Kenya Insights

Tag: Mombasa

  • Underworld operations of Mombasa Milly Glass Works

    Underworld operations of Mombasa Milly Glass Works

    A court case involving Milly Glass works formerly Bawazir Glass Works has exposed how the firm manipulates court proceedings to mint millions of shillings and evade statutory taxes.

    Those aware of the said case aver that whereas African Spirits was by then targeted by Uhuru Kenyatta’s regime of evading taxes, and producing substandard alcoholic drinks, Milly Glasses were also linked but how it survived Kenya Revenue Authority crackdown with its transaction with African Spirits remains a mystery.

    In fact, it is said Milly Glasses was used by powerful forces in the former regime to link African Spirits to tax evasion to fix it on grounds that the tycoon owner was backing and financing president William Ruto campaigns.

    The case in question involves Milly Glass Works of Rashid Sajjad and tycoon Humphrey Kariuki of African Spirits Limited.

    In the case, African Spirits petitioned court to set aside the decree issued on February 27 2020 and all consequential orders arising from the matter.

    An affidavit sworn by Priscilla Kamau on April 4 2024 for African Spirits shows how Milly Glass obtained an interlocutory judgment herein, and a decree was issued on February 27 2020 for the sum of Sh84,139,264 and a further Sh1,117,955 taxed as costs.
    African Spirits was never notified of the proceedings as there was no service of summonses upon it and or any of its directors. Milly Glass obtained the filed pleadings and affidavit of service relied upon in endorsing the interlocutory judgment.

    It emerged that the process server in the said affidavit sworn on February 4 2020 stated that when he visited the African Spirit’s premises on December 24 2019, he was informed that the company had closed shop.
    That no effort was made to serve the firm save for service via registered post which substituted service was affected without leave of the court.

    By then, African Spirits had no access to its premises since January 2019 as a result of the legal battles with KRA, who with other investigative agencies chased away staff and took up sole control of its premises from January 2019 to December 2022 when they handed back the premises in a ruined state.

    Surprisingly, African Spirits was never made aware of the instant proceedings until a statutory insolvency notice was issued in HCC Comm No E071 of 2024 on March 20 2024 and the same were served via the spirits director’s email address.

    In an affidavit sworn on May 6 2024 by Mohamed Khandwalla, the financial controller of Milly Glasses hesitated that they commenced the suit herein by way of plaint dated November 29th 2019 on account of non-payment of goods supplied to African Spirits despite its knowledge of the same.

    Despite follow-ups by the Milly Glasses, African Spirits never responded to the same nor made any attempts to settle the debt necessitating the filing of the suit herein, almost five years ago.

    To Milly Glasses, the default judgment sought to be set aside herein against African Spirits and the application had been overtaken by events.
    In the ruling, the court had the benefit of perusing the draft defence and established that it raises tribal issues.

    African Spirits Notice of Motion application dated April 4 2024 was allowed with terms: The interlocutory judgment and decree issued on February 27 2020 and all consequential orders arising therefrom be, and are hereby set aside. African Spirits was granted leave to file and serve statement of defence, and all requisite documentation within 30 days from the date therein.

    African Spirits was ordered to pay Milly Glasses thrown away costs of Sh150,000 million within 21 days.

    That Milly Glasses underground operations are suspicious is dubious as is also manifested in a case Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has moved to court to recover Sh380 million parcel of land belonging to the Kenya Ports Authority.

    The two-acre parcel of land is located in Liwatoni, Mombasa, and part of it houses the Kenya Fisheries Service offices.

    The parcel of land was alienated by the then Commissioner of Lands Wilson Gachanja in 1996 and part of it was allocated to Bawazir Glass Works Limited.

    The land was divided to create two parcels of land MSA/BLOCK/XLVII/158 and MSA/BLOCK/XLVII/156. The parcel MSA/BLOCK/XLVII/156 was allocated to Bawazir Glassworks Limited and an allotment letter, reference number TP3/2/XIX, was issued on February 12 1996.
    Bawazir Glassworks is currently trading as Milly Glassworks Limited after it changed its name on May 25 2000, vide certificate number 50266.

    Milly Glassworks was listed as the first defendant and Gachanja listed as the second defendant in the suit.
    “The plaintiff (EACC) prays for an order of eviction directing the first defendant (Milly Glassworks Limited), its servants, agents or assigns to vacate from land MSA/Block/XLVII/109 and MSA/Block/XLVII/156 respectively,” EACC said.

    It also wants the sub-division of the land, MSA/Block/XLVII/109 and subsequent creation of the land parcel MSA/Block/XLVII/156 to be declared null and void.

    “The letter of allotment to Bawazir Glassworks should also be declared null and void for illegality and fraud, thus incapable of conferring interest to the first defendant (Milly Glassworks),” EACC said.

    “An order directing the chief registrar of land to cancel and expunge from the register the entry relating to the registration of the suit property in favour of the first defendant (Milly Glassworks Limited).”

    In the documents filed at the Mombasa environment and lands court on April 22, the EACC said the land in question was first allocated to the then East African Railways and Harbours on May 1 1965.

    The East Africa Railways and Harbour then leased the land to the government in July 1966 for 82 years, and the lease agreement stated that it was to be used for the department of fisheries.

    In 2002, the East Africa Harbours changed its name to KPA vide a legal notice number 160 of 11 October 2001, and subsequently, the title deed MSA/Block/XLVII/109 was issued to KPA on August 19 2002.

    EACC said the property was reserved for public use and hence, not available for alienation.
    However, Gachanja subdivided the land to create two parcels before allocating one to Bawazir Glassworks, now Milly Glassworks Limited.

