Numerous drivers in Nairobi experienced significant difficulties returning home on Friday night due to severe flooding that made many roads impassable after intense rainfall.

Images and videos circulated online depicted vehicles stranded and nearly submerged in floodwaters.

“I am stuck in Parklands and reside along Thika Road. It’s a double misfortune. It seems I will have to spend the night in a bar drinking soda,” expressed one motorist.

Another video recorded in the Kilimani area and shared on X showcased extensively flooded streets, with one user humorously suggesting that the water should be redirected to State House.

Additional comments from residents across various parts of the city highlighted a dire situation, with many attributing the flooding to the inadequate drainage system.

Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) dedicated a significant portion of Friday to interrogating various leaders and attendees of the tumultuous burial ceremony in Limuru, where former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and mourners were assaulted by a group of attackers.

The investigation focused on uncovering the details surrounding the incident, with over eight hours spent questioning Limuru legislator John Kiragu regarding his purported role in the disruption that momentarily halted the burial proceedings.

Authorities aimed to clarify why the first-term MP allegedly distanced himself from the VIP tent, which was specifically targeted by the assailants, opting instead to sit among the mourners in a separate area.

In response, the MP denied the allegations, asserting that he too was a victim during the upheaval.

Simultaneously, DCI officers in Limuru were gathering witness testimonies in Bibirioni village, interviewing family members and others connected to the event.

The grieving family not only faces the sorrow of losing a loved one but also the repercussions of property damage resulting from the violence.

In a statement, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja indicated that only one complaint had been filed by the public regarding the incident.

The IG’s office also mentioned that they were unaware of the current location of former Limuru MP Peter Mwathi, whom associates of former DP Gachagua alleged had been taken by the police.

Despite the brazen nature of the attacks, with many perpetrators easily identifiable, law enforcement has yet to make any arrests.

Additionally, Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa, who was present at the burial, did not respond to summons from investigators in Nyeri, raising questions about the handling of the case in a different jurisdiction.

Authorities have classified the incident as politically motivated.

Disaster response teams organized by the National Government Administration have initiated the evacuation of over 240 households impacted by the ongoing flooding situation.

In the last week, regions within the Lake Victoria Basin and North Western areas have faced significant rainfall, leading to localized flooding incidents.

Approximately 200 households in Kapuothe, Nanga, Lower Katuoro, Wigwa, and parts of Dunga in Kisumu Central Sub-counties have been affected.

Additionally, 47 households are currently being accommodated at Nanga Primary School, where they are receiving humanitarian assistance from the State Department for Special Programmes, the Red Cross, and other organizations.

In Kisumu East Sub-county, flooding has impacted a total of 140 households.

The affected communities include Onjweru, Kanyawade, Kaloo, Kodie, Awuor Ajwang’, Kodeyo, Alara, Kowuore, Kabuong Kanyawade, Kamiendi, and parts of Kachola.

A statement from the Interior Ministry noted, “Disaster response teams coordinated by National Government Administration Officers are actively monitoring the situation across various regions and offering support to those in need.”

Residents in flood-prone areas have been urged to cooperate with the response teams to facilitate their relocation to safer locations.

A vessel carrying approximately 200 passengers to a food market capsized on Friday along the River Niger in northern Nigeria, as reported by officials. At least 27 individuals have been confirmed deceased, with over 100 others, predominantly women, reported missing.

The boat was en route from Kogi State to the adjacent Niger State when the incident occurred, according to Ibrahim Audu, spokesperson for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, in a statement to The Associated Press.

By Friday evening, rescuers had recovered 27 bodies from the river, while divers continued their search for additional victims, as stated by Sandra Musa, spokesperson for Kogi State emergency services.

Twelve hours following the incident, no survivors had been located, she noted.

Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the capsizing, although local media reports indicate that the vessel may have been overloaded. Overcrowding on boats is a frequent issue in Nigeria’s remote areas, where inadequate road infrastructure leaves many with limited transportation options.

Justin Uwazuruonye, who oversees operations for Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency in the state, mentioned that rescuers faced challenges in locating the capsized boat for several hours after the tragedy unfolded.

