At least 20 people have died after a powerful cyclone struck Madagascar, says the disaster authority in the Indian Ocean island.
Cyclone Gezani made landfall on Tuesday, hitting the island’s main port, Toamasina.
Madagascar’s disaster management office said there was “total chaos” – reporting that houses collapsed in the impact zone, where the bodies were found. Neighbourhoods were plunged into darkness as power lines snapped, while trees were uprooted and roofs ripped off.
The cyclone’s landfall is likely to have been one of the most intense recorded around the city in the satellite era, according to the CMRS cyclone forecaster on France’s Reunion island, cited by AFP.
The National Office for Risk and Disaster Management said many were killed when houses collapsed. Cyclone Gezani hit Toamasina – the country’s second-largest city – with winds reaching 250 km/hour (155 mph).
“It’s total chaos, 90% of house roofs have been blown off, entirely or in part,” the head of disaster management at the Action Against Hunger aid agency, Rija Randrianarisoa, told AFP.
Madagascar’s disaster management office has evacuated dozens of injured people and hundreds of residents from a district around Toamasina, home to 400,000 people.
Residents in and around Toamasina described scenes of chaos as the cyclone made landfall. “I have never experienced winds this violent… The doors and windows are made of metal, but they are being violently shaken,” Harimanga Ranaivo told the Reuters news agency.
Gezani is the second cyclone to hit Madagascar this year. It comes 10 days after tropical cyclone Fytia killed 14 and displaced over 31,000 people, according to the UN’s humanitarian office.
Ahead of the cyclone’s arrival, officials shuttered schools and rushed to prepare emergency shelters.
Madagascar’s meteorological service said on Wednesday morning that Gezani had weakened to a moderate tropical storm and had moved westward inland, about 100km (60 miles) north of the capital, Antananarivo.
“Gezani will cross the central highlands from east to west today, before moving out to sea into the Mozambique Channel this evening or tonight,” the service said.
The country’s new leader Colonel Michael Randrianirina, who seized power in October, was in Toamasina on Wednesday morning to assess the situation.
Cyclone season in the Indian Ocean around Madagascar normally lasts from November to April and sees around a dozen storms each year, AFP reports.
Kitui County Government led by Governor Dr. Julius Malombe on Tuesday appeared before the Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee (CPIC) chaired by Senator Godfrey Osotsi, where the county responded firmly on several issues cutting across health assets, unpaid SHA claims, casual workers and drug management.
A key concern raised by the committee was the non-disclosure of land property and assets, particularly title deeds for the county’s 326 health facilities.
Governor Malombe told senators that the Department of Lands had already conducted georeferencing for 52 facilities, with an average of five to six per sub-county as part of efforts to secure ownership documents.
The County boss committed that by July this year, all Level IV hospitals will have title deeds, while 14 health facilities are scheduled for valuation by September 2027.
On pending medical claims, the committee sought clarification over large sums owed to county facilities by the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the defunct NHIF.
The county reported that as at January 2026, total NHIF and SHA claims stood at KSh 890 million, with KSh 480 million being unsettled SHA claims owed to Kitui.
Senators also questioned about engagement of casual workers, especially in hospitals.
Medical Services officials explained that industrial strikes had necessitated the temporary engagement of six casual workers at Kitui County Referral Hospital to ensure continuity of services.
Governor Malombe assured the committee that the county had developed a new Kitui County Temporary Employment Policy, which will bring temporary workers under a structured human resource framework.
He said such workers will be issued personal numbers and operate under clearly defined contractual terms.
According to CECM Koki, the county has 326 health facilities. Among these are 54 health centres and 260 dispensaries, employing a total of 1,219 casual workers.
Senator Osotsi commended Kitui for maintaining a relatively manageable number of casual workers compared to other counties where the casual workforce has ballooned.
Governor Malombe maintained that there are no ghost workers in Kitui, emphasizing that recruitment of temporary workers will strictly be the mandate of the County Public Service Board.
The committee further raised concerns over expired medical supplies and stock-outs. Responding to the issue, the Chief Officer in charge of Drugs and Medical Supplies Aggrey Kamba attributed some expiries to donations received between 2020 and 2021 that had short shelf lives.
The county pledged that by March 15, all expired drugs will be safely disposed of.
Kitui has two operational incinerators — one at the County Referral Hospital and another at Kauwi Hospital — to handle the exercise.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has once again charged controversial preacher Pastor Paul Mackenzie and several co-accused in three separate courts over offences linked to the deaths of at least 52 people in Kwa Binzaro, Chakama, Kilifi County.
