Kenya Insights

Author: Agencies

  • ‪Harris Challenges Trump To CNN Debate In October, Trump Refuses‬

    ‪Harris Challenges Trump To CNN Debate In October, Trump Refuses‬

    Kamala Harris on Saturday, September 22, challenged Donald Trump to another debate in the lead-up to the US presidential election, with her campaign saying she had accepted a debate invitation from CNN for October 23.

    “Vice President Harris is ready for another opportunity to share a stage with Donald Trump,” campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon said in a statement. “Trump should have no problem agreeing to this debate.”

    The Republican snubbed the offer, saying it was “too late.” It would have been their second debate, after a September 10 encounter she was widely considered to have won.

    Speaking at a campaign rally in the battleground state of North Carolina, Trump said he would like to debate – calling it “good entertainment value” – but that the start of early voting in some states had taken the air out of the idea. “It’s just too late, voting has already started,” he said. However, in 2020, the last presidential debate between Biden and Trump took place on October 22. In 2016, the third debate between Hillary Clinton and Trump happened on October 19.

    He added, to a large and enthusiastic crowd of supporters, that while CNN had been “very fair” when he debated President Joe Biden in June, “they won’t be fair again” after criticism for the handling of the first debate.

    Vice President Harris replaced her boss at the top of the Democratic ticket after the 81-year-old Biden’s disastrous performance against Trump. His exit from the race left Trump, 78, now the oldest presidential nominee against a much younger Harris, 59.

    Race remains neck-and-neck

    Saturday’s announcement came as some states have already begun early voting in what is an agonizingly close race. On the campaign trail on Friday, Harris cast Trump and his party as “hypocrites” over abortion, blaming the former president for an abortion ban in the battleground state of Georgia that she said had caused the deaths of two women.

    Trump has frequently bragged on the campaign trail that his three Supreme Court picks paved the way for the 2022 overturning of the national right to abortion, turning the decision over to states. At least 20 states have since brought in full or partial restrictions, with Georgia banning most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.

    The race remains neck-and-neck, with Trump running with the support of a conservative religious voter base and others, many of whom feel disaffected by the country’s political and economic status quo. Hardline anti-immigrant rhetoric has become a centerpiece of his election campaign.

    The race between Harris and Trump has continued amid a tense atmosphere that was brought to the fore last weekend when a gunman appeared to have tried to assassinate Trump in Florida, the second such threat in as many months. Every vote will count in the race, whose result Trump has once again refused to say he will accept if he loses.

    Trump faces criminal charges for allegedly trying to overturn the 2020 result, after which his supporters violently stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. The result is expected to hinge on just seven battleground states, including North Carolina.

    Trump has sought to lay the blame for any potential loss at the door of Jewish American voters, sparking outrage. “If I don’t win this election… in my opinion the Jewish people would have a lot to do with a loss,” Trump told an anti-Semitism event on Thursday, repeating his grievance that Jewish voters have historically leaned Democratic.

  • Adani Group Link In Kenya’s Sh104B Healthcare Plan

    Adani Group Link In Kenya’s Sh104B Healthcare Plan

    Apeiro Limited, the largest shareholder in the Safaricom consortium that has been awarded the contract for the technology-based system for the Universal Health Coverage (UHC), has business links to the Adani Group.

    The government has awarded the consortium a contract to provide an Integrated Healthcare Technology System (IHTS) for the UHC programme. Each of the three firms will contribute to the Sh104.8 billion needed to implement, maintain and support the IHTS system over the next ten years based on their shareholding.

    The Abu Dhabi firm owns 59.55 percent of the stake in the consortium, Safaricom has a 22.56 per cent stake, while Konvergenz Network Solutions Limited has a shareholding of 17.89 per cent.

    The firms will recoup their investment through monthly instalments that will be paid starting February next year, upon hitting the set performance milestones.

    Apeiro is a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi-based investment firm, Sirius International Holding.

    Sirius itself is a subsidiary of International Holding Limited (IHL), creating a web of companies that make it hard to track the beneficial owners.

    Sirius is currently in a joint venture with Adani in which they run a company known as Sirius Digitech Limited.

    In July this year, this joint venture announced the acquisition of Coredge.io Private Limited which they called a “cutting edge sovereign AI and cloud platform company”.

    The Adani Group has recently gained notoriety in Kenya after it emerged that the Indian conglomerate is in negotiations to operate the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for a period of 30 years.

    The group is also in negotiations for a multibillion dollar long-term lease contract in Kenya’s energy sector.

    The business partnerships have for the first time created a link between Adani and the President William Ruto-championed UHC.

    Far less known, however, is the third member of the consortium, Konvergenz Network Solutions. Its website claims to operate in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, with its address listed as 4th Avenue Towers in Upperhill.

    “It is noteworthy that the Safaricom Consortium will invest the full project cost and recover their investment over 10 years by payment of monthly instalments (the instalment payments will commence from February 2025) based on the successful implementation of the project,” said Medical Services Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai in a press statement on Friday.

    The Safaricom consortium is said to have been picked to implement the big-money project through a Specially Permitted Procurement Procedure under the Public Procurement and Assets Disposal Act.

    The Adani link in the UHC project comes at a time the company is trying to put out fires that have been lit under its feet by civil society groups that are opposed to its $2 billion (Sh258 billion) takeover of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

    Last week, Adani argued in court that its JKIA takeover on a 30-year concession would be of “tremendous benefit to the Kenyan public”.

    “If the contract is signed as proposed in the PIP (privately-initiated proposal) the project will elevate the status of JKIA and also offer an increase in job opportunities to the people of Kenya,” said Adani.

    In Kenya, Adani is being represented by well-known law firm Dentons, Hamilton Harrison & Mathews, where lawyer Adil Khawaja is a senior partner. President William Ruto’s son, Nick Ruto, also works at the law firm.

    Mr Khawaja also currently serves as the chairman of Safaricom, which is the local face of the UHC contract.

    But it has also emerged that the events that led to Adani’s proposed takeover of JKIA kicked more than two years ago, when President Ruto took office.

    A study – whose findings are yet to be publicly released – that was undertaken by a Spanish firm in 2022 purportedly revealed a significant gap in the necessary infrastructure at JKIA to handle increased passenger traffic opened the door for the entry of Adani Group into Kenya.

    Spanish logistics and transport consultancy firm ALG Global was picked by the National Treasury’s Public Private Partnerships (PPP) Directorate to create a national aviation policy as well as the investments that the country needed to make in its aviation infrastructure in the medium-term to establish itself as a major aviation hub.

    ALG Global is a subsidiary of Indra Group, a Madrid-based holding company with interests in global defence, air traffic and space companies.

