NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 17 — Prime Cabinet Secretary (PCS) and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, has departed for Paris, France, for an official visit ahead of the Africa-France Summit scheduled to be hosted in Nairobi this May. The upcoming summit will mark a historic milestone, as Kenya becomes the first non-Francophone African country to host the event since its inception in 1973. Traditionally held in France or Francophone African nations, the summit underscores Kenya’s growing diplomatic influence and leadership on the continent. During his visit, Mudavadi is scheduled to meet with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot for high-level deliberations aimed at shaping a landmark summit. The visit highlights Kenya’s increasing continental leadership and its commitment to deepening partnerships in diplomacy, trade, and technology ahead of a historic summit hosted on home soil.

Former AG Justin Muturi during an interview at The Standard Group. [File, Standard]Former Attorney General Justin Muturi has said that Kenya’s governance challenges stem from poor sequencing and misplaced priorities, warning against what he described as the Government’s growing “preoccupation with grandiosity”. According to Muturi, development is not defined by what looks modern, but by what makes a society productive.

The Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Hassan Ali Joho, has assured residents of Kwale County and the wider public that the government is committed to transparency and accountability in the proposed Mrima Hills mining project. The Mrima project will be the first mining project in the country’s history to be taken through a tendering process as part of the effort of guaranteeing transparency,” Joho said. The Mrima Hills project is planned to extract rare earth elements (REEs) and niobium from one of the region’s largest known deposits. Joho said he was satisfied that the national government and the Kwale County Assembly were aligned in their approach to the project. The presentation covered the county’s mining potential, the significance of Mrima Hills, land classification and mineral ownership, and the legal framework governing mining activities.

Jacob Fatu reappeared on the WWE scene last week during the Three stages of hell match for the undisputed WWE Championship between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre. Fatu prevented McIntyre to leave the steel cage and win the match at first, then engaged in a fight with Cody Rhodes, which gave Drew the chance to slip away and win the title. Chaos erupts as Jacob Fatu storms the ring and calls out Cody RhodesCody, during his earlier appearance of the night, swore that he would somehow get Jacob Fatu, who had caused him to lose the title, the Werewolf then showed up in the ring. Nick Aldis steps in after a chaotic clash and books Rhodes vs FatuHe did not lose any time at all after Fatu's challenge, as he left right away and they both engaged in a huge fight, which security and the SmackDown General Manager, Nick Aldis, had to intervene to stop. While the two are really mad at each other, Nick Aldis made a match between the two for the next week's Saturday Night's Main Event.

BANDUNG, West Java (Indonesia): Baby Arya flew from Jakarta to Singapore’s Changi Airport in mid-2025, cradled by a couple posing as his parents. Wealthy Singaporean adoptive parents paid more than S$20,000 per child, in defiance of Indonesian law that requires adoption to be free. Back in Jakarta, they were taken on direct flights to Singapore, Ade explained. On Jan 9, the Singapore and Indonesian governments said they are working together to review allegations of babies being trafficked into Singapore for adoption. Most cases were linked to the ring, which targeted vulnerable expectant parents, Ade said.

The discreet, disciplined and private man won 87% of the vote in December's election against a severely depleted field. Scrolling back through the social media accounts from the president's office there is a sense of a carefully curated image. In the 15 years before he took power, Doumbouya gained extensive international experience, including being educated to master's level in France and serving in the French Foreign Legion. Unlike coup leaders elsewhere in West Africa, Doumbouya has not outrightly rejected the former colonial power France in favour of Russia. Neither, despite his background in France and having a French wife, has he been accused of being a puppet of Paris.

President William Ruto on Saturday hosted UDA grassroots leaders from Nyeri County at the Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri, as part of ongoing engagements with regional party structures. The discussions focused on strengthening the party’s grassroots networks, enhancing coordination ahead of future political activities and addressing local development priorities raised by community representatives. The President has, over time, emphasised the importance of maintaining an active and organised party base that can effectively communicate government programmes and political positions at the ward and village levels. The meeting is part of a broader series of consultations the President has been holding with UDA leaders across the country as the party moves to strengthen internal structures and prepare for upcoming political and organisational activities. President William Ruto hosts Nyeri County UDA Grassroots Leaders at Sagana State Lodge, Nyeri on January 17, 2026/PCSP resident William Ruto hosts Nyeri County UDA Grassroots Leaders at Sagana State Lodge, Nyeri on January 17, 2026/PCSP resident William Ruto hosts Nyeri County UDA Grassroots Leaders at Sagana State Lodge, Nyeri on January 17, 2026/PCS

