The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) now claims that their detectives seized $57,000 (Sh6.1 million) at the chambers of Justice Aggrey and Justice Said Chitembwe during a last week raid at the Milimani Law Courts.
Court documents show that DCI, through Chief Inspector Felix Banzi recovered $50,000 from an unidentified woman in Justice Muchelule’s chambers and another $7,000 from Justice Chitembwe.
But an inventory filed in court by lawyer Danstan Omari and signed by all the officers present shows that nothing was recovered from Justice Muchelule’s chambers.
The alleged revelations come after KMJA successfully obtained orders last Friday stopping the DCI from arresting the two judges until their case is heard and determined.
The DCI has however denied ever arresting the two prominent judges claiming that they only went with the police to DCI headquarters to record statements to aid the ongoing investigations.
Lawyer Danstan Omari, representing the two judges [p/courtesy]Inspector Banzi claimed that the raid was conducted after the DCI received a tip-off from a complaint that some brokers had lured the two judges to deliver favorable rulings.
“On July 21 at around 3pm I was told by one of the complainants that after a series of meetings between certain judges and brokers a figure of Sh7 million was arrived at and the bribe was to be delivered to the residence of a judge at 7pm,” said Banzi.
He also added that the venue was abruptly changed and meeting rescheduled to the following day at 7.45am in one of the chambers at Milimani law courts but due to the short notice and urgency of the matter, they could not obtain a search warrant as they arrived at the said courts at 7.30am and laid ambush.
Banzi also clarified that the meeting was presided over by Justice Chitembwe as the DCI asked the court to dismiss the case filed by KMJA last week as they insist that they did not arrested the two judges.
“At no point were the judges arrested as alleged by KMJA, they were only recorded statements to assist with investigations,” he emphasized.
The children of the late tycoon Lawrence Nginyo Kariuki are risking jail terms after the High Court ruled that they had appropriated part of his assets before being granted permission to run the estate.
The court also directed that a forensic audit to be conducted on the Sh4 billion estate after the widow (Margaret Wangari Nginyo) colluded with her children Jane Alice Wambui Kiragu and Silas Macharia Kariuki to withdraw more than Sh70 million from late Nginyo’s bank accounts at I&M Bank and Consolidated Bank of Kenya.
They have done many other similar withdrawals with claims that the money was being used to pay legitimate expenses, including settling debts of the estate and funding the late billionaire’s funeral.
But the ruling by Justice Stella Mutuku delivered on Tuesday explained that the withdrawals were illegal because the will has been contested meaning the three will face exposing legal action.
“Without authority to support their actions, I am constrained to make a finding that the acts by the executors or respondents in dealing with the estate as they did, amounts to inter-meddling in the estate of the deceased,” Justice Mutuku said.
She added that anyone found guilty of illegally appropriating the property of the deceased will face a fine not exceeding Sh10,000 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year or both. Justice Mutuku further ordered the three to account for the money they withdrew from bank accounts of the estate.
“The respondents shall refund to the estate all and any of the proceeds they have withdrawn from the deceased’s accounts and or misappropriated from the entire estate,” the orders read in part.
Nginyo Towers in Nairobi’s central business district [p/courtesy]The late tycoon owned land and buildings in Nairobi, Kiambu and Ngong valued at a total of Sh3.2 billion with one of his most famous property being Nginyo Towers in Nairobi’s central business district. Kariuki also owned a 120-acre farmland in Tigoni, Kiambu County, producing coffee, tea and livestock. The farm that now makes a small profit has monthly expenses of Sh1.7 million.
The deceased also had a total of Sh335 million in fixed deposit accounts at Consolidated Bank of Kenya while his investment firms, including Nginyo Investments and Pema Holdings, have assets valued at Sh221.3 million.
But the court case is now threatening to freeze the late Nginyo Kariuki’s estate that would leave the heirs with Sh400 million each if it is equally distributed to Margaret and the nine children.
The legal battles began after Brenda filed an application objecting to the will, which only listed Margaret and her six children as the heirs and left out other children born out of wedlock. She sued Consolidated Bank, I&M Bank and Co-operative Bank — over hundreds of millions of shillings in accounts and for offering Margaret’s children access to the finances without letters of administration.
“….This proves that the deceased was not of his free mind as the deceased did not know and/or could not remember the other three children who are not children of Margaret Wangari Nginyo Kariuki at the time of making the alleged will but only remembered all the children of Margaret Wangari Nginyo to the exclusion of all others.” Brenda told the court.
ODM Party has nominated Solomon Ngugi to replace the late Mohand Hatimy but the decision was not received well by party adherents in Mombasa County.
Supporters have accused the Raila Odinga led party of dishing out a slot that belonged to them to a foreigner or ‘mwanabara’ who is also a non Muslim.
Ngugi who has sinc been sworn in was led into the assembly by Chaani MCA Junior Wambua and Mombasa County Youth representative Hon. Moses Oindo.
Majority leader Hamisi Mwidani who also chairs finance, budget and appropriations congratulated Ngugi on his nominations claiming that Ngugi is man from the local party branch who earned his nomination courtesy of his loyal to the party.
Ngugi in his maiden speech thanked the ODM party leader Raila Odinga, Mombasa governor Hassan Joho and the entire ODM Nyali branch for his nomination to fill the slot that was left vacant after Hatimy’s death.
The newly nominated MCA also thanked the ODM Mombasa branch for supporting his nomination despite the discontent among the natives who claim that the seat that was once held by their own has been thrown to ‘a foreigner’.
