Category: The Citizen

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy came to the White House on Friday looking for weapons to keep fighting his country’s war with Russia, but met an American president who appears more intent on brokering a peace deal than upgrading Ukraine’s arsenal. While U.

S. President Donald Trump did not rule out providing the long-range Tomahawk missiles Zelenskiy seeks, Trump appeared cool to the prospect as he looked ahead to a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary in the coming weeks.

After speaking with Zelenskiy for more than two hours, Trump implored both Ukraine and Russia to “stop the war immediately,” even if it means Ukraine conceding territory. “You stop at the battle line, and both sides should go home, go to their families,” Trump told reporters on his way to his home in West Palm Beach, Florida.

“Stop the killing. And that should be it.

Stop right now at the battle line. I told that to President Zelenskiy.

I told it to President Putin.” Trump’s move to re-engage with Putin, a strategy that has frustrated Zelenskiy and some European allies in the past, cast a shadow on the U.

S. president’s otherwise cordial exchange with his Ukrainian counterpart as they spoke with reporters ahead of a private lunch.

The two leaders then went behind closed doors where they also discussed a call the previous day between the Russian president and Trump, who has portrayed himself as a mediator between the warring forces despite the fact that Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. “I think President Zelenskiy wants it done, and I think President Putin wants it done. Now all they have to do is get along a little bit,” Trump told reporters.

Zelenskiy, however, noted how difficult it has been to try to secure a ceasefire. “We want this.

Putin doesn’t want (it),” he said. The Ukrainian leader was frank, telling Trump that Ukraine has thousands of drones ready for an offensive against Russian targets, but needs American missiles.

Later, Trump reiterated that he wants the United States to hold onto its weaponry. “We want Tomahawks also.

We don’t want to be giving away things that we need to protect our country,” he said. After the meeting, which Zelenskiy described as productive, he told reporters he did not want to talk about long-range missiles, saying the U.

S. did not want escalation, and that he was “realistic” about his chance of getting them.

The Ukrainian president, who spoke by phone with European leaders after the meeting, said he was counting on Trump to pressure Putin “to stop this war.” When asked about Trump’s comments, Zelenskiy said: “President (Trump) is right, and we have to stop where we are.

This is important, to stop where we are, and then to speak.” It was unclear what Putin had told Trump that prompted him to agree to the upcoming meeting.

Their August summit in Alaska ended early with no major breakthrough. The Kremlin said much needed to be decided and that the summit might take place “a little later” than within the two-week period mentioned by Trump.

Trump’s conciliatory tone after the call with Putin raised questions over the near-term likelihood of assistance to Ukraine and reignited European fears of a deal that suits Russia. A spokesperson for the European Union said it welcomed the talks if they could help bring peace to Ukraine.

Trump was asked on Friday whether he was concerned Putin might be “playing” him for time by agreeing to talks. “You know, I’ve been played all my life by the best of them, and I came out really well, so it’s possible,” Trump replied.

Michael Carpenter, a former U.S.

official who is now a senior fellow at International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the meeting with Trump was not what Zelenskiy had been hoping for but was in line with the administration’s approach to the war. “The underlying reality is that there is no inclination to impose costs on Russia,” he said.

The president expressed affection for Zelenskiy, at one point praising him for wearing what Trump called a “very stylish” dark suit jacket after he was knocked earlier this year for visiting the White House without one. “He looks beautiful in his jacket,” Trump said.

“I hope people notice.” Trump, who has campaigned for the Nobel Peace Prize, is eager to add to the list of conflicts he says he has been instrumental in ending.

More than 3-1/2 years after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has made some territorial gains this year, but Ukraine’s top military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Thursday that the Russian offensive had failed. Putin this month said his forces had taken almost 5,000 square kilometres (1,930 square miles) of land in Ukraine in 2025, equivalent to adding 1% of Ukraine’s territory to the nearly 20% already held.

Both sides have also escalated attacks on each other’s energy systems, and Russian drones and jets have strayed into NATO countries. The White House had seemed in recent days to be increasingly frustrated with Putin and leaning toward granting Zelenskiy fresh support, including the Tomahawk missiles that Ukrainians say would help them inflict more damage to Russia’s war machine.

