. Currently there is no expensive supermarket compared to Quickmart. Their prices are super-hiked and they’ve strategically managed to open a branch in almost every corner in the country taking advantage of lazy customers. Carrefour is far much cheaper than Quickmart, their goods ever discounted for customers, best service providers so far. 

    I was of the opinion to to encourage Kenyans to boycott Carrefour as that’s the only way they would exit the market even if they went ahead to bribe CAK. In the process, I felt guilt of unfairness without revisiting history – and doing my research – I came to learn of previous similar incident where Africa Richest man Dangote was about to set his cement company in Kenya but later changed his mind not to – after Kenyan authorities demanded Ksh 1.5 billion bribe so as to be given pass and connected the dots to the current situation Carrefour is facing now. Cartels frustrating foreign investors and killing dreams and denying jobless Kenyans opportunities  if they aren’t bribed.

    Carrefour is an international food store giant and has nothing to lose when kicked out from the Kenyan market. It is Kenyans who will loose jobs and forced to buy expensive goods from Quickmart.
    It is the local suppliers who need to up their game and standard to meet the International standards of Carrefour. Let them embrace the change. As the world is embracing Elon Musk’s Tesla – Kenyan authorities want to embrace Turkana’s tuk tuk.

    When these suppliers applied for the tenders, they agreed to the terms and and conditions but when it came to a point of implementing these conditions as suppliers they became overwhelmed and hence many had their contracts terminated.  This is a contract the suppliers knew and they acquainted with full information dealing with international firm who is offering international standards. No more no less.

    I am concerned how the authority keep on frustrating foreign investors with trumped up charges and accusations to reap bribes from them at the expense of Kenyans who have been employed by these investors.

     

    Blowing off someones candle to make yours shine brighter this time will be a mission impossible. We must provide favourable condition for foreign investors in this Country.

    Stay tuned, in my next segment you’ll get to know more about what’s unfolding at Quickmart. Calling a spade a spade not a big spoon.

    The same sun that’s melting the butter of these foreign investors and hardens the eggs of these Quickmart like entities must work the other way round until a fair play ground is leveled up.

  • As Chase Bank Goes On Liquidation, Its Risk Manager Evaded Arrest And Fled To Qatar National Bank

    As Chase Bank Goes On Liquidation, Its Risk Manager Evaded Arrest And Fled To Qatar National Bank

    Disintegrated Chase bank asset liquidation was recently greenlighted and now joins Trade Bank, Postbank Credit Ltd, Kenya Finance Bank, Euro Bank, Prudential Building Society, Trust Bank and Dubai Bank.

    So many times we’ve seen, read and heard all over the news outlets and even experienced  and fell victim in cases of sabotaged banks, banks going into receivership and liquidation of banks. And always those held culpable are usually the Managing Directors, CEOs and etc but what these authorities ignore is the small – rotten fish in the Organogram and how they actually influence the services offered, whether a deal-loan or bond.

    Legally and ethically every deal needs to be authorized by some small fish – “puppets” mandated legally as per their job description so as to try and duplicate every illegal process as legal and such ‘puppets’ are the heads of departments and such “puppet” who I’m focusing on in this article this time is General Risk and Compliance management – Manager and one person of interest walking under the shadow is Michael Kimeu – who is currently the Head of Risk and Compliance Management at the Qatar National Bank and the Chair of Association of Certified Compliance Professionals in Africa (ACCPA).

    His public profile lubricates him , “Michael has over 14 years of experience within the Risk and Compliance sector in Africa. Michael was the Assistant General Manager for Risk Management & Compliance as well as the Head of Risk and Compliance at Chase Bank Kenya Limited. Prior to his role at Chase Bank, Michael served as the Internal Auditor and Treasury Risk Manager respectively at the Co-operative Bank of Kenya. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics & Business Studies from Kenyatta University and a Global Executive MBA from the United States International University.”

    How sweet, right? But hold on!

    After indepth scrutiny and analysis, Kenya insights came to comprehend how he (Michael) was a snake in the grass in the collapse of Chase Bank in 2016 where he was the Risk and compliance general manager and prior to joining Chase bank, he was sacked by Co-operative bank on the grounds that led to the downfall of Chase bank. And with his presence in Qatar National bank, its just a matter of time before it crumbles down with Michael’s.

    Perhaps it’s of  importance to learn a little  about who and what are the roles of a risk manager in an organization or Co-operation before we carry on,..

    The duties under a Risk Management job description include the following:

    1. Designing and implementing an overall risk management process for the organisation, which includes an analysis of the financial impact on the company when risks occur

    2. Performing a risk assessment: Analysing current risks and identifying potential risks that are affecting the company

    3. Performing a risk evaluation: Evaluating the company’s previous handling of risks, and comparing potential risks with criteria set out by the company such as costs and legal requirements

    4. Establishing the level of risk the company are willing to take

    5. Preparing risk management and insurance budgets

    6. Risk reporting tailored to the relevant audience. (Educating the board of directors about the most significant risks to the business; ensuring business heads understand the risks that might affect their departments; ensuring individuals understand their own accountability for individual risks)

    7. Explaining the external risk posed by corporate governance to stakeholders

    8. Creating business continuity plans to limit risks

    9. Implementing health and safety measures, and purchasing insurance

    10. Conducting policy and compliance audits, which will include liaising with internal and external auditors

    11. Maintaining records of insurance policies and claims

    12. Reviewing any new major contracts or internal business proposals

    13. Building risk awareness amongst staff by providing support and training within the company

    From the above mentioned roles and responsibilities, we can agree on how vital Risk and Compliance Manager is. He was the ‘Puppet’ who would have assessed risk and stopped the looting when Makarios Agumbi, his credit counterpart James Mwaura and MD Duncan Kabui operated two ledger and squandered Ksh 6.2 billion, only audit to show they faked to have spent Ksh 7.5 billion when truly they only spent Ksh 1.3 billion.

    On December 30, 2015, a day to closing its books for the financial year, when the bank disbursed Sh1,023,900,000 to Camelia Investment, Coinbrook Holdings, Cleaopatra Holdings and Golden Azure Investment without adequate documentation or securities.

    Risk Manager risking his job to dine with the thieves seems to had been worth it as he pocketed the lions share.

    Despite these fraudsters involvement in cooperate frauds, they still find their way through their cronies to join other co-operations, organization without their track record considered a hindrance  like Daviel Mavindu, who was a senior official at Chase Bank, now chief executive of Rafiki Microfinance, Michael Kimeu now in Qatar National Bank.

    But for Qatar National Bank that has been linked to terrorism funding by the US intelligence, Kimeu fits their portfolio. The bank according to Kenya Insights research, held at least six accounts for the Qatar Charity, which is connected with the Muslim Brotherhood and is designated as a proscribed organisation in some countries for its links to terrorism.

    The bank has been on the spotlight over illegal dealings amounting to money laundering and data breaches which has put it in bad books with the international financial control circles.

    In cases related to money and banks – customer satisfaction, transparency is key or else customers ship out and once they ship out so is the business gone.

    Safety and Security of depositors money is also key and whenever one high ranking employees like Michael whose track record has been marinated with bad conduct  – he fails integrity and trust of the customers.

    Whoever let him secure the position despite his involvment in Chase bank heist, despite his tricks that led him to be sacked from Co-operative bank – has a mission to accomplish in Qatar National Bank and seemingly that’s why Michael was the best candidate fit for his mission.

    Therefore, It’s an Amber alert to fish out characters like Michael before its too late and a free advise to Qatar National Bank customers to take caution given his well documented history.

    Should the fate of Chase Bank befall Qatar’s National Bank, they’ll only have their lack of doing due diligence and hiring a staff whose past is well documented but ignored brushing  the interests of consumers aside.

    Worth noting that Kimeu was also fired from Co-operative Bank a top-tier bank in Kenya where he served at the same capacity as in Qatar National Bank due to his history before being picked up by Chase Bank that consequently collapsed.

    Even more shocking is that apart from currently working at the dubious Qatar National Bank  thats in league with the collapsed Dubai Bank,Kimeu is currently the Chair of Association of Certified Compliance Professionals in Africa (ACCPA) Chapter in Kenya as evidenced by the link. One is simply left flabbergasted and scratching their head on how a professional body could have its Chair a crook that was in the centre of the Chase Bank insider lending scam and was sacked from Chase when it went under. Don’t such professional bodies conduct a background check? Conduct basic due diligence of its committee members or is ACCPA  just a corrupt edifice filled with crooks amongst its ranks?

  • Nation Media Group Shun Women In New Editorial Changes.

    Nation Media Group Shun Women In New Editorial Changes.

    Best illustration of Preaching water and taking wine is Nation Media Group who has been in forefront in championing for Leadership and two-third gender rule through their Nation Leadership Forums. But in recent glimpse on an internal memo sent to its staff on new top changes in editorial department – appointments made has totally shun women off. A middle finger actually.

    The internal memo seen by Kenya insights dated 20/4/2021, a long two page memo had no woman name on it.

    GROUP EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Mutuma Mathiu -“In the ongoing efforts to strengthen our journalism and give effect to Nation.Africa, I am pleased to make the following senior appointments in the Editorial Department:

    1. Africa Editor & GM Editorial, NMG Uganda: Daniel Kalinaki

    Daniel will spearhead our Africa coverage and providemuch-needed leadership for the Group’s expansion into Africa while maintaining his current responsibilities. He reports to the Group Editorial Director on matters Africa. On all other matters, his current reporting line remains unchanged.

    2. Managing Editor, Broadcasting: Joseph Warungu

    The Nation Broadcasting Division is going through a transformation from a traditional broadcast content provider to a digital operation. Joseph is a broadcast journalist of international repute whose knowledge of, and experience covering, Africa has few peers. His contribution to the professional growth and digitisation of our broadcast operations will be invaluable. This role reports to the Group Editorial Director with a dotted line to the Head of Broadcasting.

    3. Managing Editor, The EastAfrican: Jackson Mutinda Munyao

    Mutinda will be charged with re-asserting the Nation’s presence in the region by strengthening The EastAfrican, exploring new products, building new partnerships and overseeing the integration of the brand into the Nation.Africa branded house.

