NAIROBI, Kenya Sep 7 – President William Ruto and governors are set to hold talks on Monday as pressure mounts to resolve the nationwide nurses’ strike that has disrupted healthcare services across Kenya.The meeting between the national and county governments is expected to focus on the outstanding issues behind the industrial action and seek a lasting solution to recurrent labour disputes in the health sector.Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire confirmed that the Council of Governors (CoG) will meet Ruto and other national government leaders under the National and County Governments Co-ordination Summit on September 7.The Summit, established under the Intergovernmental Relations Act, brings together the President and the governors of Kenya’s 47 counties and serves as the apex forum for relations between the two levels of government.The nurses’ strike has largely centred on the implementation of the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and disagreements over its financial implications and implementation.Mbarire has previously attributed part of the dispute to the obligations created by the 2017 CBA, arguing that counties have faced challenges meeting the financial commitments because of inadequate resources.However, the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives has maintained that the agreement is binding and has rejected claims that it is financially unsustainable.KNUNM Secretary-General Seth Panyako has said the CBA remains the central issue in the dispute and that the union has not reached a deal with the Council of Governors.The union has continued to demand progress on the agreement, while county governments have called for nurses to return to work as negotiations continue.The prolonged strike has severely disrupted services in public hospitals, with patients facing difficulties accessing routine and emergency healthcare.Health professionals and rights organisations have raised concerns over the impact of the industrial action on vulnerable patients, particularly mothers, newborns and people requiring specialised or emergency care.The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has called for urgent intervention by both levels of government, warning that the strike has evolved from a labour dispute into a public health and human rights crisis. The commission cited reports of 79 deaths between August 31 and September 2, comprising maternal, neonatal and perinatal deaths, while calling for independent verification of deaths and other health impacts linked to the disruption.The National Nurses Association of Kenya has also reported deaths involving mothers, newborns and perinatal cases during the strike, as health professionals warn of the consequences of prolonged disruption of public health services.The planned Ruto-governors meeting comes after other discussions between the national and county governments on health-sector challenges.On August 31, the national and county governments reached an agreement on the transition of 7,789 Universal Health Coverage workers to permanent and pensionable terms, with the government allocating KSh8.6 billion, including statutory employer contributions, for the transition.The Ministry of Health said the two levels of government were also working on issues including health financing, workforce management, payment of legitimate healthcare claims and continuity of services.The latest talks therefore provide an opportunity for the national government, governors and nurses’ representatives to address both the immediate strike and longer-term challenges surrounding the employment and welfare of health workers.For patients, the key outcome will be whether the talks produce a concrete agreement capable of restoring normal services in public hospitals and preventing another prolonged disruption of healthcare.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya Sep 7 – An 11-year-old Grade Six pupil is feared to have drowned in River Yala in Siaya County while swimming after taking cows to the river to drink water.Police said the incident occurred on Saturday, September 5, 2026, in the Kware area of Onding Village, Uranga Sub-location, approximately five kilometres west of Barkalare Police Post.According to a police report, the girl was a Grade Six pupil at JM Opidah Comprehensive School.Her mother reported the incident to police after the girl failed to return home.Police said preliminary investigations indicated that the girl had gone to River Yala at around 5pm with her friend, identified as Triza Adhiambo, after taking cows to the river to drink water.The two girls reportedly went swimming, with Ashley removing her clothes before entering the river.However, police said she was swept away by the fast-moving waters and did not resurface.A joint search operation involving family members, members of the public and police officers was immediately launched in an effort to locate the girl.The search was unsuccessful, with the exercise eventually suspended because of darkness.Authorities have continued to caution members of the public, particularly children, against swimming or playing near fast-moving rivers, especially during periods of heavy rainfall when water levels and currents can change rapidly.The search for Ashley’s body is expected to continue as police, family members and members of the public work together to establish her whereabouts.
Read briefing Egyptian television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 other people have been sentenced to death by hanging after being convicted of drugs charges.According to state-owned al-Ahram newspaper, they were part of a criminal gang which imported ingredients used to make drugs with the intent of selling them.Khalifa, 39, is best known for her TV programme Mission Impossible which dealt with crime issues. She has denied the charges.Nine fellow defendants have been sentenced to life imprisonment, while seven have been acquitted.However, it was only confirmed a month later after the court obtained a religious opinion from the grand mufti of Egypt – a legal requirement in death sentence cases.During the trial, the court heard that authorities had seized more than 750kg (1,653lbs) of narcotics and the imported raw materials to make them.Twenty witnesses had given statements to the prosecutors, al-Ahram said, in addition to electronic evidence that included conversations and video clips.According to the state-run Akhbar al-Youm newspaper, when asked by the judge about her alleged role during a court appearance last September, Khalifa said she had never seen any drugs until she was photographed with them inside the anti-narcotics authority offices.According to a 2025 Amnesty International report, there were 492 death sentences in the course of the year, 23 of which were carried out..The defendants were found guilty of drug trafficking and rape, “crimes that did not amount to ‘intentional killing’ to which the use of the death penalty must be restricted under international law and standards”, the report said.
Read briefing An Amazon Air cargo plane overshot the runway while attempting to land at Miami International Airport, killing five people and seriously injuring five more.The Boeing 767-300 cargo aircraft crashed just before 14:00 local time (19:00 GMT) after departing from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The flight also hit several vehicles on the ground.Amazon said that it is “working closely with local authorities and officials to understand exactly what happened”.All flights were ordered grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as fire crews raced to the smoking crash site. The crash comes over Labor Day weekend, one of the busiest travel times of the year.“At least five people have lost their lives, and five others are injured,” Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said at a news conference on Sunday evening.“Right now, our focus is on the families, those who were injured, and the ongoing response,” she continued.Three of the five people injured are in critical condition, said Miami Fire Chief Raied Jadallah. The mayor said they were all taken to hospital with “unknown injuries”.Several of the injured were trapped inside or under vehicles on the ground, and needed to be extricated by fire and rescue crews, said Jadallah.Officials say it is too early to know the cause of the crash, and that it will be investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board. The federal agency, which investigates all air crashes in the US, plans to hold a news conference on Monday.The Amazon flight operated by 21 Air, a charter company based in North Carolina, “overran Miami International Airport’s diagonal runway and is disabled at the northwest end of the airport,” the airport said in a statement.Miami Dade Fire Rescue said crews “arrived to find an airplane that had caught on fire as a result of this crash, with heavy flames and smoke showing”.Over 200 firefighters responded to the crash. The flames were extinguished, but there is still a fuel leak at the site, said Jadallah.Amazon issued a statement saying that it is working closely with authorities and offering condolences to the victims.“We’re heartbroken to learn that five people lost their lives in today’s incident at Miami International Airport,” said Kelly Nantel, Amazon’s Director of Corporate Global Media Relations.“Our deepest sympathies go out to the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss.“The airplane, which was operated by 21 Air, was attempting to land when this incident occurred. We’re working closely with local authorities and officials to learn more and will cooperate fully with any investigation.”Flight data from tracking site FlightRadar24 shows that the Amazon cargo flight was travelling at 112 knots (129mph, 207km/h) as it exited the “useable runway”.In a blog post, the site says the plane came to rest near a parking lot that services an Amazon warehouse and other businesses.There were light thunderstorms and gusting winds in Miami at the time of the incident, the site says.The crash comes during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year in the US.Passengers at Miami International Airport airport told the BBC they were frustrated by the lack of information coming from officials, with many flights cancelled or delayed as a result of the incident.There were long lines at airline counters as people tried to reschedule travel plans, with some saying they would be forced to stay in Miami an extra night.The Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) said there would be 17 million travellers passing through US airports in the week leading up to Monday’s Labor Day holiday.The TSA, which screens passengers flying in the US, predicted that 2.3 million people would fly on Sunday alone.Miami International Airport (MIA) is located near downtown Miami, and is one of the busiest airports in the country.“Founded in 1928, MIA is America’s busiest airport for international freight and second busiest for international passengers, offers more flights to Latin America and the Caribbean than any other US airport,” according to their website.About 60% of all international visitors to Florida arrive at this airport, it says.
