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African leaders have long accused Western ratings agencies, including S&P, Moody's and Fitch, of failing to fairly assess the risk of lending to African countries and of moving too quickly to...
Read briefingFifteen years after "The Social Network", Aaron Sorkin is taking on Facebook again. His new film, "The Social Reckoning", looks at what the platform has become and the role it plays in division, extremism and misinformation in America, themes that have fuelled his long-running public feud with Mark Zuckerberg. It tells the true story of Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, played by Oscar-nominated actress Mikey Madison ("Anora"), who leaked thousands of internal documents to Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz, played by Jeremy Allen White ("The Bear").
Read briefingThe new accusations relate to the alleged torture of US citizens held in Venezuela while Maduro was in power.
Read briefingAuthor Patricia Tonui
Read briefingPresident Donald Trump on Thursday said the US would not attack Iran before the midterm elections and that Washington was engaged in “productive discussions” with Tehran.In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump said Iran was in a “very bad condition” economically and militarily and the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz would remain in “full force”.“We will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the midterm elections to be held in the United States on November 3,” he wrote. “We are having productive discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”The announcement comes a day after reports in US media that Washington was preparing to launch renewed military action against Iran before the midterm elections.Last month, Mr Trump said the war with Iran would end “immediately” after the midterm elections. He has also previously said the US was no longer seeking a negotiated end to the war.Shortly afterwards, he said fuel prices and the cost of living would go down. But polls show the war Mr Trump started alongside Israel in February is unpopular among US voters. A major issue has been the rise in fuel and everyday prices, which has followed disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil supply typically flows, has emerged as a major sticking point for Mr Trump.The Republican President had campaigned on promises of lower c...
Read briefingNAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 8 — The High Court has dismissed Nakuru Town East MP David Gikaria’s challenge against sanctions imposed by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) over an Electoral Code of Conduct violation, clearing the way for enforcement of a Sh2.5 million fine and an order requiring him to issue a public apology and retraction.Justice William Musyoka dismissed Gikaria’s judicial review application on Thursday, finding that the MP had not met the threshold for the orders he sought. The court also made no order as to costs.The judgment discharged temporary orders issued on July 15 that had suspended implementation of the IEBC Electoral Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee’s July 14 determination.The case followed complaints over remarks Gikaria made while campaigning ahead of the July 16 Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.The IEBC committee found that his remarks concerning cash handouts and the collection of national identity card details amounted to conduct prohibited under the Electoral Code of Conduct, including statements that could imply financial inducement of voters and mislead them about voting requirements.Gikaria had defended the collection of ID details, saying they were used to account for beneficiaries and were not intended to influence the by-election.“During voting, is it your ID that is used? No. People vote using their fingerprints.”The committee subsequently imposed the Sh2.5 million fine, ordered Gikaria to issue a public apology and retraction, issued a formal warning against similar conduct and referred evidence to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for investigation of possible election offences.Gikaria moved to the High Court after the IEBC determination, arguing that the proceedings violated his constitutional rights to fair administrative action and a fair hearing.He challenged the decision to proceed with the hearing while he was reportedly unwell and raised concerns over the time available to respond to a cyber investigation report relied upon by the committee.On July 15, Justice Musyoka certified the application as urgent and temporarily stayed implementation of the IEBC decision pending determination of the judicial review application.The IEBC committee had earlier rejected an application to adjourn the July 14 proceedings after Gikaria’s lawyer said the MP had been admitted to hospital.The committee said it had not been provided with sufficient medical documentation to substantiate the request and proceeded with the matter, noting that Gikaria was represented by advocates and that electoral proceedings are subject to statutory timelines.In dismissing the challenge, the High Court affirmed the legal framework under which the IEBC Electoral Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee can summon persons, hear complaints and make findings on alleged breaches.The court also recognised sanctions available under the framework, including financial penalties, restrictions on campaigning, formal warnings, apologies and disqualification, and noted that the enforcement process is distinct from criminal proceedings.The judgment further underscored the seriousness of voter bribery and schemes aimed at suppressing voter participation, highlighting the need for effective sanctions to protect electoral integrity.Following the ruling, the IEBC called on Gikaria to comply with the July 14 determination within the stipulated timelines, including payment of the fine and issuance of the public apology and retraction.The commission said the ruling reaffirmed its constitutional and statutory mandate to enforce the Electoral Code of Conduct and safeguard the integrity of elections.
