Author: KahawaTungu Reporter

A church wedding came to a sudden halt after the would-be bride asked for more time to make a decision. The wedding was set for Saturday in Kapsoiyo, Bomet County. The officiating reverend wrote to the planning committee led by Kapsoiyo Africa Gospel Church (AGC) Pastor Clement Chalulot, informing them that the two families were yet to come to an understanding hence the cancellation of thr wedding. Pastor Chalulot said the event was canceled despite the groom’s family paying dowry; three cows among other things. “Yesterday, as by the agreement, she refused to give us her documents like ID and…

At least five boys died and 28 others are admitted to several hospitals in Elgeyo Marakwet following a botched circumcision exercise. Officials said the 28 were rushed to hospital with various symptoms including bacterial infections while others even showed signs of pneumonia. The county’s Health CEC Michael Kibiwot said that out of the 28 boys who are admitted, one was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit. The group had undergone the right of passage and were kept at a place for healing as a procedure when they fell sick. It is suspected they contracted a bacterial infection. “We have admitted 28…

President William Ruto will leave the country on Saturday December 9 for Djibouti to attend the 41st Extraordinary session of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Djibouti City. Officials said Presidents from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda and the host will also attend. The IGAD summit is expected to discuss various issues of regional and international importance, such as security, trade, infrastructure, energy, and climate change. The 40th Extraordinary Assembly of the IGAD Heads of State and Government was held virtually on April 16,  2023, on the situation in Sudan. The Heads of State…

European Union officials have reached a provisional deal on the world’s first comprehensive laws to regulate the use of artificial intelligence. After 36 hours of talks, negotiators agreed rules around AI in systems like ChatGPT and facial recognition. The European Parliament will vote on the AI Act proposals early next year, but any legislation will not take effect until at least 2025. The US, UK and China are all rushing to publish their own guidelines. The proposals include safeguards on the use of AI within the EU as well as limitations on its adoption by law enforcement agencies. Consumers would…

American actor Ryan O’Neal, best known for his Oscar-nominated role in 1970 romance Love Story, has died at the age of 82, his son said. His family did not share a cause of death, but O’Neal was diagnosed with chronic leukaemia in 2001 and prostate cancer in 2012. He also starred in 1970s hits What’s Up, Doc?, Paper Moon and A Bridge Too Far. His son said his father was “a Hollywood legend. Full stop.” “My dad passed away peacefully today, with his loving team by his side supporting him,” Patrick O’Neal wrote on Instagram on Friday. He added that…

Taylor Swift’s concert tour was clearly a sensation: It crashed ticketing sites, sold out hotels and generated earthquake like seismic activity.  It also brought in about $1.04bn (£829m) in gross sales across its first 60 shows, trade publication Pollstar said. That is a new record, according to Pollstar, which tracks music sales. The pop star’s success came during a bumper year for a concert business that has roared back from Covid lockdowns. Overall, the top 100 global tours brought in more than $9bn (£7.17bn) this year in gross sales, up 46% from 2022, which had itself seen record-setting spending, Pollstar…

Harvard’s president has apologised for controversial remarks she made at a congressional hearing about antisemitism on US college campuses. When asked whether calls for the genocide of Jews constituted harassment under university policy, Dr Claudine Gay said it depended on the context. Dr Gay, and two other university presidents who gave similar answers, have since faced fierce criticism. “I am sorry,” she said in an interview with The Crimson student newspaper. “Words matter. When words amplify distress and pain, I don’t know how you could feel anything but regret,” she added. Addressing the criticism in her interview with The Crimson,…

President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, has accused Republicans of trying to “kill” him in an effort to undermine his father’s presidency. His death “would be a pain greater than my father could be able to handle”, the younger Biden told musician Moby in a podcast that aired on Friday. The first of the two-part broadcast was recorded before Mr Biden was charged with nine major tax crimes on Thursday. Republicans have accused the president and his son of influence-peddling. The White House has dismissed a congressional impeachment inquiry into the president as a “fishing expedition”. Hunter Biden, a recovering…

