Kenya Insights

Author: Nicholas Olambo

  • Facebook to label posts in fight against Covid-19 misinformation

    Facebook to label posts in fight against Covid-19 misinformation

    Facebook has began labeling posts that discuss safety of shots and COVID-19 Vaccines after they were criticized by researchers and for allowing misinformation to be spread on its platform.

    The company said in a blog post that it is also launching a feature in the United States that will give people information about where to get the vaccines with the COVID-19 information section also added to its photo-sharing site Instagram.

    The move comes after claims and conspiracies about the vaccines proliferated on social media platforms during the pandemic but Facebook and Instagram have now moved in to tighten their policies after keyword searches found misinformation in its pages, groups and large accounts.

    The company’s Chief Product Officer Chris Cox revealed that they have taken viral false claims “very seriously” but added that there was “a huge gray area of people who have concerns…some of which some people would call misinformation and some of which other people would call doubt.”

    The best thing to do in that huge gray area is just to show up with authoritative information in a helpful way, be a part of the conversation and do it with health experts,” Cox added.

    The giant social media company clarified that it was labeling Facebook and Instagram posts that discuss the safety of COVID-19 vaccines with text saying the vaccines go through safety and effectiveness tests before approval.

    The company also revealed in its post that it has removed 2 million pieces of content from Facebook and Instagram after it expanded its list of banned false claims touching on the vaccines and the virus in February.

    Facebook had also implemented temporary measures including reducing the reach of content from users who still go ahead to share information that has been labeled as false by fact-checkers.

    Other social media platform like YouTube has its home section filled with a playlist of videos that promote vaccination and counteract vaccination misinformation from WHO while Twitter has a warning under posts with fake or misleading COVID-19 information.

  • Broke NCPB facing auction over Sh7.3bn debt

    Broke NCPB facing auction over Sh7.3bn debt

    National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) risks having their assets auctioned over a Sh7.3 billion loan they secured from the Kenya Commercial Bank where the assets were used as collateral.

    The broke board also has another Sh4.1 billion maize subsidy debt and it also owes Sh1.11 billion to the State Department of Devolution, Agriculture Development Corporation (ADC), Agriculture Food Authority (AFA) and County Government of Murang’a.

    The NCPB chairman Mutea Iringo told the National Assembly’s Agriculture committee that the board has un-serviced bank loan of Sh6.38 billion that is still attracting  interest and penalties of up to Sh110 million every month at a rate of 22.5%. The total interest now stands at Sh3.1 billion.

    “The total loan exposure is Sh7.3 billion – Sh6.38 billion un-serviced KCB facility and Sh1.0 billion being the interest charges paid from NCPB resources which is reimbursable,” Iringo said.

    The former PS further explained that due to the failure to pay the loan, the lender recalled the entire loan facility in March 2020 and overdrew the operating accounts the board held at the bank which blocked them from accessing services from KCB.

    NCPB Chairman Mutea Iringo [p/courtesy]
    Iringo also told the lawmakers MPs that the board’s credit score has been greatly impaired with the KCB now pursuing CRB listing of the current board of directors. NCPB now blames the its financial constraints as the reason hindering it’s full participation in the ‘Big 4’ Agenda under the Warehousing Receipt System Project since its stores are in poor state.

    “The implementation of the 2020/2023 strategic plan will require funding to the tune of Sh24.3 billion which will be sourced largely from the liquidation of the government debts, borrowings and disposal of non-core assets,” Iringo added.

    But the NCPB Chairman also told the Silas Tiren led committee that the board is also owed billions of shillings by various institutions totaling to Sh16.22 billion by various ministries and agencies over fertilizer supply and services rendered.

  • FRC to use second-hand car dealers in the war against money laundering

    FRC to use second-hand car dealers in the war against money laundering

    Dealers in second-hand cars will now be forced to reveal the identity of their buyers and sources of their income in the latest move aimed at crushing money laundering syndicates.

    The Financial Reporting Centre (FRC) is determined to lay out a legal framework that will compel all car dealers to report all transactions exceeding Sh1 million and even smaller suspicious payments.

    The proposal that is only awaiting approval by the Cabinet and Parliament will have second-hand car dealers designated as non-financial reporting institutions together with real estate agents, accountants and gambling joints like casinos.

    FRC boss Saitoti ole Maika said that report by a high-powered anti-money laundering task force on risk assessment uncovered that second-hand car industry make transactions worth millions without questioning the source of the buyer’s money.

    Investigations have shown that the second hand-car industry is a hotbed of money laundering where customers spending more than Sh1 million simply walk-in to buy or make deposits with the balance being settled in installments.

    “Our intention is to mine data on people buying cars from the dealers.” said Mr Maika.

    The new rule will have dealers of used cars obligated to disclose details of their buyers including names, addresses, date of birth, ID number, occupation and date of transaction.