Read briefing KISII, Kenya Sep 7 – Kisii Woman Representative Dorice Donya Aburi has urged parents and guardians to support teenage mothers who drop out of school, saying they should be given an opportunity to resume their education and realise their potential.Speaking during a women’s meeting in Bonchari, Aburi said the increasing number of teenage mothers leaving school was worrying and called for greater support for affected girls.The legislator, who is seeking the Bonchari parliamentary seat, said teenage pregnancy should not permanently end a girl’s education.“We have honourable members who gave birth when they were in school and their parents supported them to return to school. It is not an offence for a child to get a child and return to school,” Aburi said.She challenged parents to avoid stigmatising teenage mothers and instead help them overcome the challenges that may prevent them from returning to school.Aburi also called on parents whose children have been defiled to report the cases and pursue justice, warning against attempts to silence victims or compromise offenders.She said some parents intimidate children into keeping quiet about sexual abuse, a situation she warned could leave victims traumatised and discourage them from seeking help.“Some parents blame their defiled children and give them bad examples. The victims are despised and stigmatised wherever they are. They fear speaking up and suffer quietly,” she said.Aburi urged families to protect children who experience sexual abuse and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable rather than allowing cases to be settled outside the justice system.The lawmaker also weighed in on the government’s position on foreign small-scale traders operating in Kenya, backing President William Ruto’s directive that foreign traders should follow the required legal and licensing procedures.Aburi argued that foreigners seeking to conduct business in Kenya should comply with the country’s laws and obtain the necessary licences.She said the government’s position was intended to ensure Kenyan citizens benefit from economic opportunities while maintaining proper regulation of businesses operated by foreign nationals.“Every country has its structures. When the foreigners came to Kenya, it was not by accident. They have to be in the country legally,” Aburi said.Her remarks come as the Bonchari political contest begins to take shape, with Aburi positioning herself for the parliamentary race while continuing to champion issues affecting women, children and young people in Kisii County.
Read briefing MAGADI, Kajiado, Sep 5 — President William Ruto has said companies awarded mining contracts at Lake Magadi will be required to establish processing and manufacturing facilities in Kenya, as he moves to end the export of raw minerals without local value addition.Ruto said Kenya must break from a model in which minerals and other raw materials are extracted and exported while finished products are imported, arguing that the practice deprives communities and the country of jobs, wealth and industrial opportunities.“Our minerals must create value at home, generate wealth for Kajiado, create jobs for our young people and stimulate local industries,” he said.The President said the contract for mining operations at Magadi will be advertised following the expiry of the existing arrangement with Tata Chemicals Ltd, which he said will not be renewed.He said the government would no longer allow a single company to monopolise operations at Magadi at the expense of local residents and the wider economy.Magadi is rich in soda ash, a mineral used in the manufacture of glass, chemicals and other industrial products.Ruto said his decision not to renew the Tata Chemicals contract was irreversible, arguing that the nearly century-old arrangement had been exploitative and extractive and had failed to deliver sufficient benefits to Kenyans, particularly residents of Kajiado.“For nearly 100 years, Kenyans, especially the people of Kajiado, have not received their fair share of benefits from the minerals extracted from their land,” he said.The President criticised politicians opposing the termination of the Tata Chemicals arrangement, accusing them of defending commercial arrangements that do not serve Kenya’s interests.“You have no clarity on the Magadi issue. You talk about the rule of law, but there is no rule of law that undermines the interests of Kenyans and the people of Kajiado,” Ruto said.He said Kenya was sovereign and capable of negotiating investment partnerships that serve its national interests.Ruto also linked his position on Magadi to his broader advocacy for more equitable commercial relationships between Africa and international investors.“Africa is not subservient. We need partnerships, not exploitative and extractive contracts,” he said.He said Kenya would continue welcoming investors willing to enter into mutually beneficial agreements.“We are demanding sovereign equality, justice and fair relationships. I will say this in Washington, Paris and London,” Ruto said.Ruto also announced that 90 per cent of the 240,000 acres of land appropriated by colonial authorities for Magadi Soda mining will be returned to local communities.He said the government would accelerate the issuance of title deeds to residents to secure land ownership and unlock its economic potential.The President said his administration’s development agenda would extend to all parts of the country, arguing that the politics of discrimination and marginalisation should be left behind.He urged voters to scrutinise candidates seeking elective office based on integrity, competence and their record.On healthcare, Ruto said the Social Health Authority was expanding access to medical services and pledged to strengthen the programme.He said people across the country were already benefiting from SHA payments covering medical bills ranging from thousands to more than Sh100,000.In Kajiado, he said 749,000 people had registered with SHA, while Sh2.7 billion had been disbursed to hospitals and health facilities in the county.Ruto contrasted SHA with the defunct NHIF, saying the new system was designed to cover Kenyans regardless of their employment or economic status.Ruto’s remarks came during the second day of his working tour of Kajiado, where he inspected and launched several development projects.He launched construction of the 22km Ngong-Kibiko-Kangiria Road, a Sh1.4 billion project linking Kajiado and Kiambu counties.He also launched Phase Two of the Nguruman Irrigation Project, a Sh560 million initiative expected to bring an additional 2,000 acres under irrigation. He said a third phase would eventually expand irrigation to 20,000 acres, supported by a planned dam financed through the National Infrastructure Fund.The President also inspected the ongoing 72km Isara-Mashuuru-Imaroro Road, as well as student hostels at Kajiado East Technical and Vocational College and the Kitengela Modern Market.He presided over the groundbreaking of the Kitengela Affordable Housing Project and defended the use of the Roads Maintenance Levy to raise additional funds for road construction.Ruto said the approach had enabled the ongoing construction of 6,000km of roads and helped clear pending bills in the sector.Local leaders backed the government’s development agenda, with Kajiado Governor Joseph ole Lenku saying residents were pleased with projects being implemented in the county and suggesting this would translate into support for Ruto in the 2027 election.
