The government has made significant strides in digitizing public services, with over 22,000 services now available online, up from just 300 two years ago. In collaboration with the e-Citizen Directorate, the State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy is finalizing plans to onboard the remaining 2,412services. This initiative was among the key interventions reviewed by the Governance and Public Administration (GPA) Subcommittee of the National Development Implementation Committee (NDIC) during its 10th meeting, co-chaired by Interior PS, Dr. Raymond Omollo, and his Parliamentary Affairs counterpart, Dr. Aurelia Rono. The State Department has also revealed that over 13.5 million users…
Author: Oki Bin Oki
A prime suspect linked to the horrific arson attack that killed nine family members on Tuesday night in Sigomere, Ugunja Sub County, Siaya County was arrested in Nairobi. Christopher Okello Owino was arrested in Kibera slums as he had his supper with his children on Thursday night. Owino is said to have hosted church members at his Kibera home on Wednesday evening for prayers after his rural house was torched by irate villagers in an apparent retaliation attack, police said. He was set to be transferred back to Ugunja, where the crime occurred. A Siaya County security team travelled overnight…
Former president Uhuru Kenyatta Thursday urged young Africans to seize the moment as architects of a self-reliant and united continent. In his keynote address at the second annual Guild Leaders’ Summit 2025, held at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, Kenyatta framed Africa’s challenges as a clarion call for youth-led transformation. “You are the last line of defence in the battle to rescue the heart and soul of Africa.” Reflecting on the current global landscape, Kenyatta noted the shifting dynamics in which developed nations are increasingly inward-focused, leaving Africa to chart its own path. He urged the youth to recognize this…
There was drama at Gichira police station in Nyeri County when two police officers were arrested for confiscating and hiding two kilos of bhang in their houses. The arrest was made on April 24 after a woman claimed the two cops had confiscated the drugs and demanded a bribe for her release on April 15. She told police she had to part with Sh100,000 for her freedom. But the officers did not release her narcotics. They also did not book the case at the local police station. Further, they did not book for safe keeping, the seized bhang at the…
A simple, marble tomb nestled in a niche of a Roman basilica beloved by Pope Francis will mark the pontiff’s last resting place, the Vatican said on Thursday, releasing an image of the project. The tombstone will bear only the inscription “Franciscus” — the pope’s name in Latin — and its marble will be sourced from Liguria, the northwestern Italian region that was once home to the Argentinian pontiff’s Italian ancestors. A reproduction of the pectoral cross worn by Francis during his lifetime will hang above it. The tomb will be located near the altar of Saint Francis in the…
The export of video game controllers from the UK to Russia has been banned as they can be repurposed to pilot drones used to launch attacks on Ukraine. It is part of a package of around 150 trade sanctions against Russia announced by the Foreign Office on Thursday. The European Union enforced a similar ban on video games and joysticks earlier this year. Other technology items used in the defence and energy sectors are among items which can also no longer be exported to Russia, including software used to search for new oil and gas wells. Sanctions were also announced…
US President Donald Trump has said he is “not happy” with deadly Russian strikes on Kyiv and that President Vladimir Putin should “stop”. “Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5,000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!” he said in a post on Truth Social. The overnight strikes killed at least eight people and injured 77 more, local officials said. Trump’s comments came after Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said the US could put more pressure on Russia to secure a ceasefire. “We believe that if more pressure is applied to Russia, we’ll be able…
South Africa’s finance minister has dropped plans to increase value-added tax (VAT), in a major climbdown to prevent the collapse of the coalition government. Enoch Godongwana’s decision came after the second-biggest party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), threatened to quit the government, warning a VAT hike would hurt the poor the most. Godongwana, a member of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC), had argued the increase was needed as the government was facing a financial crisis. But with other parties also rejecting the hike, it raised the prospect of parliament taking the unprecedented step of voting down the national budget,…
Given today’s fast-paced world, giving mental health top priority is more vital than ever. Although conventional in-person therapy has always been a great tool, the emergence of online therapy has changed how people obtain mental health help. Convenient, reasonably priced, and easily available online treatment provides a means of contact with certified specialists from the comfort of home. With so many platforms to talk to someone online, selecting the correct one might feel taxing. What Is Online Therapy? Online therapy, sometimes known as teletherapy or e-therapy, uses technology, such as video calls, phone conversations, live chats, or emails, to provide…
Oil refineries are a critical part of the world’s energy supply chain, refining crude oil into products like gasoline, diesel, and petrochemicals. But the work itself is inherently dangerous, with volatile chemicals, hot temperatures, heavy equipment, and intricate systems, all creating the possibility of catastrophic accidents. Refineries have to follow rigorous safety procedures, but accidents still happen on a regular basis, sometimes with disastrous effects on workers and surrounding communities. Knowing the most common types of refinery accidents may assist in increasing awareness of hazards, the need for rigorous protection measures, and monitoring regulations. It is also important to seek…
Relationship red flags like being glued to one’s phone are as common as ever in 2025. Someone who consistently ignores their partner by dismissing their opinions when choosing a restaurant or rushing through the meal without engaging in meaningful conversation may lack emotional investment in the relationship. Rude behavior, like unnecessary demands toward staff, can signal issues like deep-seated selfishness or lack of empathy. These behaviors suggest that the person may struggle with respect and consideration. Their interactions with others while dining out are equally telling. If they frequently flirt with the server, make excessive eye contact with strangers, or…
An Australian politician has been convicted of supplying drugs after he initially dismissed a video showing him snorting a white substance as a “deepfake”. Former South Australian Liberal party leader David Speirs was fined A$9,000 (£4311; $5,720) and ordered to complete 37.5 hours of community service by an Adelaide court on Thursday. Speirs was arrested in September after footage of him snorting off a plate was published by News Corp. He initially denied wrongdoing and reportedly told the news outlet it was a “deepfake” and that he had never used cocaine. However, he later admitted that was a lie and…
M&S shoppers are facing further frustration at the checkout as the company struggles to recover from a cyber attack. Customers began reporting problems on the weekend, with the retailer confirming on Tuesday it was dealing with a “cyber incident.” It told the BBC on Wednesday that customer-facing systems were back to normal. However, it has since confirmed it has been forced to take some systems offline as part of its “proactive management of the incident.” It said it had stopped processing contactless payments, had paused the collection of click and collect orders in stores, and warned of delays to online…
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has ended an historic visit to South Africa, signalling a dramatic improvement in the once-strained relations between the two nations. The visit marked a diplomatic breakthrough for the Ukrainian leader in his efforts to counter Russia’s strong – and growing – influence in Africa. “I’m sure that Russia will be annoyed by the visit, but I don’t think it can do much about it,” said Steven Gruzd of the South African Institute of International Relations think-tank. But Russia disrupted Zelensky’s visit by carrying out an air strike on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, forcing him to announce that…
A normally bustling border crossing between Tanzania and Malawi was noticeably quieter than usual on Thursday as a result of an escalating regional trade row. From midnight, Tanzania banned the entry of all agricultural imports from Malawi and South Africa in response to what it sees as restrictions on some of its exports. South Africa has for years prohibited the entry of bananas from Tanzania. Malawi last month blocked imports of flour, rice, ginger, bananas and maize from its northern neighbour. “We are taking this step to protect our business interests… in business, we must all respect each other,” Tanzania’s…