TRITON SCANDAL CAUSES PANIC IN GOVERNMENT: NASTY!!

[tiskie]

TRITON SCANDAL CAUSES PANIC IN GOVERNMENT: IT'S ABOUT TIME

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 15 - The scandal surrounding Triton Petroleum Company and the missing millions of litres of fuel from the Kenya Pipeline Company has sent ripples through the government with reports of frenzied consultations round the clock.

www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/Local/Triton-scandal-causes-panic-in-govt-2919.html

PANIC?? ARE THEY RUNNING OR CRAWLING?- UNLESS THE PEOPLE INVOLVED ARE ALL SACKED!!THE PARLIAMENTARY WATCH DOGS SEEM VERY QUIET.. HOOF HOOF!!NO ONE IS BARKING!!!

[okhunyanye]

Jan 15, 2009 18:02:30 GMT 3 @tiskie said:

www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/Local/Triton-scandal-causes-panic-in-govt-2919.html
Advisors for the anxious individuals agree that only Yagnesh Devani, the proprietor of the oil firm, should face the law over the firm's unscrupulous dealings.

The developments come in the wake of a decision by a Nairobi Court to issue a warrant of arrest for the Triton proprietor, over the Sh7.6 billion fuel scandal.

Chief Magistrate Gilbert Mutembei issued the warrant on Wednesday after a Police Inspector told the court that they could not trace the oil dealer to answer to fraud charges.

Mr Devani is alleged to have fled the country, an allegation that his lawyer has dismissed.

Only in Africa do we find immigrants ripping countries off in this magnitude. If it weren't sanctioned by leaders in government, it wouldnt happen... Period.

Of course nothing will happen to this Devani guy.

The only question is: how long are kenyans willing to tolerate being raped by these questionnable characters of Asian origin... Keitan Somaia, Kamlesh pattni; Deepak Kamani et al., .........

[KOLONEL BRISK]

Only in Africa do we find immigrants ripping countries off in this magnitude. If it weren't sanctioned by leaders in government, it wouldn't happen... Period.
Of course nothing will happen to this Devani guy.
The only question is: how long are kenyans willing to tolerate being raped by these questionable characters of Asian origin... Keitan Somaia, Kamlesh pattni; Deepak Kamani et al., .........

Thanks all for an attempt to contribute constructively to the cancer of our Kenyan society that is Corruption. In so doing i would like to caution us not to use racial profiling to address the problems that require leadership, first and foremost by ourselves. Discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, nationality or on any other particular identity undermines the basic human rights and freedoms to which every person is entitled. Racial profiling encourages hate and undermines national unity. The problem with Kenya is Leadership. Our govt lacks the political will to identify and uproot corruption. Those who stole yesterday are our heroes today. Those who steal today will become tomorrows leaders. We glorify theft. In regards to people of other color i do not see any links between Violence with blacks or Fraud with Hispanics. Crime is committed by individuals, or persons and not by Nationality, Race or ethnic origin. Last but not least when one is born in Kenya they become Kenyans. They are Africans cos Kenya is within the African continent. It is true that most cultures in Kenya a child belongs to the community the father originated from. This is the unwritten law. Well the laws of our nation is clear and straight on this matters. Lets respect that.
I have had the privilege to work side by side with purple people and i can report how patriotic and hardworking they are. They are no different from me. They do not love our country less or more than i do. I hope one day our great country will help cultivate an environment that will enable the hundreds of Githongos out there to work without interference. A nation that will put a value to the contribution that every wananchi who wakes up in the morning, leaves his or her family to work and earn a loaf of bread thereby contributing to nation building.

[politicalmaniac]

the sloth kegs de othaya has been happy allowing all and sundry waje wa nyakue Kenya
this man is a disgrace!

[job]

Folks,

I also second those who think we are having too many repetitive threads. Let's control them please. this triton scam makes me mad, even though its just a 'small' scam in a bigger scandal. There are more deadly happenings ruining Kenya.

Anyway, when the price of oil fell globally a while back, it quickly reflected at pumping stations across the U.S. and other countries, DRAMATICALLY FALLING PRICES AT THE PUMP, while in Kenya, prices seemed to have been stuck high, ati in the name of clearing 'old' stock according to Industry players.

Older and traditional sector players like Total & Kenol slowly came to terms with 'new' rules that favour new players like Triton and quickly devised ways of staying competitive and profitable. They simply refused to lower price.

Shady and politically connected firms are taking over the sector and old players are increasingly being frustrated at KPA, KRA, KPC, KPRL and other government bureaucratic stops.

Their delays, extra costs and losses are definitely being transferred to the consumers, that's why folks will pay more at the pump no matter what % reductions in global oil prices occur.

Kiraitu must know this before he opens his mouth to accuse sections of the industry. That's totally disingenuous.

When all dust will settle and people start focusing on the running of the GCG, the Ministry of Energy might just turn out to be one of the most corrupt dens within the outfit.

