Tag: Corruption

Steven Githaiga A USIU Lecturer Without Any Legit Academic Credential And The Sham TARDA MD With Faked Documents

Mr. Steven Githaiga Ruimuku. Managing Director TARDA

Just when you thought you’d heard enough dramas and fraud stories in Kenya, there’s always a new one cropping. Kenya Insights has for the past weeks sustained a course to expose on Steven Githaiga who is in the parastatal office with forged documents. Changed his dates of birth from 1953 to 1958 for the simple reason of increasing his employment years by five with the core aim of milking dry the Tana & Athi Rivers Development Authority.

From investigations laid by Kenya Insights, the cheating MD has illegally leased large tracts of public land under his office with the help of his private lawyer to other people. We will expound much on this in subsequent items. From earning salary illegally now accruing to over Sh.30M, Githaiga stands at the centre of the heap of swindling deals that have left the parastatal dry and broke hanging on strings before it eventually dies.

Kenya Insights has reached the relevant authorities to address this matter and save the parastatal from the carnivorous teeth of this charlatan but deaf years have been turned. It’s only a question of time before operations are stall since accounts are viciously mismanaged by the scam MD.

Githaiga is walking around chest thumping that he’s untouchable and that his close ties with the Deputy President William Ruto whom he openly say he loots with, will protect him. Comes at a time when the DP’s office has been polled as the leading arm in corruption. Githaiga also boasts of having protection from the President’s cousin Muigai. We are going to petition these people including Speaker of Parliament Justin Muturi who also happens to be his friend and whom he fraudulently sold to the Land Rover Discovery Reg. No KAD 266D at a throw away price after stealing it from TARDA. We will expose the faces he purports to be saving him and that he’s so untouchable.

United States International University-Africa, Nairobi. (Pic Courtesy)

Moving on, through our investigations, it is emerging that Githaiga who self-appointed himself to the TARDA MD post without any scrutiny and using his links with Muigai happens to be a lecturer at USIU and has registered for a PhD at the Catholic Univeristy. It beats logic how with all the deficiencies in his credentials the man manoeuvred to be a whole lecturer in an international accredited University as USIU. How could the scrutiny of this institution miss this? This puts USIU’s credibility in line and quality of education in jeopardy if a person with underwhelming credits is awarded the position to lecture students.

From the documents seen by Kenya Insights, the only certificate by Githaiga that can be approved is that of Mosoriot TTC where he went for his P1 course, the rest that he used to attain the USIU job can’t be certified. Our investigations led to USIU where efforts to get his details as the lecturer were turned down with a sleuth revealing he teaches in Business department yet his certificates are highly questionable.

USIU management must, therefore, take the matter with the agency it deserves and relook on his credentials because from the looks they’re subjecting their students to substandard education and at the same time jeopardising their credibility and public trust. Kenya Insights will, therefore, follow the vetting process of Githaiga. In fact, this case should worry USIU management and order a complete vetting on all their lecturers to out masquerades.

In our flowing series on TARDA looting and Githaiga’s frauds schemes, we look into the illegal lands leasing, Chairman TARDA Abdul Bahari, a relative to EACC CEO Waqo and has been protecting the MD and at the same time eyeing gubernatorial seat botched multi-billion Dam project and the high personalities defending the fraud MD. Meanwhile, we’re petitioning and daring USIU to prove Kenya Insights wrong by proof of certificates that they’re using a dubious lecturer on their students.

August 24, 2016
Governor Kidero Opts To Defy Ombudsman Directive To Repossess Grabbed Eastleigh Land Letting Developers Continue With Illegal Construction

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero and Senator Mike Sonko both are on public record supporting the traders but nothing substantive has been forthcoming from them to see the developers stop construction.

Two weeks down the line after the Ombudsman released their investigations report on a contested land in Eastleigh that has been taken by Alfa Traders, the developers of an upcoming mall. Traders that were forcefully displaced from the land to give way for construction logged a complaint with the Ombudsman to determine the truth in the squabble.

The report found that the Alfa Traders illegally acquired the land by making the scrupulous deal with corrupt City Hall officials and that the lease that they’re holding onto for ownership is fake. As a recommendation, the CAJ directed Kidero as the custodian of the piece of land to repossess it and also the traders be compensated Sh150,000 each for the losses incurred during the demolitions of their stalls when Alfa Traders stormed in.

Kidero was directed to give a cessation notice to the traders, and that they immediately stop construction, the part of the building up should henceforth be demolished. The corrupt City Hall officials facilitating the land grabbing cartel include Nelson Otido, he unlawfully executed the lease documents for the fraudulent Alfa Traders MDsAli Sheikh Mohamud and Farah Mohamed Barrow.

Isaac Nyoike, Chief Valuer, is one the most corrupt figures in the Office and primarily aiding land grabbing in the City. Ombudsman directed Kidero to fire him. Karisa Iha, Director, Legal Affairs, abused office and breached public trust making him and the rest of the quack officials unfit to hold positions. These officials are the pillars of land grabbing amongst other dirty deals in the City which is biting off the cake.

Governor Kidero, the backstops with him, and no restrictions are stopping him from repossessing the piece of land and ordering an overhaul of land records to weed out the dubious land deals. The question is the governor ready to tackle the mess or simply do media appearances that he’s fighting the cartel yet nothing positive in action is forthcoming. Nairobi, voter, is a critical and watchful being, getting away with everything is no longer a possibility. At the end of the day, people will ask what did you do, how did you deal with corruption cartel apart from press releases.

Sonko, the City’s Senator, has less if nothing to show when it comes to policies crafting, his senatorial performances are not only weak but nothing memorable apart from physical fights with Kidero. He is also missing in action from not only the Eastleigh land grab but from many public land grabbings in the City, unlike his previous trademark of being front row with the public fighting for their rights.

Construction is still on, developers going on without any hitch despite the lawful directives. This equals an endorsement of unlawful operations by the governor himself. He has the authority to put to an end the never ending tag of war.

August 23, 2016
The Statehouse Cartel That Attempted To Extort Sh200M From Businessman Seeking A Sh30B Deal

State House, Nairobi

Reports doing rounds that three people were arrested by the police over extortion plot from a business deal in the house up the hill. The two men based at the Statehouse mutually with a police officer were plotting to get Sh.200M as the kickback from a businessman who was seeking the audience with the president over a Sh30B tender.

According to a source at Statehouse talking to Kenya Insights, the two officers based at the procurement offices are identified as Mumu and Kiprop and the Police officers unnamed.

The trio was on NIS radar for sometimes and on fateful day, flying squad officers were deployed just when they were set to receive the millions from the businessman. President Uhuru himself has admitted his Office is one of the most corrupt departments in the government and has been trying to straighten the curves. The latest incident is a good gesture in the right track.

From history, dubious businessmen conspire with state officials to get away with unethical business practices as tax evasion. The procurement department in the Office of the President is one of the filthiest with the 10% syndrome being at an all time real. Corruption is high in these offices that to score a tender, and you have to part with 10% of the tender value.

In the year 2012/2013, one individual in the Office of the President – a Mr Ben Kihia – withdrew Sh2.85 billion from public coffers, for alleged confidential expenditure in the military. The PAC report says the transfer of funds was unauthorised and irregular, the expenditure unexplained and unaccounted for. The man withdrawing the Sh2.85 billion had no authority to do so. Confidential expenditure of this kind was the reserve of the NIS, CID and GSU. Yet this individual singularly generated, examined, approved and made the withdrawals.

On February 26, 2013, alone, he withdrew Sh130 million. On his own, right people! The Office of the President gave him a certificate of clearance. Nobody knows what he did with your money! Now consider that this man has since been transferred to the Ministry of Industrialisation. But he has defied the transfer and remained in the Office of the President.

Corruption in this office has been since time in history, and President Kenyatta was aware when he took over. However, inheriting a corrupt system, the President doesn’t have any justification for not dot a total overhaul unless he’s approving that the cartel is stronger than him.

Booking for an audience with the president is a munching venture, corrupt Statehouse operatives use this opening to extort from mostly potential investors and other business related guests. This is an unfortunate reality that can be attested to by those who’ve undergone and also the latest victim who was to part with Sh200M just to booked for a meeting with the President.

August 23, 2016
Here’s The List Of Kenya’s MPs, Senators And Joyriders On Taxpayers Bill In Rio As Athletes Suffer In The Olympics

Sports CS Wario

The Kenyan athletes representing the country has in the entire competition been faced with endless problems and avoidable mishaps courtesy of incompetency with NOC-K who have been blamed for the predicaments.

The team has faced travel and accreditation challenges among other problems as it emerged that some Senators are wallowing in luxury in posh hotels in Brazil at the expense of the Kenyan tax payer. As the athletes strain themselves, legislators including 21 MPs are blowing a cool Sh.3.2M each as an allowance for the 21 days during the Olympics, and that’s Sh.50,000 daily. That’s away from the travel expenses.

