Top of The Day: Several Arrests Made Over the Stima Plaza Garbage Dumping and Other Headlines
Police have arrested several officials from Nairobi County government after the controversial garbage dumping at Stima Plaza on Monday, 24th February. Several county vehicles were also impounded in the retaliatory move by Kenya Power.
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Interior Ministry CS, Kipchumba Murkomen, confirmed the arrests which were not made public. Murkomen said his Ministry is working alongside the National Police Service to compile a full report, to be submitted to Parliament for further action.
Drama started mid February when the national lighting company disconnected electricity to several Nairobi county offices over a Ksh 3B bill. The county government retaliated by dumping waste outside Stima Plaza blocking sewer lines, and cutting off water supply to the utility’s buildings.
Wildfire along Mlolongo Disrupts SGR Schedule
On the night of Friday, February 28, 2025, a wildfire erupted within Nairobi National Park, leading to a 40-minute delay for the 10:00 pm Madaraka Express Passenger Service train traveling from Nairobi to Mombasa.
The fire, near Mlolongo area, affected the railway line between Nairobi Terminus and Athi River, necessitating the delay to ensure passenger safety. Kenya Railways confirmed that the train departed after the line was cleared and apologized for any inconvenience caused.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), along with other agencies were actively working to contain the fire. KWS attributes the incident to the current hot and dry weather conditions, noting that other parks in the country have also experienced wildfires in recent weeks.
Kenya Railways, via their official X account, apologized for the inconvenience caused by the fire. There are no reports of further disruptions to SGR services due to this incident. Passengers planning to travel are advised to stay updated through official Kenya Railways communications for any potential changes to schedules.
Pope Francis Placed on Life Support
Pope Francis, 88, has suffered a significant respiratory episode on Friday, February 28th. He suffered a bronchospasm (sudden constriction of the airways), leading to vomiting and inhalation of some vomit, causing a sudden worsening of his condition. Doctors performed a swift bronchial aspiration to clear his airways and mechanical ventilation to improve oxygen levels.
Despite this alarming incident, Pope Francis remained conscious and alert, cooperating with themedical team. The Vatican stated that his prognosis remains guarded, with medical teams closely monitoring his condition over the next 24 to 48 hours.
Pope Francis has a history of respiratory issues, including the removal of part of his lung during his youth, making him more susceptible to lung infections.
The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis will miss the Ash Wednesday service on March 5 as he continues his recovery. Faithful around the world are holding vigils and offering prayers for his swift recovery during this critical time.
Fire Destroys CT Scan at Kericho County Referral Hospital
On the night of Friday, February 28, 2025, a fire broke out at of Kericho County Referral Hospital CT Scan Unit. The fire destroyed the hospital’s 64-slice CT scan machine following a fault in the machine’s 32 backup battery system.
Confirming the incident, Dr. George Owiti, officer in charge of Radiology and Imaging at Kericho County Hospital, said the smoke was seen emanating from the CT scan room. Staff quickly disconnected power and evacuating a patient who was present at the time. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Firefighters from Kericho County, and Finlay’s fire brigade, managed to contain the fire before it from spreading to other departments.
The destruction of the costly machine is set to disrupt diagnostic services at the hospital. Patients requiring CT imaging may need to seek these services at alternative facilities until the equipment is replaced or repaired. The exact cost of the damage has yet to be determined.
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