Author: Eva Nyambura

Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has banned the sale of 27 maize meal and flour brands. In a statement, the agency warned Kenyans against purchasing the brands as they do not meet the standards hence poisonous. This was following a market surveillance and multiple reports from the public, said Kebs. Kebs directed the manufacturers of the banned brands to recall their products from shelves. Read: Kebs Approves 40 New Information and Cyber Security Standards “Consequently, the manufacturers in the list are instructed to cease forthwith manufacturing or offering for sale the affected maize meal and composite flour brands; and are instructed…

1,414 people have tested positive for Covid-19, from a sample size of 10,235 tested in the last 24 hours, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe has said. The positivity rate is now 13.8%. Total confirmed positive cases are now 227,077 and cumulative tests so far conducted are 2,297,678. CS Kagwe added that 1,670 patients have over the same period recovered from the virus; 1,484 from the Home-Based Isolation and Care program while 186 are from various health facilities, pushing the number of recoveries to 209,839. 168,968 of the recoveries are from the Home-Based Care and Isolation program, while 40,871 are from various…

Two police officers are being detained at Kisumu Central police station over alleged attempted robbery. The two have been identified as; Albert Kimutai and Martin Murimi. The officers based at Sawagongo police post in Siaya were part of a four-man gang that attempted to rob a businessman in Kisumu. Read: Ingenious Ways Corrupt Police Officers Collect Bribes from the Public The businessman, Pravin Ramji Patel, was attacked by the gang who showed up at his place of work in a silver BMW (Reg No KBE 420M). Mr Patel runs a petrol station at Buoye area on the Kisumu-Nairobi road.  The armed…

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has opened investigations into the death of a man in the hands of the police. The police are believed to have beaten to death 38-year-old John Kiiru on Wednesday night while enforcing curfew orders. “IPOA today received information on the death of a man at Tushauriane area of Kayole, Nairobi. Pursuant to Section 25 of IPOA Act which requires that deaths that result from police action or are caused by members of the National Police Service while on duty be investigated, the Authority launched investigations into the death today,” said IPOA Chairperson Anne Makori.…

Police are seeking to hold a colleague attached to the Mombasa Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and three others for a period of 14 days. Bridget Wanjiku Kamau, the DCIO Mombasa, her spouse Geoffrey Maina Njuguna, Chris Mwangangi Musyoka and Lucia Wanjiku Mutunga, appeared before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate David Ndungi on Thursday over an array of criminal activities. Lead prosecutor Abel Omariba told the court that Bridget’s state issued firearm was in the possession of her husband, Maina, who was in Nairobi and she in Mombasa. The four, the court heard are being probed for illegal possession of firearms,…

A Kenyan based in the United Kingdom (UK) has been charged with fraud. Irungu Wiseman alias Bishop Climate, Bishop of Kingdom Church in Camberwell, South London, was arraigned before the Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court for selling a fake Covid-19 cure. The 46-year-old “man of the cloth” also faced unfair trading charges after allegedly offering the package, containing a small bottle of oil and piece of red yarn, for Sh13,500 (£91). He is said to have marketed the mixture of cedarwood and hyssop as a cure or protection against the killer virus. https://twitter.com/bishopclimate/status/1428285610960330753 The charge sheet indicated that the accused person…

In the last day, 1,263 people have tested positive for Covid-19, from a sample size of 8,680, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe has confirmed. The positivity rate is now 14.6%. Total confirmed positive cases are now 225,663 and cumulative tests so far conducted are 2,287,443. 1,234 of the new infections are Kenyans while 29 are foreigners. 640 are males while 623 are females. The youngest is an eight-day-old infant and the oldest 101. In the last 24 hours, 719 patients have recovered from the virus; 607 from the Home-based isolation care and 112 from various health facilities. Read: Murang’a County Assembly Closed…

At least 12 Kenyans are stuck in Afghanistan, three of whom have been evacuated, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said. In a statement, the Raychelle Omamo-led ministry said two of them are expected to jet in later today while one landed on Wednesday. Those stranded in the troubled nation, the government has established, were working for international organizations. “Through diplomatic channels, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote to the concerned organizations with a clear request to evacuate stranded Kenyans as a matter of urgency,” said the ministry. Read: Kenyans Stranded in India over Covid-19 Crisis Arrive Home Kenya does not…