Such fatal incidents are increasingly alarming in Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, as authorities grapple with enforcing safety protocols and regulations for water transport.

Most accidents are attributed to overcrowding and insufficient maintenance of the vessels, which are often constructed locally to maximize passenger capacity, disregarding safety standards.

Furthermore, authorities have struggled to mandate the use of life jackets during these journeys, often due to issues related to availability or cost.

Authorities are conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a man whose remains were discovered at the primary Kenya-Somalia border in Mandera.

Law enforcement officials reported that they received a notification regarding the discovery of a deceased individual, who was not a local resident, near the agricultural area of Border Point One primary school on Wednesday, November 27. Preliminary observations indicated that there were no visible injuries on the body.

It is suspected that the individual may have been murdered elsewhere before his body was abandoned at the location.

The remains have been transported to the Mandera Referral Hospital mortuary, where they will be held for identification and a postmortem examination.

In a separate incident at the Dagahaley Refugee Camp in Garissa County, a ten-year-old boy tragically lost his life after suffering a broken shoulder while playing football.

According to police reports, the boy was playing with other refugees in Block E-B when the accident occurred on November 26. He was promptly taken to the local MSF Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment. The boy had previously sustained a shoulder injury on November 10 during a football game within the camp.

Following Islamic customs, the family members conducted the burial of the child.

Savannah Clinker Chairman Benson Ndeta will remain in police custody overnight following his arrest on charges of forgery, conspiracy to defraud, and the use of false documents.

Ndeta’s arrest is linked to an alleged fraudulent transaction involving Ksh.700 million aimed at expanding Savannah Cement, a situation that has been under investigation since 2019.

The arrest occurred after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) approved eight charges against him, prompting strong reactions from Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who asserted that Ndeta is being targeted due to his intentions to acquire Bamburi Cement.

He was apprehended at Valley Arcade and subsequently taken to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters for questioning before being booked at Muthaiga Police Station.

The investigation traces back to 2019 when two directors of Savannah Cement, Donald Kiboro and John Gachanga, alleged that Chairman Ndeta and other outgoing directors fraudulently created a record of a board meeting and transferred 4,500 shares to Seruji Limited.

In November 2017, Kiboro had transferred 300 of his shares in Savannah Heights to Falcon Venture Holdings LLC, represented by Charles Hill Jr., for a sum of Ksh.700 million. However, Kiboro contends that the buyer failed to make the payment, resulting in the cancellation of the share transfer to Hill Jr.

It is alleged that Ndeta and Charles Hill Jr. utilized forged documents to obtain a loan of USD 35 million to finance the expansion of Savannah Cement’s factory.

Hill Jr. is accused of falsely presenting himself as a director of Savannah Heights, a significant shareholder in Savannah Cement, to facilitate this scheme, despite not having acquired any shares in the company.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has instructed that Ndeta and Hills Jr be charged with several offenses, including conspiracy to commit a felony, conspiracy to defraud, forgery, unauthorized document creation, obtaining execution of a security through false pretenses, acquiring registration through false pretenses, obtaining credit through false pretenses, and the utterance of false documents.

Additionally, the DPP has requested the issuance of an arrest warrant and the submission of an extradition request to the United States government for the surrender of Charles Hills Jr to face charges in Kenya.

Ndeta’s arrest, occurring just one week prior to the conclusion of a bid to acquire Bamburi Cement, where he is competing against the Tanzanian conglomerate Amsons Group, has incited significant backlash, with opposition leaders alleging that it is a scheme to eliminate him from the bidding process.

Kalonzo, the leader of the Wiper party and a Senior Counsel, has stated that they intend to contest Ndeta’s purported political persecution in court.

The businessman is anticipated to be presented in court on Friday.

Authorities are conducting an investigation into the murder of a man in Wajir County.

According to a police report, 36-year-old Ahmed Duba was en route from Moyale to Buna when he encountered a flat tire near the Garseake settlement. He stopped at a nearby residence, which was unoccupied at the time, to fix his motorbike.

While he was repairing the tire, he was assaulted by two individuals, one of whom has been identified as Abdimalik Hussein Osman. The assailants, who arrived on a motorbike, attacked Duba and inflicted a fatal stab wound to his neck.

