Kenya Insights

Author: Nicholas Olambo

  • Report: 16 Wealthy Kenyans axed from ultra-rich list by covid-19

    Report: 16 Wealthy Kenyans axed from ultra-rich list by covid-19

    A report compiled by Knight Frank has seen sixteen wealthy Kenyans dropped from the list of Kenyan billionaires with the demotion being blamed on the covid 19 pandemic that has ravaged businesses across the globe.

    According to the Knight Frank Wealth Report, Kenyans with a net worth of at least $30 million (Sh3.3 billion) shrank from 106 in 2019 but there still hopes that it will grow to 110 by 2025 if the pandemic is defeated to allow full reopening of economies.

    African billionaires have been the most affected by the pandemic with up to 88% of the respondents including financial institutions saying that covid-19 still remains their biggest threat.

    The pandemic has resulted to serious corporate losses, lay offs and  freezing of dividends in firms owned by the ultra-rich Kenyans. Nairobi Security Exchange for instance saw bear run in 2020 due to depreciated property prices which due to the lock downs and travel restrictions among other rules to stem covid-19.

    Equity Bank CEO Dr James Mwangi [p/courtesy]
    The report further reveals that the measure of the investor wealth fell by Sh220 billion while the NSE All Share Index went down by 9.28 % between January and December 30 when the blue chip NSE 20 share Index also shed by by 30.19 %.

    Kenya is ranked fourth among African countries with individuals with more than Sh3 billion. Nigeria tops the list with 867 super rich people followed by South Africa (742) and Egypt with 583.

    But the Knight Frank wealth report feared being dragged in the ongoing hustler vs the dynasty debate and therefore did not name any individual but hinted at the families of former presidents Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel arap Moi and the late powerful minister Nicholas Biwott as some of the country’s ultra rich.

    Billionaire Chris Kirubi who is among top Kenyan investors who recorded losses at the NSE last year is still boasting of a net worth of over Sh 3 billion even after the market value of his 30%  stake in Centum Investment shed by close to Sh2 billion. His stake is now worth sh3.4 billion after he bought an additional 5.7 million shares.

    Dr James Mwangi of Equity Bank also suffered a loss of Sh2.6 billion with many billionaires also recording paper losses running into hundreds of millions of shillings from their listed equities portfolio with the lender.

    The wealth report shows that other billionaires who suffered losses with the lender like James Ndegwa, Andrew Ndegwa,  Baloobhai Patel, James Ndegwa and John Kibunga Kimani are still listed in the club of ultra-rich.

     

  • Muthama’s estranged wife moves to dare him in the ballot

    Muthama’s estranged wife moves to dare him in the ballot

    The race to fill Machakos senatorial seat that fell vacant after the death of Boniface Kabaka is promising to be an interesting one. It’s a mix of family feud and BBI politics.

    The outspoken former Senator Johnston Muthama has indicated his intentions to reclaim the seat after being in the political cold since 2017 when he chose not to run.

    Muthama cited his bad relationship with Governor Alfred Mutua but now wants to make a comeback through a by-election where his opponents have psyched his estranged wife, Agnes Kavindu, to given him a run for his money when is also the sitting governor of Machakos.

    Kavindu’s candidature is a major challenge for the talkative DP man, now or in future. He has been sent back into the drawing board, he may choose not to run again to spare himself the embarrassment. The support Muthama enjoyed in 2017 when Wiper begged him with a ticket has diminished.

    He ditched Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka for DP William Ruto’s Tangtanga group, meaning he will face serious opposition from Kalonzo’s supporters and Governor Mutua’s supporters.

    The former senator is also not in good books with a number of MPs from the Kamba region who are backing DP Ruto. The fairly younger Mps have accused Muthama of pocketing their hand-outs and allowances from the Dp.

    Agnes Kavindu in Jubilee colors [p/courtesy]
    But the late Kabaka won the seat on a CCU ticket after beating Wiper’s Jackson Kala by some 5000 votes in the senate fight that continues to pose a major challenge to Kalonzo Musyoka to defend his kingpin position.

    Muthamas who is also still among top names in Kamba politics has not declared the party he will use to vie for the seat but Ruto followers prefer going Independent since the DP lost control over Jubilee Party.

    Reliable sources also reveal that the party Muthama will use is the one DP will use to run for presidency in 2022.

