Three scientists have won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine for discoveries involving light-gated ion channels and optogenetics.
Karl Deisseroth from the United States and Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel from Germany were announced yesterday by the Nobel Assembly. Their work developed a technique that uses light to control nerve cells, transforming understanding of the brain and offering new ways to treat neurological disorders.
The High Court in Kiambu has suspended the implementation of the Gazette Notice that set dates for the 2026 National Youth Council elections. The decision means the elections will not proceed on the previously announced dates.
The elections were expected to take place in three stages. Ward-level elections were scheduled for October 9, constituency elections for October 16 and national elections for October 30.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs said it would comply with the court order. It also said voter education and public sensitisation would continue while the ministry waits for further directions from the court.
by.philes isaboke
Kenya and Rwanda signed 11 agreements yesterday covering trade, transfer of sentenced persons, water resources, housing, urban development, wildlife conservation, culture, ICT and tourism.
The MoUs were signed by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Rwanda’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Usta Kaitesi in Nairobi. Implementation will be reviewed in Kigali in October 2027.
The agreements aim to boost East African Community integration and bilateral trade which has grown 30 percent in the last year.
The World Meteorological Organization has warned that El Niño is strengthening and could reach its peak in December 2026. The weather agency says the event could become one of the strongest El Niño events recorded since at least 1950.
The weather pattern is expected to affect rainfall and temperatures in different parts of the world. In the Greater Horn of Africa, including Kenya, the last quarter of the year is an important rainfall period, meaning communities could face unusually wet conditions in some areas.
World Meteorological Organization says that
The warning is significant for Kenya because heavy rainfall can lead to flooding, landslides, damage to roads and disruption of agriculture. Authorities and communities are therefore being encouraged to prepare for possible weather-related emergencies
Kenya is intensifying measures to prevent the spread of Ebola after confirming its first imported case of the disease. The patient was a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and travelled through Uganda before arriving in Nairobi. He later died after being admitted and isolated at Nairobi Hospital.
The Ministry of Health says 57 people have been identified as contacts linked to the patient. Ten of them have already been traced and placed under quarantine, while health authorities continue efforts to locate the remaining contacts.
Health officials have urged Kenyans to remain calm and rely on official information. The government says Kenya does not currently have an Ebola outbreak, but surveillance at points of entry and preparedness at health facilities have been strengthened.
Kenya will continue hosting the World Rally Championship Safari Rally in 2027 after the event was included in the FIA’s 15-round calendar.
President William Ruto confirmed the development on Today, ending uncertainty over Kenya’s future in the championship.
The 2027 Safari Rally is scheduled for March 18 to 21. Kenya’s event will feature among the major rallies on the international calendar, bringing some of the world’s leading rally drivers and teams to the count
The Kenyan shilling is trading at KSh129.94 against the US dollar, according to the latest daily exchange rates published by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
The CBK’s daily rate sheet shows the British pound trading at KSh171.62, while the euro is quoted at KSh145.37.The Japanese yen, quoted for 100 yen, stands at KSh82.15.Among regional and African currencies, the Uganda shilling is trading at KSh31.16, while the Tanzanian shilling stands at KSh20.27. The Rwandan franc is quoted at KSh11.34, while the South African rand is trading at KSh7.80.
image source: Central Bank of Kenya
CBK exchange rates for October 8, 2026CurrencyExchange rate in KESUS Dollar (USD)129.94British Pound (GBP)171.62Euro (EUR)145.37Japanese Yen (100 JPY)82.15Uganda Shilling (UGX)31.16Tanzania Shilling (TZS)20.27Rwanda Franc (RWF)11.34South African Rand (ZAR)7.80
The rates provide a reference for businesses, travellers, importers, exporters and financial institutions dealing in foreign currencies. Actual commercial bank and forex-bureau rates may differ depending on buying and selling spreads and other charges.
The figures are contained in the CBK’s Daily KES Exchange Rates for October 8, 2026.
Canadian poet, essayist and translator Anne Carson has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature. The Swedish Academy cited “her bold and inventive oeuvre that, in playful dialogue with the classical tradition, has created new forms for contemporary literature.” Carson, 76, was reached in Iceland “listening to the wind” and expressed surprise at the honour.
