Author: KahawaTungu Reporter

Police are investigating the cause of a fierce fire that destroyed property of unknown value at the Modern Furniture Pacific shop in Ruiru, Kiambu County. Police and witnesses said the fire broke out on Wednesday, 18 December, at around 7 am inside the furniture store before spreading to other sections and burning several pieces of furniture. No injuries were reported, police said after the fire was contained. However, property worth millions of shillings were destroyed. Area residents joined a rescue operation to extinguish the fire as the building was engulfed in flames. Some watched from a distance as the fire…

A painter died after he fell from the third floor of a building he was working on in Thika town, Kiambu County. Police said Erick Okoth was among casual laborers working at the scene at Carta Oakhill School when he slid off and fell on his head. The incident happened on December 16 as he painted the wall of a classroom at the school, police said. His colleagues rushed him to Thika Level Five Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The body was moved to General Kago morgue awaiting postmortem examination. Police said they are investigating the tragedy…

A college student died in hospital after he was assaulted by a suspect in an altercation Runda, Thika, Kiambu County. Police said Alvin Kirimi, 23 who was a student at Imperial College was assaulted on December 15 by a suspect known to him. He was taken to St. Matia Mulumba Hospital by good Samaritans where he succumbed to the injuries while undergoing treatment. The body was preserved at the same hospital morgue awaiting autopsy. The suspect behind the same murder is at large and efforts to trace him are ongoing, police said. Elsewhere in Mwamosioma village, Kisii County, a 21-year-old…

Kenya suffered a widespread power outage on Tuesday and Wednesday that affected most of the country, the leading power utility Kenya Power said.  The cause of the outage in East Africa’s largest economy, which was ongoing as of Gam, is the latest in a series of recurring power outages the country has faced over the past year. “We will provide an update on the progress of the power restoration process in due course,” Kenya Power said, adding that the cause of the outage is yet to be determined. Kenya Power supplies power to more than 9.6 million customers in Kenya,…

Luigi Mangione was charged with first-degree murder in the killing of healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the New York district attorney said on Tuesday. Mr Mangione faces various charges, including first-degree murder, and two counts of second-degree murder, one of which describes the killing as an act of “terrorism”, Bragg said. “The intent was to sow terror,” New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg said, calling the shooting a “frightening, well-planned and targeted murder”. Mr Mangione is scheduled to appear for a court hearing on 19 December over whether he will be extradited to New York on the charges, though Bragg suggested…

Honda and Nissan are reportedly holding exploratory talks about a potential merger to help them compete against electric vehicle (EV) makers, particularly in China. In March, the two Japanese car makers agreed to explore a strategic partnership for EVs. Both firms responded to the BBC with identical statements, which said: “As announced in March of this year, Honda and Nissan are exploring various possibilities for future collaboration, leveraging each other’s strengths.” It comes as many car brands grapple with growing competition as the industry shifts from petrol and diesel vehicles to electric, with production in China booming. Honda and Nissan…

The Democratic Republic of Congo has filed criminal complaints in France and Belgium against subsidiaries of the tech giant Apple, accusing it of using conflict minerals. Acting on behalf of the Congolese government, lawyers have argued that Apple is complicit in crimes committed by armed groups that control some of the mines in the east of DR Congo. Apple has said it “strongly disputes” the claims and that it is “deeply committed to responsible sourcing” of minerals. The authorities in France and Belgium will now look at whether there is enough evidence to take the legal action further. In a…

Shop owners in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, are caught between a rock and a hard place over a government directive that they install CCTV cameras outside their businesses to intensify surveillance of Islamist insurgents who have a strong presence in the city.  The businessmen say if they put up the cameras they risk being gunned down by the al-Shabab insurgents, and if they do not, they could be arrested by the police. The BBC has changed the names of the businessmen and homeowners for their own safety. “The CCTV cameras are why you now see me at home,” says former shop-owner…

Canada has promised to implement a set of sweeping new security measures along the country’s US border, including strengthened surveillance and a joint “strike force” to target transnational organised crime.  The pledge follows a threat from President-elect Donald Trump to impose, when he takes office in January, a 25% tariff on Canadian goods if the country does not secure its shared border to the flow of irregular migrants and illegal drugs. Economists say such tariffs could strike a blow to Canada’s economy. Announcing details of the plan, Canada’s minister of finance and intergovernmental affairs said the federal government would devote…

President-elect Donald Trump is suing the Des Moines Register newspaper, along with its parent company and its former pollster, for “brazen election interference” over a poll published days before the 2024 presidential election.  The Nov. 2 poll suggested Democratic nominee Kamala Harris would win Iowa, a predominantly Republican state. Trump filed the lawsuit fresh off the victory of having ABC News settle a defamation lawsuit for $15m (£12m), over an anchor falsely saying Trump was found liable for rape last year (he was liable for sexual abuse). Trump’s often hostile approach to the American press goes back to his first…

The scion of a prominent Maryland family who came top of his class at an elite private school before graduating from an Ivy League college, Luigi Mangione seemed to have everything going for him, according to friends. They have been left stunned by the 26-year-old’s arrest for the murder of UnitedHealthcare’s chief executive Brian Thompson, who was fatally shot last week in New York City. Mr Mangione will plead not guilty, his lawyer says. According to a law enforcement bulletin seen by US media, Mr Mangione was allegedly motivated by resentment at what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies. He…

A man was arrested for holding for ransom an Indian-Kenyan, in a new con game in town that has seen a number of men part with huge sums of money to recover their liberty. The victim was rescued from a house in Mirema area, Kasarani on Tuesday following a probe by detectives. In their bid to walk pockets full without a sweat or dirt, Frankline Otieno Odhiambo, 28, and his accomplice plotted the kidnapping of the victim by having a damsel lure the victim to her house, police revealed. Once inside for a business yet to be established, the lady…

The Cabinet approved approved the Assumption of Office of President and Transition of Executive Authority Bill, 2024. The proposed law aims to seal gaps and ensure smoother and more unified presidential transitions in Kenya. It consolidates the procedures for the assumption of office and the transfer of executive authority into a single legislative framework. The Bill, now headed to Parliament for consideration, introduces a unified law covering the assumption of office by the President-elect and the transition of executive power. It also imposes stricter penalties for State and public officers who obstruct the transition, proposing fines of up to Sh10…

Detectives deployed to pursue fraudsters in mega gold scams reported across the country arrested and arraigned a US citizen implicated in a scam involving thousands of kilograms of gold that cost the victim over USD1.35 million.  Antonucci Sergio Patrick was Monday December 16 arraigned at Milimani Law Courts charged with Conspiracy to commit a felony and Obtaining money by false pretences, following his arrest yesterday after jetting into the country from Dubai. He pleaded not guilty and was granted a bond of Sh10 million plus one Kenyan surety. The case will be mentioned on January 23, 2025 for pretrial. Establishments…

A senior police officer who is in charge of petty crimes at the Kisumu Central police station was injured during a robbery drama on Sunday morning. The officer who is of the rank of Chief Inspector was on patrol near Rotary Vocational Training Center when he was attacked by two armed men. The men stabbed and injured his left arm in the struggle before robbing him of Sh70,000 he had. Police officers on patrol responded to the scene and helped him to the local clinic where he was attended to. Cases of armed robberies have been on the rise in…