Seventeen suspects have been arrested in a coordinated security crackdown across Kenya’s Coast region as the National Police Service (NPS) stepped up operations to curb rising criminal activity, the service said Tuesday.
In a statement, the NPS said it had intensified intelligence-led operations, patrols, surveillance, and strategic deployments in collaboration with other security agencies to enhance public safety and maintain peace across the region.
The Coast has recently experienced a surge in criminal activities, including armed robbery, burglary, drug trafficking, and violent land encroachment by armed gangs, particularly in Kilifi County.
The incidents have heightened concern among residents and disrupted the sense of security in local communities.
“As a result of a targeted multi-agency operation, 17 suspects linked to various criminal activities have been arrested and placed in custody pending arraignment in court,” the NPS said.
During the operation, officers recovered an AK-47 rifle, a magazine, and 12 rounds of ammunition. Authorities also seized more than 35 kilograms of suspected narcotics, including bhang, heroin, and cocaine.
Yellow crime scene do not cross barrier tape in front of defocused background. Horizontal composition with selective focus and copy space.
Recent investigations into the double murder in Kilifi’s Gede Forest have revealed significant details regarding the victims’ identities and the circumstances leading to their deaths.
Forensic analysis suggests the victims were killed elsewhere before being dumped. One victim, Ruben Athman Dzuya, was found blindfolded with multiple head injuries.
The second victim suffered three gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen.No spent cartridges or bullet heads were found at the scene, leading police to believe the murders were planned and executed at a different location.
Unconfirmed community reports suggest the men may have been abducted in the Milalani area of Msambweni in Kwale County prior to their deaths.
Police are conducting postmortems to recover bullet residues that could link the ammunition to specific firearms.
Ruben’s wife, Lucia Tumu Chai, stated that her husband was forcibly taken from their home in Kwa Bullo village, Nyali, by unknown individuals on Friday evening, February 20.
The family had no contact with Ruben until his body was found the following day. They are demanding a thorough investigation as the motive remains unknown.
The second victim’s family has reportedly come forward, but his identity has not yet been widely released in official police updates.
Authorities in Chiang Mai, a city in northern Thailand, are investigating the deaths of dozens of tigers at a popular tourist attraction.
Seventy-two tigers died in the span of less than two weeks this month, across two facilities of Tiger Kingdom Chiang Mai, a park where visitors can touch and interact with the big cats.
The local livestock department said samples from the tigers showed canine distemper virus – though authorities have not confirmed how the outbreak happened.
Officials told a news conference on Tuesday the virus was no longer spreading and no more tigers were dying. No humans had been infected, they added.
The remains of the tigers have all been buried and a recommendation was made for the gravely ill tigers be euthanised, authorities said.
The big cats were among more than 240 tigers living across the two facilities at Tiger Kingdom Chiang Mai, according to local media.
Canine distemper virus is a highly contagious disease that attacks the host’s respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems. While it is typically found among dogs, it can also infect big cats.
Besides canine distemper virus, the provincial livestock office in Chiang Mai said last week that samples from the tigers’ carcasses also tested positive for a bacteria associated with respiratory disease.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Renson M. Ingonga, has called for bold structural reforms, accelerated digital transformation, and stricter accountability measures within Kenya’s justice system, as he delivered a keynote address at the 35th National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) meeting in Mombasa.
Speaking at the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) Council Meeting held at the PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort & Spa, Ingonga urged justice sector leaders to move beyond routine performance reviews and instead embrace candid reflection and forward-looking reform as they shape the Strategic Plan 2026–2030.
DPP Ingonga emphasized that the meeting was not merely a procedural review of performance but a strategic opportunity to confront shortcomings and set a transformative course for the 2026–2030 Strategic Plan.
“We are not gathered merely to take stock of routine performance,” he said. “We are called upon to reflect honestly on our progress, interrogate areas where we have underperformed, draw lessons from implementation challenges, and, more importantly, to chart a clear and forward-looking trajectory for our Strategic Plan 2026–2030. This process demands candour, collective ownership, and institutional courage from each of us.”
