Verbatim sentences from the source article.
Capital News
… Senior Foreign Service, holding the rank of Minister-Counselor, with more than two decades of experience in high-level diplomatic and security postings across the Middle East, Europe, and South Asia. …
What You Need to Know About U.S. Ambassador Nominee to Kenya Henry WoosterThe Standard
Audio By VocalizeThe ongoing Middle East crisis is rapidly becoming more than a geopolitical conflict for Africa. …
Middle East Crisis Is a Wake-Up Call for Intra-African TradeThe Standard
… The Gulf of Aden remains a critical maritime artery linking Europe, Asia and the Middle East, carrying billions of dollars in global trade and energy supplies annually. …
Letter from Mogadishu: Concern as piracy picks up off Somalia coastThe Standard
… Meanwhile, conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Sudan continue to create uncertainty and disrupt global stability. …
Geopolitics: How global power shifts are rewriting Kenya and Africa's roleCitizen Digital
… Iran insists that Lebanon be included in any agreement with the United States to end the wider war that engulfed the Middle East region in February. …
Israel launches more south Lebanon strikes after warningsCitizen Digital
… It came as Donald Trump struggles to resolve the Middle East war -- which has caused oil prices to soar, hurting major Asian economies -- and after the US president met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping against the perennial background of tensions over Taiwan. …
Pentagon chief says US seeks 'stable equilibrium' with China in AsiaCitizen Digital
… President Donald Trump has remained notably silent about the deal despite US sources telling AFP it only needed his sign-off, underscoring the unpredictability of talks three months after the conflict engulfed the Middle East and shook the global economy. …
Iran says no trust in US 'words', waiting for Washington to actCapital News
… The US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran on 28 February, sparking conflict across the Middle East. …
Trump tells US negotiators ‘not to rush’ into deal with IranThe Standard
… d debris of a destroyed building at the site of an Israeli strike in the southern Lebanese coastal city of Tyre on May 23, 2026. [AFP] Iran warned Monday that, while some progress had been made, it was not yet close to striking a deal with the United States to end the Middle East …
Iran warns deal with US not yet close, despite some progressGlobal crude prices surged past $112 per barrel driven by the rapid expansion of the Middle East conflict and mounting fears of a full-blown regional war, putting fresh pressure on Kenya's fuel costs and economy.
22 hours ago · The Standard →
Global crude prices surged past $112 per barrel driven by the rapid expansion of the Middle East conflict and mounting fears of a full-blown regional war, putting fresh pressure on Kenya's fuel costs and economy.
22 hours ago · The Standard →
Iran and the United States have halted missile strikes after fighting over the Strait of Hormuz. Trump's UN envoy said the president is giving negotiations "a little bit of room" while forces remain ready, and Iran's army spokesman confirmed Tehran has halted retaliatory operations.
27 July 2026 · The Standard →
Dubai's property market has cooled following the outbreak of Middle East conflict in late February, with rents falling despite the city's earlier rapid growth. Some residents have capitalized on lower prices to upgrade to larger, better-located apartments at reduced cost, though the city's image as a safe destination has been damaged by attacks on iconic sites.
26 July 2026 · The Standard →
Artcaffé is expanding beyond Nairobi to Eldoret and coastal towns, driven by rising demand for curated dining experiences among Kenya's growing middle-income population. The chain, which currently operates more than 60 outlets, is launching a new Winter Mediterranean Menu as part of its growth strategy.
25 July 2026 · Capital News →
Kenya's Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has condemned attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and threats to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, warning that the escalating crisis could disrupt global trade and increase the cost of essential imports including oil and fertilizer.
24 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Oil prices surged to $100 a barrel as Tehran-backed Houthi rebels targeted Red Sea shipping and U.S. President Donald Trump threatened military strikes in return. Saudi Arabia's use of the Red Sea as an alternative export route faces disruption, potentially removing more oil from the market.
24 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Netanyahu's office stated that Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords would represent a historic advancement for Middle East peace, following a US-Saudi nuclear deal that President Trump said would be conditional on Saudi normalization with Israel.
24 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
A four-day African Maritime Forces Summit in Rabat, Morocco brought representatives from more than 40 African countries and 20 international partner states to address maritime security challenges including piracy, illegal fishing, maritime terrorism, and transnational crime. Somalia's navy commander discussed measures his country has taken to improve security along its coastline despite a sharp fall in piracy over more than a decade, though experts warn of isolated recent attacks and persistent illegal fishing by foreign vessels.
24 July 2026 · The Standard →
An opinion piece argues that the Lamu Refinery—now in implementation with government commitments fulfilled and financing secured—is a strategic investment that will strengthen regional energy security, unlock the LAPSSET Corridor, and position Kenya as East Africa's gateway for energy, trade and manufacturing.
23 July 2026 · The Standard →
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met in Manila on the sidelines of an ASEAN summit to discuss the Ukraine war and US-Russia relations, with both officials expressing openness to dialogue despite stalled peace efforts.
23 July 2026 · The Standard →
Wildlife veterinarian Robert Aruho, Conservation Lead at Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, has been appointed Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Antelope Specialist Group for 2026–2030, leading an international network responsible for guiding antelope protection and recovery across Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
22 July 2026 · Capital News →
President Donald Trump said Tuesday the US is far from finished with Iran and warned the next military target could be Pickaxe Mountain, a deeply buried nuclear site near Natanz where Western intelligence suspects Iran is building an undeclared enrichment facility. Trump estimated it would take Iran more than 20 years to rebuild from current damage.
