Category: Investigations

Study, 70 per cent of Water Consumed in Nairobi and Kisumu Contaminated with ARVs

Nairobi Governor, Evans Kidero, commissions a water vending machine in Mathare slums.

24 pharmaceuticals- the highest concentrations being antibiotics and ARVs, used to treat HIV and malaria are found in rivers, waste and ground water in Nairobi and Kisumu counties.

This is according to a study, Occurrence Patterns of Pharmaceutical Residues in Waste Water, Surface Water and Ground Water of Nairobi and Kisumu, Kenya, conducted by the University of Eldoret in collaboration with Ghent University, Belgium.

The concentration of these prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines while minuscule — as they are far below the levels of a therapeutic dose — are worrying scientists like Mr Kenneth K’oreje, one of the authors.

“There is a 70 percent chance that the surface and even treated water may still have traces of the drugs. In fact, some ARVs have resistant products that may be isolated in water long after treatment is done.” He says.

Water flowing from a tap in Nairobi

These drugs, measured in quantities of parts per billion or trillion, include nevirapine and zidovudine (for HIV treatment) and antibiotics like metronidazole, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim.
Kisumu has higher concentrations of the antibiotic sulphadoxine, which is a combined drug with Fansidar that is used to treat malaria.
Poorly managed pharmaceutical disposal mechanisms a possible attribute to this hazardous development.

Elsewhere, in 2013 a study on foodstuff had established that farmers in Kiambu and Murang’a counties were using ARVs to fatten chicken. The farmers reportedly added ARVs to broiler feed to ensure they were ready for sale at four weeks.

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July 5, 2016
Murdered Lawyer Was To Release Damaging Information on Police Brutality

Willie sharing a moment with his son

Following days of the relentless search for the missing lawyer Willie Kimani, his client and a taxi driver, our worst fears were confirmed when their bodies were found decomposing in Oldonyo Sabuk river.

Lawyer Willie Kimani and his client Josephat Mwendwa had filed a complaint alleging that Mwendwa had been shot and injured by police in April. Mwendwa was then charged with a range of offences, including possessing drugs, gambling in public and resisting arrest, Human Rights activists said.

The two went missing along with Joseph Muiruri, a driver who picked them up after a court hearing on June 23.
The 32-year-old lawyer Willie Kimani was admitted to the bar in 2011 in his five-year tenure as an advocate of the High Court; he specialised in human rights organisations and the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA).

Josephat Mwendwa, Willie’s client

Police brutality in Kenya has continued to heighten with the oversight body receiving heaps of complaints from the public on rogue police. As an investigator, according to his colleague speaking to Kenya Insights, Willie had a lot of dirt on rogue cops and was set to release information that would put senior officers, including the one implicated in his fatal end, in deep trouble.

Another complainant contacted K.I lamenting on inaction and treachery at IPOA, he claims some of the officials are easily compromised and would sell out those who lodged complaints against any brutal police officer.

Willie remained a pain in the neck and a stumbling block for most rogue cops, and he couldn’t be compromised. His daring will and dedication towards fighting for human rights and enthusiasm against police brutality put him in trouble and a target for the brutal police force. He was an investigator at International Justice Mission (IJM) for one and a half years before joining IPOA, where he majored in investigations on police brutality and sexual violence against children.

Joseph Muiruri, the taxi driver

The 32-year-old started his career as an intern at Release Political Prisoners, now the Rights Promotion and Protection Center and later took up the position of a legal officer. He was also a board member.

His passion for fighting for the protection of victims of torture and extrajudicial killings drew him to the Independent Medico Legal Unit before he joined IPOA.

His murder now brings to light the elite killer squad that many agree are in the police force. Extra-judicial killings have taken the toll in the near past with the latest victim being businessman Jacob Juma whose shooting was attributed to the killer squad too.

Lawyers and Civil Society have both joined hands in the wake of Willie’s murder and are now not only calling for the disbandment of the killing unit but also the dismissal of top police leadership from the Inspector General Joseph Boinnet and Criminal Investigations Director, Muhoro to the Interior Security CS.

Increasing extra-judicial killings have also rattled the foreign envoys who’ve jointly issued a stark warning to the government to look into the matter which is now getting out of hand.

IG Joseph Boinnet identified the cops being held over the murders as Fredrick Leliman, Stephen Chebulet and Silvia Wanjiku.

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July 4, 2016
How Broke Nation FM Preyed On and Exploited, Young Fame Thirsty Campus Students to Cut Costs

Some of the Vocal Nation participants

On 30th June, in a memo the Nation Media Group announced a bulky lay off the scheme of its staff. Hundreds of employees were caught off guard with the directive that has seen Nation FM, Q FM and TV both shut. The TV stations will be incorporated into one channel. According to the management, the decision to layoff its employees is to harmonize and strengthen its operations.

Sources privy to the decision divulges to Kenya Insights that the shut outlets have been running at a loss and siphoning the group’s revenue. The situation got so bad that most of the times Nation FM, QTV and Radio would on numerous occasions run dry adverts. Free adverts just to give the impressions that the situation was normal wand they were getting revenue.

The problem extends to NTV as well. “Print unit has been the holding factor,” a senior source at Nation Media Group tells Kenya Insights. Daily Nation remains the most profitable venture in the media group as its electronic media department numbers in losses.

Things couldn’t hold up anymore, and NMG was running at a loss, a crisis meeting that would see his Highness Aga Khan order for immediate deposition of additional employees and shut down of three channels was reached. Aga Khan, who owns preponderance stakes in the media group, was furious over under performance in the City Center’s media house.

Ciru Muriuki, Sanaipei Tande, Antoneosoul who were both Sacked by Nation FM

Nation FM’s downfall started as far as last year when they laid off approximately 50 employees at a go. Celebrity presenters who had shot up the station’s ratings as Singer Anto Neosol, Sanaipei Tande, comedian Obinna, Ciku Muiruri among others were kicked out in what one of them describes as “being chased out like dogs.” The dismissal wasn’t like any other, Nation FM was insolvent and couldn’t manage to pay the high demanding celebrities.

The management with Munene Nyagah as the head of radio coined a scheme to cut down cost and keep the wheels running.
The project, which became popularly known as “Vocal nation,” was packaged as a mentorship course. They drew two students each from campuses with the opportunity to present on the station.

The script sold to participants was that they would compete, and the best would be given employment opportunity at any of NMG’s outlets. Unknown to them, everything would turn out to be a bluff.

The senior source speaking on condition of anonymity to Kenya insights opens up more, “The plan was to target fame hungry guys from these campuses, and DJs were also brought in. Maximize production and minimize expenditure.” The station was breaking into a new audience of young people, so they needed relevant presenters.

Those who were recruited into the Vocal Nation program received zero remunerations. However, they were contented, being fame hungry, the mileage of being on the radio was good enough. This was to the advantage of the management. “We had a variety of content generation, and our online presence went up and above all minimized spending” one of the managers was overheard by a source, during drunk stupors at the Nation Lounge, located only meters away from the central premise.

Being tactful, the management didn’t announce specific timeline that the program would run, and this was meant to drowse on any queries and eyebrows that would become in due course.

As fate would prescribe, the lie suffered sudden death with the indefinite cessation of the station together with its sister station QFM and TV who employed similar tactics. As at the time of closure, there wasn’t a clear winner, neither did any of the Vocal Nation participants get even close to an internship opportunity at the media house. Contrary to other employees, Vocal Nation’s participants will walk out the same way they walked in, with empty pockets.

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July 1, 2016
Why Journalist Yassin Juma and His Family Went Into Hiding Immediately After Jacob Juma’s Assassination

On the 5th day of May, vocal businessman and new age anti-corruption crusader Jacob Juma was fell in the spray of bullets. The incidence shocked the country, one person who had all the prints and fingers pointing at over the heartless murder was the state. From CORD leader Odinga to friends, the killing was attributed to a lethal police hit squad.

As Kenyans were grasping with the news, one person who thought he was next in line from his intelligence sources or basic instincts, went into hiding. Freelance journalist, Yassin Juma on getting the news of Juma’s death amassed his family, and both went into hiding. He cringed for his life.

Yassin was in January arrested for ostensibly posting classified information on the number of KDF soldiers that were killed in the El Added attack by the Al Shabaab militia group. According to Intel that Juma got, a total of 103 soldiers died in the massacre. He went ahead and posted on his blog, shells of the destroyed KDF armory that were released by the militia’s propaganda unit.