At the Shanzu Law Courts, Mackenzie was charged alongside Shallyne Temba, Kahindi Garama, Tom Mkonwe, Julius Luwali, Johnson Richard, Charles Musee and James Kahindi with multiple offences under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
The charges include engaging in organized criminal activity, two counts of radicalization, two counts of facilitating the commission of a terrorist act, and possession of an article connected with an offence under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
According to the prosecution, the accused persons, on diverse dates between January and July 2025 at Kwa Binzaro in Chakama Location, Magarini Sub-County, were members of a radicalized religious sect known as Good News International Ministries.
The State alleges that the group operated as an organized criminal entity and promoted extreme beliefs against government authority, actions said to have endangered followers and contributed to the deaths of at least 52 people.
The accused pleaded not guilty to all charges before Senior Principal Magistrate Leah Juma. The matter is scheduled for mention on March 4, 2026.
The same group was later arraigned before the Mombasa Law Courts before Senior Principal Magistrate Eric Wambo, where they faced additional charges of manslaughter contrary to Section 202 as read with Section 205 of the Penal Code.
The prosecution alleges that between January and July 2025, at Kwa Binzaro area in Chakama, the accused unlawfully caused the deaths of 29 people. The case will also be mentioned on March 4, 2026.
In a separate proceeding at the Mombasa High Court, the accused were presented before Lady Justice Wendy Kagendo in relation to murder charges.
However, plea taking did not proceed.
Justice Kagendo directed that all the accused persons undergo mental assessment at a hospital before taking plea.
The matter is set for mention on March 4, 2026, for further directions and possible plea taking.
The cases are being prosecuted by a team led by Senior Assistant DPP Esther Macharia, Assistant DPP Jami Yamina, Principal Prosecution Counsels Victor Owiti, Betty Rubia, Rachael Amala and Alex Ndiema, and Prosecution Counsel Yassir Mohammed.
Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu has raised concerns over legislative, fiscal and oversight gaps in the proposed development of oil Blocks T6 and T7 in the South Lokichar Basin, warning that failure to address them could significantly reduce Kenya’s share of petroleum revenues.
Appearing before the Joint Committee of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Energy and the Senate Standing Committee on Energy on Wednesday, Gathungu said the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) remains committed to ensuring transparency and accountability in the petroleum sector but requires stronger legal backing and timely access to information.
The engagement focused on stakeholder input into the Field Development Plan (FDP) and Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) for Blocks T6 (formerly 10BB) and T7 (formerly 13T) in Turkana County.
Gathungu told lawmakers that although the Constitution mandates her office to audit public resources, including petroleum revenues, no approved recoverable cost statements for the two blocks have been submitted for audit to date. She noted that the lack of audits on costs incurred during the exploration phase has denied the country an opportunity to disallow ineligible expenditures, which could ultimately reduce government revenue once production begins.
She explained that under the Petroleum Act, 2019, the government may audit contractors’ books within seven years, but warned that delayed audits risk contractors’ accounts being deemed correct by default. Earlier PSC provisions had even shorter audit windows.
The Auditor-General also cited delays in the review of the Field Development Plan, which was submitted in October 2021 but had not been approved for three years, as well as past delays in establishing key institutions such as the National Upstream Petroleum Advisory Committee.
Her office’s previous financial and performance audits have flagged several weaknesses in petroleum oversight, including failure to monitor cost recovery, irregular submission of progress reports by contractors, inadequate review of work programmes and budgets, and insufficient monitoring of local content requirements.
In a 2021 performance audit, the OAG found that Tullow Kenya B.V. had implemented work programmes and budgets before approval, and that cost recovery statements were submitted inconsistently and without sufficient breakdowns. The audit also revealed gaps in enforcement of local employment and training obligations, including unpaid training fees amounting to millions of dollars and irregular use of the Petroleum Training Fund.
Gathungu expressed concern that Parliament has not debated most of the performance audit reports submitted by her office, saying consideration of those reports would have helped close policy and operational gaps earlier.
On international best practice, she cited Uganda and Indonesia, where supreme audit institutions have explicit mandates to directly audit oil companies’ recoverable costs. In Kenya, she said, the legislative framework remains weak, and Parliament should strengthen the law to ensure transparent and timely cost audits.
Turning to the South Lokichar Field Development Plan, the Auditor-General highlighted inconsistencies with existing legislation. She questioned the contractor’s request for unitization of the development area under harmonized fiscal terms, noting that both blocks are held by the same contractor and may not meet the legal threshold for unitization under the Petroleum Act.
She further warned that proposed revisions to fiscal terms—including exemptions from VAT, withholding tax, railway development levy and import declaration fees—could result in multi-billion-shilling revenue losses if approved without thorough review by the Kenya Revenue Authority.
