Kenya Insights

Tag: Migori County

  • [VIDEO] BREAKING NEWS: SHOE THROWN AT PRESIDENT RUTO DURING MIGORI RALLY

    [VIDEO] BREAKING NEWS: SHOE THROWN AT PRESIDENT RUTO DURING MIGORI RALLY

    In a shocking security breach, an unidentified individual threw a shoe at President William Ruto during a public address in Migori Town on Saturday, prompting immediate action from authorities.

    Detectives have launched a manhunt for the suspect, who escaped the scene following the incident.

    The disturbance occurred during a public rally in Kehancha Town, Migori County, where President Ruto was addressing locals on national development initiatives.

    Moment an object that looks like a shoe flies past President Ruto while addressing the public in Migori.
    Moment an object that looks like a shoe flies past President Ruto while addressing the public in Migori.

    According to a viral video reviewed by Kenya Insights, midway through his speech, a shoe was hurled from the crowd, narrowly missing the President.

    Security personnel quickly responded, but the perpetrator managed to flee amid the confusion.

    President Ruto remained composed following the incident, briefly pausing before continuing his address and condemning the act as an attempt to undermine national unity.

    “Such actions will not deter us from our mission to transform Kenya,” he stated, calling for calm among his supporters. The President was unharmed, and no injuries were reported.

     

    The rally formed part of Ruto’s ongoing tour of Nyanza region, where he has been promoting development projects and political reconciliation.

    Earlier in the day, he attended an interdenominational service in Migori, where he promised justice for the recent assassination of Kasipul MP Charles Ongondo Were.

    The National Police Service confirmed that investigations are underway, with the Migori County Police Commander stating: “We are pursuing all leads to identify and apprehend the individual responsible for this reckless act.”

    Authorities are reviewing video footage from the event to assist in their investigation.

    The incident has sparked debate about political tensions in Kenya, particularly following recent protests against the Ruto administration’s economic policies.

    Many are suggesting the act may reflect growing frustrations among some citizens, though many have condemned it as disrespectful.

    This joins similar incidents internationally where shoes have been thrown at world leaders as a sign of protest, including the 2008 incident involving former U.S. President George W. Bush during a press conference in Baghdad.

    Earlier in the day, he attended an interdenominational prayer service at Kadika Primary School in Suna East.

    He then proceeded to Piny Oyie, where he officially opened the Suna East Sub County Office and laid the foundation stone for the Suna West Technical and Vocational College.

  • Obado Stole Sh2.6B In His First Term, Court Told

    Obado Stole Sh2.6B In His First Term, Court Told

    Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) now claims Migori Governor Okoth Obado looted Sh2.6 billion from the county government coffers during his first term in office.

    The details emerged yesterday before the Anti-Corruption Court when the Commission through its investigator Robert Ronoh, who was testifying in the graft case facing the governor, his four children and 11 associates presented its case.

    During his testimony, the officer said the Commission in 2017 received a complaint from an unnamed informant over misappropriation of funds amounting to Sh2.6 billion paid to 23 companies. However, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has charged the county boss with embezzlement of Sh73.4 million.

    “We received information from the intelligence department of the EACC that there was misappropriation of public money at Migori county government where by companies that are associated with Obado family members were awarded tenders to the tune of Sh2.6 billion between the financial year 2013-2014 to 2016-2017,” Ronoh said.

    Trial magistrate Lawrence Mugambi heard that following the huge amount of money involved, the complaint was forwarded to the commission intelligence for further investigation and action.

    The investigating officer claimed the 23 companies of interest were registered a few months after the 2013 General Election when Obado was elected as governor.

    Ronoh said the companies are linked to family, friends and close associates of the governor. The officer told the court that the governor and his proxies benefitted from Sh2.6 million from 23 trading companies which were awarded various tenders by the county government of Migori.

    Being led in his evidence-in-chief by State Counsel Eva Kanyuira, Ronoh informed the court that seven of the companies are associated with businessman Jared Peter Kwaga, an associate of governor Obado.

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    He took the court through a payment schedule listing the companies in questions and amounts each received from the county government which was generated from the Integrated Financial Management System( IMFS) during initial investigations in the matter.

