The Council of Governors (CoG) has strongly defended Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja following an attempted police arrest over his failure to honour Senate summons, describing the move as intimidation and an abuse of oversight powers. Speaking during a press briefing, CoG Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi said the attempt to arrest Sakaja was unwarranted and failed to recognise that governors had collectively resolved to boycott appearances before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC). “This matter is not a personal issue concerning one governor but a collective decision made by the Council of Governors,” Abdullahi said. The statement came after police officers…
Author: Samuel Njihia
US President Donald Trump signalled a potential escalation in the Gulf conflict on Monday, openly raising the possibility of seizing Iran’s Kharg Island oil terminal, even as early ceasefire efforts showed tentative progress. Speaking amid ongoing US and Israeli strikes on Iran, Trump said Tehran had agreed to allow 20 oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz as “a sign of respect”. At the same time, with roughly 2,500 U.S. Marines already deployed and more on the way, he underscored the range of military options available, saying: “Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t. We have a…
Tensions have emerged within Kenya Kwanza as Ford Kenya publicly rebuked the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) over calls for affiliate parties to dissolve and fold into the President’s political outfit ahead of the 2027 General Election. Ford Kenya, led by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, accused UDA of undermining partnership agreements that helped deliver victory in 2022. The party’s Secretary-General John Chikati described the push to merge as hostile to democratic pluralism. In a strongly worded statement, Ford Kenya said the proposal amounts to “a direct affront to the democratic space” and warned it could push the country towards…
Iran’s military has dismissed recent claims by US President Donald Trump about possible negotiations, vowing instead to press on with its fight. Meanwhile, joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran are ongoing, as Iranian missile launches trigger sirens across Israel, forcing residents to take cover in shelters. In the Gulf, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia report intercepting incoming missiles and drones, while Kuwait says a strike on a fuel tank caused a fire at its main airport. At the same time, Israeli forces have carried out air raids on Beirut and are advancing deeper into southern Lebanon, following announcements of plans to take…
Nairobi police say all workers at a construction site in Westlands have now been accounted for following a partial building collapse that left several injured. According to Nairobi Police Commander Issa Mohamud, two workers managed to escape unharmed, while another was rescued with injuries. One person later died from injuries sustained after being pulled from the rubble. “Investigations are ongoing to establish the cause of the collapse. We have accounted for all workers at the scene,” he said, adding that authorities are also looking into why construction was taking place at night. The incident happened at around 8pm along School…
Air travellers have been thrown into disarray after flights between Western Europe and the Middle East were abruptly cancelled following US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Donald Trump confirmed on Saturday that a “major combat operation” had taken place, triggering widespread disruption across the region. In response to the escalating conflict, both Iran and Iraq shut their airspace, forcing airlines to rethink established routes almost overnight. With Israel launching missiles towards Iran and Tehran responding in kind, aircraft that would typically pass over those countries have been diverted. Footage from flight tracking website Flightradar24 shows a steady overnight flow of…
The Open Society Foundations has condemned the arbitrary detention of its Managing Director of Programs, Brian Kagoro, by Kenyan authorities. Kagoro was held for over ten hours after arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi on Sunday night. During this time, he was questioned, denied entry, and eventually sent back to Johannesburg. The foundation reports that no formal charges were filed and no written explanation was provided for his deportation following questioning by national intelligence officers. “Kagoro has never been charged with or convicted of any criminal offence,” the statement said. “The removal order authorising the air carrier to…
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has dismissed his removal as Secretary-General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), calling the decision illegitimate and insisting he will continue in the role. Speaking at a Nairobi press conference on Thursday, Mr Sifuna accused the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) of sidelining him through what he called an unconstitutional process. “I remain a loyal member and the duly elected Secretary General of the ODM party,” he said. The senator, who has faced ongoing factional disputes within ODM, reaffirmed his dedication to the party’s principles and the broader fight for democracy in Kenya. “I remain committed…
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has confirmed that Chief Executive and Commission Secretary Marjan Hussein Marjan will be leaving by mutual agreement, with more than a year remaining on his contract. In a statement on Wednesday, IEBC chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon said the decision marks the start of a process to recruit a new CEO and Commission Secretary. “IEBC will announce an interim replacement who will take over as Acting CEO/CS in due course. This is in line with our commitment and resolve to ensure we have a seamless transition designed to maintain momentum in carrying forward the…
Low and middle-income earners in Kenya are set to receive major tax relief as the government moves to ease the financial burden on salaried workers. The changes are aimed at giving employees more disposable income amid rising living costs. Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi announced the plan on Monday at the Budget and Privatisation Public Engagement Forum for the Upper Eastern region, held at Meru National Polytechnic. The programme will abolish income tax for workers earning less than Sh30,000 a month, while those earning between Sh30,000 and Sh50,000 will see their tax rate reduced to 25 per cent from the…
