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  • KCB Puts KShs 150M into 2023 WRC Safari Rally

    KCB Puts KShs 150M into 2023 WRC Safari Rally

    KCB Bank Kenya will spend KShs. 150 million towards supporting the 2023 World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally, bolstering sports development and youth empowerment.

    The Bank will be the Official Financial Partner for the Championship, scheduled to take place from June 22 – 25, 2023 in Nakuru County. This year’s edition marks the third year since the Safari rally returned to the World Rally Championship calendar.

    Of the total sponsorship monies, Kshs 100 million will go directly to the 2023 WRC Safari Rally event while Kshs 50 million will support sponsorship of three local drivers, brand activations and customer engagements.

    KCB has renewed its sponsorship to two Kenyan drivers, Evans Kavisi and Nikhil Sachania. Karan Patel will be joining the KCB sponsored team.

    This announcement underlines KCB’s commitment to supporting motorsport in the country, having spent over KShs 1.5 Billion in the past 20 years, the highlight being the Safari Rally’s return to the global showpiece that is the World Rally Championships after a two-decade absence.

    Speaking at the launch of the sponsorship, KCB Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Paul Russo said: “We take great pride in being part of East Africa’s motorsport story since 2003, when we first sponsored the Safari rally. This marks another chapter in our story and reiterates our commitment in supporting sports, as we celebrate the historic return of WRC Safari Rally to the Kenyan soil.”

    “It is a great pleasure to see that our sponsorship over the years has resulted in the growth of motorsport in the region opening up the sport to many young talents.” Mr. Russo said.

    In 2019, KCB became the Official Financial Partner for the Safari Rally Kenya for the World Rally Championship (WRC) Rally, with a 3-year commitment of KShs 250 Million starting with a WRC Candidate event staged in June 2019.

    “We are putting together yet another massive rallying event to reinforce Kenya’s growing profile as a global sporting arena” said Hon. Ababu Namwamba, Cabinet Secretary, Youth Affairs, Sports, and the Arts.

    KCB also announced a commitment towards promoting sustainability and care for the environment during sporting activities. “We are championing sustainability initiatives like tree growing, recycling, waste management in the run up, during and after the Safari Rally” said Mr Russo adding that KCB has joined hands with other partners in an initiative to plant 400,000 trees in several counties in the course of this year. Last year, through this partnership 700,000 trees were planted.

  • KRA tough times to explain the clearance of the controversy of condemned brown sugar from government custody

    Kenya Revenue Authority Risper Simiyu , acting commissioner general had a difficult time explaining and tabling the documents supporting the clearance of the controversy surrounding the release of condemned brown sugar from government custody has sucked in senior government officials and politicians before the Parliamentary investment committee for commercial affairs and energy.

    In what appears to have been a well-coordinated plan to enrich a few individuals through the 20,000 50kg bags of sugar scam, 27 officials under investigation have been suspended amid claims that the real architect is still free.

    According to insiders, two politicians from Central Kenya and two senior government officials are said to have orchestrated the release of the consignment, which had been flagged by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) in 2018 for missing expiry dates.

    During the tabling of documents, the chairperson of the committee Hon. David Pkosing tasked the commissioner general to explain how the sugar disappeared but she declined to comment on the issue saying that the information is in the public domain and the matter is under investigation by directive authorities.

    “Chair I will not be able to comment actually what is in the public domain. And you’ll allow me to do that because the matter is under investigation or didn’t want to prejudice or put my thoughts to where it could be, of course, and in the form of alarm.”  Risper Simiyu, Acting Commissioner General alludes.

    Before the committee, Ag. Nancy gave the background of the process of events on how the process is done.

    “But in answering your question, the institution responsible for determining whether a product is fit for human consumption. It seems to me if it’s condemned by KEBS, then it is destroyed.” Risper Simiyu, Acting Commissioner General explains.

    Nancy further explains that;

    “Now the person who determines the mode of destruction and where it will be destroyed now is NEMA. So if that happened, then it means KRA customs does not release the goods based on the determination by KEBS based on completion by NEMA on how and where that it is displayed.”

    The committee agreed that it’s a weighty issue to discuss tasking the auditor general to do a thorough audit query over the same issue and submit it before the committee. Chairman Hon. Pkosing ruled that the issue should be dealt with by finding an amicable way of addressing the whole saga saying that they are getting explanatory lacking specifics.