Publishing of this ‘sensitive’ information angered the authority principally Interior Ministry led by CS Nkaiserry. He was later picked up from his house in Nairobi’s Donholm estate. 16 CID officers effected the arrest in what looked like a terror suspect apprehension.

He was accused of posting photos of dead soldiers on his blog, claims he say were being peddled by PSCU based on hearsay. He would remain locked up at Muthaiga police as police embarked on investigations that would yield no fruit, they didn’t find the said photos on his site.

Yassin Juma was a victim of the prohibitive law that has since been disbanded- section 29 of the Information and Communication Act, which prohibits the “improper use of a licensed communications system”. Interior CS Nkaissery warned that anyone publishing any information on the attack without KDF approval is a sympathizer of Al Shabaab and would be treated as one.

After fruitless attempts to have him locked up, Juma would later be released and just before his eyes would pass away, another scheme to have him locked up was in the offing. On leaving the cells, he posed for a picture with his friends outside the police station flashing a one finger salute.

The photos were quickly used in an endeavor of linking him to terror group leaders who often flash similar one finger salute, an attempt to make him look like one of them. Juma said the index finger signified his reliance to one God.

Juma attributes his woes to Mwenda Njoka, Dennis Itumbi (directors at PSCU, who have since been fired) and CS Nkaissery. He believes they are hell bent to see him go behind bars or worse still dead. Juma is a freelance journalist with the specific interest in war documentaries that he distributes to international publications. A course that has seen him travel to Somalia frequently.

He’s also a darling of the KDF troops who bring him on the warfront to cover the war on Al Shabaab. His movements and information sources in Somalia have been a headache to those behind his arrest.

The journalist has dismissed reports that he’s hiding in Somalia insisting he and family are in Kenya to stay despite the death threats. “Yes I have received death threats (including my family members) in the past, and it still continues to date from people who think I am prior to sensitive information that should not be relayed to the public or people who perceive to be more patriotic more than you and me. Yes I’ve been trailed, and my phone calls tapped, but I will continue to do what I do right here in Kenya.” Said Yassin.

He contends he’s in Kenya to stay and will not run away to any country to seek refuge. The defiant journalist is sending a message to his enemies, “to be born by luck but death is definite, I fear the Creator, not the Creations, if my day to die come it will and will be an honor to die a Shaheed if they( in ref to those baying for his blood)decide to kill me.”

In conclusion, Juma firmly say he’s in Kenya to stay and those grumpy by his work which he conducts with set ethics standards, “must be prepared to put up with me, this country is for us all, just because I am a Muslim, doesn’t make me subordinate of a Kenyan.” Declares Juma.

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July 1, 2016
Kenyan Doctors Aiding ISIS Recruitment Through Their Private Clinics

By Nicholas Olambo & Kenya West

Every child growing up wants to be a doctor, lawyer or an engineer. These professions have been for a long time been regarded as lucrative, but medicine and law have turned into conmen’s den. Doctors despite being well paid are making headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Coercing with pharmaceutical companies, giving prescriptions of drugs not stocked in their respective hospitals and even writing medical reports to questionable individuals just to make quick bucks unlawfully. Med reps from leading pharmaceutical companies to throng doctor’s plaza to market their products alongside people (mostly of Somalia origin) lining to buy medical reports.

Early this year Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPPDU) through its Secretary General Oluga Ouma raised a red flag over doctors referring their patients to India despite treatments being available locally.

In what seems like a cartel made of 15 companies belonging to influential politicians, doctors and even the patients, Kenya is said to be losing 10 billion shillings which can be used to improve infrastructures in medical facilities across the country.

Lobby claimed that over 880 doctors in public and private practice risk losing their licenses if investigations confirm that they intentionally misadvise patients to seek treatment abroad in exchange for kickbacks.
The findings of the investigations have never been made public, and the rogue doctors are still on, fleecing patients millions of their shillings and draining the country’s hard currency reserves.

Busted fake doctor Mugo Wairimu

Doctors are reported to pocket up to Shs. 200,000 for every referral; mainly of kidney, cancer and cosmetic. Health Principal Secretary Dr Nicholas Muraguri noted that Kenyatta National Hospital for instance conducts at least 30 kidney transplants every month and some of Kenya’s private hospitals have the capacity to carry out heart transplants. Meaning that these cases can be treated locally. Only very delicate conditions that local experts can not treat should warrant overseas care.

This fight is made complicated by the fact that top government officials ignore the official policy in favour of local healthcare, opting instead for treatment in Europe and US even for a slight cough. Doctors don’t end their illegal trade of unwarranted medical referrals here; Kenya Insights can authoritatively report that Kenyan doctors provide dubious medical reasons to many peoples of Somali origin seeking travel to Europe or the United States.

It’s no secret that terror activities conducted by ‘Islamic groups’ have proven bigger threats to every nation globally. Groups such as Al Shabaab, Boko Haram, ISIS, Al Qaeda and many more hide behind unsuspicious events to carry out their attacks. Kenya and East Africa, for instance, has suffered numerous attacks due its porous borders, corrupt immigration officials and now doctors are the new entrants into the list.

ISIS militia group

Kenya is struggling in its fight to end terrorism and has for a long time asked for support from other countries to help in the support by sharing intelligence and collaborative reaction. Rogue doctors who are working to make Kenya a terror hub belong nowhere but jail. Foreigners in perfect health without genuine reasons buy medical reports at 2000 dollars.

Al Shabaab is known to have changed its fighting tactic from conventional to asymmetric, a hit and run method that can be best carried out when unethical practices such as these are not controlled.
Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, a toothless bulldog with an incredible bark, is doing its best, sleeping with its head buried deep in the sands. Scandals touching on the ‘big fish’ are certified to go scot free.

Terrorism is the greatest threat Kenya is facing at the moment, and Kenya has been accused of sitting on intelligence and in the process suffering severe terror attacks that have had the negative impact on the economy. One of the biggest foreign exchange earners, tourism, is down on its knees and struggling to pick up. Will the country sit back and watch rent seeking doctors aid the movement of questionable characters or crack the whip on the rogue professionals?

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June 29, 2016
Are Fire Incidences In Kenyan Schools Orchestrated By Some Unseen Forces?

Education CS Fred Matiang’i during an assessment of Itierio boys’ dormitories that were burned down

In a single night, Itierio boys managed to reduce to ashes seven of their dormitories and then extend the destruction to public property. Reason? They were denied a chance to watch a Euro match because it was past the time allocated for entertainment.

That would make sense, since we are an intolerant country and deal with vengeance anything that does not favour us, except there are a few questions that beg to be answered.

For one, each day has seen a match being played past 10 pm ever since the Euros started. Why didn’t they go on a rampage to watch these other games that were being played past ‘lights off’? Secondly, and interestingly, you need more than just a box of matchsticks to bring SEVEN dormitories down to the ground in a single night.

We will begrudgingly accept the fact that our children experiment with drugs and therefore would be well equipped with a box of matchsticks for their bhang escapades, but it is almost impossible to raze down seven buildings in a fit of anger if it is not pre-planned. There’s little we can do apart from waiting for the investigations to be concluded.

Thirdly, and upon which this article is based, is that over 10 Kenyan schools have experienced fire incidents in the past three months plus numerous reports of student unrest. Is it a mere coincidence or there is some dark unseen forces inciting our students to turn against their institutions? If we are to go to the second school of thought, there is one fundamental question that must be asked- what do the dark forces stand to gain by having students burn down their schools? Or what message are they trying to send to the major players in the Kenyan education sector?

Let us look at one of the cancerous problems engulfing the Kenyan education system and us as a country are almost accepting and moving on- exam cheating. In 2015, cases of exam cheating rose by over 70% from the previous year and saw the Kenya National Exams Council (KNEC) disbanded. Over 5,000 students had their results cancelled and most of them have re-registered to take the exams this year.

Blame games sufficed and nobody seemed ready to accept responsibility for the scam. We were playing Ping-Pong with a generation’s future. But it would be stupid to claim that there are aggrieved exam cheats out there going around burning schools in a revenge mission. So let’s go deeper into the scam and look at the source of the problem, exam racketeers.

Remains of Iterio Dorms after burning by students

The education ministry has shown enthusiasm in curbing exam cheating and has come up with punitive measures to deal with the menace. Prayer days have been banned, no half-terms in the third term, visiting days are not allowed, and there will be no social activities for boarding schools in the third term.