    The court heard that among the 23 firms that received the billions of shillings included Atinus Services whch is associated with the seventh accused person Kagwa which received Sh122,819,987 for the period between December 17, 2014 and May 15, 2017.

    Ronoh told the court that their efforts to gather documentary evidence in the graft case were frustrated by the County Secretary Christopher Rusana, who delayed in supplying the request for the documentary evidence. He said the investigations narrowed down on several companies to proceed with speed and focus on specific companies that were related to Kwaga which were owned by him, his boss, brothers, mother, and sister in law. However, the officer was stood down after the defence team objected to have him produce in court some documents on how the firms were incorporated.

    Defence lawyers led by Kioko Kilukumi and George Kithi opposed to Ronoh documents saying that the they do not have the same. This prompted the magistrate to postpone the case to Tuesday next week and order the defence lawyers to file a formal application on the issue of documents.

  • Kalausi man denounces links with UDA

    Kalausi man denounces links with UDA

    Former cabinet minister Dalmas Otieno has distanced himself from any links with the United Democratic Alliance party which belongs to the Deputy President William Ruto indicating that it is wrong to go against President Uhuru Kenya and ODM leader Raila Odinga to win a political seat in Luo Nyanza.

    Otieno emphasized that he has no ties with UDA only that his political rivals are using the fake UDA link to dim his chances of succeeding Migori Governor Okoth Obado in 2022. The former Rongo MP has expressed his quest to clinch the seat that has also attracted Senator Ochillo Ayacko who lost to Obado in 2017.
    The former KANU point man in Nyanza region also stated that he has never shown interest or been approached by any UDA operative to undermine the much hyped political handshake between the ODM leader and President Kenyatta.

    Otieno who sounds desperate to rely on Odinga’s wave to clinch Migori seat said he is backing progressive leaders who are preaching peace and unity for the sake of development and not UDA whose hustler narrative is unrealistic. He challenged his opponents to grow up and exercise maturity.

    The ex-minister was part of the short lived ‘Kalausi Movement’ which was out to challenge the support that Raila Odinga enjoys in the Southern Nyanza after the 2013 polls but he is now keen to run on an ODM ticket.

    Migori top seat has attracted political big wigs with some crafting alliance to succeed Obado whose term will expire in AUgust 2022. Apart from Otieno and Ayacko, former Suna East MP John Pesa and businessman Philip Mwabe will also participate in the male dominated race which has attracted only one female aspirant, Migori county woman rep Pamela Odhiambo.

    The battle to succeed Obado is expected to be between Ayacko and Otieno who are enjoying wavering support across the County but some candidates will also rely on Obado influence in their attempts to win the seat.

     

  • Evelyn Obado secretly employed at Migori level 4 Hospital

    Evelyn Obado secretly employed at Migori level 4 Hospital

    The employment of Migori Governor Okoth Obado’s daughter at the County’s Level 4 Referral Hospital has sparked public outcry with the locals calling for Ethic and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) to probe the matter. Evelyn Adhiambo Obado who is facing a Sh73.5 million corruption case was secretly employed at the facility three months ago where she has been working in silence until Covid-19 cases spiraled in the region.

    Not much is known about her qualifications in the health sector but Evelyn together with her three siblings Dan Okoth, Susan Okoth, Jerry Okoth and their corrupt father, Okoth Obado were part of a cartel that stole Sh73.5 million from Migori county coffers.

    The secret employment of Ms Obado has exposed the former Awendo MP Jared Opiyo who chairs Migori county public service board. The former Mp is Obado’s ‘yes man’ who was compromised and arm-twisted to ensure that the governor’s daughter was employed.

    Evelyn Adhiambo Obado [p/courtesy]
    But Obado who is also facing charges of murder sees nothing wrong with his tainted daughter bagging the job. The troubled governor argues that the corruption cases they are facing are fabrications by his political rivals so his daughter remains innocent until proven guilty. Migori public service board CEO Martin Arondo also sided with the governor when he claimed that it is not within their jurisdiction to investigate the family and criminal background before clearing applicants for a job.

    “We rely on chapter 6 document to clear candidates for interviews and I believe if a daughter of the governor was interviewed and subsequently appointed, we were fully guided by her compliance with chapter 6 and section 65 of the county government Act, 2020.” he said.

