Kalonzo responds to Ruto remarks that opposition leaders are stupid

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February 9, 2026

Wiper Patriotic Front party leader Kalonzo Musyoka launched a bare-knuckled attack at President William Ruto over his endless insults to the United Opposition, deeming them ‘stupid’.

Speaking to Kenyans in the United States on Sunday, February 8, Kalonzo stated that at least he and Democracy for the Citizens party leader Rigathi Gachagua did not kill children.

He also responded to the slur by President Ruto, who claimed that he did not have any track record despite being a leader for two decades.

“He keeps saying that Rigathi and I are stupid, which is true because we cannot kill children. Our track record is that we stopped you from killing more children than you already have,” he stated.

Kalonzo lashed out at the Head of State over his sentiments on the new Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya leadership.

He reckoned that Ruto had made a mockery of former Premier Raila Odinga by saying Aimio was dead, and that he would beat them again in 2027.

“Ruto keeps claiming that Aimio is dead and even says that he beat us early in 2022. I think he forgets that he is trying to court Luo Nyanza for their support, yet he keeps on making fun of Baba,” Kalonzo remarked.

The WPF intimated the events that led to him taking over from Odinga as the new Azimio Party leader.

“I have supported Raila for 15 years, but he died. We saw it fit as Azimio leaders to meet and eulogise him, and it was during that meeting that a decision was reached that I become the party leader,” he explained.”

Kalonzo urged Kenyans in the diaspora to come out in numbers to register as voters ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

The announcement of the changes in the coalition party was met with opposition from ODM, which claimed that the seat should have been left for the Orange Party.

In addition, Kalonzo questioned why the changes had not been printed in the Kenya Gazette by the government printer.

Nairobi commuters stranded as matatu strike resumes despite suspension deal

By

John Mutiso

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February 9, 2026

Thousands of Nairobi commuters were stranded on Monday morning after public service vehicle operators resumed their strike, defying an earlier decision to suspend industrial action for two weeks to allow negotiations with the government and security agencies.

The renewed disruption, the second in as many weeks, saw most matatus stay off the roads, paralysing transport across the capital and leaving commuters scrambling for the few vehicles that were operating.

Operators are demanding decisive police action against rogue boda boda riders accused of torching matatus and attacking crews following road accidents involving motorcycles.

On Saturday, the Matatu Owners Association (MOA) announced a temporary suspension of the strike after meeting senior police officials, who pledged to crack down on criminal elements targeting public transport vehicles. The association said investigators had already gathered evidence and identified suspects linked to previous attacks.

At key pick-up points, crowds surged each time a matatu appeared, triggering near stampedes as commuters fought for limited seats.
“We have had deliberate engagement, and while some issues remain unresolved, we agreed to suspend the Monday strike and move forward as we address the matters,” an association official said during a press briefing, citing goodwill from operators.

Peter Murima of the Motorists Association of Kenya said operators had agreed to give authorities time to act but warned that the industry remained on high alert.

“This decision has been informed by the seriousness we have seen from the government that action will be taken,” Murima said, adding that any further torching of matatus would trigger immediate action from operators.

The announcement had briefly reassured commuters still reeling from a similar shutdown the previous Monday, when many were forced to walk long distances to work. However, by early Monday, chaos had returned to major termini.

At key pick-up points including Archives, Latema Road, OTC, Bus Station, Commercial and Tom Mboya Street, long queues formed as anxious passengers waited for hours. Each arriving matatu triggered surging crowds and near stampedes as commuters competed for limited seats.

Some passengers opted to walk to their destinations, while others turned to ride-hailing services, despite sharply higher fares. Workers, students and traders were among the hardest hit, with many reporting late arrivals.

The disruption was worsened by heavy traffic on major feeder roads, including Waiyaki Way, Thika Road, Mombasa Road and Jogoo Road. With fewer vehicles in operation, turnaround times increased, compounding delays in the central business district.

Some operators took advantage of the shortage and hiked fares, in some cases charging double the usual rates.

Matatu operators insist the withdrawal of services is aimed at pressuring authorities to guarantee the safety of crews and passengers, arguing that violent retaliation by boda boda groups after accidents has become a persistent threat.

There was cautious optimism that the situation could ease later in the day, as happened during last week’s strike. Industry insiders said some saccos that had withheld their fleets could gradually release vehicles as talks with security agencies continue.

For now, the renewed disruption has once again exposed Nairobi’s heavy reliance on matatus and the fragile balance between transport services, public safety, and law enforcement.

