Public sector unions in Kenya have called off their planned strike over concerns regarding the implementation of the Social Health Authority (SHA). The strike notice, issued on October 8, 2024, by more than ten unions representing civil servants, has been suspended following a successful agreement between the government and union leaders. The decision was reached after extensive negotiations and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Cabinet Secretaries Justin Muturi (Public Service and Human Capital Development), Alfred Mutua (Labour and Social Protection), Deborah Mlongo Barasa (Health), and Union of Kenya Civil Servants Secretary General, Tom Ondege. Under the…
Author: David Wafula
President William Ruto and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia have welcomed the establishment of the new African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). AUSSOM aims to build on the successes of its predecessor, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), which combines military, police, and civilian operations and was authorized by the African Union and the United Nations Security Council. During a two-day working visit to Kenya starting October 21, President Mohamud and President Ruto emphasized the importance of a smooth transition of security responsibilities from ATMIS to AUSSOM, set to begin on January 1, 2025.…
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has sought to play down the significance of alleged interference by the Labour Party in the American presidential election. The Trump Campaign has filed a complaintwith the Federal Election Commission in Washington seeking an immediate investigation – after the Head of Operations for the Labour Party, Sofia Patel, posted on social media that she had “ten spots available” for anyone willing to travel to North Carolina to campaign for Kamala Harris, adding “we will sort your housing”. She said she had around 100 current and former party staff heading to America before polling day. The…
Fernando Valenzuela, the impetus behind “Fernandomania” while winning National League Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year honors in 1981 as the Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series, has died at age 63. The Dodgers announced the news, saying Valenzuela died Tuesday night at a Los Angeles hospital. They did not provide the cause or other details. Valenzuela’s death comes as the Dodgers prepare to open the World Series on Friday night at home against the New York Yankees. Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said Valenzuela would be honored during the Series at Dodger Stadium. After pitching…
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has called for an immediate investigation into the abduction and killing of Yussuf Hussein Ahmed, a Member of the County Assembly (MCA) for Dela Ward in Wajir County. Ahmed’s body was found mutilated in Lake Yahud, his family confirmed. According to Ahmed’s family, he was abducted by unknown assailants on Friday, September 13, 2024, at around 8:00 p.m. along Enterprise Road in Nairobi. The attackers, who were heavily armed and driving two unmarked Land Cruiser Prados, intercepted his taxi, forcibly removed him from the vehicle, and took him to an unknown location. The family…
Kenyans can now submit their UK visa applications through VFS Global, following the launch of new Visa Application Centres in Nairobi and Mombasa. This service became available on October 22, 2024. Alok Singhal, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at VFS Global, promised to offer a streamlined process for those traveling to the UK. “We are excited to embark on this new journey with UK Visas and Immigration here in Kenya. We have enjoyed a long-standing partnership since 2003 and look forward to bringing our best-in-class services to Kenyan travellers,” he said. The new Visa Application Centres provide a range of optional…
Kenya Power has linked the ongoing blackout in Garissa town to a fault at the KETRACO substation serving the area. The town has been without electricity since yesterday, affecting several neighborhoods, including Madogo, Bangale, KBC, Iffin, Bulla, Game, Bulla Mzuri, Tawakal, Bashal, Madika, Garissa University, and surrounding areas. “A dedicated team from KETRACO and Kenya Power is on-site working to resolve the issue,” said Kenya Power in a statement. Power restoration is expected later today. Meanwhile, Kenya Power has announced scheduled power interruptions in various parts of the country on Wednesday, 23rd, due to maintenance work at power stations. The…
The government has imposed a ban on the harvesting of macadamia nuts until March next year, with plans to introduce a guaranteed farm gate price of at least Sh100 per kilogram. The move comes after a rapid assessment revealed that many local companies lack quality stock for processing. Speaking on Tuesday, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Andrew Karanja announced that the harvesting and export of immature macadamia nuts have negatively impacted Kenya’s performance in the global market. He emphasized that exporting processed macadamia nuts brings more benefits to the country than exporting raw, in-shell nuts. “After consultations with industry stakeholders, a ban…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has linked McDonald’s Quarter Pounder sandwich to an outbreak of E. coli infections, which has sickened 49 people across 10 states in the US. The CDC confirmed on Tuesday that the bacteria, known for causing severe stomach issues, has been found in the popular sandwich. So far, 10 people have been hospitalized, and one person, an elderly adult from Colorado, has died. The cases are mostly concentrated in western and Midwestern states, including Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, and Wisconsin. McDonald’s is cooperating with health officials to pinpoint the cause of the contamination. As…
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged Israeli leaders to take stronger action in delivering humanitarian aid to civilians in northern Gaza. During meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials, Blinken stressed that more must be done to assist the people affected by the ongoing conflict, a senior US official said. The discussions took place as part of Blinken’s regional tour aimed at restoring diplomacy following the recent escalation of violence, including the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar by Israeli forces in Gaza. While the US has been criticized for not doing enough to…
Ariana Grande has apologized to actress Cassandra Peterson, known for her iconic role as “Elvira, Mistress of the Dark,” after Peterson claimed the singer ignored her during a meet-and-greet event. Peterson recently shared in a panel discussion that Grande had requested tickets for her and her family to attend one of her stage shows. The actress said she signed autographs and took photos with Grande’s friends and relatives but claimed the singer declined to pose for a picture in return and left before the show started. In response, Ariana Grande took to Instagram to address the situation, expressing her disappointment…
A court in Peru has sentenced former President Alejandro Toledo to 20 years and six months in prison for corruption and money laundering. Prosecutors accused Toledo, who served as president from 2001 to 2006, of taking $35 million (Sh5.2 billion) in bribes from Brazilian construction company Odebrecht in exchange for awarding them a contract to build a highway in southern Peru. Toledo, 78, was arrested in California five years ago, where he had lived for many years. He was extradited to Peru in 2023 to face the charges. Odebrecht, a company now known as Novonor, admitted to paying millions of…
Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence is expecting her second child. A representative for Lawrence confirmed the news to Vogue on Sunday. Lawrence and her husband, Cooke Maroney, who is an art gallery director, welcomed their first child, a son named Cy, in 2022. The couple has been married since 2019. In a 2022 interview with Vogue, Lawrence shared her feelings about motherhood, saying it can be “scary” to discuss because every experience is different. She appreciated the honesty of her friends who reassured her that it was normal not to connect with her baby right away. “I felt so prepared to…
Country music star Jelly Roll has announced that he is leaving the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, citing its negative atmosphere. On Sunday, he took to the platform to share his feelings, saying, “This is for sure the most toxic negative app to exist ever — PERIOD. lol.” He described the platform as “the Wild West,” where users can freely insult each other without consequences. “I’m out lol,” he concluded. Jelly Roll is not the first celebrity to step away from X, especially after Elon Musk acquired the platform and changed its name in 2023. Many stars…
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has called for public participation as it seeks to amend four key road transport regulations. The authority says the changes aim to improve the reliability and efficiency of road transport in Kenya. NTSA stated that it is working with the Ministry of Roads and Transport to review the regulations. The regulations under review include the NTSA (Operation of Public Service Vehicles) Regulations from 2014, which govern the operation and management of public service vehicles in Kenya. Additionally, the NTSA (Operation of Motorcycles) Regulations established in 2015, which set the guidelines for motorcycle operations,…