No wonder there was a spirited fight by both coalition partners to control this ministry during cabinet portfolio talks on power-sharing.

Talking about Triniton, let's first understand that the greedy private sector in this oil industry cannot survive without partners high up in government.

This sector is still largely controlled by politicians in the Energy and Finance Ministries and their boss at State House.

This political bureacracy can either selectively relax or tighten regulations, favour or hound-out of business select private investors, use favouritism to award public tenders and contracts (via tightly controlled parastatals), use tax/VAT/customs elements to punish or reward companies, use counterparts in the Transport Ministry ( KPA) to deliberately delay or expedite offloading depending on who is importing...and flex many more bureaucratic muscles.

Besides, the Oil Tender System (OTS) is run by the Ministry of Energy, with the Permanent Secretary directly overseeing its implementation under guidance of the Energy Minister.

Let us accept that it is indeed real power that is vested in the hands of these two individuals called PS and Minister. By the way, this applies to other Ministries as well.

This gives you an idea of where a single entity like Kenya Pipeline Corporation (KPC) falls down the oil 'food chain'.

KPC is just one of many small players alongside other parastatals like Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), National Oil Corporation (NOCK), and Kenya Petroleum Refineries Ltd (KPRL)... all government owned entities.

When a small company like Triton, with no real capacity or previous history of importing oil, suddenly enters the market then you know it is definitely not because Mr Devani & Triton's credentials have impressed or influenced the KPA boss to award the tender.

Absolutely not!

It is simply because a chain of orders emanating from resolutions passed from a kitchen 'inner core' meeting held at a wooded compound on a Nairobi hill, have passed down through the Energy Ministry...down probably to Devani himself, who then walks into the KPC boss's office with an advance phone call or letter of introduction with a Ministry of Energy letterhead.

Concurrent State House orders to KRA and KPA ensure shortly afterwards that there are NO delays in offloading and verifying Triton's oil cargoes for quick release. Furthermore, KRA quickly processes any refunds on a timely basis to enable Triton to 'move' more product.

Then the blue eyed Triton can then 'work with' KPC middlemen to even access oil stocks that don't belong to them, basically an act of outright theft.

As you see, after the resolutions at the hill, the rest of the so called tender process is just formality.

At the bottom KPC level, they also assume that small pets must also eat, even if it's bones left in the feast because they're well aware of the palm-greasing involved. They (KPC) also develop their own intimate 'side connections' with Triton - to eat some Omenas and left over bones.

Devani ends up the genius here, like Pattni, sucking from both ends of the straw. Eating big with the bosses from the top, and again eating big with small folks at the bottom of the chain.

The big 'inner core' scammers should thus spare Kenyans this circus of 'investigating' the small fish.

How does a greasy palmed fella like Kiraitu pretend to be investigating the KPA management? Pleeeeaze!

The bias shown by KPC to 'favoured/connected' entities like Triton (now in bankruptcy/receivership) is a classic manifestation of what goes on between parastatals and their parent Ministries.

Make no mistake, the cost of the graft eventually comes down to the consumers and taxpayers. YOU WILL PAY MORE AT THE PUMP AND FROM YOUR TAXES.

Shortages and time delays at the pump, constantly high price of petrol relative to suggested global oil prices, will continue to be part of Kenyan life. Here in the U.S. gas station prices fell down SIGNIFICANTLY (almost half) in line with the significantly reduced global oil barrel price, but in Kenya, wacha tu.

The same Energy PS and Energy Minister have other bigger deals going on at Kenya Petroleum Refinery Ltd. You may have noticed that foreign trips to India, Libya and the West related to privatization and chases for huge kick backs have consumed a lot of attention of Kiraitu and Nyoike. This might make the shs 7.6 billion scam look like a joke ( shs 12 billion if exchange rates are adjusted for time). THERE IS ANOTHER THREAD DEDICATED JUST TO THIS -PRIVATIZATION OF OIL SECTOR- SUBJECT, so i'll NOT rehash them here.

ThEN THE PROBLEM OF MISLEADING THE PUBLIC. This Energy Ministry has repeatedly passed wrong information to consumers sometimes via KPC for instance the silly claims on disruptions.

Its annoying when you try to lie to already inconvenienced folks. For instance the lies KPC peddled on upgrades. The pipeline upgrades were NOT ready but KPC never told the oil players the truth so they could plan accordingly. You know what happened.

Then Kiraitu Murungi and Nyoike themselves again using the podium of the Ministry of Energy to lie that the country had enough fuel stocks... now WHERE are these stocks?

When you are so busy consumed with plotting scams and how to cover them up, there is less time left to genuinely serve the nation. The result is poor planning, inefficiency, and since juniors sense the boss is busy elsewhere...they'll engage in their own schemes for survival. Paka hakitoka, panya hutawala.

I understand the juniors have also devised their own innovative diversion schemes...where despite the fact that most consumption is in Nairobi, they still allocate huge stocks to Mombasa, Eldoret, Kisumu etc? You know where those stocks end up, as artificial shortages hit Nairobi.