    Kavinda’s candidature however remains a mere drama as Ruto factor is what is expected to spice up the campaigns. Ruto will face off with Kalonzo who is a big critic of his wheelbarrow and cart projects.

    The DP will use the senatorial campaigns as opportunity to flex muscles with Kalonzo, another possible 2022 presidential candidate he beat Raila Odinga in Msambweni last week.

    But the former VP does not have a proper candidate to field against Muthama because he is supporting the BBI proposals that has nothing substantial for the Kamba people.

    President Uhuru Kenyatta’s home county of Kiambu got six more constituencies from the BBI report but Kitui which is 20 times the size of Kiambu got none.

    Muthama who is enjoying the support of Ruto will campaign against the BBI document that Kalonzo and Ngilu are struggling to sell in the region.

     

    Kalonzo’s camp that is also facing opposition from Raila Odinga is begging President Uhuru Kenyatta to finance Wiper party so that they can use the campaigns to force BBI on the throats of the Kamba people.

     

  • Entry of Mutisya gives Kalonzo excuse to keep off Mutula-Kaloki wars

    Entry of Mutisya gives Kalonzo excuse to keep off Mutula-Kaloki wars

    The Kamba political kingpin and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has found an excuse to keep off the bitter war between Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzi Jnr and Philip Kaloki who are both his close allies.

    In August Kalonzo assured the supporters of the two politician who are eyeing the Makueni gubernatorial seat through the Wiper ticket that he would see how the two can bargain and share power.

    But the entry of one Prof. Emmanuel-Mutisya who is fast becoming an household name in Makueni has spared Kalonzo the headache of having to choose between Mutula and Kaloki.

    Mutisya is a professor of Economics and Mathematics who has track record of development compared to the two seasoned politicians but Kaloki has also used his position as the chairman of Kenya Medical Training College where he looted and used the proceeds to keep his political dream alive.

    Kaloki also used his position and influence at KMTC to ensure that medical colleges are started in interior corners of Ukambani including Nunguni.

    He also announced that he will be breaking ground for construction of a KMTC campus in his home area of Makindu.

    With Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior’s name off the development records, Mutisya is copying and pasting what Kaloki did when he ran for parliamentary seat.

    Prof. Emmanuel Mutisya is also eyeing Makueni governorship on Wiper ticket [p/courtesy]
    He is hoping from one constituency to the next with international development partners including Toyota Kenya managing director Toyoki Kunoue.

    But Mutula is a stranger in his village but he believes that he has been close to Kalonzo enough for Kambas to vote for him on top of the name his father built.

    He is taking every opportunity to be seen by the side of Kalonzo as a strategy to market himself.

    The two professors Mutisya and Kaloki are relying on their work on the ground but Kaloki is specifically being close Kalonzi to get the Wiper ticket where Mutula is a major threat.

    In his Kazi Bila Ubaguzi slogan, Mutisya has also pitched camp in Kilome constituency where he has dug the Kwa Makaa dam in Mavivye. On top of training the youth of Makueni on agronomy and agri-mechanisation whereby youths are trained on how to operate tractors so that they can prepare the shambas of residents, Mutisya has also started the Prof Emmanuel Mutisya Makueni football league. But it is in education where Mutisya who is also the chairman of Kenya Diaspora Community has made the biggest mark constructing classroom blocks for schools and also issuing scholarships to students to join the university.

    Not to be left behind, Kaloki has also been putting his position as KMTC chair into good use ensuring that as many students as possible from Makueni are admitted in KMTC and also settling the fees of some of those who can not afford it. In his Kibwezi backyard, Kaloki also runs scholarship schemes. If development was what determined who became governor in Makueni to take over from Kibwana who has taken Makueni to another level especially on matters health and water provision where he has ensured that UN standards that one must have a health facility within a five-kilometre radius are met, the seat would be Mutisya’s or Kaloki’s. As for water provision, Kivutha has seen dams constructed in every village where locals are willing to avail land for the purpose.

     

  • Businessmen’s bid to stop building of SGR depot flops

    Businessmen’s bid to stop building of SGR depot flops

    Four Nairobi based businessmen have lost their bid to stop the ongoing construction  of an inland container depot for the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in Syokimau, Nairobi.

    John Muswanyi, John Mugo Njeru, Byron Kanyu, and Victor Muiru sought a court injunction to stop the building of the SGR depot claiming that they own the 15-acre land where the dry port is being developed.

