KBC Channel 1

Author: Muraya Kamunde

  • Group rejects Obado’s plea bargain deal in Ksh 73.4M graft case

    Group rejects Obado’s plea bargain deal in Ksh 73.4M graft case

    The National Integrity Alliance (NIA) has rejected a decision by the Milimani Anti-Corruption court to uphold a Plea Bargain agreement negotiated DPP and former Migori Governor Okoth Obado.

    The deal will see Obado forfeit an equivalent of three times what he took from the public coffers. The accused persons, who had initially been charged with the theft of Ksh 73.4 million from the County Government of Migori, agreed to surrender assets worth approximately Ksh 235.6 million.

    In a statement following the Courts decision, NIA maintained that justice in corruption cases must go beyond negotiated settlements and partial restitution.

    “Public funds stolen from Kenyans must be fully recovered and all individuals found culpable must face the full force of the law, including custodial sentences where appropriate,” they said.

    The umbrella noted that corruption cannot be treated as negotiable commercial dispute where those accused of looting surrender assets and walk free.

    “Anything less risks entrenching a dangerous culture of impunity where public office becomes an avenue for personal enrichment without meaningful consequences,” said NIA.

    They called upon the National Assembly, the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ), the Judiciary and ODPP to review the limits of plea bargaining and ensure that  public interest and victims’ remain central.

    They further called upon the Government to strengthen systems for full public recovery, transparency and monitoring of surrendered assets.

  • New outbreak of Ebola kills 80 in eastern DR Congo

    New outbreak of Ebola kills 80 in eastern DR Congo

    Africa’s top health agency has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern Ituri province.

    Around 246 cases and 80 deaths have been reported, mainly in the gold-mining towns of Mongwalu and Rwampara, said the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

    Ugandan officials confirmed one case of imported Ebola from DR Congo on Friday, with the country’s health ministry stating that a 59-year-old male who died on Thursday had tested positive.

    Ebola was first discovered in 1976 in what is now DR Congo, and is thought to have spread from bats. This is the 17th outbreak of the deadly viral disease in the country.

    It is spread through direct contact with bodily fluids and through broken skin, causing severe bleeding and organ failure.

    Early symptoms include fever, muscle pain, fatigue, headache and sore throat, and are followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, a rash and bleeding.

    There is no proven cure for Ebola. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the average fatality rate is around 50%.

    Preliminary tests conducted at the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) in the capital, Kinshasa, have detected the virus in 13 of 20 samples analysed, following consultations with DR Congo’s Ministry of Health and National Public Institute.

    Tests are also being carried out to identify the strain of the virus.

    Of the 80 deaths, four were reported among lab-confirmed cases, Africa CDC said.

    Additional suspected cases have also been reported in Ituri’s provincial capital, Bunia, with laboratory confirmation pending.

    Africa CDC said it was concerned by the high risk of further spread due to the urban settings of Rwampara and Bunia, and mining activities in Mongwalu.

    The health agency’s executive director Dr Jean Kaseya added that “significant population movement” between the affected areas and neighbouring countries also meant regional co-ordination was essential.

    All affected communities and at-risk areas have been advised to follow guidelines from the national health authorities.

    The Congolese government has not yet officially declared an outbreak. A staffer told the BBC a press conference was expected later on Friday.

    Its statement on Friday added that it was convening a meeting with DR Congo, neighbouring Uganda and South Sudan, and other international partners to discuss priorities, including response efforts and cross-border surveillance.

    Ituri has been under military rule since 2021, with the civilian authority replaced by a military general in an attempt to neutralise dozens of armed groups which have operated in the area for many years. These include the Allied Democratic Forced (ADF), affiliated to the Islamic State group.

    On Friday, the Ugandan health department confirmed that an imported case of Ebola had been found, according to a letter shared by Ugandan news outlet NBS Television.

    The letter said that a 59-year-old Congolese man had been admitted to a hospital in Kampala on Monday and died on Thursday in an intensive care unit.

    Officials said Uganda was yet to identify a local case.

    Around 15,000 people have died from the virus in different African countries over the past 50 years.

    DR Congo’s deadliest outbreak was between 2018 and 2020, during which nearly 2,300 people died.

    Last year, 45 people died after an outbreak in the remote region of Bulape in the central Kasai province.

