Meet the USS Gerald R. Ford. It’s an aircraft carrier the size of three football fields, packed with 75 fighter jets and capable of wiping out targets thousands of miles away. But forget the heavy artillery for a second—how on earth do you house, feed, and clean 5,000 sailors on a ship that doesn’t touch land for months?

Just How Much is Ksh 1.7 Trillion in Kenya?

To put the Ksh 1.7 trillion ($13 billion) cost of the USS Gerald R. Ford into perspective, this single military vessel is an absolute economic behemoth. In a Kenyan context, Ksh 1.7 trillion could:

Easily fund 40% of the National Budget 

Kenya’s projected national budget for the 2025/2026 fiscal year is roughly Ksh 4.3 trillion. Of this amount Ksh 3.09 trillion is for recurrent expenditure and Ksh 725.1 billion for development.The cost of this one ship could fund almost half of the country’s entire operations for a year.

Build an additional 19 Nairobi Expressways

The 27-kilometer Nairobi Expressway cost roughly Ksh 86 billion. For the price of the aircraft carrier, Kenya could build nearly 20 of those superhighways.

Construct 4 Standard Gauge Railways (SGR)

The Mombasa-Nairobi SGR project cost approximately Ksh 416 billion (in today’s USD terms). Ksh 1.7 trillion is enough to build four of them from scratch.

Here is a look inside the daily life of the sailors operating this trillion-shilling titan.

Feeding a City: A Ksh 8.4 Million Daily Grocery Bill

Floating in the middle of the ocean means you can’t just step out to the local supermarket. The logistics behind keeping the crew fed are staggering:

A team of highly trained culinary specialists serves up to 17,300 meals every single day, keeping the kitchens running 24/7. In just one day, the crew consumes 1,600 lbs of chicken, 350 lbs of lettuce, and brews 20,000 cups of coffee. 

The grocery bill alone costs the US Navy between Ksh 5.85 million ($45,000) and Ksh 8.45 million ($65,000) per day—over Ksh 130 million ($1 million) a month. Every 7 to 10 days, massive supply ships pull alongside the moving carrier to transfer hundreds of thousands of pounds of food via cable systems.

Sleeping in “Steel Coffins”

Forget about personal space or plush mattresses. Space is an absolute premium on an aircraft carrier. Sailors sleep in cramped compartments where beds, known as “racks”, are stacked three people high. A standard rack is slightly smaller than a twin bed. 

The most shocking part? From the top of the thin foam mattress to the bottom of the rack above, there is only 20 inches of clearance. It’s barely enough room to roll over, which is why sailors in the lower bunks affectionately call them “coffin lockers.”

The Ksh 52 Million Toilet Problem and “Navy Showers”

Staying clean in a vessel shared with 5,000 other sweating humans is heavily enforced to prevent disease outbreaks, but it comes with unique challenges. A typical enlisted birthing area has three to four showers and toilets shared by 80 to 100 people. On the newest Ford-class carriers, all bathrooms are completely gender-neutral, meaning there are no urinals at all.

The ship uses a vacuum-powered septic system similar to an airplane. Because sailors sometimes flush unauthorized items, the pipes frequently clog. To clear a serious blockage, the Navy has to perform a chemical “acid flush” that costs an eye-watering Ksh 52 million ($400,000) every single time.

Fresh water is a precious resource. Sailors take a “Navy Shower”—you turn on the water to get wet, turn it off to lather up with soap, and turn it back on to rinse. This method uses just 3 gallons (11 liters) of water, compared to a typical civilian shower that guzzles up to 60 gallons.

Laundry Room

Doing laundry on a ship this massive is an extreme sport. The laundry facilities process a staggering 150,000 pounds of laundry every single week.

The machines are housed deep below the waterline, where temperatures regularly exceed 135°F (57°C). Because of the intense heat, sailors are often limited to working one-hour shifts just to avoid heatstroke.

It might not be a luxurious life, but the amenities have heavily improved over the decades, with newer ships offering Wi-Fi lounges, gyms, post offices, and relatively better food. It takes immense mental toughness to adapt to the constant noise, artificial light, and cramped quarters, but it’s what keeps one of the world’s most powerful military forces operational.

