Updated: End of an era for Machakos traders as Kyuli dies

Adieu, Nason Kyuli Mbuvi

By Anchor Staff Writer 

The last of towering Machakos businessmen,Mzee Nason Kyuli Mbuvi has rested.He rested peacefully on May 3, 2024 at 11.00 pm.

     Nason Kyuli Mbuvi 1930-2024

He of the Safari Lodge fame and fabled Elliots and Broadways Bread distributor was accorded a warm and befitting final farewell at his home in Emale where he was laid to rest on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.

He departs many years after his business peers- Mutisya Kinothya, Musau Mwania, Muteti Kitolo(Kiembeni), DL Mulila, Karsandas Tulshindas, Harillal Nandram(Ila), Philip Kivuvo, David Iseka(Kalimani), Jones Maingi, Philip Nzuki, Juma Mutunga, Samuel Musembi(Nzambani), Peter Maundu Munuka, Aaron Makau(T.Tot),Paul Mbole, Gideon Mbole,  Gideon Kitulu, Tom Suvi, Kimatu Mbuvi, John Kiilu Mosa, Stone Kathuli Muinde,Joel Mbithi, Muindi Kitolo, Abraham Yavi Katuba(Katuba's), and Peter Mulei just to mention afew who have predeceased him. There certainly are one or two other traders who are still alive but are much younger than Mzee Kyuli, such as Jonah Malika and Samuel Kamwele. 

The family of Mzee Kyuli eulogised him thus;

"Nason Kyuli was born on or around 1930 at Muthwani, Yandue location, Lower Mbooni in what was then Machakos District.  He was the 4th born child to the late Mbuvi Ngui and the late Malinda Mbuvi. His siblings were the late Kavulu, the late Mativo, the late Mutua, and Kavithi. His step brothers are Mutungi, Mutune and Nzioki.

Early life

Nason was brought up within the larger Mbaa Ngui family that eventually settled in the beautiful land now known as Imale village. Later, his father, Mbuvi Ngui, moved temporarily to Kyawango, Mwala but Nason came back and lived with his uncle Mwania Ngui. His father came back and settled in this village (Kiliku) just about 500 meters from this place.

Work

Nason was enrolled in the Army where he learned to drive. Upon finishing his contracted service in the early 1950s, he returned home and joined his cousin, Musau Mwania, in business. He served as a driver and shortly moved on to greener pastures still as a driver at Akamba Bus Service where his cousin was a director.

While serving at Akamba Bus, his business mindset lead him to team up with his brothers, the late Mutua and Kavithi to set up a shop at Tawa Market which was run by the two brothers as he continued his driving career.

Nason later joined his brothers in running the business which quickly expanded with the late Mutua moving to Tala Market and Kavithi to Kangundo Market. Kavithi is still in Kangundo todate.

As the country attained independence, Nason,  Musau and the lthau family grabbed the new opportunities which were coming up at Machakos town.

 First Africans 

 They started and were among the first Africans to operate wholesale and distributorship shops in the town. Nason managed the enterprise until 1970 when he went solo after acquiring his own business premises in what is now lkuuni Hotel in Machakos Town.

He also started a Hotel (Safari Lodge) and his signature business in bread distributorship. He started distributing the famous Elliots brand and later became a leading distributor of Broadways Bread to this day.

Family

Nason was married to the late Beatrice Muvya, Ruth Syomwai and the late Elizabeth Kalekye.

Together they were blessed with 12 children namely Kimatu, Syombua, Muthike, Malinda, Mutheu, late Musyoka, Jogoo, late Mukonyo, Wavinya, Kaluki, Juma, and late Nora. He was father in-law to Miriam, Terry, Zipporah, Miriam, late Josphat Kakuli, Mwanzia Kawasya, late Simon, late Nzioki Mulei, late Christine. 

Nason was also father to Mutuku, Wambua, Alex, Mbula, Mbinya and Mulei.

He was further blessed with 36 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, and 1(one) great, great grandchild.

Christian Life

Nason was a devout Christian and a faithful member of the African Brotherhood Church(ABC). He and his family participated in church affairs both  at home and in Machakos.

Nason, though well endowed was led of God to live a simple life. A man, not of many words but a very good listener. His was a Christ-led character that earned him lots of friends of all walks of life who he respected and had time for.

