Shock of ghost schools: Thousands of ghost learners found as school data audit exposes fraud 6th February, 2026A major shake-up is looming in Kenya’s education sector following the discovery of tens of thousands of ghost learners and non-existent schools embedded in official government records. The revelations, contained in the National School Data Verification Report, have raised serious questions about the credibility of enrolment data and the integrity of capitation funding.

President Wiliam Ruto in Malindi, Kilifi county /HANDOUTPresident William Ruto and other government officials on Thursday paused formal proceedings to share a meal at a local ‘kibanda’ known for affordable food in Malindi, Kilifi county. The President was in Malindi for the disbursement of the Nyota Business Start-Up Capital funds. President Ruto at a Kibanda in Malindi, Kilifi county /SCREENGRABVideos circulated on social media showed Ruto seated next to residents, engaging in light conversation with customers. In his remarks earlier at the Nyota disbursement forum, Ruto emphasised that his government is “delivering on the plan” to empower young people with tools for entrepreneurship and economic independence. Ruto’s engagement with locals at the kibanda offered a grassroots narrative to accompany the larger policy rollout reinforcing government messaging on inclusive development and interaction with ordinary citizens.

The Court of Appeal has overturned a High Court decision that had invalidated the entire National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NGCDF) Act, 2015, finding that the lower court erred in striking down the law in its entirety. The case started in 2016 when petitioners challenged the NGCDF Act, 2015 at the High Court, claiming it violated devolution and public finance principles. The High Court declared the law unconstitutional in September 2024. The court observed that the Senate and the Council of Governors were parties to the case but did not raise complaints of interference with county functions. The appeal was allowed, and the NGCDF Act, 2015 upheld.

Detectives are investigating an incident where a professor lost Sh950,000 to suspected thieves in the Runda, Nairobi. The gang is believed to have been at the banking hall or had prior information on the cash transactions, police said. The professor later confronted the bank officials demanding an explanation of how the incident happened. He protested the incident saying he suspected the thieves knew the transactions from the bank. This is the latest such incident to happen where people are attacked and robbed of cash after leaving banks.

Elvish Yadav and Jiya Shankar created a frenzy among their fans after they posted a photo with Jiya wearing an engagement ring. However, the truth is something else, as Elvish and Jiya did not get engaged. They were promoting their upcoming reality series Engaged Season 2, streaming soon on JioHotstar. On the work front, Elvish Yadav was recently seen in the web series Aukaat Se Bahar, streaming on Amazon MX Player. He was recently seen in Laughter Chefs Season 3 and became the first runner-up of the show with Karan Kundrra.

Elderly women carry home blankets after a mentorship program in the campaign against Female Genital Mutilation and Gender-Based Violence in 2024. [Sammy Omingo, Standard]As Kenya marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), women’s rights groups have called on the government to strengthen enforcement of laws and policies that criminalise the practice. “Kenya’s ban on FGM has been in place for more than a decade. “There can be no end to female genital mutilation without sustained commitment and investment,” UNFPA said. This year’s theme for the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM is “Towards 2030: No end to female genital mutilation without sustained commitment and investment.”

1 / 8Imagine a train that doesn’t run on tracks but seems to float through the air as it speeds ahead. The Maglev (Magnetic Levitation) train, operating in countries like China and Japan, is a marvel of modern technology that has completely transformed the idea of rail travel. 2 / 8When a Train ‘Flies’ in the Air: In Japan, there is a train that doesn’t run on tracks in the traditional way. 7 / 8China’s 700 km/h Maglev Feat: China has also pushed the limits of Maglev technology. A high-speed Maglev train there set a new global record by reaching 700 km/h in just two seconds, showcasing unmatched acceleration and power.

A woman who swapped stripping for singing says seeing her friend 'rise from the dead' helped her turn her life around. Dorothy was converted from atheist to believer after the moment, believing her desperate prayers were answered by angels. Dorothy, from Los Angeles, California, US, said: "Most of my problems started when I was in my early twenties.I had moved to Hollywood. "In May 2018, I witnessed a miracle on my tour bus while I was touring my second album. "I'm learning that it's not about perfection but more about making progress, I take it one day at a time."

