Kenya Insights

Tag: Kenya

  • Tanzania Bans Foreigners From Small Businesses, Sparking Anger in Kenya and Region

    Tanzania Bans Foreigners From Small Businesses, Sparking Anger in Kenya and Region

    Tanzania’s latest move to reserve small businesses exclusively for its citizens has sent shockwaves across the East African Community, threatening to unravel decades of regional integration efforts and potentially sparking a damaging trade war.

    On July 28, Tanzania’s Trade Minister Selemani Saidi Jafo issued Government Notice No. 487A, effectively banning foreigners from operating 15 categories of small businesses, including salons, mobile money services, phone repairs, tour guiding, and small-scale mining.

    The decision has been met with fierce criticism from Kenya and other EAC partners, who view it as a direct violation of the Common Market Protocol.

    A direct hit on Kenyan interests

    The policy poses significant challenges for Kenya, which has approximately 40,000 nationals living and working in Tanzania. Many Kenyans operate businesses in Tanzania’s informal sector, particularly along border communities where cross-border trade has flourished for generations.

    Victor Shitakha, chairman of the Kenya Coast Tourism Association, warned that the ban would severely impact Kenyans providing tourism services in Tanzania.

    “This week’s notice goes against the EAC protocol which allows free movement of people and cargo in the region,” he said, highlighting ongoing tensions that have seen Tanzania attempt to restrict Kenyan tour vehicles and even threaten Kenya Airways operations.

    Violation of regional treaties

    The Common Market Protocol, established in 2010, guarantees freedom of movement for people, goods, services, labor, and capital across EAC member states.

    It enshrines principles of equal treatment for all partner state nationals, allowing citizens to cross borders freely to trade and offer professional services.

    Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah termed Tanzania’s circular “retrogressive,” while National Assembly Trade Committee Chairman Bernard Shinali called for retaliatory measures.

    “There are many Tanzanians working in our mining sites too,” Shinali noted, suggesting Kenya should impose similar restrictions on Tanzanian goods and services.

    Tanzania’s decision appears driven by domestic political pressures, with President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration facing a general election on October 28.

    The policy aims to create economic opportunities for Tanzania’s nearly 60 million citizens by promoting “citizen-led growth” and reshaping local business ownership structures.

    The Ministry of Trade and Industry defended the move as part of a broader strategy to expand economic opportunities for Tanzanians.

    However, this economic nationalism comes at the cost of regional integration commitments that have taken years to build.

    A troubling precedent

    Tanzania’s actions mirror similar protectionist measures adopted by other African nations including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Nigeria, and Botswana.

    This trend toward economic nationalism threatens the continental integration agenda championed by the African Union and regional economic communities.

    The business ban follows Tanzania’s May decision to prohibit foreign currency transactions, requiring all local transactions to be conducted in Tanzanian shillings.

    These cumulative measures suggest a broader shift toward economic isolationism.

    The new regulations carry severe penalties, with violators facing fines of up to Tsh10 million (approximately Sh503,136), six months imprisonment, or both. Foreign nationals also risk losing their residence permits and visas.

    Even Tanzanian citizens who assist foreigners in prohibited activities face penalties of up to Tsh5 million or three months in jail.

    East African Business Council chairman John Lual Akol condemned the directive as contrary to EAC interests.

    “This move is undermining the EAC Treaty and endangering SMEs in East Africa,” he said.

    Kenya Private Sector Alliance Chairman Jas Bedi termed the policy counterproductive, questioning whether it represents a politically motivated decision ahead of Tanzania’s elections.

    He warned that the move violates the Common Market Protocol and could be challenged by other partner states.

    The controversy threatens to reignite the trade disputes that have periodically strained Kenya-Tanzania relations.

    While the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding in December 2021 to remove non-tariff barriers and improve cross-border trade, Tanzania’s latest actions suggest these commitments are fragile.

    As regional leaders grapple with this challenge, the broader question remains: Can the EAC maintain its integration agenda while member states pursue increasingly nationalist economic policies? The answer may determine the future of regional cooperation in East Africa.

    For now, Kenya awaits an official government response, while business communities on both sides of the border brace for the economic fallout from this latest disruption to regional trade relations.

  • Kenya Selected to Host CHAN 2024 Final at Iconic Kasarani Stadium

    Kenya Selected to Host CHAN 2024 Final at Iconic Kasarani Stadium

    East African nation secures prestigious finale as continent’s second-tier tournament returns after delays

    Kenya has been awarded the honor of hosting the final match of the delayed 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), with Nairobi’s Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani confirmed as the venue for the tournament’s climactic showdown on August 30.

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the decision on Thursday, designating the 55,000-capacity stadium as the stage for what promises to be a memorable conclusion to the continent’s premier domestic-based players tournament.

    The selection represents a significant coup for Kenyan football, underlining the country’s growing reputation as a capable host for major continental competitions.

    Kenya will share hosting duties with regional neighbors Uganda and Tanzania for the 19-team tournament, which runs from August 2-30.

    This tri-nation approach marks an innovative collaboration that showcases East Africa’s collective capacity to deliver world-class sporting events.

    The tournament opener will take place at Tanzania’s Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on August 2, while Uganda’s Mandela Stadium in Kampala has been selected to host the third-place playoff. This distribution of key matches across the three host nations demonstrates CAF’s commitment to ensuring each country enjoys significant moments during the championship.

    CHAN, held biennially, maintains a unique position in African football as the only continental tournament exclusively reserved for players competing in their domestic leagues. This format celebrates homegrown talent and provides a platform for local stars who might otherwise be overshadowed by their Europe-based counterparts in other international competitions.

    The tournament’s return follows earlier postponements, making the 2024 edition particularly anticipated across the continent. For Kenya, hosting the final represents an opportunity to showcase both its footballing passion and infrastructure capabilities to a continental audience.

    The Kasarani stadium, with its impressive capacity and modern facilities, has previously hosted major events and stands ready to provide a fitting backdrop for African football’s domestic champions to be crowned. With the tournament now just weeks away, anticipation is building across East Africa for what promises to be a celebration of the continent’s grassroots football talent.

    The successful staging of CHAN 2024 could further cement Kenya’s position as a preferred destination for major African sporting events, potentially opening doors for future tournament hosting opportunities.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

  • Somaliland President Left in Awkward Position as Kenya Cancels Liaison Office Opening to Avert Diplomatic Tiff With Somalia

    Somaliland President Left in Awkward Position as Kenya Cancels Liaison Office Opening to Avert Diplomatic Tiff With Somalia

    NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya has called off the planned inauguration of a new Somaliland Liaison Office in Nairobi, moving swiftly to prevent potential diplomatic friction with Somalia’s federal government in Mogadishu.

    The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs announced the cancellation on Monday evening, just hours before the scheduled ceremony was set to take place on Tuesday, May 27.

    The decision came as Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi, known as “Irro,” was already in Nairobi for the event.

    In a statement, Kenya’s foreign ministry said the event lacked proper governmental authorization, effectively stripping it of any official diplomatic recognition.

    “The Ministry further notes with concern that to the extent the event of May 27 has not been approved by this Ministry, its investiture of the status of a Diplomatic Office does not enjoy the imprimatur of the Republic of Kenya and cannot be allowed to proceed,” the ministry declared.

    The last-minute cancellation highlights the delicate diplomatic balancing act Kenya faces in its relations with Somalia and the breakaway region of Somaliland, which declared independence in 1991 but remains unrecognized by the international community.

    The abrupt reversal has left President Irro in an particularly awkward position, having traveled to Nairobi specifically for the high-profile ceremony that was suddenly called off.

    President Irro’s diplomatic embarrassment

    President Abdirahman Irro arrival in Nairobi welcomed by Mining CS Ali Joho.
    President Abdirahman Irro arrival in Nairobi welcomed by Mining CS Ali Joho.

    The timing of Kenya’s decision has placed President Irro in an uncomfortable diplomatic predicament. Having arrived in Nairobi with considerable fanfare and high expectations for a ceremony that would have elevated Somaliland’s international profile, he now finds himself navigating the fallout from Kenya’s abrupt about-face.

    The situation becomes even more awkward considering that President Irro was officially received by a Kenyan Cabinet Secretary upon his arrival, creating mixed signals about Kenya’s intentions. This official welcome, followed by the subsequent cancellation, highlights the contradictory nature of Kenya’s engagement with Somaliland – maintaining practical ties while avoiding formal diplomatic recognition.

    For a leader whose administration has made international recognition a cornerstone policy, the public cancellation represents a significant diplomatic setback and personal embarrassment on the regional stage.

    President Irro’s arrival in Nairobi on Monday added complexity to the situation. He was officially welcomed by Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho, suggesting some level of government engagement despite the subsequent cancellation.

    Somaliland had dispatched a high-level delegation to oversee preparations for what was intended to be a significant diplomatic milestone for the self-declared republic.

    “In advance of the delegation’s arrival, the President’s Special Envoy and Economic Advisor travelled to Nairobi to oversee preparatory arrangements and facilitate early engagements,” confirmed Hussein Adan Igeh, spokesman for the Somaliland presidency.

    ## Kenya Reaffirms Somalia Recognition

    The cancellation underscores Kenya’s commitment to its official diplomatic position recognizing only Somalia’s federal government. In its statement, Kenya emphasized this stance unequivocally.