    Mutinda is an old hand at The EastAfrican and comes to office at a time of great promise in the region. He reports to the Group Editorial Director.

    4. Editor, Business Daily: Michael Omondi

    This paper, which has an excellent editorial team, needs to remain true to its mission as an uncompromising champion of business reporting, committed to professional excellence and integrity. Michael understands and personifies the ethos of the Business Daily, and his priority assignment is strengthening content and overseeing the integration of Business Daily into Nation.Africa. He reports to the Group Editorial Director.

    5. Editorial Administration Manager & Managing Editor, Taifas : Peter Ngare

    We will be relying on Peter to help take care of budget, staff welfare, arranging training, among other administrative duties, during this difficult time. He retains his position in Taifa and will combine the two roles. Peter reports to the Group Editorial Director.

    6. Editor, Saturday Nation: Leonard Guchu The weekend papers have a unique flavour which needs to be maintained especially in the current environment of change in the market. Guchu understands the weekend market and will hit the ground running. He also combines production and content skills, an important requirement for this assignment. Guchu reports to the Managing Editor, Weekends. The Enterprise Editor will drive political coverage in the interim.

    7. Regional News Editor, Eldoret: Patrick Langát 

    Langát’s exceptional abilities as a journalist were noticed when he was a correspondent in Kisumu and he has been developed through the Media Lab and other training. He is being promoted to the leadership of a critical station at a delicate time but management has confidence in his ability to navigate the turbulence of politics with integrity and professionalism. Langát reports to the Head of News.”

     

  • UnMasked: KETRACO Thug CEO/MD Fernandes Barasa Plans To Turn Kakamega County Bandit Economy If Elected Governor.

    UnMasked: KETRACO Thug CEO/MD Fernandes Barasa Plans To Turn Kakamega County Bandit Economy If Elected Governor.

    Where the rain started beating CEO and Managing Director of Ketraco Fernandes Barasa.

    An analysis by renowned economist David Ndii showed that as at last year, Ketraco must have lost over Ksh150 billion.

    “Ketraco is a bigger channel of budget plunder than the National Youth Service (NYS) by far. I estimate KSh 150 billion was stolen through transmission lines budget,” Ndii stated in his article titled, “highway robbery and sex toys: Plunder by the numbers”.

    Ketraco scam unearthed by internal auditors in 2018 made the electricity transmission company headed by Barasa become the fourth State body to be rocked by a scandal after the National Youth Service (NYS), Kenya Power and the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC).

    [p/courtesy]
    1. A Ksh14 billion 450-kilometre, 1,500-megawatt Mombasa-Nairobi power line, where there were fraudulent payments of alleged landowners. Detectives uncovered one case in Kisaju, Kajiado County, where a landowner was paid 10 times more than the value of his land, mirroring hundreds of others during the construction of the Mombasa-Nairobi transmission line.

    2. In February 2018, KETRACO penned a contract worth $240M (Ksh24 billion) with China Electric Power Equipment and Technology Company Limited (CET) in the nation’s few attempts to electrify the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).

    The promise was that in 28 months, the works would be complete. Three years down the line, the work of electrifying the SGR did not commence. The whereabouts of the 24billion remains mystery uptodate.

    3. The third project also involved a transmission line. KETRACO Was reported to have misused Ksh6.3 billion for no or shoddy works done.

    According to audit documents seen by Kenya insights KETRACO allowed a contractor to keep 100 per cent of its staff, even when the project had been stopped for 54 months after landowners blocked it, instead of just keeping a skeleton staff until matters had been resolved.

    There were also additional claims due to the contractor’s overheads during the delay.

    4. The fourth scandal hit the Loiyangalani-Suswa power line worth Ksh28.9 billion. The project which had varied estimation of costs from the National Treasury (Ksh36 billion), Ministry of energy (Ksh33 billion) and Ketraco (Ksh30 billion) stalled at some point. The 435-kilometre double circuit transmission line is also rated at 400kV but currently operates at 220kV.

    5. The fifth and the recent money laundry is the award of lucrative contracts to firms that collapsed before completing multibillion- shilling projects. The company was forced to terminate contracts worth Sh25.6 billion awarded to Spanish firms Isolux Corsan, Instalaciones Inabensa, as well as India’s Jyoti Structures.

    This was after they were declared insolvent in their own countries, raising concerns whether due diligence had been carried out by Ketraco. Over time, Ketraco has terminated such contracts, which were later assigned to new firms with fresh terms that subject taxpayers to extra costs.

    For example, Instalaciones Inabensa was awarded a Sh3.6 billion contract for construction of the  Lessos-Tororo transmission line. The project cost has risen to Sh8.2 billion. The contract, which included the extension of a substation at Lessos, was terminated in April 2016 on grounds of non-performance.

    The firm challenged the termination and on February 12 was awarded more than  Sh4 billion for wrongful termination. Taxpayers would thus be forced to part with Sh4.6 billion, attracting 12 per cent interest annually until paid in full.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Ketraco CEO/MD Fernandes Barasa [p/courtesy]
    They say, “If you go to sleep with an itchy anus, be sure to wake up with smelly fingers.” And Professor, Enigma PLO  Lumumba would wonder why you get suprised when your goats goes missing after you put an hyena to take care of your goats. I’d literally say you the Co-Author of your misfortune.

    Kakamega, here is a man who has swindled billions of taxpayers money to save enough for his political ambitions and sponsoring his close ally the Deputy President William Ruto in form of kickbacks – birds of the same feathers flocking together.

    This is a man who’s a pain in the ass and if given opportunity to take over Kakamega County then be sure to wake up with smelly fingers and if your goats goes missing- you’ll be by yourselves crying and languishing in poverty as he pays the judges to set him free. He has the money to pay the Judges, why would he hire a lawyer? A figure who can pay court bail like a loaf of bread. Beware!

    Barasa was in the news sometime in August 2019 when the heavily built short man ran for his life in a city hotel.

    DCI boss Kinoti had walked into the hotel where Barasa was in company of other friends, he fled to the kitchen of the hotel on spitting Kinoti, nervous that he had come to arrest him. At the time, Ketraco was under DCI probe following complaints lodged that the agency officials had swindled Sh14B land compensation to farmers for the Mombasa-Nairobi electricity transmission line, detectives believe billions were swindled in kickbacks.

    However, Kinoti was on a different business and not to arrest the panicked CEO who fled away through the kitchen’s exit. He became a laughing stock amongst his peers. Kweli mwenye mavi hujishuku.

    Like many other public coffers do, sugar-coat themselves with Charity foundations in the name of giving back to the community with swindled evil money. ‘Barasa Foundation’ is the charity foundation which he runs with his wife Janet Barasa as the CEO.

    Having pocketed some media houses, influential blogs on his payroll to support his political ambitions, Barasa forgets that a little opportunity given to a monkey to wear clothes doesn’t guarantee it to join the dining table.

    He is walking a thin line between freedom and prison and his best of luck wish is get into public office and secure some immunity and cleanse himself with philanthropy charities as law number 11 and 12 of 48 laws of power advices to learn to keep people dependent on you – give a man a fish and dont teach him how to fish to be independent, make him dependent instead. 12- Use selective honesty and generosity to disarm your victim : One sincere and honest move will cover over dozens of dishonest ones.

    Like i said before in one of my previous article, “Innocent until proven guilty, the political class sanitizer” -https://kenyainsights.com/innocent-until-proven-guilty-political-class-sanitizer/  People of Kakamega knows this is a thief and has wired billions of shillings from Ketraco and now wants to be their governor and believe me not, this is a man who isn’t even eligible to teach them how to fish, he’s ready to bribe and use youths as assailants to his advantage. The city hotel kitchen mouse.

    Stay tuned for more updates on the same. People of Kakamega deserve better.

     

  • Unholy Relationship: Despite Sh2.5B Corruption Scandal, Kebs Stick To Blacklisted Imported Cars Clearance Firm.

    Unholy Relationship: Despite Sh2.5B Corruption Scandal, Kebs Stick To Blacklisted Imported Cars Clearance Firm.

    Japan Harbor Transportation Association (JHTA) in a notice dated August 27, 2015 terminated the licences of Quality Inspection Services Inc Japan (QISJ) for poor inspection of radioactive substances in used vehicles.

    Radiation inspection is critical as Japan continues to grapple with effects of March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami that led to the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daichi power plant. Since then, radiation measurement has been required for all used vehicles to be exported from Japan.

    The radiation measurement is taken before vehicles are handled by harbour workers. That way, only vehicles that satisfy the standard radiation values proceeds to the export procedures. Health researchers say as radioactive material decays, or breaks down, the energy released into the environment has two ways of harming a body exposed to it by directly killing the normal body cells or  cause DNA mutation.

    This raises serious questions on the safety and quality of car imports into Kenya at a time when cancer cases are on the rise. To safeguard the health of workers, JHTA has been conducting on-site inspection of operations at each company and concluded that the firm failed to carry out ‘appropriate operations’. Then JHTA decided to cancel the designation of the company – The cancellation was officially approved on September 4, 2015.

    “On May 25 and August 24, 2015, our committee investigated the actual inspected operation for radiation. The result of the investigation of these two foreign owned companies, Automotive Technologies Ltd and Quality Inspection Services Japan, has received the notice letter (Letter No. 23-123, dated of August 26, 2015) from the committee, that they are terminated as radiation surveyors since according to union standards, their actual inspectors are unqualified,” said the letter by the lobby’s Central Safety Committee Chairman Yasushi Tadome to association members on the move to blacklist the two firms.

    The association sent the termination notice to Quality Inspection Services Japan Ltd (QISJ) President Kiyoaki Hatano based in Yokohama and Automotive Technologies Ltd President Nigel Grindall in Tokyo.

    Apart from the three years when it was in a multiple-contract with JEVIC and ATJ, the firm has been the sole inspection contractor since 2015 and has an active contract running to this year 2021 which Kebs wants it to share with other players in the next cycle of three years and of which is just for formality and sugarcoating to hoodwink the public watchdogs.

