Tennessee officials were unable to put Christa Gail Pike to death Wednesday for a 1995 murder after administering two doses of a lethal drug. A death penalty expert said it was an unprecedented failure, and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee halted the one remaining execution for the rest of the year.Pike, 50, was alive and loudly snoring after the attempted lethal injection and taken by ambulance from the prison, her attorneys said. She was being treated at a hospital, but they said they hadn’t been told about her condition.She had been scheduled for execution at 10 a.m. Wednesday for the killing she committed at age 18 and would have been the first woman executed in Tennessee in more than 200 years. An appeals court stopped the lethal injection just an hour before it was to start and hours later the U.S. Supreme Court overturned that stay.Officials gave Pike two doses of pentobarbital, her attorneys said in court filings late Wednesday.Gov. Bill Lee said in a statement that he has ordered “a comprehensive, third-party review to determine exactly what occurred” and that the remaining scheduled execution will not take place this year.“Carrying out a lawfully imposed sentence is among the State’s most serious responsibilities, and the people of Tennessee expect it to be done in a manner that is not only legal and constitutional, but is effective,” he said.The Tennessee Department of Correction said in a statement that it “followed every step of the State’s lawful, established execution protocol approved by the Attorney General’s Office.”The state’s execution protocol calls for a secondary set of drug syringes to be administered “if the inmate is not deceased” after the first set. It does not spell out what happens if the subject is alive after the second set.Robin M. Maher, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, said what Pike experienced is “singular and unparalleled.”Seven other people have survived medical problems due to an execution team’s failure to access a vein to administer lethal injection drugs, but no one has stayed alive after receiving the drugs used in such executions, she said.Media witnesses detail the execution process Media witnesses observing from a separate room said officials raised curtains to the execution chamber at 7:27 p.m., showing Pike strapped to a gurney.“I’m going to leave this world the way I spent most of my life and that is in love,” she said in her “last” words. She described herself as at peace.But Pike remained awake and at one point raised her head and asked prison officials if her arm was supposed to feel that way. It was not clear what she was referencing.By 8:26 p.m., execution witnesses reported that the second dose of pentobarbital had been administered. Pike continued to be heard snoring behind the closed curtain until the microphone was cut off at 8:53 p.m. At that time there was an announcement to escort media witnesses out of the area.Lawyers for Pike filed an emergency motion late Wednesday to the Tennessee Supreme Court seeking to immediately halt and stay the execution, saying she was in “unnecessary agony” and it was violating her right to be executed free of cruel and unusual punishment. They also filed motions in the Sixth Circuit court and a district court.It was the second time this year that Tennessee has been unable to carry out an execution: In May state officials called off the lethal injection of Tony Carruthers, who was convicted of kidnapping and killing three people in 1994, after executioners tried and failed for over an hour to place an IV to administer pentobarbital.Pike and her boyfriend were convicted of the fatal stabbing and beating in 1995 of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer, their classmate at a job training facility in Knoxville. The case garnered widespread attention in part because of a pentagram that was carved on Slemmer’s body, and other elements of the crime stoked fears of Satan worship during the “satanic panic” of the 1980s and 1990s.Stay of execution was swiftly appealed Pike was initially scheduled to be put to death in the morning, and witnesses had gathered at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville when the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals voted 2-1 to issue a stay. That court said a delay was needed to consider whether Pike’s allegations of childhood sexual abuse were fully considered at her sentencing.The attorney general’s office appealed to the Supreme Court, saying that halting the execution at the last moment traumatized Slemmer’s family and rewarded “abusive delay tactics” by Pike’s attorneys. Later in the day, the high court cleared the way for the execution to proceed. The conservative majority did not explain their order, while the three liberal members signed a dissent that said Pike’s claims deserved a closer look.Pike did not deny committing the killing, but her supporters argued that the state should consider her age at the time, her mental illness and her allegations of severe sexual abuse.
Read briefing Explosions were heard overnight in Ethiopia’s capital, some in the area of the military headquarters in the west and another in the south of the city, residents and diplomatic sources say.The blasts came hours after drone flights were banned over Addis Ababa and a week after fighting erupted in the north between the army and a newly launched alliance of armed groups including forces from the Tigray region.A source linked to the opposition fighters told the Reuters news agency they were behind what they said were drone strikes.“It was very loud. It was strong enough to set off car alarms,” a resident in a southern area of the city, near the base of the secret service, told BBC Amharic.He estimated that he heard the explosion in the Gotera neighbourhood some time around 00:30 local time (21:30 GMT).Another resident told the BBC that he and his friends were playing games when they heard an explosion. He lives in the western suburb of Torhayloch, a neighbourhood close to the military headquarters. There were no official reports confirming the cause of the explosions, the exact locations affected or whether there were any casualties or damage.The office of Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the defence ministry as well as the federal and Addis Ababa police have not responded to BBC requests for comment.Meanwhile, in a BBC interview, Eritrea’s government has denied allegations made by Addis Ababa that it is backing the new rebel alliance.Clashes broke out last week after months of tension between the government and the party that controls Tigray, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). They both accuse each other of violating a 2022 peace deal that ended a brutal two-year civil war, which according to an Africa Union mediator is estimated to have cost 600,000 lives.Last month, seven armed movements, including the TPLF and an Amhara militia known as Fano, formed an alliance with the stated aim of removing the government in Addis Ababa.The TPLF says it was responding to a federal offensive, including drone strikes, while the government says Tigrayan forces attacked first after seizing control of airports in the region.It is difficult to verify what is happening on the ground and access to the internet and the main telecoms service provider in Tigray have also been cut.Within Tigray, the national army and a pro-government militia appear to be advancing towards the region’s main city of Mekelle.In the southern Tigrayan town of Alamata, a medic told the BBC on Wednesday that 52 civilians had died in three days of heavy fighting.The TPLF is also reported to be fighting in neighbouring Afar region, a strategic area which connects landlocked Ethiopia to Djibouti and its ports.A humanitarian source has estimated that tens of thousands have fled their homes in Afar, according to the AFP news agency.Fighting around Lalibela in the Amhara region, a Unesco world heritage site where foreign tourists have been stranded for more than a week, has involved the national army and Fano fighters, now allied to the TPLF.One pro-government militia commander fighting in Tigray told the BBC that Eritrean soldiers were involved on the front lines.But in a rare response to the BBC from Eritrea’s government, Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel dismissed the allegations.He accused Ethiopia’s ruling Prosperity Party (PP) of seeking external scapegoats for the country’s mounting challenges.“The PP regime has made it a habit to apportion blame to its neighbours in order to deflect attention from the myriad internal conflicts that it is fomenting in various parts of the country,” he told BBC Tigrinya.Eritrea was a key ally of Ethiopia during the Tigray war, fighting against the TPLF.But relations between the two neighbours have since deteriorated largely over the Ethiopian prime minister’s ambition to take ownership of one of Eritrea’s Red Sea ports.Abiy has even hinted at taking the port of Assab – about 60km (37 miles) from the border – by force as he sees direct access to the sea as important for Ethiopia’s long-term future and economic prosperity. As concerns over security mount in Ethiopia, the country’s National Intelligence and Security Service (Niss) announced on Wednesday that it was imposing an indefinite ban on drone flights in Addis Ababa and surrounding areas.The agency said it would not issue permits for drone operations and warned that legal action would be taken against anyone flying drones in restricted areas.Niss said the measure was necessary to protect national leaders, critical infrastructure and major public events.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing Two stadium gigs in Russia by Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West have officially been cancelled.West had been due to perform at the Gazprom Arena in St Petersburg on 10 and 11 October.But there was confusion in the lead-up to the shows, as the venue had said it wouldn’t host him for what would have been the biggest show by a western artist since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.In a post on messaging app Telegram, gig organisers Say Agency confirmed the concerts had been cancelled with “sincere regret”.“The Ye concerts in St Petersburg will not be able to take place on the scheduled dates,” the Moscow-based agency wrote.