Audio By VocalizeSarah Wairimu, the widow of Tob Cohen, at a Kibera court on January 29,2025. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]Sarah Wairimu, widow of slain Dutch businessman Tob Cohen, suffered a major blow on Thursday after the Kibera High Court rejected her bid to nullify her ongoing murder trial and restart the case afresh before a different judge. “Having carefully considered the application and the grounds advanced, I am not persuaded that there exists any bias in this matter,” Justice Kavedza ruled. Justice Kavedza, however, held that the High Court, sitting as a trial court, lacked the legal authority to overturn its own rulings or nullify proceedings already conducted. With both applications dismissed, the murder trial will continue before the same judge.

The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) has extended orders preventing the removal of Edwin Sifuna as Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). The extension came after Sifuna’s defence requested the tribunal to maintain the status quo while the matter is determined. "Hearing by way of highlighting of submissions will be held on March 12, 2026, at 10 am,” the court ruled. The party, however, has disputed Sifuna’s claims, maintaining that he rushed to court before engaging the party’s Internal Dispute Resolution Mechanisms (IDRM). ODM asked the Tribunal to dismiss the case for lack of jurisdiction.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna walks out of a Senate committee meeting. /SCREENGRABNairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna walked out of a Senate committee meeting on Thursday as fellow legislator Hezena Lemaletian delivered positive remarks on Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja during the committee hearing. Sifuna’s departure came amid a heated debate over a far-reaching cooperation agreement between the Nairobi County Government and the national government, a pact he strongly opposes. Sifuna’s criticism is linked to broader political debate over unresolved Nairobi bills and liabilities associated with the defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS). “I support making Nairobi work, and I hope you get re-elected as the county governor of Nairobi,” she said.

Homa Bay Woman Representative Joyce Atieno, popularly known as Bensuda/HANDOUTThe Homa Bay Woman Representative Joyce Atieno Bensuda ensured the debate on Ida Odinga’s nomination did not pass quietly in the National Assembly. She delivered one of the most animated contributions as Members considered Ida Odinga’s approval as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). “To the excellency, the late Doctor Raila Amolo Odinga passed on when he had a woman, not women. So, which means, in the family of the Enigma who passed on, it was a two-way traffic.”Her depiction of Ida Odinga leaned heavily on observation and imagery. Organise a real dinner in honour of Ida Odinga.”Ida Odinga’s nomination was approved by the Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee on February 25, 2026.

Audio By VocalizeIndependent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Chairperson Erastus Ethekon at a past event. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced that at least 45 per cent of registered voters had cast their ballots by 1pm in four by-election areas across the country. In a press statement, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon said the electoral body had not recorded any major incidents and confirmed that voting was proceeding smoothly. Eligible voters who had not yet voted were urged to turn out in large numbers before the close of polling. The IEBC further confirmed that all eligible voters were being identified using the Kenya Integrated Elections Management System (KIEMS) kits, which it said were functioning properly.

There was drama when two men were arrested on Tuesday while carrying a two-and-a-half-metre-long cobra snake in Kanduyi, Bungoma county. The men aged 38 and 23 were riding a motorcycle with the forest cobra, which was black and white. Last year in May, police in Busia County arrested a 26-year-old man for being in possession of a live snake without a valid permit from KWS, in an unusual incident that unfolded near the Kenya-Uganda border. Police stationed at Mayenje Police Post intercepted the suspect, identified as Fanish Ramsey Maloba, while manning the Malenya border point. Maloba, a resident of Matayos Subcounty, was found carrying a black bag that contained a live black and brown-coated snake, estimated to be approximately two meters long.

MC Chris slammed Bishop Kiengei for remarks belittling TikTokers’ support for Kaluma Boy’s family. A fan claimed that were it not for TikTokers, Kaluma Boy wouldn't have been known. "If it was not for TikTokers hamngejua Kaluma Boy...so it's TikTokers who did it, but not JCM,” a fan commented. MC Chris has called out Bishop Kiengei, branding him a traitor. The vocal TikToker shared posts fiercely responding to Kiengei for belittling the group that showed up to support Kaluma's family.

