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

Finland’s president Alexander Stubb’s visit to Kenya

President William Ruto is set to host the President of the Republic of Finland, Alexander Stubb, in Nairobi for a three-day visit starting this Monday, May 12, 2025.

The visit is aimed at celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries and will see Stubb hold bilateral talks with Ruto on trade, climate, and multilateral issues.

As part of his itinerary, the Finnish president will deliver a public lecture on geopolitics and the transformation of multilateral order on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

Additionally, Stubb will tour a digital connectivity project in Kawangware funded by the European country and the European Union (EU). He will also lay a wreath in Uhuru Gardens to honour Kenya’s independence heroes.

Western leaders planned demos over Nzoia’s takeover

The mounting opposition to private businessman and tycoon Jaswan Rai’s recent takeover of the Nzoia Sugar factory is set to take a new twist, with leaders from Western planning a demonstration on Monday, May 12, 2025.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock on Saturday, May 10, 2025, while confirming the 30-year lease, disclosed that West Kenya Sugar, owned by Rai, will inject an investment of Ksh5.6 billion as parts of elbaorate plans to rehabilitate and renovate the sector for productivity and profitability.

The move elicited opposition from the region, with Democratic Action Party-Kenya (DAP-K) officials led by Eugene Wamalwa and Wanami Wamboka among those voicing their objections.

Thursday, May 8, 2025, saw a section of locals hold demonstrations along the Webuye-Malaba road demanding full compensation for their pending debts before the takeover.

Tranz Nzoia Governor George Natembeya on Sunday, May 11, 2025, said he will be heading to the factory on Monday, May 10, 2025, to demand the payment of farmers’ dues.

Natembeya sent a warning to Rai stating that he should be prepared to leave when term of the current regime expires.

Speaking at a separate event, Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga (Ford Kenya) and his Bumula counterpart, Wanami Wamboka (DAP-K), confirmed the planned demos to stop the takeover.

“We know tomorrow there is a planned demo. I want all of you who want to start the journey of stopping Rai; Let us meet tomorrow. Rai must be stopped by all means possible. You cannot be auctioning the property of Bungoma, and we leave you,” Wamboka declared.

Reactions to Kenyan athlete show in China

The impressive performance by Kenya’s sprinters in the World Athletics Relay games in Guangzhou, China, is expected to dominate headlines as the athletes return home.

 In what was a testament to the growing potential of the short races, three relay teams earned qualification to the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

The teams are the men’s 4×100 m team led by Ferdinand Omanyala, Boniface Mweresa, Meshack Babu, and Steve Onyango that finished second in the World Qualifier to book a slot in Tokyo.

The men’s 4x400m sprint, comprising the quartet of Boniface Mweresa, Zablon Ekwam, Kelvin Kipkorir, and Brian Tinega.

Kenya’s 4x400m mixed relay team, comprising Kevin Kipkorir, Mercy Chebet, Mercy Adongo, and David Sanayek made up the triumphal team.