A crowd at a political rally. [File, Standard]As the country approaches 2027, political activity is intensifying, with community leaders mobilising local support and forging alliances ahead of next year’s polls. In Baringo County, and across the wider Kalenjin community region, political fault lines are becoming more apparent.
Over 15 officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have undergone a four-week training in the USA to fight drugs. The course ‘Basic Narcotics Investigations’ was facilitated by the United States Drugs Enforcement Agency (DEA) and took place at their academy in Quantico, Virginia. The DEA was lauded as an integral partner in building skills, developing professionals and collaborating internationally in the fight against drugs. The training for the SIU officers comes at a time when Kenya has scored wins in the fight against trafficking. Data from DCI shows that between January and November 2025 detectives seized drugs worth Sh9 billion.
Apple’s Timing and the Value ArgumentWhen Apple Music posted its understated reminder that its price remained unchanged, the message resonated beyond marketing. Apple Music continues to charge $10.99 per month for Individual plans in the US, unchanged since 2022, while including lossless audio and Spatial Audio at no additional cost. While Spotify and Apple Music compete around catalog parity, YouTube Music benefits from the messy edges of the internet. The Rivalry That Persists Without ResolutionThe competition between Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music now feels less like a race and more like coexistence shaped by user identity. Apple users value integration.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki. [PCS]Leaders from Mount Kenya East have insisted that Deputy President Kithure Kindiki must retain his position as President William Ruto's running mate in next year's election. They spoke as Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Oburu Oginga affirmed the party's quest for the DP position.
[AFP]Motorcycle-riding gunmen swept into three villages in a central region of Nigeria, shooting dead or cutting the throats of at least 46 people, a humanitarian source told AFP on Saturday. A resident of Konkoso told AFP the gunmen had first attacked the nearby village of Tungar Makeri before heading to his village. A spokesman for Niger State police told AFP that six people had been killed in Tungan Makeri when the gunmen overran the village at around 6:00 am. The Konkoso resident said his nephew was among those killed in Konkoso. Jihadists killed more than 160 people in an attack on the village of Woro in Kwara State at the beginning of February.
Investing in Skills and the FutureBeyond advisory services, Agrodakk is investing heavily in human capital, recognizing that the future of agriculture depends on skills transfer and youth participation. To help farmers cope with climate uncertainty, Agrodakk also provides online advisory services, enabling growers to access guidance on drought-resistant practices and all-weather crop production. Agrodakk founder and CEO Daniel Kimtai showcases farm products produced under Agrodakk’s advisory programme, which supports improved quality and productivity. Agrodakk Ltd represents a model of agriculture that looks beyond short-term yields to long-term resilience. By placing farmers at the centre, investing in people, and opening pathways to global markets, Agrodakk is turning agriculture into an engine of opportunity at home and abroad.
Away from the tense battle zone, the athletes had a priceless chance to be taken through a rigorous financial literacy process to equip them with knowledge and skills on how to grow and double their earnings. Personally, I’m ready to embrace the vital lessons we have been equipped with today to secure my financial future,” Kipkemei told Standard Sports. “We are addressing this critical need in the sporting industry, equipping sportspersons with the financial management skills necessary for them to build sustainable livelihoods and secure their sunset futures," said Wokabi. “This year, just as we did last season, we have been having a sit-down with the athletes – especially the upcoming ones. We are doing financial literacy training, which is a very critical component of their career."
Kenyan celebrities celebrated their lovers with big gestures on Valentine's Day. How did Kenyan celebrs celebrate Valentine's Day? Happy Valentine’s Day, love,” Trevor wrote. How should you celebrate Valentine's Day? In other news, Risper Faith left fans stunned after announcing that she is expecting her second child in a glamorous Valentine’s Day reveal.
Health CS Aden Duale. [File, Standard]The biggest news of the week isn’t the removal of indomitable ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, but the disgraceful clash of egos between governors and senators. The showdown has retold the African folklore of a clever thief helping to look for the stolen item. It also lays bare the ‘do as I say, not as I do’ philosophy of Kenya’s elites. Many governors have said that from now on, they will snub summons because four senators have ‘escalated extortion’ in the County Public Accounts Committee and that of Public Investment and Special Funds.
On January 22, the High Court overturned the creation of 21 presidential advisers’ offices. Subsequently, former advisers, including David Ndii and Makau Mutua, sought to set aside this progressive decision. Let us be clear: the former advisers were operating unconstitutional offices. Former advisers earned salaries and allowances exceeding Sh1 million per month, comparable to those of senior state officials. Within this framework, proliferating advisory offices are unconstitutional, inefficient, and regressive.
Sudan remains locked in an almost three‑year power struggle between the regular army and the RSF paramilitaries. The ongoing civil war has killed hundreds of thousands of people, and forced more than 13 million people from their homes. Widespread sexual violence against men, women and children is being used as a weapon of war.
Digital identity infrastructure provider Identy.io has announced an expansion of its African operations, positioning itself to address one of the continent’s most persistent barriers to digital transformation: the lack of reliable, inclusive identity verification systems. However, millions of users remain excluded due to fragmented identity systems, limited access to formal IDs, and high fraud risks. Identy.io’s expansion focuses on delivering AI-powered biometric verification, document authentication, and eKYC (electronic Know Your Customer) solutions tailored for African markets. “Identy.io is committed to being the leading long-term partner in digital public and private infrastructure for our African clients. Our technology supports biometric capture using standard smartphones, processes identity documents, issues digital identities to individuals lacking formal identification, and facilitates large-scale biometric verification and deduplication.
Viral videos featuring a man believed to be a foreign national interacting with Kenyan women have ignited widespread debate across social media platforms, with opinions sharply divided over what the clips represent and what they say about society. The videos and images, which have been trending for several hours, show a man approaching different women in public and semi-private settings, striking up conversations and engaging in light-hearted interactions. Across the videos, there is noticeable flirtatious language and behaviour, though no one appears to be coerced or restrained. As the clips circulated, they triggered a flood of reactions online, ranging from humour and mockery to concern and outright condemnation. Some users called on the government to intervene, questioning why authorities had remained silent despite the videos gaining massive traction.
Orange Democratic Movement leaders have intensified grassroots engagements, promising to keep the party in government and resist efforts to confine it to opposition ranks. Speaking during a rally in Magarini, top officials accused a section of party members of deliberately pushing for the Orange party to remain in opposition, a move they said will not happen.
Liverpool are eyeing up a deal for a Bundesliga star who has got a “dream” to move to the Premier League. The Reds spent £450m in last summer’s transfer window - but there are indications that sporting director is planning to splash out once again at the end of the season. Milos Kerkez was brought in for £40m last summer and has since displaced long-term first-choice Andy Robertson. Robbo, meanwhile, is out of contract in summer 2026 when his £160k per week deal expires. And while the Reds have got young players like Owen Beck and Luke Chambers waiting in the wings the likelihood is that they move for a senior player instead.
