President William Ruto announced fresh mini changes in the Foreign Service, naming new envoys to missions abroad. The changes were described as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen representation in Kenya’s missions, which now span seventy-two countries and territories. “The president has instituted further changes within the nation’s Foreign Service, whose diplomatic footprint now extends to seventy-two countries/territories,” read a press release from the Executive Office of the President. According to the statement, the moves are part of ongoing efforts to strengthen diplomatic representation. “These changes comprise nominations for appointments to newly established missions as sanctioned by Cabinet, and the…
Author: Oki Bin Oki
Former Nairobi City County Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko on Tuesday took the witness stand at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court as he mounted his defence against allegations of conflict of interest and other corruption-related charges stemming from procurement irregularities during his tenure at City Hall. Appearing before Anti-Corruption Court Magistrate Charles Ondieki, Sonko gave sworn testimony and presented video evidence which his defence team said was aimed at exonerating him and demonstrating his long-standing opposition to corruption. The videos played in court showed Sonko leading efforts to stop the alleged grabbing of a school in Kamkunji and land belonging to a…
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Thursday formally rejected changes to the leadership of the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition. It declared resolutions made at a Coalition Council meeting held on Monday, February 2, 2026, illegal and without legal effect. In a letter addressed to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP), ODM’s Oduor Ongwen argued that the meeting purported to effect leadership changes within the coalition — including the position of Secretary-General — in blatant violation of the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Deed of Agreement. ODM cited Article 6(A)(1) of the Deed, which clearly spells…
The number of Ukrainian soldiers killed on the battlefield in the four years of war with Russia is 55,000, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said. Zelensky announced the figure in an interview with France 2 TV on Wednesday. Additionally, a large number of people are considered officially missing, he said. While both Kyiv and Moscow have regularly published estimates of the other side’s losses, they have been reluctant to detail their own. However, the BBC has confirmed the names of almost 160,000 people killed fighting on Russia’s side in Ukraine. US President Donald Trump has been leading efforts to end the…
AWA254 Thursday launched a landmark research report titled “The Role of Artivism in Advancing Socio-Economic and Political Development in Kenya” at PrideInn Azure Hotel, Westlands, Nairobi. The event brought together a cross-section of leaders from the legislature, civil society, development partners, and the creative sector, highlighting the growing recognition of artivism as a critical force in Kenya’s democratic, social, and economic transformation. The report explores how artivism – the intersection of artistic expression and civic activism – has shaped public discourse, amplified marginalized voices, fostered civic engagement, and influenced socio-political change in Kenya. It also interrogates persistent structural barriers facing…
Dozens of people were killed in a ferocious shooting attack on two villages in Nigeria’s western state of Kwara after they refused to “surrender to extremists who preached a strange doctrine”, according to the state’s governor. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said on X that “75 local Muslims were massacred” in Tuesday’s raid, while a state lawmaker told the BBC that 78 people had been buried so far and the death toll could rise to an estimated 170 as more corpses were being recovered. Blaming Islamist militant group Boko Haram for the killings, President Bola Tinubu deployed an army battalion to the…
Saudi Arabia has quietly started to allow wealthy foreign residents to buy alcohol, a huge change after a 73-year ban. Commentators expect that the relaxation will eventually be extended to tourists, as Sameer Hashmi reports from Riyadh. For decades, Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter has stood apart from the rest of the capital city – an affluent enclave of embassies and upscale residences, with shaded walkways, greenery and a café culture that draws young Saudis and expatriates alike. Now, tucked inside a discreet, unmarked beige complex within the exclusive neighbourhood, a small store has become a discrete testing ground for one of…
The Bank of England kept its main interest rate unchanged at 3.75% on Thursday with U.K. inflation remaining above target and economic growth is showing signs of picking up. The decision was widely anticipated in financial markets but the split on the nine-member rate-setting panel was much closer than expected. Five members of the Monetary Policy Committee opted to keep rates unchanged while four voted for a quarter-point cut. The central bank, which sets interest rates for the whole of the U.K., has been steadily reducing interest rates over the past 18 months, more often than not every three months.…
Target and other major Minnesota businesses are facing rising discontent from staff, as workers fear the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown puts them at risk on the job. Employees are pushing firms to provide clearer guidance about how to respond if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers arrive at their worksites – and asking them to do more to limit agents’ access to stores and parking lots. The pressures have been particularly acute at Target, a national name and one of the state’s flagship employers, after the detention of two workers inside one of its suburban Minneapolis stores last month. In…
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer apologized Thursday to victims of Jeffrey Epstein for appointing Peter Mandelsonas the U.K.’s ambassador to Washington despite his ties to the disgraced financier. The prime minister said Mandelson had lied and “portrayed Epstein as someone he barely knew.” To the victims, he said: “I am sorry, sorry for what was done to you, sorry that so many people with power failed you. Sorry for having believed Mandelson’s lies and appointed him and sorry that even now you’re forced to watch this story unfold in public once again. Starmer appointed Mandelson, a veteran politician, as ambassador…
You already know how frustrating the ingredient choices can be, should you have ever attempted to make jellies, desserts, or set-based recipes and have gotten a different texture than intended. A single wrong ingredient can make a dish a disaster. The confusion is further enhanced when the recipes indicate that there are alternatives but fail to elaborate on how they perform differently. Gelatin and Agar Agar are used interchangeably, but their responses differ greatly when subjected to heat, cooling, or storage conditions. Without a clear understanding, one can easily make the wrong choice and spoil results. Knowing the difference between…
Understanding cannabis compounds can sometimes feel confusing. You may hear conflicting claims regarding the ways that different cannabinoids interact with the human body, how one is calming, and another may be intense, or which one is suited to a particular lifestyle. At the same time, scientific terms and oversimplified comparisons tend to mask the actual differences. That confusion results in increased difficulty in making informed choices. To dispel that gap, it helps to get away from hype and focus closely on how cannabis science explains the difference between CBD and THC compounds. This article breaks down the scientific separation between…
Travelling must be liberating, not tiresome. But even the simplest outings may become overwhelming when one is restricted in their mobility. The presence of heavy equipment, cumbersome loading, and poor maneuverability make traveling a stressful affair. You might be afraid to make travel plans, thinking that your mobility aid will not fit in the vehicle, navigate through the busy places with ease, or keep up with you. These issues are universal, and they indicate why it is essential to select a mobility solution that facilitates movement rather than limiting it. Lightweight foldable mobility scooters are created to overcome those barriers…
Accurate testing methods are essential in pharmaceutical research. For topical drug products, in vitro release testing (IVRT) is a mandatory component of the development package. IVRT helps quantify how active ingredients are released from a formulation and ensures that products reaching the market meet quality and performance expectations. Reliable tools and precise instrumentation are critical for generating consistent and reproducible results. Purpose of IVRT in Pharmaceutical Testing Pharmaceutical IVRT analysis tools measure the rate and extent of drug release from topical formulations under controlled laboratory conditions. The data generated supports product development, quality assurance, and regulatory submissions. Regulatory agencies often…
A man convicted of trying to assassinate President Donald Trumpon a Florida golf course in 2024 was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison after a federal prosecutor said his crime was unacceptable “in this country or anywhere.” U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon pronounced Ryan Routh’s fate in the same Fort Pierce courtroom that erupted into chaos in September when he tried to stab himself shortly after jurors found him guilty on all counts. “American democracy does not work when individuals take it into their own hands to eliminate candidates. That’s what this individual tried to do” Assistant U.S. Attorney John…