    “Kenya unequivocally recognises the authority of the Federal Government in Mogadishu as the sole and legitimate body responsible for administering the affairs of Somalia, including those of its regions,” the ministry stated.

    This position aligns with the broader international consensus, as no country has formally recognized Somaliland’s independence despite its relatively stable governance compared to war-torn Somalia.

    ## Practical Relations Continue

    Despite the diplomatic setback, Kenya indicated that practical cooperation with Somaliland would continue, particularly in trade and security matters. The existing liaison office, which has operated without formal diplomatic status, will remain functional.

    “The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Kenya avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Liaison Office of Somaliland in Nairobi the assurances of its highest consideration,” the ministry concluded diplomatically.

    ## Regional Implications

    The incident reflects broader regional dynamics as Somaliland continues its decades-long quest for international recognition. The territory has maintained relative peace and democratic governance since breaking away from Somalia, but faces the challenge of operating in diplomatic limbo.

    For Kenya, the decision represents a careful calibration of its foreign policy interests. While maintaining practical ties with Somaliland serves economic and security purposes, full diplomatic recognition could jeopardize relations with Somalia and potentially other African Union member states, which generally oppose secession movements.

    President Irro’s visit continues as part of Somaliland’s sustained diplomatic offensive to gain greater international legitimacy, even as this particular milestone has been postponed indefinitely.

    The cancellation serves as a reminder of the complex diplomatic considerations that continue to shape Horn of Africa politics, where de facto realities often clash with de jure international law and recognition.

  • Ugenya MP Ochieng Slams Governor Orengo For Failing To Lead County Development In Siaya

    Ugenya MP Ochieng Slams Governor Orengo For Failing To Lead County Development In Siaya

    NAIROBI, Kenya May 20 – Ugenya MP David Ochieng has slammed Siaya Governor James Orengo for what he terms as poor delivery since taking office in 2022.

    Ochieng says Orengo is still operating like a legislator instead of leading county development as a governor.

    The Movement for Democracy and Growth political Party Leader urged Orengo to unite political camps and work with leaders focused on development.

    “Our Governor has under performed. He goes round making noise but not working himself” said the legislator.

    He regretted that Orengo, – who is among the firebrand opposition leaders in the country – had not realizing that people had made peace and joined hands in working towards developing the nation,” Ochieng said

    The second term MP said that as a lawmaker from Ugenya constituency where Orengo hails from, he will not allow the Governor to continue embarrassing Ugenya residents.

    ““His mind remained in senate when he came to be the governor. He left his mind in the senate” said the lawmaker

    Ochieng who accused the governor of failing to convene a leaders meeting to chart the way forward for the county since his election.

    He made the remarks at Hafumbre and Siranga primary schools in his constituency when he presided over the disbursement of a total of 7 million Shillings bursary from the Ugenya constituency development fund.

  • Global Luxury Brand Gucci Eyes Kenya

    Global Luxury Brand Gucci Eyes Kenya

    Kenya is fast becoming a hotspot for international luxury brands, with over 300 companies gearing up to establish operations in the country. Among the most anticipated entrants is global fashion powerhouse Gucci, which has expressed interest in setting up shop at the Kenanie Leather Industrial Park in Mavoko, Machakos County.

    Deputy President Kithure Kindiki confirmed Gucci’s interest, stating that the luxury brand plans to manufacture high-end leather goods, including designer bags, shoes, and accessories, at the state-of-the-art facility. He emphasized that this investment would be a game-changer for Kenya’s economy.

    “Industries that manufacture leather products are now keen to set up shop in Kenanie. We have over 300 applicants, including top global brands like Gucci, which specialises in designer bags. That is how you transform a country,” Kindiki said during a consultative forum with Isiolo County leaders.

    Kenya’s leather sector is poised for rapid growth, with the Kenanie Industrial Park expected to elevate the industry’s contribution to the economy from Ksh. 10 billion to Ksh. 150 billion annually. The facility will process raw hides and skins into high-quality leather, attracting both local and foreign manufacturers.

    “This facility will offtake all the hides and skins from Kenya. Demand will rise, and so will prices,” Kindiki noted, highlighting the benefits for local farmers and manufacturers.

    Spanning over 500 acres, the industrial park is set to become a key hub for leather processing and footwear production. Final preparations, including road tarmacking, water treatment, and power upgrades, are currently underway, with the park expected to launch by the end of 2025.

    Founded in 1921 in Florence, Italy, Gucci is one of the world’s most prestigious luxury brands. It operates 538 stores across 50 countries and generates over $10 billion in annual revenue. While its manufacturing bases are traditionally located in Italy, France, and Spain, Kenya could soon join the list as Gucci expands its global supply chain.

    Ranked as the fourth most valuable luxury brand by Interbrand—behind Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Hermès—Gucci’s entry into Kenya signals confidence in the country’s growing manufacturing capabilities.

    Kenya’s Rising Status as an Investment Hub

    Gucci’s potential investment follows the 2024 entry of Fenty Beauty, the cosmetics empire owned by billionaire musician Robyn Fenty (Rihanna), marking a growing trend of global brands setting their sights on Kenya.

    “You don’t transform a country through hate, division, and tribalism. You develop a country by asking how to turn our God-given resources into wealth and distribute it to uplift those at the bottom of the pyramid,” Kindiki remarked.

    With the Kenanie Industrial Park nearing completion and luxury brands like Gucci eyeing Kenya as a manufacturing base, the country is well on its way to becoming a key player in the global leather and fashion industry.

  • USAID Lays Off Kenyan Employees In Trump’s Aid Cut Shockwave

    USAID Lays Off Kenyan Employees In Trump’s Aid Cut Shockwave

    The recent 90-day suspension of foreign assistance by former U.S. President Donald Trump has left thousands of Kenyan employees linked to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) without their January salaries and facing uncertain futures.

    The executive order, affecting humanitarian, development, and security programs worldwide, has caused immediate disruptions. USAID operations in Kenya have come to a standstill, with local workers being sent home and programs halted. This sudden stoppage has led to a scramble among aid organizations to manage expenses like rent and utilities, with the looming threat of layoffs becoming increasingly real.

    “The impact of this funding freeze is devastating,” said a local USAID employee, who wished to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the situation. “We’re not just talking about our jobs; these programs touch on health, education, and security, directly impacting the lives of many Kenyans.”

    In the United States, the effects are equally harsh. An internal memo from USAID’s acting administrator Jason Gray, leaked to the press, reveals that at least 56 senior officials have been placed on leave, and hundreds of contractors have been dismissed. The memo also hints at an internal struggle within USAID, where efforts were made to circumvent the President’s directive, showcasing significant discord over the policy’s implementation.

    The suspension has not only endangered the livelihoods of aid workers but also threatens the continuation of critical programs across Kenya. Health initiatives, educational projects, and security enhancements, among others, are at risk of either being significantly delayed or altogether terminated, which could have dire consequences for the communities they serve.

    Aid organizations, caught in this financial bind, are now forced to consider drastic measures. “We’re looking at potential layoffs by February if this situation persists,” said an executive from one of the affected NGOs, who also spoke under anonymity. “We’re trying to find alternative funding, but for many programs, USAID was our primary source.”

  • Kenya’s Race Against Time: Why Hosting CHAN 2024 Seems Out of Reach

    Kenya’s Race Against Time: Why Hosting CHAN 2024 Seems Out of Reach

    Kenya’s ambition to host the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) alongside Uganda and Tanzania is teetering on the brink of failure due to severe delays in stadium preparations. Despite the initial jubilation when Kenya was awarded co-hosting rights, the reality of the country’s infrastructure readiness paints a grim picture.

    Unfinished Stadiums and Missed Deadlines

    With just over three weeks until the Confederation of African Football (CAF)’s deadline on December 31, 2024, Kenya’s primary venues, Nyayo Stadium and Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, are far from ready. Nyayo Stadium, although closer to completion, still requires significant work on lighting, grass, and painting. Kasarani Stadium, closed for renovations since December 2023, has not seen the expected progress, with key elements like the playing surface, dressing rooms, and media centers still under construction.

    Financial and Logistical Challenges

    The budget set for these renovations is approximately Sh3 billion, a substantial sum yet seemingly inadequate given the scope of work needed. The financial strain is exacerbated by the history of mismanagement and the unending renovations, turning these venues into what some critics describe as “cash cows” without substantial progress.

    Historical Precedents and Current Realities

    Kenya’s track record in hosting international football events is not encouraging. The country lost the rights to host the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations due to unpreparedness and was stripped of the 2018 CHAN hosting rights for similar reasons. This pattern appears to be repeating, with recent social media buzz suggesting that Rwanda might be stepping in, although official confirmations from CAF have denied such claims.

    Comparative Readiness of Co-Hosts

    In stark contrast, Uganda and Tanzania have stadiums that meet CAF standards, with both countries having successfully qualified for upcoming tournaments due to their infrastructural investments. This readiness disparity highlights Kenya’s lag in preparation, underscoring the challenges of hosting international sports events without adequate facilities.

    Government’s Last-Ditch Efforts

    Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, along with CAF representatives, have tried to assure the public of Kenya’s commitment to hosting CHAN. However, the practicality of completing such extensive work in such a short timeframe is questionable. Even with promises of expedited construction and oversight by a newly formed Local Organising Committee (LOC), the physical evidence suggests otherwise.

