Government has extended the funding application deadline for 2023 KCSE candidates joining universities in 2024/2025 academic year to 15th August 2024.
In a statement, Higher Education Principal Secretary Dr. Beatrice Muganda noted that under the New Funding Model, government funding will be allocated based on individual student need.
“Starting August 19th 2024, parents and guardians will be informed of the university fees or household contributions towards the cost of university programmes.” She stated.
Dr. Muganda stressed that government support will be available only to those who apply for funding.
The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Services (KUCCUPS) placed 153,275 students from the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) 2023 cohort in public and private universities.
According to the statement, the Ministry of Education opened the application portal for scholarships and loans for the 2023 KCSE cohort on June 18, 2024 and the application process has been ongoing.
As of August 4th, 2024, a total of 79,038 university students had applied for both loans and scholarships but 74,237 university students are yet to apply for funding.
While urging students who are yet to apply for funding to apply, Dr. Muganda reiterated government’s committed to providing quality and affordable education to students in Universities as well as Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions TVETs.
“Under the Leave No. One Behind framework, we urge all students who have not yet applied for loans and scholarships to do so by visiting http://www.hef.co.ke ” She added.
Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on Monday, ending 15 years in power as thousands of protesters defied a military curfew and stormed her official residence.
Shortly after local media showed the embattled leader boarding a military helicopter with her sister, Bangladesh’s military chief Gen. Waker-uz-Zaman announced plans to seek the president’s guidance on forming interim government.
He promised that the military would stand down, and to launch an investigation into the deadly crackdowns that fueled outrage against the government, and asked citizens for time to restore peace.
“Keep faith in the military, we will investigate all the killings and punish the responsible,” he said. “I have ordered that no army and police will indulge in any kind of firing.”
“Now, the students’ duty is to stay calm and help us,” he added.
The protests began peacefully as frustrated students demanded an end to a quota system for government jobs, but the demonstrations have since morphed into an unprecedented challenge and uprising against Hasina and her ruling Awami League party.
The government attempted to quell the violence with force, leaving nearly 300 people dead and fueling further outrage and calls for Hasina to step down.
At least 95 people, including at least 14 police officers, died in clashes in the capital on Sunday, according to the country’s leading Bengali-language daily newspaper, Prothom Alo. Hundreds more were injured in the violence.
At least 11,000 people have been arrested in recent weeks. The unrest has also resulted in the closure of schools and universities across the country, and authorities at one point imposed a shoot-on-sight curfew.
Over the weekend, protesters called for a “non-cooperation” effort, urging people not to pay taxes or utility bills and not to show up for work on Sunday, a working day in Bangladesh. Offices, banks and factories opened, but commuters in Dhaka and other cities faced challenges getting to their jobs.
Hasina offered to talk with student leaders on Saturday, but a coordinator refused and announced a one-point demand for her resignation. Hasina repeated her pledges to investigate the deaths and punish those responsible for the violence. She said she was ready to sit down whenever the protesters want.
Authorities shut off mobile internet on Sunday in an attempt to quell the unrest, while the broadband internet was cut off briefly Monday morning. It was the second internet blackout in the country after the protests turned deadly in July.
On Monday, after three hours of suspension of broadband services, both broadband and mobile internet returned.
Hasina had said protesters who engaged in “sabotage” and destruction were no longer students but criminals, and she said the people should deal with them with iron hands.
The 76-year-old was elected for a fourth consecutive term in a January vote that was boycotted by her main opponents, triggering questions over how free and fair the vote was. Thousands of opposition members were jailed in the lead-up to the polls, which the government defended as democratically held.
Today, she is the longest-serving leader in the history of Bangladesh, a predominantly Muslim nation of over 160 million people strategically located between India and Myanmar.
Her political opponents have previously accused her of growing increasingly autocratic and called her a threat to the country’s democracy, and many now say the unrest is a result of her authoritarian streak and hunger for control at all costs.
Jamaican dancehall powerhouse and icon Vybz Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, walked free from prison on July 31, 2024 after 13 years and his health condition have left many fans in shock and disbelief. He is grappling with an autoimmune disease called Graves’ Disease that has caused his face noticeably swollen.
Although his conviction was overturned months ago by the Privy Council in London, authorities in Jamaica had time to decide whether he should be retried.
The Jamaica Court of Appeal decided against ordering a retrial for his 2014 murder conviction, setting the stage for his release.
Kartel’s return to the public eye has sparked a wave of concern and curiosity, especially regarding his health. He now looks strikingly different from his pre-prison days.
His once-familiar features are marred by a swollen face and an alarming change in appearance.
The dancehall star’s health issues are severe. He’s grappling with significant thyroid problems and heart issues, compounded by Graves’ Disease, an autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism.
According to a medical affidavit obtained by FOX 5 in May 2023, his condition has worsened over time. Doctors have urgently recommended surgery due to the progression of his disease and related heart troubles.
