Tanzania’s Parliament has unanimously approved Deogratius John Ndejembi as the country’s new Vice President, clearing a key constitutional hurdle in the transition triggered by the resignation of Emmanuel Nchimbi.All 324 lawmakers who took part in Friday’s vote backed Ndejembi’s nomination, with no votes against and no spoilt ballots recorded.President Samia Suluhu Hassan nominated Ndejembi to fill the position after Nchimbi resigned on August 25, 2026. Ndejembi, a Member of Parliament for Chamwino, had been serving in the Government as Energy Minister.The parliamentary approval follows his endorsement by the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), which selected him as its preferred candidate to succeed Nchimbi after an emergency meeting of the party’s leadership.Nchimbi’s exit from the Vice Presidency has triggered a swift leadership transition in Tanzania.He announced his resignation earlier this week and said he would retire from active politics and public service. His resignation was initially expected to take effect on September 4, 2026.However, the parliamentary approval process also brought clarification over the date on which Nchimbi ceased to hold the office.Tanzania’s Attorney-General Hamza Johari told Parliament that Nchimbi ceased to be Vice President on August 26 after he was expelled from CCM. Johari cited constitutional provisions requiring the Vice President to be a member of a political party and nominated by that party.The development came after CCM expelled Nchimbi from the party shortly after his resignation. The ruling party cited alleged violations of its ethics, rules and principles, although the specific conduct behind the disciplinary action was not publicly detailed.Ndejembi’s appointment elevates a senior CCM politician who has served in government and Parliament.He has represented Chamwino Constituency in Parliament and held ministerial responsibilities in President Samia’s administration. Recent reporting identified him as Energy Minister when CCM nominated him to succeed Nchimbi.His nomination was endorsed unanimously by CCM’s National Executive Committee before being forwarded through the constitutional process for parliamentary approval.The Vice President is Tanzania’s second-highest political office and plays a central role in the executive. Under Tanzania’s constitutional framework, the Vice President also has a key role in the presidential succession process.Ndejembi’s elevation comes at a significant moment for Tanzania’s ruling CCM, following Nchimbi’s unexpected departure less than a year after he took office.Nchimbi had served as Vice President since November 2025. His resignation has generated debate over internal political dynamics within CCM and his relationship with President Samia Suluhu Hassan.The outgoing Vice President had publicly spoken about the need for a new constitution, remarks that attracted criticism from some members of the ruling party. However, the Government has not publicly provided a detailed explanation for his resignation.His subsequent expulsion from CCM, followed by the rapid nomination and parliamentary approval of Ndejembi, has made the transition one of the most significant political developments in Tanzania in recent days.With Parliament having unanimously approved his nomination, Ndejembi has cleared the parliamentary stage of the process to become Tanzania’s next Vice President.The transition follows President Samia’s nomination of Ndejembi after Nchimbi’s departure and comes as the Government seeks to maintain continuity at the highest levels of the executive.Ndejembi now takes on the responsibility of serving alongside President Samia as Tanzania navigates a period of heightened political attention following the abrupt change in the country’s second-highest office.
Read briefing NAIROBI, August 28, 2026 -The court has temporarily halted the burial of KCB executive Rosemary Chemutai Kimwatu following a dispute between her husband and members of her family over who should oversee her final send-off.The order was issued after her husband, Kevin Migwe Kimwatu, moved to the Milimani Chief Magistrate’s Court seeking to stop what he described as burial arrangements being made without his involvement.In court papers filed on August 26, Kimwatu says he was sidelined from the arrangements despite being the deceased’s husband and father of their four children.He wants the court to declare him entitled to make decisions concerning his wife’s burial and final rites and has asked that her remains be buried at his ancestral home in Matasia, within Ngong Sub-County, Kajiado County.The court action has temporarily disrupted funeral plans, with the family confirming in a message to relatives and friends that a court order had been issued stopping the funeral and burial arrangements pending the hearing and determination of the case.