    The four claimed that the land was part of a 37-acre land allocated to them in July 1998 whose title they processed and registered under their names on February 4, 2005.

    They told court in April 2020 that a company known as Syokimau ICD Limited trespassed on the suit property as it claimed ownership of part of the same plot and purporting to be from the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC).

    They also told the court that the company had begun erecting permanent structures on the disputed land that only an injunction in their favor would solve the issue before they suffered losses which may not be compensated.

    However, Justice Erick Obaga dismissed their application after he established that the developing company was already in possession of the plot based on a lease from the Kenya Railways Corporation.

    Evidence adduced in court revealed that the land was surveyed in 1969 and in 1971 when it became a subject of compulsory acquisition by the state.

    “The question which will have to be interrogated later on is whether the land which had been subject of compulsory acquisition in 1971 could again be available for fresh allocation in 1998. This is more so because the Applicants did not place before the court any materials to show that there was a surrender of the acquired property as to be available for fresh allocation,” said the judge.

    Justice Obaga ruled that the four businessmen did not support their case with probability of success since it was still unclear how a property compulsorily acquired by government would later allocated to civilians ten years on.

    But the judge added that the portion of the disputed plot is capable of valuation and they can be compensated if they demonstrate their case well with evidence.

    “Alternatively, the constructed portion can be demolished and restored to its original status. The Respondent has built a large area with cabros which can be used as a dry land port. Even on a balance of convenience, the balance tilts in favour of the Respondent which is already in possession based on a lease from Kenya Railways Corporation,” Justice Obaga added.

    But the accused, Syokimau ICD Limited, said it has a lease of 15 years with effect from November 29, 2018 in the entire 15 acres piece of the land which has not been surveyed.

    The company added that after the signing of the lease, it moved in to begin the process of constructing a multimillion inland container depot that will be used by the new SGR.

     

  • Is Jirongo’s Sh4.9 billion an old debt or laundering for Sudanese tycoons

    Is Jirongo’s Sh4.9 billion an old debt or laundering for Sudanese tycoons

    Authorities in South Sudan have suddenly agreed to pay a company associated with the former Lugari Mp Cyrus Jirongo Sh4.9 billion after a case was heard and determined in Arusha, Tanzania.

    The company associated with the controversial politician was hired to construct South Sudan People’s Liberation Army but the debt had delayed for over ten years.

    The works to build Dr John Garang Memorial Military Academy, 4 warehouses and fuel depots kicked off in 2007 and were completed in 2011 with a pending debt of US$18.6 million but the interests have since accumulated to US$49.3 million (Sh4.9billion).

    Jirongo who has been making news of going broke was represented by MS Semuyaba, Iga Advocates from Kampala along with Lumumba and Lumumba Advocates from Kenya.

    A Chinese firm Yu Sung Construction Limited was also part of the team that had dragged the government of South Sudan to the Arusha based court in November 2019 to pay the decade long debt.

    “We have a pleasure to kindly request your honorable court to file a consent order of the payment of US $49,398,473.91 in four installments,” read part of the demand.

    But SPLA terminated the contract with Yu Sung in September 2011, just two months after South Sudan became a nation when the debt still stood at USD 18,609,595 after attracting an interest of USD2,791,439 per annum.

    Lead lawyers were persuading presiding Justice Munica Mugeyi who issued conservatory orders to freeze and settle the debt where money would be put in a winning account until the case is determined.

    Munica’s orders affected more than 20 crude oil cargos from the South Sudan, construction of Natinga Warehouses and Dr Garang Memorial Military Academy.

    This was after South Sudan changed the construction sites claiming that locals had staged demos to protest the works.

    “The SPLA authorities chose Kurmork, which unfortunately proved to be prone to flooding after foundations had been laid and some buildings already at an advanced stage, according to the submission.

    “The project owners chose a third site in Mangalla country near Juba-Bor Highway which also came to be prone to flooding of the Nile and the project was moved to Suleng, 75 kilometres away in the northeast of the capital Juba”.

    A meeting chaired by Brig General Abuol Deng and Brig Gen James Hakim Elia held in 2011 wanted the contract to be reviewed but the idea was later rubbished and Yu Sung while South Sudan still owed them more than US$ 18 million.

    By September 2020 debt had accumulated to over US$49.3 million by and the South Sudan government acknowledged the fact that the ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs entered into contracts with Yu Sung on different dates for construction of facilities, which were later defaulted.

