Weekly vision issue revised

Pg

Shs.2.2 Billion Police Housing Project is a 8 Fraud

Ruto might face court over angry SMS Pg 16 Putting Kenya under the microscope Kshs. 50/Issue No. 005

A Weekly Vision Media Publication

www.theweeklyvision.blogspot.com

8th Oct. 2012 - 15th Nov. 2012

Top Banker and Icc Survivor Minister snatch Prime Land from Idp Orphans

Greedy trio eyeing prime 896-acre land

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2 The Weekly Vision

8th Oct - 15th Nov, 2012

8th Oct - 15th Nov, 2012

The Weekly Vision

TOP BANKER AND ICC SURVIVOR MINISTER SNATCH PRIME LAND FROM IDP ORPHANS

By The Weekly Vision Team

A prominent banker and CEO of a leading bank in Nairobi plans to retire into Sugar cane farming on a multi billion farm illegally snatched from an IDP family now desperately surviving on aid in Kisumu.

Co-operative Bank Managing Director Gideon Muriuki, Cabinet Minister Henry Kosgey and former Kanu era powerful politician Ezekiel Barngetuny are embroiled in the scandal in which the family is being manipulated and frustrated to give up the fully developed farm that also produces high quality sugarcane in Nandi county.

The family of former Lonrho East and Central Africa Ltd Group Managing Director Jonathan Oyiejowi Owako has appealed to the president, foreign embassies and the Chief Justice to step in and stop the three from snatching from them the expansive 1, 896 Acres (LR 10817) KOTNELEL farm in Tinderet district, of Nandi District.

The family of the late Jonathan Oyiejowi Owako and his wife Imelda Owako were first evicted from the farm at the height of the 1992 election violence and faced the same fate during the 2007/8 post election violence.

The former Lonrho senior executive bought the land with the help of bank loans (Agricultural Finance Corporation ) and the family has valid ownership documents.

Official Kenya government and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) records reveal that the family is recognized Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS) who need assistance.

But latest developments have un earthed an under hand conspiracy involving the three influential individuals where the police, provincial; administration and banks are continuously manipulated to sit on court orders (and rulings) in favor of the family and also to permanently bar the farms legal estate administrator Mr. David Oscar Owako (son of the deceased couple) from setting foot there.

They are now living in destitution in Kisumu town.

The most recent and shocking was the Cooperative Bank MD’s abrupt orders to the Kisumu Branch not to release cheques worth over Sh. 1.9 million to the junior Mr. Owako.

On August 20, 2010, the Principal Magistrate’s court in Kisumu issued a GARNISHEE ORDER (absolute) compelling Chemelil Sugar Company to pay Mr. David Oscar Owako the Sh. 1.9 million through the Co-operative Bank. The Sugar miller had bought, crashed and paid wrong parties, sugarcane harvested illegally from the farm in dispute.

Legal authorities aver that a GARNISHEE ORDER is not subject to any other court orders or legal disputes and is ordinarily supposed to be enforced forthwith.

Before the interference by minister Henry Kosgey and Mzee Bargetuny, Cooperative Bank through the Kisumu branch had complied and issued bankers cheques numbers 39025 and 39025 for Shs. 975,190 in favor of Mr. David Oscar Owako. But no sooner had the information reached Dr. Muriuki’s desk than he issued firm instructions withholding the release of the money.

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Now, Chemelil sugar company is amongst several other sugar cane milling factories that have been dragged into the long drawn dispute for buying and crashing cane harvested illegally from KOTNELEL FARM by pseudo co-operative societies created and their members unleashed on the deserted farm with the assistance of minister Kosgey and Mzee Barrngetuny.

Other sugar firms caught up in the fraudulent buying and crashing of the stolen sugar cane include:- Kibos Sugar company Ltd and Muhoroni Sugar company Ltd (under receivership) There is abundant evidence that Kamalambei society, Tuwapsul society, Barmareng society and Kamalambo Farmers Company ltd and Karatili Farmers Company limited are groups whose formation was engineered by local Tinderet political leaders (read Henry Kosgey) for use to invade the farm and keep off the true owners; the Owako family.

To finance the operations of these societies sugarcane from KOTNELEL FARM is harvested and sold illegally to local millers, mostly in neighboring Kisumu County. The societies mainly bank with the co-operative Bank through which these illicit payments have been being transacted. Part of the proceeds are saved to help bankroll campaigns for an ODM team allied to Minister Kosgey and Mzee Barngetuny to win all seats from Governor down to County Representatives for Nandi County during the coming general elections.

Reliable sources at Co-operative Bank have it that Minister Kosgey accessed the MD using former Kalenjin senior officials of the bank who served during the Moi regime and who used Dr. Muriuki’s Kalenjin wife and former chairman Hosea Kiplagat.

It is reported that the group first used the lie that the IDP family (true owners) were land

A history of frustrations Minister Kosgey’s hand in terrorizing the OWAKO family goes back many years.

He is the MP of the constituency where the expansive farm is located.

The Anatomy of Impunity Damaging Docs: Documentary evidence (above and on next page) illustrating how the three powerful individuals use their influence and positions to deprive IDP’s of their rightful assets. grabbers out to disposes poor locals who operated through the small farmers co-operative societies and companies. They told the bank CEO that if he co-operated with the OWAKO family the bank stood to loose worthy clients.

But along the way and with the real truth gradually emerging almost reaching the bank due to renewed court action, the group ensnared the MD with a deal to work together in finalizing the kicking out of the OWAKO family, he would be given close to 300 acres of the KOTNELEL FARM for free to do sugarcane farming when he retires from the bank. Reliable sources inside the bank swear that he agreed to the deal.

Minister Kosgey’s hand in terrorizing the OWAKO family goes back many years. He is the MP of the constituency where the expansive farm is located. In addition, Mzee Barngetuny is building a Super Market illegally on the farm while an influential High School Principle in the area known to be close to the minister has built a private school there. In fact locals interviewed, confirmed that the two election related evictions were politically engineered.

According to David Oscar Owako:- “ in 1992 during the tribal clashes, we lost Kshs 54 million worth of property including three hundred grade cattle, a Kshs 12 million family house and got evicted from our farm. My parents succumbed to stroke having been

Former Lonrho, the late Jonathan Oyiejowi Owako bought the land

rendered homeless and destitute. “

with the help of bank loans (Agricultural Finance Corporation ); de-

He blames frustrations in recovering the farm to the infamous Rift valley Mafia under the guidance of minister Kosgey- using under hand tactics including once trying to secretly auction the farm at a throw away price despite a High Court order to stop the sale.

ceased’s family has valid ownership documents

The family further tables concrete evidence that minister Kosgey at some time illegally hived off 300 acres of KOTNELEL FARM and obtained a fake title deed without paying the OWAKO family any cent. He took the 300 acres (KABURWA) and ordered an amorphous group (KITOROCH) to further annex another 800 acres illegally.

Later together with Mzee Barngentuny they sponsored another group: KAMALAMBU KARATILI farmers to invade another 696 acres.

Hife Imelda Owako and family were first evicted from the farm at the height of the 1992 election violence and faced the same fate during the 2007/8 post election violence Three influential individuals (Co-operative Bank Managing Director Gideon Muriuki, Cabinet Minister Henry Kosgey and former Kanu era powerful politician Ezekiel Barngetuny) manipulate the police, provincial administration and banks to sit on court orders (and rulings) in favor of the family and also to permanently bar the farms legal estate administrator Mr. David Oscar Owako (son of the deceased couple) from setting foot there.

It is official that the farm’s controversy is famously highlighted in all the top national post election violence and land commission reports, notably; Akiwumi, Kiliku, Ndung’u, Njonjo land commissions and the Prof.

Makau Mutua Trruth and reconciliation Task force report.

The most recent and shocking was the Co-operative Bank MD’s

The scandal is the latest to swallow Dr. Gideon Muriuki whose farming interests after retirement was rumored to favor Coffee, Tea and flower farming. He has serious procurement scandals and the bank’s expansion programme has been a major rip off.

gramme (UNDP) records reveal that the family is recognized Inter-

abrupt orders to the Kisumu Branch not to release cheques worth over Sh. 1.9 million to the junior Mr. Owako Official Kenya government and United Nations Development Pronally Displaced Persons (IDPS) who need assistance.

4 The Weekly Vision

8th Oct - 15th Nov, 2012

editorial, commentary & opinions

Gaddafi’s fall a wake up call to African leaders

By Bob Awiti Otange The demise of Libyan despot Moammur Gaddafi came as a big relief for our brothers and sisters in Libya and the rest of the world at large.

