President William Ruto is set to commence his visit to Homa Bay County on Thursday, where he will launch and evaluate several development initiatives in preparation for Madaraka Day. The national festivities are scheduled to take place on Sunday at the Raila Odinga Stadium.

The president will initiate his Homa Bay Tour in Ndhiwa Constituency, where he will inaugurate the construction of the Gor Mahia Ring Road in Magina and officially open the Ndhiwa Technical Training Institute (TTI) located in Kanyamwa Kologi ward.

On Friday, the Head of State will conclude the Blue Economy conference at Tom Mboya University before assessing and commissioning projects across various areas of the county.

Ndhiwa MP Martin Owino has encouraged residents to come out in significant numbers to greet the Head of State during his development tour in the region.

Conversely, a group of clergy members in Homa Bay have also expressed their support for the president’s visit.

Bishop Adede Ongola of Agano Ark Covenant Church commended President Ruto for implementing various projects in the county aimed at enhancing the living standards of the residents.

Authorities in Kisauni, Mombasa County have apprehended an individual suspected of involvement in gang-related assaults in Mshomoroni.

Kelvin Munoga, commonly referred to as Makaveli, is thought to be affiliated with a gang that has been instilling fear among the local populace.

While on patrol, police officers received a tip-off regarding a group of young individuals concealed within incomplete structures, intending to partake in unlawful activities.

The officers promptly proceeded to the location, situated roughly one kilometer from the Mjambere police station, where they confronted a group of eight youths equipped with rudimentary weapons such as machetes and iron bars.

Munoga, a habitual offender associated with several robbery cases in the Junda and Kangujo areas, was subsequently taken into custody.

During a search conducted at the site, law enforcement recovered four pangas, one iron bar, and a mobile phone.

Efforts are currently being made to locate additional suspects connected to these criminal acts.

A 32-year-old man, charged with assaulting another individual by slapping him in the face, has received a sentence of six months probation from a court in Kabarnet.

Nicholas Kiprotich appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Caroline Ateya, where he was found guilty of unlawfully assaulting Allan Tomno on April 17, 2022, at approximately 10 pm at the AP Canteen in Kabarnet town.

The court determined that his actions resulted in actual bodily harm, in violation of section 251 of the Penal Code.

The prosecutor informed the court that Tomno was present at the AP Canteen when Kiprotich allegedly slapped him across the face.

“I was at the AP Canteen when someone slapped me on the face, causing me to fall. Upon getting up, I recognized Nicholas as the one who had slapped me. I requested my phone back, but he then struck me with his fist,” the victim recounted.

He further stated that Nicholas pushed him against the wall and pressed his groin before fleeing with Ksh.18,000.

A clinical officer from Baringo County Referral Hospital examined the victim and reported that Tomno had been slapped on both sides of his face and on the right side of his chest.

The officer observed tenderness in both temporal regions and the right anterior chest.

Kiprotich, in his defense, denied any involvement in the assault, asserting that he was not present at the location during the incident.

He also claimed that he was wrongfully charged due to having purchased a motorcycle that the complainant had intended to acquire.

In her ruling, Magistrate Ateya expressed that the court was persuaded by the evidence provided and found the accused guilty of the assault as charged.

Kiprotich requested leniency, arguing that he is the primary provider for his young family and has children attending school. He assured the court that he would refrain from future conflicts.

A pre-sentence report prepared by a probation officer indicated that the accused posed no threat to the community and had no previous convictions.

Residents of Jera Central village in Ugenya sub-county were left in disbelief after a horrific event in which a man allegedly decapitated his 85-year-old grandmother, accusing her of engaging in witchcraft.

The accused, 45-year-old George Opondo, is said to have used an axe to murder his grandmother, Jenipher Aduol, before confining her body within her home.

As reported by Chief of North Ugenya, John Okelo Mboto, Opondo subsequently turned himself in at the Bar-Ober police post, admitting to the crime and asking the officers to recover the body.

Law enforcement officials, along with personnel from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, promptly responded to the location.

Upon arrival, they discovered the house door was locked but managed to find the key, allowing them to enter and uncover the victim’s lifeless body on the floor.

The remains were then taken to a private mortuary in Sega town for a postmortem examination.

Items collected from the scene included an axe and a spade, which are believed to have been utilized in the brutal murder, and were subsequently transported to Ukwala police station for further inquiry.

During questioning, the suspect asserted that his grandmother was the cause of the family’s stagnation due to her alleged witchcraft practices.

The suspect is currently in custody at Ukwala police station.

Authorities have initiated an inquiry into the demise of a 26-year-old man who reportedly took his own life within his shop located in West Kanyamkago, Uriri, in Migori County.