    Expert Opinions and Public Distrust

    Former Kenyan international Boniface Ambani has been vocal about the improbability of Kenya hosting CHAN, emphasizing that a proper playing surface alone requires at least six months to prepare. His skepticism is shared by many, fostering a public sentiment of distrust towards the government’s optimistic claims.

    The Bigger Picture

    While Kenya’s government focuses on salvaging the situation for CHAN, the broader implications for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) are dire. The ongoing issues could lead to a repeat scenario unless drastic, immediate action is taken. The lack of ready facilities has already impacted Harambee Stars, forcing them to play home matches abroad, which has affected their performance and morale.

    Kenya’s inability to host CHAN 2024 isn’t just about missing a deadline; it’s a reflection of deeper systemic issues in sports infrastructure management and planning. Without significant, immediate interventions, Kenya risks not only losing CHAN but also facing ongoing challenges in hosting any major international sporting events. The situation calls for transparency, accountability, and perhaps, a realistic reassessment of what Kenya can deliver in the near future.

  • How Uganda Got Delisted From The FATF Grey List

    How Uganda Got Delisted From The FATF Grey List

    Uganda has been delisted from Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List after four years of implementing reforms needed to combat illicit financial flows.

    The East African Community (EAC) member state was placed on the list in February 2020 due to strategic deficiencies in Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing Terrorism (AML/CFT) measures.

    According to Uganda’s Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA), Uganda has implemented a series of rigorous reforms and demonstrated substantial progress in aligning its AML/CFT framework with International standards.

    “Uganda’s exit from the FATF Grey List is a testament to our unwavering commitment to fostering a transparent and secure financial environment. It reflects the concerted efforts of our Government and Regulatory Authorities to strengthen our AML/CFT framework and safeguard our financial system from illicit financial activities,’ said Samuel Wandera, FIA Executive Director.

    Among key reforms the country has undertaken during the four years period include adoption of the Countering of Proliferation Financing Strategy which has helped in enhancing the use of Mutual Legal Assistance and maintaining comprehensive statistics.

    Uganda also developed and implemented a risk-based supervision of the financial and Designated Non Financial Business and Professionals (DNFBP) sectors, ensured that Law Enforcement Agencies and Judicial authorities apply the ML offence consistent with the identified risks as well as establishing procedures to trace and seize proceeds of crime.

    Wandera said the country also sought regional collaboration with other anti-money laundering organizations with the aim of combating illicit financial inflows.

    “Government of Uganda has been actively working to strengthen the effectiveness of its Anti-Money Laundering/Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regime to implement the action plan agreed to, with the FATF which comprised of 22 Action items,” he added.

    The exit from FATF Grey List now means Uganda can now enhance its attractiveness to investors and facilitate greater access to International Financial Markets.

    Kenya last week landed on the list with National Treasury saying the country has been compliant in some areas though facing challenges in others.

    In a bid to seal loopholes exploited by criminals engaged in illicit financial flows, Treasury said key achievement has bee the enactment of AML/CFT Amendment Act 2022 which has helped address key legal and compliance deficiencies.

    “The National Treasury is actively engaged in this process and anticipates minimal effects on the country’s financial stability and the cost of conducting business in Kenya,” said Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary.

  • New Conditions For Visa-Free Entry Into Kenya

    New Conditions For Visa-Free Entry Into Kenya

    All passengers getting into the country will be subjected to advance screening using the Electronic Travel Authorisation if a proposed amendment to the law is enacted.

    The Ministry of Interior has proposed a Bill, The Kenya Citizenship and Immigration (Amendment) Regulations, 2023 that seeks to amend the principal regulations by introducing advance passenger information (API) and to secure the data.

    According to the Bill, API means the biographic data of a passenger or crew member and the flight details of an aircraft operator and other relevant details, against security databases before they even arrive in the country.

    The proposed changes, introducing prescreening, follow President William Ruto’s announcement of visa-free entry to Kenya.

    The airlines or agents will play a key role in providing information and where access to specific API is necessary to respond to a threat, the aircraft operator will supply accurate data to the director of Immigration.

    If the information is found to be erroneous, faulty or misleading, the airline shall be liable to pay an administrative penalty of USD10,000 (Sh1.57million).

    “An administrative penalty shall not be payable where the aircraft operator or pilot in command of the aircraft satisfies the director that the contravention was not made knowingly or recklessly,” the regulations state.

    Immigration process

    The amendment also seeks to digitise immigration processes and integrate border services to enhance efficiency, improve security measures, facilitate a streamlined travel experience, and ensure security.

    The Regulations seeks to amend the principal regulations, the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations, 2012 by, for example, deleting the word “visa” and substituting it with the words “Electronic Travel Authorisation”.

    According to the regulations, each person intending to travel into the country shall apply to the Director for ETA through the electronic portal and be in possession of the Authorisation before embarking.

    However, possession of an Electronic Travel Authorization shall not constitute final authority to enter the country.

    Each carrier coming into the country shall not on-board a passenger who does not hold a valid ETA.

    The captain in charge of a carrier shall be responsible for ensuring that each passenger on board the aircraft holds a valid Electronic Travel Authorisation.

    Country of origin

    Any carrier that brings into Kenya a person who does not hold a valid ETA shall return that passenger to his or her last port of call or country of origin.

    “Each carrier entering into Kenya or its operator or agent shall submit advance passenger information (API) and passenger Name record (PNR) to the director,” the regulations state.

    For the purposes of carrying out assessment under these regulations, an Immigration officer may compare API or data against databases of persons sought or under alert watch list, including criminal deportees, suspected terrorists and other persons of interest to the intelligence community.

    The officers shall handle the data exclusively within a secure location within Kenya, and all information will be processed in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act, 2019.

    Where an Immigration Officer determines that a passenger should be subject to further examination, he or she will give the control agencies -Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Anti-Narcotics Unit, Transnational organized Crime Unit, Antiterrorism Police Unit, National Intelligence Service (NIS), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Customs, or the Port Health -the information.

    The Director shall, six months after taking possession of API and passenger data, render the data elements unreadable to other people, commonly referring to as depersonalising.

    The Director may however reverse the depersonalisation of data where such reversal is necessary for the purpose of preventing, detecting, investigating or prosecuting an offence.

    The specified offences include terrorism; participation in a criminal organization; trafficking in human beings; sexual offences, including exploitation of children and child pornography; illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, weapons and explosives; corruption; fraud; and laundering of the proceeds of crime.

    Others are cybercrime; forgery of administrative documents; crimes within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court; unlawful seizure of aircraft; piracy; sabotage; and industrial espionage The data shall be kept for a period of five years.

    Any visa that has been granted before the amendment shall remain valid for its unexpired period except where it is otherwise revoked in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

    DATA NEEDED

    According to the regulations, the API data elements relating to flight (header data) will include flight identification, scheduled departure date and time, and scheduled arrival date and time.

    The information about the passenger and crew members on board include official travel document number; issuing state or organisation of the official travel document; official travel document type and expiry date; names, nationality, date of birth and gender; visa number, date and place of issuance; and primary residence among others.

  • US Secretary Of State Blinken To Start His First Africa Visit In Kenya

    US Secretary Of State Blinken To Start His First Africa Visit In Kenya

    Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will visit Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal from November 15-20, underscoring the depth and breadth of our relationships with African partners.  During the visit, the Secretary will advance U.S.-Africa collaboration on shared global priorities, including ending the COVID-19 pandemic and building back to a more inclusive global economy, combatting the climate crisis, revitalizing our democracies, and advancing peace and security.

    Secretary Blinken will begin his trip in Nairobi, where he will meet with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Raychelle Omamo, affirming our strategic partnership with Kenya.  The Secretary and representatives of the Kenyan government will discuss our shared interests as members of the UN Security Council, including addressing regional security issues such as Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan.  The Secretary will advance U.S.-Kenyan cooperation on ending COVID-19, improving clean energy access, and protecting the environment.  The Secretary will underscore U.S. support for a peaceful and inclusive Kenyan election in 2022.

    Secretary Blinken will then travel to Abuja, where he will meet with President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama and discuss furthering cooperation on global health security, expanding energy access and economic growth, and revitalizing democracy.  The Secretary will deliver a speech on U.S.-Africa policy in the capital of Africa’s largest democracy.  Additionally, the Secretary will engage with Nigerian entrepreneurs in the digital sector.

    The Secretary will conclude his trip in Dakar, where he will meet with President Macky Sall and Foreign Minister Aïssata Tall Sall to reaffirm the close partnership between our two countries.  Given President Sall’s upcoming African Union chairmanship, Secretary Blinken looks forward to discussing regional issues and shared values.  The Secretary will engage in events that highlight America’s strong commercial relationship with Senegal, amplify the role of female Senegalese entrepreneurs, and showcase the U.S. partnership to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Kenyan Law Firm Okatch And Partners Advocates Named In The Sh1.1B Heist By Nigerian Scammer Hushpuppi

    Kenyan Law Firm Okatch And Partners Advocates Named In The Sh1.1B Heist By Nigerian Scammer Hushpuppi

    A Kenyan law firm was used in the multimillion heist orchestrated by indicted Nigerian scammer Hushpuppi.

