Enos Kipkoech Lagat, a resident of Uasin Gishu County, has been reported missing since Saturday, March 30th, 2024. He was last seen at Uchumi Hyper along Langata Road at 10:20 PM, where he was allegedly abducted by unknown individuals in a Subaru with tinted windows and no license plates.
CCTV footage has surfaced, showing Lagat’s last movements before he went missing. The footage captured Lagat, wearing a blue jacket and a cap, appearing unsettled as he kept looking behind. Moments later, a motor vehicle, a Subaru, approached, and two people alighted. A few moments later, three men grabbed Lagat forcefully, put him into the vehicle, and drove off at high speed.
Lagat’s disappearance has caused panic and anxiety among the residents of Nairobi, who are calling for increased security measures to ensure their safety after another unsolved case of same script abduction of the flashy, wealthy Jkuat Graduate, Victor Kibet. The police have launched a full-scale investigation into the matter and are appealing for any information that could lead to Lagat’s whereabouts.
The motive behind Lagat’s abduction remains unclear, and the police are exploring all possible angles. Lagat’s family and friends are extremely concerned about his safety, describing him as a loving husband, father, and a respected member of the community.
The incident has raised concerns about safety and security in Nairobi, with many questioning whether enough is being done to protect the public. As the investigation continues, the community is left to wonder what happened to Enos Kipkoech Lagat, and where he could be.
The police have urged anyone with information to come forward and contact the nearest police station. The public is advised to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
This is a developing story, and more information will be provided as it becomes available.
Ugandan Olympic Runner Benjamin Kiplagat was found fatally stabbed in a car in Kenya on New Year’s Eve. The news of his death sent shockwaves across the world, and many were left wondering who could have committed such a heinous crime.
However, the Kenyan police have now arrested two men in connection with the killing of the athlete. The motive for the killing appears to have been robbery, as money and a cell phone had been taken from Kiplagat. The knife suspected to be the murder weapon was found on one of the suspects arrested by police.
Kiplagat was a well-known athlete who competed in three Olympic games and six world championships in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. His death has left the sports world in mourning, and many have taken to social media to express their condolences. Uganda’s state minister for sports, Peter Ogwang, said in a statement on social media, “I am saddened to hear about the death of our athlete, Benjamin Kiplagat who was reportedly murdered in Kenya. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”
The arrest of the two men in connection with Kiplagat’s killing is a significant development in the case. The police have launched an investigation, and officers are on the ground pursuing leads. The motive for the killing appears to have been robbery, but the investigation is ongoing. The news of the arrests has brought some relief to Kiplagat’s family and friends, who have been waiting for justice to be served.
In a remarkable display of prompt intervention, Engineer Oscar Sudi, spurred into action by a direct directive from President William Ruto, swiftly addressed the Eldoret land dispute that had garnered recent attention. The “engineer” tag, often a subject of curiosity, gained newfound significance as Sudi emerged as a catalyst for justice.
President Ruto’s encounter with Emily Jepkemei, an elderly woman seeking assistance to reclaim allegedly grabbed land, triggered a sequence of events that unfolded with unprecedented speed. Jepkemei, a former classmate of the president, approached him with her predicament, leading Ruto to call upon Engineer Sudi to handle the matter urgently.
Sudi, responding promptly to the presidential directive, mobilized a sizable crowd and confronted the illegal occupants armed with pangas and power saws. In a matter of minutes, the structures erected by the alleged land grabbers crumbled, marking a decisive and immediate response to the illicit activities.
Speaking to the media, MP Sudi pointed an accusatory finger at the Judiciary, alleging corruption that facilitates land grabbing. “There is corruption in the court, and it’s people from one side…we won’t let this Eldoret case continue like this,” Sudi declared, highlighting a commitment to combating corruption within the legal system.
The role of Sudi in this high-profile land dispute underscores the influence of individuals in championing justice. Sudi’s willingness to act swiftly in line with the president’s directive has brought attention to the broader issue of land rights and the need for decisive measures to address land disputes.
As Eldoret grapples with the aftermath of the demolitions and the ensuing legal complexities, Engineer Sudi stands at the forefront of the narrative, symbolizing a proactive approach in the pursuit of justice. The rapidity with which he executed the presidential directive has left an indelible mark on the ongoing discussion about land rights, transparency in the legal system, and the role of individuals in safeguarding the rights of the vulnerable.
