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Government moves to protect livestock ahead of El Niño rains

By
Binti Wangila
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The government has put in place early measures to protect livestock farmers and pastoralist communities from the anticipated effects of El Niño rains in 24 counties.

Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe says the government is shifting from responding to disasters after they occur to taking early action to prevent losses.

Kagwe spoke in Isiolo during the launch of the National Livestock Sector El Niño Preparedness and Anticipatory Action Plan, which has a budget of Sh2.1 billion.

Of the allocation, Sh1.5 billion will be used to procure and pre-position vaccines, veterinary medicines, laboratory reagents, protective equipment and mobile veterinary clinics in the targeted counties.

Another Sh250 million will go towards protecting critical livestock infrastructure, including livestock markets, cattle dips, slaughterhouses, milk cooling facilities, veterinary laboratories and feed stores.

The government has also allocated Sh100 million for early warning systems, climate risk mapping and emergency communication, while another Sh100 million will support livestock evacuation, welfare and logistics during emergencies.

A further Sh50 million will be used for strategic feed and fodder reserves, rehabilitation of water points and emergency water supplies.

Kagwe says the measures are informed by the losses experienced during the 2023 El Niño rains and the 2024 floods, which affected livestock, destroyed infrastructure and triggered disease outbreaks.

“We need to learn from our experiences and ensure that our farmers and pastoralists are not caught unprepared,” Kagwe said.

He has urged pastoralists to move their livestock away from low-lying areas as the rains intensify, warning that failure to act early could lead to the loss of entire herds.

The plan will also strengthen preparedness against climate-sensitive diseases such as Rift Valley Fever, which can increase following prolonged flooding.

The targeted counties include Isiolo, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Marsabit, Turkana, Samburu, Narok, Kajiado, Baringo, West Pokot, Kitui, Makueni, Machakos, Meru and Embu, among others.

During his visit to Isiolo, Kagwe also launched the Animal Identification and Traceability System (ANITRAC), which is expected to help curb livestock theft and improve access to local and international markets.

The CS warned livestock rustlers to “find another business,” saying the identification system will make it harder for stolen animals to enter legitimate markets.

African music royalty Nameless and Wahu celebrate 21 years of marriage

By
Newton Ingui
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Legendary Kenyan musicians David Mathenge, popularly known as Nameless, and Wahu Kagwi have hit a historic milestone, celebrating 21 years of marriage.

The couple, often referred to as East Africa’s ultimate celebrity power pair, took to social media to mark the occasion, sharing nostalgic moments and heartfelt messages reflecting on their joint journey. Their relationship, which spans over two decades of marriage and nearly 27 years together in total, remains one of the longest-standing and most admired unions in the regional entertainment industry.

Nameless and Wahu first met as university students at the University of Nairobi in the late 1990s before tying the knot in a private, scenic ceremony on the shores of Lake Naivasha in 2005. Over the course of their careers, both artists simultaneously dominated the Afro-pop and urban music scenes across Africa while building their family.

Fans, fellow artists, and public figures across East Africa flooded the couple’s social media platforms with congratulatory messages. In an industry where high-profile relationships often face intense public scrutiny, Nameless and Wahu are widely celebrated for their transparency about the ups and downs of marriage, intentional communication, and mutual respect.

Speaking on the secret to their longevity in past interviews, the couple has consistently highlighted the importance of friendship, dynamic adaptability, and keeping their core family values separate from their public personas.

Manchester United cruise to 4-0 Champions League victory over Sabah

By
Newton Ingui
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Manchester United marked their long-awaited return to the UEFA Champions League in emphatic fashion on Thursday evening, dismantling Azerbaijani champions Sabah FK 4–0 at Old Trafford.

Playing in Europe’s premier competition for the first time in three seasons, Michael Carrick’s side put on a dominant display in front of a packed home crowd to kick off their League Phase campaign with maximum points.

Matheus Cunha broke the deadlock midway through the first half, meeting Patrick Dorgu’s pinpoint cross at the near post to steer home the opener.

