Radio host Alex Mwakideu has raised questions about the consistency of Kenya’s corruption accountability, pointing to the case of former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu.
In remarks on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Mwakideu noted that Waititu appears to be facing a lengthy prison sentence, yet other leaders implicated in corruption have not attracted similar scrutiny or penalties.
The former governor’s case also involves his wife, Susan Wangari Ndung’u, who has been mentioned in connection with the matter. Mwakideu observed that others linked to the case were given different sentences, and said Waititu had wanted his wife, children and other friends involved to remain free.
He argued that corruption should be addressed beyond individual prosecutions, asking whether other Kenyan leaders facing corruption allegations would face the same level of scrutiny and legal consequences.
The report did not specify the exact length of Waititu’s sentence, the precise charges against him, or the names of the other leaders and individuals referenced. It also did not detail the outcomes of the different sentences handed to those involved in the case.
Mwakideu’s comments add to ongoing public discussion about how corruption cases involving high-profile figures are handled in Kenya.
Safaricom has clarified that customers who activate call forwarding on their mobile lines are charged for calls redirected to another phone number, warning that the service requires sufficient airtime to remain operational.
The explanation followed a query by an X user who wanted to know whether forwarding all incoming calls to a different number would attract charges.
“Hey @SafaricomPLC, does call forwarding charge me for forwarding all calls to my different number?” the customer, using the handle @ExtraSocialgain, asked.
Responding to the inquiry, Safaricom confirmed that the service attracts charges because the network redirects an incoming call from the originally dialled number to the alternative number provided by the subscriber.
“Call forwarding attracts charges because the call is redirected from the originally dialed number to another number. As a result, you need to have sufficient airtime on the line where call forwarding is activated to facilitate the forwarded calls,” the company said.
The clarification means that customers who divert their calls to another number should expect airtime deductions on the line where the forwarding service has been activated.
Call forwarding is a telecommunications feature that allows subscribers to redirect incoming calls to another phone number instead of receiving them on their original line.
The service can be useful for people who have multiple SIM cards, use separate personal and work numbers, or want to remain reachable when their primary phone is unavailable.
However, forwarding a call involves an additional connection from the original number to the destination number.
In effect, the subscriber activating the forwarding service pays for the redirected leg of the call, while the person who originally placed the call is charged according to the normal rate for calling the number they dialled.
The cost of the forwarded call may depend on the destination network and applicable calling tariff.
For example, a Safaricom customer forwarding calls to another Safaricom number may incur a different charge from someone redirecting calls to a number on another network.
Mobile networks generally support different call-forwarding options depending on when subscribers want incoming calls redirected.
These include:
The options allow customers to decide when and under what circumstances their calls should be transferred to another number.
Safaricom’s response indicates that customers need sufficient airtime on the line where call forwarding is activated to facilitate the redirected calls.
This means subscribers who rely on the service should monitor their airtime balance to avoid interruptions when incoming calls are forwarded.
The company did not specify the exact charge per minute in its response to the customer, nor did it publish a specific tariff for the different forwarding options in the exchange.
Customers seeking clarification on the applicable rates can contact Safaricom through its customer care channels before activating the service.
The clarification is particularly important for subscribers who forward all incoming calls, since each redirected call can attract a charge on the line doing the forwarding.
Listen to articleA new report by the Controller of Budget (CoB), Margaret Nyakang’o, has revealed that only Sh1.47 trillion of the Sh14.6 trillion approved for withdrawal over the past three financial years was set aside for development projectsDevelopment projects are lagging behind as national and county governments continue to spend the bulk of public funds on salaries, debt payments and other recurrent expenses.
Pastor Victor Kanyari of the Salvation Healing Ministry has opened up about his controversial TikTok live sessions, admitting that the pursuit of views, audience retention, and virtual gifts drove his behavior on the platform.
Speaking during an interview on Radio Maisha, the preacher expressed regret over how far the late-night broadcasts went and acknowledged the resulting toll on his public reputation.
At the height of his online activity, Kanyari was a major draw on TikTok’s late-night space, hosting broadcasts around midnight that attracted massive crowds and substantial financial gifts from viewers. He recalled reveling in his status, describing himself as the undisputed leader of the platform at the time.
“Kuna wakati nilikuwa the president of TikTok. Iyo wakati nilikuwa naongea vitu, ndo maana nilitoka TikTok,” Kanyari stated.
However, he conceded that the pressure to keep audiences entertained compromised his standing as a clergy member, leading to widespread criticism over content many viewed as inappropriate for a preacher.