Ngugi’s swearing-in was presided over by speaker Aharub Khatri said that Ngugi’s nomination had been gazetted through the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
The late Mohamed Hatimy [p/courtesy]The swearing in ceremony was witnessed by Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki, acting county secretary Joab Tumbo, ODM county branch secretary Geoffrey Busaka and Assembly clerk Salim Juma presented Ngugi with books and documents pertaining to the assembly guidelines.
The session ended with a minute of silence in honor of Hatimy who served as the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Mombasa County chairperson. He was serving his second term as nominated MCA in the Mombasa County Assembly where he was also the chairing the Finance Committee.
Before joining politics, Hatimy also served as the chairman oformer Kenya Football Federation (KFF). He died in November 2020 at Mombasa hospital where he was undergoing treatment.
The discontent in Ngugi’s nomination is coming at the time when Mombasa governor Joho is also eyeing ODM’s presidential ticket which is more of a preserve for Raila Odinga.
Joho is claiming that the coastal region has stood with Odinga for too long and it’s now time that the former Langa’ta Mp reciprocated.
The ownership of the land on which the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) sits now remains uncertain after an audit report revealed that the prime land is not owned by the state agency that manages it.
Report by Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu shows that the title deed for the the land where KICC building stands is not registered in the name of the iconic building which is under the Tourism ministry.
But the report did not reveal the owner or the entity that owns the land which is valued at Sh2.29 billion.
“It has also been noted that the land in which Kenyatta International Convention Centre building stands is not registered in the name of the Corporation although its value has been included in the financial statements,” Gathungu stated.
The lack of the title deed has now exposed prime plots owned by the government or State corporations and public utilities including schools which always risk invasion by private developers and powerful land grabbers.
Kenya’s Auditor General, Nancy Gathungu [p/courtesy]The findings by Ms Gathungu has reopened a twenty year old dispute over the ownership of the KICC building, which was initially claimed by the former ruling party KANU.
Kanu lost the ownership of the building in 2003 through what the then Tourism and Information minister Raphael Tuju termed an executive order but the party has continued to list the property as one of its assets in filings to the Registrar of Political Parties.
Kanu secretary-general Nick Salat had also claimed that the independence party had a title deed to the iconic building.
But KICC which is one of the continents destinations for conferences was turned into a parastatal under the Ministry of Tourism and was refurbished by the National Treasury.
The building is now playing host to several government offices, including those of Senators.
The Auditor General also found the Tourism ministry had not included the parking area as part of the land in its financial statements.
The land on which Garden Square Restaurant stands is also disputed by KICC and the County Government of Nairobi.
The valuation of the convention’s assets conducted in 2019 put the value of the KICC building at Sh1,664,800,000 while freehold land at its parking grounds was valued at Sh2.296 billion at end of June 2019.
The value of furniture at the 28 storey building was Sh21.5 million while office equipment was Sh55.3 million.
But Ms Gathungu revealed that the valuation amounts as detailed in KICC’s financial statements for the assets differ from the amounts in the valuation report by Sh1.3 billion.
“The valuer, who had been paid a total of Sh7.6 million, did not give a detailed report on how the valuation was undertaken and why the valuation, particularly the freehold land and buildings seem to be undervalued compared to the current market values,” she said.
The recent loss in the Kiambaa by-election has triggered a heated blame game in Jubilee party, with top officials directing accusing fingers at the bureaucrats from the Office of the President who hijacked the campaigns and control of cash.
President Uhuru Kenyatta’s civil service advisers are said to have waged supremacy wars, took over the campaigns and bullied campaign managers during the run up to the humbling loss.
The jubilee team appeared shambolic and rudderless to effectively hit the ground to popularize Kariri Njama who was beaten by UDA’s John Njuguna Wanjiku.
A section of JP top officials claim that their team was treated as spectators during the manning of the party’s election affairs.
Officials from the office of the President were engaged in the issuance of IDs and provision of relief food which did not ogre well with the electorate.
MPs who are still loyal to the party have now piled pressure on chairman Nelson Dzuya, vice chairman David Murathe and secretary general Raphael Tuju to resign following the series of losses in Mt Kenya region. They must pave way or be forcefully kicked out .
Hon. Kanini Kega of Kieni constituency and a close ally of the president who participated in the Kiambaa campaigns is now leading the voices calling for the resignation of the top officials.
“We have to make some painful and hard decisions as we move forward. If you are a Jubilee national official and your name is not in the list, kindly submit your letter of resignation immediately before we physically eject you from the headquarters,” Kanini said.
Kieni MP Kanini Kega. He wants Dzuya, Tuju and Murathe to resign [p/courtesy]Kega was supported by Laikipia Woman Representative Catherine Waruguru who admitted that the ruling party is also faced with mistrust like NASA alliance.
Waruguru has announced that she is on her way out of Jubilee and she is expected to join UDA party where many politicians from Mt Kenya region are trooping to.
Joseph Mathai who is the the Jubilee regional coordinator for Kiambu and Murang’a counties also added that senior civil servants from the Office of the President mistreated party officials during the Kiambaa campaigns as they kicked out some from the office.
“You can imagine that being the guy in charge of that region, I was never involved in that campaign so when somebody points a finger at me I think they should be checked,” Mathai told local media.
He further explained that the same bureaucrats also bungled the Juja parliamentary by-election which was won by Moses Kuria’s People Empowerment Party candidate.
“We blame the losses on the people who went there and excluded the Secretary-General and his experienced directors who had come from the merged 12 political parties. Our track record is simple, if anybody wants to know how capable we are, we delivered 2013 and the much-contested election of 2017,” Mathai added.
It has also emerged that Jubilee settled on fielding Njama after their intelligence reports identified him as the most popular candidate who would shield Jubilee from the blazing UDA.