“This is certainly not the situation any family would wish to find itself in while grieving the loss of a loved one,” the family said.The family said its wish was for Ms Chemutai to be buried peacefully and with dignity, while ensuring that her husband and children were given an opportunity to mourn and participate in her final farewell.Ms Chemutai, who died on August 21, 2026, was an employee of KCB Bank Kenya Limited, where she served as Head of Data Protection within the Risk Division.Her remains are being preserved at Lee Funeral Services.According to the plaint, Kimwatu and Ms Chemutai were married on August 24, 2013, at St Austin’s Catholic Church in Nairobi and had four children.Kimwatu says that although the couple had separated for about four months before her death, they had reconciled and that his wife had expressed a desire to return to their matrimonial home before she died.He claims that members of her family subsequently indicated that she would be buried at their home in Kericho County, without involving him in the arrangements.The husband further alleges that on August 26, he was informed by the funeral home that his wife’s body would only be released to her sister, Judy Koech-Oyamo.He attributes the decision to a letter allegedly issued by KCB on August 25, which, according to his court papers, instructed the funeral home on the release and burial arrangements and identified Ms Koech-Oyamo and his son, Charles Migwe Kimwatu, as next of kin.Kimwatu has accused the bank of interfering in a private family matter and wants the court to declare the letter unlawful and without legal effect.His lawyers, Ramadhan Mukira & Company Advocates, also wrote to KCB on August 26 demanding that the bank withdraw the instructions and refrain from further involvement in the funeral arrangements.The lawyers argue that an employer has no authority under employment or succession law to direct a funeral home on the handling or burial of an employee’s remains.They have also raised concerns over the alleged disclosure of personal information belonging to family members, including names, identification numbers, telephone numbers, email addresses and postal addresses, in the letter to the funeral home.The lawyers contend that the disclosure breached constitutional privacy protections and provisions of the Data Protection Act.The bank, funeral home and the deceased’s relatives named as defendants in the suit will have an opportunity to respond to the allegations.Kimwatu has asked the court to direct the funeral home to release his wife’s remains to him and to order police security during the burial.He has also asked the court to declare that the remains be interred at his ancestral home in Matasia.The dispute has placed the family’s funeral plans on hold as the court considers competing claims over the arrangements.In their message to relatives and friends, the family said they would refrain from commenting on the merits of the case now that the matter was before the court.“We remain hopeful that this process will provide clarity and allow a way forward that respects Rosemary Chemutai’s memory, her family and, most importantly, the wellbeing of her children,” the family said.They appealed for prayers for both families and, in particular, for the four children as the family navigates the dispute following their mother’s death.The case is before the Chief Magistrate’s Court at Milimani, with the husband seeking substantive orders on the handling of the remains and the final burial arrangements.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 28 — Uganda has been declared free of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus after completing forty-two consecutive days without a new confirmed case, marking the end of an outbreak that recorded twenty confirmed cases, eighteen recoveries and two deaths.The World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) welcomed the milestone on Thursday, saying the completion of the 42-day monitoring period provides an additional safeguard that no chains of transmission linked to the country’s last case have been missed.The period is equivalent to twice the upper limit of the Ebola incubation period and is the internationally established benchmark for determining that transmission linked to an outbreak has ended.Uganda’s last patient, an imported case, was discharged from care on July 16. The country had earlier announced the interruption of local transmission on July 28 after completing 42 days without a locally acquired case.WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed Uganda’s response, saying decisive action, surveillance and preparedness had helped contain the outbreak before it spread more widely.“Uganda has demonstrated that with decisive action, Ebola outbreaks can be brought under control quickly,” Tedros said.The outbreak was declared on May 15, 2026, after Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo virus was detected in Uganda.According to WHO, Uganda recorded twenty confirmed cases, including fifteen imported cases from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and five locally acquired infections among contacts and health workers linked to imported cases.Eighteen patients recovered while two died, with more than 800 contacts identified and monitored.The successful containment was attributed to early case detection and confirmation, contact tracing, isolation and clinical care, infection prevention measures, community engagement and strengthened surveillance at health facilities and points of entry.Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya described the milestone as an important lesson for the continent, while warning that Uganda’s success must be protected as Ebola transmission continues in neighbouring DRC.