Dr. Karen Phillips, Kartel’s private physician, has stressed the need for immediate surgery, noting that his thyroid condition has not improved with medication.
His health problems are visibly evident, with his neck and face swelling noticeably. His defense team described his condition in stark terms:
“His neck is so swollen that it’s like trying to fasten a shirt collar that’s way too tight. His face is puffy, and his glasses make his eyes appear protruding.”
Kartel’s legal troubles began in 2011 when he was convicted for the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams, whose body has never been found.
The “World Boss” conviction involved a dispute over two unreturned firearms and implicated co-defendants Shawn Campbell, Kahira Jones, and Andre St. John.
The harsh prison conditions, described as “inhumane” by human rights attorney Isat Buchanan, have further strained his health.
In their recent decision, the Jamaica Court of Appeal chose not to order a retrial, citing the long time elapsed since the crime, the lack of available witnesses, and financial limitations.
As Vybz Kartel begins this new chapter of his life, both his musical legacy and the serious health challenges he faces are under intense scrutiny.
What led to imprisonment of Vybz Kartel
The “World Boss” as he is popularly known was jailed for the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams in Jamaica but has always maintained his innocence.
In 2014, the trial revealed that Clive Williams and another man, Lamar Chow, had been entrusted with two unlicensed firearms belonging to Vybz Kartel for safekeeping.
When the men failed to return the guns on schedule, prosecutors claimed they were summoned to Kartel’s house in August 2011.
Chow testified that they were attacked at the house, and the last thing he saw was Clive Williams, who has never been seen alive again, lying motionless on the ground.
The house was destroyed by fire shortly afterward, and Williams’ body was never recovered.
Despite maintaining their innocence, Kartel and his co-defendants: Shawn Campbell, Kahira Jones, and Andre St. John—were convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Kartel was given a minimum term of 35 years.
Some of Vybz Kartel’s hit songs
Clarks, Rambo Kanambo, Summer Time, Romping Shop, Conjugal Rights, Fever, Coloring Book, Jeans and Fitted
Mining and Blue Economy nominee Hassan Joho has firmly denied allegations linking him to drug trafficking, asserting that he conducts legitimate business activities.
During his vetting by the National Assembly Committee on Appointments for a cabinet position, Joho faced tough questions regarding past allegations that have dogged his career.
The People’s Movement for Human Rights, led by its director Karanja Murai, submitted a memorandum to Parliament contesting Joho’s nomination as a Cabinet Secretary based on these allegations.
“I want to assure you that I engage in clean business activities—businesses that are transparent, auditable, and visible,” Joho stated. “When someone talks about the report, they should have the facts.”
In 2010, then-US ambassador Michael Ranneberger announced travel sanctions on several Kenyan politicians suspected of drug trafficking, including former MPs Harun Mwau, Gideon Mbuvi, Hassan Joho, and William Kabogo.
These individuals were named in a US drugs probe, and the Kenyan government confirmed receiving this information from the US embassy after the late Internal Security Minister George Saitoti tabled the list in Parliament.
Joho refuted these claims during the vetting, explaining that he was exonerated after thorough investigations.
“Saitoti tabled a report based on information passed to him through the American Embassy. The dossier was investigated, and Saitoti later returned to Parliament with a report that found no evidence against me,” he said.
“I’m not a fool; I come from a family blessed with businesses, and I thank God for what I have. That investigation was concluded.”
The former Mombasa Governor insisted that the matter must be put to rest, accusing political adversaries of using these allegations to undermine his career. “The irony is the selective use of records against me. If there were any validity to these claims, there would have been subsequent legal action,” Joho argued.
“This issue needs a permanent closure. When I was campaigning in 2013, there were billboards urging people not to vote for a ‘baron’ but for change.”
Joho emphasized his clean record, noting that despite the US dossier on drug trafficking, he was granted a visa to travel to the United States.
“Immediately after that report, I received a US visa to accompany you during your tenure as Foreign CS. I plan to travel to the United States, Canada, and Australia to seek investors,” Joho said.
Legislators also questioned Joho about his past political feud with former President Uhuru Kenyatta, highlighting their public clashes and speculations that the animosity was related to “unclean business” dealings.
Joho remains one of the few politicians who openly criticized a sitting president.
“As governor, I was the sharpest critic of the Jubilee government and had personal altercations with them. Don’t you think if I were engaged in illegal activities, I wouldn’t have survived that regime?” Joho asked rhetorically.
Joho was also a vocal critic of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), claiming it would harm businesses at the Coast. He opposed plans to develop the Naivasha dry port in Nakuru County, arguing it lacked economic sense.
On March 13, 2017, tensions between Joho and Kenyatta were high when the President told Joho to stop “following him around,” saying he (Uhuru) was not his “wife.” Kenyatta warned Joho, “He should not play with us, or else we will teach him a lesson.”