He pointed to significant gains made in the recent reform cycle, including strengthened multi-agency coordination, expanded Court Users Committees (CUCs), advances in anti-corruption and digital transformation frameworks, and the rollout of innovations such as e-filing systems, prosecutorial case management platforms, and digitized legal repositories. “These are significant achievements and should not be understated,” Ingonga noted.
The DPP was candid about persistent challenges. He noted that Case backlogs continue to weigh heavily on the system, time-to-disposition in some criminal matters remains unsatisfactory, and infrastructure, staffing, and resource constraints hamper efficiency.
“The public ultimately judges us not by the policies we draft, but by the speed, fairness and accessibility of justice delivered,” he said, stressing that unresolved delays erode public trust and undermine institutional legitimacy.
Central to his address was the call to transition fully to a people-centred justice model.
Ingonga observed that justice systems worldwide are shifting away from institution-focused approaches toward frameworks that prioritize the lived experiences of citizens. “Justice must be experienced in practical terms, not merely administered procedurally,” he stated.
A people-centred system, he said, must ensure that survivors of violence receive dignity and timely resolution, that accused persons’ constitutional rights are safeguarded without undue delay, that children in conflict with the law are rehabilitated, and that citizens in remote counties can access justice without prohibitive barriers.
He underscored that efficiency is not simply an operational target but a constitutional obligation under Article 159, which mandates that justice shall not be delayed. Continued reliance on fragmented and paper-based systems, he warned, places unnecessary strain on already limited human resources.
“We must systematically address the causes of adjournments, strengthen prosecutorial and investigative readiness, leverage Artificial Intelligence responsibly, and invest in inter-operable digital systems across policing, prosecution, adjudication, corrections and probation services,” he said. “Digital transformation is not optional; it is foundational to the justice system of the future.”
Ingonga also highlighted the critical role of Court Users Committees as grassroots forums that provide real-time insight into emerging justice challenges, from land disputes escalating into criminal violence to sexual and gender-based violence case handling gaps. He urged that findings from ongoing fiscal year spot-checks be directly integrated into national strategic planning, alongside increased funding and improved reporting mechanisms for the committees.
Addressing concerns about slow implementation of Council resolutions, Ingonga called for firmer oversight and measurable timelines. “For this Council to remain credible and effective, we must strengthen our technical committees, enforce clear implementation timelines, monitor progress rigorously, and hold ourselves accountable to the commitments we make,” he said, cautioning that coordination without execution weakens institutional authority.
As deliberations continue over the two-day meeting, Ingonga proposed that the 2026–2030 Strategic Plan be anchored on people-centred outcomes, digital and institutional modernization, strengthened grassroots justice systems, measurable efficiency standards, sustainable resource advocacy, and unwavering institutional integrity. “Our justice system must be citizen-responsive, technologically enabled, data-driven, financially realistic, and constitutionally faithful,” he said.
The Director of Public Prosecutions further reminded the stakeholders that justice sector reform is not an abstract policy exercise but a daily reality for millions of Kenyans. “Justice is not an abstraction; it is a lived experience for millions of Kenyans who depend on our institutions daily,” Ingonga said. “Let us commit ourselves to building a justice sector that delivers timely outcomes, protects rights, upholds dignity, and inspires enduring public confidence.”
The outcomes of the 35th NCAJ Council Meeting are expected to shape Kenya’s justice reform agenda for the next five years.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has recommended murder charges against five individuals following a fatal shooting incident at C & M Lounge in Kitengela, Kajiado County.
According to a press statement released by the DCI, the incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, January 25, 2026, prompting immediate investigations by law enforcement authorities.
A team of investigators led by the Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer (SCCIO) Isinya, working alongside Crime Scene personnel, visited and secured the scene.
The officers documented the scene and recovered key exhibits, including spent cartridges, which were preserved for forensic examination.
On January 26, 2026, experts from the National Forensic Laboratory conducted a detailed analysis of the scene.