Chief Gabriel Oso of West Kanyamkago stated that a neighbor, upon noticing the shop had been closed for two consecutive days, grew concerned about the shop owner, Julius Ndote.

Upon further investigation, the neighbor found Ndote’s body suspended by a rope inside the shop.

The acting chief immediately notified the police, who arrived at the location, retrieved the body, and transported it to the mortuary for an autopsy and additional investigations.

Officials are currently endeavoring to determine the events that led to Ndote’s death.

President William Ruto has taken steps to reassure Tanzania of Kenya’s dedication to upholding robust diplomatic ties, following a recent occurrence where several Kenyan activists were allegedly detained and mistreated in Tanzania.

During the Annual National Prayer Breakfast in Nairobi, President Ruto seemed to offer an olive branch to Tanzania on behalf of the activists.

“To our neighbors from Tanzania, if we have offended you in any manner, we seek your forgiveness. If there has been any misstep on our part, we sincerely apologize,” he remarked, extending this sentiment to Uganda.

“If there is anything that Kenyans have done that is inappropriate, we wish to express our apologies.”

Ruto emphasized that as Kenyans, they aspire to cultivate a relationship that will enhance the greatness of their country.

Speaking on Saturday at an event, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan reaffirmed her previous position against what she referred to as “outsiders” attempting to destabilize the nation.

Suluhu declared that she would not permit any form of external interference as she pledged to continue protecting her country’s sovereignty and interests.

In this context, she urged both government officials and citizens to remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding the nation from adverse external influences.

“The responsibility to protect this country does not rest solely with me, nor is it exclusively that of the defense and security forces; it is a duty that belongs to all of us,” she stated in Swahili.

Her remarks come in the wake of the deportation of PLP leader Martha Karua, former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, Hanida Adan, and Hussein Khalid.

They had arrived in the country to express solidarity with opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who was scheduled to face treason charges in court.

Additionally, two other activists, Boniface Mwangi and Uganda’s Agather Atuhaire, were apprehended and subsequently deported.

According to Suluhu, their actions constituted external interference in the internal matters of the country.

“We have observed a trend of activists from our region beginning to meddle in our affairs. While they may have been restrained in their own nations, they will not be permitted to disrupt our peace here.”

The President claimed that some of these activists are under scrutiny or facing pressure in their respective countries and are now attempting to redirect their efforts towards Tanzania.

She voiced her apprehension that these individuals, who have previously incited unrest elsewhere, are aiming to instigate similar turmoil in a nation she characterized as “peaceful and united.”

“They have wreaked havoc in their own countries, and now the only nation that remains peaceful and united is ours. We must not permit those who have devastated their nations to come here and create disturbances,” Suluhu cautioned.

She called upon law enforcement agencies to respond promptly and effectively whenever there is an attempt to disrupt public order, emphasizing the importance of vigilance in maintaining national unity.

President William Ruto utilized this year’s National Prayer Breakfast as a platform to extend an apology to the nation’s Gen Z, indicating a reconciliatory stance in anticipation of the 2027 elections.

The youth of the country are projected to constitute over half of the electorate in the upcoming 2027 polls, with various political factions already vying for their engagement.

While addressing attendees at the event held at the Safari Park Hotel, the President underscored the significance of unity, asserting, “Where there is unity, God commands a blessing.”

“To our children, if there has been any misstep, we apologise,” the President conveyed to the nation’s young populace, commonly referred to as Gen Z, who have posed challenges to his administration.

This occasion marked the first instance in which the President publicly expressed regret towards the youth, following a year characterized by tensions between his government and both Gen Z and Millennials.

In 2024, Gen Z led substantial protests that culminated in the invasion of Parliament, advocating for significant reforms within the Kenya Kwanza administration.

They also protested against the Finance Bill, 2024, which introduced a series of new taxes, arguing that the additional levies were excessively burdensome.

In reaction, President Ruto subsequently disbanded his Cabinet and established a broad-based government that incorporated opposition leaders to restore stability in the country.

Since that time, his administration has encountered increasing pressure to genuinely involve youth in the decision-making processes.

During the prayer breakfast, the President further encouraged Kenyans to coexist harmoniously despite their political differences, highlighting the necessity of constructing a united and peaceful nation.

Quoting extensively from the Book of Psalms 133, Ruto remarked: “The Word of God tells us how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to live together in unity.”

“It is in God’s perfect will and plan for us to live together in unity — across political divides, across our communities, and across our religious differences,” he continued, urging Kenyans to engage in peaceful coexistence.

The President’s statements are made during a period of increased tensions as politicians begin their campaigns for the early 2027 elections.