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Broke, jobless graduates and Sh90bn Helb default

Half of former university students who graduated over the past five years have defaulted on their Higher Education Loans Board (Helb) debts, reflecting the impact of the growing youth unemployment in Kenya.

Data from the Auditor-General shows that 281,459 former students who graduated after 2000 have defaulted on Sh39.63 billion or 44 percent of Helb’s Sh89.9 billion bad student loans.

The inability to recover the billions lent to the former students has weakened Helb’s ability to support university freshmen and continuing students, prompting the agency to cut students’ loan allocation.

This emerges in a period when corporate Kenya has struggled to create quality employment for thousands of graduates leaving universities and colleges annually.

The economy created 75,000 formal jobs in 2024, compared to 122,900 a year earlier, with the drop another low since the Covid-19 economic hardships, when 185,800 jobs were lost in 2020. Ninety percent of the 782,300 new jobs were in the informal sector.

Helb has found it increasingly difficult to track and recover outstanding student loans from graduates eking out a living in the informal sector, consultancy and self-employment.

This underlines the difficulty in securing work for the thousands of university graduates joining the job market annually.

About 191,766 former students who graduated between 2015 and 2020 have defaulted on student loans worth Sh33.43 billion.

This makes the decade to 2025 the worst for Helb loan recoveries and job seekers, with 88 percent of the students’ loan defaulters or 473,125 debtors.

The Auditor-General’s report on Helb said a review of documents and interviews with the fund’s management revealed critical challenges facing the revolving fund model, including the job crisis.

‘Loan repayment burden due to high unemployment and underemployment rates makes it challenging for graduates to repay their loans, increasing default rates and threatening the sustainability of the revolving fund,’ said the audit.

Helb is still owed Sh2.39 billion by former students who graduated over 30 years ago.

The majority of the defaulters have been reported to credit reference bureaus (CRBs) for delayed or late payments.

Low credit scores can prevent people from tapping fresh loans and push them into pricier, riskier debt for cars, emergency cash and other everyday needs.

Helb is modelled as a revolving fund where beneficiaries of its loans pay back to support a fresh group of students.

However, this has not been seamless as the growing number of loan defaulters has weakened the agency’s ability to support the university and college students.

More than 163,000 students in public universities and technical and vocational education training (TVET) colleges were locked out of State loans in the financial year ending June 2025 after the Helb ran out of cash, setting them up for challenges arising from alternative funds for tuition, accommodation and upkeep.

The increased enrolment in higher education institutions has raised pressure on Helb’s funding, which has not kept pace with the growing number of candidates making the minimum university admission grade of C+ and above.

The majority of those who apply for Helb loans come from low-income households and rely on the financial support to cover tuition, accommodation and upkeep.

‘In the circumstances, the high default rate may affect the sustainability of the students’ loans fund which may in turn limit loans availability to students in the future,’ warns the Auditor-General.

Data from the Commission for University Education shows 123,928 students graduated from universities in 2024, up from 99,829 a year earlier, way above the number of formal jobs that were created.

Informal employment

The number of job seekers surges when graduates from technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions are taken into account.

The shift towards informal employment complicates loan recovery efforts for Helb, which mainly relies on employer-based deductions to enforce repayments.

The check-off system works well in the formal sector where employers face penalties for not deducting Helb loans.

However, in informal employment, repayment depends on the goodwill of borrowers.

Helb reckons that as it expands its lending base, the risk of default becomes ‘more pronounced,’ especially among self-sponsored and informal-sector borrowers.

Helb loan repayment begins one year after completion of studies. The loan is repayable over a maximum of 10 years at an annual interest rate of four percent.

Beneficiaries are penalised up to Sh5,000 for each month that the loan remains unpaid after falling due and referred to the credit reference bureaus (CRBs).

Hardcore defaulters

The board said last year 83,571 hardcore defaulters were referred to the CRBs and are also being pursued by debt collectors. Helb says it closed June 2025 with a repayment rate of 68.6 percent, leaving it with a non-performing loans rate of 31.4 percent-more than twice the 15.4 percent default rate in Kenya’s banking industry at the end of March this year.

The performance has left Helb heavily dependent on the government.

Out of Sh40 billion revenue in the review period, Sh31.58 billion came from the Exchequer as Sh5.22 billion was received from loan recoveries and Sh605.5 million from external mobilisation.

