December 25, 2024: Top news events to look out for today

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

Christmas Day celebrations

Globally, most Christians celebrate December 25 as the day in which Jesus Christ was born.

A lot of merry-making happens during the day, which sometimes extends to vices including excessive consumption of alcohol, prostitution and even fights.

In Kenya, most people move to their rural homes to spend time with their loved ones after spending the better part of the year in the cities working.

Several leaders including President William Ruto and Raila Odinga have already shared their Christmas message with Kenyans.

In his Christmas message, Catholic church leader Pope Francis told Vatican bureaucrats to stop speaking ill of one another.

Francis, who just turned 88, urged the prelates to speak well of one another and thoroughly examine their own consciences in the Christmas holiday season.

“A church community lives in joyful and fraternal harmony to the extent that its members walk in the life of humility, renouncing evil thinking and speaking ill of others,” Francis said. “Gossip is an evil that destroys social life, sickens people’s hearts and leads to nothing. The people say it very well: Gossip is zero,” he said.

Abductions

Kenyans are expected to continue speaking against a new wave of abductions that has been happening in the country.

Latest abductions to be recorded include that of Peter Muteti, who was abducted after posting an AI-generated picture offensive to President William Ruto.

Billy Mwangi, another youth, was abducted on Saturday, December 21, 2024, in a similar manner.

At least 26 young people are still missing since the anti-government protests between June and August 2024, after having been reported abducted.