Author: Journalist Benedict

The Kenyan government has given an important update on the progress of a major infrastructure project—the 452-kilometre Bagamoyo–Tanga–Horohoro/Lungalunga–Malindi Highway that links Kenya and Tanzania. Interior Principal Secretary (PS) Raymond Omollo confirmed that construction on Lot 1 of Phase 1, which covers the Mombasa–Mtwapa stretch, is nearly halfway complete. Speaking on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, July 28, PS Omollo shared that Lot 1, which spans 13.5 kilometres from Nyali Bridge to Mtwapa Bridge, has reached 43% completion. Construction on this section began in November 2022 and includes key components such as 2.5 kilometres of dual carriageway, 1…

Millions of Kenyans, especially those living in rural and remote areas without access to electricity, are about to benefit from the largest privately funded solar energy project ever undertaken in the country. The massive Ksh20 billion ($156 million) project is being driven by several top local banks and international financiers, making it the biggest investment of its kind led by private capital in Kenya. The project, which is being coordinated by a leading global American financial institution, will be implemented by an off-grid solar energy company. This company plans to manufacture and distribute approximately 1.4 million solar home systems across…

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has announced that the government is working on launching a new mobile application that will be used to pay all civil servants across the country. This move is part of a larger plan aimed at eliminating ghost workers from the public payroll system. Speaking on Monday, July 28, during an interview on Radio Citizen, CS Ruku revealed that the government has already put in place a modern payroll system currently being used to process payments for civil servants. However, he emphasized that the introduction of a dedicated mobile app will further strengthen the system…

The Kenya Meteorological Department has responded to growing curiosity among Kenyans about why the month of July often feels much colder than other months. In a detailed statement released on Monday, July 28, the weather experts broke down the reasons behind this seasonal chill, pointing to a mix of natural land-based and atmospheric conditions. According to the Met Department, four main factors work together to create the cold and gloomy July weather that many Kenyans experience, especially in Nairobi, the central highlands, and parts of the Rift Valley. The department emphasized that the chilly conditions are not random, but rather…

HELB Releases Easy Step-by-Step Guide to Apply for Loans Through Mobile App The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has published a detailed guide to help both university and TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) students apply for loans directly from their mobile phones. This comes as part of HELB’s effort to make student financial aid more accessible and convenient for all eligible learners. The updated guide, released on Monday, July 28, outlines a simplified process for students to apply for loans through the HELB mobile app. To begin the application, students must first download the official HELB App onto…

Teachers across Kenya will now receive their July salaries on August 1, rather than the usual end-of-month timeline, marking an unexpected delay of almost a week. This delay has left many educators frustrated, especially since they typically expect their salaries by the 26th of every month. According to insiders from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), the delay is directly linked to the rollout of a new salary structure outlined in the 2025-2026 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Although the new pay deal officially takes effect from July 1, finalizing the necessary adjustments to teachers’ salaries—including changes in pay grades, allowances, and…

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has urged farmers across the country to take a firm stand against corrupt leaders running their cooperative societies. Speaking on Sunday, July 27, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Sirisia Constituency, Bungoma County, Wetang’ula expressed deep concern over the widespread financial mismanagement and unethical conduct in agricultural SACCOs, particularly those affecting small-scale farmers. He emphasized the need for farmers to become more involved and demand transparency and accountability in the day-to-day operations of their cooperatives. “We must not sit back and watch corrupt leaders steal from the sweat and hard work of our farmers,” Wetang’ula…

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has shed light on some of the major errors Kenyan athletes continue to make—mistakes that have led to long and often career-ending doping bans. In a detailed update shared on Sunday, July 27, the AIU clarified that contrary to popular belief, not all doping violations happen by accident. In fact, in many cases—especially those involving complex and powerful banned substances—the violations appear to be intentional, which attracts harsher penalties. One of the cases the AIU used to explain this growing concern was that of marathon runner Emmaculate Anyango Achol. She was recently slapped with a…

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has publicly demanded the immediate arrest of several police officers who allegedly attacked his political allies as they were leaving a church service in Murang’a County on Sunday, July 27. Taking to his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Gachagua condemned the actions of the officers, describing the incident as brutal and unconstitutional. He warned that such misuse of the police force for political purposes must not go unpunished, adding that law enforcement must act within the boundaries of the law and not be used to intimidate or harm citizens. Gachagua pointed a finger at the…

The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has voiced strong opposition to a newly proposed levy that would require tea farmers to pay 1% of their tea sales to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). While addressing the National Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Livestock Development on Friday, KTDA’s National Chairman, Senior Counsel Chege Kirundi, firmly requested lawmakers to scrap the proposed tax. This new charge is part of the Tea (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and KTDA believes it will only increase the financial burden already weighing heavily on tea farmers. Kirundi noted that small-scale tea growers are already struggling under many taxes,…