Category: The Citizen

Kenyan President William Ruto’s daughter, Charlene Ruto, on Saturday, August 8, 2026, took a major step towards marriage after undergoing a traditional Koito ceremony that formally brought her together with her Tanzanian fiancé, Isaya Yunge.

The ceremony was held at President Ruto’s Intonna Heritage Farm in Kilgoris, Narok County, and was attended by senior Kenyan political figures, family members, friends and other guests from Kenya and Tanzania.

A lavish traditional ceremony

Intonna Heritage Farm was transformed into a colourful celebration venue decorated with green and cream fabrics, while brown featured prominently in the guests’ attire.

Charlene was seen wearing a brown gown, while Yunge wore a matching brown suit.

The couple also took part in traditional Kalenjin dances as music, singing and celebrations filled the venue.

The significance of the occasion was further reflected in the list of prominent guests, including Kenya’s Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, nominated Senator Karen Nyamu and nominated MP Esther Passaris.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s widow, Ida Odinga, and ODM leader Oburu Odinga were also reported to have attended.

Some guests arrived by helicopter and in motorcades, adding to the spectacle of a ceremony that blended Kalenjin tradition with the political stature of the Ruto family.

Reports from the venue indicated that four helicopters landed at the farm as guests arrived for the ceremony.

What is Koito?

Koito is an important traditional ceremony among the Kalenjin community, bringing together the families of a bride and groom to discuss and conclude aspects of the bride price, exchange gifts and formally signify the union of the two families.

The Kilgoris event therefore represented a significant traditional engagement ceremony and an important step towards marriage.

Who is Isaya Yunge?

Yunge, 36, is the founder of Goodsam – a company that is revolutionizing smartphone accessibility across Africa. He gained popularity as the co-founder of SomaApp, a platform that helped students access scholarship and education opportunities.

His work earned him the Queen’s Young Leader Award in 2018, when he was among two Tanzanians recognised that year.

His leadership journey began in his youth

Yunge’s leadership journey began at the age of 17, when he was appointed a UNICEF African Youth Ambassador.

The role gave him an opportunity to participate in discussions on children’s rights, climate change and youth participation in decision-making.

In 2007, he became one of the African young people given an opportunity to address the G8 summit in Berlin, Germany, where he represented issues and perspectives affecting young people.

Before focusing more heavily on technology, Yunge was also involved in community initiatives.

Reports indicate that while he was a secondary school student, he organised informal lessons for street-connected children and later worked with Radio Free Africa through its Sauti ya Watoto Club programme.

Academically, Yunge holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Insurance and Risk Management from the Institute of Finance Management (IFM).

He has also undertaken training in economic diplomacy, digital finance, entrepreneurship and innovation, including the Leading Change in Entrepreneurship and Innovation programme at the University of Cambridge.

Beyond SomaApp, he has been involved in other technology ventures, including KAYA, which focuses on smart-home technology, as well as innovation projects in the financial technology sector.

Who is Charlene Ruto?

Charlene Chelagat Ruto is the third child of President William Ruto and Kenya’s First Lady, Rachel Ruto.

Born in Nairobi on January 11, 1993, she has built a public profile around public relations, youth empowerment, agriculture and environmental issues.

Charlene studied at Daystar University, where she earned a degree in Communication, specialising in Public Relations and Print Media.

She later pursued postgraduate studies at Les Roches in Switzerland, where she studied business and management in the hospitality sector.

Before becoming more widely known for her social initiatives, Charlene worked in the private sector.

Among the positions she held was that of Media Relations Officer at Mobile Decisioning Holding Limited between 2015 and 2017.

She was also involved in communications and branding activities at Weston Hotel.

In recent years, she has focused increasingly on youth, environmental and agricultural initiatives.

Through the SMACHS Foundation, she has led programmes aimed at empowering young people, promoting climate action and encouraging youth participation in community development.

Her public profile grew significantly after her father won Kenya’s presidential election in 2022.

Since then, Charlene has participated in various national and international platforms, particularly those focusing on youth and development.

In a 2025 interview with The Standard, Charlene said she was passionate about empowering young people to create opportunities for themselves and succeed in life.

A union that crosses borders

Charlene’s relationship with Yunge has given the ceremony a distinct regional dimension, bringing together the family of Kenya’s President and a Tanzanian entrepreneur.

Although the couple had largely kept their relationship away from the public eye, the Koito ceremony in Kilgoris has brought their relationship into the spotlight, placing Yunge under increased media attention in both Kenya and Tanzania.

For the Ruto family, the occasion was more than a family celebration. It was also a showcase of Kalenjin culture. For Yunge’s family, meanwhile, it marked the coming together of a Tanzanian entrepreneurial family and one of Kenya’s most prominent political families.