    KEBS MD Bernard Ndiraini at a past event

    The Managing Director- MD Benard Njiraini was on July 2 arrested by EACC for obstructing a bribery investigation linked to the controversial vehicle inspection tender. It is the Sh2.5 billion overcharge in inspection of used imported cars, equipment, and spare parts. The tender was under wraps and was only discovered during a PIC review of the agency’s books of accounts.

    Suspicion arose after Njiraini denied that Kebs tendered for the expansion only to admit the same later after documentary evidence was produced and tabled.

    The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) said the tender was flawed as it was not approved by the National Standards Council. The procurement plan had been done on January 2 while invitation to tender was done on December 3, 2019.

    PPRA also flagged the approved procurement plan presented by Njiraini as having lacked estimated cost and source of funding for the project. “The procurement was not based on indicative or approved budget; and was done without purchase requisition. The tender document stifled competition,” PPRA said.

    The authority also took issue with tender committee failing to record the number of pages of the bidding document and bid sums by the two firms.

    The regulator admitted that Kebs wrongfully charged bidders non-refundable fees of Sh10,000 instead of Sh1,000 as spelt out in the Public Procurement and Disposal Regulations, 2013. Finance proposals were opened by the evaluation of committee instead of the tender opening committee in contravention of PPADA.

    Interestingly, Kebs, it emerged, told the  AG that it was amending the existing contract only for the AG to learn that it was doing a fresh tender. AG Kihara Kariuki concluded that the standards agency misrepresented facts to his office and further failed to disclose that the tender had been challenged in court.

    From statistics and database, Kenya imports an average of 7,000 used vehicles monthly and industry players say awarding the inspection tender to a company that has interests in the importation business could create a monopolistic (of which has already) situation in Kenya’s second hand car importation business and conflict of interest.

    On May 26, 2020, a private Kenyan car importer, George Odhiambo filed a case at the High Court, accusing the Japanese company of overcharging Kenyans during the inspection process, arguing that the burden of the extra cost was eventually passed to the consumers.

    “The first respondent (Quality Inspection Services Inc. Japan Limited) has been overcharging exporters and importers and Kenyans and unfairly withholding more fees than that contracted for. The petitioner went on to question the legality of QISJ operating as a monopoly in Kenya, giving them the autonomy he claims they have used to siphon billions over the years. “The fact that the extra charged levies by the first respondent are passed to the consumers violates the consumers’ right to the protection of their economic interest.”

    Bedroom Bully QISJ

    QISJ managed to bully out its two bitter rivals; EAA Company and Auto Terminal Japan Company from clinching the tender by   compromising 4 top officials from Auditor General’s office: Mr Fredrick Odhiambo, Catherine Mwasho, Brian Thuku and Dr John Ng’eno.

    In evidences presented before Public Investment Committee (PIC) by director of Auto Terminal Japan Company, Isaac Kalua, genuinly without favor would have led to ouster of unethical Kebs and AG’s officials and end of the road for substandard QISJ. The  four officials from the Auditor General’s office accepted facilitation by QISJ to United Kingdom, South Africa and Japan, where they conducted their audit. The office conducted a sham investigations and wrote in favour of the inept, corrupt firm which is a subject of probe today.

    Challenged by the committee chaired by Mvita MP Abdullswamad Nassir to substantiate his claims, Kalua produced evidence to prove the said officers were invited and their logistics – including accommodation in top five-star hotels – provided by QISJ.

    Kalua produced a letter, dated February 8, 2019, by QISJ to the British High Commissioner in Nairobi asking him to grant visas, to the United Kingdom, for Mr Fredrick Odhiambo, Catherine Mwasho, Brian Thuku and Dr John Ng’eno. They are indicated as Kebs officials who wanted to go there to inspect QISJ facilities and to carry out some audits and due diligence checks. He also tabled an email extract from a person who identified himself as “QISJ Admin”, sent to Dr Ng’eno and Ms Mwasho confirming the “team” had also been invited to Japan. He also promised to apply for their Dubai visa and make their payments and send the same to the team.

    While QISJ had been notified of the intended audit as early as February 6, 2019, the other two competitor companies were notified five days later and through a totally different notification from the one sent to QISJ.

    Kalua also provided a hotel booking to Innova Park, Enfiled in London. The said booking was done by a Mr Jaffer Hassan, who was identified as QISJ manager. He also produced an invitation letter for Mwasho and Ng’eno to South Africa.

    However, in their audit, they admitted that they visited the QISJ sub-contractor but that due to limited time, they were not able to visit the Auto Terminal Japan contractors who are in the same country.

    Even after admitting that they did not visit Auto Terminal sub-contractor, they went ahead to make a negative report about the pther two competitors while they made a positive one for QISJ.

    Kalua went ahead to provide an invitation letter for the “team” to Japan, also producing a hotel receipt for Intercontinental Hotel in Yokohama, Japan, where Mr Odhiambo was booked in.

    The accused person (Auditor General’s office) declined all the allegations made but when asked to produce original evidence of receipts to refute the accusations, they were unable to – Of which confirmed their guilt but the deep state couldn’t allow their prosecution obviously. Since then, it’s water under the bridge.

    With the contract between Kebs and QISJ expiring April 2021, the Unholy relationship seems to getting refueled as the Kebs officials seems to be earning lions share payroll from QISJ. A mission which Corrupt Kebs officials should note in bold to be a MISSION IMPOSSIBLE this time round as their days have been numbered and their time have lapsed.

    In our subsequent we look into how and who was involved in QISJ getting away with the dirty shirt from Kebs to OAG. Naming officials in the big scandal.

     

  • “Innocent Until Proven Guilty” – Political Class Sanitizer.

    “Innocent Until Proven Guilty” – Political Class Sanitizer.

    After EACC was stripped off powers of obtaining information from relevant bodies on aspirants and vetting them for clearance, instead this duty has been solely left for IEBC whose hands have been tied on handling criminal culpabilities when it comes to those with pending cases in court.

    DCI boss George Kinoti in a statement said that anyone charged with a crime and hasn’t been found guilty is given police clearance certificate. This justifies way back in 2019 when former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko managed to get a police clearance certificate to vie for the Gubernatorial position despite his multiple criminal, graft cases pending in court and in public dormain.

    On many multiple occasions we’ve witnessed corrupt top class civil servants prosecuted of criminal or graft charges joining politics to sanitize their evil deeds through the ballot and unfortunately on many occasions they get elected straight away into public office. Electing an hyena to take care of goats then you get surprised when your goats goes missing.

    Poor Kenyans have normalised electing handout public purloins who give them fish but doesn’t teach them how to fish so as to continue being dependent on them as Law number 11 in 48 Laws of power which advises them ( public coffers) “LEARN TO KEEP PEOPLE DEPENDENT ON YOU – To maintain your independence you must always be needed and wanted. The more you are relied on, the more freedom you have. Make people depend on you for their happiness and prosperity and you have nothing to fear. Never teach them enough so that they can do without you.”

    If they allow all the poor to be independent then they’re worried of their relevance and chances of winning these public office seats diminishes. Thats why politics of ideology will take longer than expected to infiltrate in, not only in Kenya but in Africa and other third world countries where majority of the population live hand to mouth. Like in Swahili they say, “Mkono mtupu haulambwi,” and so they believe that, to an extent that it has become the culture.

    From fake Gold scammers to tenderpreneurs has become the merry-go-round for public funds lottery.

    Being that power is with the people, these money heist schemers take advantage of the poor state of majority of  people to lure them into believing into their ‘innocence’ – public court justice system, so as to influence the Judiciary indirectly not to go against public court. And this is advised again in Law 26 of Power “KEEP YOUR HANDS CLEAN – You must seem a paragon of civility and efficiency: Your hands are never soiled by mistakes and nasty deeds. Maintain such a spotless appearance by using others as scapegoats and cat’s-paws to disguise your involvement”

    In conjunction with law 27 , “PLAY ON PEOPLE’S NEED TO BELIEVE TO CREATE A CULTLIKE FOLLOWING -People have an overwhelming desire to believe in something. Become the focal point of such desire by offering them a cause, a new faith to follow. Keep your words vague but full of promise; emphasize enthusiasm over rationality and clear thinking. Give your new disciples rituals to perform, ask them to make sacrifices on your behalf. In the absence of organized religion and grand causes, your new belief system will bring you untold power.”

    Innocent poor majority always fall prey of these public coffers who swindle public tax – easy income so as to create a cult-like following. It’s truly undeniable that money is the root of all evil but again money is the only thing when it’s clean money. I know my statement about money is quite contradicting but get me right that money is the root of all evil when it’s unclean, but it is the root of all happiness when it is clean and acquired in authentic means. It is up to you to decide which kind of money you want to have. Money is not everything but it is the only thing. Wake up and get the clean money in adequate amount not inadequate amount. Not forgeting it’s a process and so you trust the process unless you take the shortcut of public coffers.

    “Money is the root of all evil” ideology is what have kept the poor class continue languishing in poverty and elect these public coffers after being given same evil handouts. And these Politicians realizing that radicalization amongst this poor class, they fuel their believe to maintain Law 11 and Law 27 I talked about earlier on.

    The very same constitution, laws and policies that are suppose to bar these culprits from eyeing public offices is made by themselves in the legislature. Obviously you can’t expect them to sharpen a double-edged sword that will execute them tomorrow hence they had to strip off EACC this power to IEBC whom they tied their hands as well. It’s like a pyramid scheme fraud.

    The powerful dark forces in government have created a web network to protect themselves and their corrupt cronies to influence the Judges and Magistrates with evil money to side with them in their rulings then silence their cult followers with handouts to sanitize their tainted public image.

    In World superpower nations like US, China, Germany we’ve on many occasions seen how they ( the public, their judicial system) handle public coffers, how so many times top government officials and even former heads of states have been convicted and imprisoned of charges that have been normalized here in Africa. And on a mission to emulate the same Justice here in Kenya through activism or even through the Judicial system, it has always hit dead end, always DoA (Dead on Arrival).

