President William Ruto has appealed to former President Uhuru Kenyatta to stop undermining his administration, while revisiting the political fallout that preceded the 2022 General Election.Speaking during a rally in Sindo, Homa Bay County, on Thursday, 17 September, Ruto renewed his public feud with Uhuru, claiming that he had supported the former Head of State through four elections and expected him to reciprocate by backing his presidential bid.Ruto said the two had allegedly agreed on a political arrangement in which each would serve for 10 years, but accused Kenyatta of failing to honour the agreement.“As I stand here in Sindo, Homa Bay County, I want to urge the former President Uhuru Kenyatta. I was there for you when you needed someone to stand with you in four elections,” Ruto said.“I stood with you, helped you and worked for you. When time came for you to help me, you did not go as we had agreed. We had agreed 10 for you and 10 for me, but you did not keep the promise.”Ruto, however, said he did not fault Kenyatta for choosing not to support him, noting that the former president had a democratic right to make his political decision.“You told us 10 for Ruto, 10 for Uhuru Kenyatta. But when you never showed up, instead you walked against me. I have no issue because it is your democratic right,” he noted.The Head of State went on to defend his administration's record, listing measures he said had been implemented since he took over from Kenyatta in September 2022.“We have hired 100,000 teachers. We have made sure that CBC is understood by the public. We have built 23,000 classrooms,” Ruto stated.He also cited the government's affordable housing programme, claiming that 300,000 houses had been built, alongside 600 markets across the country.Ruto then turned directly to Kenyatta, urging him to give his administration room to govern and accusing the former president of working against it.He accused Kenyatta of undermining and sabotaging his administration over the past four years, and urged the former president to respect the office he previously occupied.“For the last four years, you have been undermining this administration. For the last four years, you have sabotaged this administration. You have organised demonstrations,” Ruto alleged.“I want to request you in all humility. Stop undermining the administration. You are a retired president. Respect your office.”Ruto’s remarks came days after Uhuru announced that he would step down as Jubilee Party leader following a High Court ruling barring retired presidents from holding political party leadership positions beyond six months after leaving office.In a statement on September 15, the former President said he would respect the court's decision and facilitate the transition of the party's leadership in line with the ruling."The Office of the former President has taken note of the High Court's ruling upholding Section 6 of the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act, which guides the transition of retired presidents from formal political party leadership," Uhuru stated.Uhuru said the ruling had now cleared the way for the long-delayed handover of the Jubilee Party chairmanship, which had been affected by an internal dispute.
Read briefing The Social Health Authority (SHA) has rolled out a new online platform for hospitals seeking to be contracted by the health insurance.In a notice to all healthcare facilities in the country on Thursday, September 17, SHA directed all hospitals seeking contracts to apply under the new portal.The E-Contracting Portal, according to SHA, went live on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 3:00 pm, enabling healthcare providers to submit applications for contracting across four funds."The Social Health Authority (SHA) wishes to inform all healthcare providers that the SHA E-Contracting Portal is officially live as of today, Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 3:00 pm (EAT)," SHA stated."The portal will facilitate the application and contracting of healthcare providers for the new contracting cycle," it added.The new portal is intended to facilitate the application and contracting of healthcare providers for the four funds under the new contracting cycle.It will cover the Primary Health Care Fund (PHCF), Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF), and Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund (POMSF).SHA Chief Executive Officer Dr Mercy Mwangangi directed all healthcare providers seeking contracts under the new cycle to submit fresh applications through the portal."All healthcare providers are therefore required to submit fresh applications through the E-Contracting Portal from 3:00 pm on September 17, 2026," the notice read.At the same time, applications submitted before the official launch have been archived, with the authority clarifying that it was part of testing and will not be carried forward."Any applications submitted through the portal before the official launch were for testing purposes and will be archived," SHA stated.Hospitals have also been advised to make new submissions and ensure that all required information and supporting documents are complete and accurate before submitting their applications.
Read briefing Detectives have uncovered a phone theft and hacking syndicate in Kisii after raiding a repair shop and recovering more than 500 assorted mobile phones and motherboards.The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), in a statement, said the operation was conducted by detectives from Kisii Central in collaboration with fraud investigators from a mobile phone financing company.DCI officers arrested two suspects during the raid at a shop in Market Plaza, Kisii town, who remain in custody awaiting their expected arraignment as investigations continue.“A phone theft and hacking racket operating under the guise of a phone repair business has been cracked open in Kisii town, after detectives from DCI Kisii Central teamed up with fraud investigators, netting two suspects accused of stealing and unlawfully unlocking financed mobile devices,” the statement read.Police said the premises were allegedly being used to receive stolen phones and unlawfully unlock financed devices. Among the recovered items were several smartphones financed by the company that had previously been reported missing. According to the directorate, the phones were allegedly being prepared for resale after the restrictions linked to their financing were removed. During the operation, investigators found that some of the devices had already been stripped of their security locks. The large cache of devices and separate phone components is now being examined as detectives trace their source and intended market. The arrests come as police intensify investigations into organised networks behind the rising cases of theft and reselling of mobile phones.In an August operation in Nairobi, police recovered 38 phones, three laptops and a desktop computer from a stall in the Central Business District (CBD). Authorities said they will continue targeting outlets suspected of providing a market for stolen electronics and urged members of the public to verify their purchases.
