Speaking to residents in Kiambaa, Ichung’wah warned that Gachagua’s rhetoric threatens to isolate the Mount Kenya region from the rest of Kenya. He urged voters to reject divisive politics, questioning where ordinary citizens without overseas property would go if political outcomes fail to suit individual leaders.
“He is trying to sell us hatred. I have heard others saying that if Ruto returns to office, he will relocate to America. You have a house there, but what of the Kiambu people who don’t? Where will they go? Let us not buy hatred. We cannot stand ourselves in this country alone; we need other Kenyans,” Ichung’wah said.
Ichung’wah also pushed back against the assumption that the region’s seven million registered voters will automatically rally behind a Kikuyu candidate. Highlighting the cosmopolitan nature of the region, he noted that out of Kiambu County’s 1.3 million registered voters, nearly 400,000 come from communities outside Mount Kenya.
The criticism follows similar reactions from other prominent political figures. Prof. Makau Mutua, head of the Panel on Compensation of Human Rights Violations and Protest Victims, called Gachagua’s bluff, urging him to pack his bags for the US immediately while asserting that Ruto’s re-election remains inevitable.
“I welcome Wamunyoro to flee to the US now because the die is cast for Tutam! He should save himself the trouble,” he said.
Police have arrested five persons of interest and destroyed 1,300 litres of kangara during a raid in Soweto, Nairobi Region, as authorities intensify the crackdown on illicit alcohol production and distribution across the country.
In a statement shared on X account on Tuesday, November 3,2026, the National Police Service (NPS) said the operation also resulted in the destruction of brewing apparatus used to manufacture the illegal brew.
The five individuals have been placed in custody pending processing and arraignment in court on relevant charges.
“Action against the production, distribution and consumption of illicit alcohol will continue nationwide, as the National Police Service sustains operations aimed at protecting communities from the health and social harm associated with unregulated brews,” the NPS said.
The operation is part of ongoing efforts by security agencies to dismantle illegal alcohol production networks and prevent the circulation of unregulated alcoholic drinks.
The Soweto raid comes amid a series of police operations targeting illicit alcohol in different parts of the country.
In a similar incident in Kisumu County, police officers intercepted a tuk-tuk transporting 60 litres of suspected chang’aa in Nyalenda on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
According to the NPS, officers conducting a joint patrol stopped the vehicle and recovered 30 plastic bags, each containing two litres of the illicit brew, packed in two yellow nylon bags.
The driver was arrested, while the recovered alcohol and tuk-tuk were taken to Kasagam Police Station as investigations continued.
The recovery highlights the different methods authorities are targeting in their efforts to disrupt the production, transportation and distribution of illegal alcoholic drinks.
The latest arrests come as police sustain operations against unregulated brews, which can expose consumers to serious health risks when manufactured without proper quality controls.
Authorities have continued to target individuals involved in the production and distribution of illicit alcohol, with enforcement operations expected to continue in various parts of the country.
The NPS said the operations were aimed at protecting communities from the health and social harm associated with illegal alcoholic drinks.
The police service has called on members of the public to support the crackdown by reporting suspected illegal brewing activities and other suspicious operations to the nearest police station.
Kenyans can also share information through the emergency toll-free numbers 999 and 911.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) can be reached through its toll-free hotline, under the #FichuaKwaDCI initiative.
The NPS reiterated that operations targeting the production, distribution and consumption of illicit alcohol would continue nationwide as authorities seek to protect communities from associated health and social risks.
In a public statement on social media, Kibagendi questioned Gachagua’s authority to dictate terms to the broader opposition and accused him of attempting to dominate power-sharing talks ahead of the 2027 General Election. The discussions at the Nyeri residence involved Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna alongside other key opposition figures.
“When he invited Linda Mwananchi to Wamunyoro, I am informed that he demanded half of the government. Who does he think he is?” Kibagendi asked.
The lawmaker argued that several leaders had already built the opposition movement and challenged the Kenya Kwanza administration long before Gachagua joined their ranks following his impeachment. He raised concerns over whether Gachagua intends to control a future administration by installing leaders accountable directly to him.
