Here is what you need to know to keep up to speed with today’s happenings.

Catholics continue to pay their last respects to Pope

Thousands of Catholics are expected to flock to St. Peter’s Basilica to pay their respects to the late Pope, who died on Monday, April 21, 2025.

The late pontiff’s body was moved to the Basilica, where it will lie in state for three days starting on Wednesday, April 23, 2025.

Vatican officials indicated that they might need to extend the basilica’s hours past midnight to accommodate the large turnout. 

The event will precede the pontiff’s funeral slated for Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 10:00 am in St. Peter’s Square.

Ruto’s tour in China

The president’s tour of China enters its third day on Thursday, April 23, 2025.

The president is expected to inaugurate the Kenya Tea Holding Centre in Fujian Province. The centre will enhance the visibility and market access of Kenyan tea, support smallholder farmers, and strengthen Kenya’s trade footprint in Asia.

This is after Ruto on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, chaired the Kenya-China investor Roundtable in Beijing and signed seven investment agreements set to benefit Kenya’s economic cooperation with China.

IEBC Selection Panel interviews

The interviews for the members of the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) enters its penultimate stage this Thursday, April 24, 2025, with six more candidates scheduled to undergo the oral interview for the commissioners’ role.

Vincent Kimutai Kimosop will start the day’s schedule at 8:30 AM before Ndege Okubo from Busia and Ann Waithera from Laikipia also face the Selection Panel.

The day’s event will conclude with Hassan Noor Hassan, Jibril Maalim Mohammed, and Ben Olewo occupying the hot seat.

The nine-member panel led by Nelson Makanda commenced interviews on March 27, 2025, and is scheduled to complete the process on Friday, April 25, 2025.

Following the interviews, the panel will submit a list of two nominees for chairperson and nine nominees for member positions to the president, who will then appoint one chairperson and six members to the commission.

NOCK Elections

The elections for the National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOCK) are scheduled to he held today.

The body is expected to elect a new president, who will be assisted by two other Deputies- first and second. The Secretary General position and Treasurer are also in contestation.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), in partnership with the sport’s body, convened a stakeholders’ engagement meeting on Tuesday, April 22, ahead of the Electoral Congress.

Among the exercises undertaken included a final review of the delegates list, nomination confirmation of candidates, voting procedure and simulation, and the proofreading of the ballot papers.

The outgoing president, Paul Tergat, pledged a transparent and fair process.

“We want every stakeholder to feel confident in the process. These final two days are an opportunity for us to demonstrate integrity and unity as leaders in sport.”

DAP-K Party presser

The Democratic Action Party (DAP) of Kenya is expected to hold a media briefing this Thursday, April 24, 2025, regarding the recent development around Nzoia Sugar Company.

According to a statement, the party leadership, led by Eugene Wamalwa and former Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi, will give a comprehensive statement following a court injunction on the process of leasing/privatising the company.

The allegations relate to the excision of 25 acres of land belonging to Njabini Farmers Training Centre without the consent of the Ministry of Agriculture.