Despite their rocky past, Joho and Kenyatta have since reconciled, finding common political ground and putting their differences behind them.
Hassan Joho, the nominee for the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs, confronted persistent allegations regarding his academic credentials during a vetting session with the National Assembly’s Committee on Appointments.
These allegations have resurfaced each time he has pursued a public office. Lawmakers pressed the former Mombasa Governor to clarify his educational background, which has been the subject of scrutiny since 2007 when he first sought a parliamentary seat.
The controversy was reignited after Joho revealed that he is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the prestigious Harvard Kennedy School.
“I drew my inspiration from Professor Ali Mazrui, who didn’t succeed at his Cambridge level to get admitted for a first degree but is now a renowned scholar. There’s no way you can’t admire him for his contributions to the well-being of our society,” Joho stated.
“Historical struggles are real, and no one should imagine there is a level playing field for those coming from places of comfort.”
Joho, the former Deputy Party Leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), lamented that his political opponents have repeatedly attempted to derail his career by challenging his academic credentials.
He recounted an incident during the 2013 Mombasa gubernatorial race where influential individuals allegedly attempted to bribe professors at Gretsa University in Thika, where he obtained his second degree, to invalidate his qualifications.
“This question arises every time I have an opportunity to achieve something. It started in 2007 when they claimed my nursery and secondary school certificates were fake,” Joho explained.
“In my quest to become governor, some people tried to suspend my degree and pretend to conduct an investigation just to ensure I missed the deadlines to submit my papers,” he added.
Joho described the constant challenges he faces each time he seeks a public or state office.
He emphasized that all relevant government bodies, including the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Commission for University Education, have scrutinized his credentials without finding any discrepancies.
“No government institution, including the EACC and the Commission for University Education, has ever found fault with my credentials. Watch this space: if I am approved, the next time I come for vetting, I will have a PhD. If God wills it and I return for vetting, I will be Dr. Hassan Joho,” he declared confidently.
“Those who wanted me out have lost, and they cannot take what is rightfully mine. They lost!” Joho exclaimed.
Joho shared with the Committee on Appointments that he financed his own secondary education due to his determination to become educated, as his parents could not afford it because of financial difficulties.
“Some of us come from very poor backgrounds. If you look at my CV, you will see I had to take a break for a year between primary and secondary school. Why? Because my parents couldn’t pay my fees,” he explained.
The nominee for Mining and Blue Economy urged young people not to be discouraged from pursuing education due to their financial background or academic performance, emphasizing that learning is a lifelong process.
“Your hope should not die because of past struggles. We suffered, but I take pride in turning my life around when I found even the slightest opportunity for self-improvement, which is a continual process. I seized it,” Joho stated.
Despite scoring a D- in his secondary education, Joho expressed pride in his academic achievements, noting that he is on track to obtain a master’s degree from one of the world’s most prestigious universities.
“Yes, I did not perform well in secondary school, scoring a D- no doubt, but I turned that around. Today, I hold two degrees, and I am on my way to obtaining a master’s degree from the most prestigious university in the world. That is the achievement of determination,” he concluded.
When the economy gets tough most businesses make moves to save their bottom line. Unemployment shoots through the roof as jobs are cut, bonuses evaporate into thin air, promised salary increases are withdrawn and whatever plans you were making are put on hold as you are forced to re-evaluate your priorities. Gen X, Millennials and Gen Zs have lived through 4 major global economic shocks from the 2008 global recession to the most recent global health crisis.
In such times important life choices are either validated or proven to be false hopes. For example, people who saved up and bought a home find they are in a better position than those who did not as rental responsibility evolves into a serious burden. While those who own homes may also find it difficult to seek employment away from their homes while those who rent pick up and move to wherever the opportunity is. While situations may vary from person to person everyone can agree that checking your bank account and finding a monthly deduction to your balance can be bad on a good day but disastrous in tough times. Unfortunately, a majority of bank customers have been going through tough times for a long time.
So what should you look for when opening a bank account for the good times and the tough times?
1. No Ledger Fees/Monthly Fees
Believe it or not there was a time when you would pay a bank just to have a bank account. This fee was known as ledger fee and it was charged monthly and could apply to personal, business and forex accounts. For example, you receive Ksh. 35,000 to your salary account but at the beginning of every month you notice a deduction of Ksh. 400 under monthly account maintenance fees.
In a good month when you receive a travel allowance or a side gig you won’t mind or notice the deducted Ksh. 300 but in a bad month that amount will mentally irritate you. It’s bus fare, KPLC tokens or even small money to send to your shosho for sadaka on Sunday.
While charging monthly account maintenance fees is great business for the bank it can be terrible for you…the customer.This is one of the main reasons customers close their bank accounts.
Choosing a bank which does not charge monthly account maintenance fees could be a good move for personal, retail, commercial and SME clients in both good times and tough times.
