The Government of Kenya has responded to Tanzania’s recent decision to ban non-citizens, including Kenyans, from operating certain small businesses, calling for the removal of the restrictions in line with regional economic integration agreements. Tanzania officially enacted the new policy through a legal notice—Government Notice No. 487A—issued on July 28, 2025, under the Business Licensing Act. The directive, signed by Minister for Industry and Trade Selemani Saidi Jafo, bars foreigners from engaging in 15 categories of business activities ranging from mobile money transfers and phone repair services to operation of kiosks, small shops, and micro industries. The order defines a…
Author: David Wafula
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has assured Kenyans that the government is taking concrete steps to restore public trust and improve safety in health institutions across the country. This follows the tragic incidents at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), which brought to light major security lapses in public hospitals where two patients were killed in the hospital within three months. Speaking during a meeting with officials from the Kenya Medical Association (KMA), led by its President Dr. Simon Kigondu, Duale emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to making patients feel safe and respected in line with the Taifa Care model, which puts people…
Concerns are growing over the lack of coverage for cochlear implant surgery under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), prompting calls for urgent government intervention. Nominated Member of Parliament Sabina Chege on Tuesday requested a statement in the National Assembly, seeking clarity on whether SHIF caters for individuals with hearing impairments in need of cochlear implants. “I wish to request a statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health regarding the coverage of cochlear implant surgery under the Social Health Insurance Fund,” said Chege. Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and the World Health Organization show…
Two suspects have been arrested by detectives in Nyamira North over a shocking mob justice incident where a man suspected of theft was assaulted and thrown into a burning fire. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said in a statement on Wednesday that the suspects — James Nyang’au Kieri and Evans Nyang’au Anyoka — were captured in a viral video mercilessly beating the man before pushing him into the flames. The disturbing footage, widely circulated on social media, shows the suspects attacking the victim in broad daylight as onlookers watched. “Through forensic analysis, detectives tracked down the suspects and arrested…
Eldas MP Dr. Adan Keynan has urged the government to prioritise the expansion of banking and financial services in Northern Kenya, warning that the continued shortage is stalling development and leaving pastoralist communities behind. Speaking in the National Assembly, Dr. Keynan called for a statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning on what the government is doing to address the limited access to banks in the region. “There has been a shortage of adequate banking and financial institutions in Northern Kenya,” said Dr. Keynan. “This shortage has negatively affected the residents, who are predominantly…
Repeated failure to meet performance targets will now lead to sanctions against public servants, according to new directives issued by Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei. Koskei made the announcement on Wednesday during a virtual consultative meeting with Principal Secretaries, Heads of Legal, Human Resources, Audit, Procurement, and members of Standing Committees. The session agreed on concrete steps to implement the Matrix of Legal Consequences for Infractions—a structured framework aimed at guiding consistent and lawful responses to poor performance and misconduct. “The message is clear and consistent. Administratively, the rules are known—and so are the consequences,”…
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has explained why Members of Parliament cannot currently be recalled by voters. IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon said there is no law that clearly outlines how MPs can be removed from office by the public. “There is currently no enabling legislation defining the grounds and procedures for recall,” he said. He explained that this legal gap follows a High Court decision in the case Katiba Institute and Transformation Empowerment for Action Initiative (TEAM) v Attorney General & Another [2027] KEHC 4648 (KLR), where parts of the Elections Act 2011 were declared unconstitutional for…
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has defended the nomination of Kipchumba Harold Kimuge as a Member of Parliament, replacing former ODM-nominated MP John Mbadi who recently joined the Cabinet. Kimuge, who was sworn in on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, was appointed following a Gazette Notice published by the IEBC on July 22. His nomination had drawn criticism from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), which questioned the legality and procedure of his selection. In response, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon issued a statement clarifying that the process followed was lawful and in line with both the Constitution and electoral…
Lobby groups have raised strong objections to the proposed Rimula-Mwibona open-pit gold mining project by Shanta Gold Kenya Ltd. in Siaya and Vihiga counties, citing serious environmental and social risks. This comes as the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry, and Mining received a petition regarding destructive mining activities in Maai Mahiu Ward, Naivasha Sub-county, Nakuru County. The petition was submitted through Naivasha MP Jane Kihara on behalf of a local group known as the Kanairobi Community. In the petition, the group detailed the adverse effects of rock blasting linked to quarry and ballast operations in the area. They…
The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Education has intervened to help final-year Bachelor of Pharmacy students from the University of Nairobi secure internship placements after they were locked out of the 2025/2026 cohort due to delayed release of exam results. Led by Vice Chairperson Eve Obara, the Committee met with the affected students at Parliament Buildings following a petition in which the students accused the university of administrative negligence, poor communication, and discrimination. The students, who completed their final exams on March 7, 2025, claimed that despite finishing the same academic calendar, their counterparts in the Dental Surgery programme received…
The Senate has demanded compensation for 125 former employees of Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) who were wrongfully dismissed more than two decades ago. Through a motion by the Senate Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, chaired by Senator Julius Recha Murgor, lawmakers are pushing for the workers to be paid Sh9,180,675 and one month’s salary each, as earlier ordered by the High Court in 2003. The motion, tabled in the Senate on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, follows months of investigations and engagements with relevant stakeholders. It was seconded by Kajiado Senator Kanar Seki Lenku. The petition was initially presented…
Nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda has raised concerns in the Senate over the declining quality of healthcare services in counties, blaming it partly on public health workers engaging in private medical practice during official hours. While requesting a Statement from the Senate Standing Committee on Health, Senator Mutinda called for a detailed report on the number of licensed medical doctors, pharmacists, and clinical officers in the country. She asked that the figures be provided as recorded by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, and the Clinical Officers Council. She also requested the Committee to…
The National Assembly’s Committee on Implementation, chaired by Budalang’i MP Raphael Wanjala, has revisited efforts to streamline public servants’ allowances, focusing on disparities in house and hardship allowances across various sectors. This comes after a petition by a teacher based in Kilifi Municipality called for enhanced house allowances for educators working in the area. The petition, previously reviewed by the Public Petitions Committee, led to House resolutions directing action by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). Appearing before the Committee, the Acting Secretary/CEO of SRC, Margaret Njoka, confirmed that house allowances had been harmonized…
The National Assembly’s Public Petitions Committee has received a petition seeking the repeal of a legal provision that exempts Kenya’s first two presidents from paying estate duty. The petition, presented by John Wangai and Muhia Kagwe, calls for the removal of Section 7(3) of the Estate Duty Act (Cap. 483), which exempts the estates of former Presidents Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel arap Moi from paying estate tax. According to the petitioners, this section goes against Article 210(3) of the Constitution, which states that no law should allow the exclusion of a state officer from paying tax based on their…
The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives has pledged full support to the newly appointed team tasked with modernizing the Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs) sector in Kenya. Ikolomani MP Benard Shinali, who chairs the committee, made the assurance during a meeting with the Committee of Experts reviewing the Sacco Societies Act, 2008. “As a committee, you can count on our full and unequivocal support. Our number one priority is to work with you to sanitize the robust cooperatives sector, which has faced serious challenges in the recent past,” said Shinali. “We will work together to…