Read briefing KISUMU, Kenya, Sep 5 — Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has revealed that the ruling UDA-led coalition is working on a new broad-based coalition framework and joint manifesto that will anchor President William Ruto’s bid for re-election in the August 2027 General Election.Mudavadi said a committee bringing together representatives of UDA and ODM is being constituted to craft the new framework, which he said will set out the coalition’s agenda for the five years following the 2027 election.“We are putting pen on paper to have a new coalition framework that will drive our agenda for the next five years after August 2027, and President Ruto will be our candidate for the new framework,” Mudavadi said.He spoke at Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu during a consultative engagement with more than 100 UDA aspirants from Kakamega and Vihiga counties.Mudavadi said strengthening UDA’s grassroots presence was critical to ensuring the party commands sufficient numbers to give Ruto a stronger negotiating position within the new coalition.“You cannot have a leader of a coalition in a broad-based framework then you weaken his party,” he warned.He said the strength of Ruto’s party would determine his ability to exercise influence within the coalition and advance his legislative agenda if re-elected.Mudavadi cited the experience of former President Mwai Kibaki during the Grand Coalition Government, arguing that Kibaki’s limited political strength within the coalition made it difficult for him to drive his legislative agenda through Parliament.“We don’t want this to happen to our candidate President Ruto when he wins,” he said.Mudavadi urged UDA aspirants to expand the party’s support base across the country, saying the party’s numbers would ultimately determine its bargaining power in the new coalition arrangement.He said the emerging framework would define areas of responsibility between UDA and ODM, warning UDA members that ODM had made clear its ambition to regain political power.“ODM has insisted it wants power and UDA must work hard to retain the power it commands now,” Mudavadi said.He said political numbers would be a key measure of bargaining power within the coalition.Mudavadi also stressed the importance of securing enough parliamentary and county assembly seats to strengthen Ruto’s political position after the 2027 election.He cited Article 138(4) of the Constitution, which requires a presidential candidate to secure more than half of all votes cast and at least 25 per cent of the votes cast in more than half of the counties.Mudavadi challenged UDA aspirants to strengthen their grassroots campaigns ahead of party nominations, saying competition for the tickets would be intense.Although he said UDA would provide free and fair nominations, he urged aspirants not to rely solely on the party machinery.“Aspirants must activate their own machinery since the UDA party has a very strong opinion poll mechanism which is highly accurate,” he said.“If you sit back and relax, how will your radar be activated? Make sure the UDA radar captures you.”He said aspirants would have to simultaneously work for their own nominations and Ruto’s re-election.The Prime Cabinet Secretary also urged Western Kenya voters to back Ruto for a second term, linking continued support to completion of development projects in the region.He said the administration had begun an agenda extending beyond Vision 2030 and argued that a second Ruto term would provide continuity for projects already initiated.“If we want continuity of this legacy and agenda where we ensure completion of our projects as a region then we have no choice but to grant him a second term,” Mudavadi said.He also criticised the opposition for what he described as a lack of clear ideas and policies, while maintaining that UDA intends to field candidates from the presidency to the county assembly level in 2027.Mudavadi said the emerging coalition would ultimately be shaped by the strength each party brings to the negotiating table, making the mobilisation of voters and winning of seats central to UDA’s preparations for 2027.
Read briefing KISUMU, Kenya, Sep 5 — Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has urged opposition leaders to stop attacking the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), saying the electoral agency’s independence must be respected ahead of the 2027 General Election.Mudavadi accused opposition politicians of seeking to discredit the commission and taint its commissioners in what he said could undermine public confidence in the electoral process and ultimately delegitimise the outcome of the August 2027 election.“Maintaining the integrity and public trust of the IEBC is critical for ensuring stable democratic processes and peaceful transitions of power. When the opposition attacks the referee, it seems they are not ready to get into the field,” Mudavadi said.He said Kenya should not be drawn into another cycle of political divisions, accusing the opposition of attempting to replicate disputes witnessed during previous elections, particularly under the late IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati.Mudavadi defended the current commission under Chairperson Erastus Ethekon, citing recent by-elections as evidence that it can conduct free, fair and credible polls.He pointed to the Ol Kalou by-election, where the opposition won the seat, questioning why politicians who praised the IEBC after the poll were now criticising the same commission.“When the opposition won the Ol Kalou seat, they praised the IEBC but a few weeks later they are out discrediting the same commission. What has changed all of a sudden? This opposition is scared to face President Ruto on the ballot,” he said.Mudavadi also defended the commission’s authority to deploy its officers, telling political actors not to question administrative decisions concerning where electoral officials are stationed.“Whatever decisions the commission makes are internal and guided by both the Constitution and law,” he said.He said all parts of the country should be treated equally during the electoral process and that voters should be able to exercise their democratic rights without discrimination.Mudavadi said some of the criticism directed at the IEBC was linked to preparations for party nominations and compliance with electoral regulations expected ahead of next year’s election.“We have seen politicians attacking the IEBC for the fear of compliance. They know that soon they will be a target for compliance with the electoral regulations ahead of the party nominations slated for early next year,” he said.He was speaking at the Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu, where he met Western Kenya UDA aspirants from Kakamega and Vihiga counties for a consultative engagement aimed at strengthening the party’s grassroots structures.Mudavadi said UDA, under the broad-based government arrangement, remained strong and would seek to field candidates at all levels in the 2027 elections, from President to Members of County Assemblies.He said the party was working to expand its grassroots support ahead of the election.“We want peace and we want a free and fair election including the victory of President William Ruto whom we are working hard to secure his second term with an undisputed margin against the opposition,” Mudavadi said.The Prime Cabinet Secretary also called on Western Kenya residents to increase voter registration, saying the region’s numbers remained below the targets set ahead of the closure of the exercise.He described Western Kenya as a vote-rich region and urged political leaders and residents to mobilise more eligible voters to register.“We have to come out as a people and encourage voter registration across all the counties. Our numbers are not looking good and we are ranked as a vote-rich region within the electoral framework,” Mudavadi said.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 5-Foreign ministers from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) member states will convene in Djibouti next week for an extraordinary meeting expected to shape the bloc’s collective response to pressing peace and security challenges across the region.The 74th Extraordinary Session of the IGAD Council of Ministers will be held on September 15, 2026, in Djibouti City, bringing together foreign ministers and designated representatives from member states.The meeting comes at a critical moment for the Horn and wider IGAD region, with ministers expected to review prevailing security developments, assess ongoing regional initiatives, and seek stronger collective approaches to peace and stability.IGAD said the Council would address “key regional peace and security issues and other matters of importance to the region,” providing a platform for member states to coordinate their responses to challenges confronting the region.The Council of Ministers is one of IGAD’s principal policy organs and is responsible for providing political direction and advancing cooperation among member states.The Djibouti meeting is expected to provide an opportunity for ministers to assess ongoing peace and security efforts and identify areas where greater regional coordination is required.Beyond immediate security concerns, the Council will also consider institutional issues, including the implementation and strengthening of the IGAD Treaty, as the regional bloc seeks to reinforce its capacity to respond to evolving regional priorities.IGAD said the discussions would support the Authority’s mandate and strengthen its ability to address challenges collectively.“IGAD Member States remain committed to working collectively to address the challenges facing the region and to promote peace, stability and prosperity for the people of the IGAD region,” the organisation said.