During his 42-year stranglehold on Libya affairs, Gaddafi built a strong army with sophisticated weapons and formidable economic might to protect help guard his reign.

He had little or no knowledge of a probable unstoppable people’s power. Gaddafi believed in the rule of the gun as the only means of silencing his critics.

The fallen tyrant could not read the signs of times in the wake of marauding wave of political change across Africa and the Arab world in particular. Egypt, Tunisia, and Ivory Coast; just to name but a few, were signs enough of an imminent change of guard in Tripoli.

This Kenyan spirit is simply amazing

This was enough for any wise leader to sense that change was inevitable; and that Libya was no exception. Being adamant and insensitive to people power was the cause of Gaddafi’s fatal misery.

When Ezekiel Kemboi was on the brink of winning the steeplechase gold medal during the 2004 Summer Olympics, he famously urged his two Kenyan counterparts behind him on. And President Kibaki publicly cited this gesture just as much.

He instead sanctioned acrimony with desperate dissenters baying for his blood. The ruthless captors caught him alive, reportedly cowering in a culvert, only for them to kill him like a dog.

Kemboi’s was typical of Kenya’s collective bragging right in things that matter. Even in defeat our national soccer team, Harambee Stars fans would always hug, console and encourage each other. So is the rugby fanfare where national colours would always do the trick.

Much as Kenyan men would arguably troop to the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, to ostensibly steal a good glance at the women volleyball team during league tourneys, the contrary is just the buzz. It is simply Kenyan. They love doing their thing.

Well aware of the gaping danger that’s the Al-shabaab – we deliberately refuse to connote an upper case in matters typo – Kenyans of all shades of life are emphatically enthusiastic about their unsung military prowess.

They relish voicing their unwavering approval in unison. ‘Hit them hard, these Al shabaabs’, headlined our

“Don’t shoot, don’t shoot; what did I do wrong to you? Why don’t you know what’s bad and what is good? I have so much gold which l can offer to save my life,” fumbled a poor Gaddafi.

His last words tell are a reminder that death is inevitable. When his time came to go, he could not use heavy military weapons, strong army and his economic power to save his life.

It should always be remembered that what happened to Gaddafi can happen to any other leader in the world including African leaders who are anti-democracy.

This is a wake up call to arrogant, despotic African leaders. The time too embrace democracy is nigh.

8th Oct - 15th Nov, 2012

By The Weekly Vision Team

says that payment like the one bymR. Magomere’s are routine.

WATER and Irrigation Permanent Secretary David Stower is in the eye of yet another raging storm at the ministry, barely a month after several people were arraigned in court on corruption-related cases concerning financial scandals at the ministry.

CEOs of major government agencies and parastatals make such payments every other week to their appointing authorities as part of the protection fee so that they may cling to their jobs a day longer. But it is the deposits from a certain Lee Nyachae that is intriguing.

For the record we were not able to establish as to whether Lee is in any way related to a former powerful cabinet minister in both retired President Moi’s government and that of the current regime of president Mwai Kibaki, Simeon Nyachae. But Lee Nyachae is the director of Lee Construction Co that in 2009 won a tender to construct a dam in Kiserian suburb, in the outskirts of Nairobi.

There are jitters at the ministry over circumstances surrounding huge cash deposits made to the PS’s bank account by individuals who have benefitted from major tendering deals at the ministry. Multiple sources within the PS’s bank and the ministry say this reeked of conflict of interest and the worst case of corruption of its kind.

Questions are being asked on why a company that has won tenders from the government could deposit cash in the private bank account of a government official who was part of the team that offered the tender.

Our Migingo went to the dogs. So was Ugingo. The Ethiopian Oromos seized the moment to make incursions in our territory.

Who knew Kenya was a sleeping giant in military mind? May be few of us who have been privileged to interact, live with and rub shoulders with brothers and sisters in jungle uniform.

No matter what it takes; no matter how long it takes; Kenyans know the war against these infidels is a just cause.

The Weekly Vision is published weekly by The Weekly Vision Media of Jamia Mosque building Busia-Kisumu Road, Busia Town Busia County.

P.O Box 556-50400 Busia. Tel: +254 711 616095/ +254 753 196 393. Email weeklyvision@gmail.com

The Project undertaken and fully financed by the ministry of Water in conjunction with other donors was aimed at boosting the supply of water in Kiserian which is a fast growing suburb of Nairobi to help ease pressure from the dams that supply water to Nairobi.

POWER By virtue of being the PS, David Stower sits in all parastatals under the ministry tenders’ committees where he is said to wield lots of power to bully every one around

We have also established that within a week in the month of May this year, his account (number withheld) was inflated by a whooping Sh1 million through deposits made by a CEO of a state corporation under the ministry and another by the son of a former cabinet minister who is doing business with the ministry.

For their very own are doing duty for their beloved nation. Protecting our territorial borders may have come a bit too late. But better late that never – as the phenomenal Okonkwo would have sarcastically found out.

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Corruption at the Ministry of Water, PS Stower in hot waters

Evidence in our possession show that in the month of early this year 2011, some huge cash deposits were made on PS Stower’s KCB account at NHIF in Nairobi Upper Hill area which are suspected to be proceeds of hydra-headed dragon that is corruption at the ministry of water and Irrigation.

editorial last week. And pound we did, the Kenyan way. Note the lower case? Kenyans have brothers, sisters, sons and daughters in combat. But tellingly, no one is complaining.

The Weekly Vision

Accordingly, the documents show that a certain Lee Construction Company, was the first to deposit Sh3 million in the account in a transaction that was facilitated by the manager of KCB Branch who is a known close ally of PS Stower. Another deposit of Sh1 million followed a week later by a certain Mr Magomere, who we later established is the chairman of Western water Services Board.

Cowford Construction also deposited Sh1 million in the account and it is believed the number of shady companies depositing cash in the account are many owing to the manner they have been conducted We were unable to establish the reasons of the transactions. But the discreet nature of the transactions and the fact that they were facilitated by the Branch manager of the bank has raised eyebrows among those conversant with the goings on.

Our mole, who has a thorough understanding of the dynamics within the water industry

Interestingly, we were able to confirm that just a few days after the cost for the construction was varied, that is when Lee Construction Company deposited Sh3 million in PS Stower’s bank account, followed a week later by that of Mr. Magomere’s deposit.

Those who know Engineer Stower are surprised in the least with the swirling accusations of corruption at the ministry. They say he could be the brains behind the dark dealings that have rocked the ministry and placed the minister Charity Ngilu in the crosshairs with the anti corruption authorities.

Late last year, at the height of the war of words between Ngilu and Mwangi Kiunjuri, Stower, while complaining about the media’s coverage of Kiunjuri’s complaints against Ngilu, was heard asking…”why isn’t the media writing about scandal in other ministries? Why this ministry?”

So peeved with the reportage that it became a standard practice for all journalists covering

IRREGULARITIES Stower was behind the corporation’s decision to awarded the supply of water metres for the Brightlight borehole project in Kisumu district to Arcolyte Office Supplies at an inflated price of Sh39,200/=. The lowest bid from a firm called Brivy was 6000/=

Lee Construction Co. won the tender for the project at a cost of Sh840 million and the works were to take one and half years.

Sources in the ministry intimated to us that the award of the tender was neither open nor transparent and could have contravened the Procurement and Disposal Act. There are murmurs within the ministry on circumstances surrounding Lee’s winning the tender. Sources within the ministry seem to suggest that the decision to grant Lee the deal to construct the dam did not meet the government procurement procedures. However, early this year, the cost for the construction of the dam jumped from the initial cost to a staggering fee of Sh1.1 billion.

While there is no evidence of wrongdoing in the variation of the cost, it is however important to note that it is PS Stower who unilaterally raised the cost in the same way he was instrumental in Lee Construction winning the tender for the project.

In what appears to be the case of a cat with nine lives, we can authoritatively reveal that the decision to vary the cost for the construction was a unilateral decision by the PS who has managed to escape all queries that have dogged the ministry in the last few months.

Again, the procedure of increasing the cost is believed not to have been procedural and again may have been against the government policy. It is believed that PS Stower took advantage of the high inflation caused by the freefall of the shilling against major world currencies to increase the cost for the construction of the dam.

function at the ministry, to walk away with bulging pockets.

Some times back PS Stower one late evening, drove himself to a building housing a leading media house in Nairobi’s CBD and while in the basement he called a top editor at the media house. The editor, who hails from the same county as PS Stower, was given sh300,000 and asked to slant the coverage on the parliamentary committee proceedings that was grilling the minister, Stower and Kiunjuri over the graft at the ministry.