Illness and demise

Mzee Kyuli enjoyed a robust health till old age caught up with him.He started enduring age related complications about 9 years ago.He battled with old age heath conditions for all that period under the care of his son Mutyango (Juma) till his demise.

Nau, we loved you and we will continue to love you. We know you have rested in the Lord and we are certain that we will meet you again in heaven. You will be dearly missed by all.

Psalms 147: 3. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."

 Juma's outstanding care of his father drew him accolades from family members.The family also thanked the various doctors who tirelessly attended to him during his illness. The family also appreciated Gregory Kyalo and David Mbuvi who were his caregivers. 

Editor's Note:

The list in this story is not exhaustive.The Anchor is open to reader comments  or write-ups that could enrich this historical perspective of these unsung departed heroes. 

Miyienda, Muindi quit Ndeti's government, push toll to 8

By Martin Masai

TOP members of Governor Wavinya Ndeti's Government have resigned in the past one week, bringing to 8 the number of suofficials to exit.

Joyce Mwilali Muindi, the minister Wavinya dropped unceremoniously after a fight in her office shot a resignation letter to the governor,formally relieving herself of the turmoil existing in the cabinet. 

The other resignation is that of Dr Wycliffe Miyienda, a former personal doctor of Governor Ndeti. Dr. Miyienda,

a medic in his own right and previously seen as untouchable, was removed last week as  Chief Officer for Medical Services to Chief Officer- Roads. After handing over to his successor, Mr  Justus Kasivu he headed to the County Secretary's office to deliver his resignation letter, which is largely seen as a rebuff to the governor and a clear indicator of unrelenting turmoil in the 19- month government.  A confidant of the former Marter Hospital consultant told The Anchor that the medic was baffled as to what he would be doing as Roads Chief Offficer after spending much of his life treating people.

Ms Muindi's last posting was as Minister for Devolution. She was left hanging after Wavinya effected a reshuffle that moved  former Water Minister Catherine Mutanu to be Substantive Agriculture minister but left her acting in the water ministry!

Ms Muindi was replaced by Dr Joel Nzomo, who previously held the Agriculture docket. No reason was given by Governor Ndeti. Her last public engagement was spectating in a fight between Majority Leader Nicholas Nzioka and Chief Officer Col (Rtd) Wathi outside her DU offices.

They join the ranks of ministers- Sky Muasya who resigned and Philip Kilonzo was was dismissed. Other COs who have quit include Mr Paul Wambua(Urban Development),Daniel Mule( Public Communications), the currently suspended Ms Maureen Mwende( Education) and Joseph Munyao- the man who used fake UoN degree to win a job in the County. 

As we went to press, the  fate of  Maureen Mwende   remained unknown after a reshuffle that left her out of government, again without any explanation. 

Sources say her fault was failure to deliver a 10 per cent cut to her superiors from a Kes 20m tender she had allocated the previous day. It is alleged that all allocated tenders accrue a 10 percent cut once a letter of award is delivered. Proceeds are then delivered at a specified place and recorded for 'accountability'

The Anchor will name the players in the unfolding saga after comments are obtained from them.

The reshuffle last week was Governor Ndeti 's second in as many weeks- reorganisation of  government,  just hours after the previous first one.

The governor swapped Chief Officer Medical Services Dr Wycliffe Miyienda with Roads and Transport Chief Officer Mr Justus Kasivu.

No reason was given for the movements that are seen as disjointed as they are haphazard.

In the same day that Wavinya appointed Mr Kasivu as Acting Chief Officer for Climate Change, she transferred him from  Roads and made him Chief Officer, Medical Services.

 The new movements come as Ms Mwende  awaits a response to a Show Cause Letter that accused her of missing critical meetings and failing to show leadership as Chief Officer for Education. 

But the last list on record that is held by The Anchor lists her as an outgoing ECDE Chief Officer.

So, was she the education or ECDE chief officer? Or was she both?

So what exactly led to her suspension?

How many meetings did she miss, and where were these meetings?

Sources say Minister's spend the Monday preceding her Tuesday suspension at the Governor's Kinanie home.

The governor spent the day holding personalised meetings with each minister and respective chief officers.

Her turn,together with her minister, was moved to the next day. Both left Kinanie at night.

Mwende drove herself to Machakos but hit a motorbike at Kyumbi. She allegedly informed her minister, Dr Consolata, that she was required to report to the traffic police at Kyumbi, so she could not report to the governor's homestead on Tuesday. 