    The firm, which has 57,000 workers worldwide, made €4.343 billion (Sh624.5 billion) revenues in 2023.

    “ALG was engaged by Kenya’s Ministry of National Treasury and Planning to provide consultancy services for the development of an aviation policy for Kenya, and to review the proposed medium-term investment requirements for enhancing its aviation infrastructure and related services, particularly at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi,” says the Spanish firm on its official website.

    When he appeared before the Senate Committee on Roads, Transport and Housing last week, Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir revealed that ALG’s study set the stage for the pivot towards public private partnerships (PPPs) for development of airports due to financial constraints at the exchequer.

    “The infrastructure deficit was an output of the National Aviation Policy study and Medium-Term Investment Plan of December 2022 done by ALG of Spain,” said Mr Chirchir.

    “The government is pursuing the PPP model on account of fiscal constraints in the face of acute infrastructure constraints,” he said.

    Once ALG finished the National Treasury assignment, it was also handpicked by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) to undertake a feasibility study on JKIA, which would later be used in the Adani deal.

    KAA revealed that ALG was not competitively recruited to undertake the feasibility study on JKIA and that it was singularly sourced.

    “We rode on their institutional memory and the fact that they had data so we recruited them directly to do for us the feasibility study,” said KAA acting Managing Director Henry Ogoye when he appeared before the Senate alongside Mr Chirchir.

    Additionally, ALG was also involved in the drafting of the Heads of Terms between KAA and Adani. Heads of Terms are preliminary agreements that precede substantive contract negotiations.

    Mr Chirchir also named Kenyan law firm Ashitiva Advocates as one of the firms that were involved in the drafting of the document, even as Senators threatened to amend the law to force State officials to promptly reveal any privately-initiated proposals submitted by investors.

    “I think the committee will be making a recommendation that we make an amendment to the law on PPP (that) immediately somebody arrives at your office with a so-called privately-initiated proposal, within 48 hours you must disclose,” said Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.

    According to its website, Ashitiva Advocates describes itself as a specialist law firm in energy, natural resources and infrastructure, financial services and construction, telecommunications, media and technology.

    “I do not have this information with me at the moment. Please let me consult Nelson Ashitiva (a senior partner at the firm) and we will respond on Monday,” said a representative of the law firm when contacted by Nation Africa for further information on its role in the Adani-JKIA deal.

    Adani is also in talks with the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) for a Sh95 billion contract for the construction of three high voltage power transmission lines and two substations.

    Adani is seeking to recoup Sh634.7 billion ($4.92 billion) from the investment over a period of 30 years.

  • Ugandan President Museveni’s Son Ends 2026 Election Bid

    Ugandan President Museveni’s Son Ends 2026 Election Bid

    The son of Uganda’s long-serving leader Yoweri Museveni said on Saturday he had abandoned plans to run for presidency at the next election in 2026, urging his supporters to endorse his father instead.

    President Museveni, who has led the country for 38 years, is widely expected to run for re-election even though he has not yet confirmed his candidacy.

    “I would like to announce that I will not be on the ballot paper in 2026,” said Muhoozi Kainerugaba in a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

    “I fully endorse President Yoweri Museveni in the next elections,” he said, urging his supporters to back his father for a seventh term.

    Kainerugaba, currently the head of the country’s military, is widely expected to eventually become his father’s chosen successor but is also known for making controversial comments. Museveni apologised to Kenya in 2022 after his son threatened on Twitter to invade the neighbouring country.

    Uganda’s opposition has long accused Museveni of seeking to impose a monarchy on Uganda — a claim the president denies.

    Museveni, 80, has ruled Uganda since 1986 and has changed the constitution twice to extend his rule.

    Human rights activists and his political opponents including pop star turned politician Bobi Wine have long accused Museveni of using security forces to jail, intimidate or torture opposition supporters. Museveni denies such accusations.

    Wine came second in the last presidential election in 2021. He rejected the results, alleging ballot stuffing, intimidation and abductions of his supporters.

    Museveni called it Uganda’s fairest-ever vote.

  • Dejected Morara Vows To Refund Kenyans All The Money Sent To Him

    Dejected Morara Vows To Refund Kenyans All The Money Sent To Him

    Morara Kebaso has promised to refund the money sent to him by Kenyans following his request for financial assistance to aid his activism against the Kenya Kwanza government.

    The vocal anti-William Ruto activist says he has decided to end his campaign after some branded him a conman adding that it is time to end his activism and focus on family and professional work.

    “Good morning. I am grateful for all the support Kenyans have given me. But a time comes when a man must decide whether the nation is worth fighting for.

    “My observation is that most Kenyans have already decided on the country they want to live in. I cannot continue to dirtify (sic) my reputation and earn the tag of a conman or beggar. It’s not worth it.

    “I have a company to run and a family that loves me. For this reason, I would like to refund any Kenyan who has supported me and felt conned. I will refund you in full with a top-up for withdrawal. Nataka tumalizane kwa uzuri niende nipumzike,” Morara said in a post on X on Saturday, September 21, 2024.

    U-turn

    On September 20, 2024, Morara posted a photo of him and his colleagues, and this attracted criticism, with others registering displeasure in a number of people in the activist’s circle.

    This criticism infuriated Morara, and although he vowed to continue fighting, he has now taken a U-turn, at least going by his latest post.

    “When I work alone, they say I am individualistic. When I start working with people, they say the people in the photo are red flags. When I raise money for activities, they say (I am a) conman.

    “Kwani mnataka billionaire mwizi mwenye tayari ako na pesa ndio azunguke afanye civic education na pesa yake? Tukisema tuanze party wanasema individual ambition, si basi muanzishe party yenu tujoin atleast tukue na structure inaeza provide alternative leadership?

    “I am not going to try to please everyone. I will do my thing in good conscience, honesty, and vision. As for me and my followers, forward is the battle cry. I am not backing down and I am not focusing on the demeaning comments.

    At the height of his activism, Morara had requested Kenyans to help him acquire public address systems to enable him to carry out civic education in the country.

    To him, two sound system options, a top-tier setup costing Ksh1.2 million and a more modest one priced at Ksh838,200, were enough for his mission.

  • Gachagua: I Was Removed From President Ruto’s Diary WhatsApp Group

    Gachagua: I Was Removed From President Ruto’s Diary WhatsApp Group

    Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has revealed that he was removed from a WhatsApp group containing President William Ruto’s official schedule, further highlighting the deepening tensions between the two leaders.

    Speaking during an exclusive interview on Citizen TV Friday night, Gachagua said the removal has left him in the dark about key presidential functions.

    “I no longer know the president’s schedule. My team and I were removed from that WhatsApp group by the president’s Private Secretary, Mr. Maiyo. It’s very petty,” Gachagua disclosed.