These MKM at Energy are too consumed in eating they forgot their job. My little sister was telling me during the last holidays just how difficult it was lining up for petrol. And of course the PS Nyoike was casually attributing that 'hitch' to panic buying. Interestingly, KPC was contradicting Nyoike by blaming their sister company KPLC, for not supplying regular power to KPC's fuel transfer/pumping stations. All this confusion at the Ministry is because these bureaucrats are too busy looting.

Triton is just a tip of the iceberg! I can bet that. The first secondary panic has struck close home, at KCB - at this time of global financial crisis & credit shrinkage. Haya!

[job]

Was this Daily Nation guy reading my mind or what....I beat him to this. It's on record.

www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/-/440808/515924/-/item/2/-/yqd6rbz/-/index.html

[einstein]

Jan 17, 2009 1:43:49 GMT 3 job said:

Was this Daily Nation guy reading my mind or what....I beat him to this. It's on record.

www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/-/440808/515924/-/item/2/-/yqd6rbz/-/index.html

Job,

The fellow clearly read your mind! But again Jukwaa romped home first!!!

[job]

einstein,

absolutely.

fellow JUKWAA members,

We now know why PNU was aggressively fighting to keep the Ministry of Energy in the power-sharing negotiations. Well they got it and this is what Kenyans are reaping.

Their propagandists are trying desperately to drag the PM's family in a matter that squarely rests within the Energy Ministry.

The Open Tendering System for oil importation is run by the Ministry of Energy. Kiraitu and Nyoike are totally in-charge. They are the ones who gave Triton the government tender to purchase national oil supplies into Kenya for a six month quota.

Triton which had no capacity or previous oil importation history got the huge national tender at the expense of other well established firms. Kiraitu and Nyoike’s have to answer how the nondescript Triton secured the humongous government tender.

If Triton had no capacity and decided to sub-contract to other rivals without themselves bringing in any oil means someone was recruiting genuine importers only after eating massive tender kick-backs at the Ministry of Energy.

Devani is definitely being protected by State House with whom he has intimate connections.

Because of Triton and those PNU connections, there is bound to be another crushing fuel shortage and sky rocketing prices not just in Kenya but in the entire region. It will likely continue for a very long time.

Because of lost TRUST with international financiers of oil imports, Kenya will not get any more cheap credit from abroad for oil, and if they do, it will be exorbitantly expensive with sky-rocket interest rates.

Thus Kenyans must be prepared for more fuel shortages and be ready to PAY MORE shillings per litre of petrol, kerosene, and diesel. This is inspite of everybody else worldwide paying less and less. This is a SPECIAL GIFT THAT KIRAITU, NYOIKE & PNU IS HANDING TO KENYANS.

Their rabid supporters and apologists are trying to share blame with the PM but that simply ain't gonna work. Kibaki, Kiraitu, and Nyoike must carry their own crosses.

We are already seeing Kibaki rushing to pull deals with oil producing countries in the Persian Gulf, even ready to host oil rich Iran's President - not that it's a bad thing to host Ahmadinejad, but we are wondering what more Kenyan asset or land is plotting to be lost, another Grand Regency or another Tana River Delta?.

Already Grand Regency has gone for peanuts to the arrogant Libyans, and looks like Tana River Delta is soon becoming another province of Qatar.

Let's see what these fellas think Kenyans are going to take.

[einstein]

Job,

I think you were right on the money again! Read below.



Economy could slow down as banks become reluctant to lend to local firms over Triton scandal.

Counting losses in the Triton oil rip-off


The full impact of the Triton oil saga on the economy is slowly beginning to unravel with the financial and oil industries becoming first casualties of the aftershocks.

Insiders and lawyers warn that the full impact, which “will be extremely far reaching,” will be felt throughout the economy for a long time to come.

This, thanks to what the government has described as “criminal fraud” on part of Kenya Pipeline Company and Triton, a local oil marketer. The firm collapsed, taking with it at least Sh7.6 billion (considered by some as a conservative figure) of financiers’ money.

Other oil marketers are said to have lost billions worth of oil in consignments that never reached them. Sources within the banking industry intimate that the government’s unco-ordinated and largely knee-jerk reaction has caused an unprecedented slowdown in loan approvals.

A source privy in one of the banks but who cannot be quoted because he is not authorised to speak to media, said that soon after the Triton story came out some banks recalled all loan applications to double-check approvals and, where necessary, request for additional supporting documents.

Some of the applications recalled had gone past the loan approval stage and were only waiting for final signature before funds are released.

The loan applicants will now have to wait a little longer as banks re-evaluate their risk exposures and loan approval procedures. “You will see a lot of tightening up of requirements as lenders move to reduce their level of exposure on credit facilities offered,” says Mr Mwangi Karume, a partner with Njoroge Regeru Advocates who has been advising banks.

