HARARE, Zimbabwe, Sep 30— Zimbabwean business tycoon Wicknell Chivayo and his wife, Lucy Muteke, are feared to be among six people killed in a helicopter crash in Marondera, eastern Zimbabwe, on Wednesday evening.Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana confirmed the crash, saying there were no survivors, but said the Zimbabwe Republic Police would formally release the identities of the victims.“The Government wishes to confirm that a helicopter crash has occurred, involving one high-profile businessman, three other passengers, and two pilots,” Mangwana said.The Zimbabwe Republic Police said the aircraft crashed in Marondera Rural area at about 5pm with six people on board.Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the crash or formally identified the victims.Mangwana said the police would formally confirm the identities of the victims and extended condolences to their families and friends.“The Zimbabwe Republic Police will confirm the names of the victims in due course,” he said.The Zimbabwe Republic Police had earlier confirmed that an aircraft crashed in the Marondera Rural area at about 5pm, with six people on board.“The ZRP confirms a plane crash in Marondera Rural area at 1700 hours, this evening. The aircraft had 6 occupants,” police said.“More details will be released in due course as the scene is currently being attended.”The crash occurred in Marondera, southeast of the capital Harare, and emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene.Authorities have not disclosed what caused the crash or released the identities of those aboard.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 30 – A NACADA-led multi-agency security operation has dismantled a major illicit alcohol and contraband cigarette network in Laare Division, Igembe North Subcounty, Meru County.The early morning raid, resulted in the seizure of thousands of bottles of suspected counterfeit alcohol in various brands and over 900 packets of uncustomed cigarettes. Three suspects, including a notorious distributor described by police as influential in the area, were arrested.The operation, coordinated by NACADA enforcement officers alongside local police, targeted a compound that had been under surveillance for weeks.Inside a store room, officers discovered a massive stockpile of fake spirits bearing counterfeit excise stamps, alongside cartons of contraband cigarettes, including brands such as Supermatch and Oris.The suspects are expected to be arraigned pending chemical analysis of the seized beverages. NACADA says the main suspect had been on their radar for a long time allegedly using a network of bodaboda riders and local kiosks to distribute the lethal products.The operation is part of a renewed nationwide crackdown on illicit alcohol and drugs, following a surge in cases of methanol poisoning and drug abuse among the youth.NACADA CEO Dr. Anthony Omerikwa commended the multi-agency team and issued a stern warning to those involved in the illicit trade.“As part of the response to the increased alcohol counterfeiting and drug use countrywide, the Authority is leaving no stone unturned in bringing to book all those involved in this criminal enterprise,” said Dr. Omerikwa.He also expressed gratitude to the public for their role in the successful operation. “We thank the public for volunteering information which has led to this successful operation. We encourage them to keep sharing the same with the Authority to help us keep our communities safe from drugs,” he added.Local residents welcomed the arrests, saying the illicit trade had destroyed young lives. One resident told our reporter that two young men from the village were buried last month after consuming a black bottle brew.Officials said the battle is far from over and urged continued vigilance. The suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 30 — Kenya must strengthen and better connect its health, social protection and community systems to cope with a growing older population and ensure longer lives are matched by health, dignity and independence, experts have said. Health experts, researchers, policymakers, practitioners and older persons meeting in Nairobi warned that ageing cannot be treated solely as a medical issue, with older people increasingly facing multiple and overlapping challenges including non-communicable diseases (NCDs), dementia, mental health conditions, mobility limitations, malnutrition, abuse and social isolation. The discussions were held at the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) during the International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) 2026 Scientific Pre-Conference ahead of the main conference scheduled for October 1–2. Kenya’s 2019 Population and Housing Census recorded about 2.7 million people aged 60 years and above, highlighting the need for systems to prepare for an ageing population. Dr Rita Arogo of the World Health Organization said better data on older people would be critical to planning services capable of meeting their needs. “To rethink systems, we need to think of the data first. Because if we do not count older persons appropriately, then we will not be able to take care of them,” Arogo said.She said improved data would also enable Kenya to adjust its...
