Author: KahawaTungu Reporter

Amsons Group, a leading pan-African manufacturing and energy conglomerate, has closed the takeover offer of Bamburi Cement Plc.  In a regulatory notice published by Amsons Group, through its Kenyan subsidiary and investment vehicle, Amsons Industries (K) Ltd, secured 96.54%acceptances from Bamburi shareholders. Amsons Group Managing Director, Mr Edha Nahdi, expressed the company’s commitment to a swift and smooth closure of the US$180 million deal. “This acquisition aligns with our strategy to expand into specialized cement manufacturing and complements our broader growth objectives. With Bamburi Cement now part of the Amsons family, we anticipate creating significant mutual benefits through this integration,”…

A funny thing happened on the way to a bipartisan agreement to fund US government operations and avoid a partial shutdown this week. Conservatives in Congress – encouraged by tech multi-billionaire Elon Musk – balked. Republicans tried to regroup on Thursday afternoon, offering a new, slimmed-down package to fund the government. That vote failed, as 38 Republicans joined most Democrats in voting no. All this political drama provides just a taste of the chaos and unpredictability that could be in store under unified Republican rule in Washington next year. The man at the centre of this week’s drama holds no…

The legal case against Luigi Mangione expanded on Thursday, with the federal government filing four criminal charges against him, including one punishable by death. Mr Mangione, who is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month, arrived by helicopter in Manhattan in the afternoon after being extradited from Pennsylvania. He disembarked in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs and, surrounded by officials and armed guards, walked before cameras and journalists to the van that would take him to court. The 26-year-old will remain behind bars as his lawyers said that they would not yet present an application for bail.…

A union representing more than 11,000 Starbucks baristas in the US says its members will hold a five-day strike starting on Friday morning, in a dispute over pay and working conditions. Workers United says the walkouts will happen in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle, with strike action set to spread each day and reach hundreds of stores by Christmas Eve unless a deal is reached. It follows the union calling for the coffee shop giant to raise wages and staffing, as well as implement better schedules for its workers. “We are ready to continue negotiations to reach agreements. We need…

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki Thursday evening presided over the signing of an agreement between doctors and the Ministry of Health.  This will now see the nationwide strike initially set for December 22, 2024 effectively called off. The agreement, which was also signed by the Council of Governors (CoG), will see intern doctors paid a salary of Sh206,000 in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed between the government and the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) in 2017. KMPDU, led by Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah, also noted that it was agreed during the meeting that the…

President William Ruto has reshuffled his cabinet, again. The head of state has moved Sports CS Kipchumba Murkomen to the Interior docket. Murkomen will be replaced by Salim Mvurya. Former Health CS in retired President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government, Mutahi Kagwe is the new CS for Agriculture. Former Kiambu governor William Kabogo is the CS for ICT while Lee Kinyanjui lands the Trade CS role. More follows

There is a decrease in general crime, including offences such as robbery, break-ins, stock theft, vehicle thefts, dangerous drugs, traffic offences, and corruption cases. The Prime cabinet Secretary and CS for Foreign Affairs and who is also the acting CS for Interior Musalia Mudavadi however said Thursday that there are increased incidences of vandalism targeting electric power transmission infrastructure, resulting in power disruptions affecting service delivery and thus causing economic loss. According to the ministry, a total of 114 cases were reported across the country, 81 cases are in court and 33 are under investigation. Mudavadi said the security agencies…

Though there is no known public evidence of terrorism financing abuse of Non Profit Organizations (NPOs) in Kenya, there is a plausible terrorism financing threat. According to Terrorism Financing Risk Assessment for Non-Profit Organizations in Kenya released yesterday, the NPOs operating in or near areas with an active terrorist presence were potentially vulnerable. “There are also concerns regarding NPOs whose activities or location exposed them to communities or individuals who may be sympathetic to terrorist groups or supportive to terrorism causes,” the report states. The assessment, which was commissioned by the Government of Kenya, is to conduct a comprehensive review…

A 78-year-old woman was robbed of Sh150,000 after she had withdrawn the cash from a bank in Engineer area, Nyandarua County. The woman said she had visited the Equity Bank Engineer branch and withdrew the cash on December 17 morning. She then boarded a public service vehicle to her home in Gakorofa village in Mawingu sub-location oblivious of the dangers waiting for her. She said after she alighted from the matatu and was walking home a few kilometers away, she and another friend were intercepted by three men. The men had been in a salon car that was trailing the…

At least four miners were killed after a goldmine site they were working on collapsed in Lami Nyeusi area, West Pokot County. The police said the tragedy happened on Tuesday, December 17, around 5 am while more than ten miners were in the process of extracting gold ores from the strip pit. Police said mining activities had been banned at the scene due to safety reasons. But miners sneak there to get gold to sell for a living. One survivor with a broken leg was rushed to the referral hospital in Kapenguria after the incident. The bodies were discovered by…

A Kenyan who was detained at Guantánamo Bay for nearly 17 years over links to attacks staged by Al Qaeda, was among three prisoners released, the United States Pentagon has announced.  The prisoner, Mohammed Abdul Bajabu was repatriated to Kenya marking the first release from the wartime prison in over a year. Bajabu was transferred to Kenya nearly three years after a Periodic Review Board determined the “continued law of war detention … was no longer necessary” in December 2021, a release from the Pentagon said on Tuesday December 17, marking the first detainee transfer in more than a year.…

Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson said Wednesday the road traffic chaos in Nairobi is set to face significant improvement following the national cabinet’s approval of the Sh43.4 billion Clean Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System. Speaking on Citizen TV’s JKL show on Wednesday, Sakaja confirmed that the long-awaited BRT project would commence next year, terming it one of the major solution to the city’s traffic congestion. “The National Govt cabinet has approved this, Once complete, the BRT will provide direct transport systems to specific places, saving time and addressing the issue of traffic jams in Nairobi,” Sakaja said. The project, which had…

Mikel Arteta hopes Gabriel Jesus’ Carabao Cup hat-trick will give the striker the “spark” he needs to rediscover his Premier League goalscoring form. The Brazil striker scored three second-half goals against Crystal Palace as the Gunners came from behind to reach the semi-finals. They were his first goals at Emirates Stadium in a year and also only the second game he has scored in this season, following a strike against Preston – also in the EFL Cup – at the end of October. Jesus has not scored in the Premier League since 30 January and Arteta hopes his treble will…

A Google Street View image of a man loading a large white plastic bag into the boot of his car has helped unravel a murder case in a northern Spanish town, police say.  The Google app allows users to see images of streets around the world – filmed by cars mounted with cameras. It captured the exact moment the body of the victim was allegedly being removed. Two people were arrested last month, accused of being responsible for the disappearance and murder of a man in October last year. His dismembered remains were found in a cemetery last week. This…

At least 13 people died after an Indian naval speedboat lost control and hit a passenger ferry off the coast of Mumbai, a navy spokesperson said. Three navy personnel are among the dead, while more than 100 people have been rescued, Maharashtra state chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said. Footage of the incident posted online shows the speedboat circling before smashing into the ferry, which later capsized. The Indian navy said there had been an “engine malfunction”. The privately owned ferry was making its way to the Elephanta Caves, a popular tourist destination, when it was hit by the speedboat. “A…