Mwaura defends #Ruto’s Azerbaijan visit, cites trade and #investment gains

LSK demands probe into death of Kiambu student inside police cell

Could cruise ship passengers sue over the hantavirus outbreak? What do we know about the outbreak?

The MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged polar expedition cruise ship operated by #Oceanwide Expeditions, was carrying nearly 150 passengers and crew near Antarctica when it reported a cluster of severe respiratory illnesses to global health authorities on May 3.

The outbreak was confirmed as hantavirus after it was detected in a passenger who disembarked in late April and was treated in South Africa. The hantavirus spreads via contact with rats and mice, but the strain found on the ship can spread from human to human.

Health officials are investigating how the virus got on board.

Three people have died since the ​start of the outbreak as of Tuesday. The World Health Organization said on Monday there were now nine reported cases.
What legal rights do passengers have?

A general “terms and conditions” page on Oceanwide’s website says the company cannot be held liable for anything from illness and death to lost luggage and robbery.

But Oceanwide’s sweeping waiver terms might not hold up in court if passengers show the company was grossly negligent, according to Dutch legal experts.

The terms and conditions stipulate that any lawsuit must be brought in the Netherlands.

There have been no reports of passengers suing or saying they will sue.

Gross negligence and recklessness are hard to prove under Dutch law and would require evidence that Oceanwide knew something was dangerous but did it anyway, legal experts said.

Examples could include ignoring warnings or instructions from health authorities and failing to follow basic infection-control protocols while knowing this would put patients in harm’s way, according to legal experts.

There are no reports of the MV Hondius crew engaging in misconduct and some passengers have publicly praised them for how they handled the situation.

An Oceanwide spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

What country’s law would apply?

The terms and conditions identify the District Court of Middelburg in the Netherlands as the exclusive jurisdiction for filing lawsuits.

Courts in the U.S. and elsewhere generally honor these “forum clauses” and would likely dismiss cases brought elsewhere, experts said.

Passengers could argue that Oceanwide’s blanket liability waivers are unreasonable and unenforceable under European Union consumer protection laws, Dutch legal experts said.

Passengers also could argue that Oceanwide’s sweeping terms run afoul of an EU law governing contract fairness for consumers, which deems terms unenforceable if they shift the playing field too far in a company’s favor.
What rights do non-passengers have?

Relatives of deceased passengers could file lawsuits, but Oceanwide would likely argue that the ticket terms still apply to claims stemming from the voyage and invoke exclusive Dutch jurisdiction.

In Dutch court, families could argue they did not waive their own wrongful death rights and seek to convince a court that Oceanwide’s terms were unfair and unreasonable. However, they would still face the difficult burden of proving gross negligence or recklessness.
Is there any legal precedent?

There is limited Dutch legal precedent for passengers suing cruise ships, legal experts said.

Cruise lines faced passenger lawsuits in the U.S. over COVID-19 exposure, but many were dismissed because plaintiffs couldn’t show how cruise operators were directly responsible for their illnesses.

Unlike major cruise companies like Carnival, Oceanwide does not appear to have U.S. connections that could establish jurisdiction there.

Reporting by Jack Queen in New York; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Rod Nickel, Reuters

#Ruto said : "The enduring cordial relations between Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania continue to flourish, anchored on shared interests, vibrant trade and commitment to deliver prosperity for our respective nations.
Our robust bilateral relations are underpinned by a solid economic partnership. We continue to expand our ties as we explore new opportunities to strengthen our economies.
Our unbreakable bond continues to deliver substantial benefits to our people. We remain committed to safeguarding and expanding these gains.
Began my two-day State Visit to Tanzania today with fruitful talks with Her Excellency President Samia Suluhu Hassan, State House Dar es Salaam. We witnessed the signing of 8 agreements that will significantly broaden and deepen cooperation between our two nations.
These agreements establish new frameworks for collaboration in infrastructure development, trade facilitation, regional logistics, public service, security and energy."

#South_africa : Funeral #fireworks: Ex Joburg mayor faces charges weeks after #Malema conviction

#Kenya : Gov’t adjusts fuel standards amid global supply concerns

Senator Cherargei faults KRA over taxation of marathon champion Sabastian Sawe’s prize money

#Transponders to be installed on New York area airport ground vehicles following deadly collision.

The trackers will be put on fire trucks and other rescue vehicles, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said Tuesday. The transponders can provide air traffic controllers with more precise information about the vehicles and their locations by constantly sending signals to the control tower.