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 30 — Kenya is seeking technical support from Japan to develop irrigation and rice production in Taita Taveta, with a proposed master plan expected to guide investment in water management, production and processing while promoting sustainable use of the county’s water resources.Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho hosted a team from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to explore technical cooperation aimed at expanding rice production and strengthening the crop’s value chain in the county.The proposed partnership will focus on irrigation development, improved productivity, post-harvest handling, processing and the creation of sustainable markets for farmers.A key outcome of the discussions was an agreement to commission a detailed technical study to establish a comprehensive master plan for rice production and irrigation development in Taita Taveta.“The engagement comes as the State Department for Irrigation (SDI) continues to advance interventions that seek to increase the area under irrigation and enhance the productivity and economic returns of irrigation schemes,” Ministry of Water and Irrigation said.The study will assess available water resources, areas suitable for rice cultivation, existing and required irrigation infrastructure, production systems, market opportunities and investment needs.The plan is also expected to guide the identification of priority irrigation areas while promoting efficient and sustainable utilisation of water resources.Taita Taveta has agricultural potential supported by available water resources, agricultural land and favourable climatic conditions, although coordinated investment in irrigation infrastructure, water management and value-chain systems is required to expand commercial rice production.The State Department for Irrigation will also pursue the necessary Government approvals to designate Taita Taveta as a strategic irrigation development area.The designation would provide a coordinated framework for expanding irrigation infrastructure and supporting the county’s transition towards increased and commercially viable rice production.The proposed cooperation comes under the Government’s broader irrigation expansion agenda, including priorities contained in the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP), which emphasises increased irrigation coverage, improved water productivity, Farmer Led Irrigation Development and stronger agricultural value chains.The initiative could also contribute to climate resilience in agriculture by improving water management and supporting more efficient use of irrigation resources as farmers contend with changing climatic conditions.Through the proposed technical cooperation, SDI and JICA will explore support for technical capacity, irrigation planning, infrastructure development and rice value-chain systems.The Government expects increased rice production to contribute to food and nutrition security, reduce reliance on imports and create employment and income opportunities across production, aggregation, storage, processing, value addition and marketing.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 30 — National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has called for the establishment of a sustainable African financing mechanism for climate action, warning that the continent must back its climate commitments with domestic resources and stronger laws.Wetang’ula said Africa’s response to climate change should move beyond international commitments and focus on creating the financial and legal capacity needed to implement climate policies.He made the remarks during a meeting with members of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) at Parliament Buildings, where discussions focused on developing practical and sustainable responses to the effects of climate change across the continent.“Climate change is one of Africa’s biggest challenges,” Wetang’ula said, commending PAP for its efforts to address what he described as the growing and harmful effects of climate change on African communities.Wetang’ula called for a Climate Change Fund as legislators work on a Model Law on Climate Change for Africa, saying financing would be critical to turning climate policies into action.“I stressed the need for a realistic and sustainable financing model for climate action including a Climate Change Fund as legislators work on a Model Law on Climate Change for Africa,” he said.The Speaker also urged African countries to make greater use of their natural resources to finance climate action, while strengthening domestic capacity and reducing dependence on external support.He further called on African lawmakers to adopt a common position on climate action and support legislation that holds environmental polluters accountable.“I also urged African lawmakers to speak with one voice on climate action and support strong laws that hold environmental polluters accountable,” he said.Wetang’ula linked Kenya’s role in international environmental governance to its responsibility to advance environmental protection, noting that the country hosts UN-Habitat.The Speaker said the continent now needed to shift from commitments to implementation by ensuring climate laws and policies are matched with adequate resources.“Africa must move from commitments to action by ensuring that our climate policies and laws are backed by adequate resources for effective implementation,” Wetang’ula said.
Read briefing MOMBASA, Kenya, Sep 29 — Kenya and Rwanda have activated a new government-backed route for bulk petroleum imports through the Northern Corridor, with the arrival of a 40,000-metric-tonne cargo in Mombasa marking the first shipment under the new framework. The maiden consignment, carried by MT Sea Wolf, was received at the Kenya Pipeline Company’s Kipevu Oil Terminal 2 (KOT2) on Tuesday, opening a new supply route for Rwanda’s refined petroleum products through Kenya’s port, pipeline and storage infrastructure. Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary James Opiyo Wandayi said the agreement could significantly increase petroleum volumes transiting the Northern Corridor, with the two countries projecting a tenfold growth over the coming years. “This framework is projected to grow the volume of petroleum products moving through our Northern Corridor to Rwanda tenfold over the coming years,” Wandayi said. “That is a vote of confidence, not just in a pipeline or a port, but in Kenya as a nation, in our institutions, our regulatory environment and our ability to deliver on our word.” The development gives Kenya a larger role in Rwanda’s fuel supply chain while positioning the Northern Corridor as a key route for the landlocked country’s petroleum imports. Wandayi said the arrangement would further strengthen Kenya’s position as a regional energy and logistics hub. “It cements ou...