    The second -hand car industry is 90% of the market share accounting for about Sh70 billion every year but FRC reckons that the industry is flooded with drug dealers and fraudsters who buy cars often in cash and then sell them to clean proceeds of dirty dealings.

    “Car dealers have a big challenge because it is an industry that’s not regulated. Other than the NTSA issuing permit prescribing them as second-hand dealers, it is more or less unregulated.” Mr Maika said.

    The move by the FRC comes at a time when the  country is looking for mechanisms to add more businesses and professions to the list of entities obligated to play a watch dog role on money laundering.

    Designated entities will be required to submit to the FRC an annual compliance report by January 31 of the following year. The Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act (Procamla) requires the designated institutions  to report any suspicious or unusual transaction to the FRC .

     

     

  • Bahati MP Ngunjiri embroiled in a fresh land grabbing saga

    Bahati MP Ngunjiri embroiled in a fresh land grabbing saga

    Controversial Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri is embroiled in a fresh land grabbing scandal after he evicted an elderly woman from her property of 45 years by fraudulently manipulating the paperwork to con the granny of the land.

    Through her lawyer Eric Mutemi of Nzamba Kitonga Advocates, the 72 year old Pauline Mwangangi is accusing Ngunjiri of using his firm, Pale Kenya Ltd, to transfer the Sh15 million prime land to his name.

    The Tangatanga allied politician has also been implicated in a series of other land grabbing cases after he was adversely mentioned in the grabbing of 14 acres from Langata Women’s Prison through dubious means and selling it to a private developer.

    The elderly woman is now appealing for intervention to have the Ngunjiri arrested as her lawyer told the court that she has been barred from accessing  the plot despite a court ruling on October 30 which granted her access.

    A section of the disputed land in Industrial Area [p/courtesy]
     Ngunjiri challenged the ruling at the Milimani Environment and Land Court in a scheme to permanently kick out the elderly widow, her servants, employees and her agents from accessing the property which she has owned since 1975.

    The plaintiff and her husband bought the disputed land from Peter Muigai at Sh79,000  in 1975 before developing it with offices and rental shops but Muigai died in 1980 before he fully transferred the plot to Mrs Mwangangi and her husband.

    But troubles began when the administrator’s of Muigai’s estate refused to effect the transfer of the property to the granny who is now at risk of losing her property.

    The plot to kick her out of the land began in December 2003 when goons were sent to attack the plaintiff’s husband who later succumbed to the injuries after which Muigai’s administrators embarked on a mission to evict her from the plot.

     

  • How Kenya became a money laundering haven

    How Kenya became a money laundering haven

    Kenya is now ranked among countries with rampant money laundering and financial crimes in the world after a report tabled before the US Congress exposed the country’s vulnerability through the increased use  of mobile money transfer platforms, the hawala system of banking and Trade Based Money Laundering.

    The report is part of the annual International Narcotics Control Strategy tabled before the US Congress to monitor the countries most affected by the vice and initiate measures to curb illicit financial transactions that aide criminal and terror activities.

    Kenya is now ranked among top money laundering countries in the world with diaspora remittances totaling up to Sh178 billion between January and August 2020 including proceeds of narcotics trade.

    The report also showed that dirty money has continued to circulate in the world despite the negative effects COVID-19 has had on economies across the world with many ravaged, shut or seriously slowed.

    “Criminals not only continued to perpetrate traditional financial crimes, but devised new ways to exploit the pandemic through counterfeiting essential goods and telephone and email scams promoting health or medical products,” the report read in part.

    Kenya is listed among other notorious African countries including Nigeria, Algeria, Ghana, Morocco, Mozambique, Tanzania, Liberia and Benin. The list also has the United States, UK, Colombia, Cyprus, Cuba, Italy, Mexico, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, India and Cayman Islands.

    The continuous flow of illicit money is majorly aided by corruption in many parts of the world, lack of political will, ineffective institutions and inefficient anti-money laundering laws.

    Kenya remains exposed to money laundering and terror financing in the East African region since it became a pioneer in mobile money transfer that has been used abused to finance terror activities. Weaker laws also maker it possible to infiltrate formal and informal channels through cybercrime, corruption, wildlife trafficking and smuggling of illicit drugs, counterfeits and illegal timber trade.

    The proximity of the country with war torn Somalia is also attracting laundering of piracy-related proceeds with a thriving miraa and charcoal trade that is unregulated. The Central Bank of Kenya has also failed in ensuring that all financial transactions above one million are flagged.

     

  • KDF funding falls by Sh8bn as audit reveals ghost soldiers in Somalia

    KDF funding falls by Sh8bn as audit reveals ghost soldiers in Somalia

    Money reimbursed to Kenya to facilitate the payment of troops fighting the dreaded Al-Shabaab insurgents in Somalia for the half-year period to December 2020 was Sh8 billion short of Treasury’s target as audit report showing that there are payments made to ghost soldiers.

