Possible negligence by the school administration might have contributed to the deadly inferno at Utumishi Girls Academy, Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has revealed. He said those responsible will be punished. At least 16 students died in the fire while seven others are in hospital. “There is a standard safety procedure that the school was to adhere to. One side of the dormitory with an emergency exit door had been locked, and it’s where we lost 10 students,” he said. Police have so far questioned 50 people including teachers, guards and students over the incident. Some teachers…
Author: Oki Bin Oki
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi affirmed Kenya’s continued vigilance and preparedness in response to Ebola and other emerging public health threats, noting that ongoing coordination with international partners is central to strengthening national resilience while reinforcing Kenya’s strategic position as a regional diplomatic and humanitarian hub. Speaking during the State Department for Foreign Affairs Staff Wellness Day, he observed that recent developments have necessitated enhanced consultations within government, including high-level engagements convened by the President with development partners and the United Nations system, to assess and reinforce Kenya’s preparedness architecture in the event of Ebola-related risks. He emphasised that although…
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga Friday urged Kenyans to embrace alternative mechanisms for resolving disputes outside the courtroom. He said restorative approaches such as Diversion and Plea Bargaining are critical in enhancing access to justice, rehabilitation and social harmony. Speaking during a Community Dialogue on Justice Reforms held at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) Eldoret Campus in Uasin Gishu County, the DPP said the criminal justice system must not only punish wrongdoing but also create opportunities for reconciliation, reform and restoration. The forum, held under the theme “Chapa Gumzo na Prosecutor,” brought together justice sector stakeholders,…
The fireball that lit up the sky over Florida’s Kennedy Space Centre last night has put a big question mark over whether Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin can deliver on a string of commitments to Nasa in its efforts to send astronauts to the lunar surface and build a Moon base. Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket exploded at about 21:00 local time during a routine test of its engines. The 98m (322ft) rocket had been due to launch 48 satellites for Amazon’s Leo broadband network, as early as 4 June. The explosion is obviously a big setback for the Leo network,…
Two men accused of assaulting a police officer at Manchester Airport during a brawl captured in footage shared across social media will not face a second retrial. The Crown Prosecution Service said it would not be ordering a further hearing for Muhammad Amaad, 26, and Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 21, after two previous juries failed to reach verdicts at Liverpool Crown Court. The pair had denied assaulting Greater Manchester Police constable Zachary Marsden near the car park area of terminal two on 23 July 2024. Amaaz was previously convicted of assaulting two female officers, PC Lydia Ward and PC Ellie Cook,…
Taiwan, what a fantastic gem you should travel to at least once in your lifetime. Despite its relatively small size compared with other places, this island is packed with a fascinating culture, breathtaking views, and the best food. Taiwan also knows how to bring modern amenities into its infrastructure, so that you will have a modern touch that blends amazingly with the charm of the region. This makes it an even better idea to find your best way to stay connected, so you won’t miss anything essential. You have the possibility to stay always on with the help of an…
A jury in Austria has retired to consider its verdict in the trial of a 21 year-old Austrian man, who has admitted plotting a jihadist attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna in August 2024. The man, named only as Beran A in line with Austrian privacy laws, has also admitted to a charge of “being part of a terrorist organisation”. Beran A has denied other charges, including involvement in planning an attack in the Islamic holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. He is on trial with another 21-year-old man, named as Arda K from Slovakia, who is…
US President Donald Trump’s administration is preparing to print a new $250 bill that could feature a portrait of him, if lawmakers allow the move. Federal law bars printing US money with the i mage of a living person, but Trump allies in Congress have introduced legislation that would make an exception. A Treasury Department spokesperson told the BBC the agency “is conducting appropriate planning and due diligence” in response to the legislation. The lawmakers behind it said the bill amount would symbolise the country’s 250th anniversary this year. If approved, it will be the latest example by Trump and…
At least eight students were Thursday arrested over arson incident Utumishi Girls Academy, Gilgil, Nakuru County that claimed 16 lives. They were detained for grilling after they were traced to their homes and brought back to the school for grilling. They were part of 30 students who were initially traced and recalled back to the school by detectives investigating the deadly fire in a dormitory. Detectives believe the fire that broke out at the school was the work of arsonists. Insiders said the suspects will be produced in court on Friday as investigators continue with their work. A team pursuing…
Anti-mafia investigators in Italy have seized cash, companies and other assets worth more than €200m (£175m) in an operation they say targeted the network of notorious late Sicilian mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro. The funds, described as “huge amounts of capital” by the financial police in Palermo, are said to be proceeds from over four decades of drugs trafficking linked to the presumed former head of the Cosa Nostra group. Announcing their results in Sicily on Thursday, investigators released a video showing masked police officers, some in riot gear, barging down doors and scaling walls to raid a series of…
The National and county governments have signed a Sh4 billion agreement on phase two of the establishment of 16 County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs). President William Ruto, who witnessed the signing ceremony, said the government has disbursed a total of Sh8.5 billion for CAIPs at Sh250 million to each of the 34 participating counties. Additionally, the President said, the government is investing Sh2.4 billion in common user facilities for the CAIPs programme, with Sh150 million allocated to each facility to support specific value-addition priorities of every county. He noted that the programme is transforming counties into engines of industrialisation,…
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has opened a criminal investigation into writer E Jean Carroll, who accused President Donald Trump of sexual assault, CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, has reported. The investigation is looking into whether Carroll committed perjury in connection with civil cases she brought against Trump, the news outlet quotes sources as saying. Carroll, a former magazine columnist, accused Trump of sexual assault and defamation, and successfully sued him in two cases. Both judgements were upheld on appeal, but Trump has since asked the Supreme Court to overturn the first of them. He has denied the…
The European Union imposed a €200m ($232m; £173m) fine on Chinese-owned online retailer Temu for having illegal products such as dangerous baby toys and faulty chargers for sale on its platform. The European Commission said the company had “failed to diligently identify, analyse and assess the systemic risks” of the products and the harm they could cause to consumers. Temu has been under investigation since October 2024 over whether it has been meeting its obligations as a designated Very Large Online Platform under EU law. The online retailer said it disagreed with the decision and deemed the fine disproportionate, and…
A man has been arrested after three people were injured in a stabbing attack at a train station in Switzerland, police said. They said the three victims – Swiss nationals aged 28, 43 and 52 – were hospitalised after the attack at Winterthur train station. The suspect, a 31-year-old Swiss man, used a bladed weapon and that the motive was under investigation, police added. An eyewitness working in an office building nearby told a local newspaper he heard a man yell “Allahu Akbar” – meaning “God is greatest” in Arabic – at around 08:30 local time before attacking people with…
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has said it targeted an American air base in the region, after fresh US strikes on southern Iran overnight. The IRGC did not say where the base was, but Kuwait, which hosts a US base, said it had intercepted “hostile missile and drone threats”. The US military said Iran had launched a ballistic missile towards Kuwait that was successfully intercepted by Kuwaiti forces, without specifying whether it was aimed at its military base. The Iranian missile launch came after the US shot down Iranian drones over the Strait of Hormuz and struck a military…