The team, comprising specialists in ballistics, imaging, acoustics and crime scene processing, also reviewed and analysed available CCTV footage to support the investigation.
The DCI further confirmed that three firearms surrendered by persons under investigation were subjected to ballistic examination, and the corresponding forensic reports were received by the investigating team.
In the course of the investigation, statements were recorded from a total of eleven individuals.
Upon conclusion of the investigations, the SCCIO Isinya forwarded the duplicate investigation file, accompanied by a comprehensive brief and recommendations, to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in Kajiado on February 2, 2026.
The DCI recommended that five suspects be charged with murder contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code, as well as attempted murder contrary to Section 220 of the Penal Code.
The charges relate to the death of Kevin Shepashina Maseli and injuries sustained by Joseph Kasio, who was admitted in hospital at the time of the incident.
The Directorate stated that it is now awaiting guidance from the ODPP and will take further action based on the advice received.
“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations remains steadfast in its commitment to the pursuit of justice, the upholding of the rule of law, and the protection of every citizen’s right to a fair and impartial investigation,” the statement read.
The DCI further emphasized that all perpetrators of serious crimes will be held accountable through due process.
Tickets for BTS’s comeback concert in central Seoul were snapped up almost immediately on Monday night, with authorities expecting an estimated 260,000 fans to descend for the K-pop group’s first full performance in nearly four years.
At one point, more than 100,000 people flooded the booking website when sales opened at 8pm for the free concert at Gwanghwamun square on 21 March, causing screens to crash and booking systems to freeze.
About 15,000 tickets for the concert at the historic plaza in front of Gyeongbokgung palace vanished almost immediately.
Fans flocked to PC cafes – internet gaming venues with faster connections that have become fixtures of South Korean ticketing culture – to gain an edge in the booking battle.
A fan of K-pop band BTS takes souvenir film near the huge letters of BTS in downtown Seoul. Photograph: Lee Jin-man/AP
Online forums filled with stories of families mobilising multiple devices simultaneously, only to see screens freeze or display messages that seats were already taken.
Seoul police issued fraud warnings earlier in the day as scam posts began circulating befor the evening sale.
The city’s police chief, Park Jeong-bo, said officers had requested the deletion of 34 posts offering proxy ticket purchases for fees ranging from 10,000 to 300,000 won ($7-2; £5-155) or claiming tickets could be resold for between 100,000 and 1.2m won.
The nearly four-year hiatus resulted from the requirement that all seven members of BTS – RM, Jin, Jimin, V, Suga, Jung Kook and j-hope – complete South Korea’s mandatory military service. Rapper Suga was the last group member to be released from his duties as a social service agent in June 2025, an alternative to serving in the military that he reportedly chose due to a shoulder injury. The six other members all served in the army.
Jimin (left) and Jung Kook wave as they depart from an outdoor sporting facility in Yeoncheon in June 2025, shortly after their release from 18 months military service. Photograph: Anthony Wallace/AFP/Getty Images
Police plan to treat Gwanghwamun – the site of the concert – as a virtual stadium, controlling crowd flow through 29 designated entry points, and have warned of likely disruption to nearby metro stations and roads.
The one-hour concert, which will launch BTS’s new album, Arirang, and precede their 82-date world tour, will be broadcast live on Netflix to 190 countries. Seoul city will be separately hosting fan events nearby for about 30,000 people.
The event has already caused accommodation prices to surge across central Seoul, with some hotels charging five times normal rates.
South Korea’s president, Lee Jae Myung, responding to reports of similar price gouging in Busan for the world tour dates, condemned what he described as “unscrupulous abuse that destroys the order of the entire market and causes great harm to everyone”, adding that penalties should far exceed any illicit gains.
Anti-scalping legislation passed in January allows fines up to 50 times the original ticket price for resales.