“We will issue an official statement regarding the status of the project and our plans in the near future.”Gazprom Arena said in August that it had not signed a rental agreement with the concert promoters and so the gig could not take place on its site.Say Agency had said it was working to resolve the issue with the stadium before confirming they could not go ahead.The stadium also acknowledged it had received complaints about West’s performance.He has recently apologised for multiple antisemitic and pro-Nazi comments in the past, saying he had “lost touch with reality” as a result of his bipolar disorder.Russia was invaded by the Nazis in World War Two, and the country’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman was among those who criticised the planned shows. Maria Zakharova said they were unacceptable and pointed out West’s “glorification” of Hitler.In 2025 West started selling swastika T-shirts and released a song called Heil Hitler.Pro-war bloggers in Russia also questioned whether the country should be hosting an American artist while the US provided financial and military support for Ukraine.His first major concert in the US for more than five years was held in Los Angeles in April, and he has since played in countries including Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands.Last summer West was set to headline London’s Wireless Festival but was barred from entering the UK, forcing organisers to cancel the whole event.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing The family of an American woman shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent has filed two civil lawsuits related to her death, according to court records filed Thursday in Minnesota federal court.Renee Good was killed January 7 by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis during the height of the Department of Homeland Security’s Operation Metro Surge, prompting significant protest in the city and sparking national outrage.One lawsuit names the United States of America as the sole defendant under the Federal Tort Claims Act, a federal law that allows people to sue the US government for personal injury, property damage or death, caused by alleged negligence of federal employees acting within their job duties.The second lawsuit alleges, among other things, a conspiracy to interfere with civil rights by senior federal officials, federal immigration enforcement agents, and private actors.It names Ross, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, White House border czar Tom Homan, and other Trump administration figures as defendants, as well as ten John Doe federal agents “for their respective individual roles in the operation that led to Renee’s death,” according to the family’s attorneys.CNN has reached out to the White House, DHS and phone numbers listed under Noem’s name for comment. Good, a mother of three, had just finished dropping her 6-year-old son off at school when she encountered ICE agents.The moments leading up to the shooting were captured by bystanders as well as Ross, a 10-year ICE veteran, whose cellphone video starts with him in front of Good’s burgundy SUV. The vehicle was stopped for a few minutes perpendicular to a snowy residential Minneapolis street, obstructing the flow of traffic.Ross did not say anything as he walked from the front of the car toward the driver’s side. Good then addressed Ross, the video shows.Rebecca Good was standing outside the car and said “show your face” to Ross, whose masked reflection is seen on the vehicle’s windows as he continues walking around it. Rebecca Good holds her cellphone up, seemingly recording Ross, and tells him, “You wanna come at us? You wanna come at us? I say go get yourself some lunch, big boy.”Renee Good is then seen reversing the car and glancing forward as she turns the steering wheel to the right. The car moves forward, Ross cries out, “whoa,” and three gunshots are heard. Good was shot shortly after 9:30 a.m., according to a news release from the city government. The video filmed by Ross captured audio of gunshots but doesn’t show the actual moment of the shooting, though other video from bystanders shows Ross was standing out of the vehicle’s path when he opened fire. He fired first into her windshield and then at close range through the open driver’s side window, videos show.The end of Ross’s video shows the SUV as it barrels forward. Someone can be heard saying, “f**king b*tch.”DHS later said Good “weaponized her vehicle” to run over an officer near an ICE vehicle.The search for accountability for the shooting remains ongoing. In March, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and two state agencies sued the Trump administration for access to evidence in Good’s shooting death as well as the death of Alex Pretti, who was killed by DHS agents in January.In July, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced the Department of Justice had provided a trove of materials related to both shootings to state investigators. No charges have been filed in either case.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said Kenyans living outside the country will not be discriminated against when seeking national identification documents or registering as voters.Murkomen dismissed opposition to the registration of Kenyans living in neighbouring countries, saying the government would not deny citizens their constitutional rights based on where they reside.“All Kenyans, including those in our neighbouring countries, have the right to register as voters. That is why we have a whole State Department for Diaspora Affairs. It is meant to support Kenyans outside our borders,” Murkomen said.The CS spoke in Kiminini, Trans Nzoia County, at the start of a development, security and service-delivery tour of the region.He urged residents to take advantage of ongoing reforms in registration services to obtain national identification cards and register as voters, saying the documents were critical to accessing government services and participating in democratic processes.“An ID is a right and a gateway to employment, Government services and a stake in national decision-making,” he said.Murkomen also inspected the construction of the Kiminini modern market, which is expected to accommodate 500 traders.The facility will include storage areas, cold rooms, eateries, a social hall and an ICT hub, among other amenities.He said the project was part of wider government investments aimed at improving the operating environment for farmers and small-scale traders.The CS further said the Interior Ministry had intensified its crackdown on illicit alcohol, narcotic drugs and other contraband, including goods smuggled across Kenya’s borders.“Protecting our young people from alcohol and drug abuse requires sustained enforcement alongside cooperation from communities,” he said.During the tour, Murkomen also inspected the ongoing construction of the Kiminini-Ndalu road and new classrooms at Kiminini Comprehensive School to support Junior Secondary and lower-primary learners.He was accompanied by Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service Gilbert Masengeli, Kiminini MP Kakai Bisau, Endebess MP Robert Pukose, Trans Nzoia Woman Representative Lilian Siyoi, Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Abdi Hassan, Rift Valley Regional Police Commander Mathews Ndanyi, Trans Nzoia County Commissioner Alason Hussein and several MCAsEmail your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy “Lulu” Muteke, are reported to have been killed after a helicopter crashed in Marondera Rural, east of Harare, on Wednesday evening.The Zimbabwean government confirmed that the crash was fatal and that there were no survivors.Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana said the aircraft was carrying a high-profile businessman, other passengers and two pilots when it crashed at about 5pm local time.“The Government wishes to confirm that a helicopter crash has occurred,” Mangwana said in a statement, adding that initial information indicated that there were no survivors.The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) separately confirmed that an aircraft had crashed in the Marondera Rural area at around 1700 hours.The police said investigations and identification of the victims were underway, with the names expected to be formally confirmed by authorities.Initial reports linked Chivayo and his wife to the aircraft, although the police had not immediately released the identities of all those who died.Reuters reported that seven people were aboard the helicopter, including a high-profile businessman, four other passengers and two pilots.Emergency teams were dispatched to the crash site following the incident, while authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances and cause of the crash.Chivayo, a prominent Zimbabwean businessman, was known for his lavish lifestyle, high-profile charitable donations and close links to influential figures in Zimbabwe. He had been active on social media in the days leading up to the crash, including making several high-value donations.News of the crash sparked widespread reaction in Zimbabwe as details of the victims and circumstances surrounding the accident emerged.Authorities have yet to release a preliminary explanation of what caused the helicopter to crash. He has also been involved in several deals in Kenya and was a close friend to president William Ruto. The news of the crash spread fast in Kenya.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing At least 52 civilians have been killed during three days of heavy fighting around Alamata in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region, hospital sources have told the BBC. It appears government troops have taken control of the town from regional fighters and intend to push north towards Mekelle, the region’s main city. Social media clips show army tanks on Alamata’s streets.Clashes broke out last week after months of tension between the government and the party that controls Tigray, with both accusing each other of violating a 2022 deal that ended a two-year civil war.Fighting has also affected neighbouring regions with 33 tourists stranded for the last week in Lalibela, a Unesco world heritage site.