The Energy Petroleum and Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has penalized several petrol stations across the country following inspection exercises.

In its Energy and Petroleum Statistics Report released on Thursday, March 27, EPRA revealed that 27 petrol stations were found non-compliant during the inspections conducted between July 2024 to December 2024.

However, EPRA noted that most of the inspected stations were found to have been compliant during the nationwide exercise.

For those stations with issues, penalties were imposed with other directives of remedy measures. The affected stations were not listed in the report.

Most non-compliant stations are usually found to be selling adulterated fuel.

“In addition to marking fuels at the source, the Authority monitors petroleum products at retail stations across the country to ensure fuel quality. Site selection for sampling considers several factors, including nationwide coverage, intelligence from surveillance efforts and public feedback.

“During the period under review, the Authority conducted 11,950 sample tests at 2,649 petroleum outlets across the country. Out of the tests carried out, 2,622 stations, equivalent to 98.98%, were found to be compliant. However, 27 stations were non-compliant, and appropriate penalties were imposed as per the relevant legislation.”

In the same breath, EPRA documented that it conducted safety audits of licensed LPG storage and filling facilities during the same period.

During the review period, 23 audits were conducted across Central, Coast, Nairobi and North Eastern regions,” the authority added.

“Arising from the audits conducted, facilities prepare corrective action plans in the event of non-compliance and follow-up audits are planned to verify the implementation of corrective actions.”

The East African Development Bank (EADB) has refuted allegations regarding its lending operations, which were made by former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju during a March 24 interview.

In a statement issued on Thursday, EADB maintained that its financial operations adhere strictly to legal and governance principles across its four member states.

“The Bank states, unequivocally, that all its operations are governed by the rule of law and conducted in strict compliance with governance principles that guide banking operations across its four member states,” the statement read.

EADB emphasized that all loans granted by the institution undergo rigorous vetting processes, without favoritism towards any individual or institution based on status or influence.

The Bank cited the ongoing court proceedings, expressing confidence that judicial rulings in the United Kingdom and Kenya already validate its position.

“The Bank remains confident that the facts, as presented by the Bank in court, will prevail, as evidenced in prior rulings at the High Court in the United Kingdom; and at the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court in Kenya,” EADB asserted.

The statement comes amid heightened scrutiny over EADB’s role in a protracted legal battle with Dari Limited, a case that has seen multiple rulings in favor of the bank across various courts.

This follows Tuju in an interview claiming that some of the bank’s board members had taken loans and later written them off.

Tuju, in a live radio interview, alleged that EADB had engaged in unfair practices and attempted to blackmail him in a loan dispute.

“The problem is that I am not compliant with the kind of blackmail they tried to impose on me,” Tuju stated.

He detailed his grievance with the bank, explaining that EADB had approved a Sh1.2 billion loan, Sh900 million for land and Ksh 300 million for development, with an additional Sh100 million contribution from him.

“They paid for the land but withheld the development funds, violating our contract,” Tuju claimed.

In response, EADB issued a statement on Thursday, March 27, strongly rejecting the accusations and reaffirming its commitment to transparency, legal compliance, and sound banking governance across its four member states.

“The Bank states, unequivocally, that all its operations are governed by the rule of law and conducted in strict compliance with governance principles that guide banking operations,” the statement read.

The Inspector General of The National Police Service Douglas Kanja, represented by his deputy Matthew Kutoh has briefed four police officers being deployed to the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan as part of the Specialised Police Team (Anti-Cattle Raiding Component).

In order to achieve a successful mission , Kutoh asked the officers to keep the highest standards of discipline, integrity and professionalism. He ordered them to remember they carry the flag of Kenya and they should maintain discipline and adhere strictly to UN’s regulations.

Drawn from the Kenya Police Service (KPS), Administration Police Service (APS), and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the officers will serve under the command of Kioko Munyambu, SSP for a 12-month period.

“Their mission is to undertake specialised duties in support of peacekeeping efforts, aligning with international policing standards,” NPS says, adding that, “these officers will join others deployed in the mission area, reinforcing Kenya’s contribution to regional security and stability.”

Also in attendance was the NPS Staff Officer for Peace Support Operations, Albert Masese, CP.

Five traffic police officers were on Thursday, March 27 morning arrested by EACC after they were reportedly busted taking bribes in Ekero area, along the Bungoma -Mumias Road.

According to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), its officers caught the traffic officers extorting money from motorists at a notorious blackspot in the area at around 8:10 am.

Those arrested include; No. 64046 – Senior Sergeant Julius Kiprotich, No. 82969 – Corporal Edna Jeruto, No. 105844 – Police Constable (W) Caroline Emong’ole, No. 72259 – Police Constable John Sugut, and No. 119701 – Police Constable Eric Otwane.

