On the morning of April 22, 1997, Samuel Kamunyu (S.K.) Ndungi, a prominent criminal defense attorney, walked into the offices of an insurance company in Nairobi. Ndungi explained that he wanted to take out a Sh2 million education policy that also incorporated accident claims. He further explained that he wanted the insurance because he was deeply convinced he was about to be killed.
Knowing he was a marked man, Ndungi wanted to secure a financial safety net for his family before it was too late. The policy he targeted was an education policy that also incorporated accident claims. Because he knew he was facing violent retaliation for exposing police corruption in the Standard Chartered heist, he chose a policy that would guarantee his children's schooling fees were paid if he met a sudden, fatal end.
The rush for the insurance policy wasn't an isolated incident. Just two weeks prior to April 22, 1997 , Ndungi had called an urgent family gathering. During this meeting, he explicitly discussed his inheritance and asset distribution with his family, and pointed out to his family that a white saloon vehicle kept on trailing him, told them that, "These people are up to no good."
That evening April 22, 1997, as was his usual custom to stop by the fast-food restaurants near Jeevanjee Gardens on Moi Avenue, he parked his navy blue Volvo 240 GL and went to get food. As he returned and was about to get back into his car, a lone gunman, believed to be operating from a getaway car, reported by witnesses as either a white Toyota Corolla or a Nissan Sunny), intercepted him
According to eyewitness accounts from watchmen in the area, Ndungi tried to retreat and raised his arms in surrender. Unmoved, the gunman pumped eight bullets into him: three into his chest, three into his stomach, and two into his right arm. Ndungi fell and died beside his car on the tarmac. The gunfire was so intense that it completely shattered his Volvo's rear windscreen.
A friend of Ndungi’s, a businessman John Kuria, who was parked nearby, heard the gunfire and rushed to help. The assassin turned the weapon on Kuria, shooting him through the chin. Kuria managed to escape as his wife drove him to Nairobi Hospital. He survived the ordeal.
The shooting of Ndungi, the prominent and bold criminal lawyer known for defending high-profile suspects and hardcore criminals, happened just two days before a bank theft case was scheduled for a court mention. Ndungi had taken up the case to represent seven suspects linked to the infamous February, 1996 Moi Avenue Standard Chartered Bank heist in Nairobi.
The heist, which is described as one of the smoothest, most calculated bank robberies in Kenyan history, happened on the morning of February 18, 1997. Criminals stole a record-breaking Sh96 million from the Moi Avenue branch of Standard Chartered Bank without firing a single shot, setting off an alarm, or harming anyone.
The gang struck early in the morning at around 7:30 AM, just as the bank was preparing to open for the day's operations. The stolen cash included roughly Sh40 million in local currency, alongside $90,000 and various foreign notes meant to service the day's customers.
Six armed gangsters arrived at the Standard Chartered Bank Moi Avenue branch. Instead of smashing their way in, they calmly unlocked the staff entrance door, heavily implying they had inside help or perfect intelligence.
Once inside, they calmly held the employees at gunpoint and ordered them to lie face down on the floor. Media reports later noted that the thugs appeared incredibly relaxed, polite, and completely unhurried as they worked.
They swiftly marched into the strong room, swept all the cash into transit bags, and emptied the vault within just five minutes. The gang walked out of the building and loaded the money into a waiting getaway car parked nearby on Moi Avenue, melting seamlessly into the Nairobi morning traffic.
At Kisumu State Lodge on 30 July 1998, Raila Odinga shares one of his characteristic parables, offering a glimpse of the storytelling tradition through which he often conveyed his thoughts
This is the old fool Francis Atwoli who purports to be a Luhya elder who wants to advise people on political positions. A FOOLISH mzee who can't be a role model!
It is difficult to tell which one is worse, between employment letters being distributed only to regime-friendly MPs at State House, and those MPs subsequently selling them to wananchi.
But by saying this publicly, @HonWetangula has reminded the nation why @WilliamsRuto will never get the SOFTWARE of governance right.
Employment is now a factor of cronyism, favouritism and nepotism, all micromanaged by Ruto from State House.
What then is the work of state agencies like TSC, which are mandated to advertise and fill these vacancies?
Do they simply receive lists from State House?
Moses Wetang’ula admits on live camera that TSC letters are being issued at State House to MPs who later sell them.
In Kenya, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is the sole constitutional authority legally mandated to hire, employ, and manage teachers for all public primary, junior, and secondary schools."
Because her dad loved Rhumba, she requested for a Rhumba song & danced around his coffin during his burial service as mourners watched in disbelief 🫢🫢