Author: KahawaTungu Reporter

Dame Maggie Smith, best known for the Harry Potter films and Downton Abbey, has been remembered as “a true legend” of acting following her death at the age of 89. Tributes have been paid by the King and prime minister, as well as numerous co-stars from her long career. King Charles described her as “a national treasure”, while Sir Keir Starmer said she was “beloved by so many for her great talent”. Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe fondly remembered her “fierce intellect” and “gloriously sharp tongue”. Miriam Margolyes said she was “the best of the best”, who combined “ferocity, a…

The Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) in Kenya has been ranked as the top investigative agency in Africa following a survey conducted.  The DCI received this recognition following a survey conducted by Kenya Trak, a research and survey firm. The survey evaluated various agencies based on their effectiveness in tackling significant criminal cases, their operational capabilities, and their adoption of innovative investigative methods. Ghana’s Criminal Investigation Department and Uganda’s Criminal Investigation Department ranked second and third, respectively. They were followed by Ethiopia’s National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Morocco’s General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST), and Egypt’s Central Bureau of Investigation…

In yet another fake gold scam implicating local and foreign scammers, detectives drawn from the Nairobi Regional Headquarters Friday arrested three individuals suspected to have defrauded two Kenyans over Sh50 million (USD 400,000).  The three suspects Martha Mwikali Katumo, James Mwenda and Calvin Onyango Magak were smoked out of their burrow located at White Pearl apartments in Westlands, along Rapta Road where 10.2 kilos of fake gold pellets and a weighing machine were recovered. Preliminary Investigations have revealed that the businessmen were introduced to the conmen by a Namibian national where they met over a cup of coffee that would…

More Immigration officers will be deployed to border points to beef up efforts to protect the spread of Mpox in Kenya. Immigration Principal Secretary Prof Julius Bitok said the officers will be expected to work closely with the Ministry of Health and other government agencies to ensure visitors are screened for the virus. “Those that will be sent to our land, sea and air entry points will be joining a multi-sectorial team of Health, Security, Agriculture, Kenya Revenue Authority and others who have been tasked with protecting our borders from infected visitors. The PS was speaking after presiding over the…

A court Friday issued orders restraining police from prosecuting three top aides to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Justice Lawrence Mugambi gave the orders following a case filed by the aides Ngunjiri Wambugu, George Theuri and Pius G. Munene. The judge said he had read the motion and the supporting affidavit sworn by Ngunjiri Wambugu before issuing the orders and directions. “That pending the hearing and determination of this application, this court hereby issues a conservatory order restraining the Respondents whether by themselves, their officers, servants, agents or acting on their behalf from arresting, detaining, confining, prosecuting or in any other…

Allies and aides of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua will face various charges after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions approved recommendations by police over Gen-Z protests. The ODPP agreed with police recommendations and returned a file on the probe allowing the prosection of the two Members of Parliament allied to Gachagua and three aides. Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Vincent Monda told the Director DCI Mohamed Amin there is sufficient evidence to charge the five. “The Inquiry file was placed before the Director of Public Prosecutions for perusal and directions. Upon careful perusal, the DPP has directed…

The US is offering a $20m (£15m) reward for information leading to the arrest of an Iranian man accused of plotting to assassinate Donald Trump’s former National Security Advisor John Bolton.  Shahram Poursafi, a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), is accused of trying to hire criminals in the US to kill Mr Bolton, a vocal Iran critic, in exchange for $300,000. The reward announcement comes in the same week that Trump said he had been briefed by US intelligence about an alleged Iranian assassination plot against him. Iran has previously denied orchestrating any plots to assassinate Trump…

Independent journalist Ken Klippenstein was suspended Thursday from the social platform X after sharing materials about Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) that were allegedly obtained in an Iranian hack on former President Trump’s campaign.  Klippenstein published the 271-page report compiled by the Trump campaign to vet Vance, now the Republican nominee’s running mate, on his Substack. An X spokesperson said in a statement that the journalist’s account was suspended for posting “unredacted private personal information” about Vance. “Ken Klippenstein was temporarily suspended for violating our rules on posting unredacted private personal information, specifically Sen. Vance’s physical addresses and the majority of…

Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa Thursday announced he will sponsor an impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Already the motion has gained traction with more than 200 Members of Parliament signing it. Barasa claimed to have surpassed the required 117 MPs needed for the motion to be approved by Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetangula. He said he had gathered 242 signatures from lawmakers across the political spectrum and plans to submit them to the Speaker. Barasa expressed hope that the motion will be scheduled for debate on Tuesday following its approval by the Speaker. “I am the sponsor…

Kericho Governor Erick Mutai pleaded with Members of the County Assembly to spare him from impeachment in a dramatic and teary address at a public funeral. Mutai, who faces a public hearing next week over allegations of gross misconduct, appeared vulnerable as he sought forgiveness from his political adversaries and the people of Kericho County. Speaking at the burial of former Kipchimchim Ward MCA, Robert Bernard Kipkorir Mutai on Wednesday, Mutai acknowledged that he might have made mistakes during his two-year tenure and urged the MCAs to consider reconciliation rather than impeachment. “I might have made mistakes like any other human…

Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki Thursday argued that police officers cannot be entirely blamed for the deaths of protesters shot during the deadly June 25 demonstrations.  The protests saw the Parliament buildings in Nairobi invaded. Appearing before the National Assembly National Security Committee on Thursday, Kindiki came to defence on why police officers shot peaceful protesters on the fateful day. He said that owing to his experience in law, it is inaccurate to point fingers at police officers without substantiating that police bullets killed the protesters. “The fact that somebody has been shot is not conclusive evidence that they…

Satellite internet firm Starlink on Thursday announced that a more affordable Mini variety is available in Kenya. Starlink launched in Kenya in July 2023 and has increasingly offered competitively priced internet packages and better speed, but its hardware cost is what has kept off many potential buyers. Starlink’s owner billionaire tech titan Elon Musk, in June said Starlink Mini “will be about half the standard terminal price and available later this year” in response to a query from a Kenyan on X. The company has announced that the Starlink Mini kit will cost Sh27,000, with monthly packages beginning from Sh1,300.…

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua responded to plans to charge his aides and allies over the Gen-Z protests terming it outdated.  He said the use of the criminal justice system to manage politics is an outdated political strategy that was used in the past. “President William Ruto and I, on assuming Office, gave an undertaking to the people of Kenya that never again shall the criminal justice system be called upon to help in the management of politics.” “I am embarrassed that we are back to where we were. Harassment of my office staff and Members of Parliament perceived to be…

The Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti is facing setbacks due to a lack of adequate financial support for member states who made a pledge to the United Nations.  Kenya leads the UN-authorised mission. The mission is facing funding challenges amid time constraints. Member states who committed to contribute $ 84 million (Sh10.8 billion) have so far contributed $67 million (Sh8.6 billion) through the UN Trust Fund for the MSS. The mission is expected to comprise up to 2,500 police personnel, deployed in phases, at an annual cost of approximately $600 million. UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday addressed…

The Deputy Director of the Investigations Bureau at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Paul Wachira presided over the closing ceremony of the Post Blast Investigations Course at the National Police Border Police Training Campus, Kanyonyo. The intensive two-week training course brought together officers from the Bomb Disposal Unit and Crime Scene Investigations, drawn from all regions. The course equipped them with comprehensive knowledge of tactics, techniques, and competencies to assess threats, manage bomb scenes, conduct searches for explosives, dispose of hazardous materials and unexploded ordinances, as well as provide expert opinions in court. In his address, Wachira, representing the Director…