Two Suspects Arrested After Scamming US National Ksh28 Million

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February 18, 2026

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested two suspects after defrauding a United States (US) citizen of Ksh28 million in a fake gold deal.

In a statement on Wednesday, February 18, DCI identified the two suspects as Willis Onyango Wasonga and Mohammed Noor Muhyadhin.

The hawkshaws launched an investigation into the fake gold scheme after Gershonov Oleg filed a report with the Capitol Hill police station on behalf of his American business partner, John Sodipo.

According to the DCI, Oleg first visited Kenya in September 2025 to pursue a gold transaction that never materialized. During the trip, Oleg established contacts with Wasonga, who is the prime suspect.

Sodipo then held talks with Wasonga for the purchase and subsequent chartering of 495 kilograms of gold to Dubai.

“After reaching an agreement, Sodipo deposited the agreed chartering fees into a purported Escrow account under advocate Michael Otieno Owano of MOAC Advocates, with Oleg flying to Kenya to oversee the shipment process,” DCI stated.

The US businessmen only realized they had been scammed after the gold shipment failed to arrive within the agreed timeframe.

Investigations established that the suspects used an elaborate web of deception involving SRK Logistics Limited, a logistics company that allegedly misrepresents its capacity to supply gold.

“Fictitious legal representation agreements were also generated to create the illusion of legitimacy, falsely portraying MOAC Advocate LLP as handling bona fide commercial transactions,” DCI stated.

The investigations also revealed that the funds were swiftly moved between company accounts and later transferred overseas.

Wasonga, the prime suspect, presented himself at DCI Headquarters on Friday, February 13, 2026, before he was arraigned at Milimani Law Courts, where he pleaded not guilty and was granted a bond of Ksh1 Million.

His accomplice, Mohammed Noor, was arrested on Tuesday by detectives from DCI’s Operation Support Unit (OSU).

Detectives disclosed that Mohamed, the sole proprietor of Mohazcom Trading, received Ksh28 million into his company’s account at the National Bank of Kenya before wiring the funds overseas.

Mohammed is currently in custody, undergoing processing pending arraignment in court.

Meanwhile, the DCI detectives are pursuing three additional suspects who are still at large.

Kenya Receives 21,000 Doses of Long-Acting HIV Prevention Drug Ahead of March Rollout

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John Mutiso

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February 18, 2026

Kenya has received an initial consignment of 21,000 starter doses of the long-acting injectable HIV prevention drug Lenacapavir, marking the first phase of a nationwide rollout set to begin in March 2026.

The Ministry of Health said the shipment, delivered in partnership with the Global Fund, represents a major milestone in expanding access to next-generation HIV prevention and strengthening the country’s efforts to end the HIV epidemic through innovative, people-centred interventions.

An additional 12,000 continuation doses are expected by April to support individuals who will be initiated on the drug, while a further 25,000 doses from the United States Government will bolster early implementation.

Through the National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCOP), the ministry will implement a phased rollout guided by epidemiological data and health system readiness. The first phase will target 15 high-burden counties, with two subsequent phases planned to progressively expand coverage nationwide while ensuring service preparedness, reliable supply, and sustainable scale-up.

Director-General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth, who received the consignment, affirmed the safety and efficacy of Lenacapavir.

The injectable was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in June 2025 and endorsed by the World Health Organization in July 2025 under global guidelines for long-acting HIV prevention.

In January 2026, Kenya’s Pharmacy and Poisons Board completed its scientific review and registered both the oral and injectable formulations for national use.

Administered twice a year, Lenacapavir is expected to improve adherence compared to daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

The drug will be offered at an estimated annual cost of about Sh7,800 per patient, a sharp reduction from its previous price of approximately $42,000.

The initiative supports Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage agenda by strengthening prevention efforts, including the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, and advancing the national goal of ensuring every child is born and remains HIV-free.

The consignment was received in the presence of U.S. Embassy-Kenya representative Brian Rettman and Dr Ahmed Omar from Intergovernmental Relations.

Boy first in UK to have pioneering leg-lengthening surgery

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Editor

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February 18, 2026

BBC -A nine-year-old boy has become the first person in the UK to have pioneering surgery to lengthen one of his legs.

