This weekend seems like just the opportune time to introduce you to one of Kenya's most prominent families.
Wealthy, connected, high-rolling, a family that the Kenyan media would likely describe as successful prominent businessmen.
Here's introducing the Kamanis.
A thread
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Wealthy, connected, high-rolling, a family that the Kenyan media would likely describe as successful prominent businessmen.
Here's introducing the Kamanis.
A thread
1/
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Family scion Chamanlal Kamani arrived from Goa, India in 1950 following an invitation by a cousin who was working as an accountant for the colonial police. He arrived with only Sh16 on him and had to marry a local to live in Kenya.
Family scion Chamanlal Kamani arrived from Goa, India in 1950 following an invitation by a cousin who was working as an accountant for the colonial police. He arrived with only Sh16 on him and had to marry a local to live in Kenya.
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Chamanlal had two sons, Rashmi - who runs the families Zuri Hotels in Dubai, and Deepak, the more (in)famous and "interesting" of the lot.
Chamanlal had two sons, Rashmi - who runs the families Zuri Hotels in Dubai, and Deepak, the more (in)famous and "interesting" of the lot.
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Deepak Kamani was born at Ngara Maternity Hospital in 1953, Kamani dropped out of school in Form Two (he usually came last in most school activities, including swimming!), but still managed a diploma in mechanical works from Kenya Polytechnic.
biznakenya.com/billionaire-de…
Deepak Kamani was born at Ngara Maternity Hospital in 1953, Kamani dropped out of school in Form Two (he usually came last in most school activities, including swimming!), but still managed a diploma in mechanical works from Kenya Polytechnic.
biznakenya.com/billionaire-de…
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The Kamanis hit the limelight with Kamsons Motors in the mid 1990s. Kamsons tendered for the supply of Mahindra Jeeps to the Police Department for close to Sh1mn each, at a time when showrooms would have charged customers a sixth of the price.
The Kamanis hit the limelight with Kamsons Motors in the mid 1990s. Kamsons tendered for the supply of Mahindra Jeeps to the Police Department for close to Sh1mn each, at a time when showrooms would have charged customers a sixth of the price.
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Moreover, the vehicles were being bought for a government department and were therefore imported duty free. Few of the more than 1,000 units that were imported over several years are in service today.
Moreover, the vehicles were being bought for a government department and were therefore imported duty free. Few of the more than 1,000 units that were imported over several years are in service today.
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The Prisons department lost $3 million after contracting Hallmark International, a company associated with Mr Deepak Kamani, for the supply of 30 boilers. Only half of the boilers were delivered – from India and not the United States as had been agreed.
The Prisons department lost $3 million after contracting Hallmark International, a company associated with Mr Deepak Kamani, for the supply of 30 boilers. Only half of the boilers were delivered – from India and not the United States as had been agreed.
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The real prize
Anglo Leasing was unlike any other scandal Kenya had witnessed before. At $770 million (Sh55bn) worth of bogus state security contracts in ranks right up there with Kamlesh Pattni's masterpiece, The Goldenberg Scandal.
nation.co.ke/oped/blogs/dot…
The real prize
Anglo Leasing was unlike any other scandal Kenya had witnessed before. At $770 million (Sh55bn) worth of bogus state security contracts in ranks right up there with Kamlesh Pattni's masterpiece, The Goldenberg Scandal.
nation.co.ke/oped/blogs/dot…
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In ‘It’s Our Turn to Eat: The Story of a Kenyan Whistle Blower’, Michela Wrong explains Anglo Leasing’s money was roughly 1.5 times the foreign aid Kenya received in 2004 and could have bought every HIV positive Kenyan ARVs for a decade.
cc: #UpperDeckPeopleKE
In ‘It’s Our Turn to Eat: The Story of a Kenyan Whistle Blower’, Michela Wrong explains Anglo Leasing’s money was roughly 1.5 times the foreign aid Kenya received in 2004 and could have bought every HIV positive Kenyan ARVs for a decade.
cc: #UpperDeckPeopleKE
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Anglo-leasing involved 18 separate contracts entered into by the government (13 under Moi’s regime and 5 under Kibaki’s regime). The contracts generally dealt with government procurement in the security sector in the form of lease finance and suppliers’ credit agreements.
