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The security assigned to High Court Judge Lawrence Mugambi has been withdrawn with immediate effect.

This comes barely three days after the judge sentenced Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli to 6 months in prison for contempt of court.

Mugambi had been assigned security after he raised concerns about being surveilled by police officers concerning multiple summonses of the acting IG.

According to the judge, senior police officers had made several inquiries of Mugambi's whereabouts, reaching out to his driver and bodyguard.

Acting Police Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli during a past event.

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National Police Service

The commandant of Security of Government Buildings Lazarus Opicho was at the centre of the controversy, having been the one calling the driver and the bodyguard.

However, appearing before the court on Friday under the summon of Judge Mugambi, Opicho said that the calls were made out of genuine concerns for the judge's security, especially after the shooting of a magistrate at Makadara Law Courts.

He then apologised to the judge saying, “After the Makadara Law Court shooting incident, I found it prudent to personally call the police assigned to the judge for a briefing,” Opicho said.

Asked why he had chosen to contact his aides instead of him directly, Opicho apologised for that as well and promised to be more direct the next time.

“I endeavour to serve you diligently and all the judicial officers and this will not happen again," Opicho stated.

Noting that the Acting IG was holding the judge at ransom, Judge Mugambi consequently sentenced him to 6 months in prison after missing court summons 7 times.

Despite his conviction, Masengeli is yet to start serving his sentence although he has been given a period of seven days to present himself.

Masengeli had been summoned in court to answer for the abductions and disappearances of activist Bob Njagi and siblings Jamil and Aslam Longton who were arrested by suspected police officers and never seen again about a month ago.

A photo of the Milimani Law Courts, Nairobi

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The Judiciary Kenya

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) on Saturday announced that the prices of Super Petrol and Diesel will remain unchanged in the September review.

Following EPRA's announcement, Super Petrol will retail at Ksh188.84, Diesel at Ksh171.60 while Kerosene will retail at Ksh158.32 after it decreased by Ksh3.43 per litre.

According to the energy regulator, the prices were inclusive of the 16 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) in line with the provisions of the Finance Act 2023, and the Tax Laws Amendment Act of 2020.

In a statement, EPRA noted that the calculated maximum retail prices of petroleum products would be in force from September 15, 2024, to October 14 of this year.

EPRA Director General Daniel Kiptoo speaking during the official release of the Energy and Petroleum Statistics Report on December 15, 2023.

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EPRA

EPRA further announced a decrease in the landed cost of imported Super Petrol which edged lower by 1.53% from Ksh91,300 (US$708.47 )per cubic metre in July 2024 to 89,938 (US$697.62) per cubic metre in August.

Meanwhile, the landed cost of Diesel decreased by 2.95% from Ksh89,528 (US$693.82) per cubic metre to 86,900 (US$673.36) per cubic metre.

"Currently, Kenya imports all its petroleum product requirements in refined form and the products are traded in international markets based on a pricing benchmark," EPRA stated.

"Further, the trade of petroleum products in the international markets is denominated in United States Dollars and an exchange rate is applied to convert the US Dollar to Ksh during the computation of local pump prices."

The decision to retain the fuel prices at the same levels compared to the previous month comes as a shock for many Kenyans who anticipated a drop in the prices.

Most Kenyans had expected a drop in the prices following the reduction in international oil prices amidst the shilling's stability over the last one month.

In its weekly bulletin published on Friday, September 13, the Central Bank noted that International oil prices declined marginally during the week ending September 12, due to a slowdown in global oil demand. 

“The Murban oil price declined to USD 72.34 per barrel on September 12 from USD 72.99 per barrel on September 5,” the Central Bank stated in its weekly report.

Fueling at a petrol station in Kenya.

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Kenyans.co.ke

Acting Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli was on Friday sentenced to six months in prison after he was found guilty of contempt of court.

In his ruling, Justice Lawrence Mugambi ordered Masengeli to surrender himself to the Commissioner General of Prisons to serve his sentence within the next seven days.

The judge further ordered that in the event Masengeli fails to surrender himself, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki must take steps to ensure Masengeli is committed to prison to serve his sentence.

