A remandee was Tuesday shot dead while another one escaped following a dramatic jailbreak in Embu West Sub-county on Tuesday afternoon. The dramatic incident happened in the Gatondo area when two suspects sprayed pepper at police officers in a bold escape attempt while being transported from Siakago Law Courts. Embu West police boss Vincent Kitili said police opened fire after the inmates fled from a prison van. One of the escapees, identified as Swaleh Oswado — a former ODM aspirant for the Kirimari Ward seat — was fatally shot during the chase. “The two suspects sprayed pepper at the officers…
Author: Oki Bin Oki
A Nairobi court granted an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to detain an Ugandan woman extradited to Kenya over suspected drug trafficking offences. Principal Magistrate Irene Gichobi, presiding over the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) law courts, approved the DPP’s request to hold Hellen Ikareut in custody pending the completion of investigations under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act. Prosecuting Counsel John Tago told court officers from the Anti-Narcotics Unit intercepted a suspicious shipment on May 18, 2023, at the DHL cargo shed at JKIA. The consignment, reportedly sent by Ikareut from Kitengela, a Nairobi…
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku Tuesday dismissed claims that President William Ruto intends to rig the next General Election, terming the allegations as baseless and politically motivated. Speaking during a Special Programmes outreach event in Chakaleri, Mwatate, in Taita Tabatha County Ruku urged leaders to refrain from spreading falsehoods and instead acknowledge the significant development strides made by the Kenya Kwanza administration. “President Ruto will win the next General Election not through manipulation, but because of his tangible track record in service delivery,” Ruku stated. “These are not just promises but real, visible projects are already changing lives on…
The Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), linked to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, officially unveiled its candidates for several upcoming by-elections. Gachagua was away in the USA as the event went on. Speaking at the DCP Party Headquarters during the candidate unveiling, Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala affirmed that the party has fielded candidates for all 22 by-elections, expressing confidence in a decisive win once the Independent and Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) announces the election dates. Malala said the Opposition faction would conduct transparent nominations in areas with multiple aspirants to select the best candidates, as he urged constituents from…
Siaya County Deputy Governor William Oduol Tuesday proposed a dialogue to address the growing impasse between him and Governor James Orengo. Oduol said a structured consultative engagement will iron out the leadership and governance issues bedevilling Siaya County. He pointed out that constructive talks, which would bring together all the devolution stakeholders, are the only way to deal with the raging leadership conflict facing the devolved unit. “His unexplained absence has led to public agitation, petitions having been submitted to various institutions such as EACC, ORPP, ODM, IEBC and Siaya County Assembly,” he stated. “There’s another petition from Siaya residents,…
US space agency Nasa will fast-track plans to build a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030, according to US media. It is part of US ambitions to build a permanent base for humans to live on the lunar surface. According to Politico, the acting head of Nasa referred to similar plans by China and Russia and said those two countries “could potentially declare a keep-out zone” on the Moon. But questions remain about how realistic the goal and timeframe are, given recent and steep Nasa budget cuts, and some scientists are concerned that the plans are driven by geopolitical…
The UN’s food agency has warned that families trapped within the besieged Sudanese city of el-Fasher face starvation. The World Food Programme (WFP) said it had not been able to deliver food to the city in the western Darfur region by road for more than a year. El-Fasher has been surrounded by paramilitary fighters from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for nearly 16 months – determined to seize it from Sudan’s army. The WFP warning comes as local activists have already begun reporting deaths by starvation in the city, which is still home to about 300,000 people. Sudan was plunged…
A specialized training course on countering terrorism financing and money laundering was launched in Kenya targeting representatives from legislative and executive bodies, financial institutions and civil society organizations. The training, organized by the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) in collaboration with the Kenya Defence Forces seeks to strengthen institutional and individual capabilities in combating financing crimes related to terrorism. The course, titled “Countering Terrorism Financing and Money Laundering –Foundation Level” was opened Monday by General Officer Commanding Central Command (GOC) Maj Gen John Nkoimo who represented the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Charles Kahariri. It also seeks to…
Dame Stella Rimington, MI5’s first female director general, has died, her family has said. Dame Stella, who headed the security service from 1992 to 1996, was widely credited as being the model for Dame Judi Dench’s M in the James Bond films. She joined MI5 full time in 1969, and served as deputy director general in 1991 before being promoted to director general a year later. After retiring from the service, Dame Stella began a career as a novelist. In a statement, her family said: “She died surrounded by her beloved family and dogs and determinedly held on to the…
Texas governor Greg Abbott has threatened to file bribery charges against Democratic legislators who fled the state to prevent a vote on a controversial redistricting plan that would significantly favour Republicans. At least two-thirds of the 150-member state legislative body must be present to proceed with the vote. The quorum became unreachable when 51 Democratic lawmakers left the state. The proposed congressional map, unveiled last week by Texas Republicans, would create more Republican seats in the US House of Representatives where they hold a slim majority currently. Abbott warned that lawmakers who refuse to return to vote on the map…
South Africa is seeking new markets in Africa and Asia as it negotiates with the United States over looming 30-percent trade tariffs, which could cost around 30,000 jobs, officials said Monday. Government ministers expressed frustration with the United States over the tariff — among those due to take effect against several countries later this week — saying South African exports do not compete with US industry and were only a fraction of that country’s total imports. The 30-percent tariff is the highest in sub-Saharan Africa and comes as diplomatic relations between South Africa and the United States are in tatters…
Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya Monday defended the Hustler Fund against criticism by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC). He dismissed the report by KHRC as “skewed, elitist and politically motivated.” KHRC warned that the programme is a recipe for financial failure as it lacks a sustainable plan to empower Kenyans at the bottom of the pyramid, as earlier intended. KHRC said scrapping the programme is the only viable option for the Kenyan government, as reforming or re-engineering the Fund will not address the fundamental design, political, and legal flaws that have…
Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale Monday directed that all healthcare services accessed through the Social Health Authority (SHA) will not accept One-Time Password (OTP)-based authorizations. The issue has been a stumbling block for many patients while trying to access services in health facilities. Speaking at the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) on Monday, Duale said that approvals in SHA-contracted facilities will now be completed using biometric health IDs or the newly launched Practice 360 app. “SHA will no longer accept OTP based authorization. All approvals must be completed using a biometric health ID or the practice…
The American Eagle-Sydney Sweeney “great jeans” controversy has given way to Wall Street euphoria — thanks to President Donald Trump. The clothing brand’s stock skyrocketed Monday after Trump praised the company’s denim ad featuring the “White Lotus” and “Anyone But You” star. The company has come under fire from some social media users for its “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans” campaign. Critics on X and TikTok have described the ad as promoting “eugenics” for its wordplay on genetics. Voices on the right celebrated the ad as a win against “woke” representation in media. Trump added to that chorus Monday in…
British carmaker Jaguar Land Rover named P B Balaji as CEO, replacing Adrian Mardell, parent Tata Motors (TAMO.NS), said on Monday. Last week, a spokesperson for JLR said Mardell would step down after being at the helm for three years. Mardell has been with the company, which is seen as the cash cow for Tata Motors, for more than three decades. Balaji has been Tata Motors’ group chief financial officer since late 2017. His appointment is effective in November. The Jaguar CEO is stepping down months after leading a controversial “woke” rebrand campaign for the auto company. Mardell retired after…