“Uganda has shown that Ebola can be stopped when leadership acts decisively, communities are trusted and public health systems reach people quickly,” Kaseya said.The end of Uganda’s outbreak does not mark the end of the regional Ebola threat.The DRC continues to experience an active outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease, with sustained transmission reported in northeastern parts of the country. WHO has described the DRC outbreak as requiring continued international coordination and cooperation.The two countries share close social and economic ties, including frequent cross-border movement and trade, leaving Uganda and other neighbouring countries vulnerable to imported infections.WHO has therefore called for continued surveillance and testing capacity, rapid investigation of alerts, strong infection-prevention measures and sustained community engagement.The agency has also advised against broad travel or trade restrictions linked to the Ebola outbreak, saying countries should maintain international movement while implementing proportionate public-health measures that support early detection and preparedness.WHO and Africa CDC said Uganda’s response demonstrated the value of maintaining outbreak preparedness before an emergency occurs.The response included strengthened surveillance at health facilities and points of entry, rapid investigation of suspected cases and monitoring of people who had been exposed to confirmed infections.WHO Regional Director for Africa Mohamed Janabi said ending an outbreak was an important milestone, but the longer-term achievement was strengthening the country’s capacity to respond to future health threats.The organisations said they will continue supporting Uganda and the DRC under a joint continental preparedness and response plan.For Uganda, the declaration provides relief after a relatively contained outbreak. For the region, however, the continuing transmission in the DRC means surveillance and cross-border preparedness remain critical.The end of transmission in Uganda therefore represents both a public-health victory and a reminder of the importance of rapid detection, strong health systems and coordinated regional action.
Read briefing Convicted Bosnian Serb war criminal Ratko Mladić has died in a UN prison at The Hague aged 84.He was jailed for life in 2017 for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity during the wars in the former Yugoslaviain 1992-95.After the Bosnian war, he went on the run for 16 years until he was finally tracked down in rural Serbia in 2011 and put on trialin the Dutch city.The sentence for the man known as the “Butcher of Bosnia” was upheld on appeal by the UN court in 2021. He was being given palliative care in the hospital of the UN detention facility, where he died.In a statement confirming the death on Thursday, the UN Court said Dutch authorities have begun an investigation.It added that the court’s top judge”has ordered a full inquiry into the circumstances” of Mladić’s death.In May, the court rejected a bid for his release from jail as he was nearing the end of his life.The judge agreed his situation was “dire” but ruled that he was receiving “comprehensive and compassionate treatment” in prison.Mladić’s lawyers said at the time that he had already been bedbound or in a wheelchair for a long time and later had suffered a suspected stroke that left him almost unable to speak.Mladić – who never recognised the UN court – had been held at The Hague detention facility since 2011.He commanded Bosnian Serb forces in the 1990s against the Bosnian Croat and Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) armies.During the war his troops committed what became known as “ethnic cleansing” in Bosnia-Herzegovina in a bid to expel the non-Serbian population by force. They besieged the main city of Sarajevo with the deaths of more than 10,000 people, and carried out the massacre of 8,000 men and boys at Srebrenica.Hasan Hasanović , a Srebrenica survivor who lost his twin brother and father in the massacre, told the BBC World Service’s Newshour programme that Mladić’s death “does not bring closure because the people who were killed in Srebrenica cannot come back”.“His death is just a biological necessity, and it doesn’t bring to an end the political project and military project that created that legacy of genocide. And we now live with the consequences of a divided country, genocide denial,” said Hasanović, who now works at the Srebrenica memorial centre.However, Bosnian Serb separatist leader Milorad Dodik told Reuters news agency that Mladić “was respected by Serbian people. As a commander he stood to defend Serbs.”“I genuinely believe he protected the Serbian people, because after all, that was his duty,” a man called Milan was quoted as saying by Reuters.Another man, Vasilije, said: “It’s a massive shame, it really is. Personally, I think it’s a total injustice that he was even thrown in The Hague.”
