The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has announced a temporary closure of a portion of the Thika Superhighway in the Kihunguro area from Friday, April 11, to Monday, April 14, to facilitate maintenance work on the road.

According to a notice from KeNHA, the maintenance will take place between 11:00 pm and 4:00 am.

Motorists are encouraged to utilize the service lane or adhere to the instructions provided by traffic marshals present at the site.

“KeNHA urges drivers to comply with the traffic management plan, observe road signs, and cooperate with police and traffic marshals,” the notice stated.

Additionally, Moja Expressway Company, which operates the Nairobi Expressway, has announced that the Mlolongo Toll Station and Syokimau entrance A will be temporarily closed from Saturday, April 12, at 10:00 pm until Sunday, April 13, at 8:00 am.

This closure is necessary for the ongoing construction of a pedestrian overpass in the Katani area.

Motorists heading to Mlolongo and using Syokimau entrance A are advised to take the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) entrance, while those bound for Mlolongo can use the JKIA exit.

“Please plan your journeys accordingly, as this closure will have a significant impact on traffic. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your choice of the Nairobi Expressway,” the notice concluded.

Two individuals lost their lives when the pickup truck they were in plunged into the Nyamindi River at Kaboro Bridge in Gichugu, Kirinyaga County, on Thursday evening.

The incident, which occurred around 7 PM, was confirmed by the Gichugu Sub-County Police Commander. At the time, the pickup was carrying five passengers. Two of them, now confirmed deceased, remain trapped inside the submerged vehicle, while three others were able to escape.

The truck was transporting logs to Kiamugumo Village in Ngariama Ward when it lost control and veered off the road into the river.

“We are currently investigating the cause of the accident. Our team has been on-site since last night, collaborating with local residents to recover the vehicle and retrieve the bodies,” stated the police commander.

Ngariama Ward MCA Daniel Muriithi Kibinga identified the victims as Grace Kithii Njeru, a secretary at Kiamugumo Girls Secondary School, and her nephew, Vincent Kiura, who was driving the truck.

“The driver was the woman’s nephew. This is particularly tragic, especially since her husband, a banker, recently passed away,” Kibinga remarked.

MCA Kibinga pointed out that the road at Kaboro Bridge is in poor condition, which may have played a role in the accident. He also mentioned that rescue efforts were being hindered by the high water levels and large rocks in the river.

Residents from Karucho and Mbiri, who stayed by the riverbank overnight, managed to recover the vehicle’s number plate. Led by Joseph Kamau, they urged the government to improve the road and install proper guardrails at the bridge.

“The road from Karucho to Mbiri is in dire need of repair. We are calling for it to be murramed and equipped with safety guardrails to prevent future tragedies,” Kamau stated.

Two middle-aged men were carried away by flash floods on Thursday evening while trying to cross a partially submerged wooden bridge in Kiprichait, Bomet County.

According to Bomet County police commandant Edward Imbwaga, the men were walking along the waterway when they chose to cross the bridge. One of them lost his footing, and when the other attempted to help, both were swept away by the strong currents.

Area assistant chief David Rotich mentioned that the men were attending a nearby funeral and were not familiar with the local landscape.

Local residents initiated a search effort, but heavy rain and rising water levels complicated their attempts to find the bodies.

“This is a dangerous operation that requires careful handling, along with the assistance of professional divers,” Rotich stated.

At least seven individuals lost their lives on Friday due to an accident in the Limuru region along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway.

This brought the total fatalities from two separate incidents within a 24-hour period to 12.

In the most recent event, seven people were killed Friday morning when a 14-seater matatu lost control and veered off the road at the Kamandura junction on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway, according to police reports.

Witnesses and law enforcement stated that the vehicle fell into a steep ravine and rolled multiple times, resulting in five immediate deaths.

Mary Gachie, the police commander for Limuru sub-county, confirmed the occurrence.

She noted that the matatu, owned by Kijabeline Sacco, was en route from Nairobi to Kijabe town.

Five passengers died at the scene, while two others later passed away from their injuries at a local hospital.

Four survivors, all in critical condition, are currently being treated at Tigoni Hospital.

The accident took place around 8:00 a.m., roughly one kilometer from the site of another deadly crash that occurred the previous evening.

In that Thursday night incident, a private vehicle crashed after a tire burst, resulting in three immediate fatalities. Two additional victims later died while receiving medical care, according to police.

The wreckage from both accidents has been removed to Tigoni Police Station as investigations are ongoing.

Authorities are looking into both incidents.

Authorities are looking into a case involving the discovery of a decomposed body of a 60-year-old man in a borehole located in the Kalima Upepo area of Bamburi, Mombasa County.

It is believed that the man either fell into the 60-foot deep borehole or was murdered and subsequently disposed of there.

The deceased has been identified as James Tabulei, aged 60.

Residents reported that the borehole was operational and had been emitting a foul odor from the water, prompting them to investigate the source, which led to the grim finding on April 8.

A rescue team from Mombasa County was dispatched to the site and successfully retrieved the body from the borehole.

Officials noted that there were no visible injuries on the body at the time it was recovered.

The remains have been transported to the mortuary for an autopsy and further investigation.

On Thursday morning, students from Butere Girls Secondary School were subjected to teargas after departing from Kirobon Girls High School in Nakuru, where the National Drama Festivals are being held.

While traveling on their school bus and accompanied by members of the public, the group was met with teargas from the police in an attempt to disperse them.

During this incident, both the public and students from other institutions chanted slogans such as “Ruto Must Go.”