“Nilikuwa naingia saa sita usiku lakini sasa niko na views kama elfu kumi, lakini at the same time nimechoma kuchoma,” he admitted, pointing to both the reputational damage and the drop in his numbers.
While his live streams currently draw around 10,000 viewers—a notable decline from his peak—Kanyari shared that he remains puzzled by the mechanics of viral trends and why his previous formula no longer yields the same results.
“Mimi nashangaa, I don’t know hata saa hizi nitatrend tu mimi. Sijuangi ni nini nimesema na mbona mambo yangu hayatrend kama mambo yangu funny,” he said, reflecting on his inability to recreate his earlier viral success.
Liam Fitzgerald’s devastated family have spoken out for the first time since his tragic death, opening up about the influencer’s ‘battle with alcohol on and off’ during his life.
The fitness content creator sadly passed away on 30 October after being involved in a motorcycle accident. He was just 29.
Confirming his death, his heart-broken girlfriend Jamie Lyn Rinaldi said he’d died at around 2am after he sustained ‘severe injuries’ in the crash.
“Despite the efforts of those who tried desperately to save him, they were unable to bring him back,” she wrote on Instagram.
Liam’s heartbroken family have now broken their silence in a touching tribute to the ‘one-of-a-kind’ influencer who had ‘so much more life to live’.
“There are no words to describe the loss of someone as special as Liam,” the statement shared on Liam’s Instagram read.
“Liam was a shining light. He had a way of lighting up every room he walked into, a personality impossible to forget, and a heart that loved deeply. From family and friends to teammates, strangers, and people around the world, he inspired so many. He loved his people fiercely and would protect them with everything he had.”
His family went on to praise his ‘incredible’ work ethic and how he would set his mind to something and then ‘gave it everything’.
Liam, who lived in Miami, had more than a million social media followers and shared fitness and lifestyle content as well as offering one-on-one fitness coaching.
“He was talented at just about anything he tried and so proud of the life he was building and everything he accomplished,” his family said.
“He loved filming, creating, and editing videos to share his experiences and inspire others. He wanted us to believe that no matter how hard life gets, you can always get back up and become a better version of yourself.”
The family then shared that Liam had his ‘own struggles’, which he tackled during his life.
“He battled with alcohol on and off and knew it was hurting him,” they said.
“This is shared in the hope that his story reaches someone who needs it. If you're fighting that battle, please stay strong, reach out to your loved ones, and ask for help. You don't have to fight alone. Keep going.
“He wasn't perfect, and never pretended to be. But he always strived to grow and do better. He had dreams, ambitions, and so much more life to live.”
The family said his death had left behind a heartbreak that ‘words will never be able to describe’ but that his ‘laughter, energy, accomplishments, and the memories he created will live on’.
The statement concluded by urging people to keep Liam’s loved ones in their thoughts and to ‘hug your people’, tell them you love them and ‘never assume you have more time’.
“Liam, you were one of a kind. You shined so bright, and the world is dimmer without you here,” it added.
Matasi remains one of Kenya's most experienced goalkeepersFormer Harambee Stars goalkeeper Patrick Matasi is eyeing a return to football as Kenya prepares to host a team of Arsenal greats in the Legends Cup at Nyayo National Stadium.The highly anticipated exhibition match is scheduled for Friday, 13 November, and will pit 20 former Arsenal players against 20 retired Kenyan internationals.
Well LADs, it’s officially that time of year: the John Lewis advert is here.
And 2026 marks the 20th edition of its iconic Christmas ad, so they’ve pulled out all the stops and given us a banger of a tune to go with this year.
That’s as king of the North East is providing vocals – yep the one and only Sam Fender is this year’s choice.
Hoping for a Christmas number one, he covers The Rolling Stones’ classic ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’. Fender has called this opportunity a ‘privilege’ with all proceeds from the record going to charity.
Releasing today (3 November), the John Lewis advert features Dame Kristin Scott Thomas alongside ‘Pickles the dog’, an old school toy from the retailer voiced by TV royalty, Paul Whitehouse.
The campaign, created by Saatchi & Saatchi and the ad directed by Lucy Forbes, follows Gloria (Scott Thomas) and her faithful companion (and childhood toy) Pickles, on a hunt to connect with her grandchildren,
“Set against the festive tagline ‘Don’t give up on giving,’ the story touches on a relatable modern truth: the fear of not finding the ‘perfect gift’ can overshadow the simple pleasure of giving something thoughtful this festive season,” John Lewis explains.
And that’s where ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ comes in perfectly.
It honestly feels like a banger for the retailer, likely to get in everyone’s heads these next few weeks – following Fender’s record-breaking success with ‘Rein Me In’ around the world.
