Eyeball-scanning cryptocurrency startup WorldCoin is gearing up for the resumption of operations in Kenya after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) closed its investigation into the company. Local media reported on Thursday that the ODPP had instructed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to drop the probe into allegations of illegal data collection and transfer by the firm, as no criminal charges were substantiated against the firm. In a letter dated June 14 addressed to Coulson Harney the firm’s legal representative, the DCI said that the chief prosecutor had directed the closure of the investigation file without…
Author: Special Correspondent
An American national has been arraigned in a Malindi court on charges of sexually assaulting a sixteen-year-old girl. Alexander Antoine Ziegler appeared before Malindi Resident Magistrate Nkrunnah Namnyak but did not take plea after investigation officers asked the court to allow them to hold the suspect for five days to complete investigations. In a miscellaneous application, Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer John Otieno claimed that the foreigner was under investigations on allegations of defiling young girls at his residence in Jimba in the outskirts of the tourist resort town of Watamu in Kilifi County. Mr Otieno said the suspect…
Wednesday, June 19 afternoon’s parliamentary session was anything but ordinary as lawmakers engaged in a fiery debate over the Finance Bill, which has stoked controversy and sparked demonstrations in various cities and towns. Initially proposing taxes on bread and vehicles, the Bill was amended to remove these provisions. However, it retained an increase in taxes on importation of finished products. This change has significant implications for everyday Kenyans, particularly women, as it directly impacts the cost of essential items such as sanitary towels and diapers. Given Kenya’s limited manufacturing capacity, most of these products are imported, meaning women and mothers…
A Kenyan national has been sentenced to 11 years and three months in a United States federal prison for orchestrating an elaborate advance fee and investment scheme. Paul Maucha, who moved to the U.S. 36 years ago seeking employment, has been jailed for perpetrating advance fee fraud, a form of white-collar crime where payment is requested upfront from businesses or individuals in exchange for promised stocks, services, funds, or goods that are never delivered. This type of Ponzi scheme typically involves victims receiving solicitations via mail, fax, or email from individuals impersonating business representatives or government officials. These fraudulent entities…
The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has announced a new initiative to provide financial support to students pursuing courses in the maritime sector. In a statement on June 17, HELB said the initiative targets students at the Bandari Maritime Academy and other maritime training institutions approved by the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA). According to the institution, applicants must be pursuing a craft certificate or diploma in nautical science and marine engineering to qualify for the loans. “Maritime Education and Training Scheme (METS) offers financing to students pursuing courses in the Maritime Sector being offered at Bandari Maritime Academy and other…
The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) is a public service organisation in Kenya that provides social protection and financial security benefits to workers. The NSSF was established in 1965 by an Act of Parliament and was originally a Provident Fund that paid out benefits as a lump sum. In 2013, the NSSF Act was amended to transform it into a Pension Scheme that offers benefits such as: Retirement benefits: A monthly life pension upon retirement Survivor benefits: Basic assistance to dependents in the event of death Invalidity benefits: Basic compensation in the event of permanent disability Payment of the NSSF…
A wedding is one of the happiest days in a young couple’s life. It marks the first step toward achieving their dreams of living together, filled with hope for starting a family and echoing with the pitter-patter of tiny feet in their first home. Despite the congratulatory messages from friends and family, the well-wishes, and the couple’s faith in their union, for many, the thought and eventual reality of divorce come as a shock, difficult to digest. Oddly enough, over the years, divorce rates have significantly risen. According to a 2023 survey, the divorce rate in Kenya stands at 1%.…
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has ordered the arrest and prosecution of two men, both relatives of East Africa Affairs Principal Secretary Abdi Dubat, accused of assaulting a housemaid in Kilimani, Nairobi. The complainant, Miriam Atieno, alleges that on May 18, her employer, accompanied by his brother, assaulted, tortured, and insulted her during a family dispute. They subsequently forcibly ejected her from the premises and confiscated her personal belongings with the assistance of other family members. Miriam Atieno sought immediate medical attention at Maria Immaculata Hospital following the incident and reported the matter to Kilimani Police…
Zone Improvement Plan (ZIP) codes, or postal codes, are alphanumeric sets that help identify specific postal delivery areas. The term ‘ZIP’ was chosen to signify that mail travels more efficiently and quickly (like ‘zipping’ along) when senders use this code in postal addresses. ZIP codes are commonly used in America for streamlined mail and parcel delivery. In Kenya, a postal code system similar to ZIP codes is used. These codes are numeric and typically consist of 5 digits: the first 2 digits denote postal regions, and the remaining 3 digits specify the particular delivery office. Kenya’s postal codes are managed…
Thousands of residents in Mombasa County face imminent eviction threats from absentee Omani landlords, who assert ownership of the lands based on ancestral rights. This historical backdrop traces back to the Omani rule in Kenya during the 18th and 19th centuries, characterized by notable Arab influence along the coastal regions following the expulsion of the Portuguese in the late 17th century. This era witnessed the establishment of Omani Arab dominance over key coastal cities such as Mombasa. Former mayor of Mombasa, Mr. Rajab Samba, who served between 1974 and 1982, stated that the Omani obtained title deeds for land, particularly…