A source in another bank told Smart Company that the management had a newspaper article analysing how banks were exposed photocopied and all credit managers made to countersign a copy as an acknowledgement that they had read, understood the consequences of the saga and appreciated the lessons.

This shows how far banks are willing to go to make sure Triton saga will never occur again, where a financier is left holding neither funds lent out nor the collateral.

At the third bank, credit approval has been restricted to credit managers, with other staff told to consult their line managers at every decision making point in loan approval. The ultimate effect will be a slow-down in credit, especially to the private sector.

Borrowers will also be required to provide more securities and in some instances see banks get more involved in borrowers’ investment activities. A slow-down in lending will negatively affect economic growth, at time when the country is flirting with recession, with this year’s growth expected at 3 per cent, slightly above 2008 which is expected at 2.2 per cent.

It would also counter the Central Bank of Kenya recent policy to cut its benchmark rate (CBR) from 9 per cent to 8.5 per cent to ease access to credit for both private sector and government. It noted: “These measures are aimed at enhancing liquidity in the banking system and support growth in the recovery process.”

Credit is to the economy what oil is to the engine. Corporate operations are financed by debt while consumption is mostly credit driven. “We are not looking at local financiers only but even international. This saga will increase the country’s risk, which will have an all-round impact,” says Mr Peter Mwangi, a partner at Walker Kontos, the law firm retained by Kenya Commercial Bank to pursue more than Sh2 billion it advanced to Triton.

The matter is in court, awaiting the two parties to file their agreement after opting for an out-of-court settlement. The country’s risk going up means that borrowers tapping the international market for funds will have to pay a higher premium on money advanced to cover high risk while those going for the local market will put in more security.

“It means that borrowers have to do more to make lenders release funds to their accounts or offer other credit facilities,” says Mr Mwangi of Walker Kontos.

The Triton “fraud” puts the country’s oil industry in a very precious position in terms of sourcing finances for purchase of fuel. A source in the oil industry predicted that the country could experience a fuel shortage in April or May if one of the big five - Shell, Caltex, Oil Libya, Total and government owned National Oil Corporation (NOCK) - does not import oil because they are the only ones with the financial muscle or still have credibility to import enough fuel.

“The impact on this (Triton “fraud”) will be extremely far reaching,” says Mr Njoroge Regeru of Njoroge Regeru Advocates. The law firm has been engaged by Total Kenya, which is laying claim to more than 5,900 metric tonnes of petroleum products it says was sold to before the firm ran into problems but was never delivered.

For a start, he says, it casts doubts on the whole concept of the open tender system (OTS), where one oil marketer ships in oil on behalf of the industry. The winner imports the monthly oil requirement and sells to other marketers at an agreed price. The idea being to create economies of scale that makes it possible for the importer to source oil at cheaper prices.

The oil, being credit financed, is then sold only on consent of the financiers, as the imported oil acts as security. KPC, the custodian of the oil, undertakes to release the oil only when it receives “clear and non-equivocal instructions” from the financier(s) .

That way the financier is able to track the oil and take payment to offset his loan as sale progresses. The system is designed in a way that it obliges KPC to release regular statements on stocks held in trust at intervals to the financiers.

The collateral financing system was introduced to allow in independent players who could not import commercially viable quantities.
“That system has now been very seriously undermined,” Mr Regeru says.

“What has happened at KPC, where buyers were assured of oil only to be informed later that it is missing, has undermined every known tenet of business contracting,” he added.

At the very extreme, the lawyers say, oil importers could be forced to go to the international market to buy oil in cash as none of the international financiers or seller would not trust KPC.

And KPC being a government owned company the mistrust could be extended to the State, which in such circumstances would be expected to come in to offer guarantees.

Most directly affected will be the so called “local independent oil marketers” who had lately become a threat to the multinational retailers. If it boils down to paying cash upfront, few would survive, returning the country back to the mercies of the big boys.

“It puts financing of importing oil at a very high risk which is not good for the country,” says Mr Karume.

The banks are no longer certain of repayment. “That in itself puts a very big dent on the confidence level in the oil market,” says Mr Mwangi.

It translates to increased cost of borrowing and cost of managing lending. “They will have to do more to know what their clients are doing and where they find they are taking unwarranted risk cancel the credit facilities,” Mr Mwangi says.

[e-mail]

[job]

www.eastandard.net/business/InsidePage.php?id=1144004929&cid=14&

DOES ANYONE STILL DOUBT THAT KENYANS WILL SOON START PAYING HIGHER FUEL PRICES BECAUSE OF CORRUPTION BY A FEW IN THIS SECTOR?

$ 8 BILLION PLUS SCANDAL. ANOTHER $ 7 BILLION LOOTING IN THE SAME SECTOR INVOLVES SLEAZY PUBLIC ASSET GIVEAWAYS. THAT'S A TOTAL OF $ 15 BILLION PLUS.

Then collateral damage.

Local and Foreign Banks will not lend to many oil firms and if they do so it will be at much higher costs.