Despite the scale of the ceremony, the next stage will involve following the remaining marriage formalities, including whether and when the couple will hold a religious ceremony or a civil wedding.

For now, Kilgoris remains the place where the two families publicly marked a new chapter in Charlene Ruto and Isaya Yunge’s journey towards marriage.

I received an email from a recruiter who had viewed my LinkedIn profile. The salary was generous. The work was fully remote. The message was polished, personalised and strangely flattering. I had already mentally converted the salary into Tanzanian shillings and planned how I would casually mention “my team in Europe” in everyday conversation. Within half a minute I had mentally spent my first three paychecks and started wondering whether “working across time zones” sounded as impressive as I thought.

But then something told me to do a reverse image check on the recruiter’s picture, so I did. Turns out “David, Senior Talent Acquisition Manager” was actually a very handsome dentist from Brazil who, as far as I could tell, had absolutely no interest in my LinkedIn profile. I almost got scammed!

In East Africa, the stakes are high, according to ENACT Africa (2023), data suggests that up to 80 percent of East African youth are unemployed or underemployed, a reality that may make our region fertile ground for job scammers. Furthermore what rarely gets discussed is the scam aftermath. Most victims never report what happened. We tell ourselves we ‘should have known better” on repeat.

That silence has a cost beyond just the individual victim. The South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) reported that job scams increased by over 30 percent in 2024, with young jobseekers the most targeted group. INTERPOL, in a 2023 global alert, noted an alarming escalation in trafficking networks using fake job offers to lure educated East African youth into forced labour situations in Southeast Asia.

These are not small crimes with small consequences yet, because of shame, the pipeline stays open.

Here are 5 ways to spot a fake job offer:

A salary range that makes no sense. If the offer says “between $500 and $53,000 per month” for the same role, that vagueness is deliberately designed to appeal to whoever is most desperate, rather than reflect actual market rates.

No interview, or an interview that feels like theatre. Real hiring processes verify your qualifications and they take time. If you receive a job offer within hours of applying, or after a five-minute WhatsApp chat, slow down.

Artificial urgency. “You must confirm within 24 hours.” “Submit all documents by EOD.” Urgency is a pressure tactic designed to bypass your better judgment before it can catch up with you.

A request for money or sensitive personal data. No legitimate employer charges you to apply, to register, to complete a background check, or to receive your contract. The moment someone asks for a fee – disappear.

An email that doesn’t match the company. Recruitment correspondence from a Gmail, Yahoo, or iCloud account is one of the most overlooked red flags. Genuine companies use official domains, ex: ‘ name@company.com.’

If you’ve been scammed, don’t let embarrassment become the scammer’s final victory. Share your experience, with a trusted friend, the authorities, or online. Every story told makes the next scam easier to spot. Before accepting any offer, verify it: reverse-image-search the recruiter, check the sender’s email domain, and contact the company through its official website.

Employers, recruiters, and those with public platforms have a responsibility too. The more visible and verifiable legitimate opportunities are, the less room there is for fraud to thrive.

Fake job offers don’t succeed because people lack intelligence. They succeed because opportunity feels scarce. The real challenge isn’t only exposing scams-it’s building a job market where hope is rewarded by genuine opportunity, not exploited by deception.

Beijing. Typhoon Dolphin, the most powerful tropical cyclone to hit China this year, made landfall on the country’s eastern coast on Sunday, bringing torrential rain and strong winds and triggering warnings of flooding and landslides.

The typhoon has already swept through Japan’s southern Okinawa prefecture, injuring six people and cutting power to more than 50,000 buildings.

Typhoon Dolphin made landfall near Yuhuan in eastern Zhejiang province at about 5:30 p.m. (0930 GMT) on Sunday, China’s meteorological authorities said.

The storm packed maximum sustained winds of 42 metres per second (151 km/h) near its centre at landfall, equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

Authorities had moved offshore workers to safety, ordered vessels back to port and increased checks at reservoirs, mountain streams, landslide-prone ?areas, construction sites and tourist locations.

torrential rain and flood risk

Torrential rain is forecast through August 10 across Zhejiang, Shanghai, northern Fujian, northeastern Jiangxi, central and southern Anhui, and much of Jiangsu. Parts of central and eastern Zhejiang could receive 250-500 mm (9.8-19.7 inches) of rain, according to forecasters.

After landfall, Dolphin is forecast to track westward before slowing over central and southwestern China and gradually losing strength, Wang Haiping, chief forecaster at the National Meteorological Centre, told state broadcaster CCTV.

That could prolong heavy rain and raise the risk of flooding and landslides, especially in mountainous areas and along smaller rivers.

Transport was widely disrupted across the east of the country and more than 1 million people were evacuated from their homes.

In addition to evacuating at least 30,300 people, Shanghai has cancelled about 1,500 flights, according to flight-tracking data provider VariFlight.

