Author: Mwenda Gitonga

The remains of Kenyan literary giant and scholar Professor Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o have been cremated in the United States, in accordance with his final wishes. Ngũgĩ, who died on May 28, 2025, in Buford, Georgia, at the age of 87, had been battling prolonged health issues, including kidney failure that required regular dialysis in recent years. According to his son Mukoma wa Ngũgĩ, the cremation was carried out privately and aligned with the celebrated writer’s request that no formal public burial be held. In a statement released by the family on June 1, his son Ndūcũ wa Ngũgĩ confirmed: “He…

The once-unbreakable alliance between President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk has spectacularly imploded, as the U.S. president accused the Tesla CEO of “losing his mind” during a barrage of media appearances on Friday morning. The fallout comes after Musk launched a fierce social media offensive on Thursday, suggesting Trump was implicated in the Jeffrey Epstein files — documents related to the convicted sex offender. Trump swiftly countered with a statement posted on Truth Social, quoting Epstein’s former defense attorney David Schoen, who denied Musk’s insinuation. “I can say authoritatively, unequivocally and definitively that [Epstein] had no information to…

The Kenya Prisons Service has published the official list of shortlisted candidates for the positions of cadets, technicians, and artisans, following its nationwide recruitment drive advertised on April 7. In a statement, the Service confirmed that shortlisted applicants are expected to report for interviews between June 10 and June 13 at the Prisons Staff Training College in Ruiru, situated along the Ruiru-Kiambu Road off the Eastern Bypass. “The Kenya Prisons Service is pleased to announce to the general public that the under-listed are shortlisted candidates for the specific posts they applied for,” read part of the official statement. Candidates have…

Kenyan Afro-rising singer, songwriter, producer, and performer Njerae has been selected as Spotify’s EQUAL Africa ambassador for June, marking another milestone in her steadily rising musical journey. Known for her rich, introspective style and lyrical depth, Njerae brings a refreshing and deeply human voice to the continent’s vibrant music scene. Describing her sound as “soulful and refreshing, like a breath of fresh air,” Njerae’s music is born from personal introspection and the social realities she has lived through. Her songs offer listeners space to breathe, reflect, and connect—echoing her own journey from silence to self-expression. Music as Healing Njerae’s musical…

A high-stakes political clash between Elon Musk and former U.S. President Donald Trump has ignited fears over the future of America’s space ambitions, with up to $22 billion (Ksh.2.8 trillion) in government contracts with SpaceX now at risk. The feud, which erupted publicly on Thursday, was sparked by Musk’s criticism of Trump’s latest tax-and-spending legislation. Trump retaliated by threatening to cancel government contracts with Musk’s companies—prompting an unprecedented response from Musk, who said he would begin “decommissioning” the Dragon spacecraft, the vehicle NASA relies on to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). Although Musk walked back the threat…

Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet produced one of the greatest 5000m performances in history on Friday night at the Rome Diamond League, clocking 14:03.69 — a national record, meet record, and world lead that stands as the second-fastest time ever run in the event. Chebet narrowly missed the women’s 5000m world record by three seconds. Only Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay’s 14:00.21 world record lies ahead of the 25-year-old Kenyan, who dominated from start to finish, running a fearless solo effort after the pacemaker dropped out around the 2000m mark. “I just said, let me run my own race,” Chebet told reporters after the…

Kenya’s top sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala clocked 10.01 seconds to finish third in the men’s 100m at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea, the fifth stop of the 2025 Diamond League series held in Rome on Friday, June 6. The race was dominated by American Trayvon Bromell, who delivered a blistering world-leading time of 9.84 seconds, reclaiming the season’s fastest time from compatriot Kenny Bednarek. Bromell, a two-time Olympian and two-time World Championships bronze medallist, posted his quickest legal time since the 2022 U.S. Nationals, where he ran 9.81. Cameroonian sprinter Emmanuel Eseme came second in a season’s best of 9.99, just…

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has issued a detailed clarification on the implementation of the new Current Retail Selling Price (CRSP) schedule, which will officially come into effect on July 1, 2025. The revised CRSP will be used to determine the customs value and taxes levied on all used motor vehicles imported into the country. In a public notice dated May 30, 2025, KRA informed stakeholders that the updated CRSP list had been finalized after extensive consultations with players in the automotive industry and would replace the older 2019 schedule. In a follow-up statement issued on June 6, KRA addressed…

Kenya’s elite track stars take centre stage tonight at the Rome Diamond League, with Beatrice Chebet and Ferdinand Omanyala leading a formidable lineup against top global competition at the iconic Stadio Olimpico. In the women’s 5,000 metres, Chebet squares off in a much-anticipated duel with Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay, the world record holder. Chebet comes into the race with strong momentum, having secured a commanding win in Xiamen and broken the African 3,000m record in Rabat earlier this season. She is joined by compatriot Margaret Akidor, in a stacked field also featuring athletes from Uganda, Italy, Burundi, and the United States.…

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has opened an investigation into a deadly police shooting in Angama Mara, Narok County, that left three people dead and seven others seriously injured. The incident occurred on Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Lolkuruk Village, Transmara, Kilgoris Constituency. According to early reports, police allegedly opened fire on a group of individuals said to have invaded private land within the Angama Conservancy. In a statement released on Friday, IPOA Chairperson Issack Hassan confirmed that a Rapid Response Team had been dispatched to the area to gather facts surrounding the confrontation. The injured victims were taken…