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 29 — Kirinyaga WomanRepresentative Maina Njeri has called for endometriosis to be treated as a public health and economic issue, urging the Government to integrate its diagnosis and treatment into Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) framework.Njeri told the National Assembly that thousands of women and girls affected by the chronic condition continue to suffer prolonged pain, delayed diagnosis and financial hardship because of limited awareness and inadequate access to specialised care.She said the condition, which causes tissue similar to the lining of the uterus to grow outside the uterus, is frequently mistaken for ordinary menstrual pain despite potentially causing severe pelvic pain, excessive bleeding, fatigue and infertility.“Endometriosis is therefore not merely a private medical concern, it is a public-health, social and economic issue that affects the dignity, equality and well-being of women and girls,” Njeri said in a General Statement to the House.The legislator said women affected by the condition can spend years moving between health facilities before receiving an accurate diagnosis, with the resulting pain affecting their education, employment and household finances.Njeri called for endometriosis care to be incorporated into the UHC agenda and covered through the Social Health Authority (SHA), alongside efforts to take specialised services closer to patients.“There is an urgent need to integrate endometriosis care into the Universal Health Coverage agenda, provide appropriate coverage under the Social Health Authority, and decentralize diagnostic and specialised treatment services to county and regional referral facilities across the country,” she said.She also urged the Government to strengthen training for healthcare workers and develop clear national guidelines covering diagnosis, referral, treatment and long-term management.Njeri said the country also needed research to establish the prevalence of endometriosis and quantify its socioeconomic impact on affected women, families and the wider economy.The call comes as access to specialised healthcare remains more difficult for women living outside major urban centres, where diagnostic and treatment services are less readily available.Njeri also called for a shift in Kenya’s menstrual-health messaging, arguing that public education should go beyond access to sanitary products to help women and girls identify symptoms that require medical attention.“Our menstrual-health agenda should go beyond access to sanitary products,” she said, calling for initiatives to ensure women and girls understand that “severe or incapacitating menstrual pain is not normal” and should be reported to healthcare providers.She said earlier recognition of symptoms could help reduce the prolonged suffering experienced by women who remain undiagnosed.Njeri further paid tribute to the late media personality and endometriosis campaigner Mary Njambi Koikai, popularly known as Jahmby Koikai, whose public account of living with the condition helped raise awareness in Kenya.“She transformed her personal suffering into advocacy and gave countless Kenyan women the courage to also speak up about their own pain,” Njeri said.She urged the Government to turn the increased awareness generated by advocacy into concrete measures for early diagnosis, affordable treatment and wider access to specialised care.“The greatest homage we can pay to her and to every woman living with endometriosis is to translate endometriosis awareness into meaningful policy and accessible
Read briefing KILIFI, Kenya, Sep 29 — The ownership and operations of the Dangote East Africa Refinery, whose construction will be launched on Wednesday, will be open and transparent, President William Ruto has said.The President stated that the Government will have a stake in the landmark facility, and Kenyans will be given an opportunity to buy shares through the Nairobi Securities Exchange.At the same time, the President issued a stern warning to individuals he accused of frustrating investors seeking opportunities in Kenya by making unreasonable demands and imposing selfish conditions. He said such actions risk driving away capital and slowing the country’s economic transformation.President Ruto made it clear that the Government will not allow profiteers to derail the refinery project.He described the Sh2 trillion project as an economic game-changer for Kenya and the wider region.He was speaking in Kilifi and Kwale counties on Tuesday on the fourth day of his Coast development tour.The President said the people seeking to derail the refinery have been frustrating major investments, citing Nigeria businessman Aliko Dangote’s earlier efforts to establish a cement factory in Kenya and the proposed crude oil pipeline between Kenya and Uganda.“Investors need incentives, not conditions,” he said, noting that the refinery will create significant economic opportunities for Kenyans and strengthen the country’s foreign reserves.He explained that he would not allow anyone to demand shares from the investment, saying the Government has a stake in the refinery and some of these shares will be sold through the Nairobi Securities Exchange.Pointing out that frustrating investors has led to declining foreign direct investment, the President said Kenya’s foreign direct investment was $1.6 billion in 2022 but has risen to $3.2 billion in 2025.“Once the Dangote Refinery is operational, we expect to increase foreign direct investment to between $6 billion and $7 billion,” he said.On the land question, President Ruto said his commitment to providing the land answer was not merely a campaign promise, but a deliberate desire to transform the Coast and restore the rights of residents who have endured decades of uncertainty over land ownership.