    It is imperative to note that Rashid Sajjad at one time, was battling Mohammed Bawazir from importing and trading in glassware. Sajjad changed the name to Milly Glasses to take control. With all the said skeletons, many are asking why Sajjad has earned a title Alhaji Sajjadbhai Rashid Mohammed. Sajjad now lives in Mombasa, Dubai and London.

  • Muguka Banned In Mombasa

    Muguka Banned In Mombasa

    Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has issued an executive order banning the sale and usage of muguka in the county.

    Making the announcement on Wednesday, the governor said all their measures to curb the consumption of the addictive drug had failed while it continued to ravage the population especially the younger generation with its severe effects.

    He has now banned the transportation of the drug into the country and ordered a closure and crackdown on all outlets selling the drug in the coastal city.

    “THAT, there be a total prohibition on the entry, transportation, distribution, sale, and use of Muguka and its products within Mombasa County,” the statement reads in part.

    “THAT, all outlets, whether in the form of retail or wholesale, selling and/or distributing Muguka within Mombasa County be closed immediately and/or stop the sale of Muguka and its products,”.

    The governor, has directed that all motor vehicles transporting the plant not be allowed into the county and directed all county law enforcement officers to implement the directive immediately.

  • Fly 748: Smooth transition of power is a vote of confidence for airline sector’s post-pandemic recovery

    Fly 748: Smooth transition of power is a vote of confidence for airline sector’s post-pandemic recovery

    Peaceful elections and smooth transition of power in government will boost confidence inairline sector’s post-pandemic recovery, renowned airline Fly 748 has said today.

    The airline said these two factors will help travelers resume business and leisure activities faster to sustain an already strong momentum towards the sector’s return to full recovery recorded in 2019.

    “A relative calmness during the political campaign periods, peaceful voting process and a general positive sentiment from travelers and foreign investors in this year’s elections gives us confidence that economic activities will resume faster, giving a further boost to airline recovery prospects,” said Fly 748 Managing Director, Moses Mwangi.

    Latest, International Air Transport Association (IATA) data shows African airlines are recording strong demand for passenger traffic since lockdowns and border restrictionsbegun easing late last year.

    By June 2022, both domestic and international traffic remained strong with figures showing significant growthcompared to those of 2021.

     

    Africa’s International traffic rose with an increase of 103.6 percent over the year to June 2022, the recovery was around 35 percent below their 2019 levels. Similarly, total June 2022 domestic traffic across the globe was at 81.4 percent of the June 2019 level.

     

    “Without disruptions in government transition, we expect this positive momentum to continue and hopefully airlines returnto profitability as we head to high tourism season and as businesses begins rolling out long term activities,” said Fly 748 Chairman, Ahmed Jibril.

  • Abide By My Conditions Or I Bolt Out, Shahbal Gives ODM Notice

    Abide By My Conditions Or I Bolt Out, Shahbal Gives ODM Notice

    Being an ODM’s stronghold, the region’s political bigwigs are engaged in high voltage fights that according to analysts, threatens to break the strings holding the Raila Odinga’s led party.

    Mombasa governor ticket has come into focus more so much than any other. Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir who’s been leading in recent opinion polls is not having his smooth way as his arch rival and businessman Suleiman Shahbal  engages his arsenal in ensuring the legislator doesn’t overrun him.

    Shabhal is trying to make a third stab on the county’s top seat. Branded by critics as a party hopper, Shahbal made his first attempt and was defeated in 2013 by the incumbent Governor Hassan Joho when he contested through Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper Party.

    In 2017, Shahbal ran on a Jubilee Party ticket, but still lost to Joho for a second time. At the time, Joho resoundingly thrashed Shahbal with 221,363 votes against his 69,429.

    Last year, Shahbal returned to ODM from Jubilee and is now battling with Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir for the ODM ticket in the governor’s race.

    On Thursday, the ODM National Elections Board brought together the contestants from Mombasa to a meeting held at Emory Hotel in a bid to arrive  at a consensus on the best candidate to front for the party but all didn’t end well.

    During the meeting, other contestants didn’t agree with opinion polls results that the party was relying on for the best bet with the disgruntled revolting that they don’t trust the process. According to documents availed to our desk, Abdulswamad was favored in all polls as the leading candidate while his opponents who were trailing at a distant, thrashed the results as being fake and untrustworthy.

    The Orange party’s National Executive Council in February endorsed four ways of picking aspirants, which also received the backing of the National Delegates Congress.

    The NDC approved the use of consensus, direct nomination, identification of candidates through voting by delegates and universal suffrage, through which ODM members would vote for their preferred candidate.

    However, the NEC noted they favour consensus while direct nomination would be the last resort.

    Raila is on record stating that parties affiliated with the Azimio la Umoja Movement will have to sacrifice their ambitions for the good of the budding coalition.

    ODM Chairman, John Mbadi recently shelved his Homa Bay’s gubernatorial ambitions for Gladys Wanga citing calls by his party leader Raila Odinga to help in his national agenda mission.

    ”I discussed with my party leader and it became apparent that if the national chairman can sacrifice his ambition because of leadership of women, then so be it. I had a huge following in the county. If you look at the anger on the ground, you can clearly see I had captured the imagination of the people.” Mbadi is quoted in a media publication.

    “I have supported my party leader since1992 and he told me that he wants to work with me at the national level. I’m happy that I took the risk for the sake of Raila. This will be the first time since 2007 that I will not seek an elective seat.”

    The Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate said coalition partners would try to strike a balance in picking candidates for various seats in certain regions.

    According to intelligence briefs in the holds of Kenya Insights, ODM had to postpone the party primaries for Mombasa and Kilifi counties.

    The party in a statement on Saturday said the move is meant to enable the conclusion of ongoing consultations and consensus-building.