    Arondo went on to defend the employment of the suspect as competitive and one that was overseen by an independent body. But pundits argue that the board went against its earlier position where it declined to renew Michael Oyamo’s contract.

    Oyamo served as Obado’s personal assistant until he became suspect in the brutal murder of Sharon Otieno in a case that is currently proceeding in court. The prosecution has lined up 37 witnesses to testify against governor Obado and Oyamo with the trial set to end on 15th of July.

  • UDA featuring in Obado succession schemes

    UDA featuring in Obado succession schemes

    Migori County Assembly Speaker Boaz Okoth is plotting a risky political move that may see him go for the county’s top seat on DP William Ruto’s UDA Party ticket. Boaz is allied to Governor Obado but is aware of the strained relationship between ODM party and the governor who is serving his second and final term.

    The speaker has also been at odds with ODM party since the flopped move to impeach governor Obado last year. The besieged speaker defied ODM party’s scheme to impeach Governor Obado despite intimidation, threats and assaults by ODM officials.

    Okoth accused ODM party secretary general Edwin Sifuna as one of the goons who were baying for his blood for frustrating the party efforts to Obado’s impeach Obado. The speaker said that a group of goons led by Sifuna stormed into his hotel room in Kisumu and attacked him together with his bodyguard who was later withdrawn.

    The botched impeachment was plotted after Obado and his four children were charged with Sh73 million in a move which his supporters blamed on the bad blood between the governor and the ODM party.

    United Democratic Alliance logo [p/courtesy]
    With the speaker’s supporters already expecting a shocking move, one of the options on Boaz’s table is to openly fly the UDA ticket or use an affiliate party like People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which Obado used in first term when he floored ODM candidate.

    Combined efforts of the governor and the speaker have given Raila a run for his money forcing the fierce opposition leader to raise a white flag like it played in Obado impeachment attempts.

    The honorable speaker has vowed to give his rivals a run for their money. In 2013 he went against the grain and won the North Kadem MCA seat on an Agano Party ticket.

    According to the speaker, Obado has built a strong foundation on development in Migori to allow an outsider to come in as a governor and disrupt. Obado has defied calls to endorse his successor but both Obado and the speaker have hinted at working on a political vehicle that will shock their opponents.

  • Insurers Ground All Migori County Government Vehicles

    Insurers Ground All Migori County Government Vehicles

    Embattled Migori Governor Okoth Obado has landed in yet another den after operations in his county stalls due to lack of transportation. The county’s departmental cars have been grounded after Obado’s administration failed to pay third party insurers.

    According to a spot check by the Nation, the only operating Migori county vehicles are hospital ambulances. Governor Okoth Obado’s office chase cars are also grounded.

    The rest of the vehicles lie dormant at the parking yards of various units. County drivers who are avoiding the inevitable financial crisis are now working for private individuals. According to Migori county drivers who spoke to media on anonymity, they have been reporting to work for the last three months but have not worked because the vehicles are yet to be insured.

    “We report to work as usual, bask in the sun for the better part of the day then leave to our homes without doing anything. We now offer services to private entities as long as they can pay. We cannot stay idle for three months yet we have financial obligations to meet,” one of the drivers told the source.

    West Kanyamkago MCA, Peter Mijungu, who is the Transport Committee Chairman refused to comment on the issues that has crippled the county.

    However, Erick Mwango, the Migori County Fleet Manager bolstered that the vehicles have only been grounded for two weeks. According to Mwango, the delay has been caused by the sluggish pace of the procurement department.

    “We grounded the vehicles and forwarded all the requirements to the procurement department. We are still waiting for their feedback since the buck stops at their desk. The new insurance can only be gotten after tenders are advertised and that is yet to be effected. Our hands are tied since we cannot release the vehicles to the departments in their current state,” Mwango said.

     

  • Exposed Part Two: Raila Odinga’s Pointman And Uriri MP Eng Mark Ogolla Caught Up In Pro Gas Fraud Scheme Via His Horizon Media Investments Limited

    Exposed Part Two: Raila Odinga’s Pointman And Uriri MP Eng Mark Ogolla Caught Up In Pro Gas Fraud Scheme Via His Horizon Media Investments Limited

    Last month, Eng. Raila Amollo Odinga, the Opposition leader, and self-declared public defender number one lamented that the level of youth unemployment in Kenya is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. Speaking during the International Youth week celebrations at the United Nations habitat, Gigiri, the former premier called on employers to work with institutions to match students’ skills so that they are employable.