“The land challenges in this region have violated the rights of the people, causing widespread poverty and the spectre of constant evictions,” he said.The President said the Government has allocated Sh10 billion towards resolving the land question and will continue funding the programme in the subsequent years.To accelerate the adjudication of land which has been purchased by the Government, he said 300 Ministry of Lands officials have been deployed to the Coast.The move is intended to meet the Government’s target of issuing 500,000 title deeds in the Coast region by December 2026.In Kilifi County, the President issued 36,000 title deeds to residents at Karisa Maitha Stadium in Kilifi town, on Tuesday.He informed the beneficiaries that the title deeds have been fully paid for by the Government and told them not to pay any money.He regretted that the Coast has waited for far too long for justice on land and development rights.“There are those who are saying development at the Coast is a right of the people. Yes, I agree. But justice delayed is justice denied,” he said.President Ruto stated that the Government’s rapid response initiative on the land purchase, surveying and titling is part of what he termed “the land answer” for the Coast.“We are doing this in all the six counties in the Coast. Our officers will be here until all the land is surveyed,” he said.In Kwale, President Ruto identified water security as a priority for the Coast, saying the Government will progressively address perennial shortages through major water infrastructure projects.He inspected construction works at Mwache Dam in Kinango Constituency, a flagship project designed to strengthen water supply in Kwale and some parts of Mombasa.The dam is nearing completion and is expected to provide 186 million litres of water daily.On the blue economy, he pointed out that the Government is investing heavily in the sector to improve food security, create jobs, raise incomes and accelerate economic growth along the Coast.He said KSh15 billion has been allocated to the sector for the development of several fish landing sites across the region.President Ruto pointed to a Sh300 million fish landing facility nearing completion in Kilifi, while the Shimoni fishing port and Liwatoni landing facilities are ready in Kwale.The modern facilities are designed to support value addition and include essential infrastructure such as cold-storage facilities.The Government, President Ruto said, has also expanded Kenya’s deep-sea fishing capacity, with the number of vessels increasing from two in 2022 to 24.The President said those opposed to transformative projects are seeking to perpetuate the historical marginalisation of the Coast and urged residents to support leaders with clear development plans.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 29 – A former housekeeper at the home of Dutch businessman Tob Cohen has told the High Court that he witnessed an alleged violent confrontation between Cohen and his wife, Sarah Wairimu Kamotho, months before Cohen was killed in July 2019. Chrispinus Shihemi, who worked for the couple as a gardener and housekeeper, was among three prosecution witnesses who testified on Tuesday before Justice Diana Kavedza as the murder trial continued at the High Court in Kibera. Wairimu is accused of murdering Cohen, jointly with others not before the court, on the night of July 19 and 20, 2019 in Nairobi. Shihemi told the court that on February 8, 2019, he heard Cohen screaming outside the house at about 10pm. He said he rushed to the terrace and found Cohen lying near the stairs while Wairimu was allegedly holding a plastic chair over him. According to the witness, Cohen repeatedly cried, “You are killing me,” prompting him to intervene and tell Wairimu: “Hapana madam, wacha hiyo tabia mbaya.” (No, madam, stop that bad behaviour.) Shihemi said Cohen was bleeding from the head and face after the incident and asked him to take photographs of his injuries. Sarah Wairimu appears in court over the death of her husband, Tob Cohen, on September 28, 2026 / ODPP He told the court that Wairimu instructed him not to take the photographs. The witness said Cohen later accused him of f...
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 29 — The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) have opposed the release on bail of five suspects charged with the murder of Dr Victoria Nthunya Mutiso, citing fears of witness interference, destruction of evidence, collusion and flight.The prosecution says the accused could compromise the ongoing investigation if released, with several alleged accomplices still at large.The five — Rose Mbithe Mulwa, Angela Mulwa, Chris Mulwa, Police Constable Elijah Kibelion Kimoi and Maritim Kimutai — are facing murder charges over the killing of Dr Mutiso on July 29, 2026. The five were due to appear before the High Court on Tuesday for plea-taking.In an affidavit filed in court, Homicide Investigations Bureau officer Corporal Romana Odour acknowledges the constitutional right to bail under Article 49(1)(h), but argues that compelling reasons exist to keep the accused in custody pending the conclusion of the trial.According to the affidavit, investigators believe Dr Mutiso’s killing was linked to a long-running dispute over a 20-acre parcel of land in Mlolongo involving the deceased, her husband and the first three accused.The first three accused — Mbithe, Angela Mulwa and Chris Mulwa — were allegedly known to Dr Mutiso and her family and are said to have formed part of a wider group that investigators believe planned and facilitated the killing.The prosecution alleges that the group conducted surveillance on Dr Mutiso, gathered personal information about her and her family and coordinated communications, logistics and other activities for about four months before the murder.Investigators further claim that telecommunications and other electronic evidence links the accused to meetings, communications and activities allegedly connected to the planned attack.The affidavit also cites an incident on July 7, when Dr Mutiso reportedly told investigators that she had been confronted by two armed people riding on a motorcycle near Junction Mall along Ngong Road.The investigating officer says subsequent investigations identified the fourth accused, Kimoi, as the alleged pillion passenger during that incident.On July 29, investigators allege, Dr Mutiso was intercepted while travelling in an Uber vehicle, registration KDJ 609D, and fatally shot.Earlier proceedings had also placed Kimoi at the centre of the alleged shooting, with investigators telling court that he was suspected of firing the fatal shots.The DCI says searches following the arrests led to the recovery