    The party primaries for Kilifi and Mombasa were scheduled to take place next week on April 5 and April 6 respectively.

    In Kilifi County, Devolution Chief Administrative Secretary Gideon Mung’aro and Deputy Governor Gideon Saburi are also battling for the ODM ticket.

    Reports also indicate that Kenya’s High Commissioner to Tanzania Dan Kazungu who is also the former Malindi MP is also eyeing the Kilifi Governor seat through the ODM party.

    In Mombasa, the fierce battle between the front contenders has threatened to split the party. While the party insists the choice of candidate should be informed by internal opinion polls amongst other internally laid structures, Shahbal who’s coming second after Nassir in both polls, has rejected the results terming them untrustworthy. In remedy, the party’s top organs have recommended a third, last and determinant poll to square out the stalemate but insiders tell our writer that the businessman is not going to hear none of it. “He’s made it clear that he’s either his way or no way,” a source close to the negotiations says.

    ”How can a national party be held hostage by interests of an individual? The party has structures and policies laid out that are not only binding to Mombasa but all the counties, why would the part bend its tail for one person? As Saitoti once said, there comes a time when the interests of a nation  supersedes that of an individual.” A top ranking party official told this publication.

    ”We’re determined to arrive at an equal footing with both parties, we’re one family, squabbles are bound to happen. We’re still considering all options on the table and we’ve not exhausted anything. Nobody should feel unwanted, no one should feel too big or too small. We will square this out.” A senior source told Kenya Insights.

    ”We’re demanding nothing other than a direct ticket,” a close source cites Shahbal.

    By the time of going on air, Abdulswamad’s team said they’re open for talks, Shahbal’s said they’re not taking anything other than universal suffrage and if not, they’ll bolt out, “we don’t trust ODM at this point and we have plenty of options” a Shahbal’s senior official told us.

  • Fly 748 Increases Mombasa And Ukunda Flights Ahead Of Holiday Peak

    Fly 748 Increases Mombasa And Ukunda Flights Ahead Of Holiday Peak

    Aviation firm 748 Air Services has today announced changes in its flight schedules as part of plans to strengthen its presence in key domestic routes as the peak season approaches.

    From December 1, 2021, the airline will increase its flight frequency to the coastal tourism circuit and adjust departure and arrival times to Mombasa and Ukunda.

    “With the curfew being lifted and more people gettingvaccinated, we have seen an increase of people travelling for leisure to the coast. As a result, we have decided to increase flights to these routes,” said 748 Air Services Managing Director, Moses Mwangi.

    The carrier has introduced a third midday frequency to Mombasa, making it three daily flights to the destination.

    Consequently, departure and arrival times for flights in this route have changed. The first flight from JKIA will now depart from 9.00 AM and arrive at Moi International Airport by 10.00 Am.

    The midday flight will depart from JKIA at 1.00p.m and return from Moi International Airport at 3.00 p.m.

    The evening flight to Mombasa will leave at 5.00 p.m and depart from Moi International Airport at 7.00 p.m.

    For Ukunda route, a morning frequency has been introduced for travellers with the flight departing from JKIA at 8.30 am.

    “To meet demand during peak tourism season and ensure our customers continue to seamlessly get the best service with no delays, we have added 2 Dash 8-Q400s to our fleet,” said 748 Air Services Chairman, Ahmed Jibril.

    The newly acquired 2 Bombardier Dash 8 – Q400 aircraft will cater to the anticipated surge in customer numbers on these routes over the coming festive season.

    Daily flights to Kisumu have been reduced to one afternoon frequency.

  • Makueni: One Dead As Vehicle Ferrying Bhang Collides With A Truck

    Makueni: One Dead As Vehicle Ferrying Bhang Collides With A Truck

    A Toyota Noah van loaded with rolls of bhang collides with a truck at Makindu, Makueni County.

    Independent witnesses have reported that the driver of the Noah died on the spot.

    Here are photos courtesy.

  • Underaged Girls Busted At Echesa’s Sex Den In Ruaka

    Underaged Girls Busted At Echesa’s Sex Den In Ruaka

    Police raided an apartment in Ruaka on Tuesday busting underage girls brothel in a 3 bedroom house by the proprietors. The brothel is linked to ousted CS, Rashid Echesa.

    Police said among the teenagers rescued was a student who had disappeared from a secondary school two months ago.

    According to police investigations, a Form Two student at a school in Kiambu, was recruited to the trade by a friend who lured her with the promise of making money. The girl escaped from school last month and was led to the apartment where she was promised Sh10,000 every day.

    Police says she was taken to the apartment in Ruaka where she was greeted to prostitution with Sh5,000 and Sh10,000 a day for her services.

    The girl told the cops that her contract was revised and she was to receive 25 per cent of the payment while 75 per cent be pocketed by the operators.

    According to the girl, she would entertain close to 10 men a day. At times she visited the homes of her clients for a night of pleasure filled with lots of food and alcoholic drinks of their choice.

    The Police has been investigating the disappearance of children from secondary schools in Kiambu, this bust comes as a win for the State. In the raid, the cops recovered sex toys imported illegally into the country and for use in the sex parties by minors.

    Karuri DCI officers found 10 girls locked in the house with some in bed with clients. The investigators, who posed as clients, were informed that another group of 20 girls had been relocated from the house to a brothel in Mombasa.

    The apartment goes for 60K per month and amongst other things confiscated by Police were unused condoms and sex toys.

    Police rescued the girls and arrested three suspects including a 44-year-old man believed to be the brothel manager. Patrons who were found at the brothel were also arrested but later released on a Sh 1 Million cash bail.

    The investigations into the child prostitution in the crib allegedly owned by the fired former CS Rashid Echesa—who has also been linked to Mumia 42 brothers killing— are ongoing. Those arrests face a huge jail term from the 10 sexual offences before them.