After Friday’s talks, Zelenskiy said Russia was “afraid” of Tomahawks. Moscow has warned that supplying such missiles would mark a serious escalation.

Putin’s move appeared meant to make the U.S.

transfer of such weapons less likely, said Max Bergmann, a Russia expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Mykola Bielieskov, a senior analyst at Come Back Alive, a Ukrainian non-governmental organization that is a major procurer of military equipment for the Ukrainian armed forces, said Tomahawk missiles would level a playing field that is tipped toward Russia.

“We don’t expect Russia to crumble after one, two or three successful strikes,” Bielieskov said. “But it’s about pressure, constant pressure.

It’s about disrupting the military-industrial complex.” “We don’t have Tomahawks, that’s why we need Tomahawks,” he said.

Trump responded: “We’d much rather have them not need Tomahawks.” .

Abidjan. Alassane Ouattara’s long path to becoming Ivory Coast president included two elections in which he was disqualified from running and a brief but brutal 2010-11 civil war spurred by his predecessor’s refusal to leave office.

Things have been easier since he took the top job in 2011, with landslide re-election wins in 2015 and 2020. The 83-year-old former international banker hopes to replicate the feat for a third and potentially final time when West Africa’s biggest cocoa producer goes to the polls on October 25. Ouattara’s supporters say his success at the ballot box reflects voter satisfaction with strong economic growth since he took office and a flurry of infrastructure projects, from new roads and interchanges to a more than 300-metre tower that dwarfs everything else in the city centre skyline. His critics say it has just as much to do with restrictions on democratic activities, including what Amnesty International criticised on Thursday as a “disproportionate” ban on election-related protests.

The man who analysts say would be Ouattara’s biggest challenger, former Credit Suisse chief executive Tidjane Thiam, has been excluded after a court found he had French nationality when he registered, which is not permitted under Ivorian law. Ouattara’s predecessor Laurent Gbagbo is barred because of a prior conviction.

Those who are allowed to contest do not have the backing of the country’s major political parties, hindering their ability to mobilise on a large scale, analysts said. Instead, the four opposition candidates are heading up “makeshift coalitions” and are divided among themselves, said Cesar Flan Moquet, director of the Centre of Political Research of Abidjan, a think tank.

“All this means that these candidates do not really have a chance,” he said. Turbulent rise to the top Born in Dimbokro in central Ivory Coast on January 1, 1942, Ouattara received a doctorate in economics from the University of Pennsylvania, then rose to deputy director of the International Monetary Fund.

He later became prime minister under founding President Felix Houphouet-Boigny, whose death in 1993 ushered in a more toxic period in Ivorian politics. New electoral rules, including one requiring candidates to have lived in Ivory Coast for the previous five years, prevented Ouattara from running in the 1995 election.

He was excluded again in 2020 on the grounds that one of his parents was from Burkina Faso. Gbagbo, who won that election, called Ouattara “a candidate for the foreigners”.

A 2002 rebellion against Gbagbo split the country in two, leaving its northern half in the hands of rebels, many of them from Ouattara’s Dioula ethnic group. The war was largely a result of xenophobic policies by successive Ivorian governments against migrant farmers from Burkina Faso and Mali that also targeted northern Ivorians with cultural ties to them.

For the 2010 election, Ouattara formed a pact with former President Henri Konan Bedie which helped secure his victory in the runoff against Gbagbo. Fighting that erupted after Gbagbo rejected his defeat killed around 3,000 people before Ouattara was sworn in in April 2011. Ouattara coasted to re-election in 2015 and 2020, though the latter vote was marred by clashes between rival supporters that killed 85 people.

Uncertainty over who comes next Tensions do not appear to be running as high as in 2020, when critics were more agitated over Ouattara’s argument that a new constitution approved in 2016 had reset his two-term limit. The protest ban and the deployment of 44,000 security forces to prevent unrest will help stave off large-scale unrest, said West Africa political risk consultant Jessica Moody.

Ouattara is likely to spend a fourth term focused on economic targets, including making Ivory Coast a middle-income country by 2030, bringing a new Abidjan metro online and improving roads and electricity access. There is also the question of who comes after him, which he tried to answer before the 2020 election by naming then-Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly as his successor.

Coulibaly died several months later, and Ouattara went back on his promise to hand power to a new generation. Choosing a new successor will be a thorny process given divisions within the ruling party, but it is not impossible, Moody said.