2. No Minimum Balance conditions
Instead of imposing a monthly account maintenance fee, some banks will encourage you to keep your bank balance above a certain amount. This behavior is something Gen Xs are familiar with and could be tolerated back when only a handful of banks operated in Kenya. If your balance was below this amount you would be asked to pay the monthly account maintenance fees or in the extreme cases your account was closed for you by the bank.
As you choose a bank, especially for your business, investments, savings and premium transactions make sure you read the fine print and ensure there is no minimum balance or ledger fees.
Find a bank that works for you without exploiting your hard earned money.
3. Low transaction costs
Let’s be honest, at the end of the day a bank is a business and it has to make money. One way banks make money is through transaction costs charged when you transfer money, make payments, clear cheques, use an AT card or process loans. However, not all banks charge the same transaction costs for each service.
Find a bank that has relatively low transaction costs and where possible a threshold for zero transactions on the accounts that matter most to you. NCBA Bank has rolled out a number of changes for existing and new accounts including no monthly account maintenance fees for business, salary and platinum accounts.
NCBA is also one of the banks that does not apply minimum balance allowing you to open an account that suits your personal and business needs. This makes it a true ‘no-ledger’ bank which makes it a bank you should consider when choosing your bank.
Other things to consider are additional services and products such as digital and online banking to suit both on the go and regular lifestyles. NCBA Bank also has tailor-made business solutions for SME, commercial and asset financing which makes no monthly maintenance fees an added bonus regardless of the size of your operation be it personal, salary, SME or business.
A good bank looks at its bottom line, a great bank works for its customer’s bottom line. With the new changes NCBAshows its looking out for you…the customer.
Two former employees of the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) were charged Tuesday in the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court with offenses related to procurement law violations and abuse of office.
The two, Pamela Nduku Mutua, former Managing Director and Amos Juma Sikuku, former Supply Chain and Logistics Manager, face charges of Wilful Failure to Comply with Procurement Laws and Abuse of Office, respectively.
According to a statement by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP), Pamela Nduku Mutua is charged with five counts of Wilful Failure to Comply with procurement regulations.
The court heard that as Managing Director and Accounting Officer, she failed to report to the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority after the issuance of Notifications of Awards to Purma Holdings Limited, Multi Commerce FZC, Standard Petroleum LLC, and Makram Imports & Exports.
ODPP also claims that she allegedly did not obtain the necessary approvals before commencing the procurement of bulk commodities.
Amos Juma Sikuku is accused of having issued a prejudicial professional opinion in a tender for bulk commodities procurement, allegedly compromising the interests and rights of the Republic.
They are alleged to have committed the offences between November 8, 2022, and December 5, 2022, within the Republic of Kenya.
Both accused individuals pleaded not guilty to the charges before Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzyoki.
The Magistrate granted Pamela Nduku Mutua bail of KSh 1.5 Million or a bond of Ksh. 5 million with one surety of the same amount while Amos Juma Sikuku on the other hand was granted bail of Ksh. 500,000 or a bond of Ksh. 1 million.
They were also ordered to deposit their passports with the court and warned not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.
The case prosecuted by Wesley Nyamache and Delroy Mwasaru, is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on August 12, 2024.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Iran on Wednesday, the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards said in separate statements.
The Islamist faction mourned the death of Haniyeh, who it said was killed in “a treacherous Zionist raid on his residence in Tehran”.
Hanieh attended Iran’s new president’s swearing in ceremony on Tuesday.
“Early this morning, the residence of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran was struck, resulting in his and one of his body guards’ martyrdom. The cause is under investigation and will be announced soon,” the Revolutionary Guards said.
President William Ruto has reiterated that Kenya is a nation that believes in the rule of law, and cannot therefore tolerate instances where some people instigate chaos to disrupt law and order.
In an apparent reference to widespread anti-government protests which characterized the last couple of weeks, Ruto who was in Tana River County said under his leadership, he will “never allow a few people to cause mayhem, anarchy, destroy property, and burn down government buildings,”
He maintained that he won’t let the country stall much as the constitution allows expression of misgivings by citizens.
“Kuna watu wanafikiria watatufanyia maandamano Kenya isimame. Hii Kenya itasimama kweli? Kenya itasonga mbele,” he remarked
“Mimi nataka niwaambie, hatuwezi kuruhusu taifa letu lifanyiwe karata ya pata potea, watu wafanye maandamano, walete maafa na uharibifu wa mali, wachome manyumba ya serikali kwa sababu ya mambo ya kibinafsi,” said Ruto
The head of state once again affirmed his position that change of leadership can only be undertaken through an electoral process where voters chose those they believe can represent their interests and that no other means can be exploited to achieve this end.
“Kenya ni nchi ya demokrasia na wananachi na wanaamua viongozi kutoka MCA, mpaka rais. Uongozi wa Kenya hauamuliwi kwa fujo, kwa social media, kwa maandamano, na kwa vita,” he said
He further defended his decision to form a broad-based government incorporating some members of the opposition to his cabinet.
