The Senate Justice, Legal Affairs, and Human Rights Committee met virtually to discuss the Counter-Trafficking in Persons (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to introduce tougher measures against child trafficking in orphanages, including banning orphanage tourism. The Bill, sponsored by Senator Catherine Mumma, aims to close legal loopholes that expose children to exploitation. Presenting the Bill, Senator Mumma emphasized the urgent need for stricter regulations to prevent the fraudulent placement of children in orphanages and the use of such institutions as fronts for trafficking. “The lack of proper regulations exposes children to exploitation. This Bill seeks to criminalize fraudulent placements, grooming,…
Author: David Wafula
National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has warned that Kenya’s growing wage bill is unsustainable, suggesting that the country should either revert to the former provincial system or reduce the number of counties to a maximum of 14. Speaking on Citizen TV’s JKLive on Wednesday night, Mbadi said the current devolved structure is straining public finances, with county governments spending a large portion of their budgets on salaries instead of development. “Our counties are filled with unnecessary staff, from directors of fishermen, boda bodas, music, and culture, to deputies earning hefty salaries. Forty-seven counties are simply too many for a…
Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has dismissed reports regarding the death of Dr. Daniel Ndege Chacha, a University of Nairobi Medical Registrar attached to its Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department. In a statement, KNH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Evanson Kamuri said Dr. Chacha was referred to the hospital from Kitengela on Monday, March 10, 2025, in critical condition. Upon arrival, he was admitted to the Accident and Emergency Department, where doctors diagnosed him with severe liver and kidney complications. “Despite not being registered with the Social Health Authority (SHA), KNH expedited his registration and ensured he received urgent medical care,” the statement…
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has confirmed the discovery of an illegal drug laboratory in Namanga, Kajiado County, allegedly linked to a Mexican cartel. However, authorities maintain that the syndicate did not succeed in starting its operations, as the lab was dismantled before production began. In a statement on Wednesday, the DCI said that on September 12, 2024, a multi-agency team led by the Anti-Narcotics Unit, acting on intelligence, raided a 10-acre property about eight kilometers from the Nairobi-Namanga highway. During the operation, officers found two iron-sheet structures—one containing laboratory apparatus and chemicals, while the other served as a…
The Ministry of Health will celebrate World Oral Health Day on March 20, 2025, by offering free dental check-ups in various settings, including community health camps, schools, churches, and healthcare facilities. Director General for Health Patrick Amoth said on Wednesday that the ministry will also conduct public awareness campaigns and collaborate with mental health professionals to hold webinars and educational forums. Additionally, oral disease screening will be carried out as part of the efforts to promote oral health. The government, with support from partners, will provide mobile dental treatment and outreach programs offering curative services for individuals experiencing pain and…
Ex- Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza has accused male politicians of orchestrating her removal from office. She said she was discriminated against based on her gender. In a statement posted online, Mwangaza claimed that she faced relentless battles from her detractors who refused to accept women in leadership. She added that her impeachment was not a reflection of the people’s will but a calculated move made by her competitors who liaised with the National Government to guarantee her exit. Mwangaza vowed to challenge her impeachment in the highest court to clear her name. “Today, I, break my silence to address the…
TikTok is introducing new safety and well-being tools aimed at helping families foster healthier digital habits among teenagers. The latest updates, which enhance the platform’s Family Pairing feature, are part of TikTok’s ongoing efforts to improve online safety by giving parents more oversight while encouraging mindful screen time for young users. Since launching Family Pairing five years ago, TikTok has continued to refine its safety features based on expert advice and community feedback. The latest enhancements allow parents to set custom screen-free periods, such as during school hours, bedtime, or family activities. Teens can request additional screen time, but parents…
