In Murang’a County, three pupils from Maadili Junior School perished in a car crash along the Gitugi-Murang’a road.

The bus overturned in the Kawatera area on Saturday at approximately 5:00 p.m.

After attending a scout event in Nyeri County, 38 pupils, 3 teachers, and 2 drivers were being taken back to school via bus.

Two students passed away while being taken to the hospital, and one pupil passed away immediately. Five of them had severe injuries and had to be taken out of town for specialized care.

Along with the parents and the school, Murang’a Governor Irung’u Kang’ata expressed condolences for the tragic incident and pledged to see to it that those who suffered injuries received the necessary care at the level 5 hospital in Murang’a.

Charles Kipsang Kipkorir, a Kenyan athlete, passed abruptly on Saturday after competing in the 29th Mount Cameroon Race of Hope.

Athlete death reports have come in just a few days after Kenya lost world record holder Kelvin Kiptum in the marathon.

The 32-year-old passed out at the Molyko Stadium shortly after the finish line, and despite receiving emergency medical assistance, attempts to resuscitate him were futile.

According to South West Governor Bernard Okalia Bilai, Kipkorir was pronounced deceased on Saturday night at the Buea Regional Hospital.

Though medical experts have tried their best, the cause of his sudden death is still unknown, but there is conjecture that it may have been a heart attack.

“When the Minister and myself had left the stadium, some 30 minutes after, we were informed that he had collapsed while going to collect his prize. Despite immediate medical attention, he had already passed away, But he was good, he was fine after the race. He even had a conversation with the president of the federation, Mr. Motombi, who confirmed he was well,” Bilai was quoted by Cameroonian publication MimiMefoInfos.

In this year’s competition, Kipsang had an incredible journey, leading both the ascent and descent of Mount Cameroon.

But in an unexpected change of events, he slowed down a few kilometers before the finish line, which gave Cameroonian Elvis Nsabinla the advantage and the race victory.

Kipsang competed in the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope this year for the fourth time; 19 Kenyan athletes were there.

After being buried alive while excavating a sewage trench near the Kirinyaga County offices in Kutus town, two construction workers lost their lives.
 A third person is nursing injuries.

The tragedy occurred on Friday evening when the loose soil crumbled as many workmen were excavating the sewer trench at the county offices that will service Kutus-Kerugoya.

The contractor was supposed to have taken all the necessary precautions to prevent the deaths, according to the residents, who are demanding inquiries into the 2 p.m. tragedy.

The victims, according to Kirinyaga County Executive Committee member for Public Works Jared Migwi, were a crew working on the Kerugoya-Kutus sewage line for a national government contractor.

The two deceased individuals’ bodies have been moved to the morgue at Kerugoya Level Five Hospital.

Muratina, a popular Kikuyu booze, has been ruled by a Kiambu Court to not be an illicit drink.

Judge Abigail Mshila of the High Court ruled on Friday that the brew may be made in accordance with Kikuyu customs and culture and that it was not illegal.

Nonetheless, she gave the Kikuyu Council of Elders instructions to control the procedure.

“The court orders the Kiama Kia Ma with the assistance of the local Chiefs to continue to regulate the preparation and consumption of muratina without prejudice and existing laws,”Mshila ruled.

The court’s decision resulted from a petition that twelve Ndeiya Traditional Brewers filed. In their plea, they claimed that the commander of Kiambu County, the county commissioner, the Ndeiya Sub County OCPD, and the local deputy county commissioner had violated their rights.

The brewers told the court that despite having the necessary permits to prepare traditional brews, these administrative agents had harassed them and threatened to sue them.

They made it clear that their permission was only meant to be used for making muratina for customary rituals—not for profit.

The elders contended that the brew was legal based on the assertions made by the administrative officers, and they claimed that the government discriminated against the Kikuyu culture and repressed their customary festivals.

They added that the Alcoholic Drink Control Act No. 4 of 2010 could not control their traditional events, and that they could not be held in its absence.

The petitioners claim that there are no health risks associated with the brew.

Judge Mshila was urged to rule that muratina is not an illicit brew, that it is not covered by the Alcoholic Drink Control Act No. 4 of 2010, that Kiama Kia Ma, the National Gikuyu Cultural Association, is the only entity with authority to regulate it, and that any criminal case brought based on muratina is unconstitutional.

The petitioners’ premises were shut down, according to the respondents, who were led by the Ndeiya Sub County OCPD, because they were accused of operating outside of the law.

They denied any harassment claims, saying the shutdown was completed within the bounds of their legal jurisdiction.

In response to the petition, they claimed that the right to culture is not absolute and has restrictions.

After reviewing the evidence, Justice Mshila came to the conclusion that the Kikuyu community had been making muratina for various events for ages.

This includes offering dowries (ruracio), performing circumcision rites (irua), being initiated into Kiama Kia Ma, bringing family members back together, asking for rain, blessing children, and blessing land.

“The importance of muratina in day-to-day functions and celebrations of the Agikuyu people cannot be overemphasised. It forms the heart of the cultural fabric of the Agikuyu traditions,” the judge stated.

Three individuals, found in Narok to possess four elephant tusks valued at more than Sh2 million, have been taken into custody.

Detectives from the DCI’s Serious Crime Unit and local police conducted a coordinated operation that resulted in the trio’s arrest, according to a statement released by Directorate of Criminal Investigations chief Mohamed Amin.

