The deputy director of Programmes, public policy, and the president’s priority initiatives, Pius Chirchir, has been accused of attempted felony and abuse of office.
Following investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), which found that Chirchir is accountable for the aforementioned offenses, the Makadara Law Courts rendered their decision.
“The suspect demanded a 2% stake (shareholding) from Kentegra Pyrethrum Company Limited to assist the company in bypassing the hurdles brought about by the Pyrethrum Act of 2013 which required farmers to use the electronic Tax Invoice Management System (eTIMS),” the DCI stated in a statement on X.
“……and also help the company in its case concerning the illegal sale of two (2) tons of Kentegra dried pyrethrum flowers to Pyrethrum Processing Company of Kenya.”
After being charged with both offenses, Chirchir was arraigned on Tuesday and released on a Ksh. 200,000 bond with one Ksh. 200,000 surety, with the option of Ksh. 100,000 cash bail.
Before the hearing, which is scheduled for September 17, 2024, the topic will be discussed on June 13.
Senior military personnel, including Francis Ogolla, the Chief of Defence Forces, lost their life in a terrible military helicopter crash in the Sindar area, close to the border between West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet. This is not the first such incident.
In recent years, there have been a number of these events all around the nation.
Wajir County was rocked by two distinct incidents on November 20, 2023. While delivering exam materials to Arbajahan, a commercial helicopter crashed at Wajir International Airport, another military helicopter on a relief food supply mission crashed during takeoff in Buna, Wajir North.
Two pilots from the Kenya Defence Forces were hospitalized earlier that month after their helicopter crashed in the Kisamis area of Kajiado West. This happened after a power cable was struck by a Kenya Air Force Fennec helicopter on November 9 while it was on its way to Nairobi.
A helicopter carrying officials accompanying Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on a security tour of the dangerous territory crashed in Chemolingot Stadium, Baringo County, in July 2023. Luckily, despite the helicopter striking a tree after takeoff, everyone on board—including government officials—escaped unscathed.
When a military helicopter crashed in Kajiado in June 2021 while on a normal training exercise, at least ten Kenya Defence Forces troops perished. The helicopter circled for more than twenty minutes before it crashed, attempting to evacuate those who were onboard.
These military helicopter mishaps have raised questions about the aircraft’s upkeep, safety, and operational standards.
On Sunday, April 21, 2024, the late General Francis Ogolla, the Chief of Defense Forces (PDF), will be laid to rest in his family’s home in Mor, Alego Usonga, Siaya County.
Speaking to the media, the late General Ogolla’s family disclosed that he had specified in his Will that he be buried within 72 hours after passing away.
A memorial ceremony will be held at his local church in Nduru prior to the burial.
“Additionally, a Memorial Service will be held on Friday, April 26th, 2024, at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Langata, where he found solace in his biweekly runs,” the family stated in a statement.
A Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) committee is working together with the late CDF’s family to ensure the distinguished General has a dignified farewell.
Along with nine other military personels, Ogolla perished in a helicopter crash on Thursday in the Sindar area of Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Prior to his death, Ogolla was scheduled to attend the 100th birthday celebration of his father, Joel Okech, in Siaya County on Saturday, April 20. The celebrations are expected to last into Sunday and involve the local community.
In light of General Francis Ogolla’s tragic death, President William Ruto declared three days of national mourning on Thursday.
A collage photo of Zuher Ali Mohamed and Salim Kilanga Mwinyi. [Photo | Courtesy]
On Thursday, two individuals were charged with drug trafficking and possessing various narcotics worth approximately Ksh.900,000 at their arraignment in a Mombasa court.
Before Senior Resident Magistrate Rita Orora, the accused, Salim Kilanga Mwinyi and Zuher Ali Mohamed, were each charged separately.
It is said that Mohammed was discovered in possession of bhang, cocaine, and heroin.
According to the ODPP, Mohammed was charged with the first count of trafficking by keeping narcotic substances, specifically heroin, to wit 114 grams, with a market value of Ksh 342,000. He appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Rita Orora.
“He was also charged with the two other counts of being in possession of narcotic drugs namely 1.6037 grams of cocaine with a street value of Ksh 6,414 and 22 grams of bhang with a street value of Ksh 660 respectively.”
He was freed after denying the charges and posting a Ksh. 500,000 surety bond. However, Mwinyi was accused of trafficking 170 grams of heroin valued at Ksh. 510,000.
“He denied the charge of narcotics trafficking in violation of section 4(a)(ii) of the Psychotropic Substance (control) Act no. 4 of 1994, as modified by the Psychotropic Substance (control) (amendment) Act, 2022,” the ODPP stated.
“He was also charged with the two other counts of being in possession of narcotic drugs namely 1.6037 grams of cocaine with a street value of Ksh 6,414 and 22 grams of bhang with a street value of Ksh 660 respectively.”
He was freed after denying the charges and posting a Ksh. 500,000 surety bond. However, Mwinyi was accused of trafficking 170 grams of heroin valued at Ksh. 510,000.