The money was dished out in a huge brown envelope in the basement of spacious building’s car park. A trail of documents we stumbled on further show that Stower should be in the dock alongside Billy Indeche and others on corruption charges.

Some of these deals include Sh1.3 million tender awarded to Kat Michaels Consulting Limited of supplying polo shirts, caps, executive pens, carrier bags and ties to Tanathi Water Services Board at the behest of Stower.

The company was registered in April 2008 and is one of those doing business with the ministry and Tanathi Water Services Board.

The company won a Ksh1.5 million tender last year to supply GI pipes at a unit price of Sh23, 815 for 65 pieces. It also did some other unspecified business for Sh493, 000.

Furthermore Taru General Engineering Company, owned by suspended Tanathi CEO Joseph Mutuku Nzesya, won a tender for the supply and installation of high lift pumps at a pump station for a cost of Ksh. 3.8 million.

It must be known that Nzesya was a protégé

of Stower, even though he was a Kamba like, Ngilu.

His company was also paid Ksh2 million for a contract not specified. A firm that was not stated, situated in Syokimau, but believed to be among those in question, was paid Ksh. Sh9.8 million to supply pipes.

The company whose director is Billy Indeche also won another tender to supply “big” and “small” diaries at unit costs of Sh2,500 and Sh1,500 respectively for a total of Sh800,000 to the ministry.

The National Water Conservation and Pipeline paid up to 328 per cent on average to a single bidder above prices that other bidders were quoting for similar equipment according to documents in possession of the Sunday Nation.

For instance, It was Stower behind the corporation’s decision to awarded the supply of water metres for the Brightlight borehole

PAY DIRT Within a week in the month of May this year, Stower’s account was inflated by a whooping Sh1 million through deposits made by a CEO of a state corporation under the ministry project in Kisumu district to Arcolyte Office Supplies at an inflated price of Sh39,200/=.

The same water metres were quoted by Epcan at Sh22,000/= while another firm Brivy was willing to supply at Sh6,000/=.

By virtue of being the PS, Stower sits in all parastatals under the ministry tenders’ committees where he is said to wield lots of power to bully every one around.

Which is why many in the know are wondering why Billy Indeche is standing in the dock alone .

This is because Indeche and Stower have worked on several projects together, the most memorable one being the Kitui dam.

There are those who say that as the chief accounting officer at the ministry Stower must bear responsibility for the many dirty dealings that have gone at the ministry. They want the ethics and anti corruption authorities to investigate the PS and establish the reasons behind the many scandals at the ministry.

Is it possible that there could be too much rot in an institution, but the man supposed to account for such malaise seems to be above the rot?

But records at the EACC, the successor of KACC, show that when he was summoned to give his statement, Stower denied he neither knew Indeche nor he ever worked with him, even though he was the force behind the push for Broad Vision to get the tender.

countybuzz

Ruto, Eugene security men stab Funyula councilor in the buttocks

By Correspondent

A civic leader from Busia County is nursing wounds after being stabbed with a knife on his buttocks at a hotel in Bumala town, Butula district.

The Orange Democratic Movement councilor, identified as Camilus Juma Obada of Funyula South ward, under the Orange Democratic Movement party is said to have been attacked by the security personnel of Eldoret North MP William Ruto and his Saboti counterpart Eugene Wamalwa and after he tried to bar them from sleeping in the hotel.

Sources disclosed that the councilor was against the two G7 Alliance leaders, saying the area was an ODM zone. Earlier the councilor had been cautioned against interfering with a breakfast meeting the two MPs were holding after concluding political rallies in Funyula and Budalang’i constituencies.

Speaking to The Weekly Vision, the civic leader said he had gone to the hotel to enjoy himself, moments before the attack that saw him rushed to the Tanaka Nursing Home for medical attention.

The councilor was against the two G7 Alliance leaders, saying the area was an ODM zone William Ruto

Eugene Wamalwa

Saying insecurity had peaked last year, the DC was optimistic that things would ultimately turn for the better.

Lagat urged the community policing committee to work closely with law enforcement authorities in their respective areas of jurisdiction to ensure there was adequate security.

Butula DC Bosek Lagat addressing provincial administrators, residents and government officers at the launch of 4th Wave of Rapid Result Initiative at Elukhari primary school.

Busia farmers urged to take agribusiness seriously

By George Omondi

“Life is very precious. It’s high time you stopped the habit of rushing to such scenes to draw fuel from tankers,” he said.

On the controversial Nasewa sugar farm, the administrator assured residents that the government was on the path to identifying a serious investor to construct the much anticipated Busia sugar factory.

Two brothers were among the six gold miners who perished last week in a fresh incident when a 12-feet wall collapsed.

The incident occurred at Nyamome Village in Nyabisawa location, Suba West division, Migori district within the County of Migori.

The latest deaths bring to 13 the number of people who have died from gold mining accidents in Southern Nyanza within three weeks.

Migori and Nyatike have rich prospects of gold.

Before independence, a number of local and foreign companies are currently prospecting for minerals in Migori, Rongo and Homa-Bay regions, which are believed to be rich in mineral deposits including uranium, cement and lime.

Migori and Nyatike have rich prospects of gold. Before independence, a number of local and foreign companies are currently prospecting for minerals in Migori, Rongo and Homa-Bay regions, which are believed to be rich in mineral deposits including uranium, cement and lime.

The DC made the remarks when he presided over the launch of the 4th wave of the Rapid Result Initiative that was held at Elukhari Primary School last week.

On the recent fuel tanker tragedy in Busia that saw scores of people killed, the regional commissioner cautioned the residents against raw greed.

By Ndira Uradi

Word going around in Nyamome that there were huge deposits of gold had attracted more than 200 prospectors from far-flung towns in Migori County. One survivor told this writer that he had warned his colleagues to steer keep off the mine in vain.

Butula DC, Bosek Lagat, has issued a stern warning to area residents suspected to be in possession of illegal firearm to immediately return them to relevant authorities.

While touring various development projects in Busia and Nambale, Mohammed appealed to local leaders to bury their political differences and instead unite for the sake of development in the county.

Curse of the gold as 6 more miners perish in Migori

Kanyasrega in Sakwa North location, Awendo district in Migori County.

By George Omondi

Addressing a public baraza at Nasewa in Matayos, the administrator noted that Busia was blessed with fertile soil and adequate rainfall as opposed to many other regions.

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In another related incident, three people were buried alive when the mine they were working on collapsed, killing them instantly and seriously injuring one at

Surrender illegal firearm, warns Butula DC

Upper Western Regional Commissioner, Rashid Mohammed, has urged the residents of Busia County to take agriculture seriously.

The Weekly Vision

The third incident in which a white man suspected to be the investor died occurred in Nyahera area of Central Kasipul, Rachuonyo South district in Homa Bay County.

The incident occurred as the G7 brigade winded up their campaigns in Busia County, where they held a series of rallies in Budalang’i, Funyula, Busia, Nambale and Matayos. During the rallies, the G7 team exhorted Western province residents to support Eugene’s 2012 mission.

The administrator emphasised on the need for team work, transparency, accountability, professionalism, integrity and excellence in the discharge of their duties

8th Oct - 15th Nov, 2012

In the first incident, three people died instantly when the wall collapsed, with a fourth casualty later succumbing to his injuries while undergoing treatment. The first incident took place in Nyatike district, also in Migori County.

“I was later referred to the Busia district hospital where the wound was stitched,” said Obada.

The DC, at the same time, implored on respective community policing outfits to sustain the war against drug and substance abuse, adding the target was to reduce the vice by 30 per cent within the first 100 days of the launch of the Rapid Result Initiative.

migoricounty

countybuzz

8th Oct - 15th Nov, 2012

“There is urgent need to establish and lay bare those who own the Busia sugar factory for purposes of transparency and accountability,” said the commissioner.

He at the same time supported the proposed construction of Busia sugar factory saying that sugar growers in the region had been transporting their cane all the way to Mumias sugar factory hence incurring huge losses leaving with nothing.

Busia is blessed with fertile soil, abundant land and adequate rainfall as opposed to many other regions

homabaycounty

Busiacounty

6 The Weekly Vision

Miners from Migori; word has it that there are huge deposits of gold, a rumour that has attracted more than 200 prospectors from far-flung towns in Migori County.

Fireworks in Rangwe as engineer joins race

By Ndira Uradi

The Rangwe parliamentary seat has attracted yet another high profile aspirant with the vision to turn around the otherwise sleepy rural set up.

Eng Joseph Mboya Nyamuthe, a youthful business magnate with formidable credentials, is expected to give his competitors a run for their money.