    A federal grand jury indictment unsealed this week alleges an elaborate scheme to steal more than $1.1 million from a businessperson attempting to finance the construction of a school for children in Qatar – and the subsequent laundering of illicit proceeds through bank accounts around the world.

    The three-count indictment returned on April 29 and unsealed Monday charges three U.S.-based defendants who were arrested last week – as well as three defendants believed to be in Africa – with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to engage in money laundering, and aggravated identity theft.

    The criminal complaint that initiated the prosecution in February was also unsealed Monday, revealing that Ramon Olorunwa Abbas – also known by his social media handle of “Ray Hushpuppi” – was initially charged in this case. Court documents ordered unsealed today show that Abbas, a 37-year-old Nigerian national, pleaded guilty on April 20. A version of Abbas’ plea agreement filed late Tuesday outlines his role in the school-finance scheme, as well as several other cyber and business email compromise schemes that cumulatively caused more than $24 million in losses.

    According to the indictment, Abbas allegedly conspired with Abdulrahman Imraan Juma, a.k.a. “Abdul,” 28, of Kenya, and Kelly Chibuzo Vincent, 40, of Nigeria, to defraud the Qatari businessperson by claiming to be consultants and bankers who could facilitate a loan to finance construction of the planned school. Juma allegedly posed as a facilitator and consultant for the illusory bank loans, while Abbas played the role of “Malik,” a Wells Fargo banker in New York, according to court documents. Vincent, in turn, allegedly provided support for the false narratives fed to the victim by, among other things, creating bogus documents and arranging for the creation of a fake bank website and phone banking line.

    Abdulrahman seen in past photo with Hushpuppi.

    The conspirators allegedly defrauded the victim out of more than $1.1 million.

    As per the court documents, Imraan Juma worked hand-in-hand with Hushpuppi and another Nigerian identified as Kelly Chibuzo to defraud a Qatari business person more than Kenya Shillings 1.1 billion in the guise that they will facilitate the businessman with a loan to fund the construction of a school in Qatar.

    Juma posed as a facilitator and consultant for the illusionary bank loans while Hushpuppi played the role of ‘Malik’ a Wells Fargo banker in New York.

    Chibuzo is accused of creating bogus documents and arranging the creation of a bogus Bank website and phone banking line.

    According to court documents seen by Kenya Insights, Juma engaged the services of Kenyan law firm Okatch and Partners Advocates in scamming the Qatari Victim Company, the firm was used to receive the funds from the victim.

    “During this meeting, the Victim Businessperson signed a contract with Westload. The contract stated that the Victim Businessperson was responsible for paying a “consultancy fee” of $225,000 through the law firm Okatch & Partners (“Okatch”), which was located in Kenya. The payment was to be made in two installments—an initial payment of $157,500 and a second payment for $67,500. Westload also provided two initial invoices; one for $157,500 for the first installment and another for $6,900, for purported legal and initial engagement fees.” Court paper reads.

    The Qatari businessman wanted a financier for the construction project and Juma posed as a financier using Westload Financial Solutions Limited (“Westload”) the company purported to facilitate the loan.

    On around December 6 and 7, 2019, the Victim Businessperson wired approximately USD $150,000 to Okatch in four transactions court papers show.

    Then, on February 4, 2020, JUMA told the Victim Businessperson to send money to Okatch, in Kenya. Between approximately February 5 and 10, 2020, the Victim Businessperson sent $299,983.58 to the bank account of Okatch in seven separate transactions.

    Court papers strongly indicate that the law firm facilitated the scamming.

    Duncan Okatch, perhaps the most prominent senior partner in the firm is also a controversial figure in the press.

    Raila Odinga’s aide Silas Jakakimba claimed to have been assaulted by Okatch who’s his ex-wife’s lawyer in child custody case that has been going on for time now. He alleged that Okatch has punched him in the face severally in front of his sons.

    The lawyer got physical after he could not be allowed to attend a meeting that was to be held between Jakakimba, his wife, and the management of the Riara School.

    The lawyer had colluded with Jakakimba’s wife to block him (Jakakimba) from clearing his sons from Riara School, where they had been schooling.

    Okatch also represented Babu Owino in the DJ Evolve shooting saga and has handled a number of high profile cases.

    Fraudsters have perfected their art to erase their footprints by working with rogue law firms who conspire in their scheme by laundering the crime proceeds.

    Tom Okundi of Okundi & Company Advocates is notorious for laundering money for gold scammers, a matter that saw his bank accounts frozen by court after it was determined that mega gold scammer, Jared Otieno used the firm to scam Sh300M some foreigners.

    Such dirty deals do not only jeopardize the reputation of the law firm, but drops clients trust and puts other clients money held by the firms in risk.

    The new revelations could now mean that the US authorities would be flying into the country to trace the Kenyan suspect who’s believed to be somewhere in Africa and on the run. FBI successfully extradited the Akasha brothers who’re now in a US jail over narcotics dealings.

    Hushpuppi was arrested in July last year in Dubai by Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) detectives and flown into the US.

  • A Kenyan, Law Firm Named In The Hushpuppi’s Heist In US Court

    A Kenyan, Law Firm Named In The Hushpuppi’s Heist In US Court

    ABBAS is a Nigerian national who previously resided in the United Arab Emirates (the “U.A.E.”). ABBAS’ social media accounts—on which he was known by the moniker “Ray Hushpuppi” or variations of that name—frequently showed him in designer clothes, wearing expensive watches, and posing in or with luxury cars and charter jets.

    Online articles in Nigeria suggested for several years that ABBAS was involved in fraud,and, in fact, multiple articles identified him as one of the most prolific Nigerian-origin fraudsters in the world.

    The FBI’s Investigation confirmed that ABBAS’ opulent lifestyle was financed through crime, and that he was one of the leaders of a transnational network committing computer crime and fraudulent schemes (including BEC schemes), and money laundering from those offenses, targeting victims around the world.

    ABBAS was charged by Complaint and then Information, in Case. No. 2:20-CR-00322-ODW, for conspiring in a cyber-heist from a bank in Malta and several BEC schemes, and money laundering relating to those schemes . In addition to that charged conduct, messages obtained from ABBAS’ phone and online accounts pursuant to federal search warrants, combined with bank records, other records, and information from victims, indicate that ABBAS and the others participated in a scheme to defraud a person (the “Victim Businessperson”) who was seeking a lender to invest $15 million in a project to build an international school in Qatar (the “Qatari Victim Company”). The scheme defrauded the Victim Businessperson of more than $1.1 million.

    A Kenyan by the name ABDULRAHMAN JUMA who is believed to be still living at large in Africa conspired with Hashpuppi whose Real name is ABBAS. JUMA and ABBAS interacted directly with the Victim Businessperson; JUMA claimed to own a company in Kenya that would provide the loan, while ABBAS pretended to be “Malik,” a banker at Wells Fargo in the United States, who was purportedly facilitating the loan payment. Another co-conspirator CHIBUZO was involved in creating a fraudulent website and automated phone line that would convince the Victim Businessperson that the $15 million loan had been secured.

    In the course of the scheme, the Victim Businessperson made multiple payments purportedly for taxes and other fees, which JUMA and ABBAS told the Victim Businessperson were necessary to secure the loan. 

    At the time ABBAS joined the conspiracy, JUMA had already defrauded the Victim Businessperson of approximately $314,442.78 in early December 2019. After ABBAS joined the conspiracy that month, JUMA and ABBAS received and laundered additional funds in a variety of ways with the assistance of other coconspirators. AGBABIAKA and FASHOLA were among the coconspirators who assisted ABBAS in receiving and laundering funds.

    Among those payments, ABBAS convinced the Victim Businessperson to make wire transfers of $230,000 to a Wells Fargo bank account of a luxury watch-seller and $100,000 to a Capital One bank account of AGBABIAKA in late December 2019. ABBAS used the wire transfer of $230,000 to purchase a luxury Richard Mille RM11-03 watch.

    ABBAS arranged for the watch seller in Florida (the “Florida Watch Seller”) to ship the watch to the New York metropolitan area, where AGBABIAKA and FASHOLA picked it up and ultimately delivered it to a coconspirator, who was a relative of FASHOLA. ABBAS then directed that person to transport the watch on a flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport (“JFK”) in New York to the U.A.E., where that person hand-delivered the watch to ABBAS on about January 4, 2020. ABBAS posted a photograph of himself on Instagram wearing the watch, with the hashtag “#Rm1103,” on January 13, 2020. As to the $100,000 wire transfer to AGBABIAKA, ABBAS directed AGBABIAKA to withdraw the funds and convert a portion of them— minus $8,000 for AGBABIAKA, which was her cut—to Nigerian Naira, the currency of Nigeria, which she then provided to coconspirators who would deliver the funds to ABBAS.

    AGBABIAKA also laundered funds at ABBAS’ request by sending cashier’s checks totaling $50,000 to a coconspirator who would use the funds to fraudulently obtain St. Christopher and Nevis (“St. Kitts”) citizenship and a passport for ABBAS. ABBAS received the passport in February 2020. 

