Former Jubilee Party Secretary General Raphael Tuju has been unveiled as the Executive Director of the Azimio la Umoja secretariat.
His appointment was announced on Wednesday, April 6, by the former prime minister Raila Odinga who is Azimio’s Presidential flag bearer.
Tuju’s new role will be to coordinate Azimo coalition parties and also to lead the strategic and program teams to ensure the coalition led and financed by President Uhuru Kenyatta win the August 9 General Election with Odinga as the president.
“….Hon Tuju has decades of experience in politics and government, having served as Member of Parliament, Cabinet Minister and Jubilee Party Secretary General,” a statement by Raila Odinga’s team read in part.
Tuju who is a former Rarieda MP and Cabinet Secretary without portfolio stepped down from his role at Jubilee SG in February to seek an elective position but has ended up as Odinga’s subordinate.
But he has not declared the exact elective seat he is interest in and where he is going to vie. Tuju had a stunning record in his one term as Rarieda Mp but lost the seat after falling out with Odinga in the run up to 2007 elections.
The former MP made the declaration during the Jubilee’s National Delegates Convention (NDC) meeting held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Nairobi, on February 26.
Tuju was replaced by Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni in the same meeting where President Uhuru Kenyatta pleaded with Odinga to give the former SG political support to prevail in the coming elections.
Uhuru is the leader of Jubilee party which is one of the founding members of the Azimio la Umoja coalition that has the settled on Odinga as its presidential candidate.
Tuju and Odinga have not been seeing eye to eye since they fell out in 2005 when they both served as Cabinet Ministers in President Mwai Kibaki’s government.
Raila Odinga who served as the Roads minister then claimed that Tuju would not have made it to Parliament without his support.
They the remained arch-rivals but tensions between them eased when Odinga and President Kenyatta made peace through the infamous handshake in March 2018.
Former Nairobi Governor Dr. Evans Kidero has ditched Raila Odinga’s ODM in his quest to become the next governor of Homa Bay County.
Kidero made the bold move after the former Prime Minister locked him out of the party by handing his competitor a direct ODM ticket to contest for the gubernatorial seat.
The inaugural governor of the Kenya’s capital announced that he will now vie for the Homa Bay top seat as an independent candidate citing dictatorship and favoritism in Odinga’s ODM party.
The deep pocketed Kidero who is also facing corruption charges stated that his move was informed by Odinga’s habit of handing direct tickets to his preferred candidates and denying the people opportunity to make their choices.
This comes after Odinga chose to gift Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga with a direct ticket and tied former Kasipul Kabondo MP, Oyugi Magwanga, as her running mate.
“I do not recognize the alleged consensus that saw the rights of our people trampled on by a few self-seekers who intend to retain the status quo. I have been inundated with calls, with people asking me to soldier on with my candidature” Kidero said.
ODM leader Raila Odinga and H/Bay gubernatorial aspirant Gladys Wanga [p/courtesy] ODM party has been under criticism for its new culture of handing over direct tickets to candidates favored by the party leadership or those with deep pockets in areas where it is popular.
Magwanga who is being forced to shelve his ambitions to become Wanga’s running mate was rigged out by ODM in 2017 polls after the party stuck with dismally performing Governor Cyprian Awiti whose term will expire in August.
There is also public outcry in Mombasa county where ODM appears hellbent to hand a direct ticket to a candidate who will be favored by Odinga or the ODM party because they lack the capacity to conduct credible nominations.
But in the Homa Bay case Kidero has noted that interests of the people were ignored by ODM when they handed the party ticket to the Homa-Bay Woman Rep.
Pundits argue that Mrs Wanga can make a governor who can be easily manipulated by Odinga for kickbacks from looted funds.
“As I welcome those who previously believed on the contrary opinion propagated by my former opponents into the Homabay race, I wish to let them know that all of us are members of Homabay County,” Kidero added.
This move then leaves the Homa Bay race to be a Kidero vs Odinga affair as the people of the lake side county remain struggling to have their own choice in leadership to realize the benefits of devolution.
The current administration which was also influenced by Odinga in 2013 and 2017 has nothing to show of its decade long stay in power except rampant corruption and looting of public money.
Though Kidero has not taken Raila head on as he supports his presidential bid, the latest developments will see him face off with Raila’s project to rescue the people of HomaBay from looming status quo.
Homa Bay race has been staged managed by Odinga who has forced aspirants who were eyeing the ODM ticket to shelve their ambitions and back Wanga.
Just a week ago, ODM Chairman John Mbadi was coerced to drop out of the race and pave wave for Odinga’s favorite Gladys Wanga.
Mbadi heeded the call but in a statement issued on Monday, he claimed that his decision was a compromise as he chose to serve national interests and those of Raila Odinga.
“I have today withdrawn my bid from the Homabay County gubernatorial race. I will therefore henceforth place more effort in the Azimio presidential bid and the nationwide bid to have ODM secure as many seats as possible,” Mbadi said.
The fake event planner Christian Muchungu Nderi is a man on the run after he refused to complete payment to Nairobi based Mc Maleeq after an event in Nakuru.
Maleeq claims to have met the end of his agreement by providing his services but Chris paid back with cat and mouse games right after the event. Even the incomplete payment he has received from the conning event planner only came after excessive pressure from other players in the industry but he wants his cash to the last cent.
Chris is also accused of refusing to pay for the sound and the DJ he hired for the event who has since reported him to the authorities for failing to honor his agreements.
He is in fact becoming a notorious guy in killing the entertainment business in Kenya when other places including the neighboring Tanzania has upped their game in respecting the business and being professional to grow the trade which has the capacity to employ millions.
But Mc Maleeq and the sound team had been warned by Rueben Waiganjo, the owner of Boffer Garden that Chris is a dodgy and conning character that they must be wary of and demand their full payments before the close of the event.
