Kenya Insights

Tag: Moses Kuria

  • THE KURIA NETWORK TAKES THE BOARDROOM: How Moses Kuria’s Inner Circle Seized Control of Africa Mega Agricorp And the Paper Trail That Links It All

    THE KURIA NETWORK TAKES THE BOARDROOM: How Moses Kuria’s Inner Circle Seized Control of Africa Mega Agricorp And the Paper Trail That Links It All

    On the morning of June 3, 2026, two men who spent years fetching briefcases and drafting memos for one of Kenya’s most colourful politicians took their seats at the top of a publicly listed company.

    Joshua Gakinya, once the personal assistant to former Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria, was appointed Independent Non-Executive Director of Africa Mega Agricorp PLC.

    Phillip Ndabari Muriuki, who served as Kuria’s senior adviser when he ran the Ministry of Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management, was installed as the company’s new Chairman.

    Their ascent to the board of a Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed firm would be unremarkable if not for what preceded it: a corporate acquisition that critics argue was orchestrated from within government, a UAE-registered firm that shares a postal address with Kuria himself, and a pattern of state contracts flowing to entities within the same web of relationships. The appointments complete a circle that has been drawing slowly tighter since 2023.

    The two men who once carried Kuria’s briefcases now carry the chairmanship and a directorship at a KSh 1.4 billion agribusiness empire.

    FROM KENYA ORCHARDS TO AMAC: THE ARCHITECTURE OF A TAKEOVER

    Africa Mega Agricorp PLC traded on the NSE under the ticker AMAC did not always wear its current ambitions. For decades it was known as Kenya Orchards Limited, a modest Nakuru-based processor of fruit jams, tomato paste, canned beans, and condiments that had quietly lost its competitive edge. By 2024, its share price hovered around KSh 19.50, and the company’s future was the subject of a cautionary statement rather than investor enthusiasm.

    That changed in June 2024 when Kenya Orchards issued a statement to the exchange disclosing that it had received a bid from a company called Africa Mega Agriculture Centre Limited to acquire an 84.42 per cent controlling stake. The purchase price, calculated on prevailing share values, was estimated at KSh 210 million.

    The sellers were Westpac Holdings Limited, which held 34.28 per cent, alongside three individual shareholders: Thakarshi Keshav Patel at 33.61 per cent, his son Vipul Thakarshi Patel at 14.89 per cent, and Hansa Dinesh Chandra Shah at 1.65 per cent. The transaction was conducted as a private sale and involved asset transfers to settle outstanding dues owed by the company to its outgoing shareholders.

    Shareholder approval was secured at an extraordinary general meeting in August 2024.

    A certificate of change of name was issued by the Registrar of Companies on December 16, 2024, and by early 2025, Kenya Orchards had formally disappeared from the exchange, replaced by Africa Mega Agricorp PLC.

    Today the company trades at around KSh 111 to KSh 115 per share, giving it a market capitalisation approaching KSh 1.43 billion a near-600 per cent appreciation from the price at which its controlling stake changed hands.

    THE INVESTAFRICA THREAD: A UAE ENTITY, A SHARED ADDRESS, A DENIED CONNECTION

    The story of who actually orchestrated the Kenya Orchards acquisition begins not at Nakuru but in Dubai. Africa Mega Agriculture Centre Limited, the vehicle that purchased the controlling stake, was incorporated on November 24, 2023, by InvestAfrica-FZCO a firm registered in the United Arab Emirates whose beneficial ownership has been the subject of sustained controversy since 2022.

    InvestAfrica-FZCO first surfaced in Kenyan public discourse in 2023 when it acquired a 35 per cent stake in Eveready East Africa from the family of the late industrialist Naushad Merali.

    That transaction, like the Kenya Orchards deal that followed, was structured as a private sale with no obligation extended to minority shareholders and no intention to delist.

    The structural similarities between the two transactions same acquirer network, same approach, same NSE disclosure template were not lost on market analysts.

    What elevated InvestAfrica-FZCO from an anonymous UAE investor to a subject of parliamentary and press scrutiny was a single detail revealed by auctioneers in March 2025: a postal address shared by InvestAfrica-FZCO and Moses Kuria himself.

    An advertisement published by Garam Investments Limited in connection with the intended auction of Kuria’s properties at Juja and Ruaka disclosed the shared address, setting off a chain of corporate archaeology.

    The trail did not end there. InvestAfrica-FZCO is listed as the sole beneficial owner of Emerging Capital Holdings, which in turn owns Smith and Gold Productions Limited. Smith and Gold was, until 2023, listed in corporate filings with Kuria himself as beneficial owner.

    When ownership of Smith and Gold shifted to InvestAfrica-FZCO, Kuria’s brother Alois Kinyanjui remained a stakeholder in the firm. Smith and Gold had previously won a KSh 259 million contract for the construction of Karatu Stadium in Kiambu County work that a parliamentary report in 2020 found had not been completed to the value of the funds disbursed, with KSh 102 million released despite inadequate delivery.

    Until 2023, Kuria was named as Smith and Gold’s beneficial owner. Ownership then shifted to InvestAfrica-FZCO. His brother remained inside the structure.

    THE EDIBLE OILS SCANDAL: STATE POWER, DUBAI SUBSIDIARIES, AND QUESTIONABLE CONTRACTS

    The edible oils episode provides the most documented intersection between Moses Kuria’s tenure as a Cabinet Secretary and the entities that orbit InvestAfrica-FZCO.

    When Kuria served as Cabinet Secretary for Trade and Industrialisation before his subsequent move to the Public Service ministry his ministry oversaw a government programme to import 125,000 metric tonnes of cooking oil through the Kenya National Trading Corporation to address rising consumer prices.

    Among the companies awarded local purchase orders under that programme was Shehena Trading Commodity Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of InvestAfrica-FZCO.

    Shehena secured a KSh 1.33 billion contract to supply edible oils to KNTC. Investigators and parliamentary inquiries later confirmed that Wilfred Saroni, listed as CEO of the InvestAfrica-FZCO enterprise, was described in official documents as closely associated with the then Trade CS.

    The same audits revealed that KNTC did not pay customs duty of 35 per cent, import declaration fees of 3.5 per cent, or agricultural levies totalling 2 per cent on the consignments a combined tax exemption of 42.5 per cent that investigators calculated would generate a liability of nearly KSh 10 billion against the full programme.

    The Kenya Bureau of Standards subsequently confirmed in a letter dated September 5, 2023, that the 125,000 metric tonnes of cooking oil imported was unfit for human consumption.

    Kuria denied personal wrongdoing throughout, and has consistently maintained that he has no ownership of InvestAfrica-FZCO.

    The Directorate of Criminal Investigations was among agencies that sought corporate registration details for Shehena and related firms.

    THE APPOINTMENTS: NDABARI, GAKINYA, AND THE COMPLETION OF A CIRCLE

    Effective June 3, 2026, Africa Mega Agricorp PLC made four simultaneous announcements: Phillip Ndabari Muriuki was appointed Chairman and Independent Non-Executive Director; James Watenga Kamau was appointed Executive Director; Joshua Gakinya was appointed Independent Non-Executive Director; and Abraham Ng’etich was named Acting Chief Executive Officer. The outgoing directors, Yebeltal Getachew and Michael Foley, resigned simultaneously.

    Ndabari, the new Chairman, brings a professional biography that spans commercial banking, payment systems, and board oversight across Africa, the Middle East, and the Gulf Cooperation Council region — a career arc that mirrors Kuria’s own early trajectory through Standard Chartered and Al Rajhi Bank in Saudi Arabia. His appointment as the independent chair of a company controlled by an entity linked to Kuria raises questions the Capital Markets Authority has tools to examine.

    Gakinya, the new non-executive director, operated as Kuria’s personal assistant during his ministerial career. His professional profile references entrepreneurial interests in agribusiness and technology.

    The appointment of a former personal assistant as an independent director on the board of a company whose acquisition was engineered by an entity associated with the same employer is, at minimum, an unusual governance arrangement for an NSE-listed public company.

    WESTPACK, DIGIFARM, AND THE AGRIBUSINESS AMBITION

    Before InvestAfrica-FZCO structured the Kenya Orchards deal, Kuria’s own declared business interests extended into agriculture through a company called Westpack.

    The firm signed an agreement with Safaricom’s DigiFarm platform to market green grams Ndengu grown by smallholder farmers in Kitui County, connecting them to downstream buyers through digital infrastructure.

    The arrangement collapsed before delivering material results, but it demonstrated that Kuria had, even before his ministerial appointments, identified the nexus of smallholder agriculture, digital platforms, and market access as an area of commercial interest.

    AMAC’s current positioning which it describes as a farm-to-global trade infrastructure company connecting smallholders in Kenya’s 47 counties to buyers in the Middle East, Europe, and beyond through technology and traceability mirrors precisely that thesis.

    Whether the Westpack-DigiFarm venture was a precursor to the AMAC strategy, or merely a coincidence of strategic interest, is a question that the overlap of personnel and timing invites.

    WHAT AMAC REPRESENTS: SIGNIFICANCE BEYOND THE CONTROVERSY

    It would be a disservice to the millions of Kenyan smallholders who depend on agricultural value chains to reduce this story to its political dimension alone. Africa Mega Agricorp PLC operates in a sector that accounts for a significant share of Kenya’s GDP, employs the majority of its rural population, and generates substantial foreign exchange through exports of coffee, tea, avocados, cut flowers, and horticultural produce.

