Author: KahawaTungu Reporter

Two candidates running for parliament in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s December 20 general election were killed in separate incidents on Friday.  This came as a rights group warned in a report on Saturday that electoral violence risks undermining the vote. A candidate for the ruling coalition in the South Kivu province in the eastern Congo region was killed by unknown gunmen while he was returning from a campaign event on Friday evening, a regional government official said. Another ruling coalition candidate in Beni, in the North Kivu province, also in eastern Congo, died from gunshot wounds late on Friday…

Democratic Republic of Congo recalled its ambassadors from Kenya and Tanzania for consultations on Saturday, after a new Congolese military alliance that includes rebels was launched in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. Alain Tshibanda, spokesperson for Congo’s foreign ministry, made the announcement on the X social media platform, formerly called Twitter. The envoy to Tanzania was recalled because Tanzania hosts the headquarters of the East African Community, which Congo also belongs to. Earlier on Saturday, the Kenyan embassy’s head of mission had been summoned to the foreign ministry in Kinshasa. The Kenyan government could not immediately be reached for comment. Government spokesman…

More than 60 migrants are believed to have drowned in a shipwreck off the coast of Libya, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said. Citing survivors, the UN agency said on Saturday the vessel left the city of Zuwara with around 86 people on board. It said high waves swamped the boat and that 61 migrants, including children, were missing and presumed dead. Libya is among the main departure points for migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean and enter Europe. The IOM estimates that more than 2,200 people have drowned while attempting the crossing this year alone, making it one…

Ten people died in a grisly accident along Kikima- Kali-Machakos road in Makueni County. The incident occurred at Kwa Mbisu area in Mbooni subcounty on Saturday evening. Mbooni West deputy county commissioner Stanlaus Apuoka said seven of those who sustained injuries during the incident were rushed to Mbooni subcounty hospital for medical attention. The 14 – seater matatu that was headed to Machakos from Kikima is said to have lost control before landing into a ditch after it rolled several times. It was extensively damaged while the bodies were removed to mortuary. The matatu belonging to Makos Sacco was heading…

Three Israeli hostages mistakenly killed by Israeli soldiers in Gaza were shot dead while holding a white cloth, an Israeli military official says. The official said the case was “against our rules of engagement” and an investigation was happening at the “highest level”. The hostages – Yotam Haim, 28, Samer Talalka, 22, and Alon Shamriz, 26 – were killed in Shejaiya on Friday. Israeli troops have been facing stiff resistance in the area near Gaza City. The case will add pressure on Israeli authorities to reach a deal for the release of captives who remain in Gaza. More than 120…

Referendum calls on the implementation of the National Dialogue Committee report’s main recommendations have been turned down by President William Ruto. The President stated that after a fiercely contested election in 2022, the country is on the road to recovery. According to Dr Ruto, the government should not use its current institutional frameworks to implement the ideas. Some of the major proposals that have been said to require a referendum include the establishment of the official opposition leader position, strengthening parliamentary oversight of the executive branch, and enshrining in law the two-thirds gender rule, constituency development, Senate oversight, and government…

Kuwait’s leader Sheikh Emir Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah has died at the age of 86, Kuwaiti state TV announced. The sheikh had led the oil-rich nation for the last three years after taking over from his half brother, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah. “With great sadness and sorrow, we mourn… the death of Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah” a statement aired on state TV said. Regular programming on the channel was Saturday cut following the announcement. By Agencies

The Kenya Airline Pilots Association ( KALPA) has raised an alarm over safety concerns at the national carrier, Kenya Airways (KQ). In a statement signed by CEO Captain Murithi Nyagah, the pilots complained about the alarming levels of fatigue by KQ pilots. According to Nyagah, the fatigue was as a result of the carrier’s management operating an unrealistic network schedule, with expectation of the same to be sustained by reduced Pilot numbers.  “Fatigue levels are now at an all time high due to a combination of factors that include but are not limited to: increased workload, denial of annual leave,…

President William Ruto’s younger brother David Samoei on Friday exchanged nuptials with longtime lover Carol Kitur. The couple exchanged vows at a star-studded event held at Fairmont Mt Kenya Safari Hotel in Nyeri. The ceremony was attended by the who’s who in society including the head of state President, First Lady Rachel Ruto. Also at the wedding was Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi, cabinet secretaries, MPs, Senators, and governors. In pictures doing rounds on social media, CSs Kipchumba Murkomen, Governors Joshua Irungu (Laikipia), Mohamud Ali ( Marsabit), Stephen Sang (Nandi), Joshua Lomurkai (Turkana), Jonathan Bii (Uasin Gishu), Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri), among…

A UK judge ruled on Friday that Prince Harry was a victim of phone hacking by journalists working for Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), and awarded the royal £140,600 ($179,600) in damages. The decision is one in a number of legal cases brought by Harry against British media, with which the Duke of Sussex has long had a turbulent relationship. High Court Justice Timothy Fancourt ruled in favour of Harry in 15 of the 33 sample articles that the prince submitted as evidence in his lawsuit against MGN, which publishes the Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People. He concluded that the…

A Kenya Airways plane bound for Dubai with 133 passengers was Friday forced to return to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport due to tyre debris on the runway.  The tyre debris was sighted by air traffic control and was identified as belonging to KQ flight 310, which was en route to Dubai. Witnesses said one of the tyres had plucked off as the plane took off. It was discovered on the runway minutes later. The Kenya Airways B738 had departed on the runway under KQA310, REG/5YCYD, to Dubai with 133 persons on board. The plane had done almost an hour and…

At least four people were killed Friday and two were injured after the vehicle they were traveling in was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Garissa. Police said the victims were using a four-wheel drive car between Egge dam and Bogyar along Dadaab-Garissa when the incident happened. The vehicle was badly damaged. The injured were evacuated and rushed to a local hospital in serious condition, police said. Police said the Garissa County TB program was blown up in the IED explosion. The driver had about 10 health officials when the incident happened. This is the latest such incident…

The family of former powerful politician Mark Too Friday won a court battle over ownership of 25,000 acres of land in Eldoret. Supreme Court of Kenya Judges ruled that the more than 3,000 squatters who were claiming the land did not have a legitimate expectation to own be allocated the land in question. The court decision signed by Chief Justice Martha Koome permanently bared the squatters from accessing or interfering with the land. The court ruled that members of the Sirikwa Squatters group were not squatters on the prime land located near the Eldoret International Airport. The squatters had won…

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said Friday he will crush bandits in 2024. He said 2023 was the year of flipping the war on livestock rustlers and bandits. “2024 will be the year of sustaining this war and completely eradicating the menace of livestock theft,” said the minister. “From next week, the government will commence an operation in parts of Eastern Region as an extension to the ongoing Operation Maliza Uhalifu in North Rift Valley Counties.” He said in the last 50 years, 14 Counties have been plagued with banditry and livestock rustling, acts that have hampered development and economic…

Police are investigating the death of a senior police officer in charge of a key anti-crime unit in Matuu town, Machakos county. Officials said they are investigating the death of Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police (SAIG) Ezekiel Gitiba Mwita. Gitiba was the commandant of the Border Police Patrol Unit, which is key in among others war on terrorism, cross border crimes, cattle rustling and human smuggling. Police said he was found unconscious in his rental houses in Matuu town on Friday morning. He was rushed to Matuu hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. It is not clear…