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 27 — Kenya is recording a decline in skilled birth attendance and family planning uptake, raising concerns over persistent gaps in access to maternal and newborn healthcare.Data presented to editors in Nairobi on Thursday showed that deliveries conducted by skilled birth attendants fell from 69.77 per cent between April and June 2025 to 65.47 per cent between January and March 2026.The number of women using family planning services also declined over the same period, highlighting challenges in access to reproductive health services.Polycarp Oyoo, Programs Advisor for Maternal and Newborn Health at the International Centre for Reproductive Health Kenya (ICRHK), said the figures should prompt closer scrutiny of why women are not consistently accessing antenatal and delivery services.“Every day we lose about 15 mothers,” Oyoo said, adding that dozens of newborn deaths and stillbirths are also recorded daily.He urged journalists and policymakers to investigate whether weaknesses within the health system are contributing to preventable maternal and newborn deaths.The data presented during the Wanahabari Editors’ Roundtable on Strengthening Media Engagement for Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition (MNCH+N) showed that delays remain a major contributor to maternal and newborn deaths.According to the presentation, 30 per cent of maternal and newborn deaths are associated with delays in deciding to seek care, while 25 per cent are linked to delays in reaching a health facility.A further 45 per cent occur after patients reach health facilities but fail to receive timely and quality care.Ministry of Health data cited during the meeting also showed that only 37 per cent of facilities providing delivery services meet basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care standards.The presentation further indicated shortages of critical medicines and commodities, with 48 per cent of facilities reporting a lack of magnesium sulphate, 47 per cent lacking benzyl penicillin and 40 per cent reporting shortages of oxytocin.Postpartum haemorrhage, or excessive bleeding after childbirth, was identified as the leading reported maternal complication between 2020 and 2025.Oyoo said maternal health challenges begin before pregnancy and childbirth, making access to family planning services an important component of reducing unintended and high-risk pregnancies.Data presented at the meeting showed that the number of family planning users among women of reproductive age declined from 1,519,066 in January-March 2025 to 1,385,575 in January-March 2026.The presentation showed that women aged above 25 accounted for most users, while adolescents and younger women recorded lower uptake.Oyoo said the decline among younger women required investigation to determine whether the challenge was linked to availability of contraceptives, information, access to services or other factors.“Why are adolescents, why is the younger population not getting this?” he asked.The presentation further showed that Kenya recorded 480 maternal deaths, 811 neonatal deaths and 3,590 perinatal deaths during the six months preceding the meeting, based on data accessed through the Ministry of Health’s health information systems.Oyoo said journalists could use the Ministry of Health’s EWENE dashboard to track deaths at county and facility level and investigate the circumstances surrounding individual cases.He cautioned against focusing solely on national figures, urging newsrooms to identify facilities and counties where particular problems may be concentrated.Nakuru, Kakamega and Nairobi were among counties recording high numbers of deaths in the six-month data reviewed.However, Oyoo said counties reporting few or no maternal deaths should also be investigated to determine whether the figures reflect better health outcomes or possible gaps in reporting.The data was presented as Kenya implements the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) Acceleration Plan 2026-2028, launched by the government in May.The Ministry of Health says the plan seeks to accelerate efforts to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths, particularly in counties with high mortality burdens.The plan targets a reduction in Kenya’s maternal mortality ratio from 355 deaths per 100,000 live births to 140 or fewer by 2028.It also targets a reduction in neonatal mortality from 21 to 12 or fewer deaths per 1,000 live births, while seeking to increase skilled birth attendance to 100 per cent and eliminate oxytocin stockouts.The government has also introduced a six-month Maternal and Newborn Health Rapid Results Initiative under EWENE to accelerate implementation and improve outcomes.Oyoo challenged journalists to track whether the government’s interventions are achieving their targets.He called for scrutiny of maternal and newborn health budgets, staffing, availability of essential commodities and the quality of care provided in health facilities.