Captain Bruno Fernandes finished off a sharp passing sequence with Youri Tielemans to slot home his fourth goal in two home appearances.

Bryan Mbeumo slipped Benjamin Šeško through, allowing the Slovenian striker to round the keeper and roll the ball into an empty net on his first start of the season.

Lisandro Martínez reacted quickest to a loose ball inside the six-yard box following a set-piece scramble to hammer home United’s fourth.

“It’s nice to have a clean sheet and, obviously, win the game. I thought some of our attacking players were fantastic. Some of the football we played was really good, and we defended for the most part really well.”

The victory provides a timely confidence boost for the Red Devils as they prepare to host rival Manchester City at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday.

Musiala returns with goal as Bayern crush Bodø/Glimt 5-0 in champions league opener

By
Newton Ingui
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 Bayern Munich kicked off their UEFA Champions League campaign on Thursday evening with a emphatic 5-0 victory over Norwegian champions FK Bodø/Glimt at the Allianz Arena.

After a scoreless and frustrating first half where Bodø/Glimt goalkeeper Nikita Haikin made several key saves, the Bavarian giants blew the game open following the break.

Making his first start of the season after managing a neurological condition that caused preseason seizures, Jamal Musiala opened the scoring in the 47th minute. He dedicated his goal to the crowd, pointing to his head in celebration.

Harry Kane doubled the lead in the 61st minute with a close-range header. Alphonso Davies added a third in the 77th minute via a powerful strike following a corner kick.

Michael Olise came alive in the closing minutes, assisting Kane’s goal before scoring two sublime curling strikes in the 83rd and 92nd minutes to complete the 5-0 rout.

Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer made history by featuring in his 18th Champions League campaign—the most by any German player—and becoming the oldest German player in the competition’s history at 40 years and 167 days. Meanwhile, Joshua Kimmich logged his 100th Champions League start.

Vincent Kompany’s side now turns their attention back to domestic action as they prepare to host SV Elversberg in the Bundesliga this Sunday.

Turkana kicks off audit of Tullow oil’s exploration impact ahead of production by gulf energy

By
Joshua Juma
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LODWAR — Turkana County will now establish the full environmental and social impact of oil exploration in the South Lokichar Basin by former operator Tullow Oil and its affiliates, as it prepares for the production phase under new operator Gulf Energy.

A multi-sectoral team has been deployed to oil fields in Blocks T6 and T7 to collect samples for lab analysis, interview residents and conduct stakeholder engagements. Officials from the State Department for Petroleum and the consultancy firm leading the audit disclosed this during a meeting with Deputy Governor Dr John Erus in Lodwar.

Team lead Engineer Tito Kodiaga said the audit will focus on all exploration-related operations, including waste management, to document impacts on environment, livestock, infrastructure and communities.

Samples will be taken from water sources, soil, livestock, grazing fields, agricultural produce and waste materials. The team will also engage public and private sector players and independent professionals.

The audit comes over a decade after Tullow discovered commercially viable oil in South Lokichar in 2012, with millions of barrels estimated recoverable.

Tullow, with partners Africa Oil and TotalEnergies, later exited, paving way for Gulf Energy Ltd.Welcoming the audit, Dr Erus said it will provide critical data to shape response to long-standing concerns by host communities.

“This audit should not only be transparent but also independent and inclusive, with means of sharing findings with all stakeholders. The people of Turkana must know what happened during exploration and what to expect during production,” he said.

He noted residents of Lokichar, Kapese and Nakukulas have complained of dust pollution, disposal of drilling cuttings, decommissioning of wells and restricted grazing access without a comprehensive public assessment. Dr Erus urged the State Department to institutionalize continuous audits and verification of operators’ compliance with approved ESMPs as required by law.

The consultancy-led audit will run from 30th August to 3rd October, with an interim and final report outlining impacts and compliance measures for community safety.

County Directorates for Energy and Natural Resources and NEMA officials are expected to take part in consultations.

