Kenya's government is again appealing for protests to stop – but it won't get to ban themThe High Court in Nairobi suspended a police order that would have banned all demonstrations in central Nairobi. Kenya's government on Thursday ratcheted up its appeal for weeks of protests to stop and police tried to ban demonstrations in the heart of the capital Nairobi only to be overruled in court. But a court on Thursday suspended the ban while a case challenging it was heard. Kenya's High Court in Nairobi suspended the police order until a case filed by public interest litigation group Katiba Institute was heard and ruled upon, the court order said. "(The police and president Ruto) have no power to suspend rights guaranteed by the constitution," activist Boniface Mwangi wrote on the social media platform X in response to efforts to ban protests.

Hello and welcome to the Friday edition of the Evening Brief Newsletter where Ruto has escalated his demands with the Ford Foundation while naming a new Cabinet. According to a letter addressed to Ford Foundation President Darren Walker, the government opined that the anti-Finance Bill protests had morphed into groupings aimed at toppling the Kenya Kwanza administration. Notably, the Kenya Kwanza administration claimed that Ksh752 million had also been disbursed to the organisations between April 2023 and May 2024. The government also sought to establish the actions that would be undertaken by the Ford Foundation should it be established that its funding was used for activities aimed at toppling the administration. Ruto's Team SheetOn the other hand, Ruto named 11 new Cabinet members following the dissolution of the Cabinet last week.

Benta Nyakure Ogongo at the City mortuary (l), Roselyne Akoth Ogongo. Sadly, the body of the 24-year-old woman was among those discovered at Kware near Embakasi in pieces. In Nairobi, she went to live with her brother Emmanuel Ogongo in Kware. Akoth goes missing after Kware killings hit headlinesDays later, the phone went off, and he could not see her online. Akoth's family devastated by her deathAkoth's mum, Benta Nyakure Ogongo and Akoth's sisters travelled to Nairobi and also confirmed that she was one of the women found in the Kware killings.

This burden in much higher for those in position of authority or with platforms that can sway opinions like political actors, social media influencers and mainstream media houses. In moments like this, a crisis reveals the true character of a nation and her people. All this are clear from the competing many social media platforms going on. On social media, this past three days, the tone seems to be shifting to ‘let the kids now listen to advise from Wazees’. Lest we forget, it is Kofi Annan who midwifed our current Constitutional order in our lowest moment as a nation!

President William Ruto on Friday said he will issue next week a clear offer on the assignment that the new cabinet is going to have. Speaking while addressing the nation in State House Ruto said he would give clear timelines of delivery. "I will be issuing next week a clear offer on the assignment that the new cabinet is going to have, with clear timelines of delivery," Ruto said. "For us, the tremendous potential that exists in our nation, and drive our country to greatness."

The Board of Directors of Nation Media Group has announced significant changes in the company's senior management team. Stephen Gitagama will retire from his role as Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and as an Executive Director, effective 1 August 2024. Gitagama joined Nation Media Group (NMG) in September 2007 as Group Finance Director. He was promoted to Group CEO in June 2018, and since March 2008, he has served as an Executive Member of the Board of Directors. Outgoing Nation Media Group CEO Stephen Gitagama Pulse Live KenyaIn his leadership role, Gitagama successfully guided NMG through a critical period marked by the disruption of traditional media by digital technologies.

Now, the 18-year-old from Hunza Valley in Pakistan’s picturesque northern Gilgit-Baltistan region is attracting both local and international attention with her debut on the latest season of Coke Studio, the longest-running annual TV music show in Pakistan. “My family supported me, my father supported me, and the community of Hunza and Gilgit supported me,” Rehan, who is the eldest of five siblings and also a professional ice hockey player, told Arab News in an interview. “MEHMAAN”A press release by Coke Studio described Mehmaan as a multi-artist collaboration that spoke to the “idea of hospitality, not just on Earth but also from a higher, more divine plane. And working with Coke Studio at such a young age is a proud movement for us,” Shah told Arab News. We have been supporting her and will definitely support her in the field of music in the future also.

KP Snacks has announced a new festival partnership and campaign for Popchips. This year, Popchips is partnering with Live Nation to sponsor the Latitude and Gunnersbury Park festivals as the exclusive snack brand partner. The partnership includes Popchips samples being shared with festival goers. The Live Nation partnership will be extended in 2025 with the addition of the Isle of Wight festival with marketing activations and activities planned across all three festivals. Live Nation is a perfect partner for the positive and flavourful popchips brand, and we are excited to see this collaboration come to life over the next few months.”

The Nation Media Group (NMG) Board has announced the retirement of Stephen Gitagama as Group Chief Executive Officer. In a notice on Friday, July 19, NMG Board Chairman Wilfred Kiboro said the retirement will take effect on August 1, 2024. Gitagama joined NMG in September 2007 as Group Finance Director and served diligently until June 2018, when he was promoted to Group Chief Executive Officer. Screengrab image of Stephen Gitagama. At the same time, the NMG board appointed Richard Tobiko as the Interim CEO effective August 1, 2024.

President William Ruto will today 4pm address the nation at State House, Nairobi. The address comes after a week after he rolled out massive changes in his administration that saw all cabinet secretaries sent home. The ministerial positions of the 21 CSs are now vacant after Ruto gazetted their dismissal. Unconfirmed reports had it that Ruto is likely to name cabinet secretaries during the planned address. “I have opened a new chapter, pray for me to get the people who will help in the transformation agenda,” Ruto told the worshippers.

Speculation abounds that President Ruto will unveil his new Cabinet nominees following the dissolution of his previous Cabinet on July 11, 2024. The move came in response to intense pressure from Gen Z protesters, who have been agitating about the administration’s poor economic management and governance issues. The wave of unrest, marked by loss of lives and property destruction, has pressured President Ruto to concede to Gen Z’s demands. Gen Z’s latest demands regarding the new Cabinet is for President Ruto to form a leaner team and nominate individuals of high integrity. The previous Cabinet comprised 21 members.

President William Ruto will today 4pm address the nation at State House, Nairobi. The address comes after a week after he rolled out massive changes in his administration that saw all cabinet secretaries sent home. It also comes at a time when Kenyans are anticipating more changes in his administration in line with concerns raised by Gen Zs. More to follow...

On July 19, 2024, he issued another statement defending his relationship with the Ford Foundation. The Africa Uncensored CEO added that he is grateful for the support he is getting from his fans online. ‘You have upheld our work as a beacon, corrected us when we were wrong, and now you stand with us. Previously, The Nation Media Group and Standard Media Group have faced similar attacks. JOHN-ALLAN NAMUCEO, AFRICA UNCENSORED FRIDAY, 19TH JULY 2024.

Nation Media Group CEO Stephen Gitagama has retired. A notice by NMG Board Chairman Wilfred Kiboro announced his retirement saying it will take effect from August 1, 2024. "The Board hereby announces the retirement of Mr. Stephen Gitagama as the Group Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the Company with effect from 1 August 2024," the notice stated. Gitagama joined NMG in September 2007 as Group Finance Director and served until June 2018, when he was promoted to Group Chief Executive Officer. Gitagama led the team in the development of NMG’s digital transformation strategy, encapsulated in the Group’s Digital North Star, targeting digital revenues of USD 55 million by 2027.

President William Ruto will today 4pm address the nation at State House, Nairobi. The address comes after a week after he rolled out massive changes in his administration that saw all cabinet secretaries sent home. It also comes at a time when Kenyans are anticipating more changes in his administration in line with concerns raised by Gen Zs. More to follow...