Wars turn nasty at ASK head office as camps emerge – Weekly Citizen

Massive fallout has erupted at the Agricultural Society of Kenya with top leadership embroiled in a vicious war threatening to bring down the vital government agency whose patron is Uhuru Kenyatta. Currently three camps have emerged each trying to undo each other. The camps are one being referred to as looters, the neutrals and of hardliners calling for change in management.

Muthoka

Sources familiar with the raging infighting at the ASK confided in Weekly Citizen that the perennial fights among leaders at the agency are chiefly inspired by a struggle to control hefty bank accounts at the body which boasts to be the largest and most active royal agricultural society of the Commonwealth member in East Africa.

The ASK was founded in Nairobi in 1901 when Kenya was still a British colony and held its first show in 1902 in line with its core business which is staging agricultural exhibitions and trade fairs.

However current happenings at the agency have left its image badly bruised. A highlight of the ugly struggle within the agency was exposed by a recent court decision to block elections of the new officials.

The High Court swang into action after deputy chairperson Charles Owelle protested a move to bar him from the race on allegations that his wife was caught redhanded badmouthing the agency’s top brass managers during the annual international trade fair. Weekly Citizen has information, ASK is losing millions in skewed tender award and sex exploitation of junior staff by managers while attending ASK national shows across the country, unaccounted imprests by top managers and misuse of donor funds.

Owele

Lady Justice Pauline Nyamweya suspended the polls that had been scheduled for last week following an application by Owelle who claimed he had been locked out unfairly.

In what has been described as explosively offensive remarks towards her targets, the woman at the centre of the drama raised a red flag over plot to favour one of the candidates for national chair’s person in a predetermined boardroom calculation that was aimed at frustrating other contestants including her husband.

A furious Mrs Owelle had claimed that crafty managers hellbent to ensure that elections favoured their individual interests had mischievously tampered with the ASK constitution to accommodate their choice.

Drama started after Owelle questioned the rational of a suspicious meeting convened on October 25 2019 bringing together staff and finance committee where some members diverted from the agenda of the day and instead turned the forum into digesting earlier scathing remarks made by Mrs Owelle towards the managers.

The stormy meeting tasked Owelle to rein in his wife and compel her to make an official communication to the SFC with her version of events regarding her acidic comments.

However, Owelle’s tormentors practised caution and avoided making public the purported comments during disciplinary process.

He maintained that it was an early sign of foul play when the names of two members of the staff and finance committee, Kennedy Omanga and Jack Tuwei were given a green light to participate in ASK chairman’s post yet they were the same people who had actively involved in discussing her wife during the stormy meeting.

In court papers, Owelle has sued Annasbelle Kirinya (chairperson), Batram Muthoka (CEO), James Njenga, Steward Madzayo, Alice Kyala, Benson Kaaria, Achia Echakara and Jeremia Kianga. Kirinya runs ASK like a personal property with Muthoka accused of looting millions as the CEO in white elephant projects involving renovations of Jamhuri show ground. Muthoka’s office is also linked to illicit love affairs.

Annabel

Weekly Citizen has a list of companies the CEO has given lucrative tenders without going competitive process some owned by relatives, friends and multiple lovers.

Constant wrangling at the public body is said to be a matter of grave concern to Uhuru now feeling embarrassed as the patron of agency on fire triggered by leadership competition.

It is still fresh in the minds of many dramatic events that followed when Uhuru gifted the agency millions for facelifting but instead it only led to a deadly boardroom rift.

Uhuru, as the patron of the society, gave out the money in 2017 with instructions that it be used to refurbish the Jamhuri show ground exhibition area

The money was accredited to ASK account in August 2018 but it was later reported that powerful individuals at the society took control of the cash sparking a rift between board members.

Muthoka and legal consultant Omanga allegedly took control of the money and sidelined all other organs of the ASK. Muthoka wants Omanga to be chairman to loot more. Omanga, whose legal papers from India are said to be questionable is a son of the late cabinet minister Andrew Omanga. He is associated with current wars at Kenya Tea Development Authority.Aware he could not pass Kenya School of Law examination due to his performance in India where his father allegedly bought him a degree. Omanga prefers being a legal adviser for institutions.

Apart from jointly managing the cash, there were also claims that they dictated how contracts were awarded.

Board members were allegedly excluded from all decisions and only learnt about tenders after money had been paid out by the duo.

There are also claims that employees who do not align with the duo are summarily dismissed as punishment. Kirinya’s relationship with Omanga has left tongues wagging.

Madoka

Vice patrons are Maina Wanjigi, JJ Mageria, PG Muriithi, Anne Wambaa, NK Tum, RW Walukano, Duncan Mwangi, Marsden Madoka, Shuweka Rashid, Eric Baliat, Omurembe Iyadi,

Mohammed Jaffer, Ali Islam Ali, J Kiangoi, Sam Gitonga, David Stower, Timothy Omato, Zipporah Kittony, GK Nzuva, Ken Omanga and Augustine Cheruiyot,

The trustees are James Njenga, Senator Justice Stewart Madzayo, Hellen Kombo, Alice Kalya, Benson Kaaria, Achiya Echakara, Rhoda Ahonobadha and Jeremiah Kianga. Council members are Joseph Mugo, Naima Amir, Priscila Muia, Benedict Kijuu, Teurie Van Helden,

Florence Nasila, Levi Mukhweso, Emily Ouya and David Lewa.