‘Maintaining healthy liquidity levels is essential for the uninterrupted delivery of Helb’s mandate. In the context of constrained Exchequer support due to growing funding demands, liquidity risk is now a top-tier concern,’ said the board.

Helb said matured loans due for recovery stood at Sh110.62 billion from 993,888 beneficiaries at the end of June 2025. Loans yet to mature were Sh73.48 billion in the hands of 769,303 loanees, while cleared accounts were Sh31.43 billion from 253,743 loanees.

Recoveries during the year were Sh5.2 billion.

‘The financial year 2024/2025 operations were impacted by economic shocks such as inflation, high unemployment etc. [which] undermined recovery,’ said Helb.

Long-stay visas for condo buyers in Phuket clarified

Immigration authorities and real estate executives held a briefing on Tuesday to clarify the new long-stay visa programme for foreign real estate investors, which aims to attract high-potential buyers and support economic activity in Thailand’s property sector.

One-year renewable visas are now available for foreigners who purchase condominiums valued at 3 million baht or more, or rent housing at a minimum of 85,000 baht per month.

The programme has been in place since October 2025 but there have been some initial difficulties as both applicants and officials are learning how the system works in practice, acknowledged Pol Col Khemmachat Wattanaphakesem, superintendent of the Phuket Immigration office.

Phuket tourism operators have spoken out against the programme, saying the 3-million-baht threshold is far too low and could attract ‘non-quality’ visitors who may engage in illegal activities, as well as pushing up property prices, making housing less affordable for local residents.

They also called for strict enforcement to prevent people from exploiting loopholes to conduct illegal activities or do business without permits. Some might also buy several condo units and rent them out to short-stay tourists, they warned.

Speaking at a briefing held by the real estate firm Ayana Phuket in cooperation with Thailand Longstay Company, Pol Col Khemmachat said the visa offers three main investment options.

The first requires purchasing a condominium unit with a value of at least 3 million baht, supported by a valid sales contract and ownership documentation.

Purchases must be made from Thai developers and comply with ownership rules, which stipulate that foreigners cannot hold more than 49% of the ownership quota in any condominium development.

The second option allows for the leasing of a condominium or house at a monthly rate of 85,000 baht, with advance payments required for visa applications and subsequent long-term residency approval.

The third option involves the three-year lease of a house or apartment valued at least 3.06 million baht, with contracts and proof of payment required for visa consideration.

Pol Col Khemmachat said applications must be processed through authorised agents approved by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), with documents verified before they are submitted to immigration offices in provinces where the properties are located.

Piyapat Suban Na Ayudhya, chief executive officer of Thailand Longstay Company, said the programme is part of an effort to address an oversupply of more than 280,000 units in the property market.

The visa is renewable annually and allows holders to remain in Thailand as long as ownership or qualifying lease conditions are maintained, she said, adding that applicants must undergo screening through the Department of Land and additional verification before submission.

She stressed that not all applicants will qualify under the programme’s criteria, and that visa holders are required to report to immigration every 90 days. Visas can be revoked if holders are found to be involved in illegal activities.

Ms Piyapat said foreign buyers contribute to the economy through taxes, property transfers and domestic spending. Key markets include Taiwan and Singapore, particularly in Bangkok where many foreign families purchase property for long-term stays while children attend international schools.

Kornthip Riankrai, managing director of Ayana Phuket, said the briefing aimed to build confidence among buyers, particularly from Russia and Ukraine, and support long-term residence in Phuket.

Why Brussels speaks with two voices on Azerbaijan [OPINION]

Wednesday, April 16th, was a busy day in Brussels. One room saw discussions between a high-level delegation from Azerbaijan and representatives of the European External Action Service in connection with negotiating a new partnership agreement with Azerbaijan. Another room saw a vote on resolutions by Belgian and Dutch parliaments to insist on the immediate release of the Armenian prisoners held by Azerbaijan and withdrawal from Armenia. Four days after this incident, Azerbaijan called in the ambassadors of Belgium and the Netherlands to its capital, Baku. This was not surprising. It was, to say the least, an interesting time for this kind of activity.

The events of April 16 are by no means an exception. This is what the typical functioning of the European foreign policy vis-a-vis Azerbaijan looks like. The strategy of engagement and criticism at the same time, both seemingly unaware of, or at least indifferent to, each other’s existence. While Europe’s executive is courting Baku as a supplier of natural gas to fill the gap left by the Russian Federation, an intermediary for transit through the Middle Corridor, and a geopolitical partner in the South Caucasus which is not aligned with Russia or Iran, the European parliament occasionally, and this time in out-dated manner, reminds both itself and Baku that the September 2023 anti-terror measures was done ‘injustfyingly’.