Strangely, even after the Triton fiasco, nothing has changed and Ullage allocation favoritism is still going on at KPC's Kenya Oil Storage Facility.

A kickback pushing and corrupt oil marketer will still be favoured over others.

I'M CONVINCED KIBAKI FEELS INVINCIBLE AFTER HE GOT AWAY WITH STEALING THE ELECTION.

THEY WILL CONTINUE LOOTING UNABATED...

KENYAN ASSETS WILL BE DISPOSED BY KIBAKI AT THROW-AWAY PRICES AND HE WILL SQUEEZE IN HIMSELF AND CRONIES INTO PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE NEW FOREIGN OWNERS.

NO COMPETITIVE BIDDING OR PRIVATIZATION LAWS TO BE FOLLOWED.

HE SEEMS CONVINCED HE'S GOTTA DO WHAT HE'S GOTTA DO.

THUS GRAND REGENCY...GONE. Read the Cockar Report which mildly exposes the brazen theft.

Other Kenyan assets eyed by KIBAKI & FOREIGN PARTNERS include Kenya Petroleum Refinery - also gone to the LIBYANS.

Kenya Pipeline Company is also going to the LIBYANS. You can see it coming.

Tana River Delta going to the Qataris.

90 acres prime land at JKIA also gone to the Qataris.

[phil]

This is Kenya for you.

It was all a circus to amuse all of us.

State drops charges against Triton boss
Written by Benson Wambugu

January 29, 2009: The State on Wednesday withdrew criminal charges against the chairman of the troubled Triton Petroleum Company, Yagnesh Devani, and cancelled warrants for his arrest.

A prosecutor, Inspector David Wangai, told Chief Magistrate Gilbert Mutembei that the State did not wish to pursue the case for now. The magistrate immediately recorded the charges as withdrawn.

However, according to Section 87 of Civil Procedure Code (CPC) under which the charges were dropped, the accused can be re-arrested and charged with the same offence.

The AG, as the chief government legal adviser, is also legally allowed to terminate or withdraw criminal or civil matters at any stage of the proceedings.

The criminal charges against Devani were opened last week and he was charged in absentia with two counts of stealing Sh2.47 billion from Kenya Commercial Bank.

Subsequently, warrants for his arrest were issued by the chief magistrate’s court in wake of reports that he had fled the country.

Devani left the country at the height of his company’s involvement in what has turned out to be the biggest oil scandal in the country’s petroleum sector. He is alleged to have sold his matrimonial home before exiting to unknown destination.

According to the charge sheet, Devani is alleged to have stolen 26,216.6 metric tonnes of petroleum products worth Sh1.52 billion entrusted to him by Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) to hold jointly with Kenya Pipeline Company between November 2007 and November last year. He is further said to have stolen Sh955 million from KCB between July and August last year.

In a related case, a forex bureau and six directors of Triton Petroleum were yesterday ordered to furnish the High Court with documents relating to the financial transactions of the company.

Milimani Commercial Court Judge Luka Kimaru granted the orders following an application by Mr Allen Gichuhi on behalf of the oil company’s receiver managers, Zahir Sheikh and Peter Kahi.

Cashline Forex Bureau Ltd and Triton directors Devani, William Mundia, Peter Riungu, Sunil Somaia, Mahedra Pathak and Roger Ngoo Shako were asked to furnish the court with all relevant documents in respect of monies transacted with the oil company. The forex bureau was asked to deliver copies of all payments vouchers from Triton and documents showing the destination of the payments and beneficiaries.

The directors were also ordered to provide a list of all advocates holding Triton title documents and its sister companies and a comprehensive account of all monies paid over the last five years to the companies and individuals.

Also required by the court are documents regarding the transfer of a prime Triton property in Mombasa to Triton Bulk Storage Company Ltd and evidence of payment of Sh75 million.

Apart from accounting for every penny the oil company transacted, the court is also seeking an explanation as to why Sh302 million was paid to Triton Bulk Storage Company after the transfer of the property had taken place.

[job]

Phil,

Attorney General Wako denied any knowledge of the withdrawal of this case. Saw this somewhere but can't find it now.

[Daktari wa makazi]

I think it was in the Kenya Times, that Wako denied withdrawing the case.

www.kenyatimesonline.com/content.asp?catid=2&articleId=1175

[job]

Kamale,

Any word on Triton out? I guess its gonna end like Kettering and Karmani brothers.

What's the fuel situation over there right now?

Did you see it coming?

Are shortages back?...are people hopping again from one petrol station to another like they did in December? is the price stable? is it affecting power via frequent outages?

Brings me to the next question.

What's your boy over there at the Energy Ministry, Kiraitu saying?

Hurricanes in sea ? Somali pirates or something?

Yeah, is this another oil scandal that never was?

CORRUPTION BY A FEW IN THIS SECTOR is denying Kenyans a genuine chance to enjoy the current low oil prices?

Shs 8 BILLION PLUS TRITON SCANDAL....plus several others amounting about ANOTHER Shs 15 BILLION PLUS.

