A Kericho court sentenced two men to 30 years in prison each after finding them guilty of defiling a 16-year-old boy. The court, presided over by Principal Magistrate Zachary Nyakundi, was informed that the victim attended Mashujaa Day celebrations at Kericho Green Stadium on October 20, 2023. After running out of money, he sought help from Ezekiel Taitui, who took him to his rental home in Baraka Village, Kericho East Sub-county. Taitui proceeded to defile the minor on multiple occasions between October 17 and 20 November 2023. Seeking refuge, the victim turned to Derrick Kipngeno Kirui, also known as Gideon…
Author: David Wafula
Nairobi County’s Chief Officer for Environment, Geoffrey Mosiria, has been named Kenya’s Best Chief Officer at the prestigious StarLeaders Awards, hosted by Politrack Africa Ltd at the JW Marriott Hotel in Nairobi. The award recognizes his leadership in environmental conservation, sustainable waste management, and green initiatives that have helped improve Nairobi’s environmental landscape. Speaking after receiving the award, Mosiria dedicated the recognition to the people of Nairobi, crediting their support and collaboration for the progress made in environmental management. He also expressed gratitude to Governor Johnson Sakaja for championing environmental policies and commended the Nairobi County environment team for their…
Kenya is set to roll out whole blood automation technology to modernize its blood transfusion services and improve access to safe blood across the country. The announcement was made by Principal Secretary for Medical Services Harry Kimtai during the Africa Technology Day, hosted by Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies in Nairobi. Speaking to delegates from across Africa and representatives from Terumo Corporation Japan, Kimtai emphasized that blood is a critical resource in healthcare, playing a key role in surgery, childbirth, cancer treatment, and managing conditions like Sickle Cell Disease. “Blood is a life-saving resource. Without it, many medical services would…
The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security has proposed further amendments to a Bill seeking to revise the Assumption of the Office of the President Act. Led by Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo, the Committee convened a session on Friday, March 28, 2025, with key stakeholders to review the Assumption of Office of the President and Transition of Executive Authority Bill, 2025. The Bill, sponsored by Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, aims to establish clear procedures and ceremonies for the assumption of office by a president-elect, in line with Article 141 of the Constitution. It seeks to ensure…
The Senate has passed the County Governments Additional Allocations Bill, 2025, paving the way for an additional allocation of Sh50.5 billion to county governments. The Bill allows for the transfer of conditional and unconditional allocations from the national government’s share of revenue, as well as additional funding from loans and grants provided by development partners, for the 2024/2025 financial year. During a special sitting on Thursday, March 27, Senator Boni Khalwale (Kakamega), while seconding the Bill on behalf of Finance Committee Chairperson Senator Ali Roba, described it as a transformative move that will boost service delivery across the country. “This…
The National Police Service has attributed the increasing cases of pickpocketing in public service vehicles (PSVs) to part-time or unauthorized drivers and conductors. In a notice issued on Friday ahead of the Easter holiday and school closures, NPS Director of Corporate Communication and Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga urged public transport stakeholders to take firm and collective action to curb the problem. “We have noted with concern a rise in pickpocketing incidents in PSVs, mainly attributed to part-time or unauthorized drivers and conductors,” Muchiri said. He also highlighted the dangers posed by road traffic incidents, noting that they are a leading cause…
Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has called for discussions with President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, arguing that the two leaders have effectively merged their parties, UDA and ODM, into the government side. Through a letter to Raila and Ruto, Kalonzo insisted that the ongoing process of reforming the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) must involve meaningful consultations with the opposition to ensure fairness and inclusivity. “I firmly believe that UDA and ODM, now aligned on one side, should engage in discussions with those of us in the opposition to ensure a balanced and inclusive process,”…
The Ministry of Health has launched an emergency response to contain a Kala-azar outbreak in Wajir and Marsabit counties, where 617 cases have been reported, resulting in 25 deaths. To combat the spread of the disease, Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, today flagged off three mobile laboratories equipped with molecular testing machines, diagnostic reagents, and personal protective equipment. These units will help with early diagnosis, active case detection, and timely treatment in the worst-affected areas. Kala-azar, also known as visceral leishmaniasis, is a parasitic disease transmitted by sandflies. If left untreated, it is fatal in…