    Data from the exchequer shows that grants from African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) that gets funds from European Union (EU) and other partners amounted to Sh1.45 billion in the period between July-December period when the budget stood at Sh9.45 billion.

    Contributions from Amison accounts for about 25.22%  Sh489.60 million) but was Sh1.94 billion in a similar period in the year 2019. These revelations come after an audit conducted by PwC Associates Ltd discovered that payments are made to soldiers who had left Somalia leading to the loss of millions of dollars between 2016 and 2018.

    The revelations have pushed the National Treasury to cap it’s target from Amison for the period ending June 2021 to Sh7.4 billion from an initial target of Sh24.1 billion as Kenya expects some Sh2.5 billion in the next financial year before the coffers run dry prior to KDF’s full withdrawal from Somalia.

    Members of Al Shabaab militia [p/courtesy]
    Kenyan troops serve for one year in the war torn country before they are alternated with each soldier earning about Sh87,200 after the government deducts some Sh21,800 to cater for administrative costs.

    Funds from the EU cover allowances for Amisom soldiers, police, operational costs for Amisom offices, international and local civilian salaries but Kenyan funds have been declining with Kenya reducing the number of its troops to Somalia.

    In 2018 there were reports that the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) would begin a two year withdraw plan after they entered Somalia under the aegis of “Operation Linda Nchi” on October 14, 2011 in pursuit of Al Shabaab terrorists who were abducting and killing aid workers and tourists in North Eastern and Coast.

    But on February 25, the 15-member UN Security Council agreed that African Union should maintain their troops under Amisom until March 14.

  • Inside Wamangati’s 50k feud with former aide

    Inside Wamangati’s 50k feud with former aide

    Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wamangati is waging war against his former aide Stan Wepundi who swindled him some Sh50,000 that was meant to ‘excite the ground’ before his arrival at the burial of the late Kabuchai MP Lusweti Mukwe.

    Wamangati is the hidden hand behind tribulations Mr Wepundi is currently facing on top of having him demotedr. He is accusing Wepundi and a bunch of other subordinates of squandering his token instead of bribing mourners to cheer and clap for him.

    The governor walked into a hostile crowd that booed and forced him to cut his speech prematurely. He is accusing Wepundi of conspiring with one Anthony Wamalwa and Simiyu Mutaki (logistics department) of hatching the deal that got him humiliated at the funeral of Lusweti.

    The besieged governor is facing strong opposition from Zack Baraza, a Nairobi based auctioneer who is criticizing his policies and exposing corrupt dealings in his administration. He is still keeping Wepundi around as a mere research assistant and a no longer a trusted employee.

    The Bungoma boss even gave orders for Wepundi to be evicted from the government house in Milimani where county askaris forcefully threw out his family and belongings.

    Wepundi was not at home during the violent eviction but he has vowed to expose the rot in Wamangati’s administration since the battle lines have now been drawn.

    Embattled Stan Wepundi [p/courtesy]
    The former Governor Wamangati’s confidant had unsuccessfully vied for the Webuye East parliamentary seat but lost to Alfred Sambu but there are chances of him re-emerging in 2022 with Wamangati’s opponents.

    Last year a section Ford-K party led by Senator Moses Wetang’ula accused Wamnangati of looting Sh300 million that  World Health Organization gave to aide the fight on Covid-19.

    They went ahead and asked the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to move in with speed and launch investigations into how the funds have been spent.

    “Over Sh300 million that have been brought here yet we do not have a single ICU bed, we don’t have sanitiser and masks across the county despite being a frontier region that is prone to infections? Wafula Wakoli posed.

     

  • South Sudan gets partial access of accounts as row with Jirongo intensifies

    South Sudan gets partial access of accounts as row with Jirongo intensifies

    A Kenyan court has allowed South Sudan authorities to partially access their bank accounts at NCBA and Stanbic bank amidst a legal battle with a firm belonging to ex- Cabinet minister Cyrus Jirongo who is demanding more than Sh5 billion form Salva Kiir’s administration.

    The move comes after South Sudan challenged a decision to freeze the accounts which they protested as a declaration of war by Kenya since it would hinder delivery of services unable to it’s population.

    The court has now allowed them to operate the accounts on condition that they leave a balance not less than Sh5.4 billion as Yusung Construction continues to appeal the order that lifted the a complete freeze on the accounts.

    Jirongo’s firm won the deal to construct John Garang Military Academy and Natinga Warehouses in 2008 but later fell out with the government of Salva Kiir following a contract breach pushing the ex-minister to rush to court.

    Ex-minister Cyrus Jirongo during a past court session [p/courtesy]
    The freezing order was granted last December but has been extended by different judges until Justice Said Chitembwe lifted the order in favour of South Sudan authorities on February 26 since the government could not meet some its obligations.

    Judge Chitembwe allowed South Sudan to operate the bank accounts held at NCBA and Stanbic Bank freely pushing Jirongo’s firm to challenge the move where Justice Joseph Sergon granted Juba partial access to the accounts.

