NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 28 — A Kilifi pastor has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after he was convicted of defiling his 15-year-old cousin twice, with the court hearing that he used fasting, prayers and claims of a divine vision to gain access to the minor.The pastor was convicted of defilement contrary to Section 8(1) as read with Section 8(3) of the Sexual Offences Act, 2006, over offences committed on diverse dates between June 2023 and February 2024.Chief Magistrate James Mwaniki found that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and rejected the pastor’s defence.“I find merits in the prosecution’s case on the principal charge of defilement. The accused person is hereby sentenced to serve 30 years’ imprisonment,” Mwaniki ruled.The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP)said the case centred on the relationship of trust between the accused, a pastor at the church where the girl worshipped, and the minor, who was also his cousin.According to evidence presented in court, the girl accepted an invitation from the pastor to fast with him and his wife for what she understood to be spiritual cleansing.She later asked to return home to have her hair plaited, but the pastor allegedly insisted that she remain at his house and do it there.The court heard that she was served supper and slept in a room with the pastor’s two children.She testified that she was later awakened when the pastor and his wife entered the room. The court heard that the wife allegedly covered the girl’s mouth while the pastor defiled her.The girl returned home the following morning but, according to the evidence, was too traumatised to tell her mother about the incident.The court heard that about two weeks later, the pastor allegedly followed the minor and persuaded her to return to his home for another session of prayers and fasting.He allegedly told her that the prayers would prevent her from marrying a non-Christian after completing school, claiming to have received a divine vision.The two later fasted and prayed at his church before the pastor invited the girl and another girl to his home for evening tea.The other girl was subsequently sent home, leaving the complainant behind to wait for special night prayers.The court heard that the pastor later defiled her for a second time while she was asleep with his children.Her mother reported the matter to police, after which the girl was taken to hospital, and the pregnancy was confirmed.A government analyst subsequently presented DNA evidence in court showing a 99.9 per cent probability that the pastor was the biological father of the complainant’s newborn child.The DNA evidence formed part of the prosecution’s case linking the accused to the offence.In his defence, the accused initially denied committing the offence before admitting that he had sexual intercourse with the minor.The court rejected the explanation, describing the defence as baseless and an afterthought.The prosecution was led by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Winnie Atieno Otieno.
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Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 28 — Every year, billions of shillings flow from the national government to Kenya’s forty-seven counties, supplemented by money raised locally.The funds are meant to pay doctors and nurses, maintain roads, provide water, support farmers, run markets and deliver other services assigned to counties under the Constitution.But between the moment money is allocated and the moment a resident sees a completed road, a stocked hospital or a functioning water system lies a complicated chain of budgets, transfers, procurement, salaries and implementation decisions.For the 2025/26 financial year, counties were allocated Sh415 billion as equitable share of revenue raised nationally. The figure is contained in the enacted Division of Revenue Act, making it the baseline transfer available to counties from nationally raised revenue.The 2025/26 county budgets also incorporated additional conditional allocations from the national government and development partners, alongside money counties expected to raise themselves.The Controller of Budget’s first-quarter review put the combined approved county budgets at Sh603.72 billion.Of this, Sh217.80 billion, or 36 per cent, was budgeted for development while Sh385.92 billion, or 64 per cent, was for recurrent expenditure.The counties expected to finance those budgets through the Sh415 billion equitable share, Sh93.89 billion in own-source revenue, Sh68.21 billion in additional conditional allocations and Sh26.62 billion in unspent funds carried forward from the previous financial year.But an allocation in a budget is not the same thing as cash already sitting in a county account.The fourth revenue-sharing basis, covering 2025/26 to 2029/30, assigns 42 per cent to population, 22 per cent to an equal-share component, 14 per cent to poverty, 13 per cent to income distance and 9 per cent to geographical size.Population receives the largest weight because many county responsibilities are directly related to the number of people requiring services.But geography also matters. A large county such as Turkana or Marsabit faces different costs of reaching residents spread across vast distances than a densely populated urban county.The equal-share component, meanwhile, ensures every county has a basic allocation for functions that all counties must perform regardless of population size.The formula therefore attempts to balance population, basic administrative needs, poverty, geography and economic disparities rather than simply rewarding counties with larger populations.This is where the distinction between recurrent and development spending becomes important.Recurrent expenditure pays for the day-to-day running of government – salaries, allowances, utilities, supplies, operations