Already, the 41-year-old Uganda and Cameroun educated civil engineer, has established a sweet potato processing plant at Ndiru in Kagan location, and is in the process of establishing a cassava processing factory in Gem. Nyamuthe is the son of prominent former journalist Peter Nyamuthe, who for many years worked with the Ministry of Information in different capacities. He hails from Central Gem. Born in 1970, Nyamuthe underwent his early education in Nairobi before moving to Uganda, where he completed his “A” level studies before proceeding to Younde, Cameroun where he studied civil engineering.

He has since established the Global RTE Kenya Ltd and business flagship called JB Construction Ltd, all located in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

The incumbent Rangwe MP is Martin Otieno Ogindo, who has since declared his interest in Homa Bay county governorship.

Nyamuthe says his vision is to turn the agriculturally rich constituency into a bastion of food reserves.

“Cotton is one of the greatest assets in the area, though its production has been dwindling for some years now,” says Nyamuthe.

Other food crops which would be turned into money minting outfits include sweet potatoes, pineapples, groundnut, cassava, maize and sorghum.

The constituency has the shortest shoreline in Lake Victoria is thriving and Nyamuthe hopes to encourage the trade as well as promoting tourism.

my vision is to turn the agriculturally rich constituency into a bastion of food reserves

Eng Joseph Mboya Nyamuthe,

8 The Weekly Vision

8th Oct - 15th Nov, 2012

politibuzz

Shs.2.2 Billion Police Housing Project is a Fraud

By The Weekly Vision Investigations Team

Adjacent the busy Wilson Airport in Nairobi is an ongoing construction of modern houses for the Kenya Police on a 70 acre piece of land which when complete will have cost the tax payer in the excess of Shs.2 billion.

But the project is a masterpiece in fraud and impunity following emerging clear evidence that the Police department just stormed an earlier ongoing housing project belonging to a women’s group, brutalized the genuine owners, threw them out illegally, stationed there heavily armed cops and misled the central government into awarding them billions of shillings to graft their own housing project there.

This without a valid title deed for the land, without the original plans for the houses project, without consent from the poor they ejected and in total defiance of a then ongoing court case to settle the ownership row which later decreed that the land belongs to the evictees.

Immediate former commissioner of Police, Major Gen. Hussein Mohammed Ali now faces possible court action for abuse of office and contempt of court for defying court process and committing over Shs.2.2 Billion of public funds to a housing project on a grabbed and disputed piece of land.

Authentic government and court records and com-

How can the same person or organization you are in dispute with over a matter be the one to investigate you over the same?

How fair can they be? And isn’t it outright contempt of court for them to purport to be investigating a matter already settled by the High court whose ruling they did not appeal and their lawyer was unable to defend?

Joseph Mburu Gitau Chairperson, WILSON MITUMBA WOMEN GROUP

munication now reveal clearly that the piece of land, L.R.209/14582, legally belongs to a private residents’ company going by the name “WILSON MITUMBA WOMEN GROUP”, who acquired it on November 1, 1990.

fetched offences like tress passing on the land. In one ruling a Magistrate’s court acquitted the group’s chairman Joseph Mburu Gitau and another member stating that the Police could not prove ownership and the matter was still in court.

In another incident where police tried coercion to break the resolve of group members, the chairman and other officials were rounded up and locked in Police cells for four straight days only for senior Police officers to tell them that they would only be released if they surrendered the original title deed, deed plan and allotment letter for the land parcel in their possession. They defied them.

High Court Judge Joseph G. Nyamu later ruled on May 2, 2008 that the piece of land belongs to WILSON MITUMBA WOMEN GROUP following lengthy proceedings in which the State Counsel representing the Police Department told the court that the government does not lay any claim to the property.

The Judge proceeded to issue prohibitive orders against the police to keep off the property and castigated their forceful presence on the piece of land and harassment of

The Weekly Vision

9

claim that the dispute has been resolved, but WILSON MITUMBA WOMEN GROUP members effectively prove otherwise.

Instead, group members report a concerted campaign of spreading falsehoods to government and the public through the media plus other under hand tactics by police to beat them into submission to give up on the piece of land. The latest, they say, is fresh claims by police that they are investigating their officials over the validity of the original title deed and letter of allotment they used to win the case before Justice John Nyamu.

And now the members are up in arms and are gearing up to get court orders to evict the current contractor from Ms. Ongata Works Ltd and bar any other contractor from taking up the work.

But while the matter was ongoing in court, Police, despite interventions from the AG’s office, insisting on the authentication of ownership before proceeding went ahead and made the government to issue a contract to DIMKEN CONTRACTORS for Sh.1.4 Billion.

In the interludes, group officials and members who ventured anywhere near the piece of land were horrifically beaten by police sentries on guard with others being arrested , locked up and charged in court over such far

8th Oct - 15th Nov, 2012

“How can the same person or organization you are in dispute with over a matter be the one to investigate you over the same? How fair can they be? And isn’t it outright contempt of court for them to purport to be investigating a matter already settled by the High court whose ruling they did not appeal and their lawyer was unable to defend them?” wonders Chairman Joseph Gitau.

At the height of the dispute in 2004 following bitter and acrimonious exchanges between protesting members of the group and police who were inexplicably pushing them out the case ended up in the High Court for arbitration.

In between, the Police experimented with numerous stalling tactics in a spirited attempt to wear down the women group so that they give up their claim on the land. At some point they raised flimsy protests that forced the Chief Justice to recall the file of the case and give direction. After one year’s perusal and costly delay to the women group, the Chief Justice returned it to the trial Judge with instructions that it was properly in court and should proceed.

politibuzz

May 2, 2008 High Court Judge Joseph G. Nyamu ruled that the piece of land belongs to WILSON MITUMBA WOMEN GROUP following lengthy proceedings in which the State Counsel representing the Police Department told the court that the government does not lay any claim to the property.

The Judge proceeded to issue prohibitive orders against the police to keep off the property and castigated their forceful presence on the piece of land and harassment of the group’s members as intolerable abuse of power. the group’s members as intolerable abuse of power.

Following blatant refusal by the Police Commissioner to be served with the court ruling denouncing their illegal occupation and construction of structures on the site, the group through their advocate Eric Mutua successfully applied for and was granted by Justice George Dulu permission to serve the Police boss through a newspaper advertisement. They proceeded to place the advertisement in the Daily Nation newspaper in July 2009.

Yet despite the court ruling and with no appeal to alter the status of the land’s ownership, the Commissioner of Police kept tight security at the site keeping away group members and their families.

The story of the West Park housing project, the most funded of similar projects by the police department runs like an episode of desperate slum dwellers, getting assistance from a foreign donor only for government which allocated them undisputed land turning to allow its key department to grab the land and an ongoing donor funded project and fraudulently graft their own housing project on to it while torturing protesting helpless victims.

The original founders of WILSON MITUMBA WOMEN GROUP were poor struggling women whose shanties for homes named MITUMBA ESTATE along Mombasa the group’s first chairperson, Mary Anyango and secretary Michael Owiti led the rest to the then powerful permanent secretary for Internal Security and provincial administration, the late Hezekiah Oyugi who assisted them get retired president Daniel Arap Moi to allocate them the land.

The donor (Mr. A) then contracted Mugoya Construction and Engineering Ltd who worked until 1991 when he left the country hurriedly and let the project to stall in the wake of uncertainty and panic that hit Mr. Oyugi’s perceived close associates after the fall out with the Moi government following the murder of Dr. Robert Ouko.

According to group members, by the time the project stalled, 80% of the construction work was done and a good number of desperate members moved in with their families as they continued to explore ways of getting further funding to complete the project.

Police Spokesman Eric Kiraithe and Ministry of Public Works Public Relations Officer (PRO) Ali Chege claim that the dispute has been resolved but WILSON MITUMBA WOMEN GROUP members effectively prove otherwise road had been subjected to raids and frequent demolitions

by Nairobi City Council askaris to pave way for a private developer. The site from where they were evicted is the place St.James Hospital is built along Mombasa road.

Besides, the government despite the obvious illegality, in September this year gave a new contract for Shs.1.4 billion to Ms. Ongata Engineering Works limited to replace DIMKEN whose contract had been terminated controversially.

An Irish well wisher who was among donors who rushed to their aide to give them food and other relief donations as they suffered under rains, cold nights and the harsh sunshine would later challenge them to seek government help to acquire land on which he offered to raise money to build modern houses for them.