Alfie Phillips has a rare condition called fibular hemimelia, which caused his right leg to not develop properly, leaving it more than an inch shorter than his left.

Thanks to the new treatment by experts at Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children’s Hospital he has been able to gain 3cm.

Alfie, from Northampton, said he had been “excited” and scared to be the first to have the procedure, but almost a year on he is now “running around as normal” and enjoyed playing basketball.

Fibular hemimelia is a rare condition affecting fewer than one in 40,000 births.

The new method involved implanting a lengthening nail on the surface of Alfie’s right thigh bone, which is slowly pulled over time using magnets.

Although lengthening nails have been fitted inside the bone of adults, the procedure was not previously an option for younger children because of the risk of damaging the growth plates.

“We know that being able to lengthen internally is less painful and a better experience overall,” Nick Peterson, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Alder Hey said.

“But before this technique, it wasn’t available for children.”

Before being referred to Alder Hey in 2024, Alfie’s only option to make his leg longer would have been to have an external fixator fitted.

The operation to install the nail was performed on Alfie in March 2025 and he spent less than a week in hospital.

The new method, developed in the US, involved placing a lengthening nail – known as a motorised telescopic nail – on the surface of Alfie’s femur, the long bone in the thigh.

To make the limb longer, a magnetic device was placed on Alfie’s leg three times a day for a month.

This process helped the nail slowly pull the two bone ends apart – by around 1mm each day – while the body naturally filled the gap with new bone tissue.

He then underwent weekly physiotherapy sessions and reviews by doctors and specialist nurses until the lengthening process had finished, which took around six weeks.

Alfie continued to have physio until the nail was removed from his leg, which was around three to four months after the operation.

“He healed really well,” Alfie’s mother, Laura Ducker, 34, said. “He coped magnificently. He was keen to go back to school fairly quickly.”

“He’s running around as normal, if you were to look him you would never know that there had ever been anything happen. He is just incredible.”

Alfie said that other than a short time not being able to use his legs, the treatment had “made a big difference”.

“I can do a lot of the tings I couldn’t do before like skipping, and now I am better at basketball and I can do trampolining, too.

“I didn’t realise how much I used my legs all the time, but other than not being able to weight bear for a while it’s gone quite good,” he said.

Alfie added: “I’m now taller than my friend, and I can call him short.”

Although Alfie may need further lengthening treatment on his shin bone in the future, Peterson said his experience for his age has been “vastly superior to what it would have been”.

Specialists at Alder Hey measured the difference at 4cm (1.6in) , and projected it would increase to 6cm (2.4in) by the time Alfie was fully grown at around 16.

Peterson described his patient’s recovery as “remarkable”.

The hospital has since performed the technique on three other children with fibular hemimelia and other specialists centres around the country are preparing to do the same.

Peterson said Alfie’s case “paves the way for this technique to replace that old fashioned way of doing things”.

‘Social media suspended in Gabon ‘until further notice’: media regulator

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Editor

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February 18, 2026

Gabon’s media regulator on Tuesday announced the suspension of social media platforms “until further notice”, blaming content posted online for stoking conflict and division in society.

The High Authority for Communication imposed “the immediate suspension of social media platforms in Gabon”, its spokesman Jean-Claude Mendome said in a televised statement.

He said “inappropriate, defamatory, hateful, and insulting content” was undermining “human dignity, public morality, the honour of citizens, social cohesion, the stability of the Republic’s institutions, and national security”.

The communications body spokesman also cited the “spread of false information”, “cyberbullying” and “unauthorised disclosure of personal data” as reasons for the decision.

“These actions are likely, in the case of Gabon, to generate social conflict, destabilise the institutions of the Republic, and seriously jeopardise national unity, democratic progress, and achievements,” he added.

The regulator did not specify any social media platforms that would be included in the ban.

However the regulator said “freedom of expression, including freedom of comment and criticism,” remained “a fundamental right enshrined in Gabon”.

Less than a year after being elected, Gabonese President Brice Oligui Nguema has faced his first wave of social unrest, with teachers on strike and other civil servants threatening to down tools.