    “Recognising the fact that the failure and default of the respondent to uphold the contractual obligations it signed with the applicant may complicate the matter much more should the court’s proceedings be the only option left to the parties to follow,” Athian Ding Athian wrote.

    Mr. Athian who is the minister for Finance and Planning of South Sudan made the commitment on the payment to Jirongo in a letter dated 26 November 2020.

    Many senior military officials from South Sudan steal from government and hide their loots in Kenya which has become their safe haven.

     

  • New law to allow KRA, NIS to track gamblers

    New law to allow KRA, NIS to track gamblers

    A new proposed law to tame gambling will allow The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and state agencies like Police and National Intelligence Service (NIS) to track betting activities on real time.

    The amendments that have received the backing of the state will create a platform that will enable more agencies to trail and apprehend gamblers behind suspicious bets to combat money laundering and flow of dirty money.

    The government is forcing the changes amid piling concerns that betting firms are offering services where proceeds of crime and corruption are rinsed without any declarations to the KRA and the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB).

    The amendments that are already in parliaments are improvements to earlier changes that only gave the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) real-time access to gambling activities.

    If adopted the new laws will allow security agencies and the Financial Reporting Centre (FRC) which tracks illicit money to be added to the list of institutions that will track the bets whenever they are placed.

    “The Board (Gaming board) shall establish a framework to facilitate real time monitoring of online gaming activities which shall be accessible for monitoring by the Communications Authority of Kenya, the board and any other relevant government agencies,” the Bill read.

    The law is targeting plungers who deal in large transactions but bet with a small fractions. Those making small, regular and suspicious bets will also be on the radar of the government.

    Kenya is known for inflows of dirty money, majorly proceeds of crime, corruption, drugs and shady business deals by tender bandits in government who end up investing in luxurious cars and real estate.

    In 2019, state revoked licences belonging to more than 15 betting firms over fresh demands for more taxes and shareholder disclosures which resulted to  court fights with giant gambling firms like SportPesa and Betin.

    The gambling industry has achieve a combined revenue of Sh204 billion as it becomes the best ground for criminals to ‘rinse’ dirty money.

    Criminals collude with gambling executives to feed their illicit money into their betting wallets, bet a small share then cash out the remaining bulk.

    The new rules will also force gambling firms to get advertising approval from the regulator. The advert will also have a warning message that must constitute a third of the actual advertisement.

    The State has recently lost its bid to freeze betting accounts and seize cash that remains unused for three months in a row amid money laundering concerns.

    But the parliament’s committee on Sports, Culture and Tourism rejected the proposal because confiscation of idle cash is the role of the Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority (Ufaa).

    In what looked like a move influenced by the deep pocketed gambling cartels, the parliament was also swayed to reject changes to the Betting Bill that aimed to empower CS Fred Matiang’i.

    Parliament rejected the move that would see the Interior CS freeze the accounts and order gamblers to show proof and declare source of cash before accessing the money.

  • What Ruto means with his ‘plastic support’ for the BBI document

    What Ruto means with his ‘plastic support’ for the BBI document

    The politics around the handshake and BBI were designed to corner the Deputy President Dr. William Ruto as the enemy of ‘unity’ as well as to paint him as a very corrupt politician.

    That resulted to the continued bitter bickering between DP Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga who are likely to face off in the 2022 elections.

    But Ruto made a peculiar shift from opposing to supporting BBI report, making BBI a document that will just pass without ‘juice’. Exactly what Raila and Uhuru had not planned for, they have been left punching the air.

    He will miss BBI rallies and at the same time deny his enemies the opportunity to use the rallies as a major scheme to gauge Raila’s sway ahead of 2022 since majority may not participate except some few sycophants who will rise and vote it.

    Appearing to support the document also saves the DP’s 2022 budget that President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga had trapped him to waste on leading No campaigns but hustlers are known for avoiding impulse at all costs.

    Ruto is also ‘supporting’ the document fully aware that it was set to act as Raila’s springboard to 2022 presidential race with the secretariat already headed by Raila’s Mohamed Junet.

    Plots are also underway to have the secretariat turned into Raila’s 2022 campaign secretariat, meaning Ruto cannot be ‘a legit member’ of that team.

    The possible beneficiaries of a million positions Odinga is drumming for in the a bloated executive and parliaments are in there to draft how senior positions will be shared thereafter.