    The deputy president suggested that this exclusion is part of a broader plot to isolate him from government operations. “Everyone knows that there was a meeting in Nyahururu and another one at a Cabinet Secretary’s house in Kitisuru, Nairobi, where the plot to remove me was hatched. It’s not a secret,” he claimed.

    Gachagua further explained that his absence from recent key presidential events was a result of this exclusion. “If I’m not part of the group, how am I supposed to know where the president will be?” he questioned.

    He explained that was the reason he was not at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to receive his boss this week when he flew back from Germany.

    “I was not aware of the time the president was arriving,” he said, explaining, “even today, I don’t know what time he is leaving for New York and he has not spoken to me since morning.”

    The deputy president expressed frustration, saying that President Ruto had once assured him he would not face the same kind of intimidation that Ruto endured during his tenure as deputy president under Uhuru Kenyatta. “The president promised that he wouldn’t allow people to intimidate me, as he was intimidated when he was deputy. But what I am experiencing now is far worse,” Gachagua lamented.

    Despite the apparent fallout, Gachagua warned that any impeachment motion against him would require the president’s approval. “No motion to impeach a deputy president can be tabled in Parliament without the president’s knowledge, so if it’s tabled, then it must have his approval,” he stated.

    He also voiced concerns that such political maneuvers could destabilize the country. “I am asking the president to stop this, as it could have far-reaching consequences for national stability.”

    In the interview, Gachagua also refuted claims of bullying MPs and elected leaders, which have surfaced in recent weeks. He blamed the allegations on his straightforward nature, stating, “I don’t bully anyone. I’m just truthful. I ask MPs to listen to the people, and they call that bullying.”

    The removal from the WhatsApp group seems to symbolize the broader rift between Gachagua and several key leaders, including Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, both of whom have publicly criticized the deputy president. Sakaja recently described Gachagua as a “bully,” while Ichung’wah accused him of using intimidation tactics to influence Mount Kenya MPs.

    Nevertheless, Gachagua insisted that his support among the electorate, particularly in Nyeri, remains strong. “It doesn’t matter what they say—what matters is that the people of Nyeri are with me. Forty-four MCAs and the Governor of Nyeri support me,” he asserted.

  • Ichung’wa Warns Of Another ‘Civilian Coup’ As War With Gachagua Flares Up

    Ichung’wa Warns Of Another ‘Civilian Coup’ As War With Gachagua Flares Up

    In what appears to be an escalation of political tension in the country, leaders within the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) continued their infighting on Friday.

    The flare-ups, driven by supremacy battles in the populous Mt. Kenya region, are intensifying as the country moves closer to the next General Election in three years.

    Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is seen as the central figure in the unfolding drama, with National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and other dissenting leaders opposing his leadership style.

    While Gachagua rallied in Nairobi, drawing crowds in city markets, he challenged his opponents to confront him directly rather than plotting against him behind his back.

    “Quit plotting in secret and confront me directly. I was elected by the people, and I’m here to stay,” Gachagua said, addressing the threat of impeachment from some Members of Parliament.

    Ichung’wah, never one to shy away from opposing Gachagua, moments after his rallies, referenced the infamous invasion of Parliament during the youth-led Generation Z protests on June 25, 2024.

    In a thinly veiled remark aimed at Gachagua and his allies, the Kikuyu MP questioned whether they were regrouping to incite violence in the country.

    “While I was away…. The OWNERS, FINANCIERS, and EXECUTORS of the 25th June attempted civilian coup have regrouped,” Ichung’wah took to X.

    During the peak of protests demanding better governance and accountability, five associates of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua were interrogated by detectives regarding their involvement in the unrest that swept the nation.

    Gachagua’s allies claimed the questioning was a state tactic to intimidate them into withdrawing support for the Deputy President.

    While Gachagua remained silent on the issue, his supporters were vocal about their belief that the government aimed to undermine him.

    Ichung’wah convinced that Gachagua may have played a role in the chaos to discredit President William Ruto and his administration, asserted that the “treasonous criminals” were out to disrupt again.

    “If you were looking for the TREASONOUS criminals who infiltrated the otherwise peaceful and legit demos, look no further! Are they planning a new round of violence? Can’t place it far from them.”

    In unrestrained rallies across Nairobi, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua asserted that government forces were sent to intimidate him, but he pledged to stand firm.

    Facing accusations of promoting tribal politics, Gachagua has found himself isolated by some leaders from his home region, who have rejected him as their political leader.

  • Keep Off Nairobi Politics, Sakaja Warns Gachagua As He Accuses Him Of Fueling Disunity In The City

    Keep Off Nairobi Politics, Sakaja Warns Gachagua As He Accuses Him Of Fueling Disunity In The City

    Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja on Friday, September 20, 2024, hit out at the embattled Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, telling him to keep Nairobi residents out of his politics.

    Sakaja, who remarked that he had avoided a confrontation with Gachagua for a long time, indicated that he had been moved to speak out after the second in command held a meeting in the heart of the city and reportedly misinformed traders speaking in his vernacular.

    “I have for long avoided responding to the Deputy President’s tribal diatribe, but today’s activities leave me no choice. This morning, in a misinformed tribal diatribe, and while speaking in vernacular in the heart of our nation’s capital, you have chosen to use falsehoods to incite traders against the measures we are taking,” Sakaja remarked.

    This comes just days after Gachagua advised Sakaja against a planned relocation of traders from the Wakulima Market in the city, noting that he had been receiving complaints since he had guaranteed them that their businesses would not be disrupted.

    “My younger brother Governor Johnson Sakaja, traders from Wakulima Market, Nairobi County, have called me and reminded me of the undertaking you and I jointly gave them in July 2022 as I campaigned for you in Muthurwa,” Gachagua said on September 12, 2024, adding: “Kindly, do consider having a sitting with the leadership of the market to agree on whatever changes your government desires without adversely affecting their livelihoods.”

    Sakaja responded by telling Gachagua that he had his phone number and that he could easily call him to discuss the issues.

    However, Sakaja now states that Gachagua has yet to reach out to resolve the contentious matters that had arisen from the city decongestion exercise.

    “To Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua I say: If only you had taken your phone and called me as I had suggested, you would have learnt a few things,” Sakaja stated.

    Adding: “What we will not allow are traders endangering their lives by selling their wares on the roadside. They will move to Kangundo Road Market. However, if you have sufficient space outside your office on Harambee Avenue, I am sure they will be happy to display their wares and ply their trade in that safe environment.”

    The Nairobi governor also clarified that traders at the Marikiti market would not be affected by the displacement, noting that only selected produce would be delivered to the other markets to help with decongestion efforts.