“I don’t think he lacks the motivation to stand down,” she said. “He will be 88 by the next election.

” .

Dar es SalaamKibaha. It was an ordinary evening for four young friends sharing a house in Dar es Salaam.

Three were motorcycle taxi operators, popularly known as bodaboda, and the fourth drove a bajaji (three-wheeler). After a long day’s work, they were relaxing in one of the rooms, chatting as they waited for dinner.

Suddenly, their cheerful evening turned grim when a knock came at the door. As it opened, a masked man with a gun burst in, followed by two others, one carrying handcuffs.

The four friends were seized and taken away. The story ended tragically on October 16, 2025, when Coast Regional Police reported that the bodies of the four young men had been found along a roadside in the region.

Police said the discovery was made by the Kidimu Street Chairman, who reported seeing four unidentified bodies along the KidimuVingunguti section in Kibaha District, near the MapingaKibaha road. Forensic officers at the scene said the men, estimated to be aged between 19 and 22, had injuries on their faces and legs.

Their identities and residences were initially unknown. The bodies were taken to Tumbi Regional Referral Hospital for post-mortem examination.

As investigations continued, relatives later identified them. The deceased were named as Mikidadi Abbas Mikidadi (21) and Hassan Juma Jumanne (21), both bodaboda riders from Tabata Chang’ombe; Fadhili Patrick Hiyola (19), a bodaboda rider from Vingunguti Miembeni; and Abdalla Fadhil Nyanga (21), a bajaji driver from Kisukuru, Tabata.

Police said the bodies were released to families for burial after examinations, as investigations sought to establish where and how the killings occurred and who was responsible. Coast Regional Police appealed to anyone with information that could help solve the murders to come forward.

Speaking to The Citizen’s sister newspaper, Mwananchi, on October 16, 2025, relatives of Hassan and Abdalla, popularly known as Dulla, shared their accounts. Dulla was buried at 4 p.

m. on October 16, 2025, while Mikidadi and Fadhili were buried a day earlier.

Hassan’s body was to be laid to rest in Same, Kilimanjaro Region, on Saturday, October 18, 2025, after a farewell service at the Ilala Regional Referral Hospital, Amana. A mother’s account The late Hassan Jumanne’s mother, Ms Hadija Mmbaga, recalled receiving a call on the morning of October 14, 2025, from another bodaboda rider asking if she knew her son had been taken away.

“I said no, and that’s when I was told Hassan and three friends had been abducted the previous night,” she said. Ms Mmbaga contacted the other parents, and together they began searching police stations and hospitals in vain.

Later that evening, she received another call from a parent who said an unknown number had reported that four bodies had been found in Kibaha and taken to Tumbi Hospital. “The men went there and recognised them as our children.

They had visible injuries; it was clear they’d been beaten,” she said. Life together Ms Mmbaga said the four were close friends who shared a rented house.

Quoting Dulla’s wife, she said the abduction occurred around 1 a.m.

The four usually gathered in Dulla’s room to chat after work, as they operated in different areas. “According to Dulla’s wife, she was preparing food while one of them went to buy something.

Moments later, there was a knock. Thinking it was their friend, she opened the door and faced a masked man with a gun, who ordered her to keep quiet,” said Ms Mmbaga.

Two more masked men entered, one carrying handcuffs. The intruders tied the youths’ hands, blindfolded them with their clothes, and ordered the women present to cover themselves with bedsheets until they left.

“It all happened very fast. When the friend who had gone to buy food returned, he was told armed men had taken them away,” said Ms Mmbaga.

” “We reported the abduction to the police, but later we were only handed their bodies,” she said sorrowfully. Behind the scenes Ms Mmbaga said that on October 13, 2025, the day before the abduction, the youths had quarrelled with another young man in their neighbourhood.

The fight escalated, and the youth was injured. “We were told the injured boy’s parent later threatened our sons, saying they would ‘disappear’ and even their parents couldn’t save them.

The next day, they truly went missing, and later we found their bodies,” she said. When asked about the injury, the parent reportedly demanded Sh25,000 for treatment, which the families promptly paid.

Mr Said Mikidadi, brother of the late Mikidadi Abbas, said the dispute had involved Dulla and another youth from Kisukuru. “It was just a youthful fight.

