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KBC

KRA intercepts smuggled goods worth Ksh46.7M in transit to Nairobi

Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) enforcement officers have intercepted a consignment of smuggled cigarettes, shisha tobacco products and powdered milk with an estimated market value of Ksh 46.77 million with tax computation indicating an estimated Ksh 29.177 million in taxes at risk. The interception followed an intelligence-led operation targeting a suspected smuggling operation along the Uganda–Kenya route. The operation was conducted following intelligence concerning a suspected smuggler who had evaded enforcement officers on several previous occasions. The intelligence indicated that the suspect was using a passenger bus named Simba Coach as cover to transport excisable products sourced from Uganda through porous border routes to a pick-up point in Busia, from where the goods were transported to Nairobi. Acting on intelligence, KRA officers mounted an ambush in Eldoret town with the aim of intercepting the suspect and the vehicle suspected to be involved in the smuggling operation. However, upon noticing the enforcement team, the suspect fled, prompting officers to mount a pursuit. The officers eventually caught up with and detained the suspect at Kondoo, within the Burnt Forest area. The bus was escorted back to Eldoret and deposited at a KRA warehouse for further inspection. A thorough search of the passenger bus revealed concealed compartments within the vehicle, which had...

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KBC

Youth urged to create jobs and embrace opportunities

As the country continues to grapple with unemployment, education stakeholders have called on young people to use the skills and knowledge acquired in higher education to create employment opportunities instead of relying solely on conventional white collar jobs. Speaking during a sendoff ceremony in Thika for 21 nursing students leaving for apprenticeship opportunities in Germany, MKU Council Chairman and Pro-Chancellor Dr. Vincent Gaitho said graduates who fail to secure jobs after completing their studies often become disappointed and start engaging in antisocial behaviour, urging them to seize available opportunities and use their skills to earn a living. With thousands of students graduating from colleges and universities every year, Dr. Gaitho encouraged young people to take up available jobs without discrimination while also creating their own opportunities through the skills they have acquired. He said the institution would continue seeking employment opportunities for its students globally, while urging both county and national governments to create more opportunities to ensure young people have avenues to earn a living. Gaitho further urged the private sector to provide employment opportunities for young people and called on banks to develop special funds and financial packages to support youth enterprises and enable them to start small businesses. His sentiments were...

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Capital News

At least 16 killed after vehicle loaded with explosives rams into Pakistan mosque

At least 16 people, including five police officers, have been killed after a vehicle loaded with explosives rammed into a mosque in north-western Pakistan, according to a senior police official in Peshawar.A gun battle is still ongoing between attackers and security forces at the mosque, near police headquarters, in the Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.One of the assailants has reportedly been killed, an officer says, and a rescue operation is under way.In a statement, Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari expressed “his best wishes for the swift recovery of those injured in the explosion.”Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief inspector general Zulfikar Hameed described the attack as a “suicide attack”, according to Reuters news agency.Militancy in Pakistan’s border areas has risen sharply in recent months, targeting the military and police.Islamabad says militants use safe haven in Afghanistan to train and plan attacks in Pakistan. Afghanistan’s Taliban government denies the accusation and says militancy is Pakistan’s domestic problem.