Remember that Triton has made it more difficult for local and foreign banks to lend our oil importers. I guess that's what favoritism in granting oil marketing tenders breeds.

Guess what too.

Kibaki is also giving away Kenya Petroleum Refinery to Gaddafi before handing Kenya Pipeline Company to his TransCentury friends.

That will then be the time they join the cartel of Western oil marketers and put Kenyans at their collective mercy. It is coming.

That's the fake privatization and deregulation that cleverly takes the government completely away from protecting consumers from exploitation regarding these essential commodities. It is coming.

Over here gasoline giant Exxon Mobil makes the biggest corporate profits every single year from consumers, while in Venezuela, the government which doesn't buy the IMF/World Bank nonsense of privatization, shields consumers with ever low prices.

America is so tired of the greedy private sector Oil giants they agree with Obama that the U.S. has to rely on alternative sources of energy outside traditional oil. Even cars are being redesigned for the future to reduce reliance on gasoline/petrol. In Brazil cars run on biofuels. Petroli ina wenyewe....it causes massive exploitation...wars (Iraq et al.)....and killings...even Darfur is all about private sector interest in petrol.

[job]

If anyone has shares in KCB, Kenya Commerical Bank - it would be important that you know the KCB shares took a small hit with value going down because of the Triton Scandal.

Long after wakina Kiraitu, Nyoike and Devani have eaten their billions........ordinary folks will pay more for petrol and kerosene...and if you had shares at KCB you will take another collateral hit.

This is the Kenya we have fellas.

[politicalmaniac]

Feb 6, 2009 23:20:12 GMT 3 job said:

If anyone has shares in KCB, Kenya Commerical Bank - it would be important that you know the KCB shares took a small hit with value going down because of the Triton Scandal.

Long after wakina Kiraitu, Nyoike and Devani have eaten their billions........ordinary folks will pay more for petrol and kerosene...and if you had shares at KCB you will take another collateral hit.

This is the Kenya we have fellas.

These hyenas are devouring any and everything.
They are driving folks to the edge I tell you, and the mess R will inherit will make the mess Obama inherited look like a picnic.
At least the US is not primed for social strife and wars

[job]

U.S. Embassy
Public Affairs Section
United Nations Avenue
P.O. Box 606 Village Market
00621 Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Press Release
________________________________________


Remarks by U.S. Ambassador Michael Ranneberger
At the Conference
“One Kenya, One Dream: The Kenya We Want”
February 4, 2009

It is a great honor and privilege to be invited to speak at this timely conference which brings Kenyans together to map out “The Kenya We Want.” I commend the coalition government for fostering dialogue at a critical junction in the nation’s history.

What the United States wants for Kenya is what Kenyans want for themselves: a prosperous democratic future that will advance the well-being of all Kenyans.

The crisis that Kenya suffered last year was a watershed that brought into sharp relief the underlying problems that have plagued the country for nearly 50 years: ethnic politics, inequitable distribution of wealth, and the culture of impunity that has enabled violence and corruption to proliferate. As a friend and partner of Kenya, we were glad, along with others, to stay at the side of the Kenyan people at that hour of great need. But, as I have said before, it is the Kenyan people themselves who played the most important role in ending the crisis. Demonstrating a true democratic spirit that reflected high expectations, the Kenyan people mobilized as never before. Ordinary Kenyans, civil society, religious groups, the private sector, and the media all played important roles. The dynamic and vigorous way in which Kenyans came together galvanized pressure for the creation of a coalition government.

During my travels throughout this country since then, I have seen how this vibrant democratic spirit is very much alive. The Kenyan people realize that the fundamental problems unmasked by the crisis must be addressed through fundamental change. The vehicle for producing that change is the reform agenda agreed to by the coalition government.

That reform agenda is far-reaching, embracing constitutional revision, establishment of an independent electoral commission, and creation of a Special Tribunal to investigate and, if warranted by the evidence, prosecute those suspected of involvement in post-electoral violence. The reform agenda also embraces land reform, police reform, and the fight against corruption, among other areas.

Although this is a very ambitious agenda, many Kenyans have told me that it can be carried out if leaders demonstrate the political will to do so, and if the Kenyan people insist on action. There can be no return to the ways of the past, and the culture of impunity must not be allowed to persist. Half measures – whether with respect to institutional reforms or to fighting the scourge of corruption – will not be credible to the Kenyan people or to the international community. We stand with the Kenyan people who are insisting that the corruption cases which have come to light be fully investigated and perpetrators prosecuted. It is not a question of rounding up the usual suspects and rearranging positions, and then doing business as usual. The tragic crisis of last year has opened up an unparalled opportunity to bring about fundamental change – and I believe that nothing less than fundamental change will satisfy the Kenyan people.

If carried out, that change will lay the basis for stronger democratic institutions and a better future for all Kenyans. There is in fact no alternative to the reform agenda, for without it Kenya faces the specter of even greater trouble in the future, and none of us want to see that.