    Atleast Democratic Republic of Tanzania’s Late former President Dr. John Pombe Magufuli- may his soul RIP set the peace in dealing ruthlessly with corrupt state officials and graft cases in the country.

    Here are some few positive controls in Kenya;

    1. Fake gold scammer Jared Kiasa Otieno –

    During his trial. Photo|Courtesy

    Eyeing Homabay gubernatorial position. He’ll be cleared to vie as well.

    2. Former Epra boss Pavel Oimeke–

    Photo|Courtesy

    Eyeing  bonchari constituency MP seat by-election as ODM’s flagbearer despite having pending graft case in court of recieving 200,000 bribe to approve opening of a fuel station in Oyugis. He’s already cleared.

    3. President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy President William Ruto with 4 others

    President Uhuru Kenyatta during trial at ICC
    DP William Ruto during trial at ICC

    Were elected into office despite facing Criminal, murder charges in ICC following 2007/8 Post Election Violence in Kenya that left thousands dead and thousands displaced.

    4. Former Nairobi Governor Dr. Evans Kidero –

    Photo|Courtesy

    Has faced several graft charges since losing his gubernatorial seat in 2017 and at some point was made to part ways with his political god and mentor former Prime minister Raila Odinga, is currently breaking the political ground comeback like a volcano in his home County Homabay  and has declared publicly his interest in clinching the office next year 2022.
    Well, no Kenyan is surprised that despite all that, he’s automatically going to be cleared, get awarded certificate by EACC and Police Good conduct as per chapter 6 job for job seekers.

    5. Mr. Allan Chesang of Trans Nzoia –


    The victim who is one of the key suspects in a 180 million fraud case of 2,800 laptops supply to DP Ruto’s office is eyeing senatorial position and has declared publicly his bid and believe me not, he’ll be elected into office.

    6. Kirinyaga Governor Ann Waiguru –


    Was overwhelmingly elected into office even after she looted NYS money through her proxies. Her thanks to The power of Law 11 and 27.

    In conclusion,

    As long as the rate of the unemployment stagnates and decreases, as long as majority of Kenyans – Africans still live hand to mouth then the Reggae still shall continue and Politicians, public coffers will feel no pain as the music hits whilst poor majority will continue feeling more pain when the music keep on hitting.

  • Kenya- The Unhealthy Nation That Prioritises Terrorism over Healthcare.

    Kenya- The Unhealthy Nation That Prioritises Terrorism over Healthcare.

    Before Covid19 Pandemic hit the world, debate over ‘who’ – who is the most patriotic cadre of frontline workers in serving the nation, whether Healthcare workers or Kenya Defense Forces comparison rented social media streets everytime whenever healthcare workers strike for better pay.
    Paid influencers to antagonise healthcare workers would frequently tell off HCW to feel no better than our KDF soldiers who left their families to fight terrorists at the border. I wonder whether Doctors, Laboratory officers, Nurses, Clinical officers don’t go to the field. Smh!

    Kenya Medical Laboratory Officers on Strike.

    Lets break some of the factual elements between these two controversial entities:

    1. Lowest grade Healthcare worker is C+ student while a KDF is a D form four drop out. Academic dwarf vs Academic giant.

    2. Covid19, the terrible invisible  enemy that neither KDF nor any other defense force couldn’t fight and ruthlessly swept lots of lives in a flash of time. Brought the whole world to a standstill, locked everyone in their homes and out off streets for months. Science unarguably took full control of the world.

    It needed intervention of healthcare providers fraternity and scientists to help control this pandemic – invisible enemy.

    Some will argue that terrorism is more of inhumane – manslaughter act but not malaria, cancer or even pneumonia but statistics have it and COVID has proven it that the ruthless killer is health matters – biological warfare.

    Government sets aside budget of billions and trillions of money to secure armoury, riffles, suvs and all that defense forces need and even in excess but Healthcare workers begs to be given PPEs, delayed salaries, low wages, poor working conditions when all these two entities  are both frontline workers of the nation.

    3. Countries which prioritises weapons and millitarization are forever at war and insecure and rarely gets to prosper in the midst of lawlessnes with drunken masters in power.

    4. African countries led by Dictators enjoys militarization to cling to power and terrorise outspoken Government antagonists.

    5. If you live by the sword, you die by the sword. 

    Well, some of these facts are discriminative in but none is ill-thought. Government should just give Caesar what belongs to Caesar.

    The big Q

    As our Nation’s National anthem articulates about Unity, values of unity and for unity, equality and equity, Justice be our shield and defender. But why do Healthcare providers get inadequate supply of PPEs and when they are supplied then they’re of substandard quality while our Defense soldiers never runs out of full body armour and of standard quality.
    Where is the equality, equity and Justice in it?

    Why would government hospital fail to procure routine full hemogram equipment or any other essential laboratory equipment and if they fortunately do procure then they restock reagents and diluents once in a bluemoon while our soldiers have more than enough riffles, grenades, machine guns. Where is the equality, equity and justice?

    The blame game shouldn’t/ can’t be corruption. That shouldn’t/ can’t be an escape goat to not paying healthcare workers their wages, risk allowances like our defense soldiers gets without delay. 

    Health has become the most life threatening terrorist in this nation, colon cancer has hit men tremendously, breast cancer has hit our women and mothers tremendously. The harsh Economy has changed the lifestyle of majority making them prone to cheap and affordable carcinogenic foodstuffs. Day in day out thousands of Kenyans travel to India to seek advanced treatments, day in day out many poor Kenyans seek healthcare fund drives through social media at an alarming rate. Health insurance companies have become the most lucrative business entities enjoying larger junk of money than any other entity.

    60% of Kenyans are unable to afford and if they afford then minority sustain private hospital charges and so their sole refuge is government facilities whose healthcare providers are overworked under pressure with no motivation, no allowance, no salaries – wages and many succumb to stroke, depression, heart attacks, some left homeless after their properties get auctioned due to heavy bank- shylock debts, unpaid salaries.

    The pain is inexcess while the gain is long overdue.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Lipa Kama Tender

    As a healthcare provider, my sole objective ethicaly is to provide holistic healthcare to patients in need — with utmost favor and improvise any resource at my disposal to save lives but when I need to earn more to sustain my family back at home then am crucified like a selfish hyena, am ridiculed like a worn out politician. Like I just spent years and paid hundreds of thousands for my school fees only to paid peanuts in return? When I need more, am told am a biased ‘son of a bitch’ by the very same people whom tomorrow come begging for my service when they’ve mere headache.

    A genuine and bold reminder to these drunk -arrogant authorities in power and any other enemy of healthcare provider is the fact that Doctors will forever be your Second god, will forever be the bridge between your life and death. Besides God’s natural Oxygen, we have the Oxygen plant. We treat and God heals. We’re 2 in 1.

    Perhaps setting up Health Service Commission in the controversial BBI could’ve been atleast better move for the HCW fraternity. Like Teachers have Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has made work easier, their grievances have been adressed amicably, they always win the war. 

    Until when should MLOs -Laboratory Officers, Nurses, COs, MOs and other cadres beg to be employed as PnP – Permanent and Pensionable? Until when will they be on the street? For how long will the Employer misuse the power fire and hire everytime it oppresses its Employees? For how long will the Kenyan government champion for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) when it cant even sustain to care for basic welfare of the Healthcare providers? 

  • Sleepy Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KNUMLO) Being Led By Cool-Kids.

    Sleepy Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KNUMLO) Being Led By Cool-Kids.

    With Kshs 500/- monthly subscription by its nationwide members, knumlo hasn’t shown the favor of reciprocating back the fruits of the seeds down by members.

    The union has had zero sensitization to enjoy accomodation of all new and old MLOs in the field. This questions the seriousness, aggressiveness of the office and how misplaced their  priorities are.

    Statistics show that majority of MLOs in the field market inclusive of recent graduates aren’t aware of 5 year old KNUMLO but the old engine AKMLSO since AKMLSO is what is taught in school when reality in outside world —it’s dead rotten with maggots and has no clinical significance.

    Like one among my favorite personalities, Thomas Sankara said, “It took the madmen of yesterday for us to be able to act with extreme clarity today. I want to be one of those madmen. We must dare invent the future.”

    KMPDU madmen like Ouma Oluga, Daisy Korir made KMPDU what it is today to the extent of being imprisoned in maximum prison in 2017. Apparently KNUMLO has no madmen to secure the brighter future tomorrow but cool kids who enjoys the comfort of office set up and title of their positions.

    How many MLOs would want to be the madmen today if called upon?

    In frontline, I would want to. In the spirit of solidarity.

    Call me power hungry, illusionary or whatever you’d like to perceive of me in the negative way but am out on my feet standing and not on my knees begging to defend the dignity, power, ethic and rightful share of MLOs and better life for my family tomorrow. I want every innocent MLO to enjoy back the value of their hard-work and recover with profit burdening medical school fees. Call me the madman of today. I dont care.

    The silence of the majority in this time of oppression is a sign lost hope and contentment with 2,000 risk allowance while madmen are standing up fighting for 30,000 then a section of fearful, selfish, egocentric MLOs are cocooning themselves in “Other cadres” waiting to reap what Nurses, KMPDU, Clinical officers has sown through blood and sweat.

    It’s time, MLOs stop being like scarecrows to be seen but at least creatures to be heard.

    Without fear of favor I repeat — MLOs, WE should stay woke, better die on our feet than live on our knees begging every time. Also remember Not everyone who chased the zebra caught it, but he who caught it, chased it.

    Well, these words are easier said than done.

    Literally, Adressing these grievances and keeping the office on toes needs strong legal team and of which requires alot of funding. But nobody knows if this could be the cause of silence of this office. They haven’t spoken about it either — and of which only means the union bank account is bloated with millions of dollars and they’re just squandering the funds with their proxies at the expense of fighting for the welfare of the MLOs.

    Not forgeting that Pride becomes before a fall. These leadership positions are about Potential, Courage, Attitude, Aggresivenes and not Ego, Title or Education level. (You’ve heard “Sex for Grades?‍♂️” ). Whether Bsc or Dip, all we need at the moment is the experience, visionful team, cauragious, dare-devil, strategical team, and most importantly financial muscle.