But Njama had over the time been a close ally of Deputy President William Ruto who owns UDA party. He hosted Ruto in Kiambaa in February against the wishes of the Jubilee party bosses.
Njama was actually eyeing the UDA party ticket before the untouchable bureaucrats coerced him to fly the Jubilee flag.
He was beaten by UDA’s Wanjiku who garnered 21,773 against his 21,263 votes, serving another bitter loss for President Uhuru Kenyatta in his backyard.
This is the President’s second loss in his home county after George Koimburi of PEP beat Jubilee’s Susan Njeri in a Juja held in May. Koimburi was supported by DP William Ruto.
President Uhuru Kenyatta failed to secure loan from France to finance the construction of a railway line linking Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Nairobi’s central business district during his last week’s visit to Paris, delaying the €128 million (Sh16.3 billion) infrastructure plan.
Kenya was expected to ink the deal during President Kenyatta’s two day visit but Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said the trip did not bag the deal, which was expected to fund the construction of the five kilometre metre-gauge line linking the airport to standard-gauge rail (SGR) terminus in Syokimau.
“No agreements were signed, we just reviewed progress towards the launch of the project,” CS Macharia said.
The president’s previous visits to the French capital had signaled that an agreement on the loan would have been closed by June 30 when he was back in France.
Failure to secure the loan now spells doom for the project that was initially set for August according to the talks between French President Emanuel Macron and President Kenyatta in March 2019. A number of French investors also signed deals worth over Sh300 billion when Macron visited Nairobi but French-Chinese rivalry over the railway deal has continued to play out.
Kenya’s standard gauge railway built by the Chinese [p/courtesy]The Chinese Embassy in Nairobi hurriedly took Kenyan government officials, Mps and journalist on a tour of the SGR project just days after Macron left Kenya- a PR exercise that was meant to pull Kenya out of the deal with France.
The JKIA-Nairobi city centre railway line is part of an ambitious plan to ease congestion in Nairobi and shorten the time taken between the CBD and JKIA which handles more than 11.7 million domestic and international fliers in a year.
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is 20km from the capital’s central business district, a distance that should take less than 30 minutes but takes up to 2 hours due to heavy traffic on the busy Mombasa Road.
But tender wars have also derailed the construction of the linking rail and the deal that was expected to be signed between Kenyatta and Macron.
The National Treasury had read mischief over the secret procurement of a consortium of five French firms including Egis group that had lined up to build the new railway line on the back of a financing deal between France and commercial lender BPI France Assurance Export.
Other french firms eyeing the construction deal include Sogea-Satom, Alstom, Thales and Transdev but the Egis was dropped for failing to comply with the law.
China which provided about Sh500 billion in loans for the construction of the SGR line from Mombasa to Nairobi is also interested in the deal despite critics raising concerns over Kenya’s ballooning debts and Chinese loans. They are hell bent to ensure that Kenya’s deal with France does not see the light of the day.
Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is in pursuit of Lugari MP Ayub Savula whose publication is owing the them more than Sh473 million in unpaid taxes emanating from business deals signed with various State agencies between 2013 and 2017.
Sunday Publishers which belongs to Savula was awarded contracts by Energy ministry, National Land Commission, National Hospital Insurance Fund, Nairobi, Migori and Mombasa counties.
The controversial lawmaker has been ordered by High Court judge David Majanja to get a bank guarantee of Sh10 million, within 45 days, as a condition to bar KRA from forfeiting assets belonging to his publication. KRA wants the court to allow them seize assets belonging to the publication which they will later auction to recover the amount they are owed.
Savula moved to court to seek an injuction barring KRA from executing a judgment of the Tax Appeals Tribunal which gave the taxman go ahead to seize his assets and recover the money. The court heard that the Lugari Mp had only paid Sh3 million and was promising to pay another Sh3 million.
Lugari MP Ayub Savula (far right) when he appeared in court with his co-accused [p/courtesy]
“I find that the security of Sh3 million being proposed by the appellant (Savula) insufficient and too low considering the tax liability at stake. Security of Sh10 million in the form of a bank guarantee from a reputable bank would be most appropriate taking into account the circumstances of the case,” Justice Majanja ruled.
Mr Savula who claimed that his publication does not have any liquidity to furnish the security in one instalment also pleaded with the court for leniency arguing that some of his documents had been confiscated by various investigative agencies. The publication which is embroiled in many legal battles was forced to halt its operations after it became too expensive to run.
The lawmaker has been courting controversies since 2018 when he implicated in a Sh2.5 billion scandal with 18 other accomplices at the Government Advertising Agency (GAA) where they were charged and released on bail.
Some of the 18 accused persons included his two wives (Gatwiri Ringera & Hellen Kemboi) and the former Broadcasting and Telecommunication PS Sammy Itemere. Savula and the gang stole Sh122,335, 500 at GAA using dubious companies.
The Deputy President William Ruto is hinting at fielding former West Pokot governor Simon Kachapin to fly the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) flag in the 2022 West Pokot gubernatorial race. Kachapin will face off with the incumbent, John Lonyangapuo and other ‘small’ aspirants.
Ruto’s choice for Kachapin is informed by the fact that the former governor is currently enjoying some growing political fortunes in West Pokot while Lonyangapuo’s popularity is crumbling.
Lonyangapuo is accused of presiding over corruption scandals in the semi-arid county with a section of his administration appearing before the anti-corruption court to answer to looting charges. He is also accused of being too authoritative and running the county without consulting with other top county officers.
West Pokot county governor John Lonyangapuo [p/courtesy]The KANU governor who appears confused over DP Ruto or ODM leader Raila Odinga might face his predecessor, Kachapin, who is likely to use UDA as his new political vehicle next year. In 2013, the two politicians were in KANU when they ran for senate (Lonyangapuo) and governor (Kachapin) positions.