     

  • Saudi-Owned Almar Water To Build Sh10 Billion Water Desalination Plant In Turkana

    Saudi-Owned Almar Water To Build Sh10 Billion Water Desalination Plant In Turkana

    For starters, over seven years ago, the government announced that they have discovered aquifer water in Turkana County. The county has now partnered with Almar Water— a Saudi Arabia-based firm— to erect a desalination plant.

    The UK-based Guardian newspaper quoted Tito Ochieng, the director of water services in Turkana, stating that the county has contracted Almar Water to put up the desalination plant.

    According to the Guardian, Alma Water will construct the plant at a cost of between Sh10 billion. The PPA is expected to be finalized in a few months.

    “The national government is not aware as that could be the arrangement between the county and the investor as water is under devolved units,” Water Secretary Simon Chelugui said.

    Tito Ochieng was quoted saying that the plant will be erected on top of the Lotikipi aquifer in  Nanam village. A relief to Turkana household who have been slitting each other’s throats over the years or had to walk long distances in search of water.

    “We want to see if Tullow can help us to build a line from Turkwel to Lodwar so that the residents can benefit from this important resource,” Chelugui said.

    n 2013, contained in an aquifer, which is believed to be the largest in the world, was discovered

    In 2013, Hydrologists revealed that Mt Mogila in Lotikipi in the larger Lokichoggio along the Kenya-South Sudan border is sitting on a 250 billion cubic meters of water aquifer. The aquifer was projected that it could meet Kenya’s water needs for 70 years.

    The Lotikipi aquifer is located between Lokichogio and Lokitaung. The other aquifer is 16 kilometres from Lodwar and is partly fed by the Turkwel River. Waters in this aquifers has, however, not been of use since then because of high levels of salinity which makes it unsuitable for humans and animals.

    The National Government had earned 5,000 acres of land in Lodwar for irrigation using water from the aquifer which covers a surface area of 4,164 square kilometres. A move that has since been criticized by scientists who led the discovery of the large aquifers. The hydrologists cautioned the drilling of water wells stating that overexploitation could lead to depletion.

    This comes at a time when the same Saudi-owned Almar Water had signed a contract with Mombasa County to put up a similar facility—which they dubbed as the largest water desalination plant in Africa.

  • DCI Writes To Interpol To Extradict Two German Fraudsters In The Sh2 Billion Case

    DCI Writes To Interpol To Extradict Two German Fraudsters In The Sh2 Billion Case

    Coast Directorate of Criminal Investigations Boss Washington Njiru has seeked the help of Interpol to have two Germans involved in the fraudulent and fabricated transfer of shares that saw Wilfred Guenther, a German investor lose directorship and ownership of Sh2 billion Mombasa based Hotel.

    DCI had on Wednesday said that two foreigners were being sought to record statements over the illegal transfer of Wilfred Guenther’s shares from Hanos (K) Ltd, the company that owns and operates Papillion Garden Bar Villa to his children.

    “Our investigations have shown that fraud was committed. We are liaising with the Interpol to assist in arresting Mr Ronny Patric Herbert and Ms Jeanie Notalie Boehlig to get their side of the story,” Mr Njiru said.

    According to Coast DCI boss, detectives have already recorded statements from several witnesses who would be arraigned.

    “I have discussed with the Director of Public Prosecutions and he has advised us to tie some loose ends before we forward the files to him for further action,” Njiru added.

    Also implicated in the fraud according to DCI sleuths recorded statements include Mombasa based senior advocate and an account who are facing charges of abetting fraud.

    The investigations involved multi-agency teams encompassing the DCI, Kenya Revenue Authority and Registrar of Companies that would top off in arrest and charging of the suspects.

    Mr Guenther has been embroiled in ownership dispute of the property with his two children now suspects Herbert and Boehlig maintain that he never transferred his shares nor sign anything to suggest he had left the multi-billion firm.

  • How I Infected Nairobi OCS With HIV

    How I Infected Nairobi OCS With HIV

    I will not reveal the personal details of those involved in this story because it’s illegal to publicly disclose one’s health conditions.

     

    Hi Edward,

    I’ve been seing your articles on a Facebook group we happen to be in together and one of it that was talking about that Mathare kid with HIV and Aids touched me. I’ll like to tell you about my personal story too. Make sure you don’t mention my name because this can get me killed. Si wewe unajua tu hii Kenya yetu.

    Am called *name withheld* from Kapenguria but currently working in Mombasa. After college, life was so difficult for me and i found myself in a very terrible situation. Lemme narrate the story in briefs.

    I have a BTM degree from Moi University and never ever seen a payslip from that useless paper. I tried hustling with it but that’s a story for another day.

    I went to Mombasa with a friend of mine who later impregnated me and varnished after i delivered a baby boy. Lucky for me he had paid the house for a whole year and a half and he also left me with furnitures. Hii pia ni story ingine mrefu.

    To cut the long story short, i used the house i was left in as a lodging for me and my lady friends that were also doing commercial sex. I had to get cash to survive and feed my child.

    I spent the whole year saving few moneies I stole from drunk men who used to come and relieve their stress on me and those who puked in the house. After a year and a half, i relocated to Nairobi and when i wanted to join a certain NGO, my HIV test results came positive. I was ready for such, though. Si ni life.

    I come to Nairobi in April this year. I was staying at *area withheld* and was still in the mood of the Mombasa business. So, one day i was arrested by Kenya police at night after being dropped near where i used to stay.

    I begged Police to release me but one of them was also my customer who we happened to have forced to pay extra and took his phone. So the cop said mimi ni mwizi and this was my day.