“We have heard fighting, gunfire and artillery cannons firing throughout the week,” a British tourist, who asked not to be named, told the BBC’s Newsday programme about clashes near Lalibela in the Amhara region.He said there was a large military presence in Lalibela, famous for being home to 13th Century churches hewn from rock and a holy site for millions of Orthodox Christians.The fighting around the town has involved the army and an Amhara militia that has allied with Tigrayan fighters.Earlier in September, they joined forces with other Ethiopian armed movements to form a seven-member alliance with the stated intention of removing the government in the capital, Addis Ababa.There is also a fear that neighbouring Eritrea could be drawn into the conflict – as the government accuses Asmara of supporting the armed groups, something it denies.The BBC is unable to report from Tigray and surrounding areas and it is difficult to find out what is happening because communications to the region have been cut.The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the party that runs Tigray, says it was responding to a federal offensive, including drone strikes, while the government says Tigrayan forces attacked first after seizing control of airports in the region.TPLF fighters are also fighting in the Afar region, in a strategic area which connects landlocked Ethiopia to Djibouti and its ports.Over the last few days, medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said more than 700 wounded people had been admitted to hospitals it supports in Tigray.The doctor at Alamata General Hospital, who requested anonymity, told the BBC the fighting in and around the town had taken place between Saturday and Monday, and involved heavy explosives and artillery, some of which landed in residential homes.Those killed in the crossfire included children as young as three days old, mothers and cattle herders. Twelve people had died in a single strike on the town’s marketplace, the medic said.Since the fighting erupted, banking services in Tigray have been suspended by the government. Access to the internet has also been cut – though it is not clear who ordered the closure.A separate source in Alamata told the BBC there was a worsening humanitarian crisis in the area, as the town swelled with people fleeing fighting.“All the residents of the surrounding areas entered the town of Alamata by walking on foot for as long as an hour, hoping the town would be safe.“Unfortunately, everything is blocked – no banking service, no money transfer, no power, no internet, no phone. Hence people are in crisis, simply suffering, everyone is desperate and frustrated.”The British tourist in Lalibela said online banking was working in Lalibela but there was a shortage of physical cash.He said the situation around the town had calmed down in the last two days and there were indications the airport, which was still being used by the military, might reopen on Thursday.“The local people, they are still scared of what might happen. The military presence here in the town has remained and a larger military force has been seen leaving the town heading north,” he said.When the airport was first closed to commercial flights, 53 tourists had been in the town, he explained.But some had since been evacuated, including 14 Israelis by military helicopter on Monday while another five had left the day before via an NGO convoy, despite advice not to travel by road.Of the remaining tourists in Lalibela, the largest group were Americans, with Israelis, Britons, South Korean, South Africans, an Ethiopian-New Zealander and a Mexican also stranded, he said.Meanwhile, for those cut off in Tigray because of the telecoms shutdown, the Tigray Broadcasting Service (TBS), based in Addis Ababa, has started an initiative to help reconnect families.The broadcaster has said it will collect video messages via its Telegram channel from people outside the region and air them via satellite TV.While limited to greetings and updates, this will provide a rare lifeline for families separated by the blackout.The clampdown on Tigray’s banking services is also affecting Tigrayans who are not physically in the region.Customers have told the BBC that bank accounts opened in Tigray have been frozen or restricted.
Read briefing Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to announce the firings of 20% of admirals and generals across the US Armed Forces, according to US media. The announcement is anticipated Wednesday at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, adding to an earlier round of personnel cuts in 2025.There are over 800 active-duty generals and admirals across the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force, according to the latest defence department tally.The last time Hegseth assembled military leaders at Quantico, in September 2025, he criticised the department as being too “woke” and slammed its leaders for being out of shape, saying “fat generals and admirals” is “a bad look”.Hegseth’s anticipated firings are the latest in a broader overhaul of the US military under his leadership, seeking to insert what he calls a “war fighter ethos” into the defence department, including a rebrand, calling it the Department of War.According to the BBC’s news partner, CBS News, at least 20 generals, admirals and civilian military leaders have been terminated or quit their jobs since Hegseth became defence secretary.This includes the firing of the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and top uniformed officials in the Army, Navy and Air Force.Federal law sets a limit to the number of general and flag officers. There is no requirement that unfilled positions be replaced.Amid the shakeup, Hegseth also has been accused by various civil rights groups, including the NAACP and the National Women’s Law Center, of blocking the military promotions of black people and women.Senator Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona, told reporters on Tuesday that Hegseth was “in the process of purging the upper echelon of the military from its best leaders”.“We need strong leaders. These folks have decades of experience, some of the best leadership our military has ever had. He’s getting rid of them,” Kelly said.A report from the Congressional Research Service in May noted that there were some disadvantages of having too many senior leaders at the top.These include the higher cost of employing top-ranked servicemembers compared to lower-ranking officers, and the potential to “slow down decisionmaking processes”.Hegseth’s trimming of the US military’s top brass also comes as the US-Israel war with Iran stretches into its seventh month, depleting ammunitions stockpiles.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have accused an international photographer of “extraordinary recklessness” for looking into the grounds of the school attended by their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Two men, both wearing backpacks, were spotted circling the perimeter of the school, with police later identifying one of them as an international press photographer.A spokesman for Prince Harry and Meghan called it “an unacceptable intrusion into the privacy of children”.Harry, Meghan, and their children returned to the UK last month after living in California for six years.The BBC understands that the two men were observed by both private security and school staff on Monday morning, stopping at various points and looking into the school grounds, before returning to a van which police later established was a rental vehicle.One of the men was later identified as photographer for a European press agency.“The decision by photographers to conduct themselves in this way around a school is extraordinarily reckless,” Harry and Meghan’s spokesman said.“There is a world of difference between legitimate media activity and photographers walking the perimeter of a school, stopping to look into the grounds and monitoring children as they go about their day.”The spokesman continued: “Whatever photographs they may have been seeking, this was not only an unacceptable intrusion into the privacy of children; it was an irresponsible and ill-considered way to conduct themselves in the vicinity of a school.”The children began school in the UK at the start of September, but changed after a few days after security concerns were raised about trafficduring the school run.Earlier this month, it emerged that the Sussexes are going to be given a review of their publicly funded security, following their move back.In August, it was reported that the Sussexes would be moving back to the UK and they are thought to be basing themselves at a private property in the Cotswolds area.Their surprise announcement reignited questions over the level of their publicly funded security in Britain, a topic that has long been a source of anger for Prince Harry.It is understood that the committee which oversees royal and VIP security, known as Ravec, is to reconsider Prince Harry and Meghan’s level of police protection now that they and their two children are full-time residents rather than visitors.Ravec will assess any risks they face in their new home and the type of trips taken by the couple and their family, such as regular travel routes and school runs.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing The High Court in Kisii has temporarily restrained Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka from repeating or publishing allegations that Governor Paul Simba Arati uses goons, violence and criminality to deal with issues in Kisii County.Justice Prof. Nixon Sifuna issued the temporary injunction in a defamation case filed by Arati against Onyonka over a press statement issued in June 2025.In the statement, Onyonka accused Arati of hiring goons and criminals to attack a Senate team that had visited Kisii County to audit and oversee its books and expenditure.Arati sued the senator, arguing that the allegations portrayed him as violent, incompetent, corrupt and unfit to hold public office, thereby damaging his reputation.In his ruling, Justice Sifuna found that Arati had established an arguable case warranting protection at the interlocutory stage.“From the ordinary meaning of the words and phrases used in it and without any context, the impugned Press Statement is ex facie defamatory,” the judge ruled.The judge said the statement was capable of portraying Arati as a governor who was incompetent, lacked integrity and “thrives on violence, goons, and criminality.”Justice Sifuna also considered another portion of the statement in which Onyonka described Kisii County as chaotic due to a lack of basic education and accused its leadership of incompetence.According to the judge, the words could portray Arati as “uneducated”, incompetent and someone who uses violence to address issues.