‘..this is not your everyday event organizer so to all artists, MCs, event planners and venue holders kindly note that Mr Chris Nderi is not to be trusted until he clears his name…’ Waiganjo wrote.
Chris therefore remains a dubious event organizer who has been duping many unsuspecting players in the industry but Maleeq of Mo Entertainment has vowed to teach him a lesson and bring sanity in the game.
He hired Maleeq’s services on on February 15 but began his dodging games immediately after the event. Chris also conned Mr Ohin, a DJ at the event whom he later blacklisted after he made several calls to demand for his payment.
Equity Bank has been given a go ahead to sell houses belonging to real estate firm Suraya Property Group to recover its loans. This follows a ruling by the Court of Appeal on the prolonged battle that has seen several parties trying to take over the mansions in Kiambu.
The bench judge agreed with Equity Bank as a reputable lender and the real estate firm can still recover their money, in case the appeal, which is yet to be heard succeeds.
Justices Roselyn Nambuye, Hannah Okwengu, and Imaana Laibuta said the lender can auction the mansions subject to the issuance of fresh notices, as it was directed by the High Court in 2020.
The houses in dispute were constructed by China Wu-Yi company and financed by Equity Bank at a tune of more than Sh1 billion.
But the real state firm has been xperiencing financial woes after Muga Developers, a joint venture which is partly by Suraya was placed under receivership in 2020 by Equity Bank with Mr Muniu Thoithi and Mr George Weru being appointed as the administrators.
“The applicant having offered the suit property as security, it has become a commercial entity that can be compensated in monetary value,” the ruling reads.
The Fourways Junction Estate [p/courtesy]The court also noted that Muga Developers compeletly failed to demonstrate any efforts to pay back the loan. Equity has also failed in all its attempts to recover the millions it lent the developer to finance the housing scheme.
Suraya Property is owned by Peter Muraya and his wife Susan with whom he formed Muga Developers with the family of the late Samuel Gatabaki in 2007 to develop fourways junction estate. Gatabakis provided the land while Suraya was to source for funds to finance the development.
The luxarious estate which boasts of a mix of apartments, office blocks, a shopping mall, a fully-fledged country club and a three-star hotel is strategically located closer to the leafy Runda Estate.
China Wu-Yi which constructed the estate is also fighting to get some 10 houses as part of the payment for their services.
But Suraya Property has denied the claims stating that even if there was a deal to that effect, the property is charged to Equity Bank which granted the Sh1.76 billion loan to finance the project.
August 9 general elections are drawing closer and all Kenyan politicians and new entrants seeking elective positions are all out with well-oiled propaganda machines to sell fake ideas to the voters.
Leaders who have been occupying offices for the past five years or more are lining up for re-election without any track records to show. Others who are retiring after the expiry of their tenure are also seeking alternative elective positions to keep enjoying privileges which come with these plum positions.
Another bunch with their posters all over is individuals who have resigned from senior government positions where they have looted enough to buy their way into political positions.
It is the practice in Kenyan politics which is laced with high voltage corruption and use of money to bribe voters to ascend to political positions which have become safe havens for corrupt individuals.
Not many aspirants rely on proven track records or legacies to gain voters’ approval for an elective position. In fact aspirants with legacies, integrity or track records which speak volumes are most likely to be rejected at the ballot than corrupt leaders who can easily buy their way by bribing voters to sail through.
A perfect scenerio is the case of a former MP for Kasipul-Kabondo Constituency who was the best performing law maker in the Luo Nyanza region for the two terms he served his constituents.
The man built roads, dug bore-holes and water pumps, improved healthcare facilities, equipped schools with buses, enrolled students from poor backgrounds in schools and initiated a program which took hundreds to driving schools every year.
He also rehabilitated semi-permanent structures in 240 schools to permanent buildings, equipped classrooms with desks and bought some 28 buses for local schools by end of his second term.
In fact he was feted as the best performing MP who built the highest number of schools with the CDF allocations but when he sought a higher office, he was played at the ballot.
He offered his candidature for Homa Bay gubernatorial position in 2017 but was rigged out and accused of going against ODM party politics despite having a track record which mirrors how he would perform at the helm of the county government.
ODM is the most popular party in Luo Nyanza but this performer was challenging the incumbent who was rigged in during party nominations and at the ballot where he ended as an independent candidate. He was accused accused of going against ODM leadership which preferred that the corrupt incumbent serves his second and final term.
H.E Mwai Kibaki, the former Kenyan president left behind a rich legacy of expanded economy and infrustructure [p/courtesy]But the man is back again and he is eying the same position which will fall vacant when the incumbent’s term expires in August but the politics around his candidature right now is that he has been in the cold for five years and no longer has deep pockets to bribe the electorate or to properly oil his gubernatorial campaigns.
People are being coerced to turn a blind eye on his legacy but to concentrate on his weak financial muscles and favor corrupt individuals who have shifted from elsewhere and are also eying the same seat.
A former Nairobi governor is among the top aspirants lining up for the Homa Bay top seat despite their corruption records. A man who is facing numerous corruption charges including a case where he was accused of conspiring with Nyakach MP to defraud the Nairobi County Government Sh.58 million.
In 2020, the High Court gave the Director of Public Proscution go ahead to admit as evidence, details of a bank account belonging to one of his close associates who served in the accounting docket.
The associate was the head of accounting during this aspirant’s reign at Nairobi County and his bank details showed how Sh 237 million was moved from City Hall to a private individual’s account and then finally to his account.
The two suspects also conspired with other members of the staff at City Hall to defraud Nairobi County of the said amount. But the tainted figure that the man is and his deep pockets are the ‘qualities’ he will rely on to succeed the current governor whose tenure has also been marked by massive corruption and looting of public funds.
Even elsewhere downsouth, a leader who served as the deputy president but had been accussed of massive corruption by then president proved to be more appealing to the electorate who gave him the opportunity to ascend to the highest office after the sitting president was suspended by the ruling party.