    While many unemployed Kenyans have finally ventured into other sources of earning income after their efforts of trying to get formal and informal jobs turned futile, Online niche has created a massive umbrella that has covered the current government unmanageable unemployment rate that has constantly hit Kenyans and especially the Youth since independence.

    According to a survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) in 2018, 7million Kenyans were unemployed with 1.4 million out of this figure desperately looking for jobs. And many youths who have borrowed loans and government grants have never ever seen a payslip since the day they left higher learning institutions that, apparently in Kenyan set up, is a key pillar in enlightening youths and shaping them for “many employment opportunities” available outside here.

    “I have never been employed since I completed my degree course in Linguistics Media and Communication from Moi University main campus in Eldoret. I have attended very many interviews with no success and I’m afraid my career path is on an attachment and internship trail after undertaking a lot of internship programs,” One of my case study Ms. Nyaera told me. 

    Even as Raila Odinga, who is also the African Union High Representative For Infrastructure Development say that unemployment rate in Youths is a time bomb. His close circle consists of folks who have invested in heavily and extensively in looting, robing and blowing the youths hopes of getting employment and financial stability.

    In a recent article by this site, a very close political and business buddy to Raila Odinga, who is the Uriri MP and Managing Director of Horizon Media Investments Limited Eng Mark Ogolla Nyamita colluded with Pro Gas and defrauded thousands of unemployed and unsuspecting Kenyans on social media.

    Image result for raila jaffer

    Pro Gas which is owned by a controversial Mombasa Tycoon Jaffer Mohammed, who is also Raila Odinga’s ally and business partner with Mombasa governor Hassan Joho. Jaffer is also a business crony of DP Dr. William Ruto, another Kenya’s controversial businessman. Pro Gas and Horizon media have been alleged to be the masterminds behind the collapse of a government-subsidized gas project.

     

    So, who is this Eng Mark Ogolla, Born in Rapogi village in the larger Uririi area in Migori County. The son of a fisherman and an omena seller outsmarted his poverty background and went ahead and conquered the tough like. He graduated from Jomo Kenya University of Agriculture and Technology with a Bachelor of Science Degree (civil engineering) and a holder of masters in entrepreneurship from Strathmore School of Business.

    After Strathmore,  Mark Ogolla was hired by Standard Chartered as a sales representative who represented well the bank in Banking competitions and successfully made Standard Chartered Bank emerge winner as the best chartered Bank in sales and marketing. As the results of the hard work, Standard Chartered awarded him, rather promoted him to the position of a Sales Manager. That’s when Mark Ogolla started high-end deep-rooted cartel con deals.

    Before that, Engineer had other businesses and formal jobs in tech firms that are off the record since he was mainly employed without contracts and left the jobs in bad faith. One of our sources states that Mark has been allegedly looting in every gig he has been offered something that has kept him in and out of many casual and official jobs.

    Eng Mark Ogolla has also worked as a telecommunication director and technician in technology industries. He has deep rooting connections in the Kenyan telecommunication industry and has worked as head of Corporate sales at Celtel which was bought out by the Indian owner Bharti Airtel which runs its business right now as Airtel Kenya.

    During his tenure at Airtel, Mark Ogolla was accused by his juniours of mistreatment and sexual harassment, that Kenya insights treat as unverified allegations. His former colleague was also quoted by another independent blog saying that Mr. Mark Nyamita used his powers as The sales Officer to sell phones that were meant to be distributed to customers.

    The customer phones scandal unearthed another massive scandal at Celtel, current Airtel Kenya, that saw Ksh 30million disappear under his watch. A scandal that saw his Sales Manager contract at the telco terminated with immediate effect without compensation after being fired from the firm.

    Politically, Mark Ogolla or as many of his close political allies will call him Nyamita, used the connection links that he got when he was given the tender to run a social media campaign of Pro Gas. The founder and CEO of Proto Energy Limited, formerly known as My Gas, a company that had allegedly been linked to Alfred Mutua is a close friend to Eng. Nyamita.