Police Spokesman Eric Kiraithe is non-committal on the shouting fraud that is the project. Him and ministry of public works Public Relations Officer (PRO) Ali Chege

It was the Irishman, only remembered as Mr. A who at the time ran a charitable organization called: Goal - Ireland with offices in Nairobi’s Kilimani area, who together with

The first police interest in the project was in the form of a few genuine looking officers who reportedly duped the unsuspecting women to let them in to occupy some of the empty blocks in exchange for protection and general security. The unsuspecting women obliged.

Now trouble started after some of the police officers became crafty and mischievous on realizing that members of the group had neither financial muscle nor senior government connections to protect themselves.

Then using forged documents, they apportioned themselves more houses which they allocates colleagues at various fees. At some point in the mid 1990s when members protested, a police riot squad and police dogs were unleashed on them injuring many. All of them were henceforth kicked out and a police patrol base established under Langata Police Station to keep them and any other trespassers at bay.

The group’s initial leaders notably Ms. Anyango and Mr. Owiti died in quick succession (1997 and 2000 respectively) a bitter lot unable to regain their plot and the 450 incomplete housing projects.

However, members acting on the group’s constitution which allows sons and husbands of original women members to be automatic members alongside daughters, elected a new team led by Joseph Mburu Gitau (chairman) and Isaac Mburu Njuguna (Secretary General) which revived the war to kick out the police in earnest in 2003 after regime change.

It was under these new leaders that WILSON MITUMBA WOMEN GROUP filed the matter in court as they struggled to stop the police department from converting the

Despite the obvious illegality surrounding the project, in September this year, the Government gave a new contract for Shs.1.4 billion to Ms. Ongata Engineering Works Limited to replace DIMKEN CONTRACTORS whose contract had been terminated controversially whole 27 hectares (70 acres) of land into their property and taking over the incomplete houses and completing them illegally.

When the matter went to court, police kept claiming verbally and through press articles that they had a title deed L.R. No. 209/1060 but failed to produce it in court to prove their case while the women’s group tabled theirs L.R. No. 209/14582 plus the original allotment letter and receipts for the payment of Shs.2, 657,550 for the allocation documentation.

Available evidence reveals that whereas the protesting Women claim ownership with availability of valid supporting evidence and a court ruling to boot, the police’s case is pushed by mere allegations, pumping in some Shs.2.2 Billion to complete old ones and build new houses and having a contractor on site.

Attorney General Amos Wako’s written requests to police headquarters, during Major Gen. Ali’s tenure for the department to produce proof of ownership of the plot before the government funding for the housing project there went unheeded.

Though Major Gen.(rtd) Hussein Ali bears the biggest blame for this open act of impunity, grabbing and human rights abuse of poor women and their families, two senior Police officers in charge of planning : Silas Mac Opiyo and his predecessor Zebedeo Ong’uti are equally to blame as they should have misled the Commissioner with Mr. Ong’uti severally personally attempting to rob officials of the Women’s group the original certificates in an attempt to muzzle them.

10 The Weekly Vision

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The Weekly Vision

11

Major boost for Samia fish farmers

MKU unveils programme to restore confidence in herbal products

By George Omondi

The Mount Kenya University has unveiled a consultative forum on public-private partnership (PPP) on the validation and commercialisation of herbal products. This will provide a framework that will subject herbal products to verification and validation through a conventional research; an initiative that will ensure contractual agreements aimed at protecting the inventors’ intellectual property rights besides helping their products go global.

The government has supplied machinery to the Wakhungu fish farm in Samia district to train fish farmers on the formulation of fish feeds.

Addressing stakeholders during a district executive committee forum that was convened at the Nambale district head quarters last week, Busia District Fisheries Development Officer Henry Nzinga said the facility will go a long way in ensuring sustainability of adequate fish feeds.

The officer, at the same time, said a total of 50 fish farmers’ representatives had attended a two day training workshop in June on effective pond management and construction, adding that the trainees will disseminate the information to fellow fish farmers from their respective areas of operation.

He called upon all the fish farmers in the district to stock together so that they can harvest together in order to strengthen the fish farmer groups, adding that the government had employed two aquaculture extension officers per

One fish farmer from each constituency in Busia County has been trained in fingerling production. The farmers already trained are expected to pass on the knowledge acquired to their colleagues within their respective areas of jurisdiction constituency, who will work closely with the fish farmers from their respective constituencies.

“One fish farmer from each constituency in Busia County has been trained in fingerling production. The farmers already trained are expected to pass on the knowledge acquired to their colleagues within their respective areas of jurisdiction,” said the officer, adding they Fish ponds: The government has employed 2 aquaculture extension officers per constitushould utilise the skill to venture into finger- ency to work closely with fish farmers ling production as an enterprise.

Why the Euro Crisis Will Deteriorate Before It Gets Better

By Dan Steinbock

As the eurozone could finally agree on the deal, markets took off. The rescue fund will be multiplied. The banks will be recapitalized. Prime Minister George Papandreou said that now the Greek debt is sustainable.

The euro leaders thanked each other. In the United States stocks ended up 3% up on the EU hopes, while Dow rose above 12,000.

So is everything all right? Not at all, the eurozone crisis will worsen before it will get any better.

Why the deal cannot be sustained In order to satisfy the markets in the long term, the eurozone leaders should have achieved at least three fundamental goals: First, the liquidity facility should have been expanded from the current EUR 440 billion ($610 billion) to EUR 1-2 trillion ($1.4-$2.8 trillion). Instead, the current deal will deploy leverage.

The “systemically critical” euro banks should be recapitalized by EUR 100-110 billion ($140-$155 billion). Now 70 major euro banks will raise EUR 106 billion ($150 billion) by mid-2012.

Third, the Greek debt reductions should be increased from the current 21% to 60-75%.

Now, after two years of denial and friction, the consensus is 50%.

Each goal has its problems; nor will the deal cover for all challenges.

The devil is in the details The first goal will prove challenging. As euro leaders could not agree on an expanded facility, they resorted to financial wizardry.

Now the objective is to multiply the current liquidity facility with the kind of leverage, which is reminiscent of the derivatives that devastated the markets in fall 2008.

Furthermore, the political and popular support of the current euro leaders is eroding.

In Italy, the center-right coalition almost collapsed before Premier Silvio Berlusconi

internationalbizbuzz

In Germany, the majority support in the parliamentary vote provided breathing space to Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives.

However, the popular support of the government coalition has steadily eroded in the state elections and German growth prospects are slowing down.

Greek bailouts: EUR 500 bn ($700 bn) The recapitalization deal is based on the assumption that “systemically critical” big euro banks are able and willing to raise the necessary funds in less than a year. At the same time, the macroeconomic foundation of the eurozone is slowly crumbling, growth is stagnant and social turmoil continues against the financial sector.

The Greek debt restructuring is a chapter of its own. At first, Brussels and the European Central Bank (ECB) denied the very existence of the problem. When the latter was finally acknowledged, the argument was that debt restructuring is not necessary or that it is impossible. Last July, the euro leaders finally agreed on a 21% debt restructuring, which is now expected to increase to 50%.

It is not enough.

In May 2010, the eurozone supported Greece with EUR 110 billion ($150 billion).

Recently Athens has struggled to complete another bailout round of EUR 109 billion.

In both cases, it was argued that the bailout

Dubbed the Mount Kenya University Natural Products Initiative, the programme will involve products from professional herbalists, who have patented their products with the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI), and still pass through vigorous laboratory tests at MKU laboratories. Only products meet the underlying threshold will be incorporated in the system. ‘’We will work with Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and Pharmacy and Poisons Board among other relevant regulatory bodies to ensure product efficacy as well as ensuring dosage requirements and healthy packaging,’’ says Professor John

Nderitu, who is head of Research and Development at the university.

Phase One of the project will target fifteen herbal products, where each partner’s rights will be protected under Standard Contractual Agreement for all the players involved. ‘’Herbal-based products are increasingly becoming a great source of industrial products

Project will provide a framework that will subject herbal products to verification and validation through a conventional research; resulting contractual agreements will protect inventors’ intellectual property rights and help their products go global

SRS Energy says that the Solé tiles, made from a high-perfor-

Europe’s Big 3: German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, French President Nicholas Sarkozy and Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi

packages would be enough.

Now ‘Troika’ – the European Commission, IMF and ECB – have acknowledged the flawed assumptions. In addition to the existing EUR 219 billion ($305 billion), Greece will need at least another EUR 250 billion ($350 billion) in the next 10 years.

Unfortunately, Greece is hardly the only near-insolvent euro economy.

Back to stagnation In their summit, the euro leaders focused on liquidity, recapitalization and debt restructuring, but these are only some of the dilemmas that are haunting the eurozone.

Until recently, most euro economies have engaged in severe front-load austerity measures and promises of long-term fiscal support.

