Author: Salma Khamis

Kenyan authorities Wednesday dismissed reports of a Mexican large-scale methamphetamine production lab located in Namanga near the Kenya-Tanzania border. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the lab had not been in operation, and was only in its primary stages of being set up when the Mexican, Nigerian and other cartels linked to the syndicate were arrested in September and October 2024. This followed intelligence reports by among others the National Intelligence Service and their partners on the operations there. A March 2025 report by the US State Department of State Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs highlighted…

Nairobi City County Government is set to implement a digital verification system to combat the increasing issue of people impersonating county staff and harassing city business owners and property developers. The upcoming Jitambulishe  system will give business owners and property developers a simple way to verify the identity of Nairobi County staff before interacting with them. During a meeting with members of the Kenya Property Developers Association (KPDA) at City Hall, Governor Johnson Sakaja disclosed that the Jitambulishe verification system will enable property developers to verify county employees through a digital badge that is connected to their photo…

Nairobi’s Urban Renewal Project is set for parliamentary review as senators in the Senate Committee on Roads have agreed to dedicate three days in April to assess its progress across more than 10 estates in the city. The initiative, spearheaded by Governor Johnson Sakaja, focuses on redeveloping county-owned land through joint ventures with private investors distinct from the national government’s Affordable Housing Program, which is funded through the housing levy. Chairperson of the committee, Senator Eddy Oketch, emphasized the need for a comprehensive review of the project to ensure transparency and stakeholder engagement. “We shall hold…

The Government is targeting around one million youth for ID card registration in a drive intended to take advantage of the removal of Sh300 application fee announced. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen launched the drive in Nakuru on Wednesday and announced that the countrywide exercise that will feature mobile registration will also benefit from the removal of vetting committees for border communities. He also announced that the waiting time for processing will be cut to not more than 10 days as the government races to clear the backlog of unregistered but eligible applications traditionally disadvantaged by a stringent vetting process.…

The prosecution has for the second time been allowed to to defer the plea taking of two police officers accused of abuse of office and unlawful detention of a British national for 30 days to review multiple files relating to the case. In seeking the adjournment, the prosecution told the court that the matter was lodged with different entities. The plea taking was supposed to take place on January 23 but was postponed to February 18, upon the request by the defence counsel citing health concerns. However, on February 18, the prosecutor Norah Owino, made a request to defer the…

Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen has spoken out for the first time regarding the disappearance of fisherman Brian Odhiambo, who went missing after allegedly being detained by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers at Lake Nakuru National Park. Murkomen addressed the issue on Wednesday, March 19, after a dramatic interruption by Odhiambo’s mother, Elizabeth Auma, while he was speaking to residents in Nakuru West during the launch of the national mobile registration outreach programme. In a video, CS Murkomen is seen addressing the crowd in the Shabab settlement when Auma, visibly distressed, stormed the podium. A security officer attempted to…

A recent report on the safety and security of bloggers in Kenya has highlighted a troubling rise in the number of deaths, abductions, and arrests of bloggers and activists in 2024. The report, titled Devolved Impunity: The Safety and Security of Bloggers in Kenya (2019–2024), reveals that five bloggers have been killed between 2023 and 2024, with two more killed in 2021 and 2022. Spanning six years, the report documents various violations, including at least 15 cases of bloggers being abducted or arrested, and three others facing different forms of mistreatment. It reveals that bloggers in Kenya continue to face…

Nominated Member of Parliament Sabina Chege has disclosed the diplomatic efforts made by President William Ruto to delay the execution of Kenyan Margaret Nduta in Vietnam. Nduta had recently been sentenced to death for drug trafficking in Vietnam. Speaking to the media at Nduta’s rural home in Murang’a County, Chege confirmed that Nduta is still alive, crediting President Ruto and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their pivotal role in postponing the planned execution. “When the issue came up, I raised it in Parliament and also brought it to the attention of the Head of State.  I am grateful to…

Renowned African PR authority and global thought leader Gina Din has signed a major deal with Storyteller Media, a prestigious Los Angeles-based literary and talent agency. This groundbreaking partnership will see the republication of her acclaimed autobiography, Daughter of Africa, the launch of a companion book, an exclusive merchandise line, and a global speaking tour focused on Africa, leadership, and women’s empowerment. Amplifying the African Narrative on a Global Stage Gina Din’s compelling story of resilience, leadership, and influence has long transcended borders. Through this collaboration, she will be featured on major global stages, delivering keynote speeches on…

At least ten Palestinians were killed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on Wednesday, according to local health officials,  as Israel renewed its bombardment and issued fresh orders for residents in combat zones to evacuate. The airstrike targeted a United Nations facility in central Gaza City, killing one foreign national and wounding four others. The deaths were confirmed by Gaza’s health ministry. The Israeli military denied attacking the United Nations. compound in Deir al-Balah, saying the attack struck a Hamas location in northern Gaza where it was found that preparations were  being made to fire into Israel. One of the worst single days since the start of the conflict, Palestinian health officials recorded over 400 deaths  from Israeli strikes. After a ceasefire in January that Israel warned was just the start of its offensive, there was a brief period of relative calm before this spike in violence. The breakup of the truce, which had given Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants a temporary reprieve after 17 months of destruction, has sparked accusations between Israel and Hamas. While Hamas disputes these claims and accuses Israel of indiscriminate bombing campaigns, Israel has accused Hamas of using civilians as human shields. The Israeli military distributed leaflets in northern and southern Gaza on Wednesday, warning citizens to leave their homes because of the impending danger in areas that were deemed “combat zones.” According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hamas rejected plans to extend the ceasefire until April, which prompted the strikes. Israel has been accused by Hamas, which still holds 59 of the 250 hostages taken in the October 7, 2023 attack, of undermining efforts to reach a lasting peace agreement. In the meantime, King Abdullah of Jordan, speaking…