The Premier League has confirmed that an independent Commission has found Manchester City guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period, and the majority of charges in relation to its failure to cooperate with the League’s investigation.The club has the right to appeal the independent Commission’s findings and has until Friday 2 October to exercise that right.The Premier League Board’s intention is that the full process, including any appeals and publication of relevant decisions, is concluded as soon as possible.The independent Commission found that between Seasons 2009/10 and 2017/18, Manchester City arranged ‘sham’ contracts, which misrepresented the true agreement between the parties, with a number of its commercial partners, as well as relying on ‘sham’ agreements with others, to artificially inflate the club’s revenues and reduce its costs.The club filed misstated accounts and concealed the true state of its finances from its auditors and football regulators.Manchester City was significantly in breach of both the Premier League’s and UEFA’s spending limits.During the Premier League’s investigation, Manchester City committed multiple breaches of its duties of cooperation and utmost good faith towards the League. Three of the four alleged breaches were upheld.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has declared a one-month amnesty for individuals holding illicit firearms, ammunition and other small arms and light weapons to voluntarily surrender them to the authorities.The amnesty was announced on Tuesday during the launch of Africa Amnesty Month 2026 at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi.Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja delivered Murkomen’s speech during the event, where the CS urged individuals and groups in possession of illegal weapons to use the amnesty period to surrender them without fear.Murkomen said voluntary disarmament was critical to reducing armed conflict and strengthening peace and security across the country.He urged communities to abandon the use of firearms to resolve disputes, saying conflicts should instead be addressed through lawful and peaceful mechanisms.“Conflicts must not be settled by the might of a firearm, but by the force of law. The property of one community can no longer be allowed to change hands through the crack of gunfire, but through willing exchange in the marketplace,” Murkomen said.The CS said the government remained committed to tackling the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons, which have contributed to insecurity and armed conflicts in parts of the country.The amnesty forms part of Kenya’s participation in Africa Amnesty Month, an initiative aimed at encouraging the voluntary surrender of illicit firearms and ammunition while promoting peace and security.Authorities are expected to use the one-month window to encourage individuals holding illegal weapons to hand them over voluntarily as part of broader efforts to reduce the circulation of firearms in communities.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing The new monarch has long been a familiar face in the East African nation, where for many he was known not as the heir to the throne, but as a storyteller: a long-serving anchor and editor at the state broadcaster.But the 56-year-old – now King Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma Nyabongo I – has become the subject of media attention himself as his rise to the Tooro throne sparked controversy and widespread reactions beyond the country.Tooro is one of Uganda’s four main officially recognised historical kingdoms. For the last 31 years, it had been headed by King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who was once known as a “boy king”, after ascending to the throne as an infant.Oyo became king in 1995 at the age of just three, following the death of his father. Then the world’s youngest monarch, he ruled until he died last month from cancer, aged just 34.The coronation is a day for celebration, involving traditional practices that started at midnight. Kijanangoma has had to perform various ceremonies and walk about 4km (2.5 miles) to the official Karuziika royal palace where he has now been crowned.The Tooro kingdom’s Information Minister Charles Mwanguhya told the BBC Focus on Africa podcast that a mock fight would follow his crowning, to signify that kingship does not come easy.Kijanangoma would then be blessed by members of the royal Babiito clan, he said.According to tradition, a recognised son of the late king should have succeeded him. Close members of the royal family said Oyo had left a young son and a will with instructions that the child should be next on the throne.But the son has never been revealed to the public and nor was he recognised by the committee of 21 Babiito clan members who choose the king and eventually selected Kijanangoma.The late King Oyo was never publicly married, and little is known about his wife or their son.Nonetheless his mother, Queen Best Kemigisa, argued that the late king’s will ought to have been respected.However, the royal succession committee ignored her wishes, insisting their selection process was conducted in accordance with Tooro customs and traditions.The new king has thus found himself at the centre of a succession dispute, with Kemigisa and her close relatives unhappy with the outcome.Kemigisa referred to Kijanangoma’s selection as the “announcement of a second king” being “made after the will of King Oyo was read to members of the royal family”.“As a mother, that was extraordinarily painful,” she said, describing celebrations for the next king taking place “only metres from where my son’s body lay”.The queen later said Oyo’s son, who was in the US state of Texas, had been due to return home but that could not happen amid a “tense and polarised succession dispute”.“No child should be placed in circumstances where returning to his father’s homeland could mean being drawn into hostility and conflict,” Kemigisa asserted in a post on X.But according to the Tooro kingdom’s information minister, the son being talked about “hasn’t been presented anywhere, which means there is a growing acceptance that sad as it may be, King Oyo didn’t leave a son behind”.While King Oyo inherited the crown from his father, Mwanguhya told the BBC “the crown has moved to a different line within the ruling clan”.A king must come from the Babiito clan, specifically the lineage of King George David Matthew Kamurasi Rukidi III, according to royal palace sources.Kijanangoma and the late King Oyo are cousins. Both are grandsons of Rukidi III, the 11th king, or Omukama, who ruled the Tooro kingdom from 1928 to 1965.Kijanangoma was among several people who were considered for the role, including Prince George Desmond Kamurasi, who plays football for one of the UK’s best-known amateur clubs.According to the succession committee, the South East Dons captain and goalkeeper declined the offer of the throne, citing other responsibilities.After he was formally announced, Kijanangoma promised that the palace would be open to the people, while vowing to focus on unity and development.“I ask you for one thing – they have given me this title as king but I cannot work alone, I have to work with you,” he said.Uganda’s traditional kings have no formal political authority, but they retain cultural influence and command significant loyalty in the communities they lead.The country is home to four main kingdoms, the largest and most prominent being Buganda in the central region, which encompasses the capital Kampala.The kingdoms were abolished in 1967, but the government under President Yoweri Museveni restored them in the early 1990s.The government said this was to promote cultural pride and national unity, but the move has also been interpreted as a way of appeasing communities and fostering political loyalty.Amid the succession dispute, the government backed the Babiito clan’s choice of Kijanangoma. Attorney General Sam Mayanja said the Tooro kingdom was cleared to go ahead with the coronation, as there had not been a formal complaint against him.
