By Dr Damaris Ogama In recent times, the media often features stories about athletes being banned for doping, yet they claim they never intended to cheat. Whether it is sprinters who have been suspended because of tainted supplements or cyclists who have been thrown off the official list because they have unknowingly used a prescribed drug, the question always arises over whether there should be a penalty when there has been an unintended, rather than an intentional wrongdoing. The principle of strict liability provides the answer to this question through holding athletes liable for any prohibited substances found in their…
Author: Special Correspondent
Africa’s leaders, innovators and technologists have been urged to collaborate in developing artificial intelligence that reflects African values and reality to better preserve Africa’s indigenous knowledge, cultural beliefs and traditions while benefiting from AI. Noting that over 60 percent of the continent’s population are under the age of 25 years, the Africa Premier AI Conference, APAIC 2025, being held in Mombasa, Kenya, cautioned about the risks of copying in developing AI and emphasized self-innovation and equality in the development of AI on the continent. “We must lead, not copy. Most AI systems today are built for efficiency, not equity. We…
Kenya women’s volleyball team, Malkia Strikers, are looking to bounce back in their second Pool “G” match against Poland at the FIVB World Championship in Phuket, Thailand, on Monday. The African champions lost their opening group match to Germany in straight sets (22-25, 08-25, 20-25) on Saturday. Speaking after the team’s training session on Sunday, head coach Geoffrey Omondi remained optimistic about their chances against the world number three side. “If we can pick up from where we left off against Germany, we’re capable of pulling off an upset against Poland,” said Omondi, who also coaches Kenya Pipeline, the reigning…
Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have been sued by passengers who claim they were charged extra for a window seat but found themselves sitting next to a blank wall. The lawsuits, filed separately against the US carriers, seek millions of dollars in damages for more than a million customers of each airline. They said the companies do not flag that the seats are windowless during the booking process, even when charging a premium for them. United declined to comment as it is an ongoing legal matter. The BBC has contacted Delta for comment. The lawsuits, which are similarly worded,…
The administration of US President Donald Trump has revoked more than 6,000 student visas for overstays and breaking the law, including a small minority for “support for terrorism,” a State Department official said on Monday. The move, first reported by Fox News Digital, comes as the US administration has adopted a particularly hard-line approach toward student visas as part of its immigration crackdown, tightening social media vetting and expanding screening. Directives from the State Department this year have ordered US diplomats abroad to be vigilant against any applicants whom Washington may see as hostile to the United States and with…
Police in Narok are investigating an incident where a Maasai Mara University employee and student was allegedly killed by a mob on allegations of stealing a cow. Narok Police commander Riko Ngare confirmed that three people namely; Felix Lemomo, Dennis Lanke and Brian Lanke have been arrested and are helping the police to unveil the circumstances that led to the death of Gideon Mankuyio on Saturday. Ngare said the deceased had been found lying unconscious and surrounded by members of the public at TM area, in Narok town. “The members of the public told the police that the deceased had…
The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) will recruit 10,000 police constables through a new online system, a move aimed at ending corruption, nepotism, and irregularities that have long plagued police recruitment. NPSC Commissioner Prof Collette Suda said the digital process will drastically reduce human contact, choking off opportunities for bribery and favouritism. “It is true there has been public outcry over irregularities during police recruitment,” Prof Suda told a public participation forum in Kisumu. “Leveraging technology will significantly reduce irregularities and give young Kenyans a fair chance to serve in the National Police Service.” Past recruitment scandals have included bribery,…
Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika and Nakuru County Commissioner Dr Lyford Kibaara have provided differing statements regarding claims of child sexual exploitation in Maai Mahiu, Nakuru County, as revealed by a BBC investigation. During a press conference this morning outside her office, the governor confirmed the investigation and stated that inquiries are ongoing to gather more information on the issue. She urged the community to remain alert and to inform the appropriate authorities about such incidents. “Everyone has a role to play in such cases; we should not leave it to the police and social workers only,” she said. The governor…
Gang violence in Haiti continues to cripple the small Caribbean nation, with 1,520 people killed during the second quarter of 2025 alone. Despite efforts by the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM), working in close collaboration with the Haitian National Police, gangs continue to terrorise civilians, creating a grim picture of human rights violations. On 1 August, the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) released a report detailing the disturbing human rights situation in the country. It revealed that between April and June 2025, at least 1,520 people were killed and 609 injured — mostly in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan…
Kenya’s Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status is on thin ice as the US Senate has begun a probe into several issues, including human rights violations and links to terror groups. The Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) designation is granted to countries that have strategic working relationships with the US Armed Forces but are not members of NATO. The probe was initiated by Idaho Senator Jim Risch, who introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the Fiscal Year 2026, seeking a 90-day reassessment of Kenya’s MNNA status. One of the major concerns is Kenya’s growing ties with China,…