A 42-year-old tourist from Guangdong, surnamed Chen, said he was stranded in Shanghai after his family’s flight, scheduled to ?depart on Sunday, was cancelled because of Typhoon Dolphin.

He said the family had been rebooked on a flight at 10 p.m. on Monday, although they were unsure whether it would be able to take off.

“To us Guangdong people, this typhoon is as ordinary as having a meal and feeling the wind. It’s just part of everyday life,” Chen said, adding that the storm did not appear particularly strong by the standards of China’s southern coast.

In neighbouring Zhejiang province, the city of Wenzhou relocated ?more than 900,000 residents and opened more than 1,000 emergency shelters.

In Fujian province, authorities evacuated 98,900 people from high-risk areas after raising the typhoon emergency response to Level III, according to Xinhua. Zhejiang, Shanghai and Jiangsu have also activated Level III emergency responses.

Fujian maritime authorities said 55 coastal passenger ferry routes had been suspended, all 115 offshore ?construction projects halted and 290 construction vessels moved to sheltered waters.

The water resources ministry said the Qiantang, Yong, Jiao and Shuiyang rivers could see major flooding, while smaller rivers in the hardest-hit areas could rise above warning levels.

Authorities warned of a high risk of geological disasters in parts of Zhejiang, while ?residents in areas covered by a red mountain-torrent warning were told to follow local evacuation orders.

Shanghai’s Yangshan port cleared ships from its berths and moved more than 500 small and medium-sized vessels to shelter ahead of Dolphin, the city’s maritime safety administration said.

Scientists say global warming has made extreme weather, opens new tab more likely, including stronger typhoons.

Dar es Salaam. Rising investment in Tanzania’s healthcare sector is increasing demand for pharmaceuticals, diagnostic services, medical equipment and digital health technologies, creating opportunities for suppliers in the East African market.

Industry analysts project Tanzania’s pharmaceutical market to grow from about $1.08 billion in 2023 to $1.55 billion by 2028, supported by increased healthcare spending, population growth, improved access to services and government investment in healthcare infrastructure.

The growth is driving demand for laboratory equipment, imaging systems, hospital information management systems, cold-chain solutions, surgical equipment and diagnostic technologies.

Hospitals are also adopting technologies aimed at improving efficiency and patient care, including digital patient records, pharmacy automation, laboratory information systems, artificial intelligence-assisted diagnostics and connected medical devices.

Investment in regional referral hospitals, district health facilities and specialised medical centres is also increasing demand for medical imaging equipment, operating theatre technology, intensive care equipment, laboratory diagnostics, rehabilitation equipment and hospital infrastructure.

The trend is also evident across East Africa, where governments are implementing healthcare financing reforms and expanding universal health coverage. Kenya’s transition to the Social Health Authority, Ethiopia’s expansion of Community-Based Health Insurance and healthcare infrastructure investment in Uganda are contributing to demand for medical technologies and services.

Against this backdrop, World Health Expo (WHX) Nairobi will be held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre from September 16 to 18, 2026.

The event, formerly known as Medic East Africa, is being held under the patronage of Kenya’s Ministry of Health, with support from the Kenya Healthcare Federation and the Medical Technology Industry Association of Kenya (MEDAK).

Organisers expect more than 5,500 healthcare professionals and over 200 exhibitors from more than 30 countries to attend the 10th edition.

Exhibition space has increased to 4,500 square metres, an 81 percent rise from the previous year, while exhibitor participation has increased by 22 percent. The 2025 edition generated an estimated $84.19 million in business, according to organisers.

For Tanzanian healthcare providers, the exhibition will provide access to manufacturers, distributors and technology companies offering medical devices, diagnostic and laboratory equipment, imaging systems, digital healthcare platforms, infection prevention products, rehabilitation equipment and hospital infrastructure solutions.

Healthcare executives are also focusing on technologies that can reduce operating costs, improve inventory management, strengthen supply chains and support clinical decision-making. This is driving adoption of integrated digital systems, telemedicine platforms, predictive maintenance technologies and data-driven hospital management systems.

Dr Janki Chauhan, chairperson of MEDAK, said Tanzania’s healthcare sector was experiencing growth driven by increased access to healthcare, investment and demand for medical technologies.

‘Healthcare providers are looking for solutions that improve efficiency, strengthen diagnostic capabilities and support better patient outcomes,’ she said.

Tom Coleman, portfolio director for healthcare at Informa Markets, said healthcare providers across East Africa were making more strategic procurement decisions as they modernised facilities and expanded diagnostic capacity.

‘WHX Nairobi provides a platform where these organisations can evaluate solutions, build supplier relationships and make investment decisions that support long-term healthcare delivery,’ he said.