With a total of 40,065,428,560 ordinary shares in issue, Safaricom will be pumping over Ksh 34 billion into the pockets of its investors. But as the saying goes on this platform, wealth is never distributed equally. So, who are the big winners?

Here is a breakdown of how much the top 10 shareholders—the real owners of Safaricom—will receive on or about March 31, 2026.

The Big Two: The Institutional Giants

Safaricom’s ownership structure is dominated by two primary entities. However, 2026 marks a significant shift due to the ongoing government stake divestiture.

Vodacom Group Limited (and Vodafone)

Combined, the Vodafone/Vodacom entities control a staggering 40% to 55% of the company (depending on the finalization of recent stake transfers).

 * Shareholding: ~16,026,171,424 shares.

 * Estimated Payout: Ksh 13.62 Billion.

This payout typically heads to South Africa and the UK, reinforcing Safaricom’s role as a global profit engine for the Vodafone Group.

The Government of Kenya (National Treasury)

Despite recent moves to sell a 15% stake to Vodafone Kenya to raise capital for the 2026 budget, the Government remains a massive beneficiary.

 * Shareholding (Adjusted): ~8,013,085,712 shares (assuming the 20% post-divestiture holding).

 * Estimated Payout: Ksh 6.81 Billion.

This liquidity is crucial for the Treasury as the country navigates a complex economic year.

The Top 10 Elite: A Breakdown of the Payouts

While the exact list of individual top 10 shareholders fluctuates slightly month-to-month on the NSE register, the following institutional and “silent” billionaires represent the bulk of the top tier.

What This Means for the “Small Fish”

If you are a retail investor holding the average “starter pack” of 1,000 shares, you will receive Ksh 850 (less 5% withholding tax for residents).

Key Dates to Remember

To be eligible for this payout, you must be on the register of members by the Book Closure Date.

 * Declaration Date: February 5, 2026.

 * Books Closure: February 25, 2026.

 * Payment Date: March 31, 2026.

Why Safaricom is Paying Big in 2026

The Sh0.85 payout is a significant jump from the Sh0.55 paid in early 2025. This is driven by two factors:

M-Pesa Dominance: Digital transaction volumes in Kenya reached record highs in late 2025.

Ethiopia Turnaround: After years of heavy investment, Safaricom Ethiopia has started narrowing its losses, allowing the Kenyan unit to return more cash to shareholders.

• -ENA Coach said the driver, Tom Ondieki had worked with them for seven months before tragedy struck on February 17th 2025.
• – The bus company said they’re committed to employee welfare but at times ‘cooperation from Ondieki has been challenging.’

“Our office has maintained regular contact with Mr. Ondieki to facilitate the process, but at times, cooperation from him has been challenging”– these are the words from ENA Coach regarding the compensation of their former driver.

According to the bus company, Mr. Ondieki who alleged neglect had been offered forms from the Occupational Health Department that had been duly processed. The documents, by the time of going to press await approval from his attending doctor.

But ENA Coach says Mr. Ondieki has remained uncooperative. Further, they alleged that they had partnered with a reputable insurance company to ensure their staff are compensated against work-related accidents.

According to the bus firm, they reached out to the insurance company and Ondieki was awarded compensation. The compensation was directly communicated to him, but he disputed and wanted all correspondence handled by his lawyer.

“As a responsible employer, we have partnered with a reputable insurance company to ensure all our staff are comprehensively covered against work-related accidents. We promptly lodged an insurance claim on Mr. Ondieki’s behalf upon his discharge from the hospital.”

“After the due process and documentation required by the insurer, a compensation was offered. This offer was communicated directly to him and unfortunately, Mr Ondieki disputed the compensation and requested that all further communications be directed through his lawyer, whose details he provided.”

Below is a full statement:-

The Attela Beach Resort was transformed into a scenic celebration of beer and culture featuring an all-star entertainment lineup and live music performances by hitmakers Bensoul and Fathermoh and Harry Craze. The electrifying atmosphere was sustained by an impressive ensemble of top DJs: Gordo, Ves, Daffy, and Dimore, who kept the party at peak energy. The night was seamlessly hosted by crowd favorite MC Gogo and Kisumu’s own Hype Amollo, ensuring the grand finale was nothing short of legendary.