Read briefing Uganda’s military chief, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has announced that he will run for president in 2031, positioning himself as a potential successor to his father, long-serving President Yoweri Museveni.Kainerugaba, 52, made the declaration in a series of posts on X, saying he intends to contest for “the highest office in the land” in the 2031 elections.“With my great father, Mzee’s, support I will get 90% in the elections in 2031,” Kainerugaba said, referring to his 81-year-old father.The announcement renews speculation over Uganda’s political succession and Kainerugaba’s long-standing ambitions to eventually take over from Museveni, who has ruled the country since 1986.Kainerugaba leads the Patriotic League of Uganda, a political pressure group, and has previously expressed presidential ambitions. He had indicated that he would contest the 2026 election but ultimately withdrew from the race.Museveni’s own plans beyond the 2026 election remain unclear. A government spokesperson told Reuters that Museveni and the ruling National Resistance Movement would make a decision on his political future when the time comes.Kainerugaba’s latest declaration nevertheless puts the question of succession firmly back into Uganda’s political debate.The military chief has become a prominent and controversial figure in Ugandan politics, particularly because of his outspoken social media presence and comments targeting opposition figures.He played a major role in securing his father’s re-election in the January 2026 elections, according to Reuters, including through actions against opposition forces and an internet shutdown.Kainerugaba has previously attracted international attention over his social media posts, including threats directed at leading opposition figure Bobi Wine.Uganda’s opposition remains under significant pressure. Bobi Wine left the country earlier this year, saying he feared for his safety, while veteran opposition politician Kizza Besigye has been in detention since 2024 and faces treason charges.Critics have accused Museveni’s government of human rights abuses, including arbitrary detention and torture, allegations the government has denied.Kainerugaba’s declaration that he will seek the presidency in 2031 is therefore likely to intensify debate over whether Uganda is heading towards a political transition within the Museveni family and the role the military chief could play in the country’s future.For now, Museveni’s position remains unchanged, with the government yet to confirm whether he intends to seek another term.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya Aug 27 – The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has arrested three suspects and seized hundreds of counterfeit alcoholic beverages during a multi-agency crackdown in Jericho, Makadara Sub-County, Nairobi.The operation was conducted on Thursday by officers from NACADA, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and the National Police Service.The team raided a suspected counterfeiting den where three people, including a woman allegedly found mixing and repackaging substandard alcohol, were arrested.NACADA said 315 assorted counterfeit alcoholic beverages were recovered during the operation, alongside fake KRA excise stamps, empty bottles and bottle tops believed to have been intended for refilling.Some of the confiscated products were found bearing Tanzanian excise duty stamps, raising concerns over possible cross-border counterfeiting and distribution.The three suspects were booked at Jogoo Road Police Station and are expected to be arraigned in court on Friday.The Jericho raid comes amid an intensified nationwide crackdown on counterfeit and illicit alcohol.NACADA Chief Executive Officer Dr Anthony Omerikwa said enforcement operations had been stepped up, particularly in Nairobi, which he said accounts for 55 per cent of the consumption of what the Authority described as life-threatening alcoholic drinks.Omerikwa said multi-agency teams would continue targeting individuals and businesses involved in the manufacture and distribution of illicit alcohol.He urged members of the public to help authorities identify suspected illegal operations by sharing information through NACADA’s official platforms or its free helpline 1192.“We cannot win this battle alone. We call upon Kenyans to be our eyes and ears and report any suspicious activities or outlets selling counterfeit alcohol,” he said.The Jericho operation came a day after another multi-agency raid in Eastleigh, Nairobi, where authorities seized 868 counterfeit and uncustomed alcoholic beverages and arrested two suspects.NACADA said the back-to-back operations demonstrate its continued efforts to disrupt the supply chain for counterfeit and illicit alcoholic products.The Authority warned manufacturers, distributors and retailers involved in illegal alcohol trade that they face prosecution.NACADA said further operations are planned in other high-risk areas as authorities step up enforcement against counterfeit and illicit alcohol.The Authority maintained that the crackdown is aimed at protecting communities from the health and social harms associated with illicit alcoholic products.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 26 — Democratic Party of Kenya (DPK) leader and former National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has called on Parliament to urgently table the Elections Amendment Bill, 2024, before the signing of a tender contract for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) technology.Muturi said the Bill should be considered on the floor of the House without further delay, arguing that its recommendations would strengthen safeguards for the 2027 General Election.In a statement issued on Wednesday, Muturi questioned why recommendations arising from the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) process had remained before Parliament for 17 months without being debated.He said the NADCO process emerged from a bipartisan initiative that involved broad public participation and that its recommendations therefore carried a national obligation.