Read briefing Kenyan content creators are set to face a new tax deduction after TikTok began asking them to submit personal and residency details to comply with Kenya’s tax requirements.Kenyans.co.ke learned on Wednesday that the notification, sent through ‘TikTok Announcements’, directs creators to complete a Kenyan tax form and states that the information will help verify their tax responsibility.The form requires users to identify themselves as either residents or non-residents of Kenya, determining whether TikTok applies the 5 per cent or 20 per cent withholding rate.Creators are required to provide their names, email addresses, residential addresses, country of residence, and residential status, although providing an address is not mandatory.This comes as Kenya introduced withholding tax on digital content income in July 2023 through the Finance Bill 2023, requiring residents to have 5 per cent deducted while non-residents face a 20 per cent deduction.The withholding tax applies to digital content monetization, including advertising, sponsorships, affiliate commissions, subscriptions, merchandise licensing, memberships, photo or music licensing, and crowdfunding commissions.For creators, the deduction means money earned through eligible TikTok programmes could reach their accounts after tax has already been withheld, potentially reducing their immediate payouts.However, the withheld amount is an advance payment rather than the creator’s final tax bill, thus creators must still declare their full income when filing annual returns.Kenyan TikTok earners currently make money through LIVE and video gifts, subscriptions, and the Work With Artist programme, while several other monetization features remain unavailable locally, and in Africa at large.Those unavailable options include the Creator Rewards Programme, TikTok Shop, Creator Marketplace and Pulse, which are among the platform’s monetisation products but have not been launched for Kenyan creators.The tax collection system was strengthened in December 2024 when legislation made digital marketplace and platform operators responsible for deducting tax, whether based in Kenya or elsewhere.This enforcement comes years after TikTok agreed to establish a continental operations and coordination office in Nairobi following an August 2023 virtual meeting between President William Ruto and CEO Shou Zi Chew.The Nairobi office was expected to coordinate TikTok’s African operations, while the platform pledged closer cooperation with Kenya on content moderation, local hiring, creator monetization, and training programs.TikTok has not announced the withholding start date, the rate it will apply to specific payouts, or what happens if creators delay completing the form, advising them to act soon.
Read briefing Kenya has secured a multi-billion-shilling grant from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to support preparations for the Mau Summit-Malaba Highway.The development follows a meeting between senior officials from the National Treasury and the State Department for Roads and AIIB representatives at the bank’s headquarters in Beijing, China, on Wednesday, September 16.“Kenya appreciates AIIB’s support through a grant agreement for project preparation for the Mau Summit-Malaba Road Development Project, an important section of the Northern Corridor and a critical regional trade route,” the State Department for Roads stated.The grant will support preparations for the Mau Summit-Malaba Road Development Project, which forms part of the Northern Corridor.The development comes a day after President William Ruto said Kenya had secured Ksh300 million from an Asian fund to support an advanced feasibility study for the project.Speaking during a media engagement in Kisumu on Monday, Ruto said the funding would support feasibility work for the proposed road, which is part of government plans to improve connectivity along the Northern Corridor and links between Kenya, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).“We have already discussed with the Asian Infrastructure Fund, and it has given us the first 300M to do the feasibility study to extend that road from Mau Summit-Kisumu-Malaba and the other leg Nakuru-Eldoret-Malaba,” Ruto stated.The Ksh130 billion highway project had completed its pre-feasibility study in May, paving the way for a comprehensive assessment of the proposed route linking western Kenya to the Malaba border.The proposed highway will run from Mau Summit through Eldoret to Malaba, complementing the Nairobi-Mau Summit Highway and providing an additional route towards Kenya’s border with Uganda.The full feasibility study was approved for implementation between July and September, with the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and the National Treasury overseeing a competitive bidding process that includes tolling as a potential mechanism for maintenance and cost recovery.The government is also engaging AIIB on the proposed expansion and modernisation of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), including the construction of a second runway.The proposed upgrades are intended to increase the airport’s capacity and support Nairobi’s role as a regional aviation hub for passengers and cargo.“The Government is also engaging AIIB on the expansion and modernisation of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), including the proposed construction of a second runway, to enhance capacity and strengthen Kenya’s position as a regional aviation hub,” the State Department for Roads added.
Read briefing Nation Media Group (NMG) has reshuffled its editorial leadership across East Africa, with several senior journalists taking up new roles in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.Group Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Odundo announced the changes, appointing Group Editor-in-Chief Joe Ageyo as Editor-in-Chief of NMG Uganda and Washington Gikunju as Acting Managing Editor, NMG Uganda.Ageyo will now lead the Group’s editorial operations in Uganda weeks after NMG’s Ugandan businesses reopened following a 39-day shutdown by the Ugandan government.The shutdown began on June 28 when security personnel occupied NMG Uganda’s premises, disrupting operations at the Daily Monitor, NTV Uganda, Spark TV, KFM and Dembe FM.NMG was cleared to reopen in July following talks between its management and Ugandan government officials, with Ageyo among those involved in efforts to secure the reopening.Gikunju has also moved from NMG’s Kenya operation to Uganda after serving as Managing Editor, Planning and Content Hubs, and holding several other senior editorial positions at the Group.In Kenya, Harry Misiko has been appointed Acting Editor-in-Chief, Dann Mwangi Acting Managing Editor for Broadcast and New Media, and John Kiplagat Acting Managing Editor for Publishing.Ben Kitili will serve as Acting Lead Editor for Broadcasting, while Justus Wanga takes charge of the Weekend Edition and Michael Owuor becomes Acting Lead Editor for the Daily Nation. At the same time, Michael Omondi will head the Business Daily as Acting Lead Editor, while Alex Ndegwa becomes Editor of the Content Hub.In Tanzania, James Smart has been appointed Acting Managing Editor for Broadcast and New Media at Mwananchi Communications Limited.The changes follow another restructuring announced earlier in August in which the company appointed six new directors including Juliana Rotich, Bharat Thakrar, Julie Gichuru, Julius Kipng’etich, Wilfred Musau and Georgia Mutagahywa.The latest changes come as the company seeks to streamline its operations, strengthen its newsrooms and improve digital audience engagement across East Africa.