"Mr Gilbert Masengeli is sentenced to six months imprisonment, he is ordered to submit himself to the Commissioner of Kenya Prisons to ensure he is committed to a prison facility to commence serving sentence," ruled Justice Mugambi.

The Milimani Law Courts building which hosts the High Court

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Office of the Registrar High Court

"The court nevertheless finds it desirable to impose this sentence as a coercive order as opposed to a punitive order. Mr Masengeli may avoid serving this sentence and in that regard suspend this sentencing for seven days only."

Masengeli was on Tuesday, September 3, found guilty of contempt of court after snubbing six consecutive summons.

He had been summoned to appear before the judge to explain the whereabouts of two brothers, Jamil Longton and Aslam Longton, and activist Bob Njagi who were abducted in Kitengela last month.

Justice Mugambi in his previous ruling, termed Masengeli's conduct unacceptable and one that bordered on outright intimidation. 

“The willful disobedience of court orders is a direct affront to the rule of law. Those who defy court orders must be held accountable, and failure to appear in court amounts to direct contempt,” the judge commented.

Today's ruling followed an application filed by the accused who sought the court's decision to postpone his sentencing for a later date.

Masengeli wanted the court to suspend his sentencing on grounds that he was focusing on critical matters of national security.

He alleged that the ongoing security operations were paramount and required his immediate attention, thus justifying his non-attendance.

Acting Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli inspecting a guard of honour

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NPS

After a tense standoff that left hundreds of passengers stranded at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), striking workers have accepted a deal to return to their posts following a day-long protest. However, while operations resume, the dispute over the government’s plan to lease the airport to India’s Adani Group remains unresolved.

The airport workers, who downed their tools on Wednesday, have not backed down from their opposition to the proposed 30-year takeover by Adani. During the negotiations, facilitated by the Ministry of Transport and union leaders, an agreement was reached for the workers to resume duties. 

The strike, which disrupted flights across the country, forced a response from both the government and union leaders. What followed was a day-long negotiation that resulted in a temporary return to work.

Why it matters: The proposal seeks to make major upgrades on JKIA, but there has been opposition to the proposal that has been surrounded by a lack of transparency and clarity. Resolving the strike is crucial to reopening the airport while opening a door for dialogue on the matter.

Passengers queue at JKIA during a past industrial strike by Kenya Aviation Workers Union in Nairobi.

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Edwin Dande

Digg deeper: Despite the resumed services, the workers, represented by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union (KAWU), made it clear that the strike was merely a symptom of a broader disagreement over the management of Kenya's largest airport.

At the heart of the conflict is the government's push to lease JKIA to the Adani Group, a proposal that has sparked significant backlash. Workers, fearing for their job security and the future of the airport, downed their tools, prompting a severe disruption of airport operations. Local flights from Mombasa and Kisumu were significantly delayed, and police officers were left to manage security at check-in points as stranded passengers anxiously awaited updates.

The agreement reached between the Ministry of Transport and union leaders, while allowing operations to resume, has not quelled the discontent among workers. The workers have been granted veto powers, effectively giving them the ability to halt the deal at any point if their concerns are not addressed. This is no small concession, as the workers now wield significant influence over the final outcome of the lease proposal.

Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli, who played a key role in the negotiations, announced that while the workers had returned to their posts, the government had yet to convince them that the Adani deal was in their best interests. According to Atwoli, a series of meetings is scheduled to take place over the next 10 days to review the specifics of the deal.

“Kenya Airport Authority (KAA) shall not enter into any final agreement without consensus from the Kenya Aviation Workers Union,” Atwoli declared, emphasising the union’s continued opposition to the proposed takeover.

Moss Ndiema, Secretary General of KAWU, reinforced this position. “We are not endorsing the Adani deal,” Ndiema stated firmly. “This return to work is conditional, and we have been given the power to veto the agreement at any point if it does not align with the workers’ interests.”

What next: This cautious return to normalcy is accompanied by mounting pressure on the government to reveal the full terms of the deal. Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir assured workers and the public that all relevant documents related to the deal would be submitted to the courts for transparency. He stressed that the government’s intention was to improve JKIA’s infrastructure, which is currently struggling to meet capacity demands, and that private investment is a necessary step forward.

