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Missing activist Boniface Mwangi has been found alive in Ukunda after being detained in Tanzania for more than three days, the family has confirmed.

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi has also confirmed that the missing activist has been freed through a spokesperson. 

Mwangi has been rushed to the hospital for medical review, according to his lawyer, James Wanjeri.

He has been missing since Monday, after he flew to the East African nation to attend the court hearing of opposition figure Tundu Lissu.

Earlier on Thursday, concerns over the activist’s whereabouts nearly escalated into a diplomatic row, with the Kenyan government accusing Tanzanian authorities of withholding information on Mwangi’s status.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that Kenya had made multiple unsuccessful attempts to get updates from Tanzanian officials. This comes after Mwangi was detained on Monday morning in Dar es Salaam, reportedly on charges of obstruction and unlawful entry into the country.

"The Ministry notes that, despite several requests, officials of the Government of Kenya have been denied consular access and information to Mr Mwangi. The Ministry is also concerned about his health, overall well-being, and the absence of information regarding his detention," a statement from the ministry read in part. 

Following the earlier developments, the Kenyan government stated that it was left with no option but to recall the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963), which provide that consular officers shall be free to communicate with nationals of the sending state and to have access to them.

Meanwhile, in Nairobi, hundreds of activists had started trooping into the central business district and to the Tanzanian embassy in Kenya to demand the immediate release of Mwangi.  

Heavy police presence was also noticeable, as they were on high alert to avert any case of lawlessness within the areas. 

Mwangi was detained alongside Ugandan national Agather Atuhaire shortly after the detention and deportation of former Justice Minister Martha Karua, former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, Vocal Africa CEO Hussein Khalid, and activist Hanifa Adan at Julius Nyerere International Airport on Sunday and Monday this week.

Former CJ David Maraga had on Thursday morning expressed his concerns over the continued detention by authorities in the United Republic of Tanzania without access to the courts, legal counsel, or consular representation, terming such acts a clear violation of international human rights law.

Mwangi and the family are expected to later address the media regarding the condition of the activist. 

A collage of Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu captured at separate past events.

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ANC/MODERN DIPLOMACY

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has come out with explosive claims against the Kenya Kwanza government, alleging a murder plot against him.

While speaking at his Karen residence on Monday, May 19, Gachagua claimed state-sponsored officers had specific instructions to take him out on Sunday, May 18. The former District Commissioner has claimed that the government planned to use 'biological weapons' against him to slowly degrade his mind over three months.

According to Gachagua, he was made aware of alleged instructions from the President to 'deal with him' once and for all on Sunday while he was attending a church service in Murang'a County.

"While attending a church service in Gatanga Constituency yesterday, I received intelligence reports that there were orders to have me dealt with once and for all," Gachagua said in his explosive presser. 

Rigathi Gachagua during a church service in Gatanga, Murang'a County on Sunday, May 18 2025

The former second-in-command further claimed that attempts to quell him by state-sponsored goons failed on Sunday, prompting police to intervene in the alleged plot to take him out. 

He added, "Since the goons sponsored by the state on several occasions had failed, police and other state security agencies had to come in."

Gachagua went on to allege that he received intelligence on Sunday afternoon from police officers who were reportedly under instructions to plant arms and weapons in his convoy to have grounds to apprehend him. 

"We received further intelligence from the deployed patriotic officers who were not in agreement with the evil mission that they had clear instructions to plant arms and weapons in our convoy to provide evidence to arrest us and get evidence that they could charge us with in court," he added. 

The presser followed an incident on Sunday evening, which saw police officers drawn from multiple units reportedly surround the former second in command's homes. The operation was confirmed by Gachagua's ally and lawyer, Ndegwa Njiru, who issued a public alert, raising concern over the late-night deployment to Gachagua’s residences in Karen and Wamunyoro.

Gachagua, while denying receiving any summons from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) as required by law, admitted that he was aware of a plot by officers to block his way, as he revealed he had to reroute to get to his Karen residence. 

The change in routes, according to the former DP, was a deliberate effort from his team to avoid getting his security detail disarmed, which would have otherwise left him vulnerable to attacks. 

Controversy surrounding Gachagua hit an all-time high on Friday, after he made controversial remarks suggesting the upcoming 2027 general elections would descend into chaos if there were any discrepancies from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). 