Read briefing Nairobi County is set to introduce a registration system for photographers, with recognised street creatives issued identification badges to distinguish them from unregistered operators.The initiative, announced by Governor Johnson Sakaja on September 16 during an engagement with street photographers, is aimed at giving creatives a formal identity while enabling the County Government to identify and support those working across Nairobi.Sakaja said the system would help organise the growing number of photographers while protecting those carrying out legitimate work in the city.“The County will introduce a formal registration and identification system for street photographers, including badges, to distinguish recognised creatives operating in the city,” Sakaja stated.“The initiative will enable the County to identify and support photographers while giving them a formal identity as they carry out their work.”The announcement followed concerns raised by photographers during the forum, with some saying they had previously faced harassment and demands for bribes while working in the city. Sakaja said the initiative builds on the County’s 2022 decision to allow street photographers to operate freely, creating opportunities for young people pursuing photography as a livelihood.Similar identification and licensing requirements apply to photographers in some cities, although the rules vary depending on the type of photography and location.In London, street photography is generally permitted, but some commercial activities and street entertainment in designated areas may require council licences.In India, photographers providing commercial services around major monuments managed by the Archaeological Survey of India may face additional requirements, including identification or approval from relevant authorities.Meanwhile, the Governor clarified that the county's Finance Act does not impose charges on street photographers under the County’s free photography arrangement, with photography provisions covering commercial heavy photography, imposing county charges of up to Ksh50,000.The County is also working on free Wi-Fi in selected areas, a move Sakaja said would help creatives market their work and connect with wider audiences.Further, the devolved unit also wants photographers to help document littering, illegal dumping, vandalism and other violations, including improper conduct by matatus and boda bodas.
Read briefing Taxpayers have been given greater protection against prolonged delays by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) after the Court of Appeal ruled that statutory tax deadlines cannot be put on hold simply because related proceedings are pending.The court in Nairobi held that where a taxpayer challenges an objection, and the Commissioner fails to issue a decision within the 60-day period provided by law, the objection is deemed allowed.“It is trite that a public authority, being a creature of the Constitution and/or statute, may exercise only those powers lawfully conferred upon it. Accordingly, where Parliament has prescribed mandatory timelines for the performance of statutory duties, those timelines cannot be varied, suspended or rendered nugatory by administrative expediency or by the Commissioner’s unilateral decision to await the outcome of collateral proceedings,” the court documents seen by Kenyans.co.ke read in part.The ruling further clarified that the requirement to first exhaust the tax appeals process does not apply in every situation.It established that taxpayers can go to the High Court when KRA fails to make a decision within the time required by law, leaving them with no decision to challenge through the tax appeals process.However, the judges clarified that judicial review cannot be used to bypass the statutory tax appeals process or secure payment of a disputed refund where the underlying tax entitlement remains contested.The dispute arose from delayed Value-Added Tax (VAT) refund claims involving more than Ksh168 million, with some having remained unresolved for up to seven years, including those that had already been audited, while others had not been audited or determined. The taxpayer had also challenged rejected refund claims after KRA declined to treat certain services as zero-rated exported services. KRA argued that it had delayed action because related proceedings before the Tax Appeals Tribunal and the courts were still ongoing. The appellate court rejected that explanation, finding that the Commissioner does not have the power to suspend statutory obligations while waiting for the outcome of separate proceedings, according to the Tax Procedures Act and the Value Added Tax Act. Further, the judges distinguished between a statutory appeal, which considers the correctness of a tax decision, and judicial review, which examines whether a public authority has acted lawfully and complied with its statutory duties.Thus, the court overturned the earlier decision that had rejected the entire case, but declined to order KRA to directly determine or pay the disputed VAT refunds. The remaining complaints over compliance with statutory timelines and fair administrative action were sent back to the High Court for determination on a priority basis.
Read briefing When travelling using the Madaraka Express on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), you might have seen some casings along the railway lines that are rectangular in shape and might mimic a coffin.Kenya Railways has clarified that the structures are casings used to hold the Madaraka Express trains, following public curiosity after they were spotted at the Railway Exhibition during the Mombasa ASK Show.“These are casings to hold the Madaraka Express Trains,” Kenya Railways explained.The clarification came as Kenya Railways highlighted facts about Kenya’s railway network during the show, including the country’s two different railway track gauges - the SGR and Meter Gauge Railway (MGR).While their rectangular shapes can visually resemble a coffin or casing to the eye, the structures are important during railway line construction, serving critical safety and structural purposes.Many of these structures are box culverts embedded in or through railway embankments, which serve as enclosed tunnels that channel natural streams, seasonal rivers, and storm runoff safely from one side of the tracks to the other.Managing water flow prevents flooding that would wash away the soil foundation supporting the heavy train tracks along the rail line.The casings can also be found on elevated bridge sections. Civil engineers prefer the hollow design because it offers resistance to torsion, which allows railway bridges to bear the massive, shifting weight of double-stack cargo and high-speed passenger trains without buckling or sagging.Along sections that cross conservation areas, such as Nairobi National Park or the Tsavo ecosystem, the casings serve as safe underground corridors.They allow migratory wildlife and local livestock to cross beneath the high-speed rail safely, avoiding deadly collisions.Meanwhile, railway line network in the country is set to expand, with the National Land Commission (NLC) issuing a notice over the weekend for the compulsory acquisition of more than 300 land parcels for the Naivasha-Kisumu-Malaba Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project. In a gazetted list dated September 10 and published on behalf of the Kenya Railways Corporation, the commission outlined additional parcels that would be affected by the planned Ksh700 billion project, as well as deletions and corrections to previous lists.NLC has directed affected landowners and other persons with an interest in the listed properties to inspect the acquisition plans at its Nairobi offices or the Kisumu County Coordinator’s office.
Read briefing Kenya has taken a portfolio of 13 priority infrastructure projects to international investors at the Global Infrastructure Cooperation Conference (GICC) 2026 in Seoul, South Korea. Director General of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Directorate, Kefa Seda, said the projects, covering major transport, energy, water, irrigation and technology development, are among those the government plans to present to potential investors this financial year.“Our country is taking a substantive pipeline of investment opportunities to the market across transport, energy, water, irrigation, ICT and other strategic sectors, with 13 priority projects identified for active market engagement in FY2026/27,” he wrote in a statement on Tuesday, September 15.The portfolio includes the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway and the Mau Summit-Eldoret-Malaba Road, two major expressway projects the government has been seeking international investors to fund in recent months.Seda also named the Konza cloud expansion among the priority projects, alongside the planned 160-acre Digital Media City, a creative and technology hub being developed with support from South Korea.The Kibuka Falls Hydropower and Irrigation Dam project was also included, with the government reviving its development under a new PPP arrangement after terminating an earlier contract.Another priority project is the Dongo Kundu Power Plant, with the proposed 1,200MW facility expected to run on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) and attract both public and private investment.The pipeline also features electricity transmission infrastructure and irrigation dams aimed at expanding the country’s power and agricultural capacity.The proposed Kenya Commercial Spaceport is included in the investment list, building on earlier government efforts to establish a satellite launch facility in the Kipini area between Malindi and Lamu under a PPP arrangement.Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) assets were also included among the opportunities presented at the conference.Seda said Kenya is seeking long-term financing and broader participation from investors as it prepares the projects for market participation and potential implementation. He added that the National Infrastructure Fund is expected to complement the PPP framework by creating additional avenues for mobilising capital domestically from avenues such as pension funds, insurers and collective investment schemes.