Recalling a 2023 development meeting with Gusii lawmakers, Kibagendi alleged that Gachagua questioned why opposition MPs expected national government funding while opposing the administration.
According to Kibagendi, Gachagua told him to seek infrastructure and road development for Kitutu Chache South from the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Kibagendi walked out of the meeting despite attempts by fellow MPs, including Silvanus Osoro, to persuade him to stay.
The incident, he noted, cemented his decision to challenge the Kenya Kwanza administration over policies such as the housing levy and regional development imbalances.
Kibagendi also accused Gachagua of trying to isolate prominent opposition figures who hold independent political positions, citing former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, former CS Peter Munya, former Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza, and Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro.
Addressing Gachagua’s recent media interview on Inooro FM, Kibagendi rejected the former deputy president’s suggestion that he could form a government exclusively alongside Sifuna and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka. He warned that excluding key stakeholders undermines efforts to present a cohesive opposition front against President William Ruto.
Emphasizing that no individual holds exclusive ownership over the United Opposition, Kibagendi called for mutual respect across all member parties.
“I am not in any way demanding that Matiang’i or Sifuna or Kalonzo must be the opposition flag bearers, but there must be unity in the opposition; there has to be respect for everyone, and that unity should be on getting this oppressive regime out and making Kenya better,” Kibagendi said.
He warned that continued infighting and individual power plays will erode the opposition’s momentum and weaken its challenge to President Ruto in 2027.
During an interview with NTV, the former Interior Cabinet Secretary said scrapping the levy would add disposable income in the pockets of Kenyans, offering much-needed relief.
“Quite frankly, in my view, we should scrap this housing levy because it is very burdensome when you look at it,” he stated.
Matiang’i further proposed raising the threshold for tax-free income to KSh35,000 to ease the burden on low- and middle-income earners. He said putting more money in workers’ pockets could boost household spending and help the economy recover.
“There is a need to increase disposable income in the pockets of our people by, for example, raising the ceiling to non-taxable income to even KSh35,000, so that slowly we can begin to have some recovery,” Matiang’i said.
He also cited public spending, excessive bureaucracy, and corruption as major challenges, warning that corruption had reached unprecedented levels.
“But the greatest challenge is wastage of resources, bureaucracy, and corruption. Corruption has reached unprecedented levels. Sometimes I feel people have not come to terms with the gravity of our situation,” he said.
Matiang’i said bold, decisive action is needed to tackle the country’s economic challenges, saying the government needed far-reaching reforms in public spending and key sectors.
“There is need to be courageous, radical and decisive to be able to get the country where it is right now,” he said.
He proposed reviewing the national budget to identify spending cuts and direct public funds towards essential services and development priorities.
“That will mean we will have to relook at our budgeting to see whether we can stop the wastage that we have. We then need to work on critical sector reforms, address corruption, security, bureaucracy. These are measures we will need to take urgently,” he added.
McOure revealed that he has formally shifted the political allegiance he previously held for the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga directly to President Ruto. Moving forward, he pledged to align exclusively with individuals committed to securing a second term for the Head of State.
Addressing the personal toll of his decision, McOure noted that he has paid a heavy price for his political stance and will not permit individual agendas to derail Ruto’s campaign.
“President William Ruto’s decisive victory in 2027 will be my only ideological vindication. I have paid too dear a price to allow a few individuals to impose their selfish interests and potentially sabotage it,” he said.
He insisted that his endorsement of the Head of State remains non-negotiable and independent of third-party interests.
“The unwavering loyalty I once had for H.E. Raila Odinga has now been transferred to President William Ruto. Support for President Ruto must be unconditional. I consider it a matter of principle,” he added.
McOure’s stance comes amidst intense internal debate within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) regarding the terms of engagement with President Ruto ahead of 2027. While McOure offers direct endorsement, several ODM party leaders continue pushing for structured negotiations.
Prominent figures in the party, including National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, and Secretary General Catherine Omanyo, advocate for a formal broad-based alliance that explicitly guarantees ODM a 50 percent share of government positions and power.
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.