Below is a list Kenya Insights has obtained of the NOCK officials sent to the games. Note that there are those in the trip at taxpayers expense but have not been included in the list. Includes officials kids and clandestine.
STEERING COMMITTEE NAME ORGANIZATION ROLL
1 Amb Richard Ekai Principal Secretary Sports
2 Joseph Okundo Principle Secretary Culture
3 Kipchoge Keino Chairman NOCK
4 Francis K Paul Secretary General NOCK
5 James Waweru Chairman ADAK
6 Japhter Rugut CEO ADAK
7 Jackson Tuwei President AK
8 Nderitu Gikaria Chairman KNSC
9 Fred Muteti Chairman Sports Kenya
10 Samuel Njonde Chairman Sports Fund
11 Gordon Olouch Ag. Director General Sports Kenya
12 Jaxon Indakwa Ag. Director General Sports Fund
13 James S Kinyanjui Legal Officer
14 Sharad Rao Legal Officer TREASURY
15 Francis Anyona Oino Controller of Budgets
16 Peter Muhia Wanjiku Desk officer MOSCA CHEF DE MISSION
17 Stephen Arap Soi NOCK CENTRAL MANAGEMENT
18 Bernard Ekumbo Deputy CDM (NOCK)
19 James Chacha Executive Officer (NOCK)
20 Fridah Shiroya Finance Officer (NOCK)
21 Pius Ochieng General Team Manager (NOCK)
22 Julius Ogeto Chief Medical Officer
23 Patrick Nkabu Finance Officer (Ministry)
24 Cathrine Ndereba Deputy GTM (NOCK)
25 Resham Bains NOCK
26 Anna Njambi Documentation Officer (NOCK)
27 Peter Angwenyi Media Liasion officer (NOCK)
28 Christopher Lorot
29 Joseph Kiget
30 William Yiampoy
31 Lydia Kamau
32 Maurine Mutuku
33 Dorothy Otieno
34 Peter Ekai
35 Wesly Maritim
36 Lamech Oriku
37 Abdullahi Omar

Senators

Stewart Madzayo (Taita Taveta)
Martha Wangari (nominated)
Godfrey Kariuki (Nakuru),
Karue Muraguri (Nyandarua)
Joy Gwendo (nominated)
Mvita Kisasa Mshenga (nominated)
Abdirahman Ali (Wajir)
John Munyes (Turkana)
Halima Abdille (nominated).

We’re yet to get the list of the MPs but will update as soon as we get it. One is left wondering what was the urgency that Kenya had to fly out almost entire parliament to Rio. What values would they be adding to the players if not milking their kitty? The millions used in accommodating the joyriders doing nothing meaningful but random escapades could’ve been used to add more monetary value to the medals won by athletes.

Treasury gave Sh.600M to NOCK for the competition and from the looks nearly three-quarters has been spent on the joyriders, squandered with players getting a struggling quarter of their allocations. This trend of scavenging and eating off other’s sweat is not only sickening but puts Kenya in the books of shame for mistreating their players, and you wonder why athletes are not taking a second thought in auctioning their citizenship to countries like Bahrain who treat them better.

If it were so important for Parliament to witness and make a report out of the competition then why not send a handful even one MP instead of the bunch sent. This is an open misuse of public funds, the extravagance adding to the already heavy debt burden to the taxpayer must be discouraged. Sports CS owes Kenyans answers and the values added by spending millions on the undeserving joy riders

Updated:

August 20, 2016
A Detailed Expose How TARDA MD Steven Githaiga Faked His Birth Dates To Gain 5 Years In Parliament, Looted And Continue To Loot The Parastatal

Mr Steven Githaiga Ruimuku. Managing Director TARDA

In our initial release of this scandal, we detailed how the crooked TARDA MD faked his dates of birth reducing it by five years just to serve longer on Government. We’ve also highlighted how he had misappropriated funds going up to Sh.200M in his tenure. We’ve also highlighted on the open nepotism and tribal appointments that have become the order of the day at the State’s authority.

Steven Githaiga Maina Passport number A383456 as he was formerly known and according to National Registrar Bureau, changed his identity to Steven Githaiga Ruimuku Passport number A593455 distorting his date of birth from 1953 to 1958. This was a ploy to reduce his age and increase five more years to his years in service. It’s worth noting that Githaiga had attained the retirement age, in fact, he had retired from a previous Government job of which he continues to receive the pension from.

Changing his ID Card and Passports details to fit in the job’s bracket is a serious criminal offence that in a law-abiding country, the charlatan should by now be rotting in jail and not sitting pretty in the comforts of the government’s offices. The fact that Githaiga is free even after being exposed in the media and the CID forwarded his files makes you wonder what the Criminal Investigations Department is doing in stopping fraud exercise as this of the TARDA MD. DCI Muhoro should by now be roasting fabricate Githaiga in the oven for forging official documents but for reasons known to him and the suspect, and he’s walking free, such an insult to the justice system.

His original ID dates 1953

The faked passport No. A593455 showing date of birth as 1958

Githaiga by the simple fact that can be proven that he faked his biological credentials, should be sent to jail without questions. EACC yet another toothless body has been called to action and as usual, they received the files, and nothing has been forthcoming from them. According to moles talking to Kenya Insights, the anti-graft body was compromised by the corrupt MD to sleep on the case.

To the key issues, questions that Githaiga has failed to answer to date include;the procedure he used in the recruitment of staff, list of staff in 2013 including the full list of applicants, shortlisted and fruitful candidates, composition of the interviewing panel and its recommendations, details of all employees recruited during this period including dates and appointment. He can’t provide these necessary information since everything was done out of the law. Githaiga hired everything and everyone in his family and circles into TARDA without considering the law. Talk of ultimate duplicity.

From documents in Kenya Insights custody from a parliament mole, TARDA scandal and Githaiga was handling by Eunice Hinga and Ibrahim Lorot the EACC detectives whom we learn were compromised with bribes and promised me in order to step on the case. EACC issued Githaiga with a summon on 7th October, 2015 and to date that has never been honoured, has never been to the offices, he simply summoned the EACC detectives to his office bribed them and the case took a natural death way.

Ombudsman also took up the case on Githaiga being illegally in office. Let’s do some math here. The Auditor General, who unearthed the scandal say the acting MD earned Sh.10.8M in basic salary during the fraudulently extended tenure in office. Am analysis of-of the extra salary, which he ought to have made totals Sh.10,765,464, breakdowns from 2009.

In the audit review, Githaiga made a total basic pay of Sh.1.2M in the six months from January to June 2009 when he was the deputy MD. The MD’s basic pay according to the AG, was Sh.200,00/pm. Between July 2009 and June 2011, Githaiga took home Sh.3.6M for the two years he worked. Between March 2012 and Feb 2014, 24 months in total, Githaiga earned a total of Sh.3.6M. In this period(July 2014 to March 2015) according to Ouko’s report, Githaiga received Sh.10,756,464 basic salary besides other allowances. All these were illegally earned. Add everything to August 2016, and Githaiga has received over Sh.30M in basic pay leaving out allowances which make the strong potion.

AG Ouko also accused Githaiga of irregularly recruiting 37 employees in his capacity as acting MD before taking over an office in 2013, April. The illegal appointments for the financial year ended June 30, 2014, total basic pay amounted to Sh. 13,787,412. A closer scrutiny into the fake recruitments by the tribal Githaiga revealed that 17 out of the 37 workers were from his Kikuyu community. Worse still, the positions weren’t advertised as a condition for competitive recruitment as required in state’s offices.

Githaiga is illegally in office. Was appointed as the acting MD on 22nd April 2013 and while in his position, he ensured that he was irregularly confirmed as the MD in April 2015 without being subjected to competitive recruitment for holders of such officers.

Scanned documents from the Auditor General’s report showing the looting levels administered by Githaiga

He presented to the Board of Directors a recruitment process done in 2009which were dispensed by the then Regional Dev Minister, Fred Gumo and therefore not applicable. Due diligence and vetting were not done as the MD was interdicted for misappropriation of Sh.190M for ESP programme in TANA DELTA which he has never accounted for to date.

In respect to Sh.30,714,048 grant received from the Europian Union for implementation of community-based mini-hydropower development in Upper Tana basin for poverty alleviation project. However, the funds have remained unutilised for over four years. Available information to Kenya Insights indicates that the EU has since recalled the funds in the exercise 2013’2014 and advised TARDA to come up with a new proposal for another grant. This is a glaring case of incompetence.

Githaiga has not explained why the funds were not put into intended use resulting to the withdrawal of the same by the donor. In the circumstances, the authority seems to be focused on achievements of its strategic goals.

Githaiga changed his name from what is in the national ID as confirmed by the National Registration Bureau to a different one which is in his passport No. A1593455 acquired on 2nd February 2011. Further, he has changed his date birth from 1953 to 1958 a date he now uses on most of his official documents.

Accordingly, he ought to have retired in 2008, a year before the government enhanced the retirement age to 60 years. This amounts to criminal action on the part of Githaiga of cheating on his age by five years. The DCI should not tolerate such a tactless and fraudulent MD and its an insult to intelligence when such a fraud holds such a high public office for whatsoever reasons.

