SOUTH African Minister of Sports Gayton McKenzie has spoken a great deal regarding the implementation of VAR in domestic football but the technology is still nowhere to be seen. I remember, Minister, when you took office, many of us - including myself - had no clear idea what your plans for sport were. But then you began to share the right messages, promising changes and evolution, including the implementation of VAR in South African football, particularly for top-flight matches. According to reports, Bennet and the rest of the contingent were satisfied with their assessment and felt it would be beneficial to South African football. Yet, since you took office, you promised that you were meeting regularly with all relevant stakeholders to fast-track VAR’s implementation.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula. [File, Standard]National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula is among 28 individuals who have recorded statements over the death of former Cabinet minister Cyrus Jirongo in a road accident along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway, as detectives try to answer some of the lingering hard questions. Jirongo’s sudden death on December 13, 2025, drew an uproar, with leaders, especially from the Western region, claiming the accident was an “assassination” of the once influential politician.

Azerbaijan’s petroleum coke, bitumen exports drive revenue growth in 2025Azerbaijan saw an increase in revenue from the export of petroleum coke and bitumen in 2025. Both the volume and value of petroleum coke exports rose significantly compared to the previous year. Similarly, the export of petroleum bitumen also grew in both volume and value during the reporting period. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register

Back to school and grade 10 admissions going on countrywide. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]Learning is yet to begin in senior secondary schools, as students enter the second week with uncertainty over delay in deliver of textbooks, mass switching of learning pathways and, in some institutions, low reporting. The delay follows the Ministry of Education’s decision to extend the reporting deadline to January 21 after it failed to achieve the 100 per cent transition target within the initial one-week window.

Deepinder Goyal has resigned as the CEO of Zomato’s parent company Eternal and will continue to serve as the Vice President of the company. The popular company that owns Zomato and Eternal will now be led by Deepinder Goyal’s lifelong friend Pankaj Chaddah. With a market cap of Rs 273491 crore, Zomato (Eternal) was founded back in 2010 by Deepinder Goyal, who just resigned as the CEO, and Pankaj Chaddah who left the company back in 2018. After leaving Zomato, Pankaj Chaddhah went on to launch Mindhouse, a venture focusing on mental wellness. Pankaj Chaddah is currently leading Shyft, which had a valuation of Rs 165 crore back in 2021.

Detectives are investigating the killing of a man whose body was found dumped in Mutindwa, Buruburu, Nairobi county. The body was moved to the mortuary pending identification, postmortem and other procedures. Police said as they moved it to the mortuary pending postmortem and investigations. His body was retrieved and moved to the mortuary pending other procedures, police said. The body was picked up from the scene and moved to the mortuary pending postmortem.

The newspapers on Wednesday, January 21, covered an array of topics, with the probe into the tragic death of former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo returning to the pages. The StandardThe newspaper reported on the ongoing probe into the death of former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo. According to The Star, more than 2,000 participants, including elders, opinion leaders, women leaders, civil society representatives, and youth leaders, have been invited. The Kisumu forum follows a Duol meeting held at a Nairobi hotel on Monday, attended by elected ODM leaders. Leaders must have someone to blame, why are ODM leaders working with Ruto who robbed them of victory?

CaptionThe Commission on Administrative Justice has exposed an entrenched corruption network within the Kenya Prisons Service, revealing how senior and junior officers demanded bribes running into millions of shillings from desperate job seekers in exchange for recruitment into security agencies. According to the CAJ, also known as the Office of Ombudsman, 12 out of 17 complaints submitted by the State Department for Correctional Services were corruption –related with officers soliciting bribes ranging from Sh134,000 to as high as Sh3 million to facilitate recruitment, deployment, or other official favours.

President William Ruto has presided over the Gold Award Presentation to youth under the President’s Award Programme (PA-K). As patron of the programme, Ruto led the ceremony at State House, Nairobi. President William Ruto, when he presided over the Gold Award Presentation to youth under the President’s Award Programme at State House, Nairobi/PCSThe Gold Award represents the culmination of a demanding personal development journey that challenges participants to grow in character, leadership, service and resilience. Participants must complete activities across four core sections: Service, Skills, Physical Recreation, and Adventurous Journey, as well as a Residential Project. These components are intended to develop practical life skills, encourage community service, promote physical fitness and foster teamwork and self-reliance.

Kenyans have shown support by dropping praise comments for Wanyama, and fans have praised Burna, saying he proudly represents Africans through embracing and showcasing their customs and traditions.

Founders with Unique StoriesAYUVYA was founded by Pawanjot Kaur from Jalandhar (50%), Aastha Jain from Bhind (40%), and Tanishk Pandey from Divyapur, Uttar Pradesh (10%). Financial Growth and Investor ResponseIn FY22–23, AYUVYA recorded Rs 8 crore revenue with a small loss of Rs 3 lakh. By FY23–24, revenue surged to Rs 26.5 crore with a profit of Rs 75 lakh, and FY24–25 saw a massive jump to Rs 51.5 crore revenue and Rs 72 lakh profit. This year, projected revenue is around Rs 70 crore with expected profits of Rs 1–1.5 crore. Success Beyond FundingAYUVYA’s story demonstrates that rapid revenue growth is not the only factor investors consider.

Railavs Oburu Leadership: Oburu under pressure to unite ODM amid internal rift over UDA talks 21st January, 2026ODM is facing a familiar crisis—but this time without the figure who always kept it together. As divisions emerge over a potential cooperation deal with President Ruto’s UDA, the party is being tested in the post-Raila era. For party leader Oburu Oginga, the pressing question is whether he can manage dissent the way the late Raila Odinga once did, or whether the current cracks now threaten the party’s unity and future

Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah. [File, Standard]The High Court has temporarily stopped the construction of the Sh11 billion Riruta-Lenana-Ngong metre-gauge railway commuter line after issuing conservatory orders pending the hearing of a constitutional petition challenging the project. Justice Bahati Mwamuye yesterday granted the orders following an application filed by Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah and two activists, Bernard Muchiri Muchere and Naomi Nyakerario Misati, who are contesting the legality and procurement process of the multi-billion-shilling project.

Drama unfolded on Tuesday, January 20, at the Sossiot Police Station after the Officer Commanding Station (OCS), Kennedy Wanjala, embarked on the famous tree-hugging challenge. Kenyans in different parts of the country participating in the tree-hugging challenge to raise awareness on various issues. Inspired by Truphena Muthoni's 72-hour tree-hugging initiative, the tree-hugging challenge has become popular throughout the nation, with Kenyans taking on the challenge for a variety of reasons. Another young man in Limuru, Kiambu County, attempted the challenge to raise funds for his Grade 10 brother. "We are not stopping anyone from participating in the tree-hugging challenge, but you must first undergo a medical checkup to ensure that you are medically fit," the PS said.

Singer Lyubov Uspenskaya has repeatedly faced harassment and attempts to cancel her activities on stage. "They started writing such nasty things to me, wishing me dead. And all these nasty things were written by residents of Ukraine, because I, once a resident of Kiev, became a Russian. As reported by EADaily, in March 2024 it became known that Uspenskaya received Russian citizenship. In October of the same year, Uspenskaya's daughter Tatyana Plaksina disappeared.