The then president was in fact accused of meddling in his succession politics by levling corruption allegations against his deputy, who was a potential succesor, to cut short his dreams of becoming a president. He was rebuked even by the electorate but once his deputy ascended to power, his administration became the most corrupt in South African history and he was kicked out presidency on the same grounds.
He is still fighting corruption cases to date after being realsed from prison last September and placed on medocal parole. The corrupt ex-president was serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of court.
The man became a president on zero legacies but for being on the headlines over corrption allegations. It’s almost the norm everywhere, leaders and aspirants with track records that speak volumes are not always lucky at the ballot.
Majority of the electorate pay less attention to legacy leavers who are the true leaders who operate in a manner that transforms lives and build trust for a greater good.
Closer home, former Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki is remembered for accomplishing something that set standards on the performance at the presidency, a decade since he left office but voters are still falling in the traps of mediocre politicians.
Cyprine Omogi is a Kenyan Education Officer, she is also passionate about good governance and realization of a graft free society.
Wiper Democratic Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has revealed that he wants to be handed the Deputy President’s position in Azimio La Umoja coalition which has settled on Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga as it’s presidential flag bearer.
The former vice-president whose position as the Ukambani political kingpin is under threat also claimed that he is ready to forfeit that position and settle for a lesser one so longs as his community gets a third of the plum positions in Raila administration but they are still arguing over power sharing.
“We want to ensure that the Kamba community gets the respect it deserves,” Kalonzo to Musyi FM.
The Wiper leader also faulted Mr Odinga’s campaign as he clarified that Wiper had joined Azimio la Umoja coalition as a party and not as a member of the defunct One Kenya Alliance.
He further stated that he is among the top three leaders and a key decision-maker in Azimio coalition, whose other member is President Uhuru Kenyatta of the Jubilee Party.
“OKA shall be at the ballot because we have created a coalition agreement modelled around the three-legged stool known as Azimio-One Kenya Alliance,” he added.
Members of Odinga’s party have repeatedly denied that they signed a deal with OKA as a coalition but individual parties from OKA including KANU led by Senator Gideon Moi and Kalonzo’s Wiper despite the former VP insisting on a Azimio -OKA coalition to deal with political betrayal.
“The three-legged stool arrangement is designed to rule out betrayal. We have left an exit route. Once talks on the Azimio-OKA power-sharing matrix begin, you will hear me insist that nothing is agreed until it is agreed so that no one will betray us again.” Kalonzo said.
Kalonzo who shelved his presidential ambitions to back Odinga for third straight time also clarified on the intrigues that surrounded the signing of the grand coalition deal on Saturday. He lamented that President Kenyatta and Mr Odinga kept him waiting at State House for more than three hours.
He also accused Ukambani governors who are supporting Odinga of working on sinister deals to block him from becoming Odinga’s running mate, a position that has also attracted the attention of Mt Kenya region.
Kalonzo alsomade it clear that he will never hold joint rallies with governors Charity Ngilu (Kitui), Kivutha Kibwana (Makueni) and Alfred Mutua (Machakos) to market Azimio and Odinga’s presidential bid, insisting that he is still Ukambani’s political kingpin.
As campaigns hit fever pitch with Kenyans expected to elect new leaders in the August 9 general elections, majority of the aspirants still remain a corruption tainted lot which has been the norm in Kenyan politics.
Kenyans have been blamed for their love of electing corrupt leaders then expecting anti-graft agencies to clean up their mess. Going by the history of our politics, some of the individual who will sail through in the August polls are characters whose details of corruption have been given out by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
The vice is blamed on the political capital which is quite high for new entrants or individuals from humble backgrounds but tilting in favor of senior government officials who abuse their powers or network contacts for illegitimate private gain.
Kenyan politicians engage in political corruption through bribery, embezzlement of public funds, influence peddling, cronyism, extortion, patronage, parochialism and nepotism among others.
Criminals who have looted from public coffers always line up for elective positions in every election cycle and get elected as aspirants with integrity are rejected at the ballot.
But the voters or citizens who bear the biggest responsibilities in the democratic system have neglected their duties to elect good leaders and keep checks and balances once they ascend to office.
The role of a citizen in any democratic space goes beyond voting but to also keeping an eye at the national policies being implemented by the people they elect into public offices and raising their voice for or against policies that might hurt national cause.
Politician have instead learnt the art of corrupting this role by bribing voters with proceeds of corruption to turn a blind eye on their failures, tainted records and zero legacies as they seek or occupy public offices.
Some politicians also ride on the fact that a majority of voters are totally uninformed on their obligations in electoral process. This lack of information is partly blamed on the lack of proper civic education which favors political elites who are fond of corruption.
But proper civic education remains one sure method of making citizens understand their need to keep oversight on government policies before, during and after electoral process.
Lobby groups also need to keep constant pressure on the government and other relevant bodies to act rationally and concentrate on weeding out fundamental evils from the society.
But most importantly, citizens must understand their duties and responsibilities to fasten the move towards realizing a corrupt free, honest and dedicated leadership that can change the course of Kenyan history.
Cyprine Omogi is a Kenyan Education Officer who is also passion about good governance and realization of a graft free society.
Bitter war has exploded between Siaya SenatorJames Orengo and Suna East MP Mohammed Junet who are both sycophantic supporters of ODM leader Raila Odinga who is planning to give a fifth stab at presidency. Orengo has not been happy with Junet who is now Odinga’s most trusted follower since the much hyped ‘Handshake’ between the ODM leader and President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2018 where Junet accompanied Mr Odinga while Orengo was left in the darkness. In 2008 Orengo was Raila’s aide and wwas instrumental during the formation of grand coalition government with President Mwai Kibaki.