and maintenance.Development expenditure finances projects intended to create or improve infrastructure and other assets.For 2025/26, counties collectively budgeted 64 per cent for recurrent expenditure and 36 per cent for development, putting the development allocation above the statutory minimum of 30 per cent.But the recurrent side includes the people who deliver many of the services residents expect.A county hospital cannot operate without doctors, nurses, clinical officers, laboratory staff and support workers.Agricultural programmes require extension officers. Roads and public works require engineers and technical personnel.It is whether the balance between personnel costs, operations and development leaves enough money to improve services and infrastructure.Turkana County offers a useful illustration. Its 2025/26 budget of Sh17.56 billion allocated Sh11.12 billion, or 63.34 per cent, to recurrent expenditure and Sh6.44 billion, or 36.66 per cent, to development.The county also budgeted Sh5.81 billion for personnel emoluments, equivalent to about a third of the total budget.That means a resident looking at Turkana’s development budget should not assume that the entire Sh17.56 billion is available for new roads, water projects, health facilities or other visible investments.For many citizens, the most visible test of a county budget is the local health facility.County governments are responsible for county health services, including county hospitals, health Centres and dispensaries.CRA analysis of historical county spending found that counties, on average, allocated 25.3 per cent of their resources to health and 8 per cent to agriculture, rural and urban development.But the Commission makes an important distinction: revenue-sharing formulas determine how money is distributed between counties; they do not dictate exactly how each county must spend its entire equitable share.That means two counties receiving similar amounts can make very different spending decisions.Makueni provides an example of how a budget line can be followed to a specific health facility. In its 2025/26 budget, Sh2.11 million was set aside for construction and equipping of a laboratory at Kathonzweni Health Centre.
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Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya Sep 28– Artificial intelligence is reshaping how brands understand consumers, create content and make business decisions, prompting marketers across Africa to rethink the skills and capabilities required to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving business environment.That conversation will take centre stage in Nairobi on Friday, October 2, 2026, when the 9th African Marketers Conference brings together marketers, entrepreneurs, agencies and business leaders under the theme “The AI-Powered Marketer.”Organised by the Top Marketers Club, the conference will be held at Tusker Brewhouse, with East African Breweries Limited (EABL) as the venue partner.The conference will explore the growing intersection between artificial intelligence, creativity, customer experience and business growth, at a time when AI is moving from an emerging technology into an increasingly important part of everyday business operations.For marketers, the conversation is increasingly shifting from whether AI will affect the profession to how effectively it can be applied.A key feature of this year’s conference will be a hands-on AI workshop led by Belva Digital, designed to give participants practical experience in applying the technology to real marketing workflows.Participants will be encouraged to bring their laptops and actively engage in the session, exploring how AI can support their day-to-day work.The workshop will demonstrate practical applications ranging from idea generation and content development to research, analysis and other marketing activities.The emphasis on practical application reflects the changing expectations facing marketing professionals.AI can increase the speed at which marketers research, create, test and optimise. However, technology does not replace creativity, strategic thinking or an understanding of consumers.Instead, the emerging role of the marketer increasingly involves knowing how to combine technological capabilities with human insight.As AI becomes more capable, questions surrounding human creativity and judgement are becoming increasingly important.Marketing remains fundamentally about people. Understanding consumer behaviour, culture, context and emotion remains essential to building brands and creating experiences that resonate.This is particularly relevant in Africa, where marketers operate across diverse markets, cultures, languages and consumer environments.The AI-powered marketer therefore needs more than technological familiarity. They must understand how to use AI effectively while retaining the human insight that gives marketing its relevance.The conference keynote will be delivered by Fred Kithinzi, Founder and CEO of Belva Digital, who will share perspectives on the intersection of marketing, technology and innovation.With Belva Digital also leading the hands-on AI workshop, participants will have an opportunity to move from the strategic discussion around AI to practical application during the conference.A key highlight of the programme will be the CMOs Roundtable, bringing together senior marketing leaders for a discussion titled “The AI Advantage: Rethinking Marketing, Growth and Brands.”The session will examine how AI is influencing marketing strategy, business growth and the future of brand building.The programme will also feature expert presentations, practical learning sessions and discussions on the changing marketing landscape.Beyond the learning sessions, the conference will provide a platform for professionals across the marketing ecosystem to connect.Brands, agencies, technology