  • Trump warns Taiwan against declaring independence

    Trump warns Taiwan against declaring independence

    US President Donald Trump has cautioned Taiwan against formally declaring independence from China.

    “I’m not looking to have somebody go independent,” the US president told Fox News on Friday, at the end of his two-day summit with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing.

    Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has previously stated that Taiwan does not need to declare formal independence because it already sees itself as a sovereign nation.

    The US has long supported Taiwan, including being bound by law to provide it with a means of self-defence, but has frequently had to square this alliance with maintaining a diplomatic relationship with China.

    Trump earlier said he had “made no commitment either way” about the self-governing island – which China claims as part of its territory and has not ruled out taking by force.

    Washington’s established position is that it does not support Taiwanese independence, with continued ties with Beijing being contingent on its acceptance that there is only one Chinese government.

    Beijing has been vocal in its dislike of Taiwan’s president, who it has previously described as a “troublemaker” and a “destroyer of cross-strait peace”.

    Many Taiwanese consider themselves to be part of a separate nation – though most are in favour of maintaining the status quo in which Taiwan neither declares independence from China nor unites with it.

    In his interview with Fox News, Trump reiterated that US policy on the matter had not changed.

    “You know, we’re supposed to travel 9,500 miles (15,289km) to fight a war. I’m not looking for that. I want them to cool down. I want China to cool down.”

    On the flight back to Washington, the US president had told reporters that he and Xi had spoken “a lot” about the island, but said he had declined to discuss whether the US would defend it.

    Xi “feels very strongly” about the island and “doesn’t want to see a movement for independence”, Trump said.

    “The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations,” Xi warned during the talks, according to Chinese state media, adding: “If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict.”

    Asked if he foresaw a conflict with China over Taiwan, Trump had said: “No, I don’t think so. I think we’ll be fine. [Xi] doesn’t want to see a war.”

    China has ramped up military drills around the island in recent years, raising tensions in the region and testing the balance that Washington has struck.

    Late last year, the Trump administration announced an $11bn ($8bn) package of weapons to be sold to Taiwan, including advanced rocket launchers and a variety of missiles, which Beijing condemned.

    Trump said he would soon decide whether that sale could go ahead, adding that he and Xi had discussed it “in great detail”.

    He added: “I’m going to say I have to speak to the person that right now is, you know, you know who he is, that’s running Taiwan.”

    The US does not have formal relations with Taiwan, though it maintains substantial unofficial relations. US presidents do not traditionally speak directly to Taiwan’s leader, and to do so would be likely to cause significant tensions with Beijing, which considers Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te a separatist.

    Taiwan Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi said on Saturday that Taiwan would need to clarify the exact meaning of Trump’s remarks.

    Chen also said that US arms sales to Taiwan are something confirmed under US law.

    “Taiwan-US arms sales have always been a cornerstone of regional peace and stability,” he added.

    A spokesperson for President Lai quoted by Reuters news agency said that American arms sales are part of the “US security commitment” to Taiwan and “serve as a shared deterrent against regional threats”.

  • KeNHA releases Ksh 4.3B to fast-track Mombasa-Kilifi road project

    KeNHA releases Ksh 4.3B to fast-track Mombasa-Kilifi road project

    The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has released Ksh 4.3 billion to the National Land Commission (NLC) for compensation of persons affected by Bagamoyo–Tanga–Horohoro road project.

    Funded by the African Development Bank, the European Union, and the Government of Kenya at a cost of Ksh 15 billion, the project is expected to enhance regional connectivity, boost trade, and stimulate tourism once completed.

    The compensation is expected to pave the way for contractors to accelerate works on the project, which had slowed due to land acquisition challenges.

    KeNHA Deputy Director and Project Coordinator Eng. Cleophas Makau said during a project inspection that the NLC had undertaken valuation of the PAPs and that Ksh 3.15 billion had already been disbursed for land compensation.

    “The National Land Commission is progressing with the compensation of the PAPs. They have done quite a lot of compensation. I am sure you are seeing people who have been compensated,” said Eng. Makau.

    “We have also given them time to remove their material. Those who have buildings are demolishing the buildings themselves so that they can salvage the materials for use elsewhere. Therefore, even when we pay them, we give them notice,” he added.