Turkana County secures KSh600M boost for drought resilience and food security

By
Joshua Juma
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TURKANA – Turkana County is set to receive over KSh 600 million for major water, irrigation, and livestock initiatives under the Drought Resilience Programme in Northern Kenya (DRPNK) for the 2026/2027 financial year.

Approved on September 9, 2026, by the Turkana County Steering Committee chaired by Dr. Michael Eregae, CECM for Agriculture, Livestock Development, and Fisheries the capital injection aims to finance 28 targeted projects across four strategic clusters. The initiative is designed to bolster regional food security, build climate-change adaptive capacity, and transform the livelihoods of local pastoral and agropastoral populations facing recurrent dry spells.

The selection followed a rigorous, bottom-up approach led by the County Programme Coordination Unit (CPCU), which surveyed 135 potential sites across Turkana Central, Turkana West, and Loima before finalizing the list through reconnaissance, validation, and community ranking. Out of the 28 selected projects, 10 are earmarked for the Lodwar cluster, 10 for Loima, five for Kalokol, and three for Kakuma, with implementation set to run until December 2027. To ensure an equitable distribution of resources across all five constituent wards, the committee recommended reorganizing select projects in the Lodwar and Kalokol clusters prior to final national review.

Following county approval, project documentation moves to the National Programme Coordination Unit and the Joint Programme Steering Committee, which comprises respective county governors and the Principal Secretary. Jointly funded by the German Financial Cooperation through the German Development Bank (KfW), the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, and county governments, DRPNK continues to deliver long-term resilience infrastructure across Turkana and Marsabit counties, adding to 17 already completed local projects and 15 others currently nearing completion.

CS Mvurya warns FKFPL delay could affect AFCON 2027 preparations

By
Festus Basabo
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Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has urged the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and all parties involved in the ongoing dispute surrounding the FKF Premier League to find a quick solution, warning that the standoff could affect Kenya’s preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Mvurya has stepped in to help resolve the impasse that has delayed the start of the 2026/27 FKF Premier League season, saying the situation could negatively affect the development of football in Kenya and the country’s preparations for AFCON 2027.

On Wednesday, September 9, 2026, Mvurya chaired a consultative meeting at Talanta Plaza attended by FKF President Hussein Mohammed and chairpersons of clubs participating in the top-flight league.

Following the meeting, Mvurya said the discussions provided an important opportunity to listen to the concerns raised by the clubs and explore possible solutions acceptable to all parties.The Cabinet Secretary urged those involved to put their differences aside and prioritise dialogue and compromise for the good of Kenyan football.

Mvurya warned that continued disagreement could paralyse domestic competitions and undermine long-term efforts to identify and develop football talent in the country.He stressed the importance of having a stable and competitive domestic league, particularly as Kenya prepares to co-host AFCON 2027 alongside Uganda and Tanzania.

“I have urged all parties to rise above their differences and avoid rhetoric that could further jeopardise the league. Instead, they should embrace dialogue, compromise and the collective responsibility we have to safeguard the interests of our players and Kenyan football as we prepare for AFCON PAMOJA 2027,” said Mvurya.

Mvurya further noted that governance and administrative issues should not become a barrier to talent identification and development or deny footballers the opportunity to compete and advance their careers.The current dispute stems from a legal challenge filed by Kariobangi Sharks against FKF’s 2025 promotion and relegation regulations.

Under the regulations, Kariobangi Sharks was automatically relegated, a decision that was later upheld by the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT).The SDT ruled that FKF’s National Executive Committee (NEC) had the authority to ratify the regulations without approval from the General Assembly.

However, Kariobangi Sharks challenged the decision in court, arguing that the regulations had been improperly adopted without the approval of the General Assembly.The case is scheduled for hearing on September 21, 2026, with league activities currently on hold pending directions from the court.

The ongoing impasse has raised concerns over its potential impact on players, clubs and, most importantly, Harambee Stars’ preparations for AFCON 2027.