    He emphasised that his government would not be engaged in politics at the expense of the safety of traders in the city, noting that traders selling their wares along the roads risked danger from vehicles.

    “We agreed on these and other measures that will ease congestion in the market and improve the safety and welfare of our traders and citizens. We will not allow you to take us back,” Sakaja noted.

    Adding: “Nairobi is a cosmopolitan global hub that will operate in an orderly manner. I can assure you of that. I know you are dealing with other weighty and impending political issues. Keep the people of Nairobi out of it.”

  • Mexican President Blames The US For Bloodshed In Sinaloa As Cartel Violence Surges

    Mexican President Blames The US For Bloodshed In Sinaloa As Cartel Violence Surges

    CULIACAN, Mexico (AP) — Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador blamed the United States in part on Thursday for the surge in cartel violence terrorizing the northern state of Sinaloa which has left at least 30 people dead in the past week.

    Two warring factions of the Sinaloa cartel have clashed in the state capital of Culiacan in what appears to be a fight for power since two of its leaders were arrested in the United States in late July. Teams of gunmen have shot at each other and the security forces.

    Meanwhile, dead bodies continued to pop up around the city. On one busy street corner, cars drove by pools of the blood leading to a body in a car mechanic shop, while heavily armed police in black masks loaded up another body stretched out on a side street of the Sinaloan city.

    Asked at his morning briefing if the U.S. government was “jointly responsible” for this violence in Sinaloa, the president said, “Yes, of course … for having carried out this operation.”

    Forensic investigators remove a body from the street in La Costerita, Culiacan, Sinaloa state, Mexico, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

    The recent surge in cartel warfare had been expected after Joaquín Guzmán López, a son of former Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, landed near El Paso, Texas on July 25 in a small plane with Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.

    Zambada was the cartel’s elder figure and reclusive leader. After his arrest, he said in a letter circulated by his lawyer that he had been abducted by the younger Guzmán and taken to the U.S. against his will.

    On Thursday afternoon, another military operation covered the north of Culiacan with military and circling helicopters.

    Traffic was heavy in Culiacan and most schools were open, even though parents were still not sending their children to classes. Businesses continue to close early and few people venture out after dark. While the city has slowly reopened and soldiers patrol the streets, many families continue to hide away, with parents and teachers fearing they’ll be caught in the crossfire.

    “Where is the security for our children, for ourselves too, for all citizens? It’s so dangerous here, you don’t want to go outside,” one Culiacan mother told the Associated Press.

    Police watch forensics remove bodies from a street in Culiacan, Sinaloa state, Mexico, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo)

    The mother, who didn’t want to share her name out of fear of the cartels, said that while some schools have recently reopened, she hasn’t allowed her daughter to go for two weeks. She said she was scared to do so after armed men stopped a taxi they were traveling in on their way home, terrifying her child.

    During his morning news briefing, López Obrador had claimed American authorities “carried out that operation” to capture Zambada and that “it was totally illegal, and agents from the Department of Justice were waiting for Mr. Mayo.”

    “If we are now facing instability and clashes in Sinaloa, it is because they (the American government) made that decision,” he said.

    He added that there “cannot be a cooperative relationship if they take unilateral decisions” like this. Mexican prosecutors have said they were considering bringing treason charges against those involved in the plan to nab Zambada.

    He was echoed by President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, who said later in the day that “we can never accept that there is no communication or collaboration.”

    It’s the latest escalation of tensions in the U.S.-Mexico relationship. Last month, the Mexican president said he was putting relations with the U.S. and Canadian embassies “on pause” after ambassadors criticized his controversial plan to overhaul Mexico’s judiciary by requiring all judges to stand for election.

    Still, the Zambada capture has fueled criticisms of López Obrador, who has throughout his administration refused to confront cartels in a strategy he refers to as “hugs not bullets.” On previous occasions, he falsely stated that cartels respect Mexican citizens and largely fight amongst themselves.

    While the president, who is set to leave office at the end of the month, has promised his plan would reduce cartel violence, such clashes continue to plague Mexico. Cartels employ an increasing array of tactics, including roadside bombs or IEDs, trenches, home-made armored vehicles and bomb-dropping drones.

    Last week, López Obrador publicly asked Sinaloa’s warring factions to act “responsibly”and noted that he believed the cartels would listen to him.

    But the bloodshed has only continued.

  • Abducted Kitengela Three, Found Alive

    Abducted Kitengela Three, Found Alive

    Two brothers and activist who were abducted in Kitengela a month ago have been found alive, Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo has said.

    The two, Jamil Longton (42) and Aslam Longton (36), were found in Gachie Friday morning.

    “I am informed that Jamil Longton and his brother Aslam were dumped at the Gachie border of Kiambu and Nairobi by their captors. Every prayer and intervention made a difference. We thank God that they are safe!” Odhiambo said in a statement on X.

    LSK President also confirmed Njagi had been found alive. She said Njagi presented himself at Tigoni police station after he was ostensibly dumped by around the area by his abductors.

    “At around 1 am Bob Njagi managed find his way to Tigoni police station and for assistance. He is alive and well,” Odhiambo said.

    She at the same time revealed that the activist had shared a message to her confirming he is safe.

    “The message from Bob and family, ‘To family, friends and every Kenyan that has continued to pray for me, I wish to confirm that I am well and with my family. It is now time to quiet the noise, be grateful for life and for everyone to reflect on why Kenya matters,” Njagi said, according to the LSK president.

    Police IG Douglas Kanja said they are investigating the claims of abduction after a report was made on the issue.

    “You are aware that I have just taken over the office but what I have gotten from our officers is that we don’t have the Kitengela three with us. I know a report was made and we have got an active investigation,” Kanja said at Jogoo House, Nairobi on Thursday.

    DCI boss Amin too said they did not have the three men.

    “We don’t support any form of abduction and for now we don’t have the three,” he said.

    The trio went missing in Kitengela on Monday, August 19, 2024, after being forcefully abducted by people alleged to be police.

    Reports indicated that the brothers went missing a few meters from their home.

    At the same time, Njagi was allegedly pulled out of a bus in Mlolongo and bundled into a Subaru by unknown people.

    LSK in a case filed for the three to be produced by police believed the three were abducted by security officers.

    A boda boda rider who witnessed the abduction of the two brothers in Kitengela said the captors were using a white Subaru car.

    “The driver stepped out of the car and had handcuffs on his waist. He checked them out, before getting back to the car.”

    The trio’s disappearance has been a pain for the National Police Service to the point of putting former acting IG Gilbert Masengeli into hot soup.

    Justice Lawrence Mugambi of the criminal court, Friday, last week handed him a six-month jail term for contempt of court after he failed to appear in court several times to explain their whereabouts.