    MLO family need results, increased wages, increased risk allowance, needs no delayed salaries, needs every GoK dispensary to have a well equiped lab, needs purge of quacks, needs motivation. MLO family doesn’t need infights. MLO family doesn’t need “Everyone for himself, God for us all” mentality.

    MLO family needs way forward not infight criticism. The Family needs a signal. And all these are only possible in Unity of madmen and change of evil plans and elements in KNUMLO.

    We shall overcome as a goodwill family. Viva to those who’re ready to join my madmen movement operation. Wait for my signal, henceforth.

  • Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers -The Epicenter, Yet The Most Underrated G.O.A.T

    Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers -The Epicenter, Yet The Most Underrated G.O.A.T

    During this Covid19 pandemic, Medical laboratory scientists have played the biggest role from collection of samples, testing and Diagnosis making them the highest risk group in this fight. And that’s just the tip of an iceberg.

    If a census is to be conducted today among Kenyans to get wind of their knowledge about Unions and Associations of different medical practioners, 99% won’t be able recognise Union/Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists whilst 99% will recognise Dr. Oluga -Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union (KMPDU), Dr. Jackson Kioko- Pharmacists and Poisons Board (PPB) and Dr. Panyako Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN). These unions have the strongest devil-daring management-leaders, vibrant, speaks to Government regularly in the language they best understand and gives government sleepless nights marinated with wild thoughts and mixed reactions – protecting welfare of their members.

    When these very same people in case study get to seek treatment in hospitals, they are only satisfied with treatment when sent to the lab for testing because long gone are the old-era days when clinical officers or MOs could run hospital set up without lab tests and diagnose and treat patients on assumption basis. This new era has made laboratory the epitome of clinical hospital organogram and a vital organ in Diagnostic-treatment of a patient.

    In layman’s language, every new patient gets the feeling of satisfaction on physical examination by the Doctor but not until his/her test samples taken and tested – diagnosis made and then given right medication for treatment. This mentality magnifies how vital Lab is in a clinical hospital set up. But with all these glory and respect, medical laboratory scientists have failed to shine in the national outlook, Association of Kenya Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers (AKMLSO) which was formed decades ago and 5 years old Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers (KNUMLSO)  have lost focus and have become waitress on the dinner table serving KMPDU, PPB and KNUN when they all ought to be dinning together on the dinner table as equal partners.

    Medical laboratory scientists lacks proper and vibrant representation to bargain for its rightful share and demand for proper welfare of its members who are suffering in oppression upto the extent that their partners demean their existence out of pride brought to them by their well structured Union leadership.

    This sleepy association AKMLSO and Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Scientists (KNUMLO) have failed terribly, they’ve decided to be maimed and have cocooned themselves in silent mode as their members are sinking in economic debts due to low wages and salaries as they cant even give the government ultimatums leave alone organizing a strike and laying down tools to gain a bargaining power at the dinner table like other unions do.

    Their absence in the scenes and off the screens have belittled the Medical laboratory members and escalated discrimination by  other partner healthcare professionals

    AKMLSO and KNUMLSO were formed on the ground of 3 main pillars like other partners unions in the healthcare docket to:

    1. To carter and promote medical laboratory professionalism and welfare to its members

    2. To foster closer relationship between its members and other health professionals

    3. To unite medical laboratory and scientists board in Kenya

    Congratulations to leadership of Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB), Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), Kenya National Union of Clinical Officers (KNUCO) and Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU)

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    “We from the lab
    We exist
    We are the troponin
    Behind the heart attack
    We are the blood type
    Behind a safe transfusion
    We are the HCG
    Behind a life that it is growing
    We are the hope to control the pandemic
    Behind the COVID testing
    We give hope to patients
    We give answers to doctors and nurses
    We cheer the good news that are released through our computers
    And we feel the sorrow for the bad news that follow
    We are humans
    Not machines
    Some of us have a gift of drawing blood without bruises or pain
    But some of us need that blood
    Because we can not get a vein
    So we bring the blood to the lab
    So results can helps the doctors to intervene
    Do not worry , none of us drink it
    We, Medical Laboratory Professionals chose to be who we are
    We save lives everyday even if a patient will never know what we look like
    But all we care is that we helped the healing
    We gave hope or closure
    We helped diagnose the pain
    The earache , the sore throat
    We deserve respect
    We are part of the clinical team
    We give to the clinicians the pieces that they need to finish the diagnosis puzzle
    We are not fake
    We are real
    We studied
    We trained
    We gave our commitment
    To help find the cure
    To defeat the disease
    But most important
    We care about the person behind every single vial or tube that we touch
    We care for the person behind every single result we typed
    So think about us when you had you check up or you were not feeling well
    So think about us when the doctor tells you that your glucose was normal or your potassium is low
    Think about us when your dream to be a parent was confirmed
    Think about us when the blood you received during surgery saved your life
    Think about us when you recovered
    Because if you need us again
    We will be here.”

    MLOs, WE should stay woke, better die on our feet than live on our knees begging every time. Also remember Not everyone who chased the zebra caught it, but he who caught it, chased it. 

  • Why Staking Less Than 100Ksh Could Land You In Jail Or Cost You 5million Fine.

    Why Staking Less Than 100Ksh Could Land You In Jail Or Cost You 5million Fine.

    Parliament had last year proposed a minimum betting stake of Sh50 but the Interior Ministry successfully appealed for doubling of the minimum stake in a bid to tame ‘irresponsible betting’. The National Assembly’s Sports, Culture and Tourism committee agreed to the submission which if approved by lawmakers will make it expensive to bet.

    Gamblers who bet using less than Sh100 risk a Sh5 million fine if Parliament enacts into law recommendations aimed at cutting betting among the youth.

    Currently, gamblers stake as low as Sh5 on sites like BetPawa, Betika, Elite Bet, BetYetu fuelling the rapid growth of online gambling among the young and vulnerable seeking millions in prize money.

    Gamblers will also risk a jail term of up to six years if they bet with a stake of less than Sh100 under the recommendations that seek to keep gaming out of the reach of the youth and the un-employed.

    “Amend by deleting the word ‘fifty’ and substitute thereof with the words ‘one hundred’ to promote responsible gaming and to prevent addictive gamin,” the committee says in its report of the Gaming Bill, 2019.

    The committee’s recommendations are contained in the report that is before Parliament for debate and adoption.

    The proposal to increase the minimum betting stake approved by Parliament will be a boost to telcos like Safaricom who will enjoy increased transfer fees for punters depositing cash into the accounts through M-Pesa.

    This is the latest bid by the State to stem a betting craze with a recent survey by Geopoll shows that 76 per cent of Kenyan youth are engaged in betting — the highest in Africa.

    The report shows the youths, a majority who are jobless spend an average of Sh5, 000 on betting per month.

  • Kenya Needs Millitary Rule In Key Public Service Dockets To Implement Government Development Agendas As Civilian Rule Has Proven Futile.

    Kenya Needs Millitary Rule In Key Public Service Dockets To Implement Government Development Agendas As Civilian Rule Has Proven Futile.

    The public service has been associated more with graft, ineptitude and impunity. Civil servants are considered to pursue personal aggrandisement to the detriment of the public good. Soldiers espouse a public image of discipline and purpose. The strict and clear hierarchy of leadership ensures fidelity to authority, obedience to command and respect for rank.

    Here are some of the Public agendas that millitary have transformed in a twinkle of an eye after being given opportunity:

    Kenya Meat Commission (KMC)

    In September, 2020, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya through a directive by President Uhuru Kenyatta directed Livestock Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai to facilitate the transfer of Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) to the Ministry of Defence.

    Recently The Kenya Meat Commission cleared the bulk of debts it owed livestock farmers and other suppliers since it was taken over by the military in September.

    They’ve managed to clear Ksh.250 million debt owed to livestock farmers. A further Kshs. 150M has been allocated to clear debts to other general suppliers in this financial year.

    “We have lost opportunities to develop KMC under the frameworks we had. We kept sinking money in billions. It is because of incompetence, poor management and corruption that the parastatal could not move. I believe what we want is results. We need to focus on results and not processes,” Super CS Dr. Matiangi said.

    He also said that the management  handover of the loss-making parastatal to the  the Kenya Defence Forces had also led to a nearly 30 per cent increase in the number of livestock supplied to the Athi River-based meat processor.

    Nairobi Metropolitan Service(NMS)

    NMS was put into office on March 18, 2020, by the President nearly a month after Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko handed transferred four key functions to the National Government.

    The transferred functions include county health services, transport, public works, utilities and ancillary services and county. Most importantly is the fact that head of NMS is Millitary Major General Badi.

    Formation of NMS and transition of powers to it was a  move which was legally challanged in the Justice system and caused stir concerning its ‘illegality’ but its formation just proved those who caused turmoil wrong and proved right those who trusted in it because the service delivery has been tremendous under the millitary man’s watch.

    The decision went against the spirit of the 2010 Kenyan Constitution, which established county governments to promote democratic accountability by devolving some powers to the local level.

    President Uhuru in conversation with NMS head Badi and Nairobi Governor Sonko in a bid to mediate the two.

    Up-to-date the NMS has achieved much more than what Governor Sonko’s administration achieved in 3 years in office. A fact which has cost a rift between the flamboyant PR Governor and NMS head Badi as he(Governor) feels that NMS is overshining and overshadowing him and as sensational dancehall singers Tarrus Riley and Sheensea said in this hit song “Lighter” – Baby Sonko when your bright light starts to fade, fire up your lighter – your development lighter not rift and hatred lighter.

    The team has elevated 35 tanks, completed 20,903 meters of extension piping as well as the daily distribution of 200,000 litres of water to informal settlements using water bowsers.

    NMS was also tasked to work with NAMATA to implement Nairobi urban mobility plan, come up with pedestrian walkways, dedicated cycling and pedestrian lanes on Wabera Street, Kenyatta Avenue and Muindi Mbingu Street within 100 days. Of which they completed and have tranformed Nairobi City CBD look like a walk in the park.