“These are obviously undesirable qualities to be attributed to the Plaintiff, the Defendant himself, anyone holding an office of honour, or a holder of a public office,” Justice Sifuna said.The judge, however, stressed that the ruling was not a final determination that Arati had been defamed.“The question whether the Statement has actually defamed the Plaintiff or not, shall be gone into later at hearing the suit itself. Not on this Application,” he said.Justice Sifuna said the court was required to balance Arati’s right to reputation against Onyonka’s freedom of expression, cautioning that interlocutory proceedings should not determine the substantive dispute before a full hearing.He directed the parties to approach the matter cautiously and impartially to avoid prejudicing either side before the trial.The court consequently barred Onyonka, pending determination of the suit, from making the same or substantially similar allegations against Arati in public meetings, rallies, media briefings, press statements, social media platforms or other public forums.The order, however, does not restrict Onyonka from carrying out his constitutional duties as a senator.Justice Sifuna specifically limited the injunction to statements made to the general public and in public spaces, leaving Onyonka free to raise issues in Parliament, Senate committees and other parliamentary structures while exercising his oversight mandate.The judge declined Arati’s request for an order compelling the removal or deletion of the disputed press statement from social media platforms.He said deleting the material could undermine the trial because the disputed statement could be required as evidence.“That is tantamount to deletion of the very evidence required at trial,” Justice Sifuna said.The court therefore granted Arati’s application in part by issuing the prohibitory injunction but declined to grant the mandatory order seeking removal of the disputed material.The defamation suit will now proceed to full hearing, where the court will determine whether the statements amounted to defamation and whether Onyonka can rely on his parliamentary oversight role as a legal defence for statements made outside Parliament.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing The Premier League has confirmed that an independent Commission has found Manchester City guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period, and the majority of charges in relation to its failure to cooperate with the League’s investigation.The club has the right to appeal the independent Commission’s findings and has until Friday 2 October to exercise that right.The Premier League Board’s intention is that the full process, including any appeals and publication of relevant decisions, is concluded as soon as possible.The independent Commission found that between Seasons 2009/10 and 2017/18, Manchester City arranged ‘sham’ contracts, which misrepresented the true agreement between the parties, with a number of its commercial partners, as well as relying on ‘sham’ agreements with others, to artificially inflate the club’s revenues and reduce its costs.The club filed misstated accounts and concealed the true state of its finances from its auditors and football regulators.Manchester City was significantly in breach of both the Premier League’s and UEFA’s spending limits.During the Premier League’s investigation, Manchester City committed multiple breaches of its duties of cooperation and utmost good faith towards the League. Three of the four alleged breaches were upheld.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has declared a one-month amnesty for individuals holding illicit firearms, ammunition and other small arms and light weapons to voluntarily surrender them to the authorities.The amnesty was announced on Tuesday during the launch of Africa Amnesty Month 2026 at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi.Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja delivered Murkomen’s speech during the event, where the CS urged individuals and groups in possession of illegal weapons to use the amnesty period to surrender them without fear.Murkomen said voluntary disarmament was critical to reducing armed conflict and strengthening peace and security across the country.He urged communities to abandon the use of firearms to resolve disputes, saying conflicts should instead be addressed through lawful and peaceful mechanisms.“Conflicts must not be settled by the might of a firearm, but by the force of law. The property of one community can no longer be allowed to change hands through the crack of gunfire, but through willing exchange in the marketplace,” Murkomen said.The CS said the government remained committed to tackling the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons, which have contributed to insecurity and armed conflicts in parts of the country.The amnesty forms part of Kenya’s participation in Africa Amnesty Month, an initiative aimed at encouraging the voluntary surrender of illicit firearms and ammunition while promoting peace and security.Authorities are expected to use the one-month window to encourage individuals holding illegal weapons to hand them over voluntarily as part of broader efforts to reduce the circulation of firearms in communities.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing The new monarch has long been a familiar face in the East African nation, where for many he was known not as the heir to the throne, but as a storyteller: a long-serving anchor and editor at the state broadcaster.But the 56-year-old – now King Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma Nyabongo I – has become the subject of media attention himself as his rise to the Tooro throne sparked controversy and widespread reactions beyond the country.Tooro is one of Uganda’s four main officially recognised historical kingdoms. For the last 31 years, it had been headed by King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who was once known as a “boy king”, after ascending to the throne as an infant.Oyo became king in 1995 at the age of just three, following the death of his father. Then the world’s youngest monarch, he ruled until he died last month from cancer, aged just 34.The coronation is a day for celebration, involving traditional practices that started at midnight. Kijanangoma has had to perform various ceremonies and walk about 4km (2.5 miles) to the official Karuziika royal palace where he has now been crowned.The Tooro kingdom’s Information Minister Charles Mwanguhya told the BBC Focus on Africa podcast that a mock fight would follow his crowning, to signify that kingship does not come easy.Kijanangoma would then be blessed by members of the royal Babiito clan, he said.According to tradition, a recognised son of the late king should have succeeded him. Close members of the royal family said Oyo had left a young son and a will with instructions that the child should be next on the throne.But the son has never been revealed to the public and nor was he recognised by the committee of 21 Babiito clan members who choose the king and eventually selected Kijanangoma.The late King Oyo was never publicly married, and little is known about his wife or their son.Nonetheless his mother, Queen Best Kemigisa, argued that the late king’s will ought to have been respected.However, the royal succession committee ignored her wishes, insisting their selection process was conducted in accordance with Tooro customs and traditions.The new king has thus found himself at the centre of a succession dispute, with Kemigisa and her close relatives unhappy with the outcome.Kemigisa referred to Kijanangoma’s selection as the “announcement of a second king” being “made after the will of King Oyo was read to members of the royal family”.“As a mother, that was extraordinarily painful,” she said, describing celebrations for the next king taking place “only metres from where my son’s body lay”.The queen later said Oyo’s son, who was in the US state of Texas, had been due to return home but that could not happen amid a “tense and polarised succession dispute”.“No child should be placed in circumstances where returning to his father’s homeland could mean being drawn into hostility and conflict,” Kemigisa asserted in a post on X.But according to the Tooro kingdom’s information minister, the son being talked about “hasn’t been presented anywhere, which means there is a growing acceptance that sad as it may be, King Oyo didn’t leave a son behind”.While King Oyo inherited the crown from his father, Mwanguhya told the BBC “the crown has moved to a different line within the ruling clan”.A king must come from the Babiito clan, specifically the lineage of King George David Matthew Kamurasi Rukidi III, according to royal palace sources.Kijanangoma and the late King Oyo are cousins. Both are grandsons of Rukidi III, the 11th king, or Omukama, who ruled the Tooro kingdom from 1928 to 1965.Kijanangoma was among several people who were considered for the role, including Prince George Desmond Kamurasi, who plays football for one of the UK’s best-known amateur clubs.According to the succession committee, the South East Dons captain and goalkeeper declined the offer of the throne, citing other responsibilities.After he was formally announced, Kijanangoma promised that the palace would be open to the people, while vowing to focus on unity and development.“I ask you for one thing – they have given me this title as king but I cannot work alone, I have to work with you,” he said.Uganda’s traditional kings have no formal political authority, but they retain cultural influence and command significant loyalty in the communities they lead.The country is home to four main kingdoms, the largest and most prominent being Buganda in the central region, which encompasses the capital Kampala.The kingdoms were abolished in 1967, but the government under President Yoweri Museveni restored them in the early 1990s.The government said this was to promote cultural pride and national unity, but the move has also been interpreted as a way of appeasing communities and fostering political loyalty.Amid the succession dispute, the government backed the Babiito clan’s choice of Kijanangoma. Attorney General Sam Mayanja said the Tooro kingdom was cleared to go ahead with the coronation, as there had not been a formal complaint against him.