    The DP has been reading too much mischief in BBI to give it ‘a legit support’, he even called for reviews but Uhuru and Raila gave called him a bluff.

    He will take a low profile once the campaigns kick off to force Uhuru and Raila to hawk BBI to the less interested public.

    Raila Odinga (c) with BBI secretaries Junet Mohamed and Dennis Waweru (right) [p/courtesy]
    Ruto’s camp is also informed that BBI is setting stage for the rigging of the 2022 polls. He cannot vote in a process that is purely designed to shoot down his ambitions.

    Boycotting the referendum will then confuse his enemies who are dying to gauge his strength, an opportunity he will deny them through a low turn-out since no one is opposing Raila’s BBI.

    Having no one to oppose the BBI will have the Uhuru and Raila exposed to explain to the public how the bloated cabinet and decision to hold the referendum amid the covid-19 will benefit this broke country.

    Ruto recently hosted 150 Mps and senators at his Karen residence to make known their irreducible minimums in supporting the unpopular document.

    What Ruto is doing is not any different from what Raila did when boycotted repeat presidential polls in 2017.

    Raila’s baby cry was that the same IEBC that he wants to pass BBI now was against reforms then and that Jubilee had also changed election laws days to election.

    But Ruto is also well aware that the dynasty members will unleash state machinery to force the document through.

    He avoided a gruesome contest to focus on 2022 when he is most likely to face a betrayed, stressed and heartbroken Odinga in the polls.

    This also presents a better opportunity to avoid a direct face off with Uhuru Kenyatta because he still intends to widen the inroads he has made into the president’s backyard in Mt. Kenya region.

     

     

     

  • Behind the scene power plays in Sonko impeachment

    Behind the scene power plays in Sonko impeachment

    Handshake partners President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition leader Raila Odinga whose candidates flopped in the 2017 Nairobi gubernatorial race have reached a compromise to back one candidate once the impeachment of Governor Mike Sonko is complete.

    The two leaders are the brains behind the impeachment of the governor whose fate is now pending at the senate which the two leaders use as a ‘slaughter house’ (Kichinjio).

    If anything the canning Jubilee had hoodwinked ODM about ‘not fielding’ a candidate in Kibra by-election last year in favour of the ODM candidate Imran Okoth who carried the day.

    Somehow President Uhuru Kenyatta blessed ‘Jubilee candidate’ McDonald Mariga to challenge the ODM man.

    Raila who vowed to shift from Nairobi if Sonko won in 2017 has been instrumental in the impeachment of Nairobi governor as the plot was arched in his Capitol Hill office.

    ODM MCAs sponsored the motion that was supported by 88 members out of 122 with only two rejecting the motion.

    The meetings held at Raila’s office settled on them backing a Kikuyu candidate to over from Sonko if a by-election is held.

    Raila who is desperate to become Kenya’s fifth president after four failed attempts thinks this is a smart plot to woo Kikuyu votes.

    Hand shake partners jointly control the senate meaning Sonko has zero chances of survival and soon, Odinga will begin campaigning for a system or dynasty friendly governor in BBI rallies.

    Senate now kicks out dirty governors allied to DP William Ruto like Kiambu’s ex-governor Ferdinand Waititu but saves dirty governors who are sycophantic to the system like Kirinyaga’s Anne Waiguru and Migori’s Okoth Obado who made peace with Raila Odinga.

    Political strategies working for the handshakers are convinced that a Kikuyu-Luo joint ticket will earn the city’s top job.

    The two control about 1.3 million votes in Nairobi with Kikuyu having 900,000 and Luos representing some 400,000 votes but Sonko’s possible run is still a threat because his appeal cuts across many tribes, women and the youth. He is popular.

    The law is not bold and clear about an impeached governor running if a by-election is called to fill his vacancy but Jubilee will deny Sonko it’s ticket.

    Schemers are aware of the lacuna and are said to be fasting and praying for Sonko to be thrown behind bars till he becomes a done political case.

    Kikuyus have no strong candidate; Peter Kenneth could not even make beyond nominations in 2017 yet he is the man who wants to be next kingpin when President Uhuru Kenyatta retires in 2022.

    The by-election might the real test of the new found unity between the Kikuyus and Luos whom they duped just after independence and after 2002 general elections.

    The other would be candidate, is former Dagoretti South MP Dennis Waweru, a weak politician who could not even win his parliamentary seat back.