    The court was told that South Sudan paid Yusung Construction Sh2.6 billion to begin the works but nothing was done after the foundation was laid down till two years ago when Jirongo’s firm moved to the East African Court demanding Sh5.4 billion as sums due with interest.

    Yusung Construction had complained that they were forced to move construction to different sites four times due to violence in the war-torn country with some areas also proving prone to flooding.

    The case was the forgotten till November last year when the firm reached an out of court deal after one Biong Pieng Kuol Arop, an official of South Sudan’s Finance and Planning ministry committed to have Jirongo paid the claimed Sh5.4 billion.

    The deal gave Yusung Construction permission to attach South Sudan’s assets to recover the sums in case of a default but it is that deal that has now seen South Sudan’s accounts in  Kenyan banks frozen with Juba now claiming that Mr Arop did not have the authority to negotiate deals on its behalf.

    Juba administration is also accusing Jirongo of using fraudulent means to obtain the out-of-court settlement which it later used it to dupe Milimani High Court into freezing their two accounts.

     

  • Kenya Power to pay electrocuted boy Sh15.7 million

    Kenya Power to pay electrocuted boy Sh15.7 million

    The court has ordered Kenya Power to pay a boy in Meru more than Sh15 million as damages for the injuries he suffered after he was electrocuted while looking after his parent’s cattle.

    Justice Francis Gikonyo ordered the electricity retailer to pay the boy a  sum of Sh15,729,500 as damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenities, medical expenses incurred, doctor’s fees and for future medical expenses.

    “The plaintiff pleaded special damages for which he produced receipts in support. Contrary to the contention by the defendant, all the receipts produced by the plaintiff bore revenue stamps,” said Judge Gikonyo.

    The evidence adduced in court proved that the boy touched a live electric wire after he fell at Antubetwe Location in Igembe North District in October 2015 where the wire was lying loosely on the ground. Justice Gikonyo stated that that was a case of negligence on the side of Kenya Power.

    But Kenya-Power in their submission said that it was not clear where the incident occurred and they also accused the boy of being careless with his own safety.

    The boy was 16 years old when the incident that forced him to drop out of school happened. He was admitted at Maua Methodist hospital for four months after his arm was amputated due to severe burns. He needs a prosthesis that costs Sh8 million to do some daily activities Sh1 million for it’s maintenance.

  • How Murkomen is feeding on Ruto-Toglos beef

    How Murkomen is feeding on Ruto-Toglos beef

    Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos is one of the few politicians in Rift Valley who are not seeing eye to eye with the Deputy President William Ruto who is controlling the vote rich region.

    Toglos fell out with Ruto after he was bought by the Baringo Senator Gideon Moi who is struggling take the control of the region from the DP who has stamped authority and set his eyes on the presidency in 2022 to win or win.

    But Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen who wants to succeed governor Toglos in 2022 is feeding on DP and the latter’s bad blood to drive his  gubernatorial ambitions.

    Murkomen made that his strategy after Tolgos ditched Ruto in 2019 to be insulated by Moi when Ethics and Anti Corruption detectives were on his neck for looting more than Sh200 million through a shady fuel supply deal.

    DP William Ruto, Oscar Sudi, K Murkomen and Gov. Alex Toglos in a past courtesy photo.

    Governor Toglos has however keen to have his Deputy Wesley Rotich take over from him. The DG is his only trusted partner in crime who can cover up his mess.  He even accompanied the governor to EACC offices on November 14, 2019 when he was summoned for interrogation.

    Murkomen is hell bent to stop DG Rotich from ascending to governorship arguing that it will be a continuation of the rampant looting that has been witnessed under Toglos.

    The outspoken Senator recently rode Ruto’s popularity in the region to humuliate Governor Tolgos who is Building Bridges Initiative North Rift coordinator when he (Murkomen) instructed MCAs to shoot down the constitutional amendment Bill 2020.

    Murkomen was even plotting to rally the MCAs to impeach the corrupt governor but he feared that ODM and Wiper senators would be rented by Moi to save Tolgos or it can be in the same fashion Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru was saved.

    Tolgos is also blamed his woes on Senator Kipchumba Murkomen after the governor opposed the construction of Arror and Kimwarer dams before  compensating the locals.

     

     

     

     

  • Businessman in Sh24 debt loses bid to delist firm from CRB

    Businessman in Sh24 debt loses bid to delist firm from CRB

    The owner of the company that was listed in the Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) for defaulting to offset a Sh24 debt has lost the bid to have Ecobank pay him damages for alleged defamation.

    Charles Gitundu Mwangi, the proprietor of Rural Technology Enterprises Ltd was listed on the CRB in December 2013 after he failed to convince the High Court that the information provided by Ecobank to CRB was defamatory and caused his company losses.

