The United States has imposed sanctions on the Houthi National Committee for Prisoners’ Affairs (HNCPA), its leader Abdulqader Al-Murtadha, and Syrian ally Fawaz al-Akhras, citing serious human rights abuses and support for oppressive regimes. The HNCPA and Al-Murtadha were targeted for their alleged role in abusing prisoners in Houthi-controlled prisons in Yemen, where detainees, including minors, have reportedly faced torture, inhumane treatment, and medical neglect. Al-Akhras was sanctioned for aiding Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in financial dealings and sanctions evasion. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, the HNCPA operates detention facilities where prisoners endure psychological and physical abuse, including mock…
Author: David Wafula
The United States Department of the Treasury has sanctioned Kamlesh Pattni, alongside 27 other individuals, for alleged involvement in a global gold smuggling and money laundering network centered in Zimbabwe. The sanctions, issued by the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), were announced to mark International Anti-Corruption Day. Pattni, who gained notoriety for his role in Kenya’s Goldenberg scandal in the 1990s, is accused of orchestrating a complex international network that facilitates bribery, money laundering, and fraudulent trade practices. According to the Treasury, Pattni’s schemes have exploited Zimbabwe’s natural resources for personal gain, enriching corrupt officials and criminal actors…
Kenya Airways (KQ) has announced plans to introduce direct flights from Nairobi to London’s Gatwick Airport starting July 2, 2025. The move marks a significant expansion in the airline’s UK operations, increasing its weekly flights to London to ten. In a statement, KQ confirmed that the new route will operate thrice weekly—on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays—departing Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at night. The flights to Gatwick will complement the existing schedule to Heathrow Airport, giving passengers more travel options between Kenya and the United Kingdom. Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and CEO Allan Kilavuka described the new route…
The nominees for the 82nd Golden Globe Awards included some former child superstars, along with some surprises. Actors Mindy Kaling and Morris Chestnut announced the 2025 slate of nominees which was led by the musical “Emilia Pérez” with 10 nominations. Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez, former child stars of Nickelodeon and Disney respectively, both scored nods – Grande for “Wicked” and Gomez for both the film “Emilia Pérez” and her Hulu series “Only Murders in the Building.” The surprises included Pamela Anderson’s nomination in the best actress in a drama category for her performance in “The Last Showgirl.” In recent years, fans…
Juan Soto he is set to sign what is reportedly the biggest contract in the history of sport after agreeing a $765m (£600m) deal over 15 years with Major League Baseball’s New York Mets. Multiple sources in the United States have disclosed details of the deal, although the Mets have yet to confirm it because the 26-year-old Dominican needs to complete a medical. The MLB website said, external Soto would get a $75m signing bonus, with no deferred money, in a deal that could eventually be worth up to $800m (£627m). The total value of the deal eclipses the $700m (£558m) 10-year…
The winner of the 2024 series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! has been crowned. McFly singer Danny Jones won the public vote in Sunday’s final episode on ITV, with Coleen Rooney coming second and the Reverend Richard Coles in third place. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart, I gave my all in there, gave myself, and it’s a lovely feeling to be liked,” Jones told viewers who voted for him. Runner-up Rooney said she “couldn’t have wished for someone better to be in the final with”. Jones received 55.2% of the public vote in…
Moja Expressway has issued a warning to motorists using the Nairobi Expressway, citing a sharp increase in traffic due to construction along Mombasa Road. In a statement, the company attributed the surge to ongoing maintenance work on the busy road, urging drivers to remain vigilant. “Due to ongoing construction on Mombasa Road, there is increased traffic on the Nairobi Expressway. Please drive carefully, especially at the entrances and exits. Note that the designated speed limit is 80kph,” Moja Expressway advised. Motorists were reminded to adhere to the speed limit and exercise caution, particularly when navigating the expressway’s entry and exit…
