Tension and chaos gripped Kericho County on Friday, August 15, as Governor Erick Mutai faced his second impeachment hearing over alleged misappropriation of Ksh85 million. The proceedings were marked by an attempted arson attack on the county assembly building and violent street clashes, prompting a heavy police presence.

• Attempted arson occurred at the Kericho County Assembly at approximately 4 AM on August 15, with unidentified persons attempting to burn the building.
• Speaker Patrick Mutai condemned the attack and reported it to the National Police Service, with investigations ongoing.
• Police used teargas to disperse residents attempting to access the County Assembly during the hearing.
• The impeachment motion accuses Governor Mutai of gross misconduct and abuse of office, specifically citing irregular procurement and mismanagement of public funds.
• This is the second impeachment attempt against Governor Mutai; a prior motion in 2024 was discontinued by the Senate.

Two masterminds behind a sophisticated gold scam targeting Dubai nationals have been arrested after months on the run. The scam involved two Dubai investors losing USD 54,000 (approximately Ksh 8.5 million) in September 2024 through a fake gold trade deal.

• The victims were lured to Nairobi, where imposters posing as state agents from Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Customs and the Ministry of Mining, alongside fake private jet operators, convinced them of a legitimate deal.
• The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), specifically the Operation Support Unit (OSU), confirmed the apprehension of the two suspects on Wednesday, August 13, after an investigation that began in November 2024 and saw 31 other suspects arrested.
• The pair were arraigned at Milimani Law Courts, denying the charges, with their bond terms to be determined on August 18; this comes shortly after another Kenyan was arrested for a Ksh 80.34 million gold scam against a Canadian investor.

Harrowing testimonies were heard this week in the Mombasa High Court regarding the Shakahola massacre case, where Paul Mackenzie and 29 co-accused face murder charges related to hundreds of deaths. Witnesses, including rescued minors, described forced starvation, beatings, and religious indoctrination under Mackenzie's instruction to "fast until death."

• Paul Mackenzie, controversial preacher, instructed followers to "fast until death."
• Victims, some only months old, were buried in Shakahola forest in what were termed "weddings."
• A minor recounted being denied food and water, with Mackenzie praying for the "spirit...of asking for water and food" to leave him.