of items considered significant to the investigation.Among items allegedly recovered from the Karen residence of the first and second accused were a black-and-red A7 notebook containing details of the Uber vehicle used by Dr Mutiso, Airtel SIM cards, photographs of the deceased and members of her family, and copies of her husband’s national identity card.A search of the third accused’s residence in Kerarapon allegedly led to the recovery of a motor vehicle investigators believe had been taken from the deceased’s home in Mlolongo.The investigating officer describes Kimoi as a serving police officer at the time of the alleged offence and alleges that he fled after the shooting.Investigators further claim that he later destroyed the clothes he was wearing during the alleged shooting by burning them in an attempt to eliminate forensic evidence.The prosecution has also raised concerns over alleged attempts to interfere with people cooperating with investigators.According to the affidavit, investigators received intelligence on August 20 about an alleged plan to harm suspects who had agreed to assist with the investigation.Kimutai was subsequently arrested at Pangani Police Station on August 22 while allegedly visiting one of the cooperating suspects and carrying food, the investigating officer says.The DCI says information obtained from Kimutai’s phone subsequently helped investigators trace and arrest additional suspects, including three people who had allegedly fled to Uganda.Three additional suspects — Police Constable Collins Bett Kilangat, Pius Muiruri Mbugua and Samuel Karanja Gathoni — were arrested in Uganda on August 29 and returned to Kenya. They are expected back in court on October 1.The DCI says investigations remain ongoing, with several alleged accomplices still at large, including some senior police officers.The prosecution argues that releasing the five accused could enable them, either directly or through associates, to interfere with witnesses, destroy or conceal evidence and frustrate ongoing investigations.The affidavit identifies Dr Mutiso’s husband as a key prosecution witness and describes him as particularly vulnerable because of his relationship with the first three accused and the trauma arising from his wife’s death.The DCI also says some witnesses have been placed under the protection of the Witness Protection Agency and argues that the accused or their associates could attempt to contact, intimidate or influence them if released.
Read briefing 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.
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.
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#.
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...
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 ELDORET, Kenya, Sep 27 — Kenya is moving to integrate Artificial Intelligence and digital platforms into tourism promotion as the government seeks to make the country’s destinations more visible and accessible to increasingly digital travellers.Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano said the shift in how travellers discover, compare and book destinations makes digital technology and AI critical to Kenya’s competitiveness as a tourism destination.“Today’s traveller is increasingly using a smartphone, digital platforms and online tools to discover destinations, compare experiences and make travel decisions,” Miano said on Sunday.She said the government must redesign how it showcases Kenya to ensure destinations, experiences and tourism products remain visible, accessible and relevant in the digital spaces where travellers make decisions.Miano said the Ministry is already using technology to expand the visibility of Kenya’s tourism offering, citing Safari Live, developed in partnership with Wildlife Earth, as one initiative showcasing the country’s wildlife and destinations to global audiences.She also highlighted Tembea Kenya as a platform for showcasing destinations and experiences across the country while encouraging domestic travel.The Cabinet Secretary said young people would play an increasingly important role in promoting Kenya through digital platforms, citing their creativity, reach and understanding of online audiences as valuable assets.She said the Ministry was already working with influencers and digital content creators as part of efforts to promote Kenya and make its tourism experiences more visible.The remarks came as Kenya marked World Tourism Day 2026 in Uasin Gishu County under the theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.”The celebrations in Eldoret brought to a close a week-long programme showcasing Uasin Gishu and the wider North Rift’s tourism potential through sports, culture, conservation, gastronomy and digital innovation.The official programme ran from September 23 to 27, while the broader tourism activities began earlier in the week.Tourism Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said the celebrations provided an opportunity to position Uasin Gishu and the wider North Rift as an emerging tourism circuit.He cited Eldoret’s city status, improving road infrastructure and the region’s strong sporting heritage as opportunities to develop new tourism experiences and attract more domestic and international visitors.“It is time we fully opened up this tourism circuit. There is huge potential in this region,” Bitok said.He urged investors and tourism operators to improve and diversify the region’s tourism products to make them more competitive and attractive to visitors.Bitok said the planned 2029 World Athletics Championships would further raise the profile of the North Rift and create an opportunity to connect international sporting events with tourism experiences across the region.The week-long programme also provided a platform to showcase tourism products, enterprises and innovations while promoting the region’s sporting, cultural and natural attractions.World Tourism Day is observed globally on September 27 to highlight tourism’s contribution to economic, social and cultural development.For Kenya, the Eldoret celebrations offered a national platform for the North Rift to promote itself as a tourism destination while placing digital technology and AI at the centre of discussions about the future of the sector.