But Orengo’s growing jealousy was later made serious after the loudmouth Junet made a loose remark during a Odinga’s campaign tour in Kisii where he said that Kikuyus will be treated like outsiders in Odinga’s government. The unwarranted comment pushed Orengo to hire goons and local MCAs to heckle the Suna East lawmaker who was to accompany Odinga to a similar rally in Kisumu but he skipped after getting the wind of Orengo’s dirty schemes. The senator wanted Kisumu youths to demand that Raila drops Junet from his campaign team.
Junet’s closer relationship with Raila Odinga also saw him being chosen to co-chair the Building Bridges Initiative secretariat with former Dagoretti South MP Dennis Waweru who represented Uhuru/Kieleweke wing making it apparent that Odinga trusts Junet over Luo politicians. That favoritism has made him an enemy of irrelevant Luo politicians led by Senator James Orengo who is leading a cocoon of Luo politicians in ODM are now claiming that their tribal party has been taken hostage by outsiders.
ODM’s two deputy leaders are governors Hassan Joho of Mombasa County and Wycliffe Oparanya of Kakamega County, the secretary general is Edwin Sifuna who hails from Bungoma County but Junet has pocketed a couple of Luo politicians like Omondi Gwonyo to spy around other Luo politicians and report back to him.
Orengo is leading the same clique that accused Odinga and Junet of falling for a raw deal on the distribution of the 70 constituencies in the collapsed BBI that were designed to benefit the Mt. Kenya region. He also led a section of Nyanza politicians including Otiende Amollo (Rarieda), Samuel Atand and Aduma Owuor (Nyakach) who campaigned against the BBI document across Nyanza region arguing that Luos were being shortchanged through BBI.
Gwonyo noted that when the BBI collapsed at the Court of Appeal Senator Orengo and his team celebrated their vindication as they placed Junet on the chopping board for ‘finishing’ Raila.
Coast region council of Luo elders led by chairman Obara Kings has raised concerns over the community being used to top up numbers during elections in Mombasa but fail to feature in the major appointments at the county executive. Obara who is pointing accusing fingers at the administration of Governor Hassan Joho that turned a blind a blind eye to the community after his 2017 re-election voed that they will vet all Mombasa gubernatorial aspirants before making a decision on who to back in the 2022 race.
“As a community, we cannot be supporting people to gain leadership and then we become mere spectators. That is why this time round, we are listening to all the aspirants to hear what they have on offer for the community before we make a collective decision. We cannot allow to be used and dumped again,” Obara said.
Luos form one of the most politically active communities in Mombasa politics with a considerably good numbers to demand a proper share of the county government. They are the most vocal and best at attending rallies in big numbers. They also participate in elections actively compared to Coastal natives like the Swahilis who stay indoors and follow political events on television, radio and social media.
Obara’s sentiments have been backed by Tom Ogwanjo, Doris Ndege, Joseph Adul, and Hamisi Jasuba who are also keen to rope in other upcountry communities together to get a share of elective seats in Mombasa where ODM party still remains the most popular. The group also argues that the Luos living in Mombasa are the most instrumental in propping and sustaining the leadership of Governor Ali Hassan Joho whose term will expire in August 2022.
They further claim that their community has some numerical strength to bargain for plum positions as they point at a case in 2017 general elections when the Mijikenda community led by 98,000 votes, Kambas by 60,000 votes, Luos and Gemas had 50,000 votes, Somali 30,000, Luhya 25,000, Swahili 23,000, Taita 15,000, Kalenjin 10,000 and others 38,000 votes bringing the numbers to 409,000. The native Mijikendas are the largest voting bloc in Mombasa but fail to participate during elections as majority of them retreat to their rural homes for fear of electoral violence the same way Kambas do.
Drawing backing to the villages by the two communities always leave Luos to dominate elections in Mombasa like in 2013 general election when Luos produced several MCAs and had three of their own were appointed to the county government of Mombasa as ministers. They also bagged the speaker’s slot following negotiations with Joho prior to those elections but the same as not the case after the governor’s re-election in 2017.
Luos were consumed by Raila Odinga politics and failed to negotiate with Joho for more appointments after the 2017 polls despite the massive support they gave Joho. They were used and left out Joho’s second term line up.
Countries across the globe including Kenya are grappling with efforts to stem the counterfeiting menace which has seen a myriad of fake products flooding the markets.
Kenya for instance has heightened it’s efforts through creation of authorities whose sole responsibility is to curb the vice and bar it’s negative impacts on consumers and the country’s GDP.
Findings by various researchers show that the scale of counterfeiting and piracy is large across the globe and it’s expected to grow.
A report compiled by Frontier for International Trademark Association (INTA) and ICC estimated that the value of international and domestic trade in counterfeit and pirated goods in 2013 was $710 -$ 917 Billion. In addition to this, the global value of digital piracy in movies, music and software alone in 2015 was $213 Billion.
The figures also translated to wider economic costs associated with the effects of counterfeiting and piracy on the displacement of legitimate economic activity.
These estimates also provide a starting point for inferring fiscal losses regarding the impacts of counterfeiting and piracy on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and crime.
This means that counterfeiting has significant effects in the job market where it displaces legitimate economic activity. For instance in 2013 about 2.6 million job losses was as a result of the crime with the figure still projected to hit between 4.2 to 5.4 million by 2022.
The researchers applied econometric model which further estimated impacts of changes in the intensity of counterfeiting and piracy on economic growth which was worth between $30 Billion to $54 Billion in 2017 for the 35 OECD countries also still stands to rise.
The report also projects that the value of trade in counterfeit and pirated goods could be as high as $991 Billion by 2022.
This is because any market with serious influx of counterfeit goods will support the wider black market, will experience lost genuine employment, discouraged innovation, lost foreign investment and lost tax revenue and reduced economic activities.
And the perpetrators behind this vice have also continued to up their game by faking genuine products as authorities and innovators struggle to curb the menace.
