Friday, August 31, 2012
SAITOTI COPTER PARTS SWITCHED
SAITOTI COPTER PARTS SWITCHED
The Saitoti crash helicopter had 11 key parts removed and replaced with dodgy substitutes in South Africa, the tribunal heard yesterday. A senior policeman said he regretted allowing the Eurocopter AS 350 into Kenya without verifying that the chopper was intact. Johnson Githatu, the deputy commandant of the Kenya Police Airwing, said he was in the team that travelled to South Africa late last year for a pre-shipment inspection.
He said he trusted the manufacturers in South Africa would not change any parts of the helicopter without informing the Kenya Police. But he later learnt that more than 11 key parts had been removed between November and December, 2011. "I trusted them and would not have accepted the aircraft had I gone through the papers and found the components changed," said Githatu. He said neither himself nor the commandant authorised the changing of the parts.
The helicopter crashed on June 10 in Kibuki Forest of Ngong killing Internal Security minister George Saitoti, his deputy Orwa Ojode, two of Saitoti's bodyguards Joshua Tonkei and Thomas Murimi and police pilots Nancy Gituanja and Luke Oyugi. Githatu said that had he checked and found out that the manufacturers had changed the Vehicle Engine Monitoring Display (VEMD), he would not have accepted the new aircraft.
The manufacturers installed a new VEMD on December 2, just seven days before it was delivered to Nairobi. The component is among six parts identified for further investigations abroad. It is used to monitor the performance of the helicopter engine. According to Githatu, a message displayed after the June 8 repairs showed engine data record (EDR) failure. He said they contacted a Eurocopter engineer who contacted his principals in South Africa.
The South Africa engineers are said to have emailed the Police Airwing Commandant telling him that the EDR failure was not a safety problem and that they could continue flying the aircraft with the defect. An email from the manufacturers read out in the commission chaired by Justice Kaplana Rawal said the monitoring device defect had no consequence on safety and the aircraft would have been flown for another 200 hours. It was after the June 8 correspondence that the aircraft was released for service and flown to Voi by Captain Nancy Gituanja to rescue another police chopper.
The next day, on June 10, the chopper crashed as it was taking Saitoti and Ojode to a funds drive in the latter's Ndhiwa constituency. Githatu said that on her return from Voi, pilot Gituanja reported that the problem of the EDR was persisting. However, her concerns were ignored by her seniors on the basis of the assurances they had been given by the manufacturer's engineers in South Africa.
Githatu said he was not aware of any flight scheduled for June 9. The Police Airwing quality manager Morris Okech had on Wednesday told the commission that the Airwing commandant Rodgers Mbithi had used the chopper for a flight whose details were not indicated in the flight register.
Mbithi flew the chopper to an unknown destination before returning it to the Wilson Airport hangar 50 minutes after he had taken off. He did not log the reason for the flight or its destination. Githatu told the commission that he went to Wilson Airport that Saturday evening to receive the Commissioner of Police who was arriving from Mombasa.
He said he arranged the Sunday trip on instruction from the Airwing commandant but was not present at the Wilson Airport until 9am when he received a distress call about the crash. He said the documents indicated the aircraft had been refilled with 530 litres of jet fuel on June 9. Githatu said the repairs on the aircraft had not been updated in the register as of June 8 since it normally took two to three days to update the maintenance register. The hearing continues.
Mere Talks Will Not Stop Chaos
Mere Talks Will Not Stop Chaos
If Kenya’s National Intelligence Security Service is to be believed, last week’s massacres in Tana Delta, Mandera and Wajir where close to 70 innocent Kenyans were massacred and homes torched, were planned operations funded by politicians and executed by local government officers.
The killings are reminiscent of the tragedy that befell those who had sought sanctuary in the Kiambaa church in Eldoret during the 2007 post election violence. Suspects for the violence are due to face justice at the ICC in April next year. But the recent massacre in Tana river raises the question, if we can have repeats of what we did to fellow Kenyans in 2008 now, does it mean that the ICC may not achieve the desired effect after all?
