Sakaja unveils a state-of-the-art Abbott blood screening machine at Mbagathi hospital

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September 10, 2025

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja paid an impromptu visit to Mbagathi Hospital where he unveiled a state-of-the-art Abbott blood screening machine.

In a press release on Wednesday, September 10, Sakaja’s administration said the newly acquired equipment will enable faster and more accurate blood grouping and compatibility testing, and improve the safety of transfusions.

It also said the new technology will enhance preparedness for elective procedures and strengthen emergency response capabilities in county health facilities.

Observing the machine in action, Sakaja described it as a game-changer in addressing the county’s longstanding challenges in blood screening.

“Governor Johnson Sakaja commended the hospital’s leadership for this milestone, emphasizing that investments in modern medical technology are essential to transform Nairobi’s healthcare system and delivering efficient, qualities services to residents,” the release read.

With the lack in-house screening capabilities in facilities such as Mama Lucy and Pumwani, the Abbott machine at creates a centralized hub for blood screening within the county, ensuring that all facilities can receive timely and safe transfusions.

Mbagathi Hospital is now the only accredited blood screening center within Nairobi County, a development that complements last year’s acquisition of a plasma agitator and strengthens the county’s overall blood screening capacity.

This comes weeks after Mbagathi Hospital announced that it will not be attending to inmates over an unpaid debt exceeding Ksh12 million owed by the Kenya Prison Service.

According to reports on Sunday, August 24, the hospital announced that the suspension of services to prisoners took effect on August 4, 2025.

According to hospital records, the debt is linked to treatments provided to inmates over several years.

As of November 2024, the State Department for Correctional Services had already accumulated arrears of Ksh6.7 million for medical services rendered between July 2018 and November 2022.

Hospital management noted that despite repeated follow-ups, no settlement was made, leaving the institution unable to meet its operational needs.

Officials explained that the failure to clear the obligations had strained the hospital’s ability to purchase essential supplies, forcing the suspension.

“This letter serves as a formal notification that we are suspending our services to prisoners effective Monday, 4th August, 2025,” Mbagathi County Referral Hospital said in its notice.

In response, the Kenya Prison Service issued an appeal urging the hospital to reconsider its decision and allow time to resolve the issue.

“A kind appeal to your institution to lift the directive on suspension of services while KPS and the State Department for Correctional Services work on modalities of settling the outstanding obligations,” said Patrick M. Aranduh, Commissioner General of Prisons.

MPs Grill PS Isaboke Over Sh500m MyGov Advertising Expenditure

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John Mutiso

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September 10, 2025

The National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday, September 9, put the State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications under scrutiny over alleged mismanagement of Ksh500 million meant for advertising, printing, and distributing the MyGov pullout in local dailies.

The committee, chaired by Butere MP Tindi Mwale, questioned PS Stephen Isaboke about the credibility of the circulation figures, noting that despite repeated directives, the Government Advertising Agency (GAA) had failed to provide clear records of how many copies were printed, distributed, or returned.

The controversy arises from audit queries in the Auditor-General’s report for the financial year ending June 2023, which flagged payments made through GAA.

The report shows that GAA spent Ksh495,389,974 on printing, advertising, and information supply services paid to four newspapers for publishing the MyGov pullout.

However, a review of contract documents revealed that revenue from advertisements in MyGov did not fully offset the amounts paid to the media houses.

Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe criticized the payments made to the People Daily newspaper, alleging that the outlet had long ceased printing yet continued receiving payments.

“The State Department is telling us they paid for printing and distribution, yet some newspapers mentioned here, like People Daily Newspaper, had even stopped printing. They are no longer printing paper,” Kagombe questioned.

PS Isaboke explained that the accounts under review covered the financial year ending June 2023, when the People Daily was still in operation and had a valid contract with the GAA, insisting that the transactions were legitimate.

The Broadcasting PS also acknowledged challenges in revenue projections, such as a forecast of Sh1 billion in advertising revenue, which yielded only Ksh441 million.

