The Kenyan government has confirmed the release of 24 Kenyans from the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) in Myanmar, with 46 more rescued at the border awaiting handover to authorities. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Affairs announced on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, that the 24 Kenyans were freed on February 12 following diplomatic efforts that also secured the release of 261 foreigners from 18 nationalities. “The release of the Kenyans followed months of delicate negotiations spearheaded by the Kenya Embassy in Thailand in conjunction with various partners in Thailand and Myanmar,” the ministry said in a statement. On…
Author: David Wafula
Renowned Mexican singer Paquita la del Barrio, famous for her fierce critiques of machismo through ranchera and bolero music, has passed away at her home in Veracruz, Mexico. She was 77. Her team announced her death on her official Instagram page, but no cause was given. Mexico City’s Department of Culture honored her legacy in a statement, saying, “She left an indelible mark with her unmistakable voice and unique style. Her music transcended generations, becoming anthems of female empowerment and social criticism.” Born Francisca Viveros Barradas in 1947, Paquita la del Barrio—translated informally as “Paquita from the block”—rose to fame…
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has defended the continued detention of opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, insisting that he must face trial, as his release would pose a threat to national security. In a statement on Tuesday, Museveni said the answer to why Besigye was arrested lies in a swift trial, which would allow facts to be established in court. “Otherwise, you are promoting insecurity, which is very dangerous for the country. Nobody in the world can easily lecture us on reconciliation and forgiveness because that has been part of our doctrine since the 1960s,” the statement read. Museveni emphasized that…
The Commonwealth has demanded the immediate release of Ugandan opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, terming his continued detention unlawful. In a statement on Monday, February 17, 2025, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland expressed deep concern over the detention of Besigye, along with Haji Obeid Lutale and Eron Kiiza, stating that it violates a ruling by Uganda’s Supreme Court on January 31, 2025. “We are saddened and deeply troubled by the continued detention of Dr. Kizza Besigye, Haji Obeid Lutale, and Eron Kiiza, which undermines the Supreme Court ruling and the principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law,” said…
The government, in partnership with other organizations, will roll out an emergency medical transport system for pregnant women by July 2025. Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Mlongo announced that the project will be funded after a meeting with Lee Walls, a representative of Global m-mama. The Cabinet approved the establishment of this system on December 17, 2024, recognizing it as a vital initiative to address delays that contribute to maternal and newborn mortality. CS Mlongo also expressed gratitude for the support from partners such as the Vodafone Foundation, M-Pesa Foundation, the British FCDO, Grand Challenges Canada, and other funders who have…
The National Assembly has rejected a petition seeking to censure Speaker Moses Wetang’ula. The petition, submitted by the Grassroot Oversight Initiative, aimed to initiate a motion against Wetang’ula, but the attempt was dismissed due to procedural constraints under parliamentary rules. In a letter dated February 7, 2025, Clerk of the National Assembly, Samuel Njoroge, informed the petitioners that the House’s rules do not permit discussions on the Speaker’s conduct unless a formal motion is introduced by a sitting Member of Parliament. “We have perused the Constitution, the Petition to Parliament (Procedure) Act, 2012, and the National Assembly Standing Orders and…
Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have advertised more than 100 job vacancies, as published in the MyGov publication on Tuesday, February 18, 2025. The positions span multiple sectors, including education, healthcare, business, engineering, and public service. Agro-Chemical and Food Company Limited has announced seven job openings for managerial roles. Interested applicants can visit www.acfc.co.ke under the careers section for more details. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. New Kenya Co-operative Creameries (KICC) is looking to recruit a Chief Manager for Sales & Marketing. Candidates are encouraged to visit www.newkcc.co.ke for a detailed job description. Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of…
The Public Service Commission (PSC) has cancelled the advertisement for the Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor position, which had been declared vacant on January 22, 2025. In a statement, PSC announced the cancellation but did not provide specific reasons. “This is to notify the public that the following position [Vice Chancellor] advertised on January 22, 2025 is hereby cancelled. Professor Waceke Wanjohi was appointed as the acting Vice-Chancellor of the University in April 2024. This was after Professor Paul Wainaina proceeded on annual leave effective April 15, 2024. In an internal memo to the university fraternity, Professor Wanjohi, who currently serves…