In Kenya alone, the Anti-Counterfeit Authority estimates that one in every four products sold in local markets is fake and more than four million Kenyans are using counterfeit products.
Data from the Kenyan Anti-Counterfeit Authority National Baseline Survey also show that government spends up-to 100 billion KES in fighting the illicit trade where mining, building and construction have been hit hardest.
Beyond the borders, the Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) which has been fighting the menace for over 40 years had intended for 2020 to be a year of great celebration for it’s members but was interrupted by the arrival of Covid-19 pandemic which resulted to far more unimaginable loss, illness and heartache.
Counterfeiting criminals and perpetrators of other forms of illicit trade sought nothing but profit from the dangers and disasters that the entire globe faced.
This resulted to one of the world’s faceless menaces throughout the terrible period, and spread to become a criminal contagion.
Nevertheless organizations including Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) and Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) have continued to voice their concerns against counterfeiting and piracy which are eating into effective and profitable trading for businesses in Kenya.
KNCCI in recognition to efforts by Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) which is branding products with a standard check mark is re-affirming it’s commitment to enhance consumer health, protection, safety and economic interest by enforcing article 46(c) of the Kenyan laws.
A company belonging to Goldenberg mastermind Kamlesh Pattni has persuaded the Supreme Court to determine its dispute with the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) over a multi-million shilling claim linked to sale of Laico Regency Hotel.
Five Supreme Court judges led by Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu agreed with Westmont Holdings that its suit is of public importance after the company was instructed to deposit Sh20 million before pursuing the claim against CBK.
Westmont Holdings acted on behalf of a Malaysia-based Lynwood Development Limited to pay Sh185.5 million to the bank’s regulator in April 1997 which was a 10% deposit for the purchase of Laico Regency (formerly Grand Regency Hotel) but the interest accrued.
The hotel was later sold to Libya Arab Investment Company (Laico) forcing Westmont to sue seeking refund of the Sh185.5 million and the interest.
Westmont is accusing the CBK of defrauding it of Sh185 million over the failed sale of Grand Regency hotel which is now Laico Regency Hotel but CBK argues that Mr Pattni paid the money to offset a loan he owed the regulator.
The new twist and vigorous challenge by the regulator has now set the stage for another heated legal battle which will once again cost the taxpayers heavily.
CBK will be forced to pay Sh2.8 billion if the Supreme Court rules in favour of the Pattni owned firm.
But the firm had lost a similar bid in July at the Court of Appeal where judges rejected their application challenging the requirement to deposit the amount within 45 days.
Westmont, however, got a reprieve after the five judges of the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case stating the court needs to determine whether an order for security for costs is unreasonable as it impedes a litigant’s access to justice, by imposing a condition before being heard which is against the law.
CBK argues that Westmont closed business in May 2002 and therefore lacked the capacity to start or conduct an appeal, either directly or indirectly through a lawyer or firm of advocates.
The banks regulator is represented by senior counsel Philp Murgor who argued that there was no possibility of his client ever recovering costs awarded in the High Court and at the Court of Appeal if Pattni’s firm lost the appeal.
He also added that Jasmine See, who filed an affidavit in support of Westmont, is a foreigner who does not reside in Kenya and holds multiple passports including that of US and Malaysia.
But Westmont had contested the condition to deposit the amount as a ploy prohibit them from accessing justice and a contravention of Article 48 of the Constitution that requires the access to justice to be reasonable.
Lynwood also told the court that it was aware of the CBK’s intention to sell the hotel from Mr Pattni and paid the 10% of the hotel’s purchase price.
Pattni who is a major shareholder of export firm Goldenberg International, was at the architecture of a scam that involved re-exporting gold and diamonds.
The scam cost Kenya more than $600m (Sh66.4 billion) between 1990 and 1993 with the former President Daniel arap Moi and his allies receiving huge kickbacks.
Lynwood has maintained that Westmont was its agent and it remitted US $ 3, 700,000.00 to the CBK for the sale of the Grand Regency Hotel.
ODM leader Raila Odinga believes his bid to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta got a major boost after he was endorsed by a team of Mount Kenya billionaires to protect their businesses.
The promise to back Odinga comes a midst a grand search for President Uhuru Kenyatta’s successor or kingpin of the vote rich region that has never lacked a proper presidential candidate in the previous polls.
The GEMA group made it clear that it had been tasked by the President to present a name of a possible candidate who would take care of their business interests when he retires in August next year.
To make the rare move of backing Odinga, the oligarchs pushed the ODM leader to accept their tough demands which include having their kinsmen occupy the office of the deputy president, top cabinet positions and Nairobi governorship.
Odinga who has failed to clinch presidency in his four attempts has already surrendered Nairobi top seat to the Kikuyu nation as part of ODM power games with Jubilee.
Kenya Chamber of Commerce president Richard Ngatia [p/courtesy]Kikuyu candidates failed in 2013 and 2017 pushing the president to form the Nairobi Metropolitan Services to run the country’s capital which was first run by ODM’s Evans Kidero and Mike Sonko who comes from the Kamba community.
Weak aspirants from Mt. Kenya region eyeing the Nairobi governor’s seat in next year’s general elections have opted to take a low profile as they push Odinga to hand them the slot through tribal arithmetic and political realignments at the national level.
Odinga now reason that most of the city business are in the hands of Kikuyus and so they should control City Hall, the den of corruption and massive looting.
President Kenyatta’s administration has however been accused of impoverishing Kikuyus in Nairobi where he planted Maj.Gen Mohamed Badi to run the show.
ODM reason that the Deputy President Dr. William Ruto’s Kalenjin vote bloc is minimal in city politics therefore a combination of Kikuyus, Luos and a section of Luhyas, Kisiis and Somalis will control Nairobi politics.