Read briefing A US ban on several Canadian imports, including alcohol, dairy and motorcycles, has come into effect as a trade war between the two neighbours drags on.The latest measure by the Trump administration is in response to Canada’s implementation of tariffs on a range of US goods earlier this month following a breakdown in trade talks.Canada is not expected to retaliate further, with Prime Minister Mark Carney saying earlier this month that the impact the import bans will have on Canada’s economy is “modest”.Trade talks remain on ice, with US trade representative Jamieson Greer telling CNBC recently that President Donald Trump is “comfortable” with his current relationship with Canada.“They call us now and then and we have good conversations about potential deals. But there’s no urgency on our side,” Greer said of relations with Canada in an interview with the US network last week.Tuesday’s trade ban applies to nearly C$1bn ($710m; £530m) worth of Canadian liquor exported to the US, as well as whey products used in protein powder.Motorcycle exports to the US will also be impacted, though Canada only sent about 5,000 motorcycles south of the border in 2025 that were worth about C$120m, according to national data by Statistics Canada, meaning the impact would be limited.The import bans were first announced by Trump in a series of executive orders signed on 8 September. In them, Trump said the measures are in response to “continued discrimination” by Canada on US dairy, automotives and alcohol.Speaking to reports on Monday, he accused Canada of “treating the United States very unfairly”. “They have been one of the worst countries in the entire world,” Trump said.Carney said earlier this month that the bans “are relatively modest measures” when compared to other trade actions the US has imposed on Canada.He acknowledged, however, that the bans will hurt certain businesses and sectors that are directly targeted.Derek Holt, an economist with Canadian bank Scotiabank, wrote in an analysis that “these actions are face-saving by the US administration, not substantive in nature and that’s a positive”.About 93% of all Canadian liquor exports in 2025 were sold to the US. Spirits Canada, a group representing Canadian liquor producers, has said the consequences to the industry “could be significant”.US liquor producers also warned of consequences, with the Distilled Spirits Council writing that the import ban “will ripple throughout the US hospitality sector” as businesses gear up for the holiday season.Last week, dozens of American liquor producers penned an open letter to Trump urging him to resolve the ongoing trade dispute with Canada with respect to alcohol.Economists and businesses in Canada have also warned that the bans will add uncertainty to the future of country’s trade relationship with the US, its largest trade partner.In addition to these latest import bans, the US has imposed 50% tariffs on a range of Canadian goods, including dairy, alcohol, steel and aluminium products, as well as 25% tariffs on Canadian-built cars. Canada in return has placed retaliatory tariffs ranging from 15% to 50% on more than 700 US products, as well as a 25% levy on certain steel and aluminium products. Most Canadian provinces have also stopped selling US liquor.Tariffs – taxes paid on imported goods – are central to Trump’s economic agenda, who argues that they raise government revenue and encourage consumers to buy American-made goods.Economists, however, argue that they have raised prices of everyday goods for consumers and have disrupted the global economy.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing The High Court in Nairobi convicted four men over the killing of former Kabete MP George Muchai and his three bodyguards.The court found the four accused guilty on all counts arising from the violent robbery and killing of Muchai and his security team.Muchai, who was serving as the Kabete Member of Parliament at the time, was killed alongside his bodyguards in an incident that shocked the country.Justice Kanyi Kimondo of Milimani High Court convicted Erick Munyera Isabwa, Raphael Kimani Gacii, Mustafa Kimani Anyonyi, and Stephen Asitiva Lipapo for the four counts of murder.The four are already serving death sentences at Kamiti Maximum Prison for the offence of Robbery with violence.The particulars of the offence is that on the night of February 6 and 7 2015, along Kenyatta Avenue within Nairobi County, they jointly murdered George Mukuru Muchai, Police Constable Samuel Kimathi Kailikia, Police ConsSamuel Lekakeny Matanta, and Police Constable Stephen Ituu Wambugu.The four accused persons were convicted after the High Court established that the Prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt by demonstrating that the accused persons acted with a common purpose.Among those who testified was Ronald Nyangaresi, a newspaper vendor on Kenyatta Avenue, who said that on the night of the incident at around 3.40am, a vehicle stopped and the late Muchai, a regular customer for 10 years, asked for newspapers.As he prepared to hand over some newspapers, another saloon car blocked Muchai’s vehicle before a masked man carrying a G3 rifle emerged from the co-driver’s side, and shots rang out.Muchai’s wife, Susan Nyawira Muchai, and her sister, Judy Wanjiku Ngige, told the court they were travelling in a vehicle ahead of Muchai’s car after leaving Galileo Lounge in Westlands.They stopped after noticing that Hon. Muchai’s vehicle had stopped and heard gunshots. They found the four occupants shot, with the vehicle’s windows shattered.Michael Ngatia Gituto testified that his Nissan Sunny, KBF 796A, was carjacked at about 10:00pm on February 6, 2015, along Waiyaki Way. He said the vehicle was later used to block Muchai’s car.Gladys Waithera and her sister Irene Wambui also testified that they were carjacked, blindfolded, and forced into the boot of their vehicle.They said the vehicle stopped at one point and they heard four or five gunshots before they were abandoned at Kamandura near Tigoni.Ballistics examiner Alex M. Mwadawiro and CCTV analyst Inspector Jackson Cheboi also testified.Inspector Cheboi produced CCTV footage containing 35 number plates captured near Kenyatta Avenue.Four autopsy reports produced by Dr. Johansen Oduor showed that the victims died from gunshot wounds caused by a high-velocity firearm fired at close range.The court has ordered for their previous records to be obtained and for the Probation Department to prepare the Pre-sentence report and Victim Impact Statements.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing A court in Kilifi declined to stop the planned launch of the construction of an oil refinery in Lamu.Environment and Land Court judge Justice Jane Onyango said the plans to develop the refinery on the property in question are at hand and the implementation of these plans includes a ground-breaking on Wednesday.The judge said the application is not certified as urgent and that it be served upon the respondents forthwith.The respondents shall file their response within 14 days and the application is fixed for inter partes hearing on October 14, 2026.“That in the interim the status quo prevailing on L.R No.13061 within Hindi/Manda Magogoni area within Lamu County be maintained until 14.10 26.”The applicants having sought an order stopping the ground braking and develop of the project which order was not granted, the status quo order issued by the court today can be taken to mean that, the the parties to the proceedings in court retain all their abilities, including the ability to proceed with the project.A group moved to court to challenge the Sh2 trillion oil refinery project in Lamu being set up by Aliko Dangote, the richest man in Africa.More than 130 residents of Chandavai in Lamu County moved to court seeking to stop what they describe as the unlawful takeover and destruction of land their families have occupied and cultivated for generations.The residents contended that the development by the Nigerian billionaire threatened to displace them without a resettlement plan or compensation.The 133 plaintiffs sued the Office of the President, the Cabinet Secretary for Defence, the State Department for Lands and Physical Planning, the Attorney General, the National Land Commission (NLC), the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor Development Authority, the Lamu County Government and Dangote Industries, together with two companies described as contractors.The residents claimed they have, for generations, occupied, cultivated and developed identifiable portions of land comprised in or forming part of LR No. 13061 in Chandavai.They asked the court to intervene, arguing that continued construction and excavation would cause further destruction of crops, trees, homes and other property and permanently alter the character of the disputed land.“Continued construction or excavation will cause further destruction of crops, trees, structures and other property and will materially alter the physical character of the land, thereby making the dispute substantially more difficult to resolve,” the plaintiffs state in court documents.The residents said their claim is based on long-standing occupation, customary or community tenure, possession and beneficial use of the land, although they do not hold formal title deeds.According to the plaint, their families have historically used the land for farming and livestock keeping and have built homes, mosques and shrines on it. Some family members, they say, are also buried on the disputed land.The plaintiffs contended that the land is community land under the stewardship of the Lamu County Government and that they occupied it peacefully for generations without previous disputes over ownership.They argued that some of the property at risk cannot be adequately compensated through monetary damages.