Read briefing Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has announced a partial absence from Linda Mwananchi rallies amid claims of internal divisions within the movement.Speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday, 15 September, Babu said he would take a break from the movement’s rallies and shift his focus to campaigning in Nairobi.The Embakasi East MP, however, maintained that he is still in the movement and fully supports Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna for the presidency through the Linda Mwananchi ticket."I will still attend Linda Mwananchi rallies but I will not attend all of them depending on the programme that I have," Babu stated.The Linda Mwananchi principal said he is now focused on campaigning for his gubernatorial bid in the city as he seeks to replace Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja in the 2027 General Election. He revealed that the decision came following the nature of the city politics, describing Nairobi as a big county that needs full focus. "Nairobi has 85 wards. It is not easy. It needs resources and work. I need to focus on Nairobi. I want to shift my focus on Nairobi and not Linda Mwananchi," the MP added. However, while campaigning for his bid, Babu maintained that he will still sell the movement in the city, asking city residents to vote for him in the August 10, 2027, elections. His statements come amid claims of internal divisions in the movement, with sources privy to the Linda Mwananchi movement claiming that Sifuna and Babu are not on good terms after their rally in Nairobi. However, Babu dismissed the claims of divisions within the team, revealing Sifuna as his preferred candidate for President under the Linda Mwananchi political movement, pledging to use his networks across Nairobi to campaign for the senator.“I will support Sifuna as a presidential candidate in 2027. He is our presidential candidate,” Babu said.On choosing a single presidential candidate, the Movement agreed to have discussions among themselves to present a single candidate after Siaya governor James Orengo also declared a bid for the top seat under the Movement's ticket.Linda Mwananchi has, however, maintained that they are part of the wider opposition and will join hands with the United Opposition to send the incumbent President William Ruto home in 2027.
Read briefing A former employee of a state-affiliated power generation company has been sentenced after being found guilty of using fraudulent Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and disability documents to obtain employment and financial benefits. According to a statement obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, he was convicted by the Anti-Corruption Court following a prosecution led by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).“The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has today secured an 11-year prison sentence against a former employee who used a forged academic certificate to secure employment and unlawfully obtained more than Ksh14.9 million in salaries and benefits,” the statement read.The court found that he presented a fake KCSE certificate showing a different grade than he had actually attained when applying for a job at the company.The certificate he submitted indicated that he had scored a C-, which enabled him to secure a position as a Craft Grade III employee. Records presented in court showed that he attained a mean grade of D- from eight subjects when he sat his KCSE in 1994 at St Paul’s Igonga Secondary School. He worked for the power generation company from August 2003 until September 2018, when he resigned after being asked to produce his original academic certificates. During that period, he was found to have received salaries and other employment benefits totalling Ksh14.946 million as a result of the fraudulent qualification. The court also established that he obtained a disability certificate fraudulently from the National Council for Persons with Disabilities. The certificate allowed him to benefit from tax exemptions between July 2014 and September 2018. Senior Principal Magistrate Celesa Okore ordered the former employee to pay the Ksh14.946 million as compensation for the public funds he obtained through the fraud, or serve five years in prison if he fails to pay. He was additionally fined Ksh900,000 for fraudulently acquiring public property, with a two-year custodial sentence as an alternative, and received separate Ksh200,000 fines for each of two counts involving false documents. Cases involving forged documents presented by employees in government offices and state agencies have increasingly come under scrutiny by enforcement agencies. Two weeks ago, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) charged a former Machakos County chief officer over allegations that he used a fake academic certificate to obtain employment.
Read briefing The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has issued an advisory on retrieving items left onboard aircraft or at airports following a viral video involving a passenger seeking to retrieve a mobile phone reportedly left on an aircraft at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).In a statement on Tuesday, September 15, KAA said passengers collecting items left on board will, going forward, be required to identify themselves before items are released to them.According to the authority, the passengers will also be required to complete other relevant documentation for security and accountability purposes and to ensure that the property is handed to the rightful owner."For security and accountability, passengers collecting items left onboard aircraft may be required to provide identification and complete the relevant documentation before an item can be released. These procedures are intended to ensure that recovered property is handed over to its rightful owner," KAA stated.The advisory comes after a video circulated on social media showing a passenger attempting to recover the phone after arriving at JKIA.In the viral video, the airport worker is seen in a confrontation with a customer who allegedly left her phone on board.The officer can be heard saying that she must present an original ID and sign before being handed over the phone. The woman, on the other hand, was captured lamenting why she cannot hand over her phone.However, KAA has made it clear that passengers collecting items left onboard an aircraft may be required to provide identification, including ID cards and other relevant documents.The authority further encouraged passengers who leave belongings onboard an aircraft or within the airport to seek assistance from airline or airport customer service teams and cooperate with applicable verification procedures."We encourage passengers to cooperate with the applicable verification procedures and to seek assistance from airline or airport customer service teams whenever clarification is required," it added.In the viral video, the authority clarified that the interaction captured in the video involved airline personnel and not its staff, dismissing reports that its officer was involved in the incident."We wish to clarify that the interaction captured in the video involved airline personnel and not KAA staff. However, KAA recognises that passengers experience the airport as one journey and, together with our aviation partners, we remain committed to ensuring that such interactions are handled professionally and with due consideration to the customer experience," KAA added.The authority said it has engaged the airline involved and is working with relevant aviation stakeholders to strengthen passenger awareness of procedures for recovering misplaced belongings."KAA has engaged the airline concerned and, together with relevant aviation stakeholders, is strengthening passenger awareness on the procedures to follow when belongings are left onboard an aircraft or within the airport," the authority said.