“Wakenya wanasema tuungane tupeleke Kenya mbele. Ndio juzi mimi nimetengeneza serikali ya kuunganisha Wakenya wote. Na nimesema Wakenya kutoka kila jamii, sehemu, na mrengo, tutaungana ili kuhakikisha ya kwamba Kenya inapiga hatua ya kwenda mbele,” he said
“The interest of the Republish of Kenya comes first before any other interest, political or otherwise,” noted the head of state
A new “vaccine-like” HIV drug could cost as little as $40 (Sh4,225) according to new research.
Lenacapavir, an antiretroviral drug developed by US pharmaceutical company, Gilead, currently costs $42,250 (Sh 5,519,166) for the first year for patients in the US, France, Norway and Australia.
The drug that is described as “the closest we have ever been to an HIV vaccine” could cost $40 (Sh4,225) annually for each patient, 1,000 times less than the current price, research suggests.
Early trials have shown that treatment offers full protection to more than 5,000 women in South Africa and Uganda, according to results announced last month by Gilead.
Lenacapavir is given by injection twice a year and can prevent infection and suppress HIV in those who are already infected.
The UN program, UNAIDS, said it could “herald a breakthrough for HIV prevention” if the drug was “rapidly and affordably” available.
There were 1.3 million new HIV infections last year, while 39 million people are living with the virus, according to the World Health Organization.
Kenya, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has announced its readiness to submit Azimio leader Raila Odinga’s application for the position of Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC).
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei shared on his X account that Kenya is set to forward Raila’s Curriculum Vitae and vision statement to the commission for evaluation.
“All-Set-Go!” the PS said while sharing a photo of Raila’s Curriculum Vitae and Vision Statement booklets.
Raila’s bid for the AU post has received support from the government, which has established a campaign secretariat led by the State Department for Foreign Affairs.
The secretariat is in the process of organizing outreach programs to AU member states and preparing for a public debate to be broadcast live to African citizens six months before the election date.
“The campaigns are led by the state with highly experienced and knowledgeable officers. The State Department for Foreign Affairs has established a campaign secretariat which includes Raila Odinga’s strategy team,” said Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
Kenyan ambassadors across the continent are also under instructions from President William Ruto to popularize Raila’s AUC chairmanship bid to ensure he clinches the seat in February 2025.
If successful, Raila Odinga will replace former Chad Prime Minister Moussa Faki, whose term ends in February.
Wiper party leader and Azimio la Umoja One Kenya principal, Kalonzo Musyoka, has announced his intention to challenge President William Ruto in the 2027 general election.
Kalonzo reiterated his commitment to remain in opposition, asserting that his conscience would not allow him to join government.
“My conscience will not allow me. For the love of this nation, we will stand firm. Even William Ruto knows that Kalonzo will be his opponent; he knows this clearly,” Kalonzo stated.
Kalonzo spoke on Friday during a visit to the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa in Kihome, Othaya Constituency, Nyeri County, where he attended a symbolic priesthood ceremony for Prophetess Leah Overflow.
Leaders accompanying the wiper leader including Jeremiah Kioni and Eugene Wamalwa declared Kalonzo as their leader saying they have released Azimio leader Raila Odinga to contest for African Union Commission Chairmanship.
“We have released Raila to contest for the AU Commission Chair, but we will continue working with Kalonzo Musyoka in the opposition to keep the government in check,” Wamalwa said.
Kalonzo’s resolute stance comes in the wake of President Ruto’s reconstitution of Cabinet to include four members from the ODM party.
Raila has however maintained that neither the ODM Party not has entered into a coalition agreement with Ruto’s UDA party.
“Neither the ODM Party nor Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party has entered into any coalition agreement with President Ruto’s UDA party. We had anticipated the crafting of clear terms of engagement based on issues we raised in our various communiques,” Raila stated.
The four ODM nominees include MP and ODM Chairman John Mbadi (Treasury), Hassan Joho (Mining), Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives), and Opiyo Wandayi (Energy).
Former U.S. President Donald Trump touted his close relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu when he hosted the Israeli prime minister on Friday and accused U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris of making “disrespectful” comments about the Gaza war.
Netanyahu met Trump, the Republican nominee in the 2024 U.S. presidential race, a day after talks with Democratic President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who is running against Trump in the Nov. 5 U.S. election.
Trump greeted Netanyahu and his wife Sara at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida resort, and criticized Harris, who had voiced concern after meeting the Israeli leader about the toll on Palestinian civilians from Israel’s 9-month-old campaign in Gaza.
“I think her remarks were disrespectful,” Trump said.
Netanyahu said he hoped his U.S. trip would lead to a quicker ceasefire deal.
“I hope so. But I think time will tell,” he told reporters. He said he thought there had been movement in efforts to forge a ceasefire because of Israeli military pressure and said he would dispatch a team to talks in Rome.