The National Transportation Safety Board noted the lack of transponders in a preliminary report it issued last week about the March 22 accident at LaGuardia Airport. An Air Canada jet collided with a fire truck on the runway, killing two pilots and injuring several other people.

An air traffic controller had cleared the vehicle to cross the runway. According to the report, the truck drove past red warning lights. There was also extra heavy air traffic and an emergency involving another plane at the time.

LaGuardia is one of 35 airports that have Airport Surface Detection Systems, known as ASDE-X. They combine radar data with information from transponders inside planes and ground vehicles along with other data to create a display in the tower showing controllers where every plane and vehicle is. The system will also sound an alarm in the tower when it anticipates a potential collision.

The Federal Aviation Administration has recommended that major airports nationwide install the transponders and has offered to help pay for them. Many airports have followed the guidance.

James Allen, the Port Authority’s chief communications officer, said the agency has made “targeted investments in safety technology” for its airfield vehicles, including systems designed to track vehicle movements and support operator awareness across the airfield. Besides LaGuardia, the authority operates Kennedy Airport in New York and Newark Liberty Airport in northern New Jersey.

“We recognize that transponder technology can provide an additional layer of visibility on top of existing surface-surveillance systems that already track ground movements,” Allen said. ”We will continue to work closely with the NTSB as its investigation proceeds and remain focused on working with the #FAA to strengthen safety across our airfield operations.”

Bruce Shipkowski, The Associated Press

Powerhouses KPC to battle KCB in all-Kenyan African Championships semis

#NAIROBI, Kenya — Police in Kenya have arrested a man named in an alleged scheme that duped Kenyans with promises of skilled work in Russia, only for them to end up on the front lines of the fighting in #Ukraine.

Festus Omwamba was arrested on suspicion of human trafficking in the northern Kenyan town of Moyale, near the border with Ethiopia. He was charged Thursday in an antiterror court in the capital, Nairobi, with trafficking 25 Kenyans to Russia last year. Police spokesperson Michael Muchiri said Omwamba sought to flee Kenya after returning from Russia.

Omwamba, who was identified by three Kenyan recruits who spoke to The Associated Press, had gone missing after families started protesting the disappearances and deaths of their relatives in the war in Ukraine.

The Kenyan government last week said more than 1,000 Kenyans were recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine and that at least 89 Kenyans were still on the front line, 39 were hospitalized, 28 were missing in action, and others had returned home. It has confirmed one death.

An intelligence report presented to Kenya’s Parliament by the majority leader, Kimani Ichung’wah, said Kenyan and Russian government officials colluded with rogue job recruitment agencies to lure Kenyans to the front lines.

The Russian Embassy in Nairobi has denied the allegations, saying last week that it never issued visas to anyone intending to travel to Russia to fight in Ukraine.

Kenya’s Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi told the AP on Feb. 9 that he would travel to Russia for what he called a “diplomatic approach to rein in any dubious entities that are taking advantage of anyone in this misadventure.” He said efforts to secure the release of Kenyans in Ukrainian prisons and repatriate those in Russia were ongoing.

Omwamba’s arrest is seen as a major development in the government’s push to stop the recruitment of Kenyans to fight in Ukraine.

A recruit who escaped from the front line and sought refuge at the Kenyan Embassy in Russia, and was later processed for return home, John Kamau, told the AP he met Omwamba at a house in Nairobi where fellow recruits awaiting travel to Russia were kept.

Another recruit, who requested anonymity for fear of being tracked down by Russians, said Omwamba avoided contacting the recruits by text message and would instead call them or meet them in person.

The recruit had signed up after being told he would get a plumbing job in Russia, but on arrival, his passport was taken away and he was taken to a military camp for a few days before being deployed to the front line.

The brother of another recruit who went to Russia in August 2025 told the AP on Thursday that his brother shared messages between him and Omwamba before he traveled.

In the messages, Omwamba asked Reuben Nyaboga to make payments and gave him bank account details that showed that he had paid Omwamba’s recruitment agency.

Nyaboga’s contract, seen by the AP, was, however, generated under a different recruitment company registered under another director’s name. It stated that he was going to work as an “armed security guard.”

“On the day of travel, I saw Omwamba at the airport handing out passports to my brother and other men he was traveling with,” Nyaboga’s brother Lamech Mboga told the AP. Nyaboga has not been in touch with his family since last year and is believed to be among the prisoners of war held in Ukraine.

The recruits said Omwamba oversaw their tourist visa applications and ticket purchases, and two weeks after the first contact, they received visas and traveled to Russia.

Evelyne Musambi And Vivianne Wandera, The Associated Press