“The arrest followed investigations into multiple complaints from motorists, motorcyclists and members of the public that the traffic police officers were extorting money from motorists traveling along the road under the guise of traffic law enforcement, without conducting any checks on the vehicles,” EACC says in a statement.

During the arrest, one suspect attempted to escape from the scene on a motorcycle, but the riders who had gathered at the scene in support of the EACC operation refused to transport him.

The suspects have been taken to the EACC Western Regional Office in Bungoma, where they are undergoing processing. The will later be escorted to Bungoma Police Station.

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has launched an investigation into allegations of match-fixing against Kakamega Homeboyz goalkeeper Patrick Matasi. The allegations surfaced after a video circulated online, appearing to show Matasi in a conversation about manipulating a match.

The FKF has assured stakeholders that it takes all reports of alleged match manipulation seriously and is committed to tackling the issue in collaboration with FIFA, CAF, and other relevant bodies.

“FKF takes the integrity of football seriously and has launched an official investigation into the matter in collaboration with the relevant authorities. We reaffirm our zero-tolerance policy on match manipulation and will take all necessary steps to safeguard the credibility of our competitions,” FKF said in a statement on Thursday.

“This investigation will follow FKF’s Anti-Match Manipulation Regulations and FIFA guidelines, ensuring a fair, transparent, and thorough process. The rights of the player and his club will be respected, and any necessary actions will be taken based on the findings.”

Further, FKF has urged anyone with information about the match-fixing allegations against Matasi to submit it to integrity@footballkenya.org.

The video, which has sparked widespread outrage on social media, appears to show Matasi listening and nodding in agreement as an unidentified individual, believed to be a recruiter, gives instructions on the next moves.

The exact date and circumstances of the video’s recording are unclear.

Matasi, a former Kenya Police FC player, has been a key figure in the Harambee Stars team. However, his performances have been inconsistent, sparking debate among fans.

His last appearance for Harambee Stars saw him concede four goals in a 4-1 defeat to Cameroon, with the final goal deemed suspiciously soft, raising eyebrows among football fans.

The loss further diminished Kenya’s chances of qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations. Shortly after, head coach Engin Firat resigned, bringing an end to his troubled tenure with the national team.

FIFA and CAF have zero tolerance for match-fixing, and those found guilty face severe penalties, including lifetime bans, fines, and even criminal charges.

The FKF has promised to handle the investigation fairly and transparently, taking into account the rights of the player and his club.

Outgoing Cabinet Secretary for Health, Dr. Deborah Barasa—now serving as the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry—today led a tree planting exercise in Lelan, West Pokot, marking her first official engagement in the new docket.

Dr. Barasa thanked President William Ruto for the trust placed in her through the new appointment, pledging to champion the government’s ambitious target of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.

Addressing local leaders and residents, she described the exercise as “a bold declaration of hope,” emphasizing the critical role of tree planting in tackling climate change, restoring degraded lands, and securing a sustainable future for generations to come.

Highlighting the environmental challenges faced in the region—including prolonged droughts and erratic rainfall—Dr. Barasa urged communities to move from simply planting trees to growing them.

She encouraged households, schools, and farmers to take ownership of tree care and challenged the youth and local leaders to drive conservation initiatives.

She also acknowledged the ongoing efforts of local environmental champions and groups working to restore ecosystems, affirming the Ministry’s support for grassroots-led climate action.

Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has emphasized that it is crucial for Turkana residents to be registered for Taifa Care.

In a statement, Mwaura said that the residents receive government relief food because those facing hunger and starvation are more likely to suffer from malnutrition.

“This increases their vulnerability to illness, which could lead to hospital visits without health insurance,” he said.

According to Mwaura, only 110,000 out of 1.2 million residents in Turkana have registered for SHA.

“The government is committed to ensuring that all Kenyans benefit from Universal Health Coverage, a key pillar of THE BETA PLAN,” he added.

This comes after Turkana Central Deputy County Commissioner Thomas Siele said that locals not registered under the Social Health Authority (SHA) program will not receive relief food. 

Speaking on the relief food distribution exercise on Tuesday, March 25, Siele stated that about 600 bags of food had been secured for distribution.  

However, the deputy county commissioner emphasized that registration for SHA was a prerequisite for receiving assistance.

“We recently got about 600 bags of food which we will start distributing. The condition is that before you come and get the relief food from the area chief, you must register for the Social Health Authority (SHA) program,” he said.

While acknowledging that SHA registration is voluntary, Siele explained that the move aims to ensure that all residents have access to medical care when needed.

“This is because we want to make sure that everyone is registered on SHA. We don’t want to feed people who, when they later fall sick, they don’t have the means of getting medical attention. Register for SHA; it is voluntary but it helps,” he added.