The singer said: “It was a privilege to rework such an iconic song by such a legendary band. In the spirit of Christmas, we re-recorded the children’s choir with the kids from my old school, John Spence Community High School, and we arranged a brass section with the Easington Colliery Band.”
It’s a bit of a full circle too, with Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger having spoken earlier this year about his admiration for Fender.
“I’m a fan of Sam’s work, so I was pleased to hear he was covering one of my songs. I think he’s done a great job with it,” the rock legend said.
Well LADs, keep an eye out for the ad on your tellies and social media and I’m sure it won’t be long until ‘You Can’t Get Always What You Want’ is being played at every possible opportunity.
The song is being released today, and physical copies will be available soon on 7” and CD from the John Lewis website. The single is backed with Sam Fender’s 2020 cover of Winter Song, available physically for the first time.
All John Lewis profits from each record sold will be donated to UK leading charity Action for Children, John Lewis' charity partner for its Building Happier Futures programme.
Physical copies will also be available from https://shop.samfender.com/. All profits from the physical sales via Fender’s store will be donated to Teenage Cancer Trust.
Fernando Alonso's power unit issues were so extreme during the Mexico City Grand Prix that he laughed over the team radio before ultimately retiring from the race on lap six.
Both Alonso and team-mate Lance Stroll were both forced to stop their cars in the early stages of the Grand Prix, with Aston Martin telling both drivers that they had 'abnormal pressure levels in the PU systems'.
The two drivers ran at the back of the field at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez and, while Alonso was at least able to get his car back to the pits, Stroll was told to stop the car by the side of the circuit, resulting in a virtual safety car (VSC). In the context of all of that, new data has emerged from Alonso's Grand Prix that is staggering.
The lack of performance of the Honda power unit has been a major concern all season for Aston Martin, and the vibrations it caused during the opening Grands Prix were even flagged as a safety issue by then team principal Adrian Newey as it could not complete full race distances.
The team have worked tirelessly to improve the chassis over the season to the point where it is now one of the most driveable cars on the grid; Alonso's fastest lap time in qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia was 2.6 seconds off Max Verstappen's pole time, and it later emerged that Aston Martin were losing at least two seconds per lap on the straights.
During the race in Mexico City, Alonso and Stroll were comfortably slower than the rest of the field in the first sector. Except Valtteri Bottas (28.2 average), every other driver in the field was in the 27s, with Alonso and Stroll averaging 28.5 seconds and 28.7 seconds respectively.
In the shorter third sector, Alonso was more competitive in 17th but was still 0.6 seconds behind Lewis Hamilton, who was the fastest driver across the race in that part of the circuit. Stroll was down in 21st and only ahead of Bottas.
But it is in the second sector where things get fascinating. Alonso (32.126) recorded the ninth-highest sector two average across the entire field. He was faster than McLaren's Oscar Piastri, who finished seventh but dropped out of the points due to a time penalty.
When you add in the other factors affecting Alonso – the already under-performing power unit on top of the abnormal pressure levels, high fuel loads and a green track at the beginning of the race – it really does put into some perspective just how competitive the Aston Martin could be with a better engine.
It is worth noting, as well, that drivers were allowed to change tyres on the grid during the lap 45 red flag period, meaning that, combined with much lower fuel loads, more cars could theoretically have surpassed Alonso in the sector charts. But that didn't happen.
"Hopefully not one to forget – we can learn," Alonso told F1TV on his Mexico City Grand Prix weekend. "The car is very good. The problem is just that we cannot do more laps than a certain number, apparently, with the engine. As I say, hopefully we learned the lesson and we come next year more prepared.
"We try again [in Brazil], yes. I'm doing my best. Every lap I do, every morning I wake up, every preparation I do. Every food I take. Everything is focused on performing at my best behind the wheel. But I'm not able to accommodate enough laps."
His team-mate Stroll was even more brief in his assessment of what proved to be his two-lap race: "An issue with the engine. We were having issues with the engine for those two laps, so yeah. We'll see how we go in Brazil."
Oil prices fell to their lowest level in more than two weeks on Monday as fresh hopes emerged of a possible breakthrough in efforts to end the Iran war.
Brent crude, the international benchmark, dropped by more than 6.5 per cent to Ksh13,709 a barrel, its lowest level since October 16. The decline lifted airline shares and pushed down government borrowing costs.
The drop followed reports from Tehran that contacts between Iran and the United States aimed at ending their eight-month war were continuing.
“Consultations through mediators are very intensive. We have presented our conditions and proposals and everything depends on the political rationality of Washington,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, according to state media outlet IRNA.