    Another possible name in the list of the touted would be Polycarp Igathe, a corporate mogul who could not last five months in politics, after he was elected as Sonko’s deputy in 2017.

    Igathe resigned in January 2018 citing disagreements with Sonko who could settle as a political figure head.

     

     

     

  • Governor Rasanga sending bursaries to ghost students

    Governor Rasanga sending bursaries to ghost students

    Alego Central MCA Leornard Oriaro has raised a red flag after learnt that most of the recently released Siaya county bursaries are benefiting ghost students.

    He said the county government of Siaya will lose millions of shillings meant to benefit bright but needy students if Governor Cornel Rasanga’s is left to fraudulently distribute the funds.

    Oriaro noted that hundreds of students who were legible to benefit from the bursary have been locked out through a scheme that is carefully crafted to block those who sat sat for KCSE and those who completed college last year.

    Rasanga’s administration has rolled out the the unfair despite many needy students who sat for examinations in 2019 having their certificates detained in various institutions for nonpayment of fees.

    The MCA faulted the argument that the money was meant for those in Form Four this year. He categorically stated that the beneficiaries were in Form Three last year when the list was compiled.

    Oriaro further clarified that all bursary applications are done by November after which the applications are compiled and sent to the education office for processing.

    The MCA insisted that the just-released bursary is for the 2019/2020 financial year and therefore must cater for the beneficiaries who were in Form Four or in their final years in college last year.

    He challenged the controversial Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga to come out and clear the air over the impasse that has seen destitute children denied certificates by various institutions.

    Oriaro added that the people of Siaya have not forgotten the 2018/2019 bursary wreck where the county lost Sh74 million that has not been accounted for to date.

    Alego Central MCA Leornard Oriaro. He also claims Rasanga has threatened to take his life [p/courtesy]
    Governor Rasanga released a Sh30, 785, 000 bursary with claims that it would benefit Form Fours and students in tertiary education who currently back in schools.

    The  revelation comes after Siaya Speaker George Okode on Wednesday announced that Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officers will now be part of the interrogation team to grill county government officials appearing before the county assemblies to answer audit queries.

    The speaker’s move is a shift from the past when county executive committee member and chief officers would appear before the county assembly public accounts committee members alone.

    Okode whose move is to insulate Rasanga from investigations called on the County Executive and their chief officers to ensure due diligence in the execution of their work to avoid audit questions.

    “A time like this when we are starring at transition, we do not want a future where people who have served this country with honour for the longest time to be called to answer audit questions,” he said.

    Rasanga on his part  lamented that governors have been subjected to bear the bad image whenever improprieties and audit queries are raised in their counties.

    Governor Rasanga is said to be considering to oust MP Samuel Atandi of Alego Usonga in 2022 with hopes of featuring in the next regime as a minister if BBI sails through.

     

  • Senate is set to meet over Sonko’s fate today

    Senate is set to meet over Sonko’s fate today

    The process to finalize the kicking out of Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko will kick off at the Senate today after he was impeached by Nairobi MCAs last week. 88 members of the county assembly voted in favor of the impeachment motion while only 2 MCAs voted against the move to oust the governor.

    Troubled Sonko will the wait for another 10 days to know if the motion sponsored by Minority Leader Michael Ogada send him home or if he will pull a surprise survival.

    The governor is also barred from accessing office over abuse of office and for grossly violating the County Governments Act, 2012, the Public Procurement and Disposal Act, 2015 and the Public Finance Management Act, 2012).

    His critics also trashed him for refusing to approve the Sh37.4 billion that would bank roll operations by the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).

    Sonko had managerial and political issues with the NMS Director Gen Mohammed Badi whom he accused of hijacking Nairobi.

    Nominated senator Sylvia Kasanga said that today’s meeting will also determine whether the house will go the plenary or the committee way.

    But the Senate’s Business Committee wants section 33 of the County Government Act applied.

    “A special sitting is set for December 9 at 2:30pm. The business to be transacted at the sitting shall be the hearing of charges against Mike Sonko,” Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka wrote in a Kenya Gazette notice.

    Sonko’s chances of survival will still be derailed by the by the fact that he has been beefing with senators he belittled whenever he was summoned over audit queries.

    “Sonko’s character will be his greatest downfall. His arrogance and conduct when attending Senate committees might cost him,” a coward senator told a local daily and requested to remain anonymous.