While this doesn’t bother the big fish in the racket as they deal directly with the schools and teachers, it is atrocious news to the small time crooks (mostly university students) who use such forums to establish links with their targets.

The bans are bad for business. To add salt to an injury, the exam period has been shortened from six weeks to four weeks, thereby giving the little time between papers to look for leakages for the next paper and send it to the candidates.

In an ‘eye for an eye’ move, this group of people are travelling around the country inciting students to go on a rampage at the slightest provocation by their institutions. They do this during visiting days when schools open their gates, and there is little or no regulation as to who gets in.

On the eve of Butula Boys’ visiting day for this term, a guy posted in a Whatsapp group- SONU Secretariat, that he was going to incite the students to strike the prayer day ban and wanted to know if anyone else would be going. There may be no hard evidence (for now) to prove this trail of thought, but it is a trail worth investigating.

When people call themselves names such as ‘Bishop of Violence’, you must not underrate the extent of the damage they can cause.
We can only speculate on how many schools have been checked into. For now, let’s hope that Education CS Fred Matiangi’s ban on transfers will be a deterrent on any yet to be carried out an arson attack on our schools.

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June 29, 2016
ARCHIVES: Did Dennis Itumbi Engage in ICC Witnesses Interference

Director of Digital communication Mr.Dennis Itumbi

Following the New York Times article that the Statehouse fiercely criticised for painting the President in the wrong image by linking him to Mungiki network that led to the Post election massacre, Itumbi has not been left out.

The Government’s Digital Strategist has threatened to sue the international publication for naming him in the article in a bad light. In the item, Dennis was mentioned as having been part of a network that ICC prosecution accused of interfering with witnesses.

In the collapse of all the six cases, the prosecution argued their investigations and evidence collection was dealt a blow with massive witnesses’ interference.

Most witnesses recanted testimonies either from intimidation, bribery and some disappeared mysteriously while some died in unexplained circumstances, this is according to the ICC prosecution.

In his defence to New York Times, Itumbi argues he was given a clean bill of health by the ICC over witnesses’ interference, and the prosecution accused and filed for his arrest for the same offence but he was exonerated. In the onset of the circus, Itumbi was alleged to have hacked the ICC portal and gained entry into the witnesses’ database and used the obtained information to coordinate witness interferences.

President Uhuru and his Deputy Ruto were amongst the six suspects accused of orchestrating the 2007/8 Post Elections Violence that left nearly 2000 people dead and hundreds of thousands persons displaced.

In a research conducted by Kenya Insights online, we managed to retrieve some posts made by Itumbi that dates back to 2011 when he allegedly revealed identities of witnesses publicly contrary to international standards of witness protection and right to remain anonymous.

Meshack Yebei was found dead under unclear circumstances, Prosecution said he was a crucial witness

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June 28, 2016
Burial of Truth As DCI Muhoro Recommends Public Inquest into Jacob Juma Murder

Juma’s car that he’s body was recovered at Karen Police Station

The Director of Criminal Investigations Ndegwa Muhoro has recommended that there should be a public inquest into the death of prominent business person Jacob Juma. This seems to indicate that the investigations by police have hit a dead end hence a public hearing to gather more information.

Given that the death of the business person is of public interest, the inquest that will be done in public will gather questions and possible answers to unravel the mysteries behind the killing.

Juma’s body was recovered in his car around Lenana School along Ngong Road on the 6th of May. Initial police reports said the businessman’s car was blocked by a car in front before assailants riding a motorbike sprayed his car with bullets that killed him.

This theory has since been dismissed with glaring facts that the bullets impact on his body and the vehicle state couldn’t add up. According to postmortem results, Juma was killed with two bullets to his chest, and his car windscreen couldn’t support the theory of assailants shooting in his vehicle. General view from several analyses seems to endorse the theory that he was killed elsewhere and body later on planted at the scene.

The slain businessman Jacob Juma

Historically, in Kenya public inquests have been put on controversial murders, and there’s yet a positive result from the investigations that can be written home. Most have only served as grounds for innuendos, dramas, washing of dirty linen. In the case of Juma, you can anticipate seeing his love for women overshadow the course.

From Robert Ouko, Julie Ward and recently Mercy Keino, public inquests haven’t led to a positive end, closing in on murders but avenues for push and pull dramas. The police managed to capture Juma’s last movements using the Automated Number Plate Recognition cameras, and video clips from the Intelligent Surveillance cameras.

The cameras were however suspiciously off at strategic points which would’ve helped majorly in revelation. Cameras are off at Trattoria Restaurant, here there are ten cameras, Juma allegedly dropped the woman Cheryl Kitonga he was last seen with here.

Police said they had recovered AK47 rifle that was used to kill Juma. Four thugs were gunned down during the incident.

Will Juma’s public inquest be different from the rest that has been established before? The ODPP is reviewing the files from the CID and will give the decision later. He made a name for being the most vocal and powerful anti-corruption crusader something that made him create enemies in high places. Jacob was a fierce critic of the Jubilee government whom in his Twitter rants he accused of being behind his assassination plot. His close ally and CORD leader, Raila Odinga has publicly accused the state of being behind the assassination.

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June 25, 2016
Blogger Cyprian Nyakundi Arrested over Leakage of KPMG Audit Report on Safaricom

Blogger Cyprian Nyakundi

Trouble has once again caught up with Kenya’s most controversial blogger. Nyakundi was arrested on Friday at Galleria Shopping Mall on Friday evening while in the company of a friend. The incident where over twelve CID officers were involved caused a major stir and standoff at the venue.

He was later transferred to CID headquarters in Kiambu for questioning before being put under custody in Muthaiga Police Station where he is still being held. While the initial reason for the arrest was unclear, Kenya Insights can now authoritatively confirm that leakage of KPMG report online and sustained campaign, serialising the report by the blogger held the bulk of arrest.

The damning dossier by accounting firm KPMG — which is now the subject of a parliamentary investigation — details a review of 23 questionable tenders awarded between September 2013 and August 2015.

The telco hired KPMG to do an in-depth audit of the two-year period following concerns about integrity and value to shareholders.
Safaricom Chief Finance Officer John Tombleson(has since been recalled by Vodafone following the allegations) and four other senior executives are named as having influenced the purchase of a Sh1.15 billion five-acre piece of land at Garden City, where the telco plans to build its headquarters.

KPMG auditors also questioned payments of Sh1.2 billion to seven firms for marketing activations that promote the Safaricom brand and its products.

Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore

The report also examines the company’s procurement of corporate promotional merchandise worth Sh201 million from Vajas Manufacturers Ltd, Chinese technology firm Huawei’s Sh1.25 billion contract to upgrade the M-Pesa platform and payments of Sh1.2 billion to media services company Scanad, which is a subsidiary of WPP Scangroup.

Doubtful deals include South Korean firm Kaon Media’s Sh161 million contract to supply set-top boxes, My 1963 commuter card project with Fibre Space (Sh15 million), purchase of network spares management from GSM Systems (Sh201 million) and a billing system from Huawei (Sh839 million).

Safaricom’s CEO had earlier tasked the CID to investigate those behind the leakage of the KPMG report. He exonerated his staff of any wrongdoing saying the report was still in its draft form and not conclusive.

Ironically, Nyakundi started serialising the report on his website days after some other blogs had already begun doing it. He then followed up with a series of sustained Twitter campaigns highlighting the scandals poked in the report. The other main outlets as Nation Media Group have also steadied their serialisation on the report. From the information available, Safaricom has reviewed their adverts contract with large outlet following the serialisation of KPMG report.

Bob Collymore and Michael Joseph have also sued the blogger for defamation and due for a court appearance on 28th, June. The Safaricom CEO sued Nyakundi for calling him corrupt and one without moral integrity, MJ sued because he was called Mr Ten per cent a reference to taking tips over any tender issued during his time at Safaricom.

However, it’s not only Safaricom who are the bloggers case but currently, National Bank and Bidco also have ongoing cases with him over posts that he made on his popular site and social media outlets. Bidco is under probe by the UNDP following claims that the company was involved in land grabbing and environment destruction in Uganda. Bidco has also been sued for tax evasion in Kenya amounting to Sh.5.7BILLION.

The blogger who has made a name out of exposing scandals in the major sectors, a course that has since gained him high profile enemies amongst them Chris Kirubi, William Kabogo, Hassan Joho amongst others.