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Capital News

UON Graduates 3,000 Students During 75th Graduation Ceremony

NAIROBI, Kenya Sep 18 – About 3,000 students from the University of Nairobi’s Class of 2026 graduated on Friday after being conferred with degrees during the institution’s 75th graduation ceremony.The ceremony was held at the University of Nairobi’s Chancellor’s Court, with government and university officials challenging the graduates to apply their knowledge and skills to address societal challenges.Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba urged the graduates to look beyond seeking employment and instead use their education to create opportunities and develop solutions to challenges facing society.“The world you are entering demands more than memorized knowledge,” Ogamba said. “It requires critical thinking, adaptability, and innovation to solve societal challenges and create opportunities.”The Cabinet Secretary said the government was implementing education reforms aimed at improving access to quality education in a rapidly changing world.He cited the expansion of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programmes, competency-based learning and increased funding as some of the measures being pursued.Ogamba also announced plans for a policy aimed at ensuring full financing for students in public universities and technical institutions, saying financial constraints should not prevent deserving Kenyans from accessing higher education.Presenting the Class of 2026 to the Chancellor, University of Nairobi Vice Chancellor Eng. Prof. Ayub N. Gitau described the 75th graduation as a celebration of the institution’s legacy and the generations of graduates who have gone on to serve in different sectors.Gitau outlined the university’s priorities, including student success, research advancement, digital transformation and stronger alumni engagement.He also highlighted the University of Nairobi’s role in continental collaboration, citing the Africa Forward Summit hosted by the institution.The summit brought together President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron for discussions on artificial intelligence, green industrialisation and global health.University of Nairobi Chancellor Prof. Patrick Verkooijen challenged the graduates to consider the difference they can make despite the limitations they may face.He cited Cape Verde’s historic qualification for the FIFA World Cup as an example of how possibilities can expand when individuals act on their potential.Verkooijen asked the graduates, “How big is your one percent?”, urging them to reflect on their individual contribution to Kenya’s future.He said the country needs graduates prepared to challenge existing narratives and turn ambition into reality amid geopolitical and economic challenges.Chairperson of the University of Nairobi Council Prof. Chacha Nyaigotti-Chacha highlighted the contribution of staff in maintaining the institution’s academic and operational standards.Chacha called for a culture of dignity, fairness and accountability within the university, emphasising the role played by both academic and support staff in the institution’s continued operations.The graduation was held under the theme “Transforming Society through Excellence, Knowledge, and Innovation.”The ceremony focused on the academic achievements of the Class of 2026 while also emphasising the responsibilities graduates assume as they enter professional and public life.The University of Nairobi said the graduates were challenged to transform their knowledge and skills into practical solutions as they enter a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, digital technologies, climate change, automation and emerging forms of work.For the Class of 2026, the ceremony marked the completion of their university studies and the beginning of the next phase of their professional journeys.The 75th graduation ceremony also marked another milestone in the history of the University of Nairobi as the institution continues to focus on education, research, innovation and its contribution to national and continental development.

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Kenyans.co.ke

U.S. Issues New Deportation Warning Affecting Kenyans

The United States has issued a warning to foreign students, including Kenyans studying in the country, over taking part in political activities on behalf of foreign governments or organisations without meeting disclosure requirements. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a notice on Friday, September 18, reminding foreign students that violations could lead to their removal from the U.S. before completing their studies.It followed an earlier statement by the Department of Justice (DOJ), which said people acting in the U.S. under the direction or control of a foreign government or organisation may be required to disclose their relationship to authorities.“An important reminder from the National Security Division, U.S. Dept of Justice. Foreign students must ensure they do not act as unregistered foreign agents. If you do, you will lose your status, be removed from the country, and be unable to complete your studies,” the DHS stated.The warning applies to both American citizens and foreign nationals, meaning Kenyans can also face consequences if their activities fall under the rules.However, the Justice Department stressed that individuals remain free to express their views and participate in independent political advocacy protected by the U.S. Constitution. This means that simply holding political opinions, joining a peaceful demonstration or speaking publicly about events in Kenya does not by itself make a student an unregistered foreign agent.The distinction comes in where a foreign government or organisation directs, controls, funds or coordinates a person’s activities. DOJ specifically cited public demonstrations carried out to advance the objectives of a foreign power as an example of activity that may require disclosure. A relevant example is the July 2024 demonstration that was held outside the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters in Washington, D.C. The protesters called for an end to IMF loans, citing concerns over corruption and misuse of borrowed funds, while the wider demonstrations also demanded the resignation of President William Ruto.Based on the circumstances reported at the time, the protest was presented as an action by Kenyans opposing the Kenyan government and there was no indication that it was directed by the government or another entity. That kind of independent protest would not be considered the same as acting on behalf of a foreign government. The latest warning comes as the U.S. continues to enforce tighter rules affecting foreign students, including changes to the length of stay permitted under student visas, placing greater attention on the activities and immigration status of Kenyans pursuing studies in America.