    I was taken to *#$%$ Police station. Was held overnight then the OCS supervised early mornings head count. I pleaded with him and he called me outside and i told him to do anything he wants but don’t take me to court. He asked me to accompany him to a nearby lodge. I was escorted by a junior officer.

    I found him in the room ready for sex and i told him to use the condom because i don’t want to get pregnant. He denied and told me to wash my self and get ready for him and stop wasting time. I told him i won’t do it until i see a condom. He told me, nitafanya hii kitu na nikurudishe cell. I don’t want to go back to cell again. So i gave him what he wanted and he left me there after he was done.

    We had a very long sex since he took viagra tabs. I didn’t enjoy because he was old-school but that wasn’t even my worry. I wanted to go home and i had to do what i had.

    This was in March this year. He called me last month and threatened to track me. He told me nilimpea virusi na sikumwambia. I told him to use the rubber and he wanted meat so i had to give him everything i had in my blood. Hadi kaswende.

    Right now i don’t use any SIM cards registered with my ID or bank accounts. I moved back to Mombasa and currently running my kasalon and also grocery store. Most women sleep with Police bosses to be freed just like men must pay for their freedom. This is my story and  everyone should be careful out here.

     

     

     

  • Police IG Names 10 Most Wanted Criminals In Mombasa

    Police IG Names 10 Most Wanted Criminals In Mombasa

    The Inspector General of Kenya police, Hillary Mutyambai, has released the names of most wanted fugitives terrorizing Mombasa residents.

    According to police reports, all the 10 most wanted criminals are Al-Shabaab returnees from Somalia. The crooks are also said to be behind the increased murder of corps in the Coast region. The named gangsters are:

    • Ali Shando alias Mzalamu
    • Zamdini alias Sheli Sheli alias Mwarabu
    • Adisi Mwanenda
    • Mohamed Bakari Mwachidiwa
    • Mohamed Mwinyi Mwachidigo
    • Suleiman Bakari Mwasura
    • Bakari Hassan Setu
    • Hamdi George
    • Adam Hamisi Jabalenni
    • Ali Tengeza

    According to IG’s report, the named criminals have a vast web of fugitives beyond Mombasa and are said to be targeting other areas like Likoni, Malindi and Kwale County.

    “As part of ongoing operations, police are looking for several individuals within the Coastal region suspected to be involved in criminal activities targeting the public and security agencies,” reads part of IG’s statement.

    “The group is suspected to be part of the gang that killed Sheikh Omar Fumbwe and Bakari Hamisi Mwadondo in August 2019. They are also suspected to have participated in the killing of Pastor Isaac Houghton in 2018,” the statement added.

    On the first day of this month of October, Mombasa based polices officers carried a raid at a house in Mombasa and shot dead three terror suspects while detaining two others terror millitia group’s recruitees Bakari Chibonja and Athuman Nyae,  foiling a planned terror attack.

    Ramadhan had earlier been charged with terror offences in Mombasa but was set free after the prosecutor failed to provide satisfactory evidence.

     

  • Blow To KPA As High Court Halts The Auction Of Pension Scheme Properties

    Blow To KPA As High Court Halts The Auction Of Pension Scheme Properties

    More than 2000 members from Mombasa and Nairobi had filed a suit before the Mombasa High Court Justice PJ Otieno seeking orders to debar trustees of the Kenya Ports Authority Pension Scheme (KPAPS) from transferring management of its multimillion assets worth to Private Real Estate Agents and the planned backdoor sale of KPAPS houses.

    Reprieve to members as Lady Justice Dorah Chepkwony stopped the scheme’s trustees from selling prime properties, movable and immovable assets of KPA, including houses.

    “Pending the reference of the matter to arbitration and hearing and determination, a temporary injunction is hereby issued restraining defendants from transferring, alienating, disposing either by public or private treaty the prime properties both movable and immovable assets of KPA pension scheme including houses,” said Justice Chepkwony.

    Lady Justice Dorah Chepkwony stated that the matter should be referred to arbitration in terms of Clause 27 of the Trust Deed and Regulation of KPA pension scheme. Lady Justice Chepkwony was issuing an order in the case filed by Bwana Mohamed Bwana, a pensioner who was seeking to stop KPA from selling his house in Nyali.

    This cames at a time when more than 2,000 KPA staff members from Mombasa and Nairobi under the scheme had also petitioned the High Court to issue similar orders stopping the KPA-registered trustees from selling their houses to outsiders through Property Agents.

    On the 4th of May this year, the scheme directors were preparing to complete the deal with Kikambala Development company when KPA’s Board and Legal Services General Manager Catherine Muthoni Gatere rushed to court and stopped the transaction the next day.

    “The said purported agreement for sale is not signed by all trustees as is required by the provisions of the Trust Deed. Neither is it sealed with the common seal of the scheme, which is still in my possession in my office,” she said before Justice Mathew Anyara Emukule.

    Pension chairman Harry John Paul Arigi signed an affidavit saying members elected him to protect their interests, hence he has the power to manage it exclusively and independently without any interference from KPA.

    The pensioners said registered trustees had advertised for sale of all KPA pension scheme houses stating that the pension scheme took over the management of various houses namely Dedan Kimathi, Nyali, Kizingo, Nairobi, Mwembe Tayari, Mbaraki, Bamburi and others in Nairobi following non-remittance of monies to the scheme by the authority.

    “Arising from the agreement, therefore, the scheme assumed the ownership of the property with the staff in occupation becoming its tenants,” read the signatories’ letter to the management.

  • Kenya Tops Interpol’s List Of Countries With Organized Crimes

    Kenya Tops Interpol’s List Of Countries With Organized Crimes

    Kenya has topped yet another wrong list as the latest interpol and European Union-backed report on global crime trends listed her amongst top countries with the worst organised crime problems globally.