    A well-governed, well-capitalised NSE-listed agribusiness with genuine reach across all 47 counties and real export infrastructure could provide price stability for farmers, reduce post-harvest losses, improve access to trade finance, and position Kenya as the dominant agro-processing hub in the East African region.

    The company’s stated ambitions cold-chain logistics, digital marketplaces, warehouse receipt financing, ESG-compliant supply chains are the kind of structural interventions that Kenya’s agricultural sector genuinely requires. The question is not whether such a company should exist. It is whether the manner in which it came to exist, and the identity of those who now govern it, can withstand the scrutiny that public markets demand.

    REGULATORY SILENCE AND THE DISCLOSURE QUESTION

    Kenya’s Capital Markets Authority requires listed companies to observe the highest standards of corporate governance, including the independence of non-executive directors and full disclosure of related-party interests.

    The CMA’s own rules on the independence of directors specifically require that an individual’s relationships with controlling shareholders be examined. The connection between AMAC’s new Chairman, its new non-executive director, and the man whose associate network acquired the controlling stake in the company is the kind of relationship that the CMA’s definitions of independence were designed to interrogate.

    NSE-listed shares are held by pension funds, retail investors, unit trusts, and insurance companies institutions entrusted with the savings of ordinary Kenyans.

    Those shareholders are entitled to know whether the persons declared to be independent directors truly are independent, and whether the company’s governance architecture protects minority shareholders or serves the interests of its controlling entities.

  • Moses Kuria Tears Into Rigathi Gachagua’s Mt Kenya Power Moves

    Moses Kuria Tears Into Rigathi Gachagua’s Mt Kenya Power Moves

    State House Senior Advisor Moses Kuria has taken off the gloves and launched a blistering attack on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

    In a sarcastic and biting online rant, Kuria accused Gachagua of plotting to rule Mt. Kenya politics through fear, control, and intimidation.

    His comments came as Gachagua unveiled the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), which he hopes will strengthen his political base. But Kuria sees it differently — he says it’s the rise of dictatorship.

    With sharp irony, Kuria painted Gachagua as a man obsessed with loyalty and blind obedience, warning Mt. Kenya leaders and voters not to fall for it.

    Moses Kuria Tears Into Rigathi Gachagua’s Mt Kenya Power Moves
    Moses Kuria’s outburst signals a deepening rift within the Mt Kenya leadership. As 2027 approaches, tensions are rising between those loyal to Rigathi Gachagua (pictured) and those who believe the region needs new political direction. [Photo: Courtesy]

    Moses Kuria Accuses Gachagua of Political Bullying in Mt Kenya

    Moses Kuria’s recent statements have drawn a clear battle line in Mt Kenya’s political landscape. Through a social media post titled “The Making of a Dictator”, Kuria mocked Rigathi Gachagua’s leadership style and labelled his methods as coercive and outdated.

    According to Kuria, Gachagua is pressuring Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata to support the newly formed DCP or risk losing his seat in 2027. Kuria ridiculed this move, saying it reveals Gachagua’s desire to rule the region with an iron fist.

    More worrying, Kuria claims, is Gachagua’s plan to vet all DCP candidates personally. This, he argues, is a move to eliminate independent minds who don’t worship Gachagua’s style of leadership. The goal, Kuria said sarcastically, is to only allow those who submit fully to his authority to hold office.

    Kuria listed five examples to highlight Gachagua’s “authoritarian traits,” which he described with stinging mockery:

    1. Telling Governor Kang’ata he must follow orders or face political death.
    2. Personally screening all party aspirants to eliminate “uneducated” ones.
    3. Declaring all Mt Kenya parties apart from DCP as traitorous.
    4. Branding leaders who don’t follow him as “brainless.”
    5. Telling Mt Kenya musicians to only sing his praises, or be boycotted.

    Kuria ended his rant with the brutal quip, “What next… All women whose first name is not Dorcas are sellouts and will not go to heaven?”

    This pointed remark seemed to be a thinly veiled jab at Gachagua’s wife, Pastor Dorcas Gachagua, suggesting the former DP’s circle demands not just political, but personal loyalty.

     Kuria’s voice is bold, controversial, and unmistakably clear—Mt. Kenya must not fall under one man’s grip. Whether voters listen remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Moses Kuria is not holding back. [Photo: Courtesy]

    Kuria Warns Against Gachagua’s Control Over Artists and Leaders

    Kuria didn’t stop at mocking politicians. He took direct aim at how Gachagua allegedly seeks to dominate every aspect of Mt Kenya society — including the entertainment industry. According to Kuria, Gachagua has told supporters to shun musicians who don’t publicly support him. He claims artists who refuse to sing his praise are being blacklisted from events, shows, and social platforms.

    This move, Kuria says, mirrors tactics of political strongmen who silence all forms of dissent — even in music. He called out the absurdity of trying to control musicians’ creativity and the public’s listening choices. For Kuria, it’s a dangerous sign of growing intolerance and insecurity within Gachagua’s camp.

    He warned that if such practices go unchecked, Mt Kenya risks becoming a political puppet zone, where only those loyal to one man’s ambition can thrive. Kuria insists that Mt Kenya needs open political competition, not forced conformity.

    Moses Kuria Calls for Unity While Slamming Gachagua’s Allies

    While Kuria’s attacks on Gachagua were fiery, he also used a Sunday event in Meru to issue a broader warning to the region’s leadership. Without naming names, he condemned those who, in his view, are pushing ethnic loyalty over national unity.

    His criticism is seen as directed at Gachagua and his allies, who have been accused of turning Mt Kenya into a tribal voting bloc.

    Kuria also took a swipe at Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro for questioning how the government is handling social security funds. He said it was immoral for leaders within government to publicly undermine its financial agenda.

    According to him, Nyoro’s remarks were irresponsible and harmful to public trust in President William Ruto’s administration.

    Kuria made it clear that while internal debate is healthy, leaders must be cautious not to feed public anxiety for political gain.

    He urged Mt. Kenya leaders to focus on development and unity, not personal ambition or populist rhetoric.

     

  • ‘Do Not Start a War, Focus on Your Political Age Mates Like Ichungwa, I’m Your Senior,’ Kuria Warns Gachagua

    ‘Do Not Start a War, Focus on Your Political Age Mates Like Ichungwa, I’m Your Senior,’ Kuria Warns Gachagua

    A political confrontation has erupted between President William Ruto’s Senior Economic Adviser Moses Kuria and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, with Kuria warning Gachagua against starting a political war he “cannot win.”

    The exchange began when Gachagua, addressing supporters in Kangema, Murang’a County on Saturday, claimed that Kuria’s Chama Cha Kazi (CCK) party was among several political outfits allegedly controlled by President Ruto, whom he referred to as “Kasongo.”

    “Kasongo has planned to launch many parties, Moses Kuria’s party is his, that of Kiunjuri is also his, and that of William Kabogo. He is further planning to start two new parties here in Murang’a,” Gachagua told his supporters.

    The remarks prompted a swift and stern response from Kuria, who took to social media to defend his party’s independence and remind Gachagua of their political history.

    “I formed Chama Cha Kazi in August 2021. We have elected MCAs in several counties including Nairobi, Kiambu, Nyandarua and Embu,” Kuria stated, emphasizing that CCK is a legitimate national outfit with elected officials across multiple counties.

    In his pointed rebuke, Kuria recalled how he had attempted to convince Gachagua before the 2022 elections that they should approach Ruto with their own political parties, similar to the strategy employed by Musalia Mudavadi, Moses Wetangula, Alfred Mutua, and Amason Kingi.

    “You refused and on Live TV you called my party a briefcase party. You said we should trust William Ruto unconditionally,” Kuria wrote, suggesting that Gachagua had undermined him and other CCK candidates during that period.

    The tension between the two Mt. Kenya leaders appears to stem from their differing approaches to regional politics, with Kuria accusing Gachagua of trying to “vandalize parties we have nurtured for 4 years when you were blindly in love with William Ruto.”

    Kuria concluded his statement with a warning that has now become the talk of political circles: “Do not start a war you cannot win. Focus on your political age mates like Kimani Ichungwa. I am your political senior my friend. Respect your elders.”

    The exchange shows growing divisions within the Mt. Kenya political landscape, where various leaders are positioning themselves ahead of future electoral contests.

  • Naivas Closure Row Pits Moses Kuria Against Sakaja as Jobs and Public Health Hang in the Balance

    Naivas Closure Row Pits Moses Kuria Against Sakaja as Jobs and Public Health Hang in the Balance

    In the battle between economic interests and public health, Moses Kuria has thrown his weight behind profit.

    The senior economic advisor to President William Ruto has condemned the Nairobi County government for ordering the closure of Naivas Supermarket over health violations.

    Kuria believes the move is reckless and damaging to the economy. But critics say Kuria is turning a blind eye to serious health concerns flagged by the Nairobi Health Committee.

    The clash between Kuria and Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration has stirred heated debate on what matters more—profit or public safety.

    The Naivas clash exposes a deeper battle—Moses Kuria backs big business, while Nairobi officials demand accountability to protect public health. [Photo: Courtesy]

    Moses Kuria Defends Naivas Closure Backlash as Necessary for Investor Confidence

    Moses Kuria has come out swinging against the Nairobi County government for ordering the closure of Naivas Supermarket over claims of expired food items and uncertified workers. Posting on his official X account, Kuria warned that the closure of one of Kenya’s largest retailers sends the wrong message to investors.