School teachers began striking over pay and conditions in December and protests over similar demands have since spread to other public sectors — health, higher education and broadcasting.

Rare Holy Convergence: Christians and Muslims Begin Holy Journeys on the Same Day

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Editor

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February 18, 2026

By Andrew Kariuki

In a powerful and symbolic moment of faith, Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Ramadan have coincided on the same day, marking a rare spiritual alignment between the Christian and Muslim calendars that is being celebrated across Kenya and around the world.

Ash Wednesday ushers in the season of Lent for Christians, a solemn 40 day period of prayer, fasting, repentance and reflection leading up to Easter.

At the same time, Muslims have begun Ramadan, the holy month of fasting, devotion, charity and spiritual renewal.

Both traditions emphasize humility, sacrifice, discipline and a deeper connection with God, making this overlap especially meaningful for millions of believers globally.

Religious leaders and faithful from both communities have described the convergence as a moment of unity in a world often marked by division.

Churches and mosques alike have reflected on the shared values of compassion, self-restraint, forgiveness and service to humanity that define both observances.

This rare and holy alignment has not occurred since March 15, 2000, making the 2026 convergence particularly significant as the two observances rarely begin on the same day because the Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle while the Christian liturgical calendar is based on a solar system calculation tied to Easter.

The coincidence marks a unique intersection of two distinct sacred calendars; a moment many believers see as heaven-sent.

Leaders from both faiths have welcomed the occasion as a divine reminder of shared humanity and coexistence.

“It is so good that through God’s intervention, Christians and Muslims are being united in the same day and time of saum, and for us we give glory and greatness to God for this opportunity that God wants us to be united in some special things,” said Reverend Richard Ooko of Tudor during an interview.

Similarly, Sheikh Rashid Rajab from Mombasa emphasized the broader social message carried by the moment.

“As Kenyans, we have forces that are trying to bring differences between Muslims and Christians. These two holy events are telling us the opposite. They are changing the narrative of those who are spreading wickedness, those who don’t want us to be one people, one nation, one human brothers and sisters,” he said.

Across Kenya the shared beginning of fasting and reflection has sparked conversations about unity, tolerance and interfaith harmony.

Globally, the alignment is being viewed as more than a calendar coincidence; it is being interpreted as a spiritual reminder of the deep common values that bind humanity across religious traditions.

As Christians receive ashes and Muslims observe their first fast of Ramadan, this uncommon convergence stands as a testament to faith, coexistence and the enduring possibility of unity in diversity.

Real Madrid beat Benfica in a tie halted over Vinicius racism allegation

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Editor

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February 18, 2026

Referee Francois Letexier made the crossed arms gesture to signal racist abuse following a conversation with Vinicius.

The Brazil forward had put the Spanish visitors 1-0 up in the second half at the Estadio da Luz, before being booked for an excessive celebration.

Following an interaction with Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, Vinicius ran over to referee Letexier while gesturing towards the opposition player.

A Real Madrid statement said Vinicius told the referee he had been racially abused by the Argentina winger.

Vinicius then walked off the pitch and was followed by his Real Madrid team-mates, but play restarted 10 minutes later, in the 60th minute.

The match was played out to its conclusion, with Real winning 1-0 after 12 minutes of stoppage time, during which an object thrown from the crowd struck Vinicius on the arm.

After the match, Vinicius released a statement on Instagram condemning the incident.

“Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts in their mouths to show how weak they are,” said Vinicius.

“But they have the protection of others who, theoretically, have an obligation to punish them. Nothing that happened today is new in my life or in my team’s life.

“I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don’t understand why. On the other hand, it was just a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose.”

Benfica forward Vangelis Pavlidis defended team-mate Prestianni.

“I don’t think Prestianni said anything like that to Vinicius. I think it has more to do with the heated rivalry between Brazil and Argentina than anything else,” he said.

Prestianni has yet to respond.

Luo Council of Elders call for truce in ODM amid internal wrangles

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Editor

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February 18, 2026

The Luo Council of Elders is calling for an immediate truce within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, urging rival factions to embrace dialogue and end escalating political tensions.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, who hosted the elders at his office on Tuesday, condemned calls for anti-government protests by a section of opposition leaders, insisting there is no justifiable reason to send Kenyans to the streets.