A former police officer who served in the security detail of the late President Daniel arap Moi is currently involved in a contentious legal dispute over a Sh300 million property. The Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation (ICDC) has attached the 63-acre property, located in Mois Bridge on the Kitale-Eldoret highway, to recover a Sh10 million loan issued 27 years ago.
Mr. Stephen Sugut alleges that the state corporation unlawfully sold his land, accusing them of claiming he defaulted on the loan. He appeared before Justice Robert Wananda of the Eldoret High Court, where he asserted that the charge, sale, and transfer of the property to Wakarima Investment Company, linked to businessman Mr. Ruiru, were fraudulent.
Sugut had borrowed the money from ICDC with a 60-month repayment plan but defaulted, leading ICDC to instruct Joyland Auctioneer to recover the loan through public sale. He challenged the auction, arguing that ICDC undervalued the property, selling it to Wakarima Investment Limited for a mere Sh7 million.
He claimed ignorance about the sale and criticized ICDC for disposing of his property without notifying the Soy Sub-county Land Control Board, as required by law. Despite a High Court injunction suspending the public auction, ICDC proceeded to advertise the property for sale
Sugut, currently confined to a wheelchair due to illness, is seeking judgment in his favor. He urged the court to dismiss the buyer’s argument that due process was followed in acquiring the property. In response, Wakarima Investment Company Limited is urging the court to compel Sugut to pay Sh50 million in compensation for the loss of investment opportunities
The company contends that it acquired the land for farming purposes but has been unable to invest in it for over 20 years. Despite a court ruling favoring Wakarima Investment in 2020 (barring Sugut from trespassing on the property), he allegedly continues to occupy and cultivate the land.
In a heartbreaking development, The Kalenjin Community has been shaken by the loss of young lives during a traditional circumcision ritual, prompting the formation of a task force to address the issue.
Reports indicate that more than 15 boys from Elgeyo Marakwet and Uasin Gishu Counties have succumbed to complications related to botched circumcisions.
The deaths have sparked outrage and disbelief, with concerns raised about the safety and appropriateness of the circumcision practices. It is particularly troubling that some initiates are still nursing injuries from the December circumcisions, impacting their ability to resume studies when schools reopen.
A prevailing sentiment of shock and dismay has emerged as details surrounding the deaths have unfolded. Allegations that the boys were being “hardened” through the circumcision ritual have drawn criticism, with many questioning the relevance of subjecting young individuals to such extreme measures in the modern era.
Emmanuel Bett, father of one of the victims, revealed the harrowing consequences of the ritual. After his son endured a beating during the initiation process, an infection ensued, spreading to his kidneys. The severity of the situation led the attending doctor to declare it a police case, underscoring the urgent need for intervention and accountability.
Uasin Gishu County’s Health CECM, Abraham Serem, acknowledged the gravity of the situation, expressing the county’s commitment to establishing a policy that guides circumcision rites. The formation of a task force indicates a collective effort to address the root causes of these tragic incidents and implement measures to ensure the safety of future initiates.
The deaths have sent shockwaves through the communities, especially among Luhya and Kalenjin elders who are the custodians of these cultural practices. The tragedy has prompted soul-searching and calls for a reassessment of the initiation rituals to prevent further loss of life.
Deputy Governor John Barorot expressed deep sadness over the loss of 10 boys during the circumcision rite. He emphasized the need to find ways to ensure that future circumcisions adhere to safer practices, highlighting the importance of preserving cultural traditions while prioritizing the well-being and safety of the initiates.
As the task force delves into the investigation and policy formulation, the community anxiously awaits concrete actions to prevent such heartbreaking incidents in the future. The urgency to strike a balance between cultural preservation and the safety of the youth has never been more evident, as Uasin Gishu County grapples with the aftermath of a ritual that was meant to symbolize the transition to manhood but tragically ended in loss.
In Kenya today, We are often taught not to trust anything/anyone online. This was the case in 2021/2022 when a notorious pyramid scheme resurfaced with a vengeance. They had evolved, becoming more sophisticated, elusive, and impervious to regulation. These schemes had lurked in the internet, ensnaring thousands of unsuspecting, young Kenyans with the allure of easy money. The name was Public Likes.
These scam had promised quick riches, but just like all pyramids, they had inevitably crumbled, leaving countless victims in financial ruin. It had posed as a website where users could earn money by merely clicking on ‘adverts.’
Public Likes had attracted new investors with promises of unusually high short-term returns. However, these returns hadn’t been from legitimate business activities. The website had presented itself as a “social media marketing” platform, claiming to connect advertisers with potential customers.