    Masengeli is in court battling to overturn the sentence.

    Masengeli’s attempt to appear before Justice Lawrence Mugambi Thursday hit a snag.

    He wanted to appear and apologize to the court.

    Appearing virtually before presiding Judge on duty Justice Chacha Mwita, his lawyers Cecil Miller and Steve Ogola urged the Judge to arrange so that Masengeli can appear before Justice Mugambi between 2pm-3.30pm.

    Justice Mwita said Mugambi’s diary was Thursday busy as he is in a three Judge bench in another matter.

    Masengeli’s legal team pleaded with the court to allow their client to appear in court Thursday as the six-month jail sentence is supposed to take effect Friday, September 20.

    “We are praying that you give directions so that we appear before Mugambi today,” Masengeli said through Miller.

    Justice Mwita however ordered the file be placed before Justice Mugambi tomorrow Friday so that he can order when and what times parties should appear.

    This is when Masengeli who has been the acting Inspector General of police is supposed to start his six months jail term.

    On their part, LSK and Nelson Havi who is among the petitioners’ lawyers were requesting for the matter to be mentioned next week.

    Masengeli is in trouble over failure to appear in court to explain the whereabouts of three men who had been missing.

    Two of them were however found according to LSK.

  • Kenyans Could Be Consuming Substandard Cooking Oil, Probe Reveals The Evil Chain

    Kenyans Could Be Consuming Substandard Cooking Oil, Probe Reveals The Evil Chain

    Kenyans could be consuming substandard cooking oil due to negligence by officials from the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC), Senators heard Thursday.

    A probe by Senators heard that a total of 73 consignments of cooking oil was imported into the country by KNTC last year, out of which 44 were inspected by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).

    The quality assurance agency submitted that eight out of the 44 consignments were found to contain a total 293, 800 20-litre jerrycans (5.88 million litres) of substandard cooking oil. It is this cooking oil that Senators heard could have made its way into the market.

    Appearing before the Senate Committee on Trade and Industrialisation, KEBS Chief Executive Officer Esther Ngari submitted that the edible oil shipments arrived in the country on diverse dates between May 2023 and November 2023.

    She explained that out of the 44 consignments, KEBS targeted eight consignments for destination inspection. “Samples of edible oilwere drawn from the consignments for testing against the requirements of KS EAS 769; 2019 Kenya Standard Specification for fortified edible oils and fats,” stated Ngari.

    “Out of the eight sampled consignments, a total of seven failed in vitamin A while one consignment failed in both insoluble impurities and Vitamin A,” she added.

    The committee chaired by Kajiado Senator Lenku Ole Kanar was also told that KEBS recommended for the holding and destruction of the consignments by KNTC or they be returned to source. According to data relayed by the committee, the whereabouts of these consignments are now not clear.

    Ngari revealed that the first consignment of the edible oil in 53,200 20- litre Jerrycans was rejected on May 6, 2023. It was imported by Malaysian firm Multi Commerce FZC.

    The second consignment of 66,500 jerrycans was rejected on June 10, 2023 and the third was rejected in June. It contained 39,900 jerrycans. The fourth was also rejected in June, holding 40,260 jerrycans, another on October 1 which had 13,420 jerrycans of 20-liter cooking oilimported by Ascent Groups.

    Others included a consignment on October 20 and containing 26,840 jerrycans from Inno Wangs, and two more in November each containing 26, 840 jerrycans which were rejected on November 8, 2023.

    Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago awondered why KEBS failed to recall the other 36 out of 44 consignment imports from the market.

     “…When you test something and you find that out of 10, seven samples have failed, what does that say about the product? Would you still go ahead and approve the rest of the shipment or should the sample serve as a redflag?” inquired Mandago.

    In her defense, Ngari stated, “We had already rejected the oil… we did not destroy the oilbecause by the time the required 30 days were lapsing, the consignments were already subject to an investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI),” she stated.

    She added, “We communicated to KNTC the action that needed to be taken…destruction is usually a multi-agency undertaking.”

    In response to Mandago’s question, Quality Assurance and Inspection director at KEBS Geoffrey Murira said that a majority of the consignment came with a certificate of conformity, thus there was no need for quality re-testing. He explained that SGS which is a company contracted by KEBS to do pre-testing of the products at the country of exportation, had issued the consignments with a certificate of consignment which shows that they had complied with relevant Kenya standards and regulations.

  • KDF Hands Over Sh2.4B MV Uhuru II To Kenya Railways

    KDF Hands Over Sh2.4B MV Uhuru II To Kenya Railways

    The Kenya Defence Forces on Thursday handed over the Sh2.4 billion MV Uhuru II to Kenya Railways Corporation in Kisumu.

    Kenya Shipyards Limited (KSL), a state-owned corporation, commenced the construction of MV Uhuru II in June 2021. President William Ruto commissioned the vessel operating in Lake Victoria in October 2023.

    Cabinet Secretary for Defence Soipan Tuya and her Roads counterpart Davis Chirchir graced the event at the KSL facility along the Lake Victoria shores.

    The government undertook the construction of the 100-metre-long vessel to complement MV Uhuru I and meet the rising demand for transportation of goods within the Lake Victoria region.

    The milestone has position the country as a shipbuilding and repair destination in the East Africa region.

    The transfer will open up many job opportunities for locals at the Port as the vessel will be transporting goods to the neighboring countries of Uganda and Tanzania.

    The construction of the vessel underscored Kenya Shipyards’ ability to build, repair, and maintain ships for the local and regional markets.

    The revival of Kenya’s maritime transport and logistics sector through shipbuilding augments the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) of the Kenya Kwanza government.

    MV Uhuru I, built in 1965, resumed operation after her successful rehabilitation by the Kenya Defence Forces in 2019 with a capacity to carry 1,260 tonnes of cargo.

    MV Uhuru II, capable of transporting 1,063 metric tonnes of cargo, is optimized for the transportation of petroleum oil products as well as cereals, fertilisers, sugar, and seeds.

  • Njuri Ncheke Elders Endorse Kindiki As Mt Kenya Kingpin Replacing Gachagua

    Njuri Ncheke Elders Endorse Kindiki As Mt Kenya Kingpin Replacing Gachagua

    Njuri Ncheke elders from Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties have officially endorsed Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki as their preferred representative to President William Ruto’s administration.

    The elders made the announcement during a meeting held at their headquarters on Wednesday, September 18, 2024.

    The elders noted that the decision to back Kindiki, who hails from Meru and currently serves as the interior CS was based on his strong working relationship with President Ruto. The elders expressed confidence in Kindiki’s ability to serve as the region’s key liaison with the national government.