    Between approximately January 8, 2020 and February 4, 2020, JUMA and ABBAS each corresponded with the Victim Businessperson, attempting to fraudulently induce the Victim Businessperson to pay $575,000 in purported “taxes” to release the $15 million loan that the Victim Businessperson was expecting. Between February 5 and 7, 2020, the Victim Businessperson wire transferred $299,983.58 to bank accounts under JUMA’s control.

    CHIBUZO’s messages to ABBAS during that time show that he was unhappy with the amount that, and/or speed with which, ABBAS was paying him, so he contacted the Victim Businessperson directly. CHIBUZO told the Victim Businessperson that JUMA and ABBAS were “fake,” in an attempt to convince the Victim Businessperson to stop making fraudulent payments to ABBAS and JUMA, and to make fraudulent payments to him instead. When JUMA and ABBAS learned of CHIBUZO’s interference, ABBAS arranged to have KYARI—a highly decorated Deputy Commissioner of the Nigeria Police Force—arrest CHIBUZO for interfering with the fraud scheme. ABBAS specifically told KYARI that CHIBUZO contacted “the job” behind ABBAS’ back to “divert the job for himself.” ABBAS asked KYARI to have the police administer the “serious beating of his life” and arranged with KYARI to pay to keep CHIBUZO imprisoned for at least a month, so that the fraud scheme could be successfully executed, and the money could be obtained.

    After KYARI arrested CHIBUZO, he sent ABBAS photographs of CHIBUZO in custody and later told ABBAS that he would not allow CHIBUZO’s girlfriend to pay money to get CHIBUZO out of custody as he would have done for a “normal arrest.” Following CHIBUZO’s arrest, JUMA and ABBAS convinced the Victim Businessperson to make the payments of $299,983.58 described above. In mid-February 2020, the Victim Businessperson came to believe that JUMA had defrauded him/her.

    ABBAS—still pretending to be “Malik,” a Wells Fargo banker—purported to sympathize with the Victim Businessperson and then fraudulently induced the Victim Businessperson to make additional wire transfers of $100,000 to AGBABIAKA and $80,000 to a different coconspirator, which were laundered through a variety of means. At the same time, ABBAS led JUMA to believe that he had not received any additional payments from the Victim Businessperson.

    JUMA used the phone number +2547233377884 to communicate with ABBAS, which was saved by ABBAS in his contacts as “Abdul Kenya Akwete.” JUMA also used his true name—ABDULRAHMAN JUMA—to communicate with the Victim Businessperson and the “Financial Advisor” of the Victim Businessperson. According to the Victim Businessperson and the Financial Advisor (as discussed below in paragraph 47), JUMA provided his business card to the Victim Businessperson and the Financial Advisor during an in-person meeting in Kenya. The business card listed his name as ABDULRAHMAN JUMA and stated that he was the “Chairman” of Westload Financial Solutions. The business card also listed his phone number as +254723337788.

    Messages that JUMA exchanged with ABBAS corroborated JUMA’s identity. On December 10, 2019, JUMA, using the phone number +254723337788, sent a photograph of a medical document to ABBAS. The document listed the patient’s name as “ABDULRAHMAN JUMA,” and JUMA told ABBAS that he was getting a checkup for an “itchy throat.”

    Records from Google, obtained on November 2, 2020, indicated that the phone number +254723337788 was listed in subscriber records of the email address [email protected], which used the name “ABDULRAHMAN JUMA.” 

    Records from financial service companies likewise indicate that JUMA used the phone number +254723337788: 

    a) Western Union records indicate that a person using the phone number +254723337788 listed the name “Abdulrahman Imraad Juma,”5 and a date of birth in March of 1993, when making payments through the service.

    b) MoneyGram records indicate that “ABDULRAHMAN IMRAAN JUMA”—with the same birthdate in March of 1993, phone number 723337788 (+254723337788 without the Kenya country code “+254”), and a Kenyan passport with the passport number ending in 1127—received a payment through the service on May 28, 2017.

    Review of ABBAS’ phone revealed that he and JUMA used a U.A.E.- based messaging platform called ToTok, on which JUMA was listed as the username “Wfs.” The evidence indicating that JUMA used the username “Wfs” includes the following: ABBAS and “Wfs” discussed the scheme to defraud the Qatari Victim Company in detail, including passing wire details and victim identifying information, while engaging in simultaneous conversations over WhatsApp, as well.

    For example, in December 2019, ABBAS and “Wfs” used ToTok to discuss how to defraud the Qatari Victim Company, including passing wire confirmation details and a photograph of the passport of the Victim Businessperson. At approximately the same time, ABBAS and JUMA used WhatsApp to share messages that they sent to and received from the Victim Businessperson, and further discussed how to split the proceeds of the fraud they obtained from the Victim Businessperson.

    Further corroborating that “Wfs” was JUMA, “Wfs” stated on several occasions that he was located in Kenya, and was associated with the Kenyan law firm “Okatch & Partners,” which was one of the companies that received funds sent by the Qatari Victim Company. Moreover, there were a number of instances in which JUMA and “Wfs” sent the same or similar information to ABBAS on both WhatsApp and ToTok, respectively, in a short timeframe. For example, on January 3, 2020, JUMA forwarded a message to ABBAS through WhatsApp and, in the same minute, “Wfs” sent the same message to ABBAS using ToTok. Moreover, on January 6, 2020, “Wfs” sent a long message over ToTok to ABBAS discussing how he had not received any money from ABBAS. Within approximately 20 minutes, JUMA sent the same long message to ABBAS over WhatsApp.

    Initiation of Fraud Scheme and Initial Fraudulent Payments of $314,442.78 to JUMA.

    The Victim Businessperson planned to build an international school (the Qatari Victim Company) in Qatar, and therefore hired the Financial Advisor to find a lender who could invest $15 million in the project. Around October 1, 2019, the Financial Advisor began reaching out to business contacts and conducted searches online to secure an investor to provide the $15 million loan for his client. As a result of the online search, the Financial Advisor came into contact with Coconspirator 1 in the case who claimed to live and work in the Philippines. Coconspirator 1 referred the Financial Advisor to a company in Kenya—Westload Financial Solutions Limited (“Westload”)—to facilitate the loan. On November 12, 2019, the Financial Advisor and the Victim Businessperson travelled to Kenya to meet in person with JUMA and another person. As noted in paragraph 17, JUMA’s business card identified him as the “Chairman” of Westload, while the business card of the other person stated he was the “Funding Officer.” 

    During this meeting, the Victim Businessperson signed a contract with Westload. The contract stated that the Victim Businessperson was responsible for paying a “consultancy fee” of $225,000 through the law firm Okatch & Partners (“Okatch”), located in Kenya. The payment was to be made in two installments—an initial payment of $157,500 and a second payment for $67,500. Westload also provided two initial invoices; one for $157,500 for the first installment and another for $6,900, for purported legal and initial engagement fees. 

    Concurrently, on about November 12, 2019, the Victim Businessperson began communicating with JUMA over WhatsApp.On around November 13 and 14, 2019, the Victim Businessperson wired approximately $164,450 to Okatch in four separate transactions.

    On about December 1, 2019, JUMA provided the Victim Businessperson a wire transfer confirmation—which was forged and fraudulent— showing a transfer of $15 million from a Barclays Bank PLC account in the United Kingdom to the Qatar National Bank (“QNB”) account of the Qatari Victim
    Company, dated November 28, 2019. 19 (per conversation with affiant 2/12/2021)

    On about December 4, 2020, the Victim Businessperson learned from QNB that it had not received a payment from Barclays for the Qatari Victim Company. Shortly thereafter, on about December 5, 2019, JUMA told the Victim Businessperson that another “payment of release order” was needed to secure the loan, and requested an additional payment of $150,000.

    On around December 6 and 7, 2019, the Victim Businessperson wired approximately USD $150,000 to Okatch in four transactions.

    JUMA worked closely with ABBAS to defraud the Victim Businessperson, interacting directly with the Victim Businessperson and directing the Victim Businessperson to make payments to bank accounts in the United States and Kenya. In particular, JUMA received initial payments from the Victim Businessperson and then involved ABBAS in the fraud scheme. JUMA received and laundered the money that the Victim Businessperson sent to the Okatch bank account in Kenya. 

    Hashpuppi pleaded guilty to all the aforementioned findings into the fraud involved. ​

    Criminsls have gotten smarter and to launder their money, they use fraudulent law firms who agree to play by their cards.

    The most recent case that is on the public is that of Gold Scammer Jared Otieno.

    He used Nairobi Lawyer, Tom Okundi Ngoe(Ayieko) of Okundi & Company Advocates to scam Sh300M.

    According to documents seen, Otieno to hide his traces, wasn’t to be involved directly in this fake gold deal coined as a loan transaction and instead an alleged loan from the said Lao Republic national Southorn Chanthavong was drawn to one Rose Adhiambo Omamo in the greater scheme drawn by the lawyer.

    The first loan of Ksh100 million was advanced by Sounthorn Chanthavong, on behalf of Simuong Group on February 8, 2019 to Ms Adhiambo. Acknowledgement notes in our possession show that the loan was released in cash, for unstated reasons.

    In the second instance, on February 28, 2019, Ms Adhiambo received Ksh200 million from the same ‘lender’. Suspiciously, the money was also released in cash and involved the same parties.

    According to a letter dated February 26 from Chanthavong, it dictated that the lawyer release the amount (Ksh200 million) to Ms Adhiambo “in cash, immediately”.