    “We will not create jobs when county governments wake up and close Naivas and Carrefour arbitrarily. You don’t attract investors by acting whimsical,” Kuria wrote on May 14.

    Kuria, who serves as President Ruto’s Senior Economic Adviser, accused the county of chasing away capital at a time when the country is struggling with high unemployment and inflation.

    To him, the shutdown of major retailers like Naivas not only disrupts business operations but also sends shockwaves through the entire investment climate of Nairobi and Kenya at large.

    Naivas has more than 30 outlets in the capital, employing thousands of Kenyans. From Kilimani to Lang’ata and Buruburu to Kasarani, the chain provides jobs, supports local suppliers, and fuels daily commerce.

    Kuria believes disrupting this ecosystem, even temporarily, threatens to undo years of economic progress. While the Nairobi Health Committee insists it found expired yogurt and items with missing expiry labels at the Moi Avenue branch, Kuria brushed off the concerns as flimsy grounds for such drastic action.

    His stance has sparked a national debate. Is Kuria protecting jobs or excusing negligence? Should economic stability come at the cost of consumer health?

    Health Concerns at Naivas Trigger Controversial Closure

    The closure order was issued after Nairobi MCA Maurice Ochieng and the Health Committee conducted a surprise inspection at Naivas Moi Avenue branch.

    What they allegedly found alarmed them—expired dairy products and items without clear labeling. Ochieng also pointed out that some staff members lacked proper health certification.

    “We are here at Naivas Moi Avenue, and we have realised that there are expired products on the shelf, putting Nairobians at risk,” Ochieng stated.

    These findings prompted the committee to demand an immediate shutdown to protect the health of Nairobi residents.

    Public outcry quickly followed, with many Kenyans applauding the move as a necessary check on corporate responsibility.

    However, Naivas hit back within hours. In a firm statement, the retailer said, “No expired products have been found on our shelves.” The company dismissed the allegations as false and potentially harmful to its brand.

    Naivas went further to deny any closures had taken place. It called on the public to disregard the misinformation and assured customers that operations at all branches would continue without disruption.

    Profit vs. Public Safety Debate Heats Up

    While Kuria defends businesses from what he calls arbitrary county decisions, critics argue that his position prioritizes profits over public safety.

    Public health advocates say expired products on supermarket shelves can lead to serious illnesses, even death. They believe government action, however bold, is necessary when consumer health is on the line.

    On the other side, Kuria and his allies argue that such abrupt enforcement can damage business confidence and force investors to rethink Nairobi as a base of operations. This, they say, could lead to job losses and reduced economic growth—especially at a time when Kenya’s economy is already on shaky ground.

    The clash reveals deeper tensions between national economic advisers and county-level regulators. While Kuria champions investor interests, Nairobi’s health authorities insist they are acting in the public interest.

    What’s clear is that the Naivas closure incident has pushed Kenyans to confront a hard truth. Balancing economic growth with public accountability is no easy task. But when one side pushes too hard, the consequences ripple far beyond a single supermarket branch.

  • UDA Blogger Sandra Kimani Exposes Alleged Fraud in Government PR Deal, Claims Rita Oyier Swindled Their Money

    UDA Blogger Sandra Kimani Exposes Alleged Fraud in Government PR Deal, Claims Rita Oyier Swindled Their Money

    UDA blogger Sandra Kimani has come forward with shocking allegations of being shortchanged in a government-backed public relations deal, accusing PR practitioner Rita Oyier of defrauding her and other bloggers.

    Kimani claims they were recruited by Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria to defend the government on TV and radio, only to discover that they were paid far less than the agreed amount.

    According to Kimani, the bloggers were initially promised a monthly payment of Sh100,000 for their services, which included defending the government and criticizing former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. However, they later learned that the actual payment was supposed to be Sh250,000, with Oyier allegedly pocketing the difference. In the end, Kimani says they received a meager Sh50,000, leaving them feeling exploited and betrayed.

    The Broken Promises

    Kimani revealed that the bloggers were briefed by Moses Kuria on what they believed was a government assignment. They were tasked with defending the government’s initiatives, including the controversial Social Health Authority (SHA), and tarnishing the reputation of Rigathi Gachagua. Despite assurances that their expenses would be covered, the bloggers claim they had to pay for their own airtime on TV and radio stations out of pocket.

    “We were promised Sh100,000 monthly, with an additional top-up of Sh100,000 every time a ministry called on us for further work,” Kimani said. “But when the payments came, we were shocked to receive only Sh50,000. It was a slap in the face after all the effort we put in.”

    Shocking Revelations at Governor Wanga’s Event

    The bloggers’ frustration reached a boiling point during Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga’s thanksgiving party, where they confronted SHA bosses about the discrepancies in their payments. According to Kimani, they were told that they should have received between Sh150,000 and Sh170,000 for their work defending the new health authority. This revelation left them stunned, as they had been paid significantly less despite their extensive efforts.

    “We felt used and discarded,” Kimani said. “We were told we should have received more, but Rita Oyier had taken the lion’s share. It’s clear we were scammed.”

    Calls for Accountability

    Kimani’s allegations have sparked outrage among her fellow bloggers and raised questions about the transparency of government-backed PR campaigns. Many are now calling for an investigation into the matter, demanding accountability from both Rita Oyier and Moses Kuria.

    “This is not just about money; it’s about trust,” Kimani said. “We were recruited to serve the government, but instead, we were exploited. Someone needs to answer for this.”

    Rita Oyier and Moses Kuria Yet to Respond

    As of now, neither Rita Oyier nor Moses Kuria has publicly responded to the allegations. However, the scandal has already begun to tarnish the reputation of the government’s PR efforts, with critics accusing officials of exploiting young professionals for political gain.

    Rita Oyier.

    A Cautionary Tale

    Kimani’s story serves as a cautionary tale for bloggers and content creators who are often lured into political PR campaigns with promises of lucrative payments. Her experience highlights the need for clear contracts, transparency, and accountability in such arrangements.

    “We learned the hard way that not all that glitters is gold,” Kimani said. “I hope our story will serve as a warning to others who might be tempted by similar offers.”

    As the controversy unfolds, all eyes are on the government and the individuals implicated in the scandal. Will there be accountability, or will this be yet another case of exploitation swept under the rug? Only time will tell.

    —

  • You Demanded Sh10B From Ruto And He Refused Then Started The Onslaught, Moses Kuria Reveals Rigathi’s Secrets In Explosive Letter

    You Demanded Sh10B From Ruto And He Refused Then Started The Onslaught, Moses Kuria Reveals Rigathi’s Secrets In Explosive Letter

    Senior Advisor in the Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) Moses Kuria on Wednesday reshared a letter that he had written to besieged Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua back in June highlighting 10-key issues that he needed answered before he could join his ‘Murima’ bandwagon.

    Key among the issues raised by the vocal politician is a claim that Rigathi had demanded Sh10 billion from President Ruto to sanitize the ‘ground’.

    “When the cost of living was high and there was discontent on the ground, you went to the President and demanded he gives you cash Ksh 10 Billion to go fix the ground in Mt Kenya. When it was denied you now throw tantrums. How would the cash have benefitted the people of Mt Kenya?” Kuria revealed.

    Kuria also revealed that Gachagua stopped taking tea from Statehouse for fear that he would be poisoned.

    “Now you have refused to even have a cup of tea in State House saying you fear you will be poisoned. Make me understand how you now expect us to feel safe coming to your Karen Residence for Cabinet Committee meetings. Won’t you also poison us now that you have a good idea of how poisoning works?” He said.

    Questions and allegations

    Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana this week filed a censure motion against the DP and one of the issues he raised was Rigathi’s allegiance and obsession with Mount Kenya politics that made him ignore other regions and seen as a tribal king. In the letter by Kuria, he poses several questions to the DP pertaining the same issue.

    Here’s part of the letter.

    1. As we headed towards the General Elections of 2022 | pleaded with you about the need to join the Kenya Kwanza Alliance through a Mt Kenya Party like Chama Cha Kazi. You told me off and even mobilised everybody to decam-paign against me, Kabogo & Kiunjuri and our party candidates. Only Kiunjuri survived your evil scheme. Now after UDA formed government you want our people to leave UDA and government and join your party. This is pure Ukora and selfishness. You want to lock the Gichegu when the mbuzi has already left.
    2. President Ruto appointed me CS against your wishes. You said we can’t have another mlevi like Uhuru. Uhuru whom you are professing love for
    3. You pressed President Ruto repeatedly to have me fired. When you failed you succeed in having me transferred from the Ministry of Investments, Trade & Industry because you thought my efforts in poverty reduction, Jobs creation and wealth creation were too dangerous for your plans
    4. Since September 2022 to date you have been receiving the Mt Kenya share of appointments.

      Even the ones for Ministries under the CSs from Mt Kenya. We only come to know that we have

      ‘appointed’ someone from the Kenya Gazette.

      Now you have exhausted the appointments and you want us to andamana with you for you are being oppressed

    5. Whereas all the rest of us are busy in our dock-ets, you do zero work in terms of the priorities of the President and the government. The President works 24 by 7 alone yet you are so idle that you spend entire day politicking or filling out tender forms.bi wonder how you can run a government yet you know absolutely nothing of how government operates.
    6. You have never stepped out of Nyeri save for few forays into Mt Kenya East. How can you lead us? Are you not the safest route towards 41 against 1 isolation of our community? Is this the legacy you want to bequeath our Gen Z majority?
    7. You have lost the trust and friendship of 90% of elected and appointed leaders in Mt Kenya region. How can you lead them?