    “As the Njuri Ncheke elders from Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties, we have gathered here at our headquarters to endorse Kithure Kindiki, who works well with our president, William Ruto. Kithure Kindiki is our own son from Meru who is the Cabinet Secretary for Interior. Today, Njuri Ncheke in their numbers have endorsed Kindiki as our kingpin who will be our link to the government. We are asking him to speak to our president to bring us development. Njuri Ncheke has spoken, and once they do, there is no opposition,” one elder stated.

    By endorsing Kindiki as the regional kingpin, the elders said they aim to solidify his role as a vital bridge between their communities and the national government, ensuring better representation and development in the region.

    Gachagua out, Kindiki in

    This endorsement comes just a week after elders from Embu, Meru, and Tharaka Nithi counties severed ties with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who has for a long time been considered the dominant figure in the larger Mt. Kenya region. They threw their support behind Kindiki as the key link between the Mt. Kenya East region and the national government.

    “We support the call for Prof. Kindiki to lead Mt. Kenya East’s engagement in national discussions that will create networks at the national level to move Kenya forward,” they stated.

    The elders represented by Cyrus Ngeranwa and Mbiti Ruguongo from Njuri Njeke in Tharaka, expressed concerns over the rising political tensions in the Mt. Kenya region. They believe this unrest is diverting attention from essential development matters.

    “While we recognize the president’s efforts to bring growth and prosperity, we are concerned about the rising political tension,” the elders said.

    While they acknowledged President William Ruto’s efforts to appoint key leaders from Mt. Kenya East, including three Cabinet Secretaries, they emphasized the importance of focusing on development and unity instead of divisive political debates.

    The elders also reiterated their commitment to holding the government accountable for delivering on promises made during the 2022 economic forums, particularly in areas like improving farmers’ livelihoods, addressing youth unemployment, and completing pledged development projects.

  • Moi University Spent Sh29.8M To Build A Gate Budgeted For Sh4.8M, Audit Reveals

    Moi University Spent Sh29.8M To Build A Gate Budgeted For Sh4.8M, Audit Reveals

    Details disclosed before the National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Education have revealed how Moi University spent a whooping Sh29.8 million to build the university gate.

    The revelation unearthed in the auditor general report showed the institution management initially had a Sh4.8 million budget but it was demolished because the gate was on a road reserve.

    The University led by the Vice Chancellor Isaac Kosgei then allocated Sh25 million to build a new gate in a different location raising concerns from the Auditor General.

     “We were forced to abandon the first project because we were advised by Kenya Rural Boards Authority KERRA that the gate was on a road reserve,” VC Kosgei told MPs.

    MPs questioned why the university allocated the colossal amounts on building a university gate yet it was facing other pressing needs in the higher learning institution including delayed salaries for staff.

    “You build a gate of Sh24 million, and yet you are insolvent? What is on this gate, is it a storied gate?” the committee chair Wanami Wamboka posed.

    Rivatex loan

    The committee is also  investigating circumstances under which Rivatex was extended a Sh3 billion loan from Exim Bank following revelations that Moi University acquired the textile company at Sh600 million.

    Treasury took the loan to upgrade the facility with modern equipment following details that the varsity would repay the loan which is maturing next year.

    A crisis is looming as Rivatex has been making losses after it posted a Sh300 million loss in the year to June 2023.

     “Your core mandate is education but you detour and invest in a company that is not functional. There is more to be done on this,” the committee chair said.

    The university explained thet bought Rivatex to train textile engineering students, reach out to farmers, and produce fabrics.

    “It was a small component…Jubilee sought to revive it and former President Uhuru Kenyatta agreed to connect us to the Exim bank to buy the equipment,” he said.

    Kosgey said the university was liquid when the decision to purchase the textile firm was made.

     “If you were given Sh3 billion, would you not improve learning facilities? Are you getting value for money?” Wanami posed.

    MPs want the Industry Ministry, Education Ministry, Treasury, former VC Richard Mibeyi and any other person of interest to appear before the committee to explain the events.

    Fraud allegations

    This is at emerged that employees of the university colluded with bank officials to divert monies paid as school fees to a private staff welfare bank account.

    Details in the Auditor General report show Sh 7.7 Million paid by Moi University students, Nairobi branch was swindled to a different account.

    The Moi University Vice Chancellor admitted the fraud incident explaining that disciplinary action had been taken against the staff involved in the fraud.

     “It was a case of fraud where some employees colluded with the bank to fleece the school,” Kosgei said.

    “We did not take them to court, instead we took them through a disciplinary process and sacked them, but one them appealed and he his back at the institution,” he added.

  • JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon Is Set To Visit Kenya Next Month, Marking His First Trip to Africa in 7 Years

    JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon Is Set To Visit Kenya Next Month, Marking His First Trip to Africa in 7 Years

    JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon plans to travel to Africa in mid-October in a push by the biggest U.S. lender to expand on the continent, four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, his first trip there in seven years.

    Dimon is expected to visit Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Ivory Coast during the trip next month, two of the sources said. JPMorgan already has offices in South Africa and Nigeria where it offers asset and wealth management and well as commercial and investment banking services.

    Overseas markets have been a key focus area to generate growth for JPMorgan — which has assets of over $4.1 trillion and operations in more than 100 countries.

    In 2018, Dimon said the lender would look at entering Ghana and Kenya. Local regulators in those two countries had blocked JPMorgan’s growth plans, according to media reports.

    Kenyan President William Ruto said in February 2023 after a meeting with a senior JPMorgan executive that the bank had committed to opening a new office in Nairobi.

    It was not immediately clear how close JPMorgan is to opening in these countries.

    Major global banks are seeking to gain a bigger share of sovereign debt and corporate transactions in Africa, analysts said, while also aiming to serve more international companies that have operations on the continent, said Eric Musau, head of research at Nairobi-based Standard Investment Bank.

    International lenders are seeking to grow their revenues by offering wealth management services that provide access to investments like offshore equity, debt and mutual funds, Musau added.

    Banking giants are also offering private banking services, seeking to differentiate themselves from local and regional lenders that are prevalent in retail markets.

    While most consumers on the continent have access to financial services through local and regional commercial banks, private banking “is where the next evolution will be,” said Francis Mwangi, CEO of Kestrel Capital, a Nairobi brokerage.

    JPMorgan is among the top five international private banks by assets under supervision and growth in overseas markets is a key priority, it said in May.

    In the last five years, about 700 bankers have been involved in expanding into 27 new locations worldwide, generating $2 billion in revenue for its commercial and investment bank, JPMorgan’s President Daniel Pinto told investors in May.