The Belgian resolution, tabled by MP Michel de Maegd and MP Els Van Hoof, who serve as chairman and vice-chairman of the foreign affairs committee, demands the freedom of Armenian POWs, the repatriation of the Armenian population of Karabakh under international security guarantees, and the retreat of Azerbaijani troops to their positions prior to May 2021. The Dutch resolution, tabled by MP Don Seder, is largely in the same vein and also briefly addresses the recognition of the Armenian genocide, an evergreen topic which Azerbaijan does not hesitate to conflate with the issue of Karabakh in its entirety. Neither resolution carries any binding force, but both were approved, albeit not without precedent.

In the statement issued by the Azerbaijani parliament, the documents were dismissed as emanating from “the unhealthy imagination and racism of traditionally anti-Azerbaijani, Islamophobic forces.” However, irrespective of what the statement is aimed at, it is unlikely that it would enhance Baku’s position. The tone of the statement issued by the foreign ministry was somewhat restrained; nonetheless, it reiterated that the documents constituted a gross violation of international law, driven by “a deep-rooted prejudice against Azerbaijan.” It should be noted that the ICJ had already refused to entertain the demands made by Armenia to free the arrested individuals. Besides, the UN Working Group had also concluded in March 2025 that their arrest was legal.

The timing of this resolution and its audacity are really contradictory; it passed on the very day of the bilateral meeting between the Speakers of the Armenian and Azerbaijani parliaments, an unremarked yet effective piece of diplomacy that the drafters of the resolution may have been unaware of or chosen to disregard. For his part, Pashinyan has, in recent weeks, already informed domestic audiences that dwelling on previous wrongs is inconsistent with a peace process the two governments have already agreed upon. The 2025 Washington Declaration on the normalization of relations is there. The TRIPP Corridor initiative is there. Normalization with Trkiye is there. Demands for the withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops back to pre-2021 lines, which bear no resemblance to political realities, do not seem likely to contribute to any of the above.

Of course, all this is not surprising, and it is not the first time. The European Union often overlooks certain realities in pursuit of a so-called ‘neutral’ position. To some extent, it’s plausible to see them advocating for human rights while neglecting a fundamental principle they’ve historically supported: the importance of internationally recognized boundaries. The claims being made are outdated and do not reflect today’s realities.

And yet. There is one significant exception regarding the peace treaty signed in Washington, and it is not the commitment of Azerbaijan to release the prisoners. In none of the declarations made at the August summit is there any mention of this issue. Should the problem of their release not be settled as part of the official peace treaty, then perhaps among the very few tools that could help solve it would be those resolutions made by European parliaments – albeit with their questionable timing, influence by diasporas, and lack of binding force. Perhaps, at the end of the day, this is a matter for the two countries to decide.

It is an argument for the difficult truth that Europe’s “right hand and left hand” problem is sometimes, in the specific and narrow case of human rights accountability, deliberate rather than merely disorganised.

Construction costs rise on tensions

Middle East tensions have pushed construction material prices to their highest level since the pandemic, increasing cost pressures on contractors, according to Kasikorn Research Center.

The centre reported that the construction material price index (CMI) and producer price index (PPI) reached new highs of 108.5 and 114.5, respectively, in March this year.

The CMI rose 2.9% from February 2026 and 2.6% from March 2025, while the PPI increased by 5.7% month-on-month and 6% year-on-year.

“The rise in construction materials, energy and transport costs, which together account for more than 50% of total costs, will further pressure contractors’ profitability and liquidity,” the report said.

Among construction materials representing more than 94% of total usage value, prices increased year-on-year, with seven of nine categories recording gains.

Steel and steel products, accounting for 24.7% of construction usage, rose 1.2%, followed by concrete products at 17.3%, which increased by 1.7%.

Other materials (15.5%), including asphalt, aluminium and sand, also saw price increases, up 8.7%; electrical and plumbing equipment (14.6%), up 3.2%; cement (12.6%), up 2.5%; tiles (6.4%), up 1.3%; and wood and wood products (3.1%), up 0.8%.

Sanitary ware (3.1%) and surface materials (2.7%) were the only categories to decline, falling by 2.5% and 1.7%, respectively.