Samson Mutua is excited after receiving the anti-HIV injection at the Riruta Health Centre in Kawangware/JOHN MUCHANGISamson Mutua, a 27-year-old delivery rider in Kawangware, Nairobi, has become the first Kenyan to receive the long-acting HIV prevention injection. Mutua received two injections of Lenacapavir in the lower abdomen at the Riruta Health Centre in Kawangware at 8 am, and was witnessed by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale. After the injection, Mutua swallowed two oral Prep tablets immediately to ensure day one protection. After that, he is protected against HIV for the next six months, after which he will return for another injection. Bosire also cautioned that HIV prevention requires a comprehensive package, touching on related issues such as early sexual debut and teenage pregnancy.

Audio By VocalizeVoters queue outside Daawa Primary School polling station in Isiolo South Constituency. [Ali Abdi, Standard]Voters across four constituencies went to the polls on Thursday in by-elections spanning Isiolo, Kakamega and Embu counties, a contest marked by a sibling rivalry in Isiolo South and allegations of violence in West Kabras ward, Kakamega County. Polling clerks at Bidanadi Primary School polling station in Rapsu-Bisanadi village, Isiolo South. [Ali Abdi, Standard]The West Kabras ward seat opened after Ndakwa won the Malava Constituency parliamentary seat. In West Kabras ward, Malava MP David Ndakwa alleged that armed goons hired by opponents attacked and injured his supporters and destroyed his vehicle during the exercise.

Sanjay Reddy, the renowned Indian businessman and philanthropist, is now a hot search topic on social media platforms. With the luxurious villa going viral, people are really keen to know who Sanjay Reddy is. In Images: Inside Rs 900 crore massive Goa mansion of Sanjay Reddy: 10 luxury suits, sea-facing rooms, glamorous pool decks and moreWho is Sanjay Reddy? He is son of Dr GVK Reddy who is the founder and chairman of GVK, a company that has invested over Rs 25,000 crore into a range of businesses. Married to Pinky Reddy, Sanjay Reddy has two children and three grandchildren.

A matatu crew was arrested after a passenger fell to his death from their vehicle along the Nairobi- Namanga highway in Athi River. Mureithi, a petrol attendant at a station in Athi River, had finished work and walked to a bus stop along the busy Nairobi-Namnaga highway, a few metres from Shalom Hospital. Moments after Mureithi boarded, the vehicle pulled away, and the 25-year-old was allegedly pushed out of the moving bus. The matatu was later towed to the Athi River Police Station. Elsewhere, one person died, and several others were seriously injured after a matatu lost control and plunged into River Nyakibaai in Gatundu, Kiambu county.

He left a suicide note saying he could not keep fighting. The body was moved to the mortuary pending postmortem, police said. Other reasons are bullying, previous suicide attempts, history of suicide in a family, alcoholism and substance misuse, depression and bipolar disorder. The body was moved to the mortuary pending postmortem. His body was later retrieved from the water and moved to the mortuary pending postmortem and burial on the same day on February 24.

Why KPA is in the spot over plan to outsource port servicesOutsourcing resurfaces whenever efficiency dips, ship turnaround times lengthen, or cargo dwell time becomes a national preoccupation. Shipping & Logistics

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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Producer Price Index (PPI) dropped 2.9 per cent in January 2026, after recording a 2.7 per cent decrease in the previous month, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). Conversely, within the utility sector, the water supply index increased by 10.2 per cent, and the electricity and gas supply index rose by 4.9 per cent. "The agriculture, forestry and fishing sector increased by 0.3 per cent, driven by the animal production (1.6 per cent) index. Comparing Malaysia’s PPI for January 2026 with selected countries, Mohd Uzir said the selected countries showed mixed trends, with Japan’s PPI increasing by 2.3 per cent year-on-year, slightly moderating from a 2.4 per cent increase in the previous month. "Similarly, Thailand's PPI declined by 1.6 per cent, after decreasing by 1.8 per cent in the previous month.