    Kuria in his attack on the DP concluded by questioning the end game of Rigathi as he fights to isolate the Mt Kenya from others in his wisdom.

    “Finally, where are you taking our people? Assume you even get 100% of Mt Kenya, what next? What’s the end game? Will you vie for President in 2027? Which other voting block other than Mt Kenya will you team up with ? Who will trust you ? Are you not being reckless and irresponsible with the political destiny of our people? Other than cheating them to change from Hustler to Villager what other vision do you have for them? Are we going to feed our people on slogans like Hustle and Villager for ever just like Tibim and Tialala? What about the roads, water, schools, water, jobs, businesses that we promised them? When you cry to them about you being treated unfairly do you want them to eat you for dinner tonight?” Kuria posed.

    Rigathi impeachment motion ready

    The impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua could be tabled in Parliament anytime now, with reports suggesting it is ready and had attained necessary support from Members of Parliament.

    Sources said signatures were coming in “fast and furious”, saying more than 116 lawmakers have signed. While some have threatened on social media that the plan could be set rolling in two weeks, insiders told The Standard that President William Ruto’s allies want the motion tabled before the President returns from his US trip.

    The President is expected back on Saturday, meaning the impeachment motion could be tabled by today if the timelines promised are to be followed, given MPs do not sit on Friday.

    Sources say the motion could be tabled today, having been endorsed by more than a third of the lawmakers from across the political divide. Others, on condition of anonymity, said it would be tabled next week, as the subject was too sensitive to be rushed and that they did not want to afford Gachagua any loopholes.

    Yesterday, an MP from Mt Kenya claimed Leader of Minority at the National Assembly Junet Mohammed received instructions from ODM leader Raila Odinga to rally ODM Mps to support the impeachment motion after it is tabled. The instructions came via phone from New York where Raila is accompanying President Ruto.

  • ‪As Kenya Nears Sh70B Tax Waiver Deal With Belarusian Tycoons, Intent Of Its Shadowy Oligarchs In Kenya Is Questioned‬

    ‪As Kenya Nears Sh70B Tax Waiver Deal With Belarusian Tycoons, Intent Of Its Shadowy Oligarchs In Kenya Is Questioned‬

    Kenya is aiming at becoming the regional economic powerhouse of Africa, in its ambitious strategy, the country is opening up ways for investors to make their investments and in line making all mannerisms of attractive investment deals.

    Shadowy Businessmen

    In one of its latest moves to bolster economic relations and eliminate double taxation, in the middle of this mega deal are two shadowy businessmen Oleg Vodchits and Alexander Zingman that Kenya Insights has covered extensively and explained how their business deals with other African countries have been marred by controversies, corruption scandals leading to the question of their main intent as they turned their horns to Kenya. Hold on to this we will come to tackle them in details later on, but first, the details of the Kenya, Belarus deal.

    Double Taxation Agreement (DTA)

    The Kenyan government, under President William Ruto’s administration, has announced its commitment to finalizing a Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) with the Republic of Belarus. The DTA, which will focus on taxes on income, is being spearheaded by the National Treasury on behalf of the Kenyan government.

    The National Treasury has extended an invitation to stakeholders to provide their input on the draft agreement, which can be obtained from the National Treasury offices during working hours. This move is seen as a crucial step in the process of engaging the public and stakeholders in the development of this significant agreement.

    The announcement comes at a time when economic ties between Kenya and Belarus are growing stronger. Several Belarusian businesses have already entered into agreements to supply plant machinery and invest in Special Economic Zones in Kenya. These deals, backed by both governments, are expected to generate over Ksh70 billion for the Belarusian tycoons involved.

    The DTA, once in force, will ensure that Belarusian investors are exempt from paying income tax in Kenya, as they would have already paid taxes in their home country. This development is particularly significant given the recent controversy surrounding a Ksh31 billion machinery deal between Kenya and Belarus. Despite the controversy, Kenya has shown its willingness to continue engaging with the Belarusian government.

    In addition to the machinery deal, Kenya has also signed a Ksh39 billion agreement with a Potash Company to invest in the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone. The Belarusian company is expected to set up a fertilizer plant in the coastal economic zone, further solidifying the economic partnership between the two countries.

    This move by the Kenyan government to eliminate double taxation with Belarus is seen as a strategic step towards fostering economic growth and attracting foreign investment. It is also a clear indication of Kenya’s commitment to strengthening its economic ties with Belarus, despite the controversy and condemnation the European country has faced from the West.

    Controversial Belarusian Businessmen

    Behind the curtains, the administration of Kenyan President William Ruto is reportedly establishing ties with two Belarusian businessmen, Oleg Vodchits and Alexander Zingman, who have a history of controversial business dealings in Africa.

    Closely linked to the Belarusian dictator Aleksandr Lukashenko, these shadowy businessmen have being integrated into the Kenyan government as quasi middlemen in Kenya posing as “advisers for the Gulf countries,” despite their checkered past.

    Their first prominent debut was when Zingman and Vodchits were listed as part of a delegation from then Kenyan Minister of Commerce Moses Kuria during his official trip to Qatar in February 2023 where he met several high-ranking characters, such as the general manager of the Qatar National Bank, Abdulla Mubarak Al-Khalifa.

    While their official duties weren’t disclosed, it was clear they were establishing themselves in the core circles of Kenya’s establishment. This controversial embrace of questionable characters was seen by many in the diplomatic community as a heavy gamble that would by itself pose potential diplomatic risks associated with dealing with a country under sanctions from Western nations.

    The two businessmen have a history of controversial business dealings in Africa. In 2021, they were detained for almost two weeks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) by intelligence agents who questioned them about their ties to former president Joseph Kabila. They were also suspected of attempting to sell weapons to Kabila, which led to their arrest.

    Zingman is very “close to former Zambian President Edgar Lungu, “friend of Moses Katumbi”

    Zingman was arrested in mid-March 2022 with two of his associates by the ANR when he went down from a plane in Lubumbashi from Harare. The ANR had suspected him that the Belarusian had helped Kabila to weaken his successor Félix Tshisekedi. And then Zingman was released following pressure from Qatar, Kagame’s ally. Zingman is an arms dealer who allowed the sale of military equipment to Zambia under Edgar Lungu and Zimbabwe.

    Media shy Oleg Vodchit seen in a rare photo with his partner Alexander Zingman meeting Equatorial Guinea leader.
    Media shy Oleg Vodchit seen in a rare photo with his partner Alexander Zingman meeting Equatorial Guinea leader.

    Alexander Zingman is Honorary Consul of Belarus in Zimbabwe. He is also known to be close to the Belarusian regime of Alexander Lukashenko. Olga Shevko, representative of Aftrade DMCC, was present in Harare during the latter’s visit to Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on January 31, 2023. On this occasion, nearly $66 million in agricultural supplies were promised by the Belarusian government in a series of contracts signed by Olga Shevko.

    Aftrade and MTZ, one of Europe’s biggest tractor exporters, will supply at least 3,575 tractors to Zimbabwe between 2023 and 2024. Aftrade has distribution rights for MTZ equipment in the country.

    The tractors are leased to Zimbabwean farmers through the state-owned farm lender AFC as well as CBZ. MTZ has set up a local service centre, under Bison Agro.

    RentCo Africa Limited

    In Kenya, Kenya Insights has information that leasing company RentCo Africa Limited will be working with the shady company already the group’s CEO and founder, Robert Nyasimi has sealed the deal, details on this to be handled separately.

    Zingman, in particular, has been involved in several high-profile arms deals in Africa, including the sale of helicopters from Russia and the contract for the supply of Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircrafts.

    Controversial Sh31B Tractor Deal

    While Zingman appears to be orchestrating deals for his countrymen, it’s believed he stands to benefit the most from a multibillion dollar sale deal in the agricultural sector.

    He is also believed to be brokering a Sh31 billion tractor deal between Kenya and Belarus, a move that has raised eyebrows due to Belarus’s status under Western sanctions.

    The Kenyan government’s decision to engage with these controversial figures is seen as a risky diplomatic gamble. The United States, United Kingdom, and European Union have imposed sanctions on Belarus due to its support for Russia in the Ukrainian war. By dealing with Belarus, the Kenyan government is potentially exposing itself to diplomatic tensions with these Western powers.

    Kenyans viewing one of the tractors during trade fair held in Belarus last year.
    Kenyans viewing one of the tractors during trade fair held in Belarus last year.

    Aftrade DMCC’s complexity

    Moreover, the details of the $31 billion tractor deal are shrouded in mystery. The Kenyan government has not disclosed the source of funds for this massive project, and the involvement of a Dubai-based entity known as Aftrade DMCC, owned by Zingman, adds another layer of complexity.

    It is in the UAE that Aftrade DMCC is registered, which specializes in sales of Belarusian equipment to Africa and the co-owner of which is Zingman.

    Zingman’s company which is registered in UAE, is in another “gray” zone where it is impossible to get intelligible information about someone’s business.

    Zingman is believed to have brokered the procurement of helicopters from Russia and the contract for the supply of Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircrafts.

