South African human-rights lawyer and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognised her for “her efforts to promote peace and international law.”
Pillay becomes the fifth South African national to receive the Peace Prize. Her career includes landmark work as a judge on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and later as a judge on the International Criminal Court, where she contributed to the development of international justice mechanisms.
As UN High Commissioner she was a consistent voice on human rights, accountability for mass atrocities and the protection of vulnerable populations. The Committee highlighted her lifelong commitment to advancing the rule of law and confronting impunity on the global stage.
The award was announced on Friday in Oslo. Pillay’s selection continues a tradition of honouring individuals whose work has strengthened the architecture of international human rights and transitional justice.
Two police officers, including a Garissa police commander and his driver, were killed on Friday morning when their vehicle struck a suspected improvised explosive device along the Saretho–Dadaab road. The blast occurred at around 6 a.m., police said.
Security forces immediately launched investigations into the attack, which fits a pattern of roadside bombings that have targeted security personnel in the region in recent years. The officers were travelling on official duty when the device detonated.
Authorities have not yet attributed responsibility, though such incidents in Garissa and neighbouring counties have frequently been linked to Al-Shabaab or related militant networks. Reinforcements and additional patrols were expected to be deployed in the area as the probe continues.
The dual fatalities add to the toll on Kenya’s security services operating in the volatile north-eastern region. Senior police commanders expressed condolences to the families of the fallen officers and vowed that those responsible would be brought to justice.
Former Cabinet Minister and Kenya’s first ambassador to the United States, Burudi Nabwera, has died at the age of 99. Nabwera, who also served as Lugari Member of Parliament, was widely regarded as one of the pioneering figures of Kenya’s post-independence diplomatic service.
His career spanned critical early years of the young republic, during which he helped shape Kenya’s foreign relations and represented the country at the highest levels in Washington.
Colleagues and political leaders paid tribute to his long public service and the steady hand he brought to both diplomacy and domestic politics.
News of his death was confirmed on Friday, prompting an outpouring of condolences from across the political spectrum. Many recalled his role as a bridge between Kenya’s independence generation and later administrations. Funeral arrangements were yet to be announced by late Friday.
Nabwera’s passing removes one of the last living links to the foundational cohort of Kenyan diplomats who established the country’s international presence in the 1960s and 1970s.
Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja announced on Friday that she is leaving the ruling United Democratic Alliance and will seek the Nakuru governorship in 2027 on a Democracy for Citizens Party ticket. She made the declaration during a public forum in Nakuru, criticising President William Ruto’s administration for failing to meet public expectations.
Karanja, who joined UDA in early 2022 and won her Senate seat under the party later that year, accused the county administration under Governor Susan Kihika of mismanagement. Her move marks another high-profile departure from UDA ranks as political realignments accelerate ahead of the next general election.
The senator said she had consulted widely before deciding to switch parties. She positioned the DCP ticket as the vehicle through which she intends to offer an alternative to the current leadership in Nakuru.
The announcement adds to a series of defections and realignments already seen in recent days across Mount Kenya and other regions.
UDA leadership had not issued a detailed public response by late Friday. Political observers noted that Karanja’s exit further fragments the ruling coalition’s support base in a key county as parties begin formalising their 2027 strategies.
Kenya has heightened its Ebola response, with Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirming that 66 contacts of the country’s first confirmed patient remain in quarantine. Rapid response teams have been deployed and surveillance intensified at points of entry, especially along the Kenya-Uganda border in Busia County.
President William Ruto chaired a Cabinet meeting at State House on Friday under strict Ebola protocols as the government coordinates the national effort.
A suspected case reported in Wajir County has tested negative for Ebola and positive for malaria, bringing relief to health officials and the public. The original patient, a Kenyan who travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo via Uganda, died earlier this week in a Nairobi hospital after testing positive for the Bundibugyo strain. Authorities continue tracing passengers and crew from the Jambojet flight he took into the country.
China has extended a USD 2 million (approximately Ksh 259 million) cash grant to support Kenya’s Ebola preparedness and drought-relief efforts. The World Health Organization remains engaged in monitoring the situation and supporting contact-tracing work. Some healthcare workers who treated the index patient have raised concerns about the conditions of their mandatory quarantine.
Officials stress that there is still no evidence of community transmission inside Kenya. The public has been urged to remain vigilant, report any symptoms promptly and continue observing basic hygiene measures while the surveillance system operates at elevated readiness.