Of Thailand’s 150,000 construction contractors, cost structures are dominated by materials at 45%, followed by operating expenses and depreciation (31%), labour (10%), machinery and equipment (7%), transport energy (6%) and utilities (1%).

The centre expects construction material prices to continue rising amid ongoing uncertainty in the Middle East, with the index projected to increase by 5-8% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, particularly for steel, concrete products and cement.

Somchai Sirilertpanich, chief executive of SET-listed contractor Syntec Construction, said the oil crisis is closely linked to manufacturing and input costs, particularly steel.

“We have invested 300 million baht to stockpile steel in advance to lock in prices and control costs,” he said.

“Contractors with strong cash flow have an advantage in purchasing materials in advance to manage costs and mitigate risks.”

Sky ICT targets green transformation of airports

SET-listed aviation tech company Sky ICT is pivoting to a green airport strategy, seizing aviation shifts amid global volatility.

Chief executive Sithidej Mayalarp said the company is repositioning its business to turn global uncertainty into opportunity, accelerating its transition towards becoming a green airport solutions provider, in line with Thailand’s net-zero emissions target by 2050.

The company has closely monitored geopolitical developments, particularly the conflict involving Iran that began to exert a more visible impact on the aviation sector in March, he added.

Airlines, which contribute over 70% of the company’s revenue, have faced mounting pressure from a surge in fuel costs, which reportedly spiked by as much as 300%, prompting some carriers to temporarily ground aircraft.

Despite the initial disruption, overall passenger traffic remained resilient, expanding by 8-15% year-on-year in March, signalling continued short-term growth momentum.

Mr Sithidej said airlines are now adjusting their route strategies to manage costs and maximise efficiency, consolidating passenger loads to achieve full-capacity flights on the most viable routes.

This shift has opened a window of opportunity for Thailand to position itself as a strategic aviation hub, particularly as transit routes through the Middle East face constraints.

“Airlines are now asking to land in Thailand without the need for proactive marketing. It is as though customers have arrived on our doorstep,” Mr Sithidej said.

He urged authorities to capitalise on the moment by introducing targeted incentives, such as temporary discounts on parking bay fees or preferential pricing for 3-6 months, to encourage airlines to establish long-term operations in Thailand.

Such measures could help convert short-term demand into sustained traffic even after geopolitical tensions ease.

Mr Sithidej added that Suvarnabhumi Airport still has ample capacity to accommodate increased passenger traffic.

The company is also optimising operational efficiency and reducing unnecessary costs across both the short and long term.

“Every baht saved translates directly into profit,” Mr Sithidej said, noting that the company’s service-oriented business model is less exposed to fuel price volatility.

Sustainable transition

Mr Sithidej said that Airports of Thailand (AOT) is in the process of developing airports under its responsibility through the implementation of green solutions.

While AOT’s Green Airport master plan is currently in the consultancy phase, implementation is expected to begin within the next 1-2 years.

Mr Sithidej believes that Sky Group’s deep-rooted relationship with AOT and the company’s workforce across airports give it a competitive edge in delivering complex, customised green tech solutions.

He said that Sky ICT is advancing initiatives under the environmental, social and governance (ESG) framework, focusing on smart airport and green airport development.

Among its key initiatives is the deployment of energy-saving solutions for airport buildings and infrastructure, aimed at reducing carbon emissions.

At the same time, it is rolling out its Smart Flow system, which uses advanced data analytics to improve operational efficiency and the passenger experience.

The system enables end-to-end tracking of passenger journeys — from drop-off points and check-in counters to security screening, immigration checkpoints, retail areas and boarding gates — allowing airport operators to optimise space utilisation and resource allocation.

In addition, its predictive analytics capabilities enable operators to anticipate congestion at specific locations and times. For example, the system can forecast peak crowding at security checkpoints during certain hours of the day or on certain days of the week, enabling the proactive deployment of staff to manage flows more effectively.

The company is also applying Lean process principles to eliminate inefficiencies.

By reducing redundant steps in passenger handling processes, from as many as 10 steps to six or seven, airports can cut operational time and manpower requirements by 20-30%, significantly enhancing overall efficiency without additional resources.

The company is promoting an investment model in which it undertakes upfront technology investment on behalf of its clients, particularly government agencies, which can then pay for it on a service basis.

This approach reduces the need for large initial capital outlays while enabling customers to better manage budget risks, and provides Sky ICT with stable recurring revenue.