We call upon the CID, DPP, EACC to man up and pick up the case in streamlining public institutions. If either of the bodies wants to feign ignorance, Kenya Insights is readily available through ([email protected]) to present the files to them for solutions.

Given his financial might, Githaiga the scamming TARDA MD has been able to silence all the key institutions from highlighting the story. EACC is loudly silent waiting for their share of millions. We’re told he paid them handsomely with promises of more. TARDA is destined to receive close to Sh.3B as of 2017/17 FY allocations and this is one of the reasons we learn he extended his period. The money he’s baiting to loot and pay off the rest of his other crooks as promised.

It is disturbing that while Kenya is struggling with high youth unemployment rate, some old charlatans are using crooked and criminal methods to stay afloat. Githaiga is receiving pension and at the same time, he’s receiving salary from the same Government under different names and dates of birth. One wonders why nothing can’t happen to him yet the evidence is out in black and white and in the right hands. EACC,CID,DPP and SCAC the goverment’s agencies that have been sleeping on the job and need to wake up before this man completely finishes TARDA.

It’s even more depressing that the fraudulent TARDA MD was appointed by respected environmentalist Prof Judi Wakhungu. She was aware of all these transgressions and still went ahead to appoint him adding stains to her presumed white profile. Her integrity, reputation and international respect that she commands is now in line for having appointed such a swindle into such a big position. With everything now open to the public we call upon the CS to revoke the appointment of Githaiga and ensure he pays back all the money he received from TARDA illegally and most importantly, work to see that the corrupt MD is thrown behind bars for his criminal acts of forging official documents and corruption. Kenya Insights is keen to follow up the matter to the end and will be paying attention to see how Wakhungu and relevant authorities will handle this. There’s no option of relaxing until this matter is solved and that’s by the fraud MD being ousted and legal actions taken against him.

August 18, 2016
Eastleigh Traders Asking Whereabouts Of Their Missing MP Yusuf Hassan As Private Developers Embark On Massive Public Land Grab

Yusuf Hassan MP for Kamukunji

Despondent traders in Eastleigh are left in the cold pondering where their area MP for Kamukunji Yussuf Hassan is hiding as private developers launch massive grabbing of public land in the busy and resourceful business zone. The cries from the group of hawkers talking to Kenya Insights are coming at a time when the Ombudsman report on a conflicted piece of land in Eastleigh found the occupant developer guilty of irregularly procuring the land.

Alfa Traders with Ali Sheikh Mohamud and Mohammed Barrow listed as the directors according to CAJ investigations, fraudulently acquired the land to construct a mall liaising with defunct City Council of Nairobi in 2007. Despite National, Lands Commission revoking the lease held by the dubious group and ironically the County government reinstating that the land is a public amenity, in 2014 when Kidero Government took charge, things took a sharp turn.

From what Kenya Insights establishes was after substantial negotiations and million shilling bribery by the Alfa Traders owned by City Billionaire connected in numerous scandalous deals, Sheikh Khalifa, Director of legal affairs Karisa Iha in Feb 2014, gave the Alfa Traders legal ownership of the land despite the open discrepancies.

Ombudsman in its recommendations to solve the standoff, recommended for the Nairobi County Government to repossess the land from the dubious traders and serve them with a cessation notice and immediately stop construction and vacate the parcel of land LR. No. 36/VII/1037. It also recommended the 403 affected traders be prioritised in the new allocation since the land is listed legally as a public amenity.

Traders were also RECOMMENDED TO BE AWARDED Ksh.150,000 each as compensation for the costs incurred in constructions of stalls destroyed by Alfa Traders. Corrupt official seated at City Hall, Nelson Otido who executed the lease of documents in favour of Alfa Traders, Isaac Nyoike, Chief Valuer and Karisa Iha the Director, Legal Affairs be fired by Kidero the Nairobi Governor over abuse of power and breach of public trust. However, these recommendations are yet to be effected with City being the chief accused and yet charged to execute directives opt to give silent treatment on the new developments.

As the area MP, Yusuf Hassan shouldn’t be taking a backbench position on a matter that needs intense mobilisation and lobbying despite his quiet tone nature. This is the time Yussuf should stand with his constituents and be seen to be with the mwananchi down there, after all, it is his constituency, and he has the obligation to protect public interests and amenities.

The land squabbles have been ongoing for years and from what Kenya Insights gathers, the MP has been conspicuously missing from the picture with the traders who are drawn from across the section of communities in Kenya left to fight for themselves. Senator Sonko at one point joined them and staged a protest where the construction by the fraud Alfa Traders stopped for few days, but he has never been seen there again. The traders say the monied Sheikh Khalifa bribed Sonko to buy his silence. Kenya Insights has relentlessly reached out for the senator in weeks, and his lips have remained super glued going to affirm the allegations of the traders that his silence was bought.

Governor Evans Kidero and Senator Mike Sonko. Both have steered away from the Eastleigh Land Grab, alleged to be having business links with Alfa Traders the dubious company that has grabbed the public land.

The Governor, Kidero on the other side, also joined the traders and called for the Contractors to stop, but these were mere blab]nket orders as it’s been established he has business links with Sheikh Khalifa who is the owner of Alfa Traders. City Hall has been giving cessation orders to the rogue contractors but just for the cameras and letting them continue with the illegal construction.

It doesn’t make any sense when Kidero allude that he’s fighting the cartel when he can’t implement simple recommendations by the Ombudsman to repossess the land and fire rogue officers in his office. By keeping everything constant, Kidero is not only affirming his position in protecting impunity forces but also propagating the corruption culture within City Hall that has now escalated to disturbing heights.

Yussuf Hassan if not disturbed then must be ashamed for leaving his constituents to be disturbed in the hands of the looting cartel. What will be left for the public when the entire Eastleigh is being swallowed by the private developers. Will the same MP seek votes from the same traders he has abandoned? Why is the MP maintaining a resounding silent on this matter can it be read that he is compromised and only working to protect the corrupt network? These are some of the few of many questions the traders are putting through. Will the MP wake from the slumber and make a sound on this even a cough? Kenya Insights will be watching.

Alfa Traders continues with illegal construction at the public land despite Ombudsman directive that they don’t have rights to the land and County Government should repossess it

Despite the fact that the directives and Ombudsman investigations that Alfa Traders are illegally holding the land and Kidero should repossess the land, impunity is in full effect. Construction at the site continue undeterred daily, and that’s the ugly but real face of City Hall giving zero regards to law and order. The bribing Alfa Traders probably have oiled the officials and going on with their illegal business in peace. Kidero, Sonko and Yussuf the MP as the entrusted custodians are watching from the fence. The sad truth of Nairobi County where corruption and impunity are growing to be the order of the day. Yusuf is ranked as one of the best-performing MPs in the City.

August 17, 2016
AoN Insurance In A Tendering Scam To Win A Sh.15Billion Deal With TSC

Sammy Muthui, chief operating officer at AoN Kenya Insurance Brokers

Aon Insurance Brokers struck a deal with Teachers Service Commission last year for medical cover on its staff valued at Sh 5.6 billion AON Minet, and the scandalous deal was surrounded with bribery claims which led to a court suit to have it terminated. It emerged that the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) were duped after some of its members were lured by a 10 per cent kickback from the deal.

Details emerged that some Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and Knut were involved in hammering out the multi-billion deal were more concerned with the kickback that translated to approximately Sh500 million, that would accrue after the deal was finalised. The deal was tailored by Sossion and party.

It doesn’t make sense why TSC the employer had to bring on board KNUT in negotiating the deal, perhaps a ploy to oil shoulders of vital bodies to avoid repulsion. While the tender was advertised, the parties involved had already identified AoN Brokers who offered a good incentive.

The matter was brought to the attention of Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission after anti-graft Director of Investigation Abdi Mohamud demanded copies of various documents from TSC to launch investigations into allegations of procurement irregularities in the award for tender to AON.

Among the records needed was the list of bidders, approved budget, minutes of the tender committee, payment vouchers and tender advertisements. In 2014, TSC boss Gabriel Lengoibon, with the outspoken fire-chewing Knut secretary general Wilson Sossion, allegedly secretly sourced for AoN Minet for the cover. In a bid to conceal, it is claimed, they invited officials of Knut to discuss the matter with Kuppet being kept in the dark of the goings on. It is compelling to note, Sossion was on National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) board that issued contracts to dubious clinics that caused a stir in public time back.

KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion

A new storm is brewing as AoN is hell bent to retain the medical cover deal with the commission since their current tie, expires, sleuths talking to Kenya Insights say, the Brokering Company has resorted to using every means in store to ensure that it clinches the Sh15 billion teachers medical cover scheme for a period of three years.

A manager at Pioneer Insurance Company( tendering for the contract with teachers) as we learn from source visited the Teachers Service Commission Evaluation Committee in Nakuru where they were having consultative meetings and parted with Sh1 million for each of the six members as the bribe.

