NAIROBI DAILY - 18 MARCH 2026
215 Police Officers Return From Haiti As Mss Mission Phases Out; Equity Bank Posts Record Ksh 75.5Bn Profit; Kisumu Man Sentenced 45 Years For Double Murder; Amnesty Criticizes Ruto-Gachagua Personal Attacks As "Unpresidential"
215 Kenyan police officers return from Haiti as Chad begins gradual replacement of MSS contingent
KBC and Capital FM report 215 Kenyan officers from second MSS contingent returned home March 17, with Interior PS Raymond Omollo overseeing homecoming ceremony, as Chad prepares gradual replacement deployment through October 2026.
AFRICOM conducts airstrike targeting ISIS in Puntland State, Somalia
Horseed Media and AFRICOM report US forces conducted airstrike targeting ISIS-Somalia in Puntland on March 16 in coordination with Federal Government of Somalia.
Djibouti AUSSOM troops deploy to Beledweyne to assume security responsibilities from Kenyan forces
Shabelle Media and Horseed Media report Djibouti troops serving under AUSSOM arrived in Beledweyne and Buulo Burde to assume security duties previously held by other forces.
Chinese national charged with attempting to smuggle 3,361 live ants from Kenya through JKIA
KBC and Capital FM report DPP charged Zhang Kequn, 37, Chinese national and Charles Mwangi, 35, Kenyan with dealing in live wildlife species including 3,361 live ants and garden ants at JKIA.
DRIVING THE DAY
SUMMARY: Interior PS Raymond OMOLLO on 17 March oversaw the return of 215 police officers who formed the second contingent of Kenya's Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission to Haiti, as the Dominican Republic confirmed Chad will gradually replace the Kenyan force through October 2026 — marking a significant transition in Kenya's first-ever international police deployment. Equity Bank on 17 March reported a record KSh 75.5 billion profit after tax for 2025, a 55 percent increase year-on-year, and declared a KSh 21 billion dividend — underscoring the resilience of Kenya's banking sector despite macroeconomic headwinds. A Kisumu High Court on 17 March sentenced 23-year-old Arnold Ochieng OMOLLO to 45 years imprisonment for murdering his younger brother and nephew using crude weapons in November 2024. Amnesty International Programs Director Victor NDEDE on 17 March condemned the escalating personal attacks between President William RUTO and former Deputy President Rigathi GACHAGUA, describing the rhetoric as "deeply unpresidential" and warning it "deepens societal divisions" ahead of the 2027 election. The Kenya Meteorological Department warned rainfall intensity will increase from 19 March, as the national flood death toll reached 71 with 36 fatalities in Nairobi. The Linda Mwananchi Movement announced a 22 March rally in Narok, continuing its nationwide mobilization ahead of the 2027 election. END SUMMARY.