companies, entrepreneurs and business leaders will have an opportunity to engage with marketing decision-makers, exchange ideas and explore potential areas for collaboration.Organisers are also inviting companies to participate as sponsors and partners, with opportunities to showcase their products and expertise through exhibitions, networking and live demonstrations.For companies operating in AI, marketing technology, media, advertising, customer experience, data and related sectors, the conference provides an opportunity to engage directly with professionals navigating the rapid changes taking place in the industry.The African Marketers Conference has grown into a platform for professionals to exchange ideas and examine trends shaping the marketing profession.This year’s edition is expected to attract marketing professionals and business leaders from across East Africa, creating opportunities for knowledge sharing, networking and collaboration.For the Top Marketers Club, the focus extends beyond introducing marketers to new technology. It is also about encouraging professionals to rethink how technology can contribute to their work, strengthen their organisations and support business growth.Participants can reserve their seats through topmarketersclub.short.gy/MarCon2026 or by dialling *826*66#.
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Read briefing Kenyan long-distance runner Philemon Kiplimo Kimaiyo has been banned for two years by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after admitting anti-doping rule violations involving the prohibited substance chlortalidone.The 27-year-old road runner will serve the ban from September 1, 2026, to August 31, 2028, with the sanction also resulting in the disqualification of his results from July 19, 2026.The AIU said Kimaiyo's urine sample collected out of competition in Mwaita, Kenya, on July 19 tested positive for chlortalidone, a diuretic and masking agent listed as a prohibited substance under the World Anti-Doping Agency's 2026 Prohibited List.Chlortalidone, a diuretic is classified as a specified substance and is prohibited at all times because of its ability to conceal other banned substances. The AIU said Kimaiyo did not have a Therapeutic Use Exemption for the substance and found no apparent departure from testing or laboratory standards that could have caused the adverse analytical finding.According to Kimaiyo's explanation to the anti-doping body, a week before the test, he had taken painkillers belonging to his wife to treat pain after long runs, but could not recall their name or appearance.He also said he had taken vitamins and dietary supplements that he could not identify. The AIU, however, said it had no evidence that the anti-doping rule violations were intentional.Since this was his first anti-doping rule violation and there was no evidence of intentional use, the applicable sanction was two years rather than a longer period that can apply in cases involving intentional violations.Before the ban, Kimaiyo had recorded several notable results on the international road-running circuit. He has personal bests of 58:11 for the half marathon and 2:04:01 for the marathon, according to World Athletics.One of his early major victories came at the 2019 B.A.A. Half Marathon in Boston, where he won in 1:01:58. He later claimed victory at the 2021 Bahrain Night Half Marathon in 1:00:01 and won the 2022 Prague Half Marathon in 59:33.Kimaiyo also finished third at the 2022 B.A.A. 10K in Boston and eighth at the 2023 Berlin Marathon in 2:04:56. His marathon career continued to progress, with a third-place finish at the 2024 Hamburg Marathon in 2:05:37.His most significant marathon result came in April 2025 when he finished second at the Hamburg Marathon in 2:04:01, setting his current marathon personal best. He finished behind fellow Kenyan Amos Kipruto, who won in 2:03:46.Kimaiyo was also eighth at the 2025 Chicago Marathon in 2:06:14, finishing behind winner Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda and fellow Kenyans Amos Kipruto, Alex Chesiro Masai and Geoffrey Kamworor.Effectively, following the ban, all of Kimaiyo's results from July 19, 2026, are disqualified, meaning any titles, awards, medals, points, prizes or appearance money earned from that date are forfeited. The two-year ineligibility period also prevents him from competing during the sanction, while the decision remains subject to the applicable appeal rights.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 28 – Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) Board Vice Chairperson Mary-Ann Musangi has called for greater involvement of Africa’s private sector in implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), saying businesses must be at the centre of efforts to transform the agreement into a functioning continental market. Speaking at the Unstoppable Africa 2026 forum in New York, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, Mary-Ann said Africa had moved beyond negotiating the framework and should now focus on making AfCFTA deliver tangible economic benefits to businesses and citizens. Her remarks came during a session themed “Tools and Architects: Putting Africa’s Private Sector in the AfCFTA Driver’s Seat.” The central question, she argued, is no longer whether Africa has established a continental free trade framework, but whether that framework can enable African businesses to produce, invest, trade, scale and compete across borders. AfCFTA is the culmination of a decades-long African ambition for economic integration, dating back to the founding of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963. The agreement seeks to create a single market for goods and services, deepen economic integration, promote industrialisation and enable African economies to make better use of their resources and markets. Mary-Ann noted that the institutional a...