Read briefing NYERI, Kenya, Sep 5 — Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni has assured Kenyans of a coordinated response to potential health risks linked to the expected El Niño conditions, citing an existing inter-ministerial committee chaired by the Deputy President.Muthoni, who spoke in Nyeri on Saturday during the Jamii Imara Mashinani tour, said the committee was already working on preparedness measures and coordinating advisories to county governments, particularly on health-related risks.“There is an inter-ministerial committee that is chaired by the Deputy President which is already active,” Muthoni said.She said the health sector was advising counties on infrastructure that needs strengthening, emergency preparedness and the need to mobilise resources to respond to potential health emergencies.The advisories also cover personal hygiene, environmental hygiene, water and sanitation, she said, as authorities seek to minimise the risk of disease outbreaks associated with heavy rains.Muthoni urged counties to take early action on infrastructure that could worsen the impact of heavy rainfall, including blocked drainage systems.“Drainages that need to be unclogged early enough that can let water through,” she said.She said Kenya had systems and experience to draw on in responding to such weather-related challenges.“This is not the first time that we are getting these kind of issues,” Muthoni said.Muthoni identified close coordination between the national and county governments as critical to preparedness and response.“From the health sector, I can really say our coordination with the county government is the most important,” she said.She said the government would also engage development partners and other ministries to strengthen preparedness and response capacity.“We combine forces so that should there be any eventuality of any outbreak, we are able to take care of it as we move on,” Muthoni said.Her remarks come as the country prepares for the October-December rainfall season, with health authorities focusing on preventive measures around hygiene, water and sanitation and strengthening preparedness for possible disease outbreaks.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 4 – Nairobi’s worsening waste problem has become an unlikely source of employment, with the county government saying it has hired about 4,500 workers under the Green Army programme to clean streets, drainage channels and public spaces.Governor Johnson Sakaja says the recruits have been employed on permanent and pensionable terms, making the programme one of the county’s largest recruitment drives for workers involved in environmental services in recent decades.But while the hiring has added thousands of jobs, it has also put the spotlight on the scale of Nairobi’s waste-management challenge and whether the county can sustain the clean-up beyond periodic campaigns.Speaking on his digital baraza podcast, Nairobi, Let’s Talk, Sakaja said the programme was intended to address both unemployment and the city’s deteriorating environment.“Right now, since the 1980s, this is the first time we have employed such a huge number of workers 4,500 people for permanent and pensionable positions to be part of the people cleaning the city,” he said.He said the jobs would have an impact beyond the individual workers because of the households that depend on their incomes.“As they clean drains, clean our city and estates, we have also given 4,500 households an opportunity to make a living. This is just the beginning,” he said.The Green Army is being deployed across different parts of Nairobi, with workers involved in clearing drainage channels, removing accumulated waste, cleaning estates and public spaces and dealing with illegal dumping sites.The initiative comes as the county grapples with a waste stream that has grown considerably with the city’s population.According to the county government, Nairobi currently collects about 3,000 tonnes of waste a day, compared with approximately 1,000 tonnes previously.That volume presents a major logistical challenge for a county expected to serve a population of millions, particularly where collection, transportation, disposal and enforcement against illegal dumping remain persistent problems.Sakaja said the scale of waste generated in the capital required a system capable of collecting and handling rubbish on a daily basis.The county has also linked the clean-up campaign to preparations for heavy rains, with drainage clearance being stepped up in several parts of the city.Since April, the county says more than 40 major waste collection points and illegal dumping sites have been cleared.In Embakasi South, for instance, more than 4,500 loads of waste have reportedly been removed. The county says 1,538 loads were cleared from Kware Bridge, while another 2,970 loads were removed from English Press in Mukuru Kwa Reuben.Other reported clean-up sites include Motherland in Eastleigh South, where 216 loads were removed, and Kinyago Slums in California Ward, where 20 loads were cleared.The county has also reported clean-up operations at Gumba Bridge in Babadogo, Kingston in Utalii, Area 3 Sokoni in Mathare North and Korogocho Market.Drainage clearance and desilting operations have similarly been carried out in areas including Dandora, Ruai, Langata, Mathare, Kibra and Dagoretti North.County executive for Green Nairobi Maureen Njeri said the drainage work was aimed at reducing the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall.“As we prepare Nairobi for the El Nino rains, the Green Army is on the ground every day clearing drains, removing waste and keeping our roads and neighbourhoods clean,” she said.“This is about prevention ensuring water has a clear path to flow and reducing the risk of flooding.”Jobs versus a permanent waste solutionThe recruitment of 4,500 workers represents a significant expansion of the county’s workforce dedicated to environmental management.But the number of workers alone may not resolve Nairobi’s waste problem.The city’s garbage challenge is tied to several stages of the waste-management chain, including household collection, transportation, sorting, recycling, disposal and enforcement against illegal dumping.The continued appearance of large waste piles and illegal dumping points has previously demonstrated the difficulty of maintaining clean-up gains once organised operations move elsewhere.The county has said it wants to move towards a system where more waste is sorted and recovered instead of being transported directly to disposal sites.Sakaja said Nairobi was also looking at ways of turning waste into an economic resource.“We have plans for how we will repurpose the garbage,” he said.The county has announced plans for material recovery and waste transfer facilities as part of its broader waste-management strategy.Such infrastructure would be important if the administration is to move from simply removing waste from streets and drainage channels to reducing the amount that ends up in dumpsites.For now, however, much of the Green Army’s work remains focused on the immediate problem: removing waste that has already accumulated.Pressure to keep Nairobi cleanThe programme also comes as the county prepares for the possibility of heavy rains, when blocked drains and waterways can quickly translate into flooding.The county administration has therefore combined waste removal with drainage clearance, desilting and vegetation control.But officials have also acknowledged that county operations alone cannot keep Nairobi clean.Njeri has called on residents, businesses and communities to stop dumping waste in drains, roadsides and waterways.“We cannot achieve a clean and flood-resilient Nairobi through the efforts of the County Government alone,” she said.That remains one of the central challenges facing the Green Army.The county can increase the number of workers clearing waste, but sustaining cleaner neighbourhoods will also depend on reliable waste collection, adequate disposal infrastructure, enforcement of waste regulations and changes in public behaviour.For the 4,500 recruits, the programme has created jobs. For Nairobi, its longer-term tes
Read briefing NAIROBI,Kenya, Sep 4- Kenya’s banking sector is set to play a bigger role in financing climate and biodiversity projects under a new five-year partnership aimed at turning more green businesses into investment-ready ventures. The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen sustainable finance, green investment and inclusive green growth in Kenya. The partnership seeks to address a persistent financing gap in which businesses struggle to secure funding for green projects while lenders say they lack sufficiently bankable opportunities. “For too long, entrepreneurs have said banks are not lending, while banks have said there are not enough bankable green projects. This partnership is about closing that gap,” said Nagnouma Kone, GGGI’s Manager for Africa Strategy and Partnerships and Head of Kenya Office. “We are bringing together SMEs, financial institutions, and public sector actors to move beyond discussion and create real transactions that accelerate Kenya’s green transition.” The agreement was signed by Kone and KBA Chief Executive Officer Raimond Molenje during the launch of the International Climate Initiative (IKI)-funded SYMBIOTIC Project in Nairobi. The collaboration comes as Kenya seeks to implement its biodiversity commitments while increasing private-sector participati...
