The Kenyan government, through the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, has begun evacuating its citizens from Iran as a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran begins to take hold. According to Roseline Njogu, Principal Secretary at the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, the first group of evacuees from Iran arrived at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Sunday morning. “Grateful for the multi-agency team here in Nairobi working tirelessly to get our nationals home, and especially grateful to our embassy teams in Tehran and Ankara,” Njogu posted on X. The Kenyan government had earlier urged its nationals in Israel and…
Author: Edwin Edgar Mutugi
President William Ruto has made new appointments in the Kenya Defence Forces. In an announcement made on Friday, 27 June, by the Ministry of Defence, President Ruto promoted Major General David Kipkemboi Ketter to Lieutenant General and appointed him as the Commander, Kenya Army. He replaces Lieutenant General David Kimaiyo Chemwaina Tarus, who has been redeployed to the National Defence University-Kenya (NDU-K) as the Vice-Chancellor. Until his promotion, Lieutenant General Ketter served as the Assistant Chief of Defence Forces in charge of Personnel and Logistics. The President also appointed Major General Benard Waliaula as the Commander, Kenya Air Force. He…
At least eight people were shot dead and over 400 injured during nationwide youth-led protests on Wednesday, 25 June, to make the first anniversary of Gen-Z demonstrations against the Finance Bill. In a statement on Thursday, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) expressed concern over widespread human rights violations, excessive use of force by police, and attacks on media freedom during the protests. KNCHR Vice Chairperson Dr Raymond Nyeris revealed that the deaths occurred in six different counties: Machakos (2), Makueni (2), Nakuru (1), Kiambu (1), Uasin Gishu (1), and Nyandarua (1). He added that over 400 people…
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku locked the gates on late-arriving staff Monday, June 23, 2025, at the Rift Valley regional government offices in Nakuru. By 8:00 a.m., CS Ruku had already arrived for an impromptu inspection of service delivery across public offices. However, many workers had yet to report to duty or were still trickling in. In response, the Cabinet Secretary ordered the gates closed. “We are here to serve the people of Kenya. That duty starts with discipline and timekeeping,” he said firmly. CS Ruku assured staff that the government was working to address concerns raised by public…
Nyandarua County is mourning the sudden death of Beth Wahito, a nominated Member of the County Assembly (MCA), following a road accident along the Nairobi–Nakuru highway. According to reports, Wahito died at around 11 p.m. on Saturday while heading home after attending an official county government committee meeting in Naivasha. Her private vehicle was struck by a bus near the Naivasha–Kinangop junction at approximately 1 a.m. President William Ruto joined in mourning Beth Wahito. In a statement issued on Sunday, 22 June 2025, the Head of State described the deceased as a solid grassroots mobiliser and a steadfast supporter of…
A 61-year-old man convicted over the 2019 DusitD2 terror attack has avoided a 225-year prison sentence after the High Court ruled his jail terms would run concurrently. Justice Diana Kavedza sentenced Mohamed Abdi Ali to 15 years for conspiracy to commit a terrorist act. He was also handed 15 years for each of 14 counts related to terrorism financing, but the judge ruled that the sentences would run concurrently. His co-accused, 22-year-old Hussein Abdile Ali, received a 30-year jail term for the two charges he faced. The prosecution had pushed for consecutive sentencing, which would have kept Abdi behind bars…
President Hakainde Hichilema on Wednesday, 19 June 2025, abruptly ended the national mourning period for the late Sixth Republican President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, following a dramatic standoff with the former president’s family over the release of his remains from South Africa. In a nationally televised address, President Hichilema said the mourning period could not be extended indefinitely, citing the need for the country to return to normalcy. His remarks came after the Lungu family refused to release the late president’s body for repatriation, despite prior arrangements and government assurances. “The country cannot afford a state of indefinite mourning. While…
Felix Keaton, who was defending officers Masinde Barasa and Duncan Kiprono, has officially withdrawn from the case, citing a wave of threats allegedly linked to the online youth movement commonly referred to as “Gen Z”. The two officers are under investigation following the tragic shooting of Boniface Kariuki, a street vendor who was selling face masks along Moi Avenue during Tuesday’s demonstrations. Keaton confirmed on Wednesday that he had stepped down from the high-profile case, citing serious concerns for his own and his family’s safety. “In the interest of my personal safety and that of my family, I have taken…
Police officers from Kamukunji Police Station today, Tuesday 17 June, arrested a man on suspicion of involvement in terror-related activities. The 22-year-old suspect was apprehended by officers on patrol after exhibiting suspicious behaviour. Upon searching him, the officers discovered 21 detonators, 21 packets of a white substance, and a five-metre-long electric cable. “Upon a further search, the 22-year-old suspect was found to be carrying 21 detonators, along with 21 packets of a white substance suspected to be ammonium nitrate, a five-metre-long electric cable, and other items,” the National Police Service (NPS) said. “His evasive and erratic behaviour attracted the attention…
The police officer who shot an unarmed mask vendor during the demonstrations held in Nairobi on 17 June 2025 has been arrested. The incident, which occurred during protests over the death of blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody, sparked outrage after a masked police officer was captured on multiple videos shooting the vendor at close range, striking him in the face. The victim, a well-known mask vendor in the area, was left bleeding heavily from the head and collapsed in front of shocked protesters and journalists. In a statement released late Tuesday, the National Police Service (NPS) said it had…