Two police officers, including a senior police commander, have been killed after their vehicle struck a suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) along the Saretho–Dadaab road in Garissa County on Friday morning.
The incident occurred at approximately 6:00 a.m. when a Toyota Land Cruiser attached to Hagadera Police Station ran over the suspected explosive device along the main supply route, killing the Hagadera Sub-County Police Commander and his driver at the scene.
According to reports by Kenyan media, the explosion extensively damaged the vehicle, prompting a security response in the area as authorities began investigating the incident.
Garissa County Police Commander Samson Chelugo confirmed the deaths, while additional security personnel were dispatched to the scene to investigate the circumstances surrounding the blast and pursue those responsible.
Preliminary reports suggest that the incident could be linked to militant activity in the region, with suspected Al-Shabaab militants being mentioned as possible perpetrators. However, no verified claim of responsibility had been reported at the time of publication.
Investigators are working to establish how the explosive device was planted along the road and identify those responsible for the attack. Security operations have also been intensified in the area following the incident.
The attack has renewed concerns about the safety of roads used by security officers and other motorists in northeastern Kenya, particularly in areas near the Kenya–Somalia border.
Garissa and neighbouring counties have experienced previous incidents involving roadside explosives, which have targeted security personnel and disrupted movement along key transport routes.
The Saretho–Dadaab road is an important route for transportation and security operations in the region. The latest incident highlights the continuing challenges facing security agencies as they work to protect personnel and communities.
Investigations into Friday’s explosion remain ongoing, with authorities expected to provide further information as more details become available.
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has released its daily exchange rates for Friday, October 9, 2026, showing the value of the Kenyan shilling against major international and regional currencies.
According to the CBK rates, the US dollar is trading at KSh 129.91, while the British pound stands at KSh 172.04. The euro is exchanging at KSh 145.92.
Photo: Central Bank of Kenya
The Japanese yen, quoted in units of 100, is trading at KSh 82.18, according to the published figures.
Regionally, the Kenyan shilling is exchanging at 31.47 Ugandan shillings, 20.35 Tanzanian shillings and 11.33 Rwandan francs. The South African rand is trading at KSh 7.86.
The exchange rates provide a daily reference for individuals, businesses and financial institutions involved in foreign currency transactions, international trade and travel.
The US dollar, British pound and euro are particularly important for international payments, imports, exports and other cross-border financial transactions.
The CBK has encouraged members of the public to access additional currency rates through its official communication channels, including its WhatsApp channel.
Source: Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), Daily KES Exchange Rates, October 9, 2026.
Kenya has intensified surveillance and contact tracing following confirmation of its first reported Ebola case, as health officials work to identify and monitor people who may have been exposed to the virus.
The patient, a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), travelled to Nairobi after passing through Uganda. The patient tested positive for Bundibugyo virus disease and died on the night of October 5, according to information released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and reported by Daily Nation.
The Ministry of Health has been tracing people who came into contact with the patient, including family members, healthcare workers and fellow passengers. Authorities have also strengthened screening at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for travellers arriving from countries considered at higher risk.
Health officials have said that surveillance, laboratory testing and rapid response measures are being strengthened to reduce the risk of further transmission.
The case has raised questions about the effectiveness of airport screening and the speed at which suspected infections can be identified and isolated.
The Ministry of Health continues to lead the response, with the public urged to follow official health guidance and seek medical attention if they develop symptoms after a possible exposure.
PHOTO CAPTION: Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale addresses journalists during a briefing on Kenya’s Ebola response at Afya House in Nairobi on October 6, 2026.
PHOTO CREDIT: Bonface Bogita / Nation Media Group.
SOURCE:Daily Nation, October 8, 2026; WHO information reported by Daily Nation.
The war between Ukraine and Russia has intensified after Russian missiles and drones struck several parts of Ukraine. Ukrainian officials reported heavy casualties and damage to residential areas and infrastructure.
One of the worst attacks occurred in Kramatorsk, where a Russian guided bomb struck near public buses. Reports said at least 30 people were killed in the attack.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticised the United States for what he described as insufficient action against Russia. He has called for stronger support and sanctions as the conflict continues.
Canadian poet, essayist and scholar Anne Carson has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature. She was recognised for her distinctive writing style and works that combine classical ideas with contemporary literature.
The Swedish Academy described her work as bold and inventive. Carson is known for writing across different forms, including poetry, essays and translations.
The award makes Carson one of the most recognised literary figures in the world and brings international attention to her contribution to contemporary literature.