But Kachapin has remained Ruto’s man since then when Jubilee was still a coalition comprising of TNA, URP and many briefcase parties including Kanu. He was elected a governor in 2013 but was defeated by Lonyangapuo in 2017.
They are set to face-off through different parties next year but Lonyangapuo will be carrying the burden of a dismal performance. He has failed to deliver most of his promises with only 13 months left to the next polls.
DP William Ruto during a recent rally in West Pokot [p/courtesy]He blames his performance on the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic but Ruto whose support is sweeping across his county [West Pokot] is succeeding in luring Kachapin to abandon KANU for his ‘Hustlers Movement’ and oust Nyangapuo in 2022.
Kachapin is currently enjoying warm receptions whenever he visits the county. The growing support is also attributed to his association with DP Ruto and UDA brigade. The man who is currently serving as chief administrative in the Sports ministry is confident of reclaiming the seat he lost in 2017 when Lonyangapuo is pleading for patience.
The DP who has his eyes set on presidency recently visited Kitalakapel area where he mentioned Kachapin’s name and the crowd cheered and to cement his preference for the former governor, he later hosted MPs and MCAs from W/Pokot at his Sugoi home where he asked them to back Kachapin’s candidature.
The Sport’s CAS is relying on the infrastructure development and the construction of the Kapenguria Medical Training College, Kapenguria campus which were established during his tenure to sell his come back.
Lonyangapuo is left with a handful supporters and a track record that is tainted with unfulfilled promises, poor working relationship with other county government workers, corruption and embarrassment.
Other than the governor’s nude photos going viral across whatsapp groups and other social media platforms lin 2022, his adminstration’s water department is being investigated over a Sh300 million that was looted through ghost projects.
The EACC detectives investigating the matter raided the homes of the county’s top officials and county government offices where they confiscated vital documents.
Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino who is facing charges of attempting to kill DJ Evolve whom he shot at a Kilimani club last year is using his status to coerce the victim’s family to accept an out of court settlement.
DJ Evolve’s family lawyer told the court that they are in advanced stages of negotiations. Senior Principal Magistrate Bernard Ochoi also heard that the only thing holding the parties back are some documents that they have to present to the prosecution before settling the matter.
The prosecution confirmed the same, noting that the outspoken Mp and his lawyer have been holding talks with the victim’s family. They also stated that they [prosecution] have held two meetings with the accused lawmaker and DJ Evolve’s family together with the lawyers.
“We are waiting for a document from the two parties which will enable us to hand to the DPP for directions,” the prosecution told the court.
Dj Evolve [p/courtesy]But the prosecution asked for more time since they have to wait for prosecutor who is handling the case. Bbabu case is under prosecutor Nyamosi is currently attending to an official duty out of town. She is the one mandated to forward the letter to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
Babu’s first attempt to have an out-of-court settlement failed after Ochoi declined to withdraw the matter without being informed what the MP was offering DJ Evolve. He (Magistrate Ochoi) has now given them three weeks to tie up their negotiations before he rules on the matter.
DJ Evolve also attempted to withdraw the same criminal case in March 2012 on grounds that they have been good friends with Babu even prior to the shooting incident.
In a letter dated September 21, 2020 and addressed to the DPP and the Court’s Executive Officer, the victim and his family argued that the case had divided his attention and was affecting his healing process.
Babu Owino is not only accused of attempting to kill Felix Orinda (DJ Evolve) by shooting him on the neck at B Club located along Galana Road in Kilimani, Nairobi on January 17, 2020. He is also charged of behaving disorderly while carrying a firearm.
Rwandan Investigation Bureau (RIB) arrested eight Kenyans behind the hacking of Equity Bank and handed them eight-year jail terms and fined Sh5.6 million.
RIB trailed the gang that has also been connected to several hacking attempts in the East African region and had notified Rwandan authorities about there new area of operation.
The eight are members of a 12-man organised gang arrested in 2019 by (RIB) that had recruited one Ugandan and three Rwandese nationals and a Ugandan. They were hacking into Equity Bank accounts and channeling money to their accomplices in Rwanda to draw out funds through ATM and Eazzy banking systems.
The arrested members Kenyans include Samuel Wachira Nyuguto, Muchoki Muriuki, Kinyua Erickson Macharia, Steve Maina Wambugu, Gachiri Githinji, Eric Dickson Njagi Mutegi, Reuben Kirogothi Mwangi and Damaris Njeri Kamau.
Media outlets in Rwanda reported that they were sentenced on July 2, fined Rwf50 million (Sh5.3 million) in damages and Rwf3 million (Sh322,000) for other charges.
“The court tendered the verdict on the five charges; unauthorized access to s computer or a computer system data; access to data with intent to commit an offence; unauthorised modification of computer or computer system data; theft; and formation of or joining a criminal association,” Taarifa Rwanda said.
Equity Bank officials in a courtesy photo with the Rwandan President Paul Kagame [in grey]The gang was colluding with Equity bank staffers who helped them identify accounts with huge deposits that they targeted and moved money to move money to accounts of accomplices.
They used the Eazzy banking platform, which Equity Bank and security agents intercepted after they received alerts on their operations, including the recruitment of Rwandans they would use to take cash out stolen funds.
Rwanda has reported increase in cyber-crime which has tripled from just 47 reported cases in 2017 to 113 cases in 2018 with more than sixty cases committed in the capital Kigali.
Convictions of the 8 Kenyans come at the time when the East African country is struggling to collaborate with its counterparts to nab cartels wrecking havoc in financial institutions across the borders.
