Author: KahawaTungu Reporter

When Venezuela’s opposition leader María Corina Machado walked into the White House on Thursday, she came bearing the gift US President Donald Trump has long coveted: a Nobel Peace Prize. Machado, a fierce critic of Venezuela’s former strongman Nicolás Maduro, won the award last year for her campaign for greater democracy. Now she was leaving the medal in the White House, hoping the gesture might buy her something far more valuable: US backing in the fight to lead Venezuela’s post-Maduro future. But, if she thought the gift might nudge the president toward providing a clearer endorsement, it appears she may…

A gold dealer was shot and killed by gunmen in a robbery incident in Kehancha, Migori County. Police stated that the incident occurred on January 15, 2026, at night and involved a Tanzanian national identified as Leonard Lucas Mabina, 23 years old. He sells gold both in Kenya and Tanzania. He was ambushed by four gunmen in his house in the area who demanded cash and other valuables that he had. This prompted a confrontation. It was then that the gunmen opened fire killing him on the spot. Police said he was shot in the mouth and at close range…

A police officer and a businesswoman were shot and killed in an ambush by gunmen in Naisunyei area, Samburu County. Constable Julius Muthaura was shot and killed as he escorted a herd of cattle on a lorry from Lolnguniani Market to Achers Post area. The owner of the cows who was identified as Khadija Ibrahim, 55 was also shot and killed at the scene. The gunmen also shot and wounded four men who were on the lorry escorting the cows in the ambush, police said. Police said the incident happened on January 15 at about 5 pm. The gang stole…

An elephant attacked and killed a herdsman in an incident at a ranch in Mwatate, Taita Taveta County. Police said the victim was identified as Hassan Hoshow, 48, and was a herdsman in Mwananchi Ranch. He was herding his cattle on the ranch when he was confronted by an elephant and killed. His body, with fractured legs and arms, was found on the ground. The wild animal had escaped by the time other herders responded on Thursday, January 15, 2026. The police and Kenya Wildlife Service personnel visited the scene and announced they had opened an investigation into the same.…

An Australian national was arrested and disarmed after he had threatened to shoot his wife in an altercation in Diani, Kwale County. Police said the suspect, whose alien card had expired in June 2025, was detained pending arraignment for threatening to shoot his wife on January 15, 2026. He was found to own a Kimar Competitive revolver with three rounds of blanks, 28 rounds of ammunition, a cartridge, a pistol carrier and a cleaning load. Police said he did not have a firearm certificate at the time of his arrest when he was arrested from the Mwisho Wa Lami area.…

A 40-year-old man died in a borehole as he rescued a colleague who had been trapped therein while cleaning the well in Mayanja village, Bungoma County. Police and locals said Edward Naliakho had entered the 50-foot borehole to rescue a colleague who had been trapped there. The colleague had ventured into the borehole to remove trash that was dirting the water. According to the police and locals, Naliakho managed to rescue the colleague. However, as he was struggling to come out, he fell back into the water and was trapped. This was after he complained he would not breathe. His…

Detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of a Kenyan man who was found dead after he had been shot at the main Kenya-Somalia border in Mandera. The body of Abdifatah Mohamed Maalim, 31 was found lying in a trench with a gunshot wound in the back. Blood was oozing from his mouth and ears when the body was found on January 15, police said. Police said preliminary indications show the man was shot by members of the Somalia National Army also deployed in the area. It is not clear what prompted the shooting. The incident caused tension in the area…

A boy aged eight was detained for care and protection after he set a dormitory on fire at a boarding school in Bomet County. Police and administration at Kriddol Academy said a dormitory that housed 40 pupils was burnt down. Other pupils lost their belongings in the fire incident. Police said the suspect is a grade four pupil at the school and he committed the arson in protest against the move by his parents to move him from another school. The incident happened on January 14 in Kapletundo, Sotik area, police said. Emergency teams rushed to the scene and accounted…

Jubilee Party endorsed Bina Tubi, daughter of the late Isiolo South MP Mohamed Tubi, as its candidate for the upcoming by-election, just weeks after the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) picked her brother, Tubi Mohamed Tubi, in what is widely seen as a political game of checkmate. This is likely to spark a showdown in the coming polls. Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni issued Bina Tubi with the nomination certificate, saying she was best suited for the candidacy and that she carries forward a proud political legacy. Kioni said Bina’s late father was a loyal member of the Jubilee Party who…

Two men were found guilty of possessing an elephant tusk in Kilifi County. Samuel Kazungu Duka, aged 50, and Nelson Kiringi Nzai, 25, were sentenced by the Kilifi High court to each pay a Sh1 million fines, or, in default, each serve two and a half years’ imprisonment. Prosecution, led by Winnie Atieno told the court that the two were arrested on September 12, 2023, at around 12:30 p.m. in the Chumani area of Kilifi North Sub-County. Acting on credible intelligence, law enforcement officers intercepted the suspects and discovered an elephant tusk concealed in a yellow nylon sack. The court…

At least 283 new National Police Reservists graduated at an event in Garissa, boosting operations in the region plagued by terror threats. Deputy Inspector General of Kenya Police Eliud Lagat presided over the event on Thursday. He urged the group to be disciplined and uphold integrity. He said the graduation was a boost for security operations in the region. Lagat pledged to continue with the operations in the region to address terrorism threats. “We are investing in this project of NPR and other areas to ensure we boost operations here and elsewhere,” he said. The region has been facing numerous…

The High Court froze bank accounts belonging to Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi, his wife, children, and 10 other individuals in connection with a separate Sh813 million corruption case. This will happen pending the hearing of an assets recovery suit filed by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). On Thursday, Justice Benjamin Mwikya noted that when the matter first appeared before the trial judge, there were no preservation orders in place. “In my mind, the preservation orders were not in force when this matter appeared before the trial judge.” “Had they been in place, the court would have addressed the merits…

Logistical problems delayed voting in many parts of Uganda amid an internet shutdown. The BBC observed growing frustration among voters queuing at some polling stations in the capital, Kampala, where voting had yet to start in the general election. The delays have been blamed on failures of biometric identification kits, which some have linked to the network outage, as well as a lack of equipment in some places. The electoral agency has apologised for the “technical glitches” and said officials were working to resolve them. In the presidential race, Yoweri Museveni, 81, in power since 1986, is seeking a seventh…

A federal officer shot a man in the leg in the US city of Minneapolis after being attacked with a shovel as he tried to make an arrest, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says. Tensions have been running high in the city since an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot dead a woman last week, sparking protests there which spread to other US cities. In a statement on X, the DHS said the latest shooting happened after a car chase involving a Venezuelan national who was in the country illegally. It ended in a crash and the driver…

A team of Kenyan university students has won the Stars of Innovation: U.S.-Kenya AI Challenge after developing an artificial intelligence solution aimed at tackling maternal health challenges. The winning team emerged top among eight finalists after pitching their innovation for MediBora. This AI-powered platform enables continuous monitoring, early risk alerts, and real-time communication between expectant women and healthcare providers. Their solution was developed using U.S. artificial intelligence tools and American innovation methods, with judges praising its practical design, integration with existing health systems, and thoughtful use of multi-channel access. “We wanted to solve a problem that affects people every day,”…