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June 25, 2016
Blogger Cyprian Nyakundi Arrested Under Unclear Circumstances

Today Friday the 24th of June controversial blogger Cyprian Nyakundi was arrested at Galleria by 12 CID officers for unclear reasons.

The blogger has a case in court against Safaricom Limited CEO BOB COLLYMORE. According to what we know, Nyakundi was tracked using a friend’s phone and automatic car number plate detector electronic system along the way.

Blogger Cyprian Nyakundi

Nyakundi was going to Galleria Shopping Mall and at the gate while taking a parking ticket he was called by someone nearby ”Sasa Nyakundi?” and he thought it was one of his followers but to his surprise, 12 CID Officers pounced on him and arrested him.

They took his MacBook and an iPhone 6, adding to the list of his gadgets being held without clear reasons at different Police Stations.

His friend was also intimidated by the officers.

June 24, 2016
Kenya: The More Things Change,More They Remain The Same, How Not To Win War Against Al-Shabaab

Operation Linda Nchi launched in October 2011 with Kenya setting its military boots in Somalia to combat and wipe out Al-Shabaab, a terror group which kidnapped several tourists within the Kenyan borders bringing one of the country’s top foreign exchange earner (Tourism) to its knees.

As the operation progressed, Kenya pushed Al Shabaab militants away from its borders taking over Kismayu; a Somalia town whose ports Al-Shabaab used to generate revenue to funds its operations across East Africa.

Kenya seemed to have weakened the terror group, but its celebrations were short-lived when Al Shabaab changed its style from conventional warfare to asymmetric; hit and run tactic through its cells. Al Shabaab launched several attacks within the Kenyan borders, and Westgate siege was the worst just months into Kenyatta’s administration.

The attack saw 67 people losing their lives and property worth millions destroyed. The government only blew hot air which never spared the country more attacks. The Minister of Interior then, Joseph Ole Lenku’s inability to man the docket was in broad public glare and so was the lack of coordination between the police and the military handle the rescue operation.

Ignored Intelligence

With the hot air having been blown for a few days, the nation forgot and heads were again buried in deep sands then came the Mpeketoni attack. The assailants attack the coastal town for hours setting two hotels on fire and killing dozens of innocent Kenyans.

The strategy to deal the camouflaging terror group still seems unchanged even when the enemy had set foot within our borders again and torching villages. Rumours of ignored intelligence have never missed after any attack.

Garissa University attack came days after Britain, the United States and Australia warned their citizens of visiting Garissa and Mombasa among other areas for fear of terror attacks.

The government came out strong to tell off the west on the travel advisories. “…..I have not heard British issue travel warnings against other European capitals. We want to send a strong message that they will not intimidate us with these threats” President Kenyatta said.

The Al Shabaab militants in Somalia

Foreign embassies had known that attack was imminent, but these advisories were ignored because Kenya loosely thought that Britain was hitting back because of the stalemate with the British training programme.

British foreign secretary Phillip Hammond criticised Kenya for sitting on intelligence information making it hard to review the warnings. It’s the duty of the government to protect its people and property, continuous and similar attacks claiming lives have no place but dangerous security strategy that would checkmate the enemy.

Al Shabaab has now resorted to attacking the countries security forces. The worst being the January 15 attack in Kenya’s defence camp in El Ade, Somalia. The attack that saw over a hundred soldiers killed and several captured was also blamed on ignored intelligence.

Kenya is becoming a place where things happen, and people move on. The recent attack on five police officers by Al Shabaab in El Wak, Mandera County as they escort a bus is a clear indication that the strategy to deal with Al-Shabaab is failing.

Kenya is fighting a war whose end is not known but what is ailing its counter-terrorism strategy is known. Ignorance of intelligence reports has seen even the National Intelligence Service (NIS) on the back foot, corruption, majorly in police and immigration departments and weak anti-terror strategy despite having a competent force.

Corruption

Police are one the most corrupt institutions in Kenya and some of its senior officers have been suspected of rocking the anti-terror boat from within. The military incursion whose aim was to create some buffer state to keep Somalia’s instability away from Kenya has achieved the opposite. No buffer state has been established through Jubaland bringing Somali chaos closer to home. The militant group in their propaganda videos have often reinstated that penetrating into Kenyan borders are the easiest since the poorly paid security officers quickly take up bribes, this allows them to roam freely.

In the case of Mpeketoni, the killers were said to have penetrated through from Somalia passing untouched despite the numerous police blockages, reports of bribery to facilitate the movement was reported. Ignoring intelligence is the greatest failure that is costing the country. Evidently, theres a poor coorporation between the Nation Intelligence Service and law enforcement officers or pure broadcast of incompetence.

Talking openly and critising the loopholes in the security system is quickly silenced with muzzling arrest of those who are brave enough to speak up. For how long as a country will we be silent while the problems we’re facing can be prevented by pushing for the security organs to tighten the noose and be more competent? Will this article be the ignition of an arrest warrant on the writer? All said, Kenya need to be more secure, the law enforcers need not to perish but the enemies.

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June 22, 2016
Details of How ODM Plots to Stage a Coup Revealed in Intelligence Report

MP Simba Arati and Aladwa addressing a crowd

National Security Advisory Council had in a report on the cancellation of CORD’s scheduled Madaraka Day rally in Uhuru Park, alleged that the opposition was working with two neighbouring countries in a bid to stage a coup to oust the Jubilee government from power.

Emerging details points at a possibility that the Council relied on a statement that made by a University of Nairobi student, Wyclef Ouma Ochieng. On February 1st, Ouma reported to Langata DCI that Nairobi’s ODM Chairman together with Raila’s former aide, Caroli Omondi had recruited him to be trained as a militia in South Sudan.

Giving more details, Ouma revealed of a plot that Dagorreti’s MP Simba Arati, George Aladwa and Caroli Omondi were doing massive recruitment of youths especially from Universities for training in South Sudan. The young people, he says are to be trained in South Sudan with Riek Macha’s forces to form a lethal militia that will stage a coup to overthrow and install Raila as the president after 2017 elections.

Before Senior Magistrate Joyce Oluoch, Ouma, charged with giving false information to the police, implied that the ODM brigades were conspiring with Riek Machar, who has a rebellious history forcing a joint government with Salva Kiir, to being in a joint mission with ODM to overthrow the government.

The magistrate ordered for Ouma be subjected to a psychiatric checkup at Kenyatta National Hospital where he was found to be of sound mind.

Wyclif Ouma appears in a court charged with giving police false information.

The mentioned leaders, Aladwa, Caroli and Simba Arati, have since been summoned to appear before the DCI to record a statement on the allegations. They will be on Tuesday morning at eight record their statements at the DCI headquarters in Kiambu.

Summons are coming only days after Aladwa and Simba Arati led the charged CORD’s supporters in celebrating the release of their MPs charged for Inciting. The two gave a fierce address outside the Milimani Courts on Friday.

Elsewhere, the security council also pointed fingers at Odinga’s ally, Tanzania’s president, Magufuli as the other party that is working together with ODM to overthrow jubilee. These claims caused the diplomatic uproar that would later see, Tanzania envoy to Kenya embark on talks with the Statehouse. Details on his involvement still scanty. The Security Council promised a detailed report on the claims of the coup and are yet to release.

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June 21, 2016
Auditor-General Audit Report Reveals How Angela Angwenyi Was Part of NYS Fraud in A Sh. 302.46M Contract

The latest, The special audit report by the Office of Auditor General under Edward Ouko, presented before the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee, has outlined how the Kenyan taxpayer might have lost Sh.1.9B in fraudulent deals in NYS.

The report also reveals Businesswoman Josephine Kabura, a close associate of former devolution CS Anne Waiguru as the biggest beneficiary.

Josephine Kabura received Sh1.3 billion on account of 11 companies that did business with the NYS and was to receive part of the fraudulent payment of Sh675.4 million that flopped. In her much-publicized affidavit, Kabura said she was acting and making transactions on Waiguru’s blessings whom she describes as the NYS fraud mastermind.

In the report, Ouko notes the genesis of NYS fraud started when the then NYS Director- General Nelson Githinji was replaced with Mr. Adan G Harakhe. Subsequently, instructions were issued to the director IFMIS at the National Treasury to define Mr. Aden G Harakhe as the A.I.A holder for the NYS.

