The government has ordered a thorough investigation into the frequent fires affecting markets in Nairobi City County, especially Gikomba and Toi Markets. This follows another fire that broke out on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, destroying goods and property belonging to hundreds of small-scale traders. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, while meeting nearly 400 affected traders on Wednesday, said it was time to find a lasting solution to the recurring tragedy. He said the government suspects foul play and does not believe the fires are accidental. “It defies logic to imagine these are mere accidents when they keep happening year after year.…
Author: David Wafula
United Democratic Alliance (UDA) representative to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Falhada Iman has issued a public apology after a physical altercation with ODM nominated MP Umulkheir Harun inside Parliament. The scuffle, which unfolded in full view of fellow lawmakers, sparked widespread condemnation on social media, with many Kenyans criticizing the conduct of the two leaders. In a video recorded by a fellow MP and later shared online, Iman and Umulkheir are seen exchanging harsh words as female MPs struggle to separate them. The situation was eventually calmed by Parliament’s sergeant-at-arms. In her apology, Iman admitted that the incident…
The Ministry of Education has issued firm instructions to all secondary schools across the country to release Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificates that have been withheld due to unpaid school fees. This follows growing complaints from students and parents who have been denied access to their certificates. In a circular dated April 1, Principal Secretary Julius Bitok directed all County Directors of Education to enforce the order without delay. He said the continued withholding of certificates goes against the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) Act, 2012, which prohibits schools from holding back the documents for any reason. “You…
Drama unfolded within the precincts of Parliament when two female legislators fought on Tuesday, April 8. The two lawmakers involved in the scuffle have been identified as Umulkheir Harun, a nominated member of Parliament under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, and Falhada Iman, who serves as a representative in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) under UDA. The scuffle, which unfolded in full view, has been widely condemned as unbecoming and dishonourable conduct from elected leaders. It is not clear what prompted the drama involving the two women who come from Wajir. A yet to be identified man could…
A parliamentary watchdog committee is set to summon the National Treasury to explain why thousands of civil servants are taking home less than a third of their salaries, in breach of labour laws that protect workers from excessive deductions. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly, chaired by Butere MP Tindi Mwale, says the rising number of government employees earning below the legal limit is largely due to increased deductions introduced under President William Ruto’s administration. These include the Affordable Housing Levy, Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), and higher NSSF contributions. “The law is no longer practical due…
The Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy has expressed concern over delays in completing the Likoni Bridge project in Nairobi, despite millions of shillings already spent. The committee, chaired by Pokot South MP David Pkosing, toured the project site during an inspection visit to the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) offices along Mombasa Road. The team also visited other ongoing projects including Enterprise Road and Shreeji Road, which are part of the same improvement package. “We must ensure that every government project is completed within the set timeline and delivers value to the people of Kenya,” said Pkosing.…
Kenya’s education system is facing a growing crisis as the teacher shortage hits 98,261, with the number expected to rise sharply by 2026 due to the rollout of Senior Secondary School under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). Appearing before the National Assembly’s Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC), Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Chief Executive Officer Dr. Nancy Macharia warned that the gap in teacher staffing, coupled with limited funding, could severely affect the delivery of quality education. “Our current annual allocation of Ksh1 billion for teacher promotions can only benefit about 6,000 teachers out of a workforce of more than 500,000. This…
Members of Parliament have raised concerns over a serious shortage of staff at the National Cancer Institute of Kenya (NCI-K), warning that it could affect the fight against cancer in the country. The Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration and Agriculture (PIC-SSAA), chaired by Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe, raised the issue during a meeting with the Institute’s management while reviewing Auditor-General reports. According to the Auditor-General, the Institute has 247 approved staff positions, but only 33 had been filled by June 30, 2024—leaving 214 vacancies unfilled. “In the circumstances, the inadequate staffing levels may have affected the effectiveness of…
Former Chepalungu MP and Cabinet Minister John Koech has passed away while receiving treatment at Nairobi Hospital. President William Ruto led the country in mourning the late leader, praising him for his dedication to public service. “Mheshimiwa John Koech was a hardworking leader who served the people of Chepalungu with dedication. He was focused, progressive, and development-conscious,” said President Ruto in a condolence message. National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula also mourned Koech, describing him as a champion for quality education in the former Kericho and Bomet districts. “I had the honour of serving alongside Hon. Koech during President Mwai Kibaki’s…
Members of Parliament have expressed anger at the State Department for Agriculture and the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) for delaying the withdrawal of harmful pesticides from the Kenyan market. Speaking on Tuesday, April 8, during a session with Agriculture Principal Secretary Kiprono Rono and PCPB CEO Fredrick Muchiri, lawmakers from the National Assembly’s Committee on Implementation said the delay shows the government is putting profits ahead of public health. The MPs were reacting to a 2019 House resolution, following a petition by Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss, that called for the banning of 267 pesticides suspected to be harmful. The…
Kenya has officially secured the hosting rights for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) after the government paid Ksh1.6 billion to the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya confirmed the payment while appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Sports at Bunge Towers on Tuesday, April 8. He said the funds were released by the National Treasury to meet CAF’s requirements and to avoid further delays in preparations for the tournament, which is scheduled to begin in August. “The government is committed to meeting the financial obligations to CAF to guarantee eligibility as hosts. To this…
The Ministry of Health has confirmed 97 cholera cases and six deaths across three counties, with officials calling for heightened public hygiene measures to curb the outbreak. In an update issued on Sunday, April 6, 2025, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the cases had been reported in Migori, Kisumu, and Nairobi counties. Migori has recorded the highest number of infections with 53 cases and one death. Kisumu has reported 32 cases and four deaths, while Nairobi has recorded 12 cases and one fatality. Duale assured the public that the government is actively working with county health departments to manage…
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has concluded its grassroots elections and is now set to hold Branch elections across all 290 constituencies on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. According to ODM’s Secretary for Communication and Publicity Affairs, Rahab Robi, the party began the grassroots elections on November 27, 2024, covering all polling units in the 47 counties. “The process has largely been peaceful and successful, with a few cases of dissatisfaction by members that were handled amicably by the Election Dispute Resolution Team,” Robi stated. On Monday, April 7, the party conducted Sub-Branch level elections across various wards in the country.…
Kenya Power has announced plans to connect 150,000 new customers to the national electricity grid under the sixth phase of the Last Mile Connectivity Project (LMCP), with support from the African Development Bank (AfDB). The new connections will include households and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across 45 counties — excluding Nairobi and Mombasa. The project aims to boost electricity access in underserved areas and help the government meet its goal of universal electricity access by 2030. Kenya Power’s Managing Director and CEO, Joseph Siror, said the funding will support ongoing national electrification efforts. “The Government of Kenya has…
Two armed police officers who were attached to former public service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi were withdrawn in unexplained circumstances. Muturi said the officers were ordered not to report to work on Tuesday April 8. He now remains without an armed security. Muturi is a former Speaker of the National Assembly. He was on March 26 sacked as CS for public service in a fallout with president William Ruto. He said no explanation had been given to him over the move to withdraw the security. “My security detail was withdrawn last night (Monday) at around 7:30PM. Two police officers who…