Read briefing The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has distanced itself from claims that dead people could somehow influence election outcomes.This came after UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar made remarks suggesting that “even the dead would rise to ensure President William Ruto wins”, sparking widespread discussion across the country.IEBC Commissioner Alutalala Mukwana moved quickly to clarify that Kenya's voting system simply does not allow such a scenario, since the biometric voter registration system relies entirely on fingerprints and iris scans to confirm a person's identity at the polling station.“Biometric machines use fingerprints and iris scans. How will the deceased vote? How will they register?,” Mukhwana stated.Without a live fingerprint or iris match, the system automatically locks out any attempt to cast a vote on someone's behalf, thus Mukhwana insisted that a deceased Kenyan cannot register as a new voter, and their existing details cannot be reactivated once death has been reported.The electoral body explained that these safeguards were designed specifically to prevent the very kind of rigging fears that Hassan Omar's comments had stirred.An independent audit of Kenya's voter register, conducted by KPMG ahead of the 2022 general election, uncovered widespread anomalies, revealing that the IEBC contained 246,465 records of deceased individuals still listed as active voters.The audit also flagged significant duplication in the register, with 481,711 voters found to be registered more than once. Separately, investigators discovered 226,143 voters had registered using identification documents that did not genuinely or validly belong to them.Further scrutiny revealed that 164,269 individuals had used invalid national IDs or passports to register. Together, these findings prompted IEBC officials to announce plans to purge roughly 1.18 million questionable entries from the voter roll before the election in June 2022.In the defense of the Kenya Kwanza administration, the Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi also dismissed Omar’s sentiments on Sunday, stating that President Ruto does not need any election results manipulation, and will win squarely based on the 7.2 million votes he got in 2022, and the 7 million votes from the Former Prime Minister, the late Raila Odinga’s support base. “The remarks on using dead voters were reckless. President William Ruto does not need to steal elections to be President. Ruto got 7.2M votes in 2022, Railaon the other hand got 7 million votes, that is 14 million in total," Mudavadi stated. Omar’s remarks also come as Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua accused the IEBC of tailoring a Ksh 6.5 billion technology tender for a South Korean firm, alleging kickbacks, unrealistic timelines before the 2027 polls, and the transfer of 20-plus officials who resisted the specifications.In this regard, Commissioner Mukhwana, beyond the technical explanation, used the moment to caution politicians against careless remarks that could damage public trust in the Commission.
Read briefing Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has proposed the enactment of legislation to phase out petrol-powered motorcycles in cities and eventually across the country, in favour of electric alternatives.Nyong’o said the move would help address air and noise pollution, particularly in urban areas where motorcycles are widely used.Speaking during a meeting attended by President William Ruto in Kisumu on Sunday, September 13, the governor said petrol-powered motorcycles were a major contributor to pollution and should gradually be replaced with electric motorbikes.He proposed that Parliament enact legislation restricting the operation of petrol-powered motorcycles and allowing only electric alternatives, citing environmental and public health concerns associated with fuel-powered motorcycles."I would plead that we pass a law allowing only electric motorbikes to operate. Because these petrol motorbikes, unless there are proper batteries, there is a lot of pollution in our cities, which is further a health crisis," Nyong'o stated.He further called for incentives to help motorcycle operators make the transition from petrol-powered bikes to electric models."For example, we can give incentives for motorbike operators seeking to transition from petrol to electric motorbikes," he added.Electric motorcycles in Kenya have grown rapidly, driven by rising fuel prices and the need to reduce operating costs in the boda boda sector.Such bikes have increasingly been promoted in Kenya as an alternative to conventional petrol-powered bikes, with proponents citing lower operating costs and reduced emissions.As of early 2026, data from NTSA indicates that there are more than 33,000 electric motorcycles registered in the country.The boda boda sector has employed hundreds of thousands of Kenyans across major cities and rural areas.While the rollout of electric motorcycles will prevent air pollution, the rollout could be phased with challenges due to the lack of adequate charging and swapping stations currently available.The proposal, if adopted, could have significant implications for the boda boda sector, which relies heavily on petrol-powered motorcycles for passenger transport and deliveries.
Read briefing A family member of the victims involved in the accident between an Easy Coach bus and a private Toyota IST at Kikopey along the Gilgil-Nakuru Highway on Sunday night, September 13, has spoken about the tragedy.Speaking hours after the crash, the family member confirmed four of the five people who died were his close relatives.The deceased included his wife and daughter, as well as his brother-in-law, his brother-in-law’s wife and their daughter.“As I am speaking to you right now, I am saddened. All the people who have died are related to me by blood,” he said.Adding, "Of the five people, there is my wife and my daughter. Then there is my brother-in-law, his wife, and his daughter. I am now left alone."He further said his more than three decades of experience as a driver had made him familiar with the route, making it difficult for him to understand why motorists would drive recklessly despite knowing the dangers associated with the highway.“My profession involves driving, which I have done for over 30 years. I am very familiar with this route, and I cannot understand why drivers drive so recklessly knowing very well how dangerous this route is,” he said.The accident occurred as the Easy Coach bus was travelling from Gilgil towards Nakuru, while the Toyota IST was travelling from the direction of Lake Nakuru. The bus reportedly lost its brakes before colliding head-on with the car.An eyewitness said the impact left one woman, who was holding a child, trapped between the two vehicles. She and the other victims were travelling in the private car.The force of the collision killed the occupants of the car, with rescuers later using towing vehicles to separate the two vehicles and retrieve the bodies.The driver of the Toyota IST was among those who died in the crash. One person was injured, while no deaths were reported among passengers on the Easy Coach bus, although some sustained minor injuries.Gilgil Sub-County Police Commander Winston Mwakio said investigations into the accident had commenced, with those injured taken to Nakuru County Referral Hospital.
