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Global News Wire

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Capital News

US Embassy in Nairobi to close Monday for Columbus Day holiday

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 9 — The United States Embassy in Nairobi will close its offices to the public on Monday, October 12, for the Columbus Day federal holiday, affecting Kenyans planning to access consular services and other official assistance.In a notice issued on Friday, the embassy said the closure would be observed in line with the US federal holiday, which falls on the second Monday of October each year.“The U.S. Embassy will be closed on Monday, October 12, 2026, in observance of Columbus Day,” the embassy announced.The closure means people intending to visit the mission for consular services or other official business should plan their visits around the holiday and check the embassy’s official communication channels for any appointment-related updates.Columbus Day commemorates Christopher Columbus’ 1492 voyage across the Atlantic, which brought him to islands in the present-day Bahamas. The holiday is observed annually in the United States on the second Monday of October.In a proclamation dated October 7, US President Donald Trump called on Americans to mark the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities, while directing that the US flag be displayed on public buildings.The proclamation also defended Columbus’ historical legacy, describing his voyage as a turning point in the history of exploration and linking it to the development of the United States.“Today, we reaffirm that Christopher Columbus is a legend whose vision, fortitude, and perseverance unleashed a dynamic of history that led to the creation of the greatest, freest, and most just Nation in history,” Trump said in his proclamation on October 7.“We are forever indebted to his courageous voyage, and we will never allow his legacy to be erased by radical extremists.”​Bruhan Makong is a Senior News Reporter for Capital FM in Nairobi, covering diplomacy, foreign policy, national security, climate, and human rights across East Africa and the wider region.

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Ghafla Kenya

Kenya Met Warns Of Heavy Rains And Strong Winds In 30+ Counties

The Kenya Meteorological Service (KMS) has issued a weekly weather forecast predicting widespread rainfall across multiple regions of the country between October 9 and October 16, 2026, with warnings of isolated storms in select areas. According to the weatherman, rainfall is expected across a broad swath of counties, including: Northeastern & Coastal Regions: Mandera, Wajir, […]

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Ghafla Kenya

“Do Not Abandon Your Children”: Geoffrey Mosiria Issues Emotional Appeal To Parents In Informal Settlements

Nairobi County Chief Officer for Customer Engagement and Citizen Service Geoffrey Mosiria has issued an emotional appeal to parents against abandoning their children in informal settlements, urging them to prioritize their kids’ safety, protection, and emotional well-being. Speaking on Friday, October 9, 2026, Mosiria warned that children left without parental supervision in high-density informal settlements […]

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Ghafla Kenya

Wambo Ashley Shows Off New Home After Nicholas Kioko Split

Content creator Wambo Ashley has offered followers a peek into her new home following her separation from fellow creator Nicholas Kioko, sharing a heartwarming moment of her brother—a Catholic priest—blessing the residence. In a video posted to her Instagram page on Thursday, October 8, 2026, Ashley captured her brother performing the traditional blessing as she […]

