Author: KahawaTungu Reporter

The Environment Court Thursday threw out a case challenging the importation of genetically modified organisms into the country. Justice Oscar Angote in his ruling noted that the petitioner did not present evidence showing how they are harmful to humans. The case had been filed by the Kenya Peasants League–a lobby group acting on behalf of peasant farmers. The court also noted that adequate public participation was achieved through a session at the KICC as well as a gazette notice. Justice Angote stated that the claims made by the petitioner on the cultivation, importation, and exportation of GMO maize without a…

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has asked the government not to compromise on the country’s security and welfare of its citizens by deploying police officers to Haiti. In a statement on Thursday, ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna said Kenya simply does not have officers to spare for the peace-keeping mission in the Caribbean nation. Sifuna noted that while the recommended ratio of police officers viz population is 1:450, Kenya’s ratio is 1 officer for every 1,000 civilians. “We simply do not have policemen to spare. Indeed, given the current security challenges around Sondu, Lamu, the North Rift, along the border…

Police are investigating the recovery of a G3 rifle from a bush in Maralal, Samburu County. The rifle with 20 bullets was discovered by a young girl who informed Kenya Wildlife Service personnel. The girl went to the KWS offices there and informed staff present she had seen a firearm in a bush as she took care of her family goats. The girl later led the officers to the scene where they found the rifle and the bullets and later established it had been issued to a local National Police Reservist. The NPR who is from Angata Nanyukie was lastly…

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s marriage has been a topic of interest for many in recent years, even to Chris Rock, according to Pinkett Smith. “Every summer all the reports would come out that me and Will were getting a divorce,” Pinkett Smith told People magazine. “And this particular summer, Chris [Rock] thought we were getting a divorce. So he called me and basically he was like, ‘I’d love to take you out.’” Pinkett Smith said the call took her aback. “I was like, ‘What do you mean?’ He was like, ‘Well, aren’t you and Will getting a divorce?’ I…

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said every Hamas member was “a dead man” after the first meeting of his country’s emergency government. Alongside him, opposition figure Benny Gantz said it was “a time for war”. But US President Joe Biden said he had spoken to Mr Netanyahu and made it clear that Israel must “operate by the rules of war”. The death toll in Israel has reached 1,200. More than 1,100 people have been killed by Israeli air strikes on Gaza. Mr Biden said he understood the anger and frustration of the Israeli people but urged Israel to adhere to…

The prime suspect in the murder or acting Nairobi Hospital Finance Director Eric Maigo is not a minor, an age and mental assessment test has revealed. Anne Adhiambo Akinyi who underwent the test at Mathari Hospital is of sound mind and is fit to stand trial. According to Citizen TV, the test results are set to be presented in court upon the lapse of the 21-day period given to the police to conclude investigations. On September 27, Adhiambo aka Nut claimed that she killed Maigo after he allegedly sexually assaulted her. Read: New Twist As Teenager In Murder Of Nairobi Hospital…

The police officer who died by suicide at the DCI headquarters in Nairobi has been identified as corporal Linus Muia Mutunga. Mutunga, 59 was due for retirement end of this year. He had already been given his retirement papers. It is not clear if this contributed to his sudden move. He was a driver attached to the DCI operations department at the time of the incident. He shot himself in his car on Wednesday morning moments after he had reported to work. The motive of the suicide is yet to be known. His colleagues said he locked himself in the…

Jada Pinkett Smith has revealed that she and husband Will Smith have been living “completely separate lives” since 2016. In a clip from her forthcoming NBC News primetime special with Hoda Kotb, Pinkett Smith said the couple had not previously gone public with their separation because they were not “ready yet.” They were “still trying to figure out between the two of us, how to be in partnership,” she said. “How do we present that to people?” she told Kotb. “We hadn’t figured that out.” Pinkett Smith, 52, and Smith, 55, have been married since 1997. Pinkett Smith said they are not…

Ride-hailing app Bolt has reaffirmed its commitment to the Kenyan market amid the ongoing conversations on its license renewal. In a statement, the app said adherence to Kenyan regulations remains a top priority as it seeks to build a long-term sustainable business that positively contributes to all stakeholders in the ecosystem. “We remain open to collaborative dialogue with our regulator, driver-partners, and the wider public to continually ensure full compliance with regulation and expand income generation within our platform,” said Bolt. As for its operating license, Bolt said it is valid and fully operational. “As such, Bolt currently has a…

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Board Wednesday October 11 re-deployed Lilian Nyawanda as the Commissioner for Customs and Border Control (C&BC) Department. The deployment follows her release by the Ministry of National Treasury and Economic Planning, where she had been deployed for the last seven months. A statement from KRA said Nyawanda has a wealth of experience in customs administration, policy, and legislation. “Ms Nyawanda’s re-deployment is in line with KRA’s strategy to implement initiatives that will maximize revenue mobilization. She will be instrumental in overseeing the department’s core business of trade facilitation, border control, and revenue mobilization,” said part…

King Charles III and Queen Camilla will undertake a State Visit to Kenya, from October 31 to November 3, the British High Commission has announced. The royals will be in Kenya to celebrate the warm relationship between the two countries and the strong and dynamic partnership they continue to forge. “The visit is at the invitation of President William Ruto and comes as Kenya prepares to celebrate 60 years of independence. His Majesty’s first visit to a Commonwealth nation as King is therefore to the country in which Queen Elizabeth II’s reign began, having acceded to the throne in Kenya…

President William Ruto spent time at the rural home of Chief of Defence Forces Gen Francis Ogolla in Siaya county taking his dinner there on October 8. Ruto had completed his tour of Migori county on Sunday when he retreated to the home of Gen Ogolla. Sources said the president took his time with Gen Ogolla and his family including his wife Aileen before leaving late in the night. No pictures were taken during the meeting. “This was a positive move for the president to come and spend his time with the CDF. This is the man many were ridiculing,”…

A junior police officer died by suicide after shooting himself in his car at the parking lot of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters in Nairobi. It is not clear why the police driver decided to die by suicide. His colleagues said he locked himself in the car and shot himself in the head. He died instantly in the Wednesday, October 11 incident. His colleagues were alerted by the sound of the bullet from the parking lot and on checking they found him dead. His head had been burst by the bullet from his pistol. His body was moved to…

The Kenya Revenue Authority Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga Mulongo announced changes among top managers, which saw big fish in customs moved He termed the changes normal in an internal memo that saw all 29 chief managers changed. “As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring the highest level of operational efficiency, the need for strategic personnel placement is imperative.” “After thorough evaluation of individual expertise, departmental needs and our overarching objectives, the following changes are made with immediate effect,” he said in a memo. He said the transfers are made with the belief that the changes will optimize their core…

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has recovered and returned to the public 31 acres of land grabbed by private developers in the scenic Chale Island in Kwale County worth Sh1.2 billion. The Island is gazetted as a marine reserve and national monument of historical and cultural interest. Speaking at the Kaya Shrines on the Island, EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak said the land was stolen through collusion involving public officials and private developers under the guise of a squatter settlement scheme. Mbarak was accompanied by several Kwale leaders including Governor Fatuma Achani and Senator Issa Boy who termed the milestone…