But Gachagua doubled down on his initial defence on Sunday, insisting that his comments were not inciteful but rather a message of accountability to the commission ahead of the polls. 

"This (statement) was a precautionary statement and not incitement. It is based on historical facts and past electoral experiences of 1992, 1997 and 2007 controversial elections that we must have a free and fair election in 2027," he asserted. 

Images of patrol cars allegedly belonging to police officers that are claimed to have been used to trail Rigathi Gachagua on May 18, 2025.

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Ronoh

Police on Monday raided the home of Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya in Kitale under unclear circumstances, amid reports that the county boss is under investigation.

The early morning operation was reportedly led by heavily equipped anti-riot police officers, working in coordination with officials from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

Tension flared outside the residence as scores of Natembeya’s supporters flocked to the scene, confronting officers and engaging in a tense standoff.

Police had a hard time controlling the growing crowd, with additional reinforcements deployed to prevent possible escalation.

Police and EACC officers outside the home of Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya.

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Lofty

Chanting 'Tawe Movement' slogans, the governor's supporters accused the police of being used to settle political scores, claiming the raid was politically motivated.

The rowdy youth deflated the tyres of five vehicles belonging to DCI, EACC officials camping at the governor's home.

The incident came just a day after Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka sounded the alarm over a possible crackdown on Natembeya, who has recently emerged as one of the most vocal critics of President William Ruto's administration in the Western region.

Speaking in Machakos on Sunday, May 18, Kalonzo claimed that the EACC had been granted a search warrant, in which he claims that the detectives will go search his properties, apprehend him, and then later release him.

According to Kalonzo, the plot to apprehend the governor has been fabricated with the aim of tarnishing the governor's name.

"If you are the governor and you don't toe the line of those in leadership of the highest level, they will send EACC after you, but I want to say that the commission should not be used," he said.

''Governor Natembeya is threatened as we speak, and on Monday, which is tomorrow, they have obtained a search warrant to go and search his house. They just want to apprehend him and release him so that they may embarrass him before the people of trans Nzoia."

On Monday last week, Governor Natembeya, accompanied by several Members of Parliament and former Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, was barred by police from accessing the Nzoia Sugar Company in Bungoma County.

The leaders, who had been joined by a team of lawyers, were reportedly on their way to engage management and stakeholders over concerns surrounding the troubled sugar mill when security officers erected a blockade, preventing them from proceeding.

Attempts to reach Governor Natembeya’s communication team for comment on the incident were unsuccessful.

However, EACC CEO Abdi Ahmed Mohamud confirmed to NTV that the commission was in charge of the raid, terming it a routine operation, although he did not disclose further details about the nature or target of the exercise.

Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya watches from his sunroof after police blocked his route on May 12, 2025.

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Sammy

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has announced that the prices of super petrol, diesel, and kerosene will remain unchanged in the May fuel review.

In its latest fuel review released on Wednesday, May 14, EPRA announced that the prices of super petrol, diesel, and kerosene will continue to retail at Ksh174.63, Ksh164.86, and Ksh148.99, respectively, in Nairobi.

EPRA noted that the calculated maximum retail prices of petroleum products will be in force from May 15 to June 14 this year.

''In accordance with Section 101(y) of the Petroleum Act 2019 and Legal Notice No.192 of 2022, we have calculated the maximum retail prices of petroleum products which will be in force from May 15 to June 14,'' the statement read in part.

EPRA Director General Daniel Kiptoo speaking in February 2024

EPRA

In Mombasa, super petrol, diesel, and kerosene will retail at Ksh171.39, Ksh161.62, and Ksh145.75. 

While in Kisumu, super petrol, diesel, and kerosene will now retail at Ksh174.67, Ksh165.24, and Ksh149.42. 

According to EPRA, the prices are 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 2024 and the revised rates for excise duty adjusted for inflation. 

The average landed cost of imported Super Petrol decreased by 2.95 per cent from Ksh78,181.74 ($606.06) per cubic metre in March to Ksh75,872.64 ($588.16) per cubic metre in April.