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Capital News

Ruai Land Dispute Turns Chaotic as Police, Residents Clash Over Eviction

NAIROBI, Kenya Sep 18 – Tension erupted in Ruai after police clashed with residents as officers moved to evict a widow from a disputed piece of land she claims has been her home for 34 years.The confrontation occurred as police attempted to enforce an eviction order involving the parcel, triggering resistance from residents who gathered at the scene.The widow, Wanjiru, said she has lived on the disputed land for more than three decades and questioned the move to remove her from the property.The dispute pits Wanjiru against Njeru, who claims he legally acquired the land from her late husband.Njeru maintains that he bought the property from Wanjiru’s late husband, a claim that has become the centre of the ongoing ownership dispute.The attempted eviction sparked a confrontation between police and residents, with the situation turning chaotic as locals resisted the removal of the widow.Residents questioned the circumstances surrounding the eviction and called for the land dispute to be resolved before any further action is taken.The competing claims over the property have heightened tensions in the Ruai area, with the widow maintaining that she has occupied the land for decades while Njeru asserts that he acquired ownership through a transaction with her late husband.The dispute comes amid wider concerns over land ownership and evictions in parts of Nairobi, where competing claims over property can result in prolonged legal and community disputes.The circumstances surrounding the eviction, including the legal basis for the enforcement action and the competing ownership claims, remain central to the dispute.Authorities are expected to address the competing claims as efforts continue to resolve the ownership row.

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Ghafla Kenya

High Court Upholds Legality of Presidential Taskforce on Gender-Based Violence

The High Court has dismissed a constitutional petition challenging the legality of the Presidential Taskforce on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, ruling that President William Ruto acted within his constitutional authority when he established the body. Sitting in Nakuru, Justice Patricia Gichohi found that the President was within his powers to establish the taskforce through Executive […]

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Capital News

Kenya to Host EAISA Secretariat for Five Years as East Africa Moves to Harmonise Insurance Supervision

NAIROBI, Kenya Sep 18 – Kenya has been selected to host the East African Insurance Supervisors Association (EAISA) Secretariat for the next five years as insurance regulators from across the region move to strengthen cooperation and harmonise supervision.The decision was reached during the EAISA Regional Meetings held in Nairobi from September 16 to 17, bringing together insurance regulators from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.The meetings considered initiatives aimed at strengthening regional regulatory cooperation, consumer protection, technology-enabled supervision and the harmonisation of insurance regulation within the East African Community (EAC).Under the resolutions adopted in Nairobi, Kenya will provide a permanent institutional base for coordinating EAISA’s regional activities during the five-year period.The regulators also adopted a harmonised Insurance Core Principles assessment template to facilitate consistent assessment of member regulators against international supervisory standards.The framework is expected to support identification of regulatory gaps and promote peer learning among insurance supervisors across the region.The meeting also approved the progression of the Regional Integrated Insurance Supervisory Software (RIISS), which is intended to strengthen information sharing and supervisory effectiveness through technology.The regulators supported a harmonised regional approach to digital transformation, with a focus on interoperability, consumer protection, cybersecurity, efficiency and improved access to insurance services.EAISA also approved the development of a harmonised EAC Insurance Sandbox Regulatory Framework.The framework is expected to provide a common regulatory approach for responsible innovation while facilitating greater cooperation among insurance regulators across member states.Consumer protection featured prominently in the decisions reached during the Nairobi meetings.EAISA approved the further development of Regional Guidelines on Insurance Complaints Management, aimed at establishing common minimum standards for fair, timely and effective handling of insurance complaints.The guidelines will take into account the different national legal frameworks governing insurance regulation in member states.The regulators also approved the development of regional monitoring and evaluation guidelines to improve the comparability of insurance market data and support evidence-based supervisory decision-making.The meeting noted progress towards the adoption of the EAISA Constitution and urged member regulators to conclude their respective national approval processes.The association also approved the development of a Governance Charter to strengthen accountability, transparency and institutional effectiveness while clarifying roles within EAISA.The decisions are expected to deepen cross-border cooperation among insurance regulators and support the development of a more integrated regional insurance supervisory framework.The Nairobi meeting brought together regulators from Burundi, the DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda as EAISA seeks to promote coordinated insurance supervision across the East African Community.

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