The Council of Governors (CoG) has accused Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o of unprofessional conduct and unfairly scandalizing counties through her report covering the financial year’s first quarter, from July to October 2024. CoG Chair Ahmed Abdullahi on Thursday defended the counties, particularly regarding the report’s claims about development spending and the management of numerous bank accounts. Abdullahi clarified that the existence of 7,011 health facility bank accounts is legally justified under the Facility Improvement Financing Act, 2023. The Act requires all county health facilities to open and operate accounts in commercial banks for revenue retention and expenditure. He also…
Author: David Wafula
A man in Canada’s far north leapt onto a polar bear to protect his wife from being mauled, police say. The unnamed man suffered serious injuries but is expected to recover, according to the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service. The couple left their house at around 05:00 local time (11:00 GMT) on Tuesday to find their dogs, when a bear – which was in the driveway of their home – lunged at the woman. The incident happened in Fort Severn First Nation, a small community of about 400 people in the far north of Ontario. “The woman slipped to ground as…
George Russell says Max Verstappen “cannot deal with adversity” as the Mercedes driver responded to the world champion’s comments that he had “lost all respect” for him. Verstappen was unhappy about the role Russell played in the Red Bull driver being given a one-place penalty which demoted him from pole position at the Qatar Grand Prix last weekend. Briton Russell said at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Thursday: “I don’t know why he felt the need for this personal attack and I’m not going to take it. “This is me just setting the record straight, I am not going to stand…
British pop star Peter Andre has been announced as the headliner for London’s New Year’s Day Parade, promising an unforgettable celebration to welcome 2025. Andre, 51, will fly in from Dubai early on New Year’s Day after performing at a New Year’s Eve show in the city. He will join the festivities along the two-mile (3km) parade route, which begins near Green Park Station at 12:00 GMT and travels through iconic locations, including Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street, Trafalgar Square, and Whitehall, before ending at Parliament Square. Speaking about the event, Andre said, “It’s such a beautiful honour. Headlining such an…
Samantha Lawrence, a member of the pioneering UK hip-hop duo Wee Papa Girl Rappers, has died at the age of 55. In a statement, her family expressed their grief, saying, “With great sadness, we announce that beloved sister and mother Samantha Lawrence passed away on Sunday.” Lawrence, also known as Total S, performed alongside her sister Sandra, who went by the stage name TY Tim. Sandra confirmed that Samantha passed away peacefully in London following a secondary cancer diagnosis earlier this year. The Wee Papa Girl Rappers rose to fame in the late 1980s, leaving an indelible mark on the…
British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has named Iskra Reic as its new head for China, replacing Leon Wang, who is currently under investigation and on extended leave. Reic, who played a key role in developing AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine, will relocate to Shanghai to take on her new role. In addition to her duties in China, she will continue leading the company’s vaccines and immune therapies unit. Wang’s detention, first disclosed in October, has caused unease among investors, drawing parallels to a high-profile bribery scandal involving GlaxoSmithKline, which paid a record $489 million fine in China a decade ago. AstraZeneca confirmed Wang’s…
President William Ruto has named former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Ahmed Issack Hassan as the new chairperson of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA). Former Isiolo Woman Representative Rehema Dida Jaldesa has also been appointed to lead the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC). These appointments followed parliamentary approval processes and were formalized in a Gazette notice dated December 5, 2024. Ahmed Issack Hassan, who served as the inaugural IEBC chair from November 2011 to October 2016, brings three decades of legal experience to his new role. He is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya…
OpenAI has announced the expansion of ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode to the web, allowing users to interact with the chatbot through their browsers. This new feature is available to ChatGPT’s paying subscribers, including Plus, Enterprise, Teams, and Edu users. Additionally, OpenAI has introduced a new feature for developers using the ChatGPT desktop app on macOS. The app can now read code from developer-focused coding apps like VS Code, Xcode, TextEdit, Terminal, and iTerm2. Developers no longer need to copy and paste their code into ChatGPT; the app automatically sends the section of code being worked on alongside the user’s prompt…
Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has announced that 600 boda boda riders will be hired for jobs in Dubai, while 500 nannies will be employed in Saudi Arabia. In a statement issued on December 5, the CS revealed that officials from a United Arab Emirates company will be in Kenya next week to interview and recruit the motorcycle riders. “Bodaboda riders are highly encouraged to apply. Successful candidates will undergo four months of training in Dubai, during which the company will assist them in obtaining UAE riding licenses,” said Mutua in his statement. 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐇𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐒: 𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐉𝐎𝐁𝐒 𝐈𝐍…
Bitcoin soared to an all-time high of $100,000 on Wednesday following President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement of key administration picks, including Paul Atkins, a known cryptocurrency advocate, as the next head of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This marks a pivotal moment for the cryptocurrency market, as Atkins is expected to adopt a more lenient regulatory stance compared to outgoing SEC Chair Gary Gensler, who aggressively targeted the industry. Atkins’ nomination triggered a sharp rally in Bitcoin’s price, which had already been climbing since Trump’s projected election win in early November. The cryptocurrency has surged 130% this year, far outpacing…
Members of Parliament have expressed concerns over the rising costs of acquiring national identity cards and birth certificates, arguing that the proposed increases could make these essential documents inaccessible to many citizens. During a session with Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Julius Bitok, lawmakers called for a review of the proposed fees, citing the financial struggles faced by ordinary Kenyans. The proposed changes, outlined in the Registration of Persons (Amendment) Rules, 2024, and the Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment) Rules, 2024, include a Sh300 fee for applying for a new ID card, previously free, and a rise in the…
Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B has addressed speculation about her finances, asserting her wealth and decision-making amid rumors she is struggling financially. The conversation began after Cardi shared a sponsored post with fashion brand Shein, sparking criticism from fans who questioned her choice to collaborate with a budget-friendly brand despite her affinity for high-end labels. “People say that I’m surviving off Shein deals and brand deals,” Cardi said in a voice recording shared on X (formerly Twitter). “I could wake up tomorrow, sign a contract, and have half of $65 million — or half of $70 million — in my bank.”…
Reality TV star and fashion mogul Kim Kardashian, 44, turned heads with her latest daring ensemble, sharing images of herself on an e-bike in a late-night photoshoot that has fans buzzing. Clad in a white Skims long-sleeve top, matching thong, sheer tights, and complementing heels, Kardashian embraced an edgy biker aesthetic by accessorizing with a helmet, camouflage balaclava, and gloves. She shared the images on Instagram with the caption, “Enjoy the ride.” The post quickly sparked reactions from fans, with some questioning her choice of attire for the e-bike outing. “Kim, that’s not what people wear when they ride,” one…
Prince Harry has put an end to rumors suggesting trouble in his marriage to Meghan Markle, following speculation fueled by their recent separate appearances at public events. Speaking at The New York Times’ 2024 DealBook Summit on Wednesday, the Duke of Sussex addressed the ongoing scrutiny of his relationship with Markle, calling it unwarranted and exaggerated. “Apparently, we’ve bought or moved house 10, 12 times,” Harry said, according to People. “We’ve apparently divorced maybe 10, 12 times as well. So it’s just like, what?” The prince empathized with those spreading false rumors, describing them as online trolls overly invested in…
He has won multiple Grammys and racked up nine Billboard Top 10 Hits, but musician Ed Sheeran will soon add another trophy to his collection – becoming the first-ever Western artist to perform a concert in Bhutan. On January 24, 2025, the British singer-songwriter will perform at Changlimithang Stadium in Bhutan’s capital of Thimphu. “Kuzuzampola!” Sheeran said in an Instagram post announcing the Bhutan concert. That means “Hello” in the country’s Dzongkha language. “I’ve heard wonderful, wonderful things about Bhutan,” he added. A landlocked Buddhist monarchy of about 700,000 people, Bhutan began slowly opening to the world in the 1970s. Travelers who…