Diesel decreased by 6.62 per cent from Ksh82,140.75 ($636.75) per cubic metre to Ksh76,703.40 ($594.60) per cubic metre while Kerosene decreased by 4.52 per cent from Ksh81,040.38 ($628.22) per cubic metre to Ksh77,379.36 ($599.84)  per cubic metre over the same period.

EPRA explained that the price of these petroleum products is based on global market prices since Kenya does not produce or refine its own petroleum; it imports already processed fuel from other countries.

The unchanged prices provide a temporary relief for Kenyans as transport and vehicle expenses remain unchanged, as fuel is a major factor in determining travel costs.

Kenyans remain on the lookout for global oil price movements and future EPRA reviews to see the adjustments that will be made next month.

A petrol tanker transporting fuel along Thika Super Highway, November 13, 2019.

Kenyans.co.ke

The conclave on Thursday, May 8, elected a new pope. This is after a white smoke was seen billowing from the Sistine Chapel.

133 cardinals from across the globe voted in the highly secretive exercise, and the winner got the two-thirds majority needed to be elected Pontiff.

Crowds at the Vatican who had gathered to witness the new pope's election erupted into cheers in St Peter's Square after seeing the white smoke billowing from the chimney at around 6.10 pm.

Louder cheers erupted after American Cardinal Robert Prevost was selected as the new Pope. This was confirmed by Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti from the Loggia of Blessings of St. Peter's Basilica.

American Cardinal Robert Prevost, who has become Pope Leo XIV after his election as the head of the Catholic church.

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Crux

In a historic moment, Cardinal Prevost became the first American Pope in the history of the Catholic church and took the name Pope Leo XIV.

Cardinal Prevost, 69, was born in Chicago. He spent years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop.

After his appointment, the new pontiff was expected to be taken to the adjacent antechamber within the Sistine Chapel known as the 'Room of Tears' where he would change from his scarlet cardinal’s outfit into a white papal cassock.

Consequently, he was led to the main balcony of St Peter’s Basilica to greet the crowd and issue his first apostolic blessing.

He was met with a raucous cheers with the large crowd chanting in massive celebration.  The crowd had been building up at St. Peter's Square for close for an hour after white smoke was seen billowing from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel.

He is seen as a reformer in the mould of Pope Francis, who sent Cardinal Prevost to run the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014.

He ran that diocese until 2023, when Francis brought him to Rome to be head of the Vatican’s powerful Dicastery for Bishops, in charge of vetting nominations for senior clergy around the world.

Prevost was also president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, a job that kept him in regular contact with the Catholic hierarchy in a region of the world that still counts the most Catholics.

A Vatican insider said: “He was not one of the obvious candidates, but he knows everybody, he spent 30 years as a missionary, he has languages.

Pope Leo XIV is expected to replace Pope Francis, who died on April 21, at the age of 88, after a long battle with illness.

The former Pope was known for his humility and his empathy for the poor. He also strongly advocated for peace and actively spoke against warring nations.

A photo of the late Pope Francis and his replacement Pope Leo XIV, also known as Robert Prevost, an American Cardinal in a past engagement.

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The Pillar

President William Ruto has nominated Erastus Edung Ethekon from Turkana County as the chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Additionally, the President has nominated six other individuals to serve as members of the commission and submitted their names to Parliament for vetting.

"In accordance with our supreme law, the nominations have been transmitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval by Parliament, in accordance with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act as well as the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act (Chapter 7F, Laws of Kenya),'' the statement from the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei read in part.

The six members are: Ann Njeri Nderitu (Registrar of Political Parties), Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Araphat Abdallah.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon during a past event.

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Judiciary

The nominations followed the recommendations of the Selection Panel on the recruitment of nominees for the positions of chairperson and members of the IEBC, as transmitted on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.

The Selection Panel, chaired by Nelson Makanda, had recommended two candidates for the position of chairperson and nine others for consideration to fill six commissioner slots, before President Ruto settled on seven nominees.

Ruto has urged the National Assembly to prioritise the consideration of the nominees, even as stakeholders had expressed concerns over the delay in constituting the commission.

“In recognition of the indispensable role of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as one of the cornerstone institutions of our democracy and a custodian of electoral management, His Excellency the President has urged the National Assembly to prioritize the consideration of these nominations.”

Erastus Edung Ethekon, the chairperson nominee, holds a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Oil, Gas & Energy Law from the University of Derby in the United Kingdom, obtained in 2016. He also earned a Master of Science (MSc) in Project Management from the University of Liverpool in 2013.

In 2012, he completed a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Peace, Conflict & Development Studies at Universidad Jaume I in Valencia, Spain. He is a recipient of the British Foreign & Commonwealth Chevening Fellowship and holds a Postgraduate Certificate in the Implementation of International Human Rights Treaties from the University of Nottingham, awarded in 2007.

His legal foundation includes a Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law in 2003 and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from the University of Nairobi, which he obtained in 2001.

Until his nomination, Edung served as County Attorney in the Office of the County Attorney in the County Government of Turkana from 2018 to 2024. He also worked as a Consultant Partner at Northern Consulting Solution and E. Ethekon & Co. Advocates, a position he held from 2004 to the time of his nomination.

A total of 11 candidates were interviewed for the position of chairperson, among them former Judiciary Chief Registrar Anne Amadi and ex-Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution Chairperson Charles Nyachae.

Other contenders included legal and governance experts such as Joy Mdivo, Jacob Ngwele Muvengei, Erastus Edung Ethekon (the nominee), Francis Kakai Kissinger, Lilian Wanjiku Manegene, and Saul Simiyu Wasilwa.

Parliament now has 21 days to vet the nominees after receiving their names from the President, in accordance with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act, 2011. 

President William Ruto(right)receives the report on the recruitment of nominees for the positions of Chairperson and Members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) from the IEBC Selection Panel Chairperson Nelson Makanda (left) at State House, Nairobi, May 6, 2025.

PCS

Several residents living in Nairobi on Wednesday morning expressed concerns following a presumed earth tremor.

Describing their experience, the residents revealed that the tremors occurred in most parts of the city between 10:30am and 10:40am, sparking fears among many people.

Some of the areas affected by the tremors included Westlands, Parklands, Kangemi, and most parts of the city’s suburbs and satellite towns, including Mlolongo.

Earthquake Monitor, a website known for lithosphere information, revealed that initial earth movements were reported in Mlolongo town before it spread to other parts.

Nonetheless, details of the tremor, including the magnitude and the effect, were yet to be confirmed at the time of publishing this article.

"We are receiving unverified early reports of ground shaking possibly caused by seismic activity in or near Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya, on May 7, 2025 (GMT) at approximately 07:36 GMT," the Earthquake Monitor revealed in a statement.

"There are no details yet on the magnitude or depth of this possible quake. If confirmed, we can expect more accurate data to emerge in the next few minutes."

A detailed experience by some of the residents claimed the tremor was characterised by weak shaking of the earth, which caused shaking of buildings and other structures.

The latest incident comes hardly a week after a similar experience was felt in the coastal counties of Mombasa and Kilifi, with residents reporting abnormal ocean movements.

According to reports, the intense tremor hit the two counties on Sunday, April 28, at around 4.17pm, prompting fear among residents, particularly those residing near the Indian Ocean.

Data from the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) disclosed that the depth of the quake extended to 10km from the epicentre and was felt across 13 seismic stations.

Notably, the tremor was felt by people living in the Coastal villages of Vipingo, Watamu, Malindi, Takaungu and Voi. The earthquake was reported as the strongest ever experienced on the Kenyan Coast.

Aerial view of Mombasa, Kenya.

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Kenya Traffic

Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Were has passed away after suspected criminals within Nairobi city gunned him down.

According to witnesses, the lawmaker was shot dead on Wednesday evening near the City Mortuary roundabout by suspected gunmen who were trailing him.

Reports further indicated that the two gunmen were on a motorbike when they shot Were, before fleeing from the scene.

During the incident, which took place around 7 pm, one of the gunmen alighted from the motorbike and shot the legislator at close range.

Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Were.

Aden Duale

Efforts to rush him to the Nairobi Hospital proved futile as Were was pronounced dead on arrival at the facility.

While the intention behind the killing is yet to be established, reports suggest that Were could have been the key target as his driver escaped unharmed.

According to ODM, Were was in parliament the better part of the day and left at 6:15 pm after participating in the business of the day.

The ODM party leadership, while mourning him, called for swift investigations and the arrest of the perpetrators.