Read briefing JAKARTA, Indonesia, Sep 27— Indonesia is seeking to attract more Kenyan tourists by positioning itself as a diverse, multi-destination holiday market rather than a destination defined solely by its globally recognized Bali brand. Indera Dewantho, Assistant to the Deputy for Marketing, Region III at Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism, said the country wants to deepen its engagement with Kenya by working more closely with travel agents, tour operators and other tourism businesses. “Indonesia offers Kenyan travellers something that is difficult to find in a single destination: diversity. Indonesia is not only Bali,” Dewantho told Kenyan journalists during a familiarization trip to Indonesia. He pointed to Indonesia’s more than 17,000 islands, hundreds of ethnic groups, distinctive culinary traditions, tropical landscapes and living cultural heritage as part of the country’s appeal to Kenyan travellers. The ministry is also promoting what it describes as “quality tourism” — experiences designed to provide meaningful interaction while generating benefits for local communities and supporting environmental protection. One example is Indonesia’s Tourism Villages programme, which enables visitors to experience local traditions, cuisine, crafts, nature and everyday community life. “For Kenyan travellers, Indonesia can offer not simply a holiday, but a different cultural and social experienc...
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 27 — President William Ruto has warned political leaders against appearing drunk at public gatherings, in an apparent reference to retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.Speaking at Mwatate Gospel Church in Taita Taveta County on Sunday, Ruto criticised leaders who continue discussing an election held four years ago, saying they make “incoherent” remarks when they are “confused.”“The election was held four years ago, but because of being confused, you come and speak incoherent things,” Ruto said.Ruto did not mention Uhuru by name, but his remarks came five days after the former President questioned why his name continued to feature in political discussions nearly four years after he handed over power.Speaking during a Jubilee Party leadership handover in Nairobi on September 22, Uhuru also revisited the 2022 election, saying he remained convinced that the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga had won the contest. The Supreme Court had unanimously upheld Ruto’s victory after Raila challenged the result.Uhuru questioned why political leaders continued discussing his record instead of focusing on governing the country, saying his administration had handed over power peacefully after the Supreme Court decision.Ruto then turned to the conduct of political leaders, urging those in positions of influence to act as role models.“Especially those of us who are leaders, if you are a leader, you ought to be a role model; you cannot be a leader and then show up at a public meeting drunk, and then tell children not to be drunkards,” Ruto said.He urged leaders to exercise discipline and restraint, saying their conduct influences people who look up to them.“Please, leaders, I humbly beg you to be disciplined and temperate, knowing that many others rely on us and look up to us,” he said.Ruto also called on parents, religious leaders and communities to play a role in building what he described as a responsible and stable society.“It is not going to take government alone; it is going to take government, spiritual leaders, parents, and communities to make sure that we have a stable, forthright nation, and all of us must participate,” he said.The exchange comes amid renewed political debate over the 2022 election and preparations for the 2027 General Election, with Ruto and Uhuru publicly addressing aspects of their respective political records and roles.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 27 — Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has directed all government ministers to obtain his permission before travelling abroad, threatening a 30 million Ugandan shilling fine for those who leave the country without his clearance.Muhoozi announced the directive on Saturday after questioning a recent foreign trip by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Regional Affairs) Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo, who travelled to Türkiye for official engagements.“All ministers need my permission and clearance before leaving the country,” Muhoozi said.He said he would review ministers’ foreign trips on a monthly basis and require the Finance Ministry to obtain his approval.“I will clear their trips on a monthly basis. Minister of Finance will seek my approval,” he said.Muhoozi further directed ministers to notify him before leaving Uganda and said the proposed penalty would be channelled towards road construction.“Every minister who leaves the country without my permission will be fined 30 million shillings. We shall use that money to build roads. Ministry of Finance will start implementing this order immediately,” he said.The directive followed Muhoozi’s public questioning of Kasolo’s trip to Türkiye.“I did not clear Hon. Kasolo to visit Turkey. He will explain,” Muhoozi said in a now-deleted tweet.Kasolo responded by assuring Muhoozi that he would comply with the directive and seek his guidance and authority before undertaking future foreign travel.“My chairman and Big Brother, order taken. Your guidance and authority will always be sought,” Kasolo said.Muhoozi also singled out Foreign Affairs Minister Adonia Ayebare, whom he described as a disciplined cadre, while reiterating that the clearance requirement applied to all ministers.“My address is known they must ALL notify me before they leave Uganda,” he said.“Minister of Foreign Affairs Adonia Ayebare is a disciplined cadre. He does not go anywhere without my permission.”Muhoozi’s announcement comes against an existing government framework for clearing foreign travel by senior officials.Cabinet resolved in 2017 that officials at ministerial level, including ministers, ministers of state, the Head of Public Service and Permanent Secretaries, would be cleared by the Prime Minister before travelling abroad.Officials below the rank of Permanent Secretary were to obtain clearance from their respective ministers.Uganda’s Constitution establishes the President as Head of State, Head of Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, while executive authority is vested in the President.The Constitution also provides for a Prime Minister responsible for coordinating and implementing government policies across ministries, departments and other public institutions.Ministers are individually accountable to the President for the administration of their ministries and collectively responsible for Cabinet decisions.Against that framework, it remains unclear what formal legal or administrative instrument Muhoozi was invoking when he announced that ministers would require his personal clearance before travelling abroad.It is similarly unclear from his announcement what legal basis exists for imposing the proposed 30 million shilling penalty or whether the Ministry of Finance has formally adopted the measure.The directive comes amid a recent deterioration in Uganda-Türkiye relations, particularly over defence cooperation and the case of Ugandan activist Fred Kajubi Lumbuye, who is based in Türkiye.On September 19, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces announced the immediate suspension of all defence and military cooperation with Türkiye, saying the measure would remain in place until outstanding issues concerning bilateral defence and military cooperation were resolved.The announcement followed a demonstration outside the Turkish Embassy in Kampala on September 18 by members of the Patriotic League of Uganda, who demanded Lumbuye’s extradition.However, the UPDF statement announcing the suspension did not directly link the decision to Lumbuye or the embassy demonstration.Muhoozi’s questioning of Kasolo’s Türkiye trip therefore comes against an already sensitive backdrop in Uganda-Türkiye relations.Despite the tensions, Uganda’s wider diplomatic and commercial engagement with Türkiye has continued, including the engagements reported during Kasolo’s visitWhether the new requirement constitutes a formal change to Uganda’s existing ministerial travel-clearance procedures remains unclear.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 27-The Kenya Air Force (KAF) is stepping up efforts to modernize its logistics systems, with military commanders calling for greater use of technology, data-driven planning and locally adaptable solutions to sustain air operations.The push emerged during a three-day KAF Logistics Seminar held at Moi Air Base from September 23 to 25, where senior officers examined ways to improve fleet sustainment, supply chains and resource management amid evolving operational demands.Deputy Commander Kenya Air Force Brigadier Mohamud Farah, representing Commander KAF Major General Bernard Waliaula, said future military logistics would require more than simply adopting off-the-shelf technologies.“The lessons covered on technology in logistics have demonstrated that the future of fleet sustainment will depend not only on adopting modern technologies, but also on our ability to develop and adapt solutions that address our own unique operational challenges,” Farah said.The seminar brought together formation commanders, senior officers and officers from KAF bases and formations to assess emerging trends in military logistics and identify practical approaches to improving operational support.Discussions focused on logistics management, supply chain efficiency, resource optimisation, planning and the application of technology to military logistics.The officers also examined the need for agile and data-informed systems capable of responding quickly to changing operational requirements.Moi Air Base Commander Brigadier Herbert Wafula said the effectiveness of military logistics should ultimately be measured by its ability to deliver operational capability when and where it is required.“Effective logistics is not merely about the availability of resources; it is about ensuring that the right capability reaches the right place at the right time to sustain the mission,” Wafula said.The seminar also featured a “Marketplace of Ideas”, providing officers with an opportunity to engage subject-matter experts, share professional experiences and explore potential solutions to emerging logistics challenges.The discussions placed particular emphasis on linking technological innovation with professional expertise and efficient use of available resources as the Air Force seeks to strengthen fleet sustainment.The KAF said the engagement would help strengthen knowledge-sharing across its formations while supporting the development of resilient and responsive logistics systems capable of sustaining air operations and enhancing mission readiness.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya Sep 26 – Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson has overseen the removal of illegal structures obstructing waterways along Naivasha Road in Kawangware, as the County intensifies flood-mitigation interventions ahead of the expected El Niño rains.He said structures encroaching on drainage corridors will continue to be removed to restore waterways and improve the flow of storm water. Similar operations are underway in Mlango Soko and other parts of the city.The Governor also inspected ongoing flood-mitigation works in Imara Daima, Kwa Njenga and the Governor’s Road area of Embakasi South and East, where teams are clearing, desilting, deepening and widening drainage channels and waterways. Additional machinery has been deployed to identified flood hotspots as the County accelerates interventions.“Our El Niño interventions are already underway across the city. We are deepening and widening drainage channels, desilting waterways and deploying machinery to identified hotspots. We will continue with urgency because these works are critical to protecting lives and property,” said Governor Sakaja.
Read briefing MERU, Kenya Sep 26 – Harm reduction experts have poked holes in sections of the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill of 2024, calling for their amendment before the Bill is passed by members of parliament in the National Assembly.Speaking during the public participation exercise on the bill in Meru County on Friday, the experts said that while the intention of the bill is noble, some of the proposals need refinement to ensure they conform with present realities and effectively safeguard public health without victimising consumers.Key among the issues the experts have concerns with include the definition of tobacco control, which they say is missing from the amendment bill, adding that such a definition ought to be included in the law as it is contained in the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) for there to be effective guidance on.The experts also raised issue with the lack of differentiation between combustible tobacco products, such as cigarettes, and non-combustible products produced by the tobacco industry, such as nicotine vapes and pouches, saying that such an omission risks those products sharing the same classification, thereby denying smokers who want to quit a route out.They also raised concerns over the proposal to ban flavours in tobacco products, saying such a move would deny smokers who want to quit an avenue to do so, arguing that less risky nicotine products which are flavoured, such as pouches, are a route for smokers to quit.Speaking in Meru, Dr Michael Kariuki, Secretary General of the Harm Reduction Society of Kenya, said:“We have some issues that have been omitted in the bill. One of them is the definition of tobacco control, which has completely been omitted even from the original Tobacco Control Act of 2007. And we are saying since that act was derived from the WHO’s FCTC, we must include the definition of tobacco control as defined by WHO’s FCTC also.”“We are also saying that we need product differentiation between combustible and non-combustible products and there is insurmountable scientific evidence to prove that those two products are completely different and the risk. Fine, it’s completely different and we must adopt what we call the risk continuum in as far as tobacco is concerned. We are also saying that flavours are very critical, especially for those smokers who want to quit and as a society we advocate for smokers who want to quit. They must be given varieties.What the government needs to do is to make sure that there is enough implementation of the current laws to protect our young children and youth.”The Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill by nominated senator Catherine Mumma seeks to amend the Tobacco Control Act of 2007 to create a regulatory framework for new and emerging tobacco products such as vapes and nicotine pouches by putting in place safeguards that uphold public health.The Bill was passed in the Senate and has since been committed to the National Assembly Committee on Health for stakeholder engagement and public participation before it tables a report on the floor of the House for consideration by MPs.Public participation on the bill ends on Saturday with two sessions scheduled for Nanyuki and Kisumu.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 26-Police have arrested two suspects in Kisumu following an intelligence-led raid on a shop in the city centre linked to an alleged syndicate involved in hacking and tampering with suspected stolen mobile phones.The operation was conducted on Friday, in the Kisumu Central Business District, where officers searched the premises and recovered a large assortment of electronic devices and accessories suspected to be proceeds of crime.The National Police Service (NPS) said the haul included laptops, mobile phones and phone accessories, which have since been secured as exhibits for forensic analysis.“The two suspects are currently in police custody at Kisumu Central Police Station awaiting arraignment,” NPS said.Police said the operation was aimed at disrupting a network allegedly involved in the hacking and alteration of suspected stolen mobile phones.The NPS did not disclose the identities of the suspects or provide details on the number or value of the devices recovered.The recovered electronics are undergoing further forensic examination as investigators work to establish their origin and determine whether they are linked to reported thefts or other criminal activity.The operation comes as police intensify intelligence-led efforts targeting criminal networks involved in the handling of suspected stolen property.The NPS urged members of the public to report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or through emergency services.“Police remain firm in their commitment to disrupt criminal networks and thank members of the public who continue to work closely with our officers,” the service said.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 26-A total of 169 Kenyan language assistants are set to travel to France for the 2026–2027 academic year, as the two countries deepen educational and people-to-people ties through a programme that Kenya has participated in since 2019. The cohort comprises 90 new Kenyan language assistants and 79 returning participants who will teach English in French primary and secondary schools from October 2026 to April 2027. Kenya ranks first in Africa in participation in the programme, sixth worldwide and fourth among countries whose assistants teach English, according to information provided by the French Embassy. The programme has attracted about 650 Kenyan participants since the country joined it in 2019. Around 4,500 students from across the world participate annually, travelling to France to teach languages including English, German, Spanish, Russian, Mandarin and Arabic. Speaking during a reception at the French Embassy in Nairobi, French Ambassador to Kenya Wadid Benaabou described the programme as a practical example of people-to-people diplomacy and a symbol of friendship between Kenya and France. “The language assistant programme is very dear to us,” Benaabou said, noting that Kenya had become the leading African participant. He urged the Kenyan assistants to use their experience in France to strengthen links between the two countries. “You’re going to be amba...
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