    On paper, Zingman’s name is associated with the fashionable restaurant Falcone in Minsk, Belarus and resides in Raubichi and owns several properties there. His partner, Elizaveta Denisevich, and son, Denis Zingman, are running the family business. Zingman’s private jet is reported to have frequently flown to and from the shelters of African countries, carrying on board government leaders and businessmen.

    Last year, Aftrade DMCC supplied nine tractors to Kenya, and already in this there was information about the plans of the Kenyan government to purchase not only tractors in Belarus, but also forage harvesters and dump trucks. The volume of the proposed transaction, in which Aftrade DMCC as a dealer, pulls several hundred million dollars. The Kenyan media made a fuss about this, but it dissipated, and the plans remained.

    Former Trade Minister Moses Kuria and Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi in Belarus, we have attended the prestigious 33rd International Specialized Exhibition BELAGRO –2023.
    Former Trade Minister Moses Kuria and Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi in Belarus, we have attended the prestigious 33rd International Specialized Exhibition BELAGRO –2023.

    Kenya’s Agriculture Minister Mithika Linturi who was involved in crafting the deal, recently survived an impeachment in a controversial vote marred with bribery claims, Linturi had been accused of playing role in supplying fake fertilizer to farmers in a scandal that ran into billions. Moses Kuria, the then Trade Minister who was at the helm of the negotiations was also transferred to a different ministry following endless scandals.

    Belarus’ exports to African countries, the first half of 2022, in million dollars

    – Egypt – 69

    – Zimbabwe – 27

    – Angola – 18

    – Mali – 14

    – Ghana – 8

    – South Africa – 1.3

    – Tunisia – 1

    – Ivory Coast – 0.9

    – Morocco – 0.4

    – Kenya – 0.3

    – Malawi – 0.07.

    In Africa, by the way, there are more than fifty states, and Belarus, as can be seen from the statistics, exported its goods to only 11. Apparently, only in those where Zingman, the honorary consul of Belarus in Zimbabwe and the hero of the news about Lukashenko’s business enturment, arms trade and gold mining in Africa, set foot.

    Kenya-Belarus Trade History

    Zingman lit up at the meeting of the Belarusian Foreign Minister with the President of Kenya in Nairobi, taking the place of the Belarusian ambassador, judging by the seating position. At the same time, the volume of Belarusian exports to Kenya in the first half of 2022 reached only 300 thousand dollars. In previous years, exports sometimes reached 14 million, and sometimes they were zero, as in 2011.

    It is possible that part of Belarusian exports to Kenya, as well as to other African countries, is hidden in exports to the UAE, ensuring its rapid growth.

    Otherwise, it is difficult to explain the presence of Zingman at the meeting of the Foreign Minister of Belarus with the President of Kenya. The head of state promised tractors from Belarus a great future in Africa, which means good commissions for Aftrade DMCC. The Kenyan media wrote about $5 million, which already means zero price to Lukashenko’s loud statements that all intermediaries for Belarusian products should be removed.

    Everyone may have been cleaned, but their own, as we can see, are not. Although the fight against intermediaries itself is as stupid as hinging the responsibility for export development to embassies and personally diplomats.

    It is curious that the Embassy of Belarus in Kenya opened only in 2018, moving from the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, where it closed, although our countries have been in diplomatic relations since 1993.

    In addition to Kenya, the embassy is responsible for cooperation with Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda and the African Union, which is clearly too over the background of two and a half diplomats working in the diplomatic mission. Not counting Zingman and Sheiman, who close the whole of Africa.

    This move by the Ruto administration to embrace the shady characters raises questions about the government’s commitment to transparency and its willingness to engage with controversial figures for economic gain.

  • Ahmednasir Reveals The Traitors Uhuru Was Referring To In A Cryptic Message

    Ahmednasir Reveals The Traitors Uhuru Was Referring To In A Cryptic Message

    Lawyer Ahmednasir Abdulahi has made a cryptic post about the possible persons whom the former president Uhuru Kenyatta had labeled as traitors recently.

    Ruling out politicians, the lawyer cleverly posted a photo of Chief Justice Martha Koome as a coded message for ‘notorious four’ to mean members of the Supreme Court.

    Screenshot of Ahmednasir’s cryptic tweet.

    “Last week, when President Uhuru called out “Traitors who will not benefit from their trade,” many Kenyans wrongly thought he was referring to politicians. That is why Hon. Murathe quickly issued a clarification. Those who know what happened in September 2022 will tell you that Uhuru’s ire was probably directed at 4 notorious members of one arm of government.” His caption read.

    The Four Supreme Court Judges

    Ahmednasir has been at war with Kenya’s apex court for corruption claims that led to him being banned from appearing before its judges. This was after a sustained campaign over years by the lawyer who painted the court as graft ridden.

    In the suit before the East African Court of Justice, the lawyer has sued Kenyan government seeking to quash a Supreme Court ban against him, and demanding damages of Sh200 million for alleged violation of his right to fair administrative action, Ahmednasir claim four Supreme Court judges were paid to represent vertigo the presidency of Ruto.

    How Supreme Court judges were bribed

    Perhaps the most interesting part of the petition is the lawyer without mentioning the names, gives a blow by blow encounter on how judges were supposedly bribe to influence the 2022 presidential petition judgement.

    Under particulars of incompetence corruption and incompetence by Supreme Court judges, Mr Abdulahi claims that four out of the seven judges were paid between $1.5-2 million (Sh200-266 million) each to overturn the election of William Ruto that had been challenged by Raila Odinga but were however unable to deliver, “4 out of the 7 members of the full bench of the Supreme Court that heard the presidential poll petition by Raila Odinga challenging the results of the August 9, 2022 presidential elections which pitted William Ruto against members of Kenya’s two elite and most powerful political families, accepted bribes of between US$ 1.5 to 2 million each but were unable to influence the outcome of the verdict rendered on 5th September 2022 by which the Supreme Court unanimously upheld William Ruto’s win.” he says in the court document seen by Kenya Insights.

    He goes further to explain how each of the judges were bribed and how the cash was delivered, “Judge A accepted a bribe that was delivered at Judge A’s home in Nairobi by a very powerful politician; Judge B accepted bribes from 3 individuals, the son of a deceased leader, a retired governor and an influential businesswoman; Judge C took a bribe from a member of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) who subsequently left employment of the said service; Judge D accepted a bribe from a member of Parliament. Initially Judge D wanted the bribe to be given to his wife but later changed his mind.” Ahmednasir claimed in the suit.

    Uhuru’s claim of traitors

    While speaking during the Episcopal Ordination of the auxiliary Bishops-elect Simon Peter Kamomoe and Wallace Ng’ang’a Gachihi at St Mary’s Msongari Grounds in Nairobi on Saturday, Mr Kenyatta launched a scathing attack on unnamed individuals, calling them traitors.

    The former head of State, not mincing his words, took on some political leaders whom he termed traitors, lamenting how the political field in Kenya is full of betrayal.

    The fourth president lashed out at the unnamed individuals, warning they would not go far with their betrayal.

    “The nuncio has talked about betrayers in the church but I want to say that I don’t see a lot of betrayals in the church. Betrayal is on the other side (as he pointed to the side occupied by political leaders),” said Mr Kenyatta.

    “To the traitors, I want to tell them that even Judas (Iscariot) betrayed Jesus but he later left the pieces of silver and hanged himself. Everything will all come to an end,” he added.

    National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Chief Justice Martha Koome, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, Cabinet Secretaries Moses Kuria and Susan Nakhumicha, former CS Monica Juma and a host of Kenya Kwanza and Azimio politicians, including Sifuna, Beatrice Elachi, and Tim Wanyonyi attended the event.

    David Murathe rebuttal

    In a quick rejoinder on Tuesday, Jubilee Party vice chairperson David Murathe clarified that former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s traitor jibe targeted his ex-allies who abandoned him to work with his political friend-turned-rival, President William Ruto.

    Murathe said Mr Kenyatta was targeting people he helped build their political careers only for them to betray him in his hour of need.

    Mr Murathe singled out Public Service CS Kuria, CJ Koome, President Ruto’s National Security Advisor Ms Juma, Speaker Wetang’ula and Governor Sakaja as having rattled Mr Kenyatta, who was in pain over their betrayal despite his immense support in building their careers.

    “Each of these people have a story to tell on how they made it and the support they received. He (Uhuru) went out of his way to build their careers, yet they turned their backs at the slightest opportunity. These are the political traitors he was talking about,” said Mr Murathe.

    On Sakaja, he said it was Kenyatta, who appointed him as the chairman of the defunct The National Alliance (TNA), giving him a platform to launch his political career where he would make his debut in the political scene as nominated MP.

    Similarly, he argued that Mr Kuria benefited from Mr Kenyatta’s support to become Gatundu South MP in the 11th Parliament.

    Mr Kuria’s political journey started when he joined former President Mwai Kibaki’s team through Mr Kenyatta’s Kanu Party.

    Mr Kuria was elected unopposed as the new lawmaker in 2014 on the TNA party following the death of the then Gatundu South MP Jossy Ngugi.

    Mr Murathe said the ex-president was taken aback by how fast former CS Juma shifted allegiance by joining the Ruto camp, “betraying his trust in the process.”

    Without going into details, he said the others have also not been any better, adding that they know what Mr Kenyatta did to each of them but still decided to go against him.

  • Rebecca Miano’s Controversial Appointment

    Rebecca Miano’s Controversial Appointment

    National assembly speaker and Ford-K leader Moses Wetang’ula is a bitter man after Trade cabinet secretary Rebecca Miano appointed Esther Njeri as the managing director of the Kenya Bureau of Standards.