Even Kenya with a highly digitized economy linked with banks mobile money transfers has been a target for cyber-crime and online fraud.
Equity Bank is owned by Kenyan investors but has expanded its footprint in the region with an ambitious plan to facilitate the Rwandese government has 80% of its population is banked and embracing a savings culture.
The bank’s Managing Director James Mwangi revealed that they invested over US$ 12million in the Rwanda setup which is in line with Rwandese government’s Vision 2020 development strategy.
The employment of Migori Governor Okoth Obado’s daughter at the County’s Level 4 Referral Hospital has sparked public outcry with the locals calling for Ethic and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) to probe the matter. Evelyn Adhiambo Obado who is facing a Sh73.5 million corruption case was secretly employed at the facility three months ago where she has been working in silence until Covid-19 cases spiraled in the region.
Not much is known about her qualifications in the health sector but Evelyn together with her three siblings Dan Okoth, Susan Okoth, Jerry Okoth and their corrupt father, Okoth Obado were part of a cartel that stole Sh73.5 million from Migori county coffers.
The secret employment of Ms Obado has exposed the former Awendo MP Jared Opiyo who chairs Migori county public service board. The former Mp is Obado’s ‘yes man’ who was compromised and arm-twisted to ensure that the governor’s daughter was employed.
Evelyn Adhiambo Obado [p/courtesy]But Obado who is also facing charges of murder sees nothing wrong with his tainted daughter bagging the job. The troubled governor argues that the corruption cases they are facing are fabrications by his political rivals so his daughter remains innocent until proven guilty. Migori public service board CEO Martin Arondo also sided with the governor when he claimed that it is not within their jurisdiction to investigate the family and criminal background before clearing applicants for a job.
“We rely on chapter 6 document to clear candidates for interviews and I believe if a daughter of the governor was interviewed and subsequently appointed, we were fully guided by her compliance with chapter 6 and section 65 of the county government Act, 2020.” he said.
Arondo went on to defend the employment of the suspect as competitive and one that was overseen by an independent body. But pundits argue that the board went against its earlier position where it declined to renew Michael Oyamo’s contract.
Oyamo served as Obado’s personal assistant until he became suspect in the brutal murder of Sharon Otieno in a case that is currently proceeding in court. The prosecution has lined up 37 witnesses to testify against governor Obado and Oyamo with the trial set to end on 15th of July.
South Africa’s ex- president Jacob Zuma has made a last minute plea to the Constitutional Court, which sentenced him to 15 months in jail over contempt earlier in the week, to avoid that sentence.
Zuma aligned himself with the two court Justices who adopted a dissenting view his sentencing as he filed an urgent application in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg to avoid incarceration through a stay of arrest.
The former South Africa leader has made the move two days to the expiry of his deadline to surrender to the authorities as ruling African National Congress (ANC) party’s ‘military veterans association’ matched outside his home in KwaZulu-Natal Province where they vowed to ‘peacefully’ prevent his arrest at all costs.
Former South African president Jacob Zuma filing papers at the Constitutional Court [p/courtesy]Zuma is relying on the view of the two dissent Justices who argued that he should not be directly jailed by the highest court in the land in his appeal to the Constitutional Court.
The former president also complained of poor health, claiming that life behind bars would put him in jeopardy. He also clarified that he did not walk out on Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo’s state capture commission but he had to leave to take his medication.
Zuma’s appeal for rescission to the Concourt is coming at the time when the Acting Chief Justice Sisi Khampepe has already signed his committal order indicating he is scheduled to serve his jail term at the Westville Prison in KwaZulu-Natal.
His supporters who have pitched camp outside his home have been hostile to the media as they don headgears and t-shirts with a phrase questioning the offense Zumas has committed.
“We shall see what happens when that time comes, we shall see,” one of the supporters said.
Tension was witnessed last month in KwaZulu-Natal when ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe tried to take the podium and the meeting turned into chaos with unruly delegates from ANC branches and regions chanting “Wenzeni uZuma”, (Zulu phrase meaning “What did Zuma do?).
United Democratic Alliance is fast becoming the party to beat as race to succeed Kilifi governor Amason Kingi takes shape. The party linked to the Deputy President Dr. William Ruto has already identified the fiery Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa as its favorite candidate to take over from Kingi who will retire in August 2022.
Jumwa joined Ruto’s camp after ditching ODM party which sponsored her to parliament in 2017. She is facing criminal charges but still remains the candidate to beat after other aspirants including former Labour CS Kazungu Kambi and Kilifi North Mp Owen Baya chickened out.
Kambi who was appointed the board director at National Land Commission is now contemplating going for a parliamentary seat after debate heightened on academic qualifications. Other than questionable educational background, Kambi is also financially limping to fund a gubernatorial campaign.
Devolution CAS Gideon Mung’aro [p/courtesy]Jumwa, the self professed iron lady of Kilifi politics has obtained a leadership and governance degree from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
Kambi who once served as Kaloleni Mp will keep off a male dominated race that has also attracted Devolution CAS Gideon Mung’aro, Kilifi speaker Jimmy Kahindi, Amb. Dan Kazungu, Magarini MP Michael Kingi, former Kilifi agriculture chief officer Baha Nguma and Dzombo Mbaru. The current Kilifi senator Stewart Madzayo who was elected on ODM ticket has also kept the electorate guessing if he will elevate himself to the county’s top seat or not.
Jumwa only sees Mung’aro and Kazungu as possible threats but considers Kahindi an underdog who must be wished away. Both Mung’aro and Kambi who had unsuccessful runs in 2017 when they garnered 54,547 and 44,470 respectively against Kingi’s 218,686 votes.