Though there are fears that a section of Kikuyus will back UDA for Nairobi governorship, Odinga still believes that a split among them will cost them since all Luos will vote in favour of a Kikuyu governor.
The GEMAs allied to Kenyatta and Odinga do not have a strong candidate but Odinga plans to lock out Ruto in city politics by sharing of parliamentary seats with ‘Handshake’ friendly parties.
Raila wants the rumored drug lord Harun Mwau or tycoon Peter Muthoka who comes from the Kamba extract as his target for Nairobi senatorial seat.
ODM leaders who has shift from his combative tact for presidency now prefers Kenya Chamber of Commerce president Richard Ngatia, Dennis Waweru or Polycarp Igathe.
Almost every aspirants has adopted a wait-and-see pose hoping to benefit from possible coalitions to boost their chances of clinching Nairobi top seat.
ANC plans to field Senator Johnson Sakaja for the seat that has also attracted tycoon Jimna Mbaru and Peter Chege
The receiver-manager of the troubled Mumias Sugar Company Mr. Ponangipalli Venkata Ramana Rao risks a six month jail term or a Sh500,000 fine for trashing Senate summonses.
Rao has failed to honour more than three summonses by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries over the leasing of the Kakamega based sugar company.
The senate committee has threatened him with a looming arrest and prosecution if he fails to present himself today.
“You failed to honour the invitations to appear before the committee on August 6 and 20, and September 20 this year. The Senate has powers to summon any individual to appear before it to give evidence or information,” a letter from the Senate read.
He is expected to have furnished the committee with the resolutions agreed upon over the leasing process of the sugar firm and any court order stopping him from implementing the resolutions.
Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has however faulted the Senate for summoning Mr. Rao as he accused them of habouring fixed interests in the controversies surrounding Mumias which he says is a private entity.
“Mumias sugar is a private company and now under receivership. The Senators have fixed interests in the issues surrounding Mumias Sugar Company,” Oparanya said.
Oparanya also challenged the senators to familiarize themselves with the Insolvency Act of companies and stop blocking the leasing of the loss making sugar factory.
He said that the committee is involved in time wasting events at the expense of sugarcane farmers who languishing in abject poverty.
A report compiled Rao dated June 4, Rao shows that Mumias Sugar Company had assets worth Sh15.7 billion and Sh30.1 billion liabilities while net assets/owners’ equity stood at negative Sh14.4 billion.
Oparanya’s administration backed Rao who was appointed by KCB-to revive the rundown Mumias Sugar Company despite the leasing process facing a storm.
“As the County Government of Kakamega, we rally behind the efforts of the receiver manager, on behalf of KCB Bank Kenya Limited in getting an investor to revive the factory. We trust that KCB being a reputable institution has credible processes that will deliver the most suitable investor and undertake the revival of Mumias,” said Oparanya.
But Activist Okiya Omtatah moved to court in June this year seeking the removal of PVR Rao arguing that he has failed to protect the assets of Mumias Sugar.
Omtatah said that instead of breathing life into the company which is in its death bed, Mr Rao chose to mismanage ethanol operations which he shut down in March and halted all manufacturing operations at the firm.
He also argued that Rao lacked proper planning after he cultivated about 1,673 acres of the nucleus estate but failed to plant sugarcane on some 759 acres which went to waste.
“It is clear that the receiver manager who has been on site for some two years now has failed in his mission to protect the company’s assets and to the best extent maintain its operations. Instead, he has completely shut down the company and is en-route to hitting the last nail in the coffin of Mumias Sugar Scheme,” Omtatah told the court.
Nyamira governor Amos Nyaribo is ruling the county with an iron fist after he recently demoted more than 1000 employees to create room to employ and promote his sycophants.
The move was also meant to tame officers allied to the late governor John Nyagarama and ODM politician who vowed to frustrate him after ascending to his current position.
Nyaribo who is a member of the ANC party was the county’s deputy governor but rose to the top after Nyangarama’s demise spared employees close to members of his kitchen cabinet.
He spared more than 200 loyal employees who got their July salaries in full and did not demote them despite their names featuring prominently on the list of those implicated in the irregular promotions.
The move raised eyebrows within the community and political circles with claims that the demotions were driven by dirty politics, malice and nepotism.
The demoted employees have since petitioned the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to probe matter and alleged looting of funds meant for development of projects.
Nyaribo targeted top accountants and procurement officers who have vowed to expose the rot and embezzlement of county funds through fictitious claims during the 2020/2021 financial year.
They accuse that authoritative governor of stealing Sh130 million meant for development projects through fake payments during the same financial year.
Some officers were demoted because they allegedly paid bribes to get promotions or gave sexual favors to climb up the ladder but they questioned given opportunity to defend themselves instead of being condemned unheard.
Other including the county government human resource director Shem Nyangau has already moved to the Labour court court to seek legal redress as he accused the county service public board of demoting him and further deducting his salary without his consent.
But the Employment and Labour Relations Court has stopped the demotion of the employees after Justice Christine Baari, sitting in Kisumu, issued a stay order on Wednesday until the petition is heard and determined.
Other petitioners include Lamech Machuki Nyariki, Lewis Oburu Nyaribo, Douglas Mecha Osoro and Dan Isaac Onyancha who accused Nyaribo’s administration of changing the terms of employment without allowing the affected workers the opportunity to be heard.
There is a loud mumbling in Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper Party with junior politicians giving him ultimatums if he bends low to become Raila Odinga’s running mate for the third time.
A section of Ukambani lawmakers led by Kitui senator Enock Wambua warned Kalonzo that such a move will lead to automatic withdrawal of their support.
The politician are urging Kalonzo to man up and better his chances of capturing the country’s top seat or lose their support to the Deputy President Dr. William Ruto whose UDA party is making inroads into the region.
But pundits also argue that the MPs who are against Kalonzo supporting Odinga are only doing so to benefit from the former VP’s influence to win re-election.