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CIO Africa

Sun King Expands Its Solar Inverter Range In Kenya

Sun King has expanded its PowerHub solar inverter range in Kenya, adding higher-capacity systems aimed at households, businesses, schools, healthcare facilities and light industrial users.The new systems were unveiled in Nairobi as demand for alternative power sources continues among consumers and businesses seeking to reduce their reliance on the electricity grid and generators. The expanded PowerHub range now covers inverter capacities from 2.2 kW to 30 kW. The systems can also be connected in parallel, allowing multiple units to operate together and increase total power output.This allows customers to run higher-power equipment such as water pumps, washing machines and microwaves, while also expanding their solar systems over time by adding battery storage or solar panels without replacing the existing inverter equipment.“The latest additions to our PowerHub range take us into new territory. We can now serve homes, shops, businesses, schools, hospitals, and offices of virtually any size. PowerHub systems are already powering offices and entire schools. This expansion is another step forward to deliver more energy across Kenya. Simply put, it is more power,” says Atta Arome, Product Head, Solar Inverter Systems at Sun King.The expanded range comes as solar power continues to play a role in addressing power reliability and energy costs for Kenyan households and businesses. Higher-capacity systems can provide backup power for larger premises and equipment, reducing dependence on generators when grid power is unavailable. The systems are available across Kenya through Sun King’s agent network. The company said customers can also access installation and after-sales support through its network.“Millions of customers across Africa know they can trust Sun King to help them make the move to solar. With quality products, professional installation, after-sales care and flexible financing all under one roof. As we expand PowerHub, we’re giving even more customers the confidence to access the reliable energy they need to power their homes and businesses,” said Catherine Mudachi, Vice President of Marketing at Sun King.Sun King said the PowerHub systems are available through a pay-as-you-go model. The company has operated in Kenya since 2007, initially focusing on smaller solar products and pay-as-you-go financing. Its expansion into higher-capacity inverter systems reflects the growing range of applications for solar power beyond household lighting and basic appliances.With the PowerHub expansion, the company is targeting customers requiring larger amounts of electricity, including businesses, schools, healthcare facilities and other organisations looking for alternative or backup power solutions.

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CIO Africa

Safaricom Launches SD-WAN Service For Multi-Branch Businesses

Safaricom has launched a managed software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) service for businesses with multiple branches, with monthly packages starting at $73 (KES 9,500) per branch on a 36-month contract.The service bundles equipment, software, maintenance and round-the-clock support into a monthly fee, allowing businesses to manage connectivity across multiple sites without paying for hardware upfront.The offering targets businesses operating across branches, depots and clinics, where network outages can disrupt payments, customer service, inventory management and dispatch operations.SD-WAN combines a business’s existing connections, including fibre, 4G, 5G, broadband, dedicated internet access and multiprotocol label switching (MPLS), into one centrally managed network.When a connection fails, traffic can switch automatically to a backup link, helping keep payment terminals, stock systems and online ordering operational. The service also balances traffic across available connections, allowing secondary links to carry traffic instead of remaining idle.It prioritises business-critical applications, such as video calls and customer payments, over less essential browsing. Security filters and threat protection are included at each site, reducing the need to purchase separate firewall hardware for every branch.“For a business with several branches, a single connection failure can stop sales, leave staff unable to reach the systems they need and keep customers waiting. Our SD-WAN service brings those connections under one managed network for a predictable monthly fee, so businesses can expand without a large upfront investment in hardware, with Safaricom providing the support,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom.Safaricom offers three plans with 12-, 24- or 36-month contracts. The Basic Plus plan, designed for standard branches and regional offices requiring reliable connectivity with automatic 5G backup, costs $73 (KES 9,500) per branch per month and $227 (KES 29,500) per month for headquarters equipment on a 36-month contract.The Standard Plus plan, aimed at high-volume sites and headquarters requiring advanced threat protection, costs $109 (KES 14,100) per branch per month and $234 (KES 30,400) per month for headquarters equipment on the same term. The Advanced Plus plan for headquarters starts at $517 (KES 67,100) per month.Longer contracts significantly reduce monthly costs. A Basic Plus branch costs $152 (KES 19,800) per month on a 12-month contract, compared with $73 (KES 9,500) on a 36-month term.The service targets medium-sized businesses with distributed operations. Banks can use it to connect ATMs, teller systems and mobile banking services, while retailers and distributors can link point-of-sale terminals, inventory databases and dispatch teams. Manufacturers can connect production plants to head-office enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, while clinic chains can link patient records, prescription data and laboratory systems across locations.Through its Ready Mobility offering, businesses can establish new branches using 4G or 5G where suitable coverage is available, without waiting for fibre installation. They can add fibre later as their needs grow. Equipment is configured remotely, subject to an assessment of coverage and network requirements.Businesses can retain existing connections, including those supplied by other providers. A central dashboard displays the health and speed of each site, allowing IT teams to manage the network from one interface, while Safaricom engineers in Kenya monitor and support the service around the clock.The SD-WAN fee is separate from connectivity charges. Final pricing and network design depend on each customer’s requirements.

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