WHX Nairobi is part of Informa Markets’ African healthcare events portfolio, which also includes exhibitions in Lagos and Johannesburg.

Registration for healthcare professionals, hospital executives, procurement specialists, distributors, manufacturers and medical suppliers is free.

Dar es Salaam. A footballer can spend months preparing for a season, only for one tackle, awkward landing or collision to bring his career to a sudden halt.

For many players in Tanzania, however, the injury may only be the beginning of another struggle: who will pay the medical bill?

An investigation by The Citizen has found that only eight of the 16 clubs that competed in the 2025/2026 Mainland Tanzania Premier League season provided health insurance for their players.

The situation appears even more concerning in Zanzibar, where football authorities admit that regulations governing players’ health insurance remain inadequate.

The findings raise questions about the enforcement of regulations intended to protect professional footballers, whose livelihoods depend on their physical fitness and who face the risk of injury almost every time they take to the pitch.

For some players, serious injuries have resulted in lengthy spells away from football, financial hardship and, in some cases, the end of their careers.

‘I could have continued playing’

Former Mwadui FC and Police Tanzania FC striker Gerald Mdamu knows the consequences all too well.

Mdamu was involved in an accident that left both his legs broken, forcing him to abandon football and begin a lengthy medical journey.

Looking back, he believes timely access to proper treatment could have changed his story.

‘Players tend to take health insurance lightly, but they only realise its importance when they face problems. If the club I played for had this service, perhaps I would not be where I am today. I ended up in this situation because I received treatment late,’ he says.

His experience reflects the vulnerability of players who may lack the financial means to pay for serious injuries.

The problem is not confined to retired players

Coastal Union midfielder Greyson Gwalala spent a year on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury and says he had to use his own money to meet part of the medical costs.

His treatment eventually cost about Sh5 million. Although the club initially covered some expenses, Gwalala says a fan later provided substantial financial assistance.

‘There is no insurance for players at Coastal Union. Enforcing the regulations would be a great help,’ he says.

The experience changed his view of insurance. ‘If I had not found someone to help me, I would have stopped playing football because the cost of treatment was beyond my means,’ he says.

‘The life of a player is at risk. At any time, a player can suffer an injury, so insurance is one of the most important things.’

A problem inside the clubs

The investigation found the insurance gap across several clubs despite regulations requiring players to have adequate medical protection.

At Young Africans SC, one senior player, who requested anonymity, says he has never been provided with health insurance during his four years at the club.

The player suffered a knee injury that required surgery, with the club eventually paying for the operation.

Singida Black Stars also acknowledges that it did not have insurance throughout the 2025/26 season after its contract with a previous provider expired.

The club’s information officer, Hussein Masanza, says the club takes responsibility when serious injuries occur. ‘If a player suffers a serious injury, we incur the cost of providing treatment and ensuring that he makes a full recovery,’ he says.

Pamba Jiji FC admits its players also do not have health insurance. Club doctor Dishon Chacha says the absence of insurance can cause delays because the club sometimes has to wait for funds before paying for treatment.

Fountain Gate FC, Mtibwa Sugar and Dodoma Jiji FC were also identified among clubs whose players lacked insurance during the season.

KMC FC similarly acknowledges that it does not have insurance for players and staff. Chief executive officer Daniel Madenyeka says the club is aware that insurance is a regulatory requirement but is still working on how to address the issue.

Fountain Gate says it has instead entered into an agreement with a major hospital in Arusha, allowing players and staff to receive treatment without paying upfront.

Chief executive officer Kelvin Herry says the club settles the medical bills.

Some clubs show the way

Despite the gaps, some clubs have established insurance systems.

Simba SC, Azam FC, Mbeya City FC, Tanzania Prisons, TRA United, Mashujaa FC and Namungo FC are among the clubs that provided insurance cover during the season.

At Simba, the arrangement goes beyond players.

Club spokesperson Ahmed Ally says every player has individual insurance covering the player, his wife and two children. ‘Every player at this club has individual insurance, which also covers his two children and wife.

The cover is not limited to players and coaches; even Simba employees are insured,’ he says. However, the cover applies to treatment within Tanzania and does not extend to medical care abroad.

Mashujaa FC also considers insurance essential because players are employees whose work exposes them to significant physical risks.

Club official Athumani Amiru says cases falling outside insurance coverage are handled by the club until the player recovers.

TRA United information officer Christina Mwagala says the club’s players are insured because it is a regulatory requirement, while JKT Tanzania player David Bryson says players receive insurance at the beginning of every season. Zanzibar faces a bigger gap

The situation in Zanzibar appears even more concerning.

Zanzibar Football Federation secretary Hussein Ahmada says regulations are not clear enough on health insurance, although efforts are being made to improve players’ medical protection.

The federation requires players to undergo medical examinations before each season.

