László Krasznahorkai has won this year’s Nobel Prize in Literature. The Hungarian author was recognised “for his compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art”. “I’m very happy, I’m calm and very nervous altogether,” the author told Swedish broadcaster Sveriges Radio after hearing the news. He has written five novels and won numerous other literary prizes, including the 2015 Man Booker International Prize, and the 2013 best translated book award in Fiction for his first novel Satantango, a postmodern work about the end of the world. Krasznahorkai was told he had won…
Author: Special Correspondent
Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and Murang’a Level 5 Hospital are grappling with a surge in patient numbers as the ongoing doctors’ strike in Nairobi and Kiambu counties continues to cripple public healthcare services. Dr. Richard Lesiyampe, Acting CEO of KNH, said the hospital is operating beyond capacity, particularly in critical departments such as maternity and emergency care. “Kenyatta National Hospital is witnessing an overwhelming increase in patients seeking care following the industrial action. With most public facilities in Nairobi and Kiambu unable to function fully, KNH has become the main referral point,” said Dr. Lesiyampe. He noted that the maternal…
Cancer patients, caregivers, and advocates staged protests in Nairobi County on Tuesday, demanding that the Social Health Authority (SHA) provide comprehensive health coverage for cancer patients. Organised under the Kenyan Network of Cancer Organisations (KENCO), the protestors accused SHA of failing to deliver on promises, despite being operational for a year. According to them, cancer patients continue to face numerous challenges accessing treatment. Prisca Githuka, KENCO’s Vice Chairperson and a cancer survivor, said patients have suffered more frustrations than benefits from the health insurance system. “Cancer is a major problem troubling each and every one of us, and an insurance…
Lilian Odira promoted to sergeant after her golden 800m win World women’s 800m champion Lilian Odira has been honoured by the Kenya Prisons Service after winning a gold medal at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, last month. Odira, 26, was on Friday promoted from constable to sergeant following her remarkable performance. The ceremony was presided over by the Commissioner General of Prisons, Patrick Aranduh, at the Kenya Prisons Headquarters in Nairobi. – SJAK
Gideon Moi has officially secured the Kenya African National Union (KANU) ticket for the upcoming Baringo senatorial by-election, scheduled for 27th November 2025. The announcement was made by KANU’s Communications Director, Manasse Nyainda, who stated that Moi’s nomination followed extensive consultations, deliberations, and consensus within the party and among stakeholders in Baringo County. “The Kenya African National Union wishes to formally announce that our national chairperson, Hon. Gideon Moi, has been nominated as the party’s candidate for the forthcoming Baringo senatorial seat,” said Nyainda. KANU emphasized that Moi’s candidacy reflects the party’s commitment to experienced, visionary, and people-centered leadership. In…
The National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) Wednesday launched the Guidelines for the Expedited Trial of Corruption and Economic Crime Cases in Special Magistrates’ Courts at a ceremony held at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi. The new Guidelines are aimed at strengthening the justice system’s capacity to ensure the timely adjudication of corruption and economic crime cases. By enhancing coordination among criminal justice sector agencies, the Guidelines seek to promote efficient service delivery and uphold accountability in the fight against corruption. Speaking during the launch, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Mr. Abdi A.…
Health unions have issued a 7-day nationwide strike notice in solidarity with over 700 healthcare workers who were redeployed following a 126-day strike in Kiambu County. The unions accuse Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi of disregarding healthcare workers’ rights and presiding over poor working conditions in county health facilities. Dr. Davji Atellah, Secretary General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), criticized the governor’s handling of the crisis, urging him to resign if he cannot meet the demands of his office. “One individual, born like the rest of us, should not make life so difficult that people continue…
More than 100 infants and five mothers have tragically lost their lives since doctors in Kiambu County began a strike four months ago. The strike, which started in May, has forced many patients to seek medical care in private hospitals or travel to neighbouring counties. In a statement, Dr James Githinji, chairperson of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), said, “Since the strike began, over 105 lives have been lost. In September alone, two hospitals in Kiambu recorded 53 infant deaths.” Official data from Kiambu Level 5 Hospital shows a disturbing trend: 18 infant deaths each in…
The High Court in Nairobi has ordered Mater Hospital to release the body of Caroline Nthangu, which had been detained for almost two months over an outstanding bill of Sh3.3 million. Justice Nixon Sifuna, in a ruling on September 23, 2025, stated that no hospital in Kenya has the right to hold a body as security for unpaid bills. He noted that “the detention of bodies by mortuaries and hospitals for debt claims traumatises bereaved families and disrespects the departed.” Prof. (Dr.) Sifuna added that this practice has been used to “blackmail, embarrass, traumatise, and coerce bereaved families into submitting…
YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million (Sh3.43 billion) to settle a lawsuit brought by Donald Trump, filed after the video platform suspended his account in the wake of the 6 January attack on US Capitol. The settlement from the video streaming giant’s parent company Alphabet – which also owns Google – comes after social media sites X/Twitter and Facebook also agreed to pay Trump for suspending his accounts. Trump had accused YouTube and other tech companies of political bias, claiming they had unfairly censored conservative voices after the Capitol riot in 2021. At the time of his suspension, social…