    The project is divided into two lots: Lot 1 covers the Nyali Bridge–Mtwapa Bridge section, while Lot 2 covers the Mtwapa–Kwa Kadzengo–Kilifi section, with each costing Ksh 7.5 billion.

    Lot 2, covering the Mtwapa–Kwa Kadzengo–Kilifi section, is now 75 per cent complete. The project, which commenced in 2021, had experienced delays due to land acquisition challenges and is expected to be completed in March 2027.

    The scope includes construction of a dual carriageway from the new Mtwapa Bridge to Kwa Kadzengo, upgrading the existing road to Kilifi Bridge, and developing key infrastructure including the Mtwapa roundabout bridge, Mbogolo River Bridge, a weighbridge with access roads, a market at Takaungu, and three spur roads at Ronald Ngala, Shariani and Takaungu.

    Construction of a new 347-metre dual carriageway bridge at Shimo la Tewa Creek in Mtwapa is also progressing steadily and is currently 47pc complete. The bridge will replace the existing single carriageway bridge.

    “The existing one will remain there for purposes of being used as a service road because in Mtwapa we will have service roads,” said Eng. Makau.

    Lot 1, which commenced in November 2022, is currently 56pc complete and is expected to be completed in August 2027.

    The scope of work includes construction of a four-lane dual carriageway, service roads, six grade-separated junctions, six footbridges, and facilities for non-motorised transport from Nyali Bridge to the start of Mtwapa Bridge.

    Additionally, a 12-kilometre trunk drainage system will be developed to address flooding, while the County Government of Mombasa will provide land for the expansion of Kongowea Market.

    Eng. Makau said the project also includes the construction of markets in Kilifi and Mombasa counties.

    “We believe this will go a long way in enhancing the capacity of the counties in accommodating traders. Alongside the road, we also have a training component for unemployed youth within the counties of Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale,” said Eng. Makau.

    Through the project’s Corporate Social Responsibility component, more than 500 youth have been trained in various skills programmes and have since graduated.

    Eng. Makau noted that the contractor has completed the single carriageway from Kilifi to Kwa Kadzengo and three kilometres of the dual carriageway from Kwa Kadzengo to Majengo in Mtwapa.

    “The section that is remaining right now is just the urbanised area of Mtwapa, which we are addressing by sorting out the compensation required to relocate traders from the road and also widen the right of way within Mtwapa because the road in Mtwapa will be a dual carriageway plus service roads.”

    On Lot 1, he explained that the contractor has completed the dual carriageway up to City Mall, four interchanges, and a U-turn at Bamburi.

  • Ex-Mathioya MP arrested in Ksh 6.4M land fraud scandal

    Ex-Mathioya MP arrested in Ksh 6.4M land fraud scandal

    Former Mathioya Member of Parliament Francis Njakwe Githiari has been arrested for allegedly defrauding an unsuspecting couple of Ksh 6.4 million in a land fraud scheme.

    Investigations conducted by detectives from the DCI Headquarters Land Fraud Investigation Unit (LFIU) confirmed that the couple had entered into an agreement with Githiari for the purchase of a parcel of land in Ngong, which was to be developed into a double-storey house.

    Further probe by the detectives also revealed that  the former Mathioya MP had also identified himself as a contractor responsible for both selling the land and constructing the residence.

    The total cost for the land and construction was set at Ksh 40 million, payable in installments. The couple deposited Ksh 6.4 million into Githiari’s account as part of the payment.

    “However, during routine visits to the construction site, the couple overheard disturbing news: claims of ownership issues regarding the land had emerged, with other parties reportedly filing a case to assert their ownership. This revelation raised serious red flags, prompting the couple to halt any further payments,” said the DCI.

    A thorough investigation ensued, during which detectives found that Githiari had indeed fraudulently obtained the funds and a police case file was forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP).

    “Upon review, the ODPP agreed with the investigating officer’s recommendation to charge Githiari with the offence of obtaining money by false pretences, contrary to Section 313 of the Penal Code,” read the statement from the DCI.

    Authorities are expected to be arraign the former legislator before the Milimani Law Courts on Friday.

  • State House seeks Ksh 20B in 2026/27 budgetary allocation

    State House seeks Ksh 20B in 2026/27 budgetary allocation

    State House has requested Parliament to allocate the House on the Hill Ksh 20 billion to fund its operations across the State Lodges in the country for the 2026/27 Financial Year.