Renowned Pan-Africanist Prof. PLO Lumumba has written to Chief Justice Martha Koome expressing concerns over allegations of corruption within Kenya’s judiciary. In a letter seen by Kahawa Tungu dated December 5, 2024, Prof. Lumumba highlighted claims of judicial officers receiving bribes to deliver favorable rulings, a situation he described as placing the judiciary at a critical crossroads. Prof. Lumumba referenced remarks made by Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi, who recently alleged on social media that a judge in Mombasa was involved in collecting bribes through an appointed agent to influence court outcomes. In a post on November 30, 2024, Abdullahi wrote,…
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) surpassed the Sh1 trillion revenue mark by November 30, 2024. This accomplishment comes earlier than in the previous financial year when the Sh1 trillion target was reached on December 8, 2023. “Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has surpassed the Sh1 Trillion mark, collecting Sh1.005 trillion as of 30th November 2024! This milestone was reached earlier than last financial year when it was achieved on 7th December 2023,” KRA announced, The revenue collected during the first five months of the 2024/25 financial year (July to November) increased by 4.3% to Sh1.005 trillion, up from Sh963.746 billion during…
Superstar Rihanna and her partner, rapper A$AP Rocky, were spotted leaving the celebrity hotspot Carbone in Miami on Saturday after a romantic dinner during the vibrant Art Basel weekend. Rihanna, 36, turned heads in a strapless minidress with bold cutouts, paired with ripped black tights layered over nude pumps, a faux fur coat, and gold jewelry. The Fenty Beauty mogul exuded confidence and style as she held hands with Rocky upon exiting the venue. Rocky, also 36, complemented her look with a retro-inspired all-denim outfit, including a button-up shirt, jeans, and a jacket with a faux fur collar. He accessorized…
The Kennedy Center celebrated the contributions of singer-songwriter Bonnie Raitt, filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, jazz legend Arturo Sandoval, and rock icons the Grateful Dead during its annual Honors on Sunday. The historic Apollo Theater in Harlem also received recognition, marking the first time an institution was awarded the prestigious accolade. President Joe Biden, attending his final Honors ceremony of this term, received a standing ovation from the audience. Earlier, he lauded artists for their ability to challenge authority and inspire change through their craft. Biden has attended every ceremony during his presidency, unlike former President Donald Trump, who skipped the…
Former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Brandi Glanville has revealed ongoing health challenges, sharing that she has been in and out of the hospital over the past year and a half. The 52-year-old sparked concern after posting a photo of her swollen face on social media, leaving fans speculating about her condition. Glanville expressed frustration over the mystery surrounding her symptoms in a post on X (formerly Twitter) Sunday. “I wish I knew [what happened],” she wrote. “I’ve been in & out of the hospital this past year and a half… spent almost every dollar I have trying to…
Jay-Z has vehemently denied allegations that he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2000, calling the claims a “blackmail attempt” in a statement released to the media. The lawsuit, filed by attorney Tony Buzbee on behalf of a woman identified as Jane Doe, accuses the two music moguls of assaulting her at a house party following the MTV Video Music Awards. However, the rapper, born Shawn Carter, dismissed the accusations as “heinous” and emphasized his commitment to proving his innocence. “[Buzbee] calculated that the nature of these allegations and public scrutiny would pressure me into settling,”…
Kenya will no longer co-host the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) awarded the hosting rights to Rwanda due to delays in stadium preparations. Initially set to host the tournament alongside Uganda and Tanzania in February 2025, Kenya was dropped after failing to meet a December 31 deadline to complete renovations at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, and Nyayo Stadium. “CAF has decided to pick Rwanda as Kenya’s replacement to co-host CHAN 2025 alongside Uganda and Tanzania, as Kenya cannot meet the required stadium standards within the set timeframe,” a CAF official confirmed. The…
Hussein Mohammed was on Saturday December 7 elected the new Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president, in the second round of voting after round one failed to give an outright winner. The Murang’a SEAL Vice-Chairman bagged 67 votes in the ultimate stage, while competitors Barry Otieno and Doris Petra who had already withdrawn from the race after Hussein claimed a slight advantage in round one but short of the 50+1 votes required, still got a vote apiece in the second phase as some delegates abstained. Hussein’s had been long coming, as opinion from the common man, holding no vote in this…