It seems we have not learnt our lesson from the post election violence. Just a mere seven months to yet another election, it seems out politicians, including some Cabinet ministers, are planning and funding more violence. It is tragic that 10 days later, no arrests have been made. Is this not a powerful message to the lords of impunity that the government has neither the balls nor the will to protect its own citizens?
Of greater concern is, if we can have this scale of violence before the elections, what can we expect during elections? If Kenya is to be respected and taken seriously by the international community of civilized nations, those politicians who planned the killings in Tana, Mandera and Wajir should be arrested, tried, convicted and put behind bars for life. This will send a more potent message than the threat presented by the ICC process. Instant senseless murders need instant justice. Justice delayed is justice denied even for the dead.
I felt sad for Kenya that the violence and mayhem happened on the day we celebrated the second anniversary of the new constitution. I felt small as a Kenyan when I compared our high sounding fluent speeches from our top politicians, security chiefs and the judiciary as Mombasa city was literally on fire! The irony was that while our leaders were receiving accolades for talking peace, sections of the Coast region were literally ablaze! The highest irony was that the Internal Security minister, the head of the Civil Service and Police Commissioner were seated at Bomas listening to political rhetoric as Mombasa burned!
Kenya, once described as an island of peace is no more. Today, we have more ethnic clashes in a year in all parts of Kenya than all the five EAC member states combined. Uganda and Rwanda have learnt from their past mistakes. Outbreaks of ethnic violence in Ethiopia or Tanzania are unheard off too yet they too have their diverse tribes.
In the last five years, I have never heard a single national peace forum held in Dar es Salaam, Kampala, Kigali or Addis Ababa to reconcile the nationals of our neighbors. Yet in Kenya in the last two months alone, we have had a high level Peace forum in Mombasa, 47 in all counties and this week, another national forum addressed by Kenya’s top leadership.
I may be wrong but I think this government is talking to itself. Kenyans switched off a long time ago.
I have a suggestion to make. Instead spending millions of shillings on peace meetings that nobody cares about, how about using those resources to recruit and train more police officers and give them better equipment to combat lawlessness? If one miserable MP can hire and ferry hooligans from as far as Hola to go and murder people in Tana Basin, why can’t the government recruit and transport the GSU to trouble spots?
The Mombasa fiasco on the day a peace forum was in progress at the Bomas was an indictment on this government. It proved that the entire security apparatus including the intelligence department that are supposed to preempt and prevent crime went to sleep a long time ago.
It is only in Kenya where a known terrorist can be caught red-handed with an assortment of weapons without the requisite firearms license and still release the hooligan on bond and later acquit him for lack of sufficient evidence!
It is only in Kenya where loss of human life carries less value than the rights of the murderer! Keeping law and order including maintaining peace does not require peace forums. All we need is a working penal code and a diligent police force. The law is the law and it must be obeyed by all. Those who break the law must be dealt with swiftly and punitively to send a clear message to would be offenders that there is something called crime and punishment.
Ruto ally defects to ODM
Ruto ally defects to ODM
NAIROBI businessman Patrick Osero, a close ally of Eldoret North MP William Ruto, has defected to ODM. Osero yesterday confirmed to the Star that he has acquired the party’s life membership certificate. “I have notified the party of my intention to contest for the Borabu seat,” he said in a telephone interview.
He said aspirants and elders from Borabu are plotting to have one candidate from Borabu. “It does not matter who it is but we want a person from Borabu to face those from Kiabonyoru,” added Osero. He said Borabu has lagged behind in terms of development due to neglect by MPs since independence. Osero called for peaceful campaigns and condemned an incident where youth attempted to disrupt his meeting at Kebirigo.
Asumbi victims to be buried
Asumbi victims to be buried
Parents and families of the eight pupils who died in the Asumbi Girls Boarding Primary School in Homa Bay have positively identified the bodies. They used dental formulas and name tags found on the remains of the girls. The pupils were burnt beyond recognition during the fire which took place about a week ago. During a meeting between the parents and doctors, the parents unanimously agreed to carry out the burials since there was no disputed body.