    A happy Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja [Image/courtesy]
    The fact that the flashy governor is also allied to the Deputy President William Ruto another blow. Ruto and his allies are not in good books with Senators allied to President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga.

    Governor Sonko’s impeachment is coming at a time when the system is harsh on rogue and sycophantic members of Tangatanga, a wing that is allied to the DP and they definitely want to have Sonko replaced.

    High ranking political figures are lobbying to have Sonko’s nominee for deputy governor Anne Kananu Mwenda take over as provided for in Article 182 of the constitution.

    Ms Mwenda’s nomination stalled in the Assembly after a court case was filed to question the legitimacy of the process since it was made when Sonko had been barred from accessing his office over looting charges.

    Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja who has been silent since his involvement in the massive looting of Covid-19 funds through Kemsa said the senate will be blind to political interests when executing the matter.

    But the not so daring senator is also eyeing Sonko’s seat.

     

     

     

     

  • How Akasha drug barons lost family love after sentencing

    How Akasha drug barons lost family love after sentencing

    The Kenyan drug barons jailed in the U.S are lonely in prison after being abandoned by family, friends and legal team since their sentencing to over two decades in prison.

    Baktash and Ibrahim Akasha were sentenced to 25 years and 23 years in jail respectively by the US courts in 2019.

    Since their sentencing, even the Kenyan High Commission in America that is expected to check on the barons who are its citizens has not been able to show love just like Kenyans living in America.

    The embassy officials were last seen during court proceedings when they only took notes and filed reports back at home.

    But gone are the days when Akashas used to dine with prominent Kenyan legal minds, politicians and senior civil servants whom they bribed to remain at large and frustrate extradition to New York.

    The guilty barons who are now serving their lonely and lengthy jail terms in a foreign land have never been visited by any family members, friends, or the corrupt Kenyan officials who fear that US authorities will nab them for being accomplices in their heinous acts.

    The two who were drug traffickers and murderers are serving their terms in a country that is worst hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. People catch it and die in crowded prisons.

    Baktash is imprisoned in the state of Louisiana where eight prisoners have died from covid-19 while Ibrahim is detained in Brooklyn, New York City, in a facility where five prisoners have succumbed to the virus.

    Court records show that Baktash will be freed on May 21,2038 while Ibrahim will come out a little earlier on September 5, 2036 after the two pleaded guilty to a number charges involving drug trafficking.

    They pushed narcotics, heroine and methamphetamines into the United States when they led an international drug trafficking ring based in Kenya.

    Akashas decried their incarcerations in the US taking issue with Kenyan officials whom they accused of abandoning their sons who used to bribe them.

    The drug barons bankrolled many top lawyers in the city together with broke politicians who have all turned out to be betrayers.

    Real as it is, no one wants to associate with a drug baron in the day, no one has even seen their traumatized mother too.

    But the brothers are specifically bitter with Gulam Hussein, a Pakistan national and Indian Vijaygiri Goswami who had to betray them and become a prosecution witnesses. If anything they pleaded guilty.

    Akasha brothers being cuffed by DEA officials in an old courtesy photo.

    The Akashas confessed to the US authorities that they bribed senior officials in Kenya, Tanzania and other countries to peddle drugs across borders without serious scrutiny.

    They also named senior officials in the judiciary and many state officials who are part of their drug trafficking empire.

    Do the brothers who further admitted that they bought guns and grenades for Somalia based terror group Al Shabaab have the audacity to complain about being abandoned?

    The guilty brothers are also claiming that Shanzu man schemed a plot that saw their family conned 5 million shillings.

    A fake State House official duped the Akasha family that he could secure the release of their sons from US prisons.

    The con they identify as Chris Mwai runs a church at Shanzu near Mtwapa and moves in high-end government vehicles.

    Mwai and his accomplices met at his church where Baktash’s wife Najma Juma paid a Sh50,000 down payment to secure her husband’s ‘freedom’ from a US jail.

    He lied to Mrs Baktash that he was highly connected to the Kenyan president as he made a fake call.

    Mwai would later link Najma to a man she identified as Stephen Nzioka, alias Steve, who assured them that the two brothers would be released on November 28 2018 and arrive in Kenya on December 2, 2018.

    She paid the Sh5 million in bits of Sh500,000 to State House Comptroller ‘Kinuthia Mbugua’.

    Mwai got Sh1.5 million to have the case out of court but disappeared only to return when he was charged in court.