Interestingly, it was during this time that Sh460.9 million of the stolen Sh791.4 million was fraudulently paid out.
In October 2015, renown whistle blower and anti-corruption crusader, the late Jacob Juma in one of his many exposing posts, revealed how former Nation FM’s Angela Angwenyi was involved in a Sh.90M fraud.

FROM HIS UNNAMED BUT HIGH VOLTAGE INTELLIGENCE, Angela had registered Out of Box Solutions a company that within 30 days, she had been fraudulently paid Sh.90M.

Reacting to the accusations, Angela, who by then had retired from the lucrative radio job with NMG, dismissed the claims citing Juma’s remarks as falsehoods.

Angela by the time used to host the morning show, SOTN alongside Jimmy Gathu on Nation FM, noticeable, she passionately defended Waiguru of any wrongdoing as NYS scandal fire blew up.
From the intel available, Angela with the blessings of Anne Waiguru via access to government procurement opportunity defrauded NYS Sh.90M.

In accordance to Juma’s intel, Mr. Samuel Odhiambo, an insider in supplies department at the devolution ministry ganged up with Angwenyi in the Sh.90M fraud.

Now, the auditor report confirms the claims by detailing how Angwenyi’s Out of the Box Solutions LTD is being investigated over a publicity contract for the planning department at an exorbitant cost of Sh. 302.46million.

From the report in Kenya Insights hands and before the parliament, Out of the Box Solutions Ltd was contracted for consultancy to give users support services and perform sensitization campaigns to 30% reservation of government procurement opportunities for the women and persons with disabilities.

Ouko’s report rubbishes off the long title aside claiming it was a vague job, and no evidence could ascertain whether the schedule of activities put out had been achieved before payments were made. “It was, therefore, possible to make payments as provided in the schedule of activities without the purpose of being delivered.

Fees ought to be based on achievements of measurable impact of the sensitization campaigns,” laid out the special audit report.
August 13, 2015, auditor general notes a suspicious payment of Sh. 90.74M to Angwenyi’s company.

Her bank got suspicious with the sudden massive transactions made through the central bank that they called Planning department to confirm if they were dealing with the right client (Angela Angwenyi).

In conclusion, Ouko’s report say, “No document was provided to confirm that indeed the beneficiary and details of the payment were meant for Out of the Box Solutions Ltd.”

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June 13, 2016
Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airplane Implicated In Sex Trade And Human Trafficking In Burundi

Burundi has been flanked with controversies and conflicts in the past months since and before the disputed re-elections of President Nkurunzinza. As democratic levels hit red signals with the opposition landed wrath, living standards continue to dwindle given the instability with few or no job opportunities to accommodate the swelling job seeking population.

Gulf nations as Saudi Arabia, world’s biggest oil exporters are preying on poor countries seeking cheap human labor that’s why countries as Kenya, Burundi, and Ethiopia amongst other African countries also Latin America are their softest targets.

Despite deplorable working conditions and torturing reported in the Gulf states, workers continue to stream in thanks to the recruiting agencies who have mastered the art. Ethiopia becomes the latest to send mass population to Saudi Arabia with an initial batch of 160,000 released to work in Saudi Arabia.

Nkurunzinza of Burundi said to be sending 120,000 to unspecified Gulf nation highly suspected to be Oman and Saudi Arabia. Kenya, on the other hand, continues to send its citizens to these toxic environments. Uganda has stopped issuing travel permits for its nationals traveling to Saudi Arabia for domestic jobs.

A lobby group in Burundi, led by Pacifique Nininahazwe, Forum for Conscious Awareness, known by its French acronym, Focode, has been monitoring human trafficking trend in Burundi and is raising an alarm on the growing trend. FOCODE say a locally registered company Salah Al-Dhafeeri is brokering the operation of sending hundreds of young women to Saudi Arabia.

The collaboration is done together with government officials who have their cut off every head smuggled out and also with Airlines.

According to FOCODE, the situation is so bad that’s an estimated number of 300 plus women are trafficked weekly to Saudi Arabia alone.

In a report estimated 300 children were smuggled to Saudi Arabia and Oman since April 2016. Most of these women ended up as sex slaves and subjected to pathetic working environments where they serve as domestic workers.

FOCODE is pointing arrows at Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines as the airlines of choice by the traffickers, “12 girls were flown this morning on flight KQ 448 of Kenya Airlines, and they went to Oman.” Noted FOCODE leader, Pacifique. “Nine girls come from boarding the flight 806 of Ethiopian Airlines, they will in Saudi Arabia” he added.

#Burundi #HumanTrafficking Dans moins d'une demie heure, le vol ET 806 d'Ethiopian Airlines à destination d'Addis-Abeba…

Posted by Pacifique Nininahazwe on Tuesday, June 7, 2016

The lobby group goes further to petition the airlines mentioned to take note of passengers booked for traveling to either of Gulf Nations in a bid to help curb the increasing menace of human trafficking. The syndicate they allege extends to government officials, recruiting agencies and airlines officials. Most of the women travel with falsified documents, FOCODE notes.

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June 11, 2016
Jacob Juma Had Been Poisoned By A Woman, Collapsed In His Car Before Killers Struck

Going by police reports a shooting incident that led to the death of Jacob Juma occurred on the 5th day of May 2016 at about 8.30pm along Ngong Road at the interchange just after Lenana High School. Contradicting sharply, locals refute police claims of shooting saying no gun sounds were heard at the said times.

Circumstances surrounding the death have been a solid script to decipher. Analysis both done by this writer and other analysts have all pointed in the same direction that the deceased was killed elsewhere and body planted at the staged crime scene.

An anonymous source confided in me that Juma had been poisoned and had collapsed by the time the killers got to him. While the information given were scanty, I embarked on trailing the last moments which perhaps have the biggest clues on exactly what might have happened.

Casket bearing the remains of JJ taken away after Requiem mass in Nairobi

On several occasions, Juma boasted to his friends and oozed confidence in his life given the fact that he had an armored car. Knowing he was a target, he was cautious enough. Getting to him in his armored car was a twisted puzzle for his assassins; this meant a different plot was hatched.
“Juma knew his death was coming, what he didn’t know is they’d use a woman to get at him.” Said one source.

If at all this theory was to be true then how did it happen? From the police report, Juma was last seen in the company of a young lady now revealed as Cheryl Kitonga, and he drove her to town after a meeting with her in his Rose Apartments along Brookside Drive in Westlands.

Time frames that are given by the police differs with the records at the apartments gate which say, JJ in company of Cheryl left at 7.45pm, Police through Automated Number Plate Recognition(ANPR) cameras captures Juma opposite Westlands Bus Terminus driving along Waiyaki Way driving towards CBD at 7.34pm, at this moment Cheryl is on the passenger seat.

Juma’s car captured on CCTV

At 7.36, Juma is captured near Villa Rosa along Waiyaki Way driving towards Uhuru Highway. At 7.38pm, he’s seen near Ministry of Tourism offices at Kenyatta/Uhuru highway driving towards Mombasa Road. At 7.53pm, JJ is captured at Uhuru Highway near Central Park and at 7.55pm he’s seen at Nyerere Road near Children’s Traffic Park, along Nyerere Road towards Kenyatta Avenue.

Worthy of noting, Cheryl Kitonga said she was dropped at Trattoria in the CBD by Juma at 7.50pm. Surprisingly, despite having nearly ten cameras in that area, no footage of Juma dropping Cheryl can be retrieved. On being questioned, DCI Muhoro blatantly said the camera goes off at times on certain occasions.

Whether indeed the lady was dropped at Trattoria or not or any incidence that might have ensued in the area is unclear since there’s no footage made available to ascertain or refute. Cheryl Kitonga according to police report together with Jacob Juma left his Brookside Apartment at 7.45pm she says he dropped her at Trattoria at 7.50pm that’s five minutes from Westlands to town and that she was home in South B at 8.12PM that’s 22minutes.

Cheryl Kitonga

Many have found it hard to swallow the timelines given the nature of Nairobi traffic and on the prime times.
Last moment of Juma on CCTV is captured at 8.14pm at Argwings Kodhek Road, along Argwings Kodhek Road; this is near Yaya Centre towards Ole Odume Road. What follows is a dark world, no clip of JJ is captured. Where he went next, whom he met next is unclear.

According to Juma’s wife, the deceased never used Ngong Road but Langata when going home cropping possibilities that he was driving to meet someone but not going home.

