Top Radio Africa manager goes into hiding over Sh122m adverts scandal

A top manager at Radio Africa Group is said to have gone into hiding for fear of being arrested over the Ksh 122 million scandal at the Government Advertising Agency (GAA). Managers at Lion’s Place are said to be behind a phony company that received part of the loot.

We could not confirm whether advertisements were published in The Star newspaper, which has ties with Radio Africa Group. But evidence shows that a company variously known as The Star Publication, Star Publications and Star Publications Ltd received about Ksh 21 million between November 2017 and June this year.

The Star has been reeling under financial difficulties and at some point, there was a proposal to discontinue the print edition and launch a digital publication. It has also undergone a lot of restructuring.

The scandal has seen Lugari MP Ayub Savula, his two wives,Melody Ringera and Hellen Kemboi, former ICT Permanent Secretary Sammy Itemere, former head of the GAA Dennis Chebitwey and administrative secretary Dickson Nyandinga charged in court.

Others are the GAA Chief Media Buyer Susan Akinyi and another official Tabitha Nyaboke. They all denied the charges and were released on bond.

Savula is the director of the seven firms that were also charged with the same offenses including the The Sunday Publication Ltd, which received Ksh 28 million.  However,The Sunday Publishers, which produces the Sunday Express, says it has no links with The Sunday Publications Ltd.

Liaison Media which in other entries is shown as Liaison Media Nairobi, received Ksh 2 million.
Xtra publishing Ltd, which received Sh5 million, is listed as Xtra Publishers Ltd in some schedules.