  • Is Mombasa Next Or Already Is? Morocco’s Subservience To Heroin

    Is Mombasa Next Or Already Is? Morocco’s Subservience To Heroin

    Heroin cases in Kenya especially Mombasa and Nairobi are on the high yet government playing it low and substituting the much-needed efforts to fighting, so they say, cannabis.

    Narcotic lords, from the few the government, has publicly arrested and some like Ali Punjani, who is allegedly in the country yet he has a warrant of arrest on his head, remain untouchable and if the allegations are to go by, he’s is untraceable!

    Mid last month, Mombasa Principal Magistrate Edgar Kagoni was among four people arrested by DCI in connections with the loss of 10kg of heroin. According to the state, the Heroin was valued at Sh30million. Also in Question was the cash of various currencies amounting to more than Sh600,000 were exhibits in an ongoing case in Mombasa Law Courts.

    This should act as a case study for Mombasa residents and the County government leadership that has also been allegedly abetting Narco Lords and their illegal business.

    In a filthy squat in a beach town in northern Morocco, drug users inject and smoke heroin, a relatively recent scourge plaguing a region long known for cannabis and contraband. Rachid says he does nothing with his life, except heroin.

    “I shoot up four or five times a day,” the 34-year-old said, breathing raggedly.

    He shows his arms, scarred from a decade of injecting, before taking a sniff of glue to prolong the high. Half a dozen others are shooting up or smoking heroin alongside Rachid in the squat, located behind a police station in M’diq, a Mediterranean resort near the city of Tetouan.

    A dose of the powerful opiate they heat on aluminium foil sells for between Ksh 300 and 700 (USD3-7) for a tenth of a gram. Every week, a team from the Association for the Fight Against AIDS (ALCS) comes to the squat to hand out syringes to prevent the spread of diseases like HIV and hepatitis.

    The sale and consumption of heroin is illegal in Morocco, but thanks to the efforts of ALCS in Tetouan, “it is very rare that users are arrested for their own personal consumption”, said Dr Mohamed El Khammas.

    He runs the harm reduction programme launched by ALCS in 2009, which combines awareness-raising, distribution of materials like clean needles and screening.

    “The idea is not to moralize, but to help the user to reduce negative effects,” Khammas said.

    In this region, known worldwide for its hashish produced in the Rif mountains, heroin use is a relatively recent development that is growing exponentially, experts say.

    “It’s a public health priority, especially as the heroin being sold is very bad quality: it is mixed with talcum powder, paracetamol, and glue,” Khammas said.

    The typical user is a “single man, aged 30-35 with little or no education who has never worked or works on an occasional basis,” according to a 2014 report from the National Observatory on Drugs and Addiction (ONDA).

    The northern urban centers of Tetouan, Tangier, and Nador are Morocco’s worst affected areas. The spread of heroin is facilitated by the great population mobility between southern Europe and northern Morocco, and the increased use of well-established cannabis routes by traffickers from Latin America to smuggle cocaine and heroin to Europe, ONDA said.

    Those drug barons also barter heroin for cannabis in the Rif, according to ALCS staff. The number of heroin users in Morocco is unknown. According to ALCS, there are likely several thousand heroin users in Tetouan alone, a city of 380,000 people, which was once the seat of the Spanish administration under the dictator Francisco Franco.

    Hassna, a 46-year-old ALCS caseworker, distributes clean drug paraphernalia from her backpack to users gathered in the M’diq squat.

    “We urge them not to share syringes, we accompany them to health centres and we try to convince them to take care of themselves,” she said.

    Rachid said he is “incapable of quitting”. But he does want access to methadone: “That’s all we ask,” he said. This opioid substitute is distributed by addiction treatment centres in Tetouan, but in “insufficient amounts”, Rachid said.

    “Withdrawal is terrible, you have cramps, anxiety,” said his companion Mohamed, a waxen-faced 24-year-old with a syringe buried in his tattooed arm.

    Every evening, an ALCS medical vehicle is parked in a different location, with a doctor, nurse and field workers on hand. Once a week, the team parks near a cemetery overlooking Tetouan, a common spot for users.

    One of them, a 56-year-old named Said, said he “lost everything” because of heroin.

    “I am at rock bottom. The hardest part is on the social level. I lost 30 kilos (66 pounds) because of this crap. When an old friend sees me in the street, he looks away.” 37-year-old Abdelilah said.

    By Source 

  • Likoni Ferry Tragedy Updates: Chinese ROVs Find 6 More Cars At The Ocean bed

    Likoni Ferry Tragedy Updates: Chinese ROVs Find 6 More Cars At The Ocean bed

    Latest updates from one of the most and recent tragic ocean accidents in Kenya’s coastline have indicated that the operations have found 6 more objects, possible cars, at the bottom of the Ocean.

    The efforts to recorver the submurged car that claimed two lives with the bodies of the lost souls yet to be retrieved, had recieved a boost after Chinese divers joined the operations.

    https://twitter.com/BincoAfrica/status/1178713107012739072?s=19

    A sourced Picture of A portable ROV.

    “Chinese Remotely Operated Vehicles, ROVs, are submersible, robotic systems, used to observe the depths of large bodies of water by operators from shore, or by divers in the water, have spotted 6 more cars at the Sea Bed” Reads a tweet from KenyanTraffic.

    The tweet updates have been supported by government official Spokesperson Col. Rtd Cyrus Oguna while addresing the press in the afternoon.

    Video courtesy of NMG/Youtube.

    https://youtu.be/HT6Hgrkv1Tc

    Mombasa Governor Hassan Ali Joho has also spoken after a long mute since the accident occured in the waters at his Mombasa led County. Here is what the governor has said a few minutes ago via his official verified twitter account.