    Now it is said that Miano was behind Raila Odinga presidential bid in 2022 and only found her way to the cabinet to pave the way for a Kalenjin to land the plum slot of Kengen CEO.

    Ngari has been holding the position in an acting capacity since May when the former boss at the agency, Bernard Njiraini, was kicked out alongside 27 others in a raft of changes affecting the management.

    She is among the three candidates whose names were forwarded to the CS by the National Standards Council for consideration following the conclusion of the interviews.

    “The cabinet secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry appoints Esther Njeri Ngari to be the chief executive officer for a period of three years with effect October 13 2023,” reads the Gazette Notice in part.

    The council is the policy-making body for supervising and controlling the administration and financial management of the bureau.
    An extract of minutes from the council’s special meeting showed that Ngari had emerged second with a score of 77.22pc after Moses Otoa who topped the list with 78.78pc.

    Suspended director of quality assurance and inspection Geoffrey Muriira came third with 68.33pc.

    Previously, Ngari served as the director of Standards Development and Trade.
    Others who had been interviewed for the job are Mugambi Kaberia who came fourth with a score of 53.78pc, Waweru Karanja (51.33), Luka Kipchumba (50.78), Gordon Onkjire (46.56) and Bruno Linviru.
    Otao, Ngari and Karua were approved by Kebs chairman Peter Munyiri to the CS for consideration for the position of MD on October 13 2023.

    The purge at the agency came following the disappearance of 20,000 bags of contaminated sugar.

    The sugar is suspected to have found its way into the market despite being condemned and seized by the agency.

    The sugar in question was imported into the country in 2018 but was flagged by Kebs for want of expiry date specification.

    Kebs had marked the 20,000-50 kilogramme bags of sugar as unfit for human consumption.
    It then directed that it be destroyed at the owner’s cost by either burning or burying.

    It was however decided later that the consignment be converted for industrial ethanol use, which was to be implemented under the joint supervision of Kebs and the National Environment Management Authority, within a multi-agency framework.

    It has been established that Wetang’ula had talked to president William Ruto to have his camp allocated the slot.

    Apart from president Ruto, Wetang’ula had reached out to Felix Koskei, the chief-of-staff and head of Public Service who is responsible for managing operations, coordinating policies and supervising staff on behalf of the president and the office handles communication with ministries, state departments and agencies regarding the daily operations of the government, on the related issue.
    During the said period, the cabinet secretary of the docket was Moses Kuria. The then Investments, Trade and Industry cabinet secretary Kuria was moved to the newly reconstituted and renamed ministry of Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management.

    Miano replaced Kuria at the ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, leaving the ministry of East African Community, the Asals and Regional Development to Peninnah Malonza.
    The timing of the removal from Miti CS Kuria was suspect, according to well-versed sources in a wider scheme to scuttle Wetang’ula’s overtures.
    The national assembly speaker is reading mischief with the appointment of Ngari even after Sudi emerged as number one.

    There’s information that Wetang’ula’s efforts to reach Miano have been futile as she openly claims the national assembly speaker has been disturbing her on phone while knowing that Koskei has given straight instructions for the Kenya Gazette notice.
    It is not only Wetang’ula who is complaining about Koskei. Recently, prime cabinet secretary Musalia Mudavadi trained his guns on the chief-of-staff and head of Public Service escalating a tussle over the role and location of their offices.

    In a strongly worded statement, Mudavadi’s de facto spokesperson, Kibisu Kabatesi, accused Koskei of fuelling the tug-of-war between the two ministers by overstepping his mandate.

    Kabatesi, who is the government’s secretary for strategic communications, said portfolio allocation was the prerogative of the president and could not be usurped by a civil servant, in this case Koskei.
    The veteran Mudavadi aide said any civil servant who purports to allocate ministerial positions or portfolios is misguided.

    “Such action can be attributed to enthusiastic flights of fancy; the import of such misadventure is to sow disorder and discord among members of the cabinet with the intention of disorienting the collective responsibility of the cabinet,” Kabatesi said.

    A circular by Koskei informed all ministries and state departments to take note of their designated headquarters and to ensure compliance.
    As a result, the Old Treasury Building along Harambee Avenue was designated as the office of the PCS and the ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs. On the other hand, the Kenya Railways Headquarters on Haile Selassie Avenue, previously designated as the PCS office, will now be occupied by the ministry of Public Service under CS Kuria.
    But Mudavadi’s office has objected to the new location, saying its office will remain at the KR Hq.

    Last week, Kabatesi downplayed any tussle with Kuria. He argued that Mudavadi has been squatting in the Treasury building pending the completion of the renovation of his office at Railways.

    “To therefore claim that the Treasury Building is designated as the office of the prime minister and cabinet secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs is to confuse the public evidence in the executive order No 1 of January 2023 which designates the office at the Kenya Railways Headquarters,” Kabatesi said.
    This means that until and unless executive order No 1 of January 2023 is revoked by HE president William Ruto through another executive order, the status quo will remain,” he added.

    Kuria also sought to downplay any bad blood between him and Mudavadi.
    “Contrary to reports, there is absolutely no tug-of-war between myself and my senior and close friend prime cabinet secretary Musalia Mudavadi,” he said.

  • Could Kenya’s Dealing With Belarusian Oligarchs Trigger Financial Sanctions Amid War In Ukraine

    Could Kenya’s Dealing With Belarusian Oligarchs Trigger Financial Sanctions Amid War In Ukraine

    There’s a growing fear amongst analysts that continued dealings between Kenya and Belarusian oligarchs in planned agricultural trade could trigger financial sanctions.

    Since the Ukraine war started, Belarus has been struggling to circumvent Western sanctions against exports of its agricultural equipment industry and has been fighting to limit exposure of its companies and subsidiaries to the penalties.

    President Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus said that the country has started to receive nuclear weapons from Russia some of which he said were three times more powerful than the atomic bombs the US dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, a long-threatened provocation and the latest sign of the worsening relationship between Russia and the U.S.

    Sweeping sanctions

    Just how high the diplomatic stakes are was aptly demonstrated recently by a strong statement by United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, on the first anniversary of the war.

    He said Russia and President Aleksandr Lukashenko’s regime in Belarus will pay a severe economic price for the aggression against Ukraine and warned of sweeping sanctions to target export controls, visa restrictions to cut off Russia’s and Belarus’ access to vital technological inputs, and measures to atrophy industrial bases of the two countries.

    President William Ruto’s administration is taking a risky diplomatic gamble in seeking to transact with a country under sanctions from powerful Western nations.

    South Africa Sanctions

    South Africa risks exclusion from SWIFT, the inter-bank network, which supports international bank transfers, and the US tariff-free African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in a swathe of secondary sanctions as South Africa continues with its neutral stance regarding the Russia-Ukraine war.

    According to NYT, bipartisan group of American lawmakers has asked the Biden administration to punish South Africa for what it sees as the country’s support of Russia’s war in Ukraine by moving a major trade conference scheduled to be held in South Africa this year to another country.

    The request, made in a letter sent last week, is the first concrete effort at retaliation by members of the U.S. government over the growing view in Washington that South Africa’s relationship with Russia is moving in a direction that threatens America’s national interests.

    [pdf-embedder url=”https://cms.kenyainsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/full.pdf” title=”The letter.”]

    Deal Belarusian businessmen

    The administration of Kenyan President William Ruto is embarking on a risky diplomatic gamble, trying to strike a deal with a country that is under the sanctions of influential Western states.

    The government is rolling out a plan to purchase tractors, high-speed propelled forage harvesters, centre pivots and tipping lorries and assorted equipment in a project estimated at Sh31 billion.

    If the deal goes through, it will be the single largest import of tractors and agricultural equipment in Kenya in recent years. The transaction – which is envisaged to be implemented in 18 months by the hitherto moribund and financially-troubled state-owned credit body Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) – is shrouded in mystery in several respects.

    First, the imports are to come from Belarus – an eastern European country and ally of Russia in the Ukrainian war. Belarus is under United States, United Kingdom and European Union sanctions.

    President William Ruto’s administration is taking a risky diplomatic gamble in seeking to transact with a country under sanctions from powerful Western nations.

    As one follows the key documents in the transaction, including a Cabinet memo, a memorandum of understanding between AFC and a Dubai-based entity known as Aftrade DMCC a company owned by Zingman, one ends up with a narrative that sheds more mystery than light.

    Where is the money to buy billions-worth of machinery from Belarus to come from?

    In a February 27 letter to the Office of the Attorney-General, the chief executive of AFC, George Kubai, requested the help in drafting a government-to-government agreement between Kenya and Belarus, implying that the multibillion-shilling project will be funded by a concessional facility by Belarus.

    The second mention of source of funding is to be found in a Cabinet paper headlined “The National Agricultural Mechanisation Programme to be implemented by the AFC”.

    According to the documents and correspondence, the company to execute the multibillion-shilling deal from the Belarus side is a Dubai-based SPV-type entity established in 2017 by Belarus nationals by the name Aftrade DMCC.

    As a matter of fact, the name of this company features in nearly all correspondence in this saga, including the Cabinet memo and letters by AFC boss Kubai.

    This is how Kubai’s letter to the Attorney-General puts it: “The government of Belarus has identified Aftrade DMCC as the company that will organise the whole process of identification of manufacturers, identification of equipment and the party that will lead negotiations with TDB”.