RM plays the saxophone while V looks on at an outdoor sporting facility in Chuncheon in 2025, after their release from military service. Photograph: Shin Yong-Ju/AFP/Getty Images
The group’s return has energised what analysts call “BTS-nomics” – the substantial economic impact BTS generates across the tourism, hospitality and retail sectors.
The Sejong arts centre, adjacent to Gwanghwamun square, has cancelled all performances on 21 March, while the national history museum will close for the day.
Mumias East Member of Parliament Peter Salasya openly mocked Babu Owino and Edwin Sifuna following the announcement that the Linda Mwananchi rallies would temporarily pause.
In a video shared on his social media platforms on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, Salasya claimed the political wave created by the duo had already fizzled out. The outspoken lawmaker suggested that the momentum behind the movement was short-lived and overly hyped.
According to Salasya, the entire initiative lacked substance and staying power.
“I told you guys that Linda Mwananchi was only excitement ya pesa kidogo afadhali mimi. I went across the country 3 months consecutively daily…very soon I am coming back strong as a passionate leader with a vision of Kenya,” he said.
Salasya insisted that his own political tours demonstrated greater consistency and endurance. He noted that while he traversed the country daily for three consecutive months before taking a break, the Linda Mwananchi camp had only managed three rallies — in Busia, Kitengela, and Kakamega — before announcing a pause.
The MP framed the comparison as proof that his political mobilization strategy was more structured and sustainable.
The Mumias East legislator went further, alleging that key political figures who had initially aligned themselves with the movement had since retreated to their original political bases within the united opposition.
“Leo umeona wale watu walikuwa plae jwa hiyo movement wamerudi kwa Matiang’i. All these people wamerudi sasa movement imebaki kama haina mtu, haina mwelekeo,” he said.
He claimed that politicians had rejoined camps associated with Fred Matiang’i, leaving the Linda Mwananchi outfit weakened and directionless.
Salasya maintained that the movement was merely a decoy crafted by influential actors to distract Kenyans from pressing governance concerns, including corruption and accountability.
He also challenged Owino and Sifuna to resign from the Orange Democratic Movement and form their own political party if they were truly committed to defending citizens.
The controversy emerged just days after Sifuna addressed supporters during a rally in Kakamega on Saturday, February 21, 2026, announcing that the political tours would pause.
According to Sifuna, the decision was guided by respect for the upcoming holy month of Ramadan. He explained that Muslim faithful across the country needed time and space to focus on religious observances.
The Senator assured supporters that the rallies would resume once Ramadan concludes, with Mombasa expected to be among the first stops before expanding to other counties.
The exchange highlights simmering tensions within opposition ranks. While some view the break as a strategic pause, others interpret it as a sign of internal recalibration.
Political analysts note that such public spats could shape narratives ahead of the 2027 general election cycle, as leaders position themselves for influence and grassroots support.
Whether the Linda Mwananchi movement regains its momentum or fades into political memory may depend on how effectively its architects reorganize during the break.
For now, Salasya appears determined to capitalize on the pause — promising a political comeback backed by what he describes as a clearer national vision.
A major storm hit the US east coast on Monday, bringing record-breaking snow that caused disruptions for millions and thousands of flight cancellations.
Parts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts have seen nearly 37in (94cm) of snowfall, with more than 19in in New York City’s Central Park, the National Weather Service (NWS) said.
Weather warnings stretched from North Carolina to northern Maine, with some in place further north in parts of eastern Canada.
More than 600,000 properties on the US east coast endured power outages, while the Boston Globe – a major US newspaper – said it will not go to print for the first time in its 153-year history due to the storm.
Travel across the region has been severely limited, with some states and cities implementing travel bans during the worst period of the storm.
The so-called “nor’easter” is forecast to move away from the US on Tuesday and across coastal parts of eastern Canada, though strong winds are expected to persist, according to the NWS.
Snow accumulations were anticipated to reach 1-2ft (30-61cm) near the north-east coastline, meanwhile.
Rhode Island, the smallest US state, appeared to have received the most snow during the storm. In fact, it has become the worst snowstorm to ever hit the state, according to local media.