NTSA, Police intensify Turkana crackdown as motorists face court action

By
Kimani Karanja
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TURKANA – Several motorists have been arrested, fined, and taken to court in Turkana as the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and police intensify a countywide crackdown on traffic offenses. The joint enforcement operation, which entered its second day on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, has uncovered multiple violations, including a lack of valid insurance, expired driving licenses, and defective speed governors.

NTSA Engineer Bernard Bonyi stated that the operation exposed significant compliance gaps, particularly among private vehicle owners. “We have noticed a number of challenges, especially defective speed governors. Most vehicles in this region are not insured, especially the private vehicles,” Bonyi noted, adding that Turkana is part of a nationwide effort to curb fatalities and reduce accidents caused by mechanical defects.

Enforcement officers are taking strict measures against non-compliant drivers, including withdrawing and retaining vehicle number plates until valid documentation is presented. However, Bonyi confirmed that motorists who rectified minor violations on the spot such as immediately renewing expired licenses or insurance policies were released and allowed to proceed.

The multi-agency operation is being conducted in phases across Turkana County. Following the initial inspections, enforcement teams are scheduled to move to Kakuma before proceeding to Lokichar on Friday.

NTSA has urged all motorists to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy and that mandatory documents, including insurance, driving licenses, and inspection certificates, remain up to date. The authority warned that enforcement actions will continue to escalate as the crackdown expands across the region.

Uganda-Turkey tensions escalate over planned Embassy Protest

By
Binti Wangila
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Diplomatic tensions between Uganda and Türkiye have escalated after Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, announced plans for a major protest outside the Turkish Embassy in Kampala on September 18.

Muhoozi has also ordered Turkish nationals in Uganda to leave the country, further raising concerns over relations between Kampala and Ankara.

The general appointed legislator Twala Fadhil to lead the mobilisation for the protest through the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU).

“We are demonstrating in full force at the Turkish Embassy on the 18th of September,” Muhoozi said, warning that anyone he considers a Turkish agent who opposes the protest would be arrested.

The latest confrontation is linked to a long-running dispute over Ugandan blogger and government critic Fred Lumbuye, who is based in Türkiye.

Muhoozi has repeatedly called on Turkish authorities to extradite or expel Lumbuye, accusing Türkiye of harbouring a fugitive.

The dispute has raised concerns because Uganda and Türkiye have longstanding ties in trade, infrastructure, education and cultural exchanges. Turkish companies have also invested in several sectors of Uganda’s economy, while Turkish Airlines provides an important air link between Uganda and international destinations.

Muhoozi has previously threatened to close the Turkish Embassy in Uganda and suspend Turkish Airlines flights, moves that could further strain relations between the two countries.

Neither Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor the Turkish Embassy in Kampala had issued an official response to Muhoozi’s latest remarks by Wednesday evening.

KUCCPS takes tough action against universities over unpaid fees

By
Binti Wangila
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Universities in Kenya are under pressure to clear more than Sh300 million owed to the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), with the outstanding debts now affecting the verification of student records.

KUCCPS says some institutions have failed to pay the one-off Sh1,500 fee charged for every student placed through its services.

KUCCPS Chief Executive Officer Dr Agnes Mercy Wahome said institutions that fail to clear their debts or agree to payment plans risk having their student lists withheld, making it difficult to verify their enrolment information.

The verification process is important because the Universities Fund and the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) rely on the information to process government funding for students and institutions.

Wahome said KUCCPS had adopted a tougher approach towards institutions that fail to meet their financial obligations. The move has already pushed some universities to either settle their outstanding bills or sign agreements to repay the debts in instalments.

“Some universities have not been remitting. However, starting this financial year, we agreed with the universities that they would begin paying the debt in instalments,” Wahome said.

KUCCPS charges institutions a one-off Sh1,500 fee for every student it places, covering the verification of student information every semester until the learner completes their studies.

During the 2025/2026 financial year, KUCCPS collected Sh261.57 million in placement fees against a target of Sh284.16 million.

The agency has also introduced a debt collection policy and appointed an officer to oversee the recovery of outstanding payments from institutions.

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