2025 was marked by several political shifts, public protests, leadership transitions and sporting milestones in Kenya and beyond. [File, Standard]2025 was marked by several political shifts, public protests, leadership transitions and sporting milestones in Kenya and beyond. From Washington to the Vatican and from Addis Ababa to Nairobi, the year captured moments that defined governance, faith, democracy, and national identity.
Protesters make signs with their arms in front of Kenya police officers during a demonstration against tax hikes in Nairobi. [AFP]For many Kenyans, 2025 will be remembered as the year of shattered hopes, violent crackdowns and deepening poverty. What began as protests demanding economic relief escalated into one of the worst human rights crises in the country's recent history, with at least 100 people killed, dozens abducted and thousands arrested as President William Ruto's government deployed brutal force against its own citizens.
His flagship group, Bharti Enterprises, has announced a strategic investment in Haier India, the Indian arm of China’s Haier Group. Bharti Enterprises will acquire the stake jointly with global private equity firm Warburg Pincus. Together, the two investors will hold a 49 per cent stake in Haier India, while Haier Group will retain another 49 per cent. The remaining stake will stay with Haier India’s management team. India’s consumer appliance market is witnessing rapid growth, driven by rising disposable incomes, urbanisation, changing lifestyles, and higher demand for premium and energy-efficient products.
YEAR ENDER 2025: The year 2025 was a tough one for football managers which once again demonstrated the lack of mercy of modern football. The following is an overview of the top 5 sackings that were characteristic of 2025. Julen Lopetegui — West Ham UnitedBeginning with poor outcomes in league matches, West Ham chose to end Julen Lopetegui’s tenure. Igor Tudor — JuventusSacked in late 2025, Igor Tudor left Juventus following poor performances across multiple league matches. Also Read: YEAR ENDER 2025: Five most memorable football matches of 2025
The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.
Pharmacology staff count the last USAID drug supplies amid shortages at Lodwar County Referral Hospital on April 1, 2025. (AFP)Kenya’s healthcare system suffered a major blow after US President Donald Trump froze foreign aid early this year, immediately after assuming office. The stop-work order created a funding gap of Sh30.9 billion, severely disrupting health programmes that heavily rely on donor support. In response, the Kenyan government entered a five-year cooperation framework worth $2.5 billion (Sh325 billion) with the US, aimed at saving lives and strengthening the country’s health system.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is ready to impose new restrictions on unskilled immigrants entering the UK from January 1, 2021, after the end of the Brexit transition period, the British newspaper "The Telegraph" reported. According to her, the radical plan drafted by the prime minister's aides envisages bringing forward immigration projects by two years, which eliminates the rules set by former Prime Minister Theresa May, which referred to 2023. According to the newspaper, the proposal is due to be presented to the Council of Ministers this week by Home Secretary Priti Patel, a member of this new plan for immigration to the UK.//ATSH© Balkans Web
Seth Rollins has unreservedly disclosed how he had to maneuver through backstage politics in WWE to earn his chances at the summit. Rollins was in for a shock when, after his fast promotion to the main roster, he found out that the backstage ballgame was largely politics-driven rather than merit. I had to wait for two years before I was up on the main roster. You’re going to get a better position on the card. “But WWE, it’s a different animal and you have to work backstage the same way you had to work out in the ring.
Brigadier Joseph Douglas Mokwena of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has made history as the first Kenyan Flag Officer to lead Sector West in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). Brigadier Mokwena was earlier based at the Sector West Headquarters in Bouar, where he presided over troops from Bangladesh, Tanzania, and Cameroon. Brigadier Joseph Mokwena in his appointment ceremony Photo Ministry Of DefensePreviously, Sector West leadership rotated among officers from other countries, including Serbia and Burkina Faso. The Kenyan Senior Officer serving in MINUSCA symbolised Kenya's ongoing role as a champion of peace and stability in Africa and around the world. "The presence of a Kenyan Senior Officer at MINUSCA carries the aspiration of a Nation that has consistently championed peace and stability across the African continent and beyond," KDF stated.
US embassies across Africa and the State Department’s Africa Bureau in Washington have chronically been understaffed across several administrations. It was unclear whether the State Department planned to replace those who are being recalled. That’s the real story.”The State Department did not confirm AP’s reporting on the number of ambassadors recalled. The bureau’s Deputy Assistant Secretary Nick Checker will step into the role after Pratt’s departure, a State Department spokesperson said. The State Department did not address a question on when the administration would make that nomination.
Chrispen Chikafu sent a message to celebrate Edwin Shivakale's final law exam with genuine pride and encouragement. Kakamega Man Mourns as Friend Dies Shortly After Celebrating Him for Completing Law ExamsSource: FacebookSkem had just sat his final LLB examination at Mount Kenya University’s Parklands Law School, closing a long and demanding chapter in his legal journey. Days later, Chrispen was dead. When financial hardship forced Skem to drop out a year later, Chrispen stayed the course, pressing on with unwavering discipline. In the end, it is the timing of his final message that lingers most painfully: a congratulation sent in joy, followed by silence.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the man had checked into the apartment at around 10pm the previous day and spent the night at the apartment before the incident. The officers who visited the apartment found it in disarray, with indications that the victim could have sustained injuries before the tragic fall to death. Meanwhile, the deceased's body has since been transferred to the Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi for preservation, awaiting a post-mortem. The latest incident adds to the list of similar cases reported this year involving people falling from high-rise buildings, particularly in Nairobi city. Just a month ago, a 23-year-old fourth-year student fell to her death from an apartment in the Ngara area of Nairobi.
Concerns over digital fraud are rising even as WhatsApp steps up enforcement in India, banning nearly a crore accounts every month. Government officials report that, through October, WhatsApp blocked an average of 9.8 million accounts per month in India, its largest market, for violating platform rules. While WhatsApp releases monthly compliance reports, it does not disclose the mobile numbers of banned accounts due to end-to-end encryption and legal restrictions. Government estimates indicate that around 95% of digital fraud and impersonation cases happen on WhatsApp. ---Advertisement---WhatsApp Complaints vs. Action TakenIn a single month, WhatsApp received 23,596 complaints from Indian users via official channels like email and post.
First responders from multiple counties responded Aug. 11 to an explosion at the U.S. Steel Clairton Mill Works. (Courtesy of the Creative Lab Breathe Project)An independent, nonregulatory federal agency investigating a deadly explosion at the U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works plant this fall issued two interim safety recommendations Tuesday. The board also recommends U.S. Steel addresses and reduces any safety risks identified in the facility evaluation, following accepted industry safety principles, the report said. Asked about the recommendations, U.S. Steel said in a statement: “We continue to cooperate with the CSB and other relevant agencies. The Clairton facility operates four other coke batteries with personnel-occupied buildings located near potentially hazardous processes, the CSB said.
Kenyan Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Emmanuel Nyangoma has registered an impressive 2025 season in the United Kingdom. The fighter has been recognised as Kenya's first-ever MMA fighter to gain significant international traction, primarily competing on the UK regional circuit. A Photo of Emmanuel Nyangoma fighting during a previous MMA fight event. In 2025, the Kenyan fighter recorded a 100 per cent submission rate in all his victories, with a particular proficiency for the rear-naked choke. The MMA event was organised by ANZA MMA, which runs amateur KO Fight Nights.