The government plans to carry out DNA tests on the victims. Ben Ayub Mbara, the father of Celestine Anyango, said he was happy with the identification process adding it was carried out in a positive and transparent manner. He said they will focus on organising the funeral service of their daughter. Assistant pathologist Boaz Otieno, said he could not confirm whether the identification process was carried out successfully since the DNA results have not been released.
Corridors of Power
Corridors of Power
There's is an uproar among staff at the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) over allegations of tribalism. Our moles tell us that five out of the senior positions in that office are all members of one community. The five all hold positions in the tendering committee. The staff's concern is not that the five do no deserve the positions, but that their elevation is in direct contravention of the NCIC Act which stipulates that no one ethnic community should occupy more than one third of the top slots in a public institution. Since the five sit in the tender committee, they can easily manipulate the tendering process.
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A man walked into Parklands police station in Nairobi on Monday morning and pulled down Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere's portrait, smashing it on the floor. His reason? "This man is illegally in office," he shouted as police officers asked him to explain his actions. The man was promptly locked up!
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The US giant supermarket chain Walmart is eyeing a stake in the local retail store Naivas as it seeks to spread its tentacles. Walmart is reportedly seeking to buy a 51 per cent stake in the Kenyan retailer, something which has sent shivers down the spines of the other local supermarkets such as Nakumatt and Tuskys. The latter two are the biggest supermarket chains in Kenya and the region.
Vein rupture killed Koinange, says pathologist
Vein rupture killed Koinange, says pathologist
FORMER Treasury PS Wilfred Koinange's sudden death was caused by a burst a major vein in the stomach. A post-mortem conducted at Lee Funeral Home by government pathologist. Ndegwa, showed that the largest blood vessel in his abdomen burst leading to massive internal bleeding.
Kanja Koinange, a nephew of the former PS, who was present during the post-mortem and a member of the funeral organising committee the problem had occurred because of damaged walls. “Rupture of the aorta (aortic aneurysm) is as a result of a disease that damaged its walls. His entire blood volume was found in his abdominal cavity,” he said. “He was a healthy man, he visited his farm with his children before he died suddenly on Monday 27th August,” he said.George Muhoho, the chairman of the funeral committee said Karanja was a "healthy man" before his sudden death on Monday. He said the committee has finalised the funeral arrangements.
“A Sunday afternoon service will be held in is grandfather’s Senior chief Koinange’s home in Kiambaa, followed by a requiem mass at All saints Cathedral at One o’clock on Monday,” he said. Dr. Koinange headed the treasury in 1991-93 and served as PS in various ministries. He recently won an acquittal in seven of the nine cases of Goldenberg scandal trial.
Diesel vs. gas: Which really saves money?
9 diesel cars and trucks that will save you money
By Matthew de Paula | Forbes.com – Wed, Aug 29, 2012 4:08 PM EDT
MORE AT FORBES.COM
The main reason is the higher pricetag: on average a diesel is $5,045 more than a gas-powered version of the same model, according to Vincentric LLC, a research firm in Bingham Farms, Mich.
Beyond the purchase amount, diesels also end up costing a little extra to own and maintain. That’s partly because some new diesel vehicles are required to have a reservoir of urea, which gets injected into the exhaust and neutralizes some of the pollutants.
With this so-called “clean-diesel” technology, emissions are now cleaner than what comes from many gasoline vehicles—which is a major role reversal. But there is added maintenance involved in replenishing the reservoirs and making sure the more complex diesel engine is running properly.
“We found that diesels typically have slightly higher insurance, repair and maintenance costs,” says David Wurster, president of Vincentric, which specializes in calculating total cost of ownership and chose diesels for its most recent alternative fuel analysis.
“An additional noteworthy point is that on a percentage basis, diesels have lower depreciation, but because they cost more to purchase, their total dollars of depreciation are higher,” Wurster says. (Some might argue that diesel is not technically an alternative fuel, but it’s not exactly mainstream in the United States either, given that only a small fraction of vehicles use it.)