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Read briefing The heart of the dispute is an alleged unfulfilled promise to marry, occupation of the house by another man, police bribery and a fight over recovery of the money.A Dutchman’s four-year relationship with a Kenyan woman has ended in a court battle over gifts, including Sh2.2 million he says he sent towards development of a matrimonial home they were to share as a couple after marriage.But the woman, Ms SL, says the money was voluntarily given as gifts during their relationship and denies promising to marry the foreign national, Mr BD, or build a matrimonial house with him.The heart of the dispute is an alleged unfulfilled promise to marry, occupation of the house by another man, police bribery and a fight over recovery of the money.The dispute has since moved from the failed relationship to a criminal case in which Ms SL is accused of cheating and obtaining the money through trickery and a civil suit in which Mr BD is seeking Sh2.4 million compensation and recovery of a three-bedroom storey building from Ms SL in Vikwathani, Bamburi, Mombasa.The High Court on Friday dismissed Ms SL’s attempt to stop the criminal proceedings, leaving the competing accounts of the relationship, money and property to be dealt with in the cases before the magistrate courts.According to Ms SL’s account, the relationship began after Mr BD pursued her through relatives from 2019. She described him as a Dutch citizen who visits Kenya about once a year.From late 2020 to mid-2023, she said, Mr BD used to send her money through M-Pesa, often Sh100, Sh200 or Sh1,000 for airtime or lunch "as his intended girlfriend". She said Sh70,000 was also sent for the burial of Mr BD’s father, while other amounts were used to roof his own house at Likoni. She said they first met in person towards the end of 2022.However, the prosecution gave a different account. The DPP said Mr BD told police investigators that their relationship began in 2019, he proposed marriage and they agreed to build a home together.The criminal charge states that between May 25, 2020 and February 13, 2024, Ms SL allegedly obtained Sh2.2 million by pretending she would build a matrimonial house for them.Ms SL said the relationship had already changed. In September 2023, she told Mr BD she intended to marry another man.She said he did not take the news well, and that he threatened her and later went to her home with others and caused disturbance demanding the return of what he had bought her.She denied agreeing to marry him or build a matrimonial home, saying the Vikwathani house was hers and had been built using her own resources on a plot next to her mother’s house.Her case is that the money was given voluntarily as gifts within a domestic relationship and that receiving it was no crime. She says Mr BD would not accept the end of the relationship, and that he used the police and the prosecution to pressure her into marrying him and to punish her when she married someone else. Mr BD, however, denied that narrative and told the court that they agreed to marry and build a home together. He said he sent her money from the Netherlands to buy land and fund construction, with transaction records showing remittances exceeding Sh2 million. He said his suspicions arose in February 2024 when he visited the property and found Ms SL living there with another man, who chased him away from the house he believed he had helped finance. He said their relationship began in 2019 after he pursued Ms SL through relatives.The criminal complaint followed after the man complained to the police the Ms SL had defrauded him. He recorded a statement describing a relationship that began in 2019, his proposal of marriage, and a joint decision to build a home, for which he sent money for the purchase of the plot and for construction. Ms SL said she was arrested at her Vikwathani home on February 29, 2024 by officers from Shelly Beach Police Station.She said she was released on a Sh20,000 police bond after a prosecutor advised the parties to negotiate, but was re-arrested on March 6 and charged the following day after another prosecutor approved the charge. She spent eight days in remand at Shimo La Tewa.In addition, she alleged that Mr BD boasted of having bribed the police, the prosecution and even the courts, and there are audio recordings of this and of the investigating officer admitting that the case is not criminal. The High Court found that the recordings had not been produced, transcribed or authenticated. “This court cannot act on evidence that a party says exists but has chosen not to produce,” Justice Ngaah Jairus said.The judge rejected the argument that the dispute was purely a failed relationship or property matter.