ODM is facing internal turmoil, with two rival factions dubbed Linda Ground and Linda Mwananchi sharply divided over support for President William Ruto’s re-election bid.

CS Mbadi warned that the widening rift within ODM mirrors growing divisions within the Luo community, a situation the council of elders says must be urgently addressed through structured talks.

“What we are telling them is: come and tell us why you strongly feel you want to move to the other side. In Kenya, there are only two political groupings. If you don’t want to work with Ruto, is it Uhuru or Wamunyoro?” He posed.

Stephen Mbot, an elder, said: “These are efforts to keep ODM united, intact, and impactful in the political scene.”

Mbadi said tensions between the Oburu Oginga-led faction and a group of youthful leaders including embattled Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino are destructive.

“Courage is not demonstrated by jumping fences and kicking doors. Raila Odinga was courageous and when the time called for dialogue, he knew what to do,” Mbadi said,

As opposition leaders threaten fresh protests over alleged government failures on security, Mbadi has dismissed the move, arguing there is no clear cause for mass action.

“We cannot sit back and see our children going back to the streets again, especially when there is no clear reason,” Mbadi said.

The Treasury CS maintains that Luo unity remains the bedrock of ODM and is urging leaders to reflect on the political direction of the community. He announced that a series of follow-up meetings will be held to resolve the stalemate

Gov’t allocates land, title deeds to 161 families affected by Maai Mahiu dam tragedy

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Editor

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February 18, 2026

Hundreds of families affected by a dam burst in Maai Mahiu, Nakuru County have been resettled as the government fulfilled a promise to find new homes for them.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki on Tuesday handed over title deeds to 105 homeowners who were displaced by flash floods caused by the dam burst in April 2024. Each of them will receive two acres of land.

The DP also said the tenants in the homes will also benefit from plots of land to be acquired by the government, DP revealed.

“All the families who owned homes and those who rented will be provided land. The 105 homeowners will get their title deeds today. The 56 families who were renting the houses will also benefit from plots of land so they can build their houses,” DP stated during the event in Maai Mahiu town, Nakuru County.

Additionally, the government handed over 20, 000 shillings to each of the families affected by the floods to rebuild their lives.

“The Ministry of Lands has been directed by the President to ensure all the families benefit,” DP added.

Prof. Kindiki directed Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome, who was present, to hasten acquisition of land for the 56 families identified for compensation.

The government has also acquired land for critical public utilities including hospitals, schools, markets, places of worship, recreation facilities, ICT centres among others.

The Deputy President also said the government is speeding up completion of key projects geared at developing the region noting that the expansion of Rironi-Mau Summit has commenced and will be completed on time.

“This is a critical road and the expansion will ease movement and help in reducing road accidents along the stretch,” Prof. Kindiki emphasized.

The construction of Maai Mahiu Modern Market is set to start in the next one week. The government will also ensure installment of a transformer to boost electricity supply to the area as requested by Maai Mahiu sand harvesters. The DP also said the government will assist in the acquisition of 100 acres of land in Kedong area for the sand harvesters as per their request.

Further, the Second in Command reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to empowering the youth through tailor-made programmes such as NYOTA, Kazi Mtandaoni and Kazi Majuu initiatives among others.

He said these aim to make the youth productive and contribute to the nation’s growth.

“Our opponents see young people as goons, hecklers, bloggers and mere voters. This government sees young people as critical in the growth of our society that is why we are getting them jobs through various programmes. We don’t want our youth to be misused by politicians to fulfil their sinister motives,” he insisted.

He called out the opposition for specializing in cheap and useless talk meant to ensnare the youth in their misguided political agenda.

“I have no doubt that this government cares about the youth, women and men and everyone in society and is keen to improve their lives.

Our opponents are used to cheap talk and exploiting the youth for their own misguided political agenda. Talk is cheap, action is harder,” DP stated.

Later, the Deputy President led economic empowerment of small-scale traders in Longonot, Naivasha Constituency, Nakuru County.

“The government is focused on development and improving the lives of the people,” he said.

The DP was accompanied by Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome, Principal Secretary Nixon Korir, Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika, Bahati MP Irene Njoki, host of MCAs and other leaders.