However, the workers and their union remain sceptical. The concessions made during negotiations, including the inclusion of worker representatives in all future discussions, signal that the workers will not stand down easily. The battle over the future of JKIA is far from over, and the government faces a tough task in convincing not only the workers but also the broader Kenyan public that the Adani deal is the right move.

JKIA needs substantial upgrades to handle the growing number of passengers, and private sector investment is seen as the solution. However, the workers argue that handing over control to a foreign entity could compromise job security and the integrity of the airport’s operations. This impasse has now evolved into a broader conversation about the future of public infrastructure in Kenya.

As the 10-day review period begins, all eyes are on the outcome of the next round of negotiations. The government’s promise to involve all stakeholders in the discussions is a positive step, but it remains to be seen whether this will be enough to address the deep-rooted concerns of the workers.

A section of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA)

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KAA

A Nakuru Court on Monday ordered for the arrest of Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii and his former Deputy Governor John Barorot. 

The order, issued by Senior Principal Magistrate Peter Ndege, came after both officials failed to appear in court to testify in the ongoing Ksh1.1 billion Finland Education Programme scandal. 

Additionally, two other individuals linked to the case were also subjected to arrest warrants.

The scandal, which has drawn public attention, involves allegations of misappropriated funds intended for a collaborative education project with Finland. 

Uasin Gishu Governor, Jonathan Bii, speaking at a church service at Emkwen AIC Church on April 16, 2023.

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Jonathan Bii

The case has been marred by delays and non-compliance by key figures who were expected to provide crucial testimony regarding the mismanagement of funds.

The Senior Principal Magistrate issued arrest warrants for five individuals, including two who were previously bonded by the prosecution but failed to appear in court. 

The arrest orders extended to Hillary Ruto, Stephen Lel, and Edwin Lel. 

Additionally, the court has summoned two key witnesses, Mercy Tarus and Joel Koech, to testify.

These witnesses are crucial in the case against Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago and two others who are charged with the misappropriation of finances in the Finland saga. 

This fund was initially earmarked for an overseas education scholarship intended for needy children. 

The testimony of Tarus and Koech is expected to play a pivotal role in the proceedings, shedding light on the alleged financial misconduct.

In July 2024, a revelation in a Nakuru court stunned attendees when Joel Cheruiyot Chelule, the chairperson of the Uasin Gishu County Revolving Fund, confessed to receiving substantial payments for accompanying a former county governor on international trips. 

Chelule disclosed that he was awarded Ksh 700,000 as per diem for travelling with the then-county governor to Finland and Canada in 2021. 

The purpose of their travel was to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with three universities aimed at establishing an overseas education program for students from the county.

Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim driving a tractor.

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Jonathan Bii

President William Ruto has announced a three-day period of national mourning following the devastating blaze that claimed the lives of 18 students of Hillside Endarasha Academy on Friday, September 6. 

The period of mourning will commence on Monday, September 9, and conclude on Wednesday, September 11.

In a heartfelt statement issued late on Friday, President Ruto, currently in China and expected back in Kenya over the weekend, declared, "As a solemn testament to the indelible mark left upon the nation's consciousness by the spirits of the eighteen departed children, Kenya shall observe a three-day period of national mourning."

During this time, the President has mandated that the flags of Kenya and the East African Community (EAC) be flown at half-mast. This directive extends to the State House, all Kenyan diplomatic missions, public buildings, public grounds, military bases, naval vessels, and across the entire country, from dawn on Monday until sunset on Wednesday.

One of the Wooden structures at the school in Endarasha

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Facebook

The victims, aged between 9 and 13 and in Grades 4 to 8, perished in a blaze that has left the nation in deep mourning.

The inferno, the details of which are still emerging, has sent shockwaves through the country. The loss of these young lives is felt acutely, as communities across Kenya grapple with the grief and loss of children whose futures were tragically extinguished.

The search for missing students continues as the government and humanitarian agencies work tirelessly to account for those affected by the catastrophic inferno at the school in Nyeri.

The blaze, which engulfed the school’s dormitory in the early hours of Friday, has raised urgent questions as families and authorities grapple with the aftermath.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has disclosed that 70 students are still unaccounted for. This figure does not necessarily indicate casualties but includes students who might have been taken home by their parents or remain lost amidst the chaos.