    Amazingly, the amount was to be repaid in one month at an interest rate of five percent per month, meaning she would have had to repay approximately Ksh210 million. The loan agreement documents in our possession show that she got the loan since she was an “established property developer.”

    By the time the foreigners were realizing that there was no gold, they had already been washed out in the heist with money gone through the law firm.

    However, when the scammers were arraigned in court over the theft, The two accounts of Okundi & Company Advocates one at Stanbic Bank and another at Standard Chartered, hold $3 million (about Sh300 million), on behalf of Jared Kiasa Otieno and Chris Philip Okeyo Obure were frozen in the probe.

    Chris Obure a known scammer and client of the same law firm working with the scammers is a prime suspect in the murder casemurder case of Kevin Omwenga who was shot dead by Obure’s bodyguard in what is suspected to have been a deal gone bad. Omwenga was also in the scamming dealings with Chris.

    While lawyers like Okundi don’t have a problem laundering money for seasoned criminals, some appear to have morals in them.

    Donald Kipkorir says that he was nearly dragged into the Hushpuppi’s scandal after being approached by Abdulrahman to help in laundering money.

    In Kenya, rogue law firms get away with laundering criminals money because of weak institutions, in the US it’s no joke, that’s why lawyers like Okundi thrive in the dark world.

  • Diageo through EABL, KBL promoting Excessive drinking in Kenya under Exploitative Promotion Scheme Posing a Health Risk.

    Diageo through EABL, KBL promoting Excessive drinking in Kenya under Exploitative Promotion Scheme Posing a Health Risk.

    When spirits maker Diageo faced slowing growth in developed economies, it started expanding in emerging markets.

    By 2004, however, many of these mature markets were becoming saturated. Emerging markets, on the other hand, were growing quickly, and the company saw an opportunity in them. Africa provided an attractive target.

    Its population had been growing at more than two per cent per year, and it had an average age of 19.7 years. The middle class was well over 250 million people in 2000, and the number was increasing rapidly. But the continent also presented its fair share of challenges. 

    Many existing products were too expensive for the African middle class. Others, developed for western markets, did not address the specific needs of the African population. The challenge for Diageo was to produce commercial alcoholic beverages that profitably met local needs. To achieve its targeted growth, the company needed to innovate across its entire value network.

    New products, manufacturing setups and distribution systems, tailored to the specific commercial needs and opportunities of the region, would have to be created. Diageo first had to decide whom it would serve to achieve that growth.

    The company was producing and selling a beer called Tusker in Kenya at the time through an equal partnership with a local company, East Africa Breweries Ltd (EABL). Tusker and its rivals were sold at prices well out of the reach of most Kenyans.

    This left a strategic segment underserved: those who drank but for whom branded beer was too expensive. The company created a new product – a beer called Senator Keg – to tap the approximately 60 per cent of consumers who drank only locally brewed alcohol which they considered illegal.

    Diageo engineered its sourcing and manufacturing operations to significantly reduce the cost of producing Senator Keg beer. With most beers being produced from two primary ingredients – barley and hops – which are combined with yeast and water to induce fermentation. The company chose to source barley from local growers and to produce the beer at its subsidiary, EABL.

    This took advantage of low labour costs in Africa while minimising transportation and other expenses associated with sourcing from afar. This drastically reduced the beer’s production cost. The pioneering process of brewing a lager from only barley was the world’s first, and recognised internationally.

    Market research done in 2003 by Diageo showed the optimal pricing for Senator Keg needed to be between 20 and 30 Kenyan shillings a glass (300 ml). When finally introduced, at 15 to 20 shillings a glass Senator cost a fifth the price of Diageo’s mainstream beer, Tusker, and was only slightly more expensive than locally brewed ‘illegal’ alcohol.

    By pricing Senator Keg at this level, Diageo offered consumers a product that was safe, and yet competitive with homemade spirits. Diageo made other significant efforts to reduce the price. It put forward a proposal to the Kenyan government to reduce taxes on Senator Keg to decrease its price and attract budget drinkers away from illicit brews. The government reduced excise duty on Senator Keg.

    Senator Keg has proved an enormous unlawful monopoly in the market. Since its launch, the brand has gained over 50 per cent of the Kenyan beer market, and EABL dominates the country with a 97 per cent share. More broadly, emerging markets now contribute nearly 50 per cent of Diageo’s net sales up from 20 per cent in 2005.

    Africa alone contributes 20 per cent of Diageo’s revenue. The company expects emerging markets to make up almost three quarters of its net sales by next few years.

    Unfortunately, In June this year – Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) re-introduced their third national consumer rewards promotions with an aim in ‘fighting illicit brews’ – promotion geared at rewarding loyal Senator beer consumers. According to the initiators, the campaign aim to provide a safe, ultra-low-cost beer to compete with illegal supplies which could play a crucial role in both resolving alcohol-related health problems and in achieving the targeted growth for Diageo.

    KBL Managing Director John Musunga said the Shikisha Form na Senator Ushinde, embodies the Senator customers’ pursuit of better lives and seeks to celebrate and recognize their unbridled loyalty and contribution in establishing the Senator brand as the most successful value beer brand in Kenya.

    To participate, consumers are required to purchase two 500ml mugs (either Senator Lager or Dark Extra) to get issued with a scratch card. They are then required to SMS a unique valid code found under the scratch panel to a 5-digit short code to get an entry into the competition. One valid code gives one entry.

    So, the strategy is, the more mugs you purchase, the more scratch cards, the more entry you record and ‘the higher your chances of winning.”

    Unaware and unsuspecting customers hop in for the sweet deal without blinking an eye not knowing that every SMS you send of the code to the 5-digit code, you’re charged 10/- as that isn’t included in requirements, terms and conditions atleast for awareness.

    So, if you buy more mugs- it’s to their advantage, you get more scratch cards – it’s to their advantage as you’ll be charged more in the mobile network transaction fee unaware.

    And with cheap Keg beers they’re out to promote, targeting the vulnarable less fortunate families – low income groups who more often believe in lottery fallacy as the only way to get rich.

    We must be clear that the target group is the low- income consumers who can only afford the cheap Keg beer and who believes in lottery as the only way to richness. This targeted group is a jobless group, and drinking is their business.

    Lets takes an example of Kiambu county, In a small size bar or pub, 10 friends in a day takes 4 mugs each, thats 2000/- in a day times 7 days a week for the addicts, thats 14,000/- times over 1000 such like pubs in one county – that’s 14,000,000 in a week times 40 active counties in the country out of the 47 counties thats roughly over 500,000,000 every week then add the 10/- scratch card charges for every 2 mugs purchased for this group every time the take two mugs for the next three months. The campaign is being run for 3 months before these prizes are given out. The billions of money being exploited in this scheme is almost the country’s annual budget.

    The promotion feature an array of prizes, with the grand prize being Ksh. 10 million. Additionally, 5 loyal customers stand a chance to win Ksh. 2 million each, with Ksh. 1 million set aside to improve their community as well as themselves. Additionally, there will be airtime worth Ksh. 56 million, home shopping worth Ksh. 12 million and home makeovers worth Ksh. 2.4 million. 

    The terms and conditions of buying more mugs to stand higher chances of winning, condition of drinking minimum of two mugs is harmful to health, its addictive method and they know it. These conditions encourages excessive alchohol consumption and binge drinking (Binge drinking is, during a single occasion, four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men) on the side of the consumer with an aim to get the consumer buy more, then also charge them more when sending the SMS codes. 

    In the United States, one “standard” drink (or one alcoholic drink equivalent) contains roughly 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is found in: 12 ounces of regular beer, which is usually about 5% alcohol. 5 ounces of wine, which is typically about 12% alcohol. 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits, which is about 40% alcohol.

    Senator Dark Extra, which was launched early this year and is retailing in 2,000 outlets, has an alcohol content at 7.5 per cent compared to Senator Keg’s 5.8 per cent. Tusker is 5% -5.5%.

    The more the alcohol content, the more the harmful risks.

    With this underway exploitative promotion, its possible that end of year Per capita alcohol consumption in Africa statistics will record Kenya among the top alcohol consumers in Africa, Ministry of Health will record higher cases of Diabetes cases, increased cases of Liver and Kidney failures.  

    Cheap is Expensive and This exploitation is underway with the knowledge of the authorities from Communication Authority, Telco companies: Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom – Consumers Federation of Kenya (CoFeK), Legislators in parliament. All in payslip to keep pin-drop silence on the scheme.

  • How Forkbombo, Kenya’s most Lethal Hackers Group was formed by a DCI Officer and how it has since mutated in Africa.

    How Forkbombo, Kenya’s most Lethal Hackers Group was formed by a DCI Officer and how it has since mutated in Africa.

    A cyber threat group – Forkbombo that caused chaos in the financial sector due to coordinated heists was taken down in Kigali late 2019.

    This group flourished for several years after the main Cyber Cartel was taken down in 2017, with the third in command assuming Operational Command, after he unsuccessfully was unable to attain a Political statue during 2017 nominations, thus quickly reverting to crime, and organizing this threat group with use of Cut-Outs across its organized crime operations, such that even the Money Mules didn’t know each other and could not have access to the hackers’ deployed to run target penetrations.