While Kenyans are impatient for change, I would argue against those that might become cynical and those naysayers who see the glass as half empty. Let there be criticism, but let it be realistic and constructive. The ethnic attitudes and the culture of impunity that have prevailed in Kenya cannot be altered overnight. However, implementation of the reform agenda will launch a process of fundamental change and give Kenyans confidence in the future of their great country. Although we all want to see more expeditious implementation, progress is being made on the reform agenda.

In his inaugural address President Obama talked to Americans about the necessity for change to address the problems we face. In thinking about the agenda for fundamental change in Kenya, I want to recall what then Senator Obama said when he addressed students at the University of Nairobi in 2006.

Senator Obama stated that: “In the end, if the people cannot trust their government to do the job for which it exists - to protect them and to promote their common welfare - all else is lost. And this is why the struggle against corruption is one of the great struggles of our time.”

He went on to say that, based on his observations, “the Kenyan people are crying out for real change…and many Kenyans seemed to be sending (signals) of dissatisfaction with the pace of reform, and real frustration with continued tolerance of corruption at high levels. Ethnic-based tribal politics has to stop. It is rooted in the bankrupt idea that the goal of politics or business is to funnel as much of the pie as possible to one's family, tribe, or circle with little regard for the public good. It stifles innovation and fractures the fabric of the society. Of course, in the end, one of the strongest weapons your country has against corruption is the ability of you, the people, to stand up and speak out about the injustices you see. The Kenyan people are the ultimate guardians against abuses. In today's Kenya - a Kenya already more open and less repressive than in my father's day - it is that courage that will bring the reform so many of you so desperately want and deserve.”

Those words were prescient then and remarkably relevant now. While Kenya’s leaders must demonstrate the necessary vision and political will, you the Kenyan people must drive implementation by exercising your democratic rights in a peaceful way. We will offer help and stand by your side as you do so.

[adongo23456]

Folks

Give it to Ringera to screw up every investigation and protect the thieves of Kenya at every turn. I find this George Okungu case quite phony.

www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/527868/-/item/0/-/lgj2rs/-/index.html

Okungu was forced into compulsory leave to facilitate an investigation of KPC in relation to the Kshs 8 billion rip off where 126 million litres of crude oil belonging to other companies including KCB was released to Triton who paid nothing for the oil. KACC came in with fires blazing and promised to unearth the whole mess.

Now Okungu has been brought to court charged with unlawful sale of houses between 2005 and 2006. Not a word about the triton oil saga. Is this some kind of a practical joke?

Yes, charge Okungu with any and all offenses he has committed, but for god's sakes could Ringera tell the country what happened to the oil saga. Does this mean Okungu has nothing to do with the oil fraud? If he is not who is and when are they appearing?

It is odd that the same KACC which said they cannot charge people with corruption cases because the AG keeps blocking him has finally charged someone other than a traffic cop. What is going on?

It looks to me that Ringera and his real boss, the former associate in their law firm have come up with a clever move to pull wool on the eyes of Kenyans and let the oil thieves off the hook. Take Okungu to court, charge him with all sorts of fraud, make it look like KACC is sorting out the problem at KPC and pretend that the triton oil saga is another scandal that never was. Please Mr. Ringera, Kenyans are not that dumb. They can see through these tricks.

Ringera can be shockingly idiotic at times. Look at the maize saga. Instead of carrying out real investigations to tell Kenyans who siphoned subsidized maize from NCPB, Ringera came up with a sensational move that essentially turns out to be useless in unearthing the mess. Ringera collected all the notes wrote by M.Ps to the NCPB and theatrically summoned the M.Ps to his office. This makes Ringera look busy and given that M.Ps are hated by every Kenyan alive this was well timed to rouse public anger and sense of satisfaction.

Ringera knows just M.Ps writing notes while a bad idea is barely illegal. It also turns out most of these notes never got anybody any maize. So instead of pursuing the the real crooks who emptied the NCPB stores Ringera brings some sideshows to entertain the public. Why can't Ringera tell us what exactly happened and who is responsible in the maize saga? That is what he is paid to do.

This Gorge Okungu thing doesn't smell right. The country is waiting to know what happened on the Triton theft of oil. Ringera should stop dancing around and hoping Kenyans will soon forget.

adongo

[kamalet]

Someone help me here.

Fuel worth 7.8 billion shillings leaves the storage tanks of KPC, is paid for and a certain indian called Devani gets the money and does a runner on all of us.

The question which should really be so easy to answer is who bought this fuel, paid taxes and took possession of the same? Should not that person be charged with handling stolen property?

If it is this simplistice, someone somewhere is screwing the minds of Kenyans big time!!!

[adongo23456]

Kamale

May be you could help me. Are you saying the oil was paid for and therefore KPC never lost any money? I thought it was the other way round. Devani and his Triton got the oil from KPC without paying any money. Turned and sold the oil then took off with the money.

But yes, we need to know who Devani sold his stolen oil to, that could help in determining if the same were fellow conspirators or if they simply bought the oil as they would from any other company.