Mbappe’s Real Madrid beat Valencia to stay on Barcelona’s heels

By

John Mutiso

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February 9, 2026

Real Madrid stayed within one point of LaLiga leaders Barcelona with a 2-0 win at Valencia on Sunday as second-half goals by Alvaro Carreras and Kylian Mbappe settled a largely uneventful contest.

Real dominated possession but found chances hard to come by, with Valencia keeper Stole Dimitrievski rarely called into action as the visitors struggled to turn control into threat.

It took them until the 65th minute to break the deadlock through Carreras before Mbappe wrapped up the points in stoppage time.

Barcelona lead the table on 58 points, with Real second on 57. Valencia are 17th, a point above the relegation zone.

Mbappe offered the main outlet with sporadic ‌runs down the ‌left but clear openings were limited.

Real coach Alvaro ‌Arbeloa ⁠was forced ‌to improvise, missing suspended winger Vinicius Jr and injured trio Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo and Eder Militao.

The absences opened the door for academy players Raul Asensio, David Jimenez and Gonzalo Garcia to start, with Mbappe providing the lone spark for an uninspiring Real side.

The deadlock was broken through fullback Carreras in a fortunate turn of events.

Making an ambitious run into the box, Carreras was dispossessed by Valencia’s defenders, but ⁠the attempted clearance ricocheted back off him and fortuitously fell at his feet.

The 22-year-old was quickest ‌to react, sweeping a low shot into the bottom-left ‍corner.

Valencia offered little in response and ‍Real sealed the points in added time. Substitute Brahim Diaz launched a ‍counter-attack down the left and slid a low cross into the area for Mbappe, who finished first time from close range.

It was the France forward’s 23rd league goal, leaving him eight goals clear at the top of the scoring charts.

“Playing at Valencia is always like going to the dentist,” Arbeloa told reporters.

“We knew how difficult the match would be, how demanding they would be. ⁠It was a very serious and committed match. I’m happy.

“We can certainly raise our game in terms of brilliance. We have a lot of room for improvement. But a team is built on solidity and commitment. (Thibaut) Courtois didn’t make a single save today. Dedication, commitment, sacrifice. Madrid demonstrated those values once again today.”

Elsewhere on Sunday, Atletico Madrid slipped further adrift in the title race after a 1-0 home loss to Real Betis.

Antony struck in the 28th minute with a fierce effort from the edge of the box, earning Manuel Pellegrini’s side a valuable victory as they bolstered their push for European qualification.

Atletico are a distant third ‌in the table on 45 points, three points ahead of fourth-placed Villarreal, who have two games in hand. Betis sit fifth on 38 points.

Slot bemoans officiating as Liverpool lose late on v Man City

By

John Mutiso

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February 9, 2026

(Reuters) – Liverpool manager Arne Slot believes Liverpool are an improved side from a few months ago despite their 2-1 loss to Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, a chaotic defeat that leaves them with one win in their last seven Premier League fixtures.

The Reds are four points behind fifth-placed Chelsea in the table and outside of the Champions League qualification places.

Dominik Szoboszlai’s incredible free kick put Slot’s side into the lead, but the game turned on a Bernardo Silva equaliser six minutes from the end before Erling Haaland fired home the winner from the penalty spot.

“A lot has happened, which is normal in this fixture. For us we are disappointed to come away without a result,” Slot told the BBC.

“In the first half, Manchester City were the better team without creating many big chances but they had the ball more in our half. The second half, we were on top and had good moments.

“We are getting almost used to conceding a goal in (added) time and it happened again today.”

Slot says his side are in a better place than at the end of 2025, despite their poor run of results in the league.

“You cannot compare this game with three or four months ago, we have improved so much, but we need to improve the results. So many times this year we haven’t got what I think we deserve and this is another time.”

Slot also bemoaned the decision by the officials not to send off Marc Guehi when he appeared to catch Mohamed Salah as the Liverpool forward attempted to race onto a pass.

“If there is any incident we should talk about, it’s when Mo Salah is one on one with the goalkeeper,” he said.

“Anyone who has been to this stadium in the last seven or eight years, that is a goal for Salah. Once again, the referee decides not in our favour. They have to do their job.”

City manager Pep Guardiola praised the resilience of his side, who moved to within six points of Arsenal at the top of the table.

“I am really proud we won. The first half was incredible,” Guardiola said. “Liverpool had the momentum after Szoboszlai’s free kick, a copy paste of the one against Arsenal, what a strike. What a player.

“At the end, belief from our captain (Silva), his character, personality, not giving up, we came back. We are six points behind (Arsenal), okay it is a big gap, but many things can still happen.”