‘As the main body responsible for overseeing players in Zanzibar, I admit that we have failed to establish regulations that comprehensively address the issue of players’ health.

One of our plans is to ensure players start having health insurance,’ Ahmada says. e says stakeholders have discussed the matter, but a comprehensive system has yet to be completed.

Ahmada also believes some players may have quit football because they could not access adequate treatment after injuries.

Zanzibar Sports Commissioner Ameir Mohamed says the government expects sports federations to oversee the issue and acknowledges that injuries have contributed to some players leaving football.

Different models

Not all Zanzibar clubs are without insurance.

JKU secretary Khatib Shadhil Khatibu says most of the club’s players are soldiers, making insurance compulsory, while civilian players can access services at the club’s hospital.

Mlandege FC introduced insurance last year after participating in international competitions where coverage was required under CAF regulations.

‘We started the insurance arrangement last year in line with CAF regulations because we participated in international competitions and were required to have insurance,’ says club secretary Hussein Ahmada.

The contrasting experiences show that where insurance is treated as a compulsory part of professional football, players have greater protection. Where it is not, injured players may be forced to rely on clubs, supporters, relatives or their own savings.

A risk that cannot be ignored

Football clubs invest heavily in players through salaries, signing fees, training and equipment. Yet the player’s health-the most important asset in the game-can sometimes be left without adequate protection.

The experiences of Mdamu and Gwalala show how quickly an injury can transform a footballer’s career and financial situation.

Insurance is therefore more than an administrative requirement. It can determine whether an injury becomes a temporary setback or a career-ending crisis.

If only half of Mainland Premier League clubs had insurance for their players during the 2025/26 season, the issue is clearly bigger than individual clubs.

It is a regulatory and enforcement challenge that football authorities must address before more players are forced to pay the price for injuries suffered while doing their jobs.

for their players during the 2025/26 season, the issue goes beyond individual clubs. It points to a wider regulatory and enforcement challenge.

Lindi. Farmers in Lindi and Mtwara regions are seeing tangible benefits from the growing use of digital financial services, with Mixx by Yas helping them receive crop payments securely and conveniently while providing access to other services designed to support their livelihoods.

The impact was highlighted during the Vuna na Mixx event held at the Nane Nane Agricultural Exhibitions at Ngongo grounds in Lindi, where farmers who used Mixx services during the previous farming season were rewarded with three-wheel cargo vehicles (Guta), motorcycles, smartphones and bicycles.

Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Ayoub Mohammed Mohammed, who presented the prizes, commended efforts to use technology to improve access to financial services among farmers, saying digital solutions can help strengthen efficiency and security across the agricultural value chain.

‘When farmers receive their payments easily and securely, they are better placed to plan their activities and reinvest in production. Cooperation between the government and the private sector is key in ensuring that technology delivers tangible benefits to citizens, including farmers,’ Mr Mohammed said.

Yas’ Head of Region for Coast South, Ms. Fadhila Saidi, said Mixx has continued to strengthen its support to farmers by making it easier for them to receive payments for their produce, particularly through the Warehouse Receipt System.

She said more than Sh150 billion was paid to farmers through Mixx during the 2025/26 farming season, while more than Sh50 billion has already been disbursed in the 2026/27 season.

‘These figures demonstrate the growing confidence farmers and cooperative societies have in digital payments. Our focus is to ensure that farmers can receive their money quickly, securely and transparently, giving them greater control over their earnings and enabling them to focus on growing their businesses,’ Ms Saidi said.

Ms. Saidi said that the rewards that farmers received were designed to go beyond recognising customer loyalty by providing farmers with practical tools that can support their day-to-day economic activities.

‘A cargo tricycle or motorcycle can make a real difference to a farmer, particularly when it comes to transporting produce and accessing markets. Through Vuna na Mixx, we are recognising our customers while giving them something that can contribute to their productivity and livelihoods,’ she said.

Beyond crop payments, Mixx provides farmers with access to other financial services, including agricultural financing through Kilimo Pesa and Afya Mkulima, which enables farmers to access health insurance for themselves and their families.

Farmers Mohammed Chikawe, Hassani Mohammed and Issa Mtiko, who were among the beneficiaries, said the rewards had encouraged them to continue using digital financial services, citing the convenience and security of receiving crop payments electronically.

They said digital payments have reduced the need to travel long distances to collect their money or carry large amounts of cash, allowing them to manage their earnings more conveniently.

Ms Saidi said, Mixx would continue working with the government, cooperative societies, Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Societies (AMCOS), produce buyers and other stakeholders to extend digital financial services to more farmers.

‘Our commitment is to continue being part of the farmer’s journey-not only when they receive payment for their produce, but also by providing financial services that can support their farming activities, businesses and families,’ she said.

Dar es Salaam. Kenyan President William Ruto’s daughter, Charlene Ruto, on Saturday, August 8, 2026, took a major step towards marriage after undergoing a traditional Koito ceremony that formally brought her together with her Tanzanian fiancé, Isaya Yunge.

The ceremony was held at President Ruto’s Intonna Heritage Farm in Kilgoris, Narok County, and was attended by senior Kenyan political figures, family members, friends and other guests from Kenya and Tanzania.

A lavish traditional ceremony

Intonna Heritage Farm was transformed into a colourful celebration venue decorated with green and cream fabrics, while brown featured prominently in the guests’ attire.

Charlene was seen wearing a brown gown, while Yunge wore a matching brown suit.

The couple also took part in traditional Kalenjin dances as music, singing and celebrations filled the venue.

The significance of the occasion was further reflected in the list of prominent guests, including Kenya’s Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, nominated Senator Karen Nyamu and nominated MP Esther Passaris.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s widow, Ida Odinga, and ODM leader Oburu Odinga were also reported to have attended.

Some guests arrived by helicopter and in motorcades, adding to the spectacle of a ceremony that blended Kalenjin tradition with the political stature of the Ruto family.

Reports from the venue indicated that four helicopters landed at the farm as guests arrived for the ceremony.

What is Koito?

Koito is an important traditional ceremony among the Kalenjin community, bringing together the families of a bride and groom to discuss and conclude aspects of the bride price, exchange gifts and formally signify the union of the two families.

The Kilgoris event therefore represented a significant traditional engagement ceremony and an important step towards marriage.

Who is Isaya Yunge?

Yunge, 36, is a Tanzanian technology entrepreneur who has built a reputation through innovations aimed at addressing challenges facing young people and education across Africa.

He is the founder and chief executive officer of SomaApps Technologies, the company associated with SomaApp, a technology platform designed to connect African students with educational and scholarship opportunities.

Through SomaApp, more than 7,000 young people have reportedly been helped to access higher education opportunities in different parts of Africa.

His work earned him the Queen’s Young Leader Award in 2018, when he was among two Tanzanians recognised that year.

His leadership journey began in his youth

Yunge’s leadership journey began at the age of 17, when he was appointed a UNICEF African Youth Ambassador.

The role gave him an opportunity to participate in discussions on children’s rights, climate change and youth participation in decision-making.

In 2007, he became one of the African young people given an opportunity to address the G8 summit in Berlin, Germany, where he represented issues and perspectives affecting young people.

Before focusing more heavily on technology, Yunge was also involved in community initiatives.

Reports indicate that while he was a secondary school student, he organised informal lessons for street-connected children and later worked with Radio Free Africa through its Sauti ya Watoto Club programme.

Academically, Yunge holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Insurance and Risk Management from the Institute of Finance Management (IFM).

He has also undertaken training in economic diplomacy, digital finance, entrepreneurship and innovation, including the Leading Change in Entrepreneurship and Innovation programme at the University of Cambridge.

Beyond SomaApp, he has been involved in other technology ventures, including KAYA, which focuses on smart-home technology, as well as innovation projects in the financial technology sector.

Who is Charlene Ruto?

Charlene Chelagat Ruto is the third child of President William Ruto and Kenya’s First Lady, Rachel Ruto.

Born in Nairobi on January 11, 1993, she has built a public profile around public relations, youth empowerment, agriculture and environmental issues.

Charlene studied at Daystar University, where she earned a degree in Communication, specialising in Public Relations and Print Media.

She later pursued postgraduate studies at Les Roches in Switzerland, where she studied business and management in the hospitality sector.

Before becoming more widely known for her social initiatives, Charlene worked in the private sector.

Among the positions she held was that of Media Relations Officer at Mobile Decisioning Holding Limited between 2015 and 2017.

She was also involved in communications and branding activities at Weston Hotel.

In recent years, she has focused increasingly on youth, environmental and agricultural initiatives.

Through the SMACHS Foundation, she has led programmes aimed at empowering young people, promoting climate action and encouraging youth participation in community development.

Her public profile grew significantly after her father won Kenya’s presidential election in 2022.

Since then, Charlene has participated in various national and international platforms, particularly those focusing on youth and development.

In a 2025 interview with The Standard, Charlene said she was passionate about empowering young people to create opportunities for themselves and succeed in life.

A union that crosses borders

Charlene’s relationship with Yunge has given the ceremony a distinct regional dimension, bringing together the family of Kenya’s President and a Tanzanian entrepreneur.

Although the couple had largely kept their relationship away from the public eye, the Koito ceremony in Kilgoris has brought their relationship into the spotlight, placing Yunge under increased media attention in both Kenya and Tanzania.

For the Ruto family, the occasion was more than a family celebration. It was also a showcase of Kalenjin culture. For Yunge’s family, meanwhile, it marked the coming together of a Tanzanian entrepreneurial family and one of Kenya’s most prominent political families.