He attributed the shortfall to ministries, departments, and agencies failing to pay for services on time.

Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo asked PS Isaboke to table documentary evidence comparing government advertising costs before and after the creation of the GAA.

“You stated that prior to the GAA, cumulative government spending on advertising was higher than it is now. If that is the case, then provide an analysis of the three years before GAA was established against the three years under its management.

“Only with such evidence can we determine whether there is value for money,” Amollo stated.

The ODM MP further questioned whether the government was deliberately sidelining certain newspapers when placing advertisements.

PS Stephen Isaboke dismissed the claims, saying the government has no policy of discriminating against any media house.

“That would be unconstitutional. Any outlet that meets procurement requirements is eligible to do business with the government,” Isaboke stated.

Turkana Central MP Emathe Namuar, on his part, raised concern over what he termed as blatant overspending by GAA, accusing it of operating outside its allocated budget.

“Why doesn’t the agency spend within the budget given by the Treasury? And whenever you go beyond your allocation, is there any formal communication to show that the funds are exhausted? Otherwise, this appears to be another window of looting,” he said.

PS Isaboke explained that the law currently requires certain notices to be published in print.

“We would welcome a review of the law to allow hybrid digital and print publication. Most young people consume news online, but as it stands, we must comply with the law mandating print,” he explained.

The committee directed PS Isaboke to table within two weeks a detailed report with circulation data, expenditure comparisons, and verification mechanisms.

ICC Opens War Crimes Hearings Against Fugitive Ugandan Rebel Leader Joseph Kony

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Editor

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September 10, 2025

Written by Lisa Murimi

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has opened historic war crimes hearings in absentia against Joseph Kony, the elusive Ugandan rebel leader whose Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) is accused of killing more than 100,000 people and abducting 60,000 children.

Kony, indicted in 2005 as the ICC’s first suspect, faces 39 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, torture, enslavement, and sexual slavery.

The charges cover atrocities committed in northern Uganda between July 2002 and December 2005.

The hearings, which began Tuesday in The Hague, mark the first time the ICC has proceeded against a suspect without them being present.

A trial, however, cannot take place in absentia under court statutes. Judges will decide within 60 days whether the charges merit a full trial, should Kony ever be captured.

Survivors of LRA atrocities said the hearings offer a sense of justice, even if Kony remains at large.

“Will the government or Kony repair me back to the way I was? No. But at least I will get justice,” said Stella Angel Lanam, who was abducted at age 10 and forced into soldiering.

Another survivor, Everlyn Ayo, recalled how rebels attacked her school when she was five.

“They killed and cooked our teachers in big drums and we were forced to eat their remains,” she told AFP. Now 39, she plans to follow the proceedings by radio in Gulu.

Kony, a former altar boy, has not been seen publicly since 2006. A UN panel last year suggested he may have relocated to a remote part of the Central African Republic after leaving Sudan.

Despite uncertainty over his fate, prosecutors insist the hearings are crucial.

Zambia Court Orders Standard Chartered to Pay Costs, Not Compensation, Over China Property Bond Sale

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Editor

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September 10, 2025

Written by Lisa Murimi

Zambia’s High Court has ruled that Standard Chartered Bank will not be required to pay \$500,000 in compensation to a former client who suffered losses from a now-defaulted Chinese property bond.

The ruling, delivered on September 8, found the London-listed bank had not breached Zambian laws in its 2022 sale of the bond but ordered it to cover the client’s legal costs.

The case stemmed from the bank’s sale of a bond issued by Sino Ocean, a major Chinese property developer that defaulted in 2023 during China’s real estate crisis.

The client, who lost \$320,000 in principal and sought an additional \$180,000 in damages, accused Standard Chartered of failing to disclose crucial risks and using restrictive contract clauses.

Earlier this year, Zambia’s Securities and Exchange Commission sanctioned the bank for breaching two rules: failing to disclose “material information” about Sino Ocean’s financial health and relying on “exclusionary” clauses that placed all risk on the buyer.