Liverpool new signing Jacquet suffers ‘serious’ injury

By

John Mutiso

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February 9, 2026

(Reuters) – Liverpool’s new signing Jeremy Jacquet suffered a “serious” shoulder injury while playing for Rennes in their 3-1 Ligue 1 defeat at RC Lens on Saturday, casting doubt over the defender’s availability ahead of his summer move to Anfield.

Jacquet fell awkwardly in the second half of the French league match and appeared in agony as he left the pitch.

“For Jeremy, it’s his shoulder, and for Abdelhamid (Ait Boudlal, another Rennes player injured in the same match) it’s muscular,” Rennes head coach Habib Beye told reporters after the match.

“We’ll have time to see, but it’s definitely quite serious for both of them.”

Liverpool agreed a 60-million-pound ($80-million) deal for Jacquet on Monday, but the 20-year-old defender will stay with the French club until the end of the season.

Liverpool, provisionally sixth in the Premier League table, will face Manchester City on Sunday with four defenders – Giovanni Leoni, Joe Gomez, Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley – sidelined due to injuries.

($1 = 0.7348 pounds)

Clinical officer arrested for allegedly raping pregnant woman on maternity check up in Bomet

By

John Mutiso

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February 9, 2026

A clinical officer at Chemaner Health Center in Bomet County has been arrested for allegedly raping a pregnant woman during a routine medical visit.

Bomet East Sub-County Police Commander Michael Singa reported that the suspect, identified as Eric Langat, also known as Kirinyet, committed the heinous crime while attending to the victim in one of the rooms during the usual routine.

According to the police report, the victim was heard screaming for help, which attracted staff and patients to the scene. They allegedly found the clinical officer in a compromising situation, after which he fled when onlookers gathered to determine what was happening.

Following a report at Chemaner Police Station, security officers conducted a manhunt and successfully apprehended the suspect at his hideout.

Police officers, together with medical staff, assisted the victim in undergoing a medical examination at Longisa County Referral Hospital, where she also received counselling.

According to a source, the suspect was previously involved in two similar rape incidents that went unreported due to his alleged close ties with senior medical administrators.

The sub-county police commander stated that the suspect would be arraigned in court upon completion of the investigation.

Bad Bunny makes history as Trump criticises ‘terrible’ Super Bowl show

By

Editor

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February 9, 2026

Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl half-time show was one big love letter to his native Puerto Rico, culminating in a message of pride in his home and the Americas, and an appeal for unity with the US.

The 14-minute set included guest performances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, along with cameos from the likes of Pedro Pascal, Cardi B, Karol G and Jessica Alba, who could be seen dancing on the porch of his famous casita, a staple of his shows designed to look like a traditional Puerto Rican home.

The 31-year-old, who was the world’s most-played artist in 2025 according to Spotify, made history by becoming the first musician to perform entirely in Spanish at a Super Bowl, which is normally the most-watched event on US TV.

He did choose to say one line in English, “God bless America”, before listing nations of Central, South and North America as dancers carried their flags.

By Anthony Solly

30 donkey heads, 120 legs found dumped in thicket in Witeithie

By

John Mutiso

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February 9, 2026

Detectives and public health officials in Juja, Witeithie, Kiambu County are investigating the discovery of 30 donkey heads and 120 legs in a thicket.

The products were delivered and dumped along Ndarugo Majahi road after the animals had been killed elsewhere.

It is not clear where those behind the slaughtering of the animals took the meat. Officials from the public health department and police said they are investigating the incident.

They added that an unscrupulous gang behind the incident could sell the meat to unsuspecting buyers and consumers in disguise as that of a cow.

The heads and legs were disposed of professionally. Officials said the incident was discovered on February 7 long after the meat had been dispatched to its intended destination. It is also not clear where those behind the dumping slaughtered the animals. Locals demanded a thorough probe to establish who was behind the incident and where the meat and body parts like skins from the donkeys and were taken.

Most of them are believed to have been stolen from homes and slaughtered at night.

Officials say such incidents are common in Limuru and Naivasha areas.

Donkey meat is not illegal in Kenya. Kenya’s population of donkeys is under threat after the High Court lifted a 2020 ban on donkey slaughterhouses, allowing them to resume selling the meat and hides to Asian markets.

Donkey slaughter was legalized in Kenya in 2012, leading to a rapid decimation of the animal population and cross-border theft.

Although Veterinary experts say donkey meat is safe for human consumption, its consumption is yet to gain ground in Kenya. Most Kenyans don’t consume donkey meat.

A report from the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) showed that more than 4,000 donkeys were reported stolen over the period from April 2016 to December 2018.