    Mwangi told the court that the information that the bank relayed to the CRB was a ploy to paint Rural Technology as a broke company without financial integrity and without capability to meet financial obligations after Justice Maureen Odero faulted him for leaving his coperate dormant for three years hence attracting bank charges.

    “I find that although it may have been petty for the bank to forward the company’s name to CRB for a debt of only Sh24, it was certainly not illegal or unprocedural for the lender to do so. The account was in debit and no matter how small the amount, the money was owed to the bank.” Justice Odero said.

    Evidence presented in court shows that Mr Mwangi opened the account in 2010, deposited Sh3,000 and a cheque of Sh10,000 then he went quiet without any activity in the account until his firm was listed on the CRB in December 2013 over Sh24 debt.

    But Mwangi claimed that he never borrowed any loan from the bank meaning it was wrong for them to forward information about his company to CRB for ‘allegedly’ defaulting to settle the loan.
    He was however faulted for failing to check on the status of his firm’s account regularly and for ignoring the alerts from the to settle the small charges but he argued that his company was never officially notified about the debt and has never been granted an opportunity to pay it.

    Mr Mwangi maintained that the company never borrowed a loan adding that the  account was dormant and therefore no bank charges ought to have been levied against it.

    “The account was in credit when I opened it and the statements issued by the bank show that no withdrawals were made. In fact, the lender was the sole beneficiary of the company’s money by charging maintenance fees,” he said.

     

  • How men Raila ditched in NASA returned to scatter the handshake

    How men Raila ditched in NASA returned to scatter the handshake

    The ODM party is bitterly protesting the developments that have seen the men Raila Odinga ditched in NASA now forming a coalition that is preferred by system while isolating their leader from the 2022 succession matrix.

    ANC leader Musalia, Moses Wetang’ula (Ford-K) and Kalonzo Musyoka worked with Raila under the Nasa coalition in 2017, in 2018 Raila abandoned them to strike a handshake deal with President Uhuru but they have regrouped and brought in Baringo Senator Gideon Moi after they accused Raila of political deceit.

    The ‘Sacred Alliance’ of Mudavadi, Kanu’s Gideon Moi, Kalonzo Musyoka and Wetang’ula is pushing ODM leader Raila Odinga to periphery when he thought President Uhuru Kenyatta would endorse his 2022 presidential bid.

    Although continues Raila has refuted claims that he was hoping for a Kenyatta endorsement, the formation of the alliance has seen his handlers accuse the Jubilee of undermining the handshake partnership with threats to abandon the Building Bridges Initiative.

    ODM is now raising the expected concerns that their leader is being used to amend the Constitution through the BBI and then he will be dumped as power brokers converge to chatter a system friendly route for 2022.

    ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi in a rally with members of the Sacred Alliance [p/courtesy]
    The move to form the ‘Sacred Alliance’ is to destabilize Raila’s loyal support bases across in Western and Coast with an aim to render him a weak candidate ahead of 2022 general election. ODM has even accused Jubilee, their handshake partners, of being behind the violence witnessed in Matungu by-election where they lost to ANC.

    Kakamega Senator Cleopas Malala who was accompanied by goons on the election day were seen attacking IEBC officials but was not arrested since the system used police deal with ANC opponents but Malala argues that ODM was beaten because the people of Western Kenya meant to send a political message to Raila.

    “We came up with the best strategy and protected our votes from rigging by ODM which should just accept the defeat and move on. Nobody should try to bring propaganda that we were funded by the state. The unity of the Luyha nation defeated Raila,” Malala said.

    But even before the Matungu and Kabuchai by-elections, tension was building after Raila’s men complained that senior civil servants were manipulating the Building Bridges Initiative process.

    The BBI secretariat was co-chaired by Jubilee’s Dennis Waweru and ODM’s Junet Mohamed but its now under the Interior PS Karanja Kibicho in a clever move to deny the ODM leader political mileage and whittle down his influence in the whole BBI process.

     

  • Judge Korir rules against detaining patients over bills

    Judge Korir rules against detaining patients over bills

    High Court Judge Weldon Korir has ruled that patients have no obligation to pay health facilities for the period they are detained in hospital for failing to offset their medical bills. Korir made the declaration while ruling on a case by Emma Muthoni who was detained by Nairobi Women’s Hospital over Sh1.7million bill.

    Muthoni’s bill at the facility was Sh3 million after a two month stay but it later shot to Sh4 million after she was detained. While making the ruling on Thursday, Justice Korir faulted Nairobi Women’s Hospital for violating Muthoni’s rights as he directed the hospital to compensate her with Sh3 million.

    She will however receive Sh1.2million since the court clarified that the amount will be less Sh1.7 to foot her medical bill.

    “A declaration is hereby issued that the respondent, by unlawfully detaining the petitioner when she failed to pay her medical bills, infringed on her constitutional rights,” Korir ruled.

    The judge further directed that a patient forcing the patients to pay for the duration they are detained is an unconstitutional act.