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya Sep 4 – Kenya’s public workforce has crossed the 1 million mark and reached 1.07 million employees, piling pressure on the government’s wage bill as the cost of running the public service continues to rise.New figures contained in the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) Fourth Quarter Wage Bill Bulletin for the 2025/2026 financial year show that public sector employment grew by 4.6 per cent in 2025, from 1.023 million workers in 2024 to 1.07 million.The growth was driven largely by increased hiring in key sectors, with education, public administration and defence accounting for the biggest share of public employment.The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) remains the country’s biggest public-sector employer.Its workforce jumped from 410,700 employees in 2024 to 436,300 in 2025, representing a 6.2 per cent increase.Ministries and other extra-budgetary institutions followed with 243,500 workers, while county governments employed 239,000 people.SRC estimates that the wage bill will rise to Sh1.287 trillion in the 2025/2026 financial year, up from Sh1.247 trillion in 2024/2025.SRC says the increase has largely been driven by expansion in teaching, health and security employment, as well as periodic salary adjustments.Despite the rise in the wage bill, its share of ordinary government revenue has fallen from 54.77 per cent in 2020/2021 to a projected 40.68 per cent in 2025/2026.But the figure remains above the 35 per cent threshold set under Kenya’s public finance management framework.SRC says the average month-on-month inflation rate during the fourth quarter of 2025/2026 stood at 6.23 per cent, significantly higher than the 3.9 per cent recorded during the same period a year earlier.SRC warns that persistent inflation erodes the purchasing power of salaries and can increase pressure from public employees for higher pay.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 4 — Former Investments, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has backed the Government’s decision to push Tata Chemicals Magadi out of Kenya, arguing that the country risks being overtaken by Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo unless it fundamentally changes how it exploits its natural resources.Kuria said Kenya must stop treating industrialisation as a political issue and instead adopt policies that force investors to process raw materials locally and build industries around the country’s mineral wealth.“We will not take off if we keep on playing politics with our industrialisation policy,” Kuria said.His comments came after President William Ruto ordered Tata Chemicals to leave the Lake Magadi area, accusing the company of extracting Kajiado’s resources for decades without creating sufficient local industries, jobs and value addition.Kuria said he fully supports the decision, arguing that Kenya should learn from countries that have deliberately restricted exports of unprocessed resources to accelerate domestic manufacturing.“I fully support the government decision on Tata Chemicals and Magadi Soda,” he said.“If we do not do things differently, Uganda, Ethiopia, DRC and Tanzania will overtake Kenya’s economy in the next 5 years.”Kuria pointed to Indonesia as an example of how aggressive resource policies can drive industrialisation.He said Indonesia’s decision to ban exports of raw nickel had helped transform its economy and attract processing and manufacturing investments around the mineral.“Indonesia is the worlds 16th largest economy. It is also the largest producer of Nickel in the world accounting for 68% of global production. Indonesia’s economy has balooned because they banned exports of raw nickel,” Kuria said.He said he studied the Indonesian model during his time in government and sought to apply similar principles to Kenya’s industrial policy.Kuria also cited Uganda’s restrictions on exports of unprocessed raw materials, recalling an intervention he made while in government to secure an exemption for Devki Steel to obtain iron ore from Uganda.“When I intervened to have exemption for the Devki steel plant in Samburu Kwale to get iron ore from Uganda, President Museveni gave a deadline for Devki to set up in Uganda,” he said.The former Cabinet secretary said Kenya could no longer afford to rely mainly on exporting resources in raw form while importing finished products made from those same resources.“So far our economy has survived on what is above the surface. To move forward we must move our focus to what is below the surface,” he said.Ruto has framed the Tata Chemicals dispute as part of a broader push to ensure Kenya derives greater economic value from its natural resources.Speaking in Kajiado on Thursday, the President said Tata Chemicals had operated at Lake Magadi for about a century without establishing the level of local industrial capacity he expects from a major investor.“That Tata company has had the contract for 100 years, yet it has not built anything in Kajiado. It has not established a factory here, and it has not employed our people. The other day, I told them to pack their bags and leave,” Ruto said.The President said any investor brought in to replace Tata would be required to establish manufacturing facilities in Kajiado rather than simply extract soda ash for export.“We have said that we will bring in a new company, but the conditions for that company will be clear: it must establish a large factory to manufacture glass here in Kajiado County and another facility to manufacture chemicals here,” Ruto said.Tata Chemicals Magadi, formerly Magadi Soda Company, has operated at Lake Magadi since 1911 and became part of Tata Chemicals in 2005.The company extracts trona from Lake Magadi and processes it into natural soda ash, or sodium carbonate, which is used in glass manufacturing, detergents, chemicals and water treatment.Its operations were suspended on July 28, 2026, after the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs cited compliance and licensing concerns.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya Sep 4 – President William Ruto has defended Kenya’s new police uniforms amid criticism over the design, saying the change is part of a wider plan to transform the National Police Service.Speaking during the 59th Passing-Out Parade for Administration Police recruits at the National Police College in Embakasi, Nairobi, Ruto said the new uniforms should not be viewed as an isolated project.“The new uniforms for general duty officers that we unveiled last week must be understood within this broader reform program,” Ruto said.“It is not a standalone intervention, but part of the comprehensive transformation of the National Police Service arising from the reform process.”The President said the uniforms were developed after consultations with police officers and members of the public.According to Ruto, the new design was meant to improve the professional identity of officers while also considering their operational needs and dignity.“The uniform itself emerged from consultation with police officers and with the Kenyan public,” he said.He acknowledged that a uniform by itself could not change the police service, but argued that it plays a role in building a more professional force.“A uniform alone cannot transform policing, but professional identity and pride are part of building a modern, disciplined, and effective police service,” Ruto said.The President also appeared to welcome scrutiny of the wider police reform programme, saying public resources must be properly accounted for.“And because this entire reform program is undertaken in the public interest and financed with public resources, every aspect of it must withstand scrutiny,” Ruto said.Ruto said Kenyans should ask questions about government decisions but warned against condemning individuals without evidence.“We must demand answers without prejudice, question decisions without condemning people unheard, and expose wrongdoing wherever it exists,” he said.“Honest scrutiny strengthens institutions, safeguards public resources, and serves the greater public interest.”Ruto said the uniform changes are only one part of a much wider programme covering police pay, welfare, housing, training, equipment, technology and infrastructure.He said the government had completed a three-phase salary review that increased the entry-level basic salary of a police constable by 36 per cent.“There are corresponding adjustments across all the other senior ranks,” Ruto said.The President also said the government was expanding police housing, including projects in Embakasi, while improving healthcare through the Usalama Cover.Other reforms, he said, include better mobility, protective equipment, specialised operational assets and air support.
Read briefing ISIOLO, Kenya, Sep 3 — In 2010, as a devastating drought swept through Isiolo, Muhamed Hayota Dadable watched his wealth disappear one animal at a time. The cows died first. Then the goats. With every carcass left behind by the relentless drought, years of hard work vanished. At the time, there was little he could do but watch helplessly. Today, 16 years later, the 43-year-old farmer still reflects on that painful season. One thought, he says, never leaves him. “Had I known then what I know now, my life would have been completely different.” “I would have sold my livestock before they died. I would have invested the money, built a house or started another business,” he says quietly. “But I did not know any of that back then. All my livestock died. That belongs to Allah.” The lessons that came too late in 2010 now shape how he manages his livelihood. Muhamed joined Nasole Cooperative five years ago after observing the benefits his wife was getting from saving through the cooperative. Every year, she received a share-out, part of which supported the family while the rest remained in savings. Watching her financial discipline convinced him to join. “I saw my wife benefiting from the Sacco and I told myself I could not be left behind,” he recalls. At the time, his wife was saving Sh550. Once Muhamed joined, the family’s savings doubled. Today, both husband and wife are members of N...