The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution Friday backed by almost all other Security Council members and dozens of other nations demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza. Supporters called it a terrible day and warned of more civilian deaths and destruction as the war goes into its third month. The vote in the 15-member council was 13-1, with the United Kingdom abstaining. The United States’ isolated stand reflected a growing fracture between Washington and some of its closest allies over Israel’s months long bombardment of Gaza. France and Japan were among those supporting the call for a cease-fire.…

National carrier Kenya Airways (KQ) has announced a two week flight interruption. In a statement on Friday, the carrier explained that some of its planes might remain grounded during the festive season owing to challenges in acquiring aircraft spare parts. KQ Group Managing Director and CEO Allan Kilavuka said the airline would extend grounding time for flights as a safety precaution. “Our current flight schedule may experience disruptions in the coming weeks mainly due to challenges in the aircraft spare parts global supply chain. These challenges are leading to extended ground time of our aircraft for maintenance,” Kilavuka said. “Additionally,…

The Court of Appeal has declined to lift orders declaring the appointment of Chief Administrative Secretaries (CAS) position unconstitutional. This orders were issued following a case filed by digital strategist Dennis Itumbi. “Taking all the foregoing into account, we are not persuaded that the applicants have satisfied us that their appeal will be rendered nugatory if we do not stay the execution of the impugned judgment by the High Court,” ruled judges K M’inoti, Mumbi Ngugi, and Francis Tuiyott. “Having failed to satisfy both limbs under rule 5(2) b of the Court of Appeal rules, this application fails and is…

Russian President Vladimir Putin will run for office again in 2024, according to state media reports on Friday. Mr Putin – whose power has been questioned like never before over the costly war in Ukraine will be widely expected to win and secure another six years in the Kremlin, taking him to 2030. Recent constitutional changes paved the way for the 71-year-old to potentially run again in 2030, opening up the possibility of staying in power up until 2036. Mr Putin is already the country’s longest-serving leader since Josef Stalin, beating even Leonid Brezhnev’s 18-year tenure. He first became president…

Two suspected land grabbers have been arrested for attempting to bribe a DCI detective. Jackson Mwangi Wambui and Elijah Macharia are said to have tried offering a detective at the Land Fraud Investigations Unit (LFIU) offices some Sh200,000 to go slow on a case in which they are accused of attempting to grab a 0.2026 hectares parcel of land at Thome V area. The suspects sought a two-month delay in the ongoing investigations, within which he would have obtained a “fake original” documentation of the land. But according to the DCI, the suspects have been on the unit’s radar for…

The East African Community (EAC) Chiefs of Defence Forces/Staff Wednesday adopted an exit plan of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) from eastern DRC. The security chiefs convened an extraordinary meeting in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania on Wednesday to address the modalities of the exit following the DRC’s decision not to extend the current mandate, set to expire today. The CDF/S meeting upheld DRC’s decision and recommended to the EAC Defence Ministers that EACRF officially ceases its operations in Eastern DRC, with effect from December 8, 2023. Further, Troop Contributing Countries are to commence the withdrawal of forces…

Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen has filed a petition against Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei over alleged involvement in Sh15.3 billion bribe. Murkomen has accused the legislator of defamation for claiming that he received the aforementioned amount of money from a Chinese Company identified as China Wu Yi. The former Elgeyo Marakwet Senator wants Cherargei to issue a formal apology within seven days, failure to which he will take legal action against him. “The said offensive words tend to lower the reputation of our client in the estimation of the ordinary, just and right-thinking members of the society,” said Murkomen in a…

At least 40 Ethiopians were arrested while being transported on motorcycles in Merti, Isiolo County. Police said the men were in the country illegally and claimed they were on transit to South Africa when they were nabbed. The incident happened on Tuesday, December 5 evening at Biligo – Degogicha Junction along Merti Road. There were gunshots at the scene as police approached the scene where the aliens were. Some of the aliens with their smugglers were on motorcycles while others were on foot. After the shootout, the smugglers managed to escape with some of the aliens. Police said 40 others…