    “She is under no obligation to pay any expenses incurred by the respondent in connection with her unlawful detention. No one should be compensated for expenses incurred in perpetuation of an unconstitutional act.” The Judge added.

    The complainant was admitted at the health facility on March 23 2018 when she suffered stroke and was discharged on May 14 but she was not in a position to settle her bill which had accumulated to Sh 4 million.

    Muthoni’s case is not the first one where patients have challenged health facilities for forcing them to pay for the period they are detained in the ward.

    In September 2015, while ruling in a case where two patients were detained at the Pumwani Hospital, Justice Mumbi Ngugi directed the Ministry of Health to abolish incidents of detention.

    “….Kenyan government must take the necessary steps to protect all patients from arbitrary detention in healthcare facilities, which includes enacting laws and policies, and taking affirmative steps to prevent future violations,” Justice Ngugi ruled.

    In a report released on November 17, The World Health Organisation (WHO) warned hospitals against detaining patients over unsettled medical bills emphasizing that the action is  contravening fundamental rights of the affected.

     

     

     

  • How the proposed Landlord and Tenant Bill will tame rogue Landlords

    How the proposed Landlord and Tenant Bill will tame rogue Landlords

    Leader of Majority in the National Assembly Hon. Amos Kimunya has sponsored a Bill that aims to change the current laws governing the rights of both Landlords and tenants in commercial and residential property.

    If adopted, the proposed Landlord and Tenant Bill 2021 will see rogue Landlords who evict tenants and seize their belongings over rent arrears jailed for up to six months or pay a fine double the amount in dispute.

    “A landlord and any agent or servant of a landlord who evicts a tenant without the authority of a tribunal or willfully subjects a tenant to any annoyance with the intention of inducing or compelling the tenant to vacate the premises or to pay, directly or indirectly a higher rent for the premises commits an offence,” Kimunya’s bill read in part.

    According the Bill, landlords will not seize any tenant’s property over default in rent payment without following the due process of the law as the Landlords will also be compelled to keep signed records of all the rent paid and share the record with the tenants.

    Landlords who fail to keep such records which must include the  details of the parties to the tenancy, details on the rented premises and of all rent paid will be compelled to pay a fine not exceeding one month’s rent.

    The Landlord and Tenant Bill further clarifies in a scenario where a tenant dies or abandons the premises while in rent arrears, landlords will have to apply to the tribunal to sell or dispose of the tenant’s belongings.

    “Before the landlord calls or otherwise disposes of a tenant’s property, an inventory of the goods in the premises shall be taken by an officer of the tribunal and be filed in the tribunal,” the Bill read.

    But if a member of the tenant’s family or an administrator of the estate claims the property within six months, the landlord will be compelled to deposit excess proceeds from the sale of the tenant’s belongings after deducting rent arrears or expenses incurred in the auction.

    “The Bill seeks to introduce a legal framework which balances the interests of landlords and tenants in a free market economy by ensuring that landlords earn reasonable income from their investment in housing and also protects the tenant,” says Amos Kimunya in a memorandum accompanying the legislation.

    Majority Leader in the National Assembly Hon. Amos Kimunya . He is the sponsor of the Landlord-Tenant Bill [p/courtesy]
    The draft legislation proposes the establishment of a tribunal through the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) whose function will be to adjudicate disputes brought forward by landlords or tenants.

    The tribunal, with five full-time members, will be chaired by a person qualified to be appointed a High Court judge, a deputy chairperson that has served as an advocate and three members, one of whom should have expert knowledge of valuation of premises.

    The Bill will also give sitting tribunals powers to give determinations that will be binding to both landlords and tenants. For example, the tribunal can determine, assess or vary the rent payable in any premises and tenancy period. It can also determine the service charge payable on a given property, the much each tenant in the building should contribute and demand payment of rent arrears or service charge.

    The tribunal will also have the power to compel landlords to carry out repairs that they are liable for or authorize tenants to pay for the repairs and deduct the same from their monthly rent. Failure to comply with the decision of a tribunal or honoring summons will attracts a fine of up to Sh100,000 or a one-year prison term, or both.

     

  • Covid-19 Vaccine: Ministry yet to receive official procurement papers

    Covid-19 Vaccine: Ministry yet to receive official procurement papers

    The Ministry of Health still has scanty information about the real cost of  Covid AstraZeneca vaccine that arrived on Tuesday night will. Officials from the ministry have refuted looting claims adding that the cost can’t be as high as Sh760 ($7).

    They stated that the $7 was only a ‘working figure’ after was met mixed reactions since Kenyans the vaccine to cost $3 (Sh330) capped by Covax.

  • Water PS Irungu secretly ditching Kieleweke for Ruto’s Tangatanga

    Water PS Irungu secretly ditching Kieleweke for Ruto’s Tangatanga

    Water and Sanitation PS Joseph Irungu who is positioning himself to be the next governor of  Murang’a in 2022 is ditching President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Kieleweke wing of Jubilee for the Deputy President William Ruto’s Tanga tanga wing which he has been secretly oiling.