Netanyahu had angered Trump when he congratulated Biden on his victory over Trump in the 2020 election. Trump falsely claims the election was stolen from him by voter fraud.
Trump more recently criticized Netanyahu for Israeli security failures that enabled Hamas to carry out the Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the Israeli offensive in Gaza.
Trump dismissed any suggestion of tensions with Netanyahu.
“We have a very good relationship,” he said, noting policy changes during his presidency including moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and pulling the United States out of the international nuclear deal with Iran.
Opinion polls put Harris and Trump in a close race for the White House, prompting world leaders like Netanyahu, traditionally more aligned with Trump’s Republicans than Biden’s Democrats, to strike a balance in dealings with the U.S.
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION A ‘SERIOUS CONCERN,’ HARRIS SAYS
Harris had pressed Netanyahu on the suffering of Palestinians in the enclave in talks on Thursday that were watched for signs of how she might shift American policy if she becomes president.
“I made clear my serious concern about the dire humanitarian situation there,” Harris said. “I will not be silent.”
“Israel has a right to defend itself. And how it does so matters,” she said.
Members of Netanyahu’s delegation were disappointed by some of Harris’ remarks in private and in public out of concern that it showed “daylight” between the governments and could signal how relations would develop if she wins the presidency, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Netanyahu heads a far-right-leaning coalition government opposed to Palestinian statehood, a policy at odds with U.S. support for a two-state solution to ending decades of conflict.
In defiant remarks to Congress on Wednesday, Netanyahu defended Israel’s military and dismissed criticism of a campaign which has devastated Gaza and killed more than 39,000 people, according to health officials in the Hamas-ruled enclave.
Dozens of Democrats boycotted Netanyahu’s speech, voicing dismay over the thousands of civilian deaths in Gaza, destruction of its infrastructure and displacement of most of its 2.3 million people.
In Wednesday’s speech, Netanyahu praised Biden’s support for Israel.
But to cheers from Republicans, he touched on Trump’s pro-Israel record as president. He praised Trump’s decision to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a long-held goal of conservatives that infuriated Palestinians.
He also cited the Abraham Accords, landmark U.S.-brokered agreements signed during Trump’s White House years that normalized bilateral relations between Israel and both Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
Hamas and its allies killed 1,200 people and took 250 hostage in the Oct. 7 attack, according to Israeli tallies. Some 115 hostages are still being held though Israel believes one in three are dead.
Israeli officials estimate that some 14,000 fighters from militant groups including Hamas and Islamic Jihad have been killed or taken prisoner out of a force they estimated to number more than 25,000 at the start of the war.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games officially began with a Friday opening ceremony across the River Seine.
“Prologue. We must bring the Olympic Torch back to Paris,” Paris 2024 official website said on X.
“It accidentally arrived at Stade de France. It is awaited by thousands of athletes and spectators on the river Seine. Thank you, Zinedine Zidane,” it added.
Team Kenya, led by Malkia strikers captain Triza Atuka and African fastest man in 100m Ferdinand Omanyala, was among the over 200 countries which paraded across River Seine during the opening ceremony of the 33rd Olympic Games held on Friday night along river Seine in the French capital Paris.
Kenyan contingent of athletes and officials wore their red Maasai ceremonial kits.
During the 19 days of competition, 329 events will take place during the 2024 Summer Olympics from July 26 to Aug. 11.
The Games will bring together over 10,500 athletes competing in 32 sports, aiming to bag 329 medals.
The colorful ceremony, which was being held out of its traditional venue inside the stadium, saw nearly 7,000 athletes sail using more than 80 boats in a six kilometer distance across the river.
The Olympic flag was flown in front of the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris, while superstar pop singers Aya Nakamura, Lady Gaga, and Celine Dion braved torrential rain to give stunning performances.
Lady Gaga opened the program with a rendition of a beloved French cabaret song, Aya Nakamura, a Franco-Malian singer, delivered her hit song “Djadja,” and Céline Dion, perched atop Paris’s iconic Eiffel Tower, announced the lighting of the Olympic cauldron with Edith Piaf’s “Hymne à l’amour”.
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 26: A general view as The Horsewoman crosses the Iena Bridge to the Place du Trocadero, as Flags of Competing Nations are presented during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Olympic legends Carl Lewis, Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal and Nadia Comaneci carried the Olympic torch aloft as they raced across the Seine in a speedboat before handing it to tennis great Amélie Mauresmo.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations is seeking to detain activist Boniface Mwangi and four others for 21 days to enable the completion of investigations.
Mwangi, Albert Wambugu, Robert Otieno, Pablo Chacha and Erot Franco are being accused of alleged false publication, taking part in an unlawful assembly and creating a disturbance in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace.
In an application by the DCI and addressed to Milimani Chief Magistrates Court, seen by the Star, the detectives are seeking custodial orders to complete a probe into the aforementioned crimes.