    Mark made his name known deeper in the political circle when he openly dismissed calls by WIPER and ANC leaders pushing for Kalonzo Musyoka and Musalia Mudavadi respectively to be presidential candidates in 2022. The Uriri legislature Nyamita said that the calls are premature insisting that NASA remains united and their immediate task is to swear in Raila Odinga.

    When Pro Gas was first unveiled, rumors spread fast and became almost believable that the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) company with its almost girlish pink cylinders has made its intent clear in the Kenyan market and threatened VIVO energy and Kobil Kenya as many customers embrace it due to its affordability.Image result for mark ogola celtel

    Pro-Gas is owned by Kameel Virjee. And has connections that link its supplies to Jaffer Mohammed and Kenya’s number one LPG dealer, former premier Raila Amolo Odinga. The company started operations in Kenya in 2017 and has gone to establish itself as a market leader.

    According to a post appearing on this site, Horizon Media Management Limited firm was contracted by Proto Energy Limited to carry out Pro-Gas marketing campaigns and the firm owned by the MP and Raila’s pointman Eng Mark Ogolla is accused of pocketing money that was meant for promotions late last year. The agreement was that participants with the highest likes in Pro Gas social media pages would be automatically awarded cash prizes and complete gas cylinders. The winners have never been awarded months later.

    If indeed Raila Odinga is and meant what he said at Gigiri about youths suffering due to unemployment, Why is he sitting on this case despite several complaints from youths were directly conned by his friend and party member? Raila’s family has deep links in LPG in this country and he can’t say that he has never heard nor informed about this matter! Raila’s silence about the matter makes him look like an accomplice, if he doesn’t speak out on this issue, then the Kenyan youths that were conned and many of those whose dreams were shuttered by Horizon Media that Eng Nyamita owns should blame him because he sits at the higher authority that can easily solve their grievances.

    And to Kenya’s first team on antigraft and public defender from the state DCI, should also on their part not sleep on this case.  This case has never been settled and one wonders why are the most active state departments quite on all this issue? Who is this Eng Mark Nyamita that has made DCI his clowns and is controlling how they should handle the case?

    If the Rapogi villager and legislature Mark Ogolla Nyamita can successfully double-cross and defraud unsuspecting youths across the country, what can he do to the Migori residents, and specifically what has he done already to the Uriri folks and area which is predominantly occupied by Luos with a significant population of the Kuria, Luhya, Kisii, and Somali?

    What is the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution doing about this Pro Gas heist and scam that saw thousands of youths swindled by a civil servant? The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) is the National Prosecuting Authority in Kenya which has been mandated by the Constitution to prosecute all criminal cases in the country.

    The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji is the head of the ODPP and operates independently as stipulated under Article 157 of the Constitution. What is his office doing yet this is a massive criminal case that has, in fact, affected thousands across the country?

    Communication Authority also is failing Kenyan youths. This is one of the Parastatals that should be, rather should have already launched investigations into this scam that happened online and the accused rather responsible company, Horizon Media limited should be blacklisted if found guilty to have indulged in fraud. This is a past case however it leaves footprints of fraud on the company and so is the owner- MP Mark Nyamita Ogolla.

    I mean, Raila cannot be making a lot of noise on and offline that he is more concerned about the development of youths and their gruesome burden of unemployment. It pains not only me but also every youth in this country that is struggling to get few coins to feed themselves only to benefit couple greedy, selfish and con individuals and in this case, elected leaders and known businessmen.

    With my little remaining respect as I jot this article down, What does Hon. Eng Raila Odinga who’s also, of course, everyone should know that is in gas business have to say about this and what message does the former Prime Minister send about the war on corruption?

    I can’t stand leaders who chest thumb in public making a lot of noise yet beneath are openly engaging in fraudulent activities. If Eng Raila Amollo Odinga has a shred of tenderness and a soft spot on youths affairs in this country, he should, in my honest suggestion I know he can, personally come out to not only condemn but ensure consumers are protected from frauds like this ODM allied MP and that he should have his day in court or at least sent a legal team, which he has, to represent many affected youths…

    In conclusion, globally the will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect free expression and existence should be our first objective. One more thing from me to Hon Eng. Raila Odinga, Good people don’t need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will always find a way around the laws.