UN warns development goals at risk as financing gaps widen

A new United Nations report has warned that rising global conflicts, the climate crisis, and shrinking development finance are placing severe pressure on the world’s poorest and most vulnerable countries, pushing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) further off track, AzerNEWS reports, according to the UN official website.

The Financing for Sustainable Development Report 2026 (FSDR) shows a concerning picture of stalled – and in some cases reversed – progress toward the 2030 development agenda. With just four years remaining, the report says the world is still grappling with the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, escalating geopolitical tensions, and worsening climate-related disasters.

According to the report, the global system of development financing is tightening at a critical moment. One in four developing countries still has a lower per capita income than before the pandemic. In addition, around 3.4 billion people live in countries that spend more on debt interest payments than on either healthcare or education.

Official development assistance has fallen sharply, while foreign direct investment continues to decline. At the same time, many governments in low-income countries struggle to generate sufficient tax revenues to fund essential public services.

Rising global trade tensions and increasing tariffs are further compounding economic difficulties, particularly for least developed countries that depend heavily on exports and external financing.

Despite the bleak outlook, the report points to areas of resilience. Global economic growth exceeded expectations in 2025, trade between developing countries (South-South trade) has expanded rapidly over the past two decades, and investment in renewable energy reached a record high of $2.2 trillion in 2024 – double the level invested in fossil fuels.

The authors stress, however, that progress will not be sustained without urgent action, identifying a financing gap of up to $4 trillion annually for developing countries and calling for accelerated implementation of the Sevilla Commitment (a 2025 global agreement to scale up developing financing) as the best – and only – realistic path to get back on track.

Key priorities include increasing investment, strengthening multilateral cooperation, modernising the international financial system to give developing countries a stronger voice, and building resilience to better withstand future shocks.

Without renewed global cooperation and political will, the report cautions, the promise of the SDGs – and a more equitable future – will remain out of reach.

Season of endorsements

The debate whether the endorsement of candidates for various elective positions in 2027 and other forms of promotion of preferred candidates, ahead of the party primaries and the statutorily provided timetable for campaigns, constitute election campaigns, outside the contemplation of the Electoral Act, 2026 will not abate. According to section 98(1), ‘For the purpose of this Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 150 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.’

Section 99(1) provides: ‘A candidate and his or her party shall campaign for the elections in accordance with such rules and regulations as may be determined by the Commission.’ Going through the sections of the Act, it appears the Electoral Act is lax on the prohibition of early campaigns. While there are ample provisions and penalties against campaigns within the last 24 hours to the election, there appears to be none against campaigns, earlier than the 150 days, before the election date.

With regards to 24 hours before polling day, section 98(2) provides that ‘a registered political party which through any person acting on its behalf during the 24 hours before polling day – advertise on the facilities of any broadcasting undertaking; or procures for publication or acquiesces in the publication of an advertisement in a newspaper, for the purpose of promoting or opposing a particular candidate, commits an offence under this Act and is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of N2,000,000.’

Again, Section 100(1) provides: ‘Any person, print or electronic medium that broadcasts, publishes, advertises or circulates any material for purpose of promoting or opposing a particular political party or the election of a particular candidate over the radio, television, newspaper, magazine, handbills, or any print or electronic media whatsoever called within 24 hours immediately preceding or on polling day commits an offence under this Act.’ Subsection 3(a) and (b) went ahead to provide a minimum fine of N3,000,000 and maximum fine of N5,000,000 for a body corporate offender, and a minimum fine of N3,000,000 and maximum fine of N5,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months or both, for an individual offender.

A very notable provision which is aimed at discouraging campaigns that can cause destabilization across the country, is Section 101, which provides: ‘A candidate, person or association who engages in campaigning or broadcasting based on religious, tribal, or sectional reason for the purpose of promoting or opposing a particular political party or the election of a particular candidate, commits an offence under this Act and is liable on conviction – to a minimum fine of N3,000,000 and maximum fine of N5,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 12months or both; and in the case of political party to a minimum fine of N30,000,000 and maximum fine of N50,000,000.’

The absence of strict prohibition for pre-150 days campaign may explain why the season of campaign through open endorsements is upon us. As expected, there are already controversies about who is endorsing who, and who has been endorsed by the powerful interest groups. Interestingly, some of the godfathers who have been touted to have endorsed some candidates have spoken out denying any such endorsements. As expected, all eyes are on Rivers State, where the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, appears to be sitting comfortably, astride the two major political parties in the state.