“Some of the affected property cannot readily be replaced by monetary compensation, particularly ancestral and family homes, graves, trees, long-standing occupation sites and community structures,” they claim.The residents alleged that on August 7, 2024, officers and agents associated with the national government and LAPSSET entered the disputed land with heavy machinery and bulldozers. They claimed crops, trees and other property were destroyed without prior notice, consultation or compensation.According to the plaintiffs, local administrators subsequently informed them that the land had previously been acquired by the government for the LAPSSET project and later allocated to the Ministry of Defence for infrastructure works around Manda Bay.The works, they alleged, included road construction and expansion of facilities around the Kenya Navy Base at Manda Bay, US Camp Simba and Magogoni Airfield.Some residents claimed they were instructed not to interfere with the works and were promised compensation for destroyed crops and other losses.The plaintiffs further claimed that some families were forced to move into rented accommodation to make way for the developments.The land dispute has now taken on a new dimension following preparations for a proposed Dangote refinery in Lamu.The residents allege that soil testing and other preparatory activities linked to the proposed refinery began in July 2026.They claimed local administrators subsequently told them that the Dangote project would proceed alongside the LAPSSET and Manda Bay infrastructure developments.The plaintiffs further alleged that on September 10, 2026, police officers, chiefs and other government agents cleared one of the disputed parcels, telling them that the site would be used for a groundbreaking ceremony for the refinery.
Read briefing The Directorate of Criminal Investigations Monday reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling organised immigration crime networks during a Counter Organised Immigration Crimes Team (COICT) engagement held in Moyale, Marsabit County.The event was attended by the Deputy British High Commissioner to Kenya, Dr. Ed Barnett who led the British delegation, alongside senior officers from the National Police Service, partner agencies, and local community leaders.The Director of Criminal Investigations, Mohamed Amin, was represented by the Commandant of the National Criminal Investigations Academy (NCIA), Ibrahim Jillo, Amin underscored the strategic importance of Moyale as a border town and gateway for legitimate trade, social interaction and economic opportunities, while cautioning against criminal networks that exploit cross-border movement for illegal gain.“Moyale is far more than just a spot on a map; it is a gateway, a place where people, families, businesses and communities come together, interact and seek out genuine social and economic opportunities,” the Director stated.He noted that the establishment of the Counter Organised Immigration Crimes Team marks a deliberate shift towards identifying, investigating and disrupting the wider criminal networks behind immigration-related offences rather than merely addressing isolated incidents.“COICT is a deliberate initiative aimed at enhancing our ability to identify, investigate and disrupt organised immigration crime; it reflects a change from merely dealing with individual incidents to instead understanding and pursuing the wider criminal networks involved,” said AminHe further called for enhanced collaboration among all agencies operating within the border region, emphasising that organised criminal groups thrive through coordination and that law enforcement responses must be equally interconnected.Addressing officers attached to COICT, he urged them to uphold professionalism, integrity and accountability, reminding them that effective investigations are built on public trust and ethical conduct and also appealed to the people of Moyale to continue supporting law enforcement efforts by sharing information on suspicious activities, stressing that community trust remains a critical asset in combating organised crimeBarnett commended the growing partnership between the United Kingdom and Kenya in tackling organised immigration offences.He noted that the collaboration would continue to promote human-rights-based approaches in supporting victims of immigration-related crimes while strengthening investigative efforts aimed at dismantling wider criminal networks operating across borders.Dr. Barnett further reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s commitment to supporting the DCI and partner agencies in identifying, investigating and disrupting organised immigration crime syndicates that exploit vulnerable persons for profit.Present during the occasion were the Director of Training and Research APS, Madam Bianca Nzioki, who represented the Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service, and the Deputy Director, Investigation Bureau at DCI George Kisaka, among other senior officers.The visit culminated in an inspection of newly constructed facilities designated for COICT officers, a development expected to enhance operational efficiency and strengthen coordinated responses against organised immigration crime along the Kenya-Ethiopia border including engagement with the Moyale community.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing A group moved to court to challenge a Sh2 trillion oil refinery project in Lamu being set up by Aliko Dangote, the richest man in Africa.More than 130 residents of Chandavai in Lamu County moved to court seeking to stop what they describe as the unlawful takeover and destruction of land their families have occupied and cultivated for generations.The residents contended that the development by the Nigerian billionaire threatened to displace them without a resettlement plan or compensation.The 133 plaintiffs sued the Office of the President, the Cabinet Secretary for Defence, the State Department for Lands and Physical Planning, the Attorney General, the National Land Commission (NLC), the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor Development Authority, the Lamu County Government and Dangote Industries, together with two companies described as contractors.The residents claimed they have, for generations, occupied, cultivated and developed identifiable portions of land comprised in or forming part of LR No. 13061 in Chandavai.They asked the court to intervene, arguing that continued construction and excavation would cause further destruction of crops, trees, homes and other property and permanently alter the character of the disputed land.“Continued construction or excavation will cause further destruction of crops, trees, structures and other property and will materially alter the physical character of the land, thereby making the dispute substantially more difficult to resolve,” the plaintiffs state in court documents.The residents said their claim is based on long-standing occupation, customary or community tenure, possession and beneficial use of the land, although they do not hold formal title deeds.According to the plaint, their families have historically used the land for farming and livestock keeping and have built homes, mosques and shrines on it. Some family members, they say, are also buried on the disputed land.The plaintiffs contended that the land is community land under the stewardship of the Lamu County Government and that they occupied it peacefully for generations without previous disputes over ownership.They argued that some of the property at risk cannot be adequately compensated through monetary damages.“Some of the affected property cannot readily be replaced by monetary compensation, particularly ancestral and family homes, graves, trees, long-standing occupation sites and community structures,” they claim.The residents alleged that on August 7, 2024, officers and agents associated with the national government and LAPSSET entered the disputed land with heavy machinery and bulldozers.They claimed crops, trees and other property were destroyed without prior notice, consultation or compensation.According to the plaintiffs, local administrators subsequently informed them that the land had previously been acquired by the government for the LAPSSET project and later allocated to the Ministry of Defence for infrastructure works around Manda Bay.The works, they alleged, included road construction and expansion of facilities around the Kenya Navy Base at Manda Bay, US Camp Simba and Magogoni Airfield.Some residents claimed they were instructed not to interfere with the works and were promised compensation for destroyed crops and other losses.The plaintiffs further claimed that some families were forced to move into rented accommodation to make way for the developments.The land dispute has now taken on a new dimension following preparations for a proposed Dangote refinery in Lamu.The residents allege that soil testing and other preparatory activities linked to the proposed refinery began in July 2026.They claimed local administrators subsequently told them that the Dangote project would proceed alongside the LAPSSET and Manda Bay infrastructure developments.The plaintiffs further alleged that on September 10, 2026, police officers, chiefs and other government agents cleared one of the disputed parcels, telling them that the site would be used for a groundbreaking ceremony for the refinery.The plaintiffs said they learnt around September 20 that the government had commenced a compulsory acquisition process involving land in Lamu.They alleged that the process is intended to compensate absentee landowners whose titles they claim were unlawfully or fraudulently obtained, while excluding residents who have actually occupied and used the land for generations.The residents argued that the absence of registered title deeds does not extinguish their interests in the land or their entitlement to compensation.They rely, among other provisions, on Article 40(4) of the Constitution and the compulsory acquisition provisions of the Land Act.They contend that persons actually occupying and using the land should be identified and recognised as persons with compensable interests, even where those interests are not reflected in the land register. The plaintiffs accused the defendants of failing to follow the statutory procedure governing compulsory acquisition.