While the court found no statutory, contractual, or tort violations, the judge said Standard Charterer’s sales practices “fell short” of its own internal code of conduct and ethics. That shortcoming was enough to require the bank to pay legal costs.

Both parties may appeal the decision. Standard Chartered, which has operated in Zambia for nearly 120 years, did not comment on the ruling.

The case comes as the bank is restructuring its African operations, having announced plans last November to sell its retail and wealth management businesses in Zambia, Uganda, and Botswana.

Speaker Kingi calls for swift probe into brutal murder of lawyer Kyalo Mbobu

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John Mutiso

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September 10, 2025

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has asked the National Police Service (NPS) to launch thorough investigations into the brutal murder of lawyer Mathew Kyalo Mbobu.

In a statement via X on Tuesday, September 9, Kingi said the police should establish the motive behind the assassination and ensure those responsible are brought to book.

“As the country comes to terms with this chilling incident, we expect the police to carry out speedy and thorough investigations to unearth the reason and culprits behind this heinous crime and ensure justice is served,” Kingi said.

The Senate Speaker said that the assassination of Mbobu on Tuesday evening left him devastated and in deep shock.

Kingi mourned Mbobu as a distinguished advocate, an accomplished law scholar, and a committed public servant.

“Wakili Kyalo Mbobu was a distinguished advocate of the High Court of Kenya, an outstanding law scholar and a dedicated public servant, having at one time served as Chairperson of the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal,” he stated.

Kingi also recalled being one of Mbobu’s students at the University of Nairobi’s Parklands Campus, where he benefited from his mentorship.

Further, Speaker Kingi extended his condolences to the family, relatives, and friends of the late Mbobu.

“I join my colleagues in the legal fraternity and indeed all Kenyans, in mourning Wakili Kyalo Mbobu and praying that God gives his family, relatives, and friends the fortitude to bear this immense loss. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” Kingi concluded.

Mbobu was gunned down on Tuesday evening while stuck in traffic near the Galleria mall along Magadi Road in Nairobi.

Witnesses and police reports indicated that assailants riding on a motorcycle pulled up to his car and opened fire.

Mbobu’s vehicle’s windshield was shattered during the attack before the gunmen fired at least three shots, fatally wounding the lawyer.

Police officers rushed to the scene after the attack, but the assailants had already fled by the time they arrived.

The incident happened just months after Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo Were was shot dead along Ngong Road in Nairobi.

China, Russia, and North Korea Show Unity — but ‘Autocratic Alliance’ Still Fragile

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Editor

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September 10, 2025

Written by Lisa Murimi

The rare sight of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un standing side by side at Beijing’s Sept. 3 military parade has raised alarms in Western capitals about a potential “autocratic alliance.” Yet analysts and diplomats caution that despite the optics, deep divisions remain between the three powers.

The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, described the gathering as evidence of a strengthening authoritarian bloc.

Japan’s outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba also warned the spectacle underscored growing security threats in Asia. But experts say the trio’s cooperation is limited.

“There was no formal trilateral summit,” noted Jenny Town of the Washington-based 38 North project.

“China did not seem to be signalling that formal three-way cooperation is starting.”

Instead, Xi held separate one-to-one meetings with Putin and Kim, underlining that their ties are often transactional.

Victor Cha of the Center for Strategic and International Studies argued the display was less about forging a new order than about “opportunism and self-interest.”

A U.S. diplomat in Asia added that while the three states differ on policy, they are united in opposing the U.S.-led international system.

On the economic front, Putin touted a binding memorandum with China on a vast Siberia-to-China gas pipeline.

Yet Beijing conspicuously omitted mention of the project, reflecting unresolved disputes over pricing and terms. Similarly, Russia’s push for greater access to China’s markets including wheat exports and bond issuances remains uncertain.

For North Korea, the Beijing meetings provided Kim with valuable political cover and potential economic lifelines.

China’s readout notably dropped references to “denuclearisation,” a concession analysts say boosts Kim’s standing. However, sensitive issues such as North Korean workers in China remain unsettled.