The evaluation committee had been stationed in Nakuru county between July 28-31 only for the said AoN’s agent to arrive and part with Sh6 million in what could be described as trying to play dirty with Kenya’s largest workforce of 250,000 teachers. This was after AoN Insurance realised that Clarkson Insurance had quoted Sh14 billion for three years as opposed to AoN’s Sh15.3 billion. Liaison Insurance put a figure of Sh17.7 billion.

The quotation by Clarkson has caused sleepless nights to AoN forcing it to use crooked means to retain the lucrative medical scheme for teachers which it had earlier signed for a one year in the period 2015/16. The committee is currently divided and at loggerheads on whether to declare Clarkson the winner or AoN Insurance. AoN’s had during the initial contract with TSC signed a Sh5.6 billion contract.

A good umber of teachers who’ve contacted Kenya Insights on this issue says the AoN cover was the force down their throats and have lodged serious complaints. They complain of delays in the processing of payments to health facilities, leading to loss of valuable teaching time, thus adversely affecting innocent students in their respective schools whenever teachers go for outpatient services in AON Minet-accredited health facilities.

Kenya Insights has its eyes all over this deal and will be keen to see the directions it takes and how things play out. With 10% tradition in tendering at the back of mind, we will tell you the developments as we have our spies planted in all the corridors on this deal.

August 16, 2016
How IEBC Paid Sh50M To a Ghost Firm That Was Only Registered After The Elections

Scandals galore agency IEBC is yet again on the dwelling zone following latest audit report that has revealed how they paid up to Sh. 50M to an unnamed company to offer transport services for elections materials during the 2013 elections and the astonishing thing according to the auditor general’s report, the company was non-existent until September 12, 2014, when it was formally registered payments yet according to IEBC records were made to the firm in November 2013.

The payment was purportedly to a related company that the IEBC had awarded the tender earlier for the transport services. In a bid to clear off any trails, IEBC agreed to an irregular request through the unreferenced letter dated October 13, 2014, in which the company indicates that payments due to another firm previously contracted by the commission should be paid to it.

The company that was initially contracted for the transport failed its mandates on the initial stages according to the AG Ouko’s report, and they had inked for 27 vehicles to be used in transporting election materials and instead only five could be accounted to have been used. When the Auditor General’s office questioned IEBC on these discrepancies in draft stages of auditing, they gave additional documents for ten more vehicles instead of 22.

Verifying details of the ten vehicles revealed that some had been reported to have been in use in three different locations at the same time, making their use in assigned areas questionable. The report gives the example of vehicle registration number KAJ 482N, which the IEBC had indicated delivered election material in Malindi Region but was found to have been operating in Rongai and Bahati constituencies in the Rift Valley at the same time.

IEBC has been rocked with controversial transactions and scandals with Chickengate being the most open one where Kenyan officials including the Chairman Isaak Hassan(who has since been cleared by mischevious EACC of any involvement in the scam) alongside others like former IEBC CEO James Oswago of having been bribed by a UK printing firm as tip-off for the ballot paper printing tender award. Faced with immense integrity questions denting their credibility, the defiant IEBC team with the rock Kenyan spirit of never giving up positions have finally bowed out and will pave a way for a new team. It will, however, cost Kenya up to Sh.400M to send the commissioners home.

August 12, 2016
Ombudsman Report Reveals Eastleigh Market Land Was Grabbed By Private Developers Directs Kidero To Order For Construction Cessation

Dr Otiende Amolo, Office of the Ombudsman Chairman.

Ombudsman investigation into possible dereliction of duty, abuse of power, unfair treatment and injustice by public officials in the Eastleigh Market matter has revealed that ownership wrangles that plague the contested parcel of land are a creation of the defunct Nairobi City Council officials. The controversy surrounding the leasing of the parcel of land came to the fore early this year when two developers commenced construction at the site spurring protests from traders who were operating in the open air market. The land in question measures 0.5116 hectares (approximately 1.26 acres) and registered as 36/VII/1037.

The Office commenced an investigation into the matter following a complaint filed with the Commission on 15th December 2015 by representatives of 403 traders who had been operating in the market since 1981. The complainants alleged that the parcel of land on which Eastleigh Market sits was allocated to private developers under the guise of Public-Private-Partnership initiative leading to the demolition of stalls, they erected at their own cost, on 10th January 2009.

The investigation has revealed that officials of the defunct City Council of Nairobi unlawfully aided Ali Sheikh Mahamud and Farah Mohamed Barrow associated with Alfa Traders to acquire the same parcel of land in 2007. Specifically, we found former Deputy Town Clerk Nelson Otido and the late Hon. Dick Wathika who was serving then as Mayor culpable of abuse of power for signing the lease without following due process.

Although the lease was later revoked on the basis that it was issued unlawfully, senior County officials cleared the two developers to proceed with the construction. Specifically, Chief Valuer Isaac Nyoike confirmed on 13th February 2014 that the disputed piece of land belonged to Ali Sheikh Mahamud and Farah Mohamed Barrow. Subsequently, Director of Legal Affairs Karisa Iha informed the developers on 14th February 2014 that they were the registered owners of the parcel of land and should take possession of the premises subject to court cases being discharged.

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero and Senator Mike Sonko both are on public record supporting the traders but nothing substatntive has been forthcoming from them to see the developers stop construction.

The investigation also found the City Council officials culpable of multiple allocations of land. The County allocated the market to 403 traders in 1981. The merchants built stalls at their expense, but the stalls were demolished in 2009 after the City Council leased the same piece of land to private developers. Despite the ownership wrangles, the City Council went ahead and allocated the same piece of land to Golden Lime International under Public-Private-Partnership Agreement. Court battles ensued between Alfa Traders and Golden Lime International over ownership of the land.

It is worth noting the file containing title documents relating Eastleigh Market – under the custody of Registrar of Tittles J.W. Kamuyu – could not be traced thereby compelling reconstruction of another one to facilitate Ombudsman’s investigation.

From the preceding, it is apparent that abuse of power led not only to a loss of earnings for the complainants but may have also caused pain and suffering to them and their families. Further, the County Government (and its predecessor) lost approximately Sh72 million that would have been collected for ground rates, licences and administration charges payable by the 403 traders at an average rate of Sh15,000 per month.

Office of the Ombudsman determined and arrived at the following conclusions:

Nairobi City County should issue a cessation notice to Mr Ali Sheikh Mohamud and Mr Farah Mohamed Barrow directing them to immediately stop construction and vacate the parcel of land, LR. No. 36/VII/1037.

City County Government should repossess and develop the parcel of land, LR. No. 36/VII/1037 into a modern market and give priority to the 403 traders or their successors.

In the event that the County Government is not able to develop the property, it should legally negotiate for a proper Public-Private Partnership contract that secures the interest of the County Government and the traders. CAJ should be involved in that process of PPP Agreement.

The Nairobi City County should compensate the Eastleigh Market traders at KSh. 150,000 each for the cost incurred in the construction of market stalls.

That Nelson Otido should not hold any public office for the reason that he unlawfully executed the lease documents in favour of Ali Sheikh Mohamud and Farah Mohamed Barrow.

The Governor should remove from office Isaac Nyoike, Chief Valuer, and Karisa Iha, Director, Legal Affairs for abuse of power and breach of public trust.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development should issue a warning letter, and institute any other appropriate administrative action on J.W. Kamuyu, Registrar of Titles for misbehaviour in office, inefficiency and ineptitude.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development should expedite automation of the Land Registry in order to address the anomaly of missing files.

August 8, 2016
Sound Of Impunity: Cornered Mutahi Ngunyi Brags That He Stole Sh12.5M NYS Money Because He Is A Kikuyu

Mutahi Ngunyi at Milimani Law Courts

While lives of many have been thrown into the ditches and crime rates rising high due to elevated levels of unemployment and idle youths joining criminal gangs, the beneficiary of NYS fraud is out here adding salt to the injury. Mutahi Ngunyi, a renowned political analyst, cum NYS scam fraudster is having a hard time trying to cleanse his name buried deep in the NYS fraud mud.

Mutahi in a recent letter to the Ministry of public service, gender and youth, came out defensive claiming an audit report gave his firm The House of Consulting a clean bill of health refuting claims that they received an extra amount of Sh.12.5M from the NYS on the consulting services they were offering. Auditor General in his FY 2014/15 report pointed out Mutahi Ngunyi was irregularly paid Sh.12.5M more on what he was to be paid. He rubbished off the claims calling the Auditor an agent of Raila playing politics.

Ironically, in the same letter he acknowledges his company received an exact amount but in a rare twist and hoodwinking move, claim the amount is unclaimed for since a mysterious client made it and they didn’t invoice for the same. Its laughable that an entire Sh.12.5M sat on his account without noticing, and it had to take the Auditor General’s signal one year later to realise the “accidental’ deposit. Did Mutahi file his tax returns for 2015? If he did, he would’ve detected the mysterious amount, finding out a year later puts into question his tax compliance as well.

Social Media has been on its true face calling for Mutahi Ngunyi’s arrest with majority convinced he was paid the extra amount and was merely hanging on the loose strings.

