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

Kenya Cup semi-finals

The Kenya Cup rugby semi-finals are scheduled for today with defending champions Kabras Sugar RFC hosting Nondescripts RFC at the Kakamega Showground, while KCB RFC will face Menengai Oilers at 4:00pm in Nairobi.

Nondescripts secured their place in the semi-finals after an impressive 38-22 victory over Kenya Harlequins in the Ngong Road derby quarter-final.

The thrilling match saw Nondies register the first points with a penalty kick before Quins responded with a converted try to take a 3-7 lead.

Bruce Odhiambo capitalized on three penalties for Nondies, while Charles ‘Jamandass’ Omondi and Richel Wangila landed centre post tries for their respective sides, resulting in a 19-17 halftime score.

In the second half, Quins managed one unconverted try while Nondies scored three tries, two of which were successfully converted, bringing the final score to 38-22 in favour of the hosts.

All four semi-finalists – Kabras Sugar, KCB RFC, Menengai Oilers, and Nondescripts – have expressed confidence in their ability to reach the final, which is scheduled for April 12, 2025.

Update on South Sudan crisis

More updates are expected from South Sudan following the controversial arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar, as regional and international bodies ramp up diplomatic efforts to resolve the escalating political crisis.

On Friday, March 28, 2025, ODM leader Raila Odinga, who is acting as a special envoy to South Sudan, disclosed key details of his inaugural meeting with South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir following President William Ruto’s appointment of him as a special envoy to the country.

In a post on his Facebook account, after he met with Kiir, Raila stated that the appointment was an IGAD-backed mission and emphasized that his discussions with Kiir revolved solely around the rapidly escalating political crisis in the country.

“Earlier today, on an IGAD mission, I had a detailed and productive discussion with my brother, H.E. President Salva Kiir, in Juba, South Sudan, regarding the political situation in the country,” Raila said.

Meanwhile, the African Union (AU) has announced its intention to deploy the Panel of the Wise (PoW) to South Sudan, with AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf expressing deep concern that Machar’s detention could undermine the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has also called on all parties to exercise restraint, with UNMISS chief Nicholas Haysom warning that the country risked losing the “hard-won gains of the past seven years” if it returned to “a state of war.”

Additionally, the Kenya National Police Service (NPS) has announced plans to deploy four specialized officers to South Sudan for a peacekeeping mission as part of the UN Peacekeeping Mission’s Specialized Police Team focusing on anti-cattle raiding efforts.

Preparations continue for Ruto’s Mt Kenya tour

Final preparations are underway for President William Ruto’s weeklong tour of the Mt Kenya region, his first since the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in October last year.

Speaking in Murang’a on Thursday, March 27, 2025, Kindiki emphasised that the visit is aimed at engaging with the people of the region and addressing key developmental issues, rather than pushing a political agenda.

He explained that Ruto’s trip is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to bring development to citizens across the country.

“Next week, God willing, the President will visit Murang’a, and it will not be a political gathering. He is coming to officially open our completed markets, address electricity issues, improve our roads, and inspect the ongoing irrigation projects here,” Kindiki said.

Kindiki further clarified that politicking is not the role of the government but rather that of the opposition.

“The role of the government is not to prioritise politics. That is the work of the opposition. The government’s responsibility is to ensure that citizens’ projects are fast-tracked and delivered,” he added.

According to the tentative program, Ruto will begin his tour in Laikipia County on Tuesday, followed by visits to Meru, Nyandarua, Murang’a, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Nyeri, and Kiambu counties, where he will commission and inspect various development projects including electrification programs and infrastructure initiatives.