“How can a Bill arising from such a process remain in committee for 17 months? At what point does prolonged inaction cease to be ordinary legislative delay and become a glaring question of sabotage?” Muturi posed.He challenged Parliament to explain the delay and urged multilateral partners who supported the dialogue and electoral reform process to also demand answers.The former Speaker urged MPs to draw lessons from the 11th Parliament, when he presided over the House as it considered electoral reforms arising from the bipartisan Orengo-Kiraitu process.He said the experience demonstrated that contentious political issues could be addressed through dialogue, compromise and legislation.“NADCO was founded on the same spirit. Its recommendations should not be allowed to languish in a committee without a clear explanation to the Kenyan people,” he said.Muturi said the immediate responsibility now rests with Parliament, urging MPs to ask National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to facilitate consideration of the Bill.He wants the legislation considered before the IEBC technology tender is awarded, arguing that the legal framework should provide the necessary safeguards before major technology and vendor commitments are made for the 2027 elections.Muturi also challenged President William Ruto, who is seeking re-election on the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, to demonstrate his commitment to a transparent and credible electoral process.“The country does not need another explanation for delay; it needs action. The Bill must come to the floor now, while there is still time to strengthen the electoral framework before 2027,” Muturi said.The call comes as IEBC faces scrutiny over its procurement of a new Integrated Elections Management System ahead of the 2027 General Election.Muturi’s intervention places renewed focus on the delayed electoral reform legislation and the safeguards that should accompany the acquisition of election technology ahead of the polls.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya Aug 26 – Members of the National Assembly have passed the Basic Education (Amendment) Bill, 2025, paving the way for the formal recognition of Alternative Provision for Basic Education and Training (APBET) institutions and potentially opening access to public funding for thousands of learners in informal schools.The Bill, sponsored by Mathare MP Anthony Oluoch, seeks to bring APBET institutions into Kenya’s basic education framework and address gaps affecting children who rely on non-formal schools, particularly in informal settlements and marginalised communities.Moving the Bill during Second Reading, Oluoch said the proposed reforms would strengthen the implementation of constitutional guarantees on equality, human dignity and the right to education under Articles 10, 27, 43 and 53 of the Constitution.Kibra MP Peter Orero said APBET institutions play a major role in educating children in informal settlements, where their numbers far exceed those of public schools.“In Kibra, there are about 300 of these schools, while public primary schools are only 11. Many students therefore end up in APBET schools,” Orero said.He urged Parliament to support the legislation, saying formal recognition would enable children in informal settlements to benefit from government support.“This is an opportunity to ensure that children in informal settlements can access education and that resources trickle down to them through recognition of their schools,” he said.Seme MP James Nyikal said the lack of formal recognition had created a significant funding gap, leaving vulnerable learners without adequate public support.“Education is a basic right in our Constitution, yet the current system does not adequately recognise APBET. In some areas, there are more children in these schools than in formal institutions, yet they are excluded from funding,” Nyikal said.If enacted, the proposed law would include APBET institutions in the definition of basic education institutions and provide for their representation in national and county education structures.It would also facilitate funding for infrastructure and learning materials, potentially increasing public investment in schools serving children in informal settlements.The Bill further proposes that county governments maintain a database of APBET institutions and introduces flexibility in registration requirements.The measures are intended to give the government a clearer understanding of the number and location of APBET institutions and the learners they serve, while strengthening oversight of the schools.Ruraka MP Moses Kajwang supported the reforms, describing the formal recognition of APBET institutions as long overdue.