    Finally, Hon Pkosing blatantly said that KRA has been badly exposed and soon they will table the documents before the committee and the public asks the KRA team to redeem themselves by submitting the right information before the right authorities.

  • Parliamentary Investment committee on commercial affairs and energy demands for critical tender documents

    Parliamentary Investment committee on commercial affairs and energy demands for critical tender documents

    The National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy has directed the Kenya Maritime Authority KMA) to submit a copy of the contract for the construction of the Agency’s Headquarters in Mombasa.

    The directive by the Committee Chaired by Hon. David Pkosing (Pokot South) followed revelations by the Auditor General that there had been three additional projects issued under the contract, without documentary evidence of approval as required by the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act  (2015).

    The KMA team led by Acting Director General Mr. John Omingo appeared before the Committee for examination of their audited Accounts for the 2018/2019 and the 2020/2021 Financial Years.

    According to the Auditor General, a scrutiny of the Agency’s financial books for the 2020/2021 Financial Year revealed that capital work in progress on the project totaled Kshs.1.8 billion.

    Further scrutiny, revealed that there had been the introduction of three new activities totaling Ksh. 5.5 Billion, which had not been factored in the contracted Bill of Quantities.

    Hon. Pkosing directed that the Agency present copies of the primary and all sub-contracts relating to the project within seven days. He asked the Agency to take the work of the Committee seriously,  “You must take what we are doing here very seriously. The custodians of whatever report we will write after this, are the investigative agencies and even the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions who can institute further action.”

    Other Auditor General queries of concern to the Committee include the Agency’s failure to submit annual reports of import, export, and fees collected during the years under review, contrary to the Kenya Maritime Authority Act, 2006, which requires Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to submit to Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) monthly and annual reports on the same.

  • Governors cry foul over Ksh. 94.35 billion funds delay to counties

    Governors cry foul over Ksh. 94.35 billion funds delay to counties

    The council of Governors have decried the delay of release of funds amounting to Kshs 94.35 billion meant for the implementation of county budgets.

    Speaking at a press briefing in Nairobi, Hon. Ann Waiguru, the Chairperson of the Council of Governors in Kenya said that the financial year 2022/23 is coming to a close in one and a half months yet the national treasury has not disbursed the monies to counties to facilitate implementation of county budgets.

    “Despite the mutual agreement between the Council and the national treasury arrived at during a meeting held on 2nd may 2023, the national treasury is yet to disburse the pending equitable share to counties as resolved,” she said.

    Waiguru also accused the ministry of health of derailing the county governments efforts to improve healthcare within the counties.

    “We are staring at a crisis in the implementation of devolved health services due to deliberate steps by the ministry of health to claw back on the health function, thus derailing the gains made since 2013,” she said.

    Waiguru added that some of the areas heavily affected by the said interference of the ministry of health in the execution of devolved health functions include primary health Care delivery, engagement of community health promoters, attempted establishment of primary care networks and creation of institutions and authorities within the sector.

    “Despite the challenges, these council reaffirms it’s commitment to the success of devolution and delivery quality service to all Kenyans . We are open to investments and to partnerships to ensure that devolution thrives. We call upon the national government to support this process through issuing conditional grants for all programs on devolved functions,” she said.

  • Why Milton Nyakundi is facing Extradition from USA


    We have authoritatively revealed an ongoing case battle involving Milton Nyakundi the former K24 sports journalist and the family of the late Yunia Oseko.

    Briefly, Yunia oseko has not been buried for close to 3 years now following a case involving her estate, 100 acre of land lying in Nyamira County, BORABU Consitituency, Esise location. One of is sons went to court to seek justice regarding the estate of his mother.

    This has prompted Milton nyaundi to take the role of a hornbill from Maryland USA, filling cases on behalf of the family in order to seek attention as a family relative. In documents seen by this writer, Nyakundi went ahead to announce new date of burial for the late Yunia Oseko (9th June 2023) despite an active case in Nyamira law courts and a court order putting stop for any funeral arrangements.

    Nyakundi who is in USA on a visit courtesy of Raila Odinga Foundation, is seen targeting one sibling who works with KCB bank were he claims that he has refused with the body of the late mama Yunia which lies in Umash funeral home.

    This prompted the siblings to file a case against Milton Nyakundi over defamation an interfering with family matters. The sibling’s when asked said Nyakundi is not their cousin but they heard is his grandfather was a cousin to the great grandfather of Oseko family. They have never interacted nor visited each other but they understand he is being used by family cartels who want their father’s land. Part of the letter to the US embassy reads.

