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

Reactions as new Pope is elected

Reactions are expected following the election of the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church, set to serve until he dies in office.

Robert Prevost, 69, was elected as the new pope after two days of voting and will be known as Leo XIV.

In his first address from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica on Thursday evening, Leo XIV spoke warmly about his predecessor and thanked the cardinals who had elected him to succeed the late Pope Francis.

Already, a section of leaders has sent in their congratulatory messages, led by President William Ruto, who urged the new pope to be a voice for the voiceless.

“Congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on your election as the 267th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. May your papacy be a shining light of love, hope, and compassion; may it uplift the poor, give voice to the voiceless, heal divisions, and steadfastly champion peace, justice, and the sanctity of human dignity around the world,” Ruto said.

Ong’ondo Were’s funeral

Homa Bay County’s Kasipul Constituency is set to be a beehive of activity today as the area MP Charles Ong’ondo Were is laid to rest.

The MP was flown from Wilson Airport to the Kabunde Airstrip and was escorted to his rural Kachien home in a fleet of vehicles, motorcycles and a crowd of mourners on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

Senior government officials, including legislators, cabinet secretaries, principal secretaries, heads of government agencies and parastatals, and the presidency, are expected in the village during the burial.

Were was assassinated while heading to his home in Karen after attending a parliament session on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

Already, detectives have taken in at least 10 people for questioning, including criminal gang members, the late MP’s bodyguard, driver and a former political competitor.

Two widows and six children survive the MP; two children from his late first wife.

Reactions to Ruto’s IEBC nominees

Reactions are expected after President William Ruto nominated Erastus Edung Ethekon to be the new chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) alongside six other commissioners.

Ethekon, an underdog in the race, beat the two perceived frontrunners in the IEBC chairperson’s race- Anne Amadi and Charles Nyachae to get the presidential

nomination for the job.

Ruto also nominated 32-year-old Fahima Abdallah to become a commissioner alongside the registrar of political parties, Anne Nderitu and four others.

Eyes now turn on the National Assembly, whose members are on a month-long recess, to ratify the six commissioners and the chairperson, and set the ball rolling in preparation for the 2027 elections and handle by-elections in the country.