    JPMorgan has an advisory board of international executives and former policy makers that have links to Africa, including Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair who founded the Africa Governance Initiative. Major global lenders have adopted differing strategies for individual sub-Saharan markets, targeting the fastest-growing areas while seeking to distinguish themselves from local and regional competitors. Standard Chartered has focused on markets like Kenya. Assets under management in the East African nation grew by a quarter last year to 185.5 billion Kenyan shillings ($1.4 billion), it said.

    The lender sold its subsidiaries in Angola, Cameroon, Gambia and Sierra Leone last year.

    ($1 = 128.5000 Kenyan shillings)

  • Fraud: City Tycoon Forged Documents To Acquire Property In Parklands

    Fraud: City Tycoon Forged Documents To Acquire Property In Parklands

    City tycoon Ramji Manji Shamji unlawfully acquired the title deed of a prime property in Parklands,  Nairobi.

    Justice Christine Ochieng found that Ramji used forged documents and deceptive practices on the late businessman Rajanikant Nathoobhai Shah in 2001.

    The Environment and Lands Court ordered the Lands Registrar to cancel Ramji’s documents on the property, which was allocated to Shah in 1983.

    The estate, represented by Arvinlal Nathoo Shah, argued that Ramji had fraudulently acquired the land title.

    Ramji, along with Paul Githaiga Ng’ang’a, was accused of improperly obtaining the title deed from Edward Nthuli, who had allegedly sold it to Ng’ang’a under dubious circumstances.

    During the hearing, Nthuli filed defense, denying ownership of the land and claiming that the transaction involving Ramji was fraudulent.

    Nthuli argued that the land transfer to Ramji was not authorised and that he never consented to the sale.

     He maintained that the transaction was executed without his knowledge and that he had not authorized the transfer.

    On the other hand, Ng’ang’a and Ramji Ramji, a well-known tycoon with significant business interests, presented a defense that included a historical overview of the land.

     They insisted that Ramji was the rightful owner, having developed the land significantly.

     They contested the claims of fraud and maintained that they had obtained all necessary approvals and clearances for the land transactions.

    Rajnikant Shah, testifying in court, produced documents to support his claim. He presented his Letter of Allotment, a receipt for fees paid on September 9, 1992, and a Grant dated December 6, 1983, as evidence.

    Shah detailed the procedural hurdles he faced, including the delay in construction due to a sewer line passing through the property and the subsequent receivership of Trust Bank, which held his funds.

    Despite these issues, Shah asserted that his title deed, issued in 1983, was genuine and had not been cancelled.

    Shah also claimed that Shamji’s title deed contained a Deed Plan copied from his, arguing that two titles couldn’t share the same plan.

     He asserted that Shamji’s title, issued in 2001, was invalid since Shah’s original title and Deed Plan remained in his possession.

    The defendants, Shamji and his Son Harish Ramji Patel and Ng’ang’a offered a narrative of legitimate acquisition and development.

  • Pagers Used In Hezbollah Attack Reportedly Came From Taiwan, Sabotaged By Israel

    Pagers Used In Hezbollah Attack Reportedly Came From Taiwan, Sabotaged By Israel

    Pagers that exploded simultaneously across Lebanon on Tuesday, killing at least nine people and injuring around 2,800, including the Iranian ambassador, reportedly originated from Taiwan, according to international media reports.

    The devices, ordered from Taiwanese manufacturer Gold Apollo, were allegedly tampered with to include explosives before arriving in Lebanon, in what officials have described as an unprecedented attack attributed to Israel.

    Anonymous American and other officials told the media that Israeli intelligence infiltrated the production process, adding explosive components and a remote triggering mechanism to the pagers without raising suspicion. The pagers had been part of a shipment of 1,000 devices recently imported by Hezbollah, according to an unidentified source.

    International news agencies reported that Hezbollah had ordered approximately 3,000 pagers, primarily the AR924 model, from Gold Apollo. Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad confirmed that nine people, including a young girl, were killed in the blasts.

    He suggested that Israel’s involvement in tampering with the pagers raised the possibility that the third party which sold the devices could have been an “intelligence front” established for this purpose.

    Israel has not yet commented on the incident.

  • KRA Seeks Parliament Approval To Tax Churches And NGOs

    KRA Seeks Parliament Approval To Tax Churches And NGOs

    Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) now wants lawmakers to approve the Income Tax Regulations (Charitable Organisations and Donations Exemptions) to allow it crack the whip on churches and NGOs which have engaged in income generating business and are not paying taxes.

    Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga told MPs who sit in the delegated legislation committee that some of the organisations had moved away from their core mandate and are now engaging in businesses that generate income.

    He told the MPs that the authority had faced a lot of challenges in implementing paragraph 10 of the Income Tax Act (Cap 470) that outlines guidelines on the applications, processing and granting of income tax exemptions due to differences in interpretation by the taxpayers and the authority.

    Charitable purposes

    He specifically said that the differences had emerged with regards to interpretation of terms such as public character, charitable purposes, public benefit, relief of poverty, distress in public, advancement or religion or education following the exemption granted under the Income Tax act.

    He said: “These differences in interpretation have in most instances led to abuse of exemption by the organisations. For instance, many exempt organisations are engaging in businesses which are unrelated to charitable purposes for which they are established to undertake without ploughing back such gains to the main objectives of the organization.”

    He added: “The rules begin by providing interpretation of some of the terms used therein. Specifically the terms which have been interpreted differently by the authority and the taxpayers. The rules further outline the requirements for exemption and the conditions that the organisations must meet to benefit from exemption. These conditions include the organisation and operational conditions. These conditions are necessary as they set the boundary within which the exemption will be granted.”

    Wattanga regretted that despite the times changing, the said rules have never changed and thus the authority wants to be allowed circumstances under which they shall consider a charitable purpose and activities.

    The Income Tax Act (Charitable Organisations and Donations Exemptions) Rules 2024 which were published on 18 June 2024, replacing the 2007 regulations outline the requirements to be met by a charitable organization to qualify for a tax exemption on their income and to outline how donations to these organizations can be considered for tax deductions.

    He said: “The rules provide that the income of an organisation be exempt if it is formed for purposes of relief of poverty, relief of distress of the public, advancement of religion or advancement of education.”

    Maurice Oray, KRA Deputy Commissioner said that although there are laws that allow certain organisations to benefit from tax exemptions, he said there is a need to regulate their activities. The new regulations target institutions that have invested in commercial parking lots which is away from the core mandate of which they’ve been exempted from taxation. For instance, he said that despite tax exemptions being granted to educational institutions, this provision is not given to all schools

    Exempt under the Act

    He said: “There is a need to ensure that their activities are regulated as much as they are provided for in the Act.”

    In the new legislation, KRA said that those who have channelled their contributions to the organisations that have been licensed for charity, will going forward be able to claim the same in refunds.