Spanish giants Barcelona have signed Norwich City academy prospect Ajay Tavares.
The 16-year-old had reportedly attracted interest from a number of European clubs and Norwich will be entitled to compensation, although the Canaries have not confirmed the financial aspects of the deal.
Tavares, who first joined Norwich at under-12 level, was sent on as a substitute in a first-team pre-season friendly against Dutch club Volendam last summer when only 15, but he has not appeared in a competitive fixture at senior level.
“Whilst we are incredibly sad to be losing a young academy player of Ajay’s talent, our overriding sense is one of immense pride,” said Norwich sporting director Ben Knapper.
“Ajay’s progress has been a testament to the fantastic work of everyone connected with our academy, who have impacted his journey and contributed to this wonderful achievement… and we couldn’t be prouder to see him take this step to one of the most iconic football clubs and academies in world football.”
Tavares made his most recent appearance for Norwich’s under-18 team against Chelsea at Colney on 31 January.
“On an international level, he has represented England at under-15, under-16 and under-17 levels, and we’ve no doubt he’ll continue to make great steps for both club and country in the years to come,” Knapper added.
He is not the first 16-year-old to be signed by Barcelona from English football.
Italian cricket is in crisis days after the country’s T20 World Cup debut, as it emerged that a senior national governing body official has been investigated over a sexual assault allegation.
Federazione Cricket Italiana (FCRI) women’s cricket co-ordinator Prabath Ekneligoda, 57, was the subject of a criminal investigation relating to a claim he inappropriately touched a member of the Azzurri women’s national team.
Multiple members of the Italy board are said to have resigned over this case and other governance issues, BBC Sport has been told.
The sexual assault allegation was made to police in Rome in March last year by a player who has represented the national team.
The player, whose identity is protected for legal reasons, alleged that the sexual assault occurred during a massage on a knee injury at a training session, and she had been scared to report the incident because she feared it would cost her a spot in the team.
An investigation was concluded by a Rome prosecutor in November 2025 and Ekneligoda was interviewed by police the following month.
A decision is now set to be made on whether there is sufficient evidence to bring it to trial. Ekneligoda’s lawyer said his client denies the allegation, that there are ulterior motives to the allegation, and that a witness supports his version of events.
FCRI said in a statement to BBC Sport it “noted proceedings are currently under way before the federal prosecutor’s office” and will “co-operate with the relevant authorities”.
“The Italian Cricket Federation reiterates that its conduct is guided by principles of fairness, transparency and the protection of its registered members, as well as by the ethical and civic standards that underpin the sporting system,” added the statement.
“The federation therefore defers to the competent judicial authorities for any determinations arising from the matter.”
Ekneligoda, who is originally from Sri Lanka, was suspended from his role with the FCRI in November but has remained a visible presence on the Italian cricket scene.
He is the partner of FCRI president Maria Lorena Haz Paz and accompanied her to India for the men’s T20 World Cup.
BBC Sport has seen evidence that Ekneligoda attended Italy’s matches wearing official accreditation and was permitted to sit with the rest of the FCRI party.
Ekneligoda was also seen at various events laid on for Italy’s cricket delegation, including a reception at the Italian consulate in Kolkata for officials, players and coaching staff.
The FCRI, its president Haz Paz, and safeguarding officers, had full knowledge of the seriousness of the claim made against Ekneligoda before the World Cup.
As of Monday, Ekneligoda was still listed as the women’s cricket coordinator on the FCRI website.
Sources have told BBC Sport that some members of the FCRI’s board have resigned over the matter, and other governance issues, which has placed Haz Paz’s position under greater scrutiny.
Senior officials in Italian cricket fear potential reputational damage, and the possibility of legal cases, will hamper opportunities to capitalise on their debut T20 World Cup appearance and grow the game further in the country.
Haz Paz was appointed president of the Italian cricket federation in February 2025 until 2028.
Italy’s debut at the T20 World Cup, and the stories of some of their players, had captured the imagination of the cricket world.
