Mombasa set to get Dubai-like free port

TUESDAY JANUARY 23 2018

Imported vehicles in Mombasa. file PHOTO | NMG 

In Summary

• A free trade zone, such as the world renowned Dubai, is a re-export gateway where goods in transit are temporarily stored to avoid strict customs regulations and lengthy administrative procedures that home-bound imports face. 
• The establishment of such a facility in Kenya means vehicle imports destined to other markets in the region will first be received and sorted in Mombasa.
• The 1,000-acre Mombasa re-export gateway will initially handle 100,000 vehicles annually. 

By GEORGE OMONDI
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Mombasa is set to get a free trade zone (FTZ) for motor vehicles this year in a policy move that could create thousands of new jobs for traders and service providers.

An FTZ, such as the world renowned Dubai, is a re-export gateway where goods in transit are temporarily stored to avoid strict customs regulations and lengthy administrative procedures that home-bound imports face. 

The establishment of such a facility in Kenya - almost four years after the Cabinet gave its nod to the plan - means vehicle imports destined to other markets in the region will first be received and sorted in Mombasa.

Day when a rogue businessman caused gun scare at State House

SUNDAY JANUARY 21 2018   

 

 

Retired President Daniel Moi addresses a gathering during the opening of Trans National Bank, Iten branch, in Elgeyo-Marakwet County on January 23, 2015. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP  

In Summary

• State House security didn’t bother to screen Kiarie wa Mbugua and he got to the President’s office with all his cargo. 
• Kenya had accused Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi of funding political dissidents to topple Moi.
• His vehicle was searched by bomb experts and towed out of the State House compound. 

By KAMAU NGOTHO
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The story isn’t much what State House releases as official dispatch. It is in what never comes to the public limelight. These are some of the incidents State House shall never confirm or deny ever happened.

Kiarie wa Mbugua is a familiar name in Kiambu county. It’s the name of a famous businessman who died sometimes back.

Many knew Kiarie wa Mbugua or Kiarie wa Njoki to be a businessman and coffee farmer. But many others knew he did other things that angels in heaven weren’t happy with. To the latter, the man was Kiarie Muiici (Kiaire The Thief).

The untold stories of Kenyatta’s private Bamburi posh residence

Kenya's first President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.

SUNDAY JANUARY 21 2018     

In Summary

• As an archival file on Bamburi beach cottage now shows, the late President Kenyatta could relax here and enjoy the Ocean breeze with minimal security around him.
• The new archival file allows us to peep into the private life of President Kenyatta: His love for Njahi, citrus fruits, coconut trees, flowers and goats! All these were brought to Bamburi.
• Another interest Mr Kenyatta had were citrus fruits and pineapple suckers and some 2,000 were planted by Shah Virn.
• Keeping goats at Bamburi was also a challenge because they would often get sick.

By JOHN KAMAU
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Very little is known about Mzee Kenyatta’s Bamburi home – only that this was his escape away from the power trappings of State House, Mombasa, when he was on a tour of the coast.

As an archival file on Bamburi beach cottage now shows, the late President Kenyatta could relax here and enjoy the Ocean breeze with minimal security around him.

The new archival file allows us to peep into the private life of President Kenyatta: His love for Njahi, citrus fruits, coconut trees, flowers and goats! All these were brought to Bamburi.

The file also brings out an issue that few Kenyans would believe: Government officials always refused — and in writing — to pay Kenyatta’s private bills and billed him for any service rendered to him. That would be surprising for a man whose private life has been thought to be mixed with his public one.

Pain and anguish as gangsters rob people in broad daylight

Thugs descend on a pedestrian on Nairobi street. NATION MEDIA GROUP

 SUNDAY JANUARY 21 2018 

In Summary

• The criminals, who prowl the concrete jungle in packs like wild animals, appear to have been emboldened enough to relocate to streets in the city centre.
• They usually target people leaving ATMs, forex bureaux and M-Pesa shops — and even pedestrians going about their businesses.
• They will then take whatever their victim is carrying before frisking the pockets to take more valuables.
• On Friday, a distressed caller alerted the Nation that a woman had been surrounded by at least 20 people on Standard Street near CBA at 7.20 and robbed of everything she was carrying.

By NATION REPORTER

Daring daylight robbers who include the notorious 40 Brothers gang have intensified their activities in Nairobi’s city centre, triggering questions on the effectiveness of police patrols and CCTV cameras.  

The criminals, who prowl the concrete jungle in packs like wild animals, appear to have been emboldened enough to relocate to streets in the city centre that were previously considered safe, according to police sources. They usually target people leaving ATMs, forex bureaux and M-Pesa shops — and even pedestrians going about their businesses.

Once they zero in on a target, the gangs, that are made up of 10 or more people who walk in smaller groups, will converge and surround the victim – leaving no room for escape.

Nasa troubled by nagging questions over plan to swear in Raila

SATURDAY JANUARY 20 2018    

 

 

Nasa leader Raila Odinga (centre) receives a Bible from Ms Christine Ndila (second left) during the launch of the people’s assembly at the Machakos Golf Club on January 19, 2018. On the right is Mr Kalonzo Musyoka. Wananchi at the event said they want Mr Odinga sworn-in as the people’s president. PHOTO | DENIS KAVISU | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• Some of strategists in the Nasa coalition — who are not allied to ODM — have said that the Opposition is a house deeply divided because important decisions are being taken by ODM 
• The declaration to transform the Nasa into the National Resistance Movement on the eve of the October 26 poll was made without the consultation of other Nasa leaders.
• Kisumu Woman Rep Rosa Buyu said the overriding thing in the quest to swear in Raila and Kalonzo is the need for electoral justice whose absence has undermined the country’s democratic space.