Five young people die in Spain apartment block fire

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Editor

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February 18, 2026

Five young people have died in a fire that broke out in a storage space in a residential block of flats in north-east Spain.

Residents raised the alarm about the fire in a five-storey building in the small town of Manlleu, about 80km (50 miles) north of Barcelona, shortly after 21:00 local time (20:00 GMT) on Monday, Catalonia’s fire brigade said. Four other people were slightly hurt in the blaze.

The identities of those who died is not yet known but reports said they include children and none of them lived in the building.

It is not clear why they could not escape the storage room, which is on the upper floor, according to firefighters. An investigation is under way into the fire’s cause.

The grandfather of one of the young victims told La Vanguardia that the boys used the storage room, which is thought to have been converted into a living space, to meet each other.

No official details have been confirmed about the victims but witnesses told local media that they were aged between 14 and 18.

The local authority said it was providing support to the victims and it declared three days of mourning.

Catalan President Salvador Illa Roca said he was shocked by the deaths and expressed his deepest condolences to families and friends.

US build-up of warships and fighter jets tracked near Iran

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Editor

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February 17, 2026

BBC -BBC Verify has confirmed the location of US aircraft carrier the USS Abraham Lincoln near Iran using satellite imagery, as Washington continues to put pressure on the country over its military program and recent deadly crackdown on protesters.

US and Iranian officials are set to meet in Switzerland on Tuesday for a second round of talks. Iran says the meeting will focus on its nuclear programme and the potential lifting of economic sanctions imposed by the US. Washington has previously indicated it wants to discuss other issues as well.

The Abraham Lincoln, which leads a strike group with three guided missile destroyers, carries 90 aircraft including F35 fighters, and 5,680 crew, was reportedly deployed to the Gulf region in late January but has not been seen in satellite imagery until now. It has been located off the coast of Oman, around 700km from Iran.

The US has also reportedly sent the USS Gerald R Ford, the world’s largest warship, to the Middle East, which could arrive in the region within the next three weeks.

The Abraham Lincoln’s arrival adds to what we know about the current US military build-up in the Middle East over the past few weeks, where BBC Verify has tracked an increase of US destroyers, combat ships and fighter jets in the region.

What military assets has the US moved into the Middle East?

Publicly available images from the European Sentinel-2 satellites show Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea around 150 miles (240km) off the coast of Oman.

It had not been seen since it reportedly entered the region in January but it had been crossing the open sea where satellite coverage is limited. Military assets on land are more visible and frequently captured on satellite.

It means we have now tracked 12 US ships in the Middle East through satellite imagery: the Abraham Lincoln, a nuclear-powered Nimitz-class carrier, which together with three Arleigh Burke class destroyers forms a carrier strike group; plus two destroyers capable of carrying out long-range missile strikes and three specialist ships for combat near to the shore that are currently positioned at Bahrain naval station in the Gulf. Two other destroyers have been seen in the eastern Mediterranean near the Souda Bay US base, and one more in the Red Sea.

We have also been following the movements of US aircraft in the region, where we have seen an increase of F-15 and EA-18 fighter jets stationed in Muwaffaq Salti military base in Jordan, and an increase in US cargo planes and refuelling and communications aircraft moving towards the Middle East from the US and Europe.

How has Iran responded?

The US Central Command released images of the Abraham Lincoln flanked by destroyers, fighter jets, surveillance aircraft and coastguard vessels in the Arabian Sea in an apparent show of military prowess on 6 February, which Iran has met with its own show of force.

On Monday the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a maritime drill in the Strait of Hormuz, located in the Gulf between Oman and Iran. The drill saw IRGC Commander‑in‑Chief Maj Gen Mohammad Pakpour inspecting naval vessels at a harbour before missiles are seen launching from a ship, the IRCG-linked Tasnim News Agency reported.

The Strait is considered one of the world’s most important shipping routes and a vital oil transit choke point. Around a fifth of the world’s oil and gas flows through the Strait, including from Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export terminal. Pakpour was seen flying over the island in a helicopter in the report showing Iran’s latest military manoeuvres.

How has Iran responded?

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