That has spawned violent riots from Athens to London. Instead, the euro economies need short-term fiscal support to support nascent recovery, and credible, long-term back-load austerity to sustain growth.

Along with misguided fiscal policy, many euro economies have suffered from ill-advised monetary policy. Not so long ago, ECB chief Jean-Claude Trichet sought to hike the interest rates, which was precisely the wrong

thing to do. Appropriate monetary easing remains vital, especially to provide credit easing for small and medium-size enterprises, which are struggling but remain critical to employment in all euro economies.

As Trichet retires on November 1, all eyes will be on his successor, Mario Draghi, currently chief of Italy’s central bank. During the great recession, many national central banks in the eurozone embraced billions of euros of toxic debt. These central banks are no longer autonomous, but subject to the ECB system. These toxic assets must still be defused.

Finally, all euro leaders agree that the region’s problems cannot be overcome without appropriate growth. Yet, adequate structural reforms remain absent.

The euro summit came to an end with market jubilation. In the coming days, the reality will sink in. After the April 2011, the market cap of 50 major stock markets worldwide has been reduced by $14 trillion. In Europe, the market cap declined by almost 27%.

The eurozone crisis, too, will pass. But there is no return to “business as usual.” When the dust finally settles, the world will look very different.

in many parts of the country and Kenya has enormous microorganism that can be used for medicinal and other relevant industrial purposes,’’ said Professor Wekesa, who is one of the panelists.

The project will cost MKU over Sh400 million. What’s more, the university will play a central role in marketing the products and link the herbalist with potential consumers.

Discussants expressed optimism that the programme will generate various positive attributes to enhance confidence in the consumption of natural products, in turn creating employment opportunities while raising standards of living.

According to Dr Kamamia, the programme will involve top notch scientists with vast experience in the medicinal world. The scientists will subject the natural products to rigorous tests.

If actualised, the project will remain one of the most profitable ventures having been successfully launched in countries like China and India.

The project is presumed viable and likely to blend with the desired realisation of Vision 2030.

Solar panels shaped like clay roof tiles Converting to solar energy means covering a roof in unsightly solar panels. Not necessarily: Philadelphia company SRS Energy has developed the Solé Power Tile, a roof tile designed to sustainably convert sunlight into electricity without compromising aesthetics. The dark blue tiles, manufactured by SRS Energy, are jointly branded and distributed by US Tile and specifically designed to be compatible with the clay roof tiles manufactured by US Tile. When installed, the system can offset a large proportion of a homeowner’s energy costs—not to mention cleaning their carbon conscience.

reached a deal on emergency growth measures. Italy’s debt burden is close to EUR 2 trillion ($2.8 trillion); and there is no assurance that structural reforms can be implemented successfully.

Moody’s has warned that France’s credit rating could be downgraded in the next three months if its budget is stretched further by bank bailouts to help other debt-heavy eurozone countries. As a result, French President Nicolas Sarkozy shuns measures that would penalize investors and thus could contribute to banks’ rating downgrades; the latter could endanger France’s triple-A rating – and thus have an adverse impact on the European liquidity facility itself.

By Simon Ciuri

mance polymer often used in car bumpers, are lightweight, unbreakable and recyclable. Flexible solar technology by United Solar Ovonic is embedded inside each tile, allowing them to function independently of each other.

What’s so attractive about the Solé Power Tile systemis that it makes it easy for consumers to make a green choice, without having to settle for a product they find unappealing. With more tile styles and colours in the pipeline, SRS Energy could soon be enjoying a big chunk of eco-bounty, as will any other company that can remove the disincentives from sustainable technology.

Professor John Nderitu, head of Research and Development at the Mount Kenya University

No more unsightly solar panels on you lovely roof.

Reduce your power bill while maintaining the aesthetic design of your home with this unique “green” solution Trade Enquiries: http://www.ustile.com/

12 The Weekly Vision

8th Oct - 15th Nov, 2012

internationalbuzz

World’s most expensive house

internationalbuzz 3 helipads

It lies abandoned... because billionaire owners believe moving in will bring them bad luck

Maintenance Floor 2

Family Residence

Guest Apartments

The 27-storey, billion-dollar tower in Mumbai, called Antilia, is said to have fallen foul of vastu shastra - an obscure Hindu version of feng shui.

Gymnasium

Built for India’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani - ranked by Forbes as the ninth wealthiest person in the world with a fortune of $27billion - Antilia has dominated the Mumbai skyline since being completed last year.

Maintenance Floor 1 Swimming pool & Health Centre

But speculation has grown as to why Mr Ambani, his wife Nita and their two children have not moved into their extravagant new home.

Elevated Garden

Certainly the property - which has three helipads, six floors of parking and a series of floating gardens - is comfortable enough.

According to reports, the Ambani family is concerned the building fails to conform with the ancient Indian architectural principles of vastu shastra, and has refused to move in for fear the home will curse them with bad luck.

Mini Theatre

Vehicle maintenance bay

Film screenings have been staged in its state-of-the-art theatre and dinners held in its grand ballroom, served by staff trained by the luxury Oberoi hotel chain.

6 Floor of vehicle parking

But its owners return at the end of each party to their former ancestral home, never staying the night.

The building is being constructed by the Singhania family, which controls Indian suit maker the Raymond Group.

The building is being built by the Singhania family, which controls the Raymond Group, the ubiquitous Indian suit maker. Seen at a distance, the two buildings are strikingly similar.

They both have soaring columns, large sea-facing windows and a nearly identical jigsaw puzzle facade. They have a similar sense of scale and emphasis on grandeur. In a city where space is considered the biggest luxury, both buildings seem to be advertising their exclusivity.

Just as the status of the Ambani residence is shrouded in mystery, we know little about when the Singhania building will be completed and ready for the family to move in.

The Singhania building, which is named J.K. House after the founders of the Raymond Group’s parent company, is located in Mumbai’s tony Breach Candy neighborhood and sits on a parcel of land that was previously a retail outlet for the Raymond clothes chain.

The mammoth structure towers over the bustling traffic on Bhulabhai Desai Road, and has been Rival: Construction work at J.K. House in Breach under construction for Candy, Mumbai. The skyscraper is being built by the more than a year. One Singhania family, and is strikingly similar to Antilla worker informed me that 36 floors had already been built but he was not sure how tall the building would be when it was finished.

Mr. Ambani, who heads gas and power giant Reliance Industries, and the Singhania family are not alone in their architectural ambitions.

Several other Mumbai industrialists are constructing high-end skyscrapers for their private use. Venugopal Dhoot, chairman of Videocon Industries, is constructing a 12-story private residential tower in the Mahalakshmi neighborhood. The Kasliwal brothers, who own the textile and clothing company S. Kumars, are building a luxury apartment complex for themselves in Lower Parel in central Mumbai.

Abandoned: The 27-storey Antilla, built by Mukesh Ambani in Mumbai, India, is still uninhabitated reportedly because it its billionaire owner believes it would be bad luck if he moved in. The ancient Hindu tradition of vastu shastra emphasises the importance of facing the rising sun, but Antilla is said to not have enough windows on its eastern side

Seen at a distance, the two buildings are strikingly similar, with soaring columns, large sea-facing windows and a nearly identical jigsaw puzzle facade. .

- Daily Mail

Rush for private residential skyscrapers in Mumbai

The Ambani house, Antilia, was designed by two American architecture firms: Perkins & Will, which did the exterior and Hirsch Bedner Associates, which was responsible for the interior. Both firms said they could not comment because of confidentiality agreements.

Instead of moving into their dream home, the Ambanis continue to stay in the more modest, 14-storey apartment tower at the south end of the city that they share, on different floors, with the rest of their extended family.

Half a mile from Mr Ambani’s 27-storey tower, a competing skyscraper is making its way into Mumbai’s skyline.

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The Singhania family refused to comment on when they would be moving in to their new home or the resemblance of their building to Antilia. One news report, citing no named sources, says the building will have five stories for carparking and a museum floor, for Mr. Singhania’s jade collection.

Vastu, a philosophy that guides Hindu temple architecture, emphasises the importance of facing the rising sun - and despite the staggering sum spent on Antilia the building’s eastern side does not have enough windows or other openings to let residents receive sufficient morning light.

Last year, as it was nearing completion, many Mumbai residents criticised the building as an ostentatious display of wealth in a country where most people live on less than $2 a day.

The Weekly Vision

Not far from Mukesh Ambani’s 27-storey tower, Antilia, a competing skyscraper is making its way into Mumbai’s skyline.

The world’s most expensive home is lying unused and abandoned because its billionaire owners believe moving in will bring them bad luck.