Additionally, the contractor’s request to raise the cost recovery limit to 85 per cent, from the current limits of 55 per cent and 65 per cent for the respective blocks, contradicts the Petroleum Act’s 60 per cent ceiling. While acknowledging that such incentives may aim to attract investment, Gathungu cautioned that higher cost recovery limits reduce immediate government take and require robust real-time monitoring to prevent cost inflation.
She also flagged the absence of a comprehensive decommissioning plan in the Field Development Plan, contrary to the Decommissioning, Site Abandonment and Restoration Guidelines, 2025, which require submission of such a plan before development begins. The current proposal indicates that contributions to the Decommissioning Fund would start in 2036, despite development being scheduled to begin in 2026.
Citing global practice in Nigeria, Brazil and Indonesia, she recommended that contractors begin contributing to decommissioning funds early in the production stage to ensure adequate resources for site restoration.
On the Early Oil Pilot Scheme, which transported crude from Turkana to Mombasa between 2017 and 2020, the Auditor-General said her office had previously sought documentation to conduct an audit but did not receive the information. A factual findings report was only shared last week, and the OAG will review it before undertaking a full audit once approved financial statements are submitted.
Gathungu further pointed out broader legislative gaps, including unclear procedures for awarding petroleum contracts, lack of prescribed formats for reporting recoverable costs, ambiguity on government participation percentages in upstream projects, and Kenya’s non-membership in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).
She warned that non-membership in EITI may elevate governance risk perceptions among international lenders and investors, potentially increasing borrowing costs for energy infrastructure projects.
To strengthen oversight, the Auditor-General announced plans to reconstitute a dedicated Petroleum Audit Unit and continue building staff capacity in oil and gas accounting, petroleum economics and energy law. She noted that her office may also outsource specialized audits where necessary, as permitted by the Public Audit Act.
Concluding her presentation, Gathungu urged Parliament to carefully consider the gaps identified before approving the South Lokichar Field Development Plan, emphasizing that petroleum resources can either accelerate development or fuel economic distortions if poorly managed.
“The Office of the Auditor-General will continue to provide quality and timely audit reports to Parliament,” she said, calling on lawmakers to debate audit findings expeditiously and follow up on implementation of recommendations to safeguard public interest.
The proposed development of Blocks T6 and T7 is seen as a major step toward commercial oil production in Kenya, with significant implications for national revenue, local content, environmental management and long-term economic sustainability.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has kicked out Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as the party’s Secretary General.
The development was confirmed on Tuesday by the ODM senior leadership following a National Executive Council Resolution meeting on Wednesday, February 11.
“The National Executive Council (NEC) expressed concern over rising levels of indiscipline within the party, especially within senior leadership positions. The committee underscored that ODM is governed by constitution rule of law and collective decision-making through its duly constituted organs,” a statement from ODM’s NEC read.
“Having deliberated on matters relating to the conduct of Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, the NEC resolved to remove him from office effective immediately.”
Effectively, Busia Woman representative Catherine Omayo, who previously acted as the party’s deputy Secretary General, assumes Sifuna’s role.
Omanyo will oversee the Secretariat as ODM prepares for a National Delegates Convention (NDC) scheduled for March 27, 2026.
There were early signs that Sifuna was on borrowed time as Secretary General, as the Nairobi Senator was conspicuously absent from the NEC meeting along with Deputy Party leader Godfrey Osotsi.
During an earlier address, ODM Party Leader, Senator Oburu Odinga has warned that the party was on the verge of taking action against some of their leaders who were considered rogue.
The NEC also adopted resolutions mandating party leader Dr. Oburu Oginga to spearhead coalition negotiations on behalf of ODM as it repositions itself ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The ODM’s central decision-making body also removed Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, Kipkorir Menjo, and Taita Taveta Senator Johnes Mwaruma from NEC.
Mandera Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif has suffered a legal setback after the High Court in Nairobi issued preservation orders barring any dealings with a disputed parcel of land linked to him in the Parklands area.
Justice Theresa Murigi certified as urgent an application filed by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and ordered that L.R No. 209/12673, now registered as L.R No. 209/21526, be preserved for six months pending investigations and determination of the case.
The court restrained the Governor, his agents, servants or any other person from entering, constructing on, developing, selling, transferring, charging, wasting or otherwise dealing with the property during the preservation period.
The matter is scheduled for an inter partes hearing on March 5, 2026.
