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FILE PHOTO: A fountain with a statue is seen outside the Supreme Court in Nairobi, Kenya, August 20, 2021. In Summary: Kenya's Supreme Court has issued a "conservatory order" suspending the Court of Appeal's judgment that declared the Finance Act 2023 unconstitutional. This decision allows President Ruto's administration to continue implementing the Act while the legal process unfolds, with a hearing scheduled for September 10 and 11, 2024. In a significant development, Kenya's Supreme Court has suspended the Court of Appeal's recent judgment that had declared the Finance Act 2023 "fundamentally flawed" and "unconstitutional." The Supreme Court stated, "A conservatory order is hereby issued suspending and staying the declarations… issued in the Court of Appeal judgme...

Meru MCA Zipporah Kinya presents her testimony during the Senate hearing on Governor Kawira Mwangaza's impeachment on Monday, August 19, 2024. Image: SENATE/X In Summary: Meru County Assembly's Deputy Majority Leader, Zipporah Kinya, detailed an attempt by arsonists to set fire to the County Assembly while she and other members were inside The attack occurred on the eve of the impeachment motion against Governor Kawira Mwangaza, with additional threats directed at Kinya. During the Senate hearing for Governor Kawira Mwangaza's impeachment, Meru County Assembly's Deputy Majority Leader, Zipporah Kinya, shared a distressing account of an attempted arson at the County Assembly. She described how an individual threw a petrol bomb onto the assembly's roof late on the night bef...

Businessman Jimmy Wanjigi in handcuffs at the DCI headquarters in Nairobi In Summary: Police stated Wanjigi's arrest followed confirmation that six rifles found at his home were unlicensed. Wanjigi will be prosecuted on Tuesday, August 20, despite court orders barring his arrest. Businessman Jimi Wanjigi was Monday arrested and will be detained at Kamukunji Police Station over allegations of illegal firearm possession. The police stated that they arrested him after the Firearms Licensing Board confirmed that six rifles found at his home were not licensed. A senior officer said, “The chairman licensing board advised us to take legal action against him over the illegal possession of the firearms and that is why he is being detained.” The officer further stated tha...

A utility pole carrying electrical wires for distribution seen in Nairobi, Kenya. IMAGE FILE: Kenya Power In Summary: Scheduled power interruptions will affect various areas in Homa Bay and Nyeri on Friday. The interruptions are necessary for system maintenance, lasting between 8 am and 5 pm in Nyeri and 9 am to 4 pm in Homa Bay. Get breaking news straight to your phone on Our new WhatsApp channel. Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has announced scheduled power interruptions on Friday, targeting several areas in Homa Bay and Nyeri. The power cuts are intended to facilitate essential system maintenance, ensuring reliable electricity distribution. In Homa Bay, the affected areas include Majiwa, Masakla, Kager, Otaro, Ohero, God Kado, Kager Hills, Oneno, Ngulu, L...

Fire in Kibra on Wednesday night, August 14, leaves several families homeless. IMAGE | Courtesy In Summary: A late-night fire in Mashimoni, Kibra, left several families homeless after destroying dozens of houses. The fire was contained by the combined efforts of the community, KDF, and Nairobi County Fire and Emergency teams. Get breaking news straight to your phone on Our new WhatsApp channel. Several families were displaced when a fire broke out in the Mashimoni area of Kibra, Nairobi, on the night of Wednesday, August 14, destroying numerous homes. According to an update from the Kenya Red Cross, the fire started at around 11:35 p.m., prompting the dispatch of emergency response teams to the scene. "Incident Alert at 11:35 PM: A fire incident has been reported at Ma...

A collage featuring images of the gunmen recorded on the night of August 12, 2024, alongside the residence of Joseph Kimani. IMAGE: Joseph Kimani In Summary: CCTV footage captures armed individuals, purportedly police officers, abducting a father and son in separate incidents. The abductions transpired following a court's decision to grant bail in a Ksh1.5 billion fraud case involving the son. Get breaking political news straight to your phone on Our new WhatsApp channel. In a startling development from Murang'a County, 60-year-old Joseph Kimani Machiri was reportedly abducted from his residence in Kairi, Mathioya Constituency, on the night of Tuesday, August 12, 2024. Surveillance footage reveals heavily armed men, believed to be police officers, infiltrating Kimani's...

Treasury CS John Mbadi (right) alongside IMF Kenya representative Selim Cakir.IMAGE: National Treasury/X (formerly known as Twitter). In Summary: Treasury CS John Mbadi met with IMF representative Selim Cakir, emphasizing the IMF's role in Kenya's economic stability The meeting triggered public outcry on social media, with Kenyans expressing concerns about IMF policies and Kenya's growing debt burden. Get latest news straight to your phone on Our new WhatsApp channel. On Wednesday, August 14, Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS) John Mbadi met with Selim Cakir, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) representative in Kenya. Following the meeting, the National Treasury highlighted the critical role that institutions like the IMF play in sustaining Kenya's economic stability a...

Police officers storm Businessman Jimi Wanjigi's Muthaiga residence on Friday, August 9, 2024, as captured in this screengrab In Summary: Armed police officers raided Jimi Wanjigi's Muthaiga home, causing a tense confrontation with his family. Wanjigi's wife was heard pleading with the officers not to use violence, while his lawyer questioned the necessity of a repeated search. Jimi Wanjigi's Muthaiga residence was the site of a dramatic encounter on Friday when heavily armed police officers conducted a raid. The officers searched through various rooms in the home in an attempt to apprehend Wanjigi, a well-known Nairobi businessman. Police officers camped outside Jimi Wanjigi's home in Muthaiga, Nairobi. PHOTO: Handout. In a video seen by Topnews.co.ke, Wanji...

President William Ruto announces his Cabinet Secretary nominees at State House in Nairobi, Kenya, on July 24, 2024, following nationwide protests over new taxes. IMAGE: William Ruto In Summary: Investors are increasingly avoiding Kenyan Treasury bills and bonds, intensifying the government's fiscal challenges after its pivot to domestic borrowing following the abandonment of tax hikes. Kenya's fiscal outlook is becoming increasingly precarious as risk-averse investors shy away from long-dated Treasury bills and bonds, according to recent data from the Central Bank of Kenya. This trend is exacerbating the government's financial woes as it struggles to pivot to domestic borrowing following the abandonment of controversial tax increases. The latest debt sale, held on August ...

In Summary: Police set up roadblocks across key routes leading to Nairobi CBD to prevent protesters from entering. Tensions escalated as officers used teargas to disperse crowds, and several arrests were made. On Thursday, Nairobi witnessed heightened security as police ramped up measures to prevent access to the Central Business District (CBD) amid the planned 'Nane Nane' protests. Key routes leading into the city, including Mombasa Road, Thika Road, and Jogoo Road, were heavily guarded with roadblocks, where vehicles were subjected to thorough inspections, and some, including public service vehicles (PSVs), were turned away. In particular, a roadblock at the GM roundabout on Mombasa Road and another at Bunyala Roundabout saw police restricting entry into the CBD. Me...