On that day, she was officially promoted to become a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army.

The promotion made her the highest-ranking Kenyan military officer serving in the United States Army.

The ceremony, which was held at Fort Lee, Virginia, was attended by Jemutai’s family and friends, some of whom had travelled from Kenya while others resided in the United States.

Jemutai was born in Kopsiya, Poror, in Eldama Ravine, in Baringo County.

She dedicated her achievement to her late mother, Jacqueline Alice Kirui, saying that her strength, prayers, and sacrifice shaped her journey.

In the US Army, a lieutenant colonel (LC) serves as a battalion commander of 300 to 1000 soldiers. LCs are the 23^rd rank in the United States Army, ranking directly below a Colonel and above a Major.

According to Military-Ranks.Org, it generally takes an officer 16 to 22 years to achieve the rank of a Lieutenant Colonel.

As a Lieutenant Colonel, Jemutai belongs to the DoD pay grade O-5 and is entitled to a monthly salary of about $6,726. She is also entitled to an automatic increase in her basic salary every one to two years.

Aside from the salary, she is entitled to other allowances and bonus pay, such as hostile fire pay, retirement benefits, clothing allowance, medical benefits, and hazard pay.

Because of these additional benefits, a Lieutenant Colonel stationed in a high-risk area can easily earn compensation of $150,000-$200,000.

Other Kenyans Serving in the US Army

Aside from Sylvia Jemutai, there are many other Kenyans who are serving in the US Army. One of them is Gladys Kipsang, an Army medical officer who was recently promoted to the rank of major.

Kipsang shared the good news on a Facebook post, saying, “Allow me to reintroduce myself. Presenting MAJOR Kipsang! Today was my promotion ceremony, and it was beautiful.”

Kipsang, who has served in the US Army for 13 years, began her career as a Registered Nurse at University Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas.

She worked at the station from July 2010 to June 2011 before she found a job at another nursing facility in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

She joined the US Army in March 2013 as a Healthcare Specialist and slowly rose through the ranks.

Her educational accolades include a master’s degree in Family Practice Nursing from Chamberlain University and a master’s degree in health sciences from Excelsior University.

Mary Miriti, a former teacher from Meru, is another Kenyan-born U.S. Army officer. She joined the US Army at age 48 after quitting her teaching job in Kenya.

Miriti, who studied Business Administration and Marketing at Daystar University, relocated to the US after winning the much-coveted green card.

Upon her arrival in America, she joined the Perkins School of Theology, where she studied to become a gospel minister.

Her chance to join the US Army arrived when her chaplain was recruiting people for Army ministry.

Miriti was promoted to the rank of major in 2021.

As an Army chaplain, she is responsible for preaching to the soldiers, counselling them, and helping them recover from mental conditions such as depression and PTSD.

Having established the brand in Accra and built an international sourcing network through Dubai, Anthony is using Nairobi as his primary launchpad into the East African real estate and construction market.

Anthony, who founded Modern Floors in Ghana in 2017 before growing the business into Modern Floors & Walls, says the entry into Kenya comes after extensive visits to Nairobi and Kampala to study local demand.

“We started by building the business in Ghana, but the vision was never to stay in one market,” Anthony said. “Dubai gave us the global sourcing network we needed, and Kenya is the natural next step for our growth.”

The move targets Nairobi’s expanding residential and commercial property market, offering products tailored for modern and high-traffic spaces. The lineup includes waterproof SPC flooring, SPC wall panels and modular carpet tiles designed for offices, homes and apartments.

Rather than attempting an aggressive rollout across multiple countries simultaneously, Anthony says the immediate focus will be on building strong local networks in Kenya alongside architects, contractors and interior designers.

“You cannot build an African multinational by treating the continent as a monolith,” Anthony noted. “Our strategy in Kenya is straightforward: set up operations, work directly with local professionals and bring quality finishing materials into the market.”

From Accra to Dubai and now Nairobi, Anthony’s expansion reflects an ambition to build Modern Floors & Walls into an African multinational, establishing strong local operations market by market.

But what about the online sphere? Internet gambling platforms are becoming a huge hit. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that one of the most popular games in the casino world is making a mark on this brand new industry. The iGaming market has managed to bring roulette to life on the web. But some are wondering what the appeal of the game’s online counterpart would be.

Accessibility

There is no denying that online roulette is far more accessible than its land-based counterpart. It cuts down the time you need to gain access to the game by a significant margin. All you have to do is visit online casinos, see what they offer and select your favorite version of roulette. When that is done the players just have to make their deposits and the game can start. But some may say that a digital version of the game can never be as exciting as the face-to-face experience. Believe it or not, online casinos have come up with a pretty cool solution to the problem.

Live Casinos

The iGaming industry is all about innovation. When there is a way to use new and exciting technology to push the market forward, you better believe that an industrious operator will jump on it. That is why live streaming has become such a big part of the roulette world. Online casinos have managed to recapture the attention of new fans by integrating live croupiers into their business model. The websites allow fans to access live streams of roulette games where they can play along with other fans. It is a great way to emulate the immersive nature of land-based casinos.

Bonus Offers

We can’t talk about online roulette without bringing up the bonus offers that elevate the industry. Those who may not be aware of online casino bonuses are going to jump for joy. Players who need or want a boost in their gambling can take advantage of both welcome offers and loyalty promotions that elevate the experience at an online casino. They can take advantage of free spins or cashback prizes for a much more interesting experience online. It is an excellent way to boost your gameplay.

Diversity

The best part about online casinos is that they bring a sort of diversity to the industry that often is not captured at land-based establishments. What we mean is that you can play different versions of roulette online. Some options you might never have heard of or seen at online casinos. You have the standard American roulette; a game so popular that even Albert Einstein was known to partake now and again. You also have French and European roulette. But there are even options for mini roulette or grand roulette. All of these games bring a new spin to the classic.

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.