Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has taken a 90-day leave of absence from office, beginning September 7, to mourn the death of her husband, Hafidh Ameir, Tanzania’s Chief Secretary has confirmed. Chief Secretary Moses Kusiluka announced the leave in a statement dated September 8, saying that government duties would continue to be handled by Vice President Deogratius Ndejembi and Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba in accordance with the law during the President’s absence. “Further information will be provided by the relevant authorities as necessary,” Kusiluka said. Ameir, born on January 1, 1946, died on September 7 at around 8 a.m. while…
Author: Davin Muthoni
The government and Tata Chemicals have agreed to set up a joint technical committee to resolve the compliance issues that led to the suspension of the company’s mining operations in Magadi, easing a standoff that had drawn in President William Ruto himself. Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho announced the agreement on Tuesday, September 8, after hosting Tata Chemicals executives at his office to discuss the concerns his ministry had raised. The Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs had suspended the company’s mining and export activities on July 28 under the Mining Act, citing gaps in mineral beneficiation, royalty…
President William Ruto has signed a deal with the Government of Italy and Italian firm GKSD Group to build 15 new hospitals across 15 counties, in a move meant to widen access to healthcare and push Kenya closer to universal health coverage. The deal was signed on Tuesday, September 8, at State House in Nairobi. It falls under Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa, a programme Rome uses to build closer ties with African countries through investment in areas like healthcare, energy, agriculture and infrastructure. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, GKSD Chairman Kamel Ghribi, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, governors and other…
State House has announced a 90-day window for foreign nationals running businesses in Kenya to regularise their immigration and licensing status, softening last week’s enforcement deadline while firmly warning Kenyans against taking the law into their own hands. State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed announced the reprieve in a statement issued on Tuesday, September 8, explaining that the period is meant to give affected foreign nationals an opportunity to bring their businesses and immigration status into full compliance with Kenyan law before stricter enforcement begins. “Every person conducting business in Kenya is required to comply with applicable immigration, work-permit, registration and…
The inquest into the killing of Rex Masai during youth-led protests more than two years ago has been formally closed, after 30 witnesses testified and the prosecution presented CCTV footage and photographic evidence relating to his death. Masai was shot dead in Nairobi late in the evening of June 20, 2024, as protesters rejected the Finance Bill, 2024, and died from excessive bleeding and became one of the defining figures of the wider Gen-Z-led demonstrations that swept the country that year. State Counsel Jalson Makori informed the court that the prosecution had completed calling its witnesses, bringing the evidentiary phase…
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has appointed Robert Kibet Kibor as its new Registrar, filling a position that had been held in an acting capacity for more than two years. The Commission announced the appointment in a statement dated Monday, September 7, confirming that Kibet was appointed under Section 10(2) of the Judicial Service Act, Cap. 8A, following a competitive recruitment process. The vacancy had been advertised on January 16, 2026, with interviews for shortlisted candidates conducted on June 30, before the Commission settled on Kibet. “The vacancy in the Office of the Registrar, Judicial Service Commission arose following the…
The Director of Public Prosecutions has approved corruption charges against former Sports Principal Secretary Ambassador Peter Kirimi Kaberia and nine other individuals over the alleged misappropriation of Sh330 million allocated for Kenya’s preparations to host the 2018 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN), with six companies also facing prosecution over the alleged financial misconduct. DPP Renson Ingonga announced the approval in a press statement dated September 7, confirming that the charges followed investigations carried out by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), whose inquiry file was submitted to his office for review and guidance. “Upon an independent and thorough evaluation of the…
Kenyan exporters have secured two more years of duty-free access to the United States market, after President Donald Trump signed into law an extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) through December 31, 2028. Trump signed the extension on Friday, September 4, bringing relief to Kenyan manufacturers and exporters who had faced months of uncertainty over the future of the trade arrangement. The Kenyan government welcomed the move, saying it provides much-needed certainty for exporters and the thousands of workers whose jobs depend on preferential access to the US market. Investment, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui…
President William Ruto’s deadline for foreign hawkers and small shop owners to close down took effect Monday, September 7, with the directive targeting foreign-owned small businesses set to be enforced. There were no visible signs of a crackdown in Nairobi on Monday, but some Burundians gathered outside the embassy said they had faced threats from neighbours following the president’s remarks. Ruto announced the directive on September 2 during a meeting with Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) traders at State House in Nairobi, saying that small-scale businesses should be reserved for Kenyans. “It cannot be that a person comes from…
Hafidh Ameir Hassan, husband of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has died while receiving treatment for a heart-related condition in Zanzibar, plunging the country into mourning. Tanzania’s Vice President, Deogratius Ndejembi, announced the death on Monday, September 7, confirming that Ameir died at around 8 a.m. at Emilio Mzena Memorial Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment for a heart condition. “It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of Honorable Hafidh Ameir Hassan, husband to the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan,” Ndejembi said, extending condolences to the…
