magicnewskenya

Kenya has called for urgent and coordinated regional efforts to combat the growing threat of small arms trafficking in the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa region, warning that isolated actions are insufficient to address the scale of the crisis. Speaking during the 20th anniversary of the Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA) forum, Dr. Raymond Omollo, Chair of the RECSA Technical Advisory Committee, emphasized the need for collective responsibility in tackling the proliferation of illicit firearms. “No single nation can overcome this crisis alone, and every delay results in more lives lost and families displaced,” Dr. Omollo said. “We must equip ourselves with tools for rapid and effective action.” Dr. Omollo also underscored the importance of addressing the root causes of instability in the region—including armed conflict, humanitarian emergencies, and political violence—arguing that without tackling these drivers, efforts to curb arms movement will remain futile. ...

• Bashu Clan Endorsement Boosts Shilunji’s Bid as Leaders Warn Against Outsider Influence By Grace Makovu Mwende MALAVA, Kakamega County, June 10, 2025 – The race for the Malava Constituency parliamentary seat has intensified as residents and local leaders throw their weight behind Nelson Shilunji Taliti ahead of the forthcoming byelection. The seat fell vacant following the tragic death of former area MP, Malulu Injendi, whose passing sent shockwaves through the region. A Unifying Candidate Shilunji’s campaign received a major boost last week when the influential Bashu clan, one of the largest and most politically significant communities in the constituency, officially endorsed his candidature. The clan’s elders described him as a “son of the soil” with a deep understanding of the constituency’s needs. “We have scrutinized all the candidates, and Shilunji stands out as a leader who truly represents our interests,” said Mzee Joseph Wekesa, a prominent Bashu elder. “He is n...

Grace Mwende Government Spokesperson Hon. Sen. (Dr.) Isaac Mwaura has outlined key milestones achieved under the Kenya Kwanza administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), during a county tour in Mombasa for the fourth quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year. Speaking on Monday, Mwaura emphasized that the Kenya Kwanza government's core objective remains to ensure equitable political and socio-economic development across the country, with deliberate investments aimed at uplifting vulnerable groups and stimulating inclusive growth. “The Government has initiated several projects and programs targeting poverty reduction, job creation, and regional equity,” said Mwaura. Mwaura highlighted the Inua Jamii Cash Transfer Programme as a key component of social protection under BETA, supporting older persons aged 70 and above, orphans, vulnerable children, and persons living with severe disabilities. Each beneficiary receives KSh 2,000 per month, a move aimed a...

• Cosmas Mutava Calls for Better Recognition, Welfare, and Collaboration for Guards in Community-Led Security Efforts Nairobi, June 8, 2025 – The chairman of the Protective Security Industry Association (PSIA), Cosmas Mutava, has urged the government and the public to recognize the critical role played by Private Security Officers (PSOs) in Kenya’s safety infrastructure. Speaking during the launch of the Usalama Mtaani programme at August 7th Memorial Park, Mutava emphasized that the over 1.4 million PSOs stationed across homes, businesses, and public spaces are often the first responders in emergencies, yet their contributions remain underappreciated. The event, organised by the Kenya Alliance of Resident Associations (KARA), brought together security stakeholders, community leaders, and residents to champion community-led security solutions. Challenges Mutava highlighted the struggles PSOs face, including lack of recognition by state agencies, mistrust from communiti...

Willstone Homes Limited has been exposed as part of a growing network of fraudulent real estate firms scamming Kenyans living abroad out of millions of shillings through fake housing projects and false promises. Kenyans in the diaspora, especially retirees and long-term workers, are being lured with glossy advertisements and videos promising modern homes in Kenya—only to later realize they’ve been conned. These schemes often involve stalled projects, nonexistent properties, or land belonging to third parties. One such victim, Mr. Julius Njeru, a Kenyan based in the U.S., was drawn into purchasing a KSh 8.95 million home at Manna Residence, a project marketed by Willstone Homes on Kenya Diaspora Media, a YouTube channel run by Jeremy Damaris. Convinced by the promotion, Mr. Njeru paid a KSh 1 million deposit in July 2022, with a payment plan for the remaining balance. But by November 2022, no construction had begun. Further investigation revealed the land being sold actually...

Certified Homes Limited is once again in the spotlight after three Kenyan women living in the United States accused the company of defrauding them through a failed off-plan housing scheme targeting diaspora investors. The real estate firm, owned by Mr. Peter Nyaga, is facing allegations of misrepresentation, incomplete construction, and misleading land tenure claims. The complainants — Elizabeth Wanguri, Caroline Ongito, and Eddah Wanjiku — say they were lured into the project through Facebook in early 2022. Marketed as an exclusive gated community named Kenyan Women in the USA Gardens (KWITU), the project promised custom-designed three-bedroom houses for diaspora clients. In April 2022, each woman paid KSh 5.5 million to Certified Homes. The agreement indicated that the development was on freehold land, and the homes would be completed within one month after full payment. However, over two years later, construction remains incomplete, and the buyers discovered the land was...

A damning exposé has revealed how four real estate firms—Willstone Homes, Mahiga Homes, Banda Homes, and Certified Homes—have been at the center of elaborate housing scams targeting Kenyans in the diaspora, resulting in the loss of hundreds of millions of shillings. The investigation uncovers a troubling trend in which key individuals behind previously disgraced firms resurface in new companies, perpetuating the same fraudulent tactics—marketing non-existent housing projects and collecting payments for undelivered homes. One such case involves Mr. Julius Njeru, a U.S.-based Kenyan, who paid KSh 1 million in July 2022 as a down payment for a three-bedroom bungalow under Manna Residence, a project by Willstone Homes. The property was promoted via Kenya Diaspora Media, a YouTube channel run by Jeremy Damaris, also based in the U.S. Months later, Mr. Njeru discovered that no construction had begun, and investigations revealed that the land belonged to Majik Consultancy Limited,...