“It is unfortunate that it has taken this long to recognise vulnerable children in informal settlements and rural areas who lack access to education,” Kajwang said.The passage of the Bill marks a significant step towards mainstreaming APBET institutions within Kenya’s education system.If the proposed law comes into force, the schools would gain greater visibility and regulatory recognition, while potentially becoming eligible for increased government support for infrastructure, learning materials and other educational needs.The reforms are expected to have a direct impact on thousands of learners who depend on informal schools for access to basic education.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya Aug 26 – Members of Parliament have called for a probe into the deactivation and subsequent reassignment of dormant Safaricom numbers, warning that the practice could leave customers exposed to fraud, loss of funds and unauthorized access to personal information.The concerns were raised in the National Assembly after Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss presented a petition by Thompson Kirongo seeking an investigation into the telecommunications company’s handling of inactive SIM cards.The petition has been referred to the Public Petitions Committee, which is expected to establish whether the practice complies with laws governing consumer protection, data privacy and the management of financial assets.Under the current practice, SIM cards that remain unused for a specified period, ordinarily six months, can be deactivated before the number is eventually assigned to another subscriber.Kirongo argues that the system could disadvantage customers who are unable to use their lines for extended periods because of illness, travel, incapacitation or other circumstances.Presenting the petition, Shollei said customers who later sought to reactivate their lines could discover that they had lost access to mobile money services, financial accounts and personal information previously associated with the number.“The petitioner states that, consequently, the subscribers who resume use of their lines may find they are unable to access communication services such as mobile money accounts, financial services or personal data associated with the SIM card,” she said.The petition has also drawn attention to numbers registered to deceased persons, particularly where they remain connected to M-Pesa accounts, bank accounts and other financial services.The petitioner wants Parliament to determine how such numbers are handled during the administration of estates and whether reassignment could interfere with the rights of beneficiaries and authorised representatives under the Law of Succession Act.Lawmakers also want information on what happens to funds linked to dormant or deactivated numbers and whether money that remains unclaimed is transferred to the Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority where applicable.Matuga MP Kassim Tandaza told the House that he had personally encountered problems caused by the reassignment of a mobile number.He said he once sent money to a number saved in his phone under the name of a known contact, only to discover that the number had since been allocated to someone else.“I have personally fallen victim to a situation where I sent money to a number saved in my phone under a specific name, only to realise later that the intended recipient had not received the money because the number had been reassigned to a different person,” Tandaza said.He urged Safaricom to establish a notification system that would alert people who have previously stored a number in their contacts before it is reassigned.“We cannot hold the receiver responsible for this issue. It is within Safaricom’s capacity and responsibility to ensure that once they reassign a number, they notify those who had previously saved that number,” he said.Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda said the issue had become more serious because telephone numbers now serve as access points to financial services and personal accounts.She called for stronger safeguards for M-Pesa and other accounts connected to numbers belonging to deceased customers.“What Safaricom should primarily focus on are the fraudsters who exploit people’s numbers for extortion,” Lesuuda said.She noted that politicians were particularly exposed because their telephone numbers are often publicly available.Sigowet/Soin MP Justice Kemei said Parliament should review safeguards governing the telecommunications industry as mobile communication becomes increasingly central to everyday life.While acknowledging that operators need mechanisms for dealing with dormant lines, Kemei said customers should be given sufficient notice before their numbers are disconnected.“Fundamentally, the mobile network service provision in this country is dominated by just three institutions,” he said, calling for scrutiny of the regulatory framework governing the sector.Nominated MP Irene Mayaka said the issue should also be examined through the lens of Kenya’s data protection laws.She urged Safaricom to demonstrate to the committee how it safeguards customers’ personal information when numbers are disconnected and subsequently reassigned.“Safaricom needs to inform the Public Petitions Committee about their compliance with these laws in the context of disconnections and the reassignment of SIM cards,” Mayaka said.“We need to ensure that people are adequately protected in terms of how their personal information is exposed when this reassignment is being done without even their knowledge.”Endebess MP Robert Pukose called for the petition to be dealt with urgently, citing cases where fraudsters allegedly impersonate people after obtaining access to numbers previously associated with their contacts.