The vocal lawmaker has bagged Kilifi North’s Owen Baya who has been associating with UDA openly and supporting her quest to be the next governor of Kilifi County. Baya will defends his parliamentary seat as ODM remains desperate to field Mung’aro who ditched them for Jubilee in the run up 2017 polls. Both Mung’aro and Kilifi county assembly speaker are desperate for Kingi’s endorsement to take on Jumwa.
American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson could miss the chance to challenge for the Olympic 100 metres title in Tokyo after she tested positive for cannabis. Sources have revealed that she tested positive during the U.S. Olympic trials last month where the Richardson proved she is a gold medal contender after she won 100m in 10.86 seconds.
A positive test for cannabis means that all of Richardson’s results from the meet would be wiped out on top of missing a chance to compete at the Olympics games which are scheduled for later this month.
Jenna Prandini, who finished fourth in the final has already been approached to run for the U.S. in the 100m in Tokyo after calls and e-mails to Richardson’s agent, Renaldo Nehemiah, U.S.A Track and Field (USATF) and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) aproved futile on Thursday.
Cannabis [p/courtesy]The 21-year-old sprinter was set to run in the 200m at the Stockholm Diamond League in Sweden this weekend but her name was found missing in the entry list in the race’s official website on Thursday.
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned cannabis but if an athlete can prove that their ingestion of the drug was not related to sports performance then they can be banned for three months and not the usual four years.
And implicated the athletes who agree to undertake an approved treatment programme in collaboration with their national anti-doping agency can have their bans reduced to one month.
Richardson was looking forward to be the first American woman to win the Olympic 100m title after Gail Devers who posted 10.72 seconds in 1996.
But a month long ban backdated to the time when she tested positive would leave the Texan clear to race in the 4x100m relay at the Olympics on Aug. 6, if selected by USATF.
Richardson also has an option to appeal any sanction at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Any sports body that feels her punishment is too lenient can also appeal at the same court.
Al shabaab militants crossed into the Kenyan borders and killed three casual workers at a construction site in Dhobley, Garissa County.
Police said that the insurgents have been behind similar attacks in various sites in the regions where they have only targeted, killed and injured non locals.
The incident is the latest target on non locals after dozens were killed in various quarries in Garissa County near the border with Somalia where the insurgents are fond of crossing into Kenya to launch attacks and cross back.
The government has beefed security in the region to curb such attacks which have caused disruption of lives and businesses but Al shabaab terrorists have continued to target security installations with the help of the locals who have been accused of aiding them.
This attack comes after Kenyan security forces intercepted and gunned down Al shabaab militants who crossed into the country on Monday and were ferrying two AK 47 rifles, bomb making materials at the main border in Liboi, Garissa County where they were plotting an attack. Police said that the terrorists were using a donkey to ferry the weapons when they were shot and killed.
Regional commissioner Nicodemus Ndalana [p/courtesy]North Eastern regional commissioner Nicodemus Ndalana added that terrorist group now has a donkey unit which they use in ferrying weapons and carrying out attacks with the help of the locals.
“All we want is the support of the locals who we suspect could know what is happening. These terrorists cannot come and plant explosives here without locals knowing it,” Ndalana said.
The series of attacks by the terrorists have also affected education in the region forcing tens of teachers who are non-locals to flee Garissa which has borne the brunt of heinous attacks from the Somalia based militants. The dreaded insurgents are also fond of planting explosives on the routes frequented by Kenyan security forces.
Detectives from the Serious Fraud Unit of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have unearthed how Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua used at least 40 companies to win lucrative tenders from the central government and county governments worth over Sh12 billion.
Rigathi won most of the tenders from the county government of Nyeri when his late brother Nderitu Gachagua when was the governor, putting him under the DCI radar after it was found that his bank accounts handled more than Sh12 billion in seven years.
All the suspect companies were operated as proxies but had a common convergence point, Wamunyoro Investments Limited, where Rigathi Gachagua and his wife, preacher Dorcas Wanjiku are listed as the major shareholders.
Rigathi used Upperdeck Agencies which is registered under Gerald Waema Mbatha and Moses Otieno to win a Ksh9.4 million tender to supply linen to Nyeri County hospitals but when the payment was made on February 18, 2015, the whole amount was wired to Wamunyoro Investments Limited. The company has one Sammy Cheborgey, an employee of Mathira CDF committee listed as a signatory.
The embattled lawmaker also used another company identified as Rapid Medical Supplies, which was awarded a Ksh47 million tender to supply medical supplies to Nyeri County. But the detectives are still struggling to find out if the supplies were made or not.
“Accounts held at Rafiki Deposit-taking Microfinance have been used to source for loans (and) these loans have been used to cover up for funds received from government departments or inter-company transfers in a bid to conceal the ultimate beneficiary or beneficiaries of the funds,” DCI report read in part.
Detectives also found that some of the companies used by Hon. Rigathi had no physical offices and were registered under proprietors who had no knowledge of how the contracts were done.
“They appeared clueless, naïve, unprofessional and (as) persons who had no idea what their companies had done. The tenders won involved construction of roads, water pans and others but they did not have any idea how it is done. They had no known office space, staff and both were operating from Gachagua’s office,” detectives noted.
Meru Senator Mithika Linturi, he received part of Rigathi’s loot [p/courtesy] Rigathi would later distribute his loot to Meru Senator Mithika Linturi, former Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri and Laikipia Senator John Kinyua who are among the 102 suspects who have recorded statements with the DCI.
His personal secretary Julienda Jahenda Makaa was also in his ring of cartel as she received millions from the accounts despite being a mere M-Pesa attendant at Buruburu area of Nairobi. Skytop Agencies, which received multi-million tenders from Rigathi’s Mathira Constituency was also registered under Ms Makaa’s name.