I think the big deal here is who conspired with Devani to release this amount of oil. Who is the person or persons who actually released oil to Devani? Who authorized this deal? How about reports that the oil inventory has constantly been falsified obviously to facilitate unlawful activities on the sale of oil.

All in all Ringera is trying pull a fast one. It is okay to charge Okungu with unlawful sale of KPC houses, but Kenyans want to know what happened at the KPC oil depot. Could Ringera be covering again for Kiraitu and the other big guns. And when do we start hearing the chorus of Kiraitu must resign or be fired the same we have heard about Ruto with his maize problem?

adongo

[kamalet]

Adongo,

My understanding is that Devani borrowed money from KCB and other banks and secured the loan with the oil in storage. Now when this oil left the KPC storage, KCB was supposed to authorise it after it had received money in satisfaction of the debt. What happened is that the oil still left KPC storage and someone paid for it but not to KCB. This means that someone bought the oil and paid Devani who took off. Note that the Oil never belonged to KPC, but KPC was the guardian of the oil on behalf of KCB.

There definitely was collusion between some people at KPC, perhaps at the Bank in forging the bank's authorisation for sale or release of the oil to the thieves who handled it.

The sin by KPC is that it had given undertakings to the financiers that oil will only be released with permission from the banks - hence the suit now in court against KPC by KCB.

It is not possible for close to 10 million litres of petrol can disappear in thin air! I can imagine the thieves are know and what is happening the government is trying to find a face saving route out of the scandal...and you can start linking all that is happening in maize and elsewhere!!

[job]

Notice how the media has been treating Kiraitu with kid gloves. This is a Ministry of Energy scandal.

This is a simple case of blackmail. Okungu is being coerced to cooperate. that's the reason for these unrelated charges.

Okungu has not been charged with theft of the oil or negligence of duty because he knows where the oil went and he's probably been blackmailed to keep quiet in exchange for this case (of selling houses) to be handled softly. In the end, he will not talk...in exchange for pardon.

[adongo23456]

job

Okungu gave a press conference and said just what you are saying. He said he has nothing do with the KPC oil scandal. In fact he went ahead to say those involved in the Triton oil scam wanted to use him as an excuse. The fact that he has not been charged with the oil scam which is the reason he was fired speaks volumes. Ringera is playing games and I think once again we are going to demand action from the PM's office. Mr. Supervisor of government your country needs you again. Get teh whip ready and go to work.

I think they want to shut the guy (Okungu) up. Now they will offer him a deal. You know these cases go on for years. He will be told to keep quiet and then these things would be sorted out in the end.

This shit is exhausting.

[job]

Yes indeed. The media is downplaying this HUGE scandal. I hope the PM forms another cabinet level committee to check the Energy Ministry.

[kamalet]

Job & Adongo,

I think you are creating a 'set up' situation for this guy a bit too soon.

Whenever there is a whiff of scandal, the media will initially give us the story of what happened and then would cloud this with what they think will be the political consequences of such a scandal. In the process, a lot is lost in the way of facts and what seems to prevail is side-shows. The calls for the resignation of Kiraitu and his PS immediately the scandal broke out seems to suggest this. The immediate reaction of the besieged minister and PS was to send Okungu on suspension (read sack) hoping this would cool off things. Both knew for long that Okungu had "illegally sold some houses for 68 million" but had done nothing about it all this time, until the suspended him!

Okungu may be guilty of the 68 million shilling scam, but surely this is diverting us from what the man knows. I do not for a moment think that Okungu did not know that the oil had left his storage tanks and even he did not know when it actually left, he must be a totally useless manager if he did not notice that his cash-flows had changed when the oil was paid far and he got his share of storage costs - at least I have not heard the story of KPC claiming any of their money was lost! It does not matter to me that he was holding empty storage tanks when he got assurances that the oil was still in the tanks when it actually was not - he has not (neither has the board) had anyone of his managers and staff at the Kipevu storage arrested for THEFT of oil held by KPC in trust!

Okungu has NOT been set up, but is part of a big conspiracy to cheat Kenyans hoping they will be kept quiet by a small corruption charge of 68 million. If you ask me, Kiraitu is a victim of ignorance and simply is trying to clean up a mess he never knew about! What he is doing now is try and keep the story a little dead and out of the media as there are attempts at cleaning up things. In the meantime, Okungu's charge will disappear once we have forgotted this saga.

Here is what I think the problem is and where it actually lies. If you walk down from the county hall roundabout along Harambee avenue, somewhere between the Treasury and Jogoo house lies the culprits in this scandal!

As I said in an earlier post, a good pointer would be why the following are not complaining:

1. Kenya Revenue Authority - were their taxes and duties paid?
2. Kenya Pipeline Company - were their ullage charges paid?
3. How come only Total and Shell are crying foul and not others?
4. How come Caltex, NOCK and Kenol/Kobil are not complaining?

some food for thought!