    There have been several other cases of hacking in the past, with estimates of over 2 billion shillings being lost through black hat operations annually. Some investigations have led to arrests though no convictions have been made so far.

    In most cases, the suspects find their way out through cash bails and out of court settlements. The hackers formed a syndicate, one which has continued to cause havoc. As a team, they have managed to stay a step ahead, beating the security agencies and cyber forensic specialists. Banks have kept the attacks secret on purpose.

    Forkbombo was given this name because during 2016 to 2017, they used [email protected] to receive keylogger data after infecting a machine with the keylogger variant that they wrote in-house. Known to few, is that the mastermind behind the the group was actually a DCI officer who colluded with hackers group he was assigned to investigate and put on record. He decided to preach water and drink wine.

    In the emergence of tremendous cyber security hitch – hacking incidences in Kenya in 2010, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) received many reports of companies and individuals who had lost money or crucial information to hackers.  in the financial sphere.

    The reports were becoming overwhelming to DCI, which had few experts in the field of cyber crime technology to resolve the cases.However, one officer was exceptional, Mr Calvin Otieno Ogalo. He, among other officers, was tasked to investigate and resolve the cases as soon as possible to minimize the backlog and serve justice to the victims and most importantly track and arrest the hackers.

    According to reports, Mr Ogalo was so good that by 2012 he had concluded almost all his investigations and had names of the best cybercriminals in the country. However, instead of bringing them to book as was required of him, he instead organised them into a lethal cybercrime gang that would hack institutions and individuals seamlessly, stealing either money or crucial information.

    He was discovered later, which led to his silence and unceremonious exit from the DCI as a crimebuster in 2013. Nothing much about his exit or the gang he had formed was reported then – kept as a secret to control public outrage.

    In his gang that later would be named Forkbombo was Mr Alex Mutungi Mutuku, one of the best hackers in the country. Others included Reuben Kirogothi Mwangi, Eric Dickson Njagi, Godfrey Gachiri, Erickson Macharia Kinyua and Stanley Kimeu Mutua.

    Mr Ogalo roped in the services of insiders in targeted institutions and on top of it former Kenya Revenue Authority officers Edward Kiprop Langat, David Wambugu, Albert Komen and James Mwaniki. Also in the gang were Henry Achoka, Duncan Bokela and Martin Murathe.

    Investigations by cybersecurity group OnNet Africa found an email associated with the hackers in almost every hacking incidence, [email protected].

    One of the group’s major hits was in 2013 when they infiltrated the Judiciary’s system and requested National Treasury to approve Ksh80 million payment to several fictitious companies. The payments would be flagged by CFC Bank (now Stanbic) which called Judiciary’s chief of finance Mr Benedict Omollo, but the money was already gone. Later, Mr Achoka, Mr Bokela, Mr Mwangi and Mr Murathe of the Forkbombo group would be arrested and convicted seven years later, in January 2020.

    One of the masterminds of the heist, Mr Mwangi, is currently serving a jail term in Rwanda alongside seven other Kenyans after attempting to Equity Bank in Kigali.

    The Judiciary heist was neither the first nor the last, as the group would target other institutions, sometimes succeeding and other times being arrested. To them, being arrested was part of their job and they would pay cash bail and get back to work. For instance, in 2014, Mr Mutuku and Mr Stanley Kimeu Mutua were arrested after hacking into NIC Bank and stealing crucial information and Ksh2.88 million. In this incident, they were demanding a total of 200 bitcoins (equivalent to Ksh6.2 million then) in exchange for the information. The duo were released on Ksh700,000 cash bail.

    In three months’ time, Mr Mutuku was accused of infiltrating the Safaricom system and stealing airtime worth Ksh3.6 million. Most probably he found a loophole in the Safaricom system, and a month later, it is alleged that Mutuku tricked the system to recharge his phone number with Ksh20,000 airtime.

    Forkbombo is believed to have stolen at least Ksh400 million between 2013 and 2017. though the amount could be higher than that. It is believed that Forkbombo hacked and stole at least Ksh50 million from the Kenya Police Sacco in 2017.

    The Kenya Police Sacco heist was so easy for them, and now they decided to loot KRA, through the help of two American nationals, Larry Peckham II and Denise Huitron, who were in constant communication with Mr Ogalo and even visited the country at one time.

    In the heist where the taxman is said to have lost at least Ksh3.9 billion, Mr Edward Kiprop Langat (former KRA employee) is said to have been used to plant a laptop in the KRA servers. Other suspects of the heist are Mr Mutuku, Mr Langat, Mr Wambugu, Lucy Katilo Wamwandu, Kenneth Opege Riaga, James Mwaniki, Gilbert Kiptala Kipkechem and Joseph Kirai Mwangi.

    Forkbombo, through Mr Mwangi recruited more suspected hackers including Dedan Muchoki Muriuki, Samuel Wachira Nyuguto, Damaris Njeri Kamau and Steve Maina Wambugu. Also a Ugandan and at least three Rwandans were recruited even as the group sought to create a hacking software, according to intelligence reports.

    In 2016, Forkbombo is believed to have merged with another group of hackers, Grapzone, which had since 2013 been targeting supermarkets.

    In another group is – SilentsCards, a home grown cyber cartel which sprung from Forkbombo Group which terrorised local banks in 2016 and 2017 before being quelled by a multi-agency team of experts from Kenya Revenue Authority, Banking Fraud Unit and Cyber Crime Unit.

    According to Poland based cybersecurity firm OnNet, the SilentCards started robberies late 2017, inheriting the old version key logger used by Forkbombo and perfected it for collection of key logger data in a targeted environment. 

    Report shows that that just like Forkbombo group, SilentCards also targeted information servers, copy and evaluate audit reports to plan future attacks. After collecting as many credentials as they could, those hackers moved Sh400 million in batches, crediting fictitious accounts, then accessed either via VISA/MasterCard overseas or with use of Mobile Money Transfers.

    Unlike Forkbombo which has several money mules, SilentCards relies a lot on foreigners for quick transactions outside the country. Those hackers are known to specialize in python scripts to create quick tools for exploitation phase of an environment.

    They are also known to use opensource tools like Empire, Metasploit, DeathStar, Bloodhound, CrackMapExec, Aesshell, XmultiShell, CHAOS and Katoolin.

    It is believed that SilentCards joined with  upshot GrapZone late last year to regroup into Forkbombo.

    According to a report by Group iB, one of the top global providers of cyber security solutions, Kenya is emerging as one of the thriving hubs for cyber crime in the world. “Currently, only five groups pose a real threat to the financial sector; Cobalt, Silence, MoneyTaker (Russian), Lazarus (North Korea), and SilentCards (a new group from Kenya),” explained the security firm in its 2019 High-tech Crimes report. 

    Group iB has been conducting threat analysis for the last 17 years and says SilentCards is known for attacks on ATMs and card processing systems, and has operated under the radar of global security analysts until 2018.

    This group led by a man named Rueben also known as Ben, operationalized use of hackers from other threat groups with use of Grapzone’s leadership for the toughest targets around East Africa. With his leadership, the group started to expand to Central Africa, attempting to beat SilentCards threat-group in expansion around the area.

    One of the exceptions OnNet CTI analysts noted with this group, was use of financiers who joined and injected money into the group in order to get dividends as if they were directors. Obliquely, Forkbombo group operated like a company or rather a cooperate entity.

    With Forkbombo gone, OnNet collected intelligence on several groups as they broke up and mutated in 2019 than observed before in East African Cyber Threat Intelligence.

    The newest group which we observed breaking out of SilentCards is called “The Consultants.” At the top of their target list are Government Financial Systems.

    As these groups grow and mutate, resilient prevention capabilities are required to stop and evict them. 

    The Forkbombo cybercrime gang

    Senior members of the Forkbombo group are still behind bars, while they still have charges in other countries around East Africa for several cyber heists conducted over the years.

  • Kenya Is Importing A Baby Chimpanzee From Iran

    Kenya Is Importing A Baby Chimpanzee From Iran

    The only baby chimpanzee in Iran is being relocated to a chimpanzee care center in Kenya on Sunday, following months-long campaign over unsuitable conditions at Tehran’s Eram Zoo.

    At a farewell ceremony held on Sunday in the premises of Eram Zoo, the main wildlife center in the Iranian capital, zoo authorities said a decision was made to transfer the four-year-old Baran to the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Kenya, which provides refuge to rescued, orphaned or abused young chimps.

    Parviz Qandali, the head of Eram Zoo, said he had contacted several international animal care centers and finally decided to send Baran to Kenya where she will live “in a better environment and among her peers.”

    He said the baby chimp will arrive at her new destination on Monday and authorities there have agreed to provide all “necessary updates” about her condition and growth.

    The decision to relocate the four-year-old female chimpanzee came after months-long campaign by environmental activists in Iran, who were worried over unsuitable conditions at Tehran’s Eram Zoo affecting her health.

    Premature birth

    The circumstances of Baran’s birth in May 2017 had made the already dismal facilities at the Eram Zoo more unsuitable for her.

    Baran, born prematurely, was the first baby chimp over the past two decades to survive at Eram Zoo after a wildlife veterinarian, Imam Memarian, came to her rescue.

    Memarian took her home and assumed full responsibility for her care. For two years, Baran stayed with him, and developed an emotional bond with him, according to zoo workers and activists.

