Parliament’s Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy (PIC-CA&E) has raised concerns over a Sh30.9 billion debt owed to Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) by the government as of June 2024. The issue came up during an Energy Sector Roundtable meeting attended by senior officials from the National Treasury, the Ministry of Energy, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), KPLC, the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC), and the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO). According to Auditor-General reports covering 2018/19 to 2022/23, persistent load-shedding—especially in rural and off-grid areas—has slowed progress toward reliable and affordable electricity,…
Author: David Wafula
The fight against gambling addiction has received a boost after the High Court dismissed a petition challenging new gambling-related taxes in the Excise Duty Act, 2015, as amended by the Finance Act, 2023. Justice Stephen Mbungi, sitting in Kakamega, ruled that the amendments introducing a 12.5% excise duty on amounts staked in betting activities did not violate the Constitution and did not amount to double taxation, as claimed by the petitioner. “It is a cardinal principle of law that all provisions of a statute should be read holistically, not in isolation,” Justice Mbungi said. He added that Paragraph 4A of…
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has dismissed claims that setting the date for upcoming by-elections on November 27 violates the law. The clarification comes after Nairobi Senator and ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna accused the Commission of acting against the Constitution. On Sunday, August 10, Sifuna said recent IEBC decisions, including the by-election timeline, were “alarming” and possibly unconstitutional. He cited Article 101(4)(b) of the Constitution, which requires by-elections to be held within 90 days after issuing writs, arguing that the November date was more than 100 days away. In its response on August 13, IEBC said the…
Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has ended his one-month tour of the United States earlier than planned to prepare for the upcoming by-elections in Kenya. In a statement on Thursday morning, August 14, the former deputy president said the decision was necessary so he could focus on his party’s preparations ahead of the polls set for November 27. “I had a very successful and fulfilling visit to the United States of America with serious engagements with Kenyans in the Diaspora. I regret being unable to visit the remaining scheduled States since I need to get back home…
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has urged health regulatory bodies to remain firm in their mandate of safeguarding patient safety, saying strict compliance with training standards is non-negotiable. His remarks come just days after the Ministry revoked internship postings for 348 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) students who failed to meet eligibility criteria. The students had been placed for internships despite not having graduated. Duale said the decision followed the Public Service Commission Internship Policy and Guidelines for the Public Service (2016) and the Ministry’s Internship Policy for Healthcare Professionals (2020). “Do not be compromised by the people you…
Africa is stepping up preparations for the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27) with a strong call for unity in managing spectrum, a key resource in shaping the continent’s digital future. Speaking during the opening ceremony of the African Preparatory Meeting in Nairobi, the Principal Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Stephen Isaboke, read a speech on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication and the Digital Economy, William Kabogo. He stressed that policymakers, regulators, and industry players have a huge responsibility to make decisions that will influence innovation, inclusion, and economic growth. “The choices we make in spectrum management will…
The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has been fined Sh6.5 million ($50,000) by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for safety and security breaches during the Harambee Stars’ CHAN 2024 match against Morocco at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. CAF’s Disciplinary Board ruled that FKF failed to meet stadium safety standards and warned that repeated lapses could force Kenya’s national team to play its matches at alternative venues. “The Disciplinary Board found Kenya guilty and imposed a fine of USD 50,000. Kenya was warned that continued failure to meet CAF safety and security requirements may lead to the relocation of…
President William Ruto has signed into law the County Allocation of Revenue Bill, 2025, and the County Public Finance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The County Public Finance Laws (Amendment) Bill, sponsored by Meru Senator Kathuri Murungi, gives county assemblies greater control over their own finances. It changes the Public Finance Management Act to create a County Assembly Fund in every county to cover administrative costs and buy assets such as land and buildings. While a similar fund already existed under the County Assembly Services Act, the new law adds more detailed rules on how it will be managed, where the…
The Government has detailed steps taken following the February 2025 Todonyang massacre in Turkana County, where armed attackers from Ethiopia are alleged to have killed more than 40 civilians. Appearing before the National Assembly’s Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations, Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya, accompanied by Principal Secretary Patrick Mariru, faced questions from MPs over border security. Lawmakers pressed for answers on how the State is protecting the country’s northern borders and ensuring justice for the victims. The statement request had been brought by Turkana North MP Ekwom Nabuin, who sought updates on investigations, protection for fishermen on…
President William Ruto has given a Sh163 million cheque to help 816 young Kenyans travel overseas for work under the government’s Kazi Majuu programme. Speaking in Kakamega on Tuesday during International Youth Day celebrations, the President said the money will pay for air tickets, visas, and settlement costs, ensuring the beneficiaries get safe and decent jobs abroad. “The single most decisive force that will shape Kenya’s destiny is not oil, gold, or any other natural resource — it is our youth,” Ruto said. “They are the builders of today, the architects of our future, and the driving engine powering Kenya’s…
Veteran radio broadcaster Charles Omuga Kabisae has died. His family confirmed the news on August 12, 2025, saying he passed away on August 11 after a long illness. His body has been moved to a Nairobi morgue as the family begins burial preparations. Kabisae was well known for his unique style of delivering death and special announcements — “matangazo maalum na ya vifo” — which earned him a loyal audience across the country. He hailed from Nyamasaria in Kisumu County, a region famous for producing top radio talent, including Calleb Odhiambo Akumu, the late Evans Odhiambo Sino, and current broadcaster…
Members of Parliament have urged the national government to focus on stopping wastage and mismanagement of public funds as a way to raise money for important development projects instead of selling profitable state corporations. The call came during a session with Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, who was defending the government’s proposal to privatize the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC). Mbadi told MPs that the plan, outlined in Sessional Paper No. 2 of 2025, is part of a wider budget-raising strategy expected to generate about Sh100 billion. He said the funds are urgently needed to keep key projects running and avoid…
Every year on August 12, the world comes together to mark International Youth Day (IYD) — a day dedicated to recognising the energy, creativity, and potential of young people in shaping a better future. The United Nations (UN) established the day in 1999, following a recommendation from the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth. The aim was to raise awareness of issues affecting young people globally and to promote their active participation in political, economic, and social life. This year’s International Youth Day is being marked under the theme “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development.”…
The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has announced that a privately initiated proposal to build the Nairobi–Mombasa (Usahihi) Expressway under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model has been rejected. In a public notice, KeNHA said it had received the proposal to design, build, finance, operate, maintain and transfer the 459-kilometre road from Mlolongo in Machakos County to Bonje in Mombasa County. “Following the conditional approval by the PPP Committee, the Project Proponent undertook PDP activities and submitted feasibility study reports in May 2025,” the notice reads. After evaluating the submission in collaboration with the PPP Directorate at the National Treasury, the…
The Digital Health Agency (DHA) has announced a vacancy for the position of Chief Executive Officer. In a public notice dated August 12, 2025, the agency said the CEO will be responsible to the Board of Directors for implementing strategic goals, managing resources, and providing leadership to achieve the agency’s mission. The role also includes overseeing day-to-day operations, serving as the Accounting and Authorized Officer, and acting as the spokesperson for the agency. Key duties include ensuring compliance with the Digital Health Act, managing the agency’s resources effectively, preparing budgets and internal controls, overseeing strategic and quarterly plans, managing stakeholders,…