    In an introduction letter sent to AFC dated February 2 and signed by a director of the company, Volha Sheuko, the Dubai-based firm put Zimbabwe, Togo, Burkina Faso, South Africa and Tanzania on its list of clients and the Belarus export credit agency, the Development Bank of Belarus, Trade Development Bank, Afro Exim Bank and the Western Africa Development Bank as its financial partners.

    Exim-like loan arrangements

    Curiously, the Dubai-based company has also disclosed that its assessment is that the task at hand will cost a mere $5 million a paltry amount when compared to the $320 million-budget projected by AFC as scope of the project.

    “We will look for machinery and equipment that meets the needs and then take it a step further by setting up offshore concessionary Exim-like loan arrangements to make it possible to purchase these technologies,” said the Dubai-based entity in a letter of introduction to Sheuko.

    Under the plan, billions worth of machines and tractors imported will be dumped on four government entities – Kenya Prison Service, National Youth Service, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation and the Agricultural Development Corporation.

    The Cabinet memo asked the Executive to direct the National Treasury and AFC to commence negotiations with the Dubai-based entity and procure the equipment.

    The memo also sought Cabinet approval for the appointment of AFC as the implementing agent for the government of Kenya on the project, to mandate the agency to begin negotiations with Afritrade DMCC and to treat the Dubai-based company as official agents of the government of Belarus.

    Belarus has only recently been rated as a sovereign in “selective default” and “default” by the global rating agency, S&P. This means no advanced country, commercial bank or listed entity answerable to shareholders can have financial dealings with any counterparty or entity from the country.

    Critics have also raised concerns over this tractor deal.

    Zingman shady dealings in Africa

    Zingman and his company AFTRADE are engaged in the sale of Belarusian equipment manufactured by Amkodor, Minsk Tractor Plant, MAZ, and others to African countries. In this market, he works in parallel with Aliaksandr Zaitsau, a long-term partner of Aliaksei Aleksin, and Mikalai Varabei. All of them are called ’Lukashenka’s wallets.’

    In March 2018, Belarus’ autocratic President Alexander Lukashenko dispatched his right-hand man Viktor Sheiman to Zimbabwe to negotiate trade and business deals on the government’s behalf.

    Sheiman has been one of Lukashenko’s closest allies ever since the 1994 electoral campaign that brought the strongman to power. While serving as Belarus’ prosecutor general in 2004, he was sanctioned by the EU over the disappearance of several prominent Lukashenko critics, and the U.S. followed suit two years later.

    But he was under no such restrictions in Zimbabwe. After Sheiman returned from Harare, Belarus’s state-owned news agency said he had met with Zimbabwean officials to discuss “expanding economic cooperation” between the two countries, and that he had brokered an opportunity for “the creation of a mining enterprise.”

    Sheiman told Belarusian state television that the trip had produced deals to explore for minerals such as gold, platinum, and rare earths through a joint venture in mining.

    The mining deal was presented as a collaboration between the two countries, and Sheiman said it was intended to make “profit for Belarus.” But in fact, the new joint venture, Zim Goldfields, was secretly co-owned by Sheiman’s son, Sergei, with no stake for the Belarusian state.

    Sergei Sheiman’s partner in the gold venture was influential Belarusian businessman Alexander Zingman, who has served as Zimbabwe’s honorary consul in Belarus since around early 2019.

    Documents from the Pandora Papers — a massive leak to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists of nearly 12 million documents from 14 offshore corporate service providers, shared with media partners around the world — show how the two Belarusians used shell companies in the Seychelles and the U.K. to mask their involvement and the conflict of interest at the heart of the deal.

    Thirty percent of Zim Goldfields was held by Zimbabwe’s state-owned mining company, the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC), but the other 70 percent was controlled by a U.K. shell company called Midlands Goldfields Limited.

    Its ownership was masked by a proxy — U.K. records name Robert Michael Friedberg as the director of the company — but leaked documents from the Pandora Papers show that Friedberg was acting on behalf of its owners as a nominee for a Seychelles entity with a similar name: Midlands Goldfields Foundation. And that entity was owned by Sergei Sheiman and Zingman, who had both reportedly been part of the March 2018 mission to Harare.

    Both shell companies appear to have been created specifically to take advantage of the opportunity afforded by Viktor Sheiman’s official visit to Zimbabwe: Midlands Goldfields in both the Seychelles and U.K. were incorporated just a few months before his trip, and Zim Goldfields was set up shortly after.

    Zim Goldfields obtained permits to prospect for gold on nearly 55,000 hectares in three locations, including a site along the Mutare River, a waterway in eastern Zimbabwe whose name means “river of metals.” The company was awarded a five-year “special grant” in May 2018 to mine for gold in a section of the river.

    Within months, the company was in trouble with Zimbabwean authorities. A December 2018 visit to the Zim Goldfields site, led by the Mines Ministry’s provincial leadership in Manicaland, reported the company had violated several safety regulations.

    Controversial Belarusian Businessmen

    Belarusian businessmen Alexander Zingman and Oleg Vodchits are believed to be the middlemen in the controversial tractors deal with Kenya.

    They’ve aligned themselves as the official quasi middlemen in Ruto’s government.

    Oleg Vodchits and Alexander Zingman are  establishing themselves as important personalities in the entourage of Kenyan President William Ruto. It is moreover as “advisers for the Gulf countries” that the two Belarusian businessmen were registered, at the end of February, in sixth and seventh position on the list of the delegation of the Kenyan Minister of Commerce during his official trip to Qatar.

    In April, Zingman was amongst the Belarusian delegation who escorted the foreign minister Sergei Aleinik to State House in a netting with president Ruto where Belarus sought for investment opportunities in the country.

    Zingman seen with Belarus foreign minister Sergei Aleinik in State House, Nairobi.

    Earlier this month, trade CS Moses Kuria and Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi was in Belarus for trade negotiations and present in the picture was Zingman.

    Interestingly, the Belarusian dictatorial President Alexander Lukashenko said that the potash market, which has been impacted by Western sanctions, would need to “quiet”, or discreet, like the arms trade.

    Landlocked Belarus previously relied on shipments of 12.5 million tonnes of potash a year from the Baltic Sea port of Klaipeda in Lithuania. Vilnius halted the use of its railway for Belarus exports from Feb. 1.

    The European Union banned 70% of Belarus exports to the bloc.

    Belarus, the world’s third-largest producer of the crop nutrient after Canada and Russia, has been hit by Western sanctions – linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – which has restricted its potash exports.

    In the face of all these pressures, Ministry of Trade continues to trade in fertilizer, and Kenya seems interested in this ‘urgently needed commodity’. But how will this product reach Kenya?

    Mr Alexandr Zingman, 56, and Mr Oleg Vodchits, 36, were listed in a February 24 letter from the Foreign Affairs Ministry to the Qatari embassy as being in a team from Mr Kuria’s ministry that was to fly to Doha for a five-day event starting on February 27.

    In 2021, Zingman and Vodchits were detained for almost two weeks in DRC by intelligence agents who questioned them about their ties to former president Joseph Kabila. And, according to the Zambian press, Zingman facilitated Russian and Belarusian arms sales to Zambia and several other African countries.

    THE MOMENT OF ALIAKSANDR ZINGMAN’S DETENTION IN THE CONGO. SCREENSHOT

    In March 2021, businessman Aliaksandr Zingman, close to Viktar Sheiman, was arrested at Lubumbashi airport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Local intelligence agencies suspected the owner of the AFTRADE DMCC company that he intended to sell weapons to the former president of the country, Joseph Kabila.

    South Africa’s Daily Maverick newspaper, citing sources, claimed that Zingman wanted to sell weapons to the former president of the DRC, who has a tense relationship with the current one. Other media outlets write that the reason for the arrest “was an alleged conspiracy of three people to overthrow the Congolese government.”

    Another Belarusian alsodetained by the DRC authorities was Aleh Vodchyts who’s Zingman’s partner. He is the CEO of AFTRADE and is involved in major negotiations with Zingman.

    Unlike the owner of the business, Vodchyts is not such a media person: he appeared several times in the Belarusian media when he worked as deputy head of the Promagroleasing company and almost did not appear in the African media. At the same time, the line Promagroleasing in the resume is also very telling: this organization, which is currently part of the holding of the Development Bank, probably also works with Africa. There, it actually finances exports from Belarus: it allocates funds to African banks from time to time, which they, in turn, provide to local players for the purchase of Belarusian equipment. In the language of officials, this is called “government support for foreign sales.”

    In 2020, Zingman became interested in doing business in Congo – he wanted to mine jewelry there.

    It is worth noting that Zingman does have “not very official” contacts with the “top” of some countries. For example, his informal photo with the President of Zambia with glasses of wine has drawn criticism in the local media and reproaches for possible corruption deals.

    Zingman’s company which is registered in UAE, is in another “gray” zone where it is impossible to get intelligible information about someone’s business.

    Zingman is believed to have brokered the procurement of helicopters from Russia and the contract for the supply of Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircrafts.

    On paper, Zingman’s name is associated with the fashionable restaurant Falcone in Minsk, Belarus and resides in Raubichi and owns several properties there. His partner, Elizaveta Denisevich, and son, Denis Zingman, are running the family business. Zingman’s private jet is reported to have frequently flown to and from the shelters of African countries, carrying on board government leaders and businessmen.

    And the Business News Line reports that the plane is said to have links with Moscow-based Russian company Smart Jet Aviation in three different company registries: Russia, Cyprus and the Virgin Islands. According to its flights’ history, in March 2018 the plane went from the renowned offshore tax shelter island of Jersey to Burkina Faso, then to Zimbabwe, again to Burkina Faso and then to Egypt, Latvia and Belarus. One passenger was present in all cases – lowkey Belarussian businessman Alexander Zingman.

  • Inside Kuria-Linturi feud over GMO maize

    Inside Kuria-Linturi feud over GMO maize

    The supremacy battle between Trade & Industry CS Moses Kuria and Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi goes way beyond the importation of GMO maize where exploitative businessmen allied to the Kenya Kwanza government are set to benefit to selfish interests.

    Kuria has a bizarre love for controversies with his loose tongue and has this time round he over-stepped his boundaries by engaging Linturi in an open war over the importation of maize.

    CS Linturi says the decision on importation of the controversial GMO maize lies with his office. He clarified that it is his ministry (Agriculture) that is mandated with import decisions after establishing the deficit that the country is facing in order to determine the number of bags to be shipped into the country.

    “I am not aware of what Kuria said… I am the custodian of statistics on how much food we require in this country and what we consume every day. Right now my technical people have worked on all the deficit in terms of maize, beans and rice,” said Linturi.

    Linturi made his remarks after Kuria claimed that the country will  import 10 million bags of GMO maize to bridge the local deficit and reduce the price of flour that has now risen to Sh213 for a two-kilogramme packet.

    The Agriculture CS promised to make a comprehensive statement regarding food situation in the country and what needs to be done before the week ends.

    His beef with Kuria is coming out in public just days after a group of MPs from both Azimio and the ruling coalition of Kenya Kwanza raised questions over the firms set to benefit from the importation.

    The MPs argued that Kenyan farmers risk incurring major losses as the market will be flooded by cheap imported maize amid claims that powerful individuals have already lined up to cash in at the expense of local farmers.

    The feud between CS Kuria and Linturi is informed with greed as both of them are fighting to oversee the importation to pocket kickbacks or to use proxy firms to cash in.

    The MPs also challenged Kenya Kwanza government to provide information on how the firms were identified as they claimed that the administration is being blackmailed by foreign powers that are looking for a market for their multinational companies.

    Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary, H.E Musalia Mudavadi [p/courtesy]
    MPs allied to Opposition Chief Raila Odinga have also criticized the importation as they termed the decision “insincere and incoherent with the promises President Ruto made during the campaign period.

    “Why has there been no effort to get ordinary maize from other parts of the world or was importation of GMOs part of the pre-election deal between President William Ruto and foreign backers?” Hon Opiyo Wandayi posed.

    Opposition politicians argue that the current famine situation is being used as an excuse in a plot by highly placed government officials to defraud the country.

    Linturi has been named in many scandals including a case where he forged signatures  to secure a Sh530 million bank loan using properties belonging to his estranged wife, Marianne Kitany.

    And Moses Kuria in 2021 told BBC that  he pocketed $1000 bribe to back former Kipipiri Mp Amos Kimunya appointment as the Majority Leader in the National Assembly.

    The battle between Kuria and Linturi over who should oversee the importation of the maize forced Prime Cabinet Secretary H.E Musalia Mudavadi to weigh in as he clarified that the decision on imports is a mandate of the Ministry of Agriculture.

    “The issue of importation of maize should be guided by a survey by the Ministry of Agriculture to find out if there is a deficit of the grains… it is agriculture docket that will issue an importation order looking at the food situation in the country,” said Mudavadi.

     

     

     

     

  • Moses Kuria Is Able To Walk Again After 137 Days

    Moses Kuria Is Able To Walk Again After 137 Days

    Gatundu South Member of Parliament (MP) Moses Kuria is able to walk again.

    The lawmaker, who has undergone at least eight surgeries, was discharged from the American Hospital in Dubai on Saturday, February 12.

    Kuria has been undergoing treatment after sustaining third-degree burns he suffered in his feet following the malfunctioning of a warm mat gadget.

    On December 15, 2021, the MP underwent the eighth stem cell surgery.

    Stem cell is a modern cutting-edge medical innovation that is aimed at developing and regenerating body cells and nerves.

    The surgery, Kuria said, was conducted by a team of doctors drawn from the United Arab Emirates, India, Germany and South Korea.

    While being taken on a walk after discharge from hospital on Saturday, one of the American Hospital lead doctors said she was happy to see Kuria back on his feet after 137 days of being unable to walk.

    “Today we are walking with the Honourable Moses Kuria on his feet after 137 days. We prevented amputation at the American Hospital in Dubai,” said the doctor in a video posted on Kuria’s Facebook page.

    In a brief message, Kuria, who stood next to the American Hospital doctor, said: “Thank you to the hospital and to Science.”

    The MP was among the world’s pioneer patients of stem cell surgery.

    After sustaining burns in the September 2021 incident, Kuria sought treatment at the Karen Hospital before opting for advanced medical attention at the American Hospital in Dubai in early December 2021.

    The legislator said he bought the “harmful” electric mat at Sh250,000 from Total Ceragem Africa Limited that sells alternative care medicines.

    “The company must take responsibility. I have contacted the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. A criminal and civil process is taking place because I do believe that this issue (malfunctioning of the gadget) is of fundamental and paramount importance to Kenyans. I will ensure I get to the bottom of it,” he said in October.

    Several leaders including Deputy President William Ruto, KANU chairperson Gideon Moi, Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho, Kiambu Governor James Nyoro, among others visited Kuria during his admission at the American Hospital, Dubai.

  • Moses Kuria: Why I Have To Cut Off Links With Ruto For Now

    Moses Kuria: Why I Have To Cut Off Links With Ruto For Now

    Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria says it’s over for him and Jubilee, has reduced engagements with Ruto but still supports him.

    This, days after endorsing Martha Karua as the best candidate for Deputy President citing her political CV.

    In an interview with Citizen TV on Sunday, the Gatundu lawmaker said that he had been reduced to a public political commentator, adding that he had not picked a side yet.

    “It is over for me and Jubilee. I will walk away from it officially on February 9 next year. For now, I am focused on helping people win elections,” Kuria said.

    However, he curiously added that he would prefer working with Deputy President William Ruto (his longtime political friend), but he says the circumstances cannot allow him.

    “William Ruto is my friend, we have suffered together. Do you know I was removed as vice-chair of the National Assembly’s Transport committee because of my association with Ruto?” he said.

     “People who work with Ruto have been seen as opposition for a very long time. Do you know that I was also removed as a member of the Budget and Appropriations committee? Why? Because I am a friend of DP Ruto,” he said.

    He however clarified that his reduced engagement had to do with the fact that joining United Democratic Alliance (UDA) entails abandoning his infant party Chama Cha Kazi (CCK).

    “I hope for an opportunity to work with him (Deputy President) in future,” he said.

    “I am not boarding in terms of folding parties. It has been tested and it failed terribly. Forming one party does not end well,” Kuria told Citizen TV.

    Barely a fortnight ago, Kuria caused a stir online when he posted an opinion poll courtesy of his Chama cha Kazi party with projections of a two-horse race in the 2022 General Election.

    The opinion poll, which lacks scientific proof, projects Raila’s win with over 52 per cent of the votes cast while Ruto trails behind him with about 48 per cent of the votes cast.

  • Ceragem Ltd That Sold Kuria Electric Blanket Is Blacklisted In America Over Fake Products And Operating In Kenya Illegally, Parliament Told

    Ceragem Ltd That Sold Kuria Electric Blanket Is Blacklisted In America Over Fake Products And Operating In Kenya Illegally, Parliament Told

    The CEO of Ceragem limited Vincent Omallah had a rough time while appearing before the National Assembly’s committee on health.

    Omallah appeared before the committee on Tuesday October 26 to shed more light on Ceragem limited’s product that led to the burning of Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria’s feet.

    During the sitting, Members of Parliament were informed that the electric blanket was banned in Texas, US.

    In 2005, the Attorney General of Texas banned Ceragem in his state for making inflated claims such as being able to cure cancer, epilepsy, obesity and heart disease.

    It was further established that Ceragem limited was operating across the country without an approval from the Pharmacy and Poisons Board as required by the law.

    The MPs were also informed that Ceragem staff have no medical background despite posing as alternative medicine suppliers.

    Answering the question on how their staff manage to attend to clients without medical qualifications, Omallah said that the products come with instructions manuals for clients downplaying the need for trained health personnel.

    He further said that their products are certified by Kebs at the point of entry into the country.

    This comes after Kuria revealed that he has taken action against the company over the burning incident.

    The lawmaker said that he wrote to DCI to probe into the criminal elements of the company’s dealings.

    He demanded to know why the company that was banned in Texas was freely operating in the country.

    “Their products were banned in Texas for fraudulently making claims of curing cancer. The company must take responsibility, I have contacted DCI and the criminal process is taking place,” Kuria, who is still admitted at the hospital, said.

    Kuria bought the electric blanket as a solution to numbness in his feet. After standing on the blanket for four hours, his feet exploded and he had to be rushed to the hospital where it was established that he suffered a third degree burn.

    Ceragem has been operating in the country for the last 14 years and has shops in Nairobi, Thika, Mombasa, Eldoret, Murang’a, Eastleigh and Garissa.