    The bond was broken last year after Zoo authorities filed a lawsuit to bring her back.

    Baby chimps, according to vet experts, must spend at least five years with their mothers, but Baran was deprived of that as her mother showed aggressive behavior toward her, according to zoo workers.

    Upon her return to the Eram Zoo last year, Baran was put in a small cage to protect her from older chimpanzees, which only led to deterioration in her health condition.

    Online campaign

    In August 2020, online campaigns were launched to save the baby chimp, who environmental activists and celebrities feared could die in the zoo. The average life expectancy of a chimpanzee is 40-50 years.

    Apart from poor conditions at the zoo, Baran did not have any other chimps to socialize with, which can potentially lead to death or developmental issues of baby chimps.

    “These highly intelligent, social beings need to live in group, but in Iran there is no suitable group for her,” read one of the petitions in August 2020. “Being alone is the worst nightmare for this social and intelligent animal.”

    Baran’s departure, although sad for many of those who campaigned for her, has brought big cheer.

    “It’s not a happy moment definitely, but it was the right thing under given circumstances,” Samiyeh Fakhri, a wildlife activist, told Anadolu Agency. “We hope Baran will be taken good care of by her own family”.​​​​​​​
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  • Global Firms Gives Kenya Condition To Allow Homosexuality For Them To Pump More Money Into The Economy

    Global Firms Gives Kenya Condition To Allow Homosexuality For Them To Pump More Money Into The Economy

    A coalition of 27 global companies has asked Kenya to fully recognise gays, lesbians, bisexuals and the transgender to unlock more billions into the economy.

    The coalition Open for Business, comprises Microsoft, Google, Barclays, Standard Chartered, Diageo, IBM, PwC, American Express, Burberry, among others.

    In a report titled The Economic Case for LGBT+ Inclusion in Kenya, they say Kenya loses between Sh18.5 billion and Sh130 billion every year because of policies that assign criminality and discriminate against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

    The report says the discriminatory environment sees Kenya lose between Sh6.5 billion and Sh14.3 billion per year because it is unattractive to some tourists.

    The report rates several cities across the world in terms of LGBT inclusion. Cities are placed in 13 categories and Nairobi is in the 12th alongside Dakar, Casablanca, Rabat, Dhaka and Almaty.

    There are 10 top-tier cities in the report and they include Amsterdam, Berlin, Chicago, London, New York, Stockholm, and Washington. At the very bottom 12 cities that include Dar es Salaam, Addis Ababa, Cairo, Riyadh and Tehran.

    “Increased focus on LGBT+ inclusion can create the environment necessary to drive greater levels of economic competitiveness. As Nairobi becomes a more open and inclusive place, it may achieve a higher rating, signalling that it is ‘open for business,’” says the report. “An open for business city is globally connected, a welcoming place for people from all types of backgrounds, including LGBT+ people.”

    Same-sex marriages

     

    The report mentions the High Court decision of May 2019 where judges refused to quash a section of the Penal Code that criminalises homosexuality.

    It also takes note of the fact that Kenya does not recognise same-sex marriages, and explains that the elements of criminality in same-sex unions were introduced by British colonialists and were retained at independence.

    “Out of 54 countries in Africa, Kenya is one of the 36 that have criminalised homosexual behaviour or acts, four of which impose the death penalty (Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, and Mauritania). Kenya’s Penal Code pronounces carnal knowledge as an act against the order of nature and anyone guilty of carnal knowledge is liable to 14 years’ imprisonment,” reads part of the report.

    “According to a report by the Kenya Human Rights Commission, LGBT+ Kenyans are harassed by State officials and are often subjected to physical violence and death threats,” it adds.

    The report then breaks the figures Kenya loses due to the prevailing legal environment. It says up to Sh105 billion is lost due to poor health outcomes for the LGBT groups.

  • How Kenya became a money laundering haven

    How Kenya became a money laundering haven

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

  • Equity Group and Atlas Mara To Review Terms In Sh13.6 Billion Deal

    Equity Group and Atlas Mara To Review Terms In Sh13.6 Billion Deal

    Kenya-based Equity Group and Rwanda’s Atlas Mara will review the terms of their deal in which the Equity was to acquire from the London-listed firm four banks in Rwanda, Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique.

    Acording to the initial plans, Atlas Mara was to be paid in the form of Equity shares amounting to a 6.72 percent stake with a current market value of Sh13.6 billion.

    However, yesterday’s announcement indicated that they had not signed a binding agreement for undisclosed reasons. The parties also disclosed that their continued negotiations will likely result in a change of the deal terms.

    “While there is no assurance that the potential transaction will be concluded on the terms previously announced, the parties continue to be engaged in discussions,” Atlas Mara said in a statement.

    The parties didn’t disclose the hurdle that has blocked them from reaching an agreemen in the transaction that was announced in April last year and since then Equity’s prospects have brightened with the recent removal of lending rate controls.

    Its share price has gained 32.5 percent since the deal was announcement to Sh54.2. The Atlas Mara banks, on the other hand, are making losses in aggregate.

    According to parties with the knowledge about the deal, handing out the same number of shares would have seen Equity pay more in the deal that was initially priced at Sh10.6 billion.

    For Atlas Mara, receiving Equity’s stock valued at the same Sh10.6 billion would have seen it take fewer shares because of a three-month market run-up.

    According to disclosure by the multinationals, these banking units have a return on equity (RoE) of approximately two percent. Atlas Mara in previous discussions agreed to reduce the value of the four subsidiaries by Sh13 billion to reflect their weaker earnings.

    Atlas Mara has also invested in Phone making industry and have since rolled out their first batch of the Rwanda made smartphones

  • Twitter Activists Miguna Miguna To Return To Kenya On January 11th

    Twitter Activists Miguna Miguna To Return To Kenya On January 11th

    Deported Canada-based Kenyan scholar and lawyer Dr Miguna Miguna, who prefers to be called, General Miguna, has announced that he will return back to his motherland on the 11th of January 2022.

    The ‘I am Not Boarding’ General was deported from the country last year after a mock-swearing in of Raila Odinga as the People’s President on 30th January 2018.

    Yesterday, he took to Twitter to announce that he will be landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi on January 11th Next year.

    General Miguna was initially deported in February last year days after his arrest by Immigration Officers who later said that Miguna, a Kenyan by birth, was in Kenya illegally after allegedly renouncing his Kenyan citizenship while acquiring a Canadian passport.

    In March 2018, General Miguna attempted to return to Kenya via JKIA. His attempts were futile as he was banished and shoved in the Fly Emirates planes after spending several hours at the JKIA-based detention facility.

    In December 2018, the High Court ruled that Miguna is a Kenyan by birth and holding a Canadian passport does not deny him his birthright.

    Justice Chacha Mwita, while delivering his ruling declared that the State violated Miguna Miguna’s rights by forcefully deporting him and awarded him Sh7.2 million.

  • Paul Topf, The Missing Ex-Germany Soldier Was Deported By Kenyan Authorities

    Paul Topf, The Missing Ex-Germany Soldier Was Deported By Kenyan Authorities

    In what looks like, my opinion— a botched assassination attempt, the Kenyan-based Ex-German soldier reported missing by his Kenyan wife was deported Immigration departments without the wife’s knowledge.

    The main suspect in a case that the DCI had launched investigations Neema Nyawira, the wife to then missing person-Paul Topf, said in a police statement that her husband was, on the 26th of November this year, picked by four men and a woman believed to be police officers from his home in Lungalunga, Kwale County.

    However, Immigration officials informed the Sunday Nation that Topf was deported after the Ministry of Interior received a request from German authorities to have the ex-soldier sent back to his country over crimes he had committed there.

    “He was suspected to be dealing in some suspicious businesses here, the Kenyan government did some investigations on him but they did not get anything and so they handed him back to his government,” an Immigration official, who sought anonymity, told Sunday Nation.

    It remains unclear why the Immigration Department didn’t inform Nyawira of the planned deportation rather subjected her to DCI’s probes.

    Nyawira said that she had been in communication with Topf’s sister, who informed her that her husband arrived safely in Germany.

    “On Monday, December 4, she called to inform me that Topf had landed safely in Germany. I am yet to understand why he is yet to reach me on phone,” Nyawira stated.

    So, is this a case study that our so-called TOP STATE AGENCIES don’t share INTELLIGENCE?

    According to DCI sleuths, Topf did not leave the country and even questioned the wife, Nyawira, in connection with the foreigner’s disappearance.

    Did someone want Topf eliminated silently then the wife buried in the mess? How on earth do the Kinoti-led DCI operate without shared Intel from the Immigration Department? I mean this is not just the only case they are investigating, how do they handle cases of corrupt folks and scammers who are at flight risk?

    Maybe I’m overthinking, but this shows that there’s bad-blood between State agencies that, funny enough—are supposed to be in bed to weed out dangerous figures and protect the State.

    Y’all remember when police conducted a raid in the house of Ali Punjani, the dude DCI had flagged as Kenya’s Kingpin of Narcotics only to come out as clowns on live camera nabbing confused Indian wife and totally clueless servants? Well, Immigration Department didn’t tell the Police nor bothered to share the Intel that Punjani had flown out of the country.  Something, rather, everything seems not to be alright…