A petition to stop the ongoing construction of a church in State House grounds has been certified as urgent by the High Court by Justice Lawrence Mugambi on July 7th. The Attorney General, Dorcas Oduor, on behalf of the President, has been granted seven days to file a response to the petition so as to address the issues brought up by the petition. The petitioner, lawyer Levi Munyeri, has argued that the construction of a church on public land using the resources of a private citizen (the President) undermines well-established constitutional provisions of no state religion, national values of public…
Author: Special Correspondent
Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has paused the pre-publication process of the widely controversial protest bill. This was done at the onset of the Saba Saba protests that rocked various parts of the nation. Taking to her social media platform X, she stated that she had decided to pause the pre-publication process to allow for national dialogue and wide public engagement. “I have decided to pause the pre-publication process of the Public Order (Amendment) Bill 2025 to allow for national dialogue and wide public engagement. This is an invitation to co-create legislation that safeguards constitutional freedoms while ensuring public order.”…
A proposed Sh1.2 billion church project at State House, spearheaded by President William Ruto, has ignited widespread debate across Kenya, with critics questioning the use of public funds amid pressing national challenges. The project — intended to construct an 8,000-seat, cathedral-like building featuring a tall, narrow clerestory-style window flanking the central edifice and twin crosses on the rooftop — has drawn sharp criticism from citizens and activists alike. According to reports, the church is designed to serve as a place of worship for the president, his family, and State House staff, while also accommodating large congregations for national prayer events.…
There was drama at a hotel in Kericho town on Thursday night after a police officer threw a teargas canister into the establishment, causing panic. The officer, who was accompanied by a woman and dressed in civilian clothing, began harassing other customers who were peacefully enjoying their meals, according to eyewitnesses. He was believed to be intoxicated at the time. The hotel management and angry patrons confronted the officer over his rude behavior. Instead of de-escalating the situation, he reportedly became physically aggressive and attempted to attack the staff. However, with the combined help of some customers, the staff managed…
The United Nations has warned of escalating violence in Haiti as gangs continue to gain control of the impoverished Caribbean nation. In a report submitted to the UN Security Council, it is estimated that gangs now control 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince. The UN has warned of a “total state collapse.” “We have continued to witness a sharp erosion of state authority and the rule of law. Brutal gang violence affects every aspect of public and private life,” Miroslav Jenča, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia, and the Americas, told a Security Council meeting. “Without increased action by the…
A Kenyan politician is among 12 men arrested in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, US, on Monday for allegedly soliciting sex from someone they believed to be underage. The arrests followed a multi-agency sting operation conducted by the Eden Prairie Police Department. Abdullahi Yussuf Sheikh Nur, 46, who unsuccessfully contested a parliamentary seat in 2022, is one of those arrested. The operation was part of a broader effort to combat trafficking and child exploitation along the Interstate 494 corridor. The men arrested range in age from 24 to 46 and reside across the Twin Cities metro area, with one individual coming from…
Baltasar Ebang Engonga, a 47-year-old former Director General of Equatorial Guinea’s National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), has been sentenced to 18 years in jail in a high-profile corruption trial in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. The court found Engonga guilty of embezzling more than 1 billion CFA francs (approximately $1.5 million) in government funds, marking a momentous step in the country’s ongoing efforts to combat elite corruption. Engonga, who previously led the nation’s anti-graft agency, was charged with embezzlement, illicit enrichment, and abuse of office. The charges stem from his tenure as head of the Directorate General of Insurance and Reinsurance (DGAR)…
Liverpool FC and Portugal international forward Diogo Jota has died at the age of 28 following a car accident in northwestern Spain. The incident, which occurred on the A52 motorway near Palacios de Sanabria in the province of Zamora, also claimed the life of Jota’s brother, André Silva, a professional footballer for Liga Portugal 2 side Penafiel. The accident took place in the early hours of Thursday morning when the vehicle carrying the Jota brothers veered off the road and caught fire. Emergency services, including the Zamora Traffic Police, the Zamora Provincial Council Fire Brigade, and the Sacyl Emergency Coordination…
Members of Parliament have approved the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to entrench three critical funds into the Constitution. These funds are the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), the Senate Oversight Fund (SOF), and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF). The bill, first introduced by Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo and Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga on May 12, was passed during the second reading with 304 MPs voting in favor and none opposing. In the third reading, 298 MPs supported the bill. It has now progressed to the Senate, where its fate will be determined. The…
Blogger and activist Ndiang’ui Kinyagia—who vanished following a reported raid on his Kinoo residence on 21 June—has been confirmed safe and alive, according to his family’s lawyer, Wahome Thuku. The 35-year-old IT expert and vocal digital commentator contacted a family member on the evening of Tuesday, 1 July, ending days of speculation and fear surrounding his whereabouts. In a statement issued on Thursday, 3 July, via Facebook, Thuku revealed that Ndiang’ui had gone into hiding, fearing for his life after learning that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) was pursuing him over unspecified allegations. “On behalf of the family, I…