“The tusks weighing 27kg with an estimated street value of Sh2.7 million were found in their possession. The three have been locked up in cells pending arraignment,” Amin said.

He said the suspects were taken into custody in Narok North’s Kisiriri area.

According to the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act of 2013, he added, they will face charges.

The Act’s Section 92(4) forbids the possession of wildlife trophy related to endangered species.

Three weeks ago, at the Elgeyo Marakwet market’s Kapsokwony market, three additional suspects were apprehended in possession of elephant tusks valued at Sh3.5 million. This arrest and seizure marks the latest development in the ongoing fight against poaching.

According to the police, a group of rangers from the Kenya Wildlife Service and police ambushed the men while they were transporting the trophies on a motorcycle.

The ivory had been hidden inside a potato sack.

Four people were also detained in separate events in November 2023, and elephant tusks valued at Sh13 million were found.

Three persons have been detained by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations on suspicion of being responsible for the pastor’s kidnapping that occurred in Nairobi on Thursday.

The pastor was allegedly kidnapped by the three on Thursday night while walking to a restaurant close to Nyayo National Stadium, and they stole his phone and cash.

The three suspects were taken into custody at their residences in Syokimau, Kitengela, and Kamito, according to a statement released by the DCI on Saturday.

Detectives from the DCI Nairobi Area Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau led the operation, with assistance from their Lang’ata counterparts.

After a busy session of preparing events for the next Benny Hinn crusade slated to take place at the Nyayo National Stadium, the victim—a pastor connected to a city church—told the police he was headed to supper.

After the event was quickly reported to the Nyayo Police Post, an investigation into it was started right away.

Three men stopped him as he was making his way to a restaurant near the Nyayo National Stadium. They then forced him into a waiting saloon car.

“Once in the car, the man of the cloth reported to have been stripped naked and photos of him taken before he was forced to reveal his M-PESA pin lest the photos be uploaded on his social media platforms. Complying under duress, Sh55,000 was transferred to one of the suspect’s phone and thereafter he was released,” the DCI said.

Following the event, the DCI team studied the forensic evidence at hand and eventually followed it to a house in Syokimau.

As a result, the first suspect was taken into custody.

Three cellphones, including an iPhone 13 with the SIM card that allegedly received the stolen Sh55,000, and a PDQ bank card swapping machine were found during a later search of his home.

The first suspect cooperated with the investigators after a brief interrogation and led them to Kitengela, where his accomplice was apprehended. The victim’s phone was purportedly discovered in the custody of the second suspect.

The three are being detained at the Langata Police Station until Monday, when they will be arraigned.

In the last two months, more than 10,000 stolen pineapples have been found and brought back to the Murang’a County farm, Del Monte.

According to police, 199 people were detained and charged with a variety of crimes after they were discovered in possession of the products during that time.

According to a police announcement on Friday, the company has received the retrieved pineapples back as part of “Operation Linda Mananasi.”

The apprehended suspects were subject to a combined fine of Sh2.3 million within the same period.

This operation has been led by David Mathiu, the Commander of the Murang’a County Police, in collaboration with a local team operating in the Ithanga/Kakuzi Sub-county. The main goal is to catch and discourage agricultural produce smugglers.

According to Mathiu, the need for such an operation resulted from the farm management’s persistent complaints about the extensive product theft from the large farm.

He also underlined how well the operation went, involving police from different sub-counties.

Ten cars, many motorcycles, and tuktuks that were connected to the theft operations were found when the large farm was successfully sealed off.

The operation will go on to make sure the farm is pleased with its business, according to the Police Commander.

The farm’s previous operations resulted in tragic altercations between their guards and suspected thieves.

The enormous plantation is thought to occupy at least 40 square kilometers in the Muranga region.

The farm directly employs 237 security officers and is traversed by public roads.

A record Sh1.35 trillion has been set aside by President William Ruto’s administration to pay down the national debt.

For the 2024–25 fiscal year, this amount accounts for 47% of the anticipated regular revenue.

It highlights the hardship of debt repayment and represents the highest allocation towards it in the last five years.

The sum allotted is 3 and a half times greater than that which is given to the 47 county governments, 32 times greater than that which is given to Parliament, and 56 times greater than that which is given to the judiciary.

“The Bill has taken into account debt related costs. This comprises of the annual debt redemption costs as well as interest payment for domestic and external debts,” Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njunguna Ndung’u stated.

The Division of Revenue Bill allocates national revenue to the national government and county governments.

Treasury has allotted Sh391.11 billion to the devolved entities and Sh2.54 trillion to the national government in the bill.

The Treasury anticipates generating Sh2.94 trillion in ordinary revenue.

In comparison to the Sh2.56 trillion anticipated for the current fiscal year, the Sh2.41 trillion forecast for 2022–2023 fiscal year, and the Sh1.77 trillion projected for the 2021–2022 fiscal year, this indicates an increase.

The state allotted Sh1.18 trillion for debt repayments in the current fiscal year, with Sh930.35 billion for the fiscal year 2022-23.

In 2021–22, debt repayment amounted to Sh1.17 trillion, compared to Sh829.90 billion in the previous year.

Kenya is facing severe financial hardship. The country’s public debt currently stands at more over Sh11 trillion.

The decision compelled the government to change the debt cap from a nominal sum to a percentage of the country’s GDP.