By IBRAHIM ORUKO
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By PATRICK LANG'AT
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Abrupt, off-the-cuff unilateral decisions by Nasa leader Raila Odinga and his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party are at the heart of intense discussions in the opposition coalition, documents seen by the Saturday Nation have revealed.

Top among the decisions in dispute is the call for a January 30 “swearing-in”, one that multiple interviews described as a spur-of-the-moment decision by one actor rather than a product of consultation within the coalition.

The psychological damage done by second hand clothing in Africa.

KIGALI, Rwanda — In Kenya, they are called the “clothes of dead white people.” In Mozambique, they are the “clothing of calamity.”

They are nicknames for the unwanted, used clothing from the West that so often ends up in Africa.

Now, a handful of countries here in East Africa no longer want the foreign hand-me-downs dumped on them because they’re trying to manufacture their own clothes.

But they say they’re being punished for it — by the United States.

I will form my government even from exile, says Raila

THURSDAY JANUARY 18 2018   

 

 

Opposition leader Raila Odinga addressing a press conference at the Okoa Kenya Secretariat in Nairobi, on October 31, 2017. He has said that his swearing-in as people's president will go on. PHOTO | DENNIS ONSONGO | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• In an interview with Voice of America, the opposition leader said his oath of office will be based on the results of the August 8, 2017 election, which he claims he won.
• President Kenyatta has warned that the law will take its course if Mr Odinga acts against the Constitution while Attorney-General Githu Muigai has said the oath will attract a charge of treason.
• The Nasa leader says his January 30 oath is a protest against what he terms lack of electoral reforms and the failure by Jubilee to initiate dialogue over it.
• On disagreements over the sharing of parliamentary committee leadership positions in the coalition, Mr Odinga said the differences were normal.

By PATRICK LANG'AT
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By IBRAHIM ORUKO
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Opposition leader Raila Odinga has vowed to form a rival government when he is sworn in on January 30 even if it is based outside the country.

He spoke as 13 opposition MPs said they will have all the National Super Alliance (NASA) affiliated lawmakers to support the oath by swearing affidavits declaring they will only recognise Mr Odinga as president.

In an interview with Voice of America, the opposition leader said his oath of office will be based on the results of the August 8, 2017 election, which he claims he won.

He said he will form a cabinet and run a government even if it will be from exile.

“This is no joke. An illegitimate government is in office, and the one that the people actually wanted to be there is outside. On January 30, we will end this. We will be sworn in with the August 8 results that shows we won,” he said.

Raila, molasses and the men from Pretoria

SUNDAY JANUARY 10 2016   

 

 

The Kisumu Molasses plant. While Tony Teixeira survived, Energem, which had a stake in the Kisumu molasses plant, went under in 2011. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• Apparently, it was RAB Special Situations which had petitioned for the administration. 
• That left the Kisumu Molasses plant minus a major shareholder.
• At one point, it could not pay its workers or service some debts.
• It is an issue that is rarely discussed locally. But it was a lesson to the Odinga family.

By JOHN KAMAU
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The two men came from Pretoria.

One gave me his card and we went into a room — away from my newsroom desk.

It was mid-morning, August 2004. On my side was a lawyer, Mr Moses Kurgat.

I had just penned an investigative piece about Mr Tony Texeira, a South African Portuguese whose firm, Energem Resources, had just snapped 55 per cent stake in Oginga Odinga family’s molasses plant in Kisumu — a controversial purchase which was concluded during the days Raila Odinga’s National Development Party (NDP) had softened its stance towards President Moi and then ruling party Kanu.

The two wanted to know two things: where I got the Energem documents from and, secondly, whether they could have a look at them.

I pointed out that the documents were on their website and some were company tax filings. Apparently, as I came to learn later, somebody must have uploaded the documents to the public by mistake. 

New DCI boss seems to tick all right boxes, but will he deliver?

SUNDAY JANUARY 7 2018    

 

 

The new Director of Criminal Investigations George Maingi Kinoti. PHOTO | DIANA NGILA | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• Fast forward to January 5, 2018, and the man who was staring at death is Kenya’s top sleuth following his appointment by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
• Mr Kinoti, 50, now has the chance to rid Kenya of serious crimes, more so because he was once a victim.
• In the new order by President Kenyatta, Mr Kinoti is expected, among other tasks, to break cartels that have taken over Mazingira House, the DCI headquarters, on Kiambu Road.

By FRED MUKINDA
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One evening in 2005, George Maingi Kinoti lay helpless in the middle of Jogoo Road, Nairobi, writhing in pain after gangsters sprayed him with bullets and left him for the dead.

On the fateful day, Mr Kinoti was driving alone when he bumped into a five-man gang that was attempting to carjack a motorist.

With no time to call for back-up, and a gun in hand, he confronted two of the gangsters unaware there were others following in a different car.

After the shooting, he spent two months, including days in a coma, at the Armed Forces Memorial Hospital as it was known at the time.

Today, the detective has metal plates in his legs because some of his bones were shattered.

How one family built a real estate empire

Local News   By Nairobian reporter 

There is a sense of pride as the two brothers survey the cornerstone of their empire.

Their gaze hovers with contentment over one of their family’s key businesses, The Village Market.

The high-end shopping complex, was built by their father, Ahmed, and uncle, Mehraz, who conceived the idea way back in 1992.