“We still cannot account for 70 pupils,” Gachagua stated, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding their whereabouts.

He urged parents and local residents to report any children who might have been removed from the scene during the confusion. “I am appealing to each and every parent who took their child to report to us so that we know where those children are,” he emphasised.

This plea aims to clarify whether the missing students have been safely relocated or are still untraceable.

The inferno has tragically claimed the lives of 18 boys following the confirmation that one student succumbed to injuries in hospital.

The blaze consumed the dormitory of a boarding school housing 311 students, including 156 boys, all of whom were present when the inferno erupted.

According to Gachagua, the government has managed to confirm the whereabouts of 86 students. Of these, 27 are hospitalised with injuries, and 37 have been located with their parents. Despite these efforts, the remaining 70 students’ whereabouts are still unknown, leaving families in a state of desperation and distress.

Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki has visited the site and assured that there will be “full accountability for all whose action or inaction contributed to this tremendous loss.”

The government has pledged to mobilise all available resources to support the affected families, with various ministries coordinating their response to address the crisis.

The authorities continue to work around the clock, with a comprehensive response plan in place to aid those impacted and ensure a thorough investigation into the cause of the blaze.

The president in his statement asserted, "No child should lose their life in a place that is meant to be a safe haven for education, growth, and social development."

The administration block of Hillside Boarding school where 17 pupils lost their lives.

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Facebook

Kenya Power on Friday announced a nationwide power outage that left most counties across the country plunged into total darkness. 

The parastatal in a statement, noted the outage which began on Friday morning at around 9 am affected all the regions across the country except the Rift Valley.

While making the announcement, Kenya Power expressed remorse and assured Kenyans of their efforts to restore normalcy.

"Apologies for the inconvenience. We are experiencing an outage affecting several parts of the country. We are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible," the parastatal announced.

"We will keep you updated on the progress and share more information on the restoration efforts as soon as possible."

Kenya Power engineers repair a collapsed pylon.

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Kenya Power

The latest incident comes hours after Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary James Wandayi expressed the ministry's commitment to reduce frequent power outages.

According to CS Wandayi, the ministry had already rolled out several strategies aimed at stemming the trend of frequent power outages.

"What I am here to say is that we have put up measures and systems that would mitigate the blackouts, but if they happen there would be a system to swiftly restore power," Wandayi promised. 

"We are also continuing to invest in the infrastructure both at the generation level and at the transmission level."

CS Wandayi's sentiments followed five days after the country recorded another outage that left most parts of Kenya in darkness.

The blackout which struck the country on Friday, August 30, left areas such as Nairobi, Voi, Murang’a, Embu, Lang’ata, Ongata Rongai, Kitale, Kericho, and Malindi in darkness.

The country's latest blackout has since raised uproar among Kenyans who faulted the new energy minister for failing to actualise his promise.

CS of Energy and Petroleum, Opiyo Wandayi at a past media briefing.

kenyans.co.ke/Opiyo Wandayi

17 pupils have been reported dead while several others are nursing serious injuries after a fire broke out at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County.

According to reports, the 17 pupils were burnt beyond recognition during the night incident when a fire engulfed a dormitory at the institution.

The injured pupils were rushed to to Nyeri Provincial General Hospital for specialized medical treatment.

National Police Service Spokesperson Resila Onyango confirmed the incident, however, the cause of the fire was yet to be established by the time of publishing this article.

“We are investigating the cause and will take the necessary action,” Resila told journalists

An image of the school's administration block

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Facebook

Nyeri County Police Commander Benjamin Rotich also confirmed the fatalities stating the fire broke out around midnight when most of the students were asleep.  

Reports further indicate that first responders arrived at the scene but were unable to contain the raging inferno which had spread quickly making it hard to contain.  

 Reports indicate that the students were at the dormitory when the incident occurred.

After the fire broke out, 15 of the pupils were confirmed dead at the scene while one died while being rushed to hospital. 

The school's management was also reported to have informed parents about the situation.  

The scene is currently cordoned off from the public by the police.

As of Friday morning, Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Deputy Director  John Onyango and Director of Homicide Martin Nyoguto were dispatched to the school to initiate investigations into what transpired.

