Easy Coach’s founding director and former Managing Director, Azym Dossa, is dead.

Dossa, leadership has been hailed as one that helped shape the company into one of Kenya’s leading passenger transport service providers.

In a statement on Thursday, Easy Coach described Mr Dossa’s passing as a great loss to the company and the wider business community, remembering him as a visionary leader whose dedication and strategic direction shaped the company during its formative years.

“It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the sad demise of Mr Azym Dossa, founding director and former Managing Director of Easy Coach,” the company said.

Mr Dossa was credited with playing a key role in building the company’s operational and service standards, helping establish its reputation for reliability and customer-focused transport solutions.

“Mr Dossa’s vision, leadership, and dedication shaped Easy Coach from its earliest days and left a lasting legacy that will always be part of who we are as a company,” the statement added.

The company extended condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues, wishing them strength and comfort during the difficult period of mourning.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. May Allah grant him eternal peace and give strength and patience to all who mourn his loss. Ameen,” the statement read.

Industry players and business leaders also paid tribute to Mr Dossa, recognising his contribution to Kenya’s public transport sector and his role in promoting modernised intercity travel services.

His passing has been widely described as the end of an era, with many remembering him as a pioneer who helped transform passenger transport services in the country.

Dossa, death comes after retiring from active management, ending a 20-year run at the helm of the bus company.

He had cited health challenges and age as the reasons behind his exit from the corner office at the company’s main offices located at Railways go-down, along Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi.

“This has not been an easy decision. However, given my recent health challenges associated with advanced age, I am of the opinion that this is the right time for me to step down. The directors and shareholders of the company have kindly acceded to my request,” Dossa says in a past memo to staff, seen by the Star.

“While I am stepping down from the executive, I will remain closely connected to East Coach and will continue to offer my guidance and support to the company,” he added.

Dossa’s history in the country’s bus transport industry dates back to the days of the collapsed Akamba Bus where he once served as the company’s Chief Financial Officer.

He started the company with an initial fleet of seven buses operating a single route between Nairobi and Kisumu, both day and night services, with a standby bus to ensure a seamless rotation for regular maintenance and potential rescues when needed.

Today, the company’s fleet has more than doubled from that number, with Easy Coach currently considered one of the biggest bus companies in Kenya with over 35 destinations.

One of Dossa’s challenging period was during the Covid-19 pandemic, which took a toll on the company’s operations and the entire transport industry at large.

“Our profits diminished drastically, and our reserves were significantly depleted during this challenging period. However, it was important for us to make strategic decisions that ensured our business’s survival while also taking care of our employees,” he noted during a past interview.

On Friday, February 27, 2026, a delegation from Côte d’Ivoire visited Karura Forest in Nairobi for a regional forest conservation exchange. 

The visit, aimed at strengthening regional collaboration and knowledge sharing, focused on innovative forest monitoring, sustainable management, and ecosystem protection.

The delegation participated in a guided walk led by Edward Munene, the Overall In-Charge of the Karura Forest Ecosystem Facility.

Discussions led by experts like Eli Kogei from Friends of Karura Forest (FKF) highlighted the importance of institutional partnerships in advancing restoration and monitoring systems.

The exchange involved several key Kenyan and international organisations, including the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry (MoECC&F), Kenya Forest Service (KFS), KEFRI, CIFOR-ICRAF, FAO, UNDP, and the Green Africa Foundation (GAF).

The visit underscored the value of cooperation in ensuring long-term forest conservation and ecosystem protection across Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Karura Forest, an iconic urban green space covering over 1,000 hectares, is managed through a partnership between KFS and the FKF community association.

By Anthony Solly

Peter Maina Karimi has been named the new Director General of the Gaming Regulatory Authority (GRA) following a competitive recruitment process, the authority announced on Thursday.

GRA, formerly the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB), confirmed the appointment through board chairman Joseph Limo.

“The Board of Directors of GRA is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Peter Maina Karimi as the new director general of the authority following the successful conclusion of a competitive recruitment process,” Limo said in a statement dated February 26.

Karimi emerged victorious over seven other shortlisted candidates to become the first substantive DG of GRA, following its transition from BCLB after President William Ruto enacted the Gaming Control Act 2025 last year. The Act regulates betting and gaming premises, licensing, lotteries, prize competitions, tax collection, and the eradication of illegal gambling.

Other candidates interviewed included Michael Kipkemei, Abdihakim Dere, John Mutua, Andrew Njeru, Amos Sikweya, John Osodo, and Edwins Otieno.

Karimi will succeed Peter Mbugi, who had been acting as DG but did not apply for the permanent role. Limo stated that Mbugi will be reassigned to a new position, to be announced later, and thanked him for his years of service and leadership during the transition from BCLB to GRA.

Karimi brings nearly 20 years of leadership experience spanning the gaming, telecommunications, mobile technology, payment systems, and digital services sectors. He is a founder of Acumen Communications Ltd, which previously launched the gaming platform mCHEZA and mobile payments platform Umsuka Capital Ltd, the latter of which was later shut down by the Communication Authority for non-compliance.

Limo highlighted Karimi’s extensive experience across more than 15 African markets, citing his expertise in commercial leadership, stakeholder engagement, business development, IT strategy, and people management.

Prior to his appointment, Karimi served as CEO of a technology company developing financial sector platforms and previously held senior regional roles at Societe BIC and Nokia International. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Strathmore University and is an alumnus of Stellenbosch University, South Africa.

“The board expresses full confidence that Karimi’s vast experience, commercial acumen, and proven ability to transform institutions will lead the Authority into a new era of modernization, integrity, and responsible gaming,” Limo said.

The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has moved to clarify the status of ongoing construction works within its headquarters at Karura Forest.

In a statement on Thursday, February 26, KFS stated that the current construction involves housing facilities for National Youth Service (NYS) personnel who will collaborate with the agency in environmental restoration efforts.

The agency explained that the initiative is not limited to Karura but is part of a broader national rollout across multiple forest stations.

“Currently, there is development of barracks for National Youth Service (NYS) personnel who will be partnering with the Service to support the raising of tree seedlings.

“Setting up of barracks for NYS is happening not only in Karura forest, but in other forest stations around the country including Ngong Hills forest where the barracks are nearing completion,” the statement read.

According to KFS, the collaboration with NYS is intended to increase labour capacity for seedling production in line with Kenya’s long-term environmental targets.

“The partnership between KFS and NYS is meant to provide labour and boost tree seedling production to support realization of the national strategy of growing 15 billion trees by 2032 for realization of 30 percent tree cover,” the statement added.

KFS further clarified that the structures under construction are temporary in nature and located within an already designated administrative and residential zone at the headquarters.

“The barracks are being set up in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and they consist of prefabricated metal containers and the works are confined to an existing administrative and residential service zone,” the statement continued.

Responding directly to allegations of land grabbing, forest excision, or encroachment into conservation areas, KFS dismissed the claims, maintaining that no protected sections of Karura Forest have been affected.

“There has been no excision of Karura forest land, allocation to private developers or encroachment into protected indigenous forest or core conservation areas as alleged by a section of the civil society. In addition, no trees have been felled, only removal of old tree stumps,” the statement further read.

KFS maintained that all activities are being carried out within the legal framework governing forest conservation in Kenya.

“The works being undertaken are in compliance with the Forest Conservation and Management Act (2016), and Article 69 of the Constitution, which mandate the Service to ensure sustainable forest management, conservation and restoration. The activities do not constitute any land-use change or forest conversion,” the statement noted.