INDEPENDENT FRESH AND BIG READ DIFFERENT DENIED TITLE DEEDS AND 8 ATTACKED, 5,000 TAITA TAVETA OCTOBER 2018 SQUATTERS LIVE WITH THREAT MONDAY OF EVICTION EVERY DAY KSh60 (TSh1,000, USh2,000) PAGE 20/21 SUCCESSOR FEROCIOUS BATTLE FOR HEART OF ODM STRONGHOLD BREAKS OUT AHEAD OF 2022 Raila, Orengo fi ght to control Nyanza Two factions emerge following uncertainty about Odinga’s political future Page 4-5 LOWER BILLS Cheap power is on the way, says CS Keter e government will reduce power tariff s so low-income earners can enjoy benefi ts of the Last Mile Con- nectivity project. Energy CS Charles says more “reasonable” charges will be announced by President Uhuru Kenyatta within a week and they will be cheaper than kerosene. FOR RAILA: Gladys Wanga FOR RAILA: Junet Mohamed FOR RAILA: John Mbadi PAGE 7 SOFTENS STAND Referendum will not derail Big 4 - DP Ruto A proposed referendum will not distract the government from its de- velopment agenda, DP William Ruto has said. Speaking in Meru yesterday, Ruto appeared to soften his oppo- sition to fundamental constitutional change but urged caution. FOR ORENGO: Millie Odhiambo FOR ORENGO: TJ Kajwang’ FOR ORENGO: Peter Kaluma PAGE 8 WEALTH IMPASSE ONE BENEFICIARY VOICES Kidero denies he Sossion claims EACC probes 10 SAM KIMEU owns 13 parcels state wants top accounts linked to Sudan’s blood listed by watchdog Knut offi cials out Sh1.2 billion payout money fuels Kenya banks PAGE 6 PAGE 3 PAGE 2 PAGE 21 2 THE-STAR.CO.KE Monday, October 8, 2018 Devolution CS NEW LAW REGULATES PROFESSION Mwangi Kiunjuri and Planning and Statistics PS Crackdown on Irungu Nyakera during the monitoring and fake accountants evaluation week at Sun Africa GEORGE MURAGE @ eStarKenya Hotel in Nyali, Mombasa, on e Institute of Certifi ed Public Accountants of Kenya November 22 has launched a major crackdown targeting quacks. last year is is in line with the new Finance Act. ICPAK /JOHN CHESOLI chairman Julius Mwatu said there are 23,000 regis- tered accountants in the country, but tens of others practise illegally. He said the new law provides stiff penalties on those found operating without a licence. e quacks taint the image of the profession, but the institute now has powers to go after them, Mwatu said during a council meeting on the new law at Sawela Lodge, Naivasha. “I’m sending out a warning that anyone practising as an accountant without a licence will from now be dealt with. e fi nes to that eff ect are hefty,” he said. He blamed the impostors for poor services off ered to Kenyans, with some being overpriced. GETS SEARCH ORDERS “For the fi rst time in 40 years, accountants will have guidelines on professional charges as is the case with lawyers. ese benefi ts will only be available to registered members,” Mwatu cautioned. Under the Act, students taking accountancy will EACC focuses on 10 bank be registered and referred to as trainee accountants in a move aimed at enhancing professionalism from school level. Mwatu said they were working with the Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Exam- accounts in Sh1.2bn probe ination Board to ensure students were registered be- fore sitting their exams. “ e new move will see students taking the June State departments were involved in suspect dealing with a fi rm 2019 exams be registered and we are working on mo- dalities to ensure the initiative succeeds,” he said. FELIX OLICK ments may have been motivated by partment of Planning. Seven days CEO Edwin Makori said accountants who are MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2018 OCTOBER MONDAY, @ eStarKenya kickbacks. earlier, on June 22, 2016, the fi rm not registered with them were staring at a fi ne of “ ere is urgent need to investi- was paid Sh41.5 million in four Sh500,000 if found. e EACC is investigating at least 10 gate the above mentioned account tranches. “Accountants registered with us but are found to bank accounts suspected to belong number through which suspect- “ e evidence gathered in the have gone against their calling would be fi ned Sh2 to top civil servants as it seeks to ed unexplained wealth may have preliminary investigations clear- million and this is aimed at enhancing professional- unravel the mysterious payment of been channelled through an /or ly demonstrates a typical case of ism,” he said. Sh1.2 billion to Era Two ousand banked,” forensic investigator Ki- corrupt dealing between the re- Vice chaiman Denish Osodo said they were fully by three ministries. mutai Langat said in court papers. spondents and offi cials of the State behind the government’s crackdown on corruption, On Friday, the Star exclusive- e accounts the agency got or- Departments of Planning and Sta- adding that whistleblowers will be protected. ly reported that EACC has been ders to search include two at KCB tistics, Youth Aff airs and Interior,” investigating circumstances un- and one at Equity