The source who didn’t want to be mentioned in this publication says a woman poisoned Jacob with a drug that takes minutes or hours to take effect. “JJ collapsed in his car; that’s why his back window was smashed to gain entry.” Reads the anonymous mail sent to Kenya Insight.

The inside of JJ car

The letter further reads and reveals more, “The car was towed with Jacob inside it, unconscious body shot at, and his left hand hit to near dismemberment to make it look like there was a scuffle, the body was then returned inside the car, buckled and towed to the scene.” The mail ends with “Good luck and doesn’t write back.”

The towing of the car with Juma’s body coincides with an initial rumor that body of Juma was towed to Karen police inside his vehicle. During the postmortem done at Lee Funeral home, bandages were found on Juma’s body in what looks like someone was trying to stop the bleeding. How could this have possibly happened? Several theories can be drawn.

If indeed Juma was poisoned and was unconscious in the car when the killers pounced, then they would’ve come in a medic unit acting on distress call full with first aid kits. Smashed the window to ‘help’ the collapsed man trapped inside, this to keep public’s curiosity swayed. His unconscious body moved out, shot at and taken back with the bandages still on.

Raila and friends viewing the body of JJ at Lee Funeral Home

Juma’s body had seven bullets with the killing bullet going through his chest. Police said an AK47 rifle was used to execute Juma. No impact on his car would justify narrative that he was killed inside his vehicle giving more strength to the theory that he was murdered elsewhere. There’s even a possibility that Juma had died in his car from the poisoning and that shooting was just a smoke screen to avoid blood tests which would complicate and implicate killers.

If Juma was trapped and poisoned by a woman then who would that woman be? From my sources, police are questioning a good number of women in this view. If the family preserved body fluid and tissue samples for forensic scrutiny, then the poisoning theory can be pursued if not then it dies at that.

Juma’s car packed at the police station

Where did Jacob head to after Yaya Center where CCTV locates him driving along Argwings Kodhek? It’s unclear; he goes into the dark, the next time he surfaces his body is lying there bullet-riddled and around Lenana School. However, what’s clearer is JJ is last captured on camera at Yaya Center around 8.14pm and the next thing his body recovered at 8.30pm according to the police

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June 10, 2016
The Evil Kenyan Gospel Music Industry Cartel

Kenyan music industry was at its best between the year two thousand and the year two thousand and five. Leading recording labels were churning out proper hits one after the other, competition was stiff, healthy and beef was real. Unlike now that artists bash each other on social media on dubious grounds just to get more likes for hating. Back then secular was doing better than what is now called ‘gospel’. Secular artists who would make it to the A-list left the country at the prime of their career, junky promoters and brokers checked in killing the game and opened the market for foreign content. That’s how secular music went down and left for a few cartels that are the producers, the promoters, the artists and at the same time sit on collecting management organization boards (CMOs).

Gospel struggled through tough times and became the best with artists getting shows, Djs and Radio/TV gospel shows playing over 90% local content. It became so lucrative that some secular artists crossed over just to realize the business side of their struggling career or talent but the winds of change are blowing in a bad crop of individuals for the gospel fraternity. Units have been formed by key gospel Deejays and social media big wigs and only play records from artists signed to their units or close to them. One such unit is Dj Mo’s system Unit which has producers and artists such as Hopekid, Bahati, Willy Paul and many more signed to it. Dj Mo formed the unit together with Dj Sadic who later left to form Genius Entertainment; their styles of operations are more or less the same. These units literally control what Kenyans will consume given the fact that they own the major gospel shows.

Willy Paul

It is reported that rapper Ecko Dydda’s music is now not getting airplay because he lost his friendship with the System Units C.E.O, Dj Mo. Established and upcoming artistes now have to be affiliated to these Units to have their songs played. A trend that is only benefiting their groupies and sycophants. This killing the game, people need to stick to their day jobs, Dj stick to your ones and twos, artistes stick to singing and performing. These days Djs are the producers, the promoters and the presenters at the same time. Monopoly is bad and dictatorial.

These units have in fact moved to controlling awards. Celebrated Groove Awards which is the biggest gospel music awards in the region meant to fete its players will soon have its good days behind. Djs from the said Units have never missed in any nomination list even when they are not at the top of their game, DJ Mo and Sadic will always be nominated and they are always the key Djs spinning at the ceremony. Their influence does not stop here; these units have a strong base in corporate world too, even in secular functions. Some events have a secular desk and another for gospel desk for Dj Mo.

DJ Krowbar

Lack of proper laws in place in place is blamed on the amazing prevalence of cartels, CMOs (Collecting Management Organizations) MCSK, PRISK and KAMP make another strong ring of cartels. Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) and Performers Rights Society of Kenya (PRISK) have a duty to collect royalties and distribute to its registered members. The organization has for a long time been accused of not paying its members. Celebrated gospel artiste Ringtone once had an issue with MCSK, accusing them of enriching themselves when musicians languish in poverty.

Kenya Association of Music Producers (KAMP) whose role is to collect mechanical rights of production is accused of double pay. Producers charge artistes for production and when the song performs well they still line up to ‘eat’ from the artistes in the name of mechanical rights. Many artistes are in disagreement with this and some producers also claim that this money is collected but it never reaches them. Only a few producers like R Kay rip big from this because they sit on the board or their friends do. Individuals like these are bad for the industry, the same people coming in different names to confuse and steal from the artistes at every stage. Music is a big industry that has the potential of employing many youths but that only be realized if cartels are done away with and sanity brought in.

DJ Mo and his wife Size 8

Brokers steal from unsuspecting artistes. Liberty Afrika for instance is known for exploiting artistes. Celebrated gospel singer Eunice Njeri has come out clean to reveal that she made millions on skiza but cannot receive her returns because Liberty Afrika claims to own her music. It’s clear cartels are killing the gospel music but who of the industry players has the secret to putting the crucial pieces of this puzzle together?

June 10, 2016
Jacob Juma’s Personal Security Measures in His Last Days

Jacob Juma during a court session

It would’ve easily passed the public’s eye the legislation banning ordinary citizens from having armored cars were it not for Jacob Juma who on his Twitter feed rushed to accuse his enemy DP Ruto as the mastermind and sponsor of the bill.

He sensationally stated that the legislation was done with him in mind since he was an elimination target and was driving around in an armored car.

With his boastful nature, Jacob didn’t hide it from anyone that his vehicle was armored, Cheryl Kitonga the last lady he was seen with and who claims it was their first meeting, in a recorded phone call confessed that Jacob had told her his car was armored.

Some his friends that have contacted Kenya Insights say Jacob felt safe in his vehicle, there was no way anyone would get to him since he was aware many were baying for his blood and more so the state that he kept pointing fingers at.

He perfectly painted a picture of an immortal being, and a fly couldn’t even land on him. Fetched from his public chest thumping and exultant talks with his peers and associates. Despite all these, he was caught off guard and killed.

Concerned about his safety, close friends including one who talked on anonymity conditions to us, warned JJ and advised him to boost his security. Jacob had earlier in the week called on CORD’s Moses Wetangula where they met at a restaurant in Karen, he confided to him on his assassination plot. Apparently, he had gotten wind of plans to take him out.

His wife, Miriam also said he had expressed to her his fears of being killed. However, despite all these red signs and beseech from his friends, JJ didn’t change much.

According to confidants Jacob never had with him any security detail, he was a one army man. Trusted no one except his taxi driver who we learn tripled as his errand boy, a close confidant and a friend for many years.

He walked around with his licensed gun wherever he went and once in a whole would show it off to his friends at sometimes his concubines. “He never allowed anyone in his car, and he told me it was out of my security as he was a target” a source intimates to Kenya Insights.

Being cautious, Jacob always drove himself, and he didn’t have a driver a fact that his wife Miriam affirms. With his armored Mercedes Benz and a gun on his hip, JJ felt safe.

Shattered windows of JJ’s Car

Singly, on the day that he got killed, Jacob did not have his gun with him. From sources, he had just renewed his license two weeks before. This was unusual for him as the friends say. The only explanation would be death beckoned. When the police found his body, he had with him the gun license. Regulations require a holder to have the license with him whenever you have the gun.

The gun has since been handed over to the police. According to an anonymous publication doing rounds in the social media secret groups, a close associate of Juma is enjoying round the clock security with lethal commandos drawn from Israeli special forces since he’s also a target.