"While we join his constituents, the people of the great county of Homabay, his family, colleagues and friends in mourning, we call on the police to investigate the shooting incident and bring the culprits to book," read part of the statement by the ODM party.

Were was serving his second term in office since his first election as a legislator in 2017. In 2022 polls, he was reelected to office on the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket.

Meanwhile, his tragic demise comes barely three months after he decried his security.

Following his death, police officers promptly arrived at the scene and have since commenced investigations into the matter.

Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were

KNA

Just hours after detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) raided the home and office of Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi, the county chief has been arrested and taken to the commission's offices in Nairobi.  

During the morning raid, nine other senior county officials also had their premises searched over suspected embezzlement of public funds and conflict of interest.

Pressure has been mounting on the EACC to rein in the leadership over the alleged mismanagement of funds in the county.

During the arrest, Wamatangi was seen waving to the locals from the back seat of an SUV as the detectives escorted him to their offices for interrogation. 

Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi during a past event.

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Kimani Wamatangi

Some of the residents staged protests outside his home after the apprehension, demanding his unconditional release. 

The residents, while chanting anti-President William Ruto songs, alleged that the president was aware of the scheme behind the county boss's frustrations. 

However, the presence of heavily armed police officers deterred their attempts to block the convoy transporting Wamatangi and the other county officials. 

This is the second time that the county is hitting headlines over the conduct of its leadership, with the former Governor Ferdinand Waititu currently locked behind bars over a multimillion graft case.

Waititu was sentenced to 12 years in prison by Milimani Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki on February 13 after being convicted in a Ksh588 million graft case.

The arrest comes two months after Kiambu Senator Karungo Wa Thang'wa, in February, called on the EACC to investigate the county's payment system, alleging that the governor had switched from an automated one to a manual one.

The Senator alleged that this change had created a perfect cover for ghost workers, noting that Ksh390 million had been moved under this guise.

The commission is expected to address the press and issue a formal statement on the circumstances surrounding the apprehension of the county chief. 

A photo of former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu after he was sentenced to a jail term by the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on Thursday, February 13, 2025.

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EACC

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) on Monday announced that the prices of super petrol, diesel, and kerosene will decrease in the April fuel review.

In its latest fuel review, the prices of super petrol, diesel, and kerosene will now retail at Ksh174.63, Ksh164.86, and Ksh148.99, respectively, reflecting a decrease of Ksh1.95, Ksh2.20, and Ksh2.40 per litre, respectively.

EPRA noted that the new prices will be in force from Tuesday, April 15, to May 14.

In Nairobi, super petrol, diesel, and kerosene will now retail at Ksh174.63, Ksh164.86, and Ksh148.99, effective midnight for the next 30 days.

A man fueling a car at a petrol station

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New Vision

In Mombasa, super petrol, diesel, and kerosene will retail at Ksh171.39, Ksh161.62, and Ksh145.75. 

In Kisumu, super petrol, diesel, and kerosene will now retail at Ksh174.67, Ksh165.24, and Ksh149.42. 

According to EPRA, the prices are 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 2024 and the revised rates for excise duty adjusted for inflation. 

The average landed cost of imported super petrol decreased by 4.89 per cent from Ksh82,396.79 (US$637.22) per cubic metre in February 2025 to Ksh78,388.61 (US$606.06) per cubic metre in March 2025.

Diesel decreased by 6.45 per cent from Ksh87,974.91 (US$680.63) per cubic metre to Ksh82,388.87 (US$636.75) per cubic metre, while kerosene decreased by 6.53 per cent from Ksh86,876.15 (US$672.14) per cubic metre to Ksh81,228.97 (US$628.22) per cubic metre over the same period.

The latest announcement comes as good news for many Kenyans, particularly motorists who anticipated a hike; however, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has allayed their fears.

On Friday, CBK announced that international oil prices declined, with Murban oil trading at Ksh8,390 (USD64.77) per barrel on April 10 from Ksh9,300 (USD71.86) per barrel on April 3, reflecting concerns over the impact of US tariffs on global demand and increased production of oil in major oil-exporting countries.

In April, the prices of the products remained unchanged despite the drop in international oil prices during the week leading to the announcement. 

EPRA Director General Daniel Kiptoo speaking in February 2024

EPRA