The situation escalated after the Butere Girls students were unable to present their play, Echoes of War, which has sparked controversy due to its subject matter.

When they took the stage around 8 am on Thursday, their performance was abruptly halted as they were denied access to a public address system that had been utilized throughout the festival.

Instead of delivering their play, the students resorted to singing the National Anthem as they left the stage in tears.

Additionally, the students expressed their frustration over the lack of an audience for their performance, noting that they had not seen the play’s directors and had not trained for the past three weeks.

Echoes of War has garnered significant attention due to its focus on Kenya’s governance and the protests led by Gen Z that occurred in 2024.

The play faced disqualification during the Western Region Drama Festivals under ambiguous circumstances, but a subsequent ruling by the High Court reversed that decision, allowing the play to be reinstated and included in the national lineup.

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have apprehended Abdirizak Kassim Bare, a key suspect in a Brazilian sugar fraud scheme that defrauded four business individuals of over Ksh 100 million through his criminal network.

The 46-year-old was taken into custody and brought before the Milimani Law Courts on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, after a thorough investigation by the DCI into the group of fraudsters responsible for misappropriating funds intended for the importation of 15,000 bags of sugar.

According to the DCI, the investigation revealed that between May and October 2023, the unsuspecting victims were enticed into a fraudulent business arrangement to import sugar, resulting in payments exceeding one hundred million shillings made through five separate bank accounts.

The victims then faced months of frustration as they attempted to track down a sophisticated fraud ring that had disappeared without a trace.

Desperate to recover their lost funds, the victims reported the incident to the DCI, prompting the Operation Support Unit to initiate a detailed investigation. The findings were subsequently submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for further legal proceedings.

The ODPP decided to pursue charges against the identified suspects, filing eight counts, including obtaining money under false pretenses, which violates section 313 of the penal code. As a result, arrest warrants were issued for the suspects.

On Wednesday morning, law enforcement successfully captured their first target, Kassim Bare, who pleaded not guilty during his arraignment. He was granted release on a Ksh 3 million bond or an alternative cash bail of Ksh 500,000.

Access to the national drama festivals venue was denied to journalists and the public as students from Butere Girls’ High School arrived at Lions Primary on Thursday, April 10, 2025, to present their contentious play, “Echoes of War.”

A significant presence of anti-riot police was stationed at the entrance to prevent media personnel and the audience from entering the venue.

This situation escalated following a confrontation between law enforcement and former UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala, who was denied entry to Butere Girls Secondary School while attempting to reach Kirobon Girls Secondary School in Rongai, Nakuru County.

The students from Butere Girls are prepared to showcase their play, “Echoes of War,” which has sparked controversy regarding the Kenyan government.

The play has garnered significant attention due to its focus on Kenya’s governance and the protests led by Gen Z that occurred in 2024.

Although the state had initially banned the performance, a High Court ruling permitted both the students and Malala, the scriptwriter, to attend the event in Nakuru.

On Wednesday night, police used tear gas to disperse journalists who were gathered outside the school to report on the situation.

In the aftermath of the incident, the National Police Service issued a statement affirming their commitment to collaborating with the media during their operations.

The National Police Service emphasized that any unprofessional behavior, interference, or obstruction towards journalists will not be tolerated, and those responsible will face serious repercussions.

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have apprehended 40-year-old Omar Ekai Etulong in relation to a string of robberies affecting Lokichar township and its neighboring areas in Turkana County.

Acting on a tip-off from the community, a team from Lokichar Police Station conducted an operation that resulted in Etulong’s capture in Lokichar town.

“After his arrest, the suspect guided officers to his home in Kapese village. A search there uncovered an AK-47 rifle, an AK-47 magazine, and seven rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition,” reported the DCI.

In addition, officers seized several motorcycle frames, a car wash pressure pump, a solar inverter, and a white TATA double cab with the registration number KBT 880A, among other items.

The case is currently before the court, and the recovered items have been securely stored as evidence.

In a separate incident, police are looking into a situation where armed assailants invaded villages in Suguta Marmar, Samburu County, stealing 41 goats from the residents.

According to police and local witnesses, the trio fired shots into the air at the Longewan cattle dip field before fleeing with the stolen goats.

A group of leaders from Meru has criticized the government for its perceived lack of action in response to the rising insecurity in the region.

During a press conference at Parliament Buildings on Tuesday, the leaders, spearheaded by Buuri MP Mugambi Rindikiri, expressed their demand for tangible government intervention.

Rindikiri emphasized the need for security forces to visit Meru County to understand the local situation and the hardships faced by its residents.

He stressed that the community requires protection and urged the government to take decisive measures.

“Every day, the government claims it will take action, and we, as members of Parliament, believe this is the moment for the government to fulfill its duty by safeguarding the people of Meru,” stated the Buuri MP.

He further declared that Meru leaders would no longer participate in government-sanctioned security meetings regarding the county’s issues.

Rindikiri articulated that their primary demands as leaders include the arrest of offenders, the surrender of illegal firearms, and the return of stolen livestock.

“We are done with empty promises; we want the government to clarify whether they will support us or not.

“We will not attend any more security meetings. Our focus is on seeing arrests made, firearms returned, and our cattle brought back. They can hold their meetings elsewhere,” he added.

Meru has long faced security issues, including banditry and cattle rustling, which have sometimes resulted in fatalities.

According to the leaders, these acts are perpetrated by individuals from neighboring counties, such as Laikipia and Samburu.

Despite several security meetings aimed at alleviating tensions between the affected regions, progress has been minimal.

Last year, the government pledged to send additional police reservists to enhance security in the troubled areas.