Author: KahawaTungu Reporter

A revolution in vehicle fuel is gaining momentum in Tanzania, but a lack of filling stations means it is stuck in second gear. Like Nigeria and some other countries on the continent, Tanzania is beginning to embrace compressed natural gas (CNG) as an alternative to petrol and diesel. It is seen as cleaner and better for the environment than those fossil fuels, but its relative cheapness is the biggest draw for the 5,000 or so motorists in the East African state who have embraced the change – particularly commercial drivers. This represents a small fraction of Tanzania’s vehicles, but the…

Vogue editor Dame Anna Wintour, U2 frontman Bono and billionaire George Soros are among those who will receive America’s highest civilian honour from outgoing President Joe Biden. The Presidential Medal of Freedom will be awarded to 19 people this year, spanning cultural icons, politicians and campaigners. They have been chosen because they are “good people who have made extraordinary contributions to their country and the world”, the White House said. Biden will present the medals at the White House in a ceremony on Saturday. Bono, who’s real name is Paul David Hewson, has already been awarded the highest cultural honour…

A Japanese woman, recognised as the world’s oldest person by Guinness World Records, has died aged 116. Tomiko Itooka died in a nursing home in the city of Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, according to officials. She became the oldest person in the world after Spain’s Maria Branyas Morera passed away in August 2024 at age 117. “Ms Itooka gave us courage and hope through her long life,” Ashiya’s 27-year-old mayor Ryosuke Takashima said in a statement. “We thank her for it.” Ms Itooka was born in May 1908 – six years before the World War One and the same year that…

Four siblings identified a suspect arrested as the man who attacked and left them for near death along Southern bypass in Nairobi.  The identification parade was conducted at the Karen police station a day after the suspect was arrested in an operation. Such an exercise is key in strengthening the case when it is prosecuted. Police arrested Martin Otieno, a suspect linked to a string of robberies targeting motorists along Nairobi’s Southern Bypass. The arrest followed intensified patrols by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Lang’ata, Dagoretti, and the Regional Criminal Investigations Office in response to rising…

The historic Limuru Country Club’s clubhouse, established in 1945, was Saturday destroyed by a fire.  Police said they are investigating the cause of the fire. The Club later announced the temporary closure of its clubhouse following the fire outbreak. According to a memo released by the club’s Chairman, John Keru, the fire broke out at approximately 3:30 AM, but fortunately no injuries were reported. “We are relieved to report that no staff, members, or guests were present at the time of the incident,” the statement shared said. Keru said that fire marshals responded promptly to the scene and are working…

The body of a 24-year-old activist who went missing in November 2024 was found at Thika Level Five Hospital mortuary. This was more than a month after he went missing in unclear circumstances. Ibrahim Hilal Mwiti was last seen in Nairobi city centre before he disappeared, prompting a search by his family as his friends resorted to social media platforms seeking help to locate to him. The family filed a missing person report at Kamukunji Police Station on November 15, 2024, under OB number 80A/13/11/24, they said. Their search ended in death after identifying his body at a mortuary in…

The High Court in Nairobi stopped the appointment of Bruno Oguda Obodha as the new Managing Director of East Africa Portland Cement Company (EAPCC).  An order issued by justice Bahati Mwamuye on Friday January 3 directed the matter be mentioned on February 12, 2025. This followed a case filed by one Caroline Wambui Mwangi who sought to stop the appointment of Obodha over several grounds. Justice Mwamuye issued the conservatory order on January 3 halting the plans to have Obodha take over. “Pending the inter partes hearing and determination of the Notice of Motion Application dated 02/01/2025, a conservatory order…

At least nine people died in a tragic road accident along Kitale-Eldoret road Friday morning. Three children escaped with injuries, police said. The accident involved a lorry and a matatu. Uasin Gishu County police commander Benjamin Mwanthi said the accident occurred after the driver of the lorry lost control and rammed into the matatu. “The matatu had 12 passengers and only three children survived,” said Mwanthi. He said police are investigating the cause of the accident. Mwanthi said the accident occurred at about 7am on January 3. “We are cautioning our people to be careful on the road and avoid…

Kenya has demanded compensation from India over 500 kilogrammes of debris from the country’s SpaDex mission, which landed at Makuku Village in Makueni County. The debris landed in the village on December 30. Officials said the debris had been traced to India’s SpaDex mission, which was launched on the same day. Kenya has now notified India of compensation demand over the incident, an official said. Preliminary investigations by the Kenya Space Agency showed that the metallic object, measuring approximately 2.5 meters in diameter, was a component of a rocket’s separation mechanism. Such debris is typically designed to disintegrate upon re-entry…

The chief of Gaza’s Hamas-run police force and his deputy have been killed in an Israeli strike on a tent camp sheltering displaced families. The Hamas-run interior ministry condemned what it called the “assassination” of Mahmoud Salah and Hussam Shahwan, who it said had been “performing their humanitarian and national duty”. Nine other people, including three children and two women, were also killed in the overnight attack in al-Mawasi, near the southern city of Khan Younis, medics said. Israel’s military confirmed it had carried out a strike targeting Shahwan, who it alleged was a “terrorist” who had helped Hamas’s military…

Social media influencer Francis Gaitho has spoken after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations said he is wanted for criminal activities including sharing information about a senior public officer and false information.  He said he will present himself at the DCI on January 7 for processing. “Thank you to all for the calls and messages of goodwill. To members of the mainstream media who write DCI press-releases copy paste without verifying details, kindly include that I will be presenting myself at DCI headquarters on 7th January at 10am accompanied by my lawyers.” “I’m not a criminal. I’m not a murderer. I’m…

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is seeking public assistance in locating Francis Ng’ang’a Gaitho, who is wanted for multiple criminal activities.  Gaitho, previously charged with publishing false information under Section 23 of the Computer Misuse and Cyber Crimes Act (Case No. CR E738/24), failed to appear in court on December 4, 2024. As a result, the Milimani Law Courts issued a warrant of arrest against him.   In addition to the ongoing case, Gaitho is under investigation for: saring personal information of a senior Public Officer, publishing false information about Kenyan citizens and cyber harassment targeting senior government officials.   The…

Opposition figures in Burundi have been blocked by the election commission from standing in upcoming elections, their party told AFP Wednesday. President Evariste Ndayishimiye has said that the East African nation will head to the ballot box in June to elect local officials. The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) ruled late Tuesday that candidates belonging to a four-party Burundi for All coalition –- recognised by the interior ministry on December 17 — would be excluded from standing. Candidates for the coalition would be unable to run because three of its members belong to the suspended opposition party, the National Freedom…

A police officer was hit and killed by a speeding car as he and his team tried to clear a stalled Tuktuk on the Thika Highway in Thika. Corporal James Mutunga was attached to the Northern Corridor Transit Patrol Unit (NCTPU) under the traffic department. NCTPU also works with the Kenya National Highways Authority KeNHA to manage traffic flow on the major highways. Police said Mutunga was in the company of other officials from KeNHA and had stopped to attend to a stalled Tuktuk when a speeding car hit them. The car speeding from Kenol direction towards Thika rammed onto…

A seven-year-old boy was found dead after he drowned in a river in Kiambiu slums, Nairobi. The boy and his friends had gone to play in Kosovo Kiambiu area on the eve of the New Year but failed to return to his home. This prompted a search overnight. He had apparently slipped into a river meandering through the slum and drowned. Police said they are however investigating if the victim was killed and dumped into the water. Locals said they searched for the boy overnight until the following day when the body was found about a kilometer downstream from where…