    President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday, 17 Nov 2020 launched the revamped Nairobi Commuter Rail Service (NCRS) and the refurbished Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs). The system consists of new 11 DMUs and Commuter Rail Buses. The project is part of the Nairobi Metropolitan Transport Master Plan that is aimed at carrying out a modernisation and expansion of underutilised railway transport to reduce congestion on city roads.

    NMS aims by 1st Dec to eradicate PSV congestion in cbd by constructing new bus stations away from the cbd to shine more light to the capital city.

    Major General (Rtd) Gordon Kihalangwa was promoted as Principal Secretary, State Department of Immigration, when it had wrangles. He is now Public Works PS, a department that is a key delivery pillar of the Big Four agenda and all is well now.

    President Kenyatta has gone further to place all government airplanes and helicopters hitherto outside the KDF under military management of the elite Kenya Air Force. These include the Police Air Wing, Kenya Forestry Services, Kenya Wildlife Services and the Kenya Pipeline Company. This move is believed to had been made after misuse of these assets by Police bosses whom turned government choppers to family means of transport, frequent air accidents which have led to loss of billions of taxpayers money. Under millitary watch, non of the incidents have been reported and everything seems to be under protection and control.

    With Millitary- I believe there wont be 2nd Covid19 millionaire wave. If not millitary , then re-allocation of the BBI refurendum funds will be to the same monkeys from different forest, of which wont be any better than 1st wave of covidmillionaires looting spree.

    Sugarcoating the Corrupt Civilian rule marinated with corruption and thuggery and yelling at the Millitary rule will be like preaching water and taking wine.

    As much I support use of millitary to push goodwill government agenda without looting and mismanagement of public funds, I dont support misuse of millitary to push extrajudicial killings by those in power to cling onto power or silence critics or murder innocent citizens like during 2007/2008-2017 post election violence.

    Civilian rule in some Public service dockets have proven time and again waste of public resources hence the exlusion of civilians and inclusion of millitary to reclaim the lost glory and of which have truly responded positively.

    The influence of power might lead to clinging into these civilian positions by the millitary of which might cause call for an alarm as it might result to full transformation to colonial era millitary state.

    But with Civilian rule continuing to be deep rooted in graft, the warmth service of the military rule is starting to be felt as common wananchi need service and getting true value of their tax in return.

  • SYSTEM YA MAJAMBAZI: KMTC Board of Directors Under Graft Probe By Inspectorate of State Corporations.

    SYSTEM YA MAJAMBAZI: KMTC Board of Directors Under Graft Probe By Inspectorate of State Corporations.

    Following reports of corruption at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), the Inspectorate of State Corporations has launched investigations which range from reports of abuse of office, misuse of college property, illegal recruitment and corruption in the KMTC Board.

    The inspectorate wants to know how the KMTC Board spent money on events, allowances and the use of vehicles belonging to the institution.

    With more than 41,000 trainees in 65 campuses across the country, KMTC makes the largest contribution to Kenya’s health sector.

    An October 8 letter by the Inspectorate of State Corporations Inspector-General Lawrence Okudo to KMTC chief executive Michael Kiptoo demands the board to account for its expenditure.

    Created by an act of Parliament, KMTC – like other parastatals – generates its revenue but is audited by the government. The Inspectorate of State Corporations carries out management audit in government agencies to ensure they comply with set policies, rules and procedures.

    The inspectorate also provides advisory services to the government and other stakeholders on issues affecting State corporations.

    Mr Okudo said the KMTC management may have flouted procurement processes in the payment of tenders. Additionally, board members are suspected to have paid themselves unwarranted allowances for meetings and events they did not attend. For this reason, the inspectorate has asked the college to furnish it with work tickets for vehicles assigned to the chairman and board members, vouchers for allowances paid to board members from 2016 to 2019 and invitation letters for events attended by the board in the said period.

    Also wanted are memorandums of understanding signed between the college and other entities since 2015, Human Resource Committee minutes since 2016 and invoices plus delivery notes for a number of tenders.

    The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has commenced as well a parallel investigations on how the board has been recruiting senior college staff.

    At the centre of the row is more than Sh7 billion the college collects from students as fees and money from donors every year. Sources say that the management feels the board is interfering with the day-to-day running of the institution.

    Also being investigated is the appointment of company secretary on November 13, 2015. “The commission is carrying out an investigation into allegations of irregular appointment of Dr Miriam Ndunge Muthoka,” says an October 15 letter sent by the commission to the KMTC Board.

    The letter that is signed by Mr Patrick Owiny on behalf of the EACC chief executive adds: “To facilitate our investigations, kindly furnish us certified copies of the necessary documents.”

    Some of the documents required by the commission are board minutes approving the appointment of Dr Muthoka, a shortlist of the applicants, application documents of the shortlisted candidates, a list of the interviewing panel, the recruitment report and Dr Muthoka’s personal file.

    Prof Kiptoo was appointed to head the college on March 1, 2018. The KMTC Board is headed by former Kibwezi MP Philip Kaloki.

    This graft probe comes barely a week after I wrote an article about the Institution’s weird management. https://kenyainsights.com/toothless-dog-kmtc-continues-to-shut-down-its-operations-as-3-more-primary-and-secondary-school-classes-phase-reopening-in-3-weeks-time/

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    “Many if not all concerned Kenyans have been left tongues wagging over the actions of Kenya Medical Training College continuation to freeze its operations when actually they should be among the frontliners during the 1st schools reopening phase in which Universities resumed their operations and openned their doors for the Final year class to shoot their last bullets as life has to continue and learners need to learn how to acclamatize to new norm.

    Many if not all concerned Kenyans have made memes as a way of expressing their mixed reactions amongst them the very same KMTC students  as to why and how on earth would medical school be shut down when Patients and Covid19 patients need the most their holistic care, while many institutions worldwide are conducting research are striving to find cure vaccine for the virus while our very own institutions are baby sitting their students at home.

    Many if not all concerned Kenyans have been wondering the logistic where Primary school and Secondary school pupils resumed their operations and KMTC believes perhaps their students are more careless than their younger siblings? Smh!

    Many if not all concerned Kenyans are wondering how on earth you would  virtually practise midwifery, how you would virtually practice phlebotomy, how you would virtually perform a surgical operation. Actually how possible to theorise these practical lesson and expect to certify these students to the market as qualified professionals?

    With many Final year students  at home baby-sitting, left frustrated, being confused with heartbreaking Memos every now and then – their dreams and opportunities are now at stake.

    With this year’s graduation plan changed to be conducted virtually, sigh of relief to the graduating class of 2020 for cutting down the usual graduation fees remains a fallacy. The fees has stood still when logically and actually the cost of budget and expenditure will be minimal as compared to normal previous years. Raising eyebrows whether  KMTC is a caring Organization or a Money making organization? An act of wanting to Spend less and Earn more. Act of embezzlement of funds. 

    And being an Independent institution under Ministry of Health which is corrupt to the core, illustrates how arrow points the eater……”

  • Impunity and Tribalism at JSC.

    Impunity and Tribalism at JSC.

    The contest for Judicial Service Commission (JSC) magistrate’s slot is heating up – four candidates have been cleared by KMJA to vie for the position to represent the association at the JSC, a seat that also comes with powers to hire and fire judges or magistrates.

    Those cleared for the election to be held on December 5th are Senior Principal Magistrate Everlyne Olwande (Limuru and KMJA vice president), Stellah Atambo (Kiambu), Dolphina Alego (Kakamega) and Florence Macharia (Shanzu).

    KMJA dropped Principal Magistrate Teresa Nyangena from the race on the grounds that she failed to provide all signatures for 20 members who nominated her on September 28th, 2020. Fair enough?

    The candidate who wins the race will replace Commissioner Emily Ominde who was reelected in 2015 to represent more than 500 magistrates and Kadhis in Kenya.

    The Judicial Service Act dictates that KMJA forwards the name of whoever is elected as its nominee to the president, who is expected to appoint the nominee within three days of receipt of the name.

    Impunity

    Emily Ominde Onyando Vs Everlyn Olwande.

    Everlyn Olwande was the vice president of the Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association (KMJA) and a member of ICJ-Kenya. She is currently a member of the International Commission of Justice and the International Association of Women Judges-Kenya.

    Fortunately for Olwande and thanks to sanitization of the rot in the system – Olwande’s virginity got broken by the impunity she got involved in on April when she violated Covid_19 rules put in place by the government to curb the spread of the deadly novel virus.

    Olwande was booked at Embakasi Police Station on April 10th and investigations on the offence of contravening curfew restrictions. She was then released on a cash bail and was to appear in court on April 14th 2020. However, she was never arraigned in court as expected. Why so?

    Well, the failure of her arraignment in court is clearly connected to the dots after it turned out that whoever bailed her out was the incumbent commissioner, Emily Ominde Onyando, whom she’s in the race to replace.

    However, as much this was constitutionally legal for her to be bailed out, it marinated a conflict of interest within the commission. Why did it have to be Ominde? The case died on arrival at the DPP’s office and she is now walking free through the corridors of power. Justice denied it was, as she is the favorite successor to incumbent Emily Ominde Onyando and Emily would use all resources at her disposal, bend the law to save her, set double standards for her to make sure she succeeds her at the JSC.

    Emily during her reign, she has inflicted tribalism, fear, and intimidation, ruling by the sword and so is her favorite successor. Different monkeys same forest.

    The call is simply to elect a candidate of integrity and without baggage. Kenyans are apprehensive and counting on the election of a merited candidate.

  • Toothless Dog KMTC Continues to shut down its Operations As 3 More Primary and Secondary School Classes Phase Reopening in 3 weeks Time.

    Toothless Dog KMTC Continues to shut down its Operations As 3 More Primary and Secondary School Classes Phase Reopening in 3 weeks Time.

    KMTC Students

    Many if not all concerned Kenyans have been left tongues wagging over the actions of Kenya Medical Training College continuation to freeze its operations when actually they should be among the frontliners during the 1st schools reopening phase in which Universities resumed their operations and openned their doors for the Final year class to shoot their last bullets as life has to continue and learners need to learn how to acclamatize to new norm.