Unapologetic and arrogant Mutahi has come out and spat on Kenyans faces saying he is rich because he is a Kikuyu, given the context he’s saying he stole the NYS money because he was a Kikuyu and that ‘mtado?’. It’s very wrong for Mutahi to seek refuge from his fraud unto haunting in the tribal shell.

Before

After

Talking of Consultancy services to NYS, Mutahi Ngunyi is said to have plagiarized NYS review Task Force gazetted on May 26, 2007(Vol. CIX No.36) Ngunyi sim[ply adopted the findings of the task force constituted by the then Youth Minister Mohammed Kuti and named it 5-Point and pocketed Sh.38M for a consultation he never researched on. His fraudulent ways obviously didn’t start today.

Poverty doesn’t discriminate on tribal lines, Mutahi doesn’t need to be lectured but he can visit Mathare, Mukuru Kwa Njenga, and any other slums you can think of you’ll find Kikuyus trying to make a life alongside fellow Kenyans, the hogwash that it’s natural for every Kikuyu to be rich and insinuating others to be rich, goes further again to expose his lack of touch with the reality on the ground. Makes you question his accuracy on the unending hypothesis if he is unable to decipher such a basic point.

August 5, 2016
BUSTED: Mutahi Ngunyi Attempts To Save Face Flops, He Stole Sh.12.5M NYS Money And Here’s The Proof

Mutahi Ngunyi

The auditor general’s report mentioned The Consulting House a firm associated with Political Analyst and self-proclaimed Professor Mutahi Ngunyi was irregularly allocated up to Sh.12.5M in suspect payments.

Playing the angel’s card, Mutahi like the guilty child when the parents knock home, screamed out innocence even before questions were asked. He immediately commissioned an audit on his firm accusing the AG whom he refers to Raila man of defamation insisting his firm had clean hands on the allegations.

This was coming at a time when Josephine Kabura, a hairdresser and proxy of Ann Waiguru had launched an explosive NYS grand theft affidavit, and she mentioned Mutahi as one of the benefactors in the fraudulent deals. Mutahi offered consultancy services to the NYS.

The grand theft of the NYS is estimated to cost up to Sh.1.5B, money that disappeared mysteriously and ended up in few pockets of selfish and corrupt officials. The then Devolution CS Ann Waiguru was named in the affidavit as the mastermind. She would later resign, but the ghost of the looting still haunts her as she gears to vie for the gubernatorial seat in her home county, Kirinyaga. EACC is yet to give her a clean bill of health, something she desperately needs to kick off her campaigns.

The audit report commissioned by Mutahi Ngunyi on the House of Consulting has turned out positive to the contrary of his expectations. In a letter to the public service, gender and youth ministry, Mutahi admits some Sh.11,875,000 was found in their account, but they couldn’t account for the client.

Now how can a supposed client pay up to Sh.12.5M and not make claims this is not Sh.12K and even if it were its unusual for a company or whoever client to pay for the money they weren’t invoiced for. Such Million Shilling errors can’t even happen in a cheap Nollywood movie. Miracles do happen yes but not this one no. And why did it take the firm a whole year to detect that Sh.12.5M from mysterious source was sleeping in their account without a clear course? Doesn’t the firm conduct constant auditing? Why did it take Auditor General’s accusation to realise this? And we’re it not for the auditor, would Ngunyi have detected and come out publicly that he has money that doesn’t rightfully belong to him?

When the final day for a monkey beckons, every tree becomes slippery, and that’s the case for Mutahi. His theatrics are nothing but gimmicks tuned to paint an innocent man facing the wrath of mob lynching. He irregularly received Sh.12.5M from the government, sat on it. That was the plan. Now he comes out with escapism strategy.

Mutahi is coming out with figures thinking all Kenyans are blind and that he will manipulate their minds and get away with it, but that’s why Kenya Insights exists to separate truths from lies.

Mutahi cleverly gives the amount from the mysterious client as Sh. 11,875,000 and not the Sh.12,500,000 as mentioned in the Auditor General report. A well thought out mind play with figures manipulation. Breaking it down, what Ngunyi doesn’t tell you is that consultancy services attract 5% withholding tax and is therefore paid at 95% and the 5% paid to GOK via KRA. 5% of 12,500,000 is 625,000.

His firm The Consulting House was paid as stated by the auditor general and should not play with figures. They must have been notified that withholding tax was remitted, and they have consequently been credited with the tax in their KRA ledger accounts.

They must not only refund the money but also interest on such amount besides being charged in a court of law. Amount due =12,500,000/=
5% withholding tax=625,000/= Net amount to be wired=11,875,000/=

An online certificate is issued when withholding tax is paid to KRA and receiving entity instantly notified, this signifies payment.
So yes 12,500,000/= was paid to Mutahi as indicated in AG Ouko’s report.

Mutahi Ngunyi is doing rounds with figures and playing with Kenyans minds. If the amount in his account can’t be accounted for then there’s unaccounted and asset recovery unit in government, let him return the money, after all, it will get back to the right people, taxpayers.

Meanwhile, the professor can continue with his theatrics and tyranny of swindling and mind’s manipulation of the sleeping. Luckily, a majority of Kenya is awake, but the fact remains, Ouko exonerated, and Mutahi was irregularly allotted 12.5M. Dead end Ngunyi you stole from NYS.

August 5, 2016
Ruto’s Weston Hotel Goes after Langata Primary School Children Again, in Dangerous Way

Deputy President William Ruto

With the Langata Primary School’s land-grabbing attempt still fresh in many people’s minds; memories of innocent school children getting teargassed by the police still vivid, the school has been hit yet another blow from the same hotel.

While National Land Commission promised it would investigate how the hotel acquired the land next to Wilson Airport, like many of the files that Swazuri has sat on after getting his hands oiled, the wait will be much longer. Swazuri, the NLC boss, is in the middle of all illegal land exchanges.

Moles at NLC tell Kenya Insights that Mzee is a darling to land grabbing cartels. His role in the USIU and Eastleigh market land grab hasn’t been forgotten.

Moving on; There is fresh controversy surrounding Deputy President William Ruto’s Weston Hotel after the management allegedly pushed for the relocation of a bus terminus and closure of an intersection on Lang’ata Road to create space. Now, the bus terminus next to the hotel, commonly referred to as The Hague, has allegedly been closed, and motorists are forced to drive up to the T-Mall roundabout and turn back before driving to Wilson Airport.

The terminus has been moved closer to Lang’ata Road Primary School, near classrooms and the main gate. Motorists leaving the airport have to drive past the flyover and use an intersection opposite the gate of the school to get to town.

Moving the stage to the school’s gate puts the lives of the school kids in danger exposing them to accidents besides the hooting and music banging buses will cause major noise pollution. Being next to the classrooms, concentration in class amongst these pupils is most likely to be affected. Last year, Weston Hotel attempted to grab playing ground of the school to expand their parking lot.

Kenya National Highways Authority who approved this shift is another body vulnerable to manipulation, a typical Kenyan authority that with few coins the corrupt officials will kick to space decent grades and bend rules. Taj Mall was spared from demolition after the same body redesigned Outering Road expansion plan to leave out the Sh.5B building on instructions from high places and after millions bribery.

August 3, 2016
After Stealing Sh180M From The Youth Fund, Bruce Odhiambo is Back Again With Another Scheme

Youth Enterprise Development Fund Board Chairman Bruce Odhiambo

By Nicholas Olambo

Renowned music producer and former Youth Fund boss Bruce Odhiambo has gone back to the music business. Bruce, the former chairman of Youth Enterprise and Development Fund, quit his job unceremoniously in March after he found himself at the centre of Sh 180 million scandals.
Bruce gave his studio, Johari Cleff Productions a state of the art facelift while serving as the Youth Fund boss.

The studio is now running ads in local stations to tap and nurture young singers. Upcoming artistes can call and sing, and the winner will bag Sh 1 million and a recording deal, less than 1 percent of the ‘stolen’ money. The move looks like a CSR job, a known PR tactic to blind the public of the wrong doings.

Bruce who resigned then went on a trip abroad has gone underground despite claiming that he stepped down to allow for investigations and was also ready to answer all questions on allegations raised against him. He was fingered of alleged theft of the money that was transferred in two tranches of sh 115 and 65 million shillings into the accounts of Quorandum Limited, ten days after he appointed Ms Catherine Namuye as the acting chief executive. The suspended Ms Namuye was the sole signatory fund’s account.

Since his ‘resignation’ nothing has been heard of his case, it has ‘disappeared’ just like that of any other ‘big fish’. Bruce is president’s friend who was appointed to the position of the former chair, and Evans Semelango fell out with the then Devolution minister Ann Waiguru. Reasons for a firing of Semelango were never looked into. Instead, the president went ahead to appoint his old friend Bruce who would quit office barely a year to the end of his term amid scandals.

Sh 180 can change lives of many young people across the country, and it’s sad that the money ended up in the pockets of individuals who are not youths who return to fool Kenyans with a lame recording deals and sh 1 million rewards, Johari Records currently running talent promotion ads across the media. Bruce is now coming back around to hoodwink youths with untimely deals. He had the time to work for the betterment of the youths while at the top seat instead used the chance to defraud the youths. Justice must not only be heard to be done but seen to be done, so many corrupt individuals who are highly connected go unpunished after they resign and make no more front page news.