His remains have been transported to the mortuary at Wajir General Hospital, and efforts to locate the two suspects are ongoing.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has addressed an incident that occurred on Thursday, which compelled him to leave a funeral service in Limuru, Kiambu County, following disruptions caused by assailants who attacked mourners indiscriminately.

In a statement posted on X, Gachagua suggested that the government had deliberately removed his security detail to enable such an assault.

“Earlier this week, the government retracted the last remnants of my security that had been established following the impeachment process we are currently contesting. We did not contest this decision, although it was anticipated that any Kenyan who has held a governmental position at my level would continue to receive protection from the state even after leaving office,” he stated.

“However, it now appears that the decision to withdraw my security was intended to leave me vulnerable to the type of attack we experienced today.”

Gachagua recounted the events at the funeral of a young man named Erastus Nduati, highlighting that the assailants specifically targeted him and attacked mourners with various crude weapons, indiscriminately harming both women and children.

“Today, I attended the funeral service for a young man named Erastus Nduati. As we were preparing to lay him to rest, assailants attacked us and the other mourners present, including children. The attackers were armed with stones, machetes, iron bars, and sticks,” he remarked in the statement on X, which included images of one of his vehicles that was damaged during the incident.

“They randomly descended upon the mourners and assaulted them with their weapons. A specific group followed me as I approached my vehicle, which they then attacked with stones and iron bars. We literally had to escape the venue under a barrage of rocks!”

Additionally, Gachagua expressed his disappointment regarding the situation, condemning the government’s alleged involvement in the incident.

“This situation is deeply unfortunate and represents a significant failure on the part of the state, which was evidently involved in these actions. We particularly recall the family mourning a loved one in a casket, forced to seek safety amid their immense sorrow,” he stated.

“We will continue to stand by Kenyans in their times of need and will not be intimidated. We hope that such a disgraceful incident will not occur again.”

Two individuals implicated in the illicit trade of pesticides have been apprehended in Mtondia, Kilifi County.

Karisa Mududu, a senior compliance and enforcement officer with the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB), reported that the suspects were discovered in possession of pesticides valued at approximately Ksh. 400,000.

This operation was conducted in collaboration with law enforcement officials and representatives from the board.

“We executed a raid targeting counterfeit pesticides in Kilifi, which resulted in the arrest of the two individuals,” stated the police.

Mududu further indicated that the suspects are currently detained at the Kilifi police station and are facing charges related to the sale of counterfeit pesticides.

He also urged the public to exercise caution when purchasing pesticides from unauthorized retailers to assist in the fight against the illegal distribution of counterfeit products.

Police in Isiolo have apprehended four individuals found in possession of military equipment and 158 rounds of live ammunition.

According to a statement from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the suspects were taken into custody at a police checkpoint during an operation.

The officers were stationed at a roadblock at Hospital Junction along the Marsabit-Isiolo road at 1:30 AM when they stopped a Mitsubishi Fuso lorry for inspection.

Upon searching the vehicle, the officers uncovered a concealed brown bag containing 142 rounds of 7.62×39 special ammunition (commonly used in AK-47 rifles), 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition (typically used in handguns), a rifle cleaning kit, two pairs of military boots, a ground sheet, a military camelbak, military trousers, tactical and combat shirts, among other items, as reported by the DCI.

The arrested individuals include two aged 28, one aged 20, and the youngest at 18. They have been detained at the Isiolo Police Station, and the lorry has been impounded.

A multi-agency team is currently interrogating the suspects as part of the ongoing investigation, according to the DCI.

This arrest is part of a series of recent operations targeting suspected drug traffickers and robbers. Earlier on Thursday, police in Kijabe were searching for a gang of three robbery suspects who attacked a motorist on Wednesday night at a bridge along the Old Kijabe Road, stealing Sh70,000, a Samsung Galaxy S22, and several credit cards.

The DCI reported that the suspects were armed with machetes and a pipe wrench.

“Under threat of violence, the victim complied by handing over all his valuables, including disclosing his Mpesa PIN, which allowed the thieves to transfer Sh70,000,” the DCI stated.