The next day, she spent the day resolving the traffic matter. Little did she know her job was on the line at Kinanie.

What's going on in Governor Wavinya Ndeti's government?

County waives Kes. 48b arrears

 

 ln Numbers
Penalties Kes. 47.B
Arrears  Kes. 436M
The Parcels- 13,000

By Martin Masai, Editor/ Publisher

The Machakos County Government is waiving Kes 48 billion being arrears for land rates and penalties since 2008.

Governor Ndeti

The waiver was approved by the County Assembly of Machakos after a report was tabled by the Chairperson of the Finance and Revenue Collection Committee of the Assembly Mr. Francis Kyalo Kitaka   who is the MCA for Ndalani Ward.

The report followed a request for waiver by the County Finance Minister Onesmus Kuyu. The minister said the waiver was part of the Wavinya Ndeti administration’s strategy to hit its revenue target of Kes. 4 billion “The overall aim of the waiver is to raise more revenue for the County and help the County Government meet its target of Kes. 4.0 billion for the FY 2023/2024.” Said Mr Kuyu in his petition to the assembly.

Machakos County has land rates arrears and penalties totaling to Kes. 48 billion as at January, 2024, comprising of land rate arrears of Kes. 436 million and penalties of Kes. 47.564 billion.

“For, clarity, the CECM was intending to waive the interests and penalties amounting to Kes. 47,564,000,000 on outstanding land rates and also waive fees charged for registration of plots / parcels of land,” said a document seen by The Anchor. The waiver period was scheduled to run for 1 month from May 15(today) to June 14, 2024 for penalties and interests on land rates including fees charged for registration of plots / parcels of land, though the actual dates had not been firmed up by the time of going to press.

However, a list of the defaulters whose arrears are to be waived as not provided to the assembly. The County Executive Committee Member informed the Committee that, the number of plots is based on the information gathered from the Nairobi and Machakos land registries. The parcels are owned by residents and non-residents of Machakos County and some have multiple of parcels of land. The Anchor was informed that the list is composed of the high and mighty in the county, including politicians, lawyers, judges, MCAs, teachers and influential business people.

The waiver covers 13,000 parcels of land whose bio data is captured that is part of the 55,000 parcels registered in the County. The registration has been through persons who have volunteered to register with the revenue system but the information is not complete. This is the reason why the Department was issuing was waiver to encourage registration. There is an estimated 2million parcels of land in the county.

Some of these arrears date back to 2008 when the last valuation roll was done. The Department is in the process of finalizing another valuation roll and spatial planning where all land records will be digitized.

While an explanation was not provided why a government in dire need to revenue had accumulated the staggering arrears, Kuyu told the assembly committee that this was in spite of the fact clearance of land rates was a mandatory requirement for all land transactions such as land transfers and sub-divisions to obtain a clearance certificate before approval.

The assembly was informed though, that the responsible officers at lands had been put on notice to comply with this requirement and the directive was being implemented. Public participation of the Waiver was carried out by the Department of Finance, Economic Planning, Revenue Management and ICT- using Social Media instruments of the county including the website but there were zero responses. It puts to question whether can be claimed that there was real public participation.

The Committee observed that reasons stated for the waiver and the jurisdiction are within the mandate of the County Government.

The committee insisted on the necessity for the County Government to enforce payment of land rates and registration of plots / parcels of land at the point of exchange or trade of the properties to significantly reduce these arrears.

The waiver aims at encouraging those who have arrears on land rates to pay and those who have not registered their plots and parcels of land to do so. The County aims also to increase its revenue collection through the activity. The waiver is a two – pronged strategy to raise revenue, coupled with a call upon those who have not yet obtained certificates of occupation or the necessary approvals for their buildings or construction projects to do so during the period of the proposed waiver.

The waiver is the first to be issues under Governor Wavinya Ndeti. The County has not previously issued a waiver on penalties on irregular and informal developments before, leading to accumulation of large debts on property owners who continue to default on payments.

However, the initiative may be seen as a double edged sword. While the county plans to use to waiver to encourage payment of land rates arrears that land owners have been unable to pay due to high penalties and interests accrued, it will also bring more land owners to the full view of the county revenue framework. True, the waiver encourages land owners in Machakos to register. But these details will enable the authority to capture ownership details for future billing and levy of land rates and other property charges.