Their cases are either thrown out, dismissed or hurriedly investigated and cleared. This music guru is not the first one; Kenyans are aware his case ‘died’ the moment he ‘resigned’ and he’s back to fool the public with the recording deal. If Bruce cared about the youth, he would not embezzle sh 180million.

August 1, 2016
Steven Githaiga The TARDA Fraud MD Who Changed His Birth Dates To Serve Longer, Employed Whole Family and Friends In The Parastatal(Part 1 Of 20)

Today we open up our first episode of 20 that will go to expose the rot that has been embedded in the Tana & Athi River Development Authority(TARDA). Stephen Githaiga Ruimuku the parastatal’s MD is a tribal bigot and corruption master who has taken up operations of TARDA running it like a family affair.

First off, his initial and actual name on the ID card number 1901968 is Steven Maina Githaiga date of birth 1953, and he fraudulently changed to Steven Githaiga Ruimuku birth date 1958. By this, he reduced his age by five years as a scheme to allow him to serve more years in the industry.

The open irregularity was spotted by the Auditor General Ouko in the accounts of financial year 2013/14, and the matter was taken to EACC for investigations but knowing the nature of things in Kenya, the embattled MD compromised the commissioners. Intel reaching Kenya Insights indicates the parastatal is set to receive about Sh.6B for Athi River conservation and upgrade projects, and he’s buying time to tap into this cash. This is the money he’s been using as the bargaining point with the EACC and anyone who dares raise a voice on this matter.

Agitated staff members have gone as far us writing to the Parliament’s Public Investment Committee in a letter dated 30th March 2016, but nothing fruitful is yet to come out.

Kenya Insights is, therefore, going to take up the matter for public interest and for integrity in state’s institution to reveal the underdealings and the filthy impunity culture that has allowed Ruimuku to keep on frustrating staff members, using illegitimate documents meaning he’s illegally in the office but nothing happening to him.

His original passport number is A383456 with his date of birth indicated as 1953 and not A593455 with an illegally altered date of 1958. The anomalies captured by Auditor General report on the financial year 2013/2014 dated 24th April 2015.

Crucial Questions

When was the MD born? ID Card No. 19001968 and Passport indicate he is 63 years old. How did the MD acquire Passport No? A593455 and his new ID card to show he is 58 years.

Is the change of passport and ID card original details, not a criminal act?

Procurement of various goods and services as captured in 2013/2014 audited report

Among other irregular procurements and tendering malpractices in 2013/14, the MD’s company BEVAN supplied low-quality sausages and other dairy products to TARDA’s hotel(Masinga Dam Resort). His wife Lucy Wangui Ngahu(recently employed at TARDA) supplied wines and spirits and vegetables at inflated prices to the same hotel. These companies were neither prequalified nor did they go through a tendering process.

This is clearly an insider trading which is contrary to set public institutions regulations. The original list of prequalified suppliers for the financial year 2014/15 was altered with, and other friendlier companies to the corrupt MD inserted without going through an open and set tendering process.

The MD illegally took away TARDA’s motor vehicle a Land Rover Discovery Reg. No. KAD 266D without paying for neither tendering for it. He has since sold the car to a third party. How did the MD Steven Ruimuku acquire the car a government’s asset, did he participate in disposal process to gain ownership.

Nepotism and tribal have been the norm under Ruimuku’s tenure. He has employed everyone in his family to the authority and close friends. He has discriminated against staff members outside his Kikuyu tribe with unwarranted actions including demotion, unnecessary transfers and refusing to promote those recommended by the public service commission. In a nutshell the MD has been running the institution like a private entity where he does things the way he likes telling off any staff who raises a voice upon him that nothing can happen to him since he’s from the president’s tribe and that Jubilee is still in power, and he will do things as he likes.

In the next episode, we will detail out the levels of tribalism and nepotism that the MD has introduced in TARDA employing his friends and relatives, dismissing and demoting, discriminating those from other tribes. The names and all will be given. The culture of impunity by arrogant and fraudulent leadership in public institutions like this of Ruimuku must be condemned and called out with least kind words.

August 1, 2016
#CityHallimpunity: Backdoor Deals Fueling Land Grabbing Within Kidero Government

Governor Evans Kidero

In the past four days, Kenya Insights has been on a consistent journey revealing and exposing how a wealthy and powerful cartel has been the frustrating justice system. A public listed land in Eastleigh that was open for PPP by the County Council has been marred with controversies, interminable wrangles that have seen Alfa Traders illegally put up a structure on the claimed land.

The land that originally belongs to the County Government the legal custodians with the title deed, somehow Alfa Traders claimed ownership is saying they have the lease. Their claim was nullified in 2008 by the then County Council, Director of Legal Affairs N’gethe. Through a gazette notice, the lease was revoked and termed as fake.

National Lands Commission has also disowned the lease claimed by Alfa Traders on several occasions. But the actions and words of this commission don’t replicate, they’ve gone as far us summoning them through their lawyers Ahmednasir and Abdikadir Advocates to present evidence and convince them to be in the hold of the original lease but have resorted to cats and mouse plays, yet to honour summons.

Alfa Traders recently applied to the Registrar of titles to be issued with a new title to the said land, claiming they had lost the original title. If true that they owned this can they produce a copy of the same to affirm this?

While the court of appeal ruled for the PPP process be refreshed and officials and City Hall collaborated with the Alfa Traders to be awarded the tender. How did the planning department approve the building plans for Alfa Traders with a lease that is in question? Can the County Government produce the title they used to adopt the construction plans for the Alfa Traders? Is this the same lease that was revoked by the previous county council that they used to approve? If the title doesn’t exist as NLC records indicate so, did County Government adopt a building plan without a valid title deed, this is the misuse of office and should be punishable by law.

Still staying at City Hall, Minister of Lands, Christopher Khaemba has been issuing contradictory statements exposing incompetence or the fraud conspiracy within the premise. He wrote to NLC in a letter dated 23rd June 2016 to authenticate the lease to Alfa Traders, the same lease that had been revoked by the previous City Council in a gazette notice 11952 on 19th Dec 2008. The same City Council had written in a letter that seemingly wasn’t served and only meant for hoodwinking to Alfa Traders to stop construction of the mall.

The unending yet ineffective and not followed up to letters goes to reveal the ugly face of impunity. The county council, NLC both who’ve issued notices to the Alfa Traders to stop construction, cannot that they’re unaware that the construction that is going on in the full glare of the public is happening without their notice.

All orders from City Hall have been disregarded, they issue directives from the office and never follow up to ensure they’re effected this simply put a hoodwink and PR measures to keep others busy while construction on a public land goes on.

Is the County Government under a leadership of Governor Kidero trying to tell Nairobians that they’re powerless and not the authority and that Alfa Traders and the land grabbing cartel are stronger than him? Buying time, issuing toilet paper notices and doing zero follow-ups on their words goes deep to show the culture of impunity and tolerance to the cartel. This notion can only be wiped out if the Government is seen to be genuinely working and not just talking.

July 28, 2016
#ArrestLandGrabbers: A Call Into Actions For Authorities To Clamp Down On Nairobi And Eastleigh Land Grabbers

CID Director, Ndegwa Muhoro

In the past days, Kenya Insights has laid a campaign dedicated to exposing the land-grabbing syndicate made up of dishonest businesspeople collaborating with corrupt City Hall officials and Judiciary in derailing justice over a piece of land in Eastleigh.

The Nairobi County Council owns the land in question listed as a public utility but has been overtaken by private developers. Through PPP, County Government had in plan to lease the land to investors for 45 years during which a mall and office spaces would be created, and the council collect rent after 20 years of the lease.

A clash occurred when the two companies shortlisted for the PP namely Golden Lime International Limited and Blue Sea Shopping Mall ended up in a spring of court battles. The tendering board of the then City Council unanimously awarded Golden Lime International Ltd the contract to put up a structure on the land.

The decision was met with opposition and the losing Blue Sea Shopping Mall through their other company Alfa Traders moved to court to challenge the decision. In a nutshell, the case has been in and out of the courts since 2008 to date. Court of Appeal ruled that both the opposing party retract and the entire PPP process be re-initiated by the Nairobi County Government.

Miraculously, or rather a Kenyan way, Blue Sea Shopping Mall started construction despite courts ruling otherwise in what seems like a high placed blessing from the City Hall, the custodians of the said land.

National Lands Commission has revoked their construction’s licence ordered for the constructions be stopped, but all these have been disregarded, and the development continues heedless with high degree impunity.

The Office of Ombudsman took up the case but have sat on the report for so long. The office has since written to the writer of this story that the report would be out and put in the public coming week.

The bulk of suffering has been on the traders who’ve been caught up in the middle of the fighting investors and the loose justice system. They now have to look for other spaces to go about their business.