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 3-African countries are stepping up efforts to transform livestock production and reduce the continent’s heavy dependence on food imports, with ministers warning that unlocking the sector’s potential will require coordinated investment, trade and animal-health systems across borders.Ministers and representatives from eight African countries committed to scaling proven livestock innovations, strengthening value chains and expanding regional markets during a high-level roundtable at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, on Thursday.The push comes against a stark productivity gap: Africa spends an estimated $70 billion to $100 billion annually on food imports, despite holding about a fifth of the world’s cattle.The continent produces only about five per cent of global milk, while demand for animal-source foods is projected to rise sharply by 2050.Appolinaire Djikeng, Director General of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), said Africa already had many of the technologies and knowledge required to transform livestock production, but lacked the scale needed to close the gap between domestic production and imports.“Clearly Africa doesn’t lack solutions for its livestock sector. What it lacks is scale and productivity,” Djikeng said.He said closing the production-import gap would be critical to unlocking Africa’s broader agribusiness potential, estimated at $1 trillion annually.“Closing this gap between what Africa produces and what it imports is the key to delivering on the promise of the continent’s $1trillion annual agribusiness potential,” he said.The roundtable brought together ministers and representatives from Nigeria, Uganda, Niger, Mali, Malawi, Rwanda and Ethiopia, alongside former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi.The meeting was convened by ILRI and the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) and hosted by AGRA.The ministers focused on how to move livestock interventions, from improved genetics and animal feed to vaccination and animal-health programmes, from successful pilots into large-scale national and regional systems.Professor Lindiwe Majele Sibanda said Africa’s biggest livestock challenge was no longer recognizing the sector’s importance but delivering coordinated interventions at scale.“Africa does not lack livestock potential. We do not lack animals. We do not lack farmers. We do not lack science and technical knowledge. We certainly do not lack demand,” Sibanda said.“What we have lacked is the ability to connect all these pieces and deliver at scale. Africa’s livestock priority is no longer recognition. It is delivery,” she added.The private sector also urged governments to treat animal health as a long-term system rather than a series of emergency campaigns.Mucai Kunyiha, Group CEO of CKL Africa, said sustainable investment in livestock vaccination would require governments, producers, manufacturers, veterinarians, communities and regional institutions to work together continuously.“Vaccination is a system, not an event,” Kunyiha said, arguing that such an approach would help create the conditions for greater private-sector investment.Ethiopia’s dairy sector provided an example of the gains possible when government programmes, production and market development are combined.The country increased milk production from 7.1 billion litres in 2022 to 15.7 billion litres in 2025/26, representing a 122 per cent increase.The growth was supported by the Yelemat Tirufat, or “Bounty of the Basket”, initiative, which has established more than 36,000 new dairy villages and 5,000 dairy clusters, alongside new cross-border trade agreements.However, Ethiopia’s experience also exposed a major constraint facing the continent: feed availability. Despite feed production more than doubling during the period, officials said inadequate feed remains a major barrier to further growth.The ministers identified five areas requiring urgent action, including financing suited to livestock production cycles, easier cross-border trade and stronger disease-control systems.They also called for better livestock data, including animal identification and traceability; greater recognition of livestock within national government structures and budgets; and stronger peer learning between African countries.The discussions will feed into the proposed Integrated Regional Livestock Value Chain (IRLVC) programme, a 10-year initiative running to 2035 and led by AU-IBAR.The programme is already supporting more than 30 regional projects, including dairy market development in East Africa and poultry health initiatives in West Africa.Dr Huyam Salih, Director of AU-IBAR, said Africa needed to shift from isolated national interventions towards coordinated regional action.“We already know what works. The task now is coordinating policy and trade across borders, so proven livestock solutions can scale from one country to a continent,” Salih said.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep3-Kenya and Comoros are seeking to deepen trade, investment and regional cooperation following the establishment of a new Comoros Consulate in Nairobi.Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi said the opening of the consulate marked a new chapter in relations between the two countries while providing a platform for expanding economic engagement.Mudavadi received the Letters of Credence from Mouigni Abdou, the first Consul General of the Union of Comoros to Kenya, during the formalisation of the diplomatic mission.“The establishment of the Comoros Consulate in Nairobi marks an important new chapter in the growing relationship between Kenya and Comoros, while reinforcing Nairobi’s position as Africa’s Diplomatic Capital and a gateway to East Africa,” Mudavadi said.The new consulate is expected to improve access to consular services for Comorian nationals living in Kenya while providing a focal point for increased engagement between the two countries.Mudavadi said the mission would also create opportunities for businesses and investors from both countries to strengthen commercial links.“The new Consulate will also open greater opportunities for trade, investment, business and regional cooperation, connecting Comoros more closely with Kenya and institutions based in Nairobi,” he said.The development comes as Kenya continues to position Nairobi as a regional centre for diplomacy, international organisations and business, with the government seeking to leverage the capital’s strategic position to expand Kenya’s economic ties across Africa.Mudavadi said stronger regional partnerships would ultimately translate into expanded markets and investment opportunities for Kenyans.“For Kenya, stronger regional partnerships mean bigger markets, greater investment and more opportunities for our people,” he said.