Read briefingFrom imported to made-in-Kenya: Ruto’s 3-year shoe pledge The Star, Kenya
Read briefing‘Chaos and cruelty’: the kids trapped in Trump’s immigration enforcement campaign The GuardianICE Has Arrested Twice As Many Children This Year The Marshall ProjectOver 35,000 kids are estimated to have had both parents deported under second Trump administration KWBUNonprofits: CA kids suffer under Trump immigration policy Big News Network.comHow 3 Daughters Have Coped After ICE Detained Their Mother in San Francisco KQED
Read briefingExplosions were heard in Saudi Arabia's capital, including a large blast at Riyadh's international airport, where flights were subsequently halted.
Read briefingMore than 500 migrants have been expelled from the US to African countries, HRW says, citing US data.
Read briefingCanadian poet, essayist and translator Anne Carson won the Nobel Prize in literature Thursday for playful, genre-blending works that fuse the classical and the modern. The Toronto-born Carson, 76, draws on themes and stories from ancient Greek and Roman literature for writing that often blends elements of poetry, essay and fiction.
Read briefingUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday there would be a response to a Russian strike that hit two buses in the frontline city of Kramatorsk, killing 30 people and wounding 18 others. France 24's Andrew Hilliar says it comes a bid a growing number of Russian attacks on civilians in the country, with UN figures showing that more civilians had been killed in Ukraine as of August this year than in all of 2025.
Read briefingThis is one of Norway’s most pristine fjords. So why is it being used as a dumping site for mine waste? The Guardian
Read briefingConstruction News and Project Tracking Mjengo Hub
Read briefingTreasury’s debt schedule shows Co-op Bank, Kenya’s third largest lender by assets and deposit accounts, had Sh267 million written off during the year.
Read briefingOf the grant, Sh129.5 million will support Ebola preparedness, while a similar amount will go towards drought response.
Read briefingThe local market is expected to provide 80 percent of the State’s full year borrowing target of Sh1.2 trillion, with external lenders chipping in with Sh247.2 billion.
Read briefing'Learning and growing. My dad was about my age when he died. When you are younger, you assume you know everything, but the key is staying open to learning.'
Read briefingMourners called for safer roads and stronger emergency response.
Read briefingUniversities Academic Staff Union (UASU) Secretary General Constantine Wesonga briefs union members gathered at the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) on the first day of the nationwide lecturers' strike on October 02, 2026.Talks to end the one-week strike that has ground learning and other operations in public universities on Thursday, October 8, failed to unlock the stalemate as contentious issues remain unresolved.The meeting was attended by technical teams from the three unions whose members have downed tools since Friday last week, the Inter-Public Universities Councils Consultative Forum (IPUCCF) and the Ministry of Labour.“We met and did simulations on the process. The chairman will present to the government and let them consult, decide and give a counter-offer. We hope after consultations they’re going to invite us,” Constantine Wasonga, the secretary-general of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) told Nation.The secretary-general of the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU) Charles Mukhwaya described the process as “Miniature progress; nothing to write home about” and later revealed that no deal had been struck.However, the Principal Secretary for Higher Education Beatrice Inyangala told Nation that the government is hopeful the dispute will be resolved and students resuming learning.“We have made substantial progress, and I want to put this in the right context. The CBA issue we are dealing with today did not start yesterday. Some of these matters have been carried over from previous agreements and previous administrations. This government inherited those challenges, but we have not used that as an excuse. We have gone back, looked at the outstanding commitments and started resolving them. We have made progress on the 2017–2021 and 2021–2025 CBAs, and a number of issues that had remained unresolved for years have now been addressed,” Dr Inyangala said.She added that there is still work to do on the current dispute, “but the discussions are at a point where we believe the remaining issues can be resolved through engagement”.Alongside UASU and KUSU, members of the Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (Kudheiha) are also on strike.State Department for Higher Education and Research Principal Secretary Dr Beatrice Inyangala.“Our approach has been very straightforward: listen to the unions, look at the commitments, look at the resources available and find an agreement that government can actually implement,” Dr Inyangala said. “We have no interest in signing an agreement simply to end a strike and then come back with another dispute because the commitments cannot be honoured. We want a CBA that is fair to our university staff, but equally sustainable for our universities and the government. That is the conversation taking place now.”She however, could not give an exact date when students in public universities will resume learning. Over the past one week, the students have not been learning although they continue to incur living expenses.“We want our students back in class as soon as possible. But I would rather give students an honest answer than announce a date for the sake of making headlines. Once the parties conclude the outstanding issues, we will move quickly to facilitate the resumption of learning.The disruption has consequences for students, parents and the universities themselves. Nobody benefits from a prolonged dispute,” said Dr Inyangala.“I therefore call on the unions and all stakeholders to stay at the negotiating table, maintain good faith and focus on finding a workable settlement.”Follow ourWhatsApp channel for breaking news updates and more stories like this.Education CS Ogamba held an emergency meeting with Treasury counterpart John Mbadi and top presidential economic advisors to address the ongoing strike.UASU proposes, among other things, a new salary structure covering six academic grades.We come to you. We are always looking for ways to improve our stories. Let us know what you liked and what we can improve on.