But the injured boy’s parent came to Dulla’s house, threatening to make them disappear,” he said, adding that although the matter appeared settled, the four were abducted days later. “When they went missing, Dulla’s brother reminded us of the earlier threat.

The parents confronted the man, asking where the boys were, but he denied any involvement,” he said. “Even if he didn’t do it himself, his words showed a clear link.

Soon after, we were informed the bodies had been found,” he added. Family and friends speak Mr Mohamed Abdallah, uncle and spokesperson for Dulla’s family, said they first learned of the abduction from Dulla’s wife, who witnessed the ordeal.

“Our boy was not a troublemaker or a thief. We thought police had taken him, but after searching all stations with no results, we later received news of his death,” he said.

He added that the bodies showed signs of torture, rope marks around the neck, and cloth stuffed in their mouths. The four had lived like brothers, with Fadhili frequently visiting.

Dulla left behind a wife and a one-year, eight-month-old child. A fellow bodaboda rider, Abdul Twaha, said the killings had shocked the community.

“We’re now living in fear because we don’t know who might be next. These young men were just ordinary riders; we all knew them,” he said.

How the bodies were found Kidimu Neighbourhood Chairman, Dionis Charwa, said he received a call early on October 14, 2025, from a resident reporting the discovery of four bodies near a drainage ditch along the BagamoyoKibaha highway. Speaking on Friday, October 17, 2025, Mr Charwa said a large crowd had gathered at the scene.

Three bodies lay together, and one was slightly apart. “They were clothed, with no signs of struggle or blood, suggesting they were killed elsewhere and dumped here,” he said.

“It’s clear these young men were murdered elsewhere. The incident has deeply unsettled Kidimu residents,” he added.

He said the killings had revived memories of similar incidents reported years ago in the same area. Resident James Mgaya said he discovered the bodies while heading to work at dawn.

“I was shocked and terrified when I saw them by the roadside. Years ago, similar cases happened here before things quietened down,” he added.

He added that the area once had houses demolished by the government for being within the road reserve, leaving it deserted. Another resident, Ms Christina Mwaluko, urged the government to develop abandoned land near residential areas to deter crime.

“The government should put such areas to productive use to eliminate hiding spots for criminals,” she said. .

The friendship between Raila Odinga and John Pombe Magufuli, the former Tanzanian president, was more than political–it was rooted in shared ideals and forged during their time as ministers for Works in their respective countries. Their collaboration began in 2003 at an international infrastructure conference in Durban, South Africa.

“I wanted to share my experiences, learn from fellow ministers and other experts,” Odinga recalled. “From there, our friendship kicked off.

We became advisers to each other.” Between 2003 and 2005, the two leaders worked closely to fast-track transport services between Kenya and Tanzania.

They exchanged visits and launched joint projects aimed at modernising roads, bridges and railways. Their efforts focused not only on physical infrastructure but also on rooting out corruption in road contracts.

Odinga would later note: “Together with Magufuli we fought corruption and championed quality infrastructure in both Kenya and Tanzania, where contractors were demanding pay and getting paid for works they had not done, or those done way below specifications.” Magufuli invited Kenyan engineers to Dar es Salaam to exchange ideas with their Tanzanian counterparts.

This marked the beginning of a cross-border collaboration that would span years and transcend political office. After Magufuli became president in October 2015, their friendship deepened.

Odinga advised him on governance and anti-corruption strategies. Their families also grew close.

In April 2016, Odinga, accompanied by his wife Ida and daughter, visited Magufuli’s home village in Chato, Geita region, for Easter holiday. They attended Sunday mass together at a local Catholic church, just five months after Magufuli assumed the presidency.

Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga (left) being received by the late Tanzanian President John Magufuli and his wife Janeth at their Milimani home in Geita region, Tanzania. Magufuli later visited Kenya in November 2016, joining President Uhuru Kenyatta to inaugurate the Southern By-pass in Nairobi.

Odinga returned the gesture in March 2019, visiting Tanzania to inspect the standard gauge railway construction between Dar es Salaam and Morogoro. When Magufuli died on March 17, 2021, Odinga was devastated.

“It was the worst time to lose a friend and a comrade,” Odinga said. “We as Kenyans will use this railway to maintain our relationship with Tanzania in transport, economic and industrial development.

We want to do business with our neighbours Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda through our regional rails and roads,” Odinga said during the visit. “When rumours started going around about the health and whereabouts of my friend President John Pombe Magufuli, I placed several calls to him.

Later, I sent him a text message. Both went unanswered.

I then resigned to expect the worst while hoping I was wrong.” Even after Magufuli’s death, the bond between their families endured.

In February 2025, Magufuli’s daughter Jessica visited Odinga in Kenya to express support for his candidacy for the African Union Commission chairmanship. .

Trust is fragile. Every unanswered question, every empty promise chips away at it.

No wonder we are the 11th least happy nation in the world. And honestly? I’m not shocked.

Like seriously, how can anyone smile knowing there’s a 90 per cent chance you could die at any moment, and I’m not talking about God’s will. I mean the roads.

Boda bodas weaving through pedestrian lanes like they’re auditioning for Fast and Furious: Dar es Salaam Edition. Drivers ignoring stop signs like they’ve never met a red light in their lives.

Speed bumps sprinkled around like some sadistic game show. Two-way highways that seem designed to keep insurance companies in business.

Every time you leave home, there’s this little unspoken prayer, “Lord, let me reach the corner shop alive.” Healthcare? Don’t get me started.

Wrong diagnoses, bills that could fund a small country, and diets dictated by your wallet, not your doctor. Forget eating what’s healthy; if you can afford protein, congratulations, you’ve levelled up.

And then there’s economic freedom, ha! ha! When checking a menu, your eyes go straight to the prices. You don’t choose food; the food chooses you.

Your restaurant selection depends on how broke or ambitious you feel that day. Inflation has turned every craving into a luxury, and loans like Kaushadamu, Songesha, Fuliza, and Tajirisha are now part of daily survival.

Borrowed happiness at best, but hey, at least it’s temporary, like most of our joy. Happiness shouldn’t feel like a high-stakes game show.

And yet, day after day, the systems that are supposed to protect us act like the villains. Roads, hospitals, inflated bills, all quietly stealing our peace of mind.

Where accountability ends, frustration begins. Every broken promise, neglected pothole, and overpriced hospital visit that’s one more reason a citizen loses a reason to smile.

And yes, sometimes it feels like we’re collecting reasons not to be happy like Pokemon cards. Leaders promise change, and then nothing.

Clinics remain closed, potholes remain open, taxes rise, but services stay broken. Citizens stop believing.

And when belief dies, happiness quietly packs its bags and leaves. Happiness isn’t just money or infrastructure.

It’s faith faith that the system works for you, not against you. So yes, our ranking in the World Happiness Report is more than a number.

It’s a warning. A wake-up call.

A polite tap on the shoulder saying, “Hey, maybe check on your people before you check your ego.” We Tanzanians are resilient, community-orientated, endlessly hopeful But even hope has limits.

If roads stay death traps, healthcare stays expensive, and leaders stop answering for their actions, happiness will remain a luxury. And truthfully? We deserve more than borrowed smiles and broken promises.

We deserve to live, breathe, trust and actually laugh a little along the way. .

Dar es Salaam. Former President of Kenya, Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, has described the late Raila Amolo Odinga as Kenya’s “Father of the Nation” in recognition of his profound love for the country and unwavering commitment to upholding justice, unity, and democracy.

Speaking on Friday, October 17, 2025, during the national farewell ceremony for Raila held at Nyayo Stadium, Kenyatta recalled that Kenyans knew Odinga by various affectionate nicknames such as Jakom, Agwambo, and Ting’a, but above all, they knew and respected him as a father figure. “Today we gather as Kenyans to celebrate the life of our leader, my friend, and my brother.

Honourable Raila Amolo Odinga was known by many names Jakom, Agwambo, Ting’a but as a nation, we recognised and honoured him as a Father,” Kenyatta said. He emphasised that Raila was loved not because of his ethnicity or skin colour, but for his vision, thoughts, and deeds.

“Honourable Raila loved his country above all else. He had no allegiance to tribe; he cherished all of Kenya and every one of its citizens.

In his home, one would meet friends from every corner of our nation a lesson in unity and genuine love,” he added. Kenyatta insisted that Kenya’s history cannot be written without Raila Odinga’s name.

“The history of Kenya’s democracy cannot be told without placing Raila Odinga at its forefront. The history of human rights and citizens’ rights cannot be written without his name.

Even the history of devolution and empowering communities cannot be recounted without mentioning Raila Amolo Odinga,” he said. Paying tribute with deep sorrow and respect, the former president said that although Raila has departed in body, he will continue to live on in the spirit and hearts of all Kenyans.

“Raila loved peace. He cherished the unity of our nation.

He delighted in seeing Kenyans work together to build their country. He was a champion of the rights of all, and whenever he saw injustice, he was the first to stand and ensure that justice prevailed,” Kenyatta said.

He concluded his address with a patriotic call for all Kenyans to uphold the principles that Raila Odinga so dearly believed in .

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance (TANCDA) has called on Tanzanians to adopt healthier lifestyles, urging citizens to move more, eat wisely, and prioritise their mental well-being as part of a national push to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A health and fitness expert at TANCDA, Dr Waziri Ndonde made the appeal during the official launch of the Smart Health Journey, a pioneering initiative set to redefine chronic disease management and telemedicine in Tanzania. “I commend Jubilee Health Insurance, Medikea Clinic, and all our partners for their leadership in championing a healthier, more connected nation,” Dr Ndonde said.

He highlighted that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes, and cancer remain leading causes of premature death in Tanzania. The Smart Health Journey aligns with the National NCD Action Plan, emphasising prevention, early detection, and cross-sector collaboration.

“This initiative strengthens our Primary Health Care and Digital Health Strategies by promoting integrated, person-centred care for all Tanzanians,” Dr Ndonde added. He stressed the need for a shift from reactive treatment to proactive wellness.

“We must stop seeing people only as patients. They are fathers, mothers, professionals, and leaders who need strong health to fulfil their purpose,” he said.

“Physical activity, good nutrition, and mental wellness are simple yet powerful tools. When people move more, eat wisely, and care for their mental health, they live not only longer but better.

” By integrating lifestyle coaching, digital follow-ups, peer support, and mental wellness, the initiative extends healthcare beyond hospitals into homes, workplaces, and communities. Head of Wellness and Corporate Relations at Medikea Health, Dr Lilian Valerian said the Smart Health Journey represents a healthcare revolution.

“We are shifting from a system that waits for illness to one that walks with people through every step of their health journey,” she said. “At Medikea Afya App Limited, our vision is simple but powerful: to make healthcare accessible, continuous, and compassionate.

” The initiative, in partnership with Jubilee Health Insurance, uses a Telemedicine Platform designed to remove barriers of distance and time, offering every client instant access to qualified doctors and specialists. “Telemedicine is not the future; it is the present,” Dr Valerian said.

“It allows us to reach people who once felt out of reach and provides continuous care for chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.” The platform, developed collaboratively with patients, clinicians, and care teams, addresses real-life needs including treatment adherence, emotional support, and overall quality of life.

“We are already seeing tangible results — better disease control, earlier detection of complications, and fewer hospital admissions. That’s real impact, and it’s only the beginning,” Dr Valerian added.

The initiative aims to enrol over one million subscribers in its chronic disease management programme by 2030. It combines data, digital infrastructure, and personalised care to create a system that works for people. “We envision a Tanzania where every citizen can reach a doctor at the touch of a button — where prevention, not crisis, defines healthcare.

Our partnership with Jubilee Health is a statement of intent: Africa’s healthcare transformation will be led by innovation, collaboration, and care that puts people first,” Dr Valerian said. Representing Jubilee Health Insurance, Chief Operating Officer Shaban Salehe added that the Smart Health Journey is a transformative effort to make quality healthcare more accessible, efficient, and inclusive for all Tanzanians .

Nairobi. As Kenyans, led by President William Ruto, paid their last respects to Raila Odinga during the public viewing of his body at Kasarani Stadium, new revelations have emerged about the life of the late opposition leader.

One of the most striking accounts comes from former head of the Presidential Press Service, Lee Njiru. Among his many memories, one stands out like a lightning bolt across the country’s political skies the day the late President Daniel arap Moi rejected a senior security officer’s chilling proposal to assassinate Raila Amolo Odinga.

“Mzee Moi once told me,” Njiru begins, his voice steady but heavy with emotion, “that a senior security officer came to him and said, ‘Your Excellency, why is this man, Raila, giving you so many problems? Give me permission and we’ll take him out [kill]’. But Mzee looked at him, shook his head, and said a firm No.

” Mr Njiru pauses for a moment, letting the weight of those words settle. “Yes,” he says slowly, “some people inside Moi’s administration wanted Raila eliminated.

But To Mr Njiru, that decision defined Mr Moi’s political maturity and Mr Odinga’s central role in Kenya’s democracy. “Raila was an important and crucial component in Kenya’s political juggernaut — a man who challenged power, provoked debate, and pushed this country to evolve,” he says.

“It was confusing because from the beginning nobody was clear about Raila’s health status,” he said. “People were unprepared for this national tragedy.

When it was finally confirmed, I remembered the assassination of Julius Caesar and the words of Mark Antony — ‘Whence cometh such another?’ That is exactly what millions of Kenyans will ask. Raila was simply irreplaceable.

” Political realignment Mr Njiru believes Mr Odinga’s death will trigger a seismic political realignment. “With Raila gone, the political tapestry of this country will change dramatically.

He was a pillar — whether you loved him or not, you had to reckon with him. Ahead of 2027 and beyond, Kenya will see a shift in how politics is played.

” Mr Njiru’s connection with Mr Odinga runs deep. The two men worked closely when the former Prime Minister served as KANU secretary-general under Moi’s administration.

“He was tough — indefatigable,” Mr Njiru recalls with admiration. “When Raila set out to do something, he gave it everything.

But behind that toughness, he was also a gentleman. People saw him as hard, even abrasive, but he was kind and deeply human.

” Mr Njiru says he had a premonition before Mr Odinga’s death. “About a month ago, I asked a friend for Raila’s phone number.

I don’t know why. I called him three times but didn’t get through.

I just wanted to hear his voice maybe to say something I didn’t know I needed to say.” The two last met at Lee Njiru Resort, where Mr Odinga visited three times to meet cultural leaders.

“We would talk and joke for hours,” he told Daily Nation. “One day, Raila told me, ‘Lee, one of these days, let’s go to Embu and greet your people.

‘ I will never forget that.” Mr Njiru also remembers one memorable encounter at the US Ambassador’s residence in Muthaiga during an American Independence Day celebration.

“Raila came up to me, patted my back three times, and said, ‘Lee, you are a loyal person.’ He repeated it with that cheeky smile of his.

That moment stayed with me forever,” he says with warmth. Mr Njiru reveals little-known details of Mr Moi’s private conversations about the Odinga family.

“When Raila’s father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, died, Mzee Moi told me privately that he had no personal problems with the Odingas. He said he would fund the burial — and he did.

I remember Raila coming to State House, Nakuru. The two smiled, shook hands, and Moi later attended Jaramogi’s funeral in Siaya.

That’s the side of Moi people never saw — his human side.” Mr Njiru says Mr Moi understood that Raila, like his father, had a deep vision for Kenya.

“He told me Raila was a man who saw far beyond politics. He understood Kenya’s place in Africa and the world.

” “He wanted to take Kenya to the First World” Mr Njiru recalls one of their heated but respectful debates. “I once challenged Raila to stop saying that Kenya and countries like South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore were at the same economic level at independence.

I told him to move on from that argument,” Mr Njiru said. “Raila looked at me and said, ‘Lee, if given a chance, I will take Kenya to the First World.

‘ He meant it. He had the passion and the plan.

” While Mr Njiru admired Mr Odinga’s vision, he disagreed with his bid for the African Union chairmanship, dismissing it as “a mirage built on fake African unity.” Still, he says, Mr Odinga’s continental ambition showed his restless desire to make Africa better.

He describes the Odinga family as Kenya’s “luckiest political dynasty.” “They have been in all governments — Jomo Kenyatta’s, Moi’s, Kibaki’s, Uhuru’s, and now Ruto’s.

They’ve benefited in every era, yet they’re the only dynasty that has never ruled,” he observes. “When people say Raila was the best president Kenya never had — that is a matter of conjecture.

But one thing is certain: his influence is eternal.” Mr Njiru believes history will remember Mr Odinga as a man who never gave up, who fought for democracy when it was dangerous to do so, and who inspired millions to believe in a better Kenya.

“I feel cheated,” he says quietly. “I was not prepared for this tragic national blow.

Kenya has lost more than a politician — we’ve lost a force of nature.” He adds, “Raila Odinga was the heartbeat of Kenya’s political rhythm.

You could love him, hate him, fear him, or follow him — but you could never ignore him. Mr Njiru said Kenya’s political story will never be the same again.

. .

Dar es Salaam. The United Arab Emirates-based Emirates National Group (ENG) is expected to begin operating 177 buses on the first phase of Dar es Salaam’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in January 2026, the government said.

The buses, designated for the KimaraPostaKariakoo corridor, are currently under production and are expected to be deployed early next year, according to the Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit (Dart) Head of Communications and Public Relations, Mr William Gatambi. “We had expected the buses to be in Tanzania by now, but we’ve been informed they are still being manufactured,” said Mr Gatambi.

“Everything is on track for the project to commence in January next year.” The entry of ENG follows a government agreement with the UAE firm to operate and maintain the BRT’s first-phase routes under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement signed this year.

The investor will manage five terminals, 27 stations, four feeder stations, and employ its own drivers, effectively taking over from the interim operator, UDART. “UDART was a temporary operator while the government finalised the search for a long-term investor,” Mr Gatambi clarified.

The move is expected to revitalise Dar es Salaam’s public transport system, which has faced operational setbacks that escalated recently. Dart said earlier this year that the city’s BRT network will eventually consist of six phases, each to be managed by separate service providers, urging qualified local firms to prepare to participate in future phases.

Launched in 2016, the first phase of the BRT project spans 21 kilometres, linking Kimara, Ubungo, Kivukoni, Morocco and Gerezani. The second phase, currently under trial operations, covers 20.3 kilometres along Kilwa Road and part of Kawawa Road.

The search for a new operator began in 2019 after the firm that initially won the tender was disqualified for breaching contractual terms. ENG was awarded the tender in 2020, but implementation was delayed pending resolution of contractual and logistical issues.

With ENG set to begin operations in January 2026, authorities hope the project will deliver a more reliable, efficient and sustainable urban transport system for Dar es Salaam residents. .

Dar es Salaam. The government, through the Prime Minister’s Office for Labour, Youth, Employment, and Persons with Disabilities, has announced a new minimum wage for the private sector, increasing it from Sh275,060 to Sh358,322 — a rise of 33.4 percent.

The revised wage will take effect on January 1, 2026 and will apply across multiple sectors, including agriculture, health, communications, transport, hospitality, mining, commerce, and manufacturing. It also covers private schools, security services, energy, fishing and maritime services, sports and culture, and other general services.

Earlier this year, on May 1, 2025 the government raised the minimum wage for public servants by 35.1 percent. Announcing the new wage on Friday, October 17, 2025 the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disabilities), Ridhiwani Kikwete, emphasised that the increase is a legal requirement.

“The last official announcement on minimum wage was made in 2022, and the law requires a review every three years. I urge all private sector employers to comply fully with this directive, as failure to do so will result in legal action,” Kikwete said.

He added that his office would closely monitor compliance, provide guidance to employers and workers, and conduct regular evaluations to ensure full implementation. Following the announcement, the Association of Tanzanian Employers (ATE) welcomed the new wage, noting that it aligns with a joint assessment involving government, trade unions, and employers.

ATE Chief Executive Suzanne Ndomba encouraged businesses to begin internal consultations ahead of implementation to adjust salary structures accordingly. “As an association, we will continue supporting employers to implement the directive, ensuring they remain on the right side of the law,” Ndomba said.

Deputy Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA), Ms Rehema Ludanga described the new wage as a significant step forward for private sector workers, while urging employers to comply fully. “This minimum wage sets the baseline.

Employers who already pay above it should not reduce salaries. Adjustments may be made based on sector productivity, but no employee should earn below this threshold,” Ludanga explained.

Independent analyst Christopher Makombe highlighted the broader economic benefits of the increase, noting it could improve living standards, stimulate spending, boost business growth, enhance productivity, reduce income inequality, and contribute to sustainable development. “Higher wages are likely to drive greater household expenditure, which in turn fuels economic activity and increases government revenue through taxation,” he said .