Read briefing Churches and security departments are among institutions that owe Nairobi County more than Ksh2.7 billion in unpaid taxes and other charges.Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja revealed the outstanding debt while appearing before the Senate Investment, Trade and Industrialisation Committee to respond to questions on the county's revenue collection.Sakaja said the county was pursuing various institutions with outstanding payments as it seeks to increase its own-source revenue. “There are churches and security departments that have not paid taxes,” he said.The governor did not immediately provide a breakdown showing how much of the Ksh2.7 billion is owed by churches, security departments or other institutions.Sakaja said Nairobi had introduced measures to make it easier for residents and businesses to pay county charges while reducing revenue leakages.He pointed to the digitisation of county services, saying residents can access and pay for services through the *647# USSD platform and the Nairobi Services website.“Everything is digitised, *647# if you are using your phone and nairobiservices.co.ke, and that is how we have been able to raise revenue by 95 per cent in three years, just by digitising and reducing corruption or theft,” Sakaja said.The governor also cited March 26 as an example of the impact of the system, saying Nairobi collected Ksh256 million in a single day.Kenya has in recent years expanded the use of digital platforms across public services, with government agencies moving processes online in sectors including education, healthcare and agriculture to make services easier to access and reduce paperwork.In education, digital systems are increasingly being used for learner and school services, while the health sector has expanded digital records and platforms for managing healthcare services. Agriculture has also adopted digital tools to connect farmers with government programmes and services.Sakaja said Nairobi had also decentralised some customer service centres to bring county services closer to residents and improve access to payment services.The disclosure comes as the Senate committee scrutinises Nairobi's revenue collection, including the county's efforts to recover outstanding payments and strengthen systems for collecting money owed to the devolved government.
Read briefing The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has retained the maximum retail prices of Super Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene for the September-October cycle. In their monthly update, the regulator announced that a litre of Super Petrol will continue retailing at Ksh214.03, while Diesel remains at Ksh217.86 and Kerosene at Ksh191.38 in a cycle that will run until October 14. "In accordance with Section 101(y) of the Petroleum Act 2019 and Legal Notice No.192 of 2022, we have calculated the maximum retail prices of petroleum products which will be in force from September 15 to October 14 2026. In the period under review, the maximum retail prices for Super Petrol, Diesel and Kerosene remain unchanged," EPRA said in a statement. In Mombasa, motorists will pay Ksh210.87 per litre for petrol, Ksh214.58 for diesel, and Ksh188.09 for kerosene during the period.In Nakuru, Super Petrol will remain at KSh212.92 per litre, diesel at KSh217.27 and kerosene at KSh190.81 under EPRA’s latest monthly review.Across other parts of the country, fuel prices will remain unchanged, with petrol retailing at Ksh213.69 per litre in Eldoret and Kisumu, Ksh218.67 in Meru, Ksh213.94 in Kitale and Ksh214.77 in Kisii. Kilifi will record one of the lowest prices at Ksh211.68 per litre, while Mandera will continue to have the highest petrol price at Ksh234.68.EPRA noted that the prices are inclusive of Value Added Tax (VAT), in line with the VAT Act, 2013, the Finance Act, 2023, the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 2024, and other applicable tax regulations.Prices still differ slightly from town to town, since transport costs from the coast to inland depots are factored into each region's final pump price, as the landed cost of petrol fell to about Ksh113.39 per litre, easing import pressure even as retail prices remained unchanged.Diesel’s landed cost rose to approximately Ksh124.17 per litre, while Kerosene reached Ksh130.22, increasing import costs, but these movements did not translate into higher pump prices.On the international market, benchmark prices stood at approximately Ksh144,672 per metric tonne for petrol, Ksh143,197 for diesel and Ksh146,743 for Kerosene by August, since Kenya imports all its fuel refined.The shilling held fairly steady against the dollar at around Ksh129.72 per US dollar in August, helping to cushion pump prices against sharp swings in global oil costs, as EPRA balances recovering import costs with efforts to keep fuel affordable for ordinary Kenyans ahead of the next review in mid-October.The latest review will come as a slight relief for motorists, who have endured fluctuating pump prices in recent months.For motorists dependent on super petrol, this will be the third month in a row whereby the prices remain unchanged after marginally fell by Ksh0.22 per litre back in June 2026.
Read briefing Phase one of the 612-kilometre Lake Victoria Ring Road construction will begin in November 2026, President William Ruto has announced.Speaking during a lake region grassroots meeting in Kisumu on Sunday, September 13, Ruto said the government had already set aside Ksh60 billion for the first phase of the project, which will link five counties.According to the Head of State, the government has set aside Ksh92 billion for road construction and will allocate Ksh60 billion for the phase-one construction of the 612-kilometre road."Besides Ksh92 billion we have for roads, in November we are coming here to break ground for the longest road, the Lake Victoria Ring Road, of which phase one will cost us Ksh60 billion. We are coming to launch it because an agreement has already been made," Ruto stated.The road is expected to begin from Busia, pass through Siaya and Kisumu, extend to Homa Bay, and finally connect to Migori, forming a crucial transport corridor around the Lake Victoria basin.Earlier in the meeting, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said the government had already received the funds from the World Bank and that construction of the road would begin soon.The construction date for the longest road in the region comes months after Ruto promised to allocate funds in the 2026/27 budget for the construction of the highway.According to the president, the project has been long-awaited, and discussions about its enhancement have been ongoing for over 15 years."We have a road that we have been discussing for 15 years. This road is called the Lake Victoria Ring Road and it starts at Busia, passes through Siaya and Kisumu, comes to Homa Bay, and then continues to connect all the way to Migori," Ruto said in March 2026."This road will be constructed this year. We are allocating funds for it this year to ensure that all parts of Kenya are served with proper road infrastructure," he added.The road, which has been in discussion for a while, was first proposed to be funded by support from the World Bank, with an approximate budget of Ksh 41.6 billion in 2016.The budget increased significantly to around Ksh 70 billion due to modern design standards, including a Class B2 highway, and an expanded scope, according to the Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA).It will feature a 7-metre-wide carriageway with 2-metre shoulders on both sides, designed to accommodate non-motorised traffic such as pedestrians and bicycles. The project also includes installing fibre-optic cables along the corridor.
