馃嚢馃嚜KenyaEast Africa
Mental assessment ordered for Utumishi Academy fire suspects after murder charge approval
via Tuko3 min read
The Kibera High Court has ordered a mental assessment for eight suspects implicated in the Utumishi Girls Academy fire, which resulted in the deaths of 16 learners. Deputy Registrar Barbara Akinyi directed the suspects to undergo assessment by a child psychiatrist at Mathare Mental Hospital on June 29, with reports to be filed before the next court mention. The prosecution, led by Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Vincent Monda, requested and was granted the appointment of pro bono advocates for the suspects, the opening of protection and care files, and assessment by a children's officer. The court also ordered the Director of Public Prosecutions to provide all prosecution documents to the defense and mandated the presence of children's officers, guardians, and parents at the next appearance. The case will be mentioned on July 1, 2026, before Lady Justice Diana Kavedza. This development follows the acquittal of a ninth suspect by a Nakuru court on June 24, after DCI detectives found no responsibility for the crime. The remaining eight suspects face 16 counts of murder each. The trial was transferred from Naivasha to the High Court in Nairobi due to security concerns, with prosecutors citing public hostility. The Director of Public Prosecutions approved the murder charges after evaluating a preliminary DCI file, vowing strict legal consequences for perpetrators of school arsons and promising justice for the affected families. DCI homicide and forensic teams invest
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President William Ruto has arrived in Madagascar for an official visit that includes the country's 66th Independence Day celebrations and high-level bilateral talks. The visit aims to expand cooperation in key sectors such as trade, agriculture, ICT, aviation, and investment. Cabinet Secretaries Lee Kinyanjui, William Kabogo, and Mutahi Kagwe are accompanying President Ruto and will participate in the Kenya-Madagascar Business Forum. This trip marks President Ruto's seventh foreign engagement since late April, following visits to Kazakhstan, South Africa, Belgium, Norway, Finland, and France, as part of Kenya's economic diplomacy efforts to attract investment and strengthen trade partnerships.
Must ReadSomalia's Deputy Prime Minister, Jibril Abdirashid Haji, was reportedly denied entry into Kenya at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport JKIA and sent back to Mogadishu. The incident occurred on Thursday evening when Haji, arriving from Mogadishu on a Saacid Airlines flight, presented a valid Somali diplomatic passport and an entry visa. However, immigration officers allegedly received information that he also possessed a Kenyan passport believed to have been obtained fraudulently. Sources claim Haji admitted to having the Kenyan passport but refused to hand it over, stating any dispute should be resolved through the courts. He was subsequently held at the JKIA VIP Lounge before being escorted onto a Daallo Airlines flight back to Mogadishu. A senior official at Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the deportation. This incident follows a recent meeting between Kenyan President William Ruto and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Sunday, June 21, where they discussed regional security and trade. Kenyan authorities are reportedly concerned about foreign nationals acquiring Kenyan passports through corrupt networks, with recent media reports exposing alleged corruption within the Immigration Department and National Registration Bureau involving fraudulent document issuance.
Must ReadKenya commemorated the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at the Miritini Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in Mombasa County, where leaders declared drug abuse a national emergency. A recent NACADA national survey indicates that 4.7 million Kenyans aged 15 to 65, or one in every six people, use at least one drug or substance. The Coast Region is significantly affected, with 29.3% of residents using at least one substance, and Mombasa County recording a prevalence of 34.4%. Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration, Raymond Omollo, emphasized a balanced approach combining enforcement, treatment, and prevention. The government's commitment was highlighted by a recent seizure of 1,024 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine valued at KSh 8.2 billion. NACADA Board Chairman Bishop Dr. Stephen Mairori noted the use of wastewater analysis to track drug consumption and organized a National Essay Writing Competition for secondary school learners to engage youth. Leaders stressed that a "whole-of-society approach" involving parents, religious leaders, educators, and the private sector is crucial for success.