Mansa-X Special Funds, managed under the Standard Investment Trust Funds platform, have crossed the $1 billion (Sh129 billion) mark in assets under management (AUM), underscoring a growing investor appetite for diversified collective investment schemes amid Kenya’s evolving capital markets. The milestone positions Mansa-X as Kenya’s largest special Collective Investment Scheme (CIS) with diversified offerings in the region. The Mansa-X Special Fund in Kenyan shillings posted average net returns of 20.74 per cent, while the US dollar-denominated fund returned 13.37 per cent net. According to Standard Investment Bank (SIB), the performance reflects a disciplined investment approach anchored on active portfolio management, prudent asset allocation, and a long-term view of market fundamentals. Nahashon Mungai, the executive director – Global Markets at Standard Investment Bank, said the achievement reflects sustained investor confidence in the firm’s investment philosophy.

The United States has approved a massive Ksh759 billion funding package for global HIV programmes, marking a surprising turnaround just weeks after President Donald Trump withdrew from 66 international organisations. The new funding package includes Ksh594 billion for bilateral HIV support through the America First Global Health Strategy and $1.25 billion, or about Ksh161.4 billion, to the Global Fund to Battle AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. She added that the US investment would help ensure the global HIV response remains efficient, data-driven, and delivers results for communities most affected by the disease. For over two decades, U.S. investments have been the leading driver of the global HIV response, saving millions of lives and supporting countries' efforts to end epidemics. The new law advances the America First Global Health Strategy while maintaining US leadership in the international HIV response despite a broader retreat from multilateral organisations and UN bodies.

#Twende Season 4 Premiere: We're baaaaaack! #TwendeNtvThe making of Twende isn’t a drive in the park. Go behind the scenes and see the challenges the crew went through in the making of the new season from tough hikes, dust and even rouge elephants. Welcome to the Twende family! Get ready for a mix of hilarious bloopers, heartwarming moments, and exclusive sneak peeks of what’s coming this NEW season.

The shutdown of the two iconic venues threatens to leave AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia without permanent home grounds, exposing what Ambani described as a long standing structural weakness in Kenyan club football. The shutdown of the two iconic venues threatens to leave AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia without permanent home grounds, exposing what Ambani described as a long-standing structural weakness in Kenyan club football. In an open letter addressed to both clubs and their supporters, Ambani urged the giants of Kenyan football to move beyond comfort zones and take bold steps toward self-sufficiency. “It’s high time both clubs and their fans move from their comfort zones and make it count in Kenyan football,” Ambani wrote. In the most recent derby hosted by Gor Mahia, gate collections reportedly surpassed Ksh 7 million, underlining the enormous financial potential of the two institutions.

Reality television in Africa is about to graduate from singing competitions to a geopolitical beauty pageant. The winner is chosen "mainly through paid public voting," a phrase that raises immediate questions about whether the richest nations will simply buy the crown. The producers argue that the "Queen of Africa" will be a beacon of hope, launching charity projects and digital empowerment initiatives. As the casting calls go out from Lagos to Lusaka, the "Queen of Africa" is already winning the battle for attention. Africa does not need another queen, but it might just need a new dream—even if that dream is sponsored, televised, and voted for via SMS.

The Glam At The Fitbeat Concert 2.0 / #TheGlamNtvIn this episode you will experience the magic of The Glam at The Fitbeat Concert 2.0! , we are taking you behind the scenes of a unique concert which is all about fitness ,you get to meet and hear from concert-goers about their fitness inspirations and enjoy a fresh perspective on wellness through exercise and community vibes. This episode has a vibe and its a must watch. November 21, 2024

Indonesia’s market watchdog said newly listing firms will be required to double their minimum free float – the number of shares available for public trading – to 15%. The announcement “highlighted investor concerns on low free float, opaque shareholding structures and scope for share price manipulation by related parties”. Critics argued that this level of concentration leaves Indonesia’s market unusually vulnerable to distortion. Over the same period, the MSCI Indonesia Index, which applies stricter investability rules, fell 3.6%. The Financial Service Authority aims to implement a higher free float requirement by March at the latest.