The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has announced that the Sand Harvesting Regulations, 2024 are now in effect. In a public notice issued on Tuesday, NEMA informed stakeholders in the sand harvesting sector that the new regulations have officially come into force. The regulations were enacted through Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 197 (Legislative Supplement No. 86) and Legal Notice No. 179, published on November 4, 2024, by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry. The primary objective of the new rules is to ensure the sustainable use of sand resources while protecting the environment. The regulations provide a framework…
The Kenya Meteorological Department has forecast predominantly hot and dry weather across most parts of the country over the next seven days, from February 18 to 24, 2025. According to the latest advisory, occasional light rainfall may occur in isolated areas around Mount Kenya, the Coastal region, the Lake Victoria Basin, and parts of the South-Eastern Lowlands near the Coast. “However, occasional light rainfall may occur in isolated areas around Mount Kenya, the Coastal region, Lake Victoria Basin, and the South-Eastern Lowlands (near the Coast),” the weatherman said. Most regions will experience daytime temperatures exceeding 30°C, except in Central Kenya,…
President William Ruto has made several appointments to key government institutions, with new leaders set to serve in various capacities. Ndung’u Gathinji has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the Tea Board of Kenya for a three-year term. Meanwhile, Kung’u Muigai will serve as the Chairperson of the Kenya Cultural Centre Council for the next two years. John Odek Odek has been named a member of the Board of Directors of the National Museums of Kenya, while Halima Daud has been appointed to the National Government Affirmative Action Fund Board. In the maritime sector, Mwinyi Mohamed Jahazi, Captain Peter…
Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinard Waititu has been named the new leader of the Farmers Party, replacing Irungu Nyakera. The Registrar of Political Parties confirmed the leadership changes, stating that Waititu now officially takes over the party’s leadership. John Wambugu has been appointed as the Deputy Party Leader for Policy and Strategy, replacing Brian Kigochi. However, Nicholas Ikiu will retain his role as Deputy Party Leader in charge of Resource Mobilization. The party’s National Chairperson, Thomas Omboga, also remains in his position. The leadership changes come as Waititu battles a 12-year jail sentence handed down by the Anti-Corruption Court on February…
The government is seeking additional funding through a supplementary budget to boost cancer treatment and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) financing. The proposed changes include increasing ICU funding from the current daily rebate of Sh4,480 to Sh28,000 per day. Additionally, the oncology (cancer) package will be expanded from Sh400,000 to Sh550,000 per household per year. Following a review, the revised benefits and tariffs will undergo the necessary legal processes for gazettement. The government has also revealed that 107,831 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) are currently operating across the country. To support them, the National Government has supplied 100,000 CHP kits, which include…
The government has tapped into data from various government agencies, including ministries and state corporations, to improve the Means Testing (MT) model for Social Health Authority (SHA) contributions. According to SHA, a new Means Testing algorithm is currently under development and will rely on data triangulation from multiple government databases to enhance accuracy. The agencies providing data include the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Immigration Department, Hustler Fund, Communications Authority (CA), Registrar of Companies, Kenya Power (KPLC), Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA), National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), Ministry of Cooperatives, and the Ministry of Lands…
Members of Parliament are calling for increased awareness of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) project. The National Assembly’s Committee on Labour, chaired by Runyenjes MP Muchangi Karemba, has urged the Ministry of Labour to strengthen public sensitization efforts to ensure that more people are informed about the initiative. This call was made during a retreat between the Ministry and the committee, which aimed to update the committee on the ministry’s ongoing initiatives and foster collaboration for better service delivery. Karemba emphasized the importance of raising awareness at the constituency level so that the project reaches its intended beneficiaries.…