“He denied the charge of narcotics trafficking in violation of section 4(a)(ii) of the Psychotropic Substance (control) Act no. 4 of 1994, as modified by the Psychotropic Substance (control) (amendment) Act, 2022,” the ODPP stated.
He was freed on a Ksh. 700,000 bail with an equal surety bond after entering a not guilty plea to the allegations.
May 6 and May 8, respectively, are scheduled for the mention of Mwinyi and Mohammed’s cases.
The anticipated Friday official opening of the Ksh.9.6 billion Bunge Tower has been rescheduled for next week.
The news was made on Thursday night by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, who stated that the launch, which was scheduled to be presided over by President William Ruto, had been postponed due to the untimely passing of General Francis Ogolla, the Chief of Defense Forces (general).
Along with nine other military personnel, General Ogolla perished in a helicopter crash on Thursday near the Sindar area in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
The Bunge Tower will now open on Thursday, April 25, starting at 9 a.m., according to Speaker Wetangula, who also serves as the chair of the Parliamentary Service Commission.
“As you are aware, tomorrow, Friday, April 24, 2024, President William Ruto was scheduled to officially open the Bunge Tower. However, this evening, in his address to the Nation, His Excellency the President announced the unfortunate and untimely demise of General Francis Ogolla, the CDF, who died in a helicopter crash alongside nine other gallant officers this afternoon. Following the tragic event, the President has announced three days of national mourning. In view of the foregoing, this is to notify you that the official opening Ceremony of the Bunge Tower that was scheduled to take place tomorrow has been postponed,” Wetangula wrote in a letter to MPs.
“The official opening ceremony has been rescheduled and will now take place next week, Thursday, April 25, 2024, starting at 9:00 am,” he continued.
Wetangula emphasized the building’s importance and the long-awaited completion of the Parliamentary complex in a communiqué to the lawmakers on Wednesday.
In addition, he threatened to take disciplinary action against Parliamentarians who spoke out against the Bunge Tower without enough information, threatening to bring them before the Committee on Powers and Privileges.
Saving money might be difficult at times, but sometimes all it takes is taking the initial step in the right direction to make things go in the direction you want them to.
Don’t give reasons why you shouldn’t save money. It is easy to come up with reasons why you are unable to save money. “I was never taught how to save by my parents.” Simply put, I’m not good with numbers.”My income is insufficient to save money.”
These are but a handful of the mental obstacles you may be placing in your way of saving. Until you overcome these negative money attitudes, it will be challenging for you to take saving seriously.
Although it could take some time to change your perspective on money, the rewards will increase with the amount of effort you are ready to put in.
Keeping track of all of your spending, including regular monthly bills and all household items, is the next step towards saving money.
Whether it’s a basic spreadsheet or a pencil and paper, keep a record of your spending. After you have your data, total each cost and arrange the numbers into categories like food, gas, rent, and loan repayments.
Instead than listing all of the expenses, a budget should indicate where the money is needed. Each month, create a financial action plan and follow it.
Many financial experts would argue that saving money while still in debt is an oxymoron.
You might be in the black financially even when you have money in the bank if you owe your creditors the same amount or more.
You’re probably considerably further in the red because you’re paying a lot more interest on your debt than you’re generating in your savings account. Thus, it makes sense to approach your debt head-on.
You’ll have more money to save if you pay off your debt more quickly, but you’ll still need a repayment strategy.
According to several experts, paying off the smaller bills first and gradually increasing your payments is the greatest strategy to pay off debt.
Some contend that since the debts are costing you the most money, it is preferable to start with the ones that have the greatest interest rates. Choosing a method isn’t as crucial as making sure you stay with it through to the end.
Decide on a saving target. Consider your potential goals for savings first, both short-term (one to three years) and long-term (four or more years). Next, project how much cash you’ll require and how long it might take you to save it.
Setting financial objectives such as buying a home or paying off debt might help you stay motivated to save money. Your end aim will be on your mind every time you spend, which will encourage you to reduce wasteful spending. You’ll know exactly what you’re saving for each time, which will help you stay on course to reach your final goal.
Be ready for anything that might come up. Everyone has financial challenges from time to time because life happens.
A financial reserve for emergencies serves as a safety net against unforeseen events. Establishing a little emergency fund prior to beginning your other savings objectives will ensure that you are not sidetracked in the event of an unforeseen circumstance. Having that additional cash on hand, even if it’s only a few hundred shillings per month, can have a significant impact on your revenue.
Following that, it’s a good idea to aim for having three to nine months’ worth of expenses saved in the emergency fund in case of a significant setback, such as a medical emergency or job loss.
Set up automatic saving. Automated transfers between your savings and checking accounts are available from almost all banks.
You have the flexibility to decide where, when, and how much money to send. You can even split your direct deposit, which allows you to set aside a certain amount of each paycheck for savings. The benefit is that you won’t have to consider it and are less inclined to spend the money elsewhere.
According to studies, those who use credit or debit cards tend to spend more because they don’t feel as though they are overspending.
You will only spend what you have in your pockets when you carry cash. When you make this a habit, you’ll schedule your expenses in advance and carry a certain amount of cash depending on your demands, leaving no space for unanticipated expenses.
