Author: Journalist Benedict

The Kenyan government has announced that it will be carrying out compulsory visits and mapping of all coffee farms across the country over the next two months. This exercise is part of efforts to meet the European Union’s new environmental standards, known as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which aim to stop products linked to deforestation from entering the European market. In an official statement released on Monday, July 28, the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) confirmed that this mapping initiative will be led by the EUDR Data Committee. This team will bring together several government agencies, including the State…

A section of Nairobi residents has officially started the process of recalling Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris by filing a petition with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). The move, led by activist Shakira Wafula, was initiated on Monday, July 28, and the electoral body confirmed receipt of the petition on the same day. According to Wafula and her team, Passaris should be recalled due to multiple alleged violations including abuse of office, failure to carry out her duties, disregard for constitutional principles, and breaking the public’s trust. The petition cites misconduct, a lack of integrity, failure to represent…

A diplomatic row is brewing between Kenya and Sudan after Khartoum accused Nairobi of violating its sovereignty by allegedly supporting the formation of a rival government by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a militia group currently at war with the Sudanese army. In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, July 28, Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the RSF’s declaration of a parallel government and criticized Kenya for reportedly facilitating meetings that led to the announcement. The Sudanese government described the RSF as a “terrorist militia” and called the move illegal and dangerous. According to Sudanese authorities, the RSF…

In a rather unusual mix of auction items, five companies—four based in Nairobi and one in Siaya—are preparing to sell off a wide range of uncollected goods, including police vehicles, crates of beer, household furniture, and even church chairs, within the next 30 days. The planned sales, which will be done either through public auctions or private treaties, were officially announced in a gazette notice dated Friday, July 25. Inchcape Limited, based on Lusaka Road in Nairobi, revealed that it plans to dispose of two government-registered vehicles as well as five other civilian cars that have been abandoned at its…

The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has issued a strong warning to all prospective applicants to stay alert and avoid being duped by fake social media accounts pretending to represent the placement service. In an official statement released on Monday, July 28, KUCCPS raised concern about the growing misuse of its name and logo on online platforms, especially on social media. The agency specifically called out a Facebook page operating under the name “Kuccps News,” warning the public that this page has no official link to KUCCPS and should not be trusted for any academic updates or…

Stephen Munyakho, a Kenyan man who had been on death row in Saudi Arabia for over a decade, has been granted freedom and is finally set to return home—thanks to a high-level diplomatic intervention by President William Ruto himself. According to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, President Ruto directly appealed to Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, to delay Munyakho’s execution while diplomatic efforts were underway. “Immediately after the death sentence was handed down, I formally reached out to the Saudi Foreign Minister on behalf of Mr. Munyakho, which led to the deferment of his execution,” Mudavadi…

Police Constable Klinzy Masinde Barasa, the officer accused of fatally shooting mask vendor Boniface Kariuki, has pleaded not guilty to murder charges at the Milimani Law Courts. Barasa appeared before the judge to answer to the serious accusations, firmly denying any wrongdoing in the fatal incident that has since sparked public outrage and renewed calls for police accountability. The shooting took place on June 25th during a peaceful gathering held in memory of lives lost during last year’s Gen-Z protests. The demonstrations, led by young Kenyans demanding justice, accountability, and reforms, had turned deadly in 2024, with several protestors losing…

Kenya’s Top Legal Minds: Breaking Down the Senior Counsel Title and Ongoing Legal Battles In Kenya, being named a Senior Counsel (SC) is one of the most prestigious titles a lawyer can earn—it’s considered the highest professional honor in the legal field. Think of it as reaching the very top of the legal ladder, a title reserved only for the most skilled, experienced, and respected advocates in the country. The Senior Counsel designation places a lawyer among a select group often called “legal eagles”—experts who are known for their sharp legal minds, commanding presence in the courtroom, and significant influence…

Allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua are now calling on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to launch investigations into what they are describing as police brutality in Murang’a County. This demand comes after a tense incident where police reportedly fired live bullets and tear gas at a group of leaders during a church service in Kigumo on Sunday, July 27. Addressing the press the following day, Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu and Nyandarua Senator John Methu led the charge, appealing to the international community and the ICC to intervene, claiming Kenya’s security forces were no longer neutral and had been…

Appeal Court Confirms Mandatory Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Membership for Lawyers The Court of Appeal has ruled that all lawyers in Kenya must continue being registered members of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) if they want to legally practice law in the country. This decision came on Friday, July 25, after the court dismissed an appeal from an advocate who had challenged the constitutionality of the Advocates Act. The lawyer who filed the appeal argued that being forced to join the LSK violated Article 36 of the Constitution, which grants every citizen the freedom to associate or not…