Read briefing Isaac Kalua Green, Chief Steward of the Green Africa Foundation, has now called for greater focus on what happens to trees after planting, saying survival should be treated as a key measure of the success of environmental campaigns.Green made the remarks in his new book, Come Back and Check, which challenges governments and organisations to return to planting sites and establish how many of the trees recorded during planting campaigns are still alive.Environmentalist raised questions about Kenya’s tree-planting campaigns, arguing that the country must go beyond recording the number of trees planted and establish how many survive and continue growing.The concern emerged amid the government’s push to increase tree cover through nationwide tree-growing initiatives, with millions of seedlings planted under various programmes.The book was presented to Prince Albert II of Monaco during a meeting at the Prince’s Palace on Saturday, September 12, 2026. The visit also provided an opportunity for the two sides to discuss more than two decades of cooperation between the Green Africa Foundation and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation on climate and conservation initiatives.Dr Green’s argument also turns the spotlight on his own Plant Your Age campaign, which reports a central estimate of more than 981 million tree-growing contributions since 2011.He argues that the figure should not automatically be interpreted as meaning that more than 981 million trees are currently standing. Establishing how many have survived would require systematic monitoring and verification after planting.Trees can be lost after planting through drought, pests, disease, fires, poor maintenance and other environmental factors. Without follow-up checks, planting figures may therefore provide an incomplete picture of the actual impact of tree-growing programmes.Dr Green has proposed what he calls the Count What Survives Standard, which would require programmes to monitor trees beyond the planting event and record their survival over time.The approach also includes an Evidence Ladder and a Living Tree Account, which are intended to help governments, organisations and communities document the progress of trees after they are planted. The proposals draw lessons from forest recovery initiatives in South Korea, farmer-led regeneration in Niger and government auditing in the Philippines.The issue is particularly relevant to Kenya, where the government has made tree growing a central part of its environmental agenda and set ambitious targets for increasing the country’s tree and forest cover.During his Monaco visit, Dr Green also discussed the Green Africa Villages model, the Plant Your Age campaign and opportunities to deepen climate and conservation cooperation across Africa. He also highlighted his new role as Chair of the Board of the Green Nairobi Company, which is working on environmental infrastructure and services.The relationship between Dr Green’s organisation and Prince Albert’s foundation spans more than 20 years. Prince Albert visited Green Africa Foundation projects in Kitui in 2010 and later contributed a foreword to Dr Green’s book Green for Life.Through Come Back and Check, Dr Green is urging governments and environmental organisations to return to planting sites and verify the results of their efforts. His central message is that the success of tree-growing campaigns should ultimately be measured not only by how many trees are planted, but by how many survive.
Read briefing East African Community (EAC) citizens can enter Kenya without a visa, but visa-free entry does not mean they can automatically start operating a business without meeting a country's regulatory requirements. A spot check by Kenyans.co.ke found on the EAC policies found that visa exemption is part of the EAC Common Market framework, which provides for free movement of people across Partner States and is intended to facilitate regional trade and economic activity.For an EAC citizen visiting Kenya, this means they can cross the border without applying for a visa, subject to applicable immigration requirements. The arrangement is designed to make movement for travel, family visits, and other activities easier.However, entering Kenya without a visa is different from establishing a business, and the Common Market Protocol gives EAC citizens rights of establishment, but these are exercised in accordance with the laws and administrative procedures of the host country.An EAC citizen seeking to establish a business in Kenya must therefore comply with requirements such as business registration, tax registration, and applicable county permits.Kenya also has a specific immigration category for EAC nationals, where the Directorate of Immigration Services provides a Class R permit for an EAC citizen intending to reside in Kenya and engage in employment, business, trade or another prescribed activity.EAC citizens, however, receive preferential treatment under the regional framework, and Kenya has waived work permit fees for citizens of EAC Partner States who are working or establishing themselves in the country.For temporary business, trade or professional activity, Kenya also provides a Special Pass, which allows a foreigner to temporarily conduct business, trade or a profession. The pass is currently free for citizens of EAC Partner States.The Common Market Protocol also provides EAC workers with rights to seek employment and protection against discrimination based on nationality, alongside rights relating to working conditions and social security.This means an EAC citizen may enter Kenya without a visa, but someone intending to remain in the country and operate a business or work must still follow the applicable immigration and regulatory procedures.Notably, the Kenyan government took a similar stance after President William Ruto ordered a crackdown on foreign nationals, before later clarifying that all foreigners, including those from the East African Community (EAC) and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), are allowed in Kenya provided they abide by the law.“Kenya is very open for business. I know there has been a lot of debate about who should work in Kenya or should invest in Kenya. Let me say this for the record. All investors have a space in Kenya,” Ruto said. Adding, "The process will be coordinated by the relevant Government agencies, in consultation with the embassies concerned, to provide affected persons with a clear and structured opportunity to regularise their immigration status and business operations in accordance with the law."