She was paid Sh15 million by Stecol Corporation which won tenders in Nyeri County while Endrem Agencies paid Ksh34 million to Machine Centre Limited. All the two companies are linked to Hon. Rigathi Gachagua.
Machine Centre Limited was paid Sh314 million by the Ministry of Water and Sanitation for Sagana River Restoration Project, which was being undertaken by an Israeli company, Baran International. Detectives also found that Machine Centre Limited is owned by Mathira CDF chairman William Wahome and Elizabeth Wachera but has a joint account with Rigathi’s Wamunyoro Investments Limited.
Investigations had earlier showed that Rigathi was paid Sh12.5 billion through three accounts in Rafiki Micro Finance Bank, in seven years, and the Asset Recovery Agency (ARA) managed to trace withdrawals worth Sh7.3 billion but could not explain the disappearance of over Sh5 billion from Rigathi’s accounts.
The first-term MP allied to the Deputy President Dr. William Ruto has been at the centre of controversies following the suspicious payments made to his accounts at the Rafiki Micro Finance Bank and abuse of power to acquire property.
In February 2021, a retired civil servant also went to court seeking the revocation of a deed to a parcel of land in Nairobi worth Sh1.5 billion owned by Rigathi Gachagua.
The former director of physical planning at the Lands ministry claimed that the title was fraudulently registered in the name of Rigathi’s Wamunyoro Investment Ltd.
Rebel fighters in the Tigray region of Ethiopia have taken control of the regional capital Mekelle from government troops which have since called for a ceasefire.
Ethiopia announced a “unilateral ceasefire” in Tigray on Monday after the rebels seized the city of Mekelle.
The government said it was pausing its operations in the region to avoid disruptions to the farming season and distribution of humanitarian aid to the starving citizens.
The rebel fighters have also gained control of the town of Shire which is about 140km to the north-west. The take over comes after Eritrean troops backing the Ethiopian army abandoned the city.
The eight-month fight between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and government forces has claimed thousands of lives, millions displaced and up-to 350,000 exposed to famine.
Mekelle has been under the control federal army since November 28, three weeks after fights broke out with the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launching attacks on rebel fighters for killing federal troops.
Supporters of TPLF fighters celebrating the rebel take over of Mekelle town [p/courtesy]But the fights between the pro-Tigray Peoples Liberation Front forces – and the government forces never stopped even with capture of the Tigray capital. Only a few scenes of jubilation were seen in the streets of Mekelle on Tuesday, a day after it fell in the hands of the rebels.
“The city is celebrating, everyone is out dancing,” confirmed the interim administration member. Everyone is excited, there is music in the streets. Everyone has their flags out and the music is playing. I don’t know how they got them, but everyone has fireworks,” a resident told AFP.
And fights are still expected to continue after Getachew Reda who speaks for the rebels told Reuters that their fighters would “destroy the enemy” by crossing into Eritrea and the Ethiopian region of Amhara where militants are backing government forces.
Rebels are taking control of Mekelle after the last bunch of officials from the regional interim administration left the town on Monday. Local media reported that soldiers and federal police were also fleeing the city as the rogue ones looted banks and harassing locals.
Government forces broke into a UNICEF office in Mekele on Monday and confiscated satellite equipment used in carrying out humanitarian work.
“The members of the Ethiopian military entered our office premises in Mekelle ……. and they confiscated our satellite equipment, which we still haven’t recovered up to this point” Victor Chinyama, UNICEF’s Ethiopia Chief of Communications said.
Nyamira senator Okong’o Omogeni is the man behind the political woes rocking both Nyamira and Kisii where he harbors selfish motives that are now pushing pundits and key political players to call investigations against him.
Omogeni is accused of orchestrating the controversial impeachment motion by MCAs seeking to oust Governor James Ongwae of the neighboring Kisii County. The fall-out between Ongwae and Omogeni resulted from the recently held by-election in Bonchari Constituency where Kisii Governor Ongwae and Kisii senator Sam Ongeri led ODM politicians in opposing Jubilee’s Zebedeo Opore.
The shrewd politician is back at it again using his spanner-boy Kibegwa Mageuzi, who filed a petition at the senate and called for governor Ongwae to be probed over misuse of Kisii county resources.
Senator Omogeni has repeatedly used Mr. Mageuzi, a local based activist, to push devolved units to negotiate for out of court settlements which eventually lead to withdrawal of petitions with bribes exchanging hands.
Kisii governor James Ongwae [p/courtesy]In 2019, he used Mageuzi to file a petition against the former Nyamira governor the late John Nyagarama but that petition was later withdrawn after Mageuzi was calmed with some Sh10,000. Omogeni was also allegedly bankrolled to coerce his fellow senators in the justice and legal affairs committee and those in the Labour committee to go slow on the late Nyagarama.
He now remains the mischievous hand behind all witch-hunting petitions by Mageuzi which are always followed by emissaries who are sent to the targeted governors to negotiate for withdraws if they accept to bribe senators in the respective investigating committees in the senate.
Activist Kibegwa Mageuzi [p/courtesy]Mageuzi was used by Omogeni to file similar petitions even in counties where he is not a registered voter like Kakamega, Trans Nzoia, Bungoma and now Kisii County yet he hails from Manga, Kitutu Masaba constituency of Nyamira county.
In the Ongwae case, Mageuzi is claiming to be a resident and registered voter in Kisii county. Reliable sources have also revealed to KI that Omogeni’s spanner boy cheated oath – an offence that is punishable under the Kenyan laws.
But Maguezi has been a starving man since the demise of Governor Nyagarama who was forced to put him on a monthly retainer fee of Sh300,000 per month and regular hand-outs.
