Author: KahawaTungu Reporter

Lebanon’s parliament has elected the country’s army chief as president, ending a power vacuum that has lasted more than two years. Joseph Aoun’s candidacy was backed by several political parties, as well as the US, France and Saudi Arabia. A rival backed by the Hezbollah militia withdrew on Wednesday and endorsed the commander. The presidency is a mainly ceremonial role which is reserved for a Christian under a sectarian power-sharing system. The election took place six weeks after Lebanon’s government agreed a ceasefire to end a devastating war between Israel and Hezbollah, which significantly weakened the Iran-backed Shia Muslim group.…

The High Court in Nairobi declared a section of the Penal Code that outlawed attempted suicide as being unconstitutional.  Justice Lawrence Mugambi said section 226 of the penal code shames victims of suicide ideation in the eyes of the community for actions that are beyond their mental control. He added this is a violation of Article 28 of the Constitution which states that every person has inherent dignity and the right to have that dignity respected and protected. “A declaration is hereby made that section 226 of the penal code is unconstitutional for violating article 27, 28 and 43 of…

Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal and Adam Brody are among the celebrities who have lost homes in the deadly wildfires raging in the Los Angeles area. More than 1,000 structures have been destroyed as six separate blazes burn in and around the city, which is dotted with film stars’ mansions. Some of the worst devastation was in the scenic enclave of Pacific Palisades, where a wind-whipped inferno exploded from several hundred acres to more than 15,000 in size since Tuesday. A swathe of the neighbourhood, which is a haven of hillside streets nestled against the Santa Monica Mountains and winding down to…

One of the matatus in Rongai nicknamed Money Fest owned by president William Ruto’s son, George Ruto was caught on camera deliberately breaking traffic rules along Magadi Road heading to Ongata Rongai in front of traffic officers. The flashy and well-known Public Service Vehicle (PSV) Moneyfest sparked widespread criticism after it was caught blatantly breaking traffic rules along Magadi Road heading toward Ongata Rongai. Police have complained they are harassed by those close to the First Family whenever they take action on the matatus linked to them. “They call to threaten you and demand the release of the vehicle detained.…

Ugandan nanny accused of stealing from her employer in Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate, was arraigned on two robbery charges, including theft of gold. Everline Nabalyo Loice alias Eva appeared before the Makadara Law Courts where she was charged, jointly with another not before court, with violently robbing Hakimo Muhidin Ali of a mobile phone valued at Sh30,000. Further, the court heard that the accused was armed with an offensive weapon namely a hammer, which she used to hit at her target. Nabalyo who was arrested at Kariokor in Nairobi while attempting to board a Kampala bound bus, was also charged, with…

The results for the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations are expected to be released Thursday January 8 in Nairobi. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba will preside over the event which had been delayed for weeks. Officials at the ministry said all was set for the event. He had announced in December 2024 that the results will be released in the second week of January 2025. He explained there was no delay in the process of releasing the results. “If any, the students are to report to universities and other colleges from June. There is no delay,” he…

Four-year-old twins were burnt beyond recognition after a fierce fire gutted down their house in Murinduko, Mwea East sub-county in Kirinyaga County. Police and witnesses said the boy and girl had been left at home with their grandmother when the incident happened on Wednesday. Their mother at the time had gone to look for a school where they were supposed to join a playgroup. The grandmother then left the minors in the house and went to the farm at around 3:00 pm only to hear a loud bang followed by smoke billowing from the house. Neighbours rushed to the scene…

A man and woman are separately admitted to hospitals in a case of attempted murder and suicide in Nairobi’s Greenfield estate, Donholm, Nairobi. The man was stabbed and seriously wounded before he jumped from the balcony of his first-floor house for his safety. He had engaged a woman believed to be his wife in a fight in their house on Wednesday morning before the woman chased her to the balcony while armed with a kitchen knife. Witnesses said the man ran out screaming for help before he jumped to the ground floor and was later rushed to hospital with stab…