“Whether the money was a gift or was obtained by a fraudulent trick is precisely the kind of disputed question of fact, which must be decided by the trial court after hearing evidence tested by cross-examination,” Justice Ngaah said.A civil case over the property was filed on May 29, 2024, after the criminal complaint and charge. Ms SL argued that the property dispute belonged in the civil court.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 28 — Kenya is targeting local production of at least half of its essential health products by 2030 as the government moves to reduce reliance on imports and strengthen the country’s pharmaceutical security.The target is contained in the 2026–2030 Health Products and Technologies Local Manufacturing Strategy, which seeks to expand domestic pharmaceutical production while strengthening regulatory oversight and access to quality medicines.Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the strategy is part of broader measures to build a more resilient health system and reduce Kenya’s vulnerability to disruptions in the global supply of medicines and other health products.The push comes against the backdrop of heavy dependence on imports across the continent, with Africa currently importing more than 70 per cent of the health products it consumes, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH).At the opening of the sixth PharmaReg AfriSummit 2026, Duale outlined measures Kenya is taking to expand domestic manufacturing and strengthen regulatory cooperation across Africa.“13 new pharmaceutical companies have commenced operations in Kenya, with some already producing medicines and other health products for export,” MoH said,The government said 13 new pharmaceutical companies have commenced operations in Kenya, with some already producing medicines and other health products for export.The expansion is expected to strengthen local supply chains while creating opportunities for Kenyan manufacturers to serve regional markets.Alongside the manufacturing drive, Kenya is stepping up surveillance of medicines and other health products in the market.The Pharmacy and Poisons Board has intensified market surveillance, with the Ministry saying more than 2,200 substandard, falsified and non-compliant products have been removed from the market.Kenya is also advancing its regulatory system towards World Health Organization Maturity Level 3, a benchmark intended to strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of national medicines regulatory systems.The regulatory push is aimed at ensuring that increased local production is matched by stronger quality controls and consumer protection.Africa’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity remains uneven, with about 85 per cent of the continent’s pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities concentrated in just eight countries, according to the Ministry.Kenya’s strategy therefore seeks to position domestic manufacturers to meet a larger share of national demand while developing their capacity to compete in regional and international markets.The issues are at the centre of the five-day PharmaReg AfriSummit 2026, held under the theme “Building the Bridge of Health.”More than 450 health professionals, regulators, pharmaceutical industry representatives and development partners from Africa and beyond are attending the summit to discuss pharmaceutical regulation, local manufacturing and Universal Health Coverage.The government said greater regulatory cooperation among African countries will be critical in expanding access to safe and quality health products while supporting the growth of the continent’s pharmaceutical industry.
