Author: Journalist Benedict

Loan Defaulters Risk Losing Access to Bank Credit, CS Oparanya Says The Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) has issued a tough warning to Kenyans who have failed to repay their Hustler Fund loans. According to the ministry, defaulters will soon face serious consequences as banks will block them from accessing loans. Speaking during an event in Mombasa on Wednesday, September 10, Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya revealed that banks will now start cross-checking whether an individual has cleared their Hustler Fund debt before processing any new loan application. Oparanya explained that the new directive is aimed…

Car Theft: Spare Parts Demand, Weak Security, and Smuggling Networks Car theft continues to be one of the most stubborn crimes in Kenya, with thousands of cases being reported every single month. Many drivers believe it is just a matter of bad luck, but experts explain that thieves do not operate randomly. Instead, they focus on particular car models and conditions that make some vehicles far easier — and far more profitable — to steal. Spare Parts and Popular Models The black market for spare parts is the number one driver of vehicle theft. Cars that are widely used on…

DCP Declares Support for Opposition Allies in Key Mini-Polls The Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), led by Rigathi Gachagua, has announced that it will not be fielding candidates in three upcoming by-elections. Instead, the party has decided to rally behind candidates from allied opposition outfits, a move it says is aimed at strengthening opposition unity ahead of the 2027 General Elections. Speaking on Wednesday, September 10, after chairing a high-level National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Nairobi, Gachagua said the decision was carefully considered and is meant to avoid unnecessary competition among friendly parties. The NEC resolved that in the…

Head-On Collision at Kijabe Junction Leaves Passengers Trapped in Wreckage A serious road accident was reported at Kijabe Junction on the busy Nairobi–Nakuru Highway, leaving several people injured after two vehicles collided head-on. Eyewitness footage and images obtained by Kenyans.co.ke show the accident involved a private car and a truck. The violent impact left both vehicles completely wrecked at the front, with passengers trapped inside the twisted metal. Locals and passing motorists quickly rushed to the scene and turned into rescuers. In desperate attempts to free those stuck inside, they were seen using axes and other makeshift tools to cut…

Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki Bans Medics From Referring Patients to Private Clinics Tharaka Nithi Governor, Muthomi Njuki, has put his foot down on a practice he says has been draining patients financially and undermining trust in public healthcare. Njuki has officially banned doctors and other medical staff in the county from referring patients who seek treatment in public hospitals to their own private clinics. Speaking during a visit to Chuka Level 5 Hospital, the governor revealed that several medics — including doctors, nurses, clinical officers, and even specialists — were abusing their positions. Instead of treating patients in government…

EACC Arrests Kisii County Assembly Official Over Fake Documents An administrative officer working at the Kisii County Assembly has been arrested and taken to court after investigations revealed that he allegedly used forged documents to secure employment. The arrest was made by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), which has been following up on the case. According to the EACC report, the officer tampered with crucial identification documents to hide his real identity and true age. Investigators say he altered his birth certificate by changing his year of birth from 1967 to 1973. With this new false information, he was…

The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has released fresh guidelines for students and loan applicants on how to update their details, especially when they change their phone numbers. The advisory comes as many students continue to face challenges accessing services after swapping or losing their SIM cards. According to HELB, updating your phone number is very important because most of its services—such as checking loan status or accessing funds—are linked to your registered line and accessed through the USSD code (*642#). Failure to update your details could cause delays in loan disbursements or block access to other key services. “We…

Kenyans may experience serious transport disruptions next week after online taxi drivers declared they will down their tools in protest over poor pay. The drivers, who mostly operate within Nairobi and other major towns, say the strike will go on until the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), the Ministry of Transport, and leading ride-hailing companies address their grievances. Speaking during a heated virtual meeting on Tuesday night, several drivers accused digital taxi apps of exploiting them with low pay despite the rising cost of living. “These apps are paying us peanuts. We work long hours, yet at the end…

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has officially launched investigations into the cold-blooded killing of prominent Nairobi lawyer Kyalo Mbobu, who was brutally shot dead on Tuesday evening by unknown gunmen along Magadi Road. In a statement released on Wednesday, September 10, the DCI confirmed that a special team of detectives was immediately dispatched to the crime scene under the leadership of the Nairobi Regional Criminal Intelligence Officer (RCIO). The officers quickly secured the area before experts from the Homicide Bureau and the National Forensic Laboratory were brought in to comb through the scene, collect crucial evidence, and reconstruct the…

President William Ruto’s government has suffered a setback after a section of teachers flatly rejected the proposal to move them into the Social Health Authority (SHA) medical insurance scheme. The pushback is being led by officials from the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), with Nakuru branch boss Anthony Gioshe making it clear that teachers will not accept being forced into the new scheme. Their current medical cover with a private insurer is almost expiring, but teachers insist they would rather negotiate for their own independent plan than join SHA. According to Gioshe, teachers have little faith in the new…