 It is expected they will immediately embark on investigating the cause of the fire and whether there was possible negligence that led to the pupil's deaths. 

The Kenya Red Cross is on-site to provide psychosocial support services to the pupils, teachers, and affected families and has set up a tracing desk at the school.

The aid organization has dispatched a mental health and psychological support team from Nairobi to relieve the unit from Nyeri. 

Fire razes down a 120 student capacity dormitory in Kirinyaga Boys High School

File

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Ugandan long-distance athlete Rebecca Cheptegei died on Thursday at the Moi Referral Hospital in Eldoret after days of battling for her life at the medical facility.

Cheptegei reportedly suffered 80 per cent burns on Sunday after she was doused in petrol by her estranged boyfriend who also sustained burns during the incident.

According to the Trans Nzoia Police Commander Jeremiah Ole Koisiom, the deceased's boyfriend bought a jerrican of petrol and poured it on her before setting Cheptegei ablaze. 

The area chief while detailing the occurrence revealed he heard the two fighting over the ownership of a piece of land where their house was built, a situation locals believed preceded the tragic incident.

Rebecca Cheptegei running during a past marathon

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UAF

While addressing the matter, Cheptegei's parents claimed the athlete bought the piece of land as she wished to be near the athletes' training centre.

Earlier this week, Uganda's Athletics Federation released a statement condemning the incident. In its statement, the federation confirmed the athlete sustained serious injuries.

"We regret to announce that our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei who competed at the Olympics has suffered severe injuries and is hospitalized at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret," the federation announced.

"This follows an incident involving her Kenyan boyfriend pouring petrol and setting fire to her.

At the scene of the tragedy, police officers managed to recover a five-litre jerrican containing petrol and a mobile phone believed to belong to the deceased's boyfriend.

The tragic occurrence followed weeks after Cheptegei participated in the 2024 Paris Olympics where she emerged 48th position in a competitive race.

Meanwhile, detectives are still conducting investigations which were still ongoing by the time of publishing this article. 

Cheptegei's tragedy marks the latest horrific occurrence involving athletes within the East African region.

A silhouette image of Kenyan athletes running in a field

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Dreamstime

The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has called off the teachers' strike following a consultative meeting with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

Addressing the press, KUPPET's Secretary General Akelo Misori noted that the strike was suspended after entering a tentative agreement with the TSC.

As a result, he directed teachers registered under the union to resume duties immediately as they iron out the issues they had raised.

"In the ensuing arrangement and in compliance with the court order which is coming up on September 5, Thursday, from the union side, we suspend our strike and ask all our teachers to go back to class pending the speedy resolutions of these matters as already agreed upon between us and the commission," he stated.

KUPPET secretary-general Akelo Misori (left) and chairman Omboko Milemba (right) during a press briefing in February 2022

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KUPPET

TSC, whose CEO Nancy Macharia was part of a presser, noted that the parties held fruitful bi-partite negotiations with the KUPPET union to end the work boycott through alternative dispute resolutions.

Macharia confirmed that the commission reached an agreement with KUPPET after the meeting.

"After a day long meeting, we are happy to report to the nation that we have reached an amicable settlement which will enable our teachers to resume duty immediately," she told the press.

On August 21, 2021, the government promised to provide funds for the second implementation of the teachers' Collective Bargain Agreement (CBA) which was to take effect on July 1 2024.

Macharia, however, confirmed that all teachers have benefited from the implementation of the second phase of the CBA, with all the arrears settled.

"The government has successfully implemented all the provisions of the 2021-2025 CBA with the teachers' unions, specifically the second phase of the CBA which was due on July 1, 2024," she added.

Among the things resolved are the remittance of third-party deductions, restoration of medical scheme and promotion of 51,232 teachers. Further, the government has provided more resources for retooling of JSS teachers. The government pledged to iron out the remaining issues.

The call off the strike efectively ends KUPPET's weeklong strike that kicked off on August 26. Earlier, today, however, learners were sent home over a lack of teachers due to the strike.

TSC CEO Nancy Macharia appearing before Senate Trade Committee on March 26, 2024.

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The Senate of Kenya