Many have questioned as to why he couldn’t have assigned one of his guards to him. Going back to earlier confessions, JJ didn’t want any security detail. He didn’t have his gun with him at the time of his murder, and he was totally unarmed.

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June 5, 2016
How Jicho Pevu Saved Cheryl Kitonga By Revealing Her Face On The Expose

Cheryl Kitonga a name that has now on everyone’s mouth Thanks to her feature on KTN’s investigative piece Jicho Pevu into the murder of slain business person Jacob Juma. The lady kept anonymous in the released police report as the last person Jacob was last seen with, would later have her identity revealed on national TV.

The move to show her face as expected drew fierce criticism mostly from the growing number of feminists with many lashing at the Jicho Pevu’s host Moha for not respecting the lady’s privacy rights by going ahead to reveal her face.

From an investigative angle, Cheryl being the last person Jacob was seen with before his bullet-riddled body would later be found just a few hours after the two had departed each other, makes her an outstanding person of interest.

Controversies surround circumstances under how and where the two left each other. Cheryl on a recorded phone call says Jacob dropped him off at Trattoria restaurant in CBD, and the intriguing part is, regardless of having about ten cameras roaming the area, no CCTV footage could be retrieved from this field putting into many questions what transpired there.

Without CCTV footage owing to nonfunctional cameras as DCI Muhoro told journalists to mean that only Juma and Cheryl, who knew where he went next after dropping her and whom he met. Jacob’s next steps after Trattoria if at all he got there since no proof would be where his killers trapped him.

From the circumstances, several observations have strengthened the theory that Jacob was kidnapped, tortured to death and body planted at the scene.

On a speculative angle, could it have been possible that Cheryl saw the killers or the people that took him away? Inconsistencies between Cheryl testimony and police report raises more than enough questions.

Cheryl Kitonga according to police report together with Jacob Juma left his Brookside Apartment at 7.45pm she says he dropped her at Trattoria at 7.50pm that’s five minutes from Westlands to town and that she was home in South B at 8.12PM that’s 22minutes.

Many people have dismissed the possibility of this happening, given the nature of Nairobi jams and being a Thursday a busy day and peak hours and worse still the rainy day that it was nearly impossible to cut through the traffic in such short times.

Moreover, According to Brookside Penthouse gate records, Jacob Juma and Cheryl left the apartment at 7.45pm, Police report say at 7.34pm was driving along Waiyaki Way begging the question who was lying the police or the gatekeepers records.

With these glaring loopholes and inconsistent chronology, the young lady being the one last seen with Juma is a primary person of interest in the case.

From the call recording that was made by Juma’s taxi driver, Cheryl can be heard in a shaky terrified voice. Could it be possible that the lady saw the people who took Juma away and threatened her against ever talking to anyone about what she witnessed or she was just terrified for this secret of the cross-generational affair with Juma being exposed to the media? How? Didn’t she know the call was being recorded and would end up in the press?

There’s a general belief amongst investigative journalist’s I’ve conversed with that the young lady would’ve knowingly or unknowingly led Jacob to his killers a theory that is yet to be proven but one thing for sure is the girl is the last person Juma was seen with.

In a confession made to Jicho Pevu investigating hit squads time back, one of the elite hit men confessed that at times they use females or close persons to the target in luring them into their trap before they take them out. While this couldn’t be the case in JJ case, possibilities can’t be out ruled.

In the instance Cheryl saw something or someone taking away Jacob or meeting with, making her a resourceful person in identifying the killers, puts her life in danger, these people wouldn’t at all want to leave any traces to them.

They then would try by all means find this lady and shut her mouth and what another sure way than killing her before she reveals anything to anyone.

The fact that in the police report she was put anonymous would be advantageous to the killers in the sense that they would quickly take her out without being linked to JJ murder after all nobody in the public would know of her link to Jacob.

By making her face public, Jicho Pevu saved Cheryl’s life in that it scared away the killers or any person of interest from reaching her. The choice was turf, but had to be made, she was to undergo psychological torture, but that’s not a big price to pay for your life. Cheryl will perhaps one day live to appreciate this, or maybe she already does.

June 3, 2016
These Two Killed Jacob Juma

High voltage intelligence reaching me….goes Jacob Juma’s springboard lines before he dropped his endless yet explosive missiles exposing a scandal. Little known to the general public yet a familiar figure amongst the business and elite class of the society, JJ as he was referred to amongst his peers sprung into the public limelight with his new cap as an anti-corruption crusader.

Jacob Juma aka Kabetes a name that would later become famous amongst social media users and a nightmare to the intelligence agencies, was his breakthrough, in his boastful, egocentric and fierce nature, his tweets would perfectly reveal his face, Kabetes was taking on anyone with the least care. Nobody was too big to be squeezed neither too small to step on, like a disastrous flood, when he hit nobody was safe neither untouchable.

His ruthless delivery made him a person to watch and outstanding. His popularity elevated over time given these factors.

Coming from a high-end business world, Jacob had made more than enough enemies with many describing his business nature as controversial, a factor that would stay on lips and prints past his death.

The car Juma’s body was found in

Kabetes painted an immortal figure before the public, a billionaire with best of security in the world and immense connection to trap any ill-intentioned person in the world before they would hit him. And again he seemed fearless or feigned it.

In one of his impulsive tweets, he’s quoted throwing jabs at the Jubilee administration swearing his courageous stand on fighting corruption despite assassination threats imminent against him.

By taking a big stand fighting corruption, Jacob Juma knew the dangers posed, taking on the cartels was a thorny path that he took knowing one miss calculations in his steps and his down to an injurious end.

Inadvertent, Jacob took the dangerous route taking on the crocodile by its lethal teeth. Jacob came out wild, a bruised animal, armed to the teeth, this was after his company Cortec had its mining license revoked by the Jubilee administration.

He would later, come out and accuse the then mining minister, Najib Balala asking him for bribes and that he was working for Ruto, a once good friend now a powerful person in the government and turned a sworn enemy. Like a jail filled to the brim, Jacob wasn’t taking in any more inmate, and sleeves folded he went all in.

On May 5th True to his predictions, Jacob Juma was fell by mysterious gunmen who according to the police laid an ambush on him as he was headed home around Lenana School along Ngong Road. The life of a man who made a name for being too vocal on matters corruption had in seven bullets taken away. The major issue that would follow after is who killed rather ordered for the murder of JJ.

Conventionally, several theories cropped up with media tactfully pointing the general finger at his dubious business deals which dominated headlines since day one. From my highly placed sources, I can authoritatively say Jacob Juma’s murder had nothing to do with this angle; he made enemies with the businesspersons a fact, but they didn’t touch him.

Brian Yongo, the last of businesspeople, publicly reported to have been involved in court tussles with late was a business partner with JJ whom they date back with from 1997 and fell out in 2012 in a Sh.400m land fraud matter.

Yongo sent Juma threatening messages, and he was taken to Kiambu Law Courts to answer on the charges Juma pressed on him.

December 2015, Juma again reported Yongo to the police for sending him life threatening messages and hiring a gang that was at his gate ready to execute him. Unknown to the public according to police reports from my sources, Juma had impregnated Yongo’s wife a reason he was after his life.

According to one of Jacob Juma’s close friends talking to me, his biggest sin was taking the government head on. “He decided to go all in fighting the government, something he was not going to win also the corruption cartel, the link is too vast to win over, he touched the nerve, and these people were going to fight back.” He tells me.

During Juma’s requiem mass, Raila Odinga also a friend to the slain is quoted saying “we all knew Jacob was going to be taken away at one point, he took a daring position, courageous for a man his age, and he was killed by the state and the inner state.”

Elsewhere Raila repeatedly mentioned Kwekwe, a lethal elite police squad that according to police has been disbanded as the one tasked to kill Juma. Security minister Nkaissery refuted these allegations reiterating that such a unit doesn’t exist.

In narrowing down to who indeed killed Jacob Juma one simply need to narrow down to the most vocal positions that he took. According to journalist Nyambega of Daily Nation, Jacob Juma in the run up to his death wasn’t well off financially and that he was a talking proxy of a powerful and influential figure in the bigger cartel.

An authoritative source in the state confided in me that the state is committed to dismantling the cartel that is deeply rooted in the system, “these people are everywhere from Statehouse to the courts to the police name it, but the president is committed to bringing it down a step at a time.”