I’ve just landed on the shores of Vanuatu, a pint-sized tropical island in the South Pacific nation, and the serenity of the scene takes my breath away. Yet after booking a last-minute 24-hour trip to Vanuatu from Sydney, I stumbled across Hideaway Island Resort and Marine Reserve for £55 a night. Powered by Wowcher Bannatyne Spa: Spa day for two with treatments, lunch & prosecco — save up to 57% off. Vanuatu is made up of more than 80 islands, though my whirlwind visit allowed time to explore only the main island, Éfaté. But with just 45,000 tourist arrivals each year, even the main island of Éfaté never feels crowded.

ROBIE KAKONGE/XUganda has sharply criticised several leading Western media organisations over reports alleging that opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, was abducted by the military in a nighttime helicopter operation. The ambassador warned that broadcasting unverified security claims could have serious consequences. However, the poll has been overshadowed by reports of post-vote violence and allegations of widespread fraud by Bobi Wine, Museveni’s main challenger. International attention intensified after local media reported that Bobi Wine had been placed under military detention at his home following the vote. On Saturday, Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP) party said he had been picked up by a military helicopter from his home in Magere, just outside Kampala.

As Uganda endured a tense wait after Thursday's polls, Museveni had a commanding lead against Wine, 43, a former singer turned politician who was arrested ahead of Uganda's last election in 2021. With final results due around 1200 GMT Saturday, there were conflicting reports about Wine's whereabouts, following claims that police and the army had raided his home on Friday night. "I want to confirm that I managed to escape from them," Wine posted on X on Saturday. Ugandan military police officers detain a voter on the ground near a polling station in Kampala on January 15, 2026, during Uganda's 2026 general elections. Police officers detain a voter on the ground near a polling station in Kampala on January 15, 2026, during Uganda's 2026 general elections.

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has hit back at The Standard over a headline alleging a multi-billion-shilling graft scandal at the National Youth Service (NYS). The Standard, in its Friday, January 16, newspaper headline titled 'NYS III bombshell', alleges that suppliers submitted false or dubious payment claims totalling about Sh6.2 billion to the NYS. A photo collage of Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku and the Standard Media Group newspaper front page. Photo Geoffrey Ruku/ Standard DigitalIn response, Ruku dismissed the newspaper's style of reporting the matter, insisting that the Standard media was meddling in old issues, intending to mislead the public. "I have seen the standard newspaper saying that NYS is corrupt.

The US justice department is investigating two prominent Minnesota liberals over alleged attempts to impede federal immigration operations, an escalation of the Trump's administration's clash with Democrats. Protests have ramped up in the city after Renee Good, 37, was shot and killed by an ICE agent last week. "The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her." Democratic lawmakers travelled to the city for a hearing there and spent Friday condemning federal immigration operations in the state, accusing ICE of reckless and lawless actions. Ilhan Omar, a congresswoman from Minnesota who has long feuded with Trump, said that ICE was trying to "provoke chaos and fear".

The White House has released the names of the members who will form the Trump administration's new "Board of Peace" for Gaza. Each member of the "Board of Peace" is expected to be in charge of a portfolio that will be "critical to Gaza's stabilisation", the White House added. Sir Tony BlairFormer UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair had long been talked about as a potential member of Trump's "Board of Peace, with the US president confirming back in September that he had expressed an interest in joining the body. He previously described Trump's plans for Gaza as the "best chance of ending two years of war, misery and suffering". In November, he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss key sticking points in the peace deal.

Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah at the Bunge Towers, Nairobi on July 29, 2024. [Elvis Ogina,Standard]People living with HIV are calling for the withdrawal of the case that has halted the implementation of the landmark United States financial health support to Kenya. Through their umbrella, the National Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV/Aids in Kenya (Nenphak), they have urged Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah to reconsider his position and allow the release of the funds.

President Donald Trump speaks to the media while signing executive orders in the Oval Office. [AFP]A threat by US President Donald Trump to impose a 25 per cent tariff on any nation trading with Iran has thrown Kenya’s strategic push into the Middle East into disarray, forcing Nairobi to choose between a resurgent tea market and vital access to American consumers. The warning, posted by Trump on his Truth Social platform on Monday, targets countries conducting business with the Islamic Republic, calling the order “final and conclusive.”