Read briefing Four years after President William Ruto took over the government, his record on the promises he made to Kenyans presents a mixed picture, with some delivered while others remain delayed, altered or unmet.Ruto, who was sworn in as Kenya's fifth President on 13 September 2022, campaigned on an agenda centred on lowering the cost of living, creating jobs, improving healthcare, expanding infrastructure and transforming the economy.With his administration approaching four years in office, a review by Kenyans.co.ke of major campaign promises and subsequent presidential commitments shows a government that has made visible progress in selected areas but has struggled to translate several high-profile pledges into completed outcomes.The review also shows that some commitments cannot yet be judged conclusively because their deadlines fall in 2026 or 2027, while others have been modified after the government changed its approach to achieving the original target. Education is among the sectors where the administration has made progress, particularly through teacher recruitment, but where some of the government's most significant promises remain unresolved.Since Ruto took office, more than 56,000 teachers have been hired as the government seeks to address shortages and transition intern teachers into permanent employment.President Ruto says his government will be employing 35,000 teachers each year until there is no shortage pic.twitter.com/5BAacEIHGs The government has additionally increased the teacher promotion budget to Ksh2 billion, allowing thousands of educators to progress through their careers.However, the government's wider promise to address the teacher shortage remains a work in progress.The administration had also promised 100 per cent government funding for university, college and Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) students. The promise has not been implemented under the original timeline, even as the government now indicates that free university education will begin in January 2027 following proposed legal and policy changes.The shift in approach has raised questions over how the original promise will ultimately be delivered.Infrastructure presents a mixed record, with several major projects under construction while others have been delayed or remain at the planning stage.The Rironi-Mau Summit highway is among the projects where implementation is underway. The 175-kilometre road is currently about 20 per cent complete, while the first phase is expected to be completed by 30 October 2026.However, the full project is now expected to be completed in June 2027, compared with the initial August 2026 deadline announced by the Head of State in November 2025.Ruto's wider pledge to double Kenya's tarmac road network within seven years similarly remains incomplete.In February 2026, Ruto also said he would return to Thika in September to begin construction of the 60-kilometre expressway linking the town to Nairobi."I have a plan. Just as we constructed the expressway from JKIA to Westlands, I will return here in September to begin construction of the expressway from Thika," Ruto said.With September now underway, there has yet to be a major public update confirming that construction has commenced.The proposed 2,000MW nuclear power plant in Siaya is another commitment that remains ahead of its promised implementation timeline. Ruto has said construction will begin in 2027, with commissioning expected in 2034, but the project is currently at the planning stage and has faced opposition from some residents concerned about health and environmental risks.The proposed expansion of the Mombasa-Nairobi highway has similarly failed to move into construction, with the government initially pushing for an expressway linking the two cities but later reverting from that approach, leaving the major commitment without construction underway.These projects demonstrate one of the biggest challenges in assessing Ruto's record: announcing a project is not the same as delivering it, and several of the administration's most ambitious infrastructure promises remain tied to future deadlines.Affordable housing also falls under the infrastructure agenda. The programme has seen 8,800 units completed since Ruto assumed office, while more than 214,000 additional houses are reported to be under construction across the 47 counties.We should do affordable housing in towns and use our farms to grow food - William Ruto pic.twitter.com/IKlhDrhK6uHowever, the government initially targeted 250,000 new houses every year, meaning actual delivery has remained below that ambition.Electricity access presents another example of partial delivery, with the government continuing to implement the Last Mile Connectivity Programme to connect households, particularly in rural and underserved areas, but the broader pledge to ensure access for all targeted households has not yet been fully achieved.Perhaps one of the government's biggest wins in terms of infrastructure has been stadia, with the administration embarking on an ambitious programme to construct and upgrade sports facilities across the country.
Read briefing Suba North Member of Parliament Millie Odhiambo endured a hostile crowd on Sunday, September 13 as she was heckled in Ruto's presence during an engagement with a crowd in Kisumu. The lawmaker had barely started addressing the crowd once she was given the microphone when the crowd turned hostile , shouting her down and prompting her to address the chaos.Amid the chaos, the Suba North MP, who has in the recent past publicly criticised the government, reiterated that she was unmoved, and would continue to back the ruling party 'on her terms'. "I am supporting President William Ruto, but in my own way, and in my own terms," Millie Odhiambo stated. "You know you cannot threaten me with your heckling and booing. I was born a tough-headed girl, and nothing in this place can threaten me," Odhiambo added.As the dramatic scenes unfolded, Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohamed, who was the event’s master of ceremonies, was forced to take the microphone from Millie Odhiambo to calm the heckling crowd.The Suba North lawmaker has often been criticised for her impartiality in the political arena for refusing to fully commit to either ODM faction as the party remains sharply divided over President Ruto’s 2027 re-election bid.On many occasions, such as during a press interview on May 31, the MP has insisted that she belongs to neither camp, remaining simply an ODM loyalist.“I said clearly that I am not in ODM Linda Ground or ODM Linda Mwananchi but in ODM. I was told I am a fence-sitter,” stated Millie Odhiambo.Adding, “I am not going to be pushed into a position where I have to choose between Linda Ground and Linda Mwananchi. My position is that I am an ODM member, and I will continue to articulate my views without being put in a box.”Notwithstanding, she has criticized both sides: opposing Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna's removal from party leadership as the Secretary General, while stopping short of joining his Linda Mwananchi movement, and supporting President Ruto's candidacy while warning that arrogance could damage the broad-based government politically.She has also been vocal in rejecting ODM's zoning arrangements meant to protect Nyanza strongholds, arguing that parties should compete freely and voters decide. She herself described her stance as a deliberate "fence philosophy," not indecision but political independence.
Read briefing Thousands of Kenyans have been rendered jobless after the government, through the Registrar of Companies, announced the dissolution of 176 firms operating in the country.In a notice dated Friday, September 11, Deputy Registrar of Companies Hiram Gachugi said 176 firms had been dissolved with immediate effect, while another 155 were earmarked for dissolution within the next three months."Pursuant to section 897(4) of the Companies Act, it is notified for the information of the general public that the following companies have been dissolved and their names struck off the Register of Companies with effect from the date of publication of this notice," the notice read in part.While Kenyans.co.ke could not immediately establish the exact number of workers affected, the shutdowns could raise fresh concerns over unemployment amid rising living costs.The affected companies span a broad range of sectors, including transport and automotive, restaurants, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, energy and petroleum, and construction.Others offer beauty and personal care, travel and immigration services, general supplies, Events and creative services, the textile industry, interior design and consulting services.The list also contains some international companies that have also been deregistered, including an Ireland-headquartered global building-materials company which has been operating in the country for several years.In a separate notice, Gachugi listed over 155 companies earmarked for dissolution beginning December 2026 for various reasons, which the registrar did not immediately disclose.According to Hiram, the companies earmarked for closure would soon cease operations in the country unless they explain, within three months, why they should remain registered."Pursuant to the Companies Act, the Registrar of Companies gives notice that the names of the companies specified hereunder shall be struck off from the register of companies," the notice read in part."The companies shall be struck off the registry at the expiry of three months from the date of publication of this notice and invite any person to show cause why the companies should not be struck off from the registry," it added.The three-month notice is designed to protect creditors, shareholders, employees and any individual who might have an interest in the affected companies.Under law, companies may be dissolved if they fail to meet legal obligations such as filing annual returns, maintaining active registration records or complying with regulatory requirements. Once dissolved, a company ceases to legally exist, meaning it cannot continue operations, own assets, or employ staff.
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