MC Gogo seized the stage early, igniting the crowd with a powerful opening performance that set the tone for the entire night. Harry Craze then commanded the stage, leading the crowd in an energetic dance frenzy before an exciting surprise, he brought Fathermoh out to perform their chart-topping collaborations. The unforgettable night concluded on a high note with a captivating and soulful final set by Bensoul.

The vibrant fusion of great beer, homegrown music, and an enthusiastic crowd reaffirmed Tusker Oktobafest’s position as East Africa’s premier beer and culture festival.

Commenting on the spectacular success of the final leg, Brigid Wambua, Senior Brand Manager for Tusker, said, “We set out to reach as many consumers as possible with the Oktobafest experience this year and we have successfully done that. Oktobafest exists to provide a platform for the celebration of Kenyan beer and culture every year. We have enjoyed the enthusiasm and support of our consumers and partners across the regions and Kisumu has delivered a truly exceptional finale to our nationwide festival.”

Launched in September, the sixth annual edition of the celebrated beer festival promised an expanded, nationwide celebration of Kenyan beer and culture, featuring authentic local experiences. The nationwide festival featured a series of regional events including:

• Nairobi Edition: October 4th at Carnivore Grounds
• Rift Edition: October 11th at Baniyas, Eldoret
• Coast Edition: November 01st at Big Tree, Mombasa
• Mountain Edition: November 01st at The Stinger Lounge-Kinyuki, Nanyuki

In addition to the main festivals, Tusker Oktobafest was supported by over 200 on-trade activations nationwide. Beer enthusiasts across the country enjoyed flash sales and exciting discounts on their favorite KBL beers, including lagers, stouts, ciders, and malts on ke.thebar.com and select e-commerce partner platforms.

Tusker extends its deepest gratitude to all consumers, talent, and partners who made the nationwide Tusker Oktobafest tour and its Kisumu Grand Finale an overwhelming success, reaffirming its dedication to celebrating Kenyan music, beer and culture across every region of the country.

• Betty Bayo passed away on Monday 10th November at around 1 PM when she was undergoing treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital.
• Despite her social media pages being active, family sources reveal the musician has been in hospital for the better part of November. She had been diagnosed with leukemia necessitating the use of oxygen.

As Kenyans continue to send their tributes following the death of Beatrice Mbugua, popularly known as Betty Bayo, it has been revealed that she spent her last moments at KNH, battling leukemia.

Leukemia is a blood cancer which can lead to impaired immunity, anemia and easy bruising.

Bayo had been admitted to Kenyatta National Hospital with a bleeding disorder which was subsequently diagnosed as leukemia. A family source revealed that the gospel artist has been at KNH for a better part of November.

“Betty has been unwell since last week; she was diagnosed with acute mild cancer—leukaemia. Betty was transferred to KNH on Friday, as she was suffering from excessive bleeding. The doctors tried their best, but the will of God has prevailed,” said the family spokesperson.

Despite her social media pages being active, with a post as late as yesterday, Bayo’s condition had worsened and she was on oxygen therapy as revealed by photos taken from the hospital.

Kanyari mourns Betty Bayo 

Pastor Victor Kanyari who had two children with Betty Bayo, mourned her ex-wife saying he had been hurt, considering there was something he wanted to tell her. Nevertheless, Kanyari said he will cherish the moments they had together.

“It hurts in ways I can’t explain. You left before I could say everything I needed to. I still see you in every laugh our children give, in every little habit that reminds me of you. We had our moments, but through it all, you were family. I’ll carry your memory, your love, and your spirit forever,” he said.

Biography

Born in Banana, Kiambu county, she was brought up in Olkalao before moving to Kiambu town. She is the last born in a family of eight children and comes from a very humble background.

Although details of where she schooled are not available to the public, she has previously said she dropped out of school while in form two. This was due to the financial constraints that plagued the family. She once worked as a househelp before carving a niche for herself in gospel music.

Read: Betty Bayo Biography, Background, Career, Personal Life and Bleaching

• Azziad Nasenya rise to fame was meteoric as she became a celebrity after taking on ‘Utawezana’ challenge on TikTok.
• Fame opened up further opportunities and a windfall too. But now embroiled in a fight against a city auctioneer, things seem to have gone south.

