Author: Mwenda Gitonga

County governments will receive Sh415 billion in equitable share for the 2025/26 financial year following a breakthrough deal between Members of Parliament and senators, ending weeks of budget gridlock. The agreement, announced Wednesday by the mediation committee handling the Division of Revenue Bill, resolves a standoff that had threatened to delay the national budget process. The new allocation represents a Sh27.6 billion increase from the current Sh387.4 billion and is Sh10 billion more than the National Treasury’s earlier proposal of Sh405.1 billion. “This agreement is a crucial step in finalising the national budget and ensuring fair and equitable distribution of…

Detectives from the Serious Crime Unit (SCU) who arrested blogger Albert Ojwang in Homa Bay and transferred him to Central Police Station in Nairobi have been summoned by the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) for questioning. The officers, led by Senior Sergeant Sigei, are required to appear before IAU Director Wednesday, June 18, at the agency’s headquarters at KCB Towers in Upper Hill. Their summons aims to clarify their role in Ojwang’s arrest, transfer, and subsequent detention at Central Police Station, where he later died under controversial circumstances. IAU will also seek to establish why the SCU officers opted to detain…

An actor and screenwriter has accused media mogul and famed Madea actor Tyler Perry of sexual harassment, claiming in a lawsuit that Perry made unwanted advances on several occasions while attempting to cover up an assault with an offer to develop a show. According to the 46-page complaint filed at the Los Angeles Superior Court in California State, USA last week, which compares to similar lawsuits filed against well-known entertainment industry figures accused of sexual assault, the plaintiff, one Derek Dixon, is seeking punitive damages amounting to US$260 million stemming from what he alleges occurred in the actor’s home in…

The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs has issued a critical travel advisory for Kenyans residing in or visiting Israel and Iran due to escalating conflicts between the two nations. This advisory, released on June 18, 2025, underscores the ministry’s commitment to the safety of Kenyans abroad as tensions in the Middle East intensify. The State Department for Diaspora Affairs stated, “In light of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, the State Department for Diaspora Affairs issues the following urgent advisory to all Kenyan nationals in Israel and Iran. The safety and well-being of Kenyans abroad remain our utmost…

Kenyan content creator Koku Lwanga has made public a series of emotional and serious allegations against her estranged husband, actor and television personality Martin Githinji, widely known as Daddie Marto. In multiple Instagram posts, Lwanga accused the comedian and The Trend co-host of physical abuse, emotional manipulation, infidelity, and financial neglect. The two, who have gained popularity for their family-centered content and co-parenting dynamic, appear to be living separately within the same residential compound. “I did not deserve you throwing blows and kicks to my head, neck, and back while I lay on the ground in a fetal position simply…

Chelsea began their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC in front of tens of thousands of empty seats at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, raising fresh questions about American interest in the revamped global tournament. The match kicked off at 3pm local time on a working Monday, and despite the venue’s 71,000-seat capacity, only 22,137 fans were in attendance. The top tier was closed entirely, while the bottom tier was more than half empty. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca acknowledged the unusual atmosphere. “I think the environment was a bit strange, the stadium was almost empty,”…

The National Assembly Finance Committee has recommended the deletion of a controversial clause in the 2025 Finance Bill that sought to grant the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) broad powers to access taxpayers’ personal and financial data. Clause 52 of the proposed Bill would have repealed Section 59A(1B) of the Tax Procedures Act, effectively removing legal protections that currently bar KRA from compelling businesses to share sensitive customer information, including mobile money and bank transactions. In its report tabled in Parliament, the committee—chaired by Molo MP Kuria Kimani—said the clause fails to meet constitutional thresholds set under Article 31(c) and (d),…

The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has revealed that more than Ksh.40 billion remains unpaid by loan defaulters, with some debts dating back over two decades. HELB Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Monari, speaking during an interview with Citizen TV on Tuesday, said the unpaid loans are hampering the board’s ability to support new students in need of financial assistance. “We have 51,594 students who graduated more than 20 years ago holding Ksh.8 billion, and 23,786 who graduated between 12 to 17 years ago holding Ksh.6.6 billion,” Monari disclosed. “The largest chunk—Ksh.26 billion—is owed by over 230,000 individuals who completed their…

A federal judge on Monday extended a temporary restraining order blocking President Donald Trump’s attempt to bar international students from attending Harvard University, as she considers issuing a longer-term injunction in the escalating legal battle between the administration and the Ivy League institution. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs said at a Boston hearing that the restraining order — originally set to expire on Thursday — will remain in effect until June 23, allowing more time for the court to deliver a considered ruling. “We’ll kick out an opinion as soon as we can,” said Burroughs, an Obama-era appointee. The judge’s…

Sevilla FC have confirmed the appointment of former Argentina international Matías Almeyda as the club’s new head coach on a three-year contract. The 51-year-old tactician returns to the Andalusian side nearly three decades after representing them as a player during the 1996–97 season. His managerial return comes at a crucial time for Sevilla, who narrowly avoided relegation from La Liga last season, finishing 17th — just one point above the drop zone. Almeyda joins from Greek side AEK Athens, where he spent three seasons and notably led the team to a historic domestic double in the 2022–23 campaign, winning both…