The Diesel vs. Gas Showdown
Vincentric analyzed 23 diesels on sale in the United States—11 of them classified as commercial vehicles and 12 as consumer vehicles. It looked at overall cost of ownership for five years, with 15,000 miles driven annually. Based on this analysis, nine diesels had five-year ownership costs that are lower than equivalent models with gasoline engines. We list them in descending order based on overall savings versus their gas equivalents.
Vincentric, a research firm in Bingham Farms, Mich., specializes in calculating cost of ownership for vehicles and tracks more than 2,000 models. Nine factors go into its cost of ownership calculations: purchase price, depreciation, financing, fees and taxes, fuel, insurance, maintenance, repairs and opportunity cost. The price it uses for fuel is a weighted national average for the previous five months, to better reflect market trends, rather than market extremes.
2012 Mercedes-Benz GL350 Bluetec 4MaticOverall savings compared with the gas-powered GL450 4Matic: $10,128
Fuel savings: $4,750
The GL-Class is Mercedes’ largest crossover. It was refreshed for 2012 with minor styling changes. The GL350 Bluetec has a 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel that puts out 210 hp and gets an EPA-estimated 17 mpg city, 21 mpg highway and 19 mpg overall.
Its substantial fuel savings** of $4,750 helps the GL350 Bluetec achieve the highest total savings of any diesel vehicle for which Vincentric calculated five-year ownership costs. Vincentric estimates that the purchase price* is only $101 higher than that of the gas-powered GL450 4Matic.
2012 Mercedes-Benz S350 Bluetec 4MaticOverall savings compared with the gas-powered S550: $6,015
Fuel savings: $4,003
The Mercedes S350 Bluetec 4Matic is the least expensive S-Class model. It is one of just a few diesel vehicles in Vincentric’s study with a lower purchase price relative to its gas-powered counterpart.
Just going on the suggested retail price, the diesel S350 is $2,450 less than the S550, which has a V-8 engine that runs on gasoline. But Vincentric, which tries to ascertain what buyers are actually paying, pegs the S350 purchase price* at $3,418 less.
The S350 is the only S-Class model with all-wheel drive. The others are rear-wheel drive, which makes its fuel savings** of $4,003 more remarkable. It has a more powerful version of the 3.0-liter V-6 turbodiesel that’s in the Mercedes GL350 Bluetec. The engine produces 240 hp and gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg city, 31 mpg highway and 25 mpg overall.
2012 Volkswagen Touareg TDIOverall savings compared to gas-powered Touareg: $4,447
Fuel savings: $2,840
The VW Touareg Diesel is a pricey midsize crossover with rugged capabilities. Its 240-hp V-6 gets 19 mpg city, 28 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined, according to the EPA—respectable for such a large and heavy vehicle.
Its purchase price* is $3,322 higher than the gas-powered Touareg. But taking into account its five-year cost of ownership, Vincentric estimates that the diesel will end up saving owners a total $4,447 over the gas model—including a $2,840 fuel savings**.
2012 Audi A3 2.0T TDI
Overall savings compared to gas-powered A3 2.0T: $3,583
Fuel savings: $3,793
The A3 is the smallest car Audi sells in the United States. It’s only available as a four-door hatchback. Vincentric estimates that the purchase price* of the diesel A3 is $1,630 higher than the comparable gas-powered version.
The A3 2.0T TDI is less expensive to insure and maintain versus the gasoline version of the A3. That combined with fuel savings** of $3,792 make for a lower five-year cost of ownership. The EPA estimates fuel economy of 30 mpg city, 42 mpg highway and 34 mpg combined.
2012 Mercedes-Benz R350 Bluetec 4Matic
Overall savings compared to gas-powered R350 4Matic: $3,181
Fuel savings: $1,832
The R-Class is Mercedes’ version of a minivan, except with rear doors that swing out, rather than slide open. The diesel R350 Bluetec 4Matic has a purchase price* $844 lower than that of the gasoline R350 4Matic. Vincentric also calculates significantly lower depreciation for the diesel version versus the gasoline one, saving owners $2,142 over five years.