Despite the scale of the ceremony, the next stage will involve following the remaining marriage formalities, including whether and when the couple will hold a religious ceremony or a civil wedding.

For now, Kilgoris remains the place where the two families publicly marked a new chapter in Charlene Ruto and Isaya Yunge’s journey towards marriage.

Dar es Salaam. A total of Sh120 million will be up for grabs in prize money at this year’s CRDB International Marathon, with organisers promising a bigger sporting and entertainment weekend highlighted by the appearance of American R and B star Trey Songz.

The marathon, scheduled for August 16 in Dar es Salaam, will feature a 42-kilometre full marathon, a half marathon, 10-kilometre and five-kilometre races, as well as a 65-kilometre cycling event.

CRDB Foundation Executive Director Tully Esther Mwambapa said the increased prize money is intended to attract more participants and motivate athletes to compete at a higher level.

The 10-kilometre race will offer Sh2 million to each winner, while runners-up will receive Sh500,000 and third-placed finishers Sh300,000.

Meanwhile, winners of the 65-kilometre cycling race will receive Sh3 million, while second and third-placed cyclists will take home Sh1.5 million and Sh1 million respectively.

Tully said the financial incentives form part of the bank’s wider efforts to use sport to promote healthy lifestyles, nurture talent and support community development.

‘We have increased the prize money to provide greater motivation to participants while contributing to the development of sports in the country,’ she said.

Beyond the races, the marathon weekend will also feature the IMBEJU Sauti Moja Concert, a new entertainment event designed to combine music, sport and social initiatives.

The concert is scheduled for Friday, August 14, at the TTCL Grounds in Kijitonyama, Dar es Salaam, with Trey Songz expected to headline the event.

The American singer is expected to arrive in Tanzania on August 12, ahead of his performance. ‘We will have many artists performing at the concert, although the headline artist will be Trey Songz from the United States. It is part of a weekend that brings together sports, music and investment in the community,’ said Tully.

Other performers expected at the concert include Nigerian singer BNXN, popularly known as Buju, South African DJ and producer Kabza De Small, and Tanzanian artists Mbosso and G Nako.

Trey Songz, whose career spans R and B, soul and hip-hop, is known for songs such as Bottoms Up, Slow Motion, Say Aah, Na Na, Can’t Help but Wait and Heart Attack

His appearance is expected to give this year’s marathon weekend an international flavour, bringing together athletics, cycling, music and entertainment while providing athletes with an opportunity to compete for lucrative prizes.

Among the factors investors consider before investing is the tax environment of a particular country. Key questions asked by foreign investors include: What options are available to repatriate profits or other forms of income; what are the applicable taxes; are there any reduced tax rates provided by the Double Tax Treaties (DTAs)? In a capitalist economy, the end goal of investment is for the investors to get profits out of their capital injected into businesses.

Over the last five years, Tanzania has introduced good policies and institutional reforms aimed at enhancing investment and addressing existing challenges faced by investors.

In July 2025, the government introduced the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA), merging the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) and the Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) in an effort to reduce bureaucracy and unnecessary duplication that existed amongst the two bodies.

The National Land Policy 2023 allowed long-term lease access to foreign investors, a one-stop facilitation centre with various regulatory bodies under one roof and the Tanzania Electronic Investments Window (TeIW), which has reduced the investment registration from 60 days to 30 days.

These are some of the many positive developments.

These policies and reforms aim at fast-tracking Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in Tanzania. FDI comes with a lot of associated benefits, not only from the tax revenue point of view, but also has a direct impact on the economy through job creation and technology transfer.

FDI also impacts business and operations expansion, and new investments. Tanzania Investment Report 2025 highlights that Tanzania’s share of FDI in East Africa has increased year by year since 2020, reaching $1.72 billion in 2024 from $0.94 billion in 2020.

The question now is how Tanzania will enhance the benefits alongside the FDI. Geographically, nature has done its job, placing Tanzania strategically as the door to inland Africa and on top of various natural resources, with a lot of opportunities in various sectors: agriculture, services, construction, mining, tourism, and manufacturing.

Now it is the responsibility of policymakers to ensure alignment exists between the strategic-geographical advantage and implemented policies. One area that could be beneficial in promoting FDI is tax treaties DTAs.

Apart from eliminating double taxation of various forms of income, DTAs play an important role in attracting FDI, which in fact brings new investments that will broaden the tax base and subsequently increase tax collections.

In June 2026, we witnessed a DTA signing ceremony between Tanzania and Singapore. The DTA, once ratified, will reduce taxation of dividend and royalty payments to 7.5 percent and 10 percent, compared to 10 percent and 15 percent tax rates in most old treaties with other countries and the Income Tax Act, respectively.