    “On 10th May 2023, while within the jurisdiction of the United States of America, the said Milton Nyakundi Oriku made on facebook false, misleading and malicious publications regarding the death ofYuniah Bochaberi Oseko. Our firm and irrevocable instructions from our client is to demand from you as we hereby do that you immediately revoke the VISA for Milton Nyakundi Oriku and that -he be immediately deported to Kenya for purposes of facing the impending civil proceedings against him.

    The said Milton Nyakundi Oriku is in the process of raising funds disguised as funeral funds yet the said funds are for purposes of sustaining his stay at the United States of America. He is not related to the decease. He has not been instructed by the family of the deceased to raise any funds for any funeral.’
    Nyakundi retaliated from USA and wrote that the purported letter to USA embassy is fake and further threatened to sue whoever wo was behind it… Part of the letter in our custody reads.


    “ I write to you in the context of a letter authored by yourselves, purportedly, to the Embassy of the United States of America in Nairobi dated 11th May 2023, referenced as “RE: FALSE, MISLEADING AND MALICIOUS PUBLICATION BY MILTON NYAKUNDI ORIKU”. In this letter you suggested “We have been retained by the estate of Yuniah Bochaberi Oseko”, which is not the case. Our family has not taken any resolution to instruct you to act for us on any matter and as such your letter is a misrepresentation of facts, which you are aware that it is a violation of your professional code of conduct and ethical standards of the practice of the legal profession….”

    The battle continues as the lawyers of the family have obtained orders for Nyakundi to appear before magistrate in Nairobi court on 5/6/2023.

  • Presentation of correctional department budget estimates for financial year 2023/2024

    Presentation of correctional department budget estimates for financial year 2023/2024


    Correctional outgoing Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni Thursday morning presented the budget estimates for financial year 2023/2024 before the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee of the National Assembly which was chaired by Tharaka Nithi MP Hon. George Murugara.

    The presentations included achievements, challenges and recommendations of Correctional department which includes Prisons and Probation.

    The PS presented the key priority areas of the State Department on transforming correctional services for consideration by the committee for budgetary allocation which will see improvement of service delivery within the correctional services.

    The JLAC Chair Hon. Gitonga thanked the PS for spearhead the Correctional Department in a way that has yielded positive outcomes and wished her well in her new assignment.

    The PS is moving from State Department for Correctional Services to State Department of Public Health and Professional Standards.

  • Politrack Opinion Polls ranks Ndindi Nyoro the best performer

    Politrack Opinion Polls ranks Ndindi Nyoro the best performer

    By Mary Mukabane

    Hon. Samson Ndindi Nyoro has emerged to be the best performing member of Parliament since taking office after last year elections.

    This is According to Politrack Africa, a political research company that has this week published the top 20 best performing Mps in Kenya.

    According to the firm, the performance of the members of Parliament was accumulated from a satisfaction ranking by the electorates of the constituencies in a scale of 1-10.

    Honourable Ndindi Nyoro garnered a 73.7% approval rating from his electorates while Embakasi East Mp, Hon. Babu Owino came second place with 72.1%. Kimilili MP Hon. Didmus Barasa, came at third position with 70.6% in a tie with Mavoko MP, Patrick Makau.

    Speaking during the report launch in Nairobi City, the Data reporting officer Zipporah Umile said that women leaders came out shining as well at the opinion polls.

    “According to the ranking, 3 women MP’s made it to the top 20 including Bahati MP Irene Njoki, Rangwe MP Lilian Gogo and Kisumu West MP Roza Buyu,” she said.

    She also said that the various reasons which the electorates provided for rating the performance of their Mps included management of the CDF kitty, bursary allocations and initiation of development projects.

    “The electorates also looked at how vocal their Mps were in articulating issues that affected them and how accessible they were when needed by the voters,” she added.

    At the fourth position came Kiminini MP Hon. Maurice Kakau with 69.8% approval ratings in a tie with Westlands Mp, Hon. Tim Wanyonyi.

    Other Mps in top 20 positions included Bahati MP Irene Njoki, Lafey MP, Mohamed Abdikheir, Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wa, Mogotio MP Reuben Kipngor, Wajir South MP Mohamed Aden Dow, Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera and Rangwe MP Lilian Gogo among others.