  • 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.

  • Government Abandons New SGR

    Government Abandons New SGR

    Kenya has been rolling deep down into public debt in the name of development. Government handlers have been on the frying pot for advising the government of projects that are not profit generating at the expense of the tax payers.

    Recently a Chinese loan worth Ksh.374 billion for the extension of the SGR from Naivasha to Malaba didn’t materialize. With some saying that Chinese now wants the government to prove that they are going to pay for the first loan.

    The government of Kenya now has plans to modernize the old railway track to link a newer line to neighbouring Uganda at a cost of Ksh.21.3billion.

    Sources in the government indicate that unidentified private financier has offered to fully back up the project. This is almost 15 times cheaper than building another almost modern railway with Chinese loan.

    also read:Container Freight Station Owners To Lose Sh35B Investment In SGR’s Cargo Debacle.

    The SGR was under  China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative, a multi-billion dollar series of infrastructure projects upgrading land and maritime trade routes between China and Europe, Asia and Africa.

    The Nairobi-Mombasa SGR that was launched at a cost of Ksh 323.9 billion then later linked with Nairobi-Naivasha line costing Ksh.151.7billion might sound as a serious wastage joke when the government links it to Naivasha-Malaba track that will cost Ksh 21.3 billion.

    “We need to make sure that when we commission the SGR in August, we have connectivity to Uganda from the SGR so we have to rehabilitate that line to make sure it is properly functional,” said CS James Macharia,

    Macharia also said that using Ksh.15 billion to rehabilitate decades-old line from Malaba on the border with Uganda and using the remaining amount construct another short track connecting to the SGR at Naivasha within a year would be a faster option than building another SGR.

  • Clash of Interests, Is Marwa A Politician or Administrator As He Steps Up War On Governor Joho

    Clash of Interests, Is Marwa A Politician or Administrator As He Steps Up War On Governor Joho

    Coast regional coordinator Nelson Marwa is known for his stern administrative directives and enthusiasm to fight terror. He has also known for his on and off the feud with the Mombasa Governor H.E Ali Hassan Joho who at some point described him as ‘a small person’ in fact a desk officer.

    Their beef season is back, and Marwa is doing what he does best to please his boss. He is threatening to arrest Governor Joho for leading a group of rowdy boys to bring down a perimeter wall around a piece of land that the governor alleges belongs to the defunct municipal council of Mombasa.

    Marwa, on the other hand, told journalists that the parcel of land in VoK area near Bombolulu belongs to the Kenya Broadcasting Cooperation (KBC) and not Municipal Council. He said that the government would arrest Joho and have him charged in court.

    “We have not seen any of the 47 Governors chest thumping and breaking the law, we will not allow the governor to go free after destroying property that cost the tax payers money to put up,” said Marwa. The feud between the two is nothing new; Joho sees Marwa as the president’s ‘mtu wa mkono’ who seeks every opportunity to frustrate his efforts even after being promoted from being Mombasa County Commissioner to Coast regional coordinator.

    No one has seen other regional coordinators at war with governors either. The said parcel of land has been lying idle for decades in a place where absentee landlords dwell when the natives are turned squatters. The working relationship between the two leaders is wanting, no one is interested in watching their unending drama.

    The coordinator may have a valid point, but he seems to be so working for the executive forgetting that whatever he does for the executive should be to the right of the people. This cannot be achieved through constant fights with the county governments. You can’t transfer governors; you can transfer coordinators if their relationship with the regional governments is affecting service delivery.

    Mombasa and the entire coast region want to be served with dignity, not chest thumping and supremacy battles. The national government has always been seen to be ‘after’ governor Joho, the already created impression can’t just be whisked away whether Joho is wrong or right, Marwa is a federal government appointee and known to be serving the interest of his employer.

    Leading a troop of hooligans to demolish the wall is not acceptable, the governor had other better options to address the issue, but this is happening because it’s a habit that has been condoned. Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko once led a group of hooligans, punching walls and breaking private property in protest of public land grabbing, nothing was done to him. The law should not be applied selectively.

    Joho is not the only governor in the Coast region; Marwa has become so much of ‘a puppet,’ anyone can guess who is pulling his strings and the crowd he is entertaining. He should stick to provincial administrative mandates and let politicians play their dirty games. Provincial administration roles and politics don’t mix.

  • Shame As Governor Joho’s Chief of Staff Makes Away With Sh100K And Insulting Kitui Residents

    Shame As Governor Joho’s Chief of Staff Makes Away With Sh100K And Insulting Kitui Residents

    Mr Kyalo addressing the crowd in Kitui town during Joho's stopover
    Mr Kyalo addressing the crowd in Kitui town during Joho’s stopover

    Mombasa Governor Joho is currently enjoying high calibre political privileges given his renewed vows to popularize ODM. During the recent party’s celebration in mombasa, the party’s Dep Chairman announced Raila as their presidential candidate and personally vowed to lead from the front, Raila’s nationwide campaign.

    As it manifests, the governor has already hit the rail with a stopover in Kitui for a mini rally which had an impressive turnout. He proceeded to Nairobi where together with Governor Kidero led in the celebration of ODM. The rally in Mathare was as well a success.

    However, all that shines is not as merry, Kenya Insights has learnt that Joho’s Chief of Staff Mr. Kyalo is silently undermining the character and reputation of the governor’s brand. According to an informant, Kyalo is now a wanted man in Kitui after insulting the residents on Saturday and failing to pay Kshs 100,000 allowance made for men who provided security to the Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho during his visit in the town.

    The Chief of staff is on record demeaning the County residents as fools and telling off the youths who had provided security to the prominent politician not to expect a dime from him despite having entered into an agreement with them prior to the event.