President William Ruto on Friday unveiled the Shirika Plan, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at integrating refugees with host communities across Kenya. The plan marks a shift from traditional humanitarian aid towards a more sustainable development approach, promoting self-reliance and regional cooperation. Speaking during the launch, President Ruto emphasized that the Shirika Plan is based on human rights and seeks to foster burden-sharing, resilience, and shared prosperity, especially as global humanitarian aid continues to decline. “The Shirika Plan will transform refugee management by moving away from dependency on aid and embracing a progressive model aligned with the philosophy of ‘African solutions…
The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has officially opened its portal for the 2025 university placement process. In an announcement made on Friday, March 28, KUCCPS invited the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates to apply for their preferred degree courses. In addition to university placements, the portal is also open for students interested in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Teacher Training College (TTC) programmes. KUCCPS emphasized that candidates from as far back as the year 2000 can apply for TVET and TTC courses, while degree applications are limited to the 2024…
The State Department for Internal Security and National Administration has appealed to the Administration and Internal Security Committee to fast-track the full implementation of the Public Benefits Organization (PBO) Act, 2013. In a session chaired by Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo, Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo urged the Committee to allocate resources to the Public Benefit Organizations Regulatory Authority (PBORA) to facilitate the process. During his presentation, PBORA CEO Dr. Lexmana Kiptoo noted that while the Act was enacted in 2013, it remained dormant until May 2024. “Since its operationalization, the Non-Governmental Organizations Co-ordination Board was rebranded to the Public…
Africa has lost a prominent journalist following the death of Shaka Ssali, the longtime host of Straight Talk Africa on Voice of America (VOA). Ssali passed away on Thursday, March 27, 2025, just two weeks before his 72nd birthday. Fondly known as the “Kabale Kid,” Ssali was widely respected for his fearless discussions on governance, democracy, and human rights. For over two decades, he was the face of Straight Talk Africa, a platform that challenged leaders and empowered citizens through insightful interviews and debates. Born in Kabale, Uganda, Ssali pursued higher education in the United States, earning a doctorate in…
The Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration, and Agriculture (PIC-SSAA) has raised serious concerns over financial and asset management at Nyayo Tea Zones Development Corporation. The committee, chaired by Nabakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe, flagged multiple discrepancies during an audit of the corporation’s financial records spanning 1999 to 2024. Nyayo Tea Zones CEO David Chepkwony appeared before the committee, facing tough questions over unaccounted assets, missing ownership documents, and an ongoing investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). One of the key concerns was the corporation’s motorcycles, which lacked proper ownership records. Chepkwony attributed the issue to a system…
Members of the National Assembly’s Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives Committee have backed a legislative proposal aimed at promoting the consumption of locally produced goods to strengthen the ‘Buy Kenya, Build Kenya’ initiative. The committee, chaired by Ikolomani MP Bernard Shinali, reviewed the Micro and Small Enterprises (Amendment) Bill, 2024, during a pre-publication scrutiny session. Sponsored by Manyatta MP John Mukunji, the Bill seeks to amend the Micro and Small Enterprises Act, CAP 499C, to encourage the use of locally made products and services. “This is a very good legislative proposal, and as a committee, we will ensure it goes through…
The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) has called on the national and county governments to regulate advertisements promoting unhealthy foods, particularly those targeting children. Speaking on Thursday, March 27, NCCK North Rift Region Chairman Bishop Emmanuel Chemengich urged authorities to ban such advertisements near schools and during children’s media consumption hours. He also advocated for prohibiting the use of child-friendly characters in ads for foods high in sugar, salt, and saturated fats. “We are especially distressed to note that over 75% of food-related advertisements on media and public platforms promote unhealthy foods. Even more concerning is that these…