    Many if not all concerned Kenyans have made memes as a way of expressing their mixed reactions amongst them the very same KMTC students  as to why and how on earth would medical school be shut down when Patients and Covid19 patients need the most their holistic care, while many institutions worldwide are conducting research are striving to find cure vaccine for the virus while our very own institutions are baby sitting their students at home.

    Many if not all concerned Kenyans have been wondering the logistic where Primary school and Secondary school pupils resumed their operations and KMTC believes perhaps their students are more careless than their younger siblings? Smh!

    Many if not all concerned Kenyans are wondering how on earth you would  virtually practise midwifery, how you would virtually practice phlebotomy, how you would virtually perform a surgical operation. Actually how possible to theorise these practical lesson and expect to certify these students to the market as qualified professionals?

    With many Final year students  at home baby-sitting, left frustrated, being confused with heartbreaking Memos every now and then – their dreams and opportunities are now at stake.

    With this year’s graduation plan changed to be conducted virtually, sigh of relief to the graduating class of 2020 for cutting down the usual graduation fees remains a fallacy. The fees has stood still when logically and actually the cost of budget and expenditure will be minimal as compared to normal previous years. Raising eyebrows whether  KMTC is a caring Organization or a Money making organization? An act of wanting to Spend less and Earn more.

    And being an Independent institution under Ministry of Health which is corrupt to the core, illustrates how arrow points the eater. 

    Schools could in the next three weeks reopen for in-person teaching for three other classes in primary and secondary institutions.

    Education stakeholders seem to have reached an agreement to reopen schools for the second phase. In the proposal, in-person learning for Grade 3, Standard 7 and Form 3 learners will resume.

    The three classes account for about three million learners. The proposal is to be presented to the President. If adopted, it will mean those in Grade 1-2, Standard 5-6, and Form 1-2 and pre-primary will remain at home.

    With four weeks gone by since the first reopening, Nicholas Gathemia who represents the Kenya Primary School Heads Association, said failing to reopen soon enough would create a headache for teachers.

    It is going to be a headache for teachers to manage two parallel calendars.

    Education stakeholders are also concerned about inequity as many learners are still at home, while others are in school.

    Nicholas Maiyo, the Kenya Parents Association chairman, said many parents have a difficult time explaining to Grade 4 pupils why they have to go to school while their siblings in upper classes are still at home.

    “Latest December we should have all learners back in school… we have observed and realised that children at school are more disciplined than while at home,” he said.

    Maiyo said since no vaccine is available, schools will borrow from what other countries have done. He said students should be restricted to the use of reusable masks.

    Maiyo said this is because learners may be tempted to recycle disposable masks, thus exposing them to infection.

    The revised school calendar issued by the ministry showed that the second term, which started on October 12, would end on December 23, allowing learners to break for only one week.

    Learners will report back to school on January 5 for another 11 weeks. Standard 8 candidates will sit the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exam between March 22 and March 24. Those in Form 4 will sit their exams between March 25 and April 16.

  • GoK might be forced to Recall medical students to the hospitals soon.

    GoK might be forced to Recall medical students to the hospitals soon.

    Rising rate and number of infections among health workers have been linked to several risk factors, including frequent contact with infected patients being that their job description makes them one of the crucial frontline workers.

    From Outpatient Services to In-patient services in the isolation wards (even General wards) and Intensive Care Units (critically ill covid19 patients) 1st July, a total number of 186 healthcare workers were already infected.

    A population which represented 8% of the then confirmed cases nationwide. By 15th July the number rose to 429 (which could’ve been more than that).

    Now in August, the number has been projected to have doubled up . Tension has since hit the vital healthcare fraternity from when Dr. Doreen Lugaliki, first Kenyan Doctor succumed to novel Covid-19 in July.

    Dr.Lugaliki served as an Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at The Nairobi South Hospital.

    Two nurses have also succumbed to the disease.

    The results of a study published in the BioMed Central to explore the perceived infection routes for healthcare workers revealed that most of them are infected when attending to patients.

    The study reported that lack of personal protective equipment and exposure to infected patients mainly through work in high-risk departments and contaminated fluid and aerosols as some of the factors that have contributed to health workers getting infected with the coronavirus.

    In Kisumu County

    Earlier in July, nurses in Kisumu had raised concerns over the quality of the face mask supplied by the county government.

    They noted that the masks were made of biodegradable textile, similar to what is used in the production of polypropylene bags. Kisumu National Nurses Association of Kenya Chairman Collins Ajwang told Kenya insights that they started receiving the face masks almost four weeks ago. “They came in big bunches from Hela Company EPZ Nairobi. We noticed they were not of [good] quality,” he said.

    The union consequently filed a complaint at Kebs Kibos office seeking to establish the quality of the face masks.

    “We found out Hella EPZ Company was accredited to produce facemasks. The first facemasks supplied were of good quality but the subsequent supplies were totally faulty,” said Mr Ajwang.

    “When Kebs did their inspections they found out that the cartons were not labelled, lacked details of the products, address, Kebs mark and the supplier. The boxes were labelled ‘Made in India’,” he added A majority of these workers have not been trained on how to manage Covid-19 patients and do not have the N95 masks and protective equipment.

    They are using the surgical masks so, if they interact with asymptomatic patients, they stand a high chance of getting infected,” said Mr George Gibore, secretary-general of the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (Kuco).

    Because of the shortage of N95 masks in the country, he said, health care workers are given only one mask for 24 hours, against the World Health Organisation recommended period of five hours.

    “When they use it the whole day and sweat on it and touch it, this can be another form of transmission if they had touched a contaminated surface,” he said.

    “When one works for about 14 hours just taking care of patients, more so the ones in intensive care unit, they risk getting infected,” he said.

    According to Kebs, the masks were supplied by Hela Intimates EPZ Limited to Kisumu County.

    It has since emerged that the masks were also supplied to the Council of Governors (CoG).

    Kebs went ahead to delist three brands namely WAMNDAS manufactured by Wandas General Supplies, ARAX manufactured by Arax Mills and a mask manufactured by Hela Intimates EPZ which was not branded.

    Currently, five health workers in Kisumu County have tested positive for Covid-19.

    KAKAMEGA THEATRE CLOSED

    In Kakamega, the county general hospital’s theatre was closed down after the lead surgeon tested positive for coronavirus.

    KISII MEDICS INFECTED

    In Kisii, two nurses and a biomedical engineer are among 27 people who have tested positive for Covid-19 in the region so far. The three contracted the virus while on duty and they are currently in isolation.

    In Migori, 16 health staff have contacted the virus. By Wednesday, Migori County had recorded 286 positive cases with healthcare workers now fearing attending to patients over safety concerns.

    At the sub-county hospitals, staff in the outpatient departments and those on night shifts are buying their own masks.

    In Bomet, 15 of the 29 people in isolation after testing positive for Covid-19 are health workers in various cadres. Four of them tested positive on Thursday.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    The more the they get infected – the more the number of those being isolated for weeks of quarantine and probably isolation if found infected. During this tough time, almost nobody will be left to attend to patients and once the system halts – it will be a disaster. Hence there will be need to have more healthcare providers – which definitely need more manpower hence call for final year students and those that have experience in clinical practicals to chip inn to save the situation.

    Therefore, the Government in its plans need to begin as early as possible recall these students and train them on the handling of Covid19 patients so as to be ready for worst case scenarios soon if it cannot afford to provide sufficient WHO certified PPEs to protect the lives the current healthcare workers.

  • Tanzania, a month old middle income economy whom believes in Rocket Science.

    Tanzania, a month old middle income economy whom believes in Rocket Science.

    Former Tanzania President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, whose tenure lasted from 2005 till 2015, made diplomacy his core business, and travelled abroad frequently to the extent that his record of foreign trips became a reputational liability.

    As costs went up, the opposition seized the opportunity to criticise his administration for possible wastage. One of those who came forward to defend the trips was the current president, John Pombe Magufuli, who said, “There are those who say you are always travelling, but without those trips we wouldn’t have seen the progress we have made, so we ask you to keep travelling because we need to see more progress.”

    Unlike his predecessor, the current president has distinguished himself for his aversion to travelling and mingling in circles of power at the international level.

    When it comes to diplomacy, he leads from behind, and lets his deputies represent him and the state. This arrangement, as he has argued in the past, saves money.

    While this approach is popular at home, the ensuing arms-length relationship with his peers in the region and across the globe has not been without its downside.

    In 2018, the European Union (EU) Parliament issued a resolution on Tanzania, condemning it for what it described as a deterioration of human rights, as well as the continuous closure of civic space.

    This was the first time ever that a foreign legislative body had issued a statement regarding the situation in the country. Since then, multiple other nations have expressed concerns, including the most recent June 2020 statement by the United States embassy in Dar es Salaam, which was critical of government actions to “stifle democratic norms.”

    For President Magufuli, the economy is a priority, even in the face of COVID-19, and he believes that, if managed well, the country could attain superiority in this area (and in which recently during this pandemic- Tanzania was accorded Middle Income Economy class by World Bank after attaining the World Bank’s new minimum gross national income (GNI) per capita threshold of $1,036 this year which Kenya attained way back in 2014), and even become a donor nation in the near future.

    As such, economic diplomacy has become a primary basis of interaction between the country and other nations.

    At the end of March, Magufuli encouraged people to continue visiting places of worship — a move that bucked international public health recommendations — while comparing the virus to Satan and saying that it “cannot survive in the body of Jesus Christ.”

    Then in May, the president cast doubt on the data around cases by suggesting that people who test positive might not actually be infected.

    He said he secretly tested a papaya, a goat, and a quail for COVID-19 — all testing positive — to prove his point. He also questioned the safety of imported masks, stopped the disinfection of public places, and touted an herbal remedy as a cure for COVID-19, which research has not proved effective.

    Then on June 9, Magufuli declared that “Corona in our country has been removed by the powers of God.” Celebrations followed.

