Titleholder and record 10-time World Rally Championship (WRC) winner, Sebastien Ogier, will mark his return to the Safari Rally in March. The French ace, running a partial WRC campaign in 2026, will skip the all-snow in Rally Sweden in mid February and make his Safari comeback in the third leg that runs from March 12-15. Ogier last competed in Kenya in 2023 where he won the toughest rally in the world. He is eager to get back behind the wheel of his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 after finishing third in the season opening WRC Rallye Monte-Carlo. His presence in Kenya…
Author: Special Correspondent
By Mark Simitia More than three billion economically active adults worldwide remain unable to fully use formal financial services despite having access to bank or mobile money accounts, according to a new report by the Atlantic Council backed by digital lender Tala. The report, titled “The Three-Billion-Person Challenge: Bridging the Gap Between Financial Access and Usage in Emerging Markets,” was released during Tala’s annual Business Journalists’ Breakfast in Nairobi, underscoring the growing divide between financial access and actual usage in low- and middle-income economies. Data cited in the report from the World Bank’s Global Findex database shows that 79 per…
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has commended Kenya for the strides taken in the implementation of the corrective action following the 24/25 audit that had put Kenya in a watch list. Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya on Wednesday received a high-level delegation from WADA led by Rodney Swigelaar (Director, Africa) at Talanta Plaza in Nairobi. Swigelaar applauded the government’s support to the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya, a key pillar in ensuring that the country remains compliant. CS Mvurya re-affirmed Kenya’s commitment in aligning with the WADA recommendations, building a stronger, more sustainable, transparent, and integrity-driven anti-doping system that corresponds with…
US technology giant Amazon has informed employees of a new round of global layoffs in an email apparently sent in error. A draft email written by Colleen Aubrey, a senior vice president at Amazon Web Services (AWS), was included as part of a calendar invitation sent by an executive assistant to a number of Amazon workers late on Tuesday. In the email, Aubrey refers to a swathe of employees in the US, Canada and Costa Rica having been laid off as part of an effort to “strengthen the company.” The message, which has been seen by the BBC, was apparently…
By Mark Simitia President William Ruto has laid out a political strategy behind his confidence that a coalition between his United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) can deliver a two to three million vote lead in the 2027 general election. Speaking during a UDA National Governing Council meeting at State House, Nairobi, the President said the proposed ODM pact is not merely symbolic but a calculated move aimed at expanding his voter base beyond traditional UDA strongholds and neutralizing long-standing regional voting blocs. Ruto noted that his narrow win in the 2022 election, which he secured…
By Mark Simitia A Sunday morning church service in Othaya, Nyeri County, descended into chaos on Sunday, January 25, 2026, after teargas canisters were lobbed into Witima ACK Church, disrupting worship and forcing congregants to flee in panic. Among those present was former Deputy President and Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua, who later claimed the incident was a deliberate attempt on his life. Witnesses said teargas quickly filled the church, forcing worshippers — including women, children and the elderly — to rush outside in search of fresh air, bringing the service to an abrupt end. Several…
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has confirmed that the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) has ratified its 2026 Plan of Action, with structured engagement with former President Uhuru Kenyatta emerging as one of the key political strategies ahead of the 2027 general election. The plan was adopted following a three-day leadership retreat held in Mombasa, bringing together party legislators and senior officials to map out DCP’s political and organisational direction. Speaking after the meeting, Gachagua said the roadmap outlines how the party will conduct its activities in 2026 as it positions itself for broader opposition cooperation in the run-up…
A senior police officer in Belgut Constituency, Kericho County, was taken to hospital early Tuesday after being found hugging a tree inside a police station while in full uniform. Police described the incident as unusual and said Kennedy Wanjala, Officer Commanding Sossiot Police Station, was referred for medical evaluation. A report filed on January 20, 2026, stated that colleagues from the Operations Control and Communications Department (OCPD) and the Sub-County Criminal Investigations Office (SCCIO) discovered Wanjala embracing a tree at the station. Senior officers responded promptly, separated him from the tree, and escorted him for further care. Authorities noted that…
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are set to receive the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) flag following the conclusion of the 2025 finals in Rabat, Morocco. The ceremony will symbolise the honour bestowed upon the East African nations as they prepare to host the Pamoja 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Finals, with dates yet to be confirmed. Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi has reaffirmed the region’s preparedness and commitment to delivering a successful tournament, highlighting East Africa’s growing capabilities in infrastructure, coordination, hospitality, media, and overall hosting capacity. Senegal walk-off in AFCON final draws sharp criticism PS Mwangi is leading a…
At least 39 people have died in a train collision in southern Spain and dozens more have been injured in the country’s worst rail crash in more than a decade, Spain’s Civil Guard has said. Carriages on a Madrid-bound train derailed and crossed over to the opposite tracks, colliding with an oncoming train in Adamuz on Sunday evening. Four hundred passengers and staff were onboard both trains, the rail networks said. Emergency services treated 122 people, with 48, including five children, still in hospital. Of those, 11 adults and one child are in intensive care. Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente…