Tushar Pania, a spokesman for Mr Ambani’s company Reliance Industries, dismissed questions about whether the family was reluctant to live at Antilia as idle gossip.

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Antilla cost $1billion to build and features three helipads, six floors of car parking and rising gardens, as well as a theatre and ballroom

Fine rugs, chandeliers and mirrors feature heavily in the numerous sitting areas lthroughout the building

Glitz and glamour: Crystal chandeliers take up most of the ceiling in the ballroom. There is also a stage for entertainers and a kitchen which can serve hundreds of guests

Twenty seven floors of sheer luxury • • • • • • • • • •

400,000 square feet (37,000 m2) of living space Parking space for 168 cars A one-floor vehicle maintenance facility 9 elevators in the lobby 3 helipads and an air traffic control facility Health spa, yoga studio and multiple swimming pools small theatre with a seating capacity for 50 on the eighth floor three floors of hanging gardens one ballroom An ice room infused with man-made snow flurries

“In the last decade, Mumbai’s rich have been out in the market with a vengeance, looking out for signature buildings or exclusive addresses,” said Gulam Zia, national director of research and advisory services at Knight Frank India, the real estate firm. “An apartment in a building shared with others can only be so exclusive.”

Mr. Zia said the city’s exclusive apartment towers satisfied the same need for recognition among their affluent owners that sprawling bungalows have long satiated for the upper crust of New Delhi, a city which was built to be much less densely-populated than Mumbai.

“It is something which Bombay industrialists have always wanted as a show of having arrived in life,” he said. “Until now the moneyed in Mumbai had to make do with the semi-heritage bungalows that they had inherited - and those are only available to those with old money.”

Unlike the walled off bungalows of Delhi, Mumbai’s towering mansions seem to really stand out in large part because they are often surrounded by stark poverty. While many central and south Delhi neighborhoods are gated off from the rest of India, buildings in even the most posh areas of Mumbai often abut shanties or slums.

Perhaps that is why the city’s tycoons almost always refuse to talk openly about their new skyscraper mansions. Most are unwilling to divulge details about the building, even as rumors about how much they cost percolate around town. Or perhaps, the families have kept quiet because they want to preserve the mystique of their homes.

- Daily Mail

14 The Weekly Vision

Local Wraps

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Central Kenya tycoons, Kibaki allies lining up to fund Raila 2012

By Bernard Boy

A few months ago, Kiambaa MP Stanley Munga Githunguri, told off a small group of picketing constituents in Kiambu town to the effect that he was no longer interested in their votes; for he would not be defending his seat, after all. Instead, he affirmed, he shall spend his billions to get Prime Minister Raila Odinga to State House during next year’s transitional elections.

An eye witness – a veteran female journalist - well versed in Central province politics – recounted to this writer how Mr. Githunguri bragged with unbridled bravado, thundering that Raila will in return appoint him as Cabinet Secretary, the equivalent of present-day Cabinet minister.

Raila’s Money Men

matter of sheer conjecture. In him lies the overriding, albeit unspoken, paradigm shift at the top level of Central Kenya political power at play. As the clock fast ticks towards Kibaki’s exit from the seat of power, we reveal this week the backroom intricacies of sustained repositioning of an influential Kikuyu elitist club that long saw the light; now immersed in redefining the siege mentality that is the Kikuyu Nation.

Perhaps confronted with the harsh reality of a probable Raila presidency in the wake of Kibaki’s imminent exit, affluent Kikuyu businessmen, professionals and politicians have gone back to the drawing board, electing to back a formidable Camp Raila all the way.

Multiple sources aver the latest turn around is majorly informed by two facts: the PM’s forceful presence on the ballot box during

the University of Nairobi Vice Chancellor better known to his golfing buddies as JB. A State House insider par excellence, Mr.Wanjui was last week at the forefront of organizing the PM’s controversy ridden Nyeri tour, which was put off at the eleventh hour.

Coming bang in the middle of hyped emotions over Raila’s alleged ‘indictment’ of the President’s supposed political responsibility over the 2007/2008 post-election violence, Wanjui was at pains to explain that the postponement was in no way linked to the controversy surrounding the PM’s perceived sentiments in court.

who rose from humble beginnings to become Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the giant multi-national, East African Industries (now Unilever); Chancellor of the University of Nairobi, apposition he holds to date.

In My Native Roots: A Family Story, Dr Wanjui traces his roots six generations down the line. He regrets that today’s grandparents, like him, rarely find time to pass on folklore. Dr Wanjui considers this book his own way of passing on the family lore to his children, grandchildren and mbari (Kikuyu version of clan).

Instead, Wanjui offered that the PM’s tour had been rescheduled to rope in a wider spectrum of Central province other than the President’s Nyeri backyard.

Relying on written history and oral accounts, Dr Wanjui constructs a refreshing narrative of his lineage, juxtaposing it with reminiscences of his formative years. What a prized catch for Raila, this one!

Informants say Wanjui, a long-time close

Apart from Wanjui, Njonjo and Githunguri,

Damn right, its personal

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The Weekly Vision

15

Halala Football Club Appeals for Funds

Andre Villas-Boas set his sights on halting Chelsea’s unbeaten run after guiding Tottenham to an impressive fourth straight Barclays Premier League win on Sunday.

By Adema Lanya

Spurs followed up their historic win over Manchester United by strolling to a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa that came courtesy of goals from Steven Caulker and Aaron Lennon.

Halala Football Club is appealing to politicians and other well wishers to come to their aid. Addressing the Press in his Bukura office in Kakamega County, club patron Benard Anjiri said the club is in dire need of funds to conduct its affairs.

The Londoners played some of their best football of the season, and they are now joint fourth in the table with Everton, who are five points short of table-toppers Chelsea.

Halala FC is an initiative of Kakamega County’s local football clubs, dating back to 2010. It has been sponsored by Halala Western Chapter that brought together youth from Lurambi, Butere, Mumias, Ikolomani, Shinyalu and Khwisero constituencies.

Chelsea won the Champions League two months after Villas-Boas left and they have started this season in supreme form, dropping just two points from their opening seven games.

But with Spurs now exhibiting the same kind of football that brought them so much praise under Villas-Boas’ predecessor, the Portuguese is confident of ripping up the Blues’ unbeaten record when they play each other a week on Saturday at White Hart Lane.

He said: ‘It’s obviously going to be a difficult game but we are showing good levels of competence and we hope to profit from the fact that we play at home and profit from the fact that we play an unbeaten league leader to help on our motivation to try to beat them.’

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Capital gains: Juan Mata poses in front of the London Eye

Prominent Kikuyus hitherto averse to a “Njaruo” presidency are steadily trooping to Camp Raila, with voluminous cheque books to boot

University of Nairobi Vice Chancellor, Joe Barrage Wanjui

Kiambaa MP, Stanley Githunguri

More recently, the immensely wealthy lawmaker took on President Kibaki for failing to reward him with a Cabinet post, notwithstanding his sacrifice for the President’s PNU during the 2007 presidential poll and the ill fated aftermath.

the bungled 2007 elections; the relatively demystified fear factor and his tested acceptability throughout his tenure as Prime Minister and the Grand Coalition’s coprincipal.

Speaking at a public rally in Kiambu town last month, Mr.Githunguri urged Central Kenya to seriously consider backing Raila in the 2012 General Election. The business tycoon observed that Raila had in 2002 led political leaders from across all regions in the country opposed to [former President] Moi’s political schemes to campaign for Kibaki who was then confined to a hospital bed following the near-fatal car crush in the middle of the torturous campaign.

It is against this backdrop that prominent Kikuyus hitherto averse to a Njaruo presidency are steadily trooping to Camp Raila, with voluminous cheque books to boot.

Save for Mr. Githunguri and former powerfully Attorney General Charles Mugane Njonjo, both of whom are known to have hardly concealed their inclination towards Raila, a surprise package of the PM’s Central Kenya moneymen is lately on the frenzy – literally jostling for the prized vantage position; doing the Raila jig.

Mr.Githunguri’s allusion is in no way a

One such surprise is Joe Barrage Wanjui,

Mathira MP, Ephraim Maina

ally of Kibaki, has been crafted in Team Raila, with the singular task of enlisting the President’s loyalists in the business and political fraternity. In fact, unconfirmed reports say the good academician has been prodding Kibaki to give nod to a Raila inheritance (sic) at the Hallowed House on the Hill.

This aside, Wanjui is poised to play an integral role in fundraising attributes towards Raila’s presidential campaigns. This is informed by the accomplished academician’s enviable networking within Central Kenya’s who-is-who in the privileged region’s econo-political axis.