22 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis announced a maritime embargo of Saudi Arabia, stepping up tensions as the rebels threatened the top oil exporter's ability to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. The blockade, if enforced, could strain Saudi Arabia's economy by cutting off Red Sea port access and hurt global markets reliant on Saudi crude exports.
20 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Cabinet Secretary Mudavadi has called for greater collaboration among governments, faith leaders and young people to promote peace, empower youth and strengthen good governance across Eastern Africa, speaking at the 21st Plenary Assembly of AMECEA in Nairobi.
20 July 2026 · The Standard →
Iran's judiciary announced the execution by hanging of Erfan Esfandiari and Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi on Sunday. The men were convicted of assaulting police officers and videotaping the incident during anti-government protests that began in December over economic grievances and intensified in January.
19 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is traveling to the Philippines to meet with Southeast Asian counterparts at an ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Manila. The trip aims to advance US priorities for a "free and open Indo-Pacific" amid tensions in the Middle East and US concerns about China's alleged election interference.
18 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kenya launched a digital livestock tracking system called ANITRAC at a national meat conference, designed to strengthen animal health, improve food safety, and meet international traceability requirements to help grow the livestock sector from its current Sh390 billion annual contribution toward a Sh1 trillion goal within two years.
18 July 2026 · The Standard →
The United States struck Iran and Tehran hit back at US allies in the Gulf on Thursday amid renewed fighting over the Strait of Hormuz, a month after a preliminary peace deal was signed to end the conflict that broke out in late February.
16 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority, Tana River County Government and Stella Mundi Properties Ltd have signed a memorandum of understanding to implement a climate-smart lucerne farming project aimed at boosting irrigation, food security and livelihoods through water infrastructure development and commercial fodder production.
16 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
EU countries agreed Wednesday to maintain Russia's oil price cap at $44 for one week to allow time for negotiating a broader sanctions package, avoiding an imminent deadline that would have raised the cap. The 21st round of sanctions the EU proposes on Russia since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine has faced resistance from multiple countries seeking to water down various provisions.
16 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kenya's foreign exchange reserves are set to reach a seven-month high following proceeds from the government's sale of a 15 per cent stake in Safaricom totalling Sh244.5 billion, World Bank funding of $750 million, and Kenya Pipeline Company privatisation receipts of Sh103.45 billion received in April, with the CBK expecting the shilling to remain stable.
16 July 2026 · The Standard →
The government has extended the eight per cent VAT rate on petroleum products by three months to continue offering Kenyans relief from high fuel costs, using powers granted by Parliament's April VAT Amendment Act which allows the Treasury Cabinet Secretary to extend the initial three-month relief period.
15 July 2026 · The Standard →
The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority announced that maximum retail prices for Super Petrol, Diesel, and Kerosene will remain unchanged from July 15 to August 14, 2026. The government extended an 8 per cent VAT relief on petroleum products for three months and used Sh945 million from the Petroleum Development Levy Fund to stabilize prices amid global oil market volatility.
14 July 2026 · Capital News →
Kenya's government has extended an 8 per cent Value Added Tax reduction on petroleum products for three more months until October 14, 2026, and approved a Ksh.945 million subsidy for the July–August fuel pricing cycle to protect consumers from rising global oil prices and Middle East tensions.
14 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi said Kenya holds adequate fuel stocks and that Middle East conflict has not disrupted petroleum product availability, crediting the Government-to-Government fuel import arrangement for protecting the country from supply disruptions and price volatility.
14 July 2026 · The Standard →
The government has extended the reduced 8 percent Value Added Tax on petroleum products for another three months until October 14, 2026, to cushion consumers from rising global oil market uncertainty. The extension also includes a Sh945 million injection from the Petroleum Development Levy during July-August 2026 to stabilize pump prices.
14 July 2026 · The Standard →
The government has extended the reduced 8 per cent VAT on petroleum products for three more months until October 14, 2026, to shield motorists, businesses and households from volatile global oil prices. The Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary said the extension was made in consultation with the National Treasury, and the government will also inject Sh945 million from the Petroleum Development Levy during July-August 2026 to stabilise pump prices.
14 July 2026 · The Standard →
President Cyril Ramaphosa is visiting France for a three-day trip, including a commemoration on Sunday for South African soldiers killed in World War I at the Battle of Delville Wood. Ramaphosa met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday, with the two leaders finding broad convergence on crises in the Middle East and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
12 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The World Bank's Kenya Economic Update projects the national poverty rate could rise by two to 4.5 percentage points by the end of 2026, with an additional 1–2.4 million Kenyans potentially falling below the poverty line due to worsening economic conditions including inflation, high cost of living, and joblessness. The bank has also downwardly revised Kenya's 2026 growth forecast to 4.3 per cent from 4.6 per cent, citing fiscal challenges and geopolitical tensions.
11 July 2026 · The Standard →
The Horn of Africa has become a key site of geopolitical competition, with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and other international powers seeking influence across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. In Somalia, this rivalry intensifies as the federal government faces domestic challenges and criticism over state institutions, corruption, and political disputes.
10 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →