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  • Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority (UFAA)Launches New Digital Platform for Efficiency as Sh241 Billion remains Unclaimed

    Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority (UFAA)Launches New Digital Platform for Efficiency as Sh241 Billion remains Unclaimed

    UFAA Management Team/ Photo Courtesy

    Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority (UFAA) has launched a new digital platform to facilitate easier filing, processing and disbursement of funds and assets.

    UFAA Chairman Richard Kiplagat said that the monies in the trust are invested in the government to ensure there is no risk.

    Kiplagat said that UFAA looks forward to doubling the number of claims for reunifying.

    The authority said that it aims to provide customer-friendly services and to make their service available in Huduma Centers across the country.

    He said the authority intends to do away with manual filing of claims to facilitate easier processing and disbursement of unclaimed financial assets in cash, bonds, stocks and other financial assets.

    The Authority is also deploying an online holders’ reporting and surrenders system that will make it easier for holders to submit and surrender unclaimed financial assets in their possession.

    UFAA Chairman said that the authority will be working with the office of the Auditor-General to facilitate audits of public sector agencies on compliance with unclaimed financial assets reporting and surrender.

    UFAA is an authority created under the Unclaimed Financial Assets Act, No 40 of 2011 to administer unclaimed financial assets. UFAA’s primary focus is to receive unclaimed financial assets from the holders, safeguard the assets and reunite the assets to their rightful owner.

    A baseline survey report on the current state of unclaimed financial assets was released by Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority (UFAA) has revealed that the current unclaimed financial assets in the country are estimated at Sh241,105,748,942.

    The survey which was conducted to determine the number of holders and estimate the volume of unclaimed financial assets held by each holder and cumulatively across all sectors in the country showed that the current estimated unclaimed financial asset holders who include institutions in the country are 477,112.

    Announcing the findings of the survey in Nairobi, UFAA Chief Executive Officer, Mr John Mwangi, explained that the Authority’s mandate is to bring closure to ‘lost and found’ financial assets, receive unclaimed financial assets, safeguard and re-unite the assets with their rightful owners, who at times are not aware of their abandoned treasure.

    “UFAA’s performance is based on the number of claimants re-unified. So far the Authority has collected a total of Sh20.3 billion in cash, Sh1.2 billion unit of shares, received 6,000 claims and issued Sh1 billion payouts in 2021,” said Mwangi.

    He expressed that the Financial Services Sector has the highest holding of approximately 62 per cent of the total unclaimed financial assets and the projected unclaimed financial assets over the next 5 years is estimated at Sh156 billion.

    Explaining that financial assets are declared unclaimed when there is no active involvement by users for a period of 2 years, the CEO said the unclaimed money by the Authority is invested in government securities so as to accrue interest that is channelled to unclaimed Assets Trust Fund.

    “UFAA is urging all citizens to claim their financial assets and that of relatives by dialling a short code of *361# or visiting their website,” said Mwangi.

    He said the code will help citizens find out whether they have unclaimed financial assets as an original owner or on behalf of a minor, business entity and deceased persons.

    In his remarks, UFAA Chairperson, Richard Kiplagat, announced that the Authority has introduced Unclaimed Financial Assets Management (UFAM) System that is designed to facilitate easier filing, processing and disbursement of unclaimed assets through the internet, as well as provide compliance services where UFAA can carry out audit procedures to holding institutions.

    “The reunification process has been made easier through the self-service UFAM system to allow a claimant to search for an asset, file a claim, download the required documents and track the claims,” said Kiplagat.

    The Chairperson said to favour those with no access to the internet, UFAA has partnered with Huduma Kenya to make asset claiming services available in all Huduma Centers across the country.

    “Through a partnership with government entities and technology companies, the Authority will continue with sensitization efforts that help target holders and claimants increase declarations to the authority and re-unification of unclaimed financial assets,” he said.

    Kiplagat further urged all institutions that are holders of unclaimed financial assets to submit reports of unclaimed finance that they hold before November 1, 2021.

  • ODM threatens to take disciplinary action against Jimi Wanjigi

    ODM threatens to take disciplinary action against Jimi Wanjigi

    Jimi Wanjigi (right) before presented his presidential bid to ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna at Chungwa House in Nairobi on August 27, 2021/ PHOTO COURTESY

    ODM’s Central Committee yesterday threatened to take disciplinary action against members purporting to open branch offices without consultations with the national office.

    The committee said it had received alarming reports over the opening of offices across the country perhaps in reference to businessman Jimi Wanjigi’s move.

    “We wish to remind all members that whenever there is a need to open any party office, the same must be done in consultation with the national office failure to which such offices will not be recognized,” said ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna in a statement.

    “Further note that such brazen violation of the party’s rule will attract disciplinary action,” read the statement. 

    Wanjigi began opening party offices in Mt Kenya two months ago after he declared interest in the presidential contest.

    The statement comes days after the Registrar of Political Parties (RPP) acknowledged receiving a letter from Wanjigi, seeking that the party outlines the presidential nomination process. A month ago, the businessman wrote to the party demanding certified list of party delegates who are to attend the National Delegates Convention.

    He also sought to know the timelines to the delegates conference and whether there are intentions to have any activities, including televised party presidential debates.

    The Central Committee urged party leaders at the grassroots and members to retreat to their respective areas to coordinate and support voter registration.

    It resolved to extend free membership registration for ordinary members that was expected to expire on September 30 to December 31.

    “On the upcoming mass voter registration, we would like to call upon the electoral commission to deploy sufficient resources human and material in order for the exercise to be successful,” said the statement.

    Out of the seven million targeted new voters, the party said more than half were in its traditional strongholds.

  • President Kenyatta Roots For Greater Private Sector Participation In Post Covid-19 Recovery

    President Uhuru Kenyatta has called on governments to involve the private sector more in their post Covid-19 plans saying the non-state actors had the resources and the know-how to assist in economic recovery.

    He challenged global leaders to apply lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic by rethinking their development strategies to include greater private sector participation.

    “The private sector will be key in this endevour. The pandemic has demonstrated that, given the right political and institutional support; the sector can complement the public sector to, rapidly create the needed capacity and innovation to beat the virus and catalyze strong and resilient recovery,” the President said.

    The Kenyan Head of State spoke on Monday in video statement delivered at United Nations Global Compact’s Private Sector Forum held on the margins of the ongoing 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA76) in New York.

    He said Kenya had expanded private sector’s participation in her growing economy by strengthening the country’s public, private partnerships (PPPs) framework.

    For countries to “build back better” from the Covid-19 pandemic, President Kenyatta pointed out that the UN Global Compact needs to become more proactive in ensuring businesses become “a force for good, engine for innovation and a strong partner for the global society”.

    “We need to harness the private sector to address the challenge of the global food systems and also sustainable energy production. Approximately 700 million people in the world are today undernourished, and one quarter of the world’s population is food insecure,” he said.

    President Kenyatta pointed out that food systems, sustainable energy production and climate change are intertwined and require multi-stakeholder partnerships at all levels to advance innovative pathways to tackle them.

    “This should go hand in hand with sound business practices, including the management of chemicals and waste, reduction of food losses, prevention of plastic pollution and zero incidence of corruption. This is a raison d’etre of the UN Global Compact,” the President said.

    UN Secretary General Antonio Guteress who also spoke at the event said Climate Change and Covid-19 had reversed gains made in achieving SDGs and called for bold transformative changes with governments, private sector and civil society working together in solidarity to reverse the situation.

    “The business community, governments and civil societies must urgently and ambitiously work together to pursue green recovery from the pandemic,” the UN Secretary General said.

    World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director David Beasley reiterated President Kenyatta call to involve the private sector in ending hunger and poverty.

    The WFP Executive Director called on the private sector to be more magnanimous by expanding their charity and philanthropic support for global end hunger initiatives.

  • Arrested for selling heroin in Mwingi town

    Arrested for selling heroin in Mwingi town

    Three suspects were Monday night arrested in Mwingi town after they were found selling narcotic drugs including heroin.

    The suspect’s John Musya, Paul Mumo and, Julius Musya all aged between 23-24 were arrested as they hawked the highly addictive illegal drug that was carefully concealed in seven sachets.

    Over 10 rolls of bhang were also recovered from the suspects, who had contravened curfew orders to ply their illegal trade in Mwingi town.

    According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the suspects sell the illegal drugs to twilight girls who moonlight in the busy town.

    The suspects were placed in custody pending arraignment in court for being in possession and trafficking in narcotics.

    Meanwhile, a 29-year-old man committed suicide on Saturday night at deliverance court in Umoja estate, following a disagreement with his wife over an unknown issue.

    His wife had made good an earlier threat to quit their marriage, despite him pleading that she doesn’t desert him.

    After the argument, the woman is reported to have packed her belongings and gone back to her parent’s home in Dandora.

    The man only identified as Brayo was so heartbroken that later in the night, he wrote a text message to his estranged wife informing her that he had left her the world, ‘nimekuwachia Dunia.’

    Worried, the woman tried to call him frantically to dissuade him from taking his life but the man’s phone went unanswered.

    Overwhelmed by emotions, she returned to the house early Monday morning accompanied by Brayo’s brother to check on him, only to be confronted by his lifeless body lying on the bed.

    Bray had taken a poisonous substance that killed him instantly.

    Scene of Crime detectives documented the scene and moved the body to Mama Lucy Lucy’shospital mortuary awaiting postmortem.

  • New Naivas Supermarket takes over Juja City Mall, Previously Tuskys space

    New Naivas Supermarket takes over Juja City Mall, Previously Tuskys space

    Naivas Supermarket has taken up the space vacated by Tuskys at Juja City Mall last year.The biggest Naivas it’s now continuing on an aggressive expansion spree in a race to maintain its market leadership on toes and high notch.

    The retailer began operations at the 37,000 square foot space situated off Thika Road on Tuesday.

    A Naivas store in Juja City Mall on Thika Road, Nairobi. FILE PHOTO | Bogonko Nyokang’i-TheCrossFireNews Media

    Chief commercial officer Willy Kimani said the new branch will be a food market offering a range of consumer products including alcohol.

    “This new store has been a long-standing request by our customers and through research we proved its viability and delivered a store that we are sure will meet needs of our shoppers. Juja is a vibrant area which will serve up to garden city and the Naivas store will bring a truly Kenyan touch to this cultural melting pot,” said Mr. Kimani on Tuesday,21 September 2021.

    Officals launching Naivas store in Juja City Mall on Thika Road, Nairobi. FILE PHOTO | Bogonko Nyokang’i-TheCrossFireNews Media

    The new outlet comes less than two months after the retailer opened a new store in Embakasi along Airport North Road and becomes Naivas’ 76th branch in the country.

    The Juja City Mall outlet is the eighth branch within the Thika Road vicinity with other stores being Mountain Mall, Kasarani, Eastern Bypass, Spur Mall, Kahawa West, Githurai 45 and Githurai 44.

    “Juja City Foodmarket will be no different. No surprises just authentic Kenyan hospitality,” Mr Kimani added.

    Staffs at Naivas store in Juja City Mall on Thika Road, Nairobi. FILE PHOTO | Bogonko Nyokang’i-TheCrossFireNews Media

    Naivas and its top rivals QuickMart and Carrefour are among retailers spending heavily to expand, seeking to fill voids left by collapsed and beleaguered supermarkets – Tuskys, Nakumatt, Choppies, and Shoprite.

    Staffs and Executives at Naivas store in Juja City Mall on Thika Road, Nairobi. FILE PHOTO | Bogonko Nyokang’i-TheCrossFireNews Media

  • Stop public gatherings, Archbishop Muheria tells politicians

    Interfaith Council Chairman Archbishop Anthony Muheria has called upon politicians to refrain from holding political rallies in public and places of worship as the country continues to record increased Covid-19 infections.

    Muheria said despite the roll out of vaccination across the country there is still need to observe the Ministry of Health guidelines on Covid-19.

    “Politicians are still holding impromptu political rallies where their supporters attend without masks and with the highest risk of infection. Even if we are vaccinated it important to note that it does not mean you cannot get Covid-19.” He stated

    “In my backyard in Nyeri we have seen the number of deaths being so high that the coffins cannot supply enough for all the funerals we are having.” He added

    The Nyeri Archbishop called out politicians who attend church services to gain political mileage by addressing the congregation.

    “The Catholic Church has said it very clearly that we will not allow politicians to speak in our churches. If you are coming to pray in our churches, you are welcome and sit like any other ordinary Christian and do not expect to address people in our churches. Politicians have a place to come and pray but have no place to speak in our churches.” He said

    Muheria urged politicians to adapt modern means of campaigning without bringing huge crowds of people together which act as Covid-19 super spreader events.

    “They can use more modern means of campaigning; the media, TV, Radios like they did in the United States without necessarily bring those crowds of people together during this dangerous times, for the love of the people that they hope to lead.” Muheria stated

  • Politicians to sign decency charter ahead of polls, says NCIC

    Politicians will soon sign a political decency charter in latest efforts by National Cohesion and Integration Commission to tackle hate speech ahead of next year’s polls.

    The commission has vowed it will not tolerate hate speech and war mongering moving forward even as it scaled up action against offenders by ensuring they are barred from elective positions, public office and eventual black listing internationally.

    Speaking to KBC Monday on good morning show,  NCIC Chairman Rev Dr Samuel Kobia said they will hold a series of symposia before June 2022 that will hold politicians and leaders accountable as part of its roadmap towards election attaining peaceful 2022 general elections.

    Presidential candidates will be expected to lead the process dubbed ‘Election Bila Noma’ by signing the charter committing themselves to the path of peace and decency in speech and action.

    “We want a political leadership that acts in a decent and civil manner” he said.

    Although the commission is seeking more powers and tough penalties for perpetrators of incitement and hate speech through parliament, Kobia avers that progress had been made in the fight against the vice.

    “There is a bill in parliament that is still being debated and seeks to empower the commission to create a tribunal to deal with hate speech. We have also decide to work very closely with the DCI and DPP” said Kobia adding that close to 60 hate speech cases are under probe.

    So far, the commission has enhanced surveillance by creating the walls of fame and shame which according to the chair has led to a decline in the vice.

    “ No politician wants to be barred from running for an elective post. We are in the process of coming up with a criteria for determining candidates for elections. We have began consultations with IEBC, party leaders and the diplomatic community for imposition of severe penalties ”

  • Expo 2020 Dubai hands over the Kenya Pavilion to CS Maina

    Expo 2020 Dubai hands over the Kenya Pavilion to CS Maina

    The pavilion which is one of the most innovative and technology-driven is among the 192 country pavilions that will be participating at the EXPO 2020 Dubai, scheduled from 1st October 2021- 31st March 2022 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

    “This for us is a great opportunity to show the world we are here, and we are forced to reckon with. It is a clear testimony that Kenya is ready to join the league of Nations to collaborate, exhibit, showcase and sell to the world products that are truly and authentically Kenyan. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the UAE Government for supporting Kenya’s participation by providing a sponsorship package that catered for the design and construction of the Kenya pavilion. Kenya is ready to do business with the world in this greatest show of all times,” CS Maina.

    During the EXPO, Kenya will showcase trade and investment opportunities aligned to the Big Four Development Agenda: Manufacturing, Food Security, Universal Healthcare and Affordable Housing for all. The country’s development agenda is aligned to the EXPO theme of “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”.

    The Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development Betty Maina has Monday officially received the Kenya pavilion at the EXPO 2020 Dubai.

    The Kenya pavilion is strategically located to the UAE pavilion that is in a shape of a falcon in flight.

    Kenya’s pavilion is themed “Feel the Energy” a representation of the dynamic spirit, love, innovative thirst and patriotic energy elicited by the Kenyan people in building Brand Kenya.

    Kenya will leverage this global expo to showcase its Trade, Investment and Tourism opportunities to the world, including visitors to the Kenya Pavilion and the UAE business community.

    It is hoped that this initiative will go a long way in enhancing the country’s efforts of consolidating and diversifying its market share in the UAE market.

    The pavilion will not only take the visitors on a journey around Kenya’s greatest assets but will also highlight its economic potential in various sectors including; Technology & innovation, Manufacturing, infrastructure, hospitality education among others.

    From the Pavilion, Kenya will showcase its economic diversification, beyond what it has been traditionally known for. The country will showcase its potential as a leading exporter of goods, services, talent, innovation, and its rich culture.

    “Kenya has lined up several activities during the 6 months Expo, which include celebrations of our culture and heritage through music and film,  Business Match Making and B2B meetings through a Trade and Investment Forum that will bring together Dubai and Kenyan business people, distribution of one million rose flowers during valentine’s day on February 14th 2022 and a Kenya cultural extravagance, among other planned activities. Thematic months have also been planned to heighten Kenya’s participation and attract visitors to the Kenya Pavilion and the country at large. Our Unique selling point: Kenya is the Land of unlimited possibilities. We, therefore, look forward to showcasing these opportunities to the world” Commissioner-General- Kenya, Dr Wilfred Marube.

    The Expo 2020 Dubai will provide an opportunity for Kenya to diversify and consolidate its exports to the UAE and the Middle East.

    Key among the products is horticulture (fruits and vegetables), coffee, tea, meat and meat products, logistics, flowers, edible nuts, tourism, and sports services, among others.

    The Expo will also present the possibility for Kenyan companies to consolidate market share in the UAE and also establish new distribution channels for the neighbouring countries in the Middle East.

    Kenya’s exports to UAE have been growing but in a fluctuating pattern over the last five years. This stood at US$ 305million in 2016 and US$324million in 2020.

    Kenya commands a competitive export sector that can meet any opportunity arising in the world.

    The United Arab Emirates portends an opportunity to increase Kenyan exports of products that already have a global comparative advantage, and hence competitiveness. Exports as a country to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region have been in the environment of 555 million Dollars which is a mere 0.11% market share of the potential 525 billion Dollars of the region’s total imports.

    Kenya is therefore looking at this Expo as a platform to make inroads and grow exports, attract investment inflows, and increase tourism arrivals from the region to our country.

    “The UAE market is a significant market, considering its strategic location as a point of entry to the Gulf region and a distribution hub of goods and services to the entire world. We call upon our local exporters to exploit this market for its potential to do business. The Expo will be a steppingstone to consolidate Kenya as a gateway for global trade and investment” CS Maina.

    The Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency is the Responsible National Authority (RNA), spearheading Kenya’s participation while positioning it as a land of unlimited opportunities.

  • Naivas Foodmart Partners with Africa’s e-commerce leader for a better shopping experience

    Willy Kimani, Chief Commercial Officer, Naivas (left) with Kenneth Oyolla, Chief Commercial officer

    Jumia Kenya have sealed a strategic partnership with Naivas Foodmart to give consumers a better shopping experience with access to a wider range of products when shopping online as shopper now is mobile driven, using mobile to do his/her shopping, using their smartphones more frequently to place orders.

    Kenya’s’ Leading retailer Naivas supermarket has inked a strategic partnership with Africa’s e-commerce leader and Kenyas number one Jumia, to give consumers a better shopping experience with access to a wide range of products.

    Customers or Consumers who will benefit immediately are those within or along Ngong Road, Community Area, Hurlingham, Mbagathi, Kileleshwa and Lavington areas will now be able to order from Naivas Foodmarket (Prestige) on Jumia Food for a wide range of products.

    Chief commercial officer has hinted that its a best way to create opportunities and make products delivery easy to customers and that’s the reason they’ve been able to partner with Jumia.

    “We want to make fewer trips to the stores and our aim is to serve Kenyans at every possible opportunity by providing a mobile experience that makes it as easy as possible for them to acquire products as quickly as possible at their own convenience,” said Willy Kimani, Chief Commercial Officer, Naivas Foodmarket.

    He also added that Today’s online shopper is mobile driven, using mobile to do his/her shopping as its using their smartphones more frequently to place orders.

    Willy Kimani, Chief Commercial Officer, Naivas (left) with Kenneth Oyolla, Chief Commercial officer

    On the other hand Jumia commercial boss stated that the partneship will assitt and promote a contact-free shopping exprience. “The partnership will enable shoppers a contact-free shopping experience as we ensure that everything the consumer wants is delivered to their doorstep.” said Kenneth Oyolla, Chief Commercial officer, Jumia Kenya.

    The partnership will first feature Naivas Food Market at Prestige Plaza along Ng’ong road, before rolling out to its other outlets nationwide. Naivas enjoys a strong market share in the region, with over 70 branches in Kenya as the now the retail giant is banking on its wide variety of products and affordable price offering and its large customer base, to make the online venture successful.

    Willy Kimani, Chief Commercial Officer, Naivas (left) with Kenneth Oyolla, Chief Commercial officer

    Now its evident that Customers can now begin shopping for Naivas Foodmart in wide range of products on Jumia, through regulary visiting there website or online forum to oder and get the products delivered instantly and friendly through https://www.jumia.co.ke/

  • Ugenya guards buried as leaders call for speedy investigations

    Ugenya Member of Parliament, David Ochieng is calling on investigative agencies to bring to book the killers of four security guards who were allegedly hacked to death at Siranga trading centre in Ugenya.   

    Speaking during a funeral service for the four at Siranga Primary School grounds the lawmaker lamented that close to two weeks since the incident happened no suspect has been apprehended.

    Mourners including a section of area leaders accused the security apparatus of being too slow in their investigations. 

    Led by Ugenya Member of Parliament David Ochieng, the leaders called on the relevant bodies to fast track investigations to ensure the perpetrators face the full force of the law.  

    Ugenya Assistant County Commissioner Rufus Kihara assured residents that authorities were doing all they can to unravel the mystery surrounding the frequent killings in the area. 

    The deceased security guards were George Agara Opuch aged 68, 59 year old Patrick Oduor Ondoo, 49 year old Benard Odhiambo Opondo and Thadeus Ochieng Radido aged 43 years.