Mr. High voltage intelligence had the financial muscle to get intelligence from any part of the system even before it would reach the government. Juma had his nose everywhere, and this proved as a nightmare to the corruption cartel.

Himself having been deep in the system and now ‘reformed’ Juma had a lot of information on these guys and would use it against them on any tackle.

Juma’s weakness or strength was the loud mouth. He was unstoppable; he had a lot of secrets in the state and the corruption ring, and nothing, not even death would scare him off.

He made life unbearable for the ring; it was no longer business as usual. Any dirt that he had was on his tweets the next minute. Eurobond which is his biggest task and that he committed his blood on exposing and about Sh10Bn supposedly missing. JJ ensured the looters didn’t have a healthy mealtime. Creating larger enemies who want to eat undisturbed.

While the police are still continuing with their investigations, chief suspects on Jacob Juma’s death have been narrowed down to either the state committed to dismantling the long corruption cartel that has been a thorn in the flesh. Or the crime ring that has its feet in every sector of the economy and Jacob Juma was blocking their ways by constantly exposing their secrets, and he was an unstoppable and only way to silence him through bullets.

June 3, 2016
Meet Harban Singh Amrit, Shrewd Asian Billionaire With An Empire Cutting Across Kenya

The man who had fenced off part of the playground for the Langata Road Primary School is a multi-billionaire with interests in construction, aviation, horticulture, property, tourism industry and fishing just to name a few.

Harban Singh Amrit could rank among one of the wealthiest Kenyans but his riches are linked to dirty deals stretching way back to the days of the founding father of the nation Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and later his successor Daniel arap Moi.

The man popularly referred to as Amrit in the Asian community in Kenya, is also believed to be behind the grabbing of large tracts of prime land in Nairobi together with the one time commissioner of lands the late Wilson Gacanja.

Some of the land he grabbed and the property he developed can be found along Waiyaki Way, Mombasa Road, the plush Lavington area, Westlands, city centre and upper hill area among others.

Investigations piecing together the properties owned by Amrit including some of which he has sold running into billions of shillings. We may not conclusively know how much Amrit is worth but his close friends, associates and family members confirmed that he is a wealthy man.

Some of the properties are landmarks in the country in which blue chip companies are housed leaving one to wonder whether they know the history associated with their acquisition.

He is credited with putting up most of the education institutions associated with Moi including the kabarak school and university in Baringo, Sunshine and Moi educational Centre in Nairobi and most of the school’s scattered all over the country named after Moi.

Due to his links to Moi he was the main contractor for the government and all the national cereals and produce board (NCPB) silos were done by his company.

Those who worked close with the businessman confess that he exaggerated the costs for each of the projects he did for Moi and ensured he made massive profits or negotiated for a bigger stake for himself.

A shrewd businessman who many say is a sweet-talker, Amrit is said to carry himself as an architect when in real life he is a draughtsman that surrounded himself with the best architects in the market whom he used to build his massive empire.

The businessman made numerous promises to speak to us regarding his wealth and properties but for more than a week he failed to honour any of our appointments.His excuse was that he was unwell.

The father of three boys is the man who owns the land and structures on which the three Safaricom houses along Waiyaki way now stand. The one near Sarit Centre and which hosts the Human Resources department is built on the grabbed land that belongs to the Nairobi Westlands City sub-fire station.

It is not known how Harban managed to get the land. But given that he was a close friend of retired President Moi and a confidante of the then lands commissioner it is no surprise that he could get all the prime land in the city.

The Safaricom headquarters where the chief executive Mr Bob Collymore sits is constructed on land belonging to the provincial administration. It is telling that next to the house are the offices for Westlands DO.

Ensconced between the Safaricom house and the Pizza Garden restaurant is a rather new skycraper, Skypark Plaza where the National Police Service Commission sit. This also belongs to the tycoon.

In Westlands area, Amrit is a joint owner of three buildings along Woodvale with businessman Manek Shah and former vice-president the late Prof George Saitoti. The value of these properties are believed to run into hundreds of millions at the current valuation.

Towards the Spring Valley police station in the same location is an imposing Hindu temple. The land on which the temple stands was grabbed by Harban Singh Amrit and the late Gacanja. It was then sold to the Hindu council by the two. We could not quantify how much the two made.

In Parklands area behind the Simba Union complex is another parcel of land that was grabbed by both Amrit together with another of his partners, Mukesh Gohil. The tycoon claimed that the land belonged to the Union to be used as a crematorium. However, there is no access to it and his attempts to negotiate with the Simba union to create a road have failed. When he made all these moves, Amrit was the chair of the Sikh Supreme Council.

Still in Westlands area and now along Rhapta road, he has an imposing office not far from the Rehema House. He has named his offices, Rehema House apartment. Amrit is the one who was asked to put up Rehema house for the National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya.

People who worked closely with him claim that he charged an arm and a leg for the building despite the fact that the funds were drawn from Kenyans to help the physically handicapped.

Further along Rhapta road are the magnificent Chelsea Park apartments that go for sh28 million for a three bedroomed apartment or sh140,000 per month. Harban Singh Amrit owns the land on which they stand. The parcel of land runs to the river which he ignored environmental advise to put up structures along a riparian area.

His massive home on the exclusive address along Riverside drive is a sight to behold. It is said the land was given during the Moi era with the help of the late Gacanja.

In the city centre, stands the View Park Towers along Uhuru highway and next to Utalii House. Amrit put up the glassy structure that has 20 floors for sh300 million. He sold the building to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) for sh900million. Soon after it was sold, it was detected to have structural problems as cracks were found in the basement. This did not stop the tycoon from pocketing a cool sh600m.

His close associates disclosed that Amrit put up a penthouse for himself in View Park Towers where he would receive politicians and dish out favours and also cut deals.

That was not the only business he transacted with NSSF. His company, Harban Singh Associates was given a contract to put up a parking complex for the workers fund at community. For years, the parking was never completed. But Amrit and one of Moi’s sons made at least sh1 billion from the fund.

Between Utalii House and Kenindia Insurance building is a parking space. It bel;onged to Amrit and he sold it to the Kenya Methodist University. We could not verify how much he made from that sale.

At Upper Hill in Nairobi, land that belonged to the East Africa Community believed to be seven acres was taken by Amrit.

Along Langata road behind the now controversial Langata Road primary school is the Airport View Villas. They stand on land that once belonged to Kenya prisons. The four acres are believed to have been Amrit’s reward from Moi for putting up Sunshine School.

Away from land, the tycoon also has interests in the tourism sector. If you are driving into Nairobi along Mombasa road, the new fly-over for the Southern by-pass is the Eka hotel. The one-storey five-star hotel is the property of Harban Singh Amrit. It sits on one of the many parcels of land he owns along the road.

In Amboseli national Park is the Oltukai Lodge. The literature on its website says that the lodge is “one of the best spots in the world to watch elephant with the backdrop of Africa’s highest mountains, Mount Kilimanjaro”. This is just one of the outstanding properties in the tourism sector that belong to Amrit.

In Mombasa, the tycoon had interests in Castle hotel, along Moi avenue. However, it is said he sold his shares.

Perhaps it is his need to fly his clients to Amboseli and Mombasa that he is also the proud owner of a hangar at Wilson airport.

In farming, Harban Singh Amrit, has not been left out of the flower business that thrives along Lake Naivasha in the rift valley. He owns the Aquila flower farm. It sits on 300 acres of land that originally belonged to Agricultural development Corporation (ADC).

Further afield in Lake Victoria, Amrit set up a shipping business and gave it to his one of his three sons to run it together with a friend Sharad Patel who produced the block-buster movie on Ugandan dictator, the Rise and fall of Idi Amin.

It is not just in Kenya where the tycoon has property, he is said to own real estate in New Delhi where one of his sons lives and takes care of his interests.

Now in his early 80s, Amrit is said to have slowed down in life. But it is not strange to find him every other weekend doing “koroga” (communal self cooking) at the Nairobi Gymkhana Club along Forest road in Nairobi.

Fact Box of H.S. Amrit properties:

> 3 Safaricom houses in Westlands

> Skypark Plaza, Westlands

> Eka Hotel, Mombasa Road

> Rehema Apartments, Westlands

> Chelsea Park apartments, Westlands

> Oltukai Lodge, Amboseli

> Hangar, Wilson airport

> Airport View Villas, Mbagathi way

April 12, 2015