It could be time to make some spending reductions if you are unable to save as much as you would want. Decide which non-essentials you can live without, such entertainment and eating out.
Seek methods to reduce your set monthly costs, including vehicle insurance. Other suggestions for reducing regular costs include terminating memberships and subscriptions you don’t use—especially if they renew on their own.
Additionally, you might have to hold off on purchasing non-essential products. It’s possible that you’ll realize the item was more of a want than a need and that you can live without it.
Learn how to take care of yourself. The internet is full with DIY projects, from fixing a broken wall clock at home to applying cosmetic procedures! The goal of do-it-yourself projects is to maximize the amount of tasks you can complete at home on your own instead of hiring someone else to complete them for you. Saving money while acquiring new abilities is a win-win situation!
Create a weekly meal plan during the weekend. Shopping in accordance with your plan will reduce any inconsequential food expenses that may arise during the workweek.
Making your own food is beneficial for your health as well as your wallet. Put money toward a balanced diet and start saving!
Every month, evaluate your spending plan and track your advancement. This will assist you in staying true to your personal savings goal and in promptly recognizing and resolving issues. Knowing how to conserve money could even motivate you to come up with new ideas so you can reach your objectives more quickly.
A Google spokesperson revealed on Thursday that the search engine company had fired 28 workers as a result of a disruptive sit-down protest over its contract with the Israeli government.
The organization “No Tech for Apartheid,” which has long fought “Project Nimbus,” Google and Amazon’s joint $1.2 billion deal to supply cloud services to the Israeli government, staged the demonstration on Tuesday.
An advocacy organization on X, formerly Twitter, posted a video of the demonstration showing police detaining Google employees in the Sunnyvale, California, office of Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian.
The advocacy group said that for ten hours, Kurian’s office was occupied.
Employees carried placards that read, “Googlers against Genocide,” in reference to allegations pertaining to Israel’s assaults on Gaza.
Protesters “No Tech for Apartheid,” who also staged demonstrations in New York and Seattle, cited a Time magazine article from April 12 detailing a proposed Google deal that would have charged the Israeli Defense Ministry over $1 million for consultancy services.
While a Google representative stated that the protests are “part of a longstanding campaign by a group of organizations and people who largely don’t work at Google,” a “small number” of employees “disrupted” a few Google facilities.
“After refusing multiple requests to leave the premises, law enforcement was engaged to remove them to ensure office safety,” a spokeswoman for Google stated. “We have so far concluded individual investigations that resulted in the termination of employment for 28 employees, and will continue to investigate and take action as needed.”
According to a Google representative, Google offers cloud computing services to “numerous” governments, including Israel.
“This work is not directed at highly sensitive, classified, or military workloads relevant to weapons or intelligence services,” a spokeswoman for Google stated.
With a new name and location, popular entertainment spot 1824 is about to return to Nairobi’s nightlife.
This comes after the club, which was once located on Lang’ata Road, was demolished in March of this year due to ongoing problems that afflicted its operation therein.
Speaking to a local media on Thursday, one of the renowned nightclub’s directors disclosed that they have now relocated to Aerodrome Road, where they are now setting up a tent.
The director also announced that the club will now go by its Roman number equivalent, MDCCCXXIV, instead of 1824.
The director declared, “The name 1824 in our brand is totally dead.”
Videos that surfaced online showed workers hard at work at the new site, as the director stated that the establishment’s doors would likely open to the public on May 12, 2024.
Prior to being demolished on Lang’ata Road on March 1st, this year, 1824 was shut down by the authorities in December of last year due to an array of issues.
After over ten years of operation, the club was closed. During that time, it was one of Nairobi’s hippest entertainment venues. The revelers had mixed feelings about the closing and shared their best partying memories on social media.
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki addressing the press at the official residence of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on March 6, 2024. [PHOTO | COURTESY]
On Wednesday, April 10, 2024, Kenya will have a public holiday, according to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki.
Kindiki announced that Tuesday, April 9, will be a public holiday in celebration of Idd-ul-Fitr.
“IT IS notified for the general information of the public that, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2 (1) of the Public Holidays Act. The Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration declares that Wednesday, the 10th April, 2024, shall be a Public Holiday to mark Idd-ul-Fitr,” stated the notice.
The holy month of Ramadan, which began on March 11, 2024, comes to its conclusion on Idd-ul-Fitr.
Muslims gather for Idd prayer and break their fast on this festival.
The leader of the infamous Kibokoni Panga Boys, who have been terrorising the locals in Kibokoni and its environs, has been taken into custody by Mombasa police.
Acting on intelligence, Mombasa Central Police Station detectives apprehended Abdulkadir Mohamed on Sunday night when he was watching a football game in the Kibokoni area.
The first clue that the suspect belonged to the group that has injured people was discovered when a panga was concealed in his trousers.
Following months of being captured on camera terrorising Kibokoni locals, the suspect and his brother Hassan Noor were apprehended.
After attacking residents in October 2023, the two were apprehended, and one of them sustained severe machete injuries.
Although the event was reported at the same police station, months passed before the primary suspect was found and taken into custody.