Former Police Spokesperson Charles Owino has handed over to his successor Bruno Isohi Shioso. In a ceremony held at the National Police Service (NPS) headquarters at Jogoo House, Owino expressed confidence in Isohi. “I have known Shioso for the last 29 years and I can declare I have faith in him. He will handle the docket professionally given his background and experience in the service. I believe the IGP made the right decision,” he said. Owino who has expressed his interest in running for Siaya governorship next year, said Isohi’s experience in both investigations and general policing will come in…

Another family in Embu is seeking justice following the killing of their kin on August 4. On the fateful day, protests broke out in at the Kianjokoma shopping centre where two brothers; Benson Njiru and Emmanuel Mutura, had allegedly been killed by the police. Speaking to KTN News, the victim’s father, Mzee Njiiru said he received the news of his son’s death from his younger brother. Moses Kimathi was in the area when angry protesters set ablaze a police vehicle at the Manyatta Police Station. Read: DPP Haji Recommends Suspension of Senior Officers Over Deaths of Kianjokoma Brothers His father had…

President Uhuru Kenyatta has extended the dusk to dawn curfew by another 60 days. This was following a meeting with One Kenya Alliance (OKA) leaders and ODM’s Raila Odinga in Mombasa over Covid-19 measures. The head of state pledged to lead by example. He did, however, lift restrictions for counties previously identified as virus hotspots. Read: Covid-19: Nationwide Curfew Extended in New Containment Measures They counties include; Kisumu, Siaya, Homabay, Migori, Busia, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Kisii, Nyamira, Kericho, Bomet and Trans Nzoia. The president also suspended for a further 60 days all physical and in-person public gatherings and meetings, including political…

In the last 24 hours, Kenya has recorded 1,506 Covid-19 infections, from a sample size of 9,840. The positivity rate is now 15.3%. Total confirmed positive cases are now 224,400 and cumulative tests so far conducted are 2,278,763, said Health CS Mutahi Kagwe in a statement. Of the new cases, 1,473 are Kenyans while 33 are foreigners. 795 females and 711 males. The youngest is a five-month-old baby and the oldest 102. 1,538 patients have recovered from the disease; 1,352 from the Home-based isolation care and 186 from various health facilities across the country. Read: Kenya Records 1,488 Covid-19 Infections, Four…

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji has directed Inspector general of police Hilary Mutyambai to suspend former Embu North OCPD Emily Ngaruiya and Manyatta OCS Abdullahi Yaya. The two have been linked to the death of two Embu brothers; Benson Njiru and Emmanuel Mutura, a fortnight ago. “I hereby direct that you immediately arrest and arraign in court all suspects involved, pending investigations by IPOA to avoid any interference with evidence or intimidation of witnesses,” Haji said in a letter to Mutyambai. Read: Six Officers Involved in Killing of Kianjokoma Brothers Detained for 14 Days “I also direct further investigations…

Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has revealed the most preferred universities by KCSE 2020 students. Coming in at number one was Kenyatta University (KU) which received the highest number of placements. The Kiambu based varsity which had 6,894 open slots will receive 6,733 new students this year. In second place was Maseno University with a capacity of 7,740. The institution of higher learning will be home to 6,659 students. Juja’s Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) came in third after the varsity received 6,529 students. JKUAT had 7,151 open slots. Read: Over 6,000 Students Placed in…

Kenyan security guard previously jailed in Qatar has been allowed to leave the Gulf country. Malcolm Bidali was between May and June this year jailed and charged with offences related to “payments received by a foreign agent for the creation and distribution of disinformation”. According to Middle East Eye, a London-based news outlet, Bidali was asked to pay a ‘hefty fine’ before leaving the country. It is not clear whether he will head to the UK where his mother, Maggie Turner, resides or to Kenya. Read: Qatar Authorities Release Kenyan Security Guard Malcolm Bidali after Three Weeks in Confinement A Human…