Author: Journalist Benedict
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has strongly condemned Members of Parliament (MPs) for rejecting a Senate proposal that sought to increase the allocation to counties by an additional Ksh60 billion. He warned that the move threatens the future of devolution in Kenya and undermines efforts to empower local governments. On June 3, the National Assembly dismissed the amendment proposed by the Senate, which aimed to raise the county allocation from Ksh405 billion to Ksh465 billion. MPs cited the country’s tough economic situation as the reason for turning down the proposed increase. However, Senator Cherargei expressed disappointment with this decision, stating that…
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has scored a major legal victory after the High Court issued temporary orders stopping his ongoing criminal case until a final decision is made on his petition challenging the charges brought against him. Justice Bahati Mwamuye, who delivered the ruling, ordered that all criminal proceedings against the governor be suspended, giving Natembeya breathing space as the court hears and determines his petition. The governor is facing allegations related to procurement irregularities and abuse of office, which were brought forward by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). In the petition, Natembeya argues that his constitutional rights…
A shocking daylight robbery at a mobile money shop in Timau, Meru County, has led to the arrest of two suspects, following the release of CCTV footage showing the horrifying moment an agent was held at gunpoint. The suspects were part of a three-man gang that stormed the shop, dressed in green jungle-like uniforms and armed with AK-47 rifles, creating panic in the small trading center. The footage showed them threatening and trying to force entry into the shop as the visibly terrified mobile money agent struggled to escape. According to police reports, the alert was first raised by a…
The African Union Commission (AUC) has officially responded to a recent and controversial decision by the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump, which banned nationals from seven African countries from traveling to the United States. In its statement, the AUC urged the U.S. to engage in dialogue and reconsider the move, warning of the broader implications such action could have on Africa–U.S. relations. According to the Trump administration, the travel ban — which takes effect on June 9 — applies to Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Somalia, and Sudan, citing concerns over national security,…
More than 1,000 teenage girls in Lamu County have become pregnant in the past year, sparking national concern and prompting rights groups to demand urgent government action to tackle what they describe as a deepening gender-based violence (GBV) crisis. A report by the Lamu County Gender Department, submitted to the Presidential Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, revealed that between 2023 and May 2024, a total of 1,073 teenage pregnancies were recorded in the county. The majority of these cases involved girls between the ages of 15 and 19, with the highest incidence reported in 2023 alone—789 cases.…
On Thursday, June 5, former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu shared the reasons behind his falling out with Rigathi Gachagua, the former Deputy President of Kenya. In a candid interview on a morning TV show, Wambugu revealed that the disagreement between them was mainly due to clashing ideologies and differences in leadership styles. Wambugu, who previously worked as Gachagua’s communication strategist, explained that the core issue was that Gachagua’s principles were hard for him to align with. “We are no longer on the same page. I don’t agree with his principles,” Wambugu stated, suggesting that the divergence began when Gachagua…
American billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has revealed plans to hold a crucial meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed at addressing the sharp cuts in U.S. foreign aid to Africa, which have significantly impacted countries like Kenya. In an interview with the BBC, Gates stated that the meeting is likely to happen within the next three to four months, and he intends to make a strong case for the restoration of development assistance, which was either slashed or suspended following a series of executive orders signed by Trump earlier this year. “I’m confident I’ll have the opportunity to talk to…
A well-known Maasai Mara tour guide, Stephen Lukivi Ekero, was among two individuals killed during a violent night of ethnic clashes in Matigari village, Laikipia County. The attacks, which erupted overnight, have left the area reeling in fear and mourning. The incident occurred amid rising tensions between rival ethnic communities, who have been clashing over land and agricultural resources. The violence broke out when a group of locals—many armed with knives, pangas, and other farming tools—invaded a disputed rice field, triggering confrontations that spiraled out of control. As hostilities escalated, chaos gripped the village. Residents scrambled to flee their homes…
The Nairobi County Government is planning to introduce tough new measures targeting landlords who have failed to pay their land rate arrears, a move that could significantly impact thousands of tenants across the city. According to Charles Kerich, the County Executive for Finance and Planning, the administration is considering withdrawing essential services like waste collection and water supply from properties whose owners are defaulting on rates. As a more aggressive step, the county is also mulling over redirecting tenant rent payments straight to City Hall, bypassing landlords entirely. This would act as a revenue recovery method to help Nairobi County…
Kenyans living and working abroad now have a clear path to owning homes in Kenya through the government’s Affordable Housing Programme (AHP). The government has officially launched a dedicated online platform that enables diaspora Kenyans to register, save, apply for homes, and monitor their housing investments remotely—all from wherever they are in the world. During a high-level meeting held on Thursday, June 5, Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary Charles Hinga and Diaspora Affairs PS Roseline Njogu discussed how to make affordable housing accessible to Kenyans abroad. The meeting came in response to the growing interest shown by the diaspora…