Museveni declares two-day public holiday for electionsAs Uganda heads to the polls on Thursday, President Museveni has declared a two-day public holiday to allow voters ample time to participate in the presidential and parliamentary elections. Prof Sabiti Makara, a political analyst, said the public holiday would enable voters to exercise their constitutional right without work-related constraints. The two-day public holiday gives them sufficient time to travel, vote, and return without pressure,” Prof Makara said. He added that declaring election day a public holiday is common practice in many countries and could significantly boost voter turnout, especially among workers in both the public and private sectors. According to the EC, about 21.6 million registered voters are expected to participate in the elections across various categories.

President William Ruto. He maintained that Mt Kenya remains a key political region and that attempts to divide it through political narratives will not succeed. The President accused the opposition of lacking a clear plan for the country, saying Kenyans will ultimately decide based on performance and delivery. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said President Ruto has provided an inclusive government, noting that this leadership approach brings together talent and expertise from across the country. Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga welcomed President Ruto to the county, highlighting the importance of prioritising development projects and public service over political competition.

As one of the longest-serving and most successful pros, Val is reportedly the highest-paid dancer on DWTS. Photos: Arnold Allen/Leon Bennett (Modified by author)Source: Getty ImagesKey takeawaysVal Chmerkovskiy’s estimated pay per episode on Dancing with the Stars is up to $5,200. Photo: @MEGA (Modified by author)Source: Getty ImagesGeneral pay structure for pro dancersHow much do the stars on Dancing With the Stars get paid? Val Chmerkovskiy’s houseWhere does Val Chmerkovskiy live now? FAQs about Valentin ChmerkovskiyHow much does Val Chmerkovskiy make?

'My £200-a-day secret cocaine addiction left me needing line to do the cleaning'Kaitlin Reeve, 39, from Surrey, got hooked on cocaine aged 16 while working in London - having started drinking and smoking weed while still at schoolView 5 Images Kaitlin Reeve has opened up about her damaging drug addiction (Image: )A mum who spent up to £200-a-day on her cocaine and cannabis addiction admits she "needed a line" to do housework. ‌Kaitlin Reeve, 39, got hooked on cocaine aged 16 while working in London - having started drinking and smoking weed while still at school. ‌At the height of her 20-year addiction, Kaitlin was snorting between half a gram and three grams of cocaine a day, to the point where she "needed a line to do the cleaning". ‌View 5 Images Kaitlin got hooked on cocaine aged 16 (Image: )Katlin got clean after a "moment of clarity" while smoking a joint in her garden. ‌She was introduced to alcohol in year five before she started smoking cigarettes aged 11 and cannabis followed at 15.

Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Delivery and Government efficiency Eliud Owalo has resigned from the President William Ruto administration. According to Owalo, his resignation followed his public declaration of running for the president position in the 2027 general elections. "Following my declaration earlier today that I intend to run for the Presidency of the Republic of Kenya in the year 2027, my position as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Delivery and Government Efficiency is no longer Tenable. Before serving in the office of the president as Deputy Chief of Staff, Owalo had served as Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication and the Digital Economy from 2022 to 2024. Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo dismissed Owalo’s presidential declaration as unrealistic, terming it as “hot air,” a “wild goose chase,” and a “fool’s errand.”

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The suspects were apprehended on October 25, 2025, and arraigned on January 12, 2026, after what authorities described as a complex maritime investigation. The charges were preferred under Section 4(a)(ii) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, 1994, as amended in 2022 legislation that significantly enhanced penalties and enforcement tools against large-scale narcotics trafficking. In December 2025, President William Ruto announced plans to overhaul Kenya’s narcotics laws to introduce the death penalty for individuals convicted of trafficking hard drugs. Under the new proposal, the sale of hard drugs such as heroin and cocaine would be classified as a capital offence. Those who are selling or their children don’t use it themselves; they come to sell to other people’s children,” he said.

Owen Cooper made history at the 2026 Golden Globes, becoming the youngest-ever winner of the Supporting Actor award at just 16 years old. The star of Adolescence delivered an emotional acceptance speech to the packed room, saying 'Standing here at the Golden Globes. Owen Cooper, Erin Doherty, Hannah Walters, Stephen Graham and Ashley Walters, 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards. Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper, and Hannah Walters attend the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton. Pic: Getty ImagesMaura Higgins attends Moët & Chandon At The 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards.

