The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has expressed strong concerns over the recent teacher recruitment process, citing serious irregularities and alleged corruption.

Speaking on the matter, KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu criticized the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for what he described as a flawed and politically influenced hiring process. He said that while the union cannot fault newly employed teachers, it must speak out on the manner in which some of these appointments were made.

“It is shocking to see employment forms being distributed at burial ceremonies and chief barazas, used as political tools for mileage. Who is authorized to say they’ve employed teachers? That mandate belongs to the Teachers Service Commission—not politicians,” Oyuu stated.

He condemned the apparent favoritism in the recruitment process, where recent graduates from 2023 and 2024 were reportedly prioritized over those who completed college as early as 2011. “This is deeply demoralizing for many qualified but long-waiting teachers. The profession deserves respect and dignity,” he added.

Oyuu further alleged that employment forms were being sold for as much as Ksh 200,000 by some individuals linked to political circles. “If someone must pay such an amount just to secure a job, where is the fairness? This is corruption in its most inhuman form, and we have evidence to support these claims,” he emphasized.

Calling the situation “shameful and unacceptable,” Oyuu urged the TSC to take responsibility and ensure transparency and integrity in all future recruitment processes. “We shall not condone this. We will continue to expose those involved. Let us uphold humanity and dignity in the teaching profession,” he concluded.

The Kenya Meteorological Department has forecasted increased rainfall across various parts of the country between April 22 and 28, 2025.

In a statement issued on Monday, April 21, 2025, the department noted that regions expected to receive rainfall include the Central Highlands (Nairobi included), Western Kenya, the Lake Victoria Basin, Southeastern Lowlands, Central and South Rift Valley, as well as Northeastern Kenya.

“Rainfall is expected to continue over several parts of the country. Isolated heavy rainfall events are expected over some parts of the Central Highlands (including Nairobi), Western Kenya, Lake Victoria Basin, Southeastern Lowlands, Central and South Rift Valley and North-eastern Kenya,” the weatherman forecasted.

The weatherman says average daytime (maximum) temperatures of more than 30°C will be experienced in the Coast, North-eastern and North-western Kenya and Isolated areas in Western Kenya.

Average night-time (minimum) temperatures will be less than 10°C in some parts of the Central Highlands, Central Rift Valley and around Mt Kilimanjaro.

Over the past week, several regions experienced heavy downpours, with rainfall exceeding 50mm in 24 hours. Areas affected included Makueni, Machakos, Murang’a, Embu, Meru, Isiolo, Kericho, Homa Bay, Nyandarua, Bungoma, Nairobi, and Migori.

Compared to the previous week (April 7–13), rainfall amounts increased across many parts of the country, particularly in the Highlands East of the Rift Valley, Southeastern Lowlands, Northeastern, and Northwestern Kenya.

Kasafari Station in Embu County recorded the highest 7-day total with 272.5mm, while Kiateneni Station in Kitui County registered the highest 24-hour rainfall, measuring 124.6mm on April 19.

Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died, the Vatican said in a video statement on Monday, ending an often turbulent reign marked by division and tension as he sought to overhaul the hidebound institution.

He was 88, and had survived a serious bout of double pneumonia.

Francis’ death comes a day after the pope had made his first prolonged public appearance since being discharged on March 23 from a 38-day hospital stay for pneumonia.

On Easter Sunday, Francis had entered St. Peter’s Square in an open-air popemobile shortly after mid-day, greeting cheering crowds. He had also offered a special blessing for the first time since Christmas.

Leaders across the world, including PM Modi were reacting to the pope’s death with praise for his efforts to serve the poor and downtrodden and offering condolences to the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

Now that the Pope has died, many are questioning who could be next in line.

Who will be the next Pope?

As of January 22, 2025, the conclave regulations specify that among the 252 cardinals, only 138 electors are eligible to participate.

The age restriction mandates that only cardinals below 80 years can cast their votes in the confidential balloting process held at the Sistine Chapel, the Independent reported.

The voting procedure consists of four daily rounds that continue until a candidate secures a significant two-thirds majority.

According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website, this electoral process generally extends between 15 to 20 days.

Several prominent Cardinals are considered potential successors, including:

• Cardinal Pietro Parolin – the Vatican’s Secretary of State
• Cardinal Peter Erdö- former president of the Council of Bishops Conferences of Europe
• Cardinal Peter Turkson (Ghana) – former head of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
• Cardinal Luis Tagle – Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples and former Archbishop of Manila
• Cardinal Matteo Zuppi – president of the Episcopal Conference of Italy since May 2022
• Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke- cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010

Additional potential candidates include Cardinals, Gerhard Muller, Angelo Scola, Angelo Bagnasco, Raymond Burke, Robert Sarah and Malcolm Ranjith.