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5 storiesCOMESA warned Kenyans about possible toxin in specific Nestlé SMA infant formula batches. The Ombudsman ordered the Education Ministry to release school capitation data. A court temporarily blocked Diageo's sale of its EABL stake.
A building collapse on Ngong Road has trapped several individuals as police probe a multi-million Kenyan Shilling car import fraud and a 40 million Kenyan Shillings fake TSC recruitment scam. This comes as a Kakamega hospital director faces charges for allegedly defrauding the Social Health Authority of 2.5 million Kenyan Shillings, forcing patients to pay cash. In politics, DP Gachagua claims a special police squad is disrupting his campaigns while calling for an end to preferential treatment in school placements. The IEBC has announced continuous voter registration ahead of 2027 polls. Separately, the High Court ruled against the President converting a compensation panel into an advisory body, and a court halted UoN VC recruitment.
A hospital director in Kakamega County has been charged with defrauding the Social Health Authority (SHA) of Ksh2.5 million by submitting alleged fake medical claims as part of a government crackdown. Separately, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is searching for Timothy Njeru Wanjuki, Director of East Africa Motors Limited, in a multi-million shilling car import fraud where victims paid for vehicles that were never delivered. In another crackdown, police arrested four suspects in connection with a Teachers Service Commission (TSC) recruitment scam. The fraudsters allegedly used fake employment letters to con unemployed teachers out of over Ksh40 million ahead of a mass hiring drive.
According to new data from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), Jamii Telecommunications subscribers are the most exposed to spam messages in Kenya, with 19.2 percent reporting frequent unsolicited texts. The same data shows that Safaricom ranks as the least affected by spam. In a separate customer survey, Safaricom was ranked as the leading mobile internet provider in Kenya, demonstrating the most stable speeds and fewest service interruptions. In financial technology, the 52-Week Challenge is being presented as a strategy to help Kenyans achieve savings goals. This gamified approach to investing is championed by the Chumz mobile app, which encourages gradual savings.
COMESA warned Kenyans about possible toxin in specific Nestlé SMA infant formula batches. The Ombudsman ordered the Education Ministry to release school capitation data. A court temporarily blocked Diageo's sale of its EABL stake.
Idd Aziz features in the AFCON 2025 anthem "Beautiful Day." Meanwhile, Andrew Kibe sparked debate by stating he only employs men, claiming women's place is domestic. Nairobi's Geofrey Mosiria defended TikToker Mjaka Mfine against leaked adult video allegations, calling them baseless. Mungai Eve explained her Instagram shyness, preferring polished YouTube content.
Matiang'i defended Uhuru against claims of Jubilee splitting ODM, while political parties are increasingly viewed as lucrative ventures.
KNEC's 2025 KCSE results portal is live, signaling an imminent release; provisional results will appear post-announcement. Google Messages is testing an iOS-like message selection blur for some Android users.
A building collapse on Ngong Road, Nairobi, trapped scores while a Kakamega hospital director faces charges for allegedly defrauding the Social Health Authority (SHA) of 2.5 million Kenyan Shillings, amid a crisis forcing patients to pay cash. The IEBC announced continuous voter registration ahead of the 2027 elections. DCI is pursuing a director over a multi-million shilling car import fraud and police uncovered a fake TSC recruitment scam worth over 40 million Kenyan Shillings. Meanwhile, Rigathi Gachagua claims a special police squad is disrupting his campaigns and called for an end to preferential treatment for marginalized areas in school placements. The High Court ruled against the President converting a compensation panel into an advisory body, and a court halted UoN VC recruitment.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua accused the government of forming a special police squad to disrupt his political rallies, alleging the squad attacked his convoy in Kirinyaga County on Friday, January 9. Separately, speaking in Nyeri County, Gachagua called for an end to preferential treatment for marginalized areas in national school placements. Meanwhile, Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika has demanded a public apology and retraction from Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja over alleged false and defamatory remarks. Governor Kihika threatened to file a defamation lawsuit if the claims are not withdrawn within seven days.
Provisional results for the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations show national schools secured the top spots, contributing to an improved overall performance. According to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos, a total of 1,932 candidates achieved a straight Grade A, with national schools accounting for 8 in 10 of these top grades. Moi High School Kabarak emerged as a top performer, with other schools like Kapsabet, Bunyore, and Kamusinga also posting impressive results. In a related event, COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli denied social media claims that he gifted his nephew an Ksh8 million car for performing well in the exams.
Isuzu East Africa has delivered 95 vehicles valued at Sh600 million to the National Police Service (NPS) to significantly boost police mobility and operational capacity across Kenya. Separately, a Kenyan professional has filed a petition in the High Court challenging the Kenya Revenue Authority's (KRA) authority to use agency notices to recover taxes, arguing the practice is unconstitutional. On the economic front, the Kenyan government is initiating a revival plan for the struggling cashew nut industry. This initiative aims to create 350,000 jobs and add Sh30 billion to the GDP. The plan seeks to boost annual production to address declining output that has affected incomes and export earnings.
Following the release of the 2025 KCSE results, celebrations were ongoing in many schools for exceptional performance. Public national secondary schools in the Coast region achieved a historic turnaround, while Ghanima El-Marzuq Girls Secondary School emerged as the top-performing school in Kajiado County and Maseno School also shined. However, the release was met with frustration due to widespread glitches on the KNEC portal, preventing candidates from accessing their results. The KNEC website experienced a significant outage after a massive surge of users. Furthermore, the results of 1,180 students were canceled due to reported cases of examination irregularities.
The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party announced its grassroots elections would begin on January 9, 2026, across 20 counties. The elections officially kicked off with nearly 300,000 members vying for various positions. President William Ruto spearheaded the party's elections, with members participating in leader selection across Kenya. The President participated in the ongoing UDA grassroots elections in Uasin Gishu County. He was seen casting his vote at Koilel Primary School.
Several Kenyan public figures have been involved in recent controversies and disputes. Digital commentator Andrew Kibe stated that he exclusively employs men, asserting women's presence introduces "weakness" in the workplace. Separately, Nairobi County Chief Officer Geofrey Mosiria defended TikTok creator Mjaka Mfine against allegations of appearing in a leaked adult video, dismissing the claims as baseless. In another incident, Chiki Kuruka and Bien Aime Baraza publicly accused Rondo Retreat Centre in Kakamega County of discrimination, which the retreat attributed to a booking misunderstanding. Additionally, musician Stevo Simple Boy spoke of dark secrets in the music industry, claiming he turned down a suspicious Sh10 million offer he feared was linked to witchcraft and secret societies.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua criticized the system used for secondary school student placement, alleging it is discriminatory and disadvantages many students and parents. He reiterated his stance on national schools, despite warnings from President William Ruto. In response, President Ruto issued a stern warning to leaders promoting tribalism regarding national schools. He emphasized that these institutions are for all Kenyans, not just those from the regions where the schools are located.