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List of Shame
12 petrol stations spread countrywide have been struck off the list of those approved to continue operating in the industry considered a money-maker.
The affected stations are located in several counties including; Machakos, Trans Nzoia, Kisumu, Kajiado, Bungoma, Murang'a, Murang'a, Embu, Nyandarua and Kitui among others.
Full List: They include; Sheen Filling Station, Archers Post, in Samburu, Starways Filling Station in Trans Nzoia, Fourems Filling Station at Migosi in Kisumu, Emmary Filling Station in Elerai, Kajiado, By-Faith Filling Station in Mateka, Bungoma, and Jumbo Immah Filling Station in Gatunyu, Murang'a.
Others are; Jumbostar Immah Energy Filling Station in Gatura, Murang'a, Nyalic Energy Filling Station in Embu, Marhaba Filling Station in Wajir, TDN Filling Station in Kyuso, Kitui, Rukigi Filling Station in Kitui, Patveron Filling Station in Machakos, Maixsoil Filling Station in Nyandarua, Petmak Service Station in Machakos and Masawa Fuel Max Filling Station in Machakos.
Intrigues: EPRA explained that some of the filling stations were offering diesel for sale which is meant for export while other stations adulterated the diesel with domestic kerosene.
Another technique the stations used to adulterate fuel included selling super petrol containing high levels of Sulphur.
The Effects: According to experts, kerosene burns at a lower temperature and therefore reduces engine power. Sulfur, on the other hand, corrodes the metal surfaces of the engine.
Justification: The suspension came after the authority carried out 6,284 tests between January and March this year.
"During the period January - March 2024, a total of 6,284 tests were conducted at 1,395 petroleum sites. From the tests, 1,380 (98.92%) of the sites were found to be compliant. However, tests from fifteen, 15 (1.08%) sites turned out to be non-compliant," EPRA explained.
Reprieve: Three of the petrol stations were reopened after paying a penalty of between Ksh102,105 and Ksh186,357 while the rest remained closed.
Long Shot
Eastleigh Businessman Adan Ali Mohamed who was robbed of Ksh4 million during a daytime robbery also suffered a spinal injury.
A relative of the deceased told the press that the businessman was headed to the bank only to find it closed when the shooting occurred.
A doctor who attended to him confirmed that Mohamed's feet were unresponsive at the point of admission on Saturday.
What Doctor is Saying: "When the injury happened, the patient could not sense his legs and when he was brought, we managed to take care of him immediately. We did imaging, a CT Scan, and MRI. That confirmed our fears which shows that he has got a serious injury in his spinal cord. He will require a procedure to stabilise the spine and decompress the spinal cord to give him a chance for recovery."
Catch Up Quick: The businessman, 26, was reportedly heading to a nearby Mall at the time of the attack when a perpetrator opened fire on him.
CCTV footage showed another motorbike with two people approaching the businessman and blocking him before snatching the money and shooting him.
Police are still hunting for the suspects.
Metro Ethics
On Sunday, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) launched a crackdown targeting passengers who board public service vehicles while full.
One of the vehicles nabbed belonged to the no-nonsense Super Metro Sacco known for discipline in its operations and order at its stage locations.
I reached out to Super Metro CEO Nelson Nduki who assured me that the company will take action against the matatu crew. He also let me in on a little secret of the company’s operations including disciplinary hearings every Friday.
Here is his full statement in our correspondence;
"Even if I am not aware of this incident because I was in church the whole day, we don't entertain excess passengers in our vehicles completely and that is known. We have inspectors on all our roads who pry to ensure that there is no Super Metro vehicle carrying excess passengers.
"What happens is that we have a panel that sits every Friday to discipline those drivers and conductors who have been caught for any indiscipline case. For this one, whether it was NTSA or not, on our forums, there is always a report on which vehicle has been carrying excess passengers."
On action for matatu crew punishment
"For that case, we will take action against the conductor and the driver. We look at the kind of excess. If it is two passengers, we always suspend the conductor for about a month. If it exceeds four passengers, we even expel the conductor from our company."
"We do not allow excess passengers in our vehicles and the passengers themselves are not allowed to board a vehicle that is already full. That is going against the traffic rules. When you get into the vehicle and realise it is full, you are supposed to get out. There is nothing we can do for them. We ask all our customers not to be excess passengers. We have hotline numbers so that the passengers can report on any indiscipline cases."
Here are five other stories we are keeping an eye on for you;
1.Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, a UDA party member, calls for the resignation of Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome over inaction.
2. Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi promises earthquake 2.0 regarding relations within the ruling Kenya Kwanza Coalition.
3. Two Kenyans, Ashura Michael and Willie Oeba, have been picked to participate as fellows in the Ford Foundation's Ford Global Fellowship. They will receive Ksh3.3 million each.
4. A Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer and coach collapses and died during a training session.
5. Residents break into a police station in Nyandaru, pull out the suspect and beat him to death defying police.
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This newsletter was written by Derrick Kubasu and edited by Brian Muuo.
Washington Mito contributed to the content.
Graphics prepared by Adongo Kyalo.