Two men were arrested on Tuesday for cultivating bhang on a half-acre piece of land in Kikuyu, Kiambu County. David Kinyanjui and his Burundian accomplice, Bien Neureux Kanyarushatsi, were apprehended after police acted on a tip-off from a concerned resident who noticed the suspicious plants thriving among maize and potatoes at Kidifamaco Estate. A joint team of police and National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) raided the farm and uprooted the illegal crop as the two suspects watched from the back of a police vehicle. Authorities confirmed that the marijuana was removed by a multi-agency team before the suspects were taken…
The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Leagues & Competitions Committee has ruled that Mara Sugar FC will advance to the next round of the Mozzart Bet Cup following the abandonment of their match against AFC Leopards SC. The game, which was set to take place on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Mamboleo, Kisumu, was called off in the 89th minute after AFC Leopards fans stormed the pitch in protest. The incident occurred after the referee reversed an earlier penalty decision in favor of AFC Leopards, triggering an angry reaction from their supporters. The committee found AFC Leopards…
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has vowed not to pay Sh680 million in pending bills, insisting that the claims are unverified and questionable. Appearing before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC), Waiguru disputed the findings of the Auditor General’s report, which indicated that Kirinyaga County’s pending bills stood at Sh1.2 billion. She argued that many of the claims lacked supporting documents and could not be verified. “We are disputing the Auditor General’s report on the verification of pending bills in Kirinyaga County,” Waiguru told the committee on Monday. “Although these figures are attributed to the Auditor General, the county government…
The government has only established 37 out of 1,450 planned digital hubs and installed 1,491 public Wi-Fi spots out of a target of 5,000 due to logistical challenges and funding constraints, ICT and Digital Economy Principal Secretary John Tanui has said. Appearing before the Senate ICT Committee, Tanui acknowledged the delays, attributing them to initial power cost uncertainties and coordination challenges between government agencies. He assured senators that discussions with county governments and the State Department for Urban Development were underway to resolve the issues and accelerate the rollout. Kwale Senator Boy Issa Juma demanded details on the completed hubs…
The Technical University of Kenya (TUK) Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Benedict Mutua, has disclosed that staff at the institution have not received their gross salaries since 2013, leading to a backlog of unremitted statutory deductions. Prof. Mutua made the revelation when the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Education, led by Chairperson Julius Melly, visited the university to assess its financial challenges. The committee members expressed concern over the university’s failure to remit deductions to pension schemes, PAYE, NHIF/SHIF, NSSF, and the Affordable Housing Levy. “Since 2013, no staff member has received their gross salary, meaning statutory deductions have not been remitted. In…
Police in Migori have seized bhang worth Sh12.7 million following a raid on a godown in Tarakwiti village, Kuria West Sub-County. Acting on a tip-off, officers from Isebania Police Station, led by the Officer Commanding Station (OCS), raided the store at Taraqwiti village located about four kilometers from the station. During the search, they recovered 14 full sacks and two smaller sacks of dried plant material suspected to be cannabis sativa. The 423-kilogram consignment has an estimated street value of Sh12,690,000. One suspect found at the scene was arrested and is assisting police with investigations. The suspect told officers that…
The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has disbursed Sh1.56 billion to support university students and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) trainees with tuition and upkeep funds. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba announced on Tuesday that 31,263 TVET trainees and 33,853 university students will benefit from the latest disbursement. “The beneficiary students and trainees have since been notified of the disbursement through HELB’s official communication channels and advised to check their HELB portals,” Ogamba said. With this latest allocation, the total amount disbursed in the 2024/2025 financial year now stands at Sh32.7 billion. This funding has supported 195,000…
The United States has issued a travel advisory warning its citizens in Kenya to exercise caution due to security concerns, including crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnappings. The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, through its official website, has also prohibited travel to specific regions deemed high-risk. In its statement, the embassy urged American citizens to avoid travel to the Kenya-Somalia border counties of Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera, as well as Tana River County and coastal areas north of Malindi, citing the threat of terrorism and kidnappings. It also warned against traveling to West Pokot and western Turkana due to banditry, as…