Kalonzo who appears to have been shocked by the daring move from his would be sycophants has not reacted to the MPs calls, meaning he could be in agreement with the leaders.
He has bragged over his long political resume either as observers point that the ultimatum has not gone down well with him. Reports that the ground is shifting to Ruto can only spell doom to a man who is nothing without the Kamba voters solidly behind him.
There are also reports that the MPs are not being used by any politician to influence Kalonzo meaning there could be truths in their calls.
This section of politicians are against Raila who has been having under hands in portraying his competitors as weak politicians in their home turfs.
The move is a clever way of luring Kalonzo not support Raila for the third straight time without success but instead join Ruto since everybody knows that Kalonzo cannot win the presidency if he goes for it.
But Kalonzo cannot make the brave move since he has been pocked by President Uhuru Kenyatta who is out to shoot his deputy’s dreams of becoming the next president of Kenya.
Uhuru himself has failed to stop Ruto from making inroads into his Mt. Kenya backyard where elected leaders are shifting the allegiance to the DP on daily basis.
The president is pushing Kalonzo to back Raila but reliable sources revealed to KI that the MPs move is a way of telling him to keep off Kamba politics and let the make an alternative move.
Kisumu governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o has resorted to recruiting 2017 political rejects and left overs to scheme his way into reelection in 2022.
Nyong’o whose administration has presided over remarkable make-over and rehabilitation of the lakeside city is facing strong political opposition from allies turned opponents who are out to ensure he loses re-election in next year’s polls.
He is already courting former Muhoroni town council chairman Billy Adero whom he has made a village administrator for the area and former majority leader at the Kisumu county assembly Samuel Ongou whom he made the liaison officer for Muhoroni.
Nyong’o who was elected on an ODM ticket has sought the support of Ongou who fell out with ODM top luminaries because he was allied to the former Kisumu governor Jack Ranguma who was rigged out of the party.
Former Kisumu governor Jack Ranguma [p/courtesy]The fall-out saw Ongou losing to Habil Nyasuna, the brother to Gladys Wanga (HomaBay county Women Representative) who was elected Nyangoma/Masogo MCA.
Nyong’o also made former Kolwa East MCA John Olum, a liason officer in charge of Kisumu East. Like Ongou, Mr. Olum was also voted out because he was allied to immediate former governor who broke ranks with ODM in the run up to the last general elections.
The governor who has been bragging of transforming Kisumu City on social media has also fished out forgotten members of defunct Kisumu County council like Fredrick Onyango whom he has made a director.
Former civic leader Pamela Omino has also been made a liaison officer in Kisumu West constituency while former Kisumu West constituency aspirant John Awiti has been made the chief executive committee member for education, information communication and technology,replacing Obiero Ogone.
Nyong’o appears shaky and politically weak as 2022 approaches with his formers allies like Kisumu senator Fred Outa ganging with clan cocoons like KKK, mostly politicians from Kano Kajulu and Koru who are out to oust Nyong’o who comes from a smaller clan of Seme.
The governor won his first term after dramatic ODM primaries where Ranguma was treated as a stranger in the ODM party but Nyong’o claimedhis predecessor had no understanding of devoulution and how it was meant to change lives of the people.
The Controller of Budget (COB) Mrs. Margret Nyakango has flagged the National Treasury for Sh1.65 billion paid to secure future loans arguing that borrowings should now be cancelled to ease the burden of payment on taxpayers.
The amount is paid as commitment fees charged on borrowers for credit that has not been advanced as a way of guaranteeing that a lender will keep the funds. Nyakango told Parliament that the loans are being sought to undertake 17 projects including road construction, expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), power connections and construction of a dam to smoothen water supply to Nairobi and road construction.
Treasury headed by CS Ukur Yatani paid the fees for loans to Chinese, Japanese and European banks at the end of June piling pressure on the country’s bulging debt which now stands at more than Sh7 trillion.
Nyakango’s red flag on loan applications comes at a time Kenya’s maturing debt has piled pressure on the country’s expenditure plans and sliced funds meant for development projects.
“We recommend that these loans should be cancelled and this will reduce the loan book balance and consequently save taxpayers payments on the commitment fees,” Nyakango said.
Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakango [p/courtesy]Her call also comes after Yatani’s docket had committed Sh225.08 million to secure loans meant for funding the installation underground power transmission lines in up market estates of Westlands, Kileleshwa, Riverside and Parklands. The Treasury also committed Sh21.447 million to secure loans for construction of a second runaway at the JKIA.
But on top of the list are fees to secure loans for an underground electricity transmission line to State House, Ngong Road and neighboring areas at Sh393.8 million and Sh304.58 million for construction of the second phase of Ruiru dam.
Mrs Nyakango blamed the ineptitude of government agencies tasked with implementing the projects as the reason for the hefty commitment fees as she urged the State to ensure all projects are executed shield Kenyans from losing funds.
Commitment fees hugely contribute to the fees the country’s growing loan repayment burden. More debts are also falling due to deficits in the budgetary allocations as the pandemic continues to ravage the economy.
Kenya secured deals to suspend debt service with rich countries and other creditors including China in January and has budgeted Sh1.169 trillion which is 36.6% towards debt repayment in the year to June. The amount represents the highest component of spending for the financial year.
ODM nominated MP Wilson Sossion is now set to join United Democratic Alliance (UDA) associated with the Deputy President Dr. William Ruto as he prepares to go for Bomet senatorial seat in 2022. Sossion claimed that the village elders who have endorsed his senate bid also directed him to join a party that resonates with the region as he popularizes his candidature.
“They say charity begins at home. Today in my residence, the elders of Motigo sublocation in Bomet Central have decided to endorse my senate aspirations in 2022. The elders have advised me to stick on the prize and avoid backing any politician but to support DP Ruto in his 2022 presidential bid,” Sossion said.
