On Friday, September 20, the Kenyan newspapers reported that Kenyans could be consuming substandard cooking oil flagged by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
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The dailies also delved into how President William Ruto's firm benefited from state tenders, leading to a conflict of interest.
1. Daily Nation
AMACO Insurance, associated with President William Ruto and his family, has, over the years, bagged multi-million tenders for insurance services.
According to the publication, AMACO 'won' tenders for the provision of insurance services at Kirinyaga University, Nairobi county government, Mandera county and the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa, among others.
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Ruto's family owns 15% of AMACO (190,000 shares) through Yegen Farms Ltd. First Lady Rachel Ruto and daughter Charlene Ruto are listed as company shareholders.
Silas Kibet Simatwo's family is the largest shareholder. Cumulatively, the family owns 280,600 shares.
Ruto appointed Simatwo as the chair of the Digital Health Agency to push for universal health care.
Other shareholders are Linus Kipng'etich (190,000 shares), Charles Tela Alusala (130,000 shares), Amos Kipkorir Biwott (189,000 shares and Rita Tebasiima (130,000 shares).
2. The Standard
The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has warned of substandard cooking oil in the market.
KEBS managing director Esther Ngari revealed that eight out of 44 consignments imported by the Kenya National Trading Corporation Ltd (KNTC) were found to contain 5.88 million litres of substandard cooking oil.
Substandard cooking oil entered the market on various dates between May 2023 and November 2023, and it was contained in 293,800 20-litre jerrycans.
They were not destroyed since they were subject to investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). The consignments went missing.
"Samples of edible oil were drawn from the consignments for testing against the requirements of KS EAS 769: 2019 Kenya standard specification for fortified edible oils and fats. Out of the eight sampled consignments, seven failed in vitamin A, while one consignment failed in vitamin A and insoluble impurities," Ngari disclosed.
The Senate Committee on Trade and Industrialisation heard that KNTC imported 73 consignments of cooking oil in 2023.
3. People Daily
The rift between President William Ruto and his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, is widening.
The silent war is raging ahead of the elections for the chairperson of the Council of Governors (CoG) position.
Outgoing chair Anne Waiguru has completed her two terms, and the fight for her post has begun in earnest.
Two camps have emerged: One loyal to Ruto and his new political ally, Raila Odinga, and another pledging allegiance to Gachagua.
Nyeri governor Mutahi Kahiga, Gachagua's closet ally, hopes to succeed Waiguru, which has caused friction in Ruto's camp as he's considered 'anti-government'.
Wajir governor Ahmed Abdullahi of ODM also submitted his papers. Kiambu governor Kimani Wamatangi was interested in the seat but had yet to submit his papers.
4. The Star
The publication reported that Deputy President (DP) Rigathi Gachagua plans to tour his Mt Kenya backyard to counter alleged rebels.
This came after over 48 MPs declared Interior CS Kithure Kindiki as their kingpin in the region.
Gachagua will hold marathon rallies starting from Githurai as he tries to 'unite' the vote-rich region ahead of the 2027 General Election.
A section of MCAs and Njuri Njeke members have joined the anti-Gachagua crusade, giving Ruto's number two a big headache.
5. Taifa Leo
President William Ruto plans to give Interior CS Kithure Kindiki more powers and make him the 'new Fred Matiang'i,' who enjoyed a similar role in retired President Uhuru Kenyatta's government.
This comes amid his cold war with DP Rigathi Gachagua, who is now isolated.
Gachagua has been accused of rocking the boat from within by opposing government policies.
The DP's allies, led by Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru, claimed Ruto wanted to frustrate his deputy by elevating Kindiki.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke
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