Read briefing The Mombasa–Nairobi Road has been identified among the most dangerous roads in Mombasa County, according to a road safety report highlighting the routes that recorded the highest number of fatal crashes.The report, released by the Mombasa County Government alongside other partners, identified five high-risk corridors in the county.According to the report, besides the Mombasa-Nairobi highway, the Mombasa–Malindi Road, Makupa Causeway, Likoni–Ukunda Road and Port Reitz–Airport Road were also responsible for a considerable number of road fatalities in the county. The findings formed part of the Mombasa Road Safety Report 2025, which also showed that the county recorded an overall 15 per cent decline in reported road traffic crashes and serious injuries compared with 2024.The report further showed that Mombasa recorded a 15 per cent decline in road traffic crashes and serious injuries in 2025, although 84 people still lost their lives, with the report cautioning that the reduction should be interpreted carefully until the trend is sustained.Despite the decline, 84 people were killed in road crashes in Mombasa during 2025, highlighting the continued risks faced by motorists, pedestrians and other road users.Two- and three-wheeler users accounted for 44 per cent of all reported road deaths, while pedestrians made up another 37 per cent, highlighting the continued impact of crashes on vulnerable road users.More data from the report revealed that Saturdays recorded the highest number of deaths, while fatal crashes were frequently recorded between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. and between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.The report identified speeding as the leading perceived cause of crashes, cited by 84 per cent of respondents, while 77 per cent supported a 30 km/h residential speed limit and 71 per cent backed lower limits near pedestrian areas.Mombasa Deputy Governor Francis Thoya said the decline in deaths and serious injuries showed progress but called for renewed action to strengthen road safety along the county's high-risk corridors.“Sustaining this progress will require renewed commitment from all stakeholders,” Thoya said, urging the National Police Service, National Transport and Safety Authority, county departments and development partners to strengthen road safety measures.The findings come as concerns over road infrastructure and construction delays continue to draw attention in Mombasa. Last week, the National Assembly Transport Committee inspected the Mombasa–Mtwapa Highway and questioned the slow pace of construction.The Ksh8.4 billion four-lane highway, which began in November 2022 and was initially scheduled for completion in November 2025, is now expected to be completed on December 16, 2027. The project was reported to be 55.96 per cent complete during the inspection.Committee members expressed disappointment over the pace of construction and demanded an explanation from the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) over the delays.
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Read briefing The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has warned Kenyans about falsified Lucentis injections detected in the Kenyan market, with one person arrested in connection with the circulation of the suspected fake medicine.The regulator identified the affected products as Lucentis (Ranibizumab) 0.3mg injections bearing batch numbers 18862110 and 18802112.“The falsified Lucentis 0.3mg injection, misleadingly claiming to have been manufactured by Genentech, was detected through the Board’s post-marketing surveillance activities,” the PPB stated in the advisory issued on Monday, September 28.Lucentis is an eye medicine containing ranibizumab, which is administered by injection into the eye to treat conditions that can cause vision loss. It works by blocking a protein that promotes abnormal blood vessel growth and fluid leakage in the eye.A comparison with genuine products supplied by Novartis Overseas Investment AG revealed several differences that raised concerns about the authenticity of the affected injections.“The product is labelled Lucentis, whereas the registered brand in Kenya is Patizra. It is also labelled 0.3mg, while the registered product is labelled 10mg/mL,” the PPB stated.The PPB further noted that the suspected falsified injection is packaged in a dark amber vial, while the genuine product comes in a clear glass vial. The batch number, manufacturing date and expiry date also do not match the details of the genuine product.The warning comes days after the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK) called on county governments to ensure pharmaceutical outlets obtain valid licences before being allowed to operate. In a statement issued on Friday, September 25, to mark World Pharmacists Day 2026, PSK said county-issued business permits do not authorise the practice of pharmacy or operation of pharmaceutical premises.“A County Government business permit is not a licence to practise pharmacy. The statutory regulation of pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical premises belongs within the national pharmaceutical regulatory framework,” the society stated.The PPB warned that falsified medicines may contain the wrong amount of an active ingredient, contain no active ingredient at all, or contain harmful contaminants and undeclared substances.Such products may fail to provide the intended therapeutic effect while exposing patients to potentially harmful substances, according to the regulator.Healthcare professionals have been urged to verify the authenticity of the affected products and quarantine any suspected falsified injections they encounter. The PPB also called on procurement agencies, hospitals, distributors and members of the public to immediately report any products bearing the affected batch numbers.The regulator said one individual had been arrested after being found in possession of the suspected falsified medicine, with investigations ongoing to establish its source, point of entry and the extent of its distribution.Stakeholders have since been urged to procure health products only from Board-licensed manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers.
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Read briefing 