Cases of celebrities making good money and then escaping from the limelight, and subsequently being rumoured to be dead broke are not uncommon in Kenya.

One of the reasons for such unfortunate occurrences could be because of living in opulence and not saving enough for a rainy day. However, in other cases, it remains a mystery.

The story of Azziad Nasenya

Azziad Nasenya was thrust into the limelight after taking on ‘Utawezana’ challenge and became an instant sensation.

She attracted immense admiration from young Kenyans and received massive followership on social media. She currently has 2.5 million followers on Instagram and 3.3 million followers on TikTok.

With fame, the St. Cecilia Misikhu Girls alumnus landed multimillion deals. These are:-

• Official Global Ambassador for the Save Our Future campaign.
• Acting roles in Selina, Odd Pair (2023) and Faithless (2023).
• Advertisement gigs for Garnier.
• Radio host role at Sound City.
• Member of Creative Technical Committee under the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs.

Going broke?

Rumours of Azziad failing to pay her debts first hit the blogosphere in early 2025 when another Tiktoker Mary Musyoka spilled the beans of the former failing to pay Ksh 300000.

Musyoka alleged Azziad had asked for the money, promising to clear the amount and revealing she was in a ‘fix.’

“I am in a fix and I am stuck. There is a whole story behind it but I will tell you the details later in case you are interested but I need a loan of a rather large sum of money but I promise you will have it back by Sunday, Monday latest. I am stranded, it is crazy,”

However, despite promising to refund the money plus interest, Azziad allegedly went mute. This prompted Mary Musyoka to lift the lid on Azziad’s financial position.

“I want you to go and tell that girl, who owes everyone in Kenya to pay back my money. I do not work so hard to fund your lifestyle. You conned me and I will say it,” she fumed.

Kileleshwa house auction

In September 2025, Azziad was a subject for online chatter after rumours emerged that her Ksh 20 million Kileleshwa apartment was being auctioned.

She however never made any statement on the matter, instead taking to social media saying: ” I am a Luhya, I love tea.”

On 6th November, Mpasho reported that Azziad had gone to court stopping the auction of the said house. Mpasho reported that Azziad moved to the commercial court asserting she had cleared her debts.

“According to court papers, Azziad says she is at risk of losing her home despite having cleared all outstanding loan arrears,” Mpasho reported.

Azziad said she had legally acquired the property through a mortgage financing arrangement with a deposit-taking savings and credit society.

However, she claimed that the SACCO was  attempting to recall the entire loan amount and has instructed an auctioneer to dispose of the apartment. She termed it unlawful and a premature process.

• Kwanget was the go-to person in case you needed any tractor brand or implement.
• He allegedly wrote cryptic messages on his WhatsApp status a day before his death.

The Kenya tractor family mourns the death of Kiprop Kwanget, an indefatigable broker who connected sellers with buyers.

In case you needed any tractor brand, or whatever implement you wanted, Kwanget remained the go-to person. He was good at finding anything the buyer wanted, according to one’s budget.

And in a business where people’s greed inflate the price, Kwanget remained genuine and was considerate of the price. This is the reason why he got hundreds of referrals from previous buyers.

He was also a genuine guy, hence winning the trust of investors who were scared of the tales of people whose hard earned cash was fizzled by dubious dealers.

“Ooh no!he was a good guy to me.I bought my first tractor from him. He linked us with the seller and the transaction was genuine.such a young soul. Poleni sana,” wrote Noah McWinter.

Deep internal struggle

Kwanget allegedly wrote cryptic messages on WhatsApp status prior to his death. This means he had a deep internal struggle over what remains uncertain.

“Itafanyika na si kwa ubaya,” he allegedly wrote.

A day later, he was no more.

“Pole Sana, most people saw the message but couldn’t understand it, but God knows everyone’s days may he RIP,” said Vincent Lagat.

• Amerix has been a sharp critic of Maraga ever since the former Chief Justice hit the ground running in a bid to become the president.
• Maraga said he is keen on tapping the strengths of both gender to form a balanced government if he will be successful in 2027.

Bungoma based medic and masculinity ambassador Eric Amunga (Amerix) has dismissed Maraga’s pledge of forming a government with an equal share of leadership positions between both gender.

Amerix said that Maraga was ‘continuously digging his political grave unknowingly.’