    He said: “If the donations are made to a body that is exempt under the Act, then you can claim that as a deduction in your tax computation. If the reduction is from your income tax, that person must be registered and they have a certificate. “

  • Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Charged With Racketeering, Sex Trafficking

    Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Charged With Racketeering, Sex Trafficking

    Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been hit with three federal charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, according to an indictment unsealed on Tuesday.

    The indictment was unsealed after Combs, 54, was arrested in Manhattan by federal agents on Monday night, following a year in which his career was derailed by several lawsuits accusing him of physical and sexual abuse.

    According to the 14-page indictment, Combs turned his business empire into a criminal enterprise in which he and his associates engaged in sex trafficking, forced labor and other crimes.

    Combs threatened and coerced women to “fulfill his sexual desires,” the indictment said.

    Marc Agnifilo, Combs’ lawyer, said on Monday night he was disappointed with the decision to pursue an “unjust prosecution” of the rapper and producer.

    “Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man, and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children, and working to uplift the Black community,” Agnifilo said. “He is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal.”

    Agnifilo added that Combs voluntarily relocated to New York in anticipation of the charges.

    Combs, who has also been known as P. Diddy and Puff Daddy, was a major figure in hip-hop in the 1990s and 2000s. He founded the label Bad Boy records, and is credited with helping turn rappers and R&B singers such as Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, Notorious B.I.G. and Usher into stars.

    His reputation came under fire last November when former girlfriend Casandra Ventura, an R&B singer known as Cassie, accused him in a lawsuit of serial physical abuse, sexual slavery and rape during their decade-long relationship. She agreed to an undisclosed settlement one day after suing, even as Combs denied her allegations.

    LAWSUITS MOUNT

    His legal pressures mounted, and he has faced several civil lawsuits by women and men who accused him of sexual assault and other misconduct. His lawyers have been fighting those cases in court. Federal agents raided his homes in Los Angeles and Miami Beach, Florida six months ago.

    Singer Dawn Richard, formerly of Danity Kane, last week accused Combs in a lawsuit of sexual assault, battery, sex trafficking, gender discrimination and fraud.
    A Michigan judge this month ordered Combs to pay $100 million to Derrick Lee Smith, who said Combs drugged and sexually assaulted him at a party almost 30 years ago, after Combs failed to show up to defend himself in court. A lawyer for Combs said he would seek to dismiss that judgment.

    Combs has also rejected claims in a February sex trafficking lawsuit by Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, who Combs employed as a producer on his 2023 release “The Love Album: Off the Grid.”

    The indictment is not Combs’ first brush with the law. He was acquitted in March 2001 of bribery and weapons charges in a criminal trial stemming from a nightclub shooting that left three people wounded.

  • Top NIS Officer Sacked Over Passports Bribery Scandal

    Top NIS Officer Sacked Over Passports Bribery Scandal

    The employment and labour relations court in Nairobi has upheld the sacking of a senior officer in the National Intelligence Service (NIS) on grounds of receiving bribes in Isiolo when vetting individuals who applied for Kenyan passports.

    The intelligence body terminated the contract of Samson Gekura Tuguro on September 1, 2022, saying it had checked his bank accounts held in KCB, Co-operative Bank and Equity Bank and seen abnormal deposits in excess of Sh3.14 million in the accounts between November 2021 and May 2022.

    The NIS said that it had established a link between Mr Tuguro and passport applicants and brokers, including one man named Said who had paid an inducement to get passport cleared by the petitioner.

    Mr Tuguro filed the petition at the High Court on December 5, 2022 contesting his dismissal, citing malice and unfairness in the disciplinary hearing before the board of inquiry that recommended his sacking.

    He told the court that he was appointed to the rank of Intelligence Officer I (NIS Level Six) in July 2016 after completing a senior intelligence officer basic course at the NIS academy for six months, before being promoted to senior intelligence officer II (Level Seven) in January 2017, and eventually to senior intelligence I (Level Eight) in July 2020.

    Meanwhile, he had been posted in 2017 to Wajir County as the senior intelligence officer in charge of Eldas Sub-County, before being posted to Isiolo County in May 2018 as the county analyst. In February 2022, he was transferred to Turkana County to work in the same capacity.

    In dismissing him, the NIS told the court that having been assigned the sensitive and critical role of vetting applicants for passport issuance, Mr Tuguro was engaged in what it termed offensive acts of soliciting and receiving bribes from officers and members of the public, causing a breach of security and bringing the NIS into serious disrepute.

    “The court notes that from the bank statements provided before it, the 1st Respondent had a valid reason to dismiss the petitioner who had excess deposits than what he was earning and some deposits have clearly been linked to the customers he assisted to clear their passports,” said the court in its ruling.

    “The burden of proof in civil matters is on the balance of probabilities and not beyond reasonable doubt. To this extent the court finds that the petitioner was linked to the offences of soliciting and receiving bribes as shown from the investigation reports.”

    In his submissions, Mr Tuguro told the court that the disciplinary board had raised six allegations against him, but proceeded to try him for just one count of soliciting and receiving bribes from other officers or members of the public.

    He added that the board also ignored his request to be provided with evidence, witnesses and complaints and allegations against him, instead pressuring him to plead guilty and ask for forgiveness in case he wanted to retain his job. The evidence included print-outs of his cellphone communications, messages and bank statements that were used to ask him questions without sharing the same with him.

    Mr Tuguro also requested that the investigating officer in the matter be changed, citing conflict of interest, but this was ignored.

    In the finding against Mr Tuguro’s claims, the court told him that he was working in a high security institution that was a quasi-disciplined force, “hence the rigours of civilian processes could in certain situations be strictly observed” and therefore there was reasonable procedural fairness in the hearing process that led to his dismissal.

  • EACC Arrests Civil Society Head In Sh3M Extortion Plot Against State CEO

    EACC Arrests Civil Society Head In Sh3M Extortion Plot Against State CEO

    The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested Peter Odhiambo Agoro, Chairperson of the Consortium of Civil Societies in Kenya, for allegedly extorting Ksh 3 million from the CEO of a State Corporation.

    According to EACC Spokesperson Eric Ngumbi, Agoro demanded the bribe as an inducement and facilitation fee to avoid pursuing and publicizing accusations of procurement malpractices against the CEO.

    The suspect later agreed to reduce the amount to Ksh 2 million, which will be paid in two instalments. Ksh 1.5 million Tuesday and Ksh 500,000 later.

    Unbeknownst to Agoro, the CEO had already reported the matter to EACC, which conducted an operation leading to his arrest after he received the first instalment of Ksh 1.5 million, including USD 10,800 and Ksh 100,000.

    Agoro is currently being held at EACC Integrity Centre Police Station for processing and will face legal action in accordance with the law.