Read briefing Former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko testified in court that his refusal to sign the county budget was at the centre of his dispute with the national government and preceded his impeachment.Sonko said he declined to approve the budget after consulting the county attorney and his lawyers, who, he said, advised him that there was no clear legal framework allowing the county to fund certain functions transferred to it by the national government.Sonko was defending himself against corruption charges after a Nairobi court ruled that there is sufficient evidence for his case to proceed to the defense stage.He said the transferred functions included transport and infrastructure, health, education and housing. He told the court that signing the budget without a proper legal framework would have exposed him to personal liability in the future.“I was consulting my lawyers. They told me that there was no legal framework to allow the funding of the transferred functions,” Sonko said.He said he subsequently discussed the matter with then-President Uhuru Kenyatta, explaining why he had refused to sign the budget.Sonko maintained the disagreement over the budget was one of the main issues that eventually contributed to his removal from office.Sonko defended himself against allegations surrounding his impeachment, saying he opposed the process because he believed it was politically motivated and contrary to the law.He recalled that the impeachment proceedings were televised and claimed that a significant number of Members of the County Assembly supported him.Sonko said about 76 MCAs were on his side during the proceedings, arguing that the majority did not initially support his removal.The matter later proceeded to the Senate, where Sonko alleged that some senators publicly claimed they had been offered bribes to vote for his removal.He said the allegations involved payments allegedly intended to influence senators to support the impeachment.Sonko said that after his removal, he continued challenging the decision through the courts.Sonko was also questioned about his opposition to the demolition of structures and various development projects in Nairobi.He linked some of the disputes to what he described as investments associated with members of the former first family.He referred to companies and investments, including Home Choice Holdings Limited and Northlands, while being questioned about alleged interests connected to the former first family.Sonko was asked to explain the interests he believed the family had in Nairobi and why those interests were relevant to his opposition to certain county decisions.He also defended his popularity among Nairobi residents at the time, saying his support among voters influenced his opposition to actions that he believed would affect the people who had elected him.Sonko further explained his opposition to the demolition of structures in parts of Nairobi, saying some of the demolitions were carried out without adequate consultation.He argued that affected residents should have been engaged before such action was taken and said the issue was particularly important because of the potential impact on residents who had supported him at the ballot.He maintained that his decisions were informed by his interpretation of the law and his responsibility to protect the interests of Nairobi residents.Sonko told the court that he subsequently challenged his impeachment through a petition before the High Court.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing 18 teams from across six universities are set to compete at the Grand Finale of the varsity competition, Open Lanes after securing their spot through the knockout phase this past week. The finals will take place this Saturday 3rd October at Nyayo Stadium.The qualification follows a series of knockout competitions held at Riara University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, and the University of Nairobi, where student athletes battled for their place at the final showdown. The finalists will go head-to head in a day of high-energy track action as they look to finish their Open Lanes journey and claim bragging rights for their teams and institutions.Beyond the title, four standout student athletes will earn an all-expenses-paid trip to compete in South Africa’s elite running circuit. The opportunity will give the students a chance to test themselves in a new competitive environment, experience South Africa’s running culture, and create memories beyond the university circuit.Adding to the atmosphere will be live performance from top Kenyan artists and live DJs who will bring music and entertainment to the finals experience.Speaking ahead of the event, Navalayo Osembo, Director of Africa at On said, “We have witnessed incredible energy and dedication throughout the knock-out stages and are proud to have introduced the Open Lanes concept into our campuses. As we look forward to the finals, we encourage all participants to step forward and do their best, and the fans to join us and witness the athletes compete alongside a day of energy, music, and entertainment. Entry is free!”The brand originally established itself within the Kenyan market through partnerships with local runners and communities such as We Run Nairobi as it connected with the new generation that sees running not just as a sport, but as a lifestyle, source of connection, and a means of self-expression. In 2025, the two partners organized a community run at Windsor Golf Club, bringing together over 500 runners, reflecting the growing appetite for accessible social experiences in the city.They have additionally partnered with various Kenyan stars Hellen Obiri, Patrick Kipngeno, Mercy Chepngeno, among others, in a bid to supporting African athletes across disciplines and at different stages of their careers. This support was further reinforced by the recent signing of South African 400 m star and World U20 champion Lythe Pillay, who became the first professional athlete to join On’s global athlete roster.As On continues to establish its roots in Africa, its ambition is to build an ecosystem around movement and storytelling as it supports an environment where young athletes can compete, connect and be seen, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to the development of the true African culture.Kenya joining the growing African footprint is important in the next chapter of the brand. The country’s sporting culture, growing digital penetration, and young vibrant market creates an opportunity for investors to deepen connections with wider communities.Entry to the Grand Finals is free, with fans invited to come through to Nyayo National Stadium and experience the action live.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, September 27, 2026, and met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to multiple Israeli media reports. The visit was first reported by Israeli Channel 12 and later corroborated by a diplomatic source to The Jerusalem Post. A senior Israeli official also confirmed the meeting to Reuters.Netanyahu departed from Ben-Gurion Airport shortly after 12:00 p.m. on a private executive jet and landed in Abu Dhabi at 3:10 p.m. He spent approximately four hours in the UAE before his plane took off for the return flight to Israel at 7:10 p.m.. The Prime Minister’s Office declined to provide details about the meetings.The visit took place against the backdrop of a major controversy in Israel over a report published by the newspaper Haaretz on September 8, 2026. The Haaretz investigation alleged that UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed warned Netanyahu in late September 2023 that Hamas was planning a major attack against Israel.According to the Haaretz report, the warning came during a 45-minute phone call approximately a week and a half before the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack. The report stated that bin Zayed told Netanyahu that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was planning an operation that would cause significant bloodshed and destabilize the region. The report cited dozens of sources, documents, and internal correspondence for its investigation.The Haaretz report further alleged that Netanyahu did not pass