Anglo-leasing involved 18 separate contracts entered into by the government (13 under Moi’s regime and 5 under Kibaki’s regime). The contracts generally dealt with government procurement in the security sector in the form of lease finance and suppliers’ credit agreements.
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The government basically entered finance lease and suppliers’ credit agreements to pay for forensic facilities, security equipment and support services for Kenya Prisons, the Police Airwing, the police force, the DCI, the APs, NSIS, and the National Counter-Terrorism Centre.
The government basically entered finance lease and suppliers’ credit agreements to pay for forensic facilities, security equipment and support services for Kenya Prisons, the Police Airwing, the police force, the DCI, the APs, NSIS, and the National Counter-Terrorism Centre.
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The contract for tamper-proof passports was described by the PAC – chaired by Uhuru Kenyatta – as “an organised, systematic and fraudulent scheme designed to fleece the government through the so-called special purpose finance vehicles for purported security contracts”.
The contract for tamper-proof passports was described by the PAC – chaired by Uhuru Kenyatta – as “an organised, systematic and fraudulent scheme designed to fleece the government through the so-called special purpose finance vehicles for purported security contracts”.
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Anglo-leasing had on 1 August 2003, sent an unsolicited technical proposal to the permanent secretary (PS) in the Vice President’s Office to supply and install an “Immigration Security and Document Control System, (ISDCS). The proposal had the exact technical specs needed.
Anglo-leasing had on 1 August 2003, sent an unsolicited technical proposal to the permanent secretary (PS) in the Vice President’s Office to supply and install an “Immigration Security and Document Control System, (ISDCS). The proposal had the exact technical specs needed.
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On 5 September 2003, the Vice President’s Office asked the Treasury to contract Anglo Leasing.
The AG advised the ministry to do due diligence. For example, how many projects of this magnitude had Anglo Leasing successfully undertaken? What was the firm’s credit rating?
On 5 September 2003, the Vice President’s Office asked the Treasury to contract Anglo Leasing.
The AG advised the ministry to do due diligence. For example, how many projects of this magnitude had Anglo Leasing successfully undertaken? What was the firm’s credit rating?
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Even with all these things still outstanding, the government signed the Suppliers Services and Financing Credit Agreement for the ISDCS on 4 December 2003, and two months later, on 4 February 2004, a sum of Sh91mn (3% of a Sh2.7bn contract) was paid out to the company.
Even with all these things still outstanding, the government signed the Suppliers Services and Financing Credit Agreement for the ISDCS on 4 December 2003, and two months later, on 4 February 2004, a sum of Sh91mn (3% of a Sh2.7bn contract) was paid out to the company.
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The Dept of Governance and Ethics, headed by John Githongo, tried to get to the bottom of the affair. In that same month, whilst on a visit to the UK he asked Kroll Associates to do some due diligence on Anglo Leasing and discovered that no such company existed.
The Dept of Governance and Ethics, headed by John Githongo, tried to get to the bottom of the affair. In that same month, whilst on a visit to the UK he asked Kroll Associates to do some due diligence on Anglo Leasing and discovered that no such company existed.
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Investigations would reveal even more dirt. By early June, inquiries had established that Anglo Leasing had been paid $5 million for a forensic laboratories contract for which they had done no work.
These investigations would eventually lead to Githongo fleeing the country
Investigations would reveal even more dirt. By early June, inquiries had established that Anglo Leasing had been paid $5 million for a forensic laboratories contract for which they had done no work.
These investigations would eventually lead to Githongo fleeing the country
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The brains behind the revival of this Moi-era contract were Deepak Kamani, Jimmy Wanjigi, Chris Murungaru, Dave Mwangi, Alfred Getonga, and C. Oyula, the Financial Secretary.
Eventually 16 more Anglo-leasing type contracts would become public.
The brains behind the revival of this Moi-era contract were Deepak Kamani, Jimmy Wanjigi, Chris Murungaru, Dave Mwangi, Alfred Getonga, and C. Oyula, the Financial Secretary.
Eventually 16 more Anglo-leasing type contracts would become public.
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In November 2005, President Mwai Kibaki finally acted. He dropped Chris Murungaru from the Cabinet. On 1 February, he dropped David Mwiraria and a fortnight later he had “accepted” Kiraitu Murungi’s resignation.