Users on this site had earned money simply by clicking on ads, in a scheme referred to as Paid-to-Click (PTC). They had been led to believe that advertisers had paid them for every click, known as Pay per Click (PPC). It had been a clever deception.
Photo/Courtesy
Public Likes hadn’t just been a Ponzi scheme; it had been part of a complex online fraud that had cost advertisers nearly Ksh 2 trillion annually in lost advertising revenue.
Jane had been among the earliest investors in this scheme, which had attracted approximately 2 million users in less than three months at its peak. Public Likes had even outperformed well-known websites like Twitter, Standard Digital, Wikipedia, and Sportspesa.com in popularity, according to Alexa, a California-based company that had tracked web traffic data.
Jane had had around Ksh 60,000 invested in the company when Safaricom had decided to suspend Public Likes’ Paybill. This move had come in response to numerous complaints from users who hadn’t been receiving their payments.
The company had insisted it hadn’t closed down, only temporarily pausing transactions while they had made changes. Meanwhile, Jane and others who had already recouped their investments had shrugged it off.
Latecomers like Peter, who had been attracted by the Ksh 20,000 Jane had been withdrawing weekly, had been left in suspense. If Public Likes had gone down, it had taken Peter’s hard-earned Ksh 4,500 with it. Both Jane and Peter had invested Ksh 4,500 to move past the first level, where users had had to wait three months and click on five ‘adverts’ every day to earn Ksh 10 for each click. Most people had quickly upgraded to the Business Basic level, where a one-time Ksh 4,500 subscription had allowed them to earn Ksh 7,500 per month.
Muniu Thoithi, head of forensics at PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC), had found this arrangement intriguing. He had stated that it had been peculiar for users to pay the PTC site to click on ads when they should have been paid for clicking on the links.
The Premium account subscription fee had been Ksh 14,000, allowing users to watch a maximum of 50 ads and earn Ksh 15,000 per month. At the highest level, Gold, users had paid a Ksh 90,000 subscription fee and had earned Ksh 30,000 monthly.
Despite knowing it had been a pyramid scheme, Jane had recouped her investments, while Peter had been left in limbo. The pyramid scheme had operated by receiving payments from new entrants like Peter and redistributing them to early users at the top, such as Jane.
When Peter had examined the list of advertisers on the website, he had noticed that most of them had been other PTC websites, which had raised questions about why these sites had paid for clicks. This had suggested that there had been little, if any, earnings from real advertisers.
Public Likes had started with genuine products, especially hotels, but they had mostly been international establishments. The hotels may have been duped into paying for viewers who hadn’t converted into customers, affecting Public Likes’ revenue.
According to Thoithi, PTC sites had struggled to attract advertisers willing to pay for clicks from users genuinely interested in the ads. Some PTC sites had even acted as affiliates to other PTC sites, redirecting clicks to the primary PTC site.
Peter had refrained from withdrawing his money, hoping it would accumulate, but the suspension of the Paybill number had dashed those hopes. Now, Public Likes had been tempting users like Peter with new earning options such as offer walls, videos, and a daily jackpot.
Public Likes had also insisted it hadn’t shut down its Paybill, temporarily suspending transactions to streamline operations. Safaricom had confirmed that they had met with the company’s representatives but couldn’t reveal their identities.
Public Likes might have also been linked to a global scam known as click fraud, which had robbed advertisers of about Ksh 1.7 trillion annually, according to ad verification company Adloox. Click fraud had involved repeatedly clicking on ads to generate revenue for the host site or drain revenue from advertisers.
In this type of fraud, a PTC site like Public Likes had been known as a click farm, where low-paid workers had been hired to click on paid advertising links.
While this online deception had continued to grow, fueled by high unemployment rates, increasing internet penetration, and a burgeoning mobile economy in Africa, it had been crucial for individuals to exercise caution. Falling victim to pyramid schemes had often reflected a lack of proper research, even when information had been readily available.
Despite numerous pyramid schemes collapsing and causing significant financial losses, people had continued to be lured into such ventures. The allure of quick and easy money had led individuals down a path of financial devastation, and this cycle had appeared far from ending.
As the Public Likes scheme had unraveled, another PTC, “Synergy Traffic,” had emerged, offering more attractive terms. Users had been able to withdraw a minimum of Ksh 2,500, and there had been no limits on daily clicks. Unlike Public Likes, Synergy Traffic had used Bitcoin for payments, making transactions difficult to trace.