Read briefingHarambee Starlets make light work of Seychelles to all but secure berth in the next round.
Read briefingAfrican parliamentarians have been urged to move beyond political commitments and take concrete action to reduce preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths across the continent. The call was made on the sidelines of the ongoing 153rd Inter-Parliamentary Assembly in Arusha, during a high-level parliamentary meeting on women, children and adolescent health, where leaders, health experts and development partners stressed the need for stronger legislation, adequate financing and effective oversight of health services. Speaking at the meeting, Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania, Mussa Hassan Zungu, said parliamentarians had a critical role to play in ensuring that political commitments translate into tangible improvements in people’s lives. He said the health and wellbeing of women and children remained a priority, noting that preventable deaths were often linked to barriers to accessing quality healthcare. “Parliament has vital responsibilities to support legislation, secure adequate and predictable financing, and oversee implementation,” Zungu said. He added that resources must reach health facilities and communities that need them most, while governments should prioritize equitable access to maternal and newborn care, sexual and reproductive health services, nutrition and adolescent health. Zungu said parliamentary networks provided an opportunity for lawmakers acro...
Read briefingThe Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) has sued the government and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) over the increase in excise duty on imported industrial sugar under the Finance Act 2026.KAM filed a constitutional petition at the Milimani High Court challenging the increase in excise duty from Ksh7.50 to Ksh40 per kilogramme.In court documents seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the manufacturers argued that the higher duty had placed a heavy financial burden on businesses that rely on imported sugar.KAM is challenging Section 36(a)(vi) of the Finance Act 2026, which introduced the new excise duty rate.KAM wants the High Court to declare the enactment of the provision unconstitutional, arguing that it was undertaken without meaningful public participation."The Petitioner humbly prays for judgment against the Respondents for a declaration that the enactment of section 36(a)(vi) of the Finance Act, 2026 was undertaken in contravention of Articles 10(2)(a), 118(1)(b) and 201(a) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, for want of meaningful public participation, and that the said provision is accordingly null, void and of no legal effect," KAM argued.According to the manufacturers, the process contravened Articles 10(2)(a), 118(1)(b), and 201(a) of the Constitution, which provide for public participation and principles governing public finance.They want the court to declare that the new tax violates the constitutional requirement for fair sharing of the tax burden, arguing that the new excise duty could result in unnecessary duplication and cumulative over-taxation of a particular category of taxpayers.The government introduced a Ksh40 excise duty on imported sugar in the 2026 Finance Act, replacing the previous duty of Ksh7.5 per kilogram to promote local production.However, KAM argues that the duty was imposed despite the lawful use of imported sugar in the country.The manufacturers want the court to declare the provision irrational, arbitrary and disproportionate, arguing that it violates constitutional principles and the economic rights of their members and employees.Following the petition, Justice David Mburu certified the matter as urgent, directing the government, KRA and other mentioned respondents to respond to the matter within seven days, with the matter set for mention on October 15.
Read briefingNdindi Nyoro: I can’t be bought by Ruto People Daily
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