    He reiterated that COVID-19 was eliminated from Tanzania in a speech on Monday. “Our enemies will speak a lot, but the reality remains that Tanzania is safe and that is why none of us here is putting on a mask.

    Does it mean we are not afraid of dying? No, it is because corona has been eliminated,” he said.

    While the government stopped reporting cases to WHO at the end of April, the health agency and other partners continue to provide the Tanzanian government with technical support on its response, including on case management, infection prevention and control, surveillance and laboratory strengthening, risk communication and community engagement, and logistics, according to an email from WHO.

    This is what I refer to as Rocket science. This rocket science made her believe that her neighbor Kenya would resume flights to and fro from the Tanzania once the scheduled reopening of international flights resume  – a hope which turned out hopeless as Kenya didn’t buy Tanzania’s rocket to science when its President declared it Covid19 free.

    In reopening of its sky, Kenya was so considerate of safety in that – would only access low risk countries and which included only 11 countries.

    In a communiqué announced by Transport CS James Macharia, China, South Korea, Japan, Canada, Uganda, France, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Switzerland and Morocco who have mild and limited community transmission will be allowed.

    This announcement came days after President Kenyatta spoke during his 10th Presidential Address on Covid-19 — President Kenyatta told Kenyans not to think countries that are not releasing their coronavirus data are doing any better in handling the pandemic.

    “Let’s not compare ourselves and say some places don’t have the virus. Why do we have it, and they don’t? Let me remind Kenyans, we live in a democracy where there is media freedom. As a state, we don’t have the power to hide anything. Whatever happens, we tell you. There are others who have that power. But we are proud of the fact that we are a democracy and are able to tell each other the truth and face the reality instead of sweeping the truth under the carpet and have our citizens suffer quietly,” Uhuru said.

    In retaliation to these President Uhuru’s comments, Tanzania  turned back diplomatic plane carrying Kenyan envoy mid-air who included West Pokot Senator Samuel Poghisio, who is the Senate Majority leader, back to Nairobi as soon as it reached Monduli in Tanzania.

    As the rift of tit-for-tat diplomatic game widens, Tanzania have retaliated again to Kenya’s decision to sideline it from the 11-member state which it will open airspace to and have banned KQ Planes from operating in its airspace until further notice.

    Pombe Mug-Ful continues to hold public gatherings with no measures put in place, schools are opened, no mask is is worn and totally everything is back to normalcy with citizens silently succumbing to the disease but there is nobody allowed to talk about it fearing for their lives as human rights is a non core value to the rocket science neighborhood.

    Fellow Counterparts who used to believe in Rocket Science but not anymore.

    1. Brazil

    Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro has been criticized for his management of the health crisis.

    He fired two health ministers amid the pandemic and has openly opposed measures to curb the virus, including wearing facemasks and practicing social distancing since he believed that novel corona virus was fallacy until he got infected himself.

    He still remains in self-isolation at his official residence in Brasilia after testing positive for the coronavirus for a third time in two weeks. Brazil has the most COVID-19 cases in Latin America, with more than 2.1 million infections and more than 80,100 deaths.

     

    2. Madagascar.

    Madagascar threw in the towel after Covid19 cases continued to surge despite distributing herbal medicine which President believed to be the cure. https://kenyainsights.com/madagascar-president-rajoelina-gives-up-on-his-cure-cvo-as-covid19-cases-in-the-country-surge-calls-for-international-community-support/

    The rocket science current Tanzania Government believes in, will just ruin forever it’s diplomatic reputation.

  • Pombe Mag – Ful Tanzania locked out of Kenya’s list of 11 International Flights set to resume in August.

    Pombe Mag – Ful Tanzania locked out of Kenya’s list of 11 International Flights set to resume in August.

    Speaking during his 10th Presidential Address on Covid-19, President Kenyatta told Kenyans not to think countries that are not releasing their coronavirus data are doing any better in handling the pandemic.

    “Let’s not compare ourselves and say some places don’t have the virus. Why do we have it, and they don’t? Let me remind Kenyans, we live in a democracy where there is media freedom. As a state, we don’t have the power to hide anything. Whatever happens, we tell you.”

    “There are others who have that power. But we are proud of the fact that we are a democracy and are able to tell each other the truth and face the reality instead of sweeping the truth under the carpet and have our citizens suffer quietly,” Uhuru said.

    The move to exempt Tanzania whose President declared the country safe from Covid19 — a move which was aimed at keeping October General elections hopes at large. The list comes amid increasing diplomatic wars with Kenya.

    Tanzania’s Mag-Ful possible Retaliation.

    On Tuesday, there were claims that the Kenyan delegation to President Benjamin Mkapa’s funeral was turned back mid-air by the Tanzanian authorities after President Uhuru’s comments. Claims that were denied by Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    The plane carrying West Pokot Senator Samuel Poghisio – the Senate Majority leader, returned to Nairobi as soon as it reached Monduli in Tanzania. This was confirmed by Tanzania’s Foreign Affairs Minister Palamagamba Kabudi, who said they expected President Uhuru Kenyatta’s envoy.

    Introducing guests at the funeral service in Uhuru Stadium, Kabudi said they had received information that the plane carrying Poghisio had been forced to turn mid-air because of bad weather.

    “We were expected to have with us the special envoy representing President Uhuru Kenyatta, Senator Samuel Losuron Poghisio… but we have received information that his plane was forced to turn mid-air in Monduli. The information we have is that the plane is expected to land safely in Nairobi,” Kabudi said.

    Kenya’s possible Retaliation

    In a communiqué announced by Transport CS James Macharia, China, South Korea, Japan, Canada, Uganda, France, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Switzerland and Morocco who have mild and limited community transmission will be allowed.

    The CS said the list will be reviewed on a regular basis depending on the circumstances on the ground and after a comprehensive global mapping of the intensity of the disease.

    According to the communiqué, all the passengers arriving in the country will be required to produce a PCR based Covid-19 certificate whose test should have been done 96 hours before travel.

    “Let it be clear that those who will have a certificate of tests done before the stipulated 96 hrs will not be allowed to board in the first place. On arrival the passengers’ temperature should not exceed 37.5 degrees and not display any Covid-19 related signs,” Macharia said.

    He said only such passengers will be exempted from quarantine. Macharia said passengers traveling out of the country will be required to abide by Covid-19 requirements of destination countries and before boarding, airline operators are under firm instructions to check compliance.

    “Passengers arriving after curfew hours shall be allowed to proceed to their hotels but must have a valid passport and boarding pass,” he said.

    The CS said drivers of such passengers will also be required to provide evidence that they came from the airport to pick them.

    “For those departing after the curfew hours, they must have a valid boarding pass before they are allowed,” he said.

    Macharia said air operators are required to provide guiding materials on the application of preventive measures.

    “It should be noted that the aviation industry is an important sector both in terms of transmission and opening the economy. As we head towards the resumption of the international flights we have developed these protocols to ensure the safety of travelers,’ he said.

    Macharia said through the resumption of the local flights, the industry had taken some time to learn what needs to be improved to ensure maximum readiness ahead of the August 1.

    Domestic flight after approvals and protocols opened up on July 15 and so far so good.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Magufuli declared Tanzania Covid free defying WHO, opened its airport for any willing International flight bringing inn tourists. A move to collect revenues and get the country back on her feet. But this couldn’t qualify the intermediate neighbor to Kenya – make it into the list of low risk country to be allowed  to fly into Kenya.​

  • Tragic Selfi snap that left family mourning.

    Tragic Selfi snap that left family mourning.

    On Sunday afternoon while taking pictures with her brother at the world-famous Thomson Falls in Nyahururu town, Laikipia County — Jemima Oresha was standing on a stone next to River Ewaso Narok at the bottom of the falls when she slipped and fell into it.

    The deceased. Moments prior.

    Her brother Zablon Mungafu was taking a picture of her at the time. Mr Mungafu said Ms Oresha travelled from Kitale in Trans Nzoia County on Saturday to visit some of her relatives in Nyahururu and was set to return on Monday.

    “On Sunday, she said she could not go back to Kitale before catching a glimpse of the famous tourist attraction,” said Mr Mungafu.

    “When we reached the site she was very excited to see the falls. She said it was a site to behold and insisted that I take photos of her while standing on a stone next to the river, two metres from where I was.

    “I had finished taking her picture and as she was returning to where I was, she slipped and fell into the river and was swept away by the raging waters as I watched. I could not do anything as the water was moving at a very high speed.”

    THE FALLS

    Thomson Falls stands 74 meters high. It is one of Kenya’s highest, at 2360 meters above sea level. The falls is a tributary of Ewaso Nyiro River, which drains from the Aberdare ranges, that form one of the pillars of the Great Rift Valley.

    It is a great attraction to both local and foreign tourists.

    Mr Mungafu said he informed security officers at the site, who then informed police, and a rescue mission was launched.

    Rescue team underway

    The family has since called on Laikipia County to send more divers to help them in the search for Ms Oresha’s body.

    “We appreciate the good work being done by police, Red Cross personnel and the Laikipia fire brigade but we urge the county to send more divers to the scene,” said Mr Milton Luvokha, another relative.

    Nyahururu Sub-County Police Commander Geoffrey Mayek said the search was suspended on Sunday evening due to heavy rains and high water levels in the river.

    Mr Mayek added, however, that they were hopeful they would find the body. He appealed to locals living downstream to inform police should they come across the body and to be cautious near rivers and waterfalls, especially during the rainy season.

  • Suspected Covid19 complication kills Bondo OCPD

    Suspected Covid19 complication kills Bondo OCPD

    Bondo police OCPD Anthony Wafula has passed on after developing  breathing complications on Monday, died at Bondo Sub-County Hospital where he was rushed at around 11 pm.

    According to a police report, the officer had returned his children to Nairobi immediately after the lifting of partial lockdown and only came back a few days ago. Since then, he is said to have been feeling a little bit unwell until last night when his condition deteriorated before he succumbed at around 1 am.

    Siaya County Police Commander Francis Kooli has confirmed the death, noting that samples have already been picked from the late officer’s body and taken to the KEMRI lab in Kisumu for testing to ascertain the cause of his death.

    More to follow