While not mentioning names, he has stated categorically that he would not make the same mistake he made again, which has been rightly referred to as his refusal to endorse Governor Siminalaya Fubara, for a second term. The godfather however warns those spending their hand earned money on the claim that he had endorsed them, to stop wasting their time, as he noted that for now, the only person he has endorsed is the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Fubara has wisely kept quiet, this time, awaiting the right time to either strike or surrender. Unfortunately, trust is like a glass, once broken, is difficult to amend. While Fubara may have betrayed Wike’s trust, before seemingly retracing his steps after President Tinubu intervened, there is no assurance that the person Wike may choose to replace Fubara will not betray him. The allure of office appears to be too tempting, for most political actors. But of course, there are still persons whose integrity is strong enough to withstand the temptation associated with high political office.

Some interests have even gone ahead to procure huge billboards, announcing their candidature for various positions, especially, the governorship elections. Some of the billboards out rightly seek the support of the people for the office the candidate will be seeking at the next general election. There have also been political rallies in several states, to promote candidates, especially for non-incumbents, who definitely need longer than 150 days to gain name recognition amongst the people.

In some states, there is eerie quietness as the lower cadre of the party awaits relevant signals from the topmost hierarchy of the party. In such states, any person who goes ahead to announce himself or herself may be accused of anti-party activity, with its consequences during the party primaries. Interestingly, the new Electoral Act made provisions for either consensus or direct primaries, as the only acceptable means to choose the candidates in the next general election. The consequence is that an unacceptable candidate amongst the majority will not emerge from the primary.

On the nomination of candidates for election, Section 84(1) provides: ‘A political party seeking to nominate candidates for election under this Act shall hold primaries for aspirants to all elective positions which shall be monitored by the Commission – the procedure for nomination of candidates by political parties for the various elective positions shall be by direct primaries or consensus.’ Section 85 bars imposition of candidates. Each party has the power to determine the guidelines for direct primaries, while under Section 87(1) the written consent and endorsement of all cleared candidates is required for a consensus candidate.

The above provision will prove a herculean task for persons or parties used to the imposition of candidates. For as provided, unless all cleared candidates sign that they approve the chosen candidate, the party must resort to direct primary, necessitating a special convention, to ratify the candidate as provided in section 87(3) of the Act. Section 88(2) provides that an aspirant who complains that any of the provisions of this Act and the guidelines of a political party have not been complied with in the selection or nomination of a candidate of a political party for election, may apply to the Federal High Court for redress.’

The days ahead will be suffused with partisan contentions, for the various offices up for contest, in the 2027, general elections, which has been brought forward to January and February, 2027. Clearly, the 2026 Electoral Act, despite the hullaballoo that greeted it by a section of the media and some opposition parties, has made significant improvements for the good of our fledgling democracy.

Elephant poaching link costs businessman his luxury car

A businessman has been ordered by a court to surrender his luxury car, which he used to transport illegal elephant tusks in Laikipia County, handing the State a partial victory in an asset recovery case tied to wildlife crimes.

The High Court ruled that the Mercedes-Benz vehicle linked to Jackson Mbugua Burugu was an instrument of crime after it was seized while transporting four elephant tusks weighing 69.2 kilogrammes.

‘The motor vehicle was arrested while being used to commit an offence, and as such, I find no difficulty in holding that it was an instrumentality of crime and therefore liable to forfeiture,’ the court said, ordering its forfeiture to the government.

The court directed the Director General of the National Transport and Safety Authority to transfer and vest motor vehicle registration number KBE 416Y to the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA), on behalf of the government.

The case was filed by the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA), which sought to seize the vehicle and two plots in Mathare North, Nairobi, arguing they were proceeds of illegal wildlife trade.

ARA Investigators told the court that Burugu was arrested in October 2021 at Enasoit in Olgoji Conservancy, Laikipia, while transporting the tusks.

He had also faced earlier criminal charges at the magistrate courts in Nyahururu and Nanyuki in 2017 and 2021 related to illegal dealings in endangered wildlife.

ARA argued that proceeds from the illicit trade were laundered through bank accounts and used to acquire assets, including land and a vehicle.

Burugu denied the claims and any link to the alleged illegal activity, saying he runs a hardware business and that his assets were bought from legitimate income.

Although he did not expressly deny having been arrested and charged for illegal poaching, the respondent swore that the charges were malicious and false.

However, the court distinguished the car and the land, exposing the evidentiary threshold in civil forfeiture proceedings.

