Wednesday, 03 June 2026 · 19:30 EAT
Evening brief
Evening brief: Heavy overnight rain expected for Nairobi; Karen building collapse kills two, injures seven as safety concerns resurface; Enterprise Road BRT and non-motorised transport upgrades announced; Kirinyaga and Kisumu counties face power disruptions this week; Kenya Power begins issuing prepayment token refunds after court order; and Apple Intelligence delayed in the EU amid regulatory uncertainty.
Resident
Heavy overnight rain expected for Nairobi; prepare for a wet Thursday morning commute
Open-Meteo is forecasting significant overnight precipitation for Nairobi with rain bands arriving around midnight and continuing into early Thursday morning. Total precipitation through the night is expected to reach 4-6mm with the heaviest falls between 2am and 6am. Thursday morning's commute will be wet and slippery, with road visibility reduced and potential for localised flooding on low-lying routes such as Enterprise Road, Mombasa Road near the airport, and sections of Uhuru Highway. The afternoon should bring some improvement with conditions brightening by mid-afternoon. Temperatures will range from a low of 15°C overnight to a high of 23°C on Thursday. If you commute by motorcycle, bicycle, or on foot, waterproof gear is essential for the morning. Drivers should allow extra time and watch for standing water. Friday should bring noticeably better conditions with only 0.4mm forecast.
Key takeaway: Expect a wet and potentially messy Thursday morning commute with 4-6mm of overnight rain. Allow extra travel time, watch for standing water on low-lying roads, and if you ride a motorcycle or bicycle, waterproof gear is essential.
Karen building under construction collapses, two dead and seven injured
A building under construction collapsed in the Karen area of Nairobi on Wednesday, killing two workers and injuring seven others. The Kenya Red Cross confirmed the death toll and said rescue operations were completed by early afternoon with all victims accounted for. The National Construction Authority has launched an investigation into the cause of the collapse. Eyewitnesses reported hearing cracking sounds before the structure gave way. This incident comes amid growing concern about construction safety in Nairobi, where rapid urban development has often outpaced regulatory enforcement. The Business Daily reports this is the third building collapse in Nairobi this year, renewing calls for stricter oversight of construction projects and mandatory structural inspections at key stages of development.
Key takeaway: Two workers killed in a Karen building collapse — the third such incident this year in Nairobi, pointing to persistent gaps in construction safety enforcement that could affect property owners, developers, and residents across the city.
Enterprise Road set for BRT and non-motorised transport upgrades
Nairobi County has announced plans to upgrade Enterprise Road with dedicated Bus Rapid Transit lanes and improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. The project is part of the broader Nairobi Integrated Urban Development Plan funded by the World Bank and the African Development Bank. The Enterprise Road corridor is a critical artery connecting the industrial area, South B, South C, and the city centre. The upgrade will include dedicated BRT lanes in the median, wider footpaths, protected cycle lanes, improved street lighting, and covered bus shelters. Construction is expected to begin in early 2027 and take approximately 18 months. Residents and businesses along the corridor will be consulted during the design phase starting next month. For commuters who use this route, the upgrade promises faster bus travel times but means construction-related disruptions from early next year.
Key takeaway: Enterprise Road will get BRT lanes and cycle paths, but construction from early 2027 means disruption for the 18-month build. If you live or work along this corridor, plan for alternative routes starting next year.
Kirinyaga and Kisumu counties face power disruptions this week
Kenya Power has announced scheduled maintenance outages affecting parts of Kirinyaga and Kisumu counties over the coming days. In Kirinyaga, areas around Kerugoya, Kagio, and Kutus will experience intermittent power supply between 9am and 5pm on Thursday due to transformer upgrades and line maintenance. In Kisumu, parts of the lakeside city — including Kibuye Market area, Kondele, and Nyamasaria — will be affected by supply interruptions on Friday for network expansion work. Kenya Power has advised affected customers to switch off electrical appliances during the outages and treat all cables as live even during the scheduled blackouts. The utility company has also reminded customers that the prepaid token refund programme ordered by the High Court is now active, with eligible customers able to claim credits at Kenya Power offices or through the online portal.
Key takeaway: Scheduled power outages in Kirinyaga (Thursday) and Kisumu (Friday) this week. If you work remotely from these areas or have offices there, plan around the 9am-5pm windows.
Kenya Power begins refunding prepayment token charges after court order
Kenya Power has commenced the refund of illegal charges on prepaid electricity tokens following a High Court order. The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority had directed the utility to refund customers who were overcharged through an illegal 'service charge' that was added to prepaid tokens without regulatory approval. Customers can claim their refunds at Kenya Power offices nationwide by presenting their meter numbers and identification. The refund can also be processed through the Kenya Power website or via the MyPower app. Eligible customers will receive credits applied directly to their prepaid meter accounts. The total value of refunds is expected to run into hundreds of millions of shillings. If you use prepaid electricity in Kenya, check your historical token purchases and file a claim if you were charged the now-illegal service fee.
Key takeaway: If you use prepaid electricity in Kenya, you may be owed a refund for illegal service charges on tokens. Check your account and file a claim at a Kenya Power office, online, or via the MyPower app.
Tech
Apple Intelligence delayed in the EU as regulatory uncertainty persists
Apple has confirmed that the rollout of Apple Intelligence — its suite of AI features including generative writing tools, image generation, and enhanced Siri capabilities — will be delayed in the European Union indefinitely due to what the company describes as 'regulatory uncertainties' related to the Digital Markets Act. Apple has cited interoperability requirements and data-sharing obligations under the DMA as incompatible with its privacy and security architecture for the AI features. The suite launched in the US and select English-speaking markets earlier this year but remains unavailable in EU markets. For developers building cross-platform AI applications, this is a signal that regulatory fragmentation is becoming a real obstacle to feature parity across markets — something that is likely to affect African and other markets too as AI regulation develops.
Key takeaway: Apple Intelligence is blocked in the EU due to DMA uncertainty — a sign that AI feature fragmentation by region is becoming a real challenge for developers building cross-platform applications.