The timing also intersects with U.S. politics. Former President Donald Trump, seeking re-election, accused Xi, Putin, and Kim of “conspiring against him,” while U.S. officials signaled Washington would “re-evaluate” its stance.

Trump is expected in South Korea for the APEC summit in late October, raising speculation of potential talks with Xi.Despite the rhetoric, analysts stress that China, Russia, and North Korea remain far from forming a NATO-style bloc.

Their cooperation is driven less by shared long-term strategy than by short-term efforts to counter U.S. influence.

Judiciary Dismisses Bribery Claims by Kung’u Muigai in KCB Loan Case

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John Mutiso

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September 10, 2025

The Judiciary has dismissed Captain Kung’u Muigai’s allegations that judges were bribed in the long-running case involving Benjoh Amalgamated Limited, Muiri Coffee Estate Ltd, and Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB).

In a statement on Wednesday, September 10, Judiciary Spokesperson Paul Ndemo said no credible evidence has ever been presented to substantiate accusations of judicial misconduct in the dispute.

Ndemo termed Muigai’s claims against judges as malicious and part of a ‘camouflaged agenda’.

“We categorically refute any suggestion of misconduct by judges who presided over these matters. No competent forum has ever found evidence of wrongdoing or corruption, and Mr. Muigai has not produced credible proof to substantiate his claims.

“Purporting to bring evidence after a number of the judges have long retired and others deceased, is not only ridiculous but reeks of bad faith, malice, and a camouflaged agenda,” read the statement in part.

The Judiciary spokesperson noted that allegations of judicial misconduct relating to the dispute were presented to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), which reviewed and found no evidence of impropriety by any judge.

“It must be emphasized that dissatisfaction with judicial outcomes is not proof of misconduct. It is mischievous, to say the least, of Captain (Rtd) Muigai to allege that all the judges that handled his matters and made orders against his companies were bribed, and those that agreed with him were not corrupted,” Ndemo stated.

The dispute dates back to 1989 when KCB extended a loan facility to Benjoh Amalgamated Ltd, a company owned by Muigai.

The loan was secured by properties and a 443-acre coffee estate owned by Muiri Coffee Estate Ltd.

Following the default, the parties entered into a consent order in May 1992, in which Benjoh admitted indebtedness and committed to repay the sums by July 31, 1992.

However, the borrowers failed to meet the deadline, prompting KCB to enforce its securities.

The bank scheduled auctions for the property, but the borrowers filed successive suits to stop the sales.

“These suits were dismissed by various High Court benches on the basis that the issues had already been settled by the 1992 consent. On 10 March 1998, the Court of Appeal, then the apex court, in Civil Appeal No. 276 of 1997, confirmed that the consent order was valid and binding, and found no evidence of fraud or illegality. This determination was final and ought to have ended the litigation,” Ndemo stated.

According to Ndemo, the borrowers kept filing cases up to the Supreme Court, all of which were dismissed as res judicata, with courts affirming that litigation must come to an end.

“In Civil Application No. 40 of 2018, the Court of Appeal again dismissed a further court challenge by the borrowers on 11 May 2018. By then, the court noted that more than fourteen (14) suits had been filed over two decades without success, and characterized the continued litigation as vexatious and an abuse of the court process,” Ndemo added.

This comes after Muigai claimed that 17 judges, including some from the Supreme Court, were bribed to rule against his companies.

“I came to learn from a friend who was my classmate that the Supreme Court bench was bribed with $3.5 million (Ksh451million) and the money was paid in Jersey,” he claimed.

Muigai said he applied for a five-judge bench at the Court of Appeal to hear the dispute, but the appeal was again dismissed, allegedly after the judges received a $2.5 million bribe (Ksh322.5 million.

Muigai claimed to have witnesses to support his bribery allegations against the judges and wrote to the JSC, but his petition was dismissed.

“I was surprised that after a year, JSC has written to me, they didn’t call me to give evidence, but they have written to me and told me that the judges can use their judicial discretion,” he alleged.