Bank. e rest EACC said in court papers. PRICE CONTROL NOT ENOUGH der which two companies owned are with Barclay Bank at Haram- It said the huge transfers were by one businessman were paid bee, Quensway, Nakuru East, Nyeri followed by cheque withdrawals Sh1.173,234,004 by three diff erent and Meru, Ruaraka and Moi Ave- by the suspect and outward remit- Look at entire chain of state departments within a span of nue branches. tances to other companies such eight months. e anti-graft agency quizzed as Blue Urban Limited. EACC says e huge chunks of cash were the heads of fi nance and procure- it was alarmed by the confession drug supply, state told wired into the suspect accounts, ment in the Interior ministry. Also of then Planning and Statistics PS sometimes up to six deposits a day. grilled was a Mr Maina, the chief Irungu Nyakera that his depart- MAGDALINE SAYA @ eStarKenya e money was paid from the State fi nance offi cer in the Special Pro- ment had never given any tenders departments of Interior, Youth Af- grammes ministry, and Samuel to Era Two ousand Enterprises. Pharmacists say introducing price control on med- fairs, and Planning and Statistics. Chimoto, senior fi nance offi cer in “We’ve exhaustively perused icines will not help if the whole distribution system Evanson uo Waweru owns era the Statistic department. our records and confi rm that M/s is not relooked. Two ousand Enterprises. Bank details show Era Two Era Two ousand Enterprises has On Wednesday, Health CS Sicily Kariuki said According to court documents, ousand Enterprises was paid never dealt with the State Depart- drugs will now be labelled from the manufacturer the EACC covertly searched the Sh34 million on June 29, 2016, in ment of Planning and Statistics,” to cushion Kenyans from high prices imposed by accounts on suspicion that the pay- six tranches from the State De- Nyakera said on August 31 last year. retailers and kiosks. She said they will pursue major reforms. But on Friday, pharmacists said price control alone will not help. ey spoke during the closing of Horn of Africa Pharmaceuticals Confer- STAR SURVEY HIT OR MISS ence in Nairobi. ey said lowering the price is just one aspect want the whole system relooked. TODAY’S QUESTION “ e beginning point is not price control. First, we have to ensure Kenya is corruption-free. en we Do you support Knut’s have to look at other factors that aff ect pricing such threat to call teachers as stocking and prescription habits of these phar- macists and eliminate those that are not necessary,” strike? Dr Wilberforce Wanyanga said. He is a pharmaceu- tical expert and the UN Industrial Development Organisation national coordinator. YESTERDAY’S QUESTION Wanyanga urged the ministry to use locally manufactured drugs as price indicators. “Importers Should Uhuru speak out CHARLES KETER NCPB DEPOT should be made to justify why they should be allowed to charge higher prices for the same local on the referendum? State to reduce power tariffs Yet to distribute fertiliser drug being priced at a cheaper cost,” he said. Wanyanga wants wholesalers and retailers to e government will reduce power e government is rushing to dis- stock only what is needed. He said overstocking YES 74% tariff s so low-income earners can tribute subsidised fertiliser to farm- leads to wastage and suppliers end up transferring enjoy benefi ts of the Last Mile Con- ers for the short-rains planting the cost to clients. He called for public awareness nectivity project, Energy CS Charles season. Some farmers have yet to to promote generics, saying original drugs are not Keter has said. He said on Saturday receive the fertiliser. Meanwhile, the better. Wanyanga also called for shortening the NO 26% that the new charges will ease the Kenya Fertiliser Conference will take supply chain, and distributing a list showing the burden on many Kenyans. ey will place on October 16-17. e private recommended region prices. Dr Wilfred Ochieng be announced soon and will be more and public sector players will take told the government to introduce a fee on imported “reasonable”. See Page 7 part. See Page 10 medicines that are also manufactured locally. Monday, October 8, 2018 THE-STAR.CO.KE 3 PHOTO STORY CORRIDORS OF POWER Nairobi governor Mike Sonko with President Uhuru Kenyatta and Makadara MP George Aladwa at Uhuru market during a clean- up on Saturday. Uhuru cautioned politicians against using water issues to gain political mileage /COURTESY POLITICAL GOSSIP Who is doing what and where in the world of politics ELECTIONS IN DECEMBER MAKUENI Governor Kivutha Kibana (pictured) as president deputised by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development State wants to remove top secretary general Mukhisa Kituyi! Plausible? This is the thinking of a group of Kenyans who believe it’s time to redeem Kenya’s political lea- dership in 2022 and bury tribalism.