Author: KahawaTungu Reporter

President William Ruto is scheduled to address the nation on Sunday evening regarding the imminent teachers’ strike. A statement from the Ministry of Education indicates that Dr Ruto will address “pertinent issues on education” during a town-hall meeting at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi. The announcement comes as the government makes last-minute efforts to prevent the strike, which has been called by the two major teachers’ unions—the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and the Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet). Both unions have instructed teachers to boycott the reopening of schools on Monday, August 26,…

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has summoned Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa for a statement recording on Tuesday. The Commission is investigating bribery allegations against Barasa and noted that this is the second opportunity being given to the MP to comply with the summons. “The Commission accords you a second opportunity to come and respond to the allegations of bribery made against you. To this end, you are required to appear at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission’s offices at Integrity Centre, Nairobi on 27th August 2024 at 9:00 am,” EACC says in a statement dated August 21, 2024. The anti-graft…

At least five people were killed Sunday following an accident involving a trailer, a tractor and a salon car in the Murgus area along the Eldoret-Malaba highway, Kakamega County, police said.  Police added two others were injured in the morning accident. Witnesses and police said the trailer driver is said to have been speeding from Eldoret when he hit the tractor’s rear before losing control and colliding with the oncoming Toyota Probox. Five family members who were in the car were returning home after a family member’s wedding in Busia, police said. They died, police who attended the scene said…

A miner was killed after a mining tunnel collapsed in Mwatate, Taita Taveta. The incident happened on Saturday August 24 at night as a group of miners scavenged for green garnet, police said. Police who visited the scene said two miners were in the tunnel when the walls caved in trapping them. One miner managed to escape while one was trapped. The operation to rescue him was called off due to darkness. The operation resumed on Sunday morning. This is the latest such incident to happen at mining sites amid calls for safety measures to address the trend. Hundreds of…

The government has enhanced the role of National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) in promoting education, aiming to improve literacy rate across the country. This comes ahead of the reopening of schools for the third term. Officials say some regions have surpassed targets and attributed the same to the role played by the NGAO officials. During a meeting with NGAOs at Kenya School of Government, Lower Kabete on August 20, 2024, President William Ruto urged the officers to prioritize education transition as a key performance indicator (KPI). “We already have clear directions on transition from primary to junior secondary and eventually…

The Israeli military says its warplanes are hitting Hezbollah targets in Lebanon after detecting moves to fire missiles and rockets into Israel.  “In a self-defence act to remove these threats, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) is striking terror targets,” IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said. Israel said Lebanese civilians had been warned to immediately leave areas where Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Shia Muslim group, was operating. Shortly afterwards, Hezbollah said it had launched a large-scale drone attack on Israel in response to last month’s killing of the group’s senior military commander. Across northern Israel sirens warning of incoming rockets were heard sounding…

Kenya aviation workers threatened to go on strike from September 1, 2024 after talks with the government over the planned leasing of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) hit a deadlock. The workers are opposed to the proposal by the Indian firm Adani Group to take over the running of JKIA. The Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) Secretary General Moss Ndiema said talks with the Ministry of Transport and the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) have failed to bear fruits. Ndiema said among others, the KAA has so far failed to avail the relevant documents in relation to the proposed deal, forcing…

Russia and Ukraine exchanged 115 prisoners of war from each side on Saturday after the United Arab Emirates acted as an intermediary. It is the first such exchange since Ukraine launched a surprise attack into Russia’s Kursk region on Aug. 6, the biggest attack inside Russian territory by a foreign power since World War Two. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Russian servicemen swapped were captured in the Kursk region. All released Russian soldiers are now in Belarus and will receive medical treatment and rehabilitation upon their return to Russia. The ministry expressed gratitude for the UAE’s role in facilitating the…

Joao Pedro’s 95th minute header handed Brighton a 2-1 win over Manchester United on Saturday as 31-year-old boss Fabian Hurzeler enjoyed a dream home Premier League debut. United looked to have snatched a point when Amad Diallo’s deflected effort cancelled out Danny Welbeck’s first half opener for Brighton. The visitors could even have won it had Alejandro Garnacho’s effort not clipped team-mate Joshua Zirkzee, who was in an offside position, just before the ball crossed the line. Instead it is Brighton who have a maximum six points from their opening two games under Hurzeler as Pedro was left completely unmarked…

German police say they have arrested a 15-year-old in connection with a knife attack in the western German city of Solingen. Police say the identity of the attacker remains unclear. Three people died in the attack and four more are “very seriously injured”, police say. The attack happened during celebrations to mark the 650th anniversary of the city’s foundation. Police say a motive is still not clear but they say they cannot rule out a “terrorist” motive. Local mayor Tim Kurzbach says those who were at the event are in a state of “shock, horror and great grief” German Chancellor…

The U.S. military said on Friday that it would deliver 24 additional armored vehicles to Kenyan personnel deployed in Haiti who are heading a long-delayed security operation in the conflict-ravaged Caribbean nation. Some 400 Kenyan police, leading a U.N.-ratified security mission mandated to fight heavily armed gangs that have taken over most of the capital, recently deployed to Haiti. The mission was first requested by Haiti’s previous government in 2022, and of the handful of countries that have together pledged over 2,500 troops, the Kenyan contingent remains the only group to have arrived. The U.S. Southern Command, the Department of…

Manslaughter investigation begins over Sicily yacht wreck but no suspect identified. Prosecutors say they are in the early stages of investigating a so-called “crime hypothesis” of culpable shipwreck and manslaughter. They stress they are not investigating anyone specifically at the moment. Italian authorities confirm that the final missing body found on Friday was that of 18-year-old Hannah Lynch, the daughter of British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch. They also say the yacht, called the Bayesian, likely sunk because of a downburst. This is a localised, powerful wind that descends from a thunderstorm and spreads out unpredictably. Of the 22 passengers and…

The government has allocated Sh21.8 billion in capitation funds to public basic education institutions. Education CS Julius Ogamba announced that this funding will be divided among Free Public Education, Free Day Junior School Education, and Free Day Secondary Education. Specifically, Sh1.6 billion is designated for Free Public Education, Sh6.1 billion for Free Day Junior School Education, and Sh14 billion for Free Day Secondary Education. Ogamba noted that this release of funds comes at a crucial time as schools are set to reopen on August 26. “In readiness for the new school term starting August 26, 2024, the government has released…

The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) has urged the withdrawal of the 2024 Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (Amendment) Bill, claiming it violates the Constitution. NCCK General Secretary Canon Peter Karanja emphasized that restricting the qualifications for the EACC Chairperson to legal professionals would contradict constitutional principles and weaken the Commission’s effectiveness. “The proposed amendment will offend the letter and spirit of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 which the National Assembly [is] obligated to protect,” the NCCK said on Friday. The NCCK argues that the amendment would diminish the EACC’s ability to effectively promote accountability and transparency. “The NCCK…

Justin Bieber and Hailey are officially parents! The musician, 30, and his model-entrepreneur wife, 27, have welcomed their first baby together. Justin confirmed the news on Friday, Aug. 23. “WELCOME HOME JACK BLUES BIEBER,” Justin wrote in an Instagram post. Hailey posted the same photo to her Instagram Stories soon afterwards with the child’s name and a teddy bear and blue heart emoji. Pattie Mallette, Justin’s mom, tweeted, “CONGRATULATIONS @justinbieber & Hailey. I LOVE YOU FOREVER BABY JACK!!” Stephen Baldwin, Hailey’s dad, shared Mallette’s tweet, adding: “Amen, Congratulations to you and may God continue to bless our family.” The couple…