The R350 Bluetec 4Matic uses the same 210-hp 3.0-liter V-6 turbodiesel as the GL350 Bluetec 4Matic. The EPA estimates fuel economy of 18 mpg city, 23 mpg highway and 20 mpg combined. Sales of the R-Class have been sluggish ever since its introduction for the 2006 model year. After 2012, it will no longer be available in the United States.
2012 BMW X5 xDrive35d
Overall savings compared to gas-powered Touareg: $4,447
Fuel savings: $2,840
Never mind that BMW X5 xDrive35d has an awkward name—this midsize crossover is a good value. It’s one of only three diesels with a purchase price* as calculated by Vincentric that is lower than that of its gas-powered counterpart, the BMW xDrive35i, albeit just $597 lower.This lower price has a positive domino effect on five-year ownership, allowing for lower depreciation, finance and other associated costs. Only insurance and repairs are higher with the diesel X5, but not by much. With fuel savings** of $2,405, the diesel handily beats its gasoline counterpart, saving $2,751 over five years. The X5 xDrive35d features a 3.0-liter six-cylinder turbodiesel engine with 265 hp. It gets an EPA-estimated 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 22 combined.
2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 Bluetec 4Matic
Overall savings compared to gas-powered ML350 4Matic: $2,473
Fuel savings: $2,336
Mercedes’ midsize ML350 Bluetec crossover gets the 240-hp version of the company’s 3.0-liter V-6 turbodiesel, with an EPA estimated fuel economy of 22 mpg city, 27 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined.
Although its purchase price* as estimated by Vincentric is $1,397 higher than that of the gas model, the diesel saves owners $2,336 in fuel costs** and $767 in maintenance over five years of ownership. Factoring in slightly higher finance, insurance and repair costs versus the gasoline version, the ML350 Bluetec saves owners a total of $2,473 over five years.
2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 Bluetec
Overall savings compared to gas-powered E350:$2,204
Fuel savings: $3,145
The gas-powered midsize E-Class sedan is one of Mercedes’ most popular models. The E350 Bluetec diesel sells in far fewer numbers. It costs $1,965 more to purchase* than a gas-powered E350. Besides that, the diesel E350 Bluetec has marginally higher costs in nearly every category that Vincentric tracks, including most notably finance and repairs.
But its impressive fuel savings** of $3,145 help compensate for it all and result in savings of $2,204 over five years of ownership when compared to its gasoline counterpart. The E350 Bluetec has a 210-hp 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel that gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg city, 32 mpg highway and 25 mpg combined.
2012 Ford F-350 Diesel
Overall savings compared to gas-powered F-350: $1,131
Fuel savings: $1,999
Of the seven full-size, heavy-duty diesel pickup trucks Vincentric studied, the Ford F-350 is the only one with five year ownership costs that are lower than that of its gas-powered equivalent.
The Ford F-350 Diesel has a 400-hp 6.7-liter V-8 turbodiesel engine. Although it only has 15 hp more than the gasoline 6.2-liter V-8 also offered in the F-350, it has almost double the torque, at an impressive 800 lb.-ft. What that means in practical terms is that the F-350 Diesel is more capable at towing and hauling heavy loads. It also depreciates less, according to Vincentric, retaining $822 more of its value over five years of ownership than the gas-powered F-350. That and its impressive fuel savings** help the F-350 Diesel overcome its $5,355 higher purchase price* and higher ownership costs, resulting in savings of $1,131 over five years of ownership compared with its gas counterpart.
Full List: Diesel Cars That Will Save You Money
Overall savings compared to gas-powered A3 2.0T: $3,583
Fuel savings: $3,793
The A3 is the smallest car Audi sells in the United States. It’s only available as a four-door hatchback. Vincentric estimates that the purchase price* of the diesel A3 is $1,630 higher than the comparable gas-powered version.
The A3 2.0T TDI is less expensive to insure and maintain versus the gasoline version of the A3. That combined with fuel savings** of $3,792 make for a lower five-year cost of ownership. The EPA estimates fuel economy of 30 mpg city, 42 mpg highway and 34 mpg combined.