The former KNUT secretary general had hinted at running on Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) party ticket but has finally made the bold move to join ODM’s arch rival to reap from the influence and support that DP Ruto enjoys in the region.
CCM is owned by former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto, a one time fierce critic of Deputy President William Ruto who also pledged to throw his support behind the country’s second in command’s 2022 bid.
Sossion was nominated to parliament by ODM owner Raila Odinga who is expected to face off with UDA’s Ruto for presidency in 2022. He was however expected to ditch ODM after he was technically ‘kicked out’ of KNUT following a heated battle with the government and Teachers Service Commission but delayed the move that everyone had seen coming.
He is eyeing the Bomet senatorial seat which is currently occupied by Christopher Andrew Langat who has been accusing Governor Hillary Barchok of incompetence. In May 2021, Langat verbally attacked the governor challenging him to sack all health officials at the county over the incompetent manner in which they are running the department.
But Senator Langat has not declared whether he will be going the county’s top seat or defending his senate seat as the outspoken Sossion makes clear his intensions to oust him. Sossion’s move to join Ruto’s party is a big blow to ODM which is desperate for a point man in the region but a boost for DP who has been poaching ODM politicians since 2013.
“I am grateful for the time I have served as nominated MP on ODM ticket. I want to thank my brother Raila Odinga and my colleagues in ODM. Am now seeking UDA ticket to run for Bomet Senatorial seat,” Sossion added.
Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has launched investigations into procurement irregularities in Kenya Seed Company’s Sh145million tender to Syngenta East Africa Limited. EACC is targeting former Kenya Seed board members, former chairman Nathaniel Tum and members of the board of directors over questionable supply of seed treatment chemical to Syngenta East Africa Limited in 2019.
EACC chief executive officer Twalib Mbarak wrote to the Kenya Seed company demanding clarifications on how the hefty amount was irregularly paid to Syngenta East Africa Limited.
“Kindly furnish us with original documents in relation to the Tender No. KSC/T/STC/12/2018/2019 . . . the contract agreement for supply and delivery of insecticide for Kenya Seed maize treatment on direct procurement between Kenya Seed Company Ltd and Syngenta East Africa Limited,” the letter read in part.
The commission’s detectives based at the North Rift regional office in Eldoret will interrogate Dr Tum, Abraham Koech, Peter Waweru, Nathan Anaswa, Dr Johnson Irungu Waithaka, Wilkister Simiyu, Dr Winnie Macharia, Lawrance Njiru, Symon Cherogony, and Richard Aiyabei.
Kenya Seed has been rocked by boardroom wars and legal battles over management issues which pushed the Agriculture CS Peter Munya to appoint Francis Okwara as the new board chairperson and Alice Chesire, Gitonga Kamiti, Kipkorir arap Menjo, and Samuel Mecca to the board through a special gazette.
Munya revoked the appointments of Dr Samson Chelule, Elsbeth Naeku Tolu and Muchohi Ruiru Gikonyo through the same notice but Tum and other officials challenged the appointments in court.
Tum also convened an annual shareholder meeting with private shareholders in an attempt to appoint new directors, a chief executive and declare dividends for the past six years. He made the move despite being controversially removed as CEO in 2003 after he irregularly transferred ownership of Kenya Seed Company to the family of the late former President Daniel Moi. Moi-era directors had also staged a heated fight to gain control of the company from the government in March.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s hopes of ascending to presidency have been dealt a major blow after key financier, tycoon Peter Muthoka, ditched him as 2022 campaigns gain momentum. Kalonzo was relying on Muthoka to finance his campaigns but the tycoon has been avoiding him since early last year when he [Kalonzo] hosted a political event at his Yatta home.
Muthoka who dished out hand outs to senators, MPs and MCAs who attended the meeting vowed to only rest after ensuring that Kalonzo is duly elected as president in 2022. But he is not the first one to abandon Kalonzo, former Machakos senator Johnston Muthama also abandoned him complaining that he was going broke for supporting a man who is not focused on becoming the next president of the republic.
Kalonzo refuted claims by Muthama, arguing that former Machakos law maker made money by selling his candidature to highest bidders. In the run up to 2007 elections, Muthama was used by the handlers of president Mwai Kibaki to strike a deal that saw Kalonzo supporting Kibaki immediately after the disputed polls of 2007.
Kibaki who could not beat Raila Odinga with a clear margin then appointed Kalonzo as his vice and rented his party, then ODM-Kenya, to support him in parliament where Odinga’s party would easily impeach him through a vote of no confidence. In fact Kibaki men financed Kalonzo’s 2007 campaigns and a similar move played out in 2013 polls when Muthama struck a deal with ODM men to have Kalonzo deputize Odinga as the running mate.
Tycoon Peter Muthoka [p/courtesy]Muthama pocketed millions from Kibaki and Raila deals and when he quit the former VP’s camp for DP William Ruto, Muthoka filled the gap he left and vowed to do more than Muthama did only to ditch Kalonzo in the hour of need. Muthoka campaigned for Jubilee in Ukambani, financed Jubilee party candidates in the region in 2017 and he even hosted Ruto at his Vota church where congregants were bribed with hand outs and food stuff.
But Muthoka has been financially limping since the completion of standard gauge railway and the government’s move which made it compulsory for all cargo from Mombasa to be transported to Nairobi using the SGR. He was a heavy investor in logistics where he raked in millions through Global Logistics Company that was started by his late brother Andrew Muthoka.
His financial constraints were also worsened by the government’s decision to buy vehicles from Aurasia which deals in Peugeot and not VW and Landrover vehicles from CMC where Muthoka is the Managing Director.
He has also not bagged any contracts that Uhuru Kenyatta and Jubilee charlatans promised him in the run up 2017 polls leaving him to only survive on a contract he signed with Safaricom to clear and transport its equipment from Mombasa port.