    Irungu is President Kenyatta’s close ally but he has been accused of financing Ruto’s recent visit in Gatanga where he held a major rally at the door steps of Jubilee Vice Chairman David Murathe who is a fierce critic of the Deputy President.

    The secret move to join Tangatanga comes barely two months after another top Murang’a politician Senator Irungu Kang’ata also ditched the president for DP’s camp which seems to be attracting many vocal and influential politicians in the county.

    Both Irungu and Kang’ata are now grooming city lawyer Edward Muriu to dislodge Gatanga MP Joseph Nduati (Kieleweke sympathizer) as the county changes its political tune in favour of  DP William Ruto’s Tangatanga/ hustlers camp.

    But PS Irungu is still not grouping with the Tangatanga camp openly may be till next year when the timing will be perfect to ditch Uhuru’s Kieleweke camp. The PS sent mixed signals when he skipped the session where Murang’a Members of County Assembly (MCAs) voted to pass the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) in presence of his colleagues in the cabinet and Kieleweke outfit.

    He now joins Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, Kandara MP Alice Wahome among other vocal leaders from Mt Kenya who are supporting DP Ruto’s presidential bid including the deep pocketed Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua who is also financing DP’s campaigns.

    The seat is currently held by Governor Mwangi wa Iria who is serving his second and final term but has attracted many top politicians and and civil servants in the county with Iria stressing that he will go for Presidency in 2022.

    So far the seat has attracted up to eight aspirants have expressed their interest to succeed Mwangi wa Iria finishes including Senator Irungu Kang’ata, Murang’a County Woman Representative Sabina Chege and former Planning PS Irungu.

     

     

  • Kenya Power in ambitious plans to launch electric car charging stations

    Kenya Power in ambitious plans to launch electric car charging stations

    The loss making Kenya Power is planning to introduce electric car charging stations as part of its initiatives to open up more revenue earning streams as the world moves from a fossil fuel-driven economy to one that is sustainable, green and attempts to mitigate climate change.

    The electricity retailer plans to build charging stations and flatten the hurdles of using the electric cars in as Kenya joins the Western nations in embracing the new model of cars that don’t rely on diesel or petrol.

    Kenya-Power announced the ambitious plans despite analysts’ warning that electric cars will not attract the African market unless governments lobby and push for policies that would see a reduction in their prices.

    “We are developing appropriate infrastructure and building internal capacity to enable us to support the use of electric vehicles across the value chain. To this end, we plan to set up charging facilities across the country beginning with Nairobi to support direct charging of vehicles,” said Kenya Power MD Bernard Ngugi.

    Mr Ngugi, however, did not disclose any set deadlines the electricity distributor is expected to install the electric car charging stations along major highways and shopping malls.

                                                                                                               [p/courtesy]
    The big announcement comes after Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) also announced its plans to invest in the growing electric car charging system to reap from car owners who will need their cars charged.

    US, Germany, Norway and Netherlands are some of the countries in the world that are hell bent to cut down excess carbon emission by embracing electric cars, a model that is still expensive for many to afford in places like Africa.

    An electric car is about Sh6 million but the Kenyan car market is flooded with imported second hand cars from Japan or China.

    Only Nopia Ride, a taxi company that uses electric car has been able to heighten up its operations in Kenya with charging stations installed in three locations including the Two Rivers Mall, the Hub Karen and Thika Road Mall.

     

  • Governor Tunai of Narok kicked out of Ruto’s troubled camp

    Governor Tunai of Narok kicked out of Ruto’s troubled camp

    Narok governor Samuel Ole Tunai has been kicked out of the Deputy President William Ruto‘s camp after the latter endorsed Patrick ole Ntutu to fly the hustler’s flag in 2022 gubernatorial race. Ntutu who is currently serving as the chief administrative secretary in the ministry of Labour does not see-eye- to eye with the governor.

    Tunai is serving his final term that he defended on a Jubilee ticket in the 2017 elections after defeating the same Ntutu who vied on Chama Cha Mashinani and got some 93,628 votes.

    The governor was DP Ruto’s point man in the region but is now skipping his events including a fundraiser in aid of Maranatha Church at Enoosaen Girls School in Kilgoris constituency where Ruto was the chief guest.

    Tunai has not endorsed anyone to succeed him but individuals have lined up including Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina, Devolution principal secretary Charles Sunkuli, Narok South MP Korei ole Lemein, Narok West Mp Gabriel Tongoyo, and Woman Representative Soipan Kudate.

    DP Dr William Ruto (c), S Ole Tunai (left) and Kajiado Governor Ole Lenku in a past event [p/courtesy]
    The governor began sending mixed signals to the Tangtanga camp when he became a member of the BBI campaign team when he was expected to lead the Maasai community in rejecting the Building Bridges Initiative.