Kenyan online users have gone into a frenzy following the recent visit by American content creator and livestreamer IShowSpeed. His content frequently goes viral, especially on TikTok, helping him build a massive following across platforms, including more than 48 million subscribers on YouTube. While in Nairobi, IShowSpeed interacted with students, sampled Kenyan cuisine, visited popular landmarks and attractions, and took a helicopter ride over the city skyline, where he celebrated his latest subscriber milestone live on camera. As internet-born celebrities increasingly shape global culture, IShowSpeed stands out as a symbol of a new era of entertainment, one driven by live interaction, authenticity, and instant global reach. His Nairobi takeover offered a vivid glimpse into how digital influence now translates into real-world frenzy, thousands of kilometres from where it began.

Cole Palmer goes official with stunning blonde who he took on same date as ex-girlfriendChelsea ace Cole Palmer went official with his jaw-dropping new flame as the pair looked loved up in a mirror selfie on Olivia's InstagramView 3 Images Cole Palmer looked loved up in the social media snap (Image: Simon Dael/Shutterstock)Cole Palmer has gone official with his new blonde flame after taking her on the same date as his ex-girlfriend. ‌Olivia posed in a white top with the slogan "you are not on my level" on her chest. View 3 Images Olivia Holder is a model (Image: oliviajewellholder/Instagram)One fan wrote: "Palmer is cold on and off the pitch." And a fourth wrote: "Palmer is this why you turned it up last week because I get it totally." Article continues belowPalmer had been snapped on the exact same date with Connie last year, before he met Olivia.

President William Ruto has appealed to the international community to support Kenya’s plan to transform refugee camps into integrated and self-reliant settlements. “As this noble and ambitious plan is being implemented, we ask the international community to support the programme,” Ruto said. The Shirika Plan is anchored in the Refugees Act, 2021, and is designed to be implemented over three phases between 2025 and 2036. By linking humanitarian support with long-term development planning, the government believes the plan will unlock economic opportunities, stimulate local economies and reduce the long-term costs associated with protracted refugee situations. Ruto said the Shirika Plan offers a durable solution to displacement by supporting voluntary repatriation, resettlement to third countries or full integration into Kenyan society.

Courtesy MetaAs schools across the country continue celebrate their sterling performances in the 2025 KCSE results, concern has been raised over the poor results posted by Lodwar Boys, a national school in Turkana County. Gabriel Lopodo, the association vice chairman, dismissed claims by the school administration that insecurity in Turkana contributed to the poor performance, arguing that the school is located far from insecurity-prone border areas. He said the explanation was not convincing and called on the principal to step aside to allow for new leadership. How does a senior principal 400 to 300 kilometres away from the border give such an excuse for dismal performance?" The standard tried to reach the principal at school and through the cellphone number over the allegations, but it bore no fruit.

Photo: Miss Trudy. Source: FacebookThe Ghana-based content creator resurfaced with joyful news: she is expecting a child with her husband, fellow content creator Wode Maya. Did Miss Trudy struggle with pregnancy? On her YouTube channel, Trudy shared the emotional toll of their journey, saying that the failed attempts were as painful as losing her mother. Here are some of the messages they shared:@THEWAJESUSFAMILY:"Congratulations Miss Trudy God is faithful."

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Search and rescue are going on after a building partially collapse in Karen on January 10, 2026 [Boniface Okendo, Standard]Survivors of a building collapse in Karen, Nairobi, on Saturday evening, have given chilling accounts of the moments when a routine workday turned into tragedy, leaving two of their colleagues dead and seven others injured. Michael Mwago said he was mixing concrete on the top of the building when everything suddenly went wrong. “The building twisted and came down as if it buried all of us,” he recalled. Oscar Kwemoi, another survivor, who had been bandaged on his left leg, said they were almost finishing the day's task when the building suddenly crumbled. "This is very unfortunate that a second building has collapsed just when we are investigating courses fo collapsed building in South C," lamented Nairobi County Chief Officer for Urban Planning, Patrick Analo.