    Appearing before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security, State House Comptroller Katoo Ole Metito stated that Treasury allocated the highest of office in the land Ksh 13 billion which resulted in a shortfall of Ksh 7 billion.

    In the last financial year state house was allocated Ksh 17 billion marking a shortfall of Ksh 4 billion compared to the proposed Ksh 13 billion by the exchequer in the coming financial year.

    The Comptroller further defended the cost incurred in renovating state house Nairobi noting that the changes were required to be made where the seat of power is premised.

    Katoo further revealed plans to renovate other the state lodges every financial year. In the current financial year, Katoo says their focus is on renovating the lodges in Mombasa and Eldoret.

    Katoo noted that plans are also underway in renovating and expanding the lodges in Kisumu, Nakuru and revealed they have re-acquired 100 acre piece of land that was initially grabbed to build a State Lodge in Kakamega.

  • Ruto seeks Mauritius, Botswana support for Njoki Ndungu’s ICC bid

    Ruto seeks Mauritius, Botswana support for Njoki Ndungu’s ICC bid

    Supreme Court Judge Njoki Ndungu’s International Criminal Court (ICC) bid received a major boost after Mauritius and Botswana pledged to support her.

    On Wednesday, President William Ruto hosted the Prime Minister of Mauritius Navinchandra Ramgoolam and Botswana President Duma Boko at State House, Nairobi after the just concluded Africa Forward Summit 2026.

    During the two separate meetings, the Head of State sought the support from his two counterparts for Supreme Court Judge Njoki Ndungu’s International Criminal Court (ICC) bid.

    “I requested my brother President to support Kenya’s candidate, Supreme Court Justice Njoki Ndung’u, for the position of International Criminal Court judge,” President Ruto said shortly after meeting Botswana’s Duma Boko.

    President Ruto said Lady Justice Njoki Ndungu has demonstrated legal erudition, intellectual autonomy, courage in decision-making and devotion to justice and accountability in her national and international tasks.

    “She presents an exceptional blend of judicial authority, integrity, legislative impact and global experience that is in tandem with the demands of the ICC in its global fight to end impunity,” he said.

    Kenya has launched a coordinated diplomatic campaign to secure the election of Njoki Ndung’u as ICC judge, signaling both confidence in her credentials and a broader ambition to deepen the country’s influence within global legal institutions.

    Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi confirmed that the Government has fully endorsed Justice Ndung’u’s candidacy, describing it as a nationally backed effort with the support of William Ruto and the Cabinet.

  • Three arrested in fake academic certificates crackdown

    Three arrested in fake academic certificates crackdown

    The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested three officials as part of an ongoing crackdown on the use of forged academic certificates.

    The suspects, Joshua Attuah Omia and Thomas Mbonje Bandari of Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company Limited (NCWSC), and Silas Musasa Masambu of Kaimosi Friends University, are accused of using fake academic documents to obtain employment in their respective institutions.

    Investigations by the Commission established that Omia and Bandari forged Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificates and presented them as genuine documents issued by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) to secure employment at NCWSC.

    Upon conclusion of investigations, the Commission forwarded the files to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who approved charges of forgery, uttering a false document, and fraudulent acquisition of public property amounting to Ksh 5,909,037.10 and Ksh 9,485,177.96, respectively, being salaries allegedly paid to the suspects by NCWSC.

    The two suspects were arrested on 11th May 2026 and arraigned before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court, where they denied all charges.

    They were each released on a cash bail of Ksh 300,000 or a bond of Ksh 1 million with a surety of a similar amount.

    The matters are scheduled for directions on 26th May 2026.

    In a separate case, investigations established that Silas Musasa Masambu allegedly forged a Diploma certificate purportedly from Kenya College of Commerce and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree purportedly from Zetech University, which he used to secure employment at Kaimosi Friends University.

    The suspect was arrested on Tuesday at his home in Cheptulu, Vihiga County, processed at Kakamega Police Station, and will be arraigned before the Kakamega Law Courts tomorrow, 13th May 2026.

    He is also facing charges of forgery, uttering a false document, and fraudulent acquisition of public property amounting to Ksh 2,511,672, being salary allegedly paid to him by Kaimosi Friends University.