the warning on to Israel’s security chiefs. Five former senior Israeli officials said the warning was not passed on to Israel’s security chiefs and that the conversation is not mentioned in any internal investigations by the Israel Defense Forces or Israeli intelligence agencies . The New York Times later reported that it had confirmed the substance of the warning through two sources.Netanyahu’s office has strongly denied the Haaretz report. In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said: “No warning was given to the prime minister from the United Arab Emirates before 7 October”. The office called the report part of a “sinister plot with clear political timing, as part of the left’s election campaign”.Netanyahu instructed his lawyers to begin defamation proceedings against Haaretz, the journalists who wrote the report, and “other elements”. Haaretz has stood by its reporting and rejected the defamation claim, saying its “sole purpose is to silence journalistic criticism”.The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not confirmed or denied the specific claim about the pre-October 7 warning. In a statement, the ministry said the UAE Government “does not comment on media stories or speculation regarding conversations between government leaders”. The ministry added that the UAE’s engagement since October 7 was consistently directed toward de-escalation, regional stability, and preventing violence, and that all relevant intelligence has been and continues to be communicated between the relevant entities.The controversy has become a dominant issue in Israel’s election campaign. Israelis are scheduled to vote on October 27, 2026. The election is widely considered a referendum on Netanyahu’s leadership.Recent polls show Netanyahu’s Likud party trailing behind the opposition. A Channel 13 poll published on September 23 showed Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party leading Likud by 22 seats to 18. The same poll found that 48% of respondents preferred Eisenkot as prime minister, compared with 36% for Netanyahu. A Channel 12 poll released the same week showed the opposition bloc securing 54 Knesset seats compared with 50 for Netanyahu’s coalition.Opposition leaders have seized on the Haaretz report. Gadi Eisenkot wrote on X: “Netanyahu received dozens of warnings for October 7 and ignored them all. He is unfit”According to Israeli state-owned Kan TV News, Iran was the main focus of the talks between Netanyahu and bin Zayed . Israeli sources told Channel 13 that the meeting primarily dealt with Iran and general tensions in the Middle East . The two leaders have reportedly discussed defensive options against Iranian attacks in previous meetings .Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing Aleksandar Vučić formally submitted his resignation as President of Serbia on Sunday, September 27, 2026, during a public address. He announced the decision during an interview with Radio Television of Serbia, stating he would submit his resignation around 8 p.m. local time.Vučić stepped down in order to run for the position of Prime Minister in the upcoming snap parliamentary elections. He is the candidate for the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). He was serving his second and final presidential term and was constitutionally barred from seeking a third.Following the resignation, Ana Brnabić, the Speaker of the National Assembly, assumed the role of acting president until a new head of state is elected. Under the Serbian Constitution, the acting president can serve for a maximum of 90 days.Snap parliamentary elections are scheduled for October 25, 2026. These will be the 15th parliamentary elections since the introduction of the multi-party system in Serbia. Vučić dissolved parliament on September 9, 2026, to call the early elections.Under Serbian law, a presidential election must be held within three months of the resignation, meaning voters will go to the polls twice this year. Vučić stated the presidential election would be called more than a month after the parliamentary vote.In one of his final acts as president, Vučić used his constitutional powers to pardon 49 people. Of those, 23 were students and party loyalists suspected of offences related to the protests. Vučić said he made the decision despite opposition from security services.He also excluded 12 people from the so-called “Novi Sad group” and pardoned 11 individuals who had attacked protest participants.The resignation comes after more than a year of student-led protests and growing public discontent over allegations of government corruption. A major catalyst was the collapse of the Novi Sad railway station’s roof on November 1, 2024, which killed 16 people.The reconstruction of the railway station was part of a capital state project based on a bilateral agreement between Serbia and China, not subject to the Law on Public Procurement. Public outrage pointed to shoddy construction and suspected corruption, forcing Construction Minister Goran Vesic to resign.Protests began with student-led blockades of educational institutions on November 22, 2024. Every day at 11:52 am — the time the station roof fell — protesters halted traffic for 16 minutes of silence to honour the 16 lives lost. By early 2025, the anti-corruption protests had spread to over 400 towns and cities in Serbia, becoming the largest grassroots uprising in decadesSustained pressure led to the resignation of Prime Minister Miloš Vučević and the Mayor of Novi Sad on January 28, 2025. Protesters continued their action, with their key request being a call for snap electionsEmail your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing Expansion of the Mzima Springs water project in Taita-Taveta County will commence this year, President William Ruto has announced.He said the Government will mobilise Sh30 billion for the project to tackle perennial water shortages in the county and neighbouring areas.The project, to be financed through the National Infrastructure Fund, will provide water to the Mwatate, Voi and Taveta constituencies and also supply Mombasa City.“The management of the National Infrastructure Fund is already in place, and I have instructed that Mzima Springs water project should get priority,” he said.He attributed the region’s persistent water shortages to inadequate supply, noting that the first phase of Mzima Springs was completed in 1984, more than 40 years ago.Ruto explained that the National Infrastructure Fund was established to finance major investments in roads, electricity connectivity and dams as part of the Government’s plan to speed up development.He made the remarks during a Sunday service at Mwatate Pentecostal Church, Taita-Taveta, on the second day of his development tour of the county.Present were Governor Andrew Mwadime, Mwatate MP Peter Shake, Woman Rep Lydia Haika, former Taita-Taveta Governors Granton Samboja and John Mruttu, among other leaders.Turning to the national unity agenda, the President affirmed that equitable development remains central to his vision of a united country where no region is left behind.He traced the unity efforts to the formation of the Broad-Based Government, anchored on a working arrangement between the United Democratic Alliance and the Orange Democratic Movement.“I was here yesterday and today. I will also be here on Thursday,” Ruto told the congregation. “I was also here in Taita-Taveta early this year, and now I am here again. And I will keep coming.”The President urged political leaders to focus on solutions for their constituents rather than blame others, saying he is deliberately working with leaders across the political divide.He commended Taita-Taveta leaders for cooperating with the Broad-Based Government and reminded them that elective office is a call to service.“Politics is not life and death; it’s a God-given opportunity to serve,” he pointed out. On next year’s General Election, he said Kenyans will assess leaders based on their track record, and criticised those who resort to name-calling, division and insults.He noted that Taita-Taveta had suffered marginalisation partly because some leaders believe the region does not offer significant electoral returns.“Discrimination has been a problem, causing division and animosity among our people,” President Ruto stated, urging leaders to set a good example and work together.Assuring residents that the era of exclusion and marginalisation is over, the President pointed to the Sh15 billion set aside for roads in the county as evidence that Taita-Taveta will no longer be left behind.In regard to the transformation going on in the county, he explained that the long-stalled Mto Mwagodi-Mbale-Bura road is now under construction and progressing well.“In April, only 4km of the road had been done. Now 13km are complete. By December, the tarmac road will have reached Wundanyi and Bura,” he said.In response to a request by Mwatate MP Shake, the President pledged to build the Dembwa-Murray road, reaffirming that the Government will continue opening up the region to improve access to markets and essential services.Beyond roads, President Ruto highlighted the ongoing construction of the Sh5 billion railway line from Voi towards Tanzania. Five stations will be built at Mwatate, Bura, Mwakitau and Taveta.