?? Govt Employee's 17 Cars & 106 Properties, Haiti Complexities
Hello and welcome to the Evening Brief Newsletter where we are keeping stock of the situation in Haiti.
Situational Awareness: Steve Kubate Salifu, the Senior Communications Officer of the United Kingdom-based non-governmental Organisation, Practical Action, reached out to me announcing the NGO's plan to provide Ksh31 million grants in Kisumu for Kenyan citizens to stop burning garbage.
In The Crosshairs
A Kenyan civil servant attached to the Thika Lands Office may be forced to walk to work or use matatus after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) was granted custody of his endless parade of cars.
EACC filed a petition seeking to hold the property pending investigations against the official, accusing him of misappropriating funds to acquire 17 luxury cars and 106 parcels of land.
On the radar of EACC sleuths was Ksh4.26 million the civil servant held in cash during a raid at one of his properties.
EACC Argument: "Pending the conclusion of the investigations, there is an urgent need to preserve the said assets by prohibiting the transfer or disposal or any other dealing with the said properties."
The Commission filed the petition on Monday seeking to freeze the properties, accusing him of abusing his office.
Through its Advocate Pius Nyoike, EACC told the High Court that Nyakundi has accumulated wealth that is not commensurate with his known legitimate sources.
The Ruling: A day later, EACC secured orders from High Court Judge Esther Maina to hold the property and cash for six months pending the finalisation of ongoing investigations into suspected unexplained wealth, abuse of office and embezzlement of public funds.
EACC Zeal: In the last month, the Commission has waged a war against wayward civil servants.
On Monday, the EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak ordered the State to halt all salary payments to civil servants with forged certificates as a crackdown on wayward government employees continues.
What Mbarak is Saying: "To this end, the Commission advises that all accounting/authorized officers should not process benefits including; pensions or unpaid allowances and accrued leave to persons found to have used fraudulent academic qualifications to gain employment in the public service."
In January, the Commission arrested Dolal Mohamed Mohamud, the Managing Director of Garissa Water and Sewage Company who was accused of forging his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) Certificate to acquire a University Degree. Since then, nearly three other senior officials have been netted over a similar offence.?
Earlier, a PSC report on the Authentication of Academic and Professional Certificates indicated that over 2,000 public servants held forged certificates.
Streamlining Service: Govt has developed the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (Amendment) Bill 2024 to formulate a National Qualifications Framework binding regulatory bodies and the qualification awarding institutions.
The authority will be expected to establish, maintain, update, and publicise a central repository of all national and foreign qualifications.
Haiti Entanglements
Kenya's volunteership to send its troops to Haiti seems untenable according to experts watching the conflict unfold in the Caribbean country.
On Tuesday morning, Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry stepped down after a meeting of the 15-member Caribbean Community regional bloc known as CARICOM.
The CARICIOM bloc met with leaders from other nations including the United States and Canada on Monday as the situation in the Caribbean country worsened and resolved to install an interim PM.
Meeting's Resolutions: “I think we can all agree that Haiti is on the brink of disaster. We must take quick and decisive action here in this room to bring the situation under control and to return the country to the Haitian people. The difficult decisions we make here today will have to be in the interest of the Haitian people."
Haiti gangs wanted Ariel gone.
US Dangle: Hellbent on seeing foreign police take charge, the US is ready to belt out an extra Ksh14 billion to finance the effort.
Expert Word: Several observers had been wary that the deal reached between Henry and President William Ruto may be deemed null and void after the former's abrupt resignation. Our expert, however, maintained that the deal was binding.
"A deal between the two states stands as a valid contract. In a bilateral contract, the Prime Minister acts as a representative of the State. His actions bind the state, regardless of the length of his tenure.
"Many international policies enjoyed globally are inherited by succeeding governments. The new Prime Minister may proceed to either reject or alter the agreement through another bilateral deal that could overrule the previous one. However, considering the state of emergency in the country, it is highly unlikely that the new leader will wish to rescind the deal," stated Marvin Muriuki, an international law expert. (Also an Editor at Kenyans.co.ke.)
Worsening Situation: As we reported in this newsletter, the gangs have attacked Haiti's main airport, the president's residence, and police stations and released 4,000 inmates.
As the situation worsens, several Kenyan police officers are opting out of the deployment after fears that it is a 'suicide mission."
Data Point: Beloved Vehicles
New data by the Kenya Bureau of Statistics has revealed that Kenyans prefer station wagons to any other type of motor vehicle.
Between December 2022 and October 2023, over 46,000 station wagons were registered followed by lorries at 10,730.
Saloon cars ranked at number eight behind pickups and trailers.
Here are five other stories to keep you engaged today;
This newsletter was written by Derrick Kubasu and edited by Brian Muuo.
Washington Mito contributed to the content.
Graphics prepared by Adongo Kyalo