“No, thank you! This one continues to dig his political grave unknowingly, cheered by feminists and m@nginas,” he said on his Telegram channel.

Amerix has been a sharp critic of Maraga ever since he announced his 2027 bid. In July 2025, Amerix said that Maraga’s bid will be soiled by what he described as ‘toxic feminists.’

“Kenya’s former Chief Justice David Maraga’s presidential campaign will be stained by the toxic feminists and leftwing activists who have hijacked him,” he opined.

Former Chief Justice (Emeritus) David Maraga had on Wednesday said that if elected president, he will fill government position on a 50/50 balance on gender. According to Maraga, this will create a balance that will ensure different strengths are augmented.

“Men excel in some areas, women excel in others. If you put them together, you have a balanced government,” he said.

Additionally, Maraga defended his stand saying it’s anchored on the principles of equality and inclusivity which are enshrined in our constitution.

“The Constitution provides that no more than two-thirds of members of any elective or appointive body shall be of the same gender,” he opined.

Maraga revisited his September 2020 hardline stand when he asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to dissolve parliament for failing to enact legislation for the implementation of the two thirds gender rule.

Another video has emerged of him agitated and accusing a Kenyan lady of stealing his ketamine. It is this incident that led to the arrest of Elwin on accusations of assault and possession of narcotics.

“What have I stolen from you? What have I stolen from you Elwin? What is it that I have stolen?” the lady asks.

“My f*cking Ketamine,” Elwin responds.

https://x.com/O_Beauttah/status/1983510955393794242?t=f8ZS4zu8kef0G5tmA3nheA&s=1

What is Ketamine?

Ketamine is a drug used medically as an anesthesia, painkiller and for depression. However, it can be used illegally for recreational purposes.

According to Addiction Centre, repeated use of ketamine can lead to psychological dependence by altering glutamate receptors which are responsible for mood, reward and cognition.

The signs of dependence include:

• Prioritising the drug over other responsibilities.
• Strong cravings when not using ketamine.
• Always having the urge of obtaining ketamine.
• Multiple unsuccessful attempts to reduce the use of the drug.

Going by the agitation, fury and fume that Elwin exhibited, it seems he was dependent on ketamine. When police officers visited the house in which Elwin was with his girlfriend, they recovered 3 grams of a whitish substance.

On his part, Elwin pleaded for forgiveness, saying he had missed taking his antipsychotics which led to the behaviour he exhibited.

“Apologies, I had psychological issues and needed my medicine. I didn’t have food or water for a long time,” he said.

Interests In Renewable Energy

Unlike his disgusting behaviour, Elwin Ter Horst has a decorated CV. The Dutch national holds a Master of Science in Technical Business Sciences from University of Groningen.

He’s also a project manager with an IPMA -C which he reports enables project managers use effective project management tools, processes and methods.

-This translates to Ksh 213000 monthly, a figure that equals what some of the high-paying professionals like doctors, lawyers and senior university lecturers take home.

Bolt, a top ride-hailing platform in Kenya has revealed that its top 50 drivers earned a gross of Ksh 1.28 million in the first half of 2025. This cool figure translates to a monthly income of Ksh 213000, a mouth-watering amount in the Kenyan economy.

The earnings were a sum of trip payments, bonuses and incentives.

According to Dimmy Kanyankole, who serves as the General Manager of Bolt in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, the earnings were possible due to an enabling environment. He also noted that drivers can earn more if they strongly embrace the platform.

“At Bolt, our primary focus is on creating meaningful economic opportunities for our driver partners. The latest earnings report shows that drivers who consistently engage on our platform can achieve strong financial returns. We remain committed to improving the driver experience and building a sustainable future for everyone in the gig economy,” he said.

Bolt has factored in driver support programs, incentives schemes and platform improvement as a strategy to ensure it remains one of the top ride-hailing companies in Kenya.

Read also: Markus Villig: 29 Year Old Bolt Founder Who Dropped Out Of University At 19 To Found Taxi Hailing Company

Bolt business 

Bolt Business, an idea that helps corporates save on employee reimbursements by providing an alternative has also reported a 46% growth in Kenya. This is after at least 2000 companies used the platform.

Read also: Young Entrepreneurs Who Founded Wasili Cabs Using Only Three Cars