“We are ending discrimination in development. Whatever projects are being implemented in other parts of the country, Taita-Taveta is getting its fair share,” he emphasised.He questioned opposition to major infrastructure projects by a section of politicians, arguing that roads, railways, markets and housing are critical to economic transformation.On trade infrastructure, the President disclosed that seven markets are under development across the county to provide better operating spaces for Mama Mboga and other small-scale traders.While noting that Mwatunge Market is nearing completion, he said it is located too far from the town centre and challenged local leaders to provide land for another market closer to Mwatate town.On affordable housing, President Ruto explained that construction in Mwatate has been delayed by a land dispute that has now been resolved.“The court case that had delayed the project is now over and we are launching it next week,” he announced.At the same time, the President donated Sh10 million each to Kenyatta High School and Mwasere Girls High School for the construction of more classrooms, reiterating the Government’s commitment to investing in education to expand opportunities for learners.Additionally, he stated that the Government is working round the clock to comprehensively address the squatter challenge in the Coast region.
Read briefing Former Justice Minister and People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua has announced the death of her father, Mwalimu Jackson Karua.In a statement issued on Sunday, Karua said she had travelled to Kirinyaga earlier in the day to visit her father, accompanied by her siblings. The family spent time with him and sang his favourite gospel hymn before she began her journey back to Nairobi.“We were simply grateful to sit beside him, to see him and spend that time together. I did not know I would soon be looking back on those moments with such tenderness, but I am deeply grateful to have them,” Karua said.Karua described her father as a principled man, teacher and strong believer in character, education and doing what is right.She said Jackson remained one of her strongest supporters throughout her life, from her school days and legal career to her years in public life.“My father believed in me long before I had achieved anything worth celebrating,” she said, adding that he was “always proud, always encouraging, and always in my corner.”Karua said her father was, above all, a loving and generous parent whose values and guidance shaped the family.His death, she said, was a profound loss to his children, grandchildren, wider family and the many people whose lives he touched.“I will miss his voice, his counsel, his encouragement, and the quiet reassurance of knowing that he was there,” she said.Karua concluded her tribute by thanking her father for believing in her, standing by her and loving her throughout her life.“Huruka thayu, baba. You will be deeply missed, dearly loved, and forever remembered,” she said.Jackson Karua and his wife, Josephine Wanjiru, have previously spoken publicly about their daughter, including in 2022 when she was selected as Raila Odinga’s running mate in the presidential election.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has stepped up his criticism of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta over his recent claim that the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga won the 2022 presidential election.Speaking during a Sunday church service at Hewani Gospel PEFA Church in Garsen Constituency, Tana River County on Sunday , Wetang’ula questioned why Kenyatta handed over power to President William Ruto if he believed the 2022 election had been rigged.Last week, while handing over the leadership of the Jubilee Party to his deputy Dr Fred Matiang’i, Kenyatta said he remained convinced that the former prime minister Raila Odinga won the 2022 presidential election.The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) declared President Ruto the winner while the Supreme Court upheld the result.“You, Uhuru Kenyatta, have suddenly changed tune. You are now saying William Ruto never won but rigged himself into office. We were in government with all the instruments of power. Is it really fair to continue saying what you are saying about William Ruto?” Wetang’ula asked.He warned that continued disputes over the 2022 election could reopen political divisions and create tensions ahead of the 2027 General Election.“Do you want the people of Kenya to start quarrelling and squabbling over past elections? For avoidance of doubt, let me tell you, Uhuru Kenyatta, we Kenyans gave you a chance to be our President for 10 years. We respect you as a retired President. Kindly respect yourself, respect the Constitution and respect our country so that we can move forward,” he said.Wetang’ula also questioned Kenyatta’s decision to hand over power to President Ruto during the inauguration ceremony at Kasarani Stadium.“The same IEBC that declared you the winner in two elections is the same IEBC that declared William Ruto the winner of the 2022 presidential election. If you knew he never won, why did you stand at Kasarani and hand him the reins of power to lead the country?” he posed.He described Kenyatta’s remarks as unhelpful and warned against statements that could destabilise the country.“This anger being demonstrated by Uhuru Kenyatta is very unhelpful and unnecessary. The same person you supported as President in 2022 came to Kenya Kwanza and we developed the broad-based government because we recognised that Kenya is bigger than all of us,” Wetang’ula said.“We agreed and sat together. Why are you wailing louder than the bereaved?” he added.The Speaker urged Kenyatta to respect the Constitution and called for dialogue among political leaders.Wetang’ula said political differences should not be allowed to divide communities or undermine peace as the country approaches another election.He also pledged to push for faster issuance of title deeds to squatters in Tana River saying secure land ownership was critical to improving residents’ livelihoods.On development, Wetang’ula cited the revival of irrigation schemes, the Galana-Kulalu project and the proposed Mombasa-Narok-Kisumu-Malaba Standard Gauge Railway as projects he said would boost economic activity, transport and trade.He urged Coast residents to support Ruto for a second term, saying continuity was necessary to complete ongoing development projects.Garsen MP Guyo Ali Wario praised Wetang’ula’s leadership of the National Assembly describing him as a unifying figure.Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana said the region would not support leaders on the basis of tribe.He also waded into local politics, saying the county needed a governor with a strong understanding of financial management.Likuyani MP Innocent Mugabe said Kenya had made progress under President Ruto and claimed residents in different parts of the country had expressed satisfaction with the distribution of national resources.“As leaders, we have visited different parts of the country and listened to the people. They have expressed satisfaction with the President’s leadership and said they feel there is a more equal distribution of resources,” Hon. Mugabe said.Also present were Galole MP Hiribae Said Buya and Garsen North MCA Dumba Semi among other leaders.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing Twenty-seven people have been killed in two mass shootings hours apart in South Africa, the latest gun violence to hit the country. Seventeen people were killed when eight gunmen stormed a bar close to Johannesburg on Saturday evening, with 15 more injured.In a separate shooting in the early hours of Sunday morning, 10 people were killed outside an entertainment venue in a township near Cape Town and a further 11 were injured.South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world and has struggled to contain gang-related gun violence in recent years. Police have not indicated a motive for either of the latest attacks.In Johannesburg, gunmen opened fire on customers outside the bar before continuing the attack inside and torching two vehicles before fleeing.Police said thirteen men and four women were killed, adding that the motive was not clear.In Cape Town, five victims died at the scene and a further five people died in hospital.The two mass shootings came days after 11 people were killed in the city of Durban when gunmen stormed a house in the KwaMakhutha township.Illegal weapons are prevalent in South Africa and gun violence has been a persistent problem for decades, with about 60 murders recorded every day in the country of 62 million.But a recent spate of mass shootings has raised fears that the problem is deepening, with violence often linked to turf wars between gangs engaged in drug trafficking and illegal mining.In February, President Cyril Ramaphosa called organised crime “the most immediate threat to our democracy, our society and our economic development”.Earlier this year the military was deployed alongside police in areas with the highest murder rates in an effort to reduce armed violence.