In our previous piece, we unmasked the land grabbers. Farah Barrow and Ali Sheikh Muhamad the listed and proxy Directors of Alfa Traders and Blue Sea Shopping Mall, which is technically one thing. The ghost and real owner of these companies behind series of land grabbings are one Sheikh Khalifa. Besides Eastleigh Land, there’s Eastleigh Primary School, which they also grabbed.

Sheikh Khalifa, the billionaire and financier of Alfa Traders, is also the owner of Diamond Park Estate another piece of land grabbed from the ministry of agriculture and was previously marked for demolition but thanks to high places protection it was stopped by a call from the president himself following senator Sonko’s intervention. The matter of the land is still in the courts.

Grabbing of land listed for public consumption or any other land is a criminal act which should be punished by the courts of law. The matter of Eastleigh land has been in CID’s radar for the longest time, and the issue was taken to them for follow up, and they’ve been doing investigations or so they say. With facts out there, why would the law be soft towards such criminals in suits?

Land grabbing has been ongoing, and the mighty continue to have their way since they can buy themselves out. Law shouldn’t be too harsh on a chicken thief and be massaging to a large scale land grabber, both are criminals and should face the wrath of the law. A message need to be sent to the Eastleigh land grabbers and alike parties elsewhere, the police and relevant authorities need to spring into action and save the poor public from the deadly jaws of the monied and hungry land grabbers going after the few left public lands.

Kenya Insights is calling out for all Kenyans of Goodwill to use #ArrestLandGrabbers as the conversation guide in naming shaming and asking authorities to act and throw these criminals behind bars. Impunity is what cripples the nation more. CID Director, Ndegwa Muhoro should take up the matter with speed and hand files for prosecution should the named be liable to questioning. Crime is a crime despite magnitude and no one should exclused from facing justice.

July 27, 2016
#UnmaskingLandGrabbers: Revealing The Private Developers, Cartels Behind Serial Eastleigh and Nairobi Land Grabbing

Farah Mohamed Barrow one of the Alfa Traders and Blue Sea Mall Proxy Directors.

In our continuous series of a powerful land-grabbing cartel that has seen a land set aside for public utility taken over by private developers and construction of a Sh.400M going up in Eastleigh. The dubious deal has since seen hawkers who previously occupied the land suffer most impact having been thrown out.

The piece of land has been under tussles in the last ten years. The disputes in the epidemic land date back in 2008 when then City Council of Nairobi advertised for a Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the redevelopment of Eastleigh Market through a lease. The city council would provide the land, and then a private entity would construct a mall, shops, offices and apartments.

The model developed by the County government would see the winning company leased the land for 45 years and give twenty offices to the Council. After an austere vetting process, only two companies, Golden Lime International Limited and Blue Sea Shopping Mall, made it to the final bidding phase. Only one was awarded the contract after a unanimous decision by the County Council’s body, Golden Lime International Limited won.

Alfa Traders joined in the tussles as an interested party. Interestingly, they claimed to be the owners of the same piece of land then one wonders why Alfa would take part in the PPP if the land were theirs in the first place.

Alfa Traders and Blue Sea Shopping Mall are the same entities with same owners. Kenya Insights can reveal the directors of the two companies are Farah Mohamed Barrow and Ali Sheikh Mohamud.

Sheikh Khalifa, the ghost director and a billionaire, is the ultimate financier and owner of Alfa Traders, and he opts to take a laid back position in all these dealings. Khalifa uses Farah Mohamed Barrow and Ali Sheikh Mohamud as his trusted proxies, and they’re the one’s who appears as owners in nearly all his properties.

Sheikh Khalifa owns endless huge buildings across the city including Diamond Park Estate along Likoni Road. Sources indicate that he co-owns the estate with his long term business partner and Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero. Interestingly, the state in 2014 had marked the land where the estate stands for demolition. The land was grabbed from the Ministry of Agriculture. According to the Ndung’u report, all the allocation of the 210 acre is illegal and should be reverted to the Government. It should be remembered this is the same piece of land that Senator Mike Sonko had put President Uhuru on loudspeaker before the press when demolishions were set. He came to the rescue of the grabbers. The case is still ongoing in the courts.

Sheikh Khalifa, owns Diamond Wholesalers, the biggest Mumias Sugar distributor in the country a business he’s been in for the longest time through Kidero’s reign to date. His empire extends to Creative Consolidated; Khalifa owns this company that was awarded the multi-billion garbage collection contract by the Nairobi County Government.

Abbas, who’s son to Khalifa and a wheeler-dealer within City Hall corridors, runs his father’s garbage collection company. You will not miss Abbas’ at George Wainaina, Kidero’s Chief of Staff office where they knit several deals, you can bet nature of most of the deals, dirty.

Farah Barrow, Sheikh Khalif’s right hands man is the public face of Alfa Traders and will be seen everywhere though sources privy tell Kenya Insights he relies on handouts from his boss and isn’t as wealthy. Farah is accused of having grabbed piece of land from Eastleigh Primary School amongst other parcels that we will continue to expose here.

When Blue Sea Shopping Mall lost the PPP deal to Golden Lime International Limited, they appealed the decision citing irregularities. Tactically, Alfa Traders tried to register a different company with nearly similar names, Golden line International Limited but the registrar of businesses caught them in the act and denied them certification.

The lease that Alfa Traders held over the same piece of land had been denounced by County Government’s Legal office as null also National Land Commission has nullified the lease. It puzzles how despite all these discrepancies, and Court of Appeal was ruling for PPP overhaul, Blue Sea Shopping Mall which is represented by Ahmednasir Abdikadir & Co. Advocates have disregarded directives ordering otherwise to continue with the mall’s construction. More puzzling is how a public listed piece of land miraculously became a private entity.

July 26, 2016
How Two Dubious Businessmen Conspired With Kidero’s Government To Grab Public Land In Eastleigh, Multimillion Heist

Nairobi County Government once again finds itself in the middle of a circus following an unending tussle over a two-acre piece of land at the heart of Nairobi’s busy Eastleigh estate. Two companies, Golden Lime International Limited and Blue Sea Shopping Mall are fighting over a contentious award of a multi-million shilling contract by the Nairobi County Government.

The troubles in the contagious land date back in 2008 when then City Council of Nairobi advertised for a Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the redevelopment of Eastleigh Market through a lease. The city council would provide the land, and then a private entity would construct a mall, shops, offices and apartments.

The model developed by the County government would see the winning company leased the land for 45 years and give twenty offices to the Council. After an austere vetting process, only two companies, Golden Lime International Limited and Blue Sea Shopping Mall, made it to the final bidding phase. Only one was awarded the contract.

Mary Ng’ethe, the then Director of Legal Affairs at the City Council of Nairobi, confirmed in an official letter that that Golden Lime International Limited won the tender and was awarded the contract. They were to put up the Sh.400M mall up, and construction was scheduled to kick off in the next two months.

However, this wasn’t going to be the case as disgruntled parties moved to court to challenge the County Government’s decision awarding Golden Lime International Ltd. the contract. The losing party, Blue Sea Shopping Mall, through its directors Farah Mohamed Barrow and Ali Sheikh Mohamud went to court to challenge the award. Their core complaint was that Gold Lime was unfairly awarded the contract through the PPP and that the land on which the mall was to be built had already been leased out to another company, Alfa Traders, by the City Council.

High Court nullified their complaint, and they went to Court of Appeal on the same. It’s, however, laughable that Blue Sea whose directors are also listed as owners of Alfa Traders(who claim to be the owners of the land with a controversial title deed to support the allegation) participated in the contract allocation process. Naturally, if Farah and Company were truly the legitimate owners of the piece of land as they claim through Alfa Traders, they wouldn’t have to undergo the allocation process but would instead go ahead with construction. After all, they owned the land and so they claim. By participating in the process, they were incriminating themselves and the fraudulent title deed.

According to Official documents from the registrar’s office that are also in custody of Kenya Insights, show that Farah Mohamed Barrow is also a director at Alfa Traders. A well-calculated coincidence. This came at a time when the County Council was aware and had alerted the Lands Registrar over the existence of a fake lease of the public listed land in Eastleigh by the Alpha Traders.

The cancellation of the false lease was officially revoked On December 19, 2008, by the Lands Office via Gazette Notice Number 11951. Annulment of the lease is also noted on the council’s mother title deed, which it has had since 1969.

Months later in a sharp turn Alfa Traders A year after the revocation of the fake lease award of the contract and after the repeal through Ahmednasir Abdikadir & Co. Advocates wrote to the county council alleging to have been awarded the contract. The letter read “Our client informs us that it was granted a private-public partnership with the city council of Nairobi on the reconstruction of the Eastleigh Market…some individuals after realising that our client was about to be awarded the contract and in furtherance of a criminal act, fraudulently registered a company with a similar name as that of our customers… we advise you to hold any dealing you may have with these individuals.”

Ironically, it was Alfa Traders who tactically and unsuccessfully tried to shortchange Golden Lime International Limited by registering a similar name bearing company called Goldenlime International Limited. Registrar of companies unearthed the desperate conspiracy and dismissed the plot. County Council maintained Golden Lime International Ltd rightfully won the contract, and the pseudo company was rejected. Again it turned out Farah Barrow was listed as one of the managers in the Pseudo Company, Goldlime International Ltd.