    In addition to pursuing criminal prosecution, the Commission will institute civil proceedings to recover salaries, benefits, and other emoluments unlawfully obtained through the use of fraudulent academic qualifications.

  • DPP commits to fight against environmental crimes

    DPP commits to fight against environmental crimes

    The Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga has reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening international cooperation in the fight against wildlife and environmental crimes following talks with a delegation from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

    During the meeting, the two institutions explored areas of collaboration aimed at enhancing prosecution and enforcement mechanisms against transnational wildlife crimes, which continue to threaten biodiversity, ecosystems, and regional security across Africa and beyond.

    The discussions also focused on preparations for the upcoming 10th Meeting of the Wildlife Inter-Regional Enforcement (WIRE) Forum, which will be held in Nairobi, Kenya.

    The forum is expected to bring together more than 140 prosecutors and law enforcement officers from Africa, Europe, and Asia. Delegates will deliberate on strategies to strengthen judicial cooperation in combating wildlife crime, with Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) expected to be a central theme of the discussions.

    Speaking during the engagement, the DPP underscored the importance of international partnerships in dismantling sophisticated criminal networks involved in illegal wildlife trafficking.

    “This engagement demonstrates our shared commitment to protecting wildlife and the environment through stronger legal frameworks, enhanced prosecution capacity, and cross-border cooperation,” the DPP said.

    The delegation from UNODC commended Kenya’s continued leadership in addressing wildlife crime and emphasised the need for coordinated international responses to tackle increasingly organised environmental criminal activities.

    “Wildlife crime is a transnational challenge that requires collective action among prosecutors, investigators, and judicial authorities across regions. The WIRE Forum provides a critical platform for strengthening those partnerships,” the UNODC team noted.

    Kenya remains a strategic hub in global efforts against wildlife trafficking due to its rich biodiversity and position as a regional transit point. Authorities have in recent years intensified crackdowns on trafficking syndicates dealing in ivory, rhino horn, pangolin scales, and other protected wildlife products.

  • South Africa’s top court bars repeat asylum applications

    South Africa’s top court bars repeat asylum applications

    South Africa’s highest court has ruled that foreign nationals cannot reapply for asylum once their application has been rejected.

    The Constitutional Court said that allowing unlimited repeat applications without proper legislation in place could create a “never-ending cycle”, preventing deportations and causing administrative chaos.

    Leon Schreiber, the minister of home affairs in South Africa’s coalition government, welcomed the ruling as a “major victory” against the “abuse” of the refugee system.

    The ruling ends a long-running case that was brought by two nationals from Burundi, who reapplied for asylum in 2018 after their applications were rejected in 2014.

    The two argued that their new applications should be considered as Burundi had been hit by political violence during the 2015 presidential election.

    At least 70 people were killed in unrest after then-President Pierre Nkurunziza took the controversial decision to run for a third term.

    The Burundians won the case in the Supreme Court of Appeal, but, in a majority judgement, the Constitutional Court overturned its ruling. It is the final court of appeal.

    The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) says that in 2025, South Africa was hosting more than 167,000 refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

    Schreiber called the ruling important for government efforts to bring about a more “effective and fair system to manage refugees and asylum seekers”.

    Speaking to local broadcaster Newzroom Afrika, he explained that the Department of Home Affairs led the argument against the Supreme Court of Appeal’s ruling.

    If upheld, it would have allowed individuals “multiple bites at the cherry” and to “constantly abuse the system” by submitting new applications, Schreiber said.

    The minister is a member of the Democratic Alliance (DA), the second-biggest party in the coalition government led by President Cyril Ramaphosa of the African National Congress (ANC).

    South Africa has recently been hit by a wave of protests against undocumented migrants, with thousands taking to the streets in major cities to demand mass deportations.

    Several African governments have raised concerns with the African Union, and warned their citizens in South Africa about possible attacks.

    Earlier this week, Ramaphosa said “opportunists” had orchestrated anti-immigrant attacks on foreigners.

    “The recent violent protests and criminal acts directed at foreign nationals in parts of our country do not represent the views of South Africa’s people nor reflect our government’s policy,” he said in an open letter.

    South Africa is home to about 2.4 million migrants, just less than 4% of the population, according to official figures, although many more are thought to be in the country unofficially.

    As Africa’s most-industrialised country, people from across the continent travel to the South Africa to seek work.