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing A Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldier was found dead with his throat slit at an operation base in Marsabit County in an incident being investigated as a suspected murder or suicide.The incident was reported on September 27, 2026, after fellow military personnel raised the alarm.According to officials, Thuku had failed to answer several phone calls from his colleague, who subsequently went to check on him at the Karare Forward Operation Base.The colleague reportedly found Thuku lying in a pool of blood with a deep wound to his throat.Police and the Military Police visited the scene alongside the operation base’s medical officer, who pronounced Thuku dead.A blood-stained military knife, suspected to have been used to inflict the fatal injury, was recovered at the scene together with the deceased’s mobile phone.Thuku’s body was moved to Marsabit County Referral Hospital Mortuary, where it was preserved pending a postmortem examination.Police and military authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the officer’s death to establish what happened and determine whether the incident was suicide or involved another person.Like police officers and other members of the disciplined forces, dozens of soldiers have died as a result of suicide in a trend that is attributed to stress at work.Officials say police are generally on the receiving end of all community problems.They are expected to maintain law and order in very difficult situations, besides putting their lives at risk.The World Health Organisation says such cases are attributed to joblessness, death, academic failures or pressures, legal difficulties and financial difficulties.Other reasons are bullying, previous suicide attempts, history of suicide in a family, alcoholism and substance misuse, depression and bipolar disorder.The government says efforts are being made to address the menace. Several agencies have created counseling sections to address the menace in their departments. They have also hired counselors to manage the sections as the cases spike at an alarming rate.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing Police in Trans Nzoia County are investigating an armed robbery in which a woman and her friend were allegedly robbed of Sh1.7 million shortly after withdrawing the money from two banks in Kitale.The incident occurred on September 25, 2026, in Village-In area within Sirende Ward, Kiminini Sub-County.According to police Carolyn Jemutai and her friend Julious Langat had travelled to Kitale town, where Jemutai withdrew a total of Sh1.7 million from KCB Bank and DTB Bank in Kitale Town.The two were travelling home in a silver Toyota Fielder at around 3pm when they were allegedly intercepted near their estate by another silver Toyota Fielder.A group of men reportedly emerged from the vehicle, with one of them allegedly pointing a gun at Langat before hitting him with a metal rod.The assailants allegedly made away with Sh1.7 million in cash, two mobile phones—a Tecno Camon 40 and Tecno Camon 49—three ATM cards and an identification card..Police have launched investigations into the robbery and are pursuing leads to identify and apprehend the suspects.Such incidents happen out of inside job. Police say investigations have shown such attacks happen after the attackers get inside information on the transactions involved. This can be from the financial institutions or the victims.Police say investigations are ongoing to crack the gangs behind the trend which has been happening in urban areas.Past investigations have linked such incidents to rogue bank staff who leak information to thugs about transactions of their clients.Investigations have also been linked to prior information from the clients’ side to the attacks.Other thugs stay in banks pretending to be customers with an aim of noticing those withdrawing money for attacks, police say.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing A 41-year-old man died in a suspected electrocution incident at his home in Embakasi, Nairobi, early Sunday morning.The deceased, identified as Jones Muinde Areba, was found lying unconscious on the floor of his house, near an electrical cooking coil in the kitchen.The boy reportedly found his father lying on the floor and returned to inform his mother, who rushed to the house and found her husband unresponsive.Neighbours were alerted and helped rush Areba to Tasia Hill Hospital, where medical personnel examined him and found that he had no central pulse.A hospital discharge letter indicated that he had been brought to the facility already deceased.The family initially took the body to Chiromo Mortuary without reporting the incident to police. They were subsequently referred to Embakasi Police Station while the body was being transported in a black Mercedes-Benz driven by Timothy Maina.Police took the necessary action and referred the body to Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, where it was preserved pending an autopsy to establish the exact cause of death.Meanwhile, a 35-year-old man was stabbed to death following a quarrel in Kiambiu informal settlement, Nairobi.The incident occurred in Vihiga Village within Kiambiu and was reported to police at around 1:35am on September 27, 2026.Police officers who responded to the scene found the victim, identified as Agai Were, lying unresponsive on the ground with a stab wound to the neck.Preliminary police reports indicate that Were was allegedly assaulted by a person known to him following a quarrel.The murder weapon was recovered at the scene, which was subsequently processed and documented by police.Were’s body was moved to the Nairobi City Funeral Home, where it was preserved pending a postmortem examination.Detectives have launched investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the killing, identify the suspect and determine the motive for the attack.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing A seven-year-old boy drowned while swimming at a hotel swimming pool in Milimani, Kisumu County.The incident occurred on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Milsview Hotel, where the boy had gone swimming with other children.Police said the incident was reported at around 5:30pm by a resident of Otonglo, who identified the deceased as a Grade Two pupil at Kotetni Primary School.According to the report, the boy had been swimming at the hotel at around 2:18pm when he drowned.Police visited the scene and established that the boy had already been rushed to Aga Khan Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.Police documented the scene before the body was moved to the Aga Khan Hospital Mortuary, where it was preserved pending a postmortem examination.And a 61-year-old man was found dead inside a 10-foot-deep water well in Athi Zone B Village, Juja, Kiambu County, in what police suspect was a drowning incident.The deceased, identified as Samuel Waithaka Njogu, was reported missing after he left his rented house on the night of Friday, September 25, 2026, to fetch water.According to police, Waithaka left at around 9:30pm and headed to a water well located about 150 metres from his residence but did not return.On Saturday morning at around 10am, his workmate went to the same well to fetch water.He reportedly noticed a blue plastic jerrycan resembling the one Waithaka had carried the previous night floating in the well. Upon looking inside, he saw his colleague’s body submerged in the water and unresponsive.Police said preliminary indications suggested that Waithaka may have slipped and fallen into the well, where he drowned with no one nearby to assist him.The body, which had no visible physical injuries, was taken to Thika General Kago Mortuary for preservation pending a postmortem examination.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing The US government is seeking to join Elon Musk’s legal challenge to overturn a €120m (£105m) EU fine against X over its blue tick badges. In December 2025, the European Commission said the platform “deceives users” by allowing people to pay for a blue verified check mark, because it is not “meaningfully verifying” who is behind the account.But US Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate said on Thursday that the commission had “inappropriately attempted” to expand its reach to American companies outside its control.Musk, who spent millions helping elect Donald Trump and other Republicans, has previously claimed EU tech regulation “inhibits progress” for companies.The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed an application with the EU’s General Court in support of Musk’s and X’s attempts to dismiss the case.It claims that under a section of law in the Statute of the Court of Justice of the EU, a state may intervene in disputes before the court if it “can establish an interest in the result of the case to the court”.The DOJ said the US “has a clear interest” in ensuring any decision by the commission was applied consistently with “how territorial jurisdiction is generally understood in international law”.It also wants to make sure it would not “otherwise prejudice” US-headquartered digital services that “contribute significantly” to its economy.In a press briefing on Friday, European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said it was “ready to defend” its position in court.He added that the commission had an “solid case” at its disposal, due to the alleged breach of its Digital Services Act.In addition to its use of blue ticks, EU regulators had accused X of failing to provide transparency around its adverts and denying researchers access to public data.Henna Virkkunen, the regulator’s executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, said at the time of the fine’s issue it was “holding X responsible for undermining users’ rights and evading accountability”. “Deceiving users with blue checkmarks, obscuring information on ads and shutting out researchers have no place online in the EU,” she said.