Tragedy struck a construction site when a female casual worker died after she was hit by a falling piece of wood in Parklands, Nairobi. Agripina Khayesi, 29 was among more than a dozen workers at the construction site when the incident happened on Wednesday January 8 evening. She was on the ground floor of the structure under construction when the piece of timber fell off and hit her on the head, witnesses said. She was rushed to hospital where she succumbed due the head injuries. Police visited the scene and the hospital before the body was moved to the mortuary.…

Raging wildfires surrounding Los Angeles spread to the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday, after five other fires in the area killed at least five people, destroyed hundreds of homes and stretched firefighting resources and water supplies to the limit. More than 100,000 people were ordered to evacuate as dry, hurricane-force winds hindered firefighting operations and spread the fires, which have burned parched terrain almost unimpeded since they began on Tuesday. A new fire broke out in the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday evening, Fire Chief Kristin Crowley told a press conference, forcing more evacuations and raising to six the number of wildfires…

Police at the US Capitol building arrested a man with a machete and three knives as he attempted to enter through a checkpoint Wednesday. Capitol Police said the machete was spotted by an X-ray machine at an entrance to the building’s visitor centre. The knives were found during a search of his bag, police said in a statement posted online. The man, who police did not name, was arrested on multiple charges of carrying a dangerous weapon. The arrest came shortly before a visit by President-elect Donald Trump, who planned to meet Senate Republicans. Trump also was scheduled to view…

South African actress and singer Winnie Khumalo has died at the age 51 after a short illness, her family has announced. The Afropop singer was known for her long musical career which began in the 1980s, and also appeared in popular South African TV series. She is best known for her hit song Live My Life and has collaborated with prominent South African artists including the late Brenda Fassie. Her sister Tshepi Akeepile said the singer died on Tuesday on the way to hospital. “My sister was sick. She did have a short illness and we really thought she was…

A court has ordered Inspector General of police Douglas Kanja to produce in court four Mlolongo missing men.  Justice Chacha Mwita issued the orders in a petition filed by the Law Society of Kenya for the unconditional release of Justus Mutumwa, Martin Mwau, Karani Mwema, and Stephen Mbisi Kavingo, who were picked at Mlolongo and whose whereabouts are unknown to date. The IG was further ordered to present them personally in court on January 13, 2025. The families of the four young men, missing for 22 days, are gripped by fear and uncertainty about their sons’ fates. They were abducted…

The co-chair of the independent body that reviews Facebook and Instagram content has said she is “very concerned” about how parent company Meta’s decision to ditch fact checkers will affect minority groups. Helle Thorning-Schmidt, from Meta’s oversight board, told the BBC she welcomed aspects of the shake-up, which will see users decide about the accuracy of posts via X-style “community notes”. However speaking on Today, on BBC Radio Four, she added there were “huge problems” with what had been announced, including the potential impact on the LGBTQ+ community, as well as gender and trans rights. “We are seeing many instances…

France has said the European Union will not allow other nations to attack its “sovereign borders”, after US President-Elect Donald Trump refused to rule out using military force to seize Greenland.  On Tuesday, Trump reiterated his desire to acquire the autonomous Danish territory, saying it was “critical” for national and economic security. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told French radio “there is obviously no question that the European Union would let other nations of the world attack its sovereign borders, whoever they are”. Barrot said he did not believe the US was going to invade the vast Arctic island, but…

The King and Queen of the Netherlands His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima are scheduled to visit Kenya for a three-day state visit from March 18 to March 20, 2025.  A communiqué from the Royal House of the Netherlands said the visit is at President William Ruto’s invitation and represents a watershed moment in the two countries’ relationship. This will be the Dutch monarchs’ first state visit to Kenya, reflecting the two countries’ strong and long-standing relationship. The statement said the priority is to foster new partnerships and deepen existing collaboration in areas such as sustainable agriculture,…