“I pray this honourable court to issue custodial orders authorising holding of the respondents in the applicant’s custody for 21 days to enable the applicant to conclude its investigations,” Officer George Karanja said.
In the miscellaneous application dated July 26, it is alleged that on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at around 11:30am or thereabout at CBD, along Koinange Street, the five caused a breach of peace.
The DCI alleges that Mwangi and the others inconvenienced other road users by blocking the road by placing a white coffin and seven white crosses with names inscribed on them.
The DCI further claims that the five were distributing t-shirts and placards allegedly labelled with incitement words.
“That the respondents through various social media platforms had posted allegations that the government was out to kill its citizens which words were deemed and construed that the government was perpetrating extrajudicial killings; posts which incited the members of the public causing a breach of peace,” DCI told the court.
The Directorate told the Court that investigations are already ongoing with a view to establishing the motive of carrying the assorted items that Mwangi and the others were arrested with.
Additionally, the investigations are ongoing to establish where the white coffin and the white crosses were sourced from and who the financier is.
DCI stated that the place of abode of the five is unascertained and releasing them may jeopardise the investigations.
The five have since been arrested and booked at Central Police Station.
Their mobile phones have already been confiscated to be subject to cyber forensics for analysis.
Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama have endorsed Kamala Harris in her White House bid, giving the vice president the expected but still crucial backing of the nation’s two most popular Democrats.
The endorsement, announced Friday morning in a video showing Harris accepting a joint phone call from the former first couple, comes as Harris continues to build momentum as the party’s likely nominee after President Joe Biden’s decision to end his reelection bid and endorse his second-in-command against Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump.
It also highlights the friendship and potentially historic link between the nation’s first Black president and the first woman, first Black woman and first person of Asian descent to serve as vice president, who is now vying to break those same barriers at the presidential rank.
“We called to say Michelle and I couldn’t be prouder to endorse you and do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office,” the former president told Harris, who is shown taking the call as she walks backstage at an event, trailed by a Secret Service agent.
Said Michelle Obama, “I can’t have this phone call without saying to my girl, Kamala, I am proud of you.
“This is going to be historic,” she added.
Harris, who has known the Obamas since before his election in 2008, thanked them for their friendship and said she looks forward to “getting there, being on the road” with them in the three-month blitz before Election Day on Nov. 5.
“We’re gonna have some fun with this too, aren’t we?” Harris said.
The Obamas are perhaps the last major party figures to endorse Harris formally — a reflection of the former president’s desire to remain, at least publicly, a party elder operating above the fray. The Obamas remain prodigious fundraising draws and popular surrogates at large campaign events for Democratic candidates.
According to an Associated Press survey, Harris already has secured the public support of a majority of delegates to the Democratic National Convention, which begins Aug. 19 in Chicago. The Democratic National Committee expects to hold a virtual nominating vote that would, by Aug. 7, make Harris and a yet-to-be-named running mate the official Democratic ticket.
Biden endorsed Harris within an hour of announcing his decision last Sunday to end his campaign amid widespread concern about the 81-year-old president’s ability to defeat Trump. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Whip Jim Clyburn, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton followed in the days after.
The Obamas, however, trod carefully as Harris secured the delegate commitments, made the rounds among core Democratic constituencies and raised more than $120 million. The public caution tracks how the former president handled the weeks between Biden’s debate debacle against Trump and the president’s eventual decision to end his campaign: Obama was a certain presence in the party’s maneuvers but he operated quietly.
Barack Obama’s initial statement after Biden’s announcement did not mention Harris. Instead, he spoke generically about coming up with a nominee to succeed Biden: “I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges,” the former president wrote.
Both Obamas campaigned separately for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Biden in 2020, including large rallies on the closing weekends before Election Day. They delivered key speeches at the Democrats’ convention in 2020, a virtual event because of the coronavirus pandemic. The former president’s speech was especially notable because he unveiled a full-throated attack on Trump as a threat to democracy, an argument that endures as part of Harris’ campaign.
The National Assembly Committee on Appointments convened on Thursday to set the mood and prepare for the upcoming vetting of Cabinet Secretary Nominees starting on Thursday, August 1, 2024.
The committee held talks under the leadership of Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula who also Chairs the committee.
“Hon. Members, as you are aware, the House received nomination of 20 persons for appointment as Cabinet Secretaries. The President, in exercising powers conferred on him by Articles 152(2) of the Constitution, as read together with sections 3 and 5 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, 2011, had forwarded the list of appointees for consideration by Parliament”, the Speaker said.
“As a matter of procedure that list of appointees was referred to this committee for vetting and approval or otherwise disapproval for appointment to the position,” added Speaker.
Wetang’ula asked Members of the Committee to prepare for long hours of thorough scrutiny of the candidates while emphasizing adherence to instruments of the law and, in particular, Chapter 6 of the constitution on leadership and integrity.