Kisii County Assembly Official Charged in Age-Forgery Employment Scandal

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Editor

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September 10, 2025

G0ejNqkW4AAHQuK — PHOTO/COURTESY EACC KENYA (X)

David Geoffrey Ombiro, an Administrative Officer at the Kisii County Assembly, has been charged with multiple counts of forgery, uttering false documents, and deceiving his employer after investigators uncovered that he falsified personal documents to secure employment and extend his tenure in public service.

According to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Ombiro altered his birth certificate, changing his year of birth from 1967 to 1973, and used it to acquire a National Identity Card with falsified details.

He also forged a Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) PIN, National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) card, and National Social Security Fund (NSSF) card to match the fake identity, all of which he submitted to the Kisii County Assembly as part of his employment records.

The EACC forwarded the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who approved charges including: one count of deceiving principal, five counts of forgery, and five counts of uttering false documents.

Prosecutors Solomon Njeru, Victor Kitoto, and Stephen Masaki told the Kisii Anti-Corruption Court that Ombiro knowingly provided false information in his Public Service Commission application forms and declaration of income, assets, and liabilities under the Public Officer Ethics Act, misrepresenting his date of birth to unlawfully reduce his official age by six years.

Appearing before Senior Principal Magistrate Bernard Omwansa, Ombiro pleaded not guilty to all charges.

He was released on a KES 150,000 bond with one surety or an alternative KES 70,000 cash bail.

The case is set for a pre-trial conference on September 25, 2025. The ODPP emphasized that falsifying personal records undermines the integrity of the public service, while the EACC reiterated its commitment to ensuring accountability and preventing fraud in government recruitment.

By Michelle Ndaga

Franciscan Sisters Respond to Viral Video Showing Senior Sister Assaulting Junior

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John Mutiso

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September 10, 2025

The Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph have issued a statement after a disturbing video showing a senior Sister physically assaulting her junior at St. Theresa Asumbi went viral on social media.

In a statement dated Monday, September 8, the Sisters condemned the incident, saying the actions captured in the video are personal and do not represent the values of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph.

“The Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph have become aware of a deeply regrettable incident involving one of our members physically assaulting a younger Sister, a clip of which has circulated widely on social media.

“This action is a personal failing and does not represent the values of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph,” the statement read.

The Sisters expressed regret over the incident, acknowledging the harm caused to both the victim, the Church, and the public.

“We deeply regret the harm caused to the Sister involved, as well as the scandal and pain this incident has caused to our Congregation, the Church, and the public,” the statement added.

The Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph reaffirmed their guiding principles and assured the public that the matter was being handled internally.

“Our charisma is joyful love and compassion. Violence in any form is contrary to our way of life. We are addressing this matter according to Church and Congregational procedures, with the aim to ensure the dignity and well-being of all our members,” the statement concluded.

Natural Disasters Inflict $2.8 Billion Loss on China in August

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Editor

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September 10, 2025

OVEL23UUUBLSHDZGXBZNOJ3DII (1) — Workers clean up at a flood-hit rural hotel, following heavy rains in late July that flooded the village, in Huairou district of Beijing, China, August 13, 2025. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang

Natural disasters across China in August left a heavy toll, causing direct economic losses estimated at 19.6 billion yuan ($2.75 billion), the Ministry of Emergency Management has reported.

According to the ministry’s Wednesday update, more than 10 million people nationwide were affected by severe weather events, including floods, droughts, typhoons, and landslides. At least 122 people were killed or remain missing as a result of the disasters.

Authorities noted that heavy rainfall triggered extensive flooding in parts of northern and southern China, while prolonged heatwaves and water shortages exacerbated drought conditions in the central and western regions. The ministry said rescue operations, emergency relief, and infrastructure repairs are ongoing in the hardest-hit areas.

The government has pledged increased funding for disaster preparedness, including reinforcement of flood defenses and improved early-warning systems, as climate-related risks continue to intensify.

Source: Reuters

Written By Rodney Mbua

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