Japanese stocks surge as Takaichi secures historic election victory

By

Editor

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February 9, 2026

Japanese stocks surged to a record high on Monday, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) basked in a historic election victory.

The LDP secured 316 out of 465 seats in Sunday’s election, the first time a single party has won a two-thirds lower house majority since Japan’s parliament was established in its current form in 1947.

The Japan Innovation Party, the LDP’s coalition partner, won in 36 more constituencies, taking their combined total to 352 seats.

The resounding mandate is a gamble that paid off for Takaichi, who now faces the challenge of reviving Japan’s moribund economy and tackling cost-of-living woes.

The Nikkei 225 briefly surpassed 57,000 for the first time after the election
Japanese stocks surged to a record high on Monday, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) basked in a historic election victory.

The LDP secured 316 out of 465 seats in Sunday’s election, the first time a single party has won a two-thirds lower house majority since Japan’s parliament was established in its current form in 1947.

The Japan Innovation Party, the LDP’s coalition partner, won in 36 more constituencies, taking their combined total to 352 seats.

The resounding mandate is a gamble that paid off for Takaichi, who now faces the challenge of reviving Japan’s moribund economy and tackling cost-of-living woes.

The Nikkei 225 index rallied by more than 5% in early trade on Monday, briefly crossing the 57,000 mark for the first time. It then gave up some gains, but still closed up 3.9% at a record high of 56,363.94.

The LDP’s decisive win will help Takaichi advance her pro-business policies without having to negotiate extensively with opposition parties.

Takaichi told reporters on Sunday that she would pursue a “responsible yet aggressive” fiscal policy and would not reshuffle the Cabinet, which was formed less than four months ago.

Japan’s first female prime minister called the snap election last month, just a few months after taking office in October. Her success is in marked contrast to her two predecessors, under whom the party lost its parliamentary majority, battled corruption scandals and struggled to curb rising costs.

Markets commentators say Takaichi’s policies could boost the Japanese economy.

By Anthony Solly

Why Ombudsman wants five top City Hall officials in court over irregular building approvals

By

John Mutiso

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February 9, 2026

The Commission on Administrative Justice (Office of the Ombudsman) has recommended the prosecution of several Nairobi City County officials over the approval of unlawful building developments.

In a recommendation to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Ombudsman urged the initiation of criminal proceedings against the implicated officers and directed the Nairobi City County Public Service Board to take disciplinary action.

Those named include former Built Environment and Urban Planning CECM Stephen Mwangi, Urban Planning Chief Officer Patrick Analo, Development Control Assistant Director Fredrick Ochanda, Development Control Officer Simon Omondi, and Planning, Compliance and Enforcement Director Tom Achar.

The Ombudsman has given the DPP one month to report on the progress of the matter.

“The Commission on Administrative Justice has found Nairobi City County officials culpable for approving, endorsing, and facilitating unlawful development approvals in contravention of the Physical and Land Use Planning Act, 2019, and the Local Government (Adoptive By-Laws) (Building) Order, 1968,” said Ombudsman Chairperson Charles Dulo.

“Consequently, the Commission has recommended that the Director of Public Prosecutions initiate legal proceedings against the implicated officers, while the County Public Service Board institutes disciplinary action against the senior and technical officials involved,” he added.

The directive follows a complaint filed in October 2023 by Coldstone Investment Limited over a dispute with Khaleej Towers Limited concerning a property boundary in Nairobi.

Coldstone alleged that a neighbouring development was irregularly approved in violation of planning, zoning, building and environmental laws, leading to the infringement of its property rights and those of its tenants.

The complaint cited non-compliance with statutory building setbacks, encroachment through hoarding and scaffolding, demolition of a boundary wall, unauthorised sewer construction on Coldstone’s land, obstruction of light and ventilation, dumping of construction debris, and failure by county officials to enforce the law.

Khaleej Towers Limited filed a counter-complaint, arguing that it had obtained all required approvals and accusing Coldstone of interference, claiming the land in dispute was a public sewer wayleave.

Following the complaints, the Commission conducted investigations to establish whether the county government and the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) acted in line with applicable laws and professional obligations.

The probe found weak internal controls within the Nairobi Planning and Development Management System (NPDMS), poor coordination among county departments and widespread non-enforcement of planning regulations.

“Site inspections identified multiple nearby properties in violation of planning regulations, including exceeding permitted building heights, ignoring mandatory setbacks, and constructing directly to plot boundaries,” the Ombudsman said.

“These findings point to systemic failures in regulatory oversight and enforcement, underscoring the need for urgent reforms to strengthen accountability and uphold the integrity of Nairobi’s urban development framework.”

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