The waiver will be applicable to the entire area of jurisdiction of Machakos County Government. The records on lands / plot registration show that there are over two (2) million parcels of land in Machakos County. Out of these only 13,000 parcels of land have their bio data captured by the County Government while 55,000 parcels of land are registered.

The proposed waiver calls upon owners of the unregistered parcels of land to register their parcels with an offer of waiver of plot registration fee as a motivation. This exercise of plot registration will help the County enlarge its data base records of land owners as well as help update the existing records and make easy for the County to bill in the future.

What is most worrying for the county is that the arrears, penalties and interests for property owners have accrued above the value of the properties.

Wavinya's second shuffle in a day

By Anchor Reporter 

Governor Wavinya Ndeti today executed a second reorganisation of her government,  just hours after the first one.

It was her third action in 'reorganising' her government within two months, a clear indication of  a stability deficit in the 19- month old administration.

In the latest move, the governor swapped Chief Officer Medical Services Dr Wycliffe Miyienda with Roads and Transport Chief Officer Mr Justus Kasivu.

No reason was given for the movements that are seen as disjointed and haphazard.

Earlier in the day,Wavinya appointed Mr Kasivu as Acting Chief Officer for Climate Change in changes that affected four other Chief Officers, leaving one- Maureen Mwende who was suspended for 10 some two weeks ago- jobless.

The Anchor has established that the new movements come as Ms Mwende was awaiting a response to a Show Cause Letter that accused her of missing critical meetings and failing to show leadership as Chief Officer for Education. 

But yesterday's list of a ' reorganised government listed her as outgoing ECDE Chief Officer.

So what exactly led to her suspension?

How many meetings did she miss, and where were these meetings?

So was she the Education or ECDE chief officer? 

 The Anchor is piecing together an explosive account of the actual reasons for her suspension.

Read the earlier story elsewhere in this online edition of The Anchor 

Stay Anchored!

Wavinya shuffles Gvt- Again!

By Anchor Reporter 

Governor Wavinya Ndeti today shuffled her government for the second successive month,sending a signal about the stability of her administration.

                   Mr Senga

In the deployments that affect five chief officers,Wavinya left out suspended chief officer for Education Maureen Mwende  from the new postings that dislocated long serving Revenue Chief Officer Mike Jace Senga to Citizen Engagement.

           Ms. Mutunga

In April, Wavinya quietly left out Devolutuion Minister Esther Mwikali Muindi in a restructuring that saw Joel Nzomo made DU minister and Water Minister Catherine Mutanu  appointed substantive Agriculture CECM to replace Dr. Nzomo. She remained acting Water Minister. 

Today, Wavinya, in a dispatch from County Secretary Dr Muya Ndambuki moved Ziporrah Mutunga to Revenue from Climate Change, made Transport, Roads Chief Officer Justus Kasivu acting CO for Climate change, moved Bernice Kioko from Tourism to ECDE. The Governor moved Col. Gideon Wathi Mbithi for the second time in as many months- this time landing at Tourism from the Innovation and Industrialisation docket where he was moved to after a physical encounter with Majority Leader Nicholas Nzioka at the DU offices. The retired naval officer was previously Chief Officer for Inspectorate and Emergencies.

Also moved was  Bruce Isika, who replaced Col. Wathi at Innovation department. 

Though the changes are effective immediately,

Dr. Ndambuki ordered the affected officials to hand over and move by Monday, May 13.

The letter left confusion lingering as to who is the CO education. While Maureen was the substantive Education CO, two weeks ago, today's list  shows she is moving out as ECDE Chief Officer.

Observers see the changes as a big win for Finance Minister Onesmas Kuyu, following the edging out of Mr Senga. Kuyu initially and personally transferred Mr Senga last year in a mass transfer that he initiated targeting all revenue officers. It is now seen as victory for Masinga sub county where Kuyu and Ms Mutunga come from. While Mutunga hails from Kisaani village,Kaewa in Kivaa ward,Masinga Subcounty

Kuyu hails from Kithyoko,Kivaa ward,Masinga Subcounty. 

It is unbelievable how Wavinya wants to manage her administration by keeping such a key docket in the hands of people from same area.

Observers see her future role as that of a stooge- completely an alien to revenue collection approaches and management. The

actual work, the observers believe, will likely shift to ICT and infrastructure  office and other officials who have been baying for Senga's exit since Wavinya retained him from Governor Alfred Mutua's government. So revenue bleeding and shortfalls will escalate,rather than abate.