Author: KahawaTungu Reporter

A Kenya Defense Forces soldier and two civilians were arrested at Windridge – Chai Estate in Juja for stealing a firearm from a stuck licensed firearm holder in Kirinyaga on November 25, 2023. The soldier attached to KDF Kahawa Garrison, his female friend and another man were arrested Saturday by a joint operations team from DCI Juja and DCI Headquarters. They were later escorted to Wang’uru Police Station in Mwea East where the firearm loss had been reported. In the incident, the male victim driving in his Toyota Prado had traveled to check on his land located in the county’s…

A police officer who was arrested by the Malindi Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) over alleged links to the terror group, al Shabaab was formally arraigned.  The officer had been detained by the ATPU officers who were investigating him over allegations of recruiting youth to al Shabaab. Following successful investigations, the police believe that the officer was not only a recruiter but a member of the terror group. Police say the constable targeted youth from Tana River County. He was presented at the Shanzu Law Courts where he was also charged with being in possession of narcotic drugs. He was arrested…

A chemical tanker was hit by a drone launched from Iran in the Indian Ocean on Saturday, the US military says. The Pentagon said the Chem Pluto vessel was struck “200 nautical miles (370km) from the coast of India” at 10:00 local time (06:00 GMT). A fire on board the ship was extinguished. There were no casualties. Iran has not commented. There has recently been a series of drone and rocket attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. In a separate development, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that on Saturday “two Houthi anti-ship…

A senior police officer was Saturday evening killed in a road accident involving two vehicles along Kakamega-Kisumu highway.  Two other officers and a civilian were injured in the accident that happened at Isikhu river, police said. The officers were in a private car headed for Kisumu at about 5 pm when their vehicle collided head on with an oncoming one. Inspector Alexandra Leshan of Khayega police station died on the spot while his other colleagues who were with him were seriously injured, police said. Witnesses and police said Leshan lost control of his salon car and collided with another government…

Israel said Saturday it arrested 200 members of the Hamas and Islamic Jihad groups in the past week and taken them into its territory for questioning. A statement said some of the suspects had been hiding among the civilian population and surrendered voluntarily. Israel says 700 Palestinian militants have been arrested since it launched its military operation and invasion of Gaza with the aim of eliminating Hamas. Hamas says mostly women and children are being killed by the Israelis. The BBC is unable to verify the claims. Israel has previously stressed that it takes steps to avoid civilian casualties, and…

A dual US-Israeli citizen believed to have been abducted by Hamas was killed during the 7 October raid in Israel, the White House said on Friday. Gadi Haggai, 73, was reportedly taken alongside his wife Judi near Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel on 7 October. It is believed his remains are being held by Hamas in Gaza. It is unclear exactly how or where he died. Five to 10 US citizens are still being held hostage, according to the Hostage and Missing Persons Families Forum. President Joe Biden said in a statement that he was “heartbroken by the news…

The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) presidential election is facing a crisis of legitimacy amid opposition calls for the vote to be annulled due to alleged fraud. Five opposition candidates, including former provincial Governor Moise Katumbi, said on Saturday the vote should not stand as it had been tainted by “massive fraud.” Five other opposition leaders, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Denis Mukwege and former oil executive Martin Fayulu, have called for a protest march against the result next Wednesday. “We will protest against the irregularities noted during the voting operations,” they said in a letter to the governor…

US President Joe Biden discussed scaling back Israel’s offensive in Gaza with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but did not request a halt to the fighting, during a lengthy phone call between the two Saturday. The conversation came a day after Washington withheld its veto from a UN Security Council resolution calling for increased aid, but not an immediate ceasefire to Israel’s war against Hamas, with Netanyahu expressing appreciation for the US’s efforts to soften the language of the text. Biden declined to discuss most details of what he said was his “long conversation” with Netanyahu Saturday, calling it “private.” Hebrew…

Former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta sued the government over ownership of a 1,062.3 hectare piece of land in Taita Taveta County.  Mama Ngina with former Taveta Member of Parliament Basil Criticos, sued the Chief Lands Registrar and the Attorney General for failing to issue them with the original certificate of title for the land. The two own the biggest pieces of land in the area. Mama Ngina and Criticos, who claim joint ownership of the land, are challenging the decision of government officials to refuse to issue them with the critical document. They are asking the court to grant…

Somali and U.S. forces killed a senior leader of the militant Islamist al Shabaab group who had planned numerous attacks in Somalia and Kenya, Somalia’s information minister said. Maalim Ayman was on a U.S. State Department Rewards for Justice wanted list, with a $10 million reward offered for information leading to his arrest or conviction. The department said he was responsible for preparing an attack on a military base in Kenya in January 2020 in which three Americans – one U.S. military service member and two contractors – were killed. “Maalim Ayman … was confirmed to have been killed in…

Slain Meru Blogger Daniel Muthiani, popularly known as Sniper died out of strangulation, a postmortem said.  An autopsy done on his body on Friday showed he strangled on the neck. Government pathologist Johansen Oduor conducted the examination on Friday at the Marimanti Level 4 Hospital Mortuary. Oduor said Sniper had marks on his neck and he exhibited signs of a person who had lacked oxygen. Also, he had fractured ribs and showed injuries on his head which suggested that he was strangled and before being thrown into a river. Officials picked up DNA samples to confirm he is the one…

A suspect arrested alongside a Member of Isiolo County Assembly was on a wanted list for among others arms trafficking and murder.  Nura Abdi Diba was also wanted for trafficking narcotics especially bhang from Shashamane in Ethiopia to a controlled area in northern Kenya. The same found its way to other parts of the country and region, officials say. Some of the weapons he is accused of supplying have killed locals and police for snitching on him, police said. His four wheel drive land cruiser car was intercepted in Isiolo town before it led to a house where bhang worth…

Former Tourism CS Najib Balala has denied Sh3.4 billion graft charges linked to the construction of Ronald Ngala Utalii college in Kilifi. Balala was Friday released on a Sh1 million cash bail or Sh5 million bond by Malindi Chief Magistrate James Mwaniki. The former minister was charged alongside his former Principal Secretary Leah Gwiyo and 82-year-old Joseph Odero. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has ordered 11 suspects who are yet to be arrested over the same to surrender. Read: Balala, Four Others Arraigned At Malindi Law Courts Over Alleged Sh8.5 Billion Fraud The suspects include seven former Tourism fund officials…

Former Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has been arraigned at the Malindi Law Courts over irregular payment of Sh8.5 billion for the Utalii College branch in Kilifi. The former MP arrived aboard a luxurious vehicle under heavy security. He (Balala), former Tourism PS Leah Adda Gwiyo, Joseph Odero (Managing Partner, West Consult Engineers), Allan Wafula Chenane (former Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Fund) and Flora Ngina Ngonze (former ICT Manager, Tourism Fund) were arrested on Thursday evening. Meanwhile, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has ordered 11 suspects who are yet to be arrested over the same to surrender. The suspects…

More staff at the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) were Thursday and Friday questioned over the Sh16 billion edible oil scam. Officials said the staff including the CEO Pamela Mutua who was there for a further statement left the Directorate of Criminal Investigations offices after a grilling session. Other staff and major suppliers in the scam were Friday December 22 expected to be grilled, sources said. The DCI and Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) are investigating the saga. Detectives are targeting senior government officials, believed to have had a hand in the multi-billion shilling plunder. EACC is currently in…