    Details that we’veindicate that The Chief of Staff who also happen to be from the area and a popular figure amongst the residents, had earlier on Saturday met 20 young men who were to provide security to the Governor on arrival. According to their ageeement, each of them were to receive an allowance of Kshs 5,000 and that the amount was to be paid on completing the job. Naturally, being someone they know, they bought into his verbal contract.

    Joho addressing the Kitui Crowd
    Joho addressing the Kitui Crowd

    Things took a complete turn when immediately after the event and joho left, Mr. Kyalo left with his car to a restaurant along Kitui-Kibwezi highway with a few friends where they enjoyed some drinks for a few hours before leaving to Nairobi. He left the youths stranded at the event venue without paying them immediately as agreed. They made frantic calls to him and he arrogantly told them off, dishonering the agreement.

    When contacted through phone for the allowances of the security men he responded arrogantly spewing “you fools stop bothering me, pesa ya joho endeleeni kuimezea mate.”

    When contacted through phone for the allowances of the security men he responded arrogantly spewing “you fools stop bothering me, pesa ya joho endeleeni kuimezea mate.”

    The response really angered the young men and who have now vowed to deal with the chief of Staff if he fails to honor their deal. They’ve also sent a warning to Joho to be worried about Kyalo as he could be working secretly to undermine him. “Hatutakubali mtu yeyote akule jasho yetu, wacha aende na hiyo but tutapatana tena,” one of the guys was quoted saying. The security men have also vowed to never allow Governor joho campaign in Kitui again if that’s how him and his staff operate.

    The response really angered the young men and who have now vowed to deal with the chief of Staff if he fails to honor their deal. They’ve also sent a warning to Joho to be worried about Kyalo as he could be working secretly to undermine him. “Hatutakubali mtu yeyote akule jasho yetu, wacha aende na hiyo but tutapatana tena,” one of the guys was quoted saying. The security men have also vowed to never allow Governor joho campaign in Kitui again if that’s how him and his staff operate.

    What this fella has done is not anything new, incidences of people taking advantage of the unemployed youths heightens with the political high note seasons. Kyalo it’s shameful to look down upon people you free up with, it’s morally uncouth not to honor deals like this one is a new level of pettiness.  These young men provided what you wanted, you have no otherwise but to pay then what they rightfully deserve. Sh100K is a petty cash that you shouldn’t jeopardise the brand of your employer, it doesn’t worth the tussle, this is bad painting to someone looking into a nationwide darling look as he sells the party. Pay up!

  • Governor Joho’s Political Rebranding

    Governor Joho’s Political Rebranding

    Mombasa Governor, Hassan Joho
    Mombasa Governor, Hassan Joho

    By Nicholas Olambo
    Ali Hassan Joho was first elected Mp for Kisauni in 2007 , he went on to serve as assistant minister in the grand coalition government then later rose to be the first governor of Mombasa County in 2013. Joho is increasing becoming very influential in ODM and national politics cementing his twin ambitions as the coast region’s kingpin and the presidency.
    Joho’s efforts at the Malindi by elections emboledened his ambitions. In fact it is after the Malindi by elections that county 001’s governor got the courage to publicly declare his presidential quest in 2022. Malindi parliamentary seat fell vacant after President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed the then ODM Mp to the energy docket. President Kenyatta’s move was a ploy to penetrate into an area considered a Cord/ODM stronghold. Jubilee lost to ODM and with the kind of money that was spent in that by election, the jubilee coalition was sent back into the drawing board.
    ODM candidate Willy Mtengo traunced jubilee’s Philip Charo. The win enchanced Joho and Kilifi governor’s stature at the coast as the party’s formidable assests. Joho was the chief campaigner and paymaster. He camped in Malindi for three weeks and after the victory he declared to carry on the momentum and take the ‘war’ to the doorsteps of the party rebels who were not with the people. The momentum is indeed on and the manner in which he organised the ODM party’s tenth birthday to counter jubilee’s party launch says it all. No one thought ODM event would be any big thing to talk. ‘ODM will be having a small bash at the Coast’ said the controversial MP, Moses Kuria.
    Just a week after anniversay fete, Joho has planned another rally in Nairobi tomorrow in Mathare. ‘The party will hold roadshows before Mathare rally on September 18’ Joho said despite a looming battle as both ODM and Jubilee book meetings on the same ground on the same day. The idea to hold the rally in Mathare seems as a move by the party to campaign in areas where their members defected to join the recently launched Jubilee Party. Mathare Mp Stephen Kariuki who was elected on an ODM ticket is one of many Cord MPs who defected to JP.
    Joho is taking the ‘war’ to the rebels’ doorsteps without mincing a word criticizing the Jubilee adminstration. He has been the loudest critic on historical injustices on land issues at the coast, most notably is the Waitiki land in Likoni. Joho has also been critical of the National government for not involving his county government whenever the President visits Mombasa.
    When one may argue that we have equaly seen many young politicians who rise fast and fall. Lack of focus and ‘political hustle’ are major the attributes to fast rise and quick falls. We are living in an era where broke politicians are ‘bought’ on a daily basis, going against the will of their supporters and denting their political careers. Joho brags as being too expensive and cannot be ‘bought’ by anyone to join the wrong political camp.
    He sits at the vantage point to succeed ODM Party leader Odinga. He is the deputy party leader very close to Mr Odinga enjoying love from every party’s strong hold. When he rode with Raila in the same car in Kisumu at the memory of anti-IEBC protest victims, Joho gracefully waved to the enthusiastic supporters receiving wild cheers. The manner in which he has played his cards so far places him among the top national politicians and a force to reckon with in post Uhuru era.