The government has digitized over 22,000 services on the e-Citizen platform, with 375,000 e-citizens accessing the system daily. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi revealed on Thursday that over 13 million Kenyans have registered on the platform, facilitating seamless access to government services. “Over 13 million users are registered on e-Citizen. We shut down 1,130 pay bills and created a single pay bill number, 222222, for all government services. This has resulted in collections of approximately Ksh900 million daily,” Mudavadi said. The government has also addressed delays in passport processing by investing in two high-capacity printers capable of producing 500 passports…
Author: David Wafula
The government has reported a concerning rise in cases of femicide, with 100 women murdered between August and November 2024. Prime Cabinet Secretary and Interior CS Musalia Mudavadi revealed that 7,107 cases of sexual and gender-based violence (GBV) were recorded during the same period. “Currently, the elephant in the room in the security sector is the worrying trend of emerging cases of femicide which have brought to the fore the underlying and ongoing violations of the rights of mainly women,” Mudavadi said. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has completed investigations on many of these cases, with the majority now…
A report has recommended that religious organizations in Kenya submit annual financial reports as part of efforts to curb terrorism financing. The report titled “Terrorism Financing Risk Assessment for the NPO Sector in Kenya” emphasizes the need for religious bodies to register and maintain accountability for their finances. Some religious organizations, particularly within the Islamic faith, have been allegedly linked to militant groups like Al-Shabaab. Al-Shabaab, which originated from the Islamic Courts Union in Somalia, has been classified as a Sunni Islamic terrorist organization. The group pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda in 2012 and continues to seek the overthrow of the Somali…
A recent report has identified charcoal and sugar smuggling as key sources of funding for Al-Shabaab, a terrorist group that poses a major threat in Kenya. The report, titled Terrorism Financing Risk Assessment for NPO Sector in Kenya, also highlights that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and private donations play significant roles in financing terrorism. “Open-source reporting shows that terrorism funds are raised through charcoal and sugar smuggled into Somalia, and there are instances where funds are suspected to have originated outside Kenya and were transferred through banks and mobile money operators,” the report states. Al-Shabaab continues to exploit ungoverned spaces in…
Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua yesterday led Principal Secretaries and heads of state agencies, corporations, and departments in signing performance agreements for the 2024/2025 fiscal year. The event, held at the NSSF Building in Nairobi, emphasized the government’s commitment to accountability, innovation, and effective service delivery. Mutua described the agreements as a roadmap for achieving measurable progress in improving the lives of Kenyans. “This initiative reflects our dedication to aligning operations with the ministry’s strategic objectives and ensuring impactful results for the Kenyan people. By holding ourselves to higher standards of performance, we are fostering a culture…
Kenya’s aviation industry faces a potential crisis as the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU) has issued a strike notice set to disrupt operations just days before Christmas. The union announced the planned industrial action on Wednesday, December 18, citing claims of discrimination and poor pay by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA). KAWU stated that prolonged grievances and unresolved issues have left its members with no choice but to take drastic action, despite efforts to address concerns through dialogue. This dispute arises just four months after KAWU ended a previous strike following a return-to-work agreement brokered by Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis…
The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has reported increased vessels docking at the Port of Mombasa, driven by the festive season and the peak cashew nut export period at the neighboring Port of Mtwara in Tanzania. The Port of Mombasa is scheduled to handle 41 vessels in the two weeks before December 28, 2024, and the number is expected to rise further. KPA attributed the surge to major shipping lines introducing six feeder vessels to enhance connectivity between regional ports and global shipping networks. Additionally, a leading shipping line operating at the Mombasa port has significantly increased transshipment cargo volumes. The…
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim says the club are “better” with Marcus Rashford after the forward suggested he could leave Old Trafford. The England international, 27, said on Tuesday that he was “ready for a new challenge and the next steps” in his career. It came two days after Rashford was dropped for United’s derby win against Manchester City at Etihad Stadium. Rashford’s last Premier League start came in a 4-0 win against Everton on 1 December, when he scored twice. Amorim suggested the club want the striker – who came through United’s youth ranks – to stay, saying: “I don’t talk…
The UK inflation rate has gone up for the second month in a row, with prices rising at their fastest pace since March. Inflation hit 2.6% in the year to November, according to official figures. Fuel and clothing were among the main drivers behind the rise. Increasing ticket prices for gigs and plays were also a factor. Analysts say the latest figures mean the Bank of England will almost certainly not cut interest rates when it meets on Thursday. “Inflation rose again this month as prices of motor fuel and clothing increased this year but fell a year ago,” said…
Food critic Grace Dent is to host the next series of Celebrity MasterChef, after Gregg Wallace stepped back from presenting the show after allegations against him. Author and podcaster Dent has appeared regularly as a guest on MasterChef, and last year was a contestant on MasterChef: Battle Of The Critics. In a statement, Dent said hosting the show was “more than a dream to me” and said she felt “very lucky” to be taking the reins. John Torode, who will remain on the show and host alongside Dent, said he had “loved” working with her over the years, describing her…
KFC’s “finger lickin’ good” slogan usually refers to chicken, but it’s taking on different meaning at its newest location. Sauce and dips are the star at “Saucy,” a prototype opening Friday in Orlando. The restaurant, which ditches the chain’s familiar red for pink, is centered around 11 new dips and chicken tenders — both favorites of Gen-Z eaters who crave adventurous flavors and boneless chicken. The launch of Saucy comes amid challenging times for the Yum Brands-owned chain, which has posted several consecutive quarters of declines for its US restaurants. KFC’s attempts at value meals and limited time offerings haven’t resonated with…
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has announced that more than 550,000 Kenyans have registered for homeownership through the government’s Affordable Housing programme, specifically the Boma Yangu platform. The announcement was made after a status update on the ongoing housing projects at the DP’s Karen residence on Wednesday, December 18, 2024. Kindiki highlighted that the Affordable Housing Programme is a key government initiative aimed at providing citizens with access to decent, safe, and affordable homes. He pointed out that Kenya’s national housing demand stands at 250,000 units annually, while only 50,000 units are produced each year. To address this gap, the government…
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Olivia Ponton are reportedly in a casual relationship. An insider told People on Tuesday that the two have been seeing each other since early fall, though they are keeping things low-key. Rumors about their romance gained traction last week after Ponton, 22, was linked to a robbery at Burrow’s Ohio home. On December 9, as Burrow played against the Dallas Cowboys, Ponton reportedly contacted police around 8:15 p.m. local time, stating she discovered a “shattered bedroom window” and the room had been “ransacked.” In a separate call, she allegedly claimed…
Kirsten Corley, wife of rapper Chance the Rapper, has officially filed for divorce just two weeks before their sixth wedding anniversary. The filing, which occurred on Friday, marks the end of their marriage after six years. The couple, both 31, share two daughters: Kensli, 9, and Marli, 5. It is unclear whether Corley is requesting spousal or child support, as the court documents have not been made public. Chance, whose real name is Chancelor Bennett, and Corley first announced their separation in April. Corley shared a message on her Instagram Story at the time, saying, “After a period of separation,…
David and Victoria Beckham had a luxurious date night at the world-famous Eleven Madison Park in New York City, enjoying a $365-per-person vegan tasting menu. The couple, who were seen at the three-Michelin-starred restaurant, shared their experience on social media, with David, 49, calling it a “spectacular” evening. The Beckhams savored the 10-course meal, which included vegan dishes such as rice with Thai basil, marinated leek salad, and creamy avocado with fava bean puree. David expressed his delight with each dish, even joking about being “blown away” by the meal, particularly the tofu dish and the various mushroom preparations. “Bread…