In his memoirs, My Native Roots: A Family Story, published in 2009, Dr JB Wanjui comes out as a down-to-earth personality,

other Central Kenya heavyweights waiting in the wings to add weight to Raila’s war chest include billionaire contractor Ephrahim Maina, the embattled Member of Parliament for Mathira, currently staring probable loss of his parliamentary seat after the recent high profile expulsion from Safina, the political party that sponsored him to the august House.

For starters, Maina has been a long-time silent ally of the Prime Minister. He is in fact reported to have bought the famous multimillion-shilling limousine that Raila presented his daughter as a gift during her wedding few years ago.

They say in politics there are no permanent enemies (or friends). Did you know that Kirinyaga Construction - Eng Maina’s flagship - is actually owned by Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, a bosom friend of Raila’s

Varsity students censure Mumias MP over bursary allocation

By Joel Eshikumo

University students from Mumias have censured their MP Benjamin Washiali over bursary funds.

While protesting over what they termed meager allocation, the students, led by Leonard Ambani, claimed efforts to meet the MP to try and resolve the issue had bore no fruits.

The students, who had earlier stormed the CDF office, claimed the MP had hired goons to pelt them with stones in spite of a pre-arranged meeting with the lawmaker.

Police in anti-riot gear had to be called as the students - numbering 600 - stormed the CDF office and threatened to torch it after they were told the MP was not available.

Before this the students had roughed up the watchmen manning the gates when he attempted to lock them inside the compound of the fund.

The students, drawn from three universities, said the MP had allocated them Sh2,000 as opposed to their expectation of Sh30,000 bursary allotment.

Efforts to march to the nearby DC’s office was met with resistance as hired youths donned in pro-Washiali T-shirts, with the help of the police, chased them towards Mayoni on the busy MumiasBungoma road.

Student leaders later denied that they were being used by the MP’s enemies to tarnish his name, adding that the issues they were raising were real and challenged the lawmaker to meet them and get the Riot police arguing with a student facts right.

Hero: Fans - who have bought a Mata shirt have their photo taken

The Howard Webb phenomenon Man-United’s 12th man lets his whistle do the talking Talk about last minute drama, talk about heroes who inspire their teams in desperate times, talk about the phrase “Cometh the hour Cometh the man” all leads to one leader for Manchester United. Howard Webb, the savior, the legend, the 12th man.

Halala Club has brought together talented youths, enabling them to nurture their skills and put it to their good. The club patron says they are in dire need of financial support to cater for allowances, participate in tourneys and run the club.

Halala started participating in local tournaments in which it severally emerged victorious. It then started taking part in the district mini-league of the Butere-Mumias zone, where it reached the semi-finals despite being a guest team; one thing that hampered its progress to the finals.

Webb, famous for his shiny head, can’t head the ball in for United...instead, he lets his whistle do the talking to provide United with plenty of penalty kicks in crucial circumstances.

Howard Webb has issued 10 of his 54 penalties to Man Utd. More than 18% and remarkably 10 penalties in 16 games.

During the controversial Man-United vs Chelsea meet,where Villas Boas men comfortably lead United 3-0, Webb again won the limelight and rescued United from turmoil awarding them 2 penalties in space of 10 minutes to acquire legendary status.

Kandanda ya mashinani

It then went ahead to scoop the first position in the larger Kakamega County, effectively qualifying to participate in the provincial mini-league, where it emerged second out of 36 teams that competed. Halal successfully appealed to be considered to feature in the Nationwide League that kicked off in May this year.

The club has since brought together talented youths, enabling them to nurture their talent and put it to their good. The club patron says they are in dire need of financial support to cater for allowances, participate in tourneys and run the club.

Former Cop-turned referee - Howard Webb

Acknowledging Lurambi MP Manyala Keya’s continued support for the club, Anjiri urged MPs and politicians from the western region to help uplift club. Noting that the club faced the real danger of collapsing, the patron stressed on the need of salvaging it, with the positive attribute of keeping many idle youths away from crime.

16 The Weekly Vision

8th Oct - 15th Nov, 2012

Angry elders bash Raila for ‘belittling’ Suba community

By Arum-Tidi Ogonglo

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has come under severe criticism for failing to recognise the existence of the Abasuba community in Luo Nyanza.

Meeting at Sindo trading centre in Kaksingiri location, Gwassi constituency within Homa Bay County, the Suba Council of Elders led by their chairman Mzee Apollo Okeyo Omuga, said it was time Raila acknowledged the existence of the Suba community.

The elders accused the PM of using funerals to antagonise the Suba people with the potential effect of marginalising their people.

They urged the ODM boss to come to terms with the political realty that the Suba community, with a population of 100,000 did not owe their existence to him.

Raila was, while addressing mourners during the funeral of former Kenya envoy to the UN Michael Okeyo in Rusinga Island, quoted saying the Suba community did not exist maintaining they (Suba) were Luos.

Accompanying the PM was Luo Council of Elders chairman Mzee Willis Opiyo Otondi, a move seen as recognizing the latter’s faction.

Immigration minister Gerald Otieno Kajwang’, who was the master of ceremony, did not even mentioned the presence of a large number of Suba Council of Elders officials who had travelled from as far away as Mfangano Island, Gwassi, Lambwe Valley, Sun Migori and Muhuru Bay. Okeyo stressed the need for the Prime Minister to respect the rights of minority communities in the country. A civic education workshop involving two regions of Migori and Homa Bay counties at the weekend is said to have been boycotted by representatives from the two Kuria districts demanding

that similar workshop be held in Kehancha instead of Migori inside Luo Nyanza.

The workshop was sponsored by the US Embassy.

But the Kurias insist they have the right to hold their own workshop separate from the one organized inside Luo Nyanza.

The Suba people are inhabitants of two districts ands two parliamentary constituencies, namely Mbita and Gwassi. Many people of Suba origin reside in the Diaspora; in districts like Awendo, Nya-

The community knows its roots and as such does not need the Prime Minister’s distortion of historical facts political expediency Mzee Okeyo-Omuga Chairman, Suba Council of Elders

tike and Suna-Mgiori. Those living in Suba region could be numbering about 75,000 adults, while the rest lives outside Suba region.

“The community knows its roots and as such does not need the Prime Minister’s distortion of historical facts political expediency,” said Mzee OkeyoOmuga.

Okeyo linked Kajwang’ to a secret plot to demean the Suba people, adding the Mbita MP had on various occasions deliberately failed to recognise the presence of Suba elders.

Demanding that Raila apologises to the people of Suba, the elders noted their people had harmoniously lived with their Luo cousins for many years.

The Council of Elders is regarded as the Supreme Court in solving disputes. The Council wields incredible power in ensuring that tranquility reigns in the Abasuba community

Ruto faces court sanctions over SMS slur

By Evans Kanini

Embattled Eldoret North lawmaker, William Ruto, faces an imminent legal suit following derogatory remarks he uttered against political activist and Nairobi businessman Andrew Tobosei in a text message calling him an idiot.

An incensed Tobosei vowed to institute civil proceedings against Ruto-who is facing possible indictment by the ICC - for disparaging him via the text message.

“You must be an idiot!” Ruto had told Tobosei in his text message recorded on October 18, 2011 at 10. 33. 37 pm.

From: Tobosei Pls tell your friend the minister finance, the ps min of medical service(accounting office) to help you get funds 4 MTRH ELDORET than confronting an ag CEO(or may be ur playing politics like when u told us and jimmy kibaki that 4000 acres had been secured 4 mau evictees still waiting 4 in vain).

The president is ua friend and we wonder whether u were used to divide ODM Unity.

We have established that Ruto fired his salvo shortly after Tobosei had sent the legislator a text message inquiring challenging him to do something to salvage the ailing the Eldoret Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Tobosei had sent his text message to Ruto at 10.

23. 24 pm on October 18, 2011- the same day he received the former Higher Education minister’s vicious response.

In his text message regarding the controversy of the Eldoret hospital, Tobosei had told Ruto: “Please tell your friend, the minister for Finance, the PS in the Ministry of Medical Services to help you get funds for the MTRH rather than confronting a CEO, or may be you are playing politics like when you told us and Jimmy Kibaki, that 4,000 acres had been secured for Mau resettlement, and which they are still waiting for, in vain.”

“The President is your friend and we wonder whether you were used to divide ODM unity”, Tobosei continued in his text, whereupon Ruto promptly swung in: “You must be an idiot”.

Tobosei has since instructed his lawyers to institute civil proceedings against Ruto.

“Is this how a person claiming to be a leader should talk? No way, I cannot stomach such demeaning abuses!” a visibly agitated Tobosei declared.

Eldoret North MP, William Ruto

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