In the same ruling delivered on February 2, 2026, Justice Murigi also issued similar preservation orders over three additional parcels, L.R No. 209/12670, 209/12671 and 209/12672, restraining the respective respondents from interfering with those properties for six months pursuant to Section 56(3) of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
According to court filings, the EACC is investigating the alleged unlawful alienation of public land in Parklands that was originally reserved for public utility purposes adjacent to North Highridge Primary School
The commission states that the land had been set aside for a social hall and formed part of public land linked to the school.
Investigations indicate that in July 1995, letters of allotment were allegedly issued to private individuals based on an unapproved and unregistered Part Development Plan.
The EACC further alleges that the then Commissioner of Lands unlawfully and corruptly facilitated the issuance of grants over the parcels, despite the land being reserved for public use and without presidential authority as required under the repealed Government Lands Act.
Court documents show that L.R No. 209/12673 changed hands several times before being resurveyed in 2020 and registered as L.R No. 209/21526.
The property was allegedly transferred to Mohamed Adan Khalif on February 5, 2021.
The commission maintains that investigations have not revealed any lawful process through which the land was converted from public utility to private residential use.
EACC argues that the preservation orders are necessary to protect the parcels from further transactions pending completion of investigations and possible recovery proceedings.
Job growth in the US picked up last month, gathering pace after the weakest year for new jobs since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Employers added a greater-than-expected 130,000 jobs in January, helping nudge the unemployment rate lower to 4.3%, the Labor Department said.
The figures could help ease fears about the health of the job market, after last year’s sharp slowdown as firms wrestled with changes, including major cuts to government spending and a crackdown on immigration.
The US added just 181,000 jobs in 2025, according to the latest data, even weaker than previously reported.
(AP) — Como advanced to the semifinals of the Coppa Italia for the first time in 40 years after beating Italian champion Napoli in a penalty shootout on Tuesday.
Stanislav Lobotka’s sudden death spot kick was saved by Como goalkeeper Jean Butez to spark wild celebrations on the field in Naples as Cesc Fabregas’ team won 7-6 in the shootout.
The game had ended 1-1 in regulation time.
Martin Baturina fired Como ahead from the penalty spot in the 39th minute, but Antonio Vergara leveled just after the break.
Napoli came close to a winner when Amir Rrahmani saw a header cleared off the line in the second half.
Romelu Lukaku failed to score for Napoli earlier in the shootout and Maximo Perrone also missed for Como.
Napoli is a six-time winner of the Coppa Italia, most recently in 2020.
(AP) — Freiburg advanced to the semifinals of the German Cup after a 5-4 penalty shootout win at Hertha Berlin on Tuesday.
Freiburg goalkeeper Florian Muller saved Pascal Klemens’ sudden death spot kick in the Olympiastadion in Berlin to secure his team’s place in the last four of the competition. Yuito Suzuki’s strike had put the visitors 5-4 in front, meaning Klemens had to score to keep the shootout going.
After the game ended goalless in regulation time, Yuito Suzuki fired Freiburg ahead in the 96th minute. Eight minutes later the game was level again when Fabian Reese struck with a shot into the top corner.
Muller denied Michael Cuisance earlier in the shootout, but Freiburg’s Johan Manzambi then saw his spot kick saved by Hertha keeper Tjark Ernst.
(AP) — Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi is leaving the French league club in the wake of a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of PSG in French soccer biggest game.
The nine-time French champions said on Wednesday that they have ended “their collaboration by mutual agreement.”
The heavy loss Sunday at the Parc des Princes restored defending champion PSG’s two-point lead over Lens after 21 rounds, with Marseille in fourth place after the humiliating defeat.
De Zerbi’s exit followed another embarrassing 3-0 loss at Club Brugge two weeks ago that resulted in Marseille exiting the Champions League.
De Zerbi, who had apologized to Marseille fans after the loss against bitter rival PSG, joined Marseille in 2024 after two seasons in charge at Brighton. After tightening things up tactically in Marseille during his first season, his recent choices had left many observers puzzled.
“Following consultations involving all stakeholders in the club’s leadership — the owner, president, director of football and head coach — it was decided to opt for a change at the head of the first team,” Marseille said. “This was a collective and difficult decision, taken after thorough consideration, in the best interests of the club and in order to address the sporting challenges of the end of the season.”
De Zerbi led Marseille to a second-place finish last season. Marseille did not immediately announce a replacement for De Zerbi ahead of Saturday’s league match against Strasbourg.
Since American owner Frank McCourt bought Marseille in 2016, the former powerhouse of French soccer has failed to find any form of stability, with a succession of coaches and crises that sometimes turned violent.
Marseille dominated domestic soccer in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was the only French team to win the Champions League before PSG claimed the trophy last year. It hasn’t won its own league title since 2010.