  • Bahati MP Demonstrates Her passion for Education

    Bahati MP Demonstrates Her passion for Education

    Honorable Irene Njoki, the Member of Parliament for Bahati, continues to show her commitment to education. In an update regarding the NG-CDF (National Government-Constituency Development Fund) project, it was announced that the construction of classrooms at Kianda Primary School is 65% complete. Once finished, this project will alleviate the strain on the current infrastructure of the school.

    During a recent visit to the school, Honorable Irene Njoki, who serves as the Bahati NG-CDF patron, reaffirmed her vision to refurbish and construct necessary facilities in more schools across the constituency. This demonstrates her enthusiasm for improving the educational infrastructure within Bahati, aiming to create a conducive learning environment for the students.

    By prioritizing education and investing in school projects, Honorable Irene Njoki shows her dedication to the betterment of the educational system in the Bahati constituency, ultimately aiming to provide quality education to the students and contribute to their future success.

  • MCA’s Urged to prioritize the welfare of citizens and set aside threats

    MCA’s Urged to prioritize the welfare of citizens and set aside threats

    Hon. Caroline Wanjiku, a member of the County Assembly in Kirinyaga County, has called on her fellow MCAs to prioritize the welfare of the common citizen, known as “Wanjiku,” and set aside their threats. She criticized the MCAs’ pressure on the government, deeming it premature, and instead urged them to give the government time to fulfill its responsibilities.

    According to Hon. Wanjiku, since the current government is relatively new, it is important to allow it sufficient time to serve the citizens effectively. She suggested that instead of solely focusing on salary increments for MCAs, a more inclusive approach should be adopted. One such approach is increasing the allocation of bursaries.

    Honorable Wanjiku highlighted her personal experience in her ward, where she was only able to provide a meager Ksh 1,000 for bursaries to needy students. She compared this amount to a needle in a haystack, emphasizing the limited impact it had. She proposed that if the government could increase the county’s allocation, it would enable a broader reach and help more deserving students receive bursary assistance.

    In conclusion, Honorable Caroline Wanjiku urged her fellow MCAs to abandon their threats and concentrate on the well-being of the common citizens. She called for patience and a more inclusive approach, such as expanding the bursary program, to address the needs of the community effectively.

  • Octagon Africa Receive Regulatory Nod for Tier II Pension Contributions Custodial

    Octagon Africa Receive Regulatory Nod for Tier II Pension Contributions Custodial

    Octagon Africa, a leading regional financial services provider with local operations in Kenya, has received approval from the Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) to manage Tier II contributions from employers who opt out of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) through the Octagon Umbrella Retirement Benefits Scheme.

    The regulatory approval is in line with the NSSF Act, 2013, which was validated and declared constitutional by the Court of Appeal in Kenya in February 2023. The Act, in Section 21, provides an opt-out option for an occupational retirement benefits scheme,  an umbrella retirement benefits scheme and individual retirement benefits scheme that have been approved and registered by the RBA for purposes of receiving Tier II Contributions.

    Octagon Africa Group CEO Fred Waswa said that it would be prudent for employers to put  the Tier II contributions into a privately managed pension scheme such as the Octagon Umbrella Retirement Benefits Scheme which gives employers influence in the governance of the scheme through the Committees set up under the RBA Regulations.

    “We are delighted to receive regulatory approval from RBA to manage Tier II pension contributions. Our scheme is well managed, well administered, and able to give clients better returns. In addition, our processes are highly automated,” Mr. Waswa said.

    This landmark approval comes as the Kenyan government seeks to deepen and broaden the country’s pension industry, providing more options for Kenyan workers to save for their retirement.

    The pension contribution is set at 12% of the pensionable wages made up of two equal portions of 6% from the employee and 6% from the employer, subject to a total upper limit of Kshs 2,160 for employees earning above Kshs18,000 in the first year of implementation.

     

    Octagon Africa has a proven track record in providing pension fund administration and consultancy services since 2007 and currently manages over Kshs.100 billion in assets for over 200,000 customers. The company offers Employee Benefits Administration and Consultancy services.

    “We believe that our expertise in pension administration, coupled with our innovative solutions, enables us to provide our clients with a unique value proposition in the Tier II pension market,” Octagon Africa Commercial Director Florence Muchiri said.

    Octagon Africa is committed to ensuring that its clients receive the best financial advice and investment solutions at the most favorable and competitive rates, and this approval is a step in the right direction.