The court found direct evidence linking the vehicle to the crime, noting it was recovered during the poaching incident and that the respondent did not dispute the circumstances of its seizure.

‘It cannot be a coincidence that the respondent was arrested in Laikipia County on both occasions, trading in endangered species and their trophies. The respondent has not denied that the vehicle was impounded while carrying the elephant tusks,’ the judge said, pointing to repeated arrests involving wildlife trophies.

However, the State’s attempt to seize the two Mathare plots failed, highlighting limits in asset tracing where timelines and ownership chains are unclear.

The court found the land was purchased in 2014, years before the alleged criminal activity in 2017, and later sold to a third party who demonstrated a legitimate source of funds.

‘The applicant has failed to establish that the landed properties are proceeds of crime,’ the court ruled.

The buyer, identified in court as John Wambugu Maina, convinced the court he was an innocent purchaser for value without notice.

He showed he financed the Sh21 million purchase through the sale of land in Murang’a for Sh48.5 million, with the transaction handled through advocates and without any encumbrances.

The court warned that forfeiting the plots would unfairly punish the buyer while leaving the seller to retain the proceeds.

‘The person who will be punished in that scenario would be the interested party who will lose the landed properties despite his money being clean and accounted for,’ it said in the split judgment, disrupting criminal enterprises and protecting legitimate property rights.

The court also questioned gaps in ARA’s investigations, noting the agency had not shown any link between Burugu’s finances and the 2014 land purchase.

It further observed inconsistencies around the plots’ documentation, including doubts raised by Nairobi County over their records.

The decision comes amid sustained efforts to curb poaching networks, where vehicles are often used to move trophies across regions.

Mother, son rescued from condo set afire by Irish husband

A mother and her son were rescued from their burning condo early Tuesday after a frenzied Irishman set fire to their room and locked his family inside.

Pattaya City police and emergency responders were called to the Prime Suites Condominium on Soi Pattaya Klang 4 in tambon Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri at 3.49am, Pol Maj Chaowalit Suwanmanee said.

At the scene, smoke was billowing from a room on the fourth floor of the seven-storey building.

Alarmed residents gathered outside while firefighters rushed inside, spurred by reports that two people, one a child, were trapped inside the burning room.

It took about 20 minutes to bring the blaze under control, and the trapped occupants, an 8-year-old boy and his 26-year-old mother, were rescued.

The father, a 50-year-old Irishman, was in a wild state, according to witnesses, standing on the balcony as if he intended to jump. Rescuers were able to restrain him and take him to safety.

The man was taken to hospital and the situation brought under control, Pol Maj Chaowalit said.

His man’s Thai wife told police her husband had been talking to himself in the room for some time before starting a fire with a lighter and locking them inside.

Police later found a kitchen knife on a table in the room, Pol Maj Chaowalit said. The woman declined to tell reporters what caused the incident, saying she would speak only to police.

A condominium employee, Thanyawarat, 48, told police the couple had quarrelled. frequently.

The wife had earlier that morning sent a message asking for help, saying her husband had begun hallucinating, was holding a knife and walking around the room, Ms Thanyawarat said.

The police investigation was continuing.

How did we get here?

My boss and mentor sent me a WhatsApp message a fortnight ago containing an interesting snippet with the picture of a donkey sitting bemused on a water tank. On it was an epigram: ‘Question is NOT how to get him down, but ‘Who helped him get there?’

I did not need an AI (artificial intelligence’s) robot or Google to decipher the poetically sarcastic message. Nigerians complain perpetually about everything under the sun. We are living like people in a captured territory, under the mercy of criminal gangs who unleash mayhem on citizens. Yet, the system offers protective shields to those responsible for the problem because they are sacred cows.

You cannot cure a disease by treating the symptoms while you leave the cause of the ailment. You cannot task the thief that stole your jewellery to help you find it, it will be in vain. This is the helpless state we find ourselves since independence, no redeeming feature. You cannot be doing the same thing over and over and expect a different result; that is opaque illusion and insanity. This is the time to do a soul-searching reflection and properly interrogate the state of the nation and roadmap to our nationhood. While we are playing the ostrich, burying our heads in the sand, Nigeria is slipping away from us as criminals lay siege to the country.

How did some street urchins come to acquire military grade rifles and turn kidnapping into a lucrative industry? We have morons and buffoons wielding and trailing weapons all over the place and we are complaining about insecurity and rising gun violence! How did we get here?

We are rehabilitating and reintegrating terrorists and insurgents, offering them amnesty while the victims are still languishing in internally displaced peoples’ (IDP) camps. How did we get here?

Who recruited these people, and who are their sponsors? How did we get here, that supposedly seasoned military commanders would reduce soldiering to negotiation and deradicalization of insurgents and enemies of the state?

A soldier is not trained to trade words with the enemy of state; there is no such military teaching. A soldier is trained to delete or neutralize the enemy and not rehabilitate or de-radicalize him. The liberal scholars’ appeasement and pacifist’s non-kinetic approach to fighting insecurity should not be allowed to be elevated to a military doctrine. The Armed Forces of Nigeria is not a human rights organization to my knowledge. Senior military commanders should be seen to talk like soldiers that they are, and spit fire on the enemy. This is what gives confidence to citizens and jitters to the enemy.

How did we get the bunch of people in the National Assembly who are fixated on self-glorification and gratifications while the entire state palpitate in fear of insecurity and consuming economic strangulation? How did we get a civil service and police force that is cesspool of corruption? How did we get here that Nigerians no longer have faith in the judiciary and justice becomes illusory? Now, judges and justices are identified by their political sponsors and godfathers and filial affiliation in appointment. Is knowledge and integrity genetic?

How did the insurgents and bandits acquire the sophisticated military grade weapons, surveillance drones and other platforms? They make and circulate videos, collect ransoms and get supply of victuals with heavy logistics. They launch attack on our troops and travellers alike and get away with them, no consequences!

Meanwhile the security agents are chasing protesters and yahoo boys and tracking them even to the gate of hell but do not appear to have any clue where kidnappers, insurgents and bandits are operating from? And our military commanders see these criminals and terrorists as prodigal sons to be rehabilitated, criminals who have killed our troops, including generals and unleash terror on the people? Criminals that have turned cannibals roasting and eating their victims!

There has to be honest self-examination and retrospection. Let us stand before a mirror and take a good look at the image we cut. If we do not like the way we look, breaking the mirror will not change our image, we have to change ourselves. Nigeria has to change and we are the ones to fix it. There are questions and more questions!

At independence Nigeria was such a promising country with great potential to drive global leadership. All that now is a pipe dream; we are struggling for the soul of the nation. Who got us here? Nigeria is at ‘Bermuda Triangle’. We do not need outsiders to tell us that the country is not safe. Just in the course of last week, the American Embassy issued travel advisory and security alert and directed non-essential elements of their embassy to leave Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power. Someone in the senate leadership is quoted as saying that insecurity will end two months after the next general election, 2027. The state of insecurity in Nigeria should be of concern to all of us; we just can’t continue like this!

The Ika people of Delta State have a saying that, ‘when you blame the kite for carrying the chick, you should also blame the hen that exposed its chick’. We vote and chose our leaders, but if you disagree with this assertion and say that elections are rigged, Nigerians are the ones that rigged the election. Come to think of it, what is actually not rigged in this country? Even marriages are rigged, hospitals swap babies in the labour room and maternity wards. At the end we have troubled homes, failed marriages and challenging parenting.

We cannot be surprised that there is corruption in this country because we are all in it together. We should not be surprised at the insecurity ravaging the country; we were here when some desperate politicians recruited them and imported some; go and ask former governor of Kaduna State.

If we have to fix Nigeria, we have to first fix our brains and change the way we do things. Nigerians even at old age are voting with their legs for greener pastures in Europe and America leaving the lush green vegetation of the rivers Niger and Benue, and the luxuriating savannah grass for criminals, bandits and terrorists to take over. Nigeria is not going to be fixed by political rhetoric and sloganeering, this should sink into our heads. The path is strewn with banana peels and we are not going anywhere led by geriatrics or their minions and heir apparent. As the saying goes, ‘what a snake sires will be like a snake’.

It is only in Nigeria that one sees those who did not contest or stand in for party primary elections becoming senators and governors by magisterial declarations of the court and judiciary. In Nigeria today, judgment is rigged the same way elections are rigged.

We are the ones to fix Nigeria. You do not need to write to the European Union or to the International Criminal Court at The Hague to come and solve the problem of brutality and human rights abuses in Nigeria; it is our battle, we have to fight it. You do not need scavengers and merchants masquerading as human rights activists and non-governmental organizations or civil society organizations that come out to protest only when the price is good. Corruption permeates the body system and fabrics of the nation and even the temples of worship are contaminated.