The United States has approved more than $20 billion in arms sales to Israel, in a deal that reportedly includes F-15 fighter jets and close to 33,000 tank cartridges. US media on Tuesday reported that the deal was approved by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The Associated Press reported that Congress was notified about the sale before the public announcement from the U.S. Department of State. The weapons sale is said to include over 50 F-15 fighter jets, Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs), 120 mm tank ammunition and high explosive mortars, and military vehicles. “The United States is…
Author: Samuel Njihia
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has secured a landmark victory in a Sh1 billion Value Added Tax (VAT) fraud case against China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC). The case, which centred on an elaborate missing trader fraud scheme—a tactic used by organised crime groups to steal VAT from governments—involved the Chinese firm evading taxes through the use of shell companies. Investigations by the taxman revealed that the Chinese firm was filing fictitious invoices, and laying claims for an inflated input VAT through shell companies. “The upshot of the foregoing analysis is that the appeal lacks merit, and the tribunal accordingly…
A petition has been filed in court challenging Wycliffe Oparanya’s appointment as Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development. Fredrick Mulaa, the petitioner, says it was illegal for the Director of Public Prosecution, Renson Ingonga, to review and later withdraw charges against Mr. Oparanya. Mr Mulaa has argued that the decision of the DPP, which was made on 8th July 2024, to withdraw charges relating to corruption was not in the public interest and breach of legal requirements. Further, that it ran counter to several fundamental principles of transparency, accountability, social justice, and good governance. “In…
The High Court has lifted the orders it had previously issued freezing the issuance of the new-generation identity card, known as Maisha Namba, which is set to be renewed every 10 years. On Monday, Justice Lawrence Mugambi stated that the government had demonstrated that freezing the issuance of the document would have an adverse impact on applicants. The judge noted that at least 10,000 Kenyans were applying for the document each day. “There was thus a clear demonstration that the suspension of registration has very direct and immediate adverse consequences for a large population of people, and the second respondent…
National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi is eyeing a reintroduction of some clauses from the withdrawn Finance Bill, 2024 in order to put the economy back on track. This is part of his economic recovery plan. During a handover ceremony from his predecessor on Monday, Njuguna Ndung’u, Mbadi hinted at the revival of non-contentious elements of the Finance Bill. Mbadi said that some provisions from the bill are crucial for the growth of this country. “The country must grow. There are provisions that were in the Bill that would help the Country to grow,” he stated. The major focus of…
The Kenya Aviation Workers Union has issued a strike notice, which is set to take effect early next week, protesting against a proposed development deal at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport involving India’s Adani Airport Holdings. The strike is likely to paralyze operations at one of the busiest travel hubs in the region and has huge ramifications for Kenya Airways. The union is opposed to the deal because, in their opinion, it is an “unlawful intended sale” of JKIA. In the proposed partnership, they say that there will be loss of jobs and the employment of non-Kenyan workers. “We shall…
Kenyan police officers are currently deployed in Haiti as part of a UN-backed peacekeeping mission aimed at stabilising the country amid ongoing instability and violence. So, how much will Kenya Police earn in Haiti? It has been revealed that these officers can earn up to Sh280,000 per month, including all allowances, for their crucial role in this international mission. At the Cabinet Secretaries Appointments Committee vetting on Thursday, August 1, Prof Kithure Kindiki, then the nominee for the Ministry of Interior and Coordination, revealed that Kenyan police are paid and insured by the United Nations. “Our officers are covered, insured…
What is Maisha Namba? Maisha Namba is a unique personal identification number assigned to every Kenyan citizen upon registration, typically at birth. This number will serve as a lifelong personal identity number from birth to death. Maisha Namba will function as the birth certificate number for newborns and as the registration number for government services, including enrolment in educational institutions (NEMIS) and health insurance (NHIF). Upon reaching 18, it will also serve as the ID number. Additionally, it will act as a Personal Identification Number (PIN) for KRA and NSSF, among others. After death, the same number will be used…
A British terror suspect associated with the infamous “White Widow” Samantha Lewthwaite has been deported from Kenya to the UK after completing his sentence. Jermaine Grant, 41, from London, was flown to Britain on Thursday accompanied by Kenyan officials before being taken into custody upon arrival. Grant had already been serving a prison sentence in Mombasa where he was convicted of possessing bomb-making materials and using forged documents to gain Kenyan citizenship. His arrest followed a raid that uncovered explosives and related material in a flat he shared with wanted woman Lewthwaite. She has been on the run for over…
Security officials staged a high-profile raid on businessman Jimi Wanjigi’s Muthaiga residence in Nairobi on Thursday.