Police in Garrisa killed Al Shabaab insurgents on Monday after they intercepted a donkey ferrying two AK 47 rifles and bomb making materials at Liboi area of Garissa County. They also recovered Improvised Explosive Device assembly components and logistical support supplies from the terrorists.
Police officers who took part in the operation said the terrorist who had the donkey was shot and killed on the spot before getting to the area where they had a mission. North Eastern regional commissioner Nicodemus Ndalana also said that investigations are underway to establish the intended destination of the weapons and explosives.
He added that they have deployed more police officers in his area of administration to combat the rising cases of terror attacks as he called for more cooperation from the locals. Security agents have found that many attacks in the border region have been aided by locals.
Northeastern regional commissioner Nicodemus Ndalana [p/courtesy]“We want the support of the locals who we suspect could know what is happening. These terrorists cannot come and plant explosives here without locals knowing it,” Ndalana said.
Al-shabaab militants have resorted to using donkeys to ferry smuggle weapons into the country as they target security installations in North Eastern area where where they have launched a series of attacks.
The attacks by the Somalia based terrorists have affected lives in the region and hit education sector forcing tens of teachers who are non-locals to keep off their stations of work.
The terrorists have repeatedly targeted Mandera and Garissa where they have hit civilians and security officials by planting explosives on the routes used by Kenyans.
Recent attacks indicate the insurgents are now back in the area and hiding among locals as they halt operations in Garissa county where they have killed 15 people within the last two weeks.
A campaign has since been launched in the area by governor Ali Roba, EAC CS Adan Mohamed and a host of Members of Parliament against the dreaded Al-shabaab militants.
Jubilee administration has been a show case of ‘street leadership’ since it captured power in 2013. The administration saw the emergence of questionable characters ascending to leadership positions under the disguise of ‘youth leadership’. Even the summit of the regime of the day got into power while facing charges of rape and crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Hague, Netherlands.
Many leaders elected under TNA or URP that formed the coalition then were also characters who reduced the threshold for leadership in Kenya. Former Kamukunji Mp Simon Mbugua, has always been at the centre of controversies, three years ago the EALA legislature was arrested and charged for ganging up with goons to attack a city businessman whom they jointly robbed Ksh 100,000.
“Jointly with others before the court you robbed Timothy Muceru Muriuki KSh 100, 000 and immediately after the time of such robbery injured him,” the charge sheet read in part.
And despite being a powerful guy, the prosecution did not object to the request to release Mbugua on bond, they only asked the court to slap him with affordable bond as it turned a blind eye to his influential that he could use to interfere with the witnesses.
But Simon Mbugua is just one among many of such characters in Jubilee, the former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko is running unknown businesses and is filthy rich. Like the outgoing Mombasa governor Hassan Joho, Sonko has been a rumoured drug pusher for so long to be innocent.
Zaheer Jhanda flaunting proceeds of money laundering [p/courtesy]The sycophantic supporter of the Deputy President William Ruto has inspired many upcoming politicians with questionable sources of wealth to join politics, where it’s easy to rinse dirty money.
The trend is now becoming the norm, young and flashy politicians like Zaheer Jhanda are now trooping behind the DP William Ruto who is now viewed as the man to beat for the country’s presidency in 2022.
Quite a number of parliamentary seat aspirants around the DP have been associated with money laundering, looting of public funds and ‘gangsterism’ which they deny and loosely blame on political witch-hunt.
It is becoming clear that the DP who has made inroads into regions considered Raila Odinga’s strongholds is lining up crooks and money launderers to buy the support of the people as he sells his ‘hustler vs dynasty’ narrative.
In February 2021, Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati accused the DP of doing rounds with money launderers while addressing mourners at a funeral service in Kisii. The remarks forced Arati’s South Mugirango counterpart Slyvanus Osoro, a sycophantic Ruto follower to jump onto the podium where the two leaders exchanged kicks and blows. The Dagoretti lawmaker had called on DP Ruto to keep off the company of budding politicians who he accused of defrauding other Kenyans.
DP William Ruto and Zaheer Jhanda during a past event in Kisii [p/courtesy]But Ruto who seems to be charming the residents of Gusiiland has continued to find more fraudsters as his point-men in the Gusiiland. He now has one Zaheer Jhanda who is poised to become the next Member of Parliament for Nyaribari Chache Constituency.
Jhander is a fraudster millionaire who is always implicated in the fake gold scandals including one where he conned a Saudi royal Sh250 million. The flashy scammer was also embroiled in a Sh12 million car loan dispute with the KCB bank after defaulting several times.
The lender gave charlatan Jhanda the money he used to buy a new Mitsubishi Fuso Tipper Truck from Simba Corporation Limited for Sh8,917,650 but he only serviced the loan for six months until June 2015 when it lapsed into arrears.
KCB repossessed the vehicle and sold through a public auction by Leakey Auctioneers on April 26, 2016 for Sh5.18 million when its market value was Sh6.87 million. Jhander was still left with an outstanding loan balance of Sh12,103,943.50 as at November 2016 which continues to accrue interest.
But DP hardly leaves out the fraudster in his trips to Kisii where he repeatedly presided over fundraisers for a Boda Boda Saccos. In September 2020 when the DP donated Ksh2million, he was accompanied by South Mugirango MP, Sylvanus Osoro, Dagoretti South MP, John Kiarie, and the shadowy businessmen Zaheer Jhanda and Don Bosco Gichana.
Gichana is another hardcore con who became a free man in 2018 after serving a five year jail term in Arusha Tanzania where he was arrested over money laundering. He is now eyeing the Kitutu Chache South parliamentary seat in the 2022 elections through Ruto’s UDA party.