United Arab Emirates has also signed a DTA with Tanzania since 2022, which is yet to be ratified. It is important to speed up the ratification process to unlock further opportunities. Self-reliance is the theme for the 2026/2027 budget, with 74 percent of the budget to be financed by domestic revenue, with tax revenues contributing a huge percentage.

This self-reliance will grow to 80 percent by 2028/2029. Further, Tanzania aspires to reach $15 billion in annual FDI by 2030, creating 1 million jobs, resolving the unemployment question, and having 50 percent of FDI projects be on Public-Private joint ventures.

To achieve these aspirations, the government must explore ways of broadening the tax base, and FDI is one of the answers. As much as there are many benefits in making Tanzania a tax-attractive and an East African investment destination for foreign direct investments.

There is, therefore, a need for Tanzania to review and renegotiate the old tax treaties and to pursue attractive new treaties that could increase the flow of foreign capital, helping Tanzania become an investment hub.

Reducing tax rates under the DTAs should not be seen as an obstacle to the benefits that would come with FDI. Well-drafted and favourable DTAs will promote a direct flow of capital to Tanzania.

It is wise, as a nation, to promote mutual benefits by allowing investors to also see returns on their investments, even if it means sacrificing a portion of tax revenues collected at the end of the investment for the massive benefits.

Arusha. What began as a hunting expedition in a forest reserve turned tragic for Juma Mwangu after he and two companions were confronted by a group searching for stray cattle, who attacked them with arrows, causing his death.

The fatal incident, which occurred on March 8, 2025, in Mgori Forest Reserve, ended with Hassan Said and Faustine Dawite sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment each after the High Court found them guilty of manslaughter.

Delivered at the High Court Singida Sub-Registry on August 5, 2026, by Judge Ayoub Mwenda, the judgment was formally posted on the Judiciary portal.

Judge Mwenda ruled that the court was satisfied that prosecution evidence proved beyond reasonable doubt the involvement of both convicts in the manslaughter charge.

How it happened

Prosecution evidence revealed that on the day of the incident, Mr Mwangu and two companions, Mr Robert Mungwe and Mr Ng’imba Nkhangaa, entered the forest reserve to hunt.

After failing to catch game, they camped overnight and opted to harvest wild honey the following morning.

The prosecution presented five witnesses, including Mr Mungwe, whose testimony was central to identifying the assailants and establishing their involvement.

Mr Mungwe testified that while harvesting honey, they were swarmed by bees and fled, running into a group searching for lost cattle.

The search party suspected the trio of being livestock thieves and began interrogating them aggressively while wielding bows and arrows.

To intimidate the hostile crowd, the hunters fired shots into the air, but the group responded by shooting arrows at them.

Mr Mungwe told the court that he ran and hid in a bush approximately 400 metres away.

Though he did not witness the immediate struggle, he heard voices, and after the commotion subsided, he returned to the scene to find Mr Mwangu lying in a pool of blood.

Mr Mungwe fled to a temporary camp where he met Mr Nkhangaa before both proceeded to the village to report the incident to authorities.

The key witness stated that he recognised the assailants because the incident occurred in broad daylight and they were familiar to him as residents of Diroma Village, whom he regularly saw at maize auctions.

Mr Mungwe testified that he positively identified Mr Said and Mr Dawite among the attackers because he had known them for more than three years, adding that he saw them strike Mr Mwangu in the left thigh and torso with arrows before he escaped.

Defence arguments

In his defence, Mr Said denied involvement, claiming police officers arrested him on January 2, 2026 at his home before taking him to Singida Central Police Station.

He alleged that police tortured him into unconsciousness while questioning him about his co-accused and the deceased, maintaining he was never at the crime scene on March 8, 2025.

Mr Dawite also denied involvement, presenting an alibi claiming he was in Chemba District, Dodoma Region, driving livestock to auction.

He claimed he left Gorima on March 2, 2025, and remained in Chemba until March 25, 2025.

Court ruling

Evaluating the evidence, Judge Mwenda ruled that the prosecution had proved the manslaughter charge beyond reasonable doubt.

The Judge noted that Mr Mungwe’s identification testimony was credible given the daytime conditions and prior acquaintance with the convicts.

This was corroborated by post-mortem findings confirming Mr Mwangu died from sharp-force trauma.

The Court dismissed Mr Said’s torture claims, noting he failed to cross-examine prosecution witnesses on the allegations.

Similarly, the Court rejected Mr Dawite’s alibi after he failed to produce supporting documents, such as a livestock transit permit.

‘With this type of evidence, I am confident that the identification of the accused at the scene and their participation is indisputable,’ ruled Judge Mwenda, sentencing both convicts to 15 years’ imprisonment under Sections 195 and 198 of the Penal Code.