The government has moved to assure local farmers that the ongoing importation of rice will not disrupt the market or disadvantage them. This follows complaints from farmers who said they still had large stocks of rice that had not been bought. In a statement released on July 31, Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) Director General Bruno Linyiru explained that Kenya consumes about 1.3 million metric tonnes of rice every year, yet only 264,000 metric tonnes—about 20%—is produced locally. The rest has always been covered by imports. However, recent global disruptions and rising prices have made rice imports difficult, especially for…
Author: David Wafula
Leading gaming firm SportPesa has made a major return to Kenyan football by signing a 10-year sponsorship deal worth Sh1.12 billion with the Football Kenya Federation (FKF). The agreement makes SportPesa the official title sponsor of the FKF Premier League. The deal was unveiled during the launch event in Nairobi, where it was announced that SportPesa will inject Sh85 million into the league in the upcoming season. Of this amount, 60 percent will go directly to the 18 Premier League clubs, while the remaining 40 percent will be used to run league operations and administration. Each team will receive about…
Egerton University Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaac Ogumbo was turned away by Members of Parliament on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, for failing to pay a fine imposed by a parliamentary committee. The Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education, chaired by Bumula MP Wanami Wamboka, had summoned the university’s management to respond to concerns raised in the Auditor General’s report on public institutions. The committee is currently investigating issues such as land grabbing, audit non-compliance, and poor leadership in various learning institutions. “We must protect public institutions from mismanagement,” said Wamboka. Earlier in the day, Baringo Technical University appeared before the…
The government has announced a reduction in university fees for students. In a memo dated July 30, 2025, addressed to all Vice Chancellors of public universities and principals of constituent colleges, Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala stated that the new fee structure follows extensive consultations with the public and stakeholders in the education sector. The changes are part of the government’s student-centered funding model. “In direct response to concerns raised by students and their families, the Government of Kenya has lowered fees payable by students across all academic programs,” Inyangala said. She directed public universities to begin implementing the…
The National Assembly has passed the Equalisation Fund Appropriation Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 21 of 2025), paving the way for the release of Sh16.8 billion to improve basic services in Kenya’s marginalised regions during the 2025/2026 financial year. The Bill gives effect to Article 204(1) of the Constitution, which established the Equalisation Fund to support the provision of water, roads, electricity, and health services in historically underserved areas. The aim is to bridge development gaps and ensure all communities enjoy similar quality of services as the rest of the country. Out of the total allocation, Sh6.2 billion is a…
A Cameroonian national has been arrested in Dagoretti, Nairobi, for allegedly defrauding a Canadian investor of Sh79.8 million (USD 618,000) in a fake gold scam. According to a statement from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), detectives from the Operation Support Unit (OSU) arrested the suspect, identified as Francis Talla Oufa, also known as Allain, who is believed to be the mastermind behind the scheme. The DCI said the incident began in November 2024 when the Canadian investor, still in his home country, was lured into a deal to buy 250 kilograms of gold. Attracted by the promise of high…
The National Assembly is currently reviewing a proposed law that seeks to overhaul the gambling sector in Kenya. The Gambling Control Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 70 of 2023) aims to regulate betting, casinos, public lotteries, and prize competitions, while also establishing a new oversight body—the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya. On Wednesday, July 30, 2025, Members of Parliament debated the mediated version of the Bill during the afternoon session. Kinangop MP Kwenya Thuku, while moving the motion to adopt the Mediation Committee’s report, said the new authority will take over from the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) and…
The government has banned the importation of tobacco products in a bold move aimed at fighting the rising use of tobacco among young people in Kenya. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced the decision on Wednesday while appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Delegated Legislation. He said the ban is part of wider efforts by the Ministry of Health to reduce the availability and attractiveness of tobacco in local markets. “Tobacco products have been flooding our markets, frustrating government efforts to curb their misuse. This is why we made the decision to ban imports,” said Duale. He revealed that…
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has strongly criticized Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, accusing the government of aiding the sale and distribution of illicit alcohol even as it claims to be fighting the problem. Gachagua, through his official X account on Thursday, July 31, said the recent efforts by the Ministry of Interior were misleading and merely for show. “CS Interior, you are wasting your time and treating Kenyans as fools,” Gachagua said. “While in office, I put in place practical measures to curb illicit alcohol and drug abuse. In just one year, we eliminated poisonous drinks and restored sobriety…
The Senate Public Investments and Special Funds Committee has flagged serious financial mismanagement in Trans Nzoia County, where a handful of senior officials allocated themselves loans amounting to Sh30.7 million without any form of security or insurance. During a session chaired by Senator Eddy Oketch, the committee revealed that the funds were drawn from the Car Loan and Mortgage Fund with no collateral or supporting documentation. Oketch condemned the move as a betrayal of public trust. “Millions have been issued to a few individuals, some of whom have left the county service and are no longer repaying. Meanwhile, wananchi can’t…
Security operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) are under fresh scrutiny after concerns were raised in the Senate over vehicles being allowed entry without proper checks. Nominated Senator Beth Syengo has asked the Senate Committee on Roads, Transportation, and Housing to provide a statement on the status of security infrastructure at JKIA, especially the Under Vehicle Surveillance Systems (UVSS) installed at terminal entry points. Speaking in the Senate, Senator Syengo said several of the UVSS scanners are currently not working, forcing security officers to rely on manual checks. She warned that this has left a serious security gap at…
The government has revoked the placement of 348 nursing interns after investigations revealed that a majority of them were unqualified for posting. In a statement issued on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said 306 interns were removed from the list after it was discovered they had not yet graduated, and therefore did not meet the minimum qualifications. This move follows an earlier revocation of 42 interns announced on July 21, bringing the total number of withdrawn placements to 348. “Following a review of the 2,098 pre-interns posted on July 1, 2025, the Ministry has established that…
A parliamentary session to examine the financial health of the struggling National Oil Corporation of Kenya (NOCK) was postponed on Wednesday after lawmakers raised alarm over the state of the corporation and a controversial Sh3 billion agreement with oil marketer Rubis. The Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy, chaired by Pokot South MP David Pkosing, had scheduled to review NOCK’s audited accounts from the 2018/19 to 2022/23 financial years. However, the session was adjourned to Thursday to allow for further scrutiny, with Members describing NOCK as a “dead” entity with unclear operations and murky finances. During the session,…
A dramatic incident unfolded along the Isiolo–Marsabit highway near River Waso Nyiro after a fierce gun battle between police and suspected drug traffickers led to the recovery of cannabis worth Sh1.9 million. A multi-agency security team, including officers from Archers Post Police Station, National Police Reservists (NPR), and rangers from the Samburu National Reserve (SNR), launched an operation after receiving intelligence on July 30, 2025. The tip-off was about a suspicious white Toyota Probox, with unknown registration details, travelling from Isiolo towards Marsabit. According to police, further information indicated that the vehicle had been spotted near the Waso Nyiro River,…
The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has dismissed recent media reports suggesting that it has banned alcohol advertising, online sales, home deliveries, or celebrity endorsements. Following growing public concern, NACADA CEO Anthony Omerikwa clarified that no such bans are currently in place. This follows speculation that arose after the launch of the National Policy for the Prevention, Management and Control of Alcohol, Drugs, and Substance Abuse (2025) by Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen in Nairobi. “This is a national policy, and contrary to reports suggesting that NACADA has banned certain practices such…