Moody Awori, the VP, was never fired despite involvement.
In November 2005, President Mwai Kibaki finally acted. He dropped Chris Murungaru from the Cabinet. On 1 February, he dropped David Mwiraria and a fortnight later he had “accepted” Kiraitu Murungi’s resignation.
Moody Awori, the VP, was never fired despite involvement.
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The next time Anglo Leasing would be in the news was in early 2014, ahead of the country’s debut launch of a $2 billion sovereign bond
It then turned out that the country had to pay Sh1.4 billion to improve its credibility with international markets by clearing its debts
The next time Anglo Leasing would be in the news was in early 2014, ahead of the country’s debut launch of a $2 billion sovereign bond
It then turned out that the country had to pay Sh1.4 billion to improve its credibility with international markets by clearing its debts
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This triggered anger in the Jubilee admin.
In March 2015, 11 years after the scandal broke, 13 people connected to Anglo Leasing, including businessman Deepak Kamani and former minister Chris Obure, were interdicted
bbc.com/news/world-afr…
This triggered anger in the Jubilee admin.
In March 2015, 11 years after the scandal broke, 13 people connected to Anglo Leasing, including businessman Deepak Kamani and former minister Chris Obure, were interdicted
bbc.com/news/world-afr…
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In 2018, Swiss President Alain Berset declared that over $2mn, suspected to be proceeds of corruption linked to the multi-billion Anglo leasing scam, has been frozen in Swiss bank accounts as part of the effort to recover and repatriate stolen funds.
businessdailyafrica.com/news/Sh200m-An…
In 2018, Swiss President Alain Berset declared that over $2mn, suspected to be proceeds of corruption linked to the multi-billion Anglo leasing scam, has been frozen in Swiss bank accounts as part of the effort to recover and repatriate stolen funds.
businessdailyafrica.com/news/Sh200m-An…
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As with Goldenberg, none of the arrests and indictments have so far led to convictions.
Read more -> theelephant.info/features/2019/…
As with Goldenberg, none of the arrests and indictments have so far led to convictions.
Read more -> theelephant.info/features/2019/…
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Deepak Kamani was last pictured at the opening of the luxurious Sh4.8bn English Point Marina in December of 2017
Deepak Kamani was last pictured at the opening of the luxurious Sh4.8bn English Point Marina in December of 2017
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Deepak Kamani owns Zuri Group Global, which owns a chain of five and seven star hotels in India, Kenya, the United Kingdom, South Africa and exclusive homes in Dubai, and is associated with Diani Beach Resort and Spa
nation.co.ke/news/Anglo-Lea…
Deepak Kamani owns Zuri Group Global, which owns a chain of five and seven star hotels in India, Kenya, the United Kingdom, South Africa and exclusive homes in Dubai, and is associated with Diani Beach Resort and Spa
nation.co.ke/news/Anglo-Lea…
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Here's a copy of John Githongo's dossier to President Mwai Kibaki detailing the evils committed via Anglo-Leasing.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/h…
Here's a copy of John Githongo's dossier to President Mwai Kibaki detailing the evils committed via Anglo-Leasing.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/h…
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And here's a little insight on one of the men behind the scenes
The director, Mr Colin Flynn, also works as accounts manager for a UK property firm called Sagaar Associates, whose owner is the sister of Kenyan businessman Deepak Kamani.
nation.co.ke/news/1056-1457…
And here's a little insight on one of the men behind the scenes
The director, Mr Colin Flynn, also works as accounts manager for a UK property firm called Sagaar Associates, whose owner is the sister of Kenyan businessman Deepak Kamani.
nation.co.ke/news/1056-1457…
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A fawning piece written in 2004 on the Kamani's mansion in Nairobi's upmarket Kyuna Road
...the 36-room house comes a swimming pool, lawns that are lit, and watered by sprinklers. Music filters from every corner of the lawn
nation.co.ke/news/1056-1469…
A fawning piece written in 2004 on the Kamani's mansion in Nairobi's upmarket Kyuna Road
...the 36-room house comes a swimming pool, lawns that are lit, and watered by sprinklers. Music filters from every corner of the lawn
nation.co.ke/news/1056-1469…