    He failed to show up when Baringo Senator Gideon Moi who is Ruto’s rival was in Narok to drum up support for the document but he shocked everyone when he attended the launch of the BBI signature collection drive at KICC, an event that was presided over by President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga but skipped by DP Ruto.

    Irritated by endorsement

    Governor Tunai felt disrespected when the Deputy President endorsed Ntutu during the burial of his mother, Nalangu Ntutu without consulting him. The vocal Ruto also purported that issues between the Tunai and Ntutu had been ironed out as he praised the CAS for unifying and developing Narok county.

    The DP even assured the mourners that Tunai will hand over the leadership to the former Narok West MP as he continues to position gubernatorial candidates in his Rift Valley backyard ahead of next year’s general elections.

    Tunai worked as a National Intelligence Service officer till he was elected as the first governor of Narok on United Republican Party ticket in 2013. He now remains a die hard follower of Kieleweke where he can be promised a parastatal job should they form the next government.

  • KeRRA: Exposing procurement wars of corrupt Kandie

    KeRRA: Exposing procurement wars of corrupt Kandie

    The Director General of Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) Mr Philemon Kandie has come under serious criticism over abuse of office and use of excessive power to control other departments to aide his looting schemes. He is the man behind unprocedural transfer of one Julius Gakubia from his plum position in the maintenance department to strategic department.

    The move was part of Kandie’s ploy to plant his cronies in strategic departments to loot millions in kickbacks through a long list of dubious
    construction companies being favoured in various counties with constructions projects.
    The rogue director and a clique of top managers have also registered firms which are being run by proxies that must win lucrative tenders and their payments made promptly.

    Sources further revealed to Kenya Insights that Kandie is sexually harassing and bullying employees or colleagues of the opposite gender including procurement manager Margaret Wanja Muthui whose case is still pending in court.

    Kandie wrote to Mrs Muthui on Febuary 10, 2021 about handing over in reference to letter No KeRRA-10-71-Vol 2-14 dated 10 February 2020.

    “…..following your release to report to the principal secretary ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Public Works, you are required to ensure a smooth handing over to incoming acting deputy director supply chain management. ….please arrange to hand over all the functions, responsibilities and assets of the office of the deputy director, supply chain management to the incoming officer Catherine Kangangi…” the letter read in part.

    He picked Kangangi, his mistress with whom he has been spotted in secret places to oversee supplies since he considers people like Muthui an enemy and part of a cartel that did not want him at the top of KeRRA leadership.

    Staffers and seniors managers were pushing for an outsider to take up the DG slot at KeRRA and the same to replicated at KeNHA when Mundinia exist.

    Though his plan to deploy Muthui to the Transport ministry appears to have hit a snag after it was suspended by the labour court, Kandie who boasts of powerful political protection from Baringo Senator Gideon Moi is still lobbying to take over from Peter Mundinia, the current Director General at Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) whose term is set to expire later in the year.

    Employment and Labour Relations judge Maureen Onyango reinstated Muthui to her position until her case is heard and determined. This was the second time she was being deployed for raising concerns over inflated tenders for road constructions.

     

     

     

  • Why Kalonzo was irked with Ngilu’s presence at the State House meeting

    Why Kalonzo was irked with Ngilu’s presence at the State House meeting

    President Uhuru Kenyatta chaired a meeting of BBI proponents on Thursday last week, two days after nearly forty counties voted in support of the Amendment Bill. The privately invited attendees included the Former VP Kalonzo Musyoka, former PM Raila Odinga, ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi, Baringo Senator Gideon Moi, Moses Wetangula and Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu.

    But Kalonzo was not happy with the presence of governor Charity Ngilu during the meeting held at state house, Nairobi. The former VP believes he is still the undisputed leader of the Kamba people despite his position being under numerous attacks by budding politicians like Alfred Mutua and Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana.

    Seasoned politicians like Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu has also locked horns with the former VP whom she describes a coward who can not lead the Kamba people.

    The two leaders have been embroiled in supremacy wars for a long time but Kalonzo still believes he is the man to represent the interests of his Ukambani backyard without tagging Ngilu.

    Baringo Senator addressing the nation after the state house meeting. [p/courtesy]
    The two leaders been faking a close working relationship while selling BBI in their region but Kalonzo still feels threatened even as pressure mounts on the ‘Super Seven’ to strike a balance and push the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) through then remain united and form the next government when Kenyatta retires in 2022.

    Their biggest threat is the Deputy President William Ruto who is opposing the BBI document and has been running a lone race but raiding rival political blocs and making inroads as he prepares to capture presidency next year.

    Other than Ngilu, Kalonzo is also bickering with the DP Ruto who accused him of grabbing the NYS land in Yatta and the ODM leader Raila Odinga who has played him over their 2017 deal in which Raila had promised to back him in 2022.

    The relation between Kalonzo and Ngilu is deteriorating at the time when the president calling on the BBI proponents to slow down on intra-alliance wars in order to tackle the DP.