Read briefing NAIROBI,Kenya Sep 3 – A lawyer has asked Parliament to enact legislation that would give ordinary Kenyans the power to challenge public institutions that fail to formulate regulations needed to give effect to laws passed by Parliament.In a memorandum submitted to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Advocate Ekaterina Handa argued that the Statutory Instruments (Amendment) Bill, 2024 would help tackle delays and institutional inaction by government agencies that leave laws passed by Parliament without the regulations required to implement them.The Bill, which has already been approved by the Senate, is now before the National Assembly for public participation.Ms Handa has cited the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) as an example of what she considers prolonged administrative failure, accusing the commission of failing to formulate and gazette regulations governing complaints against judges and judicial officers despite being legally required to do so.She warned that the absence of formal rules had created uncertainty around how complaints against members of the Judiciary should be processed, leaving parties to rely on procedures that may not be clearly defined or consistently applied.“This is not merely a procedural nicety. It is a fundamental safeguard against the atrophy of legislative will and the subversion of Parliament’s intent by administrative inertia,” she said.The memorandum, dated September 3, 2026, was filed after the National Assembly invited members of the public to submit views on the proposed amendments.Under the Bill, institutions given the responsibility of making regulations would be subjected to specific deadlines for completing the process.More significantly, members of the public would be able to petition Parliament where a body responsible for making regulations had failed, neglected or refused to do so within the prescribed timeframe.The proposed amendments would also make it an offence for a responsible authority to deliberately fail to perform the statutory obligation.Ms Handa said the JSC’s handling of regulations on complaints against judges demonstrates why such a mechanism is necessary.She pointed to Section 47 of the Judicial Service Act, which requires the commission to formulate regulations for the efficient and transparent discharge of its functions, including the handling of petitions and complaints against judicial officers.She also relied on the High Court ruling in Lubengu v Judicial Service Commission & another; Ojiambo t/a Acorn Law Advocates LLP (Interested Party), where a three-judge bench considered the implications of the absence of formal rules governing complaints against judicial officers.According to Ms Handa, the court found that the lack of gazetted regulations had resulted in the JSC relying on procedures developed on a case-by-case basis, raising concerns about certainty and fairness for judges facing disciplinary action.She argued that such an arrangement could undermine constitutional guarantees relating to fair administrative action and natural justice.“Without clear, pre-ordained rules, a judge is exposed to the possibility of being judged by standards and procedures devised ex post facto or, worse, tailored for the specific case at hand,” the memorandum states.Ms Handa further cited the Supreme Court decision in Shollei v Judicial Service Commission & another, which she said required the JSC to formulate and gazette rules governing complaints against judges and judicial officers within 90 days of the judgment delivered on February 17, 2022.“This is not a matter of interpretation or legal complexity; it is a simple, direct, and binding order that has been ignored,” she said.The lawyer said the regulatory gap hurts both members of the public seeking to lodge complaints and judges who are subjected to disciplinary proceedings.For complainants, she said, the lack of clearly published procedures makes it difficult to know how and where complaints should be lodged and how they will be handled.For judges, she argued, the absence of predetermined rules creates the risk of being subjected to processes that could appear arbitrary or inconsistent.Ms Handa dismissed concerns that Parliament’s intervention in the matter would amount to interference with the Judiciary.Instead, she said, establishing clear rules would reinforce judicial independence by ensuring that disciplinary proceedings are governed by transparent standards rather than procedures created after a dispute has arisen.“This legislative proposal is not an intrusion into judicial independence; it is a vital mechanism for its preservation,” she said.She has asked MPs to admit her memorandum and the court decisions she cited into the parliamentary record as they consider the Bill.She further wants Parliament to fast-track the legislation and specifically examine the JSC’s alleged failure to comply with the Supreme Court order.Ms Handa also urged the relevant National Assembly committee to ensure that regulations governing complaints against judges are finally formulated and gazetted, either by the JSC or through the mechanism contemplated in the proposed law.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 3-A Nairobi woman has been charged with allegedly obtaining Sh200,000 from a man after falsely claiming she could secure him a job in Denmark.Leah Wanjiku appeared before Nairobi Principal Magistrate Paul Mutai and was charged with obtaining money by false pretenses.The prosecution told the court that Wanjiku obtained the money from Alexander Kyalo Peter after allegedly representing that she was in a position to help him secure employment in Denmark, despite allegedly knowing the claim was false.According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the alleged offence occurred on September 30, 2025, at Absa Towers along Loita Street in Nairobi.“The charges follow investigations into the alleged job fraud, with the DPP subsequently bringing the matter before court for prosecution,” ODPP said.Principal Magistrate Paul Mutai released her on a Sh100,000 bond pending the hearing of the case.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 2 — The National Police Service has launched investigations to establish the identities of heavily armed men who allegedly abducted Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich.The NPS said its Anti-Abduction Unit was investigating the circumstances surrounding Kiprotich’s disappearance, including the identities of the men reportedly seen ordering occupants out of a vehicle along the Gilgil-Nakuru Road on Tuesday night.Kiprotich was found safe near Masinga Dam early Wednesday after spending about nine hours in the hands of his alleged abductors.“The Inspector General of Police has accordingly ordered immediate investigations to determine what transpired, including the identity of the heavily armed individuals reportedly seen ordering occupants out of their vehicle,” NPS spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said in a statement.The police said the Anti-Abduction Unit, established specifically to investigate abductions and disappearances, was actively pursuing the case and would work to ensure those responsible were brought to justice.“Our Anti-Abduction Unit, specifically established to address abductions and disappearances, is actively investigating and will ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice,” Nyaga said.The NPS condemned the incident and warned against attempts to intimidate journalists or interfere with constitutional rights, including press freedom.“We unequivocally condemn any act of kidnapping, abduction, or intimidation intended to interfere with press freedom or any other constitutional right,” Nyaga said.The police also pledged a transparent investigation, saying “no one is above the law.”The latest probe comes amid growing pressure on security agencies to account for attacks against journalists, with the Media Council of Kenya saying Kiprotich had previously reported a similar ordeal in Nakuru County without any arrests being made.MCK Chief Executive Officer and Secretary to the Council David Omwoyo called on Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to ensure those responsible for the latest incident are identified and prosecuted.The Council said it had documented several cases of violations against journalists and forwarded them to the police for investigation and prosecution, but with limited success.“MCK has monitored and documented several dire cases of press freedom violations and crimes against journalists and presented them to the Inspector General of Police for investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators without success,” the Council said.MCK said the latest incident had heightened concerns over the safety of journalists and the effectiveness of security agencies in responding to attacks against media practitioners.It said the Director of Public Prosecutions had already directed police to act within 30 days on several cases involving violations against journalists that had been forwarded to the Inspector General.The Council urged security agencies to deploy their intelligence and investigative capabilities to establish who was behind Kiprotich’s abduction and bring those responsible to justice.The Standard Group has described the incident as a possible targeted attack and linked it to a June 27 attempt to seize Kiprotich in Nakuru.According to the media house, investigations into the earlier incident traced the vehicle allegedly used by the attackers to the National Police Service’s Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau, although no one had been held accountable.The revelation has intensified calls for authorities to establish whether the two incidents are connected and determine the motive behind the attacks.MCK also raised concern over what it described as the recent trolling and profiling of editors from different media houses on social media, citing cases involving editors at Nation Media Group.It warned that attacks, threats and intimidation targeting journalists undermine press freedom and the public’s right to access information, both protected under Article 34 of the Constitution.“The impunity for crimes against journalists in the country and increasing cases of press freedom violations is a major concern for the Council,” MCK said.The Council said the State has a responsibility to protect journalists from intimidation and harassment, warning that attacks on media practitioners ultimately threaten democratic accountability.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 2— Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has raised concerns over the preparedness of Kenya’s electoral body and growing political intolerance ahead of the 2027 General Election, during talks with British High Commissioner Matt Baugh in Nairobi.Kalonzo said the credibility of the next election would depend heavily on whether the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is adequately prepared to conduct a free, fair and credible poll.The former Vice President said he used his meeting with Baugh to discuss a range of national and international issues, including the state of Kenya’s democratic institutions and the increasingly hostile political environment.