Born in Toronto in 1950, Carson is known for genre-blending works that move freely between poetry, prose, criticism and translation, often drawing on ancient Greek literature and mythology. Notable titles include the verse novel Autobiography of Red, Eros the Bittersweet and Norma Jeane Baker of Troy, which interweaves the stories of Marilyn Monroe and Helen of Troy.
The Academy praised her ability to break from traditional lyrical forms and create playful, ironic works that span classical and modern traditions. Carson has previously received major honours including the Griffin Poetry Prize and the Princess of Asturias Award for Literature. She also holds Icelandic citizenship.
The prize carries a monetary award of 12 million Swedish crowns and will be formally presented in Stockholm in December. Carson becomes one of the relatively few women to receive the literature Nobel, adding to a distinguished list of laureates recognised for reshaping contemporary literary expression.
NAIROBI, October 8, 2026
False reports claiming that Siaya Senator and ODM party leader Oburu Oginga has died have circulated widely on social media, prompting his office, family members and political colleagues to issue statements disputing the claims.
The rumours emerged on Tuesday, October 6, amid existing public concern over the veteran politician’s health. Oburu’s secretariat subsequently said the senator was alive, safe and in good spirits, while confirming that he had been advised by doctors to rest and limit strenuous engagements.
The reports gained traction after social-media posts claimed that the 83-year-old politician had died. His office attributed the latest claims to online misinformation and urged members of the public and the media to rely on official communication rather than unverified social-media posts.
The latest rumours came against the backdrop of genuine concerns about Oburu’s health.
The senator had recently sought medical attention, with ODM communications officials saying he was resting on medical advice. His office said he was continuing to observe doctors’ instructions to reduce heavy physical activity while remaining engaged with party and national affairs.
ODM national chairperson Gladys Wanga also said she had visited Oburu and found him in good spirits. On Wednesday, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna referred to the reports in the Senate, expressing concern about misinformation surrounding his colleague’s health.
The issue remained in the public spotlight after Oburu was unable to attend the handover and dedication ceremony for the mausoleum of his late brother, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, at Kang’o ka Jaramogi in Bondo.
Raila’s widow, Ida Odinga, apologised for Oburu’s absence and said he was unwell, while asking Kenyans to continue praying for his recovery. TThe Star
The latest episode is not the first time false reports of Oburu’s death have circulated online.
In September, fact-checking organisation Africa Check investigated social-media posts claiming that Oburu had died. Some of the posts used videos purporting to show President William Ruto announcing his death.
Africa Check found that the videos had been misleadingly edited or taken out of context. In one case, footage of President Ruto referring to the late Raila Odinga was edited in a way that made it appear as though he was announcing Oburu’s death. Another video showing Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto paying respects to a body was actually footage from the public viewing of Raila Odinga’s body following his death in October 2025.
Africa Check reported at the time that the false claims had attracted millions of views across social-media platforms.
The recurrence of the rumours has renewed concerns about the speed at which unverified information about prominent public figures can spread online.
Oburu’s office has urged the public to disregard what it described as sensational and unfounded reports and to seek confirmation through official channels. The office also said it was consulting ODM leadership over possible legal action concerning the circulation of the claims.
For now, there is no credible evidence that Oburu Oginga has died. Public statements from his office and political colleagues instead indicate that he is alive and recovering while observing medical advice. His exact medical condition has not been publicly disclosed.
The episode highlights the difficulty of separating genuine health updates from false information online, particularly when rumours involve prominent political figures and are accompanied by old, edited or misleading video footage.
The World Rally Championship has confirmed that Kenya will host the Safari Rally once again in 2027, securing the country’s place on the official calendar. Organisers indicated that the event is expected to return to the Naivasha area, continuing the successful format that has drawn global attention in recent editions.
The confirmation comes as Kenya Railways also announced a June 2027 target for completion of the Standard Gauge Railway extension, with billions of shillings allocated for compensation of affected persons.
Officials said the railway projects include planned connections to major Nairobi sporting venues, underscoring broader infrastructure momentum.
Local stakeholders welcomed the WRC news as a boost for tourism, hospitality and motorsport development. The Safari Rally remains one of the most distinctive and challenging events on the world calendar, known for its demanding terrain and passionate local support.
Preparations for the 2027 edition are expected to begin in earnest once the full calendar details and exact dates are finalised. The dual announcements of the rally and railway progress were viewed as positive signals for Kenya’s sporting and transport sectors on the same day.