Read briefing A US ban on several Canadian imports, including alcohol, dairy and motorcycles, has come into effect as a trade war between the two neighbours drags on.The latest measure by the Trump administration is in response to Canada’s implementation of tariffs on a range of US goods earlier this month following a breakdown in trade talks.Canada is not expected to retaliate further, with Prime Minister Mark Carney saying earlier this month that the impact the import bans will have on Canada’s economy is “modest”.Trade talks remain on ice, with US trade representative Jamieson Greer telling CNBC recently that President Donald Trump is “comfortable” with his current relationship with Canada.“They call us now and then and we have good conversations about potential deals. But there’s no urgency on our side,” Greer said of relations with Canada in an interview with the US network last week.Tuesday’s trade ban applies to nearly C$1bn ($710m; £530m) worth of Canadian liquor exported to the US, as well as whey products used in protein powder.Motorcycle exports to the US will also be impacted, though Canada only sent about 5,000 motorcycles south of the border in 2025 that were worth about C$120m, according to national data by Statistics Canada, meaning the impact would be limited.The import bans were first announced by Trump in a series of executive orders signed on 8 September. In them, Trump said the measures are in response to “continued discrimination” by Canada on US dairy, automotives and alcohol.Speaking to reports on Monday, he accused Canada of “treating the United States very unfairly”. “They have been one of the worst countries in the entire world,” Trump said.Carney said earlier this month that the bans “are relatively modest measures” when compared to other trade actions the US has imposed on Canada.He acknowledged, however, that the bans will hurt certain businesses and sectors that are directly targeted.Derek Holt, an economist with Canadian bank Scotiabank, wrote in an analysis that “these actions are face-saving by the US administration, not substantive in nature and that’s a positive”.About 93% of all Canadian liquor exports in 2025 were sold to the US. Spirits Canada, a group representing Canadian liquor producers, has said the consequences to the industry “could be significant”.US liquor producers also warned of consequences, with the Distilled Spirits Council writing that the import ban “will ripple throughout the US hospitality sector” as businesses gear up for the holiday season.Last week, dozens of American liquor producers penned an open letter to Trump urging him to resolve the ongoing trade dispute with Canada with respect to alcohol.Economists and businesses in Canada have also warned that the bans will add uncertainty to the future of country’s trade relationship with the US, its largest trade partner.In addition to these latest import bans, the US has imposed 50% tariffs on a range of Canadian goods, including dairy, alcohol, steel and aluminium products, as well as 25% tariffs on Canadian-built cars. Canada in return has placed retaliatory tariffs ranging from 15% to 50% on more than 700 US products, as well as a 25% levy on certain steel and aluminium products. Most Canadian provinces have also stopped selling US liquor.Tariffs – taxes paid on imported goods – are central to Trump’s economic agenda, who argues that they raise government revenue and encourage consumers to buy American-made goods.Economists, however, argue that they have raised prices of everyday goods for consumers and have disrupted the global economy.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing The High Court in Nairobi convicted four men over the killing of former Kabete MP George Muchai and his three bodyguards.The court found the four accused guilty on all counts arising from the violent robbery and killing of Muchai and his security team.Muchai, who was serving as the Kabete Member of Parliament at the time, was killed alongside his bodyguards in an incident that shocked the country.Justice Kanyi Kimondo of Milimani High Court convicted Erick Munyera Isabwa, Raphael Kimani Gacii, Mustafa Kimani Anyonyi, and Stephen Asitiva Lipapo for the four counts of murder.The four are already serving death sentences at Kamiti Maximum Prison for the offence of Robbery with violence.The particulars of the offence is that on the night of February 6 and 7 2015, along Kenyatta Avenue within Nairobi County, they jointly murdered George Mukuru Muchai, Police Constable Samuel Kimathi Kailikia, Police ConsSamuel Lekakeny Matanta, and Police Constable Stephen Ituu Wambugu.The four accused persons were convicted after the High Court established that the Prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt by demonstrating that the accused persons acted with a common purpose.Among those who testified was Ronald Nyangaresi, a newspaper vendor on Kenyatta Avenue, who said that on the night of the incident at around 3.40am, a vehicle stopped and the late Muchai, a regular customer for 10 years, asked for newspapers.As he prepared to hand over some newspapers, another saloon car blocked Muchai’s vehicle before a masked man carrying a G3 rifle emerged from the co-driver’s side, and shots rang out.Muchai’s wife, Susan Nyawira Muchai, and her sister, Judy Wanjiku Ngige, told the court they were travelling in a vehicle ahead of Muchai’s car after leaving Galileo Lounge in Westlands.They stopped after noticing that Hon. Muchai’s vehicle had stopped and heard gunshots. They found the four occupants shot, with the vehicle’s windows shattered.Michael Ngatia Gituto testified that his Nissan Sunny, KBF 796A, was carjacked at about 10:00pm on February 6, 2015, along Waiyaki Way. He said the vehicle was later used to block Muchai’s car.Gladys Waithera and her sister Irene Wambui also testified that they were carjacked, blindfolded, and forced into the boot of their vehicle.They said the vehicle stopped at one point and they heard four or five gunshots before they were abandoned at Kamandura near Tigoni.Ballistics examiner Alex M. Mwadawiro and CCTV analyst Inspector Jackson Cheboi also testified.Inspector Cheboi produced CCTV footage containing 35 number plates captured near Kenyatta Avenue.Four autopsy reports produced by Dr. Johansen Oduor showed that the victims died from gunshot wounds caused by a high-velocity firearm fired at close range.The court has ordered for their previous records to be obtained and for the Probation Department to prepare the Pre-sentence report and Victim Impact Statements.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing A court in Kilifi declined to stop the planned launch of the construction of an oil refinery in Lamu.Environment and Land Court judge Justice Jane Onyango said the plans to develop the refinery on the property in question are at hand and the implementation of these plans includes a ground-breaking on Wednesday.The judge said the application is not certified as urgent and that it be served upon the respondents forthwith.The respondents shall file their response within 14 days and the application is fixed for inter partes hearing on October 14, 2026.“That in the interim the status quo prevailing on L.R No.13061 within Hindi/Manda Magogoni area within Lamu County be maintained until 14.10 26.”The applicants having sought an order stopping the ground braking and develop of the project which order was not granted, the status quo order issued by the court today can be taken to mean that, the the parties to the proceedings in court retain all their abilities, including the ability to proceed with the project.A group moved to court to challenge the Sh2 trillion oil refinery project in Lamu being set up by Aliko Dangote, the richest man in Africa.More than 130 residents of Chandavai in Lamu County moved to court seeking to stop what they describe as the unlawful takeover and destruction of land their families have occupied and cultivated for generations.The residents contended that the development by the Nigerian billionaire threatened to displace them without a resettlement plan or compensation.The 133 plaintiffs sued the Office of the President, the Cabinet Secretary for Defence, the State Department for Lands and Physical Planning, the Attorney General, the National Land Commission (NLC), the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor Development Authority, the Lamu County Government and Dangote Industries, together with two companies described as contractors.The residents claimed they have, for generations, occupied, cultivated and developed identifiable portions of land comprised in or forming part of LR No. 13061 in Chandavai.They asked the court to intervene, arguing that continued construction and excavation would cause further destruction of crops, trees, homes and other property and permanently alter the character of the disputed land.“Continued construction or excavation will cause further destruction of crops, trees, structures and other property and will materially alter the physical character of the land, thereby making the dispute substantially more difficult to resolve,” the plaintiffs state in court documents.The residents said their claim is based on long-standing occupation, customary or community tenure, possession and beneficial use of the land, although they do not hold formal title deeds.According to the plaint, their families have historically used the land for farming and livestock keeping and have built homes, mosques and shrines on it. Some family members, they say, are also buried on the disputed land.The plaintiffs contended that the land is community land under the stewardship of the Lamu County Government and that they occupied it peacefully for generations without previous disputes over ownership.They argued that some of the property at risk cannot be adequately compensated through monetary damages.“Some of the affected property cannot readily be replaced by monetary compensation, particularly ancestral and family homes, graves, trees, long-standing occupation sites and community structures,” they claim.The residents alleged that on August 7, 2024, officers and agents associated with the national government and LAPSSET entered the disputed land with heavy machinery and bulldozers. They claimed crops, trees and other property were destroyed without prior notice, consultation or compensation.According to the plaintiffs, local administrators subsequently informed them that the land had previously been acquired by the government for the LAPSSET project and later allocated to the Ministry of Defence for infrastructure works around Manda Bay.The works, they alleged, included road construction and expansion of facilities around the Kenya Navy Base at Manda Bay, US Camp Simba and Magogoni Airfield.Some residents claimed they were instructed not to interfere with the works and were promised compensation for destroyed crops and other losses.The plaintiffs further claimed that some families were forced to move into rented accommodation to make way for the developments.The land dispute has now taken on a new dimension following preparations for a proposed Dangote refinery in Lamu.The residents allege that soil testing and other preparatory activities linked to the proposed refinery began in July 2026.They claimed local administrators subsequently told them that the Dangote project would proceed alongside the LAPSSET and Manda Bay infrastructure developments.The plaintiffs further alleged that on September 10, 2026, police officers, chiefs and other government agents cleared one of the disputed parcels, telling them that the site would be used for a groundbreaking ceremony for the refinery.
Read briefing The Directorate of Criminal Investigations Monday reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling organised immigration crime networks during a Counter Organised Immigration Crimes Team (COICT) engagement held in Moyale, Marsabit County.The event was attended by the Deputy British High Commissioner to Kenya, Dr. Ed Barnett who led the British delegation, alongside senior officers from the National Police Service, partner agencies, and local community leaders.The Director of Criminal Investigations, Mohamed Amin, was represented by the Commandant of the National Criminal Investigations Academy (NCIA), Ibrahim Jillo, Amin underscored the strategic importance of Moyale as a border town and gateway for legitimate trade, social interaction and economic opportunities, while cautioning against criminal networks that exploit cross-border movement for illegal gain.“Moyale is far more than just a spot on a map; it is a gateway, a place where people, families, businesses and communities come together, interact and seek out genuine social and economic opportunities,” the Director stated.He noted that the establishment of the Counter Organised Immigration Crimes Team marks a deliberate shift towards identifying, investigating and disrupting the wider criminal networks behind immigration-related offences rather than merely addressing isolated incidents.“COICT is a deliberate initiative aimed at enhancing our ability to identify, investigate and disrupt organised immigration crime; it reflects a change from merely dealing with individual incidents to instead understanding and pursuing the wider criminal networks involved,” said AminHe further called for enhanced collaboration among all agencies operating within the border region, emphasising that organised criminal groups thrive through coordination and that law enforcement responses must be equally interconnected.Addressing officers attached to COICT, he urged them to uphold professionalism, integrity and accountability, reminding them that effective investigations are built on public trust and ethical conduct and also appealed to the people of Moyale to continue supporting law enforcement efforts by sharing information on suspicious activities, stressing that community trust remains a critical asset in combating organised crimeBarnett commended the growing partnership between the United Kingdom and Kenya in tackling organised immigration offences.He noted that the collaboration would continue to promote human-rights-based approaches in supporting victims of immigration-related crimes while strengthening investigative efforts aimed at dismantling wider criminal networks operating across borders.Dr. Barnett further reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s commitment to supporting the DCI and partner agencies in identifying, investigating and disrupting organised immigration crime syndicates that exploit vulnerable persons for profit.Present during the occasion were the Director of Training and Research APS, Madam Bianca Nzioki, who represented the Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service, and the Deputy Director, Investigation Bureau at DCI George Kisaka, among other senior officers.The visit culminated in an inspection of newly constructed facilities designated for COICT officers, a development expected to enhance operational efficiency and strengthen coordinated responses against organised immigration crime along the Kenya-Ethiopia border including engagement with the Moyale community.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing A group moved to court to challenge a Sh2 trillion oil refinery project in Lamu being set up by Aliko Dangote, the richest man in Africa.More than 130 residents of Chandavai in Lamu County moved to court seeking to stop what they describe as the unlawful takeover and destruction of land their families have occupied and cultivated for generations.The residents contended that the development by the Nigerian billionaire threatened to displace them without a resettlement plan or compensation.The 133 plaintiffs sued the Office of the President, the Cabinet Secretary for Defence, the State Department for Lands and Physical Planning, the Attorney General, the National Land Commission (NLC), the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor Development Authority, the Lamu County Government and Dangote Industries, together with two companies described as contractors.The residents claimed they have, for generations, occupied, cultivated and developed identifiable portions of land comprised in or forming part of LR No. 13061 in Chandavai.They asked the court to intervene, arguing that continued construction and excavation would cause further destruction of crops, trees, homes and other property and permanently alter the character of the disputed land.“Continued construction or excavation will cause further destruction of crops, trees, structures and other property and will materially alter the physical character of the land, thereby making the dispute substantially more difficult to resolve,” the plaintiffs state in court documents.The residents said their claim is based on long-standing occupation, customary or community tenure, possession and beneficial use of the land, although they do not hold formal title deeds.According to the plaint, their families have historically used the land for farming and livestock keeping and have built homes, mosques and shrines on it. Some family members, they say, are also buried on the disputed land.The plaintiffs contended that the land is community land under the stewardship of the Lamu County Government and that they occupied it peacefully for generations without previous disputes over ownership.They argued that some of the property at risk cannot be adequately compensated through monetary damages.“Some of the affected property cannot readily be replaced by monetary compensation, particularly ancestral and family homes, graves, trees, long-standing occupation sites and community structures,” they claim.The residents alleged that on August 7, 2024, officers and agents associated with the national government and LAPSSET entered the disputed land with heavy machinery and bulldozers.They claimed crops, trees and other property were destroyed without prior notice, consultation or compensation.According to the plaintiffs, local administrators subsequently informed them that the land had previously been acquired by the government for the LAPSSET project and later allocated to the Ministry of Defence for infrastructure works around Manda Bay.The works, they alleged, included road construction and expansion of facilities around the Kenya Navy Base at Manda Bay, US Camp Simba and Magogoni Airfield.Some residents claimed they were instructed not to interfere with the works and were promised compensation for destroyed crops and other losses.The plaintiffs further claimed that some families were forced to move into rented accommodation to make way for the developments.The land dispute has now taken on a new dimension following preparations for a proposed Dangote refinery in Lamu.The residents allege that soil testing and other preparatory activities linked to the proposed refinery began in July 2026.They claimed local administrators subsequently told them that the Dangote project would proceed alongside the LAPSSET and Manda Bay infrastructure developments.The plaintiffs further alleged that on September 10, 2026, police officers, chiefs and other government agents cleared one of the disputed parcels, telling them that the site would be used for a groundbreaking ceremony for the refinery.The plaintiffs said they learnt around September 20 that the government had commenced a compulsory acquisition process involving land in Lamu.They alleged that the process is intended to compensate absentee landowners whose titles they claim were unlawfully or fraudulently obtained, while excluding residents who have actually occupied and used the land for generations.The residents argued that the absence of registered title deeds does not extinguish their interests in the land or their entitlement to compensation.They rely, among other provisions, on Article 40(4) of the Constitution and the compulsory acquisition provisions of the Land Act.They contend that persons actually occupying and using the land should be identified and recognised as persons with compensable interests, even where those interests are not reflected in the land register. The plaintiffs accused the defendants of failing to follow the statutory procedure governing compulsory acquisition.
Read briefing Former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko testified in court that his refusal to sign the county budget was at the centre of his dispute with the national government and preceded his impeachment.Sonko said he declined to approve the budget after consulting the county attorney and his lawyers, who, he said, advised him that there was no clear legal framework allowing the county to fund certain functions transferred to it by the national government.Sonko was defending himself against corruption charges after a Nairobi court ruled that there is sufficient evidence for his case to proceed to the defense stage.He said the transferred functions included transport and infrastructure, health, education and housing. He told the court that signing the budget without a proper legal framework would have exposed him to personal liability in the future.“I was consulting my lawyers. They told me that there was no legal framework to allow the funding of the transferred functions,” Sonko said.He said he subsequently discussed the matter with then-President Uhuru Kenyatta, explaining why he had refused to sign the budget.Sonko maintained the disagreement over the budget was one of the main issues that eventually contributed to his removal from office.Sonko defended himself against allegations surrounding his impeachment, saying he opposed the process because he believed it was politically motivated and contrary to the law.He recalled that the impeachment proceedings were televised and claimed that a significant number of Members of the County Assembly supported him.Sonko said about 76 MCAs were on his side during the proceedings, arguing that the majority did not initially support his removal.The matter later proceeded to the Senate, where Sonko alleged that some senators publicly claimed they had been offered bribes to vote for his removal.He said the allegations involved payments allegedly intended to influence senators to support the impeachment.Sonko said that after his removal, he continued challenging the decision through the courts.Sonko was also questioned about his opposition to the demolition of structures and various development projects in Nairobi.He linked some of the disputes to what he described as investments associated with members of the former first family.He referred to companies and investments, including Home Choice Holdings Limited and Northlands, while being questioned about alleged interests connected to the former first family.Sonko was asked to explain the interests he believed the family had in Nairobi and why those interests were relevant to his opposition to certain county decisions.He also defended his popularity among Nairobi residents at the time, saying his support among voters influenced his opposition to actions that he believed would affect the people who had elected him.Sonko further explained his opposition to the demolition of structures in parts of Nairobi, saying some of the demolitions were carried out without adequate consultation.He argued that affected residents should have been engaged before such action was taken and said the issue was particularly important because of the potential impact on residents who had supported him at the ballot.He maintained that his decisions were informed by his interpretation of the law and his responsibility to protect the interests of Nairobi residents.Sonko told the court that he subsequently challenged his impeachment through a petition before the High Court.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing 18 teams from across six universities are set to compete at the Grand Finale of the varsity competition, Open Lanes after securing their spot through the knockout phase this past week. The finals will take place this Saturday 3rd October at Nyayo Stadium.The qualification follows a series of knockout competitions held at Riara University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, and the University of Nairobi, where student athletes battled for their place at the final showdown. The finalists will go head-to head in a day of high-energy track action as they look to finish their Open Lanes journey and claim bragging rights for their teams and institutions.Beyond the title, four standout student athletes will earn an all-expenses-paid trip to compete in South Africa’s elite running circuit. The opportunity will give the students a chance to test themselves in a new competitive environment, experience South Africa’s running culture, and create memories beyond the university circuit.Adding to the atmosphere will be live performance from top Kenyan artists and live DJs who will bring music and entertainment to the finals experience.Speaking ahead of the event, Navalayo Osembo, Director of Africa at On said, “We have witnessed incredible energy and dedication throughout the knock-out stages and are proud to have introduced the Open Lanes concept into our campuses. As we look forward to the finals, we encourage all participants to step forward and do their best, and the fans to join us and witness the athletes compete alongside a day of energy, music, and entertainment. Entry is free!”The brand originally established itself within the Kenyan market through partnerships with local runners and communities such as We Run Nairobi as it connected with the new generation that sees running not just as a sport, but as a lifestyle, source of connection, and a means of self-expression. In 2025, the two partners organized a community run at Windsor Golf Club, bringing together over 500 runners, reflecting the growing appetite for accessible social experiences in the city.They have additionally partnered with various Kenyan stars Hellen Obiri, Patrick Kipngeno, Mercy Chepngeno, among others, in a bid to supporting African athletes across disciplines and at different stages of their careers. This support was further reinforced by the recent signing of South African 400 m star and World U20 champion Lythe Pillay, who became the first professional athlete to join On’s global athlete roster.As On continues to establish its roots in Africa, its ambition is to build an ecosystem around movement and storytelling as it supports an environment where young athletes can compete, connect and be seen, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to the development of the true African culture.Kenya joining the growing African footprint is important in the next chapter of the brand. The country’s sporting culture, growing digital penetration, and young vibrant market creates an opportunity for investors to deepen connections with wider communities.Entry to the Grand Finals is free, with fans invited to come through to Nyayo National Stadium and experience the action live.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, September 27, 2026, and met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to multiple Israeli media reports. The visit was first reported by Israeli Channel 12 and later corroborated by a diplomatic source to The Jerusalem Post. A senior Israeli official also confirmed the meeting to Reuters.Netanyahu departed from Ben-Gurion Airport shortly after 12:00 p.m. on a private executive jet and landed in Abu Dhabi at 3:10 p.m. He spent approximately four hours in the UAE before his plane took off for the return flight to Israel at 7:10 p.m.. The Prime Minister’s Office declined to provide details about the meetings.The visit took place against the backdrop of a major controversy in Israel over a report published by the newspaper Haaretz on September 8, 2026. The Haaretz investigation alleged that UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed warned Netanyahu in late September 2023 that Hamas was planning a major attack against Israel.According to the Haaretz report, the warning came during a 45-minute phone call approximately a week and a half before the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack. The report stated that bin Zayed told Netanyahu that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was planning an operation that would cause significant bloodshed and destabilize the region. The report cited dozens of sources, documents, and internal correspondence for its investigation.The Haaretz report further alleged that Netanyahu did not pass the warning on to Israel’s security chiefs. Five former senior Israeli officials said the warning was not passed on to Israel’s security chiefs and that the conversation is not mentioned in any internal investigations by the Israel Defense Forces or Israeli intelligence agencies . The New York Times later reported that it had confirmed the substance of the warning through two sources.Netanyahu’s office has strongly denied the Haaretz report. In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said: “No warning was given to the prime minister from the United Arab Emirates before 7 October”. The office called the report part of a “sinister plot with clear political timing, as part of the left’s election campaign”.Netanyahu instructed his lawyers to begin defamation proceedings against Haaretz, the journalists who wrote the report, and “other elements”. Haaretz has stood by its reporting and rejected the defamation claim, saying its “sole purpose is to silence journalistic criticism”.The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not confirmed or denied the specific claim about the pre-October 7 warning. In a statement, the ministry said the UAE Government “does not comment on media stories or speculation regarding conversations between government leaders”. The ministry added that the UAE’s engagement since October 7 was consistently directed toward de-escalation, regional stability, and preventing violence, and that all relevant intelligence has been and continues to be communicated between the relevant entities.The controversy has become a dominant issue in Israel’s election campaign. Israelis are scheduled to vote on October 27, 2026. The election is widely considered a referendum on Netanyahu’s leadership.Recent polls show Netanyahu’s Likud party trailing behind the opposition. A Channel 13 poll published on September 23 showed Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party leading Likud by 22 seats to 18. The same poll found that 48% of respondents preferred Eisenkot as prime minister, compared with 36% for Netanyahu. A Channel 12 poll released the same week showed the opposition bloc securing 54 Knesset seats compared with 50 for Netanyahu’s coalition.Opposition leaders have seized on the Haaretz report. Gadi Eisenkot wrote on X: “Netanyahu received dozens of warnings for October 7 and ignored them all. He is unfit”According to Israeli state-owned Kan TV News, Iran was the main focus of the talks between Netanyahu and bin Zayed . Israeli sources told Channel 13 that the meeting primarily dealt with Iran and general tensions in the Middle East . The two leaders have reportedly discussed defensive options against Iranian attacks in previous meetings .Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing Aleksandar Vučić formally submitted his resignation as President of Serbia on Sunday, September 27, 2026, during a public address. He announced the decision during an interview with Radio Television of Serbia, stating he would submit his resignation around 8 p.m. local time.Vučić stepped down in order to run for the position of Prime Minister in the upcoming snap parliamentary elections. He is the candidate for the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). He was serving his second and final presidential term and was constitutionally barred from seeking a third.Following the resignation, Ana Brnabić, the Speaker of the National Assembly, assumed the role of acting president until a new head of state is elected. Under the Serbian Constitution, the acting president can serve for a maximum of 90 days.Snap parliamentary elections are scheduled for October 25, 2026. These will be the 15th parliamentary elections since the introduction of the multi-party system in Serbia. Vučić dissolved parliament on September 9, 2026, to call the early elections.Under Serbian law, a presidential election must be held within three months of the resignation, meaning voters will go to the polls twice this year. Vučić stated the presidential election would be called more than a month after the parliamentary vote.In one of his final acts as president, Vučić used his constitutional powers to pardon 49 people. Of those, 23 were students and party loyalists suspected of offences related to the protests. Vučić said he made the decision despite opposition from security services.He also excluded 12 people from the so-called “Novi Sad group” and pardoned 11 individuals who had attacked protest participants.The resignation comes after more than a year of student-led protests and growing public discontent over allegations of government corruption. A major catalyst was the collapse of the Novi Sad railway station’s roof on November 1, 2024, which killed 16 people.The reconstruction of the railway station was part of a capital state project based on a bilateral agreement between Serbia and China, not subject to the Law on Public Procurement. Public outrage pointed to shoddy construction and suspected corruption, forcing Construction Minister Goran Vesic to resign.Protests began with student-led blockades of educational institutions on November 22, 2024. Every day at 11:52 am — the time the station roof fell — protesters halted traffic for 16 minutes of silence to honour the 16 lives lost. By early 2025, the anti-corruption protests had spread to over 400 towns and cities in Serbia, becoming the largest grassroots uprising in decadesSustained pressure led to the resignation of Prime Minister Miloš Vučević and the Mayor of Novi Sad on January 28, 2025. Protesters continued their action, with their key request being a call for snap electionsEmail your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing Expansion of the Mzima Springs water project in Taita-Taveta County will commence this year, President William Ruto has announced.He said the Government will mobilise Sh30 billion for the project to tackle perennial water shortages in the county and neighbouring areas.The project, to be financed through the National Infrastructure Fund, will provide water to the Mwatate, Voi and Taveta constituencies and also supply Mombasa City.“The management of the National Infrastructure Fund is already in place, and I have instructed that Mzima Springs water project should get priority,” he said.He attributed the region’s persistent water shortages to inadequate supply, noting that the first phase of Mzima Springs was completed in 1984, more than 40 years ago.Ruto explained that the National Infrastructure Fund was established to finance major investments in roads, electricity connectivity and dams as part of the Government’s plan to speed up development.He made the remarks during a Sunday service at Mwatate Pentecostal Church, Taita-Taveta, on the second day of his development tour of the county.Present were Governor Andrew Mwadime, Mwatate MP Peter Shake, Woman Rep Lydia Haika, former Taita-Taveta Governors Granton Samboja and John Mruttu, among other leaders.Turning to the national unity agenda, the President affirmed that equitable development remains central to his vision of a united country where no region is left behind.He traced the unity efforts to the formation of the Broad-Based Government, anchored on a working arrangement between the United Democratic Alliance and the Orange Democratic Movement.“I was here yesterday and today. I will also be here on Thursday,” Ruto told the congregation. “I was also here in Taita-Taveta early this year, and now I am here again. And I will keep coming.”The President urged political leaders to focus on solutions for their constituents rather than blame others, saying he is deliberately working with leaders across the political divide.He commended Taita-Taveta leaders for cooperating with the Broad-Based Government and reminded them that elective office is a call to service.“Politics is not life and death; it’s a God-given opportunity to serve,” he pointed out. On next year’s General Election, he said Kenyans will assess leaders based on their track record, and criticised those who resort to name-calling, division and insults.He noted that Taita-Taveta had suffered marginalisation partly because some leaders believe the region does not offer significant electoral returns.“Discrimination has been a problem, causing division and animosity among our people,” President Ruto stated, urging leaders to set a good example and work together.Assuring residents that the era of exclusion and marginalisation is over, the President pointed to the Sh15 billion set aside for roads in the county as evidence that Taita-Taveta will no longer be left behind.In regard to the transformation going on in the county, he explained that the long-stalled Mto Mwagodi-Mbale-Bura road is now under construction and progressing well.“In April, only 4km of the road had been done. Now 13km are complete. By December, the tarmac road will have reached Wundanyi and Bura,” he said.In response to a request by Mwatate MP Shake, the President pledged to build the Dembwa-Murray road, reaffirming that the Government will continue opening up the region to improve access to markets and essential services.Beyond roads, President Ruto highlighted the ongoing construction of the Sh5 billion railway line from Voi towards Tanzania. Five stations will be built at Mwatate, Bura, Mwakitau and Taveta.“We are ending discrimination in development. Whatever projects are being implemented in other parts of the country, Taita-Taveta is getting its fair share,” he emphasised.He questioned opposition to major infrastructure projects by a section of politicians, arguing that roads, railways, markets and housing are critical to economic transformation.On trade infrastructure, the President disclosed that seven markets are under development across the county to provide better operating spaces for Mama Mboga and other small-scale traders.While noting that Mwatunge Market is nearing completion, he said it is located too far from the town centre and challenged local leaders to provide land for another market closer to Mwatate town.On affordable housing, President Ruto explained that construction in Mwatate has been delayed by a land dispute that has now been resolved.“The court case that had delayed the project is now over and we are launching it next week,” he announced.At the same time, the President donated Sh10 million each to Kenyatta High School and Mwasere Girls High School for the construction of more classrooms, reiterating the Government’s commitment to investing in education to expand opportunities for learners.Additionally, he stated that the Government is working round the clock to comprehensively address the squatter challenge in the Coast region.
Read briefing Former Justice Minister and People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua has announced the death of her father, Mwalimu Jackson Karua.In a statement issued on Sunday, Karua said she had travelled to Kirinyaga earlier in the day to visit her father, accompanied by her siblings. The family spent time with him and sang his favourite gospel hymn before she began her journey back to Nairobi.“We were simply grateful to sit beside him, to see him and spend that time together. I did not know I would soon be looking back on those moments with such tenderness, but I am deeply grateful to have them,” Karua said.Karua described her father as a principled man, teacher and strong believer in character, education and doing what is right.She said Jackson remained one of her strongest supporters throughout her life, from her school days and legal career to her years in public life.“My father believed in me long before I had achieved anything worth celebrating,” she said, adding that he was “always proud, always encouraging, and always in my corner.”Karua said her father was, above all, a loving and generous parent whose values and guidance shaped the family.His death, she said, was a profound loss to his children, grandchildren, wider family and the many people whose lives he touched.“I will miss his voice, his counsel, his encouragement, and the quiet reassurance of knowing that he was there,” she said.Karua concluded her tribute by thanking her father for believing in her, standing by her and loving her throughout her life.“Huruka thayu, baba. You will be deeply missed, dearly loved, and forever remembered,” she said.Jackson Karua and his wife, Josephine Wanjiru, have previously spoken publicly about their daughter, including in 2022 when she was selected as Raila Odinga’s running mate in the presidential election.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
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