Read briefing NAIROBI, Kenya Aug 26 – Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has challenged Kenya to unlock the full potential of its Sh397 billion meat industry by investing in value addition, processing, technology and premium export markets.Kagwe said Kenya’s livestock sector had reached a strategic turning point, with a large livestock base, growing domestic demand, entrepreneurial capacity and geographical advantage providing a strong foundation for regional and international competitiveness.Speaking during the official opening of the Kenya Meat Expo 2026, the CS said the country produced 613,627 tonnes of meat in 2024, valued at approximately Sh397 billion.He said meat production increased by 10.2 per cent in volume and 30.5 per cent in value compared with 2023.Beef accounted for about 260,000 tonnes valued at Sh160 billion, while significant opportunities exist in goat meat, mutton, poultry, camel meat, pork and emerging value chains such as rabbit meat.Kagwe, however, said Kenya must do more to retain value within the country, warning that continued export of live animals deprives Kenyans of employment and business opportunities.“When we export the animals, then we are sending out jobs. We are exporting jobs to Europe. We are exporting jobs to Dubai. We are exporting jobs to the Middle East,” he said.The CS called for increased investment in meat processing, branding and product development to enable Kenya to export finished meat products and ensure farmers and pastoralists earn more from their livestock.Kagwe said Kenya has approximately 2,000 slaughter facilities, comprising 49 large slaughterhouses, 322 medium slaughterhouses and about 1,530 slaughter slabs.He said the priority should now shift from expanding the number of facilities to improving their quality, efficiency and capacity utilisation.“It is not just a question of quantity. It is also an issue of quality,” he said.The CS called for improved hygiene, meat inspection, refrigeration, regulatory compliance, waste management, logistics and market connectivity to enable Kenyan meat products to meet international standards and attract premium prices.He said the meat value chain starts from animal production and extends to processing and consumption, making animal health and food safety critical to the sector.Kagwe highlighted the Animal Identification and Traceability System (ANITRAC) as a key component of the government’s strategy to modernise the livestock sector.The system will enable authorities to trace animals from their origin and ownership to vaccination records, movements and eventual slaughter.“Going forward, every Kenyan animal should have an identity and a traceable history,” Kagwe said.He said the technology was being developed locally, including chips and systems by Kenyan universities.ANITRAC is also expected to strengthen efforts to combat livestock theft and banditry by making attempts to interfere with animal identification detectable.Kagwe called for increased investment in improved livestock genetics, artificial insemination, breeding, animal nutrition and commercial feedlots.He also urged investment in climate-smart livestock production, water pans, boreholes and livestock insurance to protect farmers from losses caused by drought, floods and other extreme weather events.He said feedlots should have adequate feed, water and supporting infrastructure, while insurance schemes should provide protection against climate-related losses.Kagwe urged the government, county governments and the private sector to work together to strengthen the livestock value chain and create new investment opportunities.The CS challenged young people to view livestock beyond traditional herding and embrace opportunities in breeding, animal nutrition, processing, manufacturing, technology, branding, logistics and trade.“Ukulima wa ng’ombe ni pesa. Na nyama siyo tu chakula. Pia ni pesa. Nyama ni chakula, na nyama ni pesa,” he said.Kagwe also highlighted the potential of hides and skins, saying proper handling of animals can improve the quality and value of by-products and support the growth of Kenya’s leather industry.He said Kenya should also pursue new international markets, citing Algeria and other markets with demand for livestock and meat products.Kagwe recalled Algeria’s previous indication of demand for one million goats during Ramadan, saying such opportunities demonstrate the potential available to Kenyan livestock producers.“We want new markets. We want new enterprises. We want new jobs. We want new opportunities for livestock producers,” he said.Kagwe said stronger investment across the meat value chain would enable Kenya to move from exporting raw livestock to exporting higher-value meat products while creating jobs and increasing incomes for farmers and pastoralists.
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