In an affidavit to the Lands Department where she stamped the contested land as a public utility, Mary Ng’ethe, the then Director of Legal Affairs in County Government noted, “not surprisingly, and through deceit, Farah Mohamed Barrow once again appears as a director of a dubious company that claimed to have been the successful bidder for the public-private partnership aforesaid,”

With the entrance of new County Government now known as Nairobi County Government, a break from the traditional setting, Ahmednasir Abdikadir & Co Advocates the company representing Farah and company wrote to Governor Evans Kidero’s office on February 3, 2014, regarding the same matter and that’s when things took a sharp turn.

The Nairobi County Government legal secretary, Karisa Iha, wrote back to the lawyers saying the subject matter of the land, mentioning Ali Sheikh Mohammed and Farah Mohamed, had been placed in his hands to reply.

The County Government insisted that the Gazette cancellation of the lease to Alfa Traders and the court order preventing anyone from acting on the land either through the PPP or private ownership was still in force.

However, Karisa’s insertion brought a total overhaul to everything: “Records held by the county and the latest search confirms that your clients are the registered and rateable owners of the above property.” He reminded them that the case they had filed in 2008 against the City Council and other parties over the land was still pending and that the orders not to touch the land were still in force. “The county has no objection to your clients taking vacant possession of the premises subject to them discharging the court orders,” Karisa said.

Surprisingly, On March 20, 2014, the County Government of Nairobi under Kidero’s leadership, approved Alfa Traders’ building plans. The letter was signed by the Director of City Planning. On learning about the rusty deal that had been made and Alfa Traders’ construction plans were approved by the County’s Government, Golden Lime International Limited, through their lawyers, Gitau Gikonyo & Company Advocates, moved to court and wrote to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to challenge the approval of the building plans, claiming the approved building plans were illegally and fraudulently submitted.

In yet another sharp turn, In June of 2014, the county government cancelled the approvals it had granted Alfa Traders for the building of the mall. February 14, 2016, another enforcement letter from the County’s Government Planning Director Directed Alfa Traders to cease construction but this hasn’t been honoured. Despite the court orders and directives from the authorities, construction of Blue Seal Shopping Mall is still ongoing in what is a clear manifest of impunity and a telling sign that powerful forces are cushioning the rogue contractors.

The biggest casualties of the dubious deal that has seen Alfa Traders developing a mall despite the immense abnormalities are the hawkers and traders of Eastleigh who has since been forced to vacate and look for spaces elsewhere as construction the contested land continues. The Ombudsman Office and National Land Commission have since taken up the cases.

The slow pace of action within these institutions have however raised suspicions, and Ombudsman Office has been investigating the story since January this year with no report forthcoming. A possible explanation could be they’ve not conducted any investigations, or they did and were compromised and sat on the report. Kidero himself is on record publicly saying the land is a public utility, County Government in official letters have revoked the Building plan and allocation to Blue Sea. All vital documents are accessible to the public, what’s taking Ombudsman Office months to wrap up their investigations if any?

In numerous letters seen by Kenya Insights, NLC has tirelessly written to Alfa Traders and served notice to cease and vacate the premises listed as a public utility. NLC is also giving insulated warnings and doesn’t seem to be genuinely concerned about securing the land.

Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko who has been on the forefront in various land grabbing in the County has maintained a resounding and suspicious silence on the Eastleigh land grabbing. Perhaps he’s compromised by the dubious wealthy contractors or he’s plain unconcerned about the traders being victimised or whatsoever his reasons. Kenya Insights has learnt that the traders union has reached out to the senator for intervention including numerous visits to his office, but he has given them a dead ear.

The question in many people’s minds is how and why the land that was previously and genuinely listed as a public utility was privatised with the entrance of Kidero Government and how Alfa Traders got hold of a title deed to a public listed land. Kenya Insights is learning that they no longer have their claimed title deed and have applied to NLC to be given a new one. An apparent backdoor and uncouth means to get a new title deed on a land that they don’t legally own.

July 25, 2016
EACC Exonerating Isaack Hassan Tactical, IEBC Reforms Must Go Beyond Commissioners to Secure Fair Polls in 2017

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman Isaack Hassan

The incompetence of IEBC is not about chicken gate alone; the body itself admitted that there were numerous electoral malpractices in the 2013 general elections. The Supreme Court, which is the highest court of the land despite its ruling on the presidential petition, also noted that the 2013 polls had problems.

Nothing much has been done to reform the body, and the country is now 13 months to the next general elections. The opposition has held several street protests demanding the disbandment of the current IEBC; the calls have seen the formation of Joint select committee look into concerns raised about the credibility of the electoral body.

Dilly dallying can be seen from quotas that are anti-IEBC reforms. Perception has now been created by the Chepkonga led Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) that IEBC carried the day after its chairperson Issack Hassan was cleared of any wrongdoing in the procurement of BVR kits that failed immensely during the 2013 polls. Any seriously thinking Kenyan knows that the people who benefited from the 2013 malpractices cannot support the disbandment or the current IEBC or removal of its chairperson.

Clearing Hassan is a ploy to insulate him from facing prosecution. The public cannot be fooled that only the former IEBC chief executive James Oswago is responsible for the infamous chicken gate scandal alongside other three ‘small’ accomplices the committee allowed to be prosecuted. It’s a pity that EACC has also turned to be a clearinghouse for highly connected. Oswago said that he was not allowed by EACC to complete the statement he had begun making a month ago. “Any accused person must be given time to defend himself. The EACC may be trying to divert public attention from a particular matter”, said Oswago.

The electoral environment has not changed since 2013, and it’s absurd for Hassan to celebrate and sit pretty preparing for next polls. Serious reforms are needed to secure proper elections in 2017, and the reforms must go beyond the commission. Voter registration must be seriously conducted without favouring any region and issues on technology to be used must be resolved.

Leaders of IEBC must inspire the nation, and the Hassan led commission lacks public confidence, and something must be done within the timeline. Relevant teams must put the country first and work expeditiously hard to reform the IEBC and avoid pushing back the election date which can be very expensive for the country. Change of election date extends the term of the president which can only be affected through a referendum.

It’s sad to note that time wastage through unnecessary debates between JLAC and Joint Select Committees may force the nation to push back election date. AG Githu Muigai, for instance, is asking for the 2017 poll date postponed allowing proper reconstitution of the ongoing reforms including putting in place new IEBC commissioners. The constitution is clear on the election date, August 8th, 2017.

Attempts to postpone elections will be seen as a plot by the president to extend his term which may plunge the country into more arguments. There is enough time to reform IEBC and have the next elections held as stipulated in the constitution.

July 24, 2016
OLAMBO: The gods Have Conspired Against EACC Chairman Kinisu, But He Has an Option

EACC Chair Philip Kinisu

By Nicholas Olambo

The EACC (Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission) chairman, Philip Kinisu has come out strongly to defy calls for resignation after a company he owns, Esaki Communications Ltd, was found to have conducted business with the troubled NYS where Kshs.791 million was lost. His company received over 35 million shillings to supply NYS with borehole materials.

Kinisu, who is the ‘former’ director of Esaki Limited, a company associated with his wife and daughter, claims the tender awarded to the firm was won before NYS woes. He chairs the EACC, which hurriedly cleared the former Devolution CS Ann Waiguru from NYS scandals only to repeat their shoddy job after Kabura affidavit.

The structures in this country are too eroded to fight corruption, how was a controversial figure like Kinisu appointed to head EACC. Other than corruption watchdog, he also chairs ‘a nonprofit’ organisation, Africa Population and Health whose operations are being questioned by NGOs Coordination Board (NCB)

Sources close to KI revealed that NCB Executive Director Fazul Mohamed wrote to the spy chief Philip Kameru asking him to investigate the organisation for diversion of donor aid, money laundering and regulatory misconduct. The NGO received over five million shillings in the past three years.

“The allegations against the company and me are unsubstantiated. We have been tried and convicted in the court of public opinion by the deliberate manner in which these matters have been framed and orchestrated. Corruption is sophisticated and compelling. My experience through these events has shown that even those who should be on the right side are easily swayed to become angels of the devil”, Mr Kinisu said. He also added that resigning would set a wrong precedent, a classic response of ‘corrupt’ Kenyans.

There are many qualified Kenyans without ‘integrity issues’ who can serve in the capacity he is serving even better. Opportunity to serve Kenyans is a privilege and the moment one becomes a questionable character like him, the honourable thing to do is to resign. It’s insane to put the nation through a series of lame dramas quoting irrelevant sections of the law just to buy time and prevent thorough investigations.

Even if the company was not adversely mentioned in the alleged scandal that saw NYS lose 792 million, the fact it is owned by the EACC boss raises many questions about the possibility of conflict in interest. Surprisingly, companies associated with Kinisu are under investigations by the DCI, Assets Recovery Agency and the Kenya Revenue Authority over their dealings with the troubled NYS. Kinisu is not ethically fit to stay in office. Kenya is sick of individuals like him leading from behind.

July 20, 2016