While some like Jane may have considered joining another pyramid scheme, it had been essential to recognize the risks and pitfalls associated.
As we are all evolving to an internet- dependent Society, beware of online scams. They can ruin your life.
Deep in the heart of Eldoret town, an insidious gang, allegedly under the command of a high-ranking official within the Uasin Gishu county inspectorate department, is sowing chaos and terror, especially among those brave enough to speak out against the county administration.
This shadowy gang, led by a senior officer in Governor Jonathan Bii’s administration, employs a chilling array of tactics, including espionage, intimidation, and even violence, to stifle critics and crush any form of protest.
Their sinister activities were thrust into the spotlight in the aftermath of the ill-fated Finland and Canada education programs, which left countless parents and students stranded and disillusioned.
The gang primarily targets those seeking answers and justice regarding this scandal. Among their victims are a prominent politician, a dedicated human rights advocate, and even a magistrate.
Politician Forced to Flee.
Kipkorir Menjo, a well-known politician who had been vocal about the education debacle, found himself forcibly ejected from a town hall meeting attended by Governor Jonathan Bii and Senator Jackson Mandago.
Menjo was accused of aligning himself with the victims, compelling him to make a hasty retreat for his own safety. Reflecting on the incident, he recalled, “They did not want me at the meeting, accusing me of being critical of the administration. I had to leave because they were agitated and ready to harm me.”
He called upon Governor Bii to address the rogue officers responsible for intimidating and physically abusing traders and members of the public. “This is unprecedented, and it must come to an end. Governor Bii must take action against these rogue officers within the inspectorate department who have been terrorizing traders and the public,” Menjo declared.
Activist Narrowly Escapes Abduction.
Human rights activist Kimutai Kirui, based in Eldoret, disclosed that he had been singled out by the gang and subjected to death threats.
He narrowly escaped an attempted abduction and recounted his encounter with the gang’s leader. “I crossed paths with the gang leader while dealing with issues related to street families after their arrest and transfer to a rescue center. I criticized the handling of these families, and I was warned to back off or face dire consequences,” Kirui explained.
Unyielding, Kirui continued to push for reforms within the county enforcement department, including advocating for officers to wear official uniforms and be accompanied by police during their duties. “But I persisted, calling for a complete overhaul of the county enforcement department, including the requirement for officers to wear official uniforms and be accompanied by police. Then the gang leader and his cohorts began issuing threats against me through social media. When the gang leader threatened to harm a magistrate, we stepped up and demanded his arrest,” he added.
As the education airlift issue took center stage, Kirui found himself squarely in the crosshairs of the county enforcement team, which was dispatched to apprehend him. “After the initial protest, the gang wanted me removed from a town hall meeting attended by Senator Jackson Mandago and Governor Bii. However, parents threatened to walk out. They waited for me and attempted to abduct me, shoving me into a waiting county vehicle. But vigilant members of the public and the press, who filmed the incident, thwarted their efforts led by the senior official in the inspectorate,” he recounted.
Kirui implored the county to cease its profiling and intimidation of parents seeking their rightful entitlements. “The county must put an end to its practices of profiling and intimidating parents who demand what is rightfully theirs. Threats against the media, aimed at obstructing the exposure of wrongdoing, must cease immediately, as media freedom is a fundamental human right. Likewise, threats against civil society organizations should be unequivocally halted,” Kirui asserted.
Governor Pledges Action.
When questioned about the escalating situation, Governor Jonathan Bii pledged to take administrative action against officers implicated in the gang’s activities. He vehemently denied the existence of an organized gang within the county and announced plans to equip enforcement officers with new uniforms for clear identification. “All county askaris will be issued new uniforms for identification purposes, aimed at putting an end to the harassment of traders and the general public,” Governor Bii affirmed.
Nevertheless, as the residents of Eldoret town await concrete actions to address this alarming issue, questions persist about the governor’s ability to rein in the unruly elements within his administration.
While promises of administrative action are made, the victims of the gang’s reign of terror continue to live in fear, with their pursuit of justice remaining frustratingly out of reach.
Governor Bii’s leadership will be judged not solely by his words, but by the swift and effective actions he takes to restore order, ensuring that the county’s residents can express their concerns without the looming threat of this menacing gang.
The citizens of Eldoret deserve more than mere assurances; they deserve the freedom to voice their concerns without fear of retaliation.