“This afternoon, I paid a courtesy call on the British High Commissioner to Kenya, Matt Baugh, at his official residence in Nairobi,” Kalonzo said.“We exchanged views on matters of national and international concerns, including the preparedness of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) ahead of the 2027 General Elections and the rising tides of political intolerance in our country.”Kalonzo said a credible electoral process would be central to maintaining public confidence in the 2027 contest, warning that the electoral commission must be fully prepared well before Kenyans go to the ballot.“I underscored that a credible and fully prepared IEBC is indispensable for the legitimacy of our democracy and that dissent must never be criminalized nor mistaken for enmity,” he said.His remarks come as political parties and prospective candidates increasingly position themselves for the 2027 elections, with questions over electoral preparedness, political freedoms and the treatment of dissenters expected to feature prominently in the political debate.Kalonzo also reaffirmed Wiper Patriotic Front’s commitment to a peaceful electoral process, saying the party would pursue its political agenda without resorting to violence.“We reaffirmed our unwavering commitment on behalf of the Wiper Patriotic Front, to non-violence and to free, fair, and credible elections,” he said.The Wiper leader was accompanied by National Assembly Minority Leader and Kathiani MP Robert Mbui during the meeting.Kalonzo also thanked the British envoy for what he described as sustained engagement with Kenya’s democratic process, while calling for international partners to support a peaceful electoral environment.“I expressed my gratitude to High Commissioner Baugh for his sustained engagement with Kenya’s democratic process and reaffirmed that Kenya’s international partners, like her wananchi, expect a peaceful and credible path towards the forthcoming General Election,” he said.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 2— Africa must urgently build a new generation of nuclear scientists and engineers if the continent is to move from consuming advanced technologies to developing and exporting home-grown scientific solutions, Principal Secretary for Science, Research and Innovation Shaukat Abdulrazak has said.Shaukat said Africa’s nuclear ambitions cannot be achieved through infrastructure and technology investments alone, warning that the continent needs a deliberate pipeline of experts stretching from secondary schools to universities, research institutions and industry.“Africa’s nuclear future will not be built by infrastructure alone; it will be built by people,” Shaukat said.He was speaking in Nairobi during an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Technical Cooperation Programme and African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA) regional meeting on establishing a regional network for education outreach in nuclear science and technology.The meeting, hosted by the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) under project RAF 0065, focused on strengthening education and outreach in nuclear science and technology.Shaukat said African countries need to deliberately nurture the next generation of nuclear scientists, engineers, medical physicists, researchers and innovators rather than wait until the continent faces a shortage of specialised expertise.He called for training programmes to be complemented by mentorship, mobility opportunities, shared centres of excellence and digital learning to create a stronger and more connected talent pipeline.He also called for greater participation of young people and women in nuclear science and related fields.“Our objective must be to build a critical mass of African expertise capable of advancing world-class science while promoting brain circulation rather than brain drain,” Shaukat said.Shaukat said the value of nuclear science extends well beyond nuclear power generation, highlighting its applications in areas directly linked to Africa’s development challenges.He cited applications including cancer diagnosis and treatment, climate-smart agriculture, food security, water-resource management, industrialisation, environmental protection and clean energy.The PS said developing domestic expertise in these areas would enable African countries to harness nuclear technologies to address local challenges while strengthening their scientific and industrial capacity.The emphasis on education outreach is aimed at building interest and expertise from an early stage, with secondary schools forming the starting point of the proposed talent pipeline.Shaukat said the project would contribute to building the next generation of experts “from secondary school upwards.”The PS also called for stronger collaboration between governments, universities, research institutions, industry, regulators, the IAEA and development partners.He said both South-South and North-South cooperation would be important in expanding access to expertise, training and research opportunities.Through such partnerships, Shaukat said, Africa can strengthen its capacity to develop its own technologies rather than remain primarily dependent on imported expertise and solutions.“Through stronger cooperation among governments, universities, research institutions, industry, regulators, the IAEA and development partners, and by deepening both South–South and North–South cooperation—we can ensure Africa moves from being primarily a consumer of advanced technologies to becoming a developer, innovator and global contributor to science and technology,” he said.The push comes as African countries seek to expand their use of science and technology to address development challenges, while ensuring that the continent has the specialised human capital required to sustain increasingly sophisticated research and industrial programmes.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 2— The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Kenya Climate Ventures (KCV) have launched a partnership aimed at unlocking more domestic and international capital for climate adaptation and resilience businesses across Sub-Saharan Africa.The two institutions signed a Joint Declaration at the Adaptation Investment Summit for Africa 2026 in Nairobi, creating a framework for scaling investment in climate-smart enterprises, particularly early- and growth-stage businesses that often struggle to access finance.The partnership brings together UNIDO’s expertise in market development, climate adaptation and the climate-resilient transformation of the coffee sector with KCV’s experience in enterprise development and early-stage climate finance.“Advancing climate resilience and adaptation financing through existing initiatives such as the Kenya Uganda Adaptation Accelerator (KUAA) project and the ACT programme (Advancing Climate-Resilience and Transformation in African Coffee), as well as new initiatives like the Africa Climate Adaptation Investment Catalyst Initiative, and cooperating across the Kenyan coffee value chain underlines our shared commitment and ambition to scale up adaptation finance,” said Marko van Waveren Hogervorst, Programme Officer and Climate Finance Expert at UNIDO.The partners said they intend to use their combined networks, investment instruments and access to climate finance providers to mobilise capital for sustainable, inclusive and climate-resilient investments across the region.The collaboration is expected to focus on businesses that can deliver climate adaptation solutions but face challenges in attracting investment because of their early stage, perceived risks or limited access to finance.KCV, a climate-focused fund manager and impact investor, supports early- and growth-stage, gender-inclusive and climate-smart enterprises.Through the partnership, the organisations will seek to strengthen the pipeline of investable enterprises while connecting them to public and private sources of capital.The cooperation will also cover investment frameworks, impact measurement, market intelligence and the development of dedicated climate finance initiatives.A key component will be the use of UNIDO’s Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA) tool to inform financing decisions and help align investments with international best practice.The partners also plan to co-create and harmonise impact assessments, participate in each other’s platforms and forums, and share market and investment intelligence.UNIDO said its Division of Innovative Finance and International Financial Institutions plays a catalytic role by connecting the organisation’s technical cooperation programmes with public and private financial institutions.The new partnership is intended to strengthen that connection by pairing UNIDO’s technical expertise with KCV’s early-stage financing capabilities.The aim is to help transform climate adaptation needs into investable opportunities capable of attracting capital at scale.KCV Chief Executive Officer Victor Ndiege said the collaboration would help create stronger pathways for businesses and communities to access climate finance.“This Joint Declaration marks an important step in advancing climate adaptation finance across Africa,” Ndiege said.“By combining UNIDO’s global expertise with Kenya Climate Ventures’ experience in enterprise development and climate investing, we are strengthening pathways to unlock investment, scale climate-smart enterprises and build resilient economies,” he said.The partnership comes as African countries seek greater investment to respond to the growing effects of climate change while maintaining economic growth and expanding employment opportunities.UNIDO and KCV said partnerships between technical institutions, investors, fund managers, policymakers and enterprises would be critical in developing markets and mobilising both public and private capital.The two organisations plan to convene investors, development partners, policymakers, fund managers and businesses through peer-learning and knowledge-exchange initiatives focused on adaptation finance and enterprise resilience.The collaboration will initially build on existing programmes, including the Kenya Uganda Adaptation Accelerator and the ACT programme supporting climate-resilient transformation in Africa’s coffee sector, while creating opportunities for new initiatives targeting adaptation investment.Ndiege said the partnership would ultimately be judged by its ability to translate collaboration into practical investment and resilience outcomes.“We look forward to translating this collaboration into tangible impact for communities and businesses across Sub-Saharan Africa,” he said.
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