The Clerk of the National Assembly Samuel Njoroge highlighted the schedules of interview dates as he indicated that candidates had been notified of the schedule of interviews and the venue.
He further indicated that the public continues to send in Memoranda, which will be considered by the Committee in the process of vetting.
The Committee on Appointment chaired by Speaker Wetang’ula is deputized by the Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss and comprises Mps namely; Kimani Ichung’wah, Anthony Kimani, Hon. Owen Baya, Robert Mbui, Rahab Mukami, Dido Raso, George Murugara, David Gikaria, Ferdinand Wanyonyi, Mary Emaase, Rahim Dawood, Junet Mohammed, Caleb Amisi, Hon. Stephen Mule, Nelson Koech, Abdi Shurie, Naisula Lesuuda, David Pkosing and Mishi Mboko.
The Speaker confirmed that Opiyo Wandayi, who was a member of the Committee will not be part of the vetting panel following his nomination as CS for Energy.
The Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives have arrested former Isiolo South Member of Parliament Abdi Tepo and his wife for defrauding the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) Ksh199 million through fraudulent claims.
According to the commission, the monies were channelled through Beirut Pharmacy and Medical Centre between 2021 and 2023.
The wife of the former legislator who is the main suspect had attempted to resist arrest by firing at the detectives but was subdued.
Also arrested are officials of Beirut Pharmacy, NHIF Eastleigh Branch Manager and the NHIF Quality Assurance Officer.
During a search operation by the detectives, two suitcases full of fake US recovered estimated to be in millions together with assorted chemicals (powder & liquid form) were recovered and a Ceska Pistol whose license had expired.
The fake dollars and items have been handed over to the OCS EACC police station for purposes of progressing a criminal matter against the couple.
“The search yielded several other useful information that would help advance the investigation including Original pre-approved NHIF claim forms, patient lists, bank transaction slips, property ownership, and electronic gadgets. All the persons searched were interviewed and statements recorded” EACC said.
Kenyan police detained several people on Thursday who attempted to present a petition to the president’s office and lay flowers to honour those killed a month ago on the most violent day of anti-government protests.
Among those detained were Boniface Mwangi, a prominent activist involved in the protests.
Videos posted on social media by activists showed the marchers just before they were detained, carrying white crosses stained with red and chanting: “We are peaceful!”
They had been trying to present a petition to demand justice for those who were killed in the protests.
More than 50 people have been killed since mid-June, when protesters began taking to the streets to oppose tax increases proposed by President William Ruto, according to the government-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR).
KNCHR has also said that nearly 700 people have been arbitrarily detained and 59 have been abducted or are missing in connection with the protests.
“We will not allow that their death be in vain,” Wanjira Wanjiru, an activist from the capital’s Mathare neighbourhood, said before leaving for central Nairobi to join the march.
“We will not allow our country to ever go back to the realities that you cannot go out to protest for fear that a bullet may take your life.”
Ruto withdrew the tax legislation the day after the violence at parliament and sacked most of his cabinet, but demonstrations against his government and systemic corruption have continued.
Many protesters are calling for Ruto to resign, and are angered by his nominations to a new cabinet. Most are holdovers from the previous government and some are members of the main opposition party, which the protesters have also condemned as corrupt.
Ruto says the new cabinet reflects national unity and will address the demands of the protest movement. He has promised to investigate alleged abuses by the police during demonstrations but has broadly defended their conduct.
On Thursday, he nominated Douglas Kanja to lead the national police service. Kanja had been acting in that role since July 12 when his predecessor resigned following condemnation of officers’ response to the protests.
Kanja is a career police officer with nearly four decades of experience and served as the deputy inspector general of the force.
Since the protests began in Kenya, small anti-corruption demonstrations have taken place in neighbouring Uganda and activists in Nigeria have called for protests next month against graft and the high cost of living.
Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party leader Raila Odinga maintains that neither the ODM Party nor the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party has entered into a coalition agreement with President William Ruto’s UDA party.
Raila’s statement comes on the heels of President Ruto’s decision to reconstitute the cabinet to include four members from the ODM party.
“Neither the ODM Party nor Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party has entered into any coalition agreement with President Ruto’s UDA party. We had anticipated the crafting of clear terms of engagement based on issues we raised in our various communiques,” said Raila.
He, however, extended best wishes to the nominees, who include MP and ODM chair John Mbadi (Treasury), Hassan Joho (Mining), Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives), and Opiyo Wandayi (Energy).
Raila said Azimio will continue to advocate for a national engagement under conditions including compensation for the families of those killed during protests, release of those arrested and the termination of the cases against them, and prosecution of police officers accused of killing protesters.
“ODM remains steadfast in upholding its foundational principles of democracy, good governance, and social justice. These principles shall at all times guide our actions and decisions as we strive for the betterment of our nation,” stated Raila.