Over the weekend, Qatari officials attempted to negotiate the release of more than Ksh779.64 billion in Iranian assets, in a move that could pave the way for Tehran to allow the Strait of Hormuz to reopen.
US President Donald Trump had earlier adopted a tougher stance, telling voters in Iowa on Sunday that Iran would receive “the hammer” unless progress was made.
“The only reason why I’m not finished with Iran is I want to be nice. I want to try and save all those lives if I can … But at some point we’re going to have to give them the hammer,” he said during a campaign rally ahead of the US midterm elections.
Investors were also encouraged by reports on Monday that Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had granted his government “powers” to negotiate with the United States in efforts to end the Middle East war.
Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at investment and trading platform IG, said: “The news is manna from heaven for stock markets, which have felt increasingly pressured by oil’s rise, but of course there is still a risk that Trump will try one last throw of the iron dice after the midterms.”
More than 350 Kenyan workers who travelled to Saudi Arabia for employment have been forced to return home after authorities denied them entry over concerns linked to Ebola cases in Kenya.
The workers, who had travelled with valid work visas, spent four days stranded at Sharjah Airport in the United Arab Emirates before boarding a flight back to Kenya. The plane landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at about 1.30 pm Kenyan time on Monday, November 2, 2026.
The returnees have asked the Kenyan government to intervene through diplomatic channels, warning that the disruption could affect their employment plans and leave them with expiring visas.
Saudi Arabia introduced an indefinite travel ban on arrivals from Kenya following an assessment of the Ebola situation. The measures, announced on October 30, 2026, through the Saudi Press Agency, include suspending travel by Saudi citizens to Kenya and halting the issuance of all visa categories for people travelling from the country.
The restrictions also bar entry to travellers who have stayed in Kenya or another country experiencing an active Ebola outbreak within the 21 days before their arrival. The rule applies even where travellers pass through a third country.
The measures build on health protocols first introduced in 2019 and strengthened in May 2026.
One of the affected workers, Mary Njau, described the experience at Sharjah Airport as frustrating and said the group had travelled with expectations of starting work.
“Tumerudi and it is very frustrating. We were stuck and stranded at Sharjah. Tulienda na matarajio lakini tukifika pale we were treated bad,” she said.
She appealed to the Kenyan government to address the matter before the workers’ visas expire. Other returnees reported limited meals and spending nights on airport floors.
The Association of Skilled Migrant Agencies of Kenya (ASMAK) has called for urgent diplomatic engagement between Nairobi and Riyadh.
Assistant Secretary General Elab Muridi said more than 350 workers were returning, while about 150 others were still in transit. He added that documents for approximately 2,200 workers had already been processed, with the applicants expected to travel.
“Already, more than 350 workers are on their way back, and most of them are here. We estimate that about 150 are still in transit,” Elab Muridi, Assistant Secretary General of the Association of Skilled Migrant Agencies of Kenya (ASMAK) said.
ASMAK Chair Francis Wahome said recruitment partners in Gulf Cooperation Council countries were also surprised by the restrictions. He said agencies had not received formal communication from the Kenyan government.
“Even our partners in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries were shocked. They have been calling us to ask what is happening. Everyone in the recruitment sector is seeking answers from colleagues and the government because we have not received any formal communication from the government,” Francis Wahome, Chair of ASMAK, said.
Secretary General Monica Mwema said the decision had disrupted confirmed bookings and scheduled departures, leaving recruiters seeking clarification on the 21-day restriction.
“We have people who are coming back because they were not allowed to enter Saudi Arabia. Others have confirmed tickets, with some scheduled to leave tonight and others tomorrow. We have been caught off guard and are seeking clarity on the 21-day restriction. What does it mean?” Monica Mwema, Secretary General of ASMAK, stated.
The agencies want the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to engage Saudi authorities and establish how the restrictions will affect workers whose travel arrangements are already in place.
The restrictions come as Kenya responds to nine confirmed cases of Bundibugyo-strain Ebola and two deaths. The cases have been linked to one cluster originating from an imported case involving a Kenyan man who travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo through Uganda before arriving in Nairobi on October 3, 2026.
The Ministry of Health reported that Kenya had gone 10 days without recording a new infection as of October 30, 2026. It has also started releasing contacts who completed the required 21-day monitoring period.
Principal Secretary for Public Health Mary Muthoni said the release of people under monitoring was being carried out progressively, with full clearance targeted around mid-November.
Kenyan workers and recruitment agencies have warned that prolonged restrictions could affect employment opportunities, trade and tourism. They want the two governments to reach an agreement that will allow affected workers to travel once the necessary health requirements are met.
