April 16, 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.
Weather updates as rainfall expected
Over the past few weeks, the Kenya Meteorological Department has been giving regular updates on how the weather will be behaving across the country.
The country is experiencing a rainy season, and the public will be expecting more updates from the weatherman in order to plan accordingly.
The latest update from the meteorological department showed that rainfall is expected to persist across several regions, with heavy downpours anticipated in the Central Highlands, Western Kenya, Rift Valley, south-eastern lowlands, coast, and north-eastern Kenya.
High daytime temperatures have also been predicted to hit the coast, north-eastern Kenya, and north-western Kenya.
War on graft
There has been heightened prosecution of individuals linked to various graft cases, and such headlines are expected to dominate the day.
On Monday, April 15, a Mombasa Law Court summoned Kinakomba Ward Member of County Assembly (MCA) Babusa Hamid Salim to face Ksh8.6 million in tax fraud charges.
Principal Magistrate David Odhiambo ordered the politician to present himself in court in person on Thursday this week to answer six charges of failure to pay taxes for business activities done with Tana River County through his firm.
Elsewhere, oil tycoon Yagnesh Mohanlal Devani was in the spotlight on Monday after he skipped court proceedings for the third time in the Ksh 1.5 billion Kipevu fuel jet scandal.
His lawyer, Moses Kurgat, did not explain his whereabouts or why he had not attended court. However, Kurgat informed the trial court that he had filed an application asking the court to excuse his client from attending court without elaborating on the reasons why Devani wants to stay away.
Former Murang'a Governor Mwangi wa Iria was ordered by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to surrender over a tender case involving Ksh140 million.
Wa Iria's spouse and six others have also been ordered to surrender over the same case. 
Former Director General of the National Museums of Kenya (NMK), Mzalendo Kibunja, was also arrested for over Ksh490 million through a fraudulent scheme entailing the payment of salaries to ghost workers for over five years.
With the heightened war on graft, updates from state agencies fighting the vice are expected to dominate the news arena.
UEFA Champions League action
The Champions League action returns with two decisive matches lined up tonight.
Barcelona will be aiming to book their spot in the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2018–19 when they host French giants PSG.
The Catalan side have a narrow advantage into the second leg of their quarterfinal at Estadi Olimpic Luis after a 3-2 victory in the first leg in Paris last week.
On the other hand, Atletico Madrid will face Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park. The La Liga side carries into the second leg a 2-1 advantage secured at home.