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) had criticised the EU regulator, accusing it of attacking and censoring US firms.“The European Commission’s fine isn’t just an attack on X, it’s an attack on all American tech platforms and the American people by foreign governments,” Rubio wrote in a post on X. “The days of censoring Americans online are over.”The European Commission denied targeting any specific nationality, stating it is simply protecting its digital and democratic standards to maintain its role as a global benchmark.The action marked the Commission’s first official non-compliance decision under the Digital Services Act (DSA), one of two mandatory rulebooks governing online platforms in the EU.However, the EU is also conducting several other investigations into the platform, including one into its integrated AI assistant Grok over concerns it was used to create sexualised images of real people.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing School strikes are taking place across Germany to protest against the possible reintroduction of compulsory military service.One of the organisers of the strike, Bela Breitner, from School Strike Against Compulsory Military Service said the federal government was “serious about gradually reintroducing compulsory military service”.At one protest in Hamburg, demonstrators waved flags and held up banners emblazoned with the words “We won’t take part in your wars”.German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made boosting Germany’s military a priority following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.A new law introducing voluntary military service came into force in January, with the aim of recruiting volunteers to increase the number of soldiers.However, if the security situation worsens or if too few volunteers come forward, a form of compulsory military service could be considered by Germany’s Parliament, the Bundestag.Under the law, all 18-year-olds in Germany are being sent a questionnaire asking if they are interested and willing to join the armed forces.One protester, 16-year-old Elias Bernhard, from Hamburg, said that the responses to the questionnaires “show that young people do not want to join the Bundeswehr [Germany’s army]”.“That is why I am out on the streets today. That is why we are serious about striking until compulsory military service is off the table. We will carry on.”The questionnaire is mandatory for men and voluntary for women. All 18-year-old men will have to take a medical exam to assess their fitness for possible military service.The organisers of the protests, say the trigger came after some 18-year-olds in the northern German towns of Kiel and Flensburg, were sent official invitations for medical exams, even though they expressed no interest in joining the army on their registration forms.The group says over a hundred demonstrations are planned across Germany, including in Kiel, Hamburg, Berlin and Frankfurt.A spokesperson for the Defence Ministry told the BBC that under the law, the obligation to undergo a medical examination applies “to all men liable for military service who were born after 31 December 2007”.This also applies to people who have stated that they have no interest in compulsory military service. The spokesperson said that since July around 1,000 18-year-old men, who showed no interest in the army, have had the medical exam.During the Cold War, Germany, like many other European countries, had a large army. But it reduced its armed forces during the 1990s after the fall of the Iron Curtain.Germany’s former Chancellor, Angela Merkel, ended compulsory military service in 2011.But now, in the face of perceived threats from Russia and heavy pressure from Germany’s traditional ally, the US, Merz has vowed to transform the Bundeswehr into Europe’s strongest conventional army.The Bundeswehr currently has around 186,700 troops. By the early 2030s, Germany wants to raise the number to 260,000, supplemented by around 200,000 reservists, in order to meet new Nato force targets and strengthen Germany’s defences . By BBC NewsEmail your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has announced that he is helping to fund a new $660m (£500m) fuel pipeline between Ethiopia and DjiboutiThe project will include a 120km- (75 mile-) pipeline connecting Djibouti’s Damerjog port to a distribution facility in Dewele, Ethiopia, as well as storage capacity of about 400 million litres. It is expected to begin operations within 18 months.Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the pipeline would reduce the time needed to transport fuel from Djibouti’s port to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, from five days to one.The first phase will transport key petroleum products, including jet fuel, diesel and petrol.Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, Dangote, Africa’s richest man, said the project would strengthen Ethiopia’s energy security and make its fuel supply chain more resilient.Landlocked Ethiopia relies heavily on Djibouti’s port for imports, including petroleum products. The new infrastructure is expected to reduce pressure on existing transport systems supporting industries, including transport, aviation, agriculture and construction.Djibouti is also expected to benefit from increased port activity, job creation and higher government revenues.The project is part of Dangote’s wider expansion of infrastructure and manufacturing businesses across Africa.Dangote Cement has production capacity of about 55 million tonnes a year, while his oil refinery in Nigeria currently has capacity to process 700,000 barrels of crude a day and is seeking to double that to 1.4 million barrels a day.The refinery recently listed 4.1 billion ordinary shares on the Nigerian stock exchange, aiming to raise about $1.63bn (£1.2bn).In Kenya, the company is due to break ground next week on a proposed 700,000-barrel-a-day crude oil refinery in Lamu.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
Read briefing Canadian prosecutors have dropped charges against two men accused of being involved in a massive gold heist in Toronto in 2023. Amit Jalota and Ali Raza both had charges against them withdrawn last week. More than 6,500 gold bars worth C$20m ($14.5m; £11.6m), were stolen from Toronto Pearson Airport in April 2023, along with millions in cash. A year later, police announced a series of arrests linked to what was the biggest gold theft in the country’s history.Lawyers for both men told Canadian media that their clients had long maintained their innocence and were relieved to be able to move forward with their lives.They had their lives and livelihoods turned upside-down due to the now dropped charges, the lawyers said.Both were accused of being in possession of either stolen gold or currency linked to the crime. “He has been punitively and unreasonably punished for the last three years as he was forced to navigate the criminal justice system and the fall out of these allegations that were publicly broadcasted both nationally and internationally,” Jalota’s lawyer said in a statement provided to Canadian media.The heist happened inside a cargo facility at the airport, after the goods arrived on an Air Canada flight from Zurich, Switzerland.Police allege that someone was able to access the goods by showing a fake airway bill – a document that accompanies shipped items.A truck was then used to steal the gold, which weighed roughly 400kg (881lb), police said.Earlier this year, one man was sentenced to four years by a Canadian court for his role in helping plan the theft.Another man was sentenced to 160 months in prison after pleading guilty in the US to conspiring with others to illegally traffic firearms, according to the US Department of Justice.He was stopped by police in Pennsylvania with 65 handguns in the trunk of his car. Canadian police alleged money for the guns came from the heist.Two other accused will face separate trials later this year over charges related to conspiracy to commit theft. Both have said they are not guilty.Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
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