2012 Mercedes-Benz R350 Bluetec 4MaticOverall savings compared to gas-powered R350 4Matic: $3,181
Fuel savings: $1,832
The R-Class is Mercedes’ version of a minivan, except with rear doors that swing out, rather than slide open. The diesel R350 Bluetec 4Matic has a purchase price* $844 lower than that of the gasoline R350 4Matic. Vincentric also calculates significantly lower depreciation for the diesel version versus the gasoline one, saving owners $2,142 over five years.
The R350 Bluetec 4Matic uses the same 210-hp 3.0-liter V-6 turbodiesel as the GL350 Bluetec 4Matic. The EPA estimates fuel economy of 18 mpg city, 23 mpg highway and 20 mpg combined. Sales of the R-Class have been sluggish ever since its introduction for the 2006 model year. After 2012, it will no longer be available in the United States.
2012 BMW X5 xDrive35dOverall savings compared to gas-powered Touareg: $4,447
Fuel savings: $2,840
Never mind that BMW X5 xDrive35d has an awkward name—this midsize crossover is a good value. It’s one of only three diesels with a purchase price* as calculated by Vincentric that is lower than that of its gas-powered counterpart, the BMW xDrive35i, albeit just $597 lower.This lower price has a positive domino effect on five-year ownership, allowing for lower depreciation, finance and other associated costs. Only insurance and repairs are higher with the diesel X5, but not by much. With fuel savings** of $2,405, the diesel handily beats its gasoline counterpart, saving $2,751 over five years. The X5 xDrive35d features a 3.0-liter six-cylinder turbodiesel engine with 265 hp. It gets an EPA-estimated 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 22 combined.
2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 Bluetec 4MaticOverall savings compared to gas-powered ML350 4Matic: $2,473
Fuel savings: $2,336
Mercedes’ midsize ML350 Bluetec crossover gets the 240-hp version of the company’s 3.0-liter V-6 turbodiesel, with an EPA estimated fuel economy of 22 mpg city, 27 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined.
Although its purchase price* as estimated by Vincentric is $1,397 higher than that of the gas model, the diesel saves owners $2,336 in fuel costs** and $767 in maintenance over five years of ownership. Factoring in slightly higher finance, insurance and repair costs versus the gasoline version, the ML350 Bluetec saves owners a total of $2,473 over five years.
2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 BluetecOverall savings compared to gas-powered E350:$2,204
Fuel savings: $3,145
The gas-powered midsize E-Class sedan is one of Mercedes’ most popular models. The E350 Bluetec diesel sells in far fewer numbers. It costs $1,965 more to purchase* than a gas-powered E350. Besides that, the diesel E350 Bluetec has marginally higher costs in nearly every category that Vincentric tracks, including most notably finance and repairs.
But its impressive fuel savings** of $3,145 help compensate for it all and result in savings of $2,204 over five years of ownership when compared to its gasoline counterpart. The E350 Bluetec has a 210-hp 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel that gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg city, 32 mpg highway and 25 mpg combined.
2012 Ford F-350 DieselOverall savings compared to gas-powered F-350: $1,131
Fuel savings: $1,999
Of the seven full-size, heavy-duty diesel pickup trucks Vincentric studied, the Ford F-350 is the only one with five year ownership costs that are lower than that of its gas-powered equivalent.
The Ford F-350 Diesel has a 400-hp 6.7-liter V-8 turbodiesel engine. Although it only has 15 hp more than the gasoline 6.2-liter V-8 also offered in the F-350, it has almost double the torque, at an impressive 800 lb.-ft. What that means in practical terms is that the F-350 Diesel is more capable at towing and hauling heavy loads. It also depreciates less, according to Vincentric, retaining $822 more of its value over five years of ownership than the gas-powered F-350. That and its impressive fuel savings** help the F-350 Diesel overcome its $5,355 higher purchase price* and higher ownership costs, resulting in savings of $1,131 over five years of ownership compared with its gas counterpart.
Full List: Diesel Cars That Will Save You Money
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