1. Petrol Prices Driven up by Suspect Deal
A flawed tendering process which led to overpricing of freight charges could have led to Kenyans paying a higher price for their petrol.While the industry average for importation of crude oil has been $0.90 per barrel, the winners of the September tender charged $3.126 and $2.83 per barrel.
2. KRA Outsources Renewal of Driving Licences
Drivers can now renew licences at the 54 National Bank of Kenya branches after the tax collector outsourced the service due to congestion at the Times Tower headquarters.
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has appointed the bank to collect fees for renewing driving licences and issuing renewal stickers.
3. Nairobi’s Priciest Home: Maj Gen Ali’s Mansion
One of the priciest homes on sale in Nairobi risks being pulled off the market after potential buyers quoted prices that were far below the asking price.
The 20,000-square foot mansion that former Police Commissioner Major Gen Hussein Ali built has been in the market for several months without finding a serious taker.
4. 9th Annual taxpayers’ Week Kicks Off
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) will be holding the 9th annual taxpayers week that is slotted to kick off today Monday 15th to Friday 19th October 2012. During this event, a series of activities will run, including tax clinics, seminars, corporate social responsibility and talk shows countrywide.
5. CFC Stanbic Rights Trading Closes on Tuesday
rading in CfC Stanbic rights closes on Tuesday having moved a third of the new shares in the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), underlining the willingness of investors to acquire bank stocks.
The counter traded 39.9 million rights in the market during the period of the offer, which started in September 12, at an average price of KES 5.
6. Planet With Four Suns Discovered
Astronomers have found a planet whose skies are illuminated by four different suns – the first known of its type. The distant world orbits one pair of stars and has a second stellar pair revolving around it. The planet, located just under 5,000 light-years away, has been named PH1 after the Planet Hunters site. The new planet – a gas giant – is about six times the size of Earth.
7. 7000 Police Officers to be Hired
The National Police Service Commission has announced it will next month recruit 7,000 new police officers ahead of the March 2013 general election. The commission has also said it intends to review police appointments, promotions, deployment and training procedures and secure the welfare of police officers by improving their terms and conditions of service.
8. Before Baumgartner: Five daredevils who helped science
Felix Baumgartner, who has become the first skydiver to go through the sound barrier, says the main goal of his exploit was to collect scientific data. The aim, his team insists, is to assist in the development of high-altitude parachute systems that will save lives when spacecraft are evacuated in the stratosphere. There is a long history of people undertaking daring feats and helping science into the bargain. Here are five examples…