Author: KahawaTungu Reporter

A US man, detained for months in a Syrian prison after entering the country on foot, has described being freed by hammer-wielding men as rebels overthrew the regime of Bashar al-Assad. The man – who later identified himself as Travis Timmerman to the BBC’s US news partner CBS – was found by residents near the capital Damascus. Footage posted on social media showed him lying on a sofa as residents spoke to local reporters. Mr Timmerman said he had been arrested upon entering the country seven months ago. He was reported as missing in May, having last been seen in…

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has donated Sh129 million to an inauguration fund for President-elect Donald Trump. The tech giant’s boss, Mark Zuckerberg, dined with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in November, having sought to repair his and his firm’s relationship with Trump following the election. Trump has previously been highly critical of Mr Zuckerberg and Facebook – calling the platform “anti-Trump” in 2017. Meta is not believed to have made similar donations to President Joe Biden’s inaugural fund in 2020 or to Trump’s previous inaugural fund in 2016. The company confirmed its million-dollar donation to the…

Time Magazine has named Donald Trump as their person of the year for the second time.  “For marshaling a comeback of historic proportions, for driving a once-in-a- generation political realignment, for reshaping the American presidency and altering America’s role in the world, Donald Trump is TIME’S 2024 Person of the Year,” Time Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs said in a letter to readers. The Republican president-elect is set to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday to commemorate the honour alongside several of his family members. Trump was first named person of the year in 2016 after…

Dozens of politicians and security bosses are among those conferred with various awards by president William Ruto.  This is over their distinguished and outstanding services rendered to the nation in various capacities and responsibilities, the president said. Among those who received the Second Class Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (E.G.H.) include Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Kahariri Charles Muriu, secretary to the cabinet Wanjau Mercy Wangui Kiiru, Deputy Chief Justice Lady Justice Mwilu Philomena Mbete, Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime, trade Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvuria and Minority Leader Junet Mohamed. Those who got Third Class Moran of…

Ethiopia and Somalia agreed to end their bitter dispute over Addis Ababa’s plans to build a port in the breakaway republic of Somaliland following talks in Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the “historic agreement”, which he said would eventually ensure landlocked Ethiopia’s access to the sea. At the press conference he held hands with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who both agreed to respect one another’s “sovereignty”. The two neighbours have been at loggerheads since January when Ethiopia signed a maritime deal with Somaliland – which Somalia considers as part of its…

Seventeen years after Romania and Bulgaria joined the European Union, they have been given the green light to become members of its border-free Schengen travel zone. The decision by fellow EU member states means that from 1 January 2025, it will be possible to drive all the way to France, Spain or Norway without a passport. It’s a moment of huge relief for the 25 million people who live in Romania and Bulgaria, and who will finally feel accepted as full members of the EU. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it was a “day of joy”. Although…

Australia’s government says it will create new rules to force big tech companies to pay local publishers for news.  The long-awaited decision sets out a successor to a world-first law that Australia passed in 2021, which was designed to make giants like Meta and Google pay for hosting news on their platforms. Earlier this year Meta – which owns Facebook and Instagram – announced it would not renew payment deals it had in place with Australian news organisations, setting up a standoff with lawmakers. The new rules, announced on Thursday, will require firms that earn more than A$250m ($160m; £125m)…

A fisherman who was undergoing homecare treatment in Soyosoyo village, Kilifi County after being stung by a black sea urchin on his left foot while fishing, has died. The fisherman identified as Emmanuel Kiti Yawa, 32 and popularly known as Ngoto died at his rental house which he lived with his four-year-old son. The incident happened while he was fishing with his colleagues in the shallow waters off the Soyosoyo beach on the eve of December 7 this year. Sea urchin is an aquatic creature with more than 90 percent water in its body. It’s not a fish. They have…

The National Police Service and other agencies are investigating how and why police violently dispersed anti-femicide protesters in the city on Tuesday. Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo said they had had a conversation with the police leadership and sought answers on the actions. “It is not something we would want to say that is acceptable. We have had conversations with the Inspector General of Police, and it is regrettable and something that should not have happened in the first place,” he said. Omollo said he regretted the police violence meted on the peaceful anti-femicide protesters. Omollo termed the violent…

Two more suspects arrested in the murder of Wells Fargo Human Resource Manager Willis Ayieko Onyango were Wednesday arraigned in a Kisumu Court. Duncan Ochieng Obong’o alias Otuchi and Samuel Onyango Ongweso alias Onyango Ja Boda appeared before the Kisumu High Court Deputy Registrar Gertrude Serem on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively to face murder charges for the death of Ayieko in October this year. “The two are facing charges of murder contrary to section 203 as read with section 204 of the Penal Code, Chapter 63 Laws of Kenya,” said the Office of Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) in a…

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja led a police team to goldmines in Dabel, Moyale, Marsabit County to inspect compliance of the ban of mining activities there. Kanja flew to the sites on Wednesday December 11, following claims a gold mine collapsed in Dabel area trapping some of the miners. He denied reports there were deaths at the site. Kanja held discussions with the local elders and security agencies in the area as part of efforts to tame the illegal mining activities there. Kanja said the government’s decision to close the Dabel goldmines remains in force. “The ban on mining…

Police in South Korea are in the process of raiding the presidential office in Seoul, following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s abortive attempt to impose martial law last week. Police say while they have gained access to the civil service offices, however, they are unable to enter the main building of Yoon’s office, which is blocked by security guards, according to AFP. The raids are the latest development in what has been a tumultuous week in South Korean politics. President Yoon, who has stayed in office despite an impeachment vote and multiple calls for him to step down, is facing multiple…

President William Ruto Wednesday signed seven parliamentary Bills that seek to accelerate the implementation of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. They are Kenya Revenue Authority (Amendment) Bill 2024, the Kenya Roads (Amendment) Bill 2024, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (Amendment) Bill 2024 and the Statutory Instruments (Amendment) Bill 2023. Others are the Business Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024, the Tax Procedures (Amendment) Bill 2024 and the Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024. The Kenya Revenue Authority (Amendment) Bill 2024 provides for the appointment of deputy commissioners by the Commissioner-General. However, the appointments will be subject to the approval of the Board. The…

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Tuesday threatened to suspend all Ugandan lawyers operating in their country, following a decision by the Uganda Law Council to deny Martha Karua, a temporary practicing licence. Karua failed for the second time to represent her clients Dr Kizza Besigye and Obeid Lutale, who were abducted in Nairobi, Kenya, on November 16. The two arraigned before the General Court Martial on November 20, charged with unlawful possession of firearms, remanded to Luzira until December 2 when they reappeared and were remanded again. They reappeared Tuesday and were further remanded until January 7, 2025. LSK…

Police are investigating an incident in which a 21-year-old student at the Zetech University died by suicide at an apartment he lived in Witeithie, Thika.  Police said Ryan Kitari’s body was Wednesday December 11 morning found hanging on the wall of the upper floor of the apartment he